Guyana Times -- Monday, December 20, 2021

P16

Young entrepreneurs showcase products & services at mini expo Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4867

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

PRICE

PNCR's biennial Congress

Aubrey Norton secures landslide victory over rivals for PNCR leadership – Harmon says he remains Opposition Leader Page 3

PNCR Leader-elect Aubrey Norton

PNCR Chairman-elect Shurwayne Holder

1st Vice Chairman-elect Elizabeth Williams-Niles

Christopher Jones and Vinceroy Jordan tied for the 2nd Vice Chairman position

PNCR Treasurer-elect Mohamed Faaiz Mursaline

Alternative Diamond-toMocha Road opens today

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

NBS moves to set aside $79M in payments awarded to P8 Maurice Arjoon

– Court of Appeal to hear further arguments on Jan 17

P12 Body of missing GDF rank found

2 injured P12 after minibus collides with motorcycle Police find gun, ganja P10 while chasing wanted man

Page 5

CANU intercepts Tuschen man with $113.1M worth of cocaine Page 10

High Court orders City Page Hall to 15 prohibit vending in front of Shamdas Kirpalani

We have to build, invest in capacity – Pres Ali tells Private Sector See story on page 7

2 more COVID-19 fatalities take death toll to P17 1030 – 53 new cases detected

Region 1 P16 Commander urges ranks to be proactive in crime-fighting

– as serious crimes spike by 21%

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, Dec 20 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, Dec 21 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Dec 20 – 16:40h – 18:10h and Tuesday, Dec 21 – 05:50h – 07:20h.

PNCR's biennial Congress

Aubrey Norton secures landslide victory over rivals for PNCR leadership – Harmon says he remains Opposition Leader

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light rain showers during the day.

Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to Northerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 17:08h reaching a maximum height of 2.6 metres.

Low Tide: 10:43h and 23:10h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.62 metre.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

03 07 09

16 20 25

FREE TICKET

10 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 02 14 15 20 LUCKY 3

3

9

5

9

Afternoon Draw

2

1

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 06 09 10 11 15 17 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

09 11 13 15 17 13

10 11 16 19 21

6

6 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

1

6 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$73.52/barrel

Rough Rice

$251.51/ton

-0.09

London Sugar

$498.00/ton

-1.27

Live Spot Gold

-2.04

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1801.50

$1802.50

Low/High Change

$1798.70 +2.80

$1804.20 +0.16%

PNCR Leader-elect Aubrey Norton

A

fter weeks of intense campaigning and political sniping, the delegates of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) have elected longstanding party stalwart Aubrey Norton as their leader in a landslide win against Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and Dr Richard Van West-Charles.

According to the results announced by the party’s Chief Election Officer Vincent Alexander on Sunday, Norton secured a landslide victory having obtained over 75 per cent of the 1280 votes cast.

He got 967 votes; while Harmon received 245 votes and Van West-Charles secured 64.

“Mr Norton is therefore poised to be declared and installed as Leader of People’s National Congress Reform in the new day,” Alexander said at the press conference, which was hosted by Christopher Jones, who had unsuccess-

PNCR Chairman-elect Shurwayne Holder

1st Vice Chairman-elect Elizabeth Williams-Niles

Vinceroy Jordan tied for the 2nd Vice Chairman position

PNCR Treasurer-elect Mohamed Faaiz Mursaline

fully contended for the PNCR Chairmanship.

This publication was unable to reach Norton on Sunday after the results were announced. However, he had offered a few words in an interview with the media a few hours after polls closed on Saturday evening. Norton had made it clear at the time what type of leader he would want to be. According to him, he will be an inclusive leader.

"During the campaign, I did say I intend to be inclusive. I intend to ensure

that all the people in the party are involved in the management of the party.

And I intend to live up to that. My opponents are expected to raise questions.”

“All I will say to my opponents is that we'll work together… I don't see this as a victory over Harmon or Van West-Charles. I see this as the party membership giving me the mandate,” Norton had said.

Meanwhile, Norton’s nearest rival, Harmon had conceded since Saturday evening and had congratulated Norton in a post

Christopher Jones tied for the 2nd Vice Chairman position

on his Facebook page. He had also affirmed his commitment to fostering unity within the party.

“The delegates made their choice for PNCR leader… I respect the choice of the delegates of our party. I wish to congratulate Comrade Norton and want to extend good wishes and all success to the new leadership. Over the coming weeks, I am sure matters related to the new leadership will arise and I stand committed to the unity of the party as an ordinary member,” the Opposition Leader had contended in his statement.

When this publication made contact with Harmon after the official announcement of results on Sunday, he reaffirmed his willingness to work with whoever is in charge of the party.

According to him, however, the results change nothing where his position as Opposition Leader is concerned.

TURN TO PAGE 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

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

New PNC Leader and the rule of law

T

he People’s National Congress (PNC) has just elected its new leader in the person of Aubrey Norton, a veteran of the party who was its chairman as far back as 1998, when he was unilaterally relieved of his position by then leader Hugh Desmond Hoyte. He had dared to challenge Hoyte, who reminded him that he was “his creature”. One should remember that as Hoyte sidelined the Burnhamites in the party to create his own base and remake the PNC in his own image, some of them like David Granger, Vincent Alexander and Aubrey Norton are now involved in the latest reinvention. And like the abused child that becomes the abusive parent, Granger repeated Hoyte’s move after 2015 with his cleansing of the old guard. It is most likely that Norton will go down this same road to ensconce members of his slate.

The perennial challenge for the PNC has been to deal forthrightly with its origin as a party created to curry favour with the colonial power that rejected the workings of democracy to choose the government that would lead Guyana to independence.

Even as it insisted it had been “tutoring” Guyanese for over a century to govern themselves democratically. With the “Founder Leader” of the PNC, Forbes Burnham a devotee of Machiavelli, the cynicism of the British reinforced deep scars in the institutional memory of the PNC. The machinations of the US to secure its strategic interests in this hemisphere and underwrite riots that escalated into ethnic civil war in the 1960s further intensified the misanthropic nature of the PNC. The US’s turning of a blind eye to the blatant rigging of elections conducted by the PNC between 1968 and 1985 directly passed on that cynicism to junior PNC members such as Aubrey Norton who have now risen to the top of the heap.

It is rather serendipitous that today is the third anniversary of the passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) that was brought by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) against the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition Government that was in office due to its 33 to 32 majority in the National Assembly. What this should remind us of is that the PNC, of which Norton is a part, refused to accept this seminal test of the legitimacy of democratic representative governments in parliamentary democracies. They invoked the cockamamie assertion that while 33 was a “majority” to place it in government, it was not a majority to remove them. But the assertion satisfied the logic – such as it is – of the PNC, which demonstrates in its actions that democracy and the rule of law are mere words bereft of substance when it comes to holding on to the reins of power.

Norton was in the forefront of defending the PNC’s blatant attempt at rigging the March 2, 2020 elections. In fact, this helped earn him the notoriety that has now catapulted him into the leadership of the PNC through the vehemence with which he supported the labyrinthine manoeuvres of his cohorts that involved spreadsheets, bedsheets, raising of dead and emigrated voters and cussing out respected Caribbean leaders like Mia Mottley and Bruce Golding. Most recently, he was arrested for leading an illegal procession protesting the PPP/C Government’s vaccination programme.

The danger that Norton’s ascendance to the PNC’s leadership presents is that it most likely will intensify the extra-parliamentary tactics of “warlord politics” that characterised the post-19972001 era. The PNC started its tradition in this millennium of refusing to accept election results, save when it is favoured. Thus, we saw that the 2011 and 2015 elections, conducted with voters lists created through a “claims and objections” (C&O) process, were acceptable, because the Opposition achieved a majority in the National Assembly, but the result was rejected when it produced a PPP victory in 2020. Norton has already rejected the selection of the new GECOM Secretariat CEO and also declared that he will insist that a new voters list is a sine qua non for Local Government Elections.

Expect more confrontational extra-parliamentary politics.

First Lady Arya Ali travelled to the island of Wakenaam where she distributed gifts to over 500 children and also assisted to decorate a 12-foot Christmas tree. In photo, she is assisting a young girl to place an ornament on the Christmas tree

Prelude to PNC Congress Dear Editor, Last September 2020 I voiced concerns about the path on which the Party seemed embarked and its obvious crisis of leadership. In spite of or perhaps because of the caustic response of the Party ‘leadership’, many Party members and members of the public, in particular, have subsequently sought my agreement to be nominated for the leadership of the PNCR. In one case, I promised to re-consider my initial refusal but I clearly indicated that I thought that the Party’s first priority should have been to deal with the innumerable concerns which I mentioned in that interview, concerns which were similar to those former leaders of the Party recently shared with the PNCR’s current Central Executive Committee (CEC).

They relate to the manner in which the Party has been led, has been functioning and the consequences.

On Saturday, the Party held its Congress, the Party’s highest decision-making forum and the most important event in the shaping of a political Party. It would normally involve an exhaustive examination of relevant issues affecting the membership and the country, ranging from challenges cultural to the current political situation, preparation for or analysis of national election results, economic policies et al. On this occasion, however, after much angst, the CEC managed to organise a Congress intended only to change the leadership. There is to be no analysis, no debates about the political situation and no report on the 2020 national elections, its outcome and no policy pronouncements.

It is only about the changing of the guard. Ironically, such a Congress should be

quite consistent with the approach of the leadership of Mr Granger – no Party reforms, no resolutions, no or minimal debates etc. Yet there is from the current leadership much push-back against the Congress, or more accurately, against the changing of the leadership.

I had pointed out during the course of the above-mentioned KN interview in 2020 that invoking the mechanisms and processes available to the Party could have placed it in a strong position relative to all other political Parties in Guyana, as regards best practise. What is more, the PNCR as a Party has paid the price for failure to insist on the conduct of transparent and careful review of its performance in general and national elections.

Even though the decision of the CEC to postpone the elections to December 18 in order to address some obvious weaknesses, too many questions still remain unaddressed. Those areas are of concern to me because I have had first-hand experience of the abuse of the Party’s election process. Many elements which generated concerns in 2011 and subsequently, are still in place.

In recent times beginning with a contest for the PNCR Presidential Candidate in 2011, internal Party elections have been hijacked by the Party apparatus on behalf of the Party Leader.

I need only mention a recount of ballots when there had been no declaration in the first place. In any case, the counting was such that the margin of error between the votes counted before the cameras and that which followed a break (to conduct ‘a raffle’, which left ballots unprotected), was statistically improbable.

In keeping with these departures from the rules there has been no election to identify a Presidential Candidate for the Feb 2020 National and General Elections. A similar story applies to the selection of the Leader of the List.

Critical national representation such as the selection of the Party’s entire parliamentary membership has been treated as being in the gift of the Leader of the Party. The rules endow him with such powers and the Party cannot be convincingly led by a person who believes that he is too greatly loved or too proud to face an election.

The function of a leader is not to behave as though it is seditious for another Party member to run for positions for which the Party Constitution deems that members are to be elected.

It is no surprise therefore that there has been widespread dissatisfaction over the quality of representation of the constituency and the absence of a clear and authoritative PNCR voice at times when leadership and principled stands were needed to confront grievous political policies and serious challenges on the electoral front.

No viable and persuasive political Party can hold on to its constituency if its leadership is too timid to speak out against wrongs or to stand up for and hold positions which though morally correct are unpopular.

I understand that the Leader notified the Chairman of the Party less than a week ago of his impending departure from the country. This is not the first party leader to have been ill whilst in office and he will not be the last. There should always be allowance for such a possibility but it is difficult to find another example of

situation involving no transparent arrangements for handover of instruments and finances or of succession. The CEC which has been critical of the Leader and called for the Congress. For its impertinence, it seems to have been treated with utter contempt.

Given these circumstances and whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s event, I urge that the CEC make arrangements to afford the general membership of the Party the opportunity to consider and help fashion the Party’s path ahead and to permit leaders and potential leaders to also contribute to those deliberations. Such an approach is imperative, if the PNCR is to overcome the chains, real and imagined, by which it is currently shackled.

