Guyana Times -- Tuesday, March 2, 2021

CSEC, P16 CAPE to be held in June-July Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4575

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

PRICE

March 2 elections anniversary

Guyana "saved from dark days of tyranny" – Pres Ali

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Death of mother, newborn

Probe completed, action to be taken against doctors, nurses – Health P11 Minister

Page 3

...announces Order of Democracy for defenders

2020 election horrors still haunt Guyanese

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 P10 deaths

Page 13

Controversial “bottomhouse” warehouse

…small parties rejoice in democratic triumph

“Never again!” APNU/AFC must – PPP tells live with legacy election riggers of rigging …as Guyana marks 1 year since threat to democracy – Teixeira 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines to arrive today

Company loses bid for $120M P14 extra rent

Page 12

See story on page 15

“CEO must go” – Linden nurses join protest for removal of hospital’s CEO

P14

Page 9

…80,000 more next week, another 100,000 by month-end – Dr Anthony

APNU/AFC's race rhetoric condemned in National Assembly Page 2

…PPP advanced lives of Afro-Guyanese more than APNU/AFC – AG …as Finance Minister calls out Harmon on "untruths", "misrepresentations"

Driver injured after fuel tanker crashes in P7 Mahdia

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC’s race rhetoric condemned in National Assembly

…PPP advanced lives of Afro-Guyanese more than APNU/AFC – AG …as Finance Minister calls out Harmon on “untruths”, “misrepresentations”

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

T

hroughout much of the Budget 2021 Debates, the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has spoken of race. It is rhetoric that was on Monday continued by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.

In his budget presentation, Harmon quoted what he said was an excerpt from a budget speech made by late former President Desmond Hoyte, in an effort to justify bringing up the topic of race in the National Assembly.

According to him, the issue of race must be debated na-

tionally.

But in his budget presentation, Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall said that the APNU/AFC dwells on the question of race because it has no constructive contribution to add to debates in the National Assembly.

“Not having a track record of performance to which the Honourable members can point to and because of their disgraceful attempt to (undermine democracy) from March to August have been deprecated by the Judiciary and condemned locally, regionally

and internationally by over 100 countries across the globe, the Honourable members are unable to make a constructive contribution in this National Assembly,” Nandlall said.

“So, they come here and hurl personal attacks and invectives, manufacture accomplishments. The Honourable members come here pretending to be representatives of Afro-Guyanese when all they have done in Government is pauperised the ordinary people of this country, including AfroGuyanese,” he added.

According to the AG, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has in

fact done more to advance the lives of Afro-Guyanese than the APNU/AFC. He noted that the Opposition offers nothing but a charade, going on to cite their legacy from office.

“The story of the AfroGuyanese rice farmers from West Coast Berbice tells it all. The Donald Ramotar Administration distributed 50-year leases for 10 acres rice land to the people of Berbice. One of their first acts when they got into Government was to instruct the MMA (Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority) to revoke those leases and to give it to their cronies.”

“The MMA did that.

And I took the matter to the court, on behalf of the PPP. All those people, I have no doubt. They are from C Field Village. They are from Number 40 Village. They

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

may have voted for APNU/ AFC at the 2015 elections.

And their lands were being taken away.”

Nandlall noted that they were able to secure a ruling in favour of the farmers, a reference to acting Chief Justice Roxane George’s ruling of 2017 that former President David Granger acted unconstitutionally by cancelling the leases.

“Rather than accept the ruling and leave those farmers in peace, those farmers took seed paddy from the millers in advance. They took diesel, fertiliser. Some of them borrowed money. When those lands were being taken away, 51 Afro-Guyanese families would have been put on the breadline.”

“You know what the President did (after the rul-

ing)? I have it here; they published all the names of the farmers and the notice said the (then President Granger) has cancelled all State leases as described in the schedule. Fortyfive Afro-Guyanese farmers. And today, you come here to pretend to represent Guyanese.”

Untruths and misrepresentations

The APNU/AFC’s repeated references to race was also addressed by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during his closing contribution to the 2021 Budget Debates. In his remarks, he made reference to the speech made by APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir on February 22, Day One of the Budget Debates.

“The litany of untruths and misrepresentations, in full view of the world.

Their first speaker placed her trump card. You know what her trump card was?” the Minister asked, to which someone spoke up “race.”

Allegations of ethnic cleansing have been levelled against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government by Opposition members throughout the debates. During her presentation on Budget 2021, however, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond pointed out that many of these public servants were dismissed because they were openly politically inclined and moreover, obstructionists. (G3)

NEWS

3

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 2 – 04:30h – 06:00h and Wednesday, March 3 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 2 – 06:25h – 07:55h and Wednesday, March 3 – 07:05h – 08:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Light cloud will prevail during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:41h and 19:05h reaching maximum heights of 2.83 metres and 2.8 metres.

Low Tide: 12:37h reaching a minimum height of 0.36 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS F

08 09 15

19 21 23

FREE TICKET

26 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

04 09 12 15 19 LUCKY 3

1

5

2

8

Afternoon Draw

3

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

03

07

08

10 16 20

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021

03 06

07 11

13

12

04 06

16 18

21

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

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$65.95/barrel

-0.27

Rough Rice

$235.40/ton

+0.10

London Sugar

$455.10/ton

-2.76

Live Spot Gold

Guyana “saved from dark days of tyranny” – Pres Ali ...announces Order of Democracy for defenders

A

s Guyana today marks one year since the March 2, 2020 elections which were marred by attempts that threatened Guyana’s democracy, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that Guyana is fortunate that those who tried to subvert the democratic will of the people did not succeed.

The Guyanese people, the Head of State said, were determined to resist and repel the public mischief which was being orchestrated.

He noted that were it not for the vigilance, courage and resoluteness of Guyanese people, supported by the international community and witnessed by the international election observers, “our country would have returned to the dark days of tyranny.”

“Brave men and women – of all ages, classes, ethnicities and political affiliation – came together in a heroic battle to defend our motherland from one of its gravest threats: the attempt to trample the democratic will of the people,” the President said on Monday evening.

This defence, he added, of this right and the fact that it enjoyed the support of a wide cross-section of fair-minded Guyanese manifested our people’s resolve to live in a free society as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

“March 2nd has therefore become a celebration of our people’s stoic defence of democracy. It represents the determination of our people to maintain Guyana as a democratic state which respects the rule of law, the separation of powers and the expressed will of the people through free and fair elections.”

He said that he has taken a decision to institute a national award, the Order of Democracy, in recognition of the contributions of those individuals and organisations who defied the riggers and defended our democracy.

The names of those to be awarded the Order of Democracy will be announced later this year, the Head of State said.

Beginning of battle

COMMODITIES Indicators

March 2 elections anniversary

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1711.60

$1712.60

Low/High Change

$1711.10 -13.20

$1761.20 -0.77%

The battle began in December 2018, when the David Grangerled APNU/AFC coalition Administration fell to a no-confidence motion brought by the then Opposition PPP/C. The Granger Administration violated the Guyana Constitution by refusing to concede defeat and

President Irfaan Ali

call elections within three months as constitutionally stipulated.

Instead, it mounted a legal challenge that reached all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which upheld the validity of the motion of no-confidence and ruled that elections in Guyana ought to have been held since March 2019.

Fast-forward to the March 2, 2020 elections, and what was already deemed a free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process by all international and domestic observers and the diplomatic corps, descended into chaos in light of a number of events which eventually led to Returning Officer for Region Four Clairmont

Mingo blatantly attempting to alter the results of the elections – much to the objection of every stakeholder except the APNU/AFC coalition. In fact, in his alterations, Mingo added more votes to the APNU/AFC and subtracted votes from the PPP/C, in a bid to give the then incumbent a false victory.

A recount exercise was eventually embarked upon, and despite attempts by political operatives and compromised electoral officials to frustrate the process, the activity confirmed that the PPP/C had won the elections with a commanding 233,336 votes, a remarkable lead of 15,416 over its nearest political rival, the APNU/AFC. But despite the announcement of these certified results, Harmon’s coalition party refused to concede defeat and mounted more challenges in a bid to further deny the will of the people.

Following the imposition of sanctions by the US Government against several top officials who were attempting to undermine democracy, the David Granger regime eventually conceded defeat, paving the way for Ali to be sworn in.

Notwithstanding, the coalition continued to peddle the inaccurate narrative that the APNU/AFC coalition had won the elections.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

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

A year after the PNC’s big rig T

oday marks one year after the elections of March 2, 2020, and two years, three months after the NoConfidence Motion (NCM) of December 21, 2018.

These dates are markers of the People’s National Congress’s latest desperate efforts to destroy the democratic edifice the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) built after 1992, following the PNC’s rigging of elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985.

In those 28 years, the Burnhamite regime had installed a defacto authoritarian one-party State that made a mockery of its democratic pretentions.

It was against this background that as soon as it slid into office by the narrowest of margins in 2015, the PNC under its leader David Granger prepared to hold on to power by any means necessary. This was signalled by his refusal to adhere to the clearly-stated constitutional rules for appointing the Chairman of GECOM and to unilaterally appoint his choice, James Patterson. The latter justified his selection by throwing several spanners into the election machinery until he was adjudged to have been unconstitutionally appointed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Concomitantly, Granger refused to obey the even more pellucid constitutional stricture of Article 106 (6)(7) for his Government to resign following its defeat in an NCM moved by the PPP. This precipitated a constitutional crisis that was a harbinger of the lengths Granger and the PNC would go to, to hold on to power by any means necessary. In the words of one constitutional expert, “This was a “crisis of fidelity” which occurs when important political actors are simply unwilling to adhere to the constitutional commitments as they understand them. If consequential political actors determined that a constitutional rule or a prescribed constitutional outcome should be ignored, because some other political priority than following the Constitution is more important, then the Constitution’s ability to guide and constrain political behaviour has, to that degree, been cast into doubt.”

After a tortuous passage through the three tiers of our Judiciary, that crisis was resolved and the PNC was forced to schedule elections. But not in the three months after the judgement in July 2019 as was mandated, but eight months after, on March 2, 2020. The courts were cynically used as a sword to subvert the constitutional basis of our democratic order. Two days before the elections, the US Ambassador issued a statement on “democratic elections” which was eerily prescient as to what lay ahead. We published that statement on Election Day in this space: “To cast a free ballot and minimise the opportunity for intimidation, voters in a democracy must be permitted to cast their ballots in secret. At the same time, the protection of the ballot box and tallying of vote totals must be conducted as openly as possible, so that citizens are confident that the results are accurate and that the Government does, indeed, rest upon their “consent” .”

While it was universally accepted that the first part of the caution – the actual voting – was satisfied, on the following day, all hell broke loose. In full view of the international observers of the US, UK, Caricom, EU, and Commonwealth, and local observers, the PNC crudely attempted to rig the elections as the Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo refused to display the SOPs being tallied as statutorily demanded and declared the PNC the winner of the Region and consequently, the general elections.

The country was plunged, not into a constitutional crisis this time but a naked grab for power that once again used the Courts as a sword to deny the right of the people to select their government. It was only because of the fortitude of the people of Guyana, the international community and the integrity of the CCJ that the elections of March 2, were finally declared in favour of the PPP, five months later on Aug 2.

Let us vow as a nation that the PNC would never be allowed to trample on our Constitution as it did between December 21, 2018 and August 1, 2020.

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was administered home-grown Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Time out for the ERC or time up?

Dear Editor, Is there a partial or impartial ethnic disparity in the composition of the ten learned members of Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Committee, notably only two ladies versus eight gentlemen? Looks and names can be misleading and deceiving and are not a perfect representation to qualify or quantify the individual’s ethnic identity. A person’s political affiliation can also influence the ethnic opinion on any conflagrating controversy not demanding a unilateral or biased summation. Traversing one step backwards to analyse the background and backbone of this institution, it is rather interesting to characterise the individuals employed to administrate the functions of the day-to-day operations of this institution. Is there unprejudiced employment practices exercised in the hiring process and equitable distribution in ethnic components which are relatively essential and paramount to truly identify and represent the significance of this meaningful body? Are the faces a manifest of Guyana’s six races? Does a need arise to increase or decrease the staff in order to have an even keel to replicate indiscrimination? Is this organisation highly overstaffed or grossly understaffed? Is the budgeted dollars compensative or a waste of taxpayers’ dollars? Can the production of this organisation be measured for justification

purpose? Is the output satisfactory or deplorable, acceptable or repulsive? Is the attitude of the members arrogant or tolerant? At this stage, Guyana is bombarded with curious enquiries and passionate questions with alacrity for clarity and answers.

Two Commissioners and the Chairman have been embroiled in the dissemination of information and the urge to establish the truth, reveal the lies and dissociate themselves from the reckless propensities the ERC has postulated. The minutes of some of the meetings have exposed the recorded transactions and speak volumes. Facts cannot be changed, figures do not lie and numbers do add up. Confirmation has intimidated speculation.

Guyanese are not surprised by this quandary and are only further embarrassed that “religious leaders” are caught up with defamation.

There have been pronouncements from a Muslim Cleric and a Christian Cleric.

Guyanese need to hear the voices of the Hindu Pandit, the Brahma Kumari Representative and any other member of any other faith who is a Commissioner. There have been statements, confessions and declarations from Afro Guyanese and Indo Guyanese. Guyana needs to read about divulgence and utterances also from the other ethnicities on this Committee. There has been no published commu-

nication from the female compatriots of the ERC. Taxpayers have a right to learn about their acknowledgements and admissions.

It takes courage to succumb to honesty and integrity. Do these remaining Committee members have the gall to satisfy the public, or, will they simply have the temerity to fade away in the background, remain in deep and disturbing silence and continue to be paid handsomely for a job not well done?

These members can provide the water to calm this blazing inferno. Can they face the fire and step up to the plate?

While Guyanese suffer in poverty and misery, would you not share $150,000 free money with those in dire and real need at a time of peace, joy and happiness?

Isn’t there a reason for the season? How can you even consider the humungous figure of $200,000 as a bonus when you know to your conscience you did not lift a finger to earn one dollar?

Where is the sense of justification? The good books teach not to be greedy. Are you not God’s teacher? All Guyanese householders are receiving $25,000 as a COVID-19 relief package.

What makes you think you are above the law? Who gave you the right to bless yourself with $150,000?

Even the past President, Mr Granger lauded this initiative. He received $25,000 and not $150,000. There was no currying favour. Instead, he generously donated his

amount to a worthy cause.

Did the godly man as a leader exemplify such nobility and answer the call to serve instead of being served? Who in their righteous mind refused to stain their hands with such promiscuity and did not accept such debauchery? The true colour of character is tainted with stain. The house of worship warns, “Waste not, want not.” Why indulge in unnecessary extravaganza only to burn good money to ashes? To utilise immediate funds in order to make more funds available or to quantify a means and qualify a cause? Window dressing is for decorative purpose only.

