Guyana Times -- Saturday, February 12, 2022

Queen's College named top school in Caribbean for 2021 P16

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

Issue No. 4918

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

Oil production begins at Guyana’s 2nd 220,000bpd offshore development See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ex-cop on bail for shooting at Policeman P14 15 homeless P17 after Corentyne fire

P9 Teen motorcyclist dies after slamming into parked vehicle

…enhanced earnings to drive country’s development – Govt

Halt registering vessels as Guyana flag carriers – AG to unauthorised IMSAG

Page 2

…demands documentation of transactions handed over to MARAD

Drive-thru zoo being National considered by Govt curfew lifted Page 10

Page 7

Accused drug trafficker on $300,000 bail P14

Employers to face hefty fines for labour breaches – Hamilton P13 …as legislative revision continues

…President Ali aims to create “oneof-a-kind” experiences for visitors …swimming pools can open at 50% capacity

Favourable labour conditions paramount in sustaining oil sector – PM See story on page 9

…foreign oil companies updated on hiring conditions, hiring policies

2 more COVID-19 deaths recorded

…80% Guyanese vaccinated with at least 1st dose P11

Uncustomed goods seized during joint P15 inter-agency raid in Rupununi

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Halt registering vessels as Guyana flag carriers – AG to unauthorised IMSAG …demands documentation of transactions handed over to MARAD

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has written the principal of International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG) – the company that was at the centre of controversy after several containers of ammunition were found aboard a ship that was carrying the Flag of Guyana – to cease conducting any transaction on behalf of the Government of Guyana.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had entered into an arrangement early last year with the private company, delegating statutory certification services for vessels registered in Guyana.

That agreement was signed

Vessel found with ammunition at a port in Senegal

on February 4, 2021, by MARAD’s Director General, Stephen Thomas, and Chief Executive Officer of IMSAG, Suneil Kumar, who was acting on behalf of Nautilus Register “ClassNR” – a subsidiary of India-based Aryavart Corporation.

In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed on March 3, 2021, between the Maritime Department, the Ministry of Public Works and Aryavart Corporation in which MARAD appointed the Indian company as an international technical and administrative representative of the Guyana Ships Registry under the name International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana.

Agreements scrapped

However, these two agreements were scrapped months later in 2021 after instances of “fraudulent representations and illicit conduct” were found. Hence, the company was no longer authorised to license on behalf of Guyana or authorise ships to use the Guyana Flag.

In a legal notice dated February 11 and addressed to Kumar, AG Nandlall reminded of MARAD’s August 13 Notification of Termination, which succeeded the Notification of Breach of Contractual Obligations on June 29, 2021 – both of which the CEO acknowledged as effectively terminating all arrangements with Aryavart Corporation and its subsidiaries.

The Attorney General also made reference to statements made by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill regarding the fraudulent representation and illicit conduct by IMSAG and the Government of Guyana’s disassociation from the company. Those statements sought to alert stakeholders – domestic and international – that IMSAG is no longer a representative of Guyana and the Guyana Flag.

“In the circumstances, you are hereby reminded that you are relieved and removed from all roles and responsibilities under the said MoU. As a consequence thereof, the Government of Guyana reiterates its demands that you immediately cease all representations of the Guyana Flag and/or MARAD, and relinquish to MARAD, all relevant details and supporting documentation of all transactions undertaken on behalf of the Guyana Flag and the Government of Guyana,” Nandlall detailed in the letter.

The Attorney General also indicated to the IMSAG CEO that a report of the termination of agreements with his company was made with the Guyana Police Force, which has since engaged international law enforcement agencies including Interpol on the matter. In fact, the GPF has asked for assistance to question the CEO.

Vessel

Nandlall’s correspondence to Kumar comes on the heels of authorities in Senegal last month seizing a vessel bearing the Flag of Guyana that was found carrying three containers of ammunition worth US$5 million. The motor vessel, named Eolika, was detained at a port in Dakar, Senegal, and the crew has been arrested after a search by Customs officials there unearthed the weaponry.

Both MARAD and the Government of Guyana subsequently have clarified that the vessel is not registered here.

The Government had reassured that no effort would be spared to bring the “dubious” company and its owners or affiliates to justice, noting that it would not condone the fraudulent issuance of registration under the Guyana Flag, and that it is a deliberate criminal design to sully the good image of Guyana. (G8)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, Feb 12 – 23:59h – 06:00h and Sunday, Feb 13 – No closure.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Oil production begins at Guyana’s 2nd 220,000bpd offshore development

…enhanced earnings to drive country’s development – Govt shown tremendous resilience.

From the start of engineering through to the delivery of Unity to Guyana [in] three and half, or so, years during a global pandemic [and] taking on lessons learned from Liza Destiny start up, getting better, a spirit of achieving excellence. I’m just so proud of the team and what they have accomplished,” Ryan posited.

Saturday, Feb 12 – 13:15h – 14:45h and Sunday, Feb 13 – 14:10h – 15:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be light cloud during the day and night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Govt welcomes

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

High Tide: 13:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.17 metres.

Low Tide: 07:13h and 19:54h reaching minimum heights of 1.17 metres and 1.01 metres.

A sample of the first oil from the Liza Unity FPSO

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$94.44/barrel

+3.31

Rough Rice

$273.96/ton

+2.87

London Sugar

$489.70/ton

-0.20

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1859.00

$1860.00

Low/High Change

$1820.90 0.00

$1866.40 0.00%

uyana’s oil production capacity will soon reach 340,000 barrels per day (bpd) following the commencement of production at ExxonMobil’s second offshore oil development on the Stabroek Block – Liza Phase 2 project.

The United States oil major said on Friday that production at the Liza Unity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is expected to reach its target of 220,000 barrels of oil later this year, as operations continue to be brought safely online.

This now adds to the more than 120,000 bpd capacity at the Liza Destiny FPSO, which began production in December 2019 and is now delivering at better than design capacity.

The Liza Unity FPSO arrived in Guyana in October 2021. It is moored in water depth of about 1650 metres and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude. The Liza Unity is the world’s first FPSO to be awarded the SUSTAIN-1 notation by the American Bureau of Shipping in recognition of the sustainability of its design, documentation and operational procedures.

President of ExxonMobil Upstream Oil and Gas, Liam Mallon said with unparalleled project execution, the company now has two production facilities operating offshore Guyana.

“We are collaborating closely with the Government and people of Guyana to develop this world-class resource responsibly, helping to meet the world’s energy needs and delivering enhanced value for all stakeholders at a record pace and well ahead of the industry average,” Mallon noted.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan, said the commencement of production on Liza Unity is a culmination of years of hard work by thousands including Guyanese.

“The Unity team has

On the other hand, the Government of Guyana welcomed the announcement on the start of production at the second offshore development from the Liza Unity vessel.

“The Government of Guyana and citizens welcome the operation of this new FPSO to sustainably extract and manage the country’s oil and gas resources, which will further enhance earnings from this sector to drive Guyana’s infrastructure development and improve the delivery of services to all citizens,” Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said in a missive on Friday.

According to Bharrat, the increased total daily capacity of oil augers well for Guyana, especially on the heels of operationalising the Local Content Secretariat and the Natural Resources Fund, in keeping with the Santiago Principles of transparency and accountability within the petroleum sector.

It was further noted that the Government will be taking all necessary steps to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the earnings derived from the petroleum sector. To this end, the Natural Resources Ministry has been tasked with coordinating and working closely with interna-

The Liza Unity FPSO commences operations in the Stabroek Block

tional partners, local regulatory agencies, and key stakeholders within the petroleum sector to ensure the sector performs optimally in keeping with internationally recognised best practices.

The US oil giant’s operationalisation of two FPSO comes almost seven years after first discovering oil offshore Guyana.

The Stabroek Block’s recoverable resource base is currently estimated at more than 10 billion oil-equivalent barrels and has the potential to support up to 10 projects.

Exxon anticipates that four FPSOs with a capacity of more than 800,000 barrels per day will be in operation on the Stabroek Block by the end of 2025.

Payara, the third project in the Stabroek Block, is expected to produce approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day using the Prosperity FPSO vessel, which is currently under construction.

The field development plan and application for environmental authorisation for the oil company’s the fourth project in the block – the

Yellowtail project – have been submitted for Government and regulatory approval.

In fact, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo recently disclosed that the review of the Yellowtail Field Development Plan is expected to be completed by next month, after which the licence would be awarded once all the criteria have been met. He said a draft licence has already been crafted as authorities await completion of the assessment.

Meanwhile, more than 3500 Guyanese are currently supporting ExxonMobil’s activities in Guyana. The oil major and its direct contractors spent approximately $219 million with more than 880 local suppliers in 2021, a 37 per cent year-over-year increase.

ExxonMobil’s local affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest. (G8)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 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

Redemption, rehabilitation of prisoners

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here is absolutely no excuse for the commission of criminal acts, but there is great scope for redemption and rehabilitation of prisoners.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn recently unveiled major plans to reform the prison system. Benn said that this was aimed at preparing offenders for re-entering society, and these plans would reduce the recidivism rate.

This announcement came just days before news of the graduation of the convicted murderer, Orwain Sandy. Sandy, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain, was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years, after he admitted to shooting his reputed wife, Reona Payne to death on March 31, 2018. He has since appealed his sentence.

His graduation from the University of Guyana with a Diploma in General Psychology shows that unlike many other prisoners, he is using his incarceration to bring about positive change in his life. This is the kind of potential and positive influence that prison officials should tap into as part of their programme to redeem and rehabilitate prisoners.

Indeed, there are many factors behind crime, but we agree there is importance in reducing recidivism.

Most young people who have been inculcated with a moral compass and consequently adhere to discipline would adjust accordingly, but there are some youths who have no guiding force or role model pointing them in the right direction. This group finds it preferable to pick up a weapon and try to extract quick riches from the unwary, even if they have to kill to obtain the spoils of their forays into criminality.

They subsequently most often become hardened criminals who have no compunction for their actions, and often display no compassion for their victims, indiscriminately depriving them of their property, money and lives without thinking of the devastation they wreak on the families, especially vulnerable dependents such as elderly parents and children.

Having perfected the art of escape after the execution of their crimes, oftentimes when they are caught after a long career of theft and murder, they are treated as ‘first-time offenders’, figuratively rapped on the knuckles by bleeding hearts of some judicial officials and with minimum punishment.

Incarceration, especially with hard labour, is meant to act as a deterrent to engagement in criminal activities in civil societies, and this should ideally work concurrently with rehabilitation, to reintegrate prisoners into families, communities, and the society at large. It is the general consensus that prisoners should be treated humanely. They were caught committing their crimes, while many criminals have been getting away without discovery.

During his tenure, retired Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine created synergies to make the prison system more aligned to rehabilitation, rather than punishment. He incorporated new programmes in the prison system to create a dynamic in which prison was no longer somewhere merely to lock away people found guilty of aberrant behaviour, but where the inmates could be guided, directed, and encouraged to change their thinking and attitude into more positive, achievement-oriented directions.

That change was a work in progress throughout Erskine’s tenure, as initially Officer-in-Charge of the Georgetown Prison, and then Director of Prisons.

The changes wrought by the forward, humanistic thinking of Erskine were multi-faceted and transformational.

One of the programmes he set in motion was the identification and employment of a skilled bank of prisoners who were at least risk of escaping or engaging in additional criminal activities.

The prisoners were thus enabled to earn an income, part of which provided for their own needs and the needs of relatives, including young children left defenceless as their mothers struggle to take care of their prerequisites for survival. Some saved for their own upkeep upon their release, because the world knows that for a person with a prison record, finding employment is a difficult feat.

However, there are those who are considered beyond human redemption, because they have become so hardened in their hearts that opportunities for atonement go abegging. In those cases, protective services have to be vigilant that those persons are completely assured of their restored sense of right and wrong, and their intention to adhere to the laws of the land.

Intense discussion! This student of the Wilson Primary School in Ituni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) engages Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd during his visit on Friday (DPI photo)

One year in, 80% of Guyana’s population received at least one dose of COVID vaccine Dear Editor, Today marks exactly one year since Guyana started its COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Guyanese healthcare providers, led by Guyana’s distinguished immunisation nurses, and including other nurses, medex, community health workers, doctors and community volunteers, have excelled at a time when the Guyanese people needed them. For one year, these nurse-led teams have been out of their regular work stations and in community settings, even in the streets, ensuring all those Guyanese who volunteered to take their COVID-19 vaccines were able to be recipients of one of the most coveted vaccines in the history of medicines. The vaccination teams led by public health nurses deserve commendation. When people did not show up to the health centres and vaccination sites, health workers walked house-to-house and did drive throughs and other means to reach people.

The success in the COVID-19 vaccination programme is testimony to the dedication and commitment of the health workers.

As one of the Ministry’s and the Government’s officials that was intimately involved with the COVID-19 vaccination programme, I would like to express my gratitude to the selfless work of the public health workers. It would be remiss of me if I were to

ignore the leadership roles played by the leaders in the programme – Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, Dr Onieka Scott, Dr Farrah December, Dr Anand Persaud and their team at the MOH. It would be remiss of me not to mention the team leaders in the ten regions of Guyana and the leadership roles of the RHOs. Guyana owes these leaders a depth of gratitude.

The first person in Guyana to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was a pharmacist from the Georgetown Public Hospital. Since then, more than 462,000 Guyanese citizens older than 12 years have received, at least, a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Of those who have received at least a first dose, almost 429,000 are older than 18 and almost 34,000 are between 12 and 18 years old. This means that almost 84 per cent of Guyanese adults have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and that almost 79 per cent of all Guyanese 12 years and older have had one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Thus far, 345,000 Guyanese 12 years and older have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means that almost 45 per cent of the entire Guyanese population are now fully vaccinated and more than 62 per cent of the population 18 years and older are fully vaccinated. More than 45,000 Guyanese have had

a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine.

