Guyana Times -- Tuesday, March 29, 2022

73 teachers P graduate from Education Management Certificate Course 16

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

Issue No. 4963

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

Clifton Hicken appointed Top Cop (ag) See story on page 2

…as Nigel Hoppie goes on pre-retirement leave

Food security, climate change will feature heavily in sustainable development planning – Ali GRA strengthening rules against auto dealers manipulating system to …“dealers actually trying a twofold buy seized cars smartness on us” – GRA Head Murder “I’m asking for your accused forgiveness” stabbed to – crying death at convicted murderer Lusignan to victim’s family Prison See story on page 3

Page 7

See story on page 12

Page 16

…jailed for 23 years sentence

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

50 months in jail, $215M fine for ganja trafficker P8

"Chairman must go" – Crabwood Creek residents protest for IMC to replace NDC P13

Health Ministry writes RDC for land to construct modern hospital in Region 5 P9 AFC to hold P11 leadership elections in June

13th death anniversary

WPO pays tribute to former President Janet Jagan P15

38 adolescent mothers graduate from reintegration programme P15

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Clifton Hicken appointed Top Cop (ag) …as Nigel Hoppie goes on pre-retirement leave

D

President Dr Irfaan Ali

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

eputy Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Operations, Clifton Hicken has been promoted to act in the Office of Commissioner of Police, taking over from acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie, who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

This was announced by both the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Office of the President, which released a statement that President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his capacity as Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces, made the appointment on Monday.

Prior to the appointment, Hicken was performing the duties of Deputy Commissioner “Operations”.

Hicken’s appointment takes effect from Wednesday, March 30, 2022. In the meantime, Hoppie has already proceeded on pre-retirement leave effective March 27, 2022.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for Operations in August 2020, Hicken was seconded to the Department of Citizenship in 2019 under the A

PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton

Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Known for his dynamic style of management, Hicken was also quite popular during his reign as Commander of A and B Divisions and was well known for his outreaches into communities and interactions with members of the public.

Opposition misunderstands

His appointment has not gone down well with some quarters, however, as the

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) sent out a statement on Monday soon after news broke of the appointment.

According to the PNCR in their statement, Article 211 (1) of the Constitution requires meaningful consultation with the Opposition Leader and Chairperson of the Police Service Commission.

However, Guyana has been without an Opposition Leader since January of 2022, when former Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon resigned the role.

Harmon further resigned from Parliament itself earlier this month.

PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton, who was elected by the PNCR as leader since December of 2021, is yet to even step foot in Parliament. This is despite the resignations of Harmon and Nicolette Henry, whose resignation doesn’t take effect until the end of March.

In an interview with this publication, prominent Attorney-at-Law and Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjeev Datadin pointed out that due to the fact that Hicken is acting as

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken

Commissioner of Police, there is no constitutional requirement for consultations.

Calling it “a misunderstanding on their part of the meaning and import of the legislation and Constitution”, Datadin further noted that while the APNU/AFC continues on without an Opposition Leader, the country’s business cannot remain at a standstill.

“The Constitution, in simple English, requires consultation for the appointment of a Commissioner.

On pre-retirement leave: Former acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie

And there is no way that the appointment of a Commissioner arises at this point. This is utterly preposterous logic,” Datadin said.

“Are they saying the Government must go and appoint their Opposition Leader? They don’t want to have an Opposition Leader, that’s their problem. The Government must still carry on and do the job it must.

If there is no Opposition Leader, who are we to consult?” (G3)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Tuesday, Mar 29 – 01:30h – 03:00h and Wednesday, Mar 30 – 02:00h – 03:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, Mar 29 – 14:40h – 16:10h and Wednesday, Mar 30 – 15:25h – 16:55h.

Food security, climate change will feature heavily in sustainable development planning – Ali

…US pledges further support as Guyana builds capacity

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: Northerly to North North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 15:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.49 metres.

Low Tide: 08:37h and 21:02h reaching minimum heights of 0.84 metre and 0.67 metre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

03 07 08

10 15 19

FREE TICKET

25 Bonus Ball

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

02 06 19 21 24 LUCKY 3

0

2

4

0

Afternoon Draw

1

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03 04 07 09 14 15 16 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

01 03 04 05 08 13

08 14 15 17 21

3

6 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon 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

$112.48/barrel

-7.26

Rough Rice

$286.61/ton

+0.21

London Sugar

$555.40/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1925.60

$1926.60

Low/High Change

$1916.10 +3.00

$1947.10 +0.16%

President Dr Irfaan Ali

I

ssues such as food security and climate change will feature heavily in sustainable development planning, even as the University of Guyana (UG) launched its Master’s degree programme in Strategic Development studies at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was the keynote speaker at the launching, made this pronouncement. In his presentation, he emphasised the importance of issues of food security and climate change, as well as issues such as water scarcity, particularly to Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“Food security, understanding what is the regional approach when we say 25 by 2025. What is the immediate approach and what is the long-term agenda for the region? Understanding what are the challenges and constraints that are there, that disallowed us from achieving this in the past, so that framing future policies would allow us to address those challenges.”

“We cannot speak about sustainable development without speaking about issues like food security, climate change, water scarcity.

These are all issues directly related to strategic development studies,” the President said.

According to President Ali, partnership is an important aspect of the programme, not only between the University of Guyana and the armed services, but also the partnership with the international community.

“National and strategic defence, in my view, must provide for a seamless border. A seamless border does not mean a border that anyone can go through. But a seamless border is an imaginary line in which those on both sides of the line agree on a set of values, principles and goals governing that line.”

“And both sides agree that the line creates a seamless opportunity for the

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch

achievement of those goals.

Whether it is trade agreements, diplomacy, collaboration and security, that line is a defining line. That small line can create huge wars and poverty and injustice.

So, we have to be careful how we manage that line,” he added.

Border

According to President Ali, there cannot be a discriminatory attitude based on who approaches the line.

He noted that enough attention has not been paid to this issue globally and as such, he challenged the first batch of students to examine the issue and come up with solutions.

He also spoke of supply chain constraints and its impact on the global village.

President Ali pointed out that like it or not, Guyana is a part of that global village and thus, is not immune to these developments… an apparent reference to the rise in cost of living that has impacted Guyana.

“National development cannot be isolated from globalisation… one of the things we really have to look at is globalisation and understanding the context and impact. We all like to say we live in a global village, but still, we fail to understand why we have cost of living issues now. This is part of the global environment in which we live in.”

“We don’t turn on a switch when we want to be part of the global environment and turn off a switch when we don’t want to. We

have to be consistent. That is why every nation must define the principles, the value system they will stand on.”

According to Ali, it is hoped that the programme would not be restricted for Guyana but for all of Caricom. He noted the importance of the University appreciating what the full agenda of regional integration entails.

US Ambassador

Meanwhile in her address to attendees, United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch lauded the US-Guyana security cooperation and the successes it has had over the years. She pointed to the Tradewinds exercise which was held last year.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 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

Human values

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 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 healthrelated practices in adolescence.”

The contention is not that we must drag our children to the church, the mandir or the 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, 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 the 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 system equipped with “educare”.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips received a visit from ace Guyanese boxer Elton Dharry on Monday. The Prime Minister wished the US-based Guyanese pugilist success in his upcoming fight, which is set for April 23 at the Guyana National Stadium (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Reparation for enslavement O

By Stephen Vasciannie

n reparation, the main question for me is whether the British State should be required to compensate the people of the Caribbean for the wrongs associated with chattel slavery.

On moral grounds, this is an easy case to make. We were oppressed for almost 300 years in a vile system of abuse which relied on brute force and psychological deceit to hold down Africans and persons of African descent. For this, the British are morally responsible.

Humanity's inhumanity

That moral responsibility is heightened by the realities of the Caribbean today.

Extreme poverty, income maldistribution, limited access to good education and health care, land hunger, unnecessarily high levels of malnutrition, the embarrassing popularity of skin bleaching, the high crime rate, alienation and disrespect for the rule of law are all symptoms of underlying social and economic malaise that may be traced back convincingly to the transatlantic system of enslavement.

We could say, humanity's inhumanity, stretching back into slavery, makes countless thousands suffer even today.

So, I support the notion that the British should enhance their efforts to assist the Caribbean to lift itself towards self-sustaining development. Britain cannot stand on the sidelines today, for that country, through its empire, was firmly implicated in the creation and maintenance of the moral wrong of slavery. This, I am sure, is a part of the Caricom Plan that seeks reparation. It derives force from efforts by, among others, Judge Robinson, former Prime Minister Patterson, the late Dudley Thompson, Mike Henry, Lord Gifford, Vice

Chancellor Beckles, Professors Verene Shepherd and Rupert Lewis, Frank Phipps, Bert Samuels, and Barbara Blake Hannah.

Challenges?

Some challenges to reparation have emerged. It is said, for example, that Africans too were involved in the slave trade. This, for me, does not undermine the fact that Britain was a central organiser of the system and was instrumental in its application. African participation does not displace primary British responsibility.

“Primary” does not mean “exclusive”, as the International Court of Justice had occasion to emphasise in the Expenses Case in 1962.

As a point against reparation, it is also said that reparation could lead to a situation in which “I-owe-me” (as Dwight Whylie once noted in the Observer). Here, the argument is that there has been some degree of inter-racial sexual mixing in the Caribbean (not always consensual), and this has meant that some Caribbean nationals today owe their heritage to Africa, Britain, and other places. Should the British part of one's heritage generate moral responsibility for the African part? Perhaps this should not detain us for too long. In the general circumstances, we can identify “the British heirs and successors” for the purposes of responsibility.

Passage of time

A more difficult moral problem concerns the impact of the passage of time. The British slave system ended fully in 1838, nearly 184 years ago.

All the victims and all the perpetrators of the system have passed away, and so too have their descendants on either side. Clearly, then, we are not dealing with issues of personal responsibility. Rather, we are

saying that the responsibility of the British nation for slavery has endured for 184 years, and that Caribbean suffering related to enslavement has been of similar durability.

Because the impact of slavery persists in the Caribbean, I believe reparations are morally justifiable even after 184 years. Many of our problems are fruit of the long-lasting poisonous tree. Some British descendants may suggest, however, that they too have been victims of aspects of formal British policy in the past. Why, they may ask, should they bear any of the burden for the rectification of British wrongs visa-vis victims in a system from which they derived no benefit?

The answer to this is twofold. First, even some of the historically oppressed in Britain today may have benefited indirectly from the slave system, and thus should bear, once again indirectly, the burdens implicit in social responsibility.

Second, the reparation assertions cannot be deflected merely by showing that benefits of slavery have been disparately shared in Britain. The point is that Britain, as a society, exploited African enslaved persons and benefited economically from this approach for many years. This justifies some form of reparatory action.

Onus of independence

Another possible argument against reparation is that Caribbean countries — as independent States — have failed to provide us with the stewardship that would have removed the ill-effects of historical enslavement. The fault then is said to rest with modern leadership: we should stop living in the past and follow, instead, the example of countries such as Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore, that have broken the poverty cycle through carefully crafted, forward-looking, development strategies.

Modern leaders, it is suggested, should break the chain of causation between slavery and current Caribbean problems.

Yes, Caribbean people have a duty to work towards development; but, in my view, this does not erase the fact that enslavement has been a major contributory factor in our persistent poverty (as the distinguished Professor George Beckford reminded us).

Legal case

Now, although I believe the moral case for reparations is unassailable, the legal arguments may be less straightforward. The legal position should be built on general principles of international law — and will need to be constructed with precision.

International law proceeds on the basis that a breach of the law gives rise to a duty to pay compensation. This starting point was advanced, most notably, by the Permanent Court of International Justice in the Chorzow Factory Case (Germany v Poland) in 1928.

More recently, this approach was affirmed by the International Court of Justice in the case of The Democratic Republic of the Congo v Uganda in February 2022.

In the latter case, the court found that Uganda must pay the Democratic Republic of the Congo US$325 million in reparation for damages arising from Ugandan legal wrongs in the Congo.

The argument for reparatory justice in law should, therefore, be that slavery was contrary to international law at the time it was in place in the Caribbean, and that reparations should be paid to address this illegality. (Jamaica Observer) (Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie is Professor of International Law at the University of the West Indies)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

5

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

Electoral reform consultations, merits, demerits of arguments on whether voters’ list bloated or not

Dear Editor, The analysis and viewpoints contained herein were conducted about two years ago during the period of the national elections’ saga, and which was published in sections of the media back then. This particular letter was published in response to businessman, Mr Stanley Ming, who came up with this argument backed by his own mathematical gymnastics that the voters’ list is bloated.

I find it necessary to republish this piece in light of recent positions from the leadership in certain spheres of the political spectrum who continue to propagate the view that the Government won an election on the basis of a bloated list. These electoral concerns were communicated to the high-level US officials who recently visited Guyana and had meetings on these issues with various stakeholders including both the Government and the political Opposition: wherein again, the view was put forward that the national recount shows that “460,352 ballots were cast, but there were 661,378 eligible voters.”

In my original letter two years ago in response to Mr Stanley Ming, Ming was questioning some 100,000 ballots that should be invalidated and further went on to argue that it is virtually

impossible for the Official List of Electors (OLE) to have over 500,000 voters.

