Guyana Times -- Thursday, March 10, 2022

EEPGL close to finalising US$2B in “default insurance” – commercial manager P11

…says assets capable of covering unlikely oil spill Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4944

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

17 persons narrowly escape after passenger, fuel boats collide in Essequibo River …Captain “wasn’t paying attention” – injured woman; licence suspended Page 2

Speaker to write Granger to extract names from APNU/AFC list

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Shop owner stabbed with broken bottle, beaten by P5 intoxicated customers

Over 100 P10 Venezuelans raid Pomeroon farm in bid to find food …given food hampers, escorted out of Region 2

See story on page 7

…says Harmon only submitted ‘intent to resign' letter, not resignation

US-based Guyanese stabbed to death at brother’s Page 14 wedding celebration

GYSBI project vetoed at IDB level due to fossil fuel concerns – US Embassy Page 3

…main suspect recently released from prison …says policy decision made to cut int’l financing for carbon-based projects

34-year-old P16 woman new COVID-19 death …14 new cases, 4 in ICU

2 busted with P15 $6.5M worth of cocaine in car Body found on "seawalls" identified as hospital IT manager P8 Court rules to proceed with case filed by P16 non-existent PSC

President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and several Government officials, met with a delegation from the renowned New York-based Mount Sinai Health System at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive (OP photo)

Horrific road accidents

Strengthening laws not enough; Page education, public awareness 9 needed – Attorney General

…AG appeals decision

Ukraine’s P19 children’s hospital hit by Russian air strike

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

17 persons narrowly escape after passenger, fuel boats collide in Essequibo River …Captain “wasn’t paying attention” – injured woman; licence suspended

By Amar Persaud

S

ome 17 persons, including school children, were rescued after the water taxi in which they were travelling on the Essequibo River crashed into a fuel supply vessel at about 17:00h on Tuesday.

This accident was allegedly caused by negligence on the part of the boat captain, whose licence has since been suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation.

The water taxi was journeying from Supenaam in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to Parika in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) when the collision occurred in the vicinity of Wakenaam Island.

The passenger boat began to take in water, and was submerged within a minute. The passengers, some of whom were reportedly not wearing life jackets, were eventually rescued by another vessel and taken to the Parika Stelling.

One of the passengers, 29-year-old Rubyanna Alleyne, told this publication that, just before the accident occurred, the vessel

was negotiating a turn but the boat captain was not focusing.

“The captain of the boat slowed down to talk to a next boat that was apparently in the river having a problem… When he finished talking to the person, he continued his journey, but apparently he was still looking back at the boat that he stopped to talk to… and around the turn it has islands, and the other side, the fuel vessel boat was coming from Parika… When he looked forward, he was already into the boat,” the passenger recalled.

According to her, the bowman was at the back of the boat chatting with the captain when the accident occurred.

“At the front [of the boat], you could have noticed [the other approaching vessel] but the two sides, you couldn’t have noticed because the leatherettes were down, but the front was open…so, the three said passengers could’ve seen in front,” she reasoned.

Alleyne said that when she realised a collision was about to occur, she started to scream.

“The captain could have

stopped the incident, but he wasn’t paying attention, he was paying attention to the other boat that he was talking with,” the passenger contended.

According to the woman, she was the only person injured in the incident. She is currently suffering from a fractured right arm and other minor injuries.

“The impact hit me from the side, because I was at the said side where the boat

collided too,” the woman explained.

Alleyne, who sells Brazilian cosmetic products, said she would normally do delivery to Supenaam by boat. She explained that in usual travels, three persons would be seated in a row to a seat, but yesterday it was around four. In her opinion, the boat was overloaded.

Additionally, she claimed that there were not enough safety jackets for everyone.

“I didn’t get any life jacket from Supenaam, and that wasn’t normal, but apparently he didn’t calculate for the children that was in

the boat that had on big life jacket…I request a life jacket before the boat leave the stelling…the bowman didn’t assist me with any…,” she lamented.

According to the woman, she suffered $65,000 in losses as a result of the accident.

Licence temporarily suspended

Contacted for a comment on the situation, Director of Maritime Safety at the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Captain John Flores, explained that that vessel’s captain has already had

his licence temporarily suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation.

He noted that, depending on the outcome, the boat captain’s licence could be permanently taken away.

“If it’s overloaded, it’s automatic suspension under the regulation, but I have to verify. The people who are investigating, they will look at all of that…if the investigations reveal life jackets and them things [were not available], it can go as far as taking away his licence or something like that, not quite sure yet…,” he noted.

Investigations are ongoing.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Thursday, March 10 – 09:30h-11:00h and Friday, March 11 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, March 10 – 08:30h-10:00h and Friday, March 11 – 09:55h-11:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy conditions are expected with sunny intervals in the mid to late afternoon hours with partly cloudy skies in the evening hours.

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

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

High Tide: 09:16h and 21:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.22 metres and 2.05 metres.

Low Tide: 15:25h reaching a minimum height of 1.03 metres.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

01 06 08

20 27 28

FREE TICKET

21 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04 12 15 16 23 LUCKY 3

3

7

1

3

Afternoon Draw

0

6

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 02 07 09 11 14 16 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

01 04 05 10 12 13

05 08 13 16 20

5

5 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

1

5 Evening Draw

3X Evening Draw

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$112.20/barrel

+0.99

Rough Rice

$285.354/ton

+0.15

London Sugar

$528.20/ton

Live Spot Gold

0.00

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1975.90

$1977.40

Low/High Change

$1971.20 -15.40

$2060.60 -0.77%

GYSBI project was vetoed at IDB level due to fossil fuel concerns – US Embassy …says policy decision made to cut int’l financing for carbon-based projects

B

ack in October 2021, the United States had used its seat on the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to veto a proposal from Guyana Shore Based Incorporated (GYSBI) seeking an approximately US$130 million loan to fund its expansion plans to service the oil and gas industry.

Of recent, the issue has been gathering traction again, and Guyana Times had requested a comment, through the US Embassy in Guyana, on the reason for the project being vetoed.

According to the Embassy, the decision to veto the GYSBI proposal is rooted in an existing US policy of prioritising support for renewable energy projects, as opposed to fossil fuel-based ones.

“At the multilateral development banks (MDBs), the United States is committed to supporting developing countries to achieve a clean and sustainable future that is consistent with their development goals and the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals,” this publication was informed.

The Embassy in its response pointed out that back in January 2021, US President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order requiring the US Government to identify steps through which it could accelerate cutting off international financing for carbon-based, fossil-fuel energy projects. According to the Embassy, the US is also focused on pairing this with advancing clean, renewable energy.

“Our MDB fossil fuel guidance, posted publicly in June 2021, responded to President Biden’s Executive Order and the United States proactively shared that guidance with all MDBs,” the US Embassy said.

“Through our MDB fossil fuel guidance, the United States is seeking to incentivise the MDBs to support projects that help countries make their economies cleaner and less dependent on fossil fuels.”

According to the Embassy, the US has been joined by many other like-minded countries, including the IDB shareholders, in pursuing that goal.

They made it clear that MDB financing for oil-based energy projects, including financing for infrastructure to support the oil sector, will continue to be opposed.

“We will use this guidance to evaluate US positions on MDB-financed projects, including the IDB Invest Guyana Shore Base project, if IDB Invest management decides to bring the

A ship at the GYSBI port

project back to the Board for a vote,” the Embassy noted.

GYSBI was formed in 2016, when Guyana’s oil and gas sector was still in a nascent phase, by a consortium of companies including Muneshwers Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, LED Offshore, and TOTALTEC Oilfield Services.

Since that time, it has served as a trans-shipment point for supplies and equipment for ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), which is exploring and producing oil offshore Guyana. Among the services it has provided are waste management, fuel bunkering, pipe storage, warehousing and pota-

ble water storage.

The US$130 million loan GYSBI had been seeking from the IDB had included US$70 million to refinance various existing loans, expand its port and shorebased facilities by constructing additional berths and increasing the size of the shore base logistics support area.

The company was also going to construct and develop an infill project to offload heavy cargo, construct a waste management facility, install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and expand its warehouse capacity.

According to an IDB document seen by this publication and issued last year, the

project had been pre-classified in Category B, owing to the likelihood that it would possibly impact the environment. These potential impacts had included soil and water contamination, generation of solid waste and waste water, and the storage of dangerous substances including fuel and lubricants.

However, the document also noted that these impacts were deemed of medium and medium to high intensity, which could “easily be managed from the project’s perspective”.

Importantly, the project had also received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

(G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 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

Non-communicable diseases

T

he COVID-19 pandemic is still having a devastating impact on individuals and communities as a whole, and is yet a stark reminder that both the health authorities and citizens must continue to take the issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) very seriously.

Based on what the medical professionals have found so far, most of the persons who have died after contracting COVID-19 had some kind of underlying health complication, many of which are related to NCDs. Guyana’s COVID-19 death rate is 1,224. For a small population such as ours, this is quite disturbing, to say the least.

The Government previously pointed out that several critical areas in the nation’s healthcare delivery were ignored to a large extent, and this is why renewed efforts have to be made to bring all levels of the health sector up to par, including putting effective and efficient systems in place to tackle NCDs. According to PAHO/WHO, people with underlying health conditions such as NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, have a higher risk of contracting a severe form of the COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19. Risk factors for NCDs can make people more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with COVID-19. For example, smokers may have reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

PAHO/WHO has suggested that informing populations about these health risks posed by COVID-19 is critical. In addition, health services need to maintain essential NCD services to ensure continuity of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to poor lifestyle choices, such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, NCDs have resulted in large numbers of people falling sick and dying.

In 2007, CARICOM leaders signed what they described as the “ground-breaking” Port-of-Spain Declaration, aimed at uniting countries to stop the epidemic of NCDs. The declaration was recently evaluated by a team of regional and international experts.

Sometime last year, leading health expert Dr Alafia Samuels had disclosed that, based on a study, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were found to have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in the Americas.

In relation to Guyana’s case, while there have been some positive moves in tackling NCDs, such as finalising the Tobacco Control Legislation etc., some experts believe that enough was not being done in the fight against NCDs. It could be recalled that there was an NCD strategy in the years 2003-2008, and again in the years 2008-2015, which outlined a comprehensive and effective programme to fight NCDs. It is not clear if these are still being used as a guide by health authorities.

Former Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy was quoted in this newspaper as saying that some of the crucial programmes that were previously in place to tackle NCDs appear to have been reduced or totally abandoned during the tenure of the previous administration. Dr Ramsammy, in particular, had pointed to the aggressive education and awareness campaigns that were very much visible some years ago. Also, community health fairs, school programmes, and other initiatives which were used to address issues such as positive lifestyles had become less visible.

These are all useful strategies in ensuring the message of healthy lifestyles continues to reach everyone in every community across the country. From all indications, some of these measures are being taken, but they are being done in a limited fashion.

We believe that discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda, where serious efforts are made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. On this basis, there is need for more collaborative efforts among all stakeholders.

That said, while the various stakeholders are involved in the battle to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hoped that they would redouble their efforts to effectively address NCDs and their risk factors with a medium-to-long-term vision.

A young girl walks amid an installation of women's red shoes displayed on a staircase, as a symbol to denounce violence against women, in Tirana, Albania, March 8, 2022 (Reuters)

Women in science should be the norm, not the exception

By Edna Bonhomme

E

very day, scientists across the world labour to come up with ever-more accurate and inclusive answers to humanity’s most fundamental queries about the natural and social world. Using earthbound tools in tandem with their intellects and imaginations, they not only answer crucial questions like “What is the basis of life” and “What is the foundation of matter?”, but also try to provide practical solutions to our everyday problems.

In this context, it is easy to assume that in the world of science, where the pursuit of knowledge should take primacy over all else, oppressive social constructs and biases that hinder almost all other aspects of our lives are not as influential – it is easy to assume scientists can unite on common ground as they explore existential questions.

The sad reality, however, is that women scientists have been forced to fight first for a seat at the table, and then for recognition, since the very beginning.

One of the most obvious, and depressing, examples of gender discrimination in science is perhaps the erasure of English chemist Rosalind Franklin’s crucial contribution to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. “Our dark lady is leaving us next week.” On March 7, 1953, Maurice Wilkins of King’s College, London, wrote to Francis Crick at the Cavendish laboratories in Cambridge to announce his “obstructive” female colleague Franklin’s planned departure from King’s.

Wilkins appeared to be under the impression that with the “dark lady” gone, he, Crick and their colleague James Watson would be free to go ahead and quickly decipher the code of DNA. And they seemingly did. One month later, Crick and Watson published a ground-breaking article in Nature magazine on the structure of the DNA molecule. They were immediately celebrated for their discoveries, but they seemed to “forget” to mention that the work of Franklin, their “dark lady”, was absolutely crucial to their discovery. The then 32-year-old woman had carried out a series of experiments that provided the visual template to prove the now-famous double helix is the blueprint for our biology.

Rosalind Franklin was born to a liberal Jewish family in London. She was driven to study science because of her natural curiosity. Eventually, thanks

to hard work and ambition, she was able to transform her fascination with the physical world into a successful career in science despite many obstacles she faced, merely for being a Jewish woman in a man’s world.

