Issuu

FRIDAY 6th November, 2020

No. 106175 |

Dr Ashni Singh appointed Senior Minister with responsibilty for Finance SEE PAGE 3

Dr. Ashni Singh takes the oath of office before President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, at the Office of the President (OP) on Thursday (OP photo)

Biden closer to victory, Trump claims election being ‘stolen’

SEE PAGE 12 Democrat Joe Biden

Two arrested in GuyanaSEE following massive PAGE 2 cocaine bust in Belgium

Relief for Victoria, Nabaclis and Golden Grove farmers

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 8

Man who allegedly raped reputed wife remanded

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Two arrested in Guyana ― following seizure of 11.5 tonnes of cocaine in Belgium

THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has been contacted by its international counterpart, after a shipment of 11.5 tonnes of cocaine was seized in Belgium. The Local agency and its Belgian counterpart

are working closely on the matter. One CANU official confirmed that two persons, including the shipper of the container that was found with the cocaine, are in custody.

The massive load of cocaine left a port in Guyana late October and Belgian prosecutors were able to track it, following the dismantlement of a drug trafficking gang led by a former Belgian counter-narcotics chief, which revealed the existence of tight-knit links between criminal gangs and counter-narcotics and law-enforcement officials.

Counter-narcotics prosecutors said they had tracked the transatlantic journey of 11.5-tonnes of cocaine from Guyana, on the northeastern coast of South America, and seized it upon its arrival at the Port of Antwerp. The catch is “the largest overseas drug bust ever, worldwide,” federal prosecutors told Belgian media, estimating the street value of the

large and “regular” drug shipments from South America to Belgium. The record-breaking shipment was expected by law enforcement officials as they suspected it left the port of Guyana after members of the drug gang’s arrest in Belgium, with drug gangs unable to intercept it once at sea, De Standaard reports. The shipment of cocaine

Investigators at the Belgium port where the cocaine was found (Brussel Times photo)

Belgian prosecutors, on Wednesday, dealt a new blow to a recently-disbanded drug gang led by a former Belgian police chief, after announcing the largest-ever overseas drug bust “in the world.”

drug load at €900 million. Three police officers, a port manager and a lawyer were among some 20 arrested as part of the operation targeting the “well-structured” criminal organisation suspected of orchestrating

was disguised as scrap metal and placed inside a steel container which was, in turn, packed into a sea container and loaded into a transatlantic vessel. The dismantlement of the drug gang in late September led to the arrest and indictment of 22 people, with three people still in the Netherlands awaiting extradition. Following the record-breaking drug bust on

Wednesday, three others were arrested, including one person who is facing extradition to Belgium from the Netherlands. Meanwhile, back in August, customs officials in the port of Hamburg, Germany, made one of the port’s largest drug busts. They discovered more than 1.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container of rice arriving aboard a ship from Guyana. German investigators reportedly received a confidential tip about the drug smuggling operation and began a thorough search of the container yard. When the container was examined at the city’s customs office, investigators revealed that they discovered 47 large packages of cocaine hidden between sacks of rice from Guyana. Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, reported that it was among the largest quantities of cocaine ever seized in Hamburg. However, CANU subsequently stated that the cocaine found in Germany was more than likely loaded in Dominica and not Guyana. According to CANU, it was confirmed that all 12 of the said containers were scanned locally by operatives of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and no narcotic was detected nor were their seals appeared to have been tampered with. In fact, the containers were in-transit elsewhere.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Dr Ashni Singh appointed Senior Minister with responsibilty for Finance By Rabindra Rooplall

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, swore in Dr. Ashni Singh as a senior minister with responsibilities for finance under the Office of the President. Dr. Singh took the oath in the presence of Cabinet ministers and other Government officials at a ceremony at the Office of the President. The Office of the President will retain its oversight role but Dr Singh would be responsible for finance. President Ali said Guyana is on a road of transformation which requires a multifaceted team with youth and experience. The Head of State said Government needs to build capacity to manage the fortunes of citizens and create an environment in which all Guyanese can be successful. Further, the President said Dr. Singh will be part of the team that will manage projects, programmes and policies to stimulate growth and expand the country’s economic base and strengthen existing sectors. The President asked his Cabinet to support Minister Singh. Dr. Ashni Singh thanked President Ali, Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister, Mark Phillips for the opportunity to join the Cabinet, noting that he spent a large part of his life in the public sector.

Dr. Ashni Singh and his family with President Irfaan Ali after being sworn in as a Senior Minister (OP photos)

“I have spent almost all of my life in public service in Guyana. And it’s something that I consider a great honour. So having been invited by the President to join his Cabinet is a tremendous honour. I consider myself greatly honoured, greatly privileged. And perhaps most importantly, deeply humbled by the fact that he [President Ali] considered me for this appointment and extended the invitation to me,” said Dr Singh speaking on his appointment. The former finance minister under the Jagdeo and Ramotar administrations said that he is entering office at a

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali hands over the letter of appointment to Dr. Ashni Singh as a Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance under the Office of the President

time when global economies are facing tremendous hardship, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “President Ali’s Government was very swift to recognise the magnitude of these challenges and they have been swift in crafting policies to address the challenges. We are far from out of the woods, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I am under no illusion of the magnitude of the challenges before us from the point of view of economic policy, implementation and management in Guyana,” he explained. The Senior Minister is eagerly looking to get back into the business of Government. Dr. Singh will be a non-elected minister and will be serving as a technocrat. Dr. Singh is the holder of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lancaster, UK. He was previously appointed Minister of Finance on September 9, 2006. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Singh had served in several senior public finance capacities in Guyana’s civil service, including as Director of Budget in the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Auditor General in the Office of the Auditor General, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Guyana Revenue Authority and member of the Governing Council of the University of Guyana.

Curt Thomas guilty of murdering businessman FOUR years after the gruesome murder of businessman, Seeram Singh, who was ‘gunned-down’ during a robbery, his killer, Curt Thomas, called “Deportee”, was, on Wednesday, found guilty of the crime. Thomas, formerly of Hyde Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, was con-

victed by a 12-member jury. Trial Judge, Justice Navindra Singh, at the Georgetown High Court, further remanded Thomas to prison pending a probation report and sentencing. A date has not been set by the court. Following the announcement of the verdict, Thomas, who appeared virtually from the Lusignan Prison, began

behaving disorderly. He also professed his innocence. Thomas’ attorney, Lynden Amsterdam, apologised to the court and jury on his client’s behalf and explained that his client’s reaction was based on his conscience and what he believed to be the truth. In his plea of mitigation, the lawyer asked the judge

Dead: Seeram Singh

to temper justice with mercy to give Thomas an opportunity to return to society. The State was represented by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy. In her submission to the court on Wednesday, Hardy urged the jury to find Thomas guilty of the crime as the prosecution was able TURN TO PAGE 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Relief for Victoria, Nabaclis and Golden Grove farmers ― drainage and irrigation, markets for produce among issues to be rectified

By Naomi Parris FARMERS from the East Coast Demerara villages

of Victoria, Nabaclis and Golden Grove will benefit from improved drainage and irrigation, and a number of

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 ― 09:30hrs - 11:00hrs

agriculture projects following a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Thursday. The meeting, which was held at the Nabaclis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), saw farmers from the three villages voicing their daily struggles in their respective farmlands to the minister. Calls were made for issues regarding drainage and irrigation, markets for produce, infrastructure, accessibility to dams and heavy machinery to be addressed during the meeting. Geodfrey Henry, a farmer from Nabaclis, expressed some concerns with regards to the pump station in the area that has been dormant for many years. The farmer, who was the former chairman of the Nabaclis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), said the rehabilitation of the said pump station will bring great relief to farmers in Nabaclis and other surrounding areas. “There is a pumping station there that has been idle for the past 20 years; this is a main drainage area, and I will be asking you and your engi-

neers at a future date to have a look at that. It is important that we have that pump reinstalled and rehabilitated for the future,” Mr. Henry said, adding: “That will ease drainage problems within the Nabaclis, Golden Grove and Cove and John area.” Another farmer, Kurt Elias, who hails from Victoria, disclosed that he is fairly new to the farming scene, and is looking forward to seeing a vibrant agriculture sector.

cleaned, in order to properly address the infrastructural issues in the area. Another farmer, who hails from Golden Grove and gave his name as “Akara”, also spoke of some of the issues with drainage and irrigation in his area. “We got the kokers at the back that usually bring in the water from the Conservancy; those kokers need to be fixed, because when they close, the water still seeping in,” Akara

ed assistance they require to make Guyana a food-secure country. “The Ministry of Agriculture [is] now focused on making Guyana food-secure; that means we have to develop all the areas,” Minister Mustapha said. “What I will do, I will send our drainage and irrigation engineers; I will ask our extension officers from NAREI, GLDA, D&I and GRDB to do a needs assessment in the backdam and other parts

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha taking notes as he listens to a farmer’s concerns at Thursday’s meeting

Minister Mustapha distributing seeds to those farmers who attended the meeting on Thursday (Adrian Narine photos)

