Guyana Times - Friday, November 6, 2020

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Issue No. 4461

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Dr Ashni Singh returns as Minister of Finance Page 3

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mother of 5 P13 struck down by speeding car at Timehri

“Yankee” P8 convicted of 2016 murder of Parika fuel dealer

— says “eagerly looking forward” to serving Guyana again Dr Ashni Singh takes the oath of office before His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday at the Office of the President

Belgium intercepts US$1.06B in cocaine originating from Guyana Page 2

Walrond’s renounced citizenship

NA resident charged for Courts robbery P10 Page 9

“I wouldn’t allow anyone to rush me” – Clerk of National Assembly US Election 2020: Guyana records Vote remains 2 new COVID-19 poised deaths, toll now on stands at 132 v

Page 14

See story on page 17

knife-edge

P2 Brazilian national crushed by toppling tractor

— 69 new cases recorded in 24 hours

Over 300 Linden residents P13 affected by floods — CDC provides immediate relief

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Belgium intercepts US$1.06B in cocaine originating from Guyana – CANU launches investigations, 2 scrap metal dealers in custody

B

elgian authorities have intercepted a vessel that allegedly left Guyana in October with a whopping 11.5 tons of cocaine - the largest drug bust ever - the Brussel Times reported on Thursday.

According to media reports coming out of that country, counter-narcotics prosecutors tracked the transatlantic journey of 11.5 tons of cocaine from Guyana on the northeastern coast of South America, and seized it upon its arrival at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium on Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors told

CANU’s Head, James Singh

an estimated street value of €900 million. The drug was disguised as scrap

container and loaded into a transatlantic vessel.

Following the record-breaking drug bust on Wednesday, three persons were arrested, including one person who is facing extradition to Belgium from the Netherlands.

According to the report, the massive load of cocaine left Guyana in late October, and prosecutors were able to track it following the dismantlement of a drug trafficking gang led by a former Belgian counter-narcotics chief, which revealed the existence of tight-knit links between criminal gangs and counter-narcotics and

manager and a lawyer were among some 20 other criminals arrested as part of an operation targeting the “well-structured” criminal organisation suspected of orchestrating large and “regular” drug shipments from South America to Belgium.

However, the record-breaking shipment was expected by law enforcement officials, as it is suspected it left the port of Guyana after the drug gang’s arrest in Belgium,

with drug gangs unable to intercept it once at sea, De Standaard reported.

The dismantlement of the drug gang in late September led to the arrest and indictment of 22 people, with three people still in the Netherlands awaiting extradition.

Meanwhile, Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, James Singh, when contacted, related that two scrap metal dealers are in custody but they are holding out that they are un-

aware of the drugs. James explained that the two men turned up at CANU Headquarters after they received news that agents were looking for them.

He further noted that investigators have since established that the cocaine was trans-shipped to another vessel. James, however, noted that CANU is in contact with its counterparts in Belgium as the drug enforcement agency continues its investigations.

Brazilian national crushed by toppling tractor

A

The ship on which the large quantity of cocaine was found

Belgian media that this is “the largest overseas drug bust ever worldwide”, with

metal and placed inside a steel container, which was in turn packed into a sea

law enforcement officials.

The reports stated that three Police officers, a port

Brazilian national lost his life on Wednesday afternoon after the tractor on which he was travelling toppled while ascending a hill at Central Baramita Village, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The dead man has been identified as ‘Peu’ of Barama Line, Baramita Village, North West District (NWD).

Based on reports received, Peu was a passenger on a tractor being driven by a 42-year-old Brazilian national, and while it was allegedly ascending a hill at the Central Baramita Village, the tractor dropped into a pothole and the driver lost control of the vehicle.

As a result, the deceased fell onto the roadway as the tractor began to roll downhill. It was then that his head was crushed. The injured man was taken to the Baramita Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead by the medic on duty.

The body was later escorted

to the Baramita Mortuary to await a post mortem examination.

The incident was reported to the Police, and an investigation has been launched. The driver of the tractor remains in Police custody.

Just one month ago, an incident involving a tractor resulted in the death of 71-year-old pensioner Martin Cedric Herman of Orealla, Corentyne River, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). He was operating the tractor at Orealla Backdam when the accident

occurred at around 11:30h.

Reports indicate that that tractor was pulling a trailer loaded with lumber.

At the time, five persons in addition to the driver were on the tractor and trailer.

Steve Cruickshauk, who is the cousin of the now dead man and the owner of the vehicle, said the tractor had a trailer filled with lumber attached. He pointed out that as they were transporting the lumber, the left side wheel of the tractor broke, causing the vehicle to topple. Herman was pinned underneath.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 6 – 09:30h-11:00h and Saturday, November 7 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 6 – 07:40h-09:10h and Saturday, November 7 – 08:50h-10:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light showers will prevail in the early afternoon hours, with instances of thunder in the early afternoon. Sunny conditions are expected for the rest of the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South SouthWesterly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 07:43h and 19:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 13:28h reaching a minimum height of 0.97 metre.

WESNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

05 07 10

13 18 26

FREE TICKET

19 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

01 09 14 18 23 LUCKY 3

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1

6

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

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08

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$40.93/barrel

-0.73

Rough Rice

$223.65/ton

-0.10

London Sugar

$396.80/ton

-1.32

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1942.70

$1943.70

Low/High

$1905.10

$1953.50

Change

-6.90

-0.35%

Dr Ashni Singh returns as Minister of Finance

— says “eagerly looking forward” to serving Guyana again

D

r Ashni Singh was on Thursday sworn in to serve as Senior Minister in the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance.

In the presence of Cabinet members and other officials, he took the oath of office before President Irfaan Ali at a simple but significant ceremony.

After administering the oath, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that Dr. Singh brings value and a wealth of experience to the current Government, having previously served as Finance Minister in the former Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic Administration and in other roles internationally.

“He functioned as Minister of Finance, Director of Budget, in the Auditor General’s Office and in international appointments. Dr Ashni Singh will bring with him those values, attributes and experience to add to the dynamic, versatile team that we have in Government today,” the Head of State posited.

Singh is expected to lead the team under the umbrella of the Office of the President, overseeing transformative agendas of development. This includes projects, programmes and policies to stimulate and expand Guyana’s economic base while strengthening key sectors. Nevertheless, Dr Ali said, his Office will continue to oversee the sector.

“Whilst the Office of the President will continue its oversight of the sector, Dr Ashni Singh’s responsibility for finance will ensure that we have a full complement of skills that would advance the agenda of the Government.”

The President said this expertise is even more critical as Guyana embarks on the path of unprecedented growth, investments and transformation. He said that in every aspect of Government, they’ve been able to appoint such key personnel with the requisite adroitness.

Dr Ali opined, “That transformation requires a multi-faceted team, and I believe that in every aspect of Government - at the level of cabinet, permanent secretaries - we’ve been able to match experience and dynamism in a very special way to ensure that we build capacity that is needed to manage the fortunes of the future and to create an environment in which all of our people will be successful.

We’re very happy for this addition.”

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the ceremony, Dr. Singh told media operatives that he is elated to be serving his country once again.

Having been out of Guyana for most of the last five years, the new Minister said he had been monitoring every issue closely.

Dr Ashni Singh receiving his instrument of appointment from President Irfaan Ali

“I have spent almost all of my life in public service in Guyana, so public service is something that I’ve devoted all of my professional energies to over the years, and it’s something that I consider a great honour. To have been invited by the President to join his cabinet is a tremendous honour. I consider myself greatly honoured and greatly privileged, and, most importantly, deeply humbled,” Dr Singh expressed.

According to him, the country is at a significant juncture, having been blessed with vast resources of oil and gas – which are now being extracted. This is expected to create a positive impact on the economic front.

“Our country is at such a critical juncture in our history because I really do believe that we are at an extremely important turning point in our economic history. So, the opportunity to serve in this capacity at this point in time I think is dou-

bly so a huge privilege,” the newly-appointed Minister voiced.

However, there are also challenges from the current COVID-19 pandemic globally, which the PPP Government have been trying to cushion since their assumption to office on August 2. He noted that work needs to be added to Government’s new policies to steer Guyana in the right direction.

“I’m entering this office at a time when the Guyanese economy and economies around the world are facing tremendous challenges, not least as a result of the ongoing COVID pandemic. President Ali’s Government has been very swift to recognise the magnitude of these challenges, and has been swift in crafting policy responses to address these challenges; but we’re far from out of the woods, and there’s still a lot to be done. I’m under no illusion of the magnitude of the challenges from the point of view of economic policy-

making, implementation and management.”

Dr Singh has clarified that he will be taking up a seat in the National Assembly. The Constitution makes provision for the President of Guyana to appoint up to four non-elected Ministers.

“By virtue of having been appointed a Minister, I am now a non-elected Minister and I will be taking up one of those four constitutional places that are reserved for non-elected ministers,” Dr Singh told the media.

Shortly after being appointed as President in August, Dr Irfaan Ali selected his cabinet, comprised of a number of new and youthful personalities. A Finance Minister was not appointed at that time, and the emergency 2020 Budget was crafted under the leadership of Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and presented by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill – former Junior Finance Minister during the last PPP administration.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 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

Flooding in Georgetown

O

ver the past few days, heavy rainfall caused flooding in several communities across the country, and more so severely impacted Georgetown.

These communities have been so badly affected that the Government has triggered the inter-Agency Task Force led by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to partially activate the National Emergency Operations Centre. According to the Hydrometeorological Office, the current extreme rainfall pattern is expected to last until Sunday, and Guyana is expected to receive above-normal rainfall and low-lying areas could experience flooding. As such, residents have been advised to take precautionary measures, because the likelihood of flash flooding has increased.

Guyana is perhaps one of the more precarious lands in South America, since its coastal strip is already some 2.4 metres below sea level. This makes the country vulnerable to flooding. So, when the weather gets really extreme – as it is presently – Government has kept its disaster response plans on standby. However, compounding the situation further for Georgetown is the fact that City Hall has again failed to clear and clean clogged drains and canals in the city. It is well known that citizens of the city are fed up with the wrangling and sometimes even outrageous behaviour of City Hall and their failure to carry out their fiduciary duties.

For years, Central Government has been allocating huge sums towards the council but, unfortunately, citizens are not seeing the kind of results and development they expect. Certain parts of the city are littered with garbage, there are clogged drains and canals, pavements and surrounding drainage are blocked due to illegal vending.

As is currently being experienced, Georgetown continues to battle with garbage and flooding problems.

Instead of there being any notable improvements, the landscape in the city continues to deteriorate and the problems worsen. The municipality only last week complained about its inability to pay garbage collectors.

City Hall has always had a poor track record which erodes public confidence in its ability to keep a commitment and use taxes efficiently to improve the cleaning and drainage of the city.

For years the country has had two rainy seasons, but, with climate change, the weather patterns across the globe have changed significantly. Experts have predicted that more frequent and extreme weather linked to climate change, like hurricanes and severe flooding, would occur more often. While we cannot prevent natural disasters from occurring, we can certainly prepare better, so that the impact is reduced. For this reason, it is crucial that City Hall, and even the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) in the 10 administrative regions in Guyana, should always be prepared by having control of waste management.

Waiting to clean clogged canals and waterways, or fixing drainage pumps only when the rainy season starts should be a thing of the past. It is important that we constantly review our disaster preparedness efforts.

There should be no circumstance to catch us off- guard.

As this publication has said before, the decisions we make today would determine our resilience to natural disasters and be critical to people’s well-being in the short and long terms.

With respect to City Hall, we agree that the municipality does need money to run the city, so residents and businesses must pay their taxes; but, in the same breath, City Hall too must honour its obligations to the residents of the city. When the previous administration took office in 2015, M&CC had embarked on a massive city-wide cleanup campaign in Georgetown and its environs. It is time that City Hall embark upon these clean-up campaigns as part of its routine schedule to fulfil its obligations to the residents of the city.

President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) along with Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa at the Kitty Seawall Roundabout on Thursday evening as the symbolic lighting of diyas was held to usher in Diwali 2020

Military votes may determine Georgia outcome Dear Editor, Based on trends of votes coming in from the state of Georgia, Donald Trump is likely to prevail by a squeaker, triggering a recount. The military ballots would make the difference.

As it stood by Thursday evening, Trump led by 12,800 votes, with 47,300 votes remaining to be counted. These are mailedin ballots that take longer to be counted. They have to be verified, and then processed before they can be counted.

Biden is leading in mailin ballots by 58% to 42%.

Of the areas where the votes are yet to be count-

ed, trends show Biden polling some 60% and Trump 39%. The other candidates get 1%.

At 60%, Biden will get 28,300 and Trump 19,000.

The difference in the margin is approximately 9,000. With Trump currently leading by 12,800, Biden cannot catch up or overtake Trump. Thus, it seems Trump will win Georgia by a few thousands. However, if Biden were to get 64% to 65% of the 47,200, he would edge out Trump. Some 64% is possible. With the margin so close, the military ballots will determine the winner.

