Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_11_05_2020

THURSDAY 5th November, 2020

No. 106174 |

Heavy rains pound Georgetown, coastline SEE PAGES ―Min. Mustapha calls for citizens to be more 3&9 responsible with garbage disposal ―Ministerial task force formed to respond to flooding

Vehicles negotiate their way on a flooded Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown on Wednesday (Adrian Narine photo)

US election: Biden confident of victory, Trump SEE PAGE claims ‘fraud’ 10

Doctors who allegedly improperly administered SEE drugs no longer PAGE 2 with GPHC

Virgin Atlantic, other SEE big airlines set PAGE sight on Guyana 4

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Doctors who allegedly improperly administered drugs no longer with GPHC ― GPHC assures steps taken to improve overall services

By Vishani Ragobeer THE team of medical doctors who, allegedly, improperly administered the drugs used as part of the chemotherapy for three children, in January 2019, are, reportedly, no longer working with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), according to reliable sources. Last year, three children who were receiving treatment at the GPHC for leukemia, a form of cancer, lost their lives. Seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards succumbed on January 14; Roshani Seegobin, three, died on January 18 and Sharezer Mendonca, six, passed away on January 24. Following the first two deaths, the GPHC launched an investigation which eventually concluded that “human deficiencies and systemic challenges” contributed to the unfortunate loss of the three children. These included the lack of supervision, inadequate staffing- stretched between various departments, and the misadministration of the drugs. At a press conference on the matter, in March 2019, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen

Boyle said, “It wasn’t a question of the dosage; the administration – in terms of where it was administered – was done incorrectly. She later added, “One drug [Vincristine] was administered intrathecally [injected to the spine] when it should have been administered intravenously [or injected into the veins].” During the GPHC’s investigation, it was reported

that the medical practitioners directly involved were relieved of their duties. Subsequently, by January 29, they were sent on administrative leave. The Guyana Chronicle understands that three doctors, including one senior doctor, were sanctioned by the GPHC. The employment contracts the senior doctor and one of the two junior doctors had with the GPHC had not

been renewed, while the other junior doctor was terminated. In addition to being sanctioned by the GPHC, the doctors who were employed through the Health Ministry would also be placed before the medical board. Former Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud confirmed that these sanctions were imposed on the doctors.

“We usually go through the process of disciplinary action through the Medical Council and that is still pending as far as I recall,” Dr. Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle, during a telephone interview. This newspaper was informed by the Chairman of the Medical Council, Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran, that the matter is undergoing “final review” by the Disciplinary Com-

Two of the three young children who, unfortunately, lost their lives

mittee of the Council. This Disciplinary Committee, as explained by the former CMO, is usually chaired by a judge. Dr. Rambaran, in his email response to the Guyana Chronicle, noted also, “In considering whether the doctors involved in this case posed an immediate danger to the patients and whether it was prudent to temporarily remove them from practice, the Council decided that the same was not the case.” Another junior doctor involved in the incident and who was working under the supervisor, has assisted with the investigation. Dr. Shamdeo said that he advised that the hospital strengthen its supervision.

IMPROVED SYSTEMS Dr. Rambaran highlighted that the Council also considered the “systemic factors” that might have contributed to the deaths of the children. He said the Medical Council was “reasonably assured” that the possibility of a similar occurrence in the future was “unlikely” given the GPHC’s immediate steps to improve its health services. Following the unfortunate events, the GPHC took immediate steps to remedy those “systemic challenges”. GPHC’s Communications Manager, Chelauna Providence, in an invited comment, said, “The department changed supervisors and the Standard Operational Procedures (SOPS) and certain policies were strengthened.” The Human Resources and Quality Improvement Departments of the hospital have worked to introduce more routine and ad hoc assessments of each department within the hospital and the staff, Providence said. This, she explained, helps to encourage the staff to follow the protocols and procedures instituted by the hospital to prevent any accident -- at least on the part of the hospital -- from occurring. The department responsible for quality assurance is headed by retired Nurse, Leslyn Holder. And this department, according to Providence, would usually investigate matters, such as the unfortunate deaths of the children. Thereafter, the findings and recommendations are presented. The investigation into the deaths of the three children is not yet completed, however. One of the three families, the Guyana Chronicle understands, has taken some legal action against the GPHC. The two other families have received compensation from the GPHC.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Ministerial task force formed to respond to flooding

This cyclist making his way through an inundated Lama Avenue (Adrian Narine photo)

HEAVY rain over the past few hours has resulted in flooding across Georgetown and other areas, but Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has assured the nation that there is no reason for major alarm, as Government is addressing the issue with expediency. “There is no reason for major alarm. We do have some flooding and we regret that we are still being troubled by flooding, but we are doing everything possible to alleviate the inconvenience and suffering being experienced,” said Minister Edghill, in virtual update on the situation, on Wednesday.

The minister said that all engineers from his ministry were dispatched to conduct a full assessment of the situation, and to ensure that everything is done to get water off the land. Minister Edghill said, from what he observed on Wednesday, all engineers were assembled at critical points in the City, checking to ensure there was a proper flow of water, no blockages and to identify where interventions were required. The full response effort is being coordinated by a special ministerial task force which comprises the Ministries of Local Government and Agri-

Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, conducting an assessment in North Ruimveldt (CDC photo)

culture. “We have taken a proactive approach all through the morning and afternoon… any interventions will be provided… Members of the private sector have called to give assistance, so they are available and that speaks well for Guyana,” said Minister Edghill. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) was also deployed across Georgetown to accurately capture the impact of the weather on public and private infrastructure. The National Weather Watch Centre has reported that frequent to continuous rain, showers and thundershowers are expected across all regions

of Guyana, with the northern parts of the country experiencing more severe weather. Citizens were advised that above-normal high tides and high waves may cause overtopping of the river and sea defence which may cause flooding, and, as such, the flood and high tides advisory is still in effect. This forecast is predicted to last until November 08, 2020. Over the last 24 hours, the country has experienced approximately five inches of rainfall. The drainage capacity caters for two inches of water; hence, the severity of flooding. To this end, the CDC is advising residents of riv-

erain, low-lying and floodprone areas to take all necessary precaution and to contact the National Emergency

Guyana receives US$4.3M in third royalty payment

PUBLIC Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill on Wednesday confirmed that Guyana has received its third payment of oil-and-gas royalties of US$4,304,275.

Georgetown records 120.3mm of rain on Wednesday IN a seemingly early start to the traditional December rains, Georgetown recorded some 120.3mm of rain on Wednesday, the Hydrometeorological (Met) Service has reported. The ‘Met’ Service collects reports from weather stations throughout the county; these reports give a total 24hour accumulated rainfall between 08:00 hours on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 and 08:00 hours on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. As such, the Service is reminding persons to be cognisant of the rainy period, and take the necessary precautions against any potential flooding that may occur. Today’s rainfall is anticipated to be between 50mm to 100mm within a 24-hour period, with the highest

amounts occurring over areas with thundershowers. The ‘Met’ Service has further advised that from Friday through Saturday, continuous rain and thundershowers are likely to occur over Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), while all other areas can expect cloudy to overcast skies, with light to moderate rain, and scattered thundershowers. Rainfall is anticipated to be between 40 to 80mm within a 24-hour period, with the highest amount of precipitation occurring over areas with thundershowers. According to the ‘Met’ Service, Sunday, November 8, 2020 is expected to see light to moderate rain, and scattered thundershowers over Regions One (Barima-Waini); Two

(Pomeroon-Supenaam); Seven and 10. All other areas can expect cloudy skies, with frequent showers and isolated thundershowers. Rainfall is anticipated to be between 30 to 60mm over Regions One, Two, and Seven to 10; and all other areas between 10 to 30 mm within a 24-hour period. Showers and thundershowers of various intensities, and frequent to continuous rain are likely throughout Guyana. Additionally, according to the ‘Met’ Service, moderate to rough seas can be expected, with wave heights of between 2.5 to 3.0 meters in open waters. Above-normal high tides, coupled with high waves are likely to result in increased overtopping of the country’s river and sea defences.

Monitoring System (NEMS) on 226-1114, 623-1700 and 600-7500, should they be affected.

Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill

This sum was deposited into the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) on October 20. It represents payment for Guyana’s gross oil production for the months of July through September, taking the total so far to US$12.9 million. The payment also adds to the over US$150 million already in the NRF. Article 15.6 of the Pe-

troleum Agreement says royalties are estimated every month, and must be transferred to the Government 30 days after each quarter. Guyana is entitled to some five million barrels of oil cargo this year, as part of its profit share from production at the Liza Phase 1 Development. Guyana’s first three lifts were sold to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited. The country is also entitled to five crude cargoes for this year as part of its profit share with ExxonMobil and its joint-venture (JV) partners. In May, Guyana received its first royalty payment of US$4.9 million. This was followed by its second payment in July, of some US$3,698,152. Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Guyana receives two per cent royalty and 50 per cent profit oil, which is what remains after the producer recovers their production cost. The country is also on schedule to receive its fourth million-barrel crude lift early next month. (DPI)

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guyana CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Virgin Atlantic, other big airlines set sight on Guyana -- airstrips, heliport being constructed by private investors

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA, a fledgling petroleum state, is expected to attract investors and people from across the world with its growing economy and “big airlines” such as Virgin Atlantic and West Jet, having noticed the country’s potential,

have started to engage authorities on the possibility of operating here. The most direct activities associated with aviation have already created $20.7 billion in annual economic activity for Guyana, representing 3.2 percent of the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On a macro level, Guyana, according to the Inter-

Thursday November 05, 2020 - 09:00hrs - 10:30hrs

national Monetary Fund (IMF), is expected to grow by 26.2 percent in 2020, despite the harsh effects of the novel coronavirus. The country’s resilience and potential make it the ideal investment destination, a reality which has not escaped the attention of ‘big’ carriers.

