Guyana Times -- Friday, January 7, 2022

Over 2000 students to P17 graduate from UG next month

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4882

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

“We cannot close education system” – President Ali …as Opposition agrees, but claims reopening “unorganised”

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P16 CANU intercepted 2.1 tonnes ganja, 41kg cocaine in 2021

See story on page 10

Vagrant P11 chopped to death at Leonora market WCB man P8 charged for 2018 killing at Buxton Line Top

Discussing agriculture with the Head of State: President Dr Irfaan Ali met with University of Guyana students, Teesha Mangra-Singh, Crystal Charles and Maleka Russell, from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at State House on Thursday. During the meeting, he encouraged the young ladies to get together with other young people in their field to partner with the Government on its Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme. He told the students that the Government would provide the land and finance the greenhouses for them to plant high-value crops, such as broccoli, cauliflower and carrots (Office of the President photo)

Desecration of Parliament

Speaker should act “swiftly” on punishment for Opposition MPs – Teixeira Doctor suspended Staggering 967 new COVID-19 cases detected for sexual harassment, main suspect in 24 hours; 4 more die Page 3

Page 7

Page 15

...Health Minister urges infected persons to isolate

in GPHC arson

Mother, 6-year-old daughter crushed to death after house collapses Page 13

Masked men rob WBD shop P12 owner 1 of 2 suspects in Region 1 double murder surrenders to P14 Police Geeta ChandanEdmond replaces Amna Ally as PNC General Secretary P17

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, January 7 – 09:00h-10:30h and Saturday, January 8 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Desecration of Parliament

Speaker should act “swiftly” on punishment for Opposition MPs – Teixeira

Friday, January 7 – 07:35h-09:05h and Saturday, January 8 – 08:20h-09:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light to thundery rain showers are expected until the early afternoon hours followed by sunny conditions, with partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 07:54h and 20:12h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 13:44h reaching a minimum height of 0.81 metre.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

04 07 16

17 19 20

FREE TICKET

24 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

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7

9

8

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DRAW DE LINE

01 03 06 11 13 16 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

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Change %

Crude Oil

$81.99/barrel

+1.47

Rough Rice

$264.474/ton

+0.16

London Sugar

$488.20/ton

-1.43

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1792.10

$1793.10

Low/High Change

$1785.80 +1.20

$1808.20 +0.02%

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira

G

overnance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira is calling on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir to act swiftly on sanctioning A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) for their behaviour in the House last week.

“They needed time to review and research what are the experiences of other Parliaments… But I sincerely believe that the Speaker has to move swiftly on this; the sooner the better,” Teixeira told Guyana Times on Thursday.

During the telephone interview, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister outlined the importance of the Speaker punishing the Opposition MPs, who had protested the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill in the National Assembly last Wednesday.

“These are extremely serious things that have happened and cannot go unpunished. If they don’t [get punished] and if the punishment is not serious enough ,then Parliament will become just chaotic over and over again,” she asserted.

During the debate of the NRF Bill, which was eventually passed in the House and has since been signed into law, coalition MPs started protesting in objection of the hearing of the legislation. Their actions even escalated to a confrontation between them and Parliament staff after one of the Opposition members snatched the Parliament Mace from in front of the Speaker.

This act by Opposition MP Annette Ferguson has since been widely condemned both locally and internationally. Ferguson’s action was also deemed a desecration of Parliament.

This was in addition to the Opposition MPs blowing whistles while walking around in the pit of the Assembly and surrounding Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on the opposite side of the room as he was making his presentation.

Speaker Nadir has already indicated that the Opposition MPs would be punished for their attack on the symbolic Mace.

But when contacted on Thursday, Nadir would not confirm to this newspaper whether a decision was made on what form of punishment would be meted out to the coalition MPs. However, this publication understands that the Speaker is looking at precedents from other Parliaments, where similar incidents have occurred, in coming up with a decision.

But Minister Teixeira, who is also Government’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, indicated that the Speaker also has options from Guyana’s Parliament that he could consider including the 2003 incident involving then People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Opposition Members, who were sent to the Privileges Committee for protesting with placards in the Parliament Chamber, and even those involving People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) members.

In fact, she pointed to the 2017 incident when the then PPP/C Opposition was questioning Budget allocations under the APNU/AFC regime during which Bishop Juan Edghill was suspended for four sittings after he refused an order by then Speaker Dr Barton Scotland to leave the Chambers on December 11.

The Police were called in to have the MP physically removed, but the ranks failed in

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

their attempts after a human barricade was formed by his colleagues to prevent them getting to him.

Parliament was later suspended, but the MP and his colleagues remained in the chambers until 22:00h.

During this time, the electricity was purposely cut from the chambers so there were no lights, air conditioning or WiFi available to anyone sitting in the chambers. This was in protest of the Speaker’s “biased” actions.

“So,[Edghill] was suspended and could not come into the precincts of the Parliament for any committee meetings or sittings, and could not receive any salary, benefits, etc, for that period,” she recalled.

According to the

Parliamentary Affairs Minister, in addition to that option, Nadir can also look at the January 1991 incident whereby a PPP/C Opposition parliamentarian, Isahak Basir, was expelled from Parliament after he picked up the Mace and then threw a glass of water at the Speaker at the time, Sase Narain.

“So, the Speaker has a number of options open to him,” the Government Chief Whip argued.

Recalling the series of events that played out in the National Assembly on December 29, 2021, Teixeira stressed that the Opposition’s “terrorist” behaviour should not go unpunished or without serious consequences.

“The Speaker has a tremendous responsibility because it is very clear that they have no respect for him as Speaker; no respect for the authority of him as Speaker nor of the Parliament at all.

If this is not addressed in some serious manner where the persons involved recognise how serious their transgressions were, [ the National Assembly would be chaotic ],” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister stated.

The Government Chief Whip went on to contend that the coalition Opposition was clearly intent on destabilising Government’s legislative agenda in the National Assembly. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

The battle against cervical cancer

J

anuary is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. This type of cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization.

Statistics from WHO shows that an estimated 311,000 deaths worldwide are recorded as a result of Cervical Cancer.

According to the WHO, cancer in general is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men; while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.

The WHO has pointed out that the cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems. Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries are least prepared to manage this burden, and large numbers of cancer patients globally do not have access to timely quality diagnosis and treatment. However, according to WHO, in countries where health systems are strong, survival rates of many types of cancers are improving, thanks to accessible early detection, quality treatment, and survivorship care.

What is very worrying is the fact that the number of cancer deaths could increase by over 50 percent by 2030, if immediate global action is not taken, especially in the low and middle income countries, where most of the deaths are likely to occur. The statistics regarding cancer and its impact on individuals and society tell a sad tale. However, it should motivate us to work harder for better results.

It should be noted that between 30 and 40 percent of cancer cases could be prevented, and one-third of cancer cases could be cured through early diagnosis and treatment.

The sad thing however is that the medicines, technologies and services are not widely available in low and middle income countries, and this results in the majority of premature cancer deaths each year.

In Guyana, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, and we, as guardians of our own destiny, should continue to make arduous efforts in our campaign to reduce the number of persons dying from the disease. For example, individuals could assist in the prevention of cancer by doing simple things, such as making sure they eat a healthy diet, engage in regular adequate physical activity, and the overall maintenance of good health. Research has shown that physical inactivity is linked to breast and colon cancers. WHO’s Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health details how differing amounts and intensities of physical activity for all age groups can help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including some cancers. It is also worthy to note that the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research has advised that cancer could be prevented if persons could be as lean as possible without becoming underweight; be physically active for at least thirty minutes each day, and avoid sugary drinks among other things.

The three main cancers in Guyana are breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Cervical cancer is easily prevented through regular screening and treatment of precancerous lesions. Far too many women ignore the pretesting option, and seek medical advice and treatment only when they begin to develop signs of illness. In many cases, indications of physical illness or signs of discomfort often suggest that the cancer is at an advanced stage. Persons should therefore be encouraged to have regular tests done, since pre-symptoms are not that visible. WHO estimates that cervical cancer could be the first cancer to be eliminated if 90 per cent of girls are vaccinated against HPV, 70 per cent of women are screened, and 90 per cent of women with cervical disease receive treatment.

We can never overstate the importance of having more public awareness and education campaigns about the disease with the aim of changing lifestyles and getting persons to do regular testing, so that treatment could be administered before the disease becomes life threatening.

President Dr Irfaan Ali being interviewed by author and Journalist, Dr Mandeep Rai at State House on Thursday where he spoke about his younger days, his entry into politics and his vision for ‘One Guyana’, and Guyana’s greatest resource, its people. Rai has travelled to more than 150 countries and has reported as a journalist for the BBC World Service and Reuters. She is also the author of "The Values Compass: What 101 countries teach us about Purpose, Life and Leadership" (OP Photo)

A hard lesson for Novak Djokovic: patience with vaccine sceptics is wearing thin

By Gaby Hinsliff

T

his weekend, Novak Djokovic should have been warming up for yet another grand slam.

But instead the world No 1 tennis champion – and noted vaccine sceptic – is cooling his heels in an Australian quarantine hotel, while an international row rages over whether he should be kicked out of the country altogether.

Djokovic had boasted on social media of securing an exemption, for medical reasons he has not explained, to the rules that all players in the Australian Open must be double-jabbed. But hours later he was stopped at the airport, his visa cancelled, and he was unceremoniously threatened with deportation. His lawyers are challenging that ruling, meaning the outcome of this particular tournament may now be determined in a court – rather than on one. Not since the actor Johnny Depp and his then wife, Amber Heard, flew their two dogs, Pistol and Boo, into the country by private jet without the necessary paperwork has the power of celebrity met the force of Australian biosecurity requirements with quite such explosive results.

In fairness to Djokovic, this farce may not be entirely his fault. Someone somewhere, either in his camp or in Australian tennis, may have screwed up by allowing a situation to arise where the tournament’s biggest box office draw was seemingly given a free pass to compete in the country, but not actually to get there.

Yet few tears will be shed for the man now inevitably known as “Novaxx” Djokovic.

Around the world, patience with those who are willfully unvaccinated is running out in the face of yet another viral surge. Just over a month ago, I wrote about how the mood might harden as inten-

World’s No 1 tennis champion Novak Djokovic

sive care beds filled with patients realising too late that they should have got the jab, while restrictions once again loomed over people who had done what was asked of them.

Now that scenario is unfolding, with France’s President Macron playing to the gallery by vowing to do everything he can to “piss off” those who are unjabbed, while angry callers to British radio phone-ins demand anti-vaxxers be stripped of their right to NHS treatment if they get sick.

Elsewhere in sport, the Premier League, facing a stubborn minority of unvaccinated top-flight footballers and fears of cancelled fixtures, has reportedly discussed making those who are unjabbed travel separately to games or eat their meals away from other players. It’s an uncomfortably divisive idea, stopping only just short of making them carry a bell and shout: “Unclean!

Unclean!” But what if the alternative is double-jabbed players growing increasingly resentful at having to sit matches out because they’re isolating, after contact with infected teammates? Balancing the incontrovertible human right to refuse a vaccine against the rights of others not to be held hostage by that decision is the single biggest challenge of this stage of

the pandemic, and that’s what makes Djokovic’s case resonate far beyond tennis.

There is an undeniably ugly undercurrent to some of this hostility towards the unvaccinated, who are disproportionately likely to be poor, marginalised and from minority-ethnic backgrounds.

Punishing people who often have deep-seated reasons not to trust the authorities for failing to get their jabs not only risks heaping discrimination upon discrimination, but represents a profound failure to understand why they didn’t want to comply in the first place, which makes it impossible to convince them to change their minds.

But there’s nothing obviously marginalised about a millionaire sportsman arrogantly demanding the right to jet into a country suffering record infection rates in hopes of lifting yet another lucrative trophy. Australians have endured restrictions so draconian that thousands of them stranded abroad at the start of the pandemic weren’t even allowed back into their own country.

Djokovic has less in common with an agonised British care worker, on minimum wage, facing the sack if they don’t get the jab, than with a frequently more middle-class form of

anti-vaxxer who slips under the radar. He is a believer in “natural” healing who once suggested that polluted water could be cleansed by the power of positive thinking, insisting that science had proved “that molecules in the water react to our emotions”. He’s entitled to hold whatever wacky beliefs he likes, of course, but he doesn’t have a God-given right to escape the professional consequences of them, and still less does he have the right to impose consequences on others.

The clout he wields as an international sportsman, meanwhile, makes it all the more important that he be seen to follow the rules.

“One rule for them, another for the rest of us” remains the single most toxic charge of the pandemic, whether levelled against Downing Street aides tucking into convivial Christmas wine and cheese at a time when ordinary mortals weren’t even allowed to see their own parents, or against big-shot Hollywood names granted entry to Australia for film and TV work when most people were barely allowed to leave their own homes.

It taps into a sense of grievance about elites getting away with things the little guy can’t that is arguably never far from the surface of politics, visibly inflamed by a pandemic in which too many powerful people have been caught ducking the rules so painfully obeyed by others. No wonder Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister criticised for his own handling of the pandemic, leapt at the chance to declare that “rules are rules” and apply to everyone. Unlike tennis, fighting a pandemic is a team effort. If he doesn’t want to be booed off the next court he actually gets to play on, Djokovic would do well to remember that. (The Guardian) Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

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

Commending President for Keeping schools open should his advice to avoid panic be Guyana’s top priority Dear Editor, A report from the PNCR chastises the Government for management of the COVID crisis. Compared to what the APNU party was doing during the COVID crisis, the current Government has been exemplary in educating the public, providing important information, maintaining an active dashboard, vaccinating and encouraging vaccinations of our people, and also encouraging the Opposition to add in a mutual manner to the importance of vaccinating all, especially our children and elderly.

