Guyana Times -- Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Overwhelming response to COL-Coursera P16 initiative from Guyanese Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4417

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

PRICE

As Guyana celebrates Amerindian Heritage Month

APNU MPs vote against monies for developing indigenous …“it’s a travesty” communities – Sukhai See story on page 3

Americans want to partner with Guyana – Ambassador Lynch

See story on page 2

...Pompeo’s words were backed by actions

Special audit to be done on Larry London's birth certificates contract – AG …as Attorney General requests forensic audit

See story on page 7

Closed estates could start producing sugar by next year – Agri Minister See story on page 11

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pedal cyclist crushed to P10 death by truck

COVID-19 P14 death toll climbs to 69 …35 new cases recorded

Mother of 4 charged for ganja trafficking

P10

140 Lusignan Prison inmates test positive P11 for COVID-19

P13 Pump attendant shot as bandits rob NA gas station

Despite COVID-19

Improvements recorded at P17 CSEC, CAPE

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Americans want to partner with Guyana – Ambassador Lynch

...Pompeo’s words were backed by actions

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

T

he historic visit by United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo is a testament to the deep value that country places on its relationship with Guyana, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch said on Tuesday.

Pompeo was in Guyana on an official visit on Thursday and Friday last. He is the highest-ranking US official to ever travel to Guyana while in office.

Ambassador Lynch expressed her gratitude to the Guyanese people for hosting Pompeo and noted that his visit was not just significant because Guyana was on the cusp of transformational development. It was also signif-

icant because the Secretary of State reaffirmed that when the US showed up, it made good on its commitments.

“Over the past year, Secretary Pompeo spoke numerous times about the importance of the US-Guyanese diplomatic relationship and the need for Guyana to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance while advancing improved security and prosperity. And, his visit showed that his words are backed by action,” she said.

The Ambassador reminded of the three important agreements signed during Secretary Pompeo’s visit.

Lynch added that Guyanese should expect more of such visits by other high-ranking US Government officials as well as businesses since the country was committed to the partnership with Guyana.

“Americans want to partner with Guyana. Why? They want to partner, because Guyana demonstrated its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and strong Government institutions.

And, they want to partner because Guyana also prioritises the building of a safer, more prosperous hemisphere. The visit of Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo stands as proof of how deeply the United States values Guyana and its people – all of its people – and how we look forward to an even stronger partnership as

the country moves forward,” Lynch noted.

During Secretary Pompeo’s visit, the Guyana and US Governments signed a Framework Agreement to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including energy and infrastructure, under the umbrella of the Growth in the Americas Initiative.

Under the agreement, which was signed by Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd at State House on Friday morning, the countries will work together to strengthen trade and investment, cooperate on building infrastructure, and build Guyana’s necessary energy and information technology sectors. Guyana is the second Caribbean nation to join the Initiative.

Additionally, a security pact was agreed that enables US and Guyanese law enforcement to embark on joint patrols to stop the movement of illegal drugs, and a commitment was made to US$4.5 million of new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance for youth and citizen engagement programmes .

During a joint press conference with President Irfaan Ali on Friday, Pompeo also announced that his country’s Government was committing US$5 million to assist

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo chatting with a young Guyanese at State House, Georgetown

Venezuelans who have fled to Guyana as a result of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in our South American neighbour.

“The United States has now allocated $5 million to help Venezuelans in Guyana who have had to flee from Venezuela to Guyana to escape the horrors and brutality of the Maduro regime. I trust that that cooperation will continue and I want to express my personal appreciation for Guyana’s hosting the Venezuelans that have crossed inside of your country,” Pompeo had said.

When asked, in a subsequent interview, to respond to suggestions that his visit was intended to antagonise the Nicolás Maduro Administration, Pompeo explained that he was sent to Guyana to talk about all the opportunities there are for the United States to invest and help build out better lives for the people of Guyana.

He further added that was what was also wanted for the Venezuelans.

Under the maritime patrol pact with the United States to guard against narcotics and other region-

al security threats, US and Guyanese security forces will monitor maritime movements. The signing of this pact for maritime patrol comes on the heels of increasing cross-border attacks from Venezuela in riverine areas. Only recently, several officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came under fire while conducting inspections along the Cuyuni River. It is suspected that the shots were fired by the notorious “syndicato” gang from Venezuela.(G2)

NEWS

3

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, September 23 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Thursday, September 24 – 10:30h – 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, September 23 – 08:30h – 10:00h and Thursday, September 24 – 09:35h – 11:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

As Guyana celebrates Amerindian Heritage Month

APNU MPs vote against monies for developing Indigenous communities …“it’s a travesty” – Sukhai

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

High Tide: 08:45h and 21:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 14:32h reaching a minimum height of 0.95 metre.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

A

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

05 09 12

17 21 26

FREE TICKET

01 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

01 07 20 25 26 LUCKY 3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

1

2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

9

8

Afternoon Draw

11

6

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01

7

16

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

17

19 20 21

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

02 05 07 08 14

05 09 11 14 18

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$41.72/barrel

+0.67

Rough Rice

$225.77/ton

+0.30

London Sugar

$371.80/ton

+1.36

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1998.90

$1900.10

Low/High

$1893.30

$1918.20

Change

-1.20

-0.06%

division had to be called during Tuesday’s examination of the budget estimates, as Members of Parliament (MPs) on both sides clashed over allocations for the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) voted against monies earmarked for developing Indigenous communities.

During Tuesday’s sitting, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai was asked to account for several allocations to her Ministry.

Specifically, she was quizzed on a $38.6 million allocation to the Ministry under a line item titled training and scholarships.

While under questioning from APNU MP Jermaine Figueira as to whether provisions will be made for distance learning, Sukhai accused the former Government of abandoning their hinterland Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative.

“In the budget speech, it was very clear that the Minister of Education is going to cater for print material to go to the areas. And (I must) remind the honourable member that the ICT hub project was abandoned by the previous Government and therefore ICT online support for this period is not an online alternative that is being used for many of the hinterland villages,” she said.

The PPP/C Government, she added, has made a commitment to the hinterland population and villages “that we are going to reintroduce the abandoned ICT hub project and if the honourable member will have

Alister Charlie

some patience, we will begin an initial phase in these three months with 26 such villages.”

As the session wore on, Figueira quizzed the Minister on whether the communities receiving the project included Region 10.

However, he was urged to be patient and let the current Government roll out their ICT project as promised.

When the $825 million total capital allocation for programme 162 - community development and empowerment - was put to the vote, it was clear that APNU did not support it. A division was called and Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, put the allocation to the votes of each individual member.

The expenditure was eventually passed by a vote of 33 to 25 against, with two abstentions from the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan and David Patterson. Deputy Speaker and Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) leader Lennox Shuman broke ranks with the Opposition and voted with the Government.

Travesty

Afterwards, Sukhai called the APNU’s non-support of the funding for hinterland community development a “travesty”. She reeled off a list of goods and services the $820 million would have funded for Indigenous people.

“The APNU/AFC MPs voted against youth empowerment, the reinstatement of the Community Service Officers… voting against $68.4 million. Grants to communities, $285 million… economic projects, $42 million. Women project initiatives $6.9 million.

Support for women and gar-

Yvonne Pearson

Lee Gendre Hakkim Williams

ment construction, especially school uniforms. They have voted against $6.3 million.”

“Agricultural support through implements and machinery, $121 million.

They have voted against tools and equipment such as chain saws, $4.4 million.

They have voted against the ICT facility refurbishment in the tune of $26 million. Village infrastructure development, $5 million.

Generator sets, $5.7 million,” she also said.

According to Sukhai, APNU, by voting against the allocations, have also voted against eco-tourism, culture and musical instruments, radio sets that would have bridged the gap until ICT was reestablished and solar systems totalling $14 million.

Her fellow MPs of Indigenous heritage also voiced their outrage. MP Alister Charlie noted the fact that the Opposition’s actions during Amerindian Heritage Month, is particularly jarring.

“We have an Opposition in Parliament that is callous and vindictive… My brothers and sisters, I want you to know. Under the capital budgetary allocation, we

Dr Tandika Smith

have the Amerindian development fund. A whopping sum of $800 million that will bring goods and services, better the lives of our nation’s first people.”

“In that budgetary sum, we have $300 million that will go directly to the purchase of tractors and accessories for our Amerindian communities across the hinterland regions. In that allocation, we have allocations for women entrepreneurial initiatives, that was voted against by the Opposition.”

According to Charlie, it shows that when APNU/ AFC was on the campaign trail wooing the Indigenous communities, it was only because they wanted their votes. But Charlie made it clear that the PPP would continue to use its parliamentary majority to pass budgetary allocations not only for Indigenous communities but all of Guyana.

MPs Yvonne Pearson and Lee Gendre Hakkim Williams expressed disappointment for the way in which APNU/AFC chose to use their seats in the National Assembly. MP Dr Tandika Smith recalled the firsthand experience she had of the disregard the coalition shows to the Indigenous community, when they fired almost 2000 Community Service Officers.

“I’m not surprised at what they did, because over the past five years, initially when they took office they fired (thousands) of CSOs in Indigenous communities. It was really sad. It was heartbreaking to see the persons who took an oath to stand for all Guyanese, vote against the development of their fellow brothers and sisters,” Dr Smith said. (G3)

4

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 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

A ‘dress rehearsal’

D

uring his address to the historic and unprecedented 75th Session of the largely empty General Assembly Hall in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an impassioned appeal for global solidarity to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

As at Tuesday, there were more than 31 million cases of the coronavirus disease worldwide, with over 962,000 deaths. Right here at home in Guyana, there has been an astronomical increase in COVID-19 cases, with the number of deaths also going up.

Due to COVID-19, most world leaders are not attending, in person at UN Headquarters, the annual gathering known as the General Debate. Instead, many, including Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, have chosen to do so virtually.

Guterres said that “in a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all”, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the UN’s annual meeting beyond recognition; but it has made it more important than ever.

Guterres labelled the pandemic as “not only a wake-up call”, but “a dress rehearsal” for challenges to come. This, of course, echoes what many experts around the world have been saying over the past months; that is, the resulting social and economic impacts of COVID-19 will take a severe toll on most countries around the world, especially those that are already grappling with many developmental challenges.

Urging the UN’s 193 Member States to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease, the Secretary-General underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable of addressing COVID-19 have received far too little assistance.

In the Secretary-General’s words, “Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse.”

He said the pandemic has exposed fragilities and inequalities across the globe. It has generated “an epochal health crisis”; the biggest economic and job losses since the Great Depression; and dangerous new threats to human rights, among other challenges.

For the Secretary-General, recovering from COVID-19 must lead to a better future for all, anchored by inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies. He emphasised the need for what he labelled a New Social Contract at the national level, and a New Global Deal applicable internationally.

Guterres explained that the New Social Contract has several components, such as ending exclusion, discrimination and racism, and establishing Universal Health Coverage and even a possible Universal Basic Income. It also entails having fairer tax systems, providing education for all, harnessing digital technology, and ensuring human rights as well as opportunities for women and girls.

Like the Secretary-General, President Ali, in his maiden presentation on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, highlighted the challenges facing developing countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what could be done to support these countries in their efforts to recover and rebuild.

As stated by President Ali, the pandemic has undermined many of the developmental gains made over the past decades, and brought to the fore development bottlenecks faced by developing countries. He explained that those issues range from insufficient financing, inadequate market access for goods and services, the expanding digital divide, restrictions in accessing needed pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and reductions in revenue from tourism and exports, among other sources.

He suggested that UN member nations should seek to strengthen solidarity to address the pandemic, commit to take forward the 2030 Agenda, and intensify global partnerships.

President Ali also offered the Group’s commitment to taking the actions needed for a coordinated and comprehensive multilateral response to the development challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including initiatives on financing for development in the era of COVID-19 and beyond, aimed at producing a menu of policy options necessary to resolve the crisis and to ensure resilience.

In this regard, we support President Ali’s call for more resources and actions to be mobilised in a timely manner to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda.

The Virginia creeper on the outside of the Tu Hwnt i’r Bont tea room starts to turn red with the arrival of Autumn in Llanrwst, Britain (Reuters photo)

Entering a new chapter in an already unwavering relationship To the people of Guyana: I write to you today to thank you for hosting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week. Guyanese hospitality was evident throughout this historic visit in the form of flags, billboards and friendly hellos.

The visit was significant, not just because Secretary Pompeo is the highest-ranking U.S. official ever to visit the “land of many waters”, nor was the visit significant only because Guyana is on the cusp of transformational development; it was also significant because the Secretary of State reaffirmed that when the United States shows up, we make good on our commitments.

Over the past year,

Secretary Pompeo spoke numerous times about the importance of the U.S-Guyanese diplomatic relationship, and the need for Guyana to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance while advancing improved security and prosperity; and his visit showed that his words are backed by action.

In fact, the visit included three important action items: 1: the launch of a Growth in the Americas initiative, in which both of our countries will work together to strengthen trade and investment, cooperate on building infrastructure, and build this country’s necessary energy and information technology backbone; 2: the enforcement of a security agreement that enables U.S and Guyanese

law enforcement to embark on joint patrols to stop the movement of illegal drugs; and, 3: the commitment to US$4.5 million of new USAID assistance for youth and citizen engagement programmes.

I want you, the Guyanese people, to know that this visit was not just a one-time event. I foresee many additional engagements with Guyana by high-ranking U.S. Government officials as well as a variety of private sector businesses.

Americans want to partner with Guyana. Why? They want to partner because Guyana demonstrated its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and strong Government institutions.

And they want to partner be-

cause Guyana also prioritises the building of a safer, more prosperous hemisphere.

The visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stands as proof of how deeply the United States values Guyana and its people – all of its people - and how we look forward to an even stronger partnership as the country moves forward.

So, I thank you again for your warmth and that renowned Guyanese hospitality. As we enter a new chapter in our already unwavering relationship, I know that this partnership will continue to deepen and grow. Thank you, Guyana!

Sincerely, Sarah-Ann Lynch US Ambassador

We must move on in nationbuilding: a look at town planning Dear Editor, As we move on along the road of development, we must focus our attention on the various projects inherited from the previous administration, and examine their various aspects with a mindset towards progress.

Some of these projects and the list is long - where there were glaring defects, have to be either dismantled or otherwise rectified to meet modern standards. On that note, I would like to focus on one such project: the Durban Park, or what the APNU/AFC Coalition called the “Jubilee Park”. I have a few suggestions for this “pet project” of theirs.

In the first place, it is an eyesore and a project that was set up with hideous and

dubious motives. We are all well aware of the reasons for the great importance placed on Durban Park, whereas the National Park was grossly neglected. The voodoo reasons of the APNU/ AFC for Durban Park were blatantly obvious, and, in my book, should not be tolerated. In any event, we cannot countenance this eyesore, and urgent plans have to be made to address it.

