Guyana Times -- Friday, March 25, 2022

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Guyanese engineers in Singapore for FPSO training Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4959

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

PRICE

Missing fishermen

Probe found vessel was not inspected for seaworthiness, crew had no safety training Page 3 …cannot continue “business as usual” – Edghill …MARAD has only 6 marine surveyors to monitor over 2000 vessels

COVID-19 pandemic

US Govt ready to help Guyana on road to recovery See story on page 9

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Concerns raised over increased workplace P16 fatalities in agri sector …AmCham to raise awareness on workplace safety

Captain recalls Atlantic tragedy as search P14 continues for missing Rosignol fisherman

Maintaining P13 treatment vital in protecting TB patients – Health Minister Duo remanded over $1.7M drug bust P8

President Dr Irfaan Ali chatting with Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Thursday. The two leaders discussed a number of areas of cooperation (Office of the President photo)

GECOM warns Unlicensed of impostors teen driver visiting homes to ‘conduct registration’ on $1.5M bail Page 7

WCD fatal accident

Page 2

3 fake kidnapping reports in 3 days …as woman falsely reports friend kidnapped by taxi driver

Page 17

10 new COVID-19 cases from over P11 700 tests Miller's reduction of paddy prices

Difficult to P15 find perfect resolutions – Ramjattan …suggests Govt converts rice export taxes to subsidies to millers

Man found guilty of cutlass attack on gambling P14 partner

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCD fatal accident

Unlicensed teen driver on $1.5M bail and Rampersaud was found inside a drain.

Ambedkar was also injured in the accident, as were two other patrons of the bar – Wazim Mohammed and Chandrika Veerasammy, both of De Willem, WCD. Following the accident, a breathalyser test was administered on this teen driver, but no trace of alcohol was found in his system.

Several Government Ministers have expressed

were killed on the roadways as a result of 14 accidents, while for the same period in 2021, 20 persons died from a total of 19 accidents.

For the year 2021, 99 persons have been killed on the roadways, compared with 139 persons for 2020.

The 2021 results showed a 29 per cent reduction when compared to 2020. The “vulnerable class” of road users — pedal cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians —

Dead: Carlito Kissoon Gobinlall

Dead: Ayube Mohamed

Dead: Kiram Rampersaud

On bail: Matthew Ambedkar

atthew Ambedkar of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the 19-year-old unlicensed driver who crashed a speeding motorcar into a bar at De Willem, WCD killing three persons, has been released on $1.5M bail two weeks after he was initially charged and remanded to prison on three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He appeared on Thursday before Leonora Magistrate Zamilla SeepaulAlly and was ordered to post $500,000 bail on each of the three charges.

Represented by Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt, Ambedkar was also ordered to lodge his passport with the court, after pleading not guilty to the charges. His case will continue on April 26 for statements.

It is alleged that on March 7 at De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), he drove motor car PVV 1051 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the deaths of 23-year-old Venezuelan national Carlito Kissoon Gobinlall of De Willem, WCD; Kiram Rampersaud, a

46-year-old fisherman of 41 Zeeburg, WCD; and 44-yearold Ayube Mohamed, a fisherman of Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD. Police Headquarters reported that, on March 7, the teen was driving at a fast rate of speed, allegedly racing with another car when he crashed into the three men who were standing in front of the Sharmila Harrykissoon Sports Bar. Previous reports have stated that Gobinlall was thrown several feet away, and landed in front of a pharmacy, while Mohamed was found under the debris

(GPF), the combined fatalities of pedal cyclists and motorcyclists have accounted for 37.4 per cent of the deaths in 2021 and for 56.1 per cent of the deaths in 2020.

Moreover, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has said that he and other Cabinet officials are relooking at the current laws to examine ways in which they could ensure “stricter controls, be it the training/ re-training of drivers/riders, higher fines or stiffer penalties, and a studied approach for the introduction of a demerit system.” (G1)

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The mangled car which crashed into the shop, leaving three persons dead

concern over the continued reckless usage of the country’s roadways, particularly by “young male” drivers.

Meanwhile, comparative data has shown that, as at March 3, 2022, 15 persons

have accounted for 67.7 per cent of the total deaths in 2021, and for 79.9 per cent of the total deaths in the previous year.

Based on statistics from the Guyana Police Force

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, March 25 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, March 26 – 23:30h-01:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, March 25 – 09:40h-11:10h and Saturday, March 26 – 11:20h-12:50h.

Missing fishermen

Probe found vessel was not inspected for seaworthiness, crew had no safety training …cannot continue “business as usual” – Edghill …MARAD has only 6 marine surveyors to monitor over 2000 vessels

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers are expected during the earlymorning hours followed by cloudy skies and finally, in the late afternoon, sunny conditions, with partly cloudy to clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 09:45h and 22:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.08 metres.

Missing fishermen: Harold Damon, Ronald Burton and Winston Sam

Low Tide: 16:06h reaching a minimum height of 0.95 metre.

Among the findings of the report is that while Noble House had received the call early in the morning, that the boat was taking in water, neither the Maritime Administration (MARAD) nor the Lighthouse had been notified until about nine hours later. This, the Minister noted, significantly delayed the rescue response mechanism, which did not go into gear until 24 hours after the incident had happened.

“By the time they received word was nightfall, and mobilising into action was at the break of day the next day,” he stated.

MARAD Captain John Flores handing over the BoI report to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Thursday, as MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas looks on

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$118.70/barrel

-0.27

Rough Rice

$288.09/ton

-0.14

London Sugar

$550.40/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1962.50

$1963.50

Low/High Change

$1937.50 +5.60

$1967.10 +0.29%

ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill on Thursday stressed that the fishing industry cannot continue to operate as though it is business as usual, after a report from the high-level Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the incident involving a Noble House vessel that capsized in the Atlantic Ocean and resulted in three fishermen going missing highlighted some damning revelations.

On the morning of Saturday February 19, a fishing trawler – World Friend 307, which is owned by Noble House Seafoods Limited - began taking in water, and capsized before sinking in the Atlantic Ocean some 18 miles off the Mahaicony Coast.

Three of the four crew members: 44-year-old captain Harold Damon of Lot 4 Water Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown; 46-year-old Winston Sam of Lot 32 Public Road, McDoom, Greater Georgetown; and 78-yearold Ronald Burton of Lot 23 Water Street, Agricola, have all since been missing.

The fourth crew member, Vincent Dazzell, survived the tragedy and was rescued by another fishing boat and brought to shore on that Saturday afternoon.

However, Dazzell has said that before coming to shore, he and the fishers who had rescued him had spent some three hours exploring the area in search of the three missing fishermen, but to no avail.

He had related that the captain, Damon, had informed Noble House that morning that the vessel was taking in water moments be-

fore it sank. However, this was not reported to the relevant authorities until later that day, when Dazzell returned to shore and turned up at the company.

Moreover, frustrated family members of the three missing fishermen have been complaining bitterly about the lack of information coming from Noble House, which had also failed to inform them about the incident initially.

The Public Works Ministry had set up a BOI to look into the circumstances of the incident, and approximately one month later, that report was handed over to Minister Edghill on Thursday by Captain John Flores, who headed the probe.

Upon receipt of the report, Edghill posited that “… culpability or lack of culpability must be established; it must not be hidden anywhere.”

He added that actions are necessary to ensure there is not a repeat of this incident, or to minimise the possibility of such incidents.

“I would want to clearly say, as a result of this incident, there can be no guessing that it will not be business as usual as it relates to the regulatory framework in which the fishing industry operates in Guyana, and it cannot be business as usual as it relates to the use of waterways and what we do and how we do it. Safety and the establishment of strong minimum standards to ensure safety and capacity to respond, and the establishment of protocols must be clearly defined,” he stated.

Not issued by MARAD

The report also unearthed that the captain’s licence was not issued by MARAD – something that was previously disclosed. In fact, Edghill noted that there is no record at MARAD that the captain was ever licensed to operate such vessels, and this warrants the examination of the licensing system to ascertain whether there are rogue elements issuing licences or whether fake licences are being created outside the Administration.

Additionally, it was found that neither the captain nor the crew had any certification or training in terms of safety and responding to emergencies.

“I know the argument can be made that these are men that go out there all the time, what kind of training they need [because] they have the experience, but when something happens is when everybody wake up,” the Public Works Minister stressed.

According to Edghill, there now is need to look at ways to safeguard the lives and welfare of those persons who go out to ply “dangerous waters.”

In fact, it was revealed during Thursday’s press conference following the handing over of the report that inspections at Noble House unearthed two other captains who are not properly licensed to operate fishing trawlers.

The BOI also raised concerns about the physical condition of the vessel that went down. It was not that the trawler was certified by MARAD and had gone into drydock, there was no evidence or record to show that the vessel had been examined by a certified inspector before heading out to sea – something that is mandatory in order to determine its “seaworthiness.”

“So, a boat that has disappeared and gone down, we don’t know – because there is no record to show if this boat was adequately inspected by a competent marine surveyor, deficiencies were found or not found, corrective actions were taken or not taken,” he stated.

Further, the company could not prove that they have suitably qualified personnel internally to conduct such inspections on the vessels before they head out to sea.

Edghill asserted that, “The science of things must be utilised for the safety and wellbeing of all. I am determined that it cannot be business as usual. Lessons learnt must be on our minds… I hope we could list those lessons learnt and strengthened the whole system.”

AG’s advice

Moreover, the Public Works Minister related, that after perusing the report, he would engage Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, to determine the way forward.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 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

Discouraging youths from tobacco

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ore than 40 million young people aged 13-15 have already started to use tobacco, the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined. This, by any measure, is quite alarming, and one can only imagine the kind of impact this would have on our young people if urgent action is not taken to discourage such actions.

The WHO, for some time now, has embarked on a global campaign to highlight the “strategic, aggressive and well-resourced tactics” employed by the tobacco industry to target youths, and to debunk the myths they create.

The campaign seeks to provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation – from product design to marketing campaigns – and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics, thereby empowering young people to stand up against them.

The WHO described this effort as a counter-marketing campaign, as it would reinforce work in assisting countries to implement effective policy interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco.

Guyana’s Chronic Diseases Coordinator Dr Kavita Singh had, in the past, lamented the fact that the tobacco industry is capitalising on new trends in targeting young persons. She noted that it was during this point in time that ‘big tobacco’ was using strategic marketing techniques to try to get young people to experiment with the new and emerging novel products, like the e-cigarettes and the heated tobacco products.

While there is a myth that these products are safe, they are equally as harmful as the smoke of an actual cigarette.

According to WHO, smoking e-cigarettes and hookah pipes – marketed as “safer” alternatives to conventional cigarettes – is harmful, addictive, and increases the risk of developing heart and lung diseases.

Of note is that these products have the same tobacco, which has cancer-causing agents among other deadly emissions. The WHO notes that most of the countless flavours on offer – such as bubble-gum and candy – are there to attract youngsters, who at least double their chances of smoking cigarettes later in life.

It should be stated that tobacco is responsible for over seven million deaths per year worldwide. This includes approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 40 per cent of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

Guyana’s tobacco control law, enacted in 2017, follows several of the Articles of the WHO Convention, and mandates the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100 per cent smoke-free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation, and specified outdoor spaces to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60 per cent of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines’ sales, and a ban on the manufacture and sale of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco, as 78 per cent of all deaths here are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill due to tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, stricter enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use; and, more recently, tackling the newer forms of cigarette substitutes, which are proving to be very attractive to youths.

Students at the launching of the inaugural Tech Expo 2022 at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

Tech Expo 2022 is themed: "Embracing traditional and non-traditional technology." (Education Ministry photo)

False narratives about COVID left us with millions of deaths – will we challenge them now?

By Debora MacKenzie

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ll big experiences in our lives have two realities. There is what really happened. And there is the narrative, the story we tell ourselves and each other about what happened. Of the two, psychologists say it’s the narrative that matters most. Creating coherent stories about events allows us to make sense of them. It is the narrative that determines our reactions, and what we do next. Two years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally used the word “pandemic” in its own story about the deadly new virus from Wuhan, narratives have multiplied and changed around the big questions. How bad is it? What should we do about it? When will it be over? The stories we embraced have sometimes been correct, but others have sown division, even caused needless deaths. Those stories aren’t finished – and neither is the pandemic.

As we navigate what could be – if we are lucky – COVID’s transition to a present but manageable disease, it is these narratives we most need to understand and reconcile. What has really happened since 2020? And how does it still affect us now?

The first narrative we got wrong was the widespread assumption that infectious disease is only a problem for poor countries.

Most Western countries failed to prepare as the virus raced across Asia – until horror stories began emerging from Italian hospitals. By then, in some places, it was too late.

At least once we agreed a response was needed, most people were on board. “It may seem hard to believe today,” marvelled US pollsters at the Pew Research Center in a 2021 report, but in March 2020 there was “strong bipartisan support” for shutdown measures But that initial consensus frayed faster than many remember. Two months later, the US was widely split along party lines, and remained that way, with Republicans rejecting control measures and insisting COVID was mild, even a hoax. A year after that, just before the more deadly and contagious Delta variant hit, three in 10 Americans said the pandemic was over.

Similar divides emerged in England, where Brexit supporters shared an “anti-establishment narrative” with US

Republicans. Researchers have found that local support for Brexit was the strongest factor associated with higher COVID deaths and lower vaccination rates in British voting districts after October 2020, possibly because this group rushed to abandon protections: separate polling found Brexit supporters were most keen to drop masks.

