Guyana Times - Sunday March 14, 2021

Guyanese doctor nominated to serve as Pennsylvania’s Physician General Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4587 guyanatimesgy.com

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THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

Acquisition of Bell 412EPI helicopter boosts Guyana’s security – Army Chief …President Ali pledges more resources to enhance GDF’s capabilities

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mother of 1 killed in ECD accident

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ExxonMobil drilling wells simultaneously in Stabroek, Canje blocks Page 7

Bandit posing as customer robs Chinese P37 restaurant 1 injured as P33 fire destroys Bagotstown house

…as repaired flash gas compressor arrives in Guyana COVID-19 vaccines

Government in discussion with major COVID-19 vaccine producers – President Ali Page 29

APNU/AFC attempts to oust Parliamentary Secretaries

Constitution P36 empowers Secretaries to be in National Assembly — AG

3 estates produce over 700 tonnes of sugar in 1 day …highest daily performance for 2020, 2021

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President Dr Irfaan Ali embracing Denise McPherson, the mother of 10-year-old Anthony Cort, who was shot and killed by bandits in Sophia, Greater Georgetown during a home invasion. Ali visited the family’s ‘C’ Field, Sophia home where he expressed condolences and promised that he would do all in his power to bring the perpetrators to justice. (office of the President photo)

…expresses gratitude to Barbados, China, India for donation

Pirates attack Region 4 pensioner is Guyana’s Guyanese 207th COVID-19 death fishermen …as bar owners, workers arrested for breaching curfew Page 37

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Behavioural change still a challenge in mitigating COVID-19 – Minister

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Demerara – Sunday, March 14 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Monday, March 15 – 04:30h – 06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Berbice – Sunday, March 14 – 17:00h – 18:30h and Monday, March 15 – 05:15h – 06:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers will prevail during the day.

There will be light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 17:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.71 metres.

Low Tide: 11:03h and 23:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.51 metre and 0.53 metre.

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Acquisition of Bell 412EPI helicopter boosts Guyana’s security – Army Chief …President Ali pledges more resources to enhance GDF’s capabilities

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps’ capabilities were improved with the acquisition of the Bell 412EPI helicopter which landed in Guyana on Saturday.

GDF’s Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess said that the new helicopter is a significant moment for Guyana’s defence and security architecture. He added that it is significant as the nation continues to press on in the face of deliberate acts of aggression from neighbouring Venezuela.

“It is an important moment which will result in enhanced delivery of service to the nation, particularly as it relates to aviation security… In terms of [the] nation’s security, this is a significant tool to enhance the effectiveness of security and Joint Services operation. It will also allow us to have a substantial presence in assisting with the surveillance security of our offshore operations and our fisheries zones and also our vast remote land space.

This aircraft is a national asset,” Bess said.

He reminded that just about a month ago, President Irfaan Ali at the Officers’ Conference clearly defined his vision for the transformation of Guyana’s defence and security architecture. He had informed that the plan will be in a systematic area which will enhance all areas of competency.

“With this air asset, there will be enhanced support to the nation.

Operationally, we will be able to conduct long-range area reconnaissance, engage in swifter troop movement and insertion into our

President Irfaan Ali in the new helicopter

far-flung regions, perform casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, search and rescue mission and training,” he said.

Investments, enhancements

Meanwhile, President Ali said Guyana has been continually making investments in human resources, adding that his Government will continue to invest in the training, upgrading and development of the human asset.

“With this acquisition (of the helicopter) comes a new era of training and upgrading era of development. It brings, with it, new potential, new capacity and these are things we have to celebrate too. We have spent a lot of resources in upgrading our human resources to take care of these assets and to ensure that we move towards a modern pool of capital acquisition that will improve our efficiency and enhance our national security,” he explained.

President Ali also announced that on Monday, a team will depart Guyana to inspect the performance of the metal sharp and to

analyse the various marine asset options Guyana has, with the aim of moving towards the acquisition of new marine assets to support our work of the Coast Guard.

Speaking at a simple ceremony at Base Camp Ayangana, the Commander in Chief said that there is need to analyse the new requirements of the security systems based on the developmental path. He explained that Guyana has a lot more economic assets to protect while alluding to the impending development that comes with Guyana becoming an oil-producing nation. Additionally, the President said that being prepared for the security challenges requires a modern forward-looking security architecture and that is what his Government is working on building.

He also expressed gratitude to the United States and Bell Helicopters for the partnership in supporting the enhancement of Guyana’s national security capabilities.

“We realise and we know that our defence architec-

ture has to be supported by the best diplomacy and the greatest of partnerships.

We have to have partnership, we have to recognise also that we have to have trusted partners, it is very important in our defence,” Ali told the gathering.

The President said that the Air Corps has the capability to maintain the new helicopter not because they are just responsible but because they have been trained to ensure that the assets they are provided with are properly maintained.

“To the people of Guyana, we should all be proud today that we are a step closer in giving our army the tools to become more effective, more proactive and more efficient in their job. Sometimes we are very harsh… Our constraints must be understood by the population then they would have a greater appreciation for the acquisition of these assets,” Ali said.

Enhancing Air Corps’ fleet

Flight Operations Manager at the Air Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Ramjag said that the addition of the Bell 412EPI is a testament to the President’s commitment to strengthen the nation’s security. He said that the improvement of the nation’s security can positively impact economic growth, stability and development.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Food for Guyana and the Region

G

uyana was among 38 countries that achieved the first Millennium Development Goal ahead of the 2015 deadline - to halve the percentage of persons in the country who were hungry compared to baseline figures from 1990. This was more than gratifying.

That we were only one of 18 countries to have achieved the more stringent World Food Summit goal set in 1996, to halve the number of undernourished persons by 2012, was astounding for a country that had been plunged to the level of sub-Saharan Africa by the PNC by 1992, when the PPP/C took office.

What our experience has demonstrated is that good intentions in this area is simply not good enough. The PNC, in its 1972-1976 five-year plan, had explicitly stated its goals were to "Feed, clothe and house" the nation by the end of the plan. But the policies that it undertook proved to be so disastrous that thousands ended up hungry and contracting "white mouth" as a visible sign of rampant malnutrition.

We can look at those plans as an object lesson, as "what not to do" if we are to achieve the new "Zero Hunger Challenge" launched by the UN afterwards, which is now being placed once again on the CariCom agenda. The first lesson is that farmers must be given incentives to remain on the land. Appeals to "patriotism" will not suffice.

One of the pillars of Guyanese food security has been the rice industry, since that grain is our main staple by far.

Due to the knowledge of wet rice cultivation brought over from their native North India by the post-1838 indentured labourers, Guyana moved from being an importer of rice from Myanmar (then "Burma") to an exporter at the beginning of the 20th century.

The incentive was the profits gleaned by the farmers, which enabling them to claw their way up the economic ladder. The PNC's plan was supposedly “rational” - on paper.

It legislated the purchase of all paddy and rice from the farmers, invested initially in large scale milling facilities, and controlled all exports. The profits were supposed to be ploughed back into the economy to fund the thrust into manufacture, so that the country could climb up the valueadded staircase.

The fatal flaw was that the Government and its planners were either too greedy or they overestimated the patriotism of the farmers. Or they were vindictive. Their prices to the farmers were so low that, based on the foreign sale price, there was an implicit tax on the rice industry of over 100%. The result, not surprisingly, was that farmers left the industry in droves, and those that remained did so because there were no alternative sources of employment.

Just as unsurprisingly, when the PPP Government reversed the policies of the PNC and also pumped money into agricultural infrastructure such as drainage and irrigation, production escalated to the present recordbreaking 600,000+ tonnes per annum. The same policy must be followed in all the other areas of food production.

Guyana's comparative advantage has always been in its vast areas of available farmland. When sugar was king back in the colonial days, its cultivation received the choicest land and irrigation/drainage priorities. Especially in Demerara, the policy of using these prime agricultural lands for housing now that sugar production has been curtailed must be rationalised. These lands should be put into alternative crops to satisfy both local and foreign demand for "food security".

We are not advocating that the Government replicate or even imitate the PNC's policies to ban foodstuff because it constitutes a "drain on foreign reserves". People must be free to eat what they choose, but we cannot be oblivious that the choice between foods which may have the same nutritional value is socially constructed. We can definitely do more to encourage our farmers to cultivate “foreign” foods, and our people to eat and buy more local produce.

The key to success against hunger, we repeat, is: incentives, incentives, incentives - to farmers.

GECOM must cleanse itself now, and put LGE on agenda Dear Editor, The nation is saddened by the recent brutal and unnecessary murder of tenyear-old Anthony Cort of Sophia, Georgetown. As we share the pain and unfillable void created in the soul of his parents and loved ones, we must endeavour to continuously support ensuring that the perpetrators are made to face the full consequences of our laws.

Our failure in such pursuits is like promoting the daylight bandits and murderers that miscarry our nation, and definitively exacerbates the wanton erosion of the basic level of protection that our citizens should be guaranteed. One therefore MUST responsibly adopt the mindset and posture of assurance that these societal undercurrents will never be permitted.

The attempts at the rape of our entire nation’s security through some manipulated staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must be treated with equal, or even greater, consternation. This since it would have contributed to the environment for a more broad-based level of fuelled explosive lawlessness, if controlling interventions were not put in place from outside of the GECOM setting.

I vividly recall that on Election Night of 2nd March 2020, there was an occurrence at the Polling Station # 412235B (A-Z) opposite the Winsor Estate Sugarcane Fields as Eccles/ Ramsburg came under attack. It was after 6PM, with polling closed, when a silly but serious incident took place. As I look at the face and size of young Anthony Cort, I vividly recall the fear on that night when our assigned Polling Agent requested, in keeping with his ‘Rights’, to seal the ballot box, and received a signed copy of the Statements of Poll.

The GECOM Presiding Officer, who turned out to be a known PNC activist, created an ugly scene, and the Polling Booth was

quickly blocked by known PNC activists, who tried to prevent the smooth completion of the process. They went at length to lock the young Polling Agent in the building, and threatened to kill him. As we requested to take the Polling Agent out of the building, the small but riotous crowd went wild. However, our external security officers asserted themselves and the matter was resolved peacefully.

The need to curb such escalations is not unique to this area, but certainly as a result of encouraging infiltration of GECOM, which must be cleansed.

We as a nation have witnessed through the lenses of our televisions, some of the chosen staff in action at the Ashmin’s Building and also from the Headquarters in Kingston following the High Court instructions to Clairmont Mingo. Guyanese must never allow the likes of these people to attempt to thwart our collective will again.

It took a special brand of maturity in leadership for this nation to survive the onslaught unleashed at these elections by the PNC and their acolytes in the infiltrated Secretariat.

One must therefore applaud the sound approach of the PPP, particularly Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s influence over the ‘exemplary peaceful assertiveness’ demonstrated to the world during the gruelling fivemonth ordeal of frustration and sufferings. It was indeed admirable and strategic, although painstaking, to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the PNC cabal’s desperation to stay in Government.

Astute leadership and maturity were indeed the key to Guyana’s survival and success. Certainly, the emerged Guardians of democracy and some youths were running out of patience, and this offered a greater threat of our people faltering to the PNC’s plan to create a state of emergency before the results of the election could be properly fi-

Dear Editor, It was reported that high ranking officials visited the family of the lad killed under tragic circumstances to sympathise and offer support. This is as it should be.

It was further reported in one section of the media that one of the officials offered prayers with the family. Again, as it should be.

Juxtapose that scenario with a similar situation

nalised.

The “Jagdeo” leadership was, however, able to carefully control all attempts at violence. Today, Guyana’s struggle is an example to the world of the positive result that can be realised from a peaceful approach.

Hence, the electoral victory in Guyana can and will be emulated globally.

Notwithstanding, as the only country where the Electorate had to wait for five long and frustrating months for the declaration of elections results, is indeed an abomination that must never be allowed to re-occur.

Consequently, the Guyana Election Commission must take all the necessary actions to cleanse the staff at GECOM. There must be no space for the riggers or place for those who had their knees on the necks of our people for five long months.

Against the myriad allegations and reports of fraudulent practices ongoing at the hands of persons in the Secretariat, it is a misnomer that those thieves are still on the payroll of GECOM, enjoying all the perks and continue to have a “STORE” selling stationaries, plyers, and many other items.