“We have commenced discussions with Virgin Atlantic… I have been spearheading that… I would hope we would be able to see Virgin Atlantic landing in Guyana with a scheduled operation… we hope those talks are successful,” said Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in his remarks prior to the installation of the board of directors of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), on Wednesday. The Chairman of the new GCAA board is Javed Shadick and the other members are Fazad Khan, Prema Roopnarine, Ra-

mesh Seebarran, Lt. Col. Courtney Byrne, Beulah Williams, Jerome Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the CJIA, Ramesh Ghir and Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field. While talking about some of the projects which are in the pipeline, Minister Edghill said that West Jet, Inter Caribbean Airways and Fly All Ways are “knocking strongly at the door, while the country has already licensed Jet Blue, which is expected to start operating from December 11, with five weekly flights. “And by no means should that be a full stop, it should be a comma… we want the world visiting Guyana and we want Guyana visiting the world,” said

ter said the plan is to align GCAA with those goals to ensure that Guyana’s development remains on the front burner. While a number of airlines from across the Region and farther afield have expressed an interest in the Guyana travel market, another key aspect of development in the aviation sector is the construction of airstrips. “We have been able to approve permission for the establishment of two new airstrips and the applications for others are pending,” said Minister Edghill. Among the applications is one to establish an airstrip at Orealla, an indigenous community in the East Berbice-Corentyne region. Additionally, a private investor is constructing a

Minister Edghill, adding: “We want to ensure air transportation is robust, accessible, predictable, reliable and affordable…we are also ensuring competition because we are not preferring one or the other, everyone is equal.” To this end, the minis-

heliport at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD). This facility is expected to service the offshore oiland-gas operations, among other things. From government’s end, the minister said they are finalising the design and programme for modernisation of the aerodrome at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The general plan as previously reported is to transform the Lethem airstrip into a regional airport. “Once this is done, people would not have to come to Timehri; they could do connecting flights at Lethem and go farther into South America,” said Minister Edghill. The aggregate benefits of these projects are immense, but the minister said airstrips also contribute to community development, as trade becomes easier and jobs are created. Whether through private or public interventions, the minister said growth at every level is inevitable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Rustom Dam road works to soon commence ― Minister Indar

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar listening to the concerns of a Belle West resident

ROAD works at Rustom Dam, Canal Number Two will soon begin, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar disclosed on Tuesday, during an outreach exercise in the community. Over 250 residents on the West Bank of Demerara, Region Three community are set to benefit from the 500 rod of road works. The minister told the residents that this move comes as part of the government’s commitment to provide a better life to the citizens of Guyana. The minister noted that the

government intends to take services and basic needs to many of the communities that have remained neglected over the past five years. “Our team in Cabinet everyday have to sit down and look at the resources we [have] got and the demand of the people, and try to put it into the most prioritised areas. There is so much work to be done, and while we want to provide for everybody we only have this emergency budget, but the government is still working. We intend to make sure all Guyanese benefit and have a better life,” said Minister Indar.

Additionally, he disclosed that at the Belle West Scheme, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) following consultations with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will start work on a roundabout which will create a better flow of traffic in the scheme. Minister Indar stated that congestion of traffic in the area during peak hours, was one of the major issues raised by residents. The residents during the outreach also raised concerns about crime in the area, the water supply and the need

for jobs, better electricity and drainage. Minister Indar committed to making contact with the Housing and Water Ministers and inviting them to the area to make an assessment of how they can provide relief to the residents. The minister told the residents that some of their concerns can be dealt with now, while others would have to be dealt with in the 2021 budget. Region Three Vice-Chairman Omesh Satyanand, lauded government’s intervention in the issues facing residents. He stated that both the road and the roundabout will bring relief to the residents. He added that these works could see further development of the housing scheme as it would allow easier access for persons transporting building materials. “These works that are being undertaken will benefit the residents. The residents always have an issue with the bridge there, so we are glad that the roundabout would somewhat ease that congestion, especially during the hours that persons are trying to get home or to work. And the road that

The 500-rod Rustom Dam road at Canal Number Two

is being constructed, many persons would benefit; there are farmers down there that would benefit when they have to transport their produce, so I’m glad that the road is being done and the residents are too,” Satyanand said. He used the occasion to

inform residents that the RDC is undertaking works of its own to cater to their needs. He stated too that the RDC is currently doing drainage and irrigation works in several communities in preparation for the rainy season.

Eccles businessman reportedly killed wife then committed suicide ― relative says he was a ‘jealous’ man

INVESTIGATORS are treating the death of a young couple as a murder/ suicide after their charred remains were found in their Lot 1139 Block ‘EE’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara house on Tuesday night. Dead is Leeroy King, a 34-year-old businessman, and his reputed wife, Cindy Moses, a 35-year-old businesswoman. According to neighbours, King came home around 19:15 hours on Tuesday in his motorcar, and Moses was seen opening the gate for him to enter. Then, shortly thereafter, screams were

heard coming from inside the house followed by a loud explosion. “When I peep out, ah see fire coming out from the top flat of the house, so we rush over and call the fire truck,” one neighbour told the Guyana Chronicle. The neighbour explained that minutes before the incident occurred, the couple was heard quarrelling. Both the Police and Fire Service were summoned, and when the latter extinguished the fire, police ranks entered the house and observed the charred remains of the couple lying on a bed in a bedroom

on the north-eastern side of the upper-flat of the building. It is believed that King killed his reputed wife first, before setting the house on fire. Their bodies were burnt beyond recognition. Their remains are at the Lyken Funeral Parlour. King, the father of three young children from another relationship, was the owner of a barber shop at Diamond Housing Scheme, while his reputed wife operated a stationery outlet and salon nearby. According to neighbours, the couple had just that weekend moved into the

DEAD: Leeroy King

DEAD: Cindy Moses

house. “They went through a lot to get that house, and within a few minutes, everything gone. Only God knows what went down,” a relative told this newspaper. According to the relative, the couple had lived a private life, but King was “jealous” of his reputed wife. Police are investigating the incident.

‘Wrong Turn’ on trial for 2016 murder EUSTACE GRIFFITH, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 2016 fatal stabbing of Stabroek Market handyman, Steven Dexter Arthur. Griffith, called ‘Wrong Turn’, appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court where a 12-member jury was empanelled. The murder indictment read to Griffith alleged that, on July 4, 2016, at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, he murdered Arthur. Griffith is being represented by Attorney-at-law Maxwell McKay, while

Prosecutor Tyra Bakker is on record for the State. The trial is expected to commence on November 10. The Guyana Chronicle had reported that, on the day in question, Griffith and Arthur were involved in a fight at Stabroek Market Square. The altercation reportedly started after Arthur had allegedly thrown a plantain skin on Griffith. It is alleged that Griffith pulled out a knife and stabbed Arthur to his chest, causing him to die on the spot.

The house in which the couple lived going up in flames on Tuesday night

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | TAJERAM MOHABIR

A step in the right direction MANY instances of domestic violence go unreported, for a multiplicity of reasons, among which are stigmatisation and further victimisation of victims, lack of co-operation and insensitive responses by police ranks, fear of violent reprisals by the perpetrators and victim-shaming. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Human Services and Social Security Minister, said that in Guyana, over 210,000 or three in five women have experienced some form of violence -- either sexually or physically. There are also cases where emotional and psychological abuse lead to depression, which may precipitate and/or activate suicidal or homicidal tendencies, or a combination of both. She made these revelations on NCN Channel 11 during the virtual launch of the “Spotlight Initiative” last Saturday, October 31, 2020. This is a United Nations/European Union funded initiative to address situations of distress of an estimated 600,000 women, girls, men and boys, providing quick-response/ interventions in crisis situations and to alleviate distressing circum-

stances of the abused in domestic situations. According to the minister, a budgetary allocation of 4.5 million Euros will be used to invest in strategic and catalytic interventions to address the root causes and holistically address gender-based violence and family violence over a three-year period. She iterated: “We need to ask ourselves why violence continues to be pervasive and persistent. The heartrending cries of women who are beaten, chopped, stabbed, raped, brutalised and, yes, killed in this most horrific form of gender oppression has propelled us to embark on a pivotal partnership with the UN and EU to significantly improve the conditions of women, foster their empowerment and work to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence.” “I cannot over-emphasise how important it is to report every incidence of violence to stem the relentless tide,” stated Minister Persaud as she announced the introduction of a 914 helpline to facilitate the reporting of domestic and sexual violence. In the past there have been issues with emergency numbers, notably on occasions, calls go unanswered or the callers are pro-

vided with inadequate response or assistance. One hopes that every effort is made to ensure this problem does not occur with the 914 helpline and there is an effective communication conduit between appointed authorities and victims, or informers. One component of the project, according to the minister, is programmed to open access to new initiatives that link survivors to agencies, advocacy programmes, referral pathways, micro-enterprise industries, public-private skills employment database matching and offer immediate help “to extrapolate them from violent situations.” The minister further posited: “It is perhaps the most obvious manifestation of deep imbalances of power in our society. The vulnerabilities epitomised through financial dependence, lower employment, the culture of silence in the face of violence, and tangible insecurities, particularly during a crisis, when vulnerabilities are at their peak and protections at their lowest point will be addressed through the Spotlight Initiative.” Minister Persaud stressed the imperative of eradicating the culture of silence

and the acceptance of violence against women and girls wherever it exists. She averred: “Violence, whether it affects women and girls, or men and boys, is unacceptable. This our chance to tangibly change the lives of women and girls as we promised at the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 25 years ago.” The minister’s plans for implementation to be conducted, and oversight to be provided by her ministry, is welcomed. Much funding was provided by PPP/C Governments of the past to various NGOs to address the scourges in society that were decimating the fabric in families, communities and the wider society, but, rather than directly benefiting the victims, most of the funding was diverted to ‘administrative’ functions and other non-related activities. This ray of hope offers a gateway to solutions for healing social ills and minimising, if not eradicating, instances of domestic and other forms of violence and abuse in the Guyanese society.

