Guyana Times -- Tuesday, October 20, 2020

P16 Guyana’s economy projected to grow by 26.2% despite COVID-19 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4444

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

APNU/AFC will not dictate the pace of Guyana’s development – Minister Edghill

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

2021 budget to cater for 5-year scholarship programmes to train doctors – Labour Minister Page 3

P14

…as Harmon, Jordan criticise US's IDFC investment terms

Polluter/responsible parties liable for all costs, damages due to oil spill – National Oil Spill Plan Page 10

Fire that P11 razed DeSinco Trading Limited was electrical – Fire Chief

Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 31 new cases in 24 P2 hours Junior Housing and Water Minister Susan Rodrigues interacts with a member of the public during an open-door event to address all matters relating to housing.

Persons continue to visit the agency to make inquiries about dated applications, delays in titles and transports, updates on existing applications, and new applications.

DPP drops Harmon admits law books Success larceny charge squatters were against AG there before PPP/C Govt …SOCU withheld evidence Page 11

Page 16

– claims APNU/AFC was not aware of situation from the court – AG’s Attorney

COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health problems – Health Minister …leads to training for frontline health-care providers

Page 15

Man, 64, on trial for murdering brother-in-law P17

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 31 new cases in 24 hours T hree more persons have died owing to COVID-19 on Monday, taking the country’s death toll to 114 – with 32 deaths already recorded in the month of October.

This was announced by the Health Ministry, who noted that all three persons were women from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

One was 74 years of age while the other two were 64.

Along with the fatalities, there were also 31 new cases, which increased the total confirmed positives to 3765. The number of persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) decreased by one and now stands at 12.

Meanwhile, there are 74 persons in institutional isolation, 19 in home isolation and 55 in institutional quarantine. After 115 persons recovered, there are now 2749 total recoveries.

To date, 1973 males have contracted the virus as opposed to 1761 females.

A regional breakdown

showed that one new case was detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 25 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and five in Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne).

Other regions did not see an increase in cases – with 603 in Region One (BarimaWaini); 61 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam);

25 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 343 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 124 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); 372 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 129 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

It has been announced that 12 Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Member States have signed agreements with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance – namely Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos to access vaccines when they become available.

CARPHA is assisting seven of these Member States with the down payment.

Guyana is among a list of countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St Lucia, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines that automatically qualify to

access the Vaccine Alliance.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during the COVID-19 update informed Guyana was one of 10 countries to benefit under a different scheme, whereby GAVI would be handling the initial costs.

“We are now part of the COVAX mechanism…We have been able to benefit under a different scheme, so we were not required to pay because there’re 10 countries in the Caribbean that GAVI is going to pay for. They’re going to take care of our initial costs for vaccines so we were not required to pay,” the Minister highlighted.

According to CARPHA, the down payment stands at approximately 15 per cent of the value of vaccines that countries intend to procure in the future.

As part of the agreement, the Pan American Health Organisation will re-

ceive funds from CARPHA for transfer to GAVI. When the vaccines are available, Member States will purchase them through the PAHO Revolving Fund.

In the meantime, Guyanese were reminded to observe the protocols, which are in effect until October 31, 2020. The protocols emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and practising good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately, or visit www. health.gov.gy.

Correction Guyana Times on Saturday, October 17, 2020 inadvertently published that Clifton Bacchus, who won his legal proceedings against the Guyana National Newspapers, is the owner of Pasha Global Inc and Yokohama Trading Guyana Inc. This newspaper apologises for any inconvenience such publication may have caused.

NEWS

3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, October 20 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Wednesday, October 21 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, October 20 – 06:35h – 08:05h and Wednesday, October 21 – 07:15h – 08:45h.

APNU/AFC will not dictate the pace of Guyana’s development – Minister Edghill …as Harmon, Jordan criticise US's IDFC investment terms

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:44h and 18:54h reaching a maximum height of 2.67 metres and 2.72 metres.

Low Tide: 12:29h reaching a minimum height of 0.63 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

03 07 08

16 19 26

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

DAILY MILLIONS

13 16 17 21 26 LUCKY 3

5

1

6

5

Afternoon Draw

4

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

06

10

12

18 19

PAY DAY

21 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

01 02 04 08 13

05 07 11 16 20

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$42.62/barrel

-0.73

Rough Rice

$223.11/ton

-0.43

London Sugar

$396.00/ton

+2.01

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1903.90

$1904.90

Low/High

$1899.80

$1920.90

Change

+0.70

0.04%

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

P

ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill, who has some responsibilities for finance, on Monday stated that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition was in no position, nor was it qualified, to dictate the pace of Guyana’s development.

Edghill was responding to a letter written by former Finance Minister Winston Jordan and endorsed by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon claiming that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government and Private Sector should tread carefully with deals struck with the US development bank, International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC).

“No one of the likes of Winston Jordan or the visionless band of the APNU/ AFC will dictate the pace of Guyana’s development.

They have already been rejected by the electorate. We are determined to prosper Guyana for all Guyanese and we will enter into the best deals with the best terms that will have the best results in the best interest of all Guyanese,” Edghill told Guyana Times on Monday.

The Minister, who recently presented the 2020 Emergency Budget, said that Jordan’s letter came as no surprise to the Administration.

He noted that the PPP/C Government led by Dr Irfaan Ali would continue to better the lives of Guyanese by affording them opportunities for growth and development.

“It is no surprise that people who demonstrated the highest degree of incompetence, mismanagement of the economy, that showed no remorse when they committed acts of maladministration, placed Guyana into real difficulties would make criticisms of a genuine attempt to bring accelerated development to Guyana.

We will continue to explore possibilities with all of our developmental partners to ensure that Guyanese get the benefits they deserve,” Edghill said.

He further stated that the APNU/AFC spent more

than $1.3 trillion and really have nothing to show and as such, the PPP/C Government was not surprised that it was criticising the move to bring investments to Guyana.

“But whether it is America, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, China, India, Brazil or any of our partners, we will work with them to ensure that we get the best deals,” Edghill reiterated.

IDFC Head Adam Boehler recently led an investment mission to Guyana where he affirmed that while the US would be supporting American companies here to engage in massive infrastructural projects, support would similarly be provided to Guyanese companies as well. Boehler’s visit was a means of the US activating the Framework Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by President Ali and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo last month.

Pompeo had also signed a Framework Agreement to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including energy and infrastructure, under the umbrella of the Growth in the Americas Initiative, with Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd.

However, speaking at a joint press conference with Pompeo following the signing of the Framework, President Ali had explained that this agreement would not only pave the way for the US Private Sector to expand its investment portfolio here but also partner with the Guyanese Private Sector.

Meanwhile, Harmon, at a press conference on Monday,

Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

said that while they welcomed the over US$60 billion investment, they were also urging the Government and Private sector to tread carefully. He endorsed the contents of Jordan’s letter in which he sought to shake investors’ confidence in the IDFC. “We the Guyanese people learnt that this was one of the agreements signed by the PPP regime and Secretary of State Pompeo on his recent visit to Guyana … what we are concerned about is the fact that this regime has signed such an agreement and the ordinary people of Guyana are un-

aware of the full terms and conditions of it, the payment to be made, and the impact of any investment which will have a direct effect on their lives, and the issue of default,” Harmon said.

Jordan, in the letter to the press, said in spite of the bounties that oil would bring, it was important for Guyana to explore all avenues for additional resources – especially concessional resources – in view of the huge deficits that exist in the country’s social, physical, and economic infrastructure.

TURN TO PAGE 10

4

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

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

Maintaining the fight against TB

T

he world is currently engaged in a fierce battle to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has so far resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of infections worldwide. While the coronavirus pandemic has caused great panic and worry, and has brought into focus the capacity of health systems in various countries, the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is also a serious health concern which cannot be taken lightly.

The reality is that, even though the disease is curable and preventable, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death, and is the leading cause from a single infectious agent. For this reason, governments and health partners must not allow the coronavirus pandemic to overshadow the threat of TB, and therefore every opportunity must be used to increase public awareness about the devastating medical, social and economic consequences of the disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that, prior to the onset of COVID-19, many countries were making steady progress in tackling TB, with a 9% reduction in incidents seen between 2015 and 2019, and a 14% drop in deaths in that same period. High-level political commitments at global and national levels were delivering results, the WHO stated.

However, a new report from WHO shows that access to TB services remains a challenge, and global targets for prevention and treatment would likely be missed without urgent action and investments. According to WHO, approximately 1.4 million people died from TB-related illnesses in 2019. Of the estimated 10 million people who developed TB that year, some 3 million were not diagnosed with the disease, or were not officially reported to national authorities.

About 14 million people were treated for TB in the period 2018-2019, just over one-third of the way towards the 5-year target (2018-2022) of 40 million, according to the report. Some 6.3 million people started TB-preventive treatment in 2018-2019, about one-fifth of the way towards the 5-year target of 30 million.

The report highlights that disruptions in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to further setbacks. In many countries, human, financial and other resources have been reallocated from TB to the COVID-19 response, and data collection and reporting systems have also been negatively impacted.

According to the new report, data collated from over 200 countries has shown significant reductions in TB case notifications, with 25-30% drops reported in 3 high burden countries – India, Indonesia, the Philippines – between January and June 2020, compared to the same 6-month period in 2019. These reductions in case notifications could lead to a dramatic increase in additional TB deaths, according to WHO modelling.

However, in line with WHO guidance, countries have taken measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on essential TB services, including by strengthening infection control. A total of 108 countries – including 21 countries with a high TB burden – have expanded the use of digital technologies to provide remote advice and support. To reduce the need for visits to health facilities, many countries are encouraging home-based treatment, all-oral treatments for people with drug-resistant TB, provision of TB-preventive treatment, and ensuring people with TB maintain an adequate supply of drugs.

The WHO End TB Strategy aims for a 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in TB incidence rate by 2030, compared to the 2015 baseline.

Even though Guyana still has a far way to go, this country can boast of tremendous progress made in its fight against TB; and all efforts must be made to ensure these gains are not reversed. It could be recalled that the actual number of new TB cases diagnosed by the National TB Programme (NTBP) rose steadily throughout the 90s. However, with some key interventions by health authorities, annual cases declined from 2008, and stabilised for four years thereafter due to further Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) expansion.

Funding remains a crucial factor in fighting TB. All partners can help take forward innovative approaches to ensure that everyone suffering from the disease has access to TB diagnosis, treatment and cure. Governments and NGOs may have the best ideas to tackle TB, but it makes very little sense if there are inadequate financial resources to ensure their effective implementation.

Further, ending TB would be achieved only with greater collaboration within and across governments, and with partners from civil society, communities, researchers, the private sector and development agencies. This means taking a whole-of-society and multidisciplinary approach in the context of universal health coverage.

High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Guyana, His Excellency Greg Quinn, on Monday met with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd during which, among mutual areas of interest, they discussed the recent 20th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) and cooperation in the areas of energy, education, and security. Guyana and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966

COVID-19 pandemic – greatest threat to Guyana Dear Editor, The virus has spread throughout the country.

Every day, more infected persons are being identified, and more deaths are being recorded. The airports are being opened, and you do not have any control of the spread on the virus internally. You are asking for trouble.

You have 1000 persons (500 Police and 500 army personnel) involved in “soft enforcement” for the COVID-19 virus. You do realise that “soft enforcement” is an oxymoron.

Worse yet, you are using personnel from the Police Force and the Defence Force; I do not believe these people will be experts in “soft enforcement”. However, be that as it may, what exactly have you established will be the outcome of this exercise? Pray, tell.

By what percentage or quantity would you be able to reduce the spread? Would you be reporting progress results from time to time?

I would recommend that you reorient these efforts: Instead of having 1000 persons performing soft enforcement on 750,000 citizens, may I suggest that you direct their energies to those persons already infected with COVID-19? They should help them with their isolation, direct other social services to meet their needs, do contact

tracing and identify additional persons to be isolated, and also send suspected persons for testing.

Now, this process could use the services of personnel from the Police Force and Defence Force.

Right now, you have 843 persons isolating at home.

These are the spreaders; concentrate your resources here: Help them isolate effectively; help them with masks for themselves and family members; help them with food, if needed; move them if they cannot isolate in their home environment; contact trace them, you might find other infected persons; help them with their home isolation.

Direct those persons who have no symptoms of infection, but could be at risk, to be tested, effectively nipping spread of the disease in the bud.

If we are capable of handling 300 tests per day, then it should not be difficult for us to direct this capacity to those identified through the contact-tracing process.

I am hard pressed to understand why, as a country with such a small population, we are letting this virus spread get away from us.

Think about this another way: What if we have 843 killers on the loose? And what if we know exactly where the 843 killers are living? How hard would it be to stop the

killing? A COVID-19-positive person could also be a killer. Let us do what we have to do to prevent him/her from spreading the virus, which could result in death.

Once you have this working smoothly, you can open up the economy and let the remaining 749,000 go about their daily lives, with mandatory mask-wearing in public. You would not need the Police to enforce mandatory mask-wearing. Educate the public, and the public would police for you, because they would want to stay protected.

The Stabroek News’ article of October 18, 2020, titled “Caregivers, other relatives not tested despite death of woman with Covid-19”, is an example of what is wrong with our pandemic management systems. These are the salient reported facts: 1. The woman was sick, and was being treated at home by relatives. Her condition was deteriorating and she was moved to a health facility. She was then taken to the GP Hospital.

2. She was tested on admission, and housed in the GPH COVID-19 ICU. 3. As per death certificate issued, she died either because of COVID-19 infection, or the COVID-19 virus was a contributory factor in her death. In any case, she was infected with COVID-19 at

the time of death, while being treated in hospital.

The following are the red flags from this unfortunate event: 1. It is unknown whether the patient had been infected prior to admission, or after admission, while in hospital.

This is not the first time that reports are coming from the people that their relatives are contracting COVID-19 in hospital, and subsequently dying.