It is on record that after all the hurdles before 2nd March 2020, on March 7th, 2020 the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield flouted the Court Order regarding the approach for the verification approach to be applied. Tougher times were realized when on April 1st, 2020, APNU/AFC Commissioners tried to push through Lowenfield’s report that that includes “fake Results”. On April 8th, 2020 Lowenfield’s timeline for the agreed recount of the Votes agreed by the Commission, proposed to delay finalizing of Elections Results until September 2020. It was more serious and unacceptable when on July 11th, 2020, Keith Lowenfield refused to comply with GECOM Chairwoman’s instructions.

In the decisive actions of July 13th, the Ten Districts

declarations made before the National Recount were set assertively aside by the Chairperson of the Guyana Election Commission.

These were previously held in abeyance and include the blatant and proved fraudulent reports by Region #4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Further, the GECOM Chairwoman made it clear that the “Fraudulent Reports” submitted to the Commission by the embattled Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield was set aside and requested the reports based on the results of the recount. For the umpteenth time, Lowenfield reneged while providing frivolous reasons as he held our people to ransom in concert with the PNC. The decision to instruct Lowenfield was arrived at after GECOM’s Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, held a meeting to discuss the CEO’s conduct following the submission of the fraudulent report on July 11th, 2020. Lowenfield was given another deadline of 14 hours (2 pm) on July 14th, 2020. It was deadlines after deadlines!

On August 2nd, 2020, a date to be remembered, Keith Lowenfield was instructed to produce the results to GECOM by 10 am.

He failed and the last chance was given up to 2 pm by the assertive Claudette Singh, to produce the results obeying the instructions of the Commission contrary to his previous “lone ranger” avocations in keeping with the High Court ruling. How can the Chairperson of GECOM still have this ‘Lone Ranger’ in Office?

Keith Lowenfield’s unpardonable sins remain indelible like the bandits who shot young Anthony Cort. The Chairwoman and Commission MUST remove all such persons from their employ and place the discussion of the Local Government Elections on the Agenda.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Different outcomes. How come? where officials went to another part of the country following the killings of two youths, and the mayhem which ensued.

Senseless killings of youths, different outcomes. How come?

My condolences to the grieving family, relatives and friends of the deceased. May he rest in eternal peace.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Opposition Leader has no genuine interest in representing supporters Mr Harmon, you have the responsibility to your supporters and the people of Guyana to come clean about what transpired following the March 2, 2020 Regional and German Elections, and the plot to derail democracy in Guyana.

March 2, 2020 elections were already deemed free, fair, credible and transparent by all international and domestic observers and the diplomatic corps when it descended into chaos in light of a number of events which eventually led to Returning Officer for Region Four,

Dear Editor, The Opposition APNU/ AFC needs to recognise and acknowledge the legitimacy of the PPP/C Administration if the Opposition Leader has any vision and intention of Guyana being a better place for this opposition party, more so the people of Guyana.

The Guyanese people and the rest of the world saw you, Mr Harmon, as one of the people that trampled on Guyana’s democracy in the aftermath of the March 2, 2020 regional and national elections.

Acquisition of Bell 412EPI helicopter significant...

FROM PAGE 3

Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess

The Bell 412EPI is termed a dual-use helicopter. It is a platform that has been designed by Bell Helicopters USA in compliance with regulatory standards that can satisfy both civilian and military use with only minimal adjustment. It is primarily a medium-lift helicopter and is well adapted for operation in harsh and demanding environments.

There was due diligence at every stage of this process.

It was manufactured in 2018 and at the time when we inspected the helicopter, it had only flown the hours required to take it from the factory to the bell facility in Tennessee.

He added that the Bell Helicopter Customer Advantage Programme – which acts as insurance – was also aggressively negotiated and signed by the team. It means that Bell – the original manufacturer of the helicopter – will be readily available to provide assistance with maintenance and source parts for the chopper whenever the need arises. This provides for fast repairs and shorter downtime.

The aircraft was purchased in January and was received by a team of GDF pilots and engineers in February. (G2)

Bell 412EPI most suitable

Colonel Courtney Burns – the Air Corps’ Aviation Manager and member of the team that spearheaded the purchase – related that after intensive studies and research, it was concluded that the Bell 412EPI is the most suitable.

“After extensive discussion and negotiation, the Bell 412EPI was decided as the most suitable aircraft.

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $69.22/barrel $233.91/ton $459.50/ton

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

Change % -0.59 -0.15 -0.78

USD Per Ounce $1727.90 $1698.70 -0.00

$1728.90 $1730.90 -0.00%

Clairmont Mingo, blatantly attempting to alter the results of the elections – much to the objection of every stakeholder except the APNU/AFC coalition. In fact, in his alterations, Mingo added more votes to the APNU/AFC and subtracted votes from the PPP/C in a bid to give the then incumbent a false victory.

Although the recount process was crystal clear that the PPP/C had won the elections with a commanding 233,336 votes, a remarkable lead of 15,416 over its nearest political rival, you, the APNU/AFC, and despite the announcement of these certified results, Harmon’s coalition party refused to concede defeat, and mounted more challenges in a bid to further deny the will of the people.

Most recently, Mr Harmon and the coalition continued to peddle the inaccurate narrative that the coalition had won the elections.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and the PPP/Civic were elected by the will of the Guyanese people, and the outcome of March 02, 2020

election cannot be changed.

Mr Harmon is among several top coalition members who are pushing narratives filled with selfish desires, party desires, greed for power and disrespect for our country and our citizens.

The people of Guyana and the international community recognise our President and the PPP/C Government.

Who is Mr Harmon and the APNU/AFC coalition to deem our President and Government illegitimate?

However, at the same time, Mr Harmon wants to have dialogue with our President on a number of issues of national importance.

The question lingering in every Guyanese mind is: How long are Mr Harmon and the coalition going to continue along this path? How long are Mr Harmon and the APNU/AFC coalition going to deny themselves and their supporters the truth?

It’s time to stop selling your narrative of falsehood to the Guyanese people.

As Leader of the Opposition, Mr Joseph Harmon, the people of

Guyana request that you do the “right thing”. You have a moral and ethical responsibility to correct the misleading narrative and falsehood that you share on the ground wherever you go.

As a matter of fact, apologising to the Guyanese people for all the things you did in those five months to derail democracy may allow you to gain some level of respect from your supporters and the Guyanese people. As opposition Leader, it is clear that you, Mr Harmon, have no intention of reaching across the aisle, despite President Dr Irfaan Ali recognising you as Leader of the Opposition.

Many are of the opinion that you (Mr Harmon) and the APNU-AFC coalition have no genuine interest in representing your supporters, and it is obvious that you (Mr Harmon) have no interest in commitment to inclusion or “One Guyana”, as proposed by President Ifraan Ali. The Opposition Leader prefers to keep his MPs in the streets selling the false narrative that our Government

is illegal, rather than in the Parliament where they properly belong, to voice their supporters’ views while influencing laws to be passed, which would enhance the lives of every Guyanese while creating development opportunities in our country.

We are speaking of an Opposition Leader who refused to vacate his former post even after receiving a termination letter from the PPP/C elected Government.

Mr Harmon is one of the former APNU/AFC leaders who denied our nurses, health workers and frontline workers their risk allowances proposal package several times.

Finally, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon admitted that there are certain changes in the electoral system that need to take place before the country has another election. However, this differs from the position taken by many of his APNU/AFC leaders and MPs, who contend that the coalition is in no rush for electoral reforms.

Sincerely, David Adams

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil drilling wells simultaneously in Stabroek, Canje block …as repaired flash gas compressor arrives in Guyana

E

sso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is engaged in a busy drilling campaign involving its holdings in both the Stabroek and neighbouring Canje Block, as it drills several wells simultaneously.

This publication understands that EEPGL, the subsidiary of oil giant ExxonMobil, spudded the Koebi-1 well last week in the Stabroek Block using drillship Stena Carron. This particular well was spudded on March 3 and drilling will conclude on March 20.

Another well being drilled in the Stabroek Block is the Longtail-2 well. According to a notice from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), this well is being drilled in the Stabroek Block by the Stena DrillMax from March 10 to March 27.

Meanwhile, Exxon is engaged in drilling the Jabillo-1 well within the

Canje Block, using the Stena Carron drillship, between March 10 and March 27. This publication understands that the Stena Carron, after drilling the Jabillo-1 well and maintenance activities, will resume drilling on the Koebi-1 well.

The Jabillo-1 well happens to be the second of three exploration wells Exxon has scheduled for drilling in the Canje Block in 2021. The other two are the Bulletwood-1 well and the still to be drilled Sapote-1 well.

Westmount Energy, an indirect shareholder in the Canje Block, had previously made the announcement that Exxon had commenced drilling the Bulletwood-1 well with the Stena Carron drillship. Westmount had said that Bulletwood-1 was a 500 million barrels of oil prospect, similar to the profitable Liza Field wells.

However, news emerged last week that Bulletwood-1,

dug 2846 metres below surface, turned up with no oil in commercial quantities.

While there were reservoirs, it was not of commercial value.

Compressor

Meanwhile, the troublesome flash compressor that Exxon had to ship to Germany to fix after it malfunctioned onboard the Lisa Destiny FPSO vessel and resulted in increased flaring, has returned to Guyana fixed and ready for reinstallation.

According to a statement from Exxon, the flash gas compressor and silencers arrived in Guyana on Thursday evening. These items will be reinstalled on the Liza Destiny FPSO, after which it is expected that flaring will return to pilot levels.

The statement explained that the technical experts who will support the local ones in reinstalling the com-

pressor have also arrived in the country. It is understood that these personnel have been tested for COVID-19 and are going through the necessary protocols including isolation.

E E P G L had announced that it was exThe map of Exxon’s holdings in the Canje and Stabroek Blocks periencing technical probranged between 12 and 15 to act, their hands are, in lems with the seal on Liza million cubic feet. A calcula- fact, tied. At a recent press Destiny’s flash gas comprestion would show that at cur- conference, Vice President sor in January of this year. rent rates, Exxon has flared Bharrat Jagdeo had pointed The problem resulted in over 500 million cubic feet out that Exxon is limited to Exxon having to reduce its of gas since January of this flaring 14 billion cubic feet production and also conduct year. of gas. routine flaring.

It is a situation that This is per the approved It was subsequently reExxon executives have said Environmental Impact vealed that Exxon had been no one is happy with, even Assessment (EIA), which flaring 16 million cubic feet as they work along with the means that according to calof gas per day, an increase regulatory agencies. culations, Exxon wouldn’t from the volume of flarWhile some have called reach that flaring ceiling at ing the company conducted for the Environmental current levels until the end last year which reportedly Protection Agency (EPA) of April 2021. (G3)

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Truth and consequences… …with Hamilton Green Hamilton Green is well past the “three score and ten” years most folks aspire to in this life. And as such, you’d think he’d be looking ahead to smooth his path in the hereafter. After all, the choices are pretty stark fire and brimstone on one hand, and milk and honey on the other! Furthermore, he doesn’t have to worry about grubbing for a living in the here and now: all of that was taken care of by his old Burnhamite soulmate David “the Sanctimonious Gangster” Granger. With a million-dollar pension with perks - courtesy of a special Bill in his name - he can “cock up his foot” anytime he wants!

But Green insists on pushing a sanctimonious line that’s as unctuous as the one Granger affected. We can’t say whether he’s still going along with that farce, since he hasn’t been seen after his elections heist collapsed ignominiously! Anyhow, unlike Granger, Green’s record of violence, bullyism and thuggery between 1960 and 1992 is so open and notorious that there is universal scorn for his pretentious. Now, this is not to say that people can’t change. Saul, after all, became Paul after he heard that booming voice from the sky while on the road to Damascus!

But let’s be honest; the days of booming voices from the sky are long gone, aren’t they? So, Hamilton Green has a real credibility problem to people like your Eyewitness, who knows him from back in the day. Eyebrows are raised when he talks about “moral renewal” and “lions lying down with lambs” and other such homilies. In these matters about the veracity of statements, there are criteria called “epistemic virtues” and “epistemic vices”.

Folks who’re known to be open-minded and possess intellectual integrity are more believable - unlike those like Hamilton Green, who’re dogmatic, prejudiced, and closed-minded.