Firstly, this edifice should be dismantled, and the materials sold at a reduced cost to poor homeowners and squatters to build their homes in the designated regularised areas. The wood and galvanised sheets are ideal building materials for poor homeowners, who would make good use of

these building material.

In its place, I would suggest the building of a modern, state-of-the-art municipal market. Now, a municipal market would do three things: (a) Provide a new area for shopping, something that is woefully lacking in the city. The shopper coming into the city would have a choice in his shopping, or varied choices in his shopping. (b) Solve the problem of traffic congestion that presently exists at the two major markets, Stabroek and Bourda.

It is certainly an appalling and outrightly dangerous situation at the two aforementioned markets with people and traffic intermingling at dangerously

close proximity to each other. This kind of situation is ideal for thieves, pick-pockets, and bandits of all kinds to have a field day; and (c) Bring an end to roadside vending, something for which we have been clamouring for years.

Dr Irfaan Alli, who is a graduate in urban planning, would appreciate the fact that Georgetown is a bad example when it comes to congestion, making the city an urban jungle and a place where roadside vending is a headache. We must rise to the occasion where modern standards have to be observed in the city. The time to do so is now!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 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

Reviving decade-old vendetta against Ogle Airport Inc

Dear Editor, Capt. A Mazahar Ally of Air Services Ltd., in letters published on 20th September, represented himself as a “substantial shareholder” of Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI), when in fact he personally has no shares in OAI. His company, ASL, however, is a minority investor in the Airport, holding roughly 14% of the shares in OAI. Immediately prior to his writing the media, Ally inexplicably and irresponsibly sent a series of threatening and grossly insulting emails to members of the OAI Board.

He has now taken to the media to make completely unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations against the Airport, all which are entirely false and have absolutely no basis in fact.

With some reluctance, I respond to this entirely misplaced letter.

It is now well known that the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EFCIA) is managed and operated under a comprehensive Agreement entered into in 2001 between Ogle Airport Incorporated and the Government of Guyana. The management of the Airport is further strictly regulated by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and operates in compliance with all of the international agreements which govern the operation of an International Airport.

The transformation of Ogle Airport, now the Eugene

F. Correia International Airport, from a small aircraft airstrip in 2001 to a fully licensed regional, international and domestic airport is a Public-Private Partnership success story that any country would be proud of. The private investment which made this possible was funded by the issue of shares offered to all of the private aircraft operators using the Airport at the time of the Agreement, including ASL, each with an equal opportunity to invest.

The Airport is governed by a qualified and highly respected Board of Directors consisting of: Michael O. Correia Jnr. Nicole Correia Ronald Reece Marcel Gaskin Malcolm Chan-A-Sue Anthony Mekdeci Timothy Jonas It’s worthy of note that four (4) of the seven (7) Directors represent minority shareholders.

Since the new Government came into office, both the Minster of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill, and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon. Deodat Indar, have visited the Airport, have been fully briefed on its operations, and have been given an extensive tour of the Airport, including the construction site for the development of the Exxon Office Headquarters.

Exxon’s investment in the Airport’s development and their substantial avia-

tion operations add significant value and importance to the Airport’s operations and benefit to the shareholders, which we would expect Capt.

Ally to understand and appreciate.

The current operational relationship between myself and ASL’s management is good, so I am at a loss to understand Capt. Ally’s unprovoked diatribe in the media.

His assertion, for instance, that the maintenance of what he incorrectly calls the “Capital Replacement Reserve Fund” is sheer nonsense, as was explained in the Director’s Annual Report submitted and accepted at the last Annual General Meeting, at which ASL was represented. The Reserve Fund has long since ceased to be necessary, since continuing capital expenditure improvement at the Airport has far outdistanced the need for a Reserve Fund, originally required at the time of the Agreement.

And, in fact, the Government was so advised some six (6) years ago.

Again, this is a non-issue, and not a matter of concern to the other shareholders of the company.

As for the Airport building a hangar facility for small operators, there are only two (2) small operators at the Airport, who are adequately serviced by the Light Aircraft Park built four (4) years ago.

Again, this is a non-issue.

The truth is that Capt.

Mazahar Ally seems to be out

Have an honest national conversation on race/ethnicity

Dear Editor, I notice that Mr Vincent Alexander (SN 9-22-20 “Let the Beacon be of the Truth”) has cited me in a disagreement he has with an “Eyewitness” column in the Guyana Times.

He asked that since I am associated with that newspaper (as a consultant) I should acknowledge that he has long “argued that Guyana is a plural society in conflict, and needs attention.”

And I so acknowledge now - as I did when I initiated and participated in a series of discussions on the subject on <<GTimes>>’ affiliate, TVG; discussions that included himself, David Hinds, Eric Phillips, Lincoln Lewis and Nigel Hughes, with Mr Neaz Subhan as host.

I also agree with Vincent that “much which is purported as dialogue is but senseless screaming at each other”; but, sadly, I find him “screaming” very loudly lately. He has now become a “memory warrior”, zealously seeking to impose a single, foundational, historical African “TRUTH” (in caps) while delegitimising the views of all other ethnicities, especially those of Indians and Indigenous Peoples.

Along with his teleological “fit for purpose” focus, this is certain to aggravate political instability, since it is so exclusionary.

I quote from my column in GT of last Sunday to sig-

nal to Vincent my continuing commitment to serious dialogue: “Last week, David Hinds informed me he had formed a new organisation, “Society for African-Guyanese Empowerment” (SAGE), and invited me to a panel discussion on “Race, Power and Peaceful Co-existence in Guyana” with himself and Vincent Alexander. I told him that, unfortunately, I couldn’t make it, since I had a prior commitment on another Webinar (on the same theme, not so coincidentally) but I was committed to a “national conversation” on race.

“I later viewed the Webinar and saw that David and Vincent had been joined by Eric Phillips of ACDA. There was much that I agreed with in the ensuing discussion, but, unfortunately, just as much that I disagreed with. It was as good an illustration of the “African-Guyanese Narrative” that diverges so significantly from the Indian-Guyanese and Indigenous Peoples’ narratives. It only re-emphasised the need for that “National Conversation” which Nigel Hughes had broached to me more than a year ago, but which, ironically, never came off because of the quickened political crisis it was supposed to help head off. We have to weave a “Guyanese Narrative” that equitably includes our famed “six peoples”.

“In 1993, I noted, “Race

and racism, as we know them today, are very modern constructs arising out of a European discourse that ran parallel with the European conquest of the rest of the world, and especially with their justification of African slavery. Other “races”, like Indians and Chinese, were fitted by Europeans within this White-Black dipole along the Christian “Great Chain of Being” ranging from God to rocks. Race and racism are part and parcel of the “Western Enlightenment,” exported as one weapon in the European arsenal of imperialistic conquest, but which undergirds the “education” that the entire modern world consumes.

“In the discussion between Hinds, Alexander and Phillips, I was surprised, as they beat up on Indian-Guyanese being “racists” against AfricanGuyanese. They did not note that if the world – Chinese, Russians, Japanese, Arabs etc – are also racist against Africans, then there are deeper structural factors at work than the Indian “caste system” mentioned. A variable – Indian culture – cannot explain a constant – anti-African racism.”

It is my hope that we can have an honest national conversation on race/ethnicity.

Sincerely, Ravi Dev

of sync, even with his own company’s operations at the airport. His letter is no more than yet another senseless at-

tempt by him to use the newspapers to revive a decade-old vendetta against the Airport.

Sincerely, Anthony Mekdeci, AA Chief Executive Officer Ogle Airport Inc

Alleged delinquent was to be PM Dear Editor, The 2020 inconspicuous budget debate has revealed many irregularities committed by former senior Government officials, many of whom had allegedly abused their power; violated the rule of law; and, in the process, have violated their oaths of office.

It is important to mention that an oath of office is a solemn and sacred pledge by a public official to ensure honesty and proper behaviour while in office. The oath is also to ensure the judicious and adequate use of public funds.

Unfortunately, as unveiled during the meek discussions on the 2020 budget, there have been a series of violations, malicious abuse of power, and skullduggery by some unethical senior members of the former administration. For example, the granting of a contract worth over G$20 million to a dubious company in Florida to print blank copies of birth certificates at a cost of G$1500 each is blatant dishonesty, especially when the estimated cost per copy is G$1.00.

In another instance, it has been revealed during the 2020 budget debate that there was gross misconduct and pilfering in the granting of a contract by officials of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to purchase asphalt from the company at Garden of Eden.

Then there is the ongoing US$150 million+ expansion project at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, which, after five years, is not completed. The CJIA project, which seems to be a never-ending project, has been under construction for the entire five-year tenure of the former Government. The contract, which was granted to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) by the last PPP Government, was for the construction of a new two-storey building with eight bridges and modern equipment to house the airport. Instead of a new building and the eight bridges, the former Government had decided, without any wise and technical advice, to renovate the airport with only four bridges at a humongous price of more than the US$150 million, which was budgeted for by the PPP Government. It was a grotesque mistake by the last Government.

Not only that, while in opposition, the last administration, which was highly critical of the CJIA project and CHEC, eventually reversed their stance and signed a new contract with the same company, CHEC, without any explanation to the public.

After five (5) years of renovation, the airport is still not completed, and this mediocre and stultify performance

by CHEC has culminated in years of frustration experi-

enced by the public, so much so that an angry President Irfaan Ali told officials of CHEC that enough is enough.

He was pellucid that the people of Guyana and his Government would not tolerate such mediocrity and accept the CJIA project as is. It is regrettable, shameful, offensive and deplorable.

However, the most egregious, crafty and reprehensive discovery came from a certain minister, who informed Parliament of a hefty scam that resulted in the issuance of thousands of gun licences by a senior member of the last Government. In Parliament, the Minister in charge of the gun-licence portfolio blasted the senior official for issuing firearm licences without any engagement with the Firearm Licensing Board.

And to make matters worse, it was alleged by the said Minister that the vast majority of gun licences, over 60 percent, were issued in 2020 while the last Government was fighting to stay in power illegally by attempting to rig the elections.

It is assumed that if the last Government had won the general elections, that alleged delinquent would have been the nation’s Prime Minister.

A thorough investigation is warranted in order to bring clarity to the aforementioned cases.

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

Beacon of Truth Dear Editor, I have noted that the Inauguration of President Ali has ushered in a period of blockade of letters written by me, even in instances when they are written in response to published letters. This assertion is absolutely true of Guyana Times, “The Beacon of Truth”.

Not only have I been denied access by this media house, it has facilitated responses to my letters which it has not published, and most recently has found it necessary to pay me special attention in its feature: Eyewitness, under the caption “PNC brewing trouble”.

There are a number of troubling things about that feature: 1. As a feature, the authorship remains unknown.

It is cowardice for persons to be ambushed and maligned by someone who hides behind anonymity.

2. It seeks to speak disparagingly about Commissioners Corbin and Trotman, as if they lack intellect, but remains patently silent about Commissioners Benn and Shadick, whose posture was

no different.

3. What was abrupt about Granger’s “so-called throwing in of the towel”, when he had said all along that he would await GECOM’s ruling.

4. With what authority does the anonymous determine my ideological persuasion, more so when that determination is not reflective of any credential or public declaration by me? It seems as if the author was building a straw house to demolish, upon the demolition of which he would claim to have made his case.

5. The author has created some “Damascene conversation” when, in fact, for years now, I have argued that Guyana is a plural society in conflict and needs attention.

Let Ravi Dev, who is associated with Guyana Times, deny his knowledge and public acknowledgement of that fact.

My writings and pronouncements on this matter are accessible and in the public domain.

6. I will not distance myself from the Congolese reference made by anonymous, notwithstanding its dispar-

aging use. Its usage exposes the disrespect for people of African descent. I am proud to be of that descent, which birthed human kind and represents a people whose foundational humanising, civilising and development of Guyana cannot be denied, notwithstanding the revisionism and ‘alternate facts’ about Guyana being promoted by Infinity Foundation.

7. Worst of all is the fabrication made by anonymous of a quote attributed to me in his/her furtherance of the construction of the straw house. I challenge the anonymous to provide that quote in an original form to the public. Let the Beacon be of the Truth.

Here I rest my case and await a factual response. It is clear that the house is divided, and that much which is purported as dialogue is but senseless screaming at each other, hence I seek to enlighten the audience, rather than engage in more of the same. Let’s see which alternate brew this produces.

Yours truly, Vincent Alexander

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTER ON PAGE 17

6

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Page

Foundation

SUMMER OF LEARNING

Æsop’s Fables

◄

FOR CHILDREN

Problem-solving with proportions

There are many kinds of proportion problems that you may run across in the real life. Just remember the basic steps:

Step 1:

Example:

Express your proportion problem using two ratios.

Step 2:

Use your proportion problem to set up an equation. Then cross-multiply.

Step 3:

To find the unknown number, divide both sides of the equation by the same known number.

Exercises: Solve

1) Rihanna wants to expand her grass-cutting business. She currently cuts 12 yards with 3 workers. How many workers will she need if she plans to cut a total of 100 yards?

2) If a bus can travel 100 kilometres on 5 litres of diesel, how far can it travel on 8 litres?

3) John studies 2 hours each week day for 4 subjects, how many hours would he need to study if he took 6 subjects?

4) Each cashew tree in Farmer Rodrigues’ farm bears 20 kilograms of fruit each harvest. If there are 20 trees, how many kilograms will he expect each harvest?

5) It takes John five minutes to inflate the wheels of the 2 bicycles belonging to his brothers. How long will it take to inflate the wheels of 70 bicycles?

6) Seema plans to save the money her mother gives her to take the bus to and from home every day, to buy a bicycle. If the bicycle costs $20,000 and Seema gets $200 in bus fare per day, how long will it take her to save the money needed?

THE

Lion & THE Ass

Tuesday’s answers: 1) 36 days 2) 12000 kilometres 3) 30 acres 4) 2 minutes 5) 3 hours 6) 49 acres

Make lightning in your mouth Materials:

Wint-O-Green or Pep-O-Mint lifesavers dark room mirror

Process:

Go to a really dark room and stand in front of the mirror. Wait a few minutes until your eyes get accustomed to the darkness.

Put a Wint-O-Green or a Pep-O-Mint lifesaver in your mouth.

While keeping your mouth open, break the lifesaver up with your teeth and look for sparks.

If you do it right, you should see bluish flashes of light.

Explanation:

Why does this happen? When you break the lifesaver apart, you’re breaking apart sugars inside the candy.

The sugars release little electrical charges in the air. These charges attract the oppositely charged nitrogen in the air. When the two meet, they react in a tiny spark that you can see. (weatherwizkids.com)

O

ne day as the lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.

The lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Special audit to be done on Larry London's birth certificates contract – AG …as Attorney General requests forensic audit

T

he contract that the former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government granted to businessman Larry London to print birth certificates, will be the subject of a special audit.