At the Government level, Downing Street seemed to follow two narratives of its own: a libertarian preference for individual responsibility over collective action, and the conviction that we could either save lives or the economy, not both. This led to its plan in March 2020 to not actively contain the virus, as the WHO insisted and as east Asian countries were already doing, but to let it spread until everyone was immune. That only changed when epidemiologists calmly explained how many deaths it would entail. The trade-off between death and wealth too was disproved when Asian countries that locked down early and hard had fewer deaths and fared better economically. But in England both that and the individual responsibility narrative persisted.

Jeremy Farrar, until recently a Sage member, described the repeated decisions by Downing Street to lift restrictions too soon or reimpose them too slowly as “libertarian”.

These narratives and their effects are still with us. They clearly informed England’s recent “living with COVID” plan for dropping masks, closures, testing, even viral surveillance from April, even though cases of the even more contagious BA.2 version of Omicron were already climbing True, vaccines and antiviral drugs have blunted COVID’s impact, and getting vaccinated is a personal responsibility. But infectious disease is always profoundly collective, whether or not leaders find that ideologically congenial. Omicron is better than its forebears at breaking through our immunity. The many people whose age or medical condition makes them more likely to die if that happens, or who have suppressed immunity – perhaps only because they need an arthritis drug – cannot take “personal responsibility” for avoiding COVID if they must return to the office, surrounded by maskless people exercising their “individual freedom” to exhale asymp-

tomatic Omicron.

Meanwhile, even people who accepted COVID was serious and required a collective response have assumed the narrative would end with COVID going away, and 2019-style normality returning. Even some scientists initially hoped the virus would mutate too slowly to evade our immunity, we would contain its spread, and it would die out like its relative, SARS, in 2003.

No such luck. We all want the disruption and anxiety to stop, but we won’t achieve that with policies that pretend the pandemic is over when it isn’t.

Moreover, things could get worse: the virus will keep evolving as long as it circulates, and COVID has shown that another widely-held narrative, that diseases always evolve to be milder is mere wishful thinking. And it looks set to keep circulating. So far, vaccines do not stop vaccinated people from catching and spreading it.

So, of course, do the many people who remain unvaccinated. For some, the narrative of mistrust of science or Government means they refuse. Others simply live in poor countries, and rich countries insist on another widely-approved narrative: vaccinate our own first, even if that lets the virus keep evolving elsewhere, possibly into one that comes back to us and evades our vaccines. Between that and the many animal species that can host it, COVID will not go away. The best we can hope for is that one day we will not need to disrupt our lives to live with it. Some disruptions will become normal: more working from home, masks, testing. Better vaccines, drugs and treatments for long COVID will, we hope, make the disease less likely to kill or damage, at least those with access to them. Eventually, COVID may infect us all as children, leaving lasting if partial immunity, perhaps becoming just another common cold. Living with COVID is, in fact, how this comes out, although we will not be there by April.

But that isn’t the end of the pandemic story, only this chapter. Even if we fight COVID into normality, scientists agree there will be another pandemic, and more likely sooner than later. To stop that we must learn to spot and contain worrying outbreaks.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 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

Transforming attitudes could sharply reduce road fatalities, accidents

Dear Editor, Every human life is precious, and must be protected at all costs. Sadly, the incidence of road fatalities is one indicator that defies this maxim. While the Guyana Police Force (GPF) can present statistics to show that the rate of road fatalities/accidents has declined for 2021 compared with 2020, these statistics fail to capture the catalytic impact road fatalities/ accidents have on human suffering, and the socio-economic loss to families and their communities.

How and under what circumstances many of these road fatalities/accidents happen rattles the mind.

Nevertheless, from these fatalities/accidents, important lessons could be drawn on how to prevent them, while focusing on the dire need for drivers to embrace good “attitudes.”

Lachman Sukham was allegedly racing when his motor car crashed into a truck at the Borlam Turn, Corentyne. It resulted in his death, as well as that of his co-occupant, Danny Puran.

Then there is the other horrific story of three men being killed and two others injured after being struck by a speeding vehicle driven by a young man at De Willem, West Coast Demerara.

With these and other distressing stories making the headlines, the public cannot remain indifferent, but must rally for immediate action to halt this carnage.

Rohan Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (r’td), has illustrated a probable cause of road fatalities/

accidents through an analysis of data on the grant of drivers’ licences for the years 2016/2017. The various levels of corruption at the GPF Traffic Department have been enumerated, of which two are reported here: (i) 397 persons did not write examinations but received pass marks, and (ii) 1,153 or 20.23% of all transactions “conducted by the Traffic Department in all Divisions checked for the period were fraudulent.”

Clinton Conway, former Asst Police Commissioner, supports Mr. Rohan’s claim of Police corruption, and cites his own survey post2019: “The evidence gathered revealed that over 90 percent of those who went to the Driving Schools to learn to drive already had in their possession their drivers’ licences. No wonder there is a high amount of traffic accidents, particularly fatalities.”

While there have been suggestions that road traffic fatalities/accidents might be correlated with questionable issuance of drivers’ licences, such correlation is not necessarily casual. For example, if there exists a correlation, this means that greater corruption in the form of granting licences to unqualified drivers would lead to higher road fatalities/accidents.

Alternatively, if corruption is reduced, then road fatalities would also be reduced.

However, the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, reports on the contrary, that road fatalities have declined by 28.7%; that is: from 139 in 2020 to 99 in 2021.

False narratives...

To do this we must see through yet another misleading story: an “outbreak narrative” that portrays pandemics as primarily a sudden and unexpected battle between microbe and hero scientists seeking the cure. This cuts out the long backstory of deforestation, wildlife trade or risky farming that makes it more likely germs will jump from animals to us in the first place. These are causes we could address for a fraction of the cost the diseases spawned that way already cost us.

But our experience – our story – of COVID, locked down until scientists found the vaccine, strengthens the outbreak narrative.

Governments may assume they can react after the next one strikes too, without spending on being prepared. But a closer reading shows we were incredibly

FROM PAGE 4

lucky: we found safe, effective vaccines faster than expected (vaccines for some coronaviruses have proved impossible), and meanwhile the disease wasn’t too deadly. SARS was 10 times more likely to kill you once infected.

We desperately need a multinational effort to watch for new infections, and devise remedies. The WHO says we need to spend US$31 billion annually.

Will we? As always it depends on the narrative.

Is COVID over? No. Will there be another pandemic? Yes. Can we stop it?

Maybe. It may all depend on the stories we tell ourselves now. (The Guardian) (Debora MacKenzie is a science journalist and author of Stopping the Next Pandemic: How Covid-19 Can Help us Save Humanity)

There are other intervening variables, like better traffic enforcement and presence of CTVs camera, that could help to explain this drop, other than the lessening of corruption.

While further probing into any casual correlation between corruption and road traffic accidents should be pursued, this should not detract from other law enforcement initiatives to reduce fatalities/accidents. Minister Edghill notes: “The vulnerable class of road users (pedal cyclists, motor cyclists and pedestrians)” comprised 67.7% of the total road deaths in 2021, [while] in 2020 that proportion was 79.9%. Pedal and motorcyclists alone constituted 37.4% of road fatalities, compared with 56.1% in 2020. To reinforce Minister Edghill’s concern, a 31-yearold motorcyclist, Joshua I Ramdeen, was killed after colliding with a Canter in New Amsterdam on March 22, 2022. And a 37-year-old driver, on March 18, 2022, allegedly fatally struck down 2 persons on the No 70 Public Road, Corentyne.

Enforcement work should therefore zero into these atrisk groups, and then spread out to others who drive under the influence of alcohol.

Many accidents are caused by speeding, and by drivers not observing the speed limits. Minister Edghill notes the “reckless and uncaring manner” of some drivers. This concern raises a fundamental point: “attitude” on the road. If

a driver does not have the right attitude and flouts the rules, then the probability of accidents rises.

Why is it that men, for example, are more than 4 times more likely to be involved in accidents than women? One explanation is that there are less women motorists, but this alone cannot explain the difference. The vital variable is “attitude.” Women’ approach to driving is based more on caution and responsibility, as well as embracing a favourable attitude.

Victims of road fatalities / accidents want drivers to operate with courtesy, and observe road safety rules. They want to weed out corruption from the licensing process, and they want tough enforcement of the road traffic rules. They want a greater role to be played by the National Road Traffic and Safety Council. They also want motor vehicle certification to be done by state-licensed mechanic shops, and not by the Police. And a special unit of the GRA should issue drivers’ licences, and not the Police.

In this way, Police could focus on traffic enforcement, crime prevention, and detection.

There are three major social pathologies that afflict Guyana: road fatalities, murders, and suicides, none of which has a constituency which can rally on victims’ behalf. These social pathologies originate out of “rage,” a condition which the process of social adaptation has

failed to tame. Combined with other social ills, they point towards the cracks in the social fabric of society, which signal the existence of underlying causes that could become explosive if these are not addressed appropriately.

And the prospect of a good life to usher with Guyana’s oil wealth cannot be built

upon a social structure that is infected with lethal viruses. Sustained efforts must be made to neutralise these negative forces (road fatalities, murders, and suicides) through attitudinal changes, among other things.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

No official increase in fares

Dear Editor, The Government has done its part and reduced the Excise Tax on fuel to zero (INews. Mar 23) as a measure to cushion rising costs, and hopes this would be passed on to the travelling public.

This, however, seems unlikely, as transportation operators are clamouring that the increases are

justified, as fuel is not the only thing a vehicle runs on. There are other considerations, hence fares would not revert any time soon, if at all.

There has not been any official increase in fares, it must be noted. But tell that to the operators.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

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Foundation How do animals hide?

Question 1

a) Jai bought 4 different items from the list shown below. Two of the items cost the same amount. He paid with $200.00.

If Jai received $23.60 change, what four items did he buy? b) Mia received some pocket money. She spent 3/5 of it on food and 3/10 of the remaining amount on stationery. She saved the rest of the money. i) What fraction of her money did Mia spend on stationery? ii) If Mia saved $28.00, how much pocket money did she receive?

Thursday’s answers 1a) 32/3 x 3/4 ÷ 15/6 First, do the multiplication part of the problem: 3 2/3 x 3/4 Step 1: Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction: 3 2/3 x 3/4 = 11/3 x 3/4 Step 2: Multiply the numerators of the fractions to get the new numerator, and multiply the denominators of the fractions to get the new denominator: 11/3 x 3/4 = (11 x 3)/(3 x 4) = 33/12 Step 3: Set up the division part of the sum: 32/3 x 3/4 ÷ 15/6 = 33/12 ÷ 15/6 (since the result of 3 2/3 x 3/4 = 33/12 ) First, convert the mixed number to an improper fraction: 33/12 ÷ 11/6 Step 4: To divide any fraction by a fraction, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction: 33/12 ÷ 11/6 = 33/12 x 6/11 = (11 x 3)/(12 x 11) = 198/132 Step 5: Simplify the resulting fraction if necessary: 198/132 = 1 66/132 = 1 1/2 bi) $90.75 = 75% of original price 75% = 75/100 Original price = $90.75 ÷ 75 x 100 = $121 bii) Paul buys 10 books @ $90.75 each So, the total cost of the books = $90.75 x 10 = $907.5 VAT = 16% 16% = 16/100 = 0.16 Total amount paid = cost of books + VAT ( which is 16% of cost of books) = $907.5 + ($907.5 x 0.16) = $907.5 + ($145.2) = $1052.7

By Wilson Harris

A

nimals hide and use camouflage as an important tactic to survive and avoid predators. In this fun and easy animal science experiment, we are going to demonstrate the effectiveness of camouflage and hopefully provide some understanding into how it helps animals hide.

Materials: 8 sheets of construction paper, 2 apiece of 4 different colours Scissors A friend Instructions: Take one sheet of each colour of construction paper.

Cut each sheet into 2-inch-by-2-inch square pieces.

Ask your friend to come over and have them close their eyes.

Place the coloured squares onto one of the large sheets of construction paper.

Have your friend open their eyes.

Specify a colour that is not the colour of the big piece of construction paper and give them five seconds to pick out as many squares as they can in the allotted time.

Now try again, this time give them five seconds, but choose the colour that matches the large piece of construction paper.

How it works: Camouflage is a tactic animals use to blend in with their surroundings. This animal science experiment is designed to demonstrate the difference in identifying items that do not blend in with their surroundings, as opposed to those that do blend in with their surroundings.

Make this a science project: Use some white animal bedding for hamster cages and hide several cotton balls inside. Add some coloured pompoms and other similar sized and coloured items to the bedding. Give a friend an allotted amount of time to recover items from the bedding. Keep a record of the amount and type of items found. Now try again, but this time tell your friend to only search for cotton balls. Does this affect the number of cotton balls recovered? (sciencefun.org)

Oh my God This is my meditation now, before I pray.

I think of Mozart, at the heart of its civilization, deserted, not even granted dignity a decent burial.

I think of Christ crucified Die in agony, crying aloud to his God – Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

I think of others, others who are also sons of God, despising their divinity, alive and dying today in the slums.

I think of the strange and moving sight of the vanquished man by the inanimate earth that covers it or the deep waters in which he drowns or the bullet that comes infallibly travel through eternity to its ultimate destination.

The voices of the living pray to God. Voices of the dead precious in beautiful books in libraries Pray God. Men suffer and pray to God and thus acquire a stature like Jesus Christ and like Mozart.

