FRIDAY 5th March, 2021
' No.106291
House approves $383.1B budget
–– but not before Opposition MPs create disturbance, leave National Assembly over unsubstantiated allegations
–– Dr. Singh disappointed full scrutiny was absent, but says implementation of measures must begin SEE STORY ON PAGE 03
Reposition, restructure, rebrand –– President tells Police Force
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President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (centre); Prime Minister Mark Philips (left of President); Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn (left of Prime Minister); National Security Adviser Gerry Gouveia; and Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie (right of President) with senior members of the Guyana Police Force (Delano Williams photo)
Best takes over from Chief of Staff West 09 PAGE
Husband dies, wife battling for 04 Doctor, nurses suspended for 09 life after car crashes into culvert ‘negligence’ in death of mother, newborn PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Reposition, restructure, rebrand, President tells Police Force
By Jared Liddell PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has called on the Guyana Police Force to “re-
position, restructure and rebrand” in an effort to better serve the Guyanese people. The President issued the
charge at the opening of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday. President Ali told mem-
bers of the GPF that in order for the force to effectively meet its mission, strategic changes need to be made to ensure a higher level of respect and trust in the force and its ranks. “We have to repair our image, you have to repair how we are perceived, you have to repair relationships, you have to repair the organisational structure, and we have to repair our brand. Repairing this must be guided by professionalism, must be guided by people and it must be guided by patriotism,” said the Commander-In-Chief. The three-day conference is being held under the theme, “Enhancing professionalism, police-community relations and confidence through continuous security sector reform and partnerships.” President Ali, addressing the ranks, stated that while the force has been making significant strides in recent times there is still room for improvement. He noted that “clarity of vision” is one of the most important initiatives that must be undertaken. He is adamant that the collective GPF must share a command goal and must work together to not just achieve that goal, but to also uphold systems that would allow for efficiency. President Ali stated that the force needs to understand where it is and where its operations should be, advising that this is the only way the force can gain knowledge of where gaps in its operations and service are. “I am not asking you to do anything extraordinary, but understand the principal values of a country. You have a right and a duty to
President, Dr Irfaan Ali during his address at the Police Officers’ Annual Conference on Thursday
defend democracy, part of professional conduct is the way we approach issues of democracy; we could set ourselves aside or we could set our mark, depending on how we approach these issues,” said President Ali. He added that understanding the weaknesses and strengths places the force at an advantageous position to create policies and systems that could address and rectify those gaps to promote a more efficient and effective Police Force. President Ali also committed that he is willing to ensure that the force gets the necessary support from the government to achieve its goals of serving and protecting the people of Guyana. WANT THE BEST “I want the best for the force. I will support the best for the force. I will work every day to get the best outcome, but there are some boundaries that inherently all of us must swear to uphold and protect, there is no compromise on those principals [sic] and boundaries,” he said. He noted that the force is not short of competent and qualified persons and advised that once they have clarity and cohesion of vision on the goals of the GPF, they must come up with innovative ways to achieve them. Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie stated that the force is committed to moving forward and creating systems that would allow for a higher level of service. He stated that while the past year has been a challenging one, it has allowed the force to rise to the challenge and create innovative ways to utilise its resources to achieve its goals. “The Guyana Police Force was able to provide adequate security for the General and Regional Elections, as well as the transition of the new government. Our collaborative effort with members
of the Joint Services in our continuous efforts in the fight against the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has been significant and should not go unnoticed.” He stated that while the police have no direct control over crime, no effort has been spared in the force’s campaign to provide Guyanese with a safe country through the utilisation of methods of detection and prevention. “During the year, we have experienced a 14 per cent increase in road fatalities; however, we have also recorded a 5.9 decrease in serious crime between January 1 to March 1 of this year. We have recorded a 46.6 decrease in serious crime and 19.6 decrease in fatal accidents compared to the same period in 2020,” Hoppie stated. He further stated that the GPF will continue to work diligently to promote security through its undertaking of raids, roadblocks, robust anti-crime patrols and intelligence network, bolstered by divisional anti-crime units and analytical work by way of data collection through the integrated crime-information system. Additionally, the police commissioner shared appreciation for the invaluable assistance being given to the GPF by members of the 186 community policing groups across the country, whom he stated play a pivotal role in crime management within the communities. He anticipates that this partnership will be further strengthened in the future. Hoppie stated that over the next three days, the focus for the annual police conference will be to review, re-examine and analyse the force’s operations, policies and strategies to deal with crime and the other responsibilities in keeping with its mandate.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
House approves $383.1B budget –– but not before Opposition MPs create disturbance, leave National Assembly over unsubstantiated allegations –– Dr. Singh disappointed full scrutiny was absent, but says implementation of measures must begin
By Navendra Seoraj AN unavoidable deviation from the natural course of operations in the National Assembly, due to the behaviour of the Parliamentary Opposition and their subsequent exit from the House, has resulted in the Government’s proposed $383.1 billion Budget 2021 being approved with little scrutiny, clearing the way for the implementation of measures which are expected to reignite the economy and lay a foundation for economic ascension. Motivated by an unsubstantiated claim that Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, assaulted Opposition Parliamentarian, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition Members of Parliament (MPs) resorted to unwarranted noise and rebellion in an effort to inspire the removal of the minister from the House. Despite being advised by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, that they could table a motion, which would have to be debated on before a decision is made, the Coalition parliamentarians persisted with their obstructive actions, on Thursday. This action persisted even after the sitting was suspended for an hour. But the Speaker, after advising the Coalition again to no avail, went ahead with the proceedings amidst the loud chants of ‘no’ and pounding on desks by Opposition parliamentarians. Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, believes that the actions of the Coalition are connected directly to a pending court case, in which the APNU+AFC is challenging the amendments made recently to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “They are contending that those amendments are unconstitutional… they also have an application within that case that seeks a conservatory order which is a kin to an injunction, restraining the Speaker [of the National Assembly] from proceeding to consider the budget esti-
tor, roads, bridges, airstrips, delivery of health, delivery of quality education services, increases of direct benefits, old age pension, public assistance… it is about all of these elements.
Parliamentarians on the opposing side of the National Assembly resorted to ruckus in an unsuccessful bid to have Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, removed from Thursday’s sitting of the House (Elvin Croker photo)
mates of constitutional agencies,” the Attorney-General explained. That matter is fixed for hearing today, so Nandlall believes that the Coalition parliamentarians deliberately tried to derail the process until the matter is heard and ruled on.
ALLEGATIONS CONCOCTED His firm belief is that the allegation against Minister McCoy was concocted to allow the injunction to be heard, so that they could potentially stop the consideration of the budgetary estimates. Despite the Coalition’s relentless efforts to have their way, the assembly was converted to the Committee of Supply and the noise was ignored as the Government members proceeded to first consider the estimates for the Constitutional agencies, which were initially due for consideration on Wednesday, when the same allegation forced an early suspension of the sitting. Aside from having to delay the proceedings to suspend some of the Coalition MPs for utilising a recording device in the House, an act that is prohibited, the Speaker read agency by agency unhindered, despite giving the rowdy opposition Parliamentarians an
opportunity to pitch their queries. With the Coalition Parliamentarians opting, in the end, to withdraw themselves completely from the process, the committee moved swiftly through the consideration of the estimates before reverting to the assembly and passing the Appropriation Bill for 2021. Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, while being satisfied that the budget was passed expeditiously and ahead of time, said he is disappointed that there was no detailed consideration of the budget estimates. “The budget is the most important thing in the parliamentary calendar… so I am disappointed that they chose to try to delay and stymie the budget consideration process and ultimately withdraw…I want to say that this is an extremely disappointing position they adopted for many reasons. “The budget is literally the amalgamation of policy, projects, initiatives and so on, and detailed consideration is important… subjecting it to scrutiny and analysis is essential to parliamentary and public understanding of the budget,” Dr. Singh said during a press briefing following the
passage of the budget. Although he would have been disappointed in the Coalition’s decision, the senior minister held the firm view that the Opposition parliamentarians were trying to frustrate and derail the approval of the budget. DISTURBING “This is disturbing because it [the budget] contains initiatives intended to improve lives and contribute to development… any attempt to frustrate, delay or derail the approval of the budget is an attempt to frustrate development and the implementation of the initiatives contained here,” Dr. Singh reasoned, adding: “There are investments contained there for roads, schools, medical centres, and so on, all intended to not only deliver services and quality of life, but generate economic activity, create jobs and increase income.” It is for this reason that the minister said his disappointment extends beyond the lack of scrutiny for Budget 2021 to the Coalition’s attempt to delay the delivery of benefits to the people of Guyana. In further highlighting the importance of the budget, he said: “There is a lot that is positive, it has a number of important initiatives… it is literally investing in every sec-
and transformative infrastructure, including energy infrastructure to ensure adequate supply at a competitive cost, and transport infrastructure to improve international connectivity, and unleash domestic
Opposition Parliamentarian, Sherod Duncan, utilising a recording device in the National Assembly despite being warned by the Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir, to desist from doing so (Elvin Croker photo)
“There is a lot that is positive, it has a lot of initiatives that will help us to navigate the pandemic safely and keep the economy afloat, which is what budget 2020 initiated and what 2021 seeks to build on.” The 2021 Budget is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for development, driving the recovery of an economy affected heavily by the pervasive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and a protracted electoral process. The budget’s immediate aim is to keep the population safe from the pandemic, containing further spread, treating those who are infected, providing vaccines as soon as they become available, and reopening the economy progressively, and then fully when it is safe to do so. While protecting the nation is the primary objective, the budget is also aimed at ensuring that there’s a diversified and resilient productive sector by facilitating largescale private investment in both traditional and new and emerging sectors, creating 50,000 jobs in the next five years, and promoting entrepreneurship at the medium and small-business level. Budget 2021 will also initiate investments in catalytic
production and productivity. “We will be establishing world-class social services such as education and healthcare, so that these services are available to the domestic population, but also with a view to entering the international market for providing these services to a regional and global clientele. “Attention will also be placed on improving the quality of public services, and creating a conducive environment for doing business and interacting with government, including by deploying technology-based solutions, as well as reducing bureaucracy and red tape,” Dr. Singh said during the presentation of the budget in February. All of this will be done with respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, maintaining good governance, safeguarding access to justice, and the preservation of a safe and secure environment for all Guyanese and visitors to Guyana. With the budget being approved by the House, Dr. Singh said the priority now has to be on ensuring that budget agencies proceed to implement the initiatives and projects in a timely and effective manner.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Latest COVID-19 deaths push toll to 200 TWO women, aged 52 and 62 from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) respectively, are the latest persons to succumb to COVID-19. Both women died while receiving medical care, and their deaths mark the second and third for the month of March 2021, pushing the
overall number of COVID-19 deaths in Guyana to 200. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has recorded 51 new cases from 1,453 tests conducted for March 3, 2021. Of that number, seven were recorded in Region Three; 38 in Region Four; two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region
Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). No new cases were recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini); Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); or Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and 31 recoveries were recorded within the past 24 hours.