For Guyanese 60 years and older, more than 83 per cent have had a first dose, more than 73 per cent are fully vaccinated and 21 per cent have had a booster. For the population 40 to 59 years old, 83 per cent have had a single dose, 68 per cent are fully vaccinated and 10 per cent have had a booster at this time.

For the age group 18 to 39, 81 per cent have received a first dose, 57 per cent are fully vaccinated and 5 per cent have had a booster.

For the 12 to 17 age group, 46 per cent have had a first dose and 33 per cent are fully vaccinated.

These are impressive numbers and some of the persons who have not been registered as receiving any vaccine might have had their vaccines done overseas also.

At this first year point, gratitude must also be expressed to the Guyanese people who have overwhelmingly responded to the COVID-19 vaccination programme. While there is disappointment that a full 15 per cent of the population have remained hesitant, we must continue to work with this sub-population to ensure that all eligible Guyanese are fully vaccinated with booster shots.

The Government of Guyana has shown its determination and its commitment to ensuring no Guyanese citizen is left be-

hind. As a Guyanese citizen, I am grateful for the proactive posture the President Irfaan Ali-led Government adopted from the very beginning when the President declared that no cost would be too much to ensure all Guyanese are vaccinated against COVID-19. The leadership of the President and the Vice-President in ensuring Guyana had the resources to administer such a vast programme is testimony to their own commitment to the health and safety of our people.

At the same time, gratitude is owed to the Private Sector companies, like Banks DIH, DDL and Sterling Ltd and their corporate management. They stepped up when we needed them to produce logistical support.

As a Guyanese citizen, we must value the work done by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony and his MOH team of administrators who ensured timely supply of the vaccines and the supplies necessary.

The international community played a pivotal role in our success story.

Our first vaccine came from India from a donation India made to Barbados. The Barbadian Government donated some of their vaccines to other Caricom countries, Guyana being one of those.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

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

Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar Dear Editor, Much has been and will be said way into the future about Lata Mangeshkar, now sadly, the late Lata Mangeshkar. Her over seven decades of contribution to music were not confined within the boundaries of India, but affixed across the globe.

Her accomplishments are unparalleled - recorded songs in over thirty different Indian languages and a few foreign ones including Russian, Dutch, English and Swahili; one of the first Indian playback singers to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the significance of which may have been diminished as a result of the evolution of the world through the progression of time; conferred with France’s highest civilian award; received many awards in India including its highest for civilians; listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in history between 1948 and 1987, are just a few.

Much time would be needed to expound on her contributions, achievements, influence and the beacon of inspiration she was to many across the world. Amongst her legacy, the high standard she created, set and adhered to, is of immense significance.

That high bar presented

the opportunity for others to aspire towards, thereby ensuring a pursuit of professionalism with quality uncompromised.

While she maintained and influenced such high standards, she remained a towering pillar of humility and generosity with a penchant to help mould others to ensure continuity of arguably the most influential art form; music. Her work ethic and unbridled passion to music have led to the birth of new relationships and the strengthening of bonds among humanity even if it was just in the universal agreement of the positive impact of her voice.

Indeed, we were fortunate to live in her time; fortunate to be able to hear her voice even though her mortal remains are no longer with us. Fortunate we are indeed to be able to hear her voice as we seek much-needed comfort in our times of challenges. Her music has and will continue to have that impact; to comfort, motivate and entertain.

Unfortunately, as a schoolboy when the opportunity arose to sneak a glimpse of her as she traversed the East Bank public after her arrival here in the early eighties, I missed out.

I was on the receiving end of the then stringent unwritten rules of what constitutes the village raising children.

One year in, 80%...

The Astra Zeneca vaccine, 3000 doses were administered to various first- and front-line healthcare providers. Since then, Guyana has administered AZ, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, and Moderna vaccines to the Guyanese people.

Our gratitude is owed to COVAX and PAHO/WHO and UNICEF, the UNDP and other UN agencies for coordinating COVAX support and also providing valuable technical and logistical support. International partners such as the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU, Spain, France, Middle Eastern countries, India and China deserve our respect and gratitude.

The President had declared that our goal is for more than 70 per cent of the population fully vaccinated by end of June. As we mark one year since the COVID-19 vaccination pro-

FROM PAGE 4

gramme started, we are in a position to achieve this.

I am hopeful that we can surpass the goal of 70 per cent. The President and the Government of Guyana have done their part. We the citizens must do our part. For those of us who have fully complied, let us work with those who for one reason or the other have not yet come forward. It is in the interest of our country and our people for all of us to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Let us remember that Guyana is free of polio, smallpox, mumps, rubella, yellow fever and other killer diseases because all our children are covered with vaccines against these diseases. We can end COVID-19’s journey as a killer disease.

But the starting point has to be a population fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

While I do not regret those circumstances of being raised by the village, I still may not have gotten over my resentment of that moment of not being able to cast my eyes on the iconic Lataji.

That said, the joy, which her music continues to infuse in my body, is mitigating the emotions which were heightened following her death.

For any mortal to be able to offer such, in life and after death, can only be within the realms of immortality. The deserving awards bestowed upon her, speak to the immeasurable positive impact of her life. Space and time will probably never be enough to truly pay tribute to her.

I can therefore only trust that this will add to the many others that will allow us all to not only remember and appreciate her invaluable global contributions, but to be inspired by the humble being she was who toiled for over seven decades to bring happiness to mankind.

Sincerely, Neaz Subhan Indian cultural activist

Lifting of curfew brings job expansion, economic renewal Dear Editor, The nationwide curfew that has been in place since March 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus has been lifted as the country sees a decline in cases and an uptake in vaccination, this will also jumpstart economic activity and create more jobs as Guyana forges ahead into the future.

It is advisable that all citizens seek vaccination as it is now time to shift our focus from survival to co-existing with the dis-

ease.

We are not yet out of the woods and we must therefore continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols and rules, such as wearing face masks.

Vaccination remains the best defence against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death from COVID-19.

All citizens who have not yet done so are encouraged to be vaccinated as soon as possible. This includes people who are eligible for booster shots.

This will be a huge relief

to the hundreds of workers in the tourism and hospitality sector that have borne the brunt of the national lockdown.

We would like to thank President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana for facilitating all aspects of vaccination and healthcare services in order to reach this stage as Guyana heads into a progressive era.

Sincerely, Halim Khan Region Three Private Sector Inc (R3PSInc)

Welcoming decision to lift national curfew

Dear Editor, The Private Sector Commission (PSC) welcomes the decision taken by the National COVID-19 Taskforce on Friday, February 11, 2022, to lift the National Curfew with immediate effect.

The Commission recog-

nizes the consistent reduction in COVID-19 cases over the past weeks and believes that Guyana is well on its way to achieving herd immunity.

The PSC continues to urge businesses to adhere to the COVID-19 measures in place to safeguard against the vi-

rus and reminds that vaccination remains our top protection against all variants of COVID-19 and a timely booster dose maximizes protection against the virus Sincerely, Private Sector Commission

Commending Govt’s decision for ending curfew Dear Editor, We the Management of Palm Court, welcome the Government’s decision to bring an end to the Emergency COVID-19 curfew with immediate effect.

We believe that this decision is very timely. Since their election into office, the Government has managed to tackle the spread of the deadly virus where adequate intervention was made to address both the economic impact on the health implications.

It is worthwhile to note that the tourism, entertainment and hospitality sector has been the most bad-

ly affected globally and in Guyana, resulting in hundreds of businesses and employees being placed on the bread line.

With more than half the population fully vaccinated, this decision will allow/ make way for the safe reopening of businesses as well as create employment opportunities for persons in addition to building the economy.

Once again, we would like to thank the Government and the COVID-19 taskforce for their diligence and the recently updated measures.

We wish to commend the

Government for the manner in which they manage to contain the impacts of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Sincerely, Ravin Prashad Chairman of Board of Directors

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

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Foundation ◄

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n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate weather by making a DIY barometer.

A double-line graph often compares how information changes for two or more persons, places or things as time passes.

Example:

In which year were the most dolphins seen in Guyana and Suriname?

Step 1: Look for the highest point on the graph for the Guyana data (80)and then the Suriname data(100).

Step 2: Look along the horizontal axis for the time that point relates to: 1999 (Guyana) and 1997 (Suriname).

Exercises: Interpret

1) What can you say about the supply and demand of ice cream from the double-line chart?

Friday’s answers

1) Seventeen students took 20 minutes to locate library materials.

2) Saturday and Wednesday are the two most popular days for consuming potatoes .

Make this a science project:

Observe your DIY barometer over several days and record weather conditions associated with high and low air pressure readings. Watch local weather reports and determine if your barometer aligns with meteorological reporting.(sciencefun. org)

Materials:

Marker Paper Scissors Empty two-litre soda bottle Plastic ruler Water Tape Food colouring Tubing Gum

Instructions:

Cut the top off of the soda bottle.

Place the ruler inside the bottle and tape it securely to the inside wall.

Next, securely tape the length of tubing along the length of the ruler making sure to leave an extra few inches hanging outside the top of the bottle.

Fill the bottle about halfway full with water.

Add some food colouring to help see the water a little easier.

Chew the gum so it gets soft and tacky.

Now suck the water up through the tube until it is a couple inches above the water line and use your tongue over the end of the tubing to hold the water in place.

Quickly place the gum over the end of the tubing to hold the water in place.

Mark the water line of the water in the tubing on the outside of the bottle.

Observe the water line in the tubing each day and mark any changes on the outside of the bottle.

If the air pressure rises, the water level in the tubing will rise.

How it works:

2) What conclusion can you draw from the double-line graph about students’ grades and how much TV they watched?

tube goes down. If the air pressure is high, the water in the tube will rise.

High air pressure is usually associated with mild weather and low air pressure is usually associated with bad weather. The barometer acts as a balance and balances the weight of the air (air pressure) around you against the water in the tube. If the air pressure is low, the water in the

Teacher's Tip “Procrastination is the thief of time” – Edward Young

By Jose Hernandez Diaz For Laura Villareal

A mango fell from a tree into a jaguar’s paws. It was late summer. The ?jaguar devoured the fruit and ran into the ocean.

The ocean was turquoise like the August sky. The jaguar swam underwater for a few minutes. It smiled beneath the waves.

Later, clouds began to form. The sun became veiled by the clouds; it began to rain.

The jaguar swam a little bit more, but then exited the water. It walked back to the jungle for twenty minutes in the rain. When the jaguar arrived on its turf, it climbed up a tree and fell asleep. The moon looked like a summer mango.

Source: Poetry (January 2020)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drive-thru zoo being considered by Govt …President Ali aims to create “one-of-a-kind” experiences for visitors

President Dr Irfaan Ali

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured tourism stakeholders that his Government will continue to work aggressively to improve the sector and create unique experiences that will attract people from all parts of the globe.

The Head of State made this remark at the launch of the 23rd Edition of the “Explore Guyana” magazine on Thursday evening at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Georgetown.

According to the President, he believes strongly in what Guyana has to offer. To this end, he committed to ensuring that Guyana focuses on improving its competitiveness in the tourism industry and creating a cutting-edge product that would attract visitors to the country.

Citing Singapore’s night zoo, Ali revealed that consideration is being given for the establishment of a safari/drive-thru zoo experience in Guyana that would be located somewhere close to the bulk of the population.

“So, we’re thinking of

how we can create, in its natural environment, a one of a kind zoo – a drive-through zoo that people from all across the Caribbean, South America can say this is a one of a kind, unique experience we want to be part of and that is something that we are looking at, to see how it can be created,” he noted.

Against this backdrop, Government is trying to get some experts to come look into this initiative.

In the meantime, President Ali said there is a very elaborate enhancement plan for the existing zoo and Botanical Gardens in Georgetown that will get underway soon.

In addition, he mentioned that consideration is being given to special incentives for double-cap open back pick-up vehicles to support the tourism sector especially in transporting persons to the Rupununi region so that they can truly experience driving through the rainforests.

President Ali noted that the Government will make the necessary investments

to, among other things, find ways in which there can be a meaningful reduction to the costs for movement to and from the hinterland and riverine communities.

As such, he noted that while his Administration is investing heavily in the country’s infrastructural development, there is also a need for a partnership approach to propel the sector forward.

The Head of State further outlined that tourism and agriculture will be the country’s strongest and most sustainable sectors in the future.

“We have to invest in these sectors not only physically but on the human resource capacity and ensure that we build the competitiveness of the sector,” he stated.

President Ali lauded the reach of the magazine and the enhanced digital version. He also spoke of the need to improve the ICT sector in Guyana, which will revolutionise the country’s competitiveness and its ability to be an effective player in the global market.

While the tourism sector is recovering from a difficult two years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the President said that there is reason to celebrate as the multi-stakeholder approach has been effective in not only resolving this shock but also ensuring that the entire shock was not passed over to the industry.

“I think we have done exceedingly well [in] creating that balance… When I say we, it’s the Government partnering with the Private Sector and civil society in creating that balance,” the President asserted.

Meanwhile, President Ali highlighted that they will be using the upcoming oil and gas conference next week to promote Guyana’s products and local arts and

President Ali and Head of THAG Harrinand Persaud unveiling this year’s edition of the Explore Guyana magazine

crafts. The Guyana Energy Conference and Expo 2022 set to take place from February 15 to 18.

“So the Energy Conference is not only about oil and gas, for a matter of fact to me oil and gas is the sweetener... This is our time in the sector to put the country, our services and everything on the show for all those who are coming,” he noted.