GRANTS However, the young farmer stated that there is need for grants or capital for young men and women like himself who wish to start a career as a farmer. “As a youngster coming up, no one would have thought that I would become a farmer. But I have seen a very great potential in farming, so I am sticking with it,” Elias said, adding: “But I believe that some of us might need a grant as well to cultivate more, because there is only so much one person can do.” Elias further stated that Victoria farmers are in dire need of farm-to-market roads, and to have those backed-up canals and other facilities in the village desilted and

said. “And also, as farmers, we have a problem with the pump, because sometimes when the rain falls, the water does be high in the backlands,” he added. NO ONE-OFF MEETING Addressing the farmers’ concerns, Minister Mustapha said, “This will not be my first and last visit to these areas. As a matter a fact, when we would have completed this meeting, and based on this meeting, I will come back here to you the farmers to ensure that those commitments and those promises that we would have made here are fulfilled.” He added that such meetings will allow the ministry to form a relationship with farmers to provide the much-need-

of your community,” he told the farmers. With regards to the issue of access to markets to sell their produce, the minister told the farmers that he is currently in talks with several other agencies about helping them market their produce. “What we plan to do is revamp the policy of the Guyana Marketing Corporation. Now the GMC has to be focused to find market for the farmers’ produce; we are looking at the possibility of GMC purchasing the farmers’ produce, and we can supply these produce to the prisons, the police, the Guyana Defence Force and to the hospital,” he said. This way, he said, farmers will be able to have their produce marketed regularly.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Frontline healthcare workers to start ‘drawing down’ risk allowances soon

WHILE it’s yet to be confirmed whether Guyana has lost any healthcare workers to the dreaded COVID-19 disease, the enormity of the situation is ever-present, and the risk is high. In the circumstances, the Guyana Government, following an appeal from frontline workers to be compensated for the risks they are taking, had indicated, a while back, that it was in the process of considering offering a risk allowance to those persons working “in the direct frontline”. The latest on that is that just recently, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony,

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, speaking with reporters recently about the latest local COVID-19 developments

Some key frontline healthcare workers

announced, during an interview with the media, that his ministry will be proceeding with the payout of risk allowances to those healthcare workers who are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. He also reported that regional healthcare officers are currently in the process of identifying the aforementioned category of healthcare workers who are expected to benefit from the proposed payout. “We are now compiling that list, because some of them have already responded,” Dr. Anthony said, adding: “When we compile that list, we’ll start giving those allowances, once those persons are identified as frontline workers.” The confirmation of the risk allowance payout for healthcare workers dealing specifically with COVID-19 patients follows the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) facilitating

the donation of some 5,000 three-ply surgical masks to the local healthcare authorities, courtesy of the local firm, Leading Technology. Also, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry had announced, recently, that it will be expanding its childcare assistance programme to accommodate those frontline workers who are providing an essential service or key public services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, during a virtual press conference, had stated that she is willing to lend whatever assistance she can to frontline workers in both the public and private sectors. The first phase of that programme is expected to benefit not just healthcare workers, but also police, army, prison, fire service, as well as security officers who

have children below the age of seven. Through the programme, ‘Human Services’ will make direct payment for childcare services being rendered. A study conducted by Amnesty International has found that at least 7,000 healthcare workers the world over have died after contracting COVID-19 while on the job. At least 1,320 healthcare workers are confirmed to have died in Mexico alone, the highest known figure for any country. Amnesty International has also recorded high numbers of fatalities among healthcare workers in the USA (1,077) and neighbouring Brazil (634), where infection and death rates have been high throughout the pandemic, as well as alarming figures in South Africa (240) and India (573), where infection rates have reportedly soared in recent months.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Engendering trust AN article appearing in the ‘Stabroek News’ headlined “Cop arrested over bribe after sting operation” was published on October 31, 2020 The article stated in part, “A policeman was yesterday arrested during a sting operation after he was allegedly caught soliciting money from a member of the public who wished to avoid prosecution.” This aberration is seemingly very prevalent in society, especially in hinterland regions and rural areas. The security services in Guyana were deliberately de-professionalised to aid the oppressive regime of a former dictatorial administration in subjugating the citizens of the land, especially those perceived as ‘dissidents.’ During that period members of the security sector were used to drive fear and discourage citizens from seeking their constitutional rights to freedom of choice – of any kind and in any dimension, even to eat the foods of their choice. Subsequent to the PPP/C’s victory at the polls in October of 1992, newly elected Exec-

utive President Dr. Cheddi Jagan attempted to once more professionalise the service sectors – security, public sector, et al. However, by then corruption had become endemic to the national psyche and had infused every aspect of national life, to the extent that every transaction, no matter how small, was an exercise in futility unless a bribe was paid. But with fortitude and determination the new government made inroads, mainly through forging partnerships with main players and key stakeholders, such as the private sector and impartial NGOs; and also by re-construction of the constitution and establishing relevant commissions to eradicate destructive, dishonest and unpatriotic actions, albeit with minimal success, although government has initiated many educational, wealth-creational and empowerment programmes to enable enhanced lifestyles of employees within the various sectors. A letter-writer, Ted King, posited: “Police living above their means is cause for dishonest practices,” and he goes on to state, among other remarks: “They have been getting constant

increases in wages and benefits, including taxfree pay for lower ranks and annual bonuses, among others.” When police ranks are caught red-handed committing crimes, in many instances the punishment meted out to them almost never fits the crime and proves no deterrent to the continuation of aberrant behaviour. Most often they are merely transferred elsewhere, where they continue to commit their criminal acts. Law-abiding and hard-working citizens feel great anger at being targeted by criminals and many times receiving no protection from the police force, many members of which they justifiably contend are in collusion with criminals, and even perpetrate criminal activities, based on expose’s such as in the preceding instance. The police force has issued notice of a reward for information leading to arrest and prosecution of the murderers of the Henry boys, but the general problem is trust issues the public at large has with the police force. Citizens are convinced that security ranks are colluding with criminal elements,

even themselves committing criminal acts, including armed robberies. A while ago, a police commissioner was taped allegedly having a conversation with a senior member of a political party in which the commissioner implicated himself in serious criminal activities, including planting drugs on an innocent person. The police will have to weed out the rogues within their ranks themselves so as to re-generate trust in the public once more. The truth is that most police ranks are honourable and patriotic, serving with diligence and commitment to “serve and protect,” and it is up to them to weed out the rotten apples because the taint and mistrust is spreading to encapsulate the entire force. Many policemen have laid their lives on the line and have worked beyond the call of duty to “protect and serve” and it is unjust and de-motivating to label them with the actions of the corrupt ranks; so it is incumbent upon them to eliminate this scourge from their august sector.

America not suffering from electile dysfunction as during Coalition governance Dear editor, ALTHOUGH the election result is not yet known two days after the election, America, the world’s greatest and longest continuous democracy is not suffering from “electile dysfunction” as what obtained in Guyana during that five-month period of attempts by the coalition to rig the elections. Comments have been made about the inordinate amount of time it is taking to count the ballots and declare a winner in last Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election. Protests and legal action have been pursued to address issues pertaining to ballot-counting, causing some people to think that the process or system has been broken or is not working. The electoral system is working. The country is not at an economic or political standstill. Unlike what has happened in other countries, Guyana being an illustrative example, there is no “electile dysfunction” in America, playing on the more popular biological term relating to the human organ. I am not sure if other academics or writers have coined

the term “electile dysfunction,” but it was discussed with me by Prof Ram Shankar of India on Wednesday night. I googled it and nothing came up. I define “electile dysfunction” as a breakdown of the electoral process, preventing people from voting and or counting of ballots, and that has brought the country to a standstill. That is not happening in America. It happened in Guyana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, and other countries. Everything is normal in America. There is no instability as what took place in Guyana when a party loses an election. Normal life goes on in the USA — schools are in session, staff are at work, and people are milling around, shopping, and so forth. As someone who studied and taught political science for over 40 years, including American politics, I know enough to make a bold claim that the American political system is strong, very democratic, and working well — no evidence of electile dysfunction. I cannot think of another country that has a better political system in terms of balancing of power among the three branches of gov-

ernment and among the central government, state, and local governments. In America, power rests with the people and not the elected leaders as in Guyana. The U.S. may not have the best electoral system in that the most popular candidate with the most votes may not necessarily win the presidency. But it is the greatest nation with strong democratic credentials. Elections are free and fair, leaving out the era when Black Americans were prevented from voting or their ballots were not counted or some incidents of suppression of minority votes. The counting of ballots was a problem in 2000 because of hanging chads on computer voting cards, but so far in 2020 the counting of ballots is continuing apace this week and would conclude in a few days. I do not think the court would intervene to stop the count or prevent a recount. All the ballots will be counted and the right winner will be declared. The trend shows a Biden/Harris victory. It may take a week if not longer for an official declaration. The country eagerly looks forward to a declaration. The reason the counting is taking so long is the large number of

absentee and mail-in ballots that are slowly being processed. This is the first election for mail-in ballots — which was experimented with because of COVID. The counting of those ballots could not commence until the conclusion of voting on Tuesday night. It is a lengthy process to remove ballots from envelopes, verify signatures and addresses, and then place them on machines to be processed. There are millions of those ballots. And voters had until Tuesday to mail them and three days for arrival at polling centres. So officials have to wait till Friday evening to close the process and then count all the ballots. The final results with mail-in ballots would not be known before Saturday, at the earliest. President Trump has moved to the court to stop the count in swing states. He is going down to defeat as I had projected in earlier commentaries. It is doubtful that the court will rule in his favour. Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Cuba hosts business showcase for CARICOM envoys

Guyana’s Ambassador, Halim Majeed (second from left), with other CARICOM ambassadors who participated in the event

GUYANA’S Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, on Tuesday, visited the Cuban Chamber of Commerce during a day of promotion for Cuban Export Products at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment Building in Havana.

