Guyana Times -- Friday, April 1, 2022

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155 GDF ranks conferred with efficiency medals Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4966

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

US companies ready to partner in infrastructure, agri, health care, tourism – Ambassador Page 3

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana to P16 have 1st World Trade Center Association in Caricom

…says Guyana, US traded US$1.6B in 9 months last year

APNU’s Daniel Seeram charged for threatening behaviour P2

A 3D model of the new Demerara River Bridge. The 3D model was shared by Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on social media on Thursday

First Lady Page helps 17 over 200 Venezuelan migrants in Region 1

Automatic toll system at Demerara Bridge begins today

GBTI records $1.7B taxed profit in 2021

Page 16

…as Top Cop reassesses strategy to ease traffic woes

Pensioner dies after being trapped in burning ECD home

Page 13

…after unattended kero stove starts blaze

Page 7

P14 Health Ministry mulls 4th COVID shot …7 new cases, 4 persons in ICU

Teen seriously injured in WCD 4-vehicle collision P15

Hit-and-run accident

Driver in P13 Corentyne double fatality released on $250,000 bail

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU’s Daniel Seeram charged for threatening behaviour D aniel Seeram, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member and

Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), has been charged

with threatening language over an incident in which he and his father-in-law allegedly pulled their licensed

guns on each other.

Arraigned on Thursday before Sparendaam Magistrate Alisha George,

Seeram pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on March 6, he made use of threatening behaviour against 50-year-old Shaheed Hamid.

Seeram, 31, who was represented by Opposition Parliamentarian Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, was released on $20,000 bail.

His matter continues on April 21.

It was reported that Seeram and his father-inlaw were under investigation for allegedly threatening each other with their licensed firearms.

Some reports stated that Hamid, of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, reported to the Turkeyen Police Station that his son-in-law had drawn his gun, cranked it, and threatened to kill him. Other reports, however, state that Seeram reported to the Alberttown Police Station that he went to speak to his wife and her father pulled a gun on him. The incident allegedly occurred at MovieTowne, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Both men were arrested, and their firearms and ammunition were seized, pending investigation.

Last year, on Boxing Day, Georgetown Mayor Pandit Ubraj Narine was arrested by the Police on allegations that he had indiscriminately fired off his li-

Region Four RDC Chairman Daniel Seeram

censed firearm at his Pigeon Island, Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Reports are that Police ranks showed up at the Mayor’s home after receiving a report from an anonymous caller. In the company of his lawyer and wife, Mayor Narine went to the Police station, where his hands were swabbed for gun powder residue. Police had confirmed that Mayor Narine was released on $20,000 bail as investigations into the alleged incident were ongoing. It is unclear at this time what is the status of those investigations. It was previously reported that the Mayor and his wife were allegedly involved in a heated confrontation in their yard when neighbours called the Police and reported that he had fired his gun several times.

(G1)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, April 1 – 03:00h-04:30h and Saturday, April 2 – 03:00h-04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, April 1 – 16:45h-18:15h and Saturday, April 2 – 17:10h-18:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 16:58h reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

Low Tide: 10:32h and 22:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.44 metre and 0.50 metre.

US companies ready to partner in infrastructure, agri, health care, tourism – Ambassador …says Guyana, US traded US$1.6B in 9 months last year …as GMSA looks to strengthen regional trade

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t a time when global trade relations have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade bill between Guyana and the United States was some US$1.6 billion in the first three quarters of last year alone.

This was revealed by US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, during her address to the Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Thursday at the Ramada Hotel in Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

“Last year, in the first three quarters alone, the trade between the US and Guyana was US$1.6 bil-

ly from the US, wanting to expand here.

Economic diversification

The US diplomat went on to outline the importance of economic diversification to Guyana’s prosperity but more particularly, as a safeguard against Dutch disease. As such, she recognised that this diversification is stymied by unreliable and high electricity costs as well as the lack of infrastructure – some of the things that are critical to investors.

“You make great products, add value to food, make parts for machines, build homes and so much more… [But] there are of-

A section of the gathering at the GMSA’s AGM at the Ramada Hotel

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

01 19 20

25 26 28

FREE TICKET

02 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

22 23 25

01 06 LUCKY 3

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DRAW DE LINE

02 03 05 06 09 15 17 SUPER

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$107.9/barrel

-4.88

Rough Rice

$288.324/ton

-0.04

London Sugar

$542.00/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1936.40

$1937.40

Low/High Change

$1918.80 -0.80

$1950.40 -0.04%

lion and folks, we are just getting started. US companies are ready to partner in a number of areas not just in oil and gas but also in infrastructure, agriculture, health-care services, tourism and many more sectors – which to me, in a way, represents a positive shift in the narrative we are promoting when it comes to economic partnership with US companies,” Ambassador Lynch stated.

She pointed out that the investment floodgates were open in Guyana and this has resulted in scores of foreign businesses, particular-

ten more products on the shelves here in Guyana from other Caribbean nations rather than from Guyana.

We are convinced that reliable lower cost of electricity is absolutely crucial to changing these realities as is reliable infrastructure that is built to last. Because of these binding constraints, we are encouraging local businesses to consider partnering with US firms who are looking for partners for the long-term development of Guyana,” she stated.

International standards

Ambassador Lynch ac-

GMSA President Rafeek Khan and US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday

knowledged the high standards, rules and regulations that US companies often require when seeking local partners and consequently urge Guyanese businesses to work on building their certifications and adherence to other international standards related to operations.

“These [US] firms, though, have high standards and lots of rules which will likely require their own vetting of partners. But the US Embassy is very, very excited about the economic opportunities for US partnerships with local businesses that are reliable, trustworthy and reputable. And we know there are lots of those opportunities out there.

“While enhancing operations of companies, it is so important to include standards and gain relevant international accreditation in order to safely and sustainably grow. An accreditation is not merely a credential but rather throughout the process, it can create opportunities for businesses to consider and to utilise,” she outlined.

The US envoy further noted that the arrival of American firms here was not necessarily more competition but can serve as

partnerships for Guyanese businesses to benefit from expertise and resources in order to grow and contribute to the country’s expanding economy.

“I want to challenge you all to be the role models for the country in terms of improving standards for quality, improving standards for service delivery in the business world. Be the role models for the Private Sector.

You’re in the limelight, you’re on the world stage, I urge you to use your positions to be responsible leaders, be innovative leaders and commit to making international standards work within your companies,” she posited.

Moreover, the US Ambassador urged business executives at the GMSA’s Annual Meeting on Thursday to ensure they tap into the pool of young Guyanese talent and hire staff based on merit.

“What we know for sure is that Guyanese youth can now look to great jobs here in Guyana instead of overseas… Going forward, I encourage you the business executives to look for good local talent. It’s out there,” she noted.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

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

April and Autism

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pril is Autism Awareness Month, also referred to by some people as Autism Acceptance Month. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is characterised by challenges with social skills, communication, and repetitive behaviour.

Joined by the international community, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world are lit up blue in recognition of people living with autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance, and foster worldwide support. World Autism Awareness Day can trace its roots back to November 1st, 2007. This is when the UN first requested that a day be established as World Autism Day. This resolution was passed on December 18th, 2007.

This year, the day is being observed under the theme: “Inclusive Quality Education for All”. According to the United Nations, there has been major progress over the past decade in increasing access to education, especially for persons with autism.

The UN stated that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused countries to temporarily close schools, this has impacted on more than 90 per cent of students worldwide.

The disruption, the UN has stated, had caused learning to be reversed, and “years of progress, and has exacerbated inequalities in education.”

This has caused students with autism to be hard hit, and studies now show that they have been “disproportionately affected by disruptions to routines, as well as services and supports that they rely on.”

World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism – and others living with autism – face every day. As a growing global health issue owing to its increasing exposure in the press and common knowledge, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding – and WAAD activities are planned every year to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

As more people become aware of the autism spectrum, more parents are reaching out for answers. More awareness leads to more knowledge and greater visibility. More people who aren't living with autism learn to accept, and respect, people who are. At present, there are no official statistics on the number of autistic children and other persons living with autism in Guyana; Government officials should therefore be keen to acquire the numbers, to better understand the complex disorder that affects communication and behaviour.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder that typically appears during the first years of life, and affects the development of the child in three broad areas: communication skills, social skills, and repetitive or rigid behaviours. As reflected in the name, children with autism spectrum disorder vary greatly in terms of the level and type of impairment in the areas of social, communication, and other behaviour, as well as the strengths with which they present within each of these areas. Current statistics suggest that approximately 1 in 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder.

The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high, and the lack of understanding has a tremendous impact on the individuals, their families, and communities.

Further, stigmatisation and discrimination associated with neurological differences remain substantial obstacles to diagnosis and therapy, and is an issue that must be addressed by both public policy-makers in developing nations and donor countries.

While there are several local companies who already make autism causes a part of their charitable giving, there are many who haven’t yet jumped on board; please consider doing so. Autism is real. It affects us all. It needs not only our understanding, but our support. More importantly, those on the spectrum deserve our understanding and support. This disorder affects males and females of all races in all parts of the world.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali awarding a rank with the Military Efficiency Medal (MEM) for 10 years of continuous service with good conduct at Base Camp Ayanganna on Wednesday (Office of the President photo)

Correcting historical and moral wrongs done to Clifton Hicken Dear Editor, Paul Slowe served as APNU+AFC’s campaign security advisor for the 2015 elections, and was the chairman of a ludicrous Commission of Inquiry into a possible ‘assassination plot’ against (then) President Granger.

There were no objections to this, but when Granger nominated Slowe for Chairmanship of the Police Service Commission(PSC), the assessment by Bharrat Jagdeo was blunt: “I believe that his conduct in the COI reinforces the partisan nature of his thinking, and now that he’s going to head the PSC…I think he will bring two sets of baggage with him; the political approach to the job – judging people on the basis of politics – and secondly, he has a lot of interpersonal problems with many members of the Police Force and old scores, I believe to settle, and therefore that could harm his judgment”.

These concerns were disregarded, and having satisfied the constitutional requirement to ‘consult’ with the Leader of the Opposition, David Granger appointed Slowe Chair of the PSC. Granger has long sailed into the sunset, but the fallout

from his political decision is still with us.

There was no nuance to the overlooking of David Ramnarine and Clifton Hicken for the top job in the PSC recommendations to Granger, nor in the promotion of Lyndon Alves, Paul Williams, Nigel Hoppie, and Maxine Graham to Deputy Commissioners.

These were political moves to secure the Office of Commissioner of Police for those with partisan (APNU/PNC) interests for the foreseeable future.