Military ballots have

until Friday evening to arrive at the counting place.

Those ballots, a maximum of 8,800, will be counted a day later, and the gap between the two will be much less than that amount. The military normally prefers Republican over Democrat, but anything is possible.

Because of the narrow difference in votes between the two candidates, there is an automatic recount. This would be undertaken next week. So, there would be no declaration for Georgia until several days.

Biden does not need Georgia to win the Presidency. He can win with Arizona and Nevada,

in both of which he is leading. If that trend holds, he would get 270 electoral votes, a majority. The contest is over. But Trump is requesting recounts in Wisconsin.

Biden also has a chance in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Trump must win Georgia and Pennsylvania for a path to re-election. It does not look good for him.

Based on my analysis of trends, Biden will win the Presidency even without Georgia, NC, and Pennsylvania.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Little room for issues of the past in the sugar industry Dear Editor, A recent report on the Indian Sugar Industry reported a challenging cost structure wherein the cost of production is too high compared to market prices. This issue had led to Government-subsidised exports in the past, but these subsidies will not be implemented this production season, according to the recent

report.

Guyana’s sugar industry has historically been in a similar situation, and will require a restructuring programme to turn a profit quickly. Although it may be comforting to know that these challenges are shared by others, it is also concerning, given the current global economic environment.

The support of the

union, the impacted communities and the region will continue to be even more important if a quick turnaround in the industry is to be achieved.

The increasing competitiveness of the global market, due to weaker demand, leaves little to no room for continued output underperformance going forward, if cost reduction is to be put

on the right track while increasing employment.

Our national economy will have significant exposure to the industry in coming years, and delivering on the recent regional agreements put in place would be important in achieving a successful turnaround.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Honesty is core value of good governance Dear Editor, There has been much said and written about Minister Allicock and the legality of her swearing-in as a Member of the National Assembly.

Two elders, EB John and GHK Lall, added their voices. They both contended that the hullabaloo over the matter was unnecessary. They expressed the opinion that there might have been wrongdoing, but however contend that it was of no serious consequence and should not have distracted the Nation from matters of greater

gravitas.

Without concerning myself with whether or not the swearing-in was illegal, I wish to address the view of the gentlemen: that the degree of gravitas should be a determining factor in addressing or not addressing such a matter, if found to be in breach of the Nation’s guiding principles (ethos) Essential to the attainment of the much-touted democracy, good governance and civility are the cultivation of a national ethos (guiding beliefs or ideals that characterise a nation), at the core

of which should be values such as honesty and upholding of the law, among other core values.

For such an ethos to take hold, our national leaders have to articulate and embrace it, as well as provide leadership by example. The treatment of, and regard for, the adherence to nationally accepted guiding principles provide an opportunity for the leaders to lead by example and demonstrate their commitment to a national ethos.

If they don’t, they would be undermining the exist-

ing or evolving national ethos, and would lose moral high ground on the question of right and wrong and the authority to call others out for wrongdoing. This inevitably results not only in moral decay, but in a breakdown in law and order.

We cannot have people in high office who are proven, or even perceived, to be patently dishonest not being called to the books and expect the people at large to subject themselves to the trampled-upon guiding principles.

Until we demonstrate

unswerving commitment to our democracy and good governance, which are predicated on principles such as responsible conduct, transparency, the Rule-of-Law and being fiduciary, we will be perpetrating and perpetuating a farce.

On these matters, especially in a fledgling democracy where the national ethos is still in the making, and institutional approaches are still being developed, gravitas cannot determine how we treat with the adherence to our guiding principles. Every

opportunity and effort should be taken to embrace and ensure that those principles are sanctimonious.

That is the only way they would be institutionalised, owned and upheld.

In closing, may I reiterate that I am not commenting on the Allicock matter, per se. I have used the foray of John and Lall to extrapolate on a fundamental of national building, the establishment and enshrining of a national ethos.

Sincerely, Vincent Alexander

Changes will come to the city when City Hall works along with the Government of the day Dear Editor, There are two significant areas that the PNC/APNU usually claim as their own stomping ground; these are, the public service and the municipality, and I must say that, as a party, they have been doing quite a fantastic job at subversive politics where these two areas are concerned.

For our discussion today, we shall be stationed in the city, taking an in-depth look at this place, where recent hotspot events are taking place.

Georgetown is the heartland of the PNC, and is the perfect example for them to showcase what a city should not be. For starters, the city is a dirty, smelly place where vagrants and pickpockets roam. It is an overcrowded locale where poor and substandard services are a normality. On any given day, it would be the unfortunate experience of anyone conducting business to fall victim to the usual con-artist or corrupt artisan.

That is Georgetown, led by an administration that is

equally known for its mediocrity.

As the seat of Government, one would have thought that Georgetown is a place where fine manners proliferate, a place that is orderly and well managed; but that is not to be, the City Council is an atrocious example of an itinerant mendicant, as the Pandit Mayor goes around begging for money to run the city. With cap in hand, he is out, asking here and there for benevolent donations. This decadence has to stop.

The New PPP/C Government, for its part, has said it would be making subventions to the City; however, that can be done only if the management style of the City changes. In fact, the Government has given the City an ultimatum: There would be no cash coming their way except and until a comprehensive audit is done.

This latest call by the Government should sober up the Mayor and City Council to pay strict attention to their management

style, and straighten up for the better.

We are talking about the instant removal of the dinosaur deadweight regime of a Royston King, ChaseGreen and Oscar Clark, just to name a few. Such individuals work in open defiance of the Local Government Ministry, and are otherwise obstacles to progress.

Business in our capital city cannot continue to go on this way.

In conclusion, the Municipality of the City of Georgetown must - I repeat,

must - work along with the New PPP/C Government, and not the other way around. This backwardness of a rundown, cash-strapped City Council must end now.

The PNC-dominated City Hall has been running the City like a cook-up-and-dogfood stand for decades, with bad results being the consequence. It is high time for a new and enlightened approach to the management of the City.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

T

he figure below is a grid. A grid has a horizontal axis, known as the x-axis, and a vertical axis, known as the y-axis. All points on a grid can be expressed, or identified, by two numbers: the x-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the x-axis and the y-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the y-axis. Each point is identified using the x and y coordinates in an ordered pair.

The point where the vertical and horizontal axes meet is the origin.

The origin is identified by the ordered pair (0,0). The x-coordinate indicates how far the point is to the right (positive) or how far to the left (negative) of the origin. The y-coordinate indicates how far the point is above (positive) or how far below (negative) the origin.

To find the Example: x-coordinate, move your finger along the x-axis to the point. To find the y-coordinate, move your finger along the y-axis to the point. To identify the ordered pair , put the two coordinates in brackets – the first number is the x-coordinate and the second number is the y-coordinate. In this figure, point A can be expressed as A (1, 4) and point B can be expressed as B (– 3, – 2).

D

Exercises: Give ordered pairs A=

B=

C=

D=

E=

F=

G= H=

Thursday’s answers 1) – 8 5) 104

2) 4 6) – 13

3) – 8 7) – 34

4) 28 8) 19

inosaurs are named based on their unique features and/or the location where they were found. Dinosaur names are created using Greek and Latin roots.

Objectives: Determine some of the special features of several dinosaurs by studying the roots in their names.

Create a name tag using Greek and Latin roots.

Materials: Name tag (premade or homemade) 18-24 inches of yarn permanent markers list of dinosaur prefixes and roots (see below) bin to hold materials

Procedure: How are the dinosaurs named? Scientists use Greek and Latin roots to name dinosaurs, plants, and animals. Listed on the posters are many prefixes and roots used to name dinosaurs. What does Triceratops mean? Tri means three, cera means horned, and tops means face. Three horned face. Identify the meaning of several more dinosaurs. Make up a description of a dinosaur and create a name for it.

2) Create a name for yourself using the Greek and Latin roots. Does your name include part of your real name? Does your name describe you? Write your name on paper. Hang your name tag around your neck with yarn.

A

wolf had been prowling around a flock of sheep for a long time, and the shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from carrying off a lamb.

But the wolf did not try to do any harm. Instead he seemed to be helping the shepherd take care of the sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to

seeing the Wolf about that he forgot how wicked he could be.

One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the wolf’s care while he went on an errand.

But when he came back and saw how many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how foolish to trust a wolf.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Budget 2021 likely to cater for multimilliondollar helicopter purchase from US

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

T

he Guyana Government is yet to make a final decision on whether it will go ahead with the purchase of the four Bell military helicopters that were approved for sale by the United States Department of Defence (DoD).

This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, during an interview with reporters on the sidelines on an event on Wednesday.

“At this stage, I don’t think we have a final decision. What is made known is that clearance is there [by the US] for that [purchase]. There is nothing

in the 2020 Budget to facilitate that acquisition at this time,” he stated.

According to Minister Edghill, who had previously served as acting Finance Minister prior to Thursday’s appointment of a substantive Minister, monies are likely to be set aside in the 2021 Budget for this multi-million purchase if Cabinet greenlights the acquisition.

“So, look out for the next few months when the 2021 Budget comes out, you will hear something on if we’re going with that and how many we’re buying at a time – if all four at the same time,” he said.

The US DoD, colloquially known as the Pentagon, last week announced that it has approved the sale of the four Bell military helicopters, plus support equipment, as part of a US$256 million deal to Guyana to boost the country’s security system.

The Pentagon has pegged Guyana as growing to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in South America. As such, it noted that this sale would improve Guyana’s capability to meet current and

future threats, which would in turn support the foreign policy and national security of the United States.

“Guyana will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defence; conduct maritime surveillance, patrol, and interdiction; counter narcotic trafficking and transnational criminal organisations; deter regional threats; and support coalition partners overseas. Guyana will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the DoD said, adding that the sale would not alter the basic balance of military power in the Region.

According to the Department, the principal contractor will be Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (BHTI). It added that the quoted cost is the highest estimation of quantity and dollar value while the actual cost may be even lower depending on several factors, including Guyana’s requirements if and when the sales agreement is concluded.

Last November, the

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had announced that it would be selling an unserviceable Bell-412 helicopter that was down for almost 10 years, as part of its plans to upgrade its aircraft fleet.

Back in September 2017, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field had cause to lament the deteriorated state of the GDF helicopters.

He had said at the time

that Guyana did not have an adequate search-andrescue helicopter, that there was no navigational aid at the main airport outside a certain radius, and that this risky situation has been ongoing for years without rectification.

“An important element of search and rescue, which is a helicopter in the event of a crash…I don’t know why the GDF equipment was allowed to deteriorate to the point where they do not have a

serviceable helicopter for search and rescue – which is the Bell-412 helicopter,” Field had expressed.

Meanwhile, this potential transaction to sell the four military helicopters comes on the heels of Guyana and the United States signing a maritime patrol pact to guard against narcotics and other regional security threats.

This signing was done in September 2020 when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Guyana.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had stated at the time that the maritime pact would allow for the improvement of technical and human capabilities in monitoring Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

That move, he noted, augurs well for stronger collaboration and broader technical assistance to help combat both domestic and transnational organised criminal networks.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Yankee” convicted of 2016 murder of Parika fuel dealer

C

urt Thomas, 44, was on Thursday found guilty by a 12-person jury for the April 30, 2016 murder of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) businessman Seeram Singh, who was shot twice to the head and hip during a robbery.

The verdict was unanimous following a trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara.

Following the verdict, Thomas was sent back to prison pending sentencing for which no date has been fixed. A probation report on Thomas will also be presented to the court then.

It was reported that Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice to his head and hip. The bullet to his head was shot at close range, and may have been the fatal shot.

Media reports at the time stated that Singh was 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 Thomas discharged two rounds at Singh.

Reports are 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, where he was pronounced dead.

Following the announcement of the verdict by the jury foreman, Thomas, who appeared in court virtually from the Lusignan Prison, jumped out of his seat and hurled a series of expletives.

In fact, the convicted killer maintained that he was innocent of the crime.

A visibly upset Thomas told the court that he has no need to get involved in robberies as he worked hard to make an honest living.

Convicted killer: Curt Thomas

“I didn’t come back to Guyana for this. I come back to build a house,” the angry man shouted to prison officers, who were trying to handcuff him.

In a plea of mitigation, the killer’s lawyer, Lyndon Amsterdam said his client respects the verdict of the jury, although he is obviously disappointed. The lawyer said that Thomas’s reaction to the verdict is based on his conscience, the evidence, and what he believes is the truth.

According to the lawyer, while he understands that murder is a heinous crime, his client is a first-time offender, and he begged the court to temper justice with mercy. This, he noted, would allow his client to return to society and have time to reflect on the verdict “which suggests that he did something to contravene the law”.

On behalf of Thomas, Amsterdam rendered an apology to the family members of the dead businessman. In his expression of remorse, the lawyer said it is not easy to lose a family member, especially where it has been proven that violence was used.

On Wednesday, State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy urged the jury to convict Thomas of the crime during her closing address them.

The prosecutor told the jury that she was able to meet

the burden of proof.