The event showcased for CARICOM Ambassadors in Cuba a wide range of products that Cuba could export, not only to the Caribbean, but also to other markets. President of the Chamber, Antonio Carricarte Corona, welcomed the par-

One more COVID-19 death recorded

A 54-YEAR-OLD man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility, is the latest fatality of the COVID-19 virus, as the death toll climbed to 131, and another 69 cases were recorded on Thursday, according to statistics released. The death is the third one recorded this week after a female pensioner from Region Two, and a male pensioner from Region One died while receiving treatment. Accounting for just over 75 per cent of the new cases, Region Four continues to register the most new cases in the daily reports from the Ministry of Health (MoH). Region Four has thus far recorded 2060 of the total 4324 COVID-19 cases

that the country has seen since March. To deal with the situation, the MoH is rolling out increased testing in the region, even as citizens continue to be urged to practise precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus. The authorities have dispatched mobile testing units to Diamond and other communities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the virus in those areas. The mobile testing units are expected to accumulate samples and set the foundation for a proper analysis of the situation. A mobile testing unit is scheduled to be stationed at the Grove Health Centre, EBD to conduct screening for COVID-19 ?on Saturday, November 7 and

?Sunday, November 8 starting ?from 09:00 hours on both days. “The testing is open to all, regardless of whether or not they are showing COVID-19 symptoms. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness, while some can develop serious symptoms resulting in hospitalisation,” a statement from the ministry said. ?????? Aside from Region Four, new cases were also recorded in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and 10 on Thursday. Region 10 recorded one new case while all the remaining regions recorded two cases each. The number of persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit is now 11, after having

ticipants and expressed the hope that CARICOM ambassadors would take advantage of the opportunity being presented. Among the Cuban companies that made presentations were BioCubaFarma, IMECO, EAI Ceballos, SMC, ARTEX, been 13 on Wednesday. Of the new cases, 39 were females. However, males continue to lead overall in the gender distribution of the cases, accounting for 2,315 of the 4,393.

UNECA, IMECO and CARIBEX S.A. Arlenys Ponce Verdecia, Caribbean Specialist and Dr. Celia Labora, Director of Marketing, both of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, were also present, among other Cuban officials and dignitaries.

According to Thursday’s statistics, another 15 persons have recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 3,409. Sixty-nine persons are currently in in-

stitutional isolation while 32 persons are in institutional quarantine. Another 772 persons are in home isolation. To date, some 21,091 persons have been tested.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Young couple providing vital educational services during pandemic

YOUNG Saif Allimullah and his wife, Wafiyyah Ali, of Anna Regina, Region Two, are providing a vital service through their business “Clear Print Document Centre and Stationery Supplies” by offering, at a cheaper rate, services related to past examination papers and other educational material. The business is situated at lot 65 Parray Street, Anna Regina, opposite the Al-Madinah Islamic Academy. Allimullah, the owner of the business, said he and his wife, with the help of a few family members, started the business from scratch. The young man said he was working with other persons and found it challenging, and, as such, he and his wife decided to venture into a business that will benefit Pomeroon-Supenaam residents, particularly students. They now enjoy being their own boss and working at their own pace, serving their customers. The couple started the business five years ago by offering photocopying and laminating services, but, over the years, due to customer satisfaction,

around in the township of Anna Regina, the couple both smiled and said it was a request from students, teachers and residents. “You see we live right opposite the Muslim school, then

Anna Regina Couple Saif and Wafiyyah Ali

Inside the store owned by Saif and Wafiyyah Ali

they have extended, offering a wide variety of craft items and stationery. When asked what prompted them to open such a business, especially when there are many similar businesses

as such, the idea of our business birthed,” Wafiyyah said. She said the store is stocked based on demand and requests from students. She said whenever she goes to Georgetown to source the items she would tour

two other leading secondary schools are right next to us, along with the Education Department; we were noticing that there were many items that students wanted but they weren’t available nearby, and,

the City to ensure she gets all the items her customers need. “I have to check various areas for craft items, especially for teachers, and I have to make sure that we get quality and also at an affordable price,” Wafiyyah explained. The couple are managing the business well and said their intention in the future is to start wholesaling to others who will like to open similar businesses. Both husband and wife said that they had an employee, but, due to the pandemic, they now have to manage the business by themselves. The couple also said customer satisfaction is their motto and they have been receiving positive feedback since the establishment of the business. Their advice to anyone who is aspiring to open a business is to start small, keep the faith and success will be achieved.

Man who allegedly raped reputed wife remanded NIEL MARS of Lane Avenue, Hunter Street, on Thursday, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with raping his wife. Mars was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Prosecutor Inniss informed the court that the accused and the defendant are reputed husband and wife and share a child. It was further mentioned that, during their time together, distrust became a main issue and was wreaking havoc in their relationship. The victim would usually accuse her

husband, Mars, of being unfaithful. On Sunday, July 7, there was an altercation between the two about Mars’ supposedly unfaithful behaviour. The wife threatened to leave the home and Mars inflicted several blows about her body which left her with injuries to her head and neck. He then had sex with her without her consent. The matter was reported to the police, an investigation was conducted and Mars was charged. Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs – Marcus ordered that Mars be remanded to prison until Monday, November 16, 2020.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

New pumps being installed in flood-prone areas

WORK has commenced to install nine new pumps in flood-prone areas along the East Coast of Demerara, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has reported. The minister stated that a team of Indian nationals is in the country to oversee the proper installation of the pumps that were purchased from the Indian Government. Minister Mustapha has met with the team of engineers, who will be installing the new pumps in flood-prone areas along the coast. The team indicated that it will take a minimum of two weeks to install each pump, and installation will occur simultaneously with other stations. The pumps, he said will be placed at strategic areas in Den Amstel, Hope, Mora Point and Rose Hall. In addition, pumps will also be placed at Princess Street, Sussex Street and Cowan Street in Georgetown. Following the heavy rainfall over the past few days, the minister stated that there

is an urgent need for pumps across the country. “We need these pumps installed urgently. You see the current weather conditions and how the rain and

flooding affect the daily operations of our citizens. We are depending on you to work swiftly,” he said to the team from India. Minister Mustapha add-

ed that he and a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) were working to have the new pumps installed ahead of this year’s rainy season to avoid

flash-flooding and high water levels. However, with the travel restrictions and other COVID-19 protocols, there was a slight delay. The minister highlighted

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during an assessment exercise of the pumps across Georgetown following flash flooding and high water levels on Wednesday

Health Ministry gets 100 vials of Remdesivir ANSA McAL Trading Limited (AMTL), on Wednesday, donated 100 vials of Remdesivir to the Ministry of Health, to aid in the continuous fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

ity and has donated trinchloro bleach through the Rotary Club of Guyana since March. However, as one of the leading distributors in Guyana, ANSA McAL Trading Limited has partnered with one

ing symptoms of COVID-19 that can occur in some cases,” Cadogan said. Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, accepted the donation on behalf of his ministry and while expressing

fight against the virus but also urged ANSA McAL Trading Limited to continue to spread the word on COVID-19 protocols that include the wearing of masks, social distancing and hand sanitising.”

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Malcolm Watkins; Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony; Managing Director of AMTL, Troy Cadogan and Pharmaceutical representative at AMTL, Kalawattie Datt-Singh

At a simple presentation held at the Ministry of Health, Brickdam, Georgetown, AMTL Managing Director, Troy Cadogan, said, “ANSA McAL Trading Limited has long been cognisant of its Corporate Social Responsibil-

of its suppliers to donate 100 units of Remdesivir 100mg Injection. “The donation of this drug will provide a powerful tool in the Government’s arsenal to help in its fight against some of the debilitat-

gratitude to ANSA McAL, he highlighted that it is such efforts by corporate Guyana that will aid in the fight against COVID-19. The minister also said that the Remdesivir Injection is a “powerful component” in the

The minister further noted that Remdesivir is expensive and becomes a greater challenge when one patient requires the use of 10 vials over the course of treatment. “We all have to work together to ensure that we

have control of COVID-19. I’m happy that we’re getting some more Remdesivir available if somebody really gets sick. We are also extending to regional hospitals,” the minister said. ANSA McAL Trading Limited referenced their commitment to donating another 100 vials of the injection by this coming weekend with the total cost of the 200 vials amounting to just over $7M. It was also noted that ANSA McAL Trading Limited is prepared to fulfill its social corporate responsibility through works with all government and non-governmental organisations, to ensure that the people of Guyana receive quality pharmaceuticals from reputable manufacturers as it relates to the supply of pharmaceutical products. Remdesivir (GS-5734), a nucleoside analogue prodrug, has inhibitory effects on pathogenic animal and human coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro, and inhibits Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2 replication in animal models. Early clinical studies have shown clinically meaningful differences and reductions in some clinical parameters in patients.

that the installation of the new pumps comes as a timely intervention since heavy rainfall, flooding and high water levels pose a threat to the capacity of local pumps since the drainage system was built to take off two to two-and-ahalf inches of water within 24 hours. “Our drainage system is geared to take off just around two to two and a half inches of water within a 24-hour period. So, when you look at that high intensity of rainfall which is almost five inches, then you will see how much stress that will put on our drainage system.” Nevertheless, engineers and senior personnel, the minister said, are monitoring the situation across the country, as heavy rainfall is expected to continue into January. “We are working and we are deploying other mechanisms in place and desilting all the outfalls around the country, as well as putting in additional pumps,” he noted.

