Guyana Times -- Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Timothy Tucker elected P9 new GCCI President – says local content, capacity building to remain priorities Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4610

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Govt to construct 190 houses for working class at Cummings Lodge See story on page 3

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Call centres P11 have potential to create thousands of jobs – Dr Ashni Singh

Over $20M in losses as Linden house goes up P2 in flames

– orders squatters to vacate land by April 10 or face consequences Guyana oil revenue

NRF Act completed, to be reviewed by expert – Attorney General

Suspect allegedly confesses to P11 murdering Swan labourer – Police on hunt for accomplice

See story on page 19

Relative of slain Henry boys arraigned for revenge killing of labourer Page 8

“Paper Shorts” murder

Wanted man “Killa” Bacchus turns self in

Father of 6 P13 stabbed to death in row over money

See story on page 15

Gas-to-shore project can jump-start new era of economic development for Guyana – finance professor Page 10

...says project makes sense from an economic perspective

16-year-old P20 killed by drunken GDF Corporal

Fisherman P20 feared dead after falling overboard while fishing

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over $20M in losses as Linden house goes up in flames

By Utamu Belle

A

fire of unknown origin on Monday completely ravaged a five-bedroom house at Lot 239 One Mile, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), resulting in over $20 million in losses.

The fire reportedly started between 15:30h and 16:05h. The owner of the house reportedly resides overseas but the house was

The aftermath of the fire

left in the care of her son, Rudolph Wills.

However, at the time of the fire, Wills was not at home but after, he claimed that he had secured the property and went to his neighbour’s house, which is about 30 metres away.

He told the Police that while there, he was alerted that smoke was emanating from the house. This was followed by a huge fire.

“I went right over at me neighbour...went over playing domino,” Wills told Guyana Times, further stating that he was alerted by his son who was also at the neighbour’s premises.

“When he come outside... he see the big smoke.

He said, “Daddy, daddy!

Smoke! When I watch I said, “That is by me”.

He noted that the smoke was emanating from one of the bedrooms and he quickly rushed over but the western side of the house was on fire.

“We run and come over.

By time we run and come over and burst open the front door, I couldn’t even go in the house,” Wills said.

He explained that the fire service was contacted as neighbours rushed to assist but due to the intensity of the heat, they could not save anything. The house was constructed about 50 years ago.

The devasted man explained that the house was fully furnished. In fact, he added that there were several pieces of electrical appliances which have never been utilised.

He said his mother, who resides in the United States, ensured that the house was fully furnished so that when she visits, she will be equipped.

“I didn’t leave on anything...everything I does plug out. I don’t even use microwave...the only thing that does be on is the fridge,” the man related.

On the other hand, he noted that when the fire tenders arrived at the scene, they encountered some diffi-

One relative assisting in the clearing of the debris

culties getting access to water.

Meanwhile, Wills’s sister, Sharon Wills-Joe, who resides out of Linden, travelled to the mining town after she heard of the incident. She noted that she would occasionally travel to Linden to check on the house where she grew up.

She said she was plunged into a state of shock after she received the devasting news. She noted that while the cause of the fire is unknown, her brother was very cautious.

“He does pull out even the phone cord. When I come, I does got to plug in the phone, everything,” she noted.

The woman said they were more concerned about how their mother would take the news since she would always invest in her

home. The family was in the process of rehabilitating the house. They noted that the only upgrades left were to the fence.

“It had every little thing a house needed because mommy always made sure to get everything. She wanted to enjoy her old age. That is what she would always say,” Wills-Joe said.

The duo posited that their mother only visited Guyana a few months ago to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Meanwhile, family members and residents were busy assisting the family on Tuesday to clear the debris.

Officials from the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force have launched an investigation into the fire. Anyone desirous of assisting the family can contact Wills on telephone number 630-8675.

Man wanted for narcotrafficking surrenders

The ganja found during the raid

R

awle Farrell, 32, of Dazzle Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD) who was wanted by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for trafficking in narcotics surrendered on Monday.

Based on reports received, on Monday March 29, 2021, CANU agents turned up at the man’s home to conduct a search, but as the officers made their way to the house, he escaped.

In an attempt to apprehend him, the officers reportedly gave chase, but their efforts proved futile.

However, a search was conducted on the home of the Farrells, during which several Ziplock plastic bags along with other bulky parcels were found with the suspected cannabis. The illegal substance was subsequently weighed and amounted to 1.5 kilograms.

As such, CANU subsequently issued a wanted

Rawle Farrell

bulletin for his arrest. Days after the bulletin was issued, Farrell, along with his mother, other relatives and his attorney, presented themselves at CANU Headquarters, where he turned himself in.

He was arrested and charged for the crime. He is expected to make his court appearance today at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 7 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Thursday, April 8 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 13:30h – 15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 7 – 13:35h – 15:05h and Thursday, April 8 – 14:25h – 15:55h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloud will prevail during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 13:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.21 metres.

Low Tide: 07:20h and 19:51h reaching minimum heights of 1.12 metres and 0.93 metre.

Govt to construct 190 houses for working class at Cummings Lodge – orders squatters to vacate land by April 10 or face consequences

I

nformal settlers have been impeding the rate of works currently ongoing at the Cummings Lodge New Housing Development area on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), and as such, have been ordered to vacate by April 10, 2021, or face the consequences.

On Monday, the Housing and Water Ministry issued a notice informing persons who have been occupying the land illegally to move.

Guyana Times understands that a total of 11 illegal structures were erected in the pathway of the ongoing works.

As such, the Ministry in the notice stated that failure to comply with the State’s instructions before the deadline will result in consequences.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

home improvement sectors.

Moreover, the construction sector will be key to driving growth in Guyana’s non-oil sectors.

commenced steps to access 6356 acres of lands to help satisfy this demand.

In addition to other areas, the lands were being sought between Golden Grove and Peters Hall on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and between Ogle to Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), for the development of additional housing schemes.

Since last August, Government had pointed out the issue regarding the illegal occupation of State lands at Cummings Lodge and regarded it as a hindrance in carrying out the planned budgeted projects.

These persons were not occupying the named locations at the time of the agency’s last inventory, which

Squatters served with notices last year at Cummings Lodge

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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When contacted on Tuesday, Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues told this publication that as part of infrastructural works in the Cummings Lodge area, bridges and roads are being constructed.

The water and electrical networks were also finalised.

She noted that the Government is in the process of constructing 190 elevated two-bedroom houses in the community for the working class – a project that is slated for completion within five months.

“With all the necessary infrastructure in place, we are reached by stumble block…. that is the illegal structures that are impeding on the ongoing work in the area hence the reason for the notice to be issued… We have a timeline to work with and once, April 10 comes and the illegal structures are not removed, we will take the necessary steps,” the Minister explained.

Back in November, President Irfaan Ali had announced that land clearing works started for new housing schemes at Mon Repos and Cummings Lodge. He noted that the Government’s housing programme will create tens of thousands of jobs in the construction and

As part of the PPP/C Government’s ambitious plan to make available over 50,000 house lots over the next five years to citizens, the Housing Ministry had

means they recently moved into the locations and started construction.

“Again, the Ministry is working to meet the housing demand, but our hand will not be forced by persons who

continue to indulge in this illegal act. Squatting impedes on infrastructure development and more importantly, has a serious impact on the health and safety of those involved,” a statement from the Ministry had said.

Citizens were reminded that Government reserves are not suitable living conditions for anyone as they lack the basic necessities for daily human activities. It went on to say that most times, these reserves run along critical waterways, posing a serious threat of contamination. In other instances, critical hardware for utility companies have been occupying these reserves and illegal encumbrances can affect critical services provided by these companies.

Government is mobilising to distribute a whopping 10,000 house lots to Guyanese in 2021, in keeping with their manifesto promise to deliver 50,000 lots within their first term in office.

This is aimed at clearing the existing application backlog that currently stands at over 70,000. A number of land titles will also be issued throughout the year.

With a budgetary allocation of $6 billion for housing, Government has said the establishment of a Diaspora Housing Fund is being considered. The Head of State had also revealed that Government was looking at other areas of securing financing for the housing sector. This includes efforts to raise some US$250 million for housing projects.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

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

Autism in 2021

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pril is Autism Awareness Month, with World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), commemorated on April 2 every year. As the world continues to be roiled by the COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres was keen to note on World Autism Awareness Day 2021: "We must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by COVID-19 does not result in rollbacks of the rights of people with autism."

According to the UN, “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and heightened glaring inequalities around the world, especially when it comes to income and wealth distribution, access to health care, protection under the law, and political inclusion.

Persons with autism have long faced many of these inequalities, which have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic. It’s a problem made worse by long recognised discriminatory hiring practices and workplace environments that present major obstacles for persons with autism; all of which contribute to the unemployment or severe underemployment of a large majority of adults on the autism spectrum”.

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is characterised by challenges with social skills and communication, and by repetitive behaviour, so many living with ASD have difficulty finding employment, and keeping employment if they do find a job.

The 2021 World Autism Awareness Day theme, “Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a PostPandemic World”, highlights this issue.

This year, the main global event is the virtual forum on Thursday, April 8 “that will include moderated panel discussions with individuals on the autism spectrum who have themselves experienced the challenges and seen … new opportunities in the employment market”, organisers say.