One way Green may begin to redeem his credibility would be to confess to his actions from his thuggish past, when he destroyed so many lives with impunity.

How about starting with all those Opposition meetings he violently broke up? Or about turning down Rodney’s appointment at UG after the world class historian’s application had been accepted? Or about all the rigging of elections he was involved in? And if he REALLY wants to be given a new chance, he could do worse than give us all the dirt on the death (?) of his wife Shirley Field-Ridley and his ex-PPP Cabinet colleague Vincent Teekah. These would add to his non-existent stock of epistemic virtues!

And then confession is said to be good for the soul, and his soul certainly needs help!

In the meantime, he’s merely very aggravating to readers who are exposed to his drivel. …of misconduct in public office There is much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (especially the latter) in the PNC camp as the PPP attempts to reverse the wholesale looting of State resources they engaged in during their last five-year stint at the national wheel. It’s no wonder the ship of State foundered on the rocks of greed, since PNC hands were in the public purse rather than on the aforementioned wheel!

Right now, the “rod of correction” du jour continues to be on land grabbing. Your Eyewitness just can’t understand why the PNC is upset when public officials like Benn from the GL&SC are hauled before the courts for alleged infractions. The key word is “alleged”, since it’s not like the PPP is hanging the accused without a trial.

If no laws were broken, Benn or Bond will go free, no?

Didn’t the PNC do the same thing with Brassington and Singh as soon as they slid into office in 2015? …on race talk There’s still a buzz in the media following the Oprah interview of Harry and Megan, who evidently have been cast out from the House of Windsor.

But why not build an independent brand, rather than a slash-and-burn?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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Phagwa and nation-building in a plural society

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ost of us know the Prahalad stories about the origins of Holi - or “Phagua”, as it is known in the Bhojpuri belt, from where most Indians in the Caribbean originated.

But we can also look at the festival from the standpoint of nationbuilding.

As a colony of first the Dutch, and then the British, Guyana was defined as a “Christian” nation by both of those European nations.

As such, following European tradition, the public holidays in the colonies - primarily of Christian origin: Christmas, Boxing Day, Good Friday, and Easter Monday - were granted so that Government officials and plantation overseers, among others, could participate in both the commemorative and celebratory aspects of public holidays.

When labourers were brought to work on the Ravi Dev plantations, the dominant nationalist ideology of the British was assimilative: all who lived in the colony were expected to assimilate British culture and religion, which was Christianity.

Public holidays were regarded as an integral aspect of defining the nation, since, as one theorist pointed out, it was the practices of the citizen - the public - that served to define the character of the “nation”. Festivals and commemorations, whether religious or secular, are important elements if defining what it is that constitute the “nation”.

It is for this reason that when Indian indentured labourers were brought after the enslaved Africans had been converted to Christianity, while they were not officially coerced to convert, their culture and religions were defined out of what constituted the “nation”. These were “ethnic” and “pagan” and not given official imprimatur - whether cremation of the funerary rites, or being given the same opportunity to celebrate their important defining festivals.

After WWII, however, local nationalist leaders challenged this view, and raised the issue of the nature of the “nation” and its cultural constitutive elements. The British assimilationist imperative was questioned, and then rejected as those leaders sought to validate local practices such as Holi for Hindus and Eid for Muslims - that were integral to the identity of the various peoples in the country but which were peripheralised. The new nation was to be “multicultural” and “multi religious”. As one Canadian theorist, Isajiw, later proposed when Canada adopted multiculturalism as their official policy: “multiculturalism offers a set of social (which); values not only recognised the ‘expressive identity needs and the instrumental power needs’ of ethnic groups, but also stood for the ‘basis for a new kind of universalism which legitimises the inclusion’ of ethnic groups.”

Multiculturalism, i.e. as an ideology.

In 1963, the PPP, in charge of internal self-government, established a Parliamentary Commission that deliberated on several Hindu and Muslim festivals to be recommended as public holidays. Three from the former, including Holi, and two from the latter were recommended by 1964. The PPP, however, was removed from office at the end of that year, and in 1967, the new PNC regime revived the proposals and legislated recognition of Holi and Divali as public holidays.

The 1967 legislation offered the rationale: “A driving force behind the changes made in the holiday structure was the facilitation of people of different persuasions to participate in the rich heritage that the diversity in the Guyanese culture provided.

It was accepted then that one of the ways to achieve such participation was to grant religious holidays to Christians, Hindus and Muslims. At the same time, this perspective would have enabled the removal of those holidays that had no significance for the Guyanese heritage.”

The Commission focused on festivals that built social cohesion, and so, for instance, rejected Ram Navmi presumably on the ground that not all Hindus accepted his Divinity. So, from this standpoint of bringing all the various peoples in our multicultural nation together, no other festival does this like Holi. In the more than fifty years since it became a public holiday, Phagua has been embraced by the widest possible cross-section of Guyanese. If life is all about happiness, then Phagua is the festival that brings out this more than anything else in Guyana.

Holi is not just “heritage” that is backward-looking, but is a joyous reaffirmation of the bonds in that community that keep it together. This is essential for progress and development in its widest possible meaning. It builds the kind of trust from childhood to adulthood that performatively defines “nation building”.

12 NEWS

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Amidst major criticism

ERC invites submissions for discourse to improve ethnic relations

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he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is moving ahead with its continuous National Conversation to foster nation-building and is inviting Guyanese at home and abroad to record and submit videos or written contributions on improving ethnic relations.

In a statement, the Commission said the deadline for submissions is March 28. It is appealing to citizens at the grassroots level to add their voices to the topic for the entire Guyanese nation: “How can we improve ethnic relations?”

It said that as with the first national discourse held in December 2020, the general intent is to have frank and open discussions to capture diverse views on factors that impede ethnic harmony, along with recommendations.

Guyanese at home and abroad are invited to submit videos (MP4 format) recorded by a professional camera, smartphone or any other device, not more than 20 minutes long, or written contributions and suggestions that focus on improving relations among all ethnicities.

The videos will be uploaded on ERC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel after a content review, approved and recommended by the Commission’s legal team as respectable for online viewership and discus-

sion. The submissions can be sent via email to peau@ erc.org.gy or by inbox to ERC Facebook Messenger before the due date.

The ERC said that it is again urging Guyanese from all walks of life to get involved and make their contributions to promote tolerance and understanding for a better society. It said that it hopes that the varying points of view from contributors can serve in some measure as a blueprint for possible solutions to the related challenges that confront citizens in the multi-ethnic society.

The ERC has come in for major criticism for its lack of input during the post-elections period following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. During the five months when APNU/AFC attempted to thwart the will of Guyanese in an attempt to rig the elections, the ERC did not intervene in the racially-charged atmosphere created especially by social media.

Likewise, the body again was highly criticised in the aftermath of the brutal killing of Joel and Isaiah Henry, followed by the murders of Haresh Singh and Prettipaul Hargobin in West Coast Berbice. Among the criticisms of the body was that it was more reactive and did not intervene to prevent the racially-directed violence from getting out of control. (G12)

FEATURE

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Kidney health for everyone everywhere; living well with kidney disease - Kidney Foundation of Guyana

By Dr. Areefa Alladin

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hronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects about 10% of the world’s population (about 700 million people) and causes about 1.5 million deaths each year. (COVID has infected 13 million people with 2.5 million deaths in 14 months). CKD is a major public health problem because affected persons have reduced life span, reduced quality of life and kidney failure requires dialysis or transplant which are both not readily available and very expensive.

Most of the burden of CKD is among the poorer nations where there is limited access to health care among other factors that

make these nations more vulnerable.

World Kidney Day is observed on the second Thursday of March with a month of activities aiming to promote awareness on CKD and building support for patients and families.

The Kidney Foundation of Guyana is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that engages in public sensitization on chronic kidney diseases, providing educational materials for patients and health professionals on kidney diseases. Preventing chronic kidney disease and slowing the progression of CKD may improve the lives of 10% of the Guyanese population. The Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG) is directing its efforts towards patient education and empowerment. We believe that investing in patient wellbeing and providing support is a cost-effective strategy that may reduce the need for dialysis and transplant.

Being diagnosed with kidney disease can be a huge challenge, both for the patient and those people around them. Its diagnosis and management, particularly in advanced stages of kidney disease, impacts severely upon their lives by reducing their ability, and that of their family and friends, to participate in everyday activities like work, travel and socializing whilst causing numerous problematic side effects such as fatigue, pain, depression, cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal issues and sleep problems.

People living with kidney disease tend to, above all, want to be able to live well, maintain their role and social functioning, whilst maintaining some semblance of normality and a sense of control over their health and wellbeing.

We want patients to be more content, engaged and constructive with regard to their treatment, and thereby improving clinical outcomes. Patients need to feel that their symptoms are

effectively managed and be intrinsically motivated to become active participants in their treatment. Ensuing life participation is equally important for both patients and their care-partners, as opposed to feeling consumed and constrained by kidney disease.

The World Kidney Day Steering Committee has declared 2021 the year of “Living Well with Kidney Disease”. This has been done in order to both in-

crease education and awareness about effective symptom management and patient empowerment, with the ultimate goal of encouraging life participation. Whilst effective measures to prevent kidney disease and its progression are important, patients with kidney disease – including those who depend on dialysis and transplantation – and their care-partners should also feel supported, especially during pandemics and

other challenging periods, by the concerted efforts of kidney care communities.

The World Kidney Day Steering Committee calls for the inclusion of life participation as a key focus in the care of patients with CKD and as a building block towards delivering the ultimate goal of living well with kidney disease.

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Guyanese Dr Denise Johnson nominated to ser ve as Pennsylvania’s Physician General …credits success to rigorous education and passion for service

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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hroughout the world Guyanese are making their mark and ce-

menting their seats at the table. One of those Guyanese who have been bringing her passion in the execution of

her duties is United States based Dr Denise Audrey Johnson.

Dr Johnson was recently

nominated by Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf to serve as the state’s Physician General – a feat she never

aspired to.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Dr Johnson shared her journey with this publication.

She was born to Darell Allen of the Pomeroon and Gwendoline Ingrid London of Friendship Village on the East Coast of Demerara.

Her mother gave birth to her at the Linden Hospital Complex where she spent the first two years of her life.

At the age of two, Dr Johnson moved to the United States and began living in the Washington DC area.

She started her schooling there and would subsequently move back to Guyana where she completed her primary education at the Linden Foundation School.

After sitting the then Common Entrance Examination she gained passes to attend the Bishops’ High School in Georgetown.

There she attended for one school year and at the end of her first year, she moved back to the United States where her she completed her High School education.

In 1983, she enrolled at the Boston University in Massachusetts where she read for a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with minor in French. There she also did some studies in Chemistry and graduated in 1987.

“I knew that I wanted to go to medical school but I wanted to do a little bit more research so during the summers I did some research. I explored a little bit and I began working in a research lab at Georgetown. Then I started medical school where the tuition was free,” she said.

Johnson then enrolled at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, District of Columbia where she obtained her Doctor of Medicine in 1992.

“When I was in medical school, I did come back to Guyana to do some training during my medical school years. I was at the (Georgetown) Public Hospital. I worked in the Malaria Clinic and I fully got the chance to learn about malaria and recognize malaria under the microscope and taking care of patients,” she recounted.

When she completed her studies at Georgetown University, Johnson knew she wanted to get into the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She immediately began her residency at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The programme lasted for four years.

Dr Johnson then began working with the Meadville

OB/GYN Associates in Meadville, Pennsylvania where she worked for 13 years. She then moved to the Meadville Medical Center where she was appointed the Chief Medical Officer in 2008 and remained in that post until she was given the nod for Physician General earlier this month.

“I wanted to do complex surgeries and help my patients. I have been the Chief Medical Officer CMO at the Meadville Medical Center for over 12 years now…

Being in administration gave me the opportunity to influence policy to impact the delivery of healthcare not only for my patients but also the patients in the hospital. That is has been a big boost for me. I miss the one on one with my patients now being in administration,” she said.

She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves as on the Governor’s Commission for Women.

Dr Johnson has been involved in various community and regional groups focusing on diversity and inclusion and on the needs of women and is the current board chair of the Meadville Area Free Clinic. She is past chair of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

The offer to become Pennsylvania’s physician general came part and parcel through her work done with the Governor’s office.

