Guyana Times - Friday, August 21, 2020

P6

Dr Walter Ramsahoye dies Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4384

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

ExxonMobil must play greater role in developing local capacity – VP ...Govt looking to have draft local content legislation before year end See story on page 3

owes APNU/AFC spent $4.9M to APNU/AFC NCN $16M for equip non-existent barber campaign ads …items reportedly stored shop at Christopher Jones' home Page 5

The address, where the Social Protection Ministry has on its records that the barber shop exists. However, a verification discovered that the land has no building

Page 10

Govt unearths major Infectious Diseases Centre to be converted into Ponzi scheme …over 17,000 Guyanese affected isolation facility – President Pages 7 & 10

Page 5

Attorney General Anil Nandlall engaging in discussions with members of the high-level team established by Government to probe the "Ponzi scheme" in Guyana

… 70 COVID-19 cases detected, 1 death in 24 hours

Burnt remains of missing Canadian found in Berbice …killed over rice field dispute

Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Traumatised Grove residents tell of losses after koker collapsed P11

DeSinco Trading fire

No employee will be laid off – Managing P8 Director 'Cocaine in rice' bust in Germany

No evidence drugs came from Guyana – P5 CANU

Body of Guyanese fisherman found floating in P9 Suriname

Man accused of robbing 10-yearold remanded P8

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 ExxonMobil must play greater role in developing local capacity – VP NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, August 21 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Saturday, August 22 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, August 21 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Saturday, August 22 – 06:20h – 07:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

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

Winds: South-Westerly to South SouthWesterly to South-Easterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:04h and 18:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.86 metres and 2.79 metres.

Low Tide: 12:01h reaching a minimum height of 0.38 metre.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$44.90/barrel

-1.05

Rough Rice

$219.51 /ton

+0.30

London Sugar

$376.50/ton

-0.66

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1946.50

$1947.50

Low/High

$1922.90

$1956.40

Change

-0.10

-0.01%

...Govt looking to have draft local content legislation before year-end

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that US oil giant, ExxonMobil, has to play a greater role in assisting Guyana to develop a core team of indigenous professionals to manage the local oil and gas sector.

Speaking on a local radio programme, “Guyana’s Oil and You”, Jagdeo pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government intends to eventually move to a Petroleum Commission to overlook the sector and deal with all the technical issues in the contracts. This way, he explained, there will be less ministerial and political involvement.

However, Jagdeo noted that Guyana needs to have the capacity in key areas such as policy capability, enforcement and compliance capability as well as auditing capability to effectively manage the petroleum industry.

To this end, he said that Government wants to create “a core of Guyanese managers” – putting about 400 to 500 of the country’s youngest and brightest minds on scholarships, and/or training them.

As such, he noted that Exxon, Guyana’s largest operator offshore, must share the cost of this. Exxon along with its partners are operating in the Stabroek Block, where there are an estimated eight billion barrels of oil.

The Vice President posited that the paltry US$3000 that the company currently gives is not only insufficient generally but is not adequate for the training Guyana intends to undertake.

“Now the company pays millions of US dollars for its bureaucracy and we share half of the cost, that is, the cost oil. So now they too must provide enough funds for Guyana to build a great capacity, it’s own capacity, to monitor the sector,” he contended.

This, according to Jagdeo, will be good for the oil company as they will have a core of professionals to deal with since sometimes people without the necessary expertise can be unreasonable in negotiations.

“But if you have a good quality indigenous capacity, that is, Guyanese capacity… in the long run, it helps [the companies] to have qualified regulators... and we want our people to become the regulators in the future,” he asserted.

According to the Vice President, while Guyana can raise funds for this by way of grants and loans as well as securing experts to conduct training, the oil company should help to fund some of these costs too.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo said that the PPP/C Administration also intends to have a draft local content legislation in place by the end of the year.

“We are moving swiftly and we are hoping before the end of the year that we have a draft legislation that we can put before the Parliament to deal with local content and driving more business and jobs for our people,” he stated.

The Vice President said the PPP/C Government has already indicated to Exxon that it intends to pass a local content legislation that will force all oil companies to ensure that they address issues that are of pressing nature to the business community and Guyanese.

According to Jagdeo, they believe enough has not been done to allow Guyanese to benefit from the development that has taken place.

As such, the Government will be going to the people and engaging with stakeholders from the various sectors on the draft legislation.

He said they will be setting up a working group to lead this initiative and has since reached out to some industry experts for assistance in crafting this legislation so that all Guyanese can benefit from the oil and gas sector.

Jagdeo noted that as it is, foreign companies benefit from duty-free concessions, thus putting local companies at an undue disadvantage to compete with them.

