Guyana Times -- Saturday, March 19, 2022

FFTP providing 1500 lunches for Region 6 students weekly P5

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

Issue No. 4953

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

“We must be humble enough to understand the true nature of life” – President Ali Pages 11 & 15

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

CANU intercepts cocaine in posted mail P9 at GPO

…as kaleidoscopic Guyana unites for Holi 2022 …a true “One Guyana” concept – Ramson

Rape convict P8 moves to overturn 65-year jail sentence

24-year-old P8 acquitted of child rape charge

Floodwaters rising Eccles-to-Mandela in Kwakwani Road 95% completed – Croal Mental health issues should not be stigmatised – Health Minister Page 2

Page 7

Page 10

Welfare officers certified to provide psychosocial support in schools P10 Security guard found dead at Corentyne backdam P2

2 NEWS Security guard found dead at Corentyne backdam A SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

security guard was found dead in Number 49 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) backdam.

Dead is 69-year-old Eugene Ciciel, called “Tello”, of Lot 270, Number 51 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

The man was found floating in a trench with what appeared to be rope marks around his neck, according to his daughter.

Two days prior to his demise, he reportedly told relatives where to find his money, if something happens to him.

His daughter, Onicka Jeffrey, believes he was murdered since marks of violence

Dead: Eugene Ciciel

were found on his body.

“I went to the backdam and we reach the second

watchman and he said when he go to work he did not see my father. So he den call the boss man, telling he that he didn’t see he, so the boss man tell he stay a lil while but he seh he know that my father don’t normally left without informing anyone that he is going somewhere,” Jeffrey related while explaining that when they were informed and went into the backdam, her father’s body was still in the trench and her brother took him out.

“When my brother pull my father from the trench there you see some marks ah pon he skin, like he hand and den around he neck with some rope marks. His two

hands, fighting up, like he was trying fuh fight, fuh pull off the rope or wah ever was around he neck. So we are just awaiting the post-mortem,” she added.

While the Police have launched an investigation, the family says it is murder and is hoping for a tougher investigation.

“I am saying if it’s mur-

der therefore the Police should catch the persons dem that did this and let justice be served,” Jeffrey is contending.

Floodwaters rising in Kwakwani

fare within Lamp Island.

According to residents of both Lamp Island and the waterfront area, the rapid rise in the water level reminds them of the 2021 flood, which reached heights of eight to 15 feet in some sections in the area.

Some of the areas in Kwakwani where the water is rising

S

everal months after rebuilding life from the worst flood to hit the Upper Berbice River, residents of Kwakwani, Lamp Island, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), are in low spirits as floodwaters are rapidly covering the roadways.

Over the past four days, the massive increase in the river’s water levels as a result of the release of a large amount of accumulated water at the river head, accompanied by heavy rainfall, resulted in the overflow of the river which then made its ways into the yards of residents and the main thorough-

NEWS

3

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, March 19 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Sunday, March 20 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

Study to use Hope Canal for ECD water reservoir to start before June

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, March 19 – 05:05h – 06:35h and Sunday, March 20 – 05:35h – 07:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light rain showers and sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night.

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

Winds: North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 17:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.84 metres.

Low Tide: 11:13h and 23:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.36 metre and 0.41 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

01 03 11

12 27 28

FREE TICKET

08 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022 DAILY MILLIONS

03 04 07 18 19 LUCKY 3

3

1

5

5

Afternoon Draw

9

3

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05 08 09 12 13 16 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022

07 09 14 15 17 13

10 11 13 14 15

9

1 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

4

9 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$107.93/barrel

+1.20

Rough Rice

$281.43/ton

-0.48

London Sugar

$536.60/ton

+2.02

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1921.90

$1922.90

Low/High Change

$1917.90 0.00

$1941.90 0.00%

H

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

ousing and Water Minister Collin Croal has disclosed that a study would soon get underway to determine whether the water captured at the Hope Canal facility can be treated to be used as a sustainable source to serve the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor.

“The actual study we expect to start…before June.

We are in the design phase, and we have to go out to advertise,” Minister Croal disclosed during the commissioning of a Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) well at Lusignan, ECD earlier this week.

It was noted there that this initiative to reuse the Hope Canal water is necessary, as Guyana confronts Climate Change as well as respond to the growing demands for more service connections.

In fact, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated during his feature address at the event that, “We dump 10s of 1000s of gallons of water from the Hope Canal into the Atlantic. So, one of the projects that we’re currently doing is examining the feasibility of converting that water and treating that water so that it can meet the demand on the East Coast.

“It is not a simple task, but we have a responsibility to ensure we develop and derive the best possible approach to the sustainable development of our country,” the President has said.

Speaking with Guyana Times afterwards, Minister Croal disclosed that the GWI has strengthened its capacity in order to ensure that initiatives such as this are executed in a timely manner.

“Rest assured that we will be moving quickly, and that is why, from GWI’s perspective, we have improved on our technical capacity inhouse in terms of the necessary competent staff, to have a Project Department that can push and have these work done quickly,” he explained.

According to Housing and Water Minister Croal, if the studies are successful, the water company would be tapping into other similar reservoirs across the country to source water.

“We believe it’s fresh water that we can be able to service the entire East Coast with.

But it won’t only be Hope Canal. Futuristically, we also

are looking at others; for example, in Region Six, [where] they also have a number of canals. So, futuristically, this is the way we will go.”

“And equally important”, he said, “we’re also looking at water treatment, and that’s why we’re putting in a number of water treatment plants [across the country], starting from Essequibo,” Croal has posited.

Moreover, the Housing and Water Minister outlined that the reality is Government is doing a number of new housing schemes across the country, and there is, and will be, increasing demand for water, hence Government has to respond accordingly.

He disclosed that this demand is reflective of the fact that, since assuming office in August 2020 to the end of 2021, nearly 3,000 new water meter allocations have been made on the East Coast Demerara corridor.

At the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, President Ali reiterated his Government’s plan to have 100 per cent access to treated water on the coast by 2025. To this end, he noted that since August 2020, Government has spent some

An aerial view of the Hope Canal

$6.2 billion on the water sector, and another $11 billion has been earmarked for the next two years.

“We want to ensure that by the time we get to 2025, we have 100% access to good, potable water, and efficient supply of water all along the coast. We want to move from a present position where 52% of our people have access to treated water to a position on the course where 100% of our people must have access to treated water; that is, you can take your glass, take the water from the tap, and drink it.

That is where this investment will take us,” the Head of State noted.

Added to this, he said, Government is aiming to

increase the current 60 per cent access to water in hinterland and riverine communities up to 100 per cent. As such, the Guyanese Leader said, 12 new water treatment plants would be established in each region across the country.

In fact, Government is moving aggressively towards the construction of six of these new water treatment plants this year.

GWI Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh has revealed that the tender for these six new plants would be out by May this year. He noted that the preliminary concept designs for these plants would be completed in a record time of three to four months.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 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

United end to tuberculosis E

very year, Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing World TB Day in March, calling for a united end to tuberculosis. The call is very relevant and necessary, considering the fact that countries are about to enter the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of which a key health target is ending tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.

Every year, 1.9 million people die from tobacco-induced heart disease, and this equates to one in five of all deaths from heart diseases, according to the World Health Organization, World Heart Federation and the University of Newcastle, Australia.

A report released by WHO last year sends to smokers a strong warning of the fatal effects such action could have on individuals. The report’s authors urged all tobacco users to quit and avoid a heart attack, stressing that smokers are more likely to experience an acute cardiovascular event at a younger age than non-smokers.

“Just a few cigarettes a day, occasional smoking, or exposure to second-hand smoke increase the risk of heart disease. But if tobacco users take immediate action and quit, then their risk of heart disease will decrease by 50% after one year of not smoking.”

Chair of the World Heart Federation Tobacco Expert Group, Dr Eduardo Bianco, had pointed out that, given the level of evidence on tobacco and cardiovascular health and the health benefits of quitting smoking, failing to offer cessation services to patients with heart disease could be considered clinical malpractice, or negligence.

He noted that cardiology societies should train their members in smoking cessation, as well as to promote and even drive tobacco control advocacy efforts.

Of note, too, is that the report shows that smokeless tobacco is responsible for around 200,000 deaths from coronary heart disease per year. Many young people are misled to believe that E-cigarettes are not as harmful as the traditional cigarettes, but experts have warned that they are equally damaging, as they raise blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Moreover, high blood pressure and heart disease increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

In a more general sense, tobacco is responsible for over seven million deaths per year worldwide. This includes approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 40% of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases, like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

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

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

We had pointed out several times before that having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill due to tobacco use or exposure.

These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, and enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use.

These children are playing with coloured powder at Georgetown Cricket Club, where the Indian High Commission hosted a Holi celebration on Friday morning (Abel Harris photos)

When a bomb falls, its impact is felt for generations

By Jonathan Freedland

E

very time I look at the pictures of Mariupol or Kharkiv, I see a corner of Whitechapel in East London. I reacted the same way to images of Aleppo, and before that Falluja, and before that Grozny, because buildings crushed to rubble have a sad habit of looking the same. It brings back a memory – or rather something fainter: an inherited memory, one that was passed to me.

Its origin is 27 March 1945; the 77th anniversary is a little over a week away. Early that morning, at 7.21am, a V2 rocket landed on Hughes Mansions, a block of flats on Vallance Road in the East End. It killed 134 people, more or less instantly. Among them were two sisters, Rivvi and Feige (pronounced fayghee). Feige Hocherman was 33, and she left behind two children, a son not yet 11, and a daughter aged eight and a quarter.

The little girl was my mother, Sara.

The war was in its final weeks, and the bomb that fell that morning would be the very last V2 to land on London.

It wasn’t a targeted missile, though if it had been it could hardly have delighted its masters more. For of the 134 people killed by that Nazi rocket, 120 were Jews.

It meant that, as a very young child, I somehow thought “Vallance Road” belonged alongside Belsen or Auschwitz in the small lexicon of words to be spoken only in whispers, each of them bywords for terror and grief. I was well into my 30s before I ever went close to that place.

And yet, though I did not witness it, and though I only ever saw the physical destruction that bomb wreaked through grainy archive photographs, I can honestly say that event shaped my life; because it shaped my mother’s life, it made her who she was.

There were the direct legacies, of course. For many decades, my mother was implacable in her anger towards the Germans, because it was a German rocket that had killed her mother. There would be no German products in our house; no German car. She was no less unbending on the necessity of Israel. For the Nazis, the identities of the victims of Hughes Mansions were no more than a lucky accident; but the fact remained that

my mother had lost her mother to a Nazi operation that killed Jews en masse: she had felt the breath of the Shoah on her neck. Like many others, she would never lose the conviction that Jews would always need a place they could call their own and a means to defend themselves.

The experience of such intense hurt so young had another, perhaps less predictable consequence: it opened up deep reservoirs of empathy for the suffering of others. “I feel your pain,” has become a joke phrase. But my mother really did feel your pain, even if you were someone she had only just met, and whose life she had only glimpsed.

Why do I say all this now, nearly 80 years later? Because, as I look at the terrible destruction of Mariupol and the burning ruins of Kharkiv, I remember that the damage done by a rocket or artillery shell cannot be measured in the stark numbers of a death toll, or still less the impact on infrastructure – though I saw this week that the cost of rebuilding Ukraine after Vladimir Putin has rained fire on that country is estimated at $100bn (£76bn) and is rising every day. Instead, the cost is measured in the aftershocks felt by those who survive the blast: the injured and the maimed; those whose homes are smashed; those children who once had a mother or father, but who, in the briefest of moments, had them taken away by a bolt from the sky.

