Guyana Chronicle E-paper 4-29-2020

WEDNESDAY 29th April, 2020

No. 105984

More men than women – figure moves hit by COVID-19 to 75 overnight PAGE

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‘POLITICAL SPITE’ 02 PAGE

… Gayle sees Jagdeo’s hands in his exit from Tallawahs

British Airways makes historic flight to CJIA 13 PAGE

Guyana poised to join trials of antibody 10 treatment for COVID-19 PAGE

Region Four Deputy Regional Health Officer, Dr Christopher Seetram, interacting with health workers stationed at the screening centre at Paradise, East Coast Demerara (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

POLITICAL SPITE …Gayle sees Jagdeo’s hands in his exit from Tallawahs

… the PPP leader had threatened to put him in his ‘bad books’ OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has seemingly followed through on a threat made to Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle to put him in his “*&%$# bad books” after the Cricketer revealed that his contract was not renewed with the Hero CPL franchise team, the Jamaica Tallawahs, as a result of the politician’s machinations and other actors.

In October 2019, ahead of Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had apologised publicly for lewd behaviour when his expletive-laced comments were exposed in a leaked audio recording in which he stated that Gayle was now in his “bad books.” He made the remarks amidst rage that Gayle had appeared at a Peo-

ple’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) rally in Linden that month and ---though the cricketer made it clear that his presence at the rally was not an endorsement of the party-- Jagdeo was livid, saying that the act meant an endorsement for the coalition government.

At that time Jagdeo had denied rumours that he was enraged because he had wanted Gayle to appear at a Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) event on the same day, but the Jamaican opted for the Linden outing with the PNCR. “Tell him that you just get in fu—-g Jagdeo bad books,” the opposition leader was heard telling two men on the tape, as they discussed Tyrell Tull, a former Guyanese cricketer who was seen with Gayle in Linden.

In a press conference at

Jamaican cricketer Christopher ‘Chris’ Gayle (The National photo) the end of the week, a bashfulb Jagdeo apologised, stating: “I’m really sorry that the public had to hear what took place in a private setting.”

However, that was not the end of the matter as six months

later, Gayle, in a YouTube video, expressed that Guyana’s polarised political situation had ruined his contract with the Jamaican team. He said that Tallawahs’ CEO, Geoff Miller and Tallawahs’ franchise owner, Chris Persaud had known a month in advance before the end of his three-year contract that there was no plan to renew it.

“They knew a month in advance that they didn’t want me,” he said. “This is all politics and this is personal as well. This is all coming from one visit in Guyana. Apparently, Guyana had their elections and at one visit, the minister of the country invited me to his community and I made a visit there to his community and the other side, which the owner is a part of as well, got offended and they all take it personal.”

In explaining the events, he said that months prior, Miller told him that the franchise was looking to sell the Tallawahs as it was struggling and asked Gayle to take a pay cut. Gayle was hesitant at first but eventually agreed, because of how desperate Miller sounded.

Gayle said that on different occasions Miller even discussed with him the players the franchise should retain and gave him the impression that he was still a valuable member of the team.

Soon, there were rumours that he would be transferred to the St. Lucia Zouks but when he contacted Miller, he denied this and asked Gayle to take another pay cut, with which the cricketer reluctantly agreed.

When the date for the submission of names arrived, March 31, 2020, he wanted to negotiate again with Gayle. The Jamaican cricketer did not find out about his cut from the franchise until after the deadline, through a third party and hasn’t since heard from Miller.

He also pointed to the actions of former teammate Ramnaresh Sarwan, whom he said has held a grudge against him for personal reasons for years. Gayle held back no words in referring to Sarwan as “wicked”, “vindictive” and “immature.” Gayle said that it is known that these actions stemmed from his visit to Guyana and the displeasure of the opposition leader. Back in October 2019, the Jamaican had made it clear that he does not have an interest in Guyana’s politics and has mingled with both sides of the divide in the past.

“I, Christopher Gayle, would like to make it very clear that I in no way, manner or form endorse or support any individual or political party in Guyana. I have noted the many Social Media comments in relation to my recent presence in Linden, and I wish to set the record straight. I was invited to Linden to participate in a community outreach.

As a sports personality, I relish the opportunity to meet with my fans, and also to reach out to any community under the neutral banner of sports. I am apolitical of any political commitment, and strongly condemn attempts to tarnish my brand and personality,” he had stated last year.

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo said at the press conference that he had apologised for his expletives and that he was angry because “the people of Guyana would believe somehow that Chris Gayle would endorse APNU.” He said that to be in his “bad book” meant that “some of these individuals I know them and so they call me from time to time to talk to me etcetera that means that privilege is gone.”

Months later, the politician’s remarks appear to have had much more meaning.

DINNER WITH THE OPPOSITION Gayle said that he has had dinner with supporters of the opposition in the past and no uproar was made.

He said that he had no idea that a trip to Linden, his first to the town, would lead to such personal feelings by Guyanese politicians.

He said that he personally has no problem with Persaud, still respects him and has shared good times with him, but wants the truth of the situation to be known. “I think he was actually persuaded to get rid of Chris Gayle because he’s not that type of person, I can tell you that,” the cricketer said. “I don’t know him well, I might be wrong, but the little time I spent around him and got to know him more, he’s definitely not that type of person...someone has to be in his ears telling him to get rid of Gayle.”

Meanwhile he believes that Miller too was being instructed and did what he did to protect his job.

“You might come and say it’s nothing to do with the politics, but it was a big thing in Guyana…y’all came and used this politics thing against me and get me out of my own country.”

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‘Get Tested!’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

–– Health official urges East Coast residents to take advantage of Paradise facility

By Svetlana Marshall

ONE day after a COVID-19 Screening and Sample-collecting Centre was established at Paradise, on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), nine persons have been screened, two of whom have been tested for the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, having met the criteria. Their results are pending.

gion Four Deputy Regional Health Officer, Dr. Christopher Seetram said as the Ministry of Public Health bolsters its testing capacity, it’s important for persons who are exhibiting signs of the disease to visit the COVID-19 Screening and Sample-collecting Centre.

“If you know you have signs and symptoms; if you believe you might have been exposed, I urge you to come

than 460 persons being tested.

according to health authorities, this type of testing takes about seven hours to produce results.

IMPORTANCE OF TESTING “As we flatten the curve, testing is one of the most important aspects,” the Deputy Regional Health Officer said.

In an effort to accelerate the country’s rate of testing, the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health

Region Four Deputy Regional Health Officer, Dr. Christopher Seetram

Dr. Seetram explaining how the process of acquiring samples from suspected COVID-19 patients works The two persons exhibited symptoms associated with the disease, such as fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients even experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea.

In an interview on Tuesday at the Paradise COVID-19 Centre, the Re-

and get tested at the Paradise Health facility if you are on the East Coast,” he pleaded.

Testing, Dr. Seetram, said is critical in the fight to combat the disease, which has seen more than 3 million cases being recorded globally, inclusive of more than 200,000 deaths. Locally, there have been eight (8) deaths since the first COVID-19 case was recorded on March 11, 2020. A total of 75 cases have been recorded to date, with more

Organisaiton (PAHO/WHO) has provided the Ministry of Public Health with 7,000 testing kits to supplement the 2,000 it initially had.

Dr. Seetram, while noting that the COVID-19 hotlines are still operable, said that no appointments are needed before visiting the COVID-19 Screening and Sample-collecting Centres at Paradise, and at Herstelling, on the East Bank Demerara. Those centres operate from 09:00hrs to 15:00hrs from Monday to

Friday.

Once at the Centre, Dr Seetram said, the process is simple, and is facilitated by a team of highly-skilled medical professionals, inclusive of doctors and nurses.

“After washing your hands, you will be screened by a trained health personnel, who will take your signs and symptoms, and if needs be, your vital signs, for example, your temperature, your blood pressure and blood sugar,” Dr. Seetram explained.

He noted that further screening will be done to determine whether the person meets the criteria for testing to be done, and that once a person meets the criteria for testing, a sample is taken.

“It is a three-stage process; the last stage we swab you,” the Deputy Regional Health Officer noted.

Samples are sent to the National Reference Laboratory, where the actual test will be conducted. As it is now, Guyana is using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method to test persons for COVID-19. And,

HOLDING AREA Dr. Seetram said in the event a patient manifests shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19, he or she will be placed in an established “holding area” and arrangements would be made for that person to be quarantined if necessary.

Importantly, the Deputy Regional Health Officer said mechanisms have been put in place to safeguard the health personnel from contracting the disease in the event they come into contact with a COVID-19 patient. He explained that three specially-designed cubicles have been built to prevent any physical contact during screening and the collection of samples.

If an individual is unable to visit the Screening and Sample-collecting Centres, Dr. Seetram iterated that the COVID-19 hotline can be utilised, in addition to mobile sample-collecting units.

Meanwhile, in an effort to suppress the spread of the disease, the Deputy Regional Health Officer is calling on all Guyanese to take the necessary precautionary measures. “From what we know, wearing masks, practising physical distancing and also personal hygiene can flatten the curve, and reduce the spread of Coronavirus,” he said.

In a public plea to citizens of Guyana, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence reminded the nation, “A mask is better than a ventilator; home is better than the ICU! Prevention is better than cure, and it’s not curfew; it’s care for YOU!”

Health workers at the COVID-19 Centre at Paradise whose job is to record information given them by persons using the facility (Photos by Delano Williams)

Four feared drowned as boats collide in Berbice River FOUR persons are feared drowned following a boat collision up the Berbice River, in the vicinity of Kabatali.

The incident occurred after the mandatory 18:00hrs

curfew. While the reports are sketchy, information gathered indicated that a wooden vessel powered by a 75 horse power motor engine, was returning to the New Amsterdam township, when it collid-

ed with a smaller vessel, in which four family members were travelling.

As a result of the impact, the four men, “Godfrey”, “Julian”, “Freeman”, and “ Lindie” , were thrown out of

the vessel, into the Berbice river. Their boat was completely destroyed. Up to press time relatives were searching for their loved ones. However, they have since recovered slippers belonging to the

missing men.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the other boat did not stop to render assistance.

Residents of the riverine community claimed that the vessel originated from East

Canje. Police Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus acknowledged hearing of the incident, but said it is currently being investigated by ranks in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice.)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Lusignan prison escapees still on the lam

POLICE are still on the hunt for prisoners who escaped from the holding bay at the Lusignan Prison a week ago.

The men, Anthony Padmore, Kenraul Perez, Sasnarine Bisnauth and Ganesh Dhanraj escaped from the facility on Monday, April 20, at around 03:46 hours, during heavy rainfall.

hours, when the four prisoners did not answer to their names.

The relevant CCTV footage was examined and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was alerted.

The prisoners made good their escape by jumping the eastern fence. The ranks on duty, at the material time, have been interviewed and

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels However, the discovery was made by prison officials during roll call at 06:15

are cooperating fully. So far, no prison rank has been found culpable.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, told Guyana Chronicle that members of the Joint Services have not made any progress as yet in recapturing the four inmates.

Padmore, 26, is serving a three-year sentence for trafficking in cannabis. He is from Ogle Street, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

His next of kin is listed as his mother who lives at Juicetown, Berbice.

Kenraul Perez, 26, of Mabaruma, North West District, a murder accused, is also among the escapees. His next of kin is listed as his father who lives at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Bisnauth, 24, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, has been charged for two counts of robbery and armed robbery. His next of kin is listed as his mother who lives at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara.

Dhanraj, 32, of Façade, Parika, West Coast Demer-

ara, was also charged with murder. His next of kin is his mother, who resides at Parika.

day, October 15, 2018.

Double-murder accused Travis Evans, Sudesh Dyal, who was on remand for break

recaptured by the police.

Paul Goriah, who escaped from the Lusignan Prison and Cobena Ste-

Sasnarine Bisnauth, Anthony Padmore, Ganesh Dhanraj and Kenraul Perez In October 2018, three prisoners escaped from the Lusignan Prison. The three prisoners escaped from the Lusignan holding bay at about 04.30 hours on Mon-

and enter and larceny, as well as escaping from lawful custody and Dexroy Pollard, who was also on remand for break and enter charges, escaped from the facility but was later

phens, called “OJ”, who escaped from the Georgetown prison during the destructive prison riot on July 9, 2017, are also still on the run.

Coronavirus: France mandates masks for schools and transport (BBC) France will make face masks compulsory on public transport and in

secondary schools when it starts easing its coronavirus lockdown on 11 May, Prime

Wednesday, April 29, 2020 ― 09:00hrs ~10:30hrs

Minister Edouard Philippe has said.

Schools will reopen gradually, starting with kindergartens and primary schools.

Pupils aged 11-15 will be expected to wear face masks.

It comes as hard-hit Spain also outlined its lockdown exit plan, aiming for what

its prime minister called “a new normality” by the end of June.

How will France reopen?

Non-essential shops and markets will open their doors again from 11 May, but not bars and restaurants.

Stores will have the right to ask shoppers to wear

masks, and should ensure they remain a metre (3ft) apart, the prime minister said.

In a relief to many, the French will be able to go outside again without a certificate confirming their intentions, and public gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed. Crèches will also reopen - but with a maximum of 10 children in each group.

France has suffered one of the highest Covid-19 death rates in Europe, along with the UK, Italy and Spain.

On Tuesday the number of people who have died with the virus rose by 367 to 23,660, the country’s health ministry said. Some 129,859 people have been infected.

Hospital admissions and the number of patients in intensive care have been falling, however, giving cause for cautious optimism.

Addressing parliament, Mr Philippe said the lockdown had saved an estimated 62,000 lives in France in a month, but that it was time to ease measures to avoid an economic collapse.

“We will have to learn to live with the virus,” he said, until a vaccine or effective treatment is available.

He summed up France’s priorities as “protect, test, isolate”.

Parliament was scheduled to vote on the government’s proposed measures after a debate. Only 75 of almost 600 French MPs were allowed

into the chamber for reasons of social distancing, with others voting by proxy.

Will the lockdown definitely be lifted?

Mr Philippe stressed that France must take strict precautions to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections.

“The risk of a second wave, which would strike a weakened hospital fabric, which would impose a ‘re-confinement’, which would ruin the efforts and sacrifices made during these eight weeks, is a serious risk,” he said.

The lockdown will not be eased on 11 May if new cases don’t stay below 3,000 a day, he added.

France has seen about 2,162 new cases a day on average over the past two weeks.

The government has set a target to carry out at least 700,000 coronavirus tests per week from 11 May, the prime minister said, and will cover the cost of testing.

“Once a person has tested positive, we will begin to identify and test all those, symptomatic or not, who have had close contact with them. All these contact cases will be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves,” he said.

Mr Philippe said that where possible, people should keep working from home beyond 11 May.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Fire guts West Ruimveldt storage bond

A two-story storage building filled with wood and outdated items went up in flames just before 20:00hrs on Tuesday at 27 Shopping Lane, West Ruimveldt.

No one lives in the building but the caretaker suspects arson.

Stephen Clarke, a 60-year-old is the relative of the owner of the abandoned building, who lives overseas.

He believes that it was gutted by arsonists who wanted the land to sell after he refused them on different occasions.

Firefighters responded swiftly to the scene from the West Ruimveldt Fire Station just nearby and were able to prevent the spread to other build-

Stephen Clarke, a 60-year old

ings. For years the Clarke has stored furniture and wood in the building with the intention of using it for wood craft purposes should the opportunity arises at a furniture factory opposite the building.