To this end, the President said that the Government and Private Sector have concocted an innovative idea of making the Umana Yana a duty-free zone. He said that the Government has invited local suppliers, producers, including makers of jewellery and rum and persons who create art and craft, to generate a shopping experience for all the foreign delegates and visitors coming to

the conference.

This, he said, will bring the market potential to them in a creative way that will showcase Guyana’s capabilities.

The President also noted that in building the country’s emphasis on food security, the Government is looking to launch “The President’s Children’s Orchard” with different types of trees and cabins where children will not only enjoy but also learn about the importance of food and sustainability.

The aim, according to the President, is to create a new culture and drive for our future leaders.

Meanwhile, at Thursday’s magazine launch, President of the Tourism and Hospital Association of Guyana (THAG), Harrinand Persaud outlined the new and excit-

ing features of the 2022 edition of Explore Guyana.

This includes links to the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), advertisers, THAG members, tour operators, virtual tours of local resorts, and other video access on its website.

Additionally, special QR readers for hotels and resorts that can be accessed via a code on the cover page.

The magazine also features articles from a variety of explorers including the United States Ambassador and British High Commissioner to Guyana.

The cover photo of this year’s Explore Guyana magazine was captured with the newest GoPro camera and was taken by a team of foreign explorers which included Dylan Efron – the brother of famous American Actor Zac Efron. (G8)

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

“Birdman” acquitted of murder in shooting to death of mechanic

Freed: Sedley Liverpool

Murdered: Terrence Lanferman

man accused of fatally shooting another man walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man on Friday after a Judge upheld a no-case submission made on his behalf by his attorney-at-law.

Following the submission presented by defence lawyer, Ravindra Mohabir, Justice Brassington Reynolds directed the 12-member jury to formally return a verdict of not guilty in favour of Sedley Liverpool.

Also known as “Birdman”, Liverpool had been accused of the June 1, 2015 murder of Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD) mechanic, 23-year-old Terrence Lanferman, who was gunned down at his home.

Liverpool was arraigned last month before the Judge and pleaded not guilty to a charge for the capital offence. His trial later commenced, with lead prosecutor, State Counsel Seeta Bishundial calling 15 wit-

A

nesses.

In 2019, Liverpool’s cousin, Kenkossie Lynch, was found guilty of Lanferman’s murder and was sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Reports are that there had been a feud between Liverpool and Lanferman.

At some point, Lynch and his cousin reportedly met and conspired to attack Lanferman, after which they visited his home on a motorcycle.

It has been reported that Lynch went to Lanferman’s home armed with a gun that his cousin had given to him. While Lynch was at the home, his cousin allegedly waited for him some distance away.

Lynch knocked on the door and confronted Lanferman, who had opened the door, and he shot Lanferman before making good his escape.

Lynch has since filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence in which he argues that the trial Judge Navindra Singh made several errors in law. He argues, too, that the Judge failed to adequately put his

Changing times…

T

Murder convict: Kenkossie Lynch

defence to the jury, and that the jail sentence is manifestly excessive.

Meanwhile, at a sentencing hearing, Justice Singh had told Lynch that he murdered a man he did not know and with whom he had had no problem.

“This was a premeditated crime…you staked out and waited on the opportune time to kill this man,” the Judge had said to the convicted killer. (G1)

…in sex toy industry he time-tested adage, “If you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em” must’ve played out when the GRA decided to allow sex toys to be imported. Some thought sex toys had been banned. But while we may be “Victorian – with her statue in front of our courts and all that – we ain’t THAT Victorian!! More prosaically, the GRA hadn’t classified them for taxation and was losing revenue since they were still being brought in under the radar!! How else could that MP wave around that dildo in Parliament last year?? Never mind another crass MP promoting its use this year!

When your Eyewitness heard about the move, he wanted to know how much money those plastic dildos could generate?? Surely, they can’t be more expensive than those plastic guns firing blanks that’re selling on our pavements?

So – as he does when in doubt nowadays – he googled it!!

And boy was he in for a surprise. As the ad for Virginia Slims once boasted, “We’ve come a long way, Baby!!” From dildos – which is just a part of the sexual apparatus – they’ve gone the full nine yards!! We now have life-sized and fully functional sex robots with textured skins!! So, rather than paraphrasing and getting it wrong, here’s an excerpt from one article.

“Sex robots are here. It’s not just a gimmick of science fiction. Granted, the artificially intelligent sex robots of such films as “Ex Machina” and “AI” are not here yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

Most sex robots now are little more than slightly animated sex dolls. Perhaps the most advanced sex robot that we know of is "Samantha." A creation of Synthea Amatus, Samantha is designed to be capable of enjoying sex.

“But Samantha is not all about sex. She can also talk about science and philosophy. She can even tell jokes (although hopefully not while you are having sex with her).

Consent is even an issue with Samantha. If you are too rough with her or she doesn’t like your behaviours, she is programmed to go into “dummy mode” and completely shut down. Currently, robotic partners can go for prices in excess of US$10,000.

“The question here is not whether or not sex robots are coming (they are) or how they are going to be continually evolving. The question here concerns the psychological and social ramifications that may accompany this brave new sexual world. As with any technology, there is a laundry list of pros and cons to consider.

“I recently asked several married couples how they would feel if they walked in on their spouse having sex with a robot….”

So what’d your reaction be, Dear Reader?? …in news business There’s the famous quip made by the fella who said he didn’t know he was speaking “prose” all the time!! The point is, we just didn’t know that normal speaking had a name! Well, in case you didn’t realise it, we were just exposed to “Gonzo Journalism” when that young lady from VICE News sandbagged VP Jagdeo. Again, not to be accused of partisanship, your Eyewitness quotes the staid Wiki, “Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story using a dirty person narrative.

“It involves an approach to accuracy that concerns the reporting of personal experiences and emotions…(and) disregards the strictly-edited product once favoured by newspaper media and strives for a more personal approach; the personality of a piece is as important as the event or actual subject of the piece. Use of sarcasm, humour, exaggeration, and profanity is common.”

So now you know!! Do we have any local Gonzos? …with drugs A CANU crew snagged 100 cases of Brazilian beers, 4 cases of whiskey and 1 case of Black-stone – all uncustomed – in a Reg 9 raid. But nothing was lodged.

Jeez!! The stuff had to be tested for authenticity, no?!!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Favourable labour conditions paramount in sustaining oil sector – PM …foreign oil companies updated on hiring conditions, hiring policies

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

C

ompanies operating in the oil and gas sector have been charged again to guarantee best practices in the employment and conditions of work for Guyanese.

The Labour Ministry on Friday facilitated an engagement with 86 foreign companies operating in Guyana’s oil and gas sector to discuss conditions of work, occupational safety and health requirements, and employment exchange services.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips used his platform to highlight that the thousands of jobs offered in the sector must not be void of regulations and safety practices – a factor which his Government is closely monitoring. Such glitches, he identified, would affect the sustainability of operations for these companies.

“We are well aware of the capital-intensive nature of oil production but the process would be incomplete

without reliance on labour input. Even with the development of thousands of jobs for Guyanese people comes the necessity to ensure that the conditions under which they work and overall industrial relations are favourable if we are to sustain our oil and gas sector.”

“Our Government believes that concerns such as sufficient renumeration, favourable conditions, mutual respect and consideration for workers’ rights and access to other resources concerning their employment are paramount to ensuring that our people are comfortable, productive and safe,” he told operators.

With direct responsibility for oversight of healthy employee-employer relations in keeping with the country’s labour laws, he outlined that the Ministry of Labour must continually ensure compliance.

“Moreover, there must sustained initiatives to pro-

mote positive, mutually-beneficial relationships among stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. Undeniably, skills and characteristics within the oil and gas sector are distinct and call for massive occupational health and safety standards,” Phillips underscored.

While the Local Content Policy will ensure equal access for opportunities, the PM pointed to the new Local Content Secretariat being created to allow for the efficient operationalisation of this legislation.

The Prime Minister said Government has the rights of workers as an utmost priority, along with ensuring that development which benefits citizens are closely managed.

“A trademark of the PPP/ Civic Administration is its dedication to the citizens of Guyana, the working class people of Guyana. With the wellbeing of our workers high on the list of considerations, my Government sought to re-establish the Ministry of Labour in its return to office.

Addressing the concerns of workers must be given concentrated attention.”

He added, “As an oil and gas producing nation, the benefits for Guyana’s people are tenfold. Our rapidly growing oil and gas industry will ensure Guyana’s energy security while lowering energy costs. It will encourage greater investments in all sectors, bring improved infrastructure and economic opportunities, and support

A section of the gathering

the development of thousands of new jobs.”

Further to that, the Prime Minister called attention to the fact that the Government would have re-established the Ministry of Labour upon assuming office in August 2020, and it will now play a major role in the sector. This includes the monitoring of workers’ rights, increasing human development and capacity building.

He noted that as a Government it is important that the Administration works closely with these oil and gas companies so that there can be compliance,

growth and benefits for all parties. The International Labour Organisation, and Unions were also part of the forum.

Ministerial Advisor, Gillian Burton-Persaud assured that the focus is to work in the interest of not only employees, but their employers. She said such seminars play a role in establishing a level playing field in the intricacies surrounding labour, in having little to no disgruntlement once operations commence.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil

on December 20, 2019 in the Stabroek Block.

Only last month, Exxon announced two new oil discoveries in the oil rich Stabroek Block, which has more than 10 billion barrels of recoverable resource estimated.

These recent oil finds were in the Fangtooth-1 and Lau Lau-1 wells in the Stabroek Block, bringing its number of discoveries in the Block to 27. According to the US oil giant, Fangtooth-1 had 164 feet of oil reservoir, while the Lau Lau-1 well had 315 feet of oil reservoir.

(G12)

Teen motorcyclist dies after slamming into parked vehicle

A

teenager died on Friday morning after losing control of the motorcycle he was riding and slamming into a parked vehicle at Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Dead is Elijah Profitt of Craig Street, Campbellville.

Reports are that the accident occurred at about 10:30h.

According to ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV) footage, the teenager was not wearing a helmet as he proceeded west along Craig Street at a fast rate of speed.

He then lost control of the motorcycle and collided into the right-side rear of a motor pick-up.

As a result of the impact, the motorcyclist received injuries to his head and about

Dead: Elijah Profitt

his body.

Police said he was picked

up in an unconscious state and transported by ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Guyana Times visited Profitt’s home, his family was too traumatised to speak with the media.

However, one of his aunts said the family suffered a great loss because her nephew was “very special.”

She said that the young man was a very respectful and quiet person who was loved dearly by his family.

Investigations into the fatal accident continue.

However, it is unclear if the motorcyclist was the holder of a driver’s licence or provisional licence. (G9)

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

National curfew lifted …swimming pools can open at 50% capacity

T

he Guyana Government on Friday announced that with immediate effect, the National COVID-19 curfew has been removed.

The announcement was made by the National COVID-19 Secretariat in an advisory, adding that swimming pools are now permitted to operate at 50 per cent capacity. However, swimmers must be fully vaccinated.

“Notwithstanding these relaxations of the measures, the COVID-19 Task Force urges all Guyanese to demonstrate responsible behaviour,” the advisory added.

A national curfew was instituted countrywide following the first COVID-19 case detected in Guyana in March 2020. While the timings have varied since then, the latest renewed measures stipulate a curfew from 00:00h to 04:00h.

This decision comes one day after President Dr Irfaan Ali asked the Task Force to consider removing the current midnight to 4am curfew that was imposed un-

der the Emergency Measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

The Head of State had reasoned that dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is an evolution.

“We saw that there are many studies saying lockdown just help by 0.0001 per cent. What is needed in this stage in dealing with the pandemic are the protocols – ensuring all the agencies have the sanitisation device, ensuring that we continue to educate people on the vaccination programme, ensuring that the guidelines and protocols are observed.

But for sure, we can’t continue with a prolonged curfew; and it is my hope and intention that the curfew can be removed once the necessary steps are followed by as early as tomorrow [Friday],” President Ali was quoted as saying announced.

The current COVID-19 measures, which are still in effect, stipulate the wearing of masks, social distancing and sanitisation.

There are restrictions on so-

cial activities, where no one shall host or attend a private party, banquet, ball, reception, hotel swimming pool or waterpark, wage, vigil, club, discotheque, social club, civil organisation or association, fraternal society; or any other social activity. Sporting events require approval from the Ministry of Health.

Casinos, betting shops, or cinemas can still operate but only at forty per cent capacity of the building or seating area. Patrons will only be allowed entry upon possession of a vaccination card to show their immunisation status.

Indoor and outdoor dining is also permitted at 60 per cent capacity, tables spaced six feet apart, and patrons above the age of 12 in possession of their vaccination card with accompanying identification document.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Phillips was asked whether any of the other existing COVID measures will be relaxed, to which he responded that when a decision is made, the public will be notified. (G12)

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more COVID-19 deaths recorded …80% Guyanese vaccinated with at least 1st dose

T

he Health Ministry announced on Friday that two more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. The total number of deaths from the pandemic has moved to 1190.

have been conducted.

Regionally, there were four new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini), five in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), four in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 50 in Region Four (Demerara-

at least the first dose with jabs that were either procured by Government or donated through countries and COVAX. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony commented on this milestone during the COCVID update, stat-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD FEBRUARY 11, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

95

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

84

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

The latest fatalities are a 25-year-old woman from Region Three and an 84-year-old man from Region Four – both of whom died on February 10. The female was unvaccinated while the other person was fully vaccinated.

The daily dashboard showed an increase of 95 cases, resulting in 62,156 total infections to date. Some 28,641 males contracted the virus along with 33,641 females.