As a matter of fact, Hardy insisted that it was Thomas who shot and killed the businessman. In doing so, she pointed to the testimonies of witnesses for the prosecution, including Rajmohan Autar, who positively identified Thomas during an identification parade.

The Prosecutor was keen to point out to the jury that the forensic analyst testified that the clothing said to be worn by the accused on the night of the shooting which was submitted for testing tested positive for gunpowder residue. The Prosecutor told the jury that the witnesses called by her were credible.

She said the witnesses were able to remember facts about what they observed in connection with the murder although it occurred four years ago. According to State Prosecutor, Hardy while attempts were made

by Thomas’s lawyer, Lyndon Amsterdam to discredit the prosecution’s witnesses, he did not succeed since the witnesses’ testimonies were believable.

Hardy reminded the jurors that they were the sole arbiters of the facts.

She told them that with the guidance from the trial judge in relation to aspects of the law, they must be fair and impartial and remove all emotions.

In examining the unsworn testimony Thomas gave in his defence, Hardy pointed out that he brought no witness to disprove the prosecution’s case. Instead, she submitted, the witness whom he called to testify on his behalf placed him at the location where the robbery/ murder occurred.

During his virtual testimony from the Lusignan Prison, Thomas testified that he was nowhere at or near the crime scene, nor did he know Singh.

He alleged that one of the

Waiting to exhale...

A

Murdered: Seeram Singh

lead detectives in the case was trying to frame him for the murder. His reasoning was that his girlfriend and the officer had previously shared a relationship.

Dorothy Pratt, the mother of Thomas’s girlfriend, testified on his behalf. The woman told the court that on the night in question, Thomas was at her home at 21:00h.

Under cross-examination, however, Prosecutor Hardy challenged her evidence. Pratt, when questioned by the Prosecutor, was unable to account for Thomas’s whereabouts any time before or after that time. Against this backdrop, Prosecutor Hardy implored the jury to look at the evidence, for in doing so, they would arrive at the inescapable conclusion that it was Thomas who shot and killed the fuel dealer.

“Look at the evidence, it will paint one picture. It was Curt Thomas who was there on the night, who shot and robbed Seeram,” the Prosecutor said to the jury.

According to Hardy, Singh was murdered in cold blood

by Thomas who had no regard for the eventuality of other persons being injured as there were people in close proximity to where the shooting occurred.

She said as Singh lay on the ground helpless, Thomas relieved him of his gold jewellery, and shot him not once, but twice.

...in the US of A s your Eyewitness pecks out this piece, the jury’s still out on the American elections. And the way things are going, that’s not just a figure of speech! At least half a dozen court cases have already been filed over one thing or another, and some have already been dealt with. But not to worry folks…there’s no danger we’ll lose our “Guinness Book of Records” distinction of having the longest elections count in the world. Who knows, by the time you read this, even though your Eyewitness has “Georgia on his mind”, that state’s ballots might’ve been finished counting and you know what you know.

But what your Eyewitness wants to do is pick up from where he left off yesterday: the clear break in American politics that - like everything else they do up there - will affect the rest of the world, including lil ole Guyana. Now, while Donald Trump’s been called all sorts of names, including “racist”, one factoid that your Eyewitness found interesting is that the number of Blacks and Hispanics who voted for him increased!!

So, it’s quite clear that the view of Trump from up close might be quite more nuanced than from over here.

What’s coming to the fore is that the question of “identity politics” has moved from sex, gender and colour to at last confront “race” frontally. Sure, we’ve been talking about race for the longest while, but, at long last, we’re moving away from the discussions wherein SOME “races” were seen as “problems” that needed to be addressed - the “Black Problem”; the “Brown Problem”; the “Yellow Problem”, etc. In America, there has been an acceptance at long last that there’s a “White Problem”! Have you ever thought about this, dear reader: that Trump’s supporters are dominated by a White demographic that feels threatened that all the advantages their colour was supposed to bequeath them are fast disappearing?

But that’s progress, and it has come like it always does - slowly, out of all sorts of turmoil, angst and frustrations. Change ain’t easy - and this is a change that’s affecting patterns of thought that have been embedded in societies for centuries. So yes, dear reader, that is what this American election is all about: the right to identify yourself whichever way you want. But the lines you choose to cleave, or be cleaved along: colour, race or creed, etc, should not be the lines of oppression.

So, we’ve finally reached a point where all mankind is slowly realising that we’re all one race or another.

So, if race is a problem, then we all should be looking for solutions. After the US election is called! …in Guyana Some folks think it’s funny that with 99.99% of Guyanese being non-white, we still have a “race problem” in Guyana. But for those of us who have to live here day in, day out, it ain’t funny, is it? Trouble is, just like we learn in psychology, that “abused children become abusive parents”, it applies to sociology, where “abused groups become abusive rulers”. And Lord knows, we in Guyana have been abused…for hundreds and hundreds of years, as PARTICULAR GROUPS - Africans, Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, Mixed!!

They also say that the first step to solving any problem – especially a social one - is to first recognise that we got a problem. But, in Guyana, there’s a stubborn streak in the few who might’ve transcended the race problem for one reason or another - to deny the right of the rest of society to talk about what they EXPERIENCE. In the US, this was the dilemma of poor and less educated whites, who feel threatened and are still looking for the “advantage” they’re supposed to have.

So, as Oprah asks, can we talk? …with the rain Even though the meteorologists predicted that the intense rainfall would last till the weekend, your Eyewitness was quite thankful for the respite yesterday brought.

He took the opportunity to buy a pair of “long boots”.

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

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Walrond’s renounced citizenship

“I wouldn’t allow anyone to rush me” – Clerk of National Assembly

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

I

n the face of an ultimatum by the APNU/AFC Opposition, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, has said he would not be rushed by anyone regarding Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond’s renunciation of her American citizenship, as he awaits legal advice on the matter.

According to Isaacs, he dispatched a letter to his lawyer on Monday for legal advice on this issue. The Clerk noted that while he requested that the matter be dealt with expeditiously, there was no deadline given to the lawyer, hence there is no telling when the lawyer would respond.

After concerns were raised over her appointment as a Government Member of the Assembly, sitting as a technocrat minister, Walrond last month 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.

Despite this, however, the APNU/AFC Opposition has been calling for Minister Walrond’s resignation, claiming that she violated the Constitution, which prohibits persons holding dual citizenship from sitting in the National Assembly.

In fact, the Coalition wrote Parliament on Tuesday, issuing an ultimatum that the Clerk make public the release of Walrond’s Certification of Renunciation of US Citizenship within 24 hours or legal action would be taken. The Opposition is insisting that the information released by the Minister indicates that she is not qualified to be appointed a member of the National Assembly, consequently representing a breach of the Constitution of Guyana.

However, Isaacs has told Guyana Times that he received the letter from Opposition MP Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde only on Thursday, requesting that the Certificate be made public and sent to the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon.

According to the Clerk of the National Assembly, while he has released the renunciation certificates of other Members of Parliament, this particular case is not as straightforward as it seems.

“I wouldn’t allow anybody or anyone to rush me into this, because I know what would be the next step. So, I’m being careful, and when I receive the legal advice,

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs

then I will make it public and send it to the Leader of the Opposition,” Isaacs posited.

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

However, the Minister noted that she still took the step of renouncing her second citizenship “out of an abundance of caution.”

She explained in a statement on October 25 that after she was invited by President Dr Irfaan Ali to serve in his Cabinet on August 5 – the

same day she was sworn in as a Minister – she sought legal advice and was told 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.

“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.

Walrond went on to say that she wrote to the US Consular Office on August

Opposition MP Roysdale Forde

18, renouncing her citizenship of the United States of America with immediate effect, and was informed of the administrative procedure that she must comply with in order to obtain a Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States.

She added that she complied with that process by August 27, and have since received her Certificate.

However, even as the Coalition Opposition continues to peddle the narrative that Walrond is a dual citizen, a United States (US) Embassy official in Georgetown has

since disclosed that according to the Immigration and Naturalization Act, Section 349, Minister Walrond lost her American citizenship when she appeared before a consular officer to take her Oath of Renunciation.

US Embassy spokeswoman Violeta Talandis told this newspaper on Tuesday 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.

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.”

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Farmer hospitalised NA resident charged after chopping incident for Courts robbery at Stanleytown

A

farmer of Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara (WBD) is nursing several chop wounds about his body at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) following an incident on Wednesday.

The injured man has been identified as 39-year-old Qunicy Hill of Stanleytown, WBD. Based on information received, Hill was riding his bi-

cycle with a cutlass fastened between the lower bars, and as he proceeded along the roadway, an unidentified male approached him from behind and snatched the cutlass from the bicycle. Hill reportedly stopped and requested that the man return the cutlass, but the man instead dealt him several chops about his body. After committing the act, the man fled the scene while Hill was left there lying.

Hill’s uncle, a minibus driver, was contacted and told of the incident. Without hesitation, he went to the scene, picked up his nephew and took him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was admitted.

Hill sustained injuries to his hands and feet. His condition is regarded as stable.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the perpetrator.

The stolen items

A

38-year-old man was on Wednesday placed on $200,000 bail by New Amsterdam Magistrate Renita Singh before whom he appeared to answer a break-and-enterand- larceny charge.

Sunildatt Persaud, also known as “Sunil”, of Timmers’ Dam Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was not required to plead to the charge, particulars of which stated that on October 28, 2020 he broke

and entered the Main and St. Ann Streets premises of Courts Guyana Inc in New Amsterdam and stole a 43inch TCL flat-screen television, a PlayStation 4, and three smartphones.

The court heard that on the day in question, Police, acting on information received, went to the premises of Courts Guyana Inc. and observed that the main access door had been broken. As a result, they quickly searched the area, and

observed a male walking through St. Ann Street with a big box in his hand. He was intercepted, a search waas conducted on him and his possession, and the stolen items were found in his possession.

He was immediately arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station, where the items were lodged.

The accused will make his next court appearance on November 25, 2020.

Woman chops miner for slapping her

A

miner was on Wednesday evening chopped about his body by a female after he had reportedly slapped her during an argument at Logg Hill, Baramita, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima/ Waini).

The injured miner is 24-year-old Deon Henry of Logg Hill, Baramita, NWD.

Based on information received, Henry and the woman were reportedly imbibing when an argument broke out. The argument soon turned physical, and Henry dealt the woman several slaps to her face.

In retaliation, the woman left the drinking spot, but returned with a cutlass, approached Henry, and dealt him several

chops about his body.

Drenched in blood, the injured man jumped on his motorcycle and went home, where he told his family what had transpired. He was taken to the Baramita Health Centre, where he was treated and later sent away.

The suspect has been arrested, and is assisting detectives with their investigations.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ponzi scheme in Guyana

Trading companies cancel contracts, investors’ monies at risk – lawyer …pleads with SOCU, FIU, AG to cooperate

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

P

rime Trust and CoinZoom have cancelled their contracts with Cuban National Yuri Garcia-Dominguez and his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, who have been charged for money laundering, operating a pyramid scheme, and defrauding persons in Guyana of millions of dollars.

This was revealed by the couple’s lawyer, Dexter Todd, who during an interview with Guyana Times on Thursday noted that the cancellation of the contracts makes repayments to investors even more risky, as they stand the chance of losing their money.

Together, GarciaDominguez and his wife are facing more than 70 charges for obtaining money by false pretence from some 17,000 people. They are said to have obtained over $200 million. On October 12, 2020, the couple began reimbursing persons who had invested in their company, Accelerated Capital Firm Incorporated (ACFI).

However, the refunds came to an unexpected halt a few days later after ranks from the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) raided their home at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara and seized several pieces of equipment they claimed

were vital in processing the refund transactions. Only 27 persons have been refunded to date.

The ranks had a warrant to search and seize monies, devices, and financial documents that would assist in their money-laundering investigations. But no monies were found at the couple’s home. Instead, Police ranks seized several borrowed computers, cellphones and personal documents, including birth, marriage and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) certificates.

During a press conference on October 15, Todd had said, “The effect of the [search] is that the company is now not in a position to continue any forms of repayments to their clients. So those persons who have invested, they will now have to hold on until this matter is cleared up whether it be through the civil court or further interventions with the Police department. And when those items are returned, then they [his clients] will be in a position to continue the payments to the thousands of investors who are requiring their monies. When I say the materials are gone, I mean the phones, the laptops… the codes to withdraw the bitcoins and to transfer the bitcoins into dollars.”

Cooperate

According to Todd, ever since the search, the Police have not made contact with his clients. He explained that due to the magnitude of the allegations levelled against his clients, the international companies holding the bitcoins have begun cancelling his clients’ contracts. “Therefore, there will be a situation in which you have bitcoins and noting to convert them to US dollars,” the lawyer

Yuri Garcia-Dominguez (left) with his Attorney-at-Law, Dexter Todd

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

pointed out.

The lawyer said that as a result of this, persons who have invested in ACFI may lose their monies. On this note, the lawyer said he is pleading with Attorney General Anil Nandlall; Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum; SOCU, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to cooperate with his clients to ensure that all investors are repaid.