She received the call informing her of the opening and then expressed her interest in the position.

As physician general, Johnson’s role will be to advise the governor as well as the Secretary of Health on health policy in Pennsylvania. Created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1996, the physician general position also participates in the decisionmaking process on policies on all medical and public health-related issues; review professional standards and practices in medicine and public health; consults with recognized experts on medical and public health matters; coordinates educational, informational and other programs for the promotion of wellness, public health and related medical issues; and consults with experts in Pennsylvania and other states regarding medical research, innovation and development.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

FEATURE

Guyanese Dr Denise Johnson nominated...

FROM PAGE 14

“Moving on to the position of physician general, I have the opportunity to be more involved in the delivery of health care at the administrative level and I am joining a team of exceptional people in the secretariat. My experience in administration will put me in an advantageous position to deliver on the improvement of health care services in the state in the face of all of these challenges we are facing.

“I didn’t necessarily aspire to become physician general nor do I believe it fell my way because I did a lot of initiatives with the Governor’s office. We do cancer screening and I have been on the Governor’s Women’s Commission and worked a lot with the Governor’s office. So, I have done a lot of work in the health care aspect and I think that work really put me there,” she said.

Dr Johnson carries, with her to her new post, a different perspective. The perspective of the rural health system because she worked in the rural setting for her entire career. She remains in constant contact with community health workers in an effort bring that viewpoint to the office of the Physician General.

Her work starts now as she is currently in the transitional phase. Her work as acting

Physician General of the State of Pennsylvania officially beings on March 29 which will be followed by her Senate confirmation subsequently.

When asked about how her Guyanese upbringing aided in the execution of her duties, this is what she had to say: “When I first left Guyana I was very young so going back and building friendships and relationships was really good. I learned about the country and culture.

Really getting to know more about Guyana and the feeling of being Guyanese was great.

I really was interested in the health care in Guyana. I was back last year for my father’s funeral and I got the chance to visit the public hospital again in a different capacity and I got a look into its operations. I have been exploring the health care system in Guyana to see what contributions I can make. I left Guyana to go back at the end of first form.

The education system in the United States is a little bit different. I think my education in Guyana was really rigorous and I felt when I came over here and joined the school system I was really prepared and it gave me the advantage. I have this natural passion that has helped me through this all.”

Kidney health for everyone everywhere...

FROM PAGE 13

Patients with CKD and their family members or other care-partners should be empowered to achieve the health outcomes and life goals that are meaningful and important to them. This will require patients to understand their role, to have the necessary knowledge to be able to engage with clinicians in shared decision-making, as well as developing the skills and support for effective self-management.

We further advocate for strengthened partnership with patients in the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions for practice and policy settings, that enable patients to live well. This needs to be supported by consistent, accessible and meaningful communication.

We call for more effective and more integrated and holistic symptom management for all patients with kidney disease beyond traditional kidney therapies including effective strategies to identify and manage symptoms that cause suffering including pain, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, stress, mobility, frailty and others and; ask for more education and management strategies to alleviate these symptoms so that patients and their care-partners can have a better health-related quality of life.

We must move beyond the status quo and advance patient-centeredness in research, practice and policy. Patient empowerment, partnership and improved communications, combined with a paradigm shift towards a strengths-based approach to care, can inspire confidence and hope in patients that they can live well with CKD.

Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh - Chair, Kidney Foundation of Guyana The Kidney Foundation of Guyana now has persons with chronic kidney disease, dialysis and transplant patients and caregivers on its board. We think that patient advocacy and involvement is essential for a patient centered approach to health care. Our board consists of Chairman Major General Ret.Joseph Singh, Vice Chair Dr. Areefa Alladin, Secretary Dr. Maranatha Persaud, Assistant Secretary / Treasurer Dr. Nicolas Elliott, Treasurer Dr Thorne. Other members include Dr. Jarrel Watson, Dr Neil Jafar, Nadine LuthersWilliams, Ivonnna Samaroo, Roshini Razack, Somant Heeralall, Allana Heeralall, Richard Rampersaud, Dr Kevon Tracy and Dr Tariq Ramsaroop. We encourage the public to reach out the KFG on Facebook page Guyana Kidney Foundation for more information. We welcome volunteers, new ideas and collaboration geared at reducing the impact of CKD in Guyana.

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Urology is unique because it combines research, surgery, cutting-edge technology and academics – Dr Chris Prashad

By Lakhram Bhagirat

U

rology basically is a surgical branch of medicine that deals with and explore the diseases that affect both the male and female urinary system as well as the male genital and reproductive system.

In Guyana, some of the common urological conditions include, kidney stones and tumors along with the complications that goes with it inclusive of bladder tumors. Urologists also deal with issues relating to the prostate including an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and even fertility issues.

“I believe that there is significant demand for (urologists) in Guyana. I believe that urology as a subspecialty is attractive because it is unique in that it combines a lot of academics, it allows for surgical craft, it allows cutting edge technology and has lots of room for research. So, there are not a lot of specialties that would actually combine those things as well as I would find urology would and allows you to treat so many varied aspects of disease in about one or two organ systems,” Dr Chris Prashad says.

The 41-year-old urologist currently works as a urology consultant with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a number of private medical institutions.

During an interview with the Sunday Times, he related that he grew

on the East Coast of Demerara with his parents ensuring that he had a quality education. The Queen’s College alumni completed his medical education at the University of Guyana.

“After becoming a general practitioner, I went and moved on to post graduate training in surgery locally and eventually would take advantage of an opportunity to sub specialize in urology in the UK (United Kingdom). Upon completion of my post graduate urology training, I have been a practicing consultant urologist since 2014,” he said.

Dr Prashad completed his Urological Fellowship at Kings College in London and further training at the University of Edinburg.

When asked about whether he always had his eyes set on a career in the medical field, Dr Prashad said that it was “practical decision to make.” Prior to applying to medical school, he read for a degree in biology at UG and as he was completing his degree programme, Prashad took the turn into medical school.

“I always planned on living and having my life in Guyana and so I had to make a practical choice in my interest area and where I thought could be contributing meaningfully to and would be fulfilling to myself and I thought medicine fits pretty well.”

Just as he was finishing up medical school, Guyana began offering post graduate specialization and he took full use

of that opportunity. He started in the field of general surgery and continued in that field for a few years. As his training continued, Dr Prashad realized that Guyana has enough general surgeons to cater for its population but what it was lacking was doctors in the field of urology.

The opportunity opened for him to specialize in the UK and he grasped it.

“Luckily, I had some opportunities that popped up that allowed me to take advantage of it and I have had no regrets since,” Dr Prashad said.

Being in the medical profession for over a decade and a half, and in urology for almost 7 years, Dr Prashad have encountered a number of challenges in his field. Like in any field, some of those challenges are systemic while others are specially related.

Urology is a sub-specialty so doctors in the field deal with a fairly narrow area of the body in a very specialized way. The challenges are similar as in more other subspecialties. Most recently one of the pressing challenges have been the backlog or the waiting time for non-urgent surgeries.

Dr Prashad said that this can be attributed to the guidelines and protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The good news is that all of the institutions I have worked with recognizes this and we have been forced to adapt and put measures in place. Right now, I think with the recognition that there is

a bit of a backlog and the need for more surgeries we have been offered more surgical operating time in the operating theatre. So, we have been getting more done and things are slowly getting back to place where we can start improving the number of surgeries we are doing.

Of course, this would be non-urgent surgeries. We still have the responsibility to ensure that urgent things are dealt with urgently.

“With urology we do a lot of endoscopic surgeries and that means generally a lot of surgeries that don’t involve cutting the body and so we work with a fair amount of technologically sophisticated equipment. A lot of cameras a lot of different types of equipment that can do things without the need to cut the body so one of the challenges is that a lot of this equipment is not readily available in Guyana and so sometimes if something go wrong it is difficult to have them repaired or replaced in the most timely of ways.”

Dr Prashad explained that all of the organisations he has been attached to have been receptive at the administrative level while recognizing the need and the urgency in having that technical equipment repaired or replaced when they were done. He added that there is also the challenge of working without the optimal technology for periods of time when they are done. That has forced them to adapt and improvise so that the highest standard of care can be

delivered to their patients.

Kidney health is important

The kidneys are best known as organs that filters our blood and gets rid of certain waste in our body by excreting them in urine. Outside of that critical role they also have a function in helping to regulate blood pressure and certain hormones in the body.

Because of these functions, the bottom line is without normal functioning kidneys we would not be able to live.

So healthy kidneys are absolute priority and we need to do whatever we can in ensuring that optimal kidney health.

Dr Prashad advices a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

“Persons should have their annual exams and annual follow up with your doctors to maintain a health kidney.

During those follow ups, the doctors will be screening for certain conditions that will lead to kidney failure. In Guyana most commonly hypertension and diabetes are some chronic illnesses lead to kidney failure when uncontrolled.

Urologically kidneys stones and the complications from the kidney stones can also lead to kidney failure.

“It is important to recognize that if you are living with or have been diagnosed with kidney stones even of you pass or those stones have been removed surgically, you’re always at risk for reoccurrence. So you have to continue your follow up.”

FEATURE

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SKIN AILMENTS CHIGGERS, JIGGERS AND RINGWORM

Last week I promised to discuss the above-captioned topics within the context of skin conditions in our companion animals.

Where Chiggers and Jiggers are concerned, many Guyanese and people in the Caribbean think that these two skin ailments are the same, and therefore use the terms interchangeably. That would be wrong. Let’s define the differences.

Chiggers

Q: What is “Chiggers”?

A: This is a common non-contagious mange caused by an immature (larval) stage of a special type of mite. This infection occurs pretty much throughout the year in Guyana and the Caribbean and in tropical environments. Dogs and cats are infected when they come in contact with earth hosting the parasite.

Q: What are the Symptoms?

A: As with most mites attached to animals’ skin, an itch/ scratch reaction occurs.

– CONTINUED

Q: Is the diagnosis easy?

A: Yes, if your vet carefully examines the affected areas of the lesioned skin.

Microscopic examination of sample scrapings taken from the damaged skin is always helpful.

Q: Is the cure often achieved?

A: Yes. But this is linked with the general management of the surroundings.

For example, by keeping the animals away from the infected areas where the dogs like to play or rest.

Many effective drugs are easily obtained Over the Counter (OTC). Accept your vet’s advice as to what drugs work best in his/her experience. I prefer Front Line and Permethrins (never use the latter on cats). Of course, anti-inflammatory steroids can help to reduce the itch/scratch cycle. I always advise clients, in this particular case, to wash the dogs with anti-tick shampoo; leave on the lather for 30 minutes then wash off the foam. The next day, the caregiver can apply the Fipronil - under veterinary

advice and supervision.

Jiggers

Q: What is “Jiggers”?

A: This is an ailment mostly (but not only) of the soles of the paws. We know it well here in Guyana, especially where dogs play in sandy soil. In fact, vets speak of Jiggers as the “Sand Flea Disease” Jiggers should not be mistaken for Chiggers. As I documented above, Chiggers are caused by immature developmental stages (larvae) of a special mite, whereas Jiggers

occurs when a special type of fertile (pregnant) flea burrows under the skin (of the dog’s paw), or into the skin of any exposed part of a receptive mammal’s body (humans and pigs included). The Jiggers Flea starts off as a tiny, almost invisible, speck under the skin, then it attaches itself on to blood vessels, feeds itself and grows to a size where caregivers can actually extract the parasite with a needle, as they are wont to do (see treatment regimens below).

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A

bout a year ago, in March 2020, all schools went under a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), an online programme was immediately implemented to ensure the students’ needs were not neglected.

WhatsApp groups were created for every class and teachers were tasked with managing those groups and give parents regular updates on the performance of their children.

Emails were collected for every student or their parent and schoolwork was sent to them on a weekly basis. Students were encouraged to complete the work in their books with the hope that it will be marked when they returned to schools.

For the exam students in Form 5 and CAPE, teachers resorted to Zoom classes in order to teach students since they had exams scheduled for May/June 2020.

After the lockdown was extended, the tech team at the school decided to explore options for online teaching. After much delibertation and training with the GSuite for Education Cloud software, all classes from Form 1 to CAPE went online via Google classroom in May 2020.

Teachers were able to post for their students and also teach them live.

