Guyana Times -- Friday, December 17, 2021

Golden Grove traffic rank named “Best Cop” for 2021 P14

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4864

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

House approves $26B supplementary funding ...clears way for Govt to aggressively pursue developmental agenda

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GPF seized 70 illegal weapons for 2021 P2 – Top Cop – rape cases increased by 55%

See story on page 5

Father cries for justice for 9-year-old P10 son killed in 2019 accident

NRF Bill tabled

$745M GDF fuel racket

Page 3

2 ex-soldiers, Board of Directors businessman to be appointed to slapped with manage oil funds conspiracy charges Page 8

Coordinated P17 efforts needed to fight COVID-19 pandemic – UN SG …says harder times ahead if climate crisis persists

– also includes Oversight and Investment Committees

PNC's Saturday Congress

PNCR candidates claim Page delayed elections 15 will be “transparent”

– express confidence in CEO Vincent Alexander

P17 Over 200 persons benefit from SEVA/ HSS medical outreach at Canal #2 Polder

Unvaccinated 84-year-old man dies from COVID

– 44 new cases detected in 24h P12

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPF seized 70 illegal weapons for 2021 – Top Cop – rape cases increased by 55%

A

s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues its efforts to reduce violent crime in the country, it has confiscated more than 70 illegal weapons for the year thus far.

This was related by Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie at the GPF’s Awards Ceremony and Annual PrizeGiving Ceremony held at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex at Eve Leary on Thursday.

During his address, the acting Police Commissioner stated that, within this year, the Force has managed to re-

duce serious crimes by 21%, which is the highest decrease within the past 10 years. “…this is in comparison to the same period last year… robbery-under-arms has also seen a decrease by 33.6%, while there has been a 19.5% decrease in the offence of murder…”, he said.

While there have been decreases in other serious crimes, the Commissioner said that for the period January to December 13th this year, there has been a 55.8% increase in rape. “… with figures of 181 last year,

compared to 282 this year”, he said.

In addition, the Commissioner posited that, for this year, the Force discovered and destroyed 33 cannabis fields throughout the country. “This includes 1,680,980 plants, 383,144 grams of cannabis…”, he said.

Up to December 11, 2021, intensified traffic campaigns and the use of radar guns and breathalyzers have aided in the Police Force having a significant reduction of 31% in fatal accidents. That

is 82 this year, and was 119 in 2020. “…a consequential 31% decrease in fatalities.

Eighty-nine this year, and 129 last year. Pedestrians and motorcyclists have been the major categories of road users who have lost their lives on the roadways. This year, with inattentiveness, 13 fatal accidents. Speeding, 32 fatal accidents, and driving under the influence, three fatal accidents”.

Hoppie further underscored that driving under the influence has been the

Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie

main contributory cause of fatal accidents. He said traffic enforcement so far throughout the country has resulted in 10,705 cases of speeding, 712 cases of driving under the influence, and 2,010 for unlicensed drivers.

“We are working assiduously to also reduce the threat of domestic violence and trafficking-in-person that are crimes against the core human values… Our record indicates that, so far this year, the Police have received a total of 1,629 reports of domestic violence,

compared to 1,489 during the same period last year”.

The Police Force has also dealt with seven cases of human trafficking, compared to two last year.

The Government of Guyana has been consistent with the strengthening of the country’s security sector, particularly in the Police Force. Hoppie said this has been upheld through the provision of the requisite resources, so that the Force has been in a position to effectively carry out its responsibilities.

Car belonging to Plaisance resident set on fire

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ifty-two-year-old Edward Taylor, of Prince Williams Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was awakened in the wee hours of Thursday to find his motor car bearing registration number PSS 407 engulfed in flames.

Police stated the fire was spotted around 02:30h and the Fire Service was immediately alerted. A fire tender from the Campbellville Fire Station responded to the scene and firemen put out

the fire.

Based on reports received, Taylor had secured his motor car and retired to bed on Wednesday evening about 21:00h.

He reportedly parked the $2.2 million vehicle on the eastern side of Prince William Street facing north, about 40 feet from his home.

However, he woke up to find that his car was in flames and contacted the Police. No one was arrested as Police continue their investigations.

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, December 17 – 03:00h-04:30h and Saturday, December 18 – 03:30h-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, December 17 – 15:00h-16:30h and Saturday, December 18 – 15:35h-17:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers and cloudy skies are expected during the day and in night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 15:22h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 08:57h and 21:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.66 metre.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

03 04 05

09 10 15

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

14 19 21 24 25 LUCKY 3

0

3

6

2

Afternoon Draw

6

3

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 06 07 10 11 15 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

02 05 07 08 09 13

07 09 10 12 19

2

0 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

8

1 Evening Draw

FP 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

$74.91/barrel

-0.15

Rough Rice

$252.09/ton

+0.05

London Sugar

$504.40/ton

+0.24

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1803.20

$1804.20

Low/High Change

$1781.40 +3.90

$1804.20 +0.22%

NRF Bill tabled

3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Board of Directors to be appointed to manage oil funds

– also includes Oversight and Investment Committees

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ith the aim of having an arm’s-length approach to revenues earned in the oil and gas sector, the Guyana Government is seeking to establish a five-member Board of Directors to manage the Natural Resource Fund. This committee is expected to be made up of mostly civil society representatives.

This is among the series of proposals contained in the Natural Resources Fund Bill that was presented to the National Assembly on Thursday by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

He said the Bill is to intitule an Act “…to establish a National Resource Fund to manage the natural resource wealth of Guyana for the present and future benefit of the people and for the sustainable development of the country, and for connecting matters”.

According to the proposed law, the NRF will be governed by a Board of Directors, comprising as many as five members, to be appointed by the President. The Head of State will also have to appoint a chairperson from that group.

The Director is to be selected from among persons “who have wide experience and ability in legal, financial, business, or administrative matters”.

The Bill provides for the National Assembly to nominate one of the directors, while another one will be a representative of the Private Sector.

However, it explicitly states that the directors cannot be a Member of Parliament or anyone whose appointment will be a conflict of interest, among other restrictions.

It was noted too that the Directors will hold the post for not more than two years with

Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh (DPI photo)

eligibility for reappointment, and all appointments, as well as changes in appointments, are to be gazetted and published on the Ministry’s website and in two daily newspapers.

The new Bill states that the Board of Directors will be responsible for the overall management of the Fund, reviewing and approving the policies of the Fund, monitoring the performance of the Fund, ensuring compliance with the approved policies of the Fund, and ensuring that the Fund is managed in compliance with the Act and all other applicable laws.

Moreover, the Board is also expected to report to the subject Minister, who is allowed to give policy directives as deemed necessary to their functions. In addition, the proposed legislation caters for the appointment of two committees, one of which is the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, which will provide non-Government oversight of the Fund and comprises various civil society rep-

resentatives, who will have to present a report to the National Assembly annually.

The other committee is an Investment Committee, which will have seven members, including nominees by the Attorney General, the Opposition Leader, and the Private Sector. This body will be responsible for advising the Board of Directors on its investment mandate commensurate with current conditions, opportunities, and constraints in relevant financial markets. It will be reporting directly to the Board.

Additionally, the NRF Board of Directors can also appoint a Senior Investment Adviser and Analyst to assist with carrying out its mandate.

Meanwhile, the NRF Bill also proposes a $10 million fine and five years’ imprisonment for anyone who gives materially false and misleading information or permits such information to be included in any reports or documents. A simi-

lar penalty will be imposed on anyone who discloses official information that is deemed confidential as well as anyone who fails to publish the information required to be made known under the law.

The previous NRF legislation passed by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU/AFC) Administration contained sweeping measures and excessive ministerial influence. However, the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government had indicated from the inception that it wanted the oil revenues to be insulated from political manoeuvring.

This position was emphasised by Minister Singh during a broadcast programme on the eve of Thursday’s tabling of the NRF Bill, as he explained that the intention was to avoid a reoccurrence of the situation where a Minister concealed receiving monies from operators in the petroleum sector.

He was referring to the US$18 million signing bonus that Guyana received from ExxonMobil, but the money was stashed away in a separate account by then Finance Minister under the coalition administration, Winston Jordan, instead of being placed in the Consolidated Fund as required by law. This information came to light over a year later.

“We have said that we would like to explicitly require the Minister to publish, within three months, every single deposit into the Fund – to publish in Gazette and to notify the National Assembly; and to make failure to do so a criminal offence. We’ve said so publicly and we are proposing to do so in the Bill…,” Dr Singh posited.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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

Better health in the Christmas season

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour underscore the need for everyone of all ages and abilities to be physically active, as this could be a main factor that ensures good health and well-being, especially at a time when many are restricted in their movements due to the COVID-19 pandemic and feasting and merry-making are at a zenith. Most of us pack on a few pounds during the holidays and, according to WHO, up to five million deaths a year are linked to inadequate activity, but it does not have to be that way.

In Guyana’s case, it is believed that around 40 per cent of Guyanese are already overweight or obese; and of that number, the majority are women. What is noteworthy is the realisation that most cases of chronic, non-communicable diseases are avoidable, and it is within our individual powers to prevent these diseases from affecting our lives.

The new guidelines recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults, including people living with chronic conditions or disabilities, and an average of 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents.

Additionally, the WHO statistics show that one in four adults, and four out of five adolescents do not get enough physical activity.

Globally, this is estimated to cost US$54 billion in direct health care, and another US$14 billion to lost productivity. This is quite revealing, and perhaps renewed efforts need to be made at all levels to encourage persons to engage in regular physical activity.

The guidelines encourage women to maintain regular physical activity throughout pregnancy and post-delivery. They also highlight the valuable health benefits of physical activity for people living with disabilities.

Older adults (aged 65 years or older) also are advised to add activities which emphasise balance and coordination, as well as muscle strengthening, to help prevent falls and improve health.

According to WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, being physically active is critical for health and wellbeing; it can help to add years to life, and life to years. Regular physical activity is key to preventing and helping to manage heart disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer, as well as reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, reducing cognitive decline, improving memory, and boosting brain health.

All physical activity is beneficial, and can be done as part of work, sport, and leisure or transport (walking, wheeling and cycling), but also through dance, play, and everyday household tasks like gardening and cleaning.

WHO encourages countries to adopt the global guidelines to develop national health policies in support of the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030. The plan was agreed by global health leaders at the 71st World Health Assembly in 2018 to reduce physical inactivity by 15 per cent by 2030.

So, the question is: How do we make the breakthrough when it comes to getting our citizens to adopt healthy lifestyles, considering the fact that some persons still operate with a high degree of ignorance? To begin with, we believe that there is need for greater awareness and knowledge in the society about the dangers of chronic illnesses. On this basis, we urge that there be continuous awareness campaigns across the country to address various health issues. Research has shown that the numerous media campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention and care, stigma and discrimination have impacted positively on attitudes and lifestyle changes; and messages in a similar fashion should be created towards addressing non-communicable illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, or in dealing with overweightness and obesity.

The Health Ministry, along with other partners, should lead the way in promoting various programmes to get persons to become more active and lead healthier lives. Too many persons are falling ill due to poor lifestyle choices.

Additionally, while individual responsibility and choice are crucial factors affecting the incidence of chronic diseases, public policy, public education, qualitative regulation of food imports, licensing laws to protect consumers, and gearing the environment to support prevention of chronic diseases are also prerequisites for combating this epidemic.

It is well accepted that better health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday received a courtesy visit from the United Kingdom’s Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy at State House.

He was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Guyana, Ray Davidson

Students also need help Dear Editor, The contents of a recent article in the media by Dr Tara Singh, “Given their first-hand knowledge, students could play a vital role in suicide prevention”, are head-scratching and puzzling. The ‘findings’ not only provide a skewed perception of the reality, but serve no purpose as they relate to suicide prevention. And the conclusion in the title is an enigma, given that not only are those teenagers part of the age group with the highest rate of suicide in Guyana, but also that self-harm, especially cutting, is on the rise, as are alcohol use, bullying, sexual coercion, teenage pregnancy, stress, lack of coping skills, violence, and other issues that impact suicide.

The fact is that students need help, not a role that would jeopardise their mental health. All the valid literature talk about both the problems and the need for help; and in the context of Guyana, even basic measures - such as counsellors in schools, or teacher training in violence prevention, psychosocial support, and other needed skills - are almost non-existent.

