MONDAY 24th August, 2020
’ No. 106101
$600M approved for GuySuCo PAGE
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Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha
– to cover wages and salaries for employees
50 Guyanese return home
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“It feels good to be home. There really is no place like home,” were the words of a father of one, Vaugh Trapp, who was one among 50 Guyanese who returned to Guyana, last Sunday, on a repatriation flight from Antigua. Trapp was ‘trapped’ on the island for five months due to airport closures in light of COVID-19 (DPI photo)
Stop the conspiracy theories and ‘fear-mongering’ –– use your sanitisers, face masks and commonsense to keep COVID-19 at bay, urges psychologist
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Gov’t sources automated PCR testing machine –– looking to do 500-800 COVID-19 tests per day
–– private sector given ‘green light’ to source similar equipment By Navendra Seoraj ONE of Guyana’s main limitations in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been the country’s ability to test for the disease, but government, in an effort to build capacity in this area, has sourced an automated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing machine. As it is now, the country is equipped with just one machine, which is being utilised by the National Reference Laboratory. And, it was reported that the machine is over 20 years old and was previously used to test for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The situation was, however, only made known when the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) was elected to office early this month.
Despite the existing constraints, the new government sought to get maximum results from the existing resources. Health authorities have so far tested 6,904 persons for the disease, with 5,949 being negative and 955 positive. “With the use of the current machine, we are trying to get them (health workers) to do more, so we have introduced three shifts and are now able to do three times the amount of tests previously done,” said Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony during a special COVID-19 update, on Saturday. Increased testing, using the existing machine is, however, just the immediate approach, as government is also seeking to acquire automated machines, which would reduce the time taken to process a sample – it takes nine hours with the existing machine.
“We want to cut that time down significantly by having an automated PCR machine… we have since ordered one such automated machine and we believe it will cut the processing time from nine hours to about two hours, max,” said Dr. Anthony. With the automated machines, authorities will be able to do about 96 tests in just two hours, and if there are several shifts, 500-800 tests could be completed easily in one day. “We have placed that order and we are negotiating how fast we can get it, but as soon as we get that, it will make a big difference,” said the health minister, adding that authorities have already started the preparatory work for storing the machine. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop severe forms of the disease. Considering the infectious nature of the disease, Dr. Anthony said there will have to be certain conditions to ensure that testing is done safely and properly. Although the automated machine will produce faster results, the tests will have to be done in a biohazard cabinet, so as to reduce the chances of contamination. “We are setting up some of those things so that when we get the machine, we will have a suite that is ready,” said the health minister, adding that it takes quite some time to get the “pieces” lined up, especially under the existing circumstances. PRIVATE SECTOR A similar approach is also being taken in the private sector, now that government has given private institutions the green light to acquire PCR machines. Under the past administration, private institutions found it difficult to get government’s permission to test for COVID-19, but Dr. Anthony assured that those institutions will not have to approach the new government for permission because a multi-stakeholder approach is always beneficial. “All private institutions should have the capacity to do testing… I have had discussions with some private laboratories and they have indicated that they
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony are in the process of procuring similar machines,” said the health minister. A combined effort between the public and private sectors will pave the way for more persons to be tested, especially given recent reports that many infected persons are asymptomatic. While not trying to stir panic, Dr. Anthony said the number of cases will go up, as authorities increase testing. In the past, testing was strict and limited to persons who were showing signs and symptoms of the disease. This allowed a number of asymptomatic cases to go “under the radar”. “When we look at what is happening in other parts of the world, there are people who would be asymptomatic, with no signs and symptoms, but they are carrying the virus, so if you test them, they would be positive,” the health minister explained. Similarly, in Guyana, persons might experience a mild cough and think they have the flu, but it could in fact be a manifestation of COVID-19. The emergence of asymptomatic cases had prompted authorities to distribute more sample kits across the country, especially to regions where the infection rate is high. Most of the cases have so far been recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). “We are sending out more kits, so there will be an increase in sample collection… the testing itself has components… one See page 3
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
$600M approved for GuySuCo – to cover wages and salaries for employees
By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’S sugar industry has been ‘drowning’ in debt for years, but the new government, in an effort to keep the industry afloat, has agreed to inject $600 million into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, upon being elected to office early this month, was met with a plea for help from GuySuCo, which, at the time, had requested $1.6 billion to offset expenses and practically survive for the rest of the year. Government, in response to this plea, has agreed to grant the bailout, which will go towards wages and salaries for employees. In a letter to former President, David Granger, in May, Chairman of GuySuCo, John Dow, had said the sugar corporation was in a “dire financial crisis” with billions in debt, and insufficient finances to execute critical factory maintenance. “Despite improvements in the productivity of cane, GuySuCo’s sugar production for the last two crops has fallen short of expectations and the current COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems experienced in meeting the first-crop 2020 production targets…. As a result, the cash generated from operations cannot meet the ‘outgoings’, particularly when external funding has been difficult to obtain,” Dow said as he painted a vivid picture of the financial challenges facing the sugar industry. At the time of the complaint, GuySuCo was only able to offset labour and fuel expenses. The corporation’s financial department had estimated that it would be out of cash by the second week of June. With its “back against the wall”, Guy-
SuCo had turned to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for a “bailout” of $1 billion but only received $550 million. “The APNU+AFC Government, through NICIL, undertook a loan of $30 billion under the guise of assisting the Corporation. To date, only $10.2 billion was made available to GuySuCo. The board received no answer as to how much was actually disbursed to NICIL and plans on repayment of the loan. To date, the corporation has a total liability of approximately $9.5 billion,” Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, lamented in a recent report. He told this publication that the request for a bailout had reached the new administration, but moved from $1 billion to $1.6 billion. Although government was unable to grant the full sum at this time, Mustapha told the Department of Public Information (DPI), on Sunday, that the move to inject $600 million into GuySuCo was in keeping with the PPP/C’s commitment to resuscitate the sugar industry. The minister confirmed that the sum was among others approved by Cabinet and has received the green light by President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo. GuySuCo, despite being in line for the bailout, will have to be prudent in its management because a study had found that $120 million is required weekly to fulfill the payment of salaries. REOPENING In addition, as part of its capital work, GuySuCo will be required to submit a report which will take into consideration the re-opening of closed sugar estates, said Mustapha.
It was reported that Guyana’s sugar industry has been considered a liability for years, with a poor financial standing and low productivity, but the new PPP/C administration is hoping to “lift the industry from the ashes”. In 2017, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government had announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of those employed without a job or source of income. Without alternative measures in place, many of the sugar workers struggled to provide for their families. President Ali, however, pledged the PPP/C Government’s commitment to ensuring the livelihoods of the sugar workers are rebuilt. “The upliftment of those families and the rebuilding of the sugar industry are as strong as it was when we promised. I assure you that we will work assiduously, at not only securing these lives and livelihood for them; we will work hard at creating new opportunities on advancing new opportunities to fulfill the promises we would have made in our manifesto,” the Head of State remarked. The sustainable management of the sugar industry has always been a priority for the PPP/C administration. Moreover, the PPP/C has stood in solidary with its workers when several estates were shut without warning. “On this point, the workers of this country – the bedrock of our nation – have been made to suffer untold hardship. Once proud men, who worked in the sugar industry from sun-up to sundown, never complaining about the back-breaking nature of their jobs, are today barely scratching a living,” President Ali said in his inaugural speech.
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha MMA-ADA Meanwhile, the Department of Information (DPI) has reported that Cabinet has also approved $90 million for immediate infrastructural works which are expected to begin at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) Scheme following a proposal by Minister Mustapha. On August 15, Minister Mustapha, along with a team from several agriculture agencies visited the Mahaica-Berbice district, where he engaged several farmers. While there, the minister learnt about the dilapidated state employees are forced to endure. The minister also referred to concerns raised by farmers that despite the previous government instituting steep increases in land rentals, no proper infrastructural work was done to help alleviate their plight.
Gov’t sources automated ... From page 2
is sample collection and then there is the processing of samples,” the minister said. To this end, sample-taking sites have been established across the country, especially in ‘hotspot’ areas. It is clear that COVID-19 remains a threat to everyone in all areas of Guyana, but within the last few days, there have been lots of concerns about
testing and laboratory confirmation of COVID-19. “I would like to assure members of the public that the test conducted by the Ministry of Health is the WHO-recommended molecular PCR test for the coronavirus. There are also available antibody rapid test which may indicate that someone was exposed to the virus but is not recommended to diagnose the
infection,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud in a recent report. He advised persons to desist from comparing these two distinctly different methods of testing, since the rapid antibody test is not approved to diagnose active COVID-19 cases, and only the molecular PCR can credibly identify infected persons. The CMO encouraged persons
to adhere to the safety guidelines as outlined in the COVID-19 emergency measures. He reminded persons that COVID-19 is in Guyana and will not go away by denial or ignorance. It is real, said the CMO, noting that it is evidenced by the many persons who died and the agony and sadness of their families and friends.
