Kaieteur News

K

Brazil breaks record NEWS again with over 4,000 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hrs

Thursday Edition

AIETEUR

April 08, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 13

p.

15

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday 108,425

In face of climate change…

PPP/C, Coalition incapable of leading Guyanese to safe and prosperous future - Int’l Lawyer p.

3

Mother hands over son to CANU p.

14

Harmon, Ramjattan beg US Ambassador to be news source for Opposition p.

12

...says she didn’t know he was “doing drugs” - says local media unhelpful in getting message across

Investigation launched into cop’s alleged request to touch complainant’s breasts p.

3

Police record three Man killed in fire he more sexual abuse reportedly started to cases in Region One harm someone else p.

8

p.

17

Govt. removes VAT from items powered by renewable energy p.

2

Listen how David Patterson from the Coalition Govt. and Jagdeo from the PPP/C taking us to a mass grave. Tune in to Kaieteur Radio [99.1/99.5FM] for a rebroadcast of the Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs!

PAGE 02

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Govt. removes VAT from items powered by renewable energy

Senior Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

T

he Guyana Government has, with effect from March 1, 2021, put in place a financial incentive for the renewable energy industry and has since exempted items to be used in the business, from the payment of any Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Order giving effect to the government inducement was made under the Value Added Tax Act, which restructured the schedules for goods and services that have either been zero rated or exempted all together.

The provisions of the Order were signed off by Substantive Minister with

GEA Head, Dr. Mahender Sharma responsibility for the Finance Portfolio in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh.

According to the notice—since published in the Official Gazette and subsequently in sections of t h e d a i l y newspapers—exempted from VAT payments are machinery and equipment obtained for the generating and utilising of electricity from renewable energy sources.

The Order noted that these include solar panels, solar lamps, deep cycle batteries, solar generators, solar cookers, solar waterheaters, solar refrigerators and freezers, solar powered

air-conditioners and inverters.

These, in addition to water turbines, wind turbines and energy efficient lighting, including compact fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes (LED).

Additionally, the supply of machinery and equipment for utilising alternate energy technologies and renewable energy options, such as gasifiers to use biomass and harnessing renewable energy through wind, solar and water, as determined by the Commissioner, were also e x e m p t e d f r o m VAT

payments. The notice of exemption of VAT comes amidst the Guyana Energy Agency's (GEA) active drive towards the establishment of a domestic energy mix to be developed over the next five years of some 400 mega watts (MW) of installed generation capacity in the country.

This is the direction of Guyana's key energy agency, which falls under the portfolio of the Prime Minister and President.

According to GEA Head, Dr. Mahender Sharma, overall strategy for the

agency is rooted in the charge delivered to the opening of the 12th Parliament by the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, which summarises the thrust of the GEA's energy policy going forward.

He reminded of Dr. Ali's exhortations that “Guyana's energy security will be driven by an energy mix that will see solar, wind, hydro, and natural gas, all being key components in making us the energy capital of the region.”

According to Dr. Sharma, included in the specific targets, as articulated by the Prime Minister's Office, is “development of a world class energy mix, and installation of 400MW of new installed capacity inclusive of hydropower, solar, wind and natural gas.”

He noted that natural gas has been factored in to supply some 200MW of the proposed 400MW installed capacity, in the interim only.

Notably the notice comes in wake of the GEA inviting interested companies to bid for the design and installation of a number of mini grid solar systems, and electrical distribution networks.

According to the invitation to bid put out by the GEA, the entity is looking for eligible bidders for a 171 kilowatt per hour (kWp) photovoltaic system set up in St. Monica, Region Two.

In a separate invitation, the company said it is looking to have a similar installation at the Capoey Mission for some 171 kilowatts per hour while another facility is envisioned at 39.5 kWp for Capoey Lake Top. Additionally, GEA in recently advertised invitations, had called for companies to provide services for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 153 kWp off-grid solar photovoltaic micro-grid system and electrical distribution network in the Mainstay-Whyaka and St. D e n y ' s Ta p a k u m a communities.

The entity has also invited companies to submit their bids for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 244 kWp off-grid solar photovoltaic micro-grid system and electrical distribution network in Wa r a m a d o n g , R e g i o n Seven. According to Dr. Sharma, some 39MW would be added to the grid using solar farms and other smaller such systems in the next three years.

Dr. Sharma had also indicated that government in recent years has already outfitted some 291 state buildings with solar systems for electricity generation, an initiative that had caused some $500M in savings.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 03

In face of climate change…

PPP/C, Coalition incapable of leading Guyanese to safe and prosperous future - Int'l Lawyer

I

n her letter to the Editor, Janki sought to inform readers that US President, Joe Biden, is expected to host a Summit on Climate Change come April 22 and 23. She noted that the summit would deal with urgent action to tackle this phenomenon plus the economic benefits of doing so.

Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, of Antigua and Barbuda, and Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, of Jamaica, are among the 40 leaders selected to attend.

Janki was keen to note that Guyana was not invited, even though it is a key State when it comes to climate change.

Expounding on this front, Janki reminded that Guyana is a world leader in combating climate change.

She said that its forests and ocean make it one of the world's few carbon sinks. In fact, Janki noted that Guyana does more every day to reverse climate change, than almost any other country on the planet. She stressed,

however, that while Guyana is currently a climate leader, it has, by its very actions, transformed itself into a ticking carbon bomb.

In this regard, she highlighted that ExxonMobil, which is the Operator of the Stabroek Block, claims to have discovered about nine billion barrels of oil.

Unless that oil production is stopped, Janki said it would emit 3.87 billion tons of greenhouse gas. “That's more than 250 years' worth of emissions from Delaware, the state that President Biden represented in the Senate for 36 years,” the international lawyer expressed.

Further to this, Janki pointed out that President Biden plans to spend US$2 trillion to address climate change including US$650 billion on a clean energy transition and US$174 billion to switch to electric vehicles.

With this in mind, Janki said that Guyana's proposed petroleum production is in direct opposition to President Biden's climate

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki change aims and strategy.

Furthermore, she said that this petroleum production for the Stabroek Block appears to be driven by the demands of ExxonMobil, a struggling American oil company, and not by concern for the wellbeing of the Guyanese people.

In addition to the foregoing, Janki said one must not forget that the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C have acknowledged the threat of climate change.

Last year, for example, the lawyer recalled that President, Irfaan Ali, had warned that Guyana is

Investigation launched into cop's alleged request to touch complainant's breasts

A

n investigation h a s b e e n launched into an allegation made by a woman that a policeman attached to the Turkeyen Police Station asked to touch her breasts when she visited the Station to make a report. Kaieteur News wa s i n f o r m e d o f t h i s development yesterday.

According to Georgetown Police Commander, Simon McBean, an official complaint has been filed and the Police Force's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has been notified.

However, McBean said that the policeman at the center of the investigation has not yet been identified. He however assured that the rank's identity would soon be known, as the relevant authorities will carry out a detailed investigation.

The young woman who made the complaint, Sofia, 27, (not her real name), is

presently in custody for knifing her ex-boyfriend, Darren Harris, 46, to death during an argument they had on Thursday last. She has since claimed that she killed him in self-defence.

However, she alleged that five days prior to the stabbing, she had gone to lodge a domestic violence report against Harris at the Turkeyen Police Station.

Harris had allegedly broken a bottle and threatened to stab Sofia and her father for putting him out. Instead of taking the report, Sofia claimed that a “tall, black, fat up officer” had asked if he could touch her breasts to see if they were real.

Sofia said that she became annoyed and told him “I aint come hay fuh deh pon stupidness,” before walking out of the office.

Her father, Ivan Nedd, had also related the alleged sexual

harassment of his daughter to Kaieteur News in a separate interview. In fact, the man said that he reported the matter to the police at the Turkeyen Police Station as well.

“When the stabbing happen and the police took her away, I went with her too and they took a statement from me and it was then that I told them that one of the officers there sexually harassed my daughter on Saturday night (five days prior to the stabbing),” Nedd told Kaieteur News.

It would appear that the cop who Nedd reported the matter to never took his (Nedd's) statement about the sexual harassment.

McBean had said too, that no records were found at the Turkeyen Police Station of a domestic violence dispute on Saturday March 27 last, or that of the sexual harassment by one of his ranks on Thursday April 1, last.

'particularly vulnerable' to climate change. She said too that Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, even called climate change an 'existential threat.'

As for the APNU+AFC, she recalled that it had produced a draft Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan, which warned in 2015 that Guyana was already experiencing the 'adverse and potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change.'

D e s p i t e t h e acknowledgement by both political parties, Janki asserted, “The PPP/C and their predecessors, the

APNU+AFC Coalition, have shown repeatedly that they are too weak to stand up to ExxonMobil (and partners).

The PPP/C and the APNU+AFC Coalition have squandered Guyana's global political capital as a carbon sink.

It is clear that the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC Coalition are incapable of leading the Guyanese people to a safe and prosperous future in the face of the existential threat of climate change.”

The international lawyer categorically stated that Article 36 of the Constitution states that the well-being of

the nation depends on preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems.

The lawyer stressed therefore that Article 36 ought to be the starting point for Guyana's immediate transition to a prosperous blue-green economy powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

In conclusion, she said, “Guyana's people can and must align now with the global movement to avert climate catastrophe, even while Guyana's political elite remain stubbornly on the wrong side of history.”

PAGE 4

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A case of mistaken identity It is a case of a mishit, of a chillingly efficient execution, that supposedly went wrong. We do not think that anyone in his right mind would be so bold as to step forward, and state that the killers got the wrong man, and that it was he who was the intended target, and that all of those 20 bullets were meant for him.

But that is what has happened in the course of the threeday holiday weekend of late March.

A Guyanese citizen, admittedly not one held in the highest esteem by more than a few of his peers, has come forward to say that he was the intended victim of the murderous Main Street fusillade of bullets that ended in an execution. From all appearances, there was one objective and one objective only at that ungodly hour on Main Street.

It was to put somebody away with authority and finality; one of these instances of a cold-blooded execution that was well thought out and near flawlessly delivered. It would have been flawless, from the perspective of the perpetrators and supposed intellectual authors, if the intended target went down in that hail of steel. There are so many ingredients, so many pieces of evidence that speaks to so much of what is at work here, and how we are here.

We are in a bad way, and one would hope that it is not the beginning of anything more ominous, those things that were not so long ago, so sinister and ruinous to this society when they raged unchecked. Like most of Guyana, we at this paper have no information, no insight, and no idea as to who the intended target was; that is, the real one, if there was supposed to be another one.

But what we do know is this: a man is shot like a dog in the street and that should be that, with citizens moving on and the police taking over, the problem is that it isn’t, for there is so much that is troubling, all of it frightening and endangering.