“We have to meet as a collaborative team on the way forward. They would have to cooperate in allowing the bitcoins to be converted. No bank in Guyana takes bitcoins and gave you cash.”

According to Todd, the prices of bitcoins fluctuate and the longer they are being held up means that his clients have no control over the market value. Todd indicated that he has since written to the Attorney General requesting a meeting on the way forward.

He added that the Attorney General should be in receipt of the letter by today. The lawyer said that similar letters will be dispatched to SOCU, FIU and the Crime Chief.

Court action

On behalf of his clients, Todd has filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court, asking that all charges and investigations against them be discontinued immediately. The couple has asked the High Court to order the Director of public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue all charges against them.

They are also asking the court to order the police to cease all investigations against them.

Todd contends that the actions taken so far by the Police, DPP and Attorney General are unlawful, unreasonable, in excess of jurisdiction, irrational, unfair, arbitrary, capricious, ultra vires, unconstitutional, without proper legal grounds, and therefore constitutes an abuse of public law power, null void, and of no legal effect.

The case comes up

for a case management conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 before acting Chief Justice Roxane George. In the meantime, the couple have been released on over $30 million bail with instructions to lodge their passports and report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.

Closed

The couple has ceased operations in Guyana after failing to obtain a license from the Guyana Securities Council.

The couple had stated that ACFI’s mode of business is trading on the international stock exchange.

Investing parties, having entered into a legally binding contract with ACFI, are permitted to invest a certain amount of capital.

Either the investing party or ACFI can then deposit same with brokers such as IQ Options and FX Choice which would then be traded on the international market.

The investing party subsequently receives 40 per cent to 50 per cent on their investment based

on the invested amount and the terms of the contract. They had explained that the company can and does monitor the activities of the international trading transaction undertaken by IQ Options and or FX Choice for and on behalf of the investors.

On instruction from ACFI, they explained that IQ Options and FX Choice are required to remit profits earned by investors from their investments to ACFI Prime Trust Account.

According to the husband and his wife, ACFI then wires the profits in the Prime Trust Account to its account at Bank of Baroda in Guyana.

Thereafter, they stated that the investing party subsequently receives 40 per cent to 50 per cent on their investment based on the invested amount and the terms of the contract.

Their lawyer has since assured that his clients have all intention of repaying investors as most of them are in dire need of their cash due to the economic burden brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

12 NEWS Sections of Georgetown still inundated as water slowly recedes T FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he streets of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, remained covered by over five centimetres (two inches) of water on

Thursday even as floodwaters continue to rapidly recede in other sections of the city, one day after heavy downpours.

During a visit to Prashad

Nagar, Regent Street, and Cemetery Road, it was observed that water had receded even though it continued to rain on Wednesday evening

The water level in South Ruimveldt

into Thursday morning.

However, residents of South Ruimveldt continued to dwell in floodwaters as most of their drains and streets were submerged.

Notwithstanding, the National Weather Watch Centre is advising that the current weather pattern is

season upon us, the Health Ministry has issued an advisory for persons to stay safe, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry advised persons living in flood-prone areas to stay out of the water as much as possible, to significantly reduce their chances

are urged to use clean water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and other domestic purposes. “Discard all foods that have been in contact with floodwaters safely by placing them in a plastic bag and deposit in a covered or closed bin,� the Health Ministry add-

The water in sections of Prashad Nagar had receded by Thursday

forecast to last until November 8, 2020.

Over the last 24 hours, the city has experienced approximately 25 cm (five inches) of rainfall. But the drainage capacity is 5 cm of water, hence the severity of the flooding.

With the secondary rainy

of contracting diseases, such as skin infections, leptospirosis, diarrhoea, and other water-borne diseases.

The Ministry also urged citizens to protect themselves and family against mosquitoes by sleeping under mosquito nets. In addition, they

ed.

Persons in need of support can contact the 24hour National Emergency Monitoring System of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on telephone numbers 226-1114 or 226-1617. Reports of flooding can also be made.

NEWS

13

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 300 Linden residents affected by floods – CDC provides immediate relief

M

ore than 300 residents of Linden have been affected by flash floods over the past couple of days owing to heavy downpours on Monday.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has since responded to calls made by Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Chairman Deron Adams to provide relief in the form of cleaning aids to affected households.

According to CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, assessment teams were deployed to affected communities to accurately capture the impact of the weather on public and private infrastructure in the community on Tuesday.

The hardest-hit households were on the Wismar shore at First, Second and Third Alleys, the Director General stated. Overall, 360 residents were affected by the floods according to the Regional Chairman.

By Tuesday, 180 of those were still inundated as cleaning and sanitising hampers were distributed to affected

A section of Linden under water

households. According to information from the National Weather Watch Centre, 36.2 millimetres of rainfall was recorded at Watooka, Linden on Thursday with an expected accumulation of 30-65 mm through to Monday.

As a result of the situation, Adams, while addressing members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) during a statutory meeting on Thursday, noted that elections for the appointment of new members for Community Development Councils (CDCs) which were to be held over the weekend have been postponed.

“This Council would not

sit idly by and see the flood situation impacting our residents worsen while persons try to play politics with the lives of our residents to create new CDCs where groups already exist, before executing the work that would alleviate this flood situation.

Our position is resolute to provide resources to the existing CDCs to execute whatever work needs to be done to make sure our residents are not flooded out, and later on, we can embark on...exercise to hold elections for CDCs...

At this time, we must move forward with relief to those communities that are affected,” he said.

The Regional Chairman, who had personally assessed the flooding situation, had noted serious concerns over the integrity of the bauxite tailings dyke at Kara Kara, Mackenzie which he said were communicated to Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI).

The outfall had overtopped and started to erode the roadway in the vicinity of the Kara Kara Bridge.

As a result, Chairman Adams reached out to Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) officials; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC to discuss the situation.

Adams also stressed the need for the clearing of creeks and outfalls at Wismar.

Speaking to Councillors on Thursday, he praised the quick response of the CDC, which, he noted, responded in less than 24 hours and provided 100 hampers of cleaning supplies to assist affected residents.

“It is my hope that we

Relief supplies arriving in Linden

would be able to partner with other agencies to provide some relief... to those affected,” he stated.

The Regional Chairman said he would continue to make representations to assist families in need.

Some of the affected areas, he pointed out, included Water Lily Road, Industrial Area, Retrieve, Kara Kara, Rainbow City, and Green Valley.

Intense rainfall which lasted for hours on Monday also led to severe flooding of the Central Mackenzie area.

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 floods.

Mother of 5 struck down by speeding car at Timehri … her mom calls for justice

A

mother of five was on Monday evening admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital after she was struck down by a speeding car along the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The injured woman has been identified as 29-yearold Michell Andries of Alliance Road, Timehri.

The accident reportedly took place about 21:00h and involved a white Carina 212 motor car. Guyana Times understands that following the accident, the driver fled the scene without rendering assistance to the woman who was lying on the roadway.

Speaking with this publication on Thursday, the woman’s distraught mother, Natasha Williams explained that her daughter travelled to Soesdyke, EBD,

tice, but her quest for justice seems like a never-ending battle.

“Up to now, the Police did not tell us anything, and the person that knock her down, they said that he ran away,” the mother stated.

The car that was involved in the accident was

Injured: Michell Andries

ried to the scene. Upon arriving there, however, there was no one at the scene, so she visited the Madewini Outpost, where she was informed that her daughter was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the hospital.

“I made contact with the Police when I went to the station; the Police told me

The car that was involved in the accident

to purchase groceries and was heading home when she was struck down by a speeding car. It is believed that the woman was attempting to cross the road.

Williams explained that she was at home when she received the news of the accident and immediately hur-

that they carried her to hospital, but they are awaiting until she recovers before taking any statement and so on,” Williams explained.

She added that after the accident, she had been behind the Police to bring those responsible to jus-

impounded, but Williams alleged that the owner went to the station and collected the car although the investigation is active.

According to the aggrieved mother, the future is looking very bleak, given that her daughter was the sole breadwinner of her fam-

ily.

“She actually is the sole breadwinner, but the father would help in between.

She is in the hospital, her left side leg break up, her hip break, and the shoulder fractured,” Williams stated.

She is calling on the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

to conduct a thorough investigation and swiftly bring the driver of the motorcar to justice.

When contacted, Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles was unable to provide any information relating to the accident.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 2 new COVID-19 deaths, toll now stands at 132 – 69 new cases recorded in 24 hours – patients to be transferred to Infectious Diseases Hospital next week

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

G

uyana on Thursday recorded two new COVID-19 deaths, thus being the number of persons who perished from the novel virus to 132.

The latest deaths are a 54-year-old man from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and a 74-yearold of Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Region Four. Both persons died while receiving medical attention at one of the facilities.

Guyana Times understands that family members of the 74-year-old who died also tested positive for the virus, and as such were quarantined.

Prior to these two deaths, the last deaths were reported on Tuesday after a 77-year-old female from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and a 92-yearold man from Region One (Barima-Waini) had died.

Meanwhile, Guyana also reported 69 new cases

of COVID-19. A breakdown shows that two new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), two in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), eight in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 52 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper

stated that they are looking to start transferring patients to the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara by next week.

Presently, equipment is being installed at the facility. Once completed, it will ease the burden off the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“In addition to equipment that we would be taking across, we also have new equipment that we would’ve bought, ventilators and so forth. So those we’re now installing. We want to start that transfer process by next

The Infectious Diseases Hospital

Essequibo) remained at 377, 139 and 376 respectively.

The Ministry’s release stated that 11 persons remain the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 69 in institutional isolation, 772 on home isolation and 49 in institutional quarantine. As of Thursday, there were 3409 recoveries.

Infectious Diseases Facility Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday

week. Once we complete that, Georgetown Public Hospital would be able to return to some form of normalcy,” the Minister shared.

Speaking on the staffing capacity at the new facility, he said some will be transferred from GPHC while there were some new recruitments.

“In terms of staffing, we do have the staff that are currently operating at the Georgetown Hospital at the

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

tected in these communities but a medical team remains on the ground to continue monitoring.

Infectious Diseases ICU. Those staff would be going across to man the new ICU that we have and also, we had a number of persons that we brought on, maybe about a month ago, so they will continue to be part of the staffing arrangements.”

Treatment

The Minister sought to point out that there is no specific drug as yet for treating COVID-19. As such, healthcare systems across many countries have been using medications which show positive results. Here in Guyana, remdesivir is used to treat critically-ill patients while some are treated with dexamethasone or

other drugs.

“What one should bear in mind is that none of these medications are really specific to COVID. There is no specific drug for COVID. A lot of these medicines have been repurposed to help with the treatment of COVID. Right now globally, they’re trying to develop more specific medicines for COVID-19.”

As it stands, the upsurge of cases in Region One, specifically the Kwebanna area, is stable through non-stop sensitization, testing, sanitization and treatment. The cases are not at 52 active cases and checks were done in neighbouring communities. Some positives were de-

COVI-CURB

Government had launched a massive campaign titled Operation COVI-CURB, aimed at sensitization, through collaboration with the Joint Services. Dr Anthony says this has seen successes.

They also continue to address the myths.

“We’ve been tweaking the message, depending on the feedback that we’re getting. In think by a large, most people know that they need to wear a mask, sanitize, keep safe distances…

We would, in the near future, be bringing out some new messages. I think the Joint Services has been able to assist us greatly.”

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

New loss of taste or smell

Muscle pain Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

15 Countries are failing to implement mental health services during COVID-19 pandemic – PAHO A NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

new survey conducted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that countries are falling short in implementing mental health services at a time when mental health support is paramount, according to PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa.

On Thursday, Dr Barbosa said, “Data from 29 countries show that while 27 of them have integrated mental health into their COVID-19 plans, only two are adequately funded.”

Noting that health-care workers have been particularly affected by COVID-19, “making extraordinary personal sacrifices and difficult decisions on the frontlines of the pandemic for months”, Barbosa said new data from six countries show worrying signs.

“One in five health workers is experiencing symp-

toms of depression. In Chile, nearly one in 10 has suicidal thoughts. Over 75 per cent of health workers are concerned about getting COVID-19 and virtually all are worried about infecting their loved ones,” he said, citing the COVID-19 HEROES cohort study aimed at examining the mental, behavioural, and social health problems experienced by health-care workers.

The study, a joint effort between the University of Chile and Columbia University, includes Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Mental health during a prolonged pandemic

Barbosa said mental health as well as physical health must remain a key consideration as we move towards the end of the first year of this global pandemic. “COVID-19 has disrupt-

ed our daily routines, forced millions into months-long isolation, devastated our economies, and caused an unimaginable loss of life. We have all been shaken – surveys from several countries show that the pandemic has increased the level of stress for many in our region, and some of us are battling anxiety and depression,” he added.

“Countries have also failed to sufficiently staff their mental health services, so care may be more out of reach than ever before: psychotherapy, substance abuse support, and access to medication have been significantly disrupted and remain unavailable to many who urgently need them,” he said, adding that even efforts to expand access through telemedicine have still not reached the majority of those who need it.