“This has to change… We have to fix this… Guyanese are doing the same job and

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

they get less pay; that can’t happen in the future…,” he posited.

The Vice President noted that the local content legislation will not just apply to the major operators but also their subcontractors, who will have to comply with the provisions.

Moreover, he pointed out that the legislation will also ensure that Guyanese companies get the chance to also benefit from opportunities

arising from the sector. He noted that there are local companies that can do some of the work that is contracted out to foreign companies.

“That has to change,” he insisted.

According to VP Jagdeo, while the PPP/C Administration wants oil companies in Guyana to prosper, Guyanese must also share that prosperity, and he noted that they will ensure this happens. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

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

Frontline workers

T

he Government’s announcement that frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic will receive appropriate recognition in the upcoming emergency budget is welcoming news. Health systems and health workers are being challenged to their maximum capacity, as no country was ever prepared to deal with a crisis of this proportion. In the middle of all of this are the healthcare workers — including doctors, nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians and others — who are making tremendous sacrifices every day, even risking their lives to win this battle.

In Guyana, the confirmed cases are 846, with recoveries being 399 and deaths 30. This therefore means that we have 377 active cases in Guyana. Locally and further afield, we have seen reports from the media about the selfless services these frontline workers are offering to save lives and contain the further spread of this deadly virus.

With the end of the pandemic being nowhere in sight, many countries are bracing themselves to deal with a host of accompanying social and economic problems which, no doubt, will take a toll on communities everywhere. In fact, there were a few reports of some of these frontline workers becoming depressed after being so overwhelmed with witnessing the suffering of persons first hand, and with seeing the magnitude of the task ahead. As we stated before, and now re-emphasise, the mental impact this will have on health workers’ psyche will be great.

Already, a study conducted and published by TIME has stated that some early data already paint a bleak picture.

According to the article, a study published found that among 1,257 healthcare workers working with COVID-19 patients in China, 50.4 per cent reported symptoms of depression, 44.6 per cent reported symptoms of anxiety, 34 per cent reported insomnia, and 71.5 per cent reported distress.

Like health care workers further afield, our local workers are faced with life-changing decisions as they put their lives at risk to save those who contracted the disease. Our healthcare professionals have even faced stigmatisation and have been discriminated against by public transport operators and some business owners. This was obviously done out of fear, and by persons who felt they could have contracted the virus very easily by having any contact with such persons.

To some extent, this has been resolved, as transportation arrangements have been put in place for our healthcare workers, but it is noteworthy, since persons continue to put their lives on the line while providing an invaluable and selfless service to the nation. The challenges healthcare workers, especially nurses, face daily cannot be underestimated.

For this reason, governments and other health partners must continue to make the necessary investments in them, to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge, and are well equipped with the resources they need to do their work in a comfortable and safe environment. As we have said before, historically as well as presently, nurses are at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics that threaten health across the globe. As we have seen around the world, they are demonstrating their compassion, bravery and courage as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), without nurses, midwives, and other healthcare workers, countries cannot win the battle against outbreaks. This pandemic has reminded us of the importance of healthcare workers, and we must salute them for their tremendous sacrifices. This newspaper welcomes the Government’s announcement, that in the next budget they will get an “appropriate recognition” for their work.

Collective efforts are required Dear Editor, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has taken careful note of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Address to the Nation in regard to the National Strategy to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the arrival of the virus on our shores, our federation has been keenly following the unfolding situation, and has been aggressively championing measures to alleviate the hardships faced by many Guyanese.

During the closing days of the Coalition Administration, we advanced several proposals, which unfortunately were not considered by that Administration. It was therefore with some degree of comfort that we learnt from the President that his Administration is working aggressively to roll out measures to stanch the spread of the disease, to assist those in hardship, and to stimulate economic activity.

Much of what His

Excellency shared was previously championed by FITUG. We are most pleased that the President and his team had obviously been listening to our calls, been soberly assessing them, and is now taking them onboard.

The nation was also told that there is more work being done to advance a robust programme to ease the suffering of our people, who have been burdened for many months now. This, for the Guyanese people, must be pleasing news; and we are sure that they, like us, are anxiously waiting to see what the new Government would do in the people’s interest.

Further, we were happy to learn that emphasis is being placed on getting the educational pursuits of our nation’s children back on track. This was a matter that had also deeply concerned the FITUG, given its obvious inimical repercussions. Clearly, what is required are unorthodox and novel solutions which take account of our geographic, economic and other challenges.

We were, moreover, happy to see that daily testing has been doubled, allowing us to have a clearer picture of the true extent of the situation regarding the novel coronavirus. The FITUG had, many weeks ago, advocated for more aggressive testing. We felt that this would have allowed the nation to get a better handle on the situation.