They are waiting for the ultimate mockery or the ultimate justification, meanwhile, accumulating new and unknown tragic accents about their human history, while they wait for God.

“Learning never exhausts the mind” — Leonardo da Vinci

WORD SEARCH

7 GECOM warns of impostors visiting homes to ‘conduct registration’ T NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is warning persons to be on the lookout for imposters who are visiting homes under the pretext of being employees of the electoral body and seeking information.

“It is imperative that we make it abundantly clear that GECOM is not currently engaged in any such exercise, nor has the Commission authorised anyone – employee or otherwise – to collect information from any person for any reason whatsoever through house-to-house visits,” a statement from the Commission detailed on Thursday.

GECOM went on to state categorically that while it was not conducting house-tohouse registration, its staffers do conduct house visits as an integral component of the ongoing registration exercise.

The registration staff and scrutineers are required to visit the given residential addresses of applicants for reg-

istration to verify that those persons actually live at the addresses they have provided.

“Such visits are made only after … the applicant and the concerned GECOM staff would have agreed on a date and time,” it was noted in the statement.

According to GECOM, its staff and scrutineers are required to display their respective identification and accreditation badges throughout all such visits.

Against this backdrop, the general public is cautioned not to recognise anyone without GECOM identification as being representatives of the Commission.

“In view of the foregoing, citizens are urged to be extremely cautious and not to provide any information to those persons purporting to be GECOM representatives, as their motive is unknown,” the Commission said.

Moreover, persons are asked to contact GECOM on telephone numbers 2239653, 225-5808, or 225-5868

to report or clarify any concerns.

The Elections Commission commenced the continuous registration of eligible persons on Monday, March 9 and this exercise will run until May 29, 2022.

So far, almost 7000 new voters and over 12,000 persons overall have been registered and according to one GECOM Commissioner, this was indicative that the exercise was going well.

Based on figures provided

by GECOM, the continuous registration exercise resulted in 12,896 persons being reg-

istered and a total of 17,062 transactions.

In an interview with Guyana Times, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward explained that this figure includes 6620 persons who were 18 years and older and were therefore eligible to vote.

The remainder was 6276 persons between the ages of 14 and 17 years and they would be provided with identification cards once they have gone through GECOM’s procedures. They will vote when they eventually reach 18 years of age.

Probe found vessel was not...

While the law stipulates penalties for operating without licences, there was no indication that the two other captains at Noble House would be penalized.

Regarding the fake licence of the missing captain, Edghill said it could be a case in which the company might not have been aware of the unauthenticity of the document.

Nevertheless, Captain Flores, who is responsible for Safety at MARAD, disclosed that they are currently scrutinizing the list of operators at Noble House to ensure that they are properly documented to operate in the fishing industry. He added that

similar exercises would be undertaken at other fishing companies.

It was disclosed that there are currently some 1,800 artisan (small) fishing vessels and about 87 trawlers that operate in Guyana’s waters, which account for approximately 10,000 operators.

Although Minister Edghill has ordered MARAD to enhance its monitoring of operators within the fishing industry, both big and small, the Administration presently has about six certified marine surveyors to conduct these inspections across the country.

To this end, Director General of MARAD, Stephen

Thomas, indicated that plans are in place to increase this capacity to strengthen MARAD’s monitoring activities of the fishing industry and its operators.

In fact, the BOI was also instructed by the Public Works Minister to examine MARAD’s systems and make appropriate recommendations to improve its performance.

“This is not a small matter, so things that are overlooked before, we have to look into now, and things that were taken for granted before, we have to look into it now,” Edghill stated.

In addition to MARAD’s Captain Flores, the BOI com-

FROM PAGE 3

prised Yurlander Hughes of the Transport and Harbours Department, Ronald Charles of the Ministry of Public Works, Rawle Williams of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Ewart Wray of the Guyana Police Force Maritime Unit, Dwayne Vyphuis who is an Occupational Safety and Health Officer at the Labour Ministry, and Denzil Roberts, who is the Head of the Department of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, only earlier this week it was announced

by Edghill that the search for the three fishermen has been suspended. (G8)

Meanwhile, the other transactions included 683 persons who did transfers to new addresses, some 1997 who did changes and corrections to their particulars and another 1194 persons who did replacement IDs. In an interview with this publication, Governmentnominated GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick noted that while the exercise was going well so far, it was early days yet.

Shadick pointed out that a surge of persons towards the end of the exercise was likely.

“We get a progress report every week… so far, it’s going well. But I do know people. They don’t go right at the beginning. They know they got 12 weeks, so they’ll wait until 12 weeks are done.

But I do know, too, because I have a law office and people come in to notarise (documents) and so, that people are getting their names in order so that they can go get registered,” she said.

The last time GECOM conducted continuous registration was in 2019, in preparation for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The continuous registration process, which is being done at all 28 permanent registration offices, is necessary to update the List of Electors in place by October, in or-

I

der for Local Government Elections (LGE) to be held this year.

More than $750 million has been set aside in Budget 2022 for the preparations to be undertaken by GECOM for the hosting of LGE this year. This money is part of an overall $4.1 billion allocation to GECOM in Budget 2022, and was examined and approved by the National Assembly during its consideration of the 2022 Budget Estimates.

Included in the $783 million for LGE is a morethan-$300 million increase in “other goods and services purchased”, which jumped from $250.8 million in 2021 to $575.9 million in the 2022 Budget.

LGE are constitutionally due every two years in Guyana and were last held in 2018. However, given the fiasco that played out following the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the Local Government polls were deferred to 2021, and again to this year.

At the last LGE in November 2018, the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs.

Correction

n our Wednesday, March 24 edition, in the story headlined “American Airlines admits failure in providing quality service to Guyana …apologises to President for 4-hour flight delay”, it was reported that the President and his entourage were en route to Dubai for the Caribbean Investment Forum. In fact, on February 27, when the delay occurred, the President was travelling to Belize for a Caricom Heads of Government meeting and a Caricom-SICA Summit. Guyana Times apologises for the error.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Duo remanded over $1.7M drug bust

Heroes...

Y

Remanded: Rayanthony Persaud

Remanded: Andrew Carew

A

ndrew Carew, otherwise known as ‘Daddo’, 42, of Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Rayanthony Persaud, called ‘Tony’, 47, of Victoria Avenue, Eccles, EBD, were

The parcels of marijuana seized by CANU ranks during the operation

on Thursday arraigned before Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate Sunil Scarce on a string of drug trafficking charges to which they have pleaded not guilty.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

...like Rodney esterday, if Burnham hadn’t assassinated Walter Rodney, Rodney would’ve been 80 years old. He was a true Guyanese hero. Like everything in life, deciding who’s a hero is a tough question. One man’s hero is another man’s villain. It depends on the context, the criteria and the person doing the evaluation, no? So, when your Eyewitness says Rodney was a Guyanese hero, he’s saying that Rodney’s actions in GUYANA were heroic.

Rodney was one of the few Guyanese whose activities transcended his homeland. He’s probably more well known in Africa than in Guyana. Sad, but true. Then there are the folks who believe Rodney was a villain. They’re mostly PNC supporters who believe that, as a “Black” man, he oughtn’t to’ve opposed Burnham - and so effectively. Some years ago, this was openly argued by a Pan- African leader in the newspapers. The irony, of course, is that Rodney was one of the pre-eminent Pan-African leaders and theorists in the world!!

But to your Eyewitness, that same stance of Rodney was one of the several reasons why the man was a hero.

Anyone who lives in Guyana would know that it ain’t easy speaking out against “your own”. But there were folks from both sides of the (ethnic) divide who also did so.

Were they all heroes? Well, maybe. But some of them might’ve done so because they were personally affected

by Burnham’s hellish conditions, and they had no option but try to extricate themselves. However, Rodney was a world-renowned historian…he could’ve gotten a job in any of the top universities in the US (not sure about the Brits), but he decided to heed Spike Lee’s advice and “do the right thing”. Making that CHOICE was heroic.

Rodney was also heroic for not just announcing - at a time when labels were slapped on to people willy-nilly that he was Pan-Africanist, a Marxist and a Guyanese, but for LIVING it! That was heroic, because the way each label was interpreted at the time in Guyana, if you were one, you couldn’t be the others. How could he talk about being African when Marxism supposedly demanded he only be conscious of “class” interests? How could he defend Arnold Rampersaud - a member of the PPP and an IndianGuyanese - against the charge of murder prosecuted at the insistence of Burnham?

There is some talk about “how Rodney would’ve acted when the PNC tried to rig elections in 2020?” Your Eyewitness has no doubt about it: from his actions during his short but eventful life, he would’ve denounced the barefaced attempt to deny the will of the people.

He would’ve warned the Sanctimonious Gangster not to undermine the dignity earned by their slave forbears. …of the forests On Monday, the world celebrated “International Day of Forests”. Guess why there was no ceasefire to mark the occasion in Ukraine? It’s because they have no forests just endless miles of steppes/prairies! Well, we also have grasslands, but also a lot of forests in our “highland” regions, don’t we? So, did we have a ceasefire in our Ethnic Cold War? One of the most surprising things that struck your Eyewitness when he finally visited those forests was their fragility. The layer of soil was so thin! He was used in the coast to folks digging as far as they could - or driving piles and never striking “rock bottom”. In the forests, there were obviously never the heavy deposits of silt. The worry, of course, is that, with all the development coming down the pike, there’s gonna be the temptation to cut down those forests. And more than losing the “carbon sink”. The soils can then be washed away, like in Haiti.

Let’s pledge to avoid desertification. …in Ukraine War The real combatants in the Ukraine War are the West and the Russians. But it does look like the West is willing to fight to the last Ukrainian!!

Couldn’t this have been avoided when Putin asked to join NATO??

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

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

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 pandemic

US Govt ready to help Guyana on road to recovery G

uyana is set to benefit from US$1.5 million in “Urgent COVID-19 Assistance” provided by the United States Government to support some Caribbean countries in their vaccination campaigns.

This was announced by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein, during her visit to Guyana on Thursday when she met with acting President Mark Phillips.

She disclosed that this assistance was being made through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for countries in the Eastern Caribbean region, including The Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

According to a missive from the United States Embassy in Georgetown, this assistance will be focused on helping countries with vaccine deployment and readiness, and includes efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and combat vaccine mis- and dis-information.

It noted that the additional support would assist with community vaccination campaigns and engagement activities, strengthen the cold chain environment, train health-care workers, and develop regional and country-specific campaigns to in-

Acting President Mark Phillips and Government ministers on Thursday attended a dinner reception hosted by US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch in honour of the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein (fourth from left)

crease vaccine uptake.

Activities will be implemented through local, regional, and international organisations such as the local Ministries of Health; local Non-Governmental Organisations; the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA); the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO); UNICEF, and the USAID Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) project implemented

by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch remarked, “The United States Government is committed to

assisting the Government and people of Guyana on the road to recovery after the devastation of COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, USAID Regional Representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Clinton D White further added, “The funding will fill key gaps to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and strengthen countries’ preparedness for future pandemic threats.”

USAID has provided nearly US$63 million in COVID-19 assistance to the Caribbean since the beginning of the pandemic to address health, humanitarian, and economic impacts. This includes over US$7 mil-

Duo remanded over...

It is alleged that on March 22, at New Diamond Housing Scheme, ECD, Persaud had 5.754 kilogrammes of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The two charges that Carew, on the other hand, faces accuse him of supplying Persaud with illicit drugs, and trafficking 530 grammes of marijuana at his home.

On the day in question, ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), conducting an intelligence-led operation at New Diamond

Housing Scheme, EBD, observed Persaud sitting inside a car that was parked outside of a house. Persaud then exited the vehicle and went over to a parked vehicle that was being driven by Carew. He collected a box from Carew and went into a house.

At that point, CANU ranks intercepted the men and took possession of the box, which contained a quantity of marijuana carrying a street value of $1.7M. Carew also took the CANU ranks to his home,

lion for partner countries in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean region.

In addition to the over 300,000 vaccine doses from the US Government to Guyana, USAID’s partnership with the Health Ministry here has included prevention and vaccination messaging reaching nearly 70 per cent of the population, distribution of critical hygiene and prevention supplies in Indigenous communities, and tents to support mobile vaccination clinics in rural areas to increase vaccine accessibility and availability.

According to the US Embassy, diseases know no borders. The missive fur-

FROM PAGE 8

where they retrieved a parcel of marijuana.

CANU Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law Thalia Thompson, objecting to the duo being released on bail, has cited the nature, gravity, and penalty attached to the offences.

Persaud was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva, while Carew was represented by Attorney-atLaw Konyo Sandiford.

Relying on the defence of multiple occupancy, the lawyers petitioned the court for

their clients to be released on reasonable bail.

Da Silva contended that his client was given a “box of tools” to store, and had no knowledge that narcotics were hidden at the bottom of the container.

Magistrate Scarce, after listening to submissions from both sides, remanded the men to prison, noting that no special reasons were raised by their respective counsels for the men to be placed on bail. The case continues on May 12. (G1)

ther detailed that the United States Government is committed to partnering with its Caribbean neighbours, partners, and friends to end the COVID-19 pandemic, save lives, and stop the threat of dangerous new variants.

Guyana rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination exercise just over a year ago on February 11, 2021.

