Guyana Times -- Wednesday, August 12, 2020

MoE engages GTU on reopening of schools for Christmas term

P14 … NGSA results expected on or before September 25 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Govt working on emergency budget – President Ali guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4375

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Triangular love affair ends in P16 murder

See story on page 3

Infectious Diseases Hospital

Auditor General completes audit of facility See story on page 10

…report to be submitted “shortly” – AG

Granger unilaterally creates criteria to select APNU/ AFC MPs Page 16

...slanted to eliminate competitors from old guard

Govt engaging int’l experts on Payara project, oil sector See story on page 7

Agri sector's financial woes

Panama owes Guyana over $1B for rice shipments – Minister

…as GuySuCo unable to make next payroll

Page 13

Guyanese P17 authorities probe massive drug bust in rice shipment …as 1.5 tonnes cocaine unearthed in Germany

5 homeless P12 after child accidentally sets house afire

Banks DIH P11 employee’s car stolen in daylight hijacking

Ganja trafficker jailed, fined P15 $41M

34 new P12 COVID-19 cases recorded …active cases now 391

2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Govt working on emergency budget – President Ali NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 12 – 11:30h – 13:00h and Thursday, August 13 – 12:30h – 14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 12 – 10:20h – 11:50h and Thursday, August 13 – 11:50h – 13:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

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

High Tide: 10:23h and 22:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.19 metres and 2.21 metres.

Low Tide: 16:17h reaching a minimum height of 1.06 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$44.50/barrel

-1.10

Rough Rice

$210.47 /ton

+0.09

London Sugar

$371.90/ton

+0.35

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1883.70

$1884.70

Low/High

$1882.50

$2023.60

-26.30

-1.38%

Change

P

resident Irfaan Ali on Tuesday said that the Government is working assiduously to have an emergency budget in place, at a much-needed time to recuperate from the economic crises which the country faced in recent months.

During a brief engagement with the media on Tuesday evening, the Head of State said a financial plan is gravely needed, since no budget was passed for 2020 and the year is rapidly coming to an end. This, he added, has been compounded with the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a negative dent in Guyana’s economy.

Later in the year, a National Budget will be presented to the National Assembly, he pointed out.

“At the moment, we're working on what I would term an emergency budget; a budget that we have to go to quickly. Of course, we will have the more expansive budget later this year but we have to have a budget to move forward to the end of this year and to deal with some of the immediate issues, including the programme for the $4.5 billion to help at the household level in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic,” President Ali said.

While this provision would cater to households, Ali said he is in talks with international partners to render assistance, along with the Central Bank to extend the relief to small businesses.

“I've also been actively involved in mobilising resources from international agencies and bilateral partners and it has been going well so far. I'm hoping by Monday, we'll be in a better position to say how much resources have been mobilised. I've also asked the Bank of Guyana to work on a relief package that would help people at the household level and secondly, help small businesses and people who would've had loans for housing and so on,” the President said.

The last budget approved by Guyana’s National Assembly was one for the fiscal year ending 2019, which means that all expenditure for the first half of 2020 has been curtailed to a monthly one-twelfth of the previous year’s expenditure. No new spending was possible during the first half of this year save for special circumstances as was with the advent of the coronavirus Task Force.

Under the coalition’s term in office, Guyana’s reserves were depleted to $0, but the account has since been running an overdraft

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Tuesday. Also in photo is Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill

to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. This situation was illustrated in the Bank of Guyana’s statement of Assets and Liabilities, published in the May 23 Official Gazette, revealing that the General Reserve is -$290,667,332. Additionally, Public Deposits have also depleted to below $0, also recording a negative balance of -$88,629,401,855.

Guyana’s Contingency Reserve account also reflects an alarmingly low amount of $2.3 billion.

When APNU/AFC took office in May 2015, Guyana’s General Reserve had in its coffers just about $6 billion while the Contingency Reserve held $4 billion.

Despite affirmation that the December NoConfidence Motion (NCM) against the coalition Government was validly passed and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ex-

plicitly stating that the Administration should stay within its caretaker mode, the previous Government had proceeded to commence for 2020’s Budget. But this did not follow through after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic was declared victorious and sworn in just over one week ago.

The five-month-long delay, controlled by the APNU/AFC coalition to remain in power, has compounded Guyana’s economic state. Throughout this time, the Bank of Guyana had sounded the alarm on the impending economic gloom facing the country.

In the Bank’s quarterly report and statistical bulletin for the first quarter of 2020, it was observed that Guyana would’ve been unable to escape the effects of the expected slowdown in global economic growth. In fact, the report noted that

the world is likely to experience the worst depression since the great depression of the 1930s.

It had pointed out that the last time in recent history that Guyana’s trade balance recorded a surplus was under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration in the years 2009, 2010 and 2012. This was since the main export earners, in particular sugar, suffered extensively under the previous PNC-led Government.

Even with the coalition’s 2019 budget which was presented by former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, audit firm Ram and McRae called it out for having little to no provision for the poor, women and gender issues, and other critical matters like the Berbice Bridge, which was heading to the court after a Government takeover. (G12)

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

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

Squatting

W

e are indeed pleased to see that the new Government is addressing the issue of squatting frontally, and, from all indications, a holistic approach is being taken on the matter.

The new Ministers of Housing and a team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Thursday visited and engaged with residents of squatting areas in Sophia and Durban Backlands, Georgetown.

These areas, like many others across the country, have not been given the kind of attention they deserve over the years, and residents were left to do as they wish. In many of these areas lawlessness abounds, and if urgent action is not taken, the situation would become worse.

The ministers, mere days after being appointed, have shown that they are concerned about the issue of squatting, and the impact it has on families and the country as a whole.

They have taken the right approach, and have outlined the Government’s position very clearly.

While making it clear that the Government has zero tolerance for squatting, they have shown that they are cognisant of the issues affecting residents, and are willing to work with them to ensure that proper systems are put in place to cater for their relocation and resettlement.

The ministers’ visit was important, as it would allow them to get a clear understanding of the present situation, and the kind of intervention that is needed to ensure the lives of residents are not negatively affected. They have stated that their approach to resolving the issue would be a comprehensive and inclusive one, and have pledged to continue working with residents to relocate where necessary, and regularise where possible.

This consultative approach to designing and implementing Government policy is necessary, and we are optimistic that, in the end, all the stakeholders involved will be satisfied. The Government, in the coming days, would be expected to roll out a relocation and resettlement policy in consultation with those who stand to be affected.

Squatting on Government reserves and other lands belonging to the state has been, and continues to be, quite prevalent in Guyana. Even though several attempts were made to bring squatting under control, the authorities have faced a huge challenge in getting persons to comply. What we see today is that persons continue to occupy Government reserves and state lands, thereby preventing crucial maintenance and development works from taking place. For example, works such as clearing and cleaning of trenches and canals, expanding road networks/ streets, building bridges or kokers for proper drainage, or building infrastructure for water, electricity or telephone services are being hampered or severely delayed due to persons ‘not observing the boundary lines.’

As if that were not enough, when persons are warned, or given notice to cease their illegal activities or remove from state lands, they quickly resort to the courts for redress, resulting in the Government putting ‘on hold’ crucial development projects that are meant to benefit everyone. Not only does this practice have a negative impact on development projects, it costs the state millions of dollars to dismantle and remove illegal structures, or to ensure that persons comply with the regulations.

While the Government must always strive to adopt a humanistic approach to this issue, it must not allow lawlessness to get to a point where it is uncontrollable, as is currently the case in many communities across the country. There are regulations in place with respect to squatting, but they are not adequately enforced. Even when the regulations are enforced, it is done in a manner that is confrontational, and hence the authorities are given the full resistance of citizens.

The new Ministers of Housing and Water have started on the right track. It is our hope that the issue of squatting will be placed on top of the agenda of the Ministry. While the Government must insist on using an approach that is consultative and inclusionary, it must also continue to make it pellucid that squatting will not be tolerated.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Tuesday joined with the residents and members of ISKCON Guyana to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, which is the auspicious observance of the birth of Lord Krishna in Hinduism, at the Crane Mandir, West Coast Demerara (Office of the President photo)

Congratulatory message to President Ali Your Excellency, Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu On behalf of the International Muslims Organization, our leadership team, all of our members and volunteers, we are pleased to congratulate you on your election to the office of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

We pray that God Almighty will guide you to serve all the people of Guyana, regardless

of race, culture or religion, with the dedication to their well-being and prosperity.

Your compatriots in the diaspora are rejoicing that the electoral uncertainty in Guyana is over. The peaceful transition of power will nodoubt redound to the benefit of the entire nation. We are hopeful that your Presidency is the beginning of a brighter future for Guyana.

As you undertake this journey as President of Guyana,

we wish to remind you of the lesson of Mercy imparted by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be on him), "Whoever shows mercy to those on earth will beshown mercy by the One in the heavens. Show mercy, and in return, The Merciful One will shower you with His mercy."

All of us at IMO remind you that you have an open invitation to visit us. Whenever your travels bring you to Canada, please plan to be our guest. We

look forward to warmly welcoming you with eager anticipation.

On a final note Your Excellency, you will be in our prayers, and we are grateful to God Almighty for opening the doors of opportunities for the people of Guyana.

May God bless you, your family, members of the government and people of Guyana.

Yours truly Omar Farouk

Confident that PPP/C will serve Guyana country well Dear Editor, Euphoric celebrations swept across New York over the last week, as GuyaneseAmericans held small ‘victory get togethers’ at parks, social clubs, or bars, or rum shops, backyards, offices, homes, mandirs, and elsewhere. There has been widespread enthusiasm among Guyanese for the change in government.

There was a sigh of relief reminiscent of what occurred in October 1992 when free and fair election was restored to the country. Everyone was in some kind of victory spirit following the August 2 declaration that democracy had returned to Guyana and the PPP was officially declared the winner. There was joy of relief from August 2 evening when the ‘shocking’ news came that Granger conceded defeat and Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President. That Sunday evening and days after, there were joyful reactions and a sigh of relief that the struggle for the ballot was all over. And this past weekend, Guyanese-Americans wanted to celebrate the occasion that the PPPC party and nation had won, and they gathered in small numbers at various locations to take in the sight at the Cultural Centre as well as to be part of some kind of celebration of the victory (triumph of democracy).

Guyanese would never forget that experience: five long months to declare an election that should have taken a mere five hours. They tuned in on social media on Sunday August 2 to watch the swearing in, and on Saturday August 8 to see the Inauguration proceedings, after which they engaged in re-

ceptions (food, beverage, loud music).

Dr Irfaan clearly communicated his vision for the country.

It was a most brilliant speech; the best, in my view, that he delivered. The pitch and body language were spot on, as were the contents. His remark to enlist the diaspora in the rebuilding work was cheered.

Victory parties continued on Sunday afternoon at barbecues. And earlier in the day, at the mandirs I visited, people were in celebratory mood, expressing their happiness that justice was finally served.

Pandits referenced the electoral victory to the ancient scriptures.

Almost every Guyanese follow developments in Guyana on a daily basis since the passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018. They were disheartened that the coalition refused to accept the result of the NCM and violated democratic principles.

They were further disappointed when the regime refused to accept the outcome of the free and fair vote that all observers and opposition parties stated that the PPP won.

Intervention from the international community led to the acceptance of the true electoral verdict.

Everywhere I visited on Saturday and on Sunday, interacting with celebrants and in conversations with hundreds of Guyanese over the last week, there were praises for President Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, among others who were in the forefront in the struggle for the ballot and the historic achievement of August 2.

Laudatory remarks were uttered about the monumental struggle waged by Jagdeo and Nandlall; GuyaneseAmericans see them as heroes.

Their struggle is seen as iconic by Guyanese. “Dem boys get belly fo fight. Nobody nah fight like dem. Dem propa fight”.

They describe Anil as the most brilliant legal mind and the most articulate in Guyana.

Media persons like Freddie, Neil Marks, Chris Ram, and this writer, among others were also praised for their role in exposing the electoral fraud and calling on the former government to accept the will of the voters. The independent media was also recognised for its contributions. Without the exposure of the fraud in the media houses, and appeals to the international community as this writer repeatedly did, the regime would have gotten away with the fraud.

Guyanese-Americans say that those who assisted in defending the ballots must be offered a constructive role in the development of the country.

Guyanese-Americans also express gratitude and appreciation to Ambassador Sarah Lynch and the Ambassadors of the BCE countries for the role they played in protecting the ballot. Guyanese-Americans are most grateful and proud of the work of Sarah Lynch. She is a heroine among Guyanese.

Not since Ambassador George Jones in 1992 has an American diplomat stood out more in defending the will of Guyanese voters and in championing democracy in Guyana.

Great praise also went out to the Canadian, British and European Ambassadors, as well as Barbados Prime

Minister Mia Mottley and Owen Arthur and Bruce Golding. Many condole the passing of Mr. Arthur, whom they describe as a champion of democracy in Guyana.

Every Guyanese (with whom I spoke (in person and on the phone) were enraptured, pleased, and overjoyed with the outcome. They expressed words of joy, happiness, and delight that the PPPC won.

They expect great things to happen in their country. They are very upbeat about the future. They pledged their support to the new Government.

They are confident that the PPP will serve the country well.

But at events I attended, several speakers appealed to the PPP leadership not to repeat mistakes made when it was in office, and to listen to the views of the public. Many say they would visit when the airport opens and flight resumes. Some even talked of returning and settling in Guyana. Great moment for Guyanese who will be treated equally by the Government after five years of marginalisation and victimisation. They are very upbeat about the future. They say the hard work of nation building begins.

They pledged their support to the new Government. But though very supportive of the PPP, not everyone is pleased with the Ministerial appointments. Questions were raised about selection for Ministries.

Some say there was a mismatch, meaning individuals would be better served in other ministries to match their skills. They say the best person must be selected for a task.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

5

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

APNU/AFC was never How was Melissa Ifill’s interested in survival appointment at UG made? of agri sector Dear Editor The now Opposition APNU/AFC, when in government, was never interested in the growth or even survival of the agriculture sector. They saw it as a predominantly PPP/C support base, especially the rice and sugar industries. In fact, they treated these sectors worse than step-children; those sectors were treated as outcasts which must be crippled and allowed to die. The Coalition had said categorically that rice is private business; but the stark example is GuySuCo. In December 2017, I highlighted the fact that the Agriculture Capital Budget lacked the vision needed to transform the sector, and that there was a progressive decline in the budgetary allocation since 2015. The 2018 agriculture budgetary allocation was decreased by more than $1.351 billion over the 2017 allocation with no reason proffered for this significant decrease.