It is that the execution was shocking in its brazenness and enlightening in its comprehensiveness and worrying in its deadliness. We go through this - as best as we reasonably can, and hopefully in a sensible manner - in a step-by-step effort to make sense of this, from what should alarm all citizens, concerned about their safety and security. Meaning, that of their family, their community, and their country.

To begin with, that execution has all the hallmarks of a hit that was meticulously planned with careful and lengthy observation and intelligence gathering, so as to assure that the time and place and target were all perfectly aligned. It was then just a matter of seizing the moment presented, and pulling the trigger. Clearly, it was clinically carried out, and with astounding military insertion and precision, which only a few in this country can bring to bear on circumstances that require such.

The only fly in the ointment at this time, and it is a sizable and agitating one, is this public claim now circulating that the executioners got the wrong man. It comes from the best source possible: one who should be in the know, and in this case, it is the intended victim himself.

To add to all this, there was the skillful mapping out of rapid withdrawal and retreat by the perpetrators and possible orchestrators. The cover of darkness served well, and it is our wish at this paper that more darkness does not cover-up what went down a couple of weeks ago on Main Street and within sighting distance of the official home of this country’s leader. The worrying darkness of uninhibited curfew violation, of smooth travelling past police stations and police outposts, of muffled evidence from CCTV footage.

Last, there was the matter of resources: of manpower (primed executioners), financial power (payoffs and destroyed vehicle), intelligence assets (awareness), collaborating assets (possible cover-up, as claimed and suspected).

And, overall, the heavy blanket of silence that has since shrouded this heinous incident. As the days go by, that silence takes on a texture of impenetrability, so thick it is.

The question that makes the rounds is a simple one: is this the beginning of more of these kinds of affairs to take place?

Like all Guyanese, we watch and wait.

Does the Local Content Policy apply to Guyanese with dual citizenship?

Dear Editor, Does the Local Content Policy apply to Guyanese with dual citizenship? I applied for a position with a leading player in the Oil and Gas sector through an agency. I stated in my CV that I am a Guyanese and USA citizen. The agency was

aware and I made it known to the client during the interview that I am a Guyanese and USA citizen.

After a month of deliberation, I was told that the client was finding it difficult to decide between myself and another candidate.

Eventually the offer was made

to the other candidate who I was told was not Guyanese. I have worked in several countries as an expatriate but first and foremost an advertisement was placed in the local press for local candidates and if there was no suitable local candidate then it was reasonable to

employ an expatriate.

I don’t know much about the Local Content Policy but I would think that qualified Guyanese should be given the opportunity even if they have dual citizenship.

Yours truly, Name supplied Guyanese/USA citizen

If gas-to-shore is that good, then give Guyanese the goods on it Dear Editor, Solar power has taken center stage, compliments of GEA head, Dr. Mahendra Sharma. Dr. Sharma has articulated some basics and numbers about solar power, plans, and projects. There are many positives in his presentations, to which I urge listening by citizens and government.

I can speak a little about solar energy, since I am a consumer. I have it, seen cost savings - not as expected, but something - and I see how I am automatically feeding unused energy to the GPL, Inc. On the latter, I could use some small change, any tiny rebate, still waiting. The downside of private ownership is that it is expensive; it was for me.

Thus, it could be out of reach for many Guyanese homeowners.

Because of the numbers involved - cost per kilowatt hour, and such - I invite government leaders to listen more closely and receptively, as they move swiftly along with gas to shore visions and plans. In terms of the cleanest, solar can’t be beaten. Relative to cost, I encourage a side-by-side comparison for a decision on what is cheapest, and could offer the best possible answer to the energy requirements and dilemmas of Guyanese citizens, businesses, and the state itself, both for today and in the future. By cheapest, I mean not just comparative costs (gas versus solar) on a per KWH basis, which looks like an irrefutable ‘no brainer’ all by itself, but the relative outlays for one matched against the other. Which one, a bigger thrust towards solar

or the highest priority for the gas to shore project, is the more costly to end using citizens, and the taxpayers re borrowings and accompanying debt burdens?

As I see it, from my distant perch and very limited insight, solar trumps gas to shore in every, if not all, respects. First, there is some reduction of a wider dependency on Exxon.

Second, there is lesser opportunity for Exxon to exploit this country still more, and with us not knowing until it is too late, and when likely not legally favorable. Third, there is narrower window of time for Guyanese to experience the effects of one over the other. I am, therefore, reasonably certain that there may be more that speaks favorably to solar energy being made a higher than the present priority for the

government. The drawback is that the government leader seems so hell-bent on barreling ahead with gas to shore arrangements and execution. My concern is not that gas to shore is in and of itself inherently dark and dangerous for Guyanese.

Rather, it is that the whole undertaking, as presented and persevered with by the Hon. Vice President smacks of the characteristically sinister.

The way that he has gone about the whole gas to shore delivery, from the inception to now, has only intensified suspicions and increased speculations that he is up to less than the noble on something that could be. If gas to shore is that good, then give Guyanese the goods on it.

Yours truly, GHK Lall

Have we nurtured the monsters who are now devouring us?

Dear Editor, Please allow me, via your letter columns, to agonize over the daily and spiralling occurrence of violent crimes saturating Guyana.

Lawlessness is consuming Guyana. And within its fold are many who are law enforcers.

I have been on record warning about the ease with which firearms are accessible to criminal elements. Only a few months ago it was revealed that a large number of weapons were ‘stolen’ from Police custody. Any surprise that weapons are out there on rental? That caches of weapons are being “provided”?

A similar reality exists as regards narcotics. Is it farfetched to speculate that today’s criminals have handlers in high places? And that some of these handlers are now impotent to rein in their “soldiers” who have now become monsters, manifesting themselves in the daily assault on the citizenry, and more predominantly

against a particular ethnic grouping?

Sadly, the easiest way out for many is to lay total responsibility for what is happening at the doorstep of the Administration.

Pontius Pilate is certainly alive! These marauding and dangerous youths do not originate in space and neither do they disappear into space.

They are not aliens.

They live in our villages, in our neighbourhoods. We know them. We know what they do. We helped to raise them, and we excused away the petty wrongs they were doing; we hid them when the law came for them; we shared in the loot they took off others; we tell them it is okay to steal and rob because they are poor.

The petty thief has morphed into a robber, a hijacker, a murderer. And we are now afraid to speak out against his atrocities. Why? Because he is one of our collective? Where is the acceptance of blame by any Administration or by any

Agency therein? Where is our own guilt as citizens?

Schools, Churches, Community Centres, etc., etc., were designed to serve a purpose, the primary of which is to develop and guide our young and impressionable to be responsible and productive adults. Have we as teachers, Ministers of (whatever) religion, community leaders succeeded?

Schools today are venues for making extra earnings through extra lessons; many Churches are commercial endeavours; many community centres and playgrounds are pastures for cattle. Did the Administration do this? Are we as Citizens equally culpable? Have we nurtured the monsters who are now devouring us?

Most adults, whether in school, church or the community, whether as parents or neighbour, we as a society have deserted our youths; we have encouraged and widened the disconnect which naturally exists between generations because of our own insecurities as parents, as adults, as leaders.

We seem afraid to confront, embrace, guide, correct and empower our youths. Rather, we entangle our youths in a net which offers them rewards for creating mayhem in society.

We use them as tools in politically-charged confrontations. We support their resistance against Law and Order.

And the indictment goes on.

Today, the lawless net encircles many who are in, or once were in, the Disciplined Services.

It is my appeal that our citizenry recognize that crime will overpower us all if we allow it to do so. When the hyena cannot find food away from its lair, it turns on its own.

Do we think we are far from that?

As older folks we must accept that the fight against crime must involve our youths themselves. Many of our youths also wish for a peaceful and crime-free society.

This combination will work if we want it to work. Any other option is unthinkable.

Yours truly, Taajnauth Jadunauth

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

The general population BCGI is challenging the sovereignty of does not have Guyana by staking claim to the Kwakwani confidence in Jagdeo to and Aroaima bauxite operations execute what might be a US$500M white elephant

Dear Editor, Let me register disagreement with Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton’s efforts to deflect from the extant industrial grievances, between the workers and RUSAL management of the Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), during his recent outreach exercise in the Kwakwani region. It is an affront to bauxite workers, their families and the community as they seek justice, from the Government of Guyana for the decadeplus impasse, to be told by the Minister to “pursue opportunities beyond bauxite.” A pursuit of opportunities elsewhere does not negate responsibility to address outstanding grievances, which the aggrieved is entitled to, under the law.

Rather than stand up for the sovereignty of Guyana, the Government of Guyana seems content to roll over, to allow the Constitution and Laws of Guyana to be violated, and the rights of Guyanese to be transgressed.

If Guyanese cannot be assured of protection by the government, consistent with our laws, where else could such assurance come from?

What manner of government does the citizens have when they are prepared to betray them, to tell them to look elsewhere? A delay in justice is a denial of justice. This has been happening for more than a decade, and counting.

On one hand we fight Venezuela, all the way to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to protect two-thirds of our land. Successive governments, with the support of the people, have been able to mobilise international support to do what is right for Guyana. The situation at BCGI is no different. Whereas Venezuela

continues its open aggression to wrongfully claim territory, RUSAL, a company that has the support of the Government of Russia, is carrying out similar aggression in Guyana for part (territory) of Guyana and against Guyanese.

Whereas RUSAL management may not have gun boats or use military operations, make no mistake theirs is a similar strategy of aggression like Venezuela, even though appearing on the surface to be less aggressive.

BCGI is challenging the sovereignty of Guyana by staking claim to the Kwakwani and Aroaima bauxite operations, and the surrounding communities and daring the Government to do otherwise, including holding them accountable to paying taxes.

And whereas workers have steadfastly stood up against RUSAL aggression, successive governments have capitulated or acted timid. This would not have happened under any government led by Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan or Janet Jagan.

The Government of Guyana, on behalf of the people of Guyana, is part owner of BCGI. It cannot remain timid in confronting RUSAL management on matters pertaining to our laws and people. Guyana cannot and must not surrender to RUSAL. This nation can recall when a prominent member of this regime once posited that some facilitation could be made to cede part of Guyana’s territory to Venezuela as a

truce. Thankfully that did not materialise and would now be made more difficult given that the previous administration (APNU+AFC) had put in place mechanisms, through the ICJ, in the hope of seeking finality to the controversy.

Prior to going into the 2020 Election the BCGI grievances were slated to go to arbitration. Whereas the administration of government changes once the Constitution and Laws remain present the incumbent has a duty to uphold them.

The minister is quick to tell a section of this society to move forward even as they seek justice. The regime he is part of is acting disinclined to pursue such justice or feels beholden to the Russians even if it means trampling on the laws, workers and citizens.