Over time, teachers received

more training along with parents and students being trained in the basics. SVN has put many rules and regulations in place and GSuite also has the capacity for monitoring students’ activities online. Both teachers and students are more adept with the software now.

In an effort to meet the demands of online teaching, SVN embarked on a number of initiatives. Those included: Expansion of the internet bandwidth – to deliver the curriculum via Google Classroom, the school needed stable and reliable internet services with a larger bandwidth. Hence, it upgraded its internet services so now all teachers are in school conducting their online classes.

Need for computers – when SVN embarked on its online programme it discovered that many of its students did not have computers or access to it.

It sought and received a donation from Chico Ramnarayan of Computer Resources of America who donated 24 computers to be distributed to students.

In the meantime, SVN teachers also worked tirelessly to repair neglected computers and make them available to students. They also repaired the students’ faulty computers free of charge. The school also tried to meet the need of those students who were prepared to buy

their computers. Again, CRA stepped in and delivered 12 computers which will be sold to students at an affordable price or on a payment plan basis.

Transforming the main hall – since the exams students of Forms 4, 5 and CAPE were allowed to attend physical classes, many arrangements were put in place in order to accommodate the students while following all COVID protocols.

The main hall was transformed into one big classroom, with students seated 6 feet apart. The surround PA system was permanently installed with high performance speakers mounted. Six ceiling fans and two air coolers were also added to make the students comfortable.

Prayers and assembly take place in the hall on a daily basis also. Student s of Forms 1 to 3 join online, while the senior students are in physical attendance along with teachers.

The main call can now be considered as a “smart classroom” with its capacity to have teachers being at home and teaching/interacting with students at school. With the Vibe smartboards being in-transit to SVN, soon teacher/student interaction will further enhance multi-mode teaching and learning from all levels (7-12).

SVN acquires 5 vice smart-

boards To further meet the demands of the ever-expanding LMS environment, SVN embarked on an extraordinary endeavour (might be the first school in Guyana) to acquire smartboards to further enhance teacher-student interaction and to facilitate initiative delivery of lessons.

Vibe’s all-in-one modern design transforms the virtual classroom into a flexible collaborative space.

It is very similar to popular smart boards but without the extravagant costs and periodic software subscriptions.

The vibe smartboards will integrate seamlessly without current LMS (Google Classrooms and Google Meet) without the need for additional equipment or training.

SVN is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the boards which were acquired at a discounted cost of $13,999.

SVN going fully digital In addition to recently implementing full scale online/cloudbased Learning Management Systems (LMS) via Google Suite for Education, SVN is quickly becoming one of the few schools in the Caribbean to fully implement an Integrated School Management System using

Rediker Software – a global leader in school management software for PK-12 public, private, catholic and charter schools.

Over the last decade the growing student population and the ever-expanding logistics of school management, the need for timely information and the demand for more collaboration with SVN and parents; have seen SVN battling with a manual system using a combination of logs, registers and numerous spreadsheets.

Now that SVN has a strong digital backbone and proper range of equipment, Principal Swami Aksharananda has given the green light for the implementation of a SIS and SMS.

After weeks of research and meeting with several software vendors, SVN is now implementing the Rediker Software AdminPlus School of Administrative Software with Web Gradebooks and Mobile-Ready Web Portals.

The process started mid-December 2020 and was finalized with the contract being signed on January 4, 2021.

The school is currently in the customization phase which will be followed by training, testing and implementing the system. SVN is hoping to go live with the system by April 1, 2021.

This venture is as expensive as it is exciting with the bill for the next two years being close to US$16,000.

FEATURE

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HEALTH TIPS sionally.

In 2018, researchers found that more than 15% of adults worldwide had experienced a migraine episode or a severe headache within the last 3 months. While a research from 2015 found that migraine affects just over 19% of females and 9% of males, episodes often occur from the age of 18 up to 44 years, but they can happen at any time, including during childhood.

CAUSES AND TRIGGERS

Dr Tariq Jagnarine

F

amily Med, Endocrinology/Diabetes.

Migraine is a medical condition that involves severe recurring headaches and other symptoms. Before the headache, there may be sensory changes, which are known as an aura. A migraine episode is different from a headache unrelated to migraine. An episode usually occurs in stages, and can last for several days. It can affect a person’s daily life, including their ability to work or study.

How migraine affects people can also vary. There is a range of triggers, severity, symptoms, and frequency.

Some people have more than one episode each week, while others have them only occa-

The cause of migraine episodes is unknown. However, it is suspected to be due to changes in the brain that affect the: • Nerves’ communication • Balance of chemicals • Blood vessels’ alteration • Genetic features may also play a role, as having a family history of migraine is a common risk factor.

Migraine triggers vary, but include: • Hormonal changes; for example, around the time of menstruation.

• Emotional triggers such as stress, depression, anxiety, and excitement.

• Dietary factors, including alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, cheese, citrus fruits, and foods containing the additive

MIGRAINE HEADACHE tyramine.

• Medications such as sleeping pills, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and some birth control pills.

• Environmental factors, including flickering screens, strong smells, second-hand smoke, loud noises, stuffy rooms, temperature changes, and bright lights.

• Tiredness Lack of sleep • • Shoulder and neck tension Poor posture • • Physical overexertion • Low blood sugar • Jet lag • Irregular mealtimes • Dehydration RISK FACTORS Anyone can develop migraine, but it is more common in people with any of the following: • Depression Dipolar disorder • • Fibromyalgia • Irritable bowel syndrome An overactive bladder • • Sleep disorders • Obsessive-compulsive disorder • Anxiety

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of migraine tend to occur in stages: • Before the headache:

According to research, around 20–60% of people experience symptoms that start hours, or possibly days, before the headache. These include physical and sensory symptoms, such as aura.

• During the headache: Alongside a mild to severe throbbing or pulsing headache, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and nasal congestion.

• Resolution: Tiredness and irritability may last another 2 days, and this period is sometimes called the “migraine hangover.”

Other common features are: • Head pain that worsens during physical activity or straining • An inability to perform regular activities due to pain • Increased sensitivity to light and sound that lying quietly in a dark room relieves • Other symptoms may include sweating, temperature changes, a stomach-ache, and diarrhoea.

TYPES OF MIGRAINE

There are various types of migraine. A major distinguishing factor is whether they involve aura, or sensory changes.

• Migraine with aura Aura is a disturbance of the

senses in the early stages of an episode. It can act as a warning that a migraine headache is approaching. Aura can involve: • Confusing thoughts or experiences • Seeing strange, sparkling, or flashing lights that are not there • Seeing zig-zagging lines of light • Having blind spots or blank patches in the vision • Feeling pins and needles in an arm or leg • Difficulty speaking • Weakness in the shoulders, neck, or limbs • Seeing things that are not there out of one eye, such as transparent strings of objects • Not being able to see part of something clearly • Having part of the field of vision disappear, then reappear Aura may feel similar to the sensation that follows exposure to a very bright camera flash, but the visual changes can last for several minutes or up to an hour.

• Migraine without aura More commonly, a person experiences no sensory disturbances before an episode.

According to the Migraine Trust, 70–90% of episodes occur without aura.

• Other types of mi-

graine include: • Chronic migraine: This involves having an episode on more than 15 days per month.

• Menstrual migraine: This occurs in a pattern that follows the menstrual cycle.

• Hemiplegic migraine: This type causes temporary weakness on one side of the body.

• Abdominal migraine: This involves migraine episodes linking with irregular function in the gut and abdomen, often with nausea or vomiting. It mainly affects children under 14 years of age.

• Vestibular migraine: Severe vertigo is a symptom of this form of migraine. migraine: • Basilar This rare type is also known as migraine with brainstem aura, and it can affect neurological functions, such as speech.

DIAGNOSIS

The International Headache Society recommend the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” criteria to diagnose migraine without aura.

This number series stands for: • Having five or more attacks, each with a duration of 4 hours to 3 days • The headache having at least two of the following qualities: TURN TO PAGE 27

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FEATURE

HEALTH TIPS

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MIGRAINE HEADACHE

FROM PAGE 25

–occurring on one side – pulsating – causing moderate-to-severe pain aggravated by activity • having at least one additional symptom, such as: – nausea – vomiting – sensitivity to light – sensitivity to sound • Doctor may recommend imaging or other tests to exclude other causes of symptoms, such as a tumour.

SKIN AILMENTS

TREATMENT

There is no cure for migraine. However, medications can treat the symptoms when they arise, and people can take steps to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.

• Medications Pain relief and other types of medication can often help.

Taking medication as soon as symptoms start may keep them from becoming severe. Some over-the-counter pain relief medications that may benefit people with migraine include: Ibuprofen (Advil) • • A c e t a m i n o p h e n (Panadol) • Other options include: • Triptans, such as sumatriptan, to help reverse the brain changes that cause migraine • Antiemetics to manage any nausea and vomiting • Gepants, which block a protein involved in inflamma-

tion and pain called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) • Ditans, which interact with 5-HT1F receptors on the sensory nerves and blood vessels It is important not to overuse medication, as doing so can cause a rebound headache.

HOME AND NATURAL REMEDIES

Some home remedies that can help relieve the symptoms of migraine include: • Using flexible cold packs or masks • Staying in a quiet, darkened room • Other nondrug remedies may include acupuncture and neck exercises or physical therapy.

PREVENTION

While it is not always possible to prevent migraine episodes, there are ways to reduce their frequency and severity.

The following prescription drugs may help reduce the number of episodes that a person with severe migraine experiences: • Topiramate- an antiseizure drug • Propanolol, for treating high blood pressure • Antidepressant medications • Botox • It may take several weeks to see an improvement.

• The best treatment in children or adolescents may be different from that in adults. A doctor • Identifying and avoiding triggers.

N.B. Only recently, has this “Jiggers” infection been given the attention it deserves by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: The burrowing flea obviously causes great discomfort and unleashes a massive itch/ scratch response. Consequently, the area is inflamed and quite painful, especially when sores follow and there is a secondary infection.

Q: Does an effective caregiver intervention exist?

A: Over the years, I have encountered heavily infected dogs (not lastly in dogs from the villages with sandy soil which border the many miles between Timehri/ Soesdyke and Linden.

In every case, the villagers firstly try to physically remove the encapsulated tissue. Also the dog’s caregiver might try rubbing the pulp of a mammey apple, alcohol, disinfectants, a series of herbal treatments, and even Hydrogen Peroxide, into the infected area, before they give up and bring the dog in for the vet to administer the correct treatment. In fact, the extraction process is so painful, the animal almost always has to be anaesthetized. But with dozens of infected lesions, it is a daunting task. However, there are other concoctions which can be used successful-

– CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

ly. Before we had functional OTC commercial medications, we placed the dog’s paw into a bowl of Potassium Permanganate solution; and that worked. Covering the wound with vaseline so as to suffocate the “sand flea” did not work well in my experience. Surgical removal of the parasite is only an option, when there are only a few infected spots.

Q: Where did this “Sand Flea” come from?

A: The parasite (Tunga penetrans) is common in the Caribbean and Central and South America. But also it can be found in tropical Africa (e.g. Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya) as well. Indigenous communities in the Roraima Province (in Brazil), which borders Guyana, is full of this infection. “Jiggers” is also known as “Chigoe”. I don’t know if this is a Yanomami word (the Yanomami are plentiful in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima), but you can detect the similarity of the two words “Chigoe” and “Jiggers”.

My colleague and friend, Dr. Waldron, who studied in Brazil, has advised me about the spelling of the word “Chigoe”. I have also seen the word with the spelling “Chegoe” and “Chegre”. But we will let the Etymologists figure out whence this word came, especially bearing in mind that the disease is prevalent in Africa (e.g. Kenya).

Next Week we will deal with Ringworm.

28 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Behavioural change still a challenge in mitigating COVID-19 – Minister

O

ne year since Guyanese have been living in the pandemic has resulted in accumulated knowledge on what is needed to protect from COVID-19, but the behavioural change to enable such is still lacking in the country.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared that while persons know what guidelines should be followed, they are lacking in the adherence department – a challenge which authorities are tasked with addressing. Overall, he noted that response to the pandemic has increased significantly.

“I would say that overall, we have ramped up the response in various ways and by large, I think today we are much wiser about COVID-19 than we were one year ago. I think people are more informed. What we have to do now that is still a challenge is use the information that we

know and turn that into behavioural change because the same persons who are not wearing the masks properly, if you talk to them, they actually know the right thing to do. I guess we need to keep belabouring the point,” the Minister shared.