Unfortunately, this logical suggestion had fallen on deaf ears, and testing was often pursued when infected persons reached a critical state.

Nevertheless, we expect testing to be heightened, and while this may reveal a bleaker picture, it provides critical data to correctly analyse the situation.

At this time, the FITUG recognises a call from some for a national lockdown to be implemented. While on the surface this seems to be prudent, we hold that such a measure needs to be thoroughly considered. We must take into account those workers who have no economic cushion, or had such cushions already exhausted.

Also, the prolonged impact on the economy must be taken into account. Inasmuch as a lockdown may bring some respite, any lasting success can only be realised if we, the Guyanese people, act in a responsible and safe manner.

We continue to observe many persons not wearing, or inappropriately wearing, their masks. Also, too many people continue to unnecessarily congregate, disregarding the social- distancing requirements. No lockdown or curfew can cure such irresponsibility; rather, it is our collective actions as Guyanese that would see us through this crisis period.

We again urge, as we have done before, every Guyanese to wear a mask when in the public space; observe social distancing, and practise sanitisation. It is these actions that would bring the lasting solution we seek.

Sincerely, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

“Cosmetic makeover” would do PNC no good

Dear Editor, The submission of names by the PNC for the next sitting of Parliament have shown some notable names being absent from the list. Chief among those are James Bond, Aubrey Norton, Volda Lawrence and Amna Ally.

Now, this has caused quite a stir within and outside of the party, to the point where many have suggested that this shows a rift in that party’s overall structure, rendering it weak and ineffective in future elections.

Be that as it may, these are the facts that confront us in regard to that party. * The PNC is a party that says one thing and does another. In 2015, Granger published in his manifesto that the PNC would provide jobs for the young people of this country. The result was a bunch of geriatrics taking office and the youths being unceremoniously sidelined.

It is called political expediency; that is, use the youths for their votes, then dump them. This is direct revelation of the duplicitous na-

ture of the party and its leaders. * Those duplicitous and deceptive qualities were evident way back then, even at the inception of that party; and were maintained ever since that time. Burnham, its founder-leader, had trained party members in the fine art of con-artistry and how to get their way around. Of course it served them well! Because, for 28 unbroken years, and five more under Granger, they kept themselves in power. * The PNC is a party that has been well trained in the art of rigging elections to stay in power. Every election under its watch has been rigged. * The PNC was caught in the act of rigging the 2020 Elections due to its inordinate obsession with power. However, firm and decisive action by the then Opposition, coupled with the straightforward no-nonsense approach by the International Community, forced Granger to eventually concede. * The PNC is a par-

ty that is well entrenched in violence. The propensity to carry out violent acts to intimidate and create mayhem is all within the DNA of that party. It is an undeniable fact that The PNC was instrumental in fomenting the 1964 Civil War, wherein 5 members of the Abraham family were burnt to death. Even the entire PPP hierarchy would have been annihilated were it not for the timely intervention of Michael Forde, who paid the ultimate price.

He intercepted that bomb package at Freedom House, thereby saving the lives of all his party comrades who were on the upper floor of that building. The socalled “time of troubles”, when scores of persons lay dead - including policemen - were all attributed to the PNC and their “Freedom Fighters.”

Those of our youths who are too young to know can read up on these ghastly stories in our historical records in both the print and electronic media. * The PNC has shown

a lack of respect for the Constitution, and by extension the people of Guyana.

Theirs is the full-out bullyism with the belief that they can just muscle their way through any situation, and no one can stop them.

So, making these cosmetic changes would not do any good, once the general image of the party remains the same. With such a sordid outlook, no good can come out of that source.

A “makeover” would not do either, no matter how good it appears, that would not make a difference within the lives and experience of the people of this country.

Simply put, our people would not be fooled again.

Once the operatives in that party remain the same, with all their ingrained problems, as I would normally say, it is the “same difference.”

The PNC must come to the realisation that it has lost relevance in a Guyanese context.

Dear Editor, While it may be somewhat overdue, allow me to extend hearty congratulations to President Irfaan Ali and his Government on their ascension to office after five painstaking months.

The new Government, I see, has hit the ground running, and obviously recog-

nises the impactful damage inflicted by the Coalition.

While I am happy about these developments, as someone who is concerned about GuySuCo, it appears that not sufficient attention is being paid in this direction. I hope I am wrong, but my sources inside the Corporation are telling me

that many highly paid executive pensioners remain on the job while the GuySuCo continues to slide further and further.

I look to Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who I know has been thrown into the deep end, to pull the company out of the morass created by his predecessor.