To date, six persons remain within the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 36 are still in institutional isolation; 364 are isolated at home; and 14 are institutionally quarantined. Guyana has confirmed a total of 8,699 cases since the arrival of COVID-19 on these shores, 420 of which are currently active.
All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six-foot physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health.gov.gy.
Husband dies, wife battling for life after car crashes into culvert
The car following the accident
A MAN has died and his wife is battling for her life at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after their car slammed into a concrete culvert along the Berbice River Bridge Public Road. Dead is Vijay Jaigobin,
Friday March 5, 2021 –– 10:00hrs
33, Lot 2C Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and battling for her life is Sherry Alicia Jaigobin, 30. Vijay was driving motor car PYY 6586, reportedly at a fast rate of speed, when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the concrete
Vijay Jaigobin and his wife Sherry in happier times
culvert on the northern side of the road, before catapulting into a nearby trench. Public-spirited citizens who rushed to their rescue took the unresponsive couple out of the vehicle, and transported them to the New Amsterdam Hospital where Vi-
jay died while receiving medical attention. Sherry was subsequently transferred to the GPHC in an unresponsive condition, Commander Jairam Ramlakhan said.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
LoO Harmon must stop stubbornness, embrace dialogue by recognising the gov’t –– President Ali PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, restated his position that the Leader of the Opposition (LoO), Joseph Harmon needs to explicitly recognise his government as legitimate, if the two sides are to move forward with official dialogue and consultations. The President was, at the time, fielding questions from the media on the sidelines of the Annual Police Officers’ Conference. Noting that he is “ready to speak to all Guyana”, the President highlight-
ed that whether or not the two sides will be able to move forward is dependent on the actions of the main Opposition, APNU+AFC. “I am ready to speak to all Guyanese and I have been doing that, the question is, is the Leader of the Opposition ready to speak to the legitimately-elected government?” President Ali questioned, adding: “The Leader of the Opposition has a choice. Let me very clear on this, he has a choice. Sometimes we have
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali
to decide what is foolhardy and what we really want to achieve. I don’t know what bubble he is living in, but I
Selected Quote from Dr. Cheddi Jagan "My opponents say ' Jagan you are honest and sincere, but we don't like your connections and associations and methods. Your goals, your ends may be good, but your means are foul, wicked and bad.' My answer to that is very simple. If I am honest and sincere, it is because of my beliefs, my ideology. For me, there is a unity of ends and means. Every means must be good in itself no matter in what stage of struggle. Freedom is inseparable from struggle."
Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon
am sure that the Leader of the Opposition is aware, like the rest of the world, he trampled
upon democracy.” It has been eight months since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was declared the new government and President Ali was sworn in. President Ali was sworn in some five months after the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections due to repeated attempts by elements in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to rig the elections in favour of the APNU+AFC. Members of the APNU+AFC have continually refused to recognise the government following the fraudulent attempt to retain power.
Several opposition Members of Parliament (MP) have brazenly indicated as much, as recent as last week, when they made such references in their speeches before the National Assembly during the budget debates. “Look at all his MPs, look at what they are saying,” President Ali noted on Thursday, “What Mr. Harmon needs to do is the right thing, to correct the mischief that he embarked on by trying to push a narrative that he knows is so false and recognising that there is a legitimate government and legitimate President.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Tajeram Mohabir
Forward-thinking leadership DEVELOPING this nation has a lot do with engineering, the designing, planning and drafting of ideas into workable blueprints before actually building and maintaining systems, structures, and safety nets. Scores of Guyanese work behind the scenes to build new roads and repair and maintain old ones, and to do the hard work of clearing virgin land to construct new housing communities, ordinary citizens doing menial jobs to make Guyana move forward, each one carrying out the execution part of projects and programmes, following the planning phase, the blueprinting of what is envisioned. It is a process, this idea of socioeconomic development, starting with an idea, moving forward with a mapping out of the plan on paper, and then execution, followed by maintenance. That cycle of building the Guyana dream is worth consideration, because one tends to think of it only on the physical plane, whereas the social aspect, the spirit
and soul of the land, is what really determines the way of being of Guyanese, the quality of life and happiness and peace and prosperity of the ordinary citizen, souls out there toiling day in and day out to make society work for everybody's benefit. This country is not only about its leaders and government officials and public servants and bureaucrats and business owners, but, significantly, this nation functions on the back-bending labour of its construction workers, gardeners and farmers who toil the land in hot sun, the fishermen who risk their lives to sojourn out to the ocean and rivers to bring in fresh fish, the forestry workers working in the jungle, miners who go away for months to the wild hinterland, leaving their families at home until they return, and on sturdy sugar workers and patient rice planters and taxi and bus drivers and labourers across the length and breadth of this land. Making all this happen, this hive of activity that starts early in the morning
every day, is the work of engineers who plan projects out, who map blueprints, who design on paper and computer the parameters of projects and programmes. Thus, the task of socioeconomic development involves a slew of crucial, important inputs from a wide range of people. Society tends to see the physical side of things, with the visible world commanding one's attention, with the building of things like housing, roads, bridges and drainage and irrigation and the physical world receiving detailed planning, engineering and mapping out. However, the intangible underbelly of society demands strong consciousness, with that socio-cultural side of socioeconomic development, a particularly vital aspect of moving the Guyanese nation forward, of achieving the great potential of the Guyana brand. This way that the physical side of society works, with necessary blueprinting, designing, followed by building and operating, is
exactly the way the social side of society works, the intangible inner working of society, the social spirit of the country. First, visionaries imagine what is possible, design the idea on a mind mapping exercise, and brainstorm to consider all aspects of execution, including pros and cons. For example, before President Ali could express his conviction to the nation that government would generate 50,000 jobs, 20,000 scholarships, and 10,000 house lots, him and his team had to envision that possibility, and map out the parameters of executing this promise to the Guyanese people, of how to make it happen. So when near-sighted critics balked at the futuristic announcement in the elections manifesto of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), they did so from the position of not being privy to the nuts and bolts of how it would work, of the blueprinting of the idea, of the engineering of the plan. However, the PPP/C had done the
homework, the research and engineering of how to make it all happen, and so their pronouncement came with assured confidence and firm conviction that not only would this plan come to reality, but that engineering the path to achieving this state of the society is what it takes, as a necessary task of government and its experts. As Guyana moves into deeper seas in its socioeconomic development, the skills set to engineer the social side of the society becomes of crucial importance. The task is not only government's, but also the arts and culture community, and the sporting fraternity, and the teachers in the education system who cultivate the minds of the nation's next generation. Just like the private sector exists to build businesses and the economic lay of the land, and the non-governmental agencies exist to carry out charitable work, the socio-cultural organisations exist to cause the social side of the nation to grow and develop. And, just as the government drafts
policies to empower the private sector and the NGO sector, government's job is to inculcate a vision for the society, a social engineering blueprint of what the society should be like. Indeed, government is on the right road, with the One Guyana vision a real blueprint for national progress, peace, and prosperity. This idea of a national social engineering worldview, of planning and mapping the society's progress and development on the level of the intangible needs of the Guyanese nation, calls for a keen sense of where the nation wants to be, both today and in the future, and what kind of people Guyanese want to evolve into as the country becomes a big player in the world with its clean climate and pure air quality, and with its oil and gas sector as one of the development pillars. Engineering the social progress and development of the Guyanese people stands on equal footing with drafting the economic prosperity of the nation.
The annual operational cost of running a Punt Dumper System vs. the aged Cane Gantry System is G$106.9 million cheaper Dear Editor, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) wishes to clarify several grave inaccuracies pertaining to the operations at the corporation’s largest producing estates (Albion/Port Mourant), in a letter dated March 3, 2021 that was published in the Guyana Times Newspapers. While the corporation welcomes and respects constructive criticism on its projects and operations, it imperative that accuracy in public discourse is maintained at all times. The plan to replace the existing aged Cane Gantry System (sling
system) with a Punt Dumper System was on the discussion table for decades (even under consideration by the Booker Tate Operational Team led by Paul Worthington). So this is not a new topic and was not done previously because of a combination of other priorities in the industry. The preliminary studies have shown that at Albion/Port Mourant Estates, the annual operational cost of running a Punt Dumper System vs. the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system) is G$106.9 million cheaper. This translates to this investment in a Punt Dumper System paying for itself within four years.
When using the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system), the efficiency of cane supply to the factory is often disrupted due to the bursting of slings. Further, delays are driven by the time taken to search for sling stuck in between cane bundles. This archaic act of searching for slings is a serious occupational, health and safety hazard. Due to these setbacks using the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system), there are delays in feeding the boilers with bagasse which results in the inordinate consumption of diesel; an unnecessary expense. The Albion/Port Mourant Estates lose an average of 2.7 weeks
of grinding time annually because these delays. The consequence of this situation is an annual loss of revenue at the Albion/Port Mourant Estates totalling approximately GYD$489 million. This loss will be materially reduced when a Cane Punt Dumper is operational at the Albion/Port Mourant Estates. Moreover, there is a further loss to the estates totalling approximately GYD$18 million annually because there are greater spillage losses using the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system). Again, these losses would be materially reduced when the Cane Punt Dumper is operational at these estates.
