Guyana Times -- Friday, April 8, 2022

P14

ExxonMobil supports special education teachers’ advancement Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4973

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

National Day of Fasting and Prayers to be observed with interfaith meeting today – AFC welcomes initiative See story on page 3

GFS Senior Officers’ Conference

Training firefighters to use modern technology paramount to oil & gas sector – Min Benn ...22% reduction in fires for 2021 recorded See story on page 7 ...93% of 10-point strategic plan for 2021 accomplished

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P14 CANU to collaborate with sectoral agencies to tackle drugs in schools ...work also being done in other areas to rid streets of drugs – CANU Head

Essequibo P15 fisherman missing after boat collision in Suriname

Vagrant found dead with burns about body P15 Guyanese P16 theatre legend Henry Rodney passes on

President Dr Irfaan Ali received a courtesy visit from the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders on Thursday at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. In the background are Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips; Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and Public Service Minister Sonia Parag. Justice Saunders is in Guyana for three days, and is expected to attend the Guyana Bar Association’s 2022 Law Week of Activities

Amid soaring world market prices

Page 9

Wheat cultivation about to be tested locally with 20 varieties

Eccles-to-Mandela Road soon to be commissioned – Minister Croal

Page 18

...all major works completed, finishing touches being done

Farmer stabbed to death during brawl at WBD restaurant See story on page 15

Man arraigned for murder of teen in P15 Albouystown Guyanese P17 urged to get vaccinated, boosted as country braces for BA.2 wave

2

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, April 8 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, April 9 – 23:00h-00:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

National Day of Fasting and Prayers to be observed with interfaith meeting today – AFC welcomes initiative

Friday, April 8 – 07:50h-09:20h and Saturday, April 9 – 09:05h-10:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Cloudy skies are expected during the day and into the night, interrupted by light rain showers in the mid-afternoon. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 08:34h and 21:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.05 metres.

Low Tide: 14:45h reaching a minimum height of 1.01 metres.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

01 04 06

10 17 24

18

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

President Dr Irfaan Ali

T

he Guyana Government will host a grand interfaith meeting today to mark the observance of "National Day of Fasting and Prayers" – an initiative that was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali to celebrate the country’s religious diversity.

This meeting would be held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, greater Georgetown commencing at 15:30h (3:30pm). It would see presentations, prayers, songs and reflections from the three major religious groups, and would also feature an address by President Ali. Members of all religious groups are invited, and specific areas would be allocated for each religious group to pray about.

On Monday, President Ali called on religious bod-

Thursday, April 7, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

01 04 16 24 26 LUCKY 3

9

5

1

9

Afternoon Draw

4

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 02 05 07 08 10 16 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

02 03 07 08 12 13

01 03 10 11 21

4

8 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

7

5 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

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

$100.30/barrel

-0.26

Rough Rice

$284.454/ton

-0.16

London Sugar

$549.40/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1932.50

$1933.50

Low/High Change

$1920.30 +1.30

$1938.60 +0.07%

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

ies to unite under the banner of "One Guyana" for a National Day of Fasting and Prayers, as three significant religious observances are overlapping this month: Christians are observing Lent, Hindus are observing Chaitra Navratri, and Muslims are observing Ramadan. This rare occurrence offers a meaningful opportunity for Guyanese from all religious persuasions to come together to pray for Guyana.

President Ali has also said that he sees the day as an opportunity for religious bodies and persons from all belief systems to join to promote the spirit of togetherness.

“I would like all of us to fast together, pray together, and stay together as ‘One Guyana’”, the President has said.

The President has echoed that “the "One

Guyana" vision springs from our rich multicultural heritage and the need to ensure that our diversity remains a source of strength, and not an instrument of division and disaffection.”

The Head of State’s "One Guyana" initiative also aims to ensure that every citizen is accorded a dignified existence, with due respect for their rights and with equality before the law.

Meanwhile, following President Ali’s announcement on Monday, declaring today as a "National Day of Fasting and Prayers", the Alliance For Change (AFC) faction of the Parliamentary Opposition has endorsed the initiative.

In a statement on Wednesday, the AFC said it supports the call for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting.

“As always, the AFC re-

mains ready, willing, and committed to working with the Government and all other political parties, civil and society organisations, and individuals… The AFC therefore calls on its members, supporters, and all Guyanese to offer and observe prayers and fasting on Friday, April 8, and every day thereafter, for our dear land of Guyana, so that the ills in our body politic and wider society – discrimination in every form, racism, corruption, nepotism, arrogance, pride, greed, revenge, persecution and malice, to name a few, can be removed from our lives.”

The minority partner in the Coalition Opposition further added, “It is time that we realise our true destiny as one nation, of one people, that our founding fathers and mothers imagined.”

4

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 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

Electricity theft

T

he high incidence of electricity theft has always taken a heavy toll on Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), with the company losing about $5 billion annually.

Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, at the conclusion of 2021, had said that, as an avenue to counter the company’s annual loss, in 2022, the company would be refocusing on prosecution of persons who steal electricity.

He had also said that electricity theft accounted for about 60 per cent of the power company’s non-technical loss.

If the problem is to be abated, electricity theft needs more attention than it is getting.

The sooner this is realised, the sooner the company would be able to reduce the impact of electricity theft on paying consumers.

Contrary to widespread misconceptions, it is not only the power company that is affected when this problem occurs. Paying consumers face numerous problems as well, one of which is power imbalance.

GPL have a serious problem with power factor imbalance, and this is not all their fault. It is partly due to the large number of illegal, uncontrolled connections in their system. When generated electricity that should have been going towards paying customers is illegally taken by others, it creates a power imbalance problem.

These many connections cause the unbalanced loading on the company’s phases. Paying customers whose power is out of balance could be registering more power than they actually use.

Although they had no involvement with the problem, they would find themselves facing higher bills. To put it another way, they would be paying larger bills because of illegal users.

Unfortunately, no matter how much the company attempts to rebalance their power supply, it could still be out of balance because of the increasing number of illegal users.

To quote the CEO: “We have had thousands of people who have been caught, who are in the courts, but the matters are languishing because we can’t dispense with three or four thousand cases… But we have to reintroduce prosecution.”

This newspaper had reported that the CEO had said that, at the end of 2021, there were some 15,000 illegal street lights across the country. He noted, too, that the company was also battling the fact that persons and companies, including some large entities, were hiring private personnel and even former GPL employees to tamper with meters.

There are no doubt that the culture of electricity theft has to be stopped if GPL is to come good and offer a reliable supply of electricity.

Over 10 years ago, the legislature approved tougher penalties for electricity theft.

This brings us back to the courts. The pace of these cases has to be expedited; the situation will not see the kind of change needed if this is not done – even with tougher penalties in place. We suggest that authorities discuss the establishment of a special arm to deal strictly with matters relating to the different utilities’ cases.

Unlike criminal and civil cases, disputes with utilities are different, and need to be resolved with great dispatch.

Tougher penalties and fast-paced prosecution may purge electricity theft to a great extent. Nevertheless, we are of the view that the practice would continue, and would stop only when every household and business is able to access affordable electricity.

Unfortunately, this is what GPL cannot provide, because of their limited resources and generating capacity. It is other energy sources such as the Amaila Hydropower and gas-to-shore projects that could alleviate this gap.

USA President Joe Biden held hands with Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as they watched the Senate vote on her confirmation from the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Thursday. Jackson is the 116th Justice – and first Black woman – to serve on the US's highest court (Susan Walsh / AP photo) See story on page 19

Climate crisis: We are whistling into the abyss

…We have what amounts to a nanosecond in human history to save ourselves and everyone who may or may not come after us

By Andrew Mitrovica

I

have to interrupt your regularly scheduled stuff to issue this dire warning: You, me and the rest of the world are whistling into the abyss.

The damning fact is that once I finish writing this column and you finish reading it, you, me and the rest of the world will likely return to our regularly scheduled stuff while we keep whistling towards a dead end – literally.

The other damning fact is that we have been too busy whistling as this on-life-support planet we call home hurtles towards extinction borne of our stupidity, hesitancy, greed, addictions, and complacency.

We have been teetering at the edge of the abyss for a long time. Scientists have told us that we have what amounts, in human history, to a nanosecond to save ourselves and everyone who may or may not come after us.

As always, most of us refuse to listen or act. Worse, too many scientifically-illiterate dolts remain convinced that since they can still make snowballs or ski, the human-made climate catastrophe is a human-made hoax.

So, they prefer to gorge on their convenient comforts rather than confront the discomfort of making the urgent and necessary changes and sacrifices we ought to have made years ago to stop the earth from burning.

These days, we prefer to talk or read about a slap at the Oscars rather than talk about, let alone read, another thick report which joins a bookcase of other thick reports that make a familiar point: if the rich, “developed world” does not cut the carbon pollution it spews into the atmosphere, then we will tip into the abyss and no one – however rich or comfortable they may be – will be able to find the emergency exit door.

On Monday, a legion of smart, careful scientists got together again to shout their much more learned variations of “fire”. This time, it took a few

thousand pages for them to do it.

Of course, the smart, careful scientists who collect the facts to show us how and why the planet is burning and what we must do about it – today, not tomorrow – are sober, responsible people. They are not in the habit of actually yelling “fire” in a crowded planet.

Maybe they should start.

In the meantime, the smart, careful scientists use nice, diplomatic language to tell us the planet is on fire.

They use phrases like the world is “facing a moment of reckoning” or we need the “political courage…to look beyond our current interests”.

It is not working or penetrating enough minds to make a tangible bit of difference.

If I were one of those smart, careful scientists, I would have ditched being nice and polite in 1999.

This is how I would have begun Monday’s press conference unveiling the most recent “now or never” study: Thank you for joining me today, everyone. The planet is on fire. Let me repeat that. The planet is on fire. By the way, did I mention that the planet is on fire?

Then, I would have added: Look, here’s the life-or-death deal. If you, me and the wealthy nations who are most guilty of killing the planet degree by rising degree don’t do anything about global warming today, not tomorrow, well, that’s it.

The planet is going to die and that means, eventually, all life on this big, sometimes wondrous, often ugly, blue and white marble will die, too. Oh, so you know, before that happens, there will be bigger, longer and deadlier floods, wildfires, tornadoes, typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes, and droughts.

Guaranteed.

And in some parts of the globe, sea levels will go up by several metres; in other parts of the globe it will drop.

Scores of once-vibrant coastal cities will disappear beneath the waves as Edgar Allan Poe foreshadowed in his poem, “The City in the Sea”.

I do not know whether UN Secretary General António Guterres reads Poe. I do know that he came as close as any diplomat has come to shouting not only “fire,” but, “Hey, wake the hell up.”

Guterres stabbed an incriminating finger at the “developed world” after the release of the UN’s latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (IPCC) which found that industrial powers are responsible for 57 per cent of all greenhouse gases emitted by humans since 1850.

“Some Government and business leaders are saying one thing – but doing another. Simply put, they are lying,” Guterres said. “High-emitting Governments and corporations are not just turning a blind eye; they are adding fuel to the flames. They are choking our planet, based on their vested interests and historic investments in fossil fuels.”

Isn’t it refreshing when diplomats put things simply?

In any event, the UN’s top diplomat ended his blistering indictment by describing the IPCC findings as a “file of shame… cataloguing empty pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unliveable world”.

The numbers are as clear-cut as they are pressing. If you, me and the “developed world” do not cut carbon emissions by 47 per cent by the end of this decade then you, me and the “developed world” will not be able to cap warming at 1.5 degrees.

If you, me and the “developed world” fail to do the above – it is sayonara planet Earth.

Alas, editors who make decisions about what is news buried the IPCC report. Wars sell. Reports do not. The 24-hour news cycle matters. Something that could or could not happen by the end of the decade, does not.

If so-called “responsible” Journalists adopt this ostrich-like attitude to the looming peril, is it any wonder that myopic politicians do the same? (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

5

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

Enough with the nonsense!!