The ERC is a transparent window from being dirty inside and dark outside! The ERC has dishonoured its sense of virtue and has desecrated the sanctity of its ultimate purpose. Most of the members have failed to live up to Guyana’s expectations and have allowed themselves to be made fools and be used. Only two so far can hold their heads above water and walk the street with straight necks and not cower with heads touching their chests. The ERC needs a time out, or, its time is up.

Perhaps, there is a need for mutual concession from all the members to resign and not wait for their contracted time to expire. If you cannot get the job done correctly the first time, then, it’s time to move on.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

5

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

The time has come for former APNU/ AFC Ministers to be held accountable Dear Editor, Records have revealed that the Executive Member of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and former Telecommunications Minister under the former David Granger-led Administration was alleged to have signed off on a number of contracts from her then Ministry to her own company. This latest scandal involving the former APNU/AFC Minister and the blatant dishonesty, misrepresentations and mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies is outrageous and too much for the Guyanese people to digest.

The time has come for Former Ministers to be held accountable. The Guyanese public must demand that these Ministers be called to explain when things go wrong under their watch – even if they are no longer

in office. Parliament should recall former Ministers to give evidence when policies they have presided over have gone wrong and monies are not accounted for. Governance under the APNU/AFC Administration had become increasingly complex, but that is not an excuse for negligence.

The public’s dissatisfaction with the former APNU/AFC Government Ministers’ response to recent and other scandals shows that there were dangerous weaknesses in the previous Administration’s accountability system.

Over the past years, particularly the last five years under the former APNU/ AFC Administration, Ministers who would have acted inappropriately or accused of wrongdoing, faced little to no consequences for their actions.

In 2017, the then Public Health Minister Dr George Norton was merely transferred to Social Cohesion Ministry after he came under severe criticisms over the Sussex Street Drug Bond scandal. With Dr Norton at the helm, the Public Health Ministry had paid millions of dollars to a known AFC financier to rent a house to use as a drug bond. Even more contentious was the fact that the contract was sole-sourced under the pretext of “urgency” but a visit to the building found that many cold storage facilities were empty and no tablets were being stored.

In 2018, the then Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry was embroiled in what is now popularly known as the “parking lot scandal” where she and her driver were involved in

an altercation with two security guards who were on duty at the building which houses the New Thriving Restaurant at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The security guards were subsequently arrested after it was alleged they pointed a gun at the then Minister and behaved in a threatening manner. But security footage of what transpired contradicted Broomes’ allegations and, in fact, revealed that she and her driver aggressively attempted to remove “No Parking” signs to facilitate her vehicle. In the end, the then Minister was never charged and then President David Granger never publicly condemned the action.

Moreover, the then Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Patterson-

That 3-day annual UWI symposium on Carnival Dear Editor, Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the University of the West Indies (UWI) is an ethnically-biased academic institution of teaching and learning.

For three days every year in the multi-ethnic society, the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the UWI in Trinidad has been organising a symposium on Carnival, but not even a half-day annual seminar on the Amerindian Santa Rosa Festival,

Hosay, Phagwa, Divali or Ramlila.

Although Ramlila was proclaimed by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity in 2005.

Another 3-day Carnival symposium was held recently on February 24-26, 2021, and themed “The Mas(s) in We”.

These are all national festivals celebrated and shared by nationals for generations, but they do not all receive the same equitable

S

o long as there is the feeling of anger and ego in our hearts, we will not be able to feel well in our life, and will feel sick in our mind. He who is possessed by anger will be hated by people because he will commit a number of bad deeds. Anger leads to many great sins. Hence we must endeavour to control this emotion of anger. If we aim to achieve transcendental reality and divinity, we must decide to bring this great emotion of anger under control. Anger is caused by weakness. It is not the weakness of the body but of the mind. To give strength to our mind and remove the weakness from our mind, it is necessary to fill it with good thoughts, good feelings and good ideas. One’s anger is one’s greatest enemy and one’s calmness is one’s protection. One’s joy is one’s heaven and one’s sorrow is one’s hell. (Ch 17, Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1972)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

treatment as Carnival enjoys.

The concept that Carnival (and Mashramani in Guyana) is the only national festival has to be debunked. There cannot be a single national festival in a multi-ethnic society.

Firstly, Adventists, Muslims, Pentecostals and other religious groups do not participate in Carnival.

Secondly, there is a massive, island-wide retreat to the rivers, beaches, beach houses and overseas desti-

nations during Carnival.

Thirdly, pan players, calypsonians, soca artistes, stick fighters, traditional Carnival characters, etc, as well as Canboulay performers, are almost exclusively Afro-Trinidadians.

The Indo-Trinidadians who participate are mainly consumers rather than producers of Carnival.

Sincerely, Dr Kumar Mahabir Anthropologist Trinidad and Tobago

Yearwood was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture under a newly-created portfolio for “Rural Affairs”. She was transferred after it was revealed that her husband had a multimillion-dollar contract to build houses for the Ministry under a special programme. When the scandal was exposed in 2019, the then President Granger had said “at this point, I am satisfied that she has not committed any criminal offence and that she is a fit and proper person…” Also, the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), headed by the then Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson was found to have had breached Guyana’s procurement laws to award the new Demerara bridge feasibility contract. The former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, along with the former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) Corporation, Rawlston Adams, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a joint charge of conspiracy to de-

fraud. The charge stemmed from the controversial contract awarded for the feasibility study and design of a new Demerara river crossing in 2016.

Most recently APNU/ AFC former Junior Infrastructure Minister, Annette Ferguson, now Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), has found herself facing another fresh round of allegations regarding the misuse of public funds.

This time around, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, in his 2021 budget debate presentation last Friday evening, accused the MP of using the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) fund as her own personal slush fund during her time as junior Minister. These are all shameful acts committed by those former APNU/AFC Ministers. Monies of taxpayers should never be used for personal gain. You must all be held accountable and face the consequences of your actions.

Sincerely, David Adams

6

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

Question 1

Monday’s answers 1a) 350m2 Area = L X B Area of house = 26m x 10m = 260m2 Area of garage = 90m x 10m = 90m2

Total area = Area of house + Area of garage = 350m2

1b) Perimeter = 50m + 5m + 26m + 40m +

31m = 152m

of the jar.

Gently put the lid on and screw it securely to the jar.

Wipe any water off the jar, and put some hot glue or tape around the lid.

Enjoy your snow globe!

Materials:

An empty jar and lid Water Glycerin White glitter Small animal toys, houses, or trees to decorate snow globe

How does it work?

Instructions:

Glue the toys or other decorations to the inside of the lid, making sure the lid can still fit on the jar.

Fill the jar halfway with glycerin, then fill it almost to the top with water, then stir to mix.

Add a small amount of glitter. Stir with a spoon to test the ‘snow’ effect, and add more until you get the flurries or blizzard you

like.

Fill the jar up the rest of the way, until the water is just above the top

Glycerin has a very high viscosity. Viscosity is how ‘thick’ a liquid is, how easily it pours. Honey and syrup have pretty high viscosities, water and rubbing alcohol have very low viscosities. Having a mixture of water and glycerin means the liquid inside your snow globe slows the glitter down as gravity pulls it down.

This helps it look more like snow. (sciencefun.org)

A

fisherman, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast and captured a great haul of fish.

He managed by a skilful handling of his net to retain all the large fish and to draw them to the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish from falling back through the meshes of the net into the sea.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 pandemic

Budget 2021 will positively impact business community – GCCI President

P

resident of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Nicholas Boyer has lauded the 2021 budget presented by the PPP/C Government, since it presents several positive factors for the business community.

Boyer told Guyana Times on Monday as the presentations wrapped up that the removal of tax and investments allotted towards infrastructural development in the country will surely drive investors’ confidence.

Since most enterprises are operating during the coronavirus pandemic, the measures in Government’s financial plans are poised to ensure that economic activities continue.

“We are pleased with the measures that we’ve seen coming out of the budget…For the construction and infrastructure portion, we were pleased with it, as well as the tax removal in general. Given that the business community is operating in a pandemic, we think it’ll have a significant impact in keeping a certain

amount of demand going or stymieing a loss of demand,” the GCCI President explained.

According to him, they are also pleased with announcements to start the gas-to-shore project, in moving one step further towards cheaper energy. For many years, the Private Sector has complained about the high cost of power, which creates a domino effect on expenditure and prices on the market.

Meanwhile, they are also calling for small businesses to receive 20 per cent of all procurement, as prescribed in the Procurement Act. “The only thing that we want to see is the activation of the small business procurement. There’s a part of the procurement act that says that up to 20 per cent of the procurement should be going to small businesses.”

Shortly after Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had delivered his budget speech, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) which Boyer heads, had com-

Driver injured after fuel tanker crashes in Mahdia

A

The toppled truck along the Mahdia road

35-year-old driver is now injured after the fuel tanker he was operating toppled down a muddy hill in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Magiva Akeem Charles of Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway, was pinned in the driver’s seat where he received several injuries about his head and body.

Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement, said the incident occurred at about 11:30h on Sunday along the Konawak Trail.

The motor lorry transporting the fuel was descending a muddy hill along the trail when the rear of the truck began to slide, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The fuel tanker continued to descend the hill and careened off the southern side of the Konawak bridge and into the creek.

While the driver remained pinned in the vehicle, the porter managed to escape unhurt. The porter, along with public-spirited persons, successfully freed the driver from the mangled cabin.

The lorry driver was taken to the Mahdia District Hospital where he was admitted a patient. He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation to seek further medical attention. His condition is listed as stable but serious.

An investigation is ongoing.

GCCI President Nick Boyer

mended Government for producing the largest national budget in Guyana’s history.

The PSC, prior to the budget consultation, would have made written submissions regarding its proposals and was pleased that many of the proposed measures were largely considered and reflected in the national budget for 2021.

“To this end, the budget is indeed a people-focused

budget which is healthy to facilitate broad-based and inclusive growth of the economy in terms of job creation, encouraging private investments and more entrepreneurial activities. Dr Singh should also be commended that while being pro-business, this budget is also pro-working class and factors in a number of new social programmes,” the PSC had highlighted.

The statement went on to note that the financial plan was designed to enable the diversification of the economy as well as resuscitate the major productive sectors – such as the agriculture, construction and infrastructure sectors. This is crucial since the non-oil economy has contracted by seven per cent in 2020 due to the pandemic and the five months of political impasse.

“The PSC is mindful of the construction boom in the making by the Government through its projects outlined in Budget 2021 such as the resuscitating of the

housing development drive – targeting 10,000 house lot distribution for 2021.

To this end, the fiscal incentives outlined above for building and construction materials coupled with the increase in the mortgage ceiling will allow for the housing, construction, and banking sectors to experience significant expansion in their activities for 2021.”

Government has reduced water tariffs by five per cent and increased the mortgage ceiling and the mortgage increase relief. To make homeownership affordable, there is now zero VAT on imported stone, locally produced concrete piles, steel beams and locally manufactured PVC roofing. Industrial-grade cement has also lowered from 15 per cent to five per cent.

Some $25 billion has been allocated for transformational infrastructure development to open new lands and road networks.

“The accessibility and availability of new lands for commercial, industrial,

housing development and agricultural purposes will be the driver of economic growth and development on a larger scale. This means opportunity for large scale investment by the manufacturing sector – both local and foreign investors as well the emergence of new business ventures,” the Commission added.

The projected growth rate for 2021 is 20.9 per cent and with these measures, the disposable income will also increase.

With the gas-to-shore project, energy costs will be lowered by over 60 per cent.

“Taken together, Budget 2021 contains sufficient fiscal measures and public investment programmes that will encourage the growth and expansion of the Private Sector, thus creating more job opportunities for Guyanese, lowering the cost of living, homeownership becoming more affordable and more disposable income in the hands of Guyanese working class.”

(G12)

8 NEWS Man found guilty of raping child A TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

33-year-old man was on Monday found guilty of two counts of rape committed on an underage girl. The man, Ivor Laud, was on trial for the offence before High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-person jury. He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. Between March 1 and 31, 2015, and August 1 and 31, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with the girl when she was just eight and 10 years-old respectively.

Between March 1 and 31, 2015, Laud would invite the young girl over to his home under the pretence of having something to give to her.

The girl followed him into the house and they went into the bedroom where he placed her to lie on a bed and pulled down her pants and underwear. He also took off his pants and underwear. In

her statement to the Police, the young girl detailed that Laud instructed her to hold his penis.

According to the facts of the matter, Laud then inserted his penis into the girl’s va-

gina. After committing the act, the girl said she saw a whitish substance on his penis and he then told her to go home and “wash up” and so she did. In August 2017, Laud performed oral sex on the girl after he called her over to his home. At the time of the incidents, no one else was at his home. He also had a wife and children. As a result of the guilty verdicts, Laud was remanded to prison.

He will be sentenced on March 18. Laud was represented by Attorney-at-Law Rachael Bakker, while the case for the State was presented by Prosecutors Sarah Martin and Nafeeza Baig.

(G1)

Teen charged for attempting to commit a felony

A

Kitty, Georgetown blockmaker was on Monday released on bail after he denied a charge of attempting to steal from a woman.

Nineteen-year-old Isaac Caesar appeared before Magistrate Sherdell IsaacsMarcus where the charge read to him stated that on February 26, at Brickdam, Georgetown, while in the company of others, he attempted to commit a felony -

that is larceny from a person - on Pavita Bacchus.

It was further alleged that Caesar attempted to relive the Virtual Complainant of one Samsung Galaxy phone valued at $124,500 along with a purse valued at $10,000 and $9000.

The unrepresented teen pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $50,000.

The Police prosecutor informed the court that the

teen approached Bacchus and attempted to relieve her of her articles. However, Bacchus held on to the articles and put up a fight.

As such, public-spirited persons who witnessed the ordeal managed to apprehend Caesar when he was making his escape.

He further explained that during the attempted theft, the Virtual Complainant said that she had a good look at the suspect’s face since he

was not wearing a mask at the time of the incident.

Further, the prosecutor said that the teen confessed to the offence while in Police custody.

As such, Magistrate Isaacs ordered that Caesar seek counselling from the probation officer who was present at the time in court. The case will continue on April 19.

The matter has been adjourned to April 19, 2021.

(G15)

Playing the cards...

S

...you’re dealt with in oil ome folks just don’t get it. No one denies PNC’s Raphael “Nassau” Trotman sold us down the river on the oil contract he signed back in 2015. We all know about the sh*tty bonus and royalty he accepted – unlike what other countries from Africa (several nations) to Brazil. But what your Eyewitness can’t understand is why all these “experts” – presumably well-meaning and having Guyana’s interest at heart – are insisting that the PPP MUST “renegotiate” the contract.

Let’s put this in terms the ordinary Joe or Jhaat can understand. Say you have a house and you authorise your adult son to sell it. He observes all the legalities, does so for a pittance, and the transport is passed. You hit the roof when you see the crumbs he brought home. But what do you do?