Bauxite is a viable product in the international market.

There remains demand for Guyana’s bauxite given its special enhancing “sweetener” value.

This product must be sustainably exploited by the people for the benefit of the people. Where the people are now asked to look beyond exploiting this resource, which is majority controlled by foreign capital, and their grievances remain unresolved is saying to this nation that Guyanese citizens are second class in their own land and it is acceptable for our resources and people to be held hostage by external force.

Government can find an alternative to keep BCGI, which is partially operational, fully operational.

We must be unafraid to call a spade a spade. The PPP/ C has picked up from where they left off. They are openly pursuing economic injustice against a group of people that is bound to cause them economic dislocation, with its concomitant social evils such as poverty, poor health and shortened longevity. BCGI workers deserve to have the decade-plus grievances resolved through arbitration.

Those workers who have been denied their correct termination benefit deserve redress. You cannot calculate termination benefits on 365 days when these are not working days. The error in calculation has financially deprived workers what’s justly theirs, which their union, the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU), has requested of the Ministry of Labour to facilitate the process to correct.

Minister Hamilton, the subject minister for Labour, is being called on to address the extant grievances consistent with the laws. BCGI remains a legal entity and remains subject to the Laws of Guyana.

Good sense must prevail in the treatment of labour (workers) and management of the nation’s resources, regardless of which group stands to benefit. For under the law of this country we are all equal and entitled to equal treatment.

No more or less has been asked of Minister Hamilton as had been asked of previous subject ministers.

Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis

Dear Editor, It’s human nature. We often remember events how we want to rather than actually what happened and the reasons why. Take former President Donald Ramotar’s letter defending the gas to shore project even though he himself is not entirely sure there are any feasibility studies.

A case of “In Jagdeo We Trust”.

Sadly the Vice President’s record on big projects is woeful to say the least. Mr. Ramotar cites the cancellation of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project as being down to an obstructionist opposition. However he fails to recall that the PPP/C government could not even build the road to the site, Jagdeo having hired Fip Motilall as the contractor despite him having no experience.

Ramotar himself cancelled that contract at a cost to taxpayers of US$15.4M. Does he also not remember the Skeldon Sugar Plant, for which a Chinese contractor, China National Te c h n o l o g y Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC), which had never actually built a sugar factory, was hired despite several independent objections?

It sits now as a ghastly US$200M monument to incompetence in conception and execution.

Yo u expand sugar production even as the European Union takes away preferred price arrangements? And worse as the 2016 Commission of Inquiry reported “This was the start of the decline of G u y S u C o ’s financial position leading to its present state of insolvency”. Even today each of us subsidizes Jagdeo’s blunder.

And let us also remember the mad haste to expand the airport runway and airport with a Chinese loan, most of which went on building a huge pile of sand (10.1M CuM) because no one in government bothered to do any feasibility or geotechnical studies.

There have been many other botched projects under the PPP/C such as the East Coast Road but of those Big Three they struck out three times.

So no, the general population does not have confidence in Jagdeo to execute what might end up being a US$500M white elephant. As of now it has all the hallmarks of what went before.

Yours truly, Francis Newton

PAGE 6

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Archaic dress codes at public institutions demonise women Dear Editor, Is Guyana really a secular state or a theocracy? Why is it that state institutions operate like religious places that police women’s bodies and enforce their brand of modesty and decency on all regardless of personal beliefs and lifestyle choices?

Guyanese women are ‘allowed’ to walk the streets of Guyana in sleeveless blouses yet are required to cover their shoulders when entering the majority of government/public institutions that are funded by Guyanese taxpayers and exist to serve the needs of the general public. Does this make sense?

Most persons dress for comfort and weather conditions and as we all know

when it’s not raining, we enjoy hot, humid weather the entire year. Many public institutions have boards at the entrance with dress codes that belong to another time and have no place in the 21st century especially in a ‘secular’, multi-cultural country with people of different religious and nonreligious (atheists and agnostics) backgrounds.

What right do these places have to refuse entry to a Guyanese taxpayer solely because the shoulders are not covered? Usually, the only places where one would expect to cover one’s shoulders are at religious sites. The act of policing visitor ’s attire at state institutions is discriminatory in nature since they are

supposed to serve all regardless of beliefs and lifestyles; not for all are the concepts of modesty and decency the same.

Even when dress code signs are not placed or the part on sleeveless attire is missing, the security guards make it their sacred duty to humiliate women who dare to enter with uncovered shoulders. It’s as if one walked into the place naked which provokes a command to cover those provocative and highly sexualised bare shoulders with something, preferably a jacket although this article of clothing is more suited for cold weather. I’ve personally experienced this policing at the NIS office (Camp St), RDC (Region 4), compound that houses the

GHRA and ERC; and other places (that serve the public) too numerous to mention.

Due to the fact that many state institutions are not technologically up-to-date where citizens can go online to download and upload forms, track the progress of their matters, send and receive prompt email responses etc., the vast majority of times my visits to these places have been for much mundane things as dropping off letters, uplifting forms or checking up on my ‘small matters’.

Ironically, many influential and powerful women in Guyana are frequently pictured in sleeveless dresses and

blouses. Would any security personnel dare deny these women entry to the public institutions? Some of them are even at the helm of these places. Are the shoulders of these women ‘better’, ‘more decent’ or ‘less sexual and immoral’ than ordinary women?

Instead of humiliating and objectifying women by policing their bodies people should start seeing the female form as normal and not something that is indecent or immoral. These archaic attitudes encourage victim blaming and shaming which is still prevalent in our society.

Women are still blamed for sexual assaults and other

crimes perpetrated against them when society focuses on their choice of clothing instead of the crimes.

There are so many important things that should be paid attention to at these state agencies instead of the policing of women’s clothing.

No person should be denied access to any tax-payer funded institution solely because of a sleeveless outfit, tight jeans or V-neck blouse.

State institutions should not enforce dress codes on the public which are more suited for religious sites; their values should reflect that of the supposedly secular state.

Yours truly, Narissa Deokarran

The Guyana Islamic Forum supports the Ministry of Health Dear Editor, Given the second wave of the COVID-19 virus which saw the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Guyana and around the world, we, the Guyana Islamic Forum for Education, Peace, and Religious Solidarity, the Electric Mosque’s Presentation of Islamic Teachings, and the Universal Peace Federation – Guyana hereby support the Government’s COVID-19 restrictions to prohibit individuals from actively participating in iftaar (meal to break the fast) and dinner in the mosque during the Islamic month of Ramadan. We believe that this decision is wise and timely and ask that everyone cooperate with these lifesaving guidelines.

We know some Muslims would be annoyed a nd emotional over this but we must face reality and cooperate with the authorities.

COVID-19 rules are intended to limit the dissemination of COVID-19 and must be strictly adhered to. As Muslims, we are taught to be disciplined. As a matter of fact, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) also instituted life-changing

restrictions in plagues and pandemics that were followed by his people in his time and even to this date.

While we support these government-imposed restrictions, we also believe that faith-based organizations should not be the only ones subjected to more stringent COVID-19 requirements than other entities like bars and restaurants. The possibility of COVID-19 spreading in any crowded environment is possible, not just in religious institutions. As such, we urge the government to reevaluate these restrictions whereby persons are disallowed to gather in bars and restaurants to eat and mingle as they wish.

Fasting during Ramadan is important because it allows us to understand hunger and the density of those who do not have enough food. And so, even though COVID-19 has altered the way we observe Ramadan, we wish to remind our fellow brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith that despite the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, our good work should continue to embody the values of Ramadan we hold dear. While we may have lost some of the traditional Ramadan components, such as breaking

the fast together and socializing, we should not abandon our sense of community. Instead of food at the mosques, hampers may be distributed to needy families, friends, loved ones, neighbours, etc.

We urge all to cooperate with these guidelines so that we may keep ourselves, families, and friends healthy and well. We ask that our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters use this opportunity to bond with their families by praying at home and to use their free time for personal reflection and development. As the Quran says: “Remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of heavens and the earth, (saying): ‘Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You. Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” Quran 3:191 Subsequently, we urge all to practice frequent handwashing, wear your mask the correct way, cover your nose and mouth when you need to cough or sneeze and observe the rules for social distancing. Please be careful. Do not take chances.

Yours truly, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N T B .

U .

L .

L T B .

N .

U .

N U T L N B .

U .

T .

L N T U N B .

N U .

L U L LUNT. B .

T . .

T T N N B U B .

U .

L .

L T B .

B . .

N . . .

T U T L N N T U U L N L B U .

B . .

L . . .

T B T . .

N .

N T U L N LU B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . .

B .

U . .

T L .

N T B . .

U N .

L N T B U N . .

L .

U T L B . .

N B . . .

T U .

L N T B U . .

L .

UN T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L B U UN .BLUNT. . .

L .

T B . .

N .

T U .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . .

L N .

T B BLU T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU .

T .

N .

N T T U L U L N L B U T...BLU U B .

L .

N .

B T . . .

N T U N N N L U U U B L .

L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

There is currently an alarming rate at which persons are being reported missing in our country. In recent weeks, the media have reported on several such cases.

This, no doubt, is a worrying development.

Based on reports, those missing are not persons who have a tendency of engaging in clandestine acts, but rather those whose family members instantly feared the worse upon their failure to locate them.

The authorities must give keen attention to this disturbing state of affairs to ascertain if there are any commonalities.

Troubling, indeed, it would be if our nation were faced with yet another dilemma of epidemic proportion!

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Ruling on election petition case set for April 26 D

ominican Senior C o u n s e l , A n t h o n y Astaphan, the lead attorney for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), has rebuffed the claims outlined in the election petition challenging the outcome of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections results.

Following the oral presentations yesterday, the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire, announced that she had hoped to deliver judgment within two weeks but the arguments and discussions rose additional time for consideration.

Moreover, she decided to set April 26, 2021 for the

ruling on Elections Petition number #88.

In their written submission to the High Court, Petitioners Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick, are contending that Section 22 of the E l e c t i o n L a w s (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and that Order No. 60 (the recount order) of 2020 is invalid, null, void, and of no effect.

As such, Thorne and Bostwick have asked the High Court to vitiate the results of the March 2, 2020 elections since in their view, it was substantially not in compliance with the law in relation to the conduct of the elections in Guyana.

However, Astaphan told

the Chief Justice (ag) yesterday that there was no breach.

According to the GECOM attorney, “Section 22 got its constitutional authority and genesis from the Constitution… Order 60 is entirely consistent with the Constitution also and the purpose was transparent, enacted in good faith and intended to remove the difficulties to allow for a declaration.”