Dear Editor, The high level of hypocrisy exhibited by members of the Opposition is becoming so evident that the Opposition is losing its relevance for those in our nation that seek a high level of integrity and respect for the rule of law in our governance system.

The precursor to a loss of morality in our society is the loss of morality in leadership. Trying to steal an election and then suffering the consequences of international sanctions should be a humbling experience that corrects the path of those lacking the moral fortitude to make a decision that supports the integrity of our governance system. It is utterly hypocritical for those same people who planned and got caught attempting to steal the last elections to now turn to our citizens and say that they should be allowed to be a part of the same institution that they were trying to destroy.

There are elders who lead by a good example, and then there are those old crooks who have no place in our society. Those old crooks

By Hindus For Selfless Service

C

haitra Navratri is a nine-day festival to Goddess Durga’s nine incarnations and is observed every year after Holi. It is also known as Vasant/Spring Navratri, that starts on the first day of the Hindu LuniSolar 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 commenced on 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 8 – Mahagauri Gaurimata

The eighth day of Navratri also known as Durga Ashtami is one of the most important days of Durga Puja. Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of NavDurga is worshipped on this day.

Mahagauri represents wisdom, purity and austerity.

Devotees believe that praying to Mahagauri helps them overcome all obstacles. It is believed that the planet Rahu is governed by Goddess Mahagauri. Goddess Mahagauri is depicted with four hands; she has the Trishul or trident in one right hand and her second right hand is in Abhaya Mudra. Mahagauri holds the Damaru in one left hand and the other left hand is in Varada Mudra. Goddess Mahagauri is fair and wears white clothes and that is why she is also known as Shwetambardhara.

Mahagauri is the beautiful manifestation of Goddess Durga, a symbol of purity, serenity and tranquillity. Her name is the amalgamation of two words where Maha means great and Gauri means fair. It is taught that the planet Rahu is governed by Goddess Mahagauri.

care nothing for our democratic process, and would steal the shoes off your feet if they get the chance.

If this group of scoundrels was so brazen as to try to steal the elections while the entire world was watching, then there is nothing good to be expected from them when it pertains to the finances of our nation. The way things are shaping up in Parliament, one can only conclude that these actions are a clear indication to the public as to whose brainchild it was, and who authorised the illegal rigging attempts to steal the last elections.

Clearly, these people can no longer be trusted by the international community, and more importantly, they cannot be trusted by our citizens. There is no place for dictatorship, disregard for the rule of law, and the extreme arrogance that is being put on public display by these old hypocritical crooks who are now trying to masquerade around as elders with high levels of morality.

Their actions do not match their words, and no one in good conscience that

seeks decency and peaceful progress in Guyana should pay them any heed.

Those hypocrites are the same ones who always speak of big dogs coming from Linden whenever they are not allowed to bully the Government into doing their bidding. We must look beyond those that have led us astray in the past and that are trying to also mislead us now. It is not just in our best interest, but also in the best interest of the future generations of our country that we allow those who have proven their integrity to take the reins of leadership.

Unfortunately, the current leadership of the Opposition has shown that this continues to be lacking in their decision-making, which brings into question their true intentions. They should not be given another bite of the apple. The risks are too high, and if history has taught us correctly, with them in power, we will end up back in a dictatorial and impoverished country.

Their current display of disregard for democratic principles, as seen in their

embracing of those who could not care less about those very principles, is a testament to their bad intentions. Furthermore, if you can't properly count the votes correctly, then what good can you bring to our nation's finances. No one needs those deliberate errors to also occur in our national budget.

The time has passed for those old crooks. Step aside and let those who truly value our citizens and the strength of character that comes with integrity take our country to the next phase. What the Opposition has done with their choices for Parliament will make the moral standing of their arguments weaker. Instead, they should have repositioned themselves in line with democratic values. No one in good conscience will vote for those who prefer to cheat to win an election, instead of endearing themselves with strong morals and policies that uplift the people of our great nation.

Enough with the nonsense!

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

6

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

By Mark McWatt You think I like all this stupidness gallivanting all night without skin burning myself out like cane –fire To frighten the foolish?

And for what? A few drops of baby blood?

You think I wouldn’t rather take my blood seasoned in fat black-pudding, like everyone else?

And don’t even talk ‘bout the pain of salt And having to bend these old bones down To count a thousand grains of rice!

I

n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to determine which water leaks faster, hot or cold water.

NB: Adult supervision is required.

Two paper cups Straight pin Two small glasses Ice cubes Hot water

Materials:

Instructions: Set the glasses on a table.

Poke a small hole in the centre of the bottom of each paper cup.

Fill one paper cup with cold water and ice cubes. Place the paper cup filled with cold water on top of one of the small glasses.

Fill the other paper cup with hot water. Set the paper cup filled with hot water on top of the other small glass.

Observe which cup leaks faster.

How it works: The hot-water molecules are more active and fall through the hole easier. The cold-water molecules are moving much slower and do not fall through the hole as easy.

Make this a science project: Try adding salt to the water. Try creating a larger but equal sized hole in each cup. (sciencefun.org)

“It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning” – Claude Bernard

If only babies didn’t smell so nice!

And if I could only stop Hearing the soft, soft call Of that pure blood running in new veins, Singing the sweet song of life Tempting an old, dry-up woman who been Holding her final note for years, Afraid of the dying hum…

Then again, if I didn’t fly and come to that fresh pulse in the middle of the night, how would you, mother, name your ancient dread, And who to blame for the murder inside your head…?

Believe me – As long as it have women giving birth A poor ol’ higue like me can never dead.

Summary

The 'Ole Higue' is a supernatural character found in Caribbean folklore. This nocturnal being is also called a jumbie, soucouyant and backoo as is a mixture of a vampire and a witch. In Caribbean folklore the Ole Higue or Old Hag is an old woman.

She sheds her skin at nights; stores it in a mortar and turns into a ball of fire before going about to suck the blood of babies.

In the poem, the Ole Higue appears bitter and unhappy with the circumstance she is in. She defends the involuntary nature of her compulsive behaviour. She seems repulsed by the mothers of young children, yet she believes she plays an important role in society by being a scapegoat for the infanticidal tendencies of some mothers and the inexplicable. She comes across as selfcentered, but also clever and insightful.

The Ole Higue wishes that she didn't have such an affinity for children, however, she knows that the myth of her existence can never die as long as mothers have children and need something- or someone to blame for their deaths.

The mood of the poem is irritable, and somewhat smug and bitter. The tone is argumentative and defensive, but also reflective and sensitive towards the end of the poem.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GFS Senior Officers’ Conference

Training firefighters to use modern technology paramount to oil & gas sector – Min Benn …22% reduction in fires for 2021 recorded …93% of 10-point strategic plan for 2021 accomplished

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn; Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas; Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken; Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot; Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham, and CANU Head James Singh, along with other officers, pose for a photo outside the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is reporting a 22 per cent reduction in fires, and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has attributed this accomplishment to the Fire Service’s “re-energised” leadership.

He made this revelation while addressing the GFS Senior Officers’ Conference which is being held under the theme: “Strengthening our capabilities through training and the use of technology for a safe Guyana” at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

“Despite all the distress and the trauma we have had…some loss of life, we have had a 22 per cent reduction in total fires over the past year in 2021. Not to say we have not had big challenges with respect to fires; many of the fires which we have had were maliciously set,” he said.

Prominent victim

Benn recalled that the “most prominent victim” of these fires was the Guyana Police Force (GPF) which

lost four buildings. He pointed in particular to the massive fire that destroyed the Brickdam Police Station last October and the fires that destroyed two public schools.

He said that the Fire Service has been meeting to programme the activities for the road ahead, adding that the question of the threat of fire, in terms of prevention, and the question of the assertiveness of the response and the alacrity of the response were very important.

Even though a lot of buildings are going up with concrete blocks and other robust materials, he explained the fact remains that Georgetown and the rest of the country live in wooden houses and aging flammable buildings. According to Benn, the GFS is expanding with the recognition that fires, some resulting in fatalities, occur in rural areas and in the Indigenous communities.

To this end, he noted, “The efforts of the Guyana Fire Service, their mission, their engagement, their awareness, the training, the

proper upkeep of the assets is so critical for our country.

And, of course, there is also the rescue mission which we have to develop on.”

Fairly happy

Nonetheless, he expressed that he was “fairly happy” with the performance of the Fire Service.

Benn said he has observed a “re-energising” of the GFS under the leadership of acting Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham.

But although this was the case, he said the Fire Service still relied a lot on the engagement of past Fire Chiefs and other past officers to execute its mandate.

Benn revealed that the GFS has also recorded a massive increase in its Emergency Medical Services, “which is a very good thing in terms of protecting lives and properties”. He also thanked the Fire Service’s Emergency Medical Services officers for the 24 babies they have delivered.

Paramount to Government Highlighting

that

the

capital city has always been affected by massive fires, Benn recalled that the 1945 fire destroyed the entire commercial district. Then in the 1960s, “when we had troubles among ourselves”, commercial districts and individual homes were destroyed by fires. He noted that awareness and the response to issues relating to fire were paramount to the Government.

Outlining the Government’s efforts thus far, he said, “There has been the bringing in of new assets, looking at new approaches in respect of technology to fight fire and to avoid the loss of life and risks due to fire and properties. “We have been spending money; we have been bringing in new assets and we want to see them properly employed. We want to see our firefighters properly equipped…not simply for the persons who are affected by the fires but for the protection of the firefighters…,” Benn told the gathering.

Modern technology

“In re-energising, we have to have better contact with not only the homeowners in terms of fire prevention, but also in terms of business people, persons who are involved in commerce. And, of course, the question is upon us, the response we have to

make in respect of the oil and gas sector and the technology which are appropriate to fight fires related to oil and gas operations.”

In this regard, he noted that training for firefighters and other personnel has to be “stepped up” to advance to the level where the GFS can use the appropriate technology to fight fires related to the new developments in oil and gas. With the firefighting units being the most expensive assets for all of the Joint Services, Benn said they required “solid and engaged asset management”.

He further noted that Guyana was lagging in the area of fire inspection of buildings, especially commercial ones, and promised that there would be an aggressive campaign in this regard. Minister Benn announced that the Government would distribute 3000 fireballs to citizens for their homes and businesses. “Fireballs and smoke detectors, we must give them out free,” the Minister explained.

Meanwhile, acting Chief Fire Officer Wickham highlighted that the GFS has completed 93 per cent of the 10-point strategic plan outlined for last year.

He said that the Fire Service was committed to its

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

mandate and would work assiduously to keep its flag flying high.

Wickham was proud to report the establishment of a Health and Safety Committee within the Service as well as the expansion of the Emergency Medical Services, which has aided over 3000 citizens, delivering more than 20 babies among providing other services.

Since the Government assumed office, it has made great efforts to modernise the Fire Service.

Recently, more than 100 fire hydrants were serviced and replaced in Georgetown.

Several fire hydrants will be installed in other regions shortly.

Already, over 20 per cent of works have been completed on the new $614 million Fire Service Headquarters at Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Pomeroon man gets 14 years’ jail for savagely chopping pregnant woman …victim lost an arm, an eye, and finger

T

hir t y - o ne - y ear -old Richard Mohammed of Lower Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam) has been jailed for 14 years for brutally chopping a pregnant woman, resulting in her losing an eye, an arm, and a finger.

Initially indicted for the offence of attempted murder, Mohammed opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of felonious wounding. He admitted that on March 25, 2021, in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a 23-year-old woman.

The prosecution’s case is that, on the day in question, Mohammed and the woman were engaged in a heated argument, during which he armed himself with a cutlass and dealt the woman, who was in her third trimester of pregnancy, several chops to her head and other parts of her body. The woman managed to escape by running into the backdam, where she was rescued by persons who subsequently rushed her to the hospital.

Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim lost

Jailed: Richard Mohammed

her right arm, a finger on her left hand, and her right eye.

