Guyana Times - Wednesday, November 4, 2020

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4459

WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Govt awards 100 contracts to small, new contractors Page 7

…big firms must not crowd out small contractors – Edghill

Loss of citizenship occurs when Oath of Renunciation is taken – US Embassy Truck topples as bridge Husband, wife perish at Tiger Creek collapses in Eccles fire following domestic dispute

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Importers selling unlicensed products to be prosecuted – P13 GA-FDD

Education Ministry gets 50,000 face P13 masks

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Page 13

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 P11 deaths …death toll at 130 with 7 new cases

Ex-cop gets 14 years for killing security officer, GGMC engineer P7

Page 16

Dead: Leeroy King

WCB teens' murders

Police offer $3M reward for info

Page 10

…families continue to call for justice

COVID-19 causes labour shortage, income loss for farmers – Caricom report on Guyana P11

GHDS to host activities in observance of P14 Diwali …virtual motorcade set for November 13

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Walrond’s renounced citizenship

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, November 4 – 04:30h-06:00h and Thursday, November 5 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, November 4 – 06:20h – 07:50h and Thursday, November 5 – 06:55h-08:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers will prevail during the day. Lightly cloudy to partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to North NorthWesterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 06:18h and 18:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.52 metres and 2.60 metres.

Low Tide: 12:02h reaching a minimum height of 0.75 metre.

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Loss of citizenship occurs when Oath of Renunciation is taken – US Embassy

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United States (US) Embassy official has confirmed that as per the Immigration and Naturalization Act Section 349, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, lost her citizenship when she appeared before a consular officer to take her Oath of Renunciation.

In an interview with this publication on Tuesday, US Embassy spokeswoman Violeta Talandis explained that loss of citizenship occurs when an American citizen takes the Oath of Renunciation before a consular officer, not when the Loss of Nationality Certificate is issued.

“When they appear before the consular officer (loss of citizenship occurs).

It’s under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, Section 349, Section 5 (a),” Talandis explained to this publication.

Indeed, the United States’ Immigration and Naturalization Act Section 349 (a)(5) states that “a person who is a national of the United States whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voluntarily…making a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State.”

Last month, Minister Walrond had explained that she renounced her citizenship and received a Certificate of Loss of Nationality, before she took the oath of the National Assembly on September 1, 2020.

“I wrote to the US Consular Office on August 18, renouncing my citizenship to the United States of America with immediate effect. I was thereof informed of the administrative procedure I must comply with to obtain a Certificate of

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US Embassy spokesperson Violeta Talandis

Loss of Nationality of the United States,” Minister Walrond had said in a statement on October 24, as the Opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) had continued to peddle the narrative that she is a dual citizen.

In fact, Walrond revealed that she received legal advice that as a Technocrat Minister, Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana would not exclude her from being an MP while also being a dual citizen, since this provision speaks to the qualification of an MP for “election” to the National Assembly.

Walrond was never on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) candidates’ list, but rather was appointed as a Technocrat Minister.

However, the Minister noted that she still took the step to resign “out of an abundance of caution.”

“On August 5, I was invited by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to

serve in his Cabinet. I accepted because I consider the opportunity to serve my people and my country at this capacity as both an honour and privilege. As an attorney-at-law, and being mindful of my (then) status as a US citizen, I sought the counsel of other attorneys on whether the sections of the Constitution prohibiting elected members from being dual citizens applied to me as a Technocrat Minister.

“Despite advice that this provision did not extend to technocrats, out of an abundance of caution, I decided to renounce my citizenship to put the matter beyond all doubt and avoid any distraction to the good work of the Government,” the Tourism Minister, who is a former Magistrate, explained.

Even though Walrond has given up her citizenship, the APNU has insisted that she must take the further step of resigning. During a press conference last month, APNU MP Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde pointed to Articles 103 (3) and 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana to support his contention that Walrond should resign. According to Forde,

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

the Opposition would consider instituting legal proceedings.

In a letter dated October 30, 2020 to Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, APNU took things a step further by demanding that Isaacs produce Walrond’s renunciation certificate within 24 hours, failing which they would take legal action… despite the fact that according to the Immigration and Naturalization Act Section 349, it is the oath of renunciation and not the certificate that signifies loss of citizenship.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Fixing GECOM

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ith Local Government Elections being constitutionally due in 2021, and the hearing of the elections petitions set to commence soon, the focus will continue to be on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for quite a long time to come.

Political stakeholders are weighing in on the issue of Local Government Elections; more particularly, on what needs to be done in order to satisfy all stakeholders that the electoral body can in fact be trusted to deliver credible elections in its current state of being.

It is no secret the general view is that public trust in the GECOM Secretariat has been eroded significantly following the March 2 General and Regional Elections, hence there should not even be any question regarding the need for the entire Secretariat to be fixed before it engages in any activity in relation to holding of an election; whether it is house-to-house registration, updating the National Register of Registrants’ Database etc.

The President himself - being the candidate who was forced to wait five months before he was declared the winner of the March 2 polls, even though it was clear that his party had won - has stated firmly that GECOM cannot undertake another election without first fixing the system itself, which must deliver those elections to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

However, the Opposition APNU/AFC coalition is pushing to have the elections held with the current lot of officials at GECOM, whom we understand are still on the job although they are currently before the courts facing electoral fraud charges.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the APNU/AFC coalition called on the Government to hold the Local Government Elections in 2021, and promised to increase pressure on the Government to ensure this is done; but, at the same time, that coalition is completely ignoring the widely held view that there is a lack of trust in the Secretariat to run off the elections.

While we acknowledge the need to ensure Local Government Elections are held to allow citizens to choose their local representatives, no right-thinking person would agree to participate in elections with the current crop of leaders at the Secretariat.

Further, like many stakeholders, we believe there is need for electoral and constitutional reforms to avoid “brinkmanship” and a recurrence of the high level of political crisis that gripped the country from March to August of this year. However, we support the view that such a process must be driven through consultation, with citizens getting an opportunity to have a say in the changes they would like to see implemented.

The time has come for all stakeholders to seriously commence talks regarding reforming GECOM, meaning its entire operational structure, starting with the manner in which the Chairman and Commissioners are appointed and the way the Secretariat functions.

It is clear that a major stakeholder, the Government, has lost confidence in the current CEO and other senior staff of the organisation. Some have expressed the view that those persons have no role to play in the Secretariat due to their conduct in the recent elections.

As an independent constitutional body, GECOM enjoys financial, functional and operational autonomy; and, like every agency which is financed with public funds, must be held accountable for its actions.

The President was very much on point when he outlined that, as a country, Guyana must put the necessary safeguards in place at the Secretariat, since “that is the system that would give you the end product”.

He had highlighted that while the composition of the GECOM Commission is one issue that would have to be addressed, what occurred post-March 2 polls goes beyond the Commission, as the electoral machinery itself was compromised. It was on this basis that the Government announced that it would take steps to have an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events that occurred during and after the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Because of the nature of the work it does, due to its constitutional mandate, GECOM must always strive to build public trust. Its officers must be seen as credible and working on behalf of the nation in every respect. In essence, every stakeholder in the country must have confidence in the organisation’s ability to carry out its mandate in a manner that could withstand public scrutiny. GECOM must be fixed, and this fixing must be very soon.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha share a photo moment with a child dressed in her cultural wear at the Orealla–Siparuta community, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Integrity of election workers in Guyana and New York Dear Editor, On Tuesday, Election Morning in New York, I visited several polling stations in Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, and Ozone Park, and observed dozens of Guyanese manning polling stations.

There were long lines of voters, inclusive of GuyaneseAmericans and other minorities.

I have never observed so much enthusiasm among minorities to vote. I was in Guyana last March for the elections. The behaviour of staff (professionalism and mannerism) was very different in these two countries. Guyanese-Americans are very professional in their conduct, whereas, in Guyana, many staff members are party or race partisan and are unprofessional.

Dozens of Indo-Guyanese and Indo-Trinidadians were performing duties as polling staff in the greater Richmond Hill area. Time did not allow for multiple visits to Afro-Guyanese neighbourhoods to determine whether they were working as polling staff, but I am sure Guyanese and other Caribbean people worked in the 2020 elections in Brooklyn. A few AfroGuyanese were employed in the St. Albans area of Queens.

The staff at the polling

stations in New York seemed much more aged (more senior citizens) than those in Guyana, behaved very professionally, and were non-partisan; meaning, they didn’t take political sides (for any party) as workers.

Guyanese and other poll workers in NY performed their duties with integrity and honesty, unlike in Guyana, where I observed polling workers were very partisan, especially in urban centres. Those Guyanese workers I observed in Greater Richmond Hill were not goading voters or seeking to disenfranchise anyone on account of political affiliation or race, as happened in Guyana. And I have serious doubts whether Guyanese New York staff would compromise their integrity and professionalism to benefit any candidate or party.

The consequences for a staff member who has violated the election code of conduct are very serious – suspension, hearing and/or immediate firing, and even jail time.

In past elections, when there were incidents, like campaign workers violating the rules of voting, and campaigning, or trying to intimidate staff, election workers reported them to their supervisors and/or to the Police.

The Police (one is present at every polling station) acted instantly to rectify any issue and/or make arrests, quite unlike in Guyana. It is because of quick disciplinary actions and or arrests that there are minimal allegations of fraud in the US and in other countries like UK, Canada, Denmark, Australia, etc.

There is a no-nonsense attitude in the US and in other mature democracies on voting. People vote and move on, and don’t immerse themselves in attempts to fraudulently influence the outcome.

A few Guyanese voters (campaign staff really) were charged for electoral fraud in New York, and they faced the wrath of the elections commission and the court in that they were convicted, fined, and jailed by the court; and lost the right to vote – a case of natural justice. The course of justice was expedited, and not perverted, as often happened in Guyana.

Electoral fraud is a serious offence. It is akin to treason, because it seeks to undermine the system of choosing a government. In some countries, employees accused of electoral fraud are summarily jailed, if not executed pending an inquiry.

The charges of fraud against the GECOM accused are not mere allega-

tions. Their actions in electoral fraud were publicly and transparently observed by the media, diplomatic corps, and international observers.

Guyana cannot afford to go into an election with the same electoral fraud accused running the affairs of GECOM; Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo, and others must be suspended. Everyone who was fingered as a participant in fraud (electoral and otherwise) must be removed from GECOM. They must be disciplined now, in order to commence the preparation for LGE 2021.

Guyana should follow the example of the US, where staff accused of fraud or wrongdoing at a polling station or at any job site are immediately removed from their position, pending an investigation, or criminal charges, or conviction. GECOM cannot afford to have mediocre performance or anyone involved in electoral fraud on staff. Unless disciplined, staff would continue to under-perform or misbehave in office, or engage in fraud. Examples must be made of them. They should have been terminated months ago, if not right after March 2, or after they were caught in the act of fraud.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Govt is the custodian not the owner of State enterprises

Dear Editor, Any Government of the day is just the custodian of State enterprises, being so by consent of the people.

Government is not the owner thereof, hence it must manage the business of these enterprises in a very transparent manner, such that can withstand public scrutiny.

Both Indo- and Afro– Guyanese people have common fears, which they respectively associate with a Government that is primarily different from their ethnicity. They both commonly fear discrimination at the hands of the State in the follow-

ing areas: appointments of CEO and executive staff; selection of members of Boards of Directors; method of land distribution; awarding of scholarships; promotion in the public service, awarding of tenders etc….

We can begin to address these fears by starting with the appointment of CEO and executive staff to State enterprises. The recruitment of these managers should be done according to best Human Resource Management practices, with full transparency and accountability.

These executive positions

should be advertised as widely as possible in the daily newspapers, as well as on the various Government websites, for at least a minimum of three consecutive weeks.

An interviewing panel should consist of selected members of the Board of Directors with or without independent practitioners of firms that specialise in recruitment, and there should be clear and precise job description and a guideline for the methodology for conducting the interview.

Based on this, short-listing of the potential candidates should be done, fol-

lowed by their interviews and then their ranking for selection to fill the vacancy.

We cannot continue to appoint these managers to the various State enterprises stealthily and surreptitiously in the night, and more so if they are of one ethnicity, and hope to achieve national confidence of our citizenry in the functions of the state.

Their appointments must be premised on a system of meritocracy, equality, fairness, and full transparency.

Yours sincerely, Reggie Bhagwandin

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

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Don’t use racism, politics in call Guyanese abroad are kept abreast for justice for Henry boys Dear Editor, Please allow me to share my views regarding the prolonged call for justice for the Henry boys, as the situation is being used as fuel by some politicians.

The Henry boys were brutally murdered by unknown persons, and I again would like to extend my sympathy to the parents of the Henry boys and Haresh Singh, and to all those who were murdered by unknown persons.

No one deserves to die the way they did.

I wish that those who committed those acts of murdering the innocent would be brought to justice swiftly, after a comprehensive and credible investigation has been done. As we all know, investigations into these acts take time, and should not be rushed because some want them to be. Rushing into indicting people for such acts may see innocent persons being charged and their characters tarnished. Justice should be served, and served in a manner that the innocent must not pay for those guilty of committing the acts and are walking free, roaming the streets and roads.

Those who are guilty of the acts of murdering our brothers and sisters innocently must face the consequences, and the same goes for all those who have committed acts of violence against our brothers and sisters.

Over the years, we have seen many innocent persons being convicted for things they were not involved in.