It was the principal investigators at the King’s laboratory – all men – who made the calls, secured funding and stood to gain from any discoveries made there. But it was Franklin who did the labour and laid the ground for the discovery of the double helix.

Sadly, she was never credited for or gained from her ground-breaking discovery in her lifetime. She died of cancer in 1958, at the young age of 37.

In 1962, Franklin’s former boss Maurice Wilkins, Francis Crick and James Watson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology for discovering the molecular structure of DNA – a discovery they were only able to do because of Franklin’s hard work. Franklin was not nominated for the Nobel Prize alongside her male colleagues for seemingly technical reasons: the rules at the time put limits on how many people could share the award and nominees had to be alive at the time they were nominated. Nonetheless, none of the three scientists who earned this highest recognition in science felt the need to let the world know how crucial the woman they once mocked as “dark lady” was to this discovery. Indeed, Franklin’s contribution to the discovery of DNA’s molecular structure was not publicised until years later.

Some may claim the erasure of Franklin’s work and achievements during her lifetime was not a result of systemic discrimination, but an anomaly – something born of bad luck, a reflection of her colleagues’ pettiness, or her own inability to publicise her success.

Many point to the perhaps only well-known female success story in science from the 20th century to claim that women in fact had the opportunity to be part of the scientific world and gain recognition for their discoveries since the last century.

Sure, Marie Curie did win her first Nobel Prize, for physics, 17 years before Franklin’s birth, in 1903. Not only that, she won a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, eight years later in 1911. And it is true that Curie was widely recognised for her work during her lifetime. But Curie’s extraordinary work and achievements

cannot and should not be used to conceal the fact that women have long been sidelined, ignored and erased in science. It is Curie who was the anomaly (and who was married to an established male scientist who likely helped her gain recognition in the undeniably male-dominated world of science in the early 20th century).

For every Curie, and there are not that many, the history of science is full of dozens of Franklins. And perhaps thousands of other women who had so much to contribute to science, but were not even allowed into the laboratory.

The world of science is still dominated by men 22 years into the 21st century. This is not because, as some claim, women and non-binary people are bad at or not interested in science, but because they are fighting against sexist ideology and policies that are deeply entrenched in academic institutions.

It was only in 2005 that economist Lawrence Summers, then President of Harvard University, publicly claimed that the underrepresentation of women in the sciences is not due to discrimination, but rather, “biological differences” between men and women.

His statement provoked a furore and was widely condemned by feminists at Harvard and beyond. Nevertheless, nearly two decades later, his views based on nineteenth-century essentialist notions about gender and biology are still held – overtly and covertly – by people in positions of power in academia.

Even though women have made huge gains towards increasing their representation in science in recent years, they are still significantly underrepresented. According to research

by UNESCO, today, globally, only 33.3 per cent of all researchers are women, with rates varying depending on the country. Furthermore, female researchers tend to have shorter, less well-paid careers. Their work is underrepresented in high-profile journals, and they are often passed over for promotion.

To achieve true gender equality, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the underrepresentation of women in science, and the additional obstacles women scientists face because of their gender. Moreover, addressing gender disparity in science would help us better address gender-based discrimination in many other areas, especially health. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

5

News

Shop owner stabbed with broken bottle, beaten by intoxicated customers

A

Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) businessman was stabbed multiple times by customers who became annoyed that he was closing his shop.

Injured is Haslim Mohamed 40, who resides and operates a grocery shop and Super Bet outlet at Number 77 Village Housing Scheme, Corriverton.

According to Mohamed, he had come home shortly after 20:00h, and he informed the three customers that he was going to close

Injured: Haslim Mohamed

the shop. He told this publication that the Super Bet fa-

cility would normally close at 21:00h, but on Tuesday evening he was seeking to close a bit early, but it did not go down well with the three customers, whose names he gave as “Muggie”, “Mun”, and “Black Boy”.

“They armed themselves with a broken beer bottle, a piece of wood and a cutlass.

They started to argue with me, and when I turn, one of them start to stab me…”

Mohamed said he was lashed with the wood, and also kicked after falling to the ground.

Mohamed was stabbed six times to his hand as he tried to fend off attacks

New prosecutors’ course is a timely intervention Dear Editor, Good news it is to read that “citizens (are) to benefit from better representation in courts with start of (a) new prosecutors’ course.”

The news is that there was the launch of this new prosecutorial course at the University of Guyana (UG), and according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, the expectation is that citizens would benefit from better representation, particularly at the level of the Magistrates’ Courts.

Now, with this input I am most elated, and I do have a few comments to make in relation to the AG and things legal in Guyana.

First, from the citizens’ point of view, the judiciary is the most important organ of any Government, because it acts as their protector against the possible excesses of legislative and executive organs. The role of the judiciary as the guardian-protector of the Constitution and the fundamental rights of the people makes it more respectable than the other two organs, and therefore it must be safeguarded at all times.

My mind goes back to December 2017, when acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George SC ruled that President David Granger’s

revocation of Seafield, West Coast Berbice (WCB) farmers’ leases for lands was unlawful. This came after two years of intense court battles, wherein attorney for the plaintiffs (Phillip Johnson, Rupert Blackman and Rawle Miller), Anil Nandlall, current AG, led the charge. I bring up this matter because we need total independence of the court, and one man who almost single-handedly demonstrated the far reaches of an independent judiciary is AG Nandlall. One only has to go through the many furious battles to save Guyana’s democracy and pick this up. He was rooted in the Constitution, and was always one step ahead of those seeking to thwart justice in the most important issue in the country, the Guyana Elections.

With this new initiative, the “Certificate in Advocacy and Evidence for Summary Courts Prosecutors’ Programme”, devised by the Government of Guyana, the purpose is to strengthen and balance the scales of the country’s justice system. Currently, in the Magistrates’ Courts, citizens are represented by Police ranks. However, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, in collaboration with the

University of Guyana (UG), would run the programme to ensure victims of criminal offences benefit from effective legal representation.

This is so very vital. Imagine what would have ensued if no one had stood up for the farmers or against those who attempted to steal the elections. It is all about the political will, knowledge of the issues at a deep level, and the willingness to sacrifice for the right thing.

As the AG pointed out, “…prosecutors have an important role to play in carrying out justice”, as he noted that the training would equip them with the tools to carry out their functions effectively. Indeed, as he explained, “Justice is not a one-way street; justice has two sides. It has the public interest, it has the victim’s interest, it has the State’s interest, all amalgamated and become the responsibility of the prosecutor to preserve, protect and advance.”

For starters, the programme would train 71 individuals who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from UG but did not further their legal education at any of the regional law schools. From these 71 participants, 35 could be awarded a scholarship to

attend the Hugh Wooding Law School or any regional law school, based on their performance during the training. What a fantastic move this is.

At the launch of the programme, Nandlall elaborated the corollary. It is that, “This programme provides persons with a great opportunity to begin their career in the legal profession. It provides employment and it advances and augments the criminal justice system.

To a potential recruit, you have an unprecedented opportunity to prepare your work as a prosecutor. You have the power and might of the State behind you; you have the resources of the Police Force at your disposal, and you have an opportunity to showcase your learning, your talent to fine tune, your skill to hone, your skill in an adversarial context with the best legal minds at the criminal bar. You have a great opportunity, and this can lay the foundation for your upward mobility.”

My highest regards to the Government of Guyana and AG Nandlall. My best wishes to the entire fraternity of students and teachers.

Yours truly, H Singh

that were targeting his face. However, he was still stabbed nine times to his

neck and head.

Police are said to be looking for the three suspects.

According to the businessman, the three suspects visit his establishment on a daily basis, and on many occasions would stay until he is closing.

Police have said the suspects were drunk, but the businessman has said the customers were only playing Superbet.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects. (G4)

Innocent lives lost senselessly Dear Editor, Put a fast-moving machine which can become a killing machine in the hands of a young, inexperienced and reckless person, and the consequences are bound to be deadly. Innocent lives have been lost senselessly, persons have been injured, and property has been damaged -- all the makings of a heinous crime.

The other driver in the horrific accident on the West Side must be brought to face

the law too, for being complicit in turning a public roadway into a deadly race track.

My condolences are extended to the grieving families of the deceased; and my wish for those injured, affected and traumatised is that they are able to recover and overcome this dreadful incident fully and in the shortest possible time.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

1)

By Martin Carter

Rain blazes in that hemisphere of my mind where little else happens neither sunshine nor cloudburst and certainly not the blossoming of the power of love you cherish which so much overwhelms my tongue give to speech in the necessary workplaces where freedom is obscene.

ii) Calculate 2 1/3 – 2 1/6 x (33 – 4 + 4)

2. Set A = {Months of the year beginning with J} i) How many members are in the set? ii) Draw a Venn diagram showing the elements of Set A and its complement

In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment for kids, we’re going to see if a lighter weight can lift a heavier weight.

Materials:

24 inches of string Button Small stone that is slightly heavier than your button Spool with or without thread

and in their special ways, linking hand to fruit and fruit to the promise of our prayerful hope and love and the triumph of the effort of

Instructions:

Thread the string through the spool.

Tie the stone securely to one end and the button to the other end.

Hold the spool above your head with one hand. Make sure the spool is straight up and down with the stone on the bottom end of the spool.

With your other hand, hold the string just above the stone and start swinging the button around.

Spin the button quickly and then let go of the string while continuing to hold onto the spool.

Keep swinging the button and the centrifugal force should lift the heavier stone.

How it works:

3. What is the mean and mode of the data set 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7? i) To find the mean, first add the numbers then divide that total by the number of addends (numbers you added) ii) The mode is the number that appears most often in the series of numbers

The spinning button on top of the spool tries to travel away from the end of the spool, but the heavier stone on the other end of the string is holding it back so that it moves in a circle. The more you twist the spool, the faster the button spins around. When the pull of the spinning button is stronger than the downward pull of gravity on the hanging stone, the lighter button on top lifts the heavier hanging stone.

Make this a science project:

And from a drab window falls the happy consequence of clouds which the roots of passionate trees receive with splendid gratitude and which may return to us all in their time

Try a straw instead of a spool. Try spinning different objects. Try heavier items.(sciencefun.org)

the always beating pulse in the wrist and temple of the architect who wars.

I am thinking about you.

Angela Davis I am thinking about you and what I want to do is to command the drying pools of rain to wet your tired feet and lift your face to the gift of the roof of clouds we owe you

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited” – Plutarch

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Speaker to write Granger to extract names from APNU/AFC list

…says Harmon only submitted ‘intent to resign' letter, not resignation

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

W

ith the looming vacancies of two A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentary seats, Representative of the List of Candidates, David Granger, would have to extract names from the APNU/AFC list submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to fill those vacancies.

However, this can only be

done after Parliament Office writes him.

This was explained by Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, in an interview with this publication. According to Nadir, Parliament Office would only write Granger once actual letters of resignation for the relevant Parliamentarians are received.

“We have to write them…we have to write the Representative of the List. When a resignation comes to the Speaker, then the Speaker writes to the Representative of the List for nominees,” Nadir explained.

It has been reported that both APNU Member of Parliament Nicolette Henry and former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon have submitted letters of intent to resign. In Henry’s case, hers is supposed to take effect from March 31, while Harmon’s is supposed to take effect from March 15.

According to Nadir, there is a difference between a letter of resignation and a letter of intent to resign.

“There might be semantics, but saying I intend to re-

Former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

APNU MP Nicolette Henry

sign at a certain date doesn’t say that I have resigned, or I am resigning effective March 10,” Nadir said, adding that Parliament Office would write the Representative of the List after the resignation is received.

The Speaker further explained that after the Parliament Office writes to the Representative of the List, the time it takes for the appointment of an

Opposition Leader would depend on various factors.

As he put it, “there’s no timeframe (for electing an Opposition Leader). It can happen very fast, it can happen less fast…”

It had been explained by PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder at a recent press conference that even as Harmon’s resignation is expected to take effect this month, the party still

has a list of possible candidates to shortlist before making a final decision.

Holder had said that there is a “long list” of persons which can possibly replace Harmon in the National Assembly. No one had been shortlisted as at then, and he could not indicate how many persons were being considered for the position.

“It’s a process. We have to wait until Mr Harmon resigns, and we’ll take it from there. As I have said, we have a number of names, a long list. In terms of who goes to Parliament, the Central Executive has got to make that decision. We have to discuss internally and come up with the most suitable person. There will be no discrimination in that process,” the Chairman told the media.

The PNCR has said it has already engaged other parties in the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and its coalition partner, the Alliance For Change, on the ascension of PNC Leader Aubrey Norton to the position of Opposition Leader.

“The party had made a

Head of APNU/AFC Party List, David Granger

decision that the party leader will become the Leader of the Opposition. This is where we are with that…It’s a process, and much of it is in the public domain already.