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Monday, August 24, 11:00hrs - 12:00hrs
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
COVID-19 hospital to be equipped with 55 beds – facility to become isolation centre
By Navendra Seoraj AS cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to increase, government will be looking to activate the controversial $1.6 billion Infectious Diseases Hospital, as an isolation centre with 55 beds. It was reported that the hospital, which was commissioned by the former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration, has glaring inefficiencies, but Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had said taxpayers’ money cannot be wasted. As such, government is looking to use the facility for quarantining purposes. The former government had said the new facility, which was established at the site of the former Ocean View Hotel, will serve as the first all-inclusive infectious diseases facility, and would eventually remove the constraints from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the regional and dis-
trict hospitals. It was reported that the facility has a capacity for 190 beds and also caters for laboratories, a pharmacy, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), an operating theatre and even a mortuary. A section of the facility was also set to house the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), a surveillance centre, a research centre and administrative offices. A closer examination of the facility by the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government revealed major inefficiencies in not just the physical aspect of the project, but also the deal between the former government and the owner of the former hotel, Jacob Rambarran. In highlighting some of those inefficiencies, Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, said there is no flow of air in the facility, so there is a possibility of everyone becoming infected. There is also no provision for oxygen in the wall, and the Audit Office, in a past inspection, had found mold in the building. “The government (APNU+AFC) spent $1.6 billion of taxpayers’ money, so we have to put the building to use, even if not for the type of purpose they intend,” said the vice-president. And, considering the consistent rise in cases over the past few days, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said
government is exploring the possibility of installing 55 beds. FREE UP SPACE If government is able to install those beds, it will “free up” space at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which is not only the main treatment facility for COVID-19, but also the premier facility for treating other ailments. The current state of the Ocean View hospital inhibits authorities from establishing an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) there, but Dr. Anthony said once the 55 beds are up and running, the milder cases of the disease will be catered for. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop the severe forms of the disease. If persons, who are being treated at the COVID-19 hospital, show severe symptoms, they will be transferred to GPHC. Even as authorities are mulling the use of the COVID-19 hospital, Dr. Anthony said other re-
gional facilities are being evaluated and assessed, to ascertain how they can be used in the fight against COVID-19. The idea to establish a special COVID-19 facility was put to government by the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) after a new study found that Guyana could have as many as 20,000 COVID-19 cases in a month. The Ministry of Public Health, using the PAHO/ WHO method, had initially projected 1,400 cases, but a recent study done by PAHO/WHO found that, with every case, another 2.5 persons will be affected within five days, if there is no partial lockdown, and if persons do not exercise effective social distancing. “That 2.5, if I infect you, you infect 2.5 others and they infect another 2.5. Within a month we will get over 20,000; it’s a simple model but it makes a lot of sense,” said PAHO/WHO Resident Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, in a previous News Room report. And should this happen, Dr. Adu-Krow said five per cent or 1,000 of those infected would need intensive care, and Guyana simply does not have the capacity for this. Guyana has so far recorded 944 cases of COVID- 19, with the deaths related to COVID-19 remaining at 31.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
50 Guyanese return home –– after being stranded in Antigua and Tortola due to COVID-19 travel restrictions By Tamica Garnett
“IT feels good to be at home. There really is no place like home,” were the words of Vaughn Trapp, a father of one who was among the 50 Guyanese who returned here on Sunday from Antigua. The group of 50 arrived on a flight originating in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which brought 35 Guyanese from Tortola, and another 15 from Antigua, many of them having been trapped on the islands for some time now due to airport closures. The fight also facilitated the return of 11 persons who were stuck here in Guyana but reside in Antigua and Sint Maarten. Vaughn had been stuck on the island nation of Antigua for the past five months after his planned two-week vacation was drawnout due to airport closures in Guyana, which took effect on March 18, as part of measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus here. Several nations across the Caribbean effected similar closures when cases of the virus turned up in their country. Currently, many of the airport closures are still in effect, as is the case in Guyana, leaving chartered repatriation flights as the only means for Guyanese stuck overseas to get home. Now that he has finally landed back home, Vaughn said he can’t wait to get back to work and see his 11-year-old daughter, who not only celebrated a birthday but also wrote her National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) during his absence. Vaughn had been scheduled to return since March 30 to his job at the Supreme Court Sub-Registry in Berbice, but was unable to, due to his situation. Vaughn said though the passengers were given no instructions on quarantining, given Guyana’s current rising cases of the virus, he plans to do some self-quarantining until his workplace requires that he turn back out to work. Thirty-two-year-old Lona Bowen did not tell her two young sons that she was scheduled to fly in on Sunday, as she was looking forward to surprising them, given the emotional anguish they had faced with her being stuck in Antigua for the past five months. SHOCK OF THEIR LIVES “They didn’t even recognise it was me, because I had on the mask, and they were just shocked. I wanted it to be a surprise,” Bowen conveyed, shortly after arriving home. Her sons are 10 and 11 years old. Bowen had feared that the flight might not have materialised, after it had originally been scheduled to fly on Saturday, but had to be postponed, due to Tropical Storm Laura, which had affected the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). “I am just so happy to finally see my children,” Bowen said, adding: “My sole concern was just to get home to get my children.” Bowen had left her two younger sons behind when she left Guyana in March to visit her new baby grand-daughter in Antigua, because it was supposed to be just a one-week vacation. However, due to the airport closure, it stretched out to five months. Though there are currently regular ongoing repatriation flights to bring home Guyanese from the United States of America, Guyanese in other countries, particularly in Caribbean nations, have been waiting for some time now to source flights, due to the low numbers that results in higher prices per passenger to cover the cost of the chartered
Lona Bowen was re-united with her two sons, on Sunday, after being stuck in Antigua for the past five months (DPI photo) plane. Though there have been previous flights to repatriate Guyanese from Barbados and Trinidad, this will be the first flight from Antigua. Others still stuck on the islands are hoping that Sunday’s flight will be the first of more from those islands, as they, too, await their hopes of returning home one day materialising. Nurse-midwife from Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, Kim Jordan, is among those still stuck in Antigua, and is eagerly awaiting word of another flight. “I’m trying to hold back my tears,” Jordan said, adding: “I’m feeling very sad. Frustrated; a bit lonely, just wishing I could have been going home. When my son and family hear that a flight gone, and I’m not on it, it was really heartbreaking.” She had been scheduled to turn out back to work from her annual leave in March, but after she had travelled to Antigua on March 16 for her vacation, she has been stuck there ever since. Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Antigua and Barbuda, Robert ‘Bobby’ Reis, noted that it was not an easy task arranging the flight, and putting all the logistics together, as cost was one of the biggest factors. “This has not been an easy operation, as first we had to find persons who can afford a charter, which is a challenge, since they have been trapped for five months, and funds are exhausted,” Reis said, adding: “Many thanks to Luther Butler at Travel Wize in Tortola, who put this flight together and offered 15 seats to the Guyanese in Antigua. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority was very helpful and cooperative, especially Mr. Dinello Mahabir, Air Transport Officer.” However, other flights are now on the cards, Reis said, as it has since been discovered that there are also a number of persons stuck in Guyana who are residents on the islands and wish to leave. With passengers for both inbound and outbound flights, Reis said it will greatly help to lower costs, thereby making further flights become more practical. “Now that we are aware that there are quite a lot of Guyanese trying to get to Antigua, either as a final destination or as a first step to other neighbouring islands, this will help to bring the cost down and another flight is being planned shortly,” Reis related.
Arriving passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport being processed (DPI photo)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Abuse and domestic violence are twin scourges THE prevalence of domestic violence, oftentimes leading to murder, seems uncontrollable and this scourge, apart from creating orphans that would most likely remain traumatized for most of their lives, is a drain on the nation’s coffers. It is hoped that the new Government, through all its Social Protection arms, inclusive of the Guyana Police Force, will device a holistic approach to problem-resolution within families so that dialogue and discussion become the norm rather than the exception. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, under the previous PPP/C administration, ran an advertisement in the print media of Sunday 9th November, 2008 titled: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; “BREAK THE CYCLE, TAKE CONTROL” The ad defines domestic violence as “behaviour which causes one partner in a relationship to be afraid of the other. Domestic violence can take the form of physical or sexual abuse and forced social isolation away from friends and family members.” It prescribes one’s rights,
which are laid out in the Domestic Violence Act (1996) as “recognized under the law and law enforcement agencies, such as the courts,” and stipulates that the Guyana Police Force must help to enforce the rights of, and offer protection to, any man, woman, or child who may be experiencing domestic violence. Some signs of domestic violence are described as persistent verbal abuse. For example, quarreling and cursing (I will add to that derogating one’s character and making unjustifiable insulting remarks about one’s self and one’s loved ones; threatening the person with physical violence (threatening to hit the person with hands or objects) as well as actually hitting the person; damaging the property of a person. For example, breaking a person’s cellphone, tearing or burning a person’s clothing, among other things; following a person from place to place, even though that person does not want to be followed-- defined as ‘stalking’; hiding clothing or property used by the person. For example, hiding a person’s cellphone, their clothing, their identification card, their passport, and
even their money; make persistent and/or unwelcome contact with the person. For example, calling the person on their cellphone or home phone many times per day, watching the person’s house, waiting for the person to leave work or place of study, following the person from home or work, even though that person does not want to be followed or watched; and using abusive language to a person, or behaving towards a person in such a way that could result in that person being ill-treated. For example, cursing and quarreling with a person in front of others, and then encouraging others to do the same. The ad goes on to suggest actions one should take to protect oneself (and possibly others) from domestic violence, and to provide a descriptive analysis of a Protection Order. One of the suggestions made is to make a report to the nearest police station, and therein lies a conundrum. Those who are supposed “To Protect and Serve” most often have provided the catalyst for a tragedy to occur by their at-
titude, attention, or lack thereof, and plain don’t-care-a-damn behaviour when a complainant drums up the requisite courage (most often with great difficulty) and lodges a complaint. Many victims of continuous abuse are killed because of the complacency of the members of the Police Force who refuse to investigate complaints and lay charges, or take the actions necessary to protect the victim from further abuse. Guyanese have stopped being our brother’s (and sister’s) keepers because, in many communities, neighbours witnessing a continuum of, and escalating instances of abuse refuse to become involved. They prefer to enjoy the unfolding tragedy, even adding to it with malicious rumour-mongering and strife-making, because the titillation of feuds and wars within families find a corresponding resonance in the dark nuances resident in every soul, and the average person refuses to rise above their more decadent equivalencies to achieve a higher plane of thoughts and actions, enough to maybe intercede, and probably save, a family from ultimate destruction.
And one wonders what part the church bodies and religious leaders play in melding communities into units cohesive enough to fashion strategies for interventions within families and the general society in efforts to divert energies into more productive and peaceful approaches to conflict resolution – even to the point of empowerment. The acceleration in violence-prone conflicts within families and societies is spiralling out of control, to the extent where many lives have been lost, with many more dislocated, and there seems to be no end in sight. Unless there is a holistic, proactive approach, where all stakeholders in the nation are made aware that this cause and this fight is a national one because, more often than not, it is our children – the future generations of our nation who are the statistics of domestic violence, every effort made –valiant and committed as they may be, will prove woefully inadequate, because domestic violence is a national tradition entrenched in the Guyanese psyche.