He reminded that the coronavirus is still here and people will get infected if they choose to shy away from the protective measures. The most common requirements are wearing a mask, practising safe distancing from other people and proper handwashing. There is also the national guidelines and curfew which are in place.

“We still have to work to make sure that persons are understanding that COVID-19 is still here and people are going to get infected, people are going to get sick if we don’t abide by these rules.”

Dr Anthony was keen to note that while isolation is a critical part of

keeping the population safe, the livelihoods of people must not be threatened. As a result, Government has moved to open a few sectors which can be kept under control.

He explained, “We have opened some of the worksites so that people can go back to their jobs and so that they’re able to earn a living…

You have to strike a balance between lives and livelihood so that people can be able to earn a little bit of money to make sure that they can survive through the pandemic.”

One of the key findings from a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) this week identified that the income generated by female-led households in Guyana dwindled significantly during the pandemic, as one in every five persons lost their income.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

The final document primarily focused on the socio-economic impact facing Guyanese households during this pandemic. The data was collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews using a sample of 1500 households across the country.

According to the findings, “Although household expenditure remained somewhat normal, income has been reduced significantly, especially among female-led households.”

Additionally, approximately 69 per cent of the respondents reported that they had no alternative sources of income and would prefer cash as their primary form of assistance.

Around 52 per cent of the household interviewed said that they were forced to exhaust their savings.

To maintain food security, 37 per cent of respondents resorted to buying cheaper, less preferred brands, while approximately 25 per cent of persons said that they started growing their own vegetables. Apart from the loss of income, 35 per cent of persons surveyed suggested that they would place proper internet access among their priority areas of need.

(G12)

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COVID-19 vaccines Government in discussion with major COVID-19 vaccine producers – President Ali …expresses gratitude to Barbados, China, India for donation

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he Government of Guyana has been aggressively pursuing its vaccination programme to ensure that the entire country has access to the COVID-19 vaccines, by pursuing the manufacturers of those vaccines to make them readily available.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, in an update to the nation on Saturday, said that his Government is in discussions with AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, the United Arab Emirates, India for Covaxin, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the COVAX mechanism for the provision of vaccines. “…as I said before we are sparing no efforts in ensuring that all Guyanese have access to this vaccine. Indeed, your Government is working with every possible stakeholder to ensure that we can

President Irfaan Ali updating the nation on Saturday

vaccinate our population by the end of this year. To this end we have aggressively and proactively pursued many initiatives, many organisations,” he explained.

Thus far, Guyana has received 80,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India and 20,000 doses of Sinopharm from the Government of China.

Additionally, Barbados donated 3000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine – from what was donated to them by India.

President Ali explained that in relation to the future rollout of vaccines they are waiting on word from the COVAX mechanism.

“In that (COVAX) mechanism we were supposed to receive 108,000 doses of vaccines within the first quarter of this year. It has been a month since our last communication with COVAX and we have received no update from COVAX itself so we are in no position to say where COVAX is in relation to the commitment to Guyana.

“We have also made payments in the COVAX system so we are pursuing with COVAX this 108,000 doses that was promised in the first quarter of this year but as I am saying to you now, one month has elapsed since we last heard from them in relation to an update,” he related.

Ali said that they have been in direct contact with both Moderna and Pfizer for the provision of vaccines but both companies indicated that they can make no commitments until 2022.

Additionally, all the paperwork has been submitted to the African Union and they are awaiting an update from the Union.

“We have also collaborated and working with a group out of the UAE. We have placed an order for 200(000) doses of vaccines. That is the Sputnik V vaccines and we have been told that within 2 weeks we will get our first shipment of 50,000 and every 2 weeks following that we will get shipments of 50,000 until we get to the 200(000) doses, we would have ordered from Sputnik.

“We have started the vaccination process and we can’t slow down. So we are moving to every single avenue. I have already made it very clear that we are going to try all

that it takes. We are going to commit to ensuring that our population gets the vaccine,” President Ali explained.

The Government also made a request for 120,000 doses of the vaccine from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He is hoping that within the next two weeks, they can receive positive feedback in relation to the request. Paperwork has also been submitted to Sinopharm for the supply of 200,000 doses of their vaccine and they are in an advanced stage of discussion.

“The Covaxin which is the indigenous vaccine developed

by India and is a very affordable vaccine and the news reported Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi as taking this vaccine. We have also put in a request for 400,000 doses of Covaxin and we are waiting communication on that but discussions have already started in relation to the Covaxin. Sputnik V, we have also advanced discussions and negotiations with Russia directly to have 300,000 doses but again production chain management is creating difficulties. We were promised by next Thursday 5000 doses (of Sputnik V) and we are following up on this,” Ali informed.

Gratitude

The President also expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of India, China and Barbados for their donations of vaccines.

“As President, I wish to thank Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for their kind donation of 80,000 vaccines to us. Indeed, this generosity speaks to a Government and a people that are committed to the welfare and wellbeing of humanity. Prime Minister Modi have demonstrated through his own management of COVID, this pandemic, great responsibility not only for India but globally.

“I want to thank the Government and people of China for their donation of 20,000 vaccines to the people of Guyana. On behalf of the people of Guyana, we are surely grateful for this donation. It comes at a time indeed when we are like the rest of the world working on an aggressive plan to vaccinate our population in order to get ahead of this pandemic,” he said.

The President said that it is essential that Guyanese are updated on the Government’s effort to bring the vaccine to them. He is also urging every Guyanese to ensure that they take the vaccine whenever it becomes available to them.

“Let us work together in getting ahead of this pandemic so that we can continue to build our country stronger. So that we can continue to build our country in life and unity. So that we can continue to build this one Guyana and take it to a prosperous future in which all our people can benefit.” (G2)

30 NEWS Mother of 1 killed in ECD accident SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

73-year-old housewife - a mother of one - is the latest road fatality after she was struck down on the Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), early Saturday morning.

Dead is Miriam Johnson

of Lot 8 Eastville Housing Scheme, ECD. The accident occurred at about 06:00h on Saturday when motor car PRR 6925, driven by a 22-year-old fisherman, collided with her.

Based on information received, the motor car was

“…me hold on to my wife and I start shouting for ‘Mariam, Mariam’ but she was dead,” grieving husband

proceeding east along the

northern side of Annandale

Public Road, when it was alleged by the driver that while proceeding in the said direction he observed the pedestrian standing in the centre of the road.

He told Police as he approached the pedestrian, she ran north across the

road into his path, causing the left side front of his vehicle to collide with her.

As a result of the collision, Johnson fell onto the road’s surface where she received injuries to her head and other parts of the body.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN CONSERVATION

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here are many things to boast about when we think about our homeland – Guyana. It is reported that as much at 87% of our land remains intact forest. Added to being the ‘Land of Many Waters’, it is not surprising to hear of the amazing diversity and abundance of wildlife that can be found in our rainforests, mangroves, savannas, and freshwater habitats. No doubt, you have heard about, or visited, one of our five (5) Protected Areas – the Kaieteur National Park, the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, the Shell Beach Protected Area, the Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas and the Kanashen Community-owned Conservation Area. These areas have been recognised for being biodiversity hotpots and have been deemed deserving of protection and management under the Guyana Protected Areas System.

When we think of conservation in Guyana – true, we think of our wildlife, protected areas, and even local agencies such as the Protected Areas Commission, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency. However, there have always been champions for environmental conservation and protection. Over the past few decades, there have been increased efforts to recognise these champions - our Indigenous brothers and sisters, who have been custodians of the lands they occupy. Their way of life has always given them a close relationship with the lands and waterways around them. The rainforests and rivers provide for their sustenance and livelihoods. Most importantly, their cultural beliefs and practices, based on traditional knowledge, have ensured sustainable use of these resources.

Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge, practices and innovations of Indigenous people which were acquired over many years, being passed down from generation to generation. It is not static, but responds to the environment, and evolves over time. It may take the form of practices, stories, songs, cultural values, beliefs/ rituals, languages and community law.

The recognition of Indigenous peoples and the role that their traditional knowledge has had in managing and protecting the environment worldwide has been increasing emphasised. Amazingly, most Indigenous communities are situated in areas where the vast majority of the world’s biodiversity are found. They have been managing the resources in these areas in a sustainable way for thousands of years. Some of their practices have been proven to enhance and promote biodiversity at the local level, and aid in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) has therefore been encouraging increased dialogue and involvement of Indigenous people in conservation planning and actions.

In that light, Guyana has been working at various levels to ensure that we recognise the role our Indigenous peoples have played and continue to play in the management and conservation of Guyana’s natural resources. For example, each of our Protected Areas is associated with several Indigenous communities. These communities are engaged in supporting the process of managing these Protected Areas, and their right to continued sustainable use of the resources within these areas is respected. At the same time, it is acknowledged by many Indigenous communities that some of their traditional knowledge is at risk of being lost. Efforts to safeguard traditional knowledge therefore need to be urgently addressed.

So, what can be done? Look out next week for a followup article to learn about a Darwin Initiative (UK-funded) project that has been promoting the inclusion of traditional knowledge at the national level.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Mother of 1 killed in ECD...

When Guyana Times visited the home of the dead woman on Saturday, her reputed husband, Sedrick Forde, said he was in a minibus heading home from work when he observed a crowd on the Annandale Public Road.

He said as he approached the corner, a woman from the community ran and held onto him and started crying.

“She said come and see where you wife deh. I ask she way me wife deh…when I go I see my wife lying down on the road dead. Me go and me hold on to my wife and I

start shouting for ‘Mariam, Mariam’ but she was dead,” the grieving man said.

Forde said he knelt on the road and began crying since he could not believe that his wife’s life was snuffed out in just the blink of an eye. He said he became confused and went for a sheet with the help of the Police and covered the woman’s lifeless body.

“I assisted in lifting her and taking her to the hospital and that is when they pronounced her dead.

We plan last night [Friday night] that she was going to cook for me today

[Saturday] since I work security as a guard. She was going over at the market to buy the things so that we can cook. This man wrong my wife,” he said.

The woman’s husband said her death will take a toll on him since “she was a good woman”. He said they have been living together for the past seven years.

Following the accident, a notice of intended prosecution was served on the driver of the motor car, who submitted to an alcohol breath test. No trace of alcohol was detected. He remains in custody as the Police’s

FROM PAGE 30

Dead: Mariam Johnson

investigation continues.

(LaWanda McAllister)

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 injured as fire destroys Bagotstown house

A

56-year-old woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Saturday morning after a fire broke out at a house on the Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

The two-storey building was occupied by two families – six upstairs where the injured woman resided and another three persons in the lower flat.

The fire started sometime around 10:00h at the Lot 3 Public Road Bagotstown house which is located at the back of the MedX Pharmacy.

According to the injured woman’s daughter, Nadisha Yusuf, she and her mother had gone back to sleep after waking up early to prepare meals for her father to take to work. She recounted that they were sleeping in the upstairs room when her aunt from downstairs rushed up and alerted them of the fire.

“My mommy get up when

erything in the fire.

“All thing burn up, everything. We ain’t got nothing. All them clothes – the baby clothes and things them that we buy to go in hospital all get burn up,” Samantha cried.

The family believes that the fire was electrical in nature since it started in the ceiling.

Nadisha related that the house was being renovated and the electricians went to do some work Friday night.

“Them people come The Bagotstown house that was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning

she hear (my aunt shouting fire) and I feel somebody pulling my hand… When I get up I see smoke and fire so I tried to help mommy because she can’t see good and she get arthritis so she don’t walk good too. So I lift she up from the bed and bring she out,” the young woman recalled.

She added that “…when she de coming out the bedroom, she fall and get burn

[on both of her feet].”

At that time, the young woman said the blaze had already spread through the living room and bathroom area.

Meanwhile, the pregnant wife of Nadisha’s cousin, Samantha, and the couple’s son were in another room in the upper flat when the fire broke out.

Samatha explained to this newspaper that she

was with her son on their bed when her mother-inlaw, who lives in the lower flat, called out to her.

“When my mother-inlaw come up, she see the fire start spreading from the ceiling and when we come out, we see the fire done catch on the chair and spreading to go to the room them,” she related.

