Guyana Times Friday, October 2, 2020

US$9B Payara project is single largest investment ever made in Guyana P9 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4426

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

Squatters destroy 17,000 varieties of GuySuCo’s sugar cane worth $2B Page 3

…dubbed a massive "future financial" loss WCB murders

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 35 newP15 cases recorded Neesa Gopaul murder

Appeal hearing adjourned as ‘killer mom’ begs for time to find lawyer P8 PM announces multi-sectoral approach to handle COVID-19 P16

Guyana to tap into Argentine forensic expertise Page 16

First Lady unveils “Avenue of Hope” in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Local Private P2 Sector must tap into massive opportunities in oil and gas – GOGEC President

First Lady Arya Ali on Thursday launched Breast Cancer Awareness Month by unveiling the “Avenue of Hope” at Main and New Market Streets, Georgetown. In photo are Mrs Ali with members of the Breast Cancer Society and others who participated in the simple ceremony

Construction P13 worker arraigned for killing brother

Page 10

Exxon awards Lands for ECD squatters fall contract for under 2020 emergency budget Payara’s Prosperity FPSO to Dutch company — Minister Bharrat says strong local content Page 11

See story on page 13

framework to benefit all Guyanese needed

…as Govt meets residents to initiate land allocation process

Omai Gold Mines Corp appoints new Board P12

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local Private Sector must tap into massive opportunities in oil and gas – GOGEC President O

n the heels of Guyana signing one of its largest investment deals ever in the US$9 billion Payara Development Project, Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) President Manniram Prashad is urging the local Private Sector to tap into the massive opportunities that will come on stream as the oil and gas sector further developed here.

“The onus now is on … the Guyana Private Sector to grasp these massive opportunities that are and will soon be available,” Prashad said in a statement on Thursday.

The GOGEC President congratulated the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil on the signing of the Petroleum Permit for the Payara Project, which paves the way forward.

Payara is the third project in the Stabroek Block and is expected to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day after start-up in 2024, via the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

“During this period and up to 2024, there will be

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad

significant increase in the demand for goods and services to sustain this level of operation which will have at least 10 Drill Centres that will be used to establish 41 wells which will include 20 production and 21 injection wells. Guyana needs to position itself to gain a significant portion of this US$9 billion investment that relates to the provision of goods and services,” Prashad asserted.

Only recently, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat disclosed that Guyana was expect-

ed to benefit from some $7.4 trillion for the 20year lifespan of the Payara Development Project.

To this end, the GOGEC Head is now urging the Local Content Policy Committee to step up and establish a favourable Local Content Policy so that Guyanese businesses can benefit from this massive investment.

The new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has established a Local Content Advisory Panel to undertake a review of all existing initiatives and policies relating to local content in the petroleum sector and to provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and legislation. The Panel is expected to submit a report and recommendations by November 2020.

Meanwhile, Prashad also called for the Government to create an environment that would encourage local direct investment.

“GOGEC is also calling on the Government of Guyana to fast-track all pending requests and ap-

plications for land and concessions from established and legitimate local businesses that want to establish new or expand existing facilities to provide services directly and indirectly for the oil and gas sector,” Prashad stated.

The GOGEC President also lauded the Guyana Government, particularly the natural resources team, for expeditiously re-

viewing the Payara Project submission as well as addressing the environmental and other concerns in favour of Guyana.

Prashad specifically highlighted that the revised agreement would bring a halt to lengthy flaring of gas and the discharge of produced water into the Atlantic Ocean.

With the revised agreement, ExxonMobil will

have to pay the Guyana Government for the gas that it flares for prolonged periods. Additionally, any flaring will have to be done with permission from the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Further, the revised agreement creates the avenue for more transparency and accountability as it relates to the costs build-up.

Family of dead man blames Suddie Hospital for his death

T

wo days after 53-year-old Jagdeshwar Singh, of Perseverance Village, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was found lying in a pool of blood on the main access road, his family is calling for a thorough investigation to be conducted.

He was discovered on Tuesday evening a short distance from his home and was rushed to the Suddie Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

On the day in question, the now dead man was reportedly drinking with friends at a shop in the area.

His relatives are now holding out that if Singh had received proper medical attention, he could have survived. Chand Samaroo, sister of the now dead man, explained that her brother was taken to the Suddie Hospital in an unconscious

Dead: Jagdeshwar Singh

state and underwent emergency surgery.

She noted that arrangements were being made for him to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. “They put he in the ambulance and went early morning (Wednesday) to catch the first ferry, but they missed it after… the nurses say that they forget to call the stelling to make the ar-

rangements,” the sister noted.

She later learnt that the nurses at the hospital were debating as to whom must accompany her injured brother to the city.

Nevertheless, they eventually boarded the ferry at noon.

As they were transporting the injured man to Georgetown Public Hospital, he died. As such, the aggrieved sister has lashed out at the hospital administration accusing them of negligence. She is calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter.

The post-mortem performed on the body of Singh revealed that he died from blunt trauma to the head. Guyana Times understands that one person was arrested and questioned in relation to the matter. He was subsequently released. An investigation is ongoing.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, October 3 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 2 – 16:35h-18:05h and Saturday, October 3 – 05:05h-06:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the day with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Squatters destroy 17,000 varieties of GuySuCo’s sugar cane worth $2B …dubbed a massive “future financial” loss

By Rupa Seenaraine

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) has lost a significant chunk of its research crop at the Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara (ECD) nursery, after some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane were destroyed by squatters.

Head of the Agriculture

burnt (CM44) we lost 470 varieties of cane. The next subsequent burning was a total of 16,600 individual canes. The area we currently occupy for experimentation, we have 81, 830 individual clones,” Ramnarain explained.

“Some that we lost are very, very good canes. The cane that was lost could’ve contained a cane variety

we lost. Each one of these canes is an individual. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. You can put the mother and father cane back again and they will never produce that same genetic combination.

We can never recreate it, so the plant breeders have lost maybe 17 or 18 years of work,” Ramnarain explained.

Plant breeding takes deHead of the Agriculture Research Centre, Gavin Ramnarain

Winds: Northerly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 16:52h reaching a maximum height of 2.69 metres.

Low Tide: 10:30h and 22:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.50 metre.

The varieties being developed by GuySuCo

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$40.96/barrel

+0.02

Rough Rice

$225.18/ton

-0.06

London Sugar

$375.00/ton

-0.08

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1893.00

$1894.00

Low/High

$1890.70

$1913.50

Change

-13.40

-0.70%

Research Centre, Gavin Ramnarain the Guyana Times in an exclusive interview that the damaged plants were of fine quality, with the potential to earn the country billions per year. The loss has also dampened Guyana’s upward thrust in the sector, since years of research have been completely devastated.

The issue was brought to the Corporation’s attention after persons started to squat on the land. As this illegal activity continued, persons burnt plants to clear space to erect structures. It started with a few hundred plants and then continued with thousands.

GuySuCo had over 81,000 individual clones – and when the period for testing was imminent, a few varieties could have achieved all of the intended specifications.

Plantlets are usually developed based on sugar content; resistance to disease, rodents or stemborers; and ratooning among other areas and this process alone takes many years. The trials continue until the desired plant is obtained.

These plants are tested in different soils as well as for output in the factory.

The Agriculture Research Centre is the brain behind this production and is where all varieties in the fields are developed before being commercialised.

“Breeding of canes takes a very, very long time. It could take between 12 to sometimes 18 years to produce one variety of cane.

In the last month or so, the first field that the squatters

that could’ve passed these tests to become a commercial variety. One variety of commercial cane could probably occupy about 25 per cent of cane production, so each has a potential to earn two billion dollars for GuySuCo per year.”

Ramnarain said it was a “massive future financial loss”, since the end result was not achieved. It remains unknown whether a viable new variety was being cultivated in the destroyed segment.

“We don’t know what

cades of research before a commercial variety can be achieved. Recently, a variety that started in 1998 become a commercial variety.

“People did not understand that it’s not just a cane plant. It’s somebody’s work. The data can never be retrieved. We have to protect these things,” he shared.

Reflecting on the situation, Ramnarain said that the ‘breeding fields’ at Chateau Margot were responsible for production across the various estates.

Guyana’s Cane Breeding Programme is the second oldest in the world, dating back to 1909 and is considered among the best. There is a close breeding network among countries such as the United States of America, Barbados, Brazil, Kenya, India and many others, where samples are traded.

However, the canes bred here are localised for Guyana, where the process continues to develop plants that can withstand climate change, drought, and long periods of inundation.

“Canes that we breed here are localised for Guyana. You can’t really bring a cane from Florida, Brazil or India and plant it here. It has to be adapted to the local conditions…We do use these foreign canes, but we use them as parents. We breed them with our local varieties. This process takes a lot of time and it takes the same time everywhere,” Ramnarain revealed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 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

Remembering the ‘Father of Peace’

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oday Guyana joins with the rest of the world in observing the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, who was considered a teacher of all mankind who has left the world with lessons of non-violence.

The message of non-violent struggle, or “Satyagraha”, was utilised by Mahatma Gandhi in his fight in India against the British between 1915 and 1948.

“Satya” means “truth” and “graha” means “force”, and it proposes an active “truth-force” that is deployed against the forces of oppression.

It is of more than passing interest that Gandhi invented Satyagraha in South Africa, where he spent 20 years before he returned to India in 1915. In South Africa, he was assailed by institutionalised racism that manifested itself most egregiously in segregation between the races in transportation and housing. As an Indian professional – he was a lawyer by profession – the South African authorities treated him identically to the indentured Indians who had been brought to work on the sugar plantations and coal mines. His “wake-up call” came when he was kicked off a train to make way for a white South African, even though he had purchased a first-class ticket.

Here, in Guyana, we have a monument erected in honour of the ‘Father of Peace’ in the Promenade Gardens on Middle Street, Georgetown. His message of non-violence is no strange theory to Guyanese. However, its application, even in the form of non-violent resistance, seems not to resonate with some of our politicians, who are assumed to be of the highest calibre, whom their supporters trust to address their interest. The recent unrest is a notable example of Gandhi’s non-violence message, which when applied in its truest form can achieve amicable outcomes.

What started out as a protest for justice for teen cousins 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry, who were brutally murdered by barbaric criminals, quickly descended in a full-blown criminal enterprise.

How does unleashing violence - robbing, beating, extorting and destroying people’s property – constitute a call for justice for these boys? It is no secret that the entire unfortunate episode along the West Coast of Berbice started after very irresponsible words were uttered by two Opposition politicians to residents of Number 3 Village following the boys’ deaths. It is obvious that the cruel manner in which the boys were murdered would have sparked widespread public outrage, and both these politicians used that as an opportune moment to gain political mileage, causing Guyana to be plunged into its worst racial unrest in years. As this publication had previously said, such incitement by these two politicians led to hostility, violence, racial profiling and discrimination. Violence is a contagious killer of friendship and understanding.

Had the approach by these politicians been different, would the racism and xenophobia that had been directed towards on ethic group in Guyana been the same? The answer is rather simple – a resounding “No!” It was Gandhi who said, “I object to violence because, when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

The evil which these two politicians incited along the West Coast of Berbice at first glance started as justice for the Henry teens, but ended with self-serving interest that has now left permanent damage to a community and its people who, by their own admission, said they have always lived in peace with each other.

As we commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today, we should look at his non-violent approach which led to the defeat of injustice without humiliating his opponents.

“The future depends on what you do today” – Gandhi said; and for us here in Guyana, we must hold accountable those who incite hate and division within this multi-ethnic nation.

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty” - Mahatma Gandhi.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Thursday met with Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, in a bilateral meeting, held virtually on the margins of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Among mutual areas of interest, they also discussed the upcoming Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM); oil and gas; the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26); and support for small States in light of COVID-19

New-age leadership of Guyana broke barriers when Payara Licence was released to the public

Dear Editor, It is refreshing to be a Guyanese currently noting the groundbreaking developments within the oil-and-gas sector which will catapult Guyana to economic stardom in the next few years. Equally significant is the release of the recently signed contract/licence between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil, to further the development of the Payara offshore oil well, touted as the largest single investment in the history of Guyana.

Therefore, I wish to publicly congratulate the President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Ifraan Alli; Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and the man who made the contract available to the public, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat. This is the new age of leadership that Guyana needs to overcome its sluggish economic performance and be prepared for the phenomenal infrastructural and financial upliftment of ALL

Guyanese.

The current way of doing business in Guyana has significantly improved in the short two months from the shady and highly secretive way things were done under the previous APNU/AFC Government. No wonder they bend their heads in shame and silence as a result of their failure to effectively manage and negotiate oil contracts for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Notwithstanding, there will always be the naysayers, and I predict the “oil and gas doomsday naysayers” will soon crawl out of their holes of irrelevance to seek attention.

Editor, I am an avid environmentalist, and I am fully aware of the challenges relating to oil-and-gas exploration, and equally so the potential disasters. However, I am of the firm belief that due diligence has been taken into consideration by the current Government to safeguard Guyana’s marine life and abundant coastlands; to

ensure our oil and gas resources are sustainably managed; and to ensure that everything is environmentally safe.

This brings us back to the release of the Payara contract/ licence, which is the hallmark of transparency and accountability. I believe it has blindsided the critics, but not for long. I am sure they are recuperating from the shock of the contract being released, and will soon recommence criticising for criticism’s sake.

In moving forward, two important takeaways from my perusal of the Payara contract are: “Routine flaring of gas by the Licensee is strictly prohibited without approval. Flaring is only permissible under the following conditions defined in the Licensee’s Environmental Permit”, and: “The Licensee shall update its base design for the Project to include (i) tie in points and (ii) space for produced water injection equipment. Within thirty (30) days

of the date of Environmental Permit, the Licensee shall submit to the Minister an EPA for approval.”

Besides the other fines, penalties and compliance clauses, I believe the two points above are most critical for the sustainable development of the Payara Offshore Oil Well, in keeping with international best practices towards environmental accountability and transparency.

In summary, the current administration has outshone the previous Government with transparency, accountability and safeguard measures in the Payara Approval Licence, to not only protect marine life and Guyana’s coast, but secure the interest of ALL Guyanese.

Kudos to the Natural Resources Minister and his team! We are all indebted for your due diligence in the Payara Licence.

Sincerely, Kenneth David (Sr)

The impasse between the squatters and Government

Dear Editor, There is an ongoing impasse between squatters on the Demerara East Coast and the Government of Guyana, and from all indications, it is getting lawless and out of hand.

The squatters, for their part, have illegally taken up lands, as all squatters do, with the sole intention of owning these lands, as they have clearly expressed.

“We have rights, too, to this 83,000-square-mile country.”

The Government, on the other hand, contends that the squatters are illegally occupying lands earmarked for other developmental purposes. This is a position to which the Government is legally entitled, as a governing authority.