Before this premise is dismissed as being partisan, one has to consider the conduct of the Guyana Police Force during the 2020 elections.

A s s i s t a n t Commissioner Edgar Thomas, who was Commander of Region 4, was relieved of his duties

by Granger/Slowe’s COP appointee Leslie James for failing to follow orders given to him (Thomas) by a Deputy Superintendent to clear the Ashmin Building. It requires no understanding of the nuances of rank to understand it is insubordination for a junior officer to give orders to a senior, nor to understand that the transfer of Thomas to a desk job at Headquarters was a po-

litical decision, and was so grossly unprofessional that it has left an indelible stain on the Force; part of the Granger/Slowe legacy.

Editor, the promotion of Clifton Hicken to Commissioner of Police without a recommendation from the PSC can be directly attributed to court proceedings involving Paul Slowe, and without consultation with the Leader of the Opposition as due to the intractability of David Granger in filling that vacancy; for Paul Slowe to character-

ise the President’s actions as illegal, and to try to further push the political agenda set for the Police Force during Granger’s tenure while President Ali corrects the historical and moral wrongs done to Clifton Hicken (who was seconded out of the Force to the Ministry of the Presidency) speaks volumes of the characters of those involved in the debate on Hicken’s overdue ascension to the top job.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Best tournament ever in CPL history Dear Editor, ‘The biggest party in sport’ - CPL cricket - will be just that when the finals of the event are staged here, not once, but for the next three years!

This year's inauguration will also see the hosting of the semi-final games amid much hype of the planned Cricket Carnival and Cruise.

The Government must be complimented and commended for the hard work done in securing and bringing the world class product

to our shores. Well done!

The tenth season will see the women’s component of the tournament making its debut.

It would be a fitting culmination to the two-week grand spectacle when our women’s and men’s teams lift the trophy for the first time.

From all indications, it promises to be not only the loudest, but the best tournament ever in CPL history.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

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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

Slowe et al can resort to the court of law

Dear Editor, The letter captioned “The nuances of the appointment of Mr Hicken” demands a response, at least from me. It is from “Paul Slowe CCH, DSM, Assistant Commissioner of Police (R’td). Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission,” and was published in the local media on March 31, 2022.

First, I need to say a few things on this writer, so that readers would gauge for themselves his reason and his angst.

This Mr. Slowe, when exposed a while back, did say that President Dr. Irfaan Ali had tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission when he, Slowe, was in charge. The President had to clear the air, explaining that “I find it convenient and opportunistic that Mr. Paul Slowe would make the accusation that I tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission. This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to

By Hindus For Selfless Service

C

haitra Navratri 2022: Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day festival that is observed every year after Holi. It is also known as Vasant/Spring Navratri, that starts on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar, which falls in March or April. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga, and each of her nine incarnations is worshipped on successive nights.

Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar, and that’s why this Navratri is called Chaitra Navratri. It is also known as Rama Navratri, as Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama usually falls on the ninth day during Navratri festivity.

This year, Goddess Durga festival will commence today, April 1, 2022, and will conclude on April 10, 2022. The festival celebrates the nine forms of Hindu Goddess Durga, and each day is associated with a different colour.

Day 1: Shailaputri Puja The colour of the day is yellow, which signifies joy and happiness.

The first day of Chaitra Navratri is also known as Pratipada.

Maa Shailaputri is the major and absolute form of NavaDurga, since she was the wife to Lord Shiva, and is known as Parvati.

She took birth as the daughter of Lord Himalaya, due to which she is named Shailaputri – the daughter of mountains. Her deity has a half-moon on her forehead, and holds a trident in her right hand & a lotus flower in her left hand. The Goddess can be seen seated on mount Nandi (bull)…Her deity has a half-moon on her forehead and holds a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left hand.

change the narrative.”

That narrative, as we all know, is now unfolding in the courts of the land. Mr. Slowe, in fact, must remember that he was and still is a tainted figure, during the time he was Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

I recall that, back in July 2018, then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo did inform former President David Granger that he had hang-ups regarding Paul Slowe’s possible appointment to head the Police Service Commission. Jagdeo actually said that Slowe “… had baggage which may cause him to be biased in carrying out his duties.”

As we all found out later, Jagdeo, now Vice President, was accurately prophetic, and had his warnings been heeded by David Granger, maybe the present charges of fraud and sexual molestation would not have been hanging over the head of Slowe.

The details are that Mr. Slowe, during his tenure as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), and eight others (retired senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)) were jointly slapped with a fraud charge by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for an alleged conspiracy to defraud the GPF of some $10M. Of course, Paul Slowe is denying that he conspired with others to defraud the Guyana Police Force of GY$10 million, and that he sexually assaulted

a female Police officer. So now, through his attorneys, he is fighting for his ‘legal well-being.’

Secondly, in seeking some kind of relevance, he attempted to, but did not succeed, debunk Robin Singh, who exposed his and his ilk’s tomfoolery in a letter in the local media on Wednesday March 30, 2022. In that missive, Singh evoked memories of “When Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud retired, the most senior officer in the Guyana Police Force was David Ramnarine, the second most senior officer was Clifton Hicken. (Yet) President David Granger bypassed these two officers and appointed four Deputy Commissioners and a Commissioner; all of whom were juniors to Ramnarine and Hicken.”

So, by any stretch of the imagination, President Ali’s appointment of Clifton Hicken to head the Guyana Police Force is not an anomaly at all. I cannot follow anything that would allow me to agree with Slow when he says that “Robin Singh, like so many others who are commenting on what I consider to be the illegal appointment of Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken, have failed to recognise the nuances of the situation”.

Finally, on this note, I say to those like Slowe to resort to the courts. In fact, the lot were dared to do so

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who emphatical-

ly stated that “President Irfaan Ali did not breach Guyana’s Constitution by selecting Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken to act as Police Commissioner”, and added that he was not obliged to pick the most senior Police officer.

As mentioned before, David Granger did his own thing, and Slowe is still in defence of it. Nandlall explained that “There is no rule, there is no provision in any law, that requires the most senior officer to be chosen. Seniority and meritocracy are not the same thing.

Seniority and excellence in performance are not the same thing.”

More elaboration from the AG shows that “The law will justify a President making an appointment even though those with whom he has to consult are not available for consultation. There is a doctrine in law called ‘necessity’…so it is against that backdrop the President

is completely justified to put someone to perform the functions of Commissioner of Police.”

As we all know, and as was pointed out by the Attorney General, “There is no Police Service Commission (PSC) for the President to consult with its Chairman about a new Police Commissioner, because the PNCR is yet to take all steps for the eventual emergence of its leader, Aubrey Norton, as Opposition Leader.”

However, and this is very important, “… even after such consultations with the PSC and the Opposition Leader, the President still enjoys the right to appoint his choice.” So, it is very clear that President Ali has a power to choose, and he has exercised that power.

Like Nandlall, I am daring those who think otherwise to take legal action. Let the Court of Law step in.

Yours truly, H Singh

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄ Question 1 by

In this fun and easy colour science experiment for kids, we’re going to make a slime that changes colours.

Thursday’s answers 2) Five mangoes cost $200, so one mango cost $200 ÷ 5 = $40 Two apples cost $350, so one apple cost $350 ÷ 2 = $175 The total cost of eight mangoes and 2 apples = $40 x 8 + $350 = $670

1a)

( 2 12 x 45 ) ÷ 85 = ( 52 x 45 ) x 58 ( 52 x 45 ) x 58 = 1020 x 58 20 8 160 x = 10 5 50 16 = 5 1 =3 5

1b)

Carl bought 10 apples and sold them at $227 each His profit per apple = Selling Price – Cost Price 3

Farmer Rampersaud plants 8 of her farmland with coconuts. That leaves 5 .

8

4 5 She plants 5 of the 8 with bananas. She has 2.5 acres left to plant rice.

That means

4 5 of = 2.5 acres.

5 8

So the total acres planted with bananas = 4 x the amount to be planted with rice = 4 x 2.5 = 10 acres

= $227 – $175 = $52 His total profit = $52 x 10 = $520 His total Cost Price = $175 x 10

= $1750 As a percentage of the Cost Price, his profit = $520 ÷ $1750 x 100 = 29.7%

Materials:

White school glue Water Thermochromic powder Food colouring Liquid starch

Instructions:

Mix four ounces of glue with 1/3 cup of warm water.

Add 2 tsp of thermochromic powder.

Add about six drops of food colouring.

Add ½ cup of liquid starch.

Mix until slime forms.

Touch cool or warm objects to your slime to observe it changing colours.

How it works:

Thermochromic powder is designed to temporarily change colours when exposed to different temperatures. These types of colour changing powders contain a molecular structure that changes at a specific temperature. The molecular changes alter the wavelengths of light it reflects at those specific temperatures which causes the colour changing effect.

HL Mitchell

A tropic day, And the sea-shore stretching glow-like brown With the sand sparkling diamonds in the sun Down to the water’s surging edge.

A shady nook, With a soothing breeze zesting itself, fleeting And whistling between the leaves; the trees swaying Rhythmic to the beat of a heart in delight?

The courida and the coconut palm With the emerald foliage of the sprightly shrubs Dancing daintily in colourful changing scenes As the wanton wind directs them, Clasping and unclasping each other In fanciful romance.

The water rippling, So brown and beautiful, so slothfully full Of white-crested waves of little cascades coursing Over one another in happy leaps Of amorous sport, glinting themselves In crystalline lines of russet-silver.

The mind of a man, On a tropic day, In a shady nook, With the water rippling And the tropic scenes before him, and after And around him, and the birds sweetly singing, Flying and kissing the water in sudden swoops. (Kyl-Over-Al)

Make this a science project:

Try different colours of thermochromic powders.

Try different slime activators like Borax and saline solution. Try exposing the thermochromic powder to long durations of cold by leaving the colour changing slime in the freezer. (sciencefun.org)

“Intelligence is what you use when you don’t know what to do” – Jean Piaget

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GBTI records $1.7B taxed profit in 2021

T

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has recorded $1.748 billion in profits after tax for the 2021 financial year.

According to the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, this was an increase from the taxed profits of $1.365 billion recorded in the previous year. The profit before tax for 2021 was $2.239 billion.

The 2021 financial statements, which are published in today’s Guyana Times, further indicated that GBTI’s total assets at the end of the audited period were $145.464 billion, while the total liabilities were listed at $126.325 billion for last year. These

figures represent increases from the figures recorded in 2020, that is, $130.595 billion and $112.627 billion, respectively.

Loans and advances at the end of 2021 were $49.693 billion compared to $41.791 billion the previous year.