He has lived in a building opposite since 1972.

He said that the house has no electricity or water, which solidifies his belief that the fire was arson. Clarke stated that late last year and earlier this year persons had come to the location claimed that they are the new owners of the land. “If I saw the people I would know them but I don’t know them by name,” he said. “They wanted that land and the next land which

is Ptolemy Reid’s niece’s own. They said both are sold but when they checked up at the Town Council they saw that the rates and taxes are being paid up to date so they changed their tactic.”

He said that on previous occasions he had seen the said visitors at the location and he made himself visible and they left. He heard of the fire after he had left home to buy food. Clarke said that he has told the same to the Fire Service and has been asked to provide a statement to the police.

He said that he will follow up with the necessary authorities and hopes justice will be served.

The building on fire

Masks should be changed every 30 minutes … Health Ministry advises GECOM ahead of recount

THE Ministry of Public Health, through the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), in its report to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), recommended that persons involved in the National Recount at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) should have their masks changed after every 30 to 60 minutes.

Based on the Elections Commission’s decision to have no more than 132 persons operate at the 10 workstations for a period of 10 hours daily for 25 days, it is likely that GECOM Secretariat would require 33,000 masks, should it decide to

adhere to the recommendations of the health officials to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. That’s, however, if the masks are changed every hour. Should GECOM Secretariat decide that persons should change their masks every 30 minutes, then 66,000 disposal masks would be needed.

The recommendation was made by a team of five Ministry of Health officials, who indicated that their recommendations were aligned with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC).

In total, the health team 14 recommendations to the Elections Commission. The

others include the need to sanitize frequently and for all involved to remain hydrated. “Rooms must have a table at the entrance and exit with disposable face masks, hand sanitizers with minimum 70% alcohol, disposable gloves, disposal hand tissue, for example, Bounty tissue, foot pressed type-rubbish bins with garbage bags to avoid touching,” the health officials recommended.

Noting that supplies must be replenished at periodic interval, the health officials said it was important for all persons to adhere to the strict protocol of hand sanitizing.

“Staff after 20-25 (max-

imum) times of hand sanitizing should wash his/her hands with liquid soap and water. Ensure there is correct use on hand washing technique;” the team urged GECOM in its report, while emphasizing that physical distance of 3-6 feet apart must be adhered at all times.

As side from those recommendations, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward had told reporters that the report submitted by the NCTF, based on the findings of the health team, cleared the 10 rooms identified for the establishment of workstations.

However, health of-

ficials, indicated that of the 10 rooms identified for workstations, only eight could accommodate 14 persons at any given time. As such, it stated that two of the workstations, should have no more than 10 persons assigned to each.

The health officials had conducted the visit on April 20, 2020 in the company of the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, the Elections Commissioners and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield among other officials.

Guyana Chronicle was unable to confirm whether GECOM Secretariat will be adhering to all 14 rec-

ommendations, as presented by the health officials and the NCTF, however, the Elections Commission is expected to meet today from 09:30hrs at GECOM’s headquarters to discuss the Secretariat’s preparedness for the recount.

A date for the National Recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections has not been set, however, it is expected that a date will be set at today’s meeting, given the fact that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) high-level team is scheduled to arrive in Guyana on Thursday to validate the recount process.

No decision on post-May 3 measures ... Taskforce says requests for charter flight to bring home stranded Guyanese still under review THE National COVID-19 Task Force (CTF), headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, is still deliberating on whether it would extend the National Emergency Measures and grant approval for stranded Guyanese to return home.

“No final decision was taken on either matter, both of which require further deliberations,” NCTF said in a statement on Monday, hours after the conduct of its weekly statutory meeting.

With the airports closed to international travel, the NCTF has received a number of requests for charter flights to transport Guyanese stranded in the United States (US), Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and other parts

of the world - but a decision is pending.

Guyana has had a ban on international travel since March 18, 2020 to prevent against imported cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease. The ban is due to expire on May 1, 2020, however, it is unclear whether a decision will be taken to extend it.

The ban was incorporated in the National Emergency Measures which were implemented on April 3 for a period of one month unless extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health following an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

“The Cheddi Jagan International and

Eugene F. Correia International Airports shall remain closed to all international flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorised flights,” a section of the order by the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, read.

Addressing the issue earlier this month, the NCTF had said that while it is sympathetic of Guyanese currently stuck in foreign countries as a result of the global pandemic, it was not feasible for the country to re-open its international borders at the time.

“The NCTF continues to receive information of Guyanese citizens who are in

various parts of the world seeking to return to Guyana, and while sympathetic to their situation, considers it a priority to ensure that all citizens in Guyana are protected from the spread of COVID-19 and reiterates that Guyana’s international airports remain closed to incoming passengers until May 3,” it had said while reassuring Guyanese that an assessment would be done prior to May 3, to determine whether the airports can reopen to passenger traffic or whether it is necessary for the closure to be extended.

Other measures include a 12-hour curfew from 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours; closure of non-essential businesses; and a ban on social activities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

COVID-19 and the elderly

T

HE elderly are amongst the most vulnerable in our society and whilst we all work together to combat the spread of COVID-19, we must remember that this disease has a particularly high mortality rate, especially for the elderly and those suffering from pre-existing comorbidities.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most persons who are infected with COVID-19 are likely to experience mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and are likely to recover without requiring specialist intervention. However, older persons and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer, are more likely to develop serious illnesses if they contract the virus. Whilst the government has implemented a number of measures and policies aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, for this group of persons more attention and care has to be taken in order to ensure their comfort and safety at this time.

To this end, the Ministry of Social Protection has heightened preventative measures at various care centres where the elderly are likely to be present. Care

facilities such as the Palms Geriatric Home have imposed restrictions of visitation and a number of requirements on staff members.

Along with the recommended sanitation exercises, there is now routine screening of staff reporting for duty. Whilst on duty, all staff members including medical, administrative and auxiliary have been issued with personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, aprons, long boots and overalls. Additionally, the Palms has closed the Out-Patient Department in an attempt to stem the flow of persons going there to collect their medications. Senior citizens are therefore advised to attend their local medical outlets in order to access that particular service in the meantime.

Similarly, the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) have been working to reduce the number of pensioners attending post offices to collect their pensions. In order to mitigate the risk of contracting the virus, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has recently donated 5,000 face masks to the GPOC. Noting that pensioners will be collecting their pensions despite being amongst the most vulnerable in our society, Director- General of the CDC,

Colonel Kester Craig stated that “We are looking at vulnerable groups and the pensioners have been recognised as one of the most vulnerable groups. They are considered high-risk, and we want to ensure that they are protected. Hence, we are here and we are happy to give these masks to GPOC and ensure they are able to distribute to the pensioners across the country when they are collecting their pension.”

As we remain tied in a political stalemate and with Parliament not having reconvened, concerned citizens might be wondering what financial measures might be implemented in order to help the most vulnerable in our society. Having identified that the elderly are amongst the most vulnerable, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, has noted that “the issue of stimulus packages will be on our minds. I would say to you that once we can get past this hurdle, the issue of a real stimulus package, looking at the economy post-COVID will occupy our attention in a more studied manner.” In the meantime, civil society organisations have picked up the baton and have been leading the charge with food and hamper distributions to those most vulnerable at this time.

Though social distancing has been

widely hailed as a means of curtailing the spread of COVID-19, it essentially means that this group of persons is now even more vulnerable to social isolation, loneliness and potential neglect. The mental health aspect of the social -distancing measures is likely to be marked, especially for this group. In Guyana, we have very strong familial ties and many of us maintain close relationships with our grandparents and those who might fall within the category of elderly. We should therefore try to connect with our elderly family members by calling to check in on them and spending as much time as we can with them on the telephone. There is no substitute for the bonds made and maintained by human interaction; however at this time, we must approach things more creatively. Finally, we recently reported that Guyana is on course to “flatten the curve” and reduce the spread of COVID-19, this is according to Resident Pan American Health Organisation/WHO representative, Dr William Adu-Krow. Dr. Adu-Krow also noted that this will only remain possible if the government maintains the current containment measures.

PPP operative in FBI probe pulls bogus petition stunt at US Embassy T Dear Editor,

HE Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has noted that a Guyanese citizen residing in Trinidad and Tobago by the name of Randy Depoo, performed a publicity stunt yesterday by presenting a so-called petition to the United States Embassy in Jamaica. Depoo’s fake petition calls for sanctions against named Guyana Government officials for purportedly engaging in “elections rigging.”

No court in Guyana has made any finding of electoral irregularities. Depoo’s allegations are solely an invention of the racist opposition PPP, of which Depoo is a member, and which GECOM results show lost the March 2, 2020 elec-

tions. Currently, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is preparing for a countrywide recount of all ballots.

There are also credible allegations that the PPP engaged in elections fraud in Regions One, Two, Three, Five and Six. The PPP is resisting a national recount of votes.

Deepoo is a known PPP operative.

He has himself been accused of electoral fraud in connection with his involvement with GECOM during the December 15, 1997 and 2006 general elections in Guyana. It was in the midst of the 1997 elections that the PPP unlawfully swore in its presidential candidate, Mrs. Janet Jagan, as President, while votes were still being counted. The elections were later nullified by the Guyana Supreme Court.

Depoo has therefore earned a place on

any sanctions list for alleged electoral fraud in Guyana.

Depoo is also alleged to have been the subject of an FBI and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service investigation for making death threats. On December 11, 2007, Depoo allegedly sent an email to the office of CGID President, Rickford Burke’s office which read: “I am in Guyana armed, ready … and waiting for the likes of Rickford Burke.” The email was reportedly sent in response to an article Burke wrote, titled, “Torture, bloodshed and ethnic exclusion in Guyana.” Depoo is a known flat-footed PPP hack who is seeking attention with an insipid political stunt.

Any sanctions by the US government against Guyanese should be on former PPP government officials

who committed murder and sponsored death squads which committed extra-judicial killings and political assassinations of over 1400 African Guyanese – a genocide. Since Depoo now fancies himself as a lobbyist for sanctions against Guyanese, he should include the names of all of the PPP members and supporters who are currently under investigation by the US Justice Department for gold- smuggling and billions of dollars in money laundering. Certainly, they too have earned places on a US sanctions list.

Regards Richard Millington Director of Communication Caribbean Guyana Institut for Democracy (CGID)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Hetmyer, you are blessed with the ability to succeed Dear Mr. Shimron Hetmyer,

N

OW that you are on an unscheduled hiatus, it is perhaps as good a time as any for reflection. “Hetty,” it is a consensus that you are blessed with congenital athleticism and more particularly with a natural batting skillset that has propelled you thus far to the highest levels of the game of cricket. As they say, your considerable natural talent is God’s gift to you, but what you do with it is your gift to God. That of course is a presumptuous statement in view of the fact that one may not know you personally and therefore not sure of your religion or your belief system.

That notwithstanding, it is undeniable that your natural physical skill as it relates to batsmanship separates you from say the normal population. And so we the keen observers and rabid fans of our beloved sport of cricket are grateful that those tasked by Cricket West Indies (CWI) to identify such talent and provide them with the opportunity to realise their full potential, saw fit to deliver you upon the world stage.

Though your initial foray into the highest level of the game appeared premature, subsequent performances on the world stage in all genres have convinced us that you belong there. However, keen observers of the game would justifiably suggest that your performances have been sporadic and spasmodic. In today‘s international cricket world you could parlay your skills for immense financial benefit for the long haul and forge a successful career, but you must produce consistently. To some, it would be frustrating to see your rare talent not maximised, only because of a lack of dedication and guidance.

From my vantage point you Mr. Hetmyer are naturally tailor-made for today’s game, but you must work at your game daily and place the highest price on your wicket, much like your countryman Shivnarine Chanderpaul did throughout his career, without necessarily compromising your natural instincts and flair.

There once was a young man whom you might have heard of named Carl Hooper.

Evidently he was born to play the game and batted with such ease and skilled abandon that it was once written that if batting were a

beauty contest, Hooper would have been Ms. World. The stylish right-hander was vaulted into Test cricket, completing his maiden Test century on his first overseas tour against a formidable opposition. Mr. Hooper would tell you as he told me that he thought that it was all downhill from there. Needless to say, this gifted young man found out the hard way that he needed to rededicate himself to working hard on a daily basis to continuously achieve his full potential.

One does not know what you are told in coaching sessions as you ply your trade for CWI, but it is frustrating to the casual observer and fan if you will, to see your impetuosity precipitate your downfall, innings after innings, to the detriment of not only your career but of the team. Your manifestation of frustration at a missed opportunity of hitting a bad ball to the boundary is instructive. You must recalibrate your outlook on batting.

Abandon or certainly rethink the concept of ‘one size fits all’ in international cricket. Test cricket is remarkably different from One Day Internationals, which is notably dissimilar to T20s. Mr. Hetmyer, you are blessed with the

ability to succeed in all of the above.

Needless to say, it was appalling to watch you waste an opportunity to score your first Test century in Bangladesh as you swung wildly when on 93. One more patient over and you would have achieved that coveted milestone. Sir, patience really is a virtue and I strongly suggest that you adopt the 4 ‘F’s principle –Fitness – be fit at all times, it helps you to think clearly; Familiarity – be cognisant of prevailing conditions and the opposition’s scheme of attack as they constantly try to work you out; Focus – your concentration on every ball must be unwavering and laser-like; Fortitude – it is imperative that you be mentally tough to cope with the game of 11 to 1 – all of them against you. And at every opportunity available to you, do watch videos of innings of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Viv Richards, and your countryman Clive Lloyd. Best of luck young man.

Regards Cosmo Hamilton

PPP and supporters making a mockery of everything Dear Editor,

B

EFORE the March 2020 General and Regional Elections (GRE) in Guyana, the then leader of the opposition and now “illegal” opposition leader used to threaten our nation that if he and his party do not have their way at the GRE, he and his party supporters won’t take it lightly. He also mentioned on several occasions that they will write and call on the international community, especially the United States, to impose sanctions on the APNU+AFC officials and all their backers (don’t know what he meant by that).

The illegal opposition leader then started to ensure that his party’s financiers start singing to his tune with the same beat and only verse of his “sanction Guyana America sanction, sanction APNU+AFC only”. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) chair was then ordered to and dance to the tune of Bharrat, while he was also instructed to write and make all sorts of wild accusations against GECOM and APNU+AFC. Recently I heard and saw my friends addressing him as “Sanction Jerry.”

The illegal opposition leader also gets the GCCI and a number of his party financiers singing the same sanction tune. They continue in making all kinds of statements calling on the US and other international organisations to drop several penalties on the APNU+AFC officials and the government.

Why is all this being done, especially the call for sanctions by the PPP, PSC (“Sanctions Jerry”) and others?. Because the PPP as I have said before had invested a lot of money into the elections and cannot afford to lose it. I have also said before that the PPP made a lot of promises to its financiers and has to ensure that they are being repaid through those promises.

We recently saw/read Mr Adam Harris talk about the GRA and “Sanctions Jerry”

concerning some 350,000,000 Guyana Dollars he owes to GRA and the matter is in the courts. Maybe that’s a tiny worm that just tickles “Sanction Jerry,” that’s why he has been so vocal in calling for sanctions.