Call for national conversation on crime REFLECTING the major concerns of Guyanese both at home and abroad, I make an urgent call on the government to convene a ‘National Conference on Crime and the Penal System.’ This forum will allow stakeholders, law enforcement, government officials, social workers, and scholars/researchers to pool their resources, analyse the crime problem, and integrate their findings into a coherent policy framework. Guyanese harbour in common an objective fear about personal security (crime), even though each tends to express it in different ways. They are very worried about the spate of physical violence (crime) that has been unleashed upon victims, sometimes with naked brutality. The murder of the Henry boys, Haresh, and more recently the 86-year-old pensioner of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, among other predatory crimes, have evoked not only anger, but also exasperation over the crime problem in Guyana. The gravity of the crime problem can be simply stated as follows. “We can get all the best jobs, accumulate all the wealth, enjoy all the social welfare benefits, live in the best homes, have up-to-date models of vehicle, but as soon as we go onto the street we are

cut down by a hail of bullets. Or even in our homes, we can become victimised (robbed and/or killed).” So, what is the point of having all these material comforts, but be deprived of adequate public security? The continual uncovering of many corrupt activities (white collar crime) adds to the predatory list of crimes (murder, rape, wounding, domestic violence, armed robbery, drug trafficking, etc.) and present a picture of a breakdown of law and order. When Guyanese are afraid to leave their homes or walk on the streets, how else could anyone describe this situation other than as a living nightmare. We know of the devastating impact of crime on families (the trauma, the pain, and the financial and human loss), on businesses (physical damage and economic loss), and on public entities (in the form of graft and corruption that saps the life blood of development). Apart from crime driving fear into citizens, it also clogs up social intercourse; it scares away investment and hurts tourism. Here is how a sample of Guyanese view the crime (personal security) problem. “Without proper security, the people perish and people in the diaspora will refuse to visit” (PJ); “Guyana needs to pay their police more and

have a strict code of conduct” (HJ); “Balance the racial make-up of the security forces, higher level of education to enter... higher salaries and rewards/promotions for performance... and harsh penalties for criminals” (RC); “The security problem is restraining potential investors to come to invest in Guyana, especially the Guyanese diaspora, many of whom left Guyana in the first place because of the feelings of insecurity”(PK); “Why it is always the government’s fault? People should take some responsibility too. Why don’t you propose private security?” (IRS); and “The concerns of crime and other social ills are paramount for a country on the brink of a huge windfall from oil. With oil, other worrying social evils can increase” (AJR)”. What is interesting is that whenever there is a discussion on crime, Guyanese often refer to predatory and not necessarily to while collar crime! White collar crime is committed by people in powerful positions of trust and high status in the course of their occupations and who develop elaborate techniques of neutralisation to minimise their guilt. I have not been able to gather crime statistics from official records and have depended

heavily on anecdotal evidence from newspaper articles and from victims and their families. Statistical data would have allowed for the depiction of trends and the identification of groups that are at risk. Nevertheless, the available evidence is enough to highlight the need for swift action on the matter of “public security.” I am now reaching out to the current government and hope that they will respond positively to this request for a national conference on crime and the penal system. Everyone knows that crime is not only the government’s responsibility, but it is also everybody’s business. It is for this reason that I urge the government (Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, and the Attorney General) to get all the stakeholders involved in a national conference on crime and the penal system. Of course, this conference will be just the beginning of an ongoing dialogue on crime and its control. Other measures such as setting up a permanent task force on crime and drug trafficking, as well as law reform, could be integral to this process. Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Confidence in counting of ballots in Guyana and America Dear editor,

I CANNOT help but notice that there were/are vast differences in the counting of ballots in America and Guyana. There is confidence in the integrity of the electoral system in the U.S. that is almost completely missing in Guyana. America voted on November 3 and the ballots are still being counted, a process that is delayed because of mail-in and absentee ballots that would take several days. (In elections, the winner is known a few hours after voting closes). Guyana voted on March 2 and it took some five months to declare the winner as attempts were made, supported by some GECOM staff, to rig the outcome. Unlike in Guyana, the integrity of the ballots and even voting were preserved in America. In Guyana, counting and even aspects of the election process and voting were compromised by officials who are or were biased towards one party. In America, election officials don’t take sides. Media pix (videos and still photos) from across the U.S. and visits to polling places in New York reveal a mix of the ethnic backgrounds of polling staff representative of the general composition of voting areas – Whites, Indians, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and others. In Guyana, the poll workers and election officials absolutely do not represent the ethnic distribution of the population. This, in itself, undermines peoples’ confidence in the electoral process, given the history of electoral fraud under the PNC and the role of affiliated staff in doing the rigging. A balanced ethnic representation of the leadership of the election secretariat will boost confidence in the work of GECOM. And this was conspicuously missing in 2020 as well as in several earlier elections. Ethnic diversity of election boards (GECOM) wards against thoughts of electoral fraud or skullduggery as happened in 2020. Decades ago, poll workers in America were almost all Whites, who conspired to rig the system against Black Americans. Blacks and other minorities lacked confidence in the voting process similar to how members of ethnic groups fear fraud in voting in Guyana, because the staff is overwhelmingly of one ethnicity. In the USA, Black votes were often not counted or Blacks were turned away from polling places or their ballots were thrown away as what Burnham did to PPP (Indian) votes in 1968, 1973 and 1980 and what Hoyte did in 1985. All of that has changed in America, but in Guyana many staff members are still part of the Burnham

rigging process as was experienced in 2020. Over the last few decades, Black Americans have had very good representation in leadership of election bodies. Their strong presence made rigging impossible. Blacks have also had more than a fair share in the composition of staff at voting sites as I observed in visiting several places of polling in Queens and Brooklyn. I visited several polling stations in Georgetown on polling day and outside of the city and it was clear to me that the staff was/is not representative of the population. Amerindians and Indians were under-represented. I spoke with GECOM election officials and party representatives about the composition of election day workers and they agreed with my I observation. And I also watched video clippings of individuals working on voting day in Guyana. The staff is overwhelmingly of one ethnicity – certainly not representative of the multi-ethnic character of the nation. GECOM officials agree that much work needs to be done to have ethnic balance. The unbalanced ethnic composition undermines confidence in the electoral process. GECOM should make an effort to have ethnic parity in order to raise confidence in the work of the body and the electoral system. The conduct and performance of staff also impact public confidence in elections. In Guyana, as we observed in 2020, several staff members did not conduct themselves professionally; they were racially biased and politically partisan. In America, the staff conducted themselves professionally in the execution of their duties. Although election commissioners (heads of each polling district, equivalent of a region or a polling station in Guyana) and poll workers had their own party or candidate preference, they acted professionally, not goading people how to or for whom to vote. No staff member was reported or accused to have been involved in fraud (participating in ballot stuffing and or encouraging multiple voting) as what happened in Guyana on March 2 and the vote-counting process. In the U.S., there was no reported impersonation of voters during the voting process which is unlike what took place in Guyana. In Guyana, poll workers facilitated impersonation of voters in some neighbourhoods, especially in high-density urban areas. Electoral fraud is a serious offence. It is akin to treason because it seeks to undermine the system of choosing a government. In some countries, employees accused of electoral fraud are summarily jailed, if not executed, pending an inquiry. Charges

of fraud have been filed against several GECOM officials, but justice is moving slowly and the riggers have support from some politicians and two political parties. The accused are not facing mere allegations. Their actions in electoral fraud were publicly and transparently observed by the media, diplomatic corps, and international observers. The evidence against them is overwhelming. Guilt is merely a formality. As the trial is awaited, the accused and others implicated in electoral fraud must be removed from their duties; that is standard practice. People lack confidence in them. There should be an immediate inquiry into the behaviour of GECOM staff, as well as election day workers during the five-month ordeal and appropriate action taken against them, depending on the report and involvement in fraud. In any democratic country, the accused would have resigned or stepped aside while their case is heard in a court. Failing that, they would have been removed by the head of the agency or company from their positions until the matter is heard in court. Neither action has been undertaken in Guyana in the electoral fraud matter. It is inexplicable why the GECOM chair or the commission has not taken that step to discipline them and or remove them from duties. Also, in any job, there are performance ratings for continuation in office or for promotion. Surely, the performance of GECOM staff would (should) have been evaluated. That needs to be urgently done if not already conducted and appropriate action taken against them. GECOM cannot afford to have mediocre performance or anyone involved in electoral fraud on staff. Unless disciplined, staff would continue to under-perform or misbehave in office or engage in fraud. Examples must be made of them. They should have been terminated months ago if not right after March 2 or immediately after they were caught in the acts of fraud. Guyana should follow the example in the U.S. where attempted fraud is a serious offence that carries criminal indictment and civil penalties including loss of the right to vote again. Unlike in Guyana, in the USA, staff members accused of fraud or wrongdoing at a polling station or any job site are immediately removed from their positions pending an investigation or criminal charges or conviction. The penalties are not worth the risk of engaging in fraud in America. It is almost impossible to get away with fraud in America. Thus, few dare to test

the system for fear of spending time in jail. On election morning in New York, I visited several polling stations in Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Queens Village, Hollis, and a couple Black neighbourhoods. (There are ethnic neighbourhoods in NYC). I observed a diverse election staff inclusive of dozens of Indo and a handful of Afro Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals. They all acted professionally. There is no reason to believe that they would compromise their integrity and professionalism. In past elections, when there were issues relating to voting or campaign canvassing, they reported incidents to their supervisors and to the police. Any attempt to intimidate staff or violate the rules of voting and campaigning was dealt with professionally and urgently. The police (one is present at every polling station) acted instantly to rectify any issue and or make arrests; not like in Guyana where the police and election staff close their eyes to fraud once it benefits the party they support. In the USA, election supervisors took corrective action. It is because of quick disciplinary action and or arrests that there are minimal incidents of attempted fraud in the U.S. and in other countries sch as the UK, Canada, Denmark, Australia, etc. Guyana cannot afford to go into an election with the same electoral fraud accused like Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo, and others whose behaviour compromised the integrity of balloting and counting to favour their party. It is not enough that they be charged as would happen in USA. They should already have been suspended as would have been the case in America. Everyone who was implicated as a participant in fraud (electoral and otherwise) must be removed from GECOM while an investigation or commission of inquiry is launched. The electoral-fraud implicated must be disciplined now, removed from GECOM, in order to commence the preparation for local government elections 2021. Doubts would linger about the integrity and professionalism of the operations of GECOM and on voting and counting of ballots were fraud accused and fraud-implicated staff were to remain in the elections body. Once GECOM is reformed and all of its staff conduct themselves professionally, people would place their faith in the voting and counting of ballots. Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Mobile testing units dispatched to Diamond, other EBD communities

