Guyana Times -- Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Caribbean Airlines P16 announces non-stop service between Texas & Guyana

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

Issue No. 4935

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Caricom remains committed to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty – SG See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ukrainian military says dozens of civilians P17 killed in Kharkiv

5 busted P10 with ganja at Annai Police Checkpoint

...President Ali to push sustainable agriculture agenda at Heads of Govt conference in Belize President Dr Irfaan Ali upon his arrival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize for the Thirty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The Guyanese Head of State is accompanied by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd among other officials

Page 5

Amaila Falls Project represents clean, renewable electricity with significant financial savings for Guyana – Finance Minister ...condemns misinformation campaign

ExxonMobil insists Contracts signed, it has insurance works started coverage meeting without Tender Board int’l standards approval – PAC hears

Man arrested for assault, discharging P10 firearm Technician electrocuted while fixing Internet P11 connection

Under APNU/AFC Coalition Govt

Page 7

Page 9 ...says it would pay all legitimate costs in event of oil spill

Deadly Mahaica accident

DPP recommends death by dangerous driving charges for cop Page 8

Only 10% of P11 population took booster shot – Health Minister …18 new cases in 24h

Labour Minister’s driver killed in Agricola accident

P12

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, Mar 1 – 02:30h – 04:00h and Wednesday, Mar 2 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, Mar 1 – 15:35h – 17:50h and Wednesday, Mar 2 – 16:20h – 17:50h.

Caricom remains committed to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty – SG ...President Ali to push sustainable agriculture agenda at Heads of Govt conference in Belize

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.65 metres.

Low Tide: 09:37h and 22:03h reaching minimum heights of 0.7 metre and 0.54 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

01 04 19

FREE TICKET

22 24 25

28 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

03 04 07 11 21 LUCKY 3

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4

3

3

Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 02 03 04 09 12 15 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022

01 05 06 11 14 13

06 07 12 17 21

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4 Afternoon Draw

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6 Evening Draw

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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

$100.99/barrel

+3.12

Rough Rice

$282.38/ton

+1.77

London Sugar

$495.60/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1905.90

$1906.90

Low/High Change

$1890.40 -2.80

$1819.70 -0.15%

T

Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) remains committed to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the issue will certainly be on the agenda during the 33rd InterSessional Meeting in Belize, which starts today.

This was revealed during a press conference hosted on Monday by Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, ahead of the two-day 33rd Inter-Sessional Heads of Government Meeting.

Barnett noted that Caricom has been keeping a close eye on Guyana’s border controversy with Venezuela.

This, she noted, has nothing to do with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, since it is usually included as an agenda item regardless.

“There are two border issues that are on the agenda for every Head meeting and one is the Guyana-Venezuela and the other is of course, is the Belize-Guatemala, those are issues that the Heads follow very closely, those are the issues which make the region stand strong on the matter of self-determination and territorial integrity and that will not change and that has nothing to do with the position on Ukraine in terms of any discussion of those issues,” Dr Barnett said.

During the press conference, Barnett also spoke about agriculture and explained that Guyana, represented by President Dr Irfaan Ali, will be expected to provide crucial updates in the area of food security. She underscored the importance of the assurances given by President Ali when it comes to investing in sustainable agriculture.

“In terms of increasing food production, we’re talking about planting. We’re talking about planting more food in an environmentally sustainable way. The Government of Guyana, in particular his Excellency President Ali, is leading the charge there.”

“There are some interesting and important undertakings that he has made in terms of investing in things like protected agriculture, targeting the particular food items we import on a regular basis. And making investments in producing those. So those are the things that we’re going to be

expecting him to be reporting on,” the Secretary General explained.

According to information from the Caricom Secretariat, the Opening Session of the Inter-Sessional meeting will feature remarks by the Caricom Secretary General, as well as the outgoing Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; and Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister Johnny Briceño of Belize.

President Ali has, in fact, already left for Belize for the inter-sessional meeting, which is being held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. During the two-day meeting, he will join other Heads of Government from across the Region in deliberating on several matters.

The topics will include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Region; advancing the Caricom Single Market and Economy to help build a more resilient Community; and advancing the Caricom Agri-Food Systems Agency, with emphasis on regional

President Dr Irfaan Ali

food and nutrition security.

It is also expected that the leaders will engage the regional private sector, labour and civil society; and discuss climate change action following last year’s COP26 and the security situation in the Region.

Last year, President Ali had declared that his Government would be pursuing an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade and that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.

It was only last year that harvesting started at a 115acre soyabean and five-acre corn pilot project in Ebini, Upper Berbice River – a joint venture between various local and foreign investors – aimed at proving all raw materials for the production of livestock and poultry feed for the local sector.

The ranch is being developed by a consortium of in-

vestors that include the owners of Guyana Stock Feed Ltd, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd, along with the Brazilian-owned NF Agriculture.

Back in April 2021, Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Limited, David Fernandes had explained the group’s vision for the project. During his presentation, Fernandes said that Guyana has long been touted as having the potential of being the breadbasket of the Caribbean and that in recent years there has been a greater appreciation of the high dependence on imports for livestock feeds.

Guyana also chairs the Caricom Special Ministerial Taskforce on Food Production and Food Security, through Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. He has said that the Government plans for Guyana to be a net exporter of soyabeans in the next five years.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Wholesome individuals

A

s the world shrinks with globalisation, and borders to free trade and movement of skills proliferate exponentially, in order to maintain an edge, or even be viably relevant within the workforce equation, we are forced to pursue the route of perpetual knowledge acquisition. Not to be misconstrued, knowledge acquisition is integral towards our economic and social advancement as a people, and it is the only vehicle through which the abyss of poverty can be surmounted.

However, we have reached a point in our secular learning where the emphasis is placed solely on knowledge acquisition to gain a competitive edge at the expense of everything else. This one-sided affair is one of the reasons why there is so much turmoil in the world presently. In the final analysis, we emerge as educated, qualified people who are severely lacking in the moral quotient necessary for us to be wholesome individuals.

With little or no moral, social or spiritual upbringing, in some cases centred on the promulgation of human values, some of our children have become ruthless and shrewd adults whose only motivation is the advancement of self. They also go through life disadvantaged because they do not have the necessary support group mechanisms to guide and lift them when they fall. That is why we are seeing so many reported cases of suicide, so many reported cases of alcohol use in school, so many reported cases of drug abuse, bullying, and intolerance towards others.

Researchers from the University of Michigan analysed data from an annual survey of high school seniors from 135 schools in 48 states in a study called Monitoring the Future (Wallace and Forman, 1998).

Their research findings show that “religious involvement has a large impact on the lifestyles of these students, especially in late adolescence: Students who say that religion is important in their lives, and attend religious services frequently, have lower rates of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and marijuana use; higher rates of seat belt use; eating fruits, vegetables, and breakfast; and lower rates of carrying weapons, getting into fights, and driving while drinking. This is one of the few studies that have examined religiousness, spirituality, and health-related practices in adolescence”.

The contention is not that we must drag our children to the church, the mandir or mosque, or any other religious centre for them to be instilled with virtuous knowledge. The point is that our education system has to start implementing in its curriculum religious teachings (from all faiths) that promote not just secular education, but “educare”. Teachings that instil in the mouldable minds of our young ones human values such as love, truth, non-violence, peace, and right conduct.

There is an adage that says that “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks”, and it rings true in that we cannot wait until children become adults to impart in them human values or ethics, the probability of failure is imminent in such cases. However, if we start instilling human values in them at a tender age, children would grow up to be educated and balanced individuals exuding character.

This translates to more righteous people in the workforce, who are not just looking out for themselves but for the betterment of others also. In so doing, a lot of societal ills, such as corporate scheming, embezzlement, and intolerance, would be minimised, if not mitigated.

For this to be realised though, more work has to be done not only on the part of the educators and policymakers, but also on the part of the parents. The parents have to play an integral role in consciously moulding their children by also imparting in them the necessary teachings in human values, thereby supplementing and reinforcing the values that the child would learn in the school systems equipped with “educare”.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Monday joined Hindus who congregated at the Cove and John Ashram, East Coast of Demerara in observance of Maha Shivratri.

Also in photo are India's High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar.

The officials were privileged to participate in havan and other rituals

Fairness and equity determine allocation of resources and employment

Dear Editor, “Allocation of house lots and housing are based on the principles of fairness and equity,” says Minister of Housing Susan Rodrigues. This twin principles are equally applicable to service delivery in other sectors of the economy such as GOAL scholarships and “Because we Care” school grants.

Despite this approach to equity, Opposition forces still criticise the PPP/C Government for race discrimination in these and other areas, like in employment.

They have been drawing heavily from a narrow range of observations on political and contract employment to support their allegation, although they know that these are temporary appointments and are at the pleasure of the existing Government. Any new Government has the right to employ political and contract employees at strategic levels that will execute its policies and programmes in accordance with their ideology and vision, and not to be detracted by hostile forces within.

Anti-PPP/C groups that have an enduring pre-occupation with racism and are perched to descend upon the Government with venom, are likely to have their rationality smothered in this approach. Polemics and platitudes have driven them into that condition, while they discard or

ignore statistical evidence to validate their claim.

There are mechanisms, like the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), which could investigate allegations of race discrimination.

For example, the ERC commissioned a study in 2007 on the distribution of academic scholarships during the PPP/C’s term in office covering the period 1997 and 2006. The consultant, Lyris Alicia Primo, noted: “There is considerable equality of opportunity in the award of academic scholarships.” The PPP/C has continued to build upon this foundation. The equity spoken about by another PPP/C Government official, Minister Sonia Parag, regarding GOAL scholarships is supported by Adron Pires’ analysis which shows that 39 per cent Afro-Guyanese, 40 per cent Indo-Guyanese, 21 per cent Mixed and Amerindians, were granted scholarships.

The existing job situation in the Government service is interesting. Despite Afro-Guyanese account for only 29 per cent of the country’s total population, they comprise 95 per cent of the army, 75 per cent of the Police Force, 95 per cent of the Prison Service, 65 per cent of the public service, 60 per cent in teaching and 70 per cent in nursing. Even some quasi-Government institutions, like the University of Guyana, are equitably rep-

resented in employment.

The University of Guyana, for example, has an AfroGuyanese staff complement of over 75 per cent.

Notwithstanding these disparities, the PPP/C Government does not believe in reverse discrimination.

Another trenchant critique is levelled against the Government when Opposition forces assert that the oil wealth is being “given away to one ethnic group (Indo-Guyanese).”

This assertion is preposterous. First, no amount of the oil revenues [(US$) 607.65 million] has been spent as of February 2022.

The money still sits in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York and could only be withdrawn under specified rules. The NRF Act (2021) requires that any withdrawal from the Fund must first be recommended by the Board of Directors to the Minister of Finance who in turn must seek parliamentary approval. Oversight function is also exercised by the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee. All NR Funds are paid into the Consolidated Fund and are managed (operationally) by the Bank of Guyana which is required to submit regular reports to the Government and to Parliament. There is also a stringent audit regime. These are tough requirements that have been imposed to safeguard the

integrity of the NRF. Withdrawals from the NRF (which is limited by law and by the operation of a funding formula) go towards budget support to fund physical and social infrastructure transformational projects. Critics have expressed the misguided claim that the Government would deplete the NRF and leave nothing for inter-generational equity. This is an irresponsible position as the facts point to the contrary.

Based on the Ministry of Finance’s calculation for the period 2020 to 2025, total projected oil revenues are (US$) 7.099 billion, while withdrawal is projected at (US$) 3.451 billion which is 48.6 per cent of revenues.

Thus 51.4 per cent (or (US$) 3.65 billion) of the NRF remains for intergenerational equity and emergencies.

Notwithstanding, watchdog groups and Parliament must continue to exercise vigilance and ensure that rules and protocols connected to the NRF are faithfully followed. Guyanese are smart enough not to be sidetracked with misinformation and distortion. And those who revel in political polemics and platitudes must know that these have no staying power, and that this quality (staying power) could be found in the facts/evidence.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amaila Falls Project represents clean, renewable electricity with significant financial savings for Guyana – Finance Minister ...condemns misinformation campaign

F

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has vehemently condemned what he termed the misinformation campaign targeting the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and other major development projects while noting that it is the same campaign that was carried out prior to 2015 resulting in them being stymied under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

“I want to express in the strongest possible terms my grave disappointment and indeed our Government’s grave disappointment at the campaign of misinformation that is being waged in relation to major development projects and in particular, most recently, in relation to the Amaila Falls Hydropower project,” the Minister said, reminding that the project was subject to extremely detailed studies and analysis by international technical experts and it was examined by international development agencies and bilateral partners such as Norway. He

added that it was also examined by international investors.

