Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_05_2021

WEDNESDAY 5th May, 2021

Happy

'

Arrival Day

To all readers

No.106351

No shortage of COVID-19 vaccines

Reject hate-filled, rancorous rhetoric

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

–– President Ali urges citizens in Arrival Day message

Shonnette Dover’s sister charged with being accessory after murder 16

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See inside

SEE PAGE 03

Land preparation and infrastructural works are moving apace at Plot 15, Providence, East Bank of Demerara. The development of this area will see pure-water distribution networks, access roads, and culverts being developed to suit the needs of its 215 households (Delano Williams photo) PAGE

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Critical oil vessel equipment International help sent for repairs, upgrades 04 being sought to PAGE

improve local ICT infrastructure 10 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Reject hate-filled, rancorous rhetoric

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–– President Ali urges citizens in Arrival Day message

–– says the nation has an ‘enormous’ opportunity now to build a better country GUYANA’S economy is at a turning point, and in order to cement the country’s future as a progressive nation, there needs to be a united stance, which must not be discouraged by hate-filled and rancorous rhetoric, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said. The President, in his message on Arrival Day, 2021, related: “Today we are faced with challenges, but if we work together in unity and love, regardless of ethnicity, lineage, or political affiliation, we are bound to overcome these challenges. “Let us, therefore, pool our ideas and resources, and work towards eliminating some of the ills, such as suicide, domestic abuse, poverty, ignorance, substance abuse and the COVID-19 pandemic. All of these have the potential to inflict disaffection, discomfort, and distress in our society. Let us also reject hate-filled, rancorous rhetoric aimed at dividing our people.” Arrival Day 2021, which celebrates the contributions of our African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and European ancestors and their descendants to Guyana’s development, presents Guyanese with the ideal opportunity for introspection and to appreciate the nation’s multicultural character, as Guyana progresses. “Arrival Day is a day of recognition and appreciation of our nation’s multicultural character. Arrival Day challenges us to appreciate our diverse peoples and their cultures, and encourages us to strive for a society in which the contributions of every ethnic group are recognised, respected and rewarded,” President Ali said. It is for this reason that the President has committed to launching a One Guyana Commission. The commission, he said, will become an instrument for valuing and respecting one another. “As I indicated in my in-

a part in building our country, and ensuring we leave a better Guyana for the next generation,” President Ali had said at the time. “We are in this together; we are not separated by class, by ethnicity, religion or political persuasion. We are united in the true Guyanese spirit,” he’d added. The new administration, he’d said in his inaugural speech, will be focused on a development agenda that will reflect the priorities of every Guyanese. “We are building a country for every Guyanese. There President Dr. Irfaan Ali augural address to the Na- degrees of adversities, but tional Assembly, the commis- at the end of it all, our ansion’s work will be national cestors taught us that with in scope. It would involve perseverance, patience, engaging our citizenry about kindness, love, unity, and how every Guyanese can purpose, how much can be honour his or her ancestral achieved.” heritage while fashioning our INNER STRENGTH blended Guyanese civilisaThe President said that tion. I urge you all to be part of this important undertak- Guyana is blessed with tremendous natural resources, ing,” President Ali posited. In an appeal to Guyanese, but Guyanese need to harthe President said: “Let us all ness the inner strength of commit to pooling our efforts their ancestors to overcome to build a stronger, united, all that will be thrown at the freer, and more prosperous country. That inner strength, he nation, one in which we can exult in the vitality of our reasoned, is what is needed to various peoples and their build a unified coalition to improve the lives of each other, cultures.” Dr. Ali urged persons to and bring freedom to this land. “That inner strength, with remember that every group that came to Guyana did so for our capacity and the opporimprovement, did so to have tunities that lie ahead, when improved living conditions, blended, indeed can leave for and did it so that successive this generation and generagenerations will be better off. tions to come enough that we To this end, he reasoned: can all say in a unified voice, “We have an enormous oppor- ‘We are proud to be part of tunity today to leave a Guyana this land,’” President Ali said. The President, in his first that will be incredibly better for the generation that will address as Head of State of follow. We can only do this if Guyana, had assured the nawe understand that collective- tion that he will uphold the ly, in our collective strength, oath he’d taken, and will work in our collective wisdom and in the best interest of the peothe pooling together of our en- ple of Guyana. “There is only one future, ergies, it is only then that we can be the best and become and that requires a united, strong Guyana. That future reone Guyanese people. “All of us face various quires every Guyanese to play

“back on track”, was the implementation of measures and projects included in the $329.5 billion 2020 Budget. This budget included a $25,000 cash transfer to every household; a $15,000 cash grant and a $4,000 uniform voucher for schoolchildren; $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund; $5 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); a two-week, tax-free bonus for members of the Joint Services; and $150 million for frontline workers, among many other benefits. The broad objectives of

‘All of us face various degrees of adversities, but at the end of it all, our ancestors taught us that with perseverance, patience, kindness, love, unity, and purpose, how much can be achieved’ –President Dr. Irfaan Ali is no need for fear; there is no need for distinction, based on political persuasion, religious belief or ethnicity. This is a government for all of Guyana,” President Ali had assured the nation. Firstly, as part of his commitment to getting Guyana

those measures, which featured in the government’s Emergency 2020 Budget, were to stimulate economic activity; get persons back to work; increase Guyana’s productive capacity; reduce the cost of doing business; improve efficiency; and facil-

itate growth and development of businesses. Following up on this, the government, in its $383.1 billion Budget 2021, introduced measures that seek to firstly position Guyana to navigate the pervasive COVID-19 pandemic for as long as it is around. The aim is to keep the population safe from the pandemic, containing the further spread of the disease, 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 levels. Budget 2021 also initiated investments in catalytic and transformative infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, to ensure adequate supply at a competitive cost, and transport infrastructure to improve international connectivity, and unleashed domestic production and productivity.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Critical oil vessel equipment sent for repairs, upgrades –– level of production at Liza Destiny remains at 100,000-110,000 barrels per day

THE defective discharge silencer, a critical component of the recently re-installed flash-gas compressor aboard the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, has been exported for repairs and upgrades, as work continues to return operations to normal levels. ExxonMobil’s Public

and Government Affairs Adviser, Janelle Persaud, in an invited comment on Monday, said that the defective contraption was sent to Houston, Texas, United States of America (U.S.) for the necessary repairs and upgrades. A discharge silencer is used to attenuate noise produced by the expansion of air, steam or gas at elevat-

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat ed pressure to atmospheric pressure. As a result of the damaged discharge silencer, production at the Liza Destiny was initially reduced significantly, moving from 120,000 barrels to 30,000 per day, a decrease of 90,000 barrels. But, amid the ongoing repairs, the company has started to ramp up production, which has since moved from 30,000 barrels of oil per day to between 100,000 and 110,000 barrels per day, at a flare level of no more than 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (Mscfd).

Wednesday May 5, 2021 01:00hrs - 12:30hrs

When asked about the production level, Persaud said: “Production/flare level remains the same, as last communicated.” Those operating parameters, according to the company, were defined after careful consideration of safety, environmental, technical and economic factors, as well as discussions with the relevant government agencies on the best path forward, while repairs and upgrades are ongoing. “ExxonMobil Guyana is extremely disappointed by these ongoing technical challenges, but we are proud

The Liza Destiny FPSO of the team offshore that continues to work safely and manage operations efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Persaud had said, adding that the company will continue to work with the relevant parties to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Despite the challenges facing the company, Guyana’s sixth oil lift was unaffected, as it was safely and successfully completed recently, at planned quantity, and in keeping with the Crude Lifting Agreement and lifting schedule. Lifts are done every eight to nine days, and, with production levels low, there were concerns that the operator would not meet the quota of just about one million barrels within the expected time. Considering the challenges created by the defective equipment, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat had said that ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), will replace the manufacturer of the compressor equipment, to ensure there is no flaring during future projects. It was reported that Minister Bharrat said the government took decisive action to effect this change, due to the constant flaring at the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel. “This now has forced us to enter into engagements with Exxon to ensure that the Unity FPSO that is coming later in this year, and then Prosperity in early 2024, that we don’t have this issue with those FPSOs. “So, we have gotten that

assurance that General Electric will be used as the manufacturer to ensure that the compressor, there is not a recurring problem on those FPSOs with the gas compressor,” Minister Bharrat related. According to a report from the Department of Public Information (DPI), General Electric is a U.S. multi-national company. ExxonMobil had contracted German company, MAN Energy Solutions, to supply the compressor equipment for the Liza Destiny. That company, however, failed to correct the challenges encountered on the equipment used on the Liza Destiny, which have plagued the company’s operations since the beginning of oil production here. The minister said the adjustment was needed since both the Liza Unity and Prosperity are each designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day; almost twice the amount of the Liza Destiny. Minister Bharrat said the tovernment has maintained daily contact with ExxonMobil to ensure that a swift resolution is reached for the challenges on the Liza Destiny. “It is not something that the Government of Guyana wants. It is not something that we will tolerate. It is not something I believe that Exxon-EEPGL wants either because it is affecting production and worse yet, it is causing damage to the environment by the flaring of gas,” the minister said, adding that ExxonMobil has been given a timeframe of two to three months to complete repairs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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COVID-19 cash grant distribution recommences in Region Two

