Guyana Times -- Wednesday, March 16, 2022

GHDS calls for safe, sober celebration of Phagwah P23

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

Issue No. 4950

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

PRICE

Rising cost of living

Govt to buttress budgeted $5B in relief measures – Pres Ali ...engaging ... engaging stakeholders; reassures no hike in utility charges

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Alberttown man charged for killing younger P25 brother

Page 3

Berbice 2-vehicle smash-up leaves 2 dead

Dead: Yujysteer Puran

Dead: Latchnam Sukhan

10 new COVID cases recorded P17 in 24h Details on probe into missing fishermen to be released soon – Min Edghill P15

Albouystown man busted with $7M in ganja gets 4 years P12

– duo was reportedly racing

See story on page 9

22,000 residents Region 2 rice farmers to benefit from protest $141M water for better well at Lusignan paddy prices Page 7

Page 24

CCJ rules against DPP pursuing murder charge against Marcus Bisram without new evidence Page 2 – Bisram says justice has been served

P11 Several schools left out of feeding programme under APNU/AFC Administration ...programme requires community support – PS

Kwakwani P12 residents worried after pets found dead, allegedly beheaded by jaguar

2 NEWS CCJ rules against DPP pursuing murder charge against Marcus Bisram without new evidence WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Bisram says justice has been served

I

n a ruling that has effectively freed USbased Guyanese Marcus Bisram of a murder charge, the Caribbean Court of Justice on Tuesday ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack does not have the power to direct a Magistrate to commit an accused person to stand trial.

Bisram was charged for the 2016 murder of Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt, and was extradited from the United States to Guyana in 2019 to face the murder charge following a prolonged fight in the US courts to block the extradition.

In 2020, a Magistrate dismissed the matter after finding that the prosecution’s case against the accused was weak – and as such, Bisram was freed.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions then instructed the Magistrate to reinstitute the murder charge, resulting in Bisram being rearrested.

The Magistrate was also instructed by the DPP to commit the matter over to the High Court for a jury trial.

Bisram’s lawyers challenged the DPP’s instructions and in 2020, he was again freed of the charge after Justice Simone MorrisRamlall ruled that the DPP’s instructions were unlawful.

However, the DPP moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge this ruling. The DPP won its appeal – clearing the way for the charge to be filed again.

But Bisram’s lawyers challenged the matter before the Caribbean Court of Justice – Guyana’s court of

Faiyaz Narinedatt Marcus Bisram

final resort.

The Trinidad-based court ruled that the DPP does not have the power to direct a Magistrate to commit an accused person to stand trial.

Delivering the ruling, President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders ordered the decision made by the Magistrate to discharge the murder charge against Bisram to be re-

stored.

It was also ordered that Bisram may not be committed for trial only on the evidence led before the Magistrate. Justice Saunders further declared that nothing prevents the DPP from re-arresting and charging the accused if new evidence surfaces.

“The Court also found that it would be unjust, in all of the circumstances, for Bisram to be made to answer any charge of murder

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders

in this case on the same evidence as was presented to the Magistrate. However, because Bisram, at least in terms of the law, was never placed in jeopardy, nothing prevents the DPP from having him re-arrested and charged again if fresh evidence was obtained linking him to the alleged murder,” he said.

It was also declared that Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act with respect to the separation of powers, does not align with Article 122 A of the Constitution.

“Until the National Assembly makes suitable provision, [Section] 72 is modified to excise those provisions permitting the DPP to direct the Magistrate.

In lieu thereof, a DPP aggrieved at the discharge of an accused by a Magistrate after the whole of the proceedings at a PI, may apply ex parte to a Judge of the Supreme Court for an order that the discharged person be arrested and committed, if the Judge is of the view that the material placed before the Judge justified such a course of action,” Justice Saunders said.

The charge that was brought against Bisram alleged that between October 31, 2016, and November 1, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, he counselled, procured, and commanded Harri Paul Parsram, Radesh Motie, Niran Yacoob, Diodath Datt, and Orlando Dickie to murder Narinedatt.

Reports are that Bisram had a party at his home, which Narinedatt and others attended. Media reports are that Narinedatt went to the yard and was followed by Bisram, who reportedly began “feeling him up.”

It was reported that Narinedatt slapped and chucked Bisram, who allegedly directed his friends to kill him. According to reports, several men had beaten the carpenter and dumped his body on the Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice road.

It was reported that they then drove over his body at Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice, to make it appear like a vehicular accident.

the focal point of arguments presented before the CCJ, with Bisram’s lawyer, Darshan Ramdhani, QC, urging the regional court to strike down as being unconstitutional Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act. Apart from arguing that the DPP’s directive to the Magistrate amounts to judicial interference which violates the doctrine of the separation of powers, he contended that her directive is also unlawful because it violates Article 122 A of the Constitution and infringes on his client’s right to a fair trial within a reasonable time guaranteed under144 (1) of the Constitution.

Unconstitutional

The power of the DPP to direct a committal was

Prima facie case

The DPP, however, submitted that as a constitutional office holder, she was merely exercising a quasi-judicial function when she directed the Magistrate to commit Bisram. She argued: “That direction itself does not affect any judicial powers. I say this because the PI is only a stage in the trial. When the DPP directs the Magistrate to reopen and to commit, who hears those matters? It goes before a Judge and jury. The DPP has no control over what decision the Judge… or jury makes.”

According to Ali-Hack, the powers vested in her pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act are just a matter of convenience to expedite the charge and do not in any way collide with Articles 122 A and 144 of the Constitution.

While noting that the evidence against Bisram established a prima facie case, the DPP said that any reasonable jury, if properly directed, might convict.

The DPP argued that the Magistrate in Bisram’s case was assessing the credibility of the prosecution’s main witness, Chaman Chunilall.

But this, she pointed out, is “strictly” a duty for the jury, noting that the Magistrate’s only task is to assess whether the evidence is sufficient and admissible.

Considering this, AliHack submitted that Chunilall’s evidence is admissible, that her directive to the Magistrate was lawful, and that there is nothing unconstitutional about Section 72.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Wednesday, Mar 16 – 02:30h – 04:00h and Thursday, Mar 17 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Mar 16 – 15:15h – 16:45h and Thursday, Mar 17 – 15:50h – 17:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

There will be cloudy skies, light rain showers and drizzle during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 15:51h reaching a maximum height of 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 09:27h and 21:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metre and 0.62 metre.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS 04 05 07

19 23 25

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Rough Rice

$292.10/ton

-0.06

London Sugar

$522.60/ton

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USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1921.60

$1922.60

Low/High Change

$1906.10 +3.50

$1943.70 +0.18%

Govt to buttress budgeted $5B in relief measures – Pres Ali ...engaging stakeholders; reassures no hike in utility charges

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

F

Rising cost of living

W

ith Guyana buffeted by the global rise in cost of living, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday reassured that his Government is aggressively consulting with stakeholders to come up with solutions that will ease this burden on citizens.

On the sidelines of the commissioning of a Guyana Water Inc (GWI) well, the Head of State, in response to calls for the excise tax rate on fuel imports to be lowered, reminded that the Government had already made such a reduction from 20 per cent to 10 per cent for the importation of gasoline and diesel.

“We’ve been continuously reducing the tax on fuel [importation]… So that has been continuously done even without anyone calling. [But] at some point there will be an assessment because the country still has to get revenue.”

“So, at some point, there will be an assessment as to what additional measures we can look at,” President Ali told <<<Guyana Times>>> when asked about further reducing the excise rates to offset global increases which have resulted in gasoline now retailing locally as high as $246 per litre.

During an interview with this newspaper earlier this week, two major Private Sector bodies – the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) – contended that a more impacting intervention is needed to help Guyanese through this time.

To this end, they called for the removal altogether of the excise taxes on fuel and income taxes – even if just temporarily – until the cost of living stabilises, as well as relief grants to citizens.

But again, President Ali reminded that nearly $5 billion was set aside in the 2022 Budget towards various interventions aimed at easing the burden of the rising cost of living. He disclosed during the event that his Government is currently finalising an approach for a national consultation on the best options to address the “multi-faceted problem” caused by rising prices.

“We’ve already started that and the Government will be continuing, aggressively, discussions with a cross-section of Guyanese [and] communities so that we can come up with the best possible approach – listening to ideas, listening to some of the connected issues and then coming up with some policies,” the President added on the sidelines.

The Head of State pointed out during his remarks

President Dr Irfaan Ali

on Tuesday that the global challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are now being exacerbated by the Ukraine crisis which has contributed to the world prices for fuel skyrocketing to US$127 per barrel as well as putting a dent in the global wheat supply by 40 per cent.

In fact, the National Milling Company of Guyana Inc (NAMILCO) last week announced a 15 per cent increase of its flour with immediate effect. The local company said that in addition to the price of wheat being 40 per cent higher than before, there have also been increases in the cost of packaging, additives and fuel hence it can no longer sustain operations at the current flour price levels.

But according to President Ali, “It’s very easy for some sectors to say the price of gas is up so we shall not affect our revenue stream, we will take up our

fares. But it’s far more complex for the Government because an increase in gas price and oil price does not only affect the vehicles on the road.

It affects the input costs for every single thing. But a Government must manage in such an environment.”

On this note, the Head of State said he wants to build a Guyana that will be resilient to external shocks hence it is taking the lead in ensuring food security so that the country can be self-sufficient and sustainable as possible especially as it relates to the supply of food and basic commodities. As a result, he disclosed that soon Guyana will be examining a variety of wheat to ascertain whether the country can start cultivation to meet local requirements.

Nevertheless, despite the global challenges, President Ali outlined that his Administration has not only been managing a country with one of the best debts to GDP ratios but has also been able to keep public servants employed, expand employment opportunities, increase salaries and other welfare benefits – all while embarking on a massive infrastructure transformation programme.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted because the Government can be so responsive and responsible that we do not take enough time to understand the circumstances under which the Government is being responsible and responsive… In just one month, [world events are]

driving up the costs of transportation, cutting off supplies and as if this was not enough, China, with just an emergence of a few [COVID] cases, has gone into lockdown again.

This is the environment under which the Government, not only in Guyana, but governments globally are operating in.”

Reminding that his Government has already taken a series of steps to reduce the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, the Guyanese leader reassured that this will continue. He noted that when the public utility companies such as Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and GWI did their 2022 budgets, they did not cater for oil prices to skyrocket.

“The main impetus for power and water is fuel, energy costs – that has increased by 100 per cent.

But here in Guyana, the Government is not going to allow that increase to be translated to the people of the country. We said to both entities that “you are not going to increase by a cent”; the Government will take up the additional expenditure and fill the gap.”

“That is how a responsible governmental operates… in less than six years ago, you had a Government that showed you that their solution was to add a tax on the water and remove the [electricity] subsidy for pensioners. But sometimes, you know we don’t appreciate the condition on the words the Government has delivered,” the President asserted.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

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

“Fair Digital Finance” W

orld Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) was celebrated on Tuesday, March 15. The day is commemorated every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. It is an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers be respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.

Each March 15, the consumer movement unites to highlight a pressing issue facing consumers globally. This year, the membership of Consumers International – 200 consumer groups in 100 countries – selected “Fair Digital Finance” as the global theme.

The global consumer body noted that “by 2024, digital banking?consumers?are expected to exceed?3.6 billion. In the developing world, the proportion of account owners sending and receiving payments digitally has grown from?57 per cent in 2014 to 70 per cent in 2017. Digital finance brings new opportunities – but also new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers. Digital finance can increase the likelihood that the most vulnerable are left behind”.

Whilst consumers undoubtedly benefit from these technologies, there are questions about how to improve the quality of services, which online services and products consumers can trust and what happens to the data they share online.

According to Consumers International, digital technologies are reshaping payments,?lending, insurance, and wealth management,?becoming a key enabler for consumers of financial services. “However, in recent years and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly exposed to scams, frauds, phishing and data malpractices. Consumers who experience economic hardship are particularly vulnerable to these harms,” it stated.

To address the most pressing issues faced by consumers in digital finance, Consumers International and its global membership have developed a Consumer Vision for Fair Digital Finance. The Vision sets out questions for decision makers from a consumer rights perspective to build a digital financial marketplace that is inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable for everyone. In “Building fair digital finance”, its Consumer Vision for Fair Digital Finance, the international body said: “Globally, financial regulatory frameworks have been designed to deal with the presence of digital technologies, however many still lack effective consumer protection mechanisms and appropriate supervision and enforcement capacity. Equally, some providers of digital finance are ignoring the needs of consumers and actively leaving them exposed to vulnerabilities. The use of technology and the possibility of a cashless society creates new risks and exacerbates existing ones already present within financial services.”

When consumers’ personal information is lost, or stolen, the effects can be serious. Data breaches are highest for consumers in Latin America. Globally, data breaches are surpassing the increase in data created. Consumers, therefore, need to be aware of their rights and what actions can be taken.