If one compares the operations at the Blairmont Estates where there is a functional Punt Dumper System and that at Albion/Port Mourant Estates where there is the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system), one would find that there is a higher build up of extraneous matter at the Albion/Port Mourant Estates mainly because of the inability of the aged Cane Gantry System (sling system) to self clean. Such a situation creates an environment for the growth of bacteria (Leuconostoc spp.) and the more active deterioration of punts because of the residual matter. TURN TO PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
McCoy is being used as bait for political purposes Dear Editor, PARLIAMENT has once again descended into chaotic and erratic conduct much like the previous sittings. This time, the Opposition Members of Parliament are behaving very “badly” as they are alleging some assault involving their member, Tabitha Sarboo-Halley, at the hands/phone of Minister within the Ministry of Office of Prime Minister, Kwame Mc Coy. There is little evidence at this point, the opposition wants the House Speaker Manzoor Nadir to engage in “kangaroo Justice”. The opposition wants him to suspend Mr. Mc Coy on the basis of an allegation because the member said she is “shaken and traumatised” as a result of her encounter with MP. Furthermore, the opposition is threatening that the consideration of budget estimates will not continue until Mr. Mc Coy vacates the Parliament. Mr. Editor, the PPP/C will not bite the bullet and fall for this trick. And though it is a serious crime against a woman given the climate that we live in, the government will tread lightly. They will seek to have the matter investigated and determined
before any action is taken. And the Speaker should check the behaviours of opposition members both on social media, mass media and in Parliament. Again, I said many of them are breaching the time honoured principles of Parliament and law in terms of libel each time they talk about Mc Coy or the PPP/C. Mc Coy has denied the allegations and as honourable members, that should be enough for now while the incident is being dealt with by the police. I also think that the police should investigate the counter allegations made by McCoy against Sarboo-Halley with the same zeal that they are going to investigate the first. This issue is being deliberately used for rile-up Guyanese and advance a political cause because the opposition wants media time, time in the spotlight and time to make it appear as though they care about violence against women. I have witnessed the crusade that the opposition is leading to misuse this very important and seriousness of violence against women and girls as a rallying call for their political motives. The Sarboo-Halley allegation must be seen for what is – an allegation. It should not juxtapose
against more serious issues where women are dying at the hands of their partners while others are being sexually exploited, raped and propositioned. This will not bring attention to the assault if that is what the opposition wants but it will jeopardise the gains made by Guyanese and other women in our society. Get on with the people’s business in Parliament. Consider the estimates of the budget! This crass and distasteful behaviour whenever it seems like the opposition will not win a battle must not be allowed to continue. This plan or ploy by the opposition against Mr. Mc Coy and the PPP/C will not stand the test of time. Let the chips fall where they may! Guyana deserves a better and stronger opposition that will be serious, composed as opposed to perplexed about issues, behave with decency and decorum, and debate issues on the basis of facts. Waking up and seeing the opportunity to up struck the government using schemes and sinister allegations is not the way to go. Yours respectfully, Michael Younge
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The annual operational cost... This bacterial growth contributes to a more rapid sugar inversion situation, which is no good to the sugar recovery process. The consequence of this situation is an additional annual loss of revenue at the Albion/Port Mourant Estates totalling some G$141 million thanks to the aged Cane Gantry System. The Albion/ Port Mourant Estates incur further $12.5 million annually in unnecessary costs to sanitise punts to eliminate the bacteria. If all of these costs are added up, the cost benefit analysis can only
conclude to one outcome. Finally, it is a mystery that the figure of 150,000 MT was derived as the potential for these three Estates (Albion/Port Mourant, Blairmont & Uitvlugt). GuySuCo’s records indicate (supported by the graph above) that these three estates never surpass or even came close to achieving such a target in the last 15 years. The average production on these three estates over the last 15 years was 102,265 MT. So that figure of GYD$5 billion seems to be derived from a mistaken
perception of the facts. The public is encouraged to visit our Head Office at LBI Estate to share their concerns and seek clarifications on any matter that concerns them pertaining to the advancement of the industry. Nonetheless, GuySuCo welcomes the discourse so we can do what is best for the 8,400 workers and Guyana. Yours sincerely, Communications Team
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
GTT, Voice GY to assist refugees and migrants with online learning THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday announced its collaboration with Voices GY in providing 150 free SIM cards and discounted mobile data services in an effort to assist refugees and migrants in Guyana with online learning. Voices GY is an active civil society organisation in Guyana that works with refugees, migrants, and their host
communities to alleviate their shared struggles over the past two years. Project Manager of GTT, Ubrina Khan stated that GTT has reduced its 10GB plan to aid beneficiaries in their online schooling. The Voices GY team will hold responsibility for the selection of the beneficiaries to receive the 150 GTT SIM cards based on their needs. “We are extremely excited to partner with Voices GY
to give the beneficiaries the opportunity to learn online during this COVID-19 pandemic,” Khan said. The support is being given as part of GTT’s 30th anniversary celebrations that recognise the company’s contribution to ongoing national growth and development. Voices GY Director, Charlie Tokeley praised the telecommunications company for its contribution to the group’s initiative, stat-
ing: “It is a really important contribution to migrants and refugees in Guyana, since it is offering them the chance to access important online services while enabling a better life experience during this challenging time.” “GTT is really taking the lead in doing this; showing the best side of Guyanese hospitality and making sure their services cater to the most vulnerable in society,” he added.
In November 2020, GTT connected over 195 students and teachers with online schooling through its SIM and 5GB data donation to several schools nationwide. GTT also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to zero-rate a wide range of educational websites in support of online learning in Guyana, on behalf of students, and in recognition of the efforts of teachers to
A disgraceful state of affairs
Dear Editor,
MY mother, Mrs. Agnes McLean, lived to the grand old age of 103 years. She was bur-
ied in the South Western area of the cemetery bordering on the small Street before Sussex Street close to St. Stephen’s Street.
She died some six years ago and I have always maintained the area where my grandparents and parents were buried, in the area bounded by the extension
of Broad Street into the cemetery in the first cross street in what was the Catholic Cemetery. At one time there was a bridge connecting Broad Street into the cemetery. The tombs of my ancestors have been well maintained and tiled and I take pride in what I do for those who went before me. I attached a photograph of what has happened and it is disgraceful. We can no longer reach the cross streets to visit their grave site as the area has become a garbage dump. The junctions leading from Louisa Row past Memorial Gardens and what used to be a beautiful monument has been destroyed and the small roundabout onto the cross street leading to a wooden bridge at Sussex Street is now accessible. Garbage, old stoves, fridges, and tonnes of garbage and bags have been dumped at the junction of the extension of Louisa Row and the last cross street before Sussex Street is a garbage dump. I can no longer access that road to my mother’s grave site; even if as I tried to get around, by the
Broad Street extension, when I got close they had dug a drain so I can no longer reach their grave site. The entire cemetery is a garbage dump as the situation is being replicated everywhere, Cemetery Road ‘thru’ the cemetery and the extension from Broad Street are all dump sites. If you care to let your officers visit, graves are broken into, busted open sliding into canals and trenches. We can no longer see tombs and grave sites as trees of all dimensions have over taken all the areas. It is a nightmare and a disgrace - bridges are broken contributing to the lack of access and the desecration of the sites. When I think that we had roads from Broad Street running parallel to Princess Street and Sussex Street, it could have been maintained and street lights similar to those into Cemetery Road be installed. At this time can we clear the garbage and make the cemetery garbage-free. Norman McLean Major-General (retired)
impart knowledge electronically. Voices GY currently assists between 150-250 Venezuelans and Cubans each week through their online programmes, such as classes in English, entrepreneurship, psychosocial support, and Spanish for Government and NGOs, and have developed the largest online English course for refugees in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Dominic Gaskin deserving of Order of Democracy Dear Editor, IT is my firm belief that one of the most deserving persons to receive the Order of Democracy is Mr. Dominic Gaskin, former Minister of Business and member of the AFC. Despite Mr. Gaskin’s affiliation and relation – sonin-law of the then President – he took a firm and objective stance on the all events that occurred during March – August 2020. One can only imagine the strength and courage it takes to stand up to blood and brotherhood on the grounds of fairness and democracy. It is only fitting that the Order of Democracy be bestowed upon Mr. Dominic Gaskin. Yours sincerely, Mohinie Persaud
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Best takes charge of GDF
BRIGADIER Patrick West officially handed the reins of office over to Brigadier Godfrey Bess during a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Change-of-Command parade on Thursday. Outgoing Chief-of-Staff West was joined by his family. The event featured parachute jumping and the handing over of the Force’s colours. Best is married to Mrs. Margaret West, and together they have five children. Also in attendance at the parade were Prime Minister Brigadier (r’td) Mark Phillips; Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, and National Security Adviser Gerry Gouveia. West, in his farewell speech, spoke with pride of some of the achievements of the GDF under his leadership, and noted that he is of the belief that the Force’s new head will continue to work for the advancement of the Army. The outgoing Chief-ofStaff has given 37 years of service to the GDF, and has performed outstandingly in all his assigned duties. He was also recognised for his immeasurable contri-
bution to the success and professional development of the Army’s Air Force, and international military students. West was awarded the Military Service Star (MSS) in 2017. While serving in the Army, he continued to qualify himself, becoming the first officer in Guyana to earn two master degrees simultaneously. West holds a Master of Science Degree in Administration from the Central Michigan University, and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College, USA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pubic Management, and a Diploma in Public Management from the University of Guyana. Additionally, he holds a Certificate in Human Health and Global Environmental Change from the University of Guyana. Apart from his professional educational pursuits, West also qualified himself in professional military education through several training exercises and initiatives, including the Intermediate Level Education at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas. He also did training courses at foreign military institutions such as Escola de Aperfecion de Officias in Brazil, and the National Defence University in the People’s Republic of China and several peacekeeping modules in Latin America. The outgoing Chief-ofStaff made his way through the ranks, holding several appointments, including Platoon Commander and Commanding Officer in both the Artillery and Infantry units. In addition, he held the posts of Inspector-General and Commandant of the Guyana People's Militia. Brigadier West also held several non-traditional appointments in the Force, notably Force Housing Officer, Secretary/Manager for the GDF Credit Union, Project Coordinator for the GDF Credit Union/World Bank HIV/AIDS project, and Programme Manager for the Inter-American Grant for Micro-finance to enhance loan management and accounting. Currently, Brigadier West is the Chairman of the Commissions Board, Chairman of the Joint Services Coordinating Council, and President of the Guyana Na-
Doctor, nurses suspended for ‘negligence’ in death of mother, newborn A DOCTOR and two nurses attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital have been suspended after an investigation found that they were “negligent” in the execution of their duties, resulting in the death of a mother and her child. Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony made the disclosure during his daily COVID-19 update on Thursday. “We had a mother and a child that died, and we launched an investigation into what happened at New Amsterdam. We have a standing committee called the Maternal Review Committee, and they had the opportunity to go there on Sunday and were able to interview everyone who was connected with the challenges we had there, and they have since issued a report. And, based on that report, we strongly believe that the doctor that was in charge of the patient seemed to be negligent; we also believe that the nurses who were involved were also negligent, based on these findings that were issued by this committee. I am taking immediate steps to suspend that doctor who was involved in that, and two of the nurses
DEAD: Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo
who were involved,” the minister said. The minister further noted that follow-up action will be announced at a later time. Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo, 31, of Lot 19, Third Street, Williamsburg, Corentyne died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) early Saturday morning, hours after delivering at the New Amsterdam Hospital. The newborn baby died on Friday. The mother of three other children was admitted a patient at the New Amster-
dam Hospital on February 22, after she was transferred from the Port Mourant Hospital. She had visited the Port Mourant Hospital after experiencing abdominal pains, and was told that her pressure and blood count were low. She was at the full term of her pregnancy, and was expected to give birth during the course of the week. Her distraught mother, 53-year-old Claris Cecil, said her daughter was a strong and active woman, who had no prior medical condition. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Lewis-Sahadeo’s father, Eric Lewis, told reporters he hopes that the persons responsible would face criminal charges. A post-mortem performed on Lewis-Sahadeo by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Wednesday revealed that she died as a result of hypovolemic shock, abdominal and pelvic hemorrhage, acute lung distress, brain edema and cerebellum herniation. One done on the newborn gave the cause of death as “newborn hemorrhagic syndrome”.