The 2019 Budget saw a similar trend, with the Sector’s budgetary allocation slashed by more than $1 billion to $19 billion. The Coalition has been continuously cutting the budgetary allocations for this sector, and the deleterious effect was evidenced by the progressive decline experienced not only in rice and sugar, but other sub-sectors as well.

There simply was nothing which the Coalition’s Agriculture Minister could have contributed in terms of policy, direction or control. It became clear that the political ploy took precedence, and Mr Holder was just a puppet who was just enjoying the good life whilst the sector was disintegrating all around him.

Poor infrastructure, drainage and irrigation problems became a nightmare for rice farmers, as rice production started to decline and less acreage came under cultivation. Many were faced with bankruptcy, and could not afford to service their loans at the banks and with creditors.

The ‘White Paper’ on sugar, to ‘right size’ the industry, actually wrong-sized it to utter destruction, whilst the former Minister continued to regurgitate the PNC’s directive emanating from Sophia.

Can you imagine that the Coalition had spent nearly $80 million on a Commission of Inquiry, and then dumped

the findings and recommendations? The COI never recommended closure of any estate, but closed they were.

Four of them. The COI had set out a turnaround plan to bring back the industry to profitability, but the PNC’s political strategy must be adhered to.

To this I must add that the $42 billion subsidy granted to GuySuCo by the Coalition should have been used to keep the entire industry operational. The $30 billion ‘largesse’ was meant to ensure that the fat cats are well fed, and the money was squandered, filling the pockets of those in the SPU and, by extension, some in the Government.

It must be painfully recalled that even though GuySuCo was given an average annual subsidy of $5 billion by the PPP/C Government, all the estates were operational; foreign exchange in excess of US$100 million was garnered from exports; jobs were saved, and workers were enjoying a reasonable standard of living; communities were thriving, and the US dollar was stabilised.

In addition, there was little flooding, residents were getting assistance from GuySuCo, but the resources-starved entity could hardly help itself. The COI saw these benefits to the economy, and had advised against any closure!

Since its ‘right sizing’, the sugar industry has continued to decline, and the more than 7,000 workers who were maliciously axed were reduced to mendicants. The annual targets were never achieved, as the factories continued to break down, infrastructure deteriorated, and the cultivations produced low yields.

It was evident that GuySuCo was facing bankruptcy. This also resulted in the economy going on a downward spiral, as communities experienced social upheaval and living became a heavy burden. Life was simply not the same for thousands of Guyanese. It must be recalled that this situation rekindled the MP’s conscience on the night of December 21st, 2018.

Furthermore, the attempts to sell the closed estates was just another devious ploy to loot them, having spent millions to engage PricewaterhouseCoopers to do an evaluation of the closed estates. The SPU was

just another corrupt entity created to siphon off hundreds of millions of cash and assets. Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, had said that 3 Estates will be reopened since, ‘We cannot keep them closed and mothballed, because when buyers come, they would probably not be as impressed as if they were working’.

This was to further squander the money. They sold the estates in parts, including the land. The sale of the entities never happened, as they were cannibalised and sold as ‘scrap iron’ and machinery and equipment in working condition were sold for peanuts to cronies. Huge acreage of land was also sold under corrupt deals, and not given to sugar workers, as Nagamootoo had wanted Guyanese to believe.

Today, the four closed estates stand as a stark testimony to the diabolical acts of the Coalition to just destroy and steal. If the closed estates had remained operational, it would have been a quite easy task to get them going again.

This is the opportune time for a COI to be held to bring to justice those who are accountable for this massive corruption.

The newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha, has hit the ground running, and has already shown that he will not be confined to the office, but will go out and meet the farmers in the field and get first-hand information and knowledge of what is required. His resolution of the recent flood in the Upper Corentyne speaks volumes. His method of participative interaction and contribution is what the sector needs, so that policies can be formulated and implemented. The minister was born into agriculture, and he has brought to his Ministry the vast knowledge of dealing with issues relating specifically to the sugar industry, and his years of experience as the Regional Chairman for Region Six, dealing with general and specific agricultural issues.

The sector is in good and capable hands, and indeed the closed estates will be reopened and returned to profitability.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Confident that PPP/C...

They feel Charles Ramson should be in oil and gas, although some feel experts should be hired for that field. And almost everyone queried the exclusion of Mr. Seeraj in agriculture.

But one person said not everyone can be a Minister, although they say Seeraj and some other party stalwarts

deserve Ministerial positions because of their commitment, dedication, competence, and service to the party.

People wished the youthful Ministers well, and think the inexperienced Ministers would learn their job very fast and handle their task with competence and integ-

FROM PAGE 4

rity.

Guyanese are very pleased that the PPP has returned to office. They are confident that the PPP will serve the country well. They see hope now that Guyanese can achieve their dream.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, It has come to my attention that Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohammed Martin has appointed Dr. Melissa Ifill as a Deputy Vice Chancellor of institutional advancement.

What exactly is this position? It sounds like more of the otiose titles created by Paloma’s predecessor, Ivelaw Griffith, with his delusions of grandeur and wasteful expenditure. Ifill, appointed by David Granger, sits on the CXC Task Force on Curriculum issues.

Ifill condoned electoral fraud that would have resulted in APNU retaining power and Granger remaining as President. This promotional appointment is of strategic importance to APNU. The Ifill appointment was made two days before David Granger demitted office. What was the urgency to make the appointment just days before a change in administration?

On whose authority was it made? Was the position advertised? Did VC Dr Paloma Mohammed Martin act on her own? Was Paloma Martin pressured to make the appointment just before Granger demitted office?

Did the University Council or Board meet on the matter? When did the interim board meet? Did the Council or Paloma review Ifill’s qualification and background for this “Institutional Advancement”? Were others considered?

Why couldn’t a scholar, say like Freddie Kissoon, be appointed for that job?

He has far more experience than Ifill. And he has none of the political baggage of Ifill. Given there has been a caretaker administration since Dec 22, 2018, why did the council or Board entertain new appointments of a Chancellor in October 2019 and a VC in June 2020 in the midst of an election crisis?

Why didn’t VC Paloma Martin make a case for the appointment to be deferred until after the conclusion of the election? Did it not occur to her that it was unethical to make such appointments?

Didn’t Paloma even give a thought that she should wait and consult the new administration? Is PPP chopped liver?

Paloma was a Deputy VC during the Ivelaw Griffith (another PNC/APNU ideologue) administration, and never uttered a word against, or disassociate herself from, financial abuse. As is the norm in any country, new appointments are not undertaken during the reign of a caretaker administration.

When will Chancellor JE Green, an APNU ideologue who praised Burnham’s fraudulent electoral victories and was silent during the 2020 fraud, Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohammed, and Deputy VC Melissa Ifill resign? It is unethical for them

to remain in office after being appointed during a caretaker regime. More of the same or continuity of personnel (as under APNU) won’t work. Real change is needed.

President Ali should be given an opportunity to constitute a new university board that must revisit new appointments during the caretaker administration if they don’t resign forthwith. The legitimately elected administration should be allowed to pursue change at UG. Paloma, Edward Greene, and Ifill must not stand in the way.

If they have academic integrity, they must tender their resignation. They are not non-partisan appointees, given their politics. Edward Green praises PNC for making electoral gains in rigged elections.

For the record, Melissa Ifill is one of the political ideologues behind the PNC (APNU). She is an Afro-centrist and a PanAfricanist, a champion of issues relating to Blacks in Guyana and around the region. She is a member of the CXC Task Force that prepares the syllabus and curriculum for the region. Indians, Amerindians, Chinese, Portuguese, Whites are given a passing reference in the approved books on English literature and social science texts. She consistently opposed attempts to review and make changes to give equity to other ethnic groups in the curriculum. Indians are the largest groups in Guyana and Trinidad. Amerindians constitute a significant portion of the population. Chinese and Portuguese were important facets of the history of the region, and played

critical roles in economic development. They should not be treated as mere footnotes in the curriculum of CXC. There must be equity across the racial groups in curriculum and appointments.

More recently, Dr. Ifill founded the Village Voice – a very partisan electronic publication on Afro-centric issues that has been announced to transform into a hard copy newspaper to represent the PNC’s positions.

Already David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis have found a home there, after they quit the KN. Adam Harris will also play a role. The Village Voice exhibits the same type of ethnic partisanship that existed in the Chronicle under APNU, when all of the columnists were Afrocentric and not one had a different perspective.

While one must not be penalised or overlooked for any position on account of cultural or ethnic nationalism, or political affiliation, appointments must be judicious and sensitive to interests of other groups and the politics of the nation.

There must be some kind of balance to an ethnically partisan appointment like that of Ifill. Appointment of an Afro-centrist should be balanced by appointments of Indo-centric and Amerindian-centric academics. It is unacceptable for APNU ideologues to be placed in strategic positions at UG and elsewhere.

President’s Ali Administration must immediately visit the issue of all administrative appointments at UG. Yours truly, Parbatie Laloo

6

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

Page

Foundation

SUMMER OF LEARNING

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

The Oak & the Reeds

What do I need?

The Roto-Copter pattern pencil scissors paper clips crayons or markers newspaper cereal bowl

What do I do?

Cut along the solid lines only of the RotoCopter pattern. Fold on the dotted lines. Fold A toward you. Fold B away from you. Fold C and D over each other so they overlap. Fold the bottom up and put a paper clip on it.

Hold the Roto-Copter by the paper clip.

Throw it like a baseball, as high and far as you can. It will spin to the floor. You can also stand on a chair or on the stairs and drop it.

Ask a grown-up if you can drop it out the window.

If you want, you can use crayons or markers to colour your Roto-Copter before you fold it. The colours will blur together when it spins.

Make three Roto-Copters for each person.

Use a marker to draw a 1-foot circle on a piece of newspaper. Put a cereal bowl in the middle of the circle. The circle is the target area and the bowl is the bull's-eye. Take turns standing on a chair at the edge of the newspaper and dropping your Roto-Copters: normally, it’s 3 points for a bull's-eye, 2 points for a copter inside the circle, and one point for just hitting the newspaper – but you can make up any rules you want. (exploratorium.edu)

A

giant oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender reeds. When the wind blew, the great oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.

"You have reason to complain," said the oak.

"The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."

"Do not worry about us," replied the reeds.

"The winds do not harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But the end is coming."

As the reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying reeds.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt engaging int’l experts on Payara project, oil sector

T

he new Administration is engaging international experts before it makes a decision on the Payara-Pacora project in the Stabroek Block, a project which was announced since 2017 but for which oil giant ExxonMobil is yet to make a Final Investment Decision (FID).

President Dr Irfaan Ali made this disclosure on Tuesday, on the sidelines of an event at Crane, West Coast Demerara, to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami. He explained that since coming to office, he has made steps to review all sectors including the oil sector.

“We’re in Government just over a week now. And I’ve asked for a full assessment of all the sectors, not just the oil and gas sector.

So, we’ll be receiving documents on all the sectors, including having information and documents on the work that has been done so far in terms of the license for the Payara project,” Ali said. He added that throughout the elections campaign he had made it pellucid that a review will take place in several sectors.

“I’ve been following what is happening from the media. A lot of questions, a lot of focus on the oil and gas sector. Specifically, in relation to the Payara license, I have convened a meeting with various stakeholders and I’ve made it very clear

President Dr Irfaan Ali

that we’ll have a review of all that has been done so far,” Dr Ali said.

According to the President, the services of Trinidadian energy expert Anthony Paul, who has been particularly vocal on local content issues, have been sought by his Government.

As such, President Ali disclosed that Jagdeo has been tasked with contacting Paul and determining his availability and whether he is willing to work with the Government.

“We’re in the process of engaging an international expert to do that review, what has been done so far.

And the Vice President will be able to elaborate on that (today),” Ali said, in reference to a press conference scheduled to be hosted

by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today.

“And then the whole issue of local content. A lot of questions on our position on local content. Let me say very clearly that we are sticking to our commitment in ensuring that the industry, as far as possible for Guyanese as a whole.”

Ali also assured that notwithstanding oil being positioned under the Office of the President, they intend to establish the Petroleum Commission.

APNU/AFC had been intensely criticised for failing to establish the Commission.

ExxonMobil had identified Payara as the third potential development project within the Stabroek Block after Liza Phase 1 and 2. The Payara discovery was announced in January 2017.

The discovery well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering more than 29 metres of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

The Payara development plan includes a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, named <<<Prosperity>>>. It is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day, supporting up to 45 wells, including production, water injection and gas injection wells.

But with approval of the

development plan delayed, the company and other industry experts have warned that Guyana could end up

losing billions the longer approval is delayed.

Exxon Senior Vice President Neil Chapman

had warned recently that they cannot move forward with an approved development plan and the Final Investment Decision (FID). He had said that if it comes in later than September, weather conditions could affect operations, causing Guyana to lose significantly.

Last year, Exxon made five discoveries.

These discoveries had pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. It made one discovery for 2020, the Uaru discovery, which was announced in January. Uaru is ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. (G3)

8 NEWS Teen drowns after falling overboard A WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

nother teenager has died from drowning, this time at Kako Village in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) after she reportedly fell overboard.

Dead is 19-year-old Trevisa Williams.

Based on information received, the incident occurred at about 09:35h on Sunday while Williams was in a boat with her parents and nephew in the Kako River.

It was in that moment she reportedly suffered a seizure and fell into the water.

This newspaper was told that her father mobilised a search party to comb the river, and her motionless body was discovered hours later.

A community health worker from the village pronounced her dead and she was buried the same day.

However, authorities are planning to exhume the body to affirmatively de-

termine a cause of death.

Police information suggests that the teen died from epilepsy.

A relative of the teen told Guyana Times on Tuesday that they were highly affected by her passing, since it was sudden. The teen had travelled in a boat but they were unable to say if she experienced seizures prior to this incident.

