Guyana Times -- Thursday, June 2, 2022

MoE hosts consultations with PWD on transforming Guyana’s P12 education sector Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 5027

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

Govt announces plan to move local entertainment industry to int’l levels – to use Cricket Carnival as platform to promote Guyanese talents See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

3-month-old girl among 3 new COVID deaths recorded P17 P14 $37.8M Fire Station commissioned at Nandy Park – fire hydrants to be installed in G/town, other areas

Kitty home P15 burglarised, firearm among items stolen

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing scores of local performers who were part of Guyana’s 56th Independence Anniversary Flag-Raising Ceremony. The President convened a special meeting at State House on Wednesday to discuss “Guyana Night”, which will be held during the CPL 2022 tournament

“We cannot allow Norton to ridicule appointment of Commissions” – AG Nandlall ...assures ... assures Govt will continue to follow due constitutional process Page 7

Govt, first Lady collaborate Girl, 12, killed to establish by allegedly business speeding centre for Police vehicle persons with disabilities at Goed Fortuin AFC’s role in coalition to be discussed at NEC – GS Patterson

"Trini" handed life sentence for murder of agriculturalist

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19-year-old allegedly P2 drowns while trying to swim across river

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Page 10

Page 13

...nominations ... nominations closed; says willing to run for leadership if nominated

Man disposes of high-powered rifle after P2 spotting Police

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

19-year-old allegedly Gunmen open fire on Swan farmer who refuses to sell them eggs drowns while trying A to swim across river T

he lifeless body of 19-year-old Simon Jones of Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was pulled from the Ekereku River, Upper Mazaruni Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Tuesday morning.

Reports are that Jones was attempting to swim across the river when he went under water and never surfaced.

Reports are that Jones had last been seen alive on Friday last at about 23:30h, as he was attempting to swim across the river. However, at about 10:00h on Tuesday, three miners from the area were traversing the river when they observed his body floating.

Police in the Division were informed, and the body was retrieved from the river. No marks of violence were seen on Jones’s body, which has been transported to Georgetown to await a post-mortem examination.

This is the second river incident to have occurred within a matter of a few days in that region. Only a day ago, Police reported that a boat captain was feared dead, while another was taken into custody following a collision between two boats on Saturday at Jawalla Village, Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The missing man has been identified as 40-year-

attempt to get the other boat to change direction and avoid a collision, flashed his torchlight, but to no avail.

The boats collided, and Sam was thrown overboard while Hernandez sustained injuries that rendered him unconscious.

A search for Sam proved futile, but Hernandez was transported to the Kamarang Hospital, where he was treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Up to news time on Wednesday, Sam’s body was not recovered.

Dead: Simon Jones

old Fabian Sam of Jawalla Village. Based on reports received, Sam was operating a 35-foot boat which was powered by a 30 HP outboard engine. The other boat was a 30-foot vessel powered by a 15 HP engine and captained by a 48-year-old resident of another village in the Upper Mazaruni region.

Initial reports are that Sam was navigating his boat along the Mazaruni River and upon approaching the confluence of the Mazaruni and Kukui Rivers, the other boat was observed by its light as it approached from the opposite direction. This boat was reportedly heading headon into Sam’s boat.

Charles Hernandez, an occupant in Sam’s boat, in an

64-year-old farmer of Swan Squatting Area, LindenSoesdyke Highway escaped death on Tuesday evening at about 21:05h after he was shot at by two men who became angry after he refused to sell them eggs.

Police have said that this farmer, a licensed owner of a twelve-gauge, single-barrel shotgun, and owner of a small-scale chicken farm and a mini grocery shop at his residence, had closed his business at about 19:30h, and was in his kitchen preparing something to eat when he heard someone calling at the shop.

He told Police that he

ventured outside and saw two men, one of whom was inquiring about purchasing eggs. The farmer said he told the men that his shop was already closed, but the perpetrators pleaded with him to sell them the eggs.

The man said he maintained that his shop was closed and he was not selling.

At that point, the two men became annoyed, and one of them allegedly withdrew a handgun from his waist, pointed it in the farmer’s direction, and discharged a single round.

Police say the farmer managed to take evasive action and reached for his li-

censed firearm, from which he reportedly discharged a single round in the men’s direction. However, the two men made good their escape in an unknown direction.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Police, and a team of detectives visited and canvassed the area, from whence they recovered a spent twelvegauge shell. Same was taken to the Timehri Police Station, where it was placed into an evidence bag, marked, sealed, and lodged.

Checks were made for the perpetrators, but they were not seen. An investigation is underway.

Man disposes of high-powered rifle after spotting Police

T

he Police are on the hunt for a man who reportedly discharged a high-powered rifle on Tuesday at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Police stated that ranks were responding to a report that a male was indiscriminately discharging a firearm in the area. As the ranks arrived in the area where the incident was reported to be taking place, they contacted the person who made the report.

Based on information received, the ranks were taken to the camp where the man accused of discharging the firearm was located.

However, as the ranks approached after observing him carrying a rifle in his hand, he dropped the rifle and made good his escape into the nearby bushes when he saw them.

The firearm that the suspect dropped upon seeing the Police

He was pursued by the ranks, but they were unable to apprehend him. The firearm was found to be a Rockriver 5.56 mm Rifle with 27 live

rounds of ammunition.

The firearm and ammunition were taken as evidence as Police continue their search for the suspect.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, June 2 – 04:00h-05:30h and Friday, June 3 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, June 2 – 05:15h-06:45h and Friday, June 3 – 05:50h-07:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy to light rain showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

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

Govt announces plan to move local entertainment industry to int’l levels

– to use Cricket Carnival as platform to promote Guyanese talents

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has charged Guyanese artistes and entertainers to work together and come up with a unique package for the ‘Guyana Night’ at the upcoming Cricket Carnival, which will in turn be used as a conduit to get local talents into the regional and international entertainment scene.

On Wednesday, President Ali hosted an interactive session at State House with local performers who participated at the 56th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony in Anna Regina,

President Dr Irfaan Ali engaging local performers

High Tide: 18:17h reaching a maximum height of 2.38 metres.

Low Tide: 11:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.66 metre.

A section of the performers gathered at State House on Wednesday

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Essequibo Coast last week.

The Head of State said his Government wants to give them and other Guyanese entertainers a larger platform to display their talents. Hence, he noted that the upcoming Cricket Carnival – a packed two weeks of entertainment that will run alongside the 2022 CPL tournament here later this year – will have a dedicated event for local artistes, dubbed the ‘Guyana Night’.

“I want you guys to sit down and come up with a world-class programme.

You’ll come up with the budget; you’ll come up with the best songs, the best beat.

You’ll come up with the best anybody has ever seen at this Guyana Night… What I want is a stage that sells Guyana, promotes Guyana, promotes you and advances your careers,” the President stated.

For that event, Government will set aside $10 million for the production, and will also look to incorporate the Private Sector.

The revenue that is garnered from this event, the President said, will go back to the performers and the industry.

He said, “We must have the type of talent that we could go on a Regional Night and we can dominate. We’re not going as a sideshow. We are not going as an add-on, we must go there to blow people’s minds with our performance. That is the type of attitude we will develop.”

According to the Head of State, once this is done right, the ‘Guyana Night’ performances will be packaged and sent to every network across the Caribbean to be broadcast.

“We’re gonna send this across every single network

in the region, and then we are going to build this unique ‘One Guyana’ platform, and we’re going to work ongoing in the Diaspora. We’re gonna work with the Diaspora in taking this platform to London, taking this platform to the US, taking this platform to Toronto, taking it to Miami, and taking it to the

Caribbean. But the platform must be so powerful that people want it,” he asserted.

President Ali said he wants to build a unique Guyanese entertainment product. To this end, he announced during Wednesday’s engagement the development of an action plan that would target every category of the

local entertainment industry and unearth talent nationwide.

Already, he noted that he has been lobbying regional Heads and artistes to help promote local talents. This includes an exchange programme with Barbados.

“Over the weekend, I was in Barbados for one day to have some meetings with Prime Minister [Mia] Mottley, and I said to her, ‘I would like us to have an artiste exchange. ‘You give me an opportunity to put my artiste on your stage at Crop Over or any national event, and I’ll give you an opportunity to put your artiste on my stage’. And it was an overwhelming response from her.

I believe that once you get an opportunity to go on a stage where you have thousands of tourists at Crop Over, it will give you the opportunity you need [to propel to higher heights],” the President posTURN TO PAGE 12 ited.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 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

Drug Offenders’ Court

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ith the support of various stakeholders, Guyana, in 2019, set up a Drug Treatment Court to cater for rehabilitation of drug offenders, providing them with an opportunity to fix their lives and return to a state in which they can be valuable members of their communities again.

The court features a drug treatment team that include Magistrates, State Counsels, a legal aid attorney, and a probation officer. In explaining how it works, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, had related that offenders would get to choose to do community service or enter a drug rehabilitation programme.

She noted that participants first have to sign an agreement which binds them to follow certain rules, including regular attendance of the programme, and submitting to random drug testing etc.

Once the offender goes to the court and the offender pleads guilty, or is found guilty by the Magistrate, that offender is provided with the option to accept a custodial sentence or to enter a treatment programme which the Drug Court provides, as an alternative to incarceration.

It was also explained that the programme would provide treatment tailored to the needs of the participants, and would work alongside key organisations to ensure its success. Some of the key interventions would be educational sessions, oneto-one counselling, group counselling, treatment recovery plan, reintegration, post-graduation plans.

As stated in a previous editorial, court-supervised treatment of certain types of drug-dependent offenders as an alternative to incarceration is a concept that has proven its value across different cultures as a means of reducing crime, reducing repeat offences, reducing relapse into drug use, and reducing the prison population. Jamaica recognised this in 1999 with the passage of the Drug Court (Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act and the establishment of two Drug Treatment Courts in the country, which have proven to be effective.

Drug-dependence is partly regarded as a disease, and should be treated as such. Treatment of the disease is important, since leaving it untreated almost guarantees that the drug-dependent person would relapse into drug use. Further, not only would it result in the drug-dependentoffenders re-offending, it would certainly lead them to commit other crimes in order to feed their drug habits.

In many Caribbean territories, especially Guyana, there is a high proportion of prisoners incarcerated for drug-related crimes. While it is still difficult to quantify the drugs/crime relationship, there is sufficient evidence to connect drug users to crime and lack of citizens’ security.

It is well known that the cost of drug abuse and related problems to our society is very significant. These costs lie in law enforcement actions against drug traffickers and street dealers. The costs to the health and welfare systems are also believed to be very high, as various studies on the subject show that drug abuse places significant additional strains on already overburdened healthcare systems.

Many experts have concluded that jailing offenders does not help them in any way, but rather pushes them to graduate into “bigger things”.

It should be mentioned that the heart of the success of Drug Treatment Courts is the combination of treatment with judicial supervision and oversight. Without treatment, there is no Drug Treatment Court. And without the power of the bench, the offender’s adherence to an often-lengthy course of drug treatment would probably be much harder. Drug treatment and the justice system therefore go hand-in-hand.

We are not saying that Drug Treatment Courts are the magic bullet that would help all drug-dependent offenders, but certainly this approach offers a way out of the cycle of drugs and crime. It is one sure way of addressing drug addiction and crime in our communities, as a new system which provides rehabilitative services to offenders, rather than have them incarcerated — which does not help in any way.

The Orinduik Falls is found on the border of Brazil and Guyana. This is another entry in the Ministry of Tourism's “Snap and Share” competition in observance of Guyana 56th Independence Anniversary (Aryan Raywat photo)

The APA does not speak for Indigenous people of Guyana – (Part 2)

Dear Editor, LCDS 2030 was officially launched in October 2021

by H.E President Ally. The President, at the launch, highlighted that the document would be open for public comments and consultation. The LCDS states LCDS 2030 Draft for consultation. The document can be found on the LCDS website www.lcds.gov.gy. We lived in the age of technology.

The MSSC was then resuscitated in December 2021, with the first meeting being held in February 2022, where a broad cross-section of civil society organisations, Private Sector organisations, ALL of the Amerindian/Indigenous NGOs, Government, etc were invited to nominate representatives for the newly formed MSSC. Terms of reference were prepared and circulated well in advance (December 2021).

Representatives were given adequate notice and opportunity to give comments and participate in the process of the setting up of the MSSC. Nothing can be more transparent than this.

Low and behold, the APA was represented by Ms. Laura George, and has been at every meeting. This was a welcome sign of the APA’s willingness to participate in a national process and strategy document. Copies of the LCDS were also given to all

members.

Then came the national consultation. The MSSC members were presented with a very detailed consultation plan and strategy for the LCDS at the very first meeting. A consultation committee was set up, of which Ms. George was a member, and participated in fine-tuning the consultation plan and strategy.

Consultation on the LCDS

National consultations have been held in all of the administrative regions of Guyana, from Region 1 in the Northwest to Region 10 in Upper Demerara. At the time of the formation of the MSSC, COVID restrictions were still in place, and hence most of the consultations were done online via zoom; however, once the Government lifted the COVID restrictions, in-person consultation took place nationwide, and is still continuing. Hundreds of communities across all ten regions were consulted, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, Private Sector, NGOs, civil society, academic institutions, bankers, youths, Government Ministries and organs, international community, donors, chamber of commerce, municipalities, Local Democratic Organs, regional administration, village leaders, religious community, and the general public at large.

Numerous sessions were held, covering thousands of Guyanese across the length and breadth of Guyana. In Regions 7 and 8, and to some extent Region 1, where APA communities are dominant, hundreds of communities were represented at consultation sessions. I can attest to this, since I was personally present at some of these sessions Region 1: Sacred Heart, St Dominic, Aruka Mouth, Arukamai, Aruau, Hobedia, Hotoquai, Lower Kaituma, Barima/Kariabo, Black Water Savannah, Lower Kariabo, Red Hill, Baracina, Wauna, Canal Bank, Tobago, Wanaina, Hosororo, Koberimo, Khan's Ville/Hill, Hobo Hill, Thomas Hill, Barabina, Mabaruma, Matthew's Ridge, Arakaka, One Mile, Baramita, Eclipse Falls, 4 Miles, Oronoque, Citrus Grove, Sebai, Fitzburg, and Port Kaituma, Lower Black Water and others.

Region 7: Quebanang, Phillipai, Wayala Yeng, Amokokopai, Kako, Warawatta, Waramadong, Paruima, Omenaik, and Kambaru Jawalla and other villages.

Region 8: Mountain Foot, Chung Mouth, Kanapang, Penak, Itabac, Kurukabaru, Kamana, Waipa, Sand Hills, Catchcow, Kaibarupai, Kato, Karisparu, Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek, Tuseneng, Taruka Chenapou,

Campbelltown, and Mahdia, etc.

Region 9: Fly Hill, Fairview Surama, Wowetta, Kwatamang, Rupertee, Annai Central, Apoteri, Rewa, Yakarinta, Massara, Kwaimatta, Anaruputa, Toka, Yupukari, Quatata, Kaicumbay, Katoka, Semonie, Crash Water South Rupununi District Council, Sustainable Wildlife Management Project, Sand Creek, Potarinau, Kraudanarau, Maruranau, Aishalton, Quiko, Shea, Baitoon, Achiwib, Sawarenau, Rupanau, Shulinab, and Parikarainau.