SCORES of residents in various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region who had filled up the ‘pink slip’, on Tuesday received their $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant from the government. The grant was made available to those persons who were part of multi-family households, and had registered during the last distribution exercise. Many Essequibians had filled out the ‘pink slip’ after they were unable to access the grant. On that query form, they had to indicate that they were part of a family living with another family, or families under the same roof. In the Annandale/Riverstown NDC, residents showed up at the Fisher Primary School to uplift their grant. Mobina Singh, a resident of Perservance, said she was elated when she received the news that the grants were once again being distributed. She said that she was happy to get such a grant, and will be using it to buy groceries for her family. Another beneficiary, Abdool Salim, told the Guyana Chronicle that he thought the distribution had ended for good, as he was no longer hearing anything about it. He said he was happy to learn several days ago that the distribution would recommence, and that he was one of the beneficiaries. “I was patiently listening out, ‘cause

the last time they came around, they said I wasn’t eligible because I was living with my mother and father. But I have my own family; I am glad that I am qualified to receive the money now,” Salim said. Adventure resident, Navita Singh said because she was living with her mother, she was required to fill up the query form. Singh said she will use the money to buy household things for her family. She used the opportunity to thank the government of Guyana for the grant. Naiomi Singh, a frontline worker of Perservance, said that she is excited about the grant. She said the money will be invested in her children’s education, as they are in need of extra lessons. Singh also thanked government for the initiative. Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt told this publication that the region received $50, 600,000 from the Bank of Guyana for this round of distribution. He urged those persons who had filled out the query form to visit the NDC in their area to collect their money. The Good Hope/Pomona NDC, Fisher Primary School, Taymouth Manor, the Anna Regina Town Council, and the Charity Nursery School were among the distribution sites set up across the region. There will be special timings for those living in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon communities.

Some of the persons who turned up at the Fisher Primary School to uplift their COVID-19 cash grant

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

Arrival Day

ARRIVAL Day is often associated with the arrival of East Indians to these shores on May 5, 1838, but it is really a celebration of all the ethnic groups which came, and over time, in one way or the other, contributed to Guyana’s development. The Portuguese came in 1835, and the Chinese in 1853. Both of these ethnic groups have contributed tremendously to Guyana’s rich cultural tapestry, and have given her some of the best in business and other spheres of national life. Notably, Guyana’s first president, Arthur Chung, was of Chinese descent, while industry captain and politician, Peter D’Aguiar, was of Portuguese origin. These are just two of the many other prominent Guyanese of these two ethnic groups who have provided outstanding service to this country we call home. Their foreparents came as indentured labourers, but persevered and, today, enjoy reputable standing in society. The Chinese today are owners of restaurants, supermar-

kets, and are involved in the import/export business. The descendants of the Portuguese, who came from Madeira on May 3, 1835, apart from being wealthy property owners and businesspersons, have also enjoyed a vibrant presence in the arts, sport and politics. The East Indians, the other group which came in May, have also enjoyed a dominant presence in practically every aspect of national life. Quite naturally, being the larger and more dominant of the two other groups, greater attention has been paid to the East Indians who, through sacrifice, thrift and industry, have been able to transform their lives. East Indians are still largely involved in rice and sugar cultivation today, and are among the most wealthy and established business people in Guyana. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which is largely Indo-Guyanese- based, and currently occupies the seat of power, has given Guyana several outstanding leaders, with Dr. Cheddi Jagan,

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Mr. Donald Ramotar and Dr. Irfaan Ali being foremost among them. Arrival Day is, therefore, an occasion, not for one, but for all the groups that came to these shores to celebrate their cultures and contributions to making this land called Guyana a better place. It is a time for all to unite and celebrate the struggles of our foreparents, who laid down their lives for our freedoms; freedoms they themselves never had. It is also a time that we take positive inspiration from our history. Oftentimes, we tend to hark back to the past to justify our actions or positions, or beliefs we hold or want to perpetuate, but not often our history is used to unite and inspire us that we should be one people. If this is done more often, Guyana will become more united as a nation, with less animosity among our ethnic groups, especially Africans and East Indians. How many

know that under the leadership of renowned trade unionist, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, that East Indians and Africans were allies in the fight for better wages and an eight-hour working day. And, in 1839, there was a significant test of national unity when ex-slaves testified in court that the Indian indentured labourers were treated precisely the same way as Africans under slavery. Africans also challenged the anti-education principles of the 1876 law that provided limited education to the Indians. They demanded that Indian languages be introduced in schools, and the Court of Policy, comprising members of many ethnic groups, made Crown lands available to both Indians and Africans. So, as we celebrate Arrival Day 2021, let us celebrate our common struggles for a better life, and resolve to work together to solve our differences. It is the duty of all as we prepare to celebrate 55 years as an Independent nation.

May 5th, a reflection of the sacrifices of our ancestors

Dear Editor, MAY 5, 2021 denotes the 183rd anniversary since East Indians arrived from India as Indian Indentured laborers in then British Guiana. A colony that was last ruled by the British, saw the abolition of slavery in 1838, the emancipation of slaves and the end to the chattel slavery system. The Africans, forcefully brought from Africa to work for the colonial masters, were then freed from slavery and finally given freedom and the choice of living independently. Many left the sugar plantations and diversified to other opportunities, and, that created a vacuum to replace the loss of the labour force. The importation of indentured laborers from India was conceived and implemented, but, the conditions were concealed and on arrival, the Indians found out that they were deceived when they saw and experienced the deplorable living and arduous working conditions. Incidentally, May 2, also commemorates the arrival of the Portuguese/Madeirans and January 13, the arrival of the Chinese. West Indians and some “others,” were also imported under this context. Doubt is still entertained about the ambiguity of this day ‘May 5’, whether it is to commemorate and generalise the arrival of all indentured laborers, or, specifically, to celebrate the identity of the arrival of Indians. A transparent pronouncement is yet to be officially established and, officials have evaded this clarification, preferring to shelve the issue.

East Indians have struggled from day one in this country and were viewed with skepticism by others, patronised as unwelcome and regarded as job grabbers. They came with countable wealth, being, their few pieces of clothing, their religious books and their culture. Hundreds died on the dangerous journey known as the, “Kala Pani.” Toiling under the hot sun and enduring much use and abuse, they had to tolerate a new strain of slavery-ship, another form of British hardship, and, they quickly had to adapt to a different way of life in order to accommodate a means of survival, losing an accustomed social respectability in the long run. Not deterred by the presumptuousness of being referred to as “Coolies,” grinding away from Monday to Saturday, bearing strain from the whims and fancy of the British, who enjoyed punishing them for the flimsiest of excuses, and, being agitated with numerous anomalies, they survived all disadvantages and oppression to establish themselves to a forefront to gain the resentment of others. With a cultural hallmark of praying, working, playing, saving, being conservative, investing wisely and building slowly but surely, this methodology transcended a fusion of life style, aspiration, dedication and cultivation, to catapult suppression to impression. Bonded with a togetherness and banded with mutual compatibility, a primary generation of simpletons converted a despicable situation into a promising generation of prosperity. Today, being the envy of illusionists, there is the unfounded accusation of “wealth disparity,”

being sourced and funneled by propagandists. Emerging from a level playing field, or perhaps, an unfavorable circumstance, not privileged by those earlier settlers, the false hue and cry of favoritism, is beaten on a drum resounding in a tasteless melody. Such has been a trail filled with trials and tribulations, a journey saddled with many blocks and hurdles and a pathway, strewn with holes and thorns, but never undaunted or deterred by the improbable, generations of Indians have battled the stormy seas and have not withered with the tempestuous weather. They preferred to toil the soil with their inherited cultural proclivities and agricultural skills, invest in their children’s education and confine any exuberance with compassion and satisfaction. A buddy system practiced from the days of yore, this concept afforded the extension of a helping hand to take care and look out for the senior and junior member in the family. This principle has adumbrated the successive genealogy for success and has manifested high dividends. With the passing of time, inclement economic situation, enforced by dictatorship, side lining of unilateralism, prejudice, racial discrimination, political favoritism, social upheaval and religious suppression, Indo Guyanese with other ethnicities not favorable supporters of the demeaning administration, were unavoidably migrating to greener pastures. They were all escaping from the devaluation of the dollar, the restricted foreign exchange system, the banning of food items, nationalisation and