Around the world, every year on World Autism Awareness Day, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes, and communities are lit up with light blue lights in recognition of people living with autism. This symbolic gesture was intended to unite the world to shine a light on autism and increase greater understanding and acceptance for children, individuals, and families across the globe. What’s more, World Autism Awareness Day goes one step further to celebrate the unique talents of those with autism, while putting a huge focus on the warm embrace and welcome that these skills deserve through community events around the globe. World Autism Awareness Day can trace its roots back to November 1, 2007, when the UN first requested that a day be established as World Autism Day. A resolution to this effect was passed on December 18, 2007, and Autism Awareness Month grew out of World Autism Awareness Day. So there has been much progress on raising awareness and improving lives in the 14 years since. As more people become aware of the autism, more parents reach out for answers. More awareness leads to more knowledge and greater visibility.

More people who aren't living with autism learn to accept and respect, people who are.

But World Autism Awareness Day also puts a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism – and others living with autism – face every day, and these have not gotten any less challenging.

While as a growing global health issue, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding owing to its increasing exposure in the press, more challenges, like COVID-19, are cropping up.

As reflected in the name, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder vary greatly in terms of the level and type of impairment. Current statistics suggest that approximately 1 in 88 children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high, and the lack of understanding has a tremendous impact on the individuals, their families, and communities. Further, stigmatisation and discrimination associated with neurological differences remain substantial obstacles to diagnosis and therapy, an issue that must be addressed by both public policymakers in developing nations, as well as donor countries.

While there are several local companies who already make autism causes a part of their corporate responsibility, there are many who have not yet jumped on board. Please consider doing so, and doing more, autism is real; it affects us all. Those affected by autism need not only our understanding but our support. More importantly, those on the spectrum deserve our understanding and support.

A young member of an asylum-seeking migrant family attempts to get off an inflatable raft with the help of a Texas Ranger officer after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Roma, Texas (Reuters/Go Nakamura)

Effective systems can minimise corruption

Dear Editor, Jump high, jump low; come hell or high water; COVID-19 or no COVID-19; there will be corruption in Guyana. In reality, we cannot stop corruption. There is no silver bullet or a one-shot solution to stop corruption.

However, we can put systems in place to minimise it.

A menu of measures can be employed to stem the flow of corruption. Please allow me to share some views with you and your readers on this much talked about subject corruption. This confabulation will have a law enforcement bias, although it could equate to other departments and individuals. Corruption is not unique to policing, but, no other profession is more adversely affected by corruption than law enforcement.

What is corruption? The key elements of corrupt behaviour are that the conduct (1) is prohibited by law or rule (2) involves misuse of position and (3) involves a reward or personal gain for the officer.

Corruption is of concern because officers in the field and elsewhere are exposed to numerous opportunities to benefit from actions they take against offenders of the law and the chance to illegally obtain money, chattel and valuable securities. They may be offered bribes or come across huge amounts of drugs or cash.

They may feel overworked, underpaid, overlooked for promotion and therefore entitled to take what they consider just compensation for the risks they take on the job. Yet, whenever one member of a Police department is

found to be corrupt, thousands of honest hardworking officers suffer.

Sherman’s Slippery Slope of Corruption posits that police corruption begins with the lowering of ethical expectations and values to attain a gratuity of minor value, for example, accepting a free cup of coffee or lunch or barbeque tickets or pass to go to a show. It is debatable whether or not police should accept gratuities.

Perhaps, in time to come, I may share some views on that topic.

Although this action in itself is most likely harmless and inconsequential as a corrupt force, it may over time produce a snowball effect, leading to an officer accepting gratuities of larger magnitude.

Furthermore, such practices also lead to those providing the “ freebies” to expect preferential treatment by recipient officers. Sometimes, when “freebies” are no longer readily available, officers may demand and even demand with menace. Strasberg (2000) notes: “Corruption takes on many forms, and something seemingly insignificant can put an officer on a slippery slope, leading to major crimes.” Research repeatedly confirms that most scandals start with one employee doing relatively small unethical acts and grow to whatever level leadership allows.

Swope believes that an officer’s behaviour is influenced more directly by actions or lack of actions in response to ethical shortcomings of his superiors than by stated directives or written ethical code of an or-

ganisation. Corrupt police are made, not born.

As Rothlein cautions, “Corruption is a corrosive element that will spread like rust if it is not contained or eliminated... The causes of corruption are complex.

Many factors can contribute to corruption, including greed; personal motivators such as ego, sex, or the exercise of power; tolerance of behaviour by the community; socialisation from peers and/ or organisation; supervision and monitoring behaviour; lack of clear accountability of employees’ behaviour; and no real threat of discipline or sanctions.”

Perry (2001) contends, “Those who serve the public must be held at a higher standard of honesty and care for the public good than the general citizenry. A higher standard is not a double standard. Persons accepting position of public trust take on new obligations and are free not to accept them if they do not want to live up to the higher standard.

Leaders must examine their department and find ways to promote integrity and ethical behaviour that adheres to this higher standard.

All is not lost. There is hope. A good starting point, to promote ethical behaviour and integrity, according to Pedersen (2001) is to eliminate the code of silence: “The code of silence encourages people not to speak up when they see another officer doing something wrong.”

Fulton (2000) stresses: “Police commanders must exemplify the honesty and integrity they seek in their subordinates.” In addition: “Ethical mentoring and role

modelling should be constant, frequent and visible.

McCarthy (2000) presents seven steps that can help prevent unethical behaviour: (1) Recruit with care. (2) Establish appropriate policies and put them in writing. (3) Adopt a good employee evaluation process. (4) Make sure your sergeants share management’s values and philosophies. (5) Develop operational controls. (6) Perform regular anti-corruption inspections and audits. And (7) implement ethics and integrity training into every training activity.

Leaders must concentrate on the long-range importance of developing personnel. Developing individuals and team players is a sine qua non because most law enforcement leaders will come from the lower levels of the organisation. According to Swope (2002), the group of people that have the most ability to create an organisational culture based on integrity are the sergeants and junior officers. A sergeant may not be able to change his department but he can change his squad.

A junior officer may not be able to change his department but he can change the large number of ranks under his command. Fast forward!

At some point, these junior officers and sergeants will be the senior commanders where they may be able to change the department.

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

5

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My mother’s memory lives on in all of us

– tribute to a pioneering mother

By Vishnu Bisram

T

he death of a mother, even at 93, as mine did on Sunday night, is a great loss; it is irreparable. With my father having passed in the mid-1990s, I join many others who have lost both parents. It takes courage to bear the pain of the loss of a loved one, especially a mother, who was the first to see you at birth, and I was there with her in my heart as she took her last breath.

I was with my mother as the ambulance took her away from her home, but could not be with her in the final moments in the hospital because of COVID restrictions.

I did spend time with my mother right after my flight from Guyana on Saturday, and she was joyful at seeing me, calling my name throughout the night. The grief is overwhelming, as I choke with emotion.

My mother was very unique among girls of her generation, as she received a primary school education that was not permitted for most others. It took a special person to do what this woman did. She was born after the end of indenture in 1928 in Bound Yard, Plantation Port Mourant. Her parents were also born in the same village some 25 years earlier. She also spent time with her maternal grandparents in Free Yard. (Animal Yard, Bound Yard, Freed Yard, N-Yard, and Portuguese Quarters were all next to each other in Port Mourant where the indentureds lived).

My mom’s nanna and nanni, Amarnath and Bhuri Singh, of Rajput (Chatri) stock, came from Bharatpur, Rajasthan India; and her aja (Sau-ji) came from (Chapra, Bihar) and aji (Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh) of Banya caste (money lenders or business people). They were bounded to Bound Yard, Port Mourant. My father’s grandparents are from Uttar Pradesh and are of Brahmin and Ahir or Garreri stock (followers of Lord Krishna).

Her name was Gladys – so given because her parents and grand-parents were ‘very glad’ for her birth, being the first surviving child of Ketwaru and Rampiyari of Free Yard. Earlier pregnancies had ended in mortality. It was after several efforts that she was born, and she survived after great environmental and medical difficulties.

My mother’s father (my nanna) died shortly after my mother’s marriage, following an accident while working on the estate, for which his survivors got no compensation; for his death, my nan-

Gladys Bisram

ni was compensated with a job to weed grass under the hot sun in the cane fields. My mother had seven other siblings: Dhoris, Johnny (deceased), Dorothy, Aska, Irene, Esther, Shanta, and Gama, (deceased).

My mother was one of four girls who were granted entrance in English School (Anglican) in Free Yard during the 1930s. There was fear of religious conversion, a common requirement for an education and social mobility, but Gladys remained loyal to her Hindu faith till the end. She excelled in school, and was offered a scholarship to study nursing in England. Three of her friends took up the offer, but her aji, who was boss of the Sau clan, wouldn’t allow it. Her teachers, who were Africans, pleaded with the family to send the “girl” to England because she was very bright, but to no avail.

Gladys’s aji took her out of school, fearing she would “couton” (court) boys and ‘taint’ the name of a respectable money lender and merchant family. Females were not allowed outside of the home at that time, and she must have been among a few Indian girls who ac-

tually were allowed an education by their families. My mother cried, and her father and aja wanted to send her to England but the Aji would have none of it, and she was the boss.