tional Rifle Association. He is also the Senior Pastor for Streams of Power Ministries. Brigadier West stated that he leaves his legacy
and time served not just a part of the Force but also his time leading the Force, where he implemented systems that would have
helped him to achieve his goal of effectively transforming the Force for national defence through sheer professionalism.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
17 per cent of food at consumer level is wasted AN estimated 931 million tonnes of food, or 17 per cent of total food available to consumers in 2019, went into the waste bins of households, retailers, restaurants and other food services, according to new UN research conducted to support global efforts to halve food waste by 2030. The weight roughly equals that of 23 million fully loaded 40-tonne trucks — bumper-to-bumper, enough to circle the Earth seven times. The Food Waste Index Report 2021, from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organisation WRAP, looks at food waste that occurs in retail outlets, restaurants and homes – counting both food and inedible parts like bones and shells. The report presents the most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, and offers a methodology for countries to measure food waste. Some 152 food waste data points were identified in 54 countries. The report finds that in nearly every country that has measured food waste, it was substantial, regardless of income level. It shows that most of this waste comes
from households, which discard 11 per cent of the total food available at the consumption stage of the
Food waste has substantial environmental, social and economic impacts. For example, at a time when
conversion and pollution, enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money at a time of
mit this year will provide an opportunity to launch bold new actions to tackle food waste globally.”
supply chain. Food services and retail outlets waste five per cent and two per cent respectively. On a global per capita-level, 121 kilogrammes of consumer level food is wasted each year, with 74 kilogrammes of this happening in households. The report also includes regional and national per capita estimates.
climate action is still lagging, eight per cent to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed, when losses before consumer level are taken into account. “Reducing food waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions, slow the destruction of nature through land
global recession,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “If we want to get serious about tackling climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, businesses, Governments and citizens around the world have to do their part to reduce food waste. The UN Food Systems Sum-
With 690 million people affected by hunger in 2019, a number expected to rise sharply with COVID-19, and three billion people unable to afford a healthy diet, consumers need help to reduce food waste at home. Countries can raise climate ambition by including food waste in Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, while strengthening food security and cutting costs to households. This makes food waste prevention also a primary area for inclusion in COVID-19 recovery strategies. A GLOBAL PROBLEM “For a long time, it was assumed that food waste in the home was a significant problem only in developed countries,” said Marcus Gover, CEO of WRAP. “With the publication of the Food Waste Index report, we see that things are not so clear cut. “With only nine years to go, we will not achieve SDG 12 Target Three if we do not significantly increase investment in tackling food waste in the home globally. This must be a priority for governments, international organisations, businesses and philanthropic foundations.” Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 12.3 aims at halving per-capita
global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. One of the two indicators for the target is the Food Waste Index. A growing number of countries have measured food waste in recent years. The reports find that 14 countries already have household food waste data collected in a way that is compatible with the Food Waste Index. A further 38 countries have household food waste data where small changes in methodology, geographical coverage or sample size would allow them to create an SDG 12.3-compatible estimate. A total of 54 countries had data for at least one of the three sectors covered by the report. The new global consumer level food waste estimates were generated from existing data points and extrapolations based upon the estimates observed in other countries. With 75 per cent of the world’s population living in a country with a directly observed food waste estimate at household level, confidence of the estimate in this sector is higher. With far lower direct estimates at the retail and food service level, confidence in estimates in these sectors is lower. Data on the breakdown between food and inedible parts wasted is available only in a few high-income countries, and shows a 50/50 split on average at the household level. The proportion of inedible parts is an important knowledge gap, and may be higher in lower-income countries. To build on the work of the report, UNEP will launch regional working groups to help build countries’ capabilities to measure food waste in time for the next round of SDG 12.3 reporting in late 2022, and support them to develop national baselines to track progress towards the 2030 goal, and design national strategies to prevent food waste. This week, WRAP has launched the UK’s first national Food Waste Action Week (1-7 March), driving home the message that wasting food feeds climate change.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
AG invites submission of nominees for Law Reform Commission there are social components, financial components, cultural and ethnic components and rights components – to law-making. The amendment to the Act caters for that diversity and inclusivity to be reflected as part of the commission, as it will allow for the com-
By Richard Bhainie THE Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Tuesday, wrote to a number of agencies inviting them to submit their nominees, to be considered for appointment to the Law Reform Commission. This comes with the Law Reform Commission (Amendment) Act 2021 – No. 2 of 2021, which was passed in the National Assembly on February 11, 2021, receiving Presidential Assent on February 16, 2021, and therefore coming into effect thereof. A Law Reform Commission is an instrumental body in any society as it ensures the legal system does not remain stagnant. It keeps the law under constant revision, and makes recommendations to Parliament for the repeal, creation, consolidation and codification of the laws. The Law Reform Commission Act 2016 was enacted by the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, and while Nandlall had commended the initiative, he had also heavily criticised
Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, S.C.
sections of the legislation pertaining to the appointment of the commissioners. “While in the opposition, we were vehemently critical of the appointment process and manner in which the commission was constituted, and we expressed those sentiments to the bill in the [2016] debates,” the Attorney-General had previously told this publication. Prior to the amendment of the Act, for one to have been appointed a member of the commission, they must have possessed legal and judicial qualifications, must have been the holder of, or
held judicial office; be an attorney-at-law for at least 10 years; or possess experience as a teacher of law at a university. “That is a most myopic and unfortunate view of how a Law Reform Commission should be constituted,” Nandlall had noted, explaining that a commission of such nature must cater for every member of society. While recognising that the Law Reform Commission must consist of legally-trained personnel, the Attorney-General had noted that law-making is much more than technical law;
Father turns over prison escapee son to police ONE of the four men, who recently escaped from the Lethem Police Station, was, on Thursday, returned to police by his father. Clarence Rodney was brought to the police by his father, Clive King. The allegation of escaping from police custody was put to him and he responded, “I do not have nothing to say.” The police are currently on the hunt for Jack King Paul, 36, of Kwatamang Village, North Rupununi; Venezuelan, Yon Rogg Hernandez, 26, called “John Roberts” of Tabatinga, Lethem; and Venezuelan Xarlos Edwards Thomas, 18, of Tabatinga, Lethem. The incident occurred on February 26, between 00:05hrs and 07:00hrs at the Lethem Police Station lockup. One prisoner of Tabatinga, Lethem, Central Rupununi, who is in custody for assault, alerted ranks of the absence of the prisoners from the lockup. Police on discovering the men missing, noted that a metal rod, measuring one foot, was found on the eastern side of the lockup next to a ‘dug hole’ in the ground,
Clarence Rodney
measuring three feet in width, length and depth and had an exit point. The surface of the ‘dug hole’ had a two-inch layer of concrete with red sand beneath. Efforts are being made to locate the prisoners as investigation continues.
mission to comprise persons who have a legal background as well as persons who have at least 10 years of experience in the areas of banking, industry, economics or commerce, social or natural sciences and law enforcement. Nandlall had previously told this publication that
this is important “so that when the Law Reform Commission sits, it sits as an organisation that not only represents the entire society, but is qualified to canvas the interest of the entire society”. TURN TO PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Possible reopening of Botanical Gardens, Zoo by year-end
–– PAC Deputy Commissioner By Naomi Parris SINCE the coronavirus pandemic began keeping visitors at home, just about over a year ago, the manatees and other wildlife at the Guyana Zoological Park have enjoyed the peace and quiet of their habitat; however, soon the
gates to the zoo and the botanical gardens may soon be reopened to the public under strict guidelines. This is according to Odacy Davis, Deputy Commissioner of Guyana Protected Areas Commission (PAC), who, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana chronicle, said the commission will
be looking at the reopening of a number of protected areas in a phased approach. Davis further stated that the commission will be guided by the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Task Force and, hopefully, by year-end, the public can see the reopening of the two protected areas.