its repercussions, the paramountcy of the PNC party, the evil of Burnhamism, the party card passport, the political domination in the ministries, public sector and agencies, the downsizing of the economy and the ultimate collapse of a nation under siege by a cabal led by the Kabaka. With the turning of the tide, Indo Guyanese have proliferated, persevered and propelled to a stage of predisposition, whereby, everything must be relished with reservation. At each turn, a perilous trap is anticipated and nothing can be accepted as granted. Many have sold out the rights of East Indians for personal greed, financial satisfaction and social advancement, all at the demise and expense of the struggling class. No wonder they are spectators and not consumers with the celebration of Republic Day, Mashramani and Independence Day. Not being fooled or tranquilised by magicians, circus performers and dirty, dangerous and devious ring leaders, they fashion a head on their shoulder and can smell a rat from a mile. Any decoration of “mental laziness,” is certainly supercilious from any irresponsible party and castigates, chastises and charred the dignity of individuality. Indian Arrival Day should be a reflection of the sacrifices of the ancestors of East Indians from India and, their contribution towards the peace, progress and prosperity of all Guyanese. Respectfully, Jai Lall.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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I not buying this lackluster and verbose statement of the MP Dear Editor, I MUST be “dotish” and “mentally unstable” to accept a word that comes from the mouth of Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir. Desir’s statement that was released to the public and media via facebook was full of “hogwash”. It is testimony that some members of APNU+AFC Coalition think all Guyanese as “fools” or persons that are “mentally retarded”. The fact that Desir responded to the protests of right-thinking Guyanese, who called her out and reported her statements to the Ethnic Relations Commission, with nothing less than an unreserved apology is reprehensible and comical at the same time. The more-holier-thanthou writers in the Coalition were asleep because I am sure they could have done something that is better than the “360” she did in her speech. To see her struggling through the prepared speech, which was clearly written out for her, was painful as well as disdainful. Maybe, she was not comfortable saying the glowing words about “Indians” in Guyana. Maybe, she thought if she would have said it eloquently that all Guyanese would believe her and forget what she said and it would be business as usual. But no. It was not a slip of the tongue or “misrepresentation” as she claimed. It stoked fear in me. That she would think it’s okay to speak that way because she is comfortable on David Hinds bandwagon where he is obsessed with the PPP is no doubt appalling and disrespectful. And what Khemraj Ramjattan said or how he feels about what Desir said is in no way representative of how Guyanese feel about racism. She was saying that the

group she supports is superior to another group which she described as mentally lazy. Her tone, context and intent could not be easily mistaken and travel far above the heads of Guyanese which includes those in the opposition. She is clearly in a really “Crazed” frenzy. Don’t put gloomy platitudes to us about the topic. We now know how you feel and why you feel the way you do. The opposition allowed this race-baiting and racial insensitive woman to speak for them. No defence or statement could undo the harm caused or indignity caused by what Desir said. The government, which incidentally said it represents all Guyanese, should boycott this woman. She must learn that Guyanese take offence to this insult because we are “One People, One Nation and we have One Destiny”. Desir’s attempt to divide us now will not make the Coalition appear any more guilty than they already are. Any rational Guyanese could not be made a fool of. The manipulation of this “Pontius Pilate-like” opposition parliamentarian is cowardly and dangerous to the quest for national unity, cohesion and governance. A disservice that Desir did by her statements then and now has nothing to do with the PPP. It is in bad-taste. It is counter-productive. Amanza Walton-Desir should stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes. But we are seeing the vile statements of the opposition on race each time they make them on a live show whether it be on the traditional media or social media. Don’t worry Amanza, Local Government Election is right around the turn. And memories don’t live like people do! Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

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COVID-19 death toll reaches 306 –– 92 new cases recorded in 24 hours THREE more COVID-19 deaths recorded by the Ministry of Health on Monday, have pushed the death toll to 306, a figure which is reflected in the daily dashboard for May 4, 2021. The latest fatalities are two males and a female, ages

66, 47 and 77 respectively, all from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They died while receiving medical care at a Ministry of Health facility. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has recorded 92 cases of COVID-19 from 537 tests conducted for Monday,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021 May 3. Of these, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) recorded eight; Region Four, 26; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), eight; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), four; Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), two; Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 37 and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), seven. The newly-infected persons were 49 males and 43 females. There are currently 17 persons within the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 100 in institutional isolation, 1,637 isolated at home, and six in institutional quarantine. Guyana has confirmed a total of 13,656 cases of COVID-19 since it was first recorded in Guyana. Of that number, 1,760 are currently

active; and of the 11,596 recoveries, 149 were recorded within the past 24 hours. 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 feet 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 needs 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

No shortage of COVID-19 –– adequate second doses vaccines available, says Health Minister By Richard Bhainie

WITH there being concerns about the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for the administration of second doses, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has sought to assure persons that there is an adequate supply of vaccines to continue the inoculation process. Concerns were raised particularly because there are vaccines from three distinctively different manufacturers being administered locally. In responding to those concerns during Tuesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony guaranteed that there is an adequate supply of vaccines to ensure that persons receive the second dose of whichever type of vaccine they received initially. “In terms of the doses, for your second dose shot I think there have been persons who are worried that they might not have their second does shot, but I want to assure them that we have set aside the vaccines to give them their second dose,” he said. To date, Guyana has obtained collectively 265,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca, the Chinese Sinopharm and

Russian Sputnik V vaccines, which have been made available countrywide through the national vaccination campaign. Dr. Anthony explained that for the Oxford AstraZeneca and Chinese Sinopharm vaccines, the Ministry of Health has set aside half of the total shipments to ensure that persons who got their first dose of those vaccines, receive the same vaccines for their second dose. He explained that for the Sputnik V vaccine, there are two different types that will be administered on each occasion. So, the vaccine administered as the first dose is different from that of the second dose, however, the second doses are already in the country and are ready to be administered. “So, there should be not worry pertaining to where you are getting your second dose from, we already have it here, we have it in storage at the vaccine bond and so at the appropriate time we’ll roll that out and make sure that everybody can get their second dose, those persons who would have already taken their first dose,” he said. Dr. Anthony assured persons that consequent to Guyana receiving vaccines through the COVAX facility and

A ‘Mythbuster’ by the Ministry of Health

the Government of Guyana purchasing a large number of vaccines as well, there is enough for every adult person in Guyana. “So, I don’t think there’s a challenge getting vaccines, what we need to do is make sure that we get vaccines in people arms, that’s where the challenge is,” he said. In addition, one of the major challenges the Ministry of Health faces in the administration of vaccinations are the myths being peddled in society pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine. “We are working hard to try to dispel some of those myths, we have several programmes that we are running from the ministry’s level which include one programme where we are trying to do myth busting and that is once we hear whatever the myth is we try to offer an explanation,” Dr. Anthony said. He noted too that social media plays a major role in allowing myths to be disseminated, as this is where persons

share content which is grossly false and misleading; this deters others from taking the jab. It is for this reason that the Health Minister is urging persons to do their own research when they stumble upon vaccination myths. “We want people to really review, not just to blindly share things but to review it if somebody sends it to you, see whether this is making sense and if it is fine… you can ask questions and whatever but if it’s not, don’t share it and don’t add to the confusion. “If we all take that contentious approach, I think that we would make a difference so each one of us can help with fighting vaccine hesitancy because if we don’t, it’s going to be harder to reach that goal of herd immunity,” he said. As of Monday, 145,797 first doses, a representation of 29.9 per cent of the population of persons over age 18, and 5,309 second doses were administered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Gov’t seeks international help to improve ICT infrastructure By Jared Liddell