This was confirmed in an interview with Auditor General Deodat Sharma, who explained that the contract is being audited as part of the 2019 audit cycle. While Sharma could not share details on the audit, he assured that it will form part of the 2019 Audit Report of Guyana. However, he noted that they are likely to also do a special audit on the contract.

“We have started something already, its part of my 2019 audit, so I’m glad it was brought to attention in Parliament... which I’m finalising. And we’re doing a special audit of it,” Sharma explained.

With respect to the release of the 2019 report, Sharma explained that COVID-10 has created an unprecedented environment. It is therefore likely that the report will be released later than its usual September 30.

Forensic audit

However, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has written to the Auditor General requesting that an immediate forensic audit be commissioned to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the contract awarded to Larry London to print birth certificates by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

Nandlall, in a letter to Sharma, asked that the contract between the then Department of Citizenship and Universal Procurement Services Inc – which is operated by London in Florida – be audited to answer a number of questions.

The audit should be able to tell whether there was compliance with the provi-

birth certificate forms at the time of the contract and the quality of the documents that were produced.

Bombshell revelation

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

sions of the Procurement Act and if there was non-compliance then the reasons must be stated; reasons why the services of the conventional publisher of the birth certificates were not sought; had the services of the conventional publisher be retained then what would have been the estimated cost to print and publish the same documents.

Additionally, the Audit Office is tasked with determining the status of London’s company at the time when he entered into contract with the Winston Felix-led Department of Citizenship; what was the company’s main line of business; its experience in the field of services it was providing to the Government.

The report would also answer the questions as to whether due diligence was done before the David Granger-led Government retained the services of London; whether the department needed 100,000

The bombshell revelation was made on Monday, during the first day of the examination of the budget estimates for what was previously the Ministry of Citizenship headed by Felix.

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira was asked about a $29.1 million allocation under line item 6224, page 46 of the 2020 estimates.

Under questioning from Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjeev Datadin, Teixeira revealed that the amount relates to a Florida-based company called Universal Procurement Services.

According to Teixeira, the company received a contract to print thousands of birth certificates for the Ministry of Citizenship.

Describing the contract as unusual and strange, Teixeira went on to reveal that controversial businessman London is the principal of the company.

Teixeira, a former Home Affairs Minister with oversight for citizenship, noted that previously it was the local printers who received such contracts.

The company itself, Universal Procurement Services, was registered with Florida’s Division of Corporations. London is listed as one of three directors. However, a perusal of the database shows that the company’s status is, in fact, inactive.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

London has been the subject of numerous articles, dating as far back as his involvement in the controversial D’Urban Park project. Lambasted on all sides for its lack of transparency and its structural defects, D’Urban Park was built through the coordination of Homestretch Development Incorporated (HDI) – a company co-owned by London.

Public funds for the project, which cost a total of over $1 billion, was scraped from multiple avenues by the former APNU/AFC Government and handed over to HDI. Yet to this day, the former APNU/AFC Government has been un-

able to account for how the monies were spent despite the best efforts of the Audit Office of Guyana to reconcile the payments over the past few years.

Auditor General Sharma had written in his latest audit report that in 2015, $36.5 million was withdrawn from the Lotto Fund to fund D’Urban Park, however, no payment vouchers were presented to his auditors for that transaction.

In 2016, a further $60.3 million was pulled from the money allocated for infrastructural development.

In addition, $118.1 million was pulled from the money allocated to the Ministry for the maintenance of roads.

And in 2017, $500 million was paid to HDI from the funds budgeted to the Public Infrastructure Ministry for infrastructural development. A further $28.2 million came from the money for the maintenance of other infrastructure.

The Government also withdrew two sets of monies totalling over $400 million from the Contingency Fund, which is supposed to only be used for emergency purposes. However, over $70 million in payment vouchers were not presented to the Audit Office.

In addition to pub-

Larry London

lic funds, it is understood that private donations were also received by HDI to carry out the project. All this happened with Working People’s Alliance (WPA) stalwart Dr Rupert Roopnaraine sitting as a Director on HDI. Most recently, London was revealed to have been appointed by the former Government as Director of Parks, a position APNU/ AFC created especially for him that came with a salary of $500,000 plus benefits that included gratuity, security at his home, light, phone and internet bills paid, as well as duty-free allowance. (G3)

8

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Answering the PNC’s…

W

…Vincent Alexander ell, looks like your Eyewitness got a new pen pal – no other than Vincent Alexander, PNC’s GECOM Commission spokesman; Chairman of IPADA-G; Chairman of the Burnham Foundation; and the man who would once be leader of the PNC – save for Robert Corbin! He wrote a letter kvetching about an Eyewitness column that took him to task for some of his indiscretions. He started off by knocking your Eyewitness’s nom de plume, claiming it’s a “cowardly” position. But why should Alexander, the staunch Marxist, worry about individual identities?? Isn’t it the class/social position being defended that matters?? Your Eyewitness is a card-carrying bourgeois!!

Next, he complained that when your Eyewitness said he did all the talking after the GECOM meetings, and his fellow Commissioners Corbin and Trotman stood by, that implied “they lacked intellect”!! Really?? This is a non-sequitur if there ever was one! He also objected to the claim that “Granger abruptly threw in the towel”. But isn’t this what a wide swathe of PNC supporters like Burke and company complained about??

He followed up by asking how had your Eyewitness concluded he had a “Damascene conversion – like Saul on the way to Damascus – from being a Marxist who holds that class is the fundamental relationship to where he now feels that “race” has that honour. Well, wasn’t he the one who recently explained he’d been inducted in Moscow into the intricacies of Marxism as a youth…but now has taken an instinctive African position? Or is he like CLR James, who coalesces them?

He also takes umbrage that your Eyewitness suggested that “Congolese Conversion” might be more appropriate in his case than “Damascene Conversion”. How in goodness’ name could recognising that Alexander’s conversion to being an African-Guyanese advocate be insulting??

Patrice Lumumba – first PM of the Congo – is one of your Eyewitness’s admired anti-colonial figures. Alexander asked that his credentials be validated by Ravi Dev, and your Eyewitness will leave that to that columnist and his jargon-laden prolix prose!!

Finally, he wants the “original quote” to his solution of the murder of the Henry cousins, from the one cited by your Eyewitness: “the murderers saw themselves as superior to the persons slaughtered. Historically, this was the fate of Africans. The WCB murders is a continuation of previous violence against Africans. The individuals also felt they would be protected by the State (controlled by the PPP), so justice cannot be gotten for the Henrys”.

Well, that’s straight from Alexander’s mouth…and your Eyewitness dares Alexander to tell his SAGE audience he didn’t REALLY mean that when he spoke to them!! After all, the presentation is still up on their website!

Alexander can run, but he can’t hide!

…innate corruption In its first iteration, between 1964 and 1992 – the infamous “twenty-eight years of tyranny” – the PNC set a bar for corruption that few had thought could ever be matched. They turned Lord Acton’s aphorism: “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” on its head. Under Burnham, “corruption was power, and absolute corruption became absolute power”!

Well, Granger did vow to “continue the legacy of Burnham”, and boy, did he succeed!! He left the treasury bankrupt; the economy collapsed; social relations in the pits; and, most of all, corruption running rampant!! The “bottom-house” warehouse; the $1.5 billion wood-ants Jubilee Stadium and the $163 million sole-sourced 19th century design for a new Demerara Harbour Bridge! And this was even before they finally agreed to give up on their elections heist, when they set the bar for corruption at the country level at worse than any rigging Burnham and Hoyte had attempted!

But the unending stream of graft and outright looting of the treasury being revealed demonstrates that Burnham has been trumped! …racial incitement The ERC finally visited the families of the savagelymurdered Henry cousins in West Berbice. And what did they find?

That the families are multi-racial, and despise the PNC’s insertion of racial motives without evidence.

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

NEWS

9

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We will not allow corruption” – Edghill orders probe into alleged asphalt plant racket P

ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill has ordered an investigation into allegations of an alleged racket at the asphalt plant, a State-run entity.

Reports in the media on September 22 are that contractors working on Government projects were mandated to take their asphalt from the Garden of Eden plant and would get huge discounts under a scam that stretched all the way to the Ministry of Public Works.

According to the report, persons from the Ministry would order a certain amount of asphalt from the plant to be billed to the Ministry. However, they will collect less than what was ordered, and the difference is sold at discounted prices to contractors.

This would result in significant losses in revenue as well as contractors benefiting from the racket being at an unfair advantage over other contractors.

The asphalt plant is being operated by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC).

Minister Edghill has since expressed concern over the reports.

“I’m very concerned and distressed by it, especially since there are allegations that may implicate staff of the Ministry of Public Works,” he stated.

“As the Minister responsible for this sector, both the Ministry of Public Works and the Demerara

Harbour Bridge, under whose management the asphalt plant falls, I have ordered an investigation,” Minister Edghill announced on Tuesday.

“I invite members of the public, including contractors and anyone who has information that could bring an end to this alleged racket and stop the haemorrhaging of the public purse, to please, at the appropriate time, provide us with the information,” Minister Edghill stated.

“We will not allow corruption in any form, shape or fashion. The people must get value for their money and corrupt public officials must not be allowed to benefit,” he contended.

Minister Edghill pointed out that at this time, the report is simply an “allegation” but he assured that “we will get to the bottom of it”.

$200M owed

After the first week of taking office, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said that the Ministry owes the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) some $200 million in payments.

Edghill made it clear that this is not inclusive of the monies that the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government “borrowed” for the Public Infrastructure Ministry to pay a

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during a recent visit to the asphalt plant at Garden of Eden, EBD [DPI photo]

Dutch company to do a feasibility study into the new Demerara Harbour Bridge crossing. Rather, this sum represents asphalt that the Ministry used but never paid for.

“This is taking asphalt to do works, at least that is the explanation we received. And that is a matter we have to look at,” he had told this publication in an interview.

It was in July of last year that

a $488 million German-made asphalt plant arrived in Guyana. The new asphalt plant was touted as having the power and capability to produce approximately 160 tonnes of asphalt per hour – almost four times faster than the asphalt plant that was in use at the time.

The new asphalt plant, which is supposed to be able to process plastic bags and bottles, was procured through public tender during 2018 by the Demerara Harbour Bridge

Corporation, signalling an increase in operations and growth in demand. However, it is yet to be commissioned.

When it comes to the old asphalt plant, it was revealed last year that the APNU/AFC Government took money from the DHB asphalt fund to pay Dutch company LievenseCSO for a feasibility study on the new DHB crossing.

In fact, it was the then PPP Chief Whip and now Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira, who wrote to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in June of 2019 to draw its attention to the misuse of the asphalt fund accounts.

Reports indicate that in 2017 the APNU/AFC Government used $215.3 million from the fund, while in 2018 a further $74 million was withdrawn. The original sum approved by Cabinet for the contract was $161.5 million. It is understood that the contract price for LievenseCSO, which was handpicked by the former Government to carry out the consultancy, was actually $148 million.

PPC Chairperson Carol Corbin had subsequently referred the matter, together with the Commission’s report on LievenseCSO’s sole sourcing, to Auditor General Deodat Sharma in order for him to take the relevant action.

10 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pedal cyclist crushed to death by truck

A

68-year-old pedal cyclist is now dead after being crushed to death by a motor lorry along the Mahaicony Branch Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), after he allegedly swerved to avoid a pool of water.

Dead is Deonarine Lalchand of Wash Clothes, Mahaicony Branch Road, ECD. According to Police, the man was crushed to death

Dead: Deonarine Lalchand

on Tuesday at about 08:05h, by a motor lorry, driven by a 25-year-old resident of Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Reports are that the motor lorry was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road when it is alleged that while in the process of passing the pedal cyclist, who was proceeding in the said direction, he suddenly swerved to avoid a pool of water.

The driver told the police that upon swerving to avoid the pool of water, the cyclist ended up in the path of the truck, resulting in him attempting to take evasive action by pulling to the western parapet to avoid a collision.

However, despite his ef-

forts, the left rear wheel collided with the pedal cyclist and resulted in him falling onto the roadway where the wheel ran over Lalchand, causing injuries to his head and body.

The cyclist was then picked up in an unconscious state and rushed

to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His body is presently at Anthony’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME). The driver is in Police custody, assisting with the investigation. (G1)

Mother of 4 charged for ganja trafficking

A

mother of four, who told the court she trafficked a quantity of marijuana to provide for her four children, has been remanded to prison pending sentencing.

Thirty-five-year-old Anitha Qualis of Lot 1856 New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert via Zoom at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Qualis admitted that on September 19 at Karrau, Essequibo River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), she had in her possession 503 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

In a plea of mitigation she told the court, “I accepted the weed, I am a mother of four, and my children’s father left for the interior, and I never heard from him again. I decided to try a thing to provide for my children.”

The prosecution’s case stated that at 14:30h on

Charged: Anitha Qualis

September 19, ranks were on mobile patrol duty at Karrau, Essequibo River, when they observed the woman acting in a suspicious manner. The woman was questioned and she handed over a black compressed parcel containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be canna-

bis, which was hidden underneath her clothing. She was arrested and taken to the Bartica Police Station.

The Magistrate, after listening to the woman’s plea of mitigation and the prosecution’s case, remanded her to prison. She will be sentenced on October 7, 2020. (G1)

NEWS

11

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Closed estates could start producing sugar by next year – Agri Minister

A

griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday hinted that all things being equal, closed sugar estates will start functioning again could start producing sugar sometime next year.

While not identifying a specific date, he said, “the damage that was done there by the APNU/AFC, they were about to destroy the entire estates, what they did with Wales, they were trying to do with Enmore, Skeldon

and Rose Hall, but due to the elections being held earlier, we won the elections; and we will open those estates. “I can’t give you a specific date…I am hoping that by first or second crop next year, we should have sug-

140 Lusignan Prison inmates test positive for COVID-19

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara

H

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Tuesday announced that a total of 140 prisoners from the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The announcement comes one week after the first two positives were detected at the Lusignan Prison.

He was at the time responding to questions without notice submitted by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Geeta Chanda-Edmond during the budget estimates. As such, it was disclosed that after the test results returned positive, some 80 inmates were transferred to a facility at Madewini, East Bank Demerara.

“At the moment, the total number of prisoners who are infected with COVID-19 are 140 persons. We have moved 80 of them to a Madewini location with the appropriate security from the police, prisons and the army.”

He shared that authorities were in the process of establishing measures to protect inmates at the Lusignan penitentiary earlier but the unrest on Saturday last, which resulted in the death of two inmates, would have hindered these efforts. Nevertheless, those works finally resumed on Monday.

“We were, at the very time that the incident occurred at Lusignan, were expanding an area to the east of the prison to put up tents and put in place cots and new beds for further social distancing. That work

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

was peremptorily stopped as a result of the events on Saturday. It resumed yesterday morning (Monday) and I anticipate by tomorrow (today), we will be in a better position to move some of those prisoners who are at the Holding Bays over to that area and perhaps, bring back the infected ones to Lusignan,” Benn asserted.