Latest figures show that so far, more than 437,630 or 85.3 per cent of adults have taken a first dose and of that number, some 335,691 or 65.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, approximately 34,234 or 46.2 per cent of them have received their first dose, while some 24,896 or 34.1 per cent are fully immunised.

Meanwhile, in excess of 57,071 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Feinstein is currently in Guyana on a threeday visit during which

she will meet with various Government officials, the Opposition, Caricom and civil society stakeholders.

On Thursday, she met with Aubrey Norton, Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition –and other party members. They discussed the priorities for Guyana with respect to governance, security, and prosperity.

Meanwhile, later that evening, Ambassador Lynch hosted a dinner reception in honour of the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary. Prime Minister Phillips, who is performing the functions of President, attended the event along with several other Ministers of Government including Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira; Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese engineers in Singapore for FPSO training S even graduate engineers hired by SBM Offshore have arrived in Singapore for hands-on training on the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is being constructed to support the Payara development in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

The five men and two women arrived in Singapore on Monday. In August last year, they travelled to the Netherlands where they spent six months undergoing training in different areas, while also working with the team designing the

vessel.

The graduate engineers returned to Guyana in February before the final stint of training.

“While in the Netherlands, we were placed into different departments; we worked with engineers on drawings and so on. In Singapore, we will be more focused on construction,” Tanisha Selby said.

Her colleague, Kishaun Lall spoke about his expectations for the Singapore leg.

“That is where the real excitement is, I would say, the construction aspect of it. Being a civil engineer

by profession, it would definitely pique my interest to see how all these large modules are being constructed, the different processes a company like SBM Offshore would use on an international scale compared to what we have in Guyana,” he stated.

The other graduate engineers are Malik Lewis, Raymond Luckhoo, Paula Ceres, Daniel Troyer, and Andy Sattan. They were recruited from the University of Guyana in 2021 after undergoing a rigorous vetting process.

SBM Offshore has said it intends to repeat the pro-

Engineers hired by SBM Offshore who are in Singapore

gramme given how well it has been going and the clear benefits being derived.

At the conclusion of the

18-month programme, the graduates are to be fully immersed in the company’s Guyana operations in roles

that firstly, they are most interested in, and secondly, which fit their background and areas of training.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 new COVID-19 cases from over 700 tests GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 24, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

10

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

14

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

100 1

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

14

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,110

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,108

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,218

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,877

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2490

REGION 3

8045

REGION 4

31,254

REGION 5

2379

REGION 6

5744

REGION 7

2422

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4013

REGION 10

3466

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

437,630 335,691

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1226

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

T

he Health Ministry on Thursday reported 10 new COVID-19 cases after 700 swabs were processed for the virus.

An analysis shows four of the new cases were detected in Region Four (Demerara-

Mahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The Ministry’s dashboard shows that deaths have remained at 1,226.

Some 14 patients are

in institutional isolation, 100 are in home isolation, and 25 are in institutional quarantine. Of the 29,108 males and 34,110 females that contracted the virus, 61,877 have recovered.

Some 562,620 COVID-19

tests have been administered since the virus was detected here.

Data on Thursday has shown that active cases in Guyana amount to 140. There are 14 hospitalised cases; nine are at

the Infectious Diseases Hospital, with one being in the Intensive Care Unit.

Adult vaccination coverage shows 437,630 first doses and 335,691 second doses; equivalent to 85.3 per cent and 65.4 per cent respective-

ly. In terms of adolescents, 34,234 individuals, or 46.2 per cent, have taken a first dose; with 24,896, or 34.1 per cent, returning for a second dose. Booster doses have increased to 57,071.

TURN TO PAGE 13

12

FRIDAY, MARCH 25,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

13

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Maintaining treatment vital in protecting TB patients – Health Minister

R

eiterating that Guyana has adequate medications to treat persons living with tuberculosis (TB), Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony is urging continued use of medications, especially in light of the pandemic.

On Thursday, Guyana joined the observance of World Tuberculosis Day under the theme “Invest to end TB. Save Lives.” The Health Minister underscored that the Ministry has been able to keep its services open during the pandemic, in a bid to sustain treatment regimens of patients.

“We have kept our services open, all our clinics and so forth. We have kept our doors open so that patients can come to our clinics, access services and what is important in this

case is for them to maintain their treatment regimen. People would have to be on these medications for so long and a lot of people don’t like taking medications,” Dr Anthony shared on Thursday during the COVID briefing.

To prevent defaulting and multiple drug-resistant TB, the Ministry has Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS) workers, who would visit homes and ensure that persons are taking their medications.

“When we had big spikes, it was very challenging and one of the new methods that we did was called Video DOTs. The patient would have a cellphone and show us that they’re actually drinking their meds. Now that the cases of COVID have dropped significant-

ly, we’re able to go back to routine monitoring,” Dr Anthony said.

He added, “We have been doing some work to identify cases of multiple drug resistance to TB. That work is going. We had made some projections as to how many cases we estimate in Guyana…we haven’t seen the cases that we have projected. That’s a good thing.”

In his message for World TB Day, the Health Minister had observed that the world was running out of time to act on commitments to end TB. In Guyana, ending the disease is a priority, with the country having moved from one TB site in 2000 to 20 sites across the country.

There are five established clinics in the prisons.

“The Ministry has also rolled out regional test-

10 new COVID-19 cases...

Persons with comorbidities have been continuously asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. The preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to, since this category of person is at

a greater risk if they contract COVID-19.

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

FROM PAGE 11

visit us at www.health.gov. gy.

Globally, almost 458.4million people have tested positive for the virus, and six million have died.

In the Americas, more than 149 confirmed cases have been reported, with over 2.66 million deaths. (G12)

ing for TB using the Gene X-pert technology. This reflects the Ministry’s strong commitment in carrying out a sustainable fight against tuberculosis countrywide.

Over the past years, TB cases in Guyana has declined.

Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains a challenge, causing 1.5 million deaths globally every year. This problem is further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted medical services and stagnated or reversed earlier gains,” Dr Anthony underscored.

One of the critical challenges in TB control in Guyana is the HIV epidemic within the population. Although strong collaboration between the TB and HIV programmes has led to a decline in TB/HIV co-infection rates, HIV remains one of the biggest concerns and underlying causes of TB morbidity and mortality. Other challenges include the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high substance misuse among TB patients, and access to services by isolated hinterland communities.

“Over the years, we

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

have seen the epidemiological shift in the TB epidemic which is evident mainly among the young working population in both urban and rural areas of the country. This places a huge burden on TB patients and their families due to catastrophic costs. Hence, it is an essential aspect of the End TB Strategy which the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security are currently addressing to improve the social protection of our less-fortunate

TB patients,” the Health Minister stated.

“According to the Stop TB Partnership, the global gains addressing TB have been reversed and the entire TB community is advocating for urgent action to get back on track to fulfil the 2022 UN targets on TB. I reaffirm that our Ministry stands committed to implementing the UN Political Declaration on TB, as we work towards universal access to quality prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and care of tuberculosis.”

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Captain recalls Atlantic tragedy as search continues for missing Rosignol fisherman

By Andrew Carmichael

S

ome nine days after a Rosignol fisherman went missing after the boat he was working on capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, the search continues for the father of one.

It was on March 16 that a 36-foot wooden boat equipped with a 40hp engine capsized about four miles offshore, in the vicinity of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. Two fishermen were aboard the small vessel. The captain, Oneil Deputron, was rescued while 28-year-old Suraj Daneshwar is still missing.

Fishermen and the Coast

Shivdat McDonald rescued the captain, Oneil Deputron

Guard have since been searching for him.

Police have reported that the two fishermen had left for sea the day before the incident. Family mem-

bers of the missing man say the men were expected back on Thursday, but Deputron told investigators that they had had a good catch, and were returning one day

ahead of schedule when the incident occurred. The boat was reportedly hit by a large wave, and it capsized.

Deputron related that, about 10 to 15 seconds after the boat had capsized, he managed to resurface, and he held on to the boat. Upon looking for Daneshwar, he said, he did not see him.

Deputron said the boat began to drift in the ocean with him, until he was rescued by another fishing boat that was heading to shore.

The boat operator who rescued the sunken vessel’s captain recalled the tragedy offshore. According to Shivdat McDonald, the boat captain of the fishing

boat which carried out the rescue operation, he saw a flag some distance away in the ocean, and as he was turning his boat into another direction, he realised that someone was waving to him.

“Then I realise them dem boys boat gone down. So, I go to the boat and I throw a rope and give him. When we pull him up, I tell him to go in the cabin and lay down, and he tell me that his ‘boy gone home’. Right away I know what happen, and then I bring him ashore,” McDonald said.

Meanwhile, the search party is expected to search along the foreshore today between D’Edward and Bath Settlement.

The missing fisherman’s sister, Omawattie Daneshwar, has said extensive searching has been done in the Berbice River, with the search party reaching as far as Everton.

Daneshwar had been going to sea as a fisherman for the past five years, and is

Missing: Suraj Daneshwar

the father of one.

His mother, Chandrawattie Persaud, remains positive, noting that every time he goes out to sea, he would return.

Meanwhile, local authorities are still searching for three fishermen who went missing after the vessel they were working on capsized in the Atlantic Ocean on March 9.

Man found guilty of cutlass attack on gambling partner

A

High Court

lfred Braithwaite now awaits sentencing, after he was found guilty by a jury of attempted murder over a cutlass attack he had launched on another man.

He had initially denied the charge, which stated that on January 27, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Chefton Haymer with intent to commit murder.

Following a trial before Justice Simone MorrisRamall in the Demerara High Court on Thursday, Braithwaite was unanimously found guilty by the 12-member jury, and has been remanded to prison pending sentencing, which is fixed for April 22 following the presentation of a probations report.

Braithwaite and Haymer were gambling on January

27, 2017 when Haymer expressed displeasure with the cards given to him. As a result, the men ended up in a disagreement, and Haymer demanded that Braithwaite gave him back his money.

Braithwaite, however, left the scene, and returned in the company of another man, who was armed with a cutlass.

While Braithwaite sat on Haymer, restraining him, the other man dealt Haymer several chops about his body with the weapon. “Kill he!

Kill he!” Braithwaite had urged as his accomplice chopped away on the victim.

Braithwaite was represented by Attorney-at-Law Teriq Mohammed, while Senior State Counsel Lisa Cave, State Counsel Cecilia Corbin, and State Counsel Caressa Henry had appeared for the prosecution.

(G1)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Millers reduction of paddy prices

Difficult to find perfect resolutions – Ramjattan …suggests Govt converts rice export taxes to subsidies to millers

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ontending that Guyana cannot risk losing its food security amidst rising cost of living, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has called for subsidies to cushion prices for rice farmers.

Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Thursday highlighted during a press conference that if Government were to reduce or eliminate the levy per tonne of exported rice that is paid, rice exporters would be eased from the high costs currently borne to continue production.

“They’re (exporters) saying that their shipping and wharfage costs alone have gone up plenty. And that it could be reduced if the Government takes off the US$8 per tonne of rice exported. It is called the rice levy.

“In a moment like this, just like they’re bringing down the fuel costs or attempting to bring it down, we want them to drop this levy. It can help the exporters and also rice millers,” Ramjattan pointed out.

To directly address concerns of the millers, the AFC Leader suggested that Government use this levy, which is currently paid to the Guyana Rice Development

Board (GRDB), to create a subsidy. He underscored that the country cannot risk having farmers off the fields.

“The cost in relation to the rice millers, we’re saying that it will help if you create a fertilizer subsidy that either comes from the GRDB monies that they have banking up from the $8 that is collected over a decade. All of this can go towards creating a subsidy for farmers, because the worst thing that can happen to Guyana is if the farmers come off the farms. It is going to be a hell of a thing, and we don’t want that for rice farming. That is our staple. That is what is going to feed this country and create food security,” he explained.

Nevertheless, Ramjattan recognised that in a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic and the UkraineRussia war is playing out, it is difficult to find perfect resolutions to mitigate the ripple effects.

He noted, “It is always going to be difficult for a prefect resolution to a problem of inflation, as is happening here. This thing has interconnected this with the international repercussions of COVID and a war that is going on now.”

Among the recommen-

Education Ministry trying to find balance with hair rules

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

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iming to discontinue the effects which current hair rules have brought about, and more so discontinue to report infringement on basic rights, the Education Ministry is continuing with its robust stakeholder consultation to reach a balanced consensus.

Earlier this month, an outpour of concerns was raised after the Ministry facilitated a relaxation of hair rules for International Women’s Day, with persons highlighting that some of their rights were infringed due to stringent requirements.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has sought to address the issue, which commenced with a national survey. Thousands of per-

sons had responded, sharing their input on expectations and offering suggestions.

More such conversations will continue throughout next week.

“We have a roundtable with members of the public who have an interest. We had issued surveys for parents, students and teachers. The response was incredible. Within the first 24 hours, more than 4,000 persons had responded in each category. Next week, I meet teachers, because teachers have their own views on these issues. We’re going to meet parents, just the stakeholders who would be affected by the hairstyle rules that are imposed by schools,” the Education Minister noted.

TURN TO PAGE 16

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

dations was one that the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) create varieties which yield higher bags per acre, and another is for long-term consideration be given for a fertiliser plant to be set up in Berbice.

Government has commenced consultations to determine what measures would be employed to ex-

pend the $5 billion that was set aside in the 2022 budget to mitigate the effects of the global rising cost of living.