“Individuals living with mental health and substance

abuse disorders need reliable care and support, especially now,” he said. “Communitybased mental health services that are integrated into primary health care are a pillar of mental health services and vital to ensuring that no one gets left behind. Support should be provided where it is needed the most: close to the community,” Dr Barbosa told Journalists at the briefing.

COVID-19 in the Americas – public health measures flatten curves

The PAHO Assistant Director noted that “since the start of this pandemic, more than 20 million people have been infected with COVID-19 in the Americas, and nearly 650,000 have died. We are home to more than one in four cases and a third of the world’s coronavirus deaths”.

He said in the last seven

PAHO Assistant Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa

days, nearly one million new infections were reported in the Americas, “making it one of the worst weeks on record for COVID-19 infections in our region” .

While the cumulative number of new infections is high and continues to increase, he said, it is important to remember that

the perseverance shown by many countries in implementing public health measures has been effective in flattening the curve and protecting health services.

“Chile, for example, has been able to reduce its rates of infection four-fold since July. Similarly, Paraguay has also reduced trends since September after experiencing a peak in infections. And while Uruguay has experienced clusters of cases, it has been able to avoid community transmission.”

“This underscores why it is so important that national and local authorities implement all necessary public health measures, and why all of us must continue to take individual precautions – because they work. But it is vital that we maintain this collective effort to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our health-care systems until the end of the pandemic,” Dr Barbosa said.

GTT donates more bandwidth to e-Government

G

TT recently donated 100 per cent more bandwidth to the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), with the intent of providing faster connectivity to students across Guyana.

The capacity of the fibre Internet connection provided by GTT to the e-Government agency was upgraded from 3GB to 6GB on October 31, 2020 at no additional cost to the agency.

GTT Chief Executive

Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd explained the rationale behind the decision while lauding the e-Government agency for its efforts to keep students and teachers connected.

“Your effort to deliver broadband to schools across the country is commendable. Knowing that children have returned to school with an increased dependence on broadband, we thought it best to give this increase as we do our part to support your efforts

and the ambitions of our future generation,” he said.

Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the telecommunications sector, commended GTT for its contribution to students across Guyana.

“Without a doubt, this is an excellent move towards building a brighter tomorrow for our children. On behalf of all students across Guyana, we thank GTT for increasing the capacity for faster Internet con-

GTT Chief Elections Officer Justin Nedd

nectivity and look forward to your continued support,” Phillips related.

Head of the NDMA, Retired Lieutenant Commander Floyd Levi also praised GTT for the timely donation of increased bandwidth, noting it would go to the benefit of students accessing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs and schools with e-Government connectivity throughout the country.

“In these times, we are relying on technology a lot more – for work and learning. This increased bandwidth will assist in meeting the needs of students across Guyana to ensure continued learning for a bright future,” Levi noted.

E-Gov is a national initiative that connects 158 primary schools, 105 secondary schools, 241 ICT hubs and 33 tertiary institutes; GTT supports the efforts of e-Gov by assisting with connectivity.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We cannot guarantee no flooding in Region 6” – Regional Chairman

T

he Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Administration cannot guarantee that there will be no flooding in low-lying areas during the current rainy season, according to Regional Chairman David Armogan.

These were his sentiments while addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday.

This statement was in light of a recent advisory released by the Hydrometeorological Department that has predicted mostly thunderstorms over the next 14

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

days in Region Six. Armogan says pumps will have to be utilised to get water off the land to avoid prolonged flooding.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has asked us for a set of emergency measures that we have to put in place to make sure that all the sluices are cleaned.

Not all of the sluices have pumps, so we have to depend on a lot of gravity drainage. So, we have to make sure that the systems are cleared and cleaned, so that the water can flow easily out,” the Chairman told

the RDC. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has issued a warning for persons to take precaution during the spring tide expected next week.

Many areas could become inundated for days if there is heavy rainfall during the spring tide. The drainage system in the region has been designed to take off five centimetres (two inches) of water in a 24-hour period.

According to Armogan, the 12.7cm (five inches) of rainfall which the region ex-

perienced on Monday meant that in certain areas, water would have remained on the land for more than one day.

“Especially if we are operating with gravity flow, that is why it is necessary for us to have these pumps going so that when there is a change of tide, we can work the pumps and when there is a change in the tide again, we do the gravity flow,” he explained.

Despite these efforts, Armogan cautioned residents to brace themselves as the rainy season continued.

“We are preparing for the rainy season, but I cannot guarantee there will be no flooding, because if there is excessively heavy rainfall, then even with the pumps in place and the best drainage system in place, we will still have some amount of flooding, but we will try our best to ensure that we will avoid flooding, because flooding is very costly to farmers: they lose their crop in some instances.”

Cash crop and livestock farmers in the region are at great risk during this time.

Siparuta residents want to elect own leaders

Eugynie Ally, pineapple farmer

R

esidents of the Amerindian village of Siparuta which is currently governed by the Toshao of adjoining village Orealla are calling for the community to be granted the ability to elect its own leaders.

In doing so, the village would have the responsibility to effectively manage its affairs.

Under the current ar-

Toshao Carl Peneu

rangement, Orealla takes the post of Captain of the Orealla-Siparuta Village Council while Siparuta gets the Vice Captain position.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the two communities on Monday, and residents of Siparuta expressed their dissatisfaction with the service they were receiving

under the current Village Council.

Eugynie Ally, a pineapple farmer, told the Ministers that many of the villagers were easily bought over by members of the Orealla-Siparuta Village Council. “We put the Councillors there not to develop themselves,” she remarked.

She noted that a certain vessel has been making weekly trips taking lumber

from the community, but there have been no returns to show.

According to her, the boat is packed with at least 15,000 board measurement (BM) of wood on every trip.

“And every week, two or three boats coming for sand. Where is all the money? There is no project in Siparuta to show. So, Minister, we need our own Village Captain and we need Councillors to listen to us – they are not there as kings and queens. You know what they put on the internet?

They are the boss: Big Boss and Lil’ Boss,” she said in a voice filled with passion.

While still articulating the plight of the community, Ally claimed that members of the Village Council have been rigid on enforcing the wearing of face masks and social distancing, but in the evening they are hosting parties.

Another resident, Lenard Felix explained that the Council has failed to hold meetings with the village although residents have burning issues to be addressed.

“They are not telling us anything; that is why we need our own Village Captain,” he said.

However, the residents did not stop there, since they accused the Toshao of not visiting the community at all since the year start-

The Orealla Village Council

ed, but suddenly showing up on Monday when the Government Ministers visited.

“When it was election time, he come and promises that he will be coming every week. We say we will get weary of seeing him. Now he is Captain, we never see him. If it was not for you all, he would not have come,” Gladis Felix related.

In response to some of the complaints, Minister Mustapha explained that it would take a long time for the necessary policies to be put in place to allow Siparuta to have its own Toshao and Village Council.

He added that the Council and residents needed to find common ground and work together in the meantime.

Nevertheless, he promised to consult with the Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai on the issues raised and request that she visited the community.

In addition, Orealla residents have echoed similar sentiments about the manner in which their village is managed.

Percy Peneux claimed that the sand buyers pay for less than half of the sand they take out of the community. He noted that the lack of a general meeting in the village was one worrying matter.

“We have many more issues like financial irregularities and other issues which have to be dealt with emergency.”

Toshao Carl Peneux has defended himself, stating that owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings were not held for the year, but noted that the financials of Orealla Village Council were audited last December and were currently in order.

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry is expected to carry out another audit at the end of the year, as such is mandatory before elections are held for a new Toshao.

These elections are due next year.

The Toshao told Guyana Times that the sand miners come with their own equipment and fuel, hence the Village is obliged to accept whatever payments are being offered. All royalties, he added, are divided equally between Orealla and Siparuta. (Andrew Carmichael)

17 More rain predicted until Monday in Regions 2, 4, 7, 8 and 10 T NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) says that more rain is forecasted for today through Monday in various regions across Guyana.

According to a statement from the CDC, Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) are expected to have heavy rains with an accumulation of between 30 and 65mm.

The CDC has urged residents of riverine, low-lying and flood-prone areas to take all necessary precautions to prevent flooding of properties. The Commission has even prepared sandbags to deliver to areas that are vulnerable to flooding.

On Wednesday, torrential rainfall in the early morning hours resulted in sections of Georgetown and several other communities across the country being inundated. This was further exacerbated by the continuing above-normal high tides, which have been predicted to overtop river and sea defences.

The National Weather Watch Centre disclosed that during Wednesday’s rainfall, Region Two experienced 25mm of rainfall,

Demerara, the villages/wards of Bagotstown, Herstelling, Grove Public Road, Supply and Mocha Arcadia were also assessed.

Meanwhile, the CDC on Thursday continued its flood response with more distribution of cleaning and sanitation hampers to households that were impacted by recent floods. A team from the Commission distributed these hampers

along the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips – who has ministerial responsibilities for disaster risk management – has directed the CDC to partially activate the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in response to the flooding.

Assessments and response were conducted ear-

Representatives of the CDC distributing supplies to residents on the EBD

Region Three was hit with a 73.1mm, while Region Four had its highest of 32mm at Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara.

The figure recorded for Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) was 44.6mm, Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) was 105.8mm, and Watooka in Region 10 was recorded at36.2mm.

The CDC has since conducted assessments around the capital city. The Commission visited and met with residents in North and

South Ruimveldt, East and West Ruimveldt, Alexander Village, Stabroek, Charlestown, Albouystown, Wortmanville, D’Urban Park and Bel Air. Assessments were also conducted along the East Coast of Demerara at Industry, Plaisance, Better Hope, La Bonne Intention, Beterverwagting, Triumph, Mon Repos, Le Reconnaissance, Annandale, Lusignan, Buxton, Foulis, and Coldigen.

On the East Bank of

Sandbags prepared by the CDC for distribution

in communities along the East Bank of Demerara.

Cleaning and sanitisation supplies were also distributed to several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) for them to distribute to impacted villagers in Region Three

lier in the week to communities along the East Coast of Demerara in Region Four, on the West Coast of Berbice in Region Five and in the town of Linden in Region 10.

The Commission prepared sanitation and clean-

ing supplies have been completed for households that have been inundated.

The NEOC commenced strategising for the current situation via a virtual meeting, and has said the projected impending showers and thundershowers are expected to last until November 10, 2020.

The activated NEOC includes representatives from the CDC, Office of the Prime Minister, Mayor & City Councillors of Georgetown, Ministry of Local Government, Guyana Hydrometeorological Services, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Health, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, National Drainage & Irrigation Authority, Guyana Red Cross Society, Rotary Club of Georgetown and St. John’s Ambulance Brigade.

In light of the increased rainfall and the possibility of flooding in coastal and outlying areas, the Ministry of Health has advised the general public to pay special attention to their health, personal hygiene, vector control, food and water safety, and public health especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

US Election 2020:Votes remain poised on knife-edge

P

resident Donald Trump has accused Democrats without evidence of trying to “rig” Tuesday’s US election as the result hangs in the balance.

His Democratic challenger Joe Biden earlier appealed for calm as the nail-biting count drags on in five states.

While clinging to his edge in Nevada and Arizona, Biden has been chewing into the Republican President’s lead in Pennsylvania and Georgia.

It follows one of the most rancorous presidential races in living memory.

What did Trump say?

In his first public remarks since appearing at the White House in the early hours of Wednesday, the President said: “If you count the legal votes, I easily win.

“If you count the illegal votes they can try to steal the election from us.”

Beyond allegations of irregularities, the Trump campaign has not presented any evidence of election fraud.

Speaking from the White House on Thursday, the President added: “We were winning in all the key locations, by a lot actually, and then our numbers started getting miraculously whittled away in secret and they wouldn’t allow legally-permissible observers.”

“Stop the count” or “count the votes” - why are Trump protesters chanting both?

Trump’s critics have pointed out his lead is being cut into, because he actively discouraged his supporters to vote by mail, while Biden urged his voters to use postal ballots, and it is these votes that are now being tallied in the key states.

The President added: “There’s been a lot of shenanigans and we can’t stand for that in our country.”

What’s the reaction?

Trump’s remarks were criticised by a couple of fellow Republicans who have in the past been rare voices of dissent against the President within his party.

Outgoing Michigan Congressman Paul Mitchell, who decided not to

run for re-election this year, said: “Our nation demands that its political leaders accept both wins and losses with grace and maturity.

Let the voters decide.”

Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger said: “If you have legit concerns about fraud present evidence and take it to court.

Stop spreading debunked misinformation... This is getting insane.”

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan – who has previously spoken out against Trump – was more forthright in his criticism.

“There is no defence for the President’s comments tonight,” he tweeted, “undermining our Democratic process. America is counting the votes, and we must

respect the results as we always have before.”

What did Biden say?

Earlier on Thursday, speaking from his campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden appealed for calm across the country.