The squatters, however, have completely rejected Government’s position. They

are of the view that they must own land wherever and however they will, and the Government should not stop them.

So, at the present moment, the squatters are doing what squatters do; that is, baring their souls to the world, saying that we have an uncaring Government who is “fighting down” its own people for a piece of land that they want to call home. The squatters have even spiked it up by putting their children on the frontline, claiming that they are single parents and their situation is dire.

I shall expand on this single-parent issue in a subsequent article; but the point is: they are making out a case of neglect, dire and appalling, on the part of the Government.

Of course, the Opposition is lending a sympathetic

ear with the ultimate aim of making the Government look bad while shoring up its own political standing.

But is this the true picture? I respond with a resounding ‘No’, because the record shows that the PPP/C Government has dealt with this problem in the most successful manner during its term in office; and here again in 2020, it will be no different.

A PPP/C Government rose to the occasion and regularised squatter settlements which are now sprawling townships. I am talking about places such as La Parfaite Harmonie, Sophia, Diamond, and many others.

We are looking at a record of over one hundred thousand homes that were successfully established under a caring and people- centred PPP/C Government.

Now, in closing, we have to recognise that squatting has been a perennial problem in Guyana ever since we can remember, and what is ongoing on the Demerara East Coast is not a new phenomenon.

Therefore, I am suggesting that we should put politics aside and get this squatting issue properly addressed.

I advise the squatters to work with the Government and things would work out right. The political touts who are now urging them on had done nothing for them, but had used them for their own political ends, then had dumped them. It is time for the squatters to open their eyes and see who really cares.

The PPP/C Government is here to serve you.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

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

In support of US visa suspension Public Servants and misguided

Dear Editor, This is in reference to your front-page news item on Her Excellency’s (US Ambassador Sarah Lynch’s) statement (Sep 30) confirming that there were suspensions of multiple visas relating to the attempt to rig the March 2020 elections. It is policy not to reveal the names, so as not to embarrass people.

Suspension or revocation of visas is an age-old policy of (primarily Western) governments to coerce regimes (rulers) to accept and enforce long-held worldwide principles of democracy and respect for human rights.

Anyone who has studied international relations would know that Western governments are known to revoke visas to force obstinate rulers to follow principles of democracy; in particular, respect for outcomes of democratic elections. Sanctions were applied on African, Latin American, and even European and Asian leaders or regimes who failed to adhere to rules pertaining to free and fair elections and respecting human rights.

Guyanese with whom I con-

versed in the diaspora and within Guyana fully supported the measures applied by the US administration in late September to suspend visas of members of the coalition regime. These measures were called for since early March, to get the coalition APNU+AFC to comply with democratic norms. The regime did not think the US would take the extreme measure of revoking visas if it rigged the elections, because the US did not apply sanctions when the predecessor PNC regime rigged elections between 1964 and 1992 to remain in office. This time, the regime was in for a rude awakening, as the US had made up its mind that fraudulent elections would not be accepted in Guyana or anywhere else in the Americas. The US had rejected the fraudulent election in neighbouring Venezuela.

Some Guyanese are disappointed that the sanctions against Guyanese riggers did not go far enough. They would have liked for visas of family members, including those studying in the US, and green card holders of those connected with rig-

ging to also be revoked, and those individuals to be deported. (Revoking green cards is a complex issue that has to do with violating US laws and oaths, committing crimes, and/or lying on applications). They feel that anyone, including civilians and GECOM staff, who was supportive of rigging (including the young man who tampered with the computer on the vote numbers) should have had their visas cancelled.

Guyanese also feel that, in addition to politicians, the visas of some judges and their family members and staff at GECOM should have been suspended.

Some judges really gave idiotic rulings that were shot down on appeal. Are they not ashamed?

These were political judgments that really endorsed rigging and authoritarianism (Those judges must go, say Guyanese and foreigners who follow Guyanese affairs).

Many Guyanese feel that those who were involved in the violence against, and robberies of, Indians; including molestation of Indian females in West

Berbice, should also have their visas and those of family members cancelled.

It is well known who gave the instructions to commit those crimes, and who were involved in the atrocities. Several Members of Parliament and Regional Councillors were behind the violence. they must be taken to court to pay compensation. Some also know who were involved in the killing of the three youngsters. The US should be asked to assist with the investigation, and those politicians (intellectual authors) involved in that heinous crime and the violence and robberies should be brought to justice. Visa suspensions would deter these kinds of political crimes.

The US again saved democracy in Guyana (in 2020) as it did in 1992 against the same riggers, and Guyanese are most grateful to Ambassador Lynch and other diplomats for the consistent position they adopted on respecting the will of the voters.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Kashif Muhammad for Will we be seeing a Director of Youth and Sport change to this madness?

Dear Editor, The urgency of having a competent and dedicated National Director of Youth and Sport cannot be understated. In Kashif Muhammad, we have someone who, in regard to sports and organising sporting events, has shown a passion that is unequalled in Guyana.

Back in the early 1990s, I went to Linden to watch the finals of the biggest local sporting event in Guyana, which was promoted by the Kashif and Shanghai partnership. During that period, I was a dual national player in basketball and hockey; however, my trip to the mining town was to be a spectator to the greatest domestic sporting event in Guyana - The National Football Club Championships.

The Mackenzie Sports Club had a massive turnout to watch the young Guyanese football stars. One of those star players was Collie Hercules, one of Guyana’s very best footballers and a beneficiary of the National Club Tournament. The Kashif & Shanghai Knockout Tournament is featured in Wikipedia, I think a first for a domestic sporting event.

Before the finals commenced, I heard my name being called by the announcer.

Apparently, the announcer was asked to acknowledge the presence of other national athletes attending the event. That little gesture spoke volumes about the Kashif and Shanghai group and the high esteem and respect they show athletes.

These are leaders who care, who recognise the financial and other resource challenges most young athletes face to be active and successful in sports. Cricket, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Badminton, and of course football; make your pick, once you attend feature games for these sporting disciplines, you are likely to see Kashif in attendance.

Persons who demonstrate a passion for multiple sporting disciplines and have proven organisational and marketing skills should not be sidelined when available, especially when there is extreme need for some-

one to lead the National Sports Commission out of its dysfunctional state.

It is easy to go on about the many accomplishments of Kashif Muhammad; however, what stuck with me over the decades is that the events he managed were well organised, executed and attended. There was proper involvement of support staff, proper marketing of the event, good attention to detail, and the result was consistent and expanding success of the event. Appointing a rare gem of a sports administrator such as Kashif Muhammad to direct our Sports Commission architecture is obviously the right thing to do.

We underestimate, to the detriment of our youth; especially the underprivileged, the school drop-outs, the young boys and girls who can find a pathway to success through sports.

From Region 1 thru 10, talent of the youth abounds. We have to give our youths, through sports, the opportunity to become responsible, disciplined, confident and productive citizens. Kashif is the man for the job, the leader for the task of upgrading our sports infrastructure.

Ideally, we should have a bias, to put persons with a sports background to lead our youth and sports development.

From the streets, from the schools, from our rural areas, we have to mobilise a rebirth of well-funded and organised sports programmes that coordinate school programmes, clubs and the activities and plans of the various sporting associations and federations, along with job opportunities. Let us use the best we have! Let us appoint Kashif Muhammad as our Director of Youth and Sports.

Region 10 is the undisputed resource centre for successful youth athletes, and Kashif’s front row seat to see the sacrifice, dedication and needs of our youths would keep motivating him to do great things for the development of youths and sports in Guyana.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

Dear Editor, Passing Bourda Market on Wednesday, I witnessed members of the City Constabulary/ Police breaking up vendors’ stalls around the environs of that market.

Vendors occupy those stalls during the day, but at that time, the vendors had already packed up and gone home.

Later in the afternoon, a similar exercise was conducted in the environs of the Stabroek Market, and Police vehicles could be seen transporting the stands.

Over the years, I’ve been objecting to vending on the roadside around the market areas, because many started in the corners and eventually manifested to almost half of the road, causing major hindrance to the traffic. While the vendors are a great relief to many, they have been allowed to become lawless because they are not being monitored properly.

However, in my opinion, what the authorities were doing could never be right. The vendors should have been consulted and given a chance to remove themselves, instead of being caused unnecessary expense and being presented with the possibility of being coaxed into creating disturbances.

We are seeing elements lurking around the place just waiting for an excuse to coax people into creating unrest; and authorities should be wary of these actions, and approach situations in a professional manner.

Editor, the authorities had only recently indicated that steps would be taken to remove stalls and abandoned vehicles etc. from the roadside along the East Bank of Demerara. With a number of things happening around the country, I am waiting to see if the authorities would start addressing these issues. So far, I have come up nil, and I’m wondering if those issues would ever be addressed.

There are negative and positive sides to this situation, but the actions of many errant people cause others to feel the squeeze.

There are many who abandon their stands and cause them to become safe havens for vagrants, criminals etc. Those abandoned stands also manifest themselves as eyesores to the public, attract-

ing garbage etc.

In some cases, active vending from stalls on the roadways also causes conflicts with neighbours etc. And if those conflicts are not addressed properly, they could cause problems. Presently, there’s an ongoing feud that involves the Police, the NDC and the RDC, but no one seems capable of addressing the situation, even though laws are being broken daily.

One caretaker family started by building a stand in a yard, which they abandoned soon after building a stand on the roadway.

Eventually, they constructed another huge stand on the other side of the roadway, on other people’s land. Not satisfied with that, they then put a miniature stand housing plants in front of other people’s land, along with a few chairs.

This caused motorists to stop on the roadways or drive and park on the neighbours’ parapets. In addition, they played loud music from the wee hours of the morning until late at nights. Whilst they might be going about making a living, they are causing discomfort to others around.

Finally, Editor, traversing around Vreed-en-Hoop area, old stands and vehicles that were once used for vending could be seen abandoned. That area is very busy, and the accumulation of these eyesores is very disgusting. While the authorities are saying the eyesores would be removed with a fine attached, they should embark on it, so that many having similar intentions would be deterred.

A while back, permission for roadside vending was given only to mobile stalls/stands that had wheels. Eventually, many removed the wheels, making the stands permanent fixtures where they were; or some erected permanent structures. Quite a lot of these stands are positioned in such a way that commuters are forced to walk in traffic, putting themselves in harm’s way.

At Peter’s Hall, there’s a container covering the pavement and the road. That container has been there for quite a number of years, and has not been removed. Will we be seeing a change to this madness?

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Guyanese need to stop following corrupt political orders Dear Editor, I find it astounding and painful how some average Guyanese, and even some of the supposedly most intelligent and qualified, put themselves in trouble because of their love for a political party and their faith in certain ambitious and egoistic political leaders.

It is most disturbing to observe how certain politicians inconvenience workers, employees, and others by placing them in situations that may become dangerous to life, or cause injury, or even imprisonment with a criminal record.

With this said, I would like to address the following: At present, we have seen how certain politicians under the ‘Evil Eyes’ directive, remain hidden with other senior clandestine operatives to shield themselves, but will use lower-level political instruments to disaffect a nation and mislead poor and good citizens.

This is apparent in the unfolding of events that have taken our nation by storm, and which almost created civil war.

With reference to the aforementioned, the most recent is the protest by the nurses. Please allow me to pen my thoughts on these nurses.

Nurses, like teachers and other public servants, are vital service-providers for the citizens of this country, and their salaries are paid by those citizens. They are known to be aides in emergency and life-saving circumstances, both locally and globally.

Citizens of this country, who pay them, deserve service, and under no circumstances should employees of the taxpayers, or servants referred to as public servants, attempt to blackmail citizens by threatening to place their lives at risk. Being a nurse is a very noble profession, with enormous dignity and respectability. If there is a grievance or a request, they cannot start from what should be the last measure, but must obey Public Service protocols and rules.

I am in agreement with President Irfaan Ali. The Government of Guyana took over a broken economy, with no reserves in the Treasury, and set up a budget to reduce the cost of living, which in my view is more than just collecting coloured printed paper called money.

Dropping the cost of living - as they are doing by removing VAT on power, water, raw food ingredients and educational items; and by providing free electricity and water to pensioners, whether or not they have worked; along with so many other initiatives introduced through the budget is intended to put more money in the pockets of the citizens.

Unfortunately, the people of Guyana like to see a lot of printed coloured paper in their pockets, which come from increases which in fact send up the cost of living; be-

cause the cost of every item goes up with an increase in coloured printing paper called money.

There certainly is political interference with nurses, as there are in so many other parts of our economy. The intention is to try to break the Government, but they are not realising that they are only making the Government stronger and better. The President has said that while he is trying to reduce the cost of living in time, the relevant increases will be provided, which will be more useful with VAT. Some nurses are threatening the lives of a certain group of people because of their culture and race. This is not good.

This kind of behaviour and manipulation by the political director of the ‘Evil Eyes’ is only causing more ethnic tension and discord within the nation.

This ‘Evil Eyes’ director is only putting himself in a position as a marked political operative who fosters animosity among the citizens of this country. With this in mind, I ask: “Does he really believe he can win an election in the future this way?”

Nurses protesting, staying away from their jobs, have already been compensated for the remainder of the month; and if this is the case, it is my hope that the Ministry of Finance would extract the days or the period they did not work. “No work, no pay.”

My advice to the Government at this time is that while we are appealing to the good nature of the nurses, the servants of the people, the caregivers of the citizens of this country, perhaps the new Government should think of reading a page from the book of the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

I remember that, when there were no teachers available, he brought teachers from Sri Lanka to support the education system. I applauded him for that then, and it is something that I still applaud him for now.

Perhaps this Government should consider taking trained nurses from Haiti, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan under a serious contract for ten years. After that, make them eligible for citizenship in a modern, dynamic, growing and more prosperous economy I envision Guyana to be by that time.

At this juncture, I would conclude by advising citizens to use their gray matter, or brains, and not allow themselves to become the puppets of dark political powers that are bent on exploiting healthy, easy, and trusting people so as to gratify their evil agendas. These politicians do evil and put others to shame, while branding others, like our nurses, as unfit for promotion and a scholarship for self-development.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr Roshan Khan, Sr

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Adding decimals is just like adding whole numbers, except you must be careful to line up the decimals correctly .

Once you do that, you can add as if the decimal is not there.

Example: Add 82.72 + 9.34 Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up in a single column.

82.72 + 9.34 Step 2: Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points: 82.72 + 9.34 .

Step 3: Add: 82.72 + 9.34 92.06

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN What if a number has no decimal point?