2. There was no contact tracing or testing of the caregivers, relatives, friends, neighbours, and other persons who had come into contact with the COVID-19 person.

What is apparent from this incident are the following: 1. GPHC’s COVID-19 protocols are not working. Virus spread could be happening at the hospital itself.

2. There is no organisation or system in place to contact trace and test for each positive case.

The hospital administration should really have a closer look at what is going on at the GPHC. Maybe an audit of the protocols using past cases would be helpful in identifying control and safety gaps.

Please stay safe, and let us hope for the best.

Dear Editor, People in general look up to academics for their views on critical issues (like policies, election rigging, etc.) affecting a nation. In every society, academics tend to courageously state their views on important events and activities, but that tradition does not exist in either Guyana or Trinidad & Tobago, among a few other states in the Caribbean.

During the dictatorship

and the colonial era, some academics and public figures of stature made their views known on important matters, even if they were victimised.

In the attempted election rigging of March 2, Guyanese academics were silent. They were also silent during the violations of the Constitution in the appointment of the Chair of GECOM and in the refusal of the Government to honour the no confidence mo-

tion.

The only Caribbean academic who spoke out against the electoral fraud in Guyana was Hillary Beckles, VC of UWI; he did not condemn the violation of the successful passage of the NCM. All other academics lost their voice.

It was most disappointing that others, including from UG and from the UWI Trinidad branch, were silent.

Even former reputable scholars who no longer depend on

Government for roti were silent during the entire ordeal.

In private, a few academics (including former university lecturers) voiced their opinions in condemning the coalition, but were cowards when it came to putting their names out in public on the record against fraud. Are they not ashamed of violating basic principles of academia?

With regards, Sase Shewnarain

Academic silence during rigging

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

5

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

APNU/AFC's messy business Dear Editor, The talk of the town in Guyana is about land (talk is cheap). Music is in the air (bitter and sweet), but land is not, it is on the ground.

It is interesting to note who owns most land in the world. Perhaps what may be more interesting is to know who owns most of the private lands in Guyana!

By far the world's largest non-governmental landowner, Queen Elizabeth II is head of the British Commonwealth, and therefore legal owner of around 2.7 billion hectares of land, as estimated by The New Statesman. That's as much

as one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface.

The Catholic Church is estimated to hold an incredible 71.6 million hectares of land in its bulging real estate portfolio. That is an area larger than France.

Needless to say, the Holy See is the second-largest non-governmental landowner in the world, with vast swathes of land in countries stretching from Germany to India.

In third place are the Inuit people of Canada's central and eastern Northwest Territories. They hold title to an enormous 35 million hectares in the region.

Gina Rinehart, an Australian mining magnate and number one private landowner, owns some 12 million hectares of land, and is in fourth place.

The world's largest farm is the 9.1 million-hectare Mudanjiang City Mega Farm in China, jointly owned by China's Zhongding Dairy Farming and Russia's Sevigny Bur. Having the size of Portugal, this dairy farm supplies the Russian market and is home to 100,000 cows that produce 800 million litres of milk per year. This farm vies for fifth position.

Guyana, the only

English-speaking country in South America, is comprised of many races and is “the land of many waters”, with almost 87% of it composed of forestry. The Indigenous people are the original occupiers and inhabitants of this land, and own some 14% of it, most of them without legal titles to date. They have conspicuously handled this affair in a sober, quiet, and patient manner, much to their disadvantage.

Most Guyanese reside on the coastal belt in the three counties, and are engaged in a number of agricultural products around the sur-

The present scenario is that CXC is operating as a bully Dear Editor, The horrible situation that has befallen us at this year's CXC Examination stops at nothing short of a catastrophe; others might use more severe terminologies, but it all leads to the very same conclusion.

From the outset, there was this eerie feeling that something terrible was about to happen, and that it would leave a bad taste in our mouths relative to exams and our regional examining body. Folks were already up in arms in the sitting of one paper, as against multiple papers, that it was not in the best interest of the child who had spent five years at school to be evaluated at only a single exam. I am also of that view.

However, be that as it may, we went along with the regional body, and here we are now: at the crossroads, with some of the most atrocious results ever seen in the history of the examining body. These results are not those that anyone would

countenance; and for this, CXC should take responsibility. Much has not changed, there are the same teachers, and there is the same syllabus; the only things that have changed are CXC's granting of one paper, and their atrocious grading system. Those are the only things that have changed, and CXC are not prepared to face up to that fact. In other words, they have acted in dictatorial fashion and brushed aside everyone as if they weren't there.

I am talking about meeting the ministries and parents half way; instead, CXC that is, this present registrar - has responded in the worst possible way you can imagine. I do not know whether he has any prior experience being at the helm of a large examining body, but his mannerism and handling of the matter leaves a whole lot to be desired.

In the first instance, he quite bluntly refused to speak to anyone, only coming out to say that there shall be no review of the examination re-

sults. Only when pressured by the respective home governments did he relent, stating that he would allow only a review, but the students who are requesting a review would be ordered to pay US$30 per paper.

Well, I'd be damned, in that the student - which by interpretation means the parent, because the parent is the one who works – had already paid CXC for a full exam, in some instances three papers, but were issued an examination in only one paper. Are you telling those parents that they are now being penalised doubly in having to pay for a review of their children's paper, when CXC has benefited from payments for three papers? This is outrageous!

No refund was issued to anyone in regard to the papers that were paid for, and CXC has gained millions on those fees; so, to come again and demand a US$30 review is tantamount to bullyism, and is totally unacceptable.

Even from a legal standpoint, CXC is obligated to

review the examination as is, or to refund the students.

Yes, they had a full examination in readiness, but, due to COVID-19, this was not realised. That is not the students’ fault, and CXC are obligated to absorb the shocks.

In fact, there are no shocks here, because those papers can be used for future examinations, so I cannot see why there is this high-handed approach by a regional examining body.

In my evaluation of this present registrar and the way he handled this year's examination, I would give him an F, or a failing grade. He has sullied the name of CXC, and I am sure there will be future problems along the road with him.

Certainly, this year's examination has left a bitter taste and a nightmarish experience with us. Here we have a callous and uncaring registrar who has ruined the lives of thousands of students.

Yours respectfully, Neil Adams

Academic silence during...

Where is their sense of fair play and justice in being silent at electoral malpractice?

Professors Lomarish Roopnarine and Baytoram Ramharack made their views known about election rigging in the mass media. I wrote voluminously against the fraud.

I did (and still do) not depend on Government for roti and dhal, thus I was able to speak my mind.

Profs Wazir Mohammed and Nigel Westmaas, men who fought against electoral fraud during the Burnham/ Hoyte dictatorships, were noticeably silent. Prof David Hinds excused the March 2020 electoral fraud because he did not want his party, APNU, to give up power.

The UG academics probably were fearful of losing their employment if they should publicly speak out against

fraud. They were fence-sitters, playing it safe both ways.

Others, like Roopnarine, Ramharack and me, took the risk to speak out against injustice, placing ourselves on the right side of morality and law.

In the end, the academic beneficiaries were those who were silent and/or endorsed fraud. I was told they were ‘non-political’, and therefore they were rewarded with positions, promotions, and perks at UG and elsewhere. Those who were engineers and defenders of fraud continue to enjoy their benefits. Those who spoke out against fraud were ‘political’, and could not be rewarded. Regrettably, that is the twisted logic of the Guyanese society.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

FROM PAGE 4

rounding arable lands.

Mining and forestry are operations in the interior.

The city and towns are congested, and housing areas for livable space are available beyond these areas.

The Guyanese society is a mixture of all levels of financial worthiness, the majority dominating the lower income level and representing the struggling class.

From the days of the arrival of the Europeans to current, it has been an uphill task for survival, and most Guyanese have had to scrape the bottom of the proverbial barrel for survival. While some have admirably advanced, not to level the field, but to climb the ladder to a higher altitude, many have shrunk further to the lower rungs. Many sociological elements factor into these attributes, past governments being inclusive under different administrations.

The echoing cry for land to build a house has reverberated a shrilling and cringing sound from the coastal belt to the mountainous areas in the history of Guyana. From the days of slavery and indentureship to those of independence and republican nights, this has been an on-going battle, left unresolved and conveniently ignored by the past PNC and APNU/AFC governments during their terms of governance. They have tried unsuccessfully to harness this problem, and it was only when the PPP/C government managed during their 23 years that much in-road was made with progress.

The PPP/C Party perfected a policy of production and perseverance. President Irfaan Ali, then Housing

Minister, was the backbone for this success, having established an unbeatable record, which is again being challenged under his leadership.

Squatting has been an age-old dilemma, and squatters squat for different reasons. Squatting is illegal, and the biggest squatters remain the APNU/AFC Party, who were squatting in office for almost two years, occupying 83,000 square miles of land that belonged to the Guyanese people, and refusing to give up ownership!

They have created an unbeaten precedent, and thus innocent Guyanese have succumbed to their mentality and have indulged in a patterned behaviour.

They have illegally distributed lands to various entities; thankfully, five good-natured parties have returned the lands in good faith. Those parties must be commended for their honesty and integrity. Meanwhile, the APNU/AFC disposal of lands to many party members remains a reason for scrutiny.

The APNU/AFC’s irresponsibility and inability to handle the squatting issue under their tenure has now become the problem baby for the new Government.

This stench will stink all the way to the next election.

The PPP/C Government are once again forced to clean up their predecessor’s mess, which dirtied the landscape of this nation. Do they have enough toilet paper and gloves?

There is a shortage of potable water! COVID-19 doesn’t help the situation either!

Respectfully, Jai Lall

6

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

Remember you can add and subtract numbers with exponents.

Example: 35 - 42

FOR CHILDREN Exercises: Find the value 1) 103

2) 3.52

3) (2.2)2

Step 1: Find the value of the first exponential expression: 35 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x3 = 243

4) 126

5) 65 - 72

6) 22 + 34

Step 2: Find the value of the second exponential expression: 42 = 4 x 4 = 16

10) 102 + 104

7) (.001)3 8) 1.24

9) 1210 - 82

Step 3: Calculate 243 – 16 = 227

'THE CANARD'

A

dog had learned to carry his master's dinner to him every day. He was very faithful to his duty, though the smell of the good things in the basket tempted him.

The dogs in the neighbourhood noticed him carrying the basket and soon discovered what was in it. They made several attempts to steal it from him. But he always guarded it faithfully.

Then one day all the dogs in the neighbourhood got together and met him on his way with the basket.

The dog tried to run away from them. But at last he stopped to argue.

That was his mistake. They soon made him feel so ridiculous that he dropped the basket and seized a large piece of roast meat intended for his master's dinner.

"Very well," he said, "you divide the rest."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Opposition Leader supports electoral reform ...process intended to prevent non-declaration of SoPs as was done by APNU/AFC

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

By Lakhram Bhagirat

O

pposition Leader Joseph Harmon, at his weekly press briefing on Monday, related that he is in support of any effort to have Guyana’s electoral system reformed.

Harmon made the statement after being asked about his thoughts on the Government seeking assistance for electoral reforms from the Canadian Government.

Following a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chaterjee last week, Attorney General Anil Nandlall announced that Government would be seeking the assistance of the Canadian Government to help reform its electoral legislation in an effort to prevent the aftermath of the March 2020 elections from reoccurring.

The Opposition Leader said that any help to reform the electoral laws would be welcomed. In fact, he acknowledged that the Canadian Government has been consistently working with Guyana to reform the electoral system.

“I know that for many years, the Canadians have looked at our electoral system to see how best it can

facilitate the early declaration of results. I think it is in that area that they are focused on. I recall in the period 2011-2015, they brought in several machines to see how best it can be utilised to ensure that we can have (the time) from the close of poll until you have a declaration, significantly reduced,” he said.

“I am not sure what else they (the Canadians) are looking at. What will be important is funding for electoral reform and the work which has to be done with respect to any changes which has to be done with the Constitution,” Harmon added.

The Attorney General had said that electoral reform will ensure the tragedy which unfolded after the March 2 General and Regional Elections never reoccurs.

Nandlall, during a Facebook Live session, had related that he has already raised the issue with High Commissioner Chatterjee, for experts to assist Guyana in this process.

“The Government has committed to looking at the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and other pieces of legislations to reform them to cover all the loopholes that have been exploited by the political fraudsters after the elections,” Nandlall noted.

Among the proposed reforms is ensuring that Statements of Poll (SoPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website and made public within hours of receipt. Efforts will also be made to ensure oversight mechanisms are in place to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (ROs), thereby guarding against the declaration of false results by rogue officers.

The proposals also include a system where em-

Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee

ployment procedures and practices are used to ensure the best candidates are selected to work at elections, and to also have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for those officials. It is also seeking to ensure that there is a heavy penal system accompanying electoral offences that will deter any official from doing wrong during the elections.

“All these matters are under review by my Ministry and I need as much technical assistance that I can get and Canada has rendered significant support to our electoral process over the past few years. The High Commissioner indicated her Government’s commitment to assist us in that regard,” AG Nandlall said.

Electoral woes

Canada was one of the vocal countries that played a part in thwarting the attempt by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The country released joint statements with Britain and the United States, calling for the will of the Guyanese people to be respected.

The results of the elec-

tions showed that the PPP/C secured 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC garnered 217,920 votes. The smaller parties - A New and United Guyana – 2313; Change Guyana –1953; Liberty and Justice Party – 2657; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizenship Initiative – 680; The New Movement – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360.

However, the declaration of those results came exactly five months after polling day. The delay stemmed from Returning Officer for the DemeraraMahaica District, Clairmont Mingo using concocted figures to declare his district results. He had declared the total number of valid votes for all lists as 217,425 for which APNU/AFC received 136,057 votes and the PPP/C 77,231 votes. In actuality, the results of the National Recount found that there was a total of 202,077 ballots cast in Region Four, with 116,941 for APNU/AFC and 80,920 for PPP/C. Mingo’s bloated figures would have placed the APNU/AFC back in the seat of power, ultimately denying the will of the Guyanese people.