Can you tell the buyer you want more money? Can you go to the Courts and tell them you want to “renegotiate” the contract? Or you want to cancel the contract? The answer is you can’t!

Right now, there’s a case of a person who forged a “Power of Attorney” that purportedly gave her the right to sell a piece of land and sold the land. The actual owner found out and said to the Courts, “Hey, I never gave permission to sell my land!! I want it back!” The case goes through our High Court, Appellate Court and then the CCJ who all say, “Sorry, no can do!! It’s the law!” And the Attorney General – who was the lawyer in the matter – now says he’ll move for the law in question to be amended.

And that’s the problem with the Oil Contract, ent it? We can’t say that Trotman was an “infant” and was, therefore, incapable of signing the contract to make it “void”. He might be an “idiot” (IQ 0-25), an “imbecile” (IQ 26-50) or moron (IQ 51-75), but he certainly wasn’t under 18 years old – that would make him an “infant”! Or had a mental DISORDER which would also void the contract!

Now you may say the court should accept that the contract “ain’t fair” – and every red-blooded Guyanese, including this Eyewitness will swear to this! But this doesn’t cut any ice with the Courts. They use a concept called “equity” to deal with such claims – such as “undue influence” and “unconscionable conduct”. So, can Trotman – who insists he is a Harvard TRAINED negotiator! – prove that Exxon did the dirty on him? Truth of the matter, all that’s left for the PPP Government is “moral suasion”.

But with Exxon bleeding red, would they place Guyana’s interests ahead of their shareholders’?

Didn’t think so!

...PNC has in Parliament The PNC is whining (not to mention “wining” in Parliament!) about what the PPP is and isn’t doing in Government. THEY, of course, had led Guyana between 2015 and 2020 to the land of milk and honey! And the PPP has just as obviously shown – in the seven months since they held off from rigging their way back into office, and more so with their pernicious Budget! – that they’re determined to take us down the road to perdition!

But what bothers your Eyewitness is that the PNC isn’t using ANY of the available mechanisms to assert their power in Parliament to upstage and eventually oust the PPP from power. Now you might say they don’t have the votes to outvote the PPP. But if they do their research they can show – with “chapter, verse and numbers” where the PPP are clueless.

Or can use the Sectoral Committees they Chair to summon any Minister or bureaucrat to query them on programmes and projects being executed.

Rather than just kvetch! ...in the ERC Now that the lid’s been blown on the (low-down and dirty) goings-on inside the ERC, the question is, what’s the Government gonna do about it?

Like with GECOM, it gotta be a “root and branch” operation!

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20,000 COVID-19 vaccines to arrive today …80,000 more next week, another 100,000 by month-end – Dr Anthony

T

his week, Guyana will receive 100,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines, which will arrive in two tranches and immediately kick-start the countrywide vaccine administration.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made the revelation during Monday’s budget presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. While 20,000 vaccines will arrive today, another 80,000 will be delivered on March 8. The country is also awaiting doses from the COVAX mechanism, also slated to arrive in March.

“We will be getting 20,000 more vaccines that are coming in and we’d be using that to immunise our workers. On the 8th March, we’ll be getting 80,000 more vaccines for the people of this country. Later in the month, we’ll be getting another 100,000 through the COVAX mechanism so that we can immunise our population…This is what is going to get us out of COVID-19,” Dr Anthony told the House.

Guyana had already used the 3000 vaccines donated by Barbados to vaccinate frontline health workers in several regions.

Dr Anthony addressed the Opposition’s claims that Government does not have a workable plan, underscoring that the coalition failed to stabilise the situation when cases were first detected.

He reminded that when the sector was inherited, there were several deficiencies as it relates to testing and contact tracing.

“If they were so effective and if they had such a good plan, then after we had the first case and the first death, then they would have been able to do all the contact tracing and we would have liquidated COVID-19 from Guyana. But the truth was that they were in shambles.

They didn’t know what to do and so they were scrambling for a response. They were not able to do PCR testing and so we had to build capacity in almost every area for the response.”

The coalition had left office without completing the

Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal and in a state where millions of dollars had to be pumped into correcting some of the construction flaws. Government was also tasked with purchasing equipment, even though the former Administration spent over $1 billion to revamp the flood-prone hotel.

Now that they have addressed loopholes in the response mechanism, the Minister said authorities can focus on immunising the population with the large batches of incoming vaccines.

Apart from lacking resources to fight the pan-

DPP withdraws charge against man for contractor’s murder

Dead: Peter Gonsalves

Former murder accused: Kacey Heyliger

Murder accused: Daniel Parris

murder charge against 28-yearold Kacey Heyliger was on Monday withdrawn based on advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Heyliger was accused of the December 6, 2020 murder of 60-year-old building contractor Peter Gonsalves.

He was charged a few weeks after the man’s death. Another man, Daniel Parris, is presently on remand for Gonsalves’ murder. The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on December 6, 2020, he murdered Gonsalves during a robbery.

It was reported that Gonsalves, a father of three, of Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was fatally shot in front of Red Bar, Garnett Street, during a confrontation with two armed men who later escaped with his XR motorcycle (CJ 600). Gonsalves was shot at

least three times about his body by the two men – one of whom was armed with a handgun.

They reportedly trailed him to the bar. At the time of the shooting, Gonsalves and one of his colleagues had just arrived at the bar. After he was shot, Gonsalves collapsed and died almost immediately. His co-worker escaped unhurt.

After law enforcement reviewed the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage collected from the bar, several persons were arrested, including Heyliger.

Heyliger was previously charged with the February 2018 murder of America Street, Georgetown money changer Shawn Nurse, called “Fabulous”. Reports are that Nurse was shot dead during a robbery. Following a Preliminary Inquiry, the presiding Magistrate discharged the charge against Heyliger citing insufficient evidence.

Meanwhile, in 2018, Parris was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to a robbery charge. (G1)

A

demic, he said they also saw lacking drug supplies and infrastructure – systemic problems that the budget will seek to alleviate.

“We had to start to address this shortage by doing emergency procurement to fill the immediate needs and we are hopeful that with this year’s allocation of more than $7 billion, we will stabilise the situation…While a lot of progress has been made, it would require a lot of work to permanently correct the deficiencies and damage done by the APNU/AFC,” the National Assembly heard.

Moving forward, the PPP/C is working to strengthen a series of areas in healthcare delivery. This starts with the maternity infrastructure by opening

new maternity homes and wards.

“A new maternity home will be opened in months at Lethem and we’re also going to improve and open a new maternity hospital at New Amsterdam later this year. We’re also going to build maternity waiting homes at Kato and Moruca,” the Minister shared.

The Pediatric Cardiology Programme will also be restarted in offering specialised care to babies. This initiative was used to treat over 100 infants until it was dismantled by the coalition. Presently, over 130 children are waiting for surgery.

“In this year’s budget, we have allocated money to buy all the necessary equipment and to pay the surgeons to come back to Guyana, so that we can restart the pediatric cardiology programme.”

A whopping $53.5 billion will be injected into the sector this year. The entire allotment is divided into $1.8 billion for purchasing of critical medical equipment, $322 million for the procurement of medical equipment, $35 million to enhance the emergency medical services, $900 million for HIV treat-

ment and testing, $70 million for essential medication for psychiatric patients among others.

In terms of infrastructure, $2.8 billion has been budgeted for the expansion and modernisation of health infrastructure. Within this, the continued implementation of the $860 million SMART Hospital initiative will result in the operationalisation of the upgraded Leonora Hospital, and the commissioning of the upgraded Diamond Diagnostic Centre and Mabaruma Hospital in 2021, while works will advance on the Lethem and Paramakatoi Hospitals.

Government will also endeavour to complete the construction of a polyclinic at Festival City and the remodelling of the Skeldon Hospital at a combined cost of $88.3 million to now cater for surgical interventions including an operating room, recovery room and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Other areas that will benefit from capital investments focused on providing surgical interventions are Aishalton and Kumaka District Hospitals, with over $100 million earmarked for these projects. (G8)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 deaths …senior citizens, persons with comorbidities on priority list

T

he number of COVID-19 deaths in Guyana has climbed to 197, after two more deaths were confirmed by the Health Ministry on Monday. The latest fatalities are a 64-year-old man from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and a 79-year-old woman from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). They died while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

According to the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard, 10 new COVID-19 cases were recorded from 461 tests. The total number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 8595 with 4438 males and 4157 females. There are five persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

There are five persons in institutional quarantine, 26 in institutional isolation, and 374 in home isolation.

To date, some 7993 persons have recovered from the deadly virus. Guyana has conducted 65,719 COVID-19

tests thus far. Of the 10 new cases recorded on Monday, one was detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); four cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice.)

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Monday, some 113,695,296 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 2,526,007 deaths. The WHO also reported that in the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 50,595,663 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 1,209,960.

Immunisation

By the end of this week, Guyana will be the recipient of 80,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and 20,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines which will be donated by the Governments of India and China respectively. With this, the

Government is looking to expand immunisation to senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, said Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony.

He made this disclosure during Monday’s COVID-19 update.

“We have now enough vaccines to be able to go beyond the healthcare workers. We have identified the persons who are older and to help us to do that identification we have been working with the Ministry of Social Services. We are going to use the database for persons receiving their old pension.

So, we will have a sense of who those persons are and where they are living,” Dr Anthony explained.

With regards to identifying persons with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and renal diseases, Dr Anthony said that this data will be gathered from the records at health centres and districts, and regional hospitals. In the meantime, he disclosed

that the Government is actively pursuing bilateral strategies to acquire more vaccines.

“So, as we get them [vaccines] we can expand the recipients of those vaccines. Of course, we are going to do this not only in Georgetown, but the 35 teams that we

have trained are going to be in all the regions.” According to the Health him, the Health Ministry has been preparing storage capacity for these vaccines in every region.

Last month, Guyana received 3000 doses of vaccines from Barbados. They were used to immunise frontline

healthcare workers countrywide. The Health Minister admitted that Guyana is far away from achieving herd immunity. He explained that for Guyana to achieve herd immunity it would have to immunise between 70 to 80 per cent of the population.

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Death of mother, newborn

Probe completed, action to be taken against doctors, nurses – Health Minister A n investigation has been completed into the death of 31-yearold Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo – who died along with her newborn after giving birth last Saturday.

Lewis-Sahadeo of Williamsburg, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), had delivered her fourth child and was transferred to GHPC is an unconscious state, where she succumbed. Her baby had died a few hours prior, at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony informed on Monday that an investigative team managed to complete their probe, assuring that action will be taken against medical personnel

Dead: Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo

who erred and caused the woman’s death.

The Minister said, “We had a very unfortunate death at the New Amsterdam Hospital and al-

ready, we have sent an investigation team. They went there yesterday (Sunday) and have completed an investigation and when I get those recommendations, we will take actions against the nurses, doctors and whoever is at fault in that unfortunate death.”

The woman’s father, Eric Lewis, had told this publication that he was told that doctors were forced to remove her uterus in New Amsterdam. Lewis-Sahadeo had gone to the prenatal clinic at the Port Mourant Hospital and was expected to return within two weeks. However, within a few days, she went into labour.

Her mother, Charis Cecil, said on the evening of

February 21, her daughter called and told her she was getting labour pains. The grieving mother explained that they visited the Port Mourant Hospital the following morning where LewisSahadeo was admitted and then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

She detailed that she was only able to have telephone conversations with her daughter during the rest of the week as LewisSahadeo remained a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. She said because of COVID-19 guidelines she could not see her daughter but nonetheless took food for her every day.

She said she received a telephone call on Saturday from someone who identified

Fisherman, vendor slapped with robbery charge

A

fisherman and a vendor on Monday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with separate robbery charges.

Michael Scott, a fisherman of David Street, McDoom, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he allegedly committed an armed robbery.

The charge read by Magistrate Sherdell IsaacsMarcus stated that on February 12, Scott, while on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, in the company of others and armed with a gun, stole one Toyota Allion valued at $3 million, a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $75,000 along with a radio set valued $20,000, a lunch pack valued $5000

and $3000 along with some documents.

Scott, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-A-Fat, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

During a bail application, the defence counsel argued that the man was picked out during an improper ID parade sometime after the alleged robbery.

He further added that there were no articles found on his client’s person nor did he make a confession. As such, Fung-A-Fat requested bail be granted to his clent.

However, the Police prosecutor objected to bail, informing the court that the value of the stolen items is high. In addition, he submitted that the defendant was positively identified during the ID parade by the Virtual

Complainant.

Scott was refused bail and the case was adjourned to March 15.

Meanwhile, also appearing before Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus to answer to a robbery charge was a 23-year-old market vendor, Lawrence Kato. The charge stated that on February 19, at Bugle Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others, he robbed Ramchand Singh of US$2300 along with $305,000.

Kato, who hails from Samata Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty.

Attorney-at-Law Kiswana Jefford during her bail application informed the court that her client was beaten while in Police custody.

Ganja bust

Suspect who gave visually impaired man parcel to be charged

T

he three men who had previously appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sherdell IsaacsMarcus for charges of narcotics trafficking reappeared in court on Monday.

Troy Jacobs, 46, a businessman of Penny Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Ivor Anderson, 75, of Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), along with Perez Cush, 43, a barber of Newton Kitty, Georgetown, had all appeared before Magistrate Isaacs and were charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking previously.

However, the case took

a twist on Monday after a fourth party, Michael Solomon, of Agricola, appeared along with the trio.

Solomon disclosed that on the day in question, he had given Anderson the bag, which contained 3.156 kilograms of cannabis.

Solomon was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-A-Fat, who explained that the man is willing to plead guilty to the charge.

As such, CANU prosecutor Konyo Sandiford notified Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus that CANU ranks will escort the man to the headquarters for further questioning.

The four defendants are set to return to court on

April 19.

Jacobs, Anderson and Cush had previously appeared on February 15.

The three men were all granted $500,000 bail each and were ordered to return to court on March 1. As a condition for bail, they were all required to lodge their passports.

According to reports, the trio was intercepted on February 12, 2021, while they were travelling along the route of Homestretch and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

A search conducted on the vehicle by CANU ranks resulted in a parcel said to contain cannabis being unearthed.

The Police prosecutor objected to bail, adding that sometime after the incident, the Virtual Complainant saw the suspect in the market and was able to identify him. As such ranks were summoned and he was arrested.

Kato was, however, released on $75,000 bail. The case will continue on April 1. (G15)

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

themself as a nurse at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

“She tell me that she have something to tell me and she take a long time and then say that the baby died and that they had to remove her womb,” the mother said.

This, the woman said, prompted her to rush to the hospital and according to her, when she arrived there her daughter was on a stretcher.

“They had doctors around her and one of them had something in his hand pumping and every time he squeeze it she shaking,” she recalled, adding that she tried to find out from the doctors what the matter was but none of them responded to her.