Gladys’s paternal grandparents owned a store that sold cloth, and she helped with retailing. She decided to become self-taught in sewing. She said she would visit an African seamstress in Free Yard and observe what the woman did. She collected discarded pieces of cloth from the woman’s sewing shop and did hand sewing with needles. She asked her parents to buy her a sewing machine, and she taught herself to sew, becoming the leading seamstress in Port Mourant and beyond, getting abundant jobs to sew fancy dresses. She also became a teacher of sewing, imparting skills to hundreds of young ladies. Her sewing shop also became a place for wedding match-making.

Families would routinely come to her shop to look for a bride for their son during the 1940s thru 1960s. My mother would be called upon to assess the would-be bride’s character and sewing skills and/

or make recommendations for marriages. She ‘looked’ for husbands for some of the beauties she trained.

She also taught males to sew, including my father, who became a tailor in addition to being a rice and cane farmer. All of her students were forever grateful to Aunty Gladys.

My mother’s three school friends who went to study in England visited her on their return from their studies. On seeing them, refined from their schooling and training in England, my mother grieved. She did not further her study, but she was very obedient to her grandparents.

It was perhaps because of her quest for education that she made sure her children received formal schooling. Nine of her twelve children also received tertiary education in America; one child died in infancy in Guyana. Several of her grandchildren are doctors or are employed in the medical profession.

My mother wanted me to become a (medical) doctor, but I disappointed her by becoming a social science doctor, pre-occupied with struggling against the dictatorship rather than taking care of myself and my family. She was very proud of my achievements of perhaps being the only Guyanese to pursue four PhDs, with an extensive background in educational administration, natural sciences, and social sciences, and my role in Guyana’s freedom struggle.

My mother was very kind and generous. In addition to imparting sewing and garment cutting skills to youngsters, my mother helped so many others in birth, marriages, and deaths. She would pierce the ears of babies – without charging. There was a special skill to ‘bore’ the ears or noses of female youngsters, and my mother was able to numb the ears to prevent pain. I watched her undertake that task with expertise like she was a trained nurse, as hundreds visited our home.

She sewed clothes (gowns) for brides and grooms and for the deceased, often free or at very low charge, especially for the poor. The rich did not patronise my mother that much, preferring instead urban fashion. She was very comfortable helping the poor. And she shared meals even under very difficult financial constraints. I remember some very poor families visiting our homes for cooked food, and my mother packing the saucepan

Masjids as COVID-19 vaccine centres

Dear Editor, In many parts of the coastland, from the Corentyne to the Essequibo coast, people had to go to Masjids for their COVID-19 vaccines.

Why these Islamic places of worship were selected for this purpose when schools, community and health centres and hospitals were and are available leads to inevitable speculation. It is also noted that Masjids are centres for distribution of Old Age Pension books, and

that food hampers allegedly provided by the PPP during the early days of the pandemic were handled exclusively through the Masjids.

Of course, in this matter of food hampers, it is the prerogative of the party to decide the distribution system, but it certainly gives the impression that the state, departing from our foundational secular principles, is involved in promoting a religion.

Further, if Masjids have been selected for the distri-

bution of Old Age Pension books and for administering the vaccines in such an open and blatant way, one shudders to think what may be going on behind closed doors.

Is this the new order we are now to expect in Guyana, identity politics and preferential entitlements, the exchange of one form of discrimination for another?

It might be the official teaching of a particular religion that its followers, be-

ing the first among equals, must be given preferential treatment; but in this plural, multi-cultural society, that is a policy that is as dangerous as it is foolish.

We are already blighted by racial mistrust and insecurity. Our leaders must be careful not to add religion in the cauldron, because, in the fatal words of Prime Minister Rowley, “This may not end well.”

Respectfully, Swami Aksharananda

for them. And of course, she would give out rice and dal to beggars who would come to our gate almost daily. After our rice harvest, my mother doled out rice to neighbours and relatives.

She also shared with neighbours and relatives the milk from our cows; vegetables and fruits from the kitchen garden; and the pumpkin, watermelon, other fruits, and chowrai bhaji or other produce my father brought from the backdam from the banks of our rice fields.

I remember her preparing and sharing special delicacies for Phagwah and Diwali, and fasting for other Hindu festivals.

My mother held a special place in her heart for me. She prepared the best foods for me, including when the dictatorship banned basic foods. I had to get my dhal, alou, and roti. As a child, I ate only fresh water fish, and she got hell to find me patwa, hourie, hassar, and sun fish to make me happy.

And she took me to see Bollywood movies with the old stars.

She was adored by her relatives and neighbours. They referred to her as “Didi” (elder sister) or as ‘Bhouji’ (sister-in-law).

Neighbours and others called her Aunty Gladys.

My mother was very hard working. I remember her giving birth to my last two siblings and being back at the sewing machine the next day, or making roti or preparing meals for the family or washing clothes. Even after undergoing surgery and returning home, she was back on the manual machine sewing clothes to provide food for her dozen children.

Life was very difficult for the family, especially for me personally during the period of banned foods.

But we were never short of food and clothing at home. My parents provided for our well-being raising us in comfort. Our ten surviving siblings (Bassant, Sadhanand, Kamlawati, Chandrowti, Srimati, Baskanand, Taramati, Vishnunand, Vekanand, and Chrishnanand) and two dozen grandchildren and a dozen great-grands along with her inlaws (Sadhu, Wato, Bebo, Sandra, Penal, Parbatie, Jugnu, Anand, Desiree, Radica, Golo) will miss my mother. Vedyawati and Sanita passed on. She was our ‘mai’. Her memory lives on in all of us.

Cremation is set for Thursday, April 8, 2021 in New York.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Foundation ◄

Page Question 1

(a) In Sunflowers 6, there are 26 students. All students study Mathematics and English. No student failed.

Tuesday’s answers Area = πr2 Π = 3.14 Diameter = 2r

Only 50 per cent got 70 per cent and above in Area of Pizza A = π(7.5)2 = 3.14 x 7.52 = 176.71cm2 Mathematics or English Area of Pizza B = π(15)2 = 3.14 x 152 = 706.86cm2 Ten students got 70 per cent and above in both Mathematics and English with an unknown number get706.86cm2 is greater than 176.71cm2 so Pizza B ting 70 per cent and above in English only and half that is bigger than Pizza A number doing the same in Mathematics only The area of 1 slice of Pizza B = 144.172cm2 and

(i) Complete a Venn diagram where: cost $6.95 So the cost per cm2 = $6.95 ÷ 144.172cm2 = U = {all the students in the class} P = {students who got 70 per cent and more in $0.048 Mathematics and English} The whole of Pizza A = 176.71cm2 and cost $9.95 M = {students who 70 per cent and more in Mathematics So the cost per cm2 = $9.95 ÷ 176.71cm2 = $0.056 only} E = {students who got 70 per cent and more in English Pizza A is more expensive per cm2 than a slice of Pizza B. only} (ii) Determine the unknown number

C

hoose a building you are familiar with. Imagine what it would be like to be that building. What was it like when you were first built? How have you changed over the years? What do you think about the people who have lived in/used/visited you over the years? What is the expression on your face?

Write a brief story answering these questions and any others you might imagine. (startwithabook.org)

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee; A poet could not be but gay, In such a jocund company!

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

Questions: What type of poem is it? What is it all about? How did you know what it was about?

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Relative of slain Henry boys arraigned for revenge killing of labourer

T

wenty-four-year-old Mark Anthony Henry also called “Chipsman”, who reportedly confessed to murdering 68-year-old Surijdeo Deochand also called “Sarjee” as revenge for the gruesome deaths of his brother, Joel Henry and his cousin Isaiah Henry, was on Tuesday arraigned for the capital offence.

He made a virtual appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Renita Singh and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated the on March 30, he murdered Deochand.

He was then remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned to April 20, 2021.

Henry had surrendered hours after the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest in relation to the murder.

The wanted bulletin was issued after the suspect’s brother, Hencosey Henry, told detectives during interrogation that his brother had admitted to killing the pensioner at his Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) home.

It was reported that the brother recalled that he was at home when he received a telephone call from his sister who informed him that the suspect,

Murder accused Mark Anthony Henry

Mark, was behaving in a disorderly manner. He was reportedly “pelting bricks” at the now dead man’s house.

As such, Hencosey said he confronted his brother who was at the time armed with a cutlass yelling “dem kill we brother and we ain’t get justice”.

Hencosey further disclosed that his brother began to attack him but he managed to pin him to the ground, but not for long.

The suspect managed to escape and run to Number Four Village, WCB. Furthermore, the brother told the Police that after his brother ran away, he went

to the now dead man’s home where he observed blood on the ground.

Further investigations revealed that on the day in question, the suspect was in the company of others consuming alcohol but he had left the drinking spot after spending some time there.

At around 17:03h on the day in question, Mark returned to the drinking spot and his pants were covered in blood and his feet and hands in red sand.

At the time, he was armed with a 12-inch cutlass with jagged edges and declared: “I just chop up that one Sarjee…I chop out he neck and face… he kill me brother and now I feel pleased I kill he now.”

Deochand’s body was discovered in his home by a relative with multiple chop wounds.

Deochand was an initial suspect in the gruesome murders of 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry.

On September 6, 2020, the mutilated bodies of Isaiah and Joel were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice – almost two days after they had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but never returned

COVID-19 creating...

Murdered labourer Surijdeo Deochand

home. Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud after relatives went in search of them.

Several persons were arrested and subsequently released. However, three persons – 19-year-old Akash Singh, called “Monkey,” of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, 33-year-old Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, WCB; and 34-year-old Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice – were charged for the teens’ murder.