― after spike in COVID-19 cases By Navendra Seoraj AUTHORITIES have dispatched mobile testing units to Diamond and other communities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in those areas. Diamond, in the early days of the pandemic, had been a known hotspot for COVID-19, accounting for several of the cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). Although authorities had managed to arrest the situation, the disease has again made its way into the community.

mainly in Region Four, as this region accounted for, and still accounts for, most of the COVID-19 cases. Available statistics show that this region has 2008 cases, 25 more than it had on Tuesday. While authorities did not specify the location of those new cases, the mobilisation of testing units in EBD communities is an indication of where the hotspots are. Following behind Region Four are hinterland regions, which have also been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. Among the regions severely affected are Regions One (Barima-Waini) with 754 cases; Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) with 377; Eight

will produce results within minutes. And as it is now, testing for COVID-19 is done centrally at the National Reference Laboratory in Georgetown. Authorities would first have to acquire a sample from a person suspected to have COVID-19, and then send the sample to Georgetown, where medical professionals will conduct a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which takes hours to produce results. “We have ordered the antigen tests. This is not the PCR test; it is done right at the site, once you suspect COVID-19… you

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

With the aim of addressing the resurgence of cases, health authorities have dispatched a mobile testing unit to accumulate samples and set the foundation for a proper analysis of the situation. “We have sent it (mobile unit) into Diamond and surrounding communities… There has been a spike in cases there, so it is important to get a better picture of what is happening with the epidemic. And the way to know, is to do more testing, hence we sent it (mobile unit),” said Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during Wednesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update. Mobile units were initially introduced early in the fight against COVID-19, to ramp up screening and testing and also to effectively control the spread of the coronavirus by having more people know their status. These units were found

(Potaro-Siparuni) with139 cases; and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) with 376 cases, collectively accounting for over 38 per cent of the country’s 4,324 cases. While not directly referring to those regions on Wednesday, Minister Anthony said mobile units, in addition to being dispatched across Region Four, will also be sent to other regions and communities in order to “get a sense” of what is going on. EASY ACCESS “When a unit is put in a community, it is easy for people to access testing, so it essentially encourages people to come out and get tested,” said Dr. Anthony. It was reported recently that as part of efforts to improve and increase testing for COVID-19 in hinterland communities, local authorities have sourced 20,000 antigen tests, which

run the test and get it back within 45 minutes,” said Dr. Anthony, adding that each hinterland community is already equipped with fixed sites for testing. Authorities have also started the process of establishing COVID-19 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the country, to ensure that patients, in need of intensive care, are able to access it easily. “We are sending out ventilators to regional hospitals… so far Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has already received their ventilators and they have installed and tested them… the same has happened in Region Two, and Region One will have to uplift theirs,” said Dr. Anthony. Other regional hospitals were also encouraged to uplift their ventilators and, in some cases, oxygen concentrators.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

All foreign-brewed products must be clearly labelled ― says GA-FDD INDIVIDUALS and companies importing brewed products must now have a label on the items clearly displaying their names and addresses. The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) in a release, stated:: “Label of all brewed products (beers, stouts, shandy and malta) imported into Guyana among other standard labelling requirements, must include also the name and address of the local Importer and Distributer”. This announcement is in keeping with the Food and Drug Act, Chapter 34:03, Section 18 and the CARICOM Regional

Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)- Caricom Regional Standard (CRS 40:201X)- Labelling of Brewed products, GA-FDD noted. The release further mentioned that imported brewed products that are non-compliant with the label requirement would be refused entry into Guyana. Additionally, manufacturers of local products must be able to furnish a copy of their ‘No Objection Letter’ in cases of cottage industry or a valid licence to manufacture, issued by the GA-FDD to ply their trade at wholesale and retail outlets in Guyana.

GA-FDD noted that its inspectors would be enforcing these requirements along with Environmental Health Officers (EHO) (Sanitary Inspectors) in the regions and municipalities. Failure of importers, distributors, supermarkets, wholesalers and retailers to ensure compliance with the listed requirements would see enforcement proceedings and legal action being taken against non-compliant commodities found in their possession and/ or their businesses being placed before the courts in accordance with the Food and Drug Act Charter 34:03, for trading in unlicensed

products or improperly labelled imported brewed products. The department disclosed that these measures are being taken in the best interest of consumers to ensure unlicensed or smuggled commodities that may have been manufactured, processed, transported, stored or be exposed to unfavourable and insanitary conditions are not released for sale in local markets. Such an occurrence it was noted could put consumers at risk by exposing them to the inherent dangers associated with food fraud.

High water levels threaten capacity of pumps ― Minister Mustapha calls for citizens to be more responsible with garbage disposal By Naomi Parris HIGH levels of water from heavy rainfall can place a threat to local City pumps, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has reported. Mustapha, during a visit to several pumps on Wednesday morning, in Georgetown, said that some 120.3 millimeters, which is equivalent to five inches of rainfall, fell during the previous night which resulted in high water levels in some parts of the City. Minister Mustapha noted that such heavy flooding and high water levels pose a threat to the capacity of local pumps since the drainage system was built to take off two to twoand-a-half inches of water within 24 hours. “We have seen, for the past two days, very high-intensity rainfall. Our drainage system is there to take off just around two to two-and-a-half inches of water within 24 hours, so when you look at that high intensity of five inches then you will see how much stress that will put on our drainage system,” he explained. He added that the high levels of water and flash flooding seen within the last two days have brought

to light how vulnerable Guyana is to climate change.

sluices are opening and many sluices are operational around the City,” he

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, speaking to media operatives following several visits to a number of pump stations in Georgetown, on Wednesday

“This has shown our vulnerability to climate change and flooding around the country, not only in the City but across the country.” The minister and a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) have been monitoring the situation in Georgetown and on the coast. “I know for a fact that our engineers, the NDIA’s engineers, they were around looking and monitoring the situation. Most of the pumps are working around the City as I am speaking. The tide has since started to recede,

said, adding: “So we are working and we are deploying other mechanisms in place; we are ensuring that we are [cleaning] all the outpolls across the country and we are putting in additional pumps.” Minister Mustapha said that he is optimistic that all flood-related problems can be resolved before severe damage is done to people’s livelihoods and property with an all-hands-on-deck approach from citizens and the relevant authorities. “I want to ask residents and citizens around the country and around Georgetown to desist from throwing garbage in the alleyways in the drainage

canal. Such is hampering our drainage activity because when you look around now and you see the areas that are flooded there are tonnes and tonnes of garbage blocking the waterway.” He stressed that while the ministry and other agencies are doing their jobs, citizens must do their part as well. “So I am appealing to citizens; I am appealing to everyone, let us work together. You have to ensure that we have this system under control,” he said, adding: “We from the Ministry of Agriculture have a responsibility for the entire country. The NDIA will

continue to ensure that we take up our responsibility and ensure that we drain the entire country, but, at the same time, the local body will also have to play its role and get its act together.” The minister disclosed that the NDIA will be working continuously to keep all the waterways and canals clear, to ensure that they are functional during the rainy season, to avoid flash flooding and high water levels. He noted that the ministry is also looking to install, across the country, several new pumps, recently purchased from India.

Minister Mustapha watches on as an engineer explains how the pump operates

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guyana CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Biden confident of victory; Trump claims ‘fraud’

Democrat presidential candidate, Joe Biden

US President, Donald Trump

DEMOCRAT Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was headed toward a victory over President Donald Trump in the U.S. election after claiming the pivotal Midwestern states of Wisconsin and Michigan, while the Republican incumbent opened a multipronged attack on vote counts, by pursuing lawsuits and a recount. Wisconsin and Michigan were giving Biden, the former vice-president who has spent five decades in public life, a critical boost in the race to the 270 electoral votes in the stateby-state Electoral College needed to win the White House. Trump won both states in his 2016 election victory. Losing them would narrow his path to securing another four years in office. “And now, after a long night of counting, it’s clear that we’re winning enough states to reach (the) 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency,” Biden, appearing with his running mate, Kamala Harris, said in his home state of Delaware. “I’m not here to declare that we’ve won; but I am here to report that when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners,” he added. Trump’s campaign asked to intervene in a pending U.S. Supreme Court case over whether Pennsylvania, another key state that was still working its way through hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots, should be permitted to accept late-arriving ballots sent by Election Day. His campaign also said it would request a recount in Wisconsin, and added that it had filed lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania, seeking to halt vote counting, arguing that officials had failed to allow fair access to counting sites. Taken together, Trump’s legal manoeuvers amounted to a broad effort to contest the results of an election yet to be decided a day after millions of Americans went to the polls during the coronavirus pandemic that has upended daily life. They followed Trump’s early-morning attacks on the integrity of the vote, as the president falsely claimed victory, and suggested without substantiation that Democrats would try to steal the election. With ballots still being counted in many states in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Trump made an appearance at the White House, and falsely declared victory against Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. Trump railed against voting by mail during the election campaign, saying, without providing evidence, that it led to fraud, which is rare in U.S. elections. Sticking to that theme, Trump said: “This is a major fraud on our nation; we want the law to be used in a proper manner, so we’ll be going to the U.S. Supreme Court. We want all voting to stop.” Biden said, “Every vote must be counted. No one’s going to take our democracy away from us. Not now; not ever. America’s come too far; America’s fought too many battles. America has endured too much to ever let that happen.” Trump is trying to avoid becoming the first incumbent U.S. president to lose a re-election bid since George H.W. Bush in 1992. Biden won Michigan by 67,000 votes, or 1.2 per cent, while he was ahead in Wisconsin by just over 20,000 ballots, or 0.6 per cent, according to figures from Edison Research, which projected Biden as the winner in Michigan. Several news outlets projected Biden as the winner in Wisconsin, though Edison did not, citing the pending recount. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Renunciation of citizenship automatic ― when applicant appears before consular officer, says US Embassy official