Many innocent ones are paying the price for acts they did not commit. Many of those people who have been convicted and sentenced are the poor are innocent who, because they have no money and can’t afford a lawyer to defend them, have to face trials for act they did not commit, because they are poor and moreover because of bad investigating done by the Guyana Police Force.

I must say that as I penned this letter, I was moved by feelings for the innocent who have to pay for another man’s act, because I myself was sentenced for a crime I did not commit, and I was made to pay for the crime although I was innocent, all through bad investigations and political involvement.

But this letter is not about me, it’s about all those innocent people who are being murdered, beaten, etc, and also about those who, although innocent, are convicted as guilty and have to pay for acts they didn’t commit.

Since the murder of the Henry boys, I have been following the matter closely, especially since one politician has used it to create a huge, massive unwanted unrest in West Berbice and parts of Guyana, just for political gains and purposes.

At no time have I heard that very young lawyer and APNU-AFC candidate voice his concerns for all the innocent people who are being convicted. At no time have I ever heard that very young man voice concern for any of the others who were innocently murdered, beaten, robbed, etc. All of a sudden, he has found his voice, and he makes it known through his racial and political acts.

Yes, I said racial because he used racism to stir up the violence in Region 5 on the very night he went live on the APNU-AFC Facebook page.

That very young racist called out the people of Cotton Tree as if they are all guilty for what had happened by telling the world on that live broadcast, “We all know who lives at Cotton Tree, we all know who they are, we know who they support (politically)”. That statement alone warranted him to be investigated and charged for racial incitement.

It is my personal view, and I firmly believe it, that the murder of the Henry boys had nothing to do with politics, because they were not politicians. I do not believe it had anything to do with race, because they grew up in a multi- ethnic and multi-cultural society. It’s my humble view that it has nothing to do with either of that mentioned, as that young racist APNU-AFC political candidate and lawyer put it over to the public.

In Region 5, I can say we never had a racial problem that I know of. We live as a big family, and yes, we have our differences, but we live together. I, as an Indian, and many other Indians I know, would go to Number 5, Hopetown, Paradise, Ithaca, Belladrum, etc, and support the road corner food shops.

We would hang out there on weekends and so on. My African brothers and sisters would do the same in villages like Bath, Bush Lot, Cotton Tree, etc.

We would sit together, eat together, drink together, laugh together, mourn together, dance together; and never have I experienced any such racism that this one APNU-AFC young man started all because of political mileage and wanting political attention for himself and his party by using the death of those two innocent young men who were brutally murdered.

In fact, after the young lawyer used racism to start the unrest in Region 5, he was joined by, and his sentiments were echoed by, a few top-notch members of his party; and they also started to encourage the racism to spread. They never condemned the acts of unrest, but kept calling for more.

It has surprised me that those very APNU-AFC topnotch members are lawyers

and historians, and yet they didn’t tell the public that justice cannot be served in one day, in one week, or one month; but justice can be served only when a comprehensive and credible investigation has been done, so that the innocent do not have to pay for something they know nothing about.

No, they did not do that; they wanted justice in one day, and not less than one week, knowing it cannot happen that way. Why? It’s because they turned the murder into politics, knowing the political situation in Guyana, after they had to give up Government; and the truth is they took advantage of the situation by using racism, because those accused are Indians although Indians are supporters of different political parties.

I must say thanks to Volda Lawrence for coming out and showing the kind of leadership that the APNUAFC lacked by calling on the supporters of the coalition to stop the unwanted hostile behaviour against others, and for us to have peace in this dear land. Yes, Volda stopped the unrest caused by that young, immature PNC politician in Region 5, who was fully supported by many of the top leaders in the ANPN-UAFC. Volda ensured that the coalition supporters stopped their violent acts and behave in a manner that would see justice being served no matter what.

Thanks, Volda Lawrence.

So, if we are fighting for justice, don’t take the innocent people that are being accused because of their race and throw them into political bandwagons of destruction for selfish political gains, and make them punish innocently. The law is there, and the law also at times sends innocent people to jail, I am one of those people. There are processes that have to be followed in ensuring justice. There will be investigations that have to be done; but, yet again, can we trust the local Police to investigate anything? Because

some are incompetent in conducting investigations, and yes, again, they did it against me.

I call for justice for the Henry boys, for Haresh Singh, and for all who were innocently murdered and suffered acts of criminality committed against them. But please let’s not try to get justice by accusing the wrong people and allowing those that commit the acts to walk the road freely.

Let’s not force justice to happen because we have a political agenda, when innocent lives are being involved through accusations especially encouraged by politicians.

Justice must be served, and must be served in a timely manner; and those guilty of the act must face the consequences, not those innocent.

Brothers and sisters of Region 5, let’s not go down the road that some politicians want us to go by hating each other. We were never like that, and we should never be.

We can and must continue to show our love, and live as we use to before, as one, no matter what.

We must not allow a few narrow-minded people who are seeking political fame and game to lead us against each other; we were never like that before. We do have our differences at all times, but we never show the hate as we are doing now since the young lawyer started the racial tension. We must not allow it to ever happen again, no matter what. We must continue to live together, walk together, eat together, dine together, cry together, laugh together, and show our love that we once had for each other. We can only have justice if we are all in it together and allow the law to take its course, whereby the innocent do not have to pay.

Justice takes time, but will be served; if not here, it will be served by the Almighty.

Regards, Abel Seetaram Former Region 5 Councillor

Dear Editor, It may be difficult for those who believe that one must live in Guyana to appreciate what is taking place, but although that may have been true a few years ago, we who reside abroad are now kept abreast of daily developments by the newspapers coming out of Georgetown.

Truth be told, for the longest while there has been very little to give hope to Guyanese. What hope could there have been for citizens with the dailies full of news on oil exploitation being undertaken by foreign conglomerates; very little in terms of reducing unemployment; daylight robbery by gangs on bicycles and motorcycles; and insinuations of rampant corruption being the modus vivendi.

So it was a pleasure to read of City Hall, the wooden Gothic Revival building designed by Reverend Ignatius Scoles, over a century old, close to disrepair, but office of the Mayor and City Council in the centre of Georgetown; and of the capacity and offer of its restoration by a local timber and woodworking establishment, Bulkan Timber Works. It is an even greater pleasure knowing that the company is owned and operated by Guyanese, and has been mainly exporting its products for close to twenty-five years, as we learnt at the opening of the company’s showroom in Georgetown.

We have seen the restoration of similar wooden structures in Paramaribo, Suriname, and have often wondered what is the problem in Georgetown, Guyana.

Most of the wooden structures in Georgetown have given way to what can only be termed oblong or square concrete monstrosities, generally built wherever and however someone desires.

The impression is that those who make decisions on areas in the city where some of those buildings are erected have no regard for either the law, aesthetics or history. Le Repentir Cemetery has also been forgotten, a classic case of the disregard for aesthetics, the principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, of the almost forgotten Royal Palm Trees, and those who have gone before us and are reposed there.

I recall the days when the shape of City Hall was outlined by lights; it was, and can once again be, a tourist attraction. The Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Waldron, will no doubt do many things during her stint in that multiple capacity, but the restoration of City Hall would make her portfolio in Tourism something of which we can all be proud.

Our Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, who was also present at the opening, would no doubt appreciate what can be done with and by two of our many resources - wood and humans. We need to take up the offer of City Hall’s restoration by Bulkan Timber Works, and find the funding to so do.

Yours sincerely, Keith H Carter MD

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

Negative numbers Negative numbers are numbers that are less than zero. You identify them by adding a minus sign to the front of a number. So – 1 is 1 less than 0. – 35.5 is 35.5 less than 0.

(1) (– 4) + 4 =

(2) ( – 10) + 10 =

(3) (– 14) + 15 + 12 + (– 15) =

Example:

The

Exercises: Solve

(4) 50 + (– 50) = (5) (3 )/6 + (– (3 )/6) =

Mule

(6) 210 + 201 + ( – 210) + ( – 210) = Look at the number line. Notice that – 4 is four spaces to the left of 0 on the negative side. Also note that 4 is four spaces to the right of 0 on the positive side.

(7) 41 +( – 44) + 0 = (8) 79 + (4 )/8 + (–(4 )/8) + (– 79) =

Tuesday’s answers

The Property of Additive Inverses: When you add a negative number to its inverse (its exact opposite on the other side of the number line), (1) x = 10 the total is 0. For example, – 5 + 5 = 0.

(4) b = 1

Remember….

Zero (0) is neither positive nor negative.

Flower Powder POLLEN COLLECTORS

(7) p = 2.5

(2) y = 8

(3) p = 7.66

(5) n = –7

(6) z = – 1

(8) 6 = z

A

mule had had a long rest and much good feeding. He was feeling very vigorous indeed, and pranced around loftily, holding his head high.

“My father certainly was a full-blooded racer,” he said. “I can feel that distinctly.”

Next day he was put into harness again and that evening he was very downhearted indeed.

“I was mistaken,” he said. “My father was an ass after all.”

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt awards 100 contracts to small, new contractors

…big firms must not crowd out small contractors – Edghill

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he Government has said it would make an effort to ensure that small and new contractors get a chance to earn contracts for supply of goods and services. On Tuesday, it made good on that promise with the distribution of 100 contracts for sea defence, grass-cutting and clearing of road shoulders.

A ceremony was held at the Arthur Chung

Conference Centre that saw the Public Works Ministry contracting 100 small contractors. In his remarks at the ceremony, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill made it clear that these works are for the small contractors and not the big ones.

Moreover, he promised that the Government would repeat the process next year.

“Next year we will continue to exercise the same

facility. And we’re making it clear that the big contractors must not crowd out the small contractors in this aspect of our work. We want to make sure everybody is earning, so their families can have something themselves.

Guyana is big enough and the economic pie of Guyana must be shared by all of us,” Minister Edghill said.

The minister also encouraged those small contrac-

Ex-cop gets 14 years for killing security officer, GGMC engineer

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hirty-two-yearold Orin Arthur, of One Mile, Wismar, Linden, was on Tuesday slapped with a 14-year sentence for the murders of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) engineer Trevor Abrams and Sterling Products security officer Wilfred Stewart.

Arthur made a virtual appearance before Justice Navindra Singh and opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for both deaths.

In so doing, he admitted that on February 27, 2015, at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he unlawfully killed Abrams and on December 24, 2014, at Providence, EBD, he unlawfully killed Stewart during the course of, or after, a robbery.

He was also charged for illegal possession of 17 live rounds of .233 ammunition and 12 live rounds of .32 ammunition along with a .32 pistol. He also pleaded guilty to these charges.

On the other hand, Steven Prescott, called “Assassin”, 49, of Covent Garden, EBD, is currently on remand as he awaits his trial for Abrams' murder.

The State was represented

by Prosecutor Tyra Bakker while Arthur was represented by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd.

Trevor Abrams

Orin Arthur

It was reported that Abrams was shot at Little Diamond Public Road, EBD. After the shooting, Abrams attempted to drive to the Diamond hospital, but lost control of his vehicle and ended up in a nearby trench.

He was pulled from the trench and taken to the hospital, where he subsequently died while receiving medical attention.

Meanwhile, Stewart was gunned down when armed men stormed the compound of Sterling Products at Providence in December 2014. In court on Tuesday, Todd related that Arthur was the get-away driver and that he was following “bad company”.

According to Todd, his client has participated in many meaningful activities while incarcerated, adding that these activities have changed his life for the better.

In response, Prosecutor Bakker asked the Judge to let the sentence reflect the nature and gravity of the crimes committed. Bakker stressed that Abrams’ life was snuffed out for “a simple $5 million”.

A remorseful Arthur apologised to the relatives of the deceased. “I should have known better and said no, but I was young and dumb. I have regretted every day, thereafter, for my foulest actions.”

He further stated “I am willing to cooperate with the prosecution, the court, and the family to ensure that justice is served.”

Justice Singh sentenced Arthur to 14 years’ imprisonment after considering his early guilty plea. The Judge also ordered that the sentences run concurrently and that the prison authorities should deduct from the sentence, the time Arthur spent in pre-trial custody.

The small contractors gather for a group photo after signing their contracts. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill (second left) and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar (fifth right), are also in the photo

tors to produce work of high standard and to be competitive.

According to him, the work they do is important, and they must not see themselves as doing “small jobs, but see it as very important.

Do the work not just for the money, but for the country,” he exhorted.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, explained that the contracts comprised 45 lots for sea defence work and 55 lots for cleaning of road shoulders.

According to him, approximately 75 per cent of the contracts were given to completely new contractors.

He noted that Government has deliberately taken this step in order to provide employment to those in need, while at the same time cleaning up and improving the country.

Providing his estimation, he noted that these projects would create at least 500 new jobs.

“For some, this might be a simple thing. But for me and this Ministry, we believe it’s a big thing. To find a way to put 500 people back to work I think is a good start,” Indar informed the crowd of contractors.

The contracts were awarded by the Ministerial Tender Board, and the of-

ficial signing was done by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud.

In his remarks, Persaud urged the contractors to take pride in the delivery of the services as they work for the Government of Guyana and by extension for the people of Guyana.

“The Ministry expects that the works will be done in keeping with the standards; therefore, the contracting service must perform excellent to be recommended for future projects,” the PS said.

The contracts awarded are $70 million for weeding and the cleaning of road shoulders, and $29 million for river and sea defences.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Patentia man robbed by armed men

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he Police are on the hunt for two men who on Monday evening executed an armed robbery on a Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident.