“Like is Cuban doctors

and they can’t understand me so they just talking in their own language all the time and I can’t understand what they saying, and nobody tell me anything till I start to cry because I see like she dead already then a nurse come and tell me that she is not dead and they taking her to Georgetown.”

According to Cecil, they waited hours for the ambulance to transport her unconscious daughter to the city medical facility.

“The ambulance come and it did not carry her, it take somebody else. We wait a long time before it come back and then they put her inside.”

Asked what time she arrived at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Cecil said it was sometime before 16:00h, adding that when the ambulance returned to New Amsterdam to collect her daughter it was almost 18:00h.

“Whole week she was at the New Amsterdam Hospital, none of them could not check her to see if something wrong. Now they telling me that the baby died inside her and so they had to take out her womb. When we ask them to see the baby they say that we can’t see the baby and that the baby was deformed,” the woman said. (G12)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Never again!” – PPP tells election riggers …as Guyana marks 1 year since threat to democracy

President Irfaan Ali taking the Oath of Office before acting Chancellor of Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

C

alling out the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition for its attempts to reinvent itself, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has made it clear that with the reforms currently being undertaken, riggers will never again be able to hold the country hostage during an election.

In a statement sent out

The party said it is also pushing for the “prosecution of those who committed election offences. A return of professionalism to GECOM, to repair the damaged public trust and confidence in the Commission; and efforts to amend the Representation of the People Act to: ensure transparency; clear methodology on how counting ballots are to proceed – including the publication of all Statements of Polls (SOPs)

Guyanese endured a torrid year of mischief-making from the APNU/AFC coalition, aided by elements still embedded in the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in undermining the will of the people.

The coalition’s saga of the conspiracy to steal the elections of March 2, 2020, the PPP noted, was undertaken with the clear objective of ensuring that,

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, and Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee

reminded the APNU/AFC that the people will not forget what they stand for, however much it attempts to reinvent itself as pious, democracy-loving representatives of the people.

“Simultaneously, work is also ongoing to heal hurts and

institutional strengthening of the existing Ethnic Relations Commission to make it more effective.

In the aftermath of the controversial five-month-long elections, a number of high-ranking GECOM officials have been

fied results from the National Recount to Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, for a final declaration.

The National Recount exercise showed that the PPP/C

PM Mia Mottley along with Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica; Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada; Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago. Also in photo is Caricom Secretary General Ambassador, Irwin LaRocque

on Monday to herald the oneyear anniversary of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, the PPP noted that among other things, the Government is engaged in pushing for a professional Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that cannot be sabotaged by those from within its walls.

“To reinforce our commitment to ensure that our country is never placed in such a position again, the Party reiterates that efforts are being made in the following areas, among others, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into what took place during the March 2020 electoral process, which will be staffed by independent professionals from the international community.”

Sylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines; Cynthia BarrowGiles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI); and John Jarvis, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

in the newspapers and the official gazette; and penalties for election fraud, among other issues.”

According to the PPP,

A GECOM official carries a ballot box under Police guard

“by hook or by crook”, power was retained. “However, power for power’s sake sits on quicksand, a lesson the APNU+AFC Coalition ignored and felt that they could ride roughshod over the Constitution, the laws and the people Guyana.”

It added that the APNU/ AFC coalition failed to recognise that much had changed since the 1980s and they miscalculated the power of the democratic will of the Guyanese people – the broad-based democratic forces and new and young pro-democracy voices, coupled with international and regional support. The dog-whistles sounded by the PNCR-led coalition were ignored.

Expressing its gratitude to the Guyanese people and the international community which took a stand on the side of Guyana’s democracy, the party

bridge divisions that were created and exacerbated during the five months leading to August 2, 2020. President Dr Irfaan Ali has launched a One Guyana Commission. The Commission is tasked with taking practical steps to cement Guyana’s one society, encompassing and respecting the diversity from which our “oneness” springs.”

The party said that the Commission will also examine ways to ensure equal opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship, and the

investigated by the Police and charged for misconduct in public office and forgery.

They include Lowenfield, who on October 12, 2020, was slapped with six charges by the Police relating to forgery and misconduct in public office pertaining to his alleged role in the attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The CEO is being accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the veri-

One of the containers transporting Statements of Poll

won the elections with 233,336 votes. But Lowenfield had repeatedly refused to submit his final elections report with those figures, despite being so directed by the GECOM Chair on several occasions. However, he did submit unverified figures that would have given APNU/AFC the win.

Lowenfield eventually complied, paving the way for the declaration and subsequent swearing-in of the new Government on August 2, 2020 – five months after elections were held. Also before the courts are Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers.

Following the elections and its attendant controversies, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) scrutinising team had recommended a political audit into the functioning of GECOM. President Ali has previously said that persons for the CoI could come from Caricom, the Commonwealth or the Organisation of American States (OAS).

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 year later

2020 election horrors still haunt Guyanese

…as small parties rejoice in democratic triumph

TCI Leader Rhonda Lam

I

t has been one year since the historic March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections – unfolding five months of surreal drama and roadblocks that would go down in history as the mother of all elections.

The anniversary has teleported some back to March 2

On March 11, acting Chief Justice Roxane George ruled that the verification process be done in a transparent manner. As such, on March 12, the verification process recommenced, but Mingo continued to read figures that vastly differed from the SoPs. When the matter was brought to the attention of the GECOM Chair, she suspended the activities until she could get the court’s written judgement.

After the irregularities persisted, Mingo returned to the Command Centre and announced that the process would resume later that afternoon at GECOM’s High Street Secretariat, where he made a second unlawful declaration.

It was then Chair of Caricom, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that then President David Granger and then Opposition Leader Bharrat

LJP Leader Lenox Shuman

ing the Chairwoman to issue a statement expressing that “It is clear that there are forces that do not want to see the votes recounted for whatever reason” and further warning that “any Government which is sworn in without a credible and fully transparent vote count process would lack legitimacy”.

The Court of Appeal, on April 7, delivered a judgement on the Moore case, paving the way for the commencement of the countrywide recount. The Appeal Court ruled that GECOM has the authority to do a recount of ballots, but cannot accord this power to any other body.

However, the recount only commenced on May 6, 2020, but international observers had departed due to the prolonged legal battle and amid COVID-19 concerns. When it was time for the recount to begin, several international observers, including The Carter Center, were denied

Never be forgotten

Speaking with Guyana Times on how the year

The makeshift projector screen used by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo at GECOM

has played out, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj explained that this electoral period will never be forgotten. He pointed out that the far-reaching attention that the process garnered and the coverage it gained makes it well-documented.

“The aftermath of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections will go down in history whenever election, democracy, Government or any such discussion is had in the future regarding Guyana. It is quite the story that we had to go through that, especially at this point of our history. Notwithstanding, the events that occurred after March 2 are very well documented, not only by the traditional media, but on social media where it was played out instantaneously and all of that,” Gunraj said.

According to him, the fact that top electoral officials are already being hauled before the court brings some relief and hopefully, the contention that such acts should never be repeated.

“We see several perpe-

Jagdeo had agreed to a Caricom-supervised recount.

Containers containing ballot boxes were moved to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where Granger and Jagdeo had to sign an agreement before the recount began.

On the afternoon of March 17, GECOM was served with an injunction, which was filed by an APNU/AFC supporter, Ulita Moore, blocking the recount exercise. As a result, the Caricom team departed Guyana, prompt-

trators of those shenanigans still seeking to maintain relevance in today’s society but

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo being taken to hospital

last year, where almost every Guyanese was unprepared for the series of events that would ultimately threaten the country’s democracy and bring about the perils of sanctions.

It would have started with elections officials using unverified spreadsheets with inaccurate figures to verify the votes; an election worker being caught with the flash drive and a laptop which were being used in the tabulation process; the then Government revoking the accreditation of international observers, and a bomb threat to remove party agents from the Command Centre.

With the delay, Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo made a fraudulent declaration of the election result for Region Four – without the process of verification of the SoPs being completed in the presence of stakeholders.

The PPP/C immediately moved to secure injunctions against the declaration but GECOM had released to the media the fraudulent declaration made by Mingo, which showed the then incumbent APNU/AFC securing 136,335 votes and the PPP/C winning 77,258 votes for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

parties joining forces to lobby for democracy to be restored.

After the process was completed, it confirmed that the PPP/C won the elections with a commanding 233,336 votes, a noteworthy lead of 15,416 over its nearest political rival, the APNU/AFC. Litigations in the courts and obstacles to extend the coalition’s time in office had already passed many months.

Then exactly five months later, Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President of Guyana on August 2, 2020.

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

Some members of the Guardians of Democracy, who were continuously keeping watch on the containers, in which the ballot boxes are stored, at GECOM Headquarters

quite pleasingly, we see persons are already placed before the court et cetera, so that they can account for their role in that process. Simply put, the outcome I would like to see from all of this is that such actions are never contemplated, attempted, and more so, repeated in Guyana in the future.”

When asked whether he is satisfied with the progress made to prevent a recurrence of such events, the Commissioner noted, “While I know that there are sever-

APNU/AFC protesters at the Police barricade outside of GECOM

permission to enter Guyana.

The recount exercise lasted 33 days and saw smaller

cannot express my pleasure or displeasure.”

Leader of the Citizenship Initiative (TCI) party, Rhonda Lam shared with this publication on Monday that there is still a sense of surrealness that the country experienced such a tumultuous episode. She gave credit to the recount exercise for revealing the true victor from the polls.

“It’s still surreal that it’s been a year since we had elections and the things I saw and the kind of pressure that had to be placed on people to do the right thing was insane. If we hadn’t opened those boxes to see what was going on, the people of Guyana would have been none the wiser.

Honestly, I still can’t believe it’s been a year already,” Lam said when contacted.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman, who leads the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), said he views the long-winded electoral process as squandering costly time that could have been directed at developing the country.

“We have to keep in mind that the Government is not too old but I want to reflect

al legislative and other administrative changes that are planned, unless and until all of those are given effect, I

on what transpired after the votes occurred on March 2. We went through a long and tedious five months of recount, court challenges amongst a variety of things. I think that’s five months that have been wasted in moving forward and Guyana’s progress. It is unfortunate. I think there is a breath of relief,” Shuman positioned.

He expressed that confidence has been restored in the way citizens conduct their business, having realised that the economy is stabilised.

“During the five months, the traffic was sparse, people seemed a bit apprehensive about coming out in public and spending money and those things. The fact that we see a lot of people moving about shows that people have confidence in the community, they have confidence in stability. What I’m hopeful for is that we as a country grow through this process,” he told Guyana Times during the sidelines of the parliamentary debates. (G12)

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Controversial “bottom-house” warehouse

Company loses bid for $120M extra rent

The Sussex Street, Georgetown bond that was rented by the previous APNU/AFC Government

A

lawsuit filed by Linden Holdings Incorporated, a company linked to local businessman and People’s National Congress (PNC) financier Larry Singh, in which he claimed that he was owed $120 million by the Government for the rental of a bond at Sussex Street, Georgetown, was recently dismissed by High Court Judge Nareshwar Harnanan.

The claim surrounds the

controversial bond at Lot 29 Sussex Street, Georgetown, which was rented in 2016 for $12.6 million per month by the previous APNU/ AFC Government to store drugs and pharmaceuticals. On October 31, 2016, after much public outrage over the rental, the Health Ministry wrote the company terminating the tenancy and informed that it would give up possession of the bond on November 1, 2017.

On October 3, 2017, the

Ministry again wrote to the company reminding it of the earlier notice of termination and reiterated that it would be giving up possession of the property on November 31, 2021. However, through its Attorney-at-Law, Linden Holdings Inc informed the Health Ministry that it had not received the notice of termination. The company also informed that it did not recognise the Ministry as being lawfully entitled to give up possession of the premises.

As such, the company said that if the Ministry gives up possession of the bond it will nevertheless claim rent payable for the unexpired term of the tenancy. The Health Ministry give up possession of the bond until August 2018 in keeping with the letters it had dispatched to the company.

Linden Holdings Incorporated later filed a lawsuit seeking $126 million as the total rent, which would have been payable for the full term of the tenancy up to June 30, 2019.

In dismissing the lawsuit, Justice Harnanan held that the notice to give up tenancy was properly served by the Health Ministry. In light of the foregoing, the Judge ruled that the tenancy was properly terminated and, in the circumstances, the court had no jurisdiction to hear the claim as at all material times, the Ministry had been a statutory tenant.

That being the case, the Judge said that the claim for outstanding rent ought to have been filed in the Magistrates’ Courts and not the High Court. The company was represented by Glenn Hanoman and Joshua Abdool, while the Attorney

Larry Singh

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan

General and Central Board of Health were represented by Andrew Pollard, SC, and Solicitor General Nigel Hawke.

The multi-million-dollar transaction for the bond came to light in 2016 during the consideration of Financial Papers in the National Assembly. At that time, it was discovered that $25 million was already spent as a security deposit, in addition to $12.5 million, representing monthly rentals from August to December 2016. Heavy criticisms led former President David Granger to set up a

Cabinet sub-committee to investigate the matter and make recommendations.

That committee concluded that the contract should be terminated or renegotiated since a similar facility could have been found at a cheaper rate. The Audit Office of Guyana was also called in to conduct a special audit on the Sussex Street, Georgetown bond. The audit found that there were clear breaches of the Procurement Act and recommended that the Police and Legal Affairs Ministry be called in to take the appropriate steps where necessary. (G1)

“CEO must go” – Linden nurses join protest for removal of hospital’s CEO

S

ome 120 nurses on Monday joined calls made by Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) officials for the removal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Rudy Small, over alleged “salacious” statements made to an online news agency. The nurses and officials, armed with placards, picketed the office of the CEO on Monday chanting for him to resign from the post. The nurses, during the protest, chanted, “the CEO must go” and “We need justice”.

Regional Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens noted that Small again declined to meet with officials at his office on Monday. Gittens had also alleged that the CEO refused to meet with the team which sat in his office before protesting last Friday.

“He declined both the person from the Ministry of Labour and the Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman - a meeting to iron out views that we have,” Gittens said

Some of the protesting Linden nurses on Monday

on Monday.

Gittens also alleged that the CEO “snuck out” of the building and left the hospital compound.

Gittens alleged that a letter was submitted to the CEO stating that he has no other choice but to resign from the post within 10 days.

“However, the Union and the hospital persons have come together and they have said that they are giving him until Friday to resign,” the Regional Vice Chairman said.

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Regional Representative Maurice Butters was also present and addressed the protesting nurses. Butters told this publication that the nurses are “mad with the CEO for the irresponsible statements” he has allegedly made.

On the heels of an article published by a section of the media, alleging "salacious" statements made by the CEO, officials have since protested, calling for his removal.