“In fact, if we were to cast our minds back to the pre-2015 period, we (the then PPP/C Government) had brought the project to a point where we had a major, large, credible international investor who was ready and willing to invest in this project. It would be recalled that the then APNU/ AFC used their one-seat majority while in Opposition to derail and ultimately to frustrate the project. Had the then APNU/AFC not done so… not only would construction have commenced but construction by now would have been completed and Amaila would have been providing electricity to the national grid,” Dr Singh noted.

He noted that what was particularly significant was that the then Government, upon assuming office in 2015, commissioned a study to be done by an international consultancy entity, Norconsult, to complete a study on the project.

“Norconsult did an extensive study and concluded in very favourable terms that the Amaila Falls project was the best option for Guyana to transition to clean renewable energy. That report is publicly available, Minister Singh further emphasised while reminding that despite all that, the APNU/AFC Government did not proceed with the project, nor did they produce an alternative project. He posited that the PPP/C Government committed to resuming work on the project and completing it once it assumed office once more.

“Let me be crystal clear that the resumption of this campaign of misinformation has one objective in mind – the same objective as the misinformation campaign during the pre-2015 period and that is to frustrate development-to deny the people development as long as the PPP/C is in office,” Minister Singh concluded.

In examining the misinformation on the project, the Ministry of Finance has

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

noted that since the Energy Conference held recently, there have been a series of articles on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project that are either fabrications, erroneous, or lacking in balance and objectivity.

The Finance Minister wishes to remind that the Amaila Falls project has been extensively studied and reviewed.

Many of the current project risks were exposed to the public since 2012 and were properly reviewed by all partners (including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and due diligence was conducted

by expert firms on behalf of the IDB. As recently as 2016, the project was reviewed at the request of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) by Norway via an independent firm – Norconsult. The current project, taken as a whole, based on independent reviews and analysis, manages risks prudently. The project also represents a clean, renewable means of electricity with significant financial savings for Guyana.

Responding to a media report, he reiterated that Amaila will have a 23 Km2 reservoir to hold water and this res-

ervoir allows the hydro optimised delivery of energy on an annual basis.

In 2012, it was stated that parties considered the hydrology assumption that Amaila can deliver 1050 GWh energy on average per annum, a reasonable number (if not conservative). These numbers were relied on by the IDB in their due diligence in 2012.

By way of illustration, at 165 MW, without factoring hydrology risks, the project can generate as much as 1445 GWh, at full capacity.

Assuming 1050 GWh/annum, assumes a capacity utilization of 72 per cent.

It is at this capacity, that the price of 7.7 cents/KWh is calculated over a 20-year period. In some years, there may be more than 1050 GWh generated; in others, it could be lower.

Under all scenarios, Amaila delivers a significant reduction in power generation costs and a minimum annual level of energy. Amaila, in essence, is a clean renewable project.

PNC used AFC as I laud the Minister of Education doormat after 2015

Dear Editor, I was the Secretary of AFC for four years, and the Prime Minister’s Representative for five years, in Region Two during the “coalition Government”.

I came to realise, by rude awakenings, that the PNCR was not interested in power-sharing, as they boasted about, but domination and dictatorship. What they did in the 1960s was to use the UF, by giving Peter D’Aguiar the Minister of Finance portfolio, to collate and form the Government through the Proportional Representation electoral system. The means had justified the end for Burnham then. Thereafter Burnham changed the Constitution, and rigged consecutive elections, to prevent coalition after elections, depriving the PPP and other political parties from governing.

Fast forward to 2015, the PNCR used the AFC and other parties to collate before the elections in order to oust the PPP/C Government. It succeeded, then sidelined the AFC, using them as a doormat to be walked over. Every Government Ministry headed by an AFC Minister had a PNCR Junior Minister as an underdog to monitor. The same was not reciprocal for PNCR Ministries.

The meeting to plan the election campaign in 2020, in Region Two, held at State House, Anna Regina, was chaired by Annette Ferguson, a Junior Minister and PNCR member who is not from

Region Two. The default Minister of Business, a Senior Minister, and AFC Executive Member had no campaign position (he appeared satisfied with this since he is not a boat-rocker and accepts everything) since the deputy campaign manager was another PNCR member.

At the meeting, I asked the campaign manager several times if there was no co-campaign manager but she evaded this question till we got to know that there was none. We had expected the Minister of Business - an Executive Member of the AFC - would have been the co-campaign manager, but the PNCR would have none of that and sidelined the AFC. Except for myself and two AFC Regional Councillors, all other members of PNCR and AFC sat there as we were relegated, while we walked out in protest.

Editor, during the five years of the coalition Government, I, as AFC Secretary for Region Two, wrote numerous letters, hard copies of which I have sent to our AFC leaders about sidelining of the AFC by the PNCR. I complained, on behalf of our members, about hiring practices (employment opportunities), exclusion: from outreaches, heritage celebrations, Tender Board, Regional Standing Committees; harassment by PNCR REOs. Responses from our AFC leaders were without answers, just acknowledgment or a mere nebulous “All matters have

been fully ventilated”.

The PNCR was planning to rig elections and go back to the dictatorial days of Burnham and bring back National Service. When I told the “Ambulance Chaser”, non-esteem AFC layer, mentioned hereinabove as MOB that people were raped in National Service, he asked me if I saw any rape. Any lawyer of competence would know that apart from direct evidence, there is circumstantial evidence, medical evidence (now linked by DNA proof), and victim testimony. No wonder people hire competent councils from the capital city.

When I told a PNCR member that we would be a oneterm Government due to non-performance, he told me twice that they would rig the elections, not realising the other nations would not allow that to happen.

Editor, AFC is now “dead meat”, cannot be resuscitated or resurrected, and cannot help the PNCR to govern again. AFC leaders were feathering their nests—with gold bangles, expensive furniture, and self-serving contracts—and the PNCR was taking note and waiting to boot them out. I know that they will tarnish me with their sour grape responses, but “the truth hurts”.

The done deal is that the PPP/C will govern Guyana for a long time and better the lives of Guyanese Yours truly, Karan Chand

Dear Editor, I'm writing this article to highlight a true heroine of Guyana, Minister of Education, Miss Priya Manickchand. The reason I call this woman a heroine is that even though schools are reopening, she's at this time on an operation of investigating all school dropouts and absences of students at this time.

She is trying to help them out by visiting their homes and bringing solutions to end the illiteracy of our Guyanese children.

These are the real duties of a true Minister that every Minister should carry out ie she is going under investigation and beyond boundaries to fight for our Guyanese children. Her love for children and education is so admirable that I had to write this article.

This operation was carried out so as to minimise learning loss. She is trying to put children back in the classrooms in whatever way she can. No matters, what the stories are from behind. Because she considers education important.

With education, we can develop moral, personality, and physical powers to change the world. Without education, society can't go grow or even develop.

The famous Malala said, “Education can change our life”. “When we see darkness, education brings to light.” “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself” – Chinese Proverb.

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it" – Malcolm X. Therefore, I encourage parents of children to get their children back in school because Guyana

statistics for world illiteracy should not be matched with other countries ever.

Children are the future of our tomorrow.

Yours sincerely, Annabelle Persaud

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄ CONTINUED

Test 5 Complete the following test items 1. Calculate 0.25 of 80% 60% of 0.9 16.4% of 50

3. One inch is equivalent to 2.54 centimetres.

How many inches is 5 metres?

How many centimetres are 2. What is the perimeter in 508 inches? and area of the figure below: 4. Calculate a) 12.25 + 71.58 b) 1.90 + 33.60 3) 0.33 + 19.67

5. Solve the problems using the Venn Diagram

I

n this fun and easy geology science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate how fold mountains are formed.

Materials:

About a dozen towels Two large boxes

Instructions:

Monday’s answers 1.

2.

Calculate 25 ÷ 0.25 = 100 0.36 ÷ 0.6 = 0.6 16.4 ÷ 2.5 = 6.56 Calculate the following: 22/31 ÷ 7 = 22/217 36 ÷ 8/15 = 540/8 18/36 ÷ 3/15 = 270/108 = 30/12 = 26/12 = 21/2

3.

Kim should take 19.6 litres of water, 3.5 pounds of trail mix, and 35 sandwiches for the trip.

4.

Jai spent 0.778 hours a day, on average, working on his bike.

5.

Wendy will use 16 2/3 cups of sugar and 1 2/3 bags of chocolate chips

Fold the towels in half and stack them on top of each other on the floor.

Put one of the boxes on each side of the stack of towels.

Have someone push each box toward the stack of towels. The boxes will represent continental plates and the towels will represent layers of sedimentary rocks being pushed up to form our fold mountain range.

Observe what happens to the towels as the boxes move toward each other.

How it works:

Fold mountains are the most common type of mountain. This demonstration will give you an idea of how they are formed.

A glass of narcotics, a warm blanket, steam for suffocation, For each passenger of any class.

“Did you know a rendition is an interpretation, an explanation of something not clear?”

“It’s also persecution and surrender, Translation and the handing over Of prisoners to countries Where detention is.”

Pass through customs in silence.

The red strings of radiation Will only burn your bed-skins.

Do not joke or rhyme with bomb.

“If you have a passport, bless it.”

— Now the wing is whitening, its patches quiver on the steel and fragment into petals that are either living or not.

In grade one I watched the lights of cars passing on the bedroom wall for surely they were messages flying at the speed of light.

And aren’t they still?

In the sky there are few signs of progress.

Tongues wag and sailors pull their beards...

It’s fractal, a science student whispers to nobody special.

— There is a wonderful kidnapped hunted and betrayed girl In fairy tales. She has a name, but the vowels and subjects Around can’t be switched to fit.

She wants to escape but letters won’t let her.

She never thinks about darkness or dying because they’re natural And don’t require thought.

She carries her darkness everywhere.

What is not natural Is being here an utter stranger.

And flight being no metaphor.

— What if the outcome of an act burst into color.

All that fruit skin dimpled from the touch of branches.

The oranges falling when the creatures below were hungry.

Each wink of an eyelid presaged a long look at a winter That would come eons later.

What if you stood when I entered.

What if you think of time as a long and everlasting plain, You can pass across it any which way you turn.

And walk around the pond with your father again.

(Source Poetry, March 2019)

Make this a science project:

Try this experiment with stacks of scrap paper instead of towels and observe any differences. Try this experiment with sheets of Styrofoam. (sciencefun.org)

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye” – Helen Keller

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Under APNU/AFC Coalition Govt

Contracts signed, works started without Tender Board approval – PAC hears – acting PS admits there were breaches of procedures

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

T

he Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday heard explanations from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs regarding the strange case of contracts being signed by the Ministry and works starting, without Tender Board approval.

In 2017, the Auditor General had found that 13 contracts valued at $27.2 million had been entered into by the then Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry.

Shockingly, works had started before these contracts were even approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

Called upon by PAC member Dharamkumar Seeraj to explain how this could have happened and what disciplinary action was taken, acting Permanent Secretary Ryan Tulsieram explained that the issue has since been addressed and those officers responsible had their tasks reassigned.

“Again, Mr Chair, there were errors where procedures were concerned.

These errors were subsequently addressed. And the

Ministry did not err in this area again,” Tulsieram informed the PAC. “The reviews, honourable member Mr Seeraj, on their performance appraisals were noted. And there was a separation of duties in some cases,” the PS, who has been acting since the substantive PS, Sharon Hicks was sent on administrative leave, explained.

Another case highlighted by the Auditor General involved 29 contracts valued at $18.9 million, which were signed before approval from the Ministerial Tender Board.

Again, Tulsieram put this down to errors in the system, which he said have since been rectified.

“I’m guided that there was a breakdown in procedures. The same person who was the Secretary to the Ministerial Tender Board, is the same individual who prepares the contracts. So, in preparing the documents for approval, she would have acted on the recommendations.”

It was meanwhile pointed out by Seeraj that there were 11 instances where $3.7 million in invoices were dated before contract approval. This indicates that work had started before contract approval was given. Asked for an explanation, Tulsieram committed to providing a written one.

Meanwhile, the PAC also heard that a “derelict” vehicle was sold in 2017 by the then Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, to a buyer who was not involved in the standard bidding process.