At these sessions, the documents are sent in before, shared out at the sessions, made available after on the LCDS website. Nearly all Guyanese have a cell phone, internet facilities are available in many, and most hinterland communities indicated that their comments can be made on the website as well through the LCDS email address, thus there is no shortage on the medium of communication and consultation. As noted in the document, this is a draft for consultation. As I have witnessed first-hand, at no time did anyone ask for villages and communities to endorse the document, as claimed in the APA article; this is a big falsehood.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

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Timely cost-of-living relief On the horror… interventions welcome Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party Civic, in yet another welcome move, has intervened to provide another series of much-needed support for the citizens of this country, in keeping with its manifesto promises, its developmental agenda, and to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.

One such intervention is to the benefit of the mining sector. It is a known fact that the mining sector has suffered tremendously under the corrupt and incompetent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change Administration.

That administration placed significant hardships on the lives and livelihoods of the miners, and disrupted

the industry through heavy taxation and mismanagement.

In 2020, the PPP/C, in its emergency budget, offered several tax reliefs to the mining sector, with the removal of VAT on machinery equipment and hinterland travel. Due to those interventions, gold production increased in 2021, and the sector remained lucrative.

Yesterday’s intervention by our Government will significantly benefit miners and the mining sector, returning much-need resources to the mining community.

While speaking with members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) yes-

terday, the Vice President of Guyana made these almost charismatic announcements. The relief measures - such as the reduction of the final tax from 3.5% to 2.5%; the removal of VAT on lubricating oil, which consequently would benefit all the productive sectors of the country; and the removal of the 10% tributors’ tax - altogether represent close to 2 billion dollars in support to the mining industry.

In less than two years, this nation has witnessed a gross difference in the style of governance.

Under the Dr. Ifraan Ali Administration, Guyanese are now better off than before. The country is at ease, and the Government has won the support of

The APA does not speak...

The APA cannot produce a single shred of evidence to verify that Indigenous people have been asked to endorse the LCDS at these sessions, or that they have not gotten copies of the document, or their comments are not being considered.

On the subject of translation, the APA makes lots of false claims in its article, but let the APA produce evidence of how many living Indigenous persons are unable to listen and understand our mother language, as the vast majority of Amerindian Peoples communicate in English.

Even the APA rep on the MSSC, Ms. George, agrees that it makes no sense translating the whole LCDS document. Also, not all Indigenous languages are written, some are just spoken; so, in those cases, translation is done on site at the session. From what I witnessed, this was an expressed preference by the Indigenous peoples at the LCDS sessions held.

Ironically, at the early stages of the planning process for LCDS consultations, the APA volunteered to assist in preparing community-friendly materials for sessions. They failed to deliver, as there was not a single piece of material that they proffered, and, worse yet, they attended not a single session. How can they boldly claim to be in the best position to offer criticism of consultation sessions? They attended none.

The LCDS represents a modern vision for Guyana, and certainly a model for the international transformation along a low carbon path. The

world is seeking to cut emissions and invest along a low carbon path. Across the length and breadth of Guyana, the LCDS 2030 has been widely hailed as a visionary strategy for a modern Guyana and a lesson for the international community. It therefore boggles the mind as to why the APA would want to derail such a national and certainly an internationally impactful programme.

What rights are being violated, and where was the FPIC all these years? During the previous administration, the then President Granger announced that he is committing two million acres to the Protected Area. Inevitably, those two million acres would have cut across many hinterland and Indigenous communities. The question for APA is: Were they consulted by President Granger or the APNU/AFC? Where was FPIC then? The answer is a big NO. Were the rights of Indigenous people violated?

The APA has always been anti- PPP, and has been stirring the pot with its lies during the previous PPP Administration, and are again trying to stir the pot and mislead the international community, donor stakeholders, and certainly trying to derail the LCDS financing which Guyana is pursuing to bring tremendous benefits to all Guyanese. The LCDS document itself has a provision that 15% of Guyana's earning from the carbon credit programme would go towards Indigenous people Amerindian Development for every year and for all years.

By population and Indigenous occupation of communities, it is well below this 15%, closer to 10% in population and 13% in lands, thus an allocation of 15% for Amerindian Development presents a sound and equitable model for development at Indigenous village level, and a lasting opportunity for sustainable financing to protect forests and sustain livelihoods. Many countries across the world, even right in the Caribbean region, have make a decision not to segment lands separately for Indigenous communities and people.

The forest is a patrimony of all Guyanese, and the policy of this Government has been one of transparency and inclusiveness. Hence benefits

the nation. This latest intervention signifies the ease-of-living that is associated with the People’s Progressive Party Civic and its people-oriented policies and initiatives.

The people of Guyana welcome this timely intervention by our Government.

Since taking office in 2020, the PPPC Government has introduced numerous measures that have placed tremendous ease on the people of this country, removing several burdens.

As a Guyanese, I applaud the PPPC Government and its efforts to improve the lives and standard of living of Guyanese.

Regards, Thomas Cole FROM PAGE 4

that can be accrued at a national scale, it's the prerogative of the democratically elected Government to make that call consistent with the Constitution and all national applicable laws, and not segment and divide this economy to the detriment of any group of stakeholders.

I am calling on all Guyanese, the international community, the ART Secretariat, buyers of carbon credits to reject the APA's claims on consultations and matters of Indigenous people's right. Their claims are baseless, and their motives are questionable, to say the least.

Dear Editor, Over the years, I’ve been lucky to see videos of citizens expressing their dissatisfaction towards members of the Guyana Police Force whilst the Police are executing their duties, and as each video emanates, you also see the anger of the perpetrators also evolve, and sometimes with encouragement from onlookers.

Some of those videos showed altercations with people under the influence, and some people were seemingly just frustrated. The latest video of the Police who was physically assaulted on Tuesday, May 31, is pretty much horrific to see the officer falling and stumbling. Added to that, listening to the onlookers, one could safely say that they are quite pleased with the way the officer was dealt with.

Editor, over the years, I’ve repeatedly written that the officers need better training and projects to help them interact with the public. We have grown accustomed to waiting for disaster to strike and then rushing to the drawing board, instead of finding preventative measures. It’s no secret

that many officers’ actions towards dealing with the public are questionable, and society would not sit idly by and allow advantage to consciously be taken.

In rare cases, you will hear of an officer being penalised for his/her action, and sometimes justice is not being served to satisfy the victimised, thus anger spreads and builds up. Again, with the newfound wealth and attention being given to Guyana, it’s already started attracting people from all over the world, and some of these countries have high crime rates.

Trinidad is such an example, and without any proper mechanism in place, no doubt the foreigners will get a listening ear to share their knowledge/experience. What sort of training do the members of the Police Force have? Their own colleague seems to be seriously injured, and he was left alone to walk, stumble and fall. We have a long way to go, when will we start?

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Sincerely, Peter Persaud

THURSDAY, JUNE 02, 2022

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Foundation

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Spacing out is good The Venn diagram shows the number of Grade 6 pupils who play Dominoes, Cricket and Football. Study the Venn diagram, then answer Question 4.

National Grade Six Assessment 2008, Mathematics Paper 2

National Grade Six Assessment 2009, English Language Paper 2

One of the most impactful learning strategies is “distributed practice”— spacing out your studying over several short periods of time over several days and weeks (Newport, 2007). You will learn the information more deeply and retain much more for the long term – which will help you excel. The important thing is how you use your study time, not how long you study.

Long study sessions lead to a lack of concentration and thus a lack of learning and retention.

In order to spread out studying over short periods of time across several days and weeks, you need control over your schedule.

With only one month left before the National Grade Six Assessment, you must make a study plan, if you have not already, to revise thoroughly and PRACTISE LOT OF QUESTIONS to gain clarity over the concepts.

Spend 20-30 minutes at a time actively studying each subject. Thus, your studying time may still be the same length, but rather than only preparing for one class, you will be preparing for all of your classes in short stretches.

This will help focus, stay on top of your work, and retain information.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We cannot allow Norton to ridicule appointment of Commissions” – AG Nandlall ...assures Govt will continue to follow due constitutional process

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has contended that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will not allow Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to ridicule the appointment process of the various Service Commissions to fit his own agenda.

“We cannot wait (to make these appointments).

Judges have to be appointed, teachers have to be promoted, Police [have to be promoted]; important decisions have to be made… We cannot allow Mr Norton to ridicule this process and reduce it to one of the ego-centricities that he seems to be engaged in the public domain,” Nandlall stated during this week’s episode of his programme – Issues in the News.

His comment comes on the heels of Norton threatening legal action to challenge the recent appointments of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Integrity Commission on Tuesday.

President Dr Irfaan Ali went ahead and swore in the members of these two Commissions after the Opposition Leader had failed to show up for a second meeting with the Head of State on Monday, citing that he was busy.

According to Nandlall, Norton has displayed a lack of understanding of the importance of these appointments, as well as the role of his office. “[Norton’s] busyness is more important than advancing the cause of hundreds of Police officers whose welfare are affected by a Commission that is not appointed. But he doesn’t see that. It is clear that he is way over his head when it comes to this role as Leader of the Opposition. I get the clear impression that Mr

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Norton has not yet come to grips with the importance of the office…I don’t think he’s gotten accustomed to the environment, and certainly he’s not prepared, from his own actions, to discharge the functions of that high office in the manner contemplated by the Constitution,” the Attorney General posited.

He further reassured that the Government and President Ali have complied with the provisions of the Constitution in relation to the appointments made on Tuesday, and will continue to do so with other similar appointments.

“No one will hold our Government at ransom and try to bully…and behave in any way that is contumacious and contemptuous either of our Government or the important constitutional processes. That will not be tolerated.

Every effort will continue to be made to engage Mr Norton in compliance with the Constitution. Wherever Mr Norton is unwilling to engage, the process will be proceeded with in accordance with the Constitution.

The Constitution nor the law will ever contemplate a situation where the entire rule of law will be held

to ransom because you have a recalcitrant or delinquent Leader of the Opposition, who refuses to consult. It can never be that important appointments cannot be made because one person, who is the subject of consultations and who is to participate in the consultations, unreasonably refuses to discharge his constitutional role. The Constitution itself will not be compromised or sabotaged in that way,” the Legal Affairs Minister contended.

On May 13, President

Ali and Norton met for the first time and agreed to consult on the appointments of the PSC, Integrity Commission, Teaching Service Commission, and the Judicial Service Commission in keeping with the Constitution, which stipulates that “meaningful consultation” be held on these appointments.

With regard to the PSC, the National Assembly approved the appointments, and the President and the Opposition Leader were required to consult on selecting the Chairman from among the names submitted.

President Ali has already made it clear that the development of the country will not be held hostage by political objects. On Monday, he had labelled the Opposition Leader’ actions to skip the meeting that day as “immature”.

The Head of State explained that all the information, including the CVs of the 14 nominees, were provided to Norton upon his request prior to, and during, their first meeting.

“On May 27, I then in-

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

vited the Leader of the Opposition to the second physical meeting. We received no response, nor objections to the CVs. Then, at 2:25 PM, fifteen minutes after our scheduled meeting, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs received a letter from the Opposition Leader saying just one thing. The President should tell him the grounds on which he makes the appointments,” the President recalled.

The new members of the PSC, who were sworn in on Tuesday, are: Attorney-atLaw Lloyd Mark Conway,

businessman Ernesto Chooa-Fat, and Pastor Patrick Findlay, who will serve as Chairman.

Businessman Hakeem Mohammed, who was also appointed to the commission, will be sworn in at a later date.

Meanwhile, the Integrity Service Commission has Demerara Bank Corporate Secretary Chandra Gajraj as its Chairperson; along with Attorney-at-Law Mohamed Haniff and former Solicitor General Kim Kyte-Thomas, Hardesh Tiwari and Wayne Chris Bowman as members.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

"Trini" handed life sentence for murder of agriculturalist

Dead: Anthony Breedy

T

wenty-five-year-old Keino Corbin, a father of two, who pleaded guilty to killing remigrant Agriculturalist Anthony Breedy, was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Demerara High Court.

Upon imposing the custodial sentence, the Judge informed the confessed killer that he would become eligible for parole after serving 11 years, nine months and 20 days of that sentence.

She told him that this does not mean he would be automatically released from prison when that period elapses; but, rather, he has to convince the Parole Board that he is ready for reintegration into society.

Corbin, formerly of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was indicted for the capital offence of murder in April, and pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that he murdered the 60-year-old Breedy between March 12 and 14, 2016 during the course/furtherance of a robbery.

He had been further remanded to prison pending a sentencing hearing.

Police have said that

the body of Breedy, a farmer of Hill Foot, SoesdykeLinden Highway, who had lived alone, was found in the lower flat of his home at about 11:00h on March 14, 2016. His body, found with his hands and feet tied, bore multiple injuries to the head.

A Police report said that the upper flat of the man’s home had been ransacked.

His cause of death was given as asphyxia due to manual strangulation, compounded by multiple blunt traumas to the head.

During Corbin’s sentencing hearing, a probation officer who had interviewed him said that he had expressed regret and remorse for his actions, and was begging the family of the deceased Anthony Breedy for forgiveness.

“I am begging for another chance to go out into society and show them that I am a changed person. I does always regret what transpired, because I’m not that kind of person,” Corbin had said when given a chance to address the court virtually from prison.

According to the probation officer, persons in Corbin’s community had described him as a quiet young man, but lamented that he associated with young men of questionable character.

The court heard that Corbin had spent most of his life in Trinidad and Tobago, where his two children are currently residing. Upon his return to his homeland in 2015, he began working at a hardware store.

He was also described as being gifted with his hands, since he is skilled at fixing things. Prison officials had nothing bad to say about him, describing him as a compliant and disciplined inmate.

During his time in jail, Corbin, who had dropped

T Jailed: Keino Corbin

Murder accused Donnel Trapp

out of high school, had attended anger management and leather craft classes.

Breedy’s older brother, in a victim impact statement, had noted that his family is still trying to come to grips with their loved one’s untimely demise. The man said that his brother, who returned home from Montserrat upon retirement, was loved by everyone. He said that Corbin robbed his brother of life, and shattered his dreams of enjoying his retirement.

For her part, Justice Barlow, in arriving at an appropriate sentence, weighed the aggravating and mitigating factors and the circumstances of the case.

Although the maximum sentence for this category of murder is death, Justice Barlow explained, she would not impose such a sentence, because the convict has been taking steps to better himself.

In the end, she sentenced him to life imprisonment, and ordered that he becomes eligible for parole only after serving 11 years, nine months and 20 days of that sentence. The Judge also ordered that Corbin is to continue participating in

courses offered by the prison. She also advised Corbin that, upon his release from prison, he should stay away from bad company.

Corbin was represented by defence counsel Ravindra Mohabir, while State Counsel Latifah Elliott had appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

Trapp’s father is currently incarcerated in Trinidad and Tobago for his wife’s murder.

Another man, Donell Trapp, also known as ‘Shortman’, 26, is currently on remand, awaiting a retrial for Breedy’s murder. His first trial, which concluded earlier this month, ended in a hung jury, after the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

In 2016, Corbin, Trapp and Paul Gorriah were jointly charged with the pensioner’s murder.

State Counsel Latifah Elliott said that, under caution, Corbin admitted to being part of a gang of men that broke into Breedy’s house. He also confessed to hitting the man in the face with a concrete block, before helping his accomplices to tie him up, the prosecutor added.

Missing pieces of evidence stall hearing of rape appeal M

issing pieces of the notes of evidence have been stalling the hearing of pensioner Michael Abrams’s appeal against his convictions and two life sentences for raping a six-year-old girl.