The lawyer noted that since there was difficulty with the elections, Order No. 60 of 2020 was created by virtue of Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act to resolve irregularities,

Trinidadian lawyer, John Jeremie SC.

Chief Justice (Ag), Roxane George- Wiltshire

Dominican Attorney, Anthony Astaphan S.C.

discrepancies, and anomalies occurring in the elections process and to determine a final credible count.

In those circumstances, Astaphan told the court, “We are not conceding any breach at all.”

Astaphan argued too, that the petitioners needed to prove total non-compliance with the law, since they have not done so in their written or oral submissions.

The lawyer made specific reference to Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana.

He noted that “The Acts of Parliament must be read subject to the overriding powers of the Constitution which give GECOM discretion on how the law was to be applied to allow for fair, impartial interpretation of the law.”

Further, the lawyer cited the ruling of Justice Claudette Singh in the case

of Esther Pereira versus the Chief Elections Officer.

Astaphan noted that in her ruling, Justice Singh made abundantly clear that in Guyana a mere breach of the law is not sufficient to invalidate the results of an election.

He stressed that “…total non-compliance with the law as held by Justice Singh where she said that no ID [card]… was a substantial non-compliance with constitutional provisions for free and fair elections in Guyana, because it would have had the effect of denying persons the right to vote simply because they did not have an ID card, when in fact, the law would have permitted them to vote, once registered, without an ID card.”

The lawyer noted that for the petitioners to show that there was total noncompliance “A mere breach is not

enough. It has to be a substantial non-compliance that introduces something; introducing a principle that is hostile to the fundamental constitutional principle,” he emphasized.

As such, Astaphan told the Chief Justice that even if she finds that there was a breach, there were no consequences which affected the conduct or result of the count, and therefore the election petition should be dismissed.

In his submissions, lead attorney for the petitioners, John Jeremie, asked the court to determine, among other things, questions of whether the elections have been lawfully conducted or whether the results have been, or may have been affected by any unlawful act or omission and in consequence thereof, whether the seats in the National Assembly have (continued on page 13)

Police record three more sexual abuse cases in Region One

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) y e s t e r d a y reported that there were three more sexual abuse cases in Region One. For the past several weeks there have been numerous reports of child sexual abuse coming out of that Region.

According to the first report yesterday, during December 2020, a man reportedly began engaging in sexual activity with one of his female relatives - who is a minor. The report further stated that since then the suspect continuously raped the child.

Recently, the child reportedly confided in a female relative and the matter was immediately reported to the police last Monday around 12:30hrs.

The Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) was also contacted and has

since launched an investigation into the alleged rape of the minor, while the police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

In another report recorded by police, on April 4, 2021 an adult female reported that she was allegedly raped.

In a brief statement on that matter, the GPF noted that a medical certificate was uplifted in favour of the woman and the suspect was arrested and placed in custody.

In the third report recorded by police was that of the alleged sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.

It is alleged that on Monday last, around 17:30hrs, the child was sexually assaulted by someone known to her.

Moments after that incident occurred, the child informed her parents and the matter was reported to the police.

However, when the police went to arrest the suspect he was nowhere to be found.

Just last week, Regional Commander for Region One, Khalid Mandall, had stated that while crime is on the decrease in his district, the prevalence of child sexual abuse is of grave concern.

Commander Mandall made that statement during a meeting with Director of the Police Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Mark Ramotar; his Deputy, Stan Gouveia, and other ranks from the CCU. Kaieteur News had previously reported on the number of underage girls who were allegedly raped and impregnated in Region One over the past several months. While the police had arrested some of the alleged rapists, a number of the suspects are still at large.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 09

The PPP/C election victory ended the plan to reintroduce national service T

he APNU+AFC had plans for the re-introduction of National Service. The launch of the National Cadet Corps was intended to pave the way for the full return, eventually, of national service.

When it was first introduced to Guyana, the Guyana National Service had little to do with national development.

It was intended to forcibly indoctrinate Guyanese in socialist values. The stated aim of National Service included ensuring “that all Guyanese within the formal training system [education] are aware of the new values of society and understand the relationship between the new society and themselves.”

National Service was part of an experiment to militarise the society. One of its objectives was “to provide training in paramilitary and calisthenics so as to prepare the people for national defence.”

Members of the public were however fed the usual diet of nationalist sentiments. They were sold the idea that National Service was a part of the national development process. This was all part of the brainwashing.

In order to justify this massive failed experiment which sucked the energies out of the society and

burdened the government with a bill that it could not afford, National Service was advertised as helping to address the situation of unemployed youths, by providing them with an outlet to learn skills, contribute to national development and create the new Guyana.

That new Guyana was never created. That new Guyana was an experiment that went askew. Whatever skills National Service provided to the unskilled could have been had much cheaper and more efficiently through alternative skillsdevelopment schemes. No one needs National Service to provide skills.

The PPP has been blamed for the demise of National Service. There are still many who are not willing to accept that Burnham and company did not know what they were doing when they introduced this scheme, had no clue about how to re-orient the society towards socialist values and in the end were prepared to use National Service as a means of social control.

The PPP did not kill National Service. National Service was on its deathbed when the PPP came to power.

National Service died of financial starvation because during the Hoyte administration there was simply no money to keep the

camps going. Rather than contributing to national revenue, National Service became a liability. It was downscaled and downsized so that by the time the PNC exited power, National Service was a skeleton of its former self.

The PPP merely administered the final rites.

National Service went into decline under Desmond Hoyte, but he must not be blamed because it was National Service itself, which brought about its own demise.

It had become an unproductive and unaffordable burden to the state.

We live in different times. National Service can no longer be about donning a uniform, joining a platoon of green uniformed groups, heading to an interior location to live in barracks, plant cotton peas, eat subsistence meals, and learn how to march and use a weapon.

If that is the price that one has to pay to impart skills to the unskilled, then Guyana is never going to develop.

There are better ways to achieving the same objective.

What exactly are these skills that National Service turned out? And why could other ways not be found to teach the unemployed these same skills without placing them in a paramilitary organisation? Since when does skill training require

Guyana tun boys seh... a trickle!

E Dem

verything ah trickle in Guyana.

Wa t e r d o e s trickle through dem taps at certain hours of de day.

Every year yuh hearing about improvements in de water supply. Yuh bin hearing dis tune since Noah build he ark. But if yuh nah gat overhead water tank and water pump, yuh does gat to fetch water in bucket. Up to now, yuh can't get decent pressure pun de second storey of yuh house.

De oil wealth also deh pun a trickle. Last year dem seh we would ah get

US$300M. Now dem blaming corona because we fall short by 50 percent. And none of dem money nah use yet because it lock down in wan account in Uncle Sam. But even when it come it gan be a trickle. Two percent royalty and 50 percent profit oil after all dem expense, mean we might each get a bag of tennis rolls each day… if we lucky.

Even education tun to trickle. Dem children deh home and dem watching de Learning Channel. Or suh dem parents believe. As soon as dem parents back tun,

dem children hand pun de remote.

De online learning coming at a trickle also. De bandwidth so slow dat de data coming at a trickle.

Dem children falling asleep in front de computer while it reconnecting to de Internet.

But dem contractors smiling! De money might be trickling fuh de small man but dem contractor money flowing fuh build road, schools and bridges all over de country.

Talk half and remember what rain can't full, neither can dew!

persons to have to be forced into a form of servitude? Or exposing our women to being raped!

There is a need for a new type of National Service but not in the form, which we had. The best National Service is for people to become productive citizens.

A skilled citizen, productive and earning, will develop the economy of Guyana. When someone contributes to productive activities and when those activities contribute rather than act as a drain on national resources that is a better form of National Service

because the productive citizen is contributing to the expansion of the economy.

Guyanese must serve themselves first by becoming skilled and proficient. They must make something of their lives and in so doing contribute to nation building.

The old model of National Service that we practiced will not return.

Those days are gone forever.

The APNU+AFC were attempting to restore a disguised National Service through the National Cadet Corps. But the youths of Guyana were never going to

be led astray like previous generations. The youths had different priorities. They were not interested in reintroduction of National Service.

University students are now paying for their education - not paying much, but still paying. No one is going to convince them that because they received a subsidised education, they have to give back something to the state.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday April 08, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

If Boris Johnson is a clown what about those in Guyana?

T

here are some startling, unflattering, acidic descriptions by a former UK Cabinet Minister of the present UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and his predecessor, Theresa May. Sir Ian Duncan, former Minister of International Development and deputy to Johnson when Johnson was Foreign Secretary painted this canvas in a just released memoir, “In the Thick of It.” Duncan referred to Johnson as “a clown, a selfcentred ego, an embarrassing buffoon, with an untidy mind and sub-zero diplomatic judgment.” On former PM, May, he wrote that she lacked personality on the campaign trail and that she was “a frightened rabbit, a cardboard cut-out, her social skills are sub-zero.”

There are two things to note about these insights.

There is not going to be any libel writs because the British courts, like the American

courts, are going to interpret those reflections of Duncan as not scandalous but fair comments on public figures that must face critical assessments of their performance and style. In fact, if the publishers felt the words were libelous they would not have retained them in the book.

In fact, Duncan had some devastating things to say about the current Home Office Minister, which we in Guyana know as Home Affairs. She is an East Indian woman, Priti Patel, who holds extreme right-wing views.

Duncan noted that, the former head of Essex University, where Patel graduated from, as a student, Patel was “abysmal beyond measure.” Duncan wrote that Patel is "a nothing person, a complete and utter nightmare."

Sadly, the outdated libel laws of Guyana will remain because whichever party is in power, will feel protected from

critics by the ancient laws and have no interest in reforming them. It is left to the attitude of the judge to deter frivolous writs and the most powerful way of stopping nonsensical libel trials is by the imposition of enormous cost.

If you sue for the most illogical reason and you lose, the biggest cost you will incur is not going to be over $200,000. If judges impose severe cost like $1 Million or $2 Million, it may help to stem the tide. People are going to think twice to file writs based on frivolities if they know they will have to pay millions in cost.

The other thing to note about Duncan's characterisations of British Ministers is their application to Guyana. Do these descriptions apply to Guyana? My answer is yes. I have consistently argued on this page that the politicians who got power in 2015 were circus clowns of the highest

order, unfit to lead a modern Caribbean nation.

Let's provide some examples. Every high school student knows from reading his/her books that the state is primarily concerned with the security of the entire territory. When APNU+AFC came to power, they changed the Ministry's name from Home Affairs to Public S e c u r i t y. T h e p e r s o n responsible for that should never have become a Minister.

Government's role in the security of a country is allencompassing thus its jurisdiction is national. A simple, commonsensical label should have been “National Security.”

Ta k e h e a l t h . T h e Ministry was renamed Ministry of Public Health.

The same logic applies to education and agriculture.