After attacking the woman, Mohammed doused her house with gasoline and set it on fire, before surrendering at the Police station.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, the woman shared that the incident has left her mentally and physically scarred, and unable to provide for herself and her young children. In her victim impact statement, she wrote, “Me and my children don’t have anywhere to live, and we have

to keep asking people to keep us. This is really hard on me, my children have to see their mom permanently disfigured. My life would never be the same again, and I have to live with it…”

In a plea in mitigation, Mohammed’s attorney, George Thomas, implored the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that his client is still haunted by the dreadful incident.

Thomas asked the court to impose the minimum sentence, since his client, who is a first-time offender, does not have a history of

behaving violently. Thomas said that Mohammed, who is willing to compensate the woman, is a good candidate for rehabilitation.

In his address to the court, Mohammed expressed that he was “deeply sorry”. He said, “I’m deeply sorry for everything that happened. Whatever is asked of me I will do. I couldn’t control myself in all this. I am deeply sorry for everything, and please forgive me for everything that happened.”

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Barlow highlighted that the life-changing injuries have now left the young woman dependent on others for the rest of her life.

According to the Judge, the incident has affected the woman psychologically, and she noted that the young woman would forever look at her damaged hand, missing finger, and missing eye and not be able to do anything about it.

The Judge said that not only did the injuries pose a threat to the woman’s life, but also to the life of her unborn child. In this regard, she told Mohammed that his actions displayed his wanton disregard for life and limb, and a lack of concern for those who lived in the house he set on fire.

Justice Barlow noted that Mohammed's guilty plea was a “tactical plea”, given the overwhelming evidence against him. As such, she did not give him the full one-third deduction, which by law is the maximum level of reduction in sentence for a guilty plea. Moreover, she told him that his expression of remorse “rings hollow”, since he initially pleaded not guilty, thereby choosing to go through a trial.

In arriving at an appropriate sentence for him, the Judge commenced at a base of 19 years, from which she deducted five years for his early guilty plea. In the end, the convict was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, less the time he had spent in pretrial detention, which amounts to 42 days.

The Judge also ordered that, during his time in custody, he undergoes counselling tailored for persons convicted of violent crimes.

Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken appeared for the prosecution, while Attorney-at-Law George Thomas appeared on behalf of Mohammed.

Form vs substance…

T

…by the PNC hey’d threatened to do it, but your Eyewitness didn’t think the PNC were that tone deaf to the substance versus the form of government. But he shoulda known better. How couldn’t they know about “substance” when, for twenty-eight years, their founder-leader had rigged elections and remained in power?? And called it “democracy”!! What else was that but desecrating even the FORM of democracy - going through the motions of voting to choose the Government - but not counting peoples’ votes!!?? Total cynicism!

What’s your Eyewitness going on about? Well, that suit PNC’s Christopher Jones is bringing against the PPP Government to nullify its passage of the National Resource Fund (NRF) Act. You remember that, don’t you? The PNC had passed their version early in 2019, after the 2018 No Confidence Motion had effectively terminated their term of office. They broke all conventions of democracy on noconfidence motions when they laid such an important bill when they were supposed to be in suspended animation!!

Especially when the Opposition was boycotting in protest.

Yet, they insisted their NRF was legit.

Now, when the PPP tried to pass its version with them in the House, what did they do?? Attacked the Speaker, seized the Mace that represents the sovereignty of Parliament, and absconded with it!! And most egregiously, when a Parliament employee tried to protect the Mace, a PNC MP flung him to the ground, stood over him and called him a “House Slave”. The poor fella happened to be of African descent. But, from what we know of the PNC, the fella’s loyalty should be to them, and not to the National Assembly or the Government for which he works!!

While all of that was going on, the Speaker of the House kept a cool head and, cognisant of the Rules of Parliament, secured a substitute Mace and had the legislation passed.

The PNC MPs walked out. Now, technically, the Mace must be present for the business of Parliament to proceed.

And that’s why there’ve been sporadic attempts in other Parliaments – including Britain – to seize the Mace and disrupt proceedings. But your Eyewitness hasn’t been able to find a case where the Mace’s absence vitiated the passage of legislation. That would have formed triumph over substance!! Furthermore, there’s a citation from Sri Lanka that if the Mace was officially brought into the Chamber and later officially removed, all proceedings are legit. Isn’t that what happened here? Then, as the AG pointed out, the PNC can’t be allowed to profit from its own criminal action, can it? If this is permitted, we can kiss our democracy goodbye!!

The PNC can only approach the court with “clean hands”. Gwan da side!! …and solar power There’re some Guyanese beating up on the Government for trying to use the natural gas from our oil fields as a transition measure out of fossil fuel altogether, in a couple of decades. They insist that we plunge straight into solar power and other renewables. Now, it’s not that the Government is oblivious to solar power; in fact, it’s part of their energy mix going forward, and there’ve been any number of sites established, including the one at Mabaruma.

But it’s clear that some of these anti-gas activists aren’t keeping up with what’s happening on the solar front. There, to answer a recent editorial, “Why not solar energy”, the short answer is - after billions of dollars trying to move from small units to mega ones - “It’s the batteries, stupid!!” While there were great expectations that lithium batteries would handle the need of solar systems to store power for when there’s no or low sunlight, this is now seen as prohibitively expensive!

Mining lithium also destroys the environment! …on Police shakeup Your Eyewitness is pleased the new COP hit the ground running, to ensure the GPF fulfil its mission to “Serve and Protect” us.

But he gotta be careful of many merely saying, “Yes sir!

Yes sir!”

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

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amid soaring world market prices

Wheat cultivation about to be tested locally with 20 varieties

T

he Guyana Government will very soon be testing 20 varieties of wheat as the country attempts to cultivate this product amid soaring world market prices.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha explained that the first trial will begin before the end of May. He noted that the exercise is an effort to further diversify the

country’s food sector.

Cultivation of the initial trial phase is expected to begin at the Burma Rice Research Station in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and the project will be led by scientist Dr Mahendra Persaud.

Mustapha related that the rice research station will be used as the testing location, since it has adequate

land space. The climatic conditions have also to be taken into account.

“We are in contact with our counterpart in Mexico.

We are looking at a different variety of wheat. I am hoping, by the end of this month or by next month latest, we can have the first trial with about 15 to 20 varieties, to see the best one that can be grown in Guyana,” Minister Mustapha has said.

The Ministry is also examining the possibility of establishing nurseries at strategic locations across the country to test for better-growing results. The plan is to have technical officers assess which of the varieties are better grown here.

Mustapha further noted that the approach to introduce the new food commodity to Guyana’s soil shows Government’s determination to ensure the nation becomes

have to ensure we produce our own food and be self-sufficient…we can have all the money in the world, and we have seen during the pandemic how many countries are suffering to get food. We in Guyana are very fortunate that we produce most of the food,” he reasoned.

It was only recently that President Dr Irfaan Ali announced Government’s plan to explore the possibility of sourcing a variety of wheat for local produc-

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

self-sufficient in food production.

“We are very determined that, as long as it is successful, we will be going to produce our own wheat, because we can’t depend too much on imports. As a country, we

tion. The Head of State said the Government is unwavering in its quest to build a Guyana that is resilient, and meets not only its national responsibility, but plays an important role in its global responsibility.

The surges in wheat and other commodity prices are a result of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Either of those States accounts for a substantial percentage of the world’s traded wheat.

10

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 |

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 8,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil supports special education teachers’ advancement

E

xxonMobil Guyana has recently made a financial contribution to the United Women for Special Children (UWSC), to fund the pursuit of master’s degrees for two special education teachers.

The money was raised through an employee-based safety feedback programme, with the company matching the submissions with funds to be donated to a local cause. The UWSC is this year’s recipient.

“Our mandate basically suggests we try to ensure every child has a safe learning environment, something that would help them become productive members of our society. The fund will be used directly towards the master’s programmes

CANU to collaborate with sectoral agencies to tackle drugs in schools ...work also being done in other areas to rid streets of drugs – CANU Head

T

ExxonMobil Guyana Safety Manager Brad Edlington handing over the cheque to UWSC President Jennifer Prashad. Other members of the organisation are in attendance

for two young teachers.

We’re hoping at the end of this project with them they

would be able to train other teachers and improve the care at the schools they

are involved with,” USWC President Jennifer Prashad related.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s Safety Manager Brad Edlington has noted that safety is a core value of the company. “That care is also something we want to extend to our community around us, and it’s our privilege to partner with the United Women for Special Children to extend care to those who need it most in our community,” he said.

Founded in 1987, the UWSC works to ensure access to a safe and productive learning environment for children.

he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) will be working closely with other sectoral agencies and the Education Ministry to tackle the issue of illegal drugs making their way into schools.

This is according to Head of that drug enforcement body, James Singh, on Thursday during an interview with reporters.

Singh noted that his unit has welcomed the collaboration with the joint services to ensure that the schools are rid of drugs, especially ecstasy pills. In the past, those pills have been found in secondary schools.

In fact, back in 2019, Police had uncovered an organised ring, the players of which were engaged in trafficking of the date-rape drug ecstasy by utilising school-age girls in the trade.

This had come to light after a Stewartville Secondary School girl had gone missing.

Singh has said several new types of drugs are surfacing in society, and CANU would make every effort to get rid of them before the situation escalates.

Head of CANU, James Singh

“So we’re working with the Ministry of Education and other agencies to sensitise and to develop a programme that allows us to go into various schools around the region, (in order to) sensitise persons about the effects of narcotics,” he divulged.

Further, he said, the community, and more so the teachers, would play a crucial role in assisting CANU to implement the initiative.

TURN TO PAGE 16

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Essequibo fisherman missing after boat collision in Suriname

Man arraigned for murder of teen in Albouystown

Missing: Terrance Gomes

F

ifty-two-year-old fisherman Terrence Gomes, a father of five and resident of Bush Lot in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), has gone missing and is now feared dead following a boat collision on Wednesday afternoon in Surinamese waters.

Reports are that Gomes had left his home last Saturday to go fishing with a crew of five Guyanese, and they were expected back

The wife and children of the missing man

home this week. However, an accident occurred, and Gomes has gone missing.

“After the crash, they fell out of the boat… However, the boat that collided with Gomes’s boat managed to rescue the five men. After realising that Gomes was the only crew member that is missing, they called and told us about

the incident, and that they searched but they cannot find him anywhere,” a relative told this publication.

Gomes, who has been engaged in the fishing industry for over 20 years, is the father of children aged 9, 11, and 12.

Gaitree Singh, his wife of 13 years, is hoping her husband is alive. “My husband is the

breadwinner for my home. I have three kids for him, and I need my husband to come home,” the grieving woman cried. “I am calling on you guys and the Government to help me right now. I need your prayers too, and I need you to help me look for my husband to come home. I need him so much.”

and walked out of the shop.

As a result, an argument broke out between Cummings and another man, and it quickly escalated to an altercation.

Cummings, who was armed with a cutlass, reportedly hit the other man, resulting in one of the suspects pushing him against a wall and taking away the cutlass.

During the commotion, the other suspect whipped out a knife and used same to chop Cummings to his head and stab him to the chest. Both suspects then made good their escape on foot.

The injured Cummings was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

His body is presently at Ezekiel’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post mortem.

The matter was report-

ed, and based on information received, a male of Goed Intent WBD was arrested, and is assisting with investigations.

Just a few days ago, 16-year-old Isaiah Smith, also known as “Six”, of Middle Road La Penitence, Georgetown was stabbed to death at Hogg Street and Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown.

It was reported that on the day in question, at about 14:55h, Smith and others were sitting on a bench in close proximity to the suspect’s dwelling place. The 45-year-old suspect reportedly asked the teenagers to remove, but Smith refused to do so. This resulted in an altercation between the suspect and the teenager, during which the suspect whipped out a knife and stabbed the victim in the left upper abdomen.

