Guyana Times -- Monday, February 28, 2022

Prominent Guyanese businessman calls for cohesion between P12 Govt, Opposition

…lauds President Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4934

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Govt goes to tender for housing developers for ECD, EBD …construction to start in 6 months

See story on page 3

Locals can now register with Govt to benefit directly from oil & gas sector

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Bicycle thief nabbed with illegal gun, P10 ammo

Wakenaam early morning fire

12 residents undergoing firefighting training P11

Page 7

…following operationalising of Local Content Registry

Fire guts MPs to Wakenaam be trained business in proper

See story on page 2

Page 10

Active P9 COVID-19 cases drop to 650 …12 new infections recorded, 10 in ICU

parliamentary procedures – Speaker

4 mothers to spend more time in jail on acid attack charge P7

…other measures planned to improve conduct of House

JURIST Project has improved quality, efficiency of Guyana’s justice system – Chancellor …reiterates need for more Judges Putin puts nuclear deterrent on alert as West rallies behind Ukraine

Page 8

See stories on pages 15 & 16

...Russian convoy of ground forces, tanks moving toward Kyiv – Maxar says

P16 CANU unearths firearms in Georgetown

2 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MPs to be trained in proper parliamentary procedures – Speaker …other measures planned to improve conduct of House

T

he 12th Parliament has been one of the most dramatic ones in recent memories, with sittings being disrupted by Members of Parliament (MPs) who disregard the Standing Orders.

According to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, one measure on the Parliamentary Office’s agenda will be organising more training sessions for MPs. During a recent online interview, the Speaker ex-

File photo: APNU/AFC MP Annette Ferguson grabbing the Speaker’s Mace on December 29, 2021 Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

plained that while training was initially done for MPs after the 12th Parliament opened in 2020, additional training had to be scuttled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The first thing that happens when a new Parliament is elected, the Clerk will organise training sessions on the Standing Orders, on the dos and don’ts. On a number of issues. That was done,” he said.

“We also had, because of COVID, to postpone other training seminars for Members of Parliament, dealing with a number of issues. How to conduct the meetings, public accounts committee, procedures, how you ask questions. How you do honourable insults. There is a honourable insult that is acceptable in the house.”

He explained, however, that they have been able to arrange additional training sessions which will occur in May of this year and that

MPs can expect increased training to be arranged by the Parliamentary Office.

“We have been able now, on the 10th and 11th of May, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, of which we’re a member, will be conducting an in-person training programme for all Members of Parliament.”

“And they pool and bring very experienced people from around the world, that we rely on. Ghana, Nigeria, India, Canada, the United Kingdom and our own friends in Caricom. Leaving out Haiti and Suriname, all the rest of Parliaments follow basically the same rules.”

Another measure Nadir said he has given serious thought to, is to have engagements with both sides of the aisle, in a non-parliamentary setting. He noted that this is something former Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman had initiated. According to Nadir, while this can be imple-

mented, members can still expect the Standing Orders to be firmly enforced inside the National Assembly.

“So, we’re going to up the training programmes. One of the things I could do, which hasn’t been done yet, is to start having engagements with both sides in a non-parliamentary, non-combative environment. But the bottom line is, in Parliament we should respect the rules.

Militancy can’t trump decency and respect for the Standing Orders,” he said.

The most recent instance where the Standing Orders were disregarded and an MP had to be disciplined was Alliance For Change (AFC) MP Sherod Duncan, who was suspended on February 9 for disrupting the parliamentary session.

Duncan is one of eight APNU/AFC MPs already before the Privileges Committee, for the infamous Mace grab of December 29, 2021, when Opposition members protested the hear-

ing of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, which they wanted to be sent to a parliamentary Special Select Committee for review.

The coalition MPs stood banging on their desks when the Bill was called up for debate and subsequently gathered in the pit of the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where National Assembly sittings are being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bill was eventually passed late into the evening but not before the Opposition’s protest escalated into a physical confrontation with Parliament staff after an MP snatched the Parliament Mace from in front of Speaker Nadir.

The other APNU/ AFC MPs sent to the Privileges Committee include Chief Whip Jones, Annette Ferguson, Ganesh Mahipaul, Natasha SinghLewis, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Maureen Philadelphia. (G3)

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, Feb 28 – No closure and Tuesday, Mar 1 – 02:30h – 04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Feb 28 – 14:50h – 16:20h and Tuesday, Mar 1 – 16:35h – 18: 50h.

Govt goes to tender for housing developers for ECD, EBD …construction to start in 6 months

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 15:15h reaching a maximum height of 2.52 metres.

Low Tide: 08:48h and 21:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metre and 0.64 metre.

Overhead view of a housing development

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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he Government of Guyana, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), is engaged in a process of seeking housing developers who would develop housing schemes in Region Four through either a public-private partnership or private developers.

According to a notice, the CH&PA is seeking the developers to expand its housing programme on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridors. It even described the characteristics of the undeveloped lands to be developed.

The lands, it noted, are in good locations relative to Georgetown as the urban centre, are generally flat, with an adequate residential mix. It noted that the lands can also be integrated with the existing communities.

Additionally, it was explained that the lands must be developed with sustainable social, economic and environmental community development in mind. The developers are meanwhile expected to commence construction within six months and to complete the developments within 24 months.

“Interested parties must be able to achieve the quality of development, construction and management of the project within the stipulated time frame,” CH&PA further explained, adding that developers can bid individually or as part of a consortium. Bids

must be submitted by March 25, 2022.

With a plan to distribute 50,000 house lots by 2025, the Government has set out a robust housing plan for this year. Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal had revealed earlier this year that the 2022 plans include the distribution of 15,000 house lots as well as the continuation of the home improvement and subsidy programme.

A sum of $12.4 billion was set aside in Budget 2022 for the housing sector, which goes towards the development of housing units and the necessary road network and other infrastructure to support these housing developments.

There is also the soon to be completed four-lane bypass road from Mandela to Eccles, which has seen six contractors work on completing the important road link under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Water.

The bypass project will see a total of 26 kilometres of road constructed, linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara corridor. These include Diamond, Mocha and Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown. These connections will prove crucial in diverting traffic.

Work on constructing the $2.3 bil-

lion four-lane highway from Eccles to Mandela started In April 2021.

Contracts were signed with six contractors and were supposed to have been completed by December 2021.

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

The Eccles to Mandela four-lane project is the second phase of the OgleDiamond bypass project and is intended to tie in with the overall four-lane project currently being built. These projects are part 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.

Under the previous Government, the project was at a standstill for several years.

The President Dr Irfaan Aliled People’s Progressive Party Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LOC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). (G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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

Shivaratri in Guyana E

arlier in the month, we were reminded by President Irfaan Ali that Guyana is a multi-religious society with the largest religions of mankind – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity – all represented in large swathes of our peoples.

This diversity of spiritual aspirations is co-joined with a similar diversity in culture and races and this should be one of our strengths. We should be able to appreciate through our lived experiences that fundamentally, all mankind exhibits the full panoply of traits that are part and parcel of “human nature”. As such, our societies should create meta institutions at our national level that will accommodate and facilitate these diversities and not try to force our peoples into any one “true” path.

Today, Hindus will commemorate the festival of Maha Shivratri, which literally means “The great night of Shiva”.

Shiva is regarded as one of the three major aspects of Brahman that pervades all creation and the uncreated.

These are “Brahma” that creates, Vishnu that sustains and Shiva into which all creation returns in immense cycles of time amounting to billions of years. As a very ancient way of life, Hindu practices are replete with symbolism explained by a very sophisticated system of semiotics. As such, there are always levels of meaning found in the seemingly mundane customs that have been passed on through the ages.

Most mundanely, “Shivratri” or “night of Shiva” is celebrated in the 14th day of every month of the lunar calendar. But once a year, in late winter in the northern hemisphere, Maha Shivratri is celebrated to commemorate the oncoming summer. On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. It is to make use of this, that in this tradition, we established a certain festival which is nightlong. To allow this natural upsurge of energies to find its way, one of the fundamentals of this nightlong festival is to ensure that you remain awake with your spine vertical throughout the night.

From one perspective, this momentous change is essential for our survival on this planet; it is explained on this night that Lord Shiva performs his cosmic dance or ‘tandav’.

We now know that the universe is sustained through movement from the subatomic level to the furthest galaxies formed at the beginning of the last Big Bang, or creation, that the new James Webb space telescope is revealing to us. But the vast emptiness that holds them does not come into everybody’s notice – we call this “dark matter”. This vastness, this unbounded emptiness, is what is referred to as Shiva. Today, modern science also proves that everything comes from nothing and goes back to nothing. It is in this context that Shiva, the vast emptiness or nothingness, is referred to as the great lord, or Mahadeva. This year, the festival will commence this evening.

Of the 12 Shivratris observed in any given year, Maha Shivratri is considered especially auspicious. From our level of existence, it is also the night of convergence of Shiva and Shakti, which in essence mean the masculine and feminine energies, the inert male principle and the feminine power that balance the world. In Hindu culture, this is a solemn festival that as in almost all the others reminds us that ‘overcoming darkness and ignorance in life’ needs us to play our roles as is necessary at different times and eras.

From a ritual standpoint, every Hindu is asked to perform worship to the formless “Linga” that symbolises Shiva. This is done by pouring various specified liquids such as water and milk, etc, each representing various aspects of our being, over the linga to merge with it as is our goal of our atma or soul to merge or receive moksha or liberation with the Divine Soul. These offerings will be made at four intervals or “prahaars” through the night.

Infant sisters wait at a checkpoint run by volunteers after arriving from Ukraine and crossing the border into Beregsurany, Hungary.

Hungary has extended legal protection to those fleeing the Russian invasion (Al Jazeera)

Beyond Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Bruce Golding

T

here are some frightening parallels between Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938 and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine this week.

Both were preceded by the bloodless invasion and annexation of adjoining territory — Austria by Hitler in 1938 and Crimea by Putin in 2014.

Both were claimed to be justified in order to counter what was perceived to be a security threat — the “encirclement policy” by Britain, according to Hitler, and the presence of NATO forces in central and Eastern Europe, according to Putin.

The most frightening of the parallels is the mindset of both Hitler and Putin. Hitler was obsessed with a vision of a united empire of European nations under his leadership which led him to invade and capture Poland, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Belgium and emboldened him to attack France, taking control of Paris, and launch air strikes on Britain.

Putin, as was evident in two speeches he delivered just before the invasion of Ukraine, is obsessed with restoring the power and influence Russia previously exerted through the Soviet Union.

He couldn’t care less about being regarded as an international pariah in pursuit of that objective.

Both scenarios were facilitated by weak leadership from those who could perhaps have made a difference and prevented the aggression — British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who pussyfooted with Hitler long after his expansionist plans were obvious, and US President Donald Trump, who ruptured the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance and repeatedly declared his comfort level

with Putin.

Whether the lines of events will continue in parallel is yet to be seen. A successful takeover of Ukraine will embolden Putin, especially if Russia is able to withstand the sanctions imposed. He would then be able to turn his attention, first to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and then to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. He already has the compliant support of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

This would not necessarily mean military invasion or occupation. That would be difficult and costly. Nor is Putin so naïve as to believe that a Soviet Union can be recreated. His intention is to create a sphere of Russian influence by intimidation, undermining pro-Western Governments and replacing them with regimes more aligned with Russia. It would constitute an effective counter-balancing force to NATO. NATO’s possible response in such a scenario is uncertain as military action has to have the unanimous approval of all member countries, which includes Hungary where the present regime, although supporting the imposition of sanctions, is not ill-disposed toward Russia. What is less uncertain are the consequences of military confrontation between NATO and Russian forces. Putin made it clear in announcing the offensive against Ukraine that any interference from outside will result in “consequences greater than any you have faced in history” — the most warlike pronouncement that has come from Russia since the days of Nikita Khrushchev.