But the word, public” was never put in front of the ministries of Education and Agriculture respectively.

The Ministry of Public

Works was changed t o P u b l i c Frederick Kissoon Infrastructure. Why “infrastructure?” Isn't with them. They like their “works a simpler word and has a more expansive meaning? politicians to be a people's How do you explain this person. They like their i l l o g i c a l , c o n t o r t e d politicians to be light, thinking? There is only one m o d e s t a n d h u m b l e . answer – the persons who Granger had none of these were responsible are clowns qualities. He was stiff, who couldn't perform in the perennially serious and distant. circus.

From his attitude to the Duncan wrote that Theresa lacked personality on the media, the analyst knew this campaign trail and her social was the wrong man to lead skills were sub-zero. Which Guyana. He was always government leader in Guyana inclined to insult journalists if that portrait applies to? The awkward questions were answer is David Granger. I asked. He didn't have the have consistently argued on capacity to emulate his hero this page that the personality Burnham. Burnham would of Granger contributed to his turn any embarrassing question into a rib-tickling electoral defeat in 2020. joke.

Granger cost his party Granger was never suited to lose power. But it chose to for West Indian politics.

Guyana is an essential part of accept such a leader.

(The views expressed in the West Indies. It has a West Indian style of politics. West this article are those of the Indians like their politicians author and do not necessarily to ground with them, use reflect the opinions of this Creolese, laugh and joke newspaper.)

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Harmon, Ramjattan beg US Ambassador to be news source for Opposition - says local media unhelpful in getting message across

G

uyana's political opposition—the coalition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)—believes that the local media has been unhelpful in getting its message across and as such, has requested that US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, ferries its message to Washington, on a regular basis.

O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, Joseph Harmon, made the request on Tuesday last during a meeting with the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Mark Cullinane.

The meeting was held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and saw participation from AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, according to a public missive released by the Opposition on Wednesday.

The Opposition Leader

requested that the Opposition views be communicated to Washington on a regular basis, having regard to the fact “that a large section of the local media landscape is unhelpful to the Opposition.”

In fact, Harmon also requested of Ambassador Lynch that the Opposition be informed of any major changes on US Policy decisions on Guyana.

According to the APNU+AFC public statement on Wednesday, the meeting focused primarily on a number of issues, particularly on matters relating to governance, parliamentary democracy and national security.

“The Leader of the Opposition shared the coalition's views and observations on these issues, and how they broadly affect

the Guyanese people and, specifically, the impact and effect on supporters of the APNU+AFC.” According to the coalition, Harmon also used the opportunity to highlight what it calls the discriminatory practices of the People's Progressive Party/Civic, since taking office and pointed to “the arbitrary firing of public servants, the distribution of COVID-19 cash grants, politically motivated charges and the arbitrary arrests of persons perceived to be Coalition supporters, among other issues.”

It was reiterated too, “that a spirit of consensus and collaboration is necessary and this requires putting the good of the country first as being paramount.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Opposition said there ought to be an effort to engage in

From Left: Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon; US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch; AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan; and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy, Mark Cullinane meaningful dialogue, with the support of the US, “to ensure that the PPP regime does not govern in a manner marginalising a large section of the population.”

As such, Harmon requested that the Opposition be informed of

any major changes on US Policy decisions on Guyana.

The party said too that a copy of the summary report on the “PPP regime's executive lawlessness, political persecution and ethnicisation of Guyana for the period August 2 to

December 25, 2020, was shared with the US Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission.”

It has since committed to providing an updated report for the current period to be shared “within a short space of time.”

As World Health Day is observed…

CARPHA highlights need to address health inequities

U

nder the theme: “Together for a fairer, healthier world,” World Health Day was observed yesterday (April 7, 2021). As part of its observance, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) underscored that the theme, in essence, is “a call for urgent action to eliminate health inequities and mobilise action to attain better health for all” leaving no one behind.

Leaders, according to CARPHA, must heed the call to monitor health inequalities and address their root causes to ensure that “everyone has access to the living and working conditions that are

CARPHA's Executive Director, Dr. Joy St. John conducive to good health and to quality health services where and when they need them, and to invest in primary health care to

achieve health for all by all.”

Health inequities, CARPHA noted in a release, are unjust, unfair, and widen the equity gaps, preventing people from reaching their full potential due to where a person is born, lives, grows, and works. These health inequities, it added, are largely felt among those who are disadvantaged and often experience discrimination, which may lead to illnesses, morbidity and premature mortality.

“Reducing health inequities is important because health is a fundamental human right.

Everyone deserves to live a healthy life regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 13

CH&PA begins relocating Cummings Lodge squatters

T

he Ministry of Housing and Water through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is currently in the process of relocating 11 informal settlers inhabiting portions of Plot 1767 and 1768 of Cummings Lodge (Cummings Park), Greater Georgetown.

According to a statement from the Ministry yesterday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, visited the area in the company of Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andre Ally; and officials from the Community Development, Projects and Enforcement Departments.

Minister Croal stated that while the area is earmarked for a new housing project to accommodate 190 low income homes, the illegal activity will severely hamper development.

Nevertheless, the Minister highlighted government's commitment to providing housing for all Guyanese, as he outlined the Ministry's approach.

“We have been working with persons squatting in this area since August last year and a number of unoccupied structures have been demolished since then.

However, the 11 structures remaining are those that were found to have occupants. They were served notices to remove and we have had our Community Development Department working with them,” said Minister Croal.

“They have received their final contravention notices and assistance is being provided to remove

them immediately,” the Minister continued.

The informal settlers, according to the notices served, are to be removed by Saturday, April 10, 2021.

The CH&PA announced that it is currently in the process of relocating the squatters to a suitable area within the vicinity.

Initial reports noted that 13 contravention notices were served on 13 structures observed by the CH&PA on August 20, 2020. By August 27, 2020, 22 structures were then observed and a demolition exercise was executed on October 13, 2020, leaving 11 occupied structures. Several 'Call in' Notices were also served and six of the informal settlers have since approached the C H & PA . T h e f i n a l contravention notice was served on April 3, 2021, the CH&PA revealed.

Based on interaction with the squatters, eight have applications within the CH&PA system, while another three are in the process of formally applying to facilitate the relocation process.

The Minister was also accompanied by a high-level team from the Guyana Police Force, including Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner (ag), Mr. Clifton Hicken; and Regional Commander of “4A” Division, Mr. Simon McBean.

This, the Minister said, is to enhance security in the area given the magnitude of the development.

Discussions with the officials, it was noted, have pointed to an outpost being placed towards the Aubrey Barker end of the project.

Ruling on election petition case set for April 26 From page 8 been lawfully allocated.

He pointed to a series of claims that he believes would lead the court to d i s c r e d i t t h e constitutionality of the elections laws or the lawfulness of the recount order, which led to the triumph of the ruling People's Progressive Party

Civic (PPP/C).

According to Jeremie, Order 60 is ultra vires of Article 163 of Guyana's constitution because the settlement of election disputes has to be settled by an election petition.

He added that if GECOM could not make laws, then the order is constitutionally bad.

Minister of Housing & Water, Collin Croal (centre), Ministry and CH&PA officials, and members of the Guyana Police Force

PAGE 14

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

Mother hands over son to CANU

- says she didn't know he was 'doing drugs'

A

woman on Easter Monday handed over her son to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for the alleged trafficking of narcotics.

Her son, Rawle Farrell, of Lot 699, Sixth Street, Dazzle Housing Scheme, was wanted by CANU after he ran away during a drug bust at his home.

However, Farrell's mother, accompanied by other relatives and a lawyer, took him to the CANU Headquarters where he was arrested. He is expected to appear at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court today, where he will be charged with the offence.

CANU ranks, it was revealed, had received a tip-off and headed to Farrell's home on March 29, last.

According to reports, when Farrell saw them approaching, he exited his home and ran away. The ranks reportedly called out to him and gave chase, but were unable to catch up with him.

It was rumoured that shots were fired behind him, but CANU Head,

Rawle Farrell and the suspected Cannabis he is accused of trafficking

James Singh, said that this was not so.

The ranks, this publication was informed, decided to search Farrell's home and uncovered several zip lock plastic bags and bulky parcels with leaves, seed and

stems, all suspected to be cannabis.

According to a CANU release, Farrell's mother had turned up at his home while the ranks were still there.

She had reportedly told them that her son lives alone and that she

did not know that he is The zip lock bags with suspected marijuana involved with that was found in Farrell's home illicit drugs.

The woman then promised over to CANU. She fulfilled her that she would locate and hand him promise on Easter Monday.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 15

Money changer and daughter's murder PI nears completion

T

he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Better Hope money changer, Aaron Latchman, and his 18year-old daughter, Arianna Latchman, is expected to come to an end shortly.

The matter yesterday continued in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate, Alisha George, and the next hearing is scheduled for April 14, 2021.

Last month it was reported that the prosecution is expected to call its final six witnesses to testify. With that process almost complete, the prosecution is expected to close its case in the near future.

The five persons accused of the double murder are: Mark Rufino called 'Mark,' 25, a labourer, of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo; Paul Chan called 'Long Hair' or 'Anthony,' 37, a conductor, of 10 Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Troy Abrams called 'Troy' or 'Rasta Man,' 44, a vendor, of 34 Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Lloyd Sadloo, 37, self-employed, of 220 Mocha Arcadia, East Bank

DEAD: Arianna Latchman Demerara; and Sean Thomas called 'Yankee,' 41, an electrician, of 59 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

On the defendants' first court appearance, they were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on July 4, 2019, at Robert Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, they murdered the money changer and his daughter during a robbery.

According to the facts of the charge, on the day in question, Aaron Latchman arrived home around 15:15

Brazil breaks record again with over 4,000 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hrs

B

razil, Guyana's neighbour to the South, broke its COVID-19 death toll record, yet again, when it recorded over 4,000 deaths in just 24 hours on Tuesday.

Data released by its Ministry of Health showed 4,195 new deaths recorded. The country is ranked second globally as it relates to COVID-19 deaths, with the United States of America (USA) at first place.

The last death toll record broken by Brazil was on March 23, when it recorded 3,251 fatalities.

The surge in cases and deaths, which is suspected to be as a result of the aggressively circulating “P.1”/Brazilian variant, has left the country's health system extremely overwhelmed with hospitals nearing their breaking point.

Wi t h t h e n e w d e a t h s recorded on Tuesday, the country's death toll was pushed to 337,000.

It was reported by Reuters that with Brazil's healthcare system now at a breaking point, it could

exceed the USA's death toll of 555,000. This is despite Brazil having a population that is two-thirds of the United States, according to two experts that spoke to Reuters.