For the same reasons I am satisfied that it would be inappropriate to accept the nominations for the position of Leader of the Party and membership of the CEC and I indicated this position to Mr Winston G Felix, DSM, Chair, Electoral Committee, two or three days after I received formal notification of my nomination.

I will, however, continue to engage with members as appropriate.

In closing, I should like to thank sincerely the various groups and individuals, who in this climate of uncertainty and turmoil, have shown confidence in my work, such faith in my ability and continue to appreciate my contribution to advancing the condition of our constituency.

I would like to assure these members that I will continue to be available to encourage and support them in order to enhance their capacities and their groups’ development.

Sincerely, Carl B Greenidge

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

5

News

Alternative Diamond-to-Mocha Road opens today T raffic congestion in and out of the Great Diamond Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara will significantly ease with the highly-anticipated opening of the alternative access road to Mocha today.

The road is scheduled to be opened by President Dr Irfaan Ali at 06:00h, in time to be used by commuters during the morning rush hour.

The $500 million project, which was undertaken by the Housing and Water Ministry, started earlier this year and was completed months ago.

It was being used by commuters for a few days but a fatal accident resulted in authorities blocking the road until the official opening.

But this was stalled due to the construction of a

Preparations for the opening being done on the road on Sunday

A section of the Diamond-to-Mocha Road (Stabroek News Photo)

bridge to the tune of $95.3 million to allow for the better flow of traffic from Diamond to Eccles. It is intended to eliminate bottlenecks. This cost is separate from the $500 million allocated for the bypass road.

Construction of the bridge has commenced and is ex-

pected to be completed next month, following which, the alternative road will be officially opened to the public.

The bypass road will run from Sixth Avenue, Diamond, to the Winsor Estate Road that leads on to the Eccles Landfill Site Road, connecting through the new

Herstelling Housing Scheme and other schemes that are being developed along the EBD corridor.

Meanwhile, works are simultaneously ongoing for the extension of that alternative road from Eccles to Mandela Avenue. That $2.3 million project is scheduled to be completed soon.

These projects come on the heels of the India-funded Bypass Road Project which

would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara, creating a new highway in the backlands.

The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD to Diamond. However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous APNU/AFC regime and the

Aubrey Norton secures landslide victory...

“The delegates have made their choice. And whatever consequence comes out of those choices, we will have to live with that… (the results) mean nothing for my tenure as Opposition Leader. The Opposition Leader is a constitutional position and this is one party within the coalition. So it does not have any specific bearing on my tenure as Leader of the Opposition,” Harmon told this publication.

“I’m Leader of the Opposition and Mr Norton is leader of the party. I suppose at some point we will have to meet and discuss matters.

Because I am there already.

He is now arriving in that position. So, it’s his call really.

But I’m really about cooperating and ensuring that the party is unified.”

Chairmanship

The race for the Chairmanship of the party also turned into a convincing victory for team Norton, with APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Shurwayne Holder winning the position.

He came out victorious having secured 407 votes – the highest amongst the 10 contesting for that post including some senior party members.

Holder’s closest rival was Member of Parliament and Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who at one point deputised for Harmon as Opposition Leader earlier this year. Forde could only secure 256 votes. Fellow MP Amanza Walton-Desir, who shadows the Foreign Affairs Ministry, also only mustered 217 votes against Holder.

Former Chief of Staff turned PNCR politician Gary Best was the only other challenger to reach triple figures, securing 156 votes.

Christopher Jones, who serves as APNU/AFC’s Chief Whip in Parliament, secured 51 votes, while former Region 10 Chairman Sharma

FROM PAGE 3

“Those areas are of concern to me because I have had first-hand experience of the abuse of the party’s election process. Many elements which generated concerns in 2011 and subsequently, are still in place,” Greenidge said in his statement.

Greenidge was also very critical of the way in which former party leader David Granger departed Guyana last week to seek treatment in Cuba. According to him, there was a lack of proper handover before Granger's departure.

"I understand that the leader notified the Chairman of the party less than a week ago of his impending departure from the country. This is not the first party leader to

Solomon secured 36. Former Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry Simona Broomes mustered 13 votes.

In an interview with this publication following the announcement of the results, Holder noted that the results from the polls clearly demonstrate the will of the party.

According to him, the party had believed for the last year that they were not being adequately represented.

“I’m happy to serve the people. For me, there are mixed feelings. What I’m looking at is that the real work now begins. The election phase is over. The real work now begins, to represent our people. The people felt over the last year that they’ve not been getting the kind of representation that they feel they should be getting from their party and opposition.”

“So that’s why I feel that they voted solidly for team Norton. Norton as the leader and myself as the Chair.

They want people on the ground, in contact with them and can represent them.

That’s why we got this big

victory.”

According to Holder, this is not a personal victory but rather, a victory for the party. He noted that his immediate concerns include unifying the party and representing party supporters and the general public.

Additionally, the party’s new Treasurer is Mohamed Faaiz Mursaline. There are two spots for the post of Vice Chairman. The first was secured by Elizabeth Williams -Niles, who gained 470 votes, while Christopher Jones and Vinceroy Jordan have tied with 381 votes each for the second spot. According to Alexander, a decision will have to be taken on how to break this tie.

As it relates to the 15 members of the Central Executive Committee, Alexander explained that the count is still incomplete.

There was a total of 123 candidates vying for these positions.

Concerns

Just one day ahead of the congress, concerns had been raised by former

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who was among those nominated for the leadership of the party. Not only did Greenidge confirm he rejected the nomination, he also expressed concern over the way the congress was being conducted.

According to him, the congress is just a changing of leadership rather than the introspection the party needs. According to Greenidge, who currently serves as the Advisor on Borders in the current Government, it is important that the party analyses its loss at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“The PNCR as a party has paid the price for failure to insist on the conduct of transparent and careful review of its performance in general and national elections. Today (Friday), on the eve of the congress, even taking account of the decision of the CEC to postpone the elections to 18th December in order to address some obvious weaknesses, too many questions still remain unaddressed.”

project was at a standstill for several years.

The Ali-led PPP/C Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LOC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

have been ill whilst in office and he will not be the last," Greenidge said.

"There should always be allowance for such a possibility but it is difficult to find another example of situation involving no transparent arrangements for handover of instruments and finances or of succession. The CEC which has been critical of the leader and called for the congress. For its impertinence, it seems to have been treated with utter contempt."

Both Greenidge and former party Chairman Volda Lawrence, had declined nominations for leadership of the party, leaving Norton, Harmon and Van WestCharles to vie for leadership.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

A

Adding decimals

dding decimals is just like adding whole numbers, except you must be careful to line up the decimals correctly. Once you do that, you can add as if the decimal is not there.

Example: Add 82.72 + 9.34 Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up in a single column.

82.72 + 9.34 Step 2: Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points: 82.72 + 9.34 9.34 Step 3: Add: 82.72 + 9.34 92.06 What if a number has no decimal point?

For example: Add 6 + 23.56 Just put a decimal point at the end of the whole number and add placeholder zeros after: 6.00 + 23.56 29.56

Exercises: Add 1)

12.20+ 7.58

4)

1 + 31.05

2)

10 + 33.60

5)

54.31 + 23.48

3)

894.08 + 2.36

6)

7.12 + 92.88

W

rite a “how-to” telling a toymaker how to make a toy you have just designed.

O

ne of the best holiday traditions is decorating the Christmas tree. People do this every year because it’s fun and a chance for the entire family to get involved in hanging beautiful decorations around the house. And paper Christmas ornaments are one way to go about it.

Paper Christmas ornaments are a creative way to dress up your tree, and the best part is choosing the colours and patterns. These days you can find all sorts of paper ornament kits at craft stores, but it’s also easy to make them yourself with the paper you already have around the house, including newspaper!

Stars

For this project, you’ll need: scissors, hot glue, a pencil, paper, a ruler

Step 1: Gather your materials!

Step 2: Orient your paper on your work surface so it sits landscape, or with its longer edge positioned as its width and its shorter edge positioned as its height. Line the zero mark of your ruler up with the very left edge of your page, closer to the top. At every centimetre all the way along, make even pencil marks. Repeat the process lower down the page, starting with your zero mark aligned on the left edge again and making marks at each centimetre all the way along. These doubled markings will make it easier for you to draw straighter lines down the page later on. For each set, make your marks all the way across the page’s width until you reach the right-hand edge.

Step 3: Turn your ruler vertically and line it up with each pair of centimetre marks, drawing a straight line from the top edge to the bottom edge of the page to join the marks. Do this from left to right, all the way across the page, making a line at every single pair of centimetre markings.

Step 4: Cut out each strip from your page, keeping your scissors straight along each of your drawn lines until you have many strips that are each the full height of the page and one centimetre wide.

Step 5: Divide your strips into two groups of 10.

Set one bundle of 10 aside for later and then divide your other group of 10 into two groups of five. You’ll arrange one of these groups of five vertically and the other horizontally. Line up the first group vertically next to each other with a few millimetres in between them. Next, line the second group up horizontally across those first vertical strips, so they lay on top of them. You want an even amount of each vertical strip to stick out above and below the horizontal group from

underneath, and an even length of the horizontal strips to stick out over each side of the vertical group. Adjust and position them until you feel like things sit evenly in a sort of grid.

Step 6: Now you’ll start weaving your strips and gluing them in to place in order to make a basketweave patterned square. Place glue in the spot where your first horizontal strip crosses over your first vertical strip and stick it in place to anchor that strip. Next, pass the horizontal strip under the second vertical strip, placing a dot of glue between them where the cross over each other in this new way as well. Cross your first horizontal strip over your third vertical strip like you did your first one and dot glue between them, then go under the fourth strip before sticking it in place. Repeat this process all the way across, alternating an under-thenover weave until your first horizontal strip is stuck into place crossing over each one of your vertical strips, all the way down its length.

Step 7: Repeat the above basket weaving process almost exactly, with the same alternating and gluing technique that we just outlined, only using your other four horizontal strips. With the second strip, however, you’re going to reverse the pattern.

Step 8: Repeat the entire overlapping, weaving, and gluing process with your second set of 10 strips that you set aside earlier, split into groups of five and laid vertically and horizontally in the same way as before. When you’re finished, you’ll have two woven grids, each with loose ends on each side.

Step 9: Take one of your completed grids and turn it slightly to the side, so the bottom, top, and sides are not the triangular spaces between the strip ends, while the ends sit on you work surface looking like an X. Work with your bottom space first. Take the outside strip from the group on the left and bend it in and up, slightly back towards the centre grid and closer to the space facing you. Apply glue on the far side, then pick up the end of the strip in the group to your right and bend it in the same way, bringing it to meet your strip from the left. Press the right strip into the glue on your left strip, lining the edges up so their sides and corners meet and line up evenly. You’ve created a 3D loop that has some bounce to it! Rotate the piece again to work with a new space and set of outside strips, then repeat the process to make the same standing loop shape. Do this on all four sides so you have four corner loops.

Step 10: Repeat the loop process once more all the way around! This time you’ll use the second strip in on each side, which became the edge strip as you created your first loops. (Excerpt from diys.com)

WORD SEARCH

7 We have to build, invest in capacity – Pres Ali tells Private Sector W NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ith massive investment potential coming to Guyana, President Dr Irfaan Ali has called on the local business community to ensure that they build local capacity and make the necessary investments to ensure that there is the capacity to support the progressive development of the country.

“If we don’t have the capacity, we have to build the capacity, we have to invest in the capacity, and it will come, do not believe that it will not come, once we make the right shifts and the right movements that capacity will come,” the Head of State told the Private Sector Commission’s membership at their annual Christmas Dinner, adding that they need to get serious about playing their part in the development of the country.

He reminded the Private Sector that the entire service of ExxonMobil has migrated from Trinidad to Guyana and that it shows a sign of our capacity and potential.

“We must be proud of ourselves – you must celebrate this…it shows us that we have the ability and the capacity to get more…let us work together demonstrating that we have the capacity, come together, let’s do this,” he posited.

According to President Ali, the Private Sector needs to pay heed to the national development strategy and to continue working alongside the Government not only to develop Guyana but its people.