Michelle Obama’s speech; an aftermath that is contextual in Guyana’s tragedy Dear Editor, AT the opening of the Democratic Convention, former First Lady, Michelle Obama, said, “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.” While looking directly into the camera and meant for the eyes of the viewers, she set a tone that will amplify the strength of a purpose, one that will rever-
berate the determination that will overflow in the 2020 election campaign. Guyana’s election may be over but the repercussions are certainly not over and there will be over-spilling consequences. Her words perhaps resonate an aftermath speech that is contextual in Guyana’s tragedy and certainly reflect the stigma that Guyanese have had to endure, not only for the past five months, but for the past five years. The life span of Mr. Granger in office has proven that he was not the right person to lead this nation and indeed, he was allotted more time than necessary to prove his worth, but,
he was certainly grappling with more than what was delivered on his plate. The fast pace and high volume that is currently demanded from a quick track, progressive and astute manager, he certainly was found wanting in all the deportments and departments. Unfortunately, his caliber does not justify the desires of this generation needs and as such, both quality and quality are certainly lacking and limited. Also, all the short comings, deficiencies, defaults, flaws and imperfection from his party members did not help him either and contributed to his demise and helped to expose his weaknesses and inadequacies. All
the speculations, whether he is the master or the puppet, whether he exercises any control or is being controlled, whether he is a robot or rubber stamp and whether he is just a figure head or the architect, perhaps, all of these assumptions are meaningless until the dust is settled from the internal wrangling of the party and we are presented with the final outcome. A number of members will not take the matter lying down quietly as already witnessed by the numerous angry outbursts and expressions of dissatisfaction. TURN TO PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Safeguarding children with disabilities must start with parents
Dear Editor,
OVER the past weeks we have been raising our concerns about child sexual abuse and specifically telling you the stories of the everyday experiences of girls and boys who were sexually abused. Today we want to tell you about children who are most at risk of all forms of abuse including sexual abuse. Children living with a disability are more exposed to abuse, especially sexual abuse. In fact, their risk is compounded by the fact that the disability makes it difficult for them to understand the heinous nature of the abuse as well as to tell their stories to anyone. Every child has a right to be loved and given care and protection from all forms abuse. Children with disabilities do require more care and many parents have fewer options of safe child care or are sometimes not sure how to identify and work towards creating a safe place for their children. Safeguarding children with disabilities must start with the parents and must be led by parents and should include the community, service providers and policy makers. Parents of children with disabilities tend to ‘hide’ their children and this places the children more at risk of abuse. Every child needs an advocate - as a matter of fact children need several advocates to aid their growth and development without abuse. Therefore, parents, teachers, social workers/welfare officers, police officers, healthcare workers and policy makers are prime advocates for children and should be more sensitive to the needs of all children, in particular children with disabilities. The most significant advocates for children are their
parents and for a child living with a disability, their parents need to take the time to educate themselves on their child’s disability in an effort to help their child and to protect their child. It is of utmost importance that parents of children living with a disability have the knowledge on how to care and how to ensure that your children can grow up free from abuse and also achieve their potential. Children with disabilities have potential and can learn and achieve for themselves. One child whom we work with in the OneLife Too initiative was struggling academically and showed several symptoms of mild autism. This child also frequently fought with other students who teased her about her physical appearance. She avoided social interactions with others – including her parent and teachers. ChildLinK’s counsellor engaged the child in one on one counselling sessions at her school and involved the teacher and her parent in some sessions. The parent, teacher, and counsellor gave the child positive words of encouragement and affirmation to strengthen her confidence and self esteem. This team worked together to develop an individual education plan (IEP) to help the child progress academically. The child is now more sociable and no longer involved in fights, confident and has shown progress academically. This illustrates that children with mild autism can make progress academically with the right support network. In fact, every child needs, and has a right to a support network to achieve their potential. Parents of children living with a disability must first understand and get a medical diagnosis where this
is possible to be supportive and to accept that their child has a disability and this will come with unique challenges. Depending on the disability, some parents may have to learn certain skills to care for and protect their children, such as sign language. Unfortunately, there are some parents who are not willing to accept that their child has special needs, for example, if their child is a child with mild autism. In cases where the child is not diagnosed or the parent does not understand the nature of the disability, this reduces the child’s opportunity at learning and also protection from abuse. Parents are better positioned to protect their children when they have an understanding of their child’s unique needs and circumstances. In one case, a child living with a disability who attends a special education needs school, was referred to one of ChildLinK’s Child Advocacy Centres (CAC) as a result of sexual abuse. This child was very friendly and affectionate. Due to the nature of the child’s disability, she cannot comprehend safe and unsafe touches, sexual grooming and inappropriate behaviour. The child would often approach
strangers
and try to befriend them. The child befriended an adult who was employed at her school and would follow the adult around. One day while they were together the adult sexually assaulted the child. The child and parent usually have casual conversations. One day the child’s parent noticed her daughter behaving cheerfully for no apparent reason and asked what was the reason for her cheerful mood. The child, still cheerful, disclosed the matter to her parent, innocently unaware that she was abused. At the CAC, only counselling sessions could be facilitated with this child as result of her disability. Her case cannot progress beyond a police report since she is unable to provide accurate details of the sexual abuse which is necessary for prosecution (this offender will walk free). The counsellor adjusted the methodology of the counselling sessions to cater for the child’s ability. The sessions were interactive and filled with creative games, animated short videos and role play with toys. The counsellor worked with the child to improve her understanding of good and bad touches and the people who comprise the child’s safety network. The child was very responsive to the learning and shares these lessons with her peers so that they can protect themselves. This case shows that some children living with a disability can be responsive to child protection messaging if it is tailored to their unique needs. The onus is on all stakeholders, particularly policy makers, to ensure that the re-
sources and expertise are available in public programmes that are easy to access for any child/family. Services provided to children with disabilities must highlight that they are at a higher risk for abuse and must be designed to raise the awareness of child sexual abuse among children with a disability. Unfortunately, most prevention campaigns are designed where the messaging and delivery excludes children living with disability from receiving vital information that can possibly keep them safe. The right to safety and protection, as stipulated in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), is a right of every child – especially those who are most vulnerable.
ChildLinK is working to create a Guyanese society where every child grows up in a loving, safe, and secure family and community. The Recovery, Safeguarding, and Reintegration initiative is supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana and partners with the CPA and several agencies to reintegrate children to safe families and educate the wider society on the prevention of child abuse. Please write us with your comments and questions. Let us know how you would like to get involved in protecting children in your community by emailing us at admin@childlinkgy.org. Report child abuse by calling the CPA on 227-0979, the closest Police station, or ChildLinK on 233-3500 or email: admin@childlinkgy.org.
Michelle Obama’s speech; an aftermath... Let us wait and see whose steel is really sharp and when all is said and done, many will remain vexed, dissatisfied, remorseless and there may be a temptation to entertain retaliation. Indeed, there was a lack of empathy by the caretaker administration and apart from ignoring the popular will of the people, Guyanese interests were castigated and shunned, regardless of which side of the divide
anyone belonged to. The welfare of the people was certainly overlooked and no priority was given. But the select few were allowed to live the good life and their selfish needs were satisfied due to their greed for only retaining power and taking care of their well-being and securing their future. All this occurred at the expense of the poor and deprived tax payers who continued to sink deeper into poverty and starvation. When the PPP/C
Party took office, only then all the atrocious activities began to unfold and reveal exactly who were really benefitting and why the state of the economy is so bankrupt. Will the Guyanese people demand a thorough and rigid investigation or will the supporters of the APNU+AFC Party remain still in a muffled voice and accept what the cabal did without any objection? How can the conscience of any right-minded person purporting honesty
and integrity not want the truth to be established and understand why they were being fooled and taken for a ride? Michelle Obama had further pinpointed what is so relevant and appealing to each Guyanese when she expounded that, “I know that regardless of our race, age, religion, or politics, when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts, we know that what’s going on in this country is just not right. This is
not who we want to be.” Her message was twofold. Perhaps, her intention was aimed to connect with the American people, while, at the said time, her heart was with the Guyanese people, expressing her relief from a tormented past and a hope for future optimism. Indeed, Guyanese do need to wake up, smell the freshness of the coffee that can revive the urge for survivability in a unified atmosphere that is conducive to peace, prog-
Yours faithfully, Shaquita Thomas Communications Officer ChildLink Inc
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ress and prosperity. The sense of fairness and justice must once again activate the minds of all and no discriminative feeling must be allowed to penetrate the heart of any loving Guyanese. This is the only way forward and Guyanese will not rest until justice is served and the renewed goals are realised. Respectfully, Jai Lall
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Min. Benn pays impromptu visit to Lusignan Prison THE construction of additional housing facilities for the prison population so that they could observe the proper social- distancing guidelines is high on his agenda Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn disclosed on Sunday. According to a release from the office of the Director of Prisons, the disclosure was made when Minister Benn paid an impromptu visit to the Lusignan Prison, where he was met and briefed by Director Gladwin Samuels himself, as well as Officer-in-Charge of the Holding Bay, Senior Superintendent of Prisons (ag),
Deoraj Gyandat on the administration of the prison population there, security challenges, and COVID-19 initiatives among other pertinent issues. While there, Minister Benn reportedly saw first-hand the Holding Bay, the burnt out section of the facility, and the COVID-19 isolation bay, while challenges were highlighted, and recommendations for meeting some of those challenges were discussed. Accompanying Minister Benn on his visit were engineers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Guyana Prison Service, as well as other staff from the Ministry,
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn
and they were escorted by Assistant Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim and other Senior Officers of the Guyana Prison Service.
The Minister also visited the kitchen area and the livestock sections, and was provided with some insight into what can be achieved if
requests for additional land and other resources are approved. He was also brought up-todate on the current status for court hearings at the various levels, be it Magisterial, High Court or Court of Appeal. Inmates who were given the chance to speak to the minister made some representations on accommodations, court hearings, legal assistance, food, familial visits, recreational diversions and counselling services. The Minister expressed his concern that the conditions he observed were very unsatisfactory, an observation with which the Prison Directorate
concurs. Minister Benn further reiterated his commitment to working with all concerned to bring measurable improvements, not only to Lusignan, but also to the Georgetown, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Timehri Prisons on a timely basis. He added that this will be pursued to ensure better public safety, a more secure environment for the prison population, improved rehabilitation, and safer and less stressful working conditions for the prison officers and staff.