That kind of bomb damage cannot be repaired with concrete. It lives on in the children of the dead, and in their children. I know, because it lives on in me.

And yet the conclusion I draw from this is not the pacifist’s resolve that no bullet must ever be fired, no missile must ever be launched. For this, too, I learned from my mother: that while war is evil, the greater evil is murderous aggression that goes unchecked. No one would dare say “stop the war” to Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the people he leads, because that would be to demand that Ukrainians allow their children to keep being killed, their bodies tossed into mass graves at speed because it’s too dangerous to linger in the open, even when one of those bodies belongs to a six-year-old girl, buried in the pyjamas she wore when she was hit, patterned with cartoon unicorns.

When a killer has his hands around your neck, choking the life out of you,

what you need is the strength in your arms to get him off. This is what the Ukrainians are demanding the West give them.

It is the right not to make war, but to repel aggression. It is the right to defend oneself against missiles that flatten an apartment building, or destroy a theatre whose basement shields up to 1,500 people, most of them old or very young. It is the right to protect a city where the last inhabitants melt snow to drink, and burn furniture to ward off the icy cold, or cook what scraps of food they can find. Given that the West won’t do it, for fear of tangling with a nuclear state, Ukrainians want the equipment – above all the aircraft – to do it for themselves.

It’s such an elemental need, and yet many struggle to comprehend it. There are plenty in Western Europe and the US who took, or perhaps still take, a dim view of NATO, regarding it as a cold war throwback or an arm of Western imperialism and militarism. But Ukrainians saw it differently: for them, NATO was the body that might protect them from the neighbourhood bully, who had already proved, just eight years ago, his determination to hurt them and take what was theirs. Most Ukrainians saw the European Union the same way.

Those in Britain who so casually disdained our membership of the EU or NATO betray an unwitting but unappealing strain of privilege, akin to the trust fund millionaire who insists they never think about money. It’s easy to dismiss something precious when you have lots of it. That goes for individuals with wealth, but also for those countries or peoples who have only ever known the security of having a state of their own; whose borders are stable, and where the notion of an enemy attack is all but unimaginable (or forgotten).

My mother took none of those things for granted, and because she didn’t, neither do I. In eight decades’ time, there will be Ukrainians in middle age who feel the same way, because of events happening right now. The reverberations will keep sounding through the generations.

That is why even short wars last so long.

I am the son of that terrified little girl, and I always will be. (The Guardian) (Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

5

News

FFTP providing 1500 lunches for Region 6 students weekly

The meal area set up by Food For The Poor Guyana Inc

F

ood For the Poor Guyana Inc (FFTP) is providing 1500 lunches for children attending schools in Region Six. The project, which was launched on Thursday, should soon see that number rising to 2500 meals weekly.

Fifty children from six schools in the region are currently benefiting from the nutritional enhancement programme.

The initiative has been sponsored by FFTP through its collaborating partners St Francis Community Development (SFCD) and Department of Education Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The implementing partners are FACT Group of Corriverton, Upper Corentyne; Eversham Community Developers; Shining Star Community Developers of Limlair,

Mibicuri Community Developers of the Black Bush Polder; St Mark’s Mother’s Union of Alness Village; Albion Chapel Life and Skills Training Center at Fyrish Village, St Francis Community Developers at Port Mourant.

Speaking at Thursday’s launch which took place at Fyrish, President of SFCD Alex Foster explained that apart from the six schools, children from New Amsterdam, Angoy’s Avenue, East Canje and Rose Hall Town are also expected to be included in the programme, making a total of 500 school children.

Lunch is being provided for them five days per week.

Senior Project Manager of FFTP, Andrea Benjamin explained that the programme seeks to address food insecurity. She pointed out that for some of the centres where the children are being provid-

Food being prepared for the children

ed with their meals, kitchens and dining areas had to be constructed.

She said the nutritional centres are geared to promote education.

“These are not centres just developed to feed children, these are centres that are developed to promote education; to encourage attendance and to encourage academic performance,” she said.

Many children are unable to attend school because of the food insecurity the family face.

“So, this programme is geared in ensuring that when children come to school there is a meal that they can get while they are in school.

Oftentimes we find that children will leave in the morning without any breakfast and then they are in school… we know that hunger is a distraction. This is why some parents keep their children at

home.”

Children’s attendance will be recorded each day which will be compared with attendance of the previous school term to see the changes that have taken place. A comparison will also be made with their grades.

“Our aim at Food For The Poor is to promote and develop vulnerable people and education is one of the important factors in development,” Benjamin explained.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), noted that FFTP has been making a big impact countrywide and in places where it is most needed.

“There is need for students to be provided with proper meals and research has shown that students who do not have proper meals, either they perform very badly

in school or alternatively they do not come to school at all.

When we moved around recently to find out why some parents have not been sending their children to school after we had a fair amount of absenteeism during the last Grade Six examination, some parents complains that they were not able to meet the need of their children to go to school and so we recognised that some of the parents may not have been able to provide meals for their children,” Armogan revealed.

He pointed out that the Education Ministry has been providing breakfast for children attending some nursery schools in the region as he welcomed the initiative by FFTP to provide lunches for children attending secondary school.

“The Minister of Education had been working to involve some primary

schools in the breakfast programme. Primary school is the base for a child’s education. If the child doesn’t have a good foundation, it is very hard for them to catch up.”

Chief Executive Officer of FFTP Guyana Inc, Kent Vincent saw the need to assist with the nutritional enhancement programme. He pointed out that this is just one of several projects being implemented by FFTP as the organisation seeks to implement more programmes to benefit young people.

“We want to see not only feeding programmes in this region, we are asking people who may have ideas for community development projects that are sustainable that we can partner with to be able to bring development to communities all across Guyana.”

He is encouraging large local companies to come on board. (G4)

6

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄ Question 1

By Martin Carter

I

n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate endothermic chemical reactions by mixing chalk and vinegar.

Coloured chalk Vinegar Hammer Ziplock bag Clear plastic cup

Friday’s answers 1a) Ten pupils like chicken only (the number of students who like chicken only = the number of students in the chicken set – the number of students who like both chicken and fish) 1b)Twelve students like both chicken and fish (the intersection of the chicken and fish sets).

1c) Four pupils like neither chicken or fish (the number of students outside the chicken and fish sets) 1d) Thirty-nine pupils are in Grade 6 B (The number of students in Grade 6 B = the number of students in the chicken and fish sets and those outside those sets)

Materials:

Instructions:

Put at least two different colours of chalk in the ziplock bag.

Use the hammer to carefully smash the chalk into dust.

Fill the clear plastic cup about ¾ of the way full with vinegar.

Put about a tablespoon of the coloured chalk dust into the vinegar and observe what happens.

How it works:

This is the dark time, my love, All round the land brown beetles crawl about The shining sun is hidden in the sky Red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow This is the dark time, my love, It is the season of oppression, dark metal, and tears.

It is the festival of guns, the carnival of misery Everywhere the faces of men are strained and anxious Who comes walking in the dark night time?

Whose boot of steel tramps down the slender grass It is the man of death, my love, the stranger invader Watching you sleep and aiming at your dream.

You may not have realised that regular old chalk fizzes and bubbles when mixed with vinegar. Chalk is made of calcium carbonate and when mixed with vinegar an endothermic chemical reaction occurs that releases carbon dioxide gas. This gas is what causes the fizzing and bubbles.

Make this a science project:

Find a location that can get messy. Put the chalk dust in a new ziplock bag. Add vinegar, seal the bag securely, and observe what happens. Test different types and brands of chalk to see if there are any observable differences. (sciencefun.org)

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever” — Chinese Proverb

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Eccles-to-Mandela road 95% completed – Housing Minister

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

T

he much-anticipated Eccles to Mandela Avenue four-lane road is in its final stages, with 95 per cent of the works already completed, and according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, it could be commissioned very shortly.

Updating Guyana Times on the project, Minister Croal disclosed that most of the works are completed with the only delay being a concrete bridge which is now finished.

“We had one delay at Lot Five with the bridge. That is now completed but it is a concrete bridge so once you complete it, you have to have the curing process and they’re just doing some

tidying. So, it’s at least 95 per cent complete.”

“So very shortly, once we can be able to have the weight travelling on that part of the road because the rest is ready, we will be commissioning that road,” the Minister noted.

Works on constructing the $2.3 billion fourlane highway from Eccles to Mandela started in April 2021. Contracts were signed with six contractors, each given a lot, and they were supposed to have been completed by December 2021.

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

“I understand… and I know the urgency to have that connection [ready for use],” the Housing and Water Minister asserted.

Meanwhile, a second phase of that project will see the four-lane road continuing beyond Eccles all the way to Great Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.

Contracts to the tune of $13.3 billion were awarded to 12 contractors last December and according to Minister Croal, working are progressing.

“Phase Two, the land clearance has started,” he noted.

According to the Minister, mobilisation advances have also been paid already. However, there is a challenge that the contractors have encountered at the lot covering the boundary between the MochaHerstelling portion of the road.

“There were about 35 buildings there occupying that stretch. Most of them have already started to move because we have activated that mechanism. We have a few more to sort out but that will probably be the only delay. But we’re clearing there and land clearance [at the other lots] have started. We’re working and pushing to get all of these works done quickly,” the Housing Minister stated.

The roundabout connecting Mandela Avenue to the new four-lane highway leading to Eccles

This four-lane road project is a result of efforts by the President Dr Irfaan Aliled Government to ease the traffic congestion on the East Bank, which not only leads to the country’s main port of entry – Cheddi Jagan International Airport – but also fields traffic coming from West Demerara.

Already, the Housing Ministry has constructed an alternative road from Diamond Housing Scheme to Mocha on the East Bank to divert traffic from the public road. That project

was completed to the tune of $5 billion and opened last December in time for the Christmas holidays.

These projects run alongside the India-funded bypass road project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara, creating a new highway in the backlands.

The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond. Under

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

After taking office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LOC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

8 NEWS Rape convict moves to overturn 65-year jail sentence A SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

50-year-old father of three who is awaiting sentencing for raping a 15-year-old girl has moved to the Guyana Court of Appeal to overturn a 30year sentence he is currently serving for sexually abusing another girl, who was four years old.

In December 2017, Esan Germain was found guilty by a jury on all three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child—when she was aged four, six, and seven. Justice Simone MorrisRamlall sentenced him to 15 and 20 years, on the first and second counts, respectively. On the last count, he was handed a 30-year prison term. All the sentences will run concurrently while Germain will have to serve 20 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In relation to the sentences he is currently serving, the indictments stated that at some time during

2010, 2012, and 2013, he raped the girl by performing oral sex on her, and in turn, causing her to do the same to him.

He also rubbed his penis against her vagina.

At the appellate court, the convict is contesting his convictions and sentences on the ground that the trial Judge misdirected the jury as well as made several errors in law. Germain is also arguing that the sentences are manifestly excessive, wrong in principle, and not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines.

Following a trial at the Demerara Sexual Offences Court on February 3, Germain was found guilty as charged of sexually penetrating a 15-year-old girl between January 1 and July 24, 2014. He will be sentenced next month.

Germain raped the young girl on three occasions between January and

July 2014. On the first occasion, he committed the act in the bathroom. On the second occasion, he raped her while she lay on a bed next to a two-year-old boy. Another time, he placed the girl to lay on an unfinished cupboard and raped her.

On July 23, 2014, the girl was going to the shop when she saw her mother, and she confided in her. The mother reported the matter to the Police, and Germain was arrested. In her Police statement, the woman said she was shocked at the allegations against Germain, as she did not expect him to do something like that.