This is not like the 1939 start of the Second World War in which over 50 million people were killed. Today’s weapons of war are far more sophisticated and lethal. In recent

years, Putin has invested considerable sums in rebuilding Russia’s military capability.

He boasted last week about the size of its nuclear arsenal and its “new hyper-soundspeed, high precision weapons that can hit targets at intercontinental distance and can adjust their altitude and course as they travel”.

As is the case with the Minsk Agreement which Putin repudiated this week and which had guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine, except for the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, Putin is unlikely to be restrained by existing treaties designed to prevent war on a global scale or restrict the use of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

The imposition of sanctions, which the Western alliance sees as its only weapon, is a double-edged sword.

Both Europe and Asia depend heavily on gas and oil exports from Russia which amounted to just under US$500 billion last year. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat, accounting for 26 per cent of global output. Cutting off those exports would create significant disruption in the global economy, since such heavy sources of supply cannot be replaced in the short term.

Russia may very well be able to withstand the sanctions. It has the fourth largest stock of foreign reserves in the world — US$643 billion — more than twice the US stock of US$252 billion. It is significant that both the US and the European Union have balked at the proposal by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to exclude Russia from the SWIFT system of financial transfers — a move that would deliver a more crippling blow to Russia, even with its huge foreign reserves, than all the other sanctions combined.

British investments in Russia amount to US$15 billion but

the US and the European Union have much greater exposure — US$100 billion and US$350 billion, respectively.

Marooning those assets is a price they are not yet willing to pay.

The invasion of Ukraine constitutes the most serious challenge to global peace and security since Hitler’s campaign to conquer Europe in the late 1930s. Its total disregard for international law and accepted norms sends an encouraging signal to other countries that seek to assert claims on other sovereign territory. China’s eyes on Taiwan and those of Venezuela on Guyana come quickly to mind.

Putin’s bottom-line demand is for a new security architecture for Europe in which no allied forces are deployed in any of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

That would leave them vulnerable to Russian interference if they continue to align themselves with the West or resist Russian influence.

This would effectively confine NATO to Western Europe — the position that existed prior to the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Putin is clearly determined to test the strength and resilience of the Western alliance and those of the US in particular. He has sensed disunity, indecisiveness and the absence of strong leadership in the NATO alliance. It was perhaps unwise for the US to publicly declare that it would not be putting boots on the ground, even if it was a firm decision not to do so, as it would certainly have factored in Putin’s calculations regarding Ukraine. The advantage, so far, is clearly with Putin.

President Joe Biden must be asking himself what would John F Kennedy or Ronald Reagan have done if they were faced with a similar situation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

5

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

Guyana is in good hands The fighting spirit Dear Editor, The PPP/C Government has never gotten a smooth and easy sailing whether in or out of office. From the inception of that political party of persons to the present era, this party has never had an easy road, there have always been bumps, holes, caverns, what have you, dug into their path to impede its forward movement. This party has been buffeted on every hand.

For starters there has been a mountain of criticisms and negative comments since its accession to office, the first hurdle it had to surmount was to have a free election held within the constitutional stipulated timeline.

In the bullying obstinacy of the PNC, our constitution was flagrantly violated as witnessed in the non-recognition of the No-confidence motion. Even further, there was a fight by the PNC to uphold a fraudulent declara-

tion and a further 5 months of waiting for the rectification of the same. These are some of the glaring instances in the weaponry of the PNC’s Obstructionist plans.

Now, with the founding of oil the naysayers are showing up with a renewed fervor displaying their negativity in every area that they possibly can. So, try every which way to bring the party and government down; just shower them with an avalanche of negatives. But even that cannot deter the progress that has already started.

Everything is now is a sacred cow, never to be exploited, never to be touched, but only to be constantly gazed upon and nothing else. I am talking about the mangroves that are so sacred that a few of them cannot be disrupted because it would bring about the end of the world. Even our oil should not be touched because it would bring about Climate Change, this is the

idiocy that emanates from the halls of the Opposition.

The PNC and the naysayers have all come out in full force to condemn, tear down and stop the very fabric of development and progress. In their book nothing should be touched, nothing should be developed everything should remain in “pristine beauty” that even if Christopher Columbus should return in this century, he would recognize this country.

It is the same asinine reason that the Amaila Falls project never got started, the flaring of natural gas which is a natural occurrence of oil exploration should not come to shore so that we can utilize it. This also means that there should be no expansion nor improvement to our infrastructure and agriculture because it marks an infringement on the “rights” of poor people wanting to squat and get a place called home in this country.

You get my drift! This is the reasoning that this bunch of idiots would want us to absorb! Not forgetting some politically aligned NGO’s and fly by night experts who see gloom in every move this government makes.

But this is not going to happen because with every negative comes the strengthening of the government’s resolve to move this country forward. Development and progress are in the Government’s corner, because we are going to explore every avenue there is to press on in that development trajectory. If we do not have the knowledge and expertise to carry it out, then we will partner with those who have that knowledge and experiential know-how to achieve it. Guyana is in good hands and we are holding on tenaciously to those hands.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

GECOM must adopt measures to ensure employment of credible persons Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), has publicised vacant positions after the firing and conundrum regarding fraudulent elections activities and charges involving key employed officials in its Secretariat. The necessary employment of new staff members to replace the wicked and highly questionable characters must be undertaken in a manner that reflects transparency and realizes the most efficient results. Certainly, we cannot re-create the wheel by allowing impropriety, and

the absolute due diligence approach must be exercised.

The Commission’s decision to undertake measures of cross-matching is appreciated. That is, to look at the applications against the required qualifications and experience while considering the trust and integrity of the applicants.

Notwithstanding, there are concerns regarding the shortlisting of some persons whose records in previous elections leave much to be desired.

Some of the positions published in the preliminaary shortlist of applicants,

Beyond Russia's...

FROM PAGE 4

China could be a strategic game player in this puzzle. Despite its recent declaration of support for Russia in demanding the removal of NATO forces from Central and Eastern Europe, it has subsequently declared its support for Ukraine sovereignty.

Relations between Russia and China have long been tenuous. They share a border of more than 2600 miles. They are both powerful military forces. China is not likely to be enthused about the prospect of Russia once again becoming a dominant influence in Eastern and Central Europe.

Is it possible that China, in the interest of its own security and in an effort to bolster its claim for full acceptance and recognition in the global sphere, could become like the Russia of the Second World War that joined forces with the allies against Hitler and moved Winston Churchill to declare, in ref-

erence to his collaboration with Russian President Joseph Stalin, that “If Hitler invaded hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.”

We must not delude ourselves in thinking that this matter occurring 6000 miles away does not concern us.

The international order is severely threatened and we could be adversely affected in several ways. This is not a fowl fight in which we have no business. Jamaica is not unaccustomed to taking a principled stand on international conflicts. It is what has earned us much respect in international councils.

Caricom has issued a strong statement of condemnation. I hope that the Russian Ambassador to Jamaica has been called in and spoken to.

(Jamaica Observer) (Bruce Golding served as Jamaica’s eighth Prime Minister from September 11, 2007 to October 23, 2011)

however, are quite alarming Given the absence of an elections report from the CEO, the commission and new CEO should carefully review the activities that took place over the five months after the Elections including the massive spending and illegal activities that went on during the five months after March 02, 2020.

It is essential for GECOM to swiftly ensure it has onboard, a cadre of transparently selected professionals to advance its mandate. The advertising process for filling vacancies created by the recent firings of the Chief Elections Officers (CEO) and others facing fraudulent electoral charges, commenced in October 2021.

Publications of those shortlisted for final interviews and potential selection present the opportunity for exposure if there are known issues. Notably, some rogue elements have been able to get past the initial screening process.

GECOM facilitation of the next LGEs is way overdue, and this is not for want of the PPP/C’s urging and support. The Government ensured that sufficient funding was placed in the 2021 budget for the holding of these Elections. The Elections were not held as a consequence of GECOM’s inability to hold the same.

Now, all systems must be put in place to fill all existing vacancies, but this must be defined by the presence of appropriate counterchecks and balances.

The way forward for GECOM must be to win the trust and confidence of the nation by holding free and fair elections. This can only be achieved with a process to select the staff from unstained men and women of integrity. The organization must therefore not buy batteries and torches to avoid footholds that can be avoided upfront.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

of the Ukrainians

Dear Editor, It is reported the Russian forces are meeting ‘strong and wide’ resistance and may have been caught off guard by the pushback from Ukrainian fighters.

This might be so from their defiant president who has not abandon his country or his people.

This is in stark contrast to the Afghanistan situation a few months back

whose president abandoned the country and the soldiers just rolled over, folded and allowed the Taliban in.

The fighting spirit of the Ukrainians must be lauded and applauded in the face of the atrocities and the enormity of the shocking invasion of their country.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Maha Shivratri greetings Dear Editor, Hindus across our beautiful Guyana and by extension the world are preparing themselves for Maha Shivratri which will be observed on Monday, February 28, 2022.

Maha Shivratri is an annual celebration in honour of the great Lord Shiva.

It is a major festival in Hinduism. It is a solemn festival which marks the remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance.

The observance is marked by chanting and prayers to Lord Shiva, fasting and meditating on ethics and virtues.

The People’s National

Congress Reform (PNCR) joins with all our Hindu brothers and sisters in celebrating this auspicious day.

It comes at a time when the world is in search of peace, love, unity and harmony.

It comes at a time when our country is in search of real democracy and togetherness. We pray and chant with our Hindu brothers and sisters in an effort to overcome darkness and ignorance in our country and the world as a whole.

Shubh Maha Shivratri to all.

Sincerely, People’s National Congress Reform

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Guyana The Free

Test 4

By Valerie Rodway

Complete the following test items Calculate 25 ÷ 0.25 0.36 ÷ 0.6 16.4 ÷ 2.5 3/15

Calculate the following: 22/31 ÷ 7, 36 ÷ 8/15 , 18/36 ÷

Kim is in charge of providing bottled water and snacks for her class field trip. Each student will be carrying 0.56 litre of water and 1 sandwich and 0.1 pound of trail mix during the trip. If there are 35 students on the trip, how much water and trail mix and many sandwiches should Kim bring for class?

Last week, Jai spent 3.5 hours repairing his bike over a period of 4.5 days. How many hours a day, on average, did Jai spend working on his bike?

Wendy is making chocolate chip cookies. Each batch requires 3 1/3 cups of sugar and 1/3 of a bag of chocolate chips. If Wendy makes 5 batches of cookies, how many cups of sugar and bags of chocolate chips will she use?

Saturday’s answers

Which of the following triangles is obtuse? ___B_______ Right-angled? ___C_______ acute? ___A_______

4 + (8 – 3)3 + 5(3 + 2) – 5 (5) = 129 3,356,725.0094 written in scientific notation = 3.3567250094 x 106 Manny spent US$15.3 on his collection. US$15.3 = G$3182.4 Which of the following angles is obtuse? The angle measuring 135 degrees Right? The angle measuring 90 degrees acute? The angle measuring 62 degrees

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to make a cool looking cup of lava and explore density.

Materials:

Clear plastic cup or glass Vegetable oil Salt Water Red food colouring

Instructions:

Fill up the clear plastic cup about three quarters of the way full with water.

Now add about five drops of the red food colouring to the water.

Slowly add one quarter of a cup of the vegetable oil into the glass.

Sprinkle the salt on top of the oil.

Now observe as the oil moves up and down in the cup.

Feel free to add more salt to keep the vegetable oil moving!