Alleged mirror thief granted bail A MAN who allegedly stole two rear view mirrors from a motor vehicle belonging to Citizens Bank was granted $20,000 bail by Magistrate Leron Daly, when he made an appearance, in relation to the charge, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday. Aubrey Legall denied the allegation which stated that, on Friday, October 16, 2020, at Citizens Bank Headquarters, Camp Street, Georgetown, he stole two rear view mirrors, valued $90,000, from a Bluebird motor vehicle, PXX 7865, property of Citizens Bank. It was reported that, on the day in question, Legall went into the compound of Citizens Bank on Camp Street, Georgetown, and stole the two rear view mirrors from the motor vehicle, before making good his escape. On Friday, October 30, 2020, Legall was apprehended on Camp Street. He was placed in custody and charged for the offence. In a cautioned statement, Legall admitted to committing the offence when he was told of the allegation made against him. The stolen items were never recovered. The matter was adjourned until Friday, December 11,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

GTT donates 100 per cent more bandwidth to eGov

― for a brighter future for students

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) recently donated one hundred per cent more bandwidth to the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), with the intent of providing faster connectivity to students across Guyana. The capacity of fiber Internet connection provided by GTT to the eGovernment agency was upgraded from 3GB to 6GB on October 31, 2020 at no additional cost to the agency. Chief Executive Officer at GTT, Justin Nedd, explained the move behind the decision, while lauding the eGovernment for its efforts to keep students and teachers connected. “Your efforts to deliver broadband to schools across the country is commendable. Knowing that children have returned to school with an increased dependence on broadband, we thought it best to give this increase as

we do our part to support your efforts and the ambitions of our future generation,” Nedd stated. Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who also has responsibility for the telecommunications sector, commended GTT for its contribution to students across Guyana. “Without a doubt this is an excellent move towards building a brighter tomorrow for our children. On behalf of all students across Guyana, we thank GTT for increasing the capacity for faster internet connectivity and look forward to your continued support,” Phillips opined. Head of the NDMA, Lieutenant Commander (ret’d) Floyd Levi, also praised GTT for the timely donation of increased bandwidth, noting it will go to the benefit of students accessing Information and Communications

Curt Thomas guilty ... FROM PAGE 3

to meet the burden of proof. She added that it was Thomas who shot and killed Singh and this was backed up by the testimonies of witnesses, including Rajmohan Autar, who positively identified Thomas during an identification parade.

Convicted criminal: Clive Thomas called “Deportee”

She also placed weight on the testimony of the forensic analyst that the clothing submitted for testing said to be worn by the accused on the night of the shooting, tested positive for gun powder residue. In her submission, Hardy told the court that Singh was murdered in cold blood by Thomas, who had no regards for the result of other persons being injured as there were people in close proximity to where the shooting

occurred. The Guyana Chronicle had reported that, on April 30, 2016, around 21:00 hours, Singh was walking along the roadway at Parika Outfall when he was attacked by an armed man. Singh was reportedly shot in the back and fell onto the ground, and as he laid there, the gunman discharged two more rounds, hitting him in the head and chest, before relieving him of the two gold chains he was wearing and making good his escape. By the time the police arrived on the scene, Singh had already died, but they found a live .32 round and a bullet casing of a similar calibre, along with his (Singh’s) wallet, cell-phone and a few gold rings, which the gunman had apparently missed, in his haste to flee the scene. On May 4, 2016, Thomas was arrested at a Parika betting shop, and when placed on an identification parade, was allegedly identified as the shooter by an eyewitness. A swab test done on Thomas’ hands reportedly tested positive for gunpowder residue. The police also carried out a search at his home and found clothing which matched what eyewitnesses said the shooter was wearing.

Technology (ICT) hubs and schools with eGovernment connectivity throughout the country. “In these times, we are relying on technology a lot more – for work and learning. This increased

bandwidth will assist in meeting the needs of students across Guyana to ensure continued learning for a bright future.” eGovernment is a national initiative that con-

nects 158 primary schools, 105 secondary schools, 241 ICT hubs and 33 tertiary institutions; GTT supports the efforts of eGovernment by assisting with connectivity.

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Biden closer to victory, Trump claims election being ‘stolen’

US President Donald Trump

Democrat Joe Biden

With his re-election chances fading as more votes are counted in a handful of battleground states, U.S. President Donald Trump launched an extraordinary assault on the country’s democratic process from the White House on Thursday, falsely claiming the election was being “stolen” from him. Offering no evidence, Trump lambasted election workers and alleged fraud in the states where results from a dwindling set of uncounted votes are pushing Democrat Joe Biden nearer to victory. “This is a case where they’re trying to steal

an election,” Trump said, who spoke for about 15 minutes in the White House briefing room before leaving without taking questions. Biden, the former vice president, was steadily eating away the Republican incumbent’s leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia even as he maintained narrow advantages in Nevada and Arizona, moving closer to securing the 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College that determines the winner. In Pennsylvania, Trump’s lead had shrunk from 319,000 on Wednesday afternoon to 64,000 a day later, while his margin in Georgia fell from

68,000 to fewer than 4,000. Those numbers were expected to continue to move in Biden’s favour, with many of the outstanding ballots from areas that typically vote Democratic, including the cities of Philadelphia and Atlanta. Biden, meanwhile, saw his lead in Arizona contract from 93,000 to 65,000; he was ahead in Nevada by only 11,000 votes. Biden would become the next president by winning Pennsylvania, or by winning two out of the trio of Georgia, Nevada and Arizona. Trump’s likeliest path appeared narrower - he needed to hang onto Pennsylvania and Georgia

UG slashes facilities fee by THE University of Guyana (UG) has taken a bold decision to reduce its Facilities Fee by 50% for the 2020-2021academic year, the University of Guyana’s Student Society (UGSS) announced, in a statement on Wednesday. The decision comes after months of lobbying by the UGSS to get the fee lowered, in an effort to provide some semblance of relief to students who may be going through an economic crisis in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This move by the University will see students having

to ‘cough up’ just $25,000 for the Facilities Fee for the new academic year instead of the $50,000 that they are usually required to pay. This reduction in Facilities Fee will benefit all 9000 students currently registered at the institution. The University had previously taken the position that it will allow for a reduction of $5000 per semester, a decision that was subject to much opposition from students and student society alike. Following that decision, the UGSS continued to engage the University on having the cost further reduced.

UGSS President, Jafar, who sought to remind the university’s administrators that the main aim of the UGSS is to cater to the needs of the students, said that in light of the COVID-19 situation, systems need to be put in place to ease the financial burden faced by the students. Jafar stated that, after brainstorming ways in which it could approach the university about lowering tuition costs in general, the UGSS decided on tackling the issue of the Facilities Fee, since the students would not be having access to in-person teaching. In lauding the Universi-

ty’s commitment to its students by working to facilitate the lowering of certain costs, Jafar said: “We have an administration that not only hears you, but listens to us. And in listening to us, they also understand some of the challenges that we face as students, and they work to facilitate us as much as they can. “The UGSS did lobby for this, for the sake of the students that make up the university, especially with the circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. So I’m happy that we were able to influence this move

while overtaking Biden in either Nevada or Arizona. Most major television networks gave Biden a 253 to 214 lead in Electoral College votes, which are largely determined by state population, after he captured the crucial states of Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday. As demonstrators marched in several U.S. cities for a second straight day, the election lay in the hands of civil employees who were methodically counting hundreds of thousands of ballots, many of which were sent by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)

50%

by the administration.” The Facilities Fee caters to the provision of a range of resources at the university, from Laboratory, to Library, Examination and Learning Resources among other fees. Jafar said that since the students would be unable to have access to those resources, it would be unfair to ask them to pay the full cost. Meanwhile, the university, in an earlier statement, had disclosed that 65% of its classes will be held online, while the remaining 35%, mostly consisting of labo-

ratory and field exercises, are expected to be Blended and Face-to-Face delivered at the various campuses for specific courses, or parts of courses only. In closing, the institution noted: “The University is in the process of putting all contagion protection protocols and physical arrangements in place to address this. Students will be notified directly of the schedule and safety measures, if any of their courses are expected to be face-to-face.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