My response was as follows: There are several important variables that Mr Ming did not take into consideration in his analysis as mentioned hereunder: (i) The Representation of the People Act was amended to cater for cycles of Continuous Registration in 2005. The enactment of this amendment effectively replaced the need for “fresh” House-to-House (HTH) Registration exercise each time there is national elections. This is also the reason why GECOM has regional offices across the country. Consequently, the registration system became more efficient, and reduced substantially – the cost incurred for HTH. To this end, GECOM conducted an HTH exercise to create a new NRR Database following which the first cycle of Continuous Registration that began in 2006, recommenced in 2009. GECOM has so far conducted eight cycles of Continuous Registration up to 2016. (ii) More so, it should be noted that it goes without saying that any HTH Registration exercise can actually disenfranchise thousands of persons. For example, in Guyana many persons work away from home in the mining and for-

estry sector within the interior regions who would not be found at home to be registered and the same applies to persons who might be out of the country as well. In addition, the law guarantees Guyanese who migrated to vote once they are in the country and have been registered. Therefore, Guyanese living abroad cannot be legally removed from the National Registrar of Registrants (NRR). This was precisely the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag) when the last HTH was aborted. (iii) As it pertains to dead persons on the list, GECOM Public Relations Officer confirmed that there is a mechanism in place whereby the Guyana Post Office (GPO) sends a monthly list of persons who died which is then used to remove those persons from the NRR. It is in fact ludicrous to posit HTH is needed each time to sanitise the NRR or OLE from dead persons when people die every day. So, there will always be deceased persons on the list. What is needed is an efficient mechanism to remove such persons within the parameters of the law, and which GECOM already confirmed is in place. (iv) The population of Guyanese living abroad is by far greater than the population living in Guyana and, therefore, one cannot base the number of persons registered to vote rel-

ative to the population in Guyana alone. Overseasbased Guyanese who are already registered and who can register whenever they visit Guyana ought to be taken into consideration in such analysis as well. (v) If one were to examine the two recent population census of 2002 and 2012, respectively, one would observe that from 2002 to 2012 persons in the age group of 15-19 increased by 18,000 or 27 per cent. In 2012, the population within the age groups 10-14 was 83,139 and 1519 was 84,798. With this in mind, it therefore means that for the 2015 national and regional elections the age group 15-19 would became eligible voters and thus would have been added to the list; and, the age group 10-14 in 2012 which was 83,139 would have also become eligible voters in the 2020 elections thus added to this list as well.

This means in the 2015 and 2020 elections cycle, over 160,000 new voters would have been added to the OLE. (vi) Another important variable that need to be taken into consideration is: reasonable deductions can be made wherein from 2015 to present, many Guyanese returned home largely owing developments in the emerging oil and gas sector.

In fact, in all fairness to the Government, the current

Administration implemented a number of reasonably attractive policies to attract Guyanese from the diaspora to return home such as duty-free concessions. (vii) A reasonable inference can be made when one examines the arrival and departure data from the international airport for the period 2013 - 2018 (available on the BOS website).

During this period, the records shows that 1,644,957 persons arrived in Guyana and 1,638,867 persons departed, giving rise to a difference of 6090 persons who did not depart. Hence, it can be deduced with reasonable certainty that of these 6000 people, a large percentage of this represents remigrants. This excludes 2019 figures which may well show an increase in persons who did not depart, thus implying it is possible that thousands of Guyanese returned home since 2015 to date.

In the final analysis, Ming’s assertion and equally, other proponents of this view ignored completely all of the aforementioned pragmatic variables from their analysis and an important legal factuality. With the number of persons from the age of 14 since the last census in 2012 which increased evidently by over 100,000, coupled with Guyanese who returned home since 2015 (which is also factual), and the fact that Guyanese living abroad who are regis-

tered cannot be removed from the NRR – substantiate the argument that the OLE and NRR cannot be bloated by any standard.

One of the limitations of this analysis, however, is the data to confirm how many persons were added to the NRR during the eight cycles of Continued Registration. This information to ascertain the number of persons, which I am sure is in the possession of GECOM, would have helped to strengthen this analysis.

Also, one ought to consider with the massive housing development across the country over the years from 2008-2015 – the dispensation of the regional population would obviously change and it is this that would account for the regional increases. The fact that the overall population remained relatively unchanged from 2002 to 2012, it is reasonable to deduce that this explains the regional increases while other regions would have shown a decline proportionately.

In view of the above, it is also safe to conclude that Mr Ming’s analysis is egregiously flawed and which seeks to give legitimacy to an unfounded and absurd notion that is without merit.

Yours faithfully, JC Bhagwandin

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄ Question 1

By James W Smith

I

n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to use a chemical reaction to make a candy container popper that goes off with a real “bang”!

Materials: Plastic M&M’s Minis candy container Scissors Alka-Seltzer tablet Water Instructions: Use the scissors to cut the plastic hinge on the candy container lid.

The lid should be separate from the container.

Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into fragments and put at least half of the fragments into the container.

Fill the container three quarters of the way full with water and quickly snap on the lid.

Set the container on the ground upside down on its lid and step back.

Wait and watch your rocket launch.

Monday’s answers 1a)21, 67, 108, 176, 227, 906 1b) The factors of 21 are 1, 3, 7, 21

= 906 (largest ticket number) – 21 (smallest ticket number) = 885

1c) The difference between the smallest and largest ticket number

1d) 67 and 108 would result in 100 if rounded to the nearest 100.

How it works: Alka-Seltzer contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The water allows the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate to mix and an endothermic chemical reaction occurs. This reaction releases carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas builds up pressure in the candy container until it pops!

Make this a science project: Try different amounts of Alka-Seltzer. Try different amounts of water. Try different temperatures of water. (sciencefun.org)

I hold the Future – I hold Life And Death, so tender, in my hands!

Both Life and Death – both, and yet one, And they are here, here in my hands!

Life like a rosebud in my hands!

Death like the atom in My hands!

The bud is opening in my hands!

Life is awakening in my hands!

I feel Life moving in my hands: I smell its perfume in my hands: I see Life blooming in my hands: Here is Life – here, here in my hands: And I can see Life fading – I can see Life fading in my hands!

I see the petals shrinking – I see them shrinking in my hands!

And I smell the perfume fainter – I smell it fainter in my hands!

And I feel the atom moving – I feel Death moving in my hands!

And Life is growing smaller – smaller: Life growing smaller in my hands, And Death moving...!

Growing larger...!

Death growing...! Death... here in my hands!

(Kyl-Over-Al)

“A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people ” – Will Rogers

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA strengthening rules against auto dealers manipulating system to buy seized cars …“dealers actually trying a twofold smartness on us” – GRA Head

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

T

he process of disposing of vehicles seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for want of entry, is one fraught with a number of challenges, including auto dealers trying to circumvent the system to purchase cars at below market prices.

These matters were discussed on Monday when GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia and members of his senior management team came before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

of the National Assembly.

According to GRA Comptroller Rohan Beekhoo, the agency has had to come up with ways in which they could handle dealers, who would seek to skirt the system to purchase seized vehicles below market prices, for resale.

“Any flexibility to be given to those importers, would be done during that process, when that vehicle is gazette and they do make that representation. It is at that point. After that, now the

thing with dealers is its twofold. What the dealers have been doing, they’ve been looking to get the vehicles and bid cheaper, as much as possible.”

“Now when we cut that out, the dealers resorted to another thing. They put people to bid high on these vehicles. So, when they bid high on those vehicles, those vehicles would be left on the wharf, so that they can get their sale. So, we end up stuck with those vehicles, hence things end up rotting.

So the dealers actually trying a twofold smartness on us.”

Meanwhile, Statia also defended against findings of Auditor General Deodat Sharma, that want of entry vehicles were donated to other agencies or even removed from the auction line up, resulting in lost revenue.

As many as 194 bids were received for 36 of these vehicles. However, the AG had found in his 2018 Audit Report that the removal of nine vehicles resulted in millions of dollars in losses.

However, Statia requested a breakdown of the $14.4 mil-

Food security, climate...

“In Guyana, the US has helped build the capacity of public institutions like the Defence Force, the Police Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the justice sector, to increase institutional transparency and accountability to Guyanese citizens, thereby decreasing opportunities for corruption.”

“We’ve also encouraged civil society organisations to develop and grow, therefore hold Government to be transparent and account-

ability and responsive to citizen needs, to further reduce corruption.”

According to Lynch, the failure of democracy to deliver can only exacerbate these outcomes. However, she noted the importance of information sharing, among other things, between regional partners.

“The second challenge is civilian security. Violence perpetrated by transnational criminal organisations and gangs can contribute to

FROM PAGE 3

waning faith in democratic institutions; can suppress economic opportunities and can drive irregular migration.”

The diplomat noted that even as Guyana continues to build its security strategy, the US would remain a dedicated development partner. According to her, the Master’s programme being launched is of critical importance to Guyana at this juncture of its development.

(G3)

lion quoted by the AG. “There are many persons who bring vehicles in.

And they do not clear it on a timely basis. As soon as those vehicles are now advertised, those persons who brought it in, write a letter saying they’re sorry their late, they’ll pay the want of entry charges and the taxes,” he said, adding that this even happens after the vehicles have been gazetted.

“You do not want to seize people’s vehicles unnecessarily, notwithstanding the law says so. Because if they are going to pay the taxes, in many instances vehicles are sold for less than the taxes due. So, if the taxpayer or importer decides to pay the want of entry charges, writes a letter requesting it be removed from want of entry, I approve it.”

Trade plates misuse

Meanwhile, the issue of trade plates, which are temporary licences used on a new vehicle until it is registered, also came up.

According to PAC member Juan Edghill, he routinely sees vehicles trade plates being used. However, Statia took pains to distance his

An example of trade plates

agency from the misuse of these plates and suggested that the Police clamp down on these vehicles.

“Until we regularise trade plates and regularise a proper system of vehicle registration, we are going to have this problem all the time. And we need to recognise that there is subsidiary information that can be accessed, which would avoid this. Because every vehicle that is imported, for in-

stance we know what is the VIN number.”

“We can use that information and the AG can do that, by going into the licence registration system and you would know exactly where that vehicle is, who is driving it… (and) it is for the Police, recognising under the Road Traffic Act, that these things are being abused and should not be on the road at that time,” Statia said. (G3)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

50 months in jail, $215M fine for ganja trafficker O

ne of the three men who were arrested with over $79 million in marijuana over the weekend was jailed for 50 months and fined a whopping $215 million after pleading guilty to a drug trafficking charge at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Massiah Durant, 52, along with 44-year-old Shawn Lindie Snr and his son, Shawn Lindie Jnr, 29, were arraigned on Monday before Magistrate Wanda Fortune.

It is alleged that on March 26, at De Veldt along the Upper Berbice River, they had 717 kilograms of marijuana in their possession for the purpose of trafficking. While Durant pleaded guilty, the father and son denied the charge.

Magistrate Fortune sentenced

Durant to 50 months in jail along with a fine of $215,100,000. Meanwhile, Shawn Lindie and his son, who were both represented by Attorney-at-Law Sian Dhurjon, were each granted $2 million bail.

The three men were arrested by agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard on Saturday following the discovery of 717 kilograms of Cannabis sativa at De Veldt along the Upper Berbice River.

Based on reports received, on the day in question, a special operations team attached to CANU along with officers from the GDF Coast Guard conducted a joint operation at De Veldt along the upper Berbice River.

TURN TO PAGE 14

Challenging…

A

…the PNC’s lies s the PNC continues to flounder in a mess of their own artifice (pouring a new leadership team into an old authoritarian template), the PPP continues to make (political) hay!! Ali and Jagdeo are doing a tag-team act around the country and abroad to show the PNC that anything they can say, they (the PPP) can DO better!! So Norton jets off to the US to “expose” the PPP’s “racism” and “illegal” installation? The PPP counters with Pres Ali jetting off to UAE to secure investors to develop our Agri and other potential!! Action versus words!

Ali returns with specific commitments from investors…

Norton returns with no more than some firm handshakes from the geriatric PNC brigade holding out in Region 11!!

Did anyone see a single person below 60 in those pics?? The advice Norton got – as in Guyana – was from folks stuck in the past. They’ll contribute funds but want Norton to use “brute force and ignorance” to oust the PPP!! They’re insulting Norton – much as with Corbin – by putting him in a strategic straightjacket!!

Norton will discover – as did Corbin- that being a onetrick pony just won’t cut it in Guyana – especially when the PPP’s blitzing their base from all angles with concrete initiatives. Force is always one aspect of political action… but so are education and alliance building. While Norton was talking tough to satisfy his founders, in just the last week, there were at least a dozen initiatives made by the PPP to the PNC’s base.

In Reg 2, VP Jagdeo announced 800 jobs created…plus farm-to-market roads built that’ll benefit the entire coast.

Then in Linden – Norton and Corbin’s hometown – Jagdeo now announced that in addition to the 1000 homes being built in the area, there was funding for 250 small businesses! Employment, baby…with more primed in the pipeline!

In the meantime, President Ali went personally down to West Berbice and announced that Reg 5 will be the centre to the livestock prong on his food security for the Caribbean. Obviously coordinating the plan with Barbados PM Mia Mottley, he’s bringing in 1000 Barbados Black Belly Sheep. They’ve been specially bred to flourish in our climes – and produce good quantity and quality mutton!!

This will join the thousands of cattle are already being reared by West Berbicians – especially by the PNC base.

The area is in for a massive economic transformation!

The depth of that reservoir of PNC strength was demonstrated after the last rigging attempt, when Granger and Harmon riled up violence against innocent citizens following the savage killings of the Henry brothers.

Let Norton try that in 2025!! Too late shall be the cry amid weeping and wailing!! …economic myths One of the myths fostered by the PNC after the passing of their Founder-Leader Burnham was that the banks didn’t give their supporters loans. And that’s why they’ve lagged economically compared to other groups in the country. This claim supplied much of the fuel to spark the fires of discontent that erupt in violence ever so often here. But that claim is a standing libel on Burnham. Didn’t he nationalise ALL Banks in Guyana – even the great Chase Manhattan and Barclays?