U.S. EMBASSY Public Affairs Officer, Violeta Talandis, has clarified that renunciation of citizenship becomes official once a person appears before the Consular Officer requesting such under the Immigration and Naturalisation Act, section 349(a)(5). The Public Affairs Officer shared this information with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday when asked about the renunciation of citizenship by Tourism Minister, Oneidge Walrond and a certificate of renunciation. Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon had requested that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, produce Walrond’s loss of American nationality certificate by Tuesday. However, this did not occur. According to the US Bureau of Consul Affairs, a person who is a national of the US, whether by birth or naturalisation, shall lose his/her nationality by voluntarily making a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the US in a foreign state. Following statements questioning the status of her dual

citizenship, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond has affirmed that she had renounced her US citizenship before the first sitting of the National Assembly on September 1, 2020. Walrond, an attorney by profession, said she was asked by President Irfaan Ali on August 5, 2020, to serve as a member of his Cabinet – an offer which she said she accepted because it afforded her the opportunity to serve the people of Guyana. “As an attorney-at-law and being mindful of my status as a U.S. citizen, I sought the counsel of other attorneys on whether the sections of the Constitution prohibiting elected members from being dual citizens applied to me as a technocrat minister. “Despite advice that this provision did not extend to technocrats, out of an abundance of caution, I decided to renounce my citizenship to put the matter beyond all doubt and avoid any distraction to the good work of the government,” said Minister Walrond. According to the Tourism Minister, she wrote the U.S. Consular Office on August 18, 2020, renouncing herself of

citizenship to that country, with immediate effect. “I was thereof informed of the administrative procedure I must comply with to obtain a Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States. I complied with that process by August 27,” said the minister.

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon

After completing the process, Minister Walrond said she was issued a Certificate of Loss of Nationality, prior to taking the oath to serve as a parliamentarian. The minister was not a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the March 02 elections, but

Police reject Hughes’ assertion of failure ― say reward aims to advance investigation into murder of Berbice teens

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday rejected the assertion by Attorney Nigel Hughes that the $3M reward being offered for information into the murders of West Berbice teens Isaiah Henry, Joel Henry and Haresh Singh was an admission of failure.

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Press Officer Royston Andries-Junor

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Press Officer Royston Andries-Junor said in a missive that the offering of a reward is an effort towards advancing investigations with a view to solving the crimes. Further, he said a monetary reward made by a law-enforcement agency for information from the public is an internationally recognised and accepted

method to assist criminal investigators and is one utilised from time immemorial. “While the GPF is unsure of the agenda of Mr Hughes, and does not wish to speculate, what is certain is that his unfortunate utterances are neither in the best interest of the current investigations, nor the consolation of the bereaved family on whose behalf he is acting since such statements have the propensity to undermine the public’s confidence in the GPF and the investigations,” the assistant commissioner said. The press officer noted that the investigation into the murders received significant assistance from the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS) team of investigators who have opined that the police have done extensive work in the probe and has the competence to see it to completion. “The GPF is continuing diligently and is assuring the public that it will remain resolute in its assiduous efforts,” Andries-Junor noted Shortly after the police released their perspective, attorney Nigel Hughes said, “I am impressed with the alacrity with which the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has found it possible to respond to statements made during the press conference held by the Henry family.”

Hughes continued: “Perhaps if the same diligence, commitment and speed had been applied to the investigation of the murders of the young Henry boys we might all have been in a different place today. I have no doubt that the GPF noted the presence of the immediate relatives of Joel and Isaiah

Attorney Nigel Hughes

Henry at the press conference and it was with their full, prior informed consent and on their behalf that all statements were made at the press conference.” Hughes said that it is his personal hope that the necessity for press conferences and press releases can be obviated by a successful conclusion of the investigation leading to the prosecution and conviction of those responsible.

was selected to be a technocrat minister. The Constitution provides for four technocrats to sit in the National Assembly once they meet the citizenship requirement to do so. The issue of dual citizenship came up in 2019 after

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond

former member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Charrandas Persaud, crossed the floor in favour of the then Opposition PPP/C in a No-Confidence Motion against the

APNU+AFC Government, in December 2018. Following legal challenges, the Court of Appeal ruled that a person holding dual citizenship was not entitled to be a member of the National Assembly. Article 155 of the Constitution states: “(1) No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.” In 2019, this led to the relinquishment of foreign citizenship by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and her colleagues Adrian Anamayah and Odinga Lumumba. It also saw former Ministers of government Joseph Harmon, Carl Greenidge, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Dominic Gaskin resigning as MPs while Harmon and Greenidge relinquished their foreign citizenships. “I acknowledge that the eligibility of persons, who sit in the National Assembly, is

an issue that Guyanese have a right to be concerned about. I further acknowledge that the public has a right to know that the persons who sit in the National Assembly are qualified to do so,” said Minister Walrond. Walrond said persons have since asked the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, to verify her eligibility to be a member of the House. “I do hope that the above (her statement) serves to clarify any questions that may have been raised in light of the comments in the public domain, and I publicly commit myself to work tirelessly to ensure that in the future, our Guyanese citizenship becomes one of the most sought after statuses in the world,” said Minister Walrond. Walrond said she was disappointed to see the extent to which persons, on social media, sought to attack and vilify each other, as they took positions on the issue. Those persons were encouraged to raise their standard of interaction, as it will fortify cohesion and promote unity in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Iwokrama: A conservation gift to the World

THE Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (IIC) commonly known as Iwokrama, is one of five national protected areas in Guyana. The word Iwokrama is of Macushi origin, and translates as “Place of Refuge”. At the 10th meeting of the Heads of Government of Commonwealth Nations, in Malaysia (1989), the Langkawi Declaration on Environment was adopted. That was a programme of action to combat increasingly serious global environmental threats that were severely degrading the planet. Due to the potential and current impacts these environmental issues were having and their ability to transcend borders, they became matters for serious discussion at the meeting of the heads of Commonwealth. It was at that meeting that

H.E Desmond Hoyte, the then President of Guyana, gave the meeting a spirited and practical start by pledging to set aside a significant portion of intact Amazonian forest for a pioneering project, under the Commonwealth and in collaboration with the Government of Guyana. The proposed project would demonstrate that sustainable management of forest and conservation of biodiversity can work hand in hand, thereby lending support for the success of sustainable development as a future model for countries to follow. Following this offer, Commonwealth leaders asked the Secretary General to organise a visit of a high level team of experts for an exploratory mission trip to Guyana. The site visit was conducted from May 12 to 22, 1990 by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, who, upon conclusion of the mission, proposed a

joint Commonwealth-Government of Guyana programme to manage a significant area of rainforest, in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the international community and Guyana. Based on the recommendations received, an area of just over 900,000 acres (360,000 hectares) of intact tropical forested land was made available for the pioneering project, in keeping with the commitment made by President Hoyte. In the following years, work on the proposed programme continued and in 1993, US$3,000,000 was secured from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to help facilitate legal establishment, demarcation of boundaries, research and institutional development of the project area. Simple operations began by 1994 and further momentum was gained in 1995 with the signing of the Iwokrama agreement by H.E. Dr. Cheddi

Jagan, the then President of Guyana and the Secretary General of Commonwealth, H.E. Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Finally in 1996, the Iwokrama Act was passed unanimously by the Parliament of Guyana, thereby officially designating the protected area and establishing what we now know as the Iwokrama Forest. In a subsequent article we will explore the management strucuture of Iwokrama.

forest and open savannahs of this area. The Wai Wais, over the years, continued to practise their indigenous culture, paying strong attention to the management of the ecosystems and unique biodiversity, eventually leading to their landmark move to dedicate all their rainforest to the conservation of biodiversity.

the Village to develop a management plan for 2017-2021 and later submitted a joint application to the Government of Guyana for approval. In August 2017, the Government of Guyana legally gazetted the area declaring it a National Protected Area - making it the first Amerindian Protected Area in the National Protected

Their journey traces back to 2004 when the Village of Kanashen was awarded – in what is considered globally as one of the truest forms of recognition of traditional rights - absolute title to their ancestral lands. At approximately 3% (or 648, 000 hectares) of Guyana, this massive tropical forest remains isolated and relatively undisturbed in the deep south of Guyana. Along with giving life to the mighty Essequibo River, the largest river in the country, it is home to many species of conservation concern such as the Endangered Brown-Bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas), Vulnerable Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus) etc.; and the relational ecosystems that support these life forms. Being cognizant of external threats such as gold mining and the emerging patterns of culture loss, especially language loss, the Wai Wais took the bold step, in 2007, to designate their land a Community-Owned Conservation Area (COCA) under the Amerindian Act 2006. This new conservation move allowed the Village to train Community Rangers, Elders and other residents in natural resource management. Together as a Village and with the help of Conservation International, a community conservation management plan was implemented for about ten years. In 2013 the Village submitted an application to the Protected Areas Commission requesting to be recognised as a National Protected Area under the NPAS. Over the years the PAC worked closely with

Areas System (NPAS).