A natural gift for music

The journey of ‘Gully Ras’ Guyana’s Entertainment and music industry has been making waves in the recent years with the singers, entertainers and DJ’s being recognised for their immense talent. Ceon LaRose better known as ‘Gully Ras’ has been one of the biggest names in Guyana’s Entertainment industry since he came on the scene as a DJ 19 years ago. The Buzz reached out to the artiste who spoke on his journey in the industry. The DJ turned artiste says he always had a passion for music, stating that from the age of 10 he started playing an instrument and worked hard to perfect the

musical skill he realised he had. “I was about 10 years old and I used to play my grandfather’s gramophone. He would sometimes hide the keys from me and I would sometimes get licks for playing it. But from then I knew I had the talent and passion for music. As a youth in school, I always wanted to play with a sound system and the sound system I wanted to play with was Stone Love,” said Ras. Ras told The Buzz that when he started his career as a DJ in 2001, he worked to set himself apart from the other DJ’s in the industry. He said this was picked up from his time as part of the Fusion

sound which he explained was geared toward enjoyment of the music rather than sound clashes. When asked how he got his iconic name ‘Gully Ras’ he stated that he had tried out different names including Pepper Ras, Stulla Ras and Summa Ras before he finally got his signature name from international Dancehall artiste Movado. “In 2011 Movado, who is an artiste that I look up to, gave me the name Gully Ras and that stuck. At Jamzone 2011, I was his backup singer and he called me up and asked the crowd what is my name, the crowd said ‘Pepper Ras’ but Movado said from now on his name is

Popular DJ and Singer Gully Ras

‘Gully Ras’!” he explained. Ras said that he feels humbled to know that people think of him as one of the biggest names in Guyana’s music and entertainment industry. He added that he is also very proud to be representing Guyana and helping put Guyanese music out there. “Personally, making music on this level has been the realisation of a dream for me. On this journey, I’ve met so many persons that have helped me like Drew Thoven and CKush, another two of Guyana’s great talents,”he said. “Whilst I love making music, I have not given up on DJ-ing, because that is something I love doing. Even though we are going through a pandemic, I’m still able to bring vibes to the people though Facebook and Instagram Lives.” Ras said that while he loves being a DJ, he always wanted to be a singer also. He said he got his big break as an artiste in 2019 with his single ‘Set the Trend’ which was released in September

2019. “I was in gym working out with my team and just as the riddim was playing on my phone I started to freestyle on it. I told my friends I wanted to go in the studio and sing a song. They thought I was joking. The next day instead of going to gym I went to the studio instead. I linked with Esan Benzy who collaborated with me on the song,” said the entertainer. Ras said he attributes his success to the team he surrounds himself with, who he said encourages him to do more and become a better version of himself. He further said that his fans motivate him to be the best. He further added that he always tries to be innovative and ensure he is the best he can be. “Whenever I perform, whether as an artiste or a DJ, I always want to be the best. My vibes and my hype must be different. I always want to leave everyone talking about my See page 17

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020 Connecting with nature while enjoying his own music in his garden

‘Folk up yuh Garden’

- Local musician turns to gardening for therapeutic relief

LOCAL folk musician Gavin Mendonca never imagined that he would find therapy in gardening, having never sown a seed in his life. But the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, which Gavin admitted took a toll on his mental health, caused him to look in the direction of agriculture. And he couldn’t be happier that he did! Today, he speaks as though his love for gardening has been there for years, and recommends it as a sure form of therapy for those who are bogged

Gavin created a beautiful garden despite not having an interest in agriculture before

The garden has reinforced good qualities such as patience, care and dedication

down by the ills caused by the pandemic. Losing income after having to cancel all of his upcoming performances and being unable to work in the studio on his Volume Two ‘Folk it Up’ album were harsh realities that took a toll on Gavin, making him feel “helpless” and as though his dream was being snatched from him. When the anxiety, depression, loss of passion and drive all kicked in, he was forced to consider that the pandemic was indeed affecting his mental health.

With more time on his hands, and considering that gardening is known for its therapeutic benefits, Gavin decided to start up his own kitchen garden, with encouragement from a friend, Andrew Campbell, who gifted Gavin his first set of seeds. “I started spending hours in the garden [and] certain

disciplines were reintroduced, such as patience and dedication, punctuality and care. Rather than sulking and wasting time, I was reconnecting with myself through the time spent in the garden - every single morning as the new sun would rise, and every single evening as the old sun would set,” Gavin

expressed. Even with very small yard space and infertile soil, he came up with creative ways to repurpose old materials such as wooden structures, old grills, gates and PVC pipes to make trellises and harbours for See page 17

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Merging the arts and fashion -Young entrepreneur looking to expand hand-painted clothing line

Art by definition is described as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. It is typically expressed in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, however for Shamar Hutson, he expresses his art through his love for fashion and painting. Hutson who is an entrepreneur, is the owner of his very own footwear store ‘Street King Designz’ where he designs and customises shoes with striking and colourful, eye-catching designs. “Well I basically customise shoes, like if you have old shoes and you want it in a specific design or colour. That is basically what I do,” he told the Buzz.

The young artist noted that he started out painting on regular canvases but he wanted to experiment with his talent and he decided to merge his love for painting and fashion. The 25-year-old said that he first began drawing and painting on his own shoes. He stated that soon after he shared his work on his social media platforms his friends and a few persons from the general public started to inquire about having their shoes customised. Hutson stated that after a few encouraging words, he decided to revert his craft into a business. “I use to do it for myself and I post and then a lot people

Hutson working on one of his signature designs

A few of Hutson’s designs

start pushing me and telling me I should start doing this as a business and that’s when I started taking it serious,” he said. Hutson noted that he has been in business for roughly six years and is now looking to expand his brand. He stated that he is currently working on launching a full clothing line. “I’m looking to do everything from t-shirts, sweat pants, hats, everything in fashion,” he said. Additionally he noted that he is also looking to one day have his own footwear line. Hutson said that his aim is to create a household name for himself like some of the world-renowned brands like Nike. However, the young man noted that his big plans have been placed on a slight due the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; nevertheless, he is confident that when Guyana and the rest of the world return to some normalcy business will thrive and he will be able to expand and continue to do what he loves. Shamar Hutson

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

FIFA conducts From TTFA... Page 23 ciation Football (CONCACAF) which made it known it wanted T&T in its main draw for the CONCACAF Gold Cup on September 28, later gave the TTFA until December 18 to sort out its matters with the FIFA or miss the tournament in 2021. FIFA later also gave the FIFA TTFA the same deadline to drop all the court matters against it and bring its constitution in line with FIFA's, if T&T was to have a chance to contest the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. ( Reprinted from Trinidad Guardian)

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Barca, Juve win in Champions League as woeful Man Utd beaten PARIS, France (AFP) Lionel Messi scored as Barcelona overcame a depleted Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in the Champions League Wednesday while Juventus eased Ferencvaros aside and Manchester United slumped to an unexpected defeat in Turkey. Nine-man Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) lost to RB Leipzig in a repeat of last season's semi-final, and Chelsea proved too strong for Rennes, with Timo Werner twice converting from the penalty spot. Making his 150th appearance in European competition, Messi dispatched an early penalty at Camp Nou after he was fouled in the area and Gerard Pique headed in Ansu Fati's cross on the hour. Viktor Tsygankov grabbed a consolation for the novel coronavirus-hit Dynamo as Barca, winless in four

games in La Liga, recorded their third-successive Group G victory to stay three points clear of Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo made his start for the Italian champions since September after testing positive for COVID-19 in a 4-1 win at Hungarian side Ferencvaros. However, the Portuguese star was outshone by Alvaro Morata in Budapest, whose two goals put Andrea Pirlo's team in control. Paulo Dybala added a third before an own goal from Lasha Dvali, with Franck Boli netting for the hosts in the final minute. United produced a shambolic first-half defensive display as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lost 2-1 against Istanbul Basaksehir. Demba Ba collected the ball just inside his own half and raced through to beat

goalkeeper Dean Henderson on 13 minutes, with Edin Visca smashing in a second after Juan Mata was stripped of possession. Anthony Martial's header cut the deficit before halftime, but United saw their momentum in Group H halted after wins over PSG and RB Leipzig last month. “You don't just turn up and get three points in the Champions League. We weren't good enough, that's it. It's not easy to be positive when you've lost the way we did,” Solskjaer told BT Sport. PSG capitulate in Leipzig Emil Forsberg's penalty earned RB Leipzig a 2-1 victory as they came from behind to beat a weakened Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a major blow to the Champions League aspirations of last

season's runners-up. Angel di Maria had given PSG an early lead in Germany but he then crucially missed a penalty for the French champions, who were missing both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe due to injury and ended this game with nine men. Christopher Nkunku equalised before halftime for Leipzig and Forsberg converted from the spot in the 57th minute before the visitors had both Idrissa Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe sent off. “It's difficult. It's maybe our fault because we didn't get the second goal and then made a mistake on the penalty,” said PSG coach, Thomas Tuchel. “There was a red card, it's then hard, 10 against 11. There were too many things going against us.” Chelsea strolled to a 3-0 win at home against Rennes who saw defender Dalbert sent off after conceding two penalties in the first half. Werner took over spotkick duties from Jorginho and confidently tucked both away before Tammy Abraham turned in a third for the Blues on 50 minutes. Frank Lampard's men have yet to concede in Group E and are level on seven points with Sevilla, who rallied to defeat Krasnodar 3-2 despite the dismissal of captain Jesus Navas late in the first half. Goals from Magomed Suleymanov and Marcus Berg, the second a penalty, put Krasnodar ahead in Spain but Ivan Rakitic pulled one back for Sevilla before the break. Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri struck twice in four second-half minutes to floor Krasnodar and leave the Russians alongside Rennes on just one point. Erling Braut Haaland notched a brace to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win at Club Brugge and send the Germans top of Group F. Thorgan Hazard had opened the scoring in his native Belgium. Felipe Caicedo's late equaliser earned Lazio a 1-1 draw at Zenit Saint Petersburg after Aleksandr Erokhin had struck in the first half in front of some 17 000 fans in Russia.