T

…a solitary world wenty-five hundred years ago, Aristotle observed that man was a “social” animal. He would’ve cogitated on what he knew about Greek civilisation - and even the older Egyptian one - to arrive at that conclusion. And we know that, from the lifestyle of his cousins the chimpanzees, his forbears Hominini (including Australopithecus) even before becoming “man”, were TRIBAL. And nothing since has altered the truth of that statement. After all, why should it?? Social living created “culture”, which made us survive in new environments even better than in our natural evolutionary DNA inheritance. Until possibly now, with COVID-19.

From what we’re witnessing, being “social” in this pandemic would actually INCREASE our chance of getting killed, rather than help us to survive! Think about it: every time we come into contact with another human being, we exponentially increase or chances of becoming infected with the virus!! What this means is that sociability as we know it - to gather and “feel and touch” - isn’t an evolutionary benefit any longer, but the opposite!

Now, you may be saying your Eyewitness has become a real “Chicken Little”. You know, running around…crying, “The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!” and whipping you poor readers into mass hysteria! But listen, there’s no guarantee that this COVID-19 virus is going away any time soon - if ever. As he’s been saying, we know for a fact that, say, the common cold - which is caused by a virus - has become “common” because it’s caused by a virus that just doesn’t disappear. Because it’s more a nuisance than anything else, we don’t worry about it.

But then there’s the flu (or influenza). This is also caused by a virus, but can cause fatalities in enough instances in the elderly to cause worry. As such, vaccines have been made to fight it, but those vaccines have to be modified annually because of the mutant variations of the influenza virus. And we come to COVID- 19, which causes waaaay more deaths than the flu, and for which we now have halfa-dozen vaccines. Even if those work, we know they’re going to be temporary, since they’re not necessarily going to be effective against the inevitable variants that will pop up year after year. For example, the AstraZeneca vaccine was shown to be ineffective against a South African variant, and South Africa had to send their 1m doses back to India.

So where does this leave our species as a “social” animal? Frankly, even after we have been vaccinated, we’ll have to cut back on our personal interactions, and confine them to other persons who’re certifiably vetted as not carriers of new variants of COVID-19.

It’s a new world, baby! …new socialisation patterns So, does this mean we’ll become a world of hermits huddling over solitary fires to ensure we don’t pick up COVID-19 viruses? Not really. But you’d never know if you’re in Guyana, where even though the rates of infection and, more pertinently, deaths are skyrocketing, folks are partying. Your Eyewitness has seen the future and - to a great extent - it’s heavily virtual!

Take having to go to work in offices. This would become so curtailed that it would be the exception rather than the rule. Our technology has already provided us with the ability to work out of our homes - and this technology is improving by leaps and bounds. And 5-G isn’t even here yet! Zoom is only one platform, and we can envisage that this would become so enhanced that we’ll soon be able to interact with others in 3-D. And it won’t be confined to office-to-home communications! Can you see anyone walking without a phone glued to his ears in any metropolitan city street?

That’s the new socialisation! …new world order The developed world kept the old Imperial argument that they were looking out for us poor natives since we’re all one family.

But COVID-19 has exposed the truth, that it’s really “us against them”!

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Timothy Tucker elected new GCCI President

– says local content, capacity building to remain priorities

T

imothy Tucker of RidO-Pes, who previously served as the Senior Vice Chairman of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), has now ascended to the position of President of the organisation.

According to a statement from the Chamber, Tucker and his fellow executive management committee members were elected at the first statutory meeting on Tuesday, for a one-year term. Taking Tucker’s vacant position of Senior Vice President was Gerald Gouveia Jr of Roraima Airways.

Kester Hutson of Dapper Technology Incorporated was elected as the Junior Vice President, while Gavin Ramsoondar of Zarc Properties Incorporated was elected Treasurer and Shaleeza Shaw of Demerara Bank Limited was elected Secretary.

GCCI had elected a 21-member council last week, also serving a one-year term.

Besides the executive members, the council comprises Anjie Lambert of Project Development Consultancy, Dr Vishnu Doerga of ActionInvest

The GCCI executives. From left, Treasurer Gavin Ramsoondar, President Timothy Tucker, Senior Vice President Gerry Gouveia Jr, Secretary Shaleeza Shaw and Junior Vice President Kester Hutson

Caribbean and Dr Rosh Khan of Social Rank Media.

Also on the council are Anita Ramprasad of MACORP, Briony Tiwarie of BK Supermix. Komal Ramnauth of Kojack Marketing Agency, Keon Howard of Winedaysgy, Candelle Bostwick of Global Compliance Service Guyana, Navin Prashad of MP Insurance Brokers and Consultants and Shaam Outar of A&S Enterprise.

The council also comprises Samuel Arjoon of Guyana Beverages, Cassandra Jaikaran of Ocean Air Logistics, Sean Ramrattan of RRT Enterprise, Rayad Boyce of Sonic Business Service, Carlos Mendonca-Rodrigues of Ricks and Sari and Pradeep Ramoutar of Western Logistics Guyana.

GCCI, under the leadership of the previous President Nicholas Boyer, had taken a

prominent position last year in the fight for democracy. Boyer had even penned a letter to former President David Granger, as the wait for election results continued to stretch on.

In an invited comment, the Chamber’s new President said that the GCCI will take a renewed look at local content and building capacity, in light of the burgeoning oil and gas industry in Guyana which started producing oil in 2019.

“GCCI is a business support organisation on development and advancement on Private Sector. We will be focused on local content and capacity building as a step in the direction to achieve an international Private Sector,”

Tucker said.

Guyana is expected to significantly ramp up oil production in the coming years. US oil giant ExxonMobil has estimated that there are eight billion barrels of recoverable reserves in the Stabroek Block.

The Payara project, which Exxon is hoping to start in 2023, is expected to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day and contain up to 45 wells inclusive of production, water, and gas injection wells.

Once all approvals are granted, Payara will be the third Field Development Plan (FDP) from Exxon to gain approval. The first FDP that the Guyana Government approved was Liza Phase One,

while Liza Phase Two is expected to start up in 2022.

From the Liza Phase One, Guyana has received well over US$100 million in cargo lift and royalty payments. The Government has promised that funds from the country’s oil resources will go towards developing modern infrastructure and ensuring that citizens benefit from improved social services, such as education and health care.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has also been very vocal about Guyana’s Private Sector building its capacity and taking advantage of investment opportunities that come hand in hand with the production of oil and gas.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gas-to-shore project can jump-start new era of economic development for Guyana – finance professor

...says project makes sense from an economic perspective

By Jarryl Bryan

W

hen it comes to the economics and the potential benefits that Guyana would reap from a gas-to-shore project, finance professor and recent contributor to the Local Content Panel, Floyd Haynes said that the project is quite feasible and can usher in a new era of economic development.

In an interview with this publication, Haynes spoke of the potential benefits of the gas-to-shore project being pursued by the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government. He explained that with the reduced cost of producing power, the project can usher in economic development as manufacturing costs decline.

Finance Professor Floyd Haynes

ducing that product,” he explained.

“Which means the price of that product is also reduced. And you can then sell that product at a more competitive price. So that’s the first thing. There is a cost

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

“First, there will be a reduction in the cost of energy, which is immediate.

The cost of energy is one of the major cost inputs to any kind of manufacturing or production activity. What you’ll find is that the cost of energy is probably the most expensive component. Now if you can reduce that cost of energy, you’ve essentially reduced the cost of pro-

savings that will ultimately lead to a reduction in the price of manufacturing services. Secondly, there is a direct relationship between energy and economic development. Because if you can reduce your cost of energy, it means you can jump-start economic activity which in turn leads to economic development.”

TURN TO PAGE 13

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Call centres have potential to create thousands of jobs – Dr Ashni Singh

F

inance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh indicated that the Government will be promoting Guyana as a prime destination for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations such as call centres, which have the potential to create thousands of new jobs for the Guyanese working population.

These were his sentiments during a tour of the Qualfon Call Centre, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) campus on Tuesday.

During the visit, he further highlighted that Guyana has a number of obvious advantages as a destination for BPO operations, including the country’s Englishspeaking population, as well as the population’s high level of literacy, along with the country’s location in the same time zone as the East Coast of North America.

He noted that the recent liberalisation of the telecom-

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; GO-Invest CEO, Dr Peter Ramsaroop and Qualfon Country Director Luanna Persaud conversing during the tour of the facility munications sector also adds to the factors weighing in Guyana’s favour as a destination for this kind of business.

The Minister is confident that call centres such as Qualfon which employ large numbers of persons will as-

sist in the diversification of the economy – through job creation and employment – which is a major focus of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Government.

While recalling that it was under the People’s

Suspect allegedly confesses to murdering Swan labourer

– Police on hunt for accomplice

O

ne day after the bloodied body of 24-yearold Roy Ross was discovered with at least three stab wounds, one of the suspects who was arrested has since confessed to the heinous crime.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum when contacted confirmed that a suspect has admitted to his involvement in the crime. The suspect reportedly told detectives that he and his accomplice went to the man’s house with the intention of “committing an unlawful act with a female occupant of the house.”

However, on arrival at the house, the duo was reportedly greeted by Ross who was in the living room at the time.

This led to a scuffle among them during which the victim was fatally stabbed. The suspect claimed that after committing the act, they made their escape via an opened window.