We had consultations with APNU and AFC. As far as I am concerned, that’s a done deal. We await March 31, when there is a vacancy, and then we take it from there,” the Chairman had also divulged. (G3)

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body found on "seawalls" identified as hospital IT manager

By LaWanda McAllister

D

ays after the body of a female was found on the foreshore behind the Marriott Hotel at Kingston Georgetown, Regional Police Commander Simon Mc Bean has said that the body has been identified as that of the Information Technology (IT) Manager at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital -- 57-yearold Jennifer Sweetnam of Lot 8 Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Her identity has been confirmed by one of her relatives.

The woman’s body was washed ashore last Thursday, and was found face down on the beach. A passerby discovered the body, and the Police were subsequently alerted.

Sweetnam was reported

missing by her family and friends after they had learnt that she did not show up for work on Thursday. A search party was launched, by it had proved futile.

Commander Mc Bean has said that, based on the information the Police received, the woman had been suffering from some form of depression since 2019. He said the Police are unaware whether the woman had returned home after leaving work on the Wednesday before she was reported missing, but investigators are currently combing through information they have gathered so far to understand what really had transpired.

The commander also stated that a postmortem examination was done on the woman’s body on Wednesday morning, and

Cop walks free on bribery charge, VC refuses to offer evidence

P

olice Constable Mario Parasram, 28, of ‘B’ Field, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, who was charged on January 25 for attempting to pervert the course of justice, has been freed after the virtual complainant in the case refused to give evidence.

The matter was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when it came up for hearing on Wednesday in her Georgetown Court.

Parasram is attached to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

It was alleged that between Wednesday, June 9, 2021 and Tuesday July 6, 2021, Parasram wilfully attempted to obstruct or pervert the course of justice by demanding the sum of $200,000 from one Patris

Police Constable Mario Parasram has had his charge dismissed

Petrie to prevent the institution of a criminal charge against him.

At his first court hearing, he denied the charge and was placed on $100,000 bail.

it gave her cause of death as drowning. The body has since been handed over to relatives.

When Guyana Times visited the woman’s home on Wednesday, this newspaper was told that Sweetnam has been living at the property for about 36 years, but had hardly spoken with anyone in the area. One neighbour has said that unless she greeted her, Sweetnam would not say anything to anyone. Sweetnam had no children, and lived with her brother up until he died last year. She had since been living alone.

Guyana Times was further informed that the woman’s brother had also died suddenly. Her cousin, John Pereira, told this newspaper that he realised something was amiss after he tried to call Sweetnam’s phone on Sunday last and did not get a response. Pereira further expressed concern about how the woman had gone missing. He said something does not add up in regard to how she had met her demise.

“The last time I heard from her was about a week ago, and I tried making contact with her on her cellphone, which was Sunday gone and on Monday, and got nothing… I went to where she used to work and they told me that apparently she was missing,” he said.

He said that her body was later found on the seawall, and her body is at the mortuary.

The man said he immediately informed other family members, and the woman was positively identified as his cousin. He was then told that after the woman did not report for duty, the Police had gone to her home in search of her, but she was not there.

“Normally she does take transportation with a taxi to and from work. She doesn’t catch a bus or anything, so

Permanent interests...

S

Dead: Jennifer Sweetnam

I am unaware of how she ended up at the back of the Marriott Hotel. The taxi driver pick her up from there [work], because it’s a regular taxi that she does use”, he explained. “I don’t know if he tell her anything, or what transpired… When they found her, she was naked, and all her stuff was missing… From what I understand, she had no marks of violence on her body, and they are trying to say its suicide, but I can’t see how it reach to suicide…”, he said.

Pereira said that up until the last time he had spoken to Sweetnam, she had seemed okay and had showed no sign of being depressed. “…she was working, going to work as regular,” he underscored.

The man has said he is hoping that a thorough investigation is done to reveal the truth on how the woman had met her demise. He is also pleading with Police officials to question the driver of the car, who was last seen picking up his cousin at her place of work.

Sweetnam had been working at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital for 38 years, and has been described as a very quiet and dedicated woman.

…against Russia ome folks may be wondering why all this US attention on Russia invading Ukraine when, for the last few years, they’d pivoted against China as the main threat to their superpower status. Well, there’s that small detail of Putin actually ATTACKING the country that the US helped install the Government back in 2014!! How can the US NOT take that personally - especially when the Government ousted was an ally of Russia and the latter retaliated by annexing Crimea??!

It’s clear that Putin was simply biding his time since then, and believes - with the US unwilling to commit American boots to Ukrainian soil - he’ll be able to effect regime change once again, and have Ukraine become the vassal they were since 1783!! So, while the Yanks still see the Chinese Dragon as their #1 threat, they’d be foolish to have Ukraine create a domino effect and have all of Eastern Europe and Eurasia rebuild the formidable Russian Bear. So, it makes sense for the Yanks to remove the western threat, and then return to contain China with their Quad alliance of India, Japan, Australia etc.

So, without troops, what’s Biden to do? Well, the Ukrainians are doing much better than anyone expected, and they might just duplicate Russia’s Afghan disaster back in 1979!! Just as then, the Yanks are providing weapons and training to the guerrilla effort! Then there are the sanctions, which were always gonna be a tough screw to squeeze the Ruskies into submission. But Biden just signalled his seriousness by announcing that, by the end of the year, he’s going to impose a total ban on oil imports from Russia.

Now, since this will mean higher prices at the gas pumps for American voters, you know Biden’s gonna try desperately to soften the blowback. That’s how democracies work?!

And finding new sources of crude to make up for the Russian shortfall is the most obvious way to start. So, it shouldn’t have surprised any but the most naive Guyanese when it was revealed that the Americans had sent some top officials to negotiate with Maduro to supply them with oil. But hold it - didn’t the Yanks slap sanctions on Maduro by banning oil imports for screwing around on democratic elections? And they’d announced that Opposition Leader Guaido was the REAL president!!

Well, Maduro demanded removal of all sanctions, and the Americans demanded than some detained Americans be freed. Guaido wasn’t mentioned! Two Yanks were freed, so we’ll wait for the other foot (feet?) to drop. But what about the US’ commitment to Guaido (and us in 2020), of their absolute commitment to democracies rather than autocracies?

Well, there are no permanent friends, are there? Just permanent interests! …on Agriculture President Ali had announced, in no uncertain terms at every forum presented to him: locally, Caricom and the UN, that even though we may be drowning in oil right now, agriculture’s our ace-in-the-hole to survive that dreaded “Dutch Disease” - which evidently is more contagious than Omicron, when that oil comes out of the ground.

Plus, of course, with food security being number one on everybody’s agenda, agriculture must be nurtured. So, we can expect him to do whatever it takes to make sure our agriculture option doesn’t die on the vine.

Well, we just heard that paddy farmers have been protesting in Berbice that the price from the millers has fallen below their cost of production. Can’t have this, can we? And the millers’ answer that market prices have dropped doesn’t do anything to their plight. So, what’s to be done? Well, our Government has to do what America - the Mecca of free enterprise – does: offer subsidies!!

Which they do to the tune of US$20BILLION!!

And that includes rice! …and allies All politics is local. So, after Rubio criticised Biden: “Rather than produce more American oil, he wants to replace the oil we buy from one murderous dictator with oil from another murderous dictator,” let’s court Rubio.

Again!

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, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Horrific road accidents

Strengthening laws not enough; education, public awareness needed – Attorney General

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Dead: 22-year-old Carlito Gobin

ollowing Monday night’s horrific accident that left three persons dead, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has lashed out against errant road users who contribute to the carnage on Guyana’s roadways.

AG Anil Nandlall made these remarks during his weekly programme, Issues In The News, which was broadcasted and streamed live on

opined that an exercise similar to the ongoing clean-up campaign across the country could be carried out to educate and bring awareness among all road users.

“Perhaps we need a similar type initiative directed towards using our roadways in a safer manner, so that we can begin the process of at least reducing this alarming killing rate that seems to be taking place on the roadways of our country. We sim-

F

“We can’t continue to waste the lives of our people in this callous and negligent manner.

We can strengthen laws, and we may move in that direction and bring greater regulatory framework in place, but it requires much more than that; the laws can only achieve results to a certain extent. It has to do with our culture, it has to do with our behaviour, it has to do with our mentality, it has to do a lot with education and public awareness” – Anil Nandlall Tuesday evening.

He posited that something has to be done to curb the high number of unnecessary deaths on Guyana’s roadways. While hinting at the possibility of strengthening the laws, Nandlall contended that behavioural change is what is needed to curb the high incidents of road fatalities in the country.

“We can’t continue to waste the lives of our people in this callous and negligent manner. We can strengthen laws, and we may move in that direction and bring greater regulatory framework in place, but it requires much more than that; the laws can only achieve results to a certain extent. It has to do with our culture, it has to do with our behaviour, it has to do with our mentality, it has to do a lot with education and public awareness,” the AG contended.

According to Nandlall, a comprehensive comparative analysis could possibly place Guyana with a record of one of the highest traffic accident rates per capita in the Caribbean region. To this end, Nandlall suggested a countrywide approach to reduce the “alarming killing rate” on the roads. He

ply can’t continue with this wasteful carnage of human life. This right here is a human rights tragedy, and this is one area that knows no discrimination; it permeates the entire network of our country.

“So, this is something we have to speak more about, and perhaps at the level of the Government we need to do more. But I don’t think this is the responsibility of the Government alone. This is the duty and responsibility of every single citizen, because it would appear as though no one is safe,” the Attorney General has asserted.

Horrific fatal accident

AG Nandlall’s statement comes on the heels of a horrific fatal accident that occurred on Monday night.

It saw a speeding car being driven by an 18-year-old crashing into a bar on the De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara, and immediately killing three persons who were drinking outside the establishment.

Dead are: 22-year-old Carlito Gobin of De Willem, WCD; 46-year-old Kiran Rampersaud of Zeeburg, WCD; and 44-year-old Ayube

Dead: Kiran Rampersaud

Mohamed of Meten-MeerZorg, WCD. The latter two deceased were fishermen.

Already, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has condemned the reckless behaviour of the young driver, who was reportedly racing with another car driver when he lost control of his vehicle and it slammed into the three deceased, who were bystanders outside of the Sharmilla Harikissoon Sports Bar. In addition to the three deceased, two other persons were struck down during the incident, and they are currently being treated for their injuries.

The teen driver also received injuries about his body, and is currently receiving medical attention under Police guard.

The Home Affairs Minister has pointed out that Guyana had a “successful year” in 2021 as it relates to road fatalities, with a 29% reduction. But based on the statistics so far this year, he said, “we appear to already be in trouble at the rate we’re going”.

Only a few days ago, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill issued a statement that also expressed concern at the alarming rate of road fatalities for the year.

For the year 2021, 99

The mangled car which crashed into the shop leaving three persons dead

Damage to the shop into which the car crashed

persons were killed on the roads, compared to 139 persons for 2020. The 2021 results showed a 29% reduction when compared to 2020.

Comparative data has shown that, as at March 3, 2022, 15 persons were killed on the roadways as a result of 14 accidents, compared with the same period for 2021, when 20 persons died from 19 accidents.

“What is significantly alarming is that, in 2021, 14 of the 20 persons killed at that period were the most vulnerable classes of road users (two pedal cyclists, eight motor cyclists and four pedestrians). While at March 3, 2022, of the 15 killed, the vulnerable classes accounted for seven (two pedal cyclists, three motor cyclists, two pedestrians),” Minister Edghill

has said.

The Public Works Minister had noted, too, that he and his Cabinet colleagues would relook at the current laws and examine ways in which they could ensure “stricter controls, be it the training/re-training of drivers/riders, higher fines or stiffer penalties, and a studied approach for the introduction of a demerit system.” (G8)

10 NEWS Over 100 Venezuelans raid Pomeroon farm in bid to find food THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…given food hampers, escorted out of Region 2

O

ver one hundred Venezuelans of the Warao tribe, including children who were living in the vicinity of Arpiaco, Upper Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were escorted out of the region following reports of illegal occupation and alleged vandalism.

The Venezuelans reportedly arrived in the region via several canoes sometime last week, and settled in the

Some of the Venezuelan families in their canoes

Pomeroon area. However, Guyana Times was told that

while some 125 Venezuelans were paddling up the

Pomeroon River, they made stops and raided several farmlands in order to gather provisions and vegetables to prepare meals.

A farmer whose farm was raided by the group said his entire farmland was stormed, and all of his fruits and vegetables reaped.

"When I entered my farmland, I noticed that something looked different.

My watermelons were missing and a few were burst up and eat up…These people went into my farm and picked my ochro, pumpkin, pull out my cassava, and went away with a few bunch plantain also,” the farmer said.

Additionally, Karawab Toshao Monti Simon said he noticed that the group of Spanish-speaking nationals constructed camps in the area, and as such, he instructed them to clear and occupy a piece of land located in Arpiaco area, Upper Pomeroon River, not too distant from Karawab.

However, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva has said she was told of the incident, and rendered immediate assistance. She noted that a number of food hampers were distributed to the Venezuelans to cook and

Regional officials distributing hampers to the families

provide meals for their families. She also added that measures were put in place to ensure that the refugees remain spacious, owing to health concerns.