We look forward, Mr President, to you also taking firm control of the situation and ensuring that this industry, which supports the livelihoods of so many, is not allowed to fall any further.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Looking forward to President taking control of sugar industry

Yours faithfully, Patricia Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

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NEWS

Govt unearths major Ponzi scheme …over 17,000 Guyanese affected

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall is leading a high-level team to investigate the operations of a financial company that is reportedly running a “Ponzi scheme” here in Guyana and has collected millions of dollars from Guyanese.

This stemmed from dozens of complaints to the Government from members of the public about the financial outfit, located on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Guyana Securities Council (GSC) has written to President Dr Irfaan Ali, the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Commissioner of Police, informing them of the operations of this scheme in the country.

GSC described the agency, Accelerated Capital Firm Inc (ACFI), as a “pyramid or a Ponzi scheme” that has received hundreds of millions of dollars from thousands of Guyanese. In fact, it was noted that as much US$30

million could be involved in the scheme that affects some 17,000 Guyanese.

ACFI was established by Cuban National Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael and has been operating in Guyana since 2018.

However, the GSC, after becoming aware of the operations, had issued public notices in October 2019 and January 2020, notifying the public that Accelerated Capital Firm (formerly “Accelerated Wealth Inc”) is not licensed by the Council to conduct securities business in Guyana or to solicit investments from the public.

As such, after the matter was brought to the attention of the Government, it has assembled a high-level team headed by AG Nandlall, and includes the Commissioner of Police, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Head of the Guyana Securities Council.

In a statement on Thursday, the AG Chamber said that adopting a

multi-sector approach, the team will immediately investigate the operations of ACFI, with a view, inter alia, of reimbursing monies to the persons who “invested” in the scheme.

Persons with relevant information are invited to assist in the investigations.

In its report, GSC noted that the business engaged in by ACFI violates several pieces of legislation across the fiscal regulatory architecture.

Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act, it is required for all investors to provide the source of funds and ensure that the financial activities and money laundering risks associated with a customer are properly recorded.

But the Guyana Securities Council is not in receipt of that information from the application submitted by the agency in question.

Pursuant to Securities Industry Act 1998 and Regulations thereto, the

‘Cocaine in rice’ bust in Germany

No evidence drugs came from Guyana – CANU

T

he Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) on Thursday said that it found no evidence to suggest that the cocaine discovered in a rice shipment in Germany came from Guyana.

It was announced earlier this month that authorities in Hamburg found 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in a rice shipment from Guyana.

But CANU said based on its investigations, the drugs might have been placed into the containers whilst they were in-transit in another country.

In fact, CANU said newspapers from that country were some of the materials used to wrap the illegal substance.

Already, the Guyana Rice Development Board said all protocols were followed in packing the rice for shipment.

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

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

“The 1.5 tons of cocaine

A German official examining the cocaine found in the rice shipment

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

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

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

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

Officers found 47 large

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

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

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

Attorney General Anil Nandlall engaging in discussions with members of the high-level team established by Government to probe the "Ponzi scheme" in Guyana

Council had requested from ACFI detailed information and documents pertaining to its principals and the operations of the organisation.

To date, the information has not been submitted and GSC said the application will not be processed unless the requisite supporting documents are submitted.

The GSC also wrote the company principal, Yuri Garcia Dominguez, to cease and desist from advising clients that the reason for non-payment to their clients is that the Council is in the process of granting a license to ACFI. In fact, the GSC made it pellucid that it would have

no choice than to apply the full force of its mandate to ACFI since the application dated August 5, 2020, has not been approved.

Thousands of Guyanese citizens have enrolled in the Ponzi scheme where ACFI claims that it uses a foreign exchange platform to trade and it seems that all aspects of the scheme operate online via training webinars, WhatsApp and emails. The methods of payment used to invest and trade are credit cards or by wire transfer.

Further, investigations have revealed that local banks have terminated the accounts of both Dominguez and Ishmael, and refused

their request to open a corporate account as a result of their due diligence and the public notice by GSC in the print media.

Moreover, it was disclosed that the GSC had previously informed former Citizenship Minister Winston Felix and then Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan under the APNU/AFC Administration about the suspected illegal investment (pyramid scheme) after publications were seen in the newspapers giving notice that Dominguez had applied to the Minister of Citizenship for naturalisation in Guyana.

The notices invited persons who knew of any reason why naturalisation should not be granted to be sent to the Ministry of the Presidency.

However, the GSC indicated that it received no response to these correspondences from either coalition Ministers.