The robbery was committed about 20:30h on Daniel Street, Patentia, by two males – one of whom was armed with a cutlass and the other, a knife.

Based on reports received, the victim, Junior Seecharran, 20, was walking along Daniel Street on his way home, conversing on his mobile phone when the two suspects approached him, placed the cutlass to his neck and demanded that he hand over

his mobile phone.

Out of fear for his life, Seecharran threw the phone on the roadway and the suspect who was armed with the knife picked up

same and instructed him to run.

Without hesitation, the victim ran home and subsequently contacted the Police. The Police in the

company of the traumatised victim visited the scene of robbery where they searched for anything of evidential value, but came up empty-handed.

The Police have since taken a report from the victim and are on the lookout for the two men who match the description provided.

Over the past day, several persons were relieved of their personal belongings by armed men. Only a week ago, Police in Berbice noted that there has been a surge in petty robberies and break-and-enterand-larceny throughout Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Crack...

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…crime sleuth? ack in the days of his (dissolute) youth, one of your Eyewitness’s vices was the voracious consumption of paperback detective crime novels. Hard boiled, crack crime sleuths like Mike Hammer filled (and fired!) his imagination as to how to crack those mysteries that stumped the (invariably) slow-witted “flatfoot” cops.

Two months after the gruesome murders of those three youths on WC Berbice - with the Police seemingly no closer to solving the case - your Eyewitness did wonder when we’ll be getting our own “Private Eyes”.

But yesterday, it would appear that another pulp fiction character jumped out from the pages of a slightly different genre to set matters right - Perry Mason! remember him? Yup…the criminal lawyer who, even though he had a private eye to dig up the dirt, was able to solve the most complex murders by simply thinking them through in his head. Well, our local Perry Mason called a press conference - virtually in these COVID times, of course - and if he’s to be believed, pretty much has the mystery cracked!!

In classic Perry Mason style, he walked us through the “facts” of the murder of the two Henry cousins. But even though he mentioned the Harish Singh murder and showed a slide of the latter’s relatives showing him the scene of young Harish’s murder, he didn’t get into any speculation on the perpetrators of Harish’s murder. Was that not a mystery?

There was one “fact” that our local Perry Mason (henceforth LPM) brought up, however, that your Eyewitness wondered about its relevance. He dwelled on the function that was held at Parade Ground in Georgetown - in front of hundreds that noticeably included the Opposition and their camp followers - supposedly to offer eulogies to the Henry boys, but which turned into a good old-fashioned political rally. LPM explicitly belaboured as he’d done at the original function - that several slaves had been beheaded on the grounds two hundred years ago. While your Eyewitness isn’t a lawyer, he’d read enough Perry Mason novels to conclude that our LPM was “leading” us to conclude that the Henry murders was in the same mould as the previous beheadings.

But were the murders solved by LPM? Not quite.

He did offer what he obviously though was a significant “clue” when he claimed that the paddy (he said “rice”) in the field next to where one of the bodies was found was harvested even though it wasn’t as “ripe” as other rice. He obviously was suggesting that this was done to “destroy the evidence”. And this person had been arrested and released.

Did LPM consider that rice fields are harvested in sequence from where the combine leaves the trail? …drug interceptors?

Recently in the news was the announcement that our Armed Forces have acquired four Bell helicopters to aid in the fight against drug smuggling. There was the incredulous figure of US$256M as their cost!! Even though the purchase had been made by the now (thankfully) departed profligate PNC Govt, that price could only be so if they were filled with the same drugs they were supposed to interdict!!

What was actually the case was that the copters were part of a military package of US$256M that the US Government had approved. These babies usually go for approximately US$12M a pop. Not exactly chicken feed, but certainly not US$256, which could have gotten us several Boeing 737s!! But what popped into your Eyewitness’s mind was: Whatever in the world did the PNC do with those five drones they’d bought for $180M? Weren’t they also supposed to interdict drug shipments?

Now that they’ve been made redundant (which they always were!), are they going to be handed to the state media to get some better overhead shots? …utopia creators Your Eyewitness mentioned those self-appointed “civil society” wags who proposed there must be “national consultations” on electoral reform to solve the ailments of our body politic.

But who diagnosed the ailment, to begin with?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After 2 months

CHEC submits deficient workplan for CJIA expansion

–“revised” workplan lacks original designs from contract

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onths after it was requested, China Harbour and Engineering Company (CHEC) has finally submitted a revised work plan for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion. But the revised workplan still does not meet the Public Works Ministry’s satisfaction.

This was revealed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in an interview with this publication. While the revised workplan was submitted by CHEC a few days ago, Edghill explained, it still lacks certain key components the Government wants included.

Among those components is the extension of the CJIA runway and an increase in capacity for eight standing aircraft.

Edghill questioned the efficacy of additional penalties against the contractor,

which was previously slapped with penalties amounting to US$7000 for every day the project was delayed.

“We don’t have a submission as yet before us that shows us we will get 17,005 square metres of new building, with capacity for eight standing aircraft and eight air bridges, completion of an extended runway, and facilities that you can call a modern CJIA. We have not seen that as yet, and that’s what we’re working towards,” Edghill explained.

“I don’t know that even penalties will (be effective), because the contract was so mismanaged by the David Granger administration that even if I want to charge liquidated damages the way it should be charged, I don’t have the money in the contract to get the refund. The monies have already been ex-

pended and the works are not done, and that’s part of the problem with this contract.”

Moreover, the Minister explained that the work plan CHEC submitted indicates that work will be extended into 2021.

“The submission does not satisfy what we were expecting. And it does not indicate that we will have a functional airport by December 31.

Everything is over to 2021, June 2021, and those are matters that are under consideration,” the Minister further explained.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had toured the CJIA expansion worksite back in September, when he read the Riot Act to the contractor, consultants and other officials.

Among his concerns had been the deviation from the terms agreed upon in what was a fixed-price, US$138 million

Injured: Devon Cromwell

everybody and sort it out and resolve it. He was a boy that used to talk to my son and so…. but I don’t know, like he was still baring a malice,” the woman related.

Greaves said that shortly after the shooting incident on Sunday morning, she made a report at the Rumiveldt Police Station, but has been getting the royal run-around.

“They keep pushing me around, telling me to go and come back, go and come back; and I told them that this guy goes to Suriname…and I got a message that he is heading straight to there,” Greaves said.

In light of this, the aggrieved mother is calling on the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to act swiftly in apprehending the man who shot her son.

Attempts to get a comment from the Police on the issue proved futile.

Albouystown man critical after being shot in abdomen

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30-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot twice to the abdomen at Victoria Street Albouystown, Georgetown on Sunday last.

The injured man has been identified as Devon Cromwell of Cooper Street Albouystown, Georgetown.

While information about the shooting incident remains sketchy, the man’s mother, Shannon Greaves, told Guyana Times on Tuesday that she was at home at about 2:00h on Sunday when she was informed that her son had been shot and injured.

“While I was sleeping, I heard somebody was shouting for, ‘Upstairs! Upstairs!’, but I didn’t answer because I was living upstairs. The person left and come back, and then I hear they calling for, ‘Shannon!’ and they said, ‘Come fast! Look, your son get shoot up and lay down on the road”, the mother noted.

Without hesitation, the woman noted, she grabbed her granddaughter and went to the scene, where she saw her son lying in a pool of

blood. “When I go, he look at me and said Keisel shoot he”, she explained.

The injured man was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was admitted a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (Unit). The alleged shooter remains on the run.

The woman further explained that her son and the shooter have an old grievance that dates back six to seven years.

“They had an issue about six or seven years ago, but they overcome it. Was another son and these boys had a problem, but the father call

contract.

CHEC was therefore tasked with submitting a revised workplan that included the original design, such as facilities for eight air bridges, an extended runway, taxiways, and aprons with capacity for eight standing aircraft.

Additionally, it was expected that CHEC would make provision for the reconstruction, not renovation, of the terminal building. It was also expected that the company would have submitted this work plan within five days of August 28.

The project was supposed to have been completed since December 31, 2018 under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, but has now been taken over by the PPP/C Government in an incomplete and downgraded state.

In fact, the Granger-led APNU/AFC Administration had settled for a denigrat-

ed design while paying more than the allocated $150 million.

It was highlighted that the current coronavirus pandemic would not be used as an excuse, since the GCAA would facilitate a flight to have the China Harbour employees return to complete the works they had left pending.

For now, once the materials and human resources are present, the construction can resume. The contracting firm has already been appraised via letters of the corrective or remedial works that need to be done.

When the coalition Government came into power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but after discussions between former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and CHEC, it was later announced that the project would be continued but a number of downgrades were done to the design.

Some $138 million of the

allocated costs was funded by the EXIM (Export-Import) Bank of China, while $12 million was spent by the Guyana Government. It was not expected to surpass that sum, but Guyana had to stand additional expenses.

The CJIA, in its downgraded design expansion, has four less air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures than the initial eight; a 450-seat departure area; escalators and elevators; in addition to an incomplete extended runway, which was supposed to measure 400 and 690 metres at the respective ends.

An old terminal building that was marked for cargo was revamped, and only one of the new sections was built.

Meanwhile, a new apron that was supposed to support the additional four air bridges is non-existent. There is also no space for enough duty-free shops, restaurants, car rentals and other facilities.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCB teens' murders

Police offer $3M reward for info ‌families continue to call for justice

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ore than two months after the gruesome murders of three teenagers in West Berbice, the Guyana Police Force is now offering $3 million to

anyone who has information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the killers.

On September 6, the badly mutilated bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found

in the backlands at West Coast Berbice (WCB) after they left their Number Three Village home to pick coconuts but did not return. Then on September 9, 2020, 17-year-

old Haresh Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands in what was dubbed as a retaliatory killing.

The Police have since been actively investigating and exploring the possibilities, but it seems as though they are get-

ting nowhere. In what is now being touted as a last straw initiative, the Police are offering a $3 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Any person or persons with information that could lead to the perpetrator(s) being con-

victed is/are invited to please contact the GPF on the following telephone numbers: 225-6411, 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-1326, 225-2227, 225-3650, 225-7625, 227-1149, 232-0291, 232-0213, 330-2222, 911, or the nearest Police Station.

TURN TO PAGE 15

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 deaths …death toll at 130 with 7 new cases

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he Health Ministry on Tuesday informed that two more deaths from COVID-19 has been reported. This takes the death toll from the pandemic to 130.

According to the ministry latest fatalities were reported as a 77-year-old female from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and a 92-year-old man from Region One (Barima-Waini).

These persons died while receiving care at a medical facility. They would have been admitted upon testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

For the month of November, there has been four deaths thus far. Two persons had succumbed on Monday - a 74-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 57-year-old man from Region One. Meanwhile, seven new cases were detected in one day, raising the total confirmed cases to 4245. Some 2241 males and 2004 females have contracted the virus thus far.

There are nine persons in the Intensive Care Unit, 73 persons in institutional isolation, 712 on home isolation and 32 in institutional quarantine. The number of recovered cases is 3320 and active cases stand at 826.

A breakdown of new cases show that one new cases was detected in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and six in Region Four.

The cases in Regions One, Two, Five (Mahaica-

Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Nine (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has remained at 720, 80, 1983, 30, 75, 377, 138, 376, and 144 respectively.

To date, Guyana has facilitated testing for 20,331 persons.

Vaccines

During the daily update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony noted that the rush continues to obtain a vaccine. As of now, over 200 vaccines are in the pre-clinical stage while another amount is in the clinical stage.

“Most people believe that getting the vaccine would help us to exit the pandemic. My understanding is that there is close to 203 different types of vaccines that are being development. They’re various stages of development so quite a lot of them are in the pre-clinical stage,” he shared.

In the clinical stages, there are also different stages. Right now, approximately nine to 12 vaccines are in the phase three trials. Dr Anthony says this is where the focus should be.

“These are the ones that we have to look at because those that are in Phase Three trials, if they’re successful, then the next step would be to greenlight them for people to start manufacturing them.”

With several candidates showing promise in their bid to create a COVID-19

vaccine, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has taken the lead to procure and supply the injections, as part of the global plan of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX).

In addition, UNICEF will also serve as procurement coordinator to support procurement by 80 higher-income economies, which have expressed their intent to participate in the COVAX Facility and would finance the vaccines from their own public finance budgets. The COVAX Facility is open to all countries to ensure that no country is left without access to a future COVID-19 vaccine.

UNICEF has undertaken these efforts in close collaboration with the World Health Organisation/ Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) and other partners.

Twelve Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Member States have signed agreements with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance to access vaccines when they become available. CARPHA is assisting seven of these Member States with the down payment. Guyana is among a list of countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St Lucia, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines that automatically qualify to access the Vaccine Alliance.

COVID-19 facility Speaking on the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, it was announced that the facility will be operational within a week,

Businessman jailed for 10 years after killing man who turned in front of his home

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Dead: Collin Perriera

obert Benn, a businessman of Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for the killing of 25-year-old Collin Perreira which took place on August 24, 2016.

The dead man’s fiancée, Gail Ann Chacon was also injured in the shooting incident.

Benn, a licensed firearm holder, was also slapped with an attempted murder charge.

During Tuesday’s hearing before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court, Benn opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and also pleaded

Injured: Gail Ann Chacon

guilty to the attempted murder of Chacon.