For example: Add 6 + 23.56 Just put a decimal point at the end of the whole number and add placeholder zeros after: 6.00 + 23.56 29.56 Exercises: Add 1) 12.20+ 7.58 2) 10 + 33.60 3) 894.08 + 2.36 4) 1 + 31.05 5) 54.31 + 23.48 6) 7.12 + 92.88 Thursday’s answers 1) 7/20 2) 11/50 3) 11/25 4) 4 11/100 5) 39/50 6) 91/100 7) 19/40 8) 6/10 9) 1/4 10) 2 1/2 11) 151/200 12) 333/500 13) 21/40 14) 9/50 15) 15/40

A

certain man who visited foreign lands could talk of little when he returned to his home except the wonderful adventures he had met with and the great deeds he had done abroad.

One of the feats he told about was a leap he had made in a city called Rhodes. That leap was so great, he said, that no other man could leap anywhere near the distance. A great many persons in Rhodes had seen him do it and would prove that what he told was true.

“No need of witnesses,” said one of the hearers.

“Suppose this city is Rhodes. Now show us how far you can jump.”

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt exploring financing models for major infrastructural projects – President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali stated that his Government was exploring various financing options to undertake massive infrastructural development projects within the next five years.

“Most of the development that we are talking about now, it has a lot to do with mobilising private capital; it has nothing to do with going into the oil funds or anything…it is about mobilising private capital, whether it is international, regional or whether it is local,” the President said during an interview with senior Journalists Nazima

Raghubir and Denis Chabrol on Wednesday evening.

The Head of State cited the Government’s housing drive, which he said would require an investment of about US$500 million to be completed within the timeframe of five years. He explained that this sum would be needed in order to put the necessary infrastructure in place so as to open up new lands and to build new houses.

“I have been looking at many of the developing countries’ models and one of it is to explore the open market to see what type of resources are out there and at what rate, because the cost of capital is very important,” President Ali highlighted.

The President posited that currently there were many concessional rates “because there is some amount of liquidity in the international market”.

He also hinted at tapping into the huge Guyanese Diaspora to raise capital. “We have a very big Diaspora, if you look at the Indian model…the developing Diaspora Investment Fund (DIF), it might be able to raise some amount of substantial capital”.

Noting that an assessment of that market has not been done as yet, he expressed that the Government was looking at every available option at the moment and would make a decision based on what was best for the country and its people.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has said it was working to provide at least 50,000 house lots to Guyanese during its present term in office.

The $3 billion allocated in this year’s budget to the housing sector will be utilised for various activities, including infrastructural development in existing housing schemes, land preparation for new housing schemes, and land acquisi-

tion.

According to the Government, young professionals, individuals with an immediate need, and persons with adequate disposable income will be facilitated to commence construction. Private develop-

ers are also included as part of the comprehensive housing strategy.

The Government has also commenced preparation for a four-lane high-span bridge across the Demerara River which it said was badly needed to replace the pres-

ent structure, which has been “limping along”.

Further, the Administration is actively working towards expanding the country’s road network system, especially along the East Bank, West Coast and East Coast corridors.

Squatters destroy 17,000...

Presently, the remaining varieties at Chateau Margot are being moved in order to safeguard against another loss. This is not the first time sugar cane varieties have been destroyed. In earlier days when the process was done at Sophia, Greater Georgetown, persons who started illegally occupying the lands forced GuySuCo to move to the

Chateau Margot location.

The research team remains hopeful that some of the destroyed plants can reshoot.

The Research Head expressed, “We’re trying to recover now what we can.

That alone can take a couple of years. Right now, we have a couple hectares that are still at the CM section and that 31 hectares are all

FROM PAGE 3

that we have. We are moving the varieties se quickly as we can to LBI.” Their Barbadian partners have been appraised of the situation and they have responded with concerns. The official said while they were covered for the next decade, this gap would have to be filled and they have varieties to do so.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Neesa Gopaul murder

Appeal hearing adjourned as ‘killer mom’ begs for time to find lawyer

Convicted killer: Bibi Gopaul

Convicted killer: Jarvis Small

ibi Gopaul who is currently serving a 106-year prison sentence for the 2010 murder of her 16-year-old daughter, Neesa Gopaul has begged the Court of Appeal (CoA) for leave to retain a lawyer to argue against her conviction and sentence.

On Thursday, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory convened a case management conference for the appeal filed by Bibi and her ex-lover, Jarvis Small, who was sentenced to 96 years in prison for committing the same crime.

During the hearing, Gopaul was granted until October 15, 2020 to retain a lawyer. If she was unable to do so by then, the State would assign a lawyer to her case. Small is being represented by Attorneysat-Law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels. Small’s lawyers have already filed submissions to which State Prosecutor Stacy Gooding

has replied. The Appeal Court has fixed the case for full hearing on Monday, October 19, 2020 via Zoom.

Following a trial at the High Court in Demerara in March 2015, the elder Gopaul and Small were found guilty of murdering Neesa, a former student of Queen’s College on October 2, 2010. Shortly after, the two killers had expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, claiming that they were not given a fair trial. They had accused the Judge of taking a political side and admitting prejudicial evidence for the jury’s consideration.

The dismembered and headless remains of the younger Gopaul were found stuffed in a suitcase in a creek along the LindenSoesdyke Highway. Also discovered were a passport and a bank card that bore the teen’s name.

The suitcase was wrapped with rope and attached to dumbbells in an apparent effort to keep the young woman’s body sub-

B

merged. The former QC student was found weeks after she was reported missing from her Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home. Her cause of death was given as multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

Both Gopaul and Small are contesting their conviction and sentence on the basis that the trial judge made several errors in law which included admitting prejudicial evidence and failing to properly direct the jury.

They argue that the sentences received were excessive, irrational and not grounded in any established legal principles as required by law.

In his Notice of Appeal filed, Small argues that the Judge erred in law when he ruled that he and Bibi should be tried jointly for the offence, instead of having separate trials as requested by his lawyer back then. He further argued that the Judge erred in law when he overruled a no-case submission made on his behalf. He and Bibi contend that the evidence of prosecution witness Simone De Nobrega was prejudicial.

Small complains that the statements and reports Neesa had given to the Police were prejudicial to his case and resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

De Nobrega was the prosecution’s main witness and a former cellmate of Bibi. The witness had testified that Bibi confided in her that it was Small who killed her daughter by bashing in her head with a piece of wood.

Small argues, too, that the Judge failed to ade-

The PNC messes up…

T

Murdered: Neesa Gopaul

quately put his defence to the jury and that this also resulted in a miscarriage of justice. Meanwhile, Bibi, in her Notice of Appeal, argues that the Judge misdirected the jury in relation to the post-mortem report when it came to dealing with discrepancies and inconsistencies.

She further argues that the Judge misdirected the jury on how to approach the evidence, particularly in respect of the nexus or connecting evidence between her and her daughter such as the suitcase, passport, bank cards, sheet, curtains, rope, and dumbbells. The convicted killer also argues that the Judge failed to sufficiently guide the jury on how to approach the evidence, particularly in respect to the testimony given

by De Nobrega.

According to Bibi, “The trial Judge failed to warn the jury to disregard the misrepresentation of the evidence and the appealing to emotions stated by the Prosecutor in the matter. The trial Judge failed to sufficiently direct the jury on how to approach the evidence, particularly in respect of the issue of conspiracy.”

The two murder convicts have advanced further grounds in support of their application in which they are asking the court to set aside the verdict of the jury.

…agriculture his being October, it means we’re now in “Agriculture Month”. With all eyes fixated on oil in general - and Payara in particular - your Eyewitness does hope someone will spare a thought about the dangers of the “Dutch Disease” and the role that agriculture can play to head it off.

Now, you do remember what is “Dutch Disease”, don’t you, dear reader?? Yes, it’s NOT the incomprehension when someone’s “speaking Dutch”, it’s more about the dangers to our future wellbeing when we put all our eggs in the oil basket - with nothing to fall back on when the “black gold” runs out, or its price goes south.

And that’s what’s happening with oil, ain’t it? They’re predicting our years of fat ain’t gonna last more than a couple of decades. Now, since none of this is anything new, you’d have hoped the PNC would’ve handled the agriculture portfolio with a high level of care, wouldn’t you? After all, what were the immediate alternatives? It’s not like we could suddenly become the “Dubai” of the Caribbean, could we?

Takes time - and a whole lotta money - to do that! Nor could we become the Singapore of the South, and become a world class manufacturing centre and financial centre. Burnham ensured we couldn’t take that road, after he completely obliterated the economy we inherited from the Brits!!

But, with all of that, we still had the agricultural base which the latter colonials had spent two hundred years literally driving us with whips to keep in shape. And what did the PNC do about this gem when they discovered Exxon had discovered oil just as they slid into office? Appoint Noel Holder as the Minister of Agriculture!! That was about as big a blunder as when the captain of the Titanic shouted, “Full steam ahead!!” just before his “unsinkable” ship plunged into that iceberg!

Holder’s appointment in agriculture represented - as nothing else could - the PNC’s attitude to agriculture. While any rational government would’ve salivated to have not only drained and irrigated land coming out of our kazoos, but also Guyanese who were willing “to get mud between their toes”, the PNC saw the latter as the enemy to be annihilated.

They were willing to destroy our ‘ace in the hole’ for when oil ran out just to settle political scores.

And so, we saw our rice shipped to Panama, but no follow-up to ensure that the exporters got paid; knowing that, eventually, it’s the rice farmers who’d get shafted in the end.

And we really don’t have to discuss what they did to sugar, do we? Even when their own COI gave them a plan.

We have our work cut out in Agriculture Month!! …housing The PNC threw all sorts of fake news at the PPP to wrest the Presidency away in 2015; but they just couldn’t make anything stick when it came to housing. After all, the PPP - especially under the present President, when he was Minister of Housing - had created more housing areas than in any time in our history. And this includes the Village Movement after Emancipation and the massive housing drive for sugar workers after WWII! But, in their five years, all the PNC did was to lament how large the housing backlog still was - while they just plotted and planned to dole out lands to themselves, their friends and relatives. And of course, the backlog inevitably grew, as did the frustrations - especially when you factor in the approximately 30,000 Guyanese who returned from Venezuela.

The new PPP Government would have to deal very sensitively with the issue, since the PNC will use the opportunity to exploit those frustrations.

In this COVID-19 season, they just shouldn’t address irate crowds. …nursing As your Eyewitness had predicted, the GPSU has come out swinging against the Government, and has issued an ultimatum: that the nurses will strike, unless they get what they want.

They say the $150M already allocated is “chicken feed”.

They haven’t said what’s “suitable food” for nurses.

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$9B Payara Project is single largest investment ever made in Guyana alty payments.

The Government has promised that funds from

Minister Bharrat and members of the ExxonMobil team signing the approved agreement on Wednesday

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

T

he US$9 billion Payara development will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels and is considered to be the largest single investment in the history of Guyana.

The project in the Stabroek Block is expected to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day after start-up in 2024, using the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage And Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Guyana is currently producing around 100,000 barrels of oil per day, but it is expected that within the next few years, production will surpass one million, making the country one of the largest oil producers in the Region.

After a tedious review process, on Wednesday, the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil signed the licence for the Payara field offshore development in Guyana.

Payara is the third Field Development Plan (FDP) from Exxon to gain approval. The first FDP that the Guyana Government approved was for Liza Phase One, while Liza Phase Two is expected to start up in 2022.

According to the Natural Resources Ministry, the Payara project approval was a result of “several reviews and consultations by local and international experts”.

Prior to the approval, the Government of Guyana had decided to review the work already undertaken by the Department of Energy and Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants on the Payara Project, so that the interest of all Guyanese would be protected and the Project would be in keeping with international transparency and ac-

The area where the Payara Project will be undertaken

countability standards.

Most importantly, the Ministry noted, that the Canada-funded team of technical experts assessed the Project to ensure that all relevant regulations were complied with and were enforceable. “This included environmental standards and reservoir management to safeguard the interests of the people of Guyana and that their resources are developed in a sustainable and responsible manner to the benefit of the country”.

The Government has said that it remained committed to managing and harvesting Guyana’s oil and gas resources sustainably “in keeping with internationally-recognised acceptable environmental standards and transparency for the benefit of all Guyanese”.

Just recently, Miguel Moyano, Executive Secretary of Arpel, a leading regional oil and gas association, suggested that with oil production expected to tip one million barrels of oil per day in the coming years, Guyana is slated to become a petroleum powerhouse in the Region.

“Guyana together with [Argentine unconventional formation] Vaca Muerta, I think, are the game-changers of our region,” Moyano, a petroleum expert, said during a BNamericas webinar.

According to Arpel, the emergence of Guyana as an oil-producing nation is interesting and exciting, as since the beginning of major oil discoveries here, oil compa-

nies around the world have been paying keen attention to how the country is developing its oil resources.

US oil giant Exxon has estimated that there were eight billion barrels of recoverable reserves in the Stabroek Block. From the Liza Phase One, Guyana has received well over US$100 million in cargo lift and roy-

the country’s oil resources will go towards developing modern infrastructure and

ensuring that citizens benefit from improved social services.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

First Lady unveils “Avenue of Hope” in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

First Lady Arya Ali (second from left) cuts the ribbon to unveil the “Avenue of Hope” in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

O

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the dreaded disease. Here in Guyana, to show support for the fight against breast cancer, First Lady Arya Ali on Thursday unveiled a huge pink arch – the “Avenue of Hope” – at the intersection of Main and New Market Streets, Georgetown.

This was part of the initiatives under the “One Guyana” project which seek to promote unity among Guyanese.

During a simple ceremony, the First Lady reiterated the importance of early detection.

Ali, who was dressed in pink, shared that statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that breast cancer was the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. She said that the WHO estimated that the survival rate for early (stage 1) breast cancer has risen dramatically over the past decades, and was now 80-90 per cent in many high-income countries.

She, however, pointed out that breast cancer statistics remain grim worldwide.

For example, she noted that in 2018 nearly two million

women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than half a million of them died from the disease. She stressed that a cause for worry was the fact that more than half of the women who die from breast cancer lived in poor or developing countries.

“This draws attention to access to health services and quality of care. It is this disparity that international financial institutions must address when programming resources for developing countries. Though tremendous strides have been made in research and treatment, we are still nowhere close to finding a

cure. The single most effective tool in the fight against breast cancer remains early detection,” Ali told those gathered.

According to the First Lady, it is for this reason that our collective efforts are so important in creating that level of awareness and moving women, policymakers, and health care professionals to action. She stressed that we must have a proactive, consistent education programme, supported by strong screening programmes.

Ali added that in Guyana and around the world many mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers were lost to breast cancer. In this regard, she declared, “We must take strength from those among us who, through determination, courage, pain and faith, have survived. It is your stories that must inspire us, it is your stories that create hope and lift up spirits, and we must not be afraid to share those stories.”

During the symbolic unveiling of the “Avenue of Hope”, Ali reminded the audience of mostly women that Guyanese women were great whether they were teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, or stay-at-home moms.