And didn’t he launch the Guyana Co-operative Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank (Gaibank) to provide loans for the big ones and the Guyana National Co-Operative Bank (GNCB) to make the “small men” the “real man”?? What happened? Anyhow after the PPP entered office in 1992, if the now privatised banks were discriminating against PNC supporters, didn’t Banks follow Yesu Persaud and opened a friendlier Bank – Citizens Bank?

And what now that an African Guyanese has finally applied and received a licence for a Merchant Bank?? …the GECOM Chair Norton told the visiting US diplomat he wants Claudette fired as GECOM Chair. Why? She “always” votes with the PPP Commissioners.

So, she must vote “PNC” – even if she finds their position untenable? That’s how Justice works?ssssss 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

9

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health Ministry writes RDC for land to construct modern hospital in Region 5 …Councillors concerned over method but welcome health facility

H

ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony has written to the Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) seeking permission for land owned by the Administration to be transferred to the Ministry for the construction of a modern regional hospital there.

The presentation of the application to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five saw some sections of the RDC raising concerns over the process the Minister is using, but they have unanimously welcomed Government’s decision to build a modern hospital in the region.

The application for land acquisition dated February 2, 2022, and titled “Health Sector Improvement Programme”, reads: “The Ministry of Health has commenced its plan to transform the health sector as part of its mandate to develop a world-class system that provides quality service the people of Guyana. A major part of this project includes the building of six regional hospitals in various districts in Guyana. In this regard, I am seeking your approval for the transfer of lands under your authority at Bath Settlement for the construction of one of those hospitals.”

The letter was also copied to Agriculture Minister

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Zulfikar Mustapha. The land being sought is situated at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice. The application was read to the RDC during its recent statutory meeting.

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal told the Council that approximately four to five acres of land is being sought for the project.

“The location mentioned here is Bath Settlement but the land referred to is at Naarstigheid and not Bath Settlement. In Region Five we always welcome development, we know that a regional hospital in this region will bring a lot of changes and improvement in our

health sector and the people of this region can benefit from much more services right here in the region.

They wouldn’t have to go to Georgetown or any other region when it comes to seeking some medical attention,” Ramphal told the RDC. It is the same plot of land which was leased to farmers and in March 2018, former Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison had bulldozed them off of it claiming that he was going to establish a modem farm. The High Court has since ruled that his actions were illegal and ordered that Morrison compensate the farmers several million dollars.

Meanwhile, during the discussions, Regional Council Emerson Benjamin questioned whether systems would be in place for some farmers who are currently occupying the land.

According to the Chairman, the RDC has not approved for anyone to occupy the said portion of land.

He explained that the land does not belong to the RDC but the RDC has a lease from the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

“The Minister has sent the letter to Council for a ‘no objection’ and has copied it to the Agriculture Minister so that we can fast-track the process and hopefully maybe in a few months we can have construction works commencing.”

Dellon Crawford said the Council should have been consulted before the correspondence was sent out. He also made a recommendation for the hospital to be built at Number 27 Village.

His sentiments were echoed

by Ismail Muhammad. They argued that at Number 27, the utility companies have already set up commercial offices and it is one of the more visited communities in the region.

“I have a problem with the Ministry directing and instructing what should be done in the region. The

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

region is a state and Mr Chairman you are the head of state and you have more authority that the Minister.

No Minister, including the Prime Minister doesn’t have more authority than you and this Council is the governing body of this region. We must know what we want and the Minister or the parliamentarians must echo our sentiments,” Muhammad said.

However, Regional Vice Chairman Rian Pieters noted that one of the utility companies is in the process of moving to the Fort Wellington area and the area also has space for future expansion.

The discussion ended with Councillors giving their approval.

“We would have deliberated quite a lot on the matter and as I said earlier, the correspondence was presented to Council for its ‘no objection’ to the project. Councillors would have raised their concerns which were clarified, so I guess there is no objection. So, permission will be given and the region will surrender that parcel of land back to MMA and I am sure the green light will be given for that project,” Ramphal concluded.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday assured farmers who cultivate the land at Naarstigheid that the land they are utilising will not be used for the hospital project. (G4)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Decline in COVID-19 testing, vaccination recorded – Health Minister GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 28, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

1

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

6

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

74

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

6

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

8

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,123

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,112

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,235

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,927

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2491

REGION 3

8046

REGION 4

31,261

REGION 5

2379

REGION 6

5749

REGION 7

2422

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4015

REGION 10

3467

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

437,900 336,228

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1226

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.

S

ince the removal of the curfew and national COVID measures, Guyana is recording a decline in the number of persons presenting themselves for testing and vaccination.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony outlined in

Monday’s coronavirus briefing that since the restrictions have been relaxed, persons have responded differently. In that same light, he noted that persons coming for testing and vaccination have declined.

“A lot of people now feel

relieved that they don’t have to comply with so many measures. Some people still maintain their mask. Others have removed their mask and they’re going about their normal business. We have, from the Ministry’s point of view, seen a decline

in the number of people coming for testing. We have also noticed a decline in vaccination. That can be problematic because we still need more persons to be vaccinated,” he examined.

First doses across regions are relatively high but second doses and booster shots need to be improved. Adult first dose uptake is 437,900 or 85.4 per cent; and second dose is 336,228 or 65.5 per cent. Meanwhile, 34,271 or 47 per cent of adolescents have taken a first dose.

“This is something that we want to encourage people, that even with the lull that we have right now, we should encourage persons to be vaccinated; those who would have received their second dose to come back and get their booster doses.”

First dose uptake across regions show 90.8 per cent for Region One; 68.1 per cent in Region Two; 82.4 per cent in Region Two; 95.4 per cent in Region Four; 86.2 per cent in Region Five; 84.7 per cent in Region Six; 88.5 per cent in Region Seven; 55.5 per cent in Region Eight; 78.7 per cent in Region Nine; and 43.2 per cent in Region 10.

Second doses account for 56.5 per cent in Region One; 53.2 per cent in Region Two; 63.8 per cent in Region Three; 73.9 per cent in Region Four; 68.1 per cent in Region Five; 64.9 per cent in Region Six; 63.7 per cent in Region Seven; 45.2 per cent in Region Eight; 62.3 per cent in Region Nine and 33.3 per cent in Region 10.

A new strain of the Omicron variant, BA.2 has been circulating in other countries. While it has not been detected locally, Dr Anthony cautioned that unvaccinated persons and those whose immunity has waned will be challenged.

“We’re having a more transmissible variant at a time when a lot of countries have relaxed measures, such as masking.

Therefore, you’re seeing a lot more people getting in-

The daily vaccination rate has reduced

fected and some of those persons are ending up in hospital. Elderly persons, who are not vaccinated, would have a challenge. Those whose vaccines would have waned after about six months period, they too would have some challenges.”

The Health Minister added, “What they’re also noticing is that if you had a vaccine, then the severity of the virus is not as much. That’s a positive. Even getting long COVID is reduced if you’re vaccinated. There are many reasons why persons should get vaccinated. I suspect that as the BA.2 variant circulates to other countries, we are going to see similar spikes. We haven’t seen that here in Guyana as yet.”

COVID-19 cases

Meanwhile, weeks of lowered COVID-19 infections in Guyana has translated to reduced active cases. Only 87 active positives are being monitored in the country.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared on

Monday that only eight of these cases are hospitalised. Five persons are being housed at the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

On Monday, there was one new reported COVID-19 case. Confirmed cases have reached 63,235 while deaths have remained at 1226.

There are two persons in Intensive Care Unit, six institutional isolation, 74 in home isolation and eight institutional quarantine.

Recovered cases stand at 61,927.

Due to relaxed measures, the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat has also taken a break from its rigorous enforcement.

“From time to time, we would see a few patients.

But right now, our hospitalisation rates are down.

Generally, we’re seeing less cases…Because we have eased some of the measures, the Task Force is not as stringent in its monitoring but we still do encourage people to take precautions.

If you believe that you’re in a risky environment, then the better thing to do is to take those precautions,” Dr Anthony highlighted.

The World Health Organisation has noted that the BA.2 strain differs from BA.1 in its genetic sequence, including some amino acid differences in the spike protein and other proteins. Studies have shown that BA.2 has a growth advantage over BA.1. Studies are ongoing to understand the reasons for this growth advantage, but initial data suggest that BA.2 appears inherently more transmissible, which currently remains the most common Omicron sublineage reported. (G12)

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AFC to hold leadership elections in June T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) will be appointing a new leadership in the coming month of June – as delegates converge for its delayed National Conference.

The Conference is the highest decision-making forum of the party, in which delegates vote for persons to fill the executive positions of Leader, Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer.

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

Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) met virtually on Sunday for their first quarterly meeting of 2022, where a priority issue was the holding of the AFC’s National Conference. This had been deferred last year due to the COVID pandemic.

The members of the National Executive Committee agreed that the National Conference will be held on June 11, 2022. A hybrid system where regional delegates would gather at a central internet-ready location and join the online platform will be employed.

In 2019, Khemraj Ramjattan was declared Leader of the Alliance for Change with Raphael Trotman elected Chairman.

Catherine Hughes returned as the party’s Vice-Chair, while David Patterson was

Incumbent AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

elected General Secretary.

A few months ago, the People’s National Congress Reform elected longstanding party stalwart Aubrey Norton as their leader in a landslide win against then Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and Dr Richard Van West-Charles. However, an internal power struggle ensued and Harmon submitted his resignation as an APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) Member of Parliament this month.

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

Following his resignation as an MP, Harmon told a section of the media that he resigned for personal reasons, while adding that he did so in the best inter-

est of the nation, and more so that of the APNU/AFC. With Harmon’s resignation coming to light, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton is widely seen as the frontrunner to become the new Opposition Leader. In fact, he has a mandate from the PNC Central Executive Committee (CEC) to take up both that position and the position of Representative of the List of Candidates.

The current list representative is former PNCR Leader David Granger.

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

APNU members, respectively.

However, APNU, led by former President David Granger had been continuously violating the Accord.

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

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

This also came amid threats from the AFC to part ways with its coalition partner after its choice for prime ministerial candidate for the 2020 polls was reportedly rejected. (G12)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 29,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“I’m asking for your forgiveness” – crying convicted murderer to victim’s family

…jailed for 23 years

Killed: Ganesh Ramlall

D

escribing him as one of the “chief architects” in the 2015 killing of mall owner Ganesh Ramlall, Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall on Monday sentenced convicted killer Kurt Erskine to 23 years’ imprisonment.

Erskine, a 41-year-old father of four and poultry farmer, formerly of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was indicted earlier this month for the July 15, 2015 murder of the 48-year-

old businessman who was killed during a robbery at his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home.

A 12-member mixed jury, however, found him unanimously guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter.

Ganesh Ramlall, a father of one, who was the owner of the popular Regent Multiplex Mall at Regent Street, Georgetown, and other businesses, was shot eight times about his body, including once to his head, at around 00:10h.

Reports are that the businessman had just returned home from a barbeque with friends when he proceeded to use an outdoor bathroom at his premises.

But as he walked into his yard, he was pounced upon by four men who opened fire on him. His wife raised an alarm, and neighbours fired shots at the bandits, but the men shot at Ganesh Ramlall before escaping with his jewellery and wallet.

The injured man was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His relatives quickly posted a $5 million reward for anyone with information

that would lead to the arrest of his killers.

Shortly after, Police raided a house in Craig, EBD, where 27-year-old Fazeel Bacchus and Lennox Roberts, 39, along with several others, were arrested. When interrogated, they confessed that, along with Erskine, they hatched a plan to rob the businessman.

Jointly charged

Erskine was jointly charged for the businessman’s murder along with Roberts called “Rabbie” and “Soldier Man”, formerly of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Bacchus called “Javed” of Cornelia Ida, WCD. Roberts and Bacchus, however, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count while Erskine went to trial. Two Wednesdays ago, Roberts, whom the evidence disclosed was the mastermind, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, less the time he has already spent in pre-trial custody.

Bacchus, on the other hand, was handed a six and a half years’ prison term. He has already been released on time served, as his pris-

GWI rig arrives in Moruca to start drilling

Released on time served: Fazeel Bacchus

Convicted killer: Lennox Roberts

Convicted killer: Kurt Erskine

on sentence was fully served by the time he had spent on remand.

find peace and recover from this,” the grieving woman cried.

pily for it.”

“My father was the head of our home. I always said if there were a hundred parts to a family, my dad would be 98 and my mother and I one each. His presence, his being, was so magnanimous, loving and compassionate.

Family meant everything; he took all the burdens of the business and finances.”

“I do not know how to live or trust. I need everyone to understand that my father’s life was valued. He was an asset. I need the peace of knowing the perpetrators are being punished as I have been. I should have never lost my father, my person,” the still grieving young woman said.

“I’m very sorry”

Meanwhile, a sentencing hearing for Erskine was held on Monday during which he apologised, particularly to the dead man’s wife, Chitrakha Ramlall and his daughter, Sharmila Ramlall, 25, both of whom appeared in court via Zoom.

But despite the jury’s guilty verdict, Erskine continued professing his innocence.

“I’m very sorry for the loss of your husband and father. I’m so sorry and I’m asking for your forgiveness.

I’m in constant prayers for the deceased’s family… May God give them strength and guidance…” a crying Erskine told the women.

The convicted killer labelled Ganesh Ramlall’s killing as being a “shameful, senseless and foolish” act. He further beseeched Justice Morris-Ramlall to give him a chance to return to society and be a father to his four minor children.

“I am begging your honour for your leniency and mercy to return back to society to my family. Please give me a chance to return to society to demonstrate that I am a good person,” he pleaded as he burst into tears.