THE Government of Guyana is currently in talks with several international and bilateral partners to improve the country’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure. Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, made this disclosure during a one-day High-Level Thematic Debate of the United Nations General Assembly on Digital Cooperation and Connectivity held on Thursday. The UN virtual debate was held under the theme, “Whole-of-Society Ap-

proaches to End the Digital Divide.” Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of digital technology and its intricate link to the workforce, education, health care and e-commerce. This has compelled nations to transition from the conventional means of earning, learning and access to essential services to working remotely, learning online and preparing services virtually. Due to the lack of adequate ICT infrastructure, many third world countries, including Guyana, have struggled with this transition. It is with this in mind

that the government has taken the decision to seek out partners for improved ICT infrastructure. Prime Minister Phillips noted that at present, less that 30% of Guyana’s population are utilising the internet. He said this underscores the urgency for collaborative work to bridge the stark digital divide between the developed and developing world. “With less than 30% of our population using the internet, the Government of Guyana is working closely with international and bilateral partners to increase access. Currently, we have several strategies locally to improve ICT, which begun

with the liberalisation of the ICT sector,” he stated. Further, the Prime Minister explained that the government is working to ensure that internet access on the local level continues to improve through the expansion of the fiber optic network, subsidized internet access to poor households, provision of appropriate technology to schools and the establishment of an international institute of technology in Guyana. At present, the Ministry of Education has commissioned eight smart classrooms at secondary schools across Guyana with plans to install such a facility in 20 schools. Brickdam Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, and the Skeldon Line Path Secondary Schools, as

well as President’s College and Queen’s College are among the first beneficiaries. The Prime Minister further noted that the government is committed to bridging the urban to rural ICT gap, noting that this is pivotal to ensuring that all sections of Guyana’s society can earn, learn and access essential services, even from remote locations. “In positing solutions to end the digital divide, we must address the urban-rural gap in digital technology as well as the limited accessibility of the most vulnerable group in society. Expansion of affordable ICT services to rural areas including satellite technology and training in the use of digital technology must therefore be prioritised. The govern-

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips ment is also working to improve service delivery to the public through digital government services,” said Prime Minister Phillips. Meanwhile, he explained that the government supports the United Nations (UN) 75th declaration to “improve digital cooperation and work towards a common vision of an open, free and safe digital future for all” and intends to strengthen policies and legislation targeting cybercrime in an effort to combat the “wrong use” of digital technology.

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Reg. 1 power companies get new boards OVERSIGHT at power companies in Region One (Barima-Waini) is expected to improve, as Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips has appointed new Boards of Directors to serve at the helm of those essential entities. Persons were appointed to serve on the Board of Directors at the Matthews Ridge Power and Light Company, the Port Kaituma Power and Light Company, and the Mabaruma Power and Light Company. Prime Minister Phillips, who officially installed the boards during the first day of his two-day visit to the region, underscored the importance of electrical power and the role of the boards in providing the companies with strategic direction. “Energy is linked to development, and our government is here to support the development of this country throughout all communities,

so we will be here to support you with whatever you may need,” the Prime Minister said. He told the members of the Port Kaituma board that it is important for them to ensure that service is improved. “What is also important is that you work to ensure that unserved communities get electricity,” the Prime Minister said. At Mabaruma, he encouraged the directors there to be proactive in their approach to resolving challenges, and to quickly get acquainted with their utility company. “We expect that this board will get to work right away; possibly hold a meeting before the end of the week, and as you approach your work, it is important that you focus on finance, operations and human resource management,” Prime Minister Phillips said. It is the first time that the Mabaruma Power and Light

Company has had an official board since it was registered in 2015. However, since its registration, it has undergone a period of transition. Electricity distributed to the town was previously controlled by the regional administration. The Mabaruma company is the only one in Region One that has a solar farm as well electrical generators. The Mabaruma Power and Light Company is being chaired by Vibert Emmanuel. The other directors are Annasha Peters, Borris Singh, Dwayne Payne, Hyacinth Henry, Orson Sealy, Renatto Srikumar, Stefan Hernandez, and Vicky Cheong. Gregory Vincent was installed as chair at the Matthews Ridge Power and Light Company. The other directors are Carl Innis, Celestina Joseph, Errol Singh, George David, Govinda Bisnaught, Lionel Poliah, and Sharon Phillips. The Port Kaituma Pow-

er and Light Company is chaired by David Samaroo, while the other members are Bibi Samad, Celene Leung, Elroy Bumbury, Jennifer Calistro, Mikel Perez, Nathalie Abrams, and Sheldon Prince. All of the newly-installed boards will have a lifespan of one year. In addition to installing the new boards and directors, the Prime Minister used the opportunity to tour the three power generation facilities. He was accompanied by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Regional

Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Region One, Brentnol Ashley, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hinterland Electrification Company, Horace Williams. During his visit to Matthews Ridge, the Prime Minister and his team stopped briefly at the new plant, which was constructed by the Guyana Manganese Incorporated (GMI), where he met with General Manager, Yisong Wang. “We started building this plant in 2016, and we

finished only last month. We have done testing, but we have not started major production, because we are waiting on the government for additional permits. This visit is one that will inspire us to continue,” Wang said. The Prime Minister also took part in a walkabout at the Kumaka Market, in the Mabaruma Sub-District, and delivered the feature address at the opening ceremony of a training programme for community health workers. (DPI)

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UG launches new Master Degree programmes in Communication studies

THE University of Guyana (UG)’s Centre for Communication Studies on Monday launched its new Master Degree programmes. The suite, which encompasses three areas of specialisation: Strategic Communication, Social Change Communication, and Visual Communication Studies, is a part of ten new programmes

being offered by the university for this academic year. This was done in response to the growing need for quality, affordable, and pertinent postgraduate programmes in Guyana and the Caribbean. According to a release from the educational institution, the curriculum development for the Master’s in Communication Studies pro-

gramme commenced in 2017, with the establishment of a task force from UG’s Office of Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE), headed by Nelsonia Persaud Budhram and Denise Hopkinson. Now, having been approved in April 2021, applications for the upcoming 2021/2022 academic year will

be opened on Monday, May 10, 2021. Anyone with a good first degree, who is working in, or desirous of working in a communication-based field, and is, or aspires to be part of management-related functions is considered an ideal candidate. The programme will be delivered in a blended fashion, and will take two years to complete. The cost of the programme is roughly US$14,500 or US$7,200 per year. Individuals interested in specialising in the first programme, entitled Social Change Communication, can look forward to mastering various communication skills associated with the design, implementation and evaluation of various projects, with the aim of creating positive social change within Guyana, the Caribbean region, and the world. Specialised classes in the programme include: Communication and Social Change; Community Media and Public Sphere; Conflict, Peace, and Human Rights, and Public Policy. Career opportunities cre-

ated after this programme include: Social Change Communication Consultant, Policy Analyst, Project Manager, and Advocacy Officer, among others. By enrolling in the second programme, strategic communication majors will grasp various aspects of commercial-related communication for the purpose of being able to efficiently represent their organisations. Specialised classes in this major include: Leadership Communication; Strategic Communication: Marketing, Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility; Crisis Communication and Issues Management; Public Policy and Communicating Narratives – Beyond PowerPoint. Career opportunities include: Research Analyst, Public Relations Consultant, Marketing Consultant, Corporate Communication Consultant, among others. Lastly, visual communications majors will be equipped to master techniques associated with pre-productions, production, and post-production,

Director of UG’s Centre for Communication Studies, Ms. Nelsonia Persaud Budhram with a strong focus on visual elements utilising a variety of media with the broad aim of effectively communicating stories through visual productions. Persons will be able to design, create, and package multimedia content of the highest quality for public consumption. Specialised classes in this major include: Introduction to Visual Communication, Animation Basics, Character Design and Animation, Art of Photography, Cinematography and Sound and Light Design. Career opportunities include: Character Animator, Motion Graphic Designer, Cinematographer, Fine Art Photographer, Sound Engineer, Video & Audio Editor, Multimedia Producer, and others.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Water services in Region 8 to be boosted with $94M injection

OVER 1,400 residents of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) will soon benefit from enhanced water services, following the injection of $94 million by the Ministry of Housing and Water, through contracts which were signed recently. A press release issued by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) stated that the official documents were signed on Saturday last by the utility company, Toshaos of the various villages and the Contractor, R. Kissoon Contracting Services. Under this investment, major development will be undertaken at Kaibarupai through a $34.7 million contract, while $32.7 million and $26.6 million were allocated for Monkey Mountain and Taruka, respectively. According to the scope of works, there will be the drilling of wells, installation of well pumps and photovoltaic systems, construction of elevated storage and installation of storage tanks and distribution networks, and service connections. The utility company said each

project is expected to last three months. Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, was quoted as saying that the government is committed to bridging the gap between the coastland and hinterland. He added that his ministry would continue to make the necessary funds available, even as GWI moves ahead to improve water delivery in communities nationwide. Minister Croal also called for residents to take up ownership and properly manage the water supply systems there. Further, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues pointed out that while the projects were mandatory for the government, they will significantly impact the communities. The minister said the government does not intend to serve one group or class of Guyanese and that the nation’s resources will be distributed in an equitable manner across Guyana. (DPI)

Brazilian gold miner allegedly robbed of $3.2M in raw gold A Brazilian gold miner was reportedly robbed of a quantity of raw gold valuing over $3 million. The miner, 62-year-old Paulino De Jesus, who is staying at the Sheriff Inn Hotel, Second Street, Bartica, said there was no sign of forced entry into his room, but his items, which include the raw gold, cannot be located. De Jesus told police that he checked into the hotel and retired to bed around midnight, but upon waking, he discovered that his items were missing. The miner claimed that his passport and other important documents, $30,000 and 320 grams of raw gold, totalling $3.2 million, were stolen from his room.