On Monday, the Ross’ lifeless body was discovered in his Swan Village, SoesdykeLinden Highway home with multiple stab wounds.

The father of one reportedly moved to the area a few months ago and was renting a house along with his reputed wife and child.

However, based on reports received, on the day in question, the now dead man was found at about 06:00h by a neighbour who called out to him and got no response.

Murdered: Roy Ross The suspect who allegedly confessed to the murder

His body reportedly bore stab wounds to the chest and shoulder.

Ross was last seen alive at about 21:00h on Sunday evening in his yard with a torchlight making checks around his home. At the time, he was at home alone. His wife and child had gone to visit relatives.

At the scene, a cousin of the dead man had stated that Ross and his wife would normally have heated arguments about her drinking and partying habits. In fact, residents corroborated this, claiming that it was only Saturday evening the couple was heard arguing.

As detectives launched a probe into the incident, two brothers were arrested after a blood-stained jersey was found in their home. The jersey reportedly belonged to one of the brothers.

At the scene, a resident has told the Guyana Times that one of the suspects who has since confessed to the murder had attacked and chopped her son about a year ago and although a report was lodged with the Police, he was walking scotch free.

In addition, she stated that the same suspect had also injured her husband.

Nothing came out of the matters, the woman claimed.

In fact, another resident had reported that the self-confessed murderer turned up at her home on Sunday evening and told her that he “feels like killing someone tonight.” She said that he left and she did not take him seriously until Ross’ body was discovered.

Meanwhile, since the confession, the suspect has furnished the police with information about his accomplice who is being pursued. The suspect is expected to make his court appearance shortly.

Progressive Party/Civic that Qualfon opened its doors in Guyana, Minister Singh said, “Guyana has remarkable potential in the BPO sector especially in the generating of income and creating jobs. Our Government (at the time of the company’s opening) had recognised the remarkable potential of the company.”

The Senior Finance Minister reminded that the company started its operations in Guyana in 2005 with 25 employees and expanded rapidly to reach 2800 employees by 2014, but that in the last five years this figure had fallen to below 1800.

He posited that it is this Government’s intention to see the company once again realise its full potential, and that

the BPO sector more broadly would once again become a major employer in Guyana.

“We believe that the company has phenomenal potential in Guyana. We would like to see thousands of jobs created by Qualfon and other companies operating in this sector. We were (at the time of Qualfon’s opening) advocating Guyana as being an attractive BPO destination, which we intend to resume doing. We see companies like this, and the sector as a whole, as being an important part of economic diversification,” Dr Singh stated.

The Senior Finance Minister was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest),

Dr Peter Ramsaroop.

With Guyana being a major international player currently due to it being an oil and gas producer, the Ali-led Administration, since its ascension to office in August 2020, has continued to reiterate the importance of the other sectors in the country and has placed much focus on ensuring that the sectors receive the necessary attention and efforts to assist in boosting the country’s non-oil economy.

Some of the sectors seeing activity increasing and which have been noted to be the ones that will aid the country in its economic drive are agriculture, tourism, services and logistics and housing and water.

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NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Father of 6 stabbed to death in row over money

F

ifty-year-old shopkeeper Trevor Alfred, of Nazarene Street, Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was knifed to death on Monday outside a gambling shop.

The incident is said to have occurred about 18:30h in Second Street, Grove.

Reports are that an altercation arose between Alfred and the suspect, a 36-year-old mason, also of Grove, while they were gambling in “Rocky Shop” at Grove Squatting Area.

After the initial argument became heated, the proprietor asked the men to exit the premises.

Police said that when the duo exited the shop, the argument turned physical thus leading to the men throwing glass bottles at each other. The altercation

Murdered: Trevor Alfred

got worse and it was at that time, the men armed themselves with knives and attacked each other.

During the scuffle, Alfred reportedly fell to the ground and it was then the

suspect inflicted several stab wounds about his body.

Alfred attempted to escape the attack, but was followed by the suspect, who continued to stab him.

The ultimately-deadly encounter ended when both Alfred and the suspect ended up in a culvert.

Alfred was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival while the suspect was admitted a patient under Police guard.

At the home of the now dead man, Shellon Alfred, his widow, told Guyana Times that she was unsure of the exact details surrounding her husband’s death.

“I don’t know what really happened, because different people saying differ-

ent things,” the distraught woman explained.

She further stated that she was informed of the stabbing via a phone call from her son. The woman stated that based on reports gathered, her husband sustained at least 10 stab wounds about his body.

“He got three to the front and the rest in his back,” she related.

The grieving woman further explained that she and Alfred had been married for a number of years, and shared six children together. He was the sole breadwinner of his family.

“I’m trying to cope, I don’t even know right now… he was a very nice person… is years now we together,” she said.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

Gas-to-shore project can jump-start new...

Haynes, an adjunct professor in finance, further explained that economic development is dynamic and that there is a multiplier effect whereby increased production leads to increased development and more jobs, with the trickle-down benefits felt in households and communities. He also noted that there are other value-added products that could be derived from the natural gas process, such as propane.

There have been concerns about the financing of the project. However, Haynes pointed out that based on existing reports, the project would be financed through Exxon’s cost pool. He also urged persons to look at the issue in a comprehensive manner and to weigh the potential return on the investment.

“You have to look at both sides of the equation when you’re looking at an investment. And the way you do that is you look at the future benefits, you discount the future benefits from present value and you compare it to investment.

And if the present value of future benefits exceeds the investment, then the investment is a good one.

And that’s the kind of analysis I think has to be done,” Professor Haynes said.

Soon after the Government issued permit licences to Exxon for the Payara Development Project last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Government would turn its attention to negotiating the gas-to-energy project.

He had pointed out that Guyana is generating at nearly 17 to 20 cents per kilowatt/hour. As such, he noted that the project could

cut the cost of electricity in the country by more than half. To this end, he had announced that a team has been set up to start negotiations on the gas-to-energy project, with the Government eyeing 2023 to bring the project to fruition.

And indeed, a Gas-toShore Project Advisory Committee headed by former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head Winston Brassington was

set up soon afterwards to look at various locations for the gas-to-shore project.

A number of factors including geotechnical, geophysical and environmental factors were examined before Vice President Jagdeo announced recently that the Government had settled on Wales to land the pipelines for the project.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, has previously said that the

FROM PAGE 10

Government is looking to produce 200 megawatts of power from the gas-toshore project by 2024.

Exxon has said that around 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural gas would be required for the gas-to-shore project. Recently-released data from Norwegian research company Rystad Energy had indicated that less than 20 per cent of the 1.8 billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) discovered last year was gas.

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NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Vaccine hypocrisy – the PNC Leader and the Opposition Leader are silent on vaccination

“Paper Shorts” murder

Wanted man “Killa” Bacchus turns self in footage from one of the cameras mounted in the vicinity of the crime scene and it is being enhanced for evidential purposes.

“Further, the specific footage has been seen by relatives of Ricardo Fagundes during an update given to them by

A

s of today, more than 44,000 Guyanese have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. By the end of this week, we expect that about 80,000 Guyanese would have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This is a strong response to the spiralling COVID-19 epidemic in Guyana. As much as this is a strong response, and as much as the Ministry of Health deserves high praise for an effective vaccine campaign so far, clearly, there is a visible vaccine hesitancy.

The vaccination programme as of this time has targeted persons 40 years and older. More than 5,000 persons who are less than 40 years old have received their first dose of the vaccine, because they Dr Leslie Ramsammy are frontline health workers.

But there are almost 200,000 persons 40 years and over. It means that still less than 50% of those aged 40 and over have come forward to receive their vaccine.

The President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, other Ministers and Members of Parliament from the PPP have been relentless in their promotion of the COVID-19 vaccines. The lone MP from the Joinder Party - ANUG, TCM and LJP - has also taken his vaccine, and has urged people to take their vaccines. The Speaker of the National Assembly has done so too.

The leadership of the PPP and all the newer political parties that contested the March 2020 General and Regional Elections have come forward and encouraged people to take their vaccines.

Private Sector leaders have also aggressively been promoting the COVID-19 vaccines. Various faith leaders have joined the call to our Guyanese sisters and brothers to get their vaccines.

But there is a screaming, screeching silence among certain political leaders, who are refusing to promote the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Leader of the PNC and of APNU, David Granger, has been irresponsibly silent on the vaccine campaign.

Mr. Granger is MIA, missing in action, much like when he was President. When he was President, in times of trouble or crisis, he was always MIA. Today, David Granger is silent at a time when every responsible Guyanese leader should be out front urging our Guyanese sisters and brothers to take their COVID-19 vaccines.

Mr. Granger certainly has nothing against the COVID-19 vaccine. It is publicly known that he took his vaccine. It is vexing, therefore, that he would adopt a posture of silence. He has said not a word of encouragement. It is not about helping the Government, it is about a responsibility and an obligation Mr. Granger has as the leader of the second largest political party in the country. Even if he does not care about every Guyanese citizen, he ought to care for his own supporters. The time has come for Mr. Granger to call on his supporters to take the vaccines that are available.

It is now public speculation whether Joe Harmon has taken his vaccine. If he has not taken his vaccine, he is being a poster child for recklessness. At the very least, he is letting down his supporters.

The MOH team hosted a dedicated vaccination session for MPs, and I know that most of the MPs were there to take their vaccines.