“Building financial inclusion and resilience is vital for thriving communities and economies. We want digital finance products and services that help us alleviate poverty, avoid debt, create jobs, grow health and wealth and help us plan for the future in a sustainable way. Digital finance services can help in many ways.

But it will take effort.”

Local consumer protection bodies in Guyana, including the Guyana National Bureau of Standards and the Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission, should be lauded for their continued efforts to sensitise the public on their rights and for dissemination of pertinent information. These entities have also recognised that in this digital age consumers need to be protected more than ever, and have charged service providers to find secure and reliable ways of utilising data and to address the challenges by developing strategies that will lead to a trustworthy digital world for all consumers.

Consumers International stressed that to maximise the benefits and prevent consumers being harmed, consumer associations, Governments, industry, and civil society organisations must work together to create a fair, safe, and sustainable marketplace for all.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo pose for a photo with the staff of OMG, Sheriff Street, Georgetown after having a working lunch at the establishment

Cecil Kennard was an outstanding judicial officer and citizen

Dear Editor, I hereby respectfully pay tribute to an august gentleman and fine legal luminary who has passed away, Cecil Kennard, my good friend, neighbour, colleague and fellow prosecutor of the DPP Chambers before he became a Judge and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

I joined the Chambers of the DPP in the year 1966 where I met Cecil, together with other gentlemen, including Richard Hector, the man who bowled the great Len Hutton for a duck at Bourda, Laurie Ganpat Singh, Godfrey Persaud, James Patterson under the DPP Emanuel Ramao, Mr Gonsalves Shabola as Deputy DPP. We were a fine fraternity of enthusiastic lawyers prosecuting on behalf of the State. At that time, we worked on Saturdays also.

Cecil was an outstanding prosecutor, always well prepared and thorough. He prosecuted some remarkable murder cases together with fraud cases and robbery with violence cases.

His gentleness and mannerly conduct at the Bar with his attractive personality spontaneously attracted the women jurors of the panel.

Whether that was part of his advocacy and persuasion to a guilty verdict remains unknown.

Mr Gonsalves Shabola was always ready and willing to help us prosecutors for we rushed to him in the afternoon after the adjournments to discuss our legal problems during the day at court and to receive guidance thereto. On Saturdays at 10 am all of us met in-

formally in his Chambers to discuss legal problems and evidential issues that we were confronted with during the week, and advice on the presentation of our cases. Hence, together we learnt from each other the legal problems or issues with solutions to them.

My friend and brother Cecil Kennard was a very outstanding prosecutor, as proven when he prosecuted what was known as the Kitty Murder Case. We crossed swords with the finest legal minds of the Bar, including the famous legal luminary Mr JOF Haynes, Fred Wills, JT Clarke and the Luckhoo Chambers among Judges the renowned Chief Justice JA Luckhoo, Mr Akbar Khan, Justice Fraser, Justice Gordon, Justice Date, Justice Kenneth George and others.

I clearly recall certain prisoners when they heard that Cecil Kennard is the prosecutor, prisoners take sick leave for they were fearful of him prosecuting due to likely verdicts of guilty.

Cecil became a Judge of the High Court and Chief Justice and he was fair, firm and thorough, yet positive and resolute. Parties to civil claims never spoke of an unjust result when he presided. Cecil and I were buddy friends during our days of prosecution, dining, wining, discussing law, cricket. He talked of horses but I knew very little of it.

Cecil emerged from an independent Bush Lot family of East Corentyne where his parents owned both coconut and rice estates. His uncle

Gavin Kennard was tall and handsome and he became Agriculture Minister and socially, he was known as the prince.

Cecil became Chancellor of the Judiciary and as Chancellor, he was known for his management style, his positive administrative skill and ability in supervising the Magistrates as he was severe in his discipline when it comes to laxity. The reams of decisions left on the Appellate Court in both civil and the criminal law will enrich our judicial library and enhance the legal minds of the Bar.

He was firm, fair and fearless, yet kind, charming, sociable and a great legal luminary on the firmament of the legal profession and Judiciary. His name shall reign through the corridor of judicial history as an outstanding judicial officer and citizen.

Eternal rest give unto Cecil’s soul, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Amen.

Fraternally, Jailall Kissoon, Attorney-at-Law

Don't cut your nose and spoil your face Dear Editor, With the expected increases at gas pumps, transportation operators are demanding an increase in fares.

Not to be excluded from this demand are hire car operators in Berbice (GT Mar 15).

Private operators hold fast to the view because they are unregulated, they can increase fares as they see fit.

While their strong clamour might not be unreasonable, in view of the prevailing circumstances, however, what might be viewed as unconscionable and unreasonable is unilateral, unofficial structure demand for increases to become effective immediately, which have been met with resistance from commuters.

Instead of trying to find a compromise, the operators have resorted to parking their vehicles. The com-

ment by one operator that should their demand not be met then they will be “forced to park our cars and everyone will have to walk” is most unhelpful. Don't cut your nose and spoil your face, is my response to that comment, for while commuters will be inconvenienced by having to walk, operators too will feel the consequences of their actions - no work, no income.

Price increases must be approved and authorised by the relevant agency and commuters, without whom operators can generate no business, should be given some advance notice.

It serves no good purpose to resort to undemocratic means and every effort must be explored in arriving at a mutually agreeable outcome.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

5

News

CCJ rules against DPP pursuing...

FROM PAGE 2

Inferior goods

Dear Editor, In my recent letter, I made mention of the incident that occurred on the West Coast of Demerara, between officials of the GNBS and Chinese from a store. Apart from a statement being issued of the Chinese being arrested for assault, nothing else of the proceedings could be heard.

My concern is that foreigners being allowed to enter Guyana, defy the Laws of Guyana and flood the markets with inferior products, and assault representatives when they try to enforce the law.

My other concern is, were these officials on an operation, or were they conducting an illegitimate raid with the intention of collecting bribes. A few days ago, in Berbice, boldly displaying for sale are inferior products that the authorities instructed to be removed from the shelves. I could safely say that all the Chinese stores that I have visited seem to be defying instructions and selling inferior products. Is there some arrangement between the Chinese and officials?

Repeatedly I've been saying that there are many qualified people seeking jobs in Guyana, and if the relevant agencies are understaffed, they should employ and train.

But that might be an impossible task because there are many holding positions and stifling progress by expanding.

Some could be politically/racially or financially motivated to prevent progress. It's amazing to know that even though there are claims that Guyana is moving forward, we are still being forced to rely on the ancient system. Everything is in Georgetown and officials have to leave there for outer regions, should they choose to monitor what happens.

Editor, Guyana boasts of its forestry and the wide variety of woods being used locally and exported. Over the years, furniture manufacturing

evolves into a thriving business and almost anyone who could use a saw and hammer, is venturing into this field, without any proper training.

Many store owners buy to resell, and they seek the cheapest source to gain huge profits.

Some manufacturers even sell themselves.

Whilst many lacking creativity, a lot are made with the cheapest materials and wood. I could boldly say that you will pay a huge amount of money for your furniture and sadly, in Guyana, you getting the lowest grade of furniture.

Below the cover, you will see your furniture is made with 'form' board, a type of wood that is popularly being used as a temporary construction, which is discarded after one use.

Another material being used is the popular MDF board. Both of these materials are a magnet for termites and should they get water, one starts swelling and the other starts rotting away. Recently I discover all the issues listed occurring to all my furniture, and I post my dismay on social media only to get comments and messages from others facing similar. One person advised that there are agencies I could go to lodge complaints, but my argument is, there are agencies to take complaints, why don't they make systematic checks to these stores and issue advisory to save the public?

These people are getting paid to do nothing and stifling progress in Guyana.

Government should find means to get rid of these ornaments in office. But then again, during election periods, many businesses donate campaign money and get free reins to bleed the citizens after.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

Very incongruous

But CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders during the hearing expressed that he found it very “incongruous” that some other authority other than the appellate court is vested with the power to direct a court.

He asked the DPP, “In this day and age, does it sit comfortably with you that an authority, even if that authority is not considered to be part of the Executive, but an authority which is not a Court of Appeal, is not a part of the core Judiciary, can actually direct a court as to how it must dispose of a matter before that court… doesn’t that strike you as being incongruous?”

“Whether the DPP is or is not a member of the Executive, to me, it does not detract from the fact whether a court ought not to be directed by some other authority other than a Court of Appeal; only a Court of Appeal can direct a court. It is very incongruous if someone is invested with a power to direct a court,” he added.

The DPP agreed with Justice Saunders’s point that Article 122 A is intended to secure the court’s financial and administrative independence, and, therefore, ensures that “no one can direct a court how it must decide cases”.

For his part, CCJ Justice Jacob Witt described the provisions in Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act as a “really remarkable concept”. He said that he does not know of any legal system in which the DPP is empowered to direct a Magistrate.

“I also wonder, if that is

the case, why, in the first place, do we have the committal procedure? Why is it necessary that the Magistrate should commit, because if he doesn’t, then you [DPP] can tell them to do it anyway,” he said to the DPP. Meanwhile, CCJ Justice Denys Barrow said the statute is unfortunately framed in a way “where it seems as though the DPP is telling the Magistrate what to do”.

He said that the Belize law regarding indictable matters allows the DPP to ask the Magistrate to send the depositions to him/ her, or a High Court Judge and the Judge would then examine the depositions upon the DPP’s request to commit an accused.

Justice Barrow opined that the Guyanese legislation did not intend for the DPP to be a Judge over, or to interfere with, the judicial functions of the Magistrate, but rather to take the process to another tribunal for determination.

Modify law

In the end, the CCJ said it would engage the DPP and Bisram’s lawyer on

a possible modification of Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, which would allow the DPP to ask a High Court Judge to review the depositions from a PI and exercise his/ her independent discretion on whether to direct a committal or not.

With the law revised this way, CCJ Judge Peter Jamadar noted that the PI process will “stay within the separation of powers, it stays within the [Judiciary], preserves the independence of the Judiciary, and in terms of the human rights…conforms to the right to a fair hearing by an independent and impartial court.”

Meanwhile, after the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Bisram said he feels vindicated and he believes that justice has been served.

“I feel great, justice has been served and I am very happy that my name is cleared and I could go back to my normal life.”

Bisram was represented by a team of lawyers led by Queens Counsel Darshan Ramdhanie and included Sanjeev Datadin.

Ramdhanie stated that his

client has expressed satisfaction with the CCJ’s ruling.

“They [CCJ] have blazed the trail again and demonstrated that the rule of law is alive and strong in Guyana. It takes time to get to this place and I do share Mr Bisram, his own agony, of having to go through this process for so many years but we are at the end of it, the court has ruled on justice is served,” Ramdhanie stated.

On the other hand, Datadin added that the CCJ has taken the first step to right a wrong. “It is not right that the DPP, who is a prosecutor and one of the adversaries in the fight, can tell the adjudicator of the fight – the Magistrate – what to do… that is inherently wrong,” he explained.

He further stated that the US-based Guyanese is considering taking actions against the State.

“That will come after we have had some time because as you can imagine, the first and primary focus has been to ensure that Mr Bisram clears his name and that he is restored as a free citizen.”

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄ Question 1

I

n this fun and easy force and motion science experiment, we’re going to balance a ruler in a seemingly impossible way by using a hammer to find the centre of gravity.

Ruler Hammer Tape 18 inches of string

Materials:

By Martin Carter

Instructions:

Tuesday’s answers 1. a) The number of children who like Mathematics and English = 10 b) The number of children who like Mathematics only = 8 c) The number of children who do not like Mathematics and English = 3 d) The number of children in Grade 5 = the universal set, that is everything that is in the Venn Diagram = 8 + 10 + 12 + 3 = 33

Tie one end of the string to the hammer.

Use the tape to hold the string in place.

Now tie a loop in the string.

Slide the loop onto the ruler.

Place about four inches of the end of the ruler on a table. The handle of the hammer should touch the far end of the ruler.

It may take a few tries and adjustments to find the centre of gravity, but you should be able to get the hammer to balance with just a few inches of the ruler remaining on the table.

How it Works:

Gravity pulling down on the hammer head pushes up on the end of the handle. The hammer handle pushes up on one end of the ruler, which causes the other end of the ruler to push down against the table.

The string is the balancing point, which is called the fulcrum. (sceincefun.org)

Child, a moment of love ago you danced in the eye of the woman who made you. When another moment like the innocent wheat that made the loaf of bread she sent you for in this field of the heart's ploughed land you were threshed!

Make This A Science Project:

Try balancing other items. Try scaling the experiment up with a yardstick, bigger item, and longer string. Try stacking coins on the end of the ruler.

“Learn from yesterday.