"During the distribution of hampers, we managed to communicate with a few of them, because some speak Spanish while some speak Warao language. We understand that they paddled all the way from Region One to settle in Pomeroon… They also told us that more families are on their way coming, and we got scared because it seemed as though we are going to have an influx of migrants,” De Silva told this publication.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Commander Denise Griffith has said that Police became aware of the situation when a farmer reported that persons were raiding his farm. Members

of the Joint Service visited the area and began escorting the refugees to the Charity Wharf via boats, and from Charity they were sent back to Region One (Barima-Waini) via plane.

The Government of Guyana had reiterated several times that it remains mindful of its humanitarian obligations to migrants, and has been actively engaged in sustained efforts to deliver food and medical relief across the regions where migration into Guyana is taking place.

It has also, on several occasions, reassured of its commitment to humane management of the migrant situation stemming from the economic and social instability in neighbouring Venezuela, with the active support of local stakeholders as well as international partners. (G14)

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EEPGL close to finalising US$2B in “default guarantee” – commercial manager …says assets capable of covering unlikely oil spill

of year-end 2020, approximately US$5 billion in assets.

These assets are considered a primary form of financial assurance and are separate from the assets of the other Stabroek Block co-venturers. In fact, Exxon noted that these other co-venturers also have substantial assets and share any liability for response activities.

The Liza Destiny FPSO

W

ith US$5 billion in assets and a further US$2 billion in affiliate company guarantees that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is close to concluding negotiations for, the company is confident of its ability to cover any legitimate expenses in the event of a spill.

This was reinforced by EEPGL’s Vice President and Business Services Manager, Phillip Rietema, who facilitated a sit-down with the media on Wednesday to address issues surrounding financial assurance.

“EEPGL and the other co-venturers are responsible if a spill happens, and we’ll act as quickly as possible to address any environmental incident. In our view, the fact that we’re a worldclass operator makes a major spill very unlikely. But if one were to occur, we have the financial and technical resources to address it,” Rietema explained.

“We’ve procured industry-standard insurance for the benefit of ExxonMobil Guyana and the co-venturers. So, if we have costs associated with an environmental incident, after we pay for those expenses, we could then go to our insurance companies and file a claim against our policy, and they would reimburse us for these expenses.”

According to Rietema,

ExxonMobil Guyana would act immediately in the event of an oil spill, using the primary resources of both it and its co-venturers to mitigate whatever environmental damage caused and settle legitimate claims.

Filing an insurance claim for whatever Exxon spent on a hypothetical clean-up only would occur post-oil spill and only if the expenses have passed the insurance deductible. There is also an affiliate company guarantee, which Rietema said is close to being concluded with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“We have insurance that is for our benefit. If we do not address all of the environmental obligations, then we have affiliate company guarantees, that’s $2 billion, that would be for the benefit of Guyana.

“So, if EEPGL, Hess, CNOOC, if we all default – very, very unlikely… then we’re also providing guarantees from other companies within our group, that would be for the benefit of Guyana. It’s very close (to being concluded) – very, very soon. Final details are being worked out,” the Business Services Manager further explained.

It had previously been pointed out by the company that EEPGL, ExxonMobil’s local affiliate operator of the Stabroek Block, was established in 1998, and had, as

The company had also noted that in Guyana, it adhered to an internationally-accepted, tiered response system used to determine the requirements of response personnel and equipment in the case of an oil spill.

This system, it had noted, is aligned with the principles of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response

and Cooperation (OPRC), the Caribbean Island Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation and the National Oil Spill Response Plan of Guyana that was implemented in 2021. All of this combine to provide an efficient framework to build preparedness and response capabilities matching the oil spill risks from any of its operations.

(G3)

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US-based Guyanese stabbed to death at brother’s wedding celebration …main suspect recently released from prison

Dead: Lakan Chatterpaul

A

21-year-old overseas-based Guyanese was stabbed to death during the wee hours of Wednesday morning at Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is 21-year-old Lakan Chatterpaul of Ohio, USA. The young man was reportedly stabbed while standing up against a group of thugs who had invaded a family event.

He and five other family members had arrived in

Guyana some two weeks ago to attend his brother’s wedding, which was being celebrated on Sunday.

Chatterpaul was reportedly stabbed to death during an altercation with three men who showed up at his relatives’ house during a party at Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek. He was reportedly stabbed once in the vicinity of the heart, and collapsed and died before receiving medical attention.

Reports are that the three suspects were asked to leave the yard, and they went onto the street and started damaging vehicles owned by persons who had remained at the celebration. This resulted in most of the males running out to chase them away. During the ordeal, Chatterpaul got into an altercation with one of the perpetrators, during which he was stabbed.

Two of the suspects were apprehended and handed over to the Police, but the main suspect escaped. The suspects are brothers, and live in close proximity to

where the wedding celebrations were being held.

A resident in the area told this publication that at some time between 03:00h and 3:30h he heard screaming, and he ran outside, where he saw the young man lying on the ground.

According to Zaman

marijuana in their possession.

“I go to the back to use the bathroom, and when I coming back, I see dem man rolling dope. So, I go and tell them that they can’t roll the dope in me yard. This is my place; you’ll come out of the yard.”

Zaman Silvanish pointing to the spot where he saw his grandson lying in a pool of blood

One of the cars that were damaged by the suspects

Silvanish, grandfather of the deceased, his grandson had asked the suspect to leave the yard.

The grandfather said he noticed the men in the yard with what appeared to be

He further revealed that while they were walking out of the yard, one of the suspects hit him in the ribcage.

“I didn’t tell he nothing. I go back in the yard, and they start cuss up and thing, and tell me how they gon kill me. Well, me ent worry with dem. Me just go back in the yard and lock up and go upstairs.”

Silvanish said he locked

the door and left several female family members under the house, and shortly after, he received information that his grandson was stabbed and had died.

The 59-year-old grandfather said that when he went to the scene, he saw Chatterpaul lying in a pool of blood.

According to one resident, the two suspects who were apprehended were unable to run. The eyewitness said one of them may have suffered a broken leg.

According to the 59-yearold grandfather, he is well acquainted with all three

suspects. He said they are all brothers.

“This boy that bore him, is only about two days now he come out from jail. Al three of them living over there,” he said as he pointed to the next street.

Meanwhile, Chatterpaul and the five other family members were expected to leave Guyana on Monday.

He had migrated three years ago, and this was his first trip back home.

Police are continuing their investigation of this incident, and are on a manhunt for the third suspect.

(Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP has done well in championing gender equality – AG O n the occasion of International Women’s Day – observed on Tuesday under the theme “Break The Bias” – Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall reflected on and recognised the significant contributions Guyanese women have made in moulding the society and building the country.

During his weekly programme, “Issues In The News”, he posited that many of these gains were made possible under various People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administrations over the years.

“In Guyana, I believe that we have accomplished a lot in the area of gender equality… Guyana has done well. We, in this [PPP] Government, have done well in championing the cause of gender equality and securing an equal place in our country for our womenfolk,” Nandlall asserted.

According to the AG, not only has the Party supported women in the struggle for equality but led in this regard from the front with leaders such as Janet Jagan – who was named by TIME Magazine in 2011 as one of history’s 16 most rebellious women.

Jagan was the first female Prime Minister (1997) and President of Guyana (1997-1999).

She also served in several other senior posts in the country including at the ministerial level as well as outside the State apparatus. In addition to her political career, the US-born Jagan also helped pioneer women rights ‘activism.

“We have had good leadership from our women fraternity leading

the charge in the struggle to bring gender equality,” Nandlall noted.

The Attorney General went on to highlight that Guyana’s legal system has mechanisms entrenched to prevent any discrimination against women. Those mechanisms, he said, are enshrined in the Constitution as a fundamental right.

In fact, he outlined that this fundamental right protects women from any form of discrimination by the State of Guyana or any public officer or agency on any ground stemming from gender-related issues.

“In every sphere of activities at the level of the Government and at the level of the State, we have policies, we have mechanisms and we have protective safeguards against discrimination in any form or fash-

ion against women,” the AG stated.

Nandlall further detailed the many steps taken in Guyana over the years to protect women and support the removal of barriers that treat them differently than men.

These include the establishment of the Women and Gender Equality Commission to advance the cause of gender equality and to protect our women from discrimination. According to Nandlall, there are very few countries in the Caribbean with such a constitutional body.

“Sometimes we need to celebrate what we have accomplished… It is in these moments and on these occasions that we must reflect upon the accomplishments that we have made

as a country and as a people, so that we can appreciate what are the challenges going forward,” he stressed.

Additionally, the Attorney General also mentioned that a series of legislation was introduced in the Statue books all designed to advance gender equality and protect women from discrimination.

Among these are the Equal Rights Act which guarantees, outside of Government and the State, equal treatment for women especially in the area of employment; the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act which protects women from being dismissed, disciplined or discriminated against for women-related issues such as pregnancies; and the Removal of Discrimination Act which protects children, including females, who are born out of wedlock and ensure equal status as those born in wedlock.

Reference was also made to the Domestic Violence Act, which not only created a series of criminal offences for abuse meted out to victims – who are mostly females – but also empowers the Magistrate to remove male abusers from the home even if he owns it, as well as the Sexual Offences Act which is dedicated largely to protect victims – again, who are mostly women and young girls.

There was also other legislation implemented that guaranteed matrimonial rights for women such as the Married Person Property Law, which allows a woman to claim equal rights to matrimonial assets whether they work or not when a marriage is be-

ing dissolved, and also recognises common-law unions that last for more than five years entitle the female partners to the same rights as married women.

Then there is the Civil Law Amendment Act, which empowers women who are not legally married and whose partners have died, to have equal rights to apply to court for Letters of Administration to the estate of the spouse.

According to AG Nandlall, these are sufficient citations “…to illustrate that we have a commendable framework of legislation, policies, concepts and mechanisms within our governmental architecture as well as within the State apparatus that aggregate to form a formidable, protective network in respect of women and to advance the cause of gender equality”.

He asserted that these institutional frameworks have allowed women to make significant contributions and gain similarly significant achievements in Guyana, where the Judiciary has also been leading in this regard.

Guyana was the first country in the Caribbean to have a female High Court Judge, female Chief Justice, and female Chancellor – all in the person of Retired Justice Desiree Bernard, who also served as the first female Judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Further, the top judicial posts are currently held by females: acting Chancellor Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; acting Chief Justice Roxane George and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack among others. (G8)

2 busted with $6.5M worth of cocaine in car

R

The men who were arrested by CANU ranks

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday intercepted a motor car and discovered $6.5 million worth of cocaine within the vehicle.

At the time, the officers were conducting an intelligence-led operation at Guyhoc Park, Tucville, Georgetown.

A release from the Unit stated that when the

car was stopped, two occupants were in the vehicle. They were identified as a 43-year-old man who resides at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Housing Scheme in West

Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and a 35-year-old man who resides at Gibson Street, Tucville.

The duo was arrested.

The cocaine, which was contained in five packages, was taken to the CANU Headquarters for testing.

The total weight was 5.814 kilogram with a street value of $6.5 million.

Less than two weeks ago, two suspects who were trafficking some $17 million worth of ganja opened fire on CANU ranks during an operation at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The CANU officers had intercepted motor car PKK 4588 during which 129.6lbs of marijuana were found and seized.

However, the two men who were in the vehicle opened fire when confronted by the law enforcement officials. The suspects managed to flee the scene.

CANU said it was sus-

The cocaine that was discovered by CANU ranks

pected that the illegal drug was intended for trans-shipment to Suriname. It also

noted too that the substance was worth a street value of $17,640,000. (G9)

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court rules to proceed with case filed by non-existent PSC …AG appeals decision

A

ttorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, is appealing a decision made

by High Court Justice Gino Persaud to dismiss his application that sought to have the legal proceedings filed by the Police Service Commission (PSC) thrown out.

The PSC had, in July last year, challenged its June 2021 suspension by President Dr Irfaan Ali, saying it was unconstitutional. But the life of the three-year Commission expired on August 8, following which the AG filed a Notice of Application the following month, seeking to dismiss the proceedings filed by the PSC. A new PSC has not been constituted as yet.

Nandlall had argued, during the last court hearing in November 2021, that since the life of the PSC has expired, the Commission has no legal authority to continue the judicial review proceedings it had filed.

“The Commission can only act if it has a quorum. Despite vacancies, decisions may be made, but provided that there is a quorum. Inferentially, if the Commission is not constituted, it cannot have a quorum in law, and therefore it cannot act,” the Attorney General contended.

However, during his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Persaud found that the issues raised in the substantive case filed by the PSC are matters of public interest. Hence, citing a slew of both local and overseas cases, the High Court judge was of the view that the issue of the legality of the commissioners’ suspension “…should be heard and determined on its merits, being a matter of public interest.”

“To hold otherwise would be to leave the legality of the suspension hanging - never to be adjudicated upon simply because of the inescapable fact that the life of the Commissioners came to an end after filing these proceedings. This does not seem to me either logical or fair, but rather an affront to fairness, natural justice, access to justice, and indeed the rule of law… A hearing and determination would serve to bring clarity to the role of the Executive in such instances, and ensure that the constitutionally-granted autonomy of the PSC remains protected,” Justice Persaud stated.