He reminded his audience, which included pro-

prietors of numerous wellknown local businesses, that they have a responsibility to build stronger companies, to enhance investment and job creation, while his Government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for investments and to focus on improving the lives of all Guyanese.

“The intersection between Government and what you do is the people.

You don’t have a business if you don’t have people – you don’t have demand if you don’t have people,” the Head of State pointed out.

The President also spoke of the need to create the “best healthcare, education and infrastructure,” and about crafting activities to encourage positive growth and development— and ultimately building stronger Guyanese families.

“We also have to implement the softer strategies, and they are as critical as strategies for profit-making – we cannot build a society in which the family has no place, those programmes are the things that would create a transformative mindset that is greater than the physical road,” he stated.

President Ali further reminded the audience that the entire Lamaha reserve would be transformed into a “Guyana Walk” with a local food court, craft and art.

“As simple as these things look, it is immensely transformational. The joy of seeing hundreds of families every night on Main Street for the last couple of days fills the heart with joy; because that is what is

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the Private Sector

going to take this country forward,” he noted.

The President went on to say that the business community needs to start thinking bigger and bolder and envision the growth of their businesses in a more developed Guyana due to the radical changes that are currently taking place.

“We are not dealing anymore in an environment with small businesses and medium-sized businesses alone, and we have the most sophisticated investors that are on the international market,” he outlined.

To this end, the Head of State said his Government will create the pathway, but it’s up to the business communities to make the investments. He pointed to the Local Content Bill, which is set for debate at the next sitting of the National Assembly on December 29. He said that

it is a “living document” since it is transitional and transformational and will aid local business development.

The Head of State said that the most important attributes of the country are its political and social stability and its predictability when it comes to policy direction.

That policy direction has resulted in numerous big investors and even countries coming on board.

Further, President Ali stated that throughout the country, the infrastructure will be upgraded. He said that roads will also be developed to facilitate movement and to create more business opportunities. This includes the Linden to Mabura Hill road link.

“As I speak to you, the bids are completed, and the recommendation for the Linden to Mabura Hill

road is at CDB (Caribbean Development Bank), and our intention is to have it awarded before the end of the year,” the President disclosed.

He also reminded that the designs for the bridges along the road have been completed to international standards and that the Government will be financing them.

The Head of State said that those who are not willing to push forward now will not have a chance to benefit from the opportunities.

“We do not have the luxury of time anymore. If there is a culture of 8-4:30, it cannot work anymore because of the scale of what we’re doing – the scale of what we’re involved in,” he declared.

The Head of State then went on to list all the transformational activities that are happening through-

out the country to prove that it is not only Region Four that is developing. He spoke of development in agriculture, including the soya/corn project, swamp shrimps, packaging and processing initiatives, environmental and biodiversity services, tourism, manufacturing, call centres and housing, among other areas.

As the country advances, he noted that discussions are also ongoing on how the Government can formulate a strategy that will be equivalent to a development fund to finance areas of innovation and creativity.

Local development cannot happen, however, without total support. The President used the opportunity to urge the banking sector to do more for development.

“The bankers are innovating more and more ways to make transitions to the bank hard…it is absolute nonsense, it is not in any international requirement for a man to withdraw $25,000 and fill up a whole load of forms…so how are we even going to get to e-transaction,” he added.

The President said that it is imperative that the existing problems are fixed since, institutionally, the systems do not support the technology.

“The banks are hopeless in customer care and customer handling, I’ve said it publicly, they have to fix it, unnecessary burden on customers and consumers.

People are at the centre of everything we do – people are unhappy with the system,” the Head of State posited.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NBS moves to set aside $79M in payments awarded to Maurice Arjoon – Court of Appeal to hear further arguments on Jan 17

Last licks…

W

Maurice Arjoon

T

he New Building Society (NBS) has moved to the Court of Appeal to set aside the more than $79 million in payments awarded to its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Maurice Arjoon, who was fired from the post more than a decade ago, citing over a dozen reasons.

In July 2017, Arjooe was awarded $79,282,801 in outstanding payments and benefits by High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds, some five years after he filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against his former employer.

He had sued NBS for $550 million on the grounds that he was wrongfully dismissed and that the financial institution withheld pension and other benefits that were lawfully due to him.

While the Judge did not award him monetary damages for breach of his employment contract under the Common Law, Arjoon was awarded $4.1 million for pay in lieu of notice in accordance with Clause 10 of his contract; $16.1 million for severance benefits; and some $59 million for pension — which subsumes a lump sum pension of $17.4 million and reduced monthly pension payments of $372,498 for the rest of his life.

NBS was ordered to pay costs in the sum of $200,000 to Arjoon.

NBS’s Notice of Appeal which was filed by Senior Counsel Ashton Chase and Attorney-at-Law Pauline Chase lists NBS, Trust Company (Guyana) Limited, the executor of the estate of Ahmad Khan, Seepaul Narine and Nizam Mohamed as the appellants, and Arjoon as the respondent. The appeal hearing is ongoing at the Court of Appeal. Another hearing has been scheduled for January 17, 2022, at 09:30h.

Fired

Arjoon was fired from his position in connection with a Magistrate’s Court matter

wherein he, NBS Operations Manager Kent Vincent, and NBS Assistant Mortgage Manager Kissoon Baldeo were all accused of conspiracy to defraud the NBS of $69 million. The court matter was eventually dismissed, and Arjoon and the others took the financial institution to court in 2011.

An investigation had claimed that the fraud was committed in 2006, and the men were all fired the next year after it had allegedly been determined that the men were at fault for dereliction of duty, negligence, and/or serious misconduct.

The NBS had contended that an unauthorised withdrawal of nearly $70 million had been made from an account that its client Bibi Shamina Khan held. The NBS’s issue with the withdrawal was that it was made through a Power of Attorney, and the company had implicated Arjoon for misconduct.

However, in the court’s view, the NBS had failed to provide evidence that supported its claim of misconduct, whether serious or otherwise. Arjoon had said he believes he was set up on the fraud allegations because he allegedly had refused to approve a loan of some $2 billion applied for in 2006. He claims the investigation into the fraud allegations was conducted later that same year, implicating him as CEO, as well as the other men.

Grounds of appeal

The first is that the appellants except NBS are not the due and proper parties for the High Court proceedings and consequently they should have been discharged from same and awarded costs which are claimed as being still due. NBS contended that on the basis of the trial Judge concluding that Arjoon was wrongfully dismissed, he was not entitled to severance pay by virtue of his status and contract and according to the

Termination of Employment and Severance Act. According to NBS’s lawyers, the pension cannot be awarded in conjunction with severance or any other benefits that relate to termination or dismissal. The Notice of Appeal states that the trial Judge was wrong in law in acting on part of the Systems Manual tendered by Arjoon and not on or disregarding the complete Systems Manual tendered

by NBS which showed that he did not confirm with part of the latter, and that the Judge did not give due attention to the relevant parts affecting the respondent’s conduct in the NBS rules, the Systems Manual, the Pension Rules and the contract signed by him.

Among the other grounds of appeal are that the trial Judge’s decision as to the fault or failure of NBS was unreasonable having regard to the evidence adduced, that the decision of the Judge was erroneous in point of law, that the pension ordered to be paid is not in accordance with the relevant Pension Rules and the court’s system of arriving at the amount has not yet been disclosed, and the rejection of some valid exhibits on the part of NBS while all of Arjoon’s exhibits were readily accepted by the court.

The Notice of Appeal added that Arjoon’s failure to attend a summoned meeting for discussion (including investigating) with the NBS Board, was not taken into account by the Judge even though his action hereto was not in compliance with the order made by now-retired Justice BS Roy in 2007.

It was further stated that the Judge did not take into account the “heavy loss” suffered by NBS due to Arjoon’s non-compliance with reasonable practice, with the Rules of the aforesaid and their system and practice of operating saving accounts touching various matters including loss of passbooks,

acting on communication from overseas without signatures or address or notarisation.

NBS argued that the over-riding defaults in Arjoon’s dealing with the withdrawals from the account of Bibi Shamina Khan were not taken into account by the Judge nor did he consider that the person making the withdrawals from the account was not duly and properly authorised to do so, thereby causing NBS a loss of over $79 million.

It argued too that the Judge did not take into account the “falsity” of the Power of Attorney, the numerous errors in it, and Arjoon not sending same to the NBS’s lawyer or any other lawyer for checking on its validity before paying out such huge sums on it and that it is clearly fraudulent and illegal, nor did he make any check on the local office covering Canada or at any material time on Guyana’s office in Canada.

In the circumstances, the appellants pray that the rulings and awards of the trial Judge be set aside, be reversed and that the counterclaim be ruled in favour of the appellants and that Arjoon be ordered to pay costs in the Court of the Appeal and the court below.

Meanwhile, Justice Reynolds in relying on case law authorities, found that NBS did not provide substantial evidence to prove that Arjoon committed gross or serious misconduct which warranted his dismissal. As such, the Judge held that it was unfair for Arjoon to be dismissed when the bank had no systems in place to prove that he was guilty of any wrongdoing.

According to the Judge, during the trial, NBS admitted that it had poor systemic procedures of adequate checks and balances for detecting gross or serious misconduct such as the allegations levelled against Arjoon.

…by departed PNC leaders ell, the PNC election for the leadership is over and Aubrey Norton is the new leader – by a landslide!! But don’t get carried away with all the rhetoric about the end of “maximum leadership”. The only prize that mattered was the “PNC leader” moniker.

Everyone else gonna be treated by him – to use Desmond Hoyte’s blunt phrase – as his “creature”! But before we move to Norton, your Eyewitness needs to clear up some loose ends. As you know, loose ends can unravel the entire fabric!!

Two loose ends were tweaked by departed PNC leaders, David Granger and Carl Greenidge. Granger, of course, had benefited from a fixed Congress back in 2011 – with Corbin’s control of the party machinery – to “beat” Carl by 12 votes!! Carl’s campaign manager Norton walked out in disgust!! Carl’s problem was that he’s a decent fella – more a technocrat than politician – and didn’t relish slinging political mud. His bête noir Granger was eventually the one who plunged the PNC into crisis since the hardliners couldn’t forgive him for not “doing a Burnham” – and accept Mingo’s concocted election results. He had to go…but it sure got nasty!!

In his parting shot, Greenidge insisted the PNC couldn’t just sweep the mess under a rug and assume a new leader would wave a wand and solve the party’s crisis. “There is to be no analysis, no debates about the political situation and no report on the 2020 national elections, its outcome and no policy pronouncements. It is only about the changing of the guard. Ironically, such a Congress should be quite consistent with the approach of the leadership of Mr Granger – no Party reforms, no resolutions, no or minimal debates, etc.”

Referring to his ouster, he bluntly declared, “Those areas are of concern to me, because I have had first-hand experience of the abuse of the Party’s election process.”

So what would’ve now changed? You kill one Rasta and another takes his place as Burnham boasted cynically!

Granger, of course, was his sanctimonious self!! He railed against those who “split” the party “to satisfy their private hunger for wealth or their personal passion for power”!! He cited Jai Narine Singh, Sydney King/Eusi Kwayana, Hamilton Green and Raphael Trotman – who all formed new parties. Naturally, he didn’t mention his mentor Burnham splitting the PPP and forming the PNC – to satisfy his “leader or nothing” compulsions!

Sadly, PNC leaders just can’t lose their stripes. Even when they changed the name to APNU and coalesced with the AFC, they just had to revert to their “our way or the highway” stance. Even if it meant losing power!!

Norton’s gonna be the same! He can’t break the Burnham mould! …by Harmon?

Your Eyewitness must concede he never thought Norton’s victory was gonna be this easy. Not because he wasn’t popular among the party’s delegates – but because of the fears expressed by Greenidge as to how those delegate votes could be manipulated! So, a hat tip to Vincent Alexander, the PNC’s Chief Election Officer. If only Lowenfield had done the same for his country…

So, now comes Norton’s first test – what happens if Harmon keeps his word and holds on to his constitutional role of “Leader of the Opposition” (LOO). Unless he resigns, the only way Norton can pry him out is to invoke the Opposition Leader’s No Confidence Motion in Art 184. One-third of the Opposition MPs must request the Speaker to have a vote on a new LOO – then a majority of them must vote him out.