Bumrah, Boult blow away Delhi as Mumbai march into sixth IPL final JASPRIT Bumrah and Trent Boult blew away Delhi Capitals' top order as Mumbai Indians cruised into another Indian Premier League (IPL) final with a 57-run victory yesterday. Four-time champions Mumbai finished top of the table and will take some stopping in the final next Tuesday on the evidence of this crushing win in Qualifier 1. Suryakumar Yadav (51 from 38 balls) marked his 100th IPL match with a half-century, while Ishan Kishan (55 not out from 30) also raised his bat as the holders posted 200-5. Quinton de Kock (40 off 25) and Hardik Pandya (37 n.o. from 14) were the other Mumbai batsmen who put on a show at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with Ravichandran Ashwin (3-29) the standout Capitals bowler. The game was all-but over early in the run chase as Boult and Bumrah ran riot, the defending champions taking three wickets before Delhi had a run on the board. Bumrah replaced Kagiso Rabada as the leading wicket-taker in this year's tournament with incredible figures of 4-14 and Boult would probably have claimed more than 2-9 if he bowled more than two overs. Delhi never recovered from a lethal early burst from the pace duo, who have 49 wickets between them in the 2020 IPL, and their eventual 143-8 was much more than they looked destined for. Marcus Stoinis (65 from 46) and Axar Patel (42 off 33) salvaged some pride, and Delhi must regroup before facing Sunrisers Hyderabad or Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday for the right to play Mumbai in the final. KISHAN, PANDYA CAP IT OFF de Kock took 15 off the first over from Daniel Sams, but Rohit Sharma went for a golden duck when he was

trapped leg-before playing down the wrong line to an Ashwin delivery. The holders were flying at 63-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Yadav in great touch, but de Kock fell 10 short of a half-century and they were 101-4 in the 13th over when Kieron Pollard became the excellent Ashwin's third victim. Kishan and Pandya conjured up a devastating late onslaught, though, putting on 60 from only 23 balls, with Anrich Nortje suffering the most as he went for 50 off his four overs. Pandya launched back-toback sixes in the penultimate over from Rabada and struck five in total, while Kishan dispatched the last ball of the innings from Nortje over extra cover for six to reach his half-century and bring up the 200. BOULT, BUMRAH SPELL DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR DELHI Delhi needed a blistering start to have a chance of chasing down a big target, but instead they became the first IPL team to be three down without scoring a run. Boult and Bumrah were rested for the Indians' heavy loss to Sunrisers in their last game of the regular season and the refreshed pacemen were bang on the money on their return. Left-arm quick Boult dismissed Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane in the first over before Bumrah bowled Shikhar Dhawan with an unplayable searing yorker. Shreyas Iyer also fell to the brilliant Bumrah prior to Rishabh Pant being sent on his way by Krunal Pandya to leave Delhi reeling on 41-5, with Stoinis' entertaining knock always going to be in vain.` Delhi Capitals will now play the winner of today's Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 2 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Marlon Samuels 'the confident fellow' retires MARLON Samuels, the West Indies batsman who top-scored in both of their World T20 final victories, has retired from professional cricket. Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies chief executive, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Samuels had told CWI of his retirement in June, having last played in December 2018. While Samuels' career ends with underwhelming batting averages, he was always a man for the big occasion, as he proved in both of West Indies' World T20 wins. Perhaps his finest innings came in the 2012 final in Colombo, when he saw off and then took down two of the format's premier limit-

ed-overs bowlers at the time in Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga respectively. Samuels was on 20 off 32 balls after 10 overs of West Indies' innings, with the team score just 32 for 2, before launching a stunning assault on Malinga to finish on 78 off 56 balls. He then took 1 for 15 to seal a comfortable win. Four years later, he became the only man to be player-of-the-match in two ICC global finals, hitting 85 not out off 66 balls to steer West Indies to a four-wicket win against England in Kolkata. His best batting performances were not limited to the shortest format. He scored a maiden Test hundred at Eden Gardens as a 21-year-

Marlon Samuels flays one through the off side.

old and had a dominant period against the red ball which saw him top-score in a series defeat in England in 2012, as well as making 260 - his highest Test score - in Ban-

Luke Ronchi named New Zealand batting coach

LUKE Ronchi has been appointed New Zealand batting coach for the upcoming season to fill the vacancy created by Peter Fulton's departure. He has been a regular around the squad in the last couple of seasons as Gary Stead has used various specialist coaches. "I'm absolutely pumped," he said. "I've really enjoyed being back with the team in recent seasons and it's exciting to be given the opportunity full-time this summer. "Getting the chance to continue working with our batsmen is a great honour and I'm looking forward to seeing how I can help improve their games and best prepare them to perform at the highest level. "It'll be great to sit down with Gary and the other coaches to begin planning for what will be a busy summer with four touring teams

Luke Ronchi was part of New Zealand's coaching staff at the 2019 World Cup. (Getty Images/ICC)

who will all bring different challenges." Bryan Stronach, NZC's general manager of high performance, said that Ronchi had received good feedback when he had previously worked with the players and there was the added advantage of his wicket-keeping knowledge. "Luke's got a very good cricket brain and is especially strong tactically," he said.

Fletcher says WI ... where I can seal my spot in the T20 squad". While a lot has changed over the years since 2016, player, coaching and management-wise; the veteran batsman admitted he's seeing a lot of similarities between his championship 2016 team and this current bunch of upcoming stars. "I remember very well in 2016 when we won the World Cup, we were supporting each other and en-

joying each other's success. We had fun, the management staff was also behind us and so far I've seen that in this team, everyone is enjoying himself and having lots of fun". Concluding his interview, Fletcher believed that the team were overall in high spirits and were adamant that once they stay on the same page and channel their off-field chemistry on the field, then they should have

"He has a positive mindset and is good at building relationships but he's also not afraid to challenge people which is a really important aspect of coaching. "The feedback we got from the players and team support staff at last year's World Cup in particular was very positive and I know he's looking forward to continuing his work with the team this summer. There's no doubt that, alongside the batsmen, our wicketkeepers will also benefit from having Luke around." New Zealand's home season will start with T20Is against West Indies at the end of November followed by two Tests. Pakistan then visit for T20Is and Test matches, with Australia and Bangladesh scheduled to tour next year although those series are still awaiting government approval. (ESPN Cricinfo)

From Backpage a successful T20 series. "It's very important especially around this time that we make sure everyone is comfortable because that's when you get the best out of everyone. So I hope we can bring that onto the field of play, execute our plans as well as possible and for sure we will have a good tournament," he concluded.

gladesh later that year. In ODI cricket, he still holds the record for the highest partnership for any wicket - 372 with Chris Gayle, against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. Across formats, he made 11 134 international runs including 17 centuries, and took 152 wickets with his quick offbreaks. He also represented several T20 franchises around the world later in his career, including Pune Warriors, Delhi Daredevils, Melbourne Renegades and Peshawar Zalmi. No stranger to controversy, Samuels

defied a team curfew in India in 2002 and was almost sent home, and was banned for two years from 2008 by the ICC after he was found guilty of "receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute". During West Indies' aborted 2014 tour of India, he was the only player to take a public stance against ODI captain Dwayne Bravo, and claimed he had wanted to complete the series. Samuels was never afraid to stand his ground and have his say. One defining image

of his career would come at the media briefing after leading West Indies to the 2016 World T20 title against England. Samuels arrived on his own, sat sideways, pads still on, spikes on the table,\ and spoke his mind. Andre Russell, Samuels' compatriot, disapproved of Samuels' gesture. Recounting the incident during the 2016 IPL, Russell called Samuels a "different Jamaican" but summed up his former teammate appropriately: "He is a confident fellow." (ESPN Cricinfo)

UEFA says testing makes soccer among safest environments in the world BERN, Germany (Reuters) - UEFA has overseen 61 859 COVID-19 tests since August, allowing more than 500 European matches to be played and making soccer one of the safest environments in the world, it said yesterday. The European soccer body, which has been criticised by some media for pressing ahead with international football during the pandemic, said that only 340 of those tests had been positive - 0.55% of the total - and only 3% of matches had been cancelled.