“As a young mother, and like every other mother, we have a duty to be responsible, and part of that responsibility is to ensure screening becomes part of our health check routine. As resources become

Members of the public at the “Avenue of Hope” after the unveiling

available and our country moves to a better financial position, support for screening of every woman at the age of 40 and above on a continuous basis should be considered as a preventive and early diagnostic tool in the fight against breast cancer,” the First Lady noted.

The First Lady made a donation to the Guyana Cancer Foundation for 50 women to be tested for breast cancer during this month.

Also speaking at the event was Bibi Saeedah Akhtar Hassan, founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation.

Hassan stressed the need for early detection and reminded that it saved lives.

The Guyana Cancer Foundation is committed to raising funds and providing initiatives to help in the battle against cancer. Its vision is to be the beacon of stopping cancer before it starts through education and support.

The Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) focuses on the medically-unserved, low-income and uninsured populations. The organisation also seeks to reintegrate cancer survivors back into society and to enlarge the community’s support system to make strides against cancer for fighters and survivors.

Some of the services offered by the Foundation are clinical breast examinations; cervical cancer/HPV screening; prostate cancer screening; blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol testing; and free counselling and group sessions for cancer survivors and fighters. The organisation’s work is largely supported through donations.

A moment of silence was observed for those who lost their battle with breast cancer. Trees along the avenue were wrapped in pink cloth and breast cancer awareness materials were distributed.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lands for ECD squatters fall under 2020 emergency budget …as Govt meets residents to initiate land allocation process

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal

T

o address the phenomenon of increased squatting on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), lands which have been prepared for distribution, which were stated in the 2020 budget, will be set aside for persons who are illegally occupying State lands.

Lands in 22 areas on the East Coast, East Bank, and West Bank Demerara; Linden; Berbice and Essequibo, were approved in the 2020 Emergency Budget last week. Guyana Times understands that allocations for the residents will fall under this project.

However, hundreds of persons lined up at the Chateau Margot Primary School on Thursday, where

the Ministry of Housing and Water began the land allocation process in light of recent issues with squatters.

Following the standoff between officials of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and squatters recently, the Ministry said this process would aim to ensure that those citizens legally acquire land.

Residents who were illegally occupying lands at Vryheid’s Lust, Success and Chateau Margot have started the legitimate process governing land allocation.

They were asked to submit their relevant documents in order to initiate an application for lawful homeownership. Those who had already done so were required to update their existing data.

In response to this initiative, scores of persons flocked the location where the exercise was being conducted. While some complained about the slothful lines, others asked the incumbent administration to ensure that they receive a plot of land.

One man who identified himself as R Williams told this publication that he desperately wants a house lot.

“I’m here concerning the housing situation, because I applied since 2013 and I haven’t gotten through; so I’ve been squatting just until I get something. I real-

Persons gathered to initiate the process of securing a house lot

ly need something. This morning, when we came, people were trying to get into the compound to get through with their stuff,” he posited.

Meanwhile, Orin Ross explained that he has three children and cannot afford to rent a property. He noted that the squatting situation started after he lost his job.

In a statement, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, insisted that Government is “committed to ensuring that the housing needs of all Guyanese are approached with the utmost urgency and expediency”.

The Minister visited two of the areas along with a team from NICIL – the en-

tity which owns the occupied lands. There, residents were informed that the Ministry is not responsible for the properties, but they were asked to engage the Ministry in moving forward.

“The team cautioned those persons who hailed from Greater Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara that the lands on which they are erecting structures, including permanent ones, do not belong to the Ministry of Housing and Water, or Central Housing and Planning Authority, and that their occupation of said lands remains illegal,” he clarified.

Back in September, a meeting was convened, Government’s zero toler-

ance position on squatting was further made clear, and residents were told to apply for land through the established process.

“They were further told that the Ministry is willing to assist in any way possible so as to ensure that they follow the legitimate process of applying for a house lot at an alternative location. The group promised to make available a list of persons from the area who have existing applications in our system, and a list for persons who are desirous of applying.”

After this did not materialise, the Ministry took the onus of hosting the exercise on Thursday.

“The Ministry is commit-

ted to facilitating this process, as it is the first step in the direction of legally owning a plot of land from the agency…The Ministry of Housing and Water remains committed to its manifesto promise of providing ten thousand house lots annually, and would like to remind persons who have applied for housing that the Ministry is doing everything in its power to satisfy the housing needs of all Guyanese,” Minister Croal added.

The Ministry has assured that all the necessary infrastructure for sustainable housing: such as roads, electricity, lights, and drainage and irrigation, will be installed.

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Omai Gold Mines Corp appoints new Board …after takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings Inc

F

ollowing its takeover of Avalon Investment Holdings Inc, a private Barbadian corporation with an interest in a mineral property in Guyana, Omai Gold Mines Corp now has a new Board of Directors with its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) being Mario Stifano, who has headed seven different companies.

The Board will also be benefiting from the expertise of Directors Denis Clement, Adam Spencer and Paul Fornazzari; Executive Director and Founder Harvey McKenzie;

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Denis LaPoint; Vice President of Exploration, Jason Brewster and Vice President of Operations, Nadine Miller.

Trade in Omai’s common shares, on the TSX Venture Exchange, were halted on May 24, 2019, at the Corporation’s request pending the completion of the transaction and receipt of final approval of the Exchange. In connection with closing the transaction, the common shares of Omai will be listed on Tier 2 of the Exchange under the trading symbol “OMG”, sub-

ject to final approval of the Exchange.

The company said it would issue a further press release advising when Exchange final approval has been received and the expected date for the Omai shares to recommence trading on the Exchange.

Concurrently with the closing of the transaction, Omai changed its name to Omai Gold Mines Corp, and consolidated its common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for 15 pre-consolidation common shares. On closing of the transaction, the Avalon

shareholders were issued 189,869,799 Omai shares.

On closing of the transaction, James Franklin, Michael Florence and John Sadowski resigned as Directors of the Company and Jason Brewster resigned as President and CEO of the Company. Clearhouse LLP, Chartered Accountants will continue as the auditors of Omai. In July 2020, Avalon Investment Holdings Ltd, the holder of an indirect 100 per cent interest in the Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, announced that it had completed a non-brokered private placement financing

Omai Gold Mines Corp President and CEO Mario Stifano

for aggregate proceeds of US$4,500,000.

Under the terms of the financing, Avalon issued 30,000,000 common shares of Avalon to a subsidiary of Silvercorp Metals Inc at a price of US$0.15 per common share. Silvercorp is a profitable Canadian mining company producing silver, lead and zinc metals in concentrates from mines in China. Avalon is a private gold exploration company focused on gold projects in Guyana. The company’s flagship gold project is the famous Omai Gold Mine, which it acquired from the Government of Guyana in 2018.

13 Exxon awards contract for Payara’s Prosperity FPSO to Dutch company NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Minister Bharrat says strong local content framework to benefit all Guyanese needed

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

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ust one day after the signing of the Payara Production Licence, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has awarded the contracts for the construction, installation, and leasing and operation of the Prosperity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Payara Development Project to Dutch company SBM Offshore.

Government and ExxonMobil, whose local affiliate, EEPGL, has the majority interest and is the main operator in the oilrich Stabroek Block, signed the petroleum agreement for the Payara project on Wednesday. This is Exxon’s

third development project offshore Guyana.

On Thursday, SBM Offshore, a global leader in floating, production and mooring systems, announced that EEPGL has confirmed the award of contracts for the next phase of the Payara development project. The Dutch company was also awarded the contracts for the Liza Destiny and Unity FPSO vessels.

Under these new contracts, SBM Offshore will operate the Prosperity FPSO for a period of two years, after which the ownership and operation of the vessel would be transferred to EEPGL. “The award follows completion of front-end engineering and design studies, completion of the multi-purpose hull, receipt of requisite Government approvals, and the final investment decision on the project

by ExxonMobil and block co-venturers,” the company said in a missive on its website.

The Prosperity FPSO will utilise a design that largely replicates the design of the Liza Unity FPSO, which is currently being constructed in Singapore.

Both of these vessels are larger than the Liza Destiny FPSO that is presenting being used for oil production.

In fact, it was noted

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eorgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Senior Vice President Timothy Tucker recently met with Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and expressed that the Chamber has long been a staunch advocate of Guyana’s foreign policy, particularly in the area of trade.

He highlighted how the local Private Sector has benefited from the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with countries in which Guyana has an established presence.

According to Tucker, the GCCI is keen to enhance its working relationship with the Government to navigate challenges faced by the

For example, the Dutch Company outlined that it is looking at executing scope for fabrication and coating of a portion of the light structural steel for the FPSO in Guyana, which would be a first for SBM Offshore in the

Chief Executive Officer of SBM Offshore, Bruno Chabas, said this contract is under the existing longterm FPSO supply agreement with ExxonMobil.

“This award demonstrates the competitiveness of world class deep-water reservoirs and the added value that SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward® programme brings to these large-scale developments. The SBM Offshore team is proud that the constructive collaboration with the ExxonMobil team continues, while contributing to the development of the offshore energy industry in Guyana,” Chabas noted.

Meanwhile, as a result of the award from EEPGL, SBM Offshore said it anticipates the award of contracts to Guyanese companies for work to be performed in Guyana.

country.

Additionally, SBM Offshore is preparing to recruit and employ Guyanese engineers into the Payara project team. Both activities are focused on development of Guyanese capacity, building on efforts to date for the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSOs. This comes on the heels of Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat emphasising the need to have a Local Content Policy and Legislation in place that will ensure the benefits from the oil and gas sector trickle down to all Guyanese.

In fact, after signing the Paraya Licence on Wednesday, the Natural Resources Minister said that Exxon has committed to working with the Local Content Advisory Panel.

Bharrat noted that any Local Content Policy must

CEO of SBM Offshore, Bruno Chabas

that the Prosperity FPSO design is based on SBM Offshore’s industry leading Fast4Ward® programme, which incorporates the Company’s new-build, multi-purpose hull combined with several standardised topside modules.

The Prosperity FPSO will be designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day, and will have associated gas treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day, as well as water-injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. The FPSO will be spread-moored in water depth of about 1,900 metres, and will be able to store approximately two million barrels of crude oil.

The US$9 billion Paryara

GCCI recommits to working with new Govt to navigate challenges in Private Sector

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Senior Vice President Timothy Tucker and Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

development will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels. Ten drill centres are planned, along with up to 41 wells, including 20 production and 21 injection wells.

Private Sector such as regional barriers to trade.

Minister Todd assured the GCCI executive that President Dr Irfaan Ali understood the challenges faced by the Private Sector and was committed to addressing issues such as barriers to market access promptly.

He added that the President had a vision for diversification and GCCI and other partners had a vital role to play in bringing about the necessary changes.

Further, the Minister stated that agreements such as the recently-inked Framework to Strengthen Energy and Infrastructure Finance and Market Building Cooperation between the Governments of the United States of America and Guyana will help to bolster the sector and provide access to financing.

They also discussed Diaspora engagement, development, and the need for increased engagement between the Government and the Private Sector, as Guyana further developed its trade profile.

ensure that not only big companies in Guyana benefit from the petroleum industry, but also the small man; that is, from farmers to the fishermen to the people producing water and doing laundry services, as well as those with services such as fabrication and welding.

“You have these FPSOs (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel) and these ships that are drilling out there and the other shore-based companies that need basic things: laundry services, they need drinking water, they need groceries and vegetables, and these are things that we can produce in Guyana.

So, we need a strong local content framework and legislation to ensure from the farmer to the fisherman benefits; and not only the big companies, but every single Guyanese,” Minister Bharrat asserted.

Only recently, the Natural Resources Minister met with the members of the Advisory Panel on Local Content and was updated on the work of the Panel, and also shared Government’s views and positions on critical issues.

The Local Content Panel was established by President Irfaan Ali, and is tasked with undertaking a review of all existing initiatives and policies relating to local content in the petroleum sector, and to provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and Legislation.

The Panel is chaired by Shyam Nokta and includes Carl Greenidge, Anthony Paul, Kevin Ramnaraine, Carvil Duncan and Floyd Haynes.

They are expected to meet with key stakeholders this month in Government, Private Sector and Civil society, to solicit inputs and perspectives before submitting a report and recommendations in November 2020.

Construction worker arraigned for killing brother

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ixty-four-year-old O’Neil Jordan, also called “Owie”, a construction worker, was on Wednesday arraigned for killing his brother when he made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Zameena Ali Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

Jordan was accused of killing 54-year-old Wilton Jordan, also called “Shabba”, of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on September 24, 2020. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge under Section 94 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01.

The pensioner was,

however, granted bail in the sum of $400,000, and was scheduled to make his next court appearance on January 27, 2021.

It was reported that Jordan and his brother were consuming alcohol at Back Street, Den Amstel when he got up to leave.

However, he was followed by his brother, who held on to him.

Jordan reportedly held on to a neighbour’s gate, but his brother continued to pull at him. Shortly after, Jordan allegedly lost his grip on the gate, and his brother then pushed him to the ground, resulting in the victim hitting his head on

the road, thus causing him to lose consciousness.

The brother, according to Police, then dragged Jordan across the street and threw him into a trench.

The motionless body of the man was subsequently pulled from the trench by two passers-by who saw what had happened.

The victim was escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The suspect was later arrested.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Night Shelter to provide mental health and physical well-being programme

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he Human Services and Social Security Ministry will soon add a mental health and physical wellbeing programme to the roster of services it provides at the Night Shelter.

This was according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the initiative is a collaboration between her ministry and the Health Ministry.

It was reported that Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, National Tuberculosis Programme Manager, was engaged in the process to enhance the services at the Shelter.

“This area (Night Shelter) will have a triage unit where they (health officials) come, test and monitor persons who would come off the roads, so that we can have that level of care for patients, as well as working

Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

towards having on-site nurses and doctors to address the health needs,” Minister Persaud explained.

The Shelter will also be upgraded with the installation of a kitchen, washrooms and other amenities.

“I think having an active kitchen will cater, right away, for the residents, so that they have fresh food, since some are elderly persons and others have disability. So, we are looking at them holistically,” the Minister said.

Overall, the Minister said, the goal is to reintegrate indigent persons into society. In keeping with this objective, the services at the Shelter will be strengthened to provide broad-based care to help persons in difficult circumstances transition into society.

“This will be an ongoing programme aimed [at getting] people off the street into the shelter, and reintegrated into the workforce, ensuring that they have skills and are gainfully occupied. Those who are not able to, for some reason, maybe physically-challenged or other disabilities, we will work with them differently,

The Night Shelter managed by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry

which will come on stream,” Minister Persaud explained.

These services will all be included in phase one of a much larger project, the Minister said.

She also revealed that while she is considering requests for similar facilities in other parts of the country, there are currently no plans to open other night shelters.

Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud said people should not abandon their elderly relatives

at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation or on the streets, but make use of the available services at the Palms Geriatric Home.