In addition, to rule on the public interest of the court, the trial judge also made a decision on whether the former PSC Chairman Paul Slowe, who swore the Affidavit in Support of the proceedings filed, has sufficient interest to continue the proceedings and be substituted as the Applicant in the place of the Police Service Commission, since it is expired.

Sufficient interest

Also citing case laws to support his decision, Justice Persaud found that Slowe “… has a sufficient interest, since he is directly affected together with the locus standi to continue the proceedings, and

the Court can properly, under its inherent jurisdiction, order that he be substituted as the Applicant in the place and stead of the Police Service Commission, to facilitate the just and effective resolution of the matters in dispute before the Court.”

To this end, the High Court Judge ordered that Slowe be substituted in the place of the PSC as the Applicant of the proceedings, and that the rubric be amended accordingly to reflect the ruling.

However, at the beginning of his ruling on Wednesday, which was delivered virtually, Justice Persaud did comment that suspended Commissioners, who are being represented by Attorneysat-law Dexter Smart, Dexter Todd and Selwyn Pieters, were not “properly advised” when they instituted the substantive proceedings in the name of the PSC, especially given the fact that they were already suspended and were aware that the end of their three-year term was imminent. He opined that they should have filed the proceedings in their individual capacity instead.

Nevertheless, with the Head of State already removed as a party to the proceedings, following a ruling

by Justice Persaud that the President enjoys absolute immunity from the judicial process, the PSC’s case against Prime Minister Mark Phillips, the Attorney General, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, and the Commission’s Secretary was slated to commence. In fact, the trial judge had even given instructions and timelines for the parties to file their respective pleadings.

Notice of Appeal

But being in disagreement with the decision of the High Court Judge, AG Nandlall on Wednesday afternoon filed a Notice of Appeal at the Full Court of the High Court of Guyana, seeking to appeal the ruling.

He is asking that Justice Persaud’s decision be set aside and reversed, saying it is misconceived and erroneous in law.

“The Learned Hearing Judge has misinterpreted, misconstrued, and misapplied the important doctrine of ‘public interest litigation’ in such a manner that the decision of the Learned Hearing Judge has resulted in a grave miscarriage of justice… The learned Hearing Judge erred and misdirected himself in law by ruling that Mr Paul Slowe be substituted instead and in place of the Guyana Police Service Commission, a constitutional body, for the purpose of continuing judicial review proceedings in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

The Attorney General further argued in his Appeal Notice that the High Court ruling violates the doctrine of separation of powers, and violates Article 226 of the Constitution as well as undermines the independence

and functional autonomy of the PSC, guaranteed by the Constitution.

He contended that, “The decision of the Learned Hearing Judge is unlawful, unconstitutional, and is not supported by established legal principles and doctrines…

The decision of the Learned Hearing Judge potentially permits Paul Slowe, a citizen, to usurp, interfere with, compromise, undermine, and assume the functions of the Police Service Commission, a constitutional body established by the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in breach of the said Constitution.”

AG Nandlall also indicated that since the Judge’s decision paves the way for PSC’s substantive case to proceed, he will soon also be filing a

Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Slowe sexually assaulted a senior Policewoman by rubbing her left leg and foot without her consent.

President Ali suspended the PSC weeks after the Prime Minister had written to Slowe and Conway, asking them to show cause why the fraud charges against them should not result in their removal from the Commission.

In that letter, the Prime Minister had said he was exercising powers vested in him by Article 225 of the Constitution, which mandates that a person shall not be removed from a constitutional office except for inability to discharge their function, or for misbehaviour.

That article further provides that a constitutional office holder can be removed by the President if an appointed tribunal recommends the removal of that person. The tribunal is to be appointed following the advice of a prescribed authority, in this case the Prime Minister, and is to be constituted in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The JSC is currently not functioning. The last JSC was appointed by former

Notice of Application, seeking to stay the proceedings.

President Ali had suspended the PSC after its Chairman at the time, Slowe, and Commissioner Clinton Conway – both retired Assistant Commissioners of Police – were slapped with fraud charges.

They, along with other retired and serving members of the Police Force, have been implicated in a $10 million fraud over duties delegated to them for revising the Police Force’s raft of Standing Orders. It is alleged that they collected payments amounting to $10 million, but never provided the Force with a raft of revised Standing Orders.

Slowe is also facing three counts of sexual assault. It is alleged that on three occasions in 2019, at Police

President Donald Ramotar on September 11, 2014. The tenure of each appointed member is for three years; therefore, the tenure of the last Commission expired since September 12, 2017.

The PSC is vested with the authority to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in high office within the Police Force, or even remove them from office.

The PSC also deals with the promotion of Policemen above the rank of Inspector.

The Government, on June 28, rejected as unlawful and illegal a list of purported promotions of members of the Police Force issued by the PSC. In so doing, Nandlall reminded that the PSC was suspended by the President in the exercise of powers conferred upon him by the Constitution.

The Attorney General had made it clear that the decision of the President can only be rescinded, revoked, set aside, or reversed by the President himself, or by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“No person, let alone a constitutional commission, will be allowed to become judge, jury, and executioner in our constitutional democracy. The rule of law simply does not permit it,” he said. (G8)

34-year-old woman new COVID-19 death

…14 new cases, 4 in ICU

A

34-year-old unvaccinated woman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is the country’s latest COVID-19 fatality.

The Health Ministry reported that the woman died on March 8, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in Guyana to 1,224.

Additionally, the country has recorded 14 new cases of the virus, taking the total positives detected since March 2020 to 63,090. These new cases were as follows: two cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); nine in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and three in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

According to the Health Ministry’s updated dashboard, there are four persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 16 in institutional isolation, 228 in home isolation, and 16 in institutional quarantine.

Get vaccinated

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony again on Wednesday urged persons to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In his daily update, the Minister said the Ministry has a number of vaccines available, including AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Sinopharm and Sputnik V. He explained that some persons are still to take their second dose of the Sputnik V. He is encouraging those persons to visit any vaccination site to get their jabs.

The current first dose vaccination rate among the adult population stands at 84.8 percent, while 64.7 per-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 9, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

14

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

16

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

228 4

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

16

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,041

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,049

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,090

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,618

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2517

REGION 2

2479

REGION 3

8033

REGION 4

31,187

REGION 5

2372

REGION 6

5723

REGION 7

2422

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4005

REGION 10

3465

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

432,381 328,273

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1224

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.

cent has taken both doses of the vaccine.

As it relates to the adolescent population, 46.4 percent has taken a first dose, while 33.6 percent has taken both doses.

So far only 53,455 persons have returned for their booster doses.

“We keep encouraging people to ensure you come out and get your vaccines,” Dr Anthony has said.

Meanwhile, a new vac-

cine, Novovax, has been making rounds in several countries, as it has received emergency use authorisation by the World Health Organization.

The vaccine uses protein similar to the spike protein which causes a reaction from the body. “If your body comes in contact with any of these viruses that spike part of the virus, which is how it is presented to your immune system, your immune system

would immediately recognise it and would be able to react,” Dr Anthony has said.

This technology was also used in other vaccines, like the HPV. “The world would have had experience making these vaccines, and they have worked very well,” Dr Anthony has said. Efficacy is in the 90 percent rate, and it is found it to be “extremely safe,” the Health Minister has added.

NEWS

17

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Kidney Day 2022

“Kidney health for all”: bridging the gap in kidney health, education, literacy – Kidney Foundation T here is a high burden of kidney disease and disparities that exist globally in kidney care, said the Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG). Today’s observance of World Kidney Day has been themed, “Kidney Health for All”, highlighting the issue of bridging the gap in global understanding of kidney disease and its health literacy.

According to the Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG), there are poor outcomes associated with kidney failure which bring a concomitant growing burden to persons affected, their families, and caregivers, and the community at large.

“For kidney care to improve, we need to improve the education of the population. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which persons and organisations enable themselves or individuals with the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.

Improving health literacy largely rests with healthcare providers communicating and effectively educating those with kidney disease,” the Foundation said in its message.

Citing an example, it noted that most people were not aware of what kidneys are for or even where their kidneys are located and as such, when these persons become afflicted by disease and the subsequent effects on overall health, effective health-care provider communication is required to support individuals to be able to understand what to do, to make decisions, and

to take action.

“Persons will make the right decisions for themselves when they are educated about their condition and available options.

Empowering patients is an essential part of healthcare delivery. Health literacy involves more than functional abilities of an individual; it is also the cognitive and social skills needed to gain access to, understand, and use information to manage health conditions,” the KFG said.

This, the Foundation said, is why the imperatives around health literacy are now recognised as

indicators for the quality of local and national health care systems and healthcare professionals within them. For chronic kidney disease (CKD), as the disease progresses alongside other health changes and increasing treatment complexities, it becomes more difficult for individuals to manage.

“Therefore, current approaches need to be shifted forward towards patient education and empowerment. Low health literacy in people with CKD has been demonstrated to be associated with poor CKD knowledge, poor self-management behaviours, and reduced quality of life,” the KFG said in its message.

It added that it has recognised that it takes a nation to improve kidney care and there must be interactions among individuals, health-care providers, and health policymakers. It added that it was partnering with several governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations to bridge the gap in understanding kidney disease and its health

literacy. Priority areas, it said, include providing educational materials for patients and families across the country; educational and training sessions for patients and medical professionals on kidney disease and dialysis; and producing a nutrition booklet for Guyanese to promote healthy diets.

“Non-physician healthcare workers, including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, and other allied health professionals, serve an important role in the care of persons with kidney disease as they spend more time with these patients during encounters,” the Foundation noted.

It pointed out that there were many opportunities for care providers to educate patients with kidney diseases. Patients are encouraged to ask questions and to have discussions with their health-care team. The health centres, the Foundation said, can help identify those with or at risk of developing CKD and can initiate educat-

Dr Areefa Alladin, Chair of the KFG

ing those persons and their family members about the role of diet and lifestyle modification for prevention of CKD. They can also identify and manage risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension which can lead to preservation of kidney function. (Adapted by Guyana Kidney Foundation from WKD 2022 and NIDDK.nih.gov)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

Regional

Bolsonaro suffers setback on Cubans protest at Havana Embassy bill to mine Indigenous lands as Panama tightens visa requirements

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B

razil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, suffered a setback on Wednesday in his effort to rush through a law that would allow mining on Indigenous reservations, which he had argued was necessary because Brazil needed fertiliser supplies.

Party whips in the Lower House of Congress did not agree to rush to a vote, amid concerns that voters might be angered in an election year, and Speaker Arthur Lira said a working group would be set up to study the bill and report back in 30 days.

The Government’s Chief Whip had gathered enough signatures to fast-track the bill known as PL 191/2020, which means that it can be put to a full vote without committee hearings.

Brazil, one of the world’s top food producers and the largest importer of potash, relies on imports for 85 per cent of fertilisers for its grain crops. A quarter of Brazil’s potash demand has usually been met by Russia, which halted exports when the Ukraine war began.

Brazil has large reserves of potash underground in the

Brazilian Indigenous women perform a ritual dance during a protest against President Jair Bolsonaro’s environmental policies next to the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, March 8, 2022

Amazon rainforest, including in and around lands inhabited by Indigenous people, whose concerns have held up some mining projects for years, notably the Autazes project controlled by Canadian investment bank Forbes & Manhattan.

Bolsonaro, who has cut back environmental enforcement in the Amazon and defunded the Government’s Indigenous protection agency, Funai, has long pushed for more mining and commercial farming in the Amazon to create jobs and reduce poverty.

But lawmakers were reluctant to vote hastily on the Indigenous mining bill on a day that several thousand Brazilians gathered outside Congress to protest legislative proposals backed

by Bolsonaro that would weaken environmental protection and allow mining on Indigenous lands.

The “Earth Event” was called by popular singer Caetano Veloso, who met with Senate Head Rodrigo Pacheco to ask for his help blocking the bills when they reach the upper chamber.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Peru’s Congress approves Cabinet as President faces new impeachment attempt

P

eru’s Congress confirmed President Pedro Castillo’s new Cabinet early on Wednesday – his fourth in just seven months in office – shortly after a group of Opposition lawmakers launched a new impeachment effort to try to oust the leftist leader.

Lawmakers voted 6458 in favour following a lengthy session that started on Tuesday, but went well after midnight to approve the new Government led

by Prime Minister Anibal Torres, a lawyer and former Justice Minister, who is a close ally of Castillo.

The approval comes as Castillo faces an impeachment effort by Opposition

lawmakers, having already survived one last year.

Some 50 legislators out of a total of 130 in the country’s unicameral Congress filed an impeachment motion on Tuesday that alleges Castillo is morally unfit for office, citing 20 supposed violations that include the testimony of a lobbyist who has publicly accused him of corruption.

Public approval of Castillo, who denies the accusations, hovers below 30 per cent in recent polls, though the former rural schoolteacher has gained some ground recently amid unprecedented turnover among his Ministers.