GTU, MoE and ‘Health’ to collaborate –– on inspecting schools country-wide for readiness By Tamica Garnett A TEAM comprising representatives of the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) is expected to shortly begin carrying out on-site inspections of schools across the country to better determine their readiness for re-opening. This was shared with the Guyana Chronicle by GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald, who noted that the initiative is awaiting the go-ahead of the health authority. “As we speak, we are in the process of conducting an outreach with regards to the readiness of schools,” McDonald said, adding: “The MoE, GTU, and MoH officials are going to be going out across this country, visiting schools with a checklist that will be put together by the MoH. We’re going out there to check schools to ensure that schools have all the necessary resources.” McDonald explained that the MoH is expected to put together a checklist of all the required measures and systems that will need to be in place at each school, so as to evaluate how many schools may be lacking the necessary systems. “We’re finalising the pieces right now, in terms of the checklist, and when ‘Health’ says to us it is safe
GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald
for us to go out there, we will start that. And when we are done, we will make an announcement about it to ensure that the entire nation will feel comfortable,” McDonald noted. However, with the COVID-19 cases in the country increasingly rising on a daily basis, the uncertainty of when such an assessment may go forward remains high. Hand-washing sinks that are six feet apart, sick bays, hand sanitizers equipment, paper towels, and covered bins are some of the features, McDonald said, that the GTU will be particularly looking for, even as it awaits the MoH’s checklist. “We will have a full checklist to use when we go out to the schools to check off on, so we can say for example, ‘Schools in Re-
gion Two are ready; schools in Region Three are ready; schools in Region Four are ready’ and so on,” McDonald explained. Classroom space will also be taken into account to determine class sizes when social-distancing requirements are taken into consideration. It is the classroom sizes and accommodation capacity that will determine what plan the MoE would implement, going forward, as it pertains to the reopening of schools. NINE TO A CLASSROOM “We’re talking about nine pupils being in a classroom at a time; and then we will sit and decide whether we are going to reopen schools for the entire school population, or whether we are going to look at the
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand
Grade Six and the CSEC students, or how we are going to work the system to determine whether we are going to do a shift system, or whether we’re going to do it by grades depending on the numbers,” McDonald said. Minister of Education Priya Manickchand could not be reached for a comment on the assessment activity, however, in previous interviews, the she had noted that the authorities would be working on reviewing and evaluating the situation, with a view to eventually resolving the issue of schools reopening. Schools in Guyana have been closed since March 16, as part of measures implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which first hit Guyana on March 11. Schools in Guyana cus-
tomarily begin the new school year in September, however, on August 13, the Minister confirmed that public schools will remain closed as the Ministry assess the situations. Minister Manickchand has been actively familiarising herself with the situation since taking over the ministerial post on August 5, following the change of government. However, with public schools having been closed for the past five months, stakeholders across the country are anxious for the safe re-opening of the learning institutions, as students are being gravely affected by the learning gap. The ministry is yet to release any statistics on the exact extent of the impact on students, while throughout the months, MoE officials
would only say that assessments are ongoing. Minister Manickchand said her assessments over the past few weeks have revealed that little had actually been done. “There was little to no decisive and or coordinated approach in delivering education and doing so safely… Actions that were needed in the months schools were closed were not taken in their entirety, or at all. This is our reality,” Minister Manickchand had said. Shortly after assuming her post, Manickchand had sought to engage the GTU to be a part of the decision-making process on the way forward for the reopening of public schools. The GTU has since suggested a November re-opening for students in the older age category, noting that many of the younger children are not entirely capable of adhering to some of the social-distancing requirements. “We believe that a November opening would be more feasible, giving the ministry time to put everything in place. Whenever the reopening should take place, we should consider the CSEC clases, CAPE and Grade Six. It is not for everyone to turn out; we are not proposing for the entire school population,” GTU President, Mark Lyte had noted.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Stop the conspiracy theories and 'fear-mongering' --use your sanitisers, face masks and commonsense to keep COVID-19 at bay, urges psychologist By Rabindra Rooplall COVID-19 restrictions on peoples’ movement and socialising has caused the “triggering” of some amount of negative mood and behavioral challenges that have resulted in inappropriate and dysfunctional behaviours, especially on person’s mental health. This is according to Past President of the Guyana Psychological Association, Balogun Osunbiyi, who once served as its mental and behavioural health adviser. The psychologist explained that issues, or even newly-emerging ones are because of the uncertainty, fear and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has produced tremendous negative reactions. “It should be noted that the Ministry of Health has established, and is providing psychological support services for all COVID-19-related matters, with toll-free hotline operators, social workers, mental health counsellors and psychologists providing much-needed care and support to those in need,” Mr. Osunbiyi said. Some of the toll-free public health hotline numbers are: 624-2819, 624-6674, 6243067 and 624-9355. He noted that many persons have complained, and rightfully so, of feeling bored, frustrated, lonely and depressed because of the ‘lockdown’, and the fact that they cannot leave their homes to socialise as they are accustomed doing. “But to be lonely, bored, or to be sick and possibly dead is the choice that we all face with COVID-19. Hopefully, persons will understand that no one has the right to infect and possibly kill another person, simply because you choose, by your risk-taking and irresponsible behaviours, to expose yourself to possible COVID-19 infection,” the psychologist said. STOP, LISTEN He continued: “Stop, listen, learn; do not endanger your own health and safety, and the health and safety of your own family members! Have a care for your fellow citizens; your front-line healthcare providers and their family members, and for our beautiful country Guyana!” Data on Guyana, as of Wednesday, August 19, 2020, indicate that there were 40 new COVID-19-positive cases, and four deaths within a one-day
Ministry of Health, Mental Health Unit Director, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas
Guyana Psychological Association Past President, Balogun Osunbiyi
Be proactive and keep your immune system strong, get ample sleep, exercise, eat well and observe strict social distancing and physical contact. COVID-19 is deadly
period. This, the psychologist noted, speaks in loud and clear decibels to those who have ears to hear, and the ability to comprehend the danger of the spread of the disease, if they do not take measures to keep COVID-19 at bay. The psychologist noted that many persons got infected with the coronavirus, and did not know because they are asymptomatic, but are spreading the disease to other persons they physically come into contact with. “I am aware also of a few instances where persons felt sick, manifesting COVID-19 symptoms; went to work, keep quiet about their deteriorating condition for days, thereby exposing their workmates and other persons that they came into close contact with to the risk of not only becoming infected themselves, but unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to others,” Osunbiyi explained. He said he personally has heard first-hand and indirect reports of several persons getting sick and having many of
the symptoms of the coronavirus, and are treating themselves at home with homemade herbal medicines and other forms of self-treatments, including self-medicating. “Take all of the foregoing into account, and you will get a truer picture of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it is continuing to spread in Guyana and other countries around the world,” he said. This is a time for everyone to keep their physical distance, the psychologist said, or face the negative consequences of their actions. NOT GOOD “Many persons I have observed are still ignoring and violating the publicly-announced guidelines on sanitisation and proper hygiene to help citizens avoid infection,” Osunbiyi said. Additionally, he emphasised that the many publicly-reported cases and incidences of Brazilians and Venezuelans illegally crossing into Guyana from the southern and south-western borders are a
major cause of concern, since these two countries have a significant number of COVID-19 cases. In an interview with the Department of Public Information, the Ministry of Health Mental Health Unit Director, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas said while everyone has been affected psychologically by the pandemic, to effectively win the battle against COVID-19, one must maintain a state of mental health, which is sufficient to allow them the resilience to successfully come through to the end of this pandemic. In this regard, she made recommendations, in keeping with those of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that will help alleviate the stress and worry that comes with the presence of COVID-19. The WHO has outlined specific recommendations for the general public, the elderly, those with disabilities, healthcare workers and children. Among them is that persons should ensure they have someone to talk to about their feelings and their thoughts.
That someone can be a family member, friend, healthcare provider, mental health specialist, or a religious leader. “The psychological relief gained by doing so will be tremendous,” Dr. Richmond-Thomas said, adding: “It is also important to connect daily with those persons who are ‘in your corner’; those who support you, empower you, and make you feel good about yourself.” SOCIAL NETWORK Added to this, persons should maintain their social network, while maintaining social and physical distancing. Technology has proven to be a major ‘make-up’, providing thousands to connect through various social media platforms and virtual communication. Persons are also encouraged to keep themselves occupied by rediscovering hobbies, and doing things they love, as well as minimising psychological trauma by limiting the amount of COVID-19 news they are exposed to. “Do not overload with the bad news. Each exposure to
bad news inflicts psychological trauma, and several episodes of trauma per day add up, and will be harmful,” Dr. Richmond-Thomas said. President Irfaan Ali has recently announced that his government is taking a number of measures to tackle the pandemic, among them the sourcing of some US$60M to assist in its efforts. The head of state said the pandemic has led to starvation, and as such a holistic plan is needed that does not just look at the health aspect of the pandemic, but also measures that will create jobs and improve spending in the economy. Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said plans are underway to automate Guyana’s testing for COVID-19, which will significantly boost its capacity in this regard. Dr. Anthony informed that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory currently has one Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine, which is not an automatic machine, and therefore takes a much longer time to process samples that are being submitted. “What we are trying to do now is to automate that process,” Dr Anthony said, while explaining that there are different types of PCR machines that would speed up the testing time. The Health Ministry, he said, is currently in the process of procuring automatic PCR machines. Those machines are being used at various international airports, and can process some 96 tests within an hour. Meanwhile, Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force continues to push forward with its robust agenda as it monitors the country’s response measures to the novel coronavirus. Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who serves as chairperson of the Task Force, recently met with its members for a weekly progress report, and to discuss further plans to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana. The current emphasis of the task force is to look at continued restricted access to and from Brazil and a review of the current operations at checkpoints in bordering regions and a focus on facilitating increased medical response in Regions One, Seven and Nine. In the area of economic and social response, focus is being placed on the provision of hampers and sanitation supplies to vulnerable areas.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Teach boys to prevent sexual abuse THERE are many social attitudes surrounding men, boys and sexual abuse. One myth is that boys who are sexually abused by men become men who sexually abuse boys. But this is not true. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, any age, any gender, any sexual orientation. It is a more despicable act when it happens to a child, because adults should protect children, not abuse them. Children carry the pain and trauma of the abuse for the rest of their lives. It affects their socio-emotional development, their outlook on life, and their sense of self-worth. Boys do not like to speak about sexual abuse; they sometimes feel that it makes them less of a man (or the man they will become). This is due to the stereotyping surrounding men and masculinity. But survivors of sexual abuse, regardless of who they are, have many of the same feelings, reactions and fears. Men sometimes feel that they did not do enough to
prevent the abuse, and they might relive the attack over and over again, imagining that they should have put up more of a fight or resistance. But boys do not have that opportunity, as they are usually totally overpowered by their perpetrator; or so far gone into the psychological effects of grooming, that they comply, in the belief that the perpetrator either cares for them or loves them. When the child becomes an adult, the coercion part of the relationship becomes more apparent. They partook in a relationship that they did not fully understand. This type of conduct is happening today in different regions of Guyana; boys and young men are being coerced into relationships with men, or being sexually assaulted or attacked, but they never disclose the incident. Parents should tell their sons about this type of behaviour, and teach them how to steer clear of advances from men. They must avoid being groomed, or entangled by a perpetrator.
One of the first lessons that boy children need to know is that it is good to be friendly with people; to have a laugh and joke, to share the company of their peers, but they must be aware of the importance of staying centred. Staying centred means they should not imitate or follow their peers, and they must rely on their judgement at all times. They must remain alert, and be conscious of the things that are going on around them; even when they are partaking of the fun and jollities, they must not lose their head. Boy children need to part of a stable relationship with a trustworthy, reliable male role model; it doesn't have to be their father, but it must be a man whom they look up to, and with whom they have bonded. Positive males are never too many in a boy's life; a grandfather, uncle, older brother, a step-father or neighbor. Boys need men. Having said that, the incredible role that single-mothers achieve when they rear sons
must not be overlooked; nevertheless, boys learn about being a man from men. Parents should teach their sons about inappropriate touching (age-appropriately), from the time they can understand that private parts are private. They should learn to report any such incident to their mother, father or caregiver. There is no need to make your child feel paranoid about being touched or frightened; it is a topic that should be approached in a 'matter-of-fact' way, making sure they understand and repeat, 'No one must touch my private parts, but me'. Boy children should grow with this assertion, and feel comfortable about their sexuality. When we give children useful information, they feel cared for and cherished; they realise the advice will enable them to keep safe, and help them make sensible decisions.