Meanwhile, during his trial, Germain had always denied raping the child. He described the girl as an “unmannerly child”, who was in the habit of misbehaving.

He also claimed he tried to “rehabilitate” her and put “strict” measures in place to guide her to be better. These

Y

Rape convict Esan Germain

measures, he said, included beating her, talking to her, and sending her to church for counselling.

Germain was regarded as a researcher on issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community. (G1)

24-year-old acquitted of child rape charge

A

man has been acquitted on charges that alleged that he raped and engaged in sexual activity with a 12-yearold girl.

Wendson Thomas called “Dollius”, 24, had been on trial for the offences before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown.

It was alleged that between March 1 and 31, 2019, in the county of Essequibo, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child of 12 years.

It was further alleged on March 21, 2019, he engaged in sexual activity with the underage girl, by kissing her

Not guilty: Wendson Thomas

on her lips.

Facts presented by the prosecution stated that at around 17:00h on March 21, 2019, the girl went to a shop in her neighbourhood to make a purchase.

It was alleged that Thomas, who was also at the shop, held onto the girl’s hands, pushed her into the shop’s counter, and kissed her on her lips.

It was further alleged that during March 2019, the girl was at home alone when she heard someone whistling. As such, she ventured into her backyard where she saw Thomas with whom she began conversing.

It was further alleged that during their conversa-

tion, Thomas asked the girl “for sex”. When she replied “no”, the prosecution alleged that he held onto her hands, pulled down her pants and underwear, and raped her.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Madan Kissoon.

State Counsel Nafeeza Baig in association with State Counsel Muntaz Ali appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

Back in 2014, Thomas, at age 17, was charged with assaulting his mother, being in possession of an unlicenced pistol, and escaping from the Lethem Police Station where he had been in custody pending investigations into the two former charges. (G1)

Duo granted bail on armed robbery, larceny charges

T

wo men were granted bail after pleading not guilty to separate charges for the offences of simple larceny and robbery under arms when they appeared on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Luke Emanuel of Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, and 19-year-old Omar Williams of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Emanuel pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on March 11 at Campbellville, Georgetown, he stole a Motorola cell phone valued at $60,000—property of Distribution Services Limited (DSL).

The prosecution told the court that the stolen phone was recovered on Emanuel. With the prosecution raising no objections to Emanuel being granted his pre-trial liberty, he was granted $40,000 bail. His case continues on March 30.

Williams, on the other hand, is accused of robbing Grace Thornhill of a Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued at $60,000, a computer bag containing $6000 in cash, and stationeries amounting to $2600, while he was armed with a knife.

The robbery is alleged to have occurred on March 14 at New Market

PostPhagua...

…panegyric our Eyewitness must confess that Phagua - or Holi, as it’s also called - is right up there on top of his hit parades of festivals. What could be better? Here it is, all Guyana was exhorted to express our joy on evil being defeated! And how? By going around our neighbourhoods dousing all and sundry with water, and then, in the afternoon, following it up with powders of all colours and abrack, then for good measure, sharing out all those wonderful, delectable sweets!!

The thing your Eyewitness noticed, however, was that the “evil being defeated” part of Phagua was generally forgotten. As such, Holi’s gradually becoming another West Indian “jump-up”!! This is very unfortunate, since, in Guyana, we don’t have to go back to that ancient story of a kid bringing down his father - with the help of Divine Intervention - because he oppressed the people. Right here we had Granger and his PNC trying to drag us back into the dark ages of Burnham’s rigged elections!

And they were defeated through brave Guyanese of all persuasions and ages standing firm as “Defenders of Democracy”, to repel the obscene and evil act that is elections’ rigging! All Guyanese know that when Burnham did his thing, he didn’t give a damn, because he knew the international community that police the international order would balk. He was their “lesser of two evils”, compared with Cheddi and the PPP, and he “could do wha he waan wid we”!! But those days are gone, and the international community added their moral suasion to the equation and evil was defeated!!

Your Eyewitness thinks that it might be a good idea for us Guyanese to make these explicit connections - if for no other reason than to remind folks that evil wasn’t only done back in the mists of history. It lurks in the here and now, always ready to pounce - through persons with evil minds and intentions. How else could you explain what happened back in the elections of March 2020?? You had everyone agreeing to the rules of the (political) game: that the Government would be chosen by the votes of the people.

But when the PNC saw the majority of the people hadn’t chosen them, they decided to “cock the work”!!

What kind of people does that? Evil people, that’s who. So yes, their defeat should be celebrated with joyous abandon by all Guyanese. It doesn’t matter if it was “our” party. Evil is evil, and must be defeated.

Or else it’ll bring us all down. Like Burnham did during his time!! Remember the starvation, homelessness and nakedness that was the result of his “feed, clothe and house the nation” programme?

Be ready to defeat evil at all times! …war plague With Russian ground forces getting bogged down in their Ukraine campaign, some think it’s because some soldiers don’t have the belly to mow down folks who might be relatives and all that. Well, that theory will soon be tested. Word is that, in a quid pro quo arrangement, Syria’s recruiting 40,000 troops that’s gonna be deployed to back Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia and Putin, of course, had backed Assad to the hilt against his enemies of all stripes including the US - and it’s now payback time.

These Syrian troops are battle-hardened men who haven’t been able to get jobs in post-war Syria, or are working for peanuts. The pay on the Ukraine front is twenty times as much. Like with those Colombians in Haiti, there’s a lot of battle- hardened mercenaries for hire around. It’s now that the war is going to get real nasty.

Is there any hope of a peace settlement soon? Not when others are doing the killing for both sides!!

and Thomas Streets, Georgetown. He also pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $45,000. A conditionality attached to the bail requires him to report to the Alberttown Police Station every Monday until the hearing and determination of his trial. This matter also continues on March 30.

Meanwhile, in another case, Ryan De Roache was charged with malicious damage to property when he appeared before Magistrate Daly.

It is alleged that on March 12, he damaged a chair set valued at $15,000, a blender valued at $10,000, and a door valued at $20,000—properties of Alesha Rajkumar.

De Roache was also charged with making use of threatening language towards the woman. He was released on $45,000 and $10,000 bail on the first and second charges, respectively, after pleading not guilty. His next court date is May 3. (G1)

…refugees What’s with the Venezuelan refugees being shunted from region to region? In dealing with refugees, these matters must be coordinated by the authorities, who have to think strategically.

While helping, we must watch out for Maduro’s infiltrators.

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

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Men charged with murder, CANU intercepts cocaine in posted mail at GPO illegal firearm possession R

Charged: Vijay Basraj

T

wo men this week appeared at the Vigilance and Sparendaam Magistrate’s Courts, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), to answer separate charges. One of the men was charged with murder, while the other was charged after he was found with an illegal firearm.

Last Tuesday, Vijay Basraj, called “George”, 36, a mason of Lot 3 Le Ressouvenir Railway, ECD, was charged for the offence of murder, contrary to common law committed on Ravin Seeperaud.

He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Her Worship George where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The matter was adjourned on April 25, 2022.

It is still unclear when and how the murder occurred since Police have not

Remanded: Collin Campbell

The gun that was found in Collin Campbell’s possession

yet issued a report on this matter.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Collin Campbell, 39, a security guard of Lot 35 Middle Walk Ann’s Grove, ECD, was charged with the offence of unlawful possession of firearm without licence contrary to Section 16 (2) (b) of the Firearm Act Chapter 16:05, and unlawful pos-

session of ammunition contrary to Section 16 (b) of the Firearm Act Chapter 16:05.

He appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court before Her Worship Fabayo Azore, where the charges were read to him, and he pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He was later remanded to prison, and the matter adjourned to April 11.

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted two envelopes at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) with a quantity of cocaine.

According to CANU, the cocaine which was discovered on Thursday was weighed and amounted to 76 grams.

Both envelopes had a London, United Kingdom, address.

Investigations are ongoing.

A few months ago, agents of CANU also discovered 647.6 grams of cocaine in five yellow envelopes at the GPOC. The envelopes which were destined for Brooklyn, New York, and each had cocaine concealed in a sealed plastic pack within Christmas cards.

The street value of the cocaine was pegged at $3.4 million. Two persons were arrested and charged for the crime.

Meanwhile, on Saturday last, CANU officers at the Eugene F Correia International Airport conducted a search on a male passenger - who was destined for Barbados - and his luggage.

During this search, 23 parcels of suspected cannabis were discovered.

Elvis Fitzgerald

The envelopes in which the cocaine was found

Thuesday, 47, of Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was arrested and escorted to CANU’s Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, later con-

firmed to be poppy weed, with a total weight of 18.370 kg and a street value of over $7 million.

An investigation was launched. (G9)

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mental health issues should not be stigmatised – Health Minister

H

ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony has called for the stigmatisation of mental health to cease, and actions instead be taken to understand and assist those battling with such problems.

Reminding that the World Health Organization has labelled mental health issues as one of ten prominent diseases that would rise, he has said that is another reason for it to be normalised when people reach out for help.

“Mental health is just like any other disease, so we shouldn’t be stigmatising it.

And one of the things that the WHO has pointed out is that we’ll see more persons having mental health issues. This is going to be among the top 10 diseases that we’ll see. We shouldn’t be stigmatising it. What we should understand is how to be able to diagnose it early, recognise the signs and symptoms of the various

diseases, and to get people early into treatment,” the Health Minister has shared on Thursday.

Dr Anthony noted that there should be no issue with reaching out for counselling. He explained that, just like the way persons visit medical institutions for a physical injury, the same should apply for mental health problems.

“There’s nothing wrong with going for counselling. There’s nothing wrong with accessing treatment.

Whatever these myths are, that you will be stigmatised, we have to dispel that. If you break a finger, you go to the hospital; you don’t think about stigmatisation for that. We should think about mental health illnesses in the same way,” he explained.

According to him, an effective way of dispelling the ignorance that surrounds mental health issues is to have more ed-

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

ucation. Government is currently working on a Suicide Prevention Bill and a Mental Health Bill, which the Health Minister has said should significantly change the landscape within which such matters are dealt.

“We have been doing a lot of that through the Mental

Health Unit and other institutions that we have in the public health sector. The more people come on board to talk about these illnesses, it would help to educate the public in a major way,” he noted.

On the aspect of mental health and COVID, he said

this can be divided into two categories. At the beginning, the effects are extended to persons who did not even contract the virus.

“I think you can think of the mental health problems in two broad categories. At the beginning of the pandemic, or when we were now learning more about the pandemic, because we didn’t have enough information to understand the disease itself, there were lots of anxiety and depression,” he said.

“As more information became known about the disease, we found medication that can help. We had less hospitalisation because of the variants, and we would have seen a decline globally in this sort of expression of disease. That’s one category: people that haven’t gotten COVID, but are worried about COVID. You can see manifestations of various psychiatric disorders, like anxiety, depression,

insomnia and so forth,” Dr Anthony expressed.

Now, the second category revolves around people who have been infected, and the long-term symptoms which manifest. For some, these effects can persist for even beyond one year.

“When you got infected whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe form of COVID one of the effects of the infection can be the manifestation of some neurological changes after this acute phase of the infection passes. In Long COVID, we’re noticing a lot of patients with neurological symptoms.

This include people not being able to see well, brain fog, and a whole host of other manifestations. For those persons who, after a COVID infection, if they have these types of symptoms, then it is important for them to come to one of our clinics, where the doctors can help to walk them through this process,” he explained. (G12)

Welfare officers certified to provide psychosocial support in schools

S

ome 35 Welfare Officers are now certified to provide psychosocial support to children in schools.