How it works:

The vegetable oil is less dense than water and floats on the water. The salt is heavier than water. When the salt is sprinkled across the vegetable oil it sinks carrying a little blob of vegetable oil with it. Once the salt reaches the water, it dissolves, releasing the vegetable oil which rises back toward the surface. This action creates the cool bubbling lava in a cup effect.

Make this a science project:

Try different types of oil such as baby oil. Try sugar as a substitute for salt. Try different temperatures of water. (sciencefun.org)

Guyana, Guyana, this fair land of ours Has broken the bondage of far distant powers, We love you Guyana from high land to sea, And pray God make worthy your children to be.

Chorus: All hail to Guyana, our country now free, One people, one nation, one destiny, We pledge every effort, we'll cherish this earth And make here a paradise - Land of our birth.

No rich El Dorado has ever been found Though many have ended their lives on this ground, Our labour in factory, in office and field Will give us the wealth and the full harvest's yield.

With purpose and vigour we'll carve our own fate Unmoved by distraction, prejudice and hate, Together we'll strive for our new nation's goal, Inspired by goodwill, a kinship of soul.

“Education is something we have to keep pursuing day after day.” – Premier Brian Gallant

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Locals can now register with Govt to benefit directly from oil & gas sector …following operationalising of Local Content Registry

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ith last week’s operationalising of the Local Content Registry, locals can now register their businesses and their individual skill sets, with a view of providing services to Guyana’s oil and gas sector while taking up local opportunities.

According to the Natural Resources Ministry, locals can now register in either of two registers, which are being managed through the Ministry. One register deals with supplier registration and the other deals with employment registration.

“The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, has operation-

alised its Local Content Registry as stipulated by the Local Content Act. This Act, which was made into law in December 2021, mandates the Local Content Secretariat to develop and maintain Local Content Registers of Guyanese nationals for employment; and Guyanese nationals and companies from which goods and services may be procured.”

“Using the Supplier Registration Portal, a Guyanese national or Guyanese company can apply for and be issued with a Certificate of Registration from the Secretariat for the supply of goods and or the provision of services

for petroleum operations in Guyana,” the Ministry further explained.

Applicants have the option of submitting their applications in either electronic or hardcopy form. Once their applications are submitted, applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a reference number, after which a review process will start.

“After conducting the necessary checks and balances, the Secretariat will either approve the application and issue a Certificate of Registration or refuse the application and notify the applicant,” they noted.

“Once an application is approved and a Certificate

Workers in the oil and gas sector

4 mothers to spend more time in jail on acid attack charge

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Remanded: Latifah DaCosta; Alana Holder; Jennifer Validen and Gailann Marks

our mothers who are accused of dousing their rival with acid were denied bail again and further remanded to prison on Friday when they appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Charged are: Jennifer Validen, 28, a mother of three of Albouystown, Georgetown; 28-year-old Alana Holder, a mother of three of North East La Penitence, Georgetown; Gailann Marks, 21, a mother of two of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; and Latifah DaCosta, a 26-year-old mother of one of Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on January 21, at Princes Street, Georgetown, they caused grievous bodily harm to 24-year-old Renesha Maxwell of West Ruimveldt, with intent to commit murder. The quartet was initially charged on January 28 and remanded to prison.

When they appeared in court Friday, their lawyers renewed their application for reasonable bail. The lawyers had previously told

the court that their clients are not flight risks and had all surrendered after wanted bulletins were issued for them.

However, the Police prosecutor had opposed them being released on bail.

In so doing, he had said that the complainant was hospitalised in a serious condition. The prosecutor also highlighted the serious nature of the offence and the gravity of the charge.

These objections were upheld and bail refused by the Magistrate.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Maxwell had taken a taxi from Leopold Street, Georgetown, and as she was travelling in the car, she observed another car following behind.

With this realisation, she reportedly told the driver to stop, and as soon as the car stopped, four women exited the trailing car and approached her.

One of them, reportedly Validen, then threw a liquid substance on her, after which she immediately felt a burning sensation about her body and began to scream.

She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was seen, treat-

ed, and later admitted with burns to her back and left hand.

The court prosecutor informed the court that at one point the accused persons and Maxwell were all friends but “something

went wrong amongst them”.

Following the incident, the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for the four mothers who, accompanied by their lawyers, later surrendered at the Ruimveldt Police Station. (G1)

of Registration granted, the applicant will be issued with log in credentials to gain access to either the Supplier Registration Portal or the Employment Portal,” the Ministry further explained.

It was noted that the Local Content Secretariat will communicate available procurement and employment opportunities to registered Guyanese suppliers and those seeking employment, respectively. This, they noted, will be done through the respective portals.

According to the Local Content Act passed last year, oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, as well their contractors and sub-contractors must procure from Guyanese companies by the end of 2022, 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent pest control services; 100 per cent local insurance services; 75 per cent local supply of food; and 90 per cent local ac-

counting services. These are just some of the 40 different services outlined in the first schedule.

Previously, a portal for registering locals existed in the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD). As of last year, it had been reported that CLBD had over 2700 local businesses registered in its database.

The CLDB was set up in 2017 by ExxonMobil, in collaboration with DAI Global, LLC, to assist small and medium-sized local businesses to build their capacity and their ability to compete to offer services in the oil and gas sector and other industries.

When it was set up, the Centre was expected to focus on developing local vendors that serve key sectors of the oil and gas industry, including areas such as safety equipment, marine operations, offshore supply and civil construction. It was also supposed to provide mentoring, coaching, and access to financial support. (G3)

8 NEWS JURIST Project has improved quality, efficiency of Guyana’s justice system – Chancellor MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…reiterates need for more Judges

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uyana’s Judiciary has received unwavering support from the Canada-funded Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project, which, according to Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, has improved the quality and efficiency of the country’s justice system.

She made these remarks at a recent ceremony for the handing over of several digital notice boards which have been installed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. “We have received enormous, tangible, and appreciable support from the JURIST which has enhanced the country’s judicial system and increased the ability to deliver justice in a timely, efficient, and effective manner and to ensure access to justice,” said Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards as she expressed gratitude to the Canadian Government.

She outlined that the

Judiciary has received support in case management and case disposition training, backlog reduction and elimination, drafting and implementation of the new civil procedure rules, public education programmes, model guidelines for handling sexual offence cases, mediation training, the establishment of a knowledge management system, and gender training.

Training for trainer

In terms of training for the trainer, she said that several Magistrates and Judges have received training on how to enhance their capacity, disaster management and planning, Information Technology, and tools for court among other areas at training programmes offered by JURIST that were held in Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Under the old civil procedure rules from 1985, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards explained that cases “took over three years” before hearing dates were assigned, noting that it was evident that delays and backlog, the excessive cost

associated with litigation and unintelligent and archaic processes were the order of the day.

However, Justice Cummings-Edwards said that with the help of JURIST, the Judiciary under the stewardship of then-Chancellor Carl Singh was able to implement new

units, Skype units, and laptops to the Judiciary. The donation of equipment has been timely and has assisted the Judiciary in its efforts at modernisation and getting the work done during the pandemic, Justice Cummings-Edwards said.

“The COVID was like an enemy and came in like

open to meet the legal needs of society. At present, some local Magistrates and Judges are contributing to a regional bench book which is being done by the JURIST Project.

The JURIST Project is a multi-year (2014-2023) regional Caribbean judicial reform initiative funded under an arrangement with the Government of Canada.

The Project is being implemented on behalf of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Conference of Heads of Judiciary of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which was appointed by the Conference as its Regional Executing Agency (REA).

The JURIST Project commenced activities on April 1, 2014, after the signing of a Contribution Arrangement between the CCJ and GAC. The Government of Canada is providing CAD19,400,000.00 while the CCJ as the executing agency and other region-

civil procedure rules in 2016 which see cases being assigned hearing dates within a few months of being filed, resulting in cases flowing efficiently in the justice system.

“The pre-trial process itself is much shorter…today the Supreme Court can boast of zero backlogs of all matters under the old rules.

The rate at which cases are managed under the new rules “has us all crying out for more Judges’”, she added.

According to her, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has taken heed of “our cries” for more than the “11 plus two Judges in the High Court”.

She said there is also a need for more Magistrates.

She further said that the JURIST-trained mediators have undergone refresher trainer and have been working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic to “tackle matters than can be deposed of by way of mediation”.

Apart from digital notice boards, the JURIST Project has donated IT equipment such as digital audio recording units, public address

a flood and tried to disrupt and disturb and destroy every institution, every activity, every business. And the Judiciary was not spared, however, a standard was lifted which destroyed the pandemic’s efforts at crippling the operations of the court…” she added.

She continued, “With the support from JURIST, we have been able to accomplish much. The support from JURIST over the year has been phenomenal and it grew exponentially during the pandemic. We were moving on the turtle’s back on the technological road.

Many of our courts were without recording units. The handwriting of notes of evidence was the order of the day. Witnesses were asked to slow down as they gave their testimony or even to repeat aspects of their testimony to afford an accurate note-taking of the evidence by the judicial officer”.

But thanks to JURIST, Justice Cummings-Edwards said that the Judiciary can now boast that all of the courts have facilities for recording evidence. “The end game”, she noted, has been to safely keep the courts

al partners will contribute CAD1,441,689.00 and CAD2,883,327.00, respectively.

The Project is working with judiciaries in the region to support their own efforts to improve court administration and strengthen the ability of the courts and the Judiciary to resolve cases efficiently and fairly. The Project is being implemented in at least six countries and will be expanded to include other territories in the region.

The Project is also building the capacity of regional trial and appellate courts, including the CCJ, to facilitate the deepening of economic integration and improve court governance, case flow management, and the timeliness of case disposition.

According to the JURIST Project, the enhancement of fair and efficient case disposition will improve the quality of justice delivery, inspire public confidence in the justice system, foster gender equality throughout the courts and make the region more attractive to foreign and domestic investment. (G1)

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards

Changes…

Y

…or PNC posturings? our Eyewitness’s heart really bleeds for Aubrey Norton. Here’s a fella who’s given his entire life – he’s now in his sixties – to the PNC. And yet he’s being made to be the fella staring into the (PNC) showroom window from the outside. It gotta be taking a toll on the fella who came out of Linden –- like Robert Corbin. But yet wasn’t only snubbed by the middle-class-bound Desmond Hoyte, but by Corbin. The pain gotta be greater when you’re betrayed by your “own”.

But it’s said that abused children become abusive parents and Corbin was abused for his class and country origins something fierce. Not only by Hoyte but by the entire League of Coloured People (LCP) type that controls the PNC. God knows Corbin tried to join them when he saw he couldn’t beat them! But finally threw in the towel for the “greater good” of the PNC by handing it over to a card-carrying member of the LCP – David Granger. Maybe he thought he was doing Norton a favour not to subject him to another discarding as a “creature”?

Anyhow, the LCP fella turned out to be a Sanctimonious Gangster – who didn’t have the belly to see through the gamble he’d taken to seize power by any means necessary – in the footsteps of Burnham. So once a “hero” to the PNC base, he became a “zero” who now can’t even be seen. In the meantime, the PNC powers-that-be once again picked someone who they think can “manners” the PPP – like they thought Corbin would – Norton. And we’ve come a full circle.

But will it be the same as before? Now the “circle” of history’s more like a spiral than a flat circle. Meaning, it never arrives at the same place it started. Being a spiral, it can end higher or lower than the starting point!! So what’s the scoop on Norton? Quite simply, Granger, like Hoyte, doesn’t think Norton is “PNC leadership” material. Doesn’t look the part, doesn’t talk the part and doesn’t have the heritage for the part.