Misinformation and confusion abound all over the world. Fear is generated by the disunity of persons, who add to the fear of persons.

The points made by the report by the PNCR are incor-

rect. The Government is not responsible for the increase in the cases, as this increase is occurring worldwide. The truth is that while there is an increase in numbers, the fatality rate is low from the omicron. It seems that the omicron may actually prove to be protective of functioning to improve the immunity of those vaccinated. The concern about children going to school is not rightly made. It says that the Government was in a rush. The Hon Minister of Education has deliberated over many months, and has had consultations, including with the medical fraternity, for guidance.

I say to our people, do not listen to misinformation. Dr Mahendra Carpen, a very busy cardiologist, has spearheaded an excel-

lent programme of providing evidence-based facts by radio, TV, and he consults with a wide group of doctors, including myself, through a group set up by the Hon Minister of Health.

This group includes senior doctors in Guyana and overseas, many like Dr. Moti Ramgopal, who is in Florida, are involved in research and tracking the course of the virus. We continue to maintain safety measures. I applaud our Government for the work it has done, and also wish to commend our President for his advice to the nation to avoid panic, practice safe behaviours, and take the vaccines, including the booster.

Yours respectfully Dr Davendra Sharma

Dear Editor, Keeping schools open should be Guyana’s top priority. In December 2021, just last month, a report published by the World Bank titled “The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery” estimated that globally, this generation of students risk losing $17 trillion of collective lifetime earnings due to the closure of schools because of COVID-19.

This is a serious projection that must be curbed by all means necessary, Mr. Editor, especially for developing countries such as Guyana. The report says that each school year that a child benefits from translates to 10% higher income in many countries.

Similarly, more years of schooling translates to

Does teaching grammar help students write better?

Dear Editor, I, Dr Kumar Mahabir, teach Academic Reading and Writing as well as Anthropology to freshmen at a university in the Caribbean. At one of our departmental meetings, I was astonished to hear one of my colleagues say that research has shown that teaching grammar does NOT help students write better.

Finding her claim hard to believe, I and my research assistant Judith Raghunanan decided to explore the veracity of her statement. Here are our findings: Grammar is important for good writing. According to Misty Adoniou (2014), it isn’t about “linguistic straightjackets and rules”; it is “how creativity manifests itself in language….

How we organise our words and sentences to communicate with others and to express ourselves”. Both children and adults “deserve to be able to use language with intention and effect, for any purpose and in all circumstances.”

Many students – even at university level – have a poor grasp of grammar.

This hampers their ability to communicate effectively through their writing.

Hence, these statements raise obvious questions: How can we help them to improve? Should we provide remedial classes to take them to a higher standard? And which pedagogy (teaching method) will have the most positive im-

pact?

The teaching of formal grammar became largely unpopular in the 1970s, after a number of studies had demonstrated its ineffectiveness (Adoniou, 2014).

For example, the British Educational Research Journal (Andrews et al., 2006) reported on a respected study conducted over three years in Auckland, New Zealand, in the 1970s.

The controlled trial-study of 13-16-year-olds demonstrated no appreciable difference between three groups of children who had been taught either a transformational or traditional grammar course or a reading-writing course (Elley et al, 1975, P 29).

Elley et al concluded that “English grammar… has virtually no influence on the language growth of typical secondary school students” (1975, P. 38).

“Virtually no influence” could perhaps better be described as a negative influence, as children in the transformational grammar group, in particular, described the teaching of grammar they had experienced as “repetitive” and “useless”. Is there no hope, then?

Earlier in their article, Andrews et al. had cited a study conducted by Perera (1984), who “noted that decontextualized grammar teaching that was unrelated to pupils' other language work was likely to do more harm than good” (2006, P. 41). The key phrase here is “decontextualized gram-

mar”.

It is HOW grammar is taught that is the problem.

In another study, Fogel and Ehri (2000) focused on examining “how to structure dialect instruction so that it is effective in teaching Standard English (SE) forms to students who use Black English Vernacular (BEV) in their writing” (P. 215). This is especially relevant to us here in the Caribbean, where our students have a distinct vernacular that can impact their written work. The study showed that of three groups of children exposed to specific syntactic forms, the group that practised these forms by translating BEV to SE while receiving feedback from their teachers had better outcomes than those who had less hands-on engagement with those syntactic forms.

This finding suggests that it is not the teaching of grammar that is the problem, but how it is taught.

The same British Educational Research Journal article also looks at the effectiveness of sentence-combining – a range of practical techniques for moving from existing sentences and elements of sentences to compound and complex sentences, and it analyses several studies that showed positive results from using these techniques.

Teaching students “strategies for revising and editing, providing targeted lessons on problems that students immediately ap-

ply to their own writing, and having students play with sentences like Legos, combining basic sentences into more complex ones” (Cleary, 2014) is an approach to grammar instruction that has met with success.

“At the Community College of Baltimore, a program in which developmental writing students get additional support while taking college-level writing classes has reduced the time these students spend in developmental courses, while more than doubling the number who pass freshman composition.

More than 60 colleges and universities are now experimenting with programs modelled on this approach” (Cleary, 2014).

We do not have to throw up our hands in despair at our students’ – or even our own – grammatical shortcomings, for there are effective strategies that can be put in place to improve them. We should follow the pedagogy that has been practised in places such as the Community College of Baltimore or Arizona State University, whose methods help students who tested below college-level in their writing ability to begin writing college essays, with the result that 88 percent of students passed freshman English. Surely it would be better to devise a way to help our students than to do nothing at all.

Sincerely, Dr Kumar Mahabir

higher employment prospects, and it is already accepted that individual earnings have an impact on national earnings and the performance of a country’s economy. There is a direct link between the educational attainments of citizens and a country’s economic growth.

It is also widely accepted that education is the one sure way that a person can remove themselves from a life of poverty to live a comfortable life at least. As stated in a recent letter I wrote, schools globally have been closed for over 18 months.

Already, there are students in Guyana who will be earning 10% less than they would have if they were in school during those 18 months. This is in addition to the over 1000 students who dropped out of school at the primary level, along with a significant dropout rate at the secondary school level, as reported by the Ministry of Education in September last.

I believe that this will have an impact on Guyana’s

economy years down the line, when these students become adults and find themselves in a state of poverty. It will have an impact on our social services, and will regrettably lead to an increased crime rate. I hope at this juncture that we see the importance of keeping our school doors open. We need to keep schools open.

How else are we to ensure that the nation’s children can comfortably earn an income to support themselves and families? How else are we to reduce crime?

How else are we to fill the workforce with skilled and competent Guyanese to be a part of our local content for the oil and gas industry?

We need to keep schools open.

Schools need to remain open for the sake of our children’s future and the future of our country. All that we do now should be done with keeping our children safe and in school. That should be our priority.

Sincerely, Maureen Matthews

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Zero Property, Equality Properties Learning these properties will make your mathematics work easier.

Did you ever try to multiply by 0? The answer is 0.

Zero property of multiplication: Any number x 0 = 0.

Remember that an equation is a mathematical statement that two things are equal. 4 + 2 = 1 + 5 Equality Property of Addition: If you add a number on one side of an equation, you must add the same number on the other side of the equation. Both sides will then still be equal. (4 + 2) + 6 = (1 + 5) + 6 Equality Property of Subtraction: If you subtract a number on one side of an equation, you must subtract the same number on the other side of the equation.

Both sides will then still be equal. (4 + 2) – 2 = (1 + 5) – 2 Equality Property of Multiplication: If you multiply one side of an equation by a number, you must multiply the other side of the equation by the same number. Both sides will then still be equal. (4 + 2) x 8 = (1 + 5) x 8

Rocket to launch higher or quicker. Try different liquids other than water. Try hot and cold water. (scienceisfun.org)

Materials:

Plastic film canister with lid Water Alka-Seltzer tablet Tray or flat bottom container Safety Glasses

Instructions:

Fill the film canister about one-third of the way full with water.

Make sure you are wearing your safety glasses.

Break one Alka-Seltzer tablet in half.

Drop the half of the Alka-Seltzer tablet in the water and quickly put the lid on the film canister.

While still moving quickly, flip your Film Canister Rocket over and set it on its lid in the tray.

Step away and watch.

Your Film Canister Rocket should launch in a few seconds.

How it works:

Equality Property of Division: If you divide one side of an equation by a number, you must divide the other side of the equation by the same number. Both sides will then still be equal. But you never divide by 0. (4 + 2) ÷ 9 = (1 + 5÷ 9

The water dissolves the Alka-Seltzer tablet causing carbon dioxide gas to be released. The gas creates pressure in the film canister and will eventually create enough pressure that your Film Canister Rocket will launch.

Exercises: Identify the property

Try different amounts of Alka-Selzer to see if it causes the Film Canister

1) 6 + 0 = ( 4 + 2) x 0 2)

(8x1) (4+4) 4 = 4

3) (3 + 4) x 0 = 0

5) (5 x 4) + 0 = (10 x 2) + 0

4) 7 ( 0 + 0) = 0

6) 234.6 x 0 = 0

My parents kept me from children who were rough Who threw words like stones and wore torn clothes Their thighs showed through rags they ran in the street And climbed cliffs and stripped by the country streams.

If 5 + 3 = 4 + 4 then does 4 ( 5 + 3) = 4 ( 4 + 4)?

(5x8) (4x10) ?

If 5 x 8 = 4 x 10 then does 4 = 4

Thursday’s answers 2)The Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition

3) Identity of Addition 4) The Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition

If you haven't already, let go of last year. Whether it was a good or bad year, it's not this year.

By Stephen Spender

Answer yes or no

1) Identity of Addition

Make this a science project:

Teacher’s tip

5) Identity of Addition of multiplication 6) Identity of Addition

I feared more than tigers their muscles like iron Their jerking hands and their knees tight on my arms I feared the salt coarse pointing of those boys Who copied my lisp behind me on the road.

They were lithe they sprang out behind hedges Like dogs to bark at my world. They threw mud While I looked the other way, pretending to smile.

I longed to forgive them but they never smiled.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Staggering 967 new COVID-19 cases detected in 24 hours; 4 more die …Health Minister urges infected persons to isolate

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JANUARY 6, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

967

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

75 3374 6

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

5

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

22,532

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

19,853

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

42,385

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

37,866

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

1713

REGION 2

1642

REGION 3

5480

REGION 4

20,341

REGION 5

1571

REGION 6

4075

REGION 7

1913

REGION 8

624

REGION 9

2646

REGION 10

2380

T

Diamond

Cases

East Coast

103 Mon Repos

Georgetown

Cases

30 Kitty

Cases

107

Providence

51 Golden Grove

27 South Ruimveldt

77

Eccles

42 Triumph

27 Campbellville

69

Grove

39 Enterprise

24 Sophia

68

Herstelling

30 LBI

24 Cummings Lodge

48

Mocha

18

Lodge

44

Industry

38

North Ruimveldt

36

La Penitence

23

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

412,288

1064

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

he rapid increase of novel coronavirus cases continues in Guyana as a record-breaking 967 new infections were recorded within a 24-hour period from more than 3000 tests conducted countrywide.

Active cases

According to the Health Minister, Thursday’s figure has brought the total number of active cases in Guyana to a whopping 3481.

With Guyana’s confirmed cases climbing to 42,385, Dr Anthony said there were now active cases in all the regions across Guyana.

These include 14 active cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); 58 in

East Bank

Wear a face mask.

297,286

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

that were done,” Dr Anthony disclosed.

This comes on the heels of more than 700 new cases being detected on Wednesday.

Hotspots in Region Four

This is according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during his daily update on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Thursday. Health authorities here have attributed the rapid spike in cases over the past two weeks to

the Omicron variant, which though not deadly is highly transmissible.

“As we have estimated with Omicron, that we would get an increase in cases and so, over the last 24 hours, we have had 967 new cases from about 3226 tests

Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 285 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); a staggering 2289 cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 83 in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); 374 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 110 cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one case

in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) – this figure is due to less testing the Minister explained; 160 more cases in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), and 107 active cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The Health Minister also highlighted the main COVID-19 hotspots in the various regions during

Thursday’s update.

In Region Three, the hotspots are Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, with 28 cases; Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) with 20 cases; Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, with 19 cases, and Zeelugt, EBE, with 17 cases.

TURN TO PAGE 17

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCB man charged for 2018 killing at Buxton Line Top

Dead: Leon Delph

A

resident of Plantation Profit, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was on Thursday charged with manslaughter in the death of 34-year-

old Leon Delph.

Junior Allen, 39, was brought before Magistrate Alisha George at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Courts.

The unemployed man was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on March 11, 2018, he unlawfully killed Delph, called ‘Solo’, a father of three, of Quamina Street, Georgetown. The accused was remanded to prison until February 3, when he will appear in court to collect statements.

It was reported that Delph met his demise at around 07:00h at the Buxton Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD). It was reported that the clothes vendor had gone to a jou-

Remanded: Junior Allen

vert party in the village, and was sitting on a motor vehicle when he was approached by a man who was identified as Junior Allen.

The two men had an ex-

change of words, during which Allen whipped out a knife from the waist of his pants and slashed Delph’s throat.

After receiving the injury, Delph pursued Allen and dealt him several stabs about his body with a broken bottle.

He subsequently collapsed, and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. As for Allen, he made good his escape.

It was reported that the altercation stemmed from an old grievance the men had several years ago, when Delph reportedly stabbed Allen while they were both serving time in jail.

Allen was arrested by the Police for the crime only on December 31, 2021.

(G1)

Wasting time...