Regional Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens said the alleged statement was "distasteful", noting that officials have also circulated a petition which has received a lot of signatures by staff at the hospital. Additionally, Gittens said a letter was handed over calling for the CEO to resign based on other allegations from the staff at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the CEO in a statement issued via a press release issued on Friday said in mid-February, a reporter from an online news agency which he named, inquired into the reason why the Linden Hospital Complex requested budgetary funding for the introduction of an Electronic Timekeeping System. He said he explained that among the several challenges the Linden Hospital Complex faces is a small number of staff members signing in to work and then disappearing until the end of their shifts.

He said he further explained that it is the strong belief of the Linden

Hospital management that the Electronic Timekeeping System would make it more difficult for staff members to leave their shifts for long periods of time. "At the end of the interview, off the record, the reporter and I engaged in casual banter. During that off-record conversation, certain popular rumours relating to the issue of disappearing staff members were highlighted. Those rumours have nothing to do with the introduction of a timekeeping system at the hospital. These rumours relating to behaviour of nursing staff have been part of the folklore in this community long before my arrival as the CEO of the Linden Hospital Complex. I was shocked and mortified when I subsequently was informed of a FB post by the reporter which has been circulated widely. In this post, the reporter added salacious commentary alleging certain inappropriate behaviour of nurses led to the decision to introduce an electronic timekeeping

system. At no time in the formal interview did I ascribe the need for a timekeeping system to be related to the rumoured behaviour of nurses or any other staff," the CEO noted in the letter.

He added in the letter that the hospital management has faced the challenge of tardiness and staff members not completing their shifts.

According to the CEO, as Head of the management staff of the Linden Hospital, he has an obligation to stem the problem. “Doing nothing is irresponsible. While the management has a responsibility to ensure staff members report on time for work and complete their shifts, their personal lives are not the responsibility of management,” he said, pointing out that in addressing the problem of tardiness and incomplete shifts, management in no way failed to recognise the hard work and diligence of the majority of staff members of the Linden Hospital Complex.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC must live with legacy of rigging – Teixeira

…Guyana firmly on the path to rebuilding under PPP – AG

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

T

oday marks the oneyear anniversary of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, a year that was dominated by concerted efforts by the former Government to

maintain its grip on power. According to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who featured prominently in the legal battles of that period, Guyana is firmly on the path of rebuilding.

In an interview with this publication, Nandlall described the period of March to August 2020 as an essay in democracy. He noted that in the end, the Guyanese people were able to triumph over those who would deny them their freedom and democracy prevailed.

“The March 2 elections were done fairly, conducted in accordance with the law, observed by all the international observers and certified by those observers to be free, fair and credible. And what we saw subsequent to voting day, was something never witnessed before in the western hemisphere. As one former Jamaican Prime

Minister of Governance Gail Teixeira

Minister said, he witnessed the most transparent effort to interfere with the results of an election,” he pointed out.

According to the AG, the facts are inescapable,

from the actions of Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo right up to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) having sanctions levelled on them by the United States and finally buckling to international pressure.

“The tale of the elections alone is an essay in democracy. It’s a live event of the struggle for free and fair elections in the western hemisphere, in the year 2020. One would have thought that period was behind us. But not once the APNU/AFC is around.”

“So in celebrating the one year anniversary, I feel that the people of Guyana have won, Guyana has won, our Constitution has won and we are committed to a path that will take Guyana safely to the destination of prosperity,” Nandlall added.

Another APNU/AFC MP claims electronic device is missing

P

olice are now investigating an alleged larceny committed on a Member of Parliament Haimraj Rajkumar, who claims to have lost a tablet valued at $60,000.

Police in a statement on Monday said that the incident occurred sometime around 10:00h on February 26, and 08:00h on February 27, 2021, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

It was further stated that Rajkumar had attended the seating of the National Assembly which was hosted at the Conference Centre.

The Member of Parliament claimed that he placed his electronic tablet in his computer bag during his time at the Centre.

However, when he arrived home, he made checks for his device and discovered it was missing.

As such a report was made and investigations are ongoing.

A mere six days ago, another Member of Parliament had reported a missing electronic device.

According to the Police statement issued, Hughes reported that on February 24, when the sitting of the National Assembly at the

Arthur Chung Conference Centre recessed for lunch at about 12:35h, she exited the dome after securing the laptop in its bag and placing same on her seat.

“About 14:30h, she returned and discovered the laptop was missing from her bag.”

The situation was brought to the attention of Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, who called in the Police.

“The scene was visited … about 15:30h and investigations revealed that Mrs Hughes attended Parliament and was seated in the southern section of

the dome of the Conference Hall among several other Members of Parliament while Parliament was in session.

“A search was conducted and the computer was found by a Police rank at the back of the said chair which Mrs Hughes was occupying. Same was shown to her and she identified same to be hers. Statements were taken and an investigation is in progress,” the Police statement added.

Commander Pareshram explained that the laptop was recovered at the “same area where she was sitting”.

Legacy of rigging

M e a n w h i l e , Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira also spoke of APNU/AFC’s attempts to rig the elections in her opening remarks during her presentation on Budget 2021 on Monday. In fact, she noted that even former People’s National Congress (PNC) leader and former President LFS Burnham did not go to the extent of the APNU/ AFC. “A year ago, to this day, all parties were preparing for the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Little did we know then, it would take us five months to have the genuine results of those elections declared.

Tomorrow will mark a year since those elections were held.”

“Mr Speaker, we have been regaled by the APNU with all sorts of stuff, but the issue is what the PNC/ AFC has to live with for the rest of its existence is a legacy of a party that was will-

ing to do anything and everything to stay in power, regardless of the will of the people.”

According to Teixeira, the APNU/AFC’s legacy does not just reflect poorly on them, but it also reflects poorly on Guyana as a whole. She cited Guyana’s inglorious distinction of being the only country in the democratic world to have to wait five months for the elections to be concluded.

“And they come to us with their righteousness, their crocodile tears. And it’s just galling. Because whatever they have done, good or bad, it’s been overtaken and stained forever, what they did from the December 2018 No-Confidence Motion, right through to August 2, 2020.”

“It’s not just the elections. We were dragged before the courts to be told that 33 is the majority of 65.

How disgraceful. And yet they don’t hang their heads in shame,” the PPP Chief Whip informed the National Assembly.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CSEC, CAPE to be held in June-July E

ducation Minister, Priya Manickchand has announced that this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) will be held in JuneJuly.

The Minister made this disclosure on Monday during the official opening of the Ministry’s Virtual Reinforcement Lessons for Hinterland Schools.

“This morning (Monday), we had a meeting with Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), the committee in the Caricom that deals with the education and it was specifically to look at what dates we will have CSEC and CAPE, what format the paper will take, and some other related issues,” she said.

As such, students who are preparing for these examinations can expect to do so under the established format which they are familiar with, where they would have to write both Papers One and Two. This includes a copy of their respective School-Based Assessments (SBA), or they can exercise the option to write Paper Three.

To this end, the Minister said the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has decided to provide some broad topics on what Paper Two is expected to offer, at least five weeks before the exam.

“Now, we want to be careful with that because Paper One will still be the entire syllabus so while you get those broad areas five weeks before the exams, do not forget everything else, and do only those areas. Please

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

make sure you understand those areas or where you need to know it in detail for Paper Two,” she added.

The Minister said there would also be other features that would be communicated concerning the 2021 examination. The new fea-

tures, she believes, will help the students despite the challenges they are facing due to the COVID pandemic.

“CXC is going to announce and the Ministry will tell you through your school, very shortly, some additional features. You can write some of the exams this year for June and July, but you can postpone some at no cost, no further cost to yourself, and using the same SBAs from this year to January of next year.”

In February, the Ministry announced that it is still awaiting the completed review of the 2020 results of CSEC and CAPE. About 6251 subject entries from the 2020 exam were affected.

Of this sum, 1258 subject entries from 500 candidates were submitted to CXC for review. There are 128 reviews still outstanding.

To date, following the review, 456 grades have been changed, while 674 have remained the same.

Schools’ reopening

On Saturday, Manickchand announced that Government is looking to have schools in Guyana fully reopened after the Easter holidays but in the meantime, classrooms will remain closed for the month of March, except for Grades 10, 11 and 12 students.

According to Manickchand, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has advised that schools continue to be closed to the traditional classroom learning in the new month.

Manickchand pointed out that her Ministry has not taken any decision without consulting with and the advice of Dr Anthony, who

has been looking at ways that his Ministry can accommodate the return of classroom learning to the benefit of everyone involved, especially students.

In fact, she noted that this will become more a reality now that the Health Ministry has rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination campaign earlier this month.

“Once that goes smoothly and as plan, we anticipate that we’re going to be able to open schools sometime after the Easter holiday – not too long after. Please remember, while that is our intention and a desire, that would be dependent upon further advice of the Health Ministry about how well the vaccination programme happen, and how successful they were with the numbers they had anticipate they wanted to meet,” Manickchand said.

“Budget 2021 will touch the lives of every Guyanese” – PM

P

rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips praised the 2021 budget at the National Assembly, saying that it “will touch the lives of every Guyanese”.

Speaking on allocations for sectors under his purview, the Prime Minister said that Guyanese can be optimistic about more reliable electricity as a result of the $8.4 billion allocated under the power generation programme.

“With allocations of $240 million for the Sustainable Energy Programme, $628.8 million for the Renewable Energy Improvement Power System Project, $750 million for the Energy Matrix Diversification Programme, $500 million for the Solar System Project and $125 million for the Small Hydro Projects, our Government will now work assiduously to implement the necessary measures that will result in improved standard of living for our people through the generation and provision of sufficient, stable and reliable pow-

er,” the Department of Public Information reported the Prime Minister as saying.

Additionally, according to the Prime Minister, an estimated $1 billion has been allocated to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

This will be used to continue its transformative work in accordance with the agency’s strategic direction to advance solar and wind systems for off-grid areas, to support the expansion of the hinterland electrification programme, to replace and upgrade solar PV systems in the hinterland and also to advance microgrids for large hinterland areas.

Moreover, power companies across the country will receive a subvention of $3.1 billion. The largest of that amount, $2.3 billion, will go to LINMINE. Other companies such as the Lethem Power Company will receive $172.5 million, Kwakwani Utilities Inc – $490 million, Mabaruma Power Company – $30 million, Mahdia Power and Light – $50 million, Moruca Power and Light – $10

million, Matthew’s Ridge Power and Light – $15 million and Port Kaituma Power and Light – $50 million.

Another $1.8 billion has been allocated to the Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP), to support GPL in executing fundamental infrastructure investment of a Corporate Development Programme (CDP).

According to the PM, the project will reduce technical and non-technical losses of electricity and improve the performance and reliability of the power distribution network by 2023.

within this industry are strengthened to immediately build toward this goal and has thus, set aside an estimated total of $2.3 billion for the Telecommunications and Innovation sector.”

Additionally, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) will receive $2 billion to expand and implement new network and communication infrastructure to connect Government agencies countrywide, connect educational institutions and provide free ICT access to hinterland and poor and remote communities among other tasks.

Telecommunications and innovation

Disaster preparedness and management

The Prime Minister was also adamant about the Government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and using ICT as a tool for economic and social empowerment.

“In acknowledging the need for ICT in the empowerment of our citizens and to improve our society, our PPP/C Government plans to ensure that all necessary aspects

According to the Prime Minister, $563 million has also been allocated to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), for it to carry out its work and better position the agency to coordinate and respond to disasters in a faster manner.

“These advancements will include expansions to the CDC’s facil-

ities, personnel capacity building, role strengthening and greater integration of technology into the organisation’s systems for preparedness, emergency operations and logistics; including supply chain management, financing, and monitoring and evaluation.”

The Prime Minister in his closing remarks said that Guyanese can depend on the Government’s continued engagement and interactions with ordinary individuals.

“We work not only in the office behind closed doors…. We get up and we get out in the fields to meet with the people. We serve so that when we come here to this House, we truly represent what the people want and the decisions we make here do not take away but add and improve the lives of our people.”

The Prime Minister is responsible for power generation, telecommunications and innovation, Government information and communication services and disaster preparedness, response and management.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela uses pretrial detention as a punishment – rights group N early three-quarters of all individuals detained in Venezuela for what rights group Penal Forum considers political reasons are awaiting trial, the group said on Monday, arguing it is a sign that authorities use pretrial detention as a punishment.

Venezuelan law states that pretrial detention cannot last more than two

years, Penal Forum’s directors Alfredo Romero and Gonzalo Himiob told reporters, noting that 49 of the 323 individuals they consider political prisoners have been detained for longer than that amount of time.

“They are arbitrarily keeping them longer,” Romero said, adding that 74% of those 323 detainees “have not even had their

trial begin, which is to say, they have not even had one hearing.”

Rights groups, Venezuela’s opposition, and Western democracies including the United States have long argued that President Nicolas Maduro’s government uses the justice system to quash political dissent.

Maduro frequently accuses opponents of “terror-

ism” or seeking to oust him in coups. The government denies that Venezuela holds political prisoners.

Neither Venezuela’s information ministry nor the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s office immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday.

Romero said that 10 of the prisoners monitored by Penal Forum have spent

Mom of girl, 8, calls on Police to catch sex predator

A

mother’s worst nightmare has materialised. Her seven-year-old daughter was molested by a person known to the family. Added to that anguish, she has been unable to get anyone to investigate the incident, despite her many attempts.

The mother found out about it on June 28 last year.

She said, “I’m a nurse and I work nights. So my children would go to my mother’s house. One is 15 and the other is eight – she was seven at the time. I received a call that something happened and they needed to talk to me.

“It was revealed to my 15-year-old that there is a family friend (godfather of the seven-year-old) that comes to visit my mother. She said that one night they were up by Granny and Ria (the younger child – name changed) came to her crying and told her that she ‘doesn’t like it when he comes over because he does things to me.’”

The child went on to say the man had touched her genitals several times.

He also touched her chest and tried to kiss her on the mouth.

The mother said, “We – my husband and I – went to the Maloney police station the following morning (June 29). They told me we have to go to the police CPU (Child Protection Unit) in Maracas St Joseph.”

In fact the police One Door Policy under Departmental Order No. 139 says any member of the public may make a report/ statement at any police station or to any police officer, anywhere.

They met with a woman police constable who was a member of the CPU and she told them to bring in the child the following day. The parents did so, taking the older daughter too.

The mother said the police station wasn’t a child-friendly atmosphere, and Ria confirmed that when she said, “I don’t want to talk to her.”

The female officer was unable to get any information out of the child.

But, the mother said, “A statement was taken from my older daughter, who also explained some of her experiences with the man.” Ria was booked for a medical examination, and the family left, hoping to be contacted soon.

Eventually, in October, the mother was asked to attend the medical examination at the Children’s Authority Unit, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

But, she said, “When we got there, the person said the officers just called and they cancelled. Somewhere close to the end of October we got a call to come back.