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Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal hands over a contract during Saturday’s signing ceremony. Also, in photo Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues (DPI photo)

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Possible third lane for Hunter Street By Richard Bhainie

WITH work on a section of Hunter Street, which stretches from Front Road, West Ruimveldt to Mandela Avenue, coming to an end, the Ministry of Public Works is exploring the pos-

sibility of adding a third lane to the thoroughfare. Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Tuesday, while inspecting the ongoing works at Hunter Street, announced that engineers are contemplating the possibility of an addition-

al lane for the street, as it would appear as though the width of the passage permits same. Hunter Street is one of the main arteries which connects the heart of Georgetown to the East Bank of Demerara Highway. So, by

adding a third lane, the usual traffic congestion would be alleviated. “This morning [Tuesday] we were able to look at something that I am happy about; having done the road and because of the width that exist, we are looking at

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill meeting with proprietor of Vieira 66 Logistics, Mark Viera, at the site of the ongoing works at Hunter Street, Alexander Village, on Tuesday

the possibility of putting in a third lane. “So, Hunter Street could possibly, possibly, not conclusively, we’re looking at it… Hunter Street should possibly move from being a two-lane road into being a three-lane road,” Minister Edghill said. The Public Works Minister explained that the additional lane would enable two lanes of traffic from the East Bank of Demerara corridor into Georgetown and one lane going out during the morning rush hours, and vice-versa during the afternoon peak hours of traffic flow. Works on the street are currently being carried out by contractor, Vieira 66 Logistics, which was awarded a contract to complete the street after the original contractor, Surrey Paving and Ideal Engineering, had abandoned works on the roadway and left it in a deplorable state. The contract for Vieira 66 Logistics is approximately $100 million, while, according to the Auditor General’s 2019 report, Surrey Paving was paid approximately $35.041 million from the $86.685 million contract that the company was awarded in May 2019. Based on the original contract, work was expected to begin on June 10, 2019, and be completed by December, 2019. Edghill noted, however, that the government will get more than it bargained for

with contractor Vieira 66 Logistics, as the contractor will also be going an extra step to connect Hunter Street to the four-lane, Sheriff-Mandela Highway. The minister related: “Reducing travel time is a big priority, people must get to work and get home from work relaxed, not spending hours in traffic.” The government, he said, is putting several systems in place to address the heavy build-up of traffic on the East Bank of Demerara corridor. One such measure is the adjustment of the opening and closing hours of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which is one of the key contributors to daily traffic congestion. The government is also exploring connecting the four-lane road from Diamond to the Sheriff- Mandela road in the vicinity of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. “People might say why we didn’t think about that before, and it’s a good question, but engineering and designing when you actually get on the ground and things are happening, you see where you can make the improvement,” Edghill reasoned. Further, he said: “That’s what engineers do, try to accommodate improvement and not just merely sticking to what the original design is, so here at Hunter Street we’re getting more than we anticipated that we would do.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Guyana Relief Council helps 21 families in first quarter

A TOTAL of 21 families have been assisted by the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) within the first quarter of the year (January to March, 2021), according to a report issued by the non-profit organisation. The GRC is a charitable Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that renders assistance to any person/ family whose life becomes disrupted by any form of disaster, whether natural or man-made, wherever it occurs throughout the ten regions of Guyana. The council has been providing almost 100 per cent coverage for all fires, and providing much-needed assistance, irrespective

of race, religion, political affiliation or any other distinguishing factor. During the period under review, the GRC assisted a total of 78 persons, including: The Chung family of Little Diamond, East Bank of Demerara, whose daughter, Krystle Chung, perished in a fire in January; Roynell Melville, a tenant of the Chungs’; Karen Clarke’s family of Schoonard, West Bank of Demerara; George Hopkinson, Tenecia Baxter and Lennox Hones of Castello Housing Scheme. Despite being affected by the pandemic, the council continues to provide limited assistance of food hampers, clothing, shoes and miscellaneous items,

all of which were donated to the organisation. For the past year, the council has not held any fund-raisers, which usually provide the wherewithal to respond, as was done in the past. However, the organisation refuses to let anyone, who seeks their service, leave empty-handed. The GRC expressed its sincere gratitude, on behalf of itself and the families who have benefitted, to the donors who continue to stand by the council in its most challenging and unprecedented times. The donors are: The New Building Society, Food for the Poor, the National Milling Company, Sterling Products Ltd, the

Guyana Rice Development Board, Mr Dinesh Vaswani, and Dr. Ghansham Singh and his wife, as well as the anonymous donors who make donations of clothing and miscellaneous items. Any persons desirous of sending donations of any kind to the GRC may do so at its office, located at Lot X Riverview, Ruimveldt, or make contact via telephone on 225-3081 or 225-2874, and via its email, guyanareliefcouncil@yahoo.com.

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Shonnette Dover’s sister charged with being accessory after murder

THE teenage sister of Shonnette Dover, who was murdered and buried in a shallow grave at Linden, was charged on Tuesday afternoon with accessory after the fact of murder. Dover, who was reported missing on April 3, 2021, was found dead in a shallow grave aback the Canvas City, Wismar house of her purported boyfriend, Shaquawn Alleyne. Police had received legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge the teen.

The 15-year-old appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison. She was represented by attorneys, Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt. She was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge and was remanded to the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre until May 28, 2021. The court sought in-

Wanted: Shaquawn Alleyne

formation from the Child Care and Protection Agency about protective custody for the teenager. However, it was disclosed that no such facility is available. A decision was made by the magistrate to therefore keep her in custody since the young lady had expressed fear of being released into the custody of her parents, who may not be able to protect her. Last week, the teenager led investigators to her sister’s body which was buried in Alleyne’s backyard. She allegedly admitted to police that she assisted Alleyne to bury her sister’s body. She allegedly said that her sister was shot by the boyfriend as he cleaned a gun. The teen also allegedly told investigators that after the shooting, she accompanied the boyfriend to his father’s home. They later returned to the boyfriend’s residence and proceeded to

Dead: Shonnette Dover bury the woman’s body. The father was also arrested and is assisting with investigations. Police have issued a wanted bulletin for Alleyne, called “Iswe”, for questioning in relation to the alleged murder committed between April 3 and 30, 2021. Investigators believe that he has escaped to French Guiana. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Shaquawn Alleyne is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers: 444-3406, 4443297, 444-3351, 444-3512 444-24429, 442-0759, 2253650, 226-1928, 911, or the nearest police station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

No mask, no pass –– 15 arrested for breaching COVID-19 guidelines

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has arrested 15 persons, including 13 from Bartica, for breaching the COVID-19 regulations, which have been instituted to mitigate the spread of the disease. Reports are that they have each been released on $5,000 station bail and have been ordered to go to court. Police in Bartica say those persons were arrested between 19:00 hours and midnight, on Monday. They are accused of failing to wear a face mask.

Among those arrested are businesswoman, Halimina Baksh of Fourth

Avenue Bartica; Magaiva Gonsalves, an inspector of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards; Kevin Havercombe, a businessman of Colidgen East Coast of Demerara; Alpha Evans, a businessman of First Avenue Bartica, among others. Those arrests were made during joint services enforcement activities, all part of an attempt to crack down on persons who continue to disregard the gazetted COVID-19 guidelines.

Body of Corentyne fisherman found in drain at No. 76 Village THE body of a 26-year-old fisherman, Kishan Bayo, called “Penton,” was found floating in a drain at Number 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to reports, the fisherman purportedly drowned between 12:30 hours and 16:45 hours, on May 3. The man was last seen alive, but highly intoxicated, about 12:30 hours on the same day. Reports are that, at about 16:45 hours, he was seen motionless in a drain at Number 76 Village. The body was examined and no marks of violence were seen. Investigations into this matter are ongoing.