Had Dr Singh and his NGO really wanted to help, they could have made a difference by deploying their funds, skills, and support in measures that actually

contribute to suicide prevention among teenagers in any number of ways.

Instead, they display otherisation, the behaviour that says “we have an answer, but we’ll sit back and expect others to apply the answer”. Solutions are not exemplified by mere talk!

In terms of help, a recent incident of students fighting a teacher over a cellphone brings to the fore the possible need for the Police Force to launch a schools’ safety unit, and for schools to have a dean or otherwise named personnel responsible for discipline. Perhaps the Ministry of Education may want to consider these measures as a proactive approach to discipline, handling violence and preventing teacher-student conflicts. The Ministry may also want to train teachers in emphatic communication, so that student-teacher communication is always affirming and trust-building, instead of shaming and belittling students, creating angst and catalysing spontaneous suicide, as has happened in the past.

Also, on the issue of suicide, we note a disclosure by Professor Christina Hoven of Columbia University, that “Wide-ranging longterm studies on suicide will be conducted to determine the major risk factors for suicide in Guyana”.

Really? Hasn’t the issue of suicide in Guyana been studied to death? Don’t we all know what needs to be done? Isn’t it time for studies, surveys, research et al to be ditched in favour of action, and for resources to be used to actually prevent suicide instead? When universities partner to engage in these kinds of studies, their overriding goal is to benefit themselves, with any positive concrete outcomes for their partners being minimal, incidental, and/or non-existent.

The fact is that all the ‘info’ they seek is already in the public domain. Instead of further unnecessary studies, they should help to execute a concerted national prevention campaign to include combating the numerous myths and misinformation that still prevail; relaunch of the gatekeepers’ programme to reach every community with available monitoring and support; an ongoing campaign to widely and continually publicise all hotlines and helplines, as well as provide info on how they are used, to bolster their usage and improvement; placement of psychologists in all hospitals, and letting mental health diagnosis take place at entry point for all patients; making reporting of suicide ideation mandatory; employing more psychiatrists;

nationally tackling dysfunction in relationships and unhealthy parenting; fostering emphatic communication; training Police to deal with suicidal persons; rigidly and fully enforcing current laws on safe use, storage and disposal of agri-poisons; providing strong boxes to all farmers, and related ongoing training; training in primary interventions for those who ingest poisons; placement of counsellors in all schools; establishing the Friendship Bench concept across communities; training doctors and nurses in talk therapy and suicide prevention first- aid, so they, too, can become part of the solution; having counselling teams as part of the healthcare provision in every region; training teachers in psychosocial support, so they can help themselves and their students.

In effect, the Government, the University of Guyana, and Columbia University should tackle the issue head-on, instead of studying it ad infinitum; and they should do so wholistically, by also addressing gender-based violence, alcoholism, sexual and child abuse - all issues that impact suicide.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram Caribbean Voice

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

5

News

House approves $26B supplementary funding ...clears way for Govt to aggressively pursue developmental agenda

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he Government intends to continue its aggressive developmental agenda as the National Assembly on Thursday approved the Supplementary Appropriation Bill which comprised Financial Paper No. 3 and Financial Paper No. 4 of 2021.

The Financial Papers had been presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh to address a number of urgent interventions across several key sectors, including agriculture, housing and water, health, education, public works and security.

Many of the interventions of national importance were not only necessary due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and surmounting Climate Change challenges, but also due to the underdevelopment vacuum created in a number of major sectors as a result of the former administration’s lax approach to the management of the sectors, which had a domino effect on the country’s economy.

The Bill, amounting to over $26 billion, comprised Financial Paper No 3 of 2021, totalling $5.1 billion, which caters for Contingency Fund advances for July 22 to December 9, 2021. This provided for a number of interventions, including payment of one-off cash grants to severed sugar workers, out-of-crop support to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), and cash grants to private school students.

Financial Paper No. 4 sought funding for several initiatives, including resources to support Amerindian development projects and programmes, as well as funding for the rehabilitation of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which was destroyed by fire in November.

Additionally, the Bill includes funding to assist to clear the arrears to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated and payment on the mobilisation advance on the City Hall Restoration Project.

Agriculture (Assistance to Sugar workers)

The Bill catered for disbursement of the one-off cash grant of $250,000 to each severed sugar worker, which were handed over about one week before by Dr Ashni Singh and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

The grant was handed over to sugar workers at four estates - Enmore, Skeldon, Rose Hall and Wales. The closure of the estates under the previous Government had left thousands of work-

ers on the breadline, but this was only the tip of the iceberg, as due to thousands being suddenly without jobs, the domino effect was that village economies experienced sudden death, and as time progressed, reports from various villages indicated that some unemployed persons even committed suicide due to their being unable to provide for their families.

Some sugar workers noted that they were still facing hardships, with some still remaining displaced since 2017, when they were dismissed, but hundreds have since resumed duties with the assumption to office of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in August 2020. This was due to immediate efforts being made to reopen some of the estates and resuscitate and revitalise the sugar industry. Work continues aggressively in this area to bring the estates back to fully operational level. With the recent disbursements, over $1.3 billion were injected into the estates’ surrounding communities.

Education

The Bill also catered for cash grants to children attending private schools, with this initiative being the first time that students attending private schools would receive the grant.

Thousands of parents of students attending private school clamoured for their children to be included as recipients of the cash grant as they noted that many of them struggle to pay private school fees. President Irfaan Ali, after listening to their pleas, in September last granted approval for the Because We Care cash grant to be extended to these children as well. The previous APNU/AFC administration had stopped the issuance of the cash grant to children attending public school.

Drainage and irrigation to address climate change & flooding challenges

The Bill passed in the National Assembly today also comprised Financial Paper No 4 of 2021, for which $21.47 billion was sought, and included supplementary funding of $755 million for countrywide drainage and irrigation interventions as Government continues to address the impact of flooding across the country. It would be the second time in the same year that the country is experiencing unprecedented levels of rainfall. President Ali recently activated a Cabinetlevel Task Force to respond to the current rainy season, so as to ensure that there is a proactive and coordinated

ing and sanitising supplies for all Regions to combat the virus and its variants.

Presently, the Government is awaiting the arrival of vaccines for children aged 5-11 years old, so that these children can return to faceto-face classes. In January 2022, Government would allow for all students aged 12 and above to return to face-to-face classes, as that age range of students would have been vaccinated through Government’s aggressive and successful vaccination drive.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira in discussion at the ACCC on Thursday

response and mitigative systems are in place and functional as the rains continue.

Housing & water

Meanwhile, the S u p p l e m e n t a r y Appropriation Bill also includes $7.7 billion to support the acceleration of the National Housing Drive, for which the Government has surpassed the targeted allocations of 10,000 house lots by the end of 2021. It was in stark contrast to the number of house lots allocated (totalling 6,680) during the entire APNU/AFC’s tenure, as that administration struggled to make progress in allocations under that major sector of the country.

As those years went by, the number of Guyanese demands for house lots had grown astronomically, with a huge backlog of applicants created over the five-year period of APNU/AFC’s tenure in especially Region 4 (a stronghold of the APNU/ AFC), and the current administration has been making steady efforts to speedily address the situation and meet the huge demand. In La Reconnaissance, East Coast Demerara, 1000 persons received house lots, another 1000 received lots for homes to be constructed in Great Diamond and Grove, another 1000 to low-income earners on the East Bank of Demerara as well, in addition to 400 distributed in Linden, Region 10, among other areas. Meanwhile, construction of 100 affordable homes in Region 6 has also already commenced.

The Housing and Water Ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) are also carrying out infrastructural works such as road networks, drainage and irrigation systems, and electricity and water for 22 new and existing housing schemes in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. On the East Coast of Demerara alone, infrastructural works to the tune of $3.7M are ongoing

in Cummings Lodge 1768 and 1767, LBI, Mon Repos, Annandale, Vigilance, Bladen Hall and Strathspey.

The Government has also commenced construction of a four-lane road from Eccles to Diamond, which will bring relief to thousands of residents on the East Bank of Demerara who suffered as a result of traffic congestion during their daily commute.

Relatedly, $1.1 billion is provided for the upgrade and expansion of coastal and hinterland water supply, which includes supply in many of the areas opened to satisfy the needs of Guyanese, including single-parent families and young professionals. The Government also introduced, during its first year in office, interventions within the housing sector designed to rapidly increase output through legislation and by partnering with the Private Sector.

These interventions included increasing the low-income mortgage loan ceiling to $12M in support of the housing programme, as well as granting approval to the New Building Society (NBS) to raise its loan ceiling to $15 million, thereby allowing for house lot recipients to have more options for access to financing for the building of their homes.

The Bank of Baroda was also another financial institution that came on board to offer home loans at competitive interest rates. President Irfaan Ali has also noted that Government intends to establish a new City along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, which will be known as Silica City and which will transform the national skyline and help mitigate the impacts of climate change on Georgetown.

Infrastructure

In the area of infrastructure, as Government continues with its aggressive infrastructure agenda, the Bill includes additional funding for the Sheriff-toMandela Road Project, crit-

ical sea and river defence works in several areas, and reconstruction of bridges at Issano and Bamia, as well as funding for the Baggage Handling System at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Health

Other allocations catered for in the Bill include medical supplies to continuously address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (Government is currently administering booster vaccine doses countrywide, especially as the pandemic continues and a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, has emerged).

Other support measures to address the pandemic include continuous provision of medical supplies for health workers, increased oxygen and ventilators’ supply for the hospital at Liliendaal, as well as clean-

Security

In the area of security, Government has been making efforts to boost this sector through the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a number of Police Stations, as well as making provisions for the Guyana Police Force to better tackle crime-fighting. For example, the Ruimveldt and Providence Police Stations are currently under rehabilitation, and provisions have been made for eight containerised offices and construction of two bridges for the Brickdam Police Station, which was recently ravaged by fire.

Security has been boosted in all Regions at all Government and Regional buildings, while additional provisions were made for more fleets of vehicles for the Guyana Police Force, to improve response time to crime fighting and increase patrols in communities countrywide.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Changing decimals to fractions

C

hanging decimals to fractions is easier than changing fractions to decimals.

Look at the place value farthest to the right, and use that as your denominator. Use the actual decimal as your numerator.

Example: Change .72 to a fraction

Step 1: Look at the place value. Use it as your denominator. The place value farthest to the right in .72 is the hundredths place. So the denominator will be 100.

U

se a bottle, a few readily-available ingredients, and an endothermic reaction to blow up a balloon in this fun and simple science experiment for kids.

Materials:

72

Step 2: Use the decimal as the numerator: 100 Step 3: Simplify the fraction if you can. Divide the numerator and the denomina72 ÷ 4 tor by the same number: = 18/25 100 ÷ 4

Exercises: Change decimals to fractions 1) 0.35

2) 0.22

3) 0.44

4) 4.11

5) 0.78

6) 0.91

7) 0.475

8) 0.6

9) 0.250

10) 2.5

11) 0.755

12) 0.666

13) 0.525

14) 0.18

15) 0.375

Empty plastic bottle Balloon Funnel Baking soda Vinegar

Instructions:

Use the funnel and add a tablespoon or two of baking soda into the balloon.

Wipe any backing soda from the funnel and place it into the bottle.

Pour about a half a cup of vinegar into the bottle.

Fit the balloon over the opening of the bottle making sure no baking soda falls inside.

Now lift the balloon and let the baking soda fall and mix with the vinegar.

Observe as you Cold Air Balloon inflates.

Feel the bottom of the bottle. It will be cold.

How it works:

A

s we count down to Christmas, pretend you are one of Santa’s elves. Write a journal entry about your day.

(Adapted from mindsinbloom.com)

When vinegar and baking soda mix, an endothermic reaction occurs. This produces carbon dioxide which inflates the balloon. The endothermic chemical reaction will also lower the temperature in the area surrounding the vinegar and baking soda so significantly that you will be able to easily notice the change in temperature.

Make this a science project:

Will a different acid such as citric acid inflate the balloon? What happens if you increase the amount of vinegar and/or baking soda? (scienceisfun.org)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local Content Bill

Proposals cater for 20% to 100% utilisation of Guyanese businesses in 40 areas

– Secretariat to be established to manage rooster of Guyanese, local goods and services providers

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fter weeks of widespread consultations with stakeholders, the Government tabled the much-anticipated Local Content legislation that outlines the requirements of foreign companies operating in the petroleum sector to invest in or utilise the goods and services provided by Guyanese and Guyanese-owned businesses.