Several farmers have complained that they are dissatisfied with the price given for a bag of paddy, since it is quite costly to cultivate rice.

Responding to their concerns, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has said

the Agriculture Ministry is constantly engaging suppliers to reduce the cost of fertiliser, so that farmers can have more money in their pockets.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has also reminded that Government has taken an approach that sees market conditions setting the prices for paddy.

Over the past two weeks, rice farmers in both Berbice and Essequibo took to the streets, calling for millers to pay better prices per tonne of paddy.

Last week, scores of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) staged a picketing exercise at the Anna Regina High Bridge, calling for better prices for their paddy. This move came days after farmers in Region Six had taken to the streets to also call

for millers to pay more per tonne for paddy.

APNU/AFC on rice

In July 2015, after the APNU/AFC took office, the then President, David Granger, during an address to stakeholders at a National Rice Industry Conference, had said that “rice production is a private business.”

“We do not wish in the administration to usurp the role of the Private Sector.

Rice production is a private business, and we support private enterprise. The administration does not want to bail out the rice industry.

We don’t want to become a banker for the overdraft exporters and millers. Our role is to establish a framework to provide a level playing field so that the industry can prosper,” the then Head of State, under whom Ramjattan, was a minister, had said. (G12)

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Concerns raised over increased workplace fatalities in agri sector …AmCham to raise awareness on workplace safety

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oncerns over workplace deaths and mishaps in the agriculture sector are a matter of great concern for the Labour Ministry. This was revealed

by Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Consultant at the Ministry, Gwenneth King, and the Minister responsible for Labour, Joseph Hamilton.

The announcement was made on Thursday at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) of Guyana’s third annual Health, Safety, Security & Environment Conference 2022 held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme “People as the Solution, Safety Starts at Home.”

Based on statistics provided by the OHS Consultant at the Ministry, there has been a decrease in both the number of workplace deaths and accidents in 2021. However, she revealed that there was an increase in workplace deaths and mishaps in the agriculture sector for the year 2021.

For the year 2020, three fatal workplace accidents were recorded, whereas in 2021, four such accidents were recorded, making the

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

agriculture sector the only sector to record an increase in workplace fatalities.

“We noticed that there has been an increase in the number of fatalities in the agriculture sector, and we have to pay attention to that. In fact, we plan to do so this year,” King said.

While concerns have always been driven towards the mining and construction sectors pertaining to workplace fatalities, the subject Minister has said it is his belief that more deaths are occurring in the agriculture sector, but those are happening silently and not being brought to the public’s

attention.

“Once we focus on mining and construction and those areas where deaths are occurring, I believe more deaths are occurring in agriculture, but it is happening silently. I believe that,” he said.

He noted that the Ministry would continue to focus on the mining and construction sectors, but would add the agriculture and forestry sector to the list of concerns.

“Our focus this year will continue to be in the mining and construction, and we will be including agriculture and forestry,” he revealed.

As such, he said, he has engaged numerous agriculture agencies in reviewing the work done in the sector.

Consequently, the Minister noted that a joint committee would examine the cause of workplace fatalities at the root source, to address the issue.

“And therefore, recognising that, we have established a joint technical committee with all the agencies that oversee agriculture: NARI, GRDB, Rice Producers’ Association, the whole lot,” he said.

The Minister, in his speech addressing the conference, admitted that most of the deaths could have been avoided if proper workplace safety measures had been in place. He emphasised that the issue of poor workplace safety measures is a national issue that should be addressed.

He said, “Most of the deaths could have been avoided. The issue for us at the Ministry of Labour is not an employer-employee issue; it is a national issue that we have to collectively arrest.”

AmCham’s support

Meanwhile,

AmCham

AmCham (Guyana) President Devindra Kissoon addressing the conference on Thursday

President Devindra Kissoon explained that AmCham’s Annual HSSE Conference would act as a permanent platform to showcase Guyana’s serious approach to HSSE practices in the workplace. He said he expected the conference would be much larger next year, with the objective being to raise awareness, demonstrate the importance of, and to have regular conversations about, the importance of HSSE improvements in the workplace.

Speaking at the conference, Kissoon said, “There are a few things that AmCham hopes to achieve though this platform. First is to raise awareness about workplace safety… From a commercial standpoint, there is a strong correlation between workers’ productivity and employer profitability in having a safe and effec-

tive workplace. Not only do systems and procedures increase efficiency, but there is a huge and tangible benefit for everyone who is in a model workplace to take pride in their environment.”

He noted that, after raising awareness, the issue then becomes how to bring about change. “No one likes change…we are set in our ways,” he said, adding that while doing research on workplace accidents, he found that most of these accidents occur to people that have been on the worksite for 20 years or more.

He pointed to the fact that the longer a person is on the job, the more complacent they become, and expressed hope that the body would be a beacon of motivation that would encourage and steer local companies towards increasing their focus on OSH. (G2)

Education Ministry trying to find...

FROM PAGE 15

She told media operatives that the hair rules at each school varies, and while the contention is that some schools should formulate their own rules, another cross-section wants the Ministry to regulate the requirements.

“I have now a collection of what each school has as their own rules, and they range from neat and tidy, and a very subjective interpretation of what that means, to no limzie, muffs, afro, to plaits, no plaits, ribbons must be worn, ribbon must not be worn. The rules are all over the place at individual schools. There’s the argument that schools should be left to make their own rules and given power to do that. There is a prevailing argument that the state should step in and there’s certain basic rights that might be breached by the individual rulemaking at schools. We’re trying to balance both.”

The Minister also outlined that this is a dynamic issue, and a relaxation of some current rules would not affect the curriculum or retention of knowledge in students. She asserted that school rules should not hurt learners.

“These are not things that affect the curriculum in any way, and going past whether it affects learning and reception of information, we’re dealing with a rights issue and a confidence issue and a self-esteem issue. It is a varied and dynamic issue. I think we have seen, over the last couple of weeks from persons who have responded, how they themselves have been hurt and had to recover from that hurt after they had left schools. If there’s one thing we’re sure of, a school should not be a place that is hurting children, or in any way causing them to doubt themselves,” Manickchand noted. (G12)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 fake kidnapping reports in 3 days …as woman falsely reports friend kidnapped by taxi driver

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ne day after disclosing that an 18-year-old faked her own kidnapping, Police have again reported a similar incident, this time involving a domestic worker.

Police on Thursday said that on Monday, a domestic worker of West Bank Demerara (WBD) reported to Brickdam Police Station that she was in the company of a female friend of Phoenix Park, WBD, at the Timehri bus park when a taxi from a popular service approached them.

The woman reported that her friend went to the car and the driver of the car snatched her and pulled her into the front passenger seat and drove away.

Police said that the domestic worker said that the incident occurred about 04:20h on Monday.

She also claimed that she later received a text message from the alleged victim’s phone saying “you have to come and find her or I will kill her.”

Following the said report, Police ranks went to a home at Number One Village, Corentyne, Berbice on Wednesday where the alleged kidnapped victim was located in the company of a male who said he was a construction

worker of Kuru Kuru, Linden Highway.

They were both arrested, detained, and questioned by investigators, and the alleged victim – among other things – stated that she had not sent any message to anyone’s phone and more so, she had not been kidnapped.

Police said that the woman also stated that her male friend asked her to accompany him to Berbice which she did voluntarily and while in Berbice she learnt from her mother that her friend had told her that she had been kidnapped.

According to Police, the alleged victim said she told her mother she had not been kidnapped and had gone to Berbice of her own free will.

The male also gave a written statement supporting the woman’s assertions.

Police in a statement on Thursday said that several other persons were questioned by investigators as the probe continued. This is the third report of kidnapping that investigators of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown have been

working on in the space of three days that have proven to be false.

On Monday, the 18-year-old claimed that she was abducted about 13:00h at Jimbo Bridge, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) by persons unknown.

Police in a statement on Wednesday evening said that the teen, who was eventually found at the Kitty seawall, was interviewed at the CID Headquarters, Eve by investigators and admitted that her kidnapping story was fake.

Detailing the plan to fake her kidnapping, the teen told investigators that on Monday about 08:00h she contacted one of her friends via cellphone and asked her for a place to stay for a few days “to cool her head”. She said that she told her friend that she was feeling flustered and was drifting further into depression.

According to the teen, about 10:00h, she left her home to conduct business for a relative after which she met with her friend on Main Street, Georgetown who gave her the keys to the house at Jimbo Bridge and also informed her that a taxi would be waiting on her.

She then proceeded to her

friend’s house. She stated that while in the house she was feeling mentally and physically tired, so she inflicted injuries on her stomach, legs, arms, and back with her fingernails.

In her statement to the Police, the teen said that on Tuesday, she took a pair of scissors and cut off her hair, and scratched her face because she was feeling the same way. Asked about burn marks visible on her skin, the teen said that she had inflicted those on herself on Sunday with a metal comb.

She told investigators that about 16:45h on Tuesday, she left the house, joined a taxi that was provided to her by her friend, and proceeded to the Kitty seawall, Georgetown in hopes that someone would see her and call her parents. She said that it was while at the seawall she decided that she would tell her parents that she had been kidnapped.

Police said that the teen further stated that while on the seawall she saw someone from her church, who called her parents and took her over to Brickdam Police Station. At the station, she told ranks who interviewed her that she had been kidnapped and a probe was launched.

GRA begins construction of new office at Onverwagt

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced construction of a new Integrated Regional Tax Office (IRTO) at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

On Thursday, GRA said

thereby allowing stakeholders within the region to access all services now available at its Head Office in Georgetown.

This means that taxpayers would no longer have to travel to New Amsterdam

tration, and collection of tax returns.

The office would also open employment opportunities for qualified persons in Region Five, allowing them to build careers in taxation.

the new office, which is slated for completion within 18 months, would expand GRA’s reach to taxpayers in Region Five, and would be a full-service tax office,

or Georgetown for access to services such as payments for all tax types, compliances (land, tender and liability), issuance of tax refunds, licences, motor vehicle regis-

GRA presently operates at eight established Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs), most of which offer the services available at its Georgetown

Headquarters. Establishing Regional offices, it said, is a groundbreaking initiative, since taxpayers no longer need to travel to Georgetown to access GRA’s services.

The Authority, which opened the doors of its Mabaruma Tax Office in 2019, expects to commence construction of its “Mahdia Regional Office” during 2023, and to maintain a presence in Eteringbang, thereby providing its essential services to every region in Guyana.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

Regional

Prince William expresses Petroecuador declares force majeure “profound sorrow” about on cargoes of Russian diesel Britain’s role in the slave trade E cuador’s State oil company EP Petroecuador declared force majeure on two cargoes of Russian diesel after banks declined to provide financing to pay for them following the invasion of Ukraine.

The ships are the last of eight that BB Energy had agreed to supply to Ecuador after participating in a competitive bidding process held in December. The vessels were already en route to the South American nation when the war broke out and banks all over the world began to shun financ-

Prince William during his address in Jamaica. Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness and the Duchess of Cambridge are in the foreground

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rince William has expressed his deep “sorrow” for the horrors of the slave trade — and the role that Britain played in it.

“I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened,” he said in a landmark speech in Jamaica on Wednesday evening that acknowledged his country’s role in the trafficking of people to the Caribbean and the United States.

“While the pain runs deep, Jamaica continues to forge its future with determination, courage and fortitude,” he continued. “The strength and shared sense

of purpose of the Jamaican people, represented in your flag and motto, celebrate an invincible spirit.”

He echoed the words of his father Prince Charles, who denounced the “appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history” in a speech he made in Barbados last year at the country’s transition ceremony, which saw Barbados remove Queen Elizabeth as Head of State and swear in its first President.

William said he “strongly” agreed with his father’s statement.

William and Kate Middleton attended the official dinner at King’s House, the residence of

the Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, who represents Queen Elizabeth. The couple is currently on the second leg of their tour of the Caribbean in honour of the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.

His address comes amid anti-colonial protests and calls for Jamaica to drop William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, as Head of State.

During a meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, earlier on Wednesday, Holness directly addressed his country’s intention to break away from the British monarchy.

(Excerpt from People)

Browne calls for united front on CBI programmes

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ntigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on the member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to provide a united front in a bid to stave off efforts by the European Union to derail the controversial Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI).

Under the CBI, foreign investors are afforded citizenship of a country in return for making a significant investment in the socio-economic development of the particular country. Several Caribbean countries have instituted CBI programmes.

“This represents a significant threat to our CBI programmes and I am of the view that we ought to come together as an OECS

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne

sub-region,” Browne said, adding “we do accept that there is some level of residual risk in that no system is foolproof and from time to time you may have one or two rotten elements that may slip through”.

“But to date, there is

no evidence that anyone has utilised any of our programmes to commit any act of terrorism and even the concerns about those involved in financial crimes, the amount of money involved is negligible compared to the local of money laundering that is taking place in North America and Europe,” Browne told a webinar that discussed the CBI sector, under the theme “Fight or Flight: The Future of Citizenship by Investment”.

The United States has moved to decline visas to holders of passports obtained by the CBI and the European Union has passed a law giving countries three years to phase out the programme or face visa requirements for all its passport holders. (Excerpt from CMC)

Infants aged 3, 4 killed in Clarendon fire

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wo infant children are believed to have died in a fire in Hayles district in Clarendon, Jamaica on Thursday morning.

Information reaching

Observer Online is that the children, ages three and four years, were burnt to death in the blaze.