In addition, investments for last year were listed at $54.357 billion, while property and equipment were valued at $7.610 billion at the end of 2021.

Deposits for the audited period last year were $123.460 billion, an increase from the $110.313 billion recorded the previous year.

Further, the Bank’s interest income increased last year to $5.316 billion from $4.670 billion in 2020, while

the interest expense declined by $34.9 million to $636 million. These resulted in a Net Interest Income of $4.680 billion, representing an increase from 2020’s $3.999 billion.

Meanwhile, GBTI’s other income also grew to $1.962 billion last year compared to $1.437 billion the previous year. Operating expenses recorded an increase as well, moving from $3.821 billion in 2020 to $3.951 billion at the end of December 2021.

Additionally, the bank’s loaning provisioning net of recoveries stood at $454.3 million in 2021 against $228.6 million recorded the previous year.

Basic earnings per share also increased at the end of

US companies ready to...

Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Times on the sidelines of the AGM, GMSA President Rafeek Khan outlined some of the highlights in the Association’s 2021 Report. These include the Association’s revenues almost doubling last year at a time when the country was not only battling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but was also inundated by floods across the country.

“It was a very tough time for many Guyanese companies, because some companies closed during that time. So we have increased

revenues – almost doubling.

We have increased our asset base and double it as well. And we have also increased our membership by 25 per cent,” Khan stated.

Going forward in 2022, the GMSA Head promised some “amazing, dynamic things to come”. A priority is getting the products of its membership beyond Guyana and into the Region.

“You’ve seen freight costs are going up, it’s not coming down in this postCOVID season. So, we want to trade more region-

FROM PAGE 3

ally than extra-regionally in identified markets. So, that’s just one of the areas we will be helping our businesses to connect and get market opportunities.

We want to work more with members to help them access capital, and help them strengthen their capacities and help connect them with joint venture partners,” Khan asserted.

Another area high on the agenda is using lessons learnt from this COVID era to enhance business operations especially utilising technology to connect. (G8)

the 2021 financial year to $43.72 compared to $34.15 in 2020.

In its 2021 mid-year report, GBTI had recorded a profit after tax of $632 million for the six months ending June 30, 2021. This represents an increase of 18 per cent over the corresponding period in 2020.

GBTI Chairman, Senior Counsel Robin Stoby had

also reported that the financial institution’s total assets similarly grew by 15 per cent to $139 billion, while deposits recorded at the end of this period stood at $119 billion.

At the time, Stoby was optimistic about the Bank’s performance for the rest of the 2021 financial year.

“The Bank’s improved performance is influenced by an improving loan portfolio

as well as more favourable market conditions. We anticipate a similar trend for the rest of the year as the local economy continues to grow,” the Chairman said in his report.

Moreover, GBTI had posted a $1.365 billion profit at the end of the 2020 financial year, which saw a 7.9 per cent decline from the previous year. (G8)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22-year-old who killed farmer during teen years released from prison

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22-year-old man who had stabbed a farmer to death when he was 17 has been released from custody after completing a sentence of two years and eight months.

Although the offender is now an adult, he cannot be named, since he was charged back in 2016 in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibits the publication of the name of a minor, or any other information related to a minor accused of a crime.

This man was initially indicted for the capi-

tal offence of murder when he appeared before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the High Court in Demerara on March 15.

Upon his arraignment,

he however pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, thereby admitting that on November 23, 2016, at Ela Landing in the North West District, he un-

lawfully killed Junior Moses of Barima, North West District.

The offender was represented by Attorney-at-Law Jerome Khan, while Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave presented the prosecution’s case.

It was reported that on the day in question, at about 18:40h, the teenager and the man were engaged in a heated argument, during which the teenager armed himself with a knife and stabbed the man in the region of his stomach.

TURN TO PAGE 15

Shaking up…

I

…Caricom f nothing else, Guyana’s shaking up Caricom, which will be observing its 60th anniversary next year! In those sixty years, it’s been a case of “one step forward, two steps backwards”! We started out - as usual - patterning our behaviour on our erstwhile masters. In this case, forming a free trade zone like Europe’s EEC with our CARIFTA (1968), then proceeding to a more integrated economic/political union with Caricom/CSME (1973/2009) following the EU. On both fronts we failed miserably - because of the Little Caesar Syndrome manifested by all the parochial leaders who don’t want to give up their “sovereignty”! Read, “power”!!

So, we have a situation where food self-sufficiency identified from the very beginning in 1973 - wasn’t only NOT achieved, but the importation bill actually GREW!! It’s now over US$4billion and rising!! Anyhow, it looks like now that Guyana’s passed its “Local Content Act” to ensure that we Guyanese get first dibs on economic activities flowing from the new O&G sector, some in Trinidad have their knickers and bucktas all in knots!! And the irony is this Bill was recommended by former TT energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine!!

Can you believe this? When Burnham was rigging elections and (not unrelatedly) destroying our economy, CariCom did absolutely nothing. When we fled to their shores, we were treated like scum! Guyanese who were just trying to trade to make a living were harassed like pariahs at Piarco by Trinidadian officials. Pleas by our Government fell on deaf ears…as their wiping off some debts was used to bludgeon us into silence.

But Trinidad is really shameless on Local Content. Ask any Guyanese about trying to establish a business to get a piece of Trinidad’s action over the last six decades…and you’ll hear stories of how they were denied permission. So how come Guyana didn’t complain they were violating the Treaty of Chaguanas that launched CariCom?? Well, Trinidad was very sly and sneaky. They passed local content laws under cover as “LOCAL CONTENT & LOCAL PARTICIPATION POLICY & FRAMEWORK on October 7TH, 2004!!

While the goal and methodology were identical to our Local Content Act (TT’s “policy framework addresses local content and local participation in a manner that will maximise utilisation and development of Trinidad and Tobago nationals, businesses owned by nationals, and the domestic capital market in every aspect of the activities conducted in the sector”) they just didn’t pass it as LEGISLATION!!

So let the Trinis bring it on!! Let them try to make us accept them at the end of the barrel of a gun! They should rather follow the lead of Mia Mottley’s Barbados.

She’s crafting arrangements that benefit BOTH Guyana and Barbados. Win-Win is the way to go! …the Police Force Well, well, well!! Look like the Government’s taking the bull (the Police Force) by the horns and trying to wrestle it to the ground!! But what will they do to the bull? Like under Granger, the entire top brass has been given a makeover.

As for the bureaucratic niceties, we can expect, like with Hicken’s appointment, they’ll all probably be challenged by the PNC. Starting from the sixties, when it was shown that the Police would tend to favour what Hoyte dubbed their “kith and kin” in the PNC, the PPP has wrestled with their challenge of “professionalising” the Force.

But what we’ve seen after the PPP took over in 1992, there’s a need for root-and-branch reform - not just tinkering at the top. And we’ve got to quit being dishonest about the fundamental flaw at the root of the non-professional Force - the ethnically-skewed composition that favours the PNC! Ironically, there’s legislation on the books on how to rectify this anomaly.

But everyone avoids this elephant!! …the World Order Lacking omniscience, human actions ALWAYS have unforeseen consequences. And this is playing out in Europe, where NATO’s poking of the Russian Bear is exposing cracks in the western alliance.

And strengthening China The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

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12 NEWS 155 GDF ranks conferred with efficiency medals FRIDAY, APRIL 1,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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he Guyana Defence Force on Thursday held its Medal Presentation Parade, during which ranks were bestowed with the respective medals for their service to Guyana.

The Military Efficiency Medal for 10 years of continuous unblemished service, and the Border Defence Medal for service on the borders were conferred by President and Commanderin-Chief, Dr Irfaan Ali, at the Drill Square at Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

A total of 35 officers and 46 other ranks met the criteria for the Military Efficiency Medal, while seven officers and 67 other ranks met the criteria for the Border Defence Medal.

The Military Efficiency Medal (MEM) is awarded to officers and ranks of the regular Force who complete 10

years of continuous service without any disciplinary issue. The Border Defence Medal is awarded in two classes. Class one is awarded to any member of the disciplinary services who is a member of a unit engaged in hostilities in defence of the territorial integrity of Guyana. Class two is awarded to any officer or rank deployed in areas within 100 kilometers of a hostile border on permanent duties for a total of 365 days with no disciplinary issue.

The Force also announced on Thursday that it has welcomed 12 newly-minted Grade Three Chefs following their successful completion of the Grade Three Chef course.

The Grade Three Chef course aims to equip students with the knowledge needed to maintain good

President Dr Irfaan Ali conferring one of the ranks with a medal

hygiene in the preparation and storage of food, in accordance with the Guyana Defence Force doctrine.

The course lasted for twelve weeks, and was held at Base Camp Ayanganna BC(A).

Lance Corporal (LCPL)

Stefon Anderson of the Three Infantry Battalion received the prize for best graduating student, while LCPL Devon

Torrington of BC(A) copped the runner-up best graduating student prize.

Base Commander of Base Camp Stephenson, Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, in his address to the graduates, highlighted the importance of their roles within the GDF. “This course is designed to enhance and develop your culinary skills with a focus on nutrition and hygiene, so that you can be of service to the Guyana Defence Force in a specific area that is extremely essential to the daily lives of officers and ranks,” Souvenir stated.

The course was administered by the Force’s Chief Catering Officer, Warrant Officer Class Two Monique Skeete, who was assisted by civilian Coleen Castillion in the practical aspects of the course. (G12)

NEWS

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Pensioner dies after being Driver in Corentyne double trapped in burning ECD home fatality released on $250,000 bail …after unattended kero stove starts blaze Hit-and-run accident

Dead: Toney Lakeram

Dead: Felicia Fernandes

Charged: Vivendra Ramdharry

fter spending a week on remand, the driver who was charged over the hit-and-run accident at Number 70 Public Road Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) that claimed the lives of two persons, has been granted bail.

37-year-old Vivendra Ramdharry of Number 69 Village, Corentyne was initially charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving on March 22. Back then, he was refused bail by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore, before whom he had appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

Ramdharry’s lawyer, Bernard Da Silva, renewed a bail application on his client’s behalf when the case came up on Thursday. In the end, the accused was admitted to $250,000 bail. He

was also ordered to lodge his passport with the Clerk of Court.

It is alleged that on March 18, Ramdharry drove motor van PVV 1015 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the deaths of 28-year-old Felicia Fernandes of Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and 19-year-old Toney Lakeram, a carpenter of Number 71 Village, Corentyne.

Further, Ramdharry has been slapped with two counts of failing to render assistance after an accident and one count of failing to stop after an accident.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Ramdharry’s lawyer, without divulging any details, revealed that the victims’ families are taking a “certain course of action”.