This was revealed as excerpts of the Auditor General’s report for the years 2017 and 2018 were perused.

As a regular practice, an advertisement or solicitation of bids is widely pub-

PAC Chairman, Opposition MP Jermaine Figueira

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry

lished to invite relevant stakeholders to take part in the bidding process. Once this is done, bidders will attend specific meetings, and thereafter submit their sealed bids. A bid is usually won based on the lowest responsible sum. In a case of selling, an item is expected to be sold to the highest bidder for maximum profit to be gained by the government, while still being reasonable to bidders.

It was, however, revealed that an unserviceable Nissan Frontier valued at $100,000, with the highest bidder coming in at $500,000, was sold for $50,000 to “an individual who did not bid for the vehicle”, according to a document emanating from the Audit Office and circulated during the PAC meeting.

Member of Parliament and government member of the PAC Sanjeev Datadin, MP, raised the question to find out why such a mishap transpired.

“My question is, how was it possible that you identified a person to buy the vehicle who did not

bid?” Datadin enquired.

Datadin further went on to question a similar issue in which another vehicle was sold. In this circumstance, a Toyota pick-up valued at $50,000 was sold, but, according to the AG’s report, “no advertisement was made”. “[With the Toyota pickup] no bids were even invited. So, to say that you followed a procurement process – no bids were invited for the pickup,” Datadin continued.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who is also a sitting member of the PAC, continued the grilling of the officials present before the committee. The Minister

asked for information about the buyers of the vehicles to be brought to the fore, to ensure that the PAC continues to fulfil its mandate of transparency and accountability in the scrutiny of public funds.

Minister Edghill was then denied access to the information.

“Then we can’t name any other contractor anything here. We have asked for the name of a defaulting contractor; we have asked for the name of an engineer…I am simply asking who were the buyers? I want to establish that the buyers were not somebody from the ministry…why are we trying to hide it?”

Finance Secretary

Sukrishnalall Pasha later advised the committee that it is not an appropriate practice for vehicles to be sold to the Ministry’s ’s employees, in response to a question raised by the PAC’s Chairman, Opposition MP, Jermaine Figueira.

“The practice is to not have persons in the system bid for these items, because they may be in a conflict-of-interest position,” Pasha said.

Minister Edghill expressed his “total disagreement” with the decision made by the committee’s Chair to refuse the presentation of the information about the buyer of the vehicles.

“This is inconsistent with practices that have taken place at the PAC before and I want it to be noted,” the Minister said.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deadly Mahaica accident

DPP recommends death by dangerous driving charges for cop

T

he Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that the Police Corporal who was behind the wheel of a vehicle that was involved in a high-speed chase that led to the death of a young couple, be charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. The lawman is expected to be arraigned before a Magistrate by the end of this week.

The horrific accident which involved a Police pick-up, two motor cars, and a truck, occurred on February 2 at

Dead: Christopher Bhagwandat and Shereeda Persaud

on Monday with advice for the Police rank to be charged.

“Based on the statements in the Police file,

8852 that the Police were chasing after he reportedly fled from traffic ranks, who were stationed at Perseverance Public Road, Mahaicony, ECD. Regional Commander Khali Pareshram had told the media that the motor car driven by Bhagwandat had stopped at a roadblock

ported that the Police vehicle collided with the car that was being driven by the now dead man. As a result, the car crashed into a canter which then flipped and slammed into another car.

Bhagwandat had travelled to West Berbice to pick up his girlfriend, to take her back to his house to celebrate his mother’s birthday.

Bhagwandat, who was a mechanic at Vicky’s Mechanic Shop at Mon Repos, had lost his father just four months prior and would have turned 22 on February 28. His girlfriend, who was a student of the Bush Lot Secondary School, was Home Affairs Minister during the 2021 Youth Parliament.

Both families had

The accident scene at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara

Mahaica Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

It claimed the lives of 21-year-old Christopher Bhagwandat of Mon Repos, ECD, and his 16-yearold girlfriend, Shereeda Persaud of Bath, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Two children – aged two and eight – along with three Police Constables and a Police Corporal were also injured.

The DPP’s Office, on Monday, reported that it received a Police file on the accident on February 24. The file was returned

legal advice has been given for the Police to institute the indictable charge for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. The DPP has ordered that a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) be conducted since the charge is an indictable one,” the DPP’s office said.

The office has further instructed the Police to conduct further investigations and return the file for additional legal advice

by March 7.

Bhagwandat was the driver of motor car PNN

but when ranks asked to see the driver’s identification card, he pulled the vehicle into the corner but then drove away as the traffic officer approached.

As such, ranks from the Mahaicony Police Station were alerted and officers joined the Force-issued van and gave chase. Then the accident occurred near the Mahaica Bridge. Guyana Times had previously re-

blamed the Police for the tragedy and had called for a thorough investigation. Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, in a statement, had expressed his “personal disappointment” at the circumstances of the “unfortunate event”. He had also assured the families of the deceased that an impartial investigation would be conducted into the events which led to the deadly accident.

The Russian Bear…

I

…and Europe t’s a bit difficult to accept that the “Russian Bear” has never been a symbol for their country accepted by the Russians themselves!! Yet, there is, whenever we think of Russia the image of the Russian Bear rises to the fore. Especially right now when Russian troops have descended on Ukraine from three sides with all their military might. Tanks tearing across highways packed with miles of cars heading into the west towards Europe; bombs hurled from thudding cannons tearing buildings apart and scowling troops advancing and mowing down everything in sight.

It’s like a bear tearing through a hamlet in the forest, ain’t it? And that’s exactly why the West insists that Russia’s best represented by a Bear!! Even though they’ve been trying to soften their image since whenever. In the 17th century Peter the Great returned from a trip to France and Germany and plunged into a frenzy of “reforms” to recreate the trappings of civilisation he’d seen there. He introduced courtly ways and all that, which were continued by Catherine the Great in the 18th century – all to no avail. As someone said earlier THIS century quite pithily, you can put lipstick on a pig, it still remains a pig!! You can’t even put lipstick on a Bear – as the two aforementioned “Greats” can attest!!

In the early 20th century, Lenin tried his darndest to do his bit, and going against what even Marx had said, he tried to drag Russia into civilisation through Communism. No luck.

His successor Stalin killed millions and millions (20? 30? Who knows?) of his fellow citizens evidently on his theory that he’d succeed even if he had to kill every Russian in sight!! By then, they’d dragged a host of countries around them – like Ukraine – into a “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”. We got to understand the implications of the “Bear Hug”!!

It was more like an empire that the Russians tried to “Russify”. But we all know it all came crashing down like a house of cards. And everyone discovered all their vaunted “progress” was a sham. They were the same backward Russian Bear that just couldn’t build anything lasting. All of the “satellites” quickly seized the opportunity to declare their independence. To show it was “democratic”, Russia said they were free to do as they pleased.

But we now know after the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the first invasion of western Ukraine that they never really meant that. Their view of “independence” was the ex-satellites were free to do whatever Russia told them to do!! It was like a bear trap – the only way you can get free is to chew your feet off.

And sadly, that’s what Ukraine’s gonna have to do. Stand up to the Russian bully and force them to accept their own medicine: brute force and ignorance. Accepting they’ll have to absorb the Russian Bear’s destructive onslaught!

Let the Russians understand Byron’s “The Destruction of Sennacherib": “For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, / And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;/ And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, / And their hearts but once heaved, and forever grew still!”

Like all bullies, the Russians will fold!! …in Guyana Bet most of you young’uns didn’t know we had our own Russian Bear back in the day in Guyana. Nah…not the ideological variety Cheddi tried to sneak in around the same time!! That’s grist for another mill about when the Ruskies invaded Hungary in 1956. The party was torn apart over whether Russia should be condemned or not!! Sounds familiar?

Anyhow, OUR “Russian Bear” was quite indigenous – a Rum that was made by a company RM Wight on Water and Schumaker Sts in Georgetown. There was a rum shop at the location by the same name. At that time, Guyana had dozens of rums, aged and flavoured by small local companies. D’Aguiar had XM. Your Eyewitness always wondered why the Wights chose that name – Russia might’ve been famous for Vodka but certainly not rums!

Russian Bear had a 12-year-old rum and after the company was eventually taken over by DDL, your Eyewitness wonders if this was the base of their El Dorado 15-year-old brand? …and aims There are many angles to the Russian invasion of Ukraine story. And Russia will show that other countries now condemning them have also invaded on trumped-up reasons. Like WMD. But two wrongs don’t make a right.

Out Bear!!

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

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil insists it has insurance coverage meeting int’l standards ...says it would pay all legitimate costs in event of oil spill

spill risks from any of its operations.

“It is important to note from the onset that our first priority for every project is to put in place mitigations and processes that help to prevent adverse events by utilising the best technologies, equipment, and people in our operations.

ExxonMobil maintains the industry’s only sustained, dedicated and in-house oilspill response research programme, which dates back to the 1970s,” Exxon explained.

The Liza Unity

U

S oil giant ExxonMobil has rubbished the claims being thrown out regarding its insurance coverage in the event of an oil spill, making it clear that it is fully insured and moreover, has billions of US dollars in assets and is moreover negotiating US$2 billion in affiliate company guarantees.

In a statement from Exxon’s Media and Communications Manager Janelle Persaud, Exxon emphasised that its insurance coverage meets international industry standards for all oil exploration and production activities in Guyana’s waters.

“Commentary on “full coverage” insurance and guarantees inaccurately suggests that ExxonMobil Guyana will not be able to effectively manage response activities. Insurance is just one source of financial assurance that could be leveraged for response activities,” the company said.

“The value of insurance will not limit the company’s ability to respond to an event, and response activities would certainly not be delayed by discussions

with insurers. We have the financial capacity to meet our responsibilities for an adverse event and we are committed to paying all legitimate costs in the unlikely event of an oil spill,” Exxon further explained.

The company also revealed that even now, it is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its co-venturers to put in place a combined US$2 billion in affiliate company guarantees. According to Exxon, this is a value that exceeds equivalent guarantees required by regulators in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

It was pointed out by the company that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon’s local affiliate operator of the Stabroek Block, was established in 1998, and had, as of year-end 2020, almost US$ 5 billion in assets.

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

and share any liability for response activities.

And in an apparent reference to a recent letter written by former EPA Director Vincent Adams, Exxon stressed that contrary to the claims in the media, the company never agreed to insurance at a value of US$2.5 billion with a previous EPA administration. Nor is insurance the only form of protection the company offers Guyana.

The company noted that in Guyana, they adhere to an internationally accepted, tiered response system used to determine the requirements of response personnel and equipment in the case of an oil spill.

This system, they noted, is aligned with the principles of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC), the Caribbean Island Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation and the National Oil Spill Response Plan of Guyana that was implemented in 2021. All of this combines to provide an efficient framework to build preparedness and response capabilities matching the oil

Exxon Media and Communications Manager Janelle Persaud

“As stated by ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods at the recent International Energy Conference, ExxonMobil is committed to Guyana for the long term. ExxonMobil Guyana has invested billions of dollars in multiple oil and gas projects here. We are dedicated to avoiding any spill, but should one occur we are prepared to mitigate and resolve it as quickly and comprehensively as possible.”

10 NEWS Man arrested for assault, discharging firearm 5 busted with ganja at Annai T Police Checkpoint TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Police have arrested a man after he allegedly gun-butted another after which he discharged several rounds in the direction of the man on Sunday evening at the Parika Fisheries compound, Parika,

East Bank Essequibo.

Police stated that the perpetrator approached the victim and made enquiries about the whereabouts of another man but he was ignored. This, however, angered the suspect, who pulled

out a .38 revolver and lashed the victim to his face.

After receiving the first blow, the victim managed to flee the area but, in the process, he heard three loud explosions – like gunshots.

As such, a report was

made at the Parika Police Station, and acting on information, ranks went to a Parika Stelling Road property where the suspect was apprehended. He remains in custody as further investigations continue.

The ganja that was found in the canter

F

ive men have been arrested following the discovery of 189 grams of cannabis at the Annai Police Checkpoint, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), on Sunday evening.

The illicit plant was found hidden in a canter

during an inspection of the vehicle.

Following the discovery, the five men admitted ownership of the bag containing the prohibited substance but the driver and others were acting in a suspicious manner and as such, they were all detained for questioning.