Since the declaration of results, a number of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials have been hauled before the courts to answer charges of electoral fraud.

Mingo has also been charged with five counts of fraud charges, one of which is in association with PNCR Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence. Lawrence was later slapped with two additional charges of electoral fraud.

Mingo, during his first court appearance, was placed on $600,000 bail on four charges of Misconduct in Public Office.

Additionally, GECOM staffers Enrique Livan and

DCEO Roxanne Myers

Sheffern February were also slapped with charges of electoral fraud.

Livan was previously questioned by Police on the evening of March 4, 2020, when the tabulation of votes for District Four at the Office of the Returning Officer was obstructed. Party agents and other observers became suspicious when Livan, after complaining of feeling tired and wanting to conclude the tabulation process, left the room with a flash drive and computer – both of which were being used during the tabulation process.

On the other hand, February was also slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. She was not allowed to plead to the charge and was granted $150,000 bail on each charge, totalling $300,000.

However, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 24 to answer three private criminal charges regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, misconduct in public office and breach of trust.

The charges were initially filed by citizens, Josh Kanhai and Desmond Morian, accusing Lowenfield of three counts of fraud.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

Lowenfield is also under Police investigation.

The Guyana Police Force had said it launched a probe into criminal conduct by Lowenfield and others in relation to the events of the March 2 elections. He is accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the verified recount results to the GECOM Chair for a declaration. Legal advice was obtained from the DPP and the Force was advised to launch a comprehensive investigation into these allegations in accordance with its mandate.

On October 10, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers made her first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in relation to charges of misconduct in public office filed against her. She was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office. Myers was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that she wilfully misconducted herself in declaring fraudulent results from the March 2 General and Regional Elections, between the period of March 4 and 14, 2020.

She was placed on $150,000 for each charge, amounting to $300,000.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Parika cocaine bust

Alberttown businessman questioned by CANU

R

yan Pemberton, also called “Sancho” of Alberttown, Georgetown, who was implicated in a drug bust at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was two Mondays ago questioned by agents of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and subsequently released.

This was according to the Attorney representing Pemberton while responding to an article published in Guyana Times stating that his client was still on the run after being sought by CANU. During an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Glen Hanoman related that

Ryan Pemberton

his client had been in the interior and upon return-

ing, he was informed that he was wanted for questioning in relation to the cocaine bust which took place on February 22, 2020. As such, he turned himself in accompanied by his lawyer.

“He was in the bush, so when he came out to the bush, he heard from the Police that CANU wanted to question him. So, I went in with him, and when we went in, they said that they were aware of the name, and that was the name that was supplied to them, but they no longer interested,” Hanoman explained.

He further explained that his client’s name was implicated in the crime after

someone referring to themselves as “Sancho” made several threatening phone calls to the drug enforcement body.

On February 22, 2020, it was reported that ranks of CANU swooped down on a vessel at Parika Backdam, and discovered over 27 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the boat’s bow.

Following the discovery, 35-year-old Latchman Sankar, also known as “Jack”, and 49-year-old Muneshwar Dusrajh, aka “Bonny”, were immediately arrested and later charged.

The cocaine was found in 25 parcels and weighed 27.866 kilograms.

Getting ready…

T

…for cheap electricity he Irfan Ali Government is proving to be a juggernaut on so many fronts to the tattered and battered remnants of the PNC, they’ve become “bassidy”!

How else do you explain Winston Jordan’s daring to give advice to the PPP Government on borrowing policies – after running the Treasury dry with his wild and woolly decisions! Like giving away all those pieces of prime real estate all over the country without bothering to ask for payment!! With him as Finance Minister, it was like handing over the keys of the Bank to Blackie London!!

Anyhow the latest PPP initiative – to bring gas ashore from Payara and Stabroek – just received a huge shot in the arm with the news that Winston Brassington will be coordinating the effort. Because, you see, dear reader, Brassington is a “can do” kinda fella. He’s not like some of those “nevah see, come fuh see” who’re flitting around and promising us the moon and the sky. Nah! Brassington’s been there, done that!

In case some of you might’ve fallen asleep, it was Brassington who headed the construction of the Marriott Hotel back in 2012, and completed it within two years!!

At the time, there were lots of critics - even pickets! – of the project by the APNU/AFC combine and their camp followers; but during their five years in Government, they made the place “home away from home”!! You couldn’t tear them away!!

Anyone who’s tried to build a house in Guyana can appreciate what Brassington achieved: nothing is done in this country, when it comes to keeping to standards, without blood, sweat and tears!! And that’s what this fella, who was also running NICIL at the time, did for our country. If there’s a Guyanese who doesn’t appreciate that we have a world class facility in the Marriott – and your Eyewitness means WORLD CLASS – then let them speak, or forever hold their peace!

So, let’s consider the enormity of what’s ahead with bringing the gas ashore. Do folks know that we’ll be getting this gas from 120 miles out, and that at that point - even though the gas will be sourced from the FPSOs – the pipeline will be more than a mile under water??!! Can you even imagine a mile of water over you? Just think of the pressure! And that pipeline may have to cross underground mountains and hills. Then there will be compressors along the way, to keep the gas flowing.

Not to mention tunnelling under the ground when it hits shore to be distributed to a new 200MW generating plant – or to GPL’s present generators.

There’s no one other than Brassington to make sure we do this in under two years!! …to book Ramjattan on race talk The ERC finally decided to do something about all this race talk that’s been flooding hyperspace via social media and other platforms – stirring up unrest in our long-suffering country. Y’all know what your Eyewitness thinks about this body that’s taking in $250,000,000 ANNUALLY to address our racial divisions – but just sits on its haunches. So finally, they’ve woken up! They’ve put up “WANTED” posters of a bunch of miscreants who crossed the (racial) line, and one of them was no one else but Khemraj Ramjattan!!

Yup, that’s right. The man who would’ve been PM (you think?) if the PNC had rigged is now wanted by the ERC. And we can be sure it’s not for uttering his trademark “Haul yuh ass!” We hope the ERC will start taking this race talk seriously – unlike how they handled the incitement in West Berbice by Granger and Harmon.

It’s your Eyewitness’s considered opinion that Ramjattan must be hauled in by the Police if he doesn’t show up by this morning! …for hemp?

Looks like one of the small parties wasn’t just hustling for votes (they received 244 votes from the ENTIRE country!) but also lobbying for its chief financier’s pet project – industrial hemp!

So how much clout do 244 votes earn?

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Probe into electoral fraud is criminal matter; not politically or ethnically motivated – Edghill – reiterates PPP/C Govt will create equal access to all citizens

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

P

ublic Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill has rubbished claims that the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is on a campaign to witchhunt officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) based on racial and/or political considerations.

Edghill was at the time responding to a number of accusations made by top People’s National Congress (PNC) member Aubrey Norton on a previous edition of the Trinidad-based CCN TV6’s Morning Edition.

Norton had claimed that the PPP/C, since taking office in August this year, started a relentless campaign to target persons mainly of Afro-Guyanese descent.

However, Edghill, who appeared on a recent edition of the said programme, fired back saying: “I am not surprised, Mr Norton is part of an outfit that believes in spinning narratives, creating deflections, providing misinformation to the public to hide the truth of what is taking place.”

Providing clarity on the matter in relation to the ongoing probe into electoral fraud in Guyana, Edghill posited that unlike what was being peddled by

Norton, the current investigations have nothing to do with the Government or politics, instead, it is a police probe that is being conducted to hold persons accountable for their actions.

“We have a situation in Guyana where people are being held accountable for their actions… as part of a plot to derail an election and produce fraudulent (elections) results.

“There is a police investigation, if it is so that the persons who are questioned or who are charged and placed before the court in keeping with their involvement all happens to be of a particular ethnic group, the Guyanese people or the Guyana Government should not be held accountable for that,” Edghill stated firmly.

According to Edghill, “there is no evidence whatsoever, perceived or real,” that the Government is on a political witch hunt or a campaign against AfroGuyanese.

“Anyone who signs and makes a fraudulent declaration is a police matter, it’s not a political matter,” he argued.

“The Government is delivering to the people of Guyana, the police are investigating (alleged) criminal actions and wrongdoings and that is the reality in Guyana today,” he explained.

Edghill, who also previously served as Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) for a number of years, reminded that when President Irfaan Ali took the Oath of Office in August, he assured all Guyanese about the fashion and mode in which he will administer the State – a society where all citizens will have equal access to opportunities and resources.

He noted that since the PPP/C assumed office, a number of critical measures were put in place to assist citizens across the country,

PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Clairmont Mingo

Former APNU/AFC Minister Volda Lawrence

irrespective of their race or political affiliation.

The many relief measures in Budget 2020, including the 25,000 cash grant for households, he said, caters for everyone.

“The police are investigating criminal activity, the Government is serving the people of Guyana, bringing development to the people, advancing our manifesto promises, ensuring that farmers, nurses and policemen, frontline workers, the vendors in the markets, taxi drivers, miners, we are ensuring that they could get back to work and their livelihoods could be secured in a safe Covid-19 pandemic environment,” the Minister highlighted.

Several officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and a former APNU/AFC Government Minister are presently facing private criminal charges over their alleged involvement in attempts to tamper with the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Back in March, Charles Ramson Jr, who had served as PPP/C’s Counting Agent, had filed private criminal charges against Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence following the RO’s declaration of un-

verified results for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Lawrence was arraigned in August on this charge and placed on bail. The matter is still pending in court.

The particulars of the charge state that Mingo, having been procured by Lawrence on or about March 5 at the Command Centre for GECOM on High and Hadfield Streets, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, the election results for Region Four, knowing it to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana.

GECOM, despite being barred by an injunction, went ahead and published the Form 24s [which is the election declaration] for all

regions on its website. This included the unverified declaration for Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district.

Mingo’s declaration, which was subsequently set aside by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, was signed by him and Lawrence – the lone representative from the political parties that contested the elections. The other parties had objected to the declaration after the verification process was not fully complied with by the Returning Officer.

It was subsequently unearthed during the National Recount exercise that Mingo had heavily inflated the figures to give the then APNU/ AFC incumbent a lead at the

polls.

However, the recount exercise showed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes, while the coalition secured 217,920 votes – a difference of some 15,416 votes.

As such, Mingo was charged by the police and arraigned last month on four counts of misconduct in public office. He is currently on $600,000 bail.

In addition, he is also facing the private criminal charge jointly with Lawrence, for which he is currently out on self-bail.

Lowenfield, his Deputy Roxanne Myers and a few other elections officers, are also at the centre of the ongoing probe.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Polluter/responsible parties liable for all costs, damages due to oil spill – National Oil Spill Plan – stakeholders to play major role in execution of Plan

T

he National Oil Spill Contingency Plan is seen as a major step in safeguarding Guyana from oil spills and other negative environmental impacts as the country moves full steam ahead in ramping up oil production.

Following a thorough consultative process with the various stakeholders, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) completed and handed over the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to the Government on Friday.

The plan recognises that exploration, production, transporting, utilisation and storage of oil, gas and petroleum products in inland waters, land territory and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), increase the probability of spills occurring which can impact Guyana’s land and marine ecosystems.

It also acknowledges that effective management of any spill requires a high level of planning, preparation, and equipment. Therefore, collaboration and coordination with clearly outlined roles and responsibilities amongst key Government Ministries and departments, Private Sector, civil society, non-governmental organisations, international partners, and petroleum companies are paramount to the successful implementation and execution of this Plan.

Based on the Plan, coordination of the operations to respond to land and marine pollution as a consequence of oil spills lies within the

remit of the Competent National Authority (CNA).

In the event of an oil spill in Guyana, all concerned Government agencies, all oil companies, shipping companies and other involved parties are required to follow the procedures established in the document. Among other things, the Plan lays out in detail, the course of action which should be taken following an oil spill of any magnitude.

It also states clearly the obligation of the responsible party/polluter, which is to undertake all necessary actions and expenditures and in any event be held liable for all costs and damages arising from or connected with the spill.

According to the Plan, the party responsible for causing the spill has the following specific responsibilities: a. Reporting the spill immediately to the National Focal Point/Lead Agency b. Taking immediate action to control or stem the source of the spill c. Taking immediate action to contain the spill and prevent it from spreading and d. Co-operating fully with the Competent National Authority (CNA) in the response to the spill under the direction of the CNA. The Plan also accounts for oil and petroleum products entering Guyana’s territorial waters from spills which occur in neighbouring states. It outlines the frame-

CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, handing over the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Friday

work within which resources will be coordinated and deployed in Guyana for the purpose of dealing with pollution of the land and marine environment from spills of oil and petroleum products.

For the purposes of the Plan, spills are classified as Tier One (1), Two (2) and Three (3) spills.

Classification is dependent upon the type and amount of spill, the resources required and the level of support both nationally, regionally, and internationally.

Other factors that can determine the tier of response required are environmental sensitivity, socio-economic impacts, and threat to public health. All oil spills over five (5) gallons shall be reported to the Competent National Authority through the NFP (MARAD – maritime, GEA –

APNU/AFC will not dictate...

Speaking specifically to the opportunities for Private Sector collaboration with the IDFC, Jordan said that Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chair Nicholas Boyers’ excitement gave the impression that the local Private Sector was starved of access to foreign funding. However, he said that was far from the truth, since there was a lot of funding sources which are opened to viable projects.

“A word of caution to the Private Sector and the policy makers: while we should not look a gift horse in the mouth, care and extreme caution should be exercised as you engage new sources of funding,” the letter stated.

Jordan said that IDFC either provided financing to US companies, which would then be used to undertake projects in developing countries or provided supplemental development financing to countries in cases where there was either a lack of Private Sector capacity or inclination to provide financing.