During a case management hearing on Monday, the Court of Appeal instructed Abrams’s lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP), Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien, to work together so that there can be a holistic approach to settling the record of appeal.

The parties have been given until June 14 to communicate their progress, if any, to the Registrar of the Supreme Court of

Judicature, Sueanna Lovell.

Thereafter, the Appellate Court would set a date to hear arguments in the matter.

The issue with the record has been ongoing for quite some time. In fact, when the matter was first called in August 2021, Hanoman complained of the missing notes of evidence, prompting the court to order the prosecution to make efforts at retrieving them.

Hanoman had previously contended that his client’s case would be severely hampered if the missing records are not located. He had noted that this would not only be unfair to his client, but it would also be prejudicial.

According to Hanoman,

Politics...

Rape convict Michael Abrams

the missing record includes information from a voir dire,

the evidence-in-chief of the complainant, pieces of her cross-examination, as well as the trial Judge’s summation to the jury.

The three-judge Bench comprises Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

Back in 2017, Abrams was convicted of two counts of child rape by a 12-member jury. Both verdicts were unanimous. The first count for which Abrams was found guilty occurred at sometime between January 1 and 19, 2016, and the second count occurred on January 19, 2016.

TURN TO PAGE 11

…and realpolitik

he first bit of poetry your Eyewitness learnt was actually a “nursery rhyme”, but he remembers it as oh so violent, thank you!! “Piggy on the train line picking up stones/up came an engine and MASHED piggy bones/Oh said Piggy, that’s not fair!!/ Oh said the engine, I don’t care!!” The lesson your (young) Eyewitness learned was later (in his readings!!) summarised by Thucydides, the Ancient Greek historian: "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must".

The thought came to his mind when he read that Ralph Gonzales, PM of St Vincent, just informed the Americans that his country (150sq miles and population 110,000) was declining the invitation to their “Summit of the Americas”.

While your Eyewitness thinks Ralph didn’t actually spell it out, we can assume the Yanks know he’s protesting their exclusion of lefties Cuba, Nicaragua and a Venezuela from the Summit.

If the Americans bother to change Ralph’s mind, the conversion might go somewhat along the lines of the super power of the Greek Era (Athens) in their fight with the other Sparta with a pipsqueak state Melos, who wanted to stay neutral. It’s told by Thucydides.

The Athenians offer the Melians an ultimatum: surrender and pay tribute to Athens, or be destroyed. The Melians argue that they’re a neutral city and not an enemy, so Athens has no need to conquer them. The Athenians counter that if they accept Melos's neutrality and independence, they would look weak: Their subjects would think that they left Melos alone because they were not strong enough to conquer it.

The Melians argue that an invasion will alarm the other neutral Greek states, who will become hostile to Athens for fear of being invaded themselves. The Athenians counter that the other Greek states on the mainland are unlikely to act this way, because they are free and independent, and thus loath to take up arms against Athens. What worries Athens is potential rebellions in its empire from disgruntled peoples it has already conquered, including islands that would threaten its dominance of the seas. Conquering Melos will demonstrate Athens's strength and discourage rebellions.

The Melians argue that it would be shameful and cowardly of them to submit without a fight. The Athenians counter that the Melians are not facing a fair fight, and if the Melians lose, they will suffer not mere shame, but annihilation.

The Melians argue that though the Athenians are far stronger, there is still a chance that the Melians could win, and they will regret not trying their luck. The Athenians counter that the Melians should not indulge in hope when their odds of winning are so evidently faint, and the consequences of defeat so terrible. If the Melians resist, they will likely lose and come to bitterly regret their irrational optimism.

…realpolitik (continued) The Melians argue that they would have the assistance of the gods, because their position is morally just. The Athenians counter that the gods would not intervene because it is the natural order of things for the strong to dominate the weak.

The Melians argue that their Spartan kin will come to their defence. The Athenians counter that the Spartans don't have enough at stake in Melos to risk an intervention, noting that Athens has the stronger navy.

The Athenians express their shock at the Melians' lack of realism. They reiterate that there is no shame in submitting to an overwhelmingly stronger enemy, especially one who is offering reasonable terms. The Melians do not change their minds, and politely dismiss the envoys.

The Melians were defeated and surrendered. The Athenians executed the adult men, and sold the women and children into slavery. They then settled 500 of their own colonists on the island. …and Guyana’s response Guyana, unlike St Vincent, quickly said they would be attending the Summit. This, of course, was totally against the “principled” stance taken by their founder Cheddi Jagan when he placed “The West on Trial”!!

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

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Protection for small miners will be addressed – VP Jagdeo ...promises to take issues affecting mining industry to Ccabinet

M

aking it clear that the administration sees protecting small miners from being bullied by larger concession holders as an important issue, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has committed to taking the matters affecting the sector before cabinet, once those matters are captured in report form.

The Vice President gave this assurance during a recent stakeholder session with members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). Other stakeholders, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Commissioner Newell Dennison, were present.

“I would like to see, out of this meeting, maybe a dedicated engagement that you will follow up on all of these matters that deal with GGMC. It has to be a robust engagement, and out of that we want to see a report that I will take to the Cabinet to ensure that a lot of the issues that have been raised, that we try to definitively resolve them,” Vice President Jagdeo has said.

“Because they’ve been festering for a long time, and they must focus on what I said before: Efficient discharge of duty in a fair, impartial manner; and safeguards against capricious acts and corruption. So those would be the terms of reference,” he said.

According to Jagdeo, he wants the report to detail what the Government can do institutionally, as well as monitor the staff members who are deployed into the fields.

Jagdeo also noted the importance of protecting miners. “We have to find a fair way safeguarding people who have mining permits, at the same time ensuring that there is more land and opportunities for small miners, and small miners must also feel like they are an important part of the sector, and treated fairly,” he explained.

“So, some mechanism for doing this (must be found), and I expect that the GGDMA and the large miners would work with us in ensuring that that happens.

You have to have a live-andlet-live philosophy in this industry,” Jagdeo added.

Jagdeo also noted that

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

there are times in the industry when very large mining companies try to force small miners off of their concessions. Jagdeo made an appeal that they can all co-exist, while noting that a mechanism must be found for this to happen: more land to be allocated, and small miners to be better protected.

“Other things have to be done. The roads we will continue. There is a programme

about roads. We’ll have to meet again and talk about how we do roads in the future. And so that will be ongoing. And I hope the current projects, which exceed $2 billion, will be implemented quickly,” he said.

During the meeting, Jagdeo announced close to $2 billion in relief for the mining community in yet another series of Government interventions geared towards providing relief in light of the rise in the cost of living and input costs.

According to Jagdeo, among the measures is the reduction of final tax on the income of miners from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent. He explained that this reduction would put a total of $1.4 billion back into the pockets of miners.

Another decision was to remove the tributors’ tax, which was 10 per cent.

While this was not a manifesto promise, some of the factors that went into this decision were the difficulty in collecting it, and the fact that it would benefit small miners.

Jagdeo further announced the removal of the 14 per cent VAT on lube oil.

According to him, this would be applicable across all in-

dustries.

Jagdeo’s announcements came on the same day that President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the roll-out of a one-off cash grant to the tune of $150,000, which will go to each of the thousands of registered local fisherfolk across the country.

Earlier this month, President Ali had also announced a series of ground-breaking measures, ranging from cash grants to households in hinterland and riverine communities to the provision of free fertilizers for farmers, which are aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

Among the announcements was the distribution of a one-off $25,000 cash grant to every household in the riverine and hinterland communities of the country. This measure, according to Ali, would result in $800 million being pumped into the economy, and would cushion the impacts of the rising cost of living.

10 NEWS Girl, 12, killed by allegedly speeding Police vehicle at Goed Fortuin A THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

student of West Demerara Secondary School was on Wednesday killed after she was run over by a vehicle transporting prisoners along the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Dead is 12-year-old Kayla Barnabas.

Based on reports received, a vehicle had stopped for the young lady to use the pedestrian crossing, but the vehicle attached to the Guyana Police Force bearing registration number GXX 6575, driven by a Police Corporal, reportedly struck the student. From reports received, the vehicle was allegedly speeding at the time.

In a release, the Police stated that

the now-dead child ran from east to west across the road in the path of the pick-up. They added that the driver swerved to avoid a collision, but the front of the vehicle collided with the schoolgirl.

She sustained injuries about her body and was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the vehicle was placed under close arrest.

A breathalyser test was administered to the driver, but there were no traces of alcohol in his system. The Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the accident.

Dead: Kayla Barnabas

Man jailed for 10 months for punching cop in face

Jailed: Seon Prince

S

parendaam Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on Wednesday sentenced Seon Prince to 10 months’ imprisonment for assaulting a Police Sergeant, after Prince admitted to assaulting Police Sergeant

Sergeant Maxwell on the ground during the assault

Maxwell, who was acting in the execution of his duties, on May 31 in an incident

that occurred at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

It has been reported that

Prince is no stranger to law enforcement. In fact, he was previously charged with unlawful wounding in 2014, and theft of a cellular phone in 2017.

On Tuesday, May 31, Sergeant Maxwell and other ranks were on patrol duty when they received a report about alleged damage to property.

They proceeded to the location, where they confronted Prince, told him of the offence committed, and cautioned him. Prince, however, in resisting arrest, cuffed Maxwell several times to his face, causing him to sustain injuries. The entire ordeal was captured in a video that went viral on social media.

Construction worker goes missing after involvement in accident

Missing: Reonol Williams

R

eonol Williams, a 50-year-old construction worker of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has gone missing after he was picked up at an accident scene under the impression that he was going to be taken to a medical facility to receive treatment.

Williams was involved in an accident along the East Coast Demerara public road on Monday, May 23. The driver of the vehicle that was involved in the accident reportedly picked up the injured man and promised to take him to the hospital, but Williams has since not been heard from or seen.

Contacted on Wednesday, June 1, his sister, Sylvie Williams related that she had last seen her brother alive on Sunday, May 22.

However, in the wee hours of May 23, she received information that he was involved in an accident.

She said Williams was hit by a car as he disembarked a taxi.

“According to a person who was at the scene, the car struck him down, and then the same car pick up him, (the driver) claiming that he’s going to the hospital with him,” she said.

The woman related that she and other relatives had gone to check for her brother at the Georgetown Public Hospital, but he was not there. They, however, thought that he had been taken to a private hospital, but after checking all of the private hospitals in

Georgetown, they still could not locate him.

Their only option was to check with the Police, on whether or not they had received any report of the accident.

“The Police said they are investigating it, but I haven’t heard any word from Police to date. I was there Saturday, but I haven’t heard from them since then,” she related. “We are searching for him…up to Wednesday we were in the other village.

We’re searching all around,” she added.

Meanwhile, the man’s brother-in-law, Leslie Kaladin said the car was later found abandoned in another village, and was impounded by Police, and the owner was later arrested.

“The owner of the car got a flimsy story,” Kaladin declared.

He explained that the owner reportedly told Police that he was in the interior at the time of the accident and that on the day in question, one of his nephews was driving the vehicle.

“The Police holding on to the alibi that the nephew was driving the car, and the uncle, who is the owner of the car, don’t even know the nephew’s name, he only knows the nephew by ‘Boy’, he doesn’t know no other name for the nephew,” Kaladin said.

Williams’s family related that the owner of the car was released on bail. The family is now growing frustrated, as members continue to search for the missing man.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt, first Lady collaborate to establish business centre for persons with disabilities

F

irst Lady Arya Ali has been able to raise the sum of just over $13 million through an AllWhite fundraiser event that was recently hosted, and that money will now be used to commence the construction of a business centre for persons with disabilities (PWD) in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In 2020, the First Lady prioritised PWD through her ‘InclusAbility’ initiative, to support their economic and social empowerment, and better integrate them into society. The business centre is the brainchild of the First Lady, who believes that persons with disabilities must be provided with the resources, opportunities, knowledge and skills needed to increase their capacity to

An artist’s impression of the business centre

determine their own future, and fully participate in community life.

“The ability of persons with disabilities to earn a living for themselves, rather than to depend on others for a living, is a cornerstone for their economic empowerment. Experience suggests that the majority of persons with disabilities are unemployed, and often denied employment opportunities even when they have met necessary requirements.

Consequently, they have no stable income, and have to depend on family members, well-wishers, and charity groups for handouts to sustain their livelihood,” the First Lady has shared.

She said that, as a result, the business centre was conceptualised to provide an

opportunity for those individuals to have sustained economic power, in order to meet their essential needs and contribute to community development.

The Government has committed to constructing the facility, which will be located in Region Six, while the Office of the First Lady will be responsible for furnishing the facility, providing start-up capital, and implementing the programme.

The centre will support entrepreneurs and creatives from other regions. It would comprise five workstations that would allow persons to manufacture products ranging from craft items to snacks; provide a retail space for those products to be sold; have a boardroom for meetings and training;

besides a therapy room, a cafeteria, and washrooms.

Construction of this facility is expected to commence within a few months, during which discussions would be had with various groups which represent the disability community to solicit and incorporate their ideas.

It is expected that at least 30 persons with disabilities would gain direct employment in the short term, and another 20 in the medium-to-long-term.

“The plan is to have these persons, some of whom already manufacture high-quality products, be able to increase capacity and readily supply the local and even regional markets,” the First Lady disclosed.

She added that these entrepreneurs would also benefit

from business development training, and can themselves train other persons with disabilities, which would allow them to increase production and increase their market share.

Additionally, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards has been engaged by the Office of the First Lady to monitor and regulate the production of some of the products with the intention of issuing them the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification mark.

The medium-to-longterm plan is to have those products sold online to regional and international customers.

“But this will not just be a centre focused exclusively on making and selling products. Apart from that,

we will want to ensure that these persons benefit from technical training and psychosocial support, so they can be empowered to lead their own lives,” the First Lady has explained.

The First Lady also believes that this move signals Government’s commitment to ensuring ‘One Guyana’ becomes a lived experience for persons who identify with groups that are considered vulnerable, or have historically felt excluded.

“We are not only preaching ‘One Guyana’, we are demonstrating in a tangible way how committed we are to ensuring that Guyanese – regardless of their social, economic, political, ethnic, or even physical differences – benefit from opportunities equitably,” she stated.

Victoria resident charged for Missing pieces of evidence... death of engineer

FROM PAGE 8

F

orty-year-old Stherlinga Gilkes, called “Coconut Man” and “Herby”, a vendor of Lot 35 Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was slapped with a manslaughter charge on Wednesday.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge over the unlawful killing of Neil Rampersaud, 31, an engineer of Phulwari Street, Better Hope, ECD. He was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 after the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied.

Gilkes will return to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on July 8 for reports before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool.

Gilkes, a coconut vendor, was arrested after he fatally stabbed Rampersaud on Sunday.

Rampersaud’s friend, Mohan Panchu, also of Phulwari Street, Better Hope, was also injured.

Stherlinga Gilkes, called “Coconut Man” and “Herby”

They were stabbed on two separate occasions in Better Hope.

It was reported that around 06:35h on Sunday, Gilkes and Panchu had a misunderstanding during which the former armed himself with a metal rod and dealt the latter several stabs about his body.

Shortly after the incident, Rampersaud, who also knew Gilkes, learned of the stabbing and confronted him in the vicinity of Zahora Street, Better Hope,.

The engineer demanded Gilkes turn himself in at the Police station. This resulted in the two men getting into an altercation during which Rampersaud dealt Gilkes two lashes about his body, causing him to receive injuries.