APNU/AFC spent $4.9M to equip non-existent barber shop …items reportedly stored at Christopher Jones’ home

P

olice have applied for a search warrant to gain access to the home of senior A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) official, Christopher Jones, after it was allegedly reported that $4.9 million in barbershop equipment purchased by the former Administration is stored on his property.

However, when Police went to the home of the former Director of Sports, in Tucville, Georgetown, they were refused entry and told to get a search warrant. By this time, several APNU officials, including Executives of both People’s National Congress

Items which Police were trying to recover on Thursday evening

under Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED). A Financial Return present-

Items which were paid for by Government for the non-existent barbershop but were not supplied

(PNC) and Alliance for Change (AFC), also turned up at the property as Police stood guard.

According to audit documents seen by this publication, the regional administration received an Inter/Intra Departmental Warrant (IDW) ? 6/2019 dated June 19, 2019, from the Social Protection Ministry valuing $4.985 million for the procurement of equipment for the barbershop

ed revealed that the full amount was expended as at December 31, 2019. An audit examination of the relevant records revealed that the warrant was expended via two payment vouchers to the value of $4.084 million and $900,999. Audit documents revealed that approval was not granted from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the procurement

of a Condensing Unit valuing $1.528 million. However, audit checks revealed that the item was still purchased and supplied. Additionally, further, audit checks revealed that the cheque was paid to the supplier on October 2, 2019, but the time of reporting in August 2020, items to the value of $900,999 were not supplied.

Meanwhile, the audit report stated that a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084 million were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary, Christopher Jones. Further, the audit report stated that details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Social Protection Ministry dated May 22, 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who “operates” a barbershop. However, at the time of the physical verification, it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barbershop, since the construction of the said barbershop has not yet commenced.

6 NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dr Walter Ramsahoye dies

G

uyanese neurologist Dr Walter Ramsahoye died on Thursday.

Reports are the 78-year-old doctor, who was once the Chairman of the Guyana Medical Council, died at his Church Street, Georgetown home. Dr Ramsahoye was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, Glasgow and Edinburg. In 1999, he was awarded the Order of Giglioli by the Guyana Medical Association, the highest award the Medical Council awards.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony in a message of condolence to the Guyanese medical icon, said that the medical community has lost a giant among those who served the Guyanese people for decades.

Dr Ramsahoye was not only well-respected by his peers in Guyana, but he was wellknown and respected across the Caribbean and in other parts of the world, the Health Minister said.

“He worked for many years in the public sector. In the Private Sector, for several decades, Dr Ramsahoye was one of the most visible and popular doctors among the Guyanese people. His neurology clinic was a stop for many Guyanese from across Guyana, but it was also a popular place for political and social discourses over the years.

He was a prolific writer and commented on many aspects of life in Guyana,” Dr Anthony noted.

While he is well-known for his medical practice, he was deeply involved in the promotion of his profession, Dr Anthony said,

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donates $20M in medical supplies to CDC

Dr Walter Ramsahoye (Stabroek News photo)

adding that Dr Ramsahoye served as a member of the Medical Council of Guyana for many years. In both of these roles, he contributed greatly to the Continuing Medical Education (CME) for doctors.

“The medical profession has lost a truly distinguished member. The Guyanese community has lost a respected physician.

The Ministry of Health expresses our profound regret at the passing of Dr Walter Ramsahoye. We send our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues. May his soul rest in peace,” the Health Minister added.

Deputy Director General of the CDC, Major Loring Benons, receiving the donation from Director of the National Communications Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Latchman Bharrat, at the National Gymnasium

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donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $20 million was on Thursday donated to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the National Gymnasium.

Deputy Director General of the CDC, Major Loring Benons disclosed that the donation of medical supplies stemmed from an earlier commitment made by the Church, the Department of Public Information reported.

Noting the increased testing for COVID-19 across

the country, he described the contribution as timely.

“These PPEs will continue to go to the Ministry and our law enforcement officers for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he is quoted by the DPI as saying.

Director of the National Communications Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Latchman Bharrat said it was an honour to be able to assist.

“I feel pleased that the CDC has given us the opportunity to serve, we welcome that, and throughout the

length and breadth of the country, we have been doing just that. On behalf of the Church, I extend my gratitude to all who gave us the opportunity to serve.”

Just recently, the Church also made a $20 million donation of food items to the CDC’s relief outreach.

Several NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisations and agencies have made meaningful donations to the CDC, to assist households on the coast and hinterland that are adversely affected by the pandemic.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Burnt remains of missing Canadian found in Berbice …killed over rice field dispute

Dead: Nicholas Ramkissoon Jaipaul

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man has been taken into Police custody and has since confessed that he killed missing Canadian, Nicholas Jaipaul, over a rice

field dispute between the man’s grandfather and another rice farmer.