“I’m living a nightmare”

The drilling machine arriving in the region on Monday

T

he PAT rig, which was procured by the Guyana Water Incorporated for the drilling of wells, arrived in Moruca on Monday to commence works.

Water wells will be drilled in the communities of Waramuri, Hymakabra, Hobodiah, Kaburi, Manawarin, Kwebanna and Santa Rosa to expand coverage.

The rig was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions and was slated to arrive this year. A number of new wells will be drilled within the Mabaruma sub-region

in 2022. After the drilling of these wells, systems including those in Wauna, White Water and Kamwatta will be interconnected.

Meanwhile, 32 youths from 16 villages across the Moruca rub-region in Region One (Barima-Waini) are currently being trained in the area of Water System Management.

The training commenced on Monday, at the Moruca Regional Democratic Council and will conclude today.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal urged the CSOs to take full ad-

vantage of the training as he pointed to the benefit for their respective communities. He noted that the training is aimed at building capacity and reducing downtime for water systems across the sub-region for lack of expertise.

With capacity building comes a greater sense of responsibility. He added that this training is also a timely one, as the sub-region will be benefiting from significant investments in the water sector over the next 8 months.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Meanwhile, the dead man’s widow said that these three men are responsible for the pain her family is going through. Recalling the night her loved one was murdered, Chitrakha Ramlall said that his killers trespassed into their home and breached their sanctity, safety and peace.

“Some greedy and covetous men destroyed all of our happiness. Our home has not been the same since my husband was taken away from us. No birthday, no Christmas, no Phagwah is the same anymore. The sad reality that he was brutally murdered keeps playing in my mind. I still live in fear for my life. I’m afraid for my daughter’s life. Sometimes it feels like I’m living a nightmare daily. I don’t think I will ever be able to

Life, dreams shattered

At a sentencing hearing for Roberts, Ganesh Ramlall’s daughter, Sharmila Ramlall, expressed that the death of her father, whom she described as her “best friend” and a “gem”, has shattered her life and dreams.

“My life, my dreams, they were all shattered. My father was my everything.

He was my best friend, my shoulder, my strength, my biggest supporter. For as long as I can remember myself, my father was holding my hand or fetching.”

She added, “Yes, I have taken therapy, and I am still in therapy. The sad thing, though, is that my father, around whom my world revolved, being murdered isn’t something I can come to terms with. It pains the core of my being to know how life was snatched from him. I hurt for him, because he worked so hard and he was such a good person”.

“My father didn’t just die; he was murdered cold-bloodedly and very cruelly. The terror of my father’s screams, the sound of the bullets while being locked in a room haunts my thoughts ever so often.

Seeing my father in blood torments my mind daily.

There has not been a proper sense of happiness or peace since July 5th, 2015.”

She noted that the persons who killed her father have no value for life, and no remorse for the life they took. Despite being hundreds of miles away, Sharmila Ramlall disclosed, she is constantly jittery in fear, restless at the onset of night when she is not in her home, and paranoid about her security.

“Fireworks terrify me. I stayed away from my family for years because home now terrifies me. I feel like I am imprisoned. Emotional torment wasn’t even half of the overturn. I had always wanted to become a doctor specialising in cardiothoracic surgery. All of my life, my parents and I prepared hap-

“Chief architect”

For her part, Justice Morris-Ramlall in her sentencing remarks, said that the offence was a serious one which resulted in the loss of life. She noted that not only was Erskine one of the “chief architects”, but also the one who organised persons to subdue Ganesh Ramlall, with one of them fatally shooting him.

In arriving at an appropriate sentence for the convict, the Judge also considered the fact that he was present at the scene, that he was an “educated adult” who was capable of being cognisant of the consequences of his actions, as well as the impact the man’s passing has had on his family.

The Judge began her sentence for the killer at a starting point of 25 years from which she deducted two years for mitigating factors. In the end, a 23-year prison term was imposed on him, less the time he has already spent in pre-trial detention.

Roberts and Bacchus were represented by Attorneys-at-Law George Thomas and Mark Conway, respectively, while Erskine was represented by Attorney-at-Law Lyndon Amsterdam.

Attorneys-at-Law Konyo Sandiford and Narissa Leander were granted a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to present the State’s case. (G1)

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Chairman must go” – Crabwood Creek residents protest for IMC to replace NDC of rainfall.

“Lately they called us and give us 12 pounds of manure to we the farmers who farming for so many years and feeding this country.”

These residents said floodwaters have been causing damage to their farms every rainy season. They said there is a need for another sluice to drain the 8000 acres of farmland, noting that when they were doing less farming there were more operable sluices.

According to Kasim, over the past 35 years, the farm-

Residents protesting in front of the NDC office on Monday

R

esidents of Crabwood Creek are calling for an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to replace the Crabwood Creek/Moleson Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

The residents staged a protest exercise in front of the NDC office on Monday, chanting that the “Chairman must go”.

Between November and December 2020, residents of Crabwood Creek picketed the NDC, calling for the removal of the then NDC Chairman Tero Arjune along with the overseer.

Weeks later Valmiki Dilchandr was elected as the new Chairman.

This is not the first time those residents have taken such actions. Back in March 2007, a similar exercise was held for the removal of the then Chairman.

It was done again in 2017.

On Monday, the residents said that they want an Interim Management Committee to replace the NDC, saying they are not satisfied with the service they are receiving from the NDC.

The sluices at Crabwood Creek which are non-functional

Organiser of the protest, Ramatally Kasim told this publication that they wanted to have Tero Arjune back at the helm of the Council.

“We take him out already but he was doing a better job than Valmiki Dilchandr, but we don’t want the NDC we want an Interim management Committee because the life of the NDC is finished since last year,” he pointed out.

One farmer, Feroze

Dillawar, said they received promises from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and from the Regional Chairman and none of those promises were fulfilled.

When asked, he said the Regional Chairman promised that each household would receive a hamper as part of a flood relief package.

However, when the hampers arrived, they were only dis-

GWI rig arrives...

Over the next two days, the CSOs will receive practical and theoretical training in the areas of Water Distribution Systems, Water Sample Collection and the Maintenance of Photovoltaic systems.

The training is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Housing & Water and Amerindian Affairs, with GWI being the agency responsible for execution. UNICEF and the UNDP are also contributing

Six was one of the hardest-hit regions, Crabwood Creek was not considered one of the hardest-hit areas.

Nevertheless, Kasim said a few decades ago there were 4000 acres under cultivation in Crabwood Creek and this has significantly increased over the years.

“We had three sluices working then and now we have 8000 acres and we only have two sluices working to drain the whole of Crabwood Creek. We need an additional sluice so that we can save our crop.”

significantly towards funding for the capacity building exercises.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has crafted a new five-year strategic plan for the period of 2021-2025. Included in the plan is a target to achieve 85 per cent treated water coverage in coastal areas as compared to 53 per cent in 2019.

According to the utility company, this plan also sets out to achieve 100 per cent access to potable water coun-

FROM PAGE 12

trywide by 2025. Based on baseline data from 2019, 96 per cent of the population has access to potable water.

The programmatic areas of the plan are organisation and management, non-revenue water, water production, distribution and quality, finance and customer services, and sanitation. One of the key performance indicators of the strategic plan is 85 per cent metering by 2025 compared to 53 per cent in 2019.

tributed to some residents.

“Those who are close with the Regional Councillor at Crabwood Creek.”

NAREI had promised to provide assistance for the farmers after there was a flood resulting from 23 days

ers at Crabwood Creek have been experiencing floods during the rainy season, and they lose their crops.

It must be noted that during the recent countrywide flood of which Region

He said this needs to be done before the expected May-June rains.

Meanwhile, the residents vowed to continue their protest. (G4)

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 29,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gas prices at Sol Guyana reduce to $229 and $237 per litre F

ive days after Government removed the excise tax on fuel, Sol Guyana has slashed gas prices at all nine of its service stations across the country to $229 for Fuel Save and $237 for V-Power per litre. This was confirmed by General Manager Earl Caribbon during a telephone interview with this publication.

Shell gas stations in the country situated at McDoom, Providence, Regent Street, Camp Street, Vlissengen Road, Ogle, Vreed-en-Hoop, Linden, and Corriverton should reflect the new prices.

Caribbon noted that the company had to wait until taxed stocks were depleted to lower the prices of fuel.

He said that the company endeavours to pass on any savings to their customers.

“We are encouraged by the move by Government to remove the excise tax, we think it’s a very beneficial move in terms of providing affordable fuel to consumers. And, we look forward to passing on any savings to customers…,” Caribbon explained.

Diesel prices remain unchanged

Though gas prices at the company’s pumps have been

decreased, diesel prices remain unchanged at $249 per litre. The company’s General Manager explained that the price in this regard will be lowered when the firm is in a position to do so.

“Diesel is unchanged at this point in time…if and when there are reductions in landing costs of diesel, that will be passed on to

customers accordingly…,” he noted.

Additionally, Stateowned GuyOil has made price reductions for gas, retailing gas at $225.

Following Government’s announcement of the removal of the tax on March 23, this publication visited several gas stations in Georgetown and along the

East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor where the prices remained the same.

Subsequently, several managers had contended that it was too soon to lower the prices.

One manager had said it is not mandatory for privatised gas stations to lower fuel prices, even if it is the wish of the Government.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had on Wednesday last announced that the excise tax on the importation of fuel would be reduced to zero with immediate effect in a move intended to ease the burden of the global rise in the cost of living being experienced by locals.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had explained to this publication that regulatory agencies like the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Office of the Prime Minister are responsible for ensuring gas stations comply with the requirement to decrease their

prices. “[They] would do some amount of checks and, if possible, enforcement, to ensure there is compliance and that people actually enjoy the benefit of the zero tax on fuel in Guyana…I agree with you that sometimes when we provide incentives and reduce taxes, it is not usually filtered down to the end consumers,” the Minister had said.

As such, he has made a personal appeal to business owners to ensure their prices are adjusted now that they no longer have to pay this excise tax on fuel.

“So, I want to personally make an appeal to all service station owners… we know GuyOil would, of course, reduce their price… that we ensure this benefit reaches the consumer. It would not impact on your profit base because you’re not paying any tax, but our consumers and users on the road should enjoy

the benefit… Also, for the commuters who use public transportation, we’re hoping that the taxi drivers and minibus drivers will not increase their fares,” Minister Bharrat posited.

According to the Natural Resources Minister, the removal of excise tax on fuel is expected to benefit the people of Guyana, as the Government is aware of the challenges Guyanese are facing as a result of the rising cost of living on the international scene.

“As the Government, we recognise that there has been an increase in cost of living; and this is a global issue, this is not confined to Guyana, and there are a number of reasons we can give for the steep increase in cost of living…but, as a Government, we don’t want to make excuse that it is not real; all Guyanese and people around the world are facing increase in cost of living,” he said. (G2)

50 months in jail...

During the operation, the officers searched a building that was occupied by several individuals including minors. During the search, several parcels of cannabis amounting to 717 kilograms (1580 pounds) were found.

As such, Durant and the Lindies were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters. CANU noted that the $79 million worth of ganja, from all indications, was being packaged for transhipment to another territory.

Meanwhile, CANU thanked the GDF for its continued support, especially when it comes to maritime operations. (G1)

FROM PAGE 8

The parcels of marijuana that were confiscated by law enforcement agents

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13th death anniversary

WPO pays tribute to former President Janet Jagan

A section of the gathering at the memorial service

T

he Women’s P r o g r e s s i v e Organisation (WPO) on Sunday paid tribute to former President, the late Janet Jagan with a simple wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate her thirteenth death anniversary at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Jagan served as the President of Guyana from December 19, 1997, to August 11, 1999. She was the first female President of Guyana. She previously served as the first female Prime Minister of Guyana from March 17, 1997, to December 19, 1997.

Jagan also held several other elected offices. She

died on March 28, 2009.

During the wreath-laying ceremony which was attended by supporters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said there is a need to recognise the comrades who are still present and continued the struggles of Janet Jagan.

38 adolescent mothers graduate from reintegration programme

“We must all recognise the comrades who would have held this Party strong who are still with us today. Every single task performed by all of our comrades throughout the entire country was significant in the PPP getting back into Government. Whether you were a polling agent, whether you cook food for the polling agent, whether you transported voters, or the food or organising fund-raising activity...you played a part. And that is why every single member of our party and its arms are important in this struggle. The struggle to make people’s lives better because that is the struggle that comrade Cheddi and comrade Janet started out with,” the Natural Resources Minister said.

Janet Jagan was the wife of the late Cheddi Jagan who served as Guyana’s third Executive President.

While pointing out that the late Cheddi and Janet Jagan sacrificed their lives in order for Guyanese to have a “One Guyana”, Minister Bharrat said the PPP is the only national party in Guyana.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Ramotar in his remarks explained that the greatest legacy of the Jagans is the Party.

“And we must all ensure that the character of this Party should never change.

We must always be a Party of the working people of our

Wreaths at the tomb of the late Janet Jagan

country - the workers and farmers. Those are the people who sustained us; those are the people who carried our struggles forward and we sought to deliver to them,” the former President said.

Also speaking at the event was the President of the WPO, Indra Chandarpal.

According to Chandrapal, Janet Jagan came to Guyana and stood up for women, ensuring that they participate in all activities.

When Janet Jagan formed the Women’s Progressive Organisation in 1953, she advocated for mothers to send their children to school, Chandarpal pointed out.

“Because we all know

that if you educate one woman you are educating the whole family. Thus, it was necessary to get women to send their daughters to school. We need to recall the environment in which we were living in,” she added.

Currently, the WPO engages in providing assistance to the underprivileged.

Also attending the event were Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo; General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association, Dharmakumar Seeraj; President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union, Seepaul Narine, and Region Six Chairman David Armogan.