The matter will come up again on April 14.

Police have said that

the accident occurred at about 23:20h on the Number 70 Public Road, Corentyne, and involved an electric bike Lakeram was riding and a motor vehicle. Investigations revealed that the motor vehicle was speeding along the roadway when it collided with the electric bike and Fernandes, who was reportedly a pedestrian, before continuing on its journey.

As a result, the duo, having sustained injuries about their bodies, were picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Ramdharry was arrested at Kitty, Georgetown the day after the accident.

The vehicle he was reportedly driving was found extensively damaged at a house at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. (G1)

A The remains of the house after the fire

S

eventy-six-year-old Charles Brown of Lot 292 Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD died on Thursday when a fire destroyed his home.

Preliminary reports suggest that the fire might have been started by a kerosene stove that was left unattended.

Based on what has been reported, the Fire Service received a report of a building being on fire at about 8:00h, and firefighters from the Melanie and Mahaica Fire Stations, along with an ambulance, were immediately dispatched to the location.

Upon arriving at the scene, the one-storey wood-

en-and-concrete building, owned by Onika LawrenceCharles and occupied by 35-year-old Andrew Reid, 3-year-old Godfrey Reid, and the now dead Charles Brown, was already engulfed in flames.

The other occupants of the building managed to escape, but Brown was reportedly trapped in the inferno.

His charred remains were later pulled from among the debris.

An investigation has been initiated to confirm the cause of the blaze.

This tragedy comes one day after four young children and their elderly grandfather were rescued by a neighbour who noticed

that their Blairmont, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) home was on fire.

The Guyana Fire Service continues to plead with citizens to take the necessary precautions to avoid fire emergencies, and to educate themselves regarding fire safety and fire prevention. Citizens are advised to not leave cooking unattended, and to ensure stoves are properly turned off when not in use.

In addition, the GFS has recommended that children be kept away from the cooking area, and that adults ensure that matches and lighters are out of the reach of children.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health Ministry mulls 4th COVID shot …7 new cases, 4 persons in ICU

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elying on scientific data on vaccines and the evolution of COVID-19, health authorities are considering a fourth jab for the population, as well as the introduction of a booster shot for the adolescent category.

On March 29, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), having analysed data submitted by Pfizer and Moderna, authorised a fourth dose for the population. This shot is recommended for people who have underlying conditions and are immunocompromised; or any person 50 years old or older.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony shared during Thursday’s coronavirus briefing that the possibility of offering a fourth dose is being mulled.

Additionally, Government is looking at introducing booster shots for the 12-to-17 age group.

After deliberations, it will be determined whether the Health Ministry would implement this plan.

“We would certainly take a look at that, because the scientific data shows that persons who take a fourth dose, it is very protective. Certainly, that is one of the things we will be looking at.

Also, there’s a recommendation from the CDC and US-FDA that for persons 12 years, they can

get a booster dose. That’s also something we will be looking at. Our population between 12 to 17, we have only been giving them the primary doses, that’s the first and second doses,” Dr Anthony relayed.

Booster doses have been offered by countries since the data shows that immunity from vaccines start to wane after six months of immunisation.

“Generally, if you had both doses, we expect that the immunity would last at least up to six months, after which you should go back and get a booster dose, so that you can continue to be protected.

That’s very important, because we have noticed with these particular vaccines that the antibody that is produced wanes after about six months.”

Current vaccination statistics indicate that 438,224 persons, or 85.4 per cent of the adult population, have taken a first dose, while second doses account for 336,871 persons, or 65.7 per cent of that demographic.

For the 12-to-17 group, 34,309 first doses and 25,008 second doses have been administered. This is equivalent to 47 per cent and 34.3 per cent respectively. This group has been lagging behind, as calls continue for parents to give consent

for their children to take the shots.

Some 58,340 persons have taken a booster shot.

New cases

On Thursday, seven new cases were announced, with deaths remaining at 1226. Confirmed cases have reached 63,253.

A total of four patients are in institutional isolation, 66 are in home isolation, eight are in institutional isolation, and 15 are in institutional quarantine.

There are four persons in the ICU. Of the 29,127 males and 34,126 females who had contracted the virus, 61,949 have recovered.

Some 568,570 COVID-19 tests have been administered since the virus was detected here.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately, or visit us at www.health.gov.gy.

Globally, over 485 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 6.1 million have died. In the Americas, more than 150 million confirmed cases have been reported, with over 2.69 million deaths. (G12)

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 31, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

7

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

8

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

66

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

4

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

15

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,126

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,127

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,253

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,949

REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2491

REGION 3

8048

REGION 4

31,271

REGION 5

2379

REGION 6

5752

REGION 7

2423

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4016

REGION 10

3468

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

437,900

FULLY IMMUNISED

336,228

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1226

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

NEWS

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Teen seriously injured in WCD 4-vehicle collision

A

student attached to the West Demerara Secondary School is

now in serious condition following a four-vehicle collision along the Vreed-en-

Hoop Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Wednesday evening.

22-year-old who killed...

After committing the act, he reportedly fled the scene, but was later apprehended by the Police.

The injured man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mabaruma Hospital.

A sentencing hearing for the offender was held on Tuesday. After considering a probation report in favour of the offender, an impact statement from the dead man’s relatives, and addresses from the defence and prosecution, Justice Morris-Ramlall sentenced the offender to two years and eight months in custody, less the time he has already spent in pre-trial detention.

The offender had been in custody for approximately

five years and four months.

As such, his sentence has been fully satisfied by the time he spent in pre-trial detention. He has therefore been released from custody.

Section 44 (c) of the Juvenile Justice Act, which deals with sentences for offences, stipulates that a judicial officer shall commit the juvenile to custody in an open or secure residential facility provided for under the Act for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the coming into force of the order.

It was further ordered that the offender be placed on probation and supervision for two years, during which time he shall keep the peace, be of good behaviour, and report to

Injured is 15-year-old Vidya Ishmail of Pouderoyen WBD.

FROM PAGE 8

the Chief Probation Officer on or before the last Monday of each month.

The court further ordered that the offender must notify the Chief Probation Officer of any change of address or any change in his place of employment, and remain in Guyana, unless he gets permission from the court to leave the jurisdiction.

The offender was also ordered to perform community service at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) for two hours weekly for six months, or at a place or institution directed by the Chief Probation Officer.

And finally, the Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency has been

instructed to issue a positive peer association directive, requiring the offender to be associated for a specified period with a specified person whom the Director has reason to believe can contribute to the offender’s positive behaviour.

(G1)

Police have said that on the day in question, at about 22:00h, motorcar PTT 8247, driven by a drunken driver, reportedly made a U-turn and ended up in the path of a taxi, thus causing the collision.

The taxi then crashed into two other cars, PYY 131, which was proceeding along the roadway; and PLL 797, which was reportedly stationed on the parapet of the said road.

As a result of the collision, the occupants and driver of

the taxi sustained injuries.

They were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) by ambulance, where they were treated and sent away. The teenager was, however, admitted there in a serious condition.

Breathalyzer tests were administered on all the drivers, and it proved that the driver who initiated the accident had more than the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

He has been arrested, and is assisting with investigations.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana to have 1st World Trade Center Association in Caricom

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uyana is set to be the home of the first World Trade Center (WTC) in the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

This milestone comes after several months of negotiations between Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the New Yorkheadquartered World Trade Center Association

(WTCA).

The beverage giant recently secured a licence to establish a World Trade Center in Guyana and revealed that it would be transforming its building in High Street, Kingston into the WTC, which will provide a range of opportunities for local businesses and organisations to enhance

their networking capabilities globally. Work has already begun on the interior redesign of the building.

An official virtual announcement and ceremonial handing-over of the licence is set for April 5 which will see presentations from Guyana’s Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, WTCA Chairman John Drew, and DDL Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo.

The WTCA stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally.

There are over 320 World Trade Centers in more than 100 countries on every continent globally.

The Association serves as an ‘international ecosystem’ of global connections,

World Trade Centers in NYC (Forbes photo)

iconic properties, and integrated trade services under the umbrella of a prestigious brand.

The exclusive “World

Trade Center” and “WTC” branded properties and trade service organisations are supported by 15,000 WTC professionals that de-

liver integrated, reciprocal resources to meet the needs of small, medium, and large enterprises.

Automatic toll system at Demerara Bridge begins today …as Top Cop reassesses strategy to ease traffic woes

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he Demerara Harbour Bridge’s (DHB’s) automatic tolling system is set to be officially launched today.

This was revealed by General Manager of the DHBC, Wayne Watson, on Thursday.

According to Watson, in an interview with DPI, a number of Government vehicles already use the system, which has been successful.

The system uses a radio frequency identification (RFID)

strip, which is picked up by scanners installed above the toll booth.

“Based on your vehicle type, you purchase credits via MMG and, as you approach the toll station, based on your vehicle type in the registry, those deductions will be made as you traverse. So, you do not need to engage the toll clerks,” Watson said.

He added that despite the bridge being over 40 years old, the idea behind

implementing the system is in preparation for future developments, making reference to the New Demerara River Bridge.

“It is not about the bridge, it is about trying to improve customer service, trying to improve the rate at which one person would have to stop and wait on change, or if you are driving a left-hand vehicle, you have to come out the vehicle to pay the toll. So this system will negate all those ob-

stacles,” Watson stated.

Additionally, he said there are systems in place to ensure no one tries to outsmart the initiative. Watson said toll clerks will still be in place to pick up alerts of vehicles that have run out of credit, adding that drivers would still have the option of utilising the cash-based system, which is without the RFID tag.

“All the safety mechanisms are in place to ensure that this system works the way it is intended (that they work),” he assured.

In implementing the system, charge companies will be given priority, after which applications will be made available for other persons who want to be a part of the system.

Top Cop meeting

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force has said that, in an effort to reduce the traffic chaos and confusion at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken on Thursday morning met with Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram and the DHBC management to reassess the traffic strategy that was put in place to alleviate the traffic woes at the bridge during the peak hours.

Hicken has said he is pleased to point out

that there was a relatively smooth flow of traffic on both the eastern and western ends of the bridge during the peak hours on Thursday morning, and there was no visible sign of the usual traffic congestion.

This, he said, is an indication that the current strategy is working in terms of opening two lanes of traffic (double-lane) going east – (West Bank to East Bank across the bridge) from 6:00am to 7:00am. A second opening for two-lane traffic will depend on the traffic situation on both sides of the bridge.