As such, Justice Singh sentenced Benn to six and a half years on the manslaughter charge and an additional four years on the attempted murder charge.

Justice Singh ordered that the sentences run concurrently. As a result, Benn will spend the next six years in prison, taking into consideration the fact that he has already spent four years waiting for his trial.

It was reported that Perreira, called “Malcolm”, formerly of 213 Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was driving a heavily tinted motor car, with Chacon seated

Manslaughter convict: Robert Benn

in front.

Police had reported that the now dead man attempted to turn around his vehicle in front of Benn’s residence. Benn, who was reportedly in his yard, whipped out his licensed firearm and discharged several rounds at the vehicle which hit Benn.

Benn was charged based on advice given by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack. The businessman was represented by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd while Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker presented the prosecution’s case.

easing the strain on the Georgetown Public Hospital as patients will be transferred.

“By the end of the week,

we should have substantially completed the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facilities there and then we will start the process of transferring

patients across to that facility,” the Minister said.

Presently, the facility’s ICU is equipped to treat between 25 and 29 patients.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 causes labour shortage, income loss for farmers – Caricom report on Guyana

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he Agriculture Ministry joined forces with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO) to conduct an assessment in terms of the current pandemic in measuring the impact and response to COVID-19 on Guyana’s food systems.

COVID-19 has raised concerns about food security for governments and development partners throughout the world. As such, throughout July and

August, the assessment was conducted and presented in a final report with data obtained via an online survey.

The respondents varied from 167 agriculture ex-

tension officers, 741 farmers and fishers, 88 vendors and 116 food traders.

Participants were drawn from all ten administrative regions of Guyana.

“The main areas of focus were on production activities and the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, vendors of agricultural inputs, and food traders to assess income or production losses; inputs, marketing and supply chain difficulties, and shifts in food consumption choices,” the Agriculture Ministry explained.

Key findings showed that a majority of the farmers and fisherfolks reported a reduction in overall income from May to July compared to the same period last year, while livestock farming respondents revealed production difficulties with access to feed, supply chain, and processing and retail, or market issues.

“Fisherfolk and extension officers informed of difficulties to market fish, decreased prices, and other concerns and restrictions related to COVID-19,” the statement said.

Stakeholders have also indicated a noticeable decline in employment of daily or seasonal agricultural labourers, the number of market traders operating on a regular basis, hiring of vehicles to transport agriculture produce and livestock, and daily market labour wage rate.

“These challenges to the food system regarding sales were mainly due

to COVID-19 business restrictions, since producers and consumers were unable to access markets or shops. Some effects on food access were the closure of food shops, transport limitations, or lost wages.

Overall, the reduction of income, access to markets, and other difficulties within the food system varied differently across the ten administrative regions.

Limited availability of certain foods was also widely reported, while in some instances there were changes in demand.”

Other woes highlighted shared that persons have consumed less quantities of nutritious foods because ‘there was not enough food or money to feed household members.’

The majority of farmers and fisher respondents have asked for some form of livelihood assistance, which can include cash assistance, seeds, fertilisers, animal feeds, and pesticides. All of these were also identified by the extension officers with the addition of marketing support.

“The impacts of COVID-19 unfolded on top of different shocks, such as heavy rains and floods, outbreak of pests and diseases, and dry spell/drought. This assessment also documented the systemic nature of disaster risk and establishes the need for building resilience of the agriculture sector against multiple hazards and risks — both familiar and unfamiliar,” the Ministry also outlined. (G12)

news@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

13

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Importers selling unlicensed products to be prosecuted – GA-FDD …imported brewed beverages without labels will be seized

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n a bid to ensure that unlicensed or smuggled commodities are not sold on the Guyanese market, the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Administration (GA-FDD) on Tuesday warned importers and distributors of the labelling requirements attached to brewed products.

Brewed beverages constitute beer, stout, shandy and malt products. For such products to meet the standards for importation, GAFDD Director Marlan Cole indicated, via a press release, importers, distributors, wholesalers, supermarkets and retailers should ensure that the labels of all products imported into Guyana include name and address of the local importer or distributor, among other requirements.

This is in keeping with the laws of Guyana – Food and Drug Act, Chapter 34:03, Section 18 and the Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Regional Standard (CRS 40:201X) on labelling of brewed products. Imported beer, stout, shandy or malt products that are non-compliant with this labelling requirement will be refused entry into Guyana.

In addition, manufacturers of local products must be able to furnish a copy of their No Objection Letter in cases of cottage indus-

of the requirements.

In September 2020, the GA-FDD acquired international accreditation of its Inspectorate Division. The International Standard Organisation (ISO) 17020 achievement was conferred by the American Association for Laboratory

Products without correct labelling (GA-FDD photos)

try or a valid Licence to Manufacture issued by the GA-FDD to ply their trade at wholesale and retail outlets in Guyana.

Businesses were informed that inspectors of the GA-FDD will be enforcing these requirements along with Environmental Officers (Sanitary Inspectors) in the regions and municipalities. Legal proceedings will be taken against those who are guilty of non-compliance.

“Failure of Importers, Distributors, Supermarkets, Wholesalers and Retailers to ensure compliance with all the above requirements will see enforcement proceeding and legal action being taken against non-compliant commodities found in their possession and or their businesses being placed before

the courts in accordance with the laws of Guyana – Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03., for trading in unlicensed products or improperly labelled imported brewed products,” Cole stated These measures are being taken in the best interest of consumers to ensure unlicensed or smuggled commodities that may have been manufactured, processed, transported, stored, or were exposed to unfavourable and insanitary conditions are not released for sale on local markets.

Using such products can put consumers at risk, exposing them to the inherent dangers associated with food fraud.

Letters have already been dispatched to importers and distributors across the regions, informing them

Husband, wife perish in Eccles fire following domestic dispute

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he charred remains of a husband and wife were on Tuesday evening removed from a bed room in the upper flat of their Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home.

The house was reportedly set alight by the husband following a heated argument with his wife at about

tered the house. Then the place went silent. Soon after however, a neighbour observed smoke bellowing from the house and immediately summoned the Guyana Fire Service.

There were reports that gunshots were heard prior to the fire. However, upon the arrival of the fire fight-

Dead: Leeroy King

The home that was set on fire resulting in the deaths of the couple

21:30h.

The dead couple has been identified as 35-year-old Cindy Moses and 34-yearold Leeroy King of Lot 1139 Second Phase Eccles, EBD. Based on reports received, the two were heard arguing in their yard upon returning home. The argument continued as they en-

ers, the upper flat of the house was already engulfed in flames.

Speaking with the Guyana Times at the scene, the dead woman’s brother, Anthony Moses explained that the couple recently constructed the house and was expected to take up full residency this weekend.

He added that he spoke with his now dead sister hours before the tragic incident. He described his sister as very private and could not tell if the couple had previous fights. Further, the brother posited that he received a call from a cousin who informed him that the couple’s house was on fire and it suspected the they were trapped inside.

The couple has been together for the past two years. He is father of three from a previous relationship and he operated a barber shop in Diamond, EBD. Moses on the other hand operated a saloon and a printery also located in Diamond.

Meanwhile, up to press time, the charred bodies were still to be removed from the burnt house. An investigation is underway.

Accreditation (A2LA). The accreditation scope included inspection, sampling and product destruction for food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices.

The Department at that time stated that the importation of substandard food, drugs, cosmetics and med-

ical devices would be an occurrence of the past. It posited that document submissions and all requirements must now be met, and there would be no compromising of its system, which would have a negative impact on its accreditation.

Education Ministry gets 50,000 face masks

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&S Algoo, a licensed customs brokerage service, and AMS Investment, a procurement company, have partnered and donated 50,000 disposable face masks to the Education Ministry.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, N&S ALGOO Finance Director Sabrina Algoo said that with schools set to reopen for some students this coming Monday, the two companies saw the need to play their part in ensuring the safety and well-being of students.

Algoo said that as a mother of a school-aged child, she wanted all the students to remain safe and healthy while at school, since she wanted the same for her child. In addition, the Finance Director said that the donation will bring some financial ease to parents who would have had to purchase these.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Ministry, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said that they were truly grateful for the donation, which would assist

Education Minister Priya Manickchand receiving the 50,000 masks from N&S ALGOO and AMS Investment

in ensuring students remain safe while at school. In addition, Minister Manickchand said that the donation meant that the Ministry now has 50,000 fewer masks to source and commended

the two companies for their benevolence.

Also present were Managing Director of N&S ALGOO, Nandalall Algoo and AMS Investment representative Su Riu Hui.

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GHDS to host activities GTT donates Pinktober in observance of Diwali bottles to NGOs – virtual motorcade set for November 13

One of the floats at last year’s motorcade

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he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) will be hosting a number of activities leading up to the observance of Diwali 2020 slated for November 14.

All the activities have been planned with COVID-19 restrictions in mind.

The first event is set to take place on Thursday, November 5 at 17:30h at the Seawall Roundabout with the lighting of a dazzling structure of diyas which will brighten the area each night until Diwali.

The short cultural programme will include music and songs and the ceremonial switching-on of the lights of the beautiful multi-diya structure.

The event will be streamed on the Sabha’s Facebook page and broadcast live via E-Networks and other channels. This event is referred to as “Deep Jale”.

In addition, there will be the virtual rangoli competition which will feature creative pieces at the entranc-

es of homes and businesses to welcome Maha Lakshmi.

Persons are asked to submitting three photos of their designs, them making the rangoli, and the finished rangoli to the Sabha’s Facebook page. These will be judged by the public and prizes will be awarded. The competition is open to all.

However, for the first time in 46 years, the Sabha will be presenting a virtual Diwali motorcade showcasing spectacular floats and featuring outstanding local and international artistes in a two-and-a-half-hour live concert. This is set for Friday, November 13 commencing at 20:30h.

Live performances will be done by Ben Parag, Purnash Durgaprasad, Vishale Sookram, Suchitra Rampersaud, Artie Sookhai-Khellawan, all of whom are based in New York along with Neval Chatelall of Trinidad and Tobago.

The other performers are Suraj Singh, Ganindra, Sonya Ragbeer, Sookrane

Boodhoo, Mona Gowkaran, Rekha Ranglall, Richie Hansraj and Nayakumari Roopram.

There will also be fabulous dance performances

by Dharmic Nritya Sangh and others. The programme will be aired on E-Networks Channel E3; National Communications Network (NCN); National Television Network (NTN) and the Sabha’s social media page.

Finally, the grand lightup on the evening of Diwali.

The Sabha is urging all to light up their homes and businesses with traditional diyas and the modern touch of electrical light as we seek to dispel darkness in all its forms.

The public is encouraged to send photos of their houses and the best will be featured on the Sabha’s TV programmes and Facebook page.

The Sabha reiterated to the Hindu community to perform Lakshmi Puja at homes and in mandirs while observing the COVID-19 guidelines.

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The Cancer Society of Guyana receives its donation of bottles

s GTT wrapped up its annual Pinktober activities for the month of October, the company, over the last weekend, distributed 200 Pinktober bottles to three of its partnering Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Oncology Unit also received a donation when the Giving Hope Foundation, the Guyana Cancer Institute and the Perwinkle Cancer Club did.

“This is another way of us extending our gratitude to these NGOs for their continued collaboration with us during Pinktober. We want them to know that we appreciate their efforts in spread-

A representative of Giving Hope Foundation receiving the donation

ing cancer awareness and providing care to patients across Guyana,” GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens noted.

Head of the Giving Hope Foundation, Dr Latoya Gooding acknowledged GTT for its generous donation, while pledging her organisation’s continued support for promoting early detection and providing full support to cancer patients in Guyana.

“We are grateful for the timely donation of 50 bottles for our cancer patients and survivors. Over the years, GTT has been supporting our cancer patients and survivors with sponsorship of radiotherapy treatment, CT scans, etc. Not only does GTT provide mon-

etary support but during the month of October, they provide care packages and other mental health support for those affected by cancer,” Dr Gooding stated.

The GTT Pinktober Coordinator noted that the company would be donating another 100 Pinktober bottles to the Berbice and Linden Cancer Institutes over the next weekend.

While the month of October has ended, GTT took the opportunity to encourage persons to continue to donate to the Pinktober Fund.

“Donations can be made at any time to MMG+ merchant code 07693. A donation can help save a life,” Gittens noted.

NEWS

15

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Region 10 Chairman assesses Linden flood situation New Irfaan Ali-led I Government blazing blistering development pace

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he PPP, in its 2020 election campaign, deliberately omitted a 100-day plan. Instead, the party and its Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, spoke of priorities the new Government would focus on. It has barely been three months since the new President took office, but the Government has been on a blistering pace as it pursues its development plan.

Already, the Irfaan Ali-led PPP Government has distributed more house lots than the Granger-led APNU+AFC Government did in five years, and would be distributing 2,500 house lots before the end of 2020. It has advanced plans for constructing the new Demerara River Bridge, and made serious moves to get the Corentyne River Bridge project with Suriname going.

It has aggressively advanced the Ogle-Bypass and Dr Leslie Ramsammy Sheriff Street By-pass roads, the new four-lane highway connecting Canals Polder with Parika, the Linden-Lethem Road, and reconstruction of the Linden Highway. The new Government has kept its promise to reopen the sugar estates, with preliminary steps already taken to reopen LBI-Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates.