“The (protocol) that we put in place is robust and ensures the safety of all those involved, even in these trying times when the pandemic is progressing across the continent,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “It gives us confidence that our competitions will be played as planned.” “It is a tribute to those involved and it demonstrates that matches can be played safely.” Describing it as a massive cross-continent effort, UEFA said that, on average,

there had been 53.9 tests per team, per match, and less than half the positive results had been from players. “UEFA’s Return to Play Protocol made professional football among the safest environments in the world,” it added. UEFA said that, since August, it had staged matches in eight competitions - the Champions League, Europa League, Women’s Champions League, Youth League, the Nations League, Euro 2020 playoffs, Under-21 and Women’s Euro qualifiers.

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

FIFA asked to review controversial handball rule, UEFA confirm

Deandra Dottin hits out during her unbeaten 29 for Trailblazers.

Dottin cameo hands Trailblazers opening win HARJAH, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin belted a cameo to propel Trailblazers to an opening nine-wicket victory over Velocity in the Women’s T20 Challenge here yesterday. Chasing a modest 48 for victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Trailblazers stormed to their target off a mere 47 deliveries, with Dottin finishing unbeaten on 29 from 28 deliveries. The right-hander struck three fours, putting on an entertaining 37 in an unbroken second-wicket stand with 17-year-old Richa Ghosh who finished on 13 not out. However, the platform for victory was laid by England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone who snatched four for nine from three overs and one ball, to destroy Velocity’s innings for just 47 off 15.1 overs. Handed the new ball, she found herself on a hat-trick when she removed captain Mithali Raj for one and Veda Krishnamurthy without scoring with successive deliveries in the fourth over, and though Sushma Verma avoided the hat-trick, Velocity slumped to 27 for seven in the ninth over and never recovered. Opener Shafali Verma top-scored with 13 and was one of only three players to reach double figures. New-ball seamer Jhulan Goswami and left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad both supported with two for 13. Trailblazers then stumbled in their run chase when they lost captain Smriti Mandhana for six with the score on 12 in the fourth over but Dottin quickly put her side back on course for the comfortable victory. She took a boundary each off seamer Shikha Pandey and left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht in the overs following, before sweeping Bisht for another four at the start of the eighth over to put Trailblazers on the brink of victory. Ghosh finished the game in style off the fifth delivery of the same over, clearing the ropes at long on with a well-timed swing. The three-team tournament, which bowled off Wednesday, runs until November 9 and is being played alongside the knockout stages of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday November 06, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Mike Hussey-733 runs (CSK) (2) Dwayne Bravo-32 wickets (CSK) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the highest individual score made in IPL 2013? (2) Who had the best bowling figures in a single IPL game in 2013? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

UEFA has asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to change the handball rule to stop "growing frustration" following a spate of penalties awarded for the offence, European football's governing body confirmed yesterday. In a letter to Infantino, UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin asked that football's lawmakers adjust the handball rule which has been in place since March last year - so that referees can once again judge whether there is intention when a player handles the ball. "The attempt to strictly define the cases where handling the ball is an offence has resulted in many unfair decisions which have been met with growing frustration and discomfort by the football community," said Ceferin's letter, which was sent on October 27. The contents of the letter were confirmed to AFP's sister sports agency in Germany, SID. The news of the letter comes a day after the latest controversial spot-kick award, which put Chelsea two goals ahead in their 3-0 Champions League win over Rennes on Wednesday. Rennes defender Dalbert, who had already given away the first penalty which had put Chelsea ahead, was sent off for a second booking following a VAR review when a Tammy Abraham shot bounced off his foot onto his arm. The decision, and Timo Werner's cool finish from the spot, effectively killed off the Ligue 1 side's chances of getting a result at Stamford Bridge in their first-ever season in the Champions League. Rennes president Nicolas Holveck was livid after the defeat in London, calling referee Felix Zwayer "the man of the match".

Dalbert was sent off for this handball following a VAR review, another controversial decision.

"I would like someone to clearly explain to me the rules for handballs in the box ... the score went to 2-0 without Alfred (Gomis, the Rennes goalkeeper) having to make a save." It was one of many penalty decisions which have angered players and managers and which Ceferin in his letter suggested was against the "spirit of the game". Ceferin wrote to Infantino as it is the FIFA-controlled International Football Association Board (IFAB) which decides on the game's laws. FIFA has half of the eight IFAB votes, with the others belonging to the FAs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. (AFP)

Competition for places will spur Windies performance in New Zealand - Johnny Grave CRICKET West Indies (CWI) land in their home conditions,” CEO Johnny Grave believes Grave said. the addition of Darren Bravo “But, I think the Test team and Shimron Hetmyer as have made progress over the well as competition for places last few years and in moments, in the team will see the West they’ve obviously won Test Indies perform much better in matches. What we’re really New Zealand than they did in looking for is winning series, England during the summer. particularly away from home. Bravo and Hetmyer de“We started the series clined invitations to the West against England brilliantly, Indies squad for the #Raisethe- Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer were absent from beating them comprehensively batseries in England in July England tour but will add steel to Windies batting in in the first Test and we were in citing concerns over safety. The a good position in the second New Zealand. West Indies relied on Shamarh Test to seeing out a draw to Brooks, Shai Hope and Jermaine Blackwood during the series retain the Wisden trophy, but that didn’t happen, so I think when they won the first Test at Southampton only to capitulate they are hungry to get some championship points in the World in the remaining two Tests as the home side came from behind Test Championships and also start to prove to themselves to win the series 2-1. that they’re capable of winning series and delivering on that For the tour of New Zealand that begins on November 27 potential.” with the first of three T20 Internationals and then two Tests, This belief, he said, is based on the improvement in the the West Indies have the services of the two middle-order batting driven by competition for places when compared to batsman. However, Hope was not selected due to a protracted the team on the England tour. poor run of form. “Certainly, I am sure the batting line-up will be strengthNotwithstanding, the Cricket West Indies CEO believes ened and be more competitive with the return of Darren Bravo the Caribbean side will deliver a much better showing in what and Shimron Hetmyer etc,” Grave said. is expected to be a tough series. “It’s going to be more competition for places in that “I think touring New Zealand for any team, whatever form middle order and batting line-up and it’s the batting where you’re in, is challenging, particularly in the Test matches. we need to show the most improvement because everyone They haven’t lost a Test match series in New Zealand for is confident, is capable of taking 20 wickets. What we need years and years against every opposition that they have faced, to do is get enough runs on the board to put whatever team so we are fully aware of the challenges of playing New Zea- we are playing against under pressure.”

GFF Ordinary Congress...

nual FIFA Congress taking place online for the first time. AT next month’s GFF Congress delegates will observe strict health protocols during the all-day event to ensure a safe environment, including social distancing, the use of face masks and increased hygiene. “The safety and health of our community is of the upmost importance and the GFF team is working hard to ensure that

From Backpage the correct measures are in place to deliver a safe and secure Congress, in line with official guidelines,” Forde said. The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the GFF which brings all voting members together, including the nine regional associations, affiliate associations for referees, coaches, women’s football, futsal and beach soccer, and Elite League clubs.

guyana CHRONICLE Friday, November 6, 2020

Ten Caribbean countries axed from AIBA voting

CARICOM territories and the English-speaking Caribbean’s quest to be a formidable voting force at the upcoming AIBA Congress suffered an embarrassing knock down as more than half of the countries have been deemed ineligible to vote by the world governing body. In a list announced on Wednesday AIBA gave only seven countries from the region the green light to vote at its Congress scheduled for December 12 – 13. Those eligible to vote are Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominica, Haiti, Saint Maarten, Suriname and US Virgin Islands along with Curacao are forced to observe the AIBA voting red light. Of the 43 countries affiliated to the Americas Boxing Confederation, only 21 have been cleared to vote. No reason has been given for the trimming of the regional voting block which president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and AMBC vice-president Steve Ninvalle branded a monumental setback. “I can only opine that this exclusion has something to

do with nine of the ten countries being named in a recent breach of the AIBA election rules. I personally see this as a monumental setback and a wakeup call for individual Caribbean countries to get their houses in order. Obviously it has weakened our region’s ability to be a force at such a critical time but we have only ourselves to blame and no one else,” Ninvalle declared. Last month Ninvalle labelled as unfortunate a disclosure that nine Caribbean countries had been named in a possible breach of AIBA election rules. Saint Maarten, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Anguilla, Bermuda, Haiti and Suriname were named in a letter to the AIBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committees as countries that had their annual AIBA fees paid by the Dominican Republic Boxing Federation (DRBF). The payment raised concerns as a possible breach of International Boxing Association (AIBA) election rules, after the DRBF, which nominated one of the seven candidates vying for President of AIBA, paid the membership fee of the nine countries so they can vote in the December Congress.