The injured Smith reportedly ran a short dis-

tance on Independence Boulevard before he collapsed. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect was later arrested, and the alleged murder weapon was recovered.

and upon arriving at the location, the man’s motionless body was found in a sitting position on a mattress.

An examination of the body by crime scene ranks revealed burn marks on the left side buttocks, left hand, and left leg. It was also observed that a burnt-out makeshift coil was seen on the burnt mattress.

Reports are that the man usually smoked, and would be seen lighting various items at the abandoned

stand, where he normally slept.

The man was last seen alive on Thursday at about 20:00h by his nephew, who had taken food for him and had left shortly after. The man had reportedly complained about not feeling well on the left side of his body.

The body has been taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home to await a post-mortem. Investigations are ongoing.

Farmer stabbed to death during brawl at WBD restaurant

A

farmer was on Wednesday stabbed to death during a brawl at a restaurant in Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The dead man has been identified as 32-year-old Devon Cummings, also called ‘Parmer’, of Sisters Village, WBD. Based on reports received, on the day in question, at about 16:50h, Cummings and one of his friends were returning from the backdam when they saw some other friends consuming alcohol at a restaurant at Back Street, Goed Intent, WBD. Cummings and his friend were invited to take a shot of rum with the others, and the invitation was accepted. As they were sitting together, they reportedly started to tantalize each other, during which Cummings informed them that he was heading home,

Vagrant found dead with burns about body

D

etectives in Division #3, West Demerara, have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a vagrant, whose body was found on Thursday at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Dead is 68-year-old Chatterpaul Budhiprasad, also called ‘Quarry’. Based on reports received, the vagrant’s body was seen on a stand in the area. The Police were subsequently alerted,

Dead: Isaiah Smith

Remanded: Murder accused Lenny Fraser

orty-five-year-old Lenny Fraser of Hogg Street, Albouystown and Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, Georgetown has been remanded to prison on a murder charge.

Arraigned in Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s Court on Thursday on an allegation of stabbing a boy to death, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge for the capital offence which was read to him. His case will continue on April 29.

Police have reported that 16-year-old Isaiah Smith of Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown was stabbed to death by Fraser on Monday in an incident that occurred at Hogg Street, Albouystown and Independence Boulevard, La Penitence, Georgetown.

Two eyewitnesses — aged

15 and 16 — told detectives that they and Smith were sitting on a bench east of Fraser’s home when he ordered them to remove. Smith, however, refused to move, causing Fraser to slap him.

The two later ended up in a fight, during which Fraser took a knife from the waist of his pants and stabbed Smith in his abdomen.

The injured teen ran a short distance on Independence Boulevard before he collapsed. He was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Crime Scene ranks later visited the area, where they arrested Fraser and recovered the alleged murder weapon.

Smith, who had attended the East Ruimveldt Secondary School, had worked with small contractors in his community.

F

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese theatre legend Henry Rodney passes on G

uyana mourns the passing of beloved comedian and actor Henry Rodney, who is known for his quick wit and ability to have his audience rolling with laughter in their seats.

The Guyanese theatre legend passed away at age 63 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease at The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in New York City.

Guyana Times understands that Rodney was in critical condition at the hospital after he suffered a heart attack about three days ago.

The actor, known for his role as “Franklin” in the popular sitcom “Agree to Disagree”, had come out in 2016 and announced to

the public that he was diagnosed with an illness his doctors couldn’t identify at the time.

“Over a year ago, I started to experience weakness in my legs and I decided to go check it out. So, I went and saw Dr. Roach, and Dr. Roach questioned me thoroughly. He asked me to do some tests, and when I returned… he said he suspected Parkinson’s disease.

He referred me to the internal medicine clinic to meet with the specialist. I did meet that consultant named Dr. Khan, he’s a Cuban doctor, and based on Dr. Roach’s report, he gave me two months’ treatment. It wasn’t until I got back after the treatment that I fortunately or unfortunately saw another doctor. I saw Dr.

Khan that morning and he told me it wasn’t Parkinson.

He too questioned me and put me on an exercise routine. He was adamant he wanted a second opinion, so I went across to Dr. Doobay,” Rodney had explained in an interview done in 2016.

He related in the interview that many tests were done to determine the nature of his illness, but many of the tests yielded substandard results.

The comedic genius had noted the immense pain he was going through in the discovery phase of his unidentified illness. He shared, “Lately, I have been experiencing the weakness again.”

At the time, he said the illness was taking a physical toll on him, which led

offer their support to him.

“My colleagues observed that my movements slowed considerably… and I wasn’t

worried, ‘cause I am a believer and I know that there is a God… I know he is in charge of everything. I was a bit concerned though. I was concerned with the slowing of my movements as I was thinking of my acting career, and they started to look out for me. And then suddenly I got this call from Desiree Edghill who spearheads everything, and they’ve been doing a wonderful job. They were in a meeting with me and some others in the entertainment fraternity, and they took it from there. Everything set and organized was done by them… a group of concerned thespians,” he said.

Rodney was a diverse artist in his own right, impacting theatre, spoken-word poetry, comedy, radio, and television in his 30-plus years of performing both locally and abroad – in the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Rodney was born on February 23, 1959 in the village of Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara.

The actor leaves to mourn his wife Joan and their daughters Tamara, Tuana, and Tchaiko.

Upper Demerara River, and at Annai in North Rupununi.

The objective of these outreaches is to educate and inform members of the public on the role and functions of the DPP’s Office in the criminal justice system, and to assist members of the public who may have criminal matters pending in the justice system, or who need redress on mat-

ters.

Importantly, lawyers from the Chambers would speak to communities on the various types of criminal offences, in particular sexual offences, which have seen a spike in recent years across the country.

The DPP’s Office is urging residents of Moraikobai and contiguous communities to make every effort to attend the outreach.

Govt aiming to create opportunities for intergenerational wealth – Min Todd Guyanese theatre legend Henry Rodney

his fellow actors and comedians to notice the physically draining effect of the illness; they were quick to

DPP’s Chambers to visit Moraikobai on Sunday

T Minister Hugh Todd interacting with residents of Bath during the outreach

T

he massive economic interventions being made by the PPP/C Government are being strategically rolled out to ensure Guyanese enjoy an improved quality of life while generating wealth for future generations.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd has said the Government wants future generations to also benefit from the economic transformation the country is experiencing. To this end, the administration is creating policy, economic and physical spaces for citizens and their descendants.

“The wealth is generated by you, the people… that wealth is what we want to be intergenerational, so that you can hand over to your kids, your kids’ kids, and we can have that intergenerational equity that is built up, that will last,” the Minister said as he spoke with residents of several communities in Region Five on Wednesday.

Intergenerational wealth is the distribution or trans-

fer of assets from an older generation to the younger generation. The assets include businesses, properties, commodities, and other financial securities which can play an impacting role economically and socially.

Government’s plan to distribute at least 50,000 house lots to Guyanese during its first term in office is seen as a major springboard for the creation of generational wealth. Over 10,000 house lots have already been distributed countrywide.

The Government has also opened avenues for Guyanese to access funding for small businesses through the Small Business Bureau’s (SBB’s) Small Business Development Fund - another opportunity for economic prosperity for citizens.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been disbursed over the last two years.

Recognising that home ownership is an important achievement in every family, the Government has increased the mortgage ceiling for housing loans from

$12 million to $15 million, to ensure home ownership is more accessible to Guyanese.

More specifically to Region Five, President Dr Irfaan Ali recently introduced the black belly sheep project there, which will see some 1,000 breeding sheep being distributed to farmers. Another 1,000 would later be imported. For this project, the Government is targeting at least 20 percent women and 35 percent youths.

As Government consistently implements initiatives to govern the nation, Minister Todd noted, key focus is being placed on every citizen. “So while we focus on the economic side, ensuring that we can create wealth that is intergenerational, we are also looking at development across-theboard, because now that we have a lot of financial windfalls that we will get from oil and soon to be gas, we still have to ensure that we can cater for each and every one,” Minister Todd said.

he Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will visit Moraikobai, a community in the Mahaicony Creek, as it continues its public outreach.

This activity is the third for the year since the re-opening of the country and relaxing of all COVID-19 measures. The two previous outreaches were held at Muritaro,

CANU to collaborate...

“So, it’s not only about working with the students, but also working with the teachers. They must also be able to see the behavioural patterns of persons; that gives us a better idea if persons are on drugs or something else, so we can work with them also,” Singh explained.

The CANU Head added that CANU and the sectoral agencies have been doing some work in several communities, and, as such, he implored citizens to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of drug traffickers in their respective communities.

“We’re doing a lot of work in various communities, and the aim here is to target persons who are engaged in selling narcotics, regardless of where, whether it is close by a school or even in that

community itself; and that’s why again I will ask…if you know persons are engaged in selling narcotics within your community anywhere, let us know confidentially, and we will take the necessary action,” Singh pleaded.

CANU has only recently destroyed over US$2.5 million in drugs seized from 2021, following the closure of the court cases.

It has been reported that the Unit had intercepted 2.1 tonnes of cannabis and 41 kilogrammes of cocaine.

A breakdown of the ganja seized in the various regions of Guyana showed that interceptions occurred as follows: a whopping 1027 kilogrammes in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 481 kilogrammes in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 457 kilogrammes in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam);

FROM PAGE 14

6.4 kilogrammes in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and 4.4 kilogrammes in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

In respect to cocaine interceptions countrywide, 23.5 kilogrammes were seized in Region Four; 17.4 kilogrammes in Region Two, and a small amount of 0.16 kilogramme in Region Six. In addition, 3.1 kilogrammes of ecstasy were confiscated in Region Four, and a small amount of Crystal Methamphetamine and Hashish were seized.

In 2020, CANU had seized 32 kilogrammes of cocaine and 135 kilogrammes of cannabis. Last September, CANU and the Guyana Police Force had destroyed over $100 million in illicit drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, that had been seized over the past two years.

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DDL receives World Trade Center Association licence

...will facilitate int’l trade, develop small and medium enterprises – Min Walrond

D

emerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Tuesday received its licence to open a World Trade Center in Guyana from the New Yorkheadquartered World Trade Center Association (WTCA), following several months of negotiations between DDL and WTCA. This is the first World Trade Center (WTC) to be set up in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and this new venture by DDL would provide a range of opportunities for local businesses and organisations to enhance their networking capabilities globally.

The World Trade Center Guyana office will be located in the DDL’s High Street, Kingston building.

During a historic virtual event, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond said, “In bringing to Guyana the in-

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

ternational brand that is the World Trade Center, DDL is yet again breaking new ground and forging new paths that blaze a trail for others here to follow. I have noted especially the role that the World Trade

Center Association aims to play in facilitating international trade and in the development of small and medium enterprises.”

She added, “The World Trade Center is coming to one of the most promising economies in the world in partnership with a Guyanese company that is second to none, comparable with the best that may be encountered anywhere on the globe.”

Former SecretaryGeneral of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Vinicio Cerezo, in extending congratulations to DDL, stated that Guyana, with its English roots, has always represented a special link with our neighbours in the north. “Also, by hosting the headquarters of Caricom, you are connecting Latin America with the Caribbean,” he said.

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

The meeting recently with SICA and Caricom was very important, showing that every day we have to work together and join forces on many multilateral and corporation issues,” he added.

Further, he stated that establishing a World Trade Center in Georgetown would create a platform to enhance relationships through the

Private Sector, especially empowering the small and medium-size businesses that would have a positive impact both in Guyana and the region.

Meanwhile, DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo, in his acceptance of the WTC licence, related that the establishment of the World Trade Center in Guyana would provide a service to all of Guyana. It would link the efforts of businesses in the country with potential international partners, expanding trade and business relations across the world.

“Guyana is a small country with a population of less than a million at the present time. Therefore, any business operation that requires economies of scale to be competitive cannot rely on the domestic market only. It must be able to find markets in other countries around the world,” Samaroo explained.