“If the need arises that we need to have homes elsewhere, we will partner with other entities to see how we will develop this. I am hoping that we will have a different sense of caring and responsibility kick in, so that people can take care of their elderly, because not

only this shelter deal with the elderly, but the Palms.

Once people are 60 and over, they [can] go to the Palms, but even in those instances, [if] people can care for their parents and grandparents, then they should,” Dr. Persaud said.

Those who are unable to care for their elderly relatives who suffer from illhealth can contact the Ministry for guidance and support.

Observing International Day of Non-Violence

By Ramnarine Sahadeo (Author of Mohandas k Gandhi; thoughts, words, deeds)

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n October 2, 1869, a great teacher was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, India, and the United Nations has asked all mankind to remember his contributions to human civiliSation by declaring that date as the International Day of Non-Violence. Too many of his birthdays have gone by without any sustained efforts to pass on his message to those who may not know of him or his achievements.

Excessive reliance is placed on national organisations planning an event in which only a few participate.

However, without great

fanfare, every single person, irrespective of race, religion, nationality or social status, can show appreciation for this great soul by trying to step into his shoes. His life and message can still contribute to the resolution of many of the problems caused and faced by humans today, and it is an opportune time to show gratitude and respect for the spiritual politician who proved that TRUTH and NON-VIOLENCE can change the world.

The following are only a few of the activities that every person, especially those who do not find him a perfect human being, can attempt to sense his greatness.

Fast for the day, skip a meal, or just eat less. Be a

vegetarian, so no animal, bird or fish has to be killed.

Wear fewer clothing, consistent with your climate. Do not pollute, but instead clean up the environment.

See and discuss the movie GANDHI and other shows of his life. Persuade and assist all schools to get speakers to inform the children of his life and legacy.

Have courage to confront injustice, but use methods that are consistent with the objectives. The "sacred warrior" first notifies the oppressors of his intent, and if the situation does not improve, then he resorts to his weapon of peaceful non-cooperation with the source of evil.

This strategy of non-violent resistance has been followed

Author at Vidya Peeth on the banks of the Sabarmati River, Gujarat. It shows the first stop on the way to Dandi Beach

by anti-colonial and freedom movements across the globe.

It can be applied to any situation of inequality and injustice, even based on racial or economic suppression.

Donate blood, food, clothes, books or other material possessions to those in need, particularly to strangers. Practise Ahimsa, which does not simply mean non-violence, but non-harm.

Words, ill-thoughts, anger, harsh judgements are all forms of harm, not only to others, but even to those who entertain them.

Tell the truth, even if it means loss of social or economic status, and experience the power of moral superiority. Observe the reaction of a very rich or powerful person who is found to be untruthful.

Do not smoke or consume alcohol or anything that alters the mind. Take the longest walk that your health will allows, either alone or with others, preferably to redress a social wrong or injustice, following the precedent of Satyagraha. Passive re-

sistance, or soul force, is infinitely superior to body force.

Jesus, Socrates, Tolstoy, Buddha, Mandela, Martin Luther King and many successful political leaders used this method.

Be prepared to admit temporary failure if your end cannot be achieved by peaceful means at the first attempt.

Do not try to convert anyone by telling them they can obtain salvation only by following your religion, because it is a blatant lie historically supported overtly and covertly by governments. It may even amount to terrorism, depending on the definition of the term and the words used to generate fear.

Recognise that all religions have produced charitable, loving, caring human beings, yet religious differences remain one of the greatest impediments to world peace.

Be silent for as long as possible, while meditating and looking inward. Control your lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, or fear.

Show respect and apprecia-

tion for your spouse or partner, family members and neighbours.

Read, share and discuss books that inspired Gandhi e.g. the Gita, his autobiography, and works of countless authors who tried to capture the secrets to his greatness.

It is remarkable how he generated power and national significance to very simple things e.g. salt he picked up after the Dandi March in 1930, spinning the charkha to make khadi, or home-spun cloth, for economic independence.

As a lawyer he spoke of rights, but as the Mahatma, he emphasised duties to each other, from respecting the poor to the welfare of all living things, and eventually the entire planet.

Once this trying day is over, many will appreciate his life and be willing to name a street, a building, or other structure after him. A few may even finance scholarships and courses in Peace Studies to ensure that he is guaranteed the immortality he deserves.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 35 new cases recorded A s at Thursday, Guyana’s death toll had increased to 85 after three more persons succumbed to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

The Health Ministry made the announcement on Thursday evening.

The country’s 83rd death is a 46-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). He reportedly died while receiving care at one of the medical facilities. The two other latest fatalities are also both males, aged 73 and 69, who also died while receiving care at a medical facility. They both were from the DemeraraMahaica Region.

Two other deaths were confirmed on Wednesday. Those were a 61-yearold female from Region Four, who died while

Islands-West Demerara).

The week began with the COVID-19 death toll at 82.

Meanwhile, the country also saw an increase of 35 cases on Thursday, which raised the total confirmed cases to 2929. The daily dashboard showed 1555 males and 1374 females contracting the virus to date.

Statistics showed that three persons were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which now stands at 14.

Meanwhile, there are 142 persons in institutional isolation and 101 patients in institutional quarantine.

Those on home isolation stands at 931 – a reduction of seven. Another 80 persons have each made complete recovery, raising the recovery rate to 1760.

A breakdown of the positives showed that three cases were detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-

Hospitals to boost the capacity of the regional health system.

To this end, Dr Anthony added that training has already commenced for the doctors at the Regional Hospitals to operate the machines. He further noted that two PCR machines will be added to those at the National Public Health Reference Lab, adding: “We are going to be able to process samples faster.”

Minister Anthony detailed that the Government has expanded the capacity at the GPHC, where most of the severe COVID-19 cases go, but noted that the capacities of all the hospitals have been expanded.

“We are now able to do more testing, and we are seeing that, by doing more testing, we are seeing more people who have tested positive,” he added.

Govt to continue partnerships to boost production, increase trade – Agri Minister

receiv-

ing care at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU),

and a 60-year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo

Region 6 records 46% pass rate at NGSA

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West Demerara), 31 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), one in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and eight in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Figures remained the same in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), standing at 438, 36, 18, 42, 78 and 97 respectively.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony disclosed during a press conference on Thursday that an additional 21 ventilators will be arriving in the country by October 12. These ventilators, he said, will be distributed to the Regional

esults of the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations have revealed that more children in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) have failed the exams than those who have passed.

Although there has been countrywide improvement in three subject areas this year (Science, Language, Social Studies), the situation is slightly worrying for officials in Region Six, as the overall pass rate there is below 50 per cent.

Of the 1775 pupils who wrote the examination in Region Six, only 809 attained marks in excess of 400, which represents a 46 per cent pass rate.

More worrying is the fact that only 15 of the Region’s 55 primary schools have received at least a 50 per cent pass rate.

The Plegt-Anker and Schepmoed Primary schools, with one and two pupils respectively, are the only two schools to secure 100 percent pass rate.

Gangaram Primary has been the top performer with a 92 per cent pass rate, with 12 of the 13 students getting over 400 marks; while All Saints Primary had 70 of the 93 students attaining over 400 marks, giving it a 75 per cent pass rate.

Berbice Islamic School had seven out of 10 students gaining a pass rate, thus recording a 70 per cent pass rate for the school.

At one school, only 39 of the 97 students had passed the exams, while another

school had 34 passes from the 82 entries. There were two schools in the Region with no passes at the exams this year.

Regional Chairman David Armogan says the results are disappointing, but noted that much more work has to be done at the primary school level.

“This is to make sure that, in the future, our children can achieve a higher grade.

This is what we are finding.

With only 46 per cent of our children passing, we will find that more of them will be going to secondary schools (but) they will not be able to perform in the first form of the secondary school. We are having difficulty to get many of them to read and write properly. If you can’t read and write properly, how is it that you can enter into a high school?” Armogan questioned.

Focus, he noted, must be on ensuring that children at the primary level are able to attain the necessary academic levels needed for entry into secondary schools. He said secondary school teachers have been complaining that enough teaching is not being done at the primary level.

“That is why we have been doing the six-year programme in some schools.

Some of the low-performing secondary schools, like Winifred Gaskin Secondary and a few more, we have developed what is called a sixyear programme. In the first year, the children are exposed to general reasoning, writing and basis Mathematics to bring them up to speed; and

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

once that have passed that first year, quite a lot of them have done pretty well with the six-year programme.”

Noting that many teachers at the primary level have been putting in hard work, the Regional Chairman said the Regional Education Officer (REDO) and her staff will have a lot of work to do in order to reverse the results.

Meanwhile, the region’s overall poor performance does not mean that students who did not attain the marks for a desired school will be allowed a transfer to that school.

“The policy of the Ministry is clear on that. If you have not attained that marks required to get into a particular school, then those requests cannot be entertained.”

Following the release of NGSA results last week, many parents have been approaching schools and the Department of Education, seeking to have their children transferred to another school.

(Andrew Carmichael)

T

he Agriculture Ministry plans to improve and expand the services of the agencies within its purview with its $18 billion Budget 2020 allocation, and will align its programmes to assist all farmers, fisher-folk and value chain actors as they grapple with the economic downturn.

Subject Minister Zulfikar Mustapha made these disclosures during a virtual address on Thursday for the official launch of observances for Agriculture Month.

“The Government will provide opportunities for farmers and agro-processors to grow, process, and benefit from increased trade, both regionally and internationally. Our farmers will benefit from the removal of value-added tax from agricultural inputs and the granting of tax concessions on investment in agro-processing, cold storage and packaging facilities. The Ministry will provide the necessary aid needed by farmers to get from the farm to the market, to ensure adequate food is produced, and livelihoods maintained,” the Minister said.

The Ministry will also continue collaborations with its partners in the public and private sectors, international organisations, farmers organisations, and other actors to build a diversified and sustainable sector, even as it adopts innovative measures to secure Guyana’s food system.

In keeping with the COVID-19 emergency measures, the Ministry will host most of its observances for the month virtually.

However, it will also meet small groups of stakeholders during the month.

This year’s observances are themed: “Investing in Agriculture for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development.”

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCB murders…

Guyana to tap into Argentine forensic expertise T

alks are currently underway to secure the services of one of the world’s leading forensic anthropology organisations to support the Guyana Police Force’s investigation into the murders of the three teenagers – Joel and Isaiah Henry, and Haresh Singh – in the West Coast Berbice backlands.

The Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (Equipo Argentino de Antropologia ForensicaEAAF), which has worked on high-profile cases in many parts of the world, has offered to send to Guyana a team that includes a forensic pathologist, a forensic anthropologist and a forensic radiologist. The team will bring the equipment they need.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the law firm representing the interests of the families of the deceased pro bono, Hughes Fields and Stoby, it was revealed that discussions are ongoing with the Director of the EAAF to have the team come to Guyana.

“The anticipated outcome will be an unprecedented collaboration of local, regional and international forensic expertise. The EAAF team will build on the

Murdered: Isaiah Henry

forensic work of the Regional Security System, which is currently examining samples from the crime scene, victims and suspects,” the joint statement detailed.

It went on to say that the team will be in Guyana for a week, and will present a report of its findings within a month’s time. According to the missive, the visit will happen as soon as the logistics of getting the team to Guyana are completed.

The major challenge to this, the missive stated, may well be COVID-19, rather than administrative issues.

“Engagement of a prestigious team such as EAAF increases the possibility of providing the families of the victims with some form of closure, as well as secur-

ing a successful prosecution of the perpetrators. A version of the truth surrounding the deaths, which is supported by the best science available locally, regionally and internationally, will also increase acceptance by all right-thinking Guyanese.

Such a report would provide a foundation on which to build more harmonious communities both on West Coast Berbice and throughout the country,” it was noted.

Already, a five-member team of investigators from the Regional Security System (RSS) is currently in Guyana to assist the Police Force with its investigations into the murder of the teens.

The team, which arrived in the country on Monday, met with Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, and ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Major Crimes Unit (MCU).

The visit of the RSS team is as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS) consequent to a decision

by Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, to seek regional assistance with the investi-

Murdered: Joel Henry

gations.

Meanwhile, President Ali recently disclosed that evidence gathered from the investigations into the murders of WCB teenagers has been sent to St Lucia for analysis.

“We have a team that has left for St. Lucia with some of the evidence, to do more detailed analysis; so that is going on. At the same time, for confidentiality reasons, the regional body has asked to have certain things respected from their perspective, and we are sticking to that,” President Ali said during a recent interview.

On September 6, the bodies of Isaiah and Joel Henry were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB, almost one day after they were re-

ported missing. They had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but did not return home. Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud after relatives went in search of them.

The news of their deaths sparked protests across several villages along the West Berbice corridor, and commuters and other innocent persons were beaten and robbed, while roads were blocked and some vehicles were torched.

Three days later, on September 9, 17-year-old Singh was found murdered at the Number Three Village backlands. It is suspected that his death is in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he is related to one of the persons initially held by the Police.

Several persons who were arrested for the murder of the Henry teens were released on station bail; while, to date, no arrest has been made in relation to Singh’s murder.

EAAF, since its foundation in 1984, has worked in 55 countries. It is involved with the case regarding the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico, currently attracting much international attention.

EAAF is made up of 70 members with qualifications

Murdered: Haresh Singh

in different scientific fields, such as anthropology, archaeology, medicine, criminalistics, information technology, biology, and genetics.

They work at the different offices that the institution has in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Tucumán) as well as in New York, Mexico, and South Africa.

Since its creation, EAAF has remained independent of any government or political party influence, and is distinguished by its low profile, being more involved with actions than with words.

Its financing sources are typically European and North American foundations, some European states, and, since 2005, the Argentine state.

PM announces multi-sectoral approach to handle COVID-19 …businesses breaching curfew to face serious measures

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rime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips (retired) on Thursday announced the formation of a multi-sectoral operation which has been installed to curb the spread of COVID-19 and sensitise the public on the implications of contracting the life-threatening disease.

Through this new approach, which is labelled ‘Operation Covicurb’, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) have all joined forces to execute the Health Ministry’s mandate of flattening the curve.

“As the name implies, it is an operation to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana. We want to focus on education, moral suasion, communicating aggressively through the length and breadth of Guyana, and finally, to use enforcement measures.

“This is an operation that is now launched, and it will grow on us over the next 72 hours. It will involve members of the Joint Services, and we will have

From left to right: Prime Minister Mark Phillips is joined by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; GDF Head, Brigadier Godfrey Bess; Top Cop Nigel Hoppie and CDC head, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

volunteers,” the PM disclosed.

Acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie reminded that the GPF is on the frontline behind this fight in terms of enforcement of regulations. In a ‘community-minded’ approach, they will embark on a continuous public sensitisation campaign. Ranks have been assigned across the region to specifically ensure that the national measures are upheld by citizens.