PAC Deputy Commissioner, Odacy Davis
“We are hoping that in the second half of the year, we will be able to reopen the Botanical Gardens, that is the next site that we will work towards and then the zoo,” she said, adding: “We will be guided by the COVID-19 situation in Guyana, the rates, if that continues to escalate then we will have to take serious consideration because we don’t want to have a situation where staff and patrons of the zoo are in contact and then there is an opportunity
with all the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). “The staff has been working, the organisation of course has provided all the necessary materials that they need, they have to use their mask sanitise often, and they are implementing extra measures to sanitise the cages and the enclosures. As you would have known there has been a reported
The Guyana Zoological Park
for the virus to move from persons to person and maybe even to the animals.” However, Davis said before the zoo is reopened, there is still much work needed to be done to determine how the commission will approach the reopening of the facility and how tours of the park will be conducted. “Once we open the zoo, whenever we do it, it is going to be a phased approach. We will have to determine the number of people who will be allowed in the zoo at a particular time and also guided tours.” She stated that although the zoo has been closed for almost a year, staffers have been on duty and the organisation has been provided
case of animals contracting COVID-19 in other areas so we are very conscious of this so staff they have to do testing for their temperature and ensure that they sanitise before and after.” She added that the zoo has also ramped up its sanitation, particularly the animal cages and their quarters. “We have also intensified our food preparation area. It’s always clean but then because of COVID you want to ensure that you are cleaning it more often. All of this is being done to ensure that staff is safe as well as the animals, especially the zoo keepers who interact with the animals.”
AG invites... Section 4(1) (b) of the Act now requires the Minister of Legal Affairs to consult with the organisations that appear to represent the legal profession; the private sector; the trade union movement; the entities representing the interest of consumers’ affairs; the religious community; the Rights Commissions; and the National Toshaos’ Council for the appointment of members of the commission. Nandlall has written to the Guyana Bar Association, the Berbice Bar Association, the Private Sector Commission, the Federation of Independent Trade Union
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of Guyana, the Guyana Consumers Association, the Inter Religious Organisation, Ethnic Relations Commission, Rights of the Child Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission and the National Toshaos’ Council. The letter dispatched to the agencies and the responses thereto will constitute the consultation required by section 4 (1) (b) of the Law Reform Commission (Amendment) Act. The organisations are to submit their nominees to the Ministry of Legal Affairs by March 22, 2021.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Education Ministry assists CPCE student whose home was destroyed by fire IN continuation of its humanitarian assistance to teachers facing dire circumstances, the Ministry of Education (MoE), on Thursday, made a monetary donation to Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) student, and President of the Student Council, James Osborne, whose home was destroyed in a fire last month. Osbourne was one of seven persons affected by the fire which had occurred on February 13, at Lot 204, 19th Street, Dazzell Housing Scheme. Also affected by the fire was Osbourne’s sister, Johan Osborne, a Mathematics teacher attached to Queen’s College, and 13-year-old Jarrell Toney, a student of St Rose’s High. The ministry had already previously reached out to Johan and assisted her and her son with a laptop, food and household items, along with a financial contribution. The St. Rose’s High School Board of Governors, students and staff had also made a donation of
several items to Toney. On Thursday, making the donation to James on behalf of the MoE was the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson. According to a statement from the MoE, Dr. Hutson emphasised that the MoE values its teachers and saw the need to empathise and reach out to them whenever they are facing difficulties. He said that though the contribution cannot replace what was lost, it can be utilised by Osborne on his journey to recovery. Aside from the Osbourne family, in January, the MoE had also made a donation to a West Bank Demerara primary school teacher, Renita Joseph, who had also lost her home to fire. Joseph was also a final year student at the University of Guyana pursuing a degree in education. She was given a laptop and other items and monetary assistance.
Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson, (right) hands over the donation from the Ministry of Education to CPCE student, James Osborne, in the presence of CPCE Senior Lecturer and Head of Student Support Services, Esta Utoh
Man, 65, put away for 60 years for murdering brother-in-law
Les Charles Critchlow
FIVE years after the murder of Terrence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy”, his 65-year-old brother-in-law, was, on Thursday, sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment. Les Charles Critchlow was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh, who presided over the case at the Demerara High Court. In February, Critchlow was convicted by a 12-member jury for the offence which read that on May 12, 2016, at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, he murdered Adams. He was represented by Attorney-at-law, Racheal Bakker, while prosecutor,
Terrence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy”
Tiffani Lyken entered an appearance on behalf of the State. In 2020, Critchlow had appeared before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the indictment and faced a jury trial. However, Critchlow later pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and, on sentencing day, he had a change of heart and changed his plea. A fresh trial was then ordered, and his case was placed before Justice Singh. According to reports, Adams, 56, of North Haslington, was found, around 20:15 hours, on the day in question on the roadway in
the village with stab wounds about his body. Adams had been stabbed to the left and right-side chest, and his neck was partially slashed. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead. According to reports, Adams had made a derogatory remark to Critchlow, and a subsequent altercation turned deadly. Adams had reportedly said, “You don’t even wuk no more, and can’t maintain my sister.” Critchlow reportedly became enraged and stabbed Adams repeatedly.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
Gas compressor for Exxon vessel fixed, to be returned soon By Vishani Ragobeer THE faulty gas compressor on ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel has been repaired and should be installed on the vessel by the end of March, enabling the reduction of the ongoing gas-flaring, according to the company’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan. This compressor was damaged in January and resulted in the company having to temporarily increase gas-flaring above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations. Subsequently, the company removed the faulty compressor and sent it for repairs in Germany. “Our original target that we had estimated was from the failure at the end of January was approximately eight weeks, and we're on track for that to have the equipment back in Guyana installed and started up in March,” Ryan highlighted. Additionally, Ryan noted that the personnel who are needed to help with the installation have already been identified and are currently going through the COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidelines.
ExxonMobil Country Manager, Alistair Routledg
In addition to the repairs on the existing equipment, an order has been placed for a new flash gas compressor, which will be available closer to the end of the year, given the complex nature of the equipment. At the engagement, also, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager Alistair Routledge repeatedly emphasised that the current level of flaring is still within the limits of the permits and licences granted to ExxonMobil. “Let me assure you, we are very clear what are our obligations, our commitments under our permits, and licences for the operation of the project and we are certainly fully within those limits; we
The Liza Destiny FPSO
have not exceeded anything, any parameter, anything,” Routledge said, adding: “We have very same systems that enable us to track what are all those commitments and we are absolutely certain that we're within those.” Previously, ExxonMobil had said that production levels at its operations offshore Guyana have been reduced in order to accommodate the repair of the defective gas compressor. It was noted that the company continues to produce oil at 120,000 barrels per day, while the current daily
levels of flaring are between 16 to 18 million cubic feet. Ryan, however, noted that reducing production would not necessarily limit the amount of gas that is being flared. “In order for us to get back to pilot-flaring levels, we need that flash gas compressor or we need to reduce production to zero… that's just a fact,” Ryan explained. As such, he indicated, “Our focus right now is getting the machine repaired and it is repaired… and get sent back to Guyana to be installed
and get back to that pilot-level flaring.” Back in 2019, ExxonMobil had explained to the media that for the first period, after ‘first oil’, there would be initial start-up flaring, as authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which occurs during the commissioning and initial start-up phases of the FPSO when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment. This flaring, it said, would not continue as a routine, and will only take place again in the case of an emergency,
whereby flaring will be used to immediately de-pressure the facility as part of a shutdown process to reduce risk. In January, WWF Guianas registered its strong displeasure of the increased flaring via a statement issued to the media. The body lamented that recommencement of flaring defied the company’s global commitment to reduce flaring by about 20 per cent in 2020. Further, WWF stated, “EEPGL (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) is undercutting Guyana’s ‘green image,’ making it more difficult for the country to promote and build a sustainable, low-carbon economy.” Director of WWF Guianas, Dr. David Singh, said pointedly that “the burden of responsibility falls squarely on ExxonMobil. We look forward to the company being held accountable for this development.” WWF Guianas advocated for a review of future developments of the company’s oil- expansion programme, in light of this recent gas-flaring development and the way it was disclosed.
Executive officers of IROG elected
The newly elected executive officers of IROG
THE Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana (IROG), on Wednesday, held its Annual General Meeting at the Bethany Christian Brethren Assembly Hall in Campbellville and executive
officers were elected. Twelve of the organisation’s members were present for the election, which was done by secret ballot. Reverend, Dr Ronald McGarrell of the Heavenly Parent
Church was returned as the Chairman; Maulana Tasdeeq Aabidi of the Al-Mustafa Muslim Trust, Vice Chair; Jennifer Dewar of the Bahá’í Faith as Secretary; Rajmatti Nauth of the Hindu Faith
as Treasurer; and Sidi Neil Bacchus, representative of the Muslim Youth League as Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. Wendell Jeffrey, Pastor of Practical Christianity Ministries was re-elected as the
Public Relations Officer and Ras Simeon of the Guyana Rastafari Council, Pastor Stanley Boodie of the Christian Brethren Church, Maulana Maqsood Mansoor of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at
were elected as trustees. The IROG comprises some 40 religious entities. The organisation was founded in 2003 and has as its motto “One human family under God”.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
‘Steel Strike’ gets work going for Prosperity FPSO
DESCRIBED as a “significant milestone”, a symbolic “Steel Strike” ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark the start of work by the Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services Incorporated (GOGSSI) to provide fabrication services for Guyana’s third Floating Production and Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Prosperity. Over 30 tonnes of steel will be transformed into ladders and handrails which GOGSSI will be providing to the Prosperity. The project is considered significant because this is the first time that companies in Guyana would have had the capacity to carry out such a project for the oil-and-gas sector. It also marks a substantial development in the involvement of local content in the oil-and-gas industry. Wednesday’s steel-striking ceremony came one day after a similar steel strike ceremony was held to mark the commencement of fabrication work by another local company, Industrial Fabrications Inc. (InFab), which is also providing parts for the Prosperity. The two companies are providing services to the ExxonMobil prime contractor, SBM Offshore. Present at Wednesday’s ceremony, General Manager of SBM Offshore, Francesco Prazzo, emphasised his company’s commitment to working with local contractors wherever possible in order to help develop Guyana’s economy. “I dream that our children and history books will describe this period as a Golden Age for Guyana. The future is bright, but the journey is not without challenges, and how we do is just as import-
ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge
SBM Offshore General Manager, Francesco Prazzo
ment. I would like to congratulate you.” He noted, too, that as part of the overarching effort to expand the involvement of Guyanese companies in the oil-and-gas sector, Exxon continues to work closely with prime contractors to ensure they are equally committed to developing local content. However, he also stressed the need for local companies to ensure that they are up to
The word ‘Guyana’ is emblazoned with a cutting torch onto a steel model of a FPSO unit at the Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services Inc. steel strike ceremony
ant as what we do,” Prazzo remarked. Also present at the ceremony was President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, who also emphasised Exxon’s commitment to supporting local content. He commended the local companies for coming on
board and providing services to the sector. “This is a significant step in our bid to increase local content for Guyana and the projects that are developing the national oil- and-gas resource. This was a competitive process, and you had to invest heavily in the facility
and people to win the work, and we have great faith that you will deliver this project in supreme fashion,” Routledge said, adding: “GOGSSI is a fine example of how local business are capturing the opportunities, and evidence of the progress already being made with supplier develop-
High Court trial of ‘Chucky’ commences THE High Court trial of Kevin Mohan called “Chucky”, who is ac cused of killing his aunt commenced on Thursday, March 04, before a 12-member jury. Mohan, 27, formerly of Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on September 4, 2016, at Cummings Lodge, he murdered 48-year-old Anita Mohan.