Less than one week ago, a search was launched to recover the body of 17-yearold Jafaun (only name provided) who drowned on August 1 while swimming in the Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

According to the police report, Jafaun left his home in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), to work on a farm at lower Pomeroon.

The teenager reportedly consumed alcohol on a regular basis.

His employer, Carl Roberts, told investigators that he left to go to the backdam on Saturday morning, leaving Jafaun at home. He noted that at about 14:30h,

he was informed by his daughters that Jafaun was drinking earlier on the farm and went in the Pomeroon River to swim.

The man said he was told that the teenager swam to the deeper part of the river, where he was seen having hypoxic convulsions in the water before disappearing. This was reportedly witnessed by two females on the farm.

In June, the body of 17-year-old Melissa Soman called “Lisa” was pulled from the Berbice River and an autopsy later proved that she drowned and suffered blunt trauma to the head.

During the post-mortem, it was revealed that the teen was pregnant. However, the teen’s 22-year-old boyfriend had confessed to the heinous crime during interrogation. He reportedly told detectives that an argument erupted between him and the mother of one during which he assaulted her. In a bid to escape, the young woman jumped overboard and never surfaced. (G12)

Change or no change…

Y

…in Trinidad? our Eyewitness was convinced that voters in the Southern Caribbean were committed to shaking up the incumbent order and changing their regimes.

It started in Guyana, when voters decided they’d had enough of the PNC after a disastrous five years when, (in the profound words of Walter Rodney) “everything they touched turned into shit.” If you think the language is coarse, the great man felt that coarse people can only be described with coarse words!! And God, we know the PNC is coarse!!

Then, of course, the citizens of neighbouring Suriname, on our eastern border, followed suit by dumping Bouterse, who’d been in power - or behind those in power - ever since he helped overthrow the Government in 1980. “Coup of the Sergeants” it was called for eponymic reasons - even though Bouterse didn’t remain a sergeant for long. He promoted himself several times, until he was simply called “The Commander”. We can appreciate this moniker when he removed one President and his government via a simple telephone call. “The telephone coup” it was called!! But, at least this time around, he didn’t do a “Granger” and try to strong-arm his way back into power!! In the end, even a sergeant had more patriotism than a general!!

And we now move over to the la-la land we call “Trinidad,” with its appendage Tobago, that has a permanent grouse about being “neglected”. Never mind that, proportionately, population wise, they receive the biggest allocation of all the other 39 constituencies in Trinidad. Trinidad voted on Monday - and by Monday night at 11pm they had a result!! Imagine that...results in five HOURS, rather than the five MONTHS it took for us!!

Keith Rowley, the leader of the PNM, declared himself the winner of the elections by coming out ahead in 22 of the 41 constituencies. They never had a problem with math, and had always accepted that 21 was the majority of 41!! Kamla Persad-Bissessar, head of the Opposition UNC (and “Kamla” to one and all) has protested the decision in what they call 3 “marginal” seats, and asked for a recount.

But don’t expect anything like the nasty confrontation and polarisation that was created here by the PNC. Nah! Their Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) will resolve that issue within two days at most!! And the two sides will get on with respectively forming their Government and Opposition, and getting on with dealing with their country’s problems.

After all, they had Eric Williams who, in 1961, said the “fighting would now move from the streets into the Parliament”.

But here, we had Burnham, who connived to violently overthrow the PPP the same year!! …in the PNC Looks like we’re in for a long and nasty internecine war between factions in the PNC - to determine who’ll lead the fight against the PPP Administration. There’s even one “Wild Man” from New York who’s talking about launching a new party. He obviously doesn’t think Granger would step down - gracefully or otherwise - or that his opponents within the party would be able to dislodge him.

Granger finally showed up at Congress Place to sit with the PNC’s Central Executive Committee. But none of them had the guts to say what was on their minds: that it was time for the 75-year-old geriatric to retire into the sunset.

But his opponents are starting to show their hand.

One of them stepped out of the shadows to reveal she was the one who’d convinced him to enter the run for leadership. She, more pertinently, revealed she had concerns early in the day about Granger’s leadership - or lack thereof - and brought these concerns to the attention of not only other members of the party, but Granger himself.

Granger’s days are numbered!! …to President Ali’s energy If one thing stands out in the week-long Ali Administration, it is the contrast in the energy level between them and the just departed Granger regime.

Proving Guyana’s no country for old leaders.

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

9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Infectious Diseases Hospital

Auditor General completes audit of facility …report to be submitted “shortly” – AG

A

uditor General Deodat Sharma has completed the audit into the controversial rehabilitation of the Ocean View Hotel to act as a COVID-19 facility and has revealed that the report will be submitted to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in a matter of days.

The audit commenced last week, according to Minister Anthony, and came after it was revealed that some $1.6 billion was spent by the former Government to refurbish the facility which is a skeleton of what it should be.

“From the financial and audit perspective, the Auditor General sent a team to Ocean View and they spent an entire day there trying to see what is going on. All the documents that the Auditor General has requested that has been given to him so that they will be able to do a proper report and present to us so that we can decide the way forward so.

“If these sums of money we’re told were spent on the building, then the Guyanese public deserves to know what it was actually spent on. $1.6 billion is a lot of money and therefore people deserve to know and the only way we can know that is to have the Auditor General and his team do that type of audit and present those results to us,” Minister Anthony said during his appearance on the programme “Government in Focus”.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

Back in April, AG Sharma had said that from the available reports, the arrangement may not have gone through the required process. The Auditor General had noted that in light of the coronavirus and the exceptional political circumstances, separate accounts for expenditures incurred are expected to be kept.

The former Granger Government embarked on transforming the flood-prone building into a facility to house COVID-19 patients amidst much criticisms, especially since the Government was in caretaker mode. In fact, the details surrounding the deal were kept secret from the public. It has been revealed that over $1.6 billion was spent just to renovate the building.

In fact, the former Director General under the APNU/AFC coalition, Joseph Harmon, had

stated that the Government had acquired the Ocean View Hotel property through a compulsory order.

“This notice is made pursuant to paragraph (2)(a) of the Direction by the President under the Public Health Ordinance. Cap 145, and published on the Gazette, Legal Supplement- B, 16th March 2020,” the Order stated.

Further, Harmon was reported as saying that the facility would be set up for the long term.

The facility was officially commissioned on July 30 by caretaker President Granger – two days before an election declaration was made and Dr Irfaan Ali of the PPP/C was sworn in as Guyana’s ninth Executive President. But even at the time of its commissioning, the hospital was nonfunctional. At the commissioning, Granger said that the facility was in receivership.

However, after taking the reins on Government, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) described the Infectious Disease Hospital as a total disaster, since much work still needs to be done to the facility before it commences operating, or starts taking in patients.

While the new hospital was expected to relieve the burden of other public health facilities in the country, Dr Anthony pointed out that the facility was commissioned as a “shell”, without any structure

Infectious Diseases Hospital, formerly Ocean View International Hotel

in place.

Currently, there are neither medical equipment nor furniture in the building, nor has staff been assigned.

Guyana Times was previously told that the Public Health Ministry was transferring medical equipment from other smaller health facilities that were established to treat COVID-19 positive cases.

According to the new Health Minister, at a minimum, about 20 doctors are needed for the facility, along with technicians and other staff.

Medical technical team

Minister Anthony, after discovering the dire situation at the facility, assembled a medical technical team to go in and determine what is necessary to get the hospital up and running.

The team discovered that in the designated Intensive Care Unit at the Ocean View

facility; the oxygen and suction tubes were not properly installed. In addition, the ventilators procured for the facility are not capable of operating for more than 4 hours.

“For the ICU area, we will need to ensure that there is oxygen and suction…generally when you are making a hospital those tubes are placed in the wall. This facility was rehabilitated and they had the opportunity of placing those things in the wall because that also reduces transmission and infection spread but that was not done,” Dr Anthony related.

He added that if the PPP/C Government decides to use the facility then another phase of refurbishment would have to commence to bring it up to standard, which ultimately places an additional burden on the already depleted treasury.

“In addition, they have a section that has to do with dialysis. If you are going to pro-

vide dialysis to patients you would need filtered water and no provision was made for dialysis. The space is a shell.

There are no beds, equipment and you can’t have a hospital if you don’t have the necessary equipment to treat the patients that would come there. The ventilators bought for the hospital there cannot run continuously for 24 hours.

These are for ambulances and only for short periods like 2-3 hours. You just have to wonder how such blunders were made,” the Minister stated.

The Auditor General’s 2017 report had found that drugs were being stored on the Ministry’s behalf in seven rooms of the same hotel, which was said to be termite-infested at the time. Among the issues the Auditor General had raised was the lack of a formal written agreement between the Administration and the private owners.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

11 Banks DIH employee’s car stolen in daylight hijacking I NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

n broad daylight on Monday, a car belonging to a Banks DIH employee was stolen, after it was parked outside the company’s building at Thirst Park, Ruimveldt.

Based on information received, the red Toyota Allion with registration plate PMM 9484, was stolen from the location at about 14:30h.

Anil Singh, a salesman

employed with the company, told Guyana Times that he parked his vehicle in the morning and went about his normal routine at work. At about 14:00h, it was still seen at the location. However, much to his surprise, he went to conduct a small errand and returned to find the car missing.

“I parked in front of Meadow Bank as soon as you

Auditor General completes...

FROM PAGE 10

Referencing that, Minister Anthony said he is hopeful that those issues were resolved during the rehabilitation process. He also expressed concerns over the decision to use that specific facility since the area is severely flood-prone.

Back in 2008, the ownership of the Ocean View Hotel had passed to local businessman Jacob Rambarran. In the run-up to the 2015 elections, Rambarran had endorsed the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. However, a few days ago, one Wilfred Rambarran contended that he is the owner of the property and demanded millions of dollars in rent.

The letter, dated August 6, was sent to Attorney General Anil Nandlall and the Health Minister by Rambarran’s Attorney R Satram of the Chambers of Satram and Satram.

Rambarran, who is a known APNU/AFC associate, claims that though the previous Government issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition for the former Ocean View Hotel, he believes it is of no effect because compensation has not been discussed or paid. The Grangerled caretaker Administration had initially agreed to pay some $13 million per month to use the facility for a period of 12 months, but then later issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition of the hotel.

Rambarran is claiming that the then Government never engaged in negotiations to purchase the hotel.

Moreover, compensation has not been paid or assessed.

This proprietor has informed the new Government that his property is valued at more than $2 billion, and he is demanding payment of all arrears of rent due in 14 days.

(G2)

The stolen car

pass the Thirst Park turn. I went to do my usual work and I just left to check something for a customer and when I come back, the car was gone.”

The East Coast Demerara resident said security foot-

age captured the entire incident. It showed a man being dropped off by a red X-Trail vehicle and after leaving, the man proceeded to open the car door.

It would’ve taken him a

few minutes to do so after which he drove off in the now missing vehicle. It is believed that the man hotwired the car to make good his escape.

“The footage showed a red X-Trail dropping the man that steal it. I saw it at the Harbour Bridge and when I went and attempted to ask the guy, he recognised my work ID and sped off,” Singh detailed.

Singh indicated that he received a call after the robbery was made public, by someone who had spotted the X-Trail near the Demerara Harbour Bridge area. But the driver quickly drove off when he arrived to inspect.

A police report has been

filed and law enforcement ranks are still investigating.

The footage managed to capture the registration plate of the vehicle involved in the robbery. The 29-year-old father said he had the car for about three years and is hoping to have it recovered.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle is asked to contact 621-5517 or the nearest police station.

On Sunday, Police in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) were able to bust a gang that has been committing several burglaries and larceny in the region, including one teenager that was linked to car hijacking.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

34 new COVID-19 cases recorded 5 homeless after child …active cases now 391 accidentally sets house afire side so as the mother was sleeping, she started smelling the smoke.

When she jump up, the whole wall was on fire so she run out with the two smaller ones and then she started hollering because she thought he was in the house…Her blood pressure gone way up,” the sister explained.

As the flames spread, it also gutted her father’s dwellings.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze. They prevented it from spreading to other buildings. Persons from the community

Lashana Mohammed and her children

A

mother of three and her father have been rendered homeless, after her eldest child – a five-year-old – reportedly ignited a cigarette lighter and burned their B Field Sophia house down on Tuesday.

The property, located Lot 48 B Field Sophia, was occupied by Lashana Mohammed and her three children - aged five, four and two. Her father resided in another structure on the same property.

Reports are the fire started at about 13:00h in the upper flat of the wooden building. The 26-yearold mother was asleep while her eldest son was playing under the bed in another room with a cigarette lighter. Upon seeing the flames, the little boy ran out of the building.

Mohammed said she woke up to thick smoke and quickly grabbed her two children and exited the house in a bid to get them to safety.

“I was asleep because I’m not feeling well and my eldest son said he was playing with the lighter. I don’t know. It must’ve catch onto

The burnt-out building at Sophia, Greater Georgetown

the mattress or somewhere. The fire start in their room,” the distraught mother of three expressed.

Her sister, Elizabeth, informed that Mohammed panicked after exiting, thinking that her eldest son was trapped in the burning structure. However, even after he was found safe, her blood pressure skyrocketed from the shock.

“He told them he run out after seeing the fire and leave them out-

also assisted by using water from a nearby trench.

By then, the entire structure was destroyed and the family was unable to salvage anything.

They will be staying with relatives until they are able to rebuild.

The GFS has conducted an assessment of the fire and is still investigating. Persons can render assistance by contacting (592) 682-3416.

(G12)

T

he Health Ministry has announced the detection of 34 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. This raised the total statistics to 602 positives reported to date with the active cases being 391.

A gender breakdown of the new cases indicated that there are 18 males and 16 females.

The daily dashboard showed that of the 391 cases in institutional isolation, 49 of those are in institutional quarantine and four patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The number of deaths remained at 22.

On Monday, authorities in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) said positives have reached an alarming 135 cases.

The Regional Administration would have provided a regional breakdown of the statistics on Monday, which showed that 49 cases were recorded in Aranka, 23 in Devil’s Hole, 19 in Batavia, 15 in Bartica, nine in New Found Out, five from Melangree, four from Agatash, two in Big Hope and one in Riversview.