In a brief televised address, the Democratic challenger again expressed confidence he would be declared the winner.

“Democracy is sometimes messy,” he said. “It sometimes requires a little patience as well.

“But that patience has been rewarded now for more than 240 years, the system of governance that has been the envy of the world.”

He added: “I asked ev-

eryone to stay calm. All people to stay calm. The process is working. The count is being completed.

And we’ll know very soon.”

As results gradually trickle in, protests involving both sides have been held in major cities over the vote counting.

What’s the current state of the race?

Tuesday’s presidential election has a cliffhanger ending in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina.

Biden has since been declared the winner of Michigan and likely Wisconsin, while nail-biting vote counts involving

razor-thin margins have kept America on edge in the other five states.

Biden now has 253 electoral college votes, giving him a commanding lead in the race to accumulate the 270 needed to win the White House under the state-by-state US election system. Trump has 214.

A win in just Pennsylvania or two of the other four remaining states would be enough to confirm Biden as President-elect, barring any longshot legal challenge.

Trump, meanwhile, needs to win Pennsylvania and three of the remaining four states: Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada.

A senior Trump Administration official told the BBC’s US partner CBS News that Trump did not plan to concede if Biden ultimately declared victory.

The unnamed official vowed the legal fight would go on, adding: “In a free and fair election, the President will win.”

Trump’s team has raised millions of dollars for a legal battle.

Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, meanwhile, predicted in a webinar hosted by a think tank earlier on Thursday that Trump would “absolutely” run for President again in four years’ time if he lost to Biden. (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Regional

ex-Army Chief Voting starts in St Vincent Mexican pleads not guilty in high-stakes cartel case and the Grenadines F E

lectors in St Vincent and the Grenadines began casting ballots at 07:00h Thursday to elect a new government amid light showers in some parts of the country.

Electoral officials say that 98, 119 persons are registered to vote in this country of 110, 000 residents.

Three parties fielded 32 candidates and there is one independent candidate vying for the 15 seats in the national assembly.

The incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP), which is seeking an unprecedented fifth term in office, as well as the main Opposition

Vincentians line up to vote at the Faith Temple Church at New Montrose in West Kingstown (Picture courtesy Searchlight)

New Democratic Party (NDP) each have 15 candidates.

The SVG Green par-

ty has two candidates and there is an independent candidate in Osordo Edwardo Bennett, who is in a three-

way race in South Leeward.

Polls closed at 17:00h for persons who were not in quarantine owing to the novel coronavirus – COVID-19.

Then, from 17:00h to 17:30h, the 242 electors who are in quarantine will be allowed to cast their ballots.

Meanwhile, the local Meteorological Office said “weak unstable conditions are across the islands” and the weather is expected to be partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times with some light to moderate scattered showers. (Excerpt from CMC)

T&T CoP wants Express to apologise, pay for “absurd” articles

T

rinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has threatened to sue the Trinidad Express newspaper over a report on his handling of firearm user’s licence (FUL) applications.

In a pre-action letter sent to the newspaper’s parent company One Caribbean Media Limited (OCM), late last week, Griffith’s lawyers claimed that the newspaper and its investigative reporter, Denyse Renne defamed

him in the report, which alleged that a FUL had been issued to a person with convictions for illegal firearms.

“These allegations against the CoP are defamatory as they insinuate that the CoP is dishonest, facilitates criminality by supplying criminal offenders with firearm licences, and is biased in favour of donors to the T&T Police Service (TTPS). Such inferences connote the CoP as being unreliable and incompetent to act in his capacity,”

Griffith’s lawyer Joel Roper said.

“Moreover, there is no justification or truth to such allegations and Ms Renne has not advanced any evidence in support of same,” he added.

Roper also took aim at claims in the report on October 25, that Griffith had favoured persons who had supported the I Support Our Service (ISOS) initiative, which is the brainchild of Griffith’s wife, Nicole Dyer-

Griffith.

“Ms Renne’s interest and insinuation that a mere handful of those in the business sector who support the Police, through the ISOS project are in fact doing so only to be granted firearm licences, is an outrageous and absurd insinuation which seeks to do nothing more than create scandal and is only intended to besmirch the name of the CoP and his integrity,” Roper said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Eta wreaks “shocking” Central America devastation, death toll surges

T

he remnants of Hurricane Eta unleashed torrential rains and catastrophic flooding on Central America, with fatalities sharply up on Thursday as streets turned into rivers and dozens more were feared to be buried in their homes by mudslides.

In Guatemala, the death toll shot up past 50 over the course of the day, according to President Alejandro Giammattei, who said mudslides around the town of San Cristobal Verapaz had swallowed about 25 homes.

“Right now, we’re trying to get there on foot because there’s no other way,” said Giammattei, referring to flooded-out roads near the town, located about 193 km (120 miles) north of the Guatemalan capital.

In neighbouring Honduras, families waded through flooded streets of the northern city of San Pedro Sula, while cars sat almost submerged in parts of the central Guatemalan city of San Pedro Carcha, television footage and images posted on social media showed.

Hundreds of people were left stranded on roofs in Honduras as frantic rescue efforts played out, which were credited with taking around 500 people to safety.

“The situation is serious, it’s shocking and needs to be dealt with professionally, fast,” Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez told HCH television earlier in the day.

Damage and destruction had spread across

T

been identified as Alfredo L, was detained in Ciudad Juárez, one year to the day after the murders of the three Mormon women and six children in the state of Sonora.

He is the second person

cepted Blackberry messages, Prosecutors say Cienfuegos used his power in office to protect a faction of the BeltranLeyva cartel, directing operations against rival gangs and even finding maritime transport to ship drugs.

Judge Steven Gold accepted the plea, made via a video link at a Brooklyn federal court. Cienfuegos is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, a troubled and crowded jail that also holds Ghislaine Maxwell.

The next court date is set for November 18 before US District Judge Carol Bagley Amon, said a spokesman for acting US Attorney Seth DuCharme in Brooklyn. The proceeding is currently scheduled to be in-person.

Before the hearing, Edward Sapone, a lawyer for Cienfuegos, said his client was presumed innocent of the charges in the four-count indictment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tobago seniors to get Zoom training

T

obago’s senior citizens are to benefit from virtual training in the use of the Zoom app.

At the post-executive council media briefing on Wednesday at the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex, Scarborough, Secretary for Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour Marslyn Melville-Jack hailed the success of a recent Zoom training programme for seniors in the communities of Spring Garden, Whim, Union and Mary’s Hill (SWAM).

Zoom is used for online conversations and meetings.

She said the pilot initiative came about as a result of the work of the community consultative protection planning unit.

Melville-Jack said the unit, which is attached to the division, goes into communities and holds discussions with village councils to determine challenges and other issues.

“It was while this team was liaising with the SWAM community via Zoom that the idea of virtual training for seniors came about,” she said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

CTO launches “Caribbean Awaits” campaign

T

A man carries his dog as he walks with other people through a flooded street during the passage of Storm Eta, in La Lima, Honduras, November 5, 2020

the “vast majority” of Honduras and speedboats and helicopters would be sent to rescue people in inaccessible areas, Hernandez added.

One of the fiercest storms to hit Central America in years, Eta

struck Nicaragua as a Category Four hurricane on Tuesday with winds of 241 km per hour (150 miles per hour) before weakening to a tropical depression as it moved inland and into neighbouring Honduras.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico Police arrest man over 2019 Mormon killings he office of Mexico’s Attorney General says that a man has been arrested in connection with the killing of nine members of a Mormon community in 2019.

The man, who has only

ormer Mexican Defence Minister Salvador Cienfuegos pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Thursday in a case that has put US-Mexican cooperation in the fight against powerful cartels to the test.

Cienfuegos, a top player in Mexico’s war on drug gangs until two years ago, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport last month in a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation.

He was transferred this week to Brooklyn, New York, where he is detained and faces trial.

Cienfuegos, 72, served as Defence Minister for six years under former President Enrique Pena Nieto. The arrest shocked the Mexican military establishment and has put strains on security cooperation with the United States, which has become increasingly close over the past 30 years.

Building the case off inter-

to be arrested in connection with the case.

The family of the victims says there are more than 100 suspects in the case.

The statement by the Attorney-General’s office about the arrest of Alberto

L did not make clear which of the gangs he is suspected of belonging to, simply alleging that he is “a member of a criminal organisation present in the north of the country”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) has announced a social media campaign dubbed #TheCaribbeanAwaits, in observance of Caribbean Tourism Month this month.

The campaign, which is being run in conjunction with member countries, aims to maintain the Caribbean’s prominence as a place of solace as COVID-19 continues to impact the global travel and tourism industry.

“This theme compliments the Region’s success in generally containing the spread of COVID-19, which has taken a major toll on tourism along with other 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,” said Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting Secretary General in a message to mark the start of the month.

“The resilience of the Caribbean is shown by the progress we have made towards the resumption of tourism activity. Currently, about 25 Caribbean countries have reopened their borders to commercial travel, either fully or partially, and others are putting the necessary measures in place to welcome visitors.

This year’s theme further compliments the reopening of our borders, as the clarion call ‘We welcome you’ speaks to the fact that the Caribbean is the perfect place for those who have begun to travel or are thinking of travelling soon, to find solace in a place that is an oasis of health at this time,” Walters added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Oil prices drop as markets await US election result

O

il prices dropped on Thursday morning as a highly contested presidential election continued to be too close to call , although Democratic candidate Joe Biden was within six electoral votes to win.

As of 11:37h ET on Thursday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude was down 1.53 per cent at US$38.47, and Brent Crude was trading down 1.50 per cent at US$40.74, as Biden was in the lead in electoral votes over President Donald Trump.

A Trump win would be more bullish for oil, analysts say, because of the President’s continued pro-oil policies. Biden, on the other hand, has said he would seek a path of diplomacy toward Iran, which could potentially bring Iranian barrels back to the oil market at some point next year under a Biden Administration.

Yet, a President Biden would not be as bad for oil prices as it would look on the face of it, analysts say. First, they expect a weaker US dollar, which typically boosts oil prices because crude becomes cheaper for holders of other currencies.

In addition, Republicans are set to keep the majority in the Senate while Democrats have lost a few seats in the House – this, according to analysts, would keep a President Biden from passing climate policies that could be too harsh on the oil industry.

“A Trump win will likely to be bullish for oil, at least more bullish than under a Biden Administration,” Tamas Varga at oil brokerage PVM told Reuters.

Oil prices jumped on Wednesday after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported an eight-million-barrel draw in crude oil inventories in the United States last week.

This draw, a weaker US dollar, and surging risk appetite after the ‘blue wave’ in the US election failed to materialise, supported oil on Wednesday.

“However, with Biden on the brink of a narrow win, a continued surge in COVID-19 cases in Europe and the US and rising production from Libya, the recovery stalled overnight with focus returning to what support OPEC+ can give at a time of weakening fundamentals. A delay to the January hike increasingly looks like a bare minimum,” John Hardy, Head of FX Strategy at Saxo Bank, said on Thursday. (Oilprice. com)

Kosovo President arrested, moved to The Hague to face war crimes charges

F

ormer Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, was arrested and transferred to the detention centre of the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday to face charges of war crimes.

Thaci had resigned with immediate effect earlier in the day after learning that the tribunal had confirmed a war crimes indictment against him.

Thaci and three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are accused of overseeing illegal detention facilities where the movement’s opponents were kept in inhumane conditions, tortured and sometimes killed.

Thaci has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He told a news conference in the Kosovo capital Pristina that he felt his resignation was necessary “to protect the integrity of the state”.

Thaci arrived at Pristina’s military airport in the afternoon and was flown to The Hague, where he was taken into custody by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

The move could bring political instability to Kosovo, a young democracy where the 52-year-old former guerrilla became the first Prime Minister in 2008 and was elected President in 2016.

US election results: Trump sues as path to victory over Biden narrows

D

onald Trump and Joe Biden are each confident of victory in the US presidential election, as the outcome hangs in the balance with both sides embroiled in a legal fight over votes.

Vote counting is still going on in crucial battleground states that will decide the election.

Projected wins in the Rust Belt states of Michigan and Wisconsin have inched Biden closer to victory.

As results trickle in, Trump has challenged vote counts in key states.

The President has made unfounded assertions of victory and allegations of voter fraud, accusing Democrats of trying to “steal” the election.

Biden stopped short of declaring victory, but said he was confident he was on course to beat his Republican rival.

The Democratic candi-

Overall turnout in Tuesday’s election is projected to be the highest in 120 years at 66.9 per cent, according to the US Election Project

date is currently leading in Nevada and Arizona, while the gap is closing between him and Trump as counting continues in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Overall turnout in Tuesday’s election is projected to be the highest in 120 years at 66.9 per cent, according to the US Election

Project.

Biden had the support of 70.5 million voters, the most won by any presidential candidate ever. Trump has pulled in 67.2 million votes, four million more than he gained in 2016.