While operationalising the Ocean View Hospital, it has taken steps to have new hospitals constructed at Suddie, West Demerara, and Bartica.

At the same time, the new Irfaan Ali-led Government has reversed many of the burdensome taxes imposed by the previous Government, such as VAT on water and electricity, and dozens of other taxes that were introduced. It has made provision to provide school children with a $15,000 per child cash grant, and has already been distributing $25,000 COVID-19 cash support for every family.

It has also made provision to provide $150M in risk allowances for health workers, and has already increased old-age pension.

This is just a small listing of the many things the new Irfaan Ali-led Government has accomplished in a blistering pace. Looking at what the new Government has done so far begs the question: Why did the Granger-led Government fail so miserably? Guyana suddenly did not have more land to give out for house lots. It is the same land space. But because the PPP-Government has a serious commitment for every family to own their own home, it takes development and distribution of house lots as a contract with the citizens. Guyana suddenly does not have more money.

In fact, the new Irfaan Ali-led Government inherited a country with a weakened financial platform compared to what APNU+AFC inherited in 2015. Why then, and how come the new PPP Government is able to remove taxes and still provide more support for families? How come the new Government is able to advance major, critical infrastructure projects?

The explanation is simple - the new Government is genuinely interested in the development of the country, genuinely interested in improving the lives of the citizens. It is not a Government looking to create the "good life" for the members of its own families, its friends and donors.

In contrast, the APNU+AFC Government's focus was mostly on scamming the people. This is the reason we now have projects for which millions were paid out and the projects are just sitting there.

Two schools, at a contract cost of more than $1.2B, were awarded to two contractors, millions were paid out, but after two years, little to nothing has been accomplished. The Ministry of Health's headquarters was awarded for a contract cost of almost $400M, a significant part of that was provided as mobilisation funds, but the work has been at a standstill. A contract for sea defence was given out for hundreds of millions, and almost nothing was done.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport project started under the PPP; it is still not completed today. This has been the story of the APNU+AFC Government.

But it is the startling revelation of APNU+AFC's corrupt land deals that now is arousing anger among the Guyanese people. The Bond-Gate land deals have left Guyanese with their mouths open.

These were brazen land-grabbing transactions that benefited a few, but robbed a whole nation. Dozens of acres were given away for less than the cost of a loaf of bread. A five-acre piece of land, appraised conservatively at a cost of more than $150M, was sold to a group which paid only $2.4M and still was able to gain title to the land.

Space does not allow this column to list all the ugly land deals that the previous APNU+AFC Government corruptly gave away.

Reflecting that Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington were charged for selling land for more than $25M per acre, with the claim they should have gotten more, one wonders why should people not face charges for the giveaways that occurred over the last few years.

The new Government has not paused to deal with simply correcting the wrongs that were done over the last five years. It has hit the ground running, moving the country forward. The Opposition is busy finding ways to distract the Government, but President Irfaan Ali has not allowed them to distract him. The Government is too busy making Guyana stronger and better. It is not yet 100 days, but the Government has already kept many of its promises.

n light of flash flooding in areas across Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday, Regional Chairman Deron Adams has visited affected communities and assessed the situation.

Following the visits, the Regional Chairman noted serious concerns over the integrity of the bauxite tailings dyke at Kara Kara, Mackenzie which he noted were communicated to bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI).

Adams also noted that the outfall has overtopped and started to erode the road in the vicinity of the Kara Kara Bridge.

Further, the Regional Chairman indicated that he reached out to Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell; National Drainage and

of the start of the rainy season.

He also pointed to the need for the clearing of creeks and outfalls at Wismar in an effort to alleviate the flooding being ex-

perienced by the community.

Intense rainfall which lasted several hours on Monday led to flooding of the Central Mackenzie area and other parts of the community. Vendors of the Mackenzie Market and those along Republic Avenue, and Greenheart and Pine Streets were adversely affected.

Residents in areas such as Silvertown, Second Alley and other parts of Linden also suffered as a result of floodwaters. Vendors have since made the call for the relevant authorities to re-assess culverts at Central Mackenzie and for better drainage and irrigation practices. Both the Mayor and Regional Chairman have promised to garner support for residents affected by the flood.

(Utamu Belle)

ceeding along the Buck Hall trail, and was descending while the pickup was heading in the opposite direction.

It is alleged that the pickup ended up in the path of the truck, and this caused the

collision resulting in Dennis Lucas and John Hendricks sustaining injuries about their bodies.

They were picked up by the drivers of both vehicles in a conscious state and taken to the Buck Hall Landing, where they were placed in a speed boat and taken to Suddie Hospital, where they have been admitted.

Dennis Lucas is being treated for fractures to both feet, while Hendricks has sustained a fractured right shoulder. Their condition is regarded as stable.

An investigation has been launched into the accident.

A flooded street in Linden, Region 10

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) officials; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in an effort to collaborate on finding solutions to the impact

2 injured in Buck Hall 2-vehicle collision

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wo men have been seriously injured following a two-vehicle collision on Sunday along the Buck Hall Road, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The injured men have been identified as Dennis Lucas, 52, and John Hendricks, 49, both of Moruca, Region One. They were reportedly travelling in a pickup bearing registration number GRR 9660 and driven by Alvin Bissoon of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The other vehicle that

was involved in the accident was motor lorry GXX 9462 driven by Pritam Singh of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

Based on reports received, the truck was pro-

Police offer $3M reward for...

Calls for justice

Meanwhile, attorney for the families of Joel and Isaiah Henry, Nigel Hughes, held a press conference on Tuesday, where the call for justice was reiterated and he made certain revelations about the case. In relation to the Police announcement of a reward, Hughes said it is indicative of their failure to garner enough evidence to successfully solve the murders.

Hughes said that at the time when the boys left their home, Joel Henry was wearing a pair of short denim trousers, but when his body was discovered he was clad in a different pair of pants.

The attorney noted that the family informed the Police of this, but the trousers did not form part of the list of evidence sent to Saint Lucia for DNA analysis and testing.

Hughes said he had spoken to the investigators in relation to the trousers, and while they did not explicitly confirm that the pants were not subjected to DNA analysis, based on his history of interactions with the Police, he concluded that the pants were not so subjected.

A senior officer attached to the investigations subsequently told this publication that the pants were not a part of the list of samples

sent to Saint Lucia for analysis.

Argentine Forensic Team

Hughes and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) have since reached out to the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (Equipo Argentino de Antropologia ForensicaEAAF) - the world’s foremost agency in forensic anthropology - to assist with the investigation. The Team has offered to send to Guyana a team that includes a forensic pathologist, a forensic anthropologist and a forensic radiologist.

Hughes has further explained that his Law Firm and the GHRA wrote to Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, to see whether the Government would facilitate the team in Guyana, but they are yet to receive a response.

Additionally, Gladston Henry – father of Isaiah – said that President Dr Irfaan Ali has indicted to them that Caricom has reached out to the Argentine team, but did not commit to facilitating them.

The Caricom Regional Security Service (RSS) team recently departed Guyana after they came to assist the Police with the investigation. The team made recom-

mendations for more investigation, but overall expressed their confidence in the ability of the Guyana Police Force to solve the case.

The five-member team was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police and comprised officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS). It was in Guyana for one week and departed on October 6. The team has since completed its report and handed it over to the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The findings of the RSS investigation have not been released to the public.

The butchered bodies of the Henry teens were found in clumps of bushes and partially covered in mud after relatives went in search of them on August 6.

Post-mortem examinations conducted revealed that the teenagers died from haemorrhage and shock.

The murders sparked widespread protest action, particularly along the West Coast Berbice corridor, with persons blocking the roads and burning debris while calling for justice.

The situation escalated as protesters blocked traffic along the WCB roadway while robbing, beating and extorting innocent commuters. Millions of dollars were

FROM PAGE 10

also lost as vehicles went up in flames.

As the unrest continued, 17-year-old Haresh Singh of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was found dead hours after he had left home on his motorcycle to attend his family’s farm in the backdam.

The teen was found by relatives bleeding through his nose and had wounds to his head, ears, neck and hands. According to the family, there was also an “X” on his neck. They then rushed the 17-year-old to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but he succumbed on the way.

It has been suspected that Singh’s murder was in retaliation for the deaths of Isaiah and Joel Henry, since one of his close relatives was among those arrested after the cousins’ murder.

Meanwhile, Police have established that 16-year-old Isaiah and 19-year-old Joel Henry were murdered in one location, and their bodies were then transported to the coconut estate on which they were discovered.

Contacted on Tuesday for a comment on the RSS report, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said he did not have any comment. He, however, stated that Police are still pursuing various leads.

(G2)

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Orealla-Siparuta residents COVID-19 has severely impacted receive COVID-19 cash grant lives of Guyanese – psychotherapist

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pproximately $8.1 million has been distributed to residents of the community of Orealla and Siparuta in the Upper reaches of the Corentyne River under the Government's COVID-19 relief programme.

This relief cash grant was given to residents of the two Amerindian communities on Monday and Tuesday. The countrywide exercise started late September in Region One (Barima-Waini), and was rolled out in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on October 13.

To date, some 53,111 households in Region 6 have received the $25,000 cash grant, and in excess of $1 billion has been expended.

In Orealla, 229 households have benefited, while in Siparuta, 98 families have benefited.

Meanwhile, according to Coordinator Zamall Hussain, the project recommenced on Tuesday in New Amsterdam.

“We are closing off the COVID relief in Region Six, so we don’t have much more to do, just New Amsterdam, which includes Angoy’s Avenue,” he explained.

Mount Sinai has a population of more than 15,000, but has many extended families and buildings in which people are subletting.

Hussain is optimistic that the exercise can be completed early next week, as another riverine community is yet to be reached.

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grant. Those were the ones who gave us the information from the various villages. Maybe some persons still got through, because (in) some areas we did not get the cooperation; but I think we did an excellent job in terms of the distribution,” Hussain said.

He explained that in cases where persons were not at home when the team visited, arrangements are being made to accommodate them.

The cash grants are being distributed to HOUSEHOLDS, and not to every family.

Where there are two or more households in a building, the principal householder is given the grant while the other households are being asked to fill up a ‘pink form’ which will be sent to the Presidential Secretariat for verification.

Those persons will be receiving their grants at the end of the current countrywide exercise.

s the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, Guyanese clinical psychotherapist and life coach, Shane Mark Tull, believes the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Guyanese both mentally and emotionally.

The psychotherapist recalled that Guyana has long struggled to address the issues of depression and suicide, and as a clinician with expertise in mental health, he wants to bring a specific competency to addressing these issues.

Tull explained that over the past six months, the world has changed, it will have to adapt to the new measures that would guarantee peoples’ safety during the trying times. However, with this new change, it will have a social impact, especially in Guyana.

“Guyanese are so accustomed to being out and about, and having to be home with your kids can lead to a lot of anxiety for anyone that is dealing with that. Think about a single mother who would have to work from home, home school the kids, and do everything else, that can be anxiety-provoking for anyone,” he explained.

Tull stated that with all the pressure that comes with COVID-19, there have been an escalation in alcoholism, in the consumption of drugs or prescriptions pills, and people are getting into more arguments with their signif-

case to the jury for deliberation on a verdict. As such, Thomas is expected to know his fate on Thursday.

It was reported that on April 30, 2016, Thomas murdered Singh during the course/furtherance of a robbery. It was reported that Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice – to his head and hip. The bullet to his head was fired at close range, and may have been the fatal shot.

Media reports at the time stated that Singh was

talking to someone on his mobile phone when he was attacked and stabbed.

In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him. A scuffle ensued, and it was then that the suspect discharged two rounds at Singh.

Reports were that as the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped. Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Rita Romalho collected her COVID-19 relief cash on behalf of her household of seven in Orealla

“During the course of the week, we will be going into Baracara to do the COVID relief distribution,” he explained.

Hussain has related that the distribution process in the region did not go as smoothly as had been anticipated.

“We have had people trying to impersonate two families, where the husband wants to collect and the wife wants to collect. We also had instances where persons went to houses which are abandoned. Some of them actually carry clothes and furniture at the house, but because of the vigilance of the team working on the ground and doing the verification, we were able to identify those persons,” the coordinator explained.

He also expressed appreciation for the vigilance of the many persons who pointed out such cases of impersonation.

“I want to thank the people who supported the

Prosecution to lead closing arguments in fuel dealer’s murder trial

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he prosecution will today present its closing arguments in the trial of Curt Thomas, who is being accused of the 2016 murder of fuel dealer Seetram Singh.

On Tuesday, the final witnesses, Rajmohan Autar and the mother of the accused, were cross-examination by Thomas’s Attorney

Guyanese clinical psychotherapist and life coach, Shane Mark Tull

icant other.

“Within my clinical experience, a lot of persons are on the verge of breaking up… just the fact that our lives have been halted in such a drastic way and so suddenly, I think that has definitely increased out anxiety,” he explained.

Tull added that the fear of not knowing when the pandemic will be over, and with a lot of misleading information on social media, can also add to the anxiety.

“People are just tired and they are fed up, that’s why they get back out and stop wearing masks, and they do whatever they want to do.

We should do everything to

advise against that, because research have shown that when you wear masks, the disease will not spread,” he explained.

In order to protect one’s self from being mentally affected during the pandemic, Tull suggests, Guyanese should spend more time interacting with their families, and maybe getting out of the house for some fresh air.