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Only 10% of population took booster shot – Health Minister …18 new cases in 24h

H

ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Monday revealed that less than 10 per cent of the country’s population have taken their booster doses – months after the country started its rollout.

In November 2021, Guyana began to administer booster doses to its population in an effort to protect them from COVID-19.

This is since studies found immunity to wane as time progresses. Included in the 10 per cent are both adults and children; accounting for 50,373 doses.

In Guyana, the vaccination figures show that 423,024 or 84.2 per cent of the adult population have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Only 327,775 or 63.9 per cent have received two doses.

For persons aged 12 to 17, 33,529 or 46 per cent have received the first dose while 24,202 or 33.2 per cent are completely vaccinated.

New cases

However, within a 24hour period, a total of 18 new cases were detected, taking the confirmed cases

in Guyana to 62,921. Deaths remain at 1220.

There are eight patients seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, 32 in institutional isolation, 441 in home isolation, and nine in institutional quarantine.

In total, 61,219 persons recovered completely. During the pandemic, 539,596 tests were conducted.

From a breakdown, one new infection was reported in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 13 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

There were no increases in Regions One (BarimaWaini), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD FEBRUARY 28, 2022 UPDATE

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.

Persons with comorbidities have been continuously asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. The preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to since this category of person is at greater risk if they contract COVID-19.

Comorbid conditions can range from cancer, cerebrovascular diseases, chron-

Technician electrocuted while fixing Internet connection

A

n internet technician attached to Re-Link Wireless Internet Service was on Sunday electrocuted while fixing an internet connection at Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The dead man has been identified as 19-year-old Anthony Monroe of Lot 4364 Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden.

Based on reports received, the now-dead teenager and another colleague were tasked with the maintenance of internet service.

According to information received, they were in the process of installing a metal pole which is about 38 feet in length, into the earth’s surface in the yard which is within close proximity of a few electrical wires. However, the pole accidentally touched the

electric wires, causing them to receive electric shocks about their bodies.

Monroe was immediately picked up by his colleague and rushed to the Linden Hospital complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body of Monroe is presently laying at the De Jestco’s Funeral Parlour awaiting post-mortem.

Investigations are ongoing.

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

18

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

32

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

441

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

9

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

9

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

33,959

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

28,962

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

62,921

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,219

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2507

REGION 2

2460

REGION 3

8024

REGION 4

31,104

REGION 5

2363

REGION 6

5700

REGION 7

2418

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

3993

REGION 10

3465

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

431,597 326,867

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1220

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

ic kidney diseases, chronic lung diseases, chronic liver diseases, diabetes, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, HIV, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, obesity, pregnancy,

sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis, solid organ transplant patients, smokers or those with substance use disorder.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or

needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Labour Minister’s driver killed in Agricola accident A

man attached to Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton as a driver was killed on Monday evening following an accident along the Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown.

The dead man has been identified as 24-year-old Nionel Berkley of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and of Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Reports are he was riding a motorcycle heading

home when he crashed into a female pedestrian who was crossing the road at the time. Berkley died in the accident while the woman is said to be in critical condition.

Berkley had just dropped

the Minister home and was making his way home when the accident occurred.

“He still had on his work clothes,” Minister Hamilton told Guyana Times when contacted for a comment on the matter.

Berkley had been a driver for Hamilton since he became a Minister. But according to Hamilton, he had known the young man for a number of years prior.

“This young man, I know him long before he is my driver, he is more than my driver, he is like a son to me. I didn’t just know him as a driver, I knew him as

Dead: Nionel Berkley

a teenager, like eight years now,” Minister Hamilton said as he struggled to come to grips with Berkley’s demise.

Berkley was scheduled to pick up Minister Hamilton early this morning as he had several interior trips to make.

“Last thing I told him was to come pick me up in the morning,” the Minister recalled.

Berkley had been a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for three years. He had no children. Investigations are ongoing.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Hinterland communities to have 100% access to potable water by 2025 – Min Croal

Water and Housing Minister Collin Croal addressing residents of Warapoka

R

esidents of Warapoka, in the Moruca sub-region, Region One (Barima-Waini) have been

assured that they will benefit from improved access to potable water, the Government’s Hinterland Housing

Programme, and every other area of development.

This was a commitment made by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, during a community meeting in that village on Monday. The Minister was accompanied by Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, Vice Chair Annansha Peters, and other regional officials.

Speaking on the delivery of potable water to hinterland regions, the Minister pointed out that currently, only 53 per cent of the four hinterland regions have access to potable water.

“By 2025, we are aiming for 100 per cent access, we have five wells that are slated to be drilled this year in Region One, and in fact, there

Minister Croal in discussion with residents of Warapoka

is a rig that will be here in April.”

He added that this year, in excess of $200 million will be spent for improved service delivery in the region.

The Minister also spoke of Government’s plans to transform hinterland communities through massive infrastructure development projects in-

cluding improved healthcare services and education delivery.

Residents were also informed by the Regional Chairman of plans to supply their community with its own electricity supply by way of a generator set in the coming months.

A number of other issues

within the education, health, and sports sector were also raised by residents who asked for representation to be made to the respective Ministers.

The Minister and team also held a similar meeting at Santa Rosa where residents also heard of the development plans and were given the opportunity to raise concerns.

Former Town Clerk Royston King

Former Town Clerk Carol Sooba

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Monday made a decision to allow former Town Clerk, Royston King to receive his pension, gratuity and other benefits owed to him.

At the statutory meeting, Mayor Ubraj Narine proposed that since the Local Government Commission (LGC) had approved benefits for former Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, the same must be extended to Royston King.

King was appointed as Town Clerk for the municipality in 2015 and held the position until January 2019, when he was served with a dismissal letter from the Local Government Commission. This was just months after a Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s operations found numerous discrepancies which raised eyebrows.

After the decision was approved, the Mayor instructed that both Sooba and King be handed their benefits at the same time.

“Since the Local

Government Commission and Council had approved the benefit of gratuity, pension etc to the former Town Clerk Carol Sooba, I propose to this house that the same courtesy for Mr Royston King. Both of it must go hand in hand at the same time…It must go hand in hand. It must be approved at the same time and both parties must receive it at the same time,” Narine stated.

King had challenged a decision by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to fire him for gross misconduct after a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) had recommended criminal charges against him. His dismissal was reversed by the High Court in September 2019, paving the way for a reinstation.

The 2018 CoI was conducted by Retired Justice Cecil Kennard, who found King guilty of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and misappropriation of funds.

He had also stated that King performed the duties of treasurer and other officers of the Council, which

were not his designated duties.

King had asked in his application for the Commission to reinstate him to his post immediately or to pay him all his superannuation benefits. This included pension, gratuity, payment in lieu of annual leave until he attained the statutory age of retirement on January 20, 2020. King was awarded $200,000 in court costs.

He also claimed for cost and aggregative damages for his benefits while on administrative leave, along with compensation for public embarrassment. King called for interest calculated at four per cent per annum from the date of filing of the application, until the judgement and at six per cent per annum from the date of judgment up until full payment, excluding court cost, is made.

In January 2020, a bid by the LGC to overturn the High Court ruling was struck out, due to non-compliance with the new Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) of 2016.

City Hall approves benefits, pension for Royston King

T

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Company that previously violated Safety Act to now abide by law – GAWU …agency employment in oil sector “disrespect” to local workers

A

ny company in the oil and gas sector that failed to uphold the lawful rights as an employer, has now been tasked with ensuring that these conditions are met after intervention from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Labour Ministry.

GAWU’s Oil and Gas Branch was recently contacted by the employees of a popular recruitment agency in the sector. The workers, who are assigned to the workshop of a foreign-owned oil and gas enterprise operating in Guyana, informed the Union that their lawful workplace rights were not being upheld, and the conduct of the company was in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The Union articulated, “The workers shared that the recruitment agency in its contract of employ-

ment with the employees required them to provide their own steel-toe safety boots. Such a requirement, however, is contrary to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The law obligates employers to provide their employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The recruitment agency, the Union understands, told some workers who did not have boots that same could be purchased by the

agency. However, the cost would be recovered through deductions from their salaries. Again, this flies in the face of the OSH Act.” After engaging the workers, the Union wrote the Ministry of Labour drawing to its attention what was prevailing. The Ministry engaged the recruitment agency, and informed that it must be compliant with the Laws of Guyana.

“It is understood that the agency sought to offer

feeble and unconvincing rationales for its contractual provisions. Of course, the Ministry underlined that the law must be upheld.”

After a robust approach by the Ministry, the workers will now be provided with safety boots at no cost to them. Expectedly, they would receive same soon.

They also shared with the Union that the principals of the agency informed them that they ought to have handled the matter differently.

However, GAWU strongly contended, “We, at this time, wonder how differently the matter could have been handled when the agency had an explicit contractual provision. At the same time, we contend, the client had a responsibility to ensure that agent/s acting on their behalf were complaint with the Laws of Guyana.”

In a statement, the

Union said such incidents bring into focus the advice being provided by locals to foreign oil companies.

“We have to wonder whether these ‘professionals’ are really knowledgeable or is it a case of them knowingly cheating and deceiving workers out of their rights. Certainly, whatever is the case, it is disturbing and disheartening. While we welcome the Ministry’s forthright intervention, at the same time we recognise not all workers may not have access to the Ministry and there may be some who are unaware that their rights are violated and they are victims of exploitation at the workplace.”

It added that the issue of agency employment in the oil and gas sector is contributing to disrespect to the Guyanese workers.”

“It is disappointing that a matter as straightforward as this had to require the in-

volvement of the Ministry of Labour before it could have been resolved. Of course, our own review of contracts of employment issued by recruitment agencies have confirmed that many practices Guyanese workers have become accustomed to are simply absent,” GAWU penned.

In several contracts, Union officials have found that workers, though entitled to uncertified sick days, cannot benefit from such entitlement unless their employer is satisfied that they are indeed ill.

“In our view, the employer is basically having the power to tell an employee when they can be ill and when they are not. With the practice of agency employment, the question as who really the employer is up in the air, at this point, as those who give the employees direction are not the ones who employed them.”

Support for US$80M Criminal Justice System Programme ends in August

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Programme which was implemented to reduce prison overcrowding in Guyana will come to an end on August 20, 2022.

This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs on Monday during a sitting

of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at Parliament Buildings.

Though there were some challenges with implementing the Programme, the PAC heard that most of the activities under the programme have been completed.

Back in 2016, a US$8 million project was approved by the IDB to help Guyana overcome prison

Students apprised of opportunities in oil & gas sector

S

The students during a presentation on Monday

tudents attached to the Brickdam Secondary, St Joseph High School and St Stanislaus College on Monday benefitted from a training seminar focused on the potential areas and opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Particularly, they were exposed to areas within which they can further their studies, understanding the oil and gas sector from an economic point of view and the oil and gas value chain.

Presenters at this session were Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin; Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) President, Manniram Prashad; Lecturer Capt Christopher Murray; and Atlantic Alliance (AA) Maritime & Offshore Training School’s Miranda Thakur-Deen.

The programme was sponsored by Guyana Telephone Telegraph Company Limited (GTT).

overcrowding, by reducing pre-trial detentions and increasing the use of alternative sentencing, among other measures.

The loan’s objective is to contribute to the high concentrations of the prison population in the country, which stands at 256 per 100,000 of the national population, well above the world average of 146 per 100,000.

According to a press release posted on the bank’s website, the Guyanese criminal justice system tends to use incarceration as the default sanction. It said that high rates of imprisonment have been associated with an individual’s future proclivity for crime and difficulties in securing employment, among other negative factors.

“Building or expanding prison facilities can be a short-term fix for overcrowding, but if root causes are not addressed, the new facilities will eventually be filled,” the release added. The SCJP Programme is divided into two components.

The first component seeks to reduce the use of pre-trial detention, especially for individuals accused of minor offenses.

The idea is to provide better legal assistance to individuals accused of non-violent offences, improve the prosecutors’ ability to handle cases according to the seriousness of the offence, strengthen the Judiciary, and design and implement a restorative justice programme.

A second component seeks to increase the use of alternative sentencing by the criminal justice system in Guyana. This

includes strengthening the country’s legal drafting functions, modernising probation services, and implementing a pilot project at the Magistrate Court level to apply alternatives to imprisonment to non-violent offenders. The programme is designed to complement a previously approved citizen security programme targeting highcrime neighbourhoods.

The $8 million loan is divided into two parts. Four million dollars is financed via the IDB’s ordinary capital and has a 30-year amortisation period and an interest rate based on Libor.