There are 15 persons in the specialised Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 84 in institutional isolation, 1937 in home isolation and 20 in institutional quarantine.

Recoveries now stands at 58,930, while 523,041 tests

Mahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), two in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), one in Region Eight (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and 28 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

No increase was reported in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Vaccination

Friday marked one year since Guyana commenced its immunisation campaign against COVID-19, commencing with adults and later introducing jabs for adolescents.

The country has managed to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of Guyanese with

ing, “I think we’ve done very well so far. We’re one of the countries in the Caribbean that would have vaccinated a substantial portion of its population. Over the last year, we would have been able to administer 850,735 doses, which works out to about 2330 vaccines per day.

I think that’s a really good record.”

Thus far, 345,000 persons aged 12 years and older have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means that almost 45 per cent of the entire Guyanese population are now fully vaccinated and more than 62 per cent of the population 18 years and older are fully vaccinated. More than 45,000 Guyanese have tak-

1937 15

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

20

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

33,515

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

28,641

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

62,156

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

58,930

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2437

REGION 2

2404

REGION 3

7950

REGION 4

30,834

REGION 5

2312

REGION 6

5620

REGION 7

2401

REGION 8

868

REGION 9

3877

REGION 10

3453

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

427,680 320,221

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1190

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.

en had a booster shot.

Vaccination numbers indicate that over 83 per cent

of the adult population have received a first COVID-19 dose while over 62 per cent

have returned for their second jab.

TURN TO PAGE 12

12 NEWS 108 to stand trial at February sitting of Berbice Assizes SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

O

ne hundred eight (108) cases are set for trial at the February sitting of the Berbice Assizes. The session officially opened on Wednesday shortly after Justice Sandil Kissoon

closed the October 2021 session.

Most of the cases are for murder, with 51 persons waiting to answer the capital offence, two for murder/ piracy and one for attempted murder. There are four

incarcerated persons awaiting trial for rape-related offences.

Of the 108 matters set for this session, 58 of the accused are in prison.

The age range for those incarcerated and awaiting

Justice Sandil Kissoon

trial is from 19 to 49 years old.

Ravendranauth Mohanlall, 43, has been awaiting trial for ten years.

He is accused of setting fire to two men in a boat, resulting in their death.

On September 6, 2011, Mohanlall also called “Fred” is alleged to have murdered Beeram Motee Lall, 45, and 15-year-old Reynard Fernandes called “Renee”.

The incident occurred at the Albion foreshore.

Meanwhile, three per-

sons have indicated that they want to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Mohanlall Sewsankar, 23, is accused of the October 2016 killing and burning of the body of 21-year-old Mahendra Ghanie called “Azad” at Number 55 Village, Corentyne.

Sewsankar is charged jointly with two others but he has indicated that he wants to plead guilty to the offence.

Also indicating his will-

ingness to enter a guilty plea since 2018 is Abdul McLennon.

Kareem Charles, who is accused of the March 1, 2019 killing of Arshad Ali at Rosignol, has also indicated his willingness to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Meanwhile, Gavin Gill, who had confessed to the brutal murder of his wife, Omwattie Gill, called “Anjalie”, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his life sentence.

He remains a prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison.

No females at the New Amsterdam Prison are awaiting trial in the High Court.

The session will officially commence on Monday with the trial of Sheldon Prince, who is accused of killing his wife, Lonnette NicholsonPrince, at the National Psychiatric Hospital where she worked as a cosmetologist. (G4)

2 more COVID-19....

A further first dose breakdown showed 83.1 per cent coverage for the above 60 age group, 82.8 per cent for 40 to 59 years, 80.8 per cent for 18 to 39 years and 45.3 per cent for 12 to 17 years.

In a statement, Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy also expressed, “These are impressive numbers and some of the persons who have not been registered as receiving any vaccine might have had their vaccines done overseas also. At this first year point, gratitude must also be expressed to the Guyanese

people who have overwhelmingly responded to the COVID-19 vaccination programme. While there is disappointment that a full 15 per cent of the population have remained hesitant, we must continue to work with this sub-population to ensure that all eligible Guyanese are fully vaccinated with booster shots”.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are in effect February 28, 2022. This order emphasises the need for everyone, 12 years and older to get vac-

FROM PAGE 11

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

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy

(G12)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Employers to face hefty fines for labour breaches – Hamilton …as legislative revision continues

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fter the revision of legislation for the labour sector, employers found in breach of the laws will be slapped with hefty fines for failure to meet the country’s regulations for their employees.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton told media operatives on the sidelines of an event on Friday that a legal committee is still reviewing the labour legislation, thereby enabling recommendations. The paltry fines currently in place, he warned, will be replaced with much heavier sanctions.

“We have a joint legal committee that will be reviewing legislation on labour. I can further say that the fines will be substantial coming out of the recommendations. After we have put all of that in legal language, we will have a consultation with all stakeholders. Fines will be one of the major issues because now the fines are pittances,” he outlined.

The complement of labour officers has increased to 28 for enhanced monitoring for compliance. The Labour Minister pointed out that companies are also guilty of other law-breaking issues, relating to overtime.

“We have had instances where companies give an allowance for overtime.

That’s breaking the law.

Many times, I’ve had to intervene. The time-buying thing is whereby companies work you overtime, they keep the time and at their

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton

convenience, they send the worker on days off. Totally breaking the law. There are several instances of that sort in the different sectors: mining, construction, oil and gas. Therefore, this seminar is to have a conversation with every participant in the oil and gas sector what the laws are.”

Another illegal practice is the facilitation of apprenticeship training through oil and gas agencies. Minister Hamilton pointed out that unless a company is authorised by the Board of Industrial Training, they cannot rollout such activity. In most scenarios, local agencies are in breach.

“Those things some people might not have known so we need to regularise that. Many of the instances that I have intervened, it is local HR and lawyers who have misdirected com-

panies. That’s the sad thing and have created the conditions for that company to break the laws…We have to ensure that it doesn’t continue. It’s not just oil and gas companies and expatriate companies,” Hamilton underlined.

Among the slew of illegal labour practices is also the placement of workers on monthly contracts, continuing for several years with the intention of evading insurance and tax obligations.

“They have them for temporary employees for everlasting. The law is clear…

They do that so that they don’t have responsibility and obligation to GRA and NIS. So, this person is a self-contractor but it is a permanent employee. Those are things I will regularise.”

While focused on labour breaches, the Labour Ministry is also paying close attention to the safety of workers. Through both the public and Private Sector, the need for workplace safety committees have been emphasised for companies with more than 19 employees.

“Most companies were in breach of that. We’re hoping to rectify that situation at the level of employment agencies that are here.

They’re unregulated and the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency will put legislation in place to have them registered and regulated; and to have in the legislation, specific fines for breaches.” (G12)

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Accused drug trafficker Ex-cop on bail for shooting at policeman on $300,000 bail

Policeman David Lampkin

Former Policeman Corinth Corbin

A

year after he allegedly shot his colleagues during an argument, former Police Constable Corinth Corbin was on Friday charged and released on $75,000 bail.

Corbin, 22, of Silver Town, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on January 31, 2021, at Brickdam, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Dewani Lampkin with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause him grievous bodily harm.

At the time of the shooting, Corbin and Lampkin, who also held the rank of

Constable, were attached to the Brickdam Police Station.

Reports are that Lampkin was shot to his leg at about 05:00h during an argument over a missing pair of slippers.

It is alleged that Corbin became annoyed, whipped out his service revolver, and shot Lampkin to his right leg. Following the incident, the injured policeman was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for treatment.

Guyana Times understands that Corbin was placed on open arrest after the shooting. He, however, went absent without leave and was only arrested this week at his home.

Accused drug trafficker: Jamal Millington

A

Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) man made his initial court appearance Friday on a charge that alleged he trafficked 56.3 grams of marijuana at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Jamal Millington, 24, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool.

The accused drug trafficker was granted $300,000 bail and is required to lodge his passport with the court

A quantity of marijuana concealed inside Pringles containers were discovered in Jamal Millington’s luggage, CANU reported

pending the hearing and determination of his trial. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Jevon Cox. The case will continue on April 4.

On Wednesday, Millington, an outgoing passenger, had his luggage searched by ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics

Unit (CANU) who discovered the marijuana concealed inside two Pringles containers.

As a result, Millington was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters where the narcotic was weighed in his presence. He was subsequently charged. (G1)

“Known character” among 2 remanded for brazen Croal Street robbery ing that Pollard committed the offence while he was out on bail for offences ranging from robbery under arms to theft, the prosecutor noted the serious nature and prevalence of the offence, and the penalty it attracts.

In the end, the two accused robbers were denied bail and remanded to prison.

Their next court date is March 11.

Previous conviction

Robbery accused: Chris Pollard

CCTV captured when Riaz Ahmad was robbed on Croal Street, Georgetown

Two men who were caught on camera choking and robbing a man on Croal Street, Georgetown, were on Friday charged with robbery with aggravation and remanded. “Known character”, Chris Pollard, 21, and Jamal Delph, 25, were arraigned before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

They denied the charge which stated that on February 8, at Croal Street, Georgetown, they robbed 33-year-old businessman Riaz Ahmad of Foulis, East

Coast Demerara (ECD), of an iPhone 6 valued $48,900, and $700 in cash.

Police said Ahmad was walking along Croal Street when he was accosted from behind by Pollard who choked him, while Delph approached from the front, pushed his hand into the complainant’s right-side pocket, and took out the items.

Ahmad became unconscious during the ordeal and was left lying on the ground, as the perpetrators ran away with the items.

The entire ordeal was cap-

tured on CCTV and investigations led to the perpetrators being arrested shortly after.

Delph was arrested on Tuesday evening at about 22:00h at Tucville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, while his alleged accomplice was arrested the next day at around 01:00h at a house on David Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Police said that the man’s phone was recovered on one of the accused.

Pollard is no stranger to law enforcement.

The Police prosecutor raised serious objections to the men being granted their pre-trial liberty.

Apart from highlight-

In November 2019, Pollard was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for robbing a man of his cellular phone. He was found guilty of the charge which stated that on September 13, 2019, at Camp Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others, he robbed Bob Sachin of a cell phone valued at $44,000 and $1000.

The court was told that on the day in question, Sachin was walking along Camp Street using his cell phone when he was approached by Pollard and two other men who told him, “Don’t do nothing before we do you something”.

They then relieved the man of his valuables and escaped. The victim immediately raised an alarm and two passing Police ranks gave chase and apprehended Pollard.

Chris Pollard (in front) and Jamal Delph making their way to the Police lock-ups at the city court after answering a robbery charge

Other charges

In July 2021, Pollard was charged with snatching a woman’s gold jewellery and remanded to prison. The charge stated that on July 22, 2021, at the Route 47 Bus Park, Stabroek Georgetown, he stole from the person of Tenecia Dick, a gold chain valued at $70,000 - property

of the said Dick.

The Police prosecutor had told the court that the virtual complainant and Pollard are known to each other. While the woman was about to board a bus, it is alleged that Pollard walked up to her and snatched the chain she had around her neck.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Uncustomed goods seized during joint inter-agency raid in Rupununi

The uncustomed goods seized during the operation

However, CANU has rejected reports which are aimed at impugning its integrity. In fact, CANU, in a release, stated that the Unit

lated that these operations were aimed at targeting groups that were engaged in the smuggling of various goods across our border from Brazil.

The drug enforcement agency commended its officers conducting these operations for their continued professionalism during the execution of their duties with the full support of the man-

The two Venezuelan nationals who were arrested during the operation

agement of the unit.

CANU further reminded the general public that the smuggling of narcotics and other uncustomed goods is il-

legal and those found in possession of the same, and/or transporting or storing them would be prosecuted accordingly.

Emergency Medical Services for Regions 3, 5

A

joint inter-agency collaboration at the Lethem checkpoint on the Rupununi Main Road, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) has resulted in the seizure of a quantity of uncustomed goods.

The operation was conducted between February 7, 2022 and 10, 2022.

Based on reports received, agents of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and its Brazilian counterparts conducted the joint operation where a quanti-

ty of uncustomed goods was confiscated.

The items seized included several cases of alcoholic beverages such as Itaipava, Skarloff, Blackstone, Camelinho Wine, Pergola, Quinta Do Mongado, and Don Bosco wine.

Then, CANU officers, acting on intelligence received, searched a residence in Palm Street, Lethem where 100 cases of foreign beers were seized and two Venezuelan nationals arrested.

The total value of seized items amounted to $700,000.

took note of an article titled “CANU Officers in Region 9 allegedly used uniform to confiscate goods for personal use”. The Unit claimed that the allegations in the article are far from the truth.

Nevertheless, despite the erroneous reports, the Unit stated that all of the seized uncustomed goods, including the alcohol, were handed over to the GRA along with two individuals who were detained.

Meanwhile, CANU re-

“Known character” among 2 ...

Dick, the prosecutor added, gave chase behind Pollard, and with the help of public-spirited citizens, she was able to apprehend him.

Then in March 2019, Pollard appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge which alleged that he stole a Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued at $44,000 from a woman. He allegedly committed the offence on February 19, 2019, at Croal Street, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, in August 2019, he was brought before the courts for stealing another phone. The charge

alleged that on August 5, 2019, at Croal Street, he stole a cell phone valued at $35,000 from Saskia Pestano.

Facts disclosed that the woman was in a Route 48 minibus when the phone was snatched out of her hand. The minibus had stopped for a passenger to disembark and Pestano was sitting by an open window seat.

Pollard allegedly ran up to the minibus window, snatched the phone, and ran away. He was caught by public-spirited persons and the cell phone found on him.