“It is my sincere hope and expectation that our efforts will be effective in contributing to a decline in the COVID-19 statistics in Guyana,” Hoppie relayed.

As at October 1, the COVID-19 emergency measures (#10) were published, outlining a change in the countrywide curfew to the timeframe of 9 pm to 4 am to allow certain businesses to operate for a longer period. For example, gas stations, salons and super-

markets can now close at 20:00h.

The PM reiterated that this is not an opportunity for persons to party or socialise, but simply to enable citizens to conduct their transactions. Farmers and fishermen are now benefiting from increased timing to ply their trades.

Businesses that flout the measures would be given a warning on the first occasion, and on the second violation, will be asked to close

their doors indefinitely.

“We have not relaxed or reduced the measures for anyone to go out there and party and socialise and feel more relaxed. There’s a simple reason why we did it: so people could conduct their activities, whether it be workplace of business or farming, and get home to their families…This is serious business, and if you want to stay alive, now is the time to stop partying,

wear the mask and encourage those around you (to do likewise),” Phillips indicated.

Gyms and bar are among the services to remain closed. Meanwhile, there are special measures for Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), inclusive of restricted travel.

The Ministry explained that these new measures were made following a rapid assessment of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

“The Government has looked at the approaches in other territories, especially in the Caribbean, and has resolved that a multi-sector and multi-faceted approach has been the most successful model, with an aggressive policy of detection, contact tracing and, if positive, isolation,” it was explained.

The Government has said it would continue to engage each sector, and based on the epidemiological evidence, develop appropriate protocols to keep citizens safe while allowing for a gradual reopening.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Contractors who do shoddy Adolescent girls benefit from work will be blacklisted – “Girl Power” virtual conference Minister Anand Persaud L

M

inister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud has sounded a warning to all contractors to act in a professional manner when executing their jobs or face the possibility of being blacklisted.

These were the sentiments of Persaud while addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) earlier this week.

“With regards to these contractors, based on my information during the last RDC, a lot of shoddy work was done in this Region and so many other Regions. Contractors will be blacklisted. They will be blacklisted for a very long time. The people of this Region deserve better and they will have to get better,” Persaud said.

More than $360 million has been budgeted to be spent in Region Five over the next three months.

This sum comprises $3.5 million for regional administration and finance and agriculture including drainage and irrigation; $3.5 million for public works including farm-to-market access roads; $148.2 million for education, $6.5 million and health services $198.2 million.

“It is because we have a pandemic on hand and a lot of the health centres and the hospitals will be fully equipped to deal with COVID-19 cases with regards to PPE [Personal Protective Equipment],” Persaud detailed.

“We do not want a contractor let us say to come from Region Six or Region Two or Region Three and bring workers into this Region. There are enough

Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud

skill sets within this Region that contractors can employ to execute the works and do them properly.”

Those who are bent on producing work which is less than what they are contracted to do will be dealt with condignly.

“Because if they are being paid to do a project, be it a road or the rehabilitation of a school or in the health sector, it has to be done according to the specs,” Persaud noted.

He further instructed the Regional Executive Officer (REO) that the bills of quantities must be placed at places where citizens would be able to view them and ensure that the works were being executed properly.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

ocal and overseas-based girls recently benefited from a “Girl Power” virtual conference by the For The Children’s Sake Foundation (FTCSF) in collaboration with the Health Ministry’s Adolescent Health Department, Cysterhood Support-Guyana and Desert Flower.

The conference, which took place via the Zoom app, was aimed at empowering adolescents and girls, making them more equipped with knowledge to face various challenges.

In giving the welcoming and opening remarks, FTCSF Deputy Finance Director Tishon Fraser said the collaborating organisations had recognised the importance of girl empowerment, which she noted could lead to healthier families and communities.

“Girl empowerment allows for self-discovery, self-love. It builds confidence, boost morals and inculcate values for self that allow for personal development.

Empowerment is being in a position to make informed decisions that will impact your outcomes, and a lot of times knowing just a little bit more or having a little more confidence in your capabilities is the difference between remaining in an abusive relationship or moving on, choosing education or fast-paced life. As girls, we need to have the proper guidance and knowledge that will help us navigate efficiently through the critical periods of adolescence,” Fraser said.

She noted that the activity was an initiative birthed and nurtured, for the organisation’s mandate is to empower, encourage, and inspire girls in the hope of making them better prepared for the challenges that await them in society. Fraser further encouraged participants to be active, ask questions, and seek clarity.

“When you have information, you have knowledge. It allows you to make the right choices… that is why information is so important. Girls, in order for you to be empowered, educating yourselves is the key. You must move along the continuum from lack of knowledge to the point where you acquire the requisite skills and knowledge,” she told participants.

The participants were educated on topics such as Menstruation and Hygiene; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS); Cervical Cancer; Breast Self-Examination; Abuse; Domestic Violence and the Law

and Anxiety and Depression.

According to FTCSF Executive Director Vernon Todd, the event serves as another step in the journey to ensuring that girls are well equipped to overcome the existing challenges in society. Todd said he was hopeful that with initiatives such as these, the community as well as regional and national leaders were challenged to do more to assist girls to understand and be confident of their roles in society.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cysterhood Support-Guyana, Kimberly Manbodh implored the girls to take advantage of the opportunity and to be the best version of themselves, while Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Coordinator Cilandell Glen charged the girls to be the change they want to see in the world.

A mini-virtual concert was also hosted where various artistes empowered the girls through their performances.

SYMPTOMS

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

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

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

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

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

Regional

Jamaica assumes presidency of OAS Permanent Council, says fight against COVID-19 is priority

J

amaica assumed chair of the Organisation of American States’(OAS) Permanent Council in Washington, DC, following a virtual handing-over ceremony which saw Ambassador Audrey Marks assuming the position for the next three months.

Marks has been placed in the leadership of the hemispheric council for the second time.

In her remarks, Marks said that it was her desire during her chairmanship to work with the experts in the Secretariat and delegations, “to advance the dialogue on issues such as accelerating equitable access to vaccines against COVID-19; and also most importantly, while we await a vaccine, we must ensure affordable quality departure testing to minimise imported cases to our countries and surveillance testing to manage the community transmission ravishing so many families at this time…

Jamaica’s Permanent representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Ambassador Audrey Marks, delivers opening remarks as she assumes the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council at a virtual handing-over ceremony Thursday morning

“We must continue to explore increased access to concessional and non-concessional financing and greater cooperation leading to increased access to the Internet,” she said.

The Ambassador pointed out that she was “also keenly aware that the COVID-19

pandemic has served to magnify the inter-connectedness of our countries, big or small, rich or poor, and the need for us to work together, even more so now than ever, to overcome the challenges before us”.

Noting that this year Jamaica commemorates the 50th anniversary of its membership in the OAS, Marks said, “the symbolism of this achievement is not lost on us”.

She said she looked forward to working with all delegations over the next three months, “and especially as we prepare for the upcoming 50th regular session of the general assembly, to be held October 20 to 21, in a spirit of dialogue… as we seek to manage the threats posed by the pandemic and to emerge even stronger post COVID-19.

This will only be achieved through our collective efforts, in a sustained and organised way.” (Jamaica Observer)

Hanna bids to lead Jamaican Opposition

M

iss World 1993 and four-term Jamaican Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna has thrown her hat in the ring to be leader of Jamaica’s Opposition party, the People’s National Party (PNP), with a top academic in TT seeing her as a “smart and savvy” person.

Hanna is the Opposition spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and is a seasoned parliamentary debater who is seen by many, inside and outside of Jamaica, as having star power.

The Caribbean has already had women Prime Ministers/Heads of Government in Barbados, leader Mia Mottley, and past leaders Jamaica’s Portia Simpson-Miller, T&T’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Dominica’s Dame Eugenia

Lisa Hanna is making a bid to become leader of Jamaica’s People’s National Party (PNP)

Charles (now deceased) and Guyana’s Janet Jagan, who is also deceased.

With the PNP badly beaten 49-14 by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the September 3 General Election, PNP leader Dr Peter Phillips has stepped down, leaving open

the post known formally as the PNP President. PNP election day is November 7. Hanna had her own woes, having initially been deemed to have won her South East St Ann’s seat by a mere 14 votes, which on recount rose to 32.

However, since then, an opinion poll commissioned by the Jamaica Observer has put Hanna well ahead of other contenders for the PNP leadership, being favoured by 20 per cent of respondents, twice the number who favoured her nearest rival Mark Golding.

Last Sunday, in an online post titled, “I’m ready,” Hanna, 45, announced her bid for the PNP presidency, hoping to “bring back the love” in a party split by internal conflict which many said had turned off voters.

(Excerpt from Newsday)

Investors fail to protect the Amazon, conservation group finds

M

any of the world’s biggest financial institutions that manage trillions of dollars in assets are “fuelling” deforestation in the Amazon by failing to set clear policies to stop the damage, a forest conservation group claims in a new report.

Major institutional investors that lack zero-deforestation policies include Aberdeen Standard Investments, Legal and General Investment

Management, Amundi Asset Management and Candriam Investors Group, UK-based non-profit Global Canopy said in a report published on Thursday.

“The financial sector is fuelling deforestation in Brazil through their investments in companies in beef and soy supply chains,” Global Canopy Executive Director Niki Mardas said in a statement.

After Amazon wildfires made global headlines in

September 2019, 251 investors – collectively managing nearly US$18 trillion in assets – signed a statement urging companies to do their part in halting the destruction of the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

A year later, however, only a handful of the financial institutions that called on businesses to act have introduced their own policies against deforestation, Global Canopy’s report found.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Venezuela insists on December congress vote despite EU call for delay

V

enezuela on Thursday insisted it would hold legislative elections on December 6, following a call by the European Union for a delay to ensure a free and fair vote.

Opposition parties led by congress chief Juan Guaidó have said they would not participate in the vote on the grounds that it was rigged in favour of President Nicolás Maduro’s ruling Socialist Party.

The EU last week sent a mission to Caracas and on Wednesday issued a statement saying conditions do not exist for a free and fair election.

Venezuela’s Foreign

Ministry said on Thursday the EU’s statement “reflects a biased position on the conditions in which the Venezuelan people will choose the new National Assembly on December 6”, and called on the EU to play “a positive and respectful facilitation role”.

Maduro had asked the United Nations and the EU to send electoral observation missions. Officials say the EU needs at least six months to organise an observation group.

Two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles for weeks urged the Opposition to fight for better conditions, but on Wednesday night said a delay was neces-

sary to ensure a free and fair vote.

The Opposition-run congress on Thursday approved a measure calling for a “popular consultation” asking Venezuelans if they reject the December 6 elections and whether they support “domestic and national pressure mechanisms” to push Maduro from power.

Those who participate can do so in person, by mail, or electronically, the legislature said in a press release, adding it would be available to Venezuelans who live outside the country. The legislature’s press team said the date for the consultation had not been set. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands of US-bound migrants cross into Guatemala without authorisation

M

ore than 2000 Central American migrants heading to the United States from Honduras barged past armed Guatemalan security troops at the border on Thursday, as they sought to escape poverty exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, caravan members, many wearing face masks, began gathering near the Guatemalan border at 06:30h. By mid-day more than 2000 migrants had crossed without authorisation, said Guatemalan officials, who expressed concern about contagion.

“We’re talking about a caravan in the middle of a pandemic. The situation is

complicated, because they broke the health protocols and we don’t know who has entered (the country),” said Guatemala’s migration director Guillermo Díaz.

One member of the caravan died on Thursday after falling from a trailer in Guatemala and getting trapped under its wheels, the Guatemalan Red Cross reported.

The caravan is the biggest since the coronavirus pandemic hit Central America in March, triggering strict Government shutdowns that battered already precarious economies, leading to rises in unemployment and poverty.

It is likely to face chal-

lenges crossing through Mexico, where President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has deployed the National Guard to the border with Guatemala and dispersed previous caravans under pressure from the United States.

Republican President Donald Trump has made cracking down on unauthorised immigration a key part of his platform, ahead of the US presidential election in a month’s time.

Members of the caravan said they were fleeing dire conditions in Honduras, which is experiencing the worst economic decline in its history. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US charges Trinidad-born national with assisting ISIS

T

he United States has laid charges against two people, including a 53-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native, who were detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and recently transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The authorities said that Emraan Ali, 53, a US citizen born in Trinidad and Tobago, was charged in a complaint with providing and attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Jihad Ali, 19, a US citizen born in New York, was

charged in a complaint with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS. Both defendants made their initial appearances in federal court on Wednesday in the Southern District of Florida before US Magistrate Judge Edwin G Torres.

According to the criminal complaints, in March 2015, Emraan Ali travelled to Syria with his family, including his son, Jihad Ali, to join ISIS. Both Emraan and Jihad Ali received military and religious training and served as fighters in support of the terrorist organisation. In ad-

dition to serving as a fighter, Emraan Ali served in various other roles in support of ISIS. Emraan and Jihad Ali finally surrendered to the SDF near Baghuz in March 2019, during the last sustained ISIS battles to maintain territory in Syria, according to the complaint.

Assistant Attorney General John C Demers and Ariana Fajardo Orshan, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the JTTF. (Excerpt from CMC)

4 soldiers detained over theft during DSS raid

F

our Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) members were on Wednesday detained for questioning into video footage showing one of them allegedly stuffing stacks of money into his tactical uniform during the raid on the Drug Sou (DSS) headquarters in La Horquetta last Tuesday.

Several senior investigators said the four men were picked up for questioning by

officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) of the T&T Police Service after instructions were given by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith.

Sources familiar with the investigation said they were picked up at Teteron Barracks in Chaguaramas and taken to the PSB office to be interviewed.

A sergeant, 39; two Lance Corporals, 30 and 31 and a Corporal, 29, who were part

of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) raiding unit, were taken in.

Contacted late Wednesday, Griffith confirmed the men were in Police custody. He said he had been in constant contact with PSB head Senior Superintendent Samaroo and had written to him on September 30 after the footage of the officer had gone viral after it was reported in the media. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices slide as OPEC opens the valves

O

il prices took another dive on Thursday, with the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) falling more than six per cent by late morning as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased production in September over August.

Spot prices for WTI had fallen by 6.04 per cent to US$37.79 by 11:28h EDT, while Brent had dropped 5.22 per cent to US$40.09.

The catalyst for the price drop is OPEC+’s September seaborne exports, which jumped to 22.84 million barrels per day from the 22.11 million that the cartel exported by sea in August.

For OPEC specifically, its exports rose from 17.53 million bpd in August to 18.2 million bpd in September.

A Reuters survey shows that OPEC’s production for September was up 160,000 bpd from the previous month. OPEC is still in compliance. The culprits for this production increase are mostly Iran and Libya, both of whom are exempt from the production quotas.

The market is interpreting this production increase as a viable threat to any oil market rebalancing.