Building that type of confidence at a young age in children will give parents a platform for introducing the function of the reproduction system when they reach pre-adolescence. As they grow older, subjects such as sexual intercourse and the use of contraception should be easier to tackle. Your child may live in a safe environment, and you may know where he is at every given moment; you may also know all the people he comes into contact with daily. Nevertheless, boy children should still learn that no one must touch their private parts, even if it is shared as a precautionary measure, rather than not instill this information at all. Boy children and young men who are raped, or sexually assaulted may have questions and concerns about their sexual orientation, even though they were not to
blame for the attack. They also stand the likelihood of suffering from anxiety, flashbacks, and depression. If the perpetrator is a woman, the survivor may feel he was complicit in the act, and therefore was not violated; this confusion is natural. People often accept that when a woman rapes a boy or young man, that it is his ‘rite of passage’. But forced sexual intercourse against a person's will is a crime punishable by law under the Sexual Offences Act (2010). If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979, or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com. A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Lawrence, Mingo for court today By Lisa Hamilton IT is likely that chairperson of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence and Returning Officer (RO) for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, will appear before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today to answer to private criminal charges filed against them in relation to the 2020 General and Regional Elections. In March, then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member, now current Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, filed criminal charges, contending that Mingo and Lawrence uttered a forged document with the intent to defraud the public, contrary to section 278 of the criminal law Offences Act Chapter 8:01. Ahead of their expected appearance, some supporters of Lawrence have been lobbying for those who ‘Stand with Val’ to engage in ‘silent support’ outside the Magistrates Court today while wearing facemasks and adhering to social distancing guidelines. A poster circulating on social media argues that
Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo
PNCR Chairman, Volda Lawrence
the accusations laid against Lawrence are false. Meanwhile, the poster has been shared by the former minister’s social media page and declares on her behalf “I am innocent!” Other executives of the APNU+AFC are also circulating the call for ‘silent protest’ today. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, special prosecutor in the case, Glenn Hanoman also brought attention to the said poster but noted that he is unaware whether the police had successfully served the charges against Lawrence. “The DPP and the Police have sort of taken over the matter but, as far as I know,
up to yesterday [Saturday], it was not served… I noticed that [Attorney-at-Law] James Bond has been calling for people to come out on Monday to support her, but she hasn’t been served. Of course, both Mingo and Lawrence are aware, because of all the publications on this matter in the newspapers, that they have a matter. So, maybe Ms. Lawrence is doing the right thing having been made aware publicly,” he said. Meanwhile, Hanoman said that several attempts have been made to serve to Mingo the charges, and though there is a rumour that he has been served, TURN TO PAGE
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‘Help us help you’
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
--DCMO appeals, as contact tracing, public cooperation key to slowing spread of COVID-19
IN THE last few days, Guyana has seen an exponential rise in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases as well as deaths, which is believed to be caused by the nonchalant response to the virus and the lack of cooperation by citizens. However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle is of the opinion that some measure of control can be placed on the rapid spread of the virus through contact tracing. Dr. Boyle, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), explained that contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. She added that contact tracing involves identifying persons who would have come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. But for the process to be successful, she said, persons who would have tested positive for the virus must be cooperative with health officials in detailing their movements, and who they would have been in contact with prior to testing positive
for COVID-19. She warned that if positive cases are not forthcoming with information, the lives and well-being of many others may be at risk. “Anything that prevents you from identifying all contacts, communicating to them their risk and isolating them means you are going to be less effective in controlling your epidemic,” Dr. Boyle said. She further explained that once the contacts have been identified, they are quarantined, and at the end of a 14-
without its challenges, as the fear and sheer anxiety surrounding the virus, as well as the nonchalant and dishonest attitude of many individuals have made it difficult for the relevant health officials to do their jobs effectively. “What we are finding is that some persons are not fully cooperating, in terms of identifying persons who they may have placed at risk,” Dr. Boyle said, “so we are unable to necessarily contact all those persons to ensure that they are quarantined.” Additionally, the DCMO
correct names and telephone numbers. She said that just recently, the Ministry of Health had
day (two-week) period, they are tested for the virus. While the process may appear to be simple, Dr. Boyle noted that it is not
noted that many individuals have not been honest with the health officials with regards to personal- contact information such as their
Lawrence, Mingo for ... he [Hanoman] has received no word of this. He said that today will tell whether Mingo would similarly opt to appear in light of the matter being public knowledge. The special prosecutor said that Mingo has been making very brief appearances at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) office on the West Coast of Berbice, likely to sign in or to collect his salary. “I was trying with bailiffs to serve him but, whenever we were close to him, he would elude us. Now that the matter is in the hands of the police, I think the police are trying to serve him but, up to today [Sunday], they were trying and they were unsuccessful,” Hanoman said.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle
The Guyana Chronicle’s effort to contact the Commissioner of Police for further information on the matter was futile. The charges filed were first called on Friday, August 14, 2020, before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. However, the matter was adjourned, as the defendants in the case were not present in court. It was noted then that the matter would be expected to be called today. Particulars of the offence state that Mingo, having been procured by the accused Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at Hadfield and High Street, Georgetown, uttered to the GECOM Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield,
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a Form 24 Representation of the People Act Regional Elections Election Return dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the State of Guyana. The charges alleged that Mingo and Lawrence colluded with each other to forge that Form 24 document. Lawrence’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the APNU/AFC. However, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) counted from the Statement of Polls (SoPs) in its possession, it showed otherwise, while the National Recount of ballots cast at the Elections eventually declared the PPP/C the winner.
received a number of false contact information for individuals, which in turn saw a great deal of time, effort and
energy being wasted on trying to locate those persons. Dr. Gordon-Boyle took the opportunity to again appeal to the public to cooperate with members of the surveillance team, who are the ones reaching out for information. She reiterated that the exercise of contact tracing is uncomplicated, and plays a major role in ensuring individuals are kept safe, and those infected can no longer transmit the virus. As of Saturday, August 22, 2020, Guyana recorded 44 new cases of the virus, spiking the number of confirmed cases to 925 since March 11, 2020, when Guyana recorded its first case, along with 31 deaths.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Kato Village needs a hospital -- region continuing to see migration of health workers, says toshao
By Telesha Ramnarine WITH just months remaining in his six-year term in office, toshao for Kato Village in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Clifton Pereira is hopeful that the new government will pay attention to improving the healthcare system in the hinterland, and possibly even construct a hospital in his village. In Region Eight, there is a district hospital located in the Mahdia Sub-Region Number Two, hence an emergency or referral would pose quite a few challenges to the residents. “This is because the only way to get there is by plane, which is expensive. And the weather sometimes makes it impossible to travel. So there is a great need for a district hospital in sub-region One,” Pereira told the Guyana Chronicle in an Online interview. Speaking from his village, he said a hospital wellequipped to provide service to the 14 villages that make up the sub-region, is badly needed. “I think Kato is the ideal place to have this hospital; not because this is my village, but it is located almost at the centre of the rest of the villages. And now that the ‘hydro’ project is on stream, power to the hospital can be available 24 hours; I think this is one of the advantages,” he expressed. For many years, the authorities have been promising to bridge the gap between the hinterland and the coastland, and Pereira has observed that not much has been done towards that end so far. Because of the lack of equipment in the region, healthcare workers find it difficult to do their job, resulting in their having to leave their community for a
Toshao of Kato Village, Clifton Pereira
better working environment. The residents, of course, have to bear the brunt of such an outcome. Pereira said he would like to see the new government engaging more with the communities across the hinterland. “Listen to their concerns. After all, those in the communities know what is best for them, so make sure you talk to them before embarking on any project. Now that there is revenue coming in from the oil-andgas sector, I am asking that the people in the hinterland have their fair share,” he expressed. CREATING GREATER ACCESS And this is what the new Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall has undertaken to do. “We are out in the fields; that is how we would be working. We have to have plans that deal with the economy of the region, its infrastructure and social fabric. We cannot continue to have the hinterland remain remote, but we have
to create greater access,” he said recently in an interview with this publication. According to the minister, government will be keen on providing support to the hinterland that is specific to their needs. “We have to enhance communications in the hinterland, and provide more utilities and support in terms of their economic wellbeing. We have to ensure we upgrade their health facilities, as well as their transportation and airstrip. We would also have to ensure greater training and development of our hinterland people,” he added. He offered that the trails into the villages will have to be constructed and improved to reduce the cost and time of travelling to them. “We have to work on the roads, communication, and health facilities immediately, because when people get sick in those areas, it is very difficult to get them out into a central location,” he acknowledged. Meanwhile, Toshao Pereira wants to thank everyone who offered him encouragement, advice and other forms of support, especially
Kato Village in Region Eight
his family members. “Even though the stipend I receive can barely maintain my family and I, they continue to stand by me. Sometimes I spend less time with them and more time behind village matters; yet they understand
my situation, and continue to give me all the support I need, knowing that this is my final term in office,” he said, adding: “I know I have not done enough as I had hoped for in my term of office because of various challenges,
but I have laid a foundation so that others can continue from where I left off.” He has promised to continue lending support to the development of Kato Village, even after demitting office.
Montrose man found dead in alleyway PHILLIP Ketwaru, 58, of 34 Montrose Seawall Road, East Coast Demerara, was, on Sunday morning, found dead in an alleyway at Atlantic Garden, near to a property where he worked as a handyman. Ketwaru showed up for work at the location early in
the morning and reportedly complained of feeling unwell and was later seen laying in the yard on a ply board making strange sounds. He was told by is employer to go home. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Ketwaru reportedly decided to exit the
property by jumping one of its fences which lead to the alleyway. There he reportedly died. On discovery of his body, his employer immediately contacted his (Ketwaru) family. “He drive and tell my mother that the man fall down and he want we to come pick
him up to take him to the hospital so she said the children are not home and she called my brother and when we arrived about one hour after, we asked him where our father was and he said, look he lay down on the alleyway there,” Kaman Ketwaru, a son of the dead man said.
The employer was questioned by police as relatives of the dead man believe that he was thrown into the alleyway by his employer. One woman said she heard the strange sounds early Sunday morning but when she looked outside she saw nothing. It was not until hours after
that she saw someone was in the alleyway after residents came out and summoned the police. The wife of the employer denied any wrong doing by her husband and related that the handyman usually displayed signs of a person who is of unsound mind.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Over $2.5M raised to fight COVID-19 in Rupununi By Lisa Hamilton A team of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has raised over $2.5M in just over a month to assist indigenous communities across the Rupununi in protecting themselves from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The sum can be broken down in cash and kind with over $1.3M alone coming from a GoFundMe account set up for the cause. Added to this, scores of local groups and organisations have donated needed supplies and have given of their time to ensure that, in the fight against the virus, Guyana’s First Peoples ---more vulnerable to the virus --- are not put at a disadvantage. On July 17, 2020, Eírîpan, a charity in operation for over 15 year, liaised with the Kanuku Community Representatives Group (KMCRG), a community-based NGO, and the Rupununi Learners Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation, to provide critically needed medical, sanitation and other supplies to indigenous communities in Guyana. They were later joined by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC). A GoFundMe page was launched while local donors were also informed of the avenues through which they could assist. President of Eírîpan, Melanie McTurk, had explained to the newspaper back in July that indigenous communities around the world are considered the ethnic group most vulnerable to the coronavirus due to their lack of immunological exposure, which makes them more predisposed to the dire impact of the virus. In terms of vulnerability, she said that Guyana also faces geographical challenges, whereby many communities in need are located far away from the capital where supplies and medical assistance are more readily available. Limited modes of transportation and seasonal flooding also add to the challenge of indigenous peoples accessing medical support from the single regional hospital in Lethem, Region Nine. While some may see
the region’s distance from Georgetown, the capital --reputedly the epicenter of COVID-19 --- as a good thing, McTurk explained that many Indigenous communities are instead closer to neighbouring Brazil, which has the highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases and deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Brazil accounts for more than half of the region’s COVID-19 cases. VOLUNTARY ACTION As such, utilising the monetary and physical donations, the NGOs set them-
Eírîpan President, Melanie McTurk
Challenges the truck of supply faced along the way
Some of the items that make up the Emergency Evacuation kits
selves into voluntary action with no salaries or payments being subtracted from the funds received. From domestic donors, the team has already received a range of supplies fit for cleaning and sanitising as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and over 1,500 reusable face coverings. Earlier in this month, the team worked to prepare kits for Community Health Centres to help frontline workers stay safe. Each health centre kit contains surgical masks and gloves, protective gowns, reusable masks, disinfectants, hand sanitisers, a small sprayer bottle, a touchless thermometer and COVID-19 awareness posters. Added to this, 29 emergency evacuation kits were also prepared for communities which may have to transport infected persons to hospital for testing and
care. These kits include protective suits, gloves, masks, face shields, hand sanitizers, sanitizing spray, wipes and a piece of plastic and duct tape to create a barrier between drivers and patients. VILLAGE COUNCIL KITS Village Council kits were also catered for which included masks for distribution and other sanitisation and handwashing materials. The team members spent the weekend of August 10, packing a truck --- provided by the Region Nine Regional Democratic Council --- filled with donations for the first delivery to some 29 communities. The truck also carried food relief; sanitation and PPE for the Lethem Regional Hospital; sanitation fluid and thermometers to an additional communities donated by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); 200 cases of juice
Team members help to pack the health centre COVID-19 kits in the truck provided
donate by DSL Cash & Carry and assorted food supplies including 10 cases of chowmein donated by Beharry's Group of companies. Other donations came from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Carib Group of Companies, Food For the Poor (Guyana), Banks DIH, Atta Lodge and even political parties such as A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and The Citizenship Initiative (TCI). Education materials were also handed over by the Ministry of Education. It took three days and two nights for the truck of supplies to maneuver its way to Lethem, especially along poor conditions of the Linden to Lethem road, but eventu-
ally it arrived in the Region Nine town. From there, the items were transported to villages with the help of the KMCRG and SRDC which took about a week. McTurk said there are many more communities desperate for these modest starter kits. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second delivery remains tentative. “Because of the lockdown, the second delivery will probably be early next month. We had actually hoped to have it delivered before the end of this month but with the new lockdown we’re not too certain if we can make that deadline,” she said.