The charred remains of the 23-year-old were found at Moleson Creek, about 55 miles from New Amsterdam in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Jaipaul went missing from the Number 69 Village, Corentyne home of his grandfather where he was staying since arriving in Guyana. His grandfather, after whom he was named, received a phone call on Monday stating that his grandson was kidnapped. He contacted Police who went to his home. Police said that there was no forced entry but family members insisted that he was abducted. However, following initial investigations, Police arrested the two maids who

Another COVID-19 death recorded

G

uyana recorded another COVID-19-related death on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 30.

On Thursday evening the Health Ministry related that a 73- year-old man, a patient of the transitional ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), died.

According to the Ministry, a swab test was done when the man was admitted to the facility and the results came back as positive following his death. The Ministry said that it has since contacted his relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed. On Wednesday, four COVID-19 deaths were reported. The Health Ministry on Wednesday revealed that a 43-year-old woman, who was a patient of the transitional ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital, died as a result of COVID-19. According to the Ministry, upon admission to the GPHC, a swab test was done, and following her death at 09:00h on Wednesday, the results came back as positive.

Also on Wednesday, the

Ministry announced Guyana’s 27th COVID-19-related death.

The victim was a 72-yearold man, who died in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after receiving medical care for five days.

His death was followed by the country’s 28th and 29th deaths – who died at the Bartica Hospital, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), at about 18:00h, also on Wednesday.

The patients who died at the hospital were a male and a female, aged 55 and 41 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is encouraging persons to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures #8 published in the Official Gazette on August 14, 2020, which emphasise the need to practice physical distancing at least six feet apart, use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their homes and practice good handing washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

worked for Jaipaul’s grandfather and the son of one of the maids. The son of one of the maids admitted to Police that the young man was murdered as revenge against his grandfather, who has an ongoing court matter with “Brickhead”, a rice farmer who cultivates land he rents from the senior Jaipaul.

Guyana Times understands that after Police interrogated the maid’s son, he told them that he was hired to carry out the act. He subsequently led them to Moleson Creek, where the charred remains were discovered in an open spot behind the thick overgrowth lining the lonely roadway.

Meanwhile, Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh was taken to the site on Thursday afternoon and performed an autopsy. There were just a few bones and a part of the skull that remained. It was the dead man's uncle who was able to identify the body based on an injury the lad had previously received. The uncle, Adit Narine Persaud, explained that Nicholas had undergone a surgical procedure as a baby during which his skull was infiltrated to get a tube to his brain to take fluid to his kidney.

The scars were still evident on the skull.

The maid’s son remains in

Police removing the charred remains

custody as Police continue their probe to locate the mastermind.

Meanwhile, Persaud said that the suspect had tried to befriend his nephew and went to the home he was staying the day before he disappeared and

engaged him in conversation.

The suspect, several years ago, was fingered in the death of his stepfather. He was placed before the court for murder but was subsequently acquitted.

(G4)

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DeSinco Trading fire

No employee will be laid off – Managing Director

O

ne day after the devastating fire that ripped through DeSinco Trading Limited, located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, Managing Director of the establishment, Frank De Abreu said that no employee will be out of a job.

“No staff member will be out of a job…I rather reduce profits than to put people out of a job this time or any time of the year,” he stated while adding that “everybody who is working here will be placed at another branch,” De Abreu explained to Guyana Times.

The businessman was unable to give an exact figure to the losses as a result of the fire but noted that the figure will be millions while noting that the business was insured.

On Wednesday, firefighters spent more than three hours battling the blaze at the Sheriff Street, Georgetown business as flames tore through and ultimately destroyed the entire structure. The fire started at about 13:00h, however, despite the fact that several firefighters from the Guyana Fire Service were dispatched to the scene, accessing water was a challenge. By this time, heavy smoke was billowing from the building and the flames threatened nearby buildings. This promoted the call for more fire tenders as those at the scene were unable to contain the blaze.

After almost two hours of battling the flames, the fire service finally deployed a truck with a telescoping

The PNC’s take...

N Firemen struggling to contain the blaze on Wednesday

boom-ladder to enable the firemen to tackle the blaze from overhead. By this time, at least one of the buildings on the property was completely destroyed and the other was also gutted.

Associated Packers Industry

Meanwhile, another business that is also housed in the same building is now counting their losses to be over $80 million.

Speaking with Guyana Times via telephone, owner of Associated Packers Industry (API) – Mahendra Jaikaran stated that he has been operating at the location for more than 10 years.

He said he was informed at about 13:30h that the building is on fire.

“I saw smoke in the air… When I arrived on the scene, the fire was out.