Police sources say the fire began about 11:30h, and

completely destroyed the one-bedroom concrete structure that the children were in. The cause of the fire is unknown. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

ing of any Russian cargoes.

Petroecuador was unable to secure funding for the previously-agreed deals after the US imposed sanctions on Russia, according to the company’s oil trading manager, Pablo Noboa.

The case highlights the challenges faced by companies trying to navigate sanctions at a time when diesel prices are rising to multi-year highs across the globe as countries snub Russian energy products, forcing traders to scramble for supplies from elsewhere.

Petroecuador also informed all suppliers of fuels that it

won’t be able to accept cargoes of Russian origin, according to a March 16 letter obtained by Bloomberg.

“The cargoes were bought and loaded before the war broke out,” Noboa said in an interview. “It’s clear to us that BB Energy wasn’t at fault.”

The two vessels — Ardmore Sealancer and Vendome Street — which have been bobbing off the coast of Ecuador for a week, may be able to discharge soon after BB Energy agreed to ease payment conditions, Noboa said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Attorneys send FOIA request over shooting death of Venezuelan baby

Darielvis Sarabia and her husband, Yermi Santoyo

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ttorneys representing Venezuelan migrant Darielvis Eliannys Sarabia Morillo, the mother of baby Yaelvis Santoyo Sarabia, have sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking details of the circumstances of the child’s death.

Yaelvis died when he was shot in the head when the boat he was travelling in from Venezuela to Trinidad was shot at by members of the Coast

Guard in February.

His mother was wounded and was warded at the Sangre Grande Hospital until she was discharged three weeks ago.

The letter attached to the FOIA request was sent to Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel. It requested information on the details of the incident, whether any investigation was initiated, whether any evidence of a crime was committed

during the incident, the name of the lead investigator in the matter, the names of supervisors involved, and the types of weapons used during the incident.

In the letter, the Attorneys called on Daniel to disclose the information as it would bring closure to Yaelvis’ family and could guide the decisions of policy-makers in migrant relations in the future.

The letter, which also serves as a pre-action protocol letter, requires Daniel to respond within 21 days or face legal action.

On February 10, 35 migrants who were also aboard the vessel at the time of the shooting sent a letter through their Attorneys to the Ministry of National Security seeking permission to stay in the country until the investigation into Santoyo’s death was completed, adding that they were witnesses to the event and could be useful for the enquiry. The following day they were deported. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Moonilal questions $$ to ‘witch-hunt UNC’

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ropouche East Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Roodal Moonilal has expressed concern about money the Government is spending allegedly to target members of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC).

Moonilal raised this concern after statements by the Prime Minister that the Police received US$18 million to fight white-collar crime, and by former Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith that he received TT$35 million to pursue criminal charges against UNC members.

Speaking with re-

porters at the Debe Hindu Primary School on Thursday, Moonilal said, “All Governments in this country are committed to dealing with white-collar crime.”

This. he continued. was the basis for the Integrity in Public Life Act and public procurement legislation.

“Absolutely nothing is wrong with this. We have always been committed to fighting white-collar crime.”

But the UNC is opposed to political persecution and witch-hunting.

Moonilal was concerned about Griffith’s claim that Dr Rowley messaged him

for updates on investigations into members of the former UNC-led People’s Partnership (PP) coalition Government, which was in office from May 24, 2010-September 15, 2015.

“The Prime Minister is speaking and giving certain information which suggests that he is in contact with the Police, with law enforcement, in terms of investigations.”

Moonilal declared after seven years in office since 2015, the PNM has been unable to lay a single criminal charge against any member of the former PP Government. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS C

Oil slides 2% as EU fails to boycott Russian crude

rude prices slid nearly two per cent on Thursday after the European Union (EU) did not agree on a plan to boycott Russian oil and as the United States and its allies discussed a possible further coordinated release of oil from storage.

European Union leaders were set to agree at a two-day summit to jointly buy natural gas to cut reliance on Russian fuels. Some said they would not comply with Moscow’s demand to buy oil and gas using roubles.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has prompted the EU to pledge to slash reliance on Russian fossil fuels by hiking imports from other countries and quickly expanding renewable energy.

Brent futures fell US$1.98, or 1.7 per cent, to US$119.62 a barrel by 13:38h EDT (1738 GMT). West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$2.00, or 1.7 per cent, to US$112.93.

On Wednesday, both benchmarks closed at their highest since March 8.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) offered Kyiv new military assistance and assigned more troops to its eastern flank as London and Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow. But EU leaders at the NATO meeting squabbled over cutting Russian energy links with Germany, the key opponent of an embargo.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said IEA countries were united in seeking to radically reduce Russian oil and gas imports.

Without an EU embargo of Russian oil, Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said sanctions were unlikely to have a major impact on the oil market.

With respect to releasing oil from US and allied emergency stockpiles, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during a news conference at the IEA in Paris that: “These are ongoing discussions and all those tools are certainly on the table.”

Oil prices fell more after ICE increased margins for May Brent crude futures by 19 per cent effective March 25, the third margin update this year.

Also weighing on crude prices, the dollar strengthened for the fourth time in five sessions. A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Trading was volatile for both crude benchmarks, which rose to two-week highs early in the session on lingering supply concerns including reports that crude exports from Kazakhstan’s Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal had halted following storm damage. But four sources familiar with the matter said oil exports via the CPC pipeline would partially resume on Thursday.

Crude prices drew some support from the drop in US crude in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to the lowest level since May 2002.

US crude at the Cushing storage hub in Oklahoma fell in the week to March 22, traders said, referring to a report from data provider Genscape. US Government data has shown stockpiles there rising for the past two weeks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US reinstates 352 product exclusions from China tariffs

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he US Trade Representative’s office said on Wednesday it has reinstated 352 expired product exclusions from US “Section 301” tariffs on Chinese imports, well short of the 549 exclusions that it was previously considering.

The reinstated product exclusions will be effective retroactively from October 12, 2021, and extend through December 31, 2022, USTR said. They cover a wide range of the initially-estimated US$370 billion worth of Chinese imports that former President Donald Trump hit with punitive tariffs of 7.5 per cent to 25 per cent.

The list released by USTR includes industrial components such as pumps and electric motors, certain car parts and chemicals, backpacks, bicycles, vacuum cleaners and other consumer goods.

A spokeswoman at China’s Commerce Ministry said on Thursday the US decision was beneficial to normalising the trade flow of those products, and hoped bilateral trade relations would get back on a normal track.

“Amid inflation spikes and challenges to the global economic recovery, we hope the US could scrap all tariffs on Chinese products as soon as possible for the fundamental interests of consumers and producers in China and the US,” spokeswoman Shu Jueting told reporters.

The Trump Administration initially granted more than 2200 exclusions to the tariffs to provide relief to certain industries and retailers.

Most were allowed to expire, but 549 were extended for a year, and these expired at the end of 2020. (Excerpt from Reuters)

West assails Russian “barbarism” as Ukrainians shelter from bombardment

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estern leaders piled on military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine on Thursday and denounced Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour as “barbarism” as thousands in besieged cities sheltered underground from Russian bombardment.

At an unprecedented triple summit in Brussels, transatlantic alliance NATO, G7 rich nations and European leaders addressed the continent’s worst conflict since the 1990s Balkans wars.

NATO announced plans for new combat units in four eastern European countries near Ukraine, while the United States and Britain increased aid and expanded sanctions to new targets, including a woman who London said was the stepdaughter of Russia’s Foreign minister.

“The single most important thing is for us to stay unified and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy

Natalia, 32, and her son Micha,9, walk past a damaged building after a military strike hit their neighbourhood, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, March 24, 2022

is and all the innocent people’s lives that are being lost and ruined,” Biden told reporters in Brussels, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism,” added British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The European Union was set to unveil steps to wean itself off Russian energy, some-

thing likely to drive up fuel costs even further around the continent. Moscow supplies 40 per cent of the EU’s collective gas needs and more than a quarter of its oil imports.

The measures stopped short of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s calls for a full boycott of Russian energy and a no-fly zone over Ukraine where Moscow’s bombs are wreaking havoc.

Responding to Thursday’s show of unity in Brussels, Moscow said the West had itself to blame for the war by arming the “Kyiv regime”.

The Russian invasion unleashed on February 24 has killed thousands of people, sent 3.6 million abroad, smashed cities and driven more than half of Ukraine’s children from their homes, according to the United Nations.

“A beautiful Mariupol used to be and suddenly it was turned into dust,” lamented 83-year-old Raisa Kairat in the besieged southern port that has become a wasteland.

In Mariupol, which lies between Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern areas held by Russian-backed separatists, thousands are in basements with scant water, food, medicine or power, seeking shelter from heavy Russian bombardment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ethiopia declares unilateral truce to allow aid into Tigray

E

thiopia’s Government has declared “an indefinite humanitarian truce effective immediately”, saying it hoped to help hasten delivery of emergency aid into

the Tigray region, where hundreds of thousands face starvation.

Since war broke out in northern Ethiopia in November 2020, thousands

Donald Trump sues Hillary Clinton over Russian collusion allegations

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Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election

ormer US President Donald Trump has sued Hillary Clinton and several other Democrats, accusing them of trying to rig the 2016 US presidential election by linking his campaign to Russia.

Trump beat Clinton in 2016.

But he alleges “racketeering” and other claims, as part of an “unthinkable plot” to undermine his campaign.

Trump’s campaign and transition teams were accused of conspiring with Russian agents to influence the election in his favour.

A report released by a Republican-led US Senate committee in 2020 concluded that Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort and the WikiLeaks website to try to help Trump win. Moscow

denies any involvement.

The report stated that no evidence of a conspiracy was found, but it did lay out instances where the President possibly obstructed justice.

Trump has repeatedly claimed there was a Democratic conspiracy to undermine his presidency by suggesting his campaign had nefarious ties to Russia.

The lawsuit – against members of the Clinton campaign and senior FBI officials – is a decided longshot, in part because there is ample evidence of connections between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives as documented by Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation and a report by the bipartisan Senate intelligence committee. (Excerpt from BBC News)

have died, and millions remain displaced as the conflict has expanded from Tigray to the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Government “is committed to exert maximum effort to facilitate the free flow of emergency humanitarian aid into the Tigray region”, it said in a statement on Thursday.

“To optimise the success of the humanitarian truce, the Government calls upon the insurgents in Tigray to desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighbouring regions,” it said.

“The Government of Ethiopia hopes that this truce will substantially improve the

humanitarian situation on the ground and pave the way for the resolution of the conflict in northern Ethiopia without further bloodshed.”

A spokesman for the Tigrayan forces did not respond to a request for comment on the announcement, which followed a visit by the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, to the capital Addis Ababa this week.

The conflict erupted when Abiy sent troops into Tigray to topple the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s former governing party, saying the move came in response to rebel attacks on army camps. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

North Korea tests banned intercontinental missile

N

orth Korea has tested a banned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017, South Korea and Japan say.

Japanese officials said it flew 1100 kilometres (684 miles) and fell in Japanese waters after flying for over an hour.

ICBMs, designed for nuclear arms delivery, could extend North Korea’s strike range as far as the US mainland.

The test is being seen as a major escalation by the North and has been condemned by its neighbours and the US. North Korea has launched a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks.

The US and South Korea have said some of those tests, which Pyongyang claimed were satellite launches, were in fact trials of parts of an ICBM system.

Thursday’s missile ap-

peared to be newer and more powerful than the one North Korea fired five years ago, reaching an altitude of more than 6000km (3,730 miles), according to Japanese officials.

South Korea’s military responded with five missile tests of its own, from land, sea and air. The United States condemned the North for a “brazen violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.

“The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in condemned what he said was a “breach of the suspension of intercontinental ballistic missile launches promised by Chairman Kim Jong-un to the international community”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

A tough situation has more to offer than you realize. Avoiding the inevitable won't help you get ahead. Take a chance and try something you've never done. Don't fear change or give up on your dreams.

Delve into research that reveals potential pitfalls that can hinder your progress. Don't let a change someone makes disrupt your plans. Work to master skills that encourage your success.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Keep secrets to yourself. If you reveal too much information, it will damage your reputation. Put your energy into a physical outlet. Adjust your spending to reflect your income.

(May 21-June 20) Someone will pull you in a positive direction. Don't let your emotions get in the way of a good thing. Move forward with enthusiasm, and let your imagination and creativity lead you to success.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Pick up information quickly. Take responsibility for your life, future and the changes necessary to reach your goal. Raise your profile using self-promotion. Education will be necessary to advance.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Embrace change. You stand to make progress if you use your intelligence, money and originality to gain momentum and draw attention to what you have to offer. Honest communication will be crucial.

Evaluate contracts and shared expenses. Show interest in others' contributions and do whatever it takes to maintain equality and avoid potential disruption of your current lifestyle.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Take the most inviting path. Put your heart into something purposeful.

Share your thoughts and use intelligence and imagination to reach your target. Present your plans in a fun manner for best results.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Keep busy; idle time will give others the chance to try your patience. An emotional issue will be difficult to resolve.

Be a good listener and observer, and avoid conflict.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Observe the opposition, and you'll gain insight into how to handle the changes going on around you. A positive change at home will help eliminate a problem. Don't take a health or financial risk.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Embrace the positive aspect of a situation and find an outlet that suits you.

Act and follow through with your plans.

Be responsible for the outcome and unapologetic for doing what's right.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) It's up to you to fulfill your dreams.