Maybe he promised to have that 350 million tax dollars being dropped into his pocket and not paid to the state. Maybe we will hear very soon of the others who are trying to evade taxes, largely within Guyana.

I do believe strongly that the United States, the international organisations, the Commonwealth and by extension all the observer groups/missions at the March 2020 GRE will not tolerate or encourage anyone to rob their country of its fair share of taxes. The call for sanctions and for them to be imposed asap on the APNU+AFC officials is a dead call. This call is sending the wrong message to the world at large after what took place at the GECOM tabulation centre during the counting of ballots a few days after the GRE. The PPP knows it very well that they invested heavily to corrupt the electoral progress and by far had planned this in such a way, that when they start to make their shout the world will believe them. The PPP started to talk of “rigging” months before the elections and that they have information on such. To date, they have not produced one evidence of voters fraud, because that’s the only way how an election can be rigged.

The US and all other organisations must take a deep look into the PPP because of weeks before the GRE in Guyana, the PPP GS Bharrat Jagdeo was accused of internally “rigging” its party presidential election process and turn it into a selection process.

The illegal opposition leader tries to do the same with the March 2020 GRE. If one is to check the history of Region Four voting patterns, they would have known that Region Four votes are the largest and the deciding factor/votes as to the winner of the General Elections. We need to

understand that a party can win six regions during the GRE but yet go on to lose the general elections because of the number of votes they win those regions by and the remaining votes within the other regions that they lose by. We heard and saw the actions of the PPP, the APNU+AFC, the smaller parties the observers locally and internationally and GECOM ; we all know what went wrong and who are the ones who started the trouble during tabulation of the Region Four votes.

The matter was taken to the courts and they did their part. GECOM decided to have all the votes recounted region by region in an orderly manner. CARICOM will be observing the process because we need to remember that the courts ruled that only GECOM has the right to supervise the recount/elections and there will be other observers during the recount.

Now the PPP is trying to stall the process in every way they can by ordering that GECOM start with Region Four, that the recounting be live-streamed, that GECOM disobey the first set of final regional declarations, that the RO of Region Four and the CEO of GECOM be axed from the process.

These are all jiggery- pokery demands to stall the process.

Why start with Region Four, when Regions One,Two,Three,Five,Six and Nine allegedly have voters fraud?. Why must the process be live-streamed when there will be CARICOM and international observers? Or is it that the PPP is now saying that they don’t trust CARICOM officials and the international observers?.

Why would GECOM want to disobey the first set of final regional declarations when there is no other declaration as yet?. Why would GECOM axe only the Region Four RO when six other ROs are implicated in voters fraud?. Why would GECOM want to axe its CEO from the process when he is being fair?.

We should all call on the US Government and all the international organisations to take a close look at what’s happening and going to happen during the recount and then see and know who are the ones after power in Guyana at all cost.

Why would the US want to only listen to the PPP and drop sanctions on the APNU+AFC officials and all who the PPP wants to be sanctioned?. I don’t think the US would believe that the PPP is a clean-hands party when we know all that they did in the past as a government and continue doing it through their financiers.

The PPP is making a mockery of the US by calling on them to sanction APNU+AFC officials only. If any sanction has to be implemented it should include Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall,” Sanction Jerry” (PSC), several executives of the small parties, several PPP financiers and several others, including Irfaan Ali for imposing and being the self-proclaimed President-elect of a country which can put the nation at serious risk and mostly which is unconstitutional and illegal for him to do so.

I am also waiting on the US government and US ambassador to denounce the self-proclaimed President-elect Irfaan Ali, because this is another a matter that can be considered as fraud by impersonating who he is not. GECOM is the only independent constitutional body that can declare a winner for any GRE in Guyana and not the PPP or anyone else. Let’s wait and see what will happen after the recount is completed and the world, including the United States, will know who are the ones who wanted to rig the elections.

NO TO DICTATORSHIP. Regards Abel Seetaram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Empowerment of the voiceless ― speaking out and encouraging others to do the same

By Naomi Parris WITHIN the last 28 years, Guyana has recorded some 4,562 cases of sexual assault, according to statistics from the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The data covers the period 1990 to 2018.

However, there are still a number of sexual assault matters that go unheard since many victims are unable to speak out or seek justice.

Nevertheless, during the month of April which is dubbed Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a few brave young men and women have decided to share their stories. The objective of sharing their stories is to encourage others to bring their predators and other perpetrators to justice.

At just the tender age of 13, Brian was molested by someone he trusted within his religious community.

To date, that once scared little boy has grown into a marvellous young man; however, the memories of the assault still haunt him.

The young man noted that because of his fear of being shunned and teased by his friends and family, he never spoke out.

However, he added that the time is now, so he has decided to speak out for other scared little boys who are being assaulted.

The young man noted that because of the stigma-

tisation that comes behind homosexuality, many young men are afraid to speak out because they are afraid of being labelled. He added that such fear has prevented him from speaking out and possibly saving another little boy from being assaulted.

Worldwide statistics has shown that fewer males come forward to report cases of sexual assault.

REBEKAH’S STORY At a very tender age of two, Rebekah was exposed to something no child should ever have to experience.

She was battered and sexually assaulted by the very persons she had trusted to protect her.

Born on September 13, 1994 in Flora, Suriname, Rebekah’s parents had original plans to give her up for adoption as they wanted a son instead of a daughter.

“My parents did not want me. They had planned to give me up for adoption but the woman who was supposed to adopt me, died three months before I was born… I was not allowed to speak. I was sick, dying from dengue. I would be beaten if I cried by my drunkard father, my mother condoned this,” the young woman said.

Being unable to speak because of fear, Rebekah used drawings as her voice to express herself since she was unable to speak.

“This is how I picked up my ability to draw. It was

how I ‘spoke’. The truth is, drawing wasn’t my gift, nor my talent drawing was my pain.”

However, Rebekah was not the only one who suffered at the hands of her abusive parents; she has an older sister whom she no longer speaks to who felt the blunt of the abuse. She noted that her father started raping her sister when she was 12 and whenever her sister denied him, she would suffer the consequences.

“He would touch me where he isn’t supposed to, my privates, put intimate and fetish marks on my body. Compared to my sister’s trauma, I had it very easy regardless… He would beat me when she denied him sex. I’ve heard him telling her about what he’s going to do to me if she didn’t give in,” she stated.

It been some 12 years now since Rebekah made the biggest decision to run far away as she could from her abusive family; however, she cannot run from the memories.

The young woman recently decided to share her story with the world on several platforms.

“There is never a right time to post a story like this anyhow, but my sanity is at risk as I’ve been stuck on this story for far too long. I needed to [share] this before it’s too late, I don’t want this to be untold or unheard,” she said.

STRANDED GUYANESE NEED TO RETURN HOME URGENTLY Dear Editor,

T

HE American and Canadian Governments have assisted their citizens to return to their countries due to the shut down of air travel on 18 March, 2020.

There are many Guyanese who have been left stranded in Caribbean countries such as Trinidad, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and who wish to return to their homeland , Guyana. This wait is now approximately seven

weeks and is very costly and indeed stressful.

No decision has yet been taken on a reopening date of international air travel. Arising from this uncertainty, an appeal is being made to the Chief Executive Officer of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) to arrange some chartered flights to bring the stranded Guyanese home, similar to what was done for the American and Canadian citizens. I am sure that the private aircraft companies can fulfil this much-need-

ed obligation.

That having been said, I hereby look forward to the NCTF, His Excellency President Granger and other authorised officials addressing the plight of our Guyanese who are stranded overseas and who are presently in serious financial difficulties. Your early attention and positive action are very much needed to this request.

Regards Concerned Citizen

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Pregnant women at high risk of COVID-19

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–– GPHC steps up efforts to protect Guyana’s mothers

By Navendra Seoraj SAFEGUARDING Guyana’s mothers and future will take extra effort, as pregnant women are listed in the “high-risk” population for the deadly Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

Grappling with the effects of this disease has been tedious for everyone, but during this time of crisis, special care and attention needs to be placed on potential mothers, who are more at risk of feeling the brunt of COVID-19.

“Pregnancy is a physiological tumor so patients, who are pregnant, are in an immuno-depressed state, so they are in the high-risk population,” said Five-Year Resident of the Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/ GYN) programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Surujpaul Singh, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly-discovered coronavirus.

While, the WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 disease will experience mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and recover without requiring special treatment, persons with immuno-deficiencies and underlying conditions are more likely to develop the serious form of the illness.

The United States of America (USA)’s Centre for

Temperature checks ongoing at the entrance of GPHC’s Maternity Unit (Delano Williams photos) Disease Control (CDC) had said pregnant women have changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections; and pregnant people have had a higher risk of severe illness when infected with viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.

Considering these possibilities, Dr. Singh advised pregnant women to take extra precautions and adhere to existing guidelines and advisories.

“They (pregnant women) should observe all the advisories out there and be a little more careful in terms of going to supermarkets and other crowded places. In fact, pregnant women, if they can, should avoid crowded areas.

“They should also avoid being in contact with persons, who would have tested positive for or is suspected to have COVID-19 or even

persons who have respiratory symptoms. Avoid being around them,” said the doctor.

Potential mothers will, however, have to visit clinics regularly, but GPHC has already taken that into account and rolled out a menu of measures which are geared at ensuring that pregnant women and even babies are protected, every step of the way.

In walking Guyana Chronicle through the process, Dr. Singh said an isolation area has been identified for patients, who are suspected to have COVID-19. The room being used for isolation is the “old birthing room,” which already has the necessary equipment to conduct deliveries if the need arises.

The facility is manned by medical professionals, who have already been trained to handle suspected and even confirmed cases of

COVID-19. The maternity unit has already dealt with suspected cases, but there has been no confirmed case.

“When pregnant women, who show symptoms of the disease, visit the unit, they are housed in the isolation area and we would call GPHC’s COVID-19 task force to evaluate the patient and take a sample, if necessary, for testing... if the test comes back negative, the patient remains with the normal population, but if the result is positive, all the care will be done in the isolation area,” said Dr. Singh.

He further explained that a COVID-19- positive pregnant woman, would deliver the baby in the isolation area and the postpartum care will also be done right there.

VERTICAL TRANSMISSION As it pertains to the baby, Dr. Singh said there is no existing evidence that there could be vertical/ mother-child transmission of the COVID-19 disease, but this has not been ruled out because COVID-19 is still unfolding.

“The disease is not found in the placenta or umbilical cord so vertical transmission does not seem possible right now, but it has not been ruled out...so with that in mind, the same isolation area has been divided to facilitate the babies. Babies, delivered by COVID-19-positive women, will be swabbed and tested,” said the doctor.

If the results of the test is negative, the baby will stay

in the isolation area, but if he/ she is positive, the hospital’s Paediatric Department will take over and observe the necessary protocols. Likewise, if the baby’s mother shows mild symptoms of the disease, she will stay in the isolation area, but if the symptoms are severe, she will be transferred to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

These measures, however, apply to “normal deliveries,” so if the woman has to do a Cesarean-Section (C-Section), she will be transferred to a special area so as to avoid contamination.

The procedure will be supervised by a limited amount of persons, but the team will include senior personnel.

Dr. Singh said the hospital continues to do regular deliveries and has been delivering approximately 500 babies monthly, for the past three months.

As the unit continues to do its work, he is confident that the plethora of measures will be successful in containing the COVID-19 disease and even delivering adequate care to patients. He gave the assurance that everything will be and is being done to safeguard pregnant women and babies.

The safeguarding measures start from the entrance to the maternity ward, where persons are screened, sanitised and then granted permission to enter. Additionally, persons will only be allowed into the facility if they wear a face mask.

The maternity unit has also limited non-essential

Five-year Resident in the OBGYN Programme at GPHC, Dr. Surujpaul Singh clinics in order to minimise the amount of persons visiting the hospital. In some cases, persons would just need to visit the hospital for their medication then return home. The clinics usually see 100 persons a month, but that has decreased to about 50.

While those measures will protect persons visiting the hospital, he reiterated that pregnant women need to adhere to the existing measures, in order to stay safe.

He advised persons, who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, to call the COVID-19 hotline.

According to WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. However, it was keen on noting that some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat and even diarrhoea.

Seafood vendor warns against disregarding COVID-19 measures … said the restrictions won’t be for a lifetime

A 44-year-old father of three who makes a living selling fresh seafood to roadside buyers is appealing to the populace to adhere to the current coronavirus restrictions.

Rajesh Jagnarine of Coldingen East Coast Demerara has been plying his trade, near the Shell Gas Station, on the East Coast Public Road, at Ogle, for over 20 years, supplying fresh fish, shrimps and prawns. His customers are mainly persons in passing cars as the location is a stretch for most persons to walk – except they live really close by.

Jagnarine is calling on persons to adhere to the government’s stipulations on distancing, staying at home and

sanitising with a view to arresting the spread of the virulent disease, said to have originated in ‘wet markets’ in Wuhan, China, late last year. “Keep adhering to the measures and take all precautions. The less people get [COVID-19] it will be better for Guyana. The more people get it, it will be worse,” he warned. “Because it will be spreading if people continue to gather. And if people must go out then they should wear their mask,” he said, while wearing a face mask himself.

“The lockdown is very good for all Guyanese. They can’t gather up because if this happens people who have COVID-19 would spread it more. Imagine if a family doing everything to protect

Rajesh Jagnarine at his stall at Ogle, near the Shell Gas Station themselves and one family member go out and get it and bring it back to the household is the whole family will get it,” he said, adding that persons

should continue to lean on their faith or religious beliefs to get them through this time of crisis.

“If persons go out and

gather unnecessarily then the whole house will be under lockdown so it is best to protect yourself till this thing done. It won’t be for a lifetime,” he said.

Jagnarine said that despite the curfew and other restrictions, he has not experienced any significant dip in business.

“I am doing normal business in terms of sales,” he said. However, he noted that his operating hours have been adjusted to take into consideration the restrictions.

He said that except for some Mondays and some religious holidays such as Good Friday, he usually is out there plying his trade daily.

He would commence work at about 06:00 hours and work until midday or just after, depending on how quickly his stocks are sold.

The man said the eldest of his children is furthering his education in religious studies with the aim of becoming a pastor, another is at the University of Guyana while the youngest is in secondary school. He said that the child is taking lessons during the lockdown period in order to keep in tune with his academics.

“He is taking lessons because just like how the country lockdown, children’s brains could lockdown too if they are not kept active,” he said.

As Guyana grapples with a climbing number of infections, the Ministry of Public Health is on a campaign to educate and foster behavioural change, to ensure that the curve begins to flatten, and that those in care or under evaluation are cleared medically.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Guyana poised to join trials of antibody treatment for COVID-19

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA could soon join global trials for antibody treatment of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, said Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reached the shores of over 213 countries and in response to the disease, some of these nations have resorted to clinical trials of various types of treatment, such as the antibody treatment. “We are poised to possibly join some of these trials...the one we are interested in looking at is the transfusion of plasma of convalescent persons - meaning persons, who have been sick, and are winning the battle against the disease,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle, in a recent recording released by the Ministry of Public Health.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is defined as a form of immunotherapy that uses monoclonal antibodies to

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle bind monospecifically to certain cells or proteins.

The objective is that this treatment will stimulate the patient’s immune system to attack those cells.

Dr. Boyle, in further breaking down the definition of this type of treatment, said it entails the transfusion of antibodies to ailing persons.