The remaining $4 million is through the IDB’s subsidised lending arm. It has a 40-year amortisation period and a fixed interest rate of 0.25 per cent.

Tremendous progress

During a presentation on the SCJS Programme mid-year report in August of last year, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, had said that there has been tremendous progress with the implementation of the programme’s objectives.

“There are certain ini-

tiatives that are coming out of this project that are going to be transformational and hopefully permanent institutional. It will be transformational in the sense that they will permanently change the landscape of our legal sector,” Nandlall had said.

Meanwhile, at the forum, SCJS’ Project Manager Indira Anandjit had provided a detailed appraisal of the programme.

“From the programme emanated a legal aid clinic; following a consultancy from John Kendrick to design a State-owned legal programme, which focuses on minor, non-violent offences, the legal aid clinic was established in January 2020,” Anandjit had stated.

She had said the clinic, which offers free legal services to the public, has dealt with over 122 cases, of which 77 matters were completed with 45 pending. She had noted that the Ministry of Legal Affairs was able to draft a Restorative Justice Bill and develop standards, guidelines, and rules of procedure for the implementation of restorative justice in Guyana.

The Project Manager had further noted that a major factor contributing to the overcrowding in prison in Guyana is the flawed nature of the country’s bail system. She had explained that the overcrowding situation is compounded when persons remain in prison when they are unable to meet bail.

Such persons may end up serving longer periods on remand than they would have served if found guilty of the offence, Anandjit added. To address the misfortune, under the SCJS, a Bail Act will be enacted to ensure greater consistency in the granting of bail and to provide specific guidelines for Magistrates and Judges.

One other alternative to imprisonment is probation.

This area is encouraged by the SCJS Programme. It was pointed out that being placed on probation does not mean that the offenders are getting off lightly, but instead they have the opportunity to make amends and rehabilitate while remaining in their communities.

Community service is also another alternative to imprisonment that is identified by the SCJS Programme.

Community service is not a “soft option if properly implemented and supervised”. Instead, it makes serious demands on offenders in terms of their time, regular attendances, prompt timekeeping, and satisfactory performance of work. The introduction of structured community service will cut the prison population and make amends for the harm done to victims of crime.

16 NEWS CGH to bolster Guyana’s secondary health care TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– as NY doctors arrive to address health disparities

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fter recently signing a five-year medical partnership with the Health Ministry, Northwell Health has sent its first medical residents to Guyana in efforts to enhance care and train their physicians in tropical medicine.

The partnership will see these medical experts being rotated through Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). It is aimed at addressing the disparities in Guyana and New York by supporting a variety of services and broadening cross-cultural understanding with the communities of Little Guyana in Queens.

This zone consists of the fifth-largest immigrant population in New York City.

Northwell’s Director of the Center for Global Health (CGH), Dr Eric Cioe Pena underscored that medical education is also about understanding patients, their culture, and value systems.

“Addressing health equity at home also means addressing the healthcare needs abroad…All of this comes with the trust and showing our surrounding communities, which have become increasingly diverse, that Northwell understands their cultural needs and what’s important to them. This partnership is a win-win by

Northwell’s Director of the Center for Global Health (CGH), Dr Eric Cioe Pena

strengthening Guyana’s health system and secondly, strengthening Northwell’s relationship with the people of Guyana and Little Guyana.”

After an initial needs assessment in November, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony invited the CGH to return to Guyana to assess the interior regions of the country to provide a strategy to increase the welfare of the people living in the more remote areas of the country.

For patients that require care in Georgetown, travel to the capital city would require a two-day journey by ATV, boat, or in more dire cases, a small fixed-wing aircraft.

The CGH looks to bolster Guyana’s secondary care system to enhance care in those regions.

“We’re looking at ways

to leverage Northwell’s robust telemedicine platforms that allowed us to provide care during the pandemic. These systems can directly connect with advanced clinicians at GPHC to offer additional support. We’re also partnering with Northwell’s Center for Emergency Medical Services about pre-hospital transport in the jungle. When patients need to come to GPHC for complex services and imaging, they can transport them quickly and efficiently to tertiary-level care, quickly, efficiently and safely.”

Dr Cioe Peña further stated, “We also have to make sure we’re treating people in that secondary hospital – that generally consists of one emergency room bay and one operating room – and have those

physicians practice at the highest level of their licence.”

The three week-visit also includes meetings with the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, to finalise the five-year strategy and discuss long-term housing needs for medical residents training in the country.

The Directed added, “When people hear about these initiatives, they think about a quick ‘get in and get out’ mission. Our partnership in Guyana, like our other partnerships in India and Ecuador, is about connection. Eventually, when a patient steps into a Northwell facility, there is a greater understanding of that individual and what’s important to them and their community. That’s what the core of Raise Health is about.”

Established in 2019, CGH partners with Northwell to develop new programmes in its core sites – Ecuador, Guyana, and India – and supports existing programmes in their affiliate sites in the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Uganda. Providers engage in global health activities to help positively impact the health of communities abroad while equipping Northwell providers with skills that inform practice and support patient-centred care globally and locally.

Parents not permitting children to take vaccines major challenge – Dr Anthony

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday stated that parents are reluctant to have their children vaccinated even if they want to, and this poses a challenge for the Ministry of Health.

He made this statement at the opening ceremony of a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy workshop that was held in collaboration with UNICEF at the Regency Suites Hotel in Georgetown.

The aim of the initiative is to specifically focus on encouraging persons to promote the COVID vaccination campaign.

Dr Anthony told the gathering that the vaccination effort in the 12-17 age cohort faces a major challenge as parents are not granting aproval or permitting their children to take the vaccines.

“Now one of the big challenges that we’re having with this particular group is that even if the older children are interested in getting their vaccines, we’re not able to administer that

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

vaccine because we require parental permission and if the parents do not give that permission, then we would not administer the vaccine.

And we’ve been talking about this repeatedly, we’ve been trying to reach out to parents, trying to talk to people about the importance of this,” Dr Anthony said.

He stated that though he believes there is a lot of complacency in persons surrounding the COVID vaccinations, there is room for

improvement.

“I think a lot of people feel that, by their behaviour, that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, so we need to throw caution to the wind. Now we don’t have to wear masks, we don’t have to take all the precautions because that’s not so important. But that’s not the case, because we’re still having persons who when we test them are coming back positive and we still have persons coming into the hospital,” he disclosed.

Anthony also disclosed that those hospitalised are the ones who are unvaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy workshop will be conducted over the next three days, providing information on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, and clearing any misconceptions that persons may have about the COVID-19 vaccines.

“The reason for us being here this morning is to strengthen that conversation, to ask you our par-

ticipants to be the faces who will take the step towards encouraging those who are not yet vaccinated to be vaccinated, to give you the information so that you’re in a better position to speak to some who might be your family members, your neighbours, your friends because the fight against COVID-19 is not yet completed. We still have a long way to go,” Director of Primary Healthcare, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton had said.

Currently, 423,024 or 84.2 per cent of the adult population have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 327,775 or 63.9 per cent have received a second dose. For Children 12 to 17, 33,529 or 46 per cent have received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine while 24,202 or 33.2 per cent have received both doses.

For booster doses, 50,373 persons have received their jabs, which is just below 10 per cent of the adult population.

Caribbean Airlines announces non-stop service between Texas & Guyana

C

aribbean Airlines on Monday announced its non-stop direct services between Houston, Texas and Georgetown, Guyana, with onward connectivity to Port of Spain, Trinidad, with effect from March 22, 2022.

The service will operate thrice weekly to/from Terminal D, of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday up until June 30, 2022.

The launch of this new service is timely considering Guyana’s need for additional airlift, Caribbean Airlines said in a statement.

The company’s CEO, Garvin Medera was quoted as saying, “We are delighted to offer this new service at a time when Caribbean Airlines is actively resetting expectations for our customers with our new aircraft and various refreshed products to enhance the overall customer experience.”

“Caribbean Airlines has been a consistent partner with Guyana and the Guyanese diaspora so it’s only fitting

that we mobilise resources to support the expanding commercial activity in Guyana.

This new operation will provide direct connectivity between Guyana and Houston, which is the base of many of the largest oil companies in the world. Another plus is that customers also have the option to connect to Port of Spain for business and leisure,” he added.

Flights are open for sale via www.caribbean-airlines.com, the airline’s Reservations, Sales and Service Centre and Travel Agents. Customers may also book flights using Caribbean Airlines’ mobile app, available for free download via the Apple Store and Google Play.

In addition, Caribbean Airlines’ pre-order menu will be available to passengers travelling out of Trinidad and Guyana; and travellers are reminded to order from the full menu up to 36 hours prior to their flight departure; either online via the Manage My Booking tab or via Caribbean Airlines’ Call Centre or Ticket Offices.

Man accused of attempting to murder boy, 15, remanded to prison

Remanded: Claudius James

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man who allegedly stabbed a 15-year-old boy was on Monday slapped with an attempted murder charge and remanded to prison.

Claudius James, 18, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on February 22, 2022, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the teen with intent to murder him. He was remanded

to prison until March 21.

The Police prosecutor told the court James and the virtual complainant’s brother have an ongoing issue. On the day in question, James confronted the teenager and they ended up in a fight during which the victim was stabbed in the region of his heart.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he remains a patient suffering from a punctured lung.

Following investigations, James was arrested and charged.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man gets 8 months for break and enter and larceny T he Albouystown, Georgetown man who claimed that he was drunk when he broke into an apartment and stole laptops and other items, was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Earlier this month, Christopher Gonsalves, 30, of Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown, was brought before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on a charge of break

and enter and larceny.

The charge, to which he admitted guilt, stated that on January 21, at Camp Street, Georgetown, he broke into an apartment, and stole a haversack, two laptops, a Nigerian passport, personal documents, a cell phone, several flash drives, a bag, and other personal items.

During a sentencing hearing on Monday, Gonsalves begged the court for mercy, stating that he had already returned the stolen items.

Jailed: Christopher Gonsalves

The Police prosecutor, however, described Gonsalves as a “menace to society” and said that he needed to be punished for what he did while adding that the convict needs to be exposed to programmes to aid with his rehabilitation.

The court heard from the prosecutor that the virtual complainants secured their home and went to sleep at around 00:30h on the day in question. However, at around 03:30h, the man was awakened by his girlfriend who told him that someone

was inside their apartment.

The couple made checks around their home and discovered that the items listed in the charge were missing.

The incident was reported to the Police and an investigation was launched.

In brief remarks, Gonsalves told the court that he was under the influence when he broke into the home and that he is not aware that he took the items. He told the Magistrate that he entered the apartment through an open door.

But one of the com-

plainants, who was present in court, said that this could not be the case, since he locked the door himself before retiring to bed.

Gonsalves was previously charged, convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment for offering a Policeman a bribe and trafficking narcotics.

Guyana Times understands that he offered the Police rank a bribe to forgo charges against him after he was busted with a quantity of narcotics. He was only released from prison last year June.

Ukrainian military says dozens of civilians killed in Kharkiv cording to the Interfax news agency.

Ceasefire talks, Western sanctions

Ukrainian service members are seen after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, at a check point in the city of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, February 27, 2022

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ussian artillery bombarded residential districts of Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv on Monday, with Moscow facing increasing international isolation as talks to resolve the conflict failed to make a breakthrough.

Ukrainian officials said the Kharkiv attacks had killed civilians, including children.

Russia faces economic turmoil as Western nations, united in condemnation of its assault, hit it with sanctions that rippled around the world and whose targets include President Vladimir Putin and his confidants.

The European Union placed new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and officials and some of its members urged the bloc to begin talks on Ukrainian accession. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a letter formally requesting EU membership, an emphatic statement of commitment to Western values.

But Putin showed no sign of reconsidering the invasion he unleashed on Russia’s neighbour last Thursday in an attempt to pull it firmly back under Moscow’s influence and redraw Europe’s security map.

He dismissed the West as an “empire of lies” and replied to the new sanctions with moves to shore up Russia’s crumbling rouble currency.

The Russian invasion - the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two - has failed to

achieve the decisive early gains that Putin would have hoped for, and Kharkiv in Ukraine’s northeast has become a major battleground.

Regional administration chief Oleg Synegubov said Russian artillery had pounded residential districts even though no Ukrainian army positions or strategic infrastructure were there. At least 11 people were killed, he said.