The bitter election race was dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, which hit

a new record high of 103,000 daily cases in the US on Wednesday, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

But the economy, which has been badly affected by the pandemic, was the most important single issue to voters, exit poll data indicated. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Europe must strengthen its borders after attacks, says Macron

E

urope must rethink its open-border Schengen area, including a more robust protection of the zone’s external frontiers, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, after a spate of Islamist attacks in France and Austria.

The tighter controls were needed to curb clandestine immigration, said Macron, adding that the criminal gangs illegally trafficking migrants into Europe were often linked to terror networks.

“I am in favour of a deep overhaul of Schengen to rethink its organisation and to strengthen our common border security with a proper border force,” Macron said on a visit to the FrancoSpanish border.

Macron said he would present proposals to European Union partners at a summit in December.

France will rally support before then and hopes Germany will put its name to the plan, a Government official said, citing the Netherlands and Austria as

other possible allies.

Europe is reeling from two attacks in the past week that involved assailants who moved freely between Schengen member states.

On October 29, a Tunisian man killed three people in a church in Nice. Brahim Aouissaoui had arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa, which lies off North Africa, five weeks earlier. After being transferred to the mainland, Aouissaoui travelled into France by train hours before launching his attack.

The jihadist who killed four people in Vienna on Monday travelled to neighbouring Slovakia in July in an attempt to buy ammunition, Austrian officials said.

Macron said the recent attacks were a warning to Europe that “the terrorist risk is everywhere”.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio this week also pressed for Europe to bolster its defences against terrorism and again stressed the need for a revamp of EU immigration laws. (Excerpt from Reuters)

British Police arrest 104 Heavy shelling hits Nagornofor breach of Karabakh’s largest city – sources Londoners lockdown restrictions Former Kosovo Hashim Thaci

President

Prosecutors in July said they hold Thaci responsible for nearly 100 murders of civilians during the 199899 war when he was a KLA commander who fought the Serbian Police and army.

Thaci, a US-backed national hero, embarked on his political career after leading the KLA’s battle against forces under late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

Ties with the administration of US President Donald Trump deepened in September, when Kosovo and Serbia signed an economic relations deal at the White House.

The European Union on Thursday welcomed Thaci’s cooperation with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where he is expected to come before a pre-trial judge in coming days. (Excerpt from Reuters)

N

agorno-Karabakh’s largest city came under heavy shelling on Thursday, three sources working there said, as Reporters Without Borders called for the safe evacuation of civilians who it says are trapped in Stepanakert.

Writing on Twitter, Reporters Without Borders, a nonprofit group, called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and Azerbaijan “to do everything possible” to allow an evacuation of civilians, including 80 local and foreign Journalists.

At least 1000 people and possibly many more have been killed since fighting broke out on September 27 in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.

A freelance reporter work-

ing in Stepanakert, who did not wish to be identified, told Reuters by telephone that the city was under shelling before turning off the handset to avoid the risk of detection.

“The air raid siren hasn’t stopped all day,” a second reporter said, again speaking by telephone from Stepanakert.

A third Journalist, from France, said that some reporters had left the city via a northern route because the main road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, via the strategic region of Lachin was also under fire.

The ethnic Armeniancontrolled NagornoKarabakh Emergency and Rescue Service said on Thursday that Stepanakert – called Khankendi by Azerbaijan – was being shelled by Azeri forces.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

B

ritish Police said they had arrested 104 Londoners on Thursday for breach of coronavirus regulations.

“More than 100 of these people have now been arrested and will have to face the consequences of their actions,” the Metropolitan Police “We expect the number of arrests to said. “We expect increase….”— Police the number of arThursday rests to increase as our policFrance would see the numing operation continues into ber of COVID-19 sufferers in the night.” intensive care peak at 6000 if Meanwhile, the second the public complied with the wave of coronavirus infec- new lockdown, or as many as tions tearing across France 7000 if the virus continued will be more severe than spreading as it is now with the first experienced in the not everyone respecting the spring if it is allowed to con- confinement rules, Health tinue spreading at the cur- Minister Olivier Veran said. rent rate, the country’s (Excerpt from Reuters) Health Minister said on

20

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Look for opportunities, send out your resume and market your skills. Actions will speak louder than words. Physical activities will alleviate anxiety.

Thwart outside interTAURUS ference before it has a (April 20chance to manifest. Take May 20) control and bring about the changes that you want to see happen.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

SUDOKU

Be reasonable, stay focused and control your emotions. If you get into a battle over something you cannot change, you’ll waste valuable time. Concentrate on what you can accomplish.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Spend time on self-improvement, learning new skills and updating your image. Stop worrying so much about what others think, and put your energy into reaching your goals.

VIRGO

Embrace change, set up new goals and gather information to help you on your way. Don’t give in to someone putting unreasonable demands on you. Make your plans your first priority.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Think more about what you want and what you can do. Distance yourself from people and practices that have let you down and focus on what’s possible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t get angry; get moving. Assess situations carefully. Arguing will be a waste of time. Progress will come from taking hold of a situation and dealing with matters constructively.

SCORPIO

Create an environment that is conducive to achieving your goals. Choosing a unique lifestyle will lead to personal growth, confidence and success. Follow the path that makes you feel alive.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Home improvements look SAGITTARIUS promising. Do as much of the work yourself as possible (Nov. 23to avoid unnecessary costs.

Dec. 21) Verify information before you make a decision or hire someone you shouldn’t. Romance will brighten your day.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Easy does it; don’t feel that you must jump through hoops to appease someone.

Concentrate on your objective, not on what others do or say. You’ll gain the most if you implement the changes that suit your needs.

Take care of documents before they expire. Look for alternative ways to budget for something you need or for changes you want to make. Romance and partnerships look inviting.

Focus on creativity and innovative ideas. A chance to make extra cash is within reach. Team up with someone who shares your beliefs and has something to offer.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

21

Archery Guyana hosts successful AGM A

rchery Guyana Inc. continues to lead the way for sporting entities and set a precedent last Saturday 31st October, 2020 as it hosted its first Virtual AGM via online Platform Microsoft Teams. Members were given an opportunity to discuss the activities and plans for the way forward to promote the sport of Archery in Guyana.

The Meeting commenced with President of Archery Guyana, Mr. Mohamed Gamal Khan delivering powerful Opening Remarks to the members present, after which Minutes from the previous Meeting were adopted.

Secretary-General of Archery Guyana, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon then delivered a comprehensive report to the membership, giving a brief background from its establishment in August 2014 to the end of the reporting period of 30th October, 2020.

She reported on the status of the website, membership, the various Sub-Committees and the proposed National Schools Programme which had started just before the COVID-19 Pandemic, with the introduction to Isa Islamic Academy and Queen’s College.

the Ministry of Indigenous tire proceeds were donated to People’s Affairs for the 5th Mercy Home for the Elderly. year for another grand weekThe most recent Fund-raising end of traditional archery at exercise has been the sale of Heritage Games 2019.

Archery Guyana shirts, deArchery Guyana has also signed by Nicholas Hing and been active with its activities Wayne DeAbreu. and communication during Affiliation to the GOA was the COVID-19 Pandemic, ingranted last year to Archery cluding issuance to memGuyana. Since then, the Board bers of recommendations for has duly made an application safety measures when refor what would have been turning to Training, the sugthe Tokyo 2020 Tripartite gested safety protocols set From left to right: Secretary General Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, President Commission Invitation Places

by World Archery for regu- Mohamed Gamal Khan and Treasurer Nicholas Hing and learnt that Archer, Devin lar training together with Persaud was ranked 5th in a document released by the WA Medical Archery Judges hosted by the International priority by the executives of the Guyana Committee. Archery Guyana in collabora- Governing Body for Archery. It is a 12-ses- Olympic Association. His name will be subtion with the Guyana Olympic Association, sion seminar which began on October 12 mitted in the priority list to the IOC for confacilitated the allocation of face masks to all and concludes on November 6 with an exam. sideration for the Tripartite application.

11 persons are currently participating, and members.

Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, A number of online courses have been or- is the first PAID Course we offered for the Archery Guyana had plans to host a 20-hr ganised and facilitated by World Archery, last 3 years Olympic Recurve Clinic with 2 coaches from This historic training seminar will result Canada to include persons from Regions 4, namely: Sports Science in Archery Course; Classification Basics: assignment, as- in Guyana having National Archery Judges 5, 6 and 10. A proposal was submitted to the which also provides GOA as an Olympic Solidarity Course and a unique opportu- is awaiting favourable consideration on the nity for successful way forward.

International events applicants to deGuyana Olympic Committee was Also reported on were the World velop a new skillset thanked for inviting Archery Guyana to its Archery Ranking Tournament in and participate in Seminars thus far. Two coaches, Nicholas Santiago City, Chile last year when the advancement Hing and Umasankar Madray participated Wayne Gerald DeAbreu, representand development in the Plus 1% Training course from June ed Guyana at this event which also of the discipline in 29-30, 2019. Also, on October 26, 2019, the served as a Second stage qualifiGuyana. National GOA hosted a Sports Forum. National Head er for Pan-American Games, Lima Judges are held in Coach, Nicholas Hing represented Archery 2019. The Caribbean Beginners and high esteem and at this Forum.

Developmental Championships was also depending on perreported on with Robert Singh’s particsonal commitment ipation in Santo Domingo. The Caledon Upcoming Events this can also open Tournament in Ontario, Canada was 1. Guyana will be represented at the presa pathway into behighlighted when Devin Persaud creattigious World Archery Americas General coming a Regional ed history as the first Guyanese to seAssembly in November by three (3) memArchery Judge on cure a Minimum Qualification Score for bers: Mr. Mohamed Khan, Mrs. Vidushi the WAA (World Recurve Men with a 640 score, resultPersaud-McKinnon and Mr. Robert Singh.

Archery America’s) ing in Guyana being placed on an offi2. Target Building Project – This is a roster of Judges cial list released by World Archery as Introduction of archery to Queen's College continuous Project undertaken by Archery and by extension one of the countries eligible to apply for Guyana: the Target Building Project which an International the invitational place at the Olympics. is currently being conducted by members loJudge on WA Double 720 Qualification (Baltimore) sistive devices and equipment inspeccally.

(World Archery) roster of Judges. Applicants was also mentioned where Wayne Gerald tion; Introduction of and development of 3. PVC Bow Making Seminar – We would should be persons who are matured, honest, DeAbreu and Devin Persaud also partici- Compound Archery. like to host another PVC bow making semA virtual Bow-Tuning Session was con- decent and possess integrity. pated. This World Archery approved tournainar in the near future so as to build more Indoor and outdoor practice sessions conment resulted in DeAbreu with a 626 score ducted by Trinidad & Tobago Level 4 arbows which can in turn be used for training tinued for 2019 with the kind permission of chery coach Sherwin Francis. and Persaud with a 620. and whetting the appetite of new members.

During the reporting period, the Board the NSC and the Ministry at the National 4. Virtual Q&A Session with Wayne and of Directors also participated in a success- Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue and at the Devin.

Local competitions ful virtual Meeting with Carifesta Sports Complex Ground, Carifesta World Archery Americas Avenue.

Thanks & Collaborations Collaboration with International Bodies (WAA) and other National Thanks are expressed to the following Federations where a number such as World Archery, World Archery persons who assisted in one way or the other of areas were discussed, e.g Americas, the Caribbean Initiative Meetings for reporting period: The Ministry of Sport; which is part of a Caribbean initiative to Coach Trainers.

The National Sports Commission; Mr Ryan In the Online Archery have archery federations in the region McKinnon, Infotrans Guyana Inc / Neutrino Cup of the Americas, Archery working more closely with the aim of hav- Inc; Mr Julius Simon; Commissioner Guyana was tasked with ing archery as part of the Carifta Games, for General Mr Godfrey Statia; the Guyana conducting Qualification greater development and exposure for our Revenue Authority; Mr Harryram Parmesar, rounds, which was a 600 athletes. Archery Guyana’s President, Mr. Parmesar Accounting Firm; Members round. Scores were record- Gamal Khan represents Archery Guyana on and the Board of Archery Guyana Inc; Mr ed electronically, pictures of this virtual forum.

Umasankar Madray; Mr. Robert Singh; Mr Collaboration with Local Bodies such equipment, scorecards and Ray Beharry; Seven Seas,; Massy Industries; the target were sent to the as Guyana Beverages Inc., Muslim Youth Brand Manager Raymond Govinda & Competitions and Judging Organisation and MMG was reported on.

General Manager Samuel Arjoon of Guyana A Specially Convened Committee has Committee via Whatsaap Beverages Inc; Muslim Youth Organisation for tabulations and scrutiny. been established and mandated to develop (MYO) and the media.

Seven archers took on the the sport of Para-Archery in Guyana. This Treasurer of Archery Guyana, Mr. challenge as was reported in follows on the heels of our attendance at the Nicholas Hing, then presented the Financial recent World Archery Americas Meeting on the local press.

Statements up to end of October, 2020 to the development of Para-Archery conducted The inaugural Seven Seas Indoor Championships in 2019 the membership which was verified by the online.