“The plasma will be rich with antibodies...so it is basically like giving persons an immune boost, so it stands to

reason that it should be helpful to people overcoming the disease,” said the DCMO. The Ministry of Public Health has already engaged the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) about the intention and PAHO has since sent the necessary protocols. “So we are poised to start doing that,” said Dr. Boyle, adding that while this may be a major stepping stone in the fight against the disease, persons need to be cognisant that there is no approved cure for COVID-19.

According to a report from American public broadcaster, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), convalescent plasma has shown enough promise against COVID-19 that hundreds of hospitals around the country have put it to use. While still considered an experimental treatment, patients are receiving convalescent plasma through clinical trials and by way of compassionate use, which the Food and Drug Administration expanded access to earlier this year.

The PBS report stated that convalescent plasma therapy dates back to the 1890s, when doctors transfused diphtheria patients with blood plasma from immunised animals. It was given to patients during the 1918 influenza pandemic and credited for stopping an outbreak of measles at a boarding school in Pennsylvania in 1934. It was used during the Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016, the recent H1N1 pandemic and outbreaks of SARS and MERS, two diseases also caused by coronaviruses.

Globally, there are over 2.8 million cases of COVID-19, with approximately 200,000 deaths.

And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the

spread of the disease.

In an effort to improve the response to the pandemic, the local Public Health Ministry launched its mobile unit at the East La Penitence Health Centre as well as the community COVID-19 facilities of Region Four at Herstelling on the East Bank of Demerara and at Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara.

Additionally, government has extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergency measures were taken pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directive issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on March 16, 2020.

According to the WHO, COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly-discovered coronavirus.

The WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experi-

ence mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and recover without requiring special treatment. Older persons and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, are more likely to develop serious illness.

The WHO believes that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well- informed about the virus, the disease it causes and how it is spread.

“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol- based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva, or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practise respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” the WHO has advised.

More men than women hit by COVID-19 –– figure moves to 75 overnight

By Navendra Seoraj THE number of confirmed Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have moved from 74 to 75 within the last 24 hours, with the latest statistics showing that males account for 53 per cent of those cases.

That’s according to Director of Primary Healthcare Services Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton during a virtual update on the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

And whereas 15 of those who have been infected have recovered, five are still in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 52 are in isolation, and another 19 are in institutional quarantine. Deaths related to COVID-19 remain at eight.

Globally, there are over 2.8 million cases of COVID-19, with approx-

imately 200,000 deaths.

And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Clearly at her wits end as to why the numbers keep climbing in spite of everything that is being done here to contain the virus, Dr. Hamilton said: “As response efforts continue, a review of our data reveals that much is left to be done to flatten the curve and contain the coronavirus pandemic in Guyana.

We continue to see an increase in cases on a regular basis.

“So, what more can the Ministry do to convince you that your ad-

herence to advisories, especially physical distancing, is absolutely necessary to bring us back to normalcy; something that you and I have the power to restore?”

IMPROVED RESPONSE In an effort to improve the response to the pandemic, the Public Health Ministry has launched its mobile unit at the East La Penitence Health Centre, as well as at the community COVID-19 facilities of Region#4 at Herstelling, on the East Bank Demerara, and at Paradise, on the East Coast Demerara.

Additionally, the government has extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergen-

Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton cy measures were taken pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directive issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on March 16, 2020.

As the country wages war against the deadly disease, President David Granger is on record as saying that the efforts of the country’s frontline

workers, in particular those within the medical field, should not go unnoticed.

“I ask you… to think tenderly of our public health professionals and service providers; that is to say, our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and all other supporting staff, medical and non-medical, who are providing the required care for those in distress,” President Granger said, adding: “Public health practitioners are on the frontline of protecting those stricken by the disease; they have been working tirelessly, through this very difficult situation, to provide quality healthcare to those who have been infected and afflicted. Everyone in the public health system has played a vital part in the fight against this disease.”

According to the WHO, COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly-discovered coronavirus.

The WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will ex-

perience mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and recover without requiring special treatment. Older persons and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, are more likely to develop serious illness.

The WHO believes that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well-informed about the virus, the disease it causes and how it is spread.

“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva, or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practise respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” the WHO has advised.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

‘Help Guyana’ finding novel ways to help vulnerable communities

By Vishani Ragobeer ‘HELP GUYANA’, a novel software platform providing crisis management solutions, has been created to assist vulnerable individuals and communities, while providing the public with necessary services, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Co-founder of STEMGuyana, Karen Abrams, told Guyana Chronicle, recently, that the Help Guyana platform was developed to help citizens access convenient services, during any crisis, which, at this time, is the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subsequently, it evolved into a more multifaceted application that seeks to simultaneously provide help to vulnerable communities.

This platform seeks to identify and create a database of individuals or communities that are currently at-risk, and then provide assistance to them as needed. It also encompasses a virtual “marketplace” of small farmers, from those same vulnerable communities, and allows those farmers to have their products bought.

“We don’t want it to be filled with those big companies who are doing business

distribution, and donation of face masks which are currently highly recommended to safeguard from the spread of the novel coronavirus.

STEMGuyana Co-Founder, Karen Abrams anyway. We want to identify those who are vulnerable, like small farmers, and get them registered in the app so that we can push business their way,” Abrams said, highlighting that she herself has been using this service.

“While the market vendor goes out every day and can hustle and bring in money, that changes during something like this (the pandemic and its resulting lockdown measures) when they can’t go out,” Abrams explained.

Within the application, there are also provisions to streamline volunteers, and aid with the production,

COLLABORATION As a way of gathering data both on those vulnerable persons who may need assistance during the pandemic, and for small farmers who can supply produce but have their markets affected, STEMGuyana partnered with the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly - Guyana (IDPADA-G).

IDPADA-G representative, Elsie Harry, related that the body continuously does work in communities across Guyana, where it identifies those who are vulnerable and seek to provide ways of helping persons. This aid could be given through the provision of educational opportunities, assisting with employment or entrepreneurship, or, if needed, provide food hampers and supplies.

In doing so, IDPADA-G had pre-existing information on those vulnerable communities across Guyana and those small farmers within these communities who do

not have Internet access to market their produce online on their own.

And as such, Elsie and a team were able to reach out to these farmers and create profiles for them, on the application, where they can easily market their produce and be contacted by buyers via telephone. She indicated that they were more than overjoyed to have a market for their produce at a time when there are physical constraints to doing business.

The two bodies also intend on using the produce from these same small farmers to supply hampers that they will be creating and distributing to persons currently in need. This way, they get to empower small farmers and provide much-needed assistance. Essentially, a win-win.

Local telecommunications company GTT also

IDPADA-G Representative, Elsie Harry collaborated with the bodies, through the provision of financial assistance. GTT Marketing Representative, Jasmin Harris, noted that the company was supportive of an initiative that will have “far-reaching benefits” in aiding those persons in need

during this time.

However, looking beyond COVID-19, Harry said, “Help Guyana is taking more of a holistic approach in partnership with IDPADA-G to really help the vulnerable to not remain vulnerable after coronavirus.”

The two bodies are seeking to use this platform to help with country-wide poverty alleviation measures.

This will involve an integration of the technological solutions offered by STEMGuyana with the community outreach orientation of IDPADA-G. “We are constantly looking for ways to help with poverty alleviation…

We’re not just looking to give people fish, but certainly teaching them how to fish and that continues to be a long-term goal of ours,” Abrams asserted.

Above and Beyond

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

― Guyanese ICU nurse tells of experience working with COVID-19 patients in U.S.

By Lisa Hamilton “I usually get the patients when they’re crashing or about to die,” said Ronessa Mingo, a Guyanese Surgical Nurse working at the Howard University Hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Prior to the emergence of COVID-19 in the United States (U.S.), Ronessa dealt with trauma cases such as vehicular accidents, gunshot wounds, stabbing wounds, injuries from falling from a building and more coming in to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).

Now, such trauma cases have reduced significantly as persons remain indoors. In turn, patient numbers have increased within the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) which deals with a wide array of medical conditions such as lung problems, heart attacks and others which require continuous monitoring and treatment.

This sees the SICU dealing with the overflow of patients. In the last three months, Ronessa has already come into contact with about 100 positive COVID-19 patients. When she spoke to the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview on Monday, it was her first day off after three 12-hour shifts over the last three days.

A few days ago, she took to social media to express her feelings, after having to tell the mother of a 26-year-old asthmatic patient that he was not going to make it. “Today is the first day I felt defeated in this COVID virus war,” she posted.

Usually, she is able to play a viable part in resuscitating patients who eventually go on to live. She and her mother --- now the Manager of the MICU at Howard University Hospital --- moved to the U.S. from Linden through a nursing agency and both are their only immediate family members in the States.

Ronessa has worked at the hospital for the last three years, previously as a Telemetry Medical-Surgical Nurse and the Charge Nurse of her Unit. The youngest COVID-19 patient she has attended to as a Surgical Nurse was 17 years old.

While some reports state that the older the person the greater the risk, from her

experience Ronessa said that at times it seems to be pure chance.

“What I’ve seen is that it’s one of those things that are just the odds. I’ve seen people who were walking and talking and waving at me and then I come back to work and I’m like ‘where is Bed 6?’ And Bed 6 is dead,” she said.

“There have been patients who are old with comorbidities, who have cancer with metastasis to the rest of the body, who have COVID-19 and have recovered.”

The Howard University Hospital, like many others, have begun to switch up the way they administer ICU care, as it is the only way to assure greater protection for medical workers.

In respiratory cases before COVID-19, one patient in need of resuscitation would be attended to by several

nurses and doctors. Now, only three are allowed in the room and some practices have been cut out or introduced to limit close contact with patients.

ICU nurses like Ronessa no longer utilize the reservoir bag for COVID-19 patients as the practice could eject respiratory secretions into the air.

It is now standard practice to conduct CPR while patients are hooked to the ventilator. have also found that the prone positioning of patients, whereby patients lie flat with the chest down and the back up, improves the oxygenation and reduces mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress.

Ronessa said that she is not constantly fearful that she or her mother will contract the virus as they practise a standard routine which includes stripping off outside clothing at the door, heading

straight to the shower, washing hands, sanitising the door knobs, eating properly, taking vitamins and more.

However, she does face a constant mental strain of working long shifts, sometimes with very emotional or unpleasant experiences.

Just getting into her layers of personal protective equipment (PPE), which must be changed every time she goes in to visit or attend to a different patient, is an additional ordeal.

Before she encounters a different patient she must sanitise her hands, put on a glove, a special gown, another pair of gloves, an N95 mask covered by a surgical mask, a goggle and a shield that covers the entire face.

The constant changing is meant to prevent cross-contamination as studies show that there are some 13 strains

Guyanese Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse, Ronessa Mingo during one of the stages of changing into her layers of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Guyanese Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse, Ronessa Mingo, working at the Howard University Hospital

of the virus. Added to the necessary attending to unstable patients, the ICU conducts head-to-toe assessments for documentation purposes every two hours.

“It is mentally draining on a constant basis,” she said. “It’s not only the fact that you have to physically exert yourself because there is so much more to do but it’s also very much mentally draining that we keep losing the fight. Every time we try we lose the fight; every time we try we lose the fight. It becomes like a cycle of negativity and it’s a funk that hangs over you sometimes when you’re at work knowing that no matter what I’m doing for this guy he’s not breathing better,” she said.

With a ‘No Guests’ policy in place aimed at decreasing the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission, many families are calling in and health professionals are now faced with introducing them to the option of signing Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) forms.

When she shared her experience of the 26-year-old patient who died, Ronessa said that it is heartbreaking to see that some persons are not taking, seriously, social distancing guideless and emergency measures in place, while others are losing their lives to the fight.

In a message to both those overseas and in Guyana, she said: “People are dying. People are dying and it’s better to stay home and spend time with your family than to go out and run the risk of potentially reaching into one of those situations.

This virus does not discriminate. Whether you’re black, whether you’re white, tall, short, old, young, it does not discriminate. It is blatantly disrespectful to healthcare professionals who are working overtime at bed sides to ignore the stay at home rules at this time.”

Meanwhile, she wants healthcare workers in Guyana to know that, despite the circumstance, they must do everything to try to protect themselves, even if it means improvising in a case of insufficient PPE. She advised: “At this point, we have to be innovative nurses; nurses that think critically and think outside of the box to protect ourselves and to be able to give our patients the greatest benefit to increase their chances of survival.

Don’t be scared to take new leaps or to try new things.

It’s one of the things that we’ve never encountered before but you, the nurse, have to be a pioneer in this situation to protect yourself and the people you love.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

British Airways makes historic flight to CJIA

A SPECIALLY-chartered British Airways flight touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Tuesday afternoon, ferrying staff of American oil giant ExxonMobil.

The direct flight from London’s Heathrow International Airport to the CJIA was historic as it was the first time a Boeing 787 model, wide-body aircraft-known in aviation circles as the ‘Dreamliner’,

landed at the CJIA. It was also the first time in several decades that the carrier returned to the CJIA. Reports are that ExxonMobil utilised the service of the carrier to ferry some 50 personnel here. Another group of workers were expected to depart on the flight. Those who arrived will be in quarantine for 14 days.

ExxonMobil’s Adviser on Public and Governance Affairs, Janelle Persaud,

Narrow gender gap in ICT field – CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, Amb. Manorma Soeknandan, Ph.D, has called for the narrowing of the gender gap between men and women in the field of ICT. Ambassador, Soeknandan threw out the challenge during the first CARICOM Digital Dialogue to observe International Day for Girls in ICT on April 23. The Dialogue was organised by the CARICOM Partnership for Girls in ICT, which comprises Ministries of ICT, Youth, Education and Gender in CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, as well as regional and international organisations. It was anchored in Georgetown, Guyana, and attracted thousands of participants primarily via Zoom and Facebook, as well as via other media platforms.

In remarks to open the two-hour long forum, Amb. Soeknandan underscored the vital role of women in ICT, but lamented the wide gap between men and women in tech. Girls and women, she added, could be proud of the “special perspective we bring to the STEM field and any field.”

She said there needed to be increased positive messages about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and ICT, and the role and relevance of ICT in schools at all levels. “We need to speak more and help more CARICOM girls and women to join the ICT revolution,” she rallied participants. She pointed out that those issues would be undertaken by the CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership, as it continued its work to develop policy which supported the Region’s empowerment, and which responded to the Sustainable Goals agenda blueprint for development by 2030.

“The partnership is expected to work as a network of networks, with similar structure replicated at the Member State levels for developing the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, in CARICOM,” she said. The Deputy Secretary-General also challenged men and boys to get involved in the drive to get more women into the tech sector. More girls and women in the sector could not happen without the involvement of the men who already had a seat at that table, she pointed out.

Other speakers at the event included Dr. Barbara Reynolds, who delivered the keynote address; Ms. Jennifer Britton, Deputy Programme Manager, ICT4D at the CARICOM Secretariat, who moderated the programme; CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and other representatives of youth in CARICOM; and members of the partnership. The dialogue was held under the theme “Regional Resilience – ICT, STEM and Youth”.

International Day for Girls in ICT is held on the fourth Thursday of April each year under the theme ‘Expand horizons, change attitudes’.