During a small ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel earlier this week, the Welfare Officers graduated from a European Union (EU)

funded Gender Responsive Programme for Psychosocial Support to Children in Schools. This training programme was conducted through the Spotlight Initiative and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the

Institute of Gender Studies, University of Guyana.

Education Specialist, Dr Olato Sam stated that the programme aids in paving the way to ensure students are supported. He noted that the last few years have not only highlighted the need to address the academ-

ic development of children but also devise strategies for addressing the physical, mental, emotional and psychosocial dimensions of students. As such, Dr Sam deemed the programme as timely, since it addresses these needs of children.

“Initiatives such as these underscored the importance of a collaborative approach to meeting their educational needs,” he noted.

Highlighting the fact that teachers are also often faced with challenges, he said that a collective approach is needed to create a learning focused culture to ensure all students and teachers receive the support

they need to optimise their full potential.

Representative of the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to Guyana, Irfan Akhtar reiterated that it will improve children’s participation in the classrooms. He said UNICEF remains committed to providing the necessary support needed to ensure the needs of children are met.

In Guyana, the Spotlight Initiative aims to address the root causes of violence against women and girls with an emphasis on the prevention of family violence which includes sexual and gender-based violence,

intimate partner violence, and school-based violence.

Guyana’s statistics show that one in two women would have experienced some level of violence in their lifetime. Fifty-five per cent of women, on the other hand, experienced such violence at some point in their lives.

Since psychological and sexual reproductive health issues can also develop as a result of violence perpetrated against women and girls, the “Spotlight Initiative” targets six different areas – law and policies, institutional strengthening, information, provision of services, data collection, and strengthening collaboration among all stakeholders.

Last December, the Ministry was also able to ink a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bar Association of Guyana, activating the Legal Pro Bono 500 initiative that will provide free legal aid to victims of gender-based violence.

The framework outlines their respective obligations and responsibilities to the Legal Pro Bono 500 Initiative and the Bar Association’s commitment to providing pro bono legal services to 500 gender-based violence victims.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We must be humble enough to understand the true nature of life” – President Ali …as kaleidoscopic Guyana unites for Holi 2022

By Rupadai Seenaraine

I

n true Guyanese celebration of Holi, a splendour of multi-coloured faces on Friday emerged in all parts of the country as the festival manifested in its full grandeur.

When the COVID pandemic struck in 2020, it dampened the celebration of Holi and other observances.

Following this two-year hiatus, persons were eager to get back into the celebratory mode and spared no efforts to revel in the multitude of colours.

The fabric of the Guyanese people is woven from threads of several cultures and when there is a bout of celebration, a unified nation emerges. It was invoked as villages and people from all walks of life ushered in the festival, smearing colourful powders on each other and conveying wishes for the auspicious season.

Wearing bright smiles and decked out in sharp whites, persons were out at the crack of dawn in their lively gaiety, seeking to drench their neighbours and villagers. The ex-

having being brought here by indentured immigrants since the eighteenth century. He added that it denotes a festival of love, joy happiness, unity, renewal and triumph.

“It is also a festival in India that commemorates a good harvest and also salutes the fertile land. We celebrate Holi to not only spread joy and happiness but to commemorate the victory of good over evil…It is not only a festival of colours but a festival of love,” the diplomat shared.

He was pleased with the celebration, which extended beyond ethnicities and nationalities, as it signals strides to break societal barriers which exist.

together the people of Guyana and we’re proud of its citizens who have joined here beyond the barriers of race, ethnicity, religion and colour”.

Indulging in the festivities, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was nestled in the crowd to partake in the festival, underscored the importance of cherishing moments, especially after two years of living in a pandemic where freedom and such gatherings were limited.

“After more than two years, we can understand how important life is and how important cherishing moments in life really is. When we’re cherishing moments in life, it is not about cherish-

ing moments of our individual life but more importantly, cherishing moments of our country’s life and our world as a whole…It is when we cherish these moments, erase all negativity surrounding these moments and understand the significance of these moments, that we’re able to enjoy life and find more meaning to life,” the Head of State voiced.

His message also delivchange followed preparations of Indian sweets and more comradery, as both the young and old capitalised on the excitement.

The Indian High Commission in Guyana kickstarted their observance in the early morning hours, and was attended by President Dr Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips; former President Donald Ramotar; the Diplomatic Corps; Government Ministers; Opposition members and other officials. They were treated to pieces of cultural singing and dances synonymous with the Holi period.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa expressed that Holi has now become a significant part of the Caribbean,

Dr Srinivasa underlined, “There is a saying in the Sanskrit language that says ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘the world is one family’. I can sense that this congregation signifies that particular meaning; unity in diversity…I can see it has brought

ered a charge for Guyanese to love, give and be kind to one another; while sparing some thought to reflect on significant issues that are facing other nations today.

“We must be humble enough to understand the true nature of life is in giving

and if we give a little bit more, I can assure you that the world will have less problems.

Our world is faced with many difficulties today and we cannot celebrate without sparing a moment of thought for those who are faced with such difficulties, whether it is extreme poverty, hunger, lack of water, war. As we celebrate, we must spare a moment of good thought,” Ali affirmed.

In India, Phagwah is seen primarily as the welcoming of spring after many winter months and also the ending of the Hindu calendar in the month of Phalgun or March.

However, other stories which

depict goodwill over evil are also linked to this festival, a prevalent one being the tale of Prahalad and his father, King Hiranyakashipu.

The story unfolds when Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon that made him practically immortal. As such, he demanded that the dwellers of his kingdom worship him instead of God. Prahalad, however, refused to do so which resulted in many efforts by the king to kill his son.

The king had a sister called Holika who could not be harmed by fire, so she was ordered to sit in a pyre with Prahalad so that he could be killed. This backfired and she was burnt to ashes while the young boy escaped unharmed.

For this, it is customary

that 40 days before Holi is celebrated, a tree representing Holika is planted and burned in the form of a bonfire on the eve of the festival, signifying the destruction of evil. The Holika Dahan ceremony is usually witnessed by worshippers before the celebration of the spring festival the following day.

As the day unfolded, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha also organised its annual Holi Utsav at the Everest Cricket Club; bringing together singing, cultural dances, and scores of families. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport added to the festivities with a grand event at the National Stadium, Providence.

12

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 202

Photos by: Abel Harris, Office of the President, Educati

22 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ion Ministry, Raywattie Deonarine and Finance Ministry

13

14

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Photos by: Abel Harris, Office of the President, Education Ministry, Raywattie Deonarine and Finance Ministry

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Phagwah 2022, a true “One Guyana” concept – Ramson

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday

A

fter two years in lockdown, Guyanese turned up in the thousands to be a part of Holi celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The event was the brainchild of Culture Minister, Charles Ramson Jr and saw people from all walks of life smudging each other with water and colour.

According to the Minister, the scene is a historic one, since it promotes the “One Guyana” concept that President Dr Irfaan Ali has been pushing. In an interview with Guyana Times, he stated that the concept is one that is important to the Government and the President was the one who came up with the concept to bring the country together.

“We know how beautiful Guyana is especially with the composition of the diversification of our cultures and it has to be celebrated… but it is truly remarkable and unique when it is celebrated together and that is why the One Guyana concept is important to us as a people…,” the Minister stated.

He reiterated that Guyanese are stronger together, while noting that

powerful message that remains for Guyana and the rest of the world.”

However, with respect to a certain section of the populace who were against the grand event soon after the relaxation of the restrictions, the Minister stated that criticism is always taken on board and should not be ignored.

“We are guided by what is happening in the world… several major events such as the Superbowl where the entire stadium was filled… so what are we saying there, are we going to lock and bury our heads in the sand with respect to the rest of the world moving out on this… we are one of the countries that led in the world in how we dealt with COVID - one A section of the crowd at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday

Reigning Chutney Vanita Willie

Queen

the importance of relying on each other was evident, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What more of a message we can get coming out of that, knowing that we survived meant that we relied on each other. It is a very

King of Chutney, Ravi B

was that we prioritised our vaccines and two, when we hosted events we were very strict with our regiment and implementation of our regulations that allowed people to attend… it was very im-

portant that we balance the interest of our people but at the same time we cannot bury our heads in the sand,” the Minister stressed.

He took the opportunity to wish Guyanese a happy Holi and urged them to remain safe as they celebrate.

The coordinator of the event, WR Reaz in an invited comment told the publication that it was a wonderful scene to see everyone coming out to be a part of the event after two long years in lockdown.

“I feel excited to be part of this… we as people have been starved for entertainment and as such, congratulations to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry for spearheading the event – one that as well received based on the huge turnout,” he added.

He further noted that historically, 15 young Guyanese performers took to the stage including Chutney Queen Vanita Willie, Bunty Singh, Tony Cutz and Richie

Guyanese artist Terry Gajraj

Hansraj. Nevertheless, one of the main performers was no other than Terry Gajraj who told this publication

that it was indeed a happy moment to see Guyanese from all walks of life congregating in one space to celebrate the holiday.

He noted that since the pandemic surfaced, he has not performed in Guyana before such a massive crowd.

The US-based Guyanese thanked the organisers for executing the event smoothly while at the same time urging Guyanese to continue practicing safety.

Meanwhile, those who flocked the stadium were definitely in a party mood – dancing to every tune booming through the speakers.

Waving and having a grand time was the order of the day. Some patrons who travelled from the United States to be in Guyana for the celebrations did not hesitate to have a grand time. One related that the pandemic had held them hostage but with the virus gradually disappearing, lives can return to normalcy.

GTT joins Guyanese to celebrate ‘Festival of Colours’

I

n true Guyanese Phagwah fashion, employees of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), from offices across the country, celebrated ‘the Festival of Colours’ with their respective teams.

Several team members were adorned in traditional Indian wear and jewellery, and enjoyed the customary powder-play along with delicious sweetmeats Guyanese enjoy.

GTT also hosted a fun Phagwah competition among employees, wherein team members dressed in their cultural wear could win exciting prizes via mmg+.

For ‘Holi’, as the holiday is also formally called, social and religious barriers are forgotten as Guyanese join millions of people worldwide in celebrating the festival.

Joining in on the celebration was CEO Damian Blackburn, as well as the Employee Experience, Call Center and Outside Plant teams.

Employees playing Holi on Thursday

GTT Employees playing Phagwah during the company’s employee engagement activity

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Active COVID-19 cases at 143, 4 in ICU, 6 new infections detected

S

ix more persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus within a 24-hour period, the Health Ministry reported on Friday.

According to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana is now 63,181.

However, only 143 of these are currently active cases including four patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Of the other 139 persons, 11 are currently in institutional isolation and the remaining 128 are in home isolation.

There are also another 21 persons in institutional quarantine.

The Health Ministry did not report any new fatalities on Friday hence the country’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 1226.

So far, some 61,812 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 20 new recoveries when compared to the figure reported the previous day.

Meanwhile, since the outbreak of the novel coro-

navirus in Guyana, a total 558,543 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 29,093 males and 34,088 females were found to be positive.

Of the six cases recorded on Friday, three were from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and the remaining three from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

There were no new cases in the other eight regions across the country within that 24-hour period.

This declining trend in COVID-19 cases has resulted in the Guyana Government earlier this week removing most restrictions as the country moves to recover from the pandemic and return to normalcy.

But while mandates such as masking in public and social distancing are no longer in place, health authorities are still encouraging persons to get vaccinated, and for those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.