Y

…with failed strategy our Eyewitness had hoped that with the new year, the PNC would’ve put on a new thinking cap, as they do what all political parties seek to do - take over the reins of Government. The last couple of years had seen them shooting themselves in the foot after they got their chance in 2015. That success had ended their 23 years in the political wilderness as they sought to adapt to a Brave New World opened up by the “third wave of democracy” occasioned by the end of the Cold War in 1988.

But it’s already clear they haven’t learnt anything from the facticity of being ejected after serving just one short term. Cause even though they’ve blamed Granger for their ouster, they missed the entire lesson as to WHY that happened. And in so doing, they’re guaranteeing they ain’t gonna be getting near the Office of the President anytime soon. Granger had been brought in by Corbin to change the IMAGE of the PNC - which he’d represented through his pugnacious engagements against the PPP back in the day.

He realised, after almost a decade as leader, that the PNC needed a makeover to be seen as “kinder and gentler” to gain crossover support. Granger fit the bill, and the votes were brought in by the originally skittish AFC. They lost because, once ensconced in office, Granger insisted on” fulfilling the legacy of Burnham”!! Imagine that! He promptly kicked the AFC - and their critical crossover votes from the Indian-Guyanese community - in the teeth!! As old people say, “knock gat knock back”, and the PNC were duly knocked out of Government. So, your Eyewitness expected that the new leaders of the PNC - if they were rational - to go back to what worked for them between 2011 and 2015 to get their foot through the Government’s door.

But no…Aubrey Norton looks determined to repeat Corbin’s experience after succeeding Hoyte as PNC leader.

This promised an “in your face” confrontational strategy against the PPP. And even though he may’ve had second thoughts on confrontational politics - as was signalled by a new year interview - he’s gonna have to put his money where his mouth is. Cause this happened to Corbin, and he never recovered his credibility among the PNC base.

So the PNC’s now going to the Courts over the NRF Bill - even though they refused to debate it in the National Assembly in favour of invading the Government’s benches and the Speaker’s Mace! This “Judicialization” of politics - as was pointed out by two impartial UWI academics abdicates Oppositional responsibilities.

And encourages extra-parliamentary uprisings! Which will guarantee the PNC a long sabbatical from office!! …on brotherly love The brouhaha over “Affaire Umbrella” signals why we may never get out of the quicksand of the sick political culture in our dear mudland. Here it is, a PNC fella did what all the woke folks advise us all to do: see ourselves as “one people” and try to lift up our poor from their misery. He happened to know - or be friends with - some rich business folks. And knowing of the ground conditions in the rural location his own business is located, he asked his business friend to assist in what’s become quite commonplace in the last 2 years - handing out 500 hampers.

The entire PNC and THEIR “woke” brigade erupted into righteous indignation!! The PNC businessman had evidently committed two mortal sins. He’d exposed his constituency to being called “hungry belly” so and so’s, and, more pertinently, had exposed himself as an Uncle Tom of the highest order to’ve held an umbrella over the head of donor of the hampers!!

Seems only a brother can be a brother’s keeper!! …by “holding” it Kenny Rogers offered some sage advice when he crooned, “You gotta know when to hold it and know when to fold it.”

The Omicron mutant will make us fold it on a shut down. But never on the protocols - masks, distancing and sanitising.

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

9

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We cannot close education system” – President Ali …as Opposition agrees, but claims reopening “unorganised”

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ddressing concerns over Government’s decision to reopen schools for classroom learning amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali has argued that Guyana cannot continue to keep schools close.

During an emergency press briefing on Wednesday to update the country on the rapid raise of COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the Head of State pointed to data emanating from countries around the world which have kept their education systems opened despite this new surge of infections caused by the Omicron variant.

“We have seen all the data so far, and most countries – almost all the countries – are saying we cannot close the schools. We cannot close the education system.

They are keeping the schools open. They are doing the testing and taking the precautions, they are encouraging the wearing of masks,”

he said, noting that the same is being done in Guyana.

Schools across the country were reopened on Monday for the various levels – a move which has attracted criticisms from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition.

During a press conference on Thursday, Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Nicolette Henry expressed disappointment over what she described as the “unorganised” reopening of schools in Guyana.

“Yes, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) would have indicated that it would be in the best interest, in order to reduce learning loss, to have schools reopened. But they did not stop there. They also pointed out that in order for schools to be safe, there are certain measures that must be put in place, which, as far as I’m aware, they have not been put in place. So, there is where we have to disconnect and there is where the

concern, particularly at the level of the coalition, arises,” the former Education Minister under the coalition Administration posited.

But Education Minister Priya Manickchand had previously explained that children were missing out on valuable learning time with the use of virtual and/or rotational classes, hence, the decision to reopen public schools for classroom learning.

At a press conference back in December, Manickchand had first announced the reopening of Grades 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 for full physical all-day classes. Then ahead of the reopening of the Easter Term, the Education Ministry last week released its reopening plan indicating that the remaining grades and nursery schools will have either online or face-toface classes on a rotational basis.

The Ministry had noted that the reopening would feature the observation of COVID-19 protocols such as

masking and social distancing in the classrooms as well as regular sanitising of the premises.

Only one teacher at the Mabaruma Primary School had tested positive for the novel coronavirus after she complained of feeling unwell.

Region One (BarimaWaini) Chairman Brentnol Ashley told Guyana Times earlier this week that, “She was in Georgetown and would’ve returned to school late and upon her return to school she would’ve been tested and she was tested positive… She was placed into isolation and all the other teachers were tested and their results would’ve returned negative.”

Nevertheless, he noted that the operation of the school has not been affected and it was still open. In fact, Ashley said that the school has been sanitised.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry on Thursday confirmed that one student at the Anna

Students at the South Ruimveldt Secondary School on Monday

Regina Multilateral School has tested positive. This was in response to claims by the Opposition that “a number of students” at the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) school tested positive.

But according to the Ministry, the Department of Education in Region Two, which conducted a supervisory visit at the school on Wednesday, has indicated that all protocols are being observed.

Layer of protection

During his emergency briefing, President Ali had disclosed that in addition to ensuring the necessary COVID-19 protocols are being observed in schools, his Government has even ensured another layer of protection for students with the procurement of the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the age 12 to 17 cohort.

“We brought in the vaccines for children 12 to 17.

We were pushing hard education for parents to have them vaccinated,” the Head of State pointed out.

Recent figures show that since the start of the administration of COVID shots to students in September 2021, some 30,701 or 42.1 per cent of the adolescent population has received a first dose, while 21,906 or 30 per cent are fully vaccinated.

According to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, during his COVID update on Thursday, the uptake among this age cohort is slow.

However, Minister Manickchand had premised the return to school on the fact that students have this layer of protection now.

“If persons are not going to take the vaccine, then we cannot keep our children out of school and it is unfair to the children who took the vaccine that they’re unable to access schooling,” she had stated during the December press conference.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vagrant chopped to death at Leonora market T

he Police are on the hunt for a vagrant who allegedly chopped another to death at the Leonora Market on Tuesday. The dead man has been identified only as a 30-year-old ‘male street dweller’.

The Police have said that the now dead man would usually be in the market, where he also

sleeps. Preliminary investigations revealed that on the day in question, at about 7:10h, a resident said he was at home when he heard someone calling out to him.

As such, he went out to enquire, and his handyman indicated to him that a street dweller had been

Plaisance man wanted for possession of ganja, gun and ammunition

T

he Police have issued a wanted bulletin for 31-year-old Jevon Rodwell Taylor for questioning in relation to possession of narcotics, gun and ammunition. The offences were reportedly committed on November 26, 2021.

The Police have said that Taylor’s known address is

Britton Street Plaisance East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Taylor is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 227-2603, 2266978, 226-6221, 219-3252, 911, or the nearest Police station.

Wanted: Jevon Rodwell Taylor

chopped in the market.

As he was reportedly heading into the market, he saw an identifiable male who frequents the market area on a daily basis, with a cutlass in his hand walking away from the scene.

The victim was picked up and taken to the West Demerara Regional

Hospital (WDRH), where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Police confirmed that the victim was chopped to the head, hands, and shoulder.

Checks were made for the suspect, but he was not seen. Police are continuing their investigations.

Linden man gets 18 months on break-and-enter charge

T

hirty-eight-yearold Devon Higgins, a porter of Canvas City, Wismar Linden, was on Thursday sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on a break-and-enter charge.

He made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. The Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was

Devon Higgins

applied, and he pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Police have said that Higgins was arrested on Tuesday for the offence of break-and-enter-andlarceny contrary to Section 229 (a) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01, committed on the dwelling house of Shelly Higgins.

The incident reportedly took place between Monday and Tuesday last at Canvas City, Wismar Linden.

12 NEWS Masked men rob Berbice teen nabbed with WBD shop owner cocaine, ganja FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

Westminster West Bank Demerara (WBD) shop owner was on Wednesday robbed by two masked men who entered his business place asking for cigarettes.

The businessman was relieved of a Samsung phone and one iPhone.

Based on reports, the

27-year-old victim operates a variety shop, and on the day in question, at about 21:45h, he was in the shop when one of the unidentifiable males who was wearing a mask approached and asked him if he was selling cigarettes.

He told Police that shortly after, he felt a hand cov-

ering his eyes from behind.

Another male placed an unknown object in his mouth and demanded cash. They then relieved him of his cellphone and scotch-taped his hands and mouth, leaving him in the shop.

A 30-year-old man who was in the home told detectives that he was in his room when one of the suspects entered and struck him to the head with an object, before relieving him of his mobile phone and a bag containing his national ID card, driver’s licence, and a COVID-19 vaccination booklet.

The suspects, the Police added, left in a white Premio motorcar. The matter was reported and an investigation has been launched.

A

19-year-old male has been arrested by the Police after he was found with 1.1 grams of cocaine and 12 grams of cannabis in his possession during an exercise conducted on the Corentyne Coast on Wednesday.

The operation was conducted at No. 51, No. 62 and Moleson Creek Corentyne, Berbice.

Police have said that ranks swooped down on the home of the teenager at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, where they found a transparent glass bot-

The ganja found during the operations along the ECD

The cocaine and ganja found on the teenager in Berbice

tle containing seven small pieces of brown paper with whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine, and fifteen small Ziplock plastic bags containing ganja.

The suspect was told of the offence, cautioned, and

taken to the Springlands Police Station, where the cocaine was weighed and amounted to 1.1 grams, while the ganja amounted to 12 grams.

He remains in custody assisting with the investigation.

Meanwhile, in a similar exercise, this time at Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Police have found 138 grams of cannabis in an open plot of land.

Reports are that a party of Policemen conducted a cordon-and-search exercise at Splif Street Buxton, ECD, during which a black plastic bag containing several transparent Ziplock bags containing cannabis was found in an un-fenced empty plot of land.

Searches were also conducted at Melanie Market Square, where a quantity of cannabis was also found in an abandoned concrete structure.

The narcotics from the two operations, when weighed, amounted to 138 grams. No one was arrested.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother, 6-year-old daughter crushed to death after house collapses

T

he small village of Bonasika on the Essequibo River was plunged into mourning after a mother and her six-year-old daughter were killed when their home collapsed on Wednesday.

Dead are 35-year-old Seematie Chandra, called 'Nanda', a farmer, and her 6-year-old daughter Christine Sookdeo, called “Pretty”.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 16:00h as the woman and her daughter were under the house attending to their puppies.

Police have confirmed that the woman and her daughter met their demise after they were pinned by the beams of the dilapidated house after it collapsed.

Based on reports received, the now dead woman and her daughter resided at the said address with two other children and her 45-year-

The house after it collapsed

old husband Tulsieram Sookdeo, who is also a farmer.

According to the grieving hus-

band, he left home at about 15:50h to burn bushes on another plot of land, leaving his wife and children

at home.

Shortly after, he received information from a neighbour that his house had collapsed and that his wife and daughter, who were under the house feeding the puppies, were pinned under the beams of the house.

Without hesitation, he hurried home and found his wife and daughter pinned beneath the collapsed house.

With assistance from villagers, the injured duo were removed and transported via boat to Parika Hubu Stelling, thence to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead.

Blood was seen coming from the mouth and nose of both mother and daughter. Their bodies were then transported to the Ezekiel Funeral Home to await a post mortem.

A few years ago, 12-year-old

Amber Richards of Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was crushed to death after a single-storey wooden house came crashing down at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The child was at the time vacationing at her aunt’s home while on break from school, along with her 9-year-old brother who was also trapped in the ruins of the house.

On the fateful day, the siblings were rocking in a hammock tied under the wooden building when the house came crashing down. The hammock was said to be attached to the main beams on which the building was supported, approximately seven feet off the ground.

The house was said to be standing for some 30 years, and was set to undergo renovations.

14 NEWS Former Health Minister 1 of 2 suspects in Region 1 double murder to head GPHC board surrenders to Police F FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ormer Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy is the new Chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

On Thursday, the Health Ministry announced that a new Board of Directors has been appointed for that health institution with effect from January 1 to December 31, 2022.

Ramsammy, who now chairs the board, is the current Adviser to the Health Minister. The Board held its first meeting on Wednesday. The other members of the Board are: Chartered Accountant Harryram Parmessar; Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Malcolm Watkins; Head of Neurosurgery at GPHC, who is representing the Guyana Medical Association, Dr Amarnauth Dukhi; Director of Medical and Professional Services, GPHC (ex-officio member), Dr Fawcett Jeffrey; Chief Executive Officer, GPHC (ex-officio member), Robbie Rambarran; Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Engagement, representing UG, Dr Emanuel Cummings; representative New Chairman of GPHC Board, Dr Leslie Ramsammy of the Guyana Nurses Association, Cleopatra Barkoye; representative Dawn Gardener, and representative of the of Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Finance Ministry, Verna Adrian.