British Airways ‘Dreamliner’ aircraft shortly after it touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Tuesday afternoon (Alva Solomon photo) noted that the firm has well-established processes in place to manage impacts related to infectious disease outbreaks. “We are taking the necessary steps to maintain a healthy workforce here in Guyana,” said.

“As such, rotation-

al workers are medically screened prior to their travel to Guyana and are appropriately screened and isolated locally for the required period before going offshore. Of course, we continue to provide screening at the Ogle Heliport even as there are

medical personnel onboard our vessels to monitor the health of the workers and provide suitable treatment and care,” she added.

Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that another European carrier, Air Europa, is expected to make an in-transit stop to

pick-up British nationals from Guyana.

The Spanish airline was charted by the United Kingdom government to pick-up British nationals stranded in Argentina.

The carrier is expected to touchdown at the CJIA next Thursday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Experts urge Caribbean to learn from COVID-19

–– improve in areas of digitisation, food security, energy

THE coronavirus pandemic has taught the Caribbean that it should not return to its previous modus operandi post-COVID-19 but must act and improve on its vulnerabilities revealed in the areas of digitisation, food security, tourism, energy and more.

This is the opinion of several experts who appeared as guests on Guyana’s American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) virtual programme on Tuesday to speak on the ‘Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean Economy.’

These experts were Regional Economic Adviser for the Caribbean Country Department at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), David Rosenblatt; CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, Racquel Moses and UWI Director of Health Economics Unit (HEU), Professor Karl Theodore. The programme was moderated by M.Sc (Economics), Gopnauth Bobby Gossai Jr. Moses said that Caribbean countries must understand that they no longer have the luxury of remaining where they are as the pandemic has pointed to several areas which must not be taken lightly.

She said that if the Region wastes good time by thinking that the global crisis was a one-off event, it will be left behind by the rest of the world which will

CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, Racquel Moses (Daily Express photo) adapt to meet other coming challenges.

One such example to which she pointed was the great need for digitisation in the Region, which she said --- though the same had been advocated for over the years --- gained greater momentum, unfortunately, only after the pandemic began.

Moses said that regional banks and other businesses which had not fully embraced digital transformation are now being forced to bring more, if not all of their services online, proving that it was possible all along.

“People need to look at how they innovate now.

Don’t wait for the economy to reopen to go back to doing business as usual…

Regional Economic Adviser for the Caribbean Country Department at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), David Rosenblatt many of these businesses were online within days. We need to think that even as we reopen these economies, it is incumbent upon each of us as to how we innovate our way individually, so that we empower governments to do the same thing,” she said.

Meanwhile, Professor Theodore agreed that the Caribbean will have to do things that they have never done before and the crisis has given the Region the opportunity to do the things it should have been doing all of the time.

He spoke to the area of food security, stating that the Region continues to make the same mistake by failing to be self-sustainable when it comes to food.

UWI Director of Health Economics Unit (HEU), Professor Karl Theodore (NCD Alliance photo) “This is a Region that has continued to increase its importation of food and that could never be something good. I think that is one of the main things we have to begin to look at. We have to start producing in the Region much more of the food that we consume,” he said.

He added: “Agriculture has the potential to get us out of where we are. Once we assure the population of their food supply, their capacity to do things in a number of areas seems to increase. Each of our countries has to give much more significant emphasis on agriculture.”

Gossai, too, pointed out that past world economic

shocks have allowed for the development of unemployment insurance, the development of trade union engagement, roles for government to spend more to take care of the economy and new technologies for better business practices.

Though Professor Theodore acknowledged that countries will have to plan critically before they reopen their borders and ports, he does believe that it is possible to reopen in a way in which the potential risk can be managed. Two other areas he suggested that Caribbean countries address moving forward are inequality in access to health and foreign exchange rate regimes.

“An economy is what it is because of the consumption and the production that goes [sic] on so when you have a pandemic that is damaging both consumption and production you have a pandemic that is threatening the life of the economy itself,” he said, adding: “Every country has to make an honest decision about its readiness to reopen because if we reopen before we should, we’re going to be caught in a disaster. There’s no question about that.”

Rosenblatt agrees with this as he noted that, presently, the world must return to its previous level of travel and productivity for the Caribbean to survive.

“Moving forward, for small economies there’s no

route other than a global route. Globalisation is absolutely necessary,” he said.

From his observation in the area of tourism alone and Caribbean economies which are highly dependent on tourism, he said that now some of the last places on earth persons want to be is on an airplane or cruise ship.

He recommended that when temporary tax relief or targeted transfers are being considered by government, they should target people and businesses who need it most and not “deep-pocket businesses.”

Meanwhile, Moses said that climate change in the Region is also being impacted as COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of a lack of income diversity and resilience in economies.

She said the already indebted Region will have to borrow to get out of the present situation, but should not borrow simply to return to the way things were to improve in the areas of tourism, climate change and work ardently towards achieving energy independence.

“For the first time we’re all in this together; not just the Region but globally,” she said, adding: “[But] we have just as much of a chance as everyone else to look at the opportunities in this moment and to seize them and to look at how we innovate and we reorganise ourselves.”

CARICOM Special Rapporteur calls for special considerations for persons with disabilities during and after COVID-19 pandemic CARICOM Special Rapporteur on Disability, Senator Dr. Floyd Morris, has called on regional governments and members of the private sector, to give special consideration to persons with disabilities, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a CARICOM Secretariat statement, Senator Morris pointed out that: “Regional governments and private sector companies have been forced to make significant adjustments to the services they offer to the public, and special consideration should be given to persons with disabilities.”

The Special Rapporteur on Disability has issued a ten-point protocol for governments to consider for persons with disabilities who might contract the COVID-19 disease.

Senator Morris said: “Persons with

disabilities are extremely vulnerable to this disease and special considerations must be given to them and their caregivers if anyone of them should contract COVID-19.”

The Senator also noted that governments have been offering a plethora of support to citizens across the region and commended them for their efforts. “Due consideration must be given to the fact that most persons with disabilities are among the neediest in society and they do not have the financial means to purchase some of the basic necessities during an unexpected crisis such as that brought on by COVID-19. Therefore, priority must be given to persons with disabilities and their families” Senator Morris said.

As it relates to the private sector, Senator Dr. Floyd Morris made a special appeal.

“Ensure that your services are accessible and

inclusive of persons with disabilities. Banks for example, must ensure that their online systems are accessible both in hardware and software for members of this vulnerable community,” he implored. The CARICOM Special Rapporteur on Disability said: “It is obvious that in the post-COVID-19 environment, technology will be driving production and productivity. Persons with disabilities must be included in this trajectory as it is an effective way of dealing with some of the accessibility issues relating to physical locations for persons with some types of disabilities.”

Based on the 2011 World Health Organization Report on Persons with Disabilities, there is an estimated 1 million persons with disabilities living in CARICOM countries.

CARICOM Special Rapporteur on Disability, Senator Dr. Floyd Morris

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

M&CC, PAHO host meeting to discuss enforcement techniques and additional measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the City THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC), on Monday morning, met with representatives from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), to discuss enforcement techniques and additional measures that can be implemented to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the City.

During the said discussion, a communication team, consisting of members from PAHO and the M&CC, was formed. The team is expected to communicate frequently to assess the effectiveness of measures implemented to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Georgetown.

It was also revealed that, during the meeting, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) will be providing test kits and will

train government staff in risk communications skills and methods of checking the health conditions of persons arriving in the country.

The resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, added that, together with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), personal protective equipment has been provided; UNHCR was offering nearly 50 pre-manufactured housing units to serve as health facilities In addition, the International Organization for Migration and UNHCR will be distributing food and other supplies to more than 4,000 migrants and refugees who have come from Venezuela into Guyana.

Representatives of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) during a COVID-19 discussion held on Monday

Chinese Association disappointed in circulation of misinformation THE Chinese Association of Guyana has noted with disappointment, the circulation of a photograph on social media which suggests that Chinese nationals removed an unconscious or dead body from a Chinese store to the back of a car.

In a statement on Monday, the association said that contrary to the claims, the picture which surfaced is that of a Chinese national, who suffered from a stroke, being rushed to the hospital by his relatives.

The photo went viral on Monday after being shared on the social media page of the ‘Guyanese Critic’, an unaccredited source of information. The photo was taken

on Regent Street and showed three Chinese men lifting an unconscious-looking individual into back of a vehicle.

According to the Chinese Association, the incident took place since April 18, 2020 and the individual passed away one day later due to pre-existing complications.

“The Chinese national in question had suffered a stroke and was admitted to a city hospital where they tried to resuscitate him but these efforts had proved futile. The gentleman had a history of heart problems and passed away on April 19, 2020 due to a stroke and not from COVID-19 as claimed by some sections of the media.

After all the relevant procedures were adhered to, the city hospital issued the death certificate and the body was released to the relatives and cremated,” the statement said.

The association said that it is aware that persons with “malicious intentions” contacted the Alberttown Police Station and reported the matter, which give the relatives of the deceased cause to visit the station and present the facts of the situation.

It called on members of the public to desist from making claims against the Chinese community without proper verification of the facts, as this will lead to more

harm than good.

It stated: “The association is very disappointed in and condemns the actions and baseless claims made by some persons on social media without verification of the facts. Please be reminded that we are all living in very challenging times as we battle the global COVID-19 pandemic and this is a very sensitive time for everyone across the world, for all people, Chinese and Guyanese alike.

We need to be cognisant of the fact that baseless claims and non-verification of these can result in discrimination and stigma against innocent victims.”

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Kato not taking any chances with COVID-19 ―keeping close watch on movements to and from community to prevent an outbreak there

By Telesha Ramnarine WHILE there are no positive coronavirus cases to date at Kato, in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), residents and members of the Village Council are doing all they possibly can to prevent an outbreak of the disease there since the village’s Health Centre is not fully equipped to deal with such an eventuality.

The Village Council is strict about persons leaving and entering the community, and is now asking all who want to leave and return to check in with the office first before heading back to the village.

Even with no cases, headteacher of the Kato Primary School, Karen Abraham said she believes that it was a wise decision to close the schools there, as persons are travelling in and out of the village. The primary school has 106 pupils, while the secondary has close to 300 students.

Abraham is in Georgetown currently, but would make regular monitoring visits to the indigenous village. Her job includes observing the teachers there while they are conducting classes, and even coaching them on occasion.

Since the closure of schools, the children in Kato are at

home, with hardly any alternative learning opportunities to turn to. The Ministry of Education had planned to send in workbooks for them, but even so, Abraham is concerned that there is very little guidance that their parents can give to them.

According to her, Grade Five teacher, Sherlan Salvadora, because of her concern that the children are away from school, is now working on the idea of bringing the children out in very small numbers at a time for classes. For this to happen, though, she has requested help from the Village Council in the form of face masks for the children.

As for shopping in the village, Abraham said an organised system is in place, where a vehicle takes whoever needs to do shopping once a week across the Brazil border. “Things are going to get expensive, because they’re now limiting the number of persons who can go to make purchases. This is one way they’re trying to prevent the spread of the disease,” she told the Guyana Chronicle during an interview on Monday.

Apart from keeping a check on all those leaving and returning to the village, Abraham said the Village Council is also trying to quarantine those going back into the village.

“While they have no control over the persons going to work

on the ‘hydro’, they ask them to remain on the worksite.”

Closure of schools has also affected the livelihood of some farmers who plant to sell to the school-feeding programme. With school out, the farmers would need to find alternative markets. “This becomes an issue, because everybody in the village plants,” Abraham said.

Apart from assistance with sourcing face masks and sanitizers, Abraham said the villagers need to Headteacher of Kato be educated because Primary, Karen Abraham many of them do not have access to the Internet, and international news. As a result, she said many are not seeing the seriousness of COVID-19.

“If the disease gets there, we are going to see some unpleasant things, because they don’t have the facilities there to deal with it. I’m not sure there’s anything in place to deal with a possible positive case; they’re not prepared to handle an outbreak there,” Abraham said.

Out of concern for the people in Kato, Abraham said she tries her best to keep them abreast of what is happening.

With schools closed, a Kato teacher is exploring the possibility of teaching her children

Woman stabbed by jealous husband recovering

THE Calabash Alley, North East La Penitence woman, who was, last Saturday, brutally stabbed about her body by her reputed husband, is currently in a stable condition and is recovering.

Colleen Daly, 31, is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and had undergone two surgeries for her injuries sustained in the stabbing.

Her reputed husband, Glen Forde, called “BlackBoy”, a fish vendor, who has three children with Daly, took his life after the incident.

According to reports, the incident took place around 16:45hours on Saturday at the couple’s home. The children were not at home at the time.

Guyana Chronicle had reported that the couple would frequently have disagreements which would become physical. Forde was reportedly a jealous man and would often accuse Daly of being unfaithful to him. He would

often abuse and threaten to kill her.

According to neighbours, on the day in question, the couple had a heated argu-

Daly was stabbed multiple times about her body

by Forde who attempted to kill her. He then reportedly climbed onto the roof of his

Colleen Daly

Dead Glen Forde, called “Black-Boy”

ment, after Daly threatened to leave the relationship.

However, this did not sit will with Forde, who attacked Daly with a knife. Loud screams were heard coming from the couple’s home and neighbours rushed over.

house, slit his throat and fell to the ground.

The injured woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and treated for her wounds. Forde was pronounced dead at the scene.

A view of Kato Village in Region Eight

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

E-tickets cover all high-speed, inter-city railways on Chinese mainland

B

EIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -E-tickets will be used across the Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway Wednesday, indicating the full coverage of e-tickets in high-speed and inter-city railways on the Chinese main-

land.

It will also bring the total number of railway stations using e-tickets to 1,075, the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said Tuesday.

About 736 million e-tickets have been

Top “virus hunter” highlights what China’s done in containing COVID-19

NEW YORK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A British-American zoologist and expert on disease ecology praised China’s contribution to curbing COVID-19, criticized politicization of this pandemic and called on all parties to have more communication.

“China has done a lot to deal with this virus before us.

They know a lot about how to control it. We need access to that information, and talking in political terms of this outbreak closes down that access,” Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS on Sunday.

China shared the full genome sequences of the coronavirus openly with the rest of the world very quickly, “quicker than we’ve ever seen this before for any country really,” said Daszak, labeled by CNN as one of the world’s foremost “virus hunters.”

Daszak particularly focuses on zoonosis and his research once helped identify the origins of the SARS outbreak. EcoHealth, the New York City-based nonprofit non-governmental organization, mainly supports programs on global health.

In his capacity of researcher, consultant and public expert for media inquiries on the subject of virus-caused epidemics, Daszak expressed his disapproval of the tendency that the pandemic is politicized.

“We started to see the conspiracy theories, the pointing of finger at China and just the sort of politicization... It is very unfortunate because what we need right now is open communication with scientists across the world,” he said.

Responding to the rumor that the virus might come from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Daszak said, “Everything I have heard in my 15 years of work with people in that lab has been absolutely normal with what you’d expect from virology labs.”

During the interview, Daszak also clarified that most pandemics originate in animals, usually wildlife, often bats.

“Nobody has the virus from bats that led to COVID-19.

We’ve not found it yet. We’ve found close relatives, but it’s not the same virus. So to my mind it’s not that possibility.”

Global confirmed COVID-19 cases topped three million around noon on Monday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

sold by railways across the Chinese mainland since its first introduction on trial basis in 2018, it said.

E-tickets were piloted in high-speed train stations on the island province of Hainan in November 2018, and another four

high-speed inter-city railways were piloted in July 2019.