Latest figures show that so far, more than 436,886 or 85.2 per cent of adults

have taken a first dose and of that amount, some 334,537 or 65.2 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, approximately 34,144 or 46.8 per cent of them have received their first dose, while some 24,780 or 34 per cent of them are fully immunised.

In addition, in excess of 55,722 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) recent figures, some 464,809,377 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,062,536 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 149,435,827 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,667,880.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 10,925,055,390 doses have been administered worldwide. (G8)

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 18, 2022 UPDATE

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

6 11 128 4

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

21

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,088

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,093

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,181

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,812

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2490

REGION 3

8044

REGION 4

31,234

REGION 5

2377

REGION 6

5732

REGION 7

2422

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4012

REGION 10

3465

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

436,452 333,910 1226

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Route 42 minibuses stripped of UK ends COVID amplifiers, speaker boxes, tint travel restrictions …as Police conduct traffic campaign

G

uyana has seen a 9.5 percent reduction in road accidents and deaths so far for 2022, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has said.

From 2021 to date, the country has recorded 15 accidents, with 19 deaths. Last year, the country recorded 21 deaths from 20 accidents.

The Police Force, in a statement issued this week, has said that to keep these numbers at a low rate, it would be conducting several traffic campaigns around the country.

On Tuesday, Police from Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary conducted a two-hour targeted traffic campaign on Route 42 minibuses, during which several minibus operators were stopped and arrested after they were found to be in breach of Section 19 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations, Chapter 51:02, which speaks to alterations of motor vehicles, occasioning higher license duty. Some of the infractions were: the addition of amplifiers, speaker boxes, stickers, visors on the back windscreen, and tint.

According to the Police Force, the aim of these enforcement campaigns is to prevent the occurrence of

A driver who was stopped during the traffic campaign

road traffic violations by means of control and punitive sanctions.

“Enforcement reduces high-risk road user behaviour. When it comes to defensive driving, obeying traffic rules and using common sense (are) essential.

The ranks reiterated that traffic rules are in place to help protect citizens while operating on the roadway”, a GPF report has stated.

Two months ago, the Traffic Department of the GPF had announced its intention to conduct countrywide exercises aimed at clamping down on untidy and reckless minibus drivers and conductors.

Deputy Superintendent Timothy Williams,

Divisional Traffic Officer of Division 4A – (Georgetown), had said the minibus culture in Guyana poses many challenges for the Police Force, and it is time that this matter be dealt with aggressively.

The most recent fatal accident occurred on Wednesday evening along Mandela Avenue in Georgetown, and claimed the life of a 57-year-old pedal cyclist. Dead is Lyndon Austin of Go Slow Fourth Avenue, Tucville, Georgetown.

Reports are that motorcar PAC 1350 was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the roadway while the pedal cyclist was proceeding in the same direc-

tion on the western carriageway. As the driver of the motorcar was in the vicinity of the Rubis Gas Station, it is alleged that the pedal cyclist proceeded to cross the western carriageway, going from west to east, and in the process of doing so, he ended up in the path of the motorcar.

As a result, the front centre portion of the motorcar came into contact with the pedal cyclist.

Due to the impact, the pedal cyclist was thrown onto the bonnet and windscreen of the motorcar, and landed on the surface of the road, receiving injuries about his body in the process. He later succumbed to his injuries.

On March 8, in a tragic accident at De Willem, West Coast Demerara (WCD), three men lost their lives when a car became uncontrollable and slammed into them as they stood in a nearby sports bar.

Then, one week later, on March 15, two men died in an early morning accident along the Number One Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In both instances, the drivers were allegedly racing.

A

ll remaining COVID travel restrictions have now been lifted for passengers entering the UK. As of 04:00 GMT, unvaccinated arrivals will no longer have to take tests – the rule had already been lifted for the vaccinated – and passenger locator forms have been scrapped.

It comes almost exactly two years after the first COVID lockdown measures were imposed in the UK. Travel bosses said lifting the rules was the “final game-changer”.

Aviation minister Robert Courts said: “Everything we have worked for – every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the whole country means that finally, nearly two years on, we can all travel without bureaucratic restrictions.” The government said the change had been deliberately timed before the Easter holidays, but added that contingency plans had been drawn up to respond to any future COVID variants.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, a tourism company, said bookings had surged in recent months.

“The removal of all travel restrictions is the final game-changer – people can now go on holiday or visit family and friends overseas without all of the stress that comes with testing before they return home,” he said.

“Finally, we’ve seen the back of the unpopular and

ineffective passenger locator forms, which were always a hassle to complete. Travel has been in turmoil for two years but now it’s back.”

However, UK travellers are still advised to check the rules for the countries they are visiting – as many still have restrictions and testing requirements in place. The removal of the rules marks the end of a rapidly-changing – and often complex – set of COVID rules for people arriving in the UK. People were first advised against all non-essential international travel in March 2020.

Later that year, passenger locator forms for arrivals were introduced, along with” travel corridors” – with people arriving from countries outside the corridors having to self-isolate at home for up to 14 days.

Other rules have included pre-departure and post-arrival tests; hotel quarantine for some arrivals; and a “traffic light” system of red, amber, and green countries.

The traffic light system could often cause short-term changes to people’s plans as countries moved from one colour to another.

In a further complication, all four nations could set their own rules – meaning there were sometimes different restrictions in different parts of the UK. More recently, changes have been agreed by all governments in the UK. (BBC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

Regional

Brazil’s supreme court suspends Peru court rules polarising exPresident Fujimori can leave prison Telegram messaging app in the country

P

eru’s top court on Thursday reinstated a controversial pardon for polarising former President Alberto Fujimori, who governed the Andean nation during the tumultuous 1990s before being sentenced for human rights violations.

Fujimori, 83, was initially pardoned on Christmas Eve in 2017 after 10 years in jail, a decision that was overturned a few months later after the intervention of an international court on the grounds that it had been irregular.

The latest ruling opens the door for the pardon to be questioned once more in the Costa Rica-based InterAmerican Court of Human Rights - although a new decision could take months, said Jo-Marie Burt, a senior fellow at the Washington

Office on Latin America.

“The organisations that represent the victims in Peru have already called upon the (Inter-American) Court to have a meeting and to review this decision ... they actually filed the request yesterday,” Burt told Reuters.

Fujimori turned around Peru’s economy and ended a period of hyperinflation but was later sentenced for human rights violations involving death squads that cracked down on the brutal Shining Path guerrilla group.

He also sent the military to dissolve Congress and redrafted the Constitution.

Thursday’s ruling showed judges voted 4-3 to free Fujimori. Cesar Nakazaki, a lawyer for Fujimori, said he might only leave prison on Monday or

B

Former President of Peru Alberto Fujimori attends a trial as a witness at the navy base in Callao, Peru March 15, 2018. Picture taken through a window

Tuesday.

The ruling triggered an angry reaction from leftist President Pedro Castillo, who called on international courts to “protect the effective practice of justice,” seemingly a reference to the Inter-American Court.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Young brothers found in Amazon after nearly 4 weeks

T

wo young Indigenous boys rescued after almost four weeks lost in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have been found and taken to hospital.

Glauco and Gleison Ferreira, eight and six, got lost trying to catch small birds in the jungle near Manicoré, Amazonas state, on February 18.

A local tree cutter found them by chance on Tuesday.

They are expected to make a full recovery after being treated in hospital for malnourishment.

After the boys disappeared, hundreds of residents spent weeks looking for them.

But lost during the rainy season of the Amazon - a time which makes walking and moving in the jungle even more difficult than usual - they were nowhere to be found. Emergency services decided to call off the search on February 24, but locals continued to search for the boys, according to local media outlet Amazônia Real. Almost four weeks later, the boys were found by a man cutting wood 6 km (3.7 miles) from the village of Palmeira in the Lago Capanã protected land reserve where the boys live with their parents, Amazônia Real added.

One of the boys shouted for

help when he heard the local man hitting the trees nearby.

Following the calls, the man found the two boys lying on the rainforest floor, hungry and weak, with many skin abrasions.

According to local media, the two boys told their parents they had eaten nothing while lost and had had only rainwater to drink.

Upon their discovery, Glauco and Gleison were sent to a regional hospital in Manicoré, before being transported by helicopter to another hospital in Manaus on Thursday morning, Globo reports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chile’s new President Boric signs Escazu environmental treaty

C

hile’s new leftwing President Gabriel Boric has signed onto the United Nations Escazu Agreement, overturning the policy of the previous Chilean Government that had held back from supporting the environmental treaty.

Chile, the world’s top copper producer, initially promoted the agreement, which is focused on access to information and environmental justice in Latin America and the Caribbean, but later refused to sign it on the grounds that it could generate legal uncertainties.

But Boric, who last week replaced centre-right former President Sebastian Pinera, has pledged to take a strong position on climate change and environmental regulation.

“This agreement represents a milestone on the way to a new relationship between the state and its inhab-

The treaty, which came into force in April 2021, aims to protect the rights of people across Latin America and the Caribbean “to live in a healthy environment” [Ivan Alvarado/ Reuters]

itants in environmental matters,” Boric said on Friday during a signing ceremony.

The move still has to be signed off by Congress.

The Escazu Agreement, signed in 2018 by

many countries in the region, including Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, came into force in April last year.

The agreement aims to contribute “to the protection of the right of each person, of present and future generations, to live in a healthy environment and to sustainable development”.

It also seeks to address various environmental rights, such as access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making processes, and access to environmental justice, including the creation of mechanisms to protect environmental defenders.

Access to environmental information is potentially important in countries such as Chile, where questions have been raised over water use by copper and lithium firms and the effect of mining on glaciers, among other issues.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

razilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Friday ordered the suspension of messaging app Telegram, saying it had repeatedly refused to adhere to judicial orders or comply with the country’s laws, according to a copy of the ruling seen by Reuters.

Moraes’ decision, which is likely to stoke debate about freedom of speech in politically polarised Brazil, represents the latest chapter in the crusading justice’s battle with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies.

The President and his supporters have increasingly come to rely on Telegram

as a form of mass communication as larger tech companies like Meta, which owns messaging app WhatsApp, Google and Twitter have been forced by the Supreme Court to drop offending accounts over allegedly spreading disinformation.

Moraes has been leading a series of Supreme Court probes into the President and his supporters for disseminating fake news that have enraged many on the right and sparked questions of judicial overreach.

According to Moraes’ ruling, Telegram has repeatedly failed to block offending accounts and ignored the court’s decisions.

He gave Wilson Diniz

Wellisch, the head of telecoms regulator Anatel, 24 hours to implement the suspension, which would stand until Telegram complies with outstanding judicial orders, pays a series of fines, and presents a country representative before the court.

Moraes also ordered Apple and Google to help block users on their platforms from being able to use Telegram in Brazil.

In January, Bolsonaro accused the country’s top electoral authority of “cowardice” for considering a ban of the messaging app amid concerns of its use for spreading “fake news.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Next stop IMF Board after Argentina Congress okays $45B debt deal

A

rgentina’s US$45 billion debt deal with the International Monetary Fund, approved by the country’s Congress on Thursday, now faces its final hurdle: the lender’s own Board, which needs to sign off on the mega refinancing agreement.

The Government struck a staff-level deal with the IMF in early March to replace a failed $57 billion programme from 2018 that had been unable to keep the grain-producing country from slipping into economic crisis and a private sector default.

The IMF Board is set to meet in the coming days to green light the deal, which would unlock an initial nearly US$10 billion disbursement, with the clock ticking ahead of a US$2.8 billion repayment due early next week that the country will struggle to make.

“Now, the next step is the approval of the IMF Board.