FROM PAGE 14

Back in February 2018, Pollard was charged with stealing his father’s licenced firearm. The charge against him stated that on January 28, 2018, at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown, he stole a .32 pistol, along with 10 matching rounds of ammunition valued at $252,600 from Peter Pollard.

It was revealed that Pollard, who was then 18, visited his father’s home and stole the gun and ammunition that were hidden under the man’s pillow.

The elder Pollard, however, did not proceed with the charge. (G1)

The ranks that were trained in advanced Emergency Medical Services

H

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has announced that Emergency Medical Services will soon be extended to Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The Minister was at the time addressing Guyana Fire Service ranks who recently completed the first stage of an Advanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training.

Eight ranks were trained, according to the Fire Service.

During his brief remarks, the Minister implored the ranks to be agents of change in society.

“Be an agent of change with the aim of handing over a peaceful and better life to the next generation,” he said.

He further thanked the facilitators for hosting the training exercise and stated that training is necessary to pass on the skills and expertise required by first responders.

The exercise was held

at the Project Dawn facility and was conducted by Dr Shannon Langston, MD and Andrea Fletcher, EMT-P, RN of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee.

Over the next four months, the trainees will be engaged in Zoom sessions and other practical sessions before completing the course and becoming certified.

In addition, Chief Fire Officer (Ag), Gregory Wickham pleaded with the trainees to use the knowledge gained to improve the Emergency Medical Services and better serve the citizens of Guyana.

In July last year, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said good EMS can save many lives. At the time he was giving his address at the commissioning of the fire station and ambulance service at Melanie on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

The Health Minister also said the goal is to replicate the emergency medical services countrywide.

“…if we take a lot of time in expanding this service and that is what we want to ensure that we do not lose any more opportunity in terms of saving lives”, he had said.

The Minister also revealed that the EMS headquarters would be established in the compound of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention at Liliendaal.

In 2019, 50 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were certified as Pre-Hospital Trauma and Life support (PHTLS) providers by the Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The training activity was organised by the office of the Guyana Emergency Medical Services in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service.

The team of visiting instructors had coordinated the intense training for the local EMTs over a period of four days at the East Coast Demerara Project Dawn facility. (G9)

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Queen’s College named Top School in Caribbean for 2021 T

he Caribbean Examinations Councils (CXC) held its 2021 Regional Top Awards Ceremony where nine Guyanese students were awarded for their outstanding performances at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate 2021 and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations 2021.

The award ceremony was held virtually in the British Virgin Islands and was broadcast live across the Caribbean region where awardees tuned in virtually to receive their awards in their respective countries.

Guyana became the most decorated country after it took home some of the most important awards.

Queen’s College student, Zaynab Shaffie received the Overall Outstanding Achievement award for CSEC 2021 for her

Overall Outstanding Achievement awardee for CSEC Zaynab Shaffie

CAPE Overall Outstanding Achievement award recipient Samuel Haynes

star-shooting performance, attaining eighteen (18) Grade Ones and two Grade Twos.

Samuel Haynes from Queen’s College copped the CAPE Overall Outstanding Achievement award.

Roshni Samaroo, also from Queen’s College, copped the Humanities award.

The top Business award went to Naresh Jagnanan from the Essequibo Islands Secondary School while Serena Razak from Queen’s College received the top Technical Vocational award.

Riley Dominique Nurse, another Queen’s College student, and Saalih Muhammad Rahim from ISA Islamic School both received the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) CSEC Accounting Award for Principles of Accounts. The ACCA CAPE Accounting Award went to Crystal Benjamin from The

Bishops’ High School. Abdul Subhan from St Stanislaus College was the top History awardee for CAPE 2021.

Top CSEC 2021 student, Zaynab Shaffie, in brief remarks at the award ceremony, said that she is grateful to receive the award and credited her achievements to her family, friends, and teachers who helped her along the way. She also expressed thanks to God, noting that her success would not have been possible without him.

“Believe in yourself, formulate a plan and work towards it because you’re capable of more than you think,” she said encouragingly to other students.

Meanwhile, Queen’s College was awarded as the Top School in the Caribbean.

The school is no stranger to receiving such an award, as it would have been awarded the same honour last year.

Fieldwork for national Early detection, early action can census to begin this year save lives – US Ambassador

F

unds have been allocated in Budget 2022 for the fieldwork associated with a national census this year – in keeping with the practice of conducting this exercise every decade.

During the Consideration of Budget Estimates on Thursday, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh told the National Assembly that preparatory works have already commenced through the Bureau of Statistics.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes had identified that the recurrent revenue for the Bureau of Statistics for 2021 was $604 million and with $1 billion budgeted for the agency this year, she questioned if those resources were adequate.

“I don’t see how we’re catering for this huge census across the country with that small increase to that agency,” she outlined.

However, Singh clarified, “Notwithstanding that a census is associated with

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

a particular year, quite a lot of the preparatory work starts long before the census year, and so the Bureau of Statistics would have already started preparatory works, including developing some of their draft data collection tools, initiating preparation of their questionnaires, field manuals, field testing, setting up IT systems that are required

for the purposes of collecting, collating, consolidating and ultimately analysing the data that would be collected”.

In 2021, some of the funds allotted for the Bureau was used to start preparation, given the “vastness of an endeavour” that a census is.

Singh added that work will continue beyond 2022 with additional resources in the 2023 budget to draw the curtains down on the process.

“It’s a once in a decade activity…Recall from the previous censuses that the census activity doesn’t get completed in the year which the census is executed. In fact, work will continue beyond 2022. One will see in the budget for 2023, work continuing on the analysis of the data, preparation of census reports, etc. A census, while associated with a particular year, is a multiyear activity,” the Finance Minister told the House.

This year, he assured that there will be an “escalation” of activities because this will be the year in which fieldwork will be executed.

A census is the procedure of systematically calculating, acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. When the fieldwork commences, persons will be required to visit every region of Guyana, allow Guyanese to complete questionnaires with information, that will then be compiled to form an updated version of the country’s national population count and data. The last census was conducted in 2012. (G12)

Cancer survivor Rosaline Clarke (left) with British High Commissioner Jane Miller, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Guyana Cancer Foundation President Bibi Hassan

U

S Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, recently voiced the need for more cancer awareness in Guyana during the Guyana Cancer Foundation’s Candlelight Vigil.

The vigil was held on February 4 in commemoration of World Cancer Day 2022.

“It really is important to honour this day and I’m very glad to be here. Guyana shares a fact, unfortunately with many nations across the globe and that is that cancer is a leading cause of death here in Guyana, especially breast cancer, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer,” Lynch said.

She further noted that “early detection” and “early action” can save lives, and she also underlined the importance for persons to get screened and perform regular medical check-ups while

spreading awareness on the growing issue.

British High Commissioner, Jane Miller stated that the importance of the event is to raise awareness on a growing issue that has not only been affecting Guyana but many other countries across the world. She said though there is amazing research being done to prevent cancer, awareness still needs to be brought towards the issue.

“Remember that each of us has a role in raising awareness. Around the world, there is amazing research happening today.

Many more treatments, many more ways to prevent. It’s important that we keep up to date with the research, and we keep the lighter alight in terms of reducing the amount of cancer around the world,” the High Commissioner said.

Both Lynch and Miller congratulated the Guyana

Cancer Foundation and its head, Bibi Saeedah Hassan on her hard work over the years of advocating for free medical screening and spreading messages of hope and support for persons dealing with cancer.

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths, which was approximately one in six deaths for 2020. This plague is not just a global problem, but it disproportionately affects lower-middle-income countries like Guyana, where most such deaths occur.

Cancer still remains a taboo topic amongst the Guyanese population with the majority of persons having a sense of fear, shame, and hopelessness at the mere mention of the word cancer, let alone a diagnosis. This fear of diagnosis or the lack thereof goes to reflect the high number of cancer deaths in Guyana.

(G2)

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Your education will unlock doors and open windows of opportunities” – Ali to new UG graduates P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has charged the new graduates of the University of Guyana (UG) to use the knowledge, skills and values they have acquired from their tertiary-level education to revolutionise Guyana's development.

In a pre-recorded video message played during their respective graduation ceremonies over the last week, the Head of State pointed to the importance of their university education.

"You, the graduates of the Class of 2020/2021, have successfully equipped yourself with the most potent arsenal of change: a university education. You must now use the knowledge, the skills and the values that you would have acquired to change your personal circumstances and revolutionise Guyana's development."

The President stressed that Guyana needs expertise, more so because of the transformative drive to not only modernise, but to diversify the economy.

He said that his

Government will attach "extreme importance" to developing and retaining its highly-skilled and knowledgeable graduates, while explaining the importance of tertiary-level education.

“Your country needs your expertise. Guyana is on a transformative path of development towards a modern and diversified economy. One which will attach extreme importance to the development and retention of these highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates. Your education will unlock doors and open windows of opportunities for you to contribute to national development,” the President told the graduates.

Education, according to the President, must also be used to dismantle the barriers of prejudice, hatred and enmity, which he said can deprive us of being the best we can be.

"You are the generation in which Guyana's future resides, and it is you to whom we look to realise a ‘OneGuyana’."

President Ali added that

President Dr Irfaan Ali

his Government believes in the transformative power of education and has devoted increased resources towards improving the country's education system, including university education.

To this end, he emphasised that his Government remains committed to equipping the University of Guyana with the tools needed to respond to the needs of an increasingly knowledge-based society.

"We intend to continue to expand the range of university programmes available

to students and, by 2025, to guarantee free university education."

The President reminded that currently, the Government is enhancing access to higher education, including through the provision of more than 20,000 online scholarships and other initiatives.

He said that this aims to create a large and highly-skilled human resource pool.

"Guyana's future will be assured if we can continue to

train and retain our human resources to propel our country's transformative agenda. You, the graduates of the class of 2020/2021, are integral to that future."

Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand in delivering remarks to the graduates said, “I charge you to always embrace the reality that you stand on the shoulders of giants; and as they did, you now have a responsibility to share the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired here with your fellow citizens.”

She added: “I charge you to embrace the concept of ‘One Guyana’ and actively seek out ways in which we can advance our ability to not merely coexist, but to do so in genuine harmony, with respect, and general goodwill towards each other despite our differences.”

“I also charge you to be intrepid, imaginative, and innovative. Dream the big dreams and be bold enough to pursue them at all costs. Envision a Guyana at the pinnacle of progress and endeavour to

fully contribute to attaining such," the Minister urged the graduands.

Representatives of the UG Alumni Association, President of the Georgetown Chapter, Sarah Bharrat and Somattie Seranje also delivered remarks at the first and second ceremonies respectively. They both urged the graduates to think beyond themselves and encouraged them to invest in the university that has shaped and moulded them to be the individuals they are today.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Guyana has been streaming its graduation ceremonies for the various faculties on its Facebook page.

On Friday, the Faculty of Social Sciences’ ceremony was broadcasted.

The remaining ceremonies slated for today are: the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Education and Humanities and Institute of Distance and Continuing Education – Degree and Diploma Programmes Only.

15 homeless after Corentyne fire

F

The fire quickly spread through the building

ifteen persons are now homeless after fire destroyed their Section C Corriverton two-storey wooden house on Thursday afternoon.

Among those homeless are six children under the age of eight. The fire completely destroyed the building located at Lot 56 Section C, Corriverton.

Kulcharran Prashad, who had been living at the building for the past 30 years, told Guyana Times that the fire started around 13:00h.

According to Prashad, an electric spark occurred at the point where the wire from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) service line connects with the line taking power to their home.

“They had a blind hanging down at that window and the wire this side spark

Six children are among the homeless

The aftermath of the fire

down there and the fire run up the wire and catch in the blind and the house start to burn,” the man, who works in the fishing industry repairing damaged fishing

nets, told this newspaper.

The 56-year-old lived with his wife and four children and one daughter-inlaw and five grandchildren along with their daughter-

in-law’s sister and baby.

His daughter-in-law, Kathy Augustus, 24, told this publication that she was cooking when the fire started.

She said all five of her children were in the house and she alerted her husband, who told the kids to get out of the house.

“We had five barrels with the children’s clothes and everything all burn up. We whole house bun. Is people give them the clothes they wearing; all their school things burn up,” the mother of five bemoaned.

Her sister, 19-year-old Aliyah was putting her oneyear-old baby to sleep at the time. She said no one could have saved anything.

According to the teenage mother, by the time they got everyone out of the burning building, the flames had reached the roof in the back part of the building.

Neighbours formed a bucket brigade, but the strong breeze coming in from the Atlantic forced the

flames across the wooden building within minutes.

The Corriverton Fire Service responded and using water from the Corentyne River, was able to prevent the flames from spreading to other buildings.

Prashad explained that the firefighters took some time before they could access water from the Corentyne River.

“They had a pump that wasn’t working properly that they pump the water with,” he said.

Prashad said he and his family spent the night at a vacant building next door to his house. He said the owners who live overseas were informed and have since asked him to remove.

Anyone who wishes to assist the family is asked to make contact on (592)-3393139. (G4)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

Regional

Deforestation in Brazil’s Belize’s former Prime Minister, Amazon rainforest hits Sir Manuel Esquivel dies F record January high

An aerial view shows a deforested plot of the Amazon rainforest in Rondonia State, Brazil, September 28, 2021

B

razil recorded the most deforestation ever in the Amazon rainforest for the month of January, according to Government data on Friday, as destruction continues to worsen despite the Government’s recent pledges to bring it under control.

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon totalled 430 square kilometres (166 square miles) last month, five times higher than January 2021, according to preliminary satellite data from Government space

research agency Inpe.