“The IDFC classifies Guyana as an upper middle-income country. This likely means that any financing provided would be on non-concessional terms

characterised by high and potentially variable interest rates and relatively short repayment periods. It should also be noted that there is a preponderance of fees associated with financing obtained from the IDFC, which would result in elevated borrowing costs,” Jordan said in an effort to raise concerns.

As Finance Minister, Jordan was involved in the giving away of a number of acres of State land in the run-up to and after the March 2 General and Regional Elections. A number of those developers have since returned the lands.

Earlier this month, American Marine Services Incorporated retuned 20 acres of land at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). American Marine Services Incorporated, on February 5, entered into an Agreement of Sales with NICIL for the 20 acres that it has since returned. It related that the reason for returning the land is solely based on the circumstances surrounding the vesting of the property.

The company, located at Lot 215 Cross Street and Mandela Avenue, Alexander

FROM PAGE 3

Village, was granted the land by NICIL on the basis of a signed order by Jordan on June 11, 2020. It added that it looked forward to working with NICIL and the Government towards achieving our development goals.

Just last month, Navigant Builders Incorporated – the developers of the Windsor Estate housing community – returned several acres of land at Goedverwagting and Sparendaam on the East Coast of Demerara to the State to facilitate a “more transparent” process in issuing State lands. Several other investors have returned the land they acquired through the APNU/ AFC Government.

However, subsequent to the March 2 General Elections, the companies said they made no attempts to initiate any transfer of lands or advance their respective projects. It was reported that before it demitted office, the APNU/AFC transferred several tracts of land to developers.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Bosai Minerals Group also had a total of 1.427 acres of land transferred to it by NICIL through an order signed by Jordan.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

land) and the systems of notification established within this Plan. All notifications of oil spills received, regardless of amount are to be recorded systematically by the NFP. Incidents such as groundings, collisions, fires, explosions, or other accidents should also be reported as these can often lead to the release of petroleum and petroleum products.

The Plan is effective for oil spills on land, in navigable waters, or from any other source that may migrate to or flow into the navigable waters. It is intended to organise the activities of all the responsible agencies and to provide a command structure and an established method of operations for the agencies engaged in dealing

with any incident.

The Plan states that due to the proximity of Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, a spill occurring in any one country may have direct or indirect social, economic, or environmental impacts on the others. Therefore, a good working relationship is to be established among the neighbouring territories in the interest of reducing impacts of major spills that occur near the borders.

Additionally, a rapid response agreement of equal rights of access must be established. This is included in section 2.8 of the Caribbean Island plan.

The Government has assigned the responsibility for the preventing, preparing and combating of all oil and noxious chemical spills within the territory of Guyana and its Exclusive Economic Zone to the Director General, Civil Defence Commission, named as the Competent National Authority (CNA) with the Director Maritime Safety, Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD) as Deputy for Maritime and the Executive Director, Guyana Energy Agency for land spills.

The Coast Guard and the Guyana Energy Agency were named as the OnScene Commanders for maritime and land respectively.

The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan was de-

signed to satisfy the requirements under domestic legislation and policies, as well as international conventions including the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) 1990.

Meanwhile, Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who presented the plan to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, noted that the work on the finished plan was months in the making and involved the input of many key stakeholders including the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The Plan was crafted with valuable inputs from the Guyana Marine Conservation Society, Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Shipping Association of Guyana, ExxonMobil, Tullow, GuyOil, Repsol, Shell, GAICO Construction and other stakeholders.

GTT’s Pinktober funds

$2M set aside for mental health support for cancer patients

A

s GTT continues to contribute to cancer care and awareness through its annual Pinktober commemoration and sales, the company has allocated $2 million towards mental health support sessions for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers throughout Guyana.

GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens stated that there is a total of 400 scheduled mental health support sessions, which will be led by GTT’s partners in healthcare and wellness, effective 2020 through 2021. These partners include the various treatment centres across the country.

Gittens explained that the sessions will especially aim to increase access to mental health support services for cancer patients and caregivers of patients from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

“This is just the beginning of so many other projects we have in store for those affected by cancer, especially those who need the financial assistance. Cancer

GTT Pinktober Coordinator Diana Gittens

does not discriminate – we all know someone who has been impacted – and we acknowledge that we are in this together. We at GTT strongly believe that mental support is just as important as physical care – and this holistic approach will play a significant role in improving overall cancer care in Guyana,” Gittens stated.

She further noted that those affected by cancer can reach out to the various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

which have partnered with GTT to indicate interest in being part of the sessions.

To support the annual Pinktober initiative this year, individuals and corporations are invited to buy special Pinktober water bottles from GTT’s retail stores – or online.

Donations can also be made to the cause by using the mmg+ app and code 07693. All proceeds help in the fight against cancer – and assist in supporting programmes inclusive of mental and physical care.

11 DPP drops law books larceny charge against AG NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…SOCU withheld evidence from the court – AG’s Attorney

M

ore than three years after now Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall was charged with Larceny by Bailee for allegedly converting $2 million in Law Reports belonging to the State to his own use and benefit, the charge against him has been withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.

This was confirmed by one of Nandlall’s lawyers, Glenn Hanoman, who on Monday told Guyana Times, “She [the DPP] rightfully exercised her discretion to withdraw the charge.”

According to Hanoman, in a letter dated September 17, 2020, to trial Magistrate Fabayo, the DPP instructed that the charges against the Attorney General be discontinued.

Magistrate Azore complied with the DPP’s directives last week Friday, October 16, 2020. Hanoman further explained that because of the powers invested in the DPP pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution of Guyana, she has the discretion to withdraw any prosecution.

The charge against Nandlall had alleged that between May 18, 2015, and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee, in his capacity as Attorney General under the PPP/C Administration, he fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2,313,853, prop-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall

erty of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on his own recognisance (self-bail).

In November 2018, following the close of the prosecution’s case, one of Nandlall lawyers made a nocase submission. However, Magistrate Azore overruled the no-case submission on the basis that a prima facie [sufficient to establish a fact] case had been made out against him.

As such, the Magistrate had called on Nandlall to lead a defence.

Reluctant to do so as they insisted the charges against him were bad in law, Nandlall’s lawyers filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court. In the application, the lawyers asked

for a declaration that the offence Larceny by a Bailee is an offence unknown to the laws of Guyana, and therefore is in violation of Articles 40, 144 (4) and 149 (d) of the Constitution.

Further, his lawyers had contended that Magistrate Azore erred in law when she overruled the no-case submission and refused to give sufficient reasons for doing so as required by Section 15 Judicial Review Act. This, they argued, was also in contravention of the Constitution.

However, Nandlall’s application was struck out by both the High Court and Court of Appeal following full hearings. The courts ruled that Section 165 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act makes provisions for the charge instituted against the Attorney General and that Magistrate Azore was not inclined to provide reasons as to why she overruled the no-case submission.

During the High Court leg of the matter, Chief Justice Roxane George had noted that it is at the Magistrate’s discretion to overrule a no-case submission. While she underscored that the High Court can exercise its supervisory jurisdiction to review such a decision by a Magistrate, this is only done in extreme and limited circumstances.

According to the Chief Justice, moving to the High Court for a review in such circumstance should not be

Fire that razed DeSinco Trading Limited was electrical – Fire Chief

Firemen struggling to contain the blaze on August 19

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GPS) has confirmed that the fire which ripped through the DeSinco Trading Limited building on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, last month was electrical in nature. This was the findings after a probe was launched into the blaze.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Monday stated that based on the findings, there were some issues with respect to the wiring of the building.

On the day in question, firefighters spent more than three hours battling the blaze at the Sheriff Street, Georgetown business as flames tore through and ultimately destroyed the entire structure.

The fire started at about 13:00h; however, despite the fact that several firefighters from the Guyana Fire Service were dispatched to the scene, accessing water was a challenge.

By this time, heavy smoke was billowing from

the building, and the flames threatened nearby buildings.

This promoted the call for more fire tenders as those at the scene were unable to contain the blaze.

After almost two hours of battling the flames, the fire service finally deployed a truck with a telescoping boom-ladder to enable the firemen to tackle the blaze from overhead. By this time, at least one of the buildings on the property was completely destroyed, and the other was also gutted.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack

routine, since it would trample upon the process of criminal trials in the Magistrates’ Courts. Nandlall had appealed the ruling of the Court of Appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Withheld evidence

According to Hanoman, the SOCU Prosecutor on the case withheld evidence from the court and the defence.

Nandlall’s lawyer disclosed that the evidence had to do with a statement given to Police by former President Donald Ramotar.

The lawyer said that the evidence also included a report by the Auditor General which revealed that the Law Reports did not belong to the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and were in fact, part of Nandlall’s entitlement under his employment contract.

“The Auditor General’s Report and President Ramotar’s statement established the facts,” Hanoman noted.

Hanoman said: “The case was not completed. We still had our defence to lead.

Had we lead our defence, President Ramotar would have given evidence that the Government continued to pay for his [Nandlall’s] subscription for the law books which were part of his employment contract.”

“The charge was brought because some politically motivated person in the [Attorney General] Chambers decided to ignore and disregard the official findings of the Auditor General,” Hanoman added.

Contractual agreement

Nandlall was charged and placed before the courts in April 2017 after investigations by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) - an arm of the Guyana Police Force. He had always maintained that the law book belonged to him.

In doing so, he had explained that when he was appointed Attorney General in 2011, he requested as part of his contract of service, for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law Books.

He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the law reports. Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, he had argued that it was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health.

He had expressed awareness that for decades prior, the Government had paid for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals and magazines. He had said that the arrangement received the blessings

Attorney-at-Law Glenn Hanoman

of then Head of State Donald Ramotar.

However, investigators contended that because the books were bought with State funds, they cannot be the property of Nandlall, and in fact, the State should not have entered into such an arrangement in the first place.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs under the APNU/ AFC Government had said that there was no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar.

And even assuming that there was such an agreement, they further contended that the use of public funds in that manner is a flagrant violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act. Nandlall had maintained that the charge laid against him by SOCU was instigated

by Basil Williams, who was appointed Attorney General in 2015, when the APNU/ AFC came into Government, and whose performance he has always criticised.

12

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 202

20 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2021 budget to cater for 5-year Ituni small loggers get 2005 scholarship programmes to log-tracking tags train doctors – Labour Minister – as efforts continue to revive the forestry sector

Some of the small loggers receiving their log-tracking tags

A batch of doctors trained in Cuba

T

he PPP/C Government’s 2021 budget will cater for five-year scholarship programmes to train doctors to ensure hospitals are better staffed.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton made this announcement during a meeting recently with the junior and senior doctors at the Linden Hospital Complex to address the shortage of doctors in the region.

Hamilton explained that the practical solution would be to train more young persons to become doctors.

“We have 900 people doing the job of 1200. I can say to you pellucidly that the practicalities in the 2021 budget will put mechanisms in place to ensure five-year

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

scholarship programmes can start,” he said.

Upper DemeraraBerbice (Region 10) has

seen a decrease in the staff complement of doctors over the past three years. This is due mainly to some being restationed in the hinterland regions and Georgetown.

Minister Hamilton said in 2015, Region 10 had the most doctors, which could adequately meet the needs of its population.

“We ensured that every single person from Region 10 [who] was trained, we sent them back to their region to work …And now we have a problem, because when doctors were leaving, the previous Government was not training,” he said.

Minister Hamilton also said consideration would be given to sourcing doctors from overseas to serve in the region.

A

s part of Government’s plan to revive the forest sector, the Natural Resources Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) recently issued 2005 log tracking tags to the members of the Ituni Small Loggers Association.

This was derived from a recent visit to the commu-

nity by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat.

During his visit, the Minister met with several members of the Association and residents who expressed their concerns about the economic difficulties faced within their communities.

It was pointed out that Ituni depends on logging

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat and other officials listening to the concerns of loggers at Ituni

GTT urges customers to use “correct speed test”

T

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is ad-

vising customers to use the correct speed test hyperlink of http://gttgy.speedtestcus-

tom.com/ for accurate readings when testing for internet connection bandwidth.

as its main economic activity and as such, the availability of approved harvestable logging quota managed through the GFC’s issuance of log tracking tags is vital for its sustainability.

As such, a collaborative effort between the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Association saw the resolution of this matter.

According to GTT’s Public Relations Manager, Jasmin Harris, the company has received reports from customers who got inaccurate readings after using the incorrect speed test.

Harris explained that it was best to use the established GTT speed test servers since the company couldn’t verify tests conducted outside of its network.

“We want customers to get the correct reading when conducting a speed test.

There were instances when customers used the incorrect speed test and got an incorrect reading. This can create understandable but unnec-

Public Relations Officer Jasmin Harris

essary panic among our valued customers,” Harris said.

Harris added, “We want our customers to know what they are paying for is what they are getting, so we encourage them to use the

correct link for an accurate reading.”

Should any clarification be needed concerning conducting a verifiable speed test, customers can chat with GTT via live chat or call 0488 for guidance.

On October 8, the Chairman of the Ituni Small Loggers Association, Richard James, uplifted the 2005 log tracking tags for his Association.

Additionally, Minister Bharrat kept his promise to Region Two loggers and miners for a follow-up meeting with regulatory agencies.

On this note, the GFC and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) engaged stakeholders with the aim of providing efficient service within the sectors.

Several initiatives were adopted which were welcomed by stakeholders. The meeting was held at State House Anna Regina on October 16 and was attended by Regional Chairperson Vilma Da Silva, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, GFC Commissioner (ag) Gavin Agard, GFC Deputy Commissioner Tasreef Khan, and Manager of Mines Division GGMC Krishna Ramdass.

Further, these efforts by the Natural Resources Ministry through the GFC and other natural resources regulatory agencies are in keeping with the Minister’s commitment to contribute to the development of rural and hinterland forest communities through Sustainable Forest Management.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health problems – Health Minister

…leads to training for frontline health-care providers

By Rupa Sewnaraine

T

he novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted not only the health of people worldwide but has also strained the mental health composite of many individuals.