“We are in February 2021 and she has not yet received that examination, and this forensic examination was supposed to be used to get the child to talk about the incident and they would record the statement from the child,” she pointed out in frustration Not wanting to give up, and hoping more evidence would motivate the police to act, Ria’s parents took her to a private psychologist.

“She really opened up.

“The level of nastiness this man did to this child – we couldn’t believe it. She said he tried to penetrate her, he tried to kiss her, he used to write her love letters and he told her that she has to write back to him. He would squeeze her breast and if she tried to run away he would squeeze his legs together to stop her from moving.

“It was unbelievably ridiculous.”

The mother said the child has been showing signs of being disturbed by these incidents.

“We are having issues with her all the time. She is angry all the time, she is fighting. We caught her watching porn. He told her he wants her to watch porn so that she will know what to do when he is ready for her.”

The mother also said before she knew about the abuse, the child was defecating on herself.

A visit to the family physician further confirmed the nightmare.

“The doctor asked if she was being interfered with, because according to his DRC (digital rectal examination), the area was lax for a child. So something is happening.

“All this information I gave to the officers. It was only when the DRC information was presented to the female officer, did she see it fit to take another step towards the investigation. Or at least that is what I thought.

“That was in October. I have never heard from her again.”

She said she and her husband had made some inquiries about the offender “and it is not the first time.

He is actually out on bail for a similar offence. And his mother has a preschool.”

Newsday contacted acting Supt Claire GuyAlleyne, head of the police Gender-Based Violence Unit (GBVU), who confirmed that a report had been made.

More investigations by Ria’s family brought to light other alleged victims who were similarly violated by the Maloney Gardens man.

“He has admitted doing it. When he found out that everyone knew, he wanted to end his life. We spoke to a woman who is in her 20s now, who he did the same thing to when she was younger.

“He was regularly teaching a Sunday school. He is no longer allowed to come into the church because we informed them about it.”

Officials at the church did not comment on the individual or the situation directly, but instead sent Newsday a message stating they don’t want to be targeted as people would then investigate and try to figure out which church the man attended and they would be tarnished.

Not wanting to wait any longer on the GBVU to as-

sist, her parents enrolled Ria in a victim and witness group, where behavioural issues were once again diagnosed and confirmed.

“The psychologist called the police station, only to find out that the only report noted was my older daughter’s statement.

“We have no evidence that this is being pursued.

You (the police) are telling people that you are serious about crimes against women and children – and there is nothing going on when you make a report…

“Why are we marching?

You’re telling me you have someone who committed a crime and is out on bail for a similar offence and is committing other offences to other children for a similar act – and you all not doing anything about it?”

The day after Newsday contacted the GBVU on February 25, the now hopeful mother said, “ So the WPC (name given) has now remembered that we exist.

She is now asking me if I remember that she told me that I was supposed to give a statement.

“I told her, ‘No, you never told me that.’

“I got three phone calls today. I have to meet with them on Monday morning (March 1).

“Why can’t people just do their job? This man is still free out there to destroy other children.”

Cheryl Moses-Williams, communications manager of the Children’s Authority, said the Sexual Offences Act mandates that the parent or guardian of a minor who has reason to believe a sexual offence has been committed against that child must report it to a police officer as soon as possible.

Medical practitioners, psychologists, police, social workers, school principals, leaders of faith-based groups and others are also legally obliged to report any evidence of sexual abuse of children they encounter or who are members of their groups. (TT Newsday)

four years behind bars, and four have been awaiting trial for six years. He said 20% of the detainees have had their trials begin, while 6% have pled guilty.

“These people are being used to set an example in criminal procedures that go on forever, making them a tool of political persecution,” Himiob said.

The group of 323 pris-

oners includes 23 women, while the rest are men. At least 123 of the detainees are members of the military.

Romero added that at least 9,000 people who have been detained since 2014 on political charges are still restricted by probationary measures, including regular court appearances or bans on leaving the country.

(Reuters)

COVID vaccines cut risk of serious illness by 80% in over-80s

A

single shot of either the OxfordAstraZeneca or the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid jab reduces the chance of needing hospital treatment by more than 80%, an analysis in England shows.

The Public Health England data showed the effect kicked in three to four weeks after vaccination.

It was based on people aged over 80 who were the first to receive the jab.

Government scientists hailed the result, but stressed that two doses were needed for the best protection.

It comes after similar findings were published by Scottish health authorities last week, which they hailed as “spectacular”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street briefing on Monday the latest vaccine results were “very strong”.

He added: “They may also help to explain why the number of Covid admissions to intensive care units among people over 80 in the UK have dropped to single figures in the last couple of weeks.”

Also speaking at the news conference, England’s deputy chief medical officer - Prof Jonathan VanTam - said the data offered a glimpse of how the vaccine programme “is going to hopefully take us into a very different world in the next few months”.

But he said it was “absolutely critical” that second doses “are still part of the course of immunisation against Covid-19 and no less important”.

Prof Van-Tam stressed there was a “significant likelihood” that a second dose of a vaccine would “mature your immune response, possibly make it broader and almost certainly make it longer than it would otherwise be in relation to a first dose only.”

More than 20 million people in the UK have had their first dose of a vaccine over a third of the adult population.

Meanwhile, another 104 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus have been reported in the UK, and a further 5,455 new cases, according to the latest figures. (BBC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

Regional

Colombia becomes 1st in Peru forced sterilisations case reaches key stage Americas to get vaccines A through COVAX

C

olombia has become the first country in the Americas to receive a shipment of coronavirus vaccines through the United Nations-backed COVAX programme, receiving 117,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Monday.

The shipment’s arrival in the capital, Bogota, came a few days after the anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Latin America.

Colombia has been one of the Region’s hardest-hit countries, registering over 2.25 million cases of COVID-19 and nearly 60,000 coronavirus-related deaths.

“Today marks a very important milestone, today COVAX makes its first delivery in the Western Hemisphere, and the first country to receive it is Colombia,” President Ivan Duque said in a statement.

Colombia, the third-largest country in Latin America by population, had already begun COVID-19 inocula-

The Pan American Health Organisation says it plans to bring about 280 million vaccines to the Americas and the Caribbean through COVAX by the end of the year [Fernando Vergara/AP Photo]

tions.

COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, aims to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable people are inoculated and that low- and middle-income countries have equitable access to vaccines.

But the initiative has been hampered by the severely limited global supply of doses and logistical problems. Although it aims to deliver two billion shots this year, it currently has legally binding agreements only for several hundred million

shots.

“The arrival means that more health workers and high-risk populations can begin to be vaccinated,” World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

“The COVID-19 pandemic can only end if vaccination occurs in an equitable way, and I am truly delighted to see vaccine doses in South America and other regions begin to be rolled out this week through COVAX.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ecuador links deadly prison riots to transnational crime groups

E

cuadorean officials said on Monday prison riots that left 79 inmates dead last week were linked to organised transnational crime, and said the situation in its penitentiary system remained “tense”.

Last Tuesday’s riots, which left an additional 19 people wounded, were among the bloodiest incidents in the history of the Andean country’s penitentiary system and underscored the problems of overcrowding and underfunding that plagued the system.

Authorities initially attributed the riots to rivalries between local gangs.

Testifying in front of the

National Assembly, Interior Minister Patricio Pazmino said on Monday that those rivalries were linked to international groups disputing for control over Ecuador’s drug trade.

“We are not talking about a simple fight between criminal groups in prisons,” Pazmino said. “We are talking about a confrontation between criminal groups with international contacts over illegal markets in the country.”

Without naming specific groups, Pazmino said rivalries between local groups took on an increasingly international dimension in 2017, after the demobilisation of the FARC reb-

el group in neighbouring Colombia through a peace deal with the Government put an end to decades of civil war.

Authorities said there have been new attempted riots in the jails since last week’s incidents. The most recent took place on Monday morning in the central city of Latacunga, where prisoners held five guards hostage, but the SNAI prison authority said the situation was controlled several hours later.

“The situation is still tense and complicated,” said Edmundo Moncayo, SNAI’s Director of Social Rehabilitation.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

key hearing was due to be held in Peru on Monday which could see former President Alberto Fujimori charged over the sterilisation of hundreds of thousands of Peruvians.

Fujimori has previously argued that all sterilisations were consensual, but thousands of women have disagreed.

Some said they were not informed, others that they were tied down.

The programme was introduced as part of an anti-poverty drive, aimed at cutting birth rates among poor families.

Prosecutors are expected to argue that Fujimori's government is responsible for the forced sterilisations.

More than 270,000 women and 22,000 men

E

Supporters of the Nuevas Ideas party let off celebratory fireworks

contested a legislative election.

If the preliminary results are confirmed and the coalition wins two-thirds of the seats – known as a supermajority – President Nayib Bukele will be free to choose new judges for the Supreme

Court and a new AttorneyGeneral without having to negotiate with rival lawmakers.

Bukele was elected President in February 2019 on a promise to tackle rampant gang violence and political corruption. He won more

they did not always understand the documents they were pressured to sign by medical staff.

Rudecinda Quilla is one of those whose statement forms part of the legal evidence. She says that when she tried to get issued a birth certificate for her fourth child in 1996, she was told by doctors that the only way to get the certificate would be to agree to have tubal ligation.

Quilla, who was 24 at the time, refused. She says she was forced onto a hospital bed, her hands and feet tied while she was injected with an anaesthetic. When she woke up hours later, she had been sterilised and staff told her that she would "never breed like an animal again".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbadian appointed Head of Caribbean Telecommunications Union

B

arbadian technology expert Rodney Taylor has been appointed SecretaryGeneral of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) after a public, Caribbean-wide recruitment process, the organisation said on Monday.

Taylor, whose appointment took effect on Monday, is the first Barbadian national substantively appointed to head the CTU in its 32-year history.

He was previously seconded to the CTU between June 2010 and August 2014 to work as its business development and operations manager, in a role that saw him working with regional Governments in the development of policies to govern Information and Communications Technology (ICT), leading the work to operationalise the CTU's Caribbean Centre of Excellence, to offer consultancy services to the Member States, and represent the Region in many international ICT conferences.

Sharing his vision for the CTU, Taylor said: “The CTU has to continue to be a leader in driving the transforma-

El Salvador governing party set for big Parliament win l Salvador's governing party and its ally are set to win a two-thirds majority in the legislative assembly, preliminary results suggest.

With 80 per cent of votes counted, the Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) party, and its coalition partner, Gana, look on course to win 56 out of 84 seats.

The preliminary results are a blow to the left-wing FMLN and the right-wing Arena parties, which have dominated Salvadorean politics for decades.

Turnout in the election was at 51 per cent.

It is the first time Nuevas Ideas, which was only registered as a party in 2018, has

were sterilised as part of a Government-run birth control programme between 1996 and 2000, according to official figures from Peru's Health Ministry.

Health officials from the Administration of then President Alberto Fujimori, and the ex-leader himself, have maintained that all the sterilisations were carried out with the consent of the patients.

But thousands of women have said they were misled, harassed, blackmailed or forced to undergo the procedure.

Most of the thousands of women who have spoken out were from poor, Indigenous areas of Peru. Many spoke Quechua as their first language and only limited, or no Spanish, meaning that

votes than all other candidates combined.

His approval rating for the Government's handling of the coronavirus has been high and the media-savvy president is popular with many voters.

But his opponents have accused him of having authoritarian tendencies and express concern that a supermajority could undermine El Salvador's separation of power and its system of checks and balances.

They cite his use of armed troops to take over the assembly in a bid to force the approval of his budget last year as an example of Bukele overstepping his powers.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

CTU Secretary General Rodney Taylor

tion of national economies in the new digital context.

This has to happen country by country, but it also has to happen within a regional framework such as the Caricom Single ICT Space, an initiative for which CTU

is the lead agency. This calls for a very focused and streamlined organisation to promote harmonised policies and standards that will allow us to make the Region more attractive for investment in the technology sector, and ultimately, to make life better for our people”.

Taylor joins the CTU from Barbados' Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology (MIST), where he was its chief digital technology officer. In that position, he was the technical lead on Barbados' digital transformation, improving public sector service delivery through the strategic use of innovation, science and SMART technology. (Excerpt from CMC)

Project launched to register Venezuelan migrants

C

olombia on Monday launched a project to provide "temporary protection status" to nearly a million undocumented migrants who have fled to its territory from economically-devastated Venezuela.

President Ivan Duque signed a decree that would see the newcomers registered and given permission to reside and travel within Colombia during a 10-year period in which they can acquire a residence visa.

Of the 1.7 million Venezuelans living in neighbouring Colombia, nearly 900,000 were undocumented, Duque told reporters in Bogota.

"Today our country is appealing to solidarity...

Knowing that we are not a rich country does not limit our neighbourliness or our recognition of pain," the President said.

The process would start with the mandatory registration of migrants in a database "for the formulation and design of public policies", the President explained.

The UN High

Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, described the move as "historic".

"It is an extraordinary display of humanity, commitment to human rights and pragmatism," he said in a video shown at the signing ceremony.

Antonio Vitorino, Director of the International Organisation for Migration, said the measure would "reduce the vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants" in Colombia.

Colombia is one of several countries worldwide who do not recognise Nicolás Maduro as the President of Venezuela, but rather Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó. The neighbours do not have diplomatic ties.

According to UN figures, there are some 5.4 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the world, fewer than half of them with identity documents.

Duque came under fire in December for announcing undocumented Venezuelans would not be included in Colombia's coronavirus vaccination campaign. (Excerpt from AFP)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil down $1/bbl on Chinese fuel demand doubts, OPEC supply concerns weigh

O

il prices fell about US$1 a barrel on Monday as fears that Chinese oil crude consumption is slowing and OPEC may increase global supply overshadowed hopes that COVID-19 vaccinations and a US economic stimulus package would increase fuel demand.

Brent crude fell 72 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to US$63.70 a barrel by 1:46 pm EST (1846 GMT), and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 93 cents, or 1.5 per cent, to US$60.57 a barrel.

China’s factory activity growth slipped to a nine-month low in February, sounding alarms over Chinese crude buying and pressuring oil prices.

“There’s some talk that their strategic reserves are filled up, and so some people are betting against the Chinese continuing to drive oil prices,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Investors were also concerned that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, would soon increase oil output.

“The worry is that that’s going to end up adding as much as 1.5 million barrels to the market,” said Bob Yawger, Director of Energy Futures at Mizuho. “They have to construct some kind of story to bring those barrels back.”

OPEC oil output fell in February as a voluntary cut by Saudi Arabia added to agreed reductions under a pact with allies, a Reuters survey found, ending a run of seven consecutive monthly increases.

The group meets on Thursday and could discuss allowing as much as 1.5 million barrels per day of crude back into the market.

ING analysts said OPEC+ needs to avoid surprising traders by releasing too much supply.