After the fourth quarter of 2019, e-tickets have been implemented on a large scale in high-speed rail and inter-city lines across the mainland.

China’s internet-related industries grow fast amid epidemic BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China has seen a boom in internet-related industries and the digital economy amid the COVID-19 epidemic, a report on China’s internet development showed.

Users of internet applications such as online shopping, online videos, online education, e-government services and online payment had grown significantly during the epidemic, according to the report released Tuesday by the China Internet Network Information Center.

The number of online shoppers had grown by 16.4 percent from the end of 2018 to 710 million by March 2020, accounting for 78.6 percent of the total number of netizens, which stood at 904 million.

Despite the negative impact brought by COVID-19 on the economy, the online retail sales of physical goods nationwide increased 3 percent year on year in the first two months, with its share in the total retail sales up 5 percentage points to 21.5 percent, said the report.

As schools and universities in China postponed their spring semesters earlier this year amid the epidemic, around 265 million students switched to online learning, leading to explosive growth in online education appli-

cations.

As of March, the number of online education users had risen 110.2 percent from the end of 2018 to 423 million, accounting for 46.8 percent of the country’s netizen population, said the report.

The number of online entertainment application users had also increased. As of March, online video users in China had grown by 126 million from the end of 2018 to 850 million, accounting for 94.1 percent of the country’s netizen population, while the number of short video users had reached 773 million.

With a vast online market in China, the country’s internet-related industries will see a new round of opportunities for rapid development after the epidemic, said Wang Yukai, a member of the Advisory Committee for State Informatization.

Wang predicted that major progress will be made in the building of internet infrastructure to foster a boom in online businesses. Various industries will accelerate their digitalization and the Internet of Things will enable more sectors to share the benefits of the internet.

China honors young individuals, groups for outstanding contributions

BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China’s youth organizations awarded May Fourth Medals to 94 individuals and 34 groups Tuesday for their great contributions to the country.

The medals, which are awarded annually, are the top honor for young Chinese. The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the All-China Youth Federation released the list of winners.

Medical teams assisting Hubei Province to combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic are among the groups awarded.

Covering a wide range of sectors, the individual winners include firefighters, military personnel, scholars, teachers, engineers, workers and medical staff.

Among the list, 34 were honored posthumously, including those who sacrificed their lives in the fight against COVID-19.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

‘You need them just as they need you’ –– says young volunteer assisting healthcare workers

DESPITE having to put their lives on the line, working long hours away from their families during the fight to slow the spread of the dreaded coronavirus, nurses and other healthcare workers are being stigmatised and discriminated against by the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically by vehicle operators.

Keoma Pearson, a schoolteacher, is disturbed by this situation and is working to fix the problem. She is using her own personal vehicle to transport nurses to and from work during their night shift in Region Three.

Pearson, who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle, stated that she saw how nurses and other healthcare workers were being treated by public vehicle operators and decided to render her assistance in the little way that she can.

“They needed to get home and I could have helped. It didn’t make sense to look at who wasn’t doing what,” she stated.

However, Pearson noted that any discriminatory act against nurses and other health workers should be condemned, especially during this troubling time as they are doing their absolute best to combat COVID-19.

The young woman in an appeal to public vehicle operators stated, “You need them just as they need you; your inability to show empathy is also a virus in itself.”

She added that persons should respect and appreciate health workers, especially during the epidemic, since they will need all the encouragement and support to battle the deadly virus.

“The very people we are turning away are the very people you will run to if this befalls you. Maybe they should pick and choose too. I feel safer around the nurses ... so many careless people who just do not care.

We walk among them so freely and carelessly, but you're afraid of the ones most alert and aware of what this all means,” Pearson stated.

DISCRIMINATION Additionally, the manager/Head of Strategic Planning and Communication at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Chelauna Providence, in addressing a number of complaints had

Keoma Pearson, the young teacher, volunteering to assist nurses stated, “We have been receiving reports from nurses and doctors that taxi services have refused to pick them up and bring them to work; supermarkets have asked them to leave when they are in uniform or have their badges on.

We basically want to let the public know that nurses especially, are frontline workers when it comes to responding to COVID-19.”

Providence further stated that nurses are constantly working overtime to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana and deserve to be treated with respect during this critical period.

“Our nurses and our doctors are continuously preparing for any possible situation in Guyana and they have been working hard and overtime to do so, so we want people to extend the same courtesies that they would to everyone else… additionally, people should be a bit more accommodating to healthcare workers, because if you should get sick or if you should need healthcare, the healthcare workers are going to be the ones to take care of you,” she stated.

Additionally, Providence stated that the stigma that is being displayed is centred on the lack of knowledge and persons should educate themselves and adhere to the precautionary measures set out by the health system.

“With the COVID-19, the threat is basically to anyone, it’s not just doctors and nurses that people need to be concerned about and so we also want to reinforce that people should take the necessary precautions as they are advised by the health authorities, practise their handwashing, social distancing, respiratory etiquette,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

COVID-19 reshaping educational dispensation –– Education Ministry provides online platforms THE coronavirus pandemic has changed how millions around the globe are learning and new solutions for education could bring much needed innovations in Guyana, given the digital divide and the new shifts in educational approaches.

This is according to President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan, who commended the virtual education contents offered by the Ministry of Education.

He explained that, in a matter of weeks, coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed how students are educated around the world.

Those changes, Mohan said, give one a glimpse at how education could change for the better in the long-term.

Mohan noted that COVID-19 has become a catalyst for educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions in a relatively short period of time.

He explained that globally, diverse stakeholders - including governments, publishers, education professionals, technology providers, and telecom network operators – came together to utilize digital platforms as a tempo-

rary solution to the crisis.

Mohan added that, in emerging countries, where education has predominantly been provided by the government, this could become a prevalent and consequential trend to future education.

However, Mohan acknowledged that the less affluent and digitally savvy individual families are, the further their students are left behind. When classes transition online, these children lose out because of the cost of digital devices and data plans.

He noted that along with e-government hotspots and the sharing of the internet between neighbours, there are many opportunities also being facilitated by banks, where loans are made available for affordable technologies for the development of students.

Mohan concluded that the pandemic is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the skills students need in this unpredictable world.

These skills, he said, include informed decision making, creative problem solving, and perhaps, above all, adaptability. “To ensure those skills remain a priority for all students, resilience

must be built into our educational systems as well.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education noted that schools across Guyana remain closed until further notice, in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

As a consequence of the extended closure of schools, the Ministry of Education has provided the following guidance.

Parents and guardians are advised to visit the Ministry of Education’s website on https://bit.ly/39Y698S to access National Grade Six (NGSA) Practice Test Papers in the four core areas (English, Science, Social Studies and Mathematics.

(Please note that the link is case sensitive) The University of Guyana also remains closed.

At the secondary and tertiary levels, teachers are advised, under the guidance of the Chief Education Officer (CEO), to engage students via zoom, skype and other similar electronic means.

The technical team at the ministry is continuously working to upgrade the support provided to teachers and students.

In this regard, the ministry is in discussion with international development partners to establish additional e-learning platforms, including e-testing for students.

In communities with limited opportunities for e-learning platforms (i.e. Regions 0ne, Seven, Eight and Nine) and selected rural communities, workbooks for learners have been provided.

The ministry has acquired and is in the process of distributing learning materials for special needs learners, primarily at the nursery and primary levels.

The Ministry of Education’s leadership is currently working to ensure that it continues to provide the support and guidance for the successful implementation of its programmes.

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President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

K&K Service Station enforcing COVID-19 measures at Mahaica complex … but suffers reduction in business due to the curfew MANAGER of the KK Service Station, Randie Williams, said that the popular business place and ‘rest stop’ has seen a drop in the level of business since

the implementation of the nationwide curfew, as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Speaking with the Guy-

ana Chronicle on Sunday, Williams said that the business which houses a gas station, snackette, pharmacy and supermarket in Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demer-

ara, has been compliant with the restrictions for opening hours as stipulated by the central government.

K&K Service Station Williams said that the business which was established in 2011 has been having difficulty in sourcing a number of essential items that customers usually frequent the establishment for. He said that suppliers in Georgetown complain of difficulties in clearing shipments of supplies due to the restrictions.

As a result of this, some items have had to be sourced elsewhere, oftentimes at higher than usual prices.

“In terms of the business, since the curfew has been implemented the business is reduced…sales just went down,” he related.

He said that the kitchen business, minimart, gas station all suffered from reduced business.

“In terms of measures here, we had a meeting with the village office at the beginning of the curfew and other measures and we put some systems in place as a result. We have a sink with soap and running water, and, for the cashier, we had to put a glass partition [in her area]. All of the workers have to wear masks and in some cases gloves. We had signs posted up with the messages regarding sanitisation and distancing and we also made markings on the ground where persons needed to stand to ensure they were the required distance from each other,” he said, Further, the manager said that the minimart staff usually monitor the number of persons in the facility at one time, ensuring that social distancing is observed.

“It’s a big area, so we allow only ten persons at a time. We have somebody at the door ensuring persons wash their hands,” he said.

However, he said that while there has been some degree of resistance, most of the customers are adhering to the measures.

“Although we have this system in place and we have signs and all of that, we’re

telling people to do these things and some of them saying that they already wash their hands at home before they came. Obviously people have to come in the store with masks. We sell masks here too…they say they don’t have and we told them they could purchase or they can’t come in. we are having difficulty with this part of it because we have different types of people we dealing with. They want some item which is important to them in the store and they don’t have a mask and they don’t want to buy a mask and they want to come in,” he said.

He noted too that he sells masks for $300 each. He noted that the store had some that they sold for $200 each but these ran out and they had to source from a different supplier at a higher price.

Williams said that, with regards to restocking, they purchase items from various companies and sometimes travelling merchants sell to the business. “We are not getting some items from the stores. He said that businesses blame COVID-19 – related staff shortages for delays in delivery. “We are not getting some of the essential items that we normally sell regularly. Right now we are out of stock in some items. They are saying that the containers at the wharf and there is a long process,” he said.

Asked whether the store has had to increase prices for some items, he said yes. “We have had to increase prices for hand soaps for example.

Is not because I want to increase it but because I bought it for a higher price [since the concerns over COVID-19].

So definitely the prices for hand soap and hand sanitisers had to be increased,” he said.

Williams pointed out that the curfew and restrictions, while important for arresting the spread of the disease, are certainly taking their toll on businesses like K&K Service Station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

PAHO calls for continued immunisation to avoid risk of other outbreaks during COVID-19 pandemic

DIRECTOR of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa F. Etienne, today urged for vaccination programs to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If we fall behind on routine immunizations, particularly for children, we risk outbreaks, thus overwhelming hospitals and clinics with preventable diseases in addition to COVID-19,” said Dr. Etienne.

In a press briefing updating the situation, Dr Etienne said, “until a vaccine for COVID19 is available, immunizations can and must be delivered by the health services alongside the response” to the pandemic.

If countries fail to do this, “the impact on our health systems would take months or even years to reverse,” she added.

A priority for countries, she said, is to “vaccinate to protect health workers, the elderly and vulnerable populations from other respiratory infections, such as influenza and pneumococcus, which can lead to more hospitalizations and may be harder to diagnose in the context of COVID-19.”

Maintaining capacity in vaccination is also key to ensuring the Region’s “readiness to deliver the vaccine for COVID 19” when it is developed, Dr Etienne noted. This week, “Vaccination Week in the

‘Friends of Toronto’ donate to Guyana’s CDC A HUMANITARIAN effort by “Friends of Toronto” has seen the group providing valuable assistance to Guyanese doctors and nurses and also the wider community, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in light of the current dreaded coronavirus disease.

Led by cricket enthusiast and Canada Post senior employee, Terry Mathura, and comprising of several other donors, the “Friends of Toronto” were able to accrue a substantial sum which was dispatched to a representative in Guyana.

According to Mathura, the donation is part of the group’s

corporate social responsibility, and its desire to assist in any way it can, during this period.

The support came in the form of essential food supplies, including milk powder, sugar, peas, rice, crackers, flour and chowmein.

Following numerous requests from doctors and nurses on the frontline, some thirty N95 masks were also handed over directly to them while the nurses also received cleaning supplies.

The CDC and the doctors have expressed sincere thanks to the “Friends of Toronto” for their fine gesture.

Some of the items being offloaded at the CDC headquarters.

The N95 masks which were presented to the doctors and nurses.

Americas is a time to promote and celebrate the life-saving power of vaccines. In 2020, we approach it with an acute sense of urgency,” she said, adding, “History has shown us that after wars or epidemics, if we allow large gaps in immunization coverage, vaccine preventable diseases like polio and measles can re-emerge.”

While measles was eliminated in the Americas in 2016, “As coverage rates dropped we faced outbreaks in Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia and in a few states in the US. As we speak, at least three countries are working to contain mea-

sles outbreaks in Latin America,” said the PAHO Director.

“Efforts to control measles must continue, safely, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, or we risk erasing more than 20 years of progress,” she warned. As of April 27, more than one million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Americas, and 60,211 people have died. “We are seeing a growing number of countries with ongoing community transmission: 3 in North America, 7 in South America, 1 in Central America, and 1 in the Caribbean,” said Dr. Etienne.

“PAHO continues to work closely with member

States to strengthen surveillance. Based on everything we know, it’s vital that countries reinforce protective measures now and use all tools available to them. This includes proven public health interventions like social distancing, testing, isolating cases and contact tracing,” she added.

To help countries plan and make decisions on which vaccines to prioritize during the COVID-19 pandemic, PAHO has issued detailed guidance, which considers both potential risks and the burden of the pandemic on health systems.

This guidance recommends that governments prioritize those vaccines for diseases that have an imminent risk of expanding in that area, such as measles, and those for other respiratory infections, such as flu and Pneumococcus.

Regarding vaccination efforts in the Region, the director said “our teams at PAHO are supporting every step of the process. We are training health workers and educating communities.

We are working harder than ever to ensure that this pandemic doesn’t disrupt vital immunization services.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Tokyo Olympics will be ‘scrapped’ if 2021 is unfeasible-Games chief

THE postponed Tokyo Olympics will be “scrapped” if they cannot take place in 2021, says Games chief Yoshiro Mori.

Tokyo 2020 is now scheduled to run from 23 July to 8 August next year after being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Health experts have cast doubt on whether the Games could be held next summer without a vaccine or effective drugs to treat Covid-19 being found.

When asked if the event could be moved again to 2022, Mori replied: “No.” “In that case, the Olympics will be scrapped,” he added.

However, the Tokyo 2020 president said he was confident the rescheduled Games would go ahead.

“This Olympics would be much more valuable than any Olympics in the past if we could go ahead with it after winning this battle,” he told Nikkan Sports.

“We have to believe this, otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded.”

Tokyo 2020: ‘The right decision, made just in time’ The president of Japan’s medical association, Yoshitake Yokokura, said on Tuesday it will be “difficult” to hold the

Olympics in 2021 without vaccines or effective drugs being developed.

“I am not saying that Japan should or shouldn’t host the Olympics, but that it would be difficult to do so,” he said.

“If the infections are under control in Japan, it will still be difficult to hold the games unless the pandemic is over in the rest of the world.”

Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become available by mid-2021, though others have warned there is no guarantee a vaccine can be successfully developed.