More traffic ranks on the road

And as part of the bigger traffic strategy, Traffic Chief Ashram said, more traffic ranks will be visible at specific points along the road, to assess the traffic situation; and in the event of a build-up or congestion, a decision will be taken to open up an extra lane to ease the traffic flow.

Also, more traffic cones will be placed at strategic points on the road to aid in the free flow of traffic.

“The new arrangement entails having more ranks on the ground, to constantly monitor the traffic situation and any buildup of the traffic on either side. That information will be passed upwards, and can trigger a

double-lane…the idea is to move the traffic and not get it stagnated on either side of the bridge,” the Traffic Chief is quoted as saying in a release from the GPF.

New automated tolling system

Meanwhile, DHB General Manager Watson has disclosed that traffic congestion at the bridge would also be eased with the rolling out of the DHBC multi-million-dollar automated tolling system to commuters today.

Watson has said commuters need only to pay their toll via a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag which would be placed on the front of their vehicles and on their mobile phones.

According to him, bridge commuters would be registered to a database, and they would need to have funds in their mobile money account. The magnetic RFID tag would be placed on the vehicle, and when that vehicle approaches the toll station on the eastern end of the bridge, the system’s sensors would identify the commuters’ vehicle using the tag and the toll would be deducted automatically.

He noted that, with the system, different tags would be created for different vehicles, whether cars, trucks or vans.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Education Ministry to expand First Lady helps over 200 Venezuelan migrants in Region 1 “Operation Recovery”

File photo: Education Ministry officials visiting the home of a family whose child has continuously been absent from school

E

First Lady Arya Ali has assisted over 200 Venezuelan migrants seeking refuge in Region One (Barima-Waini). In a social media post, the First Lady said she has started mobilising resources to assist with adequate food and clothing for the group of Waraus

Berbice RPA rep calls for Factory Act to be implemented to guard against exploitation

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amlagan Singh, a representative from the Rice Producers Association (RPA) in Berbice, has called on the Government to ensure that the Factory Act is implemented as soon as possible.

Noting that apart from rising cost for freight, there are unknown price increases that consumers in Guyana are facing when it comes to purchasing rice.

Singh believes that if the proper regulations are in place, consumers will be able to purchase rice at much lower costs.

According to Singh, consumers are being exploited by local rice millers, citing that a 10kg bag of rice has increased from $1200 to $2000 per bag.

Singh pointed out that according to the Factory Act, the manufacturer should have the retail price for the item printed on the container.

“The Factory Act states that the price of an item should be there from the manufacturer. If you go to any mill across Guyana,

Berbice RPA rep Ramlagan Singh

there is no price label. Every bag of rice that comes out of a mill should have a price – not like how it is happening now; it should have a price and it should indicate the grade. It is not happening. I am calling on the Government to enforce the Factory Act so that the price should be labelled on the bags from the miller so that the consumer would not be exploited.”

He called on the Guyana

Rice Development Board (GRDB) to enforce the Factory Act, adding that some of the members on the Board are not functioning in their roles and many have very limited knowledge of the rice industry. At the same time, Singh called for the revamping of the Pesticide Board saying that he believes that the GRDB has not been properly handling its role in the rice industry. (G4)

ducation Minister Priya Manickchand has begun consulting with stakeholders to expand the Operation Recovery programme, which is geared at lowering absenteeism and getting students back into schools.

The Minister met with civil society organisations on Wednesday evening at the Pegasus Hotel, ahead of the school reopening that is set for April 25. Involved in these discussions were Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson as they met with members of the Rotary Club of Demerara.

Operation Recovery was launched initially within the 11 Education districts to find those primary school students who have been continuously absent from school since school re-started and those who have missed the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock examinations. The programme would now focus on students at all levels who continue to be absent from the classroom.

At the meeting, Minister

Manickchand told those in attendance that this programme has wide-reaching implications. It was explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the education sector in two fundamental ways: loss of instructional time and learning loss due to schools being closed for over 18 months.

She said that, recognising the need to mitigate the long-term effects of school closure, the Ministry has implemented a system of phased reopening.

An analysis of learners’ attendance data revealed that some learners did not attend school as required.

Operation Recovery aims to get pupils back into school, and the objectives of the programme are to locate and retain learners, as well as to engage and support them.

Minister Manickchand added that the Ministry would also be reaching out to other civil society organisations and religious bodies to come on board to ensure our children receive the education they rightly deserve.

This month’s reopening

comes more than two years after the COVID pandemic struck, forcing a closure to reduce an infection spread.

Now, when school reopens after the Easter holiday break, all students would be returning to a classroom setting.

Leading up to the reopening, Operation Recovery was piloted to address absenteeism and get students back into classrooms. Dubbing it a successful mechanism, the Education Minister outlined that it would be a continuous mechanism.

Through encounters with students, it has been learnt that the reasons for absenteeism range from poverty to ‘carelessness’. The Education Ministry has underscored that urgent, practical, sustained measures such as teaching and learning from a consolidated curriculum; the provision of textbooks; re-training of teachers; using technology in the classroom; and Operation Recovery would mitigate against the predicted loss to our students and country. (G12)

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

Regional

Bank of Jamaica rolls out ICC to open office in Venezuela, Prosecutor says its digital currency Jam-Dex

I

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan

nternational Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan said on Thursday during a visit to Venezuelan capital Caracas that the court will open an office there, amid a preliminary investigation into alleged human rights violations by officials.

Khan, appearing on State television with President Nicolás Maduro, said his three-day visit to the South American country had been fruitful.

Khan last visited in

November, when he said he would open an investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed since 2017 by officials in Maduro’s Government.

Maduro said at the time he respected the decision, but did not share it.

“I know my visit here has not been simple,” Khan said through an official translation, adding Maduro was “very clear” last year that investigation by the ICC was unwarranted.

“We have had a frank ex-

change,” Khan said, adding the men agreed that “the ICC Prosecutor can open an office in Caracas. It is a very important, very significant step.”

For his part, Maduro said he welcomed the visit by the ICC and that they have the capacity to give technical assistance to help Venezuela advance.

A team of United Nations investigators said last year that Venezuela’s judicial system has perpetuated human rights violations as part of a State policy to quash opposition to Maduro.

As part of a judicial reform, the country’s Parliament, which is controlled by the ruling party, approved cutting the number of Magistrates on the country’s high court to 20 from 32, but they are still debating who will fill the seats.

The Opposition and rights groups have said the reform is a farce and will not change the justice system. (Excerpt from Reuters)

J

amaica’s Central Bank’s decision to pursue its own digital currency is as much an effort to reach out to the relative unbanked segment of the population as it is to continue the Western Caribbean country’s effort to digitise its economy.

The Sunday Business Guardian reached out to the Bank of Jamaica’s Deputy Governor and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) implementation committee chair Natalie Haynes to discuss the Jam-Dex’s introduction to the Jamaican population. She explained the development of the digital currency served a dual purpose.

“We still have a large per

cent of the population that remains outside of the formal financial system, the financial excluded,” Haynes said.

“And so we wanted, as part of the Government’s whole thrust for digital transformation, the Central Bank thought that it could issue its own digital currency, which is really just a digital representation of the Jamaica dollar to our citizens, to every citizen especially for those who are now financially excluded. So financial inclusion is one consideration and, of course, our support for the government’s digital transformation of the entire economy.”

After two years of testing the waters, the largest

Brazil: Ex-Judge drops presidential bid, swaps party; officials resign en masse to boost President

Eastern Caribbean States open consulate in Western Sahara

T

he Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on Thursday opened a consulate in Western Sahara, joining African and Arab countries that have established diplomatic missions there in a sign of support for Morocco’s claim to the disputed territory.

The Dominican Republic’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said he opened the consulate in Dakhla on behalf of Eastern Caribbean member states, a joint statement from the Dominican

Republic and Morocco said.

The Algeria-backed Polisario front seeks to establish an independent state in the vast and sparsely populated desert region, considered by Morocco as its own land.

Gaining international recognition for its rule over Western Sahara has long been Morocco’s prime diplomatic ambition.

Rabat has said the most it can offer as a political solution to the dispute is autonomy under its sovereignty.

The Polisario and its ally

Algeria reject this and say they want an independence referendum.

Algeria and the Polisario have also denounced the opening of consulates in the territory.

Skerrit said his country backed Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory and its autonomy plan.

Major powers including France, Germany, and the United States and this month Spain and Israel have also supported Rabat’s proposal to end the conflict.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Meeting with US Vice President “very productive”, says Holness

J

amaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has described as “very productive” his historic meeting on Wednesday with United States Vice President Kamala Harris, whose father was born in Jamaica.

Holness, in a message posted on his Twitter account, said that the discussions on Wednesday afternoon “were very productive, as we affirmed our shared commitment to increase cooperation for the mutual benefit of Jamaica and the United States”.

Holness, whose meeting at the White House was the first for a Jamaican

leader since 1995, when former Prime Minister PJ Patterson held a working meeting there, said he and Harris discussed a number of “areas of cooperation”.

They included “violence prevention through intelligence and information sharing, and investment in violence reduction programme targeting at-risk youth; human capacity development, particularly in relation to cyber security; and digital technology, energy and infrastructure”.

“I was deeply encouraged by the feedback from VP Harris, who committed funding to several areas,” said the Jamaican prime

minister, disclosing that they comprised “expansion of commerce and trade; support for our health sector and our COVID-19 recovery efforts; [and] regional energy security. . . .

“VP Harris expressed agreement for the establishment of a working group between Jamaica and the US to discuss issues unique to Jamaica and to continue dialogue.

I thank the VP for prioritising this meeting with Jamaica, and I welcome her announcements to provide greater support through investments,” he added. (Excerpt from CMC)

English-speaking country in the Caribbean Sea is in the process of rolling out JamDex, third digital currency in the Caribbean after The Bahamas’ Sand Dollar, which was launched in October 2020, and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s rollout of DCash in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Hopeful to encourage Jamaicans to become equally early adopters of digital currency, the Jamaican Government has offered the first 100,000 subscribers from today, April 1 JA$2500 or US$16 to encourage them to get digital wallets to use digital currency. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

According to Brazil’s electoral law, top officials must resign from their current posts before they can run for other positions [Eraldo Peres/AP]

B

razil’s graft-fighting ex-judge Sergio Moro on Thursday dropped his presidential bid, narrowing the field in what is shaping up to be a highly-polarised October election between far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In a day of political upheaval, with Brazil’s campaign season gathering momentum, Moro left his Podemos party to join the

right-wing Union Brazil.

“To enter the new party, I give up, at this moment, the presidential pre-candidacy and I will be a soldier of democracy to recover the dream of a better Brazil,” Moro, who has been polling third, said in a statement posted to his Instagram.