That’s the highest for January since the current data series began in 2015/2016, equal to an area more than seven times the size of Manhattan.

Environmental researchers said they were not surprised to see destruction still rising and pointed to right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro’s weakening of environmental protections since he took office in 2019.

With little fear of pun-

ishment, speculators are increasingly clearing forest for ranches in illegal land grabs, said Britaldo Soares Filho, an environmental modelling researcher at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

High prices for beef, soy, and other commodities are also boosting the demand for cheap land.

“People might be surprised that it didn’t increase even more,” Soares Filho said.

“There is a race to deforest the Amazon.”

Bolsonaro’s office did not respond to request for comment.

The Environment Ministry said that making comparisons using single months does not provide the best picture, stating that in August to January deforestation fell slightly compared to the same period a year ago.

The federal Government is acting more forcefully in 2022 to fight against environmental crimes, the Ministry said in a statement to Reuters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Nicaragua sentences 7 Opposition figures to prison

N

icaragua has sentenced seven more Opposition figures to lengthy prison terms on charges of “conspiracy to undermine national integrity”.

Those sentenced on Thursday were among the dozens arrested in the lead-up to last year’s election, which saw President Daniel Ortega win a second consecutive term in polls dismissed as illegitimate by international observers.

They included Lesther Aleman, a student leader who famously stood up to President Daniel Ortega in 2018. He was handed a term of 13 years.

Also sentenced was

Dora Maria Tellez, a former Sandinista rebel who had led an assault on the National Palace in 1978 during the Somoza family dictatorship and held Congress Members hostage in exchange for the release of rebel prisoners. Tellez, who broke from Ortega’s party in 1995 and became head of an opposition group, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Rights groups have dismissed the legal proceedings, held in the infamous Chipote prison, as a sham.

Aleman’s mother, Lesbia Alfaro, decried her son’s trial as “nonsense, a lie, a circus”.

“He is not a terrorist,” she said.

Among the Opposition fig-

ures jailed last summer were seven potential challengers to Ortega for the presidency.

On Wednesday, former presidential hopeful and journalist Miguel Mora was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Thousands have fled into exile since Nicaraguan security forces violently put down protests in 2018.

Ortega has said the protests were actually an attempted coup with foreign backing. Many of those on trial have been accused to working with foreign powers for his overthrow or encouraging foreign nations to apply sanctions on members of his family and Government. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PNP calls for Govt to immediately evacuate Jamaicans from Ukraine

T

he People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on the government to urgently activate channels for the immediate protection and evacuation of Jamaicans, including students currently in Ukraine.

This call comes as the Biden administration on Friday escalated dire warnings of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it could happen at any moment, even as emergency diplomatic efforts continued.

Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon or-

dered an additional 3000 US troops to Poland to reassure allies.

In a statement Friday, the Opposition noted with grave concern the escalation of geopolitical tension in Ukraine, now with a possible imminent invasion by Russia as diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful settlement by the United States, Germany, France, and others wane.

“As the world continues to monitor the situation and hope for a guaranteed peaceful solution, we urge the Government of Jamaica

not to wait but to urgently activate channels for the immediate protection and evacuation of Jamaican nationals, including our students currently in Ukraine,” the PNP said.

“Undoubtedly, with the commencement of the war, the skies will be closed to commercial traffic. The chaos with such an event will see hundreds of thousands of people internally displaced within conflict zones, potentially engulfing the entire country,” it continued. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

ormer Prime Minister of Belize, Sir Manuel Esquivel has died.

Esquivel, the country’s second Prime Minister, died on Thursday night. He was 81 years old.

A Government statement announcing his death said that he served as Prime Minister from 1984-1989 and again from 1993-1998.

“Our nation recognises his service with gratitude… as an educator… an activist… as a politician… as a leader… as the second Prime Minister of the nation. He stood more on his personal convictions of what needed to be done for the nation and less so on political expediency. A plain speak-

Former Prime Minister of Belize, Sir Manuel Esquivel

er… with a firm grip on personal integrity,” Prime Minister John Briceno said in a statement.

“The nation and I thank

you for your service, Sir Manuel Esquivel, and bid you a peaceful home going.

Our sincerest sympathies to Mrs Kathy Esquivel, his daughters Ruth and Laura, his son David and his grandchildren, family, friends and the UDP (United Democratic Party) family. Rest in eternal peace,” Briceno added.

Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow, in extending condolences to the Esquivel family, said “Sir Esquivel’s contributions to Belize and the United Democratic Party will forever be treasured.

May your soul Rest in Peace and your memory of prudent, collective governance live on”. (Excerpt from CMC)

Peruvian economy likely to have exceeded pre-pandemic levels – central bank

P

eru’s economy is expected to have stayed above pre-pandemic levels in December and January, owing to the recovery of internal demand and a record in exports, despite lower mining output after recurring social conflicts, the central bank said Friday.

“The economy is recovering, the output gap is closing, but it would still be below its potential,” Adrián Armas, Manager of economic studies at the Central Bank, told a news conference, citing the bank’s December and January advance indicator reports.

Peru’s economy has consistently exceeded monthly

pre-pandemic levels since June 2021, according to central bank data.

Business expectations about the local economy remain pessimistic, however, amid political uncertainty triggered by the Administration of leftist President Pedro Castillo, who just named his fourth Cabinet in six months in office.

Armas said there was the possibility of a deterioration in political stability, but that “the bank, as it has already done, has a high response capacity to deal with this situation”.

The bank also expects that Peruvian inflation, which registered its high-

est annual rate in 13 years last year, will begin to slow down from July and fall to within the target range of between one per cent and three per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022, Armas said.

The official added that there was a recovery in the services sector, electricity production, exports of agricultural products, and formal employment growth.

Peru’s exports are expected to reach 63 billion dollars in 2021, largely due to higher metal prices, representing 28.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, “a historical record”, Armas said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

PAHO Head repeats concern over struggling health systems

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Wednesday said that while cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic fell by a third in the Americas, including the Caribbean, this week, health care workers continue to face challenging conditions due to systems that are unprepared to support them.

“When cases surge exponentially, as they have in the past few weeks, the burden falls mostly on the people that power our health systems. For them, there is nothing mild about this Omicron wave,” said PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne said during a news conference.

The Dominican-born PAHO official said that with infections reaching 4.8 million, a 31 per cent

PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne

drop from last week, but 33,000 new deaths, the region remains in the grip of the latest COVID-19 wave and urged countries to harness the lessons learned from the pandemic so far as clinics and hospitals once again become full.

“Years of underinvestment in our health services, aging information systems and poor labour conditions made our health workers’ jobs challenging,” Etienne said, highlighting that these disadvantages were only exacerbated by COVID-19.

A PAHO study launched this week shows that over the course of the pandemic, doctors, nurses, and other frontline health workers saw more patients, worked longer hours, and suffered higher rates of COVID-19 infection.

In some countries, such as Ecuador and Bolivia, more than 10 per cent of health care workers got COVID-19, and many others lacked access to sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). (Excerpt from CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

19

Around the World

Ghost village emerges in Spain OILNEWS OIL NEWS as drought empties reservoir Oil soars 3% to A 7-yr highs on Ukraine jitters, tight supplies

O

il prices ended 3 per cent higher on Friday at fresh seven-year highs as escalating fears of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a top energy producer, added to concerns over tight global crude supplies.

Russia has massed enough troops near Ukraine to launch a major invasion, Washington said, as it urged all US citizens to leave the country within 48 hours.

Britain also advised its nationals to leave Ukraine as Prime Minister Boris Johnson impressed the need for NATO allies to make it absolutely clear that there will be a heavy package of economic sanctions ready to go, should Russia invade Ukraine.

Brent crude futures settled US$3.03, or 3.3 per cent, higher at US$94.44 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose US$3.22, or 3.6 per cent, to US$93.10 a barrel.

Both benchmarks touched their highest since late 2014, surpassing the record highs hit on Monday, and posted their eighth consecutive week of gains on growing concerns about global supplies as demand recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

Trading volumes spiked in the last hour of trading, with volumes for global benchmark Brent climbing to their highest in more than two months.

"The market doesn't want to be short going into the weekend ... if an invasion appears to be imminent and you know that there will be retaliatory sanction that will result in a disruption in natural gas and oil supplies," Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.

The International Energy Agency raised its 2022 demand forecast and expects global demand to expand by 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, reaching an all-time record 100.6 million bpd.

The energy watchdog's report follows the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' warning earlier this week that world oil demand might rise even more steeply this year on a strong postpandemic economic recovery.

The IEA added that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could help to calm volatile oil markets if they pumped more crude, adding that the OPEC+ alliance produced 900,000 bpd below target in January.

The two OPEC producers have the most spare production capacity and could help to relieve dwindling global oil inventories that have been among factors pushing prices towards US$100 a barrel, deepening inflation worldwide.

The Biden Administration responded to high prices by again stating this week that it has been talking with large producers about more output, as well as the possibility of additional strategic releases from large consumers, as it did late last year.

Indirect US-Iran nuclear talks resumed this week after a 10-day break. A deal could see the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and ease supply tightness.

In the United States, drillers added the most oil rigs in a week in four years, with the rig count, an indicator of future production, rising 19 to 516, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ghost village that has emerged as drought has nearly emptied a dam on the SpanishPortuguese border is drawing crowds of tourists with its eerie, grey ruins.

With the reservoir at 15 per cent of its capacity, details of a life frozen in 1992, when the Aceredo village in Spain's northwestern Galicia region was flooded to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir, are being revealed once more.

"It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," said 65-year-old pensioner Maximino Perez Romero, from A Coruna.

"My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Walking on the muddy ground cracked by the

A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Picture taken with a drone

drought in some spots, visitors found partially collapsed roofs, bricks and wooden debris that once made up doors or beams, and even a drinking fountain with water still streaming from a rusty pipe.

Crates with empty beer

Trucker protests: Ontario calls state of emergency

O

ntario has declared a state of emergency in response to two weeks of protests against COVID restrictions.

The order came as demonstrations continue to shut down parts of Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge, a vital US-Canada trade link.

Blocking crucial infrastructure would be made "illegal" under the order, said Premier Doug Ford.

Protesters could face up to a year in jail and C$100,000 (US$79,000; £58,000) in fines.

Ford said the order would apply to anyone impeding the movement of goods, people and services along international border crossings, airports, ports and major highways.

The Canadian province will also provide additional authority so that the personal and commercial licences of protesters who do not comply may be cancelled.

"There will be consequences, and they will be

The trade disruption has been estimated to cost some C$380 million (US$300 million; £221 million) each day

severe," Ford said on Friday morning.

"To those who have attempted to disrupt our way of life by targeting our lifeline for food, fuel and goods across our borders, to those trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation and chaos, my message to you is this," Ford said.

"Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the right of hundreds of thousands of workers to earn their living."

The country-wide protests

Macron refused Russian COVID test in Putin trip over DNA theft fears

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow, Russia February 7, 2022

F

rench President Emmanuel Macron refused a Kremlin request that he take a Russian COVID-19 test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin this week, to prevent

Russia getting hold of Macron's DNA, two sources in Macron's entourage told Reuters.

As a result, the visiting French Head of State was kept at a distance from the Russian leader during lengthy talks on

bottles were stacked by what used to be a cafe, and a semi-destroyed old car was rusting away by a stone wall. Drone footage showed the derelict buildings.

Maria del Carmen Yanez, mayor of the larger Lobios

council, of which Aceredo is part, blamed the situation on the lack of rain in recent months, particularly in January, but also on what she said was "quite aggressive exploitation"

by Portugal's power utility EDP, which manages the reservoir.

On Feb 1, Portugal's Government ordered six dams, including Alto Lindoso, to nearly halt water use for electricity production and irrigation, due to the worsening drought.

Contacted by Reuters, EDP said the low reservoir levels were due to the drought, but that it was managing water resources "efficiently" and that these were above the minimum requirements, including Alto Lindoso. (Excerpt from Reuters)

the Ukraine crisis in Moscow.

They were photographed at opposite ends of a table so long that it provoked satirical comment on social media and speculation, including by diplomats, that Putin might be using it to send a message.

But two sources who have knowledge of the French President's health protocol told Reuters Macron had been given a choice: either accept a PCR test done by the Russian authorities and be allowed to get close to Putin, or refuse and have to abide by more stringent social distancing.

"We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not ac-

cept that they get their hands on the President's DNA," one of the sources told Reuters, referring to security concerns if the French leader was tested

by Russian doctors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Macron had declined the test and said Russia had no problem with this, but it meant that a 6-metre (20 feet) distance from Putin was required in order to protect the Kremlin leader's health.

A second source in Macron's entourage said he instead took a French PCR test before departure and an antigen test done by his own doctor once in Russia. (Excerpt from Reuters)

against COVID-19 vaccine mandates are poised to enter their third weekend.

A so-called "Freedom Convoy" was organised last month in response to the introduction of a new rule that all truckers must be vaccinated to cross the USCanada border, or quarantine upon their return. The protest has since grown into a broader challenge to all COVID health restrictions.

The vast majority of Canadian truckers are vaccinated and trucking associations have distanced themselves from the protests, noting most drivers are still working. (Excerpt from BBC News)

COVID pandemic’s ‘acute phase’ could end by midyear – WHO

T

he head of the World Health Organisation has said the acute phase of the pandemic could end this year, if about 70 per cent of the world gets vaccinated.

“Our expectation is that the acute phase of this pandemic will end this year, of course with one condition, the 70 percent vaccination [target is achieved] by mid this year around June, July,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters in South Africa on Friday.

“If that is to be done, the acute phase can really end, and that is what we are expecting. It’s in our hands.

It’s not a matter of chance.