On September 15, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels informed in a press release that the two inmates were being held at the Holding Bay after their results returned positive.

Circumstances surrounding how they contracted the virus were unknown at that time but contact tracing was enabled to curtail a large spread.

Minister Benn would have placed emphasis on the prison fires at Camp Street and Lusignan within the period of five years, which significantly limited capacity across the prisons and resulted in overcrowding. In

fact, he said a recent visit showed that over 570 inmates were confined to a small space.

Back in July of this year, pandemonium broke out at the Lusignan penitentiary, East Coast Demerara, after a fire was reportedly set in one of the holding areas by protesting inmates after a team was dispatched to probe the discovery of narcotics.

On July 10, 2017, a massive fire destroyed most of the Georgetown Prison, thus resulting in the escape of several prisoners. One prison officer was shot and killed.

The prisoners on the run had included Bartica and Lusignan massacre convict Mark “Royden” Durant aka “Royden Williams” and Uree Varswyck aka “Malcolm Gordon”. It was reported that the capital section of the Georgetown Prison was completely burnt, thus hundreds of prisoners were evacuated from the facility and taken to Lusignan, Timehri, New Amsterdam and Mazaruni.

Seventeen prisoners were burnt to death on March 3, 2016, at the same facility after inmates had set several fires in their holding cells in protest of the conditions of the prisons.

These incidents, which reduced holding areas at the prisons, resulted in the inmates being transferred to other penitentiaries across the country, thus creating congestion. While rehabilitation and construction across the various prisons were stalled due to COVID-19, Minister Benn said the contractors have been given the green light to continue. (G12)

ar coming out of these factories,” Minister Mustapha declared.

He made the disclosure following a heated exchange between himself and APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan, during the consideration of the Current and Capital Estimates in Budget 2020 for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Not long after the APNU/ AFC Government took office in May 2015, it moved to close several of the sugar estates, putting thousands of workers on the breadline.

The PPP/C had campaigned on a promise to re-

vitalise the sugar sector and to reemploy those persons who were fired by the coalition.

In this year’s Emergency Budget, the Government allocated $3 billion to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for its recapitalisation and to commence the process of reopening the estates.

During Tuesday’s session of the National Assembly, Ramjattan, who has always been opposed to the reopening of the estates, questioned what the $3 billion will be used for and if any study was done to determine

how much money it would take to reopen each of the estates.

Minister Mustapha responded by saying that part of the money will be used for the recapitalisation of the estates because they are in a terrible state. He explained that for Enmore, there is an estimated cost so far of $778 million, Rosehall $710 million and Skeldon $711 million.

Mustapha added that the remainder of the total sum will go to the other estates to do capital works because those estates are grinding at around 40 to 50 per cent right now “because of neglect over the last five years”.

“We had said we will revitalise sugar and we will reemploy Guyanese people who were dismissed by the previous Government,” Mustapha told the House.

Ramjattan then interjected saying: “You don’t do budgeting like that, whenever there is a capital expenditure like that, this massive sum, you must have what is called a project profile”.

The Minister responded by saying that there were several studies done by various organisations before.

Mustapha noted that currently, technical teams are at the estates and are working to determine what is need to have the estates reopened.

“We will have to do a lot of work, a number of equipment was sold out at cheap prices to friends and families,” he expressed.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

One Mile Primary School secures top NGSA spot for Region 10 – aspiring dental surgeon tops Region 2

T

he top student in this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination for Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) has credited her achievement to both her family as well as teachers at the nursery and primary levels.

Eleven-year-old Britney Peters of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, also secured a spot in the top one per cent and placed sixth in the country, with 521 marks out of a possible 528, and was awarded a place at Queen’s College (QC).

The aspiring doctor from the One Mile Primary School reminisced on the journey to success.

Peters told Guyana Times that while the COVID-19 pandemic would have presented some challenges due to the sudden closure of schools, her family and teachers played a major role in her success.

“It wasn’t easy, it was stressful but I put a lot into studying and it paid off. I used a lot of prayers and it helped. The love and affection from everybody and the encouragement, it helped a lot,” the young lady related.

Peters’ mother, Althea

Mcdonald, praised the collaborative effort between family and teachers whom she noted played significant roles.

“First of all, we must say thank God for the journey because it was a very long journey...I would like to thank her aunts Bridgette and Samantha, her grandfather Brentnol, her teacher Miss Gullen; and then she had some teachers from Wismar Hill (Primary) that worked along with the extra lessons, the teachers at One Mile school...and my family members who support me in every way possible - I really want to thank them,” Mcdonald said.

She noted that she expected her daughter to do well in the exams since she was always a high achiever.

Nevertheless, Peters enjoys reading, singing and playing cricket. She told this publication that Science was one of her favourite subjects in school. Peters encouraged those who will be writing the exams next year to stay focused.

“I would say just keep pushing and encourage yourself, you’ll make it through,” she stated.

Also in the top 10 for the

Region are Shanel Storm of Amelia’s Ward Primary and Ariel Mohanlall of Royal Halls of Learning, who both secured 519 marks; Kesyne Baggot of One Mile Primary, with 517 marks; Jasmine Griffith of Watooka Day Primary, with 516 marks; Yohance October of Regma Primary, with 515 marks; Syesha Fraser and Kenroy Jameer, both of One Mile Primary, who secured 515 marks.

In addition, Rheann Retemeyer of Watooka Day Primary and Shania Lawson of Regma Primary, who both secured 513 marks. They were all awarded places at Queen’s College.

Meanwhile, over at Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 12-year-old Sotana Singh of CV Nunes Primary, who secured 514 marks at the exams, has topped the Region.

During an interview with Guyana Times, Singh noted that she grew up with her grandmother who always used the quote “a parrot speaks his way through but an eagle fly the great heights”.

She noted that those were the words that motivated and gave her the strength to

Region 10 top NGSA student Britney Peters

Region 2 top student Sotana Singh

Ted Fraser copped the third spot in Region 2

focus and concentrate on her studies. Being a top student for the Region, she added, is the first step in fulfilling her dream of becoming a dental surgeon.

She would have celebrated her 12th birthday on September 15. Singh praised her grandmother, Phyllis Welcome, and her grandfather, Charles Spellen, for her success.

Her grandmother noted that Sotana is a very quiet and mannerly child who is filled with love but has a few friends. She is also a church lover.

Sotana loves to read, watch television, cook and play football. She advised others to listen to their par-

ents and teachers, be kind to each other, beware of bad company, open their minds to new things, spend their spare time doing something good, go to church and follow their dreams.

Coming in third for the Region was Ted Fraser, also of CV Nunes Primary. He secured 509 marks. Coming from a poor family, Fraser faced many difficulties but was able to stay focused and managed to earn a top spot in the Region.

Fraser resides at Onderneeming Sand Pit and travelled miles on a daily basis with his mother, Yasha Alisa Fraser, to attend school at Anna Regina.

Ted’s mom, who works

with the National Insurance Scheme, explained that after school, her son had to travel to Affiance to take lessons.

She would pick him up after work and they would return home together.

His sacrifices, she noted, has definitely made them proud parents. The young lad stated that he will continue to focus on his studies so he can get a well-paid job so that he can assist his parents and two sisters.

“Money is not everything but dedication, effort, and parental support can work wonders for you,” he noted. He thanked his parents, teachers, friends and all who supported him during his struggle.

NEWS

13

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pump attendant shot as bandits rob NA gas station Linden Isles has since said that initial investigations revealed that the perpetrators fled into Mount Sinai, which is popularly called “Angoy’s Avenue”.

It sits on the fringes of New Amsterdam and is one of the communities which are considered havens for criminals.

The business has suffered a series of misfortune in recent years. In 2010, a pump attendant employed by the company at its Strand outlet left with the day’s sales – $1,100,700 – after collecting the money from a fuel purchaser.

In March 2017, arsonists

M Ali and Son Service Station that was robbed

A

pump attendant was on Tuesday morning shot as bandits robbed a New Amsterdam gas station.

Injured is Shazam Melville, 34, of Lot 114 Experiment, West Coast Berbice (WCB). He was shot in the back.

The incident took place at M Ali and Son Service Station at the corners of Main and King Streets, New Amsterdam. Reports are that shortly after 10:00,h two men on a motorbike approached the pump attendant and demanded that he hand over a bag that had in excess of $800,000. The money is said to be the revenue from sales over the preceding 24-hour period.

Melville had just finished his shift and was about to

take the money to deposit at a bank when he was attacked.

At the time, there were two other persons on duty along with two of their friends and a car with passengers at the pump.

One of the attendants, Roney Yadram told Guyana Times that he was assisting a customer when he saw one of the men took out a small hand gun and point it at Melville demanding that he handover the bag with the money.

Yadram said he thought it was a prank.

“I was selling when the guy said: ‘pass the bag; pass the bag’. I left the customer to see what was transpiring. And then he scramble Shazam bag and Shazam keep holding the bag and he pull away the bag from

Shazam.”

It was during this tug of war that a single gunshot was fired.

Yadram said that as he approached the bandit who was sitting on the motorbike, the man pulled a knife from his waist causing him to back off.

“Then I get scared,” he explained.

As soon as the gunman grabbed the bag, he jumped onto the motorbike and the men rode off in the direction of King Street, New Amsterdam.

Melville was seen holding his back walking towards the road before onlookers realised that he was shot.

He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was admitted.

Regional Commander

Shazam Melville

torched a car belonging to the company at its Main and Pope Street outlet while in July 2015, two bandits went into the attached supermarket and took money, phone cards and a licensed firearm.

In October of the same year, bandits broke into M Ali Supermarket and Gas Station at Strand and after taking what they wanted, set the building on fire.

In 2016, a female employee of the business was found guilty of stealing in excess of $1 million in cash and jewellery from the company.

She was sentenced to one year in prison and also fined $500,000.

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 death toll climbs to 69 …35 new cases recorded

G

uyana has recorded another death from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the total fatalities to 69.

This was announced by the Health Ministry on Tuesday, which stated that the latest deaths are a 74-year-old woman from Region One (BarimaWaini), who died at about 13:00h while receiving treatment at a medical facility and a 25-year-old male from Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) who died while receiving care at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Ministry has since contacted relatives and those who would have had contact with her, to facilitate contact tracing.

On Monday, two deaths were also recorded. They were a 67-year-old man and a 57year old woman from Region One.

Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that Guyana has 2437 cases after 35 samples returned positive. On the previous day, 133 new cases were reported. This gives a breakdown of 1267 males and 1170 females.

Some 16 patients are still seeking treatment in the designated Intensive Care Unit.

There are 830 individuals on home isolation – a decline of 30; while numbers from institutional isolation have also declined by 61, standing at 102.

Patients in institutional quarantine dropped from 60 to 35.

From the confirmed cases, 1361 persons have recovered.

The Ministry’s regional breakdown showed that five new cases were detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 26 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Five

(Mahaica-Berbice), one in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no increases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) where figures remained at 348, 28, 277, 36 and 340 respectively.

President Irfaan Ali had announced that his Administration is in the process of securing US$60 million to fund various aspects of its response to the virus.

According to the Head of State, the funds are being sourced from various international development partners including the World Bank, IDB and the Islamic Development Bank.

The Head of State noted that since taking office, his Government has brought together all the stakeholders to address the COVID-19 pandemic in a holistic manner.

The President announced a range of measures to bring relief to families and businesses, noting that his Administration is focused on delivering an all-encompassing plan which would also take the health and safety of all citizens very seriously.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly use the COVID-19 Hotline 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

NEWS

15

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations High level of absenteeism in Just brazen, nothing less than brazen, chutzpah or just plain corruption?

T

he more we learn about the previous David Granger-led APNU+AFC Government, the more we know what brazen means. Webster’s Dictionary cannot explain brazen the way APNU+AFC exemplifies brazen. Minister of Governance revealed in Parliament on Monday that APNU+AFC gave a $30M contract to a man named Larry London to print 20,000 birth certificates.

London owned a nonfunctioning business in Miami that never printed anything, but he got the contract. It turned out that this same man was also getting a basic salary of $500,000 per month, plus allowances and perks worth much more, for being the Director of Parks in Guyana, while he was living abroad.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy While living abroad, he was also Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Agency. This is the same fella who was part of the Durban Park $1.6B fiasco, a scandal that ranks as one of the most brazen heists of Guyanese taxpayers’ money. He was also an executive member of the PNC. This is brazen PNC-style.

Money, money everywhere, but not a cent to buy a COVID-19 testing machine.

This week we finally caught up with the backlog that caused people to wait for sometimes more than two weeks for their COVID-19 results. The wait was because Guyana’s capacity for conducting COVID-19 testing was severely limited. The previous APNU+AFC Government had not made any provision for COVID-19 testing. The PCR machine that was in use for COVID-19 testing was from more than ten years ago.

I was Minister of Health when we built the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, the first National Public Health Lab in the Caribbean. But there were two other PCR machines in the country that could not be used, because these machines could not be operated without biohazard cabinets. These biohazard cabinets are not rocket science stuff, yet the Government made no move to operationalise these items of PCR equipment.

The new PPP Government has moved for these machines, to put them into operation, and a better, fully automated PCR equipment is presently on the way to Guyana. When this PCR machine becomes operational, Guyana would reach a capacity of 2,000 COVID-19 tests per day.

The truth is that we had needed to have that capacity since March; and if we had had that capacity, we would not have been in the COVID-19 mess we are in right now. The Government pursued a brazen path: instead of spending a small amount of money quickly in building up Guyana’s COVID-19 testing capacity, they decided to rehabilitate a building they did not own - the old, abandoned Ocean View Hotel. They spent $1.6B to rehabilitate the building, and had the audacity to have David Granger commission the building when they were still trying to thief the elections.

He had lost the elections, and was no longer the President, but he brazenly went and commissioned a building that was empty.

They called it the National Infectious Disease Hospital. There was not a single bed. There was not a single thermometer. There was not even a chair in the building, but they called it the National Infectious Disease Hospital. They did not own the building, and a man, one of their friends, decided to bill the Government $25M a month for rental. He also offered to sell the building to the new Government for $1.6B. The temerity of these people! Talk about being brazen!

There was the case of Carol Joseph being paid hundreds of thousands per month as a Petroleum Consultant. I am not certain who was more brazen: The Government, for daring to use taxpayers’ money to pay someone as a petroleum consultant who perhaps could not spell the word; or Ms. Joseph, for her own brazenness in taking the money every month. But these examples represent just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr. Clive Thomas and his Deputy took home more than $100M in salary and benefits between 2015 and 2020. They headed an agency that spent more than $1B, in that time, in salary and other expenses. This is how brazen they were: the outfit was called SARA - State Assets Recovery Agency - but that agency bilked Guyana; not a cent was recovered. In fact, when they did go after any asset, it cost Guyana more money. They went after GBTI for the land on which GBTI built an office. Guyana now must pay GBTI almost $5M in cost. It is sheer brazenness.