Samaroo believes that, in the rapidly expanding eco-

nomic space in Guyana in the future, the World Trade Center can serve the nation and its businesses well in helping to realise its full potential, while providing World Trade Centers around the world with access to potential partners in Guyana.

There are over 320 World Trade Centers in more than 100 countries on every continent globally. The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally.

The association serves as an ‘international ecosystem’ of global connections, iconic properties, and integrated trade services under the umbrella of a prestigious brand.

The virtual ceremony was also attended by Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine and WTCA Chairman John Drew.

Guyanese urged to get vaccinated, boosted as country braces for BA.2 wave Guyana will expand School

C

ases of the novel coronavirus have been significantly decreased since the spike that occurred earlier this year due to the Omicron variant.

With fewer new infections and less hospitalisations being recorded, the Guyana Government has removed most of the restrictions that were put in place to protect the population against the spread of the virus. These include the removal of the mandatory mask-wearing policy and vaccination requirements.

This is the path taken by many countries around the world.

However, owing to the BA.2 variant, a sublineage of the Omicron variant, COVID-19 cases are surging again in many jurisdictions, the United States and Europe included.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has already predicted that it is only a matter of time before Guyana is hit by this new wave of infections, and as such, he is encouraging citizens to be prepared by ensuring their immunity levels are high.

“Around the world, they had similar things: they had a wave of BA.1, and now, in some parts of the world, they’ve gone into a wave of BA.2… So, I think eventually we are going to see BA.2 coming to Guyana, because we’re so interconnected,” Dr Anthony explained. “BA.2 might be slightly more transmissible, [but] the clinical outcome does not differ from BA.1; so, we can expect a milder version in most cases, where the clinical presentation would be more of an upper respiratory tracktype of infection,” he explained.

“Now, if people are vaccinated and boosted, then they would have a milder

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

form of the disease, especially those persons who are older and who would have various comorbidities… I think for them it’s very important that you get boosted,” he added.

To date, 438,714 persons, or 85.5% of the adult population, have received a first dose of a COVID vaccine, while 337,660 persons, or 65.8% of that population, are inoculated with two doses.

For the 12-to-17 age category, 34,358 persons, or 47.1% of that demographic, are fully vaccinated, while 25,094 persons, or 34.4% of that demographic, have received two jabs. Booster uptake stands at 59,585 doses.

“If these numbers remain as low as (they are), and we have a BA.2 wave, then I think a lot of older people and people with comorbidities can actually get sick,” Dr Anthony has emphasised, even as he lamented that a lot of people are “complacent”.

Based on available data on transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, therapeutics, and impacts of vaccines, a WHO team reinforced in February 2022 that the BA.2 sublineage should

continue to be considered a variant of concern, and that it should remain classified as Omicron. The group emphasised that BA.2 should continue to be monitored as a distinct sublineage of Omicron by public health authorities.

In fact, over the past two weeks in the US, BA.2 has doubled in prevalence, and now represents more than 34% of COVID-19 infections that have undergone genetic sequencing, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.

Although cases of the BA.2 are rising in the US, leading public health officials in that country are not expecting another dramatic surge in cases, largely due to the population’s level of immunity, brought on by vaccination and the fierce outbreak of the Omicron wave during the winter.

“The bottom line is we’ll likely see an uptick in cases, as we’ve seen in the European countries, particularly the UK,” White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci had said.

BA.2 now represents about 44% of all positive cases in London as at March 10, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Guyana’s Health Minister had previously assured that the Government has not dismantled any of its systems, and therefore if/ when the new surge hits, the country would be prepared.

“We haven’t dismantled our systems…hospital beds, ICU beds, we have them across the region. So, if people need hospitalisation, the systems are there to take care of them, and we still have our testing capacity… So, the systems are all in place, we haven’t dismantled them,” he has informed.

Feeding Programme – Coordinator tells int’l forum

Education Ministry’s School Feeding Coordinator Mahendra Phagwah represented Guyana at the IX School Feeding Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean

O

ver the last three days, Guyana, represented by the Ministry of Education’s School Feeding Coordinator

dents remains a priority in the execution of the programme.

Phagwah also interacted with WFP Regional Director

and the Colombian Ministry of Education and Special Administrative Unit for School Feeding.

The event is aimed at

Regis Chapman on the School Feeding Programme in Guyana, and agreed to a collaboration on exchanging information to better the school feeding programme in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The forum, which brings together high-level representatives from over 18 countries in the region, is a collaborative effort between the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Food Programme

identifying opportunities and challenges regarding school feeding programmes, and produce conclusions and recommendations that would be used for future collaborations among countries.

During the three days of this event, participants visited schools in Colombia, where they got a first-hand experience of Colombia’s school feeding programme.

This included the preparation of meals and interacting with students.

The participants at the event

Mahendra Phagwah, participated in the IX School Feeding Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted in Barranquilla, Colombia.

During a discussion, he said the Government of Guyana is keen on ensuring that vulnerable children receive a meal every day, and further, he highlighted plans to expand the School Feeding Programme to better serve students in need.

He noted that the proper health and nutrition of stu-

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

News

Eccles-to-Mandela Road soon to be commissioned – Minister Croal …all major works completed, finishing touches being done

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

A

fter some delays, the commissioning of the much-anticipated $2.3 billion Ecclesto-Mandela Avenue fourlane highway will be held soon, according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal.

He told Guyana Times on Thursday that there was not much more to do for the alternative highway to be ready for commissioning.

“In terms of major works, they have been completed. Any ongoing works will be finishing touches,” Croal stated.

These, the Minister explained, include the placement of the pavement blocks. Already, the lighting fixtures along the road have been installed.

While Croal could not give a definitive timeline for the opening of the new road along the East Bank of Demerara, he reassured the public that “it will be open soon”.

Only last month, Minister Croal had told this publication that there was a delay with the completion of a concrete bridge along the road. At the time, he had said the entire project was about 95 per cent completed.

Works on constructing the $2.3 billion fourlane highway from Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) to Mandela Avenue, Georgetown started in April 2021. Contracts were signed with six contractors, each given a lot, and they were supposed to have been completed by December 2021.

However, inclement weather resulted in the project, which will be important in alleviating traffic build-up on the East Bank, being delayed.

As it relates to the second phase of the project that

will see the four-lane road continuing beyond Eccles all the way to Great Diamond, EBD, works are ongoing.

Contracts to the tune of $13.3 billion were awarded to 12 contractors last December and according to Minister Croal, all contractors have already commenced works. He disclosed that land clearance has been completed and the contractors were currently conducting sand-filling along that stretch.

Previously, it was reported that the contractors had encountered a challenge at the lot covering the boundary between the MochaHerstelling portion of the road. At that area, there were about 35 buildings.

However, the Ministry has already engaged the property owners for them to be relocated. Last month, the Housing Minister indicated that while most of them had already started to move, there were a few more to be sorted out.

This four-lane road project is a result of efforts by President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government to ease traffic congestion on the East Bank, which not only leads to the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan

The new four-lane highway connecting Mandela Avenue to Eccles

International Airport (CJIA) – but also fields traffic coming from West Demerara.

Already, the Housing Ministry has constructed an alternative road from Diamond Housing Scheme to Mocha on the East Bank to divert traffic from the public road. That project was completed to the tune of $5 billion and opened last December in time for the Christmas holidays.

These projects run alongside the India-funded

bypass road project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), creating a new highway in the backlands.

The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LoC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond. Under the previous Government, however, the project was at a standstill for several years.

After taking of-

fice in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LoC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the CJIA. However, the Indian LoC will only cover the first section of the road, that is, from Ogle to Eccles.

29,144 males and 34,161 females were found to be positive.

Of the 11 new cases detected on Thursday, three were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), seven were from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and the remaining one case from Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).

There were no new cases in the other seven regions across the country within the reporting 24hour period.

This declining trend in COVID-19 cases has resulted in the Guyana Government last month removing most restrictions as the country moves to recover from the pandemic and return to normalcy.

But while mandates such as masking in public and social distancing are no longer in place, health authorities are still encouraging persons to get vaccinated, and for those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.

The latest figures show that so far, more than 438,714 or 85.5 per cent of

adults have taken a first dose and of that number, some 337,660 or 65.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, approximately 34,358 or 47.1 per cent of them have received their first dose, while some 25,094 or 34.4 per cent are fully immunised.

In addition, in excess of 59,585 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

According to recent figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO), some 493,392,853 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,165,833 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 151,130,255 while the death toll has gone up to 2,705,278.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, WHO also reported that a total of 11,250,782,214 doses have been administered worldwide.

11 more test positive for COVID-19, 5 in ICU

A

ctive COVID-19 cases in Guyana have increased to 99 after another 11 persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus within a 24-hour period.

This now takes the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 63,305.

Of the 99 active cases, five are currently patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 94 persons in isolation – nine in institutional isolation and 85 in home isolation.

An additional 18 persons are also in institutional quarantine.

There has been no fatality from the virus so far this month. Consequently, the COVID-19 death toll in Guyana remains at 1266.

Some 61,980 persons have recovered after contracting the life-threatening disease – four more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Meanwhile, since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total of 575,267 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this number, 63,305 returned positive results –

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD APRIL 7, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

11 9

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

85

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

5

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

18

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,161

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,144

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,305

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,980

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2491

REGION 3

8051

REGION 4

31,301

REGION 5

2379

REGION 6

5770

REGION 7

2423

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4016

REGION 10

3469

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

438,399 337,197 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.

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles lower on doubts about Russia oil sanctions

O

il settled lower on Thursday, adding to weekly losses on uncertainty that the eurozone will be able to effectively sanction Russian energy exports and after consuming nations announced a huge release of oil from emergency reserves.

Prices were also pressured by fears that lockdowns in China due to a new wave of COVID-19 would slow the recover in oil demand.

Brent crude futures fell 49 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to settle at US$100.58 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 20 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to settle at US$96.03 a barrel. The previous session, both benchmarks plunged more than five per cent to their lowest closing levels since March 16.

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, told a NATO meeting that new EU measures, including a ban on Russian coal, could be passed on Thursday or Friday and the bloc would discuss an oil embargo next.

However, the coal ban would take full effect from midAugust, a month later than initially planned.

"Nobody wants to bite the bullet and sanction Russian energy, which was propping up the market," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

India has continued purchases of discounted Russian crude oil imports, pushing out what analysts had predicted would be a loss of 2-3 million barrels per day of Russian oil from the global market.

"While such a loss is still possible once contracts roll off and India’s required refinery needs or storage is satisfied, such a development could still be weeks if not a couple of months away," said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois.

In China, multiple outbreaks of the virus have prompted widespread lockdowns in Shanghai, the most populous city.

"The demand situation in China is really not looking good, especially when we have so much new supply on the market," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

On Wednesday, International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries agreed to release 60 million barrels on top of a 180-million-barrel release announced by the United States last week to help drive down fuel prices.

Japan will release 15 million barrels of oil from State and private reserves, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.

"Although this is the biggest release since the stockpile was created in 1980, it will fail to ultimately change the fundamentals in the oil market," ANZ bank said of the US release. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia laments “tragedy” of troop deaths as Ukraine braces for major offensive

R

ussia gave the most damning assessment so far of its invasion, describing the "tragedy" of mounting troop losses and the economic hit from sanctions as Ukrainians were evacuated from eastern cities before an anticipated major offensive.

Moscow's six-week incursion has seen more than four million people flee abroad, killed or injured thousands, left a quarter of the population homeless, turned cities into rubble and led to Russia's near total isolation on the world stage.

In a symbolic move, the United Nations General Assembly suspended it from the UN Human Rights Council, expressing "grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis". Russia then quit the council.

Russia has previously acknowledged its attack has not progressed as quickly as it wanted, but on Thursday Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov lamented the

A rescuer sits in rubble of a building that was destroyed by Russian shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodyanka, Kyiv region, Ukraine, April 7, 2022

rising death toll.