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Ministry of Sport to sponsor Independence... (From back page) National Sports Commission (NSC) did not find common ground on the funding of the three-decade-old fixture.” When the race started it was an upright cyclist competition and in the first year, it was won by Bissoon Pharbudin. When it was last held in 2016, Orville Hinds was crowned champion. This year, the first stage will pedal off in Berbice at 07:30hrs outside the Corriverton Police Station and

end at Main and Alexander Streets in New Amsterdam. The second stage of the race will also be contested on Saturday, May 15. It is scheduled to start at 14:00hrs at the Rosignol Stelling and end on Carifesta Avenue in the Capital City. The final stage is billed for Sunday, May 16. Cyclists will race from Linden (07:30hrs start) to outside of the National Sports Commission, Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS CHESTER 08:45 HRS LUCY LULU 09:15 HRS ZEYAADAH 09:45 HRS IMPERIAL FORCE 10:15 HRS WIRKO 10:45 HRS PAWS OF THOUGHT 11:15 HRS KINGOFTHEMIDLANDS 11:45 HRS SIR MAXIMILIAN NEWTON ABBOT 08:00 HRS SOUTHERN HARVEST 08:30 HRS PADSTON HARBOUR 09:00 HRS TULIN 09:30 HRS HUNTSMAN SON 10:05 HRS SOLDIER OF LOVE 10:35 HRS HEROSS OF SEUIL 11:05 HRS SUE BE IT 11:40 HRS MINNIE ESCAPE IRISH RACING TIPS GOWAN PARK 11:25 HRS TEXAS MOON 11:55 HRS AGRIMONY 12:30 HRS FLOR DE LA LUNA 13:00 HRS INSINUENDO 13:30 HRS WOODLAND GARDEN 14:00 HRS FARAWAY DREAMS 14:30 HRS FALL FOR A KISS 15:00 HRS GREGORY’S GIFT AMERICAN RACING TIPS FINGER LAKES RACE 1 FUSILLI RACE 2 INSIDE INFO RACE 3 MOONACHIE RACE 4 AMERS RACE 5 BASEBALLINBOURBON RACE 6 MODERN STEEL RACE 7 SUPER GARNER RACE 8 UHAVETOBEKITTENME SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS GREYVILLE 08:10 HRS CAPTAIN OF STEALTH 08:50 HRS PURPLE NKANYEZI 09:28 HRS KAROO LARK 10:03 HRS ABBEY WOOD 10:40 HRS COOL APACHE

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FIFA bans Haiti Under-20 women's team official in sexual abuse probe (REUTERS) - Global soccer governing body FIFA on Monday banned Haiti's Under-20 women's team supervisor Nella Joseph for 10 years as part of an investigation into multiple allegations of sexual abuse of female players in the Caribbean nation. Joseph was found guilty by FIFA's independent Ethics Committee of failing to protect the physical and mental integrity of various female players under her authority and "by actively coercing and threatening them into engaging in sexual relationships" with former Haitian football association president Yves Jean-Bart, FIFA said in a statement on its website. Jean-Bart was banned

Haiti's Under-20 women's team supervisor Nella Joseph is banned for 10 years.

for life in November after FIFA found him guilty of sexually harassing and abusing multiple female players, including minors. He denied the allegations.

The Ethics Committee's adjudicatory chamber found Joseph "had breached art. 23 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the FIFA Code of Ethics and sanctioned her with a ban from all football-related activities ... for a duration of 10 years," FIFA said in its statement. Joseph was also fined 20 000 Swiss francs ($21 880). In its 17-page decision, the chamber noted that investigators had been unable to directly reach Joseph and she had not responded to a request for a written statement in respect to the allegations against her. Joseph could not be immediately reached through Haiti's football association for comment.

Ex-athletics boss Diack can leave France after football club pays bond PARIS, France (AFP) - The former head of global athletics, Lamine Diack, sentenced by a French court to four years in prison, will be allowed to return to Senegal after posting a bond with French justice, sources said yesterday. Diack's lawyers said a Senegalese football club had raised the money to pay the bond. The 87-year-old Diack led the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now renamed World Athletics, from 1999 to 2015. He was found guilty in September of corruption in covering up Russian doping cases and was sentenced to four years in prison, of which two years were suspended, and fined 500 000 euros (US$600 000). Diack has appealed. At the time, the presiding judge in the court in Paris, Rose-Marie Hunault, said Diack was unlikely to go to jail. “Given your age you can expect conditional release,” she said.

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack (Photo: AFP)

Diack was being held in France because of his indictment in a second case involving suspected Olympic vote-buying. His passport had been confiscated. But a judge recently lifted the ban on Diack leaving France, provided he paid a bond and that he continues to respond to summonses, according to the order seen by AFP. “He paid the 500 000 euros last week,” one of his lawyers, Simon Ndiaye, told AFP, adding that Diack still had “administrative formalities to complete” before

returning to Senegal. A member of his family told AFP that Diack should return to Dakar “by Friday”. Senegalese Premier League side Jaraaf de Dakar, where Diack was club president, said it had sold part of its headquarters property to pay the bail. “We sold half of Ker Jaraaf, which is 5 700 square metres. One part of the money was used to pay the deposit,” current president Cheikh Seck told AFP on Monday. Diack had two spells in charge of the club, in the 1970s and 2000s.

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Jose Mourinho named Roma boss from start of next season JOSE Mourinho has been appointed Roma manager from the start of next season. The 58-year-old will replace fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca, who Roma announced earlier yesterday would leave at the end of the current season. Mourinho, sacked by Tottenham on April 19, has signed a three-year deal with the three-time Serie A champions. "The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next

season," said Mourinho. "Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club. After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions. "It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project," added Mourinho, who has also managed Inter Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid outside his homeland. Mourinho was dismissed

after 17 months in charge of Spurs following a poor second half of the season in which the north London club slipped from top of the table to outside the European places. This season Mourinho suffered 10 league defeats in a single campaign for the first time in his managerial career. Mourinho's previous stint in Italian football was a successful one with Inter Milan that produced four major honours in two years. He won the Italian title twice, the second victory

forming part of the club's historic treble in 2009-10 which also saw them claim the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Roma have not won Serie A since 2000-01, when former England manager Fabio Capello was in charge. The club - who lost the 1984 European Cup final in their own stadium against Liverpool - also won the title in 1941-42 and 1982-83. "When Jose became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all-time,"

said Pinto, general manager of Roma, who are seventh in Serie A. "We were blown away by Jose's desire to win and his passion for the game. No matter how many trophies he has won, his primary focus is always on the next one. He possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to compete at all levels. "We are supremely confident Jose will be the perfect coach for our project, for both our immediate and long-term future." (BBC Sport)

Jose Mourinho previously managed Roma's Serie A rivals Inter Milan

Coley welcomes plans by CWI to organise matches within each territory JAMAICA Scorpions head coach Andre Coley has joined the list of people welcoming plans by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to organise matches within each territory to help players prepare for proposed Test series against South Africa and Pakistan. “There is some discussion around four-day games that will coincide with international tournaments coming up. It is important for players to get the opportunity to play at a certain level and to keep that sharpness and to stake a claim for any upcoming tour,” he told the Jamaica Observer during a telephone interview. The regional four-day competition, which would normally run from late in the year up to approximately the first quarter of the new calendar year, is traditionally the platform upon which players can stake their claim for a place in the West Indies Test team. However, due to logistical challenges and safety concerns brought on by the novel coronavirus the competition is unlikely to be held this season. CWI board member Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, who is also president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), and Junior Bennett, the Jamaica cricket lead selector, have both endorsed the proposal to stage intra-territorial matches to fill any possible gap. Coley, who has served as assistant coach of the regional senior team, noted that the intra-territorial matches would provide West Indies

(From left) Andre Coley, then West Indies assistant coach, and players Hayden Walsh and Nkrumah Bonner in discussion during training on the tour of New Zealand in November 2020 (Photo: CWI Media)

selectors the opportunity to assess players. “I think it's a very important initiative … to have an idea of where players are. Players who put in consistent performances in these matches could find themselves in contention (for West Indies). It's always good to keep your name in the ears of selectors,” the former Jamaica wicketkeeper said. Coley, who has long urged players to commit to a lifestyle centred on fitness, said Scorpions team members are in good physical condition despite limited training caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “They are in relatively good shape at the moment. It is really now about taking more responsibility around fitness and physical conditioning because there is a direct relation between those things and performance. If players want to be able to replicate good performances, then physical

conditioning is a big contributing factor, so we are just trying to reinforce that,” he told the Observer. The proposed international tours are part of a busy home schedule for the regional side. The South Africans are expected to visit the Caribbean next month, followed by Pakistan later in the summer. In-between those Test series, West Indies are also set to welcome Australia, but that tour is expected to be limited to white-ball cricket. CWI hosted the regional Super50 Cup in Antigua in February. Following sharply on the heels of that tournament, West Indies hosted Sri Lanka in Antigua. The home side won the Twenty20 and One-Day International contests 2-1 and 3-0, respectively, but had to settle for a nil-all result in the two-Test series. (Extracted from Jamaica Observer)