Gilkes, who was armed with a coconut blade at the time, retaliated by stabbing Rampersaud to his upper left side, causing the man severe injuries.

After being stabbed, the injured Rampersaud ran away from his attacker and was subsequently rushed to the Woodlands Hospital in Georgetown. It was reported that while receiving medical treatment, the engineer succumbed to his injuries.

Shortly after the in-

Dead: Neil Rampersaud

cident, Gilkes was arrested by ranks of the Sparendaam Police Station, and was then escorted to the CC Nicholson Hospital at Nabaclis, ECD, where he was treated and handed over to the cops.

Police said the vendor handed over the murder weapon.

During the trial proceedings which were held in-camera, the court had heard the testimony of Abrams inserting his finger into the sixyear-old girl’s vagina, and also of him sodomising her.

Trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall had admonished Abrams for his wrongdoings, telling him, “You say you are a devoted Catholic, I hope you pray to God and ask forgiveness.”

Following the guilty verdicts, Abrams, who had described himself as a “devoted Catholic”, had said that even though the jury “in their wisdom” had found him guilty, he is maintaining his innocence.

“This situation makes me feel sad. I felt like the accused [Abrams] would try to hurt me,” the rape survivor had expressed in a victim impact statement.

For her part, the State Prosecutor had urged the court to impose the maximum sentence on Abrams.

In so doing, she had pointed out that the rape convict had abused his position of trust,

and had violated the child in the worst possible way, shattering her innocence.

From the testimonies presented at trial, Justice Morris-Ramlall said, it was evident that the young girl loved Abrams. The Judge said that Abrams “pretended” to love her, and treated her “like a beast.”

In sentencing the child rapist, the Judge had taken into consideration the aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as the circumstances surrounding the case. In the end, she had sentenced him to serve life imprisonment on each of the two counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Abrams becomes eligible for parole only after serving 35 years in prison.

The convict is asking the Appellate Court to set aside both his sentences and convictions. He argues, inter alia, that the trial Judge failed to adequately put his defence to the jury. This, Abrams contends, amounts to a grave miscarriage of justice.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 2,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MoE hosts consultations with PWD on transforming Guyana’s education sector

Education Minister Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering

T

he Ministry of Education (MoE) on Wednesday continued a series of consultations with stakeholders in the education sector to assess the development of the sector and conceptualise recommendations to enhance its

transformation.

At the Umana Yana, Education Minister Priya Manickchand engaged representatives of persons living with disabilities (PWD) organisations to determine short-, medium-, and longterm measures to provide

quality education to all learners.

She explained that engagements were being held with various groups to determine what initiatives were needed to enhance education delivery, particularly for vulnerable groups.

“We want to make sure that whatever measures we are taking, have taken, or intend to take, are measures that you believe are for your specific community. We want to make sure that whatever we do, is informed by your needs, and what would be responsive to your needs,” Minister Manickchand said.

Wednesday’s exercise was one of many scheduled to take place over the next two weeks as the Education Ministry engaged all stakeholders in education to assess where the Ministry was in the achievement of the

Participants during Wednesday’s session at the Umana Yana

Sustainable Development Goals.

The exercise will reflect on all that has happened

over the last two-and-a-half years, including schools’ closure, measures to ensure school continuity, and plans

to transform education as stated in the Ministry’s Sector Plan and relevant policy documents.

Visually-impaired persons trained to use smart devices

Some visually-impaired persons being enabled to use smart devices

T

he Disabled Peoples Network of Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) has launched an initiative aimed at helping visually impaired persons to become more independent through the use of technology.

The three-month programme, which concluded on Monday, was done in collaboration with the Guyana Council for Persons with Disabilities.

One of the facilitators, Schemona Sugrim, related that the initiative sought to teach visually-impaired persons how to use a smart device.

“When we got here, most of the persons did not know

how to use a smart device, so what we did was to teach them how to use all social media apps, YouTube, to help entertain themselves, and how to make regular phone calls, and this basically helped them to have a sense of independence when it comes to reading their own messages and communication with family and friends,” the facilitator, who is also visually-impaired, stated.

Chairman of the Disabled Peoples Network, Bhoj Seeram, who is also visually-impaired, could not use a mobile phone until recently.

He can now access multiple features on a smart device.

For the first time, he

has been surprising family members when he sends them messages on social media and interacts with them.

Apart from him, some of the participants also told eye-watering stories about their lives prior to knowing how to use a smart device.

Collie Crandon has said that, with the knowledge he gained over the three-month period, he can now teach others to use smart devices. Crandon, who is visually-impaired, couldn’t imagine himself being able to operate a smart device.

“Like the tablet, I can operate any smart device that comes in front of me. It has given me a lot of confidence, and I can teach others now,”

he said.

Abagail YoungHamilton, a mother of four, who lost her vision in 2009, could not have dialled a number on a mobile device.

“Now I could dial. I can answer the phone. This is due to the accessibility and the training that I received,” she disclosed.

She explained that, prior to the programme, she used to depend on her children and husband to move her around, but now she can move on her own. She benefited from the training on how to use a cane. While that aspect of the programme has come to an end, starting in July, visually-impaired persons would be taught how to

Govt announces plan to move local...

He further disclosed that talks were held with soca sensation Machel Montano to also assist with taking Guyanese artistes on the international stage. The Government is working on getting cruise liners to also include local performers in their entertainment programme, he added.

Moreover, among the gamut of ideas the Government is mulling is one to push the entertainment sector to the next lev-

el is investing in the gaps in the industry, to ensure that persons from all genres can thrive, and a special initiative with the Private Sector to raise resources for priority areas.

“All of this is done because we believe strongly in what you have,” President Ali asserted.

As such, he charged the performers to see their importance in promoting social cohesion, while explaining that they will have critical

parts to play in accelerating the ‘One Guyana’ agenda.

During Wednesday’s engagement, after the conversation with the performers, President Ali came up with several initiatives aimed at addressing some of the concerns that were raised. He said that the Government will identify a space in every region of Guyana for the development of the dance industry, as well as arts and culture.

“We are going to find a

building or space in every single region, and we are going to designate it for that…

We’re going to put security there, we’re going to ensure that there are some basic facilities there, so we can develop regional talent,” he said.

The President also proposed for there to be a summer dance programme instituted in every region of the country to target people from all facets of society.

In addition to this, President Ali announced

Visually-impaired persons being taught how to use the cane to walk

use the computer.

This is according to one of the facilitators, Lata Jagmohan. “We will be teaching them how to use the software JAWS,” she said.

Job Access With Speech (JAWS) is a screen reader developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing a screen.

“Almost everything in to-

day’s world is computerized, and so almost everything is documented on your computer. People use soft copies more than hard copies.

So, building that sense of independence would be good for them, and they will not have to depend on someone to send a document or (prepare) a document.”

Also, those who require the skills can be taught how to cook.

FROM PAGE 3

that a National School Choir Championship will be launched in August, and will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

For the technicians specifically, the President noted that he will help to find an institute or an organisation to execute training programmes for engineers and technicians in the industry, especially for sound. He added that

the Government is supposed to receive US$50,000 for the training of technicians in the industry.

“One of the things that we can never fix in this country is sound. Every stage you go on is microphone feedback, and it annoys me. So, we have to fix it,” he posited.

For the vocal artists, the Government will support a consortium of studios that will give access to locals to record and produce their music.

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AFC’s role in the coalition to be discussed at NEC – GS Patterson ...nominations closed; says willing to run for leadership, if nominated

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he way forward for the Alliance For Change (AFC) as a party will be among the key issues discussed during that party’s upcoming National Executive Conference (NEC), which is scheduled for June 11.

This has been confirmed by the party’s incumbent General Secretary, David Patterson, in an interview with this publication. He noted that all nominations closed on Wednesday at 20:00h, and, so far, a large number of nominations has been received.

“All our nominations closed at 8:00 pm today. We had to extend (the time because) the outlying regions were coming in. I think all of them are here, but I’ll have to wait before making that (pronouncement)… There are lots of nominations for all the positions. The AFC has a tradition (in which) every year, all the positions are competed for,” he said.

Patterson has denied that the party would be deciding on whether to split from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), as some reports have indicated. He noted only that the topic of the “way forward” for the party would be discussed. Patterson also made it clear that, if nominated,

AFC General Secretary David Patterson

he would run for leadership.

“The ‘way forward’ document is the way forward for the next two years for the Alliance For Change,” Patterson has explained.

Sources have indicated that that document does address the AFC’s future in the coalition arrangement, and will be deliberated on at the NEC, which is expected to attract hundreds of delegates. The Conference is the highest decision-making forum of that party, and in it delegates vote for persons to fill the executive positions of Leader, Chairman, Deputy Chairman, General

Secretary, and Treasurer.

This is in addition to the election of ten members to represent the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, and four members to represent the diaspora.

Holding of this conference had been deferred last year due to the COVID pandemic, but members of the National Executive Committee agreed in a meeting last month that the National Conference would be held on June 11, 2022.

A hybrid system wherein regional delegates would gather at a central internet-ready location and join the online platform would be employed.

In 2019, Khemraj Ramjattan was declared Leader of the AFC, with Raphael Trotman elected Chairman. Catherine Hughes was returned as the party’s Vice-Chair, while Patterson was elected General Secretary.

A few months ago, People’s National Congress Reform members elected longstanding party stalwart Aubrey Norton as their leader in a landslide win against then Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and Dr Richard Van WestCharles. However, an internal power struggle ensued, and Harmon subsequently

submitted his resignation as an APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) Member of Parliament.

Harmon had previously stepped down as Opposition Leader in January of this year, amid mounting pressure from within the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Following his resignation as an MP, Harmon told a section of the media that he resigned for personal reasons, while adding that he did so in the best interest of the nation, and more so that of the APNU/AFC. PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton, the new Opposition Leader, has a mandate from the PNC Central Executive Committee (CEC) to take up both that position and the position of Representative of the List of Candidates.

The current list representative is former PNCR Leader David Granger.

The AFC had joined hands with the People’s National Congress (PNC)led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections, and the coalition subsequently won. The parties subsequently signed the Cummingsburg Accord, which outlined the parliamentary seats and ministe-

AFC Headquarters

rial portfolios for AFC and APNU members respectively. However, APNU, led by former President David Granger, had been continuously violating the Accord.

The party announced in 2020 that it would be reviewing the Accord. On

December 24, 2019, after much back and forth between APNU and the AFC, a revised Cummingsburg Accord was signed, but the full details were never released to the public.

Deadly Mocha fire…

House had illegal electricity connection – Min Benn

Eight-year-old Timothy and six-year-old Trayshon Kippins, and sister, one-year-old Zhlia Flue

E

ven as Police continue to conduct investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire that claimed the lives of three children at Barnwell North, Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has revealed that the

house in which the children perished had an illegal electricity connection.

This, he related, might have been the reason for the deadly inferno.

After sifting through the debris at the fire scene at Barnwell North, aback Mocha on the East Bank of Demerara, the Fire Service

has concluded that the fire was electrical in origin.

However, the GFS is said to be awaiting test results to definitively confirm this position.

There were doubts about the Fire Service’s reports since, initially, it was claimed that the house had no electricity. There were also suspicions that the former boyfriend of the children’s mother might have started the fire, since he reportedly was abusive and would often threaten to kill her.

However, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn told reporters on Wednesday that the fire was indeed electrical in nature.

“That electricity was being taken from a powerline I guess unauthorised, and the identification by the investigation from the Fire Service experts is that it (fire) was electrical in nature,” he has said.

Minister Benn said more should be done to protect buildings and lives, especially the lives of children around the country.

“Our children are our future, our embodiment, our glorification as individuals, as parents, and as a country. We should develop what

The fire at Barnwell, EBD

we hand over to our children, and what they can further build for our country. So, again, while we talk about the problem, the loss at Mocha, and that area; and while again (we) express publicly our condolences and advise that we’re bringing responses and aid to the families and all those concerns, we have to use that tragedy as a reminder as to what we

need to do to protect the loss of life due to fire.”

Brothers, eight-year-old Timothy and six-year-old Trayshon Kippins, and sister, one-year-old Zhlia Flue, lost their lives in the fire which occurred during the wee hours of May 26.

Tracy Flue, the children’s mother, was pulling a night shift at her security job to make ends meet for her fam-

ily when she received the news that her house was on fire with her three children trapped inside.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was alerted to the fire immediately after it started, and fire tenders were dispatched to the scene.

Firefighters were forced to go to the burning house on foot because the terrain could not afford them to drive.

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$37.8M Fire Station commissioned at Nandy Park – fire hydrants to be installed in G/town, other areas

The Nandy Park Fire Station that was commissioned A student of the neighbouring nursery school cutting the ribbon to officially open the Fire Station

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has officially commissioned a new $37.8 million Fire Station in Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD)on Wednesday.

That Fire Station would provide fire and rescue services to persons living on the East Bank of Demerara from Agricola to Providence, and would lend support to residents of West Demerara.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony for this new Fire Station, Minister Benn said the launching of the Fire Station speaks volumes about the Government’s commitment to developing the country.

“It speaks, too, to the

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

fact that we want to make sure that we optimise on the proper use of taxpayers’

monies. In respect of the capital investment of the PPP/C in Government…it speaks

Guyanese Engineer David Klautky passes on

T

he Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) has said it is saddened by the passing of David Klautky - one of Guyana’s leading Structural Engineers, and someone who had possessed a fine intellect.

David Klautky started his career as a Site Engineer with Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co. Ltd in England, while studying for his Bachelor of Science degree in London.

After being awarded his Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Structural Engineering from The City University in London, United Kingdom, in 1968, for his thesis “Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Laminated Timber Beams”, he worked briefly as a Design Engineer with the consulting engineering firm of Maples, Ridgeway & Partners in London, before he returned to Guyana in 1969 to become a lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Technology of the University of Guyana.

In 1971, he took the bold step of starting his own consulting engineering firm, David Klautky & Associates Ltd., something unheard of at the time, and remained its principal until his passing.

Like many of his fellow engineers of that era, he was

David Klautky

a true nationalist and patriot, and had an unshakeable view of the ability of Guyanese engineers “to do it for ourselves.”

During his long and outstanding career of over five decades, he worked on a number of important projects: the MahaicaMahaicony-Abary (MMA) Agricultural Development Project, the GuyanaSuriname Ferry Project; the design and construction of the Multilateral Schools, and many other schools throughout the country; the New Georgetown Hospital Complex; the Kingston Wing of the Pegasus Hotel; timber double-decker stands

at Bourda; the Banks DIH Housing Scheme at Houston; the Paper Recycling Plant at Farm, EBD; numerous commercial buildings, including the Bank of Baroda, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank, GBTI, the new Lands and Surveys Building in Durban Backlands, and many others.

He was also the Structural Engineer for the plinth of the 1763 Monument.

He designed two 100ft clear-span timber truss hangers for the Guyana Defence Force at Timehri, and for Air Services Ltd at Ogle, engineering feats that have remained unsurpassed to date.

For his service to Guyana in the field of engineering, he was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA).

David Klautky was one of the early and very active members of GAPE. He joined that organisation in 1971, and remained a member throughout his life. He was elevated to the highest category of membership, that of a Fellow of GAPE, in 1983.

While GAPE mourns the loss of David Klautky, it also celebrates his life, and is grateful for the contributions he had made to the development of our country. The organization expresses its sincerest condolences to his family.

to accomplishment, speaks to putting structure, speaks to bringing professional expertise and interests, identifying our ownership of our country”, he said.