Surrendered: Thomas Kyte surrendered to the Police on Thursday in the company of his lawyer

T

homas Kyte, called ‘Taco’, one of two men wanted by the Police for the December 23, 2021 double murder at Nassano Landing, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), has surrendered to the Police.

Kyte surrendered at the Matthew’s Ridge Police Station on Thursday in the company of his Attorney-atLaw, Bernard Da Silva. He was immediately taken into custody as investigations into the murders continue.

Also wanted for the double homicide is Kurtland Damon, called ‘Cartoe’ or ‘Bullet’.

Dead are 29-yearold Sherwin Goddette, a gold miner of Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon, and Shawn France, 21, of Akawini Creek, Pomeroon.

Investigations revealed that the now-dead men were relatives. Based on reports, at around 08:00h on the day

in question, the dredge owner reportedly closed off operations for the Christmas holidays and left, leaving his employees at the worksite.

At around 11:00h on Christmas Eve Day, France, Goddette, and three other employees left their camps and went to the landing, where they began to consume alcohol. However, at about 22:30h the said day, France was engaged in a heated argument with the bartender over a bottle of champagne.

France reportedly became annoyed and threw the bottle to the ground, thus resulting in a scuffle among the persons at the drinking spot. During the scuffle, France armed himself with a pair of scissors and attacked those present.

As he was about to attack a 35-year-old gold miner, he was stopped in his tracks when the man whipped out his licensed firearm and discharged a single round in the air. A Police report said that the fighting ceased immediately.

During the brawl, Devor Stohl sustained a cut to his abdomen, which caused his intestines to protrude. In retaliation, Stohl’s son, who is one of the wanted men, and his accomplice Kyte attacked the men as they were heading back to their camp.

Hosea Sandy, one of the victims, was stabbed to his back and left arm, while Goddette and France were fatally stabbed. On Christmas Day at about 12:00h, Stohl was air-dashed to the Georgetown Public

Wanted: Kurtland Damon

Hospital, where he was admitted.

A report was later made at the Port Kaituma Police Station.

Ranks then visited the area and observed the bodies of Goddette and France lying motionlessly, face-up about 15 feet apart. France was at the time shirtless, and both bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition.

The Police confirmed that the ranks later buried the bodies and marked the general location and direction of the graves with a view to exhumation at a later date.

Several persons were questioned in the vicinity of the crime scene.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Kurtland Damon is being asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 2266978, 225-8196, 265-2233, 265-2222, 227-1149, or the nearest Police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. (G1)

Bodyguard remanded on gun charge

The unlicensed gun that was found in Toaddie Walcott’s home

Remanded: Toaddie Walcott

A

resident of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara was on Thursday charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and remanded to prison.

Toaddie Walcott, 34, a bodyguard, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John

Magistrate’s Court.

Particulars of the charge against him alleged that on January 4, he had a .38 revolver in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time. He was remanded to prison until February 2, after denying the allegation.

Walcott was arrested by ranks from Police

‘C’ Division during an operation on the East Coast of Demerara. Police ranks went to his home at Herod Street, Nabaclis, where they discovered the gun with its serial number filed off.

As a result, Walcott was arrested and taken to the Cove and John Police Station. The illegal gun was also lodged at the station.

(G1)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unoccupied Prashad Nagar Doctor suspended for sexual harassment is main suspect in GPHC arson house goes up in flames en-and- concrete building was engulfed in flames.

The top floor of the building was occupied by Estwick and Edorl Leitch, while the ground floor was occupied by Carlton Leitch and Odette Cummings.

One silver grey Honda motor car PMM 8427 owned

by Carlton Leitch was destroyed, while a red and

The gutted house at Premniranjati Prashad Nagar on Thursday

A

two-storey wooded-andconcrete building at Lot 91 Premniranjati Prashad Nagar, Georgetown went up in flames in the wee hours of Thursday. At the time of the blaze, no one was occupying the building.

According to reports received, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) received the report of a fire at about 3:08h at the location, and immediately dispatched several tenders from the Central, Alberttown and Campbellville Fire Stations.

The firefighters managed to put out the blaze, but by this time, the entire building was completely destroyed. In addition, two other buildings located in the area were affected by the fire and suffered damage.

Both buildings were also unoccupied at the time of the fire. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.

Two weeks ago, several families were left homeless following two devasting Christmas Day fires at Company Road, Friendship, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Rose Street, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

In the first fire at Lot 45 Company Road, Friendship, ECD, a two-storey wood-

black Honda CG150 motorcycle, CE 4927, owned by Lincoln Leitch, was damaged in the inferno.

The second fire took place at Lot 169 Rose Street, West Ruimveldt.

The one flat wooden and concrete building owned and occupied by Jewel Anderson and her family of three was completely gutted. The cause of the fire was subsequently given as a lit mosquito coil that was left unattended.

A

doctor who was suspected of setting fire to the echocardiology Laboratory of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) on January 1, 2022 has been released on bail. The doctor was suspected on December 31, 2021, following a report of sexual assault made against him.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, confirmed that the doctor was detained and interrogated intensively before he was released on bail.

He was reportedly arrested on Tuesday, but after being grilled on his possible involvement in the fire, he was granted bail in a substantial sum.

Blanhum added that investigations into the criminal act continue. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has already pronounced that the inferno at the medial facility was an act of arson. <<Guyana Times>> understands that a review of security footage showed the doctor in the hospital’s compound moments before the fire erupted.

He was reportedly seen acting in a suspicious manner, and when questioned, gave conflicting reports regarding his purpose at the institution at that time, when he was already sent home. Over $20 million in equipment were damaged in the blaze.

Several pieces of equipment that were damaged due to the fire on New Year’s Day

According to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, the destruction of the equipment will compromise the institution’s cardiac programme. In fact, he stated that the disruption to services offered at the echocardiography laboratory can last for months, as

authorities seek to procure new equipment.

It was reported that at the time of the fire, there were at least 11 patients in the vicinity – seven in the cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and four in another ICU. They were all evacuated to safety.

Tax reassessment case

GRA appeals ruling involving Chinese businessman

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal against a decision by High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln who ruled that the State agency acted unlawfully when it demanded more taxes from Chinese businessman, Shanglin Lin, the sole importer of “Prime Diapers” in Guyana.

Shanglin Lin took the tax authority to court over its reassessment of duties and determination that he owed an extra $5.7 million on imported diapers. The businessman imports Prime Diapers for adults and children from China.

The businessman complained that he was blocked by the GRA from making electronic filings. This came about after the GRA sent the importer a letter in January 2020, demanding that he pays $5.7 million in duties on several containers of diapers that were imported the previous year but which, because of mistakes, had to be reassessed.

A letter signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Excise, and Trade, Patrick Hyman, said the businessman had up to two weeks to make the additional

payment. When the importer, who had already sold the products, did not make the requested payment, he was blocked from electronically filing his tax declarations.

Before receiving the letter dated January 3, 2020, he was not required by the GRA to submit any additional invoices or other documents regarding the imported items.

He was neither informed by the GRA that there was an error, mistake, or other queries regarding the declared value of the imported items or duties or taxes payable.

The businessman was also not informed of the reason or basis for the imposition of the additional duties and taxes or allowed to be heard or given a hearing prior to the decision by the GRA to demand additional duties and taxes. He said that the letter of demand was premised on “anomalies” and listed transactions going back to January 2019 for which duties were already fully assessed and paid.

The letter failed to identify any of the anomalies and also failed to state how the additional duties and taxes were calculated or what legal principles were used to compute same, but indicated that the GRA’s Post Clearance Unit could be contacted.

Shanglin Lin had sought a review of GRA’s decision, but his requests were denied.

However, the GRA argued that Shanglin Lin was informed that his consignments were being reviewed prior to the January 3, 2020 letter. Additionally, the GRA explained that a post-clearance audit was done that showed that the declared value for the diapers and soap powders the businessman imported were below the standard value.

The GRA had insisted that its actions were at all times within the scope of the Customs Act. But in an October 6, 2021 ruling, Justice Corbin-Lincoln held that the GRA failed to establish any statutory basis for reassessing the importer’s duties. The Judge ruled that there was no statutory basis for the methodology used, which involved value comparisons between Prime Diapers and diapers imported by another company.

In the circumstances, the Judge quashed GRA’s decision demanding the businessman pay $5,763,755 in duties on the grounds that it was unlawful, unfair, ultra vires, and in breach of the Customs Act Cap 82:01 and subsidiary legislation.

Chinese businessman Shanglin Lin is the sole importer of Prime Diapers in Guyana

Justice Corbin-Lincoln, therefore, ruled that GRA’s decision to block Shanglin Lin from uploading documents to its electronic processing system, ASYCUDA, is quashed on the grounds that it is unlawful, unfair, ultra vires, and in breach of the Customs Act Cap 82:01. The GRA was ordered to pay costs that are to be assessed.

Grounds of appeal

Seeking to have the decision of the lower court wholly set aside and/or reversed, the GRA has filed a notice of appeal in which it puts forward several grounds under which Justice Corbin-Lincoln com-

mitted errors in law and misdirected herself.

It contends that the Justice erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that Section 17 of the Customs Act does not authorise the GRA to carry out an audit and impose further duties after goods have been entered, cleared, and delivered.

The GRA further contends that the trial Judge erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that Section 233 of the Customs Act does not empower it, whether due to failure to provide documents or even if documents are provided, to re-assess duty on goods that have been

entered and delivered based on documents provided or on some basis so as to determine that duty has been “short levied”.

The tax body argues, too, that the Judge erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that it failed to establish the statutory basis upon which it embarked upon a reassessment of duty on the goods which were entered and delivered due to the businessman’s failure to provide requested documents under Section 233 and Regulation 36 of the Customs Act and to cooperate with the audit and inspection under Regulation 204W. It further argues that the trial Judge erred in law when she ruled that since the purported reassessment and demand for additional duty was unlawful, the consequential blocking of the businessman from ASYCUD was also unlawful.

And that the Judge erred when she ruled that the statutory basis upon which it was determined that the goods were “short levied” for the purpose of Section 17 (2) of the Customs Act was not established.

The Appeal Court is yet to set a date for hearing this matter.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CANU intercepted 2.1 tonnes ganja, 41kg cocaine in 2021

Head of CANU, James Singh

By Bhisham Mohamed

H

ead of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh, on Thursday reported that the Unit had intercepted 2.1 tonnes of cannabis and 41 kilograms of cocaine in 2021.

A breakdown of the ganja seized showed that a whopping 1027 kilograms were intercepted in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 481 kilograms in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); 457 kilograms in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 6.4 kilograms in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and 4.4 kilograms in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

With respect to the cocaine, 23.5 kilograms were seized in Region Four, 17.4 kilograms in Region Two, and a small amount of 0.16 kilograms in Region Six. In addition, 3.1 kilograms of ecstasy were confiscated in Region Four.

Also, a small amount of Crystal Methamphetamine and Hashish were seized.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Singh explained that the seizures and the ability of CANU to execute its functions are a result of the support by the Government of Guyana.

He noted that while the Unit has been successful in putting a “dent” in the drug trade in 2021, there is still a lot of work that has to be done.

“With the figures in Region Four, primarily Georgetown and Region Six, we intend to boost our presence in those areas…

As a matter of fact, CANU ranks are deployed across the country to make the communities and ultimately the country safer for citizens…” Singh noted.

He noted that the mandate of the Unit is to ensure illicit drugs are gotten rid of within the communities, so that the communities can be safe for citizens to traverse freely.

“Secondly, we do not want Guyana to be labelled as a narco-state…we want the drug traffickers to know that Guyana is not a country to do such business.”

Singh, however, believes that getting rid of the drugs off the streets is not enough. As such, he noted that the Unit has been working with several ministries, including Education, Health and Social Protection.

“The Unit has been holding campaigns in schools to sensitise the youths of the dangers of using drugs…

In addition, we have been working with Health Ministry to deal with drug abusers and those who suffer mental health as a result of drug abuse.”

However, he noted that the Unit has a multi-agency approach, which assisted greatly in the execution of its mandate.

Challenges

The CANU head stated that one of the challenges is the geographic locations of some of the areas that are being monitored, but he is once again thankful

A quantity of cocaine found at Austin Street and Drury Lane, Campbellville

ing cocaine and marijuana that had been seized over the past two years.

The joint operation saw over 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines and other illegal drugs being destroyed by fire.

The National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) 2016-2020 stated that the Government of Guyana is committed to ensuring the sustained safety and security of its citizens well into the future, against the drug problem.

In advancing this position, a strategic approach was adopted to remedy the problem.

This Master Plan utilises a balanced approach between public health and public security. It addresses Demand Reduction, Supply Reduction, Control Measures, Intuitional Strengthening, and Policy Coordination as well as International Cooperation.

In the area of Supply

Reduction, the Plan proposes increasing the intelligence gathering capability and building capacity at a central level in both the domestic and transshipment components. It also calls for strengthening border controls, and additionally, establishing a witness protection programme.

As regards Control Measures, the Plan proposes implementing Automated Information Management Systems (AIMS) to control the distribution of pharmaceutical products and the diversion of chemical substances.

It targets strengthening the Drug Information Network to carry out research and training activities related to the prevention and control of the illicit trafficking of pharmaceutical products and other drugs via the internet.

In addition, it strongly promotes the investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases.

hotspots in Region Four

A quantity of cannabis found at Unity foreshore area, ECD between June 8 & 9, 2021

to the various agencies that are onboard in fighting the drug trade.