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GGA sees expansion as huge stepping stone for golf beginners THE Guyana Golf Association (GGA) continues its quest to ensure local students are exposed to the sport, with efforts to ensure that adults are also focussed on heavily during this developmental period. Among those areas of importance, some of which are crucial but are not limited, is making the game itself smaller by playing on shorter courses. This will allow an easier pathway to the sport and much quicker to play, whilst removing the high membership fees and improving access. For many years the demand for bigger areas of land for longer courses with tee boxes stretching back to nearly 7 600 yards became the fashion despite the fact

that, for the vast majority of people who swing a club, playing a course anywhere near that length is a lot closer to torture than enjoyment. But now the tide may be changing. The recent release of the GGA 2020 report has been viewed as the first real step by the game’s main governing body to rein in distance and make the sport more sustainable. However, more can always be done and with the boom golf enjoyed during 2020, now may well be the time to capitalise by opening up more avenues into the sport, particularly for children and families alike. This is already something that the GGA has made moves on earlier this year, when the governing body announced plans to

build a community golf facility in Crane/Vreed-enHoop on the West Coast of Demerara. According to the GGA, the project “aims to redevelop several acres of unused rice lands to create a family-focussed venue that provides access to a uniquely designed course with challenging greens that will be floodlit for visitors to enjoy a wide range of golf activities, including shorter forms of the sport especially in the evening when it's much cooler." GGA president Aleem Hussain made it clear that facilities such as the one proposed in West Demerara (one of five nationwide) are very much aimed at making golf more accessible and are an example of the governing

Australian PM dismisses Slater’s comments as absurd FORMER Australian cricketer and cricket commentator Michael Slater, on Monday, took to Twitter to rant at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his government for banning Australian citizens travelling from India after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL 2021 edition. The statement came once PM Scott Morrison confirmed there would be no special arrangement to bring back the cricketers currently in India taking part in the Indian Premier League. Notably, Australian player and Mumbai Indians batter, Chris Lynn, had earlier requested an arrangement of chartered flights for all the Australian players participating in this edition after the league’s conclusion. Instead, the Australian government confirmed that Australian residents and citizens are banned from

Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater

entering the country within 14 days of being in India, and those who disobey face fines and jail. Expressing his displeasure, Slater had tweeted “If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands, PM! How dare you treat us like this! How about you sort out quarantine system!”. “I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect,” added Slater.

Dismissing Slater’s comments as “absurd” on a morning TV talk show, PM Morrison stated: “What we’re doing here is we’ve got a temporary pause in place because we’ve seen a rapid escalation in the infection rate in people who have travelled out of India.” Australia’s decision to penalise its citizen comes in the backdrop of India’s tally of COVID-19 infections, which has crossed 20 million after the nation has reported more than 300 000 new coronavirus cases for the 13th straight day. However, the government’s call has attracted severe backlash from legal experts and human rights advocates for penalising its citizens in such times. Meanwhile, the Australian government has defended the ban as critical to protect public health and quarantine systems. (CricTracker)

A visual of what the course will look like upon completion

body acting on the overused “grow the game” phrase in a proactive manner. In this case, smaller really is better – the sport immediately becomes more accessible to the masses, the GGA provides the clubs

needed to play the course, the shorter distances allow children and beginners to be introduced to the game at a scale which suits them, and the maintenance of the course is far less expensive. As a result, the overall

goal, given the plans to develop more mini golf courses across the country, is geared towards making the sport more accessible and more sustainable for students and adults of all ages.

Patandin lights up NY National Cricket League with superb 152 FORMER national U-19 cricketer Chris Patandin exploded with the bat to lead US club team, Majestic CC, to a 183-run victory against Cosmos Cricket Club when the New York National Cricket League bowled off its 2021 Sunday 40-over competition over the weekend. The former Everest Cricket Club cricketer struck 152 off 90 balls. He was graceful in his execution as he caressed a whopping 24 fours, while he took the aerial route three times. He told Chronicle Sport that his intention was to bat with purpose and that the runs came. “I really just wanted to start off the season with a win, so I went out and put my best foot forward.” Majestic CC’s victory was a good indication of how they would fare for the remainder of the competition, which attracts a number of overseas-based Guyanese players. The 32-year-old said that he will work hard to ensure that his club win the title at the end of the season. In Sunday’s clash, Majestic CC took first strike with skipper Derick Narine and Patandin opening the batting.

Chris Patandin blasted 152 off 90 balls

The skipper went early (8 runs 2x4), while several middle order batsmen, including Damion Vantull, had starts, but none was as impactful. Vantull finished with 29 runs from 12 balls (4x4, 1x6), while Shafeek Khan (26) and Karamchand Ramnarine (24) also played a few shots. Patandin, who also played with the Ogle Cricket Club while living in Guyana, steered the innings, until the 32nd over, when his side had already passed the 300-mark. By the end of their allotted 35 overs (restricted), Majestic reached 314-9.

In reply, Cosmos CC struggled. An unbeaten 53 by middle order batsman Kemraj Conyers helped them over the three digit mark, but by the 33rd over, they were bowled out for 131. Robin Rooplall made light work of the lower order to pick up 4-16 from 6.4 overs to lead the bowling attack, while Narine, a former Berbice intercounty cricketer, recent migrant Yutesh Dhanpaul (former Zeeburg CC cricketer) and Karamchand Ramnarine supported with two wickets each.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Windies players set for return home after COVID19 forces IPL suspension AHMEDABAD, India (CMC) – A plethora of West Indies players are set to return home after Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers suspended the cash-rich Twenty20 league yesterday, as the fallout continued from the wave of COVID-19 infections which hit the tournament Monday. Following an emergency meeting between the IPL Governing Council and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), organisers said they had “unanimously” decided to pull the plug “with immediate effect” in the best interest of the health and safety of all stakeholders. Yesterday, Sunrisers Hyderabad - Jason Holder’s team - joined Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in confirming a positive COVID-19 case when Wriddhiman Saha tested positive. KKR, for whom Andre

Russell and Sunil Narine ply their trade, announced Monday that two players Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier had tested positive and hours later Dwayne Bravo’s CSK said three of its backroom staff had also tested positive. The BCCI said the pandemic had led to “difficult times” for the country especially with the recent surge, and it was important now for both players and officials to join their families in remaining safe. “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken, keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind,” the organisers said in a statement. “These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to

IN HAPPIER TIMES: KKR’s Andre Russell shares a joke with Mumbai’s Kieron Pollard during the tournament

bring in some positivity and cheer however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these try-

ing times. “The BCCI would like to thank all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchises, sponsors, partners

and all the service providers who have tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times.” With cases surging across India in recent weeks leading to an unprecedented crisis, the IPL was already under enormous pressure to halt the tournament. And once Monday’s clash with KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore was scrapped with KKR players being forced to isolate, and Sunrisers and Mumbai failed to train at the Arun Jaitley Stadium due to “suspected” positive cases among the ground staff ahead of yesterday’s game, the writing was on the wall for the tournament. Shimron Hetmyer’s Delhi Capitals were also forced to isolate as the last team to face KKR last Thursday, further throwing the upcoming fixtures into turmoil. The Punjab Kings trio of

Chris Gayle, Fabian Allen and Nicholas Pooran, along with Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard, are the other West Indies players involved in the IPL, and will now join their overseas counterparts in booking their flights home. Australian players are expected to fly to the Maldives for a temporary stay with Australia having closed its borders to citizens coming from India while other nationals will be expected to undergo quarantine in their respective countries, before being reintegrated. The BCCI said it would “do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.” India’s COVID-19 cases began to surge in early March and have now reached crisis dimensions with 20.6 million cases overall – nearly 3-½ million of which are still active – and 225 489 deaths.

‘I could have made a lot more money’ – Jason Holder … wants to be ‘more selfish’ now FORMER West Indies captain Jason Holder has opened up about the conflicts that West Indian cricketers face when lucrative playing opportunities in franchise cricket arise for individuals. In an exclusive interview with Headstrong: An Innings With, Holder – speaking before he was replaced as Test skipper earlier this year – explained how he could have earned more money playing cricket in T20 leagues than he did playing for West Indies. In an interview that also touched on the circumstances in which Holder assumed the West Indies captaincy in the infancy of his own international career, Holder explained the difficulty that comes with managing players who have opportunities to play in T20 leagues around the world, as well as the personal conflicts that arise in such situations. “Those are the hardest players to manage because they’ve got options,” said

Holder. “Players who’ve been committed to West Indies cricket don’t have many options outside, probably, of myself no one has turned down other contracts to play for West Indies. “I could sit down here and safely say I’ve passed up a lot of money to play for West Indies. I could have been a lot more well off than I am. I consider myself really blessed because I’ve made a lot of money in my life for a guy my age … but I probably could have made a lot more but I’ve always had that desire to play for West Indies. “Coming up there was never T20 cricket so the only way to make your mark was to play international cricket. I would honestly say I don’t know if I would make the same decisions if I was older at that stage. “I always sympathise with the guy who’s at the middle stages of their careers. I played for West Indies when I was 21, I played

things were handled. “At 29, I kind of fall into that middle phase of my career now. I’ve got to be a little bit more selfish now. “I’ve got the world in front of me in terms of options. I don’t have to play international cricket. I can play anywhere I want around the world. I’ve played in England with county cricket; I’ve played in Australia so opportunities are always in front of me in terms of making money.