It’s a matter of choice.”

He was speaking during a visit to Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, which has produced the first mRNA COVID vaccine made in Africa using Moderna’s sequence.

The vaccine will be ready for clinical trials in November, with approval

expected in 2024.

Afrigen is leading the pilot project, backed by the WHO and the COVAX initiative.

Tedros also urged African countries to back efforts to set up an African medicines regulator.

Tedros’s comments came a day after Matshidiso Moeti, Africa director for the WHO, said the continent is transitioning out of the pandemic phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. With a more optimistic view, she said Africa is moving towards a situation where it will be managing the virus over the long term.

According to the World Bank, the pandemic is estimated to have pushed up to 40 million people into extreme poverty in Africa, and every month of delay in lifting containment measures is estimated to cost Africa US$13.8 billion in lost gross domestic product, Moeti said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Take time to relax and mull over where you are currently and where you see yourself heading. Look at change as an opportunity to start over or redefine how you want your life to unfold.

(March 21-April 19) Plan activities to get you up and physically active. Participate in events geared toward personal growth, fitness and overall better health. Share your feelings. Romance is on the rise.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Put more thought into how you earn and handle your money. Refuse to let anyone influence you or push you into something risky. The wrong move will leave you with unwanted obligations.

(May 21-June 20) Share your feelings with a loved one.

The discussion will help you get what you want and ease personal and financial stress. Don't let fear of change stand in your way.

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22) Offer suggestions, but don't take on someone else's obligations. Address personal affairs first, regardless of anyone trying to monopolize your time. Don't be afraid to say no.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Relax and enjoy life. A makeover or physical change will fetch compliments.

Gravitate toward the people and pastimes that make you happy. Socialize, make plans and participate.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Don't expect to persuade others to help you or take your side. Consider what you are up against and what you are trying to achieve, and concentrate on what you need to get things done.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Look over your investments or what you have accumulated, and you'll discover you have more than you thought.

Unload items you no longer need and transform your portfolio.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- BARRACUDAS

Be careful what you wish for; if you make a sudden move, don't expect others to follow. Rethink your plans and map out the best way to reach your goal.

Don't trust anyone who tries to upstage you.

A passionate approach will bring positive results. Dig in and get your hands dirty if it will get you closer to what you want. Don't be afraid to do things differently.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Bounce your ideas around. Get together with someone who is imaginative and quick to chime in. Actions will speak louder than words, so take the initiative and present what you have to offer.

Open your doors to friends and family, or share something special with a loved one. You can make a difference if you give time, money or skills to a fundraiser or cause.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

21

NBA: Brooklyn star James Harden joins Philadelphia 76ers as Nets lose 10th straight game T

he Brooklyn Nets lost their 10th straight game hours after trading star James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers and breaking up their "big three" of Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.

Philadelphia's Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond joined the Nets as part of the trade. Brooklyn had hoped their star names could win them a championship, but the trio only played 16 games together.

The Nets fell to a 113-112 defeat to the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Harden, three times the NBA scoring champion, joined the Nets in January 2021 and has averaged 22.5 points and a team-leading 10.2 assists and eight rebounds per game this season.

Three-time All-Star Simmons, 25, had not played for the 76ers this season and the Australian had asked to be traded. He has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists over four seasons with Philadelphia.

Nets General Manager Sean Marks said the decision to trade 32-year-old Harden had been "difficult" but "best for all involved" and left them better placed to "achieve our goals this season and in the years ahead".

Josh Harris, the 76ers' Managing Partner, described Harden as "one of the truly elite players in the league".

"We're thrilled to pair him with Joel

Embiid a n d this dynamic roster in our pursuit of an NBA title," he added. With Durant also not playing because of a knee injury, Irving led the Nets with 31 points, five rebounds, and six assists, but they could not hang onto a nine-point third-quarter lead.

Kyle Kuzma picked up 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists to record the first triple-double of his career as the Wizards won for just the third time in 12 games. The Phoenix Suns ended the Milwaukee Bucks' four-game winning streak with a 131-107 victory over the NBA champions, in a first meeting between the sides since last season's finals.

Veteran Chris Paul scored 17 points and added 19 assists for the Suns to record his 500th career double-double, while Deandre Ayton scored 27 points and picked up seven rebounds. The Suns have won 15 of their last 16 games and currently top the Western Conference. Their 45-10 record remains the best in the NBA. Luke Doncic scored a career-high 51 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The 22-year-old made seven of 10 three-point attempts as he scored 28 of his 51 points in the first quarter to record the highest-scoring quarter of his career. It

"It needs urgent attention" – Simmons blasts batting after 3-0 ODI series loss to India

T

he West Indies just played three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against India and failed to make 200 runs in any of them.

176, 193, and 169 were the scores the Caribbean side managed to put up during the series and Head Coach Phil Simmons, speaking in the post-series press conference on Friday, says this trend is concerning.

“It needs urgent attention.

It cost us the last two games.

If you bowl India out for 230 and 260, you expect to chase it,” he said.

The West Indies, not too long ago, showed improvement in their batting performances in ODIs, particularly in Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies in early 2021 which saw the regional side make scores of 236-2, 274-5 and 2765 in the three matches.

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

“Just under a year ago, we were cruising to 280 and 290 against Sri Lanka who has similar spinners, so the bat-

ting is a huge concern and people have got to stand up now as we go into our next set of ODIs in June,” Simmons added.

On a more positive note, Simmons praised the performance of his bowlers in the series. “I think a positive is that the bowlers have done what we’ve asked of them.

We’ve kept a strong India batting line-up to 230 and 260 and I think that’s a huge positive. The way how we’ve gone about our task on the field when bowling and fielding have been a huge positive allround,” he added.

The West Indies will play India in three T20 Internationals (T20Is) beginning on Wednesday while their next ODI assignment will be a three-match tour of the Netherlands in June.

(Sportsmax)

was the 17th time in Doncic's career that he has scored 40 points or more.

The Toronto Raptors picked up an eighth straight victory with a 139-120 win over the Houston Rockets. Gary Trent Jr led the Raptors with a season-high 42 points to record his seventh game with 30 points or more this season. Pascal Siakam also added 30 points for Toronto.

Elsewhere, the Miami Heat recorded a fourth-straight victory with a 112-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo scoring 29 points each for the Heat; the New York Knicks shocked the Golden State Warriors with a narrow 116-114 win in San Francisco and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Detroit Pistons 132-107. (BBC Sport)

Simons’ memorial competitions launched

A

Several CECC executives and players strike a pose

t the Learning Resources Centre of Imam Bacchus at Affiance, Essequibo Coast on Thursday, the annual Simons’ memorial tournament was launched.

The tournament was inaugurated in 2017, but halted for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021, understandably so owing to the pandemic.

For this year’s edition, there will be four categories – the Under-15s and Under19s playing 40 overs while the open and over-40 categories will play 20-20 contests.

The competitions, which will be played on a round-robin basis, will get cracking on February 19 at various venues across the Essequibo Coast and once again, they are being run under the auspices of the Central Essequibo Cricket Committee (CECC).

At the launch, CECC President Trevis Simon outlined the structure of the tournament and informed that his family was indeed delighted to have another competition going. He relat-

ed that several of his family members passed away, including his father Leyland.

“We started to remember our loved ones with a village match in 2017, but now we decided to expand the competition, and … invited teams from across the region to participate,” Simon stated.

He expressed his gratitude to the other branches of the Simon family for their support and with a large number of trophies up for grab, he stated that this was another demonstration of their generosity to the game.

He further thanked Deleep Singh, the President of Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), for attending the launching and his remarks.

In his address, Singh, who is in his first stint as the leader of the ECB, said he was also ecstatic to see such an initiative by the CECC – having a memorial tournament with four competitions being played simultaneously.

“This is commendable by the Simon’s family for this gesture; this will certainly help with the continued development of Essequibo

cricket and I must congratulate Trevis and his family for making this a reality,” Singh declared.

Singh also told the gathering that included several former national youth players and ex-Essequibo skipper Dinesh Joseph that he wanted to see other committees emulate the CECC by coming out and running tournaments of such great magnitude where the players could benefit.

CECC Vice President Brian Christiani chaired the proceedings and echoed similar sentiments. He remarked that the tournament was definitely a solid foundation for more exciting cricket competitions to come in the near future. He praised the Simons and thanked the sponsors for their commitment and dedication towards the development of cricket on the Essequibo Coast.

David Simon, in an invited comment, stated that the family was still saddened by the deaths of their loved ones, but expressed elation and excitement to make a contribution.

22

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant get India out of trouble in 3-0 triumph

I

ndia completed a clean sweep of the One-Day International (ODI) series with yet another win from early strife of a top-order collapse. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer pulled India up from 42 for 3, Washington Sundar and Deepak Chahar provided late runs, and then the bowlers ran through West Indies to deny them a single score of 200 in the series.

This was yet another satisfying win for the team management from a team-building point of view: apart from yet another middle-order comeback, they welcomed back Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled with zip and took two wickets in his first international since last July, when he was part of a second-string squad sent to Sri Lanka.

All three pitches in the series have been challenging ones. The extra bounce and dual pace off this surface kept the tall West Indies bowlers in the game. Not only did India make a host of changes to their XI, they also chose to bat first to test themselves in possible dewy conditions in the evening.

Once Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach found their lengths after the first two overs, they proved to be a difficult proposition for the batters. The wickets themselves were not off magic deliveries. Rohit Sharma played a loose drive to chop on, Virat Kohli tickled a ball down the leg side to get out for a duck in the same Joseph over, and Shikhar Dhawan topedged a cut to slip. However, it was the dot balls in between because of the tackiness and extra bounce that created the pressure.

On this pitch, back from his opening duties in the second ODI, Pant looked the most comfortable even as Iyer scratched around early on. Without playing a shot in anger – an upper-cut here, a targeting of left-arm spin there – Pant scored 56 at better than a-run-a-ball. Iyer found himself stuck on the other end, facing 84

SCOREBOARD

Team India celebrate

balls in a 20.3-over partnership and needing some early luck to survive.

Pant, though, perished to the late-cut to a flatter trajectory from legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr, a shot that had brought him runs. This allowed West Indies a way back in as India kept trying to press on. Suryakumar Yadav ended up slicing an aerial cover drive, and Iyer found long-off just before the 40th over, which is when an extra fielder goes back.

Iyer scored 55 off the last 51 balls he faced.

Sundar and Chahar then provided another recovery with a 53-run seventh-wicket stand in just 8.3 overs. Chahar in particular looked threatening with four fours and two sixes in his run-aball 38, but Jason Holder intervened with a slower bouncer to dismiss him. Kuldeep met the same fate. Sundar, though, batted into the last over for 33 off 34. It was, again, Holder, who restricted the damage he might have caused in the end.

Kuldeep Yadav was not the only bowler making a comeback.

Chahar, who nearly won India the last ODI he played, has been kept out for more hit-the-deck bowlers. For this match, he replaced Shardul Thakur, the bowler who most closely resembles his style. Chahar, though, gets more

swing than Thakur and relies on fuller lengths. They accounted for Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks in the same over, the fifth of the innings. Both of them failed to catch up with the away movement.

Even before that, Mohammed Siraj had accounted for Shai Hope with the wobble-seam nipbacker for the second time this series, making it the first time since October 2018 that India had taken more than two powerplay wickets. Again, it was not just the wicket-taking deliveries. They regularly hit the higher part of the bat with the extra bounce in the pitch.

If these two were troubling the batters with extra bounce, Prasidh Krishna was going to be a handful. Darren Bravo and Holder will testify, getting the higher parts of their outside edges for catches to slips.

It was a good time for Kuldeep to ease his way back in. He consistently made the ball drop shorter than the batters' expectations, getting sharp turn and bounce.

Fabian Allen was done in by a wrong'un, playing for the turn back in on the big drive, but getting a faint outside edge. Nicholas Pooran fell to the orthodox delivery, done in again by the dip, edging to first slip.

Odean Smith presented a nice

INDIA INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Rohit Sharma (c) b Joseph 13 Shikhar Dhawan c Holder b Smith 10 Virat Kohli c †Hope b Joseph 0 Shreyas Iyer c Bravo b Walsh 80 Rishabh Pant †c †Hope b Walsh 56 Suryakumar Yadav c Brooks b Allen 6 Washington Sundar c Smith b Holder 33 Deepak Chahar c †Hope b Holder 38 Kuldeep Yadav c †Hope b Holder 5 Mohammed Siraj b Holder 4 Prasidh Krishna not out 0 Extras(lb 1, nb 1, w 18) 20 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 5.30) 265 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Rohit Sharma, 3.3 ov), 2-16 (Virat Kohli, 3.5 ov), 3-42 (Shikhar Dhawan, 9.3 ov), 4-152 (Rishabh Pant, 29.6 ov), 5-164 (Suryakumar Yadav, 32.3 ov), 6-187 (Shreyas Iyer, 37.1 ov), 7-240 (Deepak Chahar, 45.4 ov), 8-250 (Kuldeep Yadav, 47.4 ov), 9-261 (Washington Sundar, 49.4 ov), 10-265 (Mohammed Siraj, 49.6 ov) BOWLING Kemar Roach Alzarri Joseph Odean Smith Jason Holder Fabian Allen Hayden Walsh

O 7 10 7 8 8 10

M 0 1 0 1 0 0

R W 39 0 54 2 36 1 34 4 42 1 59 2

little challenge from 82 for 7, hitting Kuldeep for three sixes in his 18-ball 36. This is the kind of pressure you want to see Kuldeep under and see how he holds up.