He further stated that they have also been collaborating with their counterparts around the world, who are more experienced in putting a dent in the drug trade.

“The level of international co-operation has improved since, clearly, there is a willingness by the Government to fight transnational crime and the support to the various law enforcement agencies. These include helicopters for the GDF, vehicles for the Police, access to training, and restructuring of CANU are all examples.

In addition, there are joint operations locally as well as internationally, which resulted in the seizure of narcotics as well as the aircraft and boats. The aircraft, he noted, were found in far-flung places, which is an indication that the Unit is present in every corner of the country.

Training

The agents of the Unit are constantly receiving professional and academic training. On this note, Singh stated, staff members are attending the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI), University of Guyana (UG), and several online courses.

“The main focus of the training is to provide the necessary mindset to manage, to deal with stress, and more so to be analytical”, Singh added.

In 2020, CANU seized 32 kilograms of cocaine and 135 kilograms of cannabis. In September last, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) destroyed over $100 million in illicit drugs, includ-

Only 1 ARMS student tested positive for COVID-19 – Education Ministry …rejects Opposition MP’s claim of “numerous” students positive

T

he Education Ministry has rejected what it described as “untruths” being peddled on social media by Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson regarding the Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS) in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

In a social media post, Ferguson claimed that a number of students from the school tested positive for COVID-19 when in fact, only one student at the school tested positive.

According to the Education Ministry, the figure has been confirmed by officers within the Department of Education in the region.

“The school has adequate space to accommodate all of its students.

Presently, the school has approximately 650 students attending classes daily. Since the reopening of the school, only one assembly session was held. When students enter the school,

Anna Regina Multilateral School

they enter their classrooms and remain there, only leaving to use the washroom or canteen during recess,” the Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the Ministry, all of the cleaners attached to the school have the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning detergent to ensure a clean environment.

“Students are monitored regularly to avoid gathering and adequate masks are available for students. A supervisory visit conducted on January 5th, 2021 by officers of the Department re-

vealed that all students and teachers were engaged in the teaching-learning process,” the Ministry said, adding that it accepted readily that these were challenging times for the education sector across the world and for the delivery of education to Guyana’s children.

“The Ministry would be happy to receive constructive and sensible contributions on how it can improve delivery, but calls on all persons to be responsible in their publications and whispers, conversations and representations,” the Education Ministry stated.

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Geeta Chandan-Edmond replaces Amna Ally as PNCR General Secretary

O

pposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond has been appointed as the new General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – which is the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) faction of the coalition Opposition.

She has replaced longstanding PNCR Member Amna Ally, who had served as the party’s General Secretary since June 2017 after the retirement of her predecessor, Oscar Clarke.

In a statement on Thursday, the party said that the newly-elected Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey C Norton,

Newly-appointed PNCR General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond

appointed Chandan-Edmond to the post. The appointment takes effect from January 3, 2022.

Chandan-Edmond currently serves as an APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament and enjoys the support of the membership of the PNCR as manifest in her election to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the party, the missive detailed.

According to the party, Chandan-Edmond, who is a lawyer by profession, possesses management skills and good human relations skills that make her suitable to be General Secretary of the PNCR. “The PNCR wishes her

Over 2000 students to graduate from UG next month

the best and has confidence in her abilities and will work with her as she strengthens and reorganises the administration of the PNCR,” the party’s missive stated.

Chandan-Edmond is a former member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the minority party in the coalition Opposition. Last year, her husband, Joel Edmond, resigned from the AFC. Chandan-Edmond, who is also a former Magistrate, had worked in the then Ministry of the Presidency (now Office of the President) under then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, while the coalition was in office and had served on State Boards and Commissions.

Her appointment comes on the heels of Ally’s resignation earlier this week as Chief Scrutineer for the APNU/ AFC. In her report to the PNCR’s 21st Biennial Delegates’ Congress last month, Ally had indicated her

Former PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally

intention to step down from the General Secretary post.

“The PNCR is the way to go. My dear comrades, this is my final stint as General Secretary. I must tell you that the journey has been very challenging, but I want to ask each member of our party to cleanse our hearts that condone hate; pray and let a breath of fresh air in-

vade our minds and body.

Our party groups must contribute to unifying our party and we must resolve to stay together, work together and build together. The PNCR must live on,” she stated.

In the weeks leading up to the Congress, there were concerns expressed over Ally’s role in the party’s electoral process with Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who was contesting for the leadership post, calling for her to step down in the interest of transparency.

Responding to him, the former General Secretary had declared that Dr Van West-Charles did not hire her.

Ally, who was appointed to the post by former Leader and President David Granger, also served as Minister of Social Cohesion under the coalition regime.

Granger had come in for heavy criticism by party members following his loss at the 2020 elections. (G8)

Staggering 967 new COVID-19...

Hotspots

M

ore than 2200 graduands from 50 disciplines are expected to walk the virtual graduation stage as the University of Guyana (UG) hosts its second series of online graduation events.

This is the 55th Convocation for the Turkeyen campus and the 20th for the Berbice campus.

The graduations will be hosted over two weekends from Friday, February 4, 2022, to Saturday, February 12, 2022.

However, graduates’ profiles for eligible students were approved by the University’s Academic Board in November and December 2021.

As such, these are their effective dates for graduation. Students who have met their obligations to the University may now request expedited certificates, Letters of Completion and Official Transcripts by using the request features in their University’s Student Records Management System (SRMS) accounts.

For the second time in UG’s 59-year history, the convocation ceremonies will be held virtually for all campuses. Graduands from all

campuses will be combined by associated disciplines and faculties.

The graduation dates are as follows: On February 4, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation will have their graduation. On February 5, the Medical Sciences, Behavioural Sciences and Research faculties will have their graduation and on February 11, the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Faculties of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Education and Humanities, and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education – Degree and Diploma Programmes --will have their graduation on February 12.

This year, several new academic programmes will see graduates for the first time.

These include disciplines such as Associate of Science – Petroleum Engineering; Bachelor of Science – Accountancy; Bachelor of Science – Entrepreneurship; Bachelor of Science – Marketing and Bachelor of Science – Supply Chain Management and Bachelor

of Science – Environmental Science.

Logistics and details will be shared directly with prospective graduands via UG’s internal SRMS and official graduation website @ https://uog.edu.gy/convocation-2021.

The annual graduation exercises are a highlight on the University’s calendar of institutional events, since they provide not only an opportunity for celebrating the efforts of students, lecturers, families, and supporters, but for stirring graduation speeches from valedictorians and high-profile keynote speakers.

Like the 2020 graduation, events this year will be even more special since the University administration is consistently underscoring that the great resilience displayed by students to complete their degrees in very difficult circumstances of COVID-19 deserves to be richly applauded and celebrated.

A record number of attendees are expected this year, since – owing to the online nature of the events – there will be no limit to the number of invitees who can join the proceedings.

Meanwhile, with Region Four accounting for the highest number of active cases, multiple hotspot communities have been identified in Georgetown, which has the most cases, as well as on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.

See table for a breakdown of cases in these areas.

Other hotspot areas include New Amsterdam with 87 cases and Cumberland with 21 cases in Region Six and Bartica, Region Seven, with 106 cases.

Further, Region Nine has seen surges in Lethem with 72 active cases, Tabatinga with 22 cases, and Culvert City with 18 cases.

As it relates to Region 10, Wismar, Amelia’s Ward, and Makenzie are classified as hotspots with 38, 20, and 20 cases respectively.

Moreover, the active cases detected on Thursday include six patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) – three on ventilators and two on CPAP machines – at the Ocean View Hospital, where a total of 38 persons are hospitalised.

In total, there are some 70 COVID-19 infected persons hospitalised at facilities across the country.

In addition, there are 75 persons in institutional isolation and another 3374 persons in home isolation. There are also five other persons in institutional quarantine.

Fatalities

Further, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday that four more persons who tested positive

for the novel coronavirus have died.

The latest fatalities were a 62-year-old male from Region Two, who was unvaccinated and died on Wednesday; a 47-yearold male from the East Berbice- Corentyne region, who was fully vaccinated and died on Tuesday; a 42-year-old male from Region Four, who was partially vaccinated and died on Wednesday, and a 48-year-old female, who was also from the Demerara-Mahaica region and was fully vaccinated and died on Wednesday as well.

With these, the total number of deaths from the virus in Guyana has gone up to 1064; the COVID-19 death toll for the year thus far is now 10.

Meanwhile, some 37,866 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease to date – 46 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, approximately 438,484 persons have been tested so far and of this, some 19,853 males and 22,532 females were found to be positive.

Rising cases

During Thursday’s update, Dr Anthony pointed out that this surge of COVID-19 cases was expected to continue throughout Guyana especially with the Omicron variant being highly transmissible. As a result, the Health Minister is urg-

FROM PAGE 7

ing persons who have tested positive for the virus to isolate themselves in order to curb the spread of the disease.

“All these people who have tested positive, we’re asking them to stay in isolation, because there are people who have tested positive and sometimes, they still walk around the place which means that they would be in their infectious period and they would be the persons who would be spreading it to others,” he implored.

With COVID-19 infections on a rapid rise in the country, health authorities are encouraging persons to take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting the virus including getting vaccinated and for those eligible, getting the booster shots.

Vaccination

So far, some 412,801 or 80.5 per cent of adults have received a first dose of a COVID vaccine, of which 298,089 or 58.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For children aged 12 to 17, some 30,701 or 42.1 per cent have received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine while 21,906 or 30 per cent are fully inoculated.

In terms of booster doses, approximately 14,175 persons have received their jabs thus far.

Meanwhile, persons are also urged to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitising. (G8)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

Regional

T&T records 19 COVID Biden Administration slaps US deaths, 883 new cases travel bans on 8 Cuban officials as Top Cop blasts limers T

T

he Health Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 19 additional COVID-related deaths.

This brings the total number of deaths to 2992.

There are currently 597 patients in the hospital. The Ministry has also recorded 883 new COVID cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases to 15,756.

Meanwhile, as the Police Service mourns two more Policemen who died from COVID-19, acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob has chided certain people for their irresponsible behaviour, which he says is directly responsible for infections and deaths among his officers, the Trinidad Newsday reported.

The official Police

Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob

Facebook page reported that PCs Shelford Kinsale and Saied Ali died from COVID19 one day apart, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

A total of 29 Police Officers had died from COVID-19 up to Thursday afternoon.

Speaking with Newsday, Jacob slammed partygoers for flouting the public health regulations and called on the media to do more to highlight those responsible for organising such events.

“My officers are dying as a result of the people who are choosing to go and organise all these little parties.

“I find the news media need to be a little tougher on people in the society who are organising these things, so when you hear our people are down, it’s because we always have to go into action because of bad things people are doing in the society. Our officers are down because they constantly have to go into action for people who are doing things to violate the regulations.” (Trinidad Guardian and Trinidad Newsday)

Bahamas Government to scrap lottery tax

T

he four-monthold Bahamas Government has signalled its intention to scrap a five per cent tax on lottery winnings that its predecessor had announced in 2018.

While the so-called patron tax had never been implemented by the Hubert Minnis Administration that lost the September 2021 General Election, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis told reporters that the tax had also been a source of legal action especially by web shop operators and patrons.

The gaming operators had argued that the increase in taxes would cause them to lay off employees and shut down some of their locations.

Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis

Minister

The Government had hoped to implement the tax on patrons’ winnings at five per cent on winnings up to US$1000 and 7.5 per cent on winnings over US$1000. The Minnis

Government had anticipated that it would have collected US$23.1 million in taxes in the last fiscal year if the tax had succeeded in being implemented at the beginning of 2021.

“That patron tax as far as I know had not come into effect and so we decided that we will do away with it. As you know it had been the source of legal action as well as a lot of debate, so we decided we’ll just do away with it.

“The gaming industry, if you look at it in terms of their taxation not only versus casinos but versus other businesses, is very, very heavily taxed and so we believe that it’s just better to do away with it,” Halkitis told reporters. (Excerpt from CMC)

he United States has barred eight Cuban Government officials from entering the country, accusing them of being implicated in the repression of peaceful protesters last July.

In a statement on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the targeted Cuban officials of being involved “in attempts to silence the voices of the Cuban people through repression, unjust detentions, and harsh prison sentences”.

The top US diplomat pointed specifically to the treatment of Cuban protesters who took to the streets in July in a wave of unprecedented demonstrations

against rising food prices, medicine shortages, and other socioeconomic issues on the island.

“These eight individuals include Cuban officials connected to the detention, sentencing, and imprisonment of peaceful July 11 protesters,” Blinken said in the statement, which did not name the Cuban officials.

The July protests were the largest in Cuba since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro.

Thousands took to the streets in anger over shortages of basic goods, curbs on civil liberties, and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of protesters were arrested.

Argentina bonds fall on split between Government and IMF

A

rgentina’s sovereign bonds fell on Thursday after its economy minister said it would be difficult to reach agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on refinancing the nation’s US$45 billion debt due to differences over its deficit.

The South American Government and the multilateral organisation are struggling to reach an agreement, Martín Guzmán told provincial governors on Wednesday, at the closing of the domestic financial market.

US dollar-denominated Argentine bonds fell about

one cent across the curve, with all issues trading between 30 cents and 36 cents on the dollar and yielding from 16.7 per cent to 23.7 per cent.

Analysts pointed to several reasons for the drop.

“Argentina does not agree with the IMF about the path to reducing its budget deficit. The Government doesn’t plan to reach fiscal balance until 2027,” said professor and economist Santiago Bulat.