Castillo’s presidency has

been riddled by scandals and political instability.

Since taking office in July, he has replaced Cabinet Members faster than any administration in recent history. His previous Prime Minister lasted only days before resigning due to allegations of domestic violence.

Those pushing for impeachment face an uphill battle to actually remove Castillo from office and would eventually require 87 votes to do so. While the legislature is controlled by the Opposition, an earlier impeachment attempt in December failed to gain enough votes.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

he Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa Etienne Wednesday warned countries that it was too soon to lower their guards as the world observes the second anniversary of the coronavirus (COVID-19) being characterised as a pandemic.

“When places relax measures at the wrong moment, transmission spikes dangerously and we lose more lives,” Dr Etienne said as public health measures are being lifted in many parts of the Americas, including the Caribbean.

The Dominica-born Dr Etienne urged countries to base decisions on risk assessments and health data, and to tighten public health guidance if cases go up.

“COVID-19 is likely to be here to stay. We must learn to live with this virus, and quickly adapt to new changes,” she told the weekly PAHO news conference.

Reflecting on the past two years of the pandemic, Dr Etienne said that the Americas has been hit harder than any other region in the world, with more than 2.6 million lives lost – half of all global

deaths.

“This is a tragedy of enormous proportions, and its effects will be felt for years to come,” the PAHO Director said, warning that “the pandemic is still a threat today”, with countries experiencing record numbers of new infections during the Omicron wave, and the Americas accounting for 63 per cent of new global cases in the first two months of 2022 alone.

“We all want the pandemic to be over, but optimism alone cannot control the virus,” she said, calling for countries to keep a “finger on the pulse”.

(Excerpt from CMC)

pwards of 400 Cubans, many holding passports and plane tickets, gathered at Panama’s Embassy in Havana on Wednesday protesting new visa requirements that hinder those in a growing wave of migrants hoping to pass through the Central American nation and north to the United States.

Several protesters told Reuters they had already booked flights for the coming days, only to awaken that morning to the decision by Panama to require a “transit” visa for any Cuban arriving at the Panama City airport.

Anisley Peña wept beside

her nine-year-old son Densel just outside the Embassy gates. She told Reuters the two were slated to travel to Panama and then on a connecting flight to Nicaragua Wednesday afternoon. Now their plans were in limbo, she said.

“I’m desperate. I was supposed to be at the airport at 10 in the morning and here I am with no news or anything. It’s my boy’s birthday,” she said.

The crowd chanted “We want a response, we want a response” behind a Police cordon. Late in the afternoon, the Embassy released a statement on social media clarifying the visa requirement would come into effect

beginning Sunday.

The Embassy told passengers scheduled on flights to Panama between March 13 and the end of the month to rebook for a later date to allow time to apply for the US$50 visa.

Demand for flights from Havana to cities in Central America has soared after Nicaragua in November lifted visa requirements for Cuban nationals. This opened a new avenue for migration north to Mexico and the United States.

Most direct flights are sold out, leaving multi-stop flights through neighbouring countries as the only option for many Cubans.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela frees 2 Americans after talks with US

V

enezuela released two jailed US citizens on Tuesday in an apparent goodwill gesture toward the Biden Administration following a visit to Caracas by a high-level US delegation.

One of the freed prisoners was Gustavo Cardenas, among six Citgo oil executives arrested in 2017 and convicted on charges the US Government says were fabricated. The other was a Cuban-American, identified as Jorge Alberto Fernandez, detained on unrelated charges.

“Tonight, two Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela will be able to hug their families once more,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

“We are bringing Gustavo Cardenas and Jorge Fernandez home,” he said. He gave no more details about their release.

The weekend visit by the US delegation focused not only on the fate of detained

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro

Americans but on the possibility of easing US oil sanctions on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member to fill a supply gap if Biden banned Russian oil imports in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine – something he did on Tuesday.

Venezuela is Russia’s closest ally in South America.

Washington has sought the release of at least nine men, including those known as the “Citgo 6”, two former Green Berets and a former US Marine.

The freeing of the two could set a more positive tone for talks between the United States and Venezuela, which have had hostile relations through successive American Administrations.

The US delegation, the highest-ranking to travel to Venezuela in recent years, met the detainees on Sunday in a Venezuelan prison. US hostage envoy Roger Carstens was part of the group, and he was believed to have stayed behind to finalise the release.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Caricom strongly condemns invasion of Ukraine

T PAHO warns too soon to lower COVID-19 guard T

he Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community have strongly condemned the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine. In a press release issued Wednesday, Caricom called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to all acts of aggression.

The following is a press release from CARICOM: We, the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community strongly condemn the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to all acts of aggression, the urgent withdrawal of Russian military forces in Ukraine. Any concerns the Russian Federation may have must be resolved diplomatically and not through

warfare.

We reaffirm the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and call for respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

We call on all parties involved to urgently intensify diplomatic dialogue and to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards sustainable peace.

The invasion of Ukraine is causing untold loss and destruction of life and property for the civilian population of Ukraine, including women and children, in violation of international humanitarian law, and has caused a growing humanitarian crisis.

We express appreciation to the Governments and people of neighbouring countries who are extending humanitarian services to refu-

gees fleeing Ukraine. We are particularly concerned about the plight of and discrimination against non-European nationals and call for the guarantee of the safety and security of nationals of the Caribbean, Latin American and Africa and from those countries who are seeking to leave Ukraine. In this regard, we underscore the importance of respect for human rights and the human dignity of persons in keeping with international commitments.

We reiterate that the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state, the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of all disputes must be adhered to by all nations.

(Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices fall most in 2 years as UAE supports output hike

G

lobal oil prices fell on Wednesday by the most in nearly two years after Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member the United Arab Emirates said it supported pumping more oil into a market roiled by supply disruptions due to sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

Brent crude futures settled down US$16.84, or 13.2 per cent, at US$111.14 a barrel, their biggest one-day decline since April 21, 2020. US crude futures ended down US$15.44, or 12.5 per cent, at US$108.70, their biggest daily decline since November.

"We favour production increases and will be encouraging OPEC to consider higher production levels," Ambassador Yousuf Al Otaiba said in a statement tweeted by the UAE Embassy in Washington.

The UAE and neighbour Saudi Arabia are among the few members of the Organisation with spare capacity that could increase output.

The United States has called on oil producers worldwide to increase production if they can.

"In this moment of crisis we need more supply," US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told attendees at an industry event in Houston.

"Right now we need oil and gas production to rise to meet current demand."

Additional supply from OPEC could compensate for some supply shortfalls created by disruption to Russia's oil sales by economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other Governments.

"That (potential output hike) is not nothing. They (UAE) can probably bring about 800,000 barrels to the market very quickly, even immediately, bringing us one-seventh of the way there in replacing Russian supply," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

OPEC's language shifted this week when its Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo said supply was increasingly lagging behind demand.

Just a week ago, the group and its allies, known as OPEC+, blamed surging prices on geopolitics rather than any lack of supply and decided against increasing output any faster. OPEC+, which includes Russia, has been targeting an increase in output of 400,000 barrels per day every month, and had resisted demands from the United States and other consuming countries to pump more.

Russia is the world's top exporter of crude and fuel, shipping around seven million bpd or seven per cent of global supplies.

Oil prices had already fallen during the session after the International Energy Agency (IEA) said crude reserves could be tapped further.

"If there's a need, if our governments decide so, we can bring more oil to the markets, as one part of the response," said IEA chief Faith Birol.

Birol said the IEA decision last week to release 60 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves was "an initial response".

US Strategic Petroleum Reserve levels fell last week to their lowest since July 2002, as the Biden Administration had already approved releases in November as part of a larger effort to boost the US fuel supply. (Reuters)

Ukraine’s children’s hospital hit by Russian air strike

U

nited Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says “senseless violence must stop” as the bombing of a children’s hospital in besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, drew condemnation.

Meanwhile Ukrainian Volodymyr President Zelenskyy has described the attack on the hospital in the south-eastern city of Mariupol as a “war crime” after it prompted international condemnation.

“We have not done and would never do anything like this war crime in any of the cities of the Donetsk or Luhansk regions, or of any region… because we are people. But are you?”

Zelenskyy said, switching to Russian to make his point.

“What kind of a country is Russia, that it is afraid of hospitals and maternity wards and destroys them?” he said.

He also posted footage apparently from inside the hospital, which appeared badly damaged.

A regional official told Ukrainian media that at least 17 people were injured, including staff and patients.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk regional administration which includes the port city of Mariupol, said no deaths had been confirmed, and there were no confirmed injuries amongst children. He said the attack happened during an agreed ceasefire

I

Parliament.

Appearing before cameras following the talks, Erdogan described the Israeli President’s visit as “historic” and “a turning point” in Turkish-Israeli relations. He said Turkey was ready to cooperate with Israel in the energy sector, adding that the Turkish Foreign and Energy Ministers would soon visit Israel for more talks on increased cooperation.

“Our common goal is to revitalise political dialogue be-

with the Russian side, according to Interfax Ukraine.

The Mariupol city council said the strike had caused "colossal damage", and published footage showing burned out buildings, destroyed cars and a huge crater outside the hospital.

The BBC has verified the location of the videos.

"We don't understand how it's possible in modern life to bomb a children's hospital. People cannot believe that it's true," Mariupol Deputy Mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC. The White House condemned the "barbaric" use of force against innocent civilians, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that "there are few things more depraved than targeting the vulnerable and defenceless".

Mariupol has been surrounded by Russian forces for several days, and repeated attempts at a ceasefire to allow civilians to leave have broken down.

"The whole city remains

without electricity, water, food, whatever and people are dying because of dehydration," Olena Stokoz of Ukraine's Red Cross told the BBC, adding that her organisation would continue trying to organise an evacuation corridor.

Deputy Mayor Orlov said at least 1170 civilians had been killed in the city since Russia began its bombardment, and that 47 people there were buried in a mass grave on Wednesday, although those figures have not been independently verified.

The UN says it has verified 516 civilian deaths across Ukraine, but it believes the real figures are "considerably higher".

Russia insists that it does not target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, around 48,000 Ukrainians have been evacuated through humanitarian corridors around the country, according to the deputy head of the presidential administra-

South Korea: Opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol elected President

S

outh Korea has chosen Opposition candidate Yoon Sukyeol as the country's next President following a closerun race.

The governing Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung admitted defeat early Thursday morning, apologising to supporters for his "shortcomings".

Conservative Yoon called his win a "victory of the great people".

Israel and Turkey hail new era in relations, but divisions remain

srael and Turkey have announced a new era in relations following more than a decade of diplomatic rupture, as Israeli President Isaac Herzog made a landmark visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Herzog’s Turkey trip, which included talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, was the first by an Israeli President since 2007, when the late Shimon Peres addressed the Turkish

The damaged maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine [Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo]

tion, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

The majority of them – 43,000 – left the city of Sumy in eastern Ukraine close to the Russian border.

A further 3500 were evacuated from towns on the outskirts of Kyiv which have come under heavy shelling and are mostly occupied by Russian forces.

Some civilians were able to leave Irpin, north-west of Kyiv, which was the site of heavy shelling earlier this week sparking scenes of panic as residents were forced to evacuate using a makeshift bridge.

Over 1000 civilians travelled in a convoy from Enerhodar in the south to the city of Zaporizhzhia.

The International Monetary Fund has said its executive board approved US$1.4 billion in emergency financing for Ukraine to help meet urgent spending needs and mitigate the economic impact of Russia’s military invasion.

“The Russian military invasion of Ukraine has been responsible for a massive humanitarian and economic crisis,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said, predicting a deep recession in Ukraine this year.

“Financing needs are large, urgent, and could rise significantly as the war continues,” she said.

Once the war was over, Ukraine was likely to need additional “large support”.

(Excerpt from Reuters and Al Jazeera)

tween our countries based on common interests and respect for mutual sensitivities,” Erdogan said The visit was a “very important moment for the relations between our countries, and a great honour for the two of us to lay the foundations of developing friendly relations between our countries and nations, and to build bridges essential to us all”, Herzog said in a statement in Hebrew. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Both candidates have been accused of running negative campaigns, and ended separated by less than one per cent of the vote.

Wednesday's election saw a high turnout, with

more than three quarters of eligible voters casting their ballots.

Top of voters' concerns were skyrocketing house prices, stagnant economic growth, and stubborn youth unemployment.

The White House has already sent its congratulations to Yoon, saying US President Joe Biden is looking forward to further expanding the two countries’ ties. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Man given genetically modified pig heart dies

T

he first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig has died.

David Bennett, who had terminal heart disease, survived for two months following the surgery in the US. But his condition began to deteriorate several days ago, his doctors in Baltimore said, and the 57-year-old died on March 8.

Bennett knew the risks attached to the surgery, acknowledging before the procedure it was "a shot in the dark".

Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center were granted a special dispensation by the US medical regulator to carry out the procedure, on the basis

Surgeon Bartley P Griffith pictured with David Bennett earlier this month

that Bennett – who was ineligible for a human transplant – would otherwise have died.