Trouble is, most of those MPs were appointed by Harmon’s benefactor Granger. But your Eyewitness figures they’ll jump ship.

There’s no honour among…politicians? …on PNC and voting We’re told the voting for the PNC Chairman was very close. Will there be a recount demanded? Surely, the loser must heed the words of Carl Greenidge about the machinations that take place in the maws of the PNC’s elections machinery!!

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS CANU intercepts Tuschen man with $113.1M worth of cocaine A MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) resident was arrested on Saturday after a large quantity of cocaine was found in his vehicle during an operation by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU at Tuschen.

According to information received, agents of CANU, acting on information, conducted an operation in the Tuschen-Parika, EBE area.

During the operation, a motor vehicle with the suspect, Ryan Da Silva of Tuschen, was stopped and searched during which 15 brick-like parcels suspected to be cocaine were discovered.

At the time, he was the sole occupant in the vehicle.

Da Silva was told of the offence, arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the narcotics for processing.

At CANU Headquarters, the parcels were tested and proven to be cocaine, which carried a total weight of 17.4 kg (38.3lbs) and a street value of more than US$552,000.00 (approximately GY$113,160,000.00).

Investigations are continuing.

Back in October, two men were arrested by CANU af-

of insufficient evidence.

This bust came just days after CANU intercepted a motor car in the vicinity of Rahaman’s Park, Houston,

East Bank Demerara (EBD), and found eight bulky parcels containing what is suspected to be cannabis.

The discovery of 15.566

kg of foreign and local cannabis valued at over $4.7 million resulted in the arrest of the driver of that vehicle, of Republic Park, EBD.

Police find gun, ganja while chasing wanted man The cocaine that was found in the motor car belonging to the mule

The suspected cocaine mule, Ryan Da Silva

ter two kilograms of cocaine with a street value of approximately $2 million was found at Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

The men were 33-yearold Eon Joseph and 60-yearold Andre Gomes, called

“Zipper”, who has allegedly been linked to drug trafficking in the past.

Three years ago, Gomes was freed of a cocaine trafficking charge after it was found that insufficient evidence surrounded the case.

Based on previous reports, back in 2018, Gomes was arrested in the same Campbellville area after CANU ranks had found just over two pounds of cocaine at a house. He was arrested after a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

Three years before that case, Gomes was arrested and charged for the shooting of a taxi driver outside Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown. He was also freed of that charge because

P

olice on Sunday morning retrieved a loaded firearm along with a quantity of marijuana which was allegedly dropped by a man whom they were chasing.

The incident occurred sometime around 01:30h at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to reports, Police on mobile patrol were on Victoria Road, Plaisance, when the male suspect, who is wanted by the Police, was seen with a bulky parcel in his hands.

Upon seeing the Police patrol, the suspect reportedly ran into a yard, and the Police gave chase.

During the pursuit, the suspect allegedly dropped a black object and scaled several fences to evade the cops. The Police subsequently retrieved the object and

The gun and cannabis that were found by Police

discovered it was a single shooter 9mm handgun with one matching round of ammunition.

Further checks were made where the gun was found and a quantity of ganja was also found in a ceram-

ic plate on the ground.

The items were taken to the Sparendaam Police Station and the narcotics weighed 12 grams. The suspect remains at large as investigations are ongoing.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS Body of missing GDF rank found MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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wo days after Guyana Defence Force’s Private, Junior Kenroy Sooklall, went missing when the boat in which he and several others were travelling capsized in the Essequibo River, his body was found on Sunday.

The discovery was made at around 07:00h after fishermen spotted the body at the estuary of the Essequibo River.

According to a statement from the GDF, the Police were notified and the body has since been positively identified as

Dead: Junior Kenroy Sooklall

that of the young man.

It was reported that Sooklall was a passenger on a private vessel on Friday, December 17, when it encountered difficulties and toppled. The soldier is the only fatality

from this incident.

The late Sooklall resided at Bark Lane, Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice.

The Defence Force said the investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, continues. The Guyana Defence Force extends its sincerest condolences to the mother and other relatives of the late soldier.

On the fateful day, a group of GDF ranks was heading to Parika from Essequibo in a privately-owned speedboat, and while in the vicinity of St

Lawrence, they heard people screaming for assistance and as they looked around, they observed a boat sinking.

As the ranks quickly went in the direction of the persons, they observed four males in the water while two others were in a green and black boat a few metres away.

The ranks managed to rescue Everette Tudor, 40, a Staff Sergeant attached to the GDF and a Base Commander at Fort Island who resides at B Field Sophia, Georgetown; along with 28-year-old Ramesh

Beepat, a Captain of Old Road Le Destin, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); Turendra Lochan, 28, a barber of Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo; 14-yearold Eon John, a student of Parika Primary School and of Le Destin, EBE, and 16-year-old Ryan Beepat, also a student of Le Destin, EBE. At the time of their res-

cue, Tudor, Lochan and Beepat were above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.

Investigators further questioned the captain, who related that the five passengers were travelling from Fort Island when they hit a wave, thus causing the 17-foot wooden boat which was powered by a 150-hp Yamaha outboard engine to capsize.

2 injured after minibus collides with motorcycle

A

22-year-old motorcyclist of Church Street Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), is now hospitalised following a hit-and-run accident on Saturday evening.

At the time of the accident, the injured man, Mark Harvey, and his pillion rider, Colette Austin, 22, were travelling on motorcycle CL3637 when a minibus reportedly hit them.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 23:00h, the two men were proceeding east along the northern drive lane of Zeelugt Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), when it was alleged by the motorcyclist that as they approached Silk Cotton Dam Zeelugt, EBE, the minibus failed to stop at the intersection.

As a result, the minibus collided with the left side middle portion of the mo-

torcycle, causing the motorcyclist and the pillion rider to fall onto the roadway where they sustained injuries.

The minibus, on the other hand, did not stop to render assistance.

The motorcyclist and pillion rider were picked up by public-spirited citizens in a conscious condition and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

The motorcyclist was, however, transferred to West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he has been admitted a patient with a fractured left leg. The pillion rider was treated and sent away.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing, as Police are now hunting the driver and the bus that was involved in the accident.

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

First Lady partners with local NGO to bring cheer to 500 Wakenaam children

The First Lady and a family at the Christmas tree on Saturday

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ore than 500 children on the island of Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), were all smiles on Saturday as First Lady, Arya Ali partnered with the Give Another Chance

the switch to illuminate a 12-foot Christmas tree.

The visit marked Ali’s second appearance on the island since becoming First Lady. She had visited earlier in the year to distribute hampers to about 100 senior citizens. But on

The First Lady and a lad at the decorated Christmas tree

Foundation to distribute toys to them.

In addition, the children had the opportunity to assist the First Lady in decorating and turning on

Saturday, it was about the children.

“The Christmas season brings a kind of joy that we cannot adequately describe and since this has

Mrs Arya Ali along with Santa and a girl after collecting her present

been a difficult year for most of us, including our children, it was important for me to bring hope and joy to them,” the First Lady shared.

The short programme began with Ali and a group of children decorating the 12-foot Christmas tree with “One Guyana” ornaments. The tree was erected in the Arthurville Primary School compound and was partially decorated by the foundation and residents of the island before the First Lady’s arrival.

After decorating, Ali joined the executive members of the foundation to distribute presents to the 500 children who were accompanied by their parents and guardians.

It was a moment of joy for many of them who not

only saw the First Lady for the first time, but received their first and perhaps only present for the holidays.

“As a child, you always look forward to a present at Christmas time. I know this from experience and so we wanted to be able to fulfil that wish for many of these children. Today we were able to do that, thanks to the Give Another Chance Foundation,” the

First Lady stated.

The Office of the First Lady also donated a quantity of exercise books which were distributed to the children in attendance.

The Foundation’s founder, Miranda Thakur-Deen, also expressed how much of a pleasure it was being able to give back to the island where she was born.

“This is our seventh annual Christmas tree lighting and present distribu-

tion on the island and this year was made even more special with the presence of the First Lady. Mrs Ali, who has a baby son, understands how important it is to ensure our children are happy and that we fulfil our obligations to them. So it was indeed a privilege to have her here spending time and spreading joy among the children of Wakenaam,” Thakur-Deen said.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

High Court orders City Hall to prohibit vending in front of Shamdas Kirpalani H

igh Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall has ordered the Town Clerk to instruct the Constabulary of the City of Georgetown to prohibit pavement vending in front of the Shamdas Kirplani store located at 107 Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown.

The ruling was rendered last Wednesday at the High Court in Demerara. Earlier this year, Kanayalal and Meera Kirpalani - the transported owners of the Regent Street property - filed judicial review proceedings against the Town Clerk of the City of Georgetown to have it prevent any person or persons from vending on the pavement in front of the store.

According to the Kirpalanis, the encumbrance of the pavement and road by vendors has over the years affected their business. They deposed that there is an en-

cumbrance of the pavement and persons who traverse the pavement are greatly inconvenienced as at most times the vendors occupy most of the pavement.

They said that vendors trespass on their property by placing or hanging items on the grillwork of their building and/or by bracing the southern walls of the property. As a result of pavement vending, the Kirpalanis stated that their customers cannot park in front of the store.

“Because of the congestion on the pavement, it attracts pickpocketing of customers who come to the [store] and also members of the public who are walking on the pavement.

There are at times loud speaking and the use of obscenity by some vendors,” they said.

Additionally, through Senior Counsel KA JumanYassin, the Kirpalanis noted that there are on oc-

casions selling of illegal substances such as marijuana as a result of the sellers using the congestion as a cover.

They added that unless vending in front of their store is stopped, they will continue to be inconvenienced and suffer financially losses as potential customers avoid the store because of the pavement/ roadside vendors.

In her ruling, Justice Morris-Ramlall held that the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown had certain statutory duties under the Municipal and District Councils Act of 28:01 as it relates to regulating vending in the capital city. As such, the Judge granted the orders prayed for by the Kirpalanis.

The orders in effect compel the Town Clerk to instruct and/or order the City Constabulary to prevent any person or persons from carrying or placing any receptacles or oth-

The Shamdas Kirpalani store on Regent Street, Georgetown

er articles on the pavement which incommode the store owner’s property and/or other persons in the use of the pavement in front of the building which houses the store.

According to the Senior

Counsel, the court orders were also made to prevent the placing, storing, and/ or causing to be left any box, cart, freezers, and trays on Regent Street immediately in front of the store. Moreover, he said

the Judge found that the defence filed by the Town Clerk did not amount to a defence. In the end, the Town Clerk was also ordered to pay $100,000 in costs to the Kirpalanis by January 15, 2022.

“Yankee” moves to overturn 70-year sentence for Parika fuel dealer’s murder counsel contended that his client did not have a fair trial, because only a selected number of witnesses who gave evidence in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) were called at the trial, and witnesses who gave evidence that conflicted with those witnesses and tended

C

Murder convict: Curt Thomas

urt Thomas referred to as “Yankee”, 45, who was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the 2016 murder of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) fuel dealer, Seeram Singh, has filed an appeal to overturn the sentence.

In November 2020, he was found guilty by a jury of the April 30, 2016 murder of Singh, 52, who was shot to the head and hip during a robbery. The convicted killer was subsequently sentenced to 70 years in jail by Justice Navindra Singh, who set his eligibility for parole after spending 40 years in prison.

However, despite the jury’s verdict, Thomas continued to maintain that he is innocent of the crime.

Media reports stated that Singh called “Brother See” of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, EBE, was on his mobile phone walking along the roadway in the area when he was attacked by a man.

Murdered: Seeram Singh

In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop in the area, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him. A scuffle ensued, and it was then that the gunman shot and stabbed Singh.

Reports are when the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains before fleeing the scene. The businessman was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In a Notice of Appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Thomas, through his lawyer, Lydon Amsterdam, is asking that his conviction and sentence be set aside.