The pregnant woman lamented that they lost ev-

[Friday] night and fix the wire and it look like them do it hurry, hurry because they had to go to Berbice so I ain’t know [what happened],” the young woman told this publication.

Nevertheless, firefighters were able to contain the blaze from spreading to neighbouring houses which were close in proximity and had businesses. These include the front building which houses a pharmacy and another store next door. (G8)

34 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 4 pensioner is Guyana’s 207th COVID-19 death …as bar owners, workers arrested for breaching curfew

A

nother person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana died on Saturday, the Health Ministry said.

This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 207.

The latest fatality is a 71-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) who died while receiving care at a medical facility.

With this new fatality, Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has gone up by six over the past week. Last Sunday, two females – a 64-year-old from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and a 69-year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) – died.

Then a 76-year-old male from Region 10

died on Monday, while a 59-year-old male from the Demerara-Mahaica region died the following day. On Wednesday, a 39-year-old female from Region 10 also died while receiving care at a medical facility.

New cases

Meanwhile, the Ministry also reported on Saturday that 52 more persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus from some 793 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

According to the updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 9121.

However, only 628 of these are currently active cases. This includes five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

and the other 623 persons in isolation, that is, 32 in institutional isolation and the remaining 591 in home isolation.

There are also another eight persons in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening virus has gone up to 8287 – 22 more recoveries than the figure that was reported the previous day.

To date, Guyana has tested some 74,971 persons for the novel coronavirus.

Of the 52 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Saturday, one was detected in Region One (BarimaWaini); eight in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 28 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica

region; five in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); one case in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and another one in Region 10.

The figures remained the same in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Health authorities are reminding all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 15), which was extended for this month and will be in effect until March 31, 2021.

Among these measures is the 22:30h (10 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew.

Restaurants and places of worship continue to operate at 40 per cent capacity. Gyms are to operate at 50 per cent capacity while sporting events are only permitted with approval from the Health

Minister.

Breaching curfew

Back in January, authorities had lifted the restrictions for bars, which are now allowed to be open

up to 21:30h (09:30 pm).

However, there have been complaints that several of these remain open past that curfew time.

TURN TO PAGE 36

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36 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC attempts to oust Parliamentary Secretaries

Constitution empowers Secretaries to be in National Assembly – AG

C

hallenges to the appointment of two Parliamentary Secretaries because they were on a political party’s list are misconceived and should be dismissed with costs. This is according to Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall in his legal submissions.

The two Parliamentary Secretaries, Vickash Ramkissoon and Sarah Brown, were appointed back in September to assist various Ministers. But the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) through applicant Christopher Jones, contends that they were candidates on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) list and thus, cannot serve as Parliamentary Secretaries.

In his response to Jones’ submissions, however, Nandlall pointed to Article 186 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which says that “Parliamentary Secretaries

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

may be appointed from among persons who are elected members of the National Assembly or are qualified to be elected as such members.”

Since Brown and Ramkissoon, who are respectively the third and fourth named respondents, were on the list and eligible to be extracted as Members of Parliament, Nandlall noted that their appointments are in line with Article 186 (1).

“It is respectfully submitted that the third and fourth named respondents were already elected members of the National Assembly at the time of their appointment as Parliamentary Secretaries. It was not the fact of their appointment which made them elected members of the National Assembly,” Nandlall said in his submissions.

The AG emphasised that when the two Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed, it was not to hold a seat in the National Assembly but merely to assist their subject Ministers, as is provided for in Article 113 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Article 113 says “(1) The President may appoint Parliamentary Secretaries to assist himself or Ministers in the discharge of their functions” and “(2) Qualifications for appointment to the office of Parliamentary Secretary and other matters connected

Parliamentary Secretary Sarah Brown

therewith are regulated by Article 186.”

“The applicant submits that there is no submission in the Constitution which permits a person who is an elected Member of the National Assembly to hold a seat in the National Assembly by virtue of the appointment as a Parliamentary Secretary,” Nandlall said in his submission.

“However, in the present circumstances, we are

Parliamentary Secretary Vickash Ramkissoon

not dealing with the holding of seats in the National Assembly but membership of the National Assembly.

The two are certainly not one and the same,” Nandlall submitted.

The appointment of the Parliamentary Secretaries was made on September 15, which was day two of the budget debates. Brown, who was the Region One Vice Chairman, was appointed to assist Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai while Ramkissoon was appointed to assist Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, in discharging his duties.

At the time, this publication had interviewed Government Chief Whip and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, who had explained what the appointments mean and the fact that they are not a breach of the Constitution

but rather, provided for in the constitutional reform process.

Joseph Hamilton, who is the current Labour Minister, is a former Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health. Sukhai, on the other hand, previously served as a Parliamentary Secretary in the very Ministry she now heads.

“After the constitutional reforms we went through in 2009, it provides for four technocrat Ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries.

The Parliamentary Secretaries can be appointed from MPs who are elected or persons who are eligible to be MPs. So, you can have an MP who is a Parliamentary Secretary and one who is not.”

“The ones that are not elected MPs, they are allowed to sit in Parliament, speak but not vote. So, in the past (Minister Sukhai) was an MP and a Parliamentary Secretary and (now Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton) was an MP and a Parliamentary Secretary,” Minister Teixeira had explained.

Jones’ court action, which was filed in December last, comes on the heels of a previous court case the Opposition filed, challenging the appointment of current Minister of Tourism, Industry and Trade Oneidge Walrond. (G3)

Region 4 pensioner is Guyana’s 207th...

FROM PAGE 34

As such, law enforcement officers swooped down on several bars and night clubs in Georgetown that were in breach of the curfew.

The exercise was carried out between 22:00h on Friday and 03:30h on Saturday by ranks from the National COVID Task Force, Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force in Regional Division 4A (Georgetown).

During this operation, several persons were detained for breaching the curfew.

At the Sleep-In Bar & Casino on Church Street, owner Clifton Bacchus and two bartenders were taken into custody along with 10 Chinese nationals including two females who were in the casino.

The owner of Club Altitude on Sandy Babb Street Kitty, Meer Rahaman, along with 18 patrons – 10 males and eight females – were also detained.

Additionally, Mark Alleyne, the manager at Kairos Bar on Charlotte Street, was also arrested.

Meanwhile, bartender Delon Moffett and his as-

sistant Akeem Carmichael from Club Privilege on Main Street were taken into custody.

The Police said they were all placed on cash bail pending their court appearances.

It was noted too that there was “no incident” during this operation.

Only Tuesday, three managers of the three bars at the Giftland Mall were charged for breaching the COVID-19 regulations.

The trio was arrested on March 6, 2021, but Giftland Mall owner Roy Beepat had accused the Police Force of targeting and harassing the establishment. He had claimed that other nightspots in Georgetown were being allowed to remain open way past the curfew time.

However, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who heads the National COVID TaskForce, has reassured that no one is exempted or above the law when it comes to enforcing the restrictions.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Saturday, some 118,754,336 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 2,634,370 deaths. (G8)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 estates produce over 700 tonnes of sugar in 1 day …highest daily performance tory foris 2020, 2021 expected to grind

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) has announced that combined, Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, the only three estates left standing after the downsizing of the sugar industry under the former Government, produced over 700 metric tonnes of sugar in one day.

According to GuySuCo, the three estates produced 710 metric tonnes of sugar on Thursday. It was explained that this is the highest performance so far for 2021 and also for 2020.

When it comes to the Uitvlugt estate, some 1.0006 metric tonnes of

sugar was produced for the week. This, according to GuySuCo, surpassed the week’s production target for the second week of complete grinding since the start of the first crop.

“During the initial days of the 1st crop, 2021, GuySuCo’s engineering corps along with all factory team members worked diligently to rectify major defects observed during the pre-crop factory trials also known as steam trials. This week, the Uitvlugt factory recorded a total of 125 grinding hours, a significant improvement compared to 116 the previous week. At Uitvlugt, the fac-

Bandit posing as customer robs Chinese restaurant

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Chinese restaurant at Goed Fortune, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was on Friday robbed by a bandit posing as a customer.

According to reports, at around 22:30h a silver-grey primo motor car stopped in front of the restaurant and a man exited the back passenger seat of the car, went to the gate of the restaurant and ordered a chicken fried rice. As the staff went in to prepare the order, the bandit whipped out the gun, jumped over the fence, ran into the restaurant, and held the owner at gunpoint.

At that time, the owner of the business began resist-

ing and the lone gunman hit him to his head with the firearm which caused him to receive injuries.

Guyana Times understands that during the scuffle, the magazine of the gun fell to the ground and six live 9mm ammunition fell out.

After seeing this, the suspect reportedly left the man, went under the counter of the restaurant, grabbed the cash then jumped the fence and made good his escape in the waiting car. It is still unclear how much money the suspect took from the restaurant. A report was made to the Police and an investigation has been launched.

Pirates attack Guyanese fishermen

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group of Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) fisherman were attacked in the Waini River, Region One (Barima-Waini) by pirates.

The incident occurred at Kamwatta, Waini River, in the North West District and according to Police, the men were robbed of food, fuel, cellular phones and about $100,000 in fish, late Wednesday night.

Among the fishermen were two juveniles.

The fishermen told Police that they were attacked by six armed men who spoke both English and Spanish.

After the ordeal, the victims said that they made their way to Morawhanna Police Station where they made a report.

Police said that arrangements are being made for them to be interviewed and have statements taken.

A few months ago, a fishing expedition by a four-man crew along the Waini River turned into a horror story after the men were attacked by pirates.

Reports are the boat, which was captained by a

30-year-old man of Kumaka Water Front, departed Morawhanna village, and while on their journey the crew was awakened by the sound of men on board the vessel.

At the time there were five men, two of whom were armed with “long guns”; the suspects were clad in “what appeared to be military uniforms” and they were speaking a foreign language.

Police stated that the pirates then took control of the vessel and forced the crew to the bow, where they remained for some 24 hours. The suspects then brought onboard their belongings, from a wooden boat they tied onto the captured vessel. The Police had stated that the suspects then spotted other boats in the area and left in pursuit of them.

Before departing, they relieved the crew of their valuables, including a Plum cell phone valued at $16,000.

Shortly after the suspects disembarked the vessel, the captain hurriedly started the boat and proceeded to the open ocean to avoid being followed by the pirates.

(G9)

for 130-135 hours per week,” the company said on Saturday.

“So far, the Uitvlugt Estate has harvested a total of 416 hectares (42 per cent of which was provided by private farmers).

Both the private and the estate uses semi-mechanical and manual harvesting techniques to harvest more than 28,000 metric tonnes of cane to produce 2068 metric tonnes sugar over a period of just over two weeks.”

The company went on to explain that engineers were able to fix a number of defects observed during trial runs at Uitvlugt. The improvements were made to the powerhouse, the crystallisers and a new boiler chimney.

“Notable improvements pertaining to the factory’s operations this crop include: increase power generation due to repairs in the

powerhouse, a better mix of bagasse/fossil fuel usage contributing to reduction in cost, better quality of sugar cane harvested because of the strategy in the industry to go back to the basics in the agronomical practices and getting the nutrients for the plant on time,” the statement from the company said.

According to the statement, the repairs will also result in “less extraneous matter as a result of repairs to cane dumper area conducted prior to crop, better quality sugar crystals due to repairs completed at the crystallisers and a new boiler chimney which is allowing better combustion and better performance in the boilers and more consistent steam generation on the estate.”

Uitvlugt Manager Yudhisthira Mana said that $50 million went towards factory repairs while attributing the improve-

Uitvlugt Manager Yudhisthira Mana

ment in the estate’s productivity in 2021 “to the workers’ resilience, injection of the money towards factory repairs conducted prior to commencement of the 1st Crop 2021.”

He noted that importantly, the continued confidence of the private farmers in the ability of the estate’s management to produce sugar of the highest quality must also be lauded.

The former A

Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had closed the Wales Estate in 2016, and subsequently shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates. The downsizing of the sugar industry resulted in only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates currently operating.

After taking office last year, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Government announced in the 2020 Emergency Budget presented in September 2020, that some $5 billion would be injected into the sugar industry for the phased reopening of the closed estates.