He had already been bed-

ridden for six weeks leading up to the surgery, attached to a machine which was keeping him alive. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Find out all you can. Being well-informed will help you take control of whatever situation you encounter. Don't let someone's uncertainty leave you in a quandary. Be decisive.

(March 21-April 19) Work to stay focused on your goals.

Take the high road, regardless of what others do. Change only what's necessary and stick to a budget you can afford.

Don't take a risk with your health.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

Keep your life simple and your plans and promises doable. Have a plan and budget in place, and be willing to do the work yourself. Walk away from temptation, ludicrous schemes and pushy people.

Know what you want before getting into a discussion with someone who doesn't share your opinion or wants to discourage you. Doing what's right is what matters at the end of the day. Live and learn.

Emotional situations will surface when dealing with shared responsibilities or finances. Take the initiative to put a plan in place. Personal improvements are in your best interest.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Share only what's necessary. If you give someone too much personal information, they will use it against you. Be a good listener and deliver what you promise. Speak the truth.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Change your surroundings to accommodate what you want to pursue. Hard work will bring the rewards you desire.

Don't slack off when it's time to give your all. Don't fall prey to indulgence.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put your ideas to good use. Stop dreaming and start doing. A change will trigger insight into what you need to do to reach your goal. Take the initiative and refuse to let anyone derail your plans.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You'll face an uphill battle if you let someone manipulate you emotionally.

Concentrate on what makes sense and will bring you the highest returns. Your happiness depends on you.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Rethink your strategy, revisit the past and use your experience to guide you in the right direction. Refuse to get caught up in a social frenzy that can cost you financially or emotionally.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

You know what's best for you, so do what must be done and don't look back.

Put your heart and soul into your home and family, and build a life that brings you joy. Share something special with a loved one.

Control your emotions to avoid a clash with a friend or relative. Be a good listener and take responsibility for your actions and promises. It's time to pare things down and to streamline.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

21

LGC concludes successful Bank of Baroda Golf Tourney

…Dinanauth is overall winner

T

he Bank of Baroda hosted its third annual stroke play golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club on Saturday - a challenging, windy afternoon which saw several top competitors fade with the wind. The few survivors who held it together to snag the generous trophies and prize vouchers were: overall winner Mohanlal Dinanauth, followed in second

by Mahesh Shivraj and third

by Shanella London.

The other winners were as follows: In the 19-36 flight, 1st was Miguel Oviedo, HC19, gross 95, net 76; 2nd

The India High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Dr KJ Srinivasa, attended the event

was Guillermo Escarraga, HC20 gross 97, net 76.

In the 10-18 Flight, 1st

Mohanlal Dinanauth (R)was the overall winner

was Mahesh Shivraj, HC13, gross 85, net 72; 2nd was Dr. Philbert London, HC16, gross 89, net 73.

In the 0-9 Flight, 1st was Mohanlal Dinanauth, HC5, gross 74, net 69; 2nd was Shanella London, HC 7, gross 80, net 73.

The low gross and longest drive trophies went to Guyana Open men’s champion Avinda Kishore, while closest to the flag went to Kasim Khan.

The successful event attracted a strong field of players, including the current Guyana Open defending female and male champions, Shanella London and Avinda

The winners’ row

Kishore respectively, along with other top golfers, including Patrick Prashad, Kasim Khan, and several others, including a few expats.

Among the special invites was The India High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, who commended the LGC members for their push to open the club’s doors to all. Dr. Srinivasa also stated that he looks forward to seeing more youngsters playing the game, as they are the future, and they should be encouraged to develop at an early age. Other

speakers included club Vice President Paton George, who thanked the Bank of Baroda for its commitment to partnering with the club.

At the end of the tournament, LGC Club Secretary Chet Bowling said, “The tournament was well attended, and went very well. I think there is a rising recognition between the Bank of Baroda and the LGC, people recognise that this is a serious (partnership), so they come out and support. I think the Bank of Baroda recognises the value of being associated with the

LGC. The talent was quite good, it was a fierce competition for some of the top spots, so we had a very competitive and well attended event.”

The closing remarks were made by Bank of Baroda Managing Director Arun Kumar Gupta, who complemented the LGC management and staff for hosting an outstanding event, and for their excellent upkeep of the golf grounds.

Gupta also restated the Baroda commitment to a long partnership with the LGC.

Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic heads to Linden on April 23

R

ight-handed opening batsman Patrick Rooplall has slammed a pugnacious 206 for the Caribbean Cricket Club (CCC) in the continuation of the 2022 Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) over40, 20-over competition.

In registering his second double-century in this competition last Sunday at Zorg Beach on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, (PomeroonSupenaam), Rooplall hammered 19 sixes and ten fours as the CCC amassed a formidable 3553 from its 20 overs against Queenstown Tigers.

Apart from the flamboyant Rooplall, former Essequibo Inter-County wicketkeeper/ batsman Prashad Mahadeo cracked a century (102).

Curtis Russell claimed 2-48 from his four overs.

When his team batted, Lloyd Innis hit a fighting 78 while Motielall Narine made an impressive 42. Gary Ragnauth grabbed 3-17 off four economical overs.

Hibernia Strikers got the better of Sunrisers Masters by four wickets. Sunrisers

F

Masters scored 215-0 off the 20 overs, while Hibernia Strikers replied with 216-6 in the penultimate over.

Chandrika Persaud led the way for the winners with 67, while Hemant Persaud chipped in with a supportive 40. Shiv Bissoon took 4-32 from four overs, while Gopaul Deen picked 2-46 (4).

In Sunrisers Masters’ innings, Bissoon made 98 and ex-Essequibo senior inter-county opening batsman Ravi Beharry made 94.

In the other fixture, Devonshire Castle Sports Club defeated Ravens Sports Club. Devonshire tallied a challenging 136 all out in the 15th over, while Ravens responded with 132, with former Essequibo Inter- County skipper Elroy Stephney making 44 in a losing cause.

The competition will continue this Sunday with three more matches at venues to be announced later. Castle will tackle CCC, while Hibernia Strikers would collide with Queenstown Tigers, and Sunrisers Master would face off with the Ravens.

ollowing a successful hosting of the Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic at the Burnham Basketball Court in Georgetown on February 19 – 20, a decision has been made to take this one-of-a-kind event to Linden.

Organiser of the classic, Sports Journalist Rawle Toney, has announced via

Muhammad, in Richmond Hill, Linden on April 23.

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

According to Toney, eight teams would participate in the first 3X3 tournament to

Stanton Rose Jr in action against Guardians during the February 19–20 Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic

press release that the tournament would be held at the residence of National Award-winning promoter and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif

be held in Linden in well over a decade. Each team would receive $25,000 as an appreciation for participating, as well as uniforms. The winning team would go home

with $100,000, the team placing second would take home $50,000, and third place team would receive $30,000.

Toney pointed out that another facet of the idea is to take the unique event, which fuses entertainment with basketball, to Linden as a means of helping to resuscitate the game in that community.

“Nothing is being done in Linden with regards to organised sports, let alone basketball. As it relates to basketball specifically, nothing has been played months before the pandemic in 2020. So, we’re heading to almost three years of inactivity. I hope that this will spark some interest to have basketball playing again in Linden,” Toney said.

He also explained that, “At the tournament in February, I had a few teams from Linden, while some players from Linden made up teams in Georgetown. Two teams from Linden played in the finals.

So, there’s certainly a buzz for basketball still in Linden.”

Meanwhile, with the event also forming part of Linden’s celebration of 52 years since becoming a town, Toney said, “On the entertainment side, most of Guyana’s top DJs and a few surprise local and regional artistes will be per-

Rawle Toney

forming. So, it’s not just basketball, but a party. Linden is known for sports and entertainment, so it is only right that my event bring the two together. 3X3 basketball is actually where sports meet entertainment, where the music never stops.”

As relates to the choice of venue, it was stated thus: “For years, the basketball court in Richmond Hill has been the best facility in Linden. Sadly, as it stands, it is the only facility that is pristine in shape to host a premium basketball event. But also, the ambience at Kashif’s residence is ideal for what the 3X3 in Linden will be.”

The tournament will officially be launched next week, when sponsors and other details would be announced.

22

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WI vs England: Apex Test series, first Test…

Bonner, Holder "hold the fort" before weather closes in again Bairstow struck his eighth Test ton

E

ngland recovered from a loose start with the ball to reduce West Indies to 127-4, only for Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner's half-century stand to lead the hosts to 202-4 and cut the deficit to 109 runs.

After England passed 300 in a Test for the first time in 13 attempts, West Indies' Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner dug in to frustrate England on day two of the first Test against Joe Root's side, following a wayward start with the ball, with a quick four-wicket burst.

Loose bowling, particularly from Chris Woakes (1-54), who was handed the new ball

all out in Antigua.

The hosts subsequently slipped to 127-4, with Woakes taking a confidence-boosting wicket after fellow seamers Mark Wood, Ben Stokes and Craig Overton had also struck on a day of brief rain showers.

However, Holder (43no off 104) and Bonner (34no off 103) battled their way to an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 75 from 190 balls, as West Indies closed on 202-4, to trail by just 109.

Jason Holder and Nkrumah Bonner rallied WI from 127-4. West Indies had lost 4-44 before tea. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite scores 55.

England were all out for 311, Jonny Bairstow hit 140 in England's first score over 300 in 13 attempts.

Bonner and Holder saw off a tricky spell of reverse swing

Jayden Seales claimed four wickets for West Indies

in the controversial absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from this tour, saw West Indies race to 83-0 inside 20 overs in reply to England's Jonny Bairstow-inspired 311

from Wood (1-24), Stokes (120) and Overton (1-58), as well as some probing deliveries from left-arm spinner Jack Leach (0-29), who bowled sev-

Campbell and Brathwaite added a solid opening stand

en successive maidens.

England, led by Bairstow's 140 from 259 deliveries, had earlier passed 300 for the first time in 13 Test innings. It was their best total since hitting 428 in an innings victory over India at Headingley in August, but they added just 43 runs to their overnight 268-6.

West Indies piled on 44 runs from their 10 overs before lunch. With the omission of Anderson and Broad, England's two highest Test wicket-takers of all time, with a combined 1,177 scalps, looking keenly felt by the tourists as Woakes leaked runs.

The 33-year-old's initial spell of three overs went for an eye-watering 23 runs as his travails away from home continued - Woakes's home bowling average of 22.63 is better than that of both Broad (25.78) and Anderson (24.20) but his away average is over 50.

Woakes' inability to find a consistent line and length emboldened West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite (55 off 70) and John Campbell (35 off 63), with Brathwaite racing to the fastest of his 24 Test fifties, from 62 deliveries.

Rattled with clatter of wickets Woakes's difficult day improved on the stroke of tea when he had Jermaine Blackwood (11) caught at gully after a successful review.

That dismissal ensuring West Indies had lost four wickets for 44 runs in under 10 overs.

Overton triggered the collapse when he had Campbell pouched down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off a bouncer, before he was the catcher at gully, when Brathwaite slashed at a pacey ball from Wood.

Stokes then took the third wicket, Shamarh Brooks (18) snicking through to Root at slip after playing away from his body; and when Woakes accounted for Blackwood, West Indies were four down and 184 runs in arrears, only for Bonner and Holder to remedy the situation.

England were in the mire when Bairstow strode out at 48-4 on day one, but the Yorkshireman revived his side with his eighth Test ton and second in as many matches, during which he shared half-century stands with

A

s the days wind down to the 49th hosting of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games, Guyana is aiming to increase the number of youth athletes in its contingent, but is still content with the number of athletes that have qualified already.

This was revealed by Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President, Aubrey Hutson, during an invited comment with Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday.

Hutson revealed that another CARIFTA trial will be hosted on March 19th and 20th for those athletes who have not yet made the mark.

“Our deadline for submission is the first of April.

We have to be very keen about securing airline tickets and other things that need to be in place for our athletes to go to CARIFTA Games. So, we're going ahead with what we have, and we (can) always include those who may qualify later,” Hutson said in re-

Some of the action in the AAG meet last weekend

gard to the last trial that would be hosted next weekend.

As it stands, nine athletes have already qualified for the 2022 edition of the Games in Jamaica, a number that Hutson is not too disappointed about.

However, in expressing intentions to create a relay

team, the AAG President revealed that he still has eyes on a bigger contingent.

Hutson told this publication, “I don’t want to pre-empt it too early. I going to allow council to pronounce on that, and whenever we're finished with our team, we would also start to look into the possibili-

ty of getting relay teams in here. So, just maybe more than nine; we still want to push for that 15 (or) 16, and which we think is a comfortable number to go with to CARIFTA.” Quizzed about any concerns regarding the COVID-19 situation in the Caribbean region, and any

Stokes (36), Foakes (42) and Woakes (28).

Bairstow was the last man out, having resumed day two on 109. Holder took an excellent swirling catch at backward point midway through the 101st over to dismiss a player he had dropped off his own bowling on 126 earlier in the session.