One of the experts, Miguel Nicolelis, a Brazilian doctor and professor at Duke University, who is closely tracking the virus, said, "It's a nuclear reactor that has set off a chain reaction and (it) is out of control. It's a biological Fukushima.”

Fukushima is a reference to a nuclear power plant disaster that occurred in Fukushima, Japan.

Despite the alarming death rate in Brazil, its President Jair Bolsonaro has ignored worldwide criticism for his handling of the pandemic. He has been labelled as “genocidal” since he has opposed certain public health protection measures such as the wearing of face masks and stringent lockdowns.

Six states had previously reported worrying levels of (continued on page 17)

DEAD: Aaron Latchman

STILL AT LARGE: Mark Rufino

hrs. and was attempting to park his car in his yard, when two gunmen struck. One of the gunmen reportedly entered the house and shot Latchman's daughter. The other then attacked the father. The two men got into a scuffle, which resulted in a bag ending up in a neighbour's yard.

The gunman, who had shot Latchman's daughter, then exited the house and came to his accomplice's aid, shooting Latchman as well.

After Latchman fell to the ground, the attackers snatched a bag of cash and

fled. The gunmen escaped in a car. The money changer and his daughter were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched. The five accused were later arrested and subsequently charged jointly for murder.

Kaieteur News had reported that while on remand at the Lusignan Prison, Rufino escaped during October last and is still to be apprehended.

PAGE 16

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

CARPHA highlights need to address...

From page 12 disability, economic situation or employment. Health inequities go against the very fabric of social justice because they are avoidable,” stated Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA's Executive Director.

But to promote prevenVEHICLE FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

Mitsubisi Canter 4M40 6 Zeelugt $4M & $5M Tel#648months insurance goods & 1635 service and alarm system Single house lot Graden Price $1,600,000, Contact 693- Veden 2.2M Tel#672-4230 3003

WANTED SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

FOR RENT fully furnishd apartment hot & cold water system installed eccles, victoria Ave Tel#6280016

Mason and Carpenter. Contact 666-2887 Mini Bus drivers Tel# 2253533 Wanted experience hire car drivers at Princess taxi service, Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel Contact 616-5419/ 6902242 1 dental nurse/ assistant apply to, C. Persaud dental 14 Peter's Hall, EBD email: svpersaud25@gmail.com Tel#233-5137/ 5927 or 693-2565 Experienced counter server, roti/ puri cook, kitchen assistant, handy boys apply @ Hack's Halaal resturant 5 Commerce St

Room to rent at 11 charles One person worker to work street charlestown, Call 223- shift system Tel#225-6337 4060/ 675-4894 Maid Monday to Friday Call 633-8353 Fully developed commercial land for rent E.B.D size 23,000 Urgent: 1 experience kitchen sq ft Call 623-3440/ 233-5600 assistant/ domestic live- in available 25-45yrs Tel#6952 bedroom bottom flat, com- 6550/ 656-9313 mercial spot @ 2nd smyth st One ark welder must know to & 7 Hauge W.C.D June 623do grill work, able to work with 1562 limited supervison Tel# 613One bedroom apartment in- 3879 side bathroom for working Experienced male cook for couple/ single person mining operation Call 688$36,000 Monthly water/ light 5318 included Tel#638-8858 Technical assistant for internet location. Application EDUCATION must have mechanical trainQualify yourself in Cosmetol- ing and valid driver's license. ogy & Nail technology Call 231-2250 pakages starting from $25,000 classes commence: April 12,2021 Call Abby 6176751 LAND FOR SALE Land for sale, Berbice, Georgetown, East Coast, East Bank Tel#664-8641, 6822585, office 219- 2815 Lot 102 Good Hope Mahaica 500ftx42ft Tel#691-8420

VACANCY Kitchen assistant, pitman and hauler operator for interior location. Application must be experienced. Call 231-2250

tion, CARPHA has posited, a whole of society approach is necessary. Moreover, it pointed out that “it is important to work together with those who are in affected communities, address ineq-

uity issues, implement solutions, and work with governments to create a harmonised system.”

In addition, it was highlighted that “health information systems should be able

to identify vulnerable populations, and health inequities should be monitored to ensure everyone has access to quality health services without discrimination.”

Several factors, CARPHA

noted, contribute to inequities such as poverty, unemployment, environmental challenges, gender inequalities, and most recently, the emergence of COVID-19. Noting that the pandemic has had grave consequences for people already experiencing inequities, CARPHA highlighted that it has disproportionately impacted those people already socially and economically disadvantaged.

“The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the difficulties in ensuring access for persons with chronic diseases, vulnerable communities, and those facing inequalities, to receiving healthcare.

We need to ensure that the rights of persons living with chronic diseases are not violated, and the provision of chronic disease prevention and control services continue for children, adolescents, adults and vulnerable populations during COVID-19,” said Dr. St. John.

CARPHA has been tasked with supporting Member States' access to quality health care and essential medicines, by providing public health services in areas such as laboratory testing, environmental health, surveillance, programme development and policy advice. This, the release noted, contributes to a positive effect on the provision of services to communities and ultimately on their health and well-being.

Through its Caribbean Regulatory System, CARPHA helps Member States to reduce the cost of quality medicines to consumers and the health system, thereby improving accessibility and affordability.

CARPHA also collaborates with national, regional and international partners to ensure Caribbean people have access to an adequate and sustainable supply of potable water for consumption, to satisfy hygiene and sanitation, while maintaining availability for the sustenance of ecosystem functionality.

It also urged Member States to develop and implement fairer policies and actions to achieve health equity.

“Countries are encouraged to strengthen inter-sectoral, regional and national action to address the social determinants of health approach gender equity, right to health, the monitoring of health inequalities, strengthening of health systems, and knowledge dissemination,” the release stated.

Stigma and discrimination, it pointed out, also contribute to reducing access to social determinants of health, rights, and preventive services, including delay in seeking healthcare, must be addressed at individual, organisational and societal levels.

Thursday April 08, 2021

MOH records 81 new COVID-19 cases Yesterday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 81 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country’s overall number of confirmed cases to 10,718.

This represents a spike in new cases within the last 24 hours.

The previous day, the Ministry had recorded 31 new infections. In addition to the new infections, the Health Ministry yesterday pointed to a significant increase of patients being placed in the Intensive Care Unit as a result

of the virus.

According to the dashboard, a breakdown of the new cases per region shows that Region Four leads with 40 new cases, Region Six with 20 new cases, Regions Seven and Three with 13 and seven new cases respectively, while Region Five recorded one new case.

The MOH also reported that on April 6, 2021, another person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) had died. This

has taken the total number of local deaths from the pandemic to 250. The latest fatality is a 57-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility.

A total of 9,473 persons have recovered, according to the Ministry, and there are 916 patients in home isolation, 70 patients in institutional isolation and nine in the ICU battling the deadly infection.

Health Minister calls for vaccine equity as World Health Day is observed As the world observed World Health Day yesterday under the theme “Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone,” Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, echoed the call for vaccine equity in order to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This theme is very important because as you know, we are all in a pandemic and in this particular pandemic, one way to get to the epidemiological end…is through a vaccine,” the Minister stated.

Adding to this, Minister Anthony noted that many countries are not fortunate enough to access the number of vaccines that are available globally to combat the novel Coronavirus.

He noted too that in some rich countries, vaccine nationalism is being practiced, meaning that they have been able to procure the best vaccines and have prioritised them for their particular countries.

Taking the foregoing into consideration, Dr. Anthony stated, “it cannot work so

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. when the epidemic or in other words the pandemic is affecting every country in the world.” In his call for vaccine equity, the Minister noted that there should be a closing gap between those who are vaccinated and those who are not vaccinated. “If that gap is not closed, it is going to take the world longer to bring an end to the pandemic,” he explained.

According to the Health Minister, if there are poor countries without vaccines for its people, then the consequences of that can be

serious, because “the longer it takes to immunise those countries, there are more opportunities for the virus to mutate. This would not only create problems for those countries, but for the countries around the world that would have already been vaccinated.”

To ensure this does not happen, Dr. Anthony issued a call for people to work together in making sure all countries have vaccines, so that the world can be immunised faster in order for everyone to be safe.

...Brazil breaks record again with over From page 15 medical oxygen supplies.

Also reported was the President, on March 23, the very day in which the recordbreaking 3,000 cases were reported, saying that, “very soon we'll resume our normal lives.”

On that day he also swore in cardiologist Marcelo

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Queiroga as the fourth health minister since the pandemic began.

At one point, Brazil's authorities were urged to foster a national response which was expected to result in the closure of non-essential businesses in all but two states for 14 days, but President Bolsonaro was of the firm

conviction that “the collateral damage to the economy brought by restrictions would be worse than the effects of the virus itself.”

Additionally, he had attempted to stop local authorities from imposing the protective measures, but that was halted by the Supreme Court.

Raw data showing Brazil's COVID-19 death rates (Credit: Ministry of Health, Brazil)

Man killed in fire he reportedly started to harm someone else A man was on Tuesday killed in a fire he reportedly started, to harm someone else.

Police have identified the man as Phineas Headly, 27, of Lot 63 C, Nabacalis, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to a police report, the fire which killed Headly was set around 16:50hrs.

An investigation carried out by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) revealed that the fire was maliciously set by the victim. Fire Chief, Kalamadeen Edoo, explained that it stemmed from a dispute between the victim and another individual.

Kaieteur News understands that the “row” was over “someone cheating on the other”.

Detectives were told by Headly’s relatives, who live close by, that they had heard a loud explosion and screams coming from his one-storey wooden home that afternoon.

When they rushed out, the relatives said that they saw him lying in the yard with burns about his body. Fire fighters, according to the police report, were summoned and Headly’s relatives rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

As firemen successfully extinguished the blaze at

Headly’s home on fire. (Photo Credit: Inews) Headly’s home, doctors at the GPHC were performing emergency surgery to save his life.

However, those efforts proved futile as Headly died from his injuries around 21:50hrs. Relatives have since related to cops that Headly suffered from a mental disorder.

One of those relatives was also quoted in another section of the media saying, that he lived with a woman and the two were arguing earlier that day. Headly, the report stated, had reportedly accused the woman of being unfaithful to him.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Health Ministry dubs “anti-vaxxer stance” as reckless, irresponsible - calls on persons to stay home and go out only when necessary “Reckless and irresponsible” is the term being embraced by the Ministry of Health to speak out against the prevailing “anti-vaxxer stance” that has been taken by many Guyanese, as government rolls out its COVID-19 immunisation programme.

In a press statement that sought to announce a new group of persons being eligible for vaccination, the Ministry noted that as it continues its aggressive rollout of the vaccination process, there are concerns about the “anti-vaxxers’ stance.” “While vaccination is not mandatory in Guyana, it is an effective public health measure that protects against certain diseases. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, it will protect against severe illnesses and, therefore, is imperative for every citizen,” the MOH stated.