Nonetheless, the public is being urged to continue giving. McTurk said: “Even though we’ve already sent support to 29 communities, there are so many more communities who are calling us and asking us even for basic things.” Eírîpan and its partners hope to provide support to as many villages across the Rupununi as possible through their GoFundMe project. Meanwhile, local donors who wish to join in have the option to make direct deposits to the Republic Bank Limited Checking Account # 962956709687 and can contact the team directly at +592 6113181.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
SADR congratulates President Ali
PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has received a congratulatory letter from Brahim Gali, President of the Sahrawl Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), who expressed a desire to see the ties between the two countries strengthened. In his letter, President
Gali said, “I express the wish to see the strong bonds of mutual understanding and supports linking our two countries continue growing.” The President also expressed confidence that under President Ali’s leadership, “the traditional friendship between our
two peoples and countries will definitely be further strengthened”. President Gali said Guyana and the Sahrawl Arab Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors on September 12, 2012. (DPI)
President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
SADR President, Brahim Gali
Gov’t offering undergraduate, postgraduate scholarships
Just some of the undergraduate scholarships being offered
THE Department of Public Service within the Office of the Presidency is offering 18 bachelor's degree scholarships and two at the master’s levels at the University of Guyana (UG) for the 2020/2021 academic year, and Guyanese are urged to apply. Application for the schol-
arships closes on September 11, 2020. The bachelor's degree programmes are available for agriculture, accountancy, chemistry, civil engineering (with environmental engineering), communication studies, computer science, dentistry, economics, electrical engineering, TURN TO PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
‘Bel Air Lions’ turns 60
THE Lions club of Bel Air, which has to its credit thousands of Projects in Service to the people of Guyana, celebrated its 60th Anniversary on Sunday. Although the COVID-19 outbreak has put a damper on the Club’s normal celebratory activities, the event was observed at its Enachu Street, Campbellville headquarters, where the guest of honour was none other than founding member of the Group, Mr. SMV Nasser, who is also a Past District Governor 3-Star. The group payed special attention to the contributions of Mr. Nasser, highlighting his hard work and dedication in getting it to achieve its goals, as well as being a driving force behind getting groups set up in specific communities to be able to further the reach of the Lions Club. The members presented Nasser with plaques to acknowledge his personal contributions to the development of the group, as well as shared words of gratitude to the group leader. During the simple ceremony, the Group unveiled its Monument, the Mighty Lion, which is the symbol of the group, and celebrates and commemorated its 60 years of service to the Guyanese people through its varying outreaches and activities. Some of the activities the group has facilitated are: Work in the fields of sight
Savouring the moment with Past District Governor 3-Star, Lion SMV Nasser (centre), are President Shondelle Gray, (left) and District Governor Denise Bentinck
conservation, education, the environment, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as holding regular medical clinics at its own Civic Centre where, in collaboration with the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, they diagnose and fill prescriptions free of cost. The Lions Club of Bel Air also presently has the distinction of being rated among the best in the Commonwealth Caribbean, British and U.S, Virgin Islands. The International Association of Lions Clubs, with Bel Air as one of its Chartered Clubs, is operating within its Centenary of 100 years in over 218 counFROM PAGE
Gov’t offering...
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finance, general psychology, land administration and management, mechanical engineering, human medicine, nursing, petroleum and geological engineering, public management and supply chain management. To apply, interested citizens must first register on the Department of Public Service’s website as a prospective scholar. They must then upload their application and all necessary supporting documents such as letters of recommendation and copies of their ID, passport or birth certificate. Meanwhile, the scholarships available at the master’s degree level are available in environmental management and urban and regional planning. Key eligibility requirements must see applicants possessing a bachelor's degree within the last five years with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 and admission to UG for the required programme. The applicants must also be 40 years or under, have a valid Guyana Passport and be in good health to complete the programme successfully. To apply, they must also register and submit an online application.
tries, and spending billions of dollars on alleviating the sufferings of mMnkind. Its junior arm, the Leos Club of Bel Air, is also serving in the same fields with some distinguished youths. In celebrating this special occasion in typical Lions style, the Club arranged for 60 hampers to be distributed to several families, in an effort to continue on the group’s road of providing assistance and support. Fifty of those hampers were put together, using the resources of the group, while the other ten were donated to the group by Survival Supermarket.
Seven in Region Two recover from COVID-19
DR AFARAH KHAN, Regional Health Officer of Region Two, has reported that seven of eight persons in the region, who were tested positive for COVID-19, have since recovered from the disease. One patient, a child, remains in insolation. Guyana Chronicle understands that the majority of active cases within the region were from the riverine communities in the Pomeroon. Health officials indicated that rapid testing has been conducted in those areas. Dr. Khan said that over 140 persons have been tested in the Region. Khan also made request for more personal protective attire for frontline workers, as well as testing kits.
he unveiling of the 60th anniversary monument (Photos by Elvin Croker)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Monday, August 24, 2020 COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD – 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) 33 matches (2) Lendl Simmons-1029 runs
TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) How many matches the Warriors have now played in all CPL cricket? (2) Which two have never compiled a CPL hundred? Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer, Marlon Samuels, Martin Guptill, Kieron Pollard
ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE
World Number 304 Popov wins AIG Women’s Open
(BBC) - World number 304 Sophia Popov produced a huge shock by winning the AIG Women’s Open by two shots at Royal Troon. The 27-year-old German, who had not won on the LPGA or Ladies European Tour before this week, shot a three-under 68 to win her first major on seven under. Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura shot a 67 to finish on five under, two ahead of world number eight Minjee Lee (69). Seven-time major winner Inbee Park was the only other player to finish under par, after a 66 saw her end one under. It was a stunning victory by Popov, who is the lowest-ranked player to win a women’s major. She said she “almost quit playing last year” as she cradled the trophy and sobbed tears of joy. “I’m so glad I didn’t,” she added before the tears took over again. “I got here on Tuesday and I knew my game was in really good shape. I took that belief into every round but I didn’t expect this. I was uber nervous the whole round. I was glad I could get it done.” She missed out on securing a place on the LPGA Tour by a single shot last year and then the arrival of
the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of qualifying school meant another year on the second-tier circuit. Her only other professional wins have all come on the satellite Cactus Tour earlier this year, with the last of the three being at Troon North in Arizona. She only secured qualification for the Women’s Open with a top-10 finish at the Marathon Classic a fortnight ago and last week was playing on the Symetra Tour, the feeder circuit for the LPGA Tour. Without playing privileges of her own, she caddied for Dutch friend Anne van Dam at a recent LPGA Tour event. Going into this week, she had earned only $108,000 (£82,500) in her career but this victory in Ayrshire improved that total six-fold, with the winner’s prize earning her $675,000 (£515,500). Popov started the final round with a three-shot lead but immediately dropped a shot after pulling her opening drive into a fairway bunker. However, in benign conditions on the west coast of Scotland after three days of storms and blustery winds had made scoring difficult, Popov found her rhythm with birdies on the next two holes and a third of the day on the sixth. The threat came from world number 138 Suwannapura, who had a run of four successive birdies from the fourth as she closed the lead to one shot by the seventh but bogeys on the 11th and 13th holes handed the advantage back to Popov.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Anderson helps England enforce follow-on
(ESPNCRICINFO) - James Anderson’s 29th five-wicket haul in Test cricket enabled England to enforce the follow-on at the Ageas Bowl, despite Azhar Ali holding Pakistan together thanks to his second hundred as captain. Anderson took the first and last wickets of the day after three breakthroughs on the second evening, taking his tally to 598 across his Test career. He removed Asad Shafiq 12 balls into the day, leaving Pakistan reeling at 30 for 4, before eventually dismissing last man Naseem Shah to finish with figures of 5 for 56. That Pakistan’s innings lasted as long as it did owed much to Azhar, whose hundred his was his first away from home since Misbahul-Haq and Younis Khan’s joint retirements in 2017. He scored the bulk of his runs behind square, pulling and flicking off the pads when England erred too straight and cutting and steering behind point when they when they went short. With Mohammad Rizwan for support, he guided Pakistan towards the second new ball with a dogged innings, but was eventually left stranded, un-
beaten on 141. In a morning session that was again abbreviated by the rain, Anderson added his fourth wicket of the innings, removing Shafiq in his first full over of the day. Shafiq lunged forwardly hopefully at a length ball in the channel, only managing to edge into the slips, and has scored just 46 runs in four innings this series; his run of 72 consecutive Tests might soon come under threat. That gave Fawad Alam
an opportunity to bed in after lunch, after nudging Anderson into the off side to score his first Test run in 11 years. He edged Chris Woakes through the slips early on, but started to knuckle down alongside Azhar to lead Pakistan’s recovery. Frustratingly for him, he fell tamely after making a start, offering Jos Buttler a sharp chance behind the stumps after being drawn forward by Dom Bess. Bess quickly found his groove after going unused
across the whole of the second Test, settling into a rhythm as Rizwan looked to rebuild alongside Azhar, who survived an England review for caught behind after copping a short ball on the right shoulder. He then ticked past the 6000-run mark in Tests, becoming the fifth Pakistani batsman to reach the landmark as he steered Archer through backward point. Rizwan was busy throughout, despite an early blow on the helmet from
James Anderson appeals successfully for lbw, England v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Southampton, 2nd day, August 22, 2020
Archer, and the pair put on Pakistan’s highest partnership of the series against the old ball. Azhar was particularly strong off his pads, but his off-side game improved as his innings progressed. Archer reverted to short-ball theory with the new ball imminent, but it was Woakes who made the breakthrough thanks to a strangle down the leg side, Buttler again taking a sharp diving catch to remove Rizwan. The timing of the wicket was particularly vital for England, as it meant Pakistan’s bowlers were exposed to the new ball. Broad, who has been brutally effective with the second new ball throughout the summer, struck with it immediately as Root clung onto a sharp chance from a loose push from Yasir Shah. He had a second not long after, as Buttler - who had struggled so much with the gloves throughout the summer before this Test - took a blinding catch off Shaheen Afridi, leaping at full stretch to his right as the tailender looked to fend away a short ball. That left Pakistan clinging on eight wickets down, at which point things became calamitous for Anderson
in his attempts to secure a five-for. He had two chances put down in the slips in the 87th over - Azhar dropped by Burns at second slip, Mohammad Abbas shelled at third by Zak Crawley two balls later - and then Broad made a mess of the most straightforward of the lot, Azhar miscuing to him at mid-on. Broad recovered in time to shy at the striker’s end and run Abbas out with a direct hit, but that did little to lift Anderson’s spirits, not least with Azhar sticking around alongside last man Naseem. Anderson barley allowed himself a smile when he eventually broke the partnership, Dom Sibley clinging onto a chance at third slip after he drew an edge from Naseem, taking him to 598. There was never any question as to whether England would enforce the follow-on, but just as things were about to get underway soon after 7pm, the umpires decided that the light was too poor for play to continue. Azhar had moved himself up to open, hoping to carry on from where he had left off, but was denied the opportunity to do so.