For him to accept Norton and appoint him as the Opposition Leader would be to accept that his claim to fame – his LCP credentials – are now passé!! And this he ain’t doing!! So what’s Norton to do? Well, he’s holding weekly press conferences which is something Granger never did. But has this changed anything? Nah…the PNC’s base didn’t vote for him to talk. They want ACTION!!

Which he can’t deliver, since the international powersthat-be ain’t accepting that!!

So he just called for the abolition of income taxes to become relevant. But who’s listening? All this means is poor Norton’s spiralling downwards! …in children’s heroes?

Can you believe it’s been TWENTY YEARS since “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” – came out?? That’s right – twenty years!! Meaning all the prepubescent kids who circled bookstores for blocks to welcome the latest addition to the series – as if they were gloves of Michael Jackson thrown into the crowd - -are now in their thirties!!

Imagine that!!

Your Eyewitness, who’d been a bit of a bookworm as a kid – well a TOTAL bookworm, it must be admitted! – was quite chuffed that Rowling had managed to create a new generation of readers. Tomes were written about this aspect of the phenomenon as on Hogwarts!! The question, however, was that in the age of the fast-evolving Internet and social media, whether the revolution would last.

And this can now be answered – NAH!! Once again, we’re staring at “death of reading” in the face. Very few young persons read more than two paragraphs at one go!!

Much less 7 thick tomes!!

Is a new Rowling on the horizon? …in sugar plans?

Your Eyewitness thinks the Govt’s pleasantly pragmatic about sugar’s future on the East Coast. As he’s been saying since the PNC’s vindictive move…once sugar workers saw PPP’s bright lights, you couldn’t keep them down in the fields!!

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

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Active COVID-19 cases drop to 650 …12 new infections recorded, 10 in ICU

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD FEBRUARY 27, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

12

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

31

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

609

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

10

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

12

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

33,945

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

28,958

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

62,903

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,033

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2507

REGION 2

2459

REGION 3

8024

REGION 4

31,091

REGION 5

2362

REGION 6

5697

REGION 7

2418

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

3993

REGION 10

3465

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

431,597 326,867

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1220

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.

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he total number of active novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Guyana dropped to 650 on Sunday.

This is after only 12 new infections were reported within 24 hours, according to Sunday’s updated COVID-19 dashboard.

Consequently, confirmed cases in the country is now at 62,903.

Of the active cases, 10 are patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in isolation, that is, 31 in institutional isolation and the other 609 in home isolation.

There are also 12 more persons in institutional quarantine.

The Health Ministry did not report any new fatalities on Sunday hence the COVID-19 death toll remains at 1220.

So far, some 61,033 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 104 new recoveries when compared to the figure reported the previous day.

Meanwhile, since the outbreak of the novel coro-

navirus in Guyana, a total 539,009 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 28,958 males and 33,945 females were found to be positive.

Of the 12 cases recorded on Sunday, one each was from Regions One (BarimaWaini), Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), while six of these cases were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), another two from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and the remaining one more case from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

There were no new cases detected in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) within the 24-hour period.

This apparent decline in COVID-19 cases comes on the heels of widespread surges in infections late December up until recent weeks. Those increases were attributed to the Omicron variant, which though not

deadly is highly transmissible.

Nevertheless, health authorities continue to urge persons to get vaccinated, and for those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.

Latest figures show that so far, over 431,590 adults or 84.1 per cent have taken a first dose and of that amount, some 326,860 or 63.7 per cent 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For the adolescent age group, more than 24,130 or 33.1 per cent are fully vaccinated. Additionally, in excess of 49,742 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

However, 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 – which are more significant now with the rapidly-spreading Omicron

variant.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recent figures, some 430,257,564 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 5,922,049 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 146,449,865 while the death toll in the region

has gone up to 2,618,433.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, WHO also reported that a total of 10,407,359,583 doses have been administered worldwide. (G8)

10 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fire guts Wakenaam business

This image captured by a resident shows the business place on fire

A

fire suspected to be electrical in origin completely destroyed the home and business place of a Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) businessman.

Reports are that the fire started sometime between 02:30h and 04:45h on Sunday morning at Lot 18 Belle Plaine Wakenaam Island, Essequibo River.

As flames gutted the building, 54-year-old businessman Anil Rambarran had to be rushed to the hospital after his blood pressure skyrocketed.

According to Police, Rambarran and his 54-yearold wife, were asleep in their four bedroom, two-storey concrete and wooden struc-

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn meeting with the fire victims

The aftermath of the fire

ture which houses A&C Business Enterprise in the lower flat, when they were awoken by screams coming from neighbours.

The couple rushed out of bed and discovered that smoke was coming from the shop in the lower flat of their

home. Reports are that the couple escaped through their back door and ran out on the road and watched as their entire home was engulfed in flames.

Residents in the area formed bucket brigades but their efforts were futile.

Police stated that Fire Service ranks of Essequibo Fire Station and Leonora Fire Station responded to the scene but the entire building was engulfed.

However, they managed to prevent further damages to the neighbouring home.

The couple’s neighbour, Shanta Jairam, said that she was asleep and awoke to the smell of smoke and raised an alarm.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire began at the bottom flat of the home where the business is located and then quickly spread to other sections.

Meanwhile, the busi-

nessman said that his losses are in the millions, pointing out that the business was his sole source of income.

The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation.

Meanwhile, following the fire, a high-level team visited the family. The team was led by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and included Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Deodat Indar; Chief Fire Officer (ag), Gregory Wickham; Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Chairman, Inshan Ayube; Region Three Deputy Chairman, Omesh Satyanand; Deputy Police Commissioner “Operation”, Clifton Hicken; Region Three Police Commander, Errol Watts; Regional Detective Officer, ASP Grant, and several other ranks visited the island where they met with the victims and residents.

Bicycle thief nabbed with illegal gun, ammo

The illegal gun with matching ammunition that was found in the suspect’s bag

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olice in Division 4C (East Coast Demerara) have arrested a man who was accused of stealing a bicycle but was found with an illegal firearm and matching ammunition. Reports are that a party of policemen on patrol in a Force vehicle, assisted by two ranks on motorcycle patrol, responded to a report of stolen bicycles in Beterverwagting, ECD, at about 10:00h on Sunday. During the operation, a 22-year-old unem-

ployed male of Paul’s Lane, Beterverwagting, was seen riding a bicycle that was positively identified by the victim as a stolen bicycle. The suspect was arrested along with the stolen bicycle and escorted to the Beterverwagting Police Station. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a brown shoulder bag. On arrival at the station, he disposed of the bag away in the Police compound, however, it was recovered by a rank and upon inspection, a .38 revolv-

er containing 6 live rounds of ammunition in the chamber and 6 live rounds in the bag were found. The cops questioned the young man whether he was a licensed firearm holder and he responded “no”.

As a result, he was told of the offence and cautioned. He remained silent. The firearm was examined and no serial number was found. It was photographed, sealed and lodged.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old suspect was placed into custody pending charges.

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wakenaam early morning fire

12 residents undergoing firefighting training

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and visiting officials with some of the residents from Wakenaam who are being trained in firefighting

T

he Guyana Fire Service has announced that 12 persons were trained and equipped with firefighting equipment to tackle fires on the Essequibo island of Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

This move followed an early morning fire on the island that completely destroyed the home of a 54-year-old businessman, Anil Rambarran.

Fire response from the Essequibo Coast and West Demerara was deployed to the island to put out the blaze.

al store.

As a result of the fire, the entire building and its contents were destroyed. It was reported that Rambarran had to rush to the hospital after his blood pressure reportedly went up.

Firefighters from the Anna Regina and Leonora Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location in response to the report.

Two portable pumps working from a nearby trench along with a pipe from a mandir were used by firefighters and residents to ex-

Firefighters preparing to leave for Wakenaam early Sunday morning after receiving the report of the blaze

As a result, the Fire Service has immediately commenced firefighting training of persons on the island.

The training will continue on March 7. The initiative will be extended to Leguan and other islands in the near future.

In a statement to the media, the GFS said a call was received at around 03:30h on Sunday, reporting the fire at the Lot 17 Belle Plaine, Wakenaam, Essequibo River two-storey property. The top floor of the building served as Rambarran and his wife’s living quarters while the bottom floor was operated as a gener-

tinguish the blaze.

While the fire is suspected to have been electrical in origin, investigations are underway to ascertain what caused it.

The Guyana Fire Service has since applauded residents of Wakenaam for their swift action which resulted in the containment of the fire.

“Gratitude is also extended to the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force and Community Policing Group for lending support and assisting in transporting ranks and other officials to the island,” the GFS said in the missive.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prominent Guyanese businessman calls for cohesion between Govt, Opposition …lauds President Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative

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he Government and the Opposition need to work closely together in order to ensure the development of not just Guyana but the Guyanese people as well.

This is according to prominent Guyanese businessman, Nazar Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, the businessman, who widely known for his philanthropy and humanitarian work across the country as well as in the Guyanese Diaspora, ruled out any aspirations to join the political arena.

However, while he has “absolutely no interest in politics”, Mohamed expressed his desired to see Guyana transformed into a thriving nation with its peo-

Businessman Nazar Mohamed

ple living a better quality of life in peace and harmony with each other.

“What I want to see in this country is a cohesion be-

tween the two major political parties, between the two major races. I want to see closeness. I want to see us moving beyond this gap, this

barrier and work together to develop our country and develop our people in an environment of justice and fairness,” the business mogul explained.

Contrary to popular belief, Mohamed pointed out that he supports all political parties.

According to the businessman, “…that’s our business obligation but I have absolutely no interest in being a politician”.

Nonetheless, Mohamed went on to laud the work of the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration for the work they have been doing to propel the country and its people. However, he was particularly in high praises of President Ali’s brainchild initiative – Building a “One Guyana”.

“You can see from everything that he’s been doing, he’s extremely interested in having this ‘One Guyana’,” he asserted.

Moreover, the businessman also commended First Lady Arya Ali for the work she has also been doing to match the President’s drive to enhance the quality of life in Guyana.

“She has a lot of energy just like President Ali and I’m confident that together, and with the cooperation of the Opposition – [when] we have a new Opposition Leader – because I think times have changed [and it’s now] for us to move away from ‘one party’ kind of politics, where we can work together for the benefit and the betterment of the people of this country,” Mohamed posited.

Oil serves as a catalyst

He further stressed that the country’s newfound oil wealth should serve as a catalyst, and motivation, for stakeholders, especially political leaders, to get together so that everyone can have a hand in the country’s journey of unprecedented economic transformation.

Earlier this month, President Ali, while addressing more than 50 religious leaders from North America, explained that his Government’s “One Guyana” vision is about promoting greater inclusion at the legislative, political and social levels.

He said, “No Government has all the answers. It is my wish to be able to benefit from the viewpoints of all, including our political parties, trade unions, Private Sector, workers and social organisations. ‘One Guyana’ is, therefore, a social contract of inclusion”.

The President reiterated that the “One Guyana” vision is about creating a more equal society, guaranteeing that everyone is afforded the opportunity to lead productive and happy lives as well as reducing inequality in access to education, health, employment, income and

justice.

Following the resignation of Joseph Harmon from the post last month, there is currently no Opposition Leader and there is uncertainty over the APNU/AFC coalition’s plans to appoint one.

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader, Aubrey Norton, had indicated that the party’s Central Executive wants him to take up the role of Opposition Leader. The PNC is the largest party in the APNU fraction of the coalition Opposition.

Since then, Norton has also taken up the position as Chairman of the APNU after his predecessor, former President David Granger, resigned.

While Harmon was initially adamant about remaining Opposition Leader, he eventually stepped down from the post but did not resign as a Member of Parliament.