Online National Internal Auditor, Mr. Ray Beharry and reArchery Guyana’s inaugural Seven Seas Archery Judges’ Seminar ported that Archery Guyana also goes the Fund-raising Events Plans earlier this year to host a National step further to have external auditors reIndoor Championships 2019 saw the results Archery Guyana has in the past joined of the positive effects of Archery Guyana’s Judges’ Seminar had to be postponed for view the financials. In this regard, thanks GTT for their Fun-Days and Duck Curry Development Programme, whereby ordi- unforeseen circumstances. However, World were expressed to Mr. Harry Parmesar events. For the past 2 years we have assistnarily lower ranked archers outshot the Archery Americas hosted an online semof Parmesar and Parmesar for his usued with the Archery Fundraiser at St Joseph more senior archers, to put themselves in inar to train national judges. An invitaal un-hesitating, professional services renMercy Hospital Christmas Fair. A big hit dered to the sporting body. top spots. tion was extended to members and persons with the crowds. On the last occasion, the enArchery Guyana again partnered with considered suitable to train as National

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Boult, Bumrah, Kishan, Pandya lead CLASSIFIED ADS rampant Mumbai Indians into final

A

fter becoming the first side to qualify for the playoffs, the Mumbai Indians swatted aside the Delhi Capitals in the first Qualifier, giving themselves a shot at a fifth IPL title.

Mumbai Indians were asked to bat first; meaning, their bowlers had to deal with the dew in the second half, but their batsmen offset that disadvantage by muscling them to an abovepar 200 for 5.

During a sideline interview, their coach Mahela Jayawardene said they were eyeing 170; they got 30

Marcus Stoinis smashed 65 runs

crack at the final.

de Kock, Suryakumar set the pace

spots, pushing Mumbai to 63 for 1 in the powerplay.

Hello again, Ashwin

ture against the Royal Challengers, and had to clear a fitness test to take part in the first Qualifier.

Despite the injury concerns, he bowled with great rhythm, getting the ball to dip, drift and turn. In the eighth over, de Kock charged at him, but Ashwin found sharp dip, coaxing a toe-ended catch to long-off.

In his next over, the 13th of the innings, he was up against the promoted Kieron Pollard. Ashwin’s first ball to him was a carrom ball, which Pollard dragged to long-on for a duck.

In a game in which all the other Capitals’ frontline bowlers went for at least nine an over, Ashwin had an economy rate of 7.25 while picking up the big wickets of Sharma, de Kock, and Pollard.

The Kishan-Hardik bash

Hardik Pandya got Mumbai up to 200

more. Quinton de Kock provided the early thrust at the top, along with Suryakumar Yadav, before R Ashwin’s vintage spell of 4-0-29-3 briefly pulled them back.

However, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya provided a blockbuster finish by taking 60 together off a mere 23 balls.

Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah then made Mumbai’s already tall total of 200 like the Burj Khalifa by leaving the Delhi Capitals at 0 for 3.

Boult had Prithvi Shaw edging behind, and Ajinkya Rahane trapped in front in a stellar double-wicket maiden. Rohit Sharma let Bumrah loose with the new ball at the other end, and he responded by yorking Shikhar Dhawan for a duck as well.

Just like that, the challenges of bowling second became a non-factor, and when Rishabh Pant holed out, the Capitals were 41 for 5 in the eighth over, their chase all but over.

While Mumbai will now rest for three days, the Capitals will move to Abu Dhabi to face the winner of the Eliminator between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad for another

Jasprit Bumrah picked up 4-14

Mumbai suffered an early jolt when Ashwin found turn with the new ball and pinned Sharma in front of his stumps for a golden duck. de Kock

and Yadav, however, kept going after the bowlers in the powerplay. de Kock drove left-arm seamer Daniel Sams through mid-on for a brace of fours, and even drilled Ashwin through the covers.

The Capitals had picked Sams over Shimron Hetmyer in the XI, seemingly so that they could hold back Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje for the slog overs against Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers. But since Sams conceded 15 runs in his first over, the Capitals had to bring on both Rabada and Nortje slightly earlier.

Yadav got into his groove with a dismissive short-arm pulled four off Nortje, and then launched a paused-and-delivered offbreak from Ashwin for six over mid-off. Yadav and de Kock kept picking their

Ashwin was carrying a hamstring injury into the Capitals’ last league fix-

Kishan was on 10 off 13 balls at one point. The Capitals didn’t want to expose the left-arm spin of Axar Patel to the two lefthand batsmen, Kishan and Krunal Pandya, so they gave Marcus Stoinis a go.

The Australia allrounder stepped up with a fiverun over that also included the wicket of Krunal.

Kishan and Hardik, however, revved up to top gear, usi n g the extra pace of Rabada and Nortje to their advantage.

Kishan rode the bounce of a chesthigh delivery from Rabada and pulled

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it for six, before dinking a 150kph delivery from Nortje to the third-man boundary.

As for Hardik, he walloped five sixes in 14 balls, finishing with an unbeaten 37 at a strike rate of nearly 265.

The chase that wasn’t

Boult could bowl just two overs before leaving the field because of a groin complaint, but he still had enough time to grab two wickets. Bumrah, meanwhile, took out the other three in the Capitals’ top five. After Krunal got rid of Pant, the Capitals were in danger of being skittled for a sub-100 score, but Stoinis and Patel helped them avoid the ignominy by putting on 71 off 44 balls for the sixth wicket.

It was Bumrah who snapped that stand when he bowled Stoinis for 65 in the 16th over. Bumrah ended with 4 for 14, the Capitals with 143 for 8.

(ESPNcricinfo)

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SCOREBOARD MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Q de Kock † c Dhawan b Ashwin 40 RG Sharma (c) lbw b Ashwin 0 SA Yadav c Sams b Nortje 51 Ishan Kishan not out 55 KA Pollard c Rabada b Ashwin 0 KH Pandya c Sams b Stoinis 13 HH Pandya not out 37 Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 1) 4 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 10.0) 200/5 Did not bat: NM Coulter-Nile, TA Boult, RD Chahar, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Rohit Sharma, 1.3 ov), 2-78 (Quinton de Kock, 7.4 ov), 3-100 (Suryakumar Yadav, 11.5 ov), 4-101 (Kieron Pollard, 12.2 ov), 5-140 (Krunal Pandya, 16.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W DR Sams 4-0-44-0 R Ashwin 4-0-29-3 K Rabada 4-0-42-0 AR Patel 3-0-27-0 A Nortje 4-0-50-1 MP Stoinis 1-0-5-1

DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (TARGET: 201 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) PP Shaw c †de Kock b Boult 0 S Dhawan b Bumrah 0 AM Rahane lbw b Boult 0 SS Iyer (c) c Sharma b Bumrah 12 MP Stoinis b Bumrah 65 RR Pant † c Yadav b KH Pandya 3 AR Patel c Chahar b Pollard 42 DR Sams c †de Kock b Bumrah 0 K Rabada not out 15 A Nortje not out 0 Extras (w 6) 6 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.15) 143/8 Did not bat: R Ashwin Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Prithvi Shaw, 0.2 ov), 2-0 (Ajinkya Rahane, 0.5 ov), 3-0 (Shikhar Dhawan, 1.2 ov), 4-20 (Shreyas Iyer, 3.5 ov), 5-41 (Rishabh Pant, 7.5 ov), 6-112 (Marcus Stoinis, 15.1 ov), 7-112 (Daniel Sams, 15.3 ov), 8-141 (Axar Patel, 19.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W TA Boult 2-1-9-2 JJ Bumrah 4-1-14-4 KH Pandya 4-0-22-1 NM Coulter-Nile 4-0-27-0 KA Pollard 4-0-36-1 RD Chahar 2-0-35-0

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Andre "Spiceman" Fletcher aiming to cement T20 spot

H

Andre Fletcher has been a veteran for Zouks in the CPL

ad Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons not opt out of the New Zealand tour, would Andre Fletcher have had a spot in the T20 squad? The last time Fletcher played for the West Indies was back in August 2018. After an ordinary performance in the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League, Fletcher is back in the West Indies T20 squad.

The 32-year-old Fletcher

is keen on cementing his T20 spot in the upcoming three-match T20 series, starting on November 27 against New Zealand, after having been overlooked for the past two years.

Fletcher has said it is always a pleasure to represent the West Indies, and this time around, he is aiming to make the best of his opportunity. From his last time with the West Indies, Fletcher has said the dif-

ference now is that he has an improved shot selection while being a positive player.

“I have worked hard on my physical aspect as well. Hopefully, I can carry on in the international level. This is my third time in New Zealand. The team goal for me per se would be to ensure that we can actually win this series, and my individual goal is to make sure that I can get as much runs as possible, where I can actually cement my spot in the T20 squad,” Fletcher told Cricket West Indies media.

In the 2020 Hero CPL which ended in September, the wicket-keeper batsman scored 211 runs in 11 innings at an average of 21.10 with a strike rate of 127.87. It was a low-scoring CPL tournament, with Fletcher ending 12th on the scoring chart.

The experienced Fletcher has 42 T20 Internationals under his belt, with 765 runs at an average of 21.23. He has

23

GFF’s 2020 Ordinary Congress slated for December 12

Fletcher last played for the West Indies in August 2018

six fifties to his name, with his high-score being 84. In CPL cricket, Fletcher has been a veteran for the St Lucia Zouks, and he is also the Zouks leading run-scorer. In his overall CPL career, he played 78 matches and has 2081 runs at an average a shade below 30.

He has 11 half-centuries with a strike rate of 118.3.

(Brandon Corlette)

GTTA hopeful of hosting T "Restart Competition"

Flashback: A look at the Guyana Football Federation’s Ordinary Congress in 2019

T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is assessing and finalising its plans for the hosting of a Restart Competition by the end of the month.

The association would look to follow all rules and regulations set by the national COVID-19 Task Force and Ministry of Health in order to ensure the safety of its players and officials.

“The athletes’ health, wellbeing and safety (are) of paramount importance to us, so we want to ensure we get this right as we venture out. In this regard, we will use the National COVID-19 Task Force and ITTF guidelines, and will be using some independent health personnel to assist us with review of our processes, while ensuring necessary approvals from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are secured.”

“The plan is to use a top 12 and top 16 duel format which would allow us the opportunity to schedule and timetable the matches well in advance, so players will be aware of their schedules and we will be able to promote the matches in advance.

“This format also allows us to limit the number of players participating in the competition, so as to comply with the social distancing policy. The intention is to invite players as they are scheduled to play, so the venue would not have more than six players in the area at one time.

“Players will only come to the venue based on the schedule of matches… We will have a period to allow for sanitizing of the playing area after each match, so space and time would have to be allowed between matches and for players to

warm up.”

“This will all be covered in the schedule.

“Another key feature of our Restart process is that we would have meetings with the players, umpires and table officials to go over the safety protocols to ensure compliance.

“The categories to be contested for the initial Restart competition are Men’s Top 16 Duel, which will come from among the nation’s top 16 players who competed at 2020 edition of the Senior National Championships, while the Boys’ competition would also include the top 16 juniors.

“The Girls’ clash would be between the top eight junior females, while the Senior Females will be an open battle among the active local players. The plan is to carefully evolve and advance this format with the hosting of similar-type

competitions involving the age group categories in the next edition of the competition, proposed for December 2020 as we gradually restart the competition and training process “If the GTTA can get over the hurdles, our plan and aim is to run off these RESTART competition events from November 27. Which would also give our players time to train and prepare for re-engagement. The games will be streamed online, which would allow for persons to view the matches, and although both national junior boys and junior girls and their senior counterparts will compete, the playing area “The plan is to have cash incentives for the senior categories and trophies for the Juniors would not be crowded.”

he 2020 Ordinary Congress of the Guyana Football Federation, postponed in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place on Saturday, 12th December at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.

The Congress will provide an opportunity to reconvene the football community after a challenging and disrupted year, update the GFF membership on the Federation’s achievements, and agree on strategic priorities for the year ahead, as officials look to phase in football activities.

“We are delighted to be able to stage this important milestone in the football calendar before the end of the year,” said GFF President Wayne Forde. “The Congress is a vital pillar in the governance of football, and offers a platform to share the progress we have made in developing football in this extraordinary year.

“We will also lay out our plans for the next phase of our strategic vision to grow the game. We are confident that 2021 will be a year of growth for domestic and international football for Guyana.”

Football authorities around the world have had to postpone large-

scale gathe r ings this year, with the annual FIFA Congress taking place online for the first time.

Next month, GFF Congress delegates will observe strict health protocols during the all-day event, to ensure a safe environment, including social distancing, the use of face masks, and increased hygiene.

“The safety and health of our community is of the upmost importance, and the GFF team is working hard to ensure that the correct measures are in place to deliver a safe and secure Congress, in line with official guidelines,” Forde has said.

Congress is the highest decision-making body of the GFF. It brings all voting members together, including the nine regional associations, affiliate associations for referees, coaches, women’s football, futsal and beach soccer, and Elite League clubs.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

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