In so doing, the convict proffered eight grounds.

He has mainly taken issue with how the identification parade was conducted.

According to his lawyer, the trial Judge wrongly admitted the results of an identification parade even

though there was conflicting evidence that tended to show that persons on the parade were not of a similar age, race, general appearance, and class of life as his client.

“The trial Judge during his summation of the evidence to the jury posed several rhetorical questions for their consideration which were prejudicial to [Thomas] and may have influenced the jury in their deliberation of the evidence to arrive at a verdict, unfavourable to [Thomas],” he argued.

Further, Amsterdam argued that the summation of the evidence by the trial Judge was not balanced as Justice Singh emphasised aspects of the evidence favourable to the prosecution’s case and omitted to mention inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence which tended to weaken the case for the prosecution.

Among other things,

to show that another person may have killed Singh were not called at the trial.

The lawyer said that the sentence imposed on his client is too severe in all the circumstances of the case.

According to counsel, “The trial Judge utilised

a formula in passing the sentence of 70 years that is without legal basis and he failed to take into account established sentencing guidelines and gave [Thomas] a sentence that was inconsistent with the current sentencing practice”.

16 NEWS Young entrepreneurs showcase products & services at mini expo T MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Entrepreneurs Association for S u s t a i n a b l e Development held a mini expo on Wednesday last, aimed at promoting Guyanese entrepreneurs, at the Pegasus Hotel.

Several products from small businesses were on display and available for purchase at the expo. These included food, drinks, hair and skin products, décor, and custom wood carvings.

The annual event which was initially the Women Association for Sustainable Development was changed this year, to facilitate male entrepreneurs, according to the event organiser, Sonia Noel.

Members were able to access entrepreneurial development programmes to develop and sustain their businesses, mentorship sessions and access to marketing and networking opportu-

nities.

President of the organisation, Romario Hastings said his hope is to target entrepreneurs who have little to no knowledge of launching businesses.

“The key value of this association is collaboration…

We are an organisation that will promote collaborative arrangements, to serve as a mechanism to build robust social networks, to provide support to the status of business development. I believe that it is only through collaboration and building partnerships that we can strive in this country,” he said.

In August of this year, the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development conducted EXPO 50 for women-led small businesses at the Giftland Mall to mark the birth anniversary of the organisation’s founder, Sonia Noel.

Owner of Grace Products and Farms, Ann Rodrigues

At the expo, Guyanese businessman Stanley Ming and Eric Phillips were identified through the efforts of the Entrepreneurs Association for Sustainable Development in pursuit of its efforts to consolidate the growth of small women-led businesses.

Guyana Times spoke with some of the entrepreneurs who shared their stories.

Founder of the organisation, Sonia Noel

President of the organisation, Romario Hastings

The owner of Added Dazzel, Queen White stated,

“This has helped us tremendously so far. It helped us in

terms of marketing, how to set our profit for an item, it helped me to boost my confidence… I look forward to learning so much more”.

Meanwhile, the owner of Grace Products and Farms, Ann Rodrigues also said, “This event lends to help us, entrepreneurs, both male and females to be opened to a wider cross-section because for years I have been doing business, but behind the scene. However, I am now in the open”.

Region 1 Commander urges ranks to be proactive in crime-fighting – as serious crimes spike by 21%

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal presents a trophy to a cop for his outstanding performance this year

R

egion One C o m m a n d e r , Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud has called on Police officers there to be more proactive and to work with residents as the region continues its fight against crime.

Commander Persaud was at the time addressing the annual breakfast and award ceremony of Division One, in the region.

He reported that serious crimes in the Mabaruma sub-district have increased by 21 per cent when compared to last year’s report.

He said there’s also a significant increase in robbery under arms, standing at nine per cent this year against four per cent in 2020.

Statutory rape stands at 49 per cent, compared to 23 per cent in 2020.

He added that solving cases of statutory rape continues to be a challenge,

Region One Commander, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud presents an award to a Police Officer

since most cases are only reported during pregnancy.

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, who was also at the event, said the Government has invested significant funds to enhance the physical infrastructure of the security sector, as well as better a lot of officers to better serve citizens.

The Government’s investment includes the purchase of 50 Police vehicles at a cost of $225 million from the recently approved $21 billion supplementary budget.

“Policing can be a thankless job sometimes because you can be critiqued for doing your job. However, this situation can go vice versa, you know both sides of the coin.”

Like Persaud, Minister Croal believes building a relationship with the communities in the region could be quite beneficial.

“If you don’t have the community support… the

only way to be successful in solving crimes is through intelligence. So, the reality is that if we don’t have community spirit then it will make our work much harder,” he noted.

The Housing Minister pledged the Government’s continued support to improve the security sector. As such, he hopes that all officers continue to perform their duties with integrity, honesty and professionalism.

Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley agreed with the Minister’s sentiments.

He told the officers that they are important and without them, there would be no order. To this end, he encouraged them to develop themselves to become the best version.

Meanwhile, several Police officers and members of community policing groups (CPGs) were honoured for their work.

NEWS

17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more COVID-19 fatalities take death toll to 1030 – 53 new cases detected

T

he Ministry of Health on Sunday reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

These latest fatalities are a 34-year-old female from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), who died on December 16, and a 66-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), who died on December 18. The vaccination status of the woman is unknown, while the male was fully vaccinated.

This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 1030.

With this, the total number of deaths in Guyana from the pandemic has gone up to 1030.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll for the month of December is now at 31.

New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 53 new COVID-19 cases were detected within a 24-hour period, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 38,870.

Of this, however, only 798 are currently active cases including 10 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 788 persons in isolation, that is, 39 in institutional isolation and the other 749 in home isolation.

Additionally, there are also two persons in institu-

tional quarantine.

To date, some 37,042 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus – six more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana last year, some 412,068 persons have been tested, from which 18,335 males and 20,535 females have tested positive to date.

Of the 53 new cases recorded on Sunday, one was from Region One (BarimaWaini), another one from the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, one more from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 17 cases from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), a whopping 27 cases from the East Berbice-Corentyne region and six from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

No new cases were recorded in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) within the last 24-hour period.

In order to curb the rising number of cases in the country, the Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February and is aggressively rolling it out across the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity. In fact, it has also started adminis-

tering booster shots.

The latest vaccination figures show that over 407,000 adults have received a first dose vaccine while more than 288,000 are fully immunised.

With regards to adolescents, over 30,000 got their first dose and over 21,000 are fully vaccinated.

In addition, over 7000 booster shots have been administered to the adult population.

Persons are encouraged to get immunised since the COVID-19 vaccine provides a layer of protection against severe symptoms of the deadly COVID-19.

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include vaccination requirements to access any public building such as restaurants, places of worship, schools as well as Government buildings.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), recent figures show that some 271,963,258 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 5,331,019 deaths.

The WHO also reported that in the Region of the Americas, that is,

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD DECEMBER 19, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

53

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

39

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

749

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

10

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

20,535

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

18,335

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

38,870

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

37,042

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

1699

REGION 2

1577

REGION 3

5187

REGION 4

18,115

REGION 5

1472

REGION 6

3647

REGION 7

1805

REGION 8

622

REGION 9

2483

REGION 10

2263

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

407,341 288,315

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1030

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.

Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 99,115,289

while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,378,490.

As it relates to vaccina-

tion against COVID-19, a total of 8,337,664,456 doses have been administered worldwide.

CDC defends emergency procurement of COVID-19 supplies – other findings from Auditor General special report also defended

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which was probed by the Audit Office of Guyana in an audit that flagged mismanagement of the distribution of COVID-19 supplies last year, has a defence for several of those findings.

Focusing on the period March to August 2020, the Audit Office has investigated the more than $1 billion spent by the Public Health Ministry and the CDC to buy COVID-19 equipment and supplies.

For instance, Auditor General Deodat Sharma had documented in his report that there is no provision in the Procurement Act of 2003 for emergency public procurement. According to the Auditor General, public tendering is mandatory.

Despite this, the Auditor General noted that 18 contracts valued at over $424 million were awarded by the Public Health Ministry and CDC, before approval was received form the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

However, it was explained

by CDC Director General Kester Craig that as a matter of urgency, efforts were made to expedite the purchase of these items to meet the need for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), which arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In response to the findings at Section 24, as a matter of urgency, the CDC sought to expe-

dite the purchase of these items to meet the need for PPE, which arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC recognises the need to pay strict adherence to all statutory regulations,” the CDC Director said in correspondence included in the report.

A similar explanation was forthcoming from the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, who explained to auditors that with reports of the coronavirus being contracted in humans and spreading rapidly from China to other neighbouring Caribbean countries at a fast rate, Guyana was put in a state of readiness before it could spread to Guyana.

“Subsequent to a meeting held in this regard, a list of equipment and medical supplies were put together to be procured immediately for the Georgetown Public Hospital in order for them to be prepared for such case. As such, the Ministry had its Procurement Department carry out a procurement process in order to ascertain which suppliers had these items readily available on ground to be delivered immediately,” they noted in the report.

Another finding was that hampers were continuously left at the entrance of homes, leaving them susceptible to theft. In the audit report, however, the Director General of the Civil Defence Commission explained that hampers were left at the entrance of homes to avoid close contact with

CDC Director General Kester Craig’s correspondence to the Audit Office

persons. It was an explanation the auditors did not buy.

“The act of leaving the hampers at the entrance of homes left them open to theft, and the wrong persons might have received the hampers. Notwithstanding the explanation of the Director General, the Commission could have taken steps to have pictures taken of recipients removing the

hampers from the entrances,” the Auditor General said in his report.

The Director explained that there was high scepticism among staff during the distribution.

According to the Director General, however, appropriate steps will be taken going forward to ensure adherence to regulation.

“During the initial phase of

the Civil Defence Commission COVID-19 response, high scepticisms were raised by staff, volunteers and partners about the level of contact and possible transmission of the virus which could have occurred if all individuals were required to sign upon receipt of a hamper.”

“As such, a decision was taken that the community distributions would be done under strict safety guidelines which included minimal contact with recipients by foregoing signature. The team leader for the distribution operations would have signed as receiving the hampers from the stores to be distributed to communities,” the Director General said.

Another finding was that the CDC could not explain how it chose persons to receive over 6000 food hampers valued at more than $124 million. The Audit Office commented that as a result of this, hampers could have gone to ineligible persons and organisations. According to the Audit Office, the CDC had no explanation for this.

“The Civil Defence Commission did not explain how they chose persons for hampers and hampers may have gone to ineligible persons Further, there was a lack of accountability for hampers distributed. This led us to conclude that COVID-19 supplies were not distributed in an efficient and transparent manner,” the Audit Office said.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

Regional

Leftist Gabriel Boric wins 20 deaths, 629 new infections Chile’s presidential election in T&T on Sunday

T

L

eftist candidate Gabriel Boric has won Chile’s presidential election after an early concession from his far-right rival, José Antonio Kast.

Kast conceded defeat barely an hour and a half after polls closed, and with around half of ballots counted.

Early results show Boric leading with 56 per cent of the vote, and Kast trailing with 45 per cent in the runoff race.

The election has been one of the most polarised in recent decades and comes after mass anti-Government protests.

At 35 years old, Boric will become one of the world’s youngest political leaders.

A former student protest leader, he has pledged radical reforms to address rampant inequality in Chile – once the most stable economy in Latin America.

His rival, meanwhile, stood on a platform of law and order, pledging cuts to tax and social spending,

Gabriel Boric has promised radical reforms to address economic inequality in Chile

and defending the legacy of former military dictator General Augusto Pinochet.

Conceding defeat, Kast said his rival “deserves all our respect and constructive collaboration”.

In a tweet, Kast said he had called Boric to congratulate him on his “great triumph”.

“From today he is the elected President of Chile and deserves all our respect and constructive collaboration,” he added.

Both men are outsiders representing political par-

ties that have never been in Government.

The country is going through huge changes after voting overwhelmingly last year to re-write Chile’s Pinochet-era Constitution.