“In view of the important differences that remain to be bridged with the organisation, and the search for internal political support to reinforce this position, the

P

page story, headlined ‘Tearful call for SOE’, which detailed the fatal shooting of two brothers in Westmoreland and left one of the dead men’s partners requesting a meeting with him. The woman also called for a return of the State of Emergency (SOE).

The bodies of the brothers, 43-year-old Dervin Jones and 41-year-old Sheldon Jones, were found in the parish early Tuesday morning.

“I read in the paper today of the two brothers who were murdered in Westmoreland, and I am so sorry about it. And the

partner saying, ‘Prime Minister, I just want to talk to you.’ It’s an appeal [for her] to hear what our leaders are doing about this.

She not quarrelling, she not blaming. She sounded angry, but obviously she was distraught. She was saying ‘Prime Minister, come talk to me. Help me to make sense of it,” a sentimental Holness said.

Lamenting further on the crime situation, Holness pointed to the recent killing of 10-yearold Jezariah Tyrell in her house in Central Kingston on December 30. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer )

chances are growing of not reaching an agreement on a comprehensive economic plan in time given the large maturities,” added economist Gustavo Ber. Argentina faces US$4 billion in debt payments to the IMF in the first quarter and US$19 billion for the whole year, with a similar figure due in 2023, apart from planned repayments with private creditors and before the Paris Club.

A spokeswoman for Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said the IMF was calling for an adjustment policy that “compromises the Argentine people”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico nears 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 as cases surge after holidays

Holness says he is having restless nights because of country’s crime problem rime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday expressed his distress at the country’s violent crimes, which he said has sidelined peace in communities and posed a challenge for him to sleep peacefully at nights.

Holness shared this at the National Day of Prayer, at Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St Catherine, Wednesday, held under the theme: “Family: The Bedrock of Society”.

The Prime Minister referenced Wednesday’s Jamaica Observer front-

The travel bans are the latest actions against Cuba imposed by the Administration of President Joe Biden, who has largely followed his predecessor Donald Trump’s highly-criticised policies towards the island.

The US Administration previously spoke out in support of the Cuban activists while praising the anti-Government protests.

The Cuban Government has accused Washington of fomenting the recent wave of unrest in hopes of destabilising the country, and it also blamed crippling US sanctions for the dire economic conditions many people are facing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

An employee of the Rios funeral home moves the body of a person, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), into the facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, January 5, 2022

M

exico is likely to surpass 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 this week – the fifth highest death toll worldwide – as infections rise after the holiday season, fuelled by the Omicron coronavirus variant and largely unrestricted tourism.

Infections have more than doubled to 20,000 during the last week when many tourists visited Mexico

from the United States and Canada. Eleven of Mexico’s 32 states decided not to resume in-person school classes this week with cases climbing fast.

The arrival of the highly-contagious Omicron variant reversed a downturn in infections during the autumn, when the widespread application of vaccines provided relief.

Some Mexicans said peo-

ple had dropped their guard as the holidays came.

“Since December, a lot of people started to go out and there are many who no longer wear face masks,” said Isauro Perez, a 53-year-old taxi driver in Mexico City.

“If we don’t take care of ourselves, the Government won’t take care of us.”

As of Wednesday, Mexico had registered 299,805 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, a figure that is likely significantly below the real toll, officials say.

Separate Government data showed there had been nearly 452,000 deaths “linked to” COVID-19 by mid-December, and lower testing has likely helped to understate the reach of the virus.

Mexico has the highest fatality rate – deaths per confirmed cases – among the 20 nations most affected by COVID-19 worldwide, according to an analysis by Johns Hopkins University.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Around the World

Russia sends troops to put down Kazakhstan uprising as fresh violence erupts

Oil extends rally on Kazakhstan unrest and Libyan outages

O

il prices rose about two per cent on Thursday, extending their new year's rally, on escalating unrest in Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus (OPEC+) oil producer Kazakhstan and supply outages in Libya.

Brent crude futures rose US$1.19 cents, or 1.5 per cent, to settle at US$81.99 a barrel, after hitting their highest since late November. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained US$1.61, or 2.1 per cent, to hit US$79.46. The contract touched a session high of US$80.24.

Russia sent paratroopers into Kazakhstan to help quell a countrywide uprising after deadly violence spread across the tightly-controlled former Soviet State.

There were no indications that oil production in Kazakhstan has been affected so far. The country produces about 1.6 million barrels of oil per day.

Meanwhile in Libya, oil output was at 729,000 barrels per day, the National Oil Corp said, down from a high of more than 1.3 million last year, owing to maintenance and oilfield shutdowns.

Global benchmark Brent's six-month backwardation stood at about US$4 a barrel, its widest since late November. Backwardation is a market structure where current prices trade at a premium to future prices and is usually a sign of a bullish market.

Prices have rallied since the start of the year despite OPEC+ sticking to an agreed output target rise and a surge in US fuel stockpiles.

"OPEC production, while it did increase, disappointed the market – it is not going to be enough to keep up with demand," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

OPEC+, a group that includes members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, agreed on Tuesday to add another 400,000 bpd of supply in February, as it has done each month since August as it gradually relaxes 2020's cuts as demand recovers from the pandemic.

However, the increase in OPEC's output in December has again undershot the rise planned under the OPEC+ deal, a Reuters survey found on Thursday, highlighting capacity constraints.

JP Morgan forecast Brent to average at US$88 a barrel in 2022, up from US$70 last year.

"Our reference case now assumes the alliance will fully phase out the remaining 2.96 million bpd of oil production cuts by September 2022," the bank's analysts said in a note.

Government data on Wednesday showed that US gasoline inventories surged by more than 10 million barrels last week, the biggest weekly build since April 2020, as supplies backed up at refineries because of reduced fuel demand.

Crude inventories in the United States, the world's top consumer, have fallen for six consecutive weeks by the end of the year to 417.9 million barrels, their lowest since September, the data showed.

US crude futures suggest supplies will remain tight early in the new year. A barrel of oil for delivery in June is selling at a US$4.10 premium to a barrel for delivery in December, the highest since November 2, a signal of near-term rising demand.

Meanwhile, the world's top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, cut the official selling price for all grades of crude it sells to Asia in February by at least US$1 a barrel, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. (Reuters)

Troops are seen at the main square where hundreds of people were protesting against the Government, after authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, January 6, 2022

F

resh violence erupted in Kazakhstan's main city of Almaty on Thursday as Russia sent in paratroopers to put down a countrywide uprising in one of Moscow's closest former Soviet allies.

Police in Almaty said they had killed dozens of riot-

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couraged them to "fight" and stirred up the crowd with unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud in the election he had just lost.

Shortly after Biden's speech on Thursday, Trump released an angry statement hitting out at his successor.

In it, he accused Biden of "failure" and repeated false claims about the election.

Democrat politicians, who have a majority in the US Congress, planned a number of events to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack – including a candlelit vigil outside the Capitol building.

Many spoke about their experiences of the day, including sheltering and hiding from the rioters along with

ers overnight into the early hours of Thursday morning.

Authorities said at least 18 members of the security forces had died, including two found decapitated. More than 2000 people were arrested.

After a night of running

street confrontations between protesters and troops, a presidential residence in the city and its Mayor's office were both ablaze, and burnt-out cars littered the city, Reuters Journalists said.

Military personnel regained control of the main airport, seized earlier by protesters. Thursday evening saw renewed battles in Almaty's main square, occupied alternately by troops and hundreds of protesters throughout much of the day.

Reuters reporters heard explosions and gunfire as military vehicles and scores of soldiers advanced, although the shooting stopped again after nightfall. TASS news agency quoted witnesses as saying people had been killed and wounded in the new gunfire.

The Russian deployment

was a gamble by the Kremlin that rapid military force could secure its interests in the oil and uranium-producing Central Asian nation, by swiftly putting down the worst violence in Kazakhstan's 30 years of independence.

Oil production at Kazakhstan's top field Tengiz was reduced on Thursday, its operator Chevron said, as some contractors disrupted train lines in support of the protests. Oil prices rose more than one per cent on Thursday and uranium has also jumped since the clashes erupted.

The Internet was shut down across the country, disrupting bitcoin mining in one of the world's biggest crypto miners and making it impossible to gauge the extent of the unrest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Omicron may be less severe, but not “mild”, says WHO as record cases reported

T

he more infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19 appears to produce less severe disease than the globally dominant Delta strain, but should not be

categorised as "mild", World Health Organisation (WHO) officials said on Thursday.

Janet Diaz, WHO lead on clinical management, said early studies showed there

Novak Djokovic: Serbs seethe over tennis hero's entry ban

S

port may or may not be "war minus the shooting", as George Orwell put it. But it can certainly provoke a stirring diplomatic ding-dong.

For evidence, look no further than the shenanigans surrounding Novak Djokovic and his attempted participation in the Australian Open tennis championships.

Instead of challenging for a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Serbia's biggest sporting star found himself in the slam-

US Capitol attack: Rioters held dagger to the throat of America – Biden resident Joe Biden has heavily criticised former President Donald Trump on the first anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol.

In a televised speech, Biden accused his predecessor of spreading "a web of lies" that led to the mob's assault.

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 as Congress gathered to certify Biden's presidential election victory.

Live footage of US politicians cowering from the mob shocked the world.

Trump had urged protesters at a rally outside the White House shortly beforehand to "peacefully" march on Congress, but he also en-

19

young members of staff.

A House committee is conducting an inquiry, and so far, investigators have arrested 725 suspects in connection with the riot.

Biden condemned the attackers and Trump in his speech on Thursday, using some of his strongest language yet about both the Capitol riots and his predecessor.

"Those who stormed this Capitol and those who instigated this incidence, held a dagger at the throat of America and American democracy", Biden said in Statuary Hall, a section of the Capitol complex that was breached by rioters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

mer, after immigration officials found fault with his paperwork.

His country's President, Aleksandar Vucic, led the chorus of outrage in Belgrade, following a phone call with the incarcerated ace.

"I told our Novak that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately," Vucic posted on social media.

This volley was swiftly returned by Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

"There are no special cases – rules are rules," he lobbed back.

But Serbia's media have taken a clear view that their champion is indeed being singled out for special treatment – of the cruel and unusual variety.

The Blic tabloid rages about a "dirty political game" which has claimed Djokovic as its victim, on a "day of shame for Australia".

Kurir says the player's treatment is tantamount to "torture", as he is held in a hotel used as a detention centre for asylum-seekers.

Meanwhile, Novosti simply states that "Australia is terrible" while gleefully reporting on a band of Djokovic supporters who have been singing and dancing outside his place of confinement.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

was a reduced risk of hospitalisation from the variant first identified in southern Africa and Hong Kong in November compared with Delta.

There appears also to be a reduced risk of severity in both younger and older people, she told a media briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

The remarks on the reduced risks of severe disease chime with other data, including studies from South Africa and England, although she did not give further details about the studies or ages of the cases analysed.

The impact on the elderly is one of the big unanswered questions about the new variant as most of the cases studied so far have been in younger people.

"While Omicron does appear to be less severe com-

pared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild," WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the same briefing in Geneva.

"Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people."

He warned of a "tsunami" of cases as global infections soar to records fuelled by both Omicron and Delta, healthcare systems are overwhelmed, and Governments struggle to tame the virus, which has killed more than 5.8 million people.

In its weekly epidemiological report on Thursday, the WHO said cases increased by 71 per cent, or 9.5 million, in the week to January 2 from a week earlier, while deaths fell by 10 per cent, or 41,000.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Several killed in Sudan protests against military rule

S

udanese security forces have killed at least three anti-coup protesters, medics and an activist have said, as thousands of people rallied across Sudan to denounce military rule.

Protesters gathered in several cities on Thursday in the first widescale demonstration since Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation as Prime Minister.

The rallies were the latest in a series of protests since Sudan’s armed forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, staged a power grab on October 25, sparking international condemnation.

The coup, which saw the civilian leadership removed and detained, derailed a rocky transition towards democracy that had started after the April 2019 removal of long-time leader Omar al-

Bashir.

In Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, two protesters were killed, while in the Sudanese capital’s district of Bahri one demonstrator was shot and killed, according to activist Nazim Sirag and the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD).

The CCSD said the first unidentified protester was killed after taking a “live bullet to the head by the putschist forces as he took part in demonstrations” in Omdurman.

The second, who also has not been identified, “was hit by a live bullet to the pelvis” during the Omdurman protests while the third was killed in North Khartoum due to “live bullets to the chest”, they added.

There was no immediate comment from security forces. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You'll face opposition.

Don't let anyone disrupt your plan. Keep your eye on what you want to achieve and put your intelligence and energy into reaching your goal.

Don't let stubbornness set in when you should be exploring the possibilities. Learn all you can about the ins and outs of something that can help you perfect a skill you want to use to your advantage.

Put one foot in front of the other and continue to push your way to the front of the line. Use your intelligence and a little brute force until you are happy with the results.

Use your imagination, and you'll stand out and make a difference. Don't expect everyone to be on your side; jealousy will prevail, and it's up to you to stay focused on giving your all.

Learn through observation. If you move forward without thinking about the consequences, you'll end up having to do things twice. Don't let change throw you off guard.

Analyze what's happening.

You can have fun and make an impression without overspending. Be innovative, and you'll develop a cost-efficient plan that will open doors and offer insight into new and exciting possibilities.

A disciplined approach to your responsibilities will help you finish what you start.

Take better care of your health and home, and it will spare you loss and regret. Take the path that soothes your soul.

Refuse to let anyone hold you back. It's OK to be different and follow your gut.

Surround yourself with like-minded individuals and do what makes you happy.

Romance is favored.

SAGITTARIUS Go over every detail.