There was no fire anywhere, but a little bit of smoke.

Apparently, the fire trucks got there and emptied their contents on it, which I un-

derstand was only 450 gallons each.”

He further added that he waited at the sense for some time, after which the fire reignited and the fire trucks were out of water.

“Unfortunately, I understand that they did not get the amount of water, and they were looking around for water from various hydrants, and by the time that, the fire started to regain,” he explained.

He noted that the company has since begun the rebuilding process but had to send home 30 per cent of its staff members.

Also, on Thursday, firefighters were still trying to extinguish the fire as an excavator was being used to remove the debris from the building, which still on fire.

No injuries were reported from the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (G1)

Man accused of robbing 10-year-old remanded

A

24-year-old man on Thursday appeared in the Diamond Magistrate’s Court after he was slapped with a charge of robbery with aggravation.

Albeeba London of Craig Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was hauled before her Worship Rondel Weaver and denied the charge when it was read to him.

The court heard that on June 20, 2020, he allegedly punched a 10-year-old girl in her stomach, after which he took her money and mobile phone.

Following a social media post, an investigation was launched, and London was arrested and subsequently charged.

Charged: Albeeba London

Magistrate Weaver remanded London to prison and the case will continue on September 10. (G1)

…on Government ow, it’s quite usual for any tradesman you hire to fix a problem - say, an electrical one in your home - to immediately lash out at his predecessors and their “horrendous” workmanship. Par for the course. Same thing with governments, one would suppose; after all, they’re just a collection of tradesmen writ large, aren’t they?? To fix the problems of our country and get things humming again!!

So, your Eyewitness wasn’t surprised at the outraged expressions of indignation from the incoming PPP regime, as they eased into their offices. Their five-month excruciating and nail-biting wait on Granger and the PNC to accept defeat wouldn’t have done anything to cool down their ire!!

But, really, all those revelations on the featherbedding in every Government department can’t be brushed aside as kvetching by the PPP to make the PNC look bad. This was something systemic; in your Eyewitness’s opinion, this went all the way to how the PNC see the state and their role in it.

While, as your Eyewitness said above, most of the world see government’s role as to solve their country’s problems, the PNC sees Government as taking care of only THEIR problems, and the devil take the rest of the people!! Wasn’t this what Burnham did?? He nationalised practically the entire economy and handed it out to his upper and middle echelon supporters to run, so they could live high off the hog. So what if they ran the entire edifice into the ground within a decade and a half??

Granger appointed his army squaddies and other PNC upper strata to run every Government and “autonomous” institution in sight. Think of Brigadier Lewis at GPHC! All the “contracted employees” we’re hearing about are at the low end of this strata. His lower-echelon supporters were defined as “the small man”, and, by golly, Burnham would make them into the “REAL MAN”!! He gave them land; go check the records of who got land in the MMA, for instance. He gave them tractors, farming implements and animals to get them going in co-ops!! Check the records of how many co-ops were formed, and how much state revenues were directed into them? Then just look at the $2.6 billion grant to the small farmers of Ithaca, Buxton, BV and Mocha by Granger to replicate Burnham’s efforts in this area.

Finally, of course, there’s the Disciplined Forces!!

Burnham created sinecure for his supporters by creating the largest army in the world - in proportion to the population.

And Granger has followed him to a tee in this respect again.

You didn’t know we now have the People’s Militia once again?? …on development Now, your Eyewitness expected the featherbedding and sinecures described above - on the cynical theory that hyenas never change their stripes!! But he never expected the revelations on how the PNC just didn’t focus on getting anything done to get the country’s economy and infrastructure going.

He’s not talking about shutting down sugar and firing those 7000 workers; that was pure power politics. Cripple the PPP at the legs!

But how’d you explain their inactivity on so many projects from just a single pipeline from the bilateral donor India? That ferry to the North West District, more prosaically known as Region 1, Donald Ramotar had secured that loan since 2015…and the PNC still hasn’t awarded the contract??

What the heck?? Ditto for the East Coast- East Bank Bypass road. Imagine, delaying that project just to expand it to dole out land to their financiers and insiders!!

And let’s not get started on the new, fixed Demerara Harbour Bridge that was also inherited from the PPP. To date, all we got was a $153 million scrapped design from Patterson!! …on media So, who’s surprised that NCN’s near bankruptcy??

And it’s not just the featherbedding and sumptuous furnishings. Remember Duncan, who was rewarded with a parliamentary seat?

It’s their hypocrisy about “educating” the people through the media they corrupted!

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

NEWS

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Govt re-examining Ministries’ PRO divisions – McCoy

A

s the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government continues its transition into office and is examining the state of affairs, it has started to look at the public relations structures at the various Ministries and State agencies.