However, earlier this month, Opposition MP Dr Nicolette Henry indicated during the 2022 Budget Debates that it was her last presentation in the National Assembly, leading to the assumption that she was making way for Norton to become a parliamentarian in order to take up the role.

But no move has been made in this direction by the Opposition.

Nevertheless, both Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips have indicated that President Ali will meet with the new Opposition Leader whenever that post if filled.

“We are ready to work with whoever is appointed or elected Leader of the Opposition in the interest of Guyana…what we ask in return is for the new Leader of the Opposition to accept the legitimacy of our Government. This is a Government that was elected by the people of Guyana,” PM Phillips had stated during his contribution to the Budget Debates earlier this month. (G8)

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14

National Clean-Up Campaign MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over the weekend, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony led clean-up campaigns along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). Residents, Neighbourhood Democratic Councillors, Regional Democratic Councillors, community leaders, contractors, the Guyana Prison Service, prisoners and the Guyana Police Force were all part of the clean-up team (Attorney General photos)

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Putin puts nuclear deterrent on alert as West rallies behind Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen take positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region, Ukraine February 27, 2022 (Reuters/Maksim Levin)

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resident Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday in the face of a barrage of Western reprisals for his war on Ukraine, which said it had repelled Russian ground forces attacking its biggest cities.

The United States said Putin was escalating the war with “dangerous rhetoric”, amid signs that the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two was not producing rapid victories, but instead generating a far-reaching and concerted Western response.

The Ukrainian president’s office said negotiations with Moscow without preconditions would be held at the BelarusianUkrainian border. But it was not clear when they would start.

“I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try, so that later not a single citizen of Ukraine has any doubt that I, as president, tried to stop the war,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Less than four days after it started, the invasion has triggered a Western political, strategic, economic and corporate response unprecedented in its extent and coordination.

The 27-nation European Union decided for the first time in its history to supply weapons to a country at war, and a source told Reuters it would send 450

million euros ($507 million) of weaponry to its eastern neighbour.

As missiles fell on Ukrainian cities, nearly 400,000 civilians, mainly women and children, have fled into neighbouring countries. Hundreds were stranded in Kyiv on Sunday waiting for trains to take them west, away from the fighting.

The capital remained in Ukrainian government hands, with Zelenskiy rallying his people daily despite Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure.

The World Health Organization said medical oxygen was running low.

But a doctor said a blood bank where donors had come under fire on Saturday was again packed.

The EU shut all Russian planes out of its airspace, as did Canada, and banned the Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik. With flight options dwindling, the United States and France urged their citizens to consider leaving Russia immediately.

Germany, which had already frozen a planned undersea gas pipeline from Russia, said it would increase defence spending massively, casting off decades of reluctance to match its economic power with military clout. The British oil major BP announced it would give up its 19.75% stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft (ROSN.MM), writ-

ing off up to $25 billion.

World Bank President David Malpass said the Group of Seven economies would discuss Ukraine on Tuesday, and that the bank may be able to provide Ukraine with financial aid in days.

‘Not deterrence but threat’

But Putin, who has called the invasion a “special operation”, thrust an alarming new element into play when he ordered Russia’s “deterrence forces” - which wield nuclear weapons - onto high alert.

He has justified the invasion by saying “neo-Nazis” rule Ukraine and threaten Russia’s security - a charge Kyiv and Western governments say is baseless propaganda.

On Sunday, he cited aggressive statements by NATO leaders and the raft of economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West.

“Not only do Western countries take unfriendly measures against our country in the economic dimension - I mean the illegal sanctions that everyone knows about very well - but also the top officials of leading NATO countries allow themselves to make aggressive statements with regards to our country,” he said on state television.

Putin previously referred to his nuclear arsenal in a speech announcing the start of the invasion on Thursday,

saying Russia’s response to any country that stood in its way would be immediate and carry “consequences that you have never encountered in your history”.

The EU foreign policy chief said Russia had clearly threatened a nuclear attack on countries supporting Ukraine after the invasion.

“Just to mention the possibility of using nuclear weapons - it’s such a gigantic irresponsibility that says a lot about the personality of (the person) who is doing that,” Josep Borrell told a news conference in Brussels after a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“We are afraid that Russia is not going to stop in Ukraine.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council: “This is another escalatory and unnecessary step that threatens us all. We urge Russia to tone down this dangerous rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons.”

A US defence official said Washington was trying to assess what Putin’s announcement meant, but that it increased the danger from any miscalculation.

In the strongest economic sanctions yet, the United States and Europe said on Saturday they would banish big Russian banks from the main global payments system SWIFT and announced other measures to limit Moscow’s use of a $630 billion war chest.

The president of neutral Switzerland said he expected his government to follow the EU on Monday in sanctioning Russia and freezing Russian assets.

In New York, the U.N. Security Council convened a rare emergency meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, or all the United Nations’ 193 member states, for Monday.

Rolling protests have been held around the world against the invasion, including in Russia, which has clamped down hard, detaining an additional 2,000 protesters on Sunday in 48 cities, bringing total arrests there to more than 4,000.

Tens of thousands of people across Europe marched in protest against Russia’s invasion, including more

President Vladimir Putin

than 100,000 in Berlin.

Battle for Kharkiv

A Ukrainian state news agency said that Russian troops had blown up a natural gas pipeline in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, sending a burning cloud into the sky.

Soon after, Russian armour rolled into Kharkiv, in northwest Ukraine, and witnesses reported firing and explosions. But city authorities said the attack had been repelled.

Reuters was unable to corroborate the information.

Ukrainian forces also appeared to be holding off Russian troops advancing on Kyiv.

However, satellite imagery released by the private Maxar Technologies taken on Sunday showed a 5 km (3.25 mile) long convoy of Russian ground forces including tanks approximately 40 miles (64 km) away heading towards Kyiv.

Reuters could not independently verify the images.

“We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. The fighting goes on,” Zelenskiy said in the latest of several video messages from the streets of Kyiv. He has declined to leave the city and has been marshalling combatants and civilians, many of whom have sought shelter in underground railway stations.

A U.N relief agency said more than 368,000 refugees had crossed into neighbouring countries, clogging railways, roads and borders.

At least 352 civilians, including 14 children, have

been killed and 1,684 people have been wounded, Ukraine’s Health Ministry said.

A United Nations agency reported 64 civilian deaths and a Ukrainian presidential adviser said 4,500 Russian soldiers had been killed. Reuters was not able to verify the numbers.

“The Russian army does not threaten civilians in Ukraine. It is not shelling civilian infrastructure,” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the U.N. Security Council.

Moscow acknowledged that Russian soldiers had been killed and wounded, but said its losses were far lower than those suffered

by Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported. It said Russian attacks had hit 1,067 Ukrainian military sites. Moscow has not released casualty figures.

Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, won independence from Moscow in 1991 at the fall of the Soviet Union and has pushed to join the NATO Western military alliance and the EU, goals Russia vehemently opposes.

Germany, which is sending anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition to Ukraine, said on Sunday said it would boost defence spending to more than 2% of its economic output in response to the attack, ending its postWorld War Two practice.

“There could be no other answer to Putin’s aggression,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers.

(Reuters)

16 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CANU unearths firearms in Georgetown R

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) over the past week conducted several operations in Georgetown during which two illegal

firearms and ammunition were discovered.

The exercise was conducted between February 25 and 27, 2022, by officers from the Unit’s Special

Operations team.

Of the two handguns seized, one was a Taurus 9 mm pistol along with a 10-round magazine and the other was a .38 Special

Revolver.

According to CANU, these operations are part of its collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to keep communities safe

“Drunken” Albouystown man who broke into home and stole items to be sentenced today

T

he Albouystown, Georgetown man who claims he was drunk when he broke into an apartment and stole laptops and other items, will be sentenced today.

Earlier this month, Christopher Gonsalves, 30, of Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown, was brought before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge, to which he admitted guilt, stated that on January 21, at Camp Street, Georgetown, he broke into an apartment, and stole a haversack, two laptops, a Nigerian passport, personal documents, a cell phone, several flash drives, a bag and other personal items, amounting to $389,500.

The court heard from the prosecutor that the virtual complainants secured their

ed to the Police and an investigation was launched.

In brief remarks, Gonsalves told the court that he was under the influence when he broke into the home and that he is not aware that he took the items. He told the Magistrate that he entered the apartment through an open door.

But one of the complainants, who was present in court, said that this could not be the case, since he locked the door himself before retiring to bed. Gonsalves was previously charged with offering a Police rank a bribe to forgo charges against him after he was allegedly busted with a quantity of narcotics. (G1)

Guilty: Christopher Gonsalves

home and went to sleep at around 00:30h on the day in question. However, at around 03:30h, the man was awakened by his girlfriend who told him that someone

was inside their apartment.

The couple made checks around their home and discovered that the items listed in the charge were missing.

The incident was report-

as part of the National Safe Country Strategy.

“CANU would like to thank the general public for their support, as well as the numerous tips we have received from various commu-

nities; we will continue to work with you in rooting out narcotics and criminal activities from your respective areas,” a brief missive from the Unit detailed.

Russian convoy of ground forces, tanks moving toward Kyiv – Maxar says

A satellite image shows Russian ground forces northeast of Ivankiv heading in the direction of Kyiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies/Handout via Reuters)

S

atellite imagery taken on Sunday showed a large deployment of Russian ground forces including tanks moving in the direction of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from approximately 40 miles (64 km) away, a private US company said.

The images released by Maxar Technologies Inc (MAXR.N) showed a deploy-

ment comprised of hundreds of military vehicles and extending more than 3.25 miles (5 km), Maxar said.

The convey was situated northeast of the Ukrainian city of Ivankiv and contained fuel, logistics and armored vehicles including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery, it said.

The satellite images also showed damage caused by recent airstrikes on the Antonov airport in Hostomel, and heavy fighting in and near the airport, Maxar reported.

Maxar has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces for weeks. Its images could not be independently verified by Reuters. (Reuters)

NEWS

17

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

G7 vows new Russia sanctions if invasion continues

L

eaders of the G7 on Sunday threatened fresh sanctions against Russia as the top US diplomat Antony Blinken said the group of wealthy nations was “fully aligned” against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States warned in a joint statement that they would “take further steps” to add to the sanctions already announced if Russia did not cease its operation.

Russian military gains in Ukraine achieved through its ongoing campaign leading to “any change of status” such as the annexation of territory “will not be recognised”, G7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

In a later statement, Blinken said the group has “never been more fully aligned across the globe

An Ukrainian Territorial Defence fighter examines a destroyed Russian infantry mobility vehicle GAZ Tigr after the fight in Kharkiv on February 27, 2022 (Photo: AFP)

to defend and preserve the freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine

and all states.”

G7 nations

have

already

slapped harsh sanctions on Russia for invading neighbouring Ukraine.

The United States and EU have excluded some Russian banks from the international bank payments system SWIFT and personally targeted President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Sunday, Japan said it will also join in removing selected Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system, offer millions in humanitarian aid, and seek to identify and freeze assets belonging to Putin and other Russian officials.

Blinken said Tokyo’s move demonstrates the G7’s “unity and resolve” and will help to “impose massive costs on Russia and thwart its ability to wage its war of choice on Ukraine.”

The European Union on Sunday announced plans to bar Russian planes from its airspace, after individual member states and Britain had earlier taken similar measures.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014, but the West has refused to recognise the change in territorial status.

Moscow also backed separatists in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions from 2014 in a conflict that has claimed more than 14,000 lives, according to monitoring groups.

Putin’s decision to recognise the breakaway republics as independent states this week sparked international condemnation as an assault on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The move proved to be a prelude to Thursday’s invasion. (AFP)

Bolsonaro won't condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, while departing from his Government's official stance at the United Nations to say Brazil would remain neutral.