“I’ve always been a firm believer in that things will happen for me when they’re supposed to happen and I know I’ll make money, I can’t make back what I’ve lost but there’s a lot more money out there to be made. “I’m now at a crossroads where I’m not going to give up on West Indies cricket but I’ve got to think about how I can open up my calendar year for a few more tournaments around the world.” (Headstrong News)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Former West Indies captain Jason Holder

first-class cricket when I was 17 years old. Those two things don’t happen very often. “I had age on my side: whereas a guy might come into (the) West Indies (team) at 28 or 27. He’s got different scenario in front of him so I can’t be upset with a guy who wants to run around the world at 28 years old with an insecure future with West Indies cricket

and miss out on an opportunity to make a living for himself on the circuit. “My disappointment, however, comes when players like myself give up so much to commit to West Indies cricket and then West Indies cricket isn’t as accommodating as they possibly can. “There have been a few instances where I’ve been very disappointed in how

(Wednesday May 05, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jala-ud-Din (PAK vs AUST, Hyderbaad, 1982 (2) Jerome Taylor (vs AUST, Mumbai, 2006) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who has scored most centuries in ODI cricket to date? (2) Which WI has hit most ODI centuries to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Mahrez double sends Manchester City into first Champions League final MANCHESTER City reached their first Champions League final as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Etihad Stadium to secure a commanding victory over two legs. In a game played in unseasonal snow, the brilliant Riyad Mahrez capped a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Ederson's 60-yard pass to extend their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris. PSG suffered a serious blow before kick-off when world-class forward Kylian Mbappe was restricted to the bench because of injury. They did not lack endeavour or intent but with Neymar subdued and City throwing bodies on the line in defence, Mauricio Pochettino's side could not find a way through. Mahrez punished them again just after the hour when he turned in Phil Foden's cross at the far post to effectively end the contest. PSG, as they did when Idrissa Gueye was sent off late in the first leg, lost their discipline and Angel di Maria

was shown a red card for a senseless stamp on Fernandinho following a touchline tangle. City were in full control, avoiding further mishap to set up the Champions League final they and manager Pep Guardiola have craved, against either Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on 29 May. Man City within touching distance of the great prize The celebrations when Manchester City scored and at the final whistle illustrated the significance of what these players and Guardiola have achieved. Guardiola and City have been sweeping up domestic titles on a regular basis, with his third Premier League title a formality which could be confirmed with victory against Chelsea here on Saturday. This tournament, however, has been the one code an outstanding team has been unable to crack, with hardluck stories to tell and crucial slips when the pressure is on, such as when they lost 3-1 to

underdogs Lyon in a one-off quarter-final last season. City have shown great maturity and development this season, keeping their nerve when under pressure against Borussia Dortmund in the last eight and also surviving a PSG surge in Paris six days ago to recover for an outstanding win. Here, early nerves were settled by Mahrez's goal and any further PSG threats were repelled with resilience and, when needed, desperate defending to ensure the lead they worked so hard to establish was well protected. The Champions League has always been regarded as confirmation that Manchester City were a European superpower - now this high-class side will have the opportunity to confirm that status in Istanbul. Guardiola has heroes everywhere City's success has been built on a squad effort, as proved by the way those who missed out on the starting line-up, such as Rodri, Ay-

meric Laporte, Joao Cancelo and Raheem Sterling, provided noisy support and encouragement from the sidelines. Inevitably, though, there were stand-out performers and the list included match-winner Mahrez, the precocious Foden and the often unsung defender Oleksandr Zinchenko. Mahrez took his time to settle in the early days of his City career but he is now a key component in Guardiola's line-up, a creator and scorer of important goals, such as the two here. In eight Champions League starts this season he has scored four goals, including in both legs of this semi-final. The first goal was classic Manchester City, started by remarkable vision from Ederson and finished emphatically by Mahrez. The Algerian was a huge threat all night, tormenting PSG, and Foden was not far behind, as he grows in stature with every game. He has strength, vision on the ball and an end product, providing a perfect delivery for the

Riyad Mahrez is only the second player to score in both legs of a Champions League semi-final for an English club after Sadio Mane in 2017-18

second goal. Zinchenko got the nod ahead of Cancelo and delivered a superb display, a threat going forward and top class in defence, with one crucial block from Neymar in the second half. Above all, this was a team effort and Manchester City richly deserve their place in the Champions League final. 'Getting to the final makes sense of what we've done in the past four or five years' - what they said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "I'm incredibly proud and my first thoughts are with the players who didn't play today. They all deserved to play, everyone has made a

contribution and now it is time to enjoy it. We have to win the league and we have two or three weeks to prepare for the final. "They put a lot of players in the middle and we struggled a lot in the first half to high press and we changed at half-time. We recovered the ball better in the second half and we were much better in the way we played and 4-1 on aggregate against a team that beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich means a lot to us. "People believe it's easy to arrive in the final of the Champions League. Getting to the final now makes sense of what we have done in the past four or five years."(BBC Sport)

Varun Chakravarthy is one of two Kolkata Knight Riders players to test positive for COVID-19

BCCI suspends IPL tournament indefinitely THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for an indefinite period. It all started with the cases in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp on May 3 where Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive. It was followed by CSK bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji testing positive for the virus. However, the game between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) was set to go ahead yesterday but it has been reported that Wriddhiman Saha, the wicketkeeper-batsman of SRH, has been tested positive while Delhi Capitals spinner Amit Mishra has also returned a positive result. With positive COVID-19 cases rising inside the bubble, BCCI decided to indefinitely suspend the IPL 2021 according to ESPNCricinfo. Earlier, the board was considering shifting all the matches to Mumbai where the first leg of the tournament was played.BCCI, in its statement, confirmed that the board and governing council took the decision unanimously in an emergency meeting. Board vice-president also confirmed that the IPL has been suspended for this season while BCCI

also stated that they will make sure to create a safe passage for all the players to reach their families and loved ones. “The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind. “These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to families and loved ones in these trying times. The BCCI will do everything in its power to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021. “The BCCI would like to thank all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchises, sponsors, partners and all the service providers who have tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times,” the BCCI statement read. (CricTracker)

Ministry of Sport to sponsor Independence absent from cycling calendar several years Three-Stage Road Race …forEvent THE Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has stepped in to resuscitate Guyana’s flagship cycling event, the Three-Stage Independence Road Race.

The event is tentatively set for May 15 and 16

The announcement was made yesterday by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF). The event is set for Saturday, May 15 and Sunday,

May 16 and is awaiting approval from the COVID-19 Task Force. According to Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Malcolm Sonaram, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, indicated the willingness of the ministry to fund the event. In a social media post, Sonaram noted that: “The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) is thankful that the Government through the Minister has stepped in and financed this marque event.” Sonaram told Chronicle Sport that the race was “the longest-running cycle race in Guyana’s history and we are overjoyed to see it return after the few years in hibernation”. National Cycling coach Hassan Mohamed in an invited comment called the event “prestigious” and said that it had attracted a number of overseas racers in the past. The race ran from 1983 until 2016 before it was cancelled in 2017. Information from the GCF indicated that the race was cancelled because “…the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) and the traditional sponsors, the TURN TO PAGE 26 ►

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Bermuda-Cayman World Cup qualifier switched to Florida

Bermuda (pictured here) will face Cayman Islands in Florida

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Bermuda will play their home World Cup qualifying match against the Cayman Islands at the IMG Academy Complex in Bradenton, Florida, the Bermuda Football Association announced yesterday. The decision was taken in keeping with existing public health guidelines and the uncertainties that persist with the coronavirus pandemic. Bermuda, currently under 20:00hrs to 06:00hrs. curfew, has recorded more than 2 400 cases of COVID-19 with 30 deaths – 18 of them since April 1. The CONCACAF Zone Group B match will be played on June 8 at a time to be determined, but the venue for the away fixture against Suriname four days earlier has yet to be confirmed. Suriname played their first home fixture at the Frank Essed Stadion, against Cayman Islands on March 24, winning 3-0, but the South American country has since been hit hard by the pandemic. Cayman followed up by losing 0-11 to Canada. Bermuda’s first two qualifiers in March were both switched to Florida where they lost 1-5 to Canada in Orlando before beating Aruba 5-0 in Bradenton.

‘I could have made a lot more money’

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– Jason Holder

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021