He related that it is the intention of the Government to establish throughout the country the ability to respond to the challenges of fire, search and rescue, along with security and safety.

Benn added that there had been challenges at the official level of the GFS, and the attention that is paid at the personal level at homes and businesses, with respect to the question of fire.

“We have the challenges still, of the widespread reach, of the type of service that Fire Service provides to the country. While we celebrate putting places like this and expanding communities with a new Fire Station, we have been working and completing issues in relation to new Fire Stations in the new towns at Lethem, Mabaruma, and Mahdia too”, he explained.

The Minister stated that there should be more sen-

sitivity to fires at the level of the community, and firefighters must be capable of performing their duties. “…the performance of the Fire Service in itself, and their ability in responding is not only with getting a new building, it relates to the engagement and the responsiveness of those who are trained firefighters”.

Minister Benn also highlighted the increase of arson in the country, urging individuals to help the Guyana Fire Service by reporting threats of these cases promptly, and taking safety procedures to avoid fire emergencies.

However, he added that fire hydrants would shortly be installed in various parts of Georgetown and in other parts of the country.

Further, he added that firefighters would be trained to help the GFS become more ready, accountable, capable, and engaged in carrying out its mandate. Once training is completed, EMTs will be stationed at the Nandy Park Fire Station, he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Fire

Officer (CFO) Gregory Wickham, in his address, stated that the Nandy Park Fire Station was built with the number of structures and businesses in the area in mind. According to the CFO, he is pleased that the station is located opposite a school, as it would impact the young minds and encourage children to become firefighters.

He encouraged citizens to call on the Fire Service, and pledged an efficient and professional service.

Government’s plan for the construction of this new Fire Station was disclosed last year by the then Fire Chief, Kalamadeen Edoo, who had noted that the strategic location of the facility has been geared at improving the infrastructural aspect of the Guyana Fire Service.

Construction of the Fire Station began in June 2021, and this station would accommodate two fire tenders and one emergency medical services (EMS) ambulance.

It will serve communities on the EBD, West Coast, and West Bank of Demerara.

Countries in Americas urged to brace selves for seasonal flu, hurricanes

A

s countries of the Americas experience an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has called for additional vigilance as the influenza and hurricane seasons begin.

Over the past week, countries in the Region have reported a 10.4 per cent jump in cases of COVID-19, and a 14 per cent increase in deaths, presenting the “double threat” of a potential influenza surge alongside a rise in COVID-19 cases, PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne said.

Influenza cases have been exceptionally low since COVID-19 began over two years ago, but things have started to change, the Director said during a media briefing Wednesday.

Dr Etienne stated, “The flu virus is circulating again and not just during traditional flu season.”

Mexico and Peru have seen higher numbers of influenza cases than expect-

PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne

ed and Argentina, Chile and Uruguay have reported more hospitalisations than usual.

Cases of respiratory virus in Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic have also spiked among young children.

While most countries have integrated COVID-19 surveillance with efforts to track the influenza virus,

the PAHO Director highlighted that they must build on that capacity “to quickly identify the different respiratory viruses circulating in the Americas”.

She also urged people to ensure they were up to date with the flu vaccine as this reflected the strains circulating now and could provide better protection to all at risk. Influenza vaccination campaigns are important every year, but even more so this year, “as we are facing multiple risks at the same time”, she said.

Dr Etienne also highlighted that while the upcoming influenza season would primarily impact those countries in the southern hemisphere, countries in Central America and the Caribbean must prepare for hurricane season.

“It only takes one massive storm to destroy people’s livelihoods, cripple our health systems, and lead to countless lives lost,” the PAHO Director said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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PSC urges Caricom to re-evaluate CPSO – following Organisation’s visit to Guyana, snubbing of local Private Sector T he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has condemned the recent visit of the Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) to Guyana, during which it did not even seek to meet with the local Private Sector and urged the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to re-evaluate the function of the Organisation.

CPSO officials recently met with President Dr Irfaan Ali. However, these officials did not attempt to meet with the PSC or any other affiliated organisation and while they commended the President for meeting the CPSO, the organisation caught flak for failing

to engage them.

“While the PSC welcomes this high-level meeting and commends His Excellency, the President for his usual handson approach on these matters, the PSC, nonetheless, wishes to register its profound and unreserved disappointment at the CPSO for their failure to engage the PSC, which is the apex Private Sector body in Guyana, or any of the Private Sector bodies in Guyana.

“As such, the PSC condemns in the harshest possible tone, the gross and egregious exhibition of disrespect for the local Private Sector in general, on the part of the

Kitty home burglarised, firearm among items stolen

D

etectives are investigating the alleged break and enter and larceny committed on the property of a 67-yearold woman of Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

The incident occurred between 15:00h on Saturday and 09:00h on Tuesday.

Police stated that a Taurus revolver, one 32inch TV, one stereo set, two portable air conditioning units, two gas cylinders, and one electric drill were allegedly stolen by the perpetrators.

According to information received, the woman secured her home on Saturday and left for Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

and upon her return, she discovered that a glass door located on the eastern side of the house had been pried open.

The woman then made checks in the home during which she discovered that the mentioned articles, including the firearm, which is owned by her husband, was missing.

The Police were contacted and the crime scene was processed. Law enforcement was able to determine that entry and exit were gained from the said glass door. Several persons in the area were questioned but no useful information was obtained.

Investigations are ongoing.

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

CPSO,” the PSC said in its statement.

It pointed out that the CPSO’s lack of engagement with Guyana’s Private Sector dates back to even when several rounds of consultations were being done for the Local Content Act last year. The PSC noted that despite these consultations going on for more than a year, the CPSO never made any contribution to the debate.

“At no point during this period, did the CPSO seek to engage the Guyana Private Sector and at least participate in the consultations in shaping the Local Content Act. They had the option of engaging with the local Private Sector at any time and or submitting any written submissions on their take as regards the Local Content Act at the time, to the relevant authorities. Evidently, they (the CPSO) did neither of this,” the PSC said.

It was pointed out by the PSC that there were still questions regarding the legitimacy of the CPSO and this was highlighted when several Private Sector bodies engaged with the Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown and met with the Caricom Secretary

CPSO officials during their recent meeting with President Dr Irfaan Ali and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

General.

“At that meeting, questions surrounding the legitimacy of the CPSO were highlighted with respect to the institutional composition of the CPSO and its mandate versus the intended institutional composition of the CPSO in terms of how it ought to be and function in the true spirit of the [Revised] Treaty [of Chaguaramas].”

According to the PSC, the membership of the CPSO comprises Private Sector entities operating in the Caricom space, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The CPSO is currently being chaired by the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a Trinidad-based conglomerate.

“It is worthwhile to note that the current institutional composition of the CPSO is not reflective of the entire

Construction of Mara Road resumes …3-member surveillance team established

FROM PAGE 14

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill meeting with residents

ed 100 metres at a time beginning at Germania, a community aback Mara until the roadworks measure one kilometre, an agreement made between the Minister and the villagers on Sunday.

To keep track of the progress of the operation, Minister Edghill formed a three-member committee that is tasked with providing him with a weekly report, along with his engineer’s report.

“This afternoon, I want to put in place a three-person

committee from this group.

On a weekly basis, apart from the reports that I am getting from my engineer, I’ll get reports from the community. So, I’m getting two sets of reports,” the Public Works Minister said.

He added that after both reports were submitted to him, he would make comparisons to see what was actually being done.

The project, which began on March 22, is being executed by the Ministry’s

by Caricom.

“Against these backgrounds, the Private Sector Commission of Guyana wishes to call upon CARICOM once again and by extension the Caricom leadership to re-evaluate the CPSO, its membership composition, institutional structure, and whether in the current dispensation it is genuinely seeking to achieve its mandate in the correct, intended framework and to have the entire Private Sector of Caricom represented.

“To these ends, the PSC strongly recommends that the CPSO get its house in order and put in place a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan with the wider Private Sector of Caricom and not just Guyana, with the view of ensuring the wider memberships of Private Sector are adequately represented at the CPSO level so that it can truly achieve its mandate of regional integration, etc,” PSC further explained.

Countries in Americas...

A

fter construction of the main alignment road at Mara, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was halted for some time, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill visited the construction site on Sunday to facilitate recommencement of the project.

The subsequent discussion with villagers resulted in the end of the construction hiatus and operations resumed on Monday.

The Minister alluded to the construction of the road being halted because villagers were still traversing the road with vehicles. This, he said, prevented the smooth progression of the project.

He added that in order for the road to see completion, drivers in the village must be willing to make a sacrifice and stop traversing the roadway until it is completed.

“With development, we have to make some sacrifices…so, this week, I want the road to start excavating … All the materials are here and we can’t have protests when the road opens, so we come to give notice and get agreement,” he said.

The road will be construct-

Private Sector of Caricom.

Rather, a few large regional conglomerates have arguably hijacked and dominated the CPSO and by virtue of so doing, are unequivocally and predominantly advancing their individual and collective agenda, while marginalising and excluding the wider Private Sector of Caricom.”

“To further substantiate our claims, in our meeting with the Caricom Secretary General, she admitted that not only Guyana’s Private Sector, but she has also received complaints from other organizations outside of Guyana – that is, in other Caricom countries that they have not been engaged to have their interests represented at the CPSO level,” the PSC said.

In view of all these red flags, as well as the fact that the CPSO has been attending meetings of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) when this should be the function of Governments, the PSC urged that a review of CPSO be done

Special Projects Unit. The unit bought some $120 million in materials to complete the works, which will see four miles of road rehabilitation being done, stretching from Germania to Kaiwa.

Since the preparatory works on the shoulders have been done, the road will be excavated, then filled with one foot of sand, six inches of laterite, and four inches of crusher run, and one kilometre of it will be topped with two inches of asphaltic concrete.

And with climate change leading to a rise in the frequency and impact of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods, “we must prepare early so we are not caught off guard”.

While many countries already have national plans for extreme weather events, Dr Etienne urged leaders to ensure these were up to date.

“Countries should have a detailed understanding of their risk areas, and the likely populations and health facilities which could be affected,” she said.

PAHO will continue to support countries to assess risks and addressing vulnerabilities ahead of time. Its SMART hospitals programme, which focuses on the renovation of health centres in areas vulnerable to natural disasters, has also been applied across the Region, helping countries withstand volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and the pandemic.

“Our well-being and that of our societies depend on the resilience of our health systems,” the PAHO Director said. “This is an important les-

son from COVID-19 that we cannot ignore,” and one which will be addressed by Heads of State during the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, starting on June 6.

The Region’s health systems, which are still recovering from the disruptions brought by the pandemic, are not only facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, but are being further tested by the spike in current public health events, including Monkeypox, viral hepatitis, and other respiratory infections, said Dr Etienne.

Urgent investment in health is, therefore “essential to secure everything that we hope for the future of our region: resilience and security, economic prosperity, and the well-being of our people,” she added.

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the Region, all subregions have seen increases in both cases and deaths – with COVID-19 cases in South America rising by 43.1 per cent and deaths by 21.3 per cent in Central America.

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CH&PA receives close to 90 applications for Home Construction Assistance Programme – as initiative taken to Linden on Wednesday R esidents of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) turned out in their numbers at the Watooka Guest House on Wednesday to take advantage of the Government’s Home Construction Assistance Programme.

The programme was conceptualised by President Dr

Irfaan Ali, to provide assistance to Guyanese with Government or private land to access finance to construct their homes.

The initiative was offi-

cially launched on Monday, and already Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal has accepted close to 90 applications.

Minister Croal had stated that the programme was part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s aggressive national housing programme that will see

Guyanese given the opportunity to become homeowners.

In the case of Linden, he noted that the Government was aware of the challeng-

es within the housing sector and as such, steps have been taken to implement initiatives such as the 1000 homes programme to meet the housing needs of the mining town. Additionally, over 300 house lots were allocated to residents in Amelia’s Ward.

“The housing programme that is being implemented in your community will not only provide a safe space for you and your families, it will make for a stronger community, and be a source of employment and entrepreneurship and this, in turn, will drive the overall development of the region,” he told residents.

While the government is pushing its housing programme in communities across the country, simultaneously it is investing billions of dollars to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place within communities.

Under this initiative, applicants can select one

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal addressing Lindeners on Wednesday

of three models of units available: a two-bedroom flat unit costing $7 million, a three-bedroom flat unit (bungalow) for $9 million and a three-bedroom elevated unit for $12 million.

Registration was conducted on the spot by a team

from the Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) along with representatives from the New Building Society (NBS) and Republic Bank Limited who accepted applications for loan processing.

The application process will continue and persons can visit the Linden Regional Office from Monday to Friday during working hours. Persons can also visit the Ministry’s website at www.mohw.gov. gy or www.chpa.gov.gy.

LCDS 2030 a catalyst for wildlife conservation in Guyana – Minister Teixeira

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arliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira, who is performing the functions of Prime Minister, on Wednesday stated that the progressive nature of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 would serve as a catalyst in promoting wildlife conservation in Guyana.

She made these remarks at the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) fifth anniversary ceremony and launch of the domestic wildlife licensing system.

The event was held Wednesday afternoon at the GWCMC office in Ganges Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

During her keynote address, the Minister highlighted the importance of the LCDS 2030 and its connection to the GWCMC’s goals.

“The Low Carbon Development Strategy offers an opportunity for the Wildlife Conservation and Management

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira addressing the gathering

Commission—a greater level of prominence because it is an important component of what we’re talking about…it positions you as a commission in a different way than before,” she said.

Minister Teixeira explained that the LCDS provided an opportunity to develop a strategy towards transformation, environmental protection, low-carbon economic development, and biodiversity.

“I believe the opportunities are here. And it is how creative and innovative we can be in order to use the

Low Carbon Development Strategy and the opportunities it offers to be able to fit the wildlife and conservation management commission into that strategy – into that programme.”

Teixeira also praised the agency for its evolution since its inception as a department tasked with the conservation of wildlife to the GWCMC, as well as the monumental achievement of implementing the domestic wildlife licensing system, which will improve local spotting, identifying, harvesting, capturing, and

Persons viewing an exhibition at the event

trading of wildlife.

“The whole continuum in regards to wildlife, whether it is the licensing, will allow you to improve the way in which you do things. Allow you to track better and to be able to identify where the gaps are in your system and where you need to put further safeguards to ensure that you don’t have a porous system,” she said.

The senior Government official also emphasised the importance of ongoing training for field personnel, as well as teaching and public awareness campaigns by the agency as it advances through channels such as GOAL and other Government-funded scholarship programmes.

Under the Wildlife Conservation and

Management Act of 2016, the GWCMC regulates hunting, trapping, trade, protection, conservation, management, and sustainable use of wildlife, harvesting, and transporting wildlife.

The domestic wildlife licensing system processes extend to both commercial and non-commercial wildlife use.

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3-month-old girl among 3 new COVID-19 deaths recorded G

uyana’s COVID-19 death toll has gone up to 1237 after three more persons, including an infant, died in the past few days after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

The latest fatalities are a three-month-old girl from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died on May 31, as well as a 71-yearold female from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who also died on May 31 and a 41-year-old male from Region Four, who died on May 30. Both adults were unvaccinated at the time of their deaths.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also reported on Wednesday that a whopping 206 new COVID-19 cases were detected within a 24hour period.

These now take the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 64,969.