This includes relatives of patients, healthcare workers and even persons who may have been affected by the pandemic.

Having realised that mental problems have been triggered by the current situation, the Health Ministry on Monday commenced its second leg of training, this time it was specifically conducted to frontline healthcare workers.

Speaking at the opening, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony explained that many mental health programmes have remained underfunded and understaffed, thus the reach is limited. However, now is the time when there is a greater need.

“Mental health is essential for good health and wellbeing in our society. However, we often ignored its importance, and we have consistently understaffed and underfund these programmes.

As a result, we do not have enough qualified personnel to adequately diagnose people with mental health vulnerabilities. The current pandemic has now exacerbated these problems.”

He pointed out that the threat of infection, repeat-

PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr Luis Phillipe Codina

ed lockdowns, curfews, social isolation, and economic uncertainty have created widespread fear and anxiety.

Studies have also shown the adverse psychological effects of enforced institutional quarantines and isolation. Along with this, persons are facing the brunt of misinformation in the public domain.

“In addition to the real or perceived challenges of the pandemic, we now also have an infodemic. This phenomenon is characterised by a flood of fake news and misinformation, that is spread on social media and other outlets, it travels faster and further and the erroneous message is quickly amplified. These

false messages have catalysed to raise people’s anxiety and fears and has become a real threat in disrupting our public health programmes,” the Minister explained.

According to a survey done by the World Health Organisation (WHO), people with severe pre-existing and enduring mental health conditions have been mostly affected by COVID-19-related disruptions of mental health-care systems.

Other vulnerable groups include children and adolescents, many of whom he said: “have been impacted by school closures, stretched health systems, restricted access to nutritious food, breakdown in family relationships, neglect, and abuse.” On the other hand, the older patients and those with comorbidities are afraid of contracting the virus, which poses a negative effect.

“Many persons who died had comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, acute or chronic kidney diseases and immunocompromising diseases. There is little doubt why many persons with pre-existing health conditions are terrified and lonely, afraid of infection, dying, and losing family members while physically distanced from loved ones and friends,” Dr Anthony highlighted.

Moreover, he emphasised that healthcare workers are

Hype on proposed hemp industry to be reviewed by AG

Attorney General Anil Nandlall (extreme right) meeting with members of the Guyana Hemp Association

T

he Guyana Hemp Association has painted a rosy picture for hemp cultivation over the next few years, saying that the multibillion-dollar industry can create 50,000 jobs.

The Association, which is seeking Government’s support on hemp cultivation, met with Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall on Monday.

During the meeting, Nandlall informed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hemp Association, Turhan Deorga, that Government made many promises which it intends to deliver, and exploring the cultivation of hemp on a plantation scale is one of them.

Its Chief Operations Officer (COO), Dr Asha Kissoon, produced multiple written proposals to the Attorney General, setting out the impacts and

projections hemp would have if produced in Guyana. Dr Kissoon explained that the Association is not going to have a traditional approach to the production of the plant.

Rather, she explained that hemp will be produced and grown in greenhouses and will be cultivated by professional/ trained individuals. She also explained that hemp does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is not a psychoactive drug and cannot be planted with marijuana because the plants would cross-pollinate, which would be destructive.

According to Deorga, an organisation by the name of Nirvana has recently begun the production of hemp in Miami and attorneys-at-law in the State have already drafted legislation. He also highlighted a number of other jurisdictions where hemp is being cultivated.

The COO expressed concerns about the occurrence of the Dutch disease due to the high profitability of hemp.

He emphasised the need for the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute and the University of Guyana to be involved in the initiative since individuals in the agricultural sector know everything about hemp, but refuse to get involved because of politics.

Deorga stated that Suriname has already begun the production of hemp on a large scale. In closing, he thanked the Attorney General and Government for their open-minded approach to the hemp industry and for holding the meeting. The Attorney General agreed to study the bundle of documents submitted to him by the Association and to incorporate it into his advice to Cabinet on the issue.

facing a greater risk of infection, stigmatisation, and stressful workloads, with the attendant psychological repercussions.

“This course will teach healthcare workers how to cope with stress, how to detect people with mental health vulnerabilities and how to counsel and assist them through these challenges,” the Minister assured.

Recently appointed PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr Luis Phillipe Codina acknowledged that there is little support and financial input across the region for mental health.

It was indicated that just placing the issue in the hands of the psychiatrist is not the only mechanism that should be taken. Codina suggested that COVID-19 is a good opportunity to analyse mental health and access what are the issues facing people.

“It could be a good opportunity to change some things in the management of mental health in the country…It is not so different as mental health in other countries. We have to strengthen international response and capacity,” he indicated.

It is also important to develop surveillance in mental health while revisiting communication tools and replac-

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

ing them with modern technology. This reform can result in a new model to address such issues.

Meanwhile, Director of Mental Health Unit, Dr Util Thomas Richmond asserted that this training for frontline healthcare providers is going to take Guyana to an admirable level. She noted that while the country is dependent on human capital to overcome the virus, the human resources is even more vital.

She also shared the view that mental health is not adequately funded around the world but the demand for these services is very high, since approximately one in five persons suffers from men-

tal health issues.

There is also a proliferation of alcohol abuse and violence. There is also an increase in marijuana abuse, which is reflected in the street population and admissions to psychiatric units.

Adding to this, Mental Health Advisor at PAHO, Dr Maria del Carmen Martinez Viciana spoke about mental health and psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is the key to stopping transmission. This can be done by distributing timely factual information, providing MHPSS to people in isolation, protecting the mental health of all responders and the vulnerable population; and addressing the basic needs of people.

Stressors linked to the pandemic are rumours and misinformation, closure of schools and children’s activity spaces, travel restrictions, physical isolation or quarantine; avoidance of health facilities, risk of relapse in pre-existing health conditions and fear of infection. There is also the problem of discrimination towards those persons who have been infected, social stigma of caring for patients or specific population groups.

Local Govt Ministry engages affected Stabroek Market vendors

A

fter being affected by a recent spring tide at the Stabroek Market, vendors were on Monday engaged by a team from the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry to lend support.

This was made possible through coordination from subject Minister, Nigel Dharamlall.

The team, comprising Principal Regional Development Officer, Surendra Khayyam; Public Relations Officer, Whitney Ethard and Municipal Services Officer, Ronald Beckles met with the vendors and listened to their concerns. Solutions were discussed to ease the frequent flooding of the market during high and spring tides.

Clerk of Markets, Sherlock Lovell and Deputy Clerk of Markets, Melroy Gordon disclosed that the market was closed for business during the morning hours owing to overtopping. The vendors complained that they have been facing this situation for years now without an end in sight and without any intervention from the authorities.

One vendor, Ryan Boodhoo explained that after the water recedes, stallholders are left to mop up the heavy sludge left behind with some assistance from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

He noted that despite paying their rental fees, the Council has failed to repair or replace a broken valve on one of the pipelines that has been out of service for the past six months, making access to water to aid in the clean-up efforts severely restricted.

Another vendor disclosed that several attempts have been made to secure assistance from

The team engaging vendors of the Stabroek Market

the Guyana Fire Service so that a thorough flushing of the market can be done to ensure it is properly sanitised. However, these efforts have so far been without success.

It was observed that the internal drains of the market were clogged and efforts were being made to have this situation remedied. One vendor suggested that simply cleaning and widening the drains could lead to easier and speedier draining off of the excess water after a high tide.

The team also met with

a member of the Market Committee, Seeru Deo, who represented the interest of the vendors and several recommendations were put forward, including a review of the internal drainage and the elevation of the market floor by as much as three feet.

The Council’s Sanitation Manager, Walter Narine, has since undertaken the task of having both the Stabroek and Bourda Markets pressure-washed and fumigated on Tuesday and Sunday, respectively.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s economy projected to grow by 26.2% despite COVID-19

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) – a world-renowned financial institution – has projected that Guyana’s economy will grow by a significant 26.2 per cent in spite of the devastating effects COVID-19 is having on economies worldwide.

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, which is published by the IMF and has been released this month, showed that Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean and Latin American region projected to have real positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

This growth is pegged at 26.2 per cent for 2020 a considerable difference when compared to other territories in the region.

For instance, Trinidad and Tobago’s projected growth is -5.6 per cent while Suriname is -13.1 per cent and Barbados -11.6 per cent.

Moreover, Guyana’s economy is projected to grow by 8.1 per cent in 2021.

This projected growth of Guyana’s economy is significant in the context of COVID-19, which has devasted economies worldwide and killed more than one

million people globally.

According to the IMF report, the persistent output losses imply a major setback to living standards relative to what was expected before the pandemic.

Not only will the incidence of extreme poverty rise for the first time in over two decades, but inequality is set to increase because the crisis has disproportionately affected women, the informally employed, and those with relatively lower educational attainment.

The report further noted that the loss of human capital accumulation after widespread school closures poses an additional challenge.

The IMF also explained that with renewed upticks in COVID-19 infections in places that had reduced local transmission to low levels, re-openings have paused, and targeted shutdowns are being reinstated. “Economies everywhere face difficult paths back to pre-pandemic activity levels,” the report outlined.

According to the IMF, the baseline projection assumes that social distancing will continue into 2021 but will then fade over time as vaccine coverage expands

and therapies improve, with local transmission brought to low levels everywhere by the end of 2022.

“Vaccine trials have progressed at an unprecedented rate, and some have reached the final testing phase prior to approval or rejection.

Nonetheless, even after approval, vaccine coverage is likely to expand only gradually as it will take time to scale up production and distribute adequate doses worldwide at affordable prices. In countries where infection rates appear to have gone past their peak, persistent behavioral changes, together with enhanced workplace hygiene and safety standards, are assumed to keep new infections at a level that allows health

care systems to cope with the caseload and without requiring a return to economy-wide lockdowns,” the report explained.

On the other hand, for other countries where infections are still rising, the baseline also assumes the possibility of renewed lockdowns for particular zones, even if stringent nationwide shutdowns are not repeated.

In Guyana, COVID-19 cases are rapidly rising, mainly due to the increased testing occurring under the new PPP/C Administration as opposed to what was obtaining under the previous APNU/AFC coalition.

Notwithstanding, the death toll has climbed significantly, with 114 deaths as of October 19.

Meanwhile, global growth is projected at –4.4 per cent in 2020, 0.8 percentage point above the June 2020 WEO Update forecast. The stronger projection for 2020 compared with the June 2020 WEO Update reflects the net effect of two competing factors: the upward impetus from better-than-anticipated second-quarter GDP outturns (mostly in advanced economies) versus the downdraft from persistent social distancing and stalled reopening in the second half of the year.

“As discussed, a recovery has taken root in the third quarter of 2020. It is expected to strengthen gradually over 2021. The recovery is likely to be characterized by persistent social distancing until health risks are addressed—and countries may have to again tighten mitigation measures depending on the spread of the virus,” the report posited.

Guyana’s Government has already taken steps to reopen its economy with a relaxed curfew of 9 pm to 4 am and the approval for certain businesses like restaurants to operate in a restricted manner.

Moreover, the country

recently reopened its international airports – with a number of scheduled flights weekly.

President Dr Irfaan Ali recently contended that studies have shown that locking down a country as the primary means of fighting COVID-19 would actually be counterproductive.

“What we have to do as leaders is to find the right balance and ensure that coming out of the pandemic, we do not head into severe economic recession.

We already have a situation, where the economy has been affected tremendously.

What we are doing is basically trying to find the balance while operating, managing, and living in COVID environment,” the President had said with respect to the Government’s move to reopen the airports.

“We have to also ensure that we develop strong protocols and guidelines and to have persons follow, stringently, those guidelines, so that these can be the buffer that gives us an opportunity to rebalance the way we deal with this, from a medical as well as a socio-economic perspective.” (Devina Samaroo)

Harmon admits Success squatters were there before PPP/C Govt – claims APNU/AFC was not aware of situation

W

hile admitting that the persons currently squatting on lands owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), would have had to be doing so for quite some time, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has related that his party – the APNU/AFC – was unaware of the situation when they demitted office just over two months ago.

The APNU/AFC had spent over five years in office and Harmon served in several senior positions including Minister of State, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency and Member of Parliament.

Harmon made the statement on Monday, during a press conference, when he was asked whether his party had any idea of the situation at Success and if they had made any efforts to address the issue.

“I can say that me, I was not, aware until it became public news.

Maybe the occupation would have started in a quiet way, a creeping way at the behest of certain elements in political life, to the extent to which it became a problem. It was when the police went in there and there was some shooting and all of that. That was when it became public knowledge. I cannot say that we (APNU/AFC) were aware that it was this extensive because the extensiveness of the activity I can see part of it was very recent,” he told the media.

About 150 persons have taken up residence on the cane lands owned by the Sugar Corporation but now that GuySuCo is embarking on efforts to revitalise the sugar industry by reopening three estates closed by the APNU/AFC regime including the East Demerara Estate (Enmore), which is expected to recommence operations early 2022, attempts have been made to remove the squatters from the lands.

In fact, the Central Housing

and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has visited the area to commence the land application process for unlawful occupants, so that they could be eligible for a house lot.

Arrangements are being made for other parcels of land to be made available.

It was previously reported that lands in 22 areas on the East Coast, East Bank, and West Bank Demerara; Linden; Berbice and Essequibo were approved in the 2020 Emergency Budget and this publication understands that allocations for the residents will fall under this project.

But, still, many are refusing to relocate from the squatting areas.

GuySuCo had disclosed that some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane have been damaged by the squatters in those areas.

Harmon on Friday last led a team of Opposition Members of Parliament to the Success area where they met with many residents in small groups. He noted that the situation at Success is not only about housing but it is also a humanitarian one.