(G4)

Guyana’s Agri Minister elected VC of FAO Regional Conference

A

Young mothers at the graduation ceremony

T

hirty-eight mothers are now equipped with skills in cosmetology to gain employment or become entrepreneurs in the field.

This was made possible through the Re-integration of Adolescent Mothers into the Education System programme executed by the Education Ministry.

The programme, the Education Ministry said on Monday, was coordinated by the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) Unit of the Ministry and the Carnegie School of Home Economics in Georgetown, and Kevin’s Reflections in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The programme benefited young mothers from Regions Three, Four and 10.

Following a symposium on resilience last Wednesday, the young mothers were given start-up kits and care packages at the graduation ceremony.

The young women were congratulated on successfully completing the programme

A young mother at the graduation ceremony

and were encouraged to position themselves to take ad-

vantage of future opportunities.

griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has been elected Vice Chairman of the 37th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The conference opened on Monday in Ecuador, serving as a moment in which the member countries will define the regional priorities to adapt and localise the FAO Strategic Framework 20222031 to the conditions of Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the Regional Conference, the countries will analyse the work done

by FAO in the previous two years in the region and agree on recommendations for initiatives and priorities that will guide the Organisation’s work during the 2022-2023 period.

In addition, delegates will present and discuss outstanding innovations that countries are implementing.

During the first two days of the conference, meetings with high-level authorities will be held during which officials will be presenting and analysing the main results obtained by the FAO and Latin America and the Caribbean during the 2020-2021 biennium and also highlight priori-

ties for the next biennium.

The following days are reserved for a series of ministerial meetings during which members will exchange their experiences and process these innovations that are underway in order to show how the region is overcoming the challenge of transforming our agri-food systems and the context of the reality of each country.

Additionally, there will also be national-level consultations with countries and regional level consultations with various stakeholders in order to identify areas of interest and emerging consensus in the region.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha will have the opportunity to share Guyana’s vision while discussing technological, institutional and organisational innovations with other Heads of Governments to find joint solutions to the challenges of food, agriculture, and climate change.

Countries will then establish the regional work priorities of FAO for the next two years and will review the results achieved.

Latin America and the Caribbean are committed to confronting and overcoming

the most complex humanitarian, economic and social crisis in recent decades, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, hunger is affecting almost 60 million people, reaching its highest point in 20 years while 22 million people fell into poverty in 2020.

Meanwhile, food insecurity affects four of every 10 people totalling 267 million in this region, and climate change has become an inescapable reality.

Last November, Minister Todd presented Guyana as a candidate to host the 38th Session FAO’s Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024.

The voting and announcement of the next host country will take place at the conference in Ecuador and Guyana is hopeful that with the support of several Latin American and Caribbean countries, they will be selected to host LARC 38.

Already rising to the challenge to achieving better production and better nutrition, it has been dubbed as an excellent opportunity for Guyana to showcase its achievements to the Latin American and Caribbean Countries.

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Murder accused stabbed to death at Lusignan Prison M

urder accused Mahash Rajpaul was on Monday stabbed to death at the Lusigan Prison, East Coast Demerara, during an argument over “bed space”.

Reports are that at about 14:50h on Monday, Rajpaul was stabbed to the left side of his chest during a confrontation with another murder accused in Holding Bay One at the Georgetown Prison B location.

Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in a statement on Monday evening, said that investigations revealed that the suspect accused Rajpaul of walking on his “bed space” and an argument ensued which led to a fight.

Reports are that an alarm was raised by other inmates, resulting in the prisoner being administered first aid and being taken to prison infirmary where he was examined by the prison doctor. He was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by the Melanie Fire Station ambulance. He, however, succumbed to his injuries.

GPS said in its statement that a search was conducted in Bay One, in an effort to retrieve the improvised weapon which was used to committed the murder and it was found and handed over to the Police.

the argument, the suspect, Rajpaul, also called “Crusher,” picked up a piece of wood and dealt Ramadhar one blow to the head.

Anger management

Dead: Mahash Rajpaul

The suspect has since been isolated from the other prisoners.

The dead prisoner was accused of killing Bhagwan Ramadhar, a father of four, in October 2017.

Guyana Times had reported in 2017, Ramadhar, a deportee from the United States, was beaten to death during a drinking spree with Rajpaul at his Industry Front, East Coast Demerara home.

Reports at the time were that the two men had been in the habit of consuming alcohol, and on October 2, 2017, they were engaged in a heated argument. During

Meanwhile, Director of Prison Nicklon Elliot said while the incident is unfortunate, the Prison Service continues to acknowledge the importance of anger management classes in the reduction of prisoner-to-prisoner violence.

He noted that the welfare officer and senior management at the Georgetown Prison B (Holding Bay) will continue to have weekly sessions with the inmates; urging them to address their issues in accordance with prison rules and highlighting the consequences of violence in prison.

Elliot said the prison directorate will continue to increase random searches to retrieve any improvised weapons which may be concealed.

Further, the Prison Director is of the view that the completion of the construction of the Lusignan Prison will address overcrowding concerns and provide a safer environment for inmates.

The matter is currently being investigated by the Guyana Police Force.

Finance Minister lauds IDB Group’s commitment to continued support to small Caribbean States

D

uring the 2022 annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest on Monday, held virtually, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh lauded the commitment of the IDB Group to the continued support to the Caribbean sub-region. The Minister was speaking on behalf of The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the smallest member countries of the IDB Group.

“The Bank’s instruments to support our countries in achieving our development agendas are crucial and must remain agile to respond to mounting needs in this volatile environment.

Therefore, the Caribbean welcomes the proposal to adjust the instruments on offer. We particularly wish to highlight the important role of PBLs (Performance-based loans) in supporting integral reforms at this critical juncture and support the call for PBL caps to be made more flexible. We also welcome the proposal to exclude green PBLs from counting against the PBL cap,” Dr Singh is quoted as saying in a release from the Finance Ministry.

Singh added that “guar-

73 teachers graduate from Education Management Certificate Course

Some of the graduating teachers

Best graduating teacher, Hubern Collins

S

eventy-three teachers in the Georgetown education district on Monday afternoon graduated from the Education Ministry’s Education Management Certificate Course.

The programme is executed through the National Centre of Educational Resource Development (NCERD). According to the Education Ministry, it is a specialised course designed

to improve teachers’ leadership skills and is open to heads of departments, senior teachers and Head Teachers.

Delivering the feature address, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr Marcel Hutson stated that it is widely recognised that one of the key factors influencing effectiveness is the nature of leadership and management. Hence, quality leadership and management

are fundamental factors in changing the status quo.

“In the school system, it is important to note that like professionals, administrators need to accept a large measure of responsibility for the wholesome development of students,” Dr Hutson said at the graduation ceremony which was hosted in the Queen’s College auditorium.

He further added that the dynamic nature of education demands the continuous implementation of new ideas and initiatives. Dr Hutson congratulated the teachers for their completion of the course.

NCERD Director, Quenita Walrond-Lewis in her charge to the graduates, urged them to adapt to change in the prevailing environment. She noted that

over the last few years, the education sector has been transformed, particularly by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic not only highlighted several challenges in the sector, it also provided the opportunity for more creative means of education delivery. She also encouraged them to be the leaders “to rebuild, recapture and restore” the education sector.

Best graduating teacher, Hubern Collins in brief remarks advised his colleagues to be an example of excellence towards the holistic development of the nation’s children.

The graduating teachers were from nursery, primary and secondary schools across the Georgetown education district.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

antees will be key in mobilising private resources to contribute to confronting emerging development challenges and delivering on the 2030 agenda”.

“Therefore, we recommend that emphasis be placed on incentivising the use of guarantee instruments. We also take this opportunity to express support for the strategic climate change and sustainability facility that will provide new concessional resources for climate action in the Caribbean,” the Minister said.

He also reminded that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in one of the worst recessions in the Latin America and Caribbean Region in a century, causing a seven per cent decline in regional GDP in 2020 - the largest regional contraction in the world. He lamented that for some of the countries in the Caribbean, the contraction was much sharper, especially in the tourism-dependent economies of the sub-Region.

“Recovery from the pandemic presents an opportunity to transform the development model of the Region while enhancing climate resilience, strengthening the capacity of public institutions, and supporting private institutions in making meaningful contributions towards attaining the 2030 agenda for sustainable development,” Dr Singh assured.

The Finance Minister further explained that even though LACs’ economies is estimated to have grown by 6.8 per cent in 2021, this growth has not been balanced.

“The largest expansion is estimated in Central America at 7.7 per cent, followed by the Andean sub-Region at 6.3 per cent, and the Southern Cone at 6.2 per cent. On the other hand, the Caribbean is expected to have a milder recovery at 1.9 per cent, reflecting the acute vulnerabilities we face in the sub-Region, even as we are all committed to working towards achieving a more robust recovery,” he said.

“This, coupled with increasing maturing debt, implies amplified gross financing needs. For the

Caribbean, the threat of a protracted financial crisis lingers as tourism remains subdued and climatic events increase in frequency and intensity. Consequently, our governments are faced with difficult decisions on prioritising interventions to stimulate a recovery, support reforms to unlock economic potential, catalytic projects to enhance development prospects, and initiatives to build resilience against the increasing threats of climate change,” the Senior Finance Minister explained further.

He emphasised that against this background, it is crucial for the IDB Group to maintain its Small and Vulnerable and Small and Island Country targets to ensure that support is granted to the countries which require the most assistance in grappling with the economic crisis.

“Therefore, we applaud the language incorporated into the resolution on the proposed new value proposition, which signals a commitment from the IDB Group for continued support to our sub-Region.” he told the forum.

Dr Singh encouraged the IDB Group’s management to fulfil their pledge to develop a sub-regional strategy for the Caribbean with emphasis on health, education, infrastructure, private sector development, the digital economy, climate change, the blue economy, and the orange economy.

He also encouraged the Bank to move with alacrity in delivering support at the scale needed, on both the public and private sector sides of the Group’s operations, to facilitate a sustainable recovery in the Caribbean and to help the sub-Region embark on a path towards lasting economic growth and prosperity.

The Minister then reiterated the strong appreciation of the Caribbean for the support provided by the IDB to the sub-Region over the years as well the importance of the Group to the development of Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular.

He added that the Bank remains the premier strategic partner of choice in member countries.

NEWS

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Soca artiste Blaxx dies of COVID-19 Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock after Oscars slap M

W

ill Smith has apologised to Chris Rock after he slapped him at the Oscars, saying his behaviour was "unacceptable and inexcusable".

"I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris," he said in a statement. "I was out of line and I was wrong."

It comes after the Oscars film academy condemned Smith over the incident and announced a formal review.

The star slapped Rock in the face on stage after the comic made a joke about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock had taken aim at Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of the hairloss condition alopecia.

Moments later Smith picked up the first Oscar of his career for playing the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith said in the statement, which was posted to Instagram.

"My behaviour at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."

Smith apologised directly to Rock, stating he was "out of line". He also apologised to the Academy and the Williams family.

Will Smith slaps Oscar host, Chris Rock

"I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us," he wrote.

Prior to Smith's apology, the organisation behind the Oscars said in a statement that it "condemns the actions" of Smith.

"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law," it said. Will Smith and his PR team will be hoping his apology will be enough to salvage his career and his relationship with the Academy, and douse the blaze of publicity surrounding Sunday night's altercation.

His statement has been written with extreme care.

Smith is careful with his language, explaining why he reacted the way he did, without trying to excuse it.

But his apology does

not mean this story is over.

Apart from anything else, Rock will eventually have to comment publicly too. The signs so far suggest he intends to shrug the episode off with good humour.

The comedian declined to file a police report, and it was reported that he joked backstage after the punch: "That's the only time you get hit by Muhammad Ali and it doesn't leave a scratch," referring to Smith's role in the boxer's biopic.

But even when the headlines about the punch eventually start to fade, Sunday's events will follow those involved for years to come. It would be impossible for any journalist or chat show host to interview either of them while they're plugging a new film without bringing it up.

Meanwhile, the Academy's Board of Governors is reportedly set to meet on Wednesday to discuss whether or not any further action should be taken against Smith. (BBC)

any people were saddened to hear of the death of Soca artiste Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart, 59, on Monday.

Blaxx died on March 28 of COVID-19.

In 2020, he battled with lung and kidney issues and was also hospitalised, but recovered.

News of his death was shared by the band D’All Starz, of which Blaxx was its lead singer.

Blaxx was a long-standing member of the band Roy Cape All Stars and also of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and Blue Ventures. His last management team was Richard Gordon, Giselle GellineauPenrose and Kevin Stephen.

Within minutes, fans began to express their sadness on social media and other platforms, including many in the music fraternity and in politics.

He gave T&T many hits, such as 2008’s “Breathless”, 2011’s “Tanti Woi”, 2013’s “Leh Go”, 2018’s “Hulk” and 2019’s “Gyal Owner”.

The Prime Minister, on the Office of Prime Minister's Facebook page, said Blaxx was “a regular talented exponent of the happy musical culture of T&T”.

“His contributions were eagerly awaited each year and appreciated by hordes of adoring fans. He will be sorely missed,” Dr Rowley said.

Band members of D'All Starz said he mentored a lot of young artistes, such as Voice, Preedy, Olatunji,

Dexter "Blaxx" Stewart in performance at the 2019 Dimanche Gras show at Queen's Park Savannah

Destra, St Lucia's Teddyson John and Grenada's V'ghn.

He would often refer to his young proteges as his Soca children.

On his Facebook page, Austin “SuperBlue” Lyons said the news was very sad for him.

Nikki Crosby posted on her page that Blaxx always supported the kids at Nikkiland and never missed a year. She also posted several broken heart emojis.