Think big, but stick to a budget you can afford. Balance and integrity will help you reach the finish line. You can get things done on your own.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

21

Jadeja to lead Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2022 -after Dhoni decides to step down

R

avindra Jadeja will lead the Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming IPL 2022, after MS Dhoni, who has led the team since the first season of the tournament in 2008 - bar the two years when the team was banned - announced his decision to step down from the leadership position.

In a statement, the franchise said “Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond”.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said Dhoni wanted the leadership “transition to be smooth”, and felt Jadeja was ready to take up the mantle for the team, which won its fourth IPL title last year.

Viswanathan said Dhoni had announced the decision on Thursday at the team meeting, before the squad left for training - the defending champions will play the tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

“MS Dhoni was thinking about it,” Viswanathan said.

“He felt it is the right time to

hand over captaincy to Jaddu [Jadeja]. He feels Jaddu is also in prime form of his career, and it is the ideal time for him to lead CSK. What will be good for the franchise must be [in the] back of his mind.”

Jadeja, who has been with the franchise since 2012, will become the third player to lead the Super Kings side, after Dhoni and Suresh Raina.

Speaking to the Super Kings’ social media team, Jadeja said, “Feeling good. At the same time, I also need to fill in big boots like Mahi bhai, [he] has already set the big legacy, so I need to carry [that] forward. I don’t need to worry too much, because he is here, so whatever I have a question to ask, I’ll definitely go to him. He’ll be my go-to person.

He was, and still he is today, so I’m not worried too much.”

Viswanathan said that while Dhoni had not personally informed him of his decision in advance, it was not a surprise to the franchise, and they had discussed the subject - the succession plan - even before the 2021 IPL, and had alerted Jadeja at the time.

“He [Jadeja] has been talked to earlier. Even last year, there was a proposal. We knew he would be the best person to succeed MS.” For the past two IPL seasons, there had been speculation around Dhoni’s future. Last November, at a function organised by Super Kings in Chennai, Dhoni had assured his fans that he would continue playing for the franchise for at least one more season.

Viswanathan reckoned that Dhoni was waiting for the opportune time, just as he had when handing over the reins of the Indian team to Virat Kohli.

“It is similar to when he handed Virat the captaincy, after having groomed him for a few years at international level. Similarly, he wanted the transition to be smooth.”

Viswanathan added that the franchise has immense confidence in Jadeja’s leadership.

“Jaddu has the potential to do well for the franchise,” he said. “[He is a] good all-round cricketer, playing his best, he can get the team around. And MS’ guidance will always be there. This will be a

NBA Roundup…

good induction programme.”

Recognised as one of India’s great all-format captains, Dhoni’s leadership legacy at Super Kings is similarly phenomenal. After he led India to the title at the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, former Tamil Nadu captain, the late VB Chandrasekhar, had told Super Kings owner N Srinivasan about Dhoni’s worth as a leader.

Srinivasan had then asked Chandrasekhar, who was at the Super Kings table at the inaugural IPL auction, to acquire Dhoni at any cost.

Dhoni has, over the years, repaid that faith with interest. In the 213 matches in which he led Super Kings - in the IPL and the now-defunct Champions League T20 - there were 130 wins, 81 losses, and, crucially, six titles: four at the IPL and two at the CLT20.

Jadeja - new to captaincy, but no lack of leadership experience As for Jadeja, he is totally inexperienced as a captain.

Jadeja, 34, has never led a team at the senior level; he was the captain of an India Under-19 team in 2007.

But Jadeja is recognised now as one of the finest all-format allrounders. In terms of fielding,

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja

there are few better than him in international cricket, but it is his desire to keep improving that has become his biggest strength.

Recently, Jadeja climbed to the No. 1 spot for allrounders in the ICC Test rankings, after his match-winning performance in the Mohali Test against Sri Lanka, wherein he scored 175 and then returned a nine-wicket match haul. Jadeja is also in the top ten among ODI allrounders, and is also a crucial member of the T20I side.

In the last two years at Super Kings, Jadeja has been the key finisher with the bat, a role that Dhoni had played for a long time.

Between the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Jadeja scored 459 runs

at an average of 57.37 and a robust strike rate of 157.73. That included two half-centuries, the only times Jadeja has reached the landmark in a career of more than 270 matches. During this period, he also bagged 19 wickets in 30 matches at an economy of 7.78.

While he might not have clocked enough captaincy hours, Jadeja has immense experience playing alongside Dhoni at Super Kings - 131 matches since joining the team in 2012. And that, Viswanathan said that Dhoni felt, made Jadeja the best successor for him, considering he has the heft as a player, as a leader, as an allrounder, and as a matchwinner. (ESPNcricinfo)

Suns beat Timberwolves England’s Saka to miss friendlies - as Deandre Ayton scores 35 points

D

eandre Ayton scored a career-high 35 points as the Phoenix Suns fought back to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-116 for their sixth straight win.

Ayton also made 14 rebounds, while Devin Booker scored 11 of his 28 points in the final four minutes, 36 seconds of the match in Minneapolis.

The Suns trailed by 15 points in the third quarter, but rallied for their 18th victory from 22 games.

Anthony Edwards topscored for the Timberwolves with 19 points.

Victory at the Denver Nuggets on Thursday will confirm the Suns as Western Conference top seeds for the play-offs.

76ers beat Lakers Joel Embiid scored 30 points and made 11 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 126-121.

James Harden contributed 24 points as visiting Philadelphia overcame a Lakers side that had lost LeBron James before the game because of a sore knee.

Spurs beat the Blazers Dejounte Murray scored 28 points and made seven assists and six rebounds to help the San Antonio Spurs ease to a 133-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Grizzlies overcome the Nets, Celtics defeat Jazz Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton each scored 23 points as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame the Brooklyn Nets 132-120, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 26 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 125-97 win over the Utah Jazz.

The Phoenix Suns are the defending Western Conference champions

after testing positive for COVID-19

A

rsenal forward Bukayo Saka will miss England's upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast after testing positive for COVID-19.

Saka has been isolating from the rest of the squad at St George's Park since Wednesday, and has now returned home.

England are not planning to call up a replacement for the 20-yearold.

Gareth Southgate's side play Switzerland on Saturday, and Ivory Coast on Tuesday, with both matches taking place at Wembley.

Saka posted on social media that he was "gutted" to withdraw from the squad.

"I'll be supporting the boys from home this weekend, and I can't wait to be back doing what I love soon," he wrote on Twitter.

Southampton goalkeeper

Bukayo Saka (right) made his England debut against Wales in October 2020

Fraser Forster was added to a 24-strong squad on Wednesday following Sam Johnstone's withdrawal. Johnstone had been a replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, who missed out through injury.

Arsenal's next Premier League fixture is against Crystal Palace on Monday, 4 April.

England squad Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Fraser Forster

Defenders: Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Tyrick Mitchell, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ben White Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Declan Rice, James WardProwse Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling, Ollie Watkins. (BBC Sport)

22

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Women’s World Cup Cricket 2022…

West Indies’ semi-final hopes hanging by thread after SA clash washout S

outh Africa have qualified for the World Cup semi-finals after rain washed out their match against West Indies in Wellington. Only 10.5 overs were possible after a delay of more than four hours, which saw play get underway after 3pm local time, and South Africa were in trouble at 61 for 4. But persistent rain meant no further play was possible.

West Indies' hopes of advancing are hanging by a thread after three losses, three wins and a no-result.

If either India or England lose a match, West Indies could still advance to the knockouts, but their tournament future is now out of their control.

Irrespective of the outcome of their final match against India, South Africa

J

will qualify in second place, and have avoided facing table-topping Australia in the final four.

South Africa may consider themselves lucky to have got away with the point they needed to break away from the chasing pack, after they teetered on 22 for 4 in the sixth over of their rain-reduced encounter. In a match that was cut down to 26 overs a side, South Africa were on the back foot after West Indies' opening bowlers made good use of extra bounce in the surface to dismiss their top four without any of them getting into double figures.

Laura Wolvaardt was out cheaply for the first time in the tournament, when she tried to cut a wide Chinelle Henry ball through point but found a flying Deandra

amaica’s Sports Minister the Honourable Olivia Grange has announced that, as part of the celebrations for Jamaica’s 60th Independence Anniversary, Government would be providing scholarships for 60 athletes.

“We will be awarding sixty scholarships to 60 athletes. ‘Sixty for 60’. Details will be announced at a later date,” she said while speaking at the official launch of the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships on Tuesday.

Jamaica’s Sports “In 2020, after the decision Minister, the Honourable was made to cancel CHAMPS, Olivia Grange there was major disappointment by athletes, parents, coaches, schools, alumni, and every sport-loving Jamaican. Many were uncertain about last year’s staging of CHAMPS, but, again this team of school principals organised themselves within the very strict protocols outlined and produced a spectacular show, with Jamaica College and Edwin Allen High School winning the titles,” added Grange, while praising ISSA for continuing to set a very high standard in terms of sports’ organisation and management and each year.

The Sports Minister also highlighted the importance of CHAMPS. “The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships has become a special calendar event, not only for Jamaicans, but for other sport enthusiasts, administrators, athletes, school groups, and media houses and talent scouts all over the world. This speaks to the development of the Championships, and indicates the tremendous growth in our high school programmes, coached primarily by our home-grown coaches.

“The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships has been marked as the foundation of Jamaica’s athletic prowess, and with the improvements in the field events, we are assured that the future of track and field in Jamaica is secure,” she said.

“There is another reason why CHAMPS this year is special. Just one week after CHAMPS, Jamaica will be hosting CARIFTA. Many of the athletes from CHAMPS are expected to be on show again at CARIFTA, where the President of World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe, has confirmed his attendance,” she added.

Grange went on to recognise long-time sponsors of CHAMPS, GraceKennedy, and then offer a final word of encouragement to the athletes who will be competing in the 2022 edition.

“I am proud to acknowledge GraceKennedy, who has been title sponsors of the Boys and Girls Championships since 2007 and will continue until 2025. Even with the uncertainties of the pandemic, they have been unwavering in their support.

“To all the other sponsors, ‘thank you’, you continue to exhibit goodwill, and I want to assure you that no investment in our youth is wasted,” she said.

“Whether you become a professional sportsman or woman, or continue to compete for the love of the sport, or use your talent as a bargaining tool to advance your educational aspirations, or never participate in another track and field event; the lessons you learn in training and in competition must serve you through life,” Grange added. (Sportsmax)

Dottin, who took another stunning catch. Dottin dived left and took the catch one-handed, in her right hand.

Four balls later, Lizelle Lee's torrid run continued.

She tried to hit a Shamilia Connell delivery across the line and toe-ended it to midwicket. Karishma Ramharack juggled the ball, but took the catch to leave Lee with no scores over 36 from five matches in the competition.

Connell could have had another off her next ball when Tazmin Brits edged it, but Hayley Matthews moved too early at slip and the ball hit her wrist.

In Henry's next over, Brits was dropped at second slip as she jabbed at a ball, but Dottin couldn't hold on.

Henry got her reward two

balls later when she got a delivery to stick in the surface and Sune Luus lobbed it to Stafanie Taylor.

Henry had an opportunity for two wickets in two balls when Mignon du Preez edged her next delivery to second slip, but Dottin dropped it again. It only took until her next over for Henry

West Indies Women celebrating the Dottin screamer (Photos: Getty Images)

The rain had the final say

BCB Under-17 tournament fixtures released, but rain threatens ancient county

to strike again, when Brits sliced her to Ramharack at cover. Henry finished with figures of 3 for 19. du Preez and Marizanne Kapp were rebuilding the innings, and scored 39 runs in 32 balls for the fifth wicket when the drizzle, which had hung around throughout the day, became harder, forcing the umpires to take the players off the field. du Preez managed her highest score in her last 10 ODIs, and was hitting the ball on 38 not out, but was unable to continue.

Conditions did not improve, and the match was called off after another lengthy rain delay.

(ESPNcricinfo)

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Cotton Tree will be aiming to extend the dominance that was shown in the under-15 tournament

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) recently announced the Under-17 tournament fixtures with matches set to bowl off this weekend. There are six zones in the country-wide tournament.

Zone A will feature West Berbice teams. the teams are Cotton Tree, Bush Lot United, Paradise.

Round One, Sunday March 27; Cotton Tree vs Paradise at Cotton Tree. Bush Lot- bye.

On Saturday April 2, Cotton Tree vs Bush Lot United at Bush Lot. On Sunday April 3, Bush Lot United vs Paradise at Paradise.

Zone B will also feature teams from West Berbice.

The teams are Achievers A, Achievers B, and Bath.

Round One, which is set for Sunday March 27, would feature Achievers A vs Achievers B at Hopetown.

On Saturday April 2, Achievers A vs Bath at Hopetown. On Sunday April 3, Achievers B will battle Bath at Bath.

Zone C features teams from the West Bank of Berbice. The teams are East Bank Blazers, Guymine, and No 19. Round One, on Sunday

March 27, will see East Bank Blazers vs Guymine at East Bank Blazers venue, and on Saturday April 2, East Bank Blazers will lock horns with No 19 at No 19. On Sunday April 3, No. 19 will battle Guymine at No.19.

Zone D teams are Edinburgh, Tucber Park and RH Canje. Round One, which is set for Sunday March 27, will see Edinburgh do battle against Tucber Park at Rose Hall Canje, and on Saturday April 2, Rose Hall Canje will take on No.19 at Rose Hall Canje.