Chile’s outgoing President Sebastián Piñera said on Sunday that the country was living in “an environment of excessive polarisation, confrontation [and] disputes,” and urged his successor to “be the president of all Chileans”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Don’t mislead Tobagonians with ploys – Minority Leader

M

inority leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Kelvon Morris has warned Chief Secretary Farley Augustine against misleading Tobagonians on the island’s current financial status.

He described Augustine’s move as a “ploy to deflect his supporters from his election promises”.

On Wednesday, during a post-Executive Council media briefing, Augustine accused the People’s National Movement (PNM) Administration of leaving Tobago and the Assembly’s finances in shambles.

In a written response to statements made by Augustine, Morris advised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deputy leader to “stop misleading the people of Tobago into believing that the Assembly has no funding.”

Minority leader of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Kelvon Morris

He said monies were spent to ensure the island’s affairs were handled and its economy remained afloat.

He said Augustine “should familiarise himself with the budgeting procedures of the THA and central government”.

“The THA was allocated $2.2 billion for fiscal year 2021-2022. Therefore, if $600 million was spent in the first quarter of the financial year, as projected by him, then there is still $1.6 billion to come from the allocation.

“Monies are apportioned to carry out the functions of the THA and, therefore, cannot sit there idle, even in an election year.

“THA employees must be paid, goods and services must be procured so that the Assembly continues to function, and the projects for which funds have been allocated must be executed.”

Morris further advised Augustine to follow the established financial processes and request the remainder of the allocation for the next quarters. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

12 killed in land dispute in western Guatemala – authorities

G

uatemalan authorities have reported that 12 people were killed in the village of Chiquix, 155 kilometres (96 miles) east of the capital, where a long-running land dispute has sparked conflicts between the residents of two municipalities.

The victims include women and three chil-

dren, authorities said on Saturday.

One Police Officer was also killed during the armed confrontation, while two more were wounded.

Guatemala’s National Police said in a statement that it was engaging leaders of the two communities in efforts to prevent future violence.

The office of the Human Rights Ombudsman also recommended beefing up the Police presence in the area.

The land dispute, which dates back more than 100 years, has pitted residents of the Nahualá and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán municipalities against each other. (Al Jazeera)

he Trinidad and Tobago Health Ministry has recorded 20 more deaths and 629 new COVID-19 infections in its daily update for Sunday.

The death toll now stands at 2580 while the total number of positive cases since T&T recorded its first case in March 2020, climbed to 85,422. Of this, 67,268 patients have recovered.

Active cases continue to move upward in a steady increase as 15,574 people are in quarantine battling the virus.

The Ministry’s update said 14,266 people were in-

home quarantine, 190 in step-down facilities waiting to be discharged, 529 in hospital and 37 were being monitored in State quarantine facilities.

The Ministry’s update showed 88.1 per cent of patients in the parallel health care system are not fully vaccinated.

A total of 486,415 samples have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency, the Tobago Regional Health Authority, UWI and other local testing sites.

Eight months into the national vaccination programme, 656,100 people

have taken the COVID-19 vaccine of which 612,963 people are deemed to be fully vaccinated. A total of 55,249 people have taken the booster shot.

Statistics show that December is by far the worst month in terms of infections since the pandemic first made its presence felt in T&T. So far for December, there have been 14,061 infections.

The previous record in terms of infections in a month was November which saw 14,032 infections (or 467.73 cases per day). (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Jamaica announces major relief package for cultural industries

E

ntertainment Minister Olivia Grange has announced a J$90-million (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) special support package for members of the entertainment, culture and creative industries.

The new J$90 million package is double the J$40 million that was originally announced.

“Early in the year, we were able to give small grants to individuals. We were not able to access the $40 million that was allocated by the Ministry of Finance that we could have given a larger number of persons. So the Ministry of Finance has

now finalised arrangements to not just to give us the 40 million – that we were not able to use last year – but an increase,” Grange said.

“So we are looking at a total of $90 million at this time, out of which the individual grants will be given. And then next year we will look at other categories that would be eligible for the grants.”

The Entertainment Minister thanked Finance Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, for responding to her consistent representations on behalf of the entertainment, culture and creative industries.

“Effective immediate-

ly, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is accepting applications for “grants of $60,000 per individual,” Grange noted.

Approximately one thousand individual grants will be awarded.

“Whatever your skills are; as long as you’re a practitioner in the industry, you can benefit. If you’re an actor, a singer, a songwriter; we’re talking about the stagehands, engineers, selectors, sound system operators, owners of sound systems, people in film. So it’s a variety. Once you meet the criteria, you will benefit.”

(Excerpt from CMC)

Tron founder to become diplomat for Grenada

J

ustin Sun, founder of the Tron cryptocurrency platform and one of the more high-profile individuals in the digital-asset world, said he’s embarking on a new career as a diplomat for the Caribbean nation of Grenada.

At the same time, Sun, who said he’s been a resident on the 135-square-mile island since 2019, is phasing out his participation in crypto-related projects. That includes Tron, the blockchain that’s a top network for controversial stablecoin Tether and supports hundreds of gambling and gaming apps.

Sun, 31, first gained notoriety for the saga of his delayed meeting with billionaire investor Warren Buffett in 2020 and a bungled Tesla giveaway a few months earlier. He was outbid at the last moment at an auction for a non-fungible token that was sold for a record $69 million, and has even faced a revolt at a crypto social network company he acquired.

“Our crypto industry has got into the stage, we real-

Justin Sun, founder of Tron, is phasing out his participation in crypto-related projects as he embarks on a diplomatic career [File: Fan Kar-Long/Bloomberg]

ly need sovereign States and regulators and international organisations to recognise the potential and the benefits of the blockchain technology,” Sun said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “That’s why I think I will focus lots of my energy, to try and push blockchain technology and cryptocurrency – the importance of all of this in developing countries and developed States

as well. I will also try to promote new technology development in Grenada.”

He was appointed Grenada’s representative to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, according to its Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and Caricom Affairs, Oliver Joseph.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Surge in omicron cases spooks oil traders

U

S West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures are edging lower on Friday, putting the market in a position to post a slightly lower close for the week. Although the market put in a mixed performance throughout the week, a bearish consensus seems to be developing as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant raised fears that new curbs may lead to demand destruction.

This week’s inside trade on the chart suggests investor indecision and impending volatility. The indecision is being fuelled by mixed outlooks for supply/demand and the lack of clarity from health officials on whether vaccines are effective against Omicron. The source of volatility could be greater curbs and restrictions designed to soften the impact of the virus, and thin trading conditions tied to the year-end holiday season.

Since Omicron was discovered about three weeks ago, global health officials have offered various opinions about the vaccines’ effectiveness against it. They have, however, reached an agreement that they still don’t know enough about it to give a good opinion on its impact. Meanwhile, governments have reached their own conclusions about how to fight the spread. They have chosen to reimpose restrictions.

As of Friday, Reuters is reporting that in Denmark, South Africa, and Britain, the number of new Omicron cases has been doubling every two days. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her government would propose new restrictions. This follows the UK that has had restrictions in place for over a week.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has led some companies to pause plans to get workers back into offices. This could lead to lower gasoline demand.

In another bearish indicator, in addition to pricing in the possibility of lower demand due to new economic restrictions in some countries, traders now have to deal with increased supply due to higher US and OPEC+ output.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Tuesday said a surge in COVID-19 cases with the emergence of the Omicron variant will dent global demand for oil at the same time that crude output is set to increase, especially in the United States, with supply set to exceed demand through at least the end of next year.

Crude oil prices were poised to drop further earlier in the week until the government releases its weekly inventories report that showed an unexpected surge in fuel demand.

US implied consumer petroleum demand surged to an all-time high last week on the back of holiday demand and travel – even as the Omicron variant of coronavirus threatens to dent oil consumption in coming months, Reuters reported.

Overall crude stockpiles fell due to rising exports, and inventories for gasoline and distillates were also down, the US Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 4.6 million barrels in the week to December 10 to 428.3 million barrels, more than double expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.1 million-barrel drop.

US gasoline stocks fell 719,000 barrels in the week, while distillate stockpiles fell by 2.9 million barrels.

This could also be a “one and done” event. (Excerpt from Oilprice. com)

US air wars in Middle East “deeply flawed” – report

N

ewly obtained Pentagon documents show the United States’ air wars in the Middle East have been marked by “deeply flawed intelligence” and “faulty targeting” that resulted in the deaths of more than 1000 civilians over the last decade, according to a New York Times investigation.

The report, based on a trove of confidential Pentagon documents covering more than 1300 reports of civilian casualties, undercuts the US government’s portrayal of a war fought with precision bombs, the publication said.

Pledges of transparency and accountability, it said, had regularly fallen short.

While several of the cases mentioned by the Times have been previously reported, it said its investigation showed that the number of civilian deaths had been “drastically undercounted,” by at least several hundred.

In its report, the New

York Times reviewed cases in which civilians were killed, none of which resulted in an admission of wrongdoing.

It mentioned the killing of 120 Syrian villagers on the outskirts of the village of Tokhar, in a July 2016 strike that reports at the time said had killed 85 fighters.

Poor or inadequate surveillance footage often contributed to deadly targeting failures, the report said.

Most recently, the US was forced to retract allegations that a car that was destroyed by a drone on a street in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, in August was loaded with bombs.

It was later revealed that the victims of the strike were 10 members of one family.

Many civilian survivors of US attacks, the report says, were left with disabilities requiring expensive treatment, but condolence payments numbered fewer than a dozen. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Malaysian emergency services, volunteers rescue 21,000 from flooding

H

ard-pressed Malaysian while also sending out requests emergency services, refor help via social media. inforced by civilian volMohamad Adib then headunteers, on Sunday rescued ed with other volunteers to the 21,000 people displaced by Selangor city of Shah Alam to flooding from torrential rain in help rescue trapped residents seven states, officials and volbut said government assisunteers said. tance was slow to arrive.

More than 66,000 police, Another Selangor resident, army and fire department perMohammad Shahrul Azmir sonnel were mobilised to help Selamat, said his Hulu Langat pluck people from vehicles maneighbourhood was spared rooned in flood waters or from flooding as it stood on higher inundated streets outside their ground but access roads were Volunteers rescue stranded flood victims from their homes inundated. homes.

State news agency Bernama inundated by flash floods caused by torrential rain in Shah Alam, “For the time being (supplies reported that a total of 21,000 Selangor state, Malaysia, December 19, 2021 are) still okay, 10 trucks have people had been evacuated naarrived. Floods have receded He said rainfall over the past day was tionwide to relief centres. equivalent to the total for a month in in some areas and the victims already As rescue operations continued, normal conditions. went home,” he told Reuters via text Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob After reading pleas on Twitter from message. earlier told reporters in Selangor, those trapped by floodwaters, resOn Sunday evening, Malaysia’s Malaysia’s wealthiest and most pop- cue volunteer Mohamad Adib Hariz Meteorological Department took down ulous state and one of the hardest hit, Fadzilah rushed to a camping supplies its warning of heavy rains nationwide. that 15,000 people there had been evac- store to buy kayaks and life jackets (Excerpt from Reuters) uated to more than 100 relief centres.

Man beaten to death for “sacrilege” attempt at Sikh Golden Temple in India

P

olice in the Indian city of Amritsar say a man suspected of trying to commit a sacrilegious act at Sikhism’s holiest shrine has been beaten to death.

The incident took place during a prayer service at the city’s Golden Temple on Saturday, according to local media.

The man allegedly barged into the inner sanctum, where Sikhism’s holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept.

He then grabbed a ceremonial sword placed next to the book, but was overpowered by guards and worshippers.

Sikhs regard the Guru Granth Sahib as not just the holy scripture of their

The Golden Temple is Sikhism’s pre-eminent spiritual site

religion but also as the living Guru, and believe it should be treated with respect as a human might be.

The scuffle took place at around 17:45 local time

(11:45 GMT), and was captured on camera as evening prayers were being broadcast on television.

It is unclear exactly what happened next. Police said

the man was found dead once officers arrived at the scene, and an investigation is under way.