Live for today. Hope for tomorrow” – Albert Einstein

WORD SEARCH

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22,000 to benefit from $141M water well at Lusignan A

newly commissioned water well at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) will see approximately 22,000 residents in surrounding communities benefitting from improved access to treated water.

The $141 million well was commissioned on Tuesday by President Dr Irfaan Ali. Residents from Grassfield, Lusignan Pasture, Lusignan East, Lusignan West, Annandale, and Courbane Park have already been receiving water from the well, which was operationalised since December 2021.

During his feature address, President Ali said this achievement is in keeping with his Government’s plan to have 100 per cent access to treated water on the coast by 2025. To this end, he noted that since August 2020, the Government has spent some $6.2 billion on the water sector and another $11 billion was earmarked for the next two years.

“We want to ensure that by the time we get to 2025, we have 100 per cent access to good, potable water and efficient supply of water all along the coast. We want to move from a present position where 52 per cent of our people have access to treated water to a position on the course where 100 per cent of our people must have access to treated water, that is, you can take your glass, take the water from the tap and drink it. That is where this investment will take us,” he posited.

Added to this, the Government is also aiming to increase the current 60 per cent access to water in the hinterland and riverine communities up to 100 per cent. As such, the Guyanese lead-

President Dr Irfaan Ali joined by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and GWI CEO Shaik Baksh testing the water at the Lusignan Well

er said 12 new water treatment plants will be established across the country.

President Ali committed to achieving these milestones without any hikes on the water tariff. In fact, he reminded that his Administration removed the Value Added Tax (VAT) from water, reinstated the pensioners’ water subsidy, and reduced the water tariff by five per cent across the board.

“This is what a responsible Government does… In less than six years ago, you had a Government that showed you that their solution was to add a tax on the water and remove the [electricity] subsidy for pen-

sioners. But sometimes, we don’t appreciate the condition under which a Government is delivering,” the President asserted.

However, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal told the gathering that the new well is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to improving potable water access across the country.

In fact, to further enhance water services along the East Coast corridor, Minister Croal disclosed that his Ministry is planning to explore the feasibility of utilising the Hope Canal, which dumps gallons of water into the Atlantic, as a sustainable potable water source.

“This approach is necessary as we confront climate change as well as respond to the growing demands for more service connections,” he stated.

That demand, he noted, is reflected in the fact that since assuming office in August 2020 to the end of 2021, nearly 3000 allocations were made on the East Coast corridor alone.

However, with increasing demands, especially from the various new housing projects that are being undertaken, the Minister further encouraged community members to conserve their water usage and to ensure they report leakages as soon as possible so as to avoid unnecessary wastages.

“Use water with responsibility. This is a valuable resource and it costs a lot to deliver to households,” he stated.

Moreover, Croal further lauded the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for delivering this project, noting that the construction of this new well was not in the water company’s 2021 budget and work programme.

In fact, Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Shaik Baksh, explained that a well previously built in Lusignan was not properly maintained under the previous Administration hence it collapsed. This resulted in a new well being constructed but its operation was delayed.

“It took too long to get this well up and running… and that belongs the inventory at GWI, over the last five years for a number of reasons, was run down – no pumps, no motors, no good screens, no casings, no materials for new service connections… It took us months to get these items in and this was exacerbated by the production problems overseas,” Baksh stated.

Nevertheless, he said the company is now moving in a proactive manner and has already procured materials for four new wells in order to avoid further delays in the future.

This year, the GWI boss said they are planning to drill at least eight wells on the coast and another 30 in the hinterland, while 16 wells and 10 treatment plants are to be maintained this year.

The newly commissioned well at Lusignan has a design life of 30 years and has achieved a good production of 210 cubic metres of water per hour.

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Challenges…

P

…in agriculture oor CGX. They’re always the bridesmaid at our oil weddings – even though they’d taken the lead in drilling offshore way back in 2000 when they were chased off by Surinamese Coast Guard. That’s right…we’re all chummy and lovey-dovey with Suriname of late, but let’s not forget they also have a border claim on our fair land.

In fact, they actually invaded our New River Triangle in 1969 and had to be expelled by our own fighting men!

Yes, Sumintra, our army did see action right after their formation on both the eastern and western fronts. Of course, we weren’t so successful against the Venezuelans who still occupy our half of Ankoko Island. They still have our blades of grass and a few cuirasses!

Anyhow, after the CGX fiasco, we took on the Surinamese and won at the World Court – in that case, with the involvement of one of Burnham’s hired guns – Sonny Ramphal. Since Suriname had been producing oil since 1982, we had a glimmer of hope in 2000 that oil might be in our future. And it was then – to give the old codger (and dodger!) Ramphal credit that we were first warned about “Dutch Disease”. That by neglecting other sectors of the economy when the oil dollars started flowing, the economy could tank like the Titanic when the oil ran out.

Which always will be a finite resource.

It’s rather ironic that poor CGX hasn’t yet drilled an oilfilled hole near Suriname since 2000 and has been courting bankruptcy ever since – while Exxon has been drowning in oil in the west. Fate does have a warped sense of humour!!

Anyhow, Ramphal’s warning had been picked up after 2015 when Exxon hit the jackpot, but, of course – as is par for the course with the PNC – nothing was done to get us inoculated against the dreaded disease. They were busy hiding bonuses and other “incentives” received for signing away our oil?

But the PPP has hit the ground running on diversifying our economy – using the oil funds to lubricate the stuck wheels. But while industrialisation using natural gas, etc, is a few years out, agriculture is here and now – for the simple reason that it’s been keeping us going from the beginning. Unfortunately, our two major crops are heading in opposite directions. Sugar’s facing a very bleak future, but rice is looking very strong in a world facing a food crisis as population outstrips food production in a new Malthusian trap!

So, isn’t it short-sighted for the Government to have the millers jerk around the paddy farmers – who might just abandon agri??

Your Eyewitness reiterates his call for price support by the Government from oil funds. …and opportunities There’s the old saw about silver linings behind dark clouds. So the news that our last million-barrel lift garnered US$96 million is our silver lining behind the dark European war clouds. We can count on Putin keeping this war going for a good while since, with him, it’s a Mano-a-Mano thing.

A guy who wrestles with bears ain’t backing down – it’s as simple – and brutal – as that!!

In the meantime, oil’s gonna be playing hide and seek with that Brent US$100/barrel benchmark – and we come out smelling roses. Now, some of you Dear Readers might be muttering that your Eyewitness is ignoring all that human suffering up north. He certainly isn’t, but accepts the desideratum that “we must accept the things we cannot change.” Doesn’t anyone REALLY believe that Guyana’s vote will cause Putin to pull out the insertion of his big troops into Ukraine? Much less those protesters at the Russian Embassy?

Just enjoy the extra cash! …for Norton

As you can probably tell by now, your Eyewitness has a soft spot for Norton, whose bark is worse than his bite. But he might just become a victim of dashed expectations – like Corbin – from those who just want him to “kick-ass”.

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

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

9 Berbice 2-vehicle smash-up leaves 2 dead NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The car in which the two dead men were travelling

T

wo men are now dead following an early morning accident along the Number One Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Tuesday.

Dead are Yujysteer Puran also called “Danny”, 26, of Crawford Street Rose Hall Town and Latchnam Sukhan, 20, of Ankerville Port Mourant, Berbice.

Based on reports received, the men were occupants of motor car bearing registration number PSS 1682 which collided with motor lorry GZZ 4440. Sukhan was reportedly the driver of the car.

The car was reportedly driving along the Borlam Public Road, East Coast Berbice, and in the process of negotiating a right turn, the driver lost control, thus causing the vehicle to spin several times before colliding with the truck.

As a result of the collision, Sukhan and Puran received injuries. They were both taken from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens and ranks of the Guyana Fire Service in an unconscious condition.

Sukhan was escorted to New Amsterdam Public Hospital while Puran was escorted to Port Mourant Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police stated that the

driver of the truck was arrested and he is assisting with the investigation. A breathalyser test was conducted on him but there were no traces of alcohol in his system.

However, at the scene of the horrific accident, one man related that the car that was involved in the accident was racing with another car.

Surish Matthews, a porter attached to the truck involved in the accident, recalled seeing the two cars heading towards them at a fast rate of speed and as such, his driver stopped the vehicle.

“This thing happen at 3:27, while we coming, we see two cars coming round the turn; a black car and this red one. The black car pass the red one and he gone and the red car turn crossway on the road and the driver pull down the truck in the corner and all the time the red car coming and knock the truck crossway.”

The porter said shortly after the impact, the driver of the black car returned to the scene and said that it was his brother who was in the red vehicle. He then asked them to assist him in getting the injured men out of the mangled car.

According to the eyewitness, they could not get the passenger out of the wrecked car and had to wait until the Police and firefighters arrived

The truck that the car collided with

at the scene.

Puran worked as a security officer with J’s Supermarket in New Amsterdam while Sukhan worked taxi in the evening.

Khowsilla Sukhan told Guyana Times that her grandson was out since he worked hire car in the nights. She recalled that on Monday evening, his brother who is also a taxi driver had asked him to assist him to make some spins.

“My grandson, he went and carry somebody to New

Amsterdam and he said when he was coming back he see like it was an accident and he turn back and it look like his father car and when he go, he tell the truck man that is his brother,” the woman recounted.

Meanwhile, Puran would have left home after midnight to go to his girlfriend’s house but told his mother that he was going to take a few beers first.

According to Bebi Puran, she was asleep when the Police called and informed them about the accident.

Dead: Yujysteer Puran also called “Danny”

“Soon after, he called back and said let us go to Port Mourant Hospital. When we were heading there, we see the hearse coming out and the Police vehicle was behind so we turn around to go behind them and the Police stop us and take some information…

When we come out back we go straight to the mortuary and there I see my son lying on the stretcher.”

She explained that his face was covered in blood and she

Dead: Latchnam Sukhan

was unable to tell what injuries he may have sustained.

Meanwhile, Police arrested Sukhan’s brother, who was allegedly racing with him.

This came weeks after an 18-year-old unlicensed driver – who was racing with another motor car – crashed into a bar at De Willem, West Coast Demerara, killing three persons.

The teen driver, Matthew Ambedkar, was subsequently charged and remanded to prison.

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NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Several schools left out of feeding programme under APNU/AFC Administration

...programme requires community support – PS

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he Public Accounts Committee on Monday addressed the fact that in 2017, several schools did not benefit from the school feeding programme that was rolled out under the Education Ministry.

PAC Member Dharamkumar Seeraj inquired about the difficulties in getting schools on board with this programme, having identified in the Auditor General’s report that 20 schools were not on board in 2018 as well.

Permanent Secretary Alfred King explained that the feeding programme for students entailed more than just resources, but community support and involvement

as well. He pointed out that wherever it is happening, a kitchen area needs to be established for preparation.

“The model for the rollout of feeding programme at any school has to do with community involvement and community support. Wherever the school feeding programme is happening, the first thing that is required is establishing a kitchen area, which is an infrastructural kind of arrangement.”

He added, “There’s another requirement of training for the staff – a treasurer to manage the accounts and bookkeeping arrangement and do the recording of the distribution of meals

as well. Based on the report that we got from the Head of the School Feeding Programme, during that period, they reached out to the schools but they weren’t able to establish the infrastructure needed to roll out the programme.”

Schools that did not benefit from the programme included 12 from Region One (Barima-Waini), two from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), two from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), four from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 17 from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

According to the PS, it was more than establishing the required infrastructure.

He told the Committee, “I wouldn’t want us to say that the schools hadn’t the ability to establish the infrastructure to get the programme on. The feeding effort is a coordinated approach using the regional education officers, regional system as well as the Ministry’s supporting team.”

Under the former APNU/ AFC Administration in 2017, State auditors who embarked on an investigation targeting the National School Feeding Programme unearthed major “spending” inconsistencies plaguing the programme in two remote villages in Region Eight.

Notwithstanding the original aim of the pro-

Permanent Secretary Alfred King

gramme, coordinators in the cited region had reportedly been abusing the responsibility and power vested in them. Particular scrutiny into the expenditures for each meal revealed outrageous costs attached to same, raising further que-

ries as to whether the right procurement procedures were adhered to in the contract awarding stage, among other issues.

In 2018, the Auditor General’s report revealed that $52.5 million was still unaccounted for.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Albouystown man busted with $7M in ganja gets 4 years F

orty-five-year-old Elvis Fitzgerald Theusday of Lot 86 Hunter Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, who was busted with $7 million in weed was on Tuesday sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on a drug trafficking charge.

He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Rachel Liverpool and pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

It was reported that ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on

Saturday last intercepted an outgoing passenger at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), with over $7 million of “Poppy”.

Thuesday was an outbound passenger travelling

to Barbados. CANU had stated that its ranks at the Ogle Airport conducted a search on the passenger and his luggage during which, 23 parcels of suspected cannabis were discovered.