Mori added that the Olympics and Paralympics which will now run from 24 August to 5 September 2021 - could share opening and closing ceremonies as a way of cutting costs.

“Given that the situation has dramatically changed, we have to review key areas, including the ceremonies,” he said.

“It’s going to a considerable cut in costs and a big message of victory against the global crisis - but it’s not easy.”

However, Mori said he had not yet asked the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee whether they would agree to such a plan, and acknowledged that tickets had already been sold for the separate opening and closing ceremonies. (BBC Sport)

Bolt rates Beijing grind-out win over Gatlin as one of toughest races ever RETIRED Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has listed the 2015 Beijing World Championships

100m struggle against American Justin Gatlin as one of his toughest ever races.

Heading into the championships, Bolt, who was recovering from injury, was short on fitness with many doubting his capacity to hit top gear.

It would have taken a brave man to bet against the Jamaica sprint king but some were convinced an upset was on the cards as the American had looked imperious.

Heading into the event, Gatlin had dominated opponents

all season to put together a 28-race win streak.

“I was totally not the favourite this time, I could tell that,” Bolt said in an interview with India media outlet Power Sportz.

“This was the first time Justin Gatlin was going to have me chasing after him (wearing favourite tag). But, when I knew he was nervous was when I went into the warm-up area and he was talking to me. That was strange, he never speaks to me.

So, it clicked to me that

he was nervous as well because this was the first time we were ever going to compete and he was favourite.”

In the end, Bolt only just came past a faltering Gatlin at the death to snatch victory by one-hundredth of a second. Well short of his best, but good enough for gold.

“I happy but you couldn’t see it on my face because it was so much pressure that came off me.

I just thought, thank you.

For me, that was one of the hardest races I’ve run in my life.”

Proposal to legalise ball-tampering ‘illogical’ - insists Windies great Holding LEGENDARY West Indies fast bowler turned commentator Michael Holding has described proposals to legalise ball-tampering, in wake of the threat posed by the coronavirus, as ‘illogical’.

The thinking behind the move stems from the fact that fast bowlers often use bodily fluids like sweat and saliva to polish one side of the ball, which impacts its aerodynamics. The method is particularly useful in aiding swing bowling. Under Law 41, however, all other actions which alter the condition of the ball are illegal.

Players are often known to scuff the ball with a sharp object carried onto the field, fingernails, or even teeth. With concerns raised regarding the threat posed by bodily fluids in

spreading the virus, however, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has considered amending the rules to allow the use of foreign substances on the ball, with the caveat that it is done in front of the umpire.

The proposal has found favour in some circles but Holding did not agree.

“I have read that ICC is contemplating preventing people from using saliva on the ball due to Covid-19 and allowing them to use foreign substances on the ball to keep the shine on but in front of the umpire. I don’t understand the logic behind that,” Holding told Espncricinfo.

“Before they got to that point they said, if they restart cricket, it has to

be played in a bio-secure environment. They were saying cricketers, for instance, would have to isolate themselves for two weeks to make sure that everything was fine for when they got to the venue before the match started.

And everyone involved (with the match) will have to do the same thing,” he added.

“Now if you are saying everyone is in the bio-secure environment, you are staying in the same hotel, you are not moving for the length of time you are playing the matches, if that is the case, why are you worried about someone’s saliva? That person, according to what you are doing, should be free of Covid-19.” (Sportsmax)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Mixed feelings among young Guyanese athletes

By Ras Wadada IN our continuing efforts to track down young Guyanese athletes on the Collegiate Track and Field circuit in the USA, Chronicle Sport, via telephone, heard the continuous lamentations of dissatisfaction from some, while others are thankful for the Pandemic intervention.

Sprinter, Kenisha Phillips, a former Chase Academy Foundation student, now enrolled at the Austin Peay University of Tennessee and currently in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, informed Chronicle Sport that she is doubly disappointed, “The cancellation of the Track season and all that was happening Globally took a few days for me to really understand what was happening.

I was well focused after capturing two titles at the Ohio Valley Conference to help the College win the Indoor Championship after many years. I was looking forward to building on my success to help us win the outdoor title as well, but more importantly, to use the outdoors to make the Olympic qualifying times in the 100M and 200M. I was also confident that, with my form, I could secure a medal at the cancelled CARIFTA Games since it is my last year. Obviously, I had never experienced anything like this before, so it was kind of weird at first, but my Coach encouraged me to stay positive, and that I have been doing. I know it is a very serious situation, so I remain safe while still working out inside and in the backyard.

The season might be cancelled, but my dreams aren’t and I still have the same goals. I have always dreamt of making it to the Olympics and it still remains. What I am grateful for at this time of lockdown is that I have more time to do my school work. I was really looking forward to returning home and sharing with my club mates, at Running Brave, some of the thing I learnt”, the 18-yearold Buxtonian revealed.

Another Running Brave

athlete on scholarship overseas is Natrena Hooper, the older sister of Natricia, who is at the University of Florida. The 28-year-old Natrena, who is at the University of the West Indies pursuing a Bachelor’s in Gender and Development Studies, is one who is thankful to COVID19.

“To me, this is a sign from God, giving me a second chance to qualify for the Olympics as I am in no state of readiness to compete if the Olympics was not postponed; so I am grateful in a way. I am currently rehabilitating from surgery done in December for a fractured right big toe; therefore, this is a most welcome opportunity to fully heal and work on certain weaknesses. The lockdown has surely affected me mentally, but I am learning to adopt and not trying to be too stressed through physical training at home that my coach has given”, the form e r

I can’t say I am disappointed since I understand the circumstances and, really, this first season my main goal was simply to improve my times. In training, I was running my personal best and was expecting this year to be a good one for me on the track, but it has turned out not to be. In the absence of outdoor training, I am staying in physical shape with freehand exercises”, claimed the 20-year-old 100M, 200M and 400M specialist, formerly of McKenzie High School and who is presently tracking a degree in Computer Science.

Another disenchanted Guyanese athletic talent in the US collegiate circuit and full of promise is triple/long jumper, Lloyd McCurdy w h o w o n t h e

am now heading to Auburn University on a full scholarship as a Sophomore”, the 22-year-old former South Ruimveldt Secondary student told Chronicle Sport.

Kenisha Phillips: former Chase Academy Foundation student now enrolled at Austin Peay University of Tennessee is in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Education on Sunday informed Chronicle Sport that she is doubly disappointed, “the cancellation of the Track season and all that was happening, Globally, took a few days f o r m e t o re-

inside and in the backyard.

The season might be cancelled , but my dreams aren’t and I still have the same goals. I have always dreamt of making it to the Olympics and it still remains. What I am grateful for at this time of lockdown is that I have more time to do my school work. I was really looking forward to returning home and sharing with my club mates at Running Brave some

Kenisha Phillips Lloyd McCurdy

Daniel Williams

Natrena Hooper

North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary student stated.

In Mississippi, 2017 World Youth 400M Silver medalist, Daniel Williams, is one who is not overly perturbed at the untimely forced cancellation due to the global pandemic, “The cancellation news came one week before my first competition for Hinds Community College, which I was attending in my first year of a full scholarship.

Men’s I n vitational triple-jump at last year’s Penns Relays.

“I am a bit disappointed in the whole cancellation of the track season as I was determined to put behind me a poor indoor season in my final year at Monroe College; nevertheless, it is what it is and I fully understand and accept the current situation.

The lockdown proved to be a setback as everywhere is on closed, so getting treatment for a bruised tendon in my knee was not possible.

I ,however, am optimistic as I have graduated with an Associate Degree in Computer Information System and

a l l y understand what w a s happening.

I was well focused after capturing two titles at the Ohio Valley Conference to help the College win the Indoor Championship after many years. I was looking forward to building on my success to help us win the outdoor title as well, but more importantly, to use the outdoors to make the Olympic qualifying times in the 100M and 200M. I was also confident that with my form I could secure a medal at the cancelled CARIFTA Games since it is my last year. Obviously, I had never experienced anything like this before, so it was kind of weird at first, but my Coach encouraged me to stay positive and that I have been doing. I know it is a very serious situation, so I remain safe while still working out

of the things I learnt”, t h e 18-year-old Buxtonian revealed.

Another Running Brave athlete on scholarship overseas is Natrena Hooper, the older sister of Natricia, who is at the University of Florida. The 28-year-old Natrena, who is at the University of the West Indies pursuing a Bachelor’s in Gender and Development Studies, is one who is thankful to COVID19. “To me, this is a sign from God, giving me a second chance to qualify for the Olympics, as I am in no state of readiness to compete if the Olympics was not postponed, so I am grateful in a way. I am currently rehabilitating from surgery, done in December, for a fractured right big toe, therefore, this is a most welcome opportunity to fully heal and work on certain weaknesses. The lockdown has surely affected me mentally, but I am learning to adopt and not trying to

be too stressed through physical training at home that my coach has given”, the former North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary student stated.

In Mississippi, 2017 World Youth 400M Silver medalist, Daniel Williams is one who is not overly perturbed at the untimely forced cancellation by the global pandemic, “The cancellation news came one week before my first competition for Hinds Community College, which I was attending in my first year of a full scholarship.

I can’t say I am disappointed since I understand the circumstances and, really, this first season my main goal was simply to improve my times. In training, I was running my personal best and was expecting this year to be a good one for me on the track, but it has turned out not to be. In the absence of outdoor training, I am staying in physical shape with free-hand exercises”, claimed the 20-year-old 100M, 200M and 400M specialist, formerly of McKenzie High School and who is presently tracking a degree in Computer Science.

Another disenchanted Guyanese athletic talent in the US collegiate circuit and full of promise is triple/ long jumper, Lloyd McCurdy, who won the Men’s Invitational triple-jump at last year’s Penns Relays.

“I am a bit disappointed in the whole cancellation of the track season, as I was determined to put behind me a poor indoor season in my final year at Monroe College,; nevertheless, it is what it is and I fully understand and accept the current situation.

The lockdown proved to be a setback as everywhere is on closed, so getting treatment for a bruised tendon in my knee was not possible.

I ,however, am optimistic as I have graduated with an Associate Degree in Computer Information System and am now heading to Auburn University on a full scholarship as a Sophomore”, the 22-yearold former South Ruimveldt Secondary student told Chronicle sport.

NBA sets guidelines and timeline for reopening facilities (REUTERS) - The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Monday it is modifying guidance on player training, which could allow team facilities to open as early as May 8 in U.S. states easing stay-at-home orders put in place to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The opening of facilities would be the first step towards restarting the league, which has been shuttered since March 11 after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus.

“The purpose of these changes is to allow for safe and controlled environments for players to train in states that allow them to do so, and to create a process for identifying safe training options for players located in other states,” the NBA said in a statement.

The changes would allow teams to make facilities available to players for workouts or injury treatment on a voluntary basis.

For teams based in states or cities where government

restrictions remain in place, the NBA will work with them to find alternative arrangement.

As part of the guidelines no more than four players will be permitted at a facility at any one time and no coaches can participate.

Group activity remains prohibited, including practices or scrimmages. Players are also prohibited from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers or gyms.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

On this day: Born April 29, 1970:

Andre Agassi, American tennis player

By Shrivathsa Sridhar (REUTERS) - Heading into his maiden Grand Slam final on the red clay of Roland Garros in 1990, Andre Agassi said a prayer.

One of the game’s greatest entertainers, Agassi had sought divine intervention not for major success that had eluded him since he exploded onto the scene in the 1980s but for his unkempt, shoulder-length mane to remain undisturbed.

The Las Vegas showman with a big forehand was harbouring a bigger secret — the wig that he had been wearing for years to hide his thinning hairline had come apart a day earlier and had been hastily repaired with several pins.

“My wig was like a chain and the ridiculously long strands in three colours like an iron ball which hung on it,” Agassi, who turns 50 on Wednesday, wrote in his autobiography “Open”, originally published in 2009.

“With each leap I imagine it falling into the sand...

I imagine millions of spectators move closer to their TV sets, their eyes widening and, in dozens of dialects and languages, ask how Andre Agassi’s hair has fallen from his head.”

Agassi’s anxiety threw him off his game and handed Ecuador’s Andres Gomez his only major title, while the American would end the year trailing younger rival Pete Sampras, who had opened his Grand Slam ac-

count at the 1990 U.S. Open.

But the player who drew a new generation of fans to tennis with his rebellious nature and flashy style was just getting started, capturing his first major at Wimbledon in 1992 after shunning the event from 1988-1990 due to its all-white dress code.

Shields in 1997 and his loss of form due to wrist injuries meant he played only a handful of matches that year, as his ranking dropped to a dismal 141.

It was a period, as he candidly wrote in his autobiography, during which he used the recreational drug crystal meth

FLASHBACK: American tennis player Andre Agassi holds the trophy outside the tennis centre after his win over Rainer Schuettler of Germany during the men’s final at the Australian Open in Melbourne January 26, 2003. Agassi defeated Schuettler 6-2 6-2 6-1 (REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo) He went on to lift the U.S. Open title in 1994 and, after shaving his head on the advice of his then actress girlfriend Brooke Shields, the Australian Open crown in 1995 before adding an Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996.

HIGHS AND LOWS Agassi’s marriage to

and lied to the governing body of men’s tennis to escape a ban. No action was taken by the ATP at the time.

Following a spell on the second-tier Challenger circuit to rediscover his form, a more mature Agassi climbed back up the rankings and in 1999 — having gone through a divorce — sealed

a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open.

Life had come full circle and the success moved Agassi into the elite club comprising Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as only the fifth man to win all four majors.

Success eluded the American when he lost to great rival Sampras in the 1999 Wimbledon final but he ended the year ranked number one after beating compatriot Todd Martin to win the U.S. Open.

Playing his best tennis, Agassi captured the Australian Open three times between 2000 and 2003 to take his career Grand Slam tally to eight, overtaking John McEnroe and Mats Wilander.

Agassi’s rise coincided with his blossoming romance with Germany’s former women’s number one Steffi Graf, who he married in 2001 and has two children with.

At 33 Agassi became the oldest man to hold the sport’s top ranking, a record that has since been broken by Roger Federer, and won his 60th ATP crown in 2005 in Los Angeles.

A chronic back injury meant his flamboyant career would end a year later at the U.S. Open.

Agassi briefly coached Serbia’s Novak Djokovic from 2017 to early 2018 but he now spends much of his time involved in educational initiatives and his charitable foundation in Nevada.

Fury will not face Wilder ‘until October or November’, says Frank Warren

Deontay Wilder’s chance to regain the WBC heavyweight title against Tyson Fury is set to come on 18 July

PROMOTER Frank Warren has ruled out the possibility of Tyson Fury facing Anthony Joshua in an undisputed heavyweight fight later this year.

Fury is contractually obliged to face Wilder in a trilogy fight after his stunning seventh-round knockout victory over the American in February.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, had mooted the idea of step-aside money being offered to Wilder to enable the British pair to meet for all the heavyweight belts this year.

“No offers have been made,” Warren told punching.tv.

“As far as Tyson’s concerned no offers whatsoever have been made to Wilder or his team.

“At the moment, there is a contract in place that has to be honoured.”

Fury was set to rematch Wilder in Las Vegas in July before the coronavirus outbreak, with the bout now unlikely to take place “until October or November”, according to Warren.