We look forward to multilateral support. It will bring

more stability to Argentina, Latin America and the world,” Economy Minister Martin Guzman said after the Senate vote.

He said that without an agreement it would have been “impossible” for the country to pay back its obligations to the IMF, adding the deal was necessary - despite push-back from some lawmakers and protesters to stabilise the economy.

The new programme would see funds disbursed over 30 months and a new

repayment schedule between 2026-2034. It includes an economic programme to reduce the fiscal deficit, bolster reserves, cut huge energy subsidies and push up real interest rates.

Not everyone in Argentina has rallied behind the deal, with concerns that economic strings attached will put pressure on people already grappling with both high levels of poverty and inflation, which is running at over 50 per cent annually.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Dominica wants zero tolerance approach to illegal arms trafficking in the region

D

ominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Friday called on member countries of the Regional Security System (RSS) to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach towards crime, especially as it relates to the trafficking of illegal guns, urging also for greater collaboration in dealing with the scourge of illegal drugs.

Addressing the RSS Council of Ministers, Skerrit said that “there is a huge challenge in the RSS family …and indeed the wider Caribbean of the trafficking of arms and the proliferation of the arms within our space”.

“There seems to be an

ever-increasing number of it coming through. We have had success, but one illegal firearm in the hands of people out there is one firearm too many in our region and we are suffering the consequences of the presence of these firearms in the hands of criminals.

“So we have to have a zero-tolerance for the presence of illegal firearms and if we have to strengthen our legislation and strengthen the capacity of our respective police services we have to take these actions because this is a major threat to our economies…and the survival and safety of our citizens and visitors to our countries.”

The RSS was created out of a need for a collective response to security threats, which were impacting the stability of the region in early 1970s and 1980s. It has additional responsibilities to the wider Caricom region as provided for under the Treaty on Security Assistance (TSA).

The TSA identifies RSS Headquarters as part of the regional response mechanism.

Skerrit told the Council that Dominica has ratified the Caricom Arrest Warrant treaty, which he described as “an important tool to help fight inter-regional crimes”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles up, but posts 2nd consecutive weekly decline

O

il prices settled higher on Friday, but posted a second straight weekly loss, after a volatile trading week with no easy replacement for Russian barrels in a tight market.

Brent crude futures settled up US$1.29, or 1.2 per cent, to US$107.93 a barrel, a day after surging nearly 9 per cent in the biggest daily percentage gain since mid-2020.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up US$1.72, or 1.7 per cent, at US$104.70 a barrel, adding to the previous session's 8 per cent jump.

Both benchmark contracts ended the week down around 4 per cent, after trading in a US$16 range. Prices hit 14-year highs nearly two weeks ago, encouraging bouts of profit taking since then.

Russia said an agreement had yet to be reached after a fourth day of talks with Ukraine. Some signs of progress had emerged earlier in the week.

"Prior expectations for a Ukraine/Russian cease fire or agreement have faded as Russian military assault on key cities continues in suggesting additional financial sanctions against Russia," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbuch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois.

Crude prices have been on a rollercoaster ride, boosted by the supply crunch from traders avoiding Russian barrels and dwindling oil stockpiles. But prices have been pressured by worries about demand with COVID-19 cases surging in China, while stumbling nuclear talks with Iran have been a wild cardon the market.

The volatility has scared some investors out of the oil market, which could exacerbate price swings.

Meanwhile, output from the OPEC+ producer group in February undershot targets even more than in the previous month, sources said. The International Energy Agency said oil markets could lose 3 million bpd of Russian oil from April.

US oil producers have also shown considerable constraint since the conflict in Ukraine began. US energy firms this week reduced the number of oil rigs active in the country by 3 to 524 this week, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes.

Consultancy FGE said on-land product stocks at key countries are 39.9 million barrels lower for this time of the year relative to the 2017-2019 average. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US seeks China's help to end Russia's war in Ukraine

U

S President Joe Biden warned China against helping Russia attack Ukraine in a video call with President Xi Jinping on Friday as concern grew over mass civilian casualties in the besieged southern port of Mariupol.

Russia's advance in Ukraine has largely stalled but the Russian Defence Ministry said it was "tightening the noose" around Mariupol and that fighting had reached the centre.

Officials have estimated 80 per cent of the city's homes have been damaged and that more than 1000 people may still be trapped in makeshift bomb shelters beneath a destroyed theatre.

Ukraine said it had rescued 130 people from the

C

ash-strapped Sri Lanka has secured a US$1 billion credit line from India to buy urgently needed food and medicine, officials say, as the IMF confirms it will consider discussing a possible bailout.

The South Asian island nation is suffering its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with crippling shortages of essentials and fears it will default on its foreign debt or ask bondholders to take a “haircut” on repayments.

India and Sri Lanka formally entered into the credit agreement on Thursday

A

A rescuer pouring water over a whale in a bid to keep it alive

Bay, given the area's topography... it's known as one of the stranding hotspots," rescuer Dave Winterburn from the Department of Conservation told the BBC. "So we go through periods when we don't have any, and then we get a couple in a row - that's just the way things go."

It is not fully understood why the whales got stranded, but pilot whales are known to be more prone to getting beached. They are

theatre's basement after the building was flattened

by Russian strikes two days ago. Russia denied hitting the theatre and says it does

not target civilians.

Nick Osychenko, the CEO of a Mariupol TV station, said that as he fled the city with six members of his fam-

Sri Lanka secures $1bn credit line from India as IMF signals help

Dozens of pilot whales die at notorious New Zealand beach

t least 31 pilot whales have died after a mass stranding at a New Zealand beach known to be a notorious spot for whale deaths.

Wildlife officials said the pod was first spotted on Thursday, beached across three kilometres of Farewell Spit on the South Island.

On Friday, rescuers managed to refloat five whales who had survived the night.

But just hours later, at least two had washed back up and had to be euthanised, officials told the BBC. This beaching is just the latest in mass strandings at Farewell Spit, the northernmost tip of New Zealand's South Island.

Authorities say while whale strandings are unfortunate, they are a natural phenomenon.

"It's not an uncommon experience here in Golden

People gather near a block of flats which were destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 17, 2022

ily, aged between 4 and 61, he saw dead bodies on nearly every block.

"We were careful and didn’t want the children to see the bodies, so we tried to shield their eyes,” he said.

“We were nervous the whole journey. It was frightening, just frightening."

Russia denies targeting civilians and reiterated accusations Kyiv was using them as human shields, something Ukrainian officials firmly deny.

China is the one big power that has yet to condemn Russia's assault, and Washington fears Beijing may be considering giving Moscow financial and military support, something that both Russia and China deny. (Excerpt from Reuters)

not considered endangered, although exact population numbers are not known.

Farewell Spit, a 26km (16 mile) hook of sand that protrudes into the sea, has been a frequent site of strandings, although scientists are unclear why.

One theory is that the spit creates a shallow seabed in the bay with extensive, kilometres-wide sand flats.

This can confuse whales' sonar navigation systems.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

during Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s visit to New Delhi, treasury secretary Sajith Attygalle told reporters in Colombo on Friday.

“India stands with Sri Lanka,” Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter. “US$1 billion credit line signed for supply of essential commodities.”

The latest loan was on top of another US$500 million Indian credit line to help its island neighbour buy oil.

Top of Form Bottom of Form Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday confirmed it was considering President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s surprise request made on Wednesday to discuss a bailout.

Rajapaksa’s announcement that he would go to the IMF – a U-turn from his previous position – increases the likelihood that Sri Lanka will seek to renegotiate some

of its estimated US$51 billion in foreign debts.

Rice said the IMF had already highlighted the urgent need for Sri Lanka to implement a “credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability”.

Around US$6.9 billion of Colombo’s debt needs to be serviced this year. Its foreign currency reserves stood at about US$2.3 billion at the end of February. (Excerpt from AL Jazeera)

South Africa's Ramaphosa blames NATO for Russia's war in Ukraine

S

outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine and said he would resist calls to condemn Russia, in comments that cast doubt over whether he would be accepted by Ukraine or the West as a mediator.

"The war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from amongst its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region," Ramaphosa said in response to questions in Parliament.

But he added that South Africa "cannot condone the use of force and violation of international law" - an apparent reference to Russia's Feb 24 invasion of Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has characterised Russia's actions as a "special operation" to disarm and "denazify" Ukraine and counter what he calls NATO aggression.

Kyiv and its Western al-

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa gives a statement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination, during a European Union - African Union summit, in Brussels, Belgium February 18, 2022

lies believe Russia launched the unprovoked war to subjugate a neighbour Putin calls an artificial state.

Ramaphosa also revealed that Putin had assured him personally that negotiations were making progress.

The South African leader said he had not yet talked with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but that he wanted to.

On Friday, Ramaphosa said South Africa had been

asked to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He did not say who had asked him to intervene.

Ramaphosa's African National Congress party, which has governed South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994, had strong ties to the former Soviet Union, which trained and supported anti-apartheid activists during the Cold War. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Live in the moment. Don't waste time pleasing someone who finds fault in everything. Lighten up. Life is what you make it, so do things your way. You've gotten a lot done, and you can do still more.

Adjust to what's going on around you and use any opportunity you get to explore and expand something that interests you. Check out what you need to do to start something new or finish what you've left undone.

Consider whether you are heading in the right direction. Talk to someone in the know about what you'd like to do.

Sign up for a course or scour the internet for information, and you'll gain insight into possibilities. Romance is featured.

Invest in yourself. Be willing to go the distance to ensure you get the most out of what you have to offer. Don't let what others do shatter your confidence or cause you to question the things you want to pursue.

Get in the game, play to win and don't worry about what others do or say. Make changes that put your mind at ease and make your life easier.

Focus on love, self-improvement and stability.

Rely on experience to help evaluate sensitive situations. Listen to others and respond with compassion; you'll bring about positive change. Revisit connections, make amends and let go of the past.

Do something that makes you happy, motivates you or encourages you to spend more time with a loved one. Set a personal goal, and distance yourself from wastes of money or time.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Don't share secrets. Stay focused on something that you enjoy doing. An innovative idea will give you a new lease on life. Don't ignore change when you can embrace it as an opportunity.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Stay out of the line of fire. Someone will twist things around to satisfy their needs. Keep your facts straight and focus on your needs. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) File away information others share, and it will give you the edge. Search for a unique outlet to use your skills and money, and you'll figure out a way to enrich your life.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD-- SCRUPULOUS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Plan your next move. A safety net will put your mind at ease. A joint venture or sharing expenses with a loved one appears promising. Share your thoughts and protect your interests.

Leave nothing to chance. Let experience lead the way and intuition step in when necessary. Be willing to fight for what's right, and walk away from no-win situations. Be true to yourself.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

21

Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”…

Project boosted with support from Star Sports Trophies and Awards S

tar Sports Trophies and Awards, a popular sports store located at 28 Logwood, Enmore, East Coast, Demerara, has donated more cricket gear for the project “Cricket Gear for Young and promising cricketers in Guyana”.

At a simple handing over ceremony held recently, former national senior wicket keeper-batsman Sheikh Mohamed, the owner of Star Sports, presented to the project bats, batting gloves, junior cricket balls, wicket, cricket bags, keeping pads and gloves, cricket shoes and clothing, all to an average value of $600,000.

And this follows an earlier donation of gear towards the project.

The sports store is the agent for authentic major cricket brands around

the world, and provides the highest quality of gear and other sports equipment.

In presenting the gear to Anil Beharry, a partner in this initiative with Kishan Das of the USA, Sheik said he is impressed with the level of accountability and the reach of this venture, and is happy that young players from all three counties of Guyana are benefiting, thus this additional Sheikh Mohamed has donated to the project cricket gear with a total average cost of $600,000

contribution.