The Local Content Bill seeks to provide for the implementation of local content obligations on persons engaged in petroleum operations or related activities in the petroleum sector. It will prioritise Guyanese nationals and Guyanese businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the enhancement of the value chain of the petroleum sector as well as enable local capacity development.

Additionally, the proposed legislation will also provide for the investigation, supervision, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of and participation in local content in Guyana; and promote competitiveness and encourage the creation of related industries that will sustain the social and economic development of Guyana.

This was explained by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat when he tabled the Bill in the National Assembly on Thursday. The proposed legislation requires all companies operating in the petroleum sector to implement local content as an essential com-

ponent of their operations.

Among the proposals in the Bill is the requirement of foreign companies to engage Guyanese and Guyanese-owned businesses, at specified and varying levels, in at least 40 areas by the end of 2022.

The Bill describes a Guyanese company or business as one that is owned by a Guyanese national who exercises, individually or jointly, voting rights representing at least 51 per cent of total shares, and with Guyanese holding at least 75 per cent of executive and senior management positions as well as 90 per cent of non-managerial and other positions.

These include 100 per cent exclusive use of Guyanese companies in the provision of immigration support services, work permits, visa applications, visa on arrival, in-water activity permit, custom brokerage services, and ground transportation.

According to the document, this is to ensure “maximum participation of Guyanese nationals and Guyanese companies supplying goods or providing services in the Guyanese petroleum sector; and local capacity development”.

The utilisation of goods and services in other areas, which range from catering services to environmental services and studies, are to be 20 to 95 per cent locally based.

However, the Bill states that the subject Minister can waive these requirements in

certain instances such as if a petroleum operation is deemed of national interest and there is a lack of local capacity.

Moreover, the proposed legislation also caters for the establishment of a Local Content Secretariat that will keep a Local Content Register of “qualified” Guyanese nationals for employment as well as of Guyanese and Guyanese businesses from which goods and services could be procured.

This Secretariat will consist of “a director and such other members… amongst persons who are qualified for appointment to the Secretariat by reason of their integrity, and experience, professional capacity, and requisite qualification relating to the work of the Secretariat”.

Other functions of the Local Content Secretariat include developing and maintaining measures for the effective implementation of local content by companies; developing and implementing strategies that will give preference to, or ensure equal treatment of Guyanese and Guyanese-owned businesses; conducting market analysis; developing guidelines such as for local content reporting, procurement, bid evaluation, training, research and development, partnership and joint ventures, and financial and insurance services, and undertaking public education and awareness campaigns.

Qualified citizens and lo-

Board of Directors to be...

FROM PAGE 3

According to the Finance Minister, this is to enforce transparency with the oil funds.

Moreover, he noted that the PPP/C’s NRF Bill was not seeking to completely discard the coalition’s NRF Act, which was passed in the National Assembly in January 2019 at a time when the APNU/AFC Government was illegitimate after being toppled by a NoConfidence Motion the previous month.

“It does seek to address the most fundamental deficiencies of the Bill that had been taken through the Parliament by the APNU/AFC. And it seeks to, first of all, strengthen governance and management, to

improve transparency and accountability, and in particular, to increase the penalties for non-publication of information…,” the Minister noted.

More importantly, however, Dr Singh pointed out that the proposed legislation also simplifies, makes more transparent, and removes the discretion in the determination of the amount that will be transferred from the fund to the National Budget.

The NRF legislation proposes that the maximum withdrawals from the Fund in a fiscal year cannot exceed the amount approved by the National Assembly for that period and that all withdrawals be

deposited into the Consolidated Fund.

These monies are only to be used to finance: “national development priorities including any initiative aimed at realising an inclusive green economy, and essential projects that are directly related to ameliorating the effect of a major natural disaster”.

Based on the recent figures given, there is approximately US$534 million in oil revenues that Guyana has earned thus far, including some US$388.7 million from the seven lifts of more than seven million barrels of oil to date, being held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

cally-owned businesses will have to apply for and obtain a certificate of registration to be included in the Local Content Registry. That certificate will have to be updated every year on the date of issuance.

As it relates to penalties, false declarations to get on the registry, or changes to citizenship, or changes in companies’ ownership that are not indicated to the Secretariat, will carry a fine of $1 million for individuals and for companies, $5 million.

They will also be removed from the Local Content Register.

In addition, all companies operating in the petroleum sector are required to submit a five-year local content master plan within four months of this Act being passed or within four months of being licensed to operate. The subject Minister is tasked with approving or refusing this plan after consultations with the Secretariat.

The Local Content Bill also proposes for the Secretariat to monitor and compile a report of the operations of all companies in the petroleum sector as it relates to their compliance, or lack of, with the provisions set in the Act. That report will be presented to the subject Minister, who will then table it in the National Assembly.

Additionally, a five-member Inter-Agency Committee is expected to be set to support the Secretariat in carrying out its mandate and will act in an advisory capacity.

Upon assuming office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration embarked on a fresh round of consultations aimed at developing a proper Local Content Policy.

In fact, a Local Content

Advisory panel was established

by President Dr Irfaan Ali, and this body hosted several consultations with stakeholders.

President Ali on Wednesday said the Local Content Bill would be “transitional and transactional”. He noted that the bill will ensure “that there is enough scope through a legislative framework that incentivises investment from the local Private Sector" and enables them to be an important party to the development of the oil and gas sector.

Earlier this week, Vice

President Bharrat Jagdeo had led a team that engaged civil society on the final consultation of the draft Local Content Policy before its presentation in the National Assembly.

Following that meeting, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Timothy Tucker described the exercise as a success. The GCCI Head also noted that the complete local content document is expected to be shared with stakeholders.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$745M GDF fuel racket

2 ex-soldiers, businessman slapped with conspiracy charges

O

ngoing investigations into a $745 million fuel racket at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have resulted in two ex-soldiers and a businessman being slapped with conspiracy charges.

Those implicated in the racketeering are ex-GDF ranks Delon Wilson and Terry Milling. Wilson, 34, is from Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway, while Mulling,35, is from 440 South Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The businessman is Gangadeo Sridat, 48, of Vreed-En-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

On Friday, the trio appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that, between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2020, at the Guyoil Terminal at Providence, East Bank Demerara, they conspired together with persons unknown to steal fuel valued at $745,559,430, belonging to

GDF rank Delon Wilson

the GDF. These three persons were each released on $300,000 bail, and are expected to return to court on January 27, 2022.

Facts presented in court disclosed that Milling and Wilson were authorised to procure fuel from Guyoil on behalf of the GDF. However, a recent audit revealed that during the five-year period, the GDF did not receive $745

million in fuel. It is alleged that the soldiers sold the fuel to the businessman.

Back in 2020, reports surfaced of a massive fuel scandal involving the GDF and Guyoil. It was reported that hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel was stolen from the state-owned fuel company using GDF accounts and trucks owned by a prominent businessman.

A former APNU/AFC Government Minister and the former CEO of Guyoil had been implicated in the illegality, and were called out for their attempts to cover up the scandal. In fact, the Minister was recently arrested for questioning by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) into ‘Misconduct in Public Office.’ He was subsequently released after he allegedly fell ill.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Auditor-General’s Report said that, in 2019, motor vehicle GHH 7538 was flagged as receiving $181.567 million in fuel from the GDF. The report pointed out

that records for the vehicle were not found in either the GDF’s or Guyoil’s database.

The vehicle was also flagged in the 2020 report for receiving a total of $67,455,000 in fuel. The vehicle uplifted 285,200 litres of gasoline and 184,000 litres of diesel, valued at $38.806M and $28.649M respectively.

“Audit enquiries revealed that the said vehicle was neither owned by the [GDF] nor Guyoil. In addition, there was no contractual agreement for this vehicle to uplift fuel on behalf of the Force,” the report said.

The Auditor-General’s Office said it was unable to verify whether the fuel was received by the GDF. It was reported that the Goods Received Book for Base Camp Ayanganna was misplaced; while the records for Camp Stephenson at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and the Coast Guard at Ruimveldt, Georgetown were under scrutiny by special investigators.

No country...

G

…for the apolitical uyanese used to be accused of being “politically precocious” by our WI brethren and sisters! We’d call that “forced ripe” - from picking unripened fruits and speeding up their ripening. They never tasted “right”!! In politics, of course, it meant that with our leftist politics that caused our constitution to be suspended and our Government (the PPP) to be ousted as far back as in 1953, we were trying to practise politics that hadn’t “ripened” naturally!

And we have continued with that “forced ripeness” ever since! We ejected the Queen as Head of State as far back as 1970, when Barbados, which also achieved independence in 1966 - didn’t take that plunge until this year - thirty-one years later!! It’s certainly not coincidental that they’re more advanced than us in so many ways!!

In the life of a country - as much as with a person - you gotta “know yourself”, and act in accordance with your limitations.

Now, even though Burnham tried his darndest to control the Judiciary he inherited with its British thousandyear heritage, it’s to their credit that they GENERALLY held the line on maintaining the standards necessary to deliver justice. They didn’t allow Burnham to force ripe them! His solution was to then CHANGE the constitution when the courts didn’t rule the way he wanted them to!! And he could do this with impunity because he rigged elections to give himself a majority to change the entire Constitution if necessary!!

But in the opinion of the Special Prosecutor (SP) in the elections’ criminal fraud case against Mingo, Lowenfield and Myers, a test of the Judiciary’s maturity is looming.

Now, to understand his point, we gotta appreciate the distinction between a case that’s tried “summarily” before a Magistrate and one that a Magistrate decides must be passed on to the High Court for a Judge to try it “indictably”.

In the former, the Magistrate makes the judgment, while in the latter, a “jury of your peers” does the honours.

Now, the SP acknowledges that the elections’ fraud case is fraught with political implications. After all, the trio is accused of trying to cook the books to get the PNC into office illegally! In such a situation, a jury would inevitably have partisans of either party, who MAY turn a blind eye to the facts. Like when Burnham was grinding the country under his jackboots, Rodney made the same point when the dictator had a “political” case moved from Berbice to Georgetown!

Like Rodney, the SP’s telling the Magistrate to decide the case, since she’s an officer of the court sworn to uphold its (and her) professional standards!

Makes sense, doesn’t it? No need to “force ripe” such a critical decision. …for questionable contracts One well-intentioned - but obviously naive - overseas Guyanese wants the new PNC leadership to apologise to the Guyanese people for the Exxon contract, and commit themselves to renegotiating it!! The fella should remember what happened to the last chap who called for a PNC apology - Raphael Trotman. Trotman argued that if the PNC were to apologise for rigging elections since 1968, they MIGHT convince Guyanese across the divide they’d turned a new leaf. By then, they’d deployed the PNC-R; PNCR1G, and other gimmicks that failed abysmally. Trotman ended leaving the PNC to form the AFC! Now, this fella wants the PNC to apologise - meaning Trotman must confess that he did something that wasn’t kosher up in Texas. In his defence, he’s already said that someone in Cabinet told him to do what he did. So, is he now willing to call a spade a spade?

And (excuse the mixed metaphor) let the chips fall where they may? …for a militant Christmas Some from the PNC camp are exhorting supporters not to spend big this Christmas. And if they HAVE to spend, do so from “their own”. Even when it comes to black pudding!

Spitting in the wind!!

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

9

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Father cries for justice for 9-yearold son killed in 2019 accident A West Berbice family is frustrated over the constant delay the court is having in arriving at a decision some 700 days after a nine-year-old student was stuck down and killed by a speeding driver.

The child, Nifran Nizamdeen, was killed on November 26, 2019 along the

Bush Lot public road, West Coast Berbice (WCB), and 23-year-old Ramesh Sewlall was subsequently charged for the fatal accident, but the court is yet to pronounce on the matter. The frustration of this family has been prolonged after the case was called on Thursday at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s

Court, but was again postponed until December 29, 2021.

“My concern is that, every time I go to court, they give me a new date. We are not getting any satisfaction, and no proper information as to what they are doing! Today is 760 days, and we are not getting any justice,” Ramzan

Dead: Nifran Nizamdeen

Nizamdeen, father of the child, told Guyana Times.