Devon “Lyrikal” Martin posted on Facebook that Blaxx was a father, friend and a legend in Soca.

“Thank you for all of your great contributions, your passion…Your love for our culture was admirable and your music and legacy shall live on and on forever!!! Can’t forget to mention the great advice and honesty that you gave me and every other artiste…Thank you Brother,” he said.

The Tourism, Culture and the Arts Ministry said in a release that it was sad-

dened to lose one of T&T’s finest Soca artistes and cultural icons.

“Blaxx was truly a lover of his culture and his country and was proud to fly the flag of T&T wherever he performed. His dynamic stage presence, infectious music and his dedication to the Soca artform will certainly not be forgotten,” it said.

It sent its condolences to his family and friends.

On her Facebook page Nailah Blackman said her heart was saddened to say rest in peace to a Soca legend. Blaxx was a good friend of her family and a great artiste, she said. She added that he will be dearly missed.

Rapso band 3canal thanked Blaxx for the music, saying his work was over but his music will live on.

Soca artiste Melly Rose, in a phone interview, said she hopes Blaxx’s legacy will live on and that he was a great human being.

(Trinidad Newsday)

18

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

Regional

FARC dissidents responsible for Peru’s Castillo launches defence in impeachment trial bombing that killed 2 children, says Colombia’s Duque P eruvian President Pedro Castillo faced Congress on Monday to defend himself in an impeachment trial that could see the centre-left leader ousted just eight months after taking office, a result which would tip the nation into a new political crisis.

Castillo, a former teacher from a peasant farming family who shot to prominence when he narrowly won election last year, is facing allegations of graft that he strongly denies.

The trial comes after an unsuccessful attempt to impeach him late last year.

“Unfortunately, a bid to oust me through impeach-

ment has become the central axis of the political and journalistic agenda since my election; this cannot continue,” Castillo said in a 22-minute speech to lawmakers in the unicameral legislature.

He said he had not broken the law since taking office and called for unity to get out of political and economic crisis, citing Russia’s conflict with Ukraine as exacerbating the situation in the world’s number two copper-producing country.

“I am aware we all make mistakes and have defects, but I am loyal to my commitments, values

and principles,” he said.

“Members of Congress, I ask that you vote for democracy, vote for Peru, vote against instability.”

Congress is expected to spend hours debating the motion to oust the President before a middleof-the night vote.

The impeachment vote remains balanced slightly in Castillo’s favour, despite a plummeting approval poll rating. The vote to start proceedings gained 76 supporters out of a total 130 seats. To dismiss Castillo, lawmakers would need 87 votes in favour.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

C

olombian President Ivan Duque on Monday accused former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who reject a peace deal of setting off explosives at a Police Station which killed two children and injured 39 others in Bogota.

The Saturday night attack was the worst in the capital since another rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), killed 22 Police Cadets with a car bomb in 2019.

“We are filled with sadness at the death of Ivanna Rangel, victim of cowardly

terrorism by the FARC dissidents,” Duque said on Twitter of the five-year-old girl, who died early on Monday of her injuries. “We will not rest until we find those responsible for this atrocious attack.”

A 12-year-old boy, Daniel Stiven Duque, also died of injuries sustained in the explosion in a working-class neighbourhood in the south of the city.

Preliminary investigations indicate the attack was ordered by dissident leader John Mechas, national Police Director General Jorge Luis Vargas said in a video.

Mechas took responsibility

last year for ordering both an attack against Duque’s helicopter and a car bombing at a military base in the eastern city of Cucuta.

There are two groups of FARC dissidents who reject the 2016 accord with the Government, which formally ended the rebels’ participation in a 60-year internal conflict.

According to security sources, the groups, who fight the Government as well as each other, count a total of 2400 combatants and are involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelan security forces carry out Brazil’s Education Minister resigns after graft allegations operations with ELN rebels – HRW

V

enezuelan security forces have carried out joint operations with Colombian rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN) against former members of the FARC rebels who remain armed, advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.

The operations have been carried out along the porous border between the countries, which divides the Colombian province of Arauca from the Venezuelan state of Apure, HRW said in a report.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) demobilised under a 2016 peace deal with the Colombian Government, but some former fight-

ers reject the accord and formed dissident groups Colombian authorities say are involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining.

At least 103 people were killed in Arauca in the first two months of this year amid violence between armed groups, which also forced thousands to flee, the report said. The figure is the highest for Arauca for January and February since at least 2010.

The ELN and dissidents commit murders, forced recruitment of children and displacements, HRW said, adding Venezuelan security forces are sometimes complicit with ELN abuses.

“Armed groups are committing brutal abuses against civilians in the

Colombia-Venezuela border area, in some cases with the complicity of Venezuelan security force members, while Colombian authorities haven’t done enough to respond,” said Tamara Taraciuk Broner, acting Americas Director at Human Rights Watch.

“Colombian authorities should urgently ramp up their efforts to protect the population and assist displaced people.”

The Venezuelan Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Colombian President Ivan Duque has increased troop presence in Arauca – an oil-producing region – but HRW says the effort has fallen short. (Excerpt from Reuters)

At least 19 killed at Mexico cockfighting pit

A

t least 19 people have been killed in an armed attack in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, officials say.

Gunmen swooped down on an illegal cockfighting pit in the community of Las Tinajas and opened fire, local media report.

The motive behind the attack is not yet clear, but a number of criminal gangs operate in the region.

Bloody attacks on gatherings of rivals have become increasingly common.

In recent months, gunmen in various regions of Mexico have targeted funerals and wakes as well as bars and clubs in their attempt to take out as many of their rivals at one time as they can.

Forensic experts said all the victims in Las Tinajas – 16 men and three women – had been killed by gunshots. A number of people

Police Officers keep watch at a scene following the killing of 19 people on Sunday night in an attack on a clandestine cockfighting venue, authorities said, in Zinapecuaro, Mexico, March 28, 2022 [Reuters/Stringer]

have also been injured.

Witnesses said the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately before fleeing in various cars. In a recording tweeted by local news site Red Michoacán, dozens of shots can be heard ringing out.

Soldiers have been de-

ployed to try and hunt the attackers down.

The area around Las Tinajas is disputed by a number of gangs which engage in the smuggling of stolen petrol and the illegal tapping of petrol pipes owned by the State-run oil company. (BBC News)

B

razil’s Education Minister Milton Ribeiro resigned on Monday following allegations of corruption in the awarding of Ministry funds to municipal districts, according to an announcement in the country’s official gazette.

Ribeiro has been facing political pressure after local newspapers reported that two pastors had allegedly gained preferential treatment for educational funding for their municipal districts in return for bribes.

Ribeiro denied he had done anything illegal and said the “suspicions of irregular acts” must be investigated. “I am resigning to make

it clear I want the investigation to be thorough and unbiased,” he said in a statement.

Ribeiro, a Presbyterian pastor, will be the third Education Minister to leave the position during the Administration of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro’s party, the conservative Liberal Party (PL), pressed the President to dismiss the Minister beFormer Brazilian Education Minister Milton Ribeiro

fore the scandal damaged his re-election campaign, analyst Andre Cesar said.

Bolsonaro, who won office vowing to clean up Brazilian politics, is trailing

former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva according to early polls ahead of the October election.

“They are trying to control the damage as quickly as possible before this grows, because new facts are emerging every day in the media,” said Cesar, at political consultancy Hold Assessoria Legislativa.

The Estado de S Paulo newspaper quoted Mayors as saying that the pastors had asked them to buy Bibles with a photo of the Minister in return for access to educational funds, and one had asked for a gold bar as a bribe. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Honduran court backs US extradition of ex-President to face drug charges

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he Honduran Supreme Court on Monday authorised the extradition of former President Juan Orlando Hernandez to the United States to face drug trafficking and firearms charges dating back to his two terms in office.

Hernandez has been accused by US Prosecutors of participating in a wide-ranging drug-trafficking scheme between 2004 and 2022, part of an unprecedented investigation into Honduras’ role as a critical transit point for massive amounts of cocaine smuggled from South America north to the United States.

A related investigation led to a conviction and life prison sentence for Hernandez’s brother and former congressman Tony Hernandez last year in a US court.

The 53-year-old conservative ex-President is also accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes to protect drug traffickers from investigation and prosecution, and carrying, using, or aiding and abetting the use of weapons.

Hernandez, who was replaced as President in January

Honduras’ President Juan Orlando Hernandez presents his national statement as a part of the World Leaders’ Summit at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain November 1, 2021

by leftist Xiomara Castro after eight years in office, has denied any wrongdoing.

“The Supreme Court has decided not to allow the proposed appeal, which means the decision by the Judge to grant extradition has been confirmed,” said court spokesman Melvin Duarte.

Earlier this month, a

Honduran Judge authorised the extradition, which Hernandez’s lawyers sought to overturn.

On Monday, Felix Avila, one of Hernandez’s lawyers, said “this is a decision by the Supreme Court and the fact that we don’t agree with it does not mean it is illegal”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil slides about 7% on concerns of weaker Chinese demand

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il prices tumbled about 7 per cent on Monday after China's financial hub of Shanghai launched a lockdown to curb a surge in COVID-19 infections, prompting renewed fears of demand destruction.

Brent crude futures fell US$8.17, or 6.8 per cent, to settle at US$112.48 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell US$7.94, or about 7 per cent, to settle at US$105.96 a barrel.

Crude futures have been volatile since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February. Last week, Brent gained nearly 12 per cent, while WTI rose almost 9 per cent.

Shanghai has entered a two-stage lockdown of 26 million people on Monday in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. Officials closed bridges and tunnels and restricted highway traffic.

"The fear that the lockdowns could spread combined with a long liquidation has resulted in further decline of the market," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.

Oil demand in China, the largest crude importer globally, is expected to be 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) softer than usual in April, said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB bank.

Hopes for progress in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which could start in Turkey today, also weighed on prices.

However, analysts expect more bullish sentiment when the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, collectively known as OPEC+, meet on Thursday to discuss a planned 432,000-bpd increase to production quotas.

OPEC+ will likely stick to its plans for a modest increase in its oil output in May, several sources close to the group said, despite a surge in prices due to the Ukraine crisis and calls from consumers for more supply.

Supply deficits are looming, meanwhile, with April spot volumes of Russian crude expected to struggle to find buyers, analysts said. Russia's crude flows have been little affected in March as most volumes were contracted before the conflict.

Declining orders for Russian oil will be replaced with contracts from Southeast Asian countries, Russian state news agency TASS cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Monday.

Countries such as India and China are still buying Russian crude and Indonesian state energy company PT Pertamina has become the latest to announce it is considering buying Russian oil.

However, analysts still expect oil markets to feel the effects of widespread avoidance of Russian oil.

"Expectations are that 2.5 m bl/d of Russian crude and products will be lost in April," SEB's Schieldrop said, adding that diesel shortages will increase demand for Brent crude and light sweet crudes.

Oil should not be withheld from any country because "the world is in dire need" of supplies, UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Monday.

OECD stockpiles are at their lowest since 2014.

To help to ease tight supply, the United States is considering another release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), but it could be limited given the already low inventories.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin not seen ready to compromise ahead of peace talks

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kraine and Russia were preparing on Monday for the first face-to-face peace talks in more than two weeks, but a senior US official said Russian President Vladimir Putin did not appear ready to make compromises to end the war.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister said a ceasefire was the most his country could hope for from the talks, due to be held in Istanbul today after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

"We are not trading people, land or sovereignty," Dmytro Kuleba said.

A report that Russian billionaire and mediator Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators had suffered symptoms

Destroyed cars are seen in front of an apartment building which was heavily damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, March 27, 2022

of suspected poisoning after a meeting in Kyiv this month underlined the tension over the talks.

The Wall Street Journal and the investigative outlet Bellingcat cited people familiar with the matter for

Taliban bars Government employees without beards from work

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fghanistan's Taliban has instructed all Government employees to wear a beard and adhere to a dress code or risk being fired, three sources told Reuters, the latest of several new restrictions imposed by the hardline Islamist Administration.

The sources said representatives from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice were patrolling the entrances to Government offices on Monday to check that employees were in compliance with the new rules.

Employees were being instructed not to shave their beards and to wear local clothing consisting of a long, loose top and trousers, and a hat or turban.

They were also told to ensure they prayed at the correct times, two of the sources said.

Workers were told they would from now on be unable to enter offices and would eventually be fired if they did not meet the

A Taliban fighter guards a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 16, 2021

dress codes, the sources said.

Last week, the Taliban banned women from taking flights without a male chaperone and failed to open girls' schools as promised.

On Sunday it ordered parks to be segregated by sex, with women allowed to enter three days a week, and men the other four days, including the weekend, meaning even married couples and families cannot visit together.

The Taliban

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka in talks with India for another US$1.5B credit line

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ri Lanka has sought an additional credit line of US$1.5 billion from India to import essentials, the island nation's Central Bank Governor said on Monday, amid its worst economic crisis in decades.

The country of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70 per cent drop in foreign exchange reserves in two years led to a currency devaluation and efforts to seek help from

global lenders.

Fuel is in short supply, food prices are rocketing and protests have broken out as Sri Lanka's Government prepares for talks with the International Monetary Fund amid concerns over the country's ability to pay back foreign debt.

The new line is on top of the US$1 billion support extended by India to help pay for critical imports when Sri Lankan Finance Minister

their reports but Ukraine poured cold water on them and a US official said the cause of the symptoms was environmental, not poison.

In besieged Ukrainian cities where conditions are desperate, the threat of

Russian attacks blocked exit routes for civilians, two Ukrainian officials said, including the devastated port of Mariupol whose Mayor said 160,000 people were still trapped.