He was arrested and escorted to CANU’s

The weed that was intercepted at the airport

Headquarters with the suspected narcotics, which was later confirmed to be poppy weed carrying a total weight of 18.370 kg (40.498 pounds).

Only last month, CANU ranks busted another passenger who attempted to smuggle 56.3 grams of cannabis concealed in two Pringles tins out of the country, at the Eugene F Correia International Airport.

Jamal Millington, 24, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, has since been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and was placed on $300,000 bail.

Elvis Fitzgerald Theusday

Kwakwani residents worried after pets found dead, allegedly beheaded by jaguar

F

armers within the vicinity of the Kwakwani Airstrip and Jonestown, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), are now fearful for their lives following a recent daylight attack on their dogs by what is suspected to be a jaguar.

According to Ann Logan, a farmer residing at the airstrip for some two years, her three pet dogs – which she loved dearly – have died in the most gruesome manner.

The incident occurred on Monday when no one was at home.

“My neighbour heard them dogs making noise after 8am on Monday morning but did not take it for anything,” the farmer related.

Logan said when she returned home later that day, she saw two of her dogs motionless while the other was beheaded. Logan said when

she made checks around the area, she observed what appears to be jaguar footprints in the ground.

Meanwhile, a farmer of Jonestown, “Sandra”, said shortly after moving to the area along with her family, her dog was killed in her house. She believes her pet’s demise was caused by a jaguar.

The farmers are pleading with the authorities to patrol the areas more occasionally and to further aid in their efforts to protect their farms from wildlife.

“The area is desolate and we need some form of protection, it already came once and it can come again,” Sandra said. “We will be happy if the Police can make frequent visits to the area and advise us as farmers on the way forward in accessing firearms licences,” Logan noted.

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14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DPP lobbies for Toshaos to handle simple offences

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack: Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and members of the Community Policing Group during the visit

D

irector of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack has advocated for the reactivation of Toshaos to be trained to deal with simple offences at the Village Council level.

She was accompanied

by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn to outreaches in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), where concerns regarding crime and other issues were addressed.

There, Ali-Hack said simple offences such as larceny and disorderly behaviour can be addressed by the village leaders. She reiterated that while the Toshaos have

limited powers to deal with the lesser serious criminal offences, the more serious crimes must be dealt with by the Police.

She explained that such a system will help to ease the congestion within the criminal justice system, and charged residents to desist from criminal activities.

"We give them the training to deal with such matters and then the offenders are to be counselled. And for the more serious offences like the murders, manslaughters, rapes, and assaults, will be dealt with by the Police…

You don't have the types of jobs we have in Georgetown, so you should have more activities like farming so as to

occupy your time and not get into community criminal offences,” the DPP told residents.

She admonished the Toshaos to marshal the residents and to make use of the resources to develop themselves by utilising the resources for economic gains, "and you will stay out of criminal activities."

Communities of Annai Central, Kwatamang, Aranaputa and Karasabai were included in the visit.

During several meetings, the DPP and Minister Benn addressed students and residents on a range of criminal offences from the more serious criminal indictable offences of murders and rapes

Schoolchildren at the meeting

to causing death by dangerous driving, trafficking in persons, the use of marijuana, simple larceny, break and enter and larceny and other social ills affecting the northern communities.

The DPP implored the residents including schoolaged teenagers of the North Rupununi to say "no" to illicit drugs, consumption of alcohol and early teenage sexual relations.

The DPP's charge to the secondary school students in particular, came against the background of an increased number of Police files for sexual offences and the use of

illicit drugs received at the DPP's Chambers for legal advice over the past three years.

Both the DPP and Minister Benn implored the students to focus on their own personal development through their education and to aim for high achievements.

“Take up your education and aim at qualifying yourselves to specialise in whatever profession you chose.

Take advantage of the opportunities available. Do everything within your power to prevent a Police file from reaching the desk of the DPP, who has the diffi-

cult task of deciding whether to charge or not to charge," Minister Benn added.

Minister Benn encouraged the students to get involved in sporting activities and promised to advocate for sports gear and equipment on their behalf from the subject Ministry.

Regional Chairman Brian Allicock and Police Commander Raphael Rose were also present at the community meetings, as they encouraged the residents to form and maintain good Police-community relations with the Police ranks stationed at all the various Police stations in the region.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Details on probe into missing fishermen Shameless naysayers – silent whenever PNC in, loud when PPP in Government

to be released soon – Min Edghill

A

former PNC executive member and former Minister has been nominated by the Parliament as a member of the NFR Board. The Opposition and a number of commentators have objected. Why? Because the person was nominated by the PPP. Not one of those who have objected has presented even a morsel of argument why Dunstan Barrow is unqualified for the position.

Independent NGOs and commentators gain legitimacy when their positions are driven by issues and not by political affiliation. When the Exxon oil PSA was signed

by David Granger, Raphael Trotman and the PNC (in the form of APNU/AFC), most of the present naysayers demanding the PPP Government scrap the deal were totally silent.

They only became loud in their protest when Dr Irfaan Ali became the President of a PPP-led Government. Their present motivation is not driven by their abhorrence of a Dr Leslie Ramsammy bad oil deal, but driven by their political animosity against the PPP. A few weeks ago, Guyana hosted an international oil and gas conference, the first one ever in Caricom. Heads of States from Caricom and Africa and heads of the biggest corporations in the world were here in Guyana. In the midst of the Winter Olympics and the threat of war between Russia and Ukraine at the time, Guyana held global attention. In May this year, Guyana will be hosting Caricom’s first ever international agriculture and food investment conference. No country’s average GDP growth in the last two years come close to Guyana. No President has ever had a GDP growth and infrastructural development programme in their first two years in Government as President Irfaan Ali. No country has had the kind of growth in their budgetary allocations for infrastructure development and social sector investments or has had a direct investment (FDI) growth like Guyana has had in the last two years. But a set of shameless naysayers loudly proclaim that Guyana is a failed State or on a trajectory towards a failed State.

Indeed, a number of persons have perfected the role of naysayers only when the PPP is in Government. These same naysayers invariably lose their tongue whenever the PNC is in Government. President Irfaan Ali expressed his disgust over some organisations and individuals who or which come alive only when the PPP is in Government. I recently saw a posting in which one of these naysayers claimed Guyana is on the path to a failed State. I wondered if there is another Guyana that they live in. I live in this Guyana, and in no way or form am I living in a country that is on the path to becoming a failed State. In fact, right now, all eyes are on Guyana with an expectation that within a short while, this country will be one of the most developed in Caricom. But the naysayers are shameless – they still insist we are a failed State.

Anytime the PPP is in Government, this is one of the dumb claims by some of the naysayers. By 1990, some 24 years after independence, under the Burnham/Hoyte-led PNC Governments, Guyana was definitely on the path to a failed State. We had rigged elections and a dictatorship, a country that had tumbled almost to the bottom as the poorest country in the hemisphere, with a suffocating debt of more than 900 per cent its GDP, with a debt servicing that consumed more than 100 per cent its annual earnings. Since 1992, however, Guyana ranks among the top countries for the extended period of 1992 to present, mostly under a PPP-led Government. And in the last two years, Guyana has grown under the PPP and President Ali in unprecedented ways. Those same naysayers who did not see Guyana as a failed State before 1992 when Guyana was bankrupt, now see Guyana as a failed State.

Many of these naysayers did not give the PPP a chance to last more than six months in Government after 1992. Yet, in spite of political violence and disruption, the PPP lasted more than 20 years in Government and began an infrastructural and social and economic transformation. If one were to be fair, no one would have believed that today Guyana would be the envy of the whole of Caricom. The fact is that the vast majority of those who loudly find fault today with Dr Irfaan’s PPP Government never found anything wrong with Guyana when the PNC, with its real name or with a disguise, such as APNU/AFC, was in Government.

When the PNC signed an agreement with Exxon and its partners for a 2 per cent royalty and agreed for Exxon not to pay taxes and agreed to no insurance coverage, in 2016, most of these naysayers had not one iota of complaint or protest. The agreement was good in their eyes. Now these same charlatans insist the PPP Government must violate international laws, abandon the agreements and negotiate a new agreement with Exxon and its partners. The PPP, however, is trying its best to extract as much from the oil and gas industry to make up for the patrimony Guyana gave up under the PNC. The naysayers want Guyana to leave the oil and gas deep underwater and give up our chance of becoming a prosperous nation. We say, to the naysayers, you are shameless.

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

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

A

s the search continues for the three fishermen who went missing at sea on February 19, the Board of Inquiry (BoI)

is in the process of wrapping up its probe into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

The BoI – comprising Yurlander Hughes of the Transport and Harbour Department, Captain John Flores of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Ronald Charles of the Ministry of Public Works, Rawle Williams of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Ewart Wray of the Guyana Police Force Maritime Unit, an Occupational Safety and Health Officer at the Labour Ministry Dwayne Vyphius, and Head of the Fisheries Department at the Agriculture Ministry Denzil Roberts – was set up on February 21 and had 14 days to investigate the matter.

Missing: Captain Harold Damon, Ronald Burton and Winston Sam

When contacted on Tuesday for a comment on those investigations, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed that the probe is nearing conclusion.

However, he said the de-

tails will be officially released on Monday. “Investigations have been wrapping up. I expect to get the hand over next week Monday afternoon,” the Minister said.

TURN TO PAGE 16

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Accelerate-Her returns to prepare women entrepreneurs for oil & gas industry

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he Centre for Local Business Development has issued a call for applicants for the second cohort of its entrepreneurship programme, Accelerate-Her – which helps women entrepreneurs to upskill their business sense.

The Accelerate-Her programme provides Guyanese women with an opportunity to receive professional development and mentoring to foster personal growth and business success. It is funded through the Greater Guyana Initiative and rolled out through the Centre for Local Business Development. There is no cost attached for participants.

Director of the Centre for Local Business Development, Natasha Gaskin-Peters on Thursday outlined that the Centre aims to reach out to businesses that are outside of the oil sector and prepare them for industries.

It was found that women-owned businesses operated in areas not core to the oil and gas industry. After a successful stint in 2021, the programme was rein-

Centre for Local Business Development Director Natasha Gaskin-Peters

troduced and will include coaching, mentoring and other resources.

“As we examine the profile of businesses that we had, we found that women-owned businesses were mostly operated in areas that were not core to the oil and gas sector. They were in agro-processing, tourism, consultancy, and so this is why we launched the Accelerate-Her programme.

It was quite successful and we are running it again in 2022,” the Director noted.

Gaskin-Peters further stated that such initiatives move Guyana one step closer to gender equality. Last year, over 90 persons expressed interest in the Accelerate-Her programme from a wide cross-section of women and areas.

“We found last year that it was very instrumental for these businesses, to see where they are and where they want to be, looking at the various value propositions for their businesses…

We will try to understand where their strengths are, where their weaknesses are.”

“For us, this particular programme really goes towards gender equality and how it is that we target gender equality here in Guyana.

We are aware that the empowerment of females in our society is very key to poverty reduction, economic growth and development.

For us, reaching beyond core companies into targeting not only smaller business but businesses operated by women plays a very important role in our society.”

Accelerate-Her targets local women owners, operators, and managers to build the leadership and business skills of women entrepreneurs to grow their companies across a wide variety of industries and sectors. The Centre programme accelerates local small business through tailored workshops, access to one-on-one mentoring, and creating a support-

ive peer-learning environment for women.

Last year, over 90 women entrepreneurs from seven different regions across a multitude of sectors applied to be a part of AccelerateHer. From this list 35 women were shortlisted for Phase One and a further 16 were shortlisted for Phase Two. The 2022 programme will run from May to August.

Details on probe...

Even though one month is approaching since the trio went missing, Edghill also confirmed that the search is still ongoing offshore Guyana.

“As far as I’m aware, I have divers down at the ocean bed right now,” the Minister said.

The Noble House Seafoods Limited-owned vessel reportedly capsized in the Atlantic Ocean the morning of February 19, some 18 miles off of the Mahaicony Coast.

This incident has left the vessel’s 44-year-old Captain, Harold Damon of Lot 4 Water Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, and two crew members: 46-yearold Winston Sam of Lot

32 Public Road, McDoom, Greater Georgetown; and 78-year-old Ronald Burton of Lot 23 Water Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, missing.

A fourth crew member, Vincent Dazzell, who survived the tragedy, was rescued by another fishing boat and brought to shore on the afternoon of the incident.

Following the sinking of the vessel, a high-level BoI was set up by the Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sunken vessel.

Concerns were raised over the length of the time it took Noble House Seafoods Limited to report to the relevant authorities that the

Applications will be open until April 8, 2022, and 35 participants will be shortlisted to move forward to the first phase. After this is completed, a minimum of 15 will move forward to a 13-week programme and paired with mentors and business coaches to help with their entrepreneurial journey, marketing training and financial training.

FROM PAGE 15

vessel was in distress – something which they could face sanctions for.