Honorary AIBA vicepresident Domingo Solano

Website, Insidethegames, reported that the DRBF, which nominated Domingo Solano for president – transferred a total of $4,800 (£3,700/€4,000) to the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) to cover the dues of the nine National Federations. AMBC president Osvaldo Bisbal reported the “disturbing case” of the payment in a letter to the heads of the AIBA Disciplinary and Ethics Commissions, which he said was made “without previous approval from our side”. Bisbal alleged the DRBF told AMBC that the money “was to pay for the membership fees for nine National Federations in order for them to be eligible for the upcoming Congress where AIBA is due to elect its new president. The Argentinian, a

AMBC vice-president Steve Ninvalle

vice-president of AIBA, also suggested the DRBF had asked for the source of the money to be covered up as it “requested AMBC to issue an individual receipt to each National Federation that AMBC pretended to receive each fee from each of these nine National Federations”. The money was for AIBA’s member federations in Saint Maarten, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Anguilla, Bermuda, Haiti and Suriname, according to the letter. “I am reporting this to you because I believe that AIBA and AMBC could be affected from an ethical point of view,” Bisbal wrote. “As we are in critical situation to restore our damaged image, I am requesting your proper considerations on this case,” insidethegames

reported. Solano is a former president of the DRBF and a current honorary AIBA vice-president. According to insidethegames, the payment from the Dominican body could create problems for Solano as election statutes dictates that candidates “should in no case and under no pretext give presents or offer donations or gifts or grant, advantages or benefits of whatever nature to or at the request of any party who will vote in, or who may otherwise influence an election”. In a then invited comment, Ninvalle, who on October 6 resigned as Chairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Boxing, declared the matter unfortunate. “I don’t believe that there was any intention by anyone of the Caribbean countries to go against any ethical rule laid out by AIBA. The Caribbean just does not operate in that way,” Ninvalle said then. “However, this is an election season and anything that is said and done will be immensely scrutinised, hence, we as region need to be extremely careful with our modus operandi. “We also need to make sure that we don’t conform to the usual last-minute rush

which is clearly the genesis of this issue. It is my sincere hope that we all learn from this,” the Guyanese vice-president of AMBC added. Bisbal was later attacked for his actions which several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean considered unpatriotic to AMBC. However, Ninvalle then claimed that the Argentine could have only acted because he was provided with the opportunity to do so. “Everyone in boxing knows that you have to protect yourself at all times. If you drop your guards and get floored because of it, then you only have yourself to blame. This is an election season, so there will be no velvet gloves being used. “My hope is that this important lesson is not forgotten and our regional administrators will now better understand the value of acting in a prompt manner. We owe it to our country and those who elected us,” Ninvalle declared. The recent ruling by AIBA could be viewed as a direct castigation of the alleged defaulters although Curacao was not among Bisbal’s list of offenders. It is unknown if the affected countries will lodge an appeal.

FIFA conducts TTFA status assessment after EGM letter

FOOTBALL's world governing body FIFA is currently assessing the actions of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) general membership, as well as the ruling by the Court of Appeal of T&T, with a possible intent to remove the suspension handed down on September 24 and accept the TTFA back into the fold of the FIFA family. FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura delivered this information in a letter on Wednesday, pointed out that on October 23, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Appellate Judge Nolan Bereaux overturned a ruling by High Court Judge Carol Gobin made on October 13 to recognise the United T&TFA's team of William Wallace (president) and vice-presidents Clynt Taylor, Joseph Sam Phillip and Susan Joseph-Warrick, as the legitimate managers of football in T&T. TTFA had challenged a

decision by FIFA in March to appoint a Normalisation Committee to replace the Wallace-led T&TFA for putting the country's football on the brink of insolvency. The TTFA first went to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland, before deciding to challenge the matter in the local High Court, which was a violation of FIFA Statutes, citing constitutional bias at the CAS. However, Justice Bereaux concluded that TTFA constitution prescribes that all disputes between itself and FIFA should be dealt with by CAS. He said: “The fact that such a provision is enshrined in the TTFA’s constitution means that TTFA and its executive are bound to comply. The result is that the filing of these proceedings was a breach of TTFA’s constitution.” Archie, on the other hand, said, “It was neither prudent

FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura

case management nor an economical deployment of judicial time and resources to attempt to finally determine the substantive issues and to deliver a judgement less than a week before the scheduled hearing of the interlocutory appeal ... Zeal is commendable but it must not obscure the need for caution,” Archie said. In the judgement, it was determined that the litigation contravened the Judiciary’s Civil Proceedings Rules, as

it was served on FIFA via email when Swiss law does not permit such a method for service of a lawsuit. The ruling was followed by an Extraordinary General Meeting on October 25, at which the TTFA members agreed to drop all the court matters with FIFA if TTFA were to be accepted as a member again, and thereby be allowed to play in all FIFA-sanctioned events. The TTFA was also required to accept the normalisation committee as the organisation to run the affairs of the sport in T&T, as well as bring its statutes in line with that of FIFA. Samoura in a letter to Robert Hadad, chairman of the normalisation committee, dated November 4, acknowledged the attempts made by the sport's membership and the court of appeal, saying: " FIFA acknowledged receipt of the decision of the T&T Court

of Appeal in the case to which FIFA was a respondent party. In this context, the decision of the Court of Appeal ruled that the former leadership of the TTFA had acted unlawfully by appealing to a local court to contest the appointment by FIFA of the Normalisation Committee for the TTFA." She added: "In addition, the Court of Appeal stressed that in accordance with art. 57 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes and art. 67 of the TTFA statutes, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is the only recognised path to resolve such dispute. Furthermore, the FIFA administration acknowledges the receipt of written proof that on 25th October 2020 a meeting was held among the TTFA members. In this context, we duly take note that the members of the TTFA expressed themselves and decided

that “(…) the way forward for the TTFA is: for the TTFA to fully comply with its obligations as a member of FIFA, recognising the legitimacy of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, and; bringing its own statutes in line with the FIFA Statutes, and; to fully cooperate with the Normalisation Committee in the fulfilment of its mandate as stated in FIFA´s letter of March 17, 2020; be it further resolved that all court matters existing between the TTFA and FIFA shall be immediately brought to a stop”. According to Samoura, FIFA welcomes both decisions and is assessing the matter internally, promising that an update will be provided in due course. The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean AssoSee Page 19

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Player-of-the-Match Jasprit Bumrah returned excellent figures of 4-1-14-4. (BBCI/IPL photo)

GFF president Wayne Forde is confident that 2021 will be a year of growth.

GFF Ordinary Congress set for December 12

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced that its 2020 Ordinary Congress, which was postponed in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now take place on Saturday, December 12 at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.The Congress, according to a release from the GFF, will provide an opportunity to reconvene the football community after a challenging and disrupted year, update the GFF membership on the federation’s achievements, and agree on strategic priorities for the year ahead as officials look to phase in football activities. “We are delighted to be able to stage this important milestone in the football calendar before the end of the year,” said GFF president Wayne Forde. Forde added, "The Congress is a vital pillar in the governance of football and offers a platform to share the progress we have made in developing football in this extraordinary year. We will also lay out our plans for the next phase of our strategic vision to grow the game. We are confident that 2021 will be a year of growth for domestic and international football for Guyana.” Football authorities around the world have had to postpone large-scale gatherings this year, with the anSee page 22

Bumrah, Boult blow away Delhi as Mumbai march into sixth IPL final Fletcher says WI team goal is winning T20 series on NZ soil … credits maturity, fitness as part of new approach to game

By Clifton Ross A MATURE Andre Fletcher said he's elated to be back in West Indies colours and is keen on playing his best cricket when the T20 series versus New Zealand bowls off in a few weeks. After passing their initial rounds of COVID-19 tests, the Caribbean boys were given the green light to commence their training and practice ahead of the 3-match T20 and 2-match Test series. On Wednesday, the players engaged in their first outdoor session after being housed in Christchurch at the Chateau. Head coach Phil Simmons and his men conducted their training session at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Speaking virtually to the media, Fletcher said he was more than happy to be back in the international fold. "It's a great feeling, it's always a pleasure playing for the West Indies and representing the Caribbean on a whole. It's a great opportunity once again so I just have to make sure I grasp that opportunity and make the best of it," says the opener.

Andre Fletcher (3rd from left) stands next to head coach Phil Simmons prior to Wednesday's first training session ahead of the T20 series in New Zealand.

With six 50-plus scores and a career-best of 84 not out, Fletcher has carved a good T20 career for himself and when in form has been up there with the best ball-hitters in the game. Admitting that his game is far different from the ultra-aggressive, flashy type fans were used to back in his earlier days, now 32 and sporting a new look with dreads, Fletcher credited maturity and more emphasis on his fitness as the formula fot

his return to form this year. "I've become a more positive player, my shot selection has improved a lot and I've been working hard on the physical aspect, putting in a lot of strength work behind the scenes. It paid off a lot in the CPL so hopefully I can carry it onto the international level and see what I can do best for the Caribbean people," said a fired-up Fletcher. A former World Cup T20 winner under Darren Sammy back in 2016, the St Lucian

said that winning this series on Kiwi soil will be a major accolade for himself and team, who have never achieved such a feat in the past. "This is my third time in New Zealand and we haven't won a T20 series in New Zealand. So the team goal is to try and win this series and my individual goal is to try and get as many runs as possible See page 21

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FRIDAY, nOVEMBER 06, 2020