Bolsonaro, a far-right populist, recently snubbed US entreaties not to visit Putin in Moscow ahead of the invasion, and angered Western allies by saying he was "in solidarity with Russia", without elaborating.

On Friday, Brazil voted

for a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite reluctance

by Bolsonaro. Russia vetoed the resolution.

At a press conference, Bolsonaro said he spoke for two hours with Putin. In a subsequent statement, the country's Foreign Ministry said Bolsonaro did not speak with Putin on Sunday, but was instead referring to his conversation with the Russian leader in Moscow.

In Sunday's press conference, Bolsonaro said Brazil

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro looks on during the launch ceremony of the National Identity Card at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, February 23, 2022

will remain neutral in the conflict, noting Russia and Ukraine were "practically brother nations".

"We will not take sides, we will continue being neutral, and help with whatever is possible," Bolsonaro said.

"A big part of Ukraine's population speaks Russian".

Asked by a reporter whether he was willing to condemn Putin's actions, he said he would wait for a final report, or see how the situation is resolved, before giving his opinion.

He added that he was against any sanctions that

could bring negative repercussions for Brazil, citing Russian fertilisers which are crucial for the country's giant agribusiness sector.

Bolsonaro also said he did not think Putin's forces would carry out any mass bloodletting in Ukraine.

"A chief of state like that of Russia does not want to undertake a massacre, anywhere," he said, adding that in two southern regions of Ukraine, some 90 per cent of the population wanted to "approximate themselves to Russia." (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Regional

Jamaican students currently at Poland- Barbados bracing for impact Ukraine border — Johnson Smith from Ukraine-Russia unrest

I

n an update via her Instagram page on Sunday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, stated that the 24 Jamaican students who were making their way out of the Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, have reached the Polish border.

In a previous address, the Minister stated that the students had to take the trek to the border by foot after their journey by bus “was disrupted”.

She disclosed that the issue now is to get through the border checkpoints, which is proven difficult by the crowd of people also trying to cross the border into Poland.

“These areas are extremely crowded so it will

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamina Johnson-Smith

take some time for them to go through. Regrettably we understand that two of the students are not feeling well, one in particular because of the cold. She is currently getting care in an ambulance at that border crossing point,” the Minister reported.

She affirmed that Jamaican and Polish representatives are on their way

to the border “with a heated bus to accommodate the 24 students” once they have made it through the border checkpoint.

Johnson Smith also reiterated that accommodations for the students have been made in Poland and arrangements are being made in terms of flights to Jamaica as soon as they are available.

“I am asking for some calm and understanding because of the size of the crowds at the border crossing so please Jamaica and our Jamaican friends, please pray for them, pray for their strength, their good health and their passage through unto the other side,” the minister urged. (Jamaica Observer)

B

arbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says her administration will be taking measures to brace for the possible impact of the unrest in Ukraine and Russia.

According to Mottley, the unrest could have implications for the cost of fuel and food, the supply of food and result in disruptions in the supply chain globally.

Speaking during Saturday’s COVID-19 update, however, she noted that Barbados’ reserves stood at over US$3 billion, representing about 37 weeks of import cover, giving the country the ability to have adequate buffers to deal with the capacity to manage any increased prices.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

Mottley assured Barbadians that the situation was being monitored for some time, and meetings with the Private Sector had already taken place since last year.

In addition, she noted

that efforts were being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security to boost food production in the country to ensure Barbados was in a better position to feed its citizens.

The Prime Minister also said that during her recent trip to Guyana, discussions were held about the urgent importance of having the Barbados-Guyana Food Terminal established.

She further noted that a recent Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting also examined plans that would allow Barbados to produce 25 per cent of food that was currently being imported by 2025. (Excerpt from CMC)

Machel to perform at MahaShivRatri Trinidad: Relatives of celebrations in India missing divers protest

O

n Tuesday (Carnival Tuesday), soca superstar Machel Montano will perform at the biggest event of his career, the MahaShivRatri celebrations, at the Isha Yoga Center in India. MahaShivRatri is one of the largest and most sacred festivals in India, and the gathering at Isha Yoga Center attracted more than 120 million people, in person and online in 2021.

A media release said for Montano this will not be just another stage appearance, as it is deeply connected to his own spiritual journey, upon which he has embarked with his wife, Renee and his manager, Che Kothari.

“In fact, for the past seven months, Montano has been in India participating in a yoga programme (Sadhanapada) at the Isha Yoga Center, under the tutelage of Sadhguru, Yogi, mystic, and one of the most influential visionaries of our time. At MahaShivRatri, Sadhguru leads the nightlong festival of meditation, music and dance.”

The media release said on the night, Montano will

perform new music from his label MONK music, a collaboration between himself and Marge Blackman titled “Touch The Ground” which is featured on the Save Soil Riddim produced by DJ Private Ryan.

“It is one of the most profound moments of my life, to be performing at this festival. After 40 years in the music industry, I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for this opportunity and for what it represents on a global level,” Montano said when asked about the performance.

Hindu community pleased

News of Monatano’s impending performance was met with joy and congratulations by the Hindu community.

A media release by Pundit Satyanand Maharaj, spiritual head Satya Anand Ashram said even though Montano began his musical journey with calypso and soca, it has led him to embrace Hinduism.

“On what would have been previously know as Machel Monday, a time when many Hindus would choose to attend Machel’s fete rather than Maha Shivaratri the opposite is now happening. Machel is now setting a positive example, and I hope Hindus will follow his example with equal fervour and attend mandirs across the land.This is a time when Hindus will fast and keep vigil for the night making offerings on the lingum of Lord Shiva.”

The release said Sanatan Dharma has a place for everyone, and the Hindu community welcomes Montano with open arms.

“It does not matter what your past was. Everyone has a past. Sanatan Dharma encourages people to seek the divine, to write a new future for yourself.” (T&T Guardian)

In-person visa interviews resume at US Embassy in T&T

I

n-person interviews for visitor visas will resume on Wednesday at the consular section of the US Embassy, Port of Spain.

The embassy said in a media release on Sunday, that appointments for all non-immigrant visas, including business and tourism visas (B1/ B2), will facilitate in-person interviews.

Visa chief Frank Lavoie said the appointments will continue on a limited scale noting that staff at the embassy has worked hard to

ensure the safety of applicants during the in-person process.

“The relationship between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago is strong. People-to-people ties, which we strengthen through tourism and business visits, are central to that relationship.”

Visa fees that applicants have already paid will be valid until September 30, 2023.

Safety protocols apply to all applicants visiting the embassy as they must wear masks and follow

the guidelines of embassy staff.

People who are ill during the days before their interviews are asked to reschedule their appointments The release also reported that applicants are not allowed to enter the embassy with personal items.

Applicants are asked to visit the visa scheduling website https://ais.usvisa-info.com for information on the required documents for visa interviews. (T&T Newsday)

R

elatives of the four underwater divers who have been stuck in pipe in the Gulf of Paria since Friday are protesting in front the gates of Paria Fuel Trading Company.

Chanting and demanding answers, the family some of them were placards are calling on the officials to come out of their office and speak with them.

The relatives are joined by members of the OWTU and the MSJ. The lost divers Kazim Ali Jnr, Rishi Nagessar, 48, of Couva; Fyzal Kurban 57, of Claxton Bay and Yusuf Henry, 31, of Sangre Grande.

A fifth diver Christopher Boodram who was rescued is warded in a stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital.

The incident occurred around 15:00h just off the Pointe a Pierre jetty. In a release on Friday night, Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd stated that the five underwater divers employed with LMCS Ltd were conducting an underwater maintenance exercise at No 36 Sealine Riser on Berth #6 at Paria Trading Company Limited, Pointe a Pierre.

During the exercise, an incident occurred which resulted in the loss of sight of the five men who were be-

ing monitored from shore.

However, the company stated that incident management protocols at Paria were immediately triggered, in accordance with established standards.

The company stated then that the cause of the incident was still being investigated. However, the families were told that something went wrong and the men were sucked into a 36-inch pipe. They complained that that the company failed to contact them when the incident occurred and to initiate immediate rescue operations.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo suspends operations in Ukraine plant, citing safety concerns

M

exican breadmaker Grupo Bimbo said on Sunday it has temporarily suspended operations in its Dnipro plant to ensure the safety of its 150 workers, all of whom are Ukrainians, citing the ongoing crisis with Russia.

One of the world’s largest breadmaker, Grupo Bimbo said in a statement that it operates in Ukraine under the brand of Bimbo QSR, providing baked goods to quick service restaurants. It said it had suspended operations in Ukraine four days earlier.

Grupo Bimbo also operates in Russia though the statement did not mention whether its presence there would be affected.

Earlier this week,

Mexican tortilla-maker Gruma suspended operations at its plant in

Ukraine, local media had reported.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Crop Over’s on T he announcement of the modified national celebrations came yesterday from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who told the country that while the details were still being worked out, some major changes to the format have already been given the green light due to the pandemic.

Topping the list of changes was the decentralising of the festival’s highlights, Foreday Morning and Grand Kadooment event into eight venues.

Promoters’ cry

The Prime Minister’s decision came one week after some entertainment promot-

ers and retailers complained that Government was cutting it too close in relation to making an announcement about the festival. They lamented at the time that every day the decision was delayed, the greater the likelihood that people would shift their plans to other destinations that were out of the blocks early with their carnivals.

Yesterday president of the Bandleaders Association of Masqueraders Anthony Layne reacted by saying that while the organisation was pleased, he would reserve further comment until a meeting with the festival organiser, the National Cultural Foundation. (Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil could jump back above US$100 as traders assess Russia SWIFT ban, analysts say

A

decision by Western allies on Saturday to block certain Russian banks from the SWIFT payments system is likely to lift oil prices well above US$100 a barrel as risks with trading Russian oil spike, analysts say.

SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a secure messaging system that facilitates rapid cross-border payments, making international trade flow smoothly.

Russian exports of all commodities from oil and metals to grains will be severely disrupted by the new Western sanctions, traders and analysts said.

At least 10 oil and commodities traders, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said flows of Russian commodities to the West will be severely disrupted or halted for days if not weeks until clarity is established on exemptions.

Amrita Sen from consultancy Energy Aspects said that Brent crude prices will definitely go back above US$100 and probably return to the highs of US$105.

"But I wouldn't rule out a quick move to US$110 a barrel," she added.

Oil prices last jumped above US$100 a barrel when Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, with Brent rising above US$105 a barrel for the first time since mid-2014.

Prices dropped back below US$100 a barrel by Friday.

"While trying to exempt energy transactions, SWIFT can still cause significant disruption to energy trade flows in the near term, at least until buyers switch to alternatives like Telex or other systems," Sen said, adding that trade on other commodities will be much harder without exemptions.

The measures, which include restrictions on the Russian Central Bank's international reserves, are aimed at preventing President Vladimir Putin from using US$630 billion in central bank foreign currency reserves for the invasion of Ukraine and to defend a plunging rouble.

But the allies have not yet said which banks would be targeted, with analysts saying if the list includes Sberbank, VTB, and Gazprombank that the impact on the Russian economy and the ability to do business with Russia could be huge.

A US official told reporters that if one of the banks cut off from SWIFT wants to make a payment with a bank outside of Russia, it will likely need to use a phone or fax machine.

But the official said most banks worldwide would likely stop all transactions with Russian banks removed from the network.

"The risk of involuntary oil supply disruptions has increased following the latest announcements," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said in reference to the SWIFT ban.

"Considering low inventories and dwindling spare capacity, oil prices are likely to react in a sensitive way and open higher," he added.