But I must reserve my astonishment for the way they are still treating the courts. Mr. Lampy, who is now Mr. Whip in Parliament, took millions from the Government on false information to start a barbershop. He stored the equipment in his house. The Police came; he refused them entry. Eventually they got in, and found the equipment. He was caught red-handed. He was charged. He wants the DPP to throw out the charges.

Volda Lawrence and Clairmont Mingo were caught redhanded trying to rig the election results. In broad daylight, in front of the world, they tried to thief an election. They were charged.

They want the DPP to throw out the charges. Webster should have been alive today to see what brazen really means.

Reg 1 for NGSA due to COVID D

ue to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of students from Region One (BarimaWaini) were absent from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), written in July.

This was disclosed by Superintendent of Examinations, Saudia Kadir-Grant on Monday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), where the country’s top performers were announced.

“We had a high percentage of absenteeism in Region One, particularly in the Santa Rosa-Moruca district and that was due to COVID-19,” KadirGrant told the media.

Written on July 1 and 2, a total of 14,032 children sat the examination.

This was less than the over 14,300 who were registered. During this time, the Region had seen an upsurge in cases from the coronavirus and was labelled a hotspot. In fact, some parts of the region were under complete lockdown.

In July, the COVID-19 hotspots were Moruca and Mabaruma in Region One; Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Itabac and Mahdia in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni); and Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

When asked about the next steps for these children, Education Minister Priya Manickchand informed that they would be placed at a secondary institution closest to home.

“Students had the option of not writing the exams and if they chose that option, then the school that would be awarded to them is the school closest to their home. The dreams, that I don’t believe is beyond realisation, is to make sure we move to a place where every school is given high-quality education. Before long, you are going to see that,” she expressed.

In early June, when the logistics were being considered for the assessment, acting Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman said parents can decide whether they want their children to sit the examination. However, if they did not, they would be placed at a school near their residents. But these placements, however, do not include a “Grade A” or “national” school.

The following year after completing the Grade Seven level, provisions

Superintendent of Exams, Saudia Kadir-Grant

will be in place for them to write a placement test.

If they score above 70 per cent, a higher school will be awarded.

The Education Ministry had assured that all safety protocols would be imple-

mented to ensure both students and educators are safe. According to education officials, every scenario was catered for “from the gate to the classroom and back”.

During the NGSA sit-

ting, sinks were placed at the entrance of schools and students were not permitted to enter without wearing a mask. Their temperature was checked along with there being a new sitting environment to allow social distancing in classrooms. This entailed a maximum of 15 candidates per class. Parents were not allowed to enter the compound.

With the mid-March closure of schools, 252 nursery, 453 primary and 139 secondary schools along with other technical, vocational and special education centres were closed.

They were opened just to facilitate examinations.

All have remained closed to date while activities continue online, through workbooks, television and radio platforms. (G12)

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Overwhelming response to ERC urges families to remain COL-Coursera initiative from Guyanese hopeful of ongoing probe WCB unrest

President, Professor Asha Kanwar, “The uptake in Guyana has exceeded all expectations and the numbers continue to grow.”

In her address to the convocation ceremony, Education Minister Priya

…Haresh Singh to be buried today

Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda

“I

Murdered: Joel Henry

Murdered: Isaiah Henry

Murdered: Haresh Singh

hairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Reverend John Oswald Smith, Commissioners and staff visited the grieving families of the Henry cousins - Isaiah and Joel and Haresh Singh - offering prayers and words of comfort to parents and guardians of the slain youths.

During the visit, the ERC Chairman said they were informed by the relatives that the police were still in the backlands of the community conducting investigations.

As such, the ERC Chairman told the grieving families to remain hopeful of the outcome of the investigations.

According to the ERC, when the team visited, the homes were was still overwhelmed by complete sadness as parents and relatives repeated their ongoing plea for justice to be served. The murdered young men all lived a short distance away from each other in the closely-knit community.

“The ERC team witnessed first-hand the Henry families are of mixed ancestry and relatives are from both major ethnic groups.

The adult relatives were vocal and expressed shock that the murders were being promoted as crimes of race hate.

They suggested that residents in the community are

not pre-occupied with racial intolerance,” a press release issued on Tuesday read.

Isaiah and Joel Henry were found brutally chopped at a coconut farm in Cotton Tree village two days after they went missing.

Their bodies were found on September 6.

Following the gruesome discovery, the police had arrested seven persons, including the owner of an estate upon which bloodstains were found, his son, two coconut vendors, and several employees. Three more persons are also being sought

by Police.

The murders have sparked widespread protest action, particularly along the West Coast Berbice corridor, with persons blocking the roads and burning debris while calling for justice.

The situation escalated as protesters blocked traffic along the WCB roadway while robbing, beating and extorting from innocent commuters. Millions of dollars were also lost as vehicles went up in flames.

As the unrest continued, 17-year-old Haresh Singh of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was found dead hours after he had left home on his motorcycle to attend his farm in the backdam.

It was reported that the

sound of Haresh’s motorcycle stopped along the dam and shortly after, his family members saw a fire blazing on the dam. Suspicious that it was the motorcycle, relatives went to investigate, and discovered the motionless body of the teenager and the torched motorbike.

The teen was bleeding through his nose and had wounds to his head, ears, neck and hands. According to the family, there was also an “X” on his neck. They then rushed the 17-yearold to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but he succumbed on the way.

Initially, it was suspected that Singh’s murder was in retaliation for the deaths of Isaiah and Joel since one of his close relatives was among those arrested after the cousins’ murder.

Six people have since been arrested and released on station bail for their murder.

Meanwhile, a 75-member team has combed the backdam at No 2 and No 3 Villages, WCB, for evidence in relation to the murders.

The GPF had explained that the Henry boys were not murdered at the location where their bodies were found, according to evidence it has received.

Haresh will be laid to rest today.

C

Health surveillance officer tests positive for COVID-19

A

COVID-19 surveillance officer attached to the Health Ministry was on Monday tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

A reliable source informed this publication that the staff is a 30-year-old female. She informed the Ministry that she was in contact with a family member who was tested positive.

Following this revela-

tion, all staffers within the department were tested and sent on home quarantine pending results.

When contacted, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Karen GordonBoyle stated, “that is what I would not comment on.”

The Surveillance Unit deals strictly with contact tracing of positive cases and daily follow-ups of repatriates. When asked if con-

tact tracing will be paused, the DCMO noted that “work continues.”

She added that health officials in each region will now do contact tracing.

“Contact tracing continues, and it is being done by regions; it is being done by primary care facilities.

What I do know is that even if somebody gets sick, you have to find a replacement,” she shared.

have never seen anything like it across the world.” This was the observation of Coursera Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jeff Maggioncalda on the response from Guyanese towards the Workforce Recovery Initiative offered by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Coursera.

The CEO was delivering remarks at a virtual convocation ceremony for 3000 persons from 11 Caribbean countries who have recently completed courses being offered by reputable universities across the globe through COL/Coursera.

Guyanese have been registering in record numbers for the courses offered with 33,505 registering and 709 graduating thus far.

According to COL CEO and

“I have never seen anything like it across the world” – Jeff Maggioncalda Manickchand noted that the COL-Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative holds deep implications for Guyana. “As a developing nation currently situating itself to maximise the potential of our recent oil discoveries and our other strategic initiatives, the quality of our human capital is critically important.”

Further, the Education Minister said COVID-19 has displaced many individuals and as a country, “we are still grappling with the wider implications of the pandemic as well as a notoriously-extended elections period”.

Senior Advisor on Government Partnerships at Coursera, Chad Pasha took to Facebook to say, “So proud of Guyana, 2% of the entire country enrolled in Coursera in just ten days”;

Commonwealth of Learning President and CEO, Professor Asha Kanwar

tagged were the Education Ministry and the Education Minister’s personal page with the comment “can’t wait to see what’s to come for the nation”.

This initiative marks Coursera’s first institutional partnership in the Region and is part of a long-term commitment to helping citizens prepare for a digital future and provides 4000 free online courses on the Coursera platform in various areas such as Art, Business, Computer Science, Health, Social Science and Engineering.

Persons who have not yet taken advantage of the Government of Guyana/ Coursera initiative can do so by registering via the Education Ministry’s website, education.gov.gy/upskill.

The deadline for registration is October 31, 2020.

Bandits storm Annandale shopping centre

Gunmen robbing the store

P

olice are on the hunt for three armed bandits, who stormed the Ace Shopping Centre located at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Saturday, held customers hostage and exchanged gunfire with the owner, before escaping with cash.

According to Police, the robbery occurred at about 17:00h on Saturday. In CCTV footage seen by this publication, one of the bandits, who was clad in a flap hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and blue jeans, approached the business place, walked up to the counter, whipped out a gun and grabbed a female customer, whom he forced behind the counter.

Additionally, custom-

ers who had just purchased goods from the shop were forced back into the store by the gunmen and held hostage. While that was happening, the third bandit ran in the business place and closed the doors behind him.

According to the shop owner, Hari Persaud, popularly known as “Ace”, upon seeing the bandits, he quickly picked up his firearm and entered a room, closing the steel door behind him.

The CCTV footage also shows one of the armed men running and firing shots behind Persaud and he subsequently attempted to kick open the door but was unsuccessful. While the first bandit was trying to get to Persaud, the others were

seen ransacking the business, and located some cash.

“He tried to kick open the door but I brace it firmly. He pushed his gun and told me he will shoot me and I said I will shoot him back, and he start firing, and I return fire… the two of them later assault my staff and run out of the shop…”, he said.

Shortly after the men left, the businessman came out of his hiding place and discharged a round behind them.

Persaud said that the men made good their escape with about $50,000. He said he was not able to see their faces, since they were wearing face masks. Police are investigating the robbery. (G9)

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aurora Gold Mine not attempting to bring in 200 Chinese workers – Director

Despite COVID-19

Improvements recorded at CSEC, CAPE A D espite major setbacks in the delivery of education across the Caribbean in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean Examination Council has recorded improved performances at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certification examination.

During a virtual press conference

by CXC officials at its Headquarters in Barbados, it was revealed that the pass rate for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certification examination increased by a 3.8 per cent - when compared to the previous year.

Also, a total of 382,783 candidates received acceptable results between Grades One to Three.

In terms of CSEC Director of Operations - Examination Services Division, Nicole Manning said there were improved overall pass rates in several subject areas. Chemistry recorded a 62 per cent pass rate when compared to 60 per cent in 2019.

For biology, this year, 79 per cent of candidates recorded passes when compared to 73 per cent in 2019. There were also improvements for Physics, with a 75 per cent pass rate as compared to 73 per cent in 2019.

For Integrated Science, there was an improvement of 63 per cent when compared to 62 per cent in 2019.

Mathematics recorded a 52 per cent pass rate when compared to 46 per cent in 2019. English A also recorded an 82 per cent pass rate as compared to 79 per cent in 2019. Social Studies improved by 70 per cent when compared to 65 per cent in 2019 and Information Technology re-

corded a 90 per cent pass rate when compared to 92 per cent in 2019.

As it relates to the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination – which is taken by Sixth Form students, Manning said there was a slight reduction due to the number of persons who were absent for exams.

She underscored that in CAPE, there were acceptable grades (Grades 1-4) also recorded at this level, along with some advancements in some subject areas.

Pure Mathematics: Unit One, saw a modest boost from 60 per cent in 2018 and 71 per cent in 2019 to 72 per cent in 2020. Candidates with Grade Ones totalled 22 per cent, a two per cent increase from last year.

Caribbean Studies recorded a one per cent elevation – from 97 per cent in 2019 to 98 per cent in 2020. Twentyfour per cent of students attained Grade Ones, compared to 20 per cent in 2019.

Other improvements were recorded in Communication Studies, History: Unit One, Management of Business: Unit Two, Computer Science and Digital Media: Unit One. On the other hand, Animation and Game Design: Unit One recorded a decline from 100 per cent in 2019 to 97 per cent in 2020.

The examinations were written in July and August of this year. However, a new structure, where only Paper One and the School-Based Assessments (SBAs) were used to grade students, was implemented.

This decision was made due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases globally.

urora Gold Mine has denied allegations that it sought permission to bring in foreign, Chinese workers for its operations in Guyana, under the auspices of new Chinese management, Zijin Mining Group Company.

Director of Corporate Office, Compliance and Government Relation, Peter Benny on Tuesday debunked the reports.

Benny expressed concern that the information was reportedly presented to the media by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), adding that AGM is a corporate member of the Commission and made it clear that the information is untrue. Moreover, Benny noted that the Commission did not make contact with AGM to clarify the reports.

With AGM restarting production in a phased manner under its new Chinese management, questions have been raised as to how many of the local, unionised staff who were previously made redundant will be rehired.

This publication had previously interviewed Benny, during which he had said that both unionised and non-unionised workers have been rehired and that the new management will seek to hire former employees as they expand operations.

He had said that AGM has so far rehired 56 former employees to complement the 200 workers who had been retained by Aurora to work during the care and maintenance period. Of the 56, Benny noted that “21 was unionised and

AGM Director Peter Benny

35 non-unionised, representing 37.5 per cent of the total. And I asked what was the total number of unionised employees before the shutdown.”

“It was 143 employees out of a possible 350 employees within the Bargaining Unit. The percentage of unionised (workers) prior to shutdown was 40.85 per cent, (so) it seems to be a consistent percentage when compared to the rehired former employees,” Benny had said.

It was further related to this publication that production will be restarted in phases, with the first and current phase being stripping activities, that is, the removal of overburden. According to the company in a statement, the 56 rehired staff were drawn from a shortlist of experienced and highly skilled former employees.

The company had also informed this publication that it

has not hired any additional personnel and that as they continue their activities, more former employees skilled in this area will be rehired by AGM. The company had noted that former employees will continue to enjoy first preference, once they have the relevant skills.

AGM, previously owned by Canada-based Guyana Goldfields, has since come under the control of Chinese mining company Zijin Mining Group Co after it bought out Goldfields and its operations in Guyana.

Goldfields had moved to downsize its operations since May 2020, after facing constraints from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with other financial woes. It was also linked to the company’s transition into underground mining.

After initially selling its operations to Silvercorp, another Canadian mining company, Zijin Mining Group made a superior offer to Goldfields that Silvercorp failed to match within the stipulated time. As a result, Zijin was able to clinch the deal.