Moro’s exit will raise questions about where the roughly eight per cent of voters backing him will place their support.

Meanwhile, 10 members

of President Bolsonaro’s Cabinet have resigned from their positions, along with three other top officials, in a move designed to help boost the far-right leader’s re-election prospects ahead of the general election.

The officials are expected to campaign for office in advance of the vote in October, as well as campaign for Bolsonaro. According to Brazil’s electoral law, top officials must resign from their current posts before they can run for other positions.

“I’m in my third straight administration, and I never saw a team of Ministers so connected to the president, so loyal, so devoted,” outgoing Infrastructure Minister Tarcisio de Freitas said at an event organised for the officials on Thursday.

Outgoing Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto was made a special adviser to the President. He is seen as a top contender to become Bolsonaro’s running mate. (Excerpts from Reuters and Al Jazeera)

Tobago SEA students relieved

T

obago’s Standard Five students on Thursday expressed relief after writing this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam.

Some said the challenges they encountered doing their schoolwork virtually over the past year were much more difficult than the actual examination.

Outside of the Scarborough Methodist School, the anxiety was evident as restless parents – mostly mothers – waited in blistering heat for the exam to be over.

Around 13:30h, the main gate of the school opened and the students rushed into their parents’ arms.

A relieved Taariq Harripersad believes he did well and is hoping to pass for his first choice, Bishop’s High School.

Why Bishop’s?

“I believe it is a very good school and I have the ability to go there,” he said.

Equally relieved was Taariq’s mother, Taaliba Muhammad.

“The examination is concluded, so he will free up his mind a bit, because the jour-

ney wasn’t easy for the both of us (alluding to the online challenges). But we fought all of the odds that transpired, because our main focus was to get the job done.”

Amaiyah Beckles said she did not have many challenges with the online curriculum, but was relieved nonetheless.

Like Taariq, she too, is hoping to pass for Bishop’s High School.

Asked what she would like to do for her vacation, Amaiyah jokingly declared, “Live.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil slumps 7% as US plans record crude reserve release

U

S oil prices fell seven per cent to close just above US$100 on Thursday as President Joe Biden announced the largest-ever release from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve and called on oil companies to increase drilling to boost supply.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for May delivery settled down US$7.54, or seven per cent, at US$100.28 a barrel, after touching a low of US$99.66.

Brent crude futures for May, which expired on Thursday, closed down US$5.54, or 4.8 per cent, at US$107.91 a barrel. The more-actively traded June futures were down 5.6 per cent at US$105.16, after falling by US$7 earlier in the session.

Both benchmarks posted their highest quarterly percentage gains since the second quarter of 2020, with Brent soaring 38 per cent and WTI gaining 34 per cent, boosted mainly after Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine which Moscow calls a "special operation".

"This is a market where every barrel counts and (the SPR release) is a significant volume of oil to be put on the market for an extended period of time," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC. Biden's 180-million-barrel release is equivalent to about two days of global demand, and marks the third time Washington has tapped the SPR in the past six months.

Starting in May, the United States will release one million barrels per day of crude oil for six months from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Biden said, adding that 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil could be released in addition by allies and partners.

"We need to increase supply... Oil firms sitting on idle wells or unused leases will have to start producing or pay for their inaction," he said.

Other members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) may also release barrels to offset lost Russian exports after that nation was hit with heavy sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

IEA member countries are set to meet today at 12:00h GMT to decide on a potential collective oil release, a spokesperson for New Zealand's Energy Minister said.

However, any SPR release could also be a sign that Washington does not expect a quick resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, which has squeezed oil supplies, said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

"Desperate times clearly call for desperate measures and clearly the Biden Administration believes the spike in oil prices warrants this move to eat into the country’s emergency supplies," Streeter said.

Goldman Sachs analysts said the move would help the oil market to rebalance in 2022, but was not a permanent fix.

"This would remain, however, a release of oil inventories, not a persistent source of supply for coming years. Such a release would, therefore, not resolve the structural supply deficit, years in the making," they said.

Analysts also pointed to low liquidity in the market causing outsized moves in prices.

"We've seen dwindling open interest and dwindling volumes. A thin market is a jumpy market, and highly reactive to these various developments. To the extent we gain or lose barrels, you get a big outsized reaction," Kilduff said.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, agreed at a meeting on Thursday to stick to its existing agreement and raise its May production target by 432,000 barrels per day (bpd).

"In the light of the overnight developments, the OPEC+ decision seems to be a non-event. The increase of 432,000 bpd has been expected and built into the price. The decision will be greeted with disappointment from consuming nations," said Tamas Varga at PVM Oil Associates.

Prices also declined due to fears of lower demand in China as Shanghai is set to expand a COVID-19 lockdown.

(Reuters)

Putin tells Europe: Pay in roubles or we'll cut off your gas, conscripts 134,500 troops

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ussian President Vladimir Putin is demanding foreign buyers pay for Russian gas in roubles from today or else have their supplies cut, a move European capitals rejected and which Germany said amounted to "blackmail".

Putin's decree on Thursday leaves Europe facing the prospect of losing more than a third of its gas supply.

Germany, the most heavily reliant on Russia, has already activated an emergency plan that could lead to rationing in Europe's biggest economy.

Energy exports are Putin's most powerful lever as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions imposed on Russian banks, companies, businessmen, and associates of the Kremlin in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow calls its Ukraine action a "special military operation".

Putin said buyers of Russian gas "must open rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow", or April 1.

Russian army troops

"If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either – that is, existing contracts will be stopped," he said in televised remarks.

It was not immediately clear whether in practice there might be a way for foreign firms to continue payment without using roubles, which the European Union and G7 have ruled out.

Payment in roubles would also blunt the impact of Western curbs on Moscow's access to its foreign exchange reserves.

Curfew in Sri Lanka as protesters try to storm President’s house

Demonstrators react after fire is set to a bus parked at the top of the road to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence [Dinuka Liyanawatte/ Reuters]

P

olice in Sri Lanka have imposed a curfew in the country’s capital following clashes with protesters who tried to storm President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence as anger grows over a worsening economic crisis that has resulted in rolling blackouts.

In a statement to the media late on Thursday, Inspector General of Police CD Wickramaratne said the curfew in most of Colombo’s districts would last “until further notice”.

The move came after hundreds of protesters in the capital’s Mirihana district threw stones at and clashed with Police earlier in the evening as they pushed through the first line of barricades blocking the road to Rajapaksa’s private residence.

The crowds were chanting

“Go home Gota!” and “Gota is a dictator”.

Videos from the protest site, posted by the News Wire outlet on Facebook, showed a Police bus on fire and protesters tending to a man with a bloodied face.

It was not clear if the President was at his residence at the time.

A spokesperson for the Police declined to comment.

The calls for Rajapaksa’s resignation came as Sri Lanka struggles with an economic downturn sparked by a foreign exchange crisis that has left the Government unable to pay for imports of fuel, food and other essentials. The fuel shortage has resulted in blackouts for up to 13 hours, and some Staterun hospitals suspending routine surgeries. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Meanwhile, President Putin on Thursday signed a decree ordering 134,500 new conscripts into the army as part of Russia's annual spring draft, but the Defence Ministry said the call-up had nothing to do with the war in

Ukraine.

The order came five weeks into Russia's invasion, which has run into fierce Ukrainian resistance. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that none of those called up would be sent to any "hot spots".

The issue of conscripts' involvement in the war is highly sensitive. On March 9, the Defence Ministry acknowledged that some had been sent to Ukraine after Putin had denied this on various occasions, saying only professional soldiers and officers had been sent in.

The annual spring military draft, which runs from April 1 to July 15, will affect Russian men between the ages of 18 and 27, Putin's decree said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Scientists publish the 1st complete human genome

S

cientists on Thursday published the first complete human genome, filling in gaps remaining after previous efforts while offering new promise in the search for clues regarding disease-causing mutations and genetic variation among the world's 7.9 billion people.

Researchers in 2003 unveiled what was then billed as the complete sequence of the human genome. But about eight per cent of it had not been fully deciphered, mainly because it consisted of highly repetitive chunks of DNA that were difficult to mesh with the rest.

A consortium of scientists resolved that in research published in the journal Science. The work was initially made public last year before its formal peer review process.

"Generating a truly complete human genome sequence represents an incredible scientific achievement, providing the first

comprehensive view of our DNA blueprint," Eric Green, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the US National Institutes of Health, said in a statement.

"This foundational information will strengthen the many ongoing efforts to understand all the functional nuances of the human genome, which in turn will empower genetic studies of human disease," Green added.

The consortium's full version is composed of 3.055 billion base pairs, the units from which chromosomes and our genes are built, and 19,969 genes that encode proteins. Of these genes, the researchers identified about 2000 new ones. Most of those are disabled, but 115 may still be active. The scientists also spotted about two million additional genetic variants, 622 of which were present in medically relevant genes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chris Rock makes 1st comments since Oscars slap

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hris Rock has made his first public appearance since Will Smith slapped him during Sunday night's Oscars ceremony.

Hosting the latest leg of his US tour in Boston, the comic told fans that he is "still processing what happened".

Rock, who was greeted with a standing ovation by fans, also denied some reports in US media that he had spoken to Smith since the incident.

It comes as the Oscars organisers revealed that Smith was asked to leave after hitting Rock, but refused.

Smith slapped the comedian after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of the

hair-loss condition alopecia.

"How was your weekend?"

Rock jokingly greeted the crowd at his show at Boston's Wilbur Theatre, before saying he did not plan to address the incident at length.

The 57-year-old, who is currently starring in his "Ego Death" tour of the US, told fans that he had written the "show before all this nonsense happened" ,but promised to address the incident in the near future.

"I'm still kind of processing what happened, so at some point I'll talk about that," Rock said. "And it'll be serious and it'll be funny, but right now I'm going to tell some jokes." (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Head down a path you find inviting.

Be receptive to what others have to offer and open to trying something new.

Personal improvement is favored, and love and romance are encouraged.

(March 21-April 19) Be aware of your surroundings and what everyone else is doing. Caution will prevent someone from taking advantage of your vulnerabilities. Play to your strengths.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

You have knowledge, experience and good timing in abundance, so don't let anyone interfere with your plans.

Challenge anyone who gets in your way, and seek out those who can help you.

(May 21-June 20) Reflect on what's gone wrong and adjust to ensure that it won't happen again. Preparation is the key to getting things right the first time. Avoid emotionally manipulative people.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Don't worry about the changes others make. Go about your business, and people who share your concerns will offer help. A special relationship will enhance your life and give you a new perspective.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Set high standards and stand by your word. Don't let others' actions cause you to do something questionable. Your future is dependent on how you handle others and the degree of your dedication.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Plan to socialize with people who challenge you mentally and physically.