“When the Magistrate is not turning up, the lawyer is not turning up. I do not know what is really prolonging the case, it is just to give the verdict, and six times it has been called and there is no verdict given. It (has been) throwback again for the 29 of December,” the frustrated man related.

Asked if they were given a reason for yet another postponement, he replied in the negative. “The Magistrate

just put a new date, and that’s it,” he iterated.

On Thursday, the accused was present in court, but his legal representation was not. It was reported that, 13 days after the fatal accident, the Police instituted charges against the then 21-year-old, but he was granted bail by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the sum of $500,000.

It took more than one year for the trial to commence.

The life of the former Latchmansingh Primary School student was snuffed out while he was in the company of his mother and sister. They were reportedly making their way home from school on that fateful day.

The now-dead child was reportedly struck by a speeding motor car bearing registration number PPP 7721. His sister Assiyah Nezamdeen, eight years old at the time, and his mother Parvatie Babulall were critically injured following the accident.

It was reported that another parent had gone to collect her two children from school, and was standing in the corner along with

Frustrated father Ramzan Nizamdeen

Babulall, her child, and others when they were struck by the speeding car.

After the collision, the young Nezamdeen was dragged for some distance, and ended up under the vehicle as it came to a halt partly submerged in a trench.

After some time, the lad was eventually pulled from under the bumper and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

11

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unvaccinated 84-year-old man dies from COVID – 44 new cases detected in 24h

T

he Health Ministry on Thursday reported that an unvaccinated 84-year-old man who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. This recent death takes the death toll to 1026.

The patient was admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died on December 15, while receiving care at a medical institution. He hailed from Region One. New statistics provided by the Ministry have shown that 44 new cases were detected in one day, thus taking the confirmed cases to 38,728, of which 18,265 are males and 20,463 are females.

There are 11 patients in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 685 in home isolation, 44 in institutional isolation, and two in institutional quarantine.

The data shows that 36,962 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus, while 409,154 tests have been conducted.

A breakdown of the new cases showed that three were reported in Region One (Barima-Waini); one in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 10 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 24 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no increases in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The latest vaccination figures show that some 407,341 persons, or 79.4 per cent of the adult population, have received a first dose vaccine, while 288,315 persons, or 56.2 per cent of those 18 years and older, are fully immunised.

Regarding adolescents, some 29,865 persons, or 40.9 per cent of adolescents, have received their first dose,

while 21,107 persons, or 28.9 per cent of the 12-to-17 age cohort, are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Government started administering booster shots last month, after studies around the world show that the efficacy of the vaccines wanes after six months of receiving both doses. So far, over 7000 booster shots have been administered to the adult population.

The Health Ministry had reported that persons who took the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines can use Pfizer as the booster shot; while those who receive Sputnik V would get a Johnson and Johnson dose as a booster, and those with Sinopharm would get another shot of that jab as a booster.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (#24), which are in effect until December 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for everyone 12

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD DECEMBER 17, 2021 UPDATE

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1697

REGION 2

1574

REGION 3

5180

REGION 4

18,072

REGION 5

1460

REGION 6

3589

REGION 7

1795

REGION 8

622

REGION 9

2477

REGION 10

2262

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

44

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

44

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

685

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

11

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

20,463

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

18,265

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

38,728

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

36,962

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

407,341

FULLY IMMUNISED

288,315

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

1026

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use hand-sanitizer 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.

years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six-foot physical distance from others; and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of

COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480, or 6246674 immediately, or visit us at www.health.gov.gy

NEWS

13

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Murdered minibus conductor was robbed on dying bed – family

T

he news of the death of 30-year-old Morven Nurse, who was fatally stabbed on Wednesday by a fellow conductor during an argument over $120, shook those who knew him.

The father of two lost his life at the Route 44 Bus Park, Commerce Street, Georgetown.

Police stated that Nurse and the suspect were at the bus park when an argument broke out between them, during which they began to pelt each other with empty glass bottles and pieces of brick. As the con-

frontation escalated, the suspect whipped out a knife and stabbed Nurse to his chest.

Nurse ran a short distance away before falling to the ground, while the suspect escaped in a minibus. The injured man attempted to get up, but again collapsed to the ground. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died while undergoing surgery.

Following the incident, the Police issued a wanted bulletin for the suspect, who had been identified as 27-year-old

Dead: Morven Nurse

Paul Junior Lynch. The suspect subsequently turned up at the

station in the company of his Attorney.

On Thursday, Guyana Times spoke with the dead man’s sister, Minerva Kingston, who said that her brother was robbed of his jewellery while receiving emergency medical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“When they did taking he to the hospital, he had his chains them on he, but the person that take him there apparently like they take all he chains and they only leaving he with he boots and $1500 and a bottle of per-

fume,” she said.

“The nurse at the hospital said two persons come and say that them is he cousin from Berbice and they collect he chain them, and we don’t have no family or relative up Berbice,” Kingston explained during a phone interview.

The dead man’s sister also recalled the moment she heard the dreaded news.

“I wasn’t around, but according to the information I get, they were arguing over something and they had a little scuffling and it escalated to what

take place yesterday. I heard around 11 something when I was dressing to go to town and I got a call and heard he got stabbed,” the sister related.

She further said that she was informed by a friend that the suspect had been planning to kill her brother all along.

Kingston highlighted that her brother had so many plans – one of which was to own his own home and minibus.

Kingston hopes the suspect face the full brunt of the law for his actions and as such, calls for swift justice.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Golden Grove traffic rank named “Best Cop” for 2021 and Kaieteur Falls, from Roraima Airways. He was also presented with $100,000 and a trophy.

Sergeant Komal Pitama of Regional Division 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was awarded the runner-up best cop position for the year.

Pitama joined the force in 2005, and is performing the functions of the Officer in Charge of Crime in Region 10. He was previously awarded the best cop status. “I am delighted to know that I was selected to be the runner-up; I felt very excited,” he expressed.

For this year, the runner-up managed to solve eight murders, five of which

Deputy Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie and Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken along with the awardees

Best Cop: Sergeant Moalchand Jadunandan

A

s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) hosted its annual award and prize-giving ceremony on Thursday, Sergeant Moalchand Jadunandan of the Golden Grove Police Station, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was lauded for his dedication throughout the year and was named the Force’s “best cop”.

The 35-year-old father of three joined the Force in March 2008 and is now the Subordinate Officer-inCharge of the Golden Grove Traffic Department, having

served as an accident investigator for the past 14 years.

Jadunandan has 238 ticketed offences under his belt with 80 convictions.

“I am very happy to be the best cop in the Guyana Police Force for the first time. The work is very hard, but you gotta be dedicated, be hardworking, be disciplined,” he said.

For his outstanding performance, he was awarded $150,000, from the Queensway Security Service, and a trip for two to the Arrowpoint Nature Resort

Runner-up best cop, Sergeant Komal Pitama

are before the court and the other three are awaiting legal advice.

He also contributed to

intelligence-led operations such as eradication exercises under which $106.1 billion in marijuana fields was destroyed.

“Since I joined the Guyana Police Force, my aim is to ensure that justice prevails, and that is my aim to ensure people get the justice they need and I have a zeal and zest to go after criminals,” Pitama explained.

He was awarded $100,000 and a trophy for being the best cop for his division along with other monetary prizes

for his team.

Meanwhile, a number of other ranks of the GPF who also did exceptionally well this year were recognised and awarded on Thursday at the Force’s Annual Awards.

The awardees received trophies coupled with incentives to the tune of $32.4 million.

A team of investigators and detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received over $1 million in incentives for solving several cases for the year.

Among those cases were the murder of Doctor Colin Roach, who was found dead in his office in November; the murder of 10-year-old Anthony Cort in March and the murder of Indira Lall, a security guard, among other crimes.

Also, two children of fallen officers were awarded $50,000 after participating in a recent regional essay competition.

Other groups such as the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Tactical Services Unit, Police Band, Police Textile Section and

Shop, Presidential Guard, and Information Technology Department, among others, were also awarded.

As it relates to the best cop for each regional division, they were all awarded $100,000 each along with a trophy.

They were identified as CID – Detective Inspector Nigel Stephen; Region One – Constable Arrindell; Region Two – Sergeant Benjamin; Region Three – Constable Smith; Region Four A – Corporal Reid; Region Four B – Sergeant Jadunandan; Region Four C – Assistant Superintendent Jermine Dufu; Region Five – Constable Grant; Region Six – Assistant Superintendent Jemaine Bacon; Region Seven – Sergeant Hyman; Region Eight – Corporal Nandram; Region Nine – Constable Osborne and Region 10 – Sergeant Pitama.

The Sportswoman of the Year was adjudged to be Woman Rural Constable Aaliyah Moore, Sportsman of the Year, Rural Corporal Andrew Fowler, and Sports Personality, Rural Constable Mark Scott.

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PNC's Saturday Congress

PNCR candidates claim delayed elections will be “transparent”

– express confidence in CEO Vincent Alexander

A

‘well-oiled’ machinery is finally prepared for the hosting of the 21st Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), which will see the election of a new Leader and other executives on Saturday.

At a press conference on Thursday, the three candidates vying for leadership of the Party - Joseph Harmon, Aubrey Norton and Richard Van West-Charles - all expressed confidence in the systems that have been put in place to ensure a fair and transparent process.

Harmon indicated, “At the end of it, I believe our party will be stronger. I think all the candidates have committed - as I have committed – to, at the end of this process, whoever comes out to be the person that wins the elections, that I am prepared to work with them to ensure that our party remains strong.”

In addition, Norton told media operatives that they have placed their confidence in Chief Elections Officer Vincent Alexander and all those who are associated with the actual electoral process.

“We recognise the significance of these elections, not only for the party but for the more-than 200,000 people that voted for the coalition, and even those who didn’t vote,” Norton added.

The final candidate, Van West-Charles, explained that the most important part of the congress is the elections process, which

Candidates contesting for the PNC leadership (from left to right): Richard Van West-Charles, Aubrey Norton and Joseph Harmon

has been questioned for its transparency and accountability.

“Like my other two colleagues, I am satisfied. I have confidence in Comrade Alexander, that his oversight and the staff that he has will contribute to the expected transparency and accountability,” he posited.

On the other hand, the appointed Chief Elections Officer, Vincent Alexander, related that a lot of young people will be vying for various positions in the Party.

He, however, reiterated that the incumbent Leader, former President David Granger, will not be present at the congress.

“The incumbent Leader will not be seeking re-election, and every other tier of leadership will see relatively young and new blood vying for positions. We are literally witnessing the seamless transitioning of the party’s leadership…

They have called upon the delegates to cast their votes based on the dispassionate determination of what’s best for the Party and ultimately the country,” said Alexander.

This time around, some 3000 delegates will exercise their franchise to elect new leadership. Spanning 13 polling stations, preliminary results will be available in the wee hours of Sunday.

Over 100 candidates will be vying for positions ranging from Leader, Chairperson, ViceChairpersons, Treasurer, and Central Executive Members.

“The stage has been set for the Congress and, most importantly, the election.

The voters’ list has been prepared after much scrutiny by the stakeholders. The elections machinery has been established, oiled and activated with the concur-

rence of and under the oversight of all of the stakeholders,” Alexander noted.

Last week, immediate past Chairman of the PNCR, Basil Williams, announced that he would no longer be contesting for the party’s leadership post.

Williams had announced his participation in the leadership race after being nominated by members at last month’s Nomination Day. This withdrawal was issued on the day when Congress was initially slat-

ed to be held. The party had rescheduled the Congress for this Saturday after some contentions were raised about the transparency of the elections.

In fact, only last month, party members Annette Ferguson, Ganesh Mahipaul and Carol SmithJoseph stepped down from the Congress Committee over concerns of conflict of interest. Ferguson and Mahipaul – both APNU/ AFC Opposition Members of Parliament – along with Smith-Joseph, had all publicly endorsed candidates who are contesting to become the next PNCR Leader. Smith-Joseph has thrown her support behind front runner Aubrey Norton while the two Parliamentarians have endorsed Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.

Moreover, Mahipaul is also in the race for the PNCR Chairmanship.