Beharry, a current executive of the Guyana Cricket Board, expressed gratitude for the gear, and committed to help as many young

cricketers as possible in Guyana.

Beharry has said is hopeful that a new breed of young players would come through the system, making Guyana and West Indies cricket strong again. He alluded to the fact that sports in general helps to keep our young people off the streets, and is an avenue to a better life.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $130,000 cash, two trophies, eleven cricket boots, fifteen pairs of batting pads, fifteen bats, nine pairs of batting gloves, eighteen thigh pads, one wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard, and four cricket bags. In addition to the above, there is now $600,000 worth in gear.

To date, thirty-two young players from all three coun-

Nicholas Pooran excited to work with batting great Brian Lara in IPL

B

rian Lara is one of the greatest batsmen in the histo-

Hyderabad.

One of his pupils will be his Trinidadian country-

Nicholas Pooran in action

ry of cricket. He has performed many feats that many who currently play the game can only dream of.

The world record holder of the highest individual scores in both Test cricket (400 not out) and First-Class cricket (501 not out) has also been gracious enough to lend his knowledge of the game to the current crop of players, and has been appointed as the batting coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers

man and fellow stylish left-hander Nicholas Pooran, and this is a prospect that current West

Indies T20 vice-captain Pooran is excited about.

“Yeah, we have had a couple of conversations in the recent past. He’s simply superb! Amazing when it comes to batting and how he views the game.

So, yeah, looking forward to that opportunity to work with him,” Pooran said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

West Indian great Brian Charles Lara scored 11,953 runs in Test cricket, with 34 hundreds at an average of 52.88 in 131 matches.

He scored 10,405 runs in 299 ODIs, with 19 hundreds at an average of 40.48.

The 2022 edition of the IPL kicks off on March 26th, while Pooran and Lara’s Sunrisers have their first game on March 29th against the Rajasthan Royals.

Pooran is coming off scores of 61, 62 and 61 in the three T20 Internationals against India last month, and if his current form is anything to go by, he should have a stellar IPL season. The input of Brian Lara should certainly help. (Sportsmax)

ties of Guyana have already benefited from a junior gear bag, two trophies, nine bats, nine pairs of cricket shoes, six pairs of batting pads and seven pairs of batting gloves. In addition, the Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club has benefited from a pair of stumps and bails, and two clubs in the Pomeroon area have benefited from two used bats.

Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees have also each received one box of red cricket balls.

Cricket related items, used or new, would be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent-spotting is being done across the country, and club leaders are also assisting to identify talent.

Beharry and Das take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan

Some of the gear donated

and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment

Guyana, Peter Ramkissoon and Rabindranath Saywack.

Special mention has been made of the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture.

Distribution will continue. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875, or Kishan Das on 1-718664-0896.

World Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade…

Williams, Jackson and Lee-Ahye set for 60m final …Miller-Uibo, McPherson, Richards into 400m finals

B

riana Williams, Michelle LeeAhye and Shericka Jackson have all advanced to the final of the Women’s 60m event at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade on Friday.

Williams followed up her personal best of 7.06 in the heats with a time of 7.07 to win the third semi-final

ahead of Lee-Ahye, who ran 7.12 for second place and an automatic berth in the final.

Jackson came third in the first semi-final, and qualified as one of the fastest losers with a personal best of 7.08. The final is scheduled for later on Friday.

Stephenie AnnMcPherson won semi-final

one of the Women’s 400m in 51.26, ahead of Femke Bol (51.28). Aliyah Abrams of Guyana finished third in 51.57 to also advance to the final.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo looked in ominous form, easily winning semi-final two in a comfortable season’s best of 51.38.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago put himself in position for a medal when he won his semi-final heat in 46.15, but it was bad news for Christopher Taylor, who appeared to suffer an injury and did not finish his semi-final heat.

The Women’s and Men’s 400m finals are scheduled for Friday, March 18.

(Sportsmax)

22

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Women’s World Cup cricket 2022…

Matthews, Fletcher break Bangladesh hearts – Campbelle contributes a match-defining half-century

T

his is officially the World Cup of thrillers. In the latest instalment, Bangladesh came within touching distance of a famous second win, only for their hearts to be crushed by Afy Fletcher and Hayley Matthews, who ripped through the batting line-up to take seven wickets.

Then, with five runs needed off four deliveries, Stafanie Taylor hammered the final blow as she dismissed No. 11 Fariha Trisna.

At the other end, Nahida Akter, who backed herself to take the game deep and pull off a late heist, could barely hold back her

batting failure in two games.

The win placed West Indies at the third spot in the points table.

Needing ten off the final two overs, Deandra Dottin delivered the perfect penultimate over, replete with slower balls, to give just two runs away. Taylor had seven in the bank to defend. She gave away three before Trisna, whom Akhter didn't seem to trust for much of the final few overs, played on attempting a cross-batted swipe. That she was on strike was only because Akter hadn’t managed to pick the two

Hoque and Nigar Sultana, who had stitched a record partnership for Bangladesh in World Cups against Pakistan, got together to keep West Indies at bay for close to 13 overs.

They added 30 off 76 balls for the third wicket, in a bid to give the side a strong base for the chase. However, an attempted adventurous slog by Hoque off Fletcher gave West Indies the desired opening.

The legspinner, who is one of the eight mothers in the competition, mock-dialled her seven-month-old baby to register one of the sweet moments of the game. Fletcher then had Rumana Ahmed fall to her legspin, before leaving Ritu Moni clueless with a googly, to have Bangladesh reeling at 60 for 5.

Salma Khatun then walked out with an intent to score, hitting a four off Fletcher off the sixth ball she faced. She added 25 in nine overs with Nigar

Afy Fletcher picked up 3-29

emotions.

West Indies had stumbled and stuttered their way to 140 for 9 after being put in. That they got there was mainly due to Shemaine Campbelle's half-century, which gave their bowlers an opening. And they managed to carve out a thrilling win.

At one stage, Bangladesh were comfortably placed at 60 for 2 in 21 overs, with their target just 81 away. But, into her sixth over, the leg-spinner Fletcher created a flutter by picking up three quick wickets in the space of seven balls, to stun Bangladesh's middle order.

Matthews then more than made up for her sedate returns with the bat, returning her ODI best of 4 for 15 with the ball.

That was enough for West Indies to make up for their second

Hayley Matthews bagged 4-15

runs off the previous delivery, as she had planned when she slapped a short ball into the deep cover region.

It was Matthews who started Bangladesh's slide. In the first over, she trapped Shamima Sultana lbw. The other opener, Sharmin Akhter, hit three fours before she tamely gave catching practice to the slips, as Matthews had her second wicket.

The experienced Fargana

Sultana, who was happy to see Fletcher off.

However, the return of Matthews dented Bangladesh further, as she accounted for Nigar Sultana and Fahima Khatun in three balls. Salma kept Bangladesh's hopes alive with her 23-run knock, but Taylor ended her stay with Bangladesh needing 31.

Akhter then tried to narrow the gap, but it proved to just be a

bridge too far. She was unbeaten on 25 in the end.

Bangladesh wouldn't have had a target in excess of one hundred, had it not been for Campbelle's unbeaten 53.

Though she struggled to get off strike for a large part of her innings - she faced 72 dots out of the 107 she played - she hung on and added 68 for the last two wickets with Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack.

On a dry pitch in sunny conditions, West Indies got their choice of batting first, despite not winning the toss.

Shemaine Campbelle held on with a resistant half-century

But Bangladesh spinners, led by Akhter and Salma, picked up four

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Deandra Dottin c †Shamima Sultana b Jahanara Alam 17 Hayley Matthews c Nigar Sultana b Nahida Akter 18 Rashada Williams c Fargana Hoque b Salma Khatun 4 Stafanie Taylor (c) b Nahida Akter 4 Shemaine Campbelle † not out 53 Chedean Nation run out (Fargana Hoque) 6 Aaliyah Alleyne lbw b Rumana Ahmed 0 Chinelle Henry c & b Salma Khatun 1 Afy Fletcher c Fahima Khatun b Ritu Moni 17 Karishma Ramharack run out (†Shamima Sultana) 7 Shamilia Connell not out 2 Extras (lb 4, w 7) 11 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 2.80) 140/9 Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Deandra Dottin, 8.4 ov), 2-40 (Hayley Matthews, 12.1 ov), 3-48 (Stafanie Taylor, 14.5 ov), 4-48 (Rashada Williams, 15.1 ov), 5-60 (Chedean Nation, 27.5 ov), 6-62 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 31.6 ov), 7-70 (Chinelle Henry, 35.3 ov), 8-102 (Afy Fletcher, 43.3 ov), 9-138 (Karishma Ramharack, 49.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jahanara Alam 7-0-23-1 Fariha Trisna 6-1-22-0 Salma Khatun 10-3-23-2 Nahida Akter 10-3-23-2 Fahima Khatun 8-1-19-0 Rumana Ahmed 6-1-11-1 Ritu Moni 3-0-15-1

BANGLADESH WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 141 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Shamima Sultana † lbw b Matthews 0 Sharmin Akhter c Dottin b Matthews 17 Fargana Hoque b Fletcher 23 Nigar Sultana (c) lbw b Matthews 25 Rumana Ahmed c †Campbelle b Fletcher 0 Ritu Moni lbw b Fletcher 0 Salma Khatun c Ramharack 23 b Taylor Fahima Khatun b Matthews 0 Nahida Akter not out 25 Jahanara Alam c Ramharack b Taylor 8 Fariha Trisna b Taylor 0 Extras (nb 2, w 13) 15 TOTAL (49.3 Ov, RR: 2.74) 136 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Shamima Sultana, 0.5 ov), 2-30 (Sharmin Akhter, 8.5 ov), 3-60 (Fargana Hoque, 21.3 ov), 4-60 (Rumana Ahmed, 23.2 ov), 5-60 (Ritu Moni, 23.3 ov), 6-85 (Nigar Sultana, 32.2 ov), 7-85 (Fahima Khatun, 32.4 ov), 8-110 (Salma Khatun, 43.1 ov), 9-122 (Jahanara Alam, 45.3 ov), 10136 (Fariha Trisna, 49.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Hayley Matthews 10-1-15-4 Shamilia Connell 3-0-15-0 Deandra Dottin 4-0-20-0 Afy Fletcher 10-0-29-3 Karishma Ramharack 10-3-15-0 Stafanie Taylor 9.3-0-29-3 Aaliyah Alleyne 3-1-13-0

Linden Edition of Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic launched

…Winner to pocket $100,000

T

he Linden edition of the highly-anticipated Rawle Toney 3x3 basketball Classic was launched on Thursday evening at the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar on Main Street, Georgetown.

In the feature address of this launching, founder of the event, Rawle Toney, expressed gratitude to all the sponsors that made the event a success. He related that he is thankful to the sponsors, whom he believes are in support of his vision for basketball in Guyana.

Toney also said, “Sports is more than just a pastime in Linden, but, unfortunately, nothing is happening where basketball is concerned over the last three years. Linden is dear to me; it is where I had my start; it is where I represented Guyana. This initial event should have been held in Linden when I hosted the tournament on February 19-20.

But the initial plan going forward is to host the entire tournament in Linden, rather than having a Georgetown edition and a Linden edition.”

He related that this event would be done differently, in that three teams would be coming from Georgetown and five from Linden.

big wickets between them to restrict West Indies.