Japan on Sunday said it would join other Western allies in blocking certain Russian banks to the SWIFT international payment system, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia, Ukraine agree to talks; Putin puts nuclear forces on alert

P

resident Vladimir Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday in the face of a barrage of Western reprisals for his war on Ukraine, which said it had repelled Russian ground forces attacking its biggest cities.

The United States said Putin was escalating the war in a "totally unacceptable" way, amid signs that the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two was not producing rapid battlefield victories, but instead generating a far-reaching and concerted Western response.

The Ukrainian President's office said negotiations with Moscow without preconditions would be held at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

"I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try, so that

N

The aid does not need to be repaid and Washington says it comes without conditions.

Major political parties, including those in the ruling coalition, were divided over whether to accept the grant.

Opponents, wary of US influence, said the aid would undermine Nepal's laws and sovereignty as it will not have sufficient control over the projects.

"The agreement will bring Nepal under the security umbrella of the United States and should be rejected," Bhim Rawal, a member of the opposition Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist-Leninist), had told parliament.

later not a single citizen of Ukraine has any doubt that I, as President, tried to stop the war," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

The Kremlin said talks had started.

As missiles fell on

Ukrainian cities, nearly 400,000 Ukrainian civilians, mainly women and children, have fled into neighbouring countries. Hundreds were stranded in Kyiv on Sunday waiting for trains to take them west, away from the fighting.

Taliban conducting house-to-house sweep across Afghan capital

We are trying to take steps against kidnappers, thieves and looters, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said

T

he Taliban are conducting a huge security sweep of Kabul and other Afghan cities, their spokesman said on Sunday, going house-tohouse in search of weapons and criminals blamed for a recent spate of robberies and kidnappings.

The operation, which

Nepal Parliament approves US grant amid protests epal's Parliament approved a US infrastructure grant of US$500 million which critics say undermines the Himalayan nation's sovereignty as protesters opposed to the proposed funds clashed with Police, officials and witnesses said on Sunday.

Parliament Speaker Agni Sapkota said the aid agreement was approved by a majority vote of the Nepali lawmakers.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US Government aid agency, agreed in 2017 to provide the aid in a grant to fund an electricity transmission line and road improvement project.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy makes a statement in Kyiv, in Ukraine, February 26, 2022, in this still image taken from a handout video

The capital remained in Ukrainian Government hands, with Zelenskiy rallying his people daily despite Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure.

The World Health Organisation said medical oxygen was running low. But a doctor said a blood bank where donors had come under fire on Saturday was again packed.

Only three days after it started, the invasion has triggered a Western political, strategic, economic and corporate response unprecedented in its extent and coordination.

The 27-nation European Union decided for the first time in its history to supply weapons to a country at war, and a source told Reuters it would send 450 million euros (US$507 million) of weaponry to its eastern neighbour.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma had assured deputies that the aid would not undermine Nepal's Constitution and laws, it was not part of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy and had no military objective.

"It will promote the interest and welfare of the country and should be accepted," Mahant Thakur, a deputy of the Loktantrick Samajwadi Party, said during the debate.

Hundreds of protesters opposed to the aid clashed with Police who used teargas, water cannon and rattan sticks to disperse them and stop them marching on Parliament, witnesses said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

started on Friday, has alarmed many who fear being targeted because of their association with the previous Western-backed regime or the US-led for-

eign forces who finally withdrew on August 31.

Some irate residents posted videos on social media showing homes they said had been trashed during Taliban searches, but several people told AFP their encounters had been polite and cursory.

“It was just my nephew at home when they came and they made a big mess,” said one resident, who asked not to be named, showing AFP a series of pictures that revealed considerable disruption.

The Taliban called the sweep a “clearing operation”.

“We are trying to take steps against those kidnappers, thieves and looters who have weapons in

their hands and threaten the lives of the people,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference.

He said authorities had discovered two kidnap victims during the operation, and also freed two teenage girls who they found chained in a basement.

Mujahid said light and heavy weapons, explosives, radio equipment and drones had been seized, as well as vehicles belonging to the military or Government.

Six people suspected of being members of the ISIL (ISIS) group had been arrested, he said, along with nine kidnappers and 53 “professional thieves”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russians queue for cash as West targets banks over Ukraine

R

ussians waited in long queues outside ATMs on Sunday, worried that new Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine will trigger cash shortages and disrupt payments.

Moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT global payments system and freeze the Bank of Russia's reserves are expected to deal a severe economic blow, although Russian authorities and lenders sought to assuage fears.

"Since Thursday, everyone has been running from ATM to ATM to get cash.

Some are lucky, others not so much," St Petersburg resident, Pyotr, who declined to give his last name, said.

Russians waited in long lines amid concerns bank

cards may cease to function, or that banks would limit cash withdrawals.

While the SWIFT move will hinder Russian banks from communicating with international peers, analysts say limiting the use of more than US$630 billion in international reserves could prove even costlier for Russia.

Sergey Aleksashenko, a former Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Bank who now lives in the United States, said that Russia's National Wealth Fund would effectively disappear.

"(President Vladimir) Putin and (former Finance Minister Alexei) Kudrin built it up for years, thinking about a major war," he said.

"War has come, and there is no money."

Russian banks sought on Sunday to calm fears over money supplies and online payment systems.

Meanwhile, rates offered for foreign exchange shot up.

The rouble closed on Friday at 83 to the dollar, but some lenders were offering rates of above 100 on Sunday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Approach others with intelligence and kindness. Clear up uncertainties that stand between you and your goal.

Trust your intuition to guide you in a safe and helpful direction.

(March 21-April 19) Keep your emotions out of your decision-making, and act with kindness when dealing with others. Put your heart and soul into maintaining a good reputation. Live up to your promises.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Assess situations and the validity of what others tell you. If something seems too good to be true, take a pass. Rely on your intelligence and experience. Don’t ignore the fine print or small details.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

A change in how you deal with financial, legal or health matters won’t pan out as planned. Rethink your options and rely on your intuition to help you make better decisions. Act on your emotions.

You’ll gravitate toward unpredictable situations. Question anyone or anything that appears to be sketchy. Don’t feel obligated to take a hit for someone’s mistake. Maintain balance and integrity.

Be a good listener, and don’t rule out using some of the information you receive. Affection will enhance a meaningful relationship. Make sure to verify information before you pass it along.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Reach out to people who share your thoughts and enjoy similar pastimes.

Put together a budget that will encourage positive changes at home. Manage your money, time and health with care.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Seek out things you can accomplish instead of shooting for the stars. Don’t fret over the past when embracing what’s to come will open your eyes to a host of new beginnings.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Learn all you can before you debate with someone trying to take advantage of you. Stand tall and be steadfast about what you will and won’t pursue. Keep unreasonable people at arm’s length.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Revisit how you run your household, handle your cash and plan to reach your goals. It’s time to make a move that puts your mind at ease and gives you the boost needed to follow your dream.

SATURDAY'S WORD -- ATHEIST

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Refuse to let someone unpredictable influence you or your plans. Hold tight and do what’s best for you. Practicality will pay off and encourage you to make prudent decisions.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A lifestyle change will push you in a direction that sparks your imagination.

Helping others will encourage new opportunities, leading to a change in your outlook and financial status.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

21

Former West Indies spinner Sonny Ramadhin dies aged 92 1961 for 158 wickets at 28.98. He was instrumental in West Indies’ first Test win in England, at Lord’s in 1950; West Indies won that game, the second of the series, by 326 runs with Ramadhin bamboozling the batters to take a match haul of 11 for 152.

West Indies would go on to register huge wins in the third and fourth Tests as well, to complete a landmark and wholly

F

aged 92. Details of his passing are to be confirmed.

A bowler who could

make the ball turn both ways, Ramadhin played 43 Tests between 1950 and

Rafael Nadal beats Cameron Norrie to win Mexican Open title

Rafael Nadal (left) and Cameron Norrie. Norrie has moved from outside the world’s top 60 to the brink of the top 10 in the past year

R

afael Nadal maintained his unbeaten start to 2022 by beating British number one Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 to win the Mexican Open. At the end of last year, Nadal, 35, thought he might have to retire because of a foot injury, but has won all three tournaments he has played this year.

The Spaniard won a 21st major title at the Australian Open after victory in a Melbourne warm-up event.

“At the start of the year this was unimaginable,” said the Spaniard. “A month and a half ago, nobody would have believed it.”

Victory over Norrie extended Nadal’s career-best winning start to the season

to a 15th victory. The fourth seed, who beat incoming world number one Daniil Medvedev in the last four, lifted the title in Acapulco without dropping a set. It is the 91st title of Nadal’s career and a fourth in the Mexican city, having won his first as an 18-year-old in 2005.

Nadal, who also triumphed in 2013 and 2020, is now the tournament’s youngest and oldest champion. A finely-balanced opener swung the way of Nadal when he converted the only break point of the set in the fifth game and served out without serious pressure from Norrie.

Norrie, who is ranked 12th in the world, had won

ESPNcricinfo’s profile of him, got the call-up for that England tour at 21 after just two First-Class games.

Both he and Valentine were surprise picks for the series, but would go on to bowl a lot – 377.5 and 422.3 (with the next highest being 181) overs respectively. The pair’s exploits on that tour sparked the famous Calypso song “Cricket, Lovely Cricket”.

(ESPNcricinfo)

“I feel incredibly safe,” Cummins says as Australia touch down in Pakistan

Flashback: Sonny Ramadhin bowls

ormer West Indies spinner Sonny Ramadhin has died

unexpected series victory.

Ramadhin, along with his spin partner Alf Valentine, led the wickets charts by a mile. Bowling right-arm offspin and legbreaks with no obvious change in his action, Ramadhin finished the series with three five-wicket hauls and a ten-for, his 26 wickets coming at 23.23.

Ramadhin, “a small neat man whose shirtsleeves were always buttoned at the wrist” to quote

his previous eight matches and claimed the title in Delray Beach last week.

The 26-year-old Briton found a way through Nadal’s serve to break back for 1-1 in the second set, only for his fellow left-hander to take control with four straight games. A stunning pickup volley from Nadal set up two championship points and he took the first when Norrie went long with a forehand.

“Rafa doesn’t give you any free points and if you give him one or two, he takes advantage of them,” said Norrie. “It is impressive to see how he still does it. (BBC Sport)

P

at Cummins says he feels “incredibly safe” after touching down in Pakistan on Sunday for Australia’s first tour of the country in 24 years.

Cummins will captain Australia in an overseas Test match for the first time when they take on the hosts in Rawalpindi next Friday.

The Test is the first of three, before a trio of OneDay Internationals (ODIs) and one T20 International.

Cummins, who will lead a strong Australia side on the back of their successful Ashes campaign, said the players’ concerns had been allayed by a delegation from Cricket Australia ensuring appropriate safety standards were met.

“I feel incredibly safe and we’ve been really well looked after by the Pakistan Cricket Board,” Cummins said. “There’s been lots of security upon arrival. We were straight off the plane and straight to the hotel.

“We’ve got a pretty good set-up and we’ll be confined to the hotel except for games and training. We’ve travelled to places like India where you don’t leave the hotel too much, so we are used to it. It’s comforting and we’re really lucky to be surrounded by so many profes-

Pat Cummins

sionals.

“One of the factors we wanted to be really thorough on before arriving here was not only security but also bio-security. Everyone has done a fantastic job, so we can just concentrate on cricket and really enjoy our first tour here for 24 years.”

Australia’s players were required to isolate for the 24 hours following their arrival, but can hit the training ground today provided they do not test positive for COVID-19.

Cummins said he felt privileged to play a Test series in Pakistan when so many greats of the game in Australia hadn’t been afforded that opportunity.