Kallis, Abbas and Sthalekar inducted into ICC hall of fame (ESPNCRICINFO) JACQUES Kallis, Zaheer Abbas and Lisa Sthalekar have been inducted into the ICC’s Hall of Fame. Kallis, who retired from international cricket in 2014, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame almost as soon as he became eligible; the ICC rule mandates a five-year gap after a player’s last international match. He is widely regarded as one of cricket’s great allrounders. In addition to being the third-most-prolific Test batsman of all time, with 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37, he also took 292 wickets at 32.65 with his fast-medium swing bowling. He is the fourth South African inducted into Hall of Fame, after Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Allan Donald. Abbas is the sixth Pakistani in the Hall of
Fame, after Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Abbas played Test
Lisa Sthalekar with the World Cup trophy ICC/Getty
cricket from 1969 to 1985, and was renowned worldwide for being an elegant strokeplayer with a massive appetite for runs. He scored 5062 Test-match runs at 44.79, and remains the only subconti-
nental batsman to have scored more than 100 first-class centuries, a feat that earned him the nickname ‘The Asian Bradman’. Sthalekar is the 27th Australian cricketer in the Hall of Fame, and the fifth Australian women’s player after Belinda Clark, Betty Wilson, Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick. Sthalekar, who batted in the middle order and bowled offspin, ended her career in 2013 as one of the premier allrounders in women’s cricket. With 2728 runs at 30.65 and 146 wickets at 24.97, she remains one of only five players to have completed the women’s ODI double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets, with Ellyse Perry the only other Australian in that group. Sthalekar has been part of four World-Cup-winning Australia teams, winning
the ODI title in 2005 and 2013 and the T20 title in 2010 and 2012. “Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that
and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, all of whom have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and rightly so. The guidance from them and
Zaheer Abbas: renowned for being an elegant stroke-maker PA Photos
I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players,” Sthalekar said after the announcement. “I was fortunate enough to learn from the best when I entered the Australia team - Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton
other team-mates along the way kept me focused but also ensured that it was a fun environment.” Abbas joined Sthalekar in expressing his gratitude to those who helped shape his career, while Kallis said it felt good to be appreciat-
ed in this way. “I would like to say a special thanks to my family, my country Pakistan, my county Gloucestershire and many fans worldwide who helped me achieve and fulfil my dreams by playing this great game at the highest level,” Abbas said. “It is a final recognition for any cricketer. This great game has made me the person I am. Thank you cricket.” “It is something that I never expected when I started playing,” Kallis said. “I certainly did not play the game for any accolades or anything like that, I only wanted to win the games for whoever I was playing for. But it is nice to be recognised when one has succeeded in the sport, it is nice to be recognised by people for something that you have achieved in the game.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
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Bayern continues PSG Champions League heartbreak (Reuters) - France international Coman appeared at the back post to score the decisive goal in the 59th minute as Bayern became the first team to lift the Champions League with a 100% record. The victory, deserved after a dogged display once Bayern got in front, secured a second treble for the Germans, the Bundesliga and German Cup winners, and completed a remarkable first season for coach Hansi Flick. Flick took over a struggling side in November, after a 5-1 hammering by Eintracht Frankfurt led to the sacking of Niko Kovac with the club fourth in the Bundesliga. “It feels fantastic, we have a long journey behind us,” said Bayern midfielder Thomas Mueller. “We came from very low, at least that is what it felt like, in the autumn and put in a sensational run. We had a bit of luck tonight and had (Manuel) Neuer in goal,” he added. PSG, who were playing in their first Champions League final, paid the price for wastefulness in the first half as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe both failed to beat Neuer from close range. The club has benefitted from huge investment by Qatari Sports Investments but, while dominant at in the French league, they fell short at the final hurdle.
“We’re sad but we don’t forget all the positive things we did this season,” said PSG’s Qatari president Nasser al Khelaifi. Flick opted to start with Coman instead of Croatian Ivan Perisic on the left flank and it was an inspired decision. Jerome Boateng was deemed fit to start in Bayern’s central defence, having recovered from a knock picked up in the semi-final win over
Olympique Lyonnais. PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas returned to their starting lineup having recovered from injury. NEYMAR FOILED After a cagey opening, Neymar suddenly burst into life in the 18th minute, scampering into the box and firing off a left-foot shot but Neuer’s outstretched leg foiled the Brazilian. Four minutes later Bay-
ern’s goal threat, Robert Lewandowski, was found in the box by a left wing cross from Alphonso Davies and given room to turn but his shot struck the post. PSG were certainly asking questions of the Bayern defence and the livewire Angel Di Maria, after a quick exchange on the edge of the area, created space for a shot but his effort, with his weaker right foot, flew high and wide. Bayern’s gamble to start
Boateng looked misplaced when he hobbled off in the 25th minute, being replaced by Niklas Suele. PSG’s industrious midfielder Ander Herrera had a fierce effort from distance deflected wide, while at the other end Lewandowski’s stooping header from close range forced a fine reflex save out of Navas. Mbappe, PSG’s talented French World Cup-winning striker, should have done better just before the break
Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern Munich scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Matt Childs/Pool via Getty Images)
when, after a smart onetwo with Herrera, he shot straight at Neuer. It was a scrappy start to the second half with both sides struggling to find any composure but the game came alive just before the hour mark. After a well worked move down the right Joshua Kimmich picked out Coman at the back post and he got behind Thilo Kehrer to head firmly into the bottom corner. Coman threatened in the same area again moments later, after Mueller found him with a cross, and Thiago Silva had to block the volley. Bayern were starting to look in control and PSG coach Thomas Tuchel responded by throwing on his Italian midfielder Marco Verratti in a bid to change the momentum. But Flick’s side were in no mood to give up their lead and they fought for every ball with tenacity, reducing any chance PSG had to find openings for their expensive strikeforce. One final opportunity did come, in stoppage time, when Mbappe broke down the inside-left channel and found Neymar who turned sharply but saw his shot go harmlessly wide. The PSG dream was over, the debutant finalists defeated by the determination, organisation and remarkable consistency of the formidable and now sixtimes champions of Europe.
UEFA to consider single game K-O format
(BBC) - UEFA might consider revisiting the single-game knockout format in future seasons following its incorporation in this season’s Champions League. Football’s suspension during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a revision of the club competition’s format in order that it could be completed at all. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “We were forced to do it but in the end we see that we found out something new. “So we will think about it in the future for sure.” Both the final stages of the Champions League and Europa League - from the quarter-finals onwards - were held at neutral venues over a two-week period in August. There were thrilling climaxes in the Champions League quarter-finals involving Manchester City and Lyon, Paris St-Germain and Atalanta, and in RB Leipzig’s
Manchester City were stunned by Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals
win over Atletico Madrid. And in the most eagerly awaited match, Bayern Munich trounced Barcelona 8-2. Ceferin believes games have been less cautious and teams have been forced to go for goals because there have not been second legs. He added: “If it is one match, if one team scores then the other has to score as soon as possible. If it is two-legged system then there is still time to win the next match. “But of course we also have to think about the fact that we have less matches and broadcasters say ‘you don’t have as many matches as before, this is different’ - so we will have to discuss when this crazy situation ends.” The current format cannot be changed until 202425, although discussions are expected to begin later this year on the structure for the competition in that next phase.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
IKO pays courtesy call on MCYS THE International Karate Organization [IKO] Academy of Guyana recently paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr. at his office on Main Street, Georgetown. The delegation which was led by the Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKO Academy of Guyana Shihan Jeffrey Wong 7th Degree Black Belt, included the Vice Chief Instructor and Vice Chairman Professor Aubrey Mendonca, Vice President Waynewright Orderson, Committee Members Trevor Hurry and Eulex Stephens, and Karatekas Aliya Wong Third Dan, Tyler Orderson Third Dan, Tashana Wong Third Dan, Otto Harris Second Dan and Chelsea Ram Second Dan. The Vice President of IKO Academy of Guyana Waynewright Orderson presented to the Minister their plans for developing the sport of Karate-do in Guyana over the next five years and beyond and proposals of how the Academy could collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to advance the martial art and combat sport throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. Professor Aubrey Mendonca pointed out to the Minister that contrary to the belief in some quarters, martial arts classes do not make youngsters violent and asserted that juvenile delinquents in Guyana could benefit from classes to help to rehabilitate them. He highlighted the fact that learn-
ing karate can combat bullying as research has shown that martial arts reduces physical and verbal aggression, theft and vandalism. He indicated the intention of the Academy with the Ministry’s permission to provide free classes to help to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents at the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia
experiences and observations in North America and Asia and urged that Guyana give some serious attention to this niche market through the hosting of more international martial arts tournaments and training camps. He pointed to the fact that sports tourism is a huge and growing industry around
velopment. Another Karateka Aliya Wong underscored the benefits that karate training can have on the children of Guyana, helping them to build their self-confidence and emotional skills so they have the chance to reach their full potential in everything they do. She proffered the desire of the IKO
still regard martial arts as a violent physical activity, rather than a form of self-defence and suggested that the best way to get rid of such false ideas was to promote the true value of martial arts in the schools. Shihan Jeffrey Wong assured the Minister that even though Guyana is in the midst
Photograph L-R: Vice President Waynewright Orderson, Karatekas Tyler Orderson 3rd Dan, Tashana Wong 3rd Dan, Aliya Wong 3rd Dan, Professor Aubrey Mendonca, Hon Minister Charles Ramson Jr., Shihan Jeffrey Wong 7th Dan, Eulex Stephens Committee Member, Karateka Chelsea Ram 2nd Dan, Trevor Hurry Committee Member, Karateka Otto Harris 2nd Dan
and at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), Holding Centre in Essequibo, Region Two of Guyana. Karateka Tyler Orderson in his presentation to the Minister dealt with the concept of sports tourism particularly in the discipline of karate-do and the impact it could have on our country’s economy. He shared his
the world, with important economic implications for the sport, the event, and the impact of travel and tourism-related benefits on host destinations. He expressed the belief that sports tourism could become a viable and sustainable component of Guyana’s overall tourism product, making a tangible contribution to national de-
Academy of Guyana to introduce Karate classes into the school system through the PE curriculum all across Guyana since the physical education and sport syllabus of CSEC offered by CXC includes karate-do as one of their subject areas. Miss Wong said that although the benefits are there for all to see, some people
of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic like every other country in the world, that it was his intention when it was considered safe and responsible to resume training, to abide by the Ministry of Health and Government of Guyana restrictions and recommendations regarding limits on social gatherings, physical distancing and hygienic measures.