Harmon had indicated that if he wins leadership, he would make Mahipaul the next General Secretary of the PNCR. There have been mounting concerns over the electoral process of the up-

coming congress. Party member Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who is also vying for the leadership post, had previously called for current General Secretary Amna Ally to recuse herself from the post to allow for transparency and accountability in the election process. He had also alleged there were efforts by some to sway the PNCR membership to vote in a particular manner.

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16 NEWS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 300 Berbice residents to benefit from house lots in 1st quarter of 2022

– major infrastructural works moving apace to develop housing schemes more than 50 asphaltic concrete roads have been completed across the region in 2021, and some of those have been financed by the Public Works Ministry and other agencies through the RDC’s budgetary allocation.

He has said that while all the thoroughfares which needed attention have not been fixed this year, the

RDC was able to address those roads which were deemed a priority.

The Chairman alluded to the ongoing construction of two major roads at Numbers 52 and 58 villages on the Corentyne, which will soon give farmers access to 50,000 acres of prime farmlands. He also spoke about works progressing at the

$100 million Moleson Creekto-El Dorado Road project.

Additionally, the RDC has been able to conduct major repairs to a number of learning institutions, ensuring proper sanitary facilities are available there. Among those were the Berbice High School (BHS) and the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS).

GTT throws support behind HerVenture app – Company commits to women’s entrepreneurship

Region Six Chairman David Armogan, along with Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, in discussion with a resident

M

ore than 300 residents would receive affordable house lots in three housing schemes in East BerbiceCorentyne (Region Six) before the end of the first quarter of 2022.

This is according to Region Six Chairman David Armogan, who noted that infrastructural works are advancing at the Ordnance Fort Lands and Williamsburg Housing Schemes.

Armogan explained that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is pushing to complete the road and other prominent structures ahead

of the land allocation exercise.

“The Minister has said by the first quarter of next year we should be able to allocate house lots in these areas,” Chairman Armogan has said in a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Since taking office in August 2020, the Government has committed to delivering some 50,000 house lots within its first term in office.

Through the Housing and Water Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), thousands of Guyanese can now

boast ownership of lands via several housing drives hosted nationwide.

However, Armogan has said the RDC is ready to partner with Government to ensure Berbicians also enjoy the services offered by the administration.

“In the Williamsburg area, what we are doing, we are building houses there which will cost about $5.2 million, so people can buy the house on the land,” the Chairman has relayed. He added that 2 contractors have already been selected to construct the homes.

Meanwhile, the Chairman has said that

Officials at the launch of the initiative

T

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Thursday announced its support of the HerVenture app’s efforts to reach and develop women-led businesses.

The technology giant’s decision to collaborate with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, based in the UK, and ActionINVEST Caribbean, based in Guyana, stems from its promise to customers to strengthen the community.

Innovatively targeting, training and developing women-owned businesses would positively lend to the development of Guyana’s economy, and create opportunities for all to benefit. GTT’s integral involvement would assist with the further dissemination and download rate of this innovative platform throughout Guyana.

GTT’s CEO, Damian Blackburn, has said that strengthening the community is one of GTT’s key promises to customers. “If the community has the necessary tools and resources to help (it) “rise”, then we all benefit,” he said. Continuing, he added, “Women in business are entrepreneurs who often

seize new opportunities in the business sector. They are entrepreneurial, hardworking and innovative; this is why we are proud to collaborate with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and support HerVenture users on their business journey.”

HerVenture, launched in Guyana in September 2021 thanks to funding and support from the ExxonMobil Foundation - is a fun, flexible and free award-winning app for women entrepreneurs. Available on Android and iOS platforms, the app provides users with essential business training and support through bite-size lessons, while promoting the user’s confidence to transform their business.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ActionINVEST Caribbean, Davitri Doerga, has said, “The HerVenture app came at an opportune time in Guyana, (when) so many require an easy way to get the knowledge they need to move their ideas and businesses to the next level. In just over 2 months, we have seen well over 2000 women download and utilise the app; and with GTT coming on board, we expect so many more women to benefit. We

therefore encourage women to visit the outreaches across the country and have our team get them started.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Helen McEachern, has related, “We are delighted to be working with GTT to bring business skills and knowledge to even more women entrepreneurs in Guyana through our mobile app, HerVenture. Mobile companies can play a powerful role in steering women to the support, products, and services they need to grow their businesses. Through working with the Foundation and ActionINVEST Caribbean, GTT is helping to not only support the resilience and development of thousands of women-owned businesses, (but) advancing women’s economic empowerment more broadly. We are excited by the great potential our new partnership holds.”

Future users of this app also stand to benefit from the numerous prizes and giveaways offered by GTT through online trivia, coaching seminars, SMS links, and various outreaches this collaboration seeks to conduct.

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coordinated efforts needed to fight AMCHAM Guyana, US COVID-19 pandemic – UN SG Embassy spread Christmas …says harder times ahead if climate crisis persists cheer to 150 children U T he American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana and the US Embassy in Georgetown have teamed up to spread holiday cheer to several orphanages across the country.

In keeping with the true spirit of the holiday season, children at several orphanages were targeted during the drive, amounting to about 150 children aged two to 18.

This year’s outreach was extended to include children outside of Georgetown.

Visits were made to a Sanctuary Children’s Home, Hauraruni International Missionary Girls Home, St Joseph Bosco Orphanage, Canaan Full Gospel Children’s Home, Bal Nivas Shelter, and Camal Home for Battered Women and Homeless Children.

The children swayed to Christmas carols and re-

ceived toys, treats, books, pizza and other items donated by AmCham members. They eagerly gathered around Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and the Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Cullinane as they read “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, a classic Christmas story.

The Ambassador shared, “The act of giving back represents all that the holiday season represents, and I was happy to participate in a Guyanese-led effort.”

AmCham’s President Devindra Kissoon expressed his gratitude to the membership for their generous donations; to AmCham’s executive and board members for their participation and support; and to Ambassador Lynch and all at the U.S. Embassy for their continued guidance and patronage.

This is the third year

that AmCham, in collaboration with the U.S Embassy in Georgetown, has organised the Christmas outreach. This year’s sponsors included GTT, Keen360 Inc, Corum Restaurant Group Incorporated, Buy N Sell Realty Incorporated, IBIS Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals Incorporated, Pinnacle Business Services Incorporated, Massy Distribution Guyana, SOL Guyana Incorporated, Queens Atlantic Investment Incorporated, Hess Corporation, Vitality Accounting and Consultancy Incorporated, Fix-It Hardware, Black and Decker, Crane Worldwide Logistics Guyana Incorporated, Praetorian Executive Protection Services Incorporated, Technip FMC Guyana, and Excel Guyana Incorporated.

Over 200 persons benefit from SEVA/HSS medical outreach at Canal #2 Polder

Food hampers, courtesy of Sewa Guyana and HSS

N

on-profit organisations Sewa International Guyana and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) last Sunday hosted an outreach at Belle West, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD), and more than 200 residents were able to benefit from medical care.

The initiative was held in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which continues to impact the lives of many Guyanese in various communities across Guyana.

Organised by the Sewa, HSS and the Region Health Office, a total of 144 patients were examined and treated, and several were provided with dental services. Also, some 200 food hampers were distributed to the villagers.

Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based, humani-

tarian, nonprofit service organisation registered under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) (3). Founded in 2003, Sewa International is part of a larger movement that was started in India in 1989, and is active in twenty countries, including Guyana.

Sewa serves humanity irrespective of race, colour, religion, gender or nationality.

Sewa International specialises in disaster relief and rehabilitation. Its development programmes focus on family services; child, tribal and refugee welfare; women’s empowerment; health; and education. In addition to its work in the US, it has undertaken development projects in Colombia, Guyana, India, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is a sister organisation to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which

was founded in Kenya in the 1940s. The organisation has since been operating as a non-profit organisation, or NGO, and is currently active in 156 countries. Its estimated 3289 branches provide support and mobilise people who need their help.

It was stated in a report by this publication in October of this year that HSS, in collaboration with Sewa Guyana, donated an oxygen plant to Guyana’s Infectious Diseases Hospital (Ocean View) at Liliendaal, Georgetown. It was reported that the oxygen plant would significantly cut the cost of purchasing oxygen, according to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.

These initiatives, carried out by these various non-profit organisations, have greatly aided Guyana during this period of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned of the need for coordinated approaches to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in reaching the 40 per cent target for vaccination.

In his year-end press stakeout on Thursday, he asserted, “We cannot defeat the pandemic in an uncoordinated way. All countries, especially those that have the potential of responsibilities, must take concrete action in the coming days to make greater progress to achieve WHO’s global 40 per cent target, and be far more ambitious in their efforts to reach 70 per cent of people in all countries by the middle of 2022.”

As the pandemic rages on, he pointed out, inequalities have kept on rising. He said the burden for developing countries has grown heavier – with diminishing resources for recovery, rising inflation and mounting debt.

“To add fuel to the fire, we are still off track in addressing the climate crisis – another amplifier of global injustice and inequality. I am deeply worried. If things do not improve – and improve fast – we face even harder times ahead.”

The United Nations has mobilised for COVID-19 response and recovery. Some two months ago, the World Health Organization unveiled a strategy to vaccinate 40 per cent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 per cent by the middle of next year.

That strategy requires the total commitment of Member States – especially those with vaccine-production capabilities or large supplies. Just days away from the deadline, 98 countries have not been able to meet that end-of-year target.

He reported that 40 of them have not yet even been able to vaccinate 10 per cent of their population.

Meanwhile, in lower-income countries, less than four per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.

And the vaccination rates in high-income countries are eight times higher than in the countries of Africa. At current rates, Africa will not meet the 70 per cent threshold until August 2024.

“Vaccine inequity is giving variants a free pass to run wild — ravaging the health of people and economies in every corner of the globe… COVID-19 is not going away; it is becoming clear that vaccines alone will not eradicate the pandemic.

Vaccines are averting hospitalisation and death for

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

the majority who get them, and slowing the spread; but transmissions show no sign of letting up. This is driven by vaccine inequity, hesitancy and complacency,” Guterres related.

According to the Secretary-General, lopsided COVID-19 recovery efforts are accelerating inequalities and increasing stresses on economies and people.

“Advanced economies were able to mobilise nearly 28 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product into economic recovery. For middle-income countries, that number fell to 6.5 per cent. And even worse, it plummeted to 1.8 per cent for the least developed countries — a tiny percentage of a very small amount.”

Guterres pointed out that the current global financial system is supercharging inequalities and instability. It is a system that allows credit rating agencies to undermine the credibility of developing countries with good growth prospects and vital development needs. Consequently, this makes private finance more risk averse, and international financial institutions alone do not have

sufficient capacities to compensate.

“Meanwhile, inequalities keep widening. Social upheaval and polarisation will be growing, and the risks keep increasing. This is a powder keg for social unrest and instability. It poses a clear and present danger to democratic institutions. It is time to clearly assume the need for reform of the international financial system.”

These points, he cautioned, are linked to two governance failures. As such, it calls for more attention to address these deficits.

“We have a serious governance problem with respect to the prevention, detection and response to pandemics. And we have a serious governance problem in relation to the international financial system. I am determined that 2022 must be the year in which we finally address the deficits in both governance systems, and this is a central aspect of the common agenda. In making those much-needed reforms, we will move to a much more fair, peaceful and sustainable world,” the UN official outlined.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

Regional

T&T: Mortuaries overpacked US and Canadian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti released by gang with COVID-19 victims

Andrew Jagan, a worker at Dass Funeral Home, prepares a coffin for a COVID-19 victim’s funeral service at Maraj Avenue, Marabella.

W

ith 328 COVID-19 deaths already in December, Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) are now in contingency mode, sending corpses to funeral homes as mortuaries are over capacity. Guardian Media has learned that the mortuary at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital reached its limit of 25 for COVID-19 on Monday.

These corpses are kept separate from others to avoid contamination. If not, it could affect how families of non-COVID-19 victims

can bury their dead.

As soon as COVID-19 corpses leave the San Fernando General Hospital, approximately five others enter the morgue.

The mortuary had 48 corpses, 18 above its capacity. The Point Fortin Hospital, a fully COVID-19 care facility, is filled. For the past three weeks, the SouthWest Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) used Elite Funeral Home in Point Fortin to store excess bodies.

Elite’s managing director, Reynold Porter-Lee,

said the funeral home stored bodies for the SWRHA before COVID-19.