I know other leaders of the PNC and the AFC and the one-man parties that belong to APNU+AFC have taken their vaccines. But they are silent about the vaccination programme. The ugly silence is a disservice to their own supporters. It is an abrogation of the Leader of the Opposition's responsibility. It is irresponsible for all those MPs from the Opposition APNU+AFC to remain silent. Their silence is not just ugly, it is reckless.

To his credit, the former Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, showed up among the present Opposition MPs for his vaccine, and did meekly mention that he hoped Guyanese take the vaccine.

Nagamootoo took time after that to write a long epistle defending APNU+AFC's obnoxious attempt to thief the March 2020 elections.

But he has gone silent on the COVID-19 vaccine. His AFC colleagues, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman and others, have taken the vaccine.

They, too, have decided that silence is their preferred position.

If the vaccine is good enough for them, why is the vaccine not good enough for their Guyanese sisters and brothers, both those who support them and those who do not support them. The silence of the Opposition leaders and their MPs, even after they took the COVID-19 vaccine, is reckless, and I have no hesitation in calling out their hypocrisy.

Presently, Guyana has enough vaccines to vaccinate 81,000 Guyanese with their first dose and 61,000 with their second dose.

In the coming weeks, Guyana would receive enough vaccines to vaccinate another 150,000 Guyanese citizens. By the middle of May, the MOH is hopeful that at least 250,000 Guyanese would have received at least one dose of vaccine, of which more than 20,000 would have also received their second dose. It is incumbent on all political leaders to play a role in the successful rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccines. Political leaders who choose silence at this critical time are abrogating their responsibility to the people of Guyana. They must be held accountable for this ugly silence.

Less than 24 hours after the shooting incident, Police found a white wagon, which is suspected to have been used by the killers, on fire at Swan, on the SoesdykeLinden Highway.

While investigators have not confirmed that it was in

Dead: Ricardo Fagundes

A

man accused of killing a scrap metal dealer in 2008 is being questioned by Police in relation to the execution-style killing of gold miner Ricardo Fagundes, which took place about three weeks ago in the vicinity of Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown.

Hours after Police issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest on Tuesday, 40-year-old Rondell Bacchus also called “Killa” of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, surrendered to detectives at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Bacchus was slapped with a 16-year jail sentence in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to a lesser count of manslaughter.

He reportedly killed Akbar Alli. The Judge at the time had deducted 11 years from the sentence for the time he spent in jail awaiting his trial.

In light of this development, the acting Director of the Guyana Prison Service on Tuesday explained that the wanted man was admitted to prison on August 15, 2008, for the offences of murder, armed robbery and possession of firearm and ammunition.

On September 16, 2009, he was committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court and on April 2, 2019, he appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to sixteen (16) years, eight (8) months’ imprisonment.

“In addition, he was further sentenced to three (3) years for the robbery under arms, one (1) year for the possession of a firearm and one (1) year for the possession of ammunitions. The sentences were concurrent and it commenced from the admission date, which is August 15, 2008,” a release stated.

Bacchus was, however, discharged from prison on October 3, 2019, after serving his prison term.

On the other hand, the Police in a subsequent release explained that investigators of the Major Crimes Unit have retrieved CCTV

Suspect: Rondell “Killa” Bacchus

The car that was found burnt hours after the execution-style killing

the Police,” the Police stated. Further, the Police added that based on investigations, the wanted bulletin was issued for Bacchus.

On March 21, Fagundes, 42, a gold dealer of Lot 25 Sandy Babb Street, Georgetown, was shot about 10 times after stepping out of Palm Court to take a phone call.

The Police had said after hearing several gunshots, persons rushed out of the party spot only to find Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood in close proximity of his car.

fact the same car, CCTV footage of the shooting shows the two gunmen emerging from a car of the same model and colour. They used the same vehicle to escape.

Fagundes was no stranger to the law. He was arrested on several occasions by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for questioning into a massive money-laundering scheme. During the raids that were conducted by SOCU, a number of vehicles, boats, and several high-profile weapons and ammunition were seized.

Meanwhile, at the funer-

al service of Fagundes, his best friend, Shaheed Roger Khan, who was convicted by a US court for drug smuggling, broke his silence with regards to the execution. Khan had accused the Police of not diligently investigating the apparent execution, in which he was the actual target, and called for the authorities to ensure there is a “clean and impartial” investigation.

He also made allegations that the present investigation has been compromised.

Shortly after Khan made the statement, the Police refuted that the murder investigation has been comprised, while noting that detectives are working tirelessly to bring closure to the case.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 deaths – death toll now 249 with 1034 active cases

T

he Ministry of Health on Tuesday evening reported that two more persons succumbed to COVID-19, thus bringing the death toll to 249. The two fatalities are a 78-year-old female from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and a

date have climbed to 10,637.

The 31 new cases were recorded from the 166 samples that were collected and sent for testing.

New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 12 persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 75

Minister Anthony receiving his vaccine on Tuesday

67-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

They both died while receiving care at medical facilities.

However, another 31 persons have tested positive for COVID-19, the Health Ministry reported on Tuesday, thus bringing the active cases to a whopping 1034. The confirmed cases to

in institutional isolation, nine in institutional quarantine and 947 in home isolation.

Some 9354 of the 5425 males and 5212 females have recovered completely. To date, Guyana has tested 93,927 individuals.

A breakdown of new cases showed that two were detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 15 in Region Four

(Demerara-Mahaica); two in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); 11 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and one in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 1028, 264, 298, 247, and 441 respectively.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

on Tuesday acknowledged the increased deaths and severe cases in Guyana while noting that it can be prevented by taking the vaccines.

“Unfortunately, these are our sickest patients that we have in the system and unfortunately, we lost some of them. If we take vaccines early enough, a lot of this can be prevented. We want to urge people that if you have an opportunity, please go and get your vaccines,” he pleaded.

Dr Anthony has been consistently urging Guyanese eligible for COVID-19 vaccines to take their shots. This week, he joined advisor Dr Leslie Ramsammy as they received their first dose of the vaccine.

Thus far, President Dr Irfaan Ali and most of the Cabinet members including Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have taken the vaccine.

Additionally, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips along with former Presidents Donald Ramotar, David Granger, Samuel Hinds, and former PM Moses Nagamootoo have already taken their vaccines along with several members of Parliament.

All Guyanese are remind-

ed to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 16), which are in effect until April 30, 2021.

This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough,

tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement.

If persons are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a positive person, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 6246674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bachelor’s Adventure man stabbed during brawl

A

28-year-old man is now hospitalised after he was stabbed about his body during a row with another man at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Injured is Travis Bellamy of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD. Based on reports received, the victim and the suspect are known to each other and would socialise in the same community.

However, on the day in question, Bellamy was “liming” at Coldingen with several other persons when an argument broke out between him and the suspect.

Both men reportedly armed themselves with knives and thereafter a fight broke out during which the suspect stabbed the victim to the right side of his abdomen. After receiving the stab wound, the victim col-

lapsed on the roadway while the suspect fled the scene.

Bellamy was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted a patient.

Investigations are ongoing.

Just a few days ago, 35-year-old Marlon Scott, of Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was stabbed during an argument with another man.

It was reported that the victim and the suspect, who is also of the said village, had a misunderstanding which resulted in a heated argu-

ment.

During the argument, the suspect reportedly whipped out a knife from his pants waist and stabbed the victim to his right thumb, right foot, and his right lower back. At the time of the incident, Scott was in the presence of his sister.

After receiving the stab wounds, the man reportedly collapsed, but was picked up and taken to the Suddie Hospital where he was admitted a patient. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana oil revenue

NEWS

19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NRF Act completed, to be reviewed by expert – Attorney General

T

he Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act, which is among several oil-related pieces of legislation, is at the Attorney General’s Chambers and will be subjected to a review by an expert who is currently being sourced through public tender.

When contacted, Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall confirmed that the NRF Act is awaiting the procurement of an oil and gas expert or consultancy firm to scrutinise same.

He explained that bids from both local and international consultants have already been received and are currently being examined by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

It was previously disclosed

in February of this year that over US$200 million earned in oil revenues is currently in Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund, with the latest payment made in January this year.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had made this disclosure during a press conference. He had explained that US$206.6 million (GY$43.1

billion) is currently in the NRF, including the latest royalty payment of US$8.3 million, which was received in January.

“So far, US$21.2 million in royalty payments have been made into the fund. And there are four payments – US$4.9 million, US$3.6 million, US$4.3 million and US$8.3 million in royalty payments, at different times – April 2020, August 2020, October 2020 and January 2021,” Jagdeo had explained.

“And then from profit oil, we have March 11 (2020) – US$54.9 million; June (2020) – US$35 million, August (2020) – US$46 million and January 11 (2021) – US$49 million… so we now have US$206.6 million in the fund – US$185 million so far from profit oil and

pect’s Number 68 Village, Corentyne home.

Thakur told investigators that he had gone to visit his girlfriend, Radika Hardeo, at her home and while there, an argument broke out between them.

During the row, the man said Hardeo reportedly armed herself with a cutlass and dealt him a single chop to his head.

The injured man further told investigators that he then jumped in his motor vehicle and drove to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was treated and sent away.

The matter was reported to the Police later that night, and checks were made for the suspect at her Number 68 Village home, but she was not found.

Investigations are ongoing.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Berbice man chopped to head by girlfriend during argument

P

olice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are on the hunt for a Corentyne woman who allegedly chopped her boyfriend to his head during an argument late Monday night.