Prematurely sharing your (Nov. 23thoughts and feelings will Dec. 21) backfire. Spend more time observing and less time sharing.

Put your time and effort into how best to use your skills.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- XYLOPHONIC

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

Follow your interests.

Incorporate something you love to do into your daily routine. Work that you enjoy can make your life less stressful. Let go of the past.

Anger will stand between you and what you want to achieve. Refuse to let others ruffle your feathers. Focus on what you can do to get ahead. Discipline and determination are encouraged.

Turn your dreams into (Feb. 20- a reality. Don't be angered March 20) by the actions of others.

Instead, put your energy where it counts, and concentrate on whatever it takes to achieve happiness.

PISCES

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

21

Elgar’s unbeaten 96 seals Johannesburg Test for South Africa on rain-hit fourth day itself, they requested for the ball to be changed, but the umpires didn’t entertain it.

After multiple requests, the umpires finally changed the ball in the ninth over of the day.

However, the subsequent over, bowled by Shami, produced 14 runs. van der Dussen first flicked him to the square leg boundary, and then unleashed a ferocious pull to deposit the next ball in front of square. Shami went even

Shardul Thakur replaced Bumrah from the other end, and got a couple to rear up towards van der Dussen from the cracks around the good-length mark. van der Dussen not just kept them, but also found two boundaries in the over.

Shami, who had earlier beaten both batters’ outside edges, finally got his reward when he got van der Dussen to nick one to second slip.

South Africa celebrate

D

ean Elgar struck a gritty, unbeaten 96 as South Africa chased down 240 with seven wickets in hand to consign India to their first-ever defeat in Johannesburg. The victory also meant South Africa kept the three-match series alive going into the third Test in Cape Town.

On Wednesday, Elgar had put his body on line, taking blows on the gloves and shoulder as he tried to save his wicket. He was more fluent today, especially towards the end of the chase, when he and Temba Bavuma struck a flurry of boundaries to wrap up the chase.

Earlier, the rain had washed out the first two sessions, and play started only at 3.45pm local time.

A minimum of 34 overs were to be bowled in the day, but as it turned out, South Africa needed only 27.4 overs to knock off the remaining 122 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah started with a jaffa, beating Rassie van der Dussen’s outside edge with a ball swinging away, but otherwise he didn’t look as threatening.

R Ashwin started from the other, bowled two overs before Mohammed Shami replaced him.

With the outfield still wet, India struggled to keep the ball dry. In the third over of the day

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 2ND INNINGS KL Rahul (c) c Markram b Jansen 8 Mayank Agarwal lbw b Olivier 23 Cheteshwar Pujara lbw b Rabada 53 Ajinkya Rahane c †Verreynne b Rabada 58 Hanuma Vihari not out 40 Rishabh Pant † c †Verreynne b Rabada 0 Ravichandran Ashwin c †Verreynne b Ngidi 16 Shardul Thakur c Maharaj b Jansen 28 Mohammed Shami c †Verreynne b Jansen 0 Jasprit Bumrah c Jansen b Ngidi 7 Mohammed Siraj b Ngidi 0 Extras (b 16, lb 4, nb 8, w 5) 33 TOTAL (60.1 Ov, RR: 4.42) 266 Fall of wickets: 1-24 (KL Rahul, 6.5 ov), 2-44 (Mayank Agarwal, 11.4 ov), 3-155 (Ajinkya Rahane, 34.6 ov), 4-163 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 36.6 ov), 5-167 (Rishabh Pant, 38.3 ov), 6-184 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 43.3 ov), 7-225 (Shardul Thakur, 49.6 ov), 8-228 (Mohammed Shami, 51.5 ov), 9-245 (Jasprit Bumrah, 56.2 ov), 10-266 (Mohammed Siraj, 60.1 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Kagiso Rabada 20-3-77-3 Duanne Olivier 12-1-51-1 Lungi Ngidi 10.1-2-43-3 Marco Jansen 17-4-67-3 Keshav Maharaj 1-0-8-0 SOUTH AFRICA 2ND INNINGS (TARGET: 240 RUNS) Aiden Markram lbw b Thakur 31 Dean Elgar (c)not out 96 Keegan Petersen lbw b Ashwin 28 Rassie van der Dussen c Pujara b Mohammed Shami 40 Temba Bavuma not out 23 Extras (b 1, lb 7, nb 1, w 16) 25 TOTAL (67.4 Ov, RR: 3.59) 243/3 Did not bat: Kyle Verreynne †, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Aiden Markram, 9.6 ov), 2-93 (Keegan Petersen, 27.2 ov), 3-175 (Rassie van der Dussen, 53.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jasprit Bumrah 17-2-70-0 Mohammed Shami 17-3-55-1 Shardul Thakur 16-2-47-1 Mohammed Siraj 6-0-37-0 Ravichandran Ashwin 11.4-2-26-1

Dean Elgar was all grit and determination

shorter, but ended up conceding five wides as the ball sailed over Pant. That brought down the run required to 79.

Bavuma got a life on the second ball he faced. It was fuller delivery from Thakur, and he hit it back towards the bowler.

Thakur stretched his right hand out and had the ball in his hand momentarily before it popped out.

Elgar took over after van der

Dussen’s departure, and struck Shami for successive fours to bring the target down to 50. From the other end, Bavuma hit two coverdriven boundaries to further chip away at the required runs.

By now, the wheels had come off for India. Elgar hit three fours in Mohammed Siraj’s one over, which

also included five wides. That was the third time in the innings a wide flew over Pant. The pitch was still misbehaving, but India didn’t have enough runs left to play with. A couple of overs later, Elgar flicked Ashwin to the midwicket boundary to take his side home.

(ESPNcricinfo)

West Indies reschedule tour to South Africa Djokovic paying the consequences …ahead of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

West Indies Women’s team

W

est Indies Women’s team will play four OneDay International (ODI) against South Africa Women in Johannesburg from January 28 to February 6 as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Ahead of the first ODI, West Indies will have a warm-up match against a South Africa XI on January 25.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday confirmed a revised schedule as both teams finalised preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3, 2022. West Indies Women were previously scheduled to play three (3) T20 Internationals and five (5) One Day Internationals against South African Women from January 15 to February 6.

All matches in South Africa will be played in a bio-secure environment at the historic Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, a venue close to the teams’ hotel, which has been secured for exclusive use due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

CWI CEO Johnny Grave has said, “There has been a lot of hard work and collaboration with our friends at Cricket South Africa regarding this tour, and we are very pleased that we have been able to confirm this rescheduled ODI Series, allowing us to play vital highlevel international competition and complete preparations ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. We are extremely grateful to both CSA’s and CWI’s operational and medical teams for their efforts in confirming the schedule, and we look forward to an exciting ODI

series.”

West Indies Women’s Head Coach Courtney Walsh said: “This tour will give us a chance to get some cricket in before the World Cup, especially since we have played less cricket than anticipated following the cancellation of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. This tour will show us exactly what we need to fine-tune before departing for New Zealand, so that when we get there, we can hit the ground running and give a proper showing of ourselves on the world stage.”

The series will feature two day matches and two day/night matches under lights. The day matches start at 10am local time (4am Eastern Caribbean/3am Jamaica) and the day/nighters at 2pm local time (8am Eastern Caribbean/7am Jamaica).

MATCH SECHDULE (all matches at Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg) Day matches start 10am local time (4am Eastern Caribbean/3am Jamaica) Day/night matches start 2pm local time (8am Eastern Caribbean/7am Jamaica) Tuesday, January 25: warm-up match – vs South Africa XI (day) Friday, January 28: 1st ODI (day/ night) Monday, 31 January 31: 2nd ODI (day) Thursday, February 3: 3rd ODI (day/night) Sunday, February 6: 4th ODI (day)

– Nadal speaks out as Serbian star faces Australian Open KO

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal declared it was imperative to “follow the rules” on COVID-19 vaccinations after rival Novak Djokovic was told he faces being deported from Australia.

World number one Djokovic was left fighting for the right to compete at the Australian Open, a tournament he has won nine times, after authorities cancelled his visa.

A medical exemption was expected to allow Djokovic to enter the country, regardless of his vaccination status, which he has yet to formally disclose.

However, the Australian Border Force declared the Serbian had been ordered to fly out of the country on Thursday, sparking a challenge to that decision by Djokovic’s legal team.

Reports in Australia are an interim injunction had been granted, meaning Djokovic would remain in immigration detention until a court hearing on Monday.

According to Nadal, who had COVID-19 recently, but has been cleared to compete at Melbourne Park, Djokovic would have made his life a lot easier by going down the vaccination route.

“It’s normal that the people here in Australia get very frustrated with the case, because they have been going through a lot of very hard lockdowns, and a lot of people were not able to come back home,” Nadal said.

“The only thing that I can say is I believe in what the people who know about medicine says, and if the people say that we need to get vaccinated, we need to get the vaccine.

“I went through COVID. I have been vaccinated twice. If you do this, you don’t have any problem to play here. The world, in my opinion, has been suffering enough to not follow the rules.

“I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia

without a problem. He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.”

Djokovic was initially detained at an airport after arriving in Australia, while his status remained in limbo. His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, said it had been “not the most usual trip Down Under”.

Spanish superstar Nadal has 20 grand slam titles, the same number that Djokovic and Roger Federer have brought up across their careers. They are locked in a race to finish with the most majors, and Federer, at 40, is battling back from injury and unlikely to compete at a slam before the US Open.

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted on Thursday: “Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID. We are continuing to be vigilant.”

Nadal has some sympathy for Djokovic, but it appears to be limited.

“Of course, I don’t like the situation that is happening,” Nadal said. “In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision.” (Sportsmax)

22 Valuable Paul, Hetmyer, lift spirit in Guyana Harpy Eagles set-up FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

scoring big hundreds, picking up wickets, bowling long spells, being able to concentrate for long periods of time, being able to think and perform under pressure.

That first game would be a good gauge for us, taking from that first game, into the next two games, and we are looking to improve as we go on from game to game, and try to build good momentum for the 4-Day coming up,” Crandon said.

In Paul's 22 First-class matches, he

scored 710 runs with one century and two fifties. The bowling all-rounder averages 22 with the bat and an impressive 18 with the ball for his 88 wickets in only 39 innings. He has a best bowling figure of 6-28 and a best match haul of 10-129.

Meanwhile, Hetmyer scored 2125 First-class runs in 70 innings at an average of 31.71. He recorded one century and 12 fifties in his 39-match career thus far.

(Brandon Corlette)

Powell hits sparking knock as Jamaica Scorpions stun Ireland Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul lead the team out on day one of the trial match

A

the set-up, their job is to t 23 and 25 years old respectivebe good role models to the ly, Keemo Paul and Shimron players. I think their presHetmyer have collectiveence in the group would ly played 19 Test matches and lift the spirit and every61 First-class matches. Paul thing, and we always featured in three Tests for ask the senior guys the West Indies, while to lead by example," Hetmyer played in 16 Crandon added.

Tests.

In the ongoing Despite that Guyana Harpy Eagles amount of experience Best of Best 4-Day in the red-ball formatch at Albion, both mat, the Guyanese Paul and Hetmyer are duo, who are presin the team. Paul is the ent for Regional captain of one team, 4-Day duties, while Leon Johnson bring great value leads the other team. to the Guyana Earlier, Crandon notHarpy Eagles ed that the trial set-up. match at Albion This is acwould cording to Head Coach Esuan Crandon, who expects them to be good role aim to get models to the these playyounger players. ers in the "You know when right frame of mind. you have inter“To get the guys in national players, the good groove and these guys would frame of mind to play have started like four-day cricket, batthe younger folks in the team now, or in Guyana Harpy Eagles Head Coach Esuan ting for long periods, Crandon (Brandon Corlette photos)

Reggae Boy Flemmings secures move to Toulouse …French Ligue 2 club among favourites for promotion

J

Junior Flemmings is surrounded by his fellow Reggae Boyz

amaica Reggae Boy Junior Flemmings has secured a move to French Ligue 2 club Toulouse FC. The forward, who has spent the last year at USL Championship club Birmingham Legion, where he scored six goals and notched three assists, made things official earlier this week after signing a twoyear contract for an undis-

closed fee.

At the moment, the move will be even more intriguing for the Jamaican, as he faces the prospect of being able to compete in Ligue 1 by next season.

Toulouse are currently in second place in Ligue 2, having won 10, drawn seven, and lost just two of their first 19 matches this season. If the club manages to secure a top-two finish

in the league this season, Flemmings and Toulouse would move up to play in Ligue 1 next season.

Legion FC general manager Jay Heaps described the transfer as an exciting one for the player, and said he believes it illustrates the quality the club has to offer.

“We are excited for Junior to have this opportunity to join a club of Toulouse FC’s calibre,” Heaps said.

“We feel this transfer highlights the quality within Legion FC and across the USL Championship, while also setting our club up for success moving forward.”