The spike in Region Seven circled the continued mining activities, which the previous coalition Administration had refused to remove from the list of essential services. This was despite concerns from the various representative bodies and community leaders. By the time it was done, there was a significant rise in cases.

Over the weekend, random testing was conducted on 94 persons, who were still awaiting their results. The Committee is still monitoring cases in the region and tracing cases to curtail further spread.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo

Persaud on Monday, reminded the population to remain vigilant and get tested should they detect any symptoms.

“Guyanese, I urge to you to come forward and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been [in] contact with someone suspected of the disease. Further, persons who have concerns about their status regarding COVID-19 can make contact with our testing sites for an evaluation. Being tested means you know your status and gives you the ability to seek the necessary treatment and further prevent the spread of this detrimental disease,” Dr Shamdeo outlined.

With the majority of Guyana’s coronavirus cases recorded in its hinterland regions, the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has already indicated that additional doctors and other medical personnel would be deployed to those areas to assist with the outbreak that is rapidly spreading in those regions.

NEWS

13

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Agri sector's financial woes

Panama owes Guyana over $1B for rice shipments – Minister …as GuySuCo unable to make next payroll

A

s the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government settles into office, every day it is uncovering numerous burdens it has inherited from the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

The latest is that a massive amount of rice was shipped to Panama but the APNU/ AFC Government failed to collect any money for it.

The rice was shipped by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), on behalf of local millers who are required to pay an export commission.

But according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday, some $1.184 billion is owed by Panama

for the rice.

“There is also a delay in receipt of payment for rice supplied to Panama which owes millers $1,184,198,400.

The entity has a current liability of $4.7 million. Its revenue stream can be adversely affected by the ongoing delay in payments from Panama.”

“My Ministry will act immediately to reverse these situations so that these debts can be paid from Panama. We will also meet with the millers to have them work on payments for the millers as soon as possible,” Mustapha said.

GRDB has even been delinquent with collecting the export commissions, with over $350 million outstand-

ing. According to Mustapha, “initial checks reveal a delay in payments of commission to the Board by millers. At the end of July, millers owed $353,925,513.”

The previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had often touted the healthy amount of rice being produced and the markets it was accessing. For the first crop of 2020, Guyana exported 242,812 tonnes of rice. And for 2019, 1,049,874 tonnes of rice was produced.

The Panama rice market was secured under then Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy back in 2014. But under APNU/ AFC, there have been con-

troversies that featured the Panama market. One such controversy was in 2018, when a shipment of rice from Guyana was rejected on arrival in Panama since it did not meet the stipulated specification outlined by that country.

Reports had indicated that the rice was of substandard quality, prompting the rejection. The ensuing debacle had led to calls for a comprehensive investigation and the resignation of the GRDB Board and then Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

GuySuCo

The financial woes extend to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo),

Guyana Rice Development Board

which looks set to miss payroll after August 21 and requires over $1 billion in subventions in order to survive until the end of the year.

According to Mustapha, GuySuCo will be unable to pay wages from August 21. This comes even as the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has only disbursed half of the $1 billion GuySuCo had requested earlier this year.

“The Corporation will not be in a position to pay wages from the week ending 21st August. Under the previous Administration, a request was made to NICIL for an amount of $1 billion but only $550 million was received to date,” Mustapha said.

“The $1 billion is required to cover operational expenditure until the Corporation commences receipt of sugar proceeds which will become available in the second week of September,” he also said, adding that sugar and sales of molasses are insufficient to cover expenses during that period.

Mustapha noted that of the $30 billion syndicated loan the former Government borrowed in 2018 to recapitalise GuySuCo, only $10.2 billion has been paid out to the Sugar Corporation. This is a five-year loan, backed

by NICIL assets and with an interest rate of 4.75 per cent.

“The (GuySuCo) Board

received no answer as to how much was actually disbursed to NICIL and plans on repayment of the loan.

To date, the Corporation has a total liability of approximately $9.5 billion,” Mustapha explained.

NDIA

Meanwhile, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is also in financial trouble, with a shortfall of $89 million being discovered in the agency’s budget. In addition, a related request for funds was lodged with the Ministry of Finance under the former Government.

“There is a contract in the sum of $753,397,248 for the acquisition of fixed and mobile pumps and associated structures and spares.

To date, $308,137,000 has been paid, however, there is a delay in supply and installation. We will work immediately to have this rectified and keep the public up-to-date with the progress. Locals to fix and install pumps.”

“Even as parts of our country are affected by flooding with residents inconvenienced and farmers losing crops and livestock, 20 pumps and 21 excavators were found to be inoperable with $23,842,320 owed to operators of equipment.

The NDIA is tasked with ensuring that these outstanding payments be made,” Mustapha also said. (G3)

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MoE engages GTU on reopening of schools for Christmas term …NGSA results expected on or before September 25

parents can opt to have their children not write the exams. However, they will be placed in a secondary school closest to their home.

“If the parents opt not to have their children or child write this examination, there is nothing we can do to force them. However, in not doing so, they will be placed at the school closest

to them,” Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman told reporters in June.

“If they are not satisfied or perhaps if they have any other questions about being placed at the [secondary] school closest to them, there is what we call the placement examination.”

Moreover, the CEO had explained that if stu-

dents are not satisfied with the schools closest to their homes, they can take these exams which will be done in July next year.

“If they satisfy that criteria, they can ask to write that placement exam…and I think they have to get over 70% in order to be placed in a school of a higher level,” she had stated. (G1)

Hugh Wooding Law School moves online for academic year Education Minister Priya Manickchand meeting with executives of the GTU along with senior Ministry staff

A

s part of a holistic plan for the reopening of schools, Education Minister Priya Manickchand met with the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on Tuesday to hear the Union’s views about the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the education sector and teachers in particular.

Prior to that meeting, the Minister made it clear that be it virtual, on platforms like Zoom or Google Classroom, via the Learning Channel or a physical opening, the most important issue to address presently is keeping teachers, children and their families safe as well as keeping children engaged academically.

September is usually the beginning of a new academic year; however, GTU expressed the view that

schools were unprepared at present to accommodate a physical reopening that would allow for the safety of all involved.

A final decision has not been made relative to the physical reopening of schools. The Ministry continues to engage stakeholders on the issue and committed to making an announcement at the soonest.

Present at the meeting were the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Mark Lyte, Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Nicola Johnson, NCERD Director Jennifer Cumberbatch among other senior and technical staff.

Schools have been closed in Guyana since March due to the pandemic. However, schools briefly opened to facilitate crucial exams for primary and secondary pu-

pils.

NGSA results Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has announced that results of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be released on or before September 25.

Some 14,730 students were registered to write the NGSA this year. The exams were written on July 1 and 2 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While schools have been closed since mid-March, they were reopened to facilitate the NGSA. This move, however, was done amid much criticisms since both parents and teachers were concerned about their safety during the pandemic.

The Education Ministry, in responding to those concerns, had contended that

T

he Trinidad-based Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) has announced that it will be moving all its activities online, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the 2020-2021 academic year which is expected to commence on September 28.

In a notice to students, HWLS explained that Council of Legal Education - Hugh Wooding Law School (CLE-HWLS) has been reviewing the method of delivery of its programmes and is being guided by the principles of ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of both students and staff while achieving the learning outcomes without compromising quality and using innovative methods in its approach to teaching and learning. It was on that basis that the decision was made to leverage technology to enhance the students’ experience.

The school said that the registration process for both new and returning students will be conducted online between September 21-25.

Students will be provided with detailed registration packages comprising of concise step by step guidelines to successfully complete the registration process and all relevant supporting documents. It informed that the packages would include: registration guidelines, registration form, payment of fees guidelines, student data form, incoming student brochure, principal’s information brochure, schedule of fees, medical data form, and library information form.

Following registration, the orientation week would commence on September 28 and run until October 2 online as well. All of the activities during this week will be conducted via Zoom or Google Meet, the two videoconferencing platforms used at the CLE-HWLS. Additional information will be made available to students during the academic year via the TWEN page of the Senior Tutor’s Office.

Since all classes for the first year would be conducted online, the school is advising students to make sure they have a functional laptop or desktop equipped with a webcam and microphone. Additionally, the computer system should

have, at least, 250 GB hard drive or higher; 4 GB of RAM or higher; 2.0 GHz Intel or AMD Processor; Windows 10 or Mac OS 10.10 or later; Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox 48 or later; anti-virus programme (updated regularly); Microsoft Office; and high-speed Internet (hard-wired or wireless).

If students choose to use a smartphone, instead of a laptop, HWLS advises that the operating software should be iOS 7.0 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, or Android 4.0x or later.

Also, javascript and cookies should be enabled in the web browser.

Teaching begins on October 5, and all classes will be taught online until December 18, 2020, or as may be advised in further updates. HWLS will provide students with instructional sessions using Zoom, Google Meet and TWEN. The school told students that access to the Law School will be limited due to the COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. Priority will be given on a first come first served basis to students who may need access to the internet or who may wish to use the June Renie Law Library (JRLL) or who may need to be present on campus for other identified reasons.

It is expected that students will attend the online classes from their homes.

Nonetheless, those who may need access to the internet, efforts will be made to allocate some spaces for this purpose at the law school.

“As soon as circumstances permit, the course of study will be delivered both in-person and remotely/online. The remote/online sessions will be both synchronous and asynchronous,” HWLS stated.

Synchronous – in-person and online via Zoom or Google Meet at times set out

in the timetable. On registration, all new students will be given an hwlsedu. com e-mail address which is the only e-mail address for all communications between students and the staff of the CLE-HWLS. It also gives students access to G Suite. The Zoom or Google Meet link for remote/online classes will be sent via this email address only.

Asynchronous – Using TWEN and G Suite, course directors will post videos, PowerPoint presentations and other materials for review by students in their own time. Students are required to pay attention to any guidelines that may accompany the material including familiarising themselves with the material in order to effectively participate in the synchronous classes.

Students will be required to attend classes at the scheduled time set out in the timetable to be published by the Senior Tutor’s Office. Following registration, the Senior Tutor’s Office will also publish the seminar groups. Legal Aid sessions will be conducted both remotely and in-person in 2020. However, until December 18, 2020, or as may be advised in further updates, all sessions will be conducted remotely.

The introduction to the JRLL and its services will be done in two online sessions. Training will also be done online in two sessions for each of the following databases, LexisNexis, Westlaw and Justis.

“Since the circumstances in the region as a result of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic are still very fluid, students will be advised if there are any changes to the teaching and learning methodology as well as any other matters that impact the delivery of the programme,” HWLS noted. (G2)

15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations Ganja trafficker jailed, fined $41M Righting the ship for the sake A NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

of all Guyanese - the reckless mismanagement of COVID-19

C

OVID-19 testing in Guyana over the last six months was not only a total disaster; it was criminal neglect. The diagnostic tests available for COVID-19 were provided

by PAHO since March. By April, PAHO/WHO had donated more than 7,000 test kits for Guyana. But no policy for widescale testing was addressed.

More significant is that the single PCR testing machine at the Public Health Laboratory was the only one used.

It turned out that other government agencies also had PCR machines not being used. For example, there was a PCR testing machine at the Guyana Livestock Development Agency. That machine is now at the Public Health Laboratory, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and finally being prepared for use. There is also a PCR machine at Mercy Hospital, but they have no kits to conduct the test. Therefore, it was not for a lack of machines; there were others never utilised.

The reckless non-use of the machines is even more criminal because, through donors, two new machines were shipped to Guyana, and were sitting at the Laparkan warehouse for several weeks now. Only this week, those two PCR machines were taken possession of. Minister Anthony has worked with PAHO/WHO to arrange a virtual training of technicians, so that Guyana can shift from a single-shift testing arrangement to multiple machines working double shifts and working seven days. It turns out that not only was a single machine being used in a single shift by a single technician, there was no testing on weekends. In the middle of the COVID-19 rampage, Guyana was on a siesta. This was not just mismanagement, not just stupidity; this was recklessness and criminality.

It is just over a week since President Irfaan Ali has been sworn in as Guyana’s 9th President. It is less than a week since his cabinet has been sworn in. Two quick signals of the exciting possibilities for Guyana are already evident. Both President Ali and his cabinet have the hit the road running, busy in the communities as they have begun to move Guyana forward.

The second is the goodwill, enthusiasm and hope that the new government has generated. The Guyanese people from all walks of life, from all sides, have responded with goodwill towards the new President and his government. People who did not vote for him and his party have either openly or quietly insisted the new government be given a chance to repair the great damage that has been inflicted on Guyana.

The international community, who so bravely stood on the side of freedom and democracy, is excited to work with the new government and the Guyanese people.

Even as our new government is trying to restore confidence and to right the ship, the waters are extremely turbulent.

COVID-19 defiantly stares at us as an existential threat. Even as several Caricom countries boast of no COVID-19, COVID-19 is rampaging in Guyana, particularly in the hinterland. We knew the management of this serious pandemic in Guyana was weak, we now discover that the COVID-19 management was not just a case of mismanagement, the neglect was criminal. The new Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and his team are busy stabilising the ship that is presently precariously threatened with sinking. Like most threats, this threat will pass.

Throughout the last eight months with COVID-19 rampaging itself across the globe, scientists and public health experts have insisted that wide-scale testing is one of the indispensable public health interventions, providing the intelligence for the whereabouts of this formidable, unseen enemy. For most of the time since Guyana’s first case was detected on March 11, Guyana’s testing has been meek, reluctant, and almost invisible. It is more than five months since Guyana’s first case, and it is only now that Guyana has completed over 5,000 tests, more than half of which have been in the last two months. The truth is Guyana’s COVID-19 testing is presently a recipe for disaster, facilitating the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

One of the first signals the new Irfaan Ali-government and the Frank Anthony-led Ministry of Health provided that there is a new dispensation in the management of COVID-19 in Guyana was a new urgency in their approach to testing.

There is a complete transformation. Within days, there would be more than 70,000 new tests available in the country, to embark on an aggressive wide-scale testing of the population for COVID-19. This new approach is one that is five months late. It is not that science has given us a new insight. The science relating to testing that we know today was known in March also. But those responsible for the management of COVID-19 at the time recklessly ignored the importance of wide-scale testing.