Injured is 29-year-old Parmanand Thakur, a taxi driver of Number 60 Village, Corentyne. The incident took place about 22:30h at the sus-

US$21.2 million from royalty.”

So far, all of Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the NRF, which is banked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. However, this money has remained untouched, as the protracted political crisis that followed elections sabotaged any attempt to set up a system for withdrawing funds.

It is expected that once the Natural Resource Fund Act, which stipulates that various committees must be established to provide oversight for the fund, is reviewed, it will be brought to the National Assembly by the current Government.

With Guyana emerging as an oil-and-gas-producing nation, this requires the building of human and institutional capacity; crafting and agreeing to some critical policies and legal measures; and pursuing strong support and coordination among a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has made it clear that monies garnered from Guyana’s oil and gas sector will remain untouched in the sover-

The NRF is being held at the New York Federal Reserve Bank

eign wealth fund until a series of reforms are enacted to strengthen the Government’s regulatory infrastructure for the sector.

“My Government is focused heavily on transparency and accountability. As you know, we have demonstrated this after the negotiations of the licence for the Payara. Not only did we make the agreement public, but we also made the environmental permit public, so nothing is done in secrecy,” Ali had said during an address to the Forecast on Latin America and the Caribbean Conference last year.

“I’ve said before, there’ll be an arm’s length relationship with the politicians. We had international experts leading those negotiations and discussions… and, of course, the sov-

ereign wealth fund is important, in terms of not only the securing and safeguarding [of] the funds but also establishing the conditions and the circumstances, through legislation, on which resources will be used,” he had also said.

In keeping with its manifesto commitments, the Government has pledged to implement a number of measures to ensure accountable and transparent management of the country’s natural resources including establishing an arm’s length sovereign wealth fund insulated from political interference and upholding the Santiago Principles of transparency and accountability, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

20 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16-year-old killed by drunken GDF Corporal UG student who went missing drowned

By LaWanda McAllister

S

ixteen-year-old Lakeram Sirkissoon of No 7 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), died after he was struck down by a car driven by a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal on Monday afternoon.

According to Police reports, the accident occurred at about 21:45h on the Number 6 Public Road, WCB, but Sirkissoon died while receiving medical attention on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the GDF rank who was driving motor car PKK 7780 was transporting a male and female occupant, and was heading west along the public road.

The GDF rank told police that he saw a pedal cyclist attempting to cross the road and he pulled right to avoid a collision, but despite his effort, he collided into the rear of the said pedal cyclist.

As a result of the collision, Sirkissoon fell onto the road’s surface where he received injuries about his body.

He was picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious state and

Dead: Lakeram Sirkissoon

taken to Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was treated for head injuries and later transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was admitted in a serious condition.

The occupants of the motor car were all treated and sent away. A breathalyser test conducted on the driver proved that he was above the limit of alcohol consumption.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Guyana Times contacted the teen’s aunt, Radika Kistoo, who stated that she was not at home on the day in question, however, when she returned, she was told that her nephew was involved in an accident.

She said she is unaware as to what transpired and where her nephew might

have left to go, but she is of the belief that since it was Easter he went for a stroll.

“I can’t really say where he was going but all I know is that the GDF police was going to Georgetown when they hit him down and he [the GDF] rank was drunk…while they were operating on him [the teen] he died.”

The woman said her nephew’s passing has been a hard hit for the family since she has been taking care of him since he was 10 years old.

His uncle, Madamlall Persaud, told Guyana Times that his nephew’s father died some time ago and his family took the now dead teen and his siblings to live with them.

“His father died and his mother took someone else and the pickney them went orphanage and me start take care ah them…it is three of them… he stopped going to school because his mother took him back and only send he to school couple morning and then he stop go to school,” he said.

Persaud said his nephew was a very quiet and jovial person who never got into any problems. He is hoping that justice is severed at the soonest.

A

n autopsy performed on the decomposed body of University of Guyana student Joel Skeete on Tuesday proved that he died by drowning. The post mortem was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Ezekiel Funeral Home.

His body was discovered lying face down among the rocks along the western bank of the Demerara River in the vicinity of Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Skeete, 19, had disappeared about six days ago, after leaving a barbershop at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Mall.

On the day of his disappearance, his mother,

Dead: Joel Skeete

Lorenza Griffith, had reported that her son had last been seen at about 19:00h wearing a dark red jersey and a pair of dark grey jeans.

Several persons around the area where the body was discovered were questioned, but no useful information was received.

However, the University of

Guyana, in a statement, said that the institution is sadden by the passing of the student.

“The University has received the sad news that the hopeful search that was being carried out for 19-year-old Joel Skeete did not end with his safe return to his family and friends as we had hoped,” the statement read.

UG further extended sympathy to Skeete’s friends and lecturers who, like his family, must also cope with his loss, and go through the natural grieving process.

In addition, the release stated that the University’s Care Team is ready to render support to those grieving during this time of bereavement.

Fisherman feared dead after falling overboard while fishing

F

orty-five-year-old Vickram Hardowar of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), is now feared dead after he fell out of a boat while he was fishing on Monday.

According to reports, the incident occurred at around 04:30h in the North West District area.

Based on reports received,

Hardowar was part of a crew of six fishermen at the time when the incident occurred.

Police said the man was tossing his fishing seine in the ocean some 65 miles offshore when his feet got entangled with the seine, causing him to fall overboard.

His co-workers, upon seeing what transpired, tossed two life jackets into his direc-

tion and were in the process of turning the boat around when they heard him shouting for help. The man’s colleagues told Police he shouted three times after which he went silent.

The men are presently at the Mabaruma Police Station assisting with the investigations. A search is underway to recover his body.

Farmer’s finger severed during cutlass attack A 31-year-old farmer is now hospitalised with a severed finger after he was attacked by a cutlass-wielding man at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

Surendranauth Sookdeo also known as “Robindranauth Sookdeo” and “Tambraine” of Lot 4 Grant 1771 Crabwood Creek, is

hospitalised in a serious but stable condition. His attacker has been identified as a 22-year-old labourer, Romel Williams, also of Crabwood Creek.

Based on Police reports, the incident took place at about 21:37h on Monday at Backland Crabwood Creek. It was reported that Sookdeo had gone to the residence of a businessman

Injured: Surendranauth Sookdeo

at Backland, where a group

of people were sitting.

He was standing there when the suspect suddenly emerged and dealt Sookdeo several chops about his body. The injured man was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was treated for his severed finger on his left hand and other injuries to his back.

The man was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he is now

admitted.

Meanwhile, investigators, while canvassing the scene of the crime for anything of evidential value, recovered Sookdeo’s severed finger, which was picked up and placed in an evidence bag.

Additionally, CCTV cameras were seen and the footage reviewed. Checks were also made for the suspect but he was nowhere to be found. The Police said enquiries are in progress.

86-year-old killed in Providence accident

A

n 86-year-old man was on Monday killed after he was struck down by a car on the Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Dead is Neville Williams of New Scheme Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to Police re-

ports, the motor car – PYY 114 – was proceeding along the Providence Public Road at about 21:30h on Monday when the driver claimed that the now dead man walked across the road into the path of his motor car.

Due to the close distance, the driver said the front left

side of his motor car collided with Williams.

As a result of the collision, Williams fell onto the roadway where he received injuries about his body. He was picked up in a conscious condition by the said driver and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

where he was pronounced dead.

His body is presently at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Police said that the 52-year-old driver of the motor car was taken into custody as Police continue their investigations.

Trio remanded to prison for planting ganja

T

Vahaley Sinclair

Reynard Gladstone

Tofan Shivnarine

hree men were on Tuesday arraigned during a virtual appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court for cultivating marijuana at Wiruni,

Upper Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Vahaley Sinclair, 19, a farmer of Wiruni; 21-yearold Reynard Gladstone of Aroaima, Upper Berbice

River; and 44-year-old Tofan Shivnarine of Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, were arrested last Wednesday for the cultivation of prohibited plants.

On Tuesday, they were charged for Cultivating Prohibited Plants committed on Public Justice laid under Section 8 (1) (a) (1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Control Act 10:10.

They appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Wanda Fortune during which they pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison until April 16, 2021.

The matter was transferred to the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court.

21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Bruster’s Ice Cream golf tournament CLASSIFIED ADS postponed to tentative date June VACANCY

One (1) Security Guard. Male.

From 4pm to 7am in the morning. Contact: 223-6156.

– LGC Boss, Secretary remember Colin Ming

The late Colin Ming

$5+VAT per word

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling

T

he Bruster’s Ice Cream Golf Tournament was scheduled to be held over the Easter weekend, but with the sudden passing of LGC member Colin Ming, it was mutually agreed that the tournament be postponed and the day be used to

Classified Ads Call: 223-7230-1 Ext 50

Part of the handing over ceremony of the Bruster’s Ice Cream Tournament that is tentatively set for June

honour his life and memory.

According to LGC Vice President Paton George, the tournament has been tenta-

tively set for June 2021.

Ming was killed in a vehicular accident on April 2, 2021. He was a sport enthu-

siast, not only at the LGC, but elsewhere throughout Guyana.