But only 777 of these are currently active cases, comprising three patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 774 persons in isolation – 26 persons in institutional isolation and the other 748 persons in home isolation.

There are also six other persons in institutional quarantine.

Some 62,955 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus to date – 78 more recoveries than the figure reported the

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 1, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

206

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

26 748

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

3

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

6

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

35,083

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,885

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

64,969

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

62,955

REGION 1

2524

REGION 2

2590

REGION 3

8211

REGION 4

32,296

REGION 5

2425

REGION 6

6031

REGION 7

2433

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4054

REGION 10

3519

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

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

442,212

FULLY IMMUNISED

341,831

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1237

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.

previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total 632,204 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this number, some

29,885 males and 35,083 females were found to be positive.

Of the 206 new cases recorded on Wednesday, one was from Region One (Barima-Waini); 19 from

Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); eight from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 146 cases from Demerara-Mahaica; 12 from Region Five (Mahaica-

manent court to be set up instead.

Chase previously served as Secretary of the Association from 2017 up until 2021 when she assumed the presidency.

The Association also re-elected former President Teni Housty and Jamela A Ali, SC, as Vice Presidents.

They were elected for a second term unopposed.

Keoma D Griffith was elected unopposed as Secretary of the Association for a second term as well.

Meanwhile, Ashley King was re-elected to serve as Assistant Secretary for the next year. Yashmini Singh will serve as Treasurer, replacing Naresh Poonai, who after two consecutive terms in the post, was unavailable for re-election to the current Council.

The Returning Officer, Ron Motilall, also declared six persons duly elected as Council Members, filling the remaining offices on the Bar Council, the executive body of the Association – Robin Stoby, SC; KA Juman Yassin, SC; Kamal Ramkarran; Onassis Granville; Horatio Edmonson, and Donavon Rangiah.

uyana is preparing to ship the first tranche of 15 prefabricated shade houses to Barbados, as part of plans to improve the agriculture sector in that country.

The announcement was made by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during his recent visit to the country, where he participated in the 18th National Agricultural Exhibition (Agro Fest).

As part of the arrangement, 75 houses will be shipped to the island, 50 of which will be purchased by the Barbadian Government, while the remaining 25 will be donated by Guyana.

The houses will be assembled by Barbadian youths who are currently being trained in Guyana in shade house management and development. “…they will be returning here to build shade houses and to manage shade houses and participate in the agriculture process,” President Ali stated.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who accompanied the Head of State to the event, said the initiative was part of an agreement between the two States.

“We are making it pre-

Berbice); 13 from East Berbice-Corentyne; six from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and the remaining one case from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases recorded in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) within the 24-hour reporting period.

Earlier this month, health authorities attributed this rapid increase in COVID-19 cases to the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron strain circulating locally.

After a prolonged period of declining cases, the Guyana Government, back in March, removed 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 those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.

The latest figures show that so far, more than 442,087 or 86.2 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 341,687 or 66.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, just over 34,697 or 47.6 per cent

of them have received their first dose, and of that number, some 25,427, or 34.9 per cent, are fully immunised.

In addition, in excess of 65,284 persons have returned for their third-dose booster shots thus far.

Meanwhile, Government will soon be rolling out the vaccination programme for children between the ages of five and 11 in Guyana with the arrival of 50,000 doses of the vaccine next week – a donation from the Government of Spain.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said this batch of vaccines will cater for 25,000 children. The Government is also expecting a donation of vaccines for this age group through the COVAX mechanism.

According to recent figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO), some 527,603,107 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,290,452 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 157,217,991 while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2,742,878.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, WHO also reported that a total of 11,811,627,599 doses have been administered worldwide.

fab so that when the hurricane season and so come, it will loose easily, and not be destroyed by the hurricane and then it can easily be reassembled,” the Minister said.

According to Mustapha, the Ministry will send technical staff to assist in the assembling of the first set of shade houses.

The initiative is one of the bilateral agreements between Guyana and Barbados, as the two countries accelerate agriculture production to achieve food security.

Already, seven acres of land have been identified in Barbados for the establishment of the GuyanaBarbados food terminal.

Once completed, the facility will accommodate 45 food containers, a cold storage facility, and processing and packaging plants.

Guyana is also setting aside several acres of agricultural land for young people, single women, as well as persons living with disabilities for the development of the black belly sheep project.

Additionally, Guyana will support Barbados with its aquaculture project utilising reservoirs being constructed on the island to aid farmers. President Ali has committed to providing some of the fingerlings for tilapia and tambaqui fish, as well as shrimp which is in high demand on the island.

Talk of the construction of pre-fab houses was first introduced by President Ali last year when he announced the Government’s plans to create 1000 model houses in Silica City, an initiative to establish a modern city in Guyana using mostly local production and labour.

1st set of prefab shade houses Pauline Chase re-elected GBA President for 2nd term to be shipped to Barbados

T

he Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has re-elected Pauline Chase for a second time to serve as its President for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Chase was re-elected unopposed at the GBA’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday.

She is the fourth woman to serve as President of the Association in its 42-year history. Her father, Ashton Chase, OE, SC served as a distinguished Past President of the Association on multiple occasions.

Chase has been in practice for more than 20 years at the Chambers of Ashton Chase Associates, where she specialises in civil law matters, including corporate and constitutional law.

During her last term as President over the past year, the Association held its Inaugural Law Week April 3-9, 2022 under the theme “Advancing the Rule of Law in the New Normal”.

The week of activities represented collaborations with the Caribbean Court of Justice; local Bench and Bar; Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA),

Pauline Chase was reelected GBA President

UK Bar Council inter alia, all geared towards capacity building for members and advancing the rule of law in Guyana.

At the launch of the Law Week, Chase had sounded calls for the confirmation of the Chancellor and Chief Justice posts as well as the reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission. She said the lack of these appointments were “inimical” to the rule of law.

The GBA President had also called for a change in the formula to appoint those two top judicial officers as well as for the end to the assize sessions and for a per-

G

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

Regional

T&T: CWU gets court stay as Biden and Bolsonaro to have wideTSTT plans to cut 468 workers ranging talks at Americas summit

Secretary General Clyde Elder lead union members during a protest outside TSTT House, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain (file photo)

T

he Communication Workers Union (CWU) has obtained a stay on the retrenchment for 468 Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) workers who were given retrenchment notices by the State-owned company Monday.

CWU Secretary General Clyde Elder said the Union sought an injunction after receiving a letter from

TSTT, together with a flash drive containing over 3400 pages of notices to members that they were effectively retrenched from June 1.

He said the Union argued that the move by TSTT was not in compliance with the laws of T&T and with proper industrial relations practices, and that the court agreed just before 20:00h on Tuesday to grant the stay of retrenchment.

Elder said the court set June 14 as the day for the continuation of the hearing on the matter and has advised TSTT that it cannot engage in any retrenchment of members of the bargaining units.

He said the Union’s argument was that according to the Industrial Relations Act, TSTT needed to give 45 days’ notice of retrenchment, adding although the company sought to pay workers for 45 days in lieu of the time period required for the notice, the Union did not accept this to be legal.

“Those acts by the company were illegal, wrong and needed to be challenged and we were able to challenge that successfully,” Elder said.

Elder said the company did not have prior discussions with the union on its decision to pay the workers in lieu of notices. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Chilean activists celebrate apology in forced sterilisation case

T

wo decades ago, Francisca entered a Chilean hospital to give birth to her first child.

The HIV-positive woman was placed under anaesthesia for a Caesarean section, and she delivered a healthy baby boy.

But when she awoke after the operation in 2002, doctors informed Francisca that she would never be able to have another child. Without her consent, they had performed a sterilisation procedure, saying it would be irresponsible for her to have more children because of her HIV status.

Last week, following a

landmark reparations deal that advocates have touted as a considerable step forward in the country, President Gabriel Boric publicly apologised to Francisca at a ceremony in the capital Santiago.

“The State is responsible.

I promise … that we will do better so that this never happens again,” he said.

Under the deal announced last August, the Government agreed to pay Francisca reparations for her ordeal and to work to raise awareness of reproductive justice. Enid Muthoni Ndiga, chief programme officer at the Centre

for Reproductive Rights, a global legal advocacy organisation, said the agreement was “symbolic” on many levels.

“For the first time, the State is actively acknowledging its international obligation, and that Francisca’s rights, as with the rights of many other women, have been violated,” she told Al Jazeera. “This type of mechanism sets standards, not just for Governments in other countries across the Region, but also for other survivors to seek justice.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaica Zoo ordered closed after lion-biting incident

A screen grab of a video showing the zookeeper attempting to pet the lion, who eventually bit off his finger leaving visitors stunned

J

amaica Zoo Attractions Limited, where a worker recently had his finger bitten off by a lion after taunting the animal, has been ordered closed effective June 1, due to several breaches of the environmental permit.

The announcement was made by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) on

Wednesday.

The incident, which went viral on social media, resulted in NEPA, the Veterinary Services Division, and the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) inspecting the facility on Monday, May 20.

According to NEPA, it issued a Notice of Intention to Suspend Jamaica

Zoo Attractions Limited Environmental Permit for the operation of a zoo.

The agency said the Notice of Intention to Suspend identifies breaches of general condition and specific conditions of the environmental permit.

The specific nature of the breaches relates to failure to, among other things: ensure that members of staff handling animals are properly trained; to account for species held and/or filing related reports or notifications; to submit an animal nutrition and welfare programme, and to engage competent technical skill sets to assist with operations.

NEPA said the zoo would remain closed until the company complies with the conditions cited in the notice. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

U

S President Joe Biden’s first formal talks with Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro will cover a wide range of issues when they meet at the Summit of the Americas next week, including food insecurity, climate change and pandemic recovery, the White House said on Wednesday.

Biden’s top Latin America adviser, Juan Gonzalez, confirmed the two would meet in Los Angeles.

Asked if Biden would raise concerns about Bolsonaro’s questioning of Brazil’s voting system, he said only that the United States “does have confidence in Brazil’s electoral institutions which

have proven robust”.

After signalling he might skip the summit, Bolsonaro said last week he would attend and meet Biden on the sidelines, despite what he called a “freeze” in BrazilUS ties since Biden took office in January 2021.

The Brazilian President, a right-wing populist and admirer of former US President Donald Trump, was one of the last world leaders to acknowledge Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat after Trump made false fraud claims.

Bolsonaro has made repeated expressions of doubts about Brazil’s electoral process ahead of October’s elections, with-

out providing evidence.

That has raised concerns he might not accept defeat if he is beaten by leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is leading in opinion polls.

“The issue of the Brazilian elections is really up for the Brazilians to decide,” Gonzalez told a news conference to preview the summit agenda.

He said talks between Biden and Bolsonaro would cover a broad spectrum of bilateral and global issues “given the importance of the US-Brazil relationship”.

“There is a very long list of issues that are going to be up for discussion,” Gonzalez said.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Hurricane Agatha: 11 dead and dozens missing in Mexico

High winds destroyed homes and businesses by the coast

E

leven people are dead and more than 20 missing after Hurricane Agatha struck Oaxaca state in Mexico, the state’s Governor says.

Agatha made landfall on Monday as a category two hurricane, the strongest to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast in the month of May since re-

cords began in 1949.

Heavy rain brought by Agatha triggered landslides and flash flooding.

Most of the victims were swept away by rivers or buried in mudslides.

Agatha arrived on Mexico’s coast near Puerto Ángel with wind gusts of up to 169kilometres per hour

(105 miles per hour), but lost strength as it moved inland.

However, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow and mountainsides to give way. Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat said that at least five people had been swept away by rivers.

Villages in the mountains are amongst those worst hit. The Mayor of Santa Catarina de Xanaguía, which is located at a height of almost 2000 metres (6500 feet), said that “there’s been much destruction”.

“We are cut off, there’s no power, the roads are damaged and several houses have been destroyed,” Mayor Ramos said.

Local media posted pictures of the devastation in mountain villages on social media. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US lifts Cuba flight restrictions imposed under Trump

T

he Administration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday revoked a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba imposed by his predecessor, including ending a prohibition on US airline flights to Cuban airports other than Havana.

The US Transportation Department (USDOT) issued the order at the request of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said the action was “in support of the Cuban people, and in the foreign policy interests of the United States”.

The White House last month had signalled the planned move as part of a broader revision of policy toward Cuba. The flight re-

strictions have been lifted effective immediately.

The Trump Administration had issued a series of aviation restrictions in 2019 and 2020 in a bid to increase US economic pressure on the Cuban Government.

They included barring US carriers from flying to eight international airports in Cuba outside of Havana including those in Camaguey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Manzanillo, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba.

Under President Donald Trump, USDOT imposed a cap on charter flights to Cuba at 3600 per year and later suspended pri-

vate charter flights to Cuba. The department also barred charter to flights to any Cuban airports except Havana.

Then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Cuba “uses tourism and travel funds to finance its abuses and interference in Venezuela. Dictators cannot be allowed to benefit from US travel.”

USDOT under Trump did allow authorised public charters to and from Havana and other authorised charter flights “for emergency medical purposes, search and rescue, and other travel deemed to be in the interest of the United States”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises as EU to phase in Russian oil ban, Shanghai ends lockdown

O

il prices rose on Wednesday after European Union leaders agreed to a phased ban on Russian oil and as China ended its COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, which could bolster demand in an already tight market.

Oil benchmarks have marched steadily higher for several weeks as Russian shipments are squeezed by EU and US sanctions, and as India and China can only buy so much from Russia, the world's largest exporter of crude and fuel.

Brent crude settled at US$116.29 a barrel, a gain of 69 cents, or 0.6 per cent, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 59 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to US$115.26.

EU leaders agreed in principle on Monday to cut 90 per cent of oil imports from Russia by the end of this year, the bloc's toughest sanctions yet since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

"The impact of the sanctions becoming formalised is significant," said Bill Farren-Price, Director at Enverus in London.

"If they achieve near what they’re intending to, Russia is going to lose about three million barrels (in daily exports) and not all of that can be diverted, so it's quite significant."

Sanctions on crude will be phased in over six months and on refined products over eight months. The embargo exempts pipeline oil from Russia as a concession to Hungary and two other landlocked Central European States.

In China, Shanghai's strict COVID-19 lockdown ended on Wednesday after two months, prompting expectations of firmer fuel demand.

Two Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) sources said on Wednesday that members did not discuss the idea of suspending Russia from the current oil supply deal, after the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that such a move was under consideration.

The group is due to meet today to set policy.

The group has been criticised for not boosting output more quickly to deal with rising fuel prices, but Gulf nations have said most members of the cartel do not have the extra capacity to boost output.

"Do you really think (Saudi Arabia is) going to raise a million barrels a day? And if they do, global spare capacity will be under two million bpd," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures.

An OPEC+ technical committee on Wednesday trimmed its forecast for the 2022 oil market surplus by about 500,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd, sources said.

US crude oil production rose in March by more than three per cent to 11.65 million bpd, the highest since November, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

The market edged off the day's highs after the release of the Federal Reserve's anecdotal report on economic conditions in the United States, which reported both increased inflationary pressures and strong demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Health agency confirms community spread of monkeypox in England

M

onkeypox appears to be spreading from person to person in England, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday.

The usually mild viral disease, which is endemic in west and central Africa, is understood to spread through close contact. Until early May, cases rarely cropped up outside Africa and were typically linked to travel to there.

"The current outbreak is the first time that the virus has been passed from person to person in England where travel links to an endemic country have not been identified," the agency said.