Unique plans for two will strengthen a relationship and lead to general life stability.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Try something different. A personal change may not please everyone, but if it sits well with you, that's all that matters. Take responsibility for your happiness, and your life will fall into place.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Get involved in activities that require strength and agility. Work alongside people who share your goals and beliefs. A healthy, happy routine will help you do and be your best.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Don't let anyone railroad you into something you don't relish. Do your own thing, and make positive domestic changes. It's up to you to choose how you spend your time and money.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take the direction that feels right, and don't let others interfere. Your decisions regarding money and business must come from the heart if you want them to work for you.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Bend a little, and things will swing in your favor. Incentives and compliments will help you persuade others to pitch in and assist you in reaching your goals.

Passion will make a difference.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

21

CWI gifts bowling machines to ICC U19 World Cup host countries C

CWI President Ricky Skerritt (right) making the presentation to St Kitts Cricket Association President Dennis Phillip

ricketers in host countries for the recent ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 are set to benefit from a donation of 15 bowling machines, which were purchased by Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the 16 participating squads to use in their training sessions.

CWI has donated four bowling machines each to Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago, with three donated to Antigua and Barbuda. The bowling machines have been distributed among territorial cricket boards and cricket clubs in accordance with CWI’s pre-tournament ob-

jective of enhancing cricketing infrastructure in the host nations for the ICC U19 showpiece.

The ICC U19 World Cup was held from January 14 to February 5, 2022, and concluded with India beating England in the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

“We talked about the valuable legacy for the West Indies in hosting the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, and this is a tangible example of how our regional cricket will be impacted positively,” CWI President Ricky Skerritt has noted as he presented the four bowling machines in St. Kitts to President of the St. Kitts

Cricket Association, Dennis Phillip.

“Our young cricketers, as well as club players and those in high-performance development programmes, will have the opportunity to fine-tune their batting skills with these high-calibre machines. Cricket West Indies has a vested interest in helping to improve the standard of cricket in all our member territories, and thereby the standard of West Indies cricket. This donation further underlines CWI’s commitment to one of our most important stakeholders – our players,” he said.

“We want to ensure our cricket boards and clubs are

in a better position to respond to players’ needs by having the appropriate facilities and equipment to propel cricket development, especially among youth. It is also a gesture of appreciation for the priceless support which CWI received from the host Governments, as well as from local cricket authorities and clubs. It’s been a wonderful partnership,” Skerritt elaborated.

Additionally, President Skerritt stressed how important it is for local cricket clubs “to maintain certain minimum standards, and a state of readiness to host matches in case opportunities arise to be involved in more global tournaments”.

Reggae Boyz defeat Honduras 2-1 to close failed World Cup campaign

J

amaica wrapped up their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying campaign for Qatar 2022 with a comeback 2-1 victory over Honduras on the 14th and final matchday of the third round of qualifiers on Wednesday night at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Honduras enjoyed the better start of the two sides,

and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 18. After a VAR review, the referee ruled there was a penalty for Honduras, and Angel Tejeda stroked home the spot-kick to give the Catrachos the advantage.

Jamaica looked to get back on level terms, and got the 1-1 equalizer in the 38’ with a penalty conversion from Leon Bailey.

The momentum was with Jamaica, and the Reggae Boyz took their first lead of the contest just moments before the halftime whistle, with Ravel Morrison burying a shot off a corner kick to make it 2-1 to the home side.

Jamaica aimed to extend their advantage in the second half, while Honduras tried to find a way back on

Medvedev misses out on world number one spot in Miami Open after loss to Hurkacz

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ussia’s Daniil Medvedev missed out on a chance to return to the top of the tennis world rankings when he lost to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the Miami Open.

Medvedev, 26, needed to reach the semi-finals to overtake Novak Djokovic, but lost 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 to eighth seed Hurkacz in Thursday’s quarter-final.

Medvedev trailed 5-2 in the first set, fought back to 5-5, but lost the tiebreak 9-7. Hurkacz sealed success with breaks in the fifth and ninth games of set two.

The 25-year-old Hurkacz, who beat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last summer, will now play either Spain’s 14th seed Carlos Alcaraz or Serbia’s unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic.

In February, Medvedev became only

the 27th player to top the ATP Tour world rankings, although he only stayed there for three weeks before Djokovic regained the position.

Serbian Djokovic has only played in one ATP Tour event in 2022 - the Dubai Tennis Championships, when he lost in the quarter-finals - as a result of his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

That saw him unable to compete in the Australian Open as well as the Indian Wells and Miami Open tournaments in the United States. (BBC Sport)

Jamaica’s national football team, the Reggae Boyz

even terms; but, in the end, no goals could be found in

the second 45 minutes, as Jamaica saw things out

to collect the three points.

(Sportsmax)

DJ Bravo becomes all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL

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r i n i d a d i a n all-rounder and former West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo made history on Thursday when he became the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), during the Chennai Super Kings match against the Lucknow Super Giants in Brabourne.

Bravo took 1-35 from his four overs, his 171st IPL wicket, to move one ahead of Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga.

Daniil His 171 wickets Medvedev was have come in 153 top of the world matches. ranking for Bravo has three weeks in played in the IPL February and March earlier since its inauthis year gural sea-

Dwayne Bravo celebrating a wicket

son in 2008, and has represented three franchises - the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, and Chennai Super Kings.

The next highest West Indian on the list is Sunil

Narine, with 144 wickets in 136 matches.

At the time of the feat, Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings were trying to defend nine runs off the last over.

(Sportsmax)

22

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Evin Lewis leads Lucknow Super Giants to win over CSK in IPL 2022 K

L Rahul and Quinton de Kock set the platform with a 99-run opening stand, Evin Lewis smashed an unbeaten 55 off 23 balls, and Ayush Badoni played a cameo towards the end, as Lucknow Super Kings chased down 211 with six wickets and three balls to spare.

It was the sixth instance in seven games this IPL that the chasing side won the match.

Earlier, Super Kings never took their foot off the pedal after being put in. Robin Uthappa struck a 27-ball 50, which included eight fours and a six, and Shivam Dube smashed 49 off 30 to help the side to a formidable 210 for 7.

Super Kings, though, were aware it wasn't necessarily a winning total.

The conditions were dewy - the umpires changed the ball in both innings - and Super Kings were without Adam Milne, who missed out because of a side strain.

It came down to 34 needed from the last two overs. Ravindra Jadeja then handed the ball to Dube, who hadn't bowled until then; and it showed.

Badoni started the over by moving across and sweeping him over square leg for six. The next two deliveries were wides, and the last three were right in the slot for Lewis, who smashed them for 4, 4, 6.

With nine needed from the final over, Mukesh Choudhary also bowled two wides before Badoni pulled him over backward square leg to level the scores. Two balls later, Choudhary hit the winning run to give Super Giants their first win.

Uthappa, Moeen give Super Kings blazing start

Rahul had a big smile on his face after winning the toss, but it didn't last long, as Uthappa hit Avesh Khan for two fours on the first two balls of the innings. That set the tone of the innings.

Two balls later, Avesh pinged Uthappa on the helmet, but when he tried another bouncer to end the over, it sailed over for four byes.

In the second over, Uthappa flicked Dushmantha Chameera first for a six, and then for a four, and by the end of two overs, Super Kings had 26 on the board.

Ravi Bishnoi's brilliance in the field – as seen by a direct hit from backward point to run out Ruturaj Gaikwad did give Super Giants the breakthrough, but not the respite.

Uthappa continued in the same vein, striking four fours in Andrew Tye's one over, and Moeen Ali, who had opened his account with a hooked six off Avesh, smashed 4, 6, 4 off Krunal Pandya's successive balls.

At the end of the powerplay, Super Kings were 73 for 1.

Dube keeps the fireworks going

Bishnoi once again provided the breakthrough, this time by trapping Uthappa lbw with the one that skidded off the surface and beat the batter with the pace.

But Dube, promoted to No. 4, kept the scoreboard racing.

He hit Chameera for three fours in four balls, and Super Kings crossed 100 in just 9.1 overs.

Moeen fell to Avesh for 35, but with the dew set in by now, it didn't get any easier for Super Giants. Dube's hitting, coupled with some sloppy fielding, meant runs kept flowing.

Rahul introduced Deepak Hooda into the attack, but Dube didn't hold back even against the offspinner, hitting him for a four and a six. His innings came to an end when he holed out to long-on off Avesh, while attempting another big hit.

Dhoni applies the finishing touches

MS Dhoni came to the crease with Super Kings on 189 for 4 in 18.2 overs, and straightway he forehanded Avesh over extra cover for a six.

It was the first time in the IPL that he hit a six off the first ball he faced. The next ball he carved over backward point for a one-bounce four.

Tye dismissed Jadeja and Dwaine Pretorius off successive balls in the final over, but Dhoni wrapped up the innings with yet another four, which also Lewis in full flow brought him 7000 runs in T20 cricket.

Rahul, de Kock start in style

Super Giants needed a quick start, and Rahul and de Kock gave them exactly that. Against the inexperienced new-ball pair of Choudhary and Tushar Deshpande, they hit eight fours and two sixes in the first five overs.

Jadeja turned to Bravo for the sixth over, and he almost removed de Kock, but Moeen dropped a straightforward catch at mid-off. The next three overs featured two sixes, three fours, and Deshpande shelling a tough chance off Moeen to reprieve Rahul.

At the halfway stage, de Kock was on 51 off 35 balls, Rahul on 40 off 35, and Super Giants were on 98.

Lewis steers Super Giants home

Pretorius ended the opening stand by dismissing Rahul, with Ambati Rayudu running sideway from backward square leg and taking the catch over his shoulder. Manish Pandey fell soon after, leaving Super Giants needing 97 from the last eight overs.