KANASHEN – “BECOMING GUYANA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS-OWNED PROTECTED AREA” Kanashen is Guyana’s southernmost Amerindian village, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region and shares an international border with Brazil. Kanashen hosts a population of about 300 residents of the Wai Wai indigenous people, who have lived for many years in the

HOW DOES IT WORK? The power for deci sion-making and management lies with the Kanashen Village Council, which employs a Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area (KAPA) Management Team of Rangers to implement the technical work programme of the protected area and its daily operations. However, as a new protected area, significant work is required to make it operational and function effectively. Therefore, in these early stages, technical support to establish crucial management structures is provided by the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the body mandated to manage the NPAS. The PAC works with the KAPA Management Team to build its capacity to implement the KAPA five-year management plan. This plan identifies two main themes under which work is to be done: biodiversity management and community development. The former advances protected areas management activities which include biodiversity inventories, monitoring and patrols, data collection and capacity building. The activities are funded by the Protected Areas Trust Fund (PATF). The second theme focuses on community development in the areas of infrastructure, health, ecotourism, and the preservation of the Wai Wai culture. It is intended that Kanashen will eventually become a national and international model for community conservation. This article was prepared by the Protected Areas Commission in collaboration with Iwokrama and Kanashen Village.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 5, 2020

Energy finance, technology and capacity ― take centre stage at launch of CARICOM Energy Month

UNDER the theme “A Resilient Community: Energy at the Centre”, CARICOM Energy Month got underway on November 2 with a virtual regional launch in the form of a panel discussion. Setting the tone, Dr. Gardner gave an account of the region’s renewable energy ambitions. He noted that in 2010, renewable energy usage in CARICOM stood at six per cent. This has grown to 12.3 per cent in 2020 with the intention of further growth in renewable energy utilisation to 40 per cent by 2030. Dr Gardner further noted that, within the region, the conversation around cleaner energy, which commenced at the beginning of the last decade, had grown to include adaptation to difficult circumstances, energy security -specifically as it relates to price volatility and disruptive supply chains for imported fossil fuels -- and multidimensional resilience. The CARICOM Energy Programme Manager stressed the need for improving the policy and regulatory frameworks within countries, and increasing financing opportunities, from both public and private financiers,

to achieve renewable energy targets set by the region. Speaking to the Barbados experience, BLPC Customer Solutions Director, Griffith Tang-How, reflected that the year 2020 underscores the need for Barbados to continue the path for energy independence and energy security. Griffith Tang-How further highlighted that the National Energy Policy of Barbados targeted 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030. In achieving this, she added, the island currently has 117 Megawatts of Renewable Energy with 50 Megawatts being solar energy. The BLPC director said that out of the 50 Megawatts of solar energy, 10 Megawatts were utility-owned while the other 40 Megawatts were customer-owned distributed systems. Furthering its renewable energy targets, Griffith Tang-How noted that her utility company had applied to launch the Integrated Utility Service (IUS) model pilot for Barbados. That model would see customers receiving upfront funding for energy efficiency and

renewable energy equipment and devices, while at the same time being allowed to repay the cost of this equipment and devices through their electric utility bills. As the head and founder of two successful renewable energy-focused companies, Angella Rainford plugged the need for upholding the rule of law, corporate governance and transparency to secure the right type of investors with honesty and integrity to benefit both parties. While there were always risks associated with major projects, Rainford acknowledged that investors, in turn, were always pricing these risks which could sway an investor’s decision, considering both the cost of capital, as well as the return to the investor. The dual-company CEO noted further that the cost of insurance was also a major risk on the capital markets as well as securing insurance from inception, because of extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, which could ultimately affect project implementation. The 2020 launch was held by the Carib-

bean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat’s Energy Unit in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), along with the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) funded Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (TAPSEC). Tobagonian media personality, Ms. Davia Chambers, hosted the event. On the panel of regional energy, finance and policy experts were Dr. Devon Gardner, Programme Manager – CARICOM Energy; Ms. Kim Griffith Tang-How, Director of Customer Solutions at the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC); Ms. Angella Rainford, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Soleco and Rekamniar Frontier Ventures; and Professor Chandrabhan Sharma, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus.

Car hits lorry, explodes in flames ‘We can do both’ ― balance COVID safety and economic measures, Dr. Anthony says

The car exploded in flame following the accident on the Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday morning

TWO parked lorries and a car went up in flames following an accident on the Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road around 06:05hrs on Wednesday. According to reports, the accident occurred when a 66-year-old pedal cyclist swerved from a puddle of water, causing the driver of the car to crash into a parked lorry. The pedal cyclist, identified as Deokumar Parbo, is currently hospitalised.

He was picked up in a conscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted. The driver is presently in police custody assisting with the investigation. Reports are that motorcar PTT 9975 was being driven by a 36-year-old and was proceeding west along the southern side of the southern carriageway. The cyclist was proceeding in the same direction when he suddenly swerved on the roadway into the path of

the motorcar, in a bid to avoid the puddle of water. In an effort to avoid a collision, the driver of the motorcar applied brakes; however, the vehicle still collided with the cyclist, causing him to fall onto the road where he sustained injuries. Subsequently, the driver lost control of the car and slammed into a parked lorry on the southern side of the parapet. The car then burst into flames, destroying the parked lorry it hit and another one close to it.

WHILE the proliferation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is of serious concern, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony contends that the country’s response must be equated with government’s efforts to stabilise the economy. Thus far, proactive measures have been employed,particularly in Region Four, which has a number of active cases and in Regions One and Nine, where a number of border communities are located. During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Anthony emphasised that a balance is needed between public-safety measures and economic measures. “Some countries who have locked down completely and curtailed economic activities, they now have different problems… where there is huge unemployment and lack of resources that are providing a set of challenges for those countries. We are now trying to balance two things, the economic with the safety measures. And again if people are responsible, we can do both with cooperation as a country,” he said. Further, he stressed that it is the responsibility of all citizens to protect themselves by adhering to the COVID-19 preventative measures. “Sometimes we look at these things in a very emotional way. Extending the curfew, whether we extend it by one or two hours, it doesn’t mean that persons have to stay on the road. So if you don’t have

any business to do on the road, go home. The extension of the curfew doesn’t mean that persons must be irresponsible, it just means that business activities are allowed until 10:30pm,” he emphasised. Minister Anthony explained that the circumstances in Region Nine where a border town is located is different and so, the COVID-19 preventative measures are different from those for other parts of the country.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony

“Region Nine doesn’t have a lockdown; Region Nine has movement restrictions. So it’s different, because a lockdown means that people can’t come in and go out. The reason why we have put restrictions [on] movement in Region Nine is because of its proximity to Brazil. We have had a spike in cases in Region Nine and we have been able to control that now, but we want to keep monitoring that region,” he said. It is the minister’s belief that with the current restric-

tions in place in this region, the positive cases will be kept at a minimum. He informed the Chronicle that similar restrictions are in place in Region One, given the influx of Venezuelan migrants. The migrants have been relocating to the aforementioned regions over the past few weeks. On October 30, the government took a decision to reduce the time for the national curfew, moving it from 21:00 hrs-04:00 hrs to 22:30 hrs-04:00 hrs. This and other emergency measures were made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement –B, March 16, 2020. According to health authorities, the COVID–19 Emergency Measures (No. 8) are expected to expire on November 30, 2020, unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions, created by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These measures were adjusted by government following an assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the reduction in the curfew hours, gyms and fitness centres are now allowed to open at 50 percent capacity by appointments only, to minimise the risk and spread of the virus.

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New ‘Sun Bao’ watermelon on local market THERE is a new variety of watermelon, named “Sun Bao”, on the local market. The project was a partnership between farmer, Ramesh Mahadeo, of Canal Number Two Polder and Caribbean Chemicals. Extension Officers of NAREI, during routine visits to the farm, provided technical support. However, the farmer’s over 25 years’ experience in producing watermelons was instrumental in the successful

harvest. This is a significant achievement for the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s agriculture diversification agenda since there were only three varieties (Mickey Lee and, to a lesser extent, the Charleston Grey and Sugar Baby) on the local market. “I have planted watermelons for years. I had many failures planting watermelons but I never gave up. Through trials and error, I have learnt

that I must get the soil right to plant watermelons. So, for this project, I invested in getting the soil right,” the 45-year-old farmer said. Another important decision he took was to research his crop. Ramesh, who was an industrial engineer before becoming a farmer, utilises Google for information. He found himself looking for new practices that would enhance his farming operations. “I have moved away from

planting seeds directly into the beds. I now plant seedlings. I find that when you plant the seeds directly, you have to wait longer to see if the seeds will germinate. Then during the two to three-week period, weed becomes a problem. But when you plant the seedling, you know the plants will grow,” Mahadeo explained. According to the farmer, marketing this variety posed no difficulty. In fact, persons enjoy the sweet, juicy watermelon.

The new variety of watermelon named “Sun Bao”

Education, Agriculture Ministries receive 75,000 face masks

TWO local businesses, N&S Algoo Brokers and AMS Investment, partnered on Tuesday to donate a total of 75,000 masks to the Ministries of Education and Agriculture that will directly benefit school children, farmers and estate workers, among others. Algoo’s, a licensed customs brokerage service, along with the newly-formed procurement company, gave 50,000 of the masks to the Ministry of Education, re-

ceived by Minister Priya Manickchand, and 25,000 to the Agriculture ministry. Finance Director, Sabrina Algoo, told this publication that there are still thousands of masks that are yet to be distributed, and that they will eventually decide to which ministries to donate them. “It was a collective decision between the two companies that we must help our fellow Guyanese in the fight to flatten the curve and stop the virus from mutating,” Algoo

Representatives of N&S Algoo and AMS Investment with Minister of Education Priya Manickchand (second, left) on Tuesday

expressed. Cognisant that the wearing of masks is the new norm and that school will be opened shortly, she said they wanted to bring some sort of relief. “Our inspiration comes from our two beautiful children; they watch and listen and know the seriousness of the situation and have asked us to be caring towards humanity. Our eldest daughter Lucy, a soon to be medical student, is eager for all Guyanese to act responsibly so that lives can return to normalcy,” Algoo expressed. According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, Algoo said, at the handing over ceremony, that, as a mother, she wanted all those attending school to remain safe

and healthy. In addition, she offered that the donation will bring some sort of financial ease to parents who may have had to otherwise purchase the masks. The Education Minister said that she was truly grateful for the donation and that it will assist in ensuring students remain safe while at school. Further, Minister Manickchand said that the donation means that the ministry now has 50,000 fewer masks to source. She commended the two companies for their benevolence. Also present at the event were Managing Director of Algoo’s, Nandalall Algoo, and AMS Investment representative, Su Riu Hui.