The COVID-19 testing approach in Guyana is about to change. It is an indication that the new Ministry of Health and the new Government are on the ball, and are determined to face the COVID-19 rampage. Guyanese can be assured that the new government will not permit COVID-19 to realise its existential threat. We will control COVID-19 in a short period.

Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam) man was on Tuesday jailed for three years and fined over $41 million after he was found guilty of trafficking narcotics.

Eduardo Moore made his final court appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where he was convicted. He was jailed for three years and fined $41,224,560 for the offence which occurred in April 2019.

The Essequibo Coast resident initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but Magistrate Zameela AliSeepaul, in summing up the matter, found sufficient evidence to convict him.

It was reported that on April 15, 2019, at Anna

The 52.852 kilograms of marijuana

Cathrina Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), he trafficked 52.852 kilograms

of marijuana.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor,

Narissa Leander in presenting her case stated that CANU ranks acting on information intercepted motor car PVV 9817 at Anna Catherina, WCD. A search was conducted, and two suitcases containing several transparently wrapped parcels containing marijuana were found.

Moore was told of the offence and charged. After spending months on remand, he was eventually granted bail pending the outcome of the trial.

During the sentencing, Moore, in his plea of mitigation, said, “Do not send me back to prison. Prison is a really bad place, and it’s not for me. I don’t want to go back there because I could serve society better outside of prison than inside.” (G1)

US-based Guyanese murder

Berbice man seeks leave of appeal to challenge death sentence

Murdered: Samantha Benjamin

A

25-year-old man who was on December 18, 2019, sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of 45-year-old Samantha Benjamin, a USbased Guyanese, has applied to the Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Imran Ramsaywack, also known as “Kevin Jones” and “Coolie Boy” of Lot 7, Adelphi Village, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is seeking leave the appeal against the jury conviction and death sentence which was imposed by Justice Sandil Kissoon.

The time has elapsed for the filing of his appeal. As appeals are mandated to be filed within 14 days of there being a conviction in a case or a discharge/dismissal.

Ramsaywack had denied the murder charge, which stated that between March 25 and March 26, 2015, he murdered Benjamin at Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The State was represented by Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Mandel Moore, while Ramsaywack was represented by Attorney-at-

Law Ravindra Mohabir.

The prosecution’s case contended that the now-convicted man murdered Benjamin at her Middle Walk, Buxton home, and dismembered her body. The dead woman’s body was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean along the Annandale foreshore, ECD, where it was found that her head, arms, and legs were missing.

Benjamin’s body parts were later pulled from the water after a search conducted by the Police. During the handing down of the death sentence, Justice Kissoon had told Ramsaywack that he was unfit to dwell among members of society. (G1)

Sentenced to death: Imran Ramsaywack

16 NEWS GPL Chair Rawle Lucas resigns C WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

hairman of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Rawle Lucas has resigned from this post.

When contacted on Tuesday, Lucas confirmed his resignation. While he did not share his reasons for resigning, he noted that he stepped down since August 7, a day after President Irfaan Ali’s new Cabinet was sworn in.

“I did that last Friday.

I chose to resign, that’s all,” Lucas, who previously served as Chairman of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), told this publication.

Lucas was appointed as GPL Chairman in May 2019 by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

At the time, however, the coalition Government was in a caretaker status having lost a No-Confidence Motion in December 2018. As such, it was not supposed to be engaged in political appointments or the signing of new contracts.

Former GPL Chairman Rawle Lucas

The former Government, nevertheless, disregarded this convention, appointing not just Lucas and the GPL Board but a number of other Boards. For instance, last year, the former caretaker APNU/AFC appointed a new Board of Directors for the Bank of Guyana and GRA. In addition, it went ahead with appointing Chairpersons for the Investment Promotion Council, Guyana Oil

Company, Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC), Atlantic Hotel Incorporated (AHI), Bureau of Statistics and National Insurance Schemes.

The PPP, while it was in Opposition, has always insisted that these appointments are illegal. Now Attorney General Anil Nandlall had said at the time that these appointments would have to be reviewed at the appropriate time.

Since being sworn in on August 2, President Ali has taken a stance against political appointees, who this publication understands proliferate throughout the various Ministries. So much so that the former APNU/ AFC party that hired these political appointees have raised concerns over their removal.

But in a brief statement on Friday, President Ali made it clear that no public servant has been fired since he took the Oath of Office on Sunday, August 2, 2020. The Head of State had revealed that a number of APNU/AFC political appointees tendered their resignation and several others have been advised accordingly.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, during a virtual update earlier on Friday. She assured that public servants are not being targeted by the new Administration – as is being claimed by the APNU/AFC coalition.

Triangular love affair ends in murder

P

olice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 32-year-old fisherman of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) Dead is 32-year old Winston Robertson also called “Red Man”.

He was shot by the reputed husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair. Police said that he died while receiving treatment at the New Amsterdam Hospital. This newspaper was told that Robertson was driving along the Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice road when he was shot. He reportedly crashed into a building after losing control following his injuries.

Reports are that the woman was in an abusive relationship and ran away from her D’Edward Village home on Monday but was pursued by her reputed husband, who subsequently found where she was staying.

As Robertson approached the house at Cotton Tree at about 19:30h on Monday, there was a confrontation between the suspect, his reputed wife and Robertson.

The suspect allegedly held the woman at gunpoint. However, as Robertson drove away, the man allegedly fired one shot in his direction, which hit him. When this publication

Dead: Winston Robertson, also called “Red Man”

visited the area, eyewitnesses said that the shooter then calmly walked to his car which was parked in front of a nearby gas station and drove away.

Police are now on the hunt for him.

The dead man’s wife, Dona Robertson, said her husband left home at about 16:30h but she did not know where he was going. She said she was informed about the shooting and headed for the Fort Wellington Hospital.

However, by that time he was already transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The mother of two said when she arrived at the NA Hospital he had already died.

The grieving widow explained that her husband would normally visit the car wash in the area where he was shot.

“We had this kind of relationship where I don’t look into his affairs and he doesn’t look into mine. I am also a student at the university and also a teacher and I am working on my thesis…we both have things to do so I am not like to police to ask him where he is going. We are adults,” the grieving woman said. She is pursuing a Masters in Management.

“I don’t want to point any fingers but I love my husband and it is bad for all my children not to have their father and I hope that whoever did this is punished by the law.”

She referred to Robertson as being a good father to his children. (Andrew Carmichael)

Jamaica votes September 3

P

rime Minister Andrew Holness announced tonight that Jamaicans will go to the polls on Thursday, September 3. Nomination Day is Tuesday, August 18.

“We will be quick, we will be efficient, we will be peaceful,” Holness told Parliament after making the announcement.

“We're having an election in a pandemic… the kind of campaign to which we're accustomed may not be the kind of campaign that will materialise,” he said.

Holness made the announcement in a rela-

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

tively brief speech which

followed

the

House

of

Representatives' vote to end the current States of Emergency by August 17, fulfilling his pledge not to hold elections under emergency powers.

He said that he advised the Governor General to dissolve Parliament on Thursday, August 13.

The announcements came tonight at the end of another marathon meeting of the House of Representatives, during which the MPs also agreed to extend the current four Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) by another 60 days.

(Jamaica Observer)

Granger unilaterally creates criteria to select APNU/AFC MPs

...slanted to eliminate competitors from old guard

APNU/AFC Leader David Granger

L

eader of A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), David Granger, as Head of his list, has laid down a number of criteria for members of his party to be chosen for Parliament.

It is understood that on Monday morning during a meeting, Granger stipulated that he wants fewer lawyers and more diversity in professional occupations in the National Assembly.

The 11th Parliament had featured a number of lawyers on the APNU/ AFC side. They had included Moses Nagamootoo, Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Joseph Harmon. But despite the proliferation of lawyers, APNU/AFC in Government constantly fell afoul of the Constitution after it lost the no-confidence vote in December 2018.

Another stipulation Granger reportedly made was the desire for more youths and women in the National Assembly. A frequent criticism the former President faced after winning the 2015 election was the number of elderly Ministers in his then Cabinet and as Heads of agencies.

On that note, Granger has reportedly informed his party that members who have extensive parliamentary experience should not expect to be selected. With 31 seats to fill, APNU/AFC will have its work cut out seeking to push more youth to the forefront of the party.

Youthful Cabinet

This is especially so since the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has already won praise for its youthful Cabinet, sworn in on Thursday last. Persons had posited that APNU/AFC would have no choice but to match this youthfulness in the National Assembly and give the youths in its party responsibilities and a voice they did not have during its tenure in office.

The Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) has already initiated the process of appointing a new batch of parliamentarians to serve in the legislative branch of Government.

Last week, the Office of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, dispatched letters to political parties, informing them of their requirement to identify their candidates to take up seats in the 65-seat National Assembly.

The CEO’s final elections report shows that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) secured 33 parliamentary seats while the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition won 31.

The joinder parties – A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), and The New Movement (TNM) – gained one seat. They have already selected LJP Leader Lenox Shuman as their parliamentary representative.

No submissions

However, the Government and Opposition are yet to submit their selection of names to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the respective role of Members of Parliament to sit in the 12th Parliament of Guyana.

This was relayed to Guyana Times on Tuesday by the Secretariat’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, who noted that correspondence was sent out to all parties, signalling the requirement to produce their lists.

After the swearing-in of President Irfaan Ali on August 2, GECOM had initiated the process of appointing a new batch of parliamentarians to serve in the legislative branch of Government.

Political parties are required to extract names of individuals from their respective lists and submit that information to the CEO, who will then prepare certificates to be dispatched to the potential MPs. (G3)

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese authorities 7 REOs relieved of duties, Govt Ministry probe massive drug Local expresses “no confidence” bust in rice shipment …as 1.5 tonnes cocaine unearthed in Germany

L

ocal law enforcement authorities along with the Guyana Rice Development Board are probing the origin of a rice shipment from Guyana, in which a large quantity of cocaine was found in Germany.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has requested that the origin of the cocaine-laced rice shipment coming out of Guyana be investigated since it has the possibility of bringing into question Guyana’s export capabilities.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has been tasked with investigating. The GRDB is expected to provide the Minister with, among other things, details of the shipping company, date of shipment and how the illicit substance managed to leave Guyana without being detected by the authorities.

Hamburg authorities discovered 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in a container freight, one of the largest quantities ever seized in the northern German port city, a spokesperson for the Customs Investigations Office said on Monday.

According to Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, the massive stash, which has an estimated street value of around €300 million (US$353 million), was hidden between sacks of rice in the container which came from Guyana, local newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt reported.

“The 1.5 tons of cocaine seized may be a highly pure

drug, which would be tripled in price for street sales,” the Hamburger Abendblatt quoted an official as saying.

The container had arrived in Hamburg’s port at the end of June on the 300-metre-long container ship, “CMA CGM Jean Gabriel” and was expected to be loaded onto a feeder ship together with 11 other transport containers. The final destination was supposed to be Poland.

For this purpose, the container was temporarily stored at the Hamburg terminal.

Investigators at the Joint Customs and Police Investigation Group (JIT) had reportedly received a tip-off about drug smuggling. During the investigation process, the container in question was then taken to the city’s Waltershof customs office and examined in a testing facility.

Officers found 47 large packages hidden between the rice sacks and within those packages, a to-

tal of 1277 small parcels with cocaine. The parcels all had various symbols on them, including a cat’s face, the Gallic rooster, and the Ampelmännchen (red and green traffic light symbols shown on pedestrian signals in Germany). Several hundred of the packages were marked with the same logo.

Authorities presumed the cocaine was to be distributed from Poland to bulk buyers all over Europe who would then sell the drug to street dealers, Deutsche Welle reported.

The latest find is among the largest quantities of cocaine ever seized in Hamburg. A year ago, customs officers seized 4.5 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of almost €1 billion. The narcotic was transported by a cargo ship from Uruguay and was destined for Antwerp in Belgium.

The Guyana Police Force is said to be working in collaboration with the German authorities. (G2)

Former magistrates, attorney, deputy mayor charged for breaching COVID-19 restrictions

T

wo former magistrates, an attorney, New Amsterdam’s Deputy Mayor and two businessmen were on Tuesday charged with breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

Former Magistrate and co-founder of the Federal United Party (FEDUP) Chandra Sohan, Former Magistrate and President of the New Amsterdam Rotary Club Charlyn Artiga, Attorney-at-Law Ramesh Rajkumar, past President of the Rotary Club and contractor Rafeek Kassim, New Amsterdam Deputy Mayor Wainwright McIntosh and businessman Kris Jagdeo are alleged to have breached the COVID-19 restrictions on July 29, in East Canje.

The charge stated that Rajkumar on July 29 was not in the confine of his home or his yard space as outlined in the COVID-19 restrictions.

Artiga, Jagdeo, Sohan and McIntosh were charged for attending a private party while Kassim was charged for hosting a private party.

They all pleaded not guilty to the offence

when they appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in a New Amsterdam court.

They were released on their own recognisance and will have to return to court on August 20.

The six were represented by Attorney Horashio Edmondson, who said as far as he knows, some members of the Rotary Club were meeting to discuss the distribution of food hampers.

“That is the story of those that were present when the matter took place. The charges that were brought against them for violation of the curfew are all bad in law.”

Edmondson added that some of the persons charged were not in the jurisdiction at that time.

“Not even in the county of Berbice when those charges were brought against them, so, I don’t know who is hunting my clients but we will get to the bottom of that.”

Meanwhile, after leaving court, some members of the Rotary Club went to the Cumberland Health Centre to continue their distribution work. (G4)

T

he Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has informed seven Regional Executive Officers (REOs) that their services are no longer required.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry would have dispatched their termination letters on Tuesday.

The REOs are from Randolph Storm from Region One (Barima-Waini), Denis Jaikarran from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Jennifer Ferreira Dougal from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Ovid Morrison from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Kim Stephen-Williams from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Carl Parker from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Essequibo), and Orrin Gordon from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

In a brief comment, Minister Nigel Dharamlall said “the Ministry lost confidence in their ability to perform. Their deportment was inimical to the effective and efficient functioning of the regions they managed.

Moreover, they practiced heavy partisan politics…

They were void of professionalism and impartiality.”