Flemmings has played 19 games for Jamaica’s national team, managing to score 2 goals. The player has featured regularly for the country in its ongoing World Cup qualification campaign. (Sportsmax)

Jamaica Scorpions Captain Rovman Powell

sixes. He continued to take on the bowlers, and struck another two boundaries

SCOREBOARD IRELAND INNINGS WTS Porterfield c AMI McCarthy b Gordon 21 A Balbirnie* b Gordon 13 AR McBrine c unknown b Gordon 6 HT Tector b Powell 11 C Campher c unknown b Gordon 2 LJ Tucker† c Wilson b Powell 17 GH Dockrell c Levy b Powell 82 Simi Singh lbw b Mansingh 29 MR Adair c Powell b AMI McCarthy 25 BJ McCarthy not out 15 CA Young c unknown b Gordon 1 Extras (lb 3, w 8, nb 1) 12 Total for 10 wickets in 48.3 overs 234 FALL OF WICKETS- 1-38 (A Balbirnie, 6.3 ov), 2-39 (WTS Porterfield, 6.6 ov), 3-44 (AR McBrine, 8.2 ov), 4-52 (C Campher, 12.4 ov), 5-69 (HT Tector, 16.2 ov), 6-100 (LJ Tucker, 20.5 ov), 7-150 (Simi Singh, 31.6 ov), 8-205 (MR Adair, 41.4 ov), 9-232 (GH Dockrell, 47.5 ov), 10-234 (CA Young, 48.3 ov) BOWLERS O-M-R-W JJ Levy 5-0-27-0 G Bryan 7-0-38-0 NA Gordon 9.3-1-34-5 PM Harty 10-0-36-0

A

captain’s knock by Rovman Powell led Jamaica Scorpions to a spectacular win over the touring Ireland team at Sabina Park on Wednesday.

The powerful righthander made 82 not out off 63 balls, as Jamaica motored to a victory target of 235-5 off 38.5 overs. This was after Ireland were bowled out for 234 off 48.5 overs.

Powell smashed the ball to all parts of the historic venue, as his half century came off 48 balls and included two fours and five

R Powell 7-0-32-3 A Mansingh 5-0-35-1 AMI McCarthy 5-0-29-1 JAMAICA SCORPIONS INNINGS L Lugg c Tucker b Little 16 KSA McKenzie b Little 0 BA King c & b McBrine 36 AMI McCarthy c Tucker b Young 48 R Powell* not out 82 P Palmer b Little 33 K Wilson† not out 5 A Mansingh G Bryan NA Gordon PM Harty Extras (b 5, lb 3, w 7) 15 Total for 5 wickets in 38.4 overs 235 FALL OF WICKETS- 1-10 (KSA McKenzie, 2.3 ov), 2-23 (L Lugg, 6.4 ov), 3-106 (BA King, 19.1 ov), 4-107 (AMI McCarthy, 20.1 ov), 5-201 (P Palmer, 34.6 ov) BOWLERS O-M-R-W JB Little 7-0-21-3 CA Young 7.4-0-55-1 MR Adair 5-0-26-0 BJ McCarthy 6-0-46-0 C Campher 4-0-36-0 AR McBrine 5-1-15-1 Simi Singh 4-0-28-0

and a maximum as he took the young Jamaica side to an easy triumph against their more experienced opponents.

Powell shared a crucial 94-run partnership with left-hander Paul Palmer Jr, who made 33 off 40 balls with three fours and a six on his 30th birthday.

They took the score from 107-4 in the 21st over to 201-5 when Palmer was beaten and bowled by a brilliant yorker from Josh Little, the left-arm quick bowler.

The run chase was well

set up by Brandon King (36) and Andre McCarthy (48), who rescued the innings from 23-2 in the seventh over, with an aggressive third wicket partnership of 83 in 13 overs.

Earlier, fast bowler Nicholson Gordon generated pace and bowled accurately, and was rewarded with a five-wicket haul.

The former West Indies U19 player ended with 5-34 off 9.3 overs, to have Ireland struggling at 100-6 in the 21st over. The innings was rescued by a purposeful innings of 82 off 107 balls from George Dockrell, at Number 7. He shared a 50run stand with Simi Singh (29) and another worth 55 with Mark Adair (25).

Ireland will now continue their preparation to face West Indies in the CG Insurance One-Day International Series, which starts on Saturday at Sabina Park. First ball is 9:30am (10:30am Eastern Caribbean) (Windies Cricket)

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VACANCY Vacancy exists for two (2) Nannies.

Please call 619-9317.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana Harpy Eagles Trial Match Day Two

23

Brilliant Hetmyer lights up Albion -runs for Pestano and Imlach

Hetmyer and Imlach shared an unbeaten 98-run partnership

Clinton Pestano scored a fighting 69 for Johnson's

XI

By Brandon Corlette at Albion

S

himron Hetmyer showed that he is in a class above all when he hit an impressive half-century on day two of the Guyana Harpy Eagles Best of Best 4-Day trial match at Albion. At stumps, Keemo Paul's XI were 154-2 after 55 overs, with Hetmyer unbeaten on 69 from 110 balls, which included three fours, in 101 minutes.

Elegant wicket-keeper batsman Tevin Imlach stroked an unbeaten 45 in the unbroken 98-run partnership.

Resuming the day on 1887 with Akshaya Persaud on 54 and Clinton Pestano on

Joseph bowled a top-spell, which included a gem to rattle Anderson

24, Leon Johnson's XI posted 254 all out.

Persaud, who top-edged the promising Sylus Tyndall, added only seven runs to his over-

night score, ending on 61 from 165 balls, including four boundaries. The left-hander batted for 202 minutes in total.

After that 51-run partnership ended with Pestano and Persaud at 196-8, Anthony Adams stuck around while Pestano played his shots. The pugnacious Pestano, who rocked a floppy, slammed two sixes and four fours in his 69 from 137 balls; one sweetly timed of Veerasammy Permaul. Pestano occupied the crease for 177 minutes, battling against some steady bowling and cramps.

Adams dropped anchor and scored an unbeaten nine from 71 balls in a 58-run ninth wicket partnership, the highest of the innings. Kevin Umrao (00) was the final man dismissed

by Permaul, after 117.2 overs.

Tyndall claimed 2-27 in 11 overs, and was unlucky not to claim his third victim, after Richie Looknauth dropped Adams on two.

The following over saw Hetmyer drop a sitter from Pestano, who was on 34 at the time. Permaul claimed 2-67 from 39.2 overs, which included 16 maidens on a pitch that offered little assistance. Paul had 2-20 in 16 overs, which had eight maidens.

Covers came on at 11:30h with the score on 236-8, but play had resumed at 12:15h.

Muhammad eyeing the expansion of tournaments going forward

Paul's XI openers, Mavindra Dindyal and Kevlon Anderson, took centre stage, but Anderson was undone by a gem off the experienced Keon Joseph.

Anderson made only five, and was bowled all ends up at 6-1. Dindyal was in for some quality bowling, and he and Imlach were beaten by Joseph.

The duo dug deep and went to tea with the score on 44-1.

Dindyal was on 21 and Imlach was on 15. After the interval, the shot-gun youth Dindyal was trapped in front by Umrao for 29, which was decorated with four boundaries, as Paul's XI were reduced to 56-2.

Earlier, Dindyal was caught behind off a Joshua Jones-no-ball.

Hetmyer entered the crease, and the small amount of supporters, which included his father and brother, began

to buzz. The left-hander looked in control as he punched, cut and drove with pure class. He formed a strong partnership with his former West Indies U-19 team-mate Imlach.

The man from Canje reached his fifty from 75 balls in 70 minutes, with three sweetly timed fours.

Meanwhile, Imlach, who used his feet and was equally up to the task, ended on a 134-ball 45, which included three fours, after batting for 195 minutes. Joseph ended with 1-9 in four top overs while Umrao had 1-23 in nine.

The third day will resume at Albion, with Paul's XI trailing Johnson's XI by 100 runs and eight wickets in hand.

This match is the first of three 4-Day trials for Guyana, as the Regional 4-Day tournament looms.

- Guyana to send team to the March 22 – April 2 event in Ecuador

…Also pleased with vaccination compliance

W

ith the GFF-K&S Super-16 tournament completed and the Futsal competition almost at a close, organizer Kashif Muhammad has disclosed considerations to expand the tournament while sharing the aspects of the events he most appreciated.

On Saturday last, the curtain came down on the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)- Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Men’s Super-16 tournament, while this Saturday will see the culmination of the Futsal event with a grand finale between Bent Street and Sparta Boss.

Before the pomp and splendour of the huge final clash, there is much that Co-director of the Kashif and Shanghai Organization, Kashif Muhammad, is considering, especially with regard to the tournament’s format and safety guidelines.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, organizer Muhammad revealed initial ideas to maximise the number of teams participating in order to add value to the tournament.

“We’re thinking a little bit different for the years to come.

It wouldn’t just remain as sixteen teams; we’re thinking about doing it how it’s done in the world Cup, possibly 24.

Next year, God willing, we’ll divide them up into groups, and everybody get an opportunity to play at least two games three games before they get into the final 16,” Muhammad

explained “Even though it’s nice where you can play, we like the idea of persons getting a second chance. Cause sometimes you can lose your first game.

In this format, if you lose your first game, you’re out, if you lose any game, you’re out; so, in the format, we want to introduce, you can lose your first game but still stand a chance of coming again.”

He further stated, “We’re thinking of making that adjustment, and so far, everybody likes the idea, and this is our thoughts for next time around.”

In weighing the pros of the 2021-2022 Year-end events, Muhammad highlighted that the players’ willingness to get vaccinated was a focal point for him.

The football organizer, who has been in the business for more than 3 decades, candidly shared, “The most important thing for me is being satisfied to see so many teams getting vaccinated to participate in this tournament. We had 19 teams, each team comprising of 30 persons were vaccinated for the actual football, and then, we had 32 teams of at least 15 persons being vaccinated to participate in the Futsal.

“And then everybody who is coming to these events had to be vaccinated, this is under the strict guidelines of the COVID Task Force. So, that was heartwarming for us.”

He added, “I must say it’s beautiful to see the lev-

these events, but under the guidelines, we would like to see this in much more sports,” Muhammad reasoned.

el of both Futsal and football this December, for the whole reopening of football.”

Turning his attention to the

P

Kashif Muhammad

A snippet from this week’s Futsal semifinal action

fan turn-out, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) noted that their presence indicates the guidelines can be used across sport disciplines.

“I’m most satisfied to see the quality of football.

It’s happening in both the Futsal and the big field football. It’s good to see this, it’s nice that people can start coming back to

“And then it’s warming to see the whole collaboration between the Guyana Football Federation and the Kashif and Shanghai Organization once again, making the December season the football season,” he concluded.

The Futsal final on Saturday, January 8 will bring down the curtains on football’s 2021-2022 year-

resident of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, is praising the prize structure that has been put in place by the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) for their Elite Continental Championships, set for Guayaquil, Ecuador from March 22 to April 2.

The medalists in each of 13 men and 12 women weight categories, according to the AMBC, would receive prize money, US$10,000 for first place, $5,000 (second) and $2,500 for third place.

“It’s a really good initiative, because you can remain in the amateur ranks and still make a living,” Ninvalle related in an invited comment.

Ninvalle, who also sits as a Vice President of the AMBC, pointed to Trinidad and Tobago’s Nigel Paul, who claimed bronze and the $25,000 prize tag in the Super Heavyweight division at the November International Boxing Association (formerly known as AIBA) World Championships in Russia, adding, “now he goes to this championship, and he wins that, he gets $10,000 and then there are other competitions

end tournaments. (Jemima Holmes)

GBA president Steve Ninvalle

held throughout the year.”

“So you stand a chance of making a tidy sum if you are up in winnings, or if you continue to win. This is an initiative of Umar Kremlev, the president of the IBA, and it’s something that has been applauded and embraced across the world, because injection of cash gives boxers something to work towards, other than the pride and the glory, there’s now the financial aspect of it, which means a lot,” Ninvalle further stated.

Meanwhile, the GBA president confirmed Guyana’s participation at their first AMBC tournament for 2022, noting that, “We will await the national coach, Mr Lennox Daniels, who is expected to name a team of boxers that will be meeting with him weekly, and then as we move into encampment, these boxers will have a longer time with him, and of course he will be supported by a team of coaches also.”

The AMBC, according to reports, are doing everything to ensure the event is held in the safest environment, taking into account the cancellation of several of their events because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) on Thursday afternoon announced the appointment of legendary former West Indies opening batter, the Most Hon. Dr. Desmond Haynes, as the Lead Selector of the West Indies Senior Men’s Team.

Along with his most outstanding cricket credentials, Dr. Haynes was recently honoured by the University of the West Indies with an Honorary Doctoral Degree and is a former Senator in the Parliament of Barbados. He was confirmed as the new Men’s Team Lead Selector during a meeting of the CWI Board of Directors earlier today.

Regarding the appointment, CWI President Ricky Skerritt, said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Most Hon. Dr.

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

Desmond H a y n e s has agreed to rejoin the CWI cricket system as the Lead Selector.

His cricket knowledge and experience are second to none, and I am confident that Desmond is the right man for the right job at the right time.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors and all stakeholders, I wish Desmond every success as he commences his important Lead role, which starts immediately. I want to also take this opportunity to thank Roger Harper and Miles Bascombe for their commitment and integrity whilst they served on the Panel over the past two years,” the CWI President further stat-

ed.

On the other hand, the Most Hon. Dr.

Desmond Haynes shared, “I would like to thank President Skerritt and the CWI Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket once again. Being a Selector is a thankless task, but a critical role in our cricket system, and I am honoured to be appointed. I have always indicated that I would assist West Indies cricket in any way possible, and I see this as an opportunity to do just that. I pledge to carry out my duties in a fair and professional manner.”

Dr Haynes will lead the West Indies Men’s

Selection Panel until June 30 2024, a period that includes four ICC Global Events, two T20 World Cups (2022 & 2024), the Cricket World Cup (2023) and the World Test Championship Final (2023).

The Most Hon. Dr. Desmond Haynes played 116 Test matches and 238 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies between 1978 and 1994.

He scored 7487 runs in Tests, including 18 centuries, and 8648 runs in ODIs, including 17 centuries. He captained the West Indies in four Test matches. He was a member of the West Indies team which won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1979. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in June, 2021.

The Most Hon. Dr. Desmond Haynes during his heyday

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