Hundreds of local workers were laid off by Goldfields in the process, their job descriptions ranging from attendants to electricians to heavy-duty equipment operators and blasters. Workers were paid their severance, however, with the new Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, making it clear that Zijin will have to fulfil all safety and other regulatory requirements in Guyana. (G3)

If it wasn’t for a lousy job done by Granger Dear Editor, “Don’t be distracted by emotions like anger, envy and resentment. These just zap energy and waste time,” the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first female Jewish member of the U.S. Supreme Court and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She was a pioneering advocate for women’s rights, who, in her ninth decade, became a much younger generation’s unlikely cultural icon. She died last Friday at her home in Washington, on one of the holiest days in Judaism, as many of the country’s nearly six million Jews welcomed the new year 5781, based on the Hebrew calendar.

She died due to complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer at the age of 87, but she died as a hero, an icon, a fighter for women and girls, a leader for humanity, and a preceptor for all legal luminaries to follow.

Ginsburg was raised in a secular household, but explained in 2018 that her religious background influenced her life’s work: “I am a judge, born, raised and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice, for peace and for enlightenment runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition. Judges do read the newspapers and are

affected, not by the weather of the day, as distinguished constitutional law professor Paul Freund once said, but by the climate of the era.

“Then, too, we must try hard to understand that for righteous people, hate and prejudice are neither good occupations nor fit companions.”

Former President Bill Clinton (who had appointed her) said it is “superficially hypocritical” for President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans to push to put a new justice on the Supreme Court before the November election. On a Saturday evening in February 2016, just hours after Justice Antonin Scalia had died during a hunting trip, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican majority leader, interrupted a Caribbean vacation to draw a line in the sand.

“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice,” he said. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”

Will President Donald Trump adhere to this advice, or succumb to his cowboy action? He already indicated that he would replace Ginsburg with another woman. Ginsburg’s dying wish, dictated to her grand-

daughter Clara Spera, underscored the battle she knew was coming.

“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” she had said.

Meghan Markle paid a touching tribute in her honour, saying: “With an incomparable and indelible legacy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be known as a woman of brilliance, a Justice of courage, and a human of deep conviction.

She has been a true inspiration to me since I was a girl.

Honour her, remember her, act for her.”

Her life and work serve as a mentor for many around the world. Many of the women in Guyana, especially those occupying important positions, can pattern her example and take a page from her book, especially those sitting in Parliament; on the bench; brandishing placards; protesting, picketing, displaying public vulgarity and issuing statements.

At the last Democratic Convention, former President Barack Obama delivered a stunning takedown of the man who followed him into the White House. Obama said Trump simply does not take the job “seriously.” He said Trump uses the Government’s vast

powers in a purely “transactional way.” And most powerfully, he said this: “Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job, because he can’t, and the consequences of that failure are severe.”

Consider what Obama is saying there: As someone who did the job for eight years, he not only believes Trump cannot rise to the demands of the Presidency, but also that there are very real effects of Trump’s deficiency. As a retort to an earlier address by Michelle Obama, Trump had said, “Somebody please explain to Michelle Obama that Donald J. Trump would not be here in the beautiful White House if it weren’t for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama.”

Though his accomplishments are not popular with his critics, Trump, for better or worse, has been a consequential and divisive president in modern US history so far, but has had a remarkably steady approval ratings due to his staunchly loyal supporters.

Indeed, President Dr. Irfaan Ali would not be in the presidential house had it not been for Granger doing a lousy job with the gross mismanagement of the economy and country, his lies and deceits, and all the numerous skullduggery he and

his party had incorporated, causing bankruptcy and the eventuality of election rigging. Yet, it’s disturbing to reflect how easily Granger and Trotman were able to infiltrate the community of Afro-Guyanese in Berbice with their racial incitements and violent insinuations, causing chaos and confusion that subsequentially produced so many disastrous consequences, including two deaths, personal and psychological injuries, and millions of dollars in property damage and loss, all borne by the Indo-Guyanese.

Why should Guyana allow such perpetrators, who are society’s destabilisers, to continue their destructive activities to flaunt all the rules and regulations? And why should the keepers of law and order remain silent?

As Guyanese desperately try to settle into a groove that will dictate an acceptable norm, there is a subliminal thought that pervades in the back of the mind; it tries to anticipate what may be next on the danger menu, and from what direction this element may be coming.

The lives of the Guyanese people are relatively not safe and secure when taking into account the number of deaths, accidents, injuries and personal and property losses occurring almost

daily throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

Factored into this nightmare are the various sources for this fear. Topping the list is the COVID-19 pandemic; the dangerous streets and roads; the haunting crime situation from choke-androb, burglary and stealing; domestic violence; murders due to drinking sprees, quarrels and arguments; and other criminal behaviours and activities; and now, to crown this infamous impressive list, we now need to add the recent political upheavals subscribed by leading opposing politicians who are on a warpath, spreading rumours and lies with their deceitful insinuations, perpetrating racial incitements and scandalous remarks, all meant to ferment mischief and division in a fragile society.

All Guyanese need to voice their concern and speak up about this sudden change that has gripped Guyana by its neck and is driving fear into the hearts of the Guyanese people since the new Government has taken over. The crime situation is atrociously out of hand, and the Police need to put their feet down urgently and immediately.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Regional

Brazil’s Bolsonaro blames Caricom travel bubble Indigenous people for in operation Amazon fires in UN speech

B

razil’s President Jair Bolsonaro told the United Nations on Tuesday that Indigenous people in the Amazon were to blame for fires in the rainforest this year and attacked the media for spreading panic about the coronavirus pandemic.

In a pre-recorded speech to a remote session opening the UN General Assembly, the far-right leader rebutted international criticism of his environmental policies and his handling of the world’s second-most deadly coronavirus outbreak after the United States.

He said the rainforest’s humidity prevents fire spreading, countering experts who say ranchers use fire to clear newly-deforested land for pasture, which in dry years can burn into woodland.

“The fires practically oc-

said.

Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly downplayed the gravity of the coronavirus, lamented the more than 137,200 COVID-19 deaths in Brazil.

But he accused the media of “politicising” the pandemic and causing panic among Brazilians by telling them Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro to stay home, which he said is seen during a pre-recorded almost led to “social chaaddress to the 75th annual UN os” while his Government General Assembly “boldly” took emergency economic measures to procur in the same places, on tect jobs and incomes. the east side of the forest, The Amazon rainforest where peasants and Indians is experiencing its worst burn their fields in already rash of fires in 10 years, and deforested areas,” Bolsonaro the Pantanal wetlands, the said. world’s largest, has the most Sonia Guajajara, Head blazes ever recorded. of Brazil’s main Indigenous Environmental advoumbrella organisation, said cates blame Bolsonaro for Bolsonaro was lying to the emboldening illegal ranchworld. “We must denounce ers and land speculators to this political catastrophe deforest land. (Excerpt from that destroys the environReuters) ment and our future,” she

B

arbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda have started operating the Caricom Travel Bubble, with the hope of resuscitating the travel and tourism sectors.

A statement from Barbados Ambassador to Caricom, David Comissiong, said the bubble went into effect on Friday, September 18, in keeping with a decision made at a Special Emergency Caricom Heads of Government meeting one week before.

The key feature of the COVID-19 travel bubble is

that people entitled to participate are not required to take COVID-19 tests nor to undergo a period of quarantine.

“Our Caricom Heads of Government took a major step towards resuscitating the COVID-19 challenged travel and tourism sectors, with their agreement to institute a travel bubble among Caricom Member States and associate members which meet the agreed criteria from Friday, September 18, 2020,” the statement said.

The Heads of Government took the decision at a Special Emergency

Guatemala’s President says he’s a high-risk patient after coronavirus diagnosis

Coronavirus: T&T crosses G 4000-infection mark

T

rinidad and Tobago has crossed the 4000-infection mark with the Health Ministry, stating in its daily 18:00h COVID-19 update on Tuesday that there were 4026 confirmed infections.

The country has now gone two days without recording a new COVID-19 death. The last three deaths were recorded on Sunday.

In the Ministry’s 18:00h update, the number of deaths stood at 65. Of the 4026 positive

cases, 2090 are active. On Tuesday morning, 29 people tested positive while there were 81 new cases recorded on Tuesday evening.

The 18:00h update also said 845 people have been discharged.

The number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency, the University of West Indies and other local sites for COVID-19 testing is 29,600.

(Trinidad Newsday)

Session on September 11, at which they acknowledged that the past six months have been very challenging as countries globally have struggled to cope with the effects of the novel coronavirus.

They noted that for Caricom, it has been particularly difficult, given the high dependence on the travel and tourism sectors.

In agreeing to establish the bubble, the heads were guided by recommendations in a comprehensive report from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

(Excerpt from Nation News)

u a t e m a l a n President Alejandro Giammattei, who last week confirmed he tested positive for the coronavirus, said on Tuesday that he is a “high-risk” patient due to his pre-existing medical conditions and history of heavy smoking.

In a televised speech, Giammattei, 64, said he felt tired but also in good spirits. He added that his oxygen levels, which can often be an indicator of deteriorating health, were fine.

Alejandro Giammattei

The former surgeon, who took office in January, walks on crutches because of multiple sclerosis he suffered in his youth.

“I must admit that I am a high-risk patient for COVID-19 because of the disease I had,” Giammattei said.

He said his elevated risk levels were also owing to having been “a chronic smoker for many years, because of hypertension, because of heart disease, because I can’t be called a very thin person.”

Guatemala has registered 85,694 infections and 3134 deaths linked to COVID-19. (Reuters)

Mexican soldiers may be Jamaica: MoBay Mayor arrested in infamous missing threatens to fine politicians for not removing campaign signs students case – sources

M

exican authorities are preparing arrest warrants that could for the first time target soldiers in the investigation into the 2014 abduction and presumed massacre of 43 students, according to three sources briefed on the new developments.

The unsolved kidnapping of the young men who were training to be teachers convulsed the country and garnered international condemnation as one of

the darkest examples of the Government’s longstanding difficulty preventing violence or convicting those responsible.

In the years since the disappearance of the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College students in southern Guerrero state, calls to look into the potential role of army soldiers have intensified, including those stationed at a nearby base at the time of the alleged abduction.

“Arrest warrants are in-

cluded for local, state and federal Police in Guerrero, as well as for members (of the military) of the 27th battalion,” said one source on condition of anonymity who was not authorised to speak to the media.

Two other sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the inclusion of soldiers among the new warrants.

Neither the Attorney General’s office nor representatives of a national truth commission responded to requests for comment.

The Defence Ministry said it had no information to provide about new arrest warrants.

On Tuesday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would provide new information on the case on the sixth anniversary of the kidnapping at the weekend, including “arrest warrants in progress”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

S

t James Municipal Corporation Chairman Leeroy Williams says the Corporation will fine political representatives who have refused to remove campaign material mounted in public spaces across the parish during the run-up to the September 3 General Election.

Speaking at his inauguration earlier this month, the newly-minted Chairman gave the candidates who contested parliamentary seats in St James until September 21 to remove flags and posters that were erected.

At a press conference Newly-installed Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Leeroy Williams in Montego Bay earlier on gives his first address following an installation ceremony, held on Tuesday, a strident Williams Sunday, September 13 said the St James Municipal so they (municipal Police) will be guidPolice would, as of Tuesday, be “going around the parish assessing the ed by that,” said Williams, who is also the situation and they will take note of those Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor for candidates who still have flags and posters the Montego Bay North Division.

Some 11 candidates contested the five hanging around the parish” . parliamentary seats in the parish in the reThose candidates will have to pay a pucent General Election. nitive fine, he said.

The ruling JLP made a clean sweep of “I cannot say exactly how much the fine the parish. (Jamaica Observer) will be, but there is the Anti-Litter Act,

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil edges up a day after selloff; rangebound ahead of US crude stocks data

O

il prices settled slightly higher on Tuesday ahead of weekly US inventory figures, rebounding modestly from the previous day’s selloff that was driven by a surge in overseas coronavirus infections.

Analysts said renewed lockdown restrictions in Europe will have only a limited impact on fuel demand, which could prevent a pronounced selloff in oil markets. With major oilproducing nations still restricting supply, the market has been locked in a range for most of the summer.

Brent crude rose 28 cents to settle at US$41.72 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) for October, which expires Tuesday, settled up 29 cents to US$39.60.

“The energy complex appears immune to negative news regarding the virus while case counts don’t increase enough to force renewed widespread lockdowns,” said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois.

Fuel demand is expected to falter in countries such as Great Britain, where the Government is telling people to work from home again and imposing curbs on bars and restaurants. Infections are rising in several other European countries, including France and Spain.

“As any new restrictions will likely be more localised, the oil demand recovery should still continue, although at a slower pace with the easiest demand gains behind us,” UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The easing of an oil blockade in Libya also pressured prices on Monday, but analysts said they expected Libyan exports were unlikely to quickly reach the levels seen before the conflict.

Traders were acting cautious ahead of industry data from the American Petroleum Institute on US oil inventories due later on Tuesday, according to Bob Yawger, director of energy futures for Mizuho in New York. Official data will follow today.

US crude oil and gasoline stocks likely fell last week, while distillate inventories, including diesel, are expected to have risen, Reuters polling showed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ginsburg Supreme Court: Republicans secure vote for replacement

R

epublicans have secured the numbers needed to ensure that President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee will face a confirmation vote in the Senate.

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah has given the party the 51 backers needed to move forward with voting on Trump’s candidate to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday.

Democrats argued there should be no confirmation in an election year.

The move guarantees a bitter political battle going into November’s vote.

President Trump said he will announce his chosen nominee on Saturday, and has vowed to pick a woman.

Supreme Court justices are nominated to the bench by the US President, but must be approved by the Senate.

With the death of Justice Ginsburg, a liberal stalwart, Trump has been given the chance to cement a rightward ideological tilt of the nine-member court by replacing her with a conservative.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to hold a confirmation vote before the election in November,

but a question mark had hung all week over whether enough Republicans in the chamber would back him.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

UN General Assembly: US-China tensions flare over coronavirus T

ensions between the US and China came to the fore of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, with US President Donald Trump blaming China for the spread of coronavirus.

He called for China to be held “accountable” for the pandemic.

In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country had “no intention to enter a Cold War with any country”.

This year’s summit at New York is largely being held virtually, with world leaders providing pre-recorded speeches.

But as often is the case for speeches to the assembly, President Trump used his address to tout his achievements and tear into a rival.

President Trump, whose own record on coronavirus is under close scrutiny as the US heads towards elections, has frequently accused Beijing of covering up the virus, saying they could have stopped the disease spreading. China has called the attacks an unfounded distraction.

The US President’s speech came in the form of a pre-recorded message

Tensions are high between the US and China on a number of other issues, including trade, technology, Hong Kong and China’s treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.

Speaking soon after the US leader, President Xi warned of the risks of a “clash of civilisations”.

In remarks released ahead of

Tuesday’s speech, President Xi took a more overt swipe at the US, saying “no country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself”, something China itself has been accused of by critics. (Excerpt from BBC News)

COVID-19: US passes “unfathomable” 200,000 death toll

T

he US death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 on Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies.