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira had already made it clear that while the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration will not engage in witch-hunting; it will seek to rid the public sector of political appointees whose services are no longer required.

Time and again, various regional chairpersons have complained over the unwillingness of the various REOs to cooperate in order to advance regional development.

In the case of Region One, Regional Chair Brentnol Ashley in July 2019 had explained that there is a holdup of crucial projects in the region, through no fault of the Regional Democratic Council, but rather, the REO. In Region Two, the REO was charged for assaulting Regional Vice Chair Nandranie Coonjah. The REO, in 2019, had also reportedly taken away the vehicles belonging to the Regional Chair and Vice Chair, and had closed the door to the Vice Chair’s Office.

In Region Five, the RDC has not been able to properly meet in months due to constant disruptions by the REO who usually leads a walkout, forcing the meeting to be adjourned. The REO’s walkouts stemmed from an incident where Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal had asked two controversial

Denis Jaikarran

Jennifer Ferreira Dougall

Kim Stephen-Williams

Carl Parker

Randolph Storm

Ovid Morrison

Councillors to leave the horseshoe table while their legality was being discussed.

However, the Chairman’s request was met with pushback from the coalition Government’s Councillors.

Morrison swore in three persons as Councillors unbeknown to the Chairman and the full Council. Ever since, there have been issues at every statutory meeting in relation to the legality of the Councillors which ultimately led to walkouts by Government Councillors and the REO. The Region Six REO has had her fair share of controversies as well. In July 2018, she refused to write the then Minister of State Joseph Harmon on the wishes of the RDC. The RDC had passed a motion for Central

Orrin Gordon

Government to finance transportation of children whose parents were out of a job due to the closure of the sugar estates, but the REO refused to make the request.

Region Nine’s REO was, in 2017, charged with sexual assault.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

Regional

UNC demands recount in T&T elections

T

rinidad and Tobago's opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar demanded a recount Tuesday in three key constituencies despite Prime Minister Keith Rowley's declaration of victory in the general election.

Rowley's governing People's National Movement (PNM) took 22 out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives, according to early predictions based on a partial count of Monday's vote.

"I know this morning (Tuesday) you're all feeling disillusioned and dejected but please know that all is not lost!" former prime minister Persad Bissessar said on her Facebook page.

"The election result has given us one more seat, and shown tremendous overall gains throughout the coun-

try! And most importantly, the battle was so close that we are not officially conceding until we get the results of the recounts we've demanded in three key marginal constituencies!"

Her United National Congress (UNC) party took the other 19 seats.

Rowley claimed victory on Monday even as ballots were still being counted.

He had earlier asked supporters to at stay home to celebrate due to the coronavirus pandemic but within hours of pronouncing victory, the streets around his party's headquarters and victorious candidates' bases were filled with jubilant supporters.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission has not released official results but said recounts of the ballots in six districts

her Facebook statement: "Do not be dismayed; do not be defeated! Instead, rest and regroup to fight another day!"

In a reference to the party's rising sun symbol, she added: "With enduring faith in God and each other, we will get through this difficult period, and

Trinidad and Tobago's Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar were to begin at 3:00 pm.

The UNC has asked for recounts in five seats, while the sixth seat recount has been called for

by Watson Duke, the leader of the minor Progressive Democratic Patriots, whose party attempted to take the two seats on the island of

Tobago.

Persad Bissessar had sacked most of her party's incumbent MPs ahead of the election and brought in several young, previously unknown candidates, one of whom wrestled a seat from the ruling PNM. She told supporters in

munities. For more than 20 years [he] had been in charge of... defending the rights of peasants and Indigenous communities."

Maria was driving a van near the Indigenous village of San Antonio Ilotenango when he was attacked.

In a statement, the French embassy in Guatemala said it was in contact with local authorities to "ensure that this crime is

solved".

"Well-known in the French Embassy, Mr Maria worked to improve the lot of the most disadvantaged people in the west of the country," the statement added.

Indigenous Maya people make up about half of Guatemala's population, but rights campaigners say they face enduring inequality and discrimination. (Excerpt from BBC News)

litical crimes.

The commission said in a statement that it has “opened a preliminary investigation against the then-candidate

and current president of the Republic of Colombia, Ivan Duque Marquez, campaign manager Luis Guillermo Echeverri Velez and the Democratic Center party for alleged violation of electoral regulations for financing political campaigns.”

The commission is investigating accusations Venezuelan businessman Oswaldo Cisneros gave $300,000 in financial support to Duque’s campaign, using as evidence phone calls to Democratic Center director Nubia Stella Martinez that were intercepted by the attorney general’s office.

Electoral law prohibits foreign donations to cam-

paigns.

Martinez and Echeverri will have to testify and the Democratic Center will be required to submit accounts from the Duque campaign to the commission, so it can determine the origin and amount of financial contributions.

Duque, who has grappled with low approval ratings for much of his term, is likely to face more problems amid economic and social troubles caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the recent house arrest of former President Alvaro Uribe, who is Duque’s mentor and the head of the Democratic Center. (Excerpt from Reuters)

institute’s capacity to produce large volumes of a new vaccine from scratch.

Tecpar’s spokesman João Pedro Schonarth told Reuters talks were underway, and the state Government said Governor Ratinho Júnior was set to meet the Russian Ambassador to Brazil today.

The spokesperson for the southern state declined to say if a production deal would be signed at the meeting.

With the world’s biggest

coronavirus outbreak outside the United States, Brazil has become a hub for mass clinical trials of potential vaccines.

Brazilian officials have vowed to start making vaccines developed by British and Chinese researchers within a year, but experts warn it may take at least twice as long.

Any production arrangement in Brazil would require approval by health regulator Anvisa. The agency said it

French activist who worked with Guatemala Indigenous people shot dead

A

French human rights worker who helped Indigenous people in Guatemala has been shot dead.

Benoît Maria, who headed a farming NGO, was killed while driving through an Indigenous area about 160km (100 miles) northwest of Guatemala City on Monday.

It is unclear who killed him or why. His group,

Agronomes et Veterinaires Sans Frontieres (AVSF), said it was a "cowardly" attack.

The French Embassy urged officials to ensure "justice can be done quickly".

"It is with great sadness that we confirm the death last night of our colleague Benoit Maria," AVSF said in a statement.

"He was murdered... while on his way to his workplace in Indigenous com-

Colombian Electoral Commission launches probe of Duque campaign

C

olombia’s national electoral commission said on Tuesday it has launched a preliminary investigation into President Ivan Duque, his Democratic Center party and officials from his 2018 campaign for alleged finance violations.

If irregularities are proven, the governing party could lose its legal status, preventing it from fielding candidates in future elections, in addition to fines and criminal penalties that may affect its leaders.

In an extreme outcome, Congress could also declare Duque’s presidency invalid, according to procedures for investigating and trying po-

Colombia's President Ivan Duque speaks during a news conference at the Tecnologico de Moneterrey in Mexico City, Mexico March 10, 2020

Brazilian state in talks with Russia to make COVID-19 vaccine

B

razil’s Parana state is in talks to produce a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Russia despite not having completed mass clinical trials, but it was unclear if the state’s research institute would get regulatory approval in Brazil.

Tuesday’s announcement by the Parana Technology Institute (Tecpar) took Brazil’s regulators and health experts by surprise, with some raising doubts about the

had not yet received a request to authorise the Russian vaccine and that it could not comment on its safety or effectiveness before receiving data from the laboratory responsible for development.

Brazil has registered more than 3 million cases of the novel coronavirus as President Jair Bolsonaro urges a reopening of the economy. The official death toll passed 100,000 this weekend.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

sooner, rather than later, I ASSURE YOU, the sun will rise again."

Politics remains largely divided along ethnic lines in diverse Trinidad and Tobago -- a majority of the PNM supporters are of African descent with the UNC popular among those of a South Asian background. (AFP)

St Kitts Govt targets October for reopening borders

T

he St Kitts-Nevis Government on Tuesday said it is hoping to reopen the borders of the two island federation by October, after careful consideration of the health and safety needs of citizens and residents as well as its commitment to restoring the local economy to pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) levels.

“An expansive training programme is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the ministries of health and civil aviation. It aims to train 5,000 persons in the industry at no cost to participants.

“Given the need to ensure all will benefit and can be certified by the tourism authority, the training is being offered free of cost,” Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris told a news conference today.

Harris told reporters that his Administration was taking decisions based on the extensive dialogue with relevant stakeholders, including the National Emergency Operations Centre, health experts and the business community represented by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

He said upon the successful completion of the COVID-19 sensitisation ses-

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Timothy Harris

sions, participants will be presented with the St Kitts and Nevis Travel Approved Seal that will identify entities and operators within the tourism industry who have undergone the required training to meet the minimum health and safety COVID-19 protocols.

Stakeholders within the tourism sector who do not receive the approved seal will not be permitted to operate in the new environment, Harris said, adding that the major hotels here are committed to continue doing business in the destination and airlines are showing high interest in bringing passengers to the federation. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica “cannot cope with large surge in COVID-19 cases”, warns MAJ

T

he Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is urging Jamaicans at home, returning residents and all visitors to the country to follow the COVID-19 protocols outlined by the Government, stating that the country's healthcare system “cannot cope with a large surge in cases”.

The plea follows the sudden spike in cases of the virus over the past few days.

The association noted further that the upsurge in cases comes weeks after the opening of our borders as part of the “Controlled Reentry Programme”.

“We have received many anecdotal reports of recent visitors to our shores breaching home quarantine. Persons who breach the quarantine put their friends, families, and members of the general population at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. This behaviour will ul-

timately lead to the wider spread of disease within the community with more persons becoming critically ill and more persons dying,” the association said in a release on Tuesday.

MAJ said coupled with this is “an observed sense of complacency setting in, in the general population with respect to COVID-19”.

It said people are not practicing physical distancing and not wearing masks when moving around and waiting in public spaces. Persons who do wear the masks are not wearing them correctly.

“COVID-19 is here, whether we believe it or not. We urge Jamaicans to have the courage and the patience to carry out the instructions of the authorities.

Our healthcare system cannot cope with a large surge in cases,” the association said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS US energy bankruptcy surge continues on credit, oil-price squeeze

A

nother 16 US energy firms filed for protection from creditors last month, reflecting crude oil prices below levels that are profitable for many companies, according to a report by law firm Haynes and Boone on Tuesday.

More than 50 oil and gas firms have filed for bankruptcy since oil prices crashed in March, led by exploration and production companies with 29 filings. The amount of debt held by these companies, US$49.69 billion, is nearly twice the debt held by energy bankruptcy filers all of last year, the law firm’s data showed.

Oil prices have fallen by about a third from above US$60 a barrel at the start of the year as the COVID-19 pandemic crushed fuel demand. They briefly turned negative in April.

Energy companies this year rushed to slash spending by laying off workers, paring executive salaries and scaling back drilling, but oil producers posted large losses in the second quarter.

“This latest downturn not only affects smaller recently hatched shale producers, but July saw two of the largest filings involve well-established oil companies,” lawyers wrote in a note.

Last month, oil and gas producers California Resources Corporation and Denbury Resources both filed for Chapter 11.

Together, those firms combined account for $7.7 billion in debt.

Shale gas giant Chesapeake Energy also filed for Chapter 11 in June, listing US$9.17 billion in debt.

Some 21 oilfield service firms have filed for bankruptcy since the start of the downturn. In July, according to the report, filers included driller Noble Corporation and fracking companies BJ Services and Calfrac Well Services. Hi-Crush, a fracking sand supplier, also filed for Chapter 11.

Only one energy pipeline and logistics firm has filed for bankruptcy since the downturn began, but the law firm warned that “a number of midstream companies may need to seek protection” this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate

D

emocratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has named Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. She is the first black woman to serve in the role.

Once a rival for the top job, the California senator of Indian-Jamaican heritage had long been considered the front-runner for the position.

The former California Attorney General has been urging Police reform amid anti-racism protests.

Biden will face President Donald Trump in the election on November 3.

Vice President Mike Pence remains the Republican incumbent's running mate.

Only two other women have been nominated

as vice presidential candidates - Sarah Palin by the Republican party in 2008 and Geraldine Ferraro by the Democrats in 1984.

Neither made it to the White House.

A woman of colour has never been appointed to a presidential ticket by either

of the two main American political parties. No woman has won the US presidency either.

Biden tweeted that he had "the great honour" to name Harris as his number two.

He described her as "a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country's finest public servants".

The campaign announced that Biden and Harris will deliver remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, this afternoon on "working together to restore the soul of the nation and fight for working families to move the country forward".

The Democrat was born in Oakland, California to two immigrant parents: an Indian-born mother and Jamaican-born father.

the two border guard battalion commanders and the vehicle's driver.

There was no immediate statement by Turkey.

The deaths announced by the military marked the first time members of the regular Iraqi forces have been killed since Turkey launched a cross-border ground and air operation in mid-June against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the mountainous terrain of northern Iraq.

Iraq has already summoned the Turkish envoy in Baghdad twice in protest at Ankara's operations on its soil.

Turkey has defended its operations in northern Iraq, saying neither the central Government in Baghdad nor the regional Iraqi Kurdish administration has acted to remove PKK fighters who allegedly use Iraq's territory to stage attacks on Turkey.

Witnesses had reported

Senator Kamala Harris

Former Vice President Joe Biden

She went on to attend Howard University, one of the nation's preeminent historically black colleges and universities. She has described her time there as among the most formative experiences of her life.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Iraq army says Turkish drone killed two high-ranking commanders

T

he Iraqi army said two senior security officials have been killed in a "blatant Turkish drone attack" in the country's north, where Ankara has for weeks been raiding positions of fighters it considers "terrorists".

The drone targeted a vehicle belonging to the Iraqi border guards in the Bradost area, north of Erbil, the military said in a statement on Tuesday. The strike caused the deaths of

clashes earlier in the day between PKK and Iraqi forces, and local sources told AFP the drone strike targeted an emergency meeting called to try to calm the tensions.

At least five civilians have been killed since the start of the Turkish campaign in June, according to reports.