According to the UKHSA, the majority of cases in the UK – 132 – are in London,

while 111 cases are known to be in gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Only two cases are in women.

Recent foreign travel to a number of different countries in Europe within 21 days of symptom onset has been reported by 34 confirmed cases, or about 18 per cent of the 190 cases of the disease that have been confirmed by the UK of May 31.

So far, the UKHSA has identified links to gay bars, saunas and the use of dating apps in Britain and abroad.

"Investigations continue, but currently no single factor or exposure that links the cases has been identified," the agency cautioned.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Russians reach centre of Ukrainian industrial city; US to give Kyiv advanced rockets

R

ussian forces fought their way into the centre of Ukraine's industrial city of Sievierodonetsk on Wednesday, edging closer to claiming a big prize in their offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

But in a boost for Ukraine, locked in a grinding struggle against Russia's invading army, the United States announced a new US$700 million weapons package for Kyiv which will include advanced rocket systems capable of hitting targets up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.

Moscow accused the United States of adding "fuel to the fire". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the supply of the rocket launchers raised the risk of a "third country"

A Ukrainian serviceman walks as seeds burn in a grain silo after it was shelled repeatedly, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 31, 2022

being dragged into the conflict.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said Ukraine promised it would not use the systems to hit targets inside Russia. US

President Joe Biden hopes extending Ukraine's artillery reach will help push Moscow to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fourth month.

After days of heavy fight-

ing around Sievierodonetsk, much of which has been laid to waste by Russian bombardments, Russian troops were inching forward through the city streets.

Ukraine says about 70 per cent of the city is under Russian control.

"The enemy has entered the centre of Sievierodonetsk and is trying to take up positions," Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said at a briefing.

If Russia captures the city and its smaller twin Lysychansk on the west bank of the Siverskyi Donets river, it will hold all of Luhansk, one of two provinces in the Donbas that Moscow claims on behalf of separatists. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Legal victory for Johnny Depp after he and Amber Heard found liable for defamation

Amber Heard leaving court on Wednesday after the verdict

A

jury has found both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation in their lawsuits against each other. The jury awarded significantly more damages to Depp, a legal win for the actor.

Depp sued Heard, his exwife, for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse". Though Depp was not named in the article, he claims it cost him lucrative acting roles. Heard countersued her ex-husband for defamation over statements Depp's Attorney made about her abuse claims.

The jury found that Heard defamed Depp in three separate statements in The Washington Post piece, and that Depp defamed Heard with one statement his attorney made.

The jury awarded Depp US$10 million in compensatory damages and US$5 million in punitive damages. The jury awarded Heard US$2 million in compensatory damages and no money for punitive damages.

Depp sought US$50 million in damages and Heard sought US$100 million.

Punitive damages in the state of Virginia are capped

at US$350,000, so the Judge reduced the punitive damages award to that amount.

The verdict is a "tremendous" legal win for Depp and a repudiation for Heard, according to CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson.

"It's a tremendous victory," Jackson said. "What he had to overcome was a First Amendment issue which is that we all have the right to express our thoughts and opinions. What they (the jurors) said was that, yeah, you do have a First Amendment right unless you say something that is false that injures someone's reputation and causes damages to them in their industry."

David Shane, a spokesman for Heard, said she plans to appeal the verdict.

Depp and Heard react to the verdict

Heard kept her eyes down in the courtroom as the verdict was read. Depp was not present in court, but released a statement that said, in part, "the jury gave me my life back".

"From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to

Johnny Depp's Attorneys Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez speak to the media after the verdict was announced

my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me," he said. "I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."

Depp's Attorneys on Wednesday thanked the jury and said "it's time to turn the page and look to the future".

"We are grateful, so grateful, to the jury for their careful deliberation, to the Judge and the court staff who have devoted an enormous amount of time and resources towards this case," Attorney Camille Vasquez told reporters outside court.

Heard said in a statement she was "heartbroken" over the verdict.

"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband," Heard said.

Depp and Heard met in 2009 on the set of their film "The Rum Diary" and were married from 2015-2016 before divorcing.

The trial

In her testimony, Heard said that Depp was verbally and physically abusive during their relationship.

She also accused Depp of sexual violence.

Depp claimed multiple times on the stand that he has never struck a woman, denied Heard's allegation of sexual battery and called himself a victim of domestic abuse by Heard, which she denies.

Attorneys for both Heard and Depp presented during the trial photographs and audio and video recordings to make their cases. One expert, Laurel Anderson, a clinical psychologist who worked with Depp and Heard in 2015 as their marriage counsellor, said in testimony played on April 14 that the pair's relationship had what she characterised as "mutual abuse".

During the trial, Depp's team presented witnesses that included model Kate Moss, with whom he had a relationship previously, and Walter Hamada, the head of DC Films. (CNN and DC Films are both owned by Warner Bros Discovery.)

Actress Ellen Barkin and a number of former Depp associates testified on Heard's behalf.

Heard had notably fewer vocal supporters than Depp in the entertainment business and in and around the courthouse. (CNN)

20

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Rethink your long-term plans. Put together a schedule that will encourage you to incorporate what you enjoy doing into how you earn your living. Take responsibility for your happiness.

(March 21-April 19) Take charge and enforce changes that will make your life and job more manageable. Speak from the heart, address sensitive issues and lay out a strategy that everyone can support.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Give a lot of thought to how you conduct business. Look for options that will attract the help you need from those in critical positions. Build a rapport with people who share your ambitions.

(May 21-June 20) Adjust your schedule to allow you to lend someone a helping hand. The gratitude you receive will set you on a positive path for the remainder of the day. Share what you know and what you have.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Don’t mince words; be direct and follow through with your plan. Wade through your responsibilities with gusto, and you will make a difference. Reveal little about your finances or beliefs.

(July 23-Aug. 22) An open mind will serve you well.

Don’t fear change; embrace what life offers and learn from every experience you encounter. Love and romance are favored. Be true to yourself.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take your time. Don’t feel you must do what everyone else is doing. Look for possibilities; consider what’s required to take the road less traveled. Work quietly on your own.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You’ll be intrigued by what others do or how they react. Make decisions based on your observations; you will discover the best way to use your attributes to get your way.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Explore your options and do the work yourself. Fix up your surroundings and spend more time with someone who inspires you. The hard work you put in will ward off criticism.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take a simple approach when dealing with a friend, relative or peer. Listening and learning what others think and want will help you devise a plan that everyone favors.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Control your emotions, live up to your promises and lay down strict guidelines that help you reach your purpose.

Fulfillment will help clear your head.

Follow your heart and do your own thing.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Initiate a plan that helps you save money. Adjust your budget and lower your overhead. The comfort of financial freedom will help you find peace of mind and personal happiness.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

21

Football’s return to play in Guyana…

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has distributed football equipment, apparel and footballs to participating clubs ahead of the post-COVID relaunch of the GFF Women’s Development League.

The equipment, funded through the GFF’s Members Financial Assistance

Programme (M-FAP), was shared with clubs at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday, May 31.

“We are excited to see the return of women’s football, and eager to ensure that our clubs, coaches, and players have the tools they need to prepare, and

then perform, at their best,” GFF President Wayne Forde has said.

“This Development League is designed to nurture talent and capacity across the country as we transition towards the creation of a full national league,” Forde explained.

The kick-off date for the league, and final details of par-

ticipating teams, will be announced shortly.

The national development competition is supported by UEFA Assist, and through a comprehensive 2019 memorandum of understanding, is aimed at supporting football development, including women’s football, by the Danish Football Association.

Campbelltown Police Youth Group ‘up and running’ … Sports gears among other items donated

T

he Campbelltown Police Youth Group, which was formed about a week ago in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), has benefited from a donation of sports gear, among other items.

The donation, which con-

sisted of cricket, football, and volleyball gears, among other items, was made by Assistant Superintendent Oswald Pitt, Officer-in-Charge of #2 SubDivision, Mahdia, Region 8, on Saturday May 28, 2022.

To make the presenta-

tion, Pitt was accompanied

by Sergeant Asif Hakim, Community Relations Officer and subordinate Officer-inCharge of Regional Police Divisional Headquarters #8; and by Community Relations Representative Constable Chad Munroe.

The items donated were handed over to Campbelltown Village Councillor Juliet Gouveia, and Campbelltown Community Policing Group member Royston Williams.

This donation is expected to aid the youths of the community to be meaningfully occupied, hence bringing togetherness among themselves and building bridges between the

community and the Police.

Speaking with the youths during the donation exercise, Commander Pitt urged them to stay focused and to keep away from bad company. He also urged them to make education their number one priority, and assured them of the Force’s support in ensuring they become good products of their community.

He also spoke of the Force’s commitment in having them, especially those who are to sit the National Grade Six Examinations, benefit from various subject lessons, which will be done by teachers of the community every Saturday.

2022 CARIFTA Games…

JAMAICA U20 WORLD RECORD REJECTED

…JADCO reveals it tested only three members of world-record team, as JAAA plans appeal

T

he Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has admitted that it had tested only three of the four members of the Jamaica Women’s U20 4x100m Relay Team on April 17, 2022, after that team had established the now rejected world record set at the 2022 CARIFTA Games, held at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Garth Gayle, President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), in describing the development as saddening, has indicated that his administration is planning to appeal the World Athletics’ decision to not ratify the record.

“We are saddened by the situation that four young ladies would be denied the record. The matter is still at a sensitive stage, and we would have done the necessary appeals. We are still hopeful that the record will be ratified at a later stage,” he has said.

World Athletics has rejected the ratification of the world record because not all members of the team were subjected to doping control.

In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, (JADCO) sought to explain the circumstances under which it had failed to

The record-breaking Jamaican U20 Relay Team

test all four members of the relay team.

“The event was won by the Jamaican team, which was comprised of four female athletes. They completed the race with a world record of 42.58. Doping Control was conducted immediately on three of the female athletes,” the JADCO statement said.

“Since one of the athletes was already tested on the 16th of April 2022, a urine sample was not collected from this athlete on the 17th of April 2022. It is customary, and in JADCO’s best practice in competition, that if an athlete is tested today in-competition, the said athlete would not be tested the following day in-competition.”

JADCO claims it was instructed to carry out a specific

number of tests for each day of the three-day championships, which were being held in Jamaica for the first time since 2011.

“The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) was contracted by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) to 18 urine samples throughout the period of the 49th staging of the CARIFTA Games.

The Commission was advised to carry 6 urine tests per day, with testing being done on any athlete who achieved a national/world record.

“On April 16, 2022, six athletes were tested – three Jamaican female athletes, two male Jamaican athletes, and one male athlete from the Bahamas. On April 17, the day the world record was bro-

ken, JADCO tested nine athletes – six Jamaican female athletes, one Jamaican male athlete, one female athlete from the US Virgin Islands, and one male athlete from the Bahamas.

“Six more athletes were tested on April 18, 2022 – three Jamaican male athletes, one Jamaican female athlete, one male athlete from Curacao, and one female athlete from the Bahamas”.

Going forward, JADCO said, it would ensure that all athletes breaking records are tested.

“The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission has recognised that World Athletics has declined to accept the result of the record-breaking performance of Jamaica’s Women’s U20 4x100m Relay Team on April 17, 2022, since one of the athletes previously tested

by JADCO on April 16, 2022 was not tested on the day the record was broken,” the JADCO statement said.

“Whilst our testing conforms with the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) protocols, going forward, JADCO will ensure the testing of record-breaking athletes despite the frequency of testing.” (Sportsmax)

In a brief interaction with the youths, Sergeant Hakim spoke on the need for the youths to participate in sports, and to balance that participation with their need

to acquire an education. He noted that sports teach teamwork and problem-solving skills, boost self-esteem, and bring about physical health benefits. (GPF)

E/bo Invitational 20-Over, 15-Over Memorial match…

Narindra Madholall’s allround performance leads Reliance Hustlers to victory Narindra Madholall, left, receiving one of his trophies from Ramcharran Singh

F

ormer senior Essequibo Inter-County player Narindra Madholall produced an excellent all-round performance to lead Reliance Hustlers to a commanding 105-run win over Cotton Field in a friendly Invitational 20-Over match played last Sunday at the Reliance ground on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2.

In that game, sponsored by ex-Essequibo Inter-County opening batsman Ramcharran Singh, the left-handed Madholall clobbered six sixes and four fours as Reliance Hustlers rattled up 149-8 from their 17 overs, reduced by rain; while Cotton Field were all out for 44 in the 14th over.

Madholall was well supported by former Guyana youth cricketer Nathan Persaud, who hit a cameo 34.

Off-spinner Singh grabbed 4-28 off six overs, while Nissan Benni collected 2-30.

When Cotton Field batted, Singh offered a fight with 12, while Madholall snatched 5-9 from four overs of off-spin.

Madholall copped the man-ofthe-match prize, while also being awarded best batsman and best bowler. His efforts caused him to receive trophies from Ramcharran Singh.

In an Over-40 15-Over game, Invaders Masters defeated a Cotton Field/Reliance Select X1 at the same venue later that day. Invaders Masters posted a respectable 140-6 from their 15 overs, before limiting the Cotton Field/ Reliance Select X1 to 93-5 when their overs ran out.

Kurt Jones top-scored with 78 for Invaders Masters, while ex-Essequibo Inter-County batsman Ramesh Narine scored a useful unbeaten 33.

Off-spinner Trevis Simon took three wickets for 19 runs from his three overs, while Dhaniram Benny supported with 2-34.

Mahendra Bennett made 34 for the Cotton Field/ Reliance Select X1. Kurt Jones was named “player of the match”, and was also given “the best batsman” prize.

Simon was adjudged “the best bowler”, and he and Jones each received a trophy.

This match was played in memory of Sarjoo Jainarine and Dharam Rajah, both of whom had been Cotton Field teammates of Singh.

The games were organised

by Simon, while USA-based Guyanese Singh has said he would make the games an annual event.

22

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CWI brings the hottest “Summer of Cricket” -with visits by Bangladesh, India, New Zealand

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed the full match schedule for the West Indies Senior Men’s Team from June 16 to August 21. This will see visits to the region by Bangladesh, India and New Zealand, featuring all three formats of cricket.

The fixtures feature 30 days of men’s international cricket, comprising two Tests, nine CG United One-Day Internationals, and 11 T20 Internationals at 10 world-class venues. This promises to be a bumper “summer of cricket” for fans across the Caribbean, as well as for the West Indies diaspora in the United States of America, when West Indies and India make a return to the Broward County Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida for two T20Is. Bangladesh will tour the Caribbean from June 16 to July 16, and will face West Indies in two Test matches in Antigua and St Lucia as part of the ICC World Test Championships. The two Tests will be followed by three T20Is and three CG United ODIs in Dominica and Guyana.

The first two T20Is will see a return to international cricket at the fully refurbished Windsor Park, where international cricket

is being hosted for the first time since the hurricane damage of 2017.

The Bangladesh home series will conclude with the third T20I and then three CG United ODIs at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

India’s white-ball tour will commence on July 22 in Trinidad and Tobago with three CG United ODIs from July 22 to 27 at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, followed by five T20Is in three separate venues.

The first T20I on Friday, July 29, will be historic as the first ever Men’s T20I to be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in the south of Trinidad. The venue for the back-to-back second and third T20I matches is Warner Park, St Kitts, coinciding with Emancipation Day and Culturama holiday celebrations there.

The eight-match India white ball tour concludes with an exciting weekend of back-to-back T20I fixtures at the Broward County Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, on August 6 and 7.