“This is happening in the daytime, when people have gone out to the pharmacy, for groceries, or for drinking wa-

Talks between the two sides were held on the border with strong Russian ally Belarus - a launch pad for invading Russian troops.

Ukraine had said it wanted to secure an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces. The Kremlin declined to comment on its goals.

The meeting ended with officials heading back to capitals for further consultations before a second round of negotiations, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told reporters.

“The Russian side, unfor-

Monday, and many Western companies began to disentangle themselves from their Russian operations.

Over the weekend, some Russian banks were barred from the SWIFT international payments system.

The rouble plunged 32 per cent against the dollar before recouping about half of its losses, and Russia’s Central Bank cranked up its key interest rate to 20 per cent from 9.5 per cent. Authorities told export-focused companies to be ready to sell foreign currency.

In Brussels, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said EU sanctions would have a cost for Europe “but we have to be ready to pay the price, or we will have to pay a much high-

102 civilians in Ukraine had been killed since Thursday but the real figure could be “considerably higher”.

Ukraine’s Health Ministry said on Sunday 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of the invasion.

More than half a million people have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

Partners in the US-led NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) defence alliance were providing Ukraine with air-defence missiles and anti-tank weapons, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said.

The Kremlin accused the EU of hostile behaviour, saying weapons supplies to Ukraine were destabilising

pendently.

Moscow’s United Nations ambassador, speaking in New York, said the Russian army did not pose a threat to civilians.

Images from the US satellite company Maxar showed a Russian military convoy stretching over 17 miles (27 km) and moving closer to the capital, Kyiv, which remains under Ukrainian Government control.

On Kyiv’s streets, signboards normally used for traffic alerts showed the mes-

A family fleeing from Ukraine arrives at Nyugati station, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Budapest, Hungary, February 27, 2022

A view shows a residential building damaged by recent shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, February 27, 2022

ter. It’s a crime,” he said.

Kharkiv’s Mayor, Igor Terekhov, said four people had died after emerging from a bomb shelter to collect water, and that a family with three children had burned to death in a car.

Earlier, Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said Russian rocket strikes on Kharkiv had killed dozens.

It was not possible to verify the casualty figures inde-

sage: “Putin lost the war. The whole world is with Ukraine.”

Fighting also occurred throughout Sunday night around the port city of Mariupol, said the head of the Donetsk regional administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

He did not say whether Russian forces had gained or lost ground.

Russian forces seized two small cities in southeastern Ukraine and the area around a nuclear power plant, ac-

tunately, still has a very biased view of the destructive processes it has launched,” Podolyak tweeted.

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky told reporters: “The most important thing is that we agreed to continue negotiating.”

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.

The Western-led response has been emphatic, with sanctions that effectively cut off Moscow’s financial institutions from Western markets.

The United States imposed new sanctions on Russia’s Central Bank and other sources of wealth on

er price in the future”.

The invasion has brought relations between the United States and Russia, the world’s two biggest nuclear powers, to their worst point in years.

The United States expelled 12 Russian diplomats at the United Nations, citing national security concerns.

Russia described the move as “hostile”.

Russia has not shown interest in creating a “deconfliction mechanism” with the United States over the Ukrainian conflict, the Pentagon said on Monday.

The two countries have such a mechanism in other areas, like Syria, where both operate in close proximity.

Battle for cities

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said at least

and proved that Russia was right in its efforts to demilitarise its neighbour.

But there was support for Ukraine from unexpected quarters.

US technology firm Microsoft said it had provided threat intelligence and defensive suggestions to Ukrainian officials about attacks on a range of targets, and also advised the Government about attempted cyberthefts of data.

And European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, scrapped sponsorship by the Russian state gas giant Gazprom reported to be worth 40 million euros (US$45 million) a season, and UEFA and the global federation FIFA suspended all Russian teams until further notice. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Regional

Mexico investigating Trinidad: Paria moves divers mission from rescue to recovery reports of 17 people

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A relative comforts the wife of one of the missing divers

fter two days of searching for four members of an underwater main-

tenance crew, the Paria Fuel Trading Company has given up hope of finding them alive

and now moves to recover their bodies.

During a press conference at the Pointe-a-Pierre Staff Club at Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery Sunday, Paria said the recovery operations would begin on Monday using a water displacement method to move the bodies out of the 30inch submarine pipeline.

Chairman Newman George said Paria’s engineering team was designing the recovery procedure intended to ensure the uninterrupted movement of the bodies to the point of recovery.

George said Paria came to this decision after a lengthy meeting between Paria, LMCS, the Coast Guard and two independent diving experts.

He said the company sent probes into the horseshoe-shaped line but it encountered something at a

certain depth and could go no further. They believe the men’s bodies could be there and will insert pressurised water into the pipeline, hoping to lift the bodies out.

“Based on advice from all the experts, the operation has now moved from rescue to recovery. The experts have also agreed on a joint effort which will see a water displacement process being used to gradually push the bodies along the 400-metre pipeline to where they can be successfully recovered at Berth 6,” George said.

Paria’s General Manager Mushtaq Mohammed said during the meeting, members determined it was too risky to send divers to attempt rescue operations without first determining the condition in the pipeline.

He said there was no concrete evidence that the men were dead, but the information collected indicated that the probability of survival was very low. He said the risk of rescue was also high and intolerable. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

shot dead during wake

M

exico is investigating reports that around 17 people were executed in the state of Michoacan, after a gruesome video showed gunmen storming a funeral wake during the weekend and dragging mourners outside to be killed.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday urged patience as the chief prosecutor’s office investigates what happened, saying that he hoped “with all of his soul” that the events were not true.

“We still don’t have all the information,” Lopez Obrador said during his daily morning press conference, adding that shell casings were found but no bodies.

A video shared widely on social media showed a group of people lined up against a wall, most of them holding their hands behind their heads, before apparently being shot in a barrage of bul-

lets fired by surrounding gunmen.

Mexican media reported the mourners were killed in the town of San Jose de Gracia, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Morelia, the state capital of Michoacan, where turf battles between rival drug cartels have sent violence soaring.

The Michoacan chief prosecutor’s office late on Sunday said that though no bodies have been found, investigators discovered firearms cartridges at the site where the video was suspected to have been filmed as well as “cleaning products” in a bag, saying the “site had recently been washed”.

The video on social media appears to have been filmed by a nearby neighbour through a window with a high vantage point, showing the group of people lined up against a white wall.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil soars as Russian energy supply fears intensify

O

il prices jumped on Monday as Western allies imposed more sanctions on Russia and blocked some Russian banks from a global payments system, which could cause severe disruption to its oil exports.

Brent crude rose US$2.94, or 3 per cent, to US$100.87 by 2:21 pm EDT (1921 GMT) after touching a high of US$105.07 a barrel in early trade.

The Brent contract for April delivery expires on Monday. The most active contract, for May delivery, was up US$3.14 at US$97.26.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up US$4.39, or 4.8 per cent, at US$95.98 after hitting US$99.10 in early trade.

"Growing concerns about disruptions to Russian energy supplies are pushing oil and gas prices up sharply," Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said.

Russia is facing severe disruption to its exports of all commodities from oil to grains after Western nations imposed stiff sanctions on Moscow and cut off some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system.

"Russia could retaliate to these harsh measures by reducing or even completely suspending energy shipments to Europe," Fritsch said.

Russian crude oil grades, which account for about 10 per cent of global oil supply, were hammered in physical markets.

Goldman Sachs raised its one-month Brent price forecast to US$115 a barrel from US$95 previously.

"We expect the price of consumed commodities that Russia is a key producer of to rally from here - this includes oil," the bank said.

President Vladimir Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday.

Russian forces seized two small cities in southeastern Ukraine, the Interfax news agency said, but ran into stiff resistance elsewhere.

Talks between Ukraine and Russia have started at the Belarusian border, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said, aiming to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

"If there's any progress made in this meeting, we're going to see a sharp reversal in markets - we'll see stocks rise, the dollar rise and oil fall," said OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley.

British oil major BP decided to exit its Russian oil and gas investments, opening a new front in the West's campaign to isolate Russia's economy. BP is Russia's biggest foreign investor.

The sanctions and the exodus of Western oil companies could impact Russian oil production in the near term, analysts said.

Oil prices came under pressure after The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States and other major oil-consuming nations are considering releasing 70 million barrels of oil from their emergency stockpiles.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, are due to meet on Wednesday. The group is expected to stick to plans to add 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of supply in April.

Ahead of the meeting, OPEC+ revised down its forecast for the oil market surplus for 2022 by about 200,000 bpd to 1.1 million bpd, underscoring market tightness. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine: Fighting escalates despite ceasefire talks

F

ighting has continued on the fifth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, despite talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Missile strikes killed dozens of civilians in the country's second city, Kharkiv, while air raid sirens sounded again in the capital, Kyiv.

There were reports of fierce shelling in the northern city of Chernihiv.

Russia is attacking Ukraine on several fronts, but its advance has been slowed by Ukrainian resistance.

All three cities remain under Ukrainian control.

Away from the battlefields, economic and diplomatic moves have continued.

President Vladimir Putin has banned Russians from

This bombsite in Kharkiv used to be a school

moving money abroad as he tries to halt a plunge in the value of the rouble following the imposition of sanctions.

And a rare emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly has heard a demand from the Secretary General for

Climate change: IPCC report warns of "irreversible" impacts of global warming

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any of the impacts of global warming are now simply "irreversible" according to the UN's latest assessment.

But the authors of a new report say that there is still a brief window of time to avoid the very worst.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that humans and nature are being pushed beyond their abilities to adapt.

Over 40 per cent of the world's population are "highly vulnerable" to climate, the sombre study finds.

But there's hope that if the rise in temperatures is kept below 1.5C, it would reduce projected losses.

Just four months on from COP26, where world leaders committed themselves to rapid action on climate change, this new UN study shows the scale

of their task.

"Our report clearly indicates that places where people live and work may cease to exist, that ecosystems and species that we've all grown up with and that are central to our cultures and inform our languages may disappear," said Prof Debra Roberts, co-chair of the IPCC. "So this is really a key moment. Our report points out very clearly, this is the decade of action, if we are going to turn things around."

This report from the IPCC is the second of three reviews from the world's foremost body of climate researchers.

Last August, the first instalment highlighted the scale of the effect that humans were having on the climate system.

This new report looks at the causes, impacts and solutions to climate

Desperate Afghans sell kidneys amid poverty, starvation

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obless, debt-ridden, and struggling to feed his children, Nooruddin felt he had no choice but to sell a kidney – one of a growing number of Afghans willing to sacrifice an organ to save their families.

The practice has become so widespread in the western city of Herat that a nearby settlement is bleakly nicknamed “one-kidney village”.

Afghanistan has been plunged into financial crisis following the Taliban takeover six months ago, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation after 20 years of war and United States occupation.

More than half of the

Aid agencies and experts say sanctions are worsening the humanitarian crisis [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

country’s 38 million population suffers from acute hunger, with nearly 9 million Afghans at risk of famine, according to the United Nations.

The foreign aid that once propped up the country has been slow to return in the

an immediate halt to hostilities.

Meanwhile, on the northern border with Belarus, Ukrainian and Russian officials ended their first round of talks.

There was little expectation the session would

bring a breakthrough, but a Ukrainian official said both sides would now return to their respective capitals for further consultations before a second round of negotiations.

Russia said both sides had agreed to continue talking and would meet again "in the next few days".

Videos shared on social media showed rockets landing in Kharkiv, in what some defence analysts described as typical of a cluster munition strike on a dense urban area.

Attempts have been made to impose a global ban on cluster munitions, with 110 nations agreeing to outlaw them under a 2008 convention. However, neither Russia nor Ukraine have signed it. (Excerpt from BBC News)

wake of US sanctions. The country’s economy is near collapse after international financial institutions cut funding and the US froze Afghanistan assets. US President Joe Biden earlier this month decided to withhold about US$7 billion in

Afgan assets, repurposing half of the money as compensation to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Aid agencies and experts have called for the lifting of sanctions against the Taliban, saying the measures are worsening the humanitarian crisis.

In Afghanistan, however, the practice is unregulated.

Afghans desperate for money are usually matched by brokers with wealthy patients, who travel to Herat from across the country – and sometimes even from India and Pakistan.