It has therefore urged that those who are publicly castigating vaccination with conspiracy theories should desist from doing so. “The vaccines in use will protect people, making them safer and stopping the COVID-19 virus. It will not turn anyone into something else; it will

definitely not turn anyone into any animal. We urge citizens to dismiss these conspiracy theories and to ignore those spreading wild tales,” the Ministry asserted.

Furthermore, it was noted that the urgency for vaccination is now at an alltime high, and it is the only way out of the current pandemic. However, it will be a while before all Guyanese are fully vaccinated against the deadly virus.

The Ministry noted too, that adherence is imperative to the gazetted guidelines, stating that this is a “life-anddeath” situation. It noted too that the “continued reckless gathering around the country is playing a game of roulette with the angels of death,” and

it therefore could not be blunter in its call for persons to stay home and go out only when necessary.

The new global COVID-19 surge was also highlighted and the Ministry acknowledged that Guyana as well has been impacted. It stated that after a year of circulation, the virus has become more effective in spreading during this new surge and it has become more virulent and deadlier.

Additionally, it noted that hospital beds are becoming increasingly occupied with COVID-19 patients, who become sicker more rapidly, noting that even young people, some without underlying conditions, are not being spared.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Pakistan win series in South Africa with another Fakhar 100

Fakhar Zaman hit a second successive century to help Pakistan win the deciding one-day international against South Africa. (AFP/Getty Images)

CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — Opener Fakhar Zaman hit a second successive century to help Pakistan win the deciding one-day international against South Africa by 28 runs and take the series 2-1 yesterday.

Fakhar made 101 and captain Babar Azam 94 from 82 balls to propel Pakistan to 320-7 batting first at SuperSport Park.

South Africa was 292 all out as three players made half-centuries but none converted them to big scores.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi collected three wickets each, with Afridi ending things by clean bowling Keshav Maharaj and last man Daryn Dupavillon.

Thursday April 08, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Demands made by friends, children, or the special person in your life might have you feeling like you're moving in a dozen different directions at once.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A number of deliveries, service people, emails, or phone calls might keep you jumping today, Taurus, right when you're in the mood for a quiet day.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A close friend might pass along some seemingly harmless but nonetheless untrue gossip. Don't accept anything you hear today until you check the facts for yourself.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You don't normally tend toward frugality, Cancer, but today you could go overboard with your spending.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some failures that you may have experienced over the past few days could have you beating yourself up today, Leo. Perhaps you feel that you were too hasty or too sloppy and could have done things better.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you might be able to tune in to the thoughts and feelings of others, Virgo, but you aren't likely to know exactly how to handle the situation. Should you say something or just tailor your own behavior to suit the moods of others?

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Group activities are probably very much on your agenda today, Libra. You could attend an online meeting or lecture and later participate in a group chat with a bunch of friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Too much pressure on the job could have you feeling like chucking it all and going somewhere by yours e l f . Yo u m i g h t b e tempted to go on a spending spree or overindulge in food or drink.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Inner conflict regarding spiritual matters might have you questioning your and others' beliefs. You might doubt just about everything CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Although your financial situation appears to be on the upswing, you still might be feeling pessimistic and indifferent about money and life in general.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A minor and rather silly quarrel with a friend or romantic partner could have you down in the dumps. This is an overreaction, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Pressures on the job may be mounting. You might feel so disgruntled that you want to chuck it all and run away.

Foreign countries and distant states may suddenly seem far more appealing than usual.

It’s the first time Pakistan has won an ODI series in South Africa since 2013.

South Africa did have to change more than half its team following a seriesleveling win in the second game after five players left for the IPL and batsman Rassie van der Dussen was ruled out injured. But Pakistan was still clearly better over the course of the three games.

Fakhar was again the most impressive after a magnificent 193 in a losing cause in the second one-dayer.

He made 101 from 104 balls this time and shared a 112-run opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq (57). Babar’s classy 94 continued Pakistan’s top-order flourish and the tourists were 206-1 at one point and set for a big total.

Hasan Ali hammered it home with 32 not out from 11 balls right at the end, which included four sixes.

Opener Janneman Malan’s 70 threatened to give South Africa a chance, as did a 108-run stand in the middle order between Kyle

Pakistan players celebrate a dismissal during the match. (AFP/Getty Images) Verreynne (62) and Andile Phehlukwayo (54).

Pakistan removed those two in successive overs and Afridi cleaned up.

Scores: Pakistan 320 for 7 (Fakhar 101, Maharaj 345) beat South Africa 292 (Malan 70, Nawaz 3-34) by 28 runs.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

Leon Seaton Jr swims personal best in 50m freestyle in Argentina ‘I have 2 more events before Olympic qualification period ends’ says Leon

By Sean Devers G u y a n a ’s O l y m p i c swimming hopefuls, Andrew Fowler and Leon Seaton, represented Guyana at the C O N S A N AT S o u t h American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina which concluded on March 29.

Both athletes competed in the 50M and 100M Freestyle as well as the 50M Butterfly events at the championships.

Leon’s time of 24.84 in the freestyle is a Guyana record, bettering his previous best of 25.15 to beat his countryman Andrew Fowler and become youngest Guyanese swim so fast.

Leon also recorded times of 28.62 in the 50 Fly and 56.05 in the 100 Free in Buenos Aires.

“My experience in Argentina was a great one and I hope to continue my training and producing great results. I achieved a new personal best in my 50M freestyle and it was amazing,” disclosed the talented 16-year-old Silver Shark Aquatic Swim Club’s member.

Leon revealed that the pandemic has not had any m a j o r e ff e c t s o n h i m although it stopped some of his training days. But he was quick to add that was not a major setback for him.

“At the moment Florida is containing the virus. They

Leon Seaton Jr is working towards the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. are administering Vaccines state wide to anyone 18 and over but soon Vaccines will be available for 16 year-olds and I believe the virus will be controlled. Everyone is told to wear their mask in public and keep sanitising their hands,” explained the teenager who resides in South Ruimveldt, Guyana.

Leon is currently on a five-month FINA scholarship in Florida at the Azura Florida Aquatics which commenced last November but has now been extended to June.

The benefits of this Scholarship varies but the biggest one is having the opportunity to train with World Class Athletes who are all working in harmony to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Since I have been here I have not had any challenges and I doing well and

everything is fine.

I am not disappointed in not making the Olympic qualifying as yet since the qualifying period is not over and I still have multiple events before it ends in June,” explained Leon who last November competed in the 2020 Patriot Aquatics Winter Invite and clocked five new Personal Best (PB) times.

“The training schedule is tough and begins at 5am and lasts throughout the day; it includes several sessions in pool and dry land training also,” informed the St Roses High school student.

Leon has also been doing online schooling to prepare himself for the academic challenge and will return in June to write his CXC exams.

“Since the beginning of my scholarship I have seen much improvement and recently I achieved a time long forthcoming. I still have the ability to improve and keep pushing.

The scholarship has helped me in a great way when it comes to improving my swimming speed and techniques.

My scholarship has recently been extended to June and there are two scheduled events between now and the Olympics that I am expected to attend. They both serve as qualifiers,” concluded Guyana’s fastest 16-old in the pool.

Leon Seaton in Argentina.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 21

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice: ‘Back-up plans’ in Powerlifting C/Ships place if India cannot host T20 World Cup set for next month in house spectators For now, the ICC plans to ‘go ahead with the event as scheduled’ - No The Guyana Amateur i m a g e s o f b o t h t h e Powerlifting Federation registration form and even as India grapples with a second wave of Covid-19

ESPNcricinfo - Geoff Allardice, the interim CEO of the ICC, has said that he expects the upcoming T20 World Cup in India to go ahead as planned, but that the governing body has back-up plans in place should the country not be able to host the tournament.

With only six months remaining before it is scheduled to host the T20 Wo r l d C u p , I n d i a i s grappling with a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the country reporting more than 115,000 new cases on April 6 alone.

“Yes, we have [back-up plans],” Allardice said in an interaction with select media agencies yesterday. “But at this stage we haven’t activated those plans, because we are preparing to go ahead with the event in India as scheduled.

“We’re working with the BCCI and different elements of that event at the moment, but we do have back-up plans that can be activated

‘At this stage we are preparing to go ahead with the event in India as scheduled’.

(IDI/Getty Images) when the time’s right.”

Allardice said there is still some time to go before the ICC might think of activating its back-up plans, and that its immediate focus will be on the World Test Championship final, which India and New Zealand are scheduled to contest in Southampton from June 18 to 22. “We’re not anywhere near that timeline yet,” Allardice said. “We’ve certainly got a number of months to be able to see how the situation is and how

cricket events are being run.

We’ve obviously got our World Test Championship final which is coming up in a couple of months too. [It’s] one match and two teams, but it’s still got its own c h a l l e n g e s . We ’ r e proceeding with both as planned at this stage.”

The emergence of multiple Covid-19 vaccines around the world represents a possible way for cricket to loosen some of the biosecure protocols that have been in place for most high-profile

events since the pandemic began. Allardice, however, said the ICC was not in a position to negotiate mandatory player vaccinations with governments around the world, even before a multiteam event like the T20 World Cup. “I think our medical committee and our board are recommending that participants should be vaccinated wherever possible, but I think the dynamic in each country is going to be different, both with the supply of vaccine or the availability of vaccine, and where sportspeople or international sportspeople might be in the queue to receive those vaccines,” he said. “The ICC wouldn’t be able to influence anything like that at a national level, but our overall message has been, we recommend that participants coming to our events in the future are vaccinated wherever possible.”

Athletics: Briton Hutchings calls for records reset for high-tech shoes era ( R e u t e r s ) - Wo r l d Athletics should introduce a new set of records for times set by athletes wearing hightech footwear, said British Olympian Tim Hutchings, as debate continues over whether the shoes give runners an unfair advantage.

Footwear developed by Nike played a role in two of the biggest distance-running achievements of 2019, with Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-twohour marathon in Vienna and Brigid Kosgei’s recordbreaking run at the Chicago Marathon bringing the

Vaporfly shoes into the spotlight.

While World Athletics banned the shoes from professional sport last year, Nike has launched a new version of its Alphafly footwear that complies with new rules introduced by the governing body.

“People from many quarters are saying stop fussing about the shoes. Just move on and enjoy the racing.

To which I’d respond, I’ve always enjoyed the racing and will continue to,”

Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder from Kenya, attempts to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna.

Hutchings told The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ article/we-must-reset-allrecords-for-this-super-shoeera-says-british-distancerunning-great-andolympian-tim-hutchingswb562n0p8.