Further pressuring oil prices is the ever-present demand question – a metric that has been constantly pushed down by the pandemic. Bearish demand factors include another round of major airline layoffs affecting tens of thousands of employees, an impromptu lockdown of Madrid due to increasing coronavirus cases, and disappointing vaccine news – two separate vaccine trials have resulted in unpleasant side effects, including high fever, body aches, bad headaches, and exhaustion, just to name a few.

While the vaccine news isn’t a death knell for either vaccine, they may reduce the number of people willing to sign up for the vaccine if either of these are ultimately approved.

It is the vaccine that OPEC has pointed to in a meeting on Thursday as the lynchpin to stabilising the oil market and hastening “the pace of economic recovery”. (oilprice.com)

India says Pakistani shelling killed 3 soldiers in Kashmir

T

hree Indian soldiers have been killed by Pakistani shelling across the disputed border in India-administered Kashmir, the Indian Army said.

Indian Army spokesman Rajesh Kalia said Pakistan opened fire without provocation in the Nowgam sector early on Thursday, killing two Indian soldiers and wounding four.

Another Indian soldier was killed in overnight firing by Pakistani troops in the Poonch sector, he said.

“Our troops responded strongly to the enemy fire,” said Kalia.

Pakistan accused Indian forces of violating a ceasefire in the region and injuring one civilian.

Shelling frequently erupts along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing the Kashmir region that both nuclear-armed countries claim in full but govern in part.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday it had summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad to protest against ceasefire violations

by Indian forces along the LoC a day earlier, in which

Turkey rebuffs Russia, France, and US over Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire moves

T

he Presidents of France, Russia, and the United States called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces around Nagorno-Karabakh, but Turkey said the three big powers should have no role in peace moves.

France, Russia, and the United States are co-chairs of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group

(OSCE), set up in 1992 to mediate in the decades-old conflict over the mountainous enclave in the South Caucasus.

They appealed for peace as the death toll rose in the heaviest clashes since the 1990s around Nagorno-Karabakh – part of Azerbaijan, but run by its mostly ethnic Armenian inhabitants.

“We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the relevant

Russian operation masqueraded as rightwing news site to target US voters – sources

T

he Russian group accused of meddling in the 2016 US election has posed as an independent news outlet to target right-wing social media users ahead of this year’s vote, two people familiar with an FBI probe into the activity told Reuters.

The latest operation centred around a pseudo media organisation called the Newsroom for American and European Based Citizens (NAEBC), which was run by people associated with the St Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, the sources said.

US Prosecutors say the agency played a key role in Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election in favour of President Donald Trump, and Facebook and Twitter

exposed a fake left-wing media outlet in September which they said was run by people connected to the organisation.

NAEBC and its activity, which have not been previously reported, now show that Russian attempts to influence US voters ahead of the 2020 election have targeted both sides of the political divide.

The website predominantly focused on US politics and current events, republishing articles from conservative media and paying real Americans to write about politically-sensitive issues.

A network of accounts posing as editors and journalists then promoted the articles on social media sites favoured by right-wing users. (Excerpt from Reuters)

military forces,” the joint French, Russian, and US statement said.

They urged the ex-Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan to “commit without delay to resuming substantive negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions” under what is called the Minsk process.

But in a speech to the Turkish Parliament just before the three countries’ statement, President

Tayyip Erdogan said he opposed their involvement.

“Given that the USA, Russia and France have neglected this problem for nearly 30 years, it is unacceptable that they are involved in a search for a ceasefire,” Erdogan said.

The conflict moved closer to the Armenian capital of Yerevan late Thursday as the Government reported four “enemy” drones downed near the city.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Human rights lawyers sue Trump Administration over “unconstitutional” ICC sanctions

H

uman rights lawyers launched a legal challenge on Thursday to US President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing economic sanctions on employees of the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal, arguing it breaches the US Constitution.

A filing lodged at a district court in New York by the Open Society Justice Initiative, a public interest law centre that specialises in war crimes cases, names Trump, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and seven other members of his administration.

It argues that the executive order violates constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, and prevents the plaintiffs from carrying out work in support of international justice.

“By issuing this outra-

geous order, the Trump Administration has betrayed Washington’s long-standing support for international justice, snubbed its allies, and violated the US Constitution,” Open Society Justice Initiative Executive Director James Goldston said in a statement.

“We are going to court to end this reckless assault on a judicial institution and the victims it serves.”

Trump authorised US economic and travel sanctions against employees of the Hague-based International Criminal Court and anyone supporting its work on June 12, citing their involvement in an investigation into whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

On September 2, Pompeo said ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had been blacklisted. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hopes high for Sudan’s peace deal, but challenges remain

L Pakistan accused Indian forces of violating a ceasefire in the region and injuring one civilian [File: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images]

a 65-year-old civilian in the Jandrot sector was wounded.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri accused New Delhi of escalating tension along the LoC “to divert world attention from its human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir”.

India says Pakistani troops often open fire to help armed fighters sneak across the LoC to join a decades-long armed revolt.

(Excerpted from Al Jazeera)

eaders from Sudan’s transitional Government and key rebel groups are set to formalise a peace deal that many hope will turn the page on decades of violence and chaos in the African country.

The long-awaited peace deal between Khartoum and a coalition of armed groups called the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) is slated to be inked on Saturday in Juba, the capital of neighbouring South Sudan, after months of negotiations.

If the deal sticks, it could

The deal could ease Sudan’s transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of military strongman Omar al-Bashir last year [File: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters]

ease Sudan’s transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of military strongman Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. But analysts point to a track record of failed peace bids in Sudan, potential rebel spoilers, power plays, and other stumbling blocks.

For Jonas Horner, a senior Sudan analyst at the International Crisis Group think-tank, the “devil will be in the implementation” of the deal in a country that has been ravaged by food price hikes, locust swarms, and record-setting floods.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Harry and Meghan call to end “structural racism”

T

he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for the end of "structural racism" in a piece written for a newspaper for Black History Month.

Prince Harry and Meghan

said there had been changes in the UK in the past 30 years, but "sufficient progress had not been achieved".

They were writing in the London Evening Standard as they highlighted leaders

in the UK's black community.

The couple recently urged voters in the US election to "reject hate".

The duke and duchess have moved to Santa

Barbara with their son Archie and agreed a deal to create shows for the streaming service Netflix, having stepped back as senior royals in January. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Don’t get upset; get moving. Channel your energy into something constructive. Avoid letting anyone goad you into a spat that will waste time and cause stress. Concentrate on personal growth, not on changing others.

Look at every situaTAURUS tion thoroughly before you (April 20make a move. Some underhandedness will prevail if May 20) you let others take control.

Personal improvements will bring the highest reward.

Romance is in the stars and will enhance your life.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Get to the bottom of any situation that has left you feeling uncertain. Ask questions, be direct and don’t settle for secondhand information. Benevolence will pay off.

An unexpected change will occur if you let your anger or stubbornness lead to a battle with a loved one. Take a step back and do your best to understand what others are going through before you take action.

Follow your heart. If you give someone an inch, they will take a mile. Put more emphasis on what’s important to you and how to go about getting your way. Romance is favored.

How you handle your money will determine how much cash you have for entertainment and luxury purchases. Practical spending and investments will be necessary if you want to improve your lifestyle. Focus on what’s important to you.

Remain calm to avoid getting into a battle with a loved one. Put your energy into something that will bring concrete results.

Focus on love, partnerships and doing what’s best.

Take care of business.

Leave nothing unfinished or open to criticism. Consider making a domestic change that will give you greater freedom. If you touch base with friends and relatives, you’ll acquire valuable information.

You may want to party, but before you do, consider the consequences. You can have fun without jeopardizing your health or reputation. Personal growth and romance are favored.

Don’t let the little things annoy you. Keep your emotions tucked away, listen carefully and go about your business. Be practical and use your intelligence to get ahead.

A partnership will interest you. Put together a must-have list before you negotiate. You may not get everything you want, but you will get the essentials if you are ready to barter.

Changes to how you handle your money, investments and important relationships will have major repercussions. Use charm and offer incentives to gain the support you require to reach your goal.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

21

“CWI Board should have 4 ex-cricketers” — Sir Clive Lloyd ... thinks more powerful Anthem needed for West Indies Cricket

W

est Indies legend Sir Clive Lloyd has pointed to a continued lack of inclusion of former players at the board level of regional cricket as being a significant hindrance to improving the fortunes of the struggling West Indies team.

Though typically the realm of lifelong administrators and businessmen, the boards of “cricket’s big three”: England, India, and Australia, have included former players at the top level of the game’s governance.

Currently, India is the best example, with former captain Sourav Ganguly serving as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on a body that also includes Brijesh Patel.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently added former captain Andrew Strauss as a non-voting member, but also includes women’s player Lucy Pearson.

For Cricket Australia, Michael Kasprowicz resigned from the board earlier this year, but two-time women’s World Cup winner Mel Jones remains a member of the board.

“The board should have four ex-cricketers; knowledgeable, intelligent people who want to take our cricket forward,” Lloyd told the Mason and Guest radio programme. “When I was at Lancashire, on the committee we had 16 or 17 people on the committee, but we had to have 6 cricketers, that was enshrined in the constitution because it’s a cricket club. That’s

why cricket is taken care of in England. All the clubs have the same situation,” Sir Clive explained.

“We do not have a Test cricketer of note on our board. If you look at all the other boards, Australia have had four captains on their board. India have had some of their explayers on their board. England, who they have coaching the team; and the ECB have their ex-cricketers. Cricketers are involved in the development of the game,” he expounded. “(In the West Indies) If you decide to be a part of the board and you are somebody of some standing, they don’t seem to want you, because they believe you will overshadow them,” he charged.

The current Cricket West Indies (CWI) body does have Michael Findlay, who played Test cricket for the West Indies between 1969 and 1973, along with Julian Charles and Enoch Lewis, who played cricket at the regional level.

More ‘powerful’ anthem Sir Clive believes the time is right for the regional team to consider a new and more ‘powerful’ anthem.

Politically, with the West Indies operating as several separate countries, it would not be possible to have a national anthem. Currently, the song “Rally Round the West Indies”

by Calypsonian David Rudder serves that purpose.

Bayern's Lewandowski wins men's Player of the Year in UEFA Awards

B

ayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski,32, has been named UEFA men's Player of the Year 2019-20, beating Bayern team-mate Manuel Neuer and

Men's Uefa awards Player of the year - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Coach of the year - Hansi Flick (Bayern Munich) Goalkeeper of the year - Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Defender of the year - Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) Midfielder of the year - Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) Forward of the year - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne to the award.

Hansi Flick was named men's Coach of the Year after leading his side to a sixth European title.

Poland striker Lewandowski scored 55 goals in 47 games last season, as Bayern won the Champions League, Bundesliga, and German Cup. He scored 16 more goals than any other player in Europe's top five leagues across all competitions in 2019-

20.

Chelsea forward Pernille Harder received the women's Player of the Year award.

Manchester City playmaker De Bruyne, 29, was named Champions League ‘Midfielder of the Year; and in doing, prevented a Bayern clean sweep of all the men's awards.

The Belgium midfielder also won the Professional Footballers Association men's Player of the Year award in September.

Germany's Neuer, 34, won Goalkeeper of the Year after recording six clean sheets in the Champions League, as Bayern defeated Paris StGermain in the final in August; while team-mate Joshua Kimmich, 25, was named Best Defender.

Flick beat Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp - who guided the club to their first Premier League title in 30 years; and RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann - to the Coach of the Year award. Flick, 55, stepped up from his role as Bayern assistant coach last November, after the sacking of Niko Kovac.

Meanwhile, former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was awarded the UEFA President's Award by Aleksander Ceferin for a "commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch".

The UEFA Awards were announced alongside the Champions’ League group stage draw in Geneva, although club officials did not attend due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Player-of-the-Year voting was decided by the 80 coaches of the clubs in last season's European competitions, along with 55 journalists - one from each UEFA member association. (BBC Sport)

The song was released in 1987, before being officially adopted as the team’s ‘national’ anthem by the then West Indies Cricket Board 12 years later.

Lloyd, however, believes the song possibly lacks the feel, power, and emotional depth of some of the national anthems of member nations that comprise the regional team.

The former skipper made note of a memorable experience while on tour of Australia.

“When I was manager, in Australia they play the anthem from both teams. The President came to me and said, ‘Clyde, we would like to play the anthem from your country, because you are the manager. I said, ‘No, sir, you would have to play the anthem of Mr. Walsh, he is the captain’.” Lloyd recalled this experience recently on the Mason and Guest radio programme.

“It was performed by an opera singer.

When they sang the Jamaica National Anthem, it has some drums and so on, hair grew on parts of my body that I didn’t think I had hair; it was so powerful.

“There was a guy there that was married

Guyana’s Clive Lloyd during his Test cricket days

to a Jamaican woman, and tears came to his eyes. I told Walsh, 'If you do not bowl this Australia side out, after listening to this anthem, something must be wrong with you guys'. It was the most powerful thing,” Sir Clive added.

“We have great anthems around the islands. Let us come together and get one anthem that is powerful. When you listen to all the other anthems, they make you feel proud, they make you feel like doing extraordinary things. I think this is the time we should have that and one flag,” he opined. (Sportsmax)

Djokovic reaches 3rd round in French Open 2020

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ovak Djokovic continued his dominant start to the French Open with a ruthless straight-set win against Lithuanian world number 66 Ricardas Berankis in the second round.

The world number one won 6-1, 6-2, 6-2; meaning, he has lost just 10 games in his first two matches. Djokovic, 33, one of the favourites to win the tournament, put together an almost flawless performance to triumph in one hour and 23 minutes.

"I felt really good," he said. "I hope I can carry on like this."

The top seed has tough competition for the title in Spain's 12-time champion Rafael Nadal and Austria's two-time runner-up Dominic Thiem, but he looked focused and in control against Berankis on the Roland Garros clay.

Having dropped just five games in his firstround win against Sweden's Mikael Ymer, the Serb continued his bid for an 18th Grand Slam title in equally brutal fashion.

Djokovic broke Berankis's serve in the first game of the match, and went on to win the first set in 22 minutes, with the Lithuanian 30-year-old

winning just 10 points.

A further two breaks helped Djokovic take the second set, and his level continued to rise even higher as Berankis struggled with a back injury.

In total, the world number one served 10 aces, hit 25 winners, and won 95% of points on his first serve to claim an easy victory.

"Right from the blocks, I want to bring in the intensity," he told Eurosport. "I managed to do that in the past two matches. It's exactly how I want to roll into the match."

Djokovic will next face Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan, who beat American world number 47 Tennys Sandgren.

Unbeaten on the court this year, Djokovic's only defeat in 2020 came when he was defaulted from his US Open last-16 match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta after hitting a line judge with a ball.