The trial is presided over by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court. The trial commenced with the testimony of a police officer. It is scheduled to continue on Monday, March 8. The battered body of Mohan was found on the floor of her kitchen at Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge where she lived with Mohan and her son, Intiaz Khan. Khan found his mother lying in blood with her head bashed in and a
stab wound to her chest. A bloody ‘rolling pin’, suspected to be one of the murder weapons, was found in close proximity, as well as a broken beer bottle. Police had noted that Mohan confessed to the murder, while admitting that another person acted as his accomplice. A post-mortem performed on the remains of the woman revealed that she died from multiple injuries.
Kevin Mohan called ‘Chucky’
international standards, and commit to a culture of safety. “Stringent safety requirement is essential to our industry; a robust safety culture is important to develop resources in sustainable manner,” he said. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat was unable to attend the event; however, a speech was read on his behalf, where he, too, highlighted and commended the involvement of local businesses in the oil and gas sector. Guyana’s third FPSO, the Prosperity, follows behind the Liza Destiny and the Liza Unity. A FPSO is a floating vessel used in the offshore oil-and-gas industry for the production and processing and storage of oil. Though the Liza Destiny has a capacity to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day with 1.6 million barrels storage capacity, the Liza Unity and Prosperity are designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
EU hopes for swift, peaceful end to tension between Guyana and Venezuela By Navendra Seoraj A SWIFT and peaceful end to the increased tension between Guyana and Venezuela is what the European Union (EU) is hoping for, Ambassador of the EU to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó, has said. Venezuela’s posture in the ongoing border controversy with Guyana has been increasingly threatening, with the latest show of aggression being the illegal entry of Venezuelan Sukhoi SU 30 fighter jets into Guyana’s airspace, specifically over Eteringbang, on March 2, 2021. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that two Venezuelan army Sukhoi SU 30 fighter aircraft flew over the community of Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and circled the location once, before proceeding in an easterly direction. The incursion, the Guyana Government said of the two Venezuelan fighter jets, is a clear indication that the Government of Venezuela is prepared to use aggression and intimidation to accomplish what cannot be accomplished by legal means — the surrender by Guyana of its patrimony.
Ambassador Cantó, when asked by the Guyana Chronicle to comment on this issue, said: “The EU has always been in favour of international law and certainly we are supporting international law not only on this problem, but on every problem… and, of course, we also support respect for each other’s territorial integrity.” He added: “Things have always to be peaceful and not violent, but I have to say that I was also very encouraged by the way that the authorities of Guyana resolved the previous tensions when there was this problem with the Guyanese sailors.” A naval vessel attached to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela had entered Guyana’s territory and abducted 12 fishermen, who have since been released. “I think this was resolved in a very relatively rapid and I would say a good way because it was peaceful, it was rapid and the persons could come back home relatively soon. I know that the minister [foreign affairs] personally was very interested that they [the fishermen] were well treated,” the ambassador said. HOPE TO BE REPLICATED The diplomacy shown in this instance is the same he
EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó
hopes will be replicated when dealing with the issue related to the intrusion of Venezuelan fighter jets. The Government of Guyana has since issued a protest note and exhorted the Government of Venezuela, and its agents, to behave in a manner consistent with international law and good neighbourly relations. The Government has committed to keeping the international community informed of all actions undertaken by Venezuela to un-
dermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and threaten the peace and security of the region. The Essequibo region is the subject of a territorial controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, predating the former country’s independence from Britain in 1966 and now pending before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in The Hague. In March 2018, Guyana filed its application in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking an affirmation
of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the international boundary that it established. The ICJ ruled on December 18, 2020, that it has jurisdiction to hear the border controversy case. Guyana is seeking to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.
A peaceful conclusion to its border controversy with Venezuela remains Guyana’s aim, but with Venezuela engaging in aggressive action, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has affirmed that Guyana will not cower in the face of threats against national security. “As President of our beloved country, my single most important responsibility is to keep the Guyanese people safe. It is the first thing I think about when I wake [up] in the morning. It is the last thing on my mind at night. And my working day is consumed by it. “But I want no mistake made about it: my Government is doing all in its power to vigorously protect our people’s health and our country’s territorial integrity. Just as we will not relent in the battle against COVID-19, so will we not bend to threats to our national security…we may be a small country, but we are a proud people. We have no military might, but we have moral and legal right. We pick fights with no one, but we will resist threats from anyone,” President Ali said during a recent address to the nation.
Democracy, human rights, climate change high on President Biden’s agenda MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, on Thursday, met virtually with acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States, Julie Chung and discussed several areas of mutual interest. According to a release, they discussed regional stability, democracy, and the enhancement of bilateral relations through economic and security cooperation. Minister Todd conveyed his gratitude for the continued support Guyana receives from the US on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. The minister further informed of the recent actions of Venezuela, including the incursion into Guyana’s airspace, which resulted in the issuance of a
protest note. Acting Assistant Secretary Julie Chung conveyed her optimism for relations between Guyana and the U.S. Chung stated that the Biden Administration is focused on democracy, human rights, and climate change, commonalities which the U.S. shares with Guyana. The Foreign Minister and Acting Assistant Secretary noted that agreements inked during the high-level visit of former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and the recent visit of U.S. Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, have helped to advance economic and security cooperation between Guyana and the U.S. These, along with continued engagements with U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, further demonstrate the shared values of the two
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, during his meeting with acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States, Julie Chung
countries. Additionally, they discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region and exchanged views on innovative and collaborative methods to stimulate recovery through private-sector investment and the strengthening of institutions. They mentioned the ongoing migrant situation and Guyana’s humanitarian response through the recent resuscitation of the Multi-agency Coordinating Committee for Addressing the Influx of Venezuelan Migrants and ongoing collaboration with international partners. Guyana and the U.S. established diplomatic relations on August 15, 1966, and continue to maintain strong bilateral relations.
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urges for the artform to stay alive Musician Haresh Singh
Haresh has been singing since he was 15-years-old
HARESH Singh started to sing when he was just 15 years old and has remained in the industry for 33 years. Having accumulated a lot of experience over time, he believes that some things need to change in Guyana to provide for a more fairer chance to be given to all artistes. Haresh, 48, was born at Bush Lot, on the Essequibo Coast, and is well known there as the ‘Big Haresh’ or ‘Kumar Sanu’. Speaking with the Buzz this week, he recalled that when the Chutney competition started in Guyana, it was to bring back and preserve
Ind i a n culture. “Now, many are distracted from their culture and are pursuing more westernised music,” he posited. Having written more than 300 songs for himself and others, he said making music these days has come to be more about making money. For one thing, some artistes are lazy and refuse to compose their own music. What they do instead is to merely fill in words into already established Bollywood music. This practice, therefore,
affects the traditional chutney singers, Haresh pointed out, as those who use Bollywood music have the advantage of their song becoming more popular. This is because the public would have already been familiar with the music. “Minister Charles Ramson made a statement that our culture is our wealth, and I also have that perspective. So I was inspired to
speak up on this practice. We need to bring back the original chutney culture,” Haresh said. “I can remember when the late Miss Lakshmi Kallicharran was running the chutney competition. We can’t allow a set of fly by night people to organise a premature Chutney competition for the sake of making money and kill our culture that our
fore-parents brought and expected their legacy to live on. And it is getting worst year after year,” he added. He said when indentured servants came to Guyana in 1838, they brought with them their customs and traditions which includes music. They came from Utar Pradesh and Bihar and their traditional music consisted of the drupad, thumri, tilana, etc. “They were hot music to
dance o n played by our traditional instruments like dholak, harmonium, manjeera and more just to name a few. Some are already extinct. The Suriname people changed the name of the music to Baithak Gana and we named it Chutney meaning hot and spicy because of the fast danceable beats in the songs,” Haresh said. “Where is our traditional Chutney? It is dying out. Today if the chutney competition has two or three traditional Chutney songs, they are not being placed in top positions,” he noted, adding, “There is also a lot of skullduggery going on in the selection of artistes and the domination of one band with others being left behind.”
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Twenty-three-old Crystal Persaud is not your typical artist, while at her day job this young art lover spends her time painting up a storm in an effort of taking her art career further. The young woman, who hails from Herstelling, disclosed to this week’s Buzz that it was around her early teenage years she realised her adoration for the art form, “I grew up like any small child around grandparents. I moved in with my
mom as a teenager and that was when I started with this, the passion for art,” Persaud said adding: “At the moment I’m doing landscape, objects, abstract and I’m also getting into portrait. I’m training so I’m not fully into that as yet.” Persaud who is currently employed as a sales representative at a ‘Tidy-Up’ detergent store on the East Bank of Demerara, said that on slow business days and
during her lunch breaks and spare time, she would often ‘whip’ out her canvas and paintbrushes and work on a piece of art. “So here I do my work and in my spare time I would draw. I work at a detergent refill centre. We sell laundry detergent, things to wash with, dish, carwash and hand soap. Customers would come with their bottles and they would refill any amount that they want. Sometimes for the entire day I would sit
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
down have nothing to do and I would just paint,” she said. The self-taught artist disclosed that she had begun drawing around the age of 15-years-old, however, at that time her interest was short-lived, “This started in 2015 … I would work in town after school and there was this craft shop and I would go into the craft shop and I would always admire all the painting and craft and I just had this connection with the painting,” she said.
Crystal Persaud’s interpretation of a famous 16-century painting
She added, “I thought to myself that I want to try, I want to do this but I don’t how to start. Finally the next year I bought some boards and I did some paintings and there was when my courage broke.” Persaud noted that after a hiatus for a few years, she revisited her artwork and began drawing again in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since.