“It is completely unfathomable that we’ve reached this point,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

The bleak milestone, by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state

Romelia Navarro, right, is comforted by nurse Michele Younkin as she weeps while sitting at the bedside of her dying husband, Antonio, in St Jude Medical Center

health authorities.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the US is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville,

Alabama.

And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the US

toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021.

The US hit the threshold six weeks before a Presidential Election that is certain to be in part a referendum on President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis.

In an interview on Tuesday with a Detroit TV station, Trump boasted of doing an “amazing” and “incredible” job, adding: “The only thing we’ve done a bad job in is public relations because we haven’t been able to convince people - which is basically the fake news what a great job we’ve done.”

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Lebanon: Hezbollah Climate change: China aims for “carbon neutrality by 2060” arms depot blast caused by “technical error”

This week has seen the second lowest Arctic sea ice minimum on record

C

hina will aim to hit peak emissions before 2030 and for carbon neutrality by 2060, President Xi Jinping has announced.

Xi outlined the steps when speaking via videolink to the UN General Assembly in New York.

The announcement is being seen as a significant step in the fight against

climate change.

China is the world’s biggest source of carbon dioxide, responsible for around 28 per cent of global emissions.

With global climate negotiations stalled and this year’s conference of the parties (COP26) postponed until 2021, there had been little expectation of progress on the issue at

the UN General Assembly.

However, China’s President surprised the UN gathering by making a bold statement about his country’s plans for tackling emissions.

He called on all countries to achieve a green recovery for the world economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the official translation, Xi went on to say: “We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.”

Until now China has said it would peak its emissions by 2030 at the latest, but it has avoided committing to a long-term goal.(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

n arms depot of the powerful Shia Muslim group Hezbollah exploded in southern Lebanon, sending a new shockwave across the country still reeling from a blast in the capital that killed almost 200 people in August.

The Lebanese army said the blast occurred in a building in the southern village of Ein Qana, about 50km (30 miles) south of the capital Beirut, on Tuesday and that it was investigating.

Hezbollah’s media office told Al Jazeera the explosion was caused by a “technical error” at their arms depot.

“This explosion was at a house that stored weapons - result of technical error. No one was killed or injured. The building belonged to a Hezbollah affiliated de-mining association,”

said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut.

It was not immediately clear what the “error” was that caused the powerful blast.

Footage broadcast by the local Al Jadeed station showed damage to buildings and debris scattered across a large area.

The explosion comes seven weeks after the powerful explosion at Beirut port, caused by the detonation of nearly 3000 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate.

The explosion killed nearly 200 people, injured 6500 and damaged tens of thousands of buildings in the capital, Beirut.

It is still not clear what caused the initial fire that ignited the chemicals, and so far no one has been held accountable. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Being around someone who brings out the best in you will make a difference in how your life unfolds. Too much of anything will lead to setbacks. Aim for steady progress.

TAURUS It’s essential to have a plan and a backup to en(April 20May 20) sure you maintain stability in your life. Emotions will run deep when dealing with a friend, relative or lover.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Use your imagination and creativity to get ahead professionally. Don’t exaggerate or promise more than you can deliver. An offer will lead to uncertainty.

Find new ways to collaborate with people you enjoy working alongside. An idea you have will lead to a service you can offer from home.

Social media will encourage new beginnings. Love is on the rise.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If things aren’t going the way you planned, look around you and make adjustments to ease stress. Handle sensitive situations with kid gloves in order to avoid provoking an argument with someone you love.

LIBRA

Putting up with disruptions and the demands of others will stand between you and reaching your goal.

Personal gain is possible if you do what’s required.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

The best way to get your way is with charm, incentives and kind words. Avoid people who are secretive or who take advantage of you.

A physical improvement will boost your morale.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Do a good job. You’ll be judged by what you do, not by what you say. Refuse to let your personal life interfere with your professional responsibilities.

A passionate approach to life, love and pursuits will lead to success. Don’t rely on others; take control and see matters through from beginning to end.

Be open regarding your whereabouts as well as your feelings. The outcome of a change you make at home will depend on honesty, integrity and motives. Don’t let anger take over.

If you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you may make poor decisions.

Keep your money and belongings in a safe place.

Personal improvements will bring the most satisfaction.

Offer unique suggestions, but don’t take on the brunt of the responsibility or work. If you give the wrong impression, it will be difficult to change what someone thinks of you.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

21

Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings in "battle of the sixes" Steve Smith scored a responsible 69

S

Sanju Samson, Steven Smith, Jofra Archer star in battle

anju Samson, Steven Smith and Jofra Archer managed to out-hit Chennai Super Kings with 17 sixes between them, as Rajasthan Royals opened their campaign with a win over Chennai Super Kings at Sharjah.

The tournament’s first 200-plus score was fuelled by Samson’s 32-ball 74, Smith’s balanced 47-ball 69, and Archer’s four sixes in a row in the last over; and this proved to be too much for the Super Kings, whose chase meandered into near-surrender in the middle overs, before bursting to life at the end.

Rahul Tewatia’s three wickets played a big role in that outcome, but Royals’ defence was aided by the Super Kings’ experimental batting order and an ostensible lack of purpose in chase.

By the time MS Dhoni came in at No. 7, the Kings needed to score at more than 16 an over. That proved too much on the night, despite a late attack from Faf du Plessis.

Then came what was probably one of Ngidi’s worst overs in his life. It started with a reversion to the overpitched length. On hand to take advantage in the last over was Jofra Archer, who pumped the first ball over the straight boundary. The next ball, a short one, ended up over the roof at midwicket.

Following those were two more sixes, both of which also happened to be no-balls; and there was a wide to immediately follow them, meaning that Ngidi had gone for 27 runs off 2 legal balls. To his credit, he conceded only three off the next four, but the second 30-run last-over of this edition lifted Royals to 216 for 7.

Brand new Rajasthan, same old Samson

Sanju Samson scored a quickfire 74

SCOREBOARD RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) YBK Jaiswal c & b Chahar 6 SPD Smith (c) c Jadhav b Curran 6 9 SV Samson † c Chahar b Ngidi 74 DA Miller run out (Gaikwad/ Jadhav) 0 RV Uthappa c du Plessis b Chawla 5 R Tewatia lbw b Curran 10 R Parag c †Dhoni b Curran 6 TK Curran not out 10 JC Archer not out 27 Extras(b 1, nb 3, w 5) 9

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS (TARGET: 217 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) M Vijay c Curran b Gopal 21 SR Watson b Tewatia 33 F du Plessis c †Samson b Archer 72 SM Curran st †Samson b Tewatia 17 RD Gaikwad st †Samson b Tewatia 0 KM Jadhav c †Samson b Curran 22 MS Dhoni (c) †not out 29 RA Jadeja not out 1 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 10.0) 200/6

The area that the Royals really wanted to revamp at the TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 10.8) 216/7 Did not bat: PP Chawla, DL Chahar, auction was their opening partnership, but the experiment Did not bat: S Gopal, JD Unadkat L Ngidi with Smith alongside debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal lasted a Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Yashasvi Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Shane Watson, laboured 14 balls, in which they managed to put on only Jaiswal, 2.2 ov), 2-132 (Sanju 6.4 ov), 2-58 (Murali Vijay, 7.3 ov), 11 runs in trying to come to terms with what looked like a Samson, 11.4 ov), 3-134 (David 3-77 (Sam Curran, 8.5 ov), 4-77 sluggish pitch.

Miller, 11.6 ov), 4-149 (Robin (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 8.6 ov), 5-114 Jaiswal was out trying to pull one that gripped and Uthappa, 14.1 ov), 5-167 (Rahul (Kedar Jadhav, 13.4 ov), 6-179 (Faf got big on him. And then Samson, coming in at number 3, Tewatia, 16.2 ov), 6-173 (Riyan du Plessis, 18.5 ov) made the early impressions of the pitch seem questionable.

Parag, 16.6 ov), 7-178 (Steven He did take a couple of attempts to get his pull shots right, Smith, 18.2 ov) BOWLING O M R W but once he got to pace with the surface, came two shortJD Unadkat 4 0 44 0 arm pulls to clear the shortest square boundaries in the BOWLING O M R W JC Archer 4 0 26 1 tournament. It was the start of a torrent.

DL Chahar 4 0 31 1 S Gopal 4 0 38 1 The Royals got to 54 for 1 in the Powerplay, and in the Faf du Plessis scored 72 in a losing effort SM Curran 4 0 33 3 TK Curran 4 0 54 1 immediate over after, Samson took to Ravindra Jadeja’s L Ngidi 4 0 56 1 R Tewatia 4 0 37 3 quick, overpitched deliveries like they were throwdowns in RA Jadeja 4 0 40 0 training. Two sixes off his first two balls against him - one over Super Kings get stuck PP Chawla 4 0 55 1 long-on, one over long-off - started Samson off, and the exact feat Super Kings’ chase began with eight off the first was repeated against Piyush Chawla next over. two overs, no boundaries scored, and it turned out Chawla, who was also hit straight off a full length, did try to be a precursor for the rest of the innings. The sixsecutive deliveries, and Kedar Jadhav’s promotion meant Dhoni to pull his length back the next ball, along with a wider line; or-nothing theme stuck for them as well, and they did manage came in at No. 7 with 104 required off 38 balls. but, even so, Samson produced one of his best shots of the night, to more or less match the Royals’ powerplay effort. du Plessis had struck at less than a-run-a-ball for 19 balls reaching out to slap him over extra cover without even managBut just after their most fluent batsman on the night - Shane at that point, and was dropped at long-on by Riyan Parag off ing to get to the pitch of it.

Watson - had struck four sixes and a four, and had looked set to Tewatia. That catalysed a late six-hitting surge from him - and That turned out to be the last real challenge until he got take on the spinners, the plan fell apart. Leg-spinner Tewatia a 21-run over off Jaydev Unadkat. But his second fifty of the seaout. He completed a 19-ball fifty - equalling Owais Shah for the skid one on leg stump, and Watson was bowled off his thigh son, 72 off 37, came at the other end of Dhoni trudging to 10 off Royals’ second fastest one - and by the end of that over, which while trying to pull him.

13, before hitting his first six and turning it into three in a row went for 28, including a Smith six, he had hit five sixes in his M Vijay’s run-a-ball 21 hadn’t helped when he fell next over, in the last over. last nine balls. and only the promoted Sam Curran’s 17 off 6 seemed to be takBut the chase had already been mathematically closed off The Royals went into the first time out at 96 for 1 in eight ing Super Kings anywhere near their big target in the face of

by Archer - with the ball in the 19th over, after he had done the overs. It took another three overs - with three more straight six- much better lengths from Royals’ spinners. work with the bat earlier. (ESPN cricinfo) es off spin bowling that continued to be too full - before the partBut Tewatia had him and Ruturaj Gaikwad stumped off connership ended via a short ball from Lungi Ngidi that Samson could only chip to sweeper cover.

Six or nothing

By the end of the second-wicket stand, Smith had also found himself in, while playing in his usual busy manner. He was reprieved at the long-off boundary when he drilled one to Sam Curran, who couldn’t hold on to the flat hit on his left.

Smith also managed a cheeky ramp off Ngidi, falling over into the off-side while doing it. But those proved to be rare highlights in what proved to be a downturn in the innings.

Miller was run out without facing a ball on his Royals’ debut, caught short at the non-striker’s end as his bat plonked in the turf when he dived. Robin Uthappa, one of those Royals bought at the auction, came in at No. 5, and managed only five off his nine balls. Sam Curran and the spinners had adjusted their lengths, just behind a good length, to bring some control to the Super Kings in the second half.

Paradoxically, the pitch seemed to be difficult to score on, if the scoring shots weren’t boundaries or sixes. By the 19th over, the Royals had made only 54, after Samson had fallen at 132 in 11.4 overs; and they had lost Smith by then.

“We were always behind,” Taylor says of Windies loss to England

W

est Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor believes a failure to adapt to the playing surface resulted in her team’s downfall against England at Derby on Monday.

Taylor’s side managed 116 for 6 in their 20 overs, chasing an England total of 163 for 8 set by the hosts, who took first strike. England’s match-winning total was due largely to the innings of Player of the Match Tammy Beaumont, who scored 62 from 49 balls, aided by some wayward bowling from the Caribbean women.

Deandra Dottin led the scoring for the West Indies with a 59-ball 69, but no other player made double figures as the West Indies struggled to keep pace with the required rate of just over eight runs an over.

Taylor was not happy with the performances. “It’s not one of our best (performances). We didn’t adapt well to the pitch,” she said. “Tammy batted really well, and set the game up nicely for them.

“Looking back at that, we thought we were always behind, and had to gain

some momentum going into the batting.”

Taylor conceded that the bowlers and the batters let the team down.

“Some bowlers bowled well in patches, but…not the best, really. Deandra batted well, but she needed someone to stay there with her,” said the despondent Windies captain.

“We thought too many dot balls strangled us a bit. We need to go back to the footage and assess it and see areas we can improve on. We have a training day tomorrow, just to fine-tune for Wednesday’s game.” (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Windies Women seeking nd to bounce back in 2 T20 against England

T

he West Indies Women certainly did not live up to the hype of the usual West Indian flamboyance when they took to the field against England in the first T20.

Sure, they came back in the bowling department with a few quick wickets to put their opponents on the back foot; but what was it for? They still somehow managed to be put under the gun, despite an exciting 69 from Deandra Dottin, which was the only highlight for the women. No other player could rally around her, and, in the end, the Caribbean women ran out of balls and wickets.

Nevertheless, they will be seeking to regain their form when they tackle England today at 13:00 hrs at County Ground, Derby, England.

However, the Windies women can learn from their mistakes and correct them. After losing by 47 runs, it is rather clear that they will be eager to bag their first win and level the five-match series. In their defence, COVID-19 could be a factor, as they were out of training for months, as compared to their female counterparts, but with a feel of game one, the best is yet to come. Hence, it is expected that match two would definitely be more competitive.

England

England openers started off the summer with a good 43-run partnership in the powerplay. Tammy Beaumont continued the charge, despite the wickets falling at the other end, to score 62 runs.

Heather Knight (25 runs) and Amy Ellan Jones

(24 runs) scored crucial runs to finish their innings with a flourish.

Nat Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone each picked up 2 wickets, while Sarah Glenn chipped in with a wicket in the match. Katherine Brunt bowled superbly to have match figures of 4-1-8-0.

Tammy Beaumont scored 62 runs opening the batting, and shared vital partnerships with Wyatt & Heather Knight.

Natalie Sciver had suTammy Beaumont’s perb bowling figures of wicket will 4-0-16-2 in match 1, be key for but she failed to make a the Windies mark with the bat, as she women scored just 7 runs. We expect her to make an all-round performance in match 2.