“We feel lucky to get to come back here after a

whole generation didn’t get the chance to play any cricket over here,” Cummins said. “I think it [Pakistan] has slowly had more cricket here. George Bailey, our selector, came and played a couple of games a few years ago.

“The Pakistan Super League [PSL] has also been hugely successful. We’re fortunate that they have come to play us in Australia and it’s great we can return the favour.”

Cummins’ side has been boosted by the inclusion of Pakistan-born Australian international Fawad Ahmed as a spin bowling consultant. He has been playing in the PSL with Lahore Qalandars.

“He’s got a wealth of experience here and he knows the venues quite well and he’s always great fun for the group,” Cummins said.

(ESPNcricinfo)

22 CWI President’s XI to play England in 4-day fixture from tomorrow MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

H

ead Coach Rayon Griffith has underscored the importance of the four-day Cricket West Indies (CWI) President’s XI match against England, stressing the fixture presented yet another opportunity for players to impress Test selectors.

A squad, led by resurgent Test gloveman Shane Dowrich, will take on England at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua from March 1-4, in the build-up to the three-Test series which bowls off on March 8.

Griffith said he expected all players to take the fixture seriously, especially since many of them were already on the radar of West Indies selectors.

“It’s a practice game, but [because] we know it’s a practice game, we’re not just going to go out there to [let it] just be a practice game,” said the Guyanese.

“I think the guys are looking to make the West Indies team, they want to get performances out of the game and you have some of the players who are developing. So, we’re looking to bring our best when that day comes.”

He continued: “We sat down and discussed before practice [on Friday] just to make them clear, to give them clarity so that when they come to the nets [they can assess] how they perform.

“We want to take this very seriously and they must be ready [for this game].

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Coach Griffith expects players to bring best

Rayon Griffith

Shane Dowrich will lead the team, while Shamar Springer is included

They have their goals they really want to achieve, so that’s the most important thing and what the focus is about – starting from the small steps.”

The squad was chosen following the opening two rounds of the First-Class championship, and represents several of the best performers who failed to make the Test squad.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes batsman Devon

Thomas, who pummelled a hundred and two half-centuries in three innings, is part of the unit along with leftarm fast bowling all-rounder, Raymon Reifer, who averaged 46 with the bat and snatched a six-wicket haul in his appearances for Barbados Pride. Griffith said it was important all players tried to replicate their recent form.

“When I look back at the four-day I thought the guys

that were selected in this President’s XI team, I think you had a lot of performances from them,” he pointed out. “Raymon Reifer, I think he was outstanding and Devon Thomas, I thought he had a good run as well.

Sherman Lewis who is back, he showed some good impressive spells and you even had Bryan Charles from

Trinidad who I thought bowled well.

“It’s a good mixture of experience and the youth.

Guys like Reifs (Reifer), the captain Dowrich, Devon Thomas – they’ve been around the block a little while and they understand what they have to do to help these younger players … so they can bring the performances when that time comes.”

England, who underwent a full training session Saturday, will be looking to maximise the outing, as it represents their only warmup game ahead of the first Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

And Griffith believes this

will provide the ultimate test of character for the President’s XI. “They have to take responsibility. You don’t want to put everything down their throats,” he noted.

“You want to see them learn, you want to see them play situations and when the situation comes and it gets tough, that is where we want to tick those boxes.”

Squad – Shane Dowrich (Captain); Raymon Reifer (Vice Captain); Colin Archibald; Alick Athanaze; Keacy Carty; Bryan Charles; Shermon Lewis; Preston McSween; Shayne Moseley; Jeremy Solozano; Shamar Springer and Devon Thomas. (CMC)

returns as GRFU President

GVF to start volleyball year with Lennie Schuffler birth anniversary tourney

T

Members of the GRFU

T

Seven male and six female teams will be on show

he Guyana V o l l e y b a l l Federation will commence its volleyball year with its first tournament being the Lennie Schuffler birth anniversary competition with the senior male and female teams participating.

The male contest is slated to be held on

March 6 and teams expected to be contending are: 1. PMTC 2. Rollers 3. Castrols 4. Eagles 5. Achievers 6. GDF 7. Bartica In the female contest, which will be held on

March 20, teams expected to participate are: 1. Pakuri Warriors 2. Castrols 3. Eagles 4. Rainbow Rangers 5. Hopetown Strikers 6. La Luni All matches will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall commencing at 09:00h sharp.

he Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) on Saturday held its Annual General Meeting and had elections for a new Executive Committee.

The e l e c toral process was smooth, with Ryan Dey maintaining his post as President of the GRFU. The names of the new Executive are: President Ryan Dey; Senior Vice President Joshua Griffith; Junior Vice President Kevon David; Secretary – vacant; Treasurer Troy Yhip; Assistant Secretary

Treasurer Marie Roberts and Public Relations Officer Godfrey Broomes.

Committee Members are Telroy McAlmont, Michael Whitehead, O s l y n

Ollivierre and Shaquille Thornhill.

NB. The post of Secretary is to be filled on the first meeting of the new Executive body.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

More than 60 youths benefit from BCB spin and wicket-keeping clinic – Clyde Butts, Sheik Mohammed impressed with Berbice talent

Sheik Mohammed presenting cricket uniforms for players to Coach Winston Smith (Brandon Corlette photos)

By Brandon Corlette in Berbice

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continued to be proactive as it hosted another cricket clinic for youths in the Ancient County, following

duct sessions that saw more than 60 youths gaining invaluable knowledge.

Butts, who played seven Test matches and 87 First-Class matches with 348 wickets, was impressed with the number of off-spin-

Winston Smith and Sheik Mohammed sharing knowledge to youths

up the recent visit of Sir Curtly Ambrose.

Former Guyana and West Indies spinner Clyde Butts and former national wicketkeeper Sheik Mohammed graced Albion on Sunday with their presence, to con-

ners present in Berbice.

Mohammed, the former national wicketkeeper, who was also impressed, was delighted to share his knowledge. The former wicketkeeper, who is now the owner of Star Sports, a pop-

ular sport store, also made presentations of cricket uniforms and gear to the players present at Albion.

The former wicketkeeper said he did not hesitate when BCB President Hilbert Foster contacted him. “It was a good initiative. Mr Foster invited me, and without doubt, I was willing to come and share my knowledge on wicket-keeping. I think it was a good bunch of youths, once they commit themselves and be disciplined and work hard.

Wicket-keeping is the easiest thing to make a team,” Mohammed said.

“We did some slip catches, throw downs, and we taught them about having good balance, because it is important. I find that a lot of them are falling forward, and that is one of the areas I found they were lacking in.”

Sharing his sentiments on the presentations made, Mohammed said: “I just wanted to do it, that is just how I am. I like kids, and I do this all over. I will continue

Jamual John wins Burnham Memorial cycling

G

uyana’s premier cyclist Jamual John stopped the clock at one hour 11 minutes and 43 seconds, to clinch the top spot in the 37-mile Annual Burnham Memorial Road Race. The race pedalled off at Carifesta Avenue and headed to Belfield before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Junior cyclist Alexander Leung dominated his category while Lyn Murray claimed the veterans’ under-50 category and Ian Jackson the over-50. Marica Dick of United We Stand won the ladies’ category.

In the Open category, John finished ahead of Murray, Team Evolution’s Christopher Griffith, Alex Mendes, Marcus Keiler, and Leung. The top three juniors were Leung, Arjune Sookhai and Akon Europe.

The top veterans under-50 are: Murray, Mendes and Paul Chooweenam.

In the veterans’ over-50, Jackson, Talim Shaw and Shameer Baksh were the top

Alex Leung was the top junior rider

riders. Dick pipped Clavicia Spencer in the female category.

This Annual Burnham Memorial Road Race, which is sponsored by Burnham

Foundation and organised through the Flying Stars Cycle Club, was approved by the National COVID-19 Task Force.

to do it, especially the ones that are neglected. There are a lot of people with potential, but they need help, so I help in whichever way I can,” the former cricketer now businessman said.

Meanwhile, the legendary Guyanese off-spinner Butts, who has 23 FirstClass five-wicket hauls, said: “I was very impressed with the youngsters on show.

When you take that we had some 25 off-spinners, that is great for Berbice cricket, and I think Berbice cricket is in good hands. Initially, I thought it was a spinners clinic, but when I got here, I saw off-spinners mostly, and that was more surprising,

Former Guyana and West Indies spinner Clyde Butts

that Berbice has so much spinners. I think that is very good, and you look at the age group.”

The off-spinners present at Albion went through the basics – grip, bowling under-arm and then going through the paces over-

arm. “You don’t want them to try too many things, you want them to stick to the basics and not try too many things,” Butts told Guyana Times Sport.

When asked if this should be a countrywide initiative, Butts said it was important to have former players involved in the game and help out where possible – throughout Demerara, Essequibo and places like Linden as well. The BCB will continue the progress when legendary fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher visit in the near future to conduct separate clinics.

West Indies Women lose to Australia in 1st warm-up

West Indies spin trio Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Anisa Mohammed (Photos: CWI)

W

est Indies Women suffered a 90-run defeat to Australia in their first warm-up match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricket World Cup played at Lincoln Green, New Zealand.

Asked to bat first, Australia posted 259-7 from their 50 overs. Ellyse Perry top-scored with 62 off 85 deliveries followed by Annabel Sutherland with 54 not out.

Stafanie Taylor led her team from the front with the ball, taking 3-51 followed by Anisa Mohammed with 2-45 and Hayley Matthews 2-45.

In their reply, West Indies Women reached 169-9 in 50 overs. Taylor starred this time with the bat, smashing 66 from 128 deliveries followed by Matthews with 24.

Perry also starred with the ball taking 2-6, while Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, and Annabel Sutherland all took two wickets each.

West Indies Women’s Vice Captain Anisa Mohammed said despite losing, there were some positives to extract from the match. Mohammed said, “The bowlers bowled really

Stafanie Taylor bats during the warm-up

well and we had Australia under some pressure up until the 45th over, but with wickets in hand and a long batting line-up, it was expected they would go after it (our bowling). It’s good to see Staf (Stafanie) getting back into the runs and taking wickets. We just need a couple more batters to get going and come that first game with New Zealand I think we will be ready.”

West Indies will play their final warm-up match against India on Tuesday at Rangiora Oval before taking on home team New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament on March 4 in Tauranga.

Full Squad

Stafanie Taylor (Captain); Anisa Mohammed (Vice Captain); Aaliyah Alleyne; Shemaine Campbelle; Shamilia Connell; Deandra Dottin; Afy Fletcher; Cherry Ann Fraser; Chinelle Henry; Kycia Knight; Hayley

Matthews; Chedean Nation; Karishma Ramharack; Shakera Selman and Rashada Williams.

Travelling Reserves: Kaysia Schultz, Mandy Mangru, and Jannillea Glasgow.

West Indies Women ICC Cricket World Cup Match Schedule March 4: vs New Zealand at Bay Oval, Tauranga March 9: vs England at University Oval, Dunedin March 12: vs India at Seddon Park, Hamilton March 15: vs Australia at Basin Reserve, Wellington March 18; vs Bangladesh at Bay Oval, Tauranga March 21: vs Pakistan at Seddon Park, Hamilton March 24: vs South Africa at Basin Reserve, Wellington March 30: Semi-final 1 at Basin Reserve, Wellington March 31: Semi-final 2 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch April 3: Final at Hagley Oval, Christchurch

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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

West Indies Women lose to Australia in 1st warm-up Page 23

Jamual John wins Burnham Memorial cycling Page 23

More than 60 youths benefit from BCB spin and wicket-keeping clinic

– Clyde Butts, Sheik Mohammed impressed with Berbice talent GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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