Lewis hit Deshpande for MS Dhoni played a blitz a four and a six to keep the

CSK took their first wicket after 99 runs

SCOREBOARD CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Robin Uthappa lbw b Ravi Bishnoi 50 Ruturaj Gaikwad run out (Ravi Bishnoi) 1 Moeen Ali b Avesh Khan 35 Shivam Dube c Lewis b Avesh Khan 49 Ambati Rayudu b Ravi Bishnoi 27 Ravindra Jadeja (c) c Pandey b Tye 17 MS Dhoni †not out 16 Dwaine Pretorius lbw b Tye 0 Dwayne Bravo not out 1 Extras (b 4, lb 7, w 3) 14 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 10.50) 210/7 Did not bat: Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2.3 ov), 2-84 (Robin Uthappa, 7.3 ov), 3-106 (Moeen Ali, 10.1 ov), 4-166 (Ambati Rayudu, 16.2 ov), 5-189 (Shivam Dube, 18.2 ov), 6-203 (Ravindra Jadeja, 19.2 ov), 7-203 (Dwaine Pretorius, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Avesh Khan 4-0-38-2 Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-49-0 Andrew Tye 4-0-40-2 Krunal Pandya 3-0-36-0 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-24-2 Deepak Hooda 1-0-12-0

asking rate under control, but Pretorius struck again - de Kock top-edging a pull, and Dhoni settling under the swirler.

Lewis and Hooda kept the chase alive, each muscling a boundary off Dwayne Bravo in the 16th over. Pretorius gave away only nine in the 17th, and Bravo, after getting hit for a six, sent back Hooda in the 18th. Super Kings might have fancied their chances at that stage, but a 25-run penultimate o v e r by Dube dashed t h e i r hopes.

(ESPN cricinfo)

Lusignan Golf Club to host STP Investments Inc tournament this Saturday

STP Investments Inc Project Manager David Harinarine handing over the sponsorship cheque to LGC member and proprietor of Oasis Cafe, William Walker, in the presence of LGC Secretary Chet Bowling and Maxim Mangra

C

ome Saturday, April 2, the Lusignan Golf Club would be hosting the STP Investments Inc golf tournament.

This was announced on

Thursday at a simple press briefing at the Oasis Cafe.

The format of the tournament would be medal play over 18 holes and shotgun start, and the action

would tee off at 12:30 hrs.

Speaking on behalf of STP Investment Inc, Project Manager David Harinarine said, "With respect to the Lusignan Golf Club, we make this donation with respect to having sports more promoted in Guyana. We want to continue this relationship with the golf club, and looking forward to the tournament this Saturday."

LGC Club Secretary Chet Bowling, expressing much gratitude to STP Investment, explained that he admires the company as they have recognised the need for corporate social responsibility as it pertains to sports in Guyana.

He explained that this kind of sponsorship is taken in recognition of the LGC as a brand, which would state to clients and the various communities that the company is working at a serious level, and it recognizes the value of being associated with the LGC. The prizes up for grabs would be for the overall best net for first to fourth-placed position, and they will include a trophy and voucher.

There would all be awards for best net front nine, best net back nine, nearest to the flag (hole #4) and longest drive (hole #12).

For those needing to register, persons are asked to contact the Lusignan

Golf Club on 220-5660.

Registration closes at 17h today, Friday 1st April 2022.

All participants are advised to contact the club’s manager on the day of the tournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to begin play at 12:30pm.

Once on their respective tee boxes, players must await the sounding of the horn or siren as indication to begin teeing off.

Presentation of prizes will be held at the completion of the tournament at approximately 17:30 hrs.

All COVID-19 protocols would be observed.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS INNINGS (TARGET: 211 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) KL Rahul (c) c Rayudu b Pretorius 40 Quinton de Kock †c †Dhoni b Pretorius 61 Manish Pandey c Bravo b Deshpande 5 Evin Lewis not out 55 Deepak Hooda c Jadeja b Bravo 13 Ayush Badoni not out 19 Extras (lb 6, w 12) 18 TOTAL (19.3 Ov, RR: 10.82) 211/4 Did not bat: Krunal Pandya, Dushmantha Chameera, Andrew Tye, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan Fall of wickets: 1-99 (KL Rahul, 10.2 ov), 2-106 (Manish Pandey, 11.2 ov), 3-139 (Quinton de Kock, 14.4 ov), 4-171 (Deepak Hooda, 17.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mukesh Choudhary 3.3-0-39-0 Tushar Deshpande 4-0-40-1 Dwayne Bravo 4-0-35-1 Ravindra Jadeja 2-0-21-0 Moeen Ali 1-0-14-0 Dwaine Pretorius 4-0-31-2 Shivam Dube 1-0-25-0

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VACANCY Vacancy exists for one security guard contact 655-6511.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

CPL and Cricket Carnival are two unifying tools

By Jemima Holmes

I

t was, understandably, a very proud moment for Guyana’s Head of State, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, as he announced Guyana’s hosting rights for the finals of the next three seasons of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

However, the President’s jubilation came with a lot of impassioned words and warnings regarding the product that Guyana is about to offer the Caribbean and the wider world in a matter of four months.

“But, more importantly, is the power of this game in unifying people; the power of this game in bringing people under the banner of love and togetherness; the power of this game in bringing every single country in this region together; the power of this game in adding hope to one’s life. The power of this game is unifying,” Dr Ali shared as he described the unifying power that cricket holds.

His Excellency went on to joke about the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ need to

step up and give their country something to cheer about when Guyana hosts 11 CPL games this season. He said, with a laugh, “We can only do so much, if the players for Amazon Warriors are listening, you’ll need to do a bit more, so take this as a challenge to get over the mark this time.”

Delving deeper into his involvement in the regional franchise tournament, President Ali gave the assurance that Guyana would deliver in hosting CPL and the Cricket Carnival, scheduled to run simultaneously.

He related to the crowd, which was hooked on his every word, “I was a part of CPL from day 0, from when it was conceptualized. Pete, I can assure you, what you will get in this CPL two weeks in Guyana will be something different. The end of it, we want to create a global product that will support our tourism.”

As he discussed sport tourism, the President gave a better view of what he hopes to achieve through the Cricket Carnival initiative.

The Cricket Carnival is expected to be a blockbuster two-week event this September

“We are going to start the building of something strong, a product that is different, a product that is differentiated, not a product that is in competition with any other product. It is a product that is geared towards bringing our region

together,” President Ali said.

He continued, “Yes, we can say there’re challenges, whether it’s curry chicken

or chicken curry, but at the end of the day, we must all enjoy the chicken, whether it’s curry before or after.”

Pushing the notion of

unity, the President articulated his expectations for what would be a packed two weeks in Guyana, come September 2022.

“That is what the region is about. The region is about good competition, great competition, but at the end of it, great celebration as one region, one people, one Caribbean, and Guyana is for all. We want the entire region to be prosperous, and we are building something here to bring the region together.”

The President continued, “So, we are building two weeks of entertainment, two weeks of celebration, two weeks of integration, two weeks of energy, two weeks of coming together as one region under the banner of CPL Cricket Carnival 2022.

“If you’re not coming for the excitement in the stands, then do not buy your ticket, because the stands will be different this time. The stands will be colourful,” the Head of State concluded.

Ninvalle proud of Amsterdam’s AMBC bronze finish Second round of Telenec Inc’s

first division tournament continues tomorrow

H

Shamar Joseph (hand upraised) claimed six wickets in the first round

igh quality cricket will continue in Berbice tomorrow, Saturday April 2, with the second round of the Telenec Inc first division tournament.

In round two of this knockout tournament, Albion will battle Skeldon at Albion, while Rose Hall Town Namilco will play Young Warriors at Area H Ground on the Corentyne.

According to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), the match involving Tucber Park and the winner of the Rose Hall Canje vs Police match will be played at a later date.

The rules of this tournament stipulate that all matches start at 9:30am. Only one non-Berbician would be allowed to play per match. A

maximum of two non-Berbician players can be registered per year, a walkover shall be granted half an hour after the scheduled start of play. And captains have to be present at latest twenty minutes before the 9:30am time to spin the toss, or they would forfeit the toss.

Additionally, the BCB would allow players to play with one vaccine in this tournament, but only fully vaccinated players would be allowed in the remaining stages of this first division tournament. In the event of a washout, only the BCB can reset a new date. All COVID-19 guidelines are to be followed face masks in pavilion, hand sanitizers, social distancing, and teams have to provide

their own lunches.

Only registered players are allowed to play for their own club, and all teams are to submit their list of players before the start of any tournament. Any player seeking to play for a new club must first obtain permission from their old club and acceptance from the new club.

In the first round of this tournament, Tucber Park fast bowler Shamar Joseph and the Rose Hall Town duo of Kevlon Anderson and Kevin Sinclair were among the star performers. In matches played across the Ancient County, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Town Namilco, and Young Warriors have recorded victories.

D

esmond Amsterdam has made history for Guyana in boxing his way to a bronze medal at the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental Championships, which would conclude later this week.

A welterweight, Amsterdam is the only boxer from the three-man Guyanese team who was able to walk away with a medal, and by extension a cash prize. President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, is nonetheless immensely proud of the team and its showing on the Latin America-dominated stage.

“I would like to take time out, on behalf of my Executive, to applaud the team that went to the AMBC Elite Championship, but more so, the member of the Guyana Defence Force, Mr Desmond Amsterdam,” Ninvalle declared during a comment invited by this publication.

He highlighted, “I think the entire team did well. When we look at the performances of the boxers, and coming off of almost, or more than, 2 years of inactivity, I think they performed well.”

Taking on Hector Aguirre from Mexico in the welterweight semifinal, Amsterdam unfortunately lost by unanimous decision.

However, it still meant that he would cop a bronze medal, a feat that has sent Ninvalle proverbially over the

moon.

“It’s the first medal that we will be having in those games! It will not be our last, but it’s or first medal, so I need to applaud his performance,” Ninvalle related.

Turning his attention to the other boxers’ performances at the games, Ninvalle found positives even in the most unfortunate situation of Jamal Eastman’s disqualification. The GBA boss explained, “Even Jamal Eastman who was disqualified, during his first round he gave a good account of himself. So, while it tells us that we have work to do, we’re a bit excited knowing that we have athletes of quality. We have athletes that can stand up with the best in Latin America, and Latin America has some of the best in the world.”

Going forward, Ninvalle hopes to improve upon the skills of his senior international boxers through consistent training.

“We will keep on having them train at a high level. There’re certain things that we’ll be discussing as an executive as it relates to moving forward,” he said in this regard.

Desmond Amsterdam in combat

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

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

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing the crowd at the launch of CPL and Cricket Carnival

Guyana Harpy Eagles Head Coach Esaun Crandon making use of one of the new machines at Everest Cricket Club (Jemima Holmes Photo)

CWI gifts bowling CPL and Cricket machines to ICC Carnival are two U19 World Cup unifying tools host countries

See story on Page 21

Page 23

Ninvalle proud of Amsterdam’s Page 23 AMBC bronze finish

Kevlon Anderson will be aiming to extend his form

Second round of Page 23 Telenec Inc’s first division tournament continues tomorrow

Desmond Amsterdam delivering a shot to Aguirre’s jaw

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