It was also revealed that the vessel’s captain was operating under a fraudulent licence – another grave infraction. Suspicions were also raised about the information provided to authorities by Dazzell.

Meanwhile, some nets suspected to have belonged to the trawler were found but to date, there has been no sight of the missing boat.

Apart from the efforts being undertaken by the Government, the company has launched investigations and is said to be conducting searches offshore for the missing men.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 new COVID cases recorded in 24h

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he daily detection of positive COVID-19 cases has shown that 10 new cases surfaced as of Tuesday.

This information was provided in the Health Ministry’s dashboard which also showed deaths remaining at 1225, with 63,157 confirmed cases.

A total of four patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 13 in institutional isolation, 175 in home isolation and 15 are in institutional quarantine. Out of the 29,084 males and 34,071 females that contracted the virus, 61,740 have recovered.

Some 554,991 COVID-19 tests have been administered since the virus was detected here.

The Government on Monday evening officially announced that numerous changes were made to the COVID-19 guidelines, thus paving the way for several of the restrictions to be lifted.

In the new gazette order – Public Health (Coronavirus) (Number 3) Regulations 2022 – it is stated that wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory but encouraged when in public; proof of vaccination is no longer required

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD MARCH 15, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

10

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

13

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

175

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

4

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

15

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,071

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,086

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

63,157

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

61,740

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

2518

REGION 2

2484

REGION 3

8042

REGION 4

31,224

REGION 5

2373

REGION 6

5731

REGION 7

2421

REGION 8

887

REGION 9

4012

REGION 10

3465

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

435,509 332,602 1225

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

to enter public buildings and the COVID-19 restrictions on social activities and gatherings were removed.

The new gazette order also states that employers are still required to ensure that COVID-19 guidelines are in place to reduce transmission of the virus among workers in offices, adding that officers and places of business must ensure that handwashing stations and sanitising equipment are at the entrances. This requirement is also encouraged for places of worship.

With respect to persons testing positive for the virus, the order states that they were required to isolate and follow the quarantine requirements.

The order states: “Any person who has tested positive for coronavirus or identified for quarantine shall (a) comply with all applicable directions given and requirements imposed by the Health Emergency Operations Centre, including home isolation or quarantine or placement in an isolation or quarantine facility; (b) provide information to the Health Emergency Operations Centre about

any individual with whom the person may have had contact with, at least fourteen days before testing positive for coronavirus; and (c) not knowingly expose themselves, without proper and necessary precautions against spreading the coronavirus, in any public place or to any person.”

With respect to travel, the new order states that “all operators and passengers of any land, water or air transport shall comply with any port health measures issued by the Board or any measures issued by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority or any other competent authority.”

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

Globally, almost 458.4 million people have tested positive for the virus and six million have died. In the Americas, more than 149 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.66 million deaths.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MV Canawaima to undergo repairs for 2 days T he MV Canawaima will be out of operation on Wednesday, March 16, and Thursday March 17, 2022, to facilitate emergency repairs to the vessel.

This is according to a statement issued

by Management of the Guyana-Suriname Ferry Service on Tuesday afternoon. As such, the management regrets any inconvenience this closure will cause.

For further information, passengers can contact the office on 3392744/339-2787.

MV Canawaima

Over the past 5 years, the ferry has been drydocked from time to time on numerous occasions, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MV Canawaima was previously dry-docked for more than a year and had only returned to operation in October of 2021.

At that time the discussions on the resumption of the Canawaima Ferry Service were held with officials from both Guyana and Suriname who met to iron out outstanding matters concerning the ferry.

Public Works Minister

Juan Edghill had met with his Surinamese counterpart, the Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, Albert Jubithana where discussions were facilitated.

The MV Canawaima was also taken into dry docks in March 2020 when the service was suspended due to the coronavirus; the vessel had been plagued with problems.

The Canawaima Ferry Service was introduced to Guyana on October 28, 1998, under the Companies Act, Number 29 of 1991, of the Laws of Guyana.

It is jointly owned by the Governments of Guyana and Suriname, as each country owns 50 per cent of the issued share capital.

For years, the GuyanaSuriname Ferry Service served as a critical and legal link between the two countries, mutually improving economic and cultural relations. Without the ferry service, scores of persons in Suriname and Guyana usually resort to the alternative “backtrack” routes.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Former President Ramotar presents Standard to military museum

F

ormer President and Commander in Chief, Donald Ramotar on Tuesday formally handed over his Presidential Standard for display in the Military Museum, Base Camp Ayanganna.

During a simple, yet significant ceremony, the former Head of State said it was his pleasure to participate in the activity.

The design of the standard consists of a bold yellow-lined pyramid set against a blue background which has on its left upper right corner, the Cacique Crown, while a clump of trees is on the left.

Former President Donald Ramotar presenting the Standard to Inspector General, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts on Tuesday

In the centre of the pyramid, is a flaming torch. A bold white wavy line runs from left to right at the base of the pyramid. In the centre of

the pyramid is a pair of folded fists with breaking chains in the centre of a yellow-lined oval shape. All of these are set against a red background.

Explaining the significance of each symbol, Former President Ramotar first pointed to the pair of folded fists with breaking chains, stating that the chains symbolise the struggle and aspirations of the Guyanese people from the time of slavery, through indentureship, through colonialism and on to independence and the battle for democracy.

The flaming torch, he explained, embodies the hope and aspirations of all Guyanese to live a better life and improve themselves steadily and keep that flame of hope alive.

Born and bred at CariaCaria village in the Essequibo River, the former Head of State said the clump of trees was inspired by the love for his hometown as the forests is one of the most important resources, particularly in light of climate change and its challenges internationally. The white line represents the rivers of Guyana. The yellow which lines the pyramid symbolises the objective of betterment while the blue background represents the Atlantic Ocean, and the red symbolises the fight against injustices.

The standard was later

folded and Former President Ramotar presented it to Inspector General, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts. The standard has been put on display at the museum among the standards of former Presidents Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan.

The presidential standard or presidential flag is the flag that is used in many countries as a symbol of the Head of State or President.

In some countries, it is exclusively used by the President or is only raised where the President is present. (GDF)

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kwakwani residents benefit from CIOG medical outreach

I

Persons receiving assistance at CIOG’s medical outreach

n true philanthropy style, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and its collaborators, on Sunday last hosted a medical outreach at the Kwakwani Empowerment Centre in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) where scores of residents benefitted.

The medical outreach was supported by the Mayor & City Council of New Amsterdam, Guyana Cancer Foundation, and the

National AIDS Programme Secretariat. The residents were able to have their blood pressure and glucose levels tested, access to mental healthcare, massage therapy, eye care, screening for breast cancer, access to HIV, STD and syphilis testing, paediatric care; general and specialty doctors were also on site.

In addition, the residents who were present at the event were issued with packages that catered for

GHDS calls for safe, sober celebration of Phagwah

T

Phagwah celebrations in Guyana

he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) has welcomed the celebration of Phagwah or Holi after a two-year-long hiatus due to COVID-19, urging persons to remain safe.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Sabha noted that, “While we are sure that Guyanese are thrilled to, once again, engage in Phagwah playing, we remind you to be safe and pay heed to the COVID-19 guidelines”.

The organisation also reiterated calls for the festival of Phagwah to be respected and observed in a sober manner and not for promotional or commercial purposes that do not reflect on the true celebration.

“We strongly urge promoters and event managers to desist from associating Phagwah and Holi, the usage of the names and the elements of the festival with events that are alien in nature to the festival, which has both spiritual and social dimensions.”

It added that such actions and activities constitute disrespect to the festival, which encourages unity and equality.

“Events which promote alcohol, non-vegetarian foods, vulgarity and lewdness have no place in Phagwah celebrations. Linking such events to Phagwah constitutes gross disrespect and desecration of this lovely festival which encourages unity, love, equality and fraternity. Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha trusts that all will respect this call, and that we can have the festival enjoyed in its pristine form where all Guyanese, including families, can enjoy the beauty of Phagwah unencumbered by any act that will desecrate the significance of the festival,” the GHDS outlined.

This is the first year since the pandemic struck that the country will be celebrating the festival of colours in a celebrative way. Since 2020, authorities were monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and as such, large celebrations were not permitted.

This time around, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has organised an event at the National Stadium in observance of Holi. The festival will be celebrated on Friday, April 18.

basic daily necessities; inclusive of disinfectant wipes, face masks clothing, diapers (both children and adults), hair and skincare products, soap, toothpaste, footwear, sustenance, and provision of over-the-counter and prescription medication.

Multivitamin tablets along with dental equipment were also handed over to the Kwakwani Hospital as well as six sewing ma-

chines were given to the Kwakwani Empowerment Centre.

Other entities that were on board were Dauntless Professional Therapeutic Bodyworks, Region 10 COVID-19 and vaccination team and RHO, Kwakwani Hospital medical team and administrator, GPHC doctors and eye care team, Guyana Medical Relief, SEWA International Guyana, Diaspora Axillium, Twins Manufacturing Chemists, Mohamed’s Manufacturing Enterprise (Peppy’s Food), Massy Distribution, TSI Security Services, Jennifer Jobe and Family, Kwakwani Empowerment Management Team, Psychiatric and Counselling Services.

CIOG expressed thanks to Azim Yunus and ART Sawmilling Enterprises, the Region 10 RHO office, and the Kwakwani community hospital for their kind support and cooperation and to all the collaborating partners.

24 NEWS Region 2 rice farmers protest for better paddy prices S WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

cores of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) staged a picketing exercise at the Anna Regina High Bridge on Tuesday, calling for better prices for their paddy. This comes days after farmers in Region Six took to the streets, also calling for millers to pay more per tonnage for paddy.

During the protest in the Cinderella County, protesters carried placards with various slogans and messages including “Millers can pay better price for paddy”, “Is this the Dubai that the President promises the Guyanese people”, “We need better prices for our produce”, “Farmers need to have number one priority in the country, we need to survive also.”

One of the farmers on

Rice farmers holding their placards during the protest

the protest line related that his crop is being harvested and as such, he is expecting that the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will ensure that fair prices are offered.

The rice farmers pro-

testing in the township of Anna Regina are demanding that the price for paddy return to what it was.

“They offering $3400 for a bag of paddy then check the price for fertiliser raised from $5000 to $10,600 per bag and now the rice mill-

ers want to pay us lil and nothing for our products...

The price for everything needed to grow and harvest our crop has skyrocketed also...This won’t pay off,” another rice farmer said during an interview with Guyana Times.

Meanwhile, during the protest, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall spoke with the rice farmers, assuring them that Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha will visit the region to address the concerns of the farmers.

He added that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture will do everything in its capacity to re-

Rice farmers protesting at the Anna Regina High Bridge

duce the cost of production in the rice industry.

Meanwhile, the farmers told this publication

that they will continue to protest until they receive a better price for a bag of paddy.

Early childhood education is key to developing social skills – Chief Education Officer – as 3rd Biennial Early Childhood Conference to focus on mental health & virtual learning

T

he 3rd Biennial Early Childhood Conference opened on Tuesday under the theme, “Investing in Quality Early Childhood Education: Focusing on Child Mental Health and Virtual Learning.”

The conference is being hosted by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association, New York, Inc. According to the Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Quenita Walrond-Lewis, the conference will encourage participants to become keener observers of children in this generation who are now learning how to express themselves in the virtual modality through which many of us have become most accustomed.

Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson said that the conference is very significant and that the theme is most appropriate at this particular juncture in the country’s history as we have been experiencing the effects of COVID-19 and are now in the process of reshaping how education is delivered.

He said that the power of early childhood education is immense and has many benefits. “We all know about our children learning very early to develop social skills increasing their confidence levels and greater coordination, creativity as they grow and develop.”

He said that early childhood education must be delivered in a holistic fashion since children at that age absorb everything they are taught. Dr Hutson added that it is not the school alone that has to make changes but that there is a role for the parent or guardian and members of the community who have a genuine interest in the development of children.

Dr Hutson said that he is

Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson

happy parents will be a part of the conference since education begins at the level of the family and therefore it is of fundamental importance what the family does in terms of education delivery.

In addition to parents, participants of the conference include Nursery Field Officers, Head Teachers, final year students of the Cyril Potter College of Education, final year students of the University of Guyana and Child Care and Early Childhood Educators and Practitioners.

Tuesday’s keynote address was delivered by Dr Frank Denbow, President of the Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association whose presentation focused on “Reflections on COVID-19: Common Sense Approach”.

He spoke of the basic concepts related to COVID-19 and how we can mitigate the effects and protect ourselves and communities so that together, work can continue to improve the delivery of education. Dr Denbow said that he recognises that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation in the public regarding COVID-19, whether it is on social media, radio, television or in the newspapers. “So, my first caution to everyone is to be careful where you obtain your infor-

mation from,” he noted.