"We have significant losses of troops," he told Sky News. "It's a huge tragedy for us."

Russia is facing its most difficult economic situation for three decades due to unprecedented Western sanctions, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said. The US Congress removed its "most favored nation" trade status in a further blow.

Russia says it launched what it calls a "special military operation" on February 24 to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that as a false pretext.

Following new restrictions after the killing of civilians in the town of Bucha that were widely condemned by the West as war crimes, Ukraine called on allies to stop buying Russian oil

and gas, amid divisions in Europe, and to boost it militarily.

"Ukraine needs weapons which will give it the means to win on the battlefield and that will be the strongest possible sanction against Russia," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video late on Thursday.

He also said the situation in Borodyanka – another town northwest of Kyiv retaken from Russian forces – is "significantly more dreadful" than in Bucha, without citing any evidence.

Moscow has denied targeting civilians and says images of bodies in Bucha were staged to justify more sanctions against Moscow and derail peace negotiations.

The EU's Ambassadors agreed a fifth sanctions package on Russia with a coal embargo containing a 120-day wind-down period to give member states time to find alternative suppliers, following pressure from Germany to delay the measure. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia flooding kills at least 10, 7 others missing

F

An aerial view taken from an overflight by Antioquia Governor Anibal Gaviria of the area affected by a flash flood that flooded a gold mine and left at least 10 dead, in Abriaqui, Colombia, April 7, 2022 (Courtesy of Government of Antioquia/Handout via Reuters)

looding caused by torrential rain in Colombia's Antioquia province has killed at least 10 people, local authorities said on Thursday, adding that another 17 people were either missing or injured.

The flooding occurred late on Wednesday, when rains in Antioquia's Abriaqui municipality flooded a camp at the El Porvenir mine, as well as part of the mining operation, provincial disaster management agency DAGRAN said.

"This situation once again fills us with sadness," Jaime Gomez, director of DAGRAN, said in a state-

ment, calling on Colombians – particularly those living near water – to take extra precautions during the rainy season.

In addition to the deaths, seven people are missing and 10 are injured, the statement added.

Anibal Gaviria, the Governor of Antioquia province, will visit the affected area in the coming hours, DAGRAN said.

Flooding is common during Colombia's wetter seasons, while landslides are frequent due to the mountainous terrain and poor or informal construction of houses. (Reuters)

Pakistan court rules Costa Rica airport Senate confirms Jackson reopens after DHL against PM Imran Khan, to US Supreme Court plane skids off runway bringing his ouster closer in emergency landing P K etanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court in a milestone for the United States and a victory for President Joe Biden, who made good on a campaign promise as he seeks to infuse the federal judiciary with a broader range of backgrounds.

The vote to confirm the 51-year-old Federal Appellate Judge to a lifetime job on the nation's top judicial body was 53-47, with three Republicans – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney –- joining Biden's fellow Democrats. A simple majority was needed, as Jackson overcame

Republican opposition in a Supreme Court confirmation process that remains fiercely partisan.

Jackson will take the 83-year-old Breyer's place on the liberal bloc of a court with an increasingly assertive 6-3 conservative majority. Breyer is due to serve until the court's current term ends –- usually in late June – and Jackson would be formally sworn in after that.

Jackson served early in her career as a Supreme Court Clerk for Breyer.

Biden hosted Jackson at the White House to watch the vote on television, posting on Twitter a selfie he took of them smiling after Senate acted. (Excerpt from Reuters)

C

osta Rica's Juan S a n t a m a r i a International Airport reopened on Thursday hours after a Boeing 757-200 cargo aircraft operated by DHL made an emergency landing and skidded off the runway, separating its tail, aviation authorities said.

Airport operator Aeris said the airport, on the outskirts of capital San Jose, reopened at 15:30h local time, several hours earlier than expected following the 10:00h incident.

Some 8500 passengers and 57 commercial and car-

go flights were affected by the closure, Aeris said.

DHL, part of Deutsche Post AG, said the crew was unharmed and that one member was undergoing a medical review as a precaution.

Images from Costa Rican newspaper La Nacion showed a yellow plane emblazoned with the DHL logo being doused with firefighting foam where it had landed on a grassy field next to a runway. The tail had detached and a wing had broken, the photos show.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

akistan's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Prime Minister Imran Khan's move to dissolve Parliament was unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to return, a decision that could spell the end of his premiership as soon as today.

The former cricket star had moved to break up the lower chamber ahead of a no-confidence vote against him that he had looked destined to lose. The court said in its judgment that the vote should now go ahead.

"The advice tendered by the Prime Minister on or about 03.04.2022 to the President to dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no

legal effect," Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial said, as he read out a 13-point order to a packed courtroom.

Dozens of Opposition members outside the imposing white stone building shouted in jubilation when the unanimous ruling was announced. Angry Khan supporters chanted anti-American slogans in reply as Police in riot gear separated the sides.

The constitutional crisis has threatened economic and social stability in the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million people, with the rupee currency hitting all-time lows earlier on Thursday and foreign exchange reserves tumbling. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Be brief but to the point. Give no one reason to doubt you or question what you plan to do next. Work toward maintaining a stable environment using intelligence and well-thought-out plans.

(March 21-April 19) Touch base with someone making changes or doing something that interests you. Find out all you can and consider how you can follow suit. Follow your heart and share your intentions and feelings.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

A responsible attitude will divert trouble. Avoid unrealistic people. Refuse to let your emotions lead you down a rabbit hole. Don't believe everything you hear or follow someone for the wrong reason.

Ease stress and focus on looking and feeling your best. Don't get into a conversation with anyone looking for a fight.

Concentrate on personal change, growth and a healthy lifestyle.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Trust and believe in your skills, and move forward with enthusiasm. Finetuning what you already have in place will be more effective than changing direction. Be loyal to the right people.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Don't turn down help or guidance from someone experienced. Turn a partnership into an opportunity to use your skills and knowledge uniquely. A romantic gesture is favored.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be careful how you handle situations at home and at work. Someone will take what you say or do the wrong way, leaving you in a vulnerable position.

Concentrate on self-improvement.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Live and learn. Let experience be your guide to a better life and happy relationships. Talk with like-minded people, and you'll come up with a plan that will benefit everyone. Romance is favored.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Follow the money. Avoid joint ventures or shared expenses. Protect your health, wealth and meaningful relationships. Conversations can resolve issues, but there will be an emotional cost involved.

Keep your thoughts to yourself.

Collect information, find out where everyone stands and look for alternative solutions within the guidelines of any rules or regulations you face.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Use your intelligence to counter any attempt to take advantage of you. Keep socialization and entertainment to a minimum. Something may tempt you, but beware the emotional and physical costs.

Stick close to home and make changes that will lower your overhead and add to your comfort and convenience.

Let go of things you no longer need.

Romance is encouraged.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

21

IPL 2022…

de Kock in full flow during his 80

de Kock aces chase after Ravi Bishnoi throttles Capitals Between them, the LSG spinners bowled 10 overs for 57 runs, and took all three wickets to fall. Gowtham also bowled the first maiden Pant has faced in the IPL.

T

Warner and Pant in conversation

he Lucknow Super Giants spinners stifled Delhi Capitals, and their death bowlers maintained the chokehold to restrict them to the thirdlowest 20-over total for the loss of three wickets or fewer in the IPL: 149.

With dew around, it became an easy target to chase, but even LSG Shaw slammed stumbled a half-century in the end, and finished the chase only in the last over, despite a 52-ball 80 from Quinton de Kock.

It was a remarkable comeback from LSG after Prithvi Shaw ran away to 61 off 34 balls. However, the other Capitals batters - David Warner and Rishabh pant among them - couldn’t manage even a run-a-ball between them. It wasn’t for the want of trying: they all tried to hit out, but Ravi Bishnoi, K Gowtham and Krunal Pandya tied them down, before Jason Holder and Avesh Khan finished off with just 19 runs in the last three overs, the second-lowest aggregate for an IPL side who had top-six batters at the wicket.

Shaw welcomes back Warner This was a homecoming of sorts for Warner to the team he made his IPL debut for. Shaw was there to make him feel at home, giving him a right-hand impression of the batter he used to be before he began to set himself up for the long innings. The LSG fast bowlers tried to bowl hard lengths at Shaw, but kept getting cut or pulled. He alone scored 47 in the powerplay, letting Warner ease his way back in.

Against the spinners Shaw remained aggressive and effective, going over cover with ease, and punishing any error in length. In the eighth over, he stepped out to Gowtham to hit him for a straight six, before going over cover for four.

Shaw gone, choke on Gowtham responded by moving round the wicket and pushing one across Shaw. Shaw saw a third boundary in a row and went for the cut, but the angle and some extra bounce defeated him to take the top edge.

Capitals then made a curious move to promote Rovman Powell to #3. Before today, Powell had struck at 150 against pace and 116 against spin. He was now being exposed to spin on a surface with grip.

Bishnoi and Gowtham now sucked the life out of the innings.

Warner went cutting a wide ball which kept getting away from him, and managed just a top edge, the third time he has got out to Bishnoi in six balls. A desperate Powell saw a full ball and went for the slog, but it turned out to be the wrong’un, which took out off stump. Gowtham then proceeded to cramp Pant and bowl a maiden.

When Sarfaraz Khan reverse-swept the last ball of the 11th over, it was the first boundary by a batter not named Shaw.

Pant’s struggles More than Warner or Powell, Pant’s struggle was stark. He managed just eight off the first 19 balls he faced, surviving a run-out chance in the process. It was with the last ball of the 15th over that he finally broke free, lofting a Bishnoi wrong’un over extra-cover.

When Andrew Tye offered him a full-toss and two slot balls in the 16th, Pant finally went past a run-a-ball with a four and two sixes.

Sarfaraz got stuck into Avesh in the 17th over, making it 130 for 3 and raising hopes for Capitals.

Holder’s mix of cutters and yorkers, though, completely shut Pant and Sarfaraz out. He bowled the 18th and the 20th, but conceded no boundary. Avesh made a stellar comeback in the 19th, conceding just the one four. This 36-ball 39 was Pant’s third-slowest innings of 30 balls or more. To make matters worse, the bowlers were wiping the ball with a towel every ball, an ominous sign if you have only managed a low total.

Yadav claimed two wickets

De Kock aces the chase With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav in the side, and with Lalit Yadav becoming effective with part-time spin, Capitals still had an attack to fight in defence of the small total, but the wet ball tipped the scales in LSG’s favour.

Mustafizur Rahman and Lalit kept things tight for the first four overs, but the floodgates were opened when Anrich Nortje bowled for the first time in an IPL match in India. The fifth over was full of half-volleys, which de Kock dispatched for three fours, before pulling a short ball for a six.

The target was so low that it took a string of tight overs to take the asking rate past 8.5 an over, but just one beamer from Nortje, which went for a six in the 14th over, caused it to come crashing down to 7.5.

Another beamer in the 16th sent Nortje off, and de Kock hit Kuldeep for two fours. When he finally fell, de Kock had left his side seven an over to get in the last four overs.

Krunal, Badoni calm the nerves Fourteen balls without a boundary, bowled by Mustafizur and Shardul Thakur, created nerves for LSG, making it 17 required off 10 balls.

Krunal and Deepak Hooda tried their best to find the boundary, but the defensive bowling remained top-class. Eventually, though, Krunal picked a slower one and lofted it back over Mustafizur’s head, and then picked three straight braces to leave just five to get in the last over.