The recipient pays both the hospital fees and the donor. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

change. It gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is af-

fecting all the living things on Earth. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukraine conflict: Nigeria condemns treatment of Africans

Before the conflict there were several thousand African students in Ukraine

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igeria's Government has condemned reports that its citizens, and those of other African countries, have been stopped from leaving wartorn Ukraine.

Isaac, a Nigerian man trying to get into Poland, said border staff told him they were "not tending to Africans".

"We've been chased back, we've been hit with Police armed with sticks," he told the BBC. South African foreign office official Clayson Monyela also said students had been "badly treated" at the border.

There have also been numerous reports of Ukrainian security officials preventing Africans from catching buses and trains going to the border.

Osemen, from Nigeria, told the BBC he had tried to get on a train in Lviv to take him to the Polish border but was told only Ukrainians

would be allowed on board.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said there were about 4000 Nigerians in Ukraine, mostly students.

He said one group had repeatedly been refused entry to Poland so they travelled back into Ukraine to head for Hungary instead.

"All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under the UN Convention, and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference," Buhari said in a tweet.

More than 500,000 Ukrainians have managed to flee the Russian invasion so far.

The Polish border force told the BBC that everyone fleeing conflict in Ukraine was being welcomed into Poland regardless of nationality. The BBC has tried to contact the Ukrainian border force but has yet to receive a response. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Have patience; if you act quickly, mistakes will happen. Keep your plans secret until you can confidently present what you have to offer. Don’t expect to win over someone who prefers to run the show.

A clear head is required when dealing with others. Be a good listener, and you’ll come across information that can help you make positive suggestions. An act of kindness will pay off.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20) Concentrate on what’s important to you and refuse to let anyone lure you off course. An adamant approach will deter interference and encourage you to do the best job possible.

(May 21-June 20) Stick to what you know and do best.

Look on the bright side and use your skills innovatively, and you’ll come out on top. A partnership will be a learning experience. Romance is favored.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Don’t let an outsider mess with your plans. Stick close to those who have your back, and you will outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. Don’t feel pressured by changes made by others.

(July 23-Aug. 22) You have plenty to look forward to, so don’t waste time worrying about something you cannot change. Plant your feet firmly on the ground and work to make a difference. Follow your heart.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Mental stimulation will help you stay out of trouble. Seek the facts. Once you have evidence to substantiate your beliefs, you can move forward. Don’t trust hearsay.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) How you go about putting changes in play will affect the outcome. Don’t make guesses when your success depends on accuracy, know-how and skill. Romance is in the stars.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Live and learn. Listen carefully and refuse to let your emotions get in the way of a good decision. Don’t believe everything you hear. An exaggerated statement will prove costly.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Reorganize how you handle money matters and how you approach work and living conditions. A positive change will make a massive difference to your mood and conduct. Romance is on the rise.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Don’t feel obligated to respond or change because of what someone decides to do; focus on what’s important to you and move along. Trust your instincts, not what others try to lead you to believe.

It’s OK to change your mind. When in doubt, don’t worry about taking a step back and assessing the situation. Draw on your resources and the people you trust, and you’ll find the best path.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

21

Ukraine crisis: FIFA to suspend Russia as IOC calls for athletes’ suspension F

ootball’s world governing body FIFA is set to suspend Russia until further notice – as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommends that Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials be banned from any organised international competitions.

FIFA’s suspension would mean Russia’s exclusion from the men’s World Cup qualification play-offs in March.

The IOC has urged sport governing bodies not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete because of a “breach of the Olympic Truce” by those countries’ Governments.

It comes after Russia, supported by Belarus, launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday.

FIFA had earlier ruled that Russia must complete their upcoming games in neutral territory, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and anthem.

However, the announcement drew criticism – and Scotland and the Republic of Ireland joined several other nations, including England and Wales, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, in refusing to play against Russia.

On Monday, Scottish FA President Rod Petrie wrote to his Ukrainian counterpart “to send a message of support, friendship and unity”, with those two nations due to meet in their World Cup play-off semi-final on March 24.

Russia are scheduled to face Poland in the play-offs on the same day, followed by a final meeting with the Czech Republic or Sweden on March 29, should they win.

Russia’s women are also set to compete at the Women’s Euro 2022 in England in July where they are in a group with the Netherlands, Sweden, and

Switzerland.

The International Paralympic Committee is to meet on

Wednesday to discuss Russia, just two days before the start of the Beijing Winter Paralympic

Games.

The IOC said it had made its recommendations “in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants”, adding that “the current war in Ukraine puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma”.

“While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country,” an IOC statement read. (BBC Sport)

Mayank Agarwal named ICC does away with strict new Punjab Kings Captain

bio-bubbles for World Cup in New Zealand

W

ith COVID-19 and its persistent threats lurking around the World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) expects the participating players to abide by all the COVID-19 guidelines for the smooth conduct of the tournament.

ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Geoff Allardice said that the governing body was prepared for the disruptions (if any) that may occur during the course of the tournament.

The World Cup is set to begin on March 4 with the tournament opener between the hosts New Zealand and West Indies at Mount Maunganui. The whole tournament is slated to be played across six different venues in New Zealand.

“I think the approach is around having a managed environment for this tournament and the testing will be frequent.

It is not like it is going to be daily testing or anything,” Allardice said in an online interaction ahead of the mega-event.

“It is really about players taking responsibility. We are asking the players and the teams to just be sensible, stay away from the areas likely to create

transmission,” he said.

Although the ICC has allowed teams to go ahead with a game even if they can field nine players, Allardice is hopeful that the situation won’t become so appalling.

“It was something that we had to do over the last few months, since the Omicron outbreak. Almost all of our tournaments, we have been challenged with the number of all players being unavailable due to isolation for positive COVID tests,” Allardice said in regard to the nine-player arrangement.

The nine-player arrangement was introduced for the first time in the recently-culminated U-19 World Cup in the West Indies as the tournament was marred by the impact of COVID-19.

India, who won their record fifth U-19 World title, suffered a COVID-19 outbreak which forced six of their players, including skipper Yash Dhull, to miss some of the games.

“I think one of the shifts is we had quite a close call in the West Indies with the men’s Under-19 World Cup, a month or so ago, where there were a number of teams that had breaks.

“And I think we needed to

have some contingency plans.

The bottom line is we want 11 versus 11. We have got squads of 15, I think all teams are travelling with some extra reserve players as well, as a contingency,” the ICC CEO said. “…the announcement or introduction of those protocols was very much given the uncertainty of the events that we were dealing with. It is just a contingency. And I am hoping that every match takes place as scheduled with no interruptions,” Allardice added.

Allardice also admitted that the apex body has been finding it really difficult to host tournaments since the onset of the pandemic.

“The issue with quarantine and isolation in the lead-up to a tournament is something we had to work around in different ways for the last 18 months for international cricket and for our events, for the last nine months or so.

“For us, it is a challenge because we deal with different Governments in country to country and they all have a different approach to dealing with COVID,” he added.

(Women’s Criczone)

M

ayank Agarwal has been unveiled as the new Captain of Punjab Kings, just under a month from the start of the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on March 26.

“I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team,” Agarwal, one of two players retained by the franchise ahead of the latest mega-auction – medium pacer Arshdeep Singh was the other – said in a statement issued by the Kings on Monday morning. “I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season.

“We have some vastlyexperienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it.

We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team, we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it.”

Agarwal, who has in the past turned out for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore, joined the Punjab franchise in 2018, when it was still called Kings XI Punjab.

After a slow start – he scored 120 runs at a strike rate of 127.65 from 11 innings in his first season – he has been one of the team’s leading batters. His 332 runs in 2019 came

at a strike rate of 141.88, and as he forged a strong opening pairing with KL Rahul, the captain till last season, Agarwal scored 424 runs (SR 156.45) and 441 runs (SR 140.44) in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Overall, in 11 seasons of playing in the IPL, Agarwal has 2131 runs at an average of 23.41 and a strike rate of 135.47.

“Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years,” Kings Head Coach Anil Kumble said.

“The new squad we selected at the recently-concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm.

“He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the

attributes required of a leader.

I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign.”

Though he has had a good run in the IPL over the years, Agarwal hasn’t yet earned his India cap in T20Is. He was called up to the squad for the ongoing series at home against Sri Lanka, but only as an injury replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Looked at as a long-format player by the national selectors, Agarwal has played 19 Tests (1429 runs at an average of 43.30) and five OneDay Internationals (ODIs) (86 runs at 17.20) so far.

In the 2022 IPL, though, he won’t have Rahul, his friend and colleague from Karnataka for many years, to work with. Rahul led the Punjab franchise for the last two seasons, but was acquired before the latest auction by new franchise Lucknow Super Giants, who have also named him their captain. His price tag of INR 17 crore ( approximately US$2.28 million) made him the joint-highestpaid player in the IPL across seasons, along with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli. Kohli was signed for the same amount by Royal Challengers in 2018, ahead of the last mega IPL auction.

Agarwal does, however, have a strong unit at his disposal. At the recent auction, Kings spent a lot of money on Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, Shahrukh Khan, and Shikhar Dhawan, who should be Agarwal’s opening partner.

They also have players like Jonny Bairstow and Odean Smith among overseas players, and locals like Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan and Harpreet Brar, apart from Arshdeep.

Kings have been stacked with Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers, and Gujarat Titans in Group B in the upcoming IPL. (ESPNcricinfo)

22

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

… to hold joint clinics with Roland Butcher

Sir Andy Roberts

Widely considered the father of modern fast bowling in the Caribbean, Sir Andy Roberts is regarded as one of the all-time greats of cricket. The legendary fast bowler who retired in 1983

after the West Indies tour of India will be a special guest of the proactive Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) during the month of April.

The visit of Sir Andy would be a continuation of the BCB countywide coaching programme with special emphasis being placed from the Under-13 to Under-19 levels.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the main objective of the massive and wellorganised coaching programme is to identify the most promising players in the county and make sure that they have all the opportunities to develop.

Thousands of youths have benefited from intense training by the BCB panel of coaches headed by Level Three Coach

Roland Butcher

Winston Smith over the last four years. Special emphasis has been placed on batting, physical fitness, mental preparation, fast bowling, fielding, wicket keeping, off-spin, leg-spin and

left-hand orthodox spin.

Additionally, the BCB created history when it published its coaching manual for youth players and a youth information booklet. In 2022 to date, the

BCB has hosted a series of very successful coaching clinics with former players Clyde Butts, Sheik Mohamed, Sean Devers, Reon King, Nolan Mckenzie and the legendary Sir Curtly Ambrose. Foster was contacted by a close friend of Sir Andy and he readily agreed to the visit, which is scheduled to take place between the 20th and 24th of April. Widely considered as an encyclopaedia on the game, Sir Andy is expected to have oneon-one meetings along with group sessions with Berbice top junior and senior players. He would be assisted by a battery of local coaches including Smith, Travis Hardcourt, Leslie Solomon, Delbert Hicks, Julian Moore, and Balram Samaroo. Roberts, fondly known as the “Hitman”,

played 47 Test matches between 1974 and 1983. He took 202 wickets at an average of 25.6 and an economy rate of 2.67. He played in three World Cup Finals, winning in 1975 and 1979.

At the same time, the Barbados-born Butcher, who was the first person of African descent to play for England, would be conducting a batting clinic for about 40 of Berbice’s finest. Butcher, a close family friend of the BCB President, offered his services to the Board after saying he was very impressed by the high standards of its work. Butcher played three Test matches and three One-Day Internationals for England while scoring over 17,000 runs at the First-Class and 50-overs level overall.

NSC/GTTA Mashramani tournament

Britton, Van Lange, Billingy, Hickerson win in respective categories T he action closed off on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the National Sports Commission (NSC)/ Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Mashramani tournament. From this event, Shemar Britton, Jonathan Van Lange, Jasmine Billingy, and Orin Hickerson emerged victorious in their respective categories.

In the men’s singles, Britton and Van Lange were pitted against each other. The duo had teamed up on previous occasions and even won the doubles title in the National Seniors Table Tennis Championship in January 2022.

However, this time they would be on different sides of the net; Britton showed his class while Van

Shemar Britton is the men’s singles winner

Jasmine Billingy won the Women’s singles

Jonathan Van Lange won the U-19 title

Lange put up a good fight, but in the end, Britton stormed to the title 4-0. Van Lange wowed the crowd in the first match, but Britton managed to steal it from right

under his nose 14-12. Heading into the second round, Britton found his rhythm and took the lead 117, from there it was smooth sailing as he dominated the young talent,

winning the other two rounds 11-9 and 11-7 to take the men’s singles title.