However, Porter-Lee said these requests increased in the past few weeks. He said there was no storage issue as most of the COVID-19 deaths were not people from the borough, and casualties among the residents were low. He explained that the hospital would call the home and make arrangements for storage.

“They would call us and let us know they would be bringing this body to be stored until they make contact with the family. Then they would come back to take the body, and the family and funeral home would retrieve it,” Porter-Lee said.

With December being the third deadliest month of the pandemic, the SWRHA acknowledged it has a higher than usual number of total corpses to manage at its San Fernando and Point Fortin mortuaries.

However, it said the mortuaries were managing the surge and storage was not yet overwhelmed. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

T

he last 12 Canadian and American missionaries from a group kidnapped in October in Haiti have been released, Police said on Thursday, ending an ordeal that brought global attention to the Caribbean nation’s growing problem of gang abductions.

The group, which was abducted by a gang known as 400 Mawozo after visiting an orphanage, originally numbered 17 people on a trip organised by Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM).

Five of the hostages had already been freed in recent weeks, and the final dozen were found by authorities on a mountain called Morne à Cabrit, said Police spokes-

man Garry Derosier.

“Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe,” CAM said in a statement. “Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months.”

The 400 Mawozo gang, which controls territory to the east of the capital Portau-Prince, had said it was seeking a ransom of US$1 million for each of the missionaries.

The gang’s leader, who goes by the nickname Lanmo Sanjou and has appeared in Internet videos wearing a Spider-Man mask, had said he was willing to kill the hostages.

It was not immediately clear whether any ransom was paid. Asked about

Migrants in caravan protest to demand better treatment in Mexico

palace and demanded that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s Government change its policies. “(We demand) dialogue and solutions, to have legal certainty for every one of the migrants who left Tapachula on October 23 and on November 18,” caravan organiser Luis Villagran said, referring to the city near the Guatemalan border that is a waystation for many migrants.

“We want to have legal certainty for every one of them. For them to have residence, permanent residence in Mexico, that’s what we propose.”

Some migrants spoke of their desire to reach the United States.

“The idea is to reach the north. To go all the way up there, because we’ll be better over there (in the United States),” said Josue Arias, a migrant from Cuba.

“Here (in Mexico) certain places are good, but I think it’s more dangerous with all the cartels. It makes me a little afraid. So the idea is to go north,” Arias said.

Another Cuban migrant, Lesbia Galana, said, “We came to ask the President for humane treatment for migrants, to allow us to reach the (US) border. If he is able to provide buses to reach the border, that would be great and provide papers for those wishing to stay in Mexico, so that they are able to work and have access to medical and public services.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

five and 11 years old. The agency granted such approval for the Pfizer shot on Thursday.

Anvisa said it had reported the emailed threats to Police and Prosecutors.

In a live weekly broadcast on multiple social media platforms, Bolsonaro said he does not interfere in Anvisa’s internal affairs, but had asked for the officials’ names so that the public “could come to its own judgments”.

Bolsonaro has consistently cast doubt on the ef-

ficacy and safety of coronavirus vaccines and sharply criticised all forms of social distancing. His handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed over 618,000 lives in Brazil, is widely cited as a reason his popularity has plummeted this year.

Most recent polls have the right-wing former army captain’s approval rating in the low 20s.

Anvisa did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

(Reuters)

Ecuador commission to investigate prison violence – President

E

cuadorean President Guillermo Lasso on Thursday announced an expert commission to investigate and help end prison violence that has killed more than 300 people incarcerated in the country this year.

Lasso, a conservative ex-banker, declared a state of emergency in the prison system in September, after 119 inmates died in violent confrontations at the Litoral penitentiary in coastal Guayaquil.

Another 62 inmates were killed in a November confrontation at the same jail, the nation’s most violent.

“The commission will analyse the causes and effects of the current prison situation, with an end to establishing an internal co-existence pact with dignity, humanity, and responsibility,” Lasso said at the signing of a decree to create the nine-member group.

“One of the major intentions is to put an end to the mafias which dominate the prisons, allowing the voluntary hand-over of weapons and fomenting social rehabilitation,” he said. “We cannot lose more time in the face of the prison crisis.”

The group includes a human rights expert, a clinical

psychologist, a criminal lawyer, a Catholic priest and an evangelical pastor, and will operate for six months.

The Government has blamed the violence on power struggles between drug trafficking mafias, but the prison system has long been criticised for poor living conditions for its 38,500 residents and 30 per cent over-crowding.

Lasso has already sent in the military to help control prisons, announced legal reforms to extend sentences for gang leaders, and released prisoners with serious illnesses. (Excerpt from Reuters)

the issue, Desrosiers said he could not provide any further details on the release.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said of the missionaries: “We welcome reports that they are free and getting the care they need after their ordeal.”

The 400 Mawozo, a self-mocking name that loosely translates to “400 idiots”, started out as local thieves in the Croix-deBouquets area east of the capital before growing into one of the country’s most feared gangs.

Gangs have extended their control of territory in Haiti since the assassination in July of President Jovenel Moïse. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A man holds a child during a protest in favour of migration, under the slogan “Migration is not a crime,” in Mexico City, Mexico, December 16, 2021

M

igrants travelling by caravan through Mexico in hopes of reaching the United States held a rally in Mexico City on Thursday, demanding that the Mexican Government do more to help them.

Led by protesters carrying a banner reading, “To migrate is not a crime, the criminal is a government that represses migrants”, the migrants, some with very young children, marched through Mexico City to the Government

Lucia Hiriart, widow of Chilean dictator Pinochet, dies at age 99 Brazil’s Bolsonaro wants names of vaccineapproving officials despite death threats

L

ucia Hiriart, the widow of late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, has died at the age of 99, her family said.

Her death on Thursday came three days before a polarised presidential runoff in Chile in which one of the two candidates defended the legacy of Pinochet’s military regime.

Hiriart aroused strong reactions among Chileans for the perceived influence she had on Pinochet and for the fortune accumulated by her family. Her estate managed a controversial foundation, which was subjected to several judicial

probes.

“At the age of 99 and surrounded by family and loved ones, my beloved grandmother passed away.

She leaves an immense mark on our hearts,” her granddaughter, who goes

by Karina Pinochet on Twitter, posted on the social network.

“She gave her life to the service of Chileans and history will know how to value her great work and her work for our beloved country. Rest in Peace.”

Pinochet, a military general, overthrew the nation’s democratically elected leftist government in a bloody

1973 coup. During his 17year reign, more than 3000 people were killed or disappeared and tens of thousands tortured.

During the dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s, Chile also established much of its current market-oriented economic system, which helped drive decades of growth but also spurred inequality.

In a biography by the journalist Alejandra Matus, Hiriart is portrayed as a tough character who often criticised her husband. The two were married from 1943 to 2006, when Pinochet died. (Excerpt from Reuters)

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that he has asked for the names of health officials that had approved COVID-19 vaccines for children in Brazil, saying he planned to make their identities public despite previous death threats.

In late October, Brazil’s health regulator, Anvisa, released a statement saying that five of its directors had received death threats over the possible approval of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged between

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

19

Around the World

Chief says vaccine answer OILNEWS OIL NEWS WTO close, but facing effort to block it

T Oil rises around 2%

on strong US demand, upbeat Fed outlook

O

il prices rose around two per cent on Thursday, as record US implied demand, falling crude stockpiles, and an upbeat economic outlook from the Federal Reserve trumped fears of the Omicron coronavirus variant hurting global consumption.

Crude and other risk assets such as equities also got a boost after the Fed gave an upbeat economic outlook, lifting investor spirits even as the US central bank flagged a longawaited end to monetary stimulus.

"The market was fearful of what the Fed was going to do, and now that it's in the rearview and we know what we're dealing with, the market is rallying," said Phil Flynn, a senior analyst in Chicago.

Brent crude oil rose US$1.14, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at US$75.02 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$1.51, or 2.1 per cent, to settle at US$72.38 a barrel, a 2.13 per cent gain.

Demand has been rising in 2021 after last year's collapse.

On Wednesday, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said product supplied by refineries, a proxy for demand, surged in the latest week to 23.2 million barrels per day (bpd).

"These figures suggest a healthy economic backdrop," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. "Although the Fed's announcement triggered a jump in both oil and equity prices, the withdrawal of economic support together with the Omicron crisis are the two major headwinds the oil market is currently facing," he added.

Lending further price support, the EIA also reported that US crude stocks fell 4.6 million barrels, more than analysts had forecast.

In Saudi Arabia, crude oil exports in October rose for a sixth straight month to their highest since April 2020, the Joint Organisation Data Initiative (JODI) said on Thursday.

Limiting gains were worries about the virus and the prospect of a supply surplus next year, as flagged by the International Energy Agency in its monthly report this week.

Britain and South Africa reported record daily COVID-19 cases while many firms across the globe asked employees to work from home, which could limit demand going forward.

On Thursday, AstraZeneca and Regeneron reported contrasting data on the effectiveness of their COVID-19 antibody therapies against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

US-based Regeneron said its REGEN-COV therapy, also called Ronapreve, is less effective against Omicron, while Anglo-Swedish rival AstraZeneca said a lab study found that its antibody cocktail Evusheld retained neutralising activity against Omicron. (Excerpt from Reuters)

COVID: UK cases hit new record as booster drive continues

A

record number of daily coronavirus cases have been reported across the UK for the second day running, with 88,376 infections confirmed on Thursday.

England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said the Omicron variant could rise "incredibly fast", but its peak subside quickly due to boosters.

There was also a record for top-up vaccines with 745,183 third or booster doses being given on Wednesday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to use "caution" in the face of the variant.

But the Prime Minister

insisted England was not being put into lockdown by stealth, after some of his own Members of Parliament had accused the Government of putting hospitality under an "effective lockdown".

Meanwhile, the Queen has cancelled her traditional pre-Christmas lunch as a precautionary measure amid the surge of the Omicron variant.

And Wales has introduced a two-stage plan in response to coronavirus with guidance – such as taking a lateral flow test ahead of socialising – for the Christmas period before legal restrictions come into force on December 27. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he World Trade Organisation is close to resolving a dispute over how to spread COVID-19 vaccines more widely and fairly, but facing an "orchestrated effort" to block a deal, the body's chief said on Thursday.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters she had held talks this month with Trade Ministers from India, South Africa, the European Union and the United States on how to break an impasse over the issue of intellectual property rights.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Agreement is needed to allow some technology transfer to developing countries without manufacturers there at risk of being sued, she said.

This could help redress the gap between the vaccination rate in Africa of only 8eight per cent and 67 per cent in developed countries that she pointed to, as well as providing vaccines that were affordable and easy to distribute.

"Ease of use, easy of distribution and affordability.

These are things that could be unleashed much more if we came to these kinds of agreements," she said.

"We are getting close to an answer, a solution," she said.

"On the other hand, it looks to me that there is an orchestrated effort to block success on the issue."

India and South Africa have proposed waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, but developed members such as the European Union, Britain and Switzerland argue it would be better to use existing WTO rules that allow countries to award licences to local producers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rights groups report wave of abuses against Tigrayans in Ethiopian region

A

rmed forces from Ethiopia's Amhara region have stepped up killings, mass detentions, and expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans in neighbouring western Tigray, Amnesty

International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.

Separately, Tigrayan television reported that air raids by the Ethiopian military on the town of Alamata,

EU leaders agree on new sanctions with US if Russia invades Ukraine

Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Latvia's Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins arrive for the European Union Summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, December 16, 2021

E

uropean Union leaders agreed on Thursday they would impose further economic sanctions on Russia – in tandem with the United States and Britain –if the Russian military invaded Ukraine, although they encouraged more diplomacy with Moscow.

Baltic, central and eastern European States believe the bloc itself is also under assault from Russia on multiple fronts, with Lithuania citing a risk of possible Russian military strikes from Belarus, a close Russian ally.

"Any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response, including restrictive measures coordinated with partners," leaders said in their final summit statement, referring to US and UK allies.

The West imposed economic sanctions on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, with measures tar-

geting Russia's energy, banking, and defence sectors.

Although no sanctions were debated at the summit, diplomats have said new measures could include targeting Russian oligarchs, banning EU transactions with private Russian banks and possibly cutting all Russian banks from the SWIFT network that is the lifeblood of international money transfers.