“The bulk of these persons are Guyanese who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have lost their livelihoods and income and have been evicted as a result of their inability to pay rent. APNU/ AFC repeat its call for a humane and caring approach to be adopted by the State and for there to be meaningful consultation with a view of regularisation of the residents,” he said.

Non-support for provision of temporary shelter

However, Government has identified the Graham’s Hall Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara as a temporary shelter site for the persons squatting on lands belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation at Success. The squatters are refusing to be relocat-

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon visiting squatters on Friday

ed to the school and are calling for the area to be regularised even as the Sugar Corporation is preparing the land to be cultivated.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips visited the area and offered shelter to the persons, however, this offer was rejected by the squatters.

Harmon said he cannot support the decision to have the squatters temporarily relocated since it does not address the issue of land.

“What you are seeing here is that the PM basically offering a temporary solution. Because when you are putting people to go live in a school, when school reopens what is going to happen. You have to be careful that you are not setting up a situation where you make Guyanese people refugees in their own country. When the school reopens you have to move them from there and put them somewhere else.

“I believe the solution of this problem rests with consultations with these residents and try to find a way to regularisation…I do not support this question of shifting

them from one place to the next.

If you are moving them from land you have to put them on land not a school,” he explained.

He said that Government is in the position to regularise the area since both GuySuCo and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited are agents of the State. He called on the Administration to find a solution that is practical in the circumstance, adding that it is the responsibility of the Government to find a solution to the problem that will see the squatters not put in a school but rather on land.

Not last week or last month

Harmon said that when he visited the squatting area, he was advised that the occupation of the lands did not commence last week or last month, rather the squatters were there for a lengthy period and they have expended all their resources to make the area habitable.

“When I went there, I saw an organised occupation of land. I saw lots properly lotted out with names on the lots, I saw drainage and tem-

porary roads. To the extent of which the individual’s resources could have been used to provide these facilities, was being done,” he said.

He reported that some of the squatters have indicated that they took all of their savings to construct their houses and they cannot afford to relocate at this time, hence the reason they are pushing for regularisation.

“I recall under this same Administration when they needed to remove persons from the Railway Embankment that they were able to remove them, they provided land for them, they gave them a moving assistance and, in some cases, even help them construct new homes on the land which they were given.

So, there is a precedent of the way in which things can be done and I trust that we are able to do that with these persons,” he informed.

GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Sasenarine Singh was quoted as saying that while the squatters have been affected by steps taken in preparation for the recommencement of operation, the successful outcomes from the sugar mills at Enmore require a supply of one-year-old matured sugar canes.

As a result, land tillage needs to commence next January.

It was against this backdrop that the sugar corporation on Thursday last flooded the field including the area where the squatters are occupying at Success, where a majority of the persons have taken up illegal occupancy.

However, the inundation of the plots at Success led to an escalation of the situation as armed men pounced on a security guard stationed at the Success backlands, disarmed him and shot at a drainage pump before escaping on a motorcycle.

Meanwhile, there has been outrage from some quarters over the treatment of those persons at Success.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Quick response by GFS averts major fire on Middle Street

Fire tenders at the scene on Monday

T

he quick response by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) avert-

ed a potentially catastrophic situation at the Midtown Hotel Restaurant & Bar lo-

cated at 176 Middle Street, Georgetown, after a fire erupted late Monday after-

noon.

Guyana Times understands that the fire started at about 17:30h on the day in question in one of the rooms in the upper flat of the three-storey building.

According to information received, a security guard on duty at a nearby business observed smoke emanating from the upper flat of the building and immediately summoned the GFS. The tenders along with the firemen responded promptly and managed to extinguish the blaze before it escalated.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, who was at the scene, stated, “We are just treating it as a first alarm fire. The fire was in the upper floor; so far, there are damages to about four

The Midtown Hotel, Restaurant & Bar

rooms and some parts of the ceiling. The fire service responded within 4-5 minutes, and they were able to save this building.”

It is unclear what may have caused the fire, but the Guyana Fire Service is continuing the investigations.

Man, 64, on trial for murdering brother-in-law Brigadier Gary Beaton heads new T Sea and River Defence Board he trial of Les Charles Critchlow, who is accused of the May 12, 2016 murder of his brother-in-law, Terrence Adams, commenced on Monday before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-person jury at the High Court in Georgetown.

Critchlow, who is being represented by Attorney-atLaw Maxwell McKay, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Appearing for the prosecution are State Counsels Tiffini Lyken and Nafeeza Baig. Based on reports, Adams, called “Sleepy” and “Uncle Terry”, 56, of North Haslington, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death during an argu-

P

Murdered: Terrence Adams

ment. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Murder accused: Les Charles Critchlow

At the time of his demise, Adams operated a small rum shop at his residence.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

ublic Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill on Monday installed the new Sea and River Defence Board. The Board has been constituted and gazetted for a period of one year, with Brigadier Gary Beaton at the helm as Chairman.

The other Directors include Captain Stephen Thomas, Kevin Samad, Jermaine Braithwaite, Tom Singh, Rawle Aaron, Heide Gillette, Arnold Adams, Ayube Ishaan, Desmond Morian, Rion Peters, David Armogan, Sherwyn Greaves, Lionel Woodsworth and Michael Hudson.

Brigadier Gary Beaton

A representative each from the Private Sector and Civil Defence Commissions will also sit on the Board.

Additionally, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will nominate a representative for the Board.

The new Board members have been gazetted at a critical juncture of Guyana’s development where the Government is focusing on strengthening the country’s sea defences.

The Board will work under the purview of the Guyana Sea Defence Department.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

New loss of taste or smell

Muscle pain Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

Regional

Bolivia election: Morales’s Court rejects US Govt’s ally Luis Arce set for win attempt to deny Caribbean

A

quick count suggests socialist candidate Luis Arce of the Mas party is set to win Bolivia’s presidential election in the first round.

The second-placed candidate, Carlos Mesa, has conceded defeat and called Arce’s 20-percentage-point lead in the quick count “unassailable”.

Arce, an ally of exiled former President Evo Morales, says he will form a “government of national unity”.

The country is still deeply divided after last year’s annulled election.

A quick count by pollsters Ciesmori suggests Arce has won with 52.4 per cent, trailed by Mesa of the centrist Citizens’ Community alliance

with 31.5 per cent.

Exit polls carried out by the Jubileo research institution also give Arce a commanding lead with 53 per cent of the votes, followed by Mesa with 30.8 per cent.

Sunday’s vote was a re-

run of the 2019 election, in which incumbent Morales was declared the winner.

The 2019 vote was followed by mass protests triggered by allegations that Morales’s victory had been rigged.

Following calls from the Chiefs of the Police and the Army for him to resign, Morales went into exile and Senator Jeanine Áñez was sworn in as interim President. Áñez said a re-run of the election would be held as soon as it was feasible, but amid the coronavirus pandemic the vote was postponed twice before it was finally held on Sunday.

While Arce had been the favourite to win the first round, opinion polls had suggested the margin between Arce and Mesa would be narrower, forcing a run-off.

Before running for President, Arce served as Economy Minister under then-President Morales.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

campaign and are using language that in local parlance is often interpreted as threatening.

“I tell you, the NDP campaign is controlled, paid for, and run by foreigners based in Switzerland and in Hong Kong; run by passport sellers. They hire the successor to SCL to try to steal up the mind of Vincentians,” Dr Gonsalves told party supporters in Georgetown at the opening of his campaign headquarters for North Central Windward,

which he has been representing in Parliament since 1994.

“But I am telling them, if they put foot in St Vincent and the Grenadines, they will not leave here. They could run the campaign from overseas,” said Gonsalves, who is also National Security Minister.

He noted that former prime minister and the founder of the NDP, Sir James Mitchel said that the November 5 General Election is for the soul of the country.

“I agree with Mitchell and

(Opposition Leader Godwin) Friday. Mitchell and the NDP want to sell the soul of St Vincent and the Grenadines to foreigners by selling the sacraments of nationhood: passport and citizenship,” Gonsalves said.

“I want to say this – never will Vincentians, the children of Chatoyer, will allow our passport and allow our citizenship to be sold as if it is eddoes and tomatoes and dasheen and sweet potato. No way!” (Excerpt from CMC)

Luis Arce (second from right) celebrated the quick count with his running mate, David Choquehuanca (first from right)

Gonsalves issues warning

P

rime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves issued a warning to the persons who he says are behind the main Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) campaign.

Dr Gonsalves stated that if they come to St Vincent and the Grenadines “you will not leave”.

The Prime Minister on Saturday restated his claim that supporters of citizenship by investment are financing the main Opposition NDP’s

Celebrate modern-day heroes, COVID frontline workers too, Jamaican PM urges

A

s the nation celebrates and remembers its slate of national heroes, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans not to forget the country’s modern-day heroes.

In his National Heroes’ Day address, the Prime Minister said “as we celebrate Heroes’ Day 2020, we must also recognise our modern-day heroes and salute the country’s front-line workers for the critical role they play as we unite to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Today, on behalf of a grateful nation, I say thank you,” he said.

Holness also encouraged citizens to stay optimistic during the global pandemic.

“While the onset of COVID-19 has temporarily

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (right); Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange (centre) and State Minister Alando Terrelonge paid tribute to the nation’s heroes by laying wreaths at the National Heroes’ Park

set back our progress, your Government is optimistic about our recovery. We are resilient, strong, and together we will build forward stronger,” he said.

“As we celebrate National

Heroes’ Day 2020 under the theme, “Celebrating a Heritage of Resilience and Pride”, I remind all Jamaicans to display the resilient spirit we are known for by continu-

ing to observe COVID-19 protocols – wear your mask, wash your hands, sanitise, social distance,” he added.

The Prime Minister and several Cabinet members on Monday morning honoured the island’s seven national heroes with a wreath-laying ceremony at National Heroes’ Park.

He urged the nation to not let the contribution of the heroes be forgotten.

“We must teach our young people the history of our nation so that they can take pride in the resilience of our ancestors and be inspired to emulate their greatness,” he said.

National Heroes’ Day is observed on the third Monday of October each year. (Jamaica Observer)

Grenada marks 37th anniversary of Bishop’s death

G

renada marked the 37th anniversary of the shooting death of its first-ever left-wing Prime Minister Maurice Bishop with a call for closure for the families of those who were killed at Fort George on that day.

The shooting of Bishop, who led the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) and some Cabinet Ministers and supporters triggered off an American-led invasion of the island six days later.

Bishop had himself seized power in 1979, when his New Jewel Movement (NJM) overthrew then Prime Minister, Sir Eric Gairy, in the first coup in the English-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping.

Four years later, Bishop was put under house arrest by his Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard.

The executive member of the Maurice Bishop and October 19th 1983 Martyrs Foundation, Dr Terrence

Marryshow, laments the fact that 37 years later, there was still no closure for the families of those killed.

“There is still no closure, and particularly for the families and victims of October 19, 1983. There has been closure for the perpetrators, they have been freed, they are living their best lives,” said Marryshow.

“A lot of innocent Grenadians were gun down, some lost a limb, lost an eye and they continue to suffer.

Up to this day, we are still no closer in term of getting what will lead to the recovery of the remains of Maurice Bishop and his Cabinet colleagues who died on October 19, 1983.

Bishop, along with some of his Cabinet Ministers, including Norris Bain, the father of Culture and Sports current Minister Yolande Bain-Horsford, and an unknown number of people died during what was termed a palace coup staged by Coard.

(Excerpted from Nation News)

nationals access to food aid

A

United States federal court has granted a motion for summary judgment, permanently blocking the Donald Trump Administration’s attempts to deny food assistance to hundreds of thousands of Americans, including Caribbean nationals, by changing the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP).

“At a time of national crisis, this decision is a win for common sense and basic human decency,” New York Attorney General Letitia James told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Monday.

In her ruling on Sunday, Chief US District Judge Beryl Howell said that despite the devastating ef-

fects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), “which has rocked the economy, killed nearly 220,000 Americans, quadrupled the national unemployment rate and dramatically increased the number of Americans forced to reckon with hunger this year”, the Trump Administration continued to pursue this rule that would “‘dramatically alter the long-standing operations of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme.”

Justice Howell said that the rule “at issue in this litigation radically and abruptly alters decades of regulatory practice, leaving States scrambling and exponentially increasing food insecurity for tens of thousands of Americans”. (Excerpt from CMC)

Haitian Opposition parties renew calls for President Moise to step down

O

pposition politicians Monday said they have no intention of collaborating with President Jovenel Moïse, and staged protest demonstrations in the country’s capital over the weekend calling for him to step down.

The demonstrations coincided with the 214th anniversary of the October 17, 1806 assassination of JeanJacques Dessalines, which President Moïse used to reiterate earlier calls for unity and the need for all parties to come together to ensure a brighter socio-economic fu-

ture for the country.

“I laid down a wreath at the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH), to honour the memory of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the founding father of our homeland. An act that renews our faith in the legacy he bequeathed to us.

“Haiti needs tolerance, peace and stability. In this circumstance, let us join forces, let us forget our quarrels,” Moise added, urging closer collaboration “in order to guarantee a better country for future generations”.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Peruvian archaeologists unveil giant cat carved into Nazca hillside

P

The feline is about 37m long

eruvian archaeologists have uncovered a 37-metre-long (120-foot-long) cat etching in a little-explored area of the country’s celebrated Nazca Lines UNESCO heritage site which is home to hundreds of gigantic geoglyphs dating back more than 2000 years.

The figure, made up of a long body, striped tail and head with distinctive pointed ears, predates some of

the area’s better known-figures that include a hummingbird, spider, and a human, the country’s Culture Ministry said.

It is one of a number discovered in recent years by drone exploration of the protected 400-square-kilometre (250-square-mile) region that lies some 450km south of the capital Lima between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil dips after OPEC+ meeting as Libyan supply boost weighs

O

il edged lower on Monday, weighed by concerns over surging coronavirus cases globally and by Libya’s plan to boost output, but hopes for a US fiscal package lent some support.