“But I want to enjoy and respect times as well, not just cast aside that element. A reset would enable this. The shoes are here to stay, sadly the genie is out of the bottle.”

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich shaved 29 seconds off the world half marathon record on Sunday

and British triathlete Beth Potter is awaiting ratification of a world record time from a low-key 5km road race a day earlier.

Both athletes wore hightech footwear made by different manufacturers.

“Let folk race and record new era personal bests,” said Hutchings, who finished fourth in the 5,000m at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

“A date needs to be identified retrospectively, then everyone would respect times in the right context.

Athletes deserve that.”

(GAPLF) in a release to the media has divulged that its Novices/ Juniors National Championship and Qualifiers on Sunday, April 25th, 2021.

Weigh in will begin from 06:00hrs and last until 07:30hrs (6am to 7:30am) with the competition set to commence at 08:00hrs (8am).

The location has not been determined as yet, but it is expected to be announced at a later date.

The registration form and monies can be submitted to Martin Webster or payment can be made to the Federation’s bank account.

After depositing the money in the account, send

deposit slip.

Bank: Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Account Name: Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation Account Number: 962356552194 Due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, the GAPLF will not be allowing spectators at the venue and each team will only be allowed one coach.

Everyone present will be expected to wear a mask.

The competition will be live- streamed for the virtual audience.

Last year at the GAPLF’s Novice/Junior event was held at the St. S t a n i s l a u s C o l l e g e ’s auditorium, a total of 17 records were broken.

Windies could have done more to secure Test series win insists Ambrose SportsMax - Legendary West Indies fast bowler, Curtly Ambrose, believes the team could have been more aggressive in going for the win against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test but admitted to being pleased with the strides the team had made.

In the end, West Indies and Sri Lanka played to a 0-0 Test series draw with neither team really able to press home advantages at various stages in both matches. In a reversal of fortunes, it was the West Indies who had headed into the final day of the final Test with a big lead and looking to put the pressure on the visitors. The team, however, managed to take two wickets as Sri Lanka closed the day on 193 for 2. Ambrose, however, believes the West Indies did not give themselves enough time to win the game.

“I think that we didn’t show enough intent to try and win that game. We batted too long in my opinion, we took too long to score the runs which means we didn’t have enough time to bowl out Sri Lanka on a very placid surface and I thought that the urgency in getting those quick runs wasn’t there. We batted too long,” Ambrose told the Antigua Observer.

During the second innings, with team captain Kraigg Brathwaite

anchoring the unit on the third day, Ambrose believes the batting line-up should have been re-tooled in an attempt to score more quickly.

“We know the captain Kraigg Brathwaite isn’t going to take an attacker path. He is one of those guys who are going to bat for long and accumulate his runs and nothing is wrong with that,” Ambrose added.

“Kyle Mayers we know will go on the attack but I thought that later on after Kyle Mayers got out, we should have at least sent Jimbo [Rahkeem Cornwall] or Alzarri Joseph ahead of Da Silva to get some quicker runs so we could have enough time after the declaration to try and bowl out Sir Lanka. Sending Da Silva to me wasn’t a good move at that particular stage.”

Ambrose insisted, however, that there were several positives to be taken from the display.

“You can see that the guys are putting a lot more thought into the cricket which is very good to see.

They have been patient, they try to construct their innings in terms of the batting and even in the bowling department, you could see they were really trying to bowl in good areas and not just trying to get a wicket every ball.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Thursday April 08, 2021

RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour teams continue to make a positive difference The Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt First Division team is widely considered one of the top first division team in Guyana and over the two last years has dominated the game in the Ancient County.

The team in 2019 won all the first division tournaments in the Ancient County, while the RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour under21 won the delayed 2019 under21 tournaments after defeating arch-rivals Albion by seven wickets in early March.

The two teams under the Management of Organising Secretary Rabindranauth Kissoonlall and Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu continue to make a positive difference as part of their personal development programme. One of the requirements of being a member of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club is that all members shall be involved in social work and community development to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

The two teams on

RHTYSC Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu (right) hands over donation to Dr. Cecil Beharry President of Rose Hall Canje CC.

Tuesday last completed the 250th activity of the club for 2021 by handing over three special prizes for the hosting of a fundraising raffle by the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Team. The prizes were an electric blender, electric iron and electric kettle.

The RH Canje Community Centre Cricket Club headed by Dr. Cecil Beharry participates in all tournaments organizes by the vibrant Berbice Cricket Board. Dr. Beharry in accepting the donation noted that the club sometimes finds

Big man cricket postpones tournament due to Covid spike

T

he Big Man Cricket Committee has made a conscious decision to postpone the continuation of our Banks Beer/Maximum Vodka BMC T25 Tournament until further notice due to the recent spike in COVID 19 cases and deaths.

BMC would like to urge all Guyanese to adhere strictly to the published protocols of the National COVID 19 Task Force and the Ministry of Health. A release from the BMC informed, “Further, we urge persons to secure their vaccinations at the earliest opportunity.

This combination will surely assist us all to eliminate this deadly virus in the quickest possible time.

Further, we continue to experience some unpredictable weather. We will continue to assess this situation in tandem and announce the restart of this competition at the earliest opportunity.

At the end of the last round of play in the Banks Beer/Maximum Vodka BMC T25 tournament, Jai Hind Jaguars still lead the points table:

it difficult financially to play in all the tournaments due to the high cost of balls and transportation. The Club, he disclosed plays at the Under13, Under15, Under17, Under19, Under21, Second Division, Internal Zone and First

Division. Additionally, the RHCCCC also has several active female cricketers who play in the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone team.

Beharry expressed gratitude to the Namilco Thunderbolt teams for their assistance. He noted that his club receives a wide range of assistance from the club and the Berbice Cricket Board that includes scorebooks, catching cribs, cricket balls, coloured uniforms, cricket gears, educational materials, bicycles and trophies among others.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board hailed the effort of the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour teams for assisting their peers and noted that the RHTYSC strongly believes in assisting other clubs. This he stated is to assist all youths in the county to fulfill their dream of becoming a professional c r i c k e t e r. F o s t e r a l s o disclosed that the team in 2021 has donated over $1M worth of items to Berbice

clubs including Cricket balls, stumps, gears, scorebooks and trophies among others.

The two teams would also be presenting bicycles to less fortunate youths in early May, while they are also planning to distribute hundreds of food hampers for Mothers and Father’s Day in May and June respectively. The teams also recently distributed $300,000 worth of kites across Guyana. Last year, the ten cricket teams of the RHTYSC distributed over ten thousand food hampers in 2020 as part of their joint Covid-19 response programme.

Members of the RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team includes Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Royston Crandon, Clinton Pestano, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Junior Sinclair, Eon Hooper, Jason Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Keon Sinclair, Keith Simpson and Shawn Pereira.

After Miami high, Barty ready for slow transition to clay (Reuters) - Ash Barty is pleased with how her body coped with tough conditions during her successful title defence at the Miami Open but the world number one is being careful not to rush things as she transitions to the clay season in Charleston this week.

The Australian spent most of the last year at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Miami was her first tournament abroad since February 2020.

“My body feels great,” top seed Barty told reporters on Monday at the WTA 500 event in Charleston. “We’ve done a lot of work over the preseason to make sure that my body could hold up and withstand a lot of matches and I felt like we were able to do that in Miami.

“It’s really nice to be here now and kind of have a fresh

start. It’s a fresh surface, it’s a very quick shift for me, changing surfaces ... it will be exciting. It’ll be a quick transition, but one that I look forward to.”

The 2019 French Open champion, who turns 25 this month, has a first-round bye and will open her clay-court season against Japan’s Misaki Doi. “I find that green clay is almost a middle man between hard courts and European red clay,” said Barty. “Sometimes the green clay is a little bit quicker. You can typically move on it like a hard court if you wish, or you can go straight into sliding a little bit and moving like on a traditional clay court.

“So we’ll have to be

Ash Barty

patient this week and not feel like we’re rushing into trying to feel like we’re playing our best clay-court tennis straight away. It’s important to let the body adjust.”

Barty has not played much on clay since 2019, barring some practice sessions back home in Australia, but she was confident of being ready for this year’s French Open, which is scheduled to start on May 23.

“It’s always a part of the season that I look forward to.

It’s challenging without a doubt, but I am very excited to get back to Roland Garros,” she said.

“I think it’s going to be really exciting walking in back onto that site for the first time since 2019.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

PAGE 23

Affiliated member of the Gold is Money capture Joseph, Guyana Int’l Kyokushinkai Mc Ewan dominoes title Martial Arts Academy promoted

Hanshi Nowieldath Khedoe of Suriname (left) accepts his credentials from Hanshi/Soke, A. Nazim Yassim, while Hanshi Khedoe is flanked by from left Hanshi/Soke, A. Nazim Yassim and Grandmaster/Professor Christopher Norville.

O

n the 29 of March 2021, S h i h a n Nowieldath Khedoe of Suriname was once again under the watchful eyes of a five (5) member panel headed by President of the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy Hanshi/Soke, A. Nazim Yassim and President of the Guyana Martial Arts Masters Association International and Grandmaster/Professor Christopher Norville.

Shihan Khedoe was at this time going through an

exam to establish his own system of martial arts “ S H U R I K E N - RY U ” a system that use techniques from the kyokushin karate and the other systems of martial arts that he has learnt over the past 30 plus years.

And so he has fulfilled all the Physical, and Mental requirements; attaining the technical knowledge in this art and have excelled in these special skills. He has acted with Honor, Respect, SelfConfidence and Discipline.

Shihan Khedoe, with age, experience and knowledge on his side,

demonstrated his skills well enough to be given the green light for his system, and so he has done it again, this time with the international rank of 10th Dan black belt and the title of Hanshi.

Shihan Khedoe now Hanshi Khedoe marched his way into history as he stepped out to continue to build his system of martial arts “SHURIKEN-RUY” a system that is Recognized by the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy and the Guyana Martial Arts Masters Association International.

Big Boss Girls accept their prize from Faye Joseph.

Gold is Money emerged champions of the Faye Joseph and Colin Mc Ewan dominoes competition which concluded on Sunday at Turning Point. Gold is Money marked 82 games with Ewie Gordon, Ganesh Sankar and Clearance Whitehead scoring 15 each and Shaun Morgan 14.

Big Boss Girls placed second with 68

games. Niki Haywood chalked 16 games, Leander (only name given), Cheryl Fraser and Lavern Spencer made 13 apiece.

Providence was third with 66 games.

David De Santos made 16 games, Shawn Davis and Junior Smith got 12 each.

Both Faye Joseph and Colin Mc Ewan are former presidents of the GDA.

The victorious Gold is Money.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 08, 2021

Thursday April 08, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25