The Chief Instructor outlined to the Minister, protocols that the Academy has developed for the various clubs / dojos under its purview to reduce risk as they return to karate training during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. First there will be the physical distancing requirements where all participants, coaches and staff must keep a physical distance of 2m apart at all times and physical contact of any kind will not permitted. Second there will be the rigorous sanitation requirements for the proper sanitation of all areas within their dojos including all equipment being disinfected after each individual use including all high contact surfaces, such as doorknobs, counters and benches that must be wiped before the start of every class. Additionally, all mats and washrooms will have to be sanitized daily, preferably after each session (class). Basic hygiene rules such as handwashing and not touching one’s face shall be reinforced in the clubs/dojos. Hand sanitizers will be available upon entry into the club/dojo as well as within the training areas. Third, there will be strict adherence to public gathering requirements to ensure that all dojos comply with maximum public gatherings limits. The Minister thanked them for the visit and assured the Academy as an avid sportsman himself, of his commitment and that of his ministry to working along with all sporting bodies for the benefit of the people of Guyana.
Pollard, Bravo ensure TKR trump Barbados
Brutal death hitting from Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard saw the Trinbago Knight Riders post the highest score of Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, and though Johnson Charles gave the Barbados Tridents a chance, once he fell the spinners took firm control and extended the Knight Riders’ unbeaten start to this year’s tournament. Choosing to bowl, the Tridents started well - the first boundary didn’t come until the third over, and Narine didn’t get off the mark until the fifth. Simmons hit the next ball for a Hero Maximum and then clubbed Jason Holder to mid-on. It took Colin Munro to kickstart the innings, taking 18 off Kyle Mayers including a glorious flick over mid-on for six, and the Knight Riders ended the Powerplay at 45/1. Ashley Nurse put the pressure back on, but Munro counter-attacked against Rashid Khan, clobbering a sweep into the stands. Narine at the other end should have fallen to Nurse on 6 but was dropped by Shai Hope. The
drop was not costly however, as Reifer dramatically splattered Narine’s stumps to end a stuttering innings. At the drinks break, the Knight Riders were a subdued 63/2. Munro brought up 50 off just 29 balls, then fell to a fantastic Rashid catch to give Nurse a deserved wicket off the last ball of his spell. But that was as good as it got for the Tridents with the ball. Rashid lost his line to the left-handed Bravo, going for 12 including a set of five wides. Hayden Walsh Jr started with two full tosses, and while Pollard was almost bowled by the first one, he dismissed the second for a Hero Maximum. Bravo punished Rashid for going too full with a slog-swept six. Mitchell Santner couldn’t contain Bravo, who clubbed 10 off the first two balls of the over, or Pollard, who hit an extraordinary one-handed Hero Maximum over the sightscreen. Pollard repeated the trick to end a Reifer over that started with Bravo hammering a full toss for six, and, suddenly the Knight Riders
were 155/3 off 18. Holder proved expensive in the 19th, with 3 wides punctuating Pollard hammering a Hero Maximum and Bravo essaying a classy
lofted drive. In the 20th, Bravo found and then cleared the midwicket fence to take himself to 50, and the Knight Riders to an imposing total. The last four overs went at
Darren Bravo (L) and Kieron Pollard (C) of Trinbago Knight Riders knock gloves as Shai Hope (R) of Barbados Tridents watches (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)”
a bruising 17.25 an over, and the Tridents were left wondering if they’d got their bowling strategies right. The Tridents had to go hard and Johnson Charles did exactly that, targeting Jayden Seales to the tune of 20 runs to start the chase in overdrive. It was a measure of how concerned Pollard was that he went to DJ Bravo in the Powerplay. It was a dramatic over - elder brother Darren dropped Charles off the first ball, ensuring the wait for a 500th T20 wicket for DJ went on, and the Tridents opener rubbed it in with two boundaries. Hope was very much the support act, ending the Powerplay at 9 off 11 to Charles’ 46 off 25. Remarkably, those 46 came entirely between long leg and midwicket. But Narine, Ali Khan and Fawad Ahmed slowed scoring significantly, and the pressure told as Charles lost his off-stump to Fawad just after reaching his 50. Corey Anderson’s horror start to Hero CPL 2020 con-
tinued as he was run out by Seales for 2, and after a promising start the Tridents were falling away. The elder Bravo pulled off a good low catch to dismiss Mayers off Khary Pierre. Hope picked up a four off Pierre and a massive Hero Maximum off Fawad, but the legspinner responded well to limit the damage and send the rate above 12. Though Carter found the fence with a deft reverse scoop off DJ Bravo, it was not enough, with 14.5 an over needed off the last six, he aimed a swipe at Ali Khan and was bowled. The Tridents had lost all momentum, and Hope’s sluggish innings finally ended with a top-edged hoick. Had Rashid been promoted up the order to help out Holder, who struck the ball beautifully, it may have been a closer-run thing. Seales bowled a nervy last over, but by then it was too late, and the Knight Riders had shown their class to go three wins from three.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 24, 2020
Chase stars as Zouks down GAW
A N O T H E R excellent St Lucia Zouks bowling performance ensured Roston Chase’s backs-to-the-wall fifty was not in vain, as Chemar Holder bowled a brilliant last over to deny the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who looked to have recovered from a rocky start through the flashing blade of Nicholas Pooran. With all three previous games on this track won by the team batting first, Daren Sammy chose to set a target. Kimani Melius announced himself on Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) debut with a glorious Hero Maximum off Chandrapaul Hemraj but was caught at mid-off trying to repeat the trick off Imran Tahir. Tahir didn’t stop there, as he had Mark Deyal dropped first ball and caught second, both by Ashmead Nedd. Nedd started solidly with the ball, but Chase clubbed Keemo Paul for six to add some gloss to the Zouks’ Powerplay score of 37/2. Amazon Warriors captain Chris Green used five bowlers in the first seven overs including two overs from himself, culminating in him yorking Andre Fletcher. Nedd got the deserved wicket of Najibullah Zadran, whose mishit saw him caught on the boundary for a duck. A lot now rested on Chase and Mohammad Nabi, and the Bajan took three boundaries off Odean Smith’s first over. The two were cautious initially against the spinners, and the Zouks were a middling 67/4 at halfway.
Paul and Smith conceded just one boundary each, and Nedd finished his spell beautifully. Nabi briefly broke free with an enormous Hero Maximum and a powerful four off Green, but he was beaten in the flight by Tahir and gave the skip-
per a straightforward catch. Chase brought up his second T20 fifty off 40 balls, and in his first game for the Zouks, Javelle Glenn got off the mark with a lovely cover-drive. But Paul was dismissed for just two, and with four overs to
go, the Zouks needed an acceleration. Chase provided it, launching Tahir straight and swinging Paul through square leg, and Glenn settled himself with a boundary of his own. Green gave Smith the last over, and his pace proved ef-
Mohammad Nabi (R) and Andre Fletcher (U) of St Lucia Zouks celebrate the dismissal of Ross Taylor (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)
fective as Glenn and Chase fell in consecutive balls. There was to be no hat-trick, but the over was reward for the bowler and captain’s persistence, and the Zouks’ total seemed below-par. Their bowling however was anything but. Nabi bowled a superb first over, and two Scott Kuggeleijn short balls saw King caught behind for 1 and Shimron Hetmyer top-edging to square leg for 4 to leave the Amazon Warriors two down in the second over. The Amazon Warriors predicament got even worse when Ross Taylor top-edged a reverse paddle-sweep off the back of the bat into his own helmet and was caught, giving Nabi a first wicket. Even a Hemraj six off Chase couldn’t put much gloss on a Powerplay of 19/3. Pooran was lucky to pick up four off a Kesrick Williams short ball, but there was nothing lucky about the authoritative pull for six that followed. Holder was wayward, with wides, a no-ball and a deft steer through third man, and a 15 run over took the Amazon Warriors to 59/3 at halfway. Hemraj struggled for timing throughout, and eventually spooned a leading edge off Williams which was well caught by Chase. Sammy showed faith in Holder, who recovered after being crashed for four by the promoted Paul, but two boundaries in a 12 run over from Pooran put a slight dent in Nabi’s still excellent figures. The Zouks got
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sloppy in the next over, as an overthrow brought up Pooran’s 50 off 32 balls and Sammy dropped a very simple catch. Pooran then top-edged over the keeper’s head for four to bring the required rate under 9. Chase ensured Pooran couldn’t find a boundary, but the Amazon Warriors’ number five made up for that off Williams to take his team into the last four overs needing 39. Paul clobbered a Hero Maximum off Chase’s last ball and brought up the 50 partnership, but he picked out Nabi at deep midwicket in the next over. Sherfane Rutherford blasted his second ball for six to dent Kuggeleijn’s figures. The equation seemed to have swung dramatically in the Zouks favour when Pooran bottom-edged a Williams slower ball onto his stumps, but the Warriors burgled 8 off the last four balls of the 19th including a botched run-out to leave Rutherford on strike and 13 to win off the last over, to be bowled by Holder. Holder responded magnificently. He flattened Rutherford’s off-stump with a pinpoint yorker, then he had captain Green caught behind, and a bowler who’d gone for 30 off his first 3 overs sealed the win with 2/2, showing the world why West Indian cricket is so excited about him and giving the Zouks a third straight win ahead of the move to Port-of-Spain.
Chase stars as Zouks down GAW
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Nicholas Pooran of Guyana Amazon Warriors is bowled by Kesrick Williams of St Lucia Zouks during the Hero Caribbean Premier League match 10 between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Zouks (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)”
Anderson helps England enforce follow-on
Bayern continues PSG Champions League heartbreak PAGE 21
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James Anderson celebrates the fall of a wicket
Philippe Coutinho of FC Bayern Munich and Thomas Mueller of FC Bayern Munich of FC Bayern Munich lift the UEFA Champions League Trophy following their team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Julian Finney - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020