“There is a large amount of speculative money in oil at the moment, so they will want to avoid any action that will see (those investors) running for the exit,” the analysts said.

Rising COVID-19 vaccinations stirring up economic activity along with a $1.9 trillion coronavirus-related relief package passed by the US House of Representatives on Saturday helped prices from moving lower.

A stronger US dollar, which typically moves inversely with oil, also weighed on prices.

Prices rose earlier in the session on hopes tied to the proposed US stimulus package would pay for vaccines and medical supplies, and send a new round of emergency financial aid to households and small businesses, which will have a direct impact on energy demand.

The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 shot also buoyed the economic outlook. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Yemen conflict: UK cuts aid citing financial pressure from COVID

B

ritain has drastically cut its aid to Yemen, which has been devastated by conflict for six years, saying the pandemic created "a difficult financial context for us all".

The UK Government said it would provide "at least" £87 million (US$120 million) this year, down from £214 million last year.

Aid officials have condemned the cut. The UN chief, António Guterres, said reducing aid was a "death sentence".

The situation in Yemen has been called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The conflict began in late 2014, when rebels seized control of much of the west of the country and a Saudiled coalition of Arab states launched a military operation to restore President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's rule.

About 80 per cent of the Yemeni population - 24 mil-

lion people - depend on humanitarian assistance.

Some two million children are acutely malnourished.

In addition to conflict, Yemen has seen a collapse of its health system, leaving it incapable of coping with the coronavirus pandemic.

The cut in the UK's contribution was announced on Monday at a virtual donors' conference by Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly.

He said "recent global challenges" had "meant a difficult financial context for us all". Funding has fallen off in recent years, just as the pandemic has made needs more acute.

Speaking at the event, UN officials warned that if the UN failed to meet its $3.85 billion target for 2021, millions of Yemenis could face starvation. It is unclear how much has been raised so far.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Ghana, Ivory Coast receive world’s 1st free COVAX jabs

G

hana and its West African neighbour Ivory Coast on Monday became the world’s first states to administer vaccines from COVAX, a global scheme to procure free coronavirus jabs for poorer countries.

Rich countries have surged ahead with inoculating their population, while many poorer countries are still awaiting their first vaccine doses.

President Nana AkufoAddo of Ghana became the world’s first recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX. “It is important that I set the example that this vaccine is safe by being the first to have it so that ev-

Nana Akufo-Addo said he wants to “set the example that this vaccine is safe by being the first to have it”

erybody in Ghana can feel comfortable about taking this vaccine,” the 76-year old President said before receiving a shot of OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine in a live broadcast.

First Lady Rebecca Akufo-

Addo also received a shot, one day before the rest of the 600,000 doses are deployed across the country.

Ghana’s food and drug authority last month authorised the Indian-made vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik

V, as the Government aims to target 20 of its 30 million population by year’s end.

Last Wednesday, Ghana was the first country to receive vaccines from COVAX, led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

Some 145 participating economies are set to receive 337.2 million doses by midyear – enough to vaccinate a little more than 3 per cent of their combined populations.

COVAX has said it hopes to raise the figure to up to 27 per cent in lower-income countries by the end of December. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US failure to sanction prince for Khashoggi killing “dangerous” – UN expert

A

UN human rights investigator said on Monday that it was “extremely dangerous” for the United States to have named Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler as having approved an operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi but not to have taken action against him.

Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur on summary executions who led a UN in-

vestigation into Khashoggi’s 2018 murder, reiterated her call for sanctions targeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s assets and his international engagements.

He approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, according to a declassified US intelligence released on Friday as the United States imposed sanctions on some of those involved but spared the crown prince himself in

an effort to preserve relations with the kingdom.

Callamard told a Geneva news conference that what had been declassified from the report “appears to be very little indeed and that’s disappointing” and she would have expected more material evidence to have been released.

“It is extremely problematic, in my view, if not dangerous, to acknowledge someone’s culpability and then to

tell that someone ‘but we won’t do anything, please proceed as if have we have said nothing’,” she said.

“That to me is an extremely dangerous move on the part of the USA.” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday that the United States reserves the right to sanction the crown prince in the future if necessary. (Excerpt from Reuters)

France's Sarkozy convicted of corruption but likely to avoid jail

F

ormer French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption on Monday and sentenced to three years in prison, a stunning fall from grace for a man who for five years bestrode the national and global stage.

A Paris court found that Sarkozy, 66, had tried to bribe a judge after leaving office, and to peddle influence in exchange for confidential information about an investigation into his 2007 campaign finances.

“He took advantage of his status and the relationships he had formed,” presiding Judge Christine Mee said.

Sarkozy served as

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

President from 2007 to 2012 and retains influence among conservatives, even after retiring. He is the second head of state in modern-day France to be convicted of corruption.

He may not spend any time in prison, however.

Two years of his sentence were suspended, and Mee said she was open to him staying out of prison tagged with an electronic bracelet

for the remaining year, although that decision rests with another Judge.

The court found that Sarkozy had offered to secure a plum job in Monaco for a Judge, Gilbert Azibert, in return for inside information about an inquiry into allegations that he had accepted illegal payments from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt for his 2007 presidential campaign.

Sarkozy left the court without speaking, but his lawyer said he would appeal, and prove his innocence.

“This ruling is extremely severe and wholly unjustified,” Jacqueline Laffont told reporters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

COVID: Japan asks China to stop anal tests on its citizens

J

apan has asked China to stop taking anal swab tests for COVID-19 on its citizens when they enter the country.

Some have complained that the procedure caused them "psychological distress", officials say.

China, which has largely brought the virus under control, started carrying out anal swabs in January.

Last week, it denied it had required US diplomats

to undergo such tests after US media reported some had complained about the procedure.

"Some Japanese reported to our embassy in China that they received anal swab tests, which caused great psychological pain," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

It was not known how many Japanese citizens received such tests, he added.

The tests are used on some of those quarantined

or entering China, he also said, noting their use "has not been confirmed anywhere else in the world".

China had not so far responded to the request, he said, adding that the Japanese Government had made the request through the embassy in Beijing.

Some Chinese cities have introduced anal swabs, with local experts claiming they can "increase the detection rate of infected people".

At the time of their

launch, state media reported those tests had been "controversial among experts", and that they were far less efficient than tests in the upper respiratory tracts.

The existing tests were preferred, as they believe most people contract the virus orally, they said.

The tests involve inserting a cotton swab 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) into the anus and gently rotating it.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Tell the truth at all times and promise only what you can deliver. Learn from experience and avoid a no-win situation. Stick to people you know you can trust.

Personal improvements will give you confidence to follow through with a long-term professional plan. Changing your direction or associating with people in a field that interests you will lead to opportunities.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

You have more options than you realize. Stop letting someone make decisions for you. Start trusting in your ability to get things done. Follow your heart, and make things happen.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

Take care of business before someone in charge complains. Control your emotions, set your sights on what’s important and don’t let others interfere with your plans. Avoid making empty promises.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Align yourself with like-minded individuals who can help you achieve your goals. Discuss your plans to ensure everyone is heading in a similar direction. Eliminate interference.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Someone from your past will step back into your life.

Make changes that will encourage greater happiness.

Moderation, a minimalist lifestyle and a change of heart could be required.

Discipline will affect the outcome of a situation you face with a close friend or relative. Speak up, make a difference and do what’s necessary to get others to take note and do what’s right.

Pay attention to what’s going on with a friend or relative. Protect your home and family from risky people. Pay more attention to someone you love, and make romance and self-improvement priorities.

SAGITTARIUS A disciplined approach to your responsibilities will pay (Nov. 23off. Listen to the facts, and Dec. 21) don’t lose sight of what’s real and what isn’t. Break away from manipulative people.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An unexpected change will require an instant response. Take a unique approach to the way you handle your money and professional responsibilities. Romance is featured.

Take your time, and look for investments, deals and opportunities that will encourage stability and financial security. Don’t make changes based on what someone else does. Do what works best for you.

Take the high road, regardless of what others do or say. Follow your heart.

A change of plans will alter the way you live. Rely on the knowledge you have gathered to make the right decision.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

21

Phil Simmons: Sri Lanka series 1st step to finalise “make-up of our team” for T20 World Cup

…Chris Gayle and Fidel Edwards have earned their recalls through solid performances

W

est Indies Coach Phil Simmons believes that the key to success during the T20 International series against Sri Lanka will be to adjust to the dimensions – one side smaller than the other – of Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground as soon as possible.

All three T20Is of the series will be played at the same venue, which is hosting international cricket for the first time.

Simmons is also looking at this series as a step to start firming up the squad for the T20 World Cup later this year.

“The key to winning the T20I series on this size of a ground is how we can limit their batsmen,” Simmons said. “There are two sides here: there is a big side and there is a small side.

There is breeze. How early we access that and how we bowl to that is going to be the key, because on these grounds we have batsmen right down the order who can hit the ball and we need ensure that we bowl well and we field well.

The series will also mark the return of Chris Gayle

Fidel Edwards

and Fidel Edwards to the West Indies squad. Gayle last played for West Indies in the home series against India after the 2019 World Cup, while Edwards’ last international appearance was a Test in Bangladesh in 2012.

Before being named in the squad for the Sri Lanka series, Gayle had scored 107 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 167.18 for the Quetta Gladiators in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Prior to that, his contribution – 288 runs at an average of 41.14 and a strike rate of 137.14 – in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 had helped the

Kings XI Punjab revive their sagging campaign.

The 39-year-old Edwards, meanwhile, picked up nine wickets in as many games at an economy of 7.66 in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, where the pitches were mostly spin-friendly.

“We see what Chris Gayle did in his last IPL stint,” Simmons said. “He shows that both with the bat and on the field, he looks fitter and feels better and he is still hitting the ball as we want to see him do it. We’ve seen Fidel in the last CPL and we have seen that he can still muster over 90mph with his searing yorkers,

Azarenka overcomes Kuznetsova in Qatar Open 1st round

both at the top end and at the back end of the innings, so it is great to have the two of them with us.”

While West Indies will have the experience of Gayle and Edwards to draw from, the squad also includes two uncapped players: spin-bowling all-rounder Akeal Hosein and seamer Kevin Sinclair.

“Akeal showed his ability in Bangladesh and he’s put himself up for selection, and young Sinclair has shown in CPL what he can do with the ball and even in this last Super50 here. It is good to have the youngsters in and give them a chance to show us what they can do.

“I have no plans to rotate [players] as such. We are going to pick the best XI for each game and then we’ll see how things work out.

It’s a case of also trying to win games and win series, so we play it as we see it.”

One reason for going with the best XI could be the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. “We need to start seeing how the make-up of our team goes,” Simmons said. “We need to make sure people are able

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

to do the job that we want them to do, whether it is at the top of the batting order, the middle, or the end. And it is the same with the bowling. We’ve got to identify as soon as possible who’s going to bowl our new ball and who’s going to bowl at the death and so it starts from now.

“So, by the time we are playing Australia in some T20s in July, we must know who is our final 15 or 16 to go to the World Cup.” West Indies have named four openers in their 14-member T20I squad.

Apart from Gayle, they have Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher, and Simmons expects them

to be flexible about their batting positions.

“The batting, when we get to the game, for me there is no set position. People have got to learn to do what they have to do for the team wherever they are asked to do it and that is what these guys are prepared to do,” he said. “We are trying to make sure that our combinations, as I said when it comes to July or maybe the beginning of August, maybe the Pakistan series, we know exactly what the combinations are that we need to take to the World Cup, because we have a fair idea of how the Indian grounds are, what we are taking there.”

(ESPNcricinfo)

V

ictoria Azarenka booked her spot in the second round of the Qatar Open with a 6-2 6-3 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova on Monday.

It was the first time the pair had faced off since the final of the 2016 Miami Open and Azarenka, who won back-to-back titles in Doha in 2012 and 2013, struck first, eventually claiming the opening set in 44 minutes.

She needed six match points to see off Kuznetsova in the second set to tee up a last-16 meeting with either Laura Siegemund or Elena Rybakina.

There was also a win for former world number one Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

“Veronika was a very tough opponent,” Muguruza told a media conference. “[I’m] just happy with this win. We played a year ago, and I remember it was a

Reggae Boyz and USA to clash in friendly set for March 25 in Austria

tough match. I’m happy to have closed it in two sets.”

Fifth seed Kiki Bertens, meanwhile, was dumped out by a rampant Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets.

The 2017 French Open champion hit 26 winners on her way to an emphatic 6-0 6-2 win against her Dutch opponent, who was playing her first match in five months following Achilles surgery.

Anett Kontaveit overcame number seven seed beaten Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady 6-1

6-2 to set up a second-round clash with Angelique Kerber, who beat Cagla Buyukakcay 6-4 6-2.

In the day’s other match, Maria Sakkari beat Mayar Sherif 6-0 6-3.

Meanwhile, teenage qualifier Clara Tauson shocked number one seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-4 in the first round of the Lyon Open.

There were also wins for Arantxa Rus, Nina Stojanovic, Timea Babos, Greet Minnen and Fiona Ferro in France. (Sportsmax)

T

he Reggae Boyz are set to face the United States in Austria in an international friendly on March 25, as the team ramp up preparations for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July and the World Cup qualifiers later in the year.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts made the announcement during a virtual press conference on Monday.

Owing to the current conditions related to the pandemic, the match will be conducted under the UEFA

Return to Play Protocol and will be played without fans at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt in Wiener Neustadt.

Ricketts said the JFF would be attempting to have a camp leading up to the match in Australia. They are to apply to the Government for an exemption to the ongoing COVID-19 protocols. If not, they will try to leave for Austria on March 20, so the team will be able to spend a few days preparing in that country.

The meeting between the two teams will be the first since they clashed in

the semi-finals of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Nashville, Tennessee on July 3, 2019. The USA won that encounter 3-1 courtesy of two goals from Christian Pulisic and another from Weston McKennie.

Shamar Nicholson netted for Jamaica.

Jamaica had won a previous encounter 1-0 when the teams met in a friendly on June 5, 2019, in Washington DC. Since 1988, the teams have met 26 times with the USA holding a 16-3-8 overall record. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

CWI announces new broadcast rights deal with Sky New Zealand

CLASSIFIED ADS SERVICES Jaya Pandit will help you. Is there any kind of problem? Love, Husband and Wife Problem, Health, Job, House problem and Domestic problem?

Remove Blockages and give Lifetime protection Address: Georgetown, Guyana. Call or WhatsApp: 688-1569

… Hetmyer, Chase meet minimum fitness standards; pair up for selection for Sri Lanka Test matches

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

Sky New Zealand CEO Sophie Moloney

CWI President Ricky Skerritt

ricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the signing of another major long-term broadcast rights agreement. This time it is with Sky New Zealand for the exclusive live coverage of all West Indies home matches played in the Caribbean.