He said that thankfully, scientists and researchers have been able to come up with multiple vaccines and that their effectiveness is clear for all to see. He said that Guyana has done well to ensure vaccines are available for the entire population since they have proven to mitigate serious illness and prevent death.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Nursery), Devendre Persaud said that among the objectives of the conference is to introduce Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. He added that the conference also seeks to provide strategies for successful virtual/distance learning for children, equip participants to support child mental health, provide parents with practices to raise healthy children and provide a virtual environment for early childhood education and special education needs.

The conference, which opened on Tuesday, will conclude today, March 16, 2022. Participants will benefit from presentations and break-out sessions facilitated by Dr Claudia Williams, Dr Gloria Thompson, Dr Carol Darcy, Dr Carmen Bovell and Dr Lidon Lashley.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Alberttown man charged for killing younger brother

A

n Alberttown man was reportedly charged on Monday with manslaughter for killing his younger brother, 21-year-old Moses Anthony at their Third Street Alberttown, Georgetown home on Thursday last.

The accused, Richard Anthony, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was remanded to prison until March 28, 2022.

On the day in question, the now dead man was involved in an argument the entire day with his girlfriend and had left the house so that peace could reign.

It is alleged that after the man left, he returned home just after 21:00h un-

Kuru Kururu woman’s death ruled as suicide, husband released

She was picked up and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Dead: Moses Anthony

Dhanwantie Ramsarup and her husband in happier times

W

eeks after the husband of a 26-yearold dental assistant was taken into custody following the discovery of her body at her home at Kuru Kururu village on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Police have ruled the case as suicide, and released her husband from custody.

This was according to Regional Commander Mahendra Siwnarine who said that the Police’s legal advisor instructed that the woman’s death be treated as a suicide since he would have visited the scene himself and did his own investigation.

Previous reports stated that the dead woman, who was identified as Dhanwantie Ramsarup, would have committed suicide, but detectives during their investigations, unearthed marks of violence about her body, and, as such, her husband was arrested.

The husband, a 30-yearold dentist, reportedly told detectives that his wife had threatened to end her life because she was allegedly suffering from depression.

The man and his now dead wife allegedly had a misunderstanding prior to him going to work.

However, he later learnt that the woman had reportedly set fire to several pieces of her clothing. He rushed home, and it was then she had threatened to take her life.

Further, he reportedly told Police that on the day in question, he was at his parents’ home when he received a telephone call from his wife, who told him that she was going to kill herself.

As such, he and his father went to his residence, where he observed the house in darkness. As they made checks, they found Ramsarup’s motionless body lying face down, with a wire around her neck.

The Police were immediately contacted, and upon arriving at the scene, they reportedly found blood in her nostrils along with injuries to her left wrist and lacerations to her forehead.

In addition, blood was seen on the ground about two feet from where her body was lying.

der the influence of alcohol.

He was helped into his bed and was later heard arguing again. He then went over to his brother’s house and began kicking on his door.

The suspect reportedly came out, and an argument broke out between them which quickly escalated into a fight. During the altercation, Richard went under the house, picked up a broken tile, and allegedly stabbed his brother in the neck.

This caused Moses to fall to the ground and later died.

It was also reported that the two men always had disagreements but no one expected this one to end this tragically.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

Regional

Cruise ship with thousands Haiti: Health workers on strike over surge in gang kidnappings on board refloated after running aground P

A

large cruise ship with thousands of passengers on board has been refloated after running aground off the Dominican Republic.

A Dominican admiral said strong winds had caused the 326 metres (1070ft)-long Norwegian Escape to ground as it left Puerto Plata.

It took more than seven hours for the Norwegian Cruise Line ship to be freed.

The Norwegian Escape returned to port for checks. No passengers or crew were harmed in the incident.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said the Norwegian Escape “made contact with the channel bed as it was departing Puerto Plata”.

Passengers described hearing “a loud thud” when it ran aground and some said the ship was listing.

Tugboats tried to free the boat but failed, so the decision was made to wait for high tide.

Some of the passengers posted updates of the situation on social media.

The Norwegian Escape, built in Germany in 2015, has run aground off the Dominican Republic [File: Ingo Wagner/DPA via EPA]

The ship is one of the biggest in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. Local media said The Norwegian Escape was on its way to the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

(Excerpts from BBC News & Al Jazeera)

rotesters burned tyres and blocked roads in Haiti on the second day of a strike by doctors, nurses, and other health professionals over a spike in gang-related kidnappings that have further destabilised the crisis-stricken island.

The three-day strike began on Monday and included the shutting down of public and private health institutions in the capital Port-auPrince and beyond, with only emergency rooms accepting patients.

“We are living a catastrophic situation where no one is protected,” said Dr Louis Gerald Gilles, who closed his private practice

on Tuesday in the neighbourhood of Delmas to protest the recent kidnappings of two doctors.

“No professional is protected. Today, it could be a doctor; tomorrow, they could enter the office of a lawyer or an architect.”

The strike came amid a 180-per cent increase in kidnappings for ransom in Haiti in the past year, with 655 of them reported to Police, according to a United Nations report from mid-February.

Authorities believe the number is much higher since many kidnappings go unreported.

“No social group was spared; among the victims were labourers, traders, religious leaders, professors,

medical doctors, Journalists, human rights defenders, and foreign citizens,” the report stated.

The most recent kidnappings of two doctors have further fuelled fears among the staff at Port-au-Prince’s General Hospital, where union workers gathered on Tuesday. They said conditions had become increasingly dysfunctional since the July 7 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

They also accused the Administration of Prime Minister Ariel Henry of not releasing sorely-needed funds to the Health Ministry for basic services, adding that they were worried about the lack of security. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

27

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil plunges over 6% on easing supply concerns, China COVID cases

O

il prices tumbled more than 6 per cent to their lowest in almost three weeks on Tuesday as supply disruption fears eased and surging COVID-19 cases in China spurred demand concerns.

Brent futures plummeted US$6.99, or 6.5 per cent, to settle at US$99.91 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$6.57, or 6.4 per cent, to settle at US$96.44 a barrel.

Both contracts settled below US$100 per barrel for the first time since late February.

Brent fell as low as US$97.44 during Tuesday's session and WTI hit US$93.53, their lowest since Feb 25.

Both contracts moved the closest to oversold territory since December. They had been in overbought conditions as recently as early March, when the benchmarks reached 14-year highs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Brent has lost nearly US$40 and WTI has fallen by more than US$30.

The steep decline on Tuesday came as Russia said that it has received written guarantees it can carry out its work as a party to the Iran nuclear deal, suggesting that Moscow would allow a revival of the tattered 2015 pact to go forward.

The talks to revive the nuclear accord, which would lead to sanctions on Iran's oil sector being lifted and allow Tehran to resume crude exports, had recently stalled because of Russian demands.

At the same time, a Ukrainian negotiator on Tuesday said talks with Russia over a ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine are ongoing.

In the fallout from Russia's invasion, which it calls a "special operation," Western sanctions against Russia have failed to deter China and India from buying Russian crude.

Tuesday's steep price decline surprised several analysts.

"Whilst reports of promising talks (between Russia and Ukraine) are to be welcomed, it is hard to see how either side at this stage would be prepared to make concessions that would be acceptable to any party," said a research note from Kpler. "In this current situation, it is hard to see how crude oil prices are not being under-priced."

Further adding price pressure, China saw a steep jump in daily COVID-19 infections, raising renewed worries about the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

China oil demand risk is real," said Louise Dickson, senior oil market analyst for Rystad Energy.

"It is estimated that a severe lockdown in China could put 0.5 million bpd of oil consumption at risk, which would be further compounded by fuel shortages due to inflated energy prices."

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday for the first time in four years to fight soaring inflation. Such a move could strengthen the US dollar and dampen demand for commodities priced in the currency.

In addition to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, spare crude production capacity remains limited from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+.

OPEC on Tuesday said oil demand in 2022 faced challenges from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising inflation as crude prices soar, increasing the likelihood of reductions to its forecast for robust demand this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia announces sanctions on Biden and several top US officials

R

ussia says it has put United States President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a dozen top US officials on a “stop list” that bars them from entering the country.

Alongside Biden, US officials on the list included Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA chief William Burns and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

The ban was in response to sanctions imposed by Washington on Russian officials amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry later on Tuesday added Trudeau to the list of sanctioned individuals.

The measures appeared to be mainly symbolic, as the Foreign Ministry said it was maintaining official relations and if necessary would make sure that high-level contacts with the people on the list could

Biden and several top US officials were added to a Russian 'stop list' that bars them from entering the country [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

take place.

Others on the list included Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh, US Agency for International Development chief Samantha Power, Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo, and US Export-Import Bank chief Reta Jo Lewis.

Russia also banned from entry Biden’s son Hunter

and former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The Foreign Ministry warned Moscow will soon announce additional sanctions against a range of “Russophobic” US officials, military officers, legislators, businessmen and media personalities Earlier, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on four Russian individuals and one entity it accused of playing a role in concealing events around the death of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky or of being connected to human rights violations against rights advocate Oyub Titiev.

The Treasury statement also imposed fresh sanctions on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his wife, increasing pressure on Moscow and its close ally. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukraine leader hints at compromise as Russian forces pummel capital

R

ussian air strikes and artillery fire smashed into buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Tuesday as invading forces tightened their grip, while a convoy of civilians headed out of the besieged port city of Mariupol for safer parts.

At least five people were killed in the bombardments on Kyiv on the 20th day of the Russian assault, authorities said. Buildings were set ablaze and people were buried under the rubble.

Despite the danger, the leaders of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic arrived in the city in a show of solidarity with its people.

Evacuations of civilians from cities under assault from Russian forces gathered pace. About 2000 cars managed to leave the port city of Mariupol and a similar number were waiting to follow, the local council said.

But a convoy with supplies for Mariupol, whose residents have been sheltering from repeated Russian bombardments and are desperate for food and water, was stuck at nearby Berdyansk,

Rescuers work next to a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 15, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations via a video link resumed on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials played up hopes the war could end sooner than expected, saying Moscow may be coming to terms with its failure to impose a new government on Kyiv by force.

In a hint of compromise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was prepared to accept security guarantees that

stop short of its long-term objective of membership of the NATO alliance, which Moscow opposes.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced its members' leaders would meet in Brussels on March 24 to discuss the invasion and show support for Ukraine.

"At this critical time, North America & Europe must continue to stand together," Stoltenberg said.

US President Joe Biden will attend, the White House said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Put in the time and you'll reap the rewards. The connections you make will be lasting and fruitful if you get involved in a cause that matters to you. An unexpected change is apparent.

(March 21-April 19) Don't jump into something without doing your homework. Test the atmosphere before you engage in a conversation about sensitive issues. Have a backup plan in place, and you'll come out on top.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20) Don't be fooled by someone's rhetoric.

Look out for your well-being. Use your skills and expertise to your advantage and put your energy into something that makes you happy.

(May 21-June 20) Conversations will lead to something that interests you. The information you gather will spark your imagination and encourage you to use your ideas to pursue something that excites you.

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22) Slow down; spontaneity will get you in trouble. Bide your time, put your generosity on the back burner, and don't let your emotions interfere with practicality. Concentrate on how you look and feel.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Don't hold back. If something bothers you, speak out. Conversations will lead to resolutions that will put your mind at ease and improve an important relationship.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Preparation is paramount if you want to bring about positive change. Let your intuition help you decipher what's best for you, and put your energy where it will help you excel.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) t's up to you to bring about change.

Stop dreaming and start doing.

Concentrate on what will make your life easier, and put to rest what stands between you and your goals. Clear up clutter.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don't lose sight of your goals. Refuse to let anyone meddle or cause emotional turmoil. Look inward and consider what you want. Choose to do your own thing.

Don't put yourself in a vulnerable position.