On Sunday April 3, Rose Hall Canje and Tucber Park will battle at Canje.

Zone E teams are Rose Hall Town A, Albion A, Albion B, and Radha Krishna Foundation.

In round One, Sunday March 27, Rose Hall Town Bakewell A will battle Albion A at Area H ground.

Meanwhile, Radha Krishna will battle Albion B at Radha Krishna ground.

On Saturday April 2, Rose Hall Town Bakewell A will battle Albion B at Jai Hind ground, and Radha Krishna and Albion A will meet at Albion. Sunday April 3 will

see Rose Hall Town Bakewell A vs Rama Krishna at Radha Krishna.

Albion A will meet Albion B at Albion on April 3.

Zone F teams are Rose Hall Town B, Skeldon, Line Path, and Port Mourant.

Round One will see Rose Hall Town B vs Port Mourant at Area H, at a date yet to be confirmed.

Skeldon and Line Path will lock horns at Skeldon.

In round two, Rose Hall Town B will meet Line Path at Area H. Skeldon and Port Mourant will then battle at Port Mourant.

In round three, Rose Hall Town B will play Line Path at Line Path, and Port Mourant and Skeldon will play at Port Mourant.

The Quarter Finals are set for Saturday April 9, and the winner of A vs runner-up of E will play at a venue in Zone A. The winner of F vs runner-up of D at Zone F venue, and the winner of D vs winner of B at Zone D venue. The Semi-Finals are set for Sunday April 10, with the winner of 2 vs winner of 4 and the winner of 1 will play the winner of 3.

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

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Statutory benefits Inquiries: trimworksttd@outlook.com 1-345929-4038

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

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

WANTED Person to cook and manage restaurant in Charity, Essequibo.

Accommodation provided. Attractive Salary. 223-5273/223-5274

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WI vs England: Apex Test series, 3rd Test…

23

Leach, Mahmood find tenth-wicket fight to halt West Indies’ rampage

Mayer made early inroads

I

f variety is the spice of the Spice Island, then the pitch at St George's served up a two-course taster on the first day of this cricket match in Grenada.

After ten days of often enervating attrition in Antigua and Barbados, the façade of English batting competence crumbled at the first sign of heat from a pumped-up West Indies seam attack, before a mighty final-session rescue act from England's tenth-wicket pair dropped a sizeable hint that the truest mischief in the surface had already been there and was gone.

And by the close, who could rightly say where the balance of the series truly lay? In slumping to a nadir of 67 for 7 in the hour after lunch a passage of play that included three key wickets for no runs in ten balls, and six consecutive single-figure scores from Nos. 2 to 7 - England seemed hell-bent on resetting their very own red-ball reset.

After the earnest insistences from Joe Root and Paul Collingwood that lessons had been learned and progress had been m a d e since the all-too-recent misery of the Ashes, the hyperimplausible figure of Kyle Mayers begged to differ, as his startling morning figures of 5-5-0-2 instigated a collapse that could have come straight out of Scott Boland's playbook.

But then, out of the wreckage strode the batting saviours of Jack Leach - still as diffident as ever, even with his contrasting heroics at Headingley and Lord's to serve as cult-status proof of his unlikely prowess - and England's newest recruit, Saqib Mahmood, who fell to the day's final ball for an agonising 49, the highest score of his professional career.

With Leach left high and dry on 41 not out, Nos. 10 and 11 had topscored in a Test innings for the first time since 1885, when Australia's Tom Garrett and Edwin Evans had made 51 not out and 33 not out respectively in what had turned out to be a thrilling six-run win against England.

Only time will tell whether this stand will be as critical, but together, Leach and Mahmood sapped the resolve of an alltoo-easily deflated West Indies attack, whose collective legs were weary after the exhaustions of the first two Tests, and whose adrenaline bonked all too soon after the fall of Chris Woakes to the second ball after tea - at which point, with England in tatters at 114 for 9, their opponents seemed mentally to check out and put their pads on in anticipation of what promised to be the decisive innings of the series. They were still waiting 90 runs and more than 46 overs later.

Nevertheless, the final analysis of England's i n n i n g s

revealed two men with scores in the 40s, and next to nothing else - and so on balance, West Indies' decision to bowl first remained amply justified, even in a topsy-turvy fashion.

From the outset, it had been clear that a cracked and grassy surface with more than a hint of moisture underneath would be a prime bowlfirst deck. However, when Kraigg Brathwaite unleashed an apparent fourpronged seam attack, following the decision to reinforce their batting at the expense of the spinner Veerasammy Permaul, few could have expected it would be that extra batter, Mayers, who would prove to be the morning's most penetrative option.

For the first 40 minutes of the day, England's openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley seemed just about to have the measure of conditions that were closer to Chester-le-Street and Canterbury than they had faced all winter, as they withstood a torrid but occasionally over-eager burst from Jayden Seales in particular, to inch along to 23 for 0.

But then West Indies clocked that less might well be more on a surface offering purchase for those who were willing to grip the ball on the track in the manner of an old-fashioned English seamer. And so Mayers, with his Darren Stevensesque medium-paced wobblers, was tossed the ball in advance of West Indies' fastest option, Alzarri Joseph. And from that moment on, it was a different dynamic.

Crawley, a centurion in Antigua, quickly lost patience with Mayers's impertinence in the channel outside off. Having made his discipline on the drive such a feature of that apparent breakthrough innings, it was a familiar failing that sent him on his way for 7, as he flung his hands through a cunningly bowled legcutter, and spooned a simple chance to Brathwaite in the covers.

Enter Root, with a hundred in each of the first two Tests of the series, but reunited with a situation more akin to England's collapse to 48 for 4 on the first morning of the series in Antigua.

And Mayers never offered him a chance to settle. His fourth ball hit the seam and wobbled wildly round Root's outside edge. Five balls later, Mayers scrambled that same seam, and kissed the edge of a defensive push down the line to have Root caught behind for a nine-ball duck.

Lees's introduction to the Test team has now featured a new highest score in four of his five innings, which must count as progress of sorts. He played a compact holding role throughout the morning session, but before England's position could be claimed to have improved, they were three-down for 46 at lunch.

Dan Lawrence - another player who seemed to have made visible strides in the first two Tests - had no answer as Seales returned with his discipline reframed.

Despite burning a review after been pinned on the knee-roll by a nipbacker, he w a s sent on his way for 8 from 31 balls.

In Antigua, England's pre-lunch struggles had proven to be their nadir; here, however, they were merely the prelude. Four overs after the break, Ben Stokes - his blood pumping after a restorative century in Barbados - tried to take on Joseph's short ball, and shovelled a spliced pull straight back into the bowler's lap for 2 (53 for 4).

Five balls and no runs later, Lees's vigil was ended in uncompromising fashion by a pumped-up Roach, who was adamant that he'd found the edge two balls earlier, but when Brathwaite declined to waste his final review, he merely bombed the edge from round the wicket once more, and this time there was no doubt, as Joshua da Silva sent him on his Overton was bowled all ends up way for 31 (53 for 5).

And then, as if to prove that the events of the previous fortnight had been a fever-dream, Jonny Bairstow capped England's dramatic reversion to the mean with their third wicket for no runs in the space of 10 balls.

Joseph - easily the quickest bowler on either side in the absence of Mark Wood - bent his back on another off-stump lifter, and Bairstow nicked off to da Silva for the 15th duck of his Test career, and his fifth since the start of 2021.

From 53 for 6, it was now a familiar race to the bottom for England's lower order. Ben Foakes was duly pinned on the crease as Seales ripped a bail-trimmer through his defences for 7, at which point England's run of scores - +31 708207 - read like they were planning an international call to the Netherlands to fill the dead playing time on the final two days of this Test (though hopefully not for a T20I, to judge by past experience).

At least Chris Woakes and Craig Overton broke the run of single-digit scores, not that this had been their original plan for first-day heroics, following their unlikely (and some might say unwarranted) reprieves in England's seam attack. But Roach prised them apart after an eighthwicket stand of 23 - at the time, England's joint-best of the innings as he leapt wide on the crease to spear an outstanding nip-backer into the top of off stump (90 for 8).

Woakes held the line well for the remainder of the session - during which time, in the absence of a regular spinner, Brathwaite even turned to Nkrumah Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood for an over apiece of speculative moon-balls.

It seemed he had merely been stalling for time, especially when Woakes drove loosely at his second ball after the break to be bowled by Seales for 25. But it didn't quite turn out like that.

At first it was simply a matter of holding up an end - and few batters do that better than Leach, as shown by that epic 1 not out alongside Stokes three years ago. But as their stand extended, and both men's eyes got in, a late-evening counterattack was the order of the day.

Mayers, brought back in the hope of more magic, was slapped into the stands by Mahmood, while Leach's love of a length ball became more and more apparent as he brought his favourite cover-drive out of mothballs.

The new ball came and went, with ample swing but no major threat, but Blackwood's return for the day's final over proved a passion-killer for Mahmood, as he thwacked a fierce drive through the line to move to the brink of a memorable fifty, only to get too greedy to his very next ball and under-edge a wild hoick into his own stumps.

Nevertheless, he had given his team a chance - and his A game is still to come on what promises to be a pivotal second day.

Seales claimed three wickets (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS Alex Lees c †Da Silva b Roach 31 Zak Crawley c Brathwaite b Mayers 7 Joe Root (c) c †Da Silva b Mayers 0 Dan Lawrence lbw b Seales 8 Ben Stokes c & b Joseph 2 Jonny Bairstow c †Da Silva b Joseph 0 Ben Foakes † b Seales 7 Chris Woakes b Seales 25 Craig Overton b Roach 14 Jack Leach not out 41 Saqib Mahmood b Blackwood 49 Extras (b 18, lb 2) 20 TOTAL (89.4 Ov, RR: 2.27) 204 Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Zak Crawley, 12.2 ov), 2-29 (Joe Root, 14.5

ov), 3-46 (Dan Lawrence, 25.1 ov), 4-53 (Ben Stokes, 30.6 ov), 5-53 (Alex Lees, 31.5 ov), 6-53 (Jonny Bairstow, 32.3 ov), 7-67 (Ben Foakes, 37.2 ov), 8-90 (Craig Overton, 42.1 ov), 9-114 (Chris Woakes, 53.2 ov), 10-204 (Saqib Mahmood, 89.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kemar Roach 18-4-41-2 Jayden Seales 17-4-40-3 Jason Holder 15-6-34-0 Kyle Mayers 10-7-13-2 Alzarri Joseph 18-6-33-2 Nkrumah Bonner 5-1-10-0 Jermaine Blackwood 1.4-1-4-1 Kraigg Brathwaite 5-2-9-0

“ The game is the best teacher” - Shabazz says about upcoming friendlies

By Jemima Holmes

“T

Coach Jamaal Shabazz was unfazed by rain during Wednesday’s training session

he game is the best teacher.” That is the advice given by Coach Jamaal Shabazz of the senior men’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars, as he discussed the reason for, and desired outcomes of, the team’s international friendlies coming up next week.

It is by now no secret that the Golden Jaguars would depart Guyana today for the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago to engage in a trnation friendly tournament titled the Courts Caribbean Classic.

As such, Shabazz, in a media engagement at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Centre on Wednesday afternoon, shared the intention behind Guyana’s impending friendly tournament against Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

“For us, it’s important that we mix and match players, because we’ve brought in 6 overseas players to join the corps of players who were playing some weeks ago against Suriname. So, it’s also an opportunity for us to experiment with our tactics, what’s the quality of our pressing, our possession,” Coach Shabazz has said.

He said about the team’s preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League B games in June, “It’s going to answer a lot of questions for us in terms of our preparation, and it could not come at a better time.”

Since the announcement of the team, the Head Coach has been fielding questions left and right about recalling the likes of Neil Danns and Sam Cox, who were dropped from the Golden Jags last year (by a different coach) on the premise of age. However, he figures they would

be able to offer something to the younger generation of Jaguars.

“Dans and Cox, they are at the evening of their careers; but, you know, they say that before the flame (goes) out, it’s at its brightest, and we think it’s just what the doctor ordered for some of these youngsters, like Omari Glasgow and company, to be guided,” Shabazz explained.

“Trinidad is by no means an easy opponent, but we’ve had measured results against them, and it gives us an opportunity to utilise those guys in the rebuilding process,” he said.

He went on to refer to the probable future of Danns and Cox in the Golden Jags setup, also highlighting the biased scrutiny, “At the same time, if they show that they can hold a place in the team, why not? You know, in the Caribbean, we like to talk about who is old, but we don’t talk about Abramovich, we don’t talk about Ronaldo, we talk about those players in glowing terms.”

Responding to enquiries about the importance of the Courts Caribbean Classic, Shabazz highlighted that in-game preparation is best for any team.

Shabazz related, “These matches are very important, because the local players are only now getting back on to the field with competitions about to start. So, it gives them the opportunity to test what we’ve been doing in training. You can train from now until Enmore opens back up, but the only time you can really see or test the quality of the work is in a match,” he explained.

“The game is the best teacher,” he declared.

Guyana will oppose Barbados on Sunday, March 27, and then Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, March 29, in that twin-island Republic.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

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

WI vs England: Apex Test series, 3rd Test…

Leach, Mahmood find tenthwicket fight to halt West Indies’ rampage “The game is the best teacher” See story on page 23

West Indies celebrating a wicket

Page 23

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz having a chat with his troops

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