The agreement covering both television and digital rights will mean that Sky New Zealand, including its Sky Go mobile app and Sky Sport Now streaming app, will offer live coverage and highlights of televised West Indies regional tournaments including the current and future editions of the CG Insurance Super50 Cup. The agreement will feature next month’s visit of Sri Lanka for three CG Insurance T20Is, three CG Insurance ODIs and two Test matches. Later this year, West Indies are ex-

pected to host South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan.

The postponed 2020 whiteball series against New Zealand is likely to be rescheduled into 2022.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “CWI is pleased to announce that we will be doing business with another leading sports broadcaster, Sky New Zealand. We are continuing to ensure an expanding worldwide coverage of the exciting West Indies brand of international and regional cricket.”

CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave welcomed the new agreement and said: “This landmark long-term agreement with Sky New Zealand’s leading sports broadcaster will ensure West Indies matches and New Zealand tours of the West Indies can be watched live on TV

and mobile devices. This partnership delivers on our strategy to deliver the best of West Indies cricket to fans all over the world.”

Sky New Zealand CEO Sophie Moloney said: “The West Indies have always delivered some of the most exciting and explosive cricket, appreciated by fans around the world. New Zealand cricket lovers are no exception, and we look forward to continuing our fantastic relationship on behalf of our customers.”

This is CWI’s fourth new broadcast rights agreement announced in recent weeks, following announcements with ESPN+ for the United States; BT Sport for the United Kingdom and Ireland and SuperSport for sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya.

(Windies Cricket)

C T

Chris Gayle

he “Universe Boss”, Christopher Henry Gayle is back in maroon for the West Indies; he will be part of the T20 International (T20I) squad that will do battle against Sri Lanka commencing tomorrow, March 5, and March 7 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

In a sit-down with the media, Gayle was asked to offer his advice to Guyana’s very own Shimron Hetmyer, who found himself out of the T20I and One-Day International (ODI) sides

his mind, what really keeps his fire burning is the desire that he has for the game as he is still performing at the age of 41 as this is where his heart is. When asked his role in the team Gayle noted that in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he became comfortable with the number three position, as he is good at playing spin and fast bowling, but he is open to playing whatever role Cricket West Indies (CWI) desires him to play.

“We want to win the series; we have a strong cap-

as he failed the fitness test.

Gayle said, “It’s very unfortunate he is out of the squad: it’s the protocols, but it’s up to him if he wants to represent the West Indies cricket. He is such a talent and West Indies cricket needs him, but hopefully, things can work out, because these guys are the future. A guy like Hetmyer we need him; he is the future, we don’t want to lose someone like him. If I see Hetmyer, I’d talk to him as I have spoken to him before and if I get the chance, I’d talk to him again. We need him, so I hope he just gets his mind sorted towards West Indies cricket and what he wants to achieve.”

The burly left-hander went on to state that he was currently fit as he has been doing a lot of running. Gayle further stated that despite the T20 World Cup being on

tain and a lot of good quality players in the team. But for me, I just want to win the series; hopefully, I can perform and put the team on a winning track,” Gayle said.

Gayle added that his bigger goal was to have three T20I titles under his belt as he was aiming for the West Indies to win the T20I World Cup, hence the team needed to be ready and keep fit.

In the most recent update, CWI Director Jimmy Adams made note that there were some players who failed to attain the minimum standards for selection; however, in what would seem to be something of a miracle it was reported by Adams that Hetmyer and Roston Chase have met the fitness standards. According to Adams, this would mean that the pair would be up for selection in the upcoming Tests later in March.

TAXI SERVICE Elegant Cabs 231-1494 / 226-4277 Cell #: 625-6600 24 hrs.

GR Taxi

227-1982, 225-7878 219-5000, 227-2100 Wanted: Contract Cars Tel: 614-6202

WANTED One live-in Housekeeper. Must know how to cook. Preferably out of town.

Call : 681-8140

Giannis in 48-year 1st for Bucks, LeBron’s Lakers beat Warriors in milestone NBA game

G

Roston Chase

Are there any kind of problems? Is it Love, Husband and Wife Problem, Health, Job, House problem and Domestic problem? Mohan Pandit will help you. Removal of Blockages and give Lifetime protection!

Address: Essequibo, West Bank Demerara. Call or WhatsApp: 6921009

i a n n i s Antetokounmpo starred as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers 105-100 in NBA action on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo posted 36 points – 17 in the final quarter – 14 rebounds and five assists for the Bucks, who used a game-closing 9-0 run to extend their winning streak to five games.

Two-time reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Antetokounmpo became the first Bucks player with 35plus points in four consecutive games since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1973.

Meanwhile, LeBron James appeared in his 1300th regular-season game as defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers eased past the Golden State Warriors 117-91.

James scored 19 points in his milestone game – the four-time NBA champion becoming the 23rd player in league history to appear in that many regular-season contests.

Beal stars again

Bradley Beal put on a show with 46 points for the Washington Wizards, who still narrowly lost 111-110 to the Boston Celtics. In his last three games in Boston, Beal has tallied 44, 41, and 46 points. According to Stats Perform, he is the first player to score 40-plus points in

three successive road games against the Celtics since Abdul-Jabbar between 1970 and 1971.

The Memphis Grizzlies crushed the Houston Rockets 133-84. On February 1, the Grizzlies won at the San Antonio Spurs by 31 points while they humbled the Rockets by 49 on Sunday.

They are the second team in NBA history to have two 30-plus point road wins in the same state in the same month, according to Stats Perform. The other team was the Washington Bullets (now known as the Wizards) in 1968.

Devin Booker recorded 43 points, while Deandre Ayton (22 points and 10 rebounds) and Chris Paul (11 points and 15 assists) contributed double-doubles in the Phoenix Suns’ 118-99 success away to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

John Collins’ 34-point, 10-rebound double-double was not enough for the Atlanta Hawks, who went down 109-99 to the Miami Heat.

PJ Washington’s 42 points helped the Charlotte Hornets edge the Sacramento Kings 127-126. Sacramento led by eight points with just over a minute remaining before Charlotte rallied at the death.

Rockets crash as Clippers capitulate

The Rockets have suf-

fered 11 consecutive defeats after being embarrassed by the Grizzlies. Houston are now riding their longest losing streak since a 15-game skid in 2001.

All-Star pair Kawhi Leonard (25 points and nine rebounds) and Paul George went cold in the final quarter for the Clippers.

Leonard and George combined to shoot three-for-15 and scored just six points in the fourth period against the Bucks. The Clippers were scoreless over the final four minutes of the game.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

Giannis with the slam!

It was a masterclass in Milwaukee, where Antetokounmpo flexed his muscles with a monster dunk during the closing stages.

Sunday’s results

Los Angeles Lakers 11791 Golden State Warriors Memphis Grizzlies 13384 Houston Rockets Miami Heat 109-99 Atlanta Hawks New York Knicks 109-90 Detroit Pistons Boston Celtics 111-110 Washington Wizards Milwaukee Bucks 105100 Los Angeles Clippers Charlotte Hornets 127126 Sacramento Kings Phoenix Suns 11899 Minnesota Timberwolves Chicago Bulls-Toronto Raptors (postponed) (Sportsmax)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Sanasie addresses CWI presidential bid T

o be caught in a hail of questions from the media is quite the disconcerting experience, but to put oneself in that position willingly takes a lot of bravery.

The location was the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) boardroom on Regent Street and the event was Anand Sanasie – who is slated to run against incumbent Ricky Skerritt for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) presidency later this month – placing himself in the ‘hot seat’ as he fielded questions from the media regarding his campaign.

Sanasie declared in addressing his bid, “This time around, I had to go for it, because too many of my colleagues were saying that you have to, because things are getting from bad to worse.

“I served with three Presidents. And every one of them have their unique way of doing things. But over the past two years, I felt that the organisation itself became too centralised in Antigua, to the detriment of the territorial boards, who are the shareholders. I do not think that recent business decisions taken were the wise ones, to take us forward.

I'm not seeing new revenue streams been established that can really take us out of the hole that we were in,” Sanasie said, in sharing in brief reasons for his decision to run.

He continued, “I remember the current incumbent usually, when he wasn't there, would say just check what Guyana is doing and replicate some of that. We don't hear that these days.

But despite our challenges here, we have done reasonably well. And I think that there is enough expertise in the Region, to get it done by ourselves, and we just not doing it.”

When probed about what he brings to the regional cricket table, Sanasie shared that a business-like approach is needed.

Piggy-backing off of this notion, Sanasie shared one instance in which the CWI would have done well with a business-savvy person at the helm.

“When the new president came in, we had forecasted that we would have had a bad year. That is without considering the COVID situation. But we have cash in the bank. And we came out of that year doing well. We had like $11 million in the

Hot seat! Anand Sanasie fields questions from media operatives

bank, give or take. One of the foremost decisions taken by the new administration was to pay out a $10 million unsecured loan that your organisation has, now in no business would you not try to negotiate that and not have to pay that amount of cash and thereby putting the organisation in a cash crunch,” Sanasie divulged to media operatives.

He added, “These are

only some of the things I'm mentioning what I think what I can bring is a business perspective to the organisation. I believe in invest in a grassroot level, so that you will see the result of any action I will take overnight or two years in a tournament. But I think we need to make tough, unpopular decisions if we want to succeed.”

Sanasie went on to cite

Long Dam, Belle Vue A to face off in grand finale

Coaches Sebert Blake and Terrence Poole, MS, flank GBA President Steve Ninvalle

O

Guyanese coaching pair in consideration for international spots

T

he Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) announced on Monday that it has nominated a pair of local coaches who have produced world-class athletes to be considered for the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Coaches Committee.

The names of the two coaches – Terrence Poole, MS, the GBA Technical Director and Guyana

Defence Force (GDF) Head Coach, and Sebert Blake, the Chairman of the GBA Coaches Commission – were pulled from a group of local coaches.

The two holders of AIBA Three-Star certificates are part of a handful of regional officials to have made the necessary grade. As such, GBA President Steve Ninvalle disclosed that both locals stand a very good

another instance of internal CWI turbulence, stating, “Another thing I'm hearing COVID that, COVID this. I will tell you in no uncertain terms COVID saved Cricket West Indies. When we took that bad decision of paying off the bank on an unsecured loan, we were already in a crunch. When we forecasted a bad year, it’s because we had two non-lucrative tours, tours where you spent mon-

ey and you are nothing.”

He continued, “Then we asked everyone in the organisation to take a 50 per cent pay cut. So, we actually came out of COVID on the positive side of probably seven, eight million dollars.”

On the matter of the local Cricket Administration Act debacle, Sanasie explained that he has his reservations about discussing the issue, but expressed his concern about the sudden urgency.

“I would not like to get into the legal issues, because there are certain mechanisms that have kicked into place because of what has happened. And it will not be ethical for me to speak about them in detail. But you can judge for yourself, the timelines. My nomination was submitted on the 17th of February. And so much happened between the 17th and the 19th. That it was obvious that someone was worried. I'll say that much.”

Additionally, when asked about including former CWI President Dave Cameron in his administration if elected, Sanasie, who supported Cameron in the last election, disclosed that he has no intention of doing so, but was willing to work along with all past Presidents.

chance of making it into the prestigious committee.

"Even though they are in competition with persons from over 150 countries, I am confident that they can be successful," Ninvalle said.

The Coaches Commission is one of several new measures implemented by recently-elected AIBA President Umar Kremlev of Russia.

ver the course of the weekend, Belle Vue B and Belle Vue A played a total of two matches in which they registered one win and one loss.

Belle Vue B was defeated by Long Dam, while Belle Vue A defeated All Youths Sports Club in two entertaining T20 matches played at the Belle Vue Ground. As a result of these encounters, Belle Vue A will now face Long Dam in the final next Saturday at 13:00h at the Belle Vue Ground.

In match one – Belle Vue B v Long Dam, the latter won the toss and batted first. Long Dam were bowled out for 147 in 19 overs. Topscoring was Captain Dev Seepersaud with 37 (3×6) followed by Ray Bowling with 27 (3×4).

Bowling for Belle Vue B were Lesroy Persaud (326 off 4 overs), and Ryan Seecharran, Sachin Prasad, and Ravie Singh, who had two wickets each. Needing 148 for victory, Belle Vue B in reply were bowled out for 112 in their allotted 20 overs.

Top-scoring was Persaud with 26 not out (2×4) (1×6) with Alex Parag making 10 (1×6). Bowling for Long Dam, R Singh had three wickets

while the Captain and Britton had two apiece, handing Long Dam victory by 35 runs.

In match two, Belle Vue A duked it out with All Youths Sports Club. All Youths won the toss and bowled first, which saw Belle Vue posting 154-7 in their 20 overs. Top-scoring was Vice Captain Randy Ramrup with 44 (2×4) (2×6), while Captain Colin Boucher made 20 (1×4) (1×6); Kerwin Bennett 15 (1×4) (1×6) and Krishna Singh 15 (1×6).

Bowling for All Youths were Tamesh Persad and Jadesh Persaud, who both had two wickets each.

All Youths, in reply, were bowled out for 137 in 19.3 overs. Top-scoring in the losing effort were Alex (48 –1×4, 3×6), while Rocky (16 – 2×4) and Rickey Persaud (15 – 2×4) provided support. Bowling for Belle Vue A were Krishna Singh with 5-15 off his four overs, including a hat-trick, and Boucher with three wickets handing the home team victory by 17 runs.

Vice Captain Randy Ramrup scored 44, which was decorated with two fours and two sixes

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

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

In the hot seat!

Pg 22

Pg 23

Sanasie addresses CWI … Hetmyer, Chase meet minimum fitness standards; presidential bid pair up for selection for Sri Lanka Test matches COVID-19 Task Force Long Dam, Belle cancels all GMR&SC events Vue A to face off in grand finale Pg 23

T

he National COVID-19 Task Force on Sunday suspended all activities of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) until further notice.

This resulted from a breach in the COVID-19 protocols with the hosting of a well-attended Drag Race Championship at the South Dakota Circuit that evening.

Commenting on this, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said that the Task Force would be meeting with the GMR&SC on the way forward.

He explained, “A lot of times when the Task Force would agree to events, we normally would meet with the people who are hosting the events and we explain to them what are the conditions they must meet to host this event. Once they agree and they show us how they

are going to put those measures in place, we would allow them to go ahead with the event.

“We do send out monitoring teams to all these events and in this case, we had monitoring teams that were on the ground, [they] took photo and videos and everything else and the Task Force would then make that deci-

sion to suspend them from having any activities until we can have a discussion and decide on the way forward.”

The decision of the Task Force to grant the GMR&SC permission for its race on Sunday came in for much criticism as hundreds of persons gathered at the South Dakota Circuit.

Krishna Singh (Pastor) had a great day of cricket, scoring 15 and taking a fivewicket haul, including a hat-trick

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