You'll receive an unexpected opportunity. Don't hem and haw when action is required. Size up whatever situation you encounter and do what's best for you. Don't follow others.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

29

Perry, Gardner, Haynes brush aside West Indies to keep Australia unbeaten R

achael Haynes made a fist of Australia's 132 chase with an unbeaten 83 after Ellyse

Perry and Ashleigh Gardner's three-fors helped bowl West Indies out cheaply in 45.5 overs at

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Deandra Dottin c Lanning b Perry 16 Hayley Matthews b Perry 0 Kycia Knight c †Healy b Perry 0 Stafanie Taylor (c) lbw b Gardner 50 Shemaine Campbelle † c Mooney b Gardner 20 Chedean Nation b Gardner 0 Chinelle Henry run out (King/ †Healy) 10 Aaliyah Alleyne c Sutherland b Schutt 10 Shakera Selman b Jonassen 6 Karishma Ramharack c Gardner b Jonassen 4 Shamilia Connell not out 2 Extras (lb 8, w 5) 13 TOTAL (45.5 Ov, RR: 2.85) 131 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Hayley Matthews, 1.2 ov), 2-4 (Kycia Knight, 1.3 ov), 3-34 (Deandra Dottin, 9.5 ov), 4-70 (Shemaine Campbelle, 22.2 ov), 5-70 (Chedean Nation, 22.6 ov), 6-85 (Chinelle Henry, 26.5 ov), 7-111 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 36.5 ov), 8-119 (Stafanie Taylor, 40.3 ov), 9-126 (Shakera Selman, 43.1 ov), 10-131 (Karishma Ramharack, 45.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Megan Schutt 9-2-23-1 Ellyse Perry 8-0-22-3 Tahlia McGrath 4-0-17-0 Alana King 7-1-18-0 Ashleigh Gardner 10-1-25-3 Jess Jonassen 7.5-1-18-2 AUSTRALIA WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 132 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Alyssa Healy † c & b Matthews 3 Rachael Haynes not out 83 Meg Lanning (c) c Matthews b Connell 0 Ellyse Perry c Matthews b Henry 10 Beth Mooney not out 28 Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 TOTAL (30.2 Ov, RR: 4.35) 132/3 Did not bat: Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Alyssa Healy, 2.1 ov), 2-7 (Meg Lanning, 3.2 ov), 3-58 (Ellyse Perry, 15.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Hayley Matthews 8-2-31-1 Shamilia Connell 6-0-32-1 Karishma Ramharack 6-0-21-0 Chinelle Henry 5-0-20-1 Shakera Selman 4-0-18-0 Stafanie Taylor 1.2-0-8-0

the Basin Reserve.

Stafanie Taylor's 91-ball 50 and Hayley Matthews' three splendid catches were the only contributions of note against an undefeated Australia, who romped to a seven-wicket victory with nearly 20 overs to spare.

After a 30-minute raininduced toss delay, it was the new-ball tandem of Perry and Megan Schutt that set the tone for Australia's fourth successive win in this World Cup. Perry kicked off the domination under overcast conditions with a double-wicket second over.

First up, she had the seaming ball ram into the top of Matthews' off stump and then drew the left-hand batter Kycia Knight into edging the next ball to wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy. Taylor moved herself up to face the hattrick delivery, an attempted yorker that ended up as a full toss easy enough for Taylor to flick for three runs.

A seemingly innocuous full toss nearly caused the undoing of the other opener, Deandra Dottin, on 8. Given lbw off a Schutt delivery in the fifth over, Dottin, whose availability for this fixture had been under the cloud due to back issues in the last game, reviewed the decision. Replays showed an underedge as the ball

Britney Cooper: Women's CPL will develop Region's talent

E

xperienced West Indies Women’s cricketer Britney Cooper expects that there will be greater exposure for younger regional players when the inaugural Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) takes place from August 30 to September 30, 2022.

“It will be the first time a lot of young players in the Caribbean would be exposed to playing cricket on live television, and it will be a big opportunity for other franchises from Australia, England and even India to see their talent and to pick more West Indians in those competitions,” said Cooper, during a telephone interview on Monday.

Cooper was a part of the WI team who won the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Women’s World Cup in India in 2016.

However, she has been out of action since the beginning of 2022 owing to injury.

In a media release on Monday, the CPL announced that the 2022 competition will take place from August 30 to September 30.

As far as the WCPL is concerned, there will be three franchise teams, which, according to the media release, "will showcase the best women’s cricketers from across the Caribbean with overseas stars rounding out the teams.

"The three teams who will compete in the inaugural WCPL will be Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders," the media release continued.

"The women’s

tournament will take place during the men’s event inside the Hero CPL tournament window, which this year will run from August 30 and September 30."

Concerning the impending WCPL, Cooper said, “I’m really excited. We had the T10 Challenge in 2019.

“Cricket West Indies and the CPL have been in discussions to actually have a women’s CPL, and the fact that it’s actually come into play is going to be really exciting,” she added. “I know it’s going to help develop women’s cricket in the Region a lot.”

There has not been a regional women's cricket tournament in the Caribbean since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Is this a good opportunity for some of the players to boost their T20 skills and stake a claim for future WI selection? “Yes,” she replied. “It’s unfortunate to know that, because of COVID, we have not had a regional tournament for the past couple of years, but this CPL is going to be more than development for women cricket in the Region.

“Women’s T20 cricket is going to be played in the Commonwealth Games (in Birmingham, England in July and August this year),” said Cooper.

Barbados will be the Caribbean representative at the Commonwealth Games, by virtue of being the T20 Blaze (regional T20) champions.

“It's not really going to be a big factor (for the Caribbean

Britney Cooper

entrants) this year, but it’s going to be a factor once the Women’s CPL continues.”

Cooper is hopeful that there would be the resumption of the WI 50-over and youth tournaments.

“I’m really hoping that Cricket West Indies could start back the regional tournaments as soon as possible,” she said. “We are in a current World Cup year.

“Next year would be the Under-19 World Cup (in Bangladesh in January) and also the T20 World Cup that would be played in South Africa (in February). Time is on the line right now, because we need to play as much cricket, not only the senior team but the Under-19 players as well. It is the first time the West Indies would have an Under-19 team in a (world) tournament.”

In related news, the CPL media release noted that the tournament "will be played across more countries this year, with three Caribbean countries being selected for the group stages and a fourth venue being chosen for the finals. CPL anticipates that this four-venue structure could become the norm for future seasons".

When asked on Monday morning if Trinidad will be staging matches in this year's edition of the CPL (dubbed “the Biggest Party in Sport”), Peter Miller, the CPL's head of communications, replied, "to be confirmed". (T&T Newsday)

West Indies held their own in floated past the bat on the way to before thudding onto the front pad, though Lanning appeared their defence against the vaunted plonking Dottin's back pad.

West Indies had a second lbw displeased why neither UltraEdge Australian line-up. Matthews had decision overturned soon after nor ball-tracking was used for the a forgettable day with the bat, but – Taylor's off Perry – though review, even remonstrating with she thrust herself into the thick of things from the get-go of the chase. the all-rounder would not be on-field umpire Alex Wharf.

Tied up by the accuracy of First, she gobbled up a superb too far from a third wicket. An agile two-handed catch by King and third-change Gardner's reflex catch off her own bowling as Meg Lanning at first slip offspin, Campbelle's inability to Healy smacked a full ball straight proved too rotate the strike sent her back down at rocket speed. In the next good for Dottin's not long after. She eventually over, she plucked Lanning's edge flying outside edge fell to Gardner, flicking one to at first slip off Shamilia Connell a n d h a n d e d Beth Mooney at midwicket for to consign the Australian number Perry her t h r e e - a 51-ball 20. Gardner took her three to her eighth duck in Onew i c k e t h a u l . second wicket with a ripper of an Day Internationals (ODIs).

DRS handed Haynes a lifeline As a result, W e s t offbreak that fizzed past Chedean Nation's outside edge to round when she was adjudged lbw on Indies slumped the double-wicket 16. Ball-tracking showed Connell's to 34 for 3 i n out 2 3 r d over that delivery was going over middle the powerplay, their s a w West Indies and off. Early in her thirties, lowest tally in the plummet to Haynes treaded danger territory passage so far in the when her edge off Karishma 70 for 5. tournament.

W e s t Ramharack, who replaced fellow Taylor had another Indies' rapid offspinner Anisa Mohammed in close shave in the sixth u n r a v e l l i n g the XI, fell marginally short of first over of Perry's probing eightextended into slip Matthews. over spell when an incoming the loss of their Then, a throw from Henry seaming delivery jagged sixth wicket when almost found Haynes short of her back, clipped the top of a bid for a third run ground during an ill-attempted her pad and missed the led to Healy running single in the eventful 16th over. stumps by a whisker. out Chinelle Henry at Haynes' fifty stand off 78 balls Second-change the wicketkeeper's end. with Perry promised to draw Alana King, the Taylor tried to mend the the inevitable closer, but Henry only leg-spinner innings, but parched of combined with first slip Matthews in Australia's strike for extended periods, to dismiss Perry for a 31-ball 10.

XI, delivered an Mooney and Haynes then she could do as best as taking incisive run-less West Indies past the three-digit stepped on the gas. They took 10 second over during mark. In the 41st over, Gardner off the 21st before Haynes brought which Shemaine trapped her lbw before left- up her 17th ODI fifty to add to her Campbelle survived arm spinner Jess Jonassen, 2022 World Cup tally of 134, 34, a review by Australia who replaced wristspinner and 30. Mooney stitched together for lbw. Replays Amanda-Jade Wellington in the XI, a fifty partnership for the fourth vindicated wicket with Haynes, who also hit struck twice to clean up the tail. the umpire's the winning run. d e c i s i o n (ESPNcricinfo) of the ball Rachael Haynes goes down the ground hitting the bat

IPL 2022: Shane Watson joins Delhi Capitals as Assistant Coach S

hane Watson (Assistant Coach) will join Ricky Ponting (Head Coach); Ajit Agarkar (Assistant Coach); Pravin Amre (Assistant Coach) and James Hopes (Bowling Coach) as part of the backroom staff at Delhi Capitals. This is the first time the former Australia allrounder will be involved with any team in a coaching capacity.

"With Delhi Capitals, they have got a great squad," he said in a press release issued by the franchise.

"Now is the time to win their first title. I am super pumped to get over there, work with the boys, help them out as much as I can and hopefully, we can win the first title.

Can't wait to get over there."

Watson has varied experience as a player in franchise T20 cricket, having won titles in the Indian Premier League (IPL); Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL). A Most Valuable Player (MVP) during Rajasthan Royals' run to the title in the inaugural edition in 2008, Watson finished his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings.

In Super Kings’ victorious 2018 season, he played a key role as an opener, contributing 555 runs – the second-most for the team – in 15 innings. In the final, Watson struck a match-winning century against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In

between, he was also part of Royal Challengers Bangalore briefly.

"The IPL is the best T20 tournament in the world," he said.

"I've got incredible memories as a player, first of all with Rajasthan Royals winning it in 2008, led by the incredible man Shane Warne, RCB and then CSK. I've got incredible memories as a player, and now coaching opportunities.

"It has come to be able to work under the great Ricky Ponting. He was an amazing leader as a captain, and now to be able to coach under him. He is one of the best coaches in the world now. So, for me to be able to learn the ropes under Ricky, I am really excited."

While Watson did play 59 Tests for Australia, it was in white-ball cricket where he was at his best. In 190 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he scored 5757 runs at 40.54 with a strike rate of 90.44, in addition to taking 168 wickets at 31.79. He was part of two World-Cup winning Australia sides, in 2007 and 2015, and was a powerhouse performer in the Champions Trophy, winning the Player-of-the-Match award in the finals of both the 2006 and 2009 tournaments.

In T20Is, he made 1462 runs at a strike rate of 145.32 and took 48 wickets while maintaining an

economy rate of 7.65. He was the Player of the Series in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, where he topped the run charts with 249 runs at a strike rate of 150.00 and finished second on the wickets chart with 11 scalps while conceding 7.33 runs per over. He retired from all forms of cricket in November 2020 following a disappointing IPL season with Super Kings, where they failed to make the play-offs for the first time.

(ESPNcricinfo)

30

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fortress Bridgetown beckons after Antiguan appetiser

R

Big picture

eset, and refocus.

After five days of hard toil on an unforgiving Antigua deck, the series swings south-east to Barbados, where the surface – to judge by a run of seven consecutive results since a tense draw against India in 2011 – ought to offer more for the bowlers on both teams to get stuck into.

If England’s recent experience at Bridgetown is anything to go by, that might not be the most uplifting of prospects. It was on this ground three years ago that they were blown away for 77 in their first innings, a catastrophic derailment that set them on their way to yet another failed Caribbean cam-

O

paign.

And if they wanted a reminder of the Kensington Oval’s fortress qualities, a quick recap of January’s T20I series would suffice – West Indies emerged as 3-2 victors, with the hometown hero Jason Holder’s final sign-off being the small matter of four wickets in four balls.

For the time being, however, the events in Antigua did at least imbue two very flaky batting line-ups with some rarely-encountered optimism. After failing to reach 300 in any of their 10 innings of the Ashes, England passed that mark in both innings of the first Test – and in so doing they recorded three centurions in a Test match for the first time since Rajkot on

n a day that saw Most Valuable Player (MVP) favourites Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic go headto-head, it was fellow centre Karl-Anthony Towns who stole the headlines.

Towns scored a career-high 60 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

It is the most points scored by any player in a single game this season, ahead of Trae Young and LeBron James, who both scored 56.

After reaching half-time with 24 points, Towns exploded into life after the break, scoring 32 of his side’s 46 third-quarter points on his way to final shooting figures of 19-31 from the field, 7-11 from three, and 15-16 from the line.