Holder (2-24 from 21 overs) was the most economical of the West Indies bowlers, but Jayden Seales (4-79 from 22) was the most prolific, re-

moving Woakes and Overton (0) with fine short balls in the 93rd over to add to his day one dismissals of Stokes and Zak Crawley.

Kemar Roach (2-86 from 21) and Alzarri Joseph (270 from 20.3) were the other Windies bowlers to strike - both of Joseph's wickets coming on day two, as he had Wood (1) caught on the pull, and then ended Bairstow's superb innings around 55 minutes before the lunch interval.

(SkySports)

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS Alex Lees lbw b Roach 4 Zak Crawley c †Da Silva b Seales 8 Joe Root (c) b Roach 13 Dan Lawrence c Blackwood b Holder 20 Ben Stokes b Seales 36 Jonny Bairstow c Holder b Joseph 140 Ben Foakes †lbw b Holder 42 Chris Woakes c †Da Silva b Seales 28 Craig Overton c Bonner b Seales 0 Mark Wood c Permaul b Joseph 1 Jack Leach not out 4 Extras(b 1, lb 9, nb 5) 15 TOTAL(100.3 Ov, RR: 3.09) 311 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Alex Lees, 2.3 ov), 2-17 (Zak Crawley, 3.5 ov), 3-27 (Joe Root, 8.2 ov), 4-48 (Dan Lawrence, 15.4 ov), 5-115 (Ben Stokes, 39.6 ov), 6-214 (Ben Foakes, 69.2 ov), 7-285 (Chris Woakes, 92.4 ov), 8-285 (Craig Overton, 92.6 ov), 9-305 (Mark Wood, 98.4 ov), 10-311 (Jonny Bairstow, 100.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kemar Roach 21-3-86-2 Jayden Seales 22-6-79-4 Jason Holder 21-11-24-2

effect it would have on the games, Hutson answered in the negative.

“I honestly don't want to be careless in this regard.

But, in my opinion, I think we've been showing greater and greater reduction in the amount of cases that we’re having, and I think it's just a matter of time (before) both Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean fully open up,” he shared.

Hutson added, “But we would have cautioned our athletes that they must ensure that they are vaccinated, and they have to do it on a timely basis, because you just don't want to be in a rush to get a vaccine the day before you leave. You know, you must observe that 14 days (quarantine period). And, we hope for the best, basically.”

On a similar note, the AAG boss has also revealed that it isn’t yet mandatory for the 17-19 age group to be vaccinated, but the AAG would be advising athletes to stay on the safe side.

Hutson explained, “Jamaica has not complete-

Alzarri Joseph 20.3-2-70-2 Veerasammy Permaul 13-4-35-0 Kraigg Brathwaite 3-1-7-0 WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) c Overton b Wood 55 John Campbell c †Foakes b Overton 35 Shamarh Brooks c Root b Stokes 18 Nkrumah Bonner not out 34 Jermaine Blackwood c Overton b Woakes 11 Jason Holder not out 43 Extras(b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 2) 6 TOTAL(66.5 Ov, RR: 3.02) 202/4 Yet to bat: Joshua Da Silva †, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales Fall of wickets: 1-83 (John Campbell, 19.3 ov), 2-101 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 25.6 ov), 3-111 (Shamarh Brooks, 28.6 ov), 4-127 (Jermaine Blackwood, 35.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Chris Woakes 12-2-54-1 Craig Overton 16-3-58-1 Mark Wood 12-3-24-1 Jack Leach 15.5-9-29-0 Ben Stokes 9-0-20-1 Joe Root 2-0-14-0

ly pronounced on what the protocol will be in terms of persons coming. So, we would prefer to err on the side of caution and request that everybody be vaccinated, because you can never tell what the situation would become, you know, (on) the 15th of April. So, we want to be prepared, and don't have a situation where(in) our athletes have to stay behind because they did not take the necessary steps, just in case Jamaica requests that everybody be vaccinated.”

The CARIFTA Games are scheduled for April 1618, 2022. (Jemima Holmes)

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Women’s World Cup cricket…

A

fter their takedown of hosts New Zealand on the opening night, West Indies beat England for the first time at a Women's World Cup to throw the qualification race wide open.

A second straight win, this one almost as late in the script as the previous one, took them to the top of the standings, even as the deing chamsuffered second loss.

Stafanie

Campbelle, Matthews, Mohammed shine as West Indies register second win

Taylor's side defended 225 on a slow pitch in a see-saw match. For a while, it seemed to have settled with England, as their ninth-wicket pair of Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross added 61 to take them within nine runs of victory. Then some magic, along with a bit of luck for Anisa Mohammed, turned the game again, as West Indies pulled off a sensaHayley Matthews bagged 2 tional win. wickets and scored 45 runs Tasked with bowling the 48th over, Mohammed was at the receiving end of a ferocious Ecclestone hit.

But she stuck out a hand and deflected the ball on fendpions to the stumps to their run Cross out at straight the non-striker's end. Three balls later, Mohammed

8.

Earlier, Dottin and Matthews started briskly, scoring at close to six runs an over. It changed after the 11th over. Cross could have had Matthews, but for a return catch that went down.

She did, however, apply the

C

Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed

Demerara Distillers Limited’s Diamond Mineral Water – The Choice of Champions –

bowled Anya Shrubsole, who yorked herself as she charged down the track and missed a full ball, to seal the deal.

It was heartbreaking for England after Ecclestone and Cross had brought them back from 156 for 8, through a mix of street-smart cricket and calculated aggression.

The game was set up, however, by West Indies openers Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, who added 81. Then they lost four wickets for 17 runs to concede the

opening race, which was organised by the Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycling Club. That event was a 50mile race that started on Carifesta Avenue and proceeded to Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

John, meanwhile, won the Burnham Memorial Race, which was a 37-miler that started at Carifesta Avenue and headed towards Belfield, before returning to the point of its origin for the finish.

The cycling season is yet to pedal off in Berbice, but the first race for the ancient county is billed for March 20. That race is be-

Cyclists will battle on the West Side this Sunday

be awarded, while the top three in the respective categories of Juniors, Veterans and Seniors would also be awarded.

Further, the oldest cyclist would be awarded.

Representatives of

would be on hand to assist at the presentation ceremony after the event.

Kemuel Moses and Jamual John were the winners of the first two races of the cycling season in Guyana. Moses won the

to be outside off. But England only had to wait until the next delivery to get a wicket, as Knight drilled Ecclestone straight to short cover.

West Indies were 98 for 4 after 27 overs. Only 37 runs came in the next ten overs, with just one boundary, as

West Indies celebrating their win

DDL’s 50-mile Diamond Mineral Water Cycle Race set for Sunday March 13 ycling action will continue on Sunday March 13 with the Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL’s) Diamond Mineral Water Road Race. National Cycle Coach Hassan Mohamed will spearhead this event, which is in its 21st edition.

This 50-mile cycle road race is scheduled to start at 8:30 am at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara (Demarara Harbour Bridge) and travel to Bushy Park at Parika, before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

The first six riders in the Open category would

23

ing organised by the Flying Ace Cycling Club, and only Berbice cyclists would be allowed to compete.

Additionally, the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Race will pedal off later in March.

advantage. And then came the bailout, courtesy of a 123-run fifth-wicket stand between Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation, which took them to 225, which at the halfway point seemed a decent total on a slow pitch.

It looked even bigger than it was when England were reduced to 94 for 5, before Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley put on 60 for the sixth wicket to keep England in the hunt.

But they fell away again by losing three wickets in six balls, before Ecclestone and Cross took them close, only to fall short again.

Both teams will be disappointed with their efforts on the field. England dropped four chances, and West Indies three. England sent down 23 wides, West Indies 15. Yet, the clincher that started England's troubles was Dottin's leaping one-handed stunner at backward point that broke England's steady opening stand. She was fully airborne as she leapt to her left and put out her non-dominant hand to dismiss Lauren Winfield-Hill.

It came on the back of two dropped catches.

Three overs later, Heather Knight was out caught behind as she advanced down the pitch to a Matthews delivery that drifted away and held its line. The decision was initially referred for a stumping, but UltraEdge confirmed a thin spike and Knight was given out.

Matthews had a second when Nat Sciver top-edged a slog sweep to mid-on. England had slipped to 58 for 3 at that stage.

When Amy Jones offered a return catch that was shelled by Aaliyah Alleyne, England had a brief reprieve, but Alleyne had the last laugh when she had Jones driving to Matthews at slip.

Tammy Beaumont looked good, but fell to Mohammed when she played all around a full ball. A wobble had turned into a full-blown collapse.

Dunkley and Wyatt repaired the innings by ticking the runs sensibly. The pair put on 60, and appeared to have eased the nerves in the England camp, when Dunkley mistimed a swat straight to Taylor at short midwicket in the 34th over. Two balls later, Wyatt sliced a lofted hit to mid-off.

When Katherine Brunt slapped Shamilia Connell to point, it looked like the writing was on the wall at 156 for

Anissa Mohammed bagged 2-24

squeeze with Sciver before Ecclestone forced a slowdown through eight boundary-less overs that led to a collapse.

Matthews was the first to go on 45, when she top-edged a heave to short third to break an 81-run opening stand in the 21st over. Three balls later, Dottin was run-out after a mix-up with Kycia Knight, as Wyatt swooped in to under-arm a direct hit at the striker's end.

One ball later, Taylor met a slow Ecclestone delivery with an open-faced bat to defend, but got the outside edge and was caught behind for a first-ball duck.

West Indies could have lost a fourth shortly after, but Campbelle's lbw decision was overturned by DRS when the impact - she had attempted a sweep off Knight - was found

England continued to apply pressure, but Campbelle and Nation absorbed it. They saw off Ecclestone, who bounced back from none for 77 against Australia to finish with 3 for 20 today, and brought up their 50-run stand in the 40th over.

As the innings approached its end, the pair became more aggressive. Nation broke a 13-over drought when she drove Sciver square of the wicket for a boundary in the 45th. Then Campbelle swivel-pulled Sciver behind square and flicked her to midwicket to raise a 70-ball half-century.

Soon, they also raised the century stand.

This proved to be the difference in the end, as it gave West Indies a total they managed to defend after a struggle. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Deandra Dottin run out (Wyatt) 31 Hayley Matthews c Shrubsole b Ecclestone 45 Kycia Knight c Wyatt b Ecclestone 6 Stafanie Taylor (c) c †Jones b Ecclestone 0 Shemaine Campbelle † b Sciver 66 Chedean Nation not out 49 Chinelle Henry run out (Shrubsole) 0 Aaliyah Alleyne not out 0 Extras(b 1, lb 2, nb 2, w 23) 28 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 4.50) 225/6 Did not bat: Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Hayley Matthews, 20.1 ov), 2-81 (Deandra Dottin, 20.4 ov), 3-81 (Stafanie Taylor, 20.5 ov), 4-98 (Kycia Knight, 26.1 ov), 5-221 (Shemaine Campbelle, 48.6 ov), 6-222 (Chinelle Henry, 49.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Katherine Brunt 7-0-38-0 Anya Shrubsole 8-0-57-0 Nat Sciver 8-1-49-1 Kate Cross 10-1-36-0 Sophie Ecclestone 10-4-20-3 Heather Knight 7-0-22-0 ENGLAND WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 226 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Lauren Winfield-Hill c Dottin b Connell 12

Tammy Beaumont lbw b Mohammed 46 Heather Knight (c) c †Campbelle b Matthews 5 Nat Sciver c Alleyne b Matthews 2 Amy Jones † c Matthews b Alleyne 1 Danni Wyatt c Henry b Connell 33 Sophia Dunkley c Henry b Taylor 38 Katherine Brunt c Dottin b Connell 1 Sophie Ecclestone not out 33 Kate Cross run out (Mohammed) 27 Anya Shrubsole b Mohammed 0 Extras (lb 3, nb 2, w 15) 20 TOTAL (47.4 Ov, RR: 4.57) 218 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Lauren Winfield-Hill, 8.1 ov), 2-41 (Heather Knight, 11.3 ov), 3-58 (Nat Sciver, 15.6 ov), 4-72 (Amy Jones, 20.6 ov), 5-94 (Tammy Beaumont, 25.2 ov), 6-154 (Sophia Dunkley, 33.6 ov), 7-154 (Danni Wyatt, 34.2 ov), 8-156 (Katherine Brunt, 34.5 ov), 9-217 (Kate Cross, 47.1 ov), 10218 (Anya Shrubsole, 47.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shamilia Connell 10-1-38-3 Chinelle Henry 4-0-15-0 Hayley Matthews 10-0-40-2 Aaliyah Alleyne 7-1-31-1 Anisa Mohammed 4.4-1-24-2 Shakera Selman 6-0-24-0 Deandra Dottin 2-0-22-0 Stafanie Taylor 4-0-21-1

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022

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

LGC concludes successful Bank of Baroda Golf Tourney …Dinanauth is overall winner

Page 21

Campbelle, Matthews, Mohammed shine as West Indies register second win See story on page 23

Pg 22

AAG to host Bonner, Holder hold the fort additional before weather closes in again CARIFTA trial meet Page 22

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