Dottin and Matthews were steady before falling, as caution seemed to be West Indies' second line of defence. What then followed against spin was something they wouldn't have foreseen. Matthews mistimed a half-tracker from Akhter to midwicket, and Taylor was bowled behind her legs in the left-arm spinner's next over.

Salma then had Williams, who had come in for Kycia Knight, caught at cover, to have West Indies at 48 for 4 in the 16th over.

Campbelle and Chedean Nation only asserted the West Indies' mindset when they played out close to 13 overs together for just 12 runs. It concluded with Nation horribly misjudging a run and being short of the direct hit at the striker's end.

It then took Campbelle her second half-century in this World Cup to help West Indies get to a total that was eventually enough.

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATIONS Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop) – AirConditioned Comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Gym. Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $45 US. Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Phone: 264-2946-9. www. aracariresort.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

appreciated”, Toney explained.

Toney divulged that some of Guyana’s top DJs would be in action, while there would be an international artiste out of

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

Phone 264-2946; 626-5290

CAYMAN ISLANDS EMPLOYMENT

Founder of the 3X3 basketball Classic, Rawle Toney

Hennessey Brand Manager Atina Samad

“Each team will be given $25,000 for participating. I know it’s meagre, but it’s a start. We want to set a precedent similar to what happens in football, (wherein) teams are given a fee to participate, making the players who are a commodity feeling a bit

Barbados, CKush, and a number of acts emanating out of the community would be performing.

Also sharing her view was Ansa McAL’s Hennessey Brand Manager Atina Samad, who noted that the brand is happy to be supporting sports in Guyana. She explained that this is also owing

to the fact that the brand would be working to refurbish basketball courts in various communities, and sponsor similar events or initiatives in terms of basketball.

FK Sports owner Felix Walker explained that when approached on the idea of being a part of the tournament, he considered the decision a no-brainer, as the company has a passion for sports.

Apart from uniforms, each team would receive $25,000 as an appreciation for participating.

The winning team would be

awarded $100,000, while the second- placed team would be awarded $50,000 and the thirdplaced team $30,000.

This tournament will be played on April 23rd at the Richmond Hill, Linden residence of Kashif Muhammad, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Linden is celebrating 52 years as a town, and the tournament would mark the start of the week-long series of events to commemorate the occasion.

Upholsterers and Drapery Makers/ Seamstresses NEEDED! Applicants should possess 5 years' experience.

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

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

Groups and Excursions welcome.

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

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

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WI vs England: Apex Test series, 2nd Test…

23

Brathwaite, Blackwood centuries blunt England in Barbados A

dogged, unbeaten century from West Indies captain Kraigg When Shamarh Brooks sliced a cut to backward point off Brathwaite and 102 from Jermaine Blackwood Jack Leach for 39, and first-Test centurion Nkrumah Bonner have blunted England on day three of the second was lbw to Ben Stokes for nine before lunch, England had a Test in Barbados. real chance to push themselves into a match-winning position.

Brathwaite batted all day, combining with Blackwood Instead, it turned into another day when an inexperienced for a stand of 183 as the hosts ground their way to 288-4 at England attack looked tame. Again, there is the caveat of a the close, trailing by 219 runs. That partnership thwarted pitch that has offered little, particularly to pace bowlers. But England for 68.3 overs, until Blackwood misjudged a England will still be disappointed to only claim three wickets leave to part-time offspinner Dan Lawrence and was all day. out lbw with five overs to go.

Leach, who gained credit with a good performance in After claiming two early wickets, the first Test, started solidly; but, as the day wore on, England struggled to create opportunities, his sporadic good balls were interspersed with ones and the tourists wasted the rare chances that were too easily cut for four. they created. Blackwood would have The pitch is offering some slow turn, but Leach did been out for a duck had England reviewed not land enough balls in difficult areas to Brathwaite and an lbw decision; and, on 65, he was bowled Blackwood. by a Saqib Mahmood no-ball, On the day Mark Wood w a s which would have been t h e ruled out of the series with debutant's first Test wicket. injury, Mahmood bowled a good There was also a missed spell with the old ball, but was largely stumping chance when played comfortably; while Matthew Brathwaite was on 109. It Fisher, also on debut, was unthreatening means a second consecutive despite showing decent accuracy. Chris Woakes, draw in this series is the most England's senior seamer, was anonymous. likely result with two days to Things may have been different, Blackwood has scored his third play, despite Lawrence's late especially had England reviewed when Test century (Getty Images) intervention.

Ben Stokes hit Blackwood on the pad with a rare ball that swung in. It was Stokes himself who immediately intimated that the ball would have missed the stumps, when instead the technology West Indies 1st Innings Permaul, Jayden Seales later suggested it would have hit leg Kraigg Brathwaite (c) not out 109 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (John stump flush.

John Campbell c †Foakes b Fisher 4 Campbell, 1.2 ov), 2-83 (Shamarh Brooks, 34.4 ov), The BlackwoodShamarh Brooks c Woakes 3-101 (Nkrumah Bonner, Brathwaite partnership was already worth b Leach 39 44.3 ov), 4-284 (Jermaine 129 when Mahmood bowled the West Indies Nkrumah Bonner lbw b Stokes 9 Blackwood, 112.1 ov) number five. It was a perfect yorker from the Jermaine Blackwood lbw BOWLING O-M-R-W Lancashire seamer, but he had overstepped by a couple of inches, b Lawrence 102 Chris Woakes 16-7-46-0 and celebrations were cut short.

Alzarri Joseph not out 4 Matthew Fisher 17-5-44-1 Extras (b 10, lb 4, nb 7) 21 Jack Leach 44-14-97-1 In the end, it took Lawrence's unconventional spin to prise out TOTAL (117 Ov, RR: 2.46) 288/4 Ben Stokes 17-8-34-1 a West Indies centurion, the 24-year-old backing his dismissal of Yet to bat: Jason Holder, Saqib Mahmood 15-3-35-0 Bonner in the first Test.

Joshua Da Silva †, Kemar Dan Lawrence 5-2-8-1 Once England declared on 507-9 on day two, West Indies have Roach, Veerasammy Joe Root 3-0-10-0 always realistically been playing for a draw.

SCOREBOARD

Ben Stokes in frustration

They still have further work to do on day four, but the six-hour stand between Brathwaite and Blackwood has set them well on their way to a result that would see both teams heading to Grenada for the third Test with the series still at 0-0.

In the series opener, Brathwaite scored his fastest Test fifty, but here he reverted to type. He scored his slowest Test half-century, before reaching three figures from 278 balls - a knock of great application, rather than flowing shot-making.

Blackwood is someone who loves batting against England. His average against them is 45.77, compared with 30.66 across his career, and two of his three Test tons have come against England. He batted quicker than Brathwaite, but showed similar grit.

He was also involved in a heated exchange with Stokes, after which the umpires had a stern word with the England all-rounder and captain Root.

When shouldering arms to Lawrence, he thought the ball would have gone over the stumps, but the technology showed it would have hit three quarters of the way up middle stump. (BBC Sport)

Kraigg Brathwaite has scored his tenth Test century

Flying Ace Cycle Race in NA…

Padlock wins ‘battle of the Berbicians’ In the initial laps of the race, it was Green and Crawford who took charge, as six sprint prizes were up for grabs. Green, a resident of Ulverston Village, Corentyne, claimed four sprint prizes, while Crawford took two sprint prizes.

In the veterans’ category, Junior Niles emerged winner, finishing ahead of Syborne Fernandes and Travis Cipriani.

Mario Washington won the junior category and claimed second overall

Padlock receiving his prize, while the other riders and officials stand for the photo

Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

K

aieteur Attack cyclist Andre 'Padlock' Green stormed to victory in the Flying Aceorganised circuit race in New Amsterdam, held under brilliant sunshine on Friday afternoon.

Green stopped the clock in 40 minutes in this 10-lap/16mile affair around the town, in which riders assembled at Charles Place on Republic Road, turned at Coburg Street into Main Street, and made the final turn at the Tacama Turn on the southern outskirts of Stanleytown, to return to the point of origin for the grand finish.

Padlock opened a huge lead over his fellow Berbicians in this

Mario Washington, Jason Cameron and Romello Crawford at Tacama Turn

race, and Mario Washington finished second in the senior category. Washington, who finished second overall, also claimed the top prize in the junior category. He was followed

by Jason Cameron (third) and Romello Crawford (fourth).

Reflecting on the race, Padlock said: "The breeze was very hard on this end (Republic Road), but after the first three laps, I saw Crawford was not taking advantage, so I took the advantage."

Fresh from registering a second-position win in the DDL race on Sunday last in Region

Three, Padlock said he is hoping for success in the upcoming races.

"I must thank my club (Kaieteur Attack); Ricky, who helped me out with this bicycle; and Solid Gold," the champion rider told Guyana Times Sport.

Meanwhile, Flying Ace Cycling Coach and organizer of this race, Randolph Roberts, hailed the race as a success. He said it marked the first cycling race in Berbice for the 2022 season.

"Berbice cyclists, and cyclists countrywide, should look out for the events to come. We have the three-stage and the Big G, Arokium, and A Ally and Son’s race. I would like to thank all the sponsors, including Big G, Banks DIH, Jerrick Funeral Home, and

Junior Niles won the veterans’ category

all those that made this race possible," Roberts said.

He also thanked the Guyana

Police Force and the Commander and Deputy Commander in Region Six.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

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

Flying Ace Cycle Race in NA…

Padlock wins ‘battle of the Berbicians’ Page 23

Andre 'Padlock' Green won with ease, enjoying a huge gap

Tickets for GMRSC’s Quarter Mile Return go on sale from March 24

GMR&SC President, Rameez Mohamed

T

ickets for the much-talked- about Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Quarter Mile Return will go on sale from March 24 at venues across the country.

The event, which is set for March 27 at the South Dakota drag strip, will be the club’s first drag race meet of the year.

According to President Rameez Mohamed, fans have been in constant contact with the club in an attempt to get tickets for the event.

“Every day, we get tons of messages on our Facebook page, calls to the office, and even people calling our members to ask when the tickets will go on sale and where they will be going on sale,” Mohamed has said.

“As a committee, we have outlined several places where fans can get tickets in most parts of the country. We want all our fans to come out for this event,” he said.

Tickets will go on sale from March 24 at the following venues: GMR&SC’s

Albert Street & Thomas Lands venue; Mohamed’s Enterprise at 29 Lombard Street, Georgetown; Motor Trend Service Center at Area L, Foulis Public Road, ECD; West Coast Customs Wash Bay at Vreed-enHoop, WCD; Massive Audio at Parika, EBE; Homeline Furnishing at Lot 10 Strand, New Amsterdam, Berbice; Sukhpaul’s Business Enterprise & Auto Sales at Lot 7-8 Strand, New Amsterdam, Berbice and at Sukhpaul’s Service Station at Corriverton, East Berbice.

Adult tickets would each cost $2000, while children’s tickets would each cost $500.

Meanwhile, competition is expected from Suriname, with a total of 10 cars so far confirming participation.

“We welcome our bothers from Suriname.

They were interested since we began planning, but with the COVID restrictions lifted, we are expecting a lot of competition from there,” he said.

“I think, so far, our Suriname counterparts have indicated that there are just over 10 cars that have indicated an interest in coming to the event, in addition to spectators and such; so, I predict it’s going to be a good meet.”

There will be a lot of surprises for this event come Sunday, with a lot of guys bringing out some new machines. Of course, the Team Mohamed’s cars will be there, as well as the Kong Supra, so that’s something else the fans have to look forward to,” The GMRSC President commented.

Team Mohamed’s GTR

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.