West Indies

The West Indies batting unit scored just 116 runs in their 20 overs, and never threatened the chase. Deandra Dottin scored 69 runs off 59 balls, while the others combined to make just 30 runs off their 61 balls. No player crossed the two-digit mark, barring Deandra Dottin.

Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell shared 4 wickets between them, and had runs scored in their bowling at less than 7 per over despite bowling in the power play and death overs. Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor picked up 3 & 2 wickets re-

Deandra Dottin will be a key factor in the match

CLASSIFIED ADS 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.

spectively, but had runs scored off their bowling at more than 8 per over. The Windies’ fifth bowling option of Afy Fletcher and Aaliyah Alleyne went for 50 runs in their 5 overs.

Relationship Problem, Pregnancy, Removal of Evil Spirit, Sickness, Jobs, Nature Problem, Skin Problem, Business Upliftment, Blockage, Family Problem, Education and much more. Call for Appointment: WhatsApp : 633-7396 / 683-5228.

WANTED Office / Sales Supervisor - Need 2 years Sales and Marketing Experience (minimum). 5 Subjects C.X.C minimum Grade 3. 227-0176/86 – mimadecor12@gmail.com

Expected to perform in match 2

Deandra Dottin scored almost 70% of her team’s runs, excluding the extras. She smashed 6 boundaries and 2 sixes while other players from her team scored just 2 boundaries.

Shakera Selman had bowling figures of 4-0-263, and she picked up three crucial top order wickets in the match. She will play a big role with the ball in match 2 as well.

In all honesty, hands down, England are the superior team, as they have the stronger unit and they are playing on home turf. However, the Windies women should not be counted out, as they can bring the fire and turn the tables at any given moment.

How USA’s Ali Khan got to the IPL (with a little help from Dwayne Bravo)

F

ive days after his 28th birthday in December 2018, Ali Khan was sitting on the front steps of a Florida mansion known as the Cricketplex Resort, and he was sobbing.

Minutes earlier, and with climactic excitement, Khan and three friends - Maq Qureshi, Shawn Qureshi, and former Pakistan Test batsman Faisal Iqbal - had been watching the IPL auction on a giant plasma screen. After waking up at 5am for the auction coverage from Jaipur, Khan and his pals had waited more than four hours for the moment his name would be put up. It took only another 29 seconds for the auctioneer to turn Khan’s dream into a nightmare, slamming down his gavel to shout, “Unsold!”

An IPL roster spot that moments before had felt so close had suddenly turned as distant as the 8420 miles separating Boca Raton and Rajasthan.

“That day I was very upset, and I just couldn’t watch it anymore,” Khan says. “That’s why I just stepped out. I thought that was the closest I could ever get to the IPL.” Maq Qureshi, a close confidant of Khan, tried to find a silver lining. “This isn’t the end,” he told Khan as the latter left to head back home to Ohio.

“It’s just the beginning. You have to stay positive.”

Qureshi is the proprietor of the Cricketplex Resort, but he is better known in US cricket circles for being the founder of the US Open T20 cricket tournament held in Florida every December, as well as the US All-Stars team that plays in the event.

Dwayne Bravo spotted Khan in the US Open T20 tournament, and signed him on for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global T20 Canada before recommending him to TKR Peter Della Penna. Khan had been playing in the team since 2013, but it was at the 2017 event that Qureshi roped Dwayne Bravo in to play for the US All-Stars. The sight of Khan slinging down yorker after yorker convinced Bravo to draft him in at the Winnipeg Hawks in the 2018 Global T20 Canada, and then to recommend him to the Trinbago Knight Riders’ (TKR) management as a replacement for Ronsford Beaton in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Khan became an indispensable part of TKR, taking 16 wickets in a title-winning campaign. He had initially arrived in the CPL in 2016 with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, but played only once during a two-year stint. He had nearly given up on his professional cricket aspirations when Bravo’s

intervention came about.

This past week, Khan lifted his second CPL title in three years with the TKR. After missing the previous four matches with a right hamstring strain, Khan had returned to the starting XI and taken 1 for 10 in two overs, including a maiden, as the Knight Riders stormed into the CPL playoffs.

On the eve of their semi-final showdown with the Jamaica Tallawahs, everyone in the Knight Riders squad had gathered for a team dinner in Port-of-Spain.

“As soon as everyone sat in their seats, (Knight Riders coach) Brendon McCullum welcomed everyone to dinner, and then he said, ‘A man from USA will be joining us in Kolkata Knight Riders. I want to take this opportunity to announce that…’

“As soon as he said that, I was just like, ‘Is this real?’ DJ Bravo was sitting next to me, and then he hugged me. I started crying because it was so emotional. It’s something you dream about, and then all of a sudden you hear it in your ears that this actually happened. I was very emotional and I was very happy. Everyone came and congratulated me. We had dinner and Baz gave me a big hug and said, ‘You deserve it.’ I said, ‘Thank you, Baz. I will not let you down.’”

From tears of sadness to tears of joy, Khan is living the American Dream. It was five years ago this month that he arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana from Dayton, Ohio as an uncapped, unheralded, unknown prospect - literally referred to simply as “#19” and “#64”, the numbers of the generic jerseys he was given to wear by coaches who had never seen him - at a trial organised by the ICC Americas development office. They were looking to come up with a squad of 15 Associate players to represent the region in the West Indies Regional Super50 tournament. That would in turn become a further audition for six players to become rookie-slot draft picks in the 2016 CPL. The odds were stacked heavily against Khan, with dozens of players who had already represented USA, Canada and Bermuda in the fray. He had never played organised hard-ball cricket before moving to the USA with his family as a teenager from Fateh Jang, near Attock in Pakistan’s Punjab province. But from early on in the 2015 trial, Khan stood out for his ability to consistently bowl accurate yorkers - from a slingy action honed through formative years spent playing tape-ball cricket

in Fateh Jang - ones that were clocked as high as 146kph in the 2020 CPL final.

Though others were taking more wickets, this particular skill caught the eye of former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh and Australia’s former fielding coach Mike Young, two independent selectors at the trial.

“How could you not want him on your club?”

Young asked the other talent evaluators. “And he can bowl. Now, you know, he tries. But he’s got some skill.”

Besides TKR staff, one of the first people Khan went to have a chat with in his CPL bio-bubble after he heard he would be in the KKR side was Walsh, who served as the bowling coach for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

“He was on the same floor as me, just a couple rooms down,” Khan said of Walsh. “I was like, ‘Coach, if you wouldn’t have picked us at that time in Indianapolis, we wouldn’t be here today.’ He was like, ‘I just see the talent. That’s my job, to pass it on.’

“When I got injured (before the knockouts), he asked about my leg. When I played again, he said, ‘It’s good to see you back playing. Keep working hard.’”

There are others in the Associate sphere, USA in particular, who might be more naturally talented than Khan. But his work ethic and desire to improve stand out. He hopes he can be an inspiration to future generations of USA players in the same way that Rashid Khan has been for young cricketers in Afghanistan, looking not just to play for the national team, but to make it big in franchise cricket.

Khan has not only played, and won, the CPL, but also in the Pakistan Super League, the Afghanistan Premier League, and the Bangladesh Premier League.

“Maybe I can be the same guy from USA who can throw a rope back and bring more players to other leagues, and hopefully we can have a few more players in the coming years,” Khan said.

Less than 24 hours after winning the CPL with one Knight Riders team, Khan was boarding a nine-seater private jet to take him and his KKR team mates - and TKR team mate Bravo to the UAE. But this is not the fairy-tale ending: Khan’s IPL Cinderella story is just beginning.

(ESPNCricinfo)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

The Guyana Cricket Power-packed Kolkata Knight Administration Act has Riders look to extend Mumbai Indians’ winless UAE streak been restored

– DCB, GCB to host elections

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) may soon hold elections following the Tuesday morning Court of Appeal ruling in which the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA) has been restored.

Visibly elated and relieved at this development, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, announced earlier on Tuesday the upholding of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA) Chapter 21:03, which was passed in 2014 and was subjected to numerous court cases in the ensuing years.

“I’m happy to announce that in relation to cricket and movement of cricket administration today, that the Court of Appeal just ruled that the order that was made by the single judge and chambers to suspend the major parts of the Cricket Administration Act, that order was discharged, so that

Captains Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik have a chat a day before their match

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

For Reference: Sections 7 and 8

means the Cricket Administration Bill and Act is now fully enforced once again,” Ramson shared via virtual engagement.

The Act was challenged in 2014 through a Fixed Date Application (FDA), and in 2018 in the High Court before and appeal by the GCB et al was taken to the Court of Appeal.

While the proceedings were going on, the Court had ordered that the then Guyana Cricket Board could act in the interim as the GCB, until the matter was concluded.

“It also means that the original board that was there prior to the Cricket Administration Act, they were the ones that the court had ordered in the interim could act as the Guyana Cricket Board. That order has now been set aside, so that situation no longer exists,” the Sport Minister explained.

Now, with the reinstatement of the Act, both the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) may have to await the Minister’s consultation with Cricket West Indies before an election can be held, as provided for in Chapter 21:03.

The Act reads, “17. The Minister, after meaningful consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board, shall, (a) be responsible for the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman, who shall be responsible for the verification of the Register of Clubs and for performing the functions of Returning Officer for the first election of the membership of the Guyana Cricket Board, (b) have no part to play in respect to the

holding of subsequent elections of the said cricket board and the election and the appointment of the Ombudsman.

18. Subsequent elections to the Guyana Cricket Board shall be held in accordance with the provision of this act (Sections 7 and 8) and subsequent elections of the Ombudsman shall be held in accordance with Section 10.

“The next step for us is that we’re going to have the Demerara Cricket Board election, and then shortly thereafter, the Guyana Cricket Board elections,” Ramson declared.

Explaining the severity of what had transpired over the years, Minister Ramson shared a little background on how the act came to be set aside by the powers that be.

“Even though the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill was passed with support of the members of the APNU, they then turned around, with the then Attorney General Basil Williams and George Norton, had consented with the Attorney representing the Guyana cricket Board, Roysdale Forde, had consented to the suspension of the provisions of the Act,” he relayed.

Every original provision of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA) Chapter 21:03 has now been restored.

Ramson said, “I’m happy to say that there’s significant movement in relation to cricket administration in Guyana, and the provisions which were set aside or suspended have now been restored.”

B

The big picture

efore IPL 2020 began, Mumbai Indians were everyone’s favourites, and with good reason: They have a batting order that has four or five players capable of changing a match, and a bowling attack that marries striking ability with parsimony, great depth, and possibly the best think-tank in the business.

All of that still holds true, but the opening-game loss against Chennai Super Kings showed up some cracks in the team. It also showed the effects of little to no cricket for a majority of the players, with uncharacteristic sloppiness in the field, and errors while batting.

Are they cracks Kolkata Knight Riders can exploit successfully? They certainly have the tools to do so, and as the franchise that start the latest in this IPL, they would have had a chance to assess the conditions in the UAE well.

However, one of the issues Mumbai have is a quick thinning of the batting order after No. 7, which could conceivably be a problem for the Knight Riders too. The injury to Nathan Coulter-Nile affects Mumbai’s batting depth, and though he trained with the team on Tuesday, whether he plays on Wednesday remains to be seen.

For the Knight Riders, the batting order almost takes the form of a bell curve, thanks to possibly the competition’s most power-packed middle order in Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell.

Mumbai’s bowling is potent, and one offday against the Super Kings wouldn’t warrant grave changes, unless it’s for fitness reasons. The Knight Riders will be hoping that Sunil Narine is good for four overs. He was very effective when he bowled in the CPL, but he played as often as he didn’t in the competition.

The Knight Riders have had a couple of promising quicks in their ranks for what seems like ages, without having them fit.

But both Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi enter this season free of injury worries, and you would imagine at least one of them would be in the starting XI.

In the news

If Coulter-Nile is fit, he would most likely replace James Pattinson in the Mumbai XI. Pattinson had a reasonable outing against the Super Kings, bowling quick and getting a couple of hits lower down the order, but Coulter-Nile’s all-round ability is likely to swing things his way.

Bowling at the death in T20 cricket requires a different set of skills than almost anything else, and Trent Boult reckons it’s “the biggest challenge in the game”. That challenge only gets bigger when the batsmen you’re bowling to are Russell and company.

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Eoin

Morgan, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Rahul Tripathi/Rinku Singh, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 11 Prasidh Krishna Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Saurabh Tiwary, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 James Pattinson/Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Strategy punt

The Knight Riders’ powerhouse trio of Morgan, Russell and Karthik have excellent records against Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

Karthik has taken 50 runs off 23 balls he has faced from Bumrah, without being dismissed. Russell has scored 49 off 33, being dismissed once. Against Boult, the trio’s combined record is 82 runs off 43 balls, with three dismissals. If these three batsmen are batting at the death, they could take a heavy toll on Mumbai’s bowlers.

A possible counter-intuitive strategy for Mumbai could be to look at only keeping the runs down at the start, without looking for wickets - thus delaying the entry of these three and not giving them time to get set at the death.

Narine’s record as a batsman against Mumbai isn’t too great. He has only 32 runs in eight innings, at less than a run-a-ball.

The extra pace Mumbai have been able to call on during most seasons is perhaps part of the reason.

The Knight Riders have indicated that Narine will partner Shubman Gill at the top of the order for them, but in light of his record against Mumbai, perhaps Narine could bat lower down.

They do have an option in Rahul Tripathi to partner Gill at the top.

Russell is destructive against any bowling, but relatively speaking, quick and short bowling has had him in more trouble than other types. In IPL 2019, his strike rate (155) and balls per boundary (4.0) against the short ball were the lowest he had for pace bowlers. He simply slaughtered length balls, back of length balls, fuller ones and full tosses. So, bowling pace into his body might be the way to go, as soon as he comes in to bat.

Stats that matter

The Knight Riders and Mumbai have the most lopsided head-to-head record in IPL history. Mumbai have won 19 of their 25 matches, with the Knight Riders victorious only six times. Mumbai’s win percentage of 76 is the best among any two teams in the IPL. However, in the only time the two teams met in Abu Dhabi, the Knight Riders won, back in 2014. Mumbai, in fact, are on a six-match losing streak in the UAE, having lost five out of five in the country in 2014 to go with their opening game loss this year.

This will be Kieron Pollard’s 150th match in the IPL. (ESPNcricinfo)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

The Guyana Cricket Administration Act has been restored Page 23

– DCB, GCB to host elections Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings in "battle of the sixes"

“We were always behind,” Taylor says of Windies loss to England

Pg 21

Pg 21

How USA’s Ali Khan got to the IPL (with a little help from Dwayne Bravo) Pg 22

Sanju Samson, Steven Smith, Jofra Archer star in battle

Ali Khan picked up eight wickets in eight matches in the 2020 CPL

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.