West Indies’ Summer of Cricket climaxes with New Zealand’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean, which has been rescheduled from 2020 following

the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BLACK CAPS would arrive in Jamaica to play three T20Is from Wednesday, August 10 to Sunday, August 14, before moving to Barbados for three day/night CG United ODIs. All nine CG United ODIs are part of the ICC ODI Super League, with the West Indies aiming to qualify directly for the ICC World Cup in 2023.

“We are delighted to announce the match schedule for the men’s international calendar at home for the rest of the year.

We know our supporters will be delighted with the news that the matches are being played all across the region, as well as those living in the USA will be able to see their favourite players in action,” said Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI. “This is the busiest year of cricket ever in the West Indies.

In January we hosted Ireland and England in white ball formats, and also successfully staged the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022, which featured 16 teams traversing the region.

“We also witnessed the Apex Test Series against England, which West Indies won in great style and with real fight.” Grave added.

“The upcoming summer is expected to feature 30 days of

Golden Jags names 24-man squad for Nations League …Shabazz thanks President Ali for donation

A

fter more than a week’s training in Trinidad and Tobago, the contingent of Guyana’s senior men’s national team, the Golden Jaguars, has been cut down from 31 to 24, in anticipation of the commencement of the CONCACAF Nations League.

This revelation was made on Wednesday morning, as Jamaal Shabazz, Head Coach of the Golden Jaguars, took the opportunity to share an update on the team’s preparations, and even revealed a bit about President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s benevolence towards the team.

After having the chance to see the players in action in two practice games, Shabazz told of the difficulty he had in selecting the team.

“I think the competitiveness for places increased the intensity, and it was so difficult to pick 24 out of the 31 players that we had in the camp,” the Head Coach has said.

Further, Shabazz elaborated on the team’s preparation in the twin-island republic, noting that it has been critical for development.

About that training in Trinidad, he said, “The preparations in Trinidad have been going well.

We completed our final session today.

“Total effort and commitment from the players and staff, and

I’m really thankful that the Federation was able to confirm this camp. I think this was a very important camp for the future of Guyana’s football.

“So, you know, these last couple sessions we have before the game on Saturday is just to work more on cohesion, more on operating as a team in attack and a team in defence,” Shabazz explained.

Still on the topic of preparation, Shabazz detailed some of the aspects he would like to strengthen, with Guyana’s future success in mind. He highlighted, “We would like to work on some dead ball situations, and still trying to get some of the guys to come in to adjust to how we would like to play, because they’ve come into an organised team. And sometimes when you have a team that is already organised, when you bring in too many players, it changes the texture of it.”

In speaking about the need for support, Shabazz revealed that Guyana’s President, H.E Dr Irfaan Ali, made a donation to the Golden Jaguars, which the Coach accepted in good faith.

“Also, we want to thank President Irfaan Ali for his intervention in supplying some football boots to a couple of the players. It was timely and it was very, very considerate of him; and small things like these go a

Golden Jags Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz

long way. When the President of a country, without being asked and based on observation from someone, is able to see the needs of players and rally to the support…,” Shabazz disclosed.

The 24-member Golden Jaguars team reads: 1.Alex Murray 2. Quillan Roberts 3. Akel Clarke 4. Leo Lovell 5. Sam Cox 6. Quincy Adams 7. Jalen Jones 8. Jeremy Garrett 9. Marcus Wilson 10. Matthew Briggs 11. Ryan Hackett 12. Daniel Wilson 13. Nathan Moriah Welch 14. Clive Nobrega 15. Anthony Jeffrey 16. Trayon Bobb 17. Omari Glasgow 18. Kelsey Benjamin 19. Job Caesar 20. Torrel Ondaan 21.Pernel Schultz 22. Stephen Duke McKenna 23. Tre Medford 24. Neil Danns

top-quality entertainment for our fans as we look ahead to hosting three teams of differing styles in all three formats, which (is) sure to whet the appetite. We are mindful that COVID-19 is still present, and we again want to thank the various Governments and other stakeholders who have worked with us to ensure the matches will be played in a safe environment.”

Tickets will go on sale from Thursday, June 3, via the new WINDIES TICKETS service, presented by Mastercard at https://www.windiescricket. com/tickets/. Tickets for the Test matches against Bangladesh will be on sale initially, with the white ball matches against Bangladesh, India and New Zealand being added in coming weeks. Tickets are available from just US$6.00 for the Test matches against Bangladesh, and from US$10 for matches against New Zealand, with a range of options from grounds admission to premium seats.

For the games against India in the Caribbean, tickets will start from US$20 for grounds admission. Ticket categories and prices for the games in Florida will be announced later in June.

In addition to being able to choose and pay for your seats in advance, the service allows fans to save their purchased tickets to their device for ticket scanning at the venue, avoiding the need for queues and travel to the box offices.

Fans registered for the WI Insider fanmail and on the

WINDIES TICKETS service will receive promotional discounts across the games in the Caribbean.

FULL SCHEDULES OF MATCHES Bangladesh tour of West Indies

* June 16-20: 1st Test – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua. Local start time 10am/9am Jamaica time. * June 24-28: 2nd Test – Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia.

Local start time 10am/9am Jamaica time. * July 2: 1st T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica. Local start time 1:30pm/12:30pm Jamaica time. * July 3: 2nd T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica. Local start time 1:30pm/12:30pm Jamaica time. * July 7: 3rd T20I – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana, Local start time 1:30pm/ 12:30pm Jamaica time. * July 10: 1st CG United ODI – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time. * July 13: 2nd CG United ODI – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time. * July 16: 3rd CG United ODI – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana.

Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time.

India tour of West Indies

* July 22: 1st CG United ODI – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad. Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time. * July 24: 2nd CG United ODI – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad. Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time. * July 27: 3rd CG United ODI –

Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad. Local start time 9:30am/8:30am Jamaica time. * July 29: 1st T20I – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad. Local start time 10:30am/9:30am Jamaica time. * August 1: 2nd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts. Local start time 10:30am/9:30am Jamaica time. * August 2: 3rd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts. Local start time 10:30am/9:30am Jamaica time. * August 6: 4th T20I – Broward County Cricket Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, USA. Local start time 10:30am /9:30am Jamaica time. * August 7: 5th T20I – Broward County Cricket Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida, USA. Local start time 10:30am /9:30am Jamaica time.

New Zealand tour of West Indies

* August 10: 1st T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica. Provisional local start time 1:30pm/2:30pm Eastern Caribbean time. * August 12: 2nd T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica. Provisional local start time 1:30pm/2:30pm Eastern Caribbean time. * August 14: 3rd T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica. Provisional local start time 1:30pm/2:30pm Eastern Caribbean time. * August 17: 1st CG United ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados. Local start time 2pm/1pm Jamaica time. * August 19: 2nd CG United ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados. Local start time 2pm/1pm Jamaica time. * August 21: 3rd CG United ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados. Local start time 2pm/1pm Jamaica time.

(Windies Cricket)

“Daddy & Me” competition…

Everything on stream leading up to event, says Wilson

P

- tickets go on sale from this Saturday

ink Diamond Promotions is set to launch the highly anticipated “Daddy & Me” competition on June 18.

This competition, being held in celebration of fathers, is creating quite a buzz as the date draws closer, with the action set to kick off at the Transport Sports Club Ground in Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Founder of the event, Warren Wilson, has disclosed that the Organising Committee is on stream with everything leading up to the big day.

In an interview with this publication, Wilson was asked about the preparation, and he responded as follows: “In terms of the preparation, the Organising Committee is on stream, with everything getting ready so far. The tickets should be on sale from this Saturday (June 4), and it will only cost $1000, and children under ten will be (allowed in) free.

“For the high points, we are trying - even though we know it is the first one - we are trying to make it fun and exciting as much as possible. Even though it might be a little challenging for the fathers and sons, we want to try to keep the fun aspect.”

From this initial staging of the competition, Wilson is optimistic that bonds would be built between fathers and their sons.

In terms of the reception, he has noted that Wayne Forde, President of the Guyana Football Federation; Nicholas Fraser, who has been part of sports for some time; and many other persons have registered as participants.

“It’s been really hard to get

Ogle Fitness is one of the latest sponsors on board

sponsors to come on board with this idea. I am not sure if it is because we are not a well-known group, but that is how it has been so far,” Wilson has disclosed.

“Registration can be done through the Organising Committee; they can call me on 672-2719, or Kade, on 657-8793. We have extended the registration period, as we still want to encourage other participants to come on board, as we have not met our quota,” Wilson explained.

Wilson is encouraging persons to come on board. He said those who would like to come and witness the action can look forward to getting the information this weekend when they uplift their tickets.

Added to the exciting camaraderie among fathers and their sons at the event, there will also be paintball, target shooting and archery. The competition will feature three categories: 7 to 9, 10 to 12, & 13 to 16, as they compete in several disciplines to be crowned champion. These events include tug-o-war, softball cricket and obstacle courses.

Fathers are required to pass

a physical test to ensure their eligibility in the competition. The competition is open to all fathers.

All eligible participants must attend cardio and aerobics sessions, which would be provided by the committee.

All participants must disclose any preceding health condition, and the Organising Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to any potential participant deemed unfit.

Among the sponsors on board are: What’s Happening Guyana, Cole’s Screen Printing, Trophy Stall, Fitness 53, Roraima, Kendallz Extreme Sports, Ogle Fitness, and GHSM Consumables.

CLASSIFIED ADS HOUSE FOR SALE Fully concrete Top and Bottom, 24 x 42 - + 8 FT Extention, 4 12x12 Rooms, $30 Million neg. Contact: 692-7305 or +1 646 972 9267.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

23

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CWI Regional Four-Day tourney…

was Mohammed’s, who guided one to Leon Johnson at a wide first slip and with the score at 178-3 after 72.4 overs.

Cameron ended the 118-run second wicket partnership with Mohammed departing for 68 from 140 balls. Mohammed's innings included ten fours in 178 minutes.

Five runs later, the painstaking innings from Solozano came to an end

Bryan Charles and Uthman Mohammad.

Shannon Gabriel and Terrence Hinds survived the day with Red Force limping to 203-9 after

2 / 2 9 , Archibald 2/64.

WIN v BAR. WIN: 203 (62) Bishop 44; Simmonds 3/25, Chase 3/46. BAR: 109/1 (24) Reifer 56*; John 1/14.

BAR trail by 94 runs.

Jason Mohammed cutting while Akshaya Persaud takes evasive action

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

G

uyana Harpy Eagles are in the driver’s seat against arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the fifth and final round of Cricket West Indies FourDay Championships. In the match, played at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago, Keemo Paul claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket to reduce Red Force to 203-9 at stumps on day one.

On a flat track, Paul triggered the Red Force collapse with the hosts losing seven wickets for 25 runs, after cautious half-centuries from Jason Mohammed and Jermey Solozano.

Earlier, Red Force won the toss and opted to bat first under clear skies and on a good batting surface. The Harpy Eagles left out the slightly injured Chandrapaul Hemraj, while Nial Smith returned to the squad after a groin scare.

Wicket-keeper batsman Anthony Bramble is still struggling with his arm injury.

After observing a minute of silence for the late David Holford, who was a former West Indies all-rounder, Keemo Paul got the first wicket for the Eagles when he cleaned up Keagan Simmons with a serious in-swinger.

At 6-1, opener Jeremy Solozano was joined by the left-hander Isiah Rajah, and the duo added 54 runs for the second wicket. Looking to play his shots, Rajah drove the ball fearlessly down the ground, but he was dismissed for 26 by a straight

Kevin Sinclair delivery.

From 60-2, Jason Mohammed and Solozano took the Red Force to lunch at 71-2 after 28 overs.

Solozano was on a patient 26, while Mohammed was on 10. Upon resumption of play, Solozano continued in his usual cautious fashion while Mohammed looked to play his shots, dancing down to Sinclair and striking him for a boundary over his head.

Having struggled in the

Kevin Sinclair jumping for joy after removing Rajah (Brandon Corlette photos)

Gudakesh Motie made some late inroads

past two rounds, the Red Force batsmen looked to pressure the Harpy Eagles with some sharp singles. A few catches were put down, and some close calls went the Red Force way.

While a cautious Solozano had reached his tenth firstclass half-century from 175 balls, the brash Mohammed reached his 16th first-class half-century from 93 balls,

and he did so by chipping down the track to strike Gudakesh Motie into the long-on boundary for a four.

Late wickets for Guyana

The duo took Red Force to tea at 149-2 after 61 overs, with Solozano unbeaten on 56 while Mohammed was on 55. When the final session resumed, Demetri Cameron finally got a wicket, and it

with Motie getting his first wicket in his 16th over.

He took a brilliant return catch to see the back of Solozano, whose 72 came from 252 balls in 295 minutes. His innings included six fours.

With Red Force on 183-4 after 77.1 overs, Test wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva partnered Yannic Cariah, but Motie kept chipping away. He trapped Cariah (03) at the crease at 186-5, and then Paul removed Da Silva, trapped leg-before for two. Da Silva was playing across to a straight and low delivery, and the Guyanese had their tails up with Red Force reduced to 186-6.

Three runs later, Paul removed Red Force skipper Imran Khan (02) in similar fashion as Mohammed, this time caught at second slip by Vishaul Singh at 189-7. And the Essequibian Paul continued to rock away in removing

Compliments of

9 0 overs.

Paul ended with 5-41 from 17 overs, while Motie had 2-35 from 20 overs.

Cameron had 1-38 from 12, and Sinclair had 1-21 from 10 overs.

The second day will bowl off from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time at Queen’s Park.

Keemo Paul produced a good spell of bowling in the final session

Summary from other matches:

JAM v LEE. JAM: 302 (80), Palmer 144*, Merchant Jeremy Solozano punching 55; Berridge one into the off-side

SCOREBOARD TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 1ST INNINGS Jeremy Solozano c&b Motie 72 Keagan Simmons b Paul 3 Isaiah Rajah lbw Sinclair 26 Jason Mohammed c Johnson b Cameron 68 Yannic Cariah lbw Motie 3 Joshua Da Silva lbw Paul 2 Imran Khan c Singh b Paul 2 Terrance Hinds not out 9 Uthman Muhammad lbw Paul 0 Bryan Charles c Imlach b Paul 0 Shannon Gabriel not out 4

TOTAL (9 wickets, 90) (14 extras) 209 FOW: 6/1 Keagan Simmons 60-2 Rajah, 173-3 Mohammed, 1834 Cariah, 186-5 Da Silva, 1866 Cariah, 189-7 Khan, 199-8 Charles, 199-9 Muhammed GUYANA BOWLING Keemo Paul (17-4-41-5) Nial Smith (10-0-39-0) Demetri Cameron (12-1-38-1) Veerasammy Permaul (21-10-25-0) Kevin Sinclair (10-5-21-1) Gudakesh Motie (20-2-35-2)

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

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

CWI Regional Four-Day tourney…

Pg 23

Guyana Harpy Eagles spent all day in the field (Brandon Corlette photos)

Pg 22

Pg 22

Founder of the event, Warren Wilson, and Events Coordinator Kade Pearce

“Daddy & Me” competition…

A glimpse of the Golden Jags in action against the T&T U20 team in a practice game

Golden Jags names 24-man squad for Nations League …Shabazz thanks President Ali for donation

Everything on stream leading up to event, says Wilson - tickets go on sale from this Saturday

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