Shock for ninth seed Shapovalov

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Canadian ninth seed Denis Shapovalov lost a fivehour five-set battle against world number 101 Roberto Carballes Baena.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, who has never reached the third round before, beat his higher-ranked opponent 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 3-6, 8-6; and now faces Bulgarian 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who made light work of Slovakian world number 102 Andrej Martin in a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 win.

Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas had an equally easy time later on Philippe Chatrier, beating Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini is also through following a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win against Lloyd Harris; as is Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov, after beating Jiri Vesely 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-2). (BBC Novak Djokovic has won the Sport) French Open once, in 2016

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

“Who is coaching these…?”

— Sir Clive Lloyd calls for improved women’s cricket structure

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Sir Clive Lloyd

est Indies Women have looked out-of-sorts in the recently concluded T20 series in England, where they lost all five of their matches.

Their batting has been the poorest of the three departments. Deandra Dottin has been exceptional in scoring 185 runs in five matches. The next highest rungetter was Stafanie Taylor, who scored only 78 runs in five innings.

Appearing on the recent Mason and Guest radio show, legendary former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd has opined that Caribbean women cricketers MUST know the rudiments of the game.

"Who is coaching these…? You have to know! I think if you are a cricketer

you MUST know the rudiments of the game," Sir Clive said, after highlighting similarities in the way the West Indies Women batters were dismissed.

The core players in the West Indies Women’s squad have remained the same since 2016, although in recent series a few young players have been added to the squad. Familiar faces continue appearing, and Sir Clive is calling for an overhaul of the situation in order to get more women cricketers from different islands involved. The intention is to push these regular faces in the current squad to improve their performances.

"Nobody is there to push them.

We are just playing a small (cadre)

of players. Once Dottin is out, or the captain, Stafanie Taylor; that's it!" Lloyd added.

Sir Clive, who continues to follow all cricket, has said the West Indies Women are trying to hit the ball out of the ground, and not along the ground. He is calling on the CWI to take this situation seriously and get the Women’s team the right coaches; and he is advocating that these women cricketers should attend an academy, where they can have the right people teach them.

Further, Sir Clive is calling on all cricketers in the Caribbean to improve their fitness levels.

(Br an do n Corlette)

12 teams ready to fight

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and it’s a great opportunity for us to compete.

It’s an honour to play in a huge tournament against a good team. We will have challenges, but it gives us a chance to demonstrate our ability on a certain level,” said Jean.

Rounding out the Gold Cup Prelims is an interesting contest between Bermuda and Barbados.

Fresh from their first Gold Cup in 2019, including a first-ever Gold Cup win, Bermuda Head Coach Kyle Lightbourne knows that, if previous encounters with Barbados are any indication, a tight 90 minutes between the two are to be expected.

“It’s a difficult draw for us. We have had some

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NOW!

The Golden Jaguars featured in the previous edition of the Gold Cup

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or the first time ever, the CONCACAF Gold Cup will include a Preliminary Round in which 12 teams will battle to earn one of three spots in the 16team 2021 Gold Cup group stage.

Monday’s 2021 Gold Cup Draw yielded a number of interesting pairings in the Prelims, including St Vincent and the Grenadines squaring off against Haiti.

“It’s a good draw for us,” said Vincy Heat’s Head Coach Kendale Mercury.

“We have done some work on the Haitian team already, so that’s an advantage for us. We are aspiring to get to the top of CONCACAF, so we must play the top teams.

Haiti will be a good test for us.”

Another match-up that should offer plenty of intrigue is Guatemala taking on Guyana. Los Chapines are motivated to return to their first Gold Cup since 2015, but know they will be facing very stiff opposition in the Golden Jaguars.

“Guyana played in the previous Gold Cup, so they have that experience,” said Guatemala Head Coach Amarini Villatoro. “I don’t believe there are any weak opponents, and Guyana are very worthy of once again being here, as evidenced by their results in the Nations League, which included a draw with Jamaica.”

But in order for Guyana to return to a second straight Gold Cup, Head Coach Marcio Maximo knows that they must navigate their way past a difficult Guatemala side.

“Guatemala are a very strong opponent, and (are) among the most experienced teams, in my view. But I think (that) with a good preparation, we can be a surprise for Guatemala,” said Maximo.

One of the revelations in CONCACAF in recent years has been Montserrat, who nearly qualified for the 2019 Gold Cup, and now take aim at Trinidad and Tobago in their Prelim match-up. Head

Coach Willie Donachie says his players relish taking on the bigger teams in the region, and a date with the Soca Warriors will be no different.

“Whatever happened for us was going to be exciting, because a small country like Montserrat playing against any of the bigger teams is a great challenge; and the bigger the team, the better. It’ll be fantastic for us, and a great challenge,” said Donachie.

Back in the Gold Cup mix for the first time since the 2017 group stage, French Guiana will face Cuba in the Prelims. Head Coach Thierry Albert De Neef of Les Yana Dokos knows that defeating a Cuba side that have played in four of the previous five Gold Cups will be a tall task.

“I don’t think the match

will be easy for us. We have to play with determination and conviction, and we must believe in our qualities,” said De Neef.

Match 5 will see Guadeloupe and Bahamas do battle, and Guadeloupe Head Coach Jocelyn Angloma, who led the Les Gwada Boys to the 2007 Gold Cup semifinals, is ready to begin preparing for the Baha Boyz.

“It’s a good draw. We don’t know Bahamas well, but we will watch and study them, and will be excited to play,” said Angloma.

Like Angloma of Guadeloupe, Bahamas Head Coach Nesley Jean is a former player who is now in charge of his national team, and he hopes to have his players showcase their skills on a big stage.

“I think it’s a good draw,

tough matches over the years against Barbados, and this one could go either way; so, we will have to prepare right, and may the best team win on the day,” said Lightbourne. As for Barbados Head Coach Russell Latapy, the goal is to have the Bajan Tridents qualify for a first-ever Gold Cup; but he knows that Bermuda will pose a stiff test in the Prelims.

“We’re looking forward to it. We’ve never qualified for a major tournament, and this is an opportunity for us. We’re going to make every effort to move up in the football world. Barbados Football needs to qualify for a major tournament. We have talented players, and they need an opportunity to showcase themselves,” said Latapy.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Sharma, Pollard and Mumbai Indians' bowlers brush past Kings XI Punjab Rohit led his team from the front with 70

It was all laughter following Pollard and Pandya’s destructive innings

A

fter Rohit Sharma made his second half-century in his last three innings in IPL 2020, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya went on a boundary-hitting spree to launch the Mumbai Indians to 191 for 4, which proved to be more than enough in the end.

For the second game in a row, Pollard helped Mumbai plunder 89 off the last five overs, his unbeaten 47 off 20 balls exposing a Kings XI Punjab attack that lacked a death bowler. They had seemingly managed their bowlers so poorly that off-spinner K Gowtham, picked ahead of legspinner M Ashwin, bowled the final over in the first innings and leaked four sixes to Pollard and Pandya.

In pursuit of 192, the Kings XI lost Mayank Agarwal in the powerplay, and captain KL Rahul laboured to 17 off 19 balls before leg-spinner Rahul Chahar knocked him over.

Nicholas Pooran briefly matched his West Indies captain and mentor Pollard's ball-striking with 44 off 27 balls, but it wasn't enough to prick the ballooning asking rate.

Chahar kept dangling leg breaks away from Glenn Maxwell's reach, and ultimately had him holing out for a painfully slow 11 off 18 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah and James Pattinson then closed out a 48run victory, putting Mumbai on top of the points table.

Cottrell's comeback After giving up as many as 30 runs to Rahul Tewatia in a frenzied finish on Sunday, Sheldon Cottrell started with a wicket-maiden on Thursday, and conceded 20 in his next three.

The left-arm seamer angled a length ball into Quinton de Kock, and then got it to curve away to castle the batsman for a duck in the first over.

Soon after, Suryakumar Yadav was run out for 10 off seven balls.

Ishan Kishan, who had cracked 99, which forced a Super Over against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, struggled against Cottrell, Mohammed Shami and legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, who kept sliding the ball across the lefthander with his googlies.

Cottrell finished his quota of four overs by the 13th over, when Mumbai were 83 for 2.

The storm after the calm Looking to hit his way out of trouble, Kishan ventured a slog-sweep against Gowtham, but couldn't clear the longer leg-side boundary, and fell for 28 off 32 balls.

Pollard, though, shook up things by planting his front leg and smoking Bishnoi over his head for six. Sharma, quiet until then, slammed 4, 4, 6, 6 against Jimmy Neesham.

The New Zealand all-rounder ditched his into-the-pitch legcutters for attempted yorkers, but kept erring with his lengths.

The first four, a ramp that was precisely placed to the right of long leg, brought up Sharma’s fifty off 40 balls.

The pick of that boundary sequence was the final six that was clattered over extra-cover just after the man from that boundary had been whisked off to long-off.

It needed a relay catch at

the boundary from Maxwell and Neesham to remove Rohit for 70 off 45 balls. He was on 43 off 37 balls at one point, but accelerated before Pollard and Hardik took over.

Hardik, playing as a specialist batsman, as Mumbai have opted against rushing him back into bowling after his back surgery last year, also laid into Neesham, taking 17 off five balls from him.

Kings XI, seemingly having miscalculated, asked Gowtham to bowl the last over, and Pollard duly finished the innings with a hat-trick of mighty sixes.

Kings XI fade away Agarwal gave Kings XI a jump-start in the chase, attacking the short balls from Trent Boult and James Pattinson, moving to 25 off 15 balls. After Jasprit Bumrah darted in two more short balls,

WI legend Courtney Walsh named new Head Coach of Windies Women’s Team

S

T JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Thursday named Courtney Walsh as the new Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s team. This West Indies cricket legend will lead the preparation and development of the Women’s Team, at least up until the end of 2022, including competing in the next International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricket World Cup (50 overs) and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The former world-renowned fast bowler has served as “This is indeed an honour to be named as the new Head Coach.

It’s an exciting challenge, and I’ve always wanted to give back in any way I can, and help with the development of the game in the West Indies" an assistant coach with the Bangladesh Men’s Team, and subsequently worked on a short-term contract with the West Indies Women’s team, including at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2020 held in Australia earlier this year.

Walsh is the leading wicket-taker in West Indies Test history, with 519 wickets in 132 Test matches. A former Jamaica and West Indies captain, he took 227 wickets in One-Day Internationals, and 1807 wickets in 429 first-class matches.

The 57-year-old ICC Hall of Fame member, speaking on his appointment, said: “This is indeed an honour to be named as the new Head Coach. It’s an exciting challenge, and I’ve always wanted to give back in any way I can, and help with the development of the game in the West Indies. The experience I have, my knowledge of the game and my overall organisational

skills, will be key aspects as we try to develop a winning team culture.

“I worked with the team at the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year in Australia, and in the series against India in the Caribbean last year, so I have a very good understanding of what is required. The ability and the talent are there, we have some fantastic players in the West Indies, and it will be my duty and focus to help the women to develop their talents and achieve the goals we are going to be setting together.”

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, said: “I am delighted to have Courtney leading our international women's programme, having successfully come through CWI’s recruitment process.

He will be overseeing the programme initially until the end of the next two ICC Women's World Cups in 2022, and he will be pivotal in working with CWI’s High- Performance Team to move our whole women’s programme forward, as part of our wider strategic plan which has Women’s cricket as a key priority.”

Since retiring from the game, Walsh has held several posts within CWI cricket set-up. He was a member of West Indies’ senior selection panel from 2013 to 2016, and was part of the panel which selected the squad that won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in India. He has also been Team Manager for the West Indies Under-19 and Under-15 teams, and has served as a director of the Jamaica Cricket Association.

He has also been a Bowling Mentor for the Jamaica Tallawahs, and Bowling Coach for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Kieron Pollard was adjudged Man of the Match

he seamed a full ball in and burst through the defences of Agarwal.

In the next over, Karun Nair, who came in at No.3, dragged Krunal Pandya back onto the stumps. Rahul, who could neither find the boundary nor the gaps, was dismissed by Chahar in the ninth over, as the required rate shot past 11.

Pooran was particularly strong off the back foot, pulling Chahar and Bumrah for six and four. Twenty-one of his 44 runs came in front of square on the leg side. His bright innings,

though, was cut short when Pattinson pushed a full ball away from his reach and had him edging behind.

Chahar, meanwhile, took a leaf out of Yuzvendra Chahal's playbook, lobbing slow legbreaks wide of off stump to frustrate Maxwell. Maxwell eventually played a desperate slog-sweep and picked out deep midwicket.

Gowtham struck two fours and a six, but the boundaries he had given up earlier in the evening had a greater impact on the result. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Q de Kock † b Cottrell 0 RG Sharma (c) c Neesham b Mohammed Shami 70 SA Yadav run out (Mohammed Shami) 10 Ishan Kishan c Nair b Gowtham 28 KA Pollard not out 47 HH Pandya not out 30 Extras (lb 1, w 5) 6 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 9.55) 191/4 Did not bat: KH Pandya, JL Pattinson, RD Chahar, TA Boult, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 ov), 2-21 (Suryakumar Yadav, 3.5 ov), 3-83 (Ishan Kishan, 13.1 ov), 4-124 (Rohit Sharma, 16.1 ov) BOWLING SS Cottrell 4-1-20-1 Mohammed Shami 4-0-36-1 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-37-0 K Gowtham 4-0-45-1 JDS Neesham 4-0-52-0

KINGS XI PUNJAB INNINGS (TARGET: 192 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) KL Rahul (c) † b Chahar 17 MA Agarwal b Bumrah 25 KK Nair b KH Pandya 0 N Pooran c †de Kock b Pattinson 44 GJ Maxwell c Boult b Chahar 11 JDS Neesham c Yadav b Bumrah 7 SN Khan lbw b Pattinson 7 K Gowtham not out 22 Ravi Bishnoi c Yadav b Boult 1 Mohammed Shami not out 2 Extras (lb 2, w 5) 7 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.15) 143/8 Did not bat: SS Cottrell Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Mayank Agarwal, 4.5 ov), 2-39 (Karun Nair, 5.4 ov), 3-60 (KL Rahul, 8.1 ov), 4-101 (Nicholas Pooran, 13.2 ov), 5-107 (Glenn Maxwell, 14.5 ov), 6-112 (James Neesham, 15.6 ov), 7-121 (Sarfaraz Khan, 17.1 ov), 8-124 (Ravi Bishnoi, 18.3 ov) BOWLING TA Boult 4-0-42-1 JL Pattinson 4-0-28-2 KH Pandya 4-0-27-1 JJ Bumrah 4-0-18-2 RD Chahar 4-0-26-2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Sharma, Pollard and Mumbai Indians' bowlers brush past Kings XI Punjab See story on page 23

Pg 22

WI legend

Courtney Walsh

named new Head Coach of Windies Women’s Team

12 teams ready to fight

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