They still needed Ayush Badoni to come out and hit a boundary when it came down to five off four. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Prithvi Shaw c †de Kock b Gowtham 61 David Warner c Badoni b Ravi Bishnoi 4 Rovman Powell b Ravi Bishnoi 3 Rishabh Pant (c)† not out 39 Sarfaraz Khan not out 36 Extras (lb 2, w 4) 6 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.45) 149/3 Did not bat: Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Anrich Nortje Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Prithvi Shaw, 7.3 ov), 2-69 (David Warner, 8.3 ov), 3-74 (Rovman Powell, 10.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jason Holder 4-0-30-0 Krishnappa Gowtham 4-1-23-1 Avesh Khan 3-0-32-0 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-22-2 Andrew Tye 3-0-28-0 Krunal Pandya 2-0-12-0

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS INNINGS (Target: 150 runs from 20 overs) KL Rahul (c) c Shaw b Kuldeep Yadav 24 Quinton de Kock † c Khan b Kuldeep Yadav 80 Evin Lewis c Kuldeep Yadav b Lalit Yadav 5 Deepak Hooda c Patel b Thakur 11 Krunal Pandya not out 19 Ayush Badoni not out 10 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 2) 6 TOTAL 19.4 Ov (RR: 7.88) 155/4 Did not bat: Krishnappa Gowtham, Jason Holder, Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Ravi Bishnoi Fall of wickets: 1-73 (KL Rahul, 9.4 ov), 2-86 (Evin Lewis, 12.3 ov), 3-122 (Quinton de Kock, 15.6 ov), 4-145 (Deepak Hooda, 19.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-26-0 Lalit Yadav 4-0-21-1 Shardul Thakur 3.4-0-29-1 Anrich Nortje 2.2-0-35-0 Axar Patel 2-0-11-0 Kuldeep Yadav 3.4-0-31-2

Trophy Stall Golf Classic set for Saturday

Ms. Veronica Dhanraj handing over the sponsorship cheque to LGC Treasurer Maxim Mangra. They are flanked by Mr Ramesh Sunich, LGC Secretary Chet Bowling, and LGC VP Paton George

L

eading off the Easter season with a bang, Trophy Stall once again will sponsor its annual golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club. Owner Ramesh Sunich said this year’s tournament is a celebration of the growth of his family’s business, as it coincides with their first international Trophy Stall store opened in New York this year. The new location is in the borough of Queens, New York, and is off to a very good start.

At the tournament’s launch on Tuesday, Ramesh struck a note of family and community, values which he said were at the core of their business. The launch of this year’s tournament occurred at the Trophy Stall main store located at the corner of South Road

A look at some of this weekend’s accolades

and Bourda Street.

This year’s annual golf classic will be a medal play 18-hole competition featuring prizes for: Overall Best Net: 1st to 5th – Trophy + Voucher Best Net – Front Nine and Back Nine Nearest to Flag and Longest Drive Contact Lusignan Golf Club on 220-5660 to register The Trophy Stall tournament will also usher in the start of the points chase for one free entry to this year’s two-day major Guyana Open golf tournament. Points will be awarded for each remaining sponsored tournament leading up to the Open. The

leading points-getter will be honoured with a free voucher to cover all expenses for entry into the 2022 Guyana Open, tentatively scheduled for the last weekend in October.

Registration for this Saturday’s tournament will end at noon today, and players are asked to uplift their score cards and proceed to their respective tee boxes for the 12:30pm start.

Club Secretary Chet Bowling has expressed the Lusignan Golf Club’s deep, heartfelt gratitude to owner of the Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich.

“Indeed, he is the classic supporter of the LGC. He understands his corporate social responsibility, and Mr Sunich mentioned the importance of family,” Bowling said, as he went on to draw the parallel to the shared values of family and community that the LGC and Trophy Stall have at the core of both organisations.

Following the Trophy Stall Classic this weekend, the LGC will continue the theme of family and community by hosting a free kids’ fun afternoon with prizes, ice cream and snacks starting at 2pm on Easter Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club. The kids’ fun day will usher in a full weekend of activities on the grounds of the golf club: All kids are invited to participate free of charge in this inaugural event on Saturday, April 16th. Details will be forthcoming.

On Sunday April 17th, the Lusignan Golf Club will once again open its gates to the public with an adult evening event sponsored by Heineken, followed by Easter Monday’s kite-flying and barbecue. Both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday’s activities will be paid events.

22

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana Women’s Hockey Team to attend CAC qualifier

Back row L to R – Philip Fernandes (Coach), Madison Fernandes, Abosaide Cadogan, Marzana Fiedtkou, Makeda Harding, Ulrica Sutherland, Kirsten Gomes, Trisha Woodroffe, Sarah Klautky Front Row L to R – Aliyah Gordon, Claysa Bobb, Princessa Wilkie, Alysa Xavier, Samantha Fernandes, Kezia Chinian, Gabriella Xavier (Captain)

T

he Guyana Women’s Hockey Team is scheduled to compete in the 2022 Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifier set for Hamilton, Bermuda. Four women’s team will be vying for spots in the 2023 CAC Games, scheduled for June of that year in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Of the four, Puerto Rico is the highest ranked team, listed as #49 in the world; followed by Jamaica as #63, Guyana sits in position #66, while hosts Bermuda are ranked #73.

The Guyanese squad had training suspended for 2020 and most of 2021, but resumed during the latter part of that year under strict COVID-19 social distancing measures earlier this year, and have been working hard to make up for lost time.

The team faces favourites Puerto Rico in its very first match on

Thursday 14th April at 3pm Guyana Time, followed by hosts Bermuda on Saturday 16th April at 5:00pm and completes its matches against Jamaica on Sunday April 17th at 2:00pm. The top two teams based on the accumulation of points would secure berths to the 2023 CAC Games.

Guyana last competed in the CAC Games back in 2018, when the team finished in seventh place out of eight contesting teams. Seven players remain from the team that contested the last CAC Games, which incidentally was the last time Guyana competed internationally.

Those players are goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Trisha Woodroffe, Marzana Fiedtkou, Samantha Fernandes, Princessa Wilkie, Captain Gabriella Xavier and the recently recalled defensive stalwart Ulrica Sutherland.

Coach Fernandes is excited

about the new additions to this strong corps of players as making their international outdoor debut would be speedy strikers Sarah Klautky, Abosaide Cadogan, and Claysa Bobb; midfielder Madison Fernandes, and defenders Kezia Chinian, Makeda Harding, Mickelly Rahaman and Kirsten Gomes.

Fernandes was particularly pleased also with the return from injury of striker Aliyah Gordon, who is a key playmaker for the team.

Fernandes feel that despite the youthful average age of the team, they are capable of creating the upsets needed to secure a place in the CAC Games.

“Our defensive line, including goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, is solid,” said Fernandes, but went on to say, “We have a talented midfield and the greatest depth in our forward line that we ever had. So, I expect that we can apply pressure to the

opposition for longer spells, and hopefully create more goal-scoring opportunities than we have in the past.”

The ladies have been training at the Georgetown Cricket Club, and occasionally at the Providence National Stadium, which provides a surface most similar to that of an artificial grass surface.

According to Coach Philip Fernandes, the biggest hurdle in preparing for these tournaments is not the technique, tactical awareness, physical condition or mental health of the athletes.

He is confident that Guyana has sufficient talent, commitment and intelligence to compete with the region’s best, but bemoans the fact that Guyana remains the only hockey-playing nation in the region without an artificial pitch on which to play the game.

All internationally sanctioned matches take place on artificial pitches since the 1980s, and Fernandes indicated that this not only robs Guyana of the opportunity to host other countries and gain vital experience, but it also makes the task of competing internationally twice as difficult, as the game is substantially different on grass fields compared to artificial pitches.

Fernandes indicated, however, that he has had some encouraging conversations with the Minister of Sport about a solution for this problem, and is hopeful that this challenge would soon be overcome.

The team is sponsored by GTT, which has been the main sponsor of the team for the past few years, and has developed a longstanding relationship with the sport.

In order to participate in this competition, the Guyana Hockey Board is also grateful to the National

Lady Jags, Forde interact with West Dem Secondary students

M

Scenes from the GFF and Lady Jags interaction with students at the West Demerara Secondary School on Wednesday

embers of the Senior Women’s National Team and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde have treated students and teachers at West Demerara Secondary School to football gifts and free tickets for this week’s crunch Concacaf W and FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against Nicaragua.

The GFF President and four star players visited the school on Wednesday as part of a huge effort to publicise the match and

to encourage fans to come out in large numbers to support the Lady Jags when the two sides meet at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 8.

The Jags are currently top of their qualifying group, with forthcoming matches against their Central American rivals and Trinidad and Tobago set to decide which team will progress to the Concacaf W Championship in July, which acts as a gateway to the 2023 FIFA

Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Forwards Stefanie Kouzas and Annalisa Vincent, goalkeeper Natalie Nedd, midfielder Hannah Baptiste and President Forde greeted students and staff, signed autographs and took photos at the school in Vreed en Hoop in a visit that also sought to inspire girls to take up football and participate in the first ever GFF-Blue Water Shipping National U15 Girls’ League.

“I want to thank the school for

accommodating us,” said President Forde. “We have been graciously welcomed here and we have had a really good interaction with the students.”

“We want to ensure that the team has all the support it needs to bring home the victory on Friday, but this interaction is not just about inspiring young people to come out and give the Lady Jags the support they need, it’s also to stimulate an interest among young girls in the game of football,” Forde added.

Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, and the John Fernandes Group of Companies.

The full Guyana squad reads: 1. Abosaide Cadogan 2. Aliyah Gordon 3. Alysa Xavier 4. Clayza Bobb 5. Gabriella Xavier 6. Kezia Chinian

7. Kirsten Gomes 8. Madison Fernandes 9. Makeda Harding 10. Marzana Fiedtkou 11. Mickelly Rahaman 12. Princessa Wilkie 13. Samantha Fernandes 14. Sarah Klautky 15. Trisha Woodroffe 16. Ulrica Sutherland Coach: Philip Fernandes

Attorney-at-law gives back to Blueberry Hill FC

H

Jermaine Jarvis handing over a trophy to a Blueberry Hill Back player

aving grown up in Blueberry Hill in Wismar, Linden Attorney–at-Law Jermaine Jarvis is quite familiar with what hardships face sportspersons, and with that in mind, he has aspirations to better what obtains in Blueberry Hill at the moment.

Recently, the lawyer, in collaboration with Special Delivery Promotions, presented two sets of football uniforms and four footballs to the Blueberry Hill United Football Club, after a specially-arranged match ended with Blueberry Hill Back defeating Blueberry Hill Front 1-0 to cart off $150,000 and a trophy, while the losers pocketed $50,000 and a trophy for their efforts.

The game was played on the Blueberry Hill ball field, and after that game, the home boy was so impressed with what he saw that he pledged to further assist in making the ball field one of the best in the country.

In the presence of Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) Deron Adams, Jarvis declared: “This is where I was born and grew. I am originally from Blueberry Hill, and I intend to basically build a pavilion on the ball field, and maintain the ground. In a nutshell, I want that ground to be the best ground in the country, so the community can benefit. Anyone wanting to host anything they can have the use of it.”

He added, “I want to funnel everything through the Blueberry Hill Football Club. I intend to collaborate with the club’s Secretary, Kellon Josiah, and also intend to visit the Regional Chairman of Region 10, (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) Mr. Deron Adams, to discuss the bigger vision and get him on board as well.”

Regional Chairman of Region 10, (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) Deron Adams, was one who attended the match, and was pleased with the community support given, as he encouraged other communities to do likewise.

Secretary of Blueberry Hill United, Kellon Josiah, stated that his club welcomes the initiative of Mr. Jarvis, and that the members would appreciate not only such a development be made to the ball field in Blueberry Hill, but it should be replicated across Linden.

Josiah called on persons from the various communities, who are in the diaspora or would have been successful in their endeavours of life, to give back to those communities from which they came.

He said the members and the players were excited and happy, and are looking forward for greater things to come to the community of Blueberry Hill.

Josiah said while some of the players are not originally from the area, but are living there now, he was keen on seeing all those players who are from the area come back and represent Blueberry Hill, as things are happening for them.

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATIONS Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop) – AirConditioned Comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Gym. Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $45 US. Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Phone: 264-2946-9. www. aracariresort.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Restaurant for Rent – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop). Turn Key Business. Covid-19 Reduced Capacity 60; furnished and equipped.