In terms of persons in the medical field who might be affected mentally by the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctor Tull suggests a session to allow them to sit and ventilate their feelings.

He posited that once someone can ventilate their feelings, it would be easier to address the issues affecting them.

Tull added that at this juncture, health care workers should be encouraged and given credit for their bravery and dedication in battling the pandemic.

Finally, the Doctor said that though the pandemic has brought about challenges, it has contributed to an increase in humanity, and has brought family and friends together.

“This is our new normal, and we just have to encourage each other to be patient and see how we can all manage this together,” he said.

Truck topples as Tiger Creek bridge collapses

and by State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker.

When the matter comes up for hearing today, the court will entertain closing addresses from the prosecution and from the defence.

Trial Judge Navindra Singh will also sum up the evidence before putting the

The truck in the creek after the bridge collapsed on Tuesday

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he main access bridge at Tiger Creek, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) reportedly collapsed while a truck belonging to Brian Tiwari was crossing on Tuesday.

Based on reports received, at about 12:45h on Tuesday, motor lorry GYY 2075, driven by Everette Panton, 43, of Lima, Essequibo Coast, was cross-

ing the bridge when the structure collapsed, causing the truck to turn turtle.

At the time, the truck was empty, and the driver was the only occupant.

He escaped unhurt, and workers attached to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were deployed to the area to facilitate repairs to the bridge, since it is one of the most used bridges in the region.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Trump leads Biden in must-win Florida, race close in other battlegrounds

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resident Donald Trump was leading Democratic rival Joe Biden in the vital battleground state of Florida on Tuesday, while other competitive swing states that will help decide the election, including North Carolina, remained up in the air.

The two contenders split the early US states to be projected in the White House race as expected, with conservative states like Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee going to Trump and Democratic-leaning Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut going to Biden, according to projections by television networks and Edison Research.

But none of the approximately dozen battleground states that will decide the race had been settled as polls

against the spread of the coronavirus, streamed into polling places through the day, experiencing long lines in a few locales and short waits in many other places.

There were no signs of disruptions or violence at polling sites, as some officials had feared.

Pandemic strains

In the Miami area, Latinos are predominantly Cuban Americans, where generations of families have fled communist rule in Cuba. Trump’s messaging about Biden being a socialist seemed to be working with them and with Venezuelans there despite Biden’s denials.

Edison’s national exit poll

Voters line up at a polling station to vote in the 2020 US presidential election in the majority Hispanic neighbourhood of Maryvale in Phoenix, Arizona, US, November 3, 2020

closed in a majority of US states, with close races developing in many of them.

In Florida, widely seen as a must-win state for Trump in his quest for the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, Trump was leading Biden 51.2 per cent to 47.8 per cent with 93 per cent of the expected votes counted. Electoral College votes are assigned to each state, in part based on their population.

Trump showing new strength with Latinos

Part of Trump’s strength in Florida came from an improved performance relative to 2016 in the state’s counties with large Latino populations. Trump’s share of the vote in those counties was larger than it was in the 2016 election.

For months there were complaints from Democratic Latino activists that Biden was ignoring Hispanic voters and lavishing attention instead on Black voters in big Midwestern cities.

The Biden campaign disputed this, but in the weeks leading up to the election, opinion polls in key states showed Biden underperforming with Latinos.

Many younger Hispanics were ardent supporters of US Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders during the party’s primary campaign, but in opinion polls expressed little enthusiasm for Biden, viewing him as too moderate and out of touch.

showed that while Biden led Trump among nonwhite voters, Trump received a slightly higher proportion of the non-white votes than he did in 2016. The poll showed that about 11 per cent of African Americans, 31 per cent of

Hispanics and 30 per cent of Asian Americans voted for Trump, up three percentage points from 2016 in all three groups.

Edison’s national exit poll also found that support for Trump declined by about three points among older white voters, compared with 2016, while it rose by about 15 points among older Latinos and by 11 points among Black voters between 30 and 44.

Biden, 77, still has multiple paths to the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to win without Florida despite having spent lots of time and money trying to flip the state that backed Trump, 74, in 2016.

Biden was neck and neck with Trump in the battleground state of North Carolina, tied at 49.4 per cent with 86 per cent of expected votes counted. In Ohio, another must-win state for Trump, the president was leading 50.5 per cent to 48.1 per cent with 69 per cent of expected votes counted. In Texas, Biden narrowly led 49.6 per cent to 49 per cent with 72 per cent of expected votes counted.

Voters, many wearing masks and maintaining social distancing to guard

e winner – who may not be determined for days – will lead a nation strained by a pandemic that has killed more than 231,000 people and left millions more jobless, racial tensions and political polarisation that has only worsened during a vitriolic campaign.

Biden, the Democratic former vice president, put Trump’s handling of the pandemic at the centre of his campaign and has held a consistent lead in national opinion polls over the Republican President.

But a third of US voters listed the economy as the issue that mattered most to them when deciding their choice for President, while two out of 10 cited COVID-19, according to an Edison Research exit poll on Tuesday.

In the national exit poll, four out of 10 voters said they thought the effort to contain the virus was going “very badly.” In the battleground states of Florida and North Carolina, battleground states that could decide the election, five of 10 voters said the national response to the pandemic was going “somewhat or very badly”.

The poll found that nine out of 10 voters had already decided on their choice before October, and nine out of 10 voters said they were con-

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

People fill out voting forms on Tuesday

fident their state would accurately count votes.

The poll found signs Trump was losing support among his core base of supporters in Georgia.

Ahead of Election Day, just over 100 million voters cast early ballots either by mail or in person, according to the US Elections Project at the University of Florida, driven by concerns about crowded polling places during the pandemic as well as extraordinary enthusiasm.

The total has broken records and prompted some experts to predict the highest voting rates since 1908 and that the vote total could reach 160 million, topping the 138 million cast in 2016.

In anticipation of possible protests, some buildings and stores were boarded up in cities including Washington, Los Angeles and New York.

Federal authorities erected a new fence around the White House perimeter.

A referendum on Trump

Supporters of both candidates called the election a referendum on Trump and his tumultuous first term. No US president has

lost a re-election bid since Republican George HW Bush in 1992.

Voters on Tuesday will also decide which political party controls the US Congress for the next two years, with Democrats narrowly favoured to recapture a Senate majority and retain their control of the House of Representatives.

Trump is seeking another term in office after a chaotic four years marked by the coronavirus crisis, an economy battered by pandemic shutdowns, an impeachment drama, inquiries into Russian election interference, US racial tensions and contentious immigration policies.

Biden is looking to win the presidency on his third attempt after a five-decade political career including eight years as vice president under Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.

Biden has promised a renewed effort to fight the public health crisis, fix the economy, and bridge America’s political divide. The country this year was also shaken by months of protests against racism and Police brutality.

(Reuters)

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Regional

“We're really afraid”: Fierce 25 Caribbean countries reopen Hurricane Eta lashes Nicaragua borders to commercial travel

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urricane Eta, one of the most powerful storms to hit Central America in years, ploughed into Nicaragua on Tuesday in an impoverished region of its Caribbean coast, battering homes and infrastructure and threatening deadly floods.

Eta came ashore south of the port of Puerto Cabezas, pulling roofs off houses, knocking down trees and power lines, and causing flooding in the region, said Guillermo Gonzalez, the Head of Nicaragua’s disaster management agency SINAPRED. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Eta was an “extremely dangerous” Category Four storm on the five-step SaffirSimpson scale, bringing “catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and landlines” to Nicaragua and portions of Central America.

“We’re really afraid, there are fallen poles, there’s flooding, roofs torn off, some of the zinc on my house fell off,” said Carmen Enriquez, a resident of Puerto Cabezas.

As of early afternoon, the storm had so far “not done

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Eta is an “extremely dangerous” Category Four storm on the fivestep Saffir-Simpson scale, bringing “catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and landlines” to Nicaragua and portions of Central America

catastrophic material damage” as some had feared, Vice President Rosario Murillo said in a national broadcast.

Nevertheless, around 1,227,000 people in Nicaragua, including nearly 500,000 children, were at risk from the storm’s fury, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said in a statement.

When it struck the coast, Eta was blowing potentially devastating winds of 140 miles per hour (225 kph) the NHC said. The storm should

weaken rapidly as it advances inland, it added.

In neighbouring Honduras, rivers burst their banks, towns and cities on the Atlantic coast flooded, and landslides hit roads.

Nicaraguan officials said there were still no reports of deaths or injuries. But in Honduras a 13-year-old girl died in a mudslide on her home in a neighbourhood of the northern city of San Pedro Sula, which has been hammered by rain, authorities said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

his month, the Region celebrates Caribbean Tourism Month even while grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a release on Monday on its website, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) said the pandemic’s impact on the sector has been immense.

It added there was a 57 per cent decline in arrivals during the first six months of 2020, an estimated 50 per cent to 60 per cent fall in visitor spend and tens of thousands of jobs lost.

“Those still employed have, in several cases, accepted reductions in working hours and wage cuts.”

The Organisation said the Caribbean had shown resilience by the progress made towards resuming tourism activity with 25 Caribbean countries having reopened their borders to commercial travel, fully or partially.

Other countries are also putting measures in place to welcome visitors.

The theme for this year’s observance is "The Caribbean awaits."

The Organisation said the theme complemented “the Region’s success in generally containing the spread of COVID-19, which has taken a major toll on tourism along with other

Haiti plans to hold referendum on new Constitution

President Lopez Obrador urges review of US drug cooperation in Mexico

M

exican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday his Government would review cooperation over drug policy with the United States and how its agencies operate in Mexico after the recent US arrest of a top military official.

Lopez Obrador’s comments follow the October 15 arrest of former Mexican army chief Salvador Cienfuegos in Los Angeles on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering on a warrant issued by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“We have to review all of

this: how these arrest warrants are issued, who is intervening, what agreements there are with US agents who operate in Mexico,” Lopez Obrador said at a regular news conference.

The DEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lopez Obrador has criticised the DEA’s historic role in his country, and last week Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard also expressed dismay at the United States’ failure to tell Mexico it was going to arrest Cienfuegos.

“We have to be grateful, and I have said this be-

fore, that President Trump has been respectful (toward Mexico),” Lopez Obrador said.

“But there are still issues we want to clarify.

We’re only waiting for the elections to pass,” he said of Tuesday’s US presidential election in which Trump is seeking a second term.

Lopez Obrador has held up the case of Cienfuegos, who is being held without bail, as an example of rampant corruption in past Governments. But he characterised the case as an “isolated” event and defended the Army’s role in Mexico.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

sectors of our economies.

“Caribbean countries have taken the required steps to protect our citizens and residents, conducted the required training to prepare our tourism and related frontline workers for the return of visitors and put the health protocols in place to reassure our potential visitors and residents that we take their health seriously. This has been the groundwork and now we seek to rebuild the sector.”

In observing the month, the Organisation and its members have planned a week of social media activities. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Haitian President Jovenel Moise

H

aitian President Jovenel Moise has announced plans for a national debate on a new Constitution for the French-speaking Caricom country ahead of a referendum on the new document early next year.

Moise, who had late last month sworn in the members of the Independent Advisory Committee for the

development of the draft of the new Constitution, said that the “draft Constitution will be debated”.

“All citizens will have to read the text. The debates will last a month or a month and a half. After the debates, there will be a referendum on the final text between February and March 2021,” he added.

Moise had earlier re-

called that he had campaigned on constitutional reforms and as a result of his victory, Haitians had voted to make changes to the existing Constitution.

He said following the referendum, regardless of the outcome, he would organise the elections for the country.

“I will organise the elections under the aegis of the old Constitution. But if the people vote yes, I will organise the elections under the aegis of the new Constitution,” he added.

Meanwhile, the United States Government is stepping up pressure on Moïse, with Under Secretary of State, David Hale in a telephone call to the Haitian leader, emphasising the need for the Caricom country to hold overdue legislative elections as soon as possible.

Washington is also calling for Haiti's democratic institutions to determine the proper legal mechanism for constitutional change, with input from civil society. (Excerpt from CMC)

St Lucia records 10 new LIAT flies again while Barbadian pilots continue to struggle cases of COVID

R

S

t Lucia has recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the island's total number of cases to 94.

A statement from the Medical Officer of Health, Dr Glensford Joseph, said the cases were from various locations across the island and the ages of those infected were from 19 to 68 years.

“All of these cases, following testing for COVID-19, were placed in quarantine awaiting their results. Six of these cases were identified through the contact tracing process and epidemiological links have been established

for these six cases,” he said.

The Health Ministry also announced Tuesday that it had recorded four recoveries

of individuals who were in care for COVID-19, resulting in 62 cases now being active in the country. (CMC)

egional airline LIAT took to the skies again on Sunday, after a seven-month lay-off owing to financial troubles arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But grounded Barbadian pilots are still suffering and have no idea when their severance payments will be forthcoming, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has bemoaned.

Acting General Secretary of the NUPW, Delcia Burke said on Monday things were so bad for the pilots, some have been forced to sell their vehicles and other person-

al items to survive the last few months.

LIAT returned for a ceremonial flight on Monday, operating its first flight on Tuesday from the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda to Dominica.

LIAT said on Sunday it would operate a limited schedule of flights later this month in an attempt to return to as close to a regular schedule as possible.

The airline is currently completing training and regulatory requirements for the Caribbean islands it plans to service within the next few weeks. It is

expected to reveal by this weekend, the limited schedule as well as its other destinations.