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Sakho accepts "substantial" damages WADA (BBC) - Crystal Palace defender, Mamadou Sakho, has accepted "substantial" damages from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over allegations he took banned performance-enhancing drugs. Sakho was briefly suspended in 2016 after testing positive for a fat-burning substance called higenamine. But UEFA cleared him when it found that higenamine was not banned by WADA. On Wednesday, WADA's lawyers said the agency "accepts it should not have made the defamatory allegations it did". Sakho, who missed the Europa League final against Sevilla as a result of the ban, was tested after a Europa League game against Manchester United that March while playing for Liverpool. The 30-year-old also claims the suspension cost him a place in France's Euro 2016 squad. Sakho said: "I am pleased with WADA's acceptance that I did not breach the UEFA anti-doping regulations;I did not cheat, had no intention of gaining any advantage and acted in good faith. "I am also pleased that WADA has apologised to me and agreed to pay a substantial sum in damages. "I consider myself vindicated and now look forward to

Sakho served a provisional 30day suspension in 2016 before the ruling was overturned.

continuing my career." He added: "This is the worst thing you can be accused of, doping. Today is a big day for my story." Sakho was cleared in July 2016 by UEFA's disciplinary body, which found that higenamine was not banned by WADA and that the agency's own laboratories were unsure about its status. However, WADA later issued statements which said Sakho was guilty of taking a prohibited, performance-enhancing drug. The defender sued WADA for defamation and, on Wednesday, accepted an apology from the agency and an undisclosed sum in damages. His barrister, Julian Santos, said the defamatory allegations "were republished by a very large number of media organisations to many millions of readers, causing very serious harm to Mr Sakho's reputation". He added: "WADA has apologised and agreed to pay a substantial sum by way of compensation and not to repeat the allegations." Guy Vassall-Adams, QC, representing WADA, said the agency "accepts Mr Sakho did not breach the UEFA anti-doping regulations, did not cheat, had no intention of gaining any advantage and acted in good faith". He added: "WADA regrets the damage the defamatory allegations caused to Mr Sakho's reputation and the distress, hurt and embarrassment caused to him."

Archery Guyana Clinic with 2 persons from Canada including Wayne DeAbreu, and persons from Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10. A proposal was put forth to the GOA and it was suggested that this be a good project for an Olympic Solidarity Course. The said proposal has been duly submitted and is awaiting favourable consideration to facilitate plans for the way forward. The National Sports Commission was also mentioned

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as being very supportive of Archery Guyana in so many ways with access to the various sporting facilities. Upcoming Events Guyana will be represented at the prestigious World Archery Americas General Assembly in November by three (3) members: Mr. Mohamed Khan, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon and Mr. Robert Singh.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday November 05, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE 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) Kieron Pollard (MI) (2) Shane Watson (RR) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in IPL 2013? (2) Who took most wickets? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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Maradona showing signs of improvement after brain surgery (BBC) - Legendary World Cup winner, Diego Maradona, is showing signs of improvement, just one day after having brain surgery in his native Argentina. The 60-year-old, who captained his country to World Cup triumph in Mexico in 1986, required an operation for possible bleeding on his brain. His physician, Dr Leopoldo Luque said: "Diego has been responding very well. "When we removed the drain, he laughed, looked at me, grabbed my hand, and the first impression is it is favourable." Maradona was admitted to the Ipensa clinic in Buenos Aires on Monday, suffering from anaemia and dehydration. The former Barcelona and Napoli midfielder is set to remain in a clinic in La Plata, south of Buenos Aires, for at least 48 hours as he recovers. "Diego is without any type of neurological deficit, without any type of complication associated with surgery. He has an excellent post-operative period, the laboratory parameters even improved," Luque told reporters at the clinic. "He is in a post-operative period and the moods are difficult to assess. "The first impression is it is favourable, but it is difficult to evaluate. Diego's evolution is day by day and in principle today he will be in intensive care as well." Argentina's all-time leading scorer, Lionel Messi, wished his compatriot well on social media. Alongside a picture of the pair together, the Barcelona forward wrote in Spanish: "Diego, all the strength in the world. My family and I want to see you well as soon as possible. A hug from the heart!"

Reporters gather outside the Olivos Clinic in La Plata where Maradona is recovering from surgery.

Wagner, Southee and Grandhomme on injury list as Windies series looms (ESPNCRICINFO) - Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme are part of a growing injury list for New Zealand, but coach Gary Stead is hopeful that most of the problems are not long-term concerns ahead of the start of the international summer against West Indies. However, left-arm spinner, Ajaz Patel, has suffered a setback in his recovery from the calf strain that has delayed the start of his season. Southee (back), Wagner (hip/groin) and de Grandhomme (right foot) have been ruled out of Northern Districts' next Plunket Shield match, although it is hoped that Southee will be able to return in round four which starts on November 14. Henry Nicholls, who has yet to play this season, is on course to return from a calf injury in round four as well for Canterbury. Matt Henry has previously been ruled out for up to six weeks after breaking his thumb. "Injuries are always a concern and we're certainly monitoring each case closely with our medical staff," Stead said. "Tim Southee and Henry Nicholls are both expected to be

Tim Southee celebrates a wicket (AFP)

Minister Ramson grants approval...

Over-50s Regional cricket.” Singh noted that the GCB also had an issued with late application, which he said was a management decision due to the uncertain environment created by the pandemic. “The BMC-G thought it wise to obtain the COVID Task Force approval first prior to approaching the GCB for its blessings. It was obvious that if that permission wasn’t obtained it did not make any sense whatsoever to approach the GCB.” NOT NECESSARY

Minister Ramson, who is also an Attorney-at-law, noted in a letter to Singh that approval for the tournament by the GCB might not even be necessary. “As it relates to the other issues raised therein, regardless of any arrogating appreciation to the contrary, it is important to be advised, as I hereby do, that the approval or imprimatur for any sport tournament by respective sport Associations/ Federations, while inherently beneficial, is not strictly required unless it is a vehicle for advancement within the structure of a world/international sport body.” The Minister added that cricket and its administration is

fit for round four of the Plunket Shield. "Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme both have niggles and we are awaiting scan results on their respective injuries to ascertain the next steps. "Likewise, Ajaz Patel had a scan on his left calf after suffering a setback in his return to play rehabilitation. An update on Neil, Ajaz and Colin will be provided once their scan results have been received and assessed." Of the injured players, Southee and de Grandhomme are likely to feature in New Zealand's T20I squad to face West Indies from the end of November, whereas Wagner and Nicholls are key parts of the Test side. The first Test against West Indies starts on December 3 in Hamilton.

From Backpage under the radar of his ministry. “In addition, it is also important to be advised that the extant status of the Guyana Cricket Board is in a state of flux as a result of the recent restoration of all of the provisions of the Cricket Administration Act 2014 previous irregularly suspended. Every effort is being made to return legitimacy to the process and the Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely.” Some 10 teams have signed on for the Over-45 competition, which was originally scheduled to start on November 15 at various venues across the country.

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GFF weighing options ahead of restart of football …Forde cites year-end-tournament, football ‘for all’ but in safe environment

By Rawle Toney FOLLOWING the recent announcement by the country’s National COVID-19 Task Force about the lifting of the restrictions for sports, pending approval, Wayne Forde, president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), stated that, along with his executive committee, he’s weighing the options that can see the safe return of the sport locally, and one that will benefit all playing groups. According to the Gazetted order, “Every person or organiser hosting an approved sporting event shall be responsible for ensuring that the measures under the notice, as well as the guidelines that the Ministry of

Health may issue, are complied with.” Sports in Guyana has been at a stand-still since the advent of the Coronavirus and the restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of the virus were not too friendly to the country’s sports men and women. While sports has seen a return in some Caribbean countries, in Guyana, athletes and sports enthusiast were not so lucky; at least until now. Speaking exclusively with Chronicle Sport, Forde outlined that since the release of the latest COVID-19 measures and restrictions, the GFF executive committee has been busy trying to solidify their already formulated plans to see the game return

to the pitch. Forde said the plans, which will be disseminated to the public shortly, will see “as much football being played within each age category, all the way from the grassroot level, right up to the senior level will have to be played.” As it stands, the GFF president said his Federation is “trying to get that guidance from the National Covid-19 task force and all stakeholders involved in providing guidance.” “But I would say, in the not so distant future, we’ll be able to open up on the plans that will be tendered to the GFF executive committee for approval,” Forde noted. According to Forde, “there’s a level of urgency

in figuring out exactly what can be done and what measures can be put in place to ensure that the public, players, spectators and officials are kept safe during whatever events we’re going to bring off.” It was not revealed by the GFF president if fans will be allowed in the venues, as is the case in several countries which returned to action behind closed doors. Only recently, Howard McIntosh, a top CONCACAF and FIFA executive, appearing on a University of the West Indies, Mona webinar hosted by the Faculty of Sport, which addressed the issue of bubbles as a means of holding sporting events to safeguard against the coronavirus, spoke of the

Shakib to undergo fitness test (ESPNCRICINFO) Shakib Al Hasan, whose international ban ended late last month, is among 113 cricketers who must pass a fitness test - to be conducted on November 9 and 10 - before making it to the draft of the upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament. A total of 80 cricketers, including Shakib, will be tested on the first day at the Shere Bangla National Stadium's indoor facility, supervised by the board's strength and conditioning coaches. None of them need to undergo a Covid-19 test, though they have been asked to follow health protocols. The 12-month ban on the star allrounder, for failing to report corrupt approaches, ended on October 29. Shakib is currently in Minnesota, but is expected to arrive in Dhaka later this week. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said last week that the board wanted Shakib to play the T20 tournament, the second event in the 202021 domestic season, which doesn't have too much cricket as Bangladesh is recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 situation.