Nothing could keep me going so I started up with pencils and sketch and I went back to my paint and since then I haven’t stopped. I started selling my artwork on Facebook, so what I would post them and clients would see them, like them and say I want they want and I would collect their names and curate the piece.”
A requested piece that was painted by Persaud for a client
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, March 5, 2021
OVERSEAS-based Guyanese Shameeza Ally, a financial advisor who has also been very active in her community, is readying herself to launch her new show called, “Get Real with Shameeza.” Ally, a mother of four who left Guyana in 2001, is now residing in New York and plans to conduct her first show in April. Working in finance for the past 16 years has allowed her to connect with her community on a personal and professional level and as such, she has been looking for ways to give back to her community.
Ally said. She is hoping that the show will allow for open discussions on the roles of women in society, will allow them to express their struggles, and will suggest ways how they can be supported and uplifted. Her goal is to have men and women open up about the struggles that prevent them from living their best life and to this end, she plans on inviting counsellors and therapists to assist. She will arrange women focus groups in the community a few times a month where persons can attend, have discussions and find
Ally left Guyana in 2001 and now resides in New York
“I saw a need to connect the people and bring them something that will enlighten them and give them a platform to voice their opinion,” she told the Buzz. The show will feature influential and inspiring people and businesses in the community and will be a platform for women’s rights and talents. “I am hoping this show will bring the community together during these difficult times. It can enlighten them and help them to be more open-minded about issues facing our community,”
ways to help and support each other. “My project, a woman’s foundation, will provide personal care items like clothing and essentials necessary for women to restart their lives and take charge of their future. It will allow them to restore their confidence and go out in the world with new hope,” Ally said. She believes that every woman is beautiful in her own way and sometimes just need to be reminded of it. “I want our new generation to live in a world where
they can openly speak of their feelings and not be afraid of having to suppress their feelings because of what society thinks of them,” she said, adding, “It is crazy enough that we live in a world where we have to struggle so much; if we can be more open and care less about judgment, we can all
have more successful and happy lives.” Ally enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. “I love getting away with family and friends and spending quality time where we can explore and be adventurous.” She also enjoys reading and is currently
on “Think like a Monk” by Jay Shetty.
Ally’s show will give a voice to inspiring people and businesses
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Patel, Ashwin fight back after England effort
(ESPNCRICINFO) - England fought the conditions, a well-tuned India attack, and the internal momentum of their own fading batting fortunes to try and stay in contention on the first day of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. The best that could be said of England’s total of 205 was that it was more than they had achieved across two innings on the same ground last week; the worst, that there is no team more adept than India at making such hard graft look inadequate. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, there was no doubt that England had left runs on the table. Only Ben Stokes managed to fashion a half-century, and the highest partnership of the innings was 48. Since piling up 578 in benign conditions at the outset of the series in Chennai, England’s batsmen have yet to produce another fifty-stand. Arguably, things could have been worse. With Axar Patel continuing his fine debut series by claiming four more wickets - taking his tally to 22 at 10.81 - and Joe Root falling cheaply to the bristling Mohammed Siraj early in the day, England’s middle and lower order, strengthened by the presence of the recalled Dan
Lawrence at No. 7, staved off complete collapse. England had drastically altered the balance of their side, picking an extra batsman and bringing back Dom Bess to support Anderson and Jack Leach - though the evidence of the first part of the day was that seam would play a greater part than it did in the day-night Test, as Siraj in particular probed away. Stokes took the new ball, for the first time in his Test career, before giving way to Leach, but Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara experienced few alarms as the shadows lengthened. Anderson’s immediate intervention during a spell of 5-5-0-1, and the fact that they managed to creep past 200 for the first time in six innings, perhaps gave England a little to feel encouraged about after heavy defeats in the previous two Tests. Again there were signs of turn on day one, though fewer puffs of dust than at Chepauk and without the lacquer-ish all sorts that made the pink ball so hard to combat. For the third time in four Tests, Root won first
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use of the surface, but despite positive talk about looking to find a way to score in these conditions, England were quickly in trouble as they slipped to 30 for 3. Patel’s mesmeric hold could not be broken, as he removed Dom Sibley with his second delivery after coming on in the sixth over - forewarned was not forearmed against Patel’s arm ball, Sibley playing for turn only to be bowled off his inside edge. It was two in two overs when Zak Crawley, who had just stroked four through mid-off, tried to come down once again but did not get to the pitch, lofting tamely to mid-off; Crawley has now
been dismissed by the leftarm spin of Patel and Lasith Embuldeniya seven times out of seven on England’s tours of India and Sri Lanka. When the bustling Siraj jagged one back to rap Root on the back pad straight after the drinks break, England’s innings was threatening to go into another tailspin. But Jonny Bairstow overcame a jittery start, carving six fours before the lunch break as he and Stokes repelled all borders for a period. Stokes had faced 24 balls by the time R Ashwin was introduced to the attack, and he promptly pumped his 26th over longoff to signal that he would not go meekly.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Friday, March 05, 2021
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(1) Roy Fredericks-105 (vs ENG, the Oval, 1973) (2) Roy Dias-102 (vs IND, Delhi, 1982)
TODAY’S QUIZ:
(1) Who is the first WI bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in an ODI match? (2) Who is the first SL to achieve the feat?
ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE
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Remainder of PSL postponed after three more positive COVID Tests THE remainder of the 2021 Pakistan Super League has been postponed, following news yesterday morning that three more players had tested positive for Covid-19. The decision was taken after an emergency meeting between PCB and the franchises. The three new cases yesterday brought the tally of total positive cases in the tournament bubble to seven, of which six were players. The PCB said that the decision to postpone was taken “following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants”,. The board’s immediate
next step is to focus on the “safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides”. Fourteen out of the scheduled 34 matches in the tournament have been completed. The PCB had said the three most-recent cases are from two different teams. They were tested on Wednesday afternoon after reporting symptoms. The board said the new cases were not from any of the teams who played in Wednesday’s double-header matches, which rules out players from Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans
Winning is everything, says Pollard … Windies must put together more consistent performances By Clifton Ross AFTER mauling Sri Lanka in the first T20, West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard hailed the presence of a few veteran stars, along with his crop of young studs, for handling themselves during the initial battle. Pollard, who blasted Akila Danajaya for 6 consecutive sixes to help lead the Caribbean Boys to their first blood drawing, said virtually ahead of the 2nd game that his team mates are currently being modelled for their World T20 Cup title defence, adding that he welcomes the mixture of generations within the side. “Some of the younger guys got the opportunity in 2019 and since then we would not have gotten the results we had wanted. Guys were still in and out the team, for reasons outside of cricket, but these guys are performing despite their age, and as a team we need to win cricket matches and series,”
said Pollard. With Chris Gayle, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons being among the oldest players in the team, Pollard said having some experience to lean on is ideal when building towards a title defence. “We have to strike that balance, we have to start to win matches. We are the defending champions of the T20 World Cup and if that’s the case of having a couple or extra senior guys to start that process, then so be it,” added the captain. One huge blow was Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer failing the initial fitness test prior to the tournament before eventually being named, but Pollard admitted that the left-hander’s absence has indeed left a void but urged him to do the necessary. “It’s left a big void; it’s no secret about that. I think he (Hetmyer) knows what he needs to do and the reasons why he is not. But yes, he has left a big void and he knows exactly
what he needs to do to be in the white ball teams.” Wr a p p i n g u p , t h e hard-hitting right-hander said he had faith in his batting lineup despite some instances of inconsistency at times. He believes the top 4 will need to do the heavy lifting which will allow the middle and lower order to come in and play a bit more freely. “We want consistency from the top 4 batters. It’s something that plagued us over the years, but hopefully we can see some consistency and take it from there because T20 is an impact game”. “He’ll (Gayle) have a specific role for us, again it’s left to see what transpires, but everyone will be clear on his role. We’re trying to dot our i’s and cross our t’s. Winning is everything and everything is geared towards the World Cup, The main thing is going on the cricket field and putting in consistent performances together for a longer period of time,” Pollard ended.
or Quetta Gladiators. The first case reported by PCB was on March 1, when Islamabad United’s Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed tested positive for the virus, hours before the 12th match of the season. The following day, PCB said that two more overseas players, along with one local support-staff member - Kamran Khan of Kings - had tested positive. It was later revealed by Gladiators’ Tom Banton on
his Twitter handle that he was one of those who were among the positive cases. Before the postponement was announced, PCB was considering cancelling the Lahore leg of the season and playing all the matches in Karachi. The PCB had also offered every member of the PSL bubble COVID-19 vaccine shots if they wish to take them.
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Get on with the GCB elections, says Lloyd By Rajiv Bisnauth CRICKET legend, Sir Clive Lloyd, has made a passionate call to get on with the long-awaited Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) elections, saying it is the only way the body will be recognised as a legal body. The former West Indies captain made his remarks during an appearance on Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, on Tuesday. “I think we cannot hold people to ransom. We have youngsters; it’s their living, and it’s their livelihood. They want to play cricket and know that somebody will be there to speak up for them once they perform and I think Guyana’s got some good young cricketers and it’s about time all this nonsense is thrown aside and somebody, whoever it is, decides it’s time now for us to
have elections,” the 76-year-old said. The GCB election, which was set for noon last Friday, was postpomed after Cricket Ombudsman, Kamal Ramkarran, indicated that the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), through its attorney, had raised some complaints with regard to verification of clubs. “I find it very strange as I said very perplexing, but I hope good sense prevails and this will come to an end quite soon. You don’t have people waiting in the wings sort of thing for something to happen. “I don’t understand the politics there at all. I just want to know it’s so important for people to be part of this cricket fraternity and it’s obvious the people should be able to say if you are needed or wanted. Let’s go to a vote and everybody could vote, and vote for whoever you want to and let’s get on with our cricket,” Lloyd stressed.