“I hope it does (happen). For the sake of British sport and British boxing,” Warren said of a potential clash with Joshua. ”It’s something everybody wants to see happen. I want to see it happen because we’ve all got opinions on who we think we feel will win.

“I feel that Tyson has the beating of him as I always felt from day one that Tyson always had the beating of Deontay Wilder – and was proved twice – albeit the first fight he didn’t get the decision – he was cheated.

“I think if we can get them in the ring the same thing will happen with AJ. I think Tyson has the beating of him as well.” (The Independent)

Vaughan bats for shortened county season without overseas players

(REUTERS) - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should consider a shortened County Championship season without overseas players for two years to offset the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak, former England skipper Michael Vaughan said.

The ECB has extended its suspension of the professional game until July 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which means nine rounds of

County Championship fixtures will be lost.

Counties face losses of up to 85 million pounds if the season is scrapped altogether, the BBC said citing a report from financial advisory firm Oakwell Sports.

“You have to look at every area where you can save a few quid,” Vaughan, who captained England’s test team between 2003 and 2008, told the BBC. “Traditionalists will go mad at this, but these are

Former England captain Michael Vaughan

unprecedented times. In the next two years, could you look at not having overseas players for the four-day game?”

Some counties, including Yorkshire and Essex, have cancelled or deferred contracts of overseas players due to the financial impact of the outbreak, which has shut down sports globally.

The virus has infected three million people globally causing more than 205,000

deaths.

Vaughan said reducing the number of fixtures in the County Championship from 14 to 10 would do no harm in the short term.

“Four-day cricket costs the game ... it is a cost that could, just for a couple of years, be worth reducing,” he added.

“If you reduced it from 14 to 10 games, you’d miss the games but I don’t think it would be a huge problem for a couple of years.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

World Athletics launches $500,000 fund for struggling athletes

Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s h a s launched a $500,000 fund alongside the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) to help athletes affected financially by the coronavirus pandemic.

The world of sport has been decimated by the outbreak of COVID-19, which has seen the Olympic Games in Tokyo postponed by a year until 2021.

That had a knock-on effect with the World Athletics Championships, originally scheduled for 2021 in Oregon, pushed back by 12 months, while the 2020 European Championships have been cancelled.

A World Athletics statement said the fund will be used to help athletes who have lost the majority of their income from the suspension of international competition.

Resources from the 2020 and 2021 budgets of the IAF, of which Prince Albert II of Monaco is honorary president, will be allocated to help athletes.

World Athletics president and IAF chair Sebastian Coe will front “an expert multi-regional working group to assess the applications for assistance, which will be submitted

through World Athletics’ six Area Associations”.

Olympic champion and 1500 metres world record-holder Hicham El Guerrouj and Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi are among the members of the working group, which will convene in the coming week for talks over how to award and distribute grants to individual athletes and to assess means of raising additional monies for the fund.

“I would especially like to thank Hicham for bringing this idea to us, and Prince Albert for his strong support of this project,” Coe said.

“I am in constant contact with athletes around the world and I know that many are experiencing financial hardship as a consequence of the shutdown of most international sports competition in the last two months.

“Our professional athletes rely on prize money as part of their income and we’re mindful that our competition season, on both the track and road, is being severely impacted by the pandemic.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to stage at least some competition later this year, but in the meantime we

will also endeavour, through this fund and additional monies we intend to seek through the friends of our sport, to help as many athletes as possible.”

World Athletics president and IAF chair Sebastian Coe

El Guerrouj added: “The pandemic is causing economic pain to people from all parts of society, including athletes, and this is a time when we must come together as a global community to help each other.

“I am delighted that Seb and World Athletics reacted so positively to my suggestion that we create a fund for athletes, and have made it happen with the support of the International Athletics Foundation.

“The suspension of competition has had a huge impact on many professional athletes because they can’t earn prize money so I’m really pleased that we have found a way to assist them.”

Prince Albert II said he hopes the initiative can help athletes continue preparations for next year’s Games.

“I created more than 35 years ago the International Athletics Foundation with the late Primo Nebiolo to encourage and promote athletics and grant financial assistance to athletics federations and the most deserving athletes,” he said.

“Since its inception the Foundation has distributed for these purposes more than $30million. I am delighted that we can put our resources behind this initiative so we can make a difference to the lives of athletes who are suffering financially at this time.

“We hope that this support will help those athletes preparing for international competition, including next year’s Olympic Games, to sustain their training, support their families and that this will relieve them of some stress in these uncertain times.” (Omnisport)

Barnwell says lockdown training coming along nicely despite challenges ―all-rounder enjoying time off with family, anxious to get back to playing cricket

By Clifton Ross SENIOR Guyana Jaguars all-rounder, Christopher Barnwell, says he’s cherishing this rare time off due to the COVID-19 outbreak, while maintaining his fitness with hopes of returning to action soon.

The former West Indies all-rounder, who played 6 T20 internationals, chimed in on the recent break in cricket internationally, regionally and locally due to the pandemic, which has forced the world into a state of isolation.

Much like his teammates, the 33-year-old is one of the few Guyanese cricketers who, when not playing for his club Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), is representing his country as one of the seniors in the 5-time Regional 4-Day titlewinning Guyana Jaguars team, or playing as one of the veteran T20 guns-forhire in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

But with the Jaguars

being forced to abandon their weekly outdoor training sessions as well as any form of playing or practice, Barnwell said it was a bit difficult to adjust to such restrictions.

“It’s very difficult at the moment, not getting any outdoor training, but we all know the seriousness of the virus, so we have to take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our families. We have a Zoom session every morning from 9:00am to 10:00am with the trainer, so we could keep ourselves in shape”, said the hard-hitting batsman.

The outbreak has cast a shroud of boredom over the country with regards to all manner of sport being placed on pause indefinitely.

Nevertheless, it comes with a silver lining as athletes such as Barnwell, who’s still in the early stages of fatherhood and spends a lot of time playing and traveling as a professional sportsman, echoed the sentiments

from the human side of things as he can now spend some precious time with family and loved ones.

“I must say this is the longest break we’ve had within that 5 and to 6 period. I’m sure the wives, girlfriends and kids are enjoying it, so I think it (covid19) has come like a blessing in disguise”, Barnwell stated.

Prior to the world entering its lockdown state, Barnwell and his team were engaged in their annual 4-Day cricket season, where they sought to defend their title for the 6th straight year.

A few hiccups and the abrupt stoppage of the final two rounds of the Regional 4-Day competition resulted in the Jags falling short of their record title chase, as the Barbados Pride were crowned new champs.

However, with the team well-rested and players getting ample time to heal any niggles while staying fit, Barnwell, who was on a batting surge since the Re-

gional Super 50 tournament, was among the premier batsmen for Guyana in this year’s 4-Dayers and will be key during the upcoming season.

One of the first Guyanese to ever be drafted to the Indian Premier League (IPL), back in 2013, the burly right-hander finished this 4-day season 11th overall on the leading run-scorers list with 435 runs with 2 fifties and a best of 107.

Given his recent run with the bat, Barnwell admitted that he’s eager to get back into action, adding that discovering newer ways to train is key as they await the day when cricket is played again.

“I’m very eager to get back on the park, playing cricket again; I just want to maintain the same focus and keep working on my game. We don’t know how long this would go for so, as professionals, we have to find a way to hit a few balls and bowl a few as well”, He ended.

UEFA gives European leagues May 25 deadline for restart plans

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - European football leagues have been given a May 25 deadline to inform governing body UEFA of their plans to restart their domestic competitions.

Soccer has ground to a halt in all major leagues in Europe and none have yet to resume.

B u t U E FA i s keen to s t a r t planning for next s e a s o n ’s Euro-

UEFA would require the National Association to explain by 25 May 2020 the special circumstances justifying such premature termination and to select clubs for the UEFA club competitions 2020/21 on the basis of sporting merit in the 2019/20 domestic competitions,” he added.

The sport has been brought to a standstill by the pandemic, with the Euro 2020 competition postponed until next year and both national leagues and continental

UEFA, president Aleksander Ceferin

pean club tournaments.

In a letter to the 55 federations in UEFA, president Aleksander Ceferin wrote that any league cancelling its season would need to produce a list of teams that have qualified for European club competitions, also by May 25.

“National Associations and/or Leagues should be in a position to communicate to UEFA by 25 May 2020 the planned restart of their domestic competitions including the date of restart and the relevant competition format,” Ceferin wrote.

“In the event that a domestic competition is to be prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons...

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club competitions on hold.

UEFA has made it clear that it wants its member associations to complete their domestic seasons rather than abandon them.

It also hopes to finish the Champions League and Europa League competitions.

While leagues such as the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and English Premier League say they want to finish their seasons, the Dutch Eredivisie cut short its season on Friday and said there would be no title awarded and no relegations or promotions - a decision strongly criticised by some of the affected clubs.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Gayle, Sarwan fiasco highlight cricket’s ‘Dark Side’ …Sarwan’s side of things could shift narrative forming some sort of a coup which saw him being released from the franchise he helped win two CPL titles.

While Gayle might me right on his half of the story, which in summary basically stated that Sarwan and company after a number of conversations among the respective parties, had mixed views on issues surrounding Gayle admitting to taking two pay cuts and Sarwan who was poised to be head coach of the franchise.

Chris Gayle (left) and Ramnaresh Sarwan in happier times

By Clifton Ross T20 Universe Boss Chris Gayle went on a verbal tirade recently, calling out a number of high-profile individuals including former West Indies teammate and Guyanese Ramnaresh Sar-

wan for his departure from the Jamaica Tallawahs.

Gayle, who is one of the more outspoken players, a reflection of his approach on the field didn’t hold back as he called out Tallawahs owner Kris Persaud along with Geoff Miller and Sarwan, for

Bristol to hand over food hampers to GBA

BOXERS and officials affiliated to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will soon be provided with food hampers to help cushion the effects of COVID-19. Former boxer turned promoter Seon Bristol is joining forces with the GBA to provide at least 40 hampers to members of the boxing fraternity.

The GBA is currently working out the modalities relating to distribution of the hampers. According to Bristol who resides in New York, USA provision of the hampers which will comprise of several basic food items, is the least that he can do at the moment.

“These are difficult times and I believe it’s my duty to assist where and when I can. We have to be our brother’s keeper. It’s no secret which neighbourhoods our boxers come from and at this point in time they need less talk and more help.

I have signaled to my brother (Steve Ninvalle) that I am about ready

and together we should wrap this up in just about a week. Its small but it’s a start and I hope that others will see the need to do likewise, Bristol said.

GBA president Steve Ninvalle hailed the Bristol’s proposal as timely and disclosed that hampers will be presented to the families of the four

Boxing promoter Seon Bristol

GBA president Steve Ninvalle

It’s not the first time that Bristol has come to the assistance of the GBA. In the past the Chief Executive Officer of Bris O Promotion has provided gear, airline tickets, school uniforms, boots, and has sponsored individual boxers.

boxers currently in Cuba once they don’t return to Guyana in time. “The sport needs all the help it can get at this time. Mr. Bristol has remained an unflinching supporter.

It is hoped that others will see it fit to join this drive,” Ninvalle said.

The former Guyana and Windies skipper joined the franchise a few seasons ago and according to Gayle was pushing for the head coach role.

After conversations with his former teammate who he even played with at the Under-19 level, took a different direction after the opener admitted to telling Sarwan that he didn’t think he was suited for the head coach role, given his lack of experience in the position.

When things went left, Gayle said it was then the process of his ousting began, as sources within CPL close to the Jamaican batsman telling him that his name was not on the list of retained players

by the franchise.

The rest was history as Gayle then took his talents to St Lucia where he will team up with another old teammate in Zouks skipper Darren Sammy, for this year’s edition of the tournament.

Despite the accusations, half of the story still remains in the dark with Sarwan’s thoughts now left to be aired.

The plot twist could lay in the hands of a former middle-order batsman who could outline reasons which could possibly shift the narrative of the tale.

If Sarwan turns out to be the puppet master indeed and essentially provides strong reasons behind the

Gayle move, then the story could indeed be more saucy if the `Universe Boss’ was the catalyst behind his own demise.

The Ghost of Sars now looms as the ex-Windies batsman has yet to reply to Gayle’s comments, at least for the time being.

In all, the summary of the story is that until Sarwan and company denies any of the allegations or makes a statement regarding the situation; then Gayle’s remarks will be the heart of the fiasco.

The entire situation further tells a tale that cricket despite being a gentleman’s game and one of utmost sportsmanship; possesses a darker side.

BCB benefits from new pitch covers as cricket development continues in the Ancient County

Despite the Corona Virus crisis affecting global sport, the Vibrant Berbice Cricket Board is using the off season to strengthen its capacity to further develop cricket and also make a positive in the lives of the less fortunate. With the Berbice Cricket Season closed since late February, the BCB office has also been closed but the staff is still been paid. The BCB is currently hosting a Corona Virus Food hamper drive along with ten cricket teams of the RHTYSC, MS to distribute 500-600 hampers to less fortunate families across Berbice while it is also sharing out face mask as well in its efforts to combat the deadly virus. The BCB is also on the verge of creating a Berbice Cricket flag and emblem as it forges ahead with its vision. The flag would be flowed at all BCB cricket finals and events while the emblem would also be placed on all BCB souvenirs including inter county caps, T/Shirts, cups among others.

In another major investment, the BCB has received two lengths of pitch covers. The covers have a length of 50 feet each and a width of 20 feet and would be stored at the Albion Cricket Ground on a fulltime basis. The donation was made possible with the assistance of former BCB President Anil Beharry who obtained support under his Friends of Berbice Cricket programme. Those making donations were Noreen Gaskin of Sentinel Security, Tyler and Mia, Kalvin Somrah, Renwick Beharry, Raj Rebhel Mathura, Ian Bhagwandhin and Khemraj Tageram. A delighted BCB President BCB President Hilbert Foster poses with the cricket pitch covers

stated that the policy of his board is to become self-reliance in an effort to cut operational costs, so that more funds can be pumped into developmental programmes such as coaching with the BCB now having its own cricket covers, the Competition Committee would now be in a better position to organise semifinals and finals in traditional venue, where there might be no covers. Under fosters leadership, the BCB has organised semis and finals at non- traditional venues like Fyrish, No69, Cotton Tree, NO72 Cut and Load, Hampshire in an effort to promote the game at the grassroot level and this would be expanded when the cricket season restarts later in the year. Since the election of the foster led administration, the BCB has also undertaken the complete restoration of its New Amsterdam based head office and obtains items for the smooth operation of its business. The BCB hopes in the future to purchased its own vehicle, construct a modern indoor cricket facility and to host a Premier Professional league for its cricketers. The President expressed gratitude to the contributors to the Friends of Berbice Cricket Fund and reassured them that the covers would be taken care of. The first edition of the fund r a i s e d $830,000.00 in 2018 and it was used to p u rchase cricket balls for clubs across the county.

Tokyo Olympics will be ‘scrapped’ if 2021 is unfeasible PAGE 27

― Games chief Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori announced the new dates for the Games in March

Proposal to legalise Bolt rates Beijing grind-out win over ball-tampering Gatlin as one of toughest races ever ‘illogical’ - insists Windies great Holding PAGE 27

FLASHBACK:

Usain beating Justin Gatlin at the death 100m final at the 2015 Beijing Olympics

PAGE 27

Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding

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Gayle, Sarwan fiasco highlight cricket’s ‘Dark Side’ Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020