EU leaders said the bloc "encourages diplomatic efforts and supports the Normandy format in achieving the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements", referring to 2014-2015 peace deals agreed with Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia.

The warnings at an EU summit were some of the most direct in recent weeks as the United States and its NATO allies seek to deter any possible Russian attack on Ukraine and reduce Moscow's margin for surprise. Many NATO allies are also EU Member States. (Excerpt from Reuters)

in southern Tigray, had killed 28 people. Reuters could not independently verify the report and telephone links to the area are down.

Government and military spokespeople did not return messages seeking comment.

Amhara regional spokesman Gizachew Muluneh described the allegations of abuses in western Tigray as "groundless and unjustifiable".

Ethiopian Government spokesman Legesse Tulu said Tigrayan forces were to blame for any atrocities.

Western Tigray has seen some of the worst violence in the year-long conflict pitting the federal government and its allies from the Amhara region against the Tigray

People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which used to rule Ethiopia.

Both Amhara and Tigray claim the fertile fields of western Tigray, which are now controlled by Amhara forces and the Ethiopian military. The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs has said that 1.2 million people have been forced out of western Tigray since the conflict began, including more than 10,000 in the last week of November.

Amnesty and HRW said 31 people in western Tigray interviewed by phone in November and December described a surge of abuses

by Amhara security forces and militias. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China’s biotech sector sanctioned over Uighur rights abuses

T

he Biden Administration has slapped trade sanctions on several Chinese companies and institutions, citing national security and China’s oppression of its largely Muslim Uighur minority population.

The US Commerce Department said on Thursday that it was blacklisting a number of Chinese technology companies, accusing the Government in Beijing of advancing hightech surveillance on the Uighurs.

The move, which bars the listed companies from trading or exchanging products with the United States, was announced on the same day the US Congress passed legislation targeting exports from China’s western Xinjiang region.

“The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately,

the [People’s Republic of China] is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

The Commerce Department also added China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes to the US list of companies and institutions subject to export controls.

The move follows a US investment ban placed last week on Chinese facial recognition company SenseTime, and could worsen already rocky relations between Beijing and Washington.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC did not respond immediately to a request for comment from the Reuters news agency.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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ARIES (March 21April 19)

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(April 20May 20)

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Pay more attention to what's ahead of you and less to what's behind. Letting go of what's no longer working for you will liberate you from routine and boredom. A proposal looks inviting.

Uncertainty will leave you feeling restless. Rethink your long-term plans and make adjustments to suit trends.

A heartfelt discussion with someone you respect will put your mind at ease.

The changes happening around you will lead to a learning experience. Be receptive, and everything will fall into place. An interesting connection will prove fruitful.

A learning curve is apparent. Be open to suggestions and willing to do the legwork, and you will achieve your goal. A promise or commitment will bring you closer to someone special.

Surround yourself with reliable people who helped you in the past. How you present what you want to pursue will lead to valuable support. Make sure your research is foolproof.

Keep your facts straight, and you'll avoid trouble. Use your imagination when trying to please a loved one. Plan a special event that will put you in the spotlight. You will accomplish plenty if you are direct about what you want.

Embrace life, and you'll rise to the top. The way you treat others and what you bring to the table will put you in a leadership position.

Kindness and generosity will help you get your way.

Take an innovative approach to life, and you'll discover something about who you are and what makes you happy. Personal growth and a healthy attitude are favored. Take a moment to reflect and reappraise.

SAGITTARIUS Remember the past and how others treated you be(Nov. 23fore you trust certain people Dec. 21) again. Scrutinize situations thoroughly and determine what's best before you proceed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Energy, passion and determination will help you flourish. If you do something uplifting or help a cause, you will gain significant satisfaction and knowledge. Follow your heart.

Spend more time at home and prepare for upcoming events. Don't let a lastminute change of plans ruin your day. Do what you can, and you'll be happy with the results.

You'll misread what someone is trying to convey.

(Feb. 20Don't overreact or start a March 20) feud when keeping the peace is in your best interest. Use intelligence to combat any negativity you encounter.

PISCES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

21

COVID-19 outbreaks mean 4 more weekend Premier League games called off H

alf of the weekend’s Premier League fixtures are now off after four more games were postponed because of COVID-19 outbreaks. The latest games affected are Southampton v Brentford, Watford v Crystal Palace, West Ham v Norwich and Everton v Leicester.

Earlier on Thursday, Manchester United’s match with Brighton on Saturday was called off, along with Leicester City’s game with Tottenham on Thursday, which is part of the league’s midweek programme.

On Wednesday, Brentford boss Thomas Frank called for this weekend’s top-flight fixtures to be postponed to let clubs deal with the outbreaks, but the Premier League is so far resisting that.

“All other fixtures due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned,” it said in a statement.

Liverpool players Fabinho, Curtis Jones and Virgil van Dijk will also miss Thursday’s match with Newcastle after

suspected positive tests, although manager Jurgen Klopp said the club did not ask for a postponement.

“Honestly, I think at one point we have to make clear what exactly the rules are; but, of course, with three players out and (with) this squad, we wouldn’t have asked to not play a football game,” he told BT Sport.

Thursday’s other match, between Chelsea and Everton, is set to go ahead despite four of the London side’s players testing positive - Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and the injured Ben Chilwell.

A total of nine top-flight matches have been cancelled over the past week, the others being Tottenham’s match against Brighton last Sunday, Brentford’s game with Manchester United on Tuesday, and Burnley’s match against Watford on Wednesday.

The Premier League has said there was “an increase in positive COVID-19 cases” at Leicester on Thursday, while

Manchester United have an ongoing outbreak.

United said they would also suspend training at their Carrington base for “a short period, to help reduce risk of further transmission”.

The club added in a statement: “The health of players and staff is our priority. Given the number of players and support staff having to isolate due to COVID-19, the club had no option other than to request the match be rearranged. We regret any disappointment and inconvenience caused to fans by the postponement.”

L e i c e s t e r Manager Brendan Rodgers said on Wednesday that an initial request to cancel their game with Tottenham had been rejected, with the club expecting to be without nine players because of COVIDrelated issues and injuries.

Spurs also wanted the game postponed, to use the date to play their Europa Conference League game with Rennes, which was called off last week after a COVID outbreak.

Man United's match with Brighton on Saturday was called off

“In light of the new information, Leicester applied [on Thursday] for the fixture to be called off due to an ongoing outbreak within the squad, which has resulted in more players and staff testing positive for COVID-19 today,” read a Premier League statement.

“This has left the club with an insufficient number of players available to fulfil the game.”

A Leicester statement read: “Given the increase in positive tests among firstteam personnel, first-team operations at Seagrave [training ground] will now be closed for 48 hours, serving as a circuit breaker to help reduce the risk

of further infection.

“First-team players and staff will undergo a subsequent round of testing on Saturday.”

The Premier League added: “Regarding Manchester United’s game on Saturday [against Brighton], the club continues to have an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak within their squad, which has left them unable to field a team for the match at Old Trafford.

“A significant number of COVID-19 cases led to their game against Brentford being called off earlier this week, and today [Thursday] additional positive tests have been confirmed.”

Brighton boss Graham Potter questioned how long “football can continue on the path it’s on”, after revealing

his COVID-hit team wanted Wednesday’s game against Wolves, which they lost 1-0, to be postponed.

The Premier League said it “assessed applications on a case-by-case basis”, and decisions are “based on existing rules and COVID-19 postponement guidance issued to all clubs”.

It added: “[The board] will assess a number of factors, including the ability of a club to field a team; the status, severity and potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at the club; and the ability of the players to safely prepare for and play the match.

“The board must also consider the wider risks to the opposition and other people the club may come into contact with.” (BBC Sport)

Mercedes will not pursue appeal against F1 title-deciding Abu Dhabi result Preparations on track for ly analyse what happened in Abu Dhabi, and to improve the robustness of rules, governance and decision-making in Formula 1”.

In a lengthy statement, they said they “welcomed” the FIA inviting teams and drivers to take part in the investigation.

Why have Mercedes stood down?

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff (left) has been angered by the way rules were applied in Abu Dhabi

M

ercedes have decided not to pursue their appeal against the results of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Their move follows a decision by governing body the FIA to conduct a “detailed analysis” of the end of the race and an admission it was “tarnishing” Formula 1’s image.

Mercedes said they “welcomed” the move, and would “hold the FIA accountable”.

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull overtook Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on the last lap to clinch the drivers’ title.

Mercedes also offered congratulations to Verstappen and Red Bull, adding: “We would like to express our sincere respect for your achievements this season. You made this F1 championship title fight truly epic.”

Mercedes had two protests rejected by F1 officials

on Sunday, with the team arguing that Race Director Michael Masi did not apply the rules correctly. The Australian appeared not to follow standard protocol on restarting the race after a laterace safety-car period. His decisions left Hamilton, who had led for the vast majority of the race and was on course for the world title, as a sitting duck on old tyres, with Verstappen behind him on fresh rubber.

Mercedes had 96 hours after the race in which to lodge their appeal, which would have been heard by the FIA’s International Court of Appeal, the final appeal tribunal for international motorsport.

Mercedes said they had been in “constructive dialogue” with the FIA since the race in an attempt to “create clarity for the future”.

The team were satisfied with the decision to “thorough-

Mercedes said they protested against the results of the race “because the safety car regulations were applied in a new way that affected the race result, after Lewis had been in a commanding lead and on course to win the World Championship”.

Masi made two key decisions that appear to be against the rules. He chose to allow only some of the lapped cars that were interspersed through the order past the leading cars.

He also did not follow the stipulations in the rules around the timing of the restart of the race once the lapped cars had been allowed through.

These decisions meant that not all drivers in the field were treated equally Verstappen had a clear run at Hamilton, for example, but there were still lapped cars between the Dutchman and third-placed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari - and they ensured the

safety car came in a lap earlier than it should have done according to the rules.

The race was restarted for one lap, and the Dutchman passed Briton Hamilton to win the race and take the drivers’ title.

The FIA initially defended Masi’s decisions. The stewards, in rejecting Mercedes’ protests on Sunday, claimed the next clause in the rules allowed Masi to do what he did, and cited a rule that gave him authority over the safety car.

But the FIA’s decision to launch a review of the events of the race is an effective admission that mistakes were made.

The FIA’s statement did not mention Masi, whose actions in the race are at the centre of the controversy. His future as Race Director is in doubt.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff criticised Masi on Thursday for his decision-making.

“I am not interested in having a conversation with Masi,” Wolff said. “The decisions that have been taken in the last four minutes of this race have robbed Lewis of a deserved world championship.

Entertainment should follow sport, and no decision should happen contrary to the rules just to spice up the action.” (BBC Sport)

FastElaine Foundation initiative in Banana Ground on Saturday

P

Elaine Thompson-Herah

reparations for a community treat in Elaine Thompson-Herah’s hometown of Banana Ground in Manchester on Saturday have been progressing nicely, with a number of sponsors coming on board to support the initiative.

The Tokyo Olympic triple champion, who was conferred with an Honorary Degree Doctor of Laws by the University of Technology on Sunday, and her husband Derron, had planned to host a treat for children in the community. However, on the advice of health experts amidst concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, those plans have been changed.

The couple, via the FastElaine Foundation, will

now distribute care packages containing household items from tents set up in a ‘townsquare-type’ setting, Derron explained on Thursday.

The tents were donated by Elaine’s sponsors NCB and Flow, and there will be sanitisation stations and temperature checks. Masks would also be distributed should any of the residents show up not wearing one.

The distribution of care packages is being scheduled to begin at about 1 pm, and will last two-to-three hours, as the organisers want to complete the process before it gets dark.

Herah revealed that in addition to NCB and Flow, a number of other sponsors have come on board. They include Honey Bun, Tradewinds Citrus Limited via their Tru Juice brand, Eve Foods, and Red Bull. “I am really glad for their support, especially considering that they came on at short notice,” said Herah, who also revealed that other potential sponsors have been reaching out offering their support for the initiative, which would be the first for FastElaine Foundation that will have its official launch in January 2022. (Sportsmax)

22

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam lead Pakistan to 3-0 sweep Y

et another clinical display from Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam has powered Pakistan to their highest successful chase in T20I cricket as they beat West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20I in Karachi.