GuySuCo was allocated a further $2 billion in Budget 2021 by the PPP/C Government for capital works to be undertaken at the various estates to help in the turnaround of the sugar industry.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

Regal Cricket teams donate $1.25M to GHDS school project “The best is yet to come,” says businessman Mahendra Hardyal “O ur primary purpose in life is to help others.”

Those sage words of wisdom were spoken by The Dalai Lama, and they resonate well with local businessman Mahendra Hardyal, who recently presented monetary donations to the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) for their continued efforts in humanitarian work.

Hardyal, Managing Director of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre (RSCC), located at 13 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, is always lending a helping hand to others. He recently donated $1.25M to the non-profit organisation Bal Nivas Shelter for Abused Children and for the completion of the Dharmic Rama Krishna Secondary School.

Moreover, the philanthropic Businessman Mahendra Hardyal presented $250,000 to the Bal Nivas Shelter at Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice, and that money represented the entire winning purse from the inaugural Guyana Cricket Board’s Over-40 tournament, which Regal Masters won earlier in December.

The Bal Nivas Shelter caters for up to 60 children who are suffering from various forms of abuse, and this places the centre’s financial need at approximately $500,000 monthly. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shelter is facing tough financial times, especially in regard to fund-raising events. This is according to Director of the GHDS, Rajnarine Singh, who welcomed the timely donation.

At the presentation, which took place at the headquarters of the GHDS, it was stated that this was the first time that a Regal team had participated in a hardball tournament, which made the moment much more pleasing.

In softball cricket, their more favoured format, the Regal Legends retained their title at the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup in November, while their Masters and All Stars teams suffered mixed fortunes.

Hardyal praised the players for their consistency, and expressed gratitude to their supporters, while promising more successes on and off the field.

A presentation of $1M was also made on behalf of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and the extended Hardyal family to aid in the construction of the Dharmic Rama

The Regal Masters with their championship trophy after the tournament at Everest Cricket Club last December

Krishna Secondary School.

The presentation was made by Office Manager Telesha Ousman,

who detailed the history of the donation by stating that support from the Hardyals dates back several decades, when Mahendra’s father, Bhisham, served an executive member of the GHDS; and he also was fully supported by his wife Shirley. The devoted couple then got their children: Mahendra, Krishna, Ravi and Ishri, deeply involved.

Ousman said there is nothing more pleasing to the Hardyals than supporting children’s education and helping them to recover from difficult situations.

In accepting the donation, Singh thanked the Hardyals, the Regal Business Group, and the cricket teams for their consideration, and wished them continued success in their future endeavours. The director also said the money would go towards the three-phase project which is expected to be completed for the new academic year. It is expected to commence

in September this year. So far, approximately $200M has been spent to see one building at 90 percent completion, while the second building is 70 percent completed. The third building is yet to start.

The remainder of the project requires a further $150M, and upon completion will cater for more than 500 primary school students and a similar number of secondary level students.

Over the years, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Regal Sport have assisted several persons and organisations in various ways, while the Regal cricket teams have remained the most decorated outfit on the field. Nevertheless, this may just be the beginning, as the compassionate and optimistic Mahendra Hardyal reiterated that, “with spiritual beliefs and talent in sport, the best is yet to come, both on and off the field”.

Sanasie issues manifesto for transforming WI cricket

A

nand Sanasie, who is vying for the presidency of the Cricket West Indies, has issued his manifesto for the transformation of cricket. In the 20-page document, Sanasie and his vice

presidency candidate Calvin G. Hope outline numerous opportunities, programmes and phased implementation plans which will transform the region’s cricket. (See more details in March 15th edition)

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SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

39

AAG not jumping the gun with requests for funding W hen it comes to international participation, funding is a key aspect in getting athletes to their destination.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered this process for the AAG, the association will be looking to two entities for support.

Two international events, namely the South American Seniors and the Tokyo Olympics, are on the cards for the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and Guyanese athletes later this year.

However, as usual, funding will play a huge role in the preparation and execution of this goal.

AAG President Aubrey Hutson shared that following

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

their last meet, which was hosted at the Leonora Track and Field Facility exactly one week ago, the AAG is now in a position to assess athletes’ performances and present a corresponding budget to get its Olympics plans underway.

“With COVID in mind, we could not have put a budget together per se, because we

GFF pays its respects at funeral of Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey

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The GFF delegation at Neil Humphrey’s funeral

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) delegation led by President Wayne Forde paid its last respects to former national player and Berbice football legend Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey at his funeral in New Amsterdam on Thursday, March 11.

Humphrey, who sadly passed away two weeks ago at age 65, represented Guyana during the 1970s; played for several clubs, such as Cougars and Caribs; and ran the Teach Them Young football camp for more than two decades.

“It was a great privilege to attend Grizzly’s funeral this week, to honour his memory with his friends, family and community, and to pay our respects on behalf of the football fraternity,” GFF President Forde said.

“It was a deeply moving experience as we celebrated the life of a loving father, son and brother; a great servant to football, and a hugely popular man. We came away from the ceremony motivated and inspired by Grizzly’s life to continue to develop the game that he loved so dearly. RIP, Grizzly,” he said.

During its visit, the delegation took opportunity to inspect infrastructure works ongoing at football facilities in New Amsterdam and at Ann’s Grove, ECD, where the GFF is investing heavily to improve the quality and standard of grounds, in order to spur the development of football and enhance access for all.

The GFF kickstarted major football facilities’ upgrades last month under the FIFA Forward and One Concacaf programmes, and those upgrades include construction of changing rooms suitable for both male and female players and officials at Ann’s Grove Community Ground and the Vryman’s Erven Ground in New Amsterdam. These upgrades are scheduled for

completion in June.

As part of compliance requirements for the projects, the GFF must monitor contractor activities onsite, and strive to ensure the timely, cost-effective and quality delivery of any works.

President Forde also held constructive meetings with Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh, and Town Council officials, as well as Regional Executive Officer Narindra Persaud, who pledged to support ground development in New Amsterdam.

“We are very satisfied with the works at both facilities so far,” Forde has said. “They are going to make a big difference for football in both areas and, importantly, open up access to more female players and officials.

“The GFF is committed to ensuring that FIFA and Concacaf funds are put to the best use possible for the development of football in Guyana in a clear and transparent way.

“A significant strategic focus for us, the Executive Committee, is to upgrade football facilities around the country so that they are fit for purpose and so that more people can participate in the sport.

“Our meetings with New Amsterdam and regional representatives were extremely positive, and we look forward to working closely with officials in Berbice to improve conditions for football and develop young talent in the region.”

The GFF has a 30-year lease for the Vryman’s Erven ground, which will become a “home of football” for the Berbice region.

The GFF’s ongoing infrastructure blitz also includes works to complete the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, EBD; upgrades to GFF headquarters in Georgetown, and the installation of a perimeter fence at a playfield in the BB Eccles Housing Scheme.

don’t know how many athletes we’re going to look at. We didn’t want to go too early and say we have three athletes, and then next thing you know ten of them start showing progress,” Hutson explained.

The AAG President went on to shed some more light on the selection method by stating, “After this developmental meet, I will sit down with the executives and their coaches’ body and take a realistic view of our athletes and where they are; and hence we can put a budget through to the GOA and also the Government of Guyana, in order to move the sport in that direction in terms of getting the athletes to the Olympics.”

Probed about any specialised

training the AAG may want to offer to promising athletes ahead of the international stage, Hutson shared that those considerations will be made and included in whatever budget the AAG drafts.

When it comes to the biggest points’ earner for the Olympics, the South American Seniors, Hutson shared that although there is limited funding, the AAG

is focused on sending athletes who are poised to qualify, or have already qualified, for the Olympics.

“I know almost every athlete would like to make it to South American (Seniors), but with limited funding, we’re going to ensure (we give consideration to) those athletes who are on ‘borderline qualifying’ for the

Olympics, or those who would have made it already but need the South American as another stepping stone to gain good lane assignments going into the Olympic Games.

“The few names that are called are the few that would’ve shown us that they are ready, willing and prepared, and we hope that others would come on board.

Currently, the likes of Emmanuel Archibald, Akeem Stewart and Devaun Barrington are the locals under the microscope for Olympics’ participation.

While Leslain Baird is also a hopeful, it is unclear whether his torn knee ligament would hinder his Olympic qualification.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

Shimron Hetmyer gets a wake-up call – fans have their say on Shimron Hetmyer's non-selection to any WI team

Shimron Hetmyer

By Brandon Corlette

T

he non-selection of Shimron Hetmyer to any of the West Indies teams opposing the visiting Sri Lankans in these home series has impacted the Guyanese people like the eruption of a volcano.

The left-handed batting maestro did not find a place in any of the squads announced

for the Sri Lanka tour, and some of his adoring fans are bitterly disappointed at this decision taken by the Cricket West Indies selection panel. Some individuals are, however, looking at the bigger picture and calling Hetmyer’s non-selection a wake-up call.

This publication spoke with some cricket fans, and recorded their opinions about Hetmyer's non-selection.

Kevon Jawahir: "I think it's an eye-opener for Shimron. I think he needs to get himself in order, and keep his body fit."

Devon Ramnauth: "Disappointed! CWI should guide him, instead of drop him. (He’s) pure talent, but he needs to mature."

Colin Bynoe Jr: "For some players, getting dropped is a cricketing disaster. They push themselves to get back in the team, and end up trying so hard (that) their performance and confidence drops even further. But it doesn't have to be like that.

When you deal with it in the right way, getting dropped can end up making you a better player.

“I think it's a wake-up call for him as a young guy.

In my opinion, he needs to be

more consistent and adopt a more professional approach towards his game. With him not being considered for selection, he should use this period to reflect on the successes he had thus far in his international career, and also strive to improve on those successes.

“At this point (in time), he should try and control the things he can that relate to his game. What's in his control at the moment is the hard work that he can put in, working more on his fitness and his ability to overcome this moment in his career mentally, and also to seek assistance from current and

past greats in the game. I'm sure he will come back stronger."

Nicholas Beharry: "I think he supposed to play in front Bravo (chiny lara)!"

Joshua Ferrell: "It’s really disappointing to not see Hetty in the Test squad. The reason stated behind his axing is absolutely ridiculous.

It was mentioned that he wasn’t fit, he went ahead and got fit. He made himself available for Regional cricket as well, playing in the Best vs Best game. So, to tell me that he wasn’t selected due to not playing 4-day cricket is somewhat ridiculous.

"Darren Bravo is not in any form to be recalled to the Test team. I think (that in) his last 7-8 Test matches, there hasn’t been a score over 25, so that speaks volumes. John Campbell needs to be axed from the team as an opener also.

“If the regional games are what players are selected

on, then the system needs to change, because Permaul still can’t make the Test team, being the leading wicket-taker year after year; likewise with Leon Johnson with the bat. So, there’s a lot of contradiction here. Shai Hope and Hetty have to be included in the Test team."

Joel Amsterdam: "Personally, I like Shimron Hetmyer, but when you look at the current makeup of the squad, it's difficult for him to make the team. If you look at his stats in Test cricket, it's no good. He averages about 26 in Tests, the same as Shai Hope.

“He (Hetmyer) should have been in the white ball team. I guess in the selectors’ minds it was a toss-up between him and Bravo, and they went with Bravo because he has a superior record to Hetmyer’s. Bravo averages about 36 in Tests, so he's the better option at this time."

West Indies greats extend gratitude to India for Covidshield vaccines

Sir Richie Richardson and Sir Vivian Richards

W

est Indies cricketing greats Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Richie Richardson, Jimmy Adams and Ramnaresh Sarwan have expressed gratitude to the Government of India and the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the donation of covidshield vaccines made from the Serum Institute of India to Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, and Caricom region.

Sir Viv Richards has described the vaccines donated to Antigua and Barbuda as “a great contribution made by India” to his country.

"On behalf of the Antiguan Government, we look forward to continued relationship.

Thank you very much," Sir Vivian Richards has said.

Sir Richie Richardson also shared similar sentiments, and noted that all of Antigua is extremely grateful to India for the donation.

Director of Cricket West Indies, Jimmy Adams, extended gratitude to India for this great initiative as he spoke on behalf of the entire Caribbean.

And Guyana's own Ramnaresh Sarwan has said he is thankful to India for the vaccines provided to the people of Guyana.

Sarwan’s remarks were principally directed to India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, HIS Excellency Dr KJ Srinivasa.

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