But the United Nations said it had been able to bring food and medical supplies into Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city and one of its hardest hit.

A predawn missile blew out the wall of a Kharkiv school.

"They've not been able to take the city, so they've decided to destroy it," said Oleksandr, sweeping rubble out of a third-storey classroom after spending the night with his mother on a lower floor because their own neighbourhood had been hit. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Basil Rajapaksa travelled to New Delhi earlier this month.

"There is a very close discussion continuing for an additional support of US$1.5 billion (with India) by way of oil support as well as other essential goods support of credit terms," Ajith Nivard Cabraal told an online event.

Cabraal's comments followed a Reuters report that said the crisis-hit country was in talks with India for an additional credit line of US$1 bil-

lion.

New Delhi has indicated it would meet the request for the new line, to be used for importing essential items such as rice, wheat flour, pulses, sugar and medicines, one source briefed on the matter told Reuters.

Sri Lanka's government bonds fell on Monday after the IMF warned the country needed a "comprehensive strategy" to make its debt sustainable.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Administration has drawn criticism at home and from Western governments for forcing its hardline interpretation of Islamic law onto all Afghans.

The Taliban say they will respect everyone's rights in line with Islamic law and Afghan customs and that they have changed since their 1996-2001 rule, when they barred women from leaving the house without a male relative and forced men to grow beards.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Teenage social media use linked to less lifesatisfaction for some

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he more time girls aged between 11 and 13 spend on social media, the less likely they are to be satisfied with life a year later, a study suggests.

The UK study, in Nature Communications, shows the same pattern for boys aged 14 to 15, and 19-yearold boys and girls.

Scientists speculate the vulnerability to social media at particular ages may be linked to brain, hormonal and social changes during adolescent development.

They say more research is needed to fully understand and prove the link.

Researchers, from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, say social media companies need to share more of their own data with scientists to allow further research.

Experts say social media can be a force for good, such as helping young people maintain social contact during the COVID pandemic.

The study suggests among girls aged 11 to 13, those who had increased their social media in the last 12 months use were less satisfied with life a year later.

Researchers say their work cannot predict which individuals are most at risk. And they say many other factors - such as the exact nature of social media content and the people they are interacting with online - will have an impact on teenage well-being too.

They accept for some people, social media will have an overall positive impact, allowing them to connect with friends and find valuable support. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Take stock of what you've done and what's left to do. Taking an energetic approach and reaching out to those who complement your skills and share your mindset will encourage success.

(March 21-April 19) Control your emotions when working alongside others. Making a change without consulting others will cause havoc. Use your power of persuasion to get others to do things your way.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Stick to instructions. Be wary of anyone who tries to lure you down a slippery slope. Temptation is the enemy, and intelligence and practicality will be necessary. Romance is apparent.

(May 21-June 20) Keep your thoughts to yourself and do your own thing. You'll leave others wondering what you'll do next. A modern approach will capture the moment and put you in the spotlight.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Making a change based on your emotions could cost you. Think matters through before you act. Run your ideas by someone you love and trust, and together you'll come up with a solid plan.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Get into the groove and make your move. You have plenty going for you, so don't let anyone stand in your way. Be a leader, look at the big picture and focus on reaching your goals.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Participate in events that give you the platform you need to show everyone who you are and what you have to offer. Share your thoughts and intentions with someone who can help you.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Refuse to let anyone goad you into an argument. Gravitate toward people who encourage you to use your skills uniquely and live life your way. Make happiness your long-term goal.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Listen carefully, but don't get into a debate with someone looking for a fight.

Focus on professional gains and taking care of your responsibilities. Discipline will be required.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Work behind the scenes putting together a foolproof plan that will tip the scale in your favor. Precision and attention to detail will ensure that you gain momentum and get things done.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD-- ADULATES

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Set your sights on accomplishment.

Wasting time on something that doesn't fit your lifestyle, budget or skill set will leave you in a vulnerable position. Don't be a follower.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to others while letting your imagination run free. You are overdue for a change that will make you feel content and give you peace of mind. Follow a path that brings you joy.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

21

Shami and Tewatia star as Gujarat Titans win battle of new teams

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ucknow Super Giants threatened to become the first team to defend a target in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, but late blows from David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, and Abhinav Manohar ensured it was Gujarat Titans who won the battle of the new teams.

After Dushmantha Chameera and Avesh Khan bowled with rapid pace in the powerplay to begin Super Giants' defence of 158, their spinners brought them control, despite the dew setting in at the Wankhede Stadium. Krunal Pandya, who bowled to Hardik Pandya (33 off 28 balls) for the first time in an official match, bested his younger brother. In the next over, Deepak Hooda bowled

Abhinav Manohar played a winning cameo for Gujarat Titans

Matthew Wade for 30 off 29 balls.

It left Titans needing 81 off 49 balls, with Manohar, who had played all of four T20s before Monday, listed

at number seven. With the left-handed pair of Miller and Tewatia in the middle, Rahul gave the offspinner Hooda another over, but the move worked against Super Giants

as Tewatia and Miller walloped him for a four and a six each, narrowing the equation to 46 off 24 balls. As a result of that move, Chameera, Super Giants' most penetrative bowler on the day, bowled just three overs.

Tewatia then laid into Ravi Bishnoi, before Avesh removed Miller in the 18th over to tighten the chase. Chameera tightened it even further with a nine-run penultimate over.

Avesh was left to defend 10 off the last over, but Manohar and Tewatia coolly sealed the deal for Titans, with five wickets and two balls to spare.

Shami scythes through top order Mohammed Shami landed the very first ball of the match

Rahul Tewatia smashed 40 off 24 balls

landmark with an audacious pulled six off Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over. From 47 for 4 at the halfway mark, Super Giants racked up 111 runs in their last 10 overs, with Krunal also contributing an unbeaten 21 off 13.

Anthony Drayton wins Gaico Grand Prix Chess Tourney

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he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) concluded its first overthe-board tournament last weekend with FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton playing unbeaten in the eight-round battle.

The chess tournament is the first of several tournaments which will determine the team for the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad games to be held in Chennai, India on July 28 to August 10 of this year.

Drayton, one of Guyana’s top-ranked players, secured 7.5 points against his counterparts with his half point resulting from his one draw against secondplace finisher and seasoned player Adrian Roopnarine.

Roopnarine ended with six points after he lost to veteran player Loris Nathoo and also drew with third-place finisher Davion Mars.

Mars gained 5.5 points after also drawing with Ethan Lee and Nathoo. His only loss was against Drayton. Nathoo came in fourth with 5.5 points as well, and also suffered his only loss against Drayton.

Keron Sandiford copped the best junior prize also with 5.5 points after losing to Drayton and Mars and drawing with Lee. Chelsea Juma was presented with the best female prize and Pooja Lam received the best junior female prize.

Trophies and cash prizes were presented to the top three finishers, and medals were given to those finishing fourth to 10th – Nathoo, Sandiford, Lee, Oluwadare Oyeyipo, Jaden Taylor, Juma and 12-year-old Arysh Raghunauth, respectively. Female player Jessica Callender was unable

Matthew Wade and Hardik Pandya put on a half-century stand for the third wicket

FM Anthony Drayton

to continue the competition owing to an accident on the way to the tournament on the final day.

Anand Raghunauth, Vice President and FIDE Arbiter, at the award ceremony, thanked the committee members of the GCF for their contributions over the past months and encouraged the talented young Guyanese chess players to continue to train in the game of chess as well as to be involved in the other aspects of the Federation. Drayton and Mars are currently involved in the training of new members of the GCF, and it is hoped that more young people can come on board to work towards creating a viable chess community in Guyana.

The GCF expressed thanks to the participants and its sponsor, Gaico Construction,

and everyone who assisted in making the tourney a success. Special thanks to FIDE Arbiter John Lee and head of Development of Chess, who ensured that the games were streamed live on the GCF’s webpage guyanachess.org and YouTube, keeping viewers at home up to date with the progress of the games. The GCF, for the first time, has broadcast live games utilising electronic chess boards supported by programmes which allow games to be streamed over the Internet in real time. This venture will continue to be a vibrant aspect of future chess tournaments and the Federation hopes to acquire more electronic boards in order to improve and develop its mandate in taking chess to higher levels in Guyana.

on a Test-match length with a bolt-upright seam. It veered in with the angle and then seamed away to scratch KL Rahul's outside edge. The ball continued to nip around in the early exchanges, and Shami made two more incisions in the powerplay, storming through the defences of Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey to leave Super Giants 29 for 4 in the fifth over.

Varun Aaron also struck in the powerplay, having Evin Lewis caught brilliantly by Shubman Gill off an uppish pull.

The Hooda-Badoni rescue act Hooda was slow off the blocks and was on 7 off 15 balls at one point. He then lined up the seemingly weaker links in the Titans' attack, taking Hardik and Aaron for 36 off 20 balls. In his first bowling shift in the IPL since the 2019 final for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings, Hardik went wicketless while giving up 37 runs in his four overs overall.

When Rashid Khan pitched one in his slot, Hooda confidently slog-swept him for six, and moments later brought up his half-century off 36 balls. Ayush Badoni made a half-century of his own, on IPL debut, bringing up the

Chameera's double-strike Chameera might not have even started the tournament had Mark Wood been fit.

Having got his chance, he showed why he probably should be a regular in Super Giants' XI by getting rid of both the Titans openers. In his first over, the Sri Lanka quick had Gill toe-ending a catch to point

for a duck. Then, in his second, he yorked number three Vijay Shankar for 4 off 6 balls after having pushed him back with hard lengths.

Tewatia and Abhinav finish it off Wade and Hardik played themselves in and put on 57 in eight overs before falling within 10 balls of each other. Titans needed a strong finishing kick, and it came from Tewatia, for whom they had forked out INR 9 crore (approximately US$1.85 million) at the auction earlier this year.

He dominated a 60-run fifth-wicket stand with Miller, punishing the spinners in particular. All up, Tewatia struck 30 off 15 balls from Hooda and Bishnoi. After slogsweeping Hooda for six, he reverse-swept Bishnoi for six, messing with the legspinner's line and forcing him out of his comfort zone.

Manohar also stepped up under pressure, cracking the first two balls of the last over, bowled by Avesh, for fours.

Fittingly, it was Tewatia who hit the winning runs, sparking big celebrations in Titans' camp. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) KL Rahul (c) c †Wade b Mohammed Shami 0 Quinton de Kock † b Mohammed Shami 7 Evin Lewis c Shubman Gill b Aaron 10 Manish Pandey b Mohammed Shami 6 Deepak Hooda lbw b Rashid Khan 55 Ayush Badoni c Pandya b Aaron 54 Krunal Pandya not out 21 Dushmantha Chameera not out 1 Extras(w 4) 4 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 7.90) 158/6 Did not bat: Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan Fall of wickets: 1-0 (KL Rahul, 0.1 ov), 2-13 (Quinton de Kock, 2.3 ov), 3-20 (Evin Lewis, 3.3 ov), 4-29 (Manish Pandey, 4.3 ov), 5-116 (Deepak Hooda, 15.5 ov), 6-156 (Ayush Badoni, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 4-0-25-3 Varun Aaron 4-0-45-2 Lockie Ferguson 4-0-24-0 Hardik Pandya 4-0-37-0 Rashid Khan 4-0-27-1

GUJARAT TITANS INNINGS (TARGET: 159 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Shubman Gill c Hooda b Chameera 0 Matthew Wade † b Hooda 30 Vijay Shankar b Chameera 4 Hardik Pandya (c) c Pandey b Pandya 33 David Miller c Rahul b Avesh Khan 30 Rahul Tewatia not out 40 Abhinav Manohar not out 15 Extras(lb 6, w 3) 9 TOTAL(19.4 Ov, RR: 8.18) 161/5 Did not bat: Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Shubman Gill, 0.3 ov), 2-15 (Vijay Shankar, 2.1 ov), 3-72 (Hardik Pandya, 10.1 ov), 4-78 (Matthew Wade, 11.5 ov), 5-138 (David Miller, 17.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Dushmantha Chameera 3-0-22-2 Avesh Khan 3.4-0-33-1 Mohsin Khan 2-0-18-0 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-34-0 Krunal Pandya 4-0-17-1 Deepak Hooda 3-0-31-1

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Rugby is in good hands” – Ninvalle …as nursery programme gets underway

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lways regarded as enjoying an enthralling rivalry, the two Caribbean sister countries Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago will add another contest to their long competition, this time in the sport of football.

The event will be the Courts Caribbean Classic, a friendly international tournament from which “the Land of Many Waters” and the twin-island republic have already ousted the third competitor, Barbados, “the Land of the Flying Fish”, with 5-0 and 9-0 defeats respectively.

The ‘final’ of sorts will be on tonight at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain from 19:00h (7pm) local time, as the two teams clash for bragging rights ahead of and in preparation for their CONCACAF Nations League matches in a few months’ time.

Reflecting on Sunday’s victory over Barbados, the senior men’s national team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz described it as a good win for all those involved in fostering the sport.

“I’m happy for the players; the fans; the team; the GFF [the Guyana Football Federation], the country, you know. That win against Barbados, a good confidence booster, because all the different stakeholders in Guyana’s football must feel good when we win a game like this,”

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle (centre) and NSC Commissioner Cristy Campbell take a photo with the nursery athletes for rugby, along with GRFU executives

G Guyana’s senior men’s Head Coach, Jamaal Shabazz

Shabazz said.

Turning his attention to today’s contest, the Trinidadborn Coach spoke of what to expect, which included pace and firepower from both sides.