Batting first on a wellrolled surface, West Indies rode on Nicholas Pooran’s 37ball 64 and breezy 40s from Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks to post a challenging 207 for 3. But a 158-run stand between Rizwan and Babar in just 15.1 overs all but ensured a 3-0 scoreline.

Babar contributed 79 o f f 53 balls, while Rizwan was the aggressor, hitting 87 off just 45, with the help of ten fours and

from Iftikhar, but Pooran thumped him for two sixes.

Pooran was equally belligerent against Hasnain, whom he took for 19 off six balls, including two sixes and a four. Pooran’s assault meant West Indies didn’t lose the momentum despite Darren Bravo struggling on 17 off 16 balls at one stage.

Pooran brought up his half-century off 31 balls, but after his dismissal, West Indies could score only 15 off the remaining 14 balls.

King and Brooks added quick runs at the top

The Babar-Rizwan show

Pakistan won the series 3-nil

Pooran slammed a half-century

Rizwan was the player of the series

three sixes. During his knock, Rizwan also completed 2000 runs in T20 cricket this year.

When the winning runs were scored, Pakistan still had seven balls remaining.

Earlier in the day, the game was put in jeopardy after Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein,

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings Brandon King b Mohammad Wasim 43 Shamarh Brooks c Iftikhar Ahmed b Shahnawaz Dahani 49 Nicholas Pooran (c)† c Mohammad Nawaz b Mohammad Wasim 64 Darren Bravo not out 34 Rovman Powell not out 6 Extras (lb 4, nb 2, w 5) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 10.35) 207/3 Did not bat: Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Dominic Drakes, Hayden Walsh, Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-66 (Brandon King, 5.6 ov), 2-99 (Shamarh Brooks, 9.4 ov), 3-192 (Nicholas Pooran, 17.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammad Nawaz 3-0-36-0 Mohammad Hasnain 4-0-49-0 Shahnawaz Dahani 4-0-23-1 Mohammad Wasim 4-0-44-2 Shadab Khan 4-0-36-0 Iftikhar Ahmed 1-0-15-0

PAKISTAN INNINGS (TARGET: 208 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Mohammad Rizwan † c †Pooran b Drakes

87 Babar Azam (c) c Shepherd b Smith 79 Fakhar Zaman c Brooks b Shepherd 12 Asif Ali not out 21 Iftikhar Ahmed not out 1 Extras (nb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (18.5 Ov, RR: 11.04) 208/3 Did not bat: Haider Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Hasnain, Shahnawaz Dahani Fall of wickets: 1-158 (Babar Azam, 15.1 ov), 2-184 (Mohammad Rizwan, 17.2 ov), 3-195 (Fakhar Zaman, 18.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Gudakesh Motie 4-0-29-0 Romario Shepherd 3.5-0-53-1 Dominic Drakes 4-0-37-1 Odean Smith 3-0-34-1 Hayden Walsh 2-0-30-0 Oshane Thomas 2-0-25-0

and Justin Greaves had tested positive for

COVID-19, but both teams decided to go ahead with the match. That, however, meant West Indies had to field a severely depleted side, as they were already without Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers - all of whom had tested positive at the start of the tour - and Devon Thomas, who has a finger injury. The side, though, put up their best performance of the series, but that wasn’t enough to prevent a whitewash.

King’s birthday bash

On his 27th birthday, King decided to throw caution

to the wind and open his account with back-to-back fours off Mohammad Nawaz in the first over. On both occasions, he gave himself room and hit the ball through the off side.

That remained his modus operandi for most of his innings, even as he didn’t middle the ball all the time.

Nawaz came in for more punishment in his next over. First, Brooks drilled him past midon, and then King hit the last three balls of the over for six, four and four.

From the other end, King fetched three fours across Mohammad Hasnain’s two overs, and as a result, West Indies motored to fifty in just Babar Azam was 4.2 overs. among the runs O n the penultimate ball of the powerplay, King once again backed away and launched Mohammad Wasim Jr for a 98-metre six, the ball landing on the roof of the deep-mid-

wicket stands.

Wasim, though, made a comeback the very next ball, uprooting King’s off stump as the batter failed in his attempt to late-cut a fuller delivery.

Brooks cuts loose

West Indies finished the powerplay on 66 for 1. Brooks, who was batting on 21 off 16 balls at that point, decided it was his turn to cut loose.

He skipped down the track against Nawaz, but ended up skying it towards long-on, where Iftikhar Ahmed and Hasnain, running in from long-off, messed up their calling, and despite both fielders being next to each other, neither got their hands to the ball.

Shadab Khan ended up paying the price for that drop, as Brooks hit him for three sixes in four balls in the next over. But just like King, he fell short of his half-century.

Shahnawaz Dahani hurried him with a short ball and had him caught at deep midwicket.

Pooran propels WI further

The Pakistan bowlers had bowled West Indies out in the first two T20Is, but on Thursday night, there was no respite for those bowlers.

With two left-handers in the middle, Babar Azam tried to sneak in an over of offspin

GFF-GNFWA Women’s Super-16...

Fruta Conquerors, GDF book semifinal spots

T

he ladies of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Fruta Conquerors were the latest teams to book their spots in the quarterfinal of the Guyana Football FederationGuyana National Women’s Football Association (GNFWA) Super-16 year-end festival.

On Tuesday afternoon at the GFF’s National Training Centre, Providence, GDF and Upper Mazaruni ladies were locked in an intense battle, which eventually boiled down to a nail-biting penalty shootout.

GDF Goalkeeper Ruth George and her opposite number Katrina King of Upper Mazaruni were made to work hard for their money, as they were tasked with blocking shoot after shot in

The GDF women’s team

each team’s pursuit of the winning strike.

Eventually, both teams went to the penalty line, with the goalies facing their toughest test yet. The penalty kicks went the way of GDF, with the disciplined ranks prevailing 3-2 over Upper Mazaruni.

The following day, Fruta Conquerors met Moruca at the same venue. It was a complete onslaught by the Tucville- based team as they romped to an 8-0 victory over the ladies from Region 1 (Barima- Waini). Shamya Daniels led the way with a glamourous hattrick following strikes in the 36th, 45th and 61st minutes. National Under-17 player Sandra Johnson and Jalade Trim both contributed braces in

the 6th & 40th and 58th & 87th respectively to bring Fruta Conquerors’ tally up to 7. A successful penalty off the boots of Amanda McKenzie in the 8th minute was the cherry on top for Fruta.

With GDF’s victory over Upper Mazaruni, their quarterfinal game against Swan is now set. The game will be played on Monday, December 20th. Meanwhile, Fruta Conquerors will wait on the winner of an encounter between Foxy Ladies and Lethem to decide their quarterfinal opponent, slated for Tuesday, December 21st.

Next on the GFFGNWFA Super 16 roster, Santos will do battle with New Amsterdam United this Saturday, December 18th.

Chasing a daunting total, Babar and Rizwan didn’t have the luxury of time to get their eye in. But the two are in such good form that, without taking any risk, they kept striking at around ten an over throughout their partnership.

There were drives through covers and down the wicket, sweeps along the ground and over the infield, and hard-run ones and twos. Rizwan was the first to reach his half-century, off just 26 balls; Babar took 40 balls to bring up his.

While Rizwan did heave a couple over deep square leg, apart from slog-sweeping debutant Gudakesh Motie, Babar didn’t hit his first six until the 13th over. That, too, when Oshane Thomas provided the necessary pace.

Clearing his front leg, he creamed Thomas over the wide long-off boundary, before hitting the next two balls for fours.

The only chance that came West Indies’ way was when Babar went to cut Motie in the seventh over, but Pooran put down the outside edge. Babar was on 28 then, Pakistan on 62. Babar eventually fell to Odean Smith, hitting a knuckle ball to long-off, when Pakistan needed 50 from five overs.

The finishing touches

If West Indies were thinking of a comeback, Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman didn’t let that happen. When Rizwan miscued a full toss from Dominic Drakes with Pooran taking the catch near short fine leg, the equation had come down to 24 needed from 16 balls.

Asif Ali (21* off 7) then hit a flurry of boundaries to level the scores. With one run required, Romario Shepherd had Asif skying the ball towards long-on, where Rovman Powell dropped the catch.

That one ball encapsulated the series from West Indies’ point of view: this young bunch has the potential, but they still need to work on their skills. (ESPNcricinfo)

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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23

Trophy Stall Badminton finals on today other semi saw another pair of national players prevailing. This time it was Akili Haynes & Tyrese Jeffrey who overcame

In the mixed doubles semis, Akili Haynes & Priyanna Ramdhani made light work of Jonathan Mangra & Shivannie

The Women’s Doubles saw Ayanna Watson & Emily Ramdhani taking the third-place accolade, following a three-set contest

Akili Haynes & Priyanna Ramdhani vs Easa Sanichara & Priyanka Shivnath in action during the mixed doubles semifinals

R

esuming on Wednesday evening, the Trophy Stall Christmas Doubles Tournament heated up at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). With the

semifinal round and thirdplace playoffs completed on Wednesday evening, the various finals in the doubles’ tournament are set for Friday evening at the same venue.

In the Men’s doubles semifinals, Narayan Ramdhani & Jonathan Mangra took a textbook two-set victory over Easa Sanichara & Matthew Beharry, 21-15, 21-7. The

West Indies/Pakistan ODIs postponed till June 2022 due to COVID-19 outbreak

Five additional members of the West Indies camp tested positive for COVID-19

T

he ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies have been postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 virus among the visiting delegation.

Five additional members of the touring party have tested positive for the virus after PCR tests were conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday.

Shai Hope, Justin Greaves and Akeal Hosein were the players who tested positive, along with Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick and Team Physician Dr Akshai Mansingh. These latest infections come on the heels of Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase and Sheldon Cottrell testing positive just prior to the start of the tour.

All will remain in isolation until they produce negative tests.

It is against this back-

ground that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have issued a joint statement announcing the postponement of the three scheduled ODIs. “On Thursday morning, and as part of the PCB COVID-19 Protocols, Rapid Antigen Tests were conducted on the remaining 15 West Indies players and six-player support personnel. All 21 members of the West Indies touring party have returned negative test results. As such, Thursday’s T20 International (T20I) proceeded as planned,” the statement said.

However, taking into consideration both the teams’ welfare as well as limited resources in the West Indies side for the ODIs, it has been agreed that the series, which forms part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, will be postponed

and rescheduled for early June 2022.”

This, they said, would provide the West Indies with an equal opportunity to field their best available players for the World Cup qualification matches.

The West Indies team members who returned negative results following Wednesday’s PCR and today’s Rapid Antigen tests will depart Pakistan after tonight’s match. Those who have tested positive will complete their isolation in Karachi before their travel arrangements are finalized, to allow them to rejoin their families in time for Christmas celebrations.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team members, all of whom have returned PCR negative after Wednesday’s tests, will also be leaving the Managed Event Environment after tonight’s third. (Sportsmax)

A snippet of the Women’s Doubles semifinals

Marlon Chung & Priyanna Ramdhani 21-14, 21-14.

In the women’s division, Priyanna Ramdhani teamed up with Shivannie Persaud to defeat Priyanka Shivnauth & Mishka Beharry in two simple sets, 21-6, 21-14. Christina Kumar & Anna Perreira were the other pair to make it to the final, after winning 21-12, 21-18 against Ayanna Watson & Emily Ramdhani.

Persaud, 21-12, 21-5; while Narayan Ramdhani & Mishka Beharry also sealed final spots following their 21-10, 21-15 victory over Marlon Chung & Ambika Ramraj.

In the third-place playoffs, the pair of Marlon Chung & Priyanna Ramdhani copped the podium position following their 21-16, 21-12 win over Easa Sanichara & Matthew Beharry in the Men’s Doubles division.

with Priyanka Shivnauth & Mishka Beharry which ended 17-21, 22-20, 21-18.

Jonathan Mangra & Shivannie Persaud are the Mixed Doubles third place finishers, as they defeated Marlon Chung & Ambika Ramraj in a tough match 16-21, 21-16, 21-11.

The conclusion of the Guyana Badminton Association/Trophy Stall Christmas doubles tournament is set for today, commencing at 5pm.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam lead Pakistan to 3-0 sweep

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

Page 22

Pooran slammed a half-century

Trophy Stall Badminton finals on today Pg 23

Page 22

The Fruta Conquerors women’s team

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