Analysts also focused on an OPEC+ ministerial monitoring committee meeting on Monday. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the committee recommended sticking in full to the group’s global deal to reduce oil production.

Brent crude futures fell 31 cents to settle at US$42.62 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 5 cents to settle at US$40.83 a barrel.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said no one should doubt the group’s commitment to providing support, while three sources from producing countries said a planned output increase from January could be reversed if necessary.

OPEC+, a grouping of OPEC and allies including Russia, is curbing oil production by 7.7 million barrels per day (bpd), down from cuts totalling 9.7 million bpd, and are due to reduce the cuts by a further 2 million bpd in January.

“There were no grand surprises out of the OPEC+ meeting,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. “They said all the right things, but there were no big surprises so the market was fairly steady.”

Weighing on prices, Libya has significantly boosted its output after the easing of a blockade by eastern forces in September. The 70,000-bpd Abu Attifel oilfield was expected to begin its restart on Oct 24 after being shut down for months, two engineers said.

Meanwhile, worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 40 million on Monday, according to a Reuters tally. Many European Governments are tightening lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus, renewing concerns about oil demand.

“This latest swathe of stringent restrictions will inevitably impede economic growth and undermine the fuel demand recovery,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. Hopes for a new US stimulus package lent some support to prices. The White House is “cautiously optimistic” that Democratic House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be moving toward making a deal on a new coronavirus stimulus bill, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

Bank of America projected Brent and WTI would average US$44 and US$40 per barrel in 2020, respectively, and US$50 and US$47 per barrel in 2021.

Meanwhile, China’s oil-buying frenzy earlier this year is expected to slow in the fourth quarter. Chinese refiners slowed their processing rates in September. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coronavirus: Belgium facing “tsunami” of new infections

B

elgium could soon be overwhelmed by new coronavirus infections, the Health Minister has warned, amid soaring case numbers across the country.

Frank Vandenbroucke said new cases were close to a "tsunami" where authorities "no longer control what is happening".

New measures to try to halt the spread came into force on Monday. All bars and restaurants are closed for four weeks.

Infection numbers are climbing throughout Europe, prompting new restrictions across the continent.

Frank Vandenbroucke warned the country could be overwhelmed

Italy announced a raft of measures on Sunday after recording its highest daily infection rate, while nine ma-

jor French cities have been placed under curfew.

The Czech Republic which has the highest infection rate on the continent is considering a full national lockdown.

Belgium was one of the worst-hit countries during Europe's first wave of coronavirus earlier this year.

Overall it has the third-highest number of COVID-related deaths per 100,000 people globally, behind only Peru and San Marino, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

A curfew is in place from midnight until 05:00 for the

next month and alcohol sales are banned from 20:00.

Vandenbroucke described the situation in the capital Brussels and in the south of the country as "the most dangerous in all of Europe".

According to the Belgian health institute Sciensano, Belgium has recorded an average of 7876 new daily infections over the last seven days, a 79 per cent rise on the previous week.

Officials warn that if cases continue to rise at the same rate, Belgium will fill its capacity of 2000 intensive care beds by mid-November.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump: US to remove Sudan from State terrorism sponsors list after payment to victims

P

resident Donald Trump announced on Monday the United States would remove Sudan from its list of State sponsors of terrorism as soon as Khartoum sets aside US$335 million for payments for American victims and their families.

The deal could also set in motion steps by Sudan toward establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, a US official told Reuters, following similar US-

brokered moves in recent weeks by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The details and timing were still being worked out, the source said.

Though Trump made no mention of Israel in his tweet announcing the breakthrough with Sudan, rapprochement between Israel and another Arab country would give Trump a new diplomatic achievement as he seeks re-election on Nov 3.

Sudan’s designation as a State sponsor of terrorism dates to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir and makes it difficult for its transitional Government to access urgently needed debt relief and foreign financing.

Many in Sudan say the designation, imposed in 1993 because Washington believed Bashir’s Government was supporting militant groups, has become outdated since Bashir was removed last year and

Sudan has long cooperated on counter-terrorism.

US-Sudanese negotiations have focused on funds that Washington wants Khartoum to deposit in escrow for victims of al-Qaeda attacks on US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, US Government sources said.

A Sudanese Government source said Khartoum was ready to pay compensation to US embassy bombing victims. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Netherlands to compensate children of executed Indonesians

T

he Government of the Netherlands has said it will offer compensation to the children of Indonesians who were executed by Dutch soldiers during the Indonesian War of Independence between 1945 and 1950.

The announcement on Monday follows a court ruling earlier this year that ordered the State to compensate widows and children of 11 men killed between 1946 and 1947 in Indonesia’s southern Sulawesi island, then called Celebes.

Dutch judges previously also slapped down arguments by the State claiming the violence committed during Indonesia’s independence struggle from its former colonial master were bound by a statute of limita-

At least 860 men were killed by firing squads, mostly between December 1946 and April 1947 in Sulawesi, then called Celebes

tions.

In a joint letter to Parliament, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok and Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld said they will not appeal the March court ruling.

“Children who can prove that their father was a vic-

tim of summary execution as described … are eligible for compensation,” the two Ministers said, adding that the compensation amounted to 5000 euros (US$5890).

However, those claiming compensation needed to conform to a set of criteria including proof that the par-

ent had indeed been killed in a documented execution and proof of paternity through identity papers.

Dutch courts are hearing several other cases of relatives asking for compensation for atrocities committed by Dutch colonial troops during so-called cleansing actions to root out Indonesian freedom fighters.

At least 860 men were killed by firing squads, mostly between December 1946 and April 1947 in Sulawesi.

The Dutch Government apologised in 2013 for the killings carried out by its colonial army and announced compensation to the widows of those who died, but had consistently refused to pay damages to their children.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Iraqi woman arrested after drowning children in the Tigris River French Police conduct raids in

A

n Iraqi woman was arrested after throwing her two children off a bridge into the Tigris River to punish her husband.

The woman’s threeyear-old son and twoyear-old daughter were presumed drowned as their bodies have yet to be found, news reports said on Monday.

Security camera footage of the incident on Saturday was widely shared on social media and caused outrage among Iraqis.

Family members say the

mother killed her children in an act of revenge after the father divorced her in late September.

Abu Tahsin Deraji, the children’s paternal grandparent, was quoted as saying the woman planned killings after the couple separated several months ago.

The incident occurred on Al-Aimmah Bridge north of the capital, Baghdad.

Video of the father crying uncontrollably at the scene was also circulating on social media. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

crackdown after teacher beheading

F

rench Police on Monday raided Islamic associations and foreigners suspected of extremist religious beliefs, Police sources said, three days after a suspected Islamist beheaded a school teacher.

History teacher Samuel Paty, 47, was murdered on Friday in broad daylight outside his school in a middle-class Paris suburb by an 18-year-old of Chechen origin. Police shot the attacker dead.

The teenage assassin sought to avenge his victim’s use of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression to 13-year-olds. Muslims believe that any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous.

A police source on Sunday said France was preparing to deport 213 foreigners who were on a Government watchlist and suspected of holding extreme religious beliefs, among whom about 150 are serving jail sentences.

The deportations were already being worked on before Friday’s attack, a security source said.

Police detained 10 people in connection with the attack in the 24 hours that followed Paty’s killing. Among them, prosecutors said, were the father of a pupil at Paty’s school and another person on the radar of intelligence services, who they said had used social media to campaign against the teacher.

A judicial source told

Reuters the man known to the intelligence agencies was Moroccan-born Abdelhakim Sefriuoi. Sefriuoi has for years used social media to fight against what he calls “Islamaphobia” and to put pressure on the government over its treatment of Muslims.

Sefriuoi has been on the French intelligence services watchlist for more than 15 years, security sources told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Concentrate on what will help you get ahead. Discuss what you want to happen with someone who can help you reach your objective.

Don’t let a sensitive issue hold you back.

Don’t be fooled by hidden TAURUS costs.

Make sure you are up (April 20to taking on a new or unexMay 20) pected challenge. Do thorough research about it before you begin, and proceed with intelligence.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Proceed with caution.

Listen carefully, verify information before passing it along and ignore innuendo.

Avoid conflict, lies and joint ventures.

Take the road less traveled. It’s OK to be different; in fact, it will help you avoid getting into a dispute with someone focused on something that doesn’t interest you.

Put some muscle behind whatever you decide to pursue. The less interaction you have with others, the easier it will be to get things done.

Don’t present what you are working toward until you are satisfied with it.

Keep your emotions hidden. The less others know about you or what you are doing, the better. Bring about the changes you want to make, and stop worrying about what others think or do. Be your own master.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Problems at home will mount if you don’t take care of your responsibilities or behave indulgently. Make a point to concentrate on getting things done on time.

SCORPIO

A change someone makes will play into your plans.

Look for a diverse way to use your skills, and find out what those around you have to offer. Learn as you go, and opportunity will follow.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Confusion will set in if you SAGITTARIUS are gullible or let your heart rule your head. Abide by (Nov. 23rules and regulations when Dec. 21) in public. A thrilling experience may entice you, but consider the consequences.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

An unusual opportunity will lead to changes regarding how you work and live. Look at the pros and cons before you decide to alter your lifestyle. A relationship will influence the decisions you make.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Be a leader, not a follower.

If you appear to be uncertain about what you want to do, someone will step in and take charge. Go about your business and finish what you start.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Refuse to let your emotions take control. It’s essential to be realistic. Offering empty promises will not go over well when you cannot deliver.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

21

Seales shocked, happy at call-up for WI duty in NZ J

ayden Seales was shocked after receiving the call that informed him he has been selected as a reserve for the upcoming West Indies two-match Test series against New Zealand, which bowls off on December 3 in New Zealand.

Seales, 19, is yet to play a First-Class match, but had had an impressive showing at the ICC Under-19 2020 50-over World Cup early this year. Many have since been speaking about his fast-bowling ability.

Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, who was a commentator during the Under-19 World Cup tournament, said Seales should be included in the senior setup.

A Trinidadian, Seales is among six reserves who, at the end of October, would be travelling to New Zealand with a 15-man Test squad captained by Jason Holder.

The others are Trinidadian Joshua Da Silva, Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner, Grenadian Preston Mc Sween and the Barbadian

pair of Shayne Moseley and Raymon Reifer.

Seales will get the opportunity to train alongside the experienced fast-bowling pair of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel on tour. The other fast bowlers making the trip are Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph and Mc Sween (reserve).

In an interview with Newsday on Saturday, Seales said, “I was really shocked when I heard the news.

During CPL (Caribbean Premier League) there were talks that I was performing in CPL (and) I had a good World Cup, so (there were) possibilities that I might g o … it was t h e l a s t thing

(on) my mind.

I was just playing my cricket, and then, after CPL, I got the phone call. I was very happy, but shocked.”

Seales grabbed eight wickets in six matches for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2020 Hero CPL,

played held in Trinidad from August 18 to September 10.

Seales was not expecting the call-up because he has not yet played any First-Class cricket.

“It so happened that they chose to carry me as a reserve, and as they say: I am going as a developmental player, just to learn more, understand my game a little more…very happy for the opportunity.”

Seales is eager to return with a “wealth of experience.” The teenager is willing to learn from seasoned campaigners Gabriel and Roach, who have 345 Test wickets between them.

“For me, it is just to listen to how they speak about certain things, and watch how they carry about themselves, whether it be in training, recovery (or) during a game. Just to see

how they operate, and their way of thinking; and just learn from it as much as possible,” Seales has said.

Seales also has goals for the upcoming 2021 West Indies Four-Day Championship, wherein he is expected to feature. He is aiming to end the campaign with 30 wickets if the tournament is played in its entirety. Each of the six teams normally plays ten matches, but the tournament is still uncertain because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seales is part of a crop of young, exciting fast-bowling talent in the region currently, with the likes of Joseph and Chemar also showing promise.

“I think the quality of fast bowling drastically improved, not only because of the pace that we acquire, but the control that we have and (because) we can swing the ball in any conditions, and the aggression (that we show). I think the fast bowling in the Caribbean is definitely on the rise, and that is something definitely exciting for myself, and I know (it is) for the fans as well,” he said. (Adapted from TT Newsday)

Wasps’ Premiership final appearance in doubt Liverpool will “make the best” of Van – 3 more test positive for COVID-19

W

asps' participation in Saturday's Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham is in doubt, after three more players tested positive for COVID-19.

Four players and three staff members have tested positive last week, meaning: the club now has seven players self-isolating, who would not be available to play.

A decision on whether or not Wasps can play will be made on Wednesday, after another round of testing on Tuesday.

Bristol Bears will replace Wasps should they be unable to fulfil the fixture. The Bears finished third in the league, losing to Wasps in the semi-finals earlier this month.

In addition to the three

extra players who have returned positive results, a further member of staff has also tested positive.

"After consultation with the medical leads at Premiership Rugby, the RFU and Public Health England, the club will continue not to train at this stage," a Wasps statement said. "The club's COVID-19 contact tracing measures and protocols, which remain rigorous, will continue to be adhered to.

"Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears have been made aware of the situation prior to the public release of this information."

Wasps, who finished second in the Premiership table, behind Exeter, lost to Rob Baxter's side in their last appearance in the fi-

nal in 2017. The Coventrybased club should have had an extra week's preparation for the match, as the Chiefs were playing in the Champions Cup final on Saturday, but Lee Blackett's men have not trained since the seven positive tests were announced last Wednesday.

Should Bristol replace Wasps, it will be the first time they have made it to play in the end-of-season finals, and would see the holders of Europe's two cup competitions play for the domestic title.

Exeter beat Racing 92 on Saturday for their first-ever Champions Cup crown, while Bristol overcame Toulon to win the Challenge Cup final in Provence the previous day. (BBC Sport)

Dijk's lengthy absence, says Klopp

J

urgen Klopp has refused to put a timescale on Virgil van Dijk's return from knee surgery, but expects the Premier League champions to "make the best" of his absence.