The PKK is considered a "terrorist" organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Netherlands' largest cocaine lab found in Putin hails new Sputnik moment as Russia former riding school is first to approve a COVID-19 vaccine

P

Police said the lab could produce 150kg to 200kg of cocaine a day

A

cocaine laboratory that Police say is the Netherlands' biggest has been discovered in a former riding school.

Dutch Police raided the facility in the country's rural north on Friday, and arrested at least 17 suspects.

"This is the largest cocaine laboratory ever found in the Netherlands," Police Chief Andre van Rijn said, adding that it could produce 150-200kg (330-440lbs) of cocaine a day.

This amount has a street value of €4.5 million (US$5.3 million; £4 million) to €6 million, he said.

This estimate, van Rijn added in the statement released on Tuesday, was based on "the number of people who worked there, the installation, the size, the layout and the equipment" found in the converted stables in Nijeveen.

As well as the equipment and tens of thousands of litres of chemicals, officers said they found 100kg of cocaine base at the stables.

They also found 120 tonnes of what they described as "carrier material" in the central city of Apeldoorn. This was described as mostly clothing which can be laced with cocaine. The drug is then removed in a chemical process once at its destination.

Officers arrested 16 of the suspects at the former stables in Nijeveen, one of whom is the owner of the site. A 17th suspect was arrested in Apeldoorn.

The majority of the suspects are Colombian passport holders.

They are scheduled to appear before a judge on Wednesday and Thursday this week. (Excerpt from BBC News)

resident Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move Moscow likened to its success in the Cold War-era space race.

The vaccine, which will be called “Sputnik V” in homage to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has however not yet completed its final trials.

Moscow’s decision to grant approval before then has raised concerns among some experts. Only about 10 per cent of clinical tri-

A scientist prepares samples during the research and development of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a laboratory of BIOCAD biotechnology company in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 11, 2020

als are successful and some scientists fear Moscow may be putting national prestige before safety.

Putin and other officials have said it is completely safe. The President said one of his daughters had taken it as a volunteer and felt good afterwards.

The Russian business conglomerate Sistema has said it expects to put the vaccine, developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, into mass production by the end of the year.

Government officials have said it will be administered to medical person-

nel, and then to teachers, on a voluntary basis at the end of this month or in early September. Mass roll-out in Russia is expected to start in October.

The vaccine is administered in two doses and consists of two serotypes of a human adenovirus, each carrying an S-antigen of the new coronavirus, which enter human cells and produce an immune response.

The platform used for the vaccine was developed by Russian scientists over two decades and had formed the basis for several vaccines in the past, including those against Ebola. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Belarusian Opposition Leader flees abroad, citing safety of her children

B

elarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said on Tuesday she had fled abroad for the sake of her children after strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko’s claim of victory in Sunday’s presidential election prompted bloody street protests.

Tikhanouskaya, a 37-yearold former English teach-

er who took her husband’s place on the ballot after he was jailed, fled to neighbouring Lithuania. She urged her compatriots not to oppose the police and to avoid putting their lives in danger.

But unrest erupted for the third night in a row on Tuesday as thousands of protesters took to the streets accusing Lukashenko, in power since 1994, of swin-

dling the vote.

A Reuters witness saw police detaining dozens of people, and beating some of them. The European Union accused Lukashenko’s Government of “disproportionate and unacceptable violence” and said it was reviewing its relations with Minsk.

Car horns blared in solidarity with the opposition,

and people clapped and shouted: “go away.”

A l t h o u g h Tikhanouskaya’s husband Syarhei, an anti-Government blogger, remains in jail in Belarus, she was reunited with her children in Lithuania. She had moved them earlier after receiving anonymous threats about their safety. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

A change of heart will lead to an unexpected turn of events. Don't leave anything to chance. Gauge others' opinions before you make a move.

Make up your mind.

Inconsistency will be your downfall. Do what's best for you, and avoid responsibilities and burdens that don't belong to you. Take care of time-sensitive issues.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Concentrate on what you can do to save money, cut corners and build a stable future. A unique idea is worth looking at, but do not get involved in a joint venture. Go it alone or take a pass.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Your work and personal life will conflict if you haven't allocated equal time to take care of all your responsibilities. Getting organized will help you keep the peace and avoid disappointment.

PEANUTS

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Examples from your past will help you find new ways to use your skills. Keep up with the times and speak out.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Taking a look at an old problem from a different angle will help you find ways to bring about positive change.

Don't be daunted by someone offering negative input or criticism. Choose to be upbeat and enthusiastic.

You may have to adapt if you want to keep the peace.

Compromising now will give you leverage when you need something in return. Being helpful and accommodating aren't signs of weakness; they're signs that you are responsible and mature.

You may not agree with everything you hear, but some of it will help you find a new way to put your skills to good use. Make a wholehearted comment.

A change someone wants you to make will be overrated. Find out what's involved before you sign up or commit to something you might regret. Education will be paramount.

You can't please everyone.

Take a step back, and consider what you want. Offer incentives that will encourage others to help you with your plans.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Someone will put pressure on you to make changes you don't want to make. Avoid emotional power plays.

Don't ignore an opportunity to make a professional or financial move. Altering how you live and work will not please someone close to you. Look for a creative way to make amends.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

21

CPL 2020 starts on August 18…

Teams unhappy with TKR staying outside the bubble and training A

cal Knight Riders players training, conweek before the sidering the COVID-19 pandemic had 2020 CPL takes not allowed them that opportunity since off, disgruntlethe country went into a lockdown. As for ment has been brewing the unfair advantage, the official said the among several franchissame could apply to Tridents, some of e s , who are unhappy with whose players had been part of the Test Trinidad-based players and staff - most of series in England, including their captain whom represent Trinbago Knight Riders Jason Holder and Shai Hope. being allowed to remain outside the bio-secure bubble and continue to train, while the rest of the squads are cooped up in their hotel Anyone coming into Trinidad rooms for more than a week. a ‘potential threat’ Among those being critical is Daren On August 8, Dr. Akshai Mansingh, Sammy, the St Lucia Zouks’ captain, who the CPL’s Chief Medical Officer, sent a said “everyone” should have been part of the note to all teams, explaining the quaranbubble from the first day, to “guarantee” that tine norms, both for team members comthe health and safety of all stakeholders is ing into Trinidad from outside, and for lonot “compromised.” cals.

Among the Knight Riders players who Regarding team members resident are from Trinidad are internationals Kieron in Trinidad, Mansingh said in an email Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Sunil seen by ESPNcricinfo that they “can join Narine, Lendl Simmons and emerging young the bubble, having had a negative test aftalent Jayden Seales. ter day 8. Thereafter, they must remain On Tuesday, the CPL sent out a media rein the bubble and comply with the abovelease saying Zouks and Knight Riders were While other teams are undergoing mandatory quarantine, Trinbago Knight Riders are stepping out to play mentioned guidelines.” the first two teams to be allowed to train. The practice games CPL T20/Getty Images Mansingh has said that with Trinidad Besides Sammy, it is understood, even deMichael Hall, tournament Operations release also said the local Trinidad players recording eight deaths and less than 300 and staff had cleared the mandatory testing fending champions Barbados Tridents had ap- Director, has said that the CPL has been “ex- COVID-19 positive cases until Tuesday, “anyprocess, and would start entering the bubble proached the CPL, raising the red flag about tremely careful” about “introducing those who one coming in from outside” was seen “as a powhy the local contingent from Trinidad was are resident in Trinidad & Tobago into the tential threat.” The country has closed its borthis week.

On Monday, Sammy posted two messag- not asked to enter the bubble and undergo tournament bubble”. ders, and the bubble was hence mandatory, Although the Knight Riders have made no and would also apply to all incoming people, es without naming any player or team. “How the mandatory week-long quarantine. Rival can everybody else be in a bubble, no access teams have felt that the Knight Riders were comment, it is understood that they are satis- including Trinidadians travelling home from to training or practice games, while others on getting an unfair advantage in terms of prepa- fied that they have broken no rules. It is un- overseas. As for local citizens, there were no the outside in a COVID infected area be train- ration, as most of their squad players were not derstood that Trinidad-based players who are restrictions on their movements. ing and playing practice games. Then allow to just training, but had also played few practise part of other teams - like Nicholas Pooran, “They have not restricted movements of who represents Guyana Amazon Warriors their citizens as they have not had large comjoin the bubble without self-isolation,” Sammy matches.

As per the CPL protocol, it is mandatory - were also approached to participate in the munity spread,” Mansingh said. “This, of said in his first post.

An hour later, he put out another tweet, for all team members coming from outside of practice matches, but they refused. course, could change in the future.” (Excerpted One person who is privy to developments from ESPNCricinfo) saying: “Everyone should have been in the Trinidad to quarantine in their hotel rooms bubble from day 1. That the only way you can for one week. After that, each member would has said he found nothing wrong with the loguarantee everyone’s health and safety is not need to report two negative tests before headcompromised. But hey, I’m no COVID expert.” ing into training.

Celtic & Aberdeen's Scottish Premiership Hulkenberg plots full-time Formula games off after COVID regulations breach One return after Alfa Romeo talks C

N

ico Hulkenberg is interested in a full-time return to Formula One racing, and has been speaking extensively with Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur in recent weeks.

After being eight months out of Formula One, the German returned with Racing Point at the British Grand Prix, after Sergio Perez had been forced to quarantine because he had returned a positive COVID-19 test.

A clutch bolt problem prevented him from lining up for his first race back, but he again deputised for Perez at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, claiming third place on the grid in qualifying, before finishing seventh.

The 32-year-old has developed a hunger to get back into F1, and could consider joining Alfa Romeo. When asked if he would be tempted to join the team, he told the F1 Nation podcast: "Yes! Yes is the short answer. I mean, doing a deal, there's several terms that play into it; it's the whole package, I guess.

"I'm very keen to go racing again in Formula 1. I still love it here;

it's my passion. I'm not desperate, but I'd certainly love to come back and be racing again. I've been talking to Fred quite frequently in the last few months…"

The 2020 season continues this weekend with the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

(Sportsmax)

eltic and Aberdeen have had their next two Scottish Premiership matches postponed after their players broke lockdown rules.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanded the cancellation after Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli flew to Spain, failed to quarantine, then played in a match.

Ms Sturgeon said this was a "flagrant breach" of the guidelines, while Celtic manager Neil Lennon described himself as "livid" after the "incredibly selfish" player went "rogue".

The previous weekend, eight Aberdeen players broke lockdown regulations by visiting a bar together.

Following the First Minister's intervention, it has been confirmed that Celtic's trip to St Mirren and Aberdeen's meeting with Hamilton Academical on Wednesday are both off. So, too, is the game between Celtic and Aberdeen on Saturday. That comes after Aberdeen's game at St Johnstone last weekend was postponed following Scottish Government intervention.

At her daily briefing earlier on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said, "As a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen or Celtic play in the coming week." She added: "Consider today (being) the yellow card. The next time it will be the red card, because you will leave us with absolutely no choice.”

NOT ACCEPTABLE Ms Sturgeon said news of Bolingoli's breach came through on Monday, while National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch, was meeting with the managers and captains of Scotland's top-flight

clubs to reinforce the importance of the guidance.

"This is just not acceptable," she added. "Every day I stand here and ask members of the public to make huge sacrifices on how they live their lives. The vast majority are doing that, and it's not easy. We can't have privileged football players just deciding they are not going to bother. This can't go on."

The First Minister said she did not want ruleabiding clubs and players, as well as fans, to be punished for the individual breaches. But she indicated "very clear penalties" will be in place for players and clubs when rules are breached.

Prof Leitch said Bolingoli had travelled to a "high-risk country", then appeared as a substitute in Sunday's draw at Kilmarnock, which "put both his team and the opposing team at risk of catching coronavirus".

"There has to be an implication of that, in public health terms, for those he was in contact with, and their contact with others," he added.

The Belgian defender said he was "guilty of an error of judgement" and apologised, as did Celtic, who said his actions were "beyond explanation".

All players and backroom staff have since been tested twice, and returned negative results.

UEFA have confirmed that, as it stands, Celtic's Champions League first qualifying round match with KR next Tuesday in Glasgow is scheduled to take place as planned.

Eight Aberdeen players apologised on Saturday for visiting a bar at the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Two of the players later tested positive for the virus, while six are currently self-isolating. (BBC. COM)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR RENT Bottom Flat to Rent 25 Oronoque / North Road, Bourda. Either for Domestic / Business use. Fully Furnished A.C, Windows / Door Grilled or Mesh 4 Rooms Tel. 2267012

Tallawahs’ Assistant Coach Sarwan pulls out of CPL 2020

NOTICE Application for Money Lender’s Certificate Country Side Pawn (Pursuant to Section 4 Money Lender Act). I Shonrick Zephyr, the owner of Country Side Pawn of 12 Electra Housing Scheme Nismes West Bank Demerara, hereby give notice that I have applied to the West Demerara Magistrate District for a Certificate under the Money Lender Act authorizing the Grant to Country Side Pawn for a Money Lending Licence. Notice of any objection to this application should be sent forthwith to the Clerk of Courts the West Demerara Magistrate District and a copy of any such Notice should be sent to the subscriber. Shonrick Zephyr, owner of Country Side Pawn. Dated 5th August, 2020.

SERVICE Shalom Enterprise - 2 Coral Street, Stabroek. You could also obtain an International Driving Permit covering 131 Countries. Call: 227-7560/6190106/659-3381. Follow us on Facebook.

SPIRITUALITY Solutions to All problems such as – Domestic, Job, Relationships such as :- Marriage , Love Relations. Removal of blockages and Bad Luck. Call for Appointment – 592 696 8222.

Address: Georgetown or Vreed-enHoop.

URGENTLY NEEDED Anyone who calls up any devine force and manifest full. Please contact #695-3292

VEHICLES FOR SALE Toyota Tacoma. 2013 model, 2 Wheel Drive, Immaculate Interior, A.C, Fog Light. Contact : 227-0176

WANTED Urgently Needed: English and Maths Tutor. Please contact: readonworld@gmail.com One mature live-in House Keeper.

Must know to cook. Preferably out of town. Contact – 681-8140.

One mature live-in couple to work on farm. Must have experience in Chicken/Poultry farming. Contact: 681-8140

F

ormer West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan will not be occupied as the assistant coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs for the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament, because he has been granted personal leave to travel to his home country of Guyana.