However, it was Siraj, who came back and ended the fun with his hard lengths, drawing a catch to cover, an over after Smith was

WEST INDIES INNINGS (TARGET: 266 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Shai Hope † lbw b Mohammed Siraj 5 Brandon King c Yadav b Chahar 14 Darren Bravo c Kohli b Prasidh Krishna 19 Shamarh Brooks c Iyer b Chahar 0 Nicholas Pooran (c)c Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 34 Jason Holder c Sharma b Prasidh Krishna 6 Fabian Allen c †Pant b Kuldeep Yadav 0 Alzarri Joseph c Kohli b Prasidh Krishna 29 Odean Smith c Dhawan b Mohammed Siraj 36 Hayden Walsh c Sharma b Mohammed Siraj 13 Kemar Roach not out 0 Extras (lb 4, w 9) 13 TOTAL (37.1 Ov, RR: 4.54) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Shai Hope, 3.2 ov), 2-25 (Brandon King, 4.3 ov), 3-25 (Shamarh Brooks, 4.6 ov), 4-68 (Darren Bravo, 13.1 ov), 5-76 (Jason Holder, 15.6 ov), 6-77 (Fabian Allen, 16.2 ov), 7-82 (Nicholas Pooran, 18.3 ov), 8-122 (Odean Smith, 23.3 ov), 9-169 (Hayden Walsh, 36.2 ov), 10-169 (Alzarri Joseph, 37.1 ov) BOWLING O Deepak Chahar 8 Mohammed Siraj 9 Prasidh Krishna 8.1 Kuldeep Yadav 8 Washington Sundar 4

M 1 1 1 0 0

R W 41 2 29 3 27 3 51 2 17 0

dropped at mid-off.

Joseph and Walsh Jr frustrated India even as the dew set in, but they were never going to challenge the target. Siraj and Prasidh came back to end the proceedings with hostile short bowling. (ESPNcricinfo)

Singh, Paul stand tall, but Windward Islands lead by 169 G

uyana Harpy Eagles will want to wrap the Windward Islands Volcanoes innings early on day four of the Cricket West Indies (CSWI) Regional Four-Day Championships at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad. Volcanoes were 157-7 after 47 overs, with a lead of 169 runs when stumps were drawn on day three.

Harpy Eagles resumed the day on 181-5 and posted 327 all out, replying to Volcanoes’ first innings total of 339. Vishaul Singh missed out on his ninth First-Class century, as he scored a composed 93, which included nine fours in 221 balls. He was supported by Keemo Paul, who scored 73 from 133 balls, hitting six fours and one six in his innings.

The duo featured in a 146run partnership.

Bowling for Volcanoes, off-spinner Kenneth Dember claimed 4-36 and Keemo Paul is having a pacer Sherman good all-round game

Devon Thomas scored a century against Barbados

fours in his 63-ball 58.

Clinton Pestano, who went wicket-less in the first innings, picked up two scalps, but Athanaze and Ryan John added 35 runs for the sixth wicket to bring Volcanoes back into the game. Larry Edward is on 29 and Dember is on nine, in a 32-run partnership.

Final-day play is set for today from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time.

Summary scores of other matches:

BAR v LEE LEE 172/9D 294/7 (88) Thomas 112, Carty 55; Brathwaite 2-7.

BAR 324 (113.2)

SCOREBOARD

Lewis had 4-59. In response, Volcanoes lost Devon Smith for a duck, when he was bowled all ends up by Nial Smith. Paul continued to swing the ball and sent back Teddy Bishop (15) and Kaveem Hodge (15), but Alick Athanaze stood tall with his second fifty of the match.

Athanaze struck nine

Windward Islands 1st innings 339 all out Guyana 1st Innings Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Athanaze b Lewis 30 Chanderpaul Hemraj c Athanaze b McSween 5 Shimron Hetmyer c John b Lewis 24 Leon Johnson b McSween 28 Vishaul Singh st Smith b Dember 93 Anthony Bramble lbw b Lewis 26 Keemo Paul lbw b Dember 73 Clinton Pestano c Cottoy b Dember 15 Veerasammy Permaul c Smith b Lewis 15 Gudakesh Motie not out 8 Nial Smith c & b Dember 1 Total (10 wickets, 97.3) (9 extras) 327 10/1 (4.1), Chanderpaul Hemraj, 58/2 (16.1) Shimron Hetmyer, 63/3 (18.3) Tagenarine Chanderpaul 95/4 (28.6) Leon Johnson, 141/5 (38.6) Anthony Bramble 287/6 (87.1) Keemo Paul, 290/7 (89.1) Vishaul Singh 317/8 (95.4) Clinton Pestano 318/9 (96.1) Veerasammy Permaul, 327/10 (97.3) Nial Smith Preston McSween (20-4-78-2) Sherman Lewis (17-3-59-4)

Ryan John (18-1-68-0) Kenneth Dember (14.3-2-3-4) Larry Edward (28-3-84-0) Windward Islands 2nd Innings Teddy Bishop c Singh b Paul 15 Devon Smith b Smith 0 Kavem Hodge lbw b Paul 15 Alick Athanaze c Hetmyer b Permaul 58 Keron Cottoy c Paul b Pestano 12 Denis Smith b Pestano 4 Ryan John lbw b Permaul 11 Larry Edward not out 29 Kenneth Dember not out 9 Total (7 wickets, 47.0) (4 extras) 157 6/1 (1.4) Devon Smith 20/2 (4.6) Teddy Bishop 48/3 (8.5) Kavem Hodge 71/4 (15.4) Keron Cottoy 77/5 (17.2) Denis Smith 112/6 (24.6) Ryan John 125/7 (28.2) Alick Athanaze Bowling Keemo Paul (10-3-30-2) Nial Smith (6-2-35-1) Clinton Pestano (6-1-25-2) Veerasammy Permaul (17-5-41-2) Gudakesh Motie (5-1-21-0) Tagenarine Chanderpaul (3-1-2-0)

LEE lead by 142 runs.

JAM v TT JAM 141 & 212 (61.5) Campbell 45; Phillip 5-82.

TT 273 & 22/0 (10) Simmons 11*.

TT need 59 runs to win.

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYRESTAURANT RENTAL West Bank Demerara, (Versaillesbetween Harbor Bridge and Vreedn-Hoop): - Aracari Resort – Turn Key Business. Furnished and equipped.

Covid-19 reduced capacity is 60. Phone 264 2946; 626-5290.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Consistency high on Sir Curtly Ambrose’s agenda at fast-bowling clinic Story and photos By Brandon Corlette

"Y

ou cannot build a house from the roof; you need a foundation." That was the analogy used by legendary West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose at the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club on the first day of his fast-bowling clinic.

It was another historic day in Berbice cricket, and for most of the cricketers present at Albion, learning from Ambrose is a dream come true. The great man noted that consistency was key for fast bowlers to succeed.

"A lot of fast bowlers on show, the basic thing that we did this morning was to do some spot bowling. I want these guys to consistently

Sir Curtly Ambrose in conversation with Quasen Nedd

good spot, what we call line and length, nothing will work," he said.

Ambrose, who played 98 Tests for the West Indies, and claimed 405 wickets at the remarkable average of 21.00, and played 176 One-

Demerara's Qumar Torrington learning from Sir Curtly Sylus Tyndall in action

Nolan McKenzie and Sir Curtly Ambrose

hit a good area on the pitch.

What I have said to them, and many other fast bowlers, is that it does not matter how fast you can bowl, or how you can seam or swing the ball. If you cannot consistently hit the ball on a

Day International matches, taking 225 wickets at 24.12, said he was thankful for this visit, which was long overdue.

"Well, first of all, I want to say it is really a pleasure to be here in Guyana again. I am no stranger, I

Guyana Harpy Eagles stand-by pacer Demetri Crandon

have been coming here since 1986, so I have a bit of a history. Almost a year ago, Mr Hilbert Foster contacted me about this camp, saying about Dr [Frank] Denbow

would like me to come to Guyana to do a camp with some young aspiring fast bowlers. However, my time did not mesh, but now that I have a little break, I decided to make the trip here, and I am certainly looking forward to it," Ambrose stated.

He also said he was impressed with quite a few of the pacers on show, but some of them will have to improve.

"There are quite a few that I am impressed with.

Some of them need some more work, but what I find from my experience in cricket, is that you never stop learning. So far, the first session went well. We will have a second session, and I said to them, I do not judge bowlers from their first spell, because you come out first morning of a game, you are fresh, anybody can look good.

I want to see them bowling two, three and four spells in a day, and I will judge them better," Ambrose declared.

Meanwhile, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster said the main objective of this camp is to have Berbice produce more fast bowlers.

Fast bowler John Trim was Berbice’s first Test player in 1948, and more than 60 years later, fellow quick Brandon Bess played one Test in 2010.

"We are hoping with the inspiration from Sir Curtly that if we can get at least five of them to go on to play for Guyana and the West Indies, this camp will be a total success," Foster said.

The clinic will continue today, Saturday, February 12 and conclude on Sunday, February 13.

The participants in the fast bowling clinic in-

cluded Isai Thorne, Daniel Vivickanand, Christopher Ogle, Arvin Jaikaran, Trisha Hardat, Darshanie Subramanie, Natran Gill, Shamar Joseph, Gevon Schultz, Isia Anderson, Joel Davis, Collis Hardcourt, Nicholas Ishar, Arif Khan, Shiv Harripersaud, Dave Pretipaul, Khemraj Tika, Sohail Hardwar, Christopher Deeroop, Arif Esau, Manoo Inasi, Nareem Khan, Shamal Angel, Quincy Alder, Demetri Cameron, Steven Kamalal, Joel Cort, Devendra Latchman, Omal Saul, Arvin Jowahir, Nicholas Hall, Nicholas Lepps, Adrian Hetmyer, Ronny James, Adrian Norton, Jonathan Outar, Teon Campbell, Sylus Tyndal, Leon Swammy, Keon Sinclair, Chris Harry, Javed Karim, Kevlon Anderson, and Raymond Vankenie.

who last played for Chennai Super Kings and has now retired from international cricket will also want to extend his riches in the IPL. With two new additional teams in the IPL, more players will fancy their chances.

Promising stars Smith and

Shepherd are also likely to get their maiden IPL contracts.

Chris Gayle was not retained and he is not listed in the IPL auction list. The big guns in Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell were the West Indians retained at high prices.

34 West Indians on IPL 2022 auction list

Below are the full list of West Indies players and their base price on the auction list:

Romario Shepherd

By Brandon Corlette

A

total of 34 players from the West Indies will be hoping to secure a contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction that is set for February 12 and 13.

Veteran Dwayne Bravo’s and Evin Lewis’s base price is 200 Rs Lakh (approximately US$265,400) the highest among West

Shimron Hetmyer

Indian players while Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer are on the auction list at a base price of 150 Rs Lakh (approximately US$200,000).

Guyana's Sherfane Rutherford is listed at a base price of 100 Rs Lakh (US$132,700) while Romario Shepherd is listed at a base price of 75 Rs Lakh (US$100,000). Other notable West Indian players in the

Sherfane Rutherford

Keemo Paul

IPL auction are Odean Smith, Dominic Drakes, Sheldon Cottrell, Rovman Powell, Andre Fletcher, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, and Fabian Allen.

According to reports, Holder is expected to break the bank, and go for a high price while last season's super-striker, Hetmyer is also expected to sign a big contract. In the 2020 auction, Hetmyer went in at a base

price of 50 lakh (US$66,000), and he eventually went to Delhi Capitals for 7.75 Crore.

His fellow Guyanese, Rutherford, went in at a base price of 20 lakh in the last auction and was sold for 2 crore to Delhi Capitals, but in the 2021 edition, he was a replacement player for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Paul, in the 2019 auction, was sold for 50 lakh to Delhi Capitals.

The ever-green Bravo,

Shimron Hetmyer, 150 Rs Lakh Dwayne Bravo 200 Rs Lakh Jason Holder 150 Rs Lakh Nicholas Pooran 150 Rs Lakh Dominic Drakes 75 Rs Lakh Odean Smith 100 Rs Lakh Sheldon Cottrell 75 Rs Lakh Evin Lewis 200 Rs Lakh Rovman Powell 75 Rs Lakh Sherfane Rutherford 100 Rs Lakh Romario Shepherd 75 Rs Lakh Andre Fletcher 50 Rs Lakh Shai Hope 50 Rs Lakh Obed Mc Coy 75 Rs Lakh Hayden Walsh 50 Rs Lakh Brandon King 50 Rs Lakh Fabian Allen 75 Rs Lakh Roston Chase 100 Rs Lakh

Note:

1 Rupee = 0.013 USD 1 lakh = 1330 US

Akeal Hosein 50 Rs Lakh Alzarri Joseph 75 Rs Lakh Kennar Lewis 40 Rs Lakh (US$53,000) Darren Bravo 75 Rs Lakh Shamarh Brooks 50 Rs Lakh Carlos Brathwaite 75 Rs Lakh Keemo Paul 75 Rs Lakh Jayden Seales 50 Rs Lakh Jon Russ Jaggesar 20 Rs Lakh (US$26,500) Fidel Edwards 50 Rs Lakh Oshane Thomas 50 Rs Lakh Kyle Mayers 50 Rs Lakh Raymon Reifer 50 Rs Lakh Nyeem Young 20 Rs Lakh Ryan John 20 Rs Lakh Mark Deyal 20 Rs Lakh

1 Crore = 100 lakh 1 US = 209 GY

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

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

Page 22

Singh, Paul stand tall, but Windward Islands lead by 169

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant get India out of trouble in 3-0 triumph

Page 22

Consistency high on Sir Curtly Ambrose’s agenda at fast-bowling clinic Page 23

Sir Curtly engages with the fast bowlers

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