The Reds confirmed on Sunday that Netherlands international Van Dijk had damaged ligaments in his knee, and is likely to miss most of the rest of the campaign.

Van Dijk was subjected to a wild challenge from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in Saturday's 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton, and limped off after 11 minutes.

The 29-year-old has since vowed to come back "better, fitter and stronger" after surgery, but while confirming he will be out for a "pretty long time", Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would not be drawn on an exact date for his return to action.

"He will now be out for a while; that's clear," he told Liverpool's official website.

"We don't want to set any timeframe, to be honest, because each player is different, and these possible timeframes are always for the x, y, z player. Virgil is Virgil, and we don't want to set any

timeframe, but he will be out for a pretty long time, and that's what the situation is.

“I expected it pretty much after the game, especially when I saw the challenge back. I saw it the first time only from the bench, and when I saw it back, I was pretty clear that he will be out for a long time.

"So, we feel now, in this moment extremely extremely (sad time) for him, because most of us were in a similar situation and we know that these situations are absolutely rubbish.

"You don't need it, but you have to get over it; and Virgil will get over it 100 per cent, and today is already the first day, if you want, of the recovery.

"We already go in the right direction. So, see what you get and then make the

best of it; and that's what we do now."

Klopp says he understands what Van Dijk is going through, after suffering a similar injury during his own playing career; and insists the club will do everything it can to support him.

"It's always the same; players love to be on their own to deal with it, to begin with," he added. "I have been in the business long enough to know that. I was injured myself; I had exactly the same injury, and you're not pretty chatty.

"We are in contact, of course. We are there for him. He knows that, and we will wait for him like a good wife is waiting when the husband is in jail, and will do all we can to make it as easy as possible for him."

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

Buttler’s 70* off 48 and spinners help RR climb up table R

ajasthan Royals (RR) returned to their winning ways after they beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by seven wickets in Match 37 of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, played in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Needing 126 runs to win, RR made a brisk start, with Ben Stokes going for his shots. CSK, however, fought back and picked up three wickets in the powerplay. Stokes was first out, after he dragged a Deepak Chahar delivery onto the stumps. Robin Uthappa was next, as Josh Hazlewood picked up his first wicket of the match.

In the fifth over, MS Dhoni dived to his left and took a one-handed stunner to dismiss Sanju Samson.

Steve Smith then survived an LBW call, as the on-field decision was not overturned after the ultra-edge indicated that there was a faint edge.

CSK, though, did not allow Smith any easy

then went after Shardul Jos Buttler, stationed Thakur in the 12th over, at short cover, took a hitting the CSK bowler for fine leaping catch to a four and a six to complete get Faf du Plessis out the fifty-run stand with for 10.

Although Smith.

In the 15th over, Buttler S h a n e targeted Piyush Chawla W a t s o n to take RR past a hundred and Sam and bring C u r r a n Steve Smith played up his hit three a supporting role 11th IPL fours off fifty. The K a r t i k right-hander creamed three T y a g i the fours as RR scored 16 in the in fourth over. the B u t t l e r over, creamed one young speedmore six, in ster had the fithe 17th over, nal laugh, as before RR closed he dismissed former out the game in the the 18th over to seal a sev- A u s t r a l i a n en-wicket win. Buttler re- a l l - r o u n d e r in the same mained unbeaten on 70 off 48 balls, Jos Buttler scored and Smith scored 26 70 off 48 balls as the pair put up an unbroken 98-run over. partnership.

C S K Earlier, CSK lost two wickets in the powerplay moved past after electing to bat. Jofra fifty at the Archer made the ball talk end of the as he struck in the third 8th over, over of the match, in which but lost two wickets in quick succession soon after RR introduced spin in the attack. W h i l e victorious.

Shreyas Gopal had Curran Angel Rahim took the second position with five caught at long-off, Ambati points, while Mahalia Rayudu, after surviving Rajkumar was third. an LBW call, mistimed his Couchman had two draws sweep and gave an easy and four wins, but had to catch to wicketkeeper Sanju settle for fourth, while Samson.

Alphonso capped off the MS Dhoni and Ravindra top five with 4 points.

Jadeja then kept the scoreAnasie Fredericks, Italy board ticking, as CSK Ton Chung, Kristin Xavier runs.

Jos Buttler, who kept things moving for RR, crossed the fifty-run mark in the n i n t h over,

Shariff wins U-20 girls’ online chess competition

S

eventeen-yearold Sasha Shariff, reigning Women’s Champion of the University of Guyana (UoG), copped 5.5 out of a possible 7 points to win the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Under 20 girls online chess event over the past weekend.

Despite an upset loss to Marian Academy’s Adia Alphonso, and being held to a draw in a scintillating encounter with Aniyah Couchman of Queen’s College, Shariff did enough in her remaining five games to emerge

and Harmony Dodson were the other players who finished in the top nine.

Waveney Johnson, Nalisha Johnson and Jessica Calender were some of the big names missing from last week-

Sasha Shariff

end’s event.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has been working to engage players of all ages in a series of online competitions.

Jason Kokrak edges Xander Schauffele to win 1st PGA Tour title

J

ason Kokrak beat Xander Schauffele to win his first PGA Tour title at the CJ Cup in Las Vegas, with England's Tyrrell Hatton tied for third.

Kokrak hit eight birdies in a bogey-free final round of 64 to finish two shots clear of fellow American Schauffele at Shadow Creek.

Hatton carded a seven-under 65 to finish one shot further back, alongside overnight leader Russell Henley.

World number four Rory McIlroy hit a two-over 74 to finish tied for 21st. The

Northern Irishman began the day in contention after a fine third-round 66 lifted him into the top 10, but six dropped shots on the final five holes saw him drop down the leaderboard.

England's Ian Poulter hit a four-under 68 to finish in a group of five tied for 12th on eight-under, including compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick and American Justin Thomas. (BBC Sport)

W.B.D , Versailles, Gated Community - Lot 14-10214 SQ FT. Ph. # 2642948/615-2270.

SPIRITUALITY Having Problems with Marriage/Love Relationships, Health, Job, Money, Removal of Obstacles of any kind.

Meet me once and change your life.

Address : Georgetown and Grove Call 688-2135 Are you suffering from Health, Money, Job, Marriage Relationships problems, Removal of Blockage/Evil Spirits, Clear Negative Energy, Permanent Protection. Address : Vlissengen Road, Kitty. Call: 696-1857 for appointment.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Tacoma – 1999 Model. $1,000,000. Tel: 626-5290.

WANTED Office Assistant, 5 Subjects CXC, 2 years minimum experience.

Lot 8 Sheriff Street, Subryanville. mimadecor12@gmail.com 2270176/86

moved to 89/4 at the end of the 15th over.

Two overs later, CSK moved past a hundred, before the Dhoni-Jadeja pair completed a fifty-run stand.

Dhoni was run-out soon after, but CSK eventually posted 125/5, with Jadeja scoring an unbeaten 35. (IPL T20)

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) SM Curran c Buttler b Gopal 22 F du Plessis c Buttler b Archer 10 SR Watson c Tewatia b Kartik Tyagi 8 AT Rayudu c †Samson b Tewatia 13 MS Dhoni (c) † run out (Archer/†Samson) 28 RA Jadeja not out 35 KM Jadhav not out 4 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 1) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.25) 125/5

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (TARGET: 126 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) BA Stokes b Chahar 19 RV Uthappa c †Dhoni b Hazlewood 4 SV Samson † c †Dhoni b Chahar 0 SPD Smith (c) not out 26 JC Buttler not out 70 Extras (lb 6, w 1) 7 TOTAL (17.3 Ov, RR: 7.2) 126/3

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Ben Stokes, 2.6 ov), 2-28 (Robin Uthappa, 3.2 ov), 3-28 (Sanju Samson, 4.3 ov)

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Faf du Plessis, 2.6 ov), 2-26 (Shane Watson, 3.6 ov), 3-53 (Sam Curran, 8.2 ov), 4-56 (Ambati Rayudu, 9.6 ov), 5-107 (MS Dhoni, 17.4 ov)

4-1-18-2 4-0-19-1 1.3-0-11-0 4-0-34-0 1-0-6-0 3-0-32-0

4-0-20-1 1-0-8-0 4-0-35-1 3-0-27-0 4-0-14-1 4-0-18-1

ACCOMMODATION Aracari Hotel, W.B.D. Accommodation Rates from USD$25 - Amenities: Pool, Bar, Restaurant, Gym, Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 Nights and Get 1 Free. Tel: 264-2946.

LAND FOR SALE

SCOREBOARD

BOWLING JC Archer AS Rajpoot Kartik Tyagi BA Stokes S Gopal R Tewatia

CLASSIFIED ADS

BOWLING DL Chahar JR Hazlewood RA Jadeja SN Thakur SM Curran PP Chawla

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

MCYS aiming to build talent from community level – Minister Ramson Jr

By Jemima Holmes

W

hile the coronavirus pandemic continues to shine a bad light on sport participation locally, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) is beginning an initiative that would foster participation in sports at a community level.

On the heels of an outreach in the Agricola community on the outskirts of Georgetown over the weekend, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, speaking exclusively with Guyana Times Sport, shared that the distribution of sporting gear in that community is part of a much larger initiative that is being rolled out by the MCYS. Describing the project, Ramson said, “The programme is for kids to get back (to) playing sports in their communities. That is the initial phase of what

Minister Charles Ramson Jr poses with residents of Agricola after distributing sporting gear on Saturday last

Narine’s century propels Majestics CC to comfortable win over NY Centurions

I

n yet another one-sided affair, Guyanese batsman Derick Narine stole the show in the National League as Majestic CC defeated New York Centurion by 90 runs.

The show was highlighted by Narine’s magnificent 104 off 53 balls, his second century in three T20 games.

Batting first, Majestic CC’s opening pair of Derick Narine and Chris Pattadin led the charge, both batsmen going on a rampage as they smashed the ball to every part of the ground. Narine was the main aggressor, as he continued the ‘six-fest’ from his previous two games, while Pattadin played the anchor role.

The two played confidently as they combined class and aggression to lead their team

to a formidable total. Narine blasted 11 maximums and 4 boundaries, while Pattadin chipped in with a 44-ball 61 that included 5 boundaries and 2 maximums.

When the wickets of these batsmen fell, the other players couldn’t do much, as the Centurions tightened

their bowling and forced the Majestics to fold on 194/3 in their allotted 20 overs.

The Centurions gave themselves a fighting chance at winning the match, but that all changed in a matter of minutes, as the Majestics slowly strangled the life out of their opponents.

The Centurions soon found themselves at 59-3, having lost both openers cheaply; but Michael Sultan played his natural game and scored 42 off 27 balls, with 3 boundaries and 4 maximums. When his wicket fell, no other batsman could make a meaningful difference, as their wickets tumbled.

In the end, the Centurions were bowled out for 104 in 18.4 overs, having choked and giving up on a game when they could have at least mounted a serious challenge against their opponents.

Outstanding bowlers were Nicholas Ramrattan with 2-9, Chris Patadin with 2-13, Pranay Das with 2-22, Karamchand Ramnarine with 2-9 and Avin Gangadin with 2-5.

CWI to closely monitor progress of Bravo's recovery from injury

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) would be closely monitoring the health of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he works for a speedy recovery from a groin injury, sustained while playing for Chennai Super Kings against the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

The injury is not only a concern for CSK, but for CWI, whose selectors picked the 36-year-old Trinidadian in their T20 squad to travel to New Zealand next month.

As such, the regional board is keen to be in the know about his rehabilitation.

“We are in contact with him and the CSK medical team, so we are being kept updated with his treatment and recovery,” CWI CEO Johnny Grave told

Sportsmax.TV on Sunday.

CSK, meanwhile, have said they do not have a timeline for the recovery of the veteran player.

"He seems to have a

right groin injury, I think, and it was obviously serious enough to keep him off the field," CSK head coach Stephen Fleming explained at the post-match press conference on Saturday. "He will have to be reassessed going forward, but at this stage, you'd imagine it's going to take a few days or a couple of weeks.”

Bravo had arrived for IPL duty in the UAE with an entirely different injury, a knee problem sustained during this season’s CPL. He missed the Super Kings' first three games, as the team had decided to take extra caution. (Sportsmax)

we’re going to be doing coming out of COVID for the next year. So, the tournaments are going to be a big part of what the Ministry does in association with the sports associations, because we want to get people - and kids in particular - back into playing sports.

“Having the tournaments is so that they can have the opportunity to develop their talents,” Ramson explained.

Since being appointed subject Minister for Sport, Ramson Jr had divulged to this publication his inten-

tion to transform Guyanese talent by targeting an international standard for sportsmen and women. This initiative, he explained, would begin to nurture talent at the community level in anticipation of much larger tournaments that the Ministry or various sports associations would host.

“You may have heard me explain what would be the strategy to move talent from where we are at the moment to becoming world class. It’s a comprehensive plan that we have to roll out, but the distribution of gears is more like at the community level: so that they can have more activities (wherein) they can get more exposure and start to love different kinds of games.

“And at the same time, they have community involvement and they’re building that community strength,” the Minister detailed.

Also concerned about the Youth arm of his portfolio, the Minister said he hopes that involvement in sport would curb delinquent behaviours among youths.

“I also want to make sure we avoid the anti-social behaviour that goes along with being idle. A lot of the times, old people would say that the devil finds work for idle hands. So, we’re trying to keep them busy too,” Ramson Jr. commented.

It is expected that a similar initiative would be rolled out in other communities.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 22

Buttler’s 70* off 48 and spinners help RR ascend table See story on page 23

CWI to closely monitor progress of Bravo’s recovery from injury

MCYS aiming to build talent from community level – Minister Ramson Jr

Page 23

Narine’s century propels Majestics CC to comfortable win over NY Centurions

Page 23

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.