Less than 24 hours later, another man was beaten to death by Sikhs accusing him of sacrilege after he allegedly tried to remove the Sikh flag, Nishan Sahib, from a temple in Kapurthala, also in Punjab state.

Indian media report police initially took the man into custody but locals then clashed with police and ended up killing the man.

Punjab state’s police chief tweeted that “Stern action will be taken against all those disturbing the law and order in Punjab” after the “unfortunate incidents” in Amritsar and Kapurthala.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

OIC nations pledge fund to prevent Afghanistan's economic collapse

T

he Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has pledged to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan as millions face hunger and poverty.

The crisis is causing alarm with billions of dollars in aid and assets frozen by the international community after the Taliban takeover of the country in August this year.

“Unless action is taken immediately, Afghanistan is heading for chaos,” Prime Minister Imran Khan, of Pakistan – which is holding the summit, told a meeting of foreign ministers from the OIC. “Any government when it can’t pay its salaries for its public servants, hospitals, doctors, nurses, any government is going to collapse but chaos suits no one, it

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, centre, arrives to attend the opening of a special meeting of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad

certainly does not suit the United States.”

An OIC resolution released after the meeting said the Islamic Development Bank would lead the effort to free up assistance by the first quarter

of 2022.

It also urged Afghanistan’s rulers to abide by “obligations under international human rights covenants, especially with regards to the rights of women, children, youth, el-

derly and people with special needs”.

The OIC meeting did not give the new Taliban government any formal international recognition and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was excluded from the official photograph taken during the event.

Muttaqi said his government “has the right to be officially recognised”.

“The current Afghanistan government is cooperating with every foreign organisation,” he told reporters, adding that sanctions “must be removed”.

In a speech to delegates, he said the US freezing of assets “is a clear violation of the human rights of Afghans, and can be interpreted as enmity with an entire nation”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You’ll meet with opposition if you are insistent on doing everything your way.

A little compromise will go a long way when dealing with someone who can influence the outcome.

Spend more time nurturing relationships and taking care of your work responsibilities, and you will feel confident moving forward.

Romance is encouraged.

Don’t let your emotions spur you to make a financial move. Iron out any foreseeable problems before you jump into a joint venture. A sincere attitude and an open mind will be necessary.

Address issues that concern others. Offer suggestions to encourage people to take care of their responsibilities, leaving you more time to address more pressing problems. Romance is on the rise.

Stop overthinking things and start enjoying what life has to offer. Reach out to people who lift your spirits and put a smile on your face. Don’t waste your energy worrying Trust what’s tried and true. Someone will mislead you if given a chance.

Concentrate on personal growth, physical improvement and altering your lifestyle to better suit your needs.

An emotional matter will escalate if you cannot compromise or come to terms with what others want to do.

Take care of responsibilities on your own to avoid interference and inconvenience.

Gather information and pursue what you want to do.

Touch base with people who make you think, and offer them helpful suggestions.

Limit your spending, drinking and indulgence.

SAGITTARIUS Recognize what you are up against and make chang(Nov. 23es that will help you navDec. 21) igate your way to success.

Select your allies and tactics wisely, and nothing will stand in your way.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY'S WORD -- CRUSADE

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

Share memories and dreams with your loved ones, and you’ll find common ground that will encourage better relationships. Put in extra time if it will help.

Romance is favored.

Say what’s on your mind, and deal with unfinished business. A responsible attitude and quick pace will show others that you mean business. An unexpected gesture will stir up emotions.

Handle situations uniquely, and you’ll make an (Feb. 20March 20) impression on someone influential. Enforcing positive change will show your ability to take charge and live up to your promises.

PISCES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

21

Australia in total control with last-ball Root wicket

A

ustralia maintained their vice-like grip on the second Test, ripping out four England wickets before the close of day four at Adelaide Oval. Half-centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne had enabled the home side to declare their second innings 467 runs ahead, and with more than four sessions still to play - and although England fought to see out the night under lights, the dismissal of Joe Root from what became the final ball of the day was a hammer blow to their hopes of salvaging something from the game.

Already 1-0 up in the series and sitting on a 282-run lead overnight, the contest was set up for Australia from the outset. England managed to chip away and avoid being com-

pletely overrun, but by the time that Steven Smith called his men back to the dressing room just over an hour into the evening session, the scale of their task in attempting to avoid an 11th defeat from 12 in Australia was clear.

England's brittle batting was soon back in the spotlight - and before the floodlights had even started to fire up. Jhye Richardson struck with his sixth ball, Haseeb Hameed propping forward only to see the ball prance and take him on the glove, as England's opening stand - so far worth 0, 23, 7 and 4 in the series - failed again.

Rory Burns did succeed in carving out some time at the crease, as he and Dawid Malan battled through to tea and beyond during a 44-run partner-

ship. But with the pink ball, glowing in the twilight, fizzing and spitting at the behest of Nathan Lyon, who bowled a relentlessly probing roundthe-wicket line to the two lefthanders, it seemed only a matter of time before further Australians dividends would be forthcoming.

Lyon deserved to make the breakthrough, only for Smith to put down a regulation slip catch with Malan on 19. The reprieve was brief, however, as Michael Neser found some nip back in to beat a tentative defensive push and pin Malan lbw to his very next ball - a dismissal upheld with three reds on review.

Burns used the DRS to overturn a caught-behind decision on 30, and had faced 95 balls when he finally suc-

Emma Raducanu crowned winner

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eenage US Open champion Emma Raducanu has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021. Raducanu, then 18, ended Britain’s 44-year wait for a women’s Grand Slam singles champion with her remarkable victory at Flushing Meadows.

Her fairy-tale win followed a run to the Wimbledon fourth round in July on her Grand Slam main draw debut. In a public vote, diver Tom Daley placed second and swimmer Adam Peaty was third.

Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling, boxer Tyson Fury, and Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian Sarah Storey were also shortlisted for the main award.

“It’s such an honour just to be among these nominees.

Congrats to you and all your achievements,” Raducanu said. “I’m really happy with this, I’ve watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up and it’s an honour to be among those past winners.

“I’m happy for British tennis as well, and that we’ve managed to get this award... again!

“Thanks to all the fans and voters, this year has been insane. The energy this year playing at Wimbledon in front of my home crowd, that was something I’ve never felt before.”

Now 19 and ranked British number one, Raducanu becomes the first female tennis player to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year since Virginia Wade in 1977 – the

last British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Andy Murray was the last tennis player to win the award, with his third coming in 2016. Raducanu is the first female to win the award since Zara Phillips, now Tindall, in 2006.

A year to remember

Fresh from completing her A-Levels, Raducanu burst onto the scene at Wimbledon, where she was handed a wildcard into the main draw late on after making her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour debut earlier in June.

Wins over impressive opposition and appearances on show courts followed as she progressed to the fourth round, and in doing so, became the youngest British woman to reach the Wimbledon last 16 in the Open era. Her dream run ended in heart-breaking fashion as she was forced to retire from her fourth-round match with breathing difficulties – but little did anyone know what was around the corner.

In winning the US Open title in September with a 6-4 6-3 victory over fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez, Raducanu became:

The first qualifier in the Open era to win a Grand Slam The youngest women’s Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004 The youngest Briton to win a Grand Slam title The first woman to win the US Open without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014 She will enter 2022 ranked 19th in the world and with a new coach, Torben Beltz.

Presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott, the Sports Personality of the Year 2021 was broadcast live from MediaCityUK, Salford.

Other award winners at Sports Personality 2021 Helen Rollason Award: Jen Beattie Coach of the Year: Gareth Southgate Team of the Year: England men’s football team World Sport Star: Rachael Blackmore Lifetime Achievement: Simone Biles Unsung Hero: Sam Barlow Young Sports Personality of the Year: Sky Brown (BBC Sport)

Australia continued dominance in the Ashes

cumbed to Richardson, who scrambled the seam to produce a thick edge that was taken low in the cordon. Root and Ben Stokes then battened down the hatches in an attempt to reach the close. They were just two balls away from achieving that goal when Root, having been hit painfully on the box a few overs earlier - the second low blow he had suffered in the day - edged Mitchell Starc behind to spark jubilation among the Australians.

It was not a good day for English dignity. In a hole and facing the prospect of Australia steadily driving home their advantage, the tourists initially took the field without their captain, Root requiring a scan after being hit in what the ECB euphemistically termed "the abdomen" while taking some throwdowns - this time not wearing a box. It all added to the sense that this Ashes tour is becoming yet another cockup and balls story.

A lively start followed, belying the lack of tension in the game. Neser was nearly run out from the first ball of the afternoon, the nightwatchman only just making his ground to beat a direct hit from point after being sent back. He was then bowled in the second over, James Anderson finding some seam movement to beat Neser's forward defensive and hit the top of middle stump.

Two balls later, Stuart Broad found Marcus Harris' outside edge to dismiss the Australia opener for the fifth time in four Tests - Jos Buttler completing the dismissal with a flying one-handed catch. But the punchline was still to come, as Broad induced a first-ball nick behind from Smith, only for Buttler to send an easier chance clanging to the ground.

Broad's next delivery brought a confident no-look lbw appeal from the bowler, but Rod Tucker remained unmoved and DRS backed up the deci-

sion on umpire's call.

Smith was not able to cash in on his good fortune, gloving a short ball from Ollie Robinson down the leg side Buttler lurching back into the sublime with a one-handed take - to give Australia's standin captain his first single-figure score in an Ashes Test since the 2017-18 day-nighter at Adelaide.

England had taken 3 for 10 from 12 overs and given themselves something to smile about. But a further sign of their parlous position came when Robinson opted to switch to bowling offspin - apparently in a bid to lift the over rate.

Root returned to the field shortly after and Australia began to ease back on to the front foot, Head's counterattacking knock

lifting them from 4 for 55 to 4 for 134 at the dinner break.

Head added 89 in good time alongside Labuschagne, as Australian thoughts began to turn once again to the possibility of a declaration. Head became a second wicket for Robinson - now back to bowling seam - shortly after bringing up a 49-ball fifty on his home ground, and England soon resorted to bowling Malan's parttime legspin in tandem with Root, rather than put miles into the legs of their quicks.

Malan claimed Labuschagne as his maiden Test victim, but four wickets falling to spin only seemed to underscore England's errors in selection. And Australia will not worry themselves with that.

(ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Australia 2nd Innings David Warner run out (Broad/†Buttler) 13 Marcus Harris c †Buttler b Broad 23 Michael Neser b Anderson 3 Marnus Labuschagne c Stokes b Malan 51 Steven Smith (c)c †Buttler b Robinson 6 Travis Head c Stokes b Robinson 51 Cameron Green not out 33 Alex Carey † b Root 6 Mitchell Starc c Pope b Root 19 Jhye Richardson c †Buttler b Malan 8 Extras (b 3, lb 8, nb 5, w 1) 17 TOTAL (61 Ov, RR: 3.77) 230/9d Did not bat: Nathan Lyon Fall of wickets: 1-41 (David Warner, 13.6 ov), 2-48 (Michael Neser, 18.6 ov), 3-48 (Marcus Harris, 19.2 ov), 4-55 (Steven Smith, 28.6 ov), 5-144 (Travis Head, 45.6 ov), 6-173 (Marnus Labuschagne, 52.3 ov), 7-180 (Alex Carey, 53.6 ov), 8-216 (Mitchell Starc, 59.3 ov), 9-230 (Jhye Richardson, 60.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W

James Anderson 10-6-8-1 Stuart Broad 10-3-27-1 Ollie Robinson 15-2-54-2 Chris Woakes 12-3-46-0 Joe Root 6-1-27-2 Ben Stokes 2-0-24-0 Dawid Malan 6-0-33-2 ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS (TARGET: 468 RUNS) Rory Burns c Smith b Richardson 34 Haseeb Hameed c †Carey b Richardson 0 Dawid Malan lbw b Neser 20 Joe Root (c)c †Carey b Starc 24 Ben Stokes not out 3 Extras (lb 1) 1 TOTAL (43.2 Ov, RR: 1.89) 82/4 Yet to bat: Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler †, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Haseeb Hameed, 1.6 ov), 2-48 (Dawid Malan, 21.1 ov), 3-70 (Rory Burns, 30.6 ov), 4-82 (Joe Root, 43.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 11.2-4-21-1 Jhye Richardson 8-4-17-2 Nathan Lyon 14-3-28-0 Michael Neser 5-2-7-1 Cameron Green 5-2-8-0

22

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

L

iverpool lost ground in the Premier League title race in a 2-2 pulsating draw at Tottenham that was packed with incident and saw Andrew Robertson sent off for the visitors.