In the B Class Open, Hickerson beat the much-experienced Colin France to take that category.

When the action commenced, Hickerson lost the first round 119, but bounced back to tie things up 1-1 with his victory of 11-9 in the second game. But then France took round three 11-4 only for Hickerson to take the other game 11-7. The see-saw battle saw things tied at 2-2 with one more round to go. Hickerson dug deep and shot to the top with a comfortable 11-6 victory to take the game 3-2.

In the women’s singles, the players participating were Billingy, Samara Sukhai, and Akira Watson. Billingy stood on top at the pinnacle and she dominated the category, emerging victorious

in all two of her games against Sukhai and Watson. In Billingy’s first game against Sukhai, she won the match 3-1: the first round was won by Billingy 11-8, but Sukhai took the second round 11-9. But Billingy went into overdrive and took the other two rounds 11-7 and 11-5. Her next encounter was with Watson which was a breeze in the park as she won 3-0 with scores of 13-11, 11-5, and 11-6.

Her victories meant she topped her group with four points.

In the Under-19 men’s singles, Van Lange and Niran Bissu locked horns, but it was Van Lange who continued his domination with a 3-0 win. Bissu while talented had no reply to Van Lange’s tactics; in the end, he was defeated 11-8, 11-2, and 11-5.

CLASSIFIED ADS

D

espite losing by 90 runs to Australia in their warm-up match over the weekend, West Indies Women Captain Stafanie Taylor remains optimistic about how well her team will perform during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign.

That said, she opined that she did not mind if the 2016 champions were considered underdogs this time around, saying that the team were in a good space and were focused on the task at hand and that they won’t be letting anything

Windies Women’s Captain Stafanie Taylor

distract them from taking the tournament one game at a time.

“I think we're in a really good space at the moment. The two practice games are for us to focus on ourselves and work on ourselves before the first official game against New Zealand,” Taylor said.

“We don't mind being underdogs. It’s good that we don’t get too ahead of ourselves, and some people don't look at us being a 50-over team, but I’ve seen us getting better and better so that's a plus for us.”

The West Indies Women will take on India in the second of their two warm-up games at the Rangiora Oval in Christchurch today. (Sportsmax)

CAYMAN ISLANDS EMPLOYMENT

The Edwin Allen Girls’ relay team

E

dwin Allen’s Class I Girls’ 4x100m team stole the show at Saturday’s staging of the 2022 Gibson/McCook Relays at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

The quartet of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall, and Tia Clayton had a string of flawless baton exchanges to eventually cross the finish line in a time of 43.37 seconds, a new meet record and high school world record.

They finished more than a full second ahead of Hydel High, who

ran 44.40 for second place while St Jago finished third in 45.50.

Edwin Allen also took the Girls’ Class 4 4x100m in 48.81 and the 4x200m Open in 1:35.91.

Hydel High girls won the Girls’ Class 2 4x100m in 44.62 and the 4x400m relay in 3:33.76.

Holmwood Technical was also in record-breaking form in the Girls’ Sprint Medley with 3:55.77 to better the previous meet record of 4:00.83.

Meanwhile, Jamaica College’s 4x800m team was also in fine form, running a new meet record

of 7:24.30 to finish almost 12 seconds ahead of second-place finishers Kingston College, who ran 7:36.21. St Jago was third in 7:45.46.

JC smashed the previous meet record of 7:31.71.

Kingston College won two of the four sprint relays, running 44.36 and 45.99 to win Classes 3 and 4, respectively.

The Class 1 4x100m was won

by St Jago in 40.26 ahead of JC (40.40) and St Catherine High (40.50) while Calabar stormed to victory in Class 2 in 42.19 ahead of KC (42.26).

St Jago also won the final event of the meet, the Boys’ 4x400m in 3:10.48 ahead of KC (3:11.43) and JC (3:12.49).

JC won the Boys’ Sprint Medley in 3:30.82 ahead of KC (3:31.53) and Calabar (3:38.40).

There were also some standout performances from the seniors on display, namely Tissana Hickling and Lushane Wilson.

Hickling won the Women’s Long Jump in 6.70m and 100m in 11.85 while Wilson leapt to a new personal best 2.21m to win the Men’s High Jump. (Sportsmax)

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Guyana, China unveil logo in celebration of 50th anniversary O

n Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Guyana and China hosted a Friendship Table Tennis tournament to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Guyana and The People’s Republic of China establishing diplomatic relations, and unveiled an anniversary logo.

Present at the tournament were Foreign Secretary of Guyana, Robert Persaud and Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, who shared insights into the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

In the feature address,

Foreign Secretary Persaud said, “Guyana and China, we have very strong historical ties, as reference to Chinese making up one segment of our population. More importantly, the People’s Republic of China have always enjoyed discussing relationship, having established international relations in June 27, 1972.

From then, we’ve seen our relationship grow economically, politically and we’ve seen very clear attempts to bring our people together.”

Persaud noted that regardless of which government was in office, there has always been a unified view of

the China policy as it relates to working to forge better bilateral relations, and greater ties to bring the people to-

GBA to host U-16 Championships twice monthly

ing forward.

“Sports is also a part of bringing people together, so while we are here and sym-

G

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

Coach Lennox Daniels and with the Technical Director, Terrence Poole (MS) and we’ve decided that twice a month there will be a U-16 competition.”

The recent U-16 Championship saw exceptional performances from the boxers fighting out of the Vergenoegen and Berbice Jammers Boxing Gyms.

“It was also heartening to note that Rosehall Jammers was able to provide such a large team and the return of Vergenoegen to our fold. Vergenoegen has been out for some time, but Mr Clifton Moore has promised me that he has been training his boxers and they will be back,” Ninvalle said.

He declared, “Boxing is back with a bang, especially in the nursery department [U-16 level], which we said we would be placing so much emphasis on.”

“It was heartening to see what took place this weekend, to see the sort of professionalism with everyone involved. It gives me a lot of energy to move forward.

So, people can expect a lot of nursery boxing now until August or even beyond that, because as I said, this is our focus right now – the nursery of the sport,” Ninvalle said.

At the 2019 Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Guyana, thanks to a table-leading eight gold medals and best boxer performances by Patrick Harvey (male junior) and Alisha Jackman (female schoolgirl), was able to maintain a firm grip on the overall trophy.

port and mutually-beneficial cooperation. We look forward to even more fruitful cooperation in all fields to achieve common development,” she said.

After the unveiling ceremony, an extraordinary exhibition match was played

by Guyana’s national team champions. Then, after their introduction by Godfrey Munroe, President of GTTA; Chen Xilai, Deputy Chief of

Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Guyana, Guo Haiyan

Foreign Secretary of Guyana, Robert Persaud

The victorious Team Blue

rateful for the return of amateur boxing for the first time in more than two years, Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle has announced the hosting of a U-16 Championships twice monthly.

With the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament set for August, Ninvalle noted that “we would need to have our young pugilists have as much competition as possible” .

The GBA, backed by sponsors Pepsi, hosted its Mike Parris U-16 Championships last weekend at the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Gym in Albouystown, Georgetown.

At the event which heralded the return of competitive boxing for the first time since the advent of COVID-19, Jeremiah Duncan, hailing from the Young Achievers Boxing Gym, copped the coveted best boxer award, while Vergenoegen and Berbice Jammers were joint winners for the Best Gym trophy.

“We would want to thank Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) for being on board. We would also like to thank the National COVID-19 Task Force for finding it fit and having the trust in us to approve the tournament and for being able to stay within the guidelines mapped out by the National COVID-19 Task Force,” Ninvalle said.

According to the GBA President, “we’re coming out of two years of not having any competitive boxing, so we need every single round that we’ll have.

With that, I’ve spoken to National

ties that we have with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. We are very grateful for the support we have received; it is not about kicking off a table tennis tournament but reminding us that sports (in particular) diplomacy as it relates to the People’s Republic of China,” Persaud posited.

Ambassador Guo, in her remarks, stated that she was honoured to join Foreign

gether. He explained that Guyana cherished the relationship it had with China and for that reason, the two countries were seeking ways to build their relationship go-

bolically kicking off the event, we will also look at other areas. I know we will be collaborating to develop more recreational facilities, enhancing some of the existing facili-

Secretary Persaud to unveil the logo of the people’s anniversary of China and Guyana.

She explained that 50 years ago, Guyana established diplomatic relations with China, so since then Guyana has been an important partner of China. “Fifty years is an important milestone, during the last half-century Guyana and China have shared things such as mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual sup-

the Embassy; Manzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly; and Ishaka Jackman, IT and Media Specialist Player of GTTA, led Teams Red, Yellow, and Blue respectively in a team competition. It took 13 matches to finally decide the winner.

Team Blue in the end won, and Team Yellow and Team Red took the second and third place respectively.

Dey working to rectify GRFU’s financial audit issues

A

long with the hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) on Saturday elected a new Executive Body with Ryan Dey at the helm once again. However, also on the agenda was addressing the Union’s financial audit situation.

Dey was on hand after the election to share his gratitude and his plans for his new term in office.

“I want to thank the players and the members of the Union for giving me another shot at this presidency.

My previous presidency was good; we didn’t have a lot of time on our hands because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it seems that the country is being opened slowly now,” the newly-re-elected GRFU President shared.

He added, “So, hopefully most of the things that we wanted to do then, I can get to do now.

“That includes getting rugby into other regions, having more local tournaments, having our players

Ryan Dey will serve another term as President of the GRFU

get a chance to train properly so we can reach that level that we once were before,” Dey indicated, in listing priorities on his Executive’s agenda.

The AGM did not come without drama, however, as the financial position of the Union was questioned.

Addressing this issue, Dey explained that there were financial papers outstanding from the 2018-2019 administration which are stalling a full audit.

“We cannot do an audited financial statement because the Union before us, that’s the 2018-2019, haven’t supplied us with the relevant documents for us to go to the auditing firm, so they can audit their books and then audit our books,” Dey said in response to the inquiry.

He went on to assure, “Our books are intact, but we need succession, it cannot be that you skip two years and then do our two years. We have to have the

relevant documents from the previous Union, that’s the 2018-2019 Union, in order for us to have an audited financial statement.”

Dey further argued that this was also under the guidance of the Union’s preferred audit firm and his administration would be pursuing their colleagues from the previous Executive body, in order to rectify the problem.

He shared, “We did approach an auditing firm, actually that’s the auditing firm that did our auditing for the past five years and they said we cannot do an audit. We as in when I was in office. We cannot do one until 2018-2019 is fully audited.”

“Now, we will be pursuing the personnel or persons from the previous Union to get these documents so that we can be financially audited and show our transparency when it comes to spending monies.”

Dey’s new term is expected to run from 2022 to 2023.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

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

Mexico humble Lady Jags 5-0

M

exico’s Under-20 women’s team have proven themselves to be the rain on Guyana’s parade at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships, with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Lady Jags.

The Lady Jags’ play was alarmingly dissimilar to that in their first Group F match, which they won against Honduras, last Saturday.

Competing at the Olimpico Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Guyana opted for a change in the goalkeeping department as Anessa O’Brien got her chance in front of the goal. There was even a change in captaincy as Kiana Khedoo led the team, with the remainder of the XI comprising Audrey Narine, Samantha Banfield, Savannah Mordesir-Singh, Gabriella Salvadore, Rory Scott, Shamya Daniels, Jenea Knight, Hasha Holder, and Jessica Myers.

Mexico were fairly quiet for the first few minutes of the game, but their opening goal came in the 10th minute when an infraction in

the box by Guyana awarded them a penalty kick. Sinking the goal was Mexico’s Paola Chavero.

Maritza Maldonado later made it a 2-0 game with an on-target strike in the 28th minute, while Tatiana Flores added to the tally in the 37th.

With the score reading 3-0 at the half, there was much time for redemption for the Lady Jags, but simply put, it was an off day for the Guyanese ladies. The local women not only failed to maintain possession for extended periods, but also had few shots at the goal.

Mexico, however, thrived with Maldonado returning in the 56th minute to register a brace, while Avilez netted another in the 78th to push the score to 5-0.

Guyana will play their final group match on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 against Panama at 12pm local time. As it stands, the Lady Jags still have a chance of making it to the next round of the CONCACAF Women’s Championships, should they win or draw against Panama.

Guyana, China unveil logo in celebration of 50th anniversary Page 23

The unveiling of the logo

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