Phone 264-2946; 626-5290

ENTERTAINMENT Swimming Pool Family Fun & Picnic – Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. Aracari Resort : West Bank Demerara (Versailles, between Harbor Bridge and Vreeden-Hoop)- Every Weekend. DJ Music.

Groups and Excursions welcome.

(Fee applies)- Phone: 264-2946-9.

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lady Jags, Nicaragua eager for today’s battle

Lady Jags Head Coach Dr. Ivan Joseph

A

fierce matchup is on the cards tonight as Guyana’s senior women’s national football team, the Lady Jags, head into the second leg of their CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers campaign with what is expected to be an invigorating encounter with Nicaragua’s women.

With both teams focused on taking the three points in a bid to get closer to qualifying for the CONCACAF Women’s Championships, a must-watch game has been promised.

The Lady Jags have had a successful start to their CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers campaign with wins against Dominica and Turks and Caicos back in February. Now they will face an even more difficult test as they take on Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago today and next Tuesday night respectively.

In a virtual pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Nicaraguan Women’s Coach, Elna Dixon, considered Guyana’s home advantage, but vowed to put up a challenge.

“We know that Guyana is the favourite here, cause we are in the home country, but Nicaragua has a chance to do good, and in the game we will do our part,” Dixon said with the help of a translator.

Lady Jags Head Coach Dr. Ivan Joseph, while acknowledging Dixon’s home advantage comment, viewed his team as the underdogs, considering Nicaragua’s recent

19-0 performance against Turks and Caicos.

“I would be lying if I said we weren’t very nervous. I would thank the player and the coach for saying how we’re favoured, but I would consider us the underdogs. While Nicaragua hasn’t played a lot, you will see the results have shown that they’re more than capable and competent,” Dr. Joseph related.

He went on to explain, “When I look at it, these next three games between us, Trinidad and Nicaragua, the table is still wide open. Any of these teams can qualify.

The 19 goals that Nicaragua scored against Turks and Caicos says they have a high, powerful offence that is to be respected and is to be feared.”

Giving some insight on the areas the Lady Jags have been working to perfect, Goalkeeper Chante Sandiford highlighted that they will be ready as ever tomorrow evening.

The Lady Jags goalkeeper and occasional captain shared, “We have been working with fitness Coach David Lawrence since we’ve been away from each other, doing some remote fitness work and checking in with each other. Our fitness looks a lot better that it was last time we were competing together. So, we’re very happy with the progress we’ve made in terms of fitness there, and I feel like we should have no problem being strong throughout the entire match.

“In terms of being more clinical in finishing, we have been working with our Coach, KC. We’ve been working very

Nicaragua Head Coach Elna Dixon

Chante Sandiford in action during a Lady Jags training session

hard with him for the past four days here in camp, and we are definitely more confident now in our finishing, going forward,” she further revealed.

While both teams have backed themselves to do well tonight, one thing both teams could agree on is the need for crowd support at the Leonora Track and Field Facility tonight.

“Tomorrow we’re expecting it to be a beautiful game, representing CONCACAF in the Women’s tournament. We want the people to come out and enjoy it, cause we’re going to have a good time and show them what we’ve got,” Nicaragua’s player representative shared.

Mohamed’s Enterprise/Team Mohamed’s fuel Bartica Easter Regatta ‘Bounce Back’ 2022

Insaf Jumrally making the presentation to Natalie TilburyBobb on behalf of Mohamed’s Enterprise/Team Mohamed’s

C

hairman of the Bartica Easter Regatta ‘Bounce Back’ 2022 Committee, Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams, has expressed gratitude to the principals of Mohamed’s Enterprise/Team Mohamed’s, who have made a substantial contribution towards the successful hosting of this year’s event, set to take place from April 11-18.

A longtime supporter of the event, Mohamed’s Enterprise/ Team Mohamed’s

unhesitatingly came on board for the event, which is making a grand return after being affected, like other events, by the world pandemic COVID-19.

Williams has said he is very pleased with the contribution made by Mohamed’s Enterprise/Team Mohamed’s towards this event, and it was done despite the fact that the organisers did not have much to piece things together after the Government of Guyana lifted restrictions.

23

He reiterated that the Bartica Community deserves the boost that comes with this event, which is recognised internationally.

“On behalf of the Bartica Easter Regatta Organising Committee, I would like to extend appreciation to the Management and Staff of Mohamed’s Enterprise/ Team Mohamed’s for their unflinching support for this event. We are bouncing back and doing so with style, and it is the support from companies the likes of the Mohameds which make our success a possibility and reality.”

Mohamed’s Enterprise/ Team Mohamed’s contribution was handed over by Insaf Jumrally to Bartica Regatta Committee Treasurer Ms. Natalie Tilbury-Bobb.

Activities will get underway next Monday, April 11th, from 19:00hrs, with a Gospel Fest which is being promoted by the Chosen Generation Band, which would be held at the Bartica Tarmac.

On the other hand, Sandiford expressed, “We’re really excited for the game tomorrow. You can expect

to see a battle out there on the field between two technical sides, both who really want a result. So, I’m excit-

ed for people to come and see how far women’s football has come in Guyana, as well as Nicaragua, and to just enjoy the match.

“And hopefully, we get the result that we want,” the Guyanese player added.

Guyana and Nicaragua will go head-to-head at the Leonora Track and Field Facility this evening, beginning at 8pm. Meanwhile the Lady Jags are also expected to take on Trinidad and Tobago next Tuesday at 6pm. Of the five- team Group (F), the Group leader will be the only one advancing to the CONCACAF Women’s Championships in Monterrey, Mexico from July 4-18, 2022. The Women’s Championships will act as a qualification tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Jemima Holmes)

NSC, Mohamed’s Enterprise support CARIFTA team

in which she copped a bronze medal in a previous edition of the Games.

Keliza Smith and Karese Lloyd will take on the 100m and 200m sprint events, while Hannah Reid competes in the 400m event.

Shamar Horatio and Ezekiel Newton will take a shot at the sprint double, competing in the 100m and 200m events in the Boys Under-20 category. In the sand pits, Wesley Tyndall will compete in the Long Jump, while Trevon Hamer takes on the

DoS Steve Ninvalle making the presentation to AAG President Aubrey Hutson

A

pproximately a week before they jet off to the home of the World’s fastest man for the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games, support has been pouring in from all avenues for Guyana’s 2022 CARIFTA team.

A total of 13 athletes, along with coaches and a manager, will comprise Guyana’s team to the games this year, and with one week to go before the regional event gets underway, Mohamed’s Enterprise and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have come to the aid of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) in fielding travel and accommodation costs.

On Wednesday, Azruddin Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise handed over an undisclosed donation to the AAG, while on Thursday, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle presented a cheque for Gy$2M to the Association at his Middle Street, Georgetown office. The donations were received by the AAG’s Regina Persaud and by AAG President Aubrey Hutson respectively.

Guyana’s team this year

Azruddin Mohamed making a presentation to the AAG’s Regina Persaud

features seven female athletes and their six male counterparts. In the Under-17 category, the promising Attoya Harvey will contest the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m events, while Naris McPherson will join her in the 800m event.

The lone Under-17 male, Javon Roberts, takes on the 800m event.

In the Under-20 competition, 2019 Gold medalist Anisa Gibbons, the first female to win gold for Guyana in the javelin event, will take another shot at that event.

Adreil Austin, another CARIFTA medalist, will have a go at the 800m event,

Triple Jumps. Field events will also see representation from Guyana in this age group, as Gabriel Lim competes in the javelin and discuss throws.

Sham Johnny and Raymond Daw are the coaches accompanying the team to Kingston, Jamaica.

Back in 2019, Guyana fielded its largest CARIFTA team ever, and returned with 9 medals, inclusive of four gold, two silver and three bronze medals. The Games were later cancelled in 2020 and 2021, owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022

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

A

Nicolette Fernandes proudly displaying the Golden Arrowhead after her gold-medal performance

Nicolette Fernandes bags Guyana’s first Pan Am gold medal

ccomplished Squash player Nicolette Fernandes has become the first Guyanese, male or female, to win gold at the Pan American Squash Championships in Guatemala, after a scintillating victory on Wednesday night.

Out of an 8-player team, Fernandes was the only player who managed to advance to the tenser rounds of the XXIX edition of the Championships, and she rolled back the years as she ex-

hibited fine form and class to cop the gold medal.

Coming up against the tournament’s Number 1 seeded player, Laura Tovar of Colombia, Fernandes made it seem easypeasy as she clinched victory in three straight sets, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.

Meanwhile, in Tuesday night’s semifinal, the Guyanese Women’s National Champion toppled Hannah Blatt of Canada in another three-set encounter, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5. She also overcame another Canadian, Maria Min, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8, on her way to the semifinal.

Prior to her professional career, Fernandes had come the closest to the Pan American gold in 2006,

when she came up short against Mexico’s Samantha Teran and, settled for silver on that occasion.

However, her illustrious squash career encompasses gold, silver and bronze finishes at the Caribbean, South American and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

Fernandes has also excelled in the professional circuit at the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) tours.

Her highest World Ranking was #19.

The 38-year-old will now turn her attention to the team category, along with the rest of Team Guyana, which will be played from

today through Saturday.

The women’s team, which will be headed by Fernandes, comprises Ashley Khalil, Mary Fung-AFat and Gabrielle Fraser; while the men’s team, which will be led

by Alex Arjoon, comprises Kristian Jeffrey, Jason-Ray Khalil and Samuel Ince-Carvalhal.

The team will not only be pursuing a podium finish, but also qualification for the Central American and Caribbean Games, since the top 8 Women’s and Men’s teams will automatically qualify for the event. Coach Ramon Chan-A-Sue, Manager Garfield Wiltshire, and Referee Alwyn Callender have accompanied the team to Guatemala.

Fitness still a work in progress for Paul, Hemraj and Smith, says Coach Simmons the

first ever three-match One Day

interaction with the media.

Sharing his assessment of Guyanese fast-bowler Nial Smith, Simmons said: "Nial Smith has the ability, he has pace. Someone mentioned earlier that he has challenges in getting to the fitness mark, and it is something he West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

would have opportunity to secure points to try and secure one of the top seven places, excluding hosts India, to gain automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. According to Cricket West Indies (CWI), the men in maroon will then be hosting tours by Bangladesh, India and New Zealand, with all three series featuring whiteball matches.

Keemo Paul

By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has noted that fitness is still a work in progress for players that are currently in Antigua for the West Indies white-ball camp.

When asked about players such as Chandrapaul Hemraj, Nial Smith and Keemo Paul, who had fitness issues in the past, Simmons noted that the current camp in Antigua focuses more on skills than on fitness, but the fitness of these players is still a work in progress.

"Fitness-wise, I think it is a work in progress for them. I think they still have to work on that when they

Nial Smith

go back (to Guyana). This (camp) is not about fitness as such, this was about the skills we needed to try and work on; so when it comes to their fitness, I think they still have a lot to do when they get back to Guyana," Simmons said in a virtual

Chandrapaul Hemraj

has to work on exceptionally hard. He has the talent and ability as a fast-bowler, and we have to try to keep pushing him to do the right things to where he can get to."

The white-ball camp, which commenced on March 31, is expected to conclude on April 13. This camp is being held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the new home of Cricket West Indies in Antigua. It will also help preparation for West Indies’ 2022 schedule, with home and away tours all featuring white-ball cricket. In late May, West Indies travel to the Netherlands for

LIST OF PLAYERS AT THE CAMP:

International series between the two teams, to be followed by the rescheduled three-match ODI Series against Pakistan, which was postponed in December.

These fixtures form part of the ICC ODI Super League, wherein teams

N k r u m a h Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Kjorn Ottley, Keemo Paul, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Nial Smith, Devon Thomas and Nyeem Young.

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.