But in Barbados, those severed pilots are at their wits end, said their union.

“The problem is that when you are a pilot, there is nothing else you can do.

It’s a skill and all of them would have been pilots all their lives. One sold a piece of land, and another sold his car. Some are even looking at their jewellery and disposing of it so they can eat and pay their bills,” Burke told the Starcom Network on Monday. (Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices rise on Election Day O

il prices jumped early on Tuesday, with Brent back above the US$40 a barrel mark, supported by a rally in financial markets and a weaker US dollar on Election Day. As of 09:45h EST on Tuesday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude was up 3.53 per cent at US$38.13 and Brent Crude was rallying 3.08 per cent to US$40.17, returning to above US$40 for the first time in a week.

On Monday, oil prices dropped in early trading as more European countries announced lockdowns, but oil closed higher after the US financial markets rebounded later on Monday.

On Tuesday, oil prices rallied early on the US Election Day as equity markets around the world and in the US also rose, with traders bracing for the outcome of the election.

Commenting on the move in oil prices early on Tuesday, Tamas Varga with oil brokerage PVM told Reuters: “The jump has borne all the hallmarks of a massive, logical and even inevitable short-covering prior to the US presidential elections.”

According to the analyst, Tuesday’s oil rally is exclusively due to the US election, not a recovery from the slump in oil prices last week.

The bearish factors for oil are still very much present, with Italy also tightening measures to curb the second coronavirus wave, but stopping short of a nationwide lockdown, for now. The UK, Austria, and Belgium joined this weekend France and Germany in announcing second lockdowns amid surging coronavirus cases. The market fears that the return of the lockdowns will further delay the economic and oil demand recovery. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Uganda arrests dozens as pop star cleared for election run

Bobi Wine (centre) will vie as the presidential candidate for his new political party called National Unity Platform (NUP)

A

t least 50 people have been arrested in Uganda's capital, Kampala, as politician and musician Bobi Wine was cleared by the electoral commission to run in next year's presidential election.

Chaos broke out after Police fired tear gas at supporters who had escorted him.

He is among 11 candidates challenging President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

The election will be held in February next year.

Bobi Wine, 38, has shaken up politics in Uganda since he was elected to Parliament in 2017.

Since he expressed his presidential ambitions, Police and the military have repeatedly dispersed his rallies, and beaten and detained his supporters.

Last year, he was charged with intending to "alarm, annoy or ridicule" the President. He was also charged with inciting violence after being accused of calling on his supporters to physically harm the President.

He told the BBC in 2019 that his popularity, especially among the youth, is based on "people.. not just following me. But are following an idea". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Austrian Police arrest 14 in manhunt after gunman's deadly rampage

A

ustrian Police raided 18 properties and arrested 14 people in a massive manhunt on Tuesday for possible accomplices of a convicted jihadist who shot dead four people and injured 22 others in a late-night rampage in the centre of Vienna.

The gunman, who was killed by Police minutes after opening fire on crowded bars on Monday, had been released from jail less than a year ago. He was identified as Kujtim Fejzulai, a 20-year-old Austrian who also held North Macedonian nationality.

It was the first such militant attack in Vienna in a generation, and the Government pledged robust action.

“We will defend our fun-

damental values, our way of life and our democracy with all our strength,” Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a national address about what he branded an Islamist terror attack.

“We will find and hunt

down the perpetrators, those behind this and their associates and mete out a just sentence. And we will pursue all those who have anything to do with this outrage with all available means.”

Swiss Police also arrest-

ed two men on Tuesday near Zurich in an investigation of possible links to the gunman.

Speaking later to broadcaster ORF, Kurz urged European nations to take more decisive action against terrorism.

“We must give everyone who wants to integrate the chance to integrate, but we must, at the same time, make clear that our basic values are not negotiable,” he said.

The attack followed recent deadly assaults by lone Islamist attackers in Nice and Paris. Many Muslims have been angered by the publication in strictly secular France of satirical caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. (Excerpt from Reuters)

President Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged mailin ballots are subject to fraud, suggested he may not accept the result and said the Supreme Court may have to decide the winner.

“You want to be prompt and clear in sending congratulations, particularly to such an important ally,” said a foreign policy adviser to a northern European leader.

“But it’s risky this time.

You don’t want to get it

wrong, or move too soon. We may be sitting on our hands for a while after Election Day.” Foreign policy advisers recall the US election in 2000, when a host of leaders – including the Presidents of Germany and France, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and ruling parties in South Africa, South Korea and Japan – sent congratulations to George W Bush after US TV networks had declared him winner.

It would be another five weeks before the Supreme Court ruled in his favour, finally handing him victory over Al Gore. In the meantime, some leaders withdrew their congratulations.

Others just kept quiet.

The 2016 contest between Trump and Hillary Clinton produced a similarly tight finish, with Clinton winning the popular vote, but Trump securing the backing of the Electoral College. (Excerpt from Reuters)

It was the first such militant attack in Vienna in a generation, and the Government pledged robust action

Risk of contested vote has US allies on edge

A

s Americans headed to the polls, Prime Ministers and Presidents around the world face a delicate question – when to congratulate the eventual winner, especially given the risk the election result will be contested.

On the one hand, there’s a chance the popular vote will go one way and the Electoral College – which actually determines the winner – the other. Also,

Coronavirus: Sweden brings in rule of 8 for diners amid spike in infections

S

weden has limited to eight per table the number of people sitting together in cafes and restaurants, amid a sharp rise in coronavirus infections.

"We have a very serious situation," Prime Minister Stefan Löfven warned, saying the virus was "going in the wrong direction".

Sweden has reported 31 COVID-19 deaths since Friday, taking the death toll to 5969 – far higher than its neighbours.

Unlike them, Sweden has never imposed a nationwide

Sweden has not imposed tough restrictions seen elsewhere in Europe

lockdown.

Löfven also announced stricter recommendations – including avoiding public

transport and non-essential shopping – for another three regions: Halland, Örebro and Jönköping,

This means that about 70 per cent of the country's 10.5 million people now live under the new Government guidelines, which are voluntary.

The head of the Swedish Public Health Agency, Johan Carlson, said he hoped the public could work together to stop the spread of the virus, by complying with national and regional voluntary guidelines, as they did during the spring and summer.

However, he warned Swedes that "we have a long, tough winter in front of us".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US Congress notified of drone sale to Taiwan – Pentagon

T

he US State Department cleared the potential sale of four sophisticated US-made aerial drones to Taiwan in a formal notification sent to Congress, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, the last step before finalising a weapons sale that would further anger China.

The US$600 million deal would be the first such sale since US policy on the export of sophisticated and closely guarded drone technology was loosened by the Trump Administration.

Reuters reported in recent weeks on the Administration moving ahead with four other sales of sophisticated military equipment to Taiwan, with a total value of around US$5 billion, as it ramps up pressure on China and concerns rise about Beijing’s intentions toward the island.

The US State Department’s formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales, which is unlikely given broad bipartisan support for the defence of Taiwan.

The four MQ-9

SeaGuardian drones, made by General Atomic Aeronautical System, Inc of San Diego, California, would come with associated ground stations, spares and training. While the drones are armable, they will be outfitted with surveillance equipment.

Reuters reported in September that sales of major weapons systems to Taiwan were making their way through the US export process.

Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province that it

has vowed to bring under control, by force if necessary. Washington considers it an important democratic outpost and is required by law to provide it with the means to defend itself.

In response to the sales, China's National Defence Ministry said on October 27, "China strongly urges the US side to immediately withdraw plans of arms sales to Taiwan, cease USTaiwan military contacts, and stop selling weapons to the island." (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Express your feelings and opinions, and find out who is in agreement with you. Once you establish your position, it will be easier to make the right decisions.

Pay close attention to TAURUS how others react to the in(April 20formation you share. It’s imMay 20) portant not to exaggerate or fall prey to someone’s embellishment. Play it safe.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

At the first sign of trouble, address issues swiftly and make positive suggestions. Don’t take chances with your health. An offer looks inviting.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Speak up if you dislike or disagree with something.

Trying to please everyone won’t help you reach your goal. Romance will enhance a meaningful relationship.

Focus on physical fitness.

VIRGO

Don’t let an emotional matter stop you from taking care of your responsibilities. Changes to your routine and methods should be welcome.

PEANUTS

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

Size up situations and take action. Ask challenging questions and support whoever shares your values.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to make a difference. Get out there and join in!

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Pick up the pace. Put an end to complaints and criticism by taking charge and making things happen.

Share your vision to receive some quality input.

A change made by a close friend or family member will be a wake-up call. Don’t ignore the signs. An aggressive approach to joint ventures is favored. Make sure to include your loved ones in your plans.

Spend less time ponderSAGITTARIUS ing the impossible and more time focused on getting (Nov. 23Dec. 21) things done. Get together with someone who supports and encourages you for some needed reinforcement.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Don’t lose sight of what you are trying to achieve.

Allow others the freedom to do as they please. Working alone will have its advantages.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

You are in a better position than you realize. Don’t let someone downplay what you have to offer. Pay close attention to medical, financial and legal matters.

Romance is favored.

YESTERDAY'S WORD - LIVERIED

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Mixed emotions will lead you down a rabbit hole. Check your ego at the door when dealing with joint ventures or manipulative people. Use your imagination to come up with a crackerjack plan.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

21

Marlon Samuels, "the confident fellow", retires M

arlon Samuels, the West Indies batsman who topscored in both of their World T20 final victories, has retired from professional cricket.

Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies’ Chief Executive, has confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Samuels had told CWI of his retirement in June, having last played in December 2018.

While his career has ended with underwhelming batting averages, Samuels was always a man for the big occasion, as he proved in both of West Indies’ World T20 wins.

Perhaps his finest innings came in the 2012 final in Colombo, when he saw off, and then took down, two of the format’s premier limited-overs bowlers at the time in Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga respectively. Samuels was on 20 off 32 balls after 10 overs of West Indies’ innings, and the team score then was just 32 for 2, before he launched a stunning assault on Malinga to finish on 78 off 56 balls. He then took 1 for 15 to seal a comfortable win.

Four years later, he became the only man to be “player of the match” in two ICC global finals, hitting 85 not out off 66 balls to seal a four-wicket win against England in Kolkata.

His best batting performances were not limited to the

shortest format. He scored a maiden Test hundred at Eden Gardens as a 21-year-old, and had a dominant period against the red ball which saw him top score in a series defeat in England in 2012, as well as making 260 - his highest Test score - in Bangladesh later that year.

In ODI cricket, he still holds the record for the highest partnership for any wicket - 372 with Chris Gayle, against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. Across formats, Samuels made 11,134 international runs, including 17 centuries, and took 152 wickets with his quick off-breaks. He also represented several T20 franchises around the world later in his career, including Pune Warriors, Delhi Daredevils, Melbourne Renegades and Peshawar Zalmi.

No stranger to controversy, Samuels defied a team curfew in India in 2002 and was almost sent home. He was banned for two years from 2008 by the ICC after he was found guilty of “receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute”.

During West Indies’ aborted 2014 tour of India, he was the only player to take a public stance against ODI captain

SVG opens historic new stadium facility

Marlon Samuels flays one through the off side

Dwayne Bravo, and claimed he had wanted to complete the series.

Samuels was never afraid to stand his ground and have his say. One defining image of his career would come at the media briefing after leading West Indies to the 2016 World T20 title against England. Samuels arrived on his own, sat sideways, pads still on, spikes on the table, and spoke his mind.

Andre Russell, Samuels’s countryman from Jamaica, disapproved of Samuels’s gesture. Recounting the incident during the 2016 IPL, Russell called Samuels a “different Jamaican”, but summed up his former teammate appropriately: “He is a confident fellow.”

Messi is not difficult to manage – Koeman

Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wanted to leave in August. He has made nearly 500 appearances for the club, scoring 445 goals

B

A

new EC$5million stadium facility with a synthetic track, the first of its kind in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), will today be officially opened in what is the first phase of a project that began in February this year.

Situated in the South Windward area at the Diamond Industrial Estate, five minutes’ drive from Argyle International Airport, the stadium intended to host regional and international track and field events - will have a 400-metre synthetic running track; international standard football field; and temporary seating for 1500 spectators, including the disabled. The first of its international events would likely be the 2021 NACAC All-Age Championships set for July 2021.

There are also benefits for local athletes. “Usually, our athletes would have to travel to Barbados or Grenada

to try for Olympic qualifying standards,” said Dyke Cato, who declared that SVG athletes can now achieve their Olympic qualifying standards at home.

The stadium would also be outfitted with long and triple-jump pits as well as facilities for the pole vault, high jump, discus and the hammer throw.

A new electronic timing system is also to be acquired for the facility.

Cato, a sports officer attached to the Division of Sports in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, said another phase of the Governmentfunded project is set to begin in early 2021. That phase would involve the installation of stadium lights, the construction of a perimeter fence, and creation of a parking lot. For now, work is ongoing to complete the first phase of the construction work.

“It is 90 percent complete, the only

things left (are) some landscaping and a concession area,” said Cato. He added that shipping containers would be retrofitted into changing rooms.

But while the Government is expecting to host the NACAC Age-Group Championships next year, the island would not quite be ready for larger events, like the CARIFTA Games, because of an inadequate number of hotel rooms, although this issue is expected to be remedied in the coming years.