President of the LGC,

LGC President Patanjilee Persaud

Patanjilee Persaud, in a statement said, “Ming has made a lot of contributions to golf generally. He will be remembered for his commitment to the game and (for) upholding of the rules. He was also very persistent in assisting those wanted to learn the game, or were going through a bad patch in their golf game. He was one of the few in this country who wanted to keep golf on the front burner, he would go above and overboard for the game. He would also go out of his way, as he wanted to see golf rise and become a premier sport in Guyana.”

Also sharing the same sentiments were LGC Secretary Chet Bowling who noted that Ming was extremely reliable to the LGC. He further went on to state that any time Ming would be called upon when it concerned the fixing of machines, he would avail himself in a heartbeat. The LGC secretary reiterated that he will forever admire the late Colin Ming as he was an approachable and humble individual who only wanted what was best for the sport, and he was not someone there for the fame or recognition.

Ming was a solid low teen handicap golfer with a reliable drive off the tee and impeccable chipping and putting based on correct techniques.

The tournament will see 6 trophies & 6 Bruster’s Ice Cream vouchers up for grabs. Prizes will be awarded for best net: 1st - $5,000, 2nd - $3,000, 3rd - $2,000, front 9 - $1,000, back 9 - $1,000 and Best gross pocketing $4,000.

The format of the tournament will be medal play, and tee off will be a shotgun start.

All trophies will be complemented with a Bruster’s product.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

P&P Insurance Brokers starts GSSF’s 2021 calendar with "Rust Off" match L

ocal sport shooters will be given an opportunity to participate in a match sponsored annually by P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited. For the sixth consecutive year, this match marks the start of the year’s shooting calendar for matches hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF).

Chair of the Steel Challenge and Director of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, Mr. Dallas Thomas, has noted that shooters would be competing under three divisions:

From right, representative of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd, Urmila Shamsundar, handing over sponsorship funds to GSSF Treasurer and Director Ray Beharry

GABF issues warning about fake ‘Guyana Basketball’ Facebook Account

T

he Guyana Basketball Federation has recently issued a letter warning of the existence of a fake page that has been constructed on social media to imitate the official GABF Facebook account, and being used to make erroneous comments. The Federation has disassociated itself from anything the page has published.

In a release to the media, the GABF said, “The Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) is advising the public to be aware of a fake Facebook GABF General Secretary Patrick Haynes account purporting to be the official Facebook of the GABF. The fake account “Guy Ana-Ball” is making colourful commentary as it relates to the selection of the Guyana Basketball Men’s National Team. The public is therefore advised that the Facebook account is fraudulent, and it does not represent the views and image for the GABF, and they should NOT engage with this page.”

General Secretary of the GABF, Patrick Haynes, has also noted that an issue has been brought to his attention about reactionary comments to the selection of the National team and, more importantly, the non-selection of one particular player.

That particular player happens to be Dominic Vincente, who would be remembered as being instrumental in Guyana’s 3-0 series sweep over Grenada in December 2019 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

When this publication searched social media, it was seen that while the page was found, the post was removed.

Production, Limited, and Wildcat. The match will consist of two stages, with each stage being shot five times.

Times are recorded and the worst one is discarded, leaving the shooter with four recorded times, the total of which is their score for the stage.

At the end of the match, the scores are tallied and prizes will be awarded for the top three performers in each division.

According to Chair, Mr. Thomas, “GSSF is excited to conduct our first match in over a year, hence the name of the event, ‘Rust Off’

match. We look forward to a safe and fun event which will include COVID-19 prevention measures.”

The GSSF would like to thank P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited for their continued support and dedication to the shooting sport. At the ceremony at P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd’s office located at Lots 272-273 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Treasurer and Director of the Foundation, Ray Beharry, met with representatives of P&P Insurance Brokers and

Consultants Limited for the handover of sponsorship funds. And in accepting the kind sponsorship, he conveyed thanks to the Executive Director of P&P, Vikash Panday.

“The Foundation expresses its thanks once again to Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bishwa Panday and P&P Insurance, who unhesitatingly came on board to support the sport shooting fraternity for the sixth year”.

For more information on the GSSF, please visit www. guyanasportshooting.com for further details.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

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

National Senior Athletics Championships set for May – 4th developmental meet to be hosted

T

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has taken the decision to make another tweak in their calendar of activities in order to ensure that athletes are in prime shape for the National Senior Athletics Championships.

The National Seniors, initially scheduled for April 17 and 18, have now been rescheduled to May 29 and 30.

This decision comes after a number of prevailing

issues, which according to Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) president Aubrey Hutson would have diminished the quality of the National Seniors.

“Simply because there’s some things that we need to do to prepare ourselves properly for that meet that having it on the 17th and 18th of April,” Hutson related to the Guyana Times Sport during a telephone interview on Tuesday.

“We would not have been able to carry out the

Football can have positive impact on society – Nurse

F

ormer Guyana Golden Jaguars Captain Christopher Nurse is the newest agent of change in football, following his appointment to the MLS Next Equity Action Committee.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) Next Equity Action Committee was described as a new diversity, equity and inclusion initiative that advocates for social equality in the sport of soccer.

During a Seminar launching the initiative Nurse explained to his colleagues in the MLS Next world that it is a cause that he can personally relate to, given his struggles with racial slurs and situations during his days of grassroots and club football.

Now, the former Golden Jags Captain believes that the Equity Action Committee is one that can benefit Guyanese football greatly, given Guyana’s racially diverse population.

“We need to make conscious efforts to heal racial divisions and genuinely seek policies and procedures that can unite and empower everyone to be given access to resources, education and support to be successful,” the MLS Next head Coach at Weston FC told the Guyana Times Sport.

Expounding on the need for such initiatives, Nurse highlighted that race issues should not only be limited to

politics.

He commented, “Around the time of elections racial issues often become a contentious theme. Anti-Racism should not be seen as a political stance, it’s our responsibility to recognize inequalities in our societies and take steps to correct them.”

“In Guyana we say One Nation, One destiny. There’s no sport in the world that unite people of different ethnicities, colors and origins like football can. The demographic of Guyana is very diverse and that is growing Week by week.”

Highlighting the power of sport to act as a uniting force, the former Golden Jaguars International explained that football can make a positive impact.

“Football is a diverse powerful weapon for uniting people and providing hope and aspiration to the youth.

We haven’t even begun to mobilize this powerful vehicle to its potential in Guyana but once the time arrives you will see the positive impact football can have on society,” “It will take brave leaders to make the necessary actions in this space to ensure the work is done.”

The London-born Golden Jaguars player was appointed as Captain of the Guyanese team in 2011, leading up to Guyana’s FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign.

level of championship that we think we need to have, especially with the influx of foreigners coming in.”

He continued sharing, “We have issues with the track and things like the starting blocks not staying in place, for the 100, 200, 400 meters.”

In the meantime, April 18 will still be highlighted on the calendars of local athletes, since the AAG is adamant about hosting a fourth developmental meet for 2021 on that date.

Speaking on the decision to host another developmental meet, Hutson stated, “The developmental meet is basically to keep the athletes active, and give the coaches a chance to check the progress of the athlete in between training sessions.”

“So, you don’t, you have to be able to train and then test, to go back to training again and test again. And that’s the process that is used throughout the season for athletes preparing for,

you know, particular high level meets like World championships or the Olympics.,” the Athletics boss added.

On the importance of hosting developmental meets, the AAG President explained that it is a great indicator for local athletes and coaches.

“So, a coach would give, would set a certain program for the athlete.

And when they reach in these developmental meets, they would check the different phases of their progress. And if they’re not satisfied with one or all of these, they will know which area to work on. Track and field is not just about getting up and going and run you know, there’s a lot of science in it.”

The South American Senior Championships is still slated for May 14-16, hence preceding Guyana’s Senior championships. The date for the Aliann Pompey Invitational (June 19) will remain in place.

T

he IPL 2021 tournament is set to set the world stage ablaze, and Guyana’s very own son of the soil, Shimron Hetmyer, will feature with the Delhi Capitals for the second time.

The top order left-handed Hetmyer has featured in a total of 12 matches for the Capitals, scoring a total of 185 runs at an average of 23.12 and a high score of 45 at a strike rate of 148.

Hetmyer has smashed a total of 11 boundaries and 12 maximums in his 2020 season with the Delhi Capitals.

In a DC All Access interview, when asked his view of being quarantined with his family, as compared to last year, Hetmyer said, “Much, much easier, it’s much easier, to be honest, because my wife is there with me. It’s much easier to relax in the room as she is there, so I’m not that lonely as compared to last year.

I’m happy that she was able to come up, so she will be able to enjoy Delhi as much as I did last year.”

He also went on to note that he does feel great to be back out on the field hitting balls again. “It does feel great to be back out again, after 7 days, as at home it was hitting it just a little bit.

But to be back in Delhi, to be in India, is really good to be here.

I’m really enjoying it here so far, and even the first day I am enjoying, so it’s more to come.”

With the absence of Shreyas Iyer due to injury, Rishbah Pant will now take up that mantle. Hetmyer stated that he had mixed emotions, as Shreyas was not a part of the setup. But nevertheless, he stated, he was happy for the prolific Pant to be leading the side, as he has played against him in his U19 days.

He also iterated that he knows it will be a good challenge for Pant, and he is happy for him going forward.

With training being possible thus far only in the Capitals camp, the young left hander is enjoying himself thoroughly. He smoked DC veteran spinner Amit Mishra to all parts of the ground with ease during a practice session. Mishra’s T20 career has seen him play a total of 232 matches, picking up 256 wickets at an economy rate of 7.18.

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