Sarwan was seen in a photograph on social media with new Guyanese President Irfaan Ali. Ali was the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic during the recent elections, and was sworn in on August 2. Sarwan, the former Guyanese and West Indies cricketer, left the Tallawahs franchise last Thursday.

In an interview with Newsday, Tallawahs CEO Jeff Miller said, “No, he (Sarwan) is not part of us this year.”

Sarwan will be replaced by former West Indies spinner Ryan Austin. The Trinidadborn Austin has played 74 first class matches for Barbados and the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC).

“Mr Sarwan requested a leave for personal reasons, and that was granted,” Miller said.

The overseas players and officials of the six CPL franchises have been in quarantine at the Hilton Hotel in St Ann’s for the past week leading up to the start of the tournament on August 18. The entire tournament will be played in

Trinidad to limit the amount of travelling done by players during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miller knows Sarwan will be missed because of his wealth of experience, but is confident in the franchise’s chances this season.

“Yes, it’s a big loss,” said Miller. “Sars (Sarwan) brings a lot to the game: his knowledge, his experience, and the way he has dealt with the players over the years; so, it is a great loss. We are going to look to move forward. This is a rebuilding year for us, (but) I don’t just want to say rebuilding. We are here to win the tournament. I think we have a great team, and the guys are keen and ready to go and let’s see at the end what happens; but we (are) definitely looking forward to having a great tournament this year.”

Miller has said the players are focused on the tournament despite the off-field distractions in recent months.

In April, former Tallawahs captain Chris Gayle went on a rant on Youtube, after being released by the franchise. Gayle gave reasons why he thought he was let go by the Tallawahs, which included blaming Sarwan.

However, Sarwan denied having anything to do with Gayle’s release.

“That is behind us.

We have 12 new players on our franchise this year from last year, so there is no baggage from last year. We are focused this year, and the guys are focused on CPL, not (on) what happened in the past,” Miller said.

Gayle claimed that Sarwan wanted to be the head coach instead of Donovan Miller. Gayle said he was honest with Sarwan, as he informed the former right-handed batsman that he has no experience being a head coach, and it is not an easy job.

Gayle said

“I DIDN’T WANT TO FIBA approves WATCH ANYMORE” implementation of – Windies pacer Sheldon Cottrell recalls IPL Draft anxiety

W

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

Sarwan was upset by his opinion, and held that against him when Miller (D) was selected as head coach.

Gayle also claimed the decision to release him from the team was political. The hard-hitting Jamaican was invited by the People’s National Congress Reform in Guyana to visit a community. Gayle said Tallawahs owner Kris Persaud is an affiliate of another political party in Guyana, therefore Gayle’s visit ruffled some feathers.

Gayle, who believes Persaud was influenced to get rid of him, said the owner and Sarwan share a close relationship.

The Tallawahs said the franchise is not involved in politics. The Tallawahs also said the ownership and management of the team, which did not include Sarwan, decided to release Gayle because of business and cricketing reasoning.

Some of the players expected to lead from the front for the Tallawahs in the 2020 edition are appointed captain Rovman Powell, ex-WI T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite, A n d r e Russell, Oshane Thomas, C h a d w i c k Walton, Jermaine Blackwood a n d N e w Z e a l a n d ’ s Glenn P h i l l i p s .

(ESPNCricinfo)

est Indies fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell has admitted he was too nervous to keep watching the IPL Draft bidding process once it landed on his name, but is now eager to give it his all in a first season with Kings XI Punjab.

The Mohali-based franchise splashed out a handsome Rs 8.5 crore (US$1,139,160.65) for the fast bowler, who has become known as much for his blistering pace as for his Rockstar-style army salute.

During the draft, however, the former army man admits, he had simply hoped to be selected, and could not stand to watch for the figure the gavel would eventually rest at.

“I was in a hotel room with Evin Lewis, so I watched everyone’s auction before me, and I was comfortable watching it. But then, when my turn came, I was like, ‘Oh man!’. And when I heard the first bid on me, I just went to the balcony and I was like, ‘Yes!’, I didn’t want to see it anymore, I wanted to see just one bid, to be honest. ‘Yes, I

am going to play in the IPL!’.

“But then, two minutes after, the bidding was still going. I took a peek, and Evin Lewis was more excited than I was. I was just nervous. But yes, it was a great feeling. I can never forget that feeling and moment ever in my life,” Cottrell said in a recent interview with WION. The onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, however, has put the player's dream debut on hold. With the tournament, which will now be held in the United Arab Emirates, scheduled to bowl off next month, Cottrell is shifting into competition mode.

“I am really looking forward to it. I have been waiting for this for all my cricketing career, to tell you the truth; but more eagerly in the past four to five months. I have been ready mentally and physically, even with the lockdown. I have been keeping myself in shape, ready just in case the call comes; so, I am totally ready, and can’t wait to go onto the park with the Kings XI Punjab.”

the 3x3 AmeriCup

T

he Americas Board has been informed of the decisions of the FIBA Executive Committee regarding the FIBA Calendar for World and Senior Continental Competitions, in case it is not possible to play the November window of the AmeriCup Qualifiers. FIBA will continue the preparations, and will exhaust all reasonable opportunities (including special safety measures) to play the games in November. In case this is impossible due to the pandemic, the games in November would be postponed to February 2021, and the games in February 2021 would be played in a window during July 5-13, 2021 (games on 8-9 and 11-12 July), after the Olympic Qualification Tournament. The dates of AmeriCup Women 2021 and AmeriCup 2022 remain the same, as communicated in our previous correspondence and in the letters from the FIBA Headquarters.

The Americas Board has ratified the 2021 Competition Calendar for Youth Competitions, Senior zone & sub-zones competitions and Club competitions, as prepared by the Regional Office in the Americas. In addition to the ratification of calendars, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis has presented the concept and plans for the implementation of a Zone Cup – the 3x3 AmeriCup -- as well as Zone/Sub-Zone qualifiers to the 3x3 AmeriCup that will be organised in 2021. The plan and structure for this project was also approved by the Americas Zone Board.

With our competition schedules for 2020 and 2021 and the plans to implement the 3x3 AmeriCup now formalised, approved and scheduled for September 2-5, 2021, the America’s Regional office will now focus on the operations and execution of these events, while maintaining the health and safety of all our players, teams, staff and stakeholders as a priority."Now that the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup has been formalised and approved, the Central America and Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CONCENCABA) sub-zone will execute two FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup qualifying events in 2021, FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup Qualifier - CBC (March 1921) in the Caribbean, and FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup Qualifier - COCABA (April 23-25) in Central America," CONCENCABA Secretary Patrick Haynes reported.

"Guyana will now get an opportunity to play in the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup Qualifier – CBC," he said.Haynes also reported, “The CONCENCABA will also be focusing on executing all Centrobasket Championships in 2021, including Centrobasket Women's Championship (January 31-February 8), Centrobasket U15 Championship for Men and Women, (March 10-14), Centrobasket U17 Qualifiers for Men and Women, (April 28- May 2), Centrobasket U17 Women Championship (July 14-18) and the Centrobasket U17 Men's Championship (July 21-25).”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CPL 2020 commences on August 18…

23

Strict rules and protocols in place for COVID-less CPL season that if there’s any local labour input required for the broadcast setup, that will take place before or after our crew leaves,” Hall noted.

Sharing that any vehicle transporting the cricketers and officials will be sanitised and that drivers will be dressed in full personal protective equipment (PPE), Hall stated, “Those who are coming from the Hotel environment should enter the venue from a separate place. Those who work at the venue, who aren’t part of the hotel environment - of course we/re talking

ciding whether or not they are allowed to continue in the tournament.

“Everyone knows that those are the consequences for breaching the bio-secure environment without permission; and, quite frankly, if someone were to do that at the start of the tournament, it would render them, I guess, unavailable, with the tournament window being so short. But we’re certainly not expecting anyone to do so.

The Operations Director further stated that any departure would have to be approved

about the ground staff, etc - they are, in a separate area. The ground staff, in as far as its humanely possible, will be removed from the field of play after they’re done with the pre-game preparation.”

In the event of a player exiting the bio-secure environment, it is expected that, upon returning, they would have to undergo 7 days of isolation and return two negative COVID-19 tests, in order to rejoin their teammates.

However, Hall explained that the players’ reason for leaving, and whether or not they seek permission, would play a great role in de-

by the Medical Advisory Committee, which comprises Chairman Dr Akshaya Mansingh, Dr Ober Gulston and Commander Dr Israel Dowlatt.

The Hero CPL 2020 will bowl off on Tuesday, August 18, with a doubleheader in which the Guyana Amazon Warriors will take on the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Barbados Tridents will tackle the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots. The final game of this tournament will be played on Thursday September 10.

CPL Tournament Operations Director Michael Hall

By Jemima Holmes

W

ith the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 season being just a week away, the countdown to the ‘biggest party in sport’ has begun.

The players who will be participating in this year’s tournament have just completed their first week of isolation. Accommodated at the Hilton Hotel in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the players may now have opportunity to interact with teammates.

However, the focus is now turned on the tournament itself and how best the organisers can keep players safe. Speaking with Caribbean media operatives on Tuesday morning, CPL Cricket Operations Director Michael Hall shared some new in regard to game rules that are being implemented this year. These rules will include the ICC’s concussion protocol, stoppage of play for dangerous conditions, and the obvious ‘no saliva’ rule in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.

“It’s the ICC concussion protocol, but we

have instituted it this year in response to the incident with Andre Russell at Sabina Park last year.

The second one is the stoppage of play for dangerous conditions, and here dangerous conditions refer to light,” Hall revealed.

“And we’re also instituting a system whereby the use of saliva, which is commonly practised in cricket, or has been, will result in penalty runs being assessed against the team when they come to bat.”

Another aspect of protocol that the CPL has closely considered is players’ interaction with outside persons, specifically workers and ground staff. As such, a venue mapping has been done in order to ensure that various groups of persons would not interact with another. For instance, local media and television broadcasters who have been in the same building in previous years are now being separated.

“We’ve coordinated with the folks at Queen’s Park Oval and also at Brian Lara, so

CPL 2020 commences on August 18…

ROSS TAYLOR: Aiming to play Shoaib Malik’s anchor role in Warriors’ setup T

his February Ross Taylor became the first New Zealand men's player to feature in 100 T20Is. Taylor celebrated the occasion with a half-century, studded by three successive signature hockey-swiped boundaries in a 34-run over off India allrounder Shivam Dube at the Bay Oval.

Taylor floated in the middle order at No.5 or No.6 in New Zealand's most recent T20I series at home against India, and struck 166 runs in five innings at an average of 41.50 and strike rate of 131.74.

He will be 37 when t h e T 2 0

World Cup, which has now been pushed back to 2021 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, gets underway. So, does he see himself making that World Cup next year?

"Oh! Not sure," Taylor told ESPNcricinfo in a video interview from Trinidad where he will be based for a month to play in the CPL 2020, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors. "As you get older, things slow down a little bit, but your training and experience and your mind become even more important."

There had been questions over Taylor's T20I future after the previous T20 World Cup as well, in 2016, when he managed only 91 runs in five innings. In 2017, then-coach Mike Hesson explained that players on the fringe were putting too much pressure on Taylor.

Coming into the CPL, Taylor reckoned all players involved would face a sense of unease, having not played competitive cricket for a long time. Taylor had last played competitive cricket in March 2020, when New Zealand faced Australia in a closed-door ODI in Sydney before the rest of that tour was called off. Last month, Taylor was part of New Zealand training camp at the Bay Oval before heading to link up with fivetime finalists Warriors.

"Yeah, it has been a strange time all around," he said. I haven't gone this long without playing any cricket since I was in high school. So, yeah obviously isolation and all those other things are a little bit strange, but it is what it is.

"You know it's going to be strange for everybody at the CPL. Nobody has played international cricket for a while, so everyone is going to be nervous, I'm sure. So, the training and early games are very important. The atmosphere

in Twenty20 cricket is a lot of what you play and we get the best crowds in that format. So, to play in front of nobody but knowing that people at home will be watching and cheering us on, it's going to be a bit strange, but at the same time something that we're going to get used to."

Taylor is expected to fill the void created by the withdrawal of CPL veteran Shoaib Malik, who is currently on tour with Pakistan in the UK. With last season's breakout star Brandon King at the top, followed by the power-hitting pair of Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer i n the middle order, Taylor said that his role this season would be to draw on his experience and anchor the innings."Shoaib Malik has got a fantastic record, especially in Twenty20 [cricket] and especially for Guyana as well," Taylor said. "I think he has got that anchor role - and a role that I'll be looking to do as well. Hetmyer and Pooran… I've played with him [Pooran] before; they are not just exciting players in West Indies cricket, but in the world as well. I'm looking forward to see how they go and grow. It's an exciting team to play for and every time I played against Guyana in the past, they've always been tough competitors."

'Expect spin to play a big part' With CPL 2020 set to be played in just two venues in Trinidad & Tobago, the pitches are likely to deteriorate faster than usual.

As a result, nearly all sides have packed their sides with spinners and slower-ball specialists. Taylor admitted that tackling spin could have a major impact on the tournament.

"Every team is stacked with quality spinners and we expect spin to play a big part and probably reverse-swing throughout the whole tournament," he said. "Traditionally, it does spin a lot here anyway, so the way you play spin is going to be very important. Some of the world's best spinners are here, and it's going to be a good test for us batsmen going forward.

"You've just got to adjust as quickly as possible and adapt as quick as possible as well. I think regardless of whether you're playing on bouncy wickets or spinfriendly wickets, you got to adjust to what kind of total you're chasing or what you think is a par total is as well. So, hopefully the experience and reading the situation [helps] going forward, and also taking to your partner as much as possible and helping him out as well."

(Cricinfo)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

CPL 2020 commences on August 18…

Strict rules and protocols in place for COVID-less CPL season CPL 2020 commences on August 18…

ROSS TAYLOR: Aiming to play Shoaib Malik’s anchor role in Warriors’ setup

CPL 2020 starts on August 18…

Teams unhappy with TKR staying outside the bubble and training

Pg 23

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

Pg 23