Shabazz related, “Of course, we have to focus our attention on battling a Trinidad and Tobago team that is on fire. And it will be interesting to see how our defence handles attack, they’ve got a lot of pace, a lot of firepower, but Trinidad and Tobago will have to defend for periods in the game as well, because our guys are showing

good confidence.”

Taking a cheeky view of Guyana and Trinidad’s history, Shabazz highlighted that much was on the line in the friendly tournament, which should quell their sport-related antagonism, until they met again.

“We know a game like this has a lot of national pride at stake. And you know, we’re going to put our best foot forward and try to come out with a result,” the Golden Jaguars Head Coach shared.

He asserted, “Jaguars for life!” (Jemima Holmes)

uyana’s National Sports Academy is going full steam ahead, as yet another nursery was launched over the weekend. In fact, there were two launches this weekend with basketball and rugby getting underway on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

On Sunday, young prospective ruggers gathered at the National Park, Georgetown, where Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle and National Sports Commission (NSC) Commissioner Christy Campbell oversaw the launch of the programme, in the absence of the Minister for Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. At the launch, Ninvalle admired the persistence and dedication of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) in getting the lucrative programme underway, highlighting that it was a great sign for the sport.

“If I can judge by the turnout that you have today,

and by the organising that you have today. Especially starting with the National Anthem, it tells me that rugby is in good hands and we can expect a lot coming out of this nursery,” Ninvalle told the GRFU executives and the young athletes.

Citing the NSC’s mandate to oversee the Academy programme in 12 core sport disciplines across Guyana, Ninvalle viewed the success of the initiative as a partnership that needed to move from strength to strength.

“We will have to go hand in hand with this in order to make it work. It is not the Association working in a silo and the NSC working in another silo. It means that we will have to pool our efforts, in order to make this a success,” he said.

Also sharing remarks at Sunday’s event was Campbell, who spoke of the potential of the programme to propel young athletes to the

international arena and their obligation to seize the day.

Campbell told the budding ruggers, “I know rugby is a tough sport and, in the past, we’ve had lots of success, especially from this discipline internationally. I hope this opportunity that is presented to you is grasped with full hands, I hope you deliver what is expected and use the resources that we are presenting to you to be better athletes to develop your talent and to move on to the international scene.”

Rugby is the seventh sport discipline to have its nursery launched, behind squash, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, basketball and athletics. Given the objective of the nursery programme – to introduce and nurture younger athletes in the sport --- the GRFU opted to divvy up the youngsters into three groups (Under 10, 11-14, and 15-19) as their began on Sunday.

Clubs receive support from Project Rescheduled Pakistan-West “Cricket Gear for Young and Indies ODIs to begin in June Promising Cricketers in Guyana” CLASSIFIED ADS unior cricket teams of Cotton in Rawalpindi Tree Die Hard, West Coast ACCOMMODATIONS

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and the rapidly-rising Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC), Canefield, both in Berbice, have received one box of red cricket balls each from Project “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” .

This initiative is the creation of both Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA. The balls were handed over to the clubs over the weekend.

Speaking on behalf of the initiative, Beharry said that he was truly impressed with the rapid rise of both teams. He added that RHCCCC has already qualified for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Tenelec Under-15 finals while Cotton Tree Die Hard was knocked out yesterday in their semi-final against traditional powerhouse, Port Mourant CC. He also mentioned that it must be noted that Cotton Tree Die Hard was playing in their first-ever Under-15 BCB cricket competition.

Roshan Gaffoor of Cotton Tree Die Hard and Dr Beharry of RHCCCC commended the initiative and promised to continue to develop young cricketers.

Both teams have been producing quality young cricketers with Adrian Hetmyer, son of former national Under-19 batsman Seon Hetmyer and nephew of Indian Premier League (IPL)-bound West Indies big hitter Shimron Hetmyer, leading the way with three centuries in the competition so far. We are hopeful that a new breed of young players will come through the system, making Guyana and

… PCB said West Indies have agreed to play 3 T20Is in Pakistan "in early 2023"

Project organiser Anil Beharry (right) handing over the balls to Awaza Gaffur of Cotton Tree Die Hard

West Indies cricket strong again.

Sports in general help to keep our young people off the streets and is an avenue to a better life.

Total cricket-related items collected so far: $130,000 cash, two trophies, 11 pairs of cricket boots, 15 pairs of batting pads, 15 bats, nine pairs of batting gloves, 18 thigh pads, one wicketkeeping pad, one arm guard and four cricket bags. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was collected.

To date, 32 young players from all three counties of Guyana have benefited from a junior gear bag, two trophies, nine bats, nine pairs of cricket shoes, six pairs of batting pads and seven pairs of batting gloves. In addition, the Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club benefited from a pair of stumps and bails and two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan, and Wakenaam Cricket Committees also received one box of red cricket balls each.

Under the project, cricketrelated items, used or new, are being distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline

and education are important characteristics of the recipients.

Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders will also assist to identify talent.

The organisers of the initiative took the opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, and Dr Cecil Beharry.

Distribution will continue.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 6236875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

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W

est Indies will tour Pakistan for a threematch One-Day International (ODI) series in June, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced. All three matches, which are part of the 2023 World Cup Super League, will take place in Rawalpindi.

They will take place on June 8, 10 and 12, with the visitors arriving in Pakistan on June 5.

ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB is yet to decide whether the series will be played in a bio-secure bubble, and whether the travelling West Indies contingent will have to undergo any quarantine.

The PCB also announced that West Indies have agreed to play three T20 Internationals in Pakistan "in early 2023", with the precise dates yet to be

announced.

The ODIs were initially part of a West Indies tour of Pakistan in December 2021. At the time West Indies were due to play three T20Is and three ODIs in Pakistan. The three T20Is were completed, with Pakistan winning the series 3-0. However, COVID-19 cases began to spiral in the West Indies camp, and, with mutual consent, the ODI leg of the series was postponed.

The announcement adds to a growing list of visitors to Pakistan in the most extensive home calendar in over a decade. Australia is currently touring Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs, and a T20I. England and New Zealand are also scheduled to visit Pakistan later in the year. (ESPNcricinfo)

Restaurant for Rent – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop). Turn Key Business. Covid-19 Reduced Capacity 60; furnished and equipped.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

23

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Paul, Smith, Hemraj among 16 for WI white-ball skills camp C

Chandrapaul Hemraj

ricket West Indies (CWI) has named 16 players for a white-ball camp to be held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground from Thursday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 13.

There are two uncapped players on the list – all-rounder Nyeem Young and middleorder batsman Keacy Carty.

Young was a member of the West Indies Rising Stars squad at the 2020 International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 World Cup, and has also played for Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Carty has been a consistent member of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes squad for the last five years.

He was Player of the Match in the final of the2016 ICC U-19 World Cup won by the West Indies.

Head Coach Phil Simmons outlined that the camp would

focus on improving skill sets as the West Indies look ahead to two major global events over the next two years – the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia later this year and the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to be played in India.

Simmons said: “The camp will be a chance for us to do some work with players in the white-ball format, players who might have a chance to play in the coming whiteball teams later this year. The most important thing is that we will be doing things in the camp that we have not been doing well, such as rotating strike, sweeping, and playing spin better. It’s about working on things that we’re not 100 per cent at yet. We have several players at IPL who will be working at their games as well, so we’re working with

the players here to make sure they keep up the standard and improve.”

Simmons added: “Keacy Carty was a reserve for the team which toured India in February. If there was any reason why players couldn’t go, he was the next batsman in line. He is one of the players we have looked at before.

Nyeem Young is one of the potentially-good young allrounders we have around the Caribbean, so we just want to bring them in and get them to understand what we expect of them if they get to that level.”

The camp will be held at Coolidge Cricket Ground, the new home of CWI in Antigua.

It will also help preparation for West Indies 2022 schedule with home and way tours all featuring white-ball cricket. In late May, West Indies travel to The Netherlands for the first-

ever three-match OneDay International (ODI) series between the two teams, to be followed by the rescheduled three-match ODI series against Pakistan which was postponed in December.

These fixtures form part of the ICC ODI Super League, where teams will have the opportunity to secure points to try and secure one of the top seven places, excluding hosts India, to gain automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. West Indies will then be hosting tours by Bangladesh, India, and New Zealand with all three series featuring white-ball matches. Details of these tours will be announced in the coming weeks.

Nial Smith

List of players Nkrumah Bonner Darren Bravo Shamarh Brooks Keacy Carty Roston Chase Justin Greaves Chandrapaul Hemraj Shai Hope Brandon King Kjorn Ottley Keemo Paul Anderson Phillip Raymon Reifer Nial Smith Devon Thomas Nyeem Young

Guyana’s Amsterdam into Escarraga storms to Genuine Auto Spares Golf Tournament title AMBC Elite Continental semi

Winners pose with Genuine Auto Spares Managing Director Amrit Prashad (centre right)

L

By Jemima Holmes

D

esmond Amsterdam was quick on his feet and packed a powerful punch on Sunday night in Guyaquil, Ecuador, as he stormed his way into the middleweight class semifinal in the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental Championships.

Arguably Amsterdam’s most important assignment postpandemic, the former Caribbean champion came up against refugee pugilist Eldric Sella in the Coliseo Voltaire Paladines Polo Arena, Ecuador.

The three-round bout was a dominant one from the Guyanese pugilist, who fought out of the blue corner. While Sella landed a few lusty blows of his own, the Guyanese managed to outbox his opponent. In the end, Amsterdam was able to convince the slim majority of judges that he was the better fighter, as he won by split decision.

As Amsterdam moves on to Wednesday’s semi-final, his opponent is not yet known.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam’s efforts came in for high praise from the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and its President, Steve Ninvalle, who hailed his achievement as somewhat historic.

“We’re extremely happy that “Da” could’ve pushed himself to be on the medals table. This will be the first time that we’ll

Desmond Amsterdam connects with Eldric Sella’s jaw during their bout (Photo credit: IBA)

have a Guyanese who’ll be able to earn, as an amateur, earn financially from it. In that part, he’s created history,” Ninvalle shared on Monday during an invited comment with Guyana Times Sport.

He added, “Looking at the fight, I was very impressed.

Coming back from almost two years of inactivity, he would have been able to defeat his opponent.”

While Amsterdam, just by being in the semi-final, is already guaranteed a medal in the event, Ninvalle has high hopes for the Guyanese pugilist, as he looks forward to his next bout tomorrow.

“Desmond Amsterdam is one of the better boxers in the Caribbean; he’s the former Caribbean middleweight champion and now he’s pushed himself into being an AMBC medallist. My hope and expectation, also, is that he goes on to better that bronze medal, he’s a semi-finalist. So,

my expectation is that he goes on to win a silver or even a gold,” Ninvalle articulated.

He further stated, “It has been sometime since we’ve gone to international competition outside of the Caribbean Region.

So, this brings some excitement to the sport, you know, we’ve just started back too.”

On the matter of prize monies, Amsterdam is now a shoo-in to receive the first prize of US$10,000, second prize of US$5000 or third prize of US$2500, depending on whether he finishes the competition with a gold, silver or bronze medal respectively. Cash prizes will accompany medals in each of the 13 male and 12 female weight categories in the AMBC Elite Continental Championships.

Amsterdam is among three boxers who are representing Guyana in Ecuador. The other pugilists are light welterweight Colin Lewis and lightweight Jamal Eastman. They are accompanied

by Coach Terrence Poole, MS.

ast Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) saw Guillermo Escarraga on a mission to return to the winners’ circle after a long hiatus, and in completing that mission, he shot the lowest net score (64) this year.

After going low for a net-32 on the front-9 in the Genuine Auto Spares Golf Tournament, he kept calm with a matching net-32 on the back-9, carding an overall unmatched net score of 64. With that, Escarraga (HC-21, gross 85, net 64) bested a strong field which included a resurgent performance from secondplace finisher Aasrodeen Shaw, who carded a respectable net score of 66 (HC-12, gross 78, net 66). Shaw’s score would have won on most days, but Saturday belonged to Escarraga. The third- and fourth-place finishers are two gentlemen who are in top form in 2022, Miguel Oveido (HC-19, gross 88, net 69) and last week’s winner Bholawram Deo (HC-20, gross 89, net 69) respectively to round off the winners’ row.

Escarraga, when asked how it felt to win the tournament, said, “It feels good to win the golf tournament; there is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to be able to perform at the highest level, especially when you are under pressure.

So, winning a golf tournament is never easy; everybody prepares and especially this weekend we had some very low scores and it feels really good that at the end

Aasrodeen Shaw came in second

I could really pull it off.”

Other prizes that were awarded went to Brian Hackett ( Longest drive); William Walker (Closest to the flag); Deo (Best Net Front-9: Net-31) and Escarraga (Best Net Back-9: Net-32).

Genuine Auto Spares Managing Director Amrit Prashad gave the closing remarks and thanked the LGC for hosting a fantastic tournament.

He expressed great satisfaction that his company has chosen a great partner in the LGC and said it would continue to sponsor yearly tournaments to support the Club’s vision of expanding the game of golf, to anyone wishing to learn.

LGC Vice President Paton George thanked the Genuine Auto Spares team for its second year of sponsorship

and its commitment to future partnerships with the Club.

“We are proud to be en route to realising one of our goals: opening the grounds to the public and beginning the search for talent. On Saturday, April 16th the Lusignan Club will host our inaugural kids’ fun day event which will feature a drive, chip and putt kids from 5 to 15 competition. There will be lots of treats and fun prizes for the kids, including membership packages to the LGC. This will be a first for the club and our hope is that parents take the opportunity to sign up for this event. You never know, Guyana might be the birthplace of the next Tiger Woods, and Genuine Auto and all our sponsors play an important role in that search,” George posited.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022

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

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Guyana’s Amsterdam into AMBC Elite Continental semis Page 23

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