Towns, who is the first centre to hit 60 points in a single NBA game since Shaquille O’Neal in March 2000, also grabbed a personal seasonhigh of 17 rebounds, while on the other side Dejounte Murray was no slouch with 30 points and 12 assists, though it was not enough for the Spurs.

(Sportsmax)

the tour of India in 2016-17.

The best of these belonged to Jonny Bairstow – a man with the red-ball bit between his teeth right now, following a similarly superb century in his previous Test in Sydney in January. An eternity has passed since Bairstow’s annus mirabilis in 2016, in which time he has gone on to become arguably England’s most important One-Day International (ODI) batter, and so all manner of caveats are warranted when discussing his sporadic Test form in the intervening years.

But having arrived at the crease at a familiarly bleak 48 for 4 on the first morning, Bairstow was hugely impressive in first rebuilding the innings in partnership with Ben Stokes, then kicking on after lunch and beyond to lay down England’s first big marker of this post-Ashes era. Zak Crawley in the second innings followed suit with a performance of similar self-denial, before Root put the bow on an encouraging display with his 24th Test century, and his first of 2022.

West Indies, however, found resolve of their own to claim an equal share of the batting plaudits.

Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell posted fifty stands in each innings, slim pickings by most teams’ standards, but an important marker for this outfit, before Nkrumah Bonner’s tour de force dragged West Indies to a first-innings lead of 64 – a non-issue in the final analysis, but the sort of advantage that might have proved vital had the pitch ever threatened to deteriorate.

In the bowling stakes, it was a case of two forward, two back and one almighty set-back for England. Sadly for Chris Woakes and Craig Overton, their alliance lived down to most expectations, particularly while West Indies were romping along at four runs an over with the new ball. And when Mark Wood went lame with a deeply-worrying elbow injury, that lack of 90mph threat was all the more exposed.

And yet, out of adversity surged the inevitable Ben

Stokes – a man who had been expected to ease his way back to fitness after the side strain that had so hampered his Ashes display. He ploughed through 28 overs in the first innings, his heaviest innings workload for seven years, and 41 overs all told for the outstanding figures of 3 for 66. He is not quite back to his 2019-20 peak, but these are his most encouraging signs since his career break last summer.

And then there was the spinner Jack Leach, whose best effort in an England shirt yielded match figures of 5 for 136 in 73.4 overs, including three of the four breakthroughs on West Indies’ final-day wobble. In the end, he could not surmount either the pitch or the resistance led by Bonner and Holder over the contest’s final session. But his poise and control were revealed by the concurrent struggles of his opposite Veerasammy Permaul, who was never permitted to settle in either innings.

Ultimately, however, if it’s an England tour of the Caribbean, then the calibre of the hosts’ fast bowling is sure to be the final factor. In the most helpful conditions of the contest, Holder, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales ripped open some very fresh wounds in the visitors’ batting, while Alzarri Joseph earned late reward in the second innings for some diligent old-ball work. Pound for pound, and with Wood’s injury factored in, that quartet had the edge over their England counterparts. In a series where both teams are prone to moments of chronic batting malfunction, the race to 20 wickets could be well and truly on this week.

In the spotlight

Can Bonner back up the masterclass that he produced in Antigua? For more than 12 hours across two innings of the first Test, West Indies’ most fascinating late bloomer racked up 161 runs from 493 balls for once out – and even that flicker of weakness, at eight-down in the first innings, came via a leg-side strangle from the part-time allsorts of Dan Lawrence.

His inningses were unrepentantly one-paced, and perfectly tailored to meet West Indies’ needs, as he first ground his team into a dominant position, then bailed them out just when it seemed their old batting frailties were set to burst forth. Bonner’s Test average is now just a nudge below 50, and like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the man whose unflappability he most resembles, while he endures, his team has a solid-

ity at odds with their recent reputation.

By all accounts, Ollie Robinson is ready to return to the fray, and what a fascinating anomaly his career is turning out to be. On the one hand, England’s over-reliance on right-arm medium-pace seamers has been the story of their recent Test failings; on the other hand, Robinson comes back into the team with a haul of 39 wickets at 21.28 in nine of the toughest Tests imaginable –- home encounters with the two best Test teams of

2021, New Zealand and India, and an away Ashes in which he was never less than a handful with 11 wickets at 25.54.

The concerns about his conditioning are mounting, however. There were some strong words spoken when he went lame in Hobart, and amid the furore of Stuart Broad and James Anderson’s omission, his likely return comes laced with a fair degree of expectation.

Team news

West Indies have named an unchanged 13-man squad, with reserve batter Kyle Mayers and Anderson Phillip, the uncapped Trinidad fast bowler, once again waiting in the wings.

After their relative success in Antigua, the likelihood is an unchanged XI, although given that Permaul went wicketless in both innings, there could yet be the temptation to reinforce the batting with Mayers and rely on the four quicks. Brathwaite, however, has strongly indicated that the spinner remains in his plans.

West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain); 2 John Campbell; 3 Nkrumah Bonner; 4 Kyle Mayers; 5 Jermaine Blackwood; 6 Jason Holder; 7 Joshua da Silva (wicketkeeper); 8 Alzarri Joseph; 9 Kemar Roach; 10 Veerasammy Permaul, and 11 Jayden Seales.

Robinson had been back to full pace in the nets and looked set to be handed a recall after missing the first Test with a back spasm, but the management has decided he is not ready, and instead

there will be a maiden Test call-up for the Lancashire quick Saqib Mahmood, whose potential to touch 90mph provides England an important cutting edge, with Wood missing out due to “acute pain” in his right elbow. There are obvious questions to be asked about the suitability of Woakes and Overton in these conditions after a toothless display in Antigua, but both men retain their places in the starting XI. England (probable): 1 Alex Lees; 2 Zak Crawley; 3 Joe Root (Captain); 4 Dan Lawrence; 5 Ben Stokes; 6 Jonny Bairstow; 7 Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper); 8 Chris Woakes; 9 Craig Overton; 10 Saqib Mahmood and 11 Jack Leach. (ESPNcricinfo)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

31

…shares updates on ongoing projects

T

The new stand under construction at the Leonora Track and Field Facility

he Leonora Track and Field Facility, the National Stadium, the National Gymnasium, and two new tracks at New Amsterdam and Linden are among a number of sport facilities receiving attention

from the Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry.

While these developments are significant for Guyana’s sport fraternity, Culture, Youth, and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has growing concerns about

the way that Guyana’s facilities are being treated by citizens.

Ramson Jr got into the matter, after sharing a number of updates on the ongoing works at various sport venues.

confident of Lady Jags’ chances

M

Kayla De Souza

embers of Guyana’s senior wom- ticipating in en’s football team are pumped these comup and ready for the remainder p e t i t i o n s , ” of their CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers De Souza told Sportsmax.

She further stated, “Not only do we next month. So much so, that they have been proudly sharing their experiences in have a strong XI, but we have depth on our the Guyanese team with regional and in- bench which adds to our ability to win and look to advance for sure.” ternational media.

In a sit-down with Sportsmax’s Maria Meanwhile, Otesha Charles caught Ramharack during an “In Case You Missed the attention of BBC London, with It” segment, Captain of the Lady Jags, whom she sat down for an interview.

Kayla De Souza shared on her decision to The forward, citing her performance represent the Golden Arrowhead. in Guyana’s recent games, believes that “I wouldn’t change this decision for the the team and herself are ready for the b i g leagues. world,” De Souza said.

“After playing that She added, “Repping Guyana specificalgame, I thought I could ly is special, because not only am I repping my family but I’m repping a nation that take on a couple Arsenal truly deserves recognition and we’ve defenders, why not? So, to play in the World Cup, made that very clear over the last 10 I’m ready,” she declared. years, playing at the international After being queslevel.” tioned about When quizzed about Guyana’s campaign thus far, which consists Guyana’s potential, of two wins over Dominica and Charles oozed with confidence, sharing Nicaragua, De Souza highlighted that Guyana posthat it is a great position to be itively have in, but the work is not yet done. what it “Coming on top of the group was our main priority as any takes team’s would be. In order to t o g o progress into the summer, all the we need to come top of our way.

“Most defigroup,” the Lady Jags nitely, I am so Captain explained.

Taking into account excited. Like we the team’s recent perhave a very good chance formance, training at qualifying in this round. To play in the and capabilities, De Souza figures that World Cup, that’s like a Guyana can draw o u t dream for any footballer, success from this situafemale or male,” Charles tion. told BBC. “I think anything can She added, “It’s defihappen and just based on our nitely on the cards for Guyana.” training camp in our last round, I really think that we can move forward. Being with the team since 2009, I have to definitely say this is one of the strongest groups that have been parOtesha Charles in action for Guyana

At Leonora, on the West Coast of Demerara, a new stand is being constructed, after which bucket seats are expected to be placed, which the Minister says will be the template for venues going forward.

“The main thing is to complete the stand. We started this construction project, it was publicly advertised and awarded through the National Tender Board last year, in the last quarter of last year. So, it’s in the final phases, I guess,” the Minister shared.

Ramson Jr went on to say, “It’s going to be completed by the middle of this year and then we have to install the bucket seats. This is going to be the first stand at Leonora that will have buckets seats and it will be our new design for all of the stands that we do.”

After giving an update on the basketball courts being constructed in the National Gymnasium compound, Ramson Jr turned his attention to the Synthetic Tracks to be set up in Linden and Berbice.

“We purchased the synthetic material already, it’s in the country. It’s right now being stored at the National Stadium.

Where there was a holdup was in the asphalting of the tracks because it needed to have 21 days of sunshine. And that’s a tough thing to do when you’ve got rainy season, unexpected rainy season situation.”

The Sport Minister went on to announce, “I’ve also budgeted this year for the completion of a new pavilion at both of the locations and there’s quite likely a possibility that we’ll be able to put in the lights, as well.”

These updates did not come without caution; however, as Ramson Jr lambasted those who seek to destroy aspects of the country’s sport facilities. The Minister has called for a change in culture on how facilities are treated.

“People right now, when it comes to facilities, they want good facilities and they’re expecting good facilities. Now, as a citizen

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

of the country, if I can’t go and use our washroom because I don’t think that it’s acceptable enough, then it means that it can’t be acceptable for the rest of the Guyanese people,” a concerned Ramson Jr said.

“So, if you, for example, in your own home, you’ve got a certain standard how you want your home to be and the cleanliness, etc, well, that should be what our public facilities should look like.”

The Sport Minister warned, “You’re not hurting me, you’re hurting yourself, we built this for you. So, I think our culture needs to change in relation to the care of public facilities, especially ones relating to sport.” (Jemima Holmes)

Hetmyer’s unbeaten 145 highlights Telenec Under-15 tournament …Ramdeholl, Boodwah score centuries as well

Nicholas Hall bagged 4-10 from his five overs

F

ans on Sunday were treated to three centuries in the Telenec Under-15 tournament – Adrian Hetmyer’s (145*) and Romario Ramdeholl’s (135) in match number one and Navin Boodwah’s (114) in the final game of the day.

In match number one, Rose Hall Canje "Arborsmart” duked it out with Guymine.

Rose Hall Canje continued their dominant ways as they smashed another 300+ score in the tournament. Hetmyer in particular smashing 145, his second century of the season. Ramdeholl also chipped in with a brilliant century as he has continued to support Hetmyer in each game. When the duo came to the crease, they produced an opening partnership of 323 from 46 overs. After Ramdeholl fell for his 135, Hetmyer continued his onslaught and took his team to 3481 in their allotted 50 overs. With a looming target of 349 for victory, Guymine were bundled out for 31 in 11.3 overs. The chief wick-

Romario Ramdeholl scored 135

et-takers for Rose Hall Canje were Nicholas Hall (4-10 from 5 overs); Sharvesh Isberan (3-18 from 4 overs) and Enrique Mickle (11). Rose Hall Canje "Arborsmart" won by 317 runs and have advanced to the semi-finals.

In match number two, Boodwah struck a magnificent 114 as Port Mourant Prem Kennard Under-15 Cricket Team defeated Edinburgh by 210 runs in the quarter-final at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground. Batting first, Port Mourant Prem Kennard scored 272-5 from their allotted 35 overs. Top-scoring was Boodwah 114 (14 fours), with support from Vishal Williams (35) and Robin Boodwah (27 not out). In reply, a struggling Edinburgh were dismissed for 62. Leading the charge for Port Mourant bowlers was Rovin Boodwah with 4 for 20 from seven overs, with Navin Boodwah chipping in with 2 for 8 from six overs and Yoganand Mohan returning figures of 2 for 18 from 5.2 overs.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

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

Fortress Bridgetown beckons after Antiguan appetiser

Page 30

urges citizens to care for sport facilities Pg 31 Adrian Hetmyer blasted 145 not out

… Ramdeholl, Boodwah score centuries as well

…shares updates on ongoing projects Page 31

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