Shakib Al Hasan is expected to arrive in Dhaka, from Minnesota, later this week AFP via Getty Images

In October, the BCB held a three-team President's Cup, where 46 cricketers - from the Bangladesh preliminary squad for the postponed Sri Lanka series and from the high-performance set-up were picked. The Bangabandhu tournament is likely to be a five-team competition, beginning in late November, with the BCB, which has been trying to bring cricket back in the country slowly, managing the bio-secure bubbles. It is the board's continu-

ous attempt to slowly bring back all the domestic competitions one by one, but not without managing the bio-bubble on their own in these two tournaments. Apart from Shakib, 31 Bangladesh internationals have been called up for the tests, including Nasir Hossain, Sohag Gazi and Shahriar Nafees, who haven't been in the scheme of things for the national team for a long while - 35-year-old Nafees last played internationally in April 2013.

The rest of the group is made up of first-class or club-level cricketers who played in last season's National Cricket League, the Bangladesh Cricket League, and the Dhaka Premier League. Many of these cricketers have been training in the nets and gyms, and some have even participated in small T20 tournaments around the country to stay fit, as they haven't played any competitive cricket since midMarch.

Caribbean’s unique position where football, like cricket, cannot be played in a bubble. Having heard about the cost of West Indies cricket and the NBA, which is in the millions of dollars, close to maybe billions, it can’t happen in our region because we just can’t afford it,” McIntosh said. In an article published in the Jamaica Gleaner, McIntosh said that having competitions in more controlled environments, with continuous testing, would be the direction going forward to restart football in the region, similar to how major European leagues operate. “The approach that we have taken, moving from the contained biosecure bubble,

is a contained environment with high-frequency testing. That is what is being used now in the English Premier League,” he said. Guyana, like the rest of the Caribbean nation, is preparing for a hectic International season, as the Golden Jaguars, the country’s senior Men’s National football team, embark on qualification tournaments for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Forde noted the importance of affording the local players, who are in contention for national duties selection, the best possible chance of showcasing their skills to the selection-panel and head coach, Marcio Maximo.

United concede to Istanbul Basaksehir (BBC) - Manchester United suffered a chastening night after conceding an embarrassing opening goal as they were humbled by Champions League rookies Istanbul Basaksehir. Basaksehir, formed only in 1990, claimed their maiden Turkish Super Lig title last season and had not scored a goal or claimed a point in their opening two games in the competition. They could not have wished for an easier way to get off the mark as United's defence went missing, allowing former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba to run clear from the halfway line and fire past Dean Henderson. United's defensive efforts for the second goal were almost as bad, Deniz Turuc dispossessing Juan Mata and finding Edin Visca in acres of space in the box to smash home. The visitors were given hope when Anthony Martial headed in from a Luke Shaw cross two minutes before the interval, but they could not salvage a result in a shabby second half showing, Basaksehir picking up a famous victory. Slow and ponderous United punished United's 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham last month looked to be the low point in their season, picking up three victories and a draw after that result. But they were desperately poor in the defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and this was another feeble showing which piles the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Like much of the Norwegian's reign, United seem to build momentum and then throw in dreadful performances, with the inevitable questions likely to come about his suitability for the job. United finished third last season and the need of a new centre-back was clearly obvious but they failed to make the addition in the transfer window, the fragility once again exploited in Istanbul.

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GTTA aims to host table tennis event in coming weeks THE Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is assessing the possibilities of hosting a tournament by the end of the month. Its president, Godfrey Munroe, said that the association will look to follow all rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Health in order to ensure the safety of its players and officials. “The athletes’ health, wellbeing and safety are of paramount importance to us, so we want to ensure we get this right as we venture out. In this regard, we will use the National COVID-19 Task Force and ITTF guidelines and will be using some independent health personnel to assist us with the review of our pro-

cesses. We will also ensure that necessary approvals from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are secured.” If the GTTA can get over the hurdles, it aims to run off its next event from November 27. Monroe noted that the games will be streamed online and although both national junior boys and junior girls and their senior counterparts will compete, the playing area would not be crowded. He said that the intention is to invite players as they are scheduled to play, so the venue would not have more than six players at a time. “Players will only come

Christopher Franklin is the number one ranked Senior male TT player in Guyana.

to the venue based on the schedule of matches ....We will have to have period of

cleaning after each match, so space and time would have to be allowed between

matches and for players to warm up.” Additionally, the GTTA

plans to limit the amount of players participating in the competition to also add to its social distancing policy. The Men’s battle will be among the top 16 players who competed at the last Senior National Championships, while the Boys’ competition will include the top 16 juniors. The Girls’ clash will be between the top eight junior females, while the Senior Females will be an open battle due to the small number of active local players. At the moment, the tournament is without a sponsor, but Munroe noted that the association would work to get trophies for the juniors and cash incentives for the seniors.

Archery Guyana hosts virtual AGM ARCHERY Guyana hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM), virtually, last weekend with members given an opportunity to discuss the activities and plans for the way forward to promote the sport of Archery in Guyana. Minutes from the previous meeting were adopted followed by Secretary-General of Archery Guyana,Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, delivering the annual report. She reported on the status of the website, membership, the various Sub-Committees and the proposed National School programme, which had started just before the COVID-19 pandemic, at the ISA Islamic Academy and Queen’s College. International events were also reported on, such as the World Archery Ranking Tournament in Santiago, Chile, the Caribbean Beginners and Developmental Championships, and the Caledon Tournament in Ontario, Canada. The Double 720 Qualification (Baltimore) was also mentioned. With respect to local competitions, the inaugural Archery Guyana’s Seven Seas Indoor Championships 2019 was reported on as well as the Heritage

Games 2019, where Archery Guyana was partnered with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs. There were a number of online courses, organised and facilitated as a result of the affiliation with World

During the reporting period, the Board of Archery Guyana also participated in a successful virtual Meeting with World Archery Americas (WAA) and other National Federations where a number of areas were discussed. The Secretary-General

electronically, pictures of equipment, scorecards and the target were sent to the Competitions and Judging Committee via Whatsaap for tabulations and scrutiny. Seven archers took on the challenge of recording the highest score out of

Archery Guyana’s directors from L-R Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Mohamed Gamal Khan and Nicholas Hing

Archery, such as a Sports Science in Archery Course and a course on classification basics: assignment, assistive devices and equipment inspection, that were offered to members, a number of whom participated during this period. Archery Guyana also organised a virtual Bow-Tuning Session that was conducted by Trinidad & Tobago Level 4 archery coach, Sherwin Francis.

went on to report on the Online Archery Cup of the Americas which set out to have the spirit of competing on a virtual arena whilst abiding with the COVID-19 safety measures across the Americas (North, South and Central America and the Caribbean) Archery Guyana was tasked with conducting Qualification rounds, which was a 600-round. Scores were recorded

600 for Guyana. Canadian-based Guyanese, Wayne DeAbreu and Devin Persaud, shot from an Archery facility in Canada, while Umasankar Madray, Nicholas Hing, Robert Singh, Samira Duncan and Talitha Kissoon shot from various locations in Guyana. Regrettably, the body did not make it to the Elimination shoot but look forward to future competitions.

Online National Archery Judges’ Seminar Plans earlier this year to host a National Judges’ Seminar, regrettably, had to be postponed for the various intervening unforeseen circumstances. However, World Archery Americas hosted an online seminar to train national judges. Consequently, an invitation to participate was extended to members and persons considered suitable, representing the first paid course offered for the last 3 years. 11 participants are a part of the 12 session seminar which started on October 12th and will conclude on November 6th with an exam. Indoor and outdoor practice sessions were reported on as continuing with the kind permission of the NSC and the Ministry at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, and at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground, Carifesta Avenue. Collaboration with local bodies, such as the Guyana Beverages Inc., the Muslim Youth Organisation and MMG, was reported on. It was also announced that a Specially Convened Committee, mandated to develop the sport of Para-Ar-

chery in Guyana, was established. Archery Guyana, from time to time, will be seeking to host Fundraising events. In December last, they were asked, for the past 2 years, to assist with the Archery Fundraiser at St Joseph Mercy Hospital’s Christmas Fair. The most recent Fund-raising exercise was the sale of Archery Guyana shirts. It was also reported that since the initial request for affiliation and approval was made to the GOA in 2014, this was achieved only last year. Since then, the Board has duly made an application for what would have been the Tokyo 2020 Tripartite Commission Invitation Places and learnt that archer, Devin Persaud, was ranked fifth in priority by the executives of the Guyana Olympic Association and his name will be submitted in the priority list to the IOC for consideration for the Tripartite application. They are awaiting favourable consideration in this regard. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Archery Guyana was also planning to host a 20-hour Olympic Recurve See Page 20

GFF weighing options ahead of restart of football …Forde cites year-end-tournament, football ‘for all’ but in safe environment

See Story on Page 22

Action between GDF and Fruta Conquerors at the GFC ground.

Minister Ramson grants approval for the hosting of BIGMAN CRICKET

M See page 23 Natalie Cummings, one of the best locally based female players.

INISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr has given his stamp of approval to the BIGMAN CRICKET-Guyana (BMC-G) tournament which was initially scheduled for later this month. Ramson congratulated BMC-G on its initiative and wished it success in the venture. The Over-45, 25-over competition was recently shun by governing cricketing body, the Guyana Cricket Board, on the grounds that it would have infringed on its sanctioned Over-40 competition. Former GCB official Raj Singh, who is a director of the BMC-G stated in a release yesterday that the decision by the GCB was “mostly frivolous, vexatious and anti-cricket”. The seasoned administrator noted that he had already obtained permission from the Ministry of Health-COVID-19 Task Force and had only applied

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr

to the GCB for its “blessings”. “It is public knowledge that the GCB has never held an Over-40 competition countrywide in its 77 years of existence. The BMC-G did not have an issue with such a tournament as the BMC is an Over-45 tournament and the GCB Tournament could have served well as a feeder competition for our Over-45s See page 21 BMC domestic cricket and our

GTTA aims to host table tennis event Wagner, Southee and Grandhomme in coming weeks on injury list as Windies series looms See Story on page 21

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THURSDAY, nOVEMBER 05, 2020