Manchester City’s 4-0 victory at Newcastle earlier meant Liverpool could not top the league at Christmas for the first time in four years, with Jurgen Klopp’s side now three points adrift.

Harry Kane ended his Premier League goal drought when he found the bottom corner from Tanguy Ndombele’s pass, but Spurs wasted a number of opportunities to double their lead.

Diogo Jota made the hosts pay 35 minutes in by heading in a cross from Robertson, who had missed a golden chance of his own in the opening 70 seconds.

Robertson then headed the Reds in front in the second half only for Son Heungmin to level after a mistake

by Alisson four minutes later in an open and frenetic game.

The Liverpool left-back who had been excellent was then sent off for a reckless hack on Emerson Royal, a decision given after Paul Tierney reviewed the decision on the pitch-side monitor.

The draw extends

Antonio Conte’s unbeaten league start at Tottenham to five games, though his side stay seventh with games in hand on those above them.

On a weekend of depleted Premier League action, these sides served up a thrilling encounter packed with drama at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both faced COVIDrelated interruptions to their own preparations, and Klopp said beforehand the managers had no idea which players would be available until the morning of the game.

Tottenham had to close their first-team training facility for three days last week and have had three games in five days postponed, despite travelling to Leicester on Thursday, something Conte said had affected his squad’s morale.

Nine Spurs tested positive during the past fortnight, as well as staff and Under-23s, meaning Conte was unable to implement his usual meticulous tactical plans and had to resort to mannequins as opposition, but it was Liverpool’s defence looking static as the hosts opened them up in north London.

Ndombele, making his first league start under Conte, showed his undoubted quality with a superb-

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make a decisive save, before Kane headed over from close range.

Conte “disappointed” with draw despite “exciting” game

Harry Kane scored his first home Premier League goal of the season

ly weighted pass for Kane that the England Captain swept into the far corner for only his second goal in the Premier League this season and first in seven games.

Conte has called Kane “one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to train” and the 28-year-old almost set up a second moments later, though Son could not turn his cross into the net.

The South Korean overran another Kane pass to allow Alisson to smother it, before Kane then dived in on Robertson and was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card – a decision brought further into focus by Robertson’s own sending-off.

Tiger Woods claims 2nd place alongside son on competitive return

For all Liverpool’s pressure, Tottenham could have been out of sight with Dele Alli – another awarded a chance by Conte – the next to fail to convert a glorious chance from Son’s clever pass, although Alisson got a vital fingertip to his effort.

Liverpool were also missing a number of key players, with Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Thiago among those absent following positive COVID tests, while Jordan Henderson had a cold, allowing a first Premier League start for 19-yearold Tyler Morton, who was 10 days old when midfielder partner James Milner made his league debut in 2002.

Klopp could still call on his flying full-backs though and Robertson, after nodding wide from Trent AlexanderArnold’s smart ball in the second minute, picked out Jota who steered an excellent header beyond Hugo Lloris for his 10th Premier League goal of the season.

The Reds boss was furious Jota was not awarded a penalty following a clumsy challenge by Royal, but the German was also frustrated by his side’s continued failure to deal with the Spurs threat after the break.

The visitors only survived going behind when Alli sold Kane short for a tap-in, allowing Alisson to

In a sequence that summed up the game, Spurs thought they should have had a penalty at one end only for Robertson to head in Alexander-Arnold’s cross from close range at the other. Son then pounced on Alisson’s error to roll into an empty net before Scotland international Robertson’s kick on Royal was upgraded to a red card following referee Tierney’s review.

Amid the madness, Tottenham did stop Mohamed Salah scoring or assisting for what would have been a record 16th successive game. And while second-placed Liverpool may have slipped further behind leaders City, the Reds’ impressive form continues and they have now lost just once in the past 35 games in all competitions.

Klopp’s side also scored their 50th Premier League goal of the season in what is their 18th match, reaching that landmark faster than in any other previous top-flight campaign. (BBC Sport)

NBA postpones more games over COVID-19 case number rise

Charlie, 12, impressed alongside his dad Tiger Woods

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iger Woods narrowly missed out on victory on his return to competitive golf after coming second at the PNC Championship tournament in Florida.

Woods, 45, reeled off 11 consecutive birdies alongside his 12-year-old son Charlie at the family event to finish on 25 under – two shots off the lead.

He was playing in his first event since suffering career-threatening injuries in a car crash 10 months ago.

“I’m just happy and thankful that I’m able to do

this,” he said afterwards.

“I still have my own leg, which was questionable for a while, and it’s functioning.

I’m just really tired – I’m not used to this.

“I think this might be only my fourth or fifth round of golf this year. I’m a little worn out. It was nice to have a cart.”

Team Woods carded a 15-under-par 57 in their second and final round at the Ritz Carlton Golf Course in Orlando.

The tournament was won by two-time major champion John Daly, playing with his

son John Daly II, who closed with a birdie to finish on 27 under par for a two-shot victory.

Woods said he and his son had set a pre-tournament target of playing two bogey-free rounds which they had achieved.

“We got on a run, which was great. Charlie was hitting the ball unbelievable and made a few putts. It got interesting and a little tight toward the end, which was fun,” he said.

“He’s an unbelievable player and partner.” (BBC News)

Brooklyn Coach Steve Nash has seen his side affected by the NBA COVID-19 protocols

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he NBA has postponed the next two Brooklyn Nets games and fixtures for three other teams because of high numbers of coronavirus cases.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers will also have matches rescheduled because of the recent wave of new cases. A total of seven games have now been postponed since last week.

The Nets, who currently lead the Eastern Conference,

have nine players unavailable under NBA protocols.

Among them are stars Kevin Durant and James Harden, plus Kyrie Irving, who has refused to be vaccinated, but was cleared to come back to the fold on Friday.

Sunday’s games between Brooklyn and Denver, Atlanta against Cleveland and Philadelphia’s home meeting with New Orleans have all been postponed.

Orlando’s visit to Toronto today was also postponed

along with Brooklyn against Washington on Tuesday.

(BBC Sport)

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

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23

Foster re-elected unopposed as BCB President

By Brandon Corlette

H

ilbert Foster was re-elected unopposed as President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday at the Port Mourant Community Centre Cricket Club. The BCB elections were overseen by Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters and conducted by Colin Bynoe Sr, who performed the duties of returning officer.

A total of 34 of the 38 delegates voted at the elections. In addition to Foster, Vice President (Administration) Albert Smith, Vice President (Finance) Cecil Beharry, Vice President (Cricket Development) Qualis Winter, Secretary Angela Haniff, Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Treasurer Rovin Beharry and Assistant Treasurer Neil Rudder were all elected.

Clubs that voted at the elections were Rose Hall Canje, Blairmont, Port Mourant, Kildonan, Chesney, Albion, Whim, GUYMINE. Police, Mount Sinai, Rose Hall Town, and Young Warriors. Albion had only one delegate present during the electoral process. The three sub-divisions present were Berbice River, Upper Corentyne and West Berbice.

After Foster was re-elected for his third term, he noted that a lot of work was still left to be done in Berbice cricket. The proactive BCB boss indicated that a total of 30 tournaments was on his radar in 2022. He extended gratitude to the BCB for placing

Albion contingent, Mr Bacchus, Mr Walter and Mr Outar

confidence in him for another term.

“I would like to thank you guys for your confidence in me. I remember when I took over in 2018, a good friend asked me if I was a mad man to take on the troubled BCB. I told him that every problem could be solved once you have commitment, sheer hard work, honesty, visionary leadership, and drive to make a positive difference,” Foster recalled.

The list of accomplishments by the BCB is certainly a long one. For instance, Foster and his team, who inherited $43,000 in funds, have worked hard to distribute over $6 million worth of COVID-19 relief hampers. While the BCB will continue to focus on completing cricket tournaments, Foster

BCB President Hilbert Foster

Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters

noted that major developmental activities were on the horizon, with the most significant of those activities being the visit of legendary West Indies fast bowler, Sir Curtly Ambrose.

Notably, Foster is aiming to see the development of young leaders who would carry on the baton in Berbice cricket. He also outlined commitments he has planned for Berbice cricket, in a printed report, saying he would try his best to fulfil them.

Cricket Ombudsman Peters congratulated all those elected, and outlined the way in which cricket clubs should be organised, in compliance to the Cricket Administration Act. The Mental Hospital club was the only one not present at the Annual General

Meeting as 12 clubs and all three sub-associations turned up in a show of massive support for the vibrant Board.

President Foster immediately went to work by summoning an executive meeting, where he informed his executives that there would be no place for laziness, dishonesty and victimisation. He told the executives in no uncertain terms that they would be expected to fulfil their duties and that they must be more visible across the county.

The executives appointed Simon Naidu as the Public Relations Officer, Leslie Solomon as Competition Chairman, Balram Samaroo as Junior Selectors Chairman and Albert Smith as Chairman of the Senior Team. The names of the other selected persons would be announced shortly.

Pujara backs fast bowlers to give India maiden Test series win in South Africa

C

heteshwar Pujara feels this could be India’s chance to win their maiden Test series in South Africa. For that, he backed India’s fast bowlers to be the point of difference and pick up “20 wickets in every Test” on the tour.

“Our fast bowlers have been the difference between the two sides whenever

we have played abroad,” Pujara said. “If you look at the Australia series, even if you look at the England series, we have done exceptionally well as a bowling unit and I am sure that will be the case even in South Africa. Our fast bowlers are our strength and I hope that they will be able to utilise these conditions and give us 20 wickets in every Test match.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), The India and South Africa Test series will start on Boxing Day meanwhile, has named KL Test in June, against West The series will be played Rahul Vice Captain for the Indies in Gros Islet. While in a biosecure environment.

Test series.

Pujara didn’t dwell too Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rahul was named India’s much on that advantage, had originally put together Vice Captain for the Test he said it was nice that the slightly relaxed bio-bubble series after Rohit Sharma players were together re- plans, but these have now was ruled out with a ham- cently. been modified following the string injury. Rohit had “The good thing is we emergence of Omicron, the originally replaced Ajinkya played a couple of Test latest COVID-19 variant.

Rahane for the post, but matches in India,” Pujara Pujara said while staying is currently doing his re- said. “So, most of the guys in bio-bubbles put certain hab at the National Cricket are in touch, and when it restrictions on you, it also Academy in Bengaluru. comes to preparation, the got players to spend more Another thing that support staff has been ex- time together. could work in India’s fa- cellent. They have been “Sometimes, I feel vour is many of their squad supporting us well and we bio-bubble helps the team members have recent- have five or six days more environment where you ly played red-ball cricket. before we head into the end up spending more time India hosted New Zealand first Test. I am sure there with the team players, you for a two-match Test series is enough time for us to are in the team room, you in late November and early prepare and guys are look- are having more team dinDecember, while Hanuma ing forward to this series. ners together, so, overall, I Vihari and back-up open- This is the best opportunity feel sometimes it helps the er Priyank Panchal were for us to win our first series team environment, but yes, part of India A’s shadow in South Africa. So all of us there are some challenges tour to South Africa. The are looking forward to it.” as well. You are not allowed hosts, though, last played a

to go out, you cannot explore the country. So, there are restrictions as well, but at the same time you are getting to play some cricket and that’s the most import-

ant thing being a cricketer.

We want to play some cricket and we are able to play cricket even in a biosecure bubble, so that helps.”

This is India’s eighth

Test tour to South Africa.

The series will start on December 26, with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. (ESPNcricinfo)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

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

Foster re-elected unopposed as BCB President Page 23

Members of the BCB

Australia in total control with last-ball Root wicket Page 21

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