Lloyd, two-time World Cup winning captain added, “It’s perplexing I must say but the point is I feel Guyana needs to just get on with it. It’s 11 years since you had elections, you should have elections every three years, according to the Constitution and the Sports Act that was just passed. “I find it difficult to understand you know who represents Guyana. I don’t understand that. First they said they are illegal, they can’t go to the main stadium, and they can’t go to meetings at the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) so who represents Guyana? This team that was chosen, who chose that team? “I find it very strange, the whole situation. I really think the Guyana guys should now put their big pants on and have elections and whoever wins, wins. Lloyd further said the situation is somewhat embarrassing, since Guyana has pro-
duced talented players. “Yes it is embarrassing for our country, our country and probably the whole world that we don’t have anybody representing a country that has produced quite a lot of top class cricketers over the years for West Indies and the rest of the world. The point is: now is the time for them to man up and do the business,” Lloyd concluded. Back in 2011, Lloyd was appointed chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), based on Chief Justice, Ian Chang’s ruling on August 22, 2010. The IMC was instituted after the-then Guyana government locked the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) out of its office premises, following the disputed Guyana board elections in July 2011. The IMC was not recognised by the WICB (Now Cricket West Indies).
‘I knew after the third one’ - Pollard on perfect over (CMC) – Kieron Pollard said it was only after striking the third six of the over that he knew he could achieve the feat of striking six sixes. The West Indies white ball captain became only the third batsman in history to hit six sixes in an over when he blasted 36 off the sixth over from leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya during his side’s run chase in last Wednesday’s opening Twenty20 International. “(I knew) after the third one,” Pollard said after West Indies completed a four-wicket victory at Coolidge Cricket Ground. “We had played a couple games here in the Super50 and I understand how the wicket plays. The ball was hard, there were two guys out so I just came out and backed myself. “Again, in the Super50 as well, you back yourself to clear the boundaries rather than just prodding, prodding, prodding. “It is something the team needed. Unfortunately I didn’t see the two wickets before, I only heard but I was prepared to come and do what the team required at that point in time.” Arriving at the crease
after Dananjaya had snatched the 14th hat-trick in T20 Internationals in the fourth over, Pollard counter-attacked in the bowler’s next over to put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
He smashed the first delivery over long on, deposited the second into the sightscreen, belted the third over wide long-off before crunching the fourth delivery over the ropes at
wide long. After hitting the fifth six back overhead, Pollard admitted he had doubts about whether to defend the final delivery or attempt the feat. “In that brief time (be-
fore the final delivery) a couple things went through my mind,” Pollard recalled. “Do I survive the rest of the over because I’ve already gotten 30 (runs) or do I just continue?
Kieron Pollard bows to acknowledge the applause from his team-mates (Philip Spooner/CWI)
“I know I had the bowler on the back foot and he went around the wicket and it would’ve been difficult for him to try and bowl the ball anywhere in front of me and once I connected with the breeze, I said ‘you know what Polly, take your chances. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.’ “ A n d t h a t ’s h o w I’ve played my cricket throughout especially with spinners bowling as well.” Pollard flicked the final delivery over the mid-wicket ropes to join Indian Yuvraj Singh and South African Herschelle Gibbs in the record books, as the three players to have accomplished the feat. He was eventually dismissed for an 11-ball 38 but his burst helped West Indies overhaul their modest target of 132 with 41 balls to spare. “It came off tonight. Unfortunately I couldn’t go on but again, it was a most important victory,” Pollard stressed. West Indies take on Sri Lanka again in the second T20 International at the same venue tonight starting at 18:00hrs.
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Transport SC beat DCC in U-17 cricket battle FORMER National U-15 all-rounder Alvin Mohabir unravelled the Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) batting line-up to help Transport Sports Club achieve a 47-run victory in their U-17 battle, which was played recently at DCC ground. Transport won the toss and opted to take first strike in the 45-over affair. DCC Youths were up to the task and their line and length kept the first 10 overs of the game tight. In fact the pair of Jeremiah Hohenkirk and Ryan Latif laboured to 23 in 10 overs. In the 13th over, with the score on 33 the partnership was broken. Latif scored 17 and Ho-
Alvin Mohabir spun his way to 6-27 in the U-17 clash henkirk 19.
Shilo Adams struck 50 to lead Transport SC against Ace Warriors in the T20 match
Gabriel Rookhum made a quick 25 (4x4), while Shaquan Walters, who got off the mark with a six over long-on, added 19 (2x4, 1x6), which helped to push the score to 162. Young Jaden Dowlin, son of Travis Dowlin, finished with 3-28, while Gustavo Hutson took 3-19, Idris Allen 2-7 and Daniel Mootoo 2-11. In their turn in the middle, the home team was undermined by the guile of Mohabir, who used his offspin well. He picked up 6-27 from 8.2 overs. Jonathan Van Lange had 25, while former National U-15 batsman Shamar Yearwood added a quick 21, but
it was not enough as DCC folded for 115 in 43.4 overs. Riyad Latif and Dave Mohabir supported Mohabir with two wickets each. On Sunday, the two teams are set to battle again at the same venue, this time in an U-19 practice match. TWENTY-OVER BATTLE Prior to that clash, Transport SC also had the better of Ace Warriors by 46 runs when the two battled in a 20over affair. Ace Warriors won the toss and had asked the home team to bat. Wicketkeeper batsman Shilo Adams led the charge with an even 50
(3x4, 1x6). Akeem Redman supported with an aggressive 26 after belting three maximums, which propelled Transport SC to 120 in 18.3 overs. Sherwin White led Ace Warriors’ bowling attack with 3-25, while Roger Aaron took 2-29 and Wayne Whyte 2-4. Ace Warriors were never comfortable in the middle. O. Favorite (17), Wayne Whyte (16) and Roger Aaron (16) all had starts, but none managed to get the big score, and were restricted to 74 all out in 19.2 overs. Bowling for Transport, Noel Haynes took 2-24 and Shaquan Walters 2-1.
International Karate Daigaku celebrates 10th year “WHAT an amazing, successful, and rewarding journey it has been since I decided, along with my loyal colleagues, to form the International Karate Daigaku (University) ten years ago.” “If anyone had told me before this historical month that I would make the greatest decision of my karate life, I would have said ‘no way’,” These were the words of Master Frank Woon-A-Tai. Addressed as Master Frank in Guyana, Shuseki Shihan (World Organisation Chief Instructor) internationally or simply Sensei to others, Frank, in ten years, has amassed a phenomenal record of 80 regions in 56 countries under his direction practising a single karate style with lineage to traditional Japanese founders and legends: Masatoshi Nakayama, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Teruyuki Okazaki, Yutaka Yaguchi and all other masters of the ‘Golden Era’ of the Japan Karate Association. Moreover, in ten years, he has acquired the Guyana National Medal of Service (M.S.) from then President, His Excellency Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who, a year before, had granted him an acre of land at Liliendaal to build the Guyana Karate College (GKC) a non-profit organisation. In 2012 and 2015, Frank successfully hosted the IKD First and Second World Cup in Toronto, Canada and the IKD Barbados Campus hosted the 2018 World Cup in Bridgetown. Plans for the fourth World Cup scheduled to be held in Toronto in 2021 had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frank is hoping that with the Guyana Government’s assistance and the completion of the GKC International dojo at Liliendaal, he may host the Fourth World Cup in Guyana to highlight his art, provide jobs, and promote karate sports tourism. His dream is also to complete on the same site, the GKC Budokan Complex, a four-storey building that will house a Martial Arts Arena on the ground floor, student dormitories on the second floor, officials one and two-bedroom apartments on the third and a restaurant on the fourth floor that will cater each day, cuisine representing the cultural diversity of the Guyanese people. As Shuseki Shihan, Woon-A-Tai has developed a powerful IKD Technical Board of Masters: IKD Executive comprising himself, and eighth dan deputies, Dr Dexter Shim - Trinidad and Tobago and Maureen Woon-A-Tai Guyana/Canada. Following them are the Shihan-kai Senate with eighth dan and AAA credentials. The next level is the Shihan-kai, eighth and seventh dan masters with AAA credentials and those with seventh dan, but without ‘A’credentials are Shihan. Not to be outdone by the pandemic, Frank designated the entire 2021 for world members to celebrate safely, according to their COVID-19 guidelines in their region, the 10th Anniversary of the IKD. Before the pandemic, he travelled more than eight months per year flying Guyana’s flag across the world.
Guyana is the scheduled venue for the postponed event, in 2022, at GKC HQ, Liliendaal
‘Softball in a new dispensation’ bowls off today DUBBED ‘softball in a new dispensation’, the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Incorporated President’s T20 Softball League bowls off today, with 24 matches across various venues in Georgetown. For the All Stars fixture, six games are billed for the Queen’s College ground, while one game each is scheduled for GDF ground. For the 09:00hrs games at QC ground; Speedboat All Stars will play Regal All Stars (Pitch 1), Ariel All Stars oppose
Hillfoot All Stars (Pitch 2), and Cosscutter All Stars take on Xenon All Stars (Pitch 3) and at GDF ground, the final game for the morning session will see Avinash All Stars play Essequibo Wild Oates (Pitch 1). In the afternoon session which is set to commence at 13:00hrs, a similar number of games are scheduled to be played. At the QC ground; Speedboat All Stars take on Hillfoot All Stars (Pitch 3), Ariel All Stars play Regal All Stars (Pitch 1) and Cosscutter All Stars oppose Essequibo
Wild Oates (Pitch 2). Avinash All Stars play Xenon All Stars at the GDF ground. Meanwhile, a similar number of games are scheduled to be played in both the Masters Over-40 and Legends Over50 categories. The three-day tournament continues tomorrow and concludes on Sunday, with the final set for the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground. The winning teams in each category will receive $500 000 and a trophy while the runners-up will collect $100 000 and
a trophy. There will be other incentives (trophies) for individual performances. Further the GSCL stressed that all the necessary guidelines by the Task Force were adhered to during the staging of the Prime Minister’s Cup in November and assured that same will be done for the President’s Cup, including having two certified medical doctors present at the venues to screen all players and to ensure they are wearing masks and are sanitised upon entry.
‘Softball in a new dispensation’ bowls off today SEE PAGE 27
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Get on with the GCB elections, says Lloyd
SEE PAGE 26
Kieron Pollard said West Indies need to start winning more matches and series going forward
Winning is everything, says Pollard SEE PAGE 25
… Windies must put together more consistent performances
Former West Indies and Guyana captain Clive Lloyd
Remainder of PSL postponed after three more positive COVID Tests Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021