Cato revealed that the Sandals, Holiday Inn, The Marriott and Black Sands hotel chains are all expected to begin building hotels in close proximity to the facility in early 2021.

The stadium is also next door to a ‘Home of Football’ facility being constructed under the FIFA Goal Project.

(Adapted from a Sportsmax article)

efore their Champions League Group G match against Dynamo Kyiv, Ronald Koeman has dismissed claims that Lionel Messi is difficult to manage.

Former Barca manager Quique Setien suggested that he had found the forward hard to handle during his brief tenure.

“I don’t agree (with Setien), but I respect his opinion and what he has experienced,” said Koeman.

Messi had put in a transfer request in August, but was unable to force a move from Barcelona.

“Messi is a very good player, the best in the world,” Koeman said. “I see his ambition, but he is not a player I have difficulty managing.

“Every coach is different; for me, he is the captain, and I talk to him every week about things in the dressing room and on the pitch, and there is a good relationship,” Koeman said.

Setien was dismissed on 17 August, three days after Barca’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich, with Koeman stepping in.

Barcelona have made a strong start in this season’s Champions League, beating Juventus and Ferencvaros to sit top of Group G bringing some relief from their poor La Liga form.

Koeman’s side are 12th, having not won any of their past four games, and have lost 3-1 at home to Real Madrid on 24 October.

“I understand the criticism,” Koeman has said. “Two points from the last four games is not good, and it is normal for criticism to come. I accept it, and keep working to improve things.”

Koeman has also said that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is in contention to return after recovering from a knee injury.

Their opponents, Dynamo Kyiv, have taken only a point from their first two Champions League games. They are top of the Ukranian Premier League, four points clear of Shakhtar Donetsk.

(BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Sandeep, Nadeem and Warner put Sunrisers in the play-offs – Knight Riders out

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T

he Sunrisers Hyderabad had to beat the top three teams in the IPL to qualify for the playoffs this season, and they did it with style.

Sandeep Sharma, with 3 for 34, was a menace in the powerplay. Mumbai recovered in the middle overs, but Shahbaz Nadeem broke them again to finish with figures of 4-0-19-2.

Kieron Pollard’s intervention gave the Mumbai Indians 149 on the board, but having rested Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, their bowling did not have enough firepower to pick up even a single wicket.

David Warner made his highest score of the season - 85 not out off 58 balls - and Wriddhiman Saha proved his value as a hitter up the order as the Sunrisers waltzed into the playoffs.

Their win also meant the Kolkata Knight Riders, who had the same points (14) as the Sunrisers and the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of the league stage, lost out on a playoff spot because of their inferior net run rate.

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Jason Holder picked up 2 wickets

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VACANCY

The unheralded. Part I

Kieron Pollard entertained with 41

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Sandeep is a medium pacer. Batsmen don’t fear that lot. In fact, they often taunt them by batting outside the crease. You can’t hurt me, but I’m going to hurt you.

Even under this pressure, the 27-year-old has been a steadfast performer. He dismissed Rohit Sharma for 4, and battled back from a pasting by Quinton de Kock to knock over his stumps.

Early wickets like that can stall a T20 innings, but Suryakumar Yadav wouldn’t let it happen to his team.

With sublime clarity of thought - especially against Rashid Khan - he helped Mumbai back to a position of strength. They were 78 for 2 after 10 overs.

WANTED

The unheralded. Part II

Even with Hardik Pandya, Bumrah and Boult rested, this Mumbai line-up proved it had enough game-changers to be a threat. They had a launch pad, and the Sunrisers had to tear it down all over again. This time they used spin.

Nadeem is an extremely diligent cricketer. He needs to be, because he is often asked to take on terrible responsibilities. The Sunrisers often match him up against big hitters like AB de Villiers and Shane Watson. This is a man who bowls left-arm orthodox. And he still outsmarts players of that pedigree. He did it here too, getting Yadav stumped for 36 off 29, and, three balls later, having Krunal Pandya caught off a miscue for a duck.

Mumbai were now 81 for 4 in the 12th over.

Then they lurched to 115 for 6 in the 17th over. But Kieron Pollard decided enough was enough and unleashed himself, hitting 41 off 25 balls and lifting the total up to 149.

The unheralded.

Part III Saha is a powerplay supernova.

He

loves batting with the field up.

And this year, against the Delhi Capitals, he showed that he has developed his game enough to remain a threat even when those five men retreat to the boundary.

With Mumbai refusing to give Warner any room at the start of his innings, it was the wicketkeeper who

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David Warner and Wriddhiman Saha had an unbroken partnership

kicked the Sunrisers into gear with a Test quality straightbat shot over mid-off for six. It was all timing and grace.

Soon enough, the Sunrisers captain joined in on the fun, and by the time the powerplay was over (56 for 0), his team was looking at a required rate of a little over six to win one of its most important games this season.

After that, it was just a matter of time. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) BATSMEN R RG Sharma (c) c Warner b Sandeep Sharma 4 Q de Kock † b Sandeep Sharma 25 SA Yadav st †Saha b Nadeem 36 Ishan Kishan b Sandeep Sharma 33 KH Pandya c Williamson b Nadeem 0 SS Tiwary c †Saha b Rashid Khan 1 KA Pollard b Holder 41 NM Coulter-Nile c Garg b Holder 1 JL Pattinson not out 4 DS Kulkarni not out 3

BOWLING O Sandeep Sharma 4 JO Holder 4 S Nadeem 4 T Natarajan 4 Rashid Khan 4

M R W 0 34 3 0 25 2 0 19 2 0 38 0 0 32 1

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD INNINGS (TARGET: 150 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

BATSMEN R DA Warner (c) not out 85 WP Saha † not out 58 Extras (w 8) 8 TOTAL (17.1 Ov, RR: 8.79) 151/0 Extras (lb 1) 1 Did not bat: TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.45) 149/8 MK Pandey, KS Williamson, Did not bat: RD Chahar PK Garg, JO Holder, Abdul Fall of wickets: Samad, Rashid Khan, S Nadeem, 1-12 (Rohit Sharma, 2.3 ov), Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan 2-39 (Quinton de Kock, 4.4 ov), 3-81 (Suryakumar Yadav, 11.1 ov), BOWLING O M R W 4-81 (Krunal Pandya, 11.4 ov), DS Kulkarni 3 0 22 0 5-82 (Saurabh Tiwary, 12.1 ov), NM Coulter-Nile 4 0 27 0 6-115 (Ishan Kishan, 16.3 ov), JL Pattinson 3 0 29 0 7-116 (Nathan Coulter-Nile, 17.2 ov), RD Chahar 4 0 36 0 8-145 (Kieron Pollard, 19.3 ov) KH Pandya 3.1 0 37 0

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 and Football…

23

Forde talks pros and cons of global pandemic

By Jemima Holmes

N

o bubbles, no games, no fans; that has been the sad reality for some local sports over the past months, owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike the highly commercialised and largescale European football leagues, which are currently in full swing, one major sport in Guyana, football, has not been able to return to any semblance of normalcy.

In spite of this, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, shared that there are both positives and negatives that the Federation has been able to take away from this situation.

Forde disclosed that the biggest impact of the pandemic has been on the inactivity of players and the development hours that have been lost. “(People) tend to want to look at things from the negative side, but I think (the GFF) have chosen to look at it from the positive side. I think the biggest impact, of course, has been the inactivity of our players. When you give thought to the hours that go into developing a really good footballer, and you consider the hours that you’ve lost in an entire year, you know that (situation) is not good for the players, and that is going to have a lasting effect,” Forde explained. the GFF President shared concerns about mental pressures and his hope that the idle time would be more positive than negative.

“Apart from what they would have lost in

the development aspect of their technical staff have been learning as much as they can, and a lot of that learning will game, you have to also considbe adapted in strategies that we will use er the social and psychological injury that they would to bring our players safely back to have suffered during competitive form, once the situathis period. Not havtion is under control,” The GFF ing something that President shared. is as exciting, en“We have taken the posigaging, and as fultion that the online connectivity with our technical staff, the filling as football stakeholders, the members is in a young player’s life will open the way of portals for other the future, so even when things. We don’t know what those this situation turns around things are.” He for the best, continued by saying, “We’re of course, we hoping they’re will continue to utilise that more good Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde than bad.” online facility because it On a lighter note, not only has the Guyana Football gives us the opportunity to organise meetFederation utilised the time and moved to ings and discussions very rapidly,” Forde online engagements with technical staff to said in expressing his intentions.

“The positive impact it has on cost canlearn and formulate plans for players when football resumes, but, according to Forde, not be ignore as well,” he went on to reveal.

From the GFF Secretariat’s standpoint, this might be a new, cost-effective way to keep the entire Federation and its associ- evaluation work has also been ongoing, with ates in the loop. the help of a Human Resources consultant.

“But what we will do, and what we have “I will tell you that we did a complete been doing, is work with the technical ex- relook at the complete structure of the perts across the world: those at FIFA, at Guyana Football Secretariat. I don’t think CONCACAF and within the other corners that prior to now there was any really seriof our partnership, UEFA in particular. The ous thought to making this place operate as

West MMZ CC topple Georgetown Uprising in U21 friendly game T

he Under-21 Team of the West Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club beat their counterparts the Georgetown Uprising by 71 runs in a match played on Sunday, November 1, 2020 at the West Meten-Meer-Zorg Community Centre ground, WCD. In that 35-overs-a-side friendly cricket match, the hosts made full use of the first opportunity they had to engage in action since the COVID-19 lockdown. Winning the toss, MMZ batted first and scored a challenging 236 for 9 in their allotted 35 overs, after initially recording a bad start in Manoj Dasrat bagged 5-35 which they lost 3 wickets for 5 runs.

Riaz Khan and captain Derick Foo put on a fifth-wicket partnership of 50 runs, with Khan making 53 runs that included 6 maximums and 2 fours before Jeffrey Blair had Foo caught on the boundary for a classy 68, which included 7 massive sixes and 3 fours.

Kevin Latchoo supported with 37, which included 2 sixes and 2 fours; while Jeffrey Blair ended with excellent figures of 5 for 36 from 7 overs.

Georgetown’s new Uprising Under-21 Team in reply scored 164 all out in 24.3 overs. The attractive left-handed opener Ushardev Balgobin top- scored with an even half- century that included 6 sixes and 2 fours; Sunil Joshua chipped in with 33, which included 3 sixes; and Kristoff Shepherd made 18 to round off the innings.

The Georgetown side seemed a bit out-of-touch in the Riaz Khan (left) and Derick Foo top scored with 53 and batting department. Despite 68 runs respectively registering a stellar bowling

performance, they could not replicate that performance in the batting department, and were thus unable to attain their target.

Bowling for Meten-Meer-Zorg, R i c a r d o Panaram took 2 for 31 and Manoj Dasrat took 5 for 3 5 from his 6 . 3 overs to s e e the team to victory.

Jeffery Blair bowled 5-36 against MMZ

a professional organisation.

So, we’ve really looked at all the standard operating procedures, our employment structure, salary scale, job evaluation and job valuation,” Forde explained.

He concluded by saying, “So we’ve been working with an HR consultant, and we’re about to wrap up all of that work.”

Going forward, the Guyana Football Federation has had time to take a second look at projects, and implement others that Forde is hopeful would be rolled out in 2021.

“The positive is that we’ve really had enough time. We continue to have time to really look at everything we’ve been doing over the past couple of years. We’ve taken a note of those things that we feel comfortable we would’ve been able to execute successfully, and we’ve brought under the microscope many projects that we thought we hadn’t done as well as we could have,” the GFF boss stated.

With an air of confidence, he foreshadowed the Federation’s optimism for their 2021 plans. On this note, Forde commented, “We’ve now been given almost one year to really relook at the plans and strategies and some of the challenges with implementing those plans, and I’m very positive and optimistic that once the pandemic is brought under control in Guyana, we’ll be able to roll out many of the plans that we had initially put on the drawing board for 2020.”

Thompson-Herah nominated for IAAF Female Athlete of the Year award

J

amaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah has been included on a shortlist of athletes for the IAAF Female World Athlete of the Year award.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28-year-old double Olympic champion has put together a strong season.

Thompson-Herah won all seven of her 100m races, and finished the campaign with a world-leading time of 10.85 seconds, which was recorded at the Rome Diamond League in September.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah Others shortlisted for the award include Femke Bol (Netherlands), Letesenbet Gibey (Ethiopia), Sifan Hassan (Netherlands), Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya), Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), Laura Muir (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Hellen Obiri (Kenya), Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) and Ababel Yeshaneh (Ethiopia).

The Jamaican will face still competition to land the prize, with World records broken this year by Gidey (5000m), Hassan (hour run), Jepchirchir (half marathon, women only), Rojas (triple jump, indoors), and Yeshaneh (half marathon).

The list will be trimmed to five athletes after voting takes place among the World Athletics Council (50 percent), World Athletics family (25 percent), and by fans (25 percent) by liking individual athlete graphics on World Athletics’ Facebook and Instagram, or by retweets.

Thompson-Herah is the only Jamaican nominated on either the male or female list. American Dalilah Muhammad took the honour last year when she twice lowered the 400m hurdles World record. (Sportsmax)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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COVID-19 and Football…

Forde talks pros and cons of global pandemic See story on page 23

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Sandeep, Nadeem and Warner put Sunrisers in the play-offs – Knight Riders out Pg 22

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