This is according to Minister within the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Public Affairs and oversight of the various State media entities, Kwame McCoy. He said his Ministry is, “examining the existing Public Relations structure in each Ministries and the Government agencies so as to enhance the efficiency of these outfits.”

McCoy was at the time speaking at his first press conference since his appointment two weeks ago.

In response to a question, McCoy noted that it is also examining the performance of the Presidential Press Unit which it inherited.

“Indeed, that is one of the units that we’re looking at as well. It needs some adjustments and we are working to get the adjustments in place so that we can have greater efficiency in terms of coverage of the President...,” the Minister stated.

Only recently, Housing Minister Collin Croal told Guyana Times that six employees of the Ministry who were political appointees were relieved of their duties including Communications Officer Andrew Weekes.

He explained that Weekes had been campaigning for the APNU/ AFC coalition and was employed as a communications officer in spite of the Ministry having a Public Relations Department with one public relations officer and two assistants.

Weekes was brought on board by then Housing Minister Annette Ferguson in January and given a contract for one year. He was being paid some $203,202 with a $15,000 allowance. According to the new Housing Minister, there is no evidence of Weekes doing any work for the Ministry.

“Worrying” trends

Meanwhile, during Thursday’s virtual press briefing, Minister McCoy went on to point out that an initial assessment of the State-owned media entities – the National Communications Network (NCN), the Department of Public Information (DPI) and the Guyana National Newspaper Ltd (GNNL) –

found a series of “worrying” trends. These include the lack of prudent financial management, high levels of nepotism, poor interpersonal relations, poor working conditions and polarisation of staff.

He noted that the GNNL was subjected to at least two periods of gross mismanagement under two separate General Managers, while there was a significant management deficiency at DPI during the coalition’s tenure.

“At one of these agencies, we found levels of staff that I would describe as top-heavy. And so when you examine, it was all about providing opportunities for friends and families.

These real critical matters that should have been addressed were found hanging,” the Minister asserted.

McCoy further stated that in addition to being driven to a point of “near financial collapse”, NCN was also suffering from “total mismanagement” and “degeneration of resources”.

In highlighting how “bad” the situation was, the Minister disclosed that the company’s three vehicles used to transport staff were all down. The repair cost of one of the vehicles was approximately $100,000 but instead of fixing the vehi-

cle, another vehicle was contracted at the rate of $7000 per day.

He also spoke of the transmitter in Essequibo being down – and no one has gone to check it for months.

Nevertheless, McCoy posited that his Ministry is now in the process of reorganising and retooling these agencies.

“We’ve begun to examine ways in which these agencies can be salvaged and their financial and management interventions over the next few weeks will be made known to the public as we seek to tidy the situation,” the Minister stated.

Only last week, the new Government announced temporary appointments

at two of these State media agencies. Renowned broadcaster Michella Abraham-Ali was appointed interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCN and Financial Manager, Moshanie Ramotar, was named to acting General Manager at the GNNL, which publishes the State newspaper – the Guyana Chronicle.

Body of Guyanese fisherman found floating in Suriname

T

he partially decomposed body of a Guyanese fisherman was on Thursday pulled from a river in Suriname.

Dead is 53-yearold Kennard Venkat Veerasammy called “Kata” of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Reports are that Veerasammy was at the time in a fishing boat at Port Nieu Foto, Suriname, when he slipped and fell overboard. One of his crew members reportedly jumped overboard holding on to a rope which was tied to the boat. However, it did not have enough length to reach the drowning man.

Surinamese Police were told that Veerasammy

Dead: Kennard Venkat Veerasammy

went under the water before anyone could get to him and did not resurface.

His body was seen on

Wednesday afternoon floating a short distance away.

The body has since been retrieved and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Veerasammy, who has been a fisherman since the age of 17, left Guyana on August 3, from the fishing port at Number 66 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

He had since made one trip to sea from Port Nieu Foto and returned. On Monday the crew was preparing to go to sea for a twoweek stint before returning to Guyana. Authorities in Suriname are currently conducting an investigation.

Veeresammy leaves a wife, four children and seven siblings.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC owes NCN $16M for campaign ads F

ollowing allegations of the previous coalition Government abusing State resources for campaigning purposes during the March 2020 elections, it has been revealed that some $16 million is owed to the State-owned National Communications Network (NCN) by A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance for Change.

This was revealed by Minister within the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Public Affairs and oversight of the various State media entities, Kwame McCoy. During a virtual press conference on Thursday, he noted that gross financial mismanagement at NCN has resulted in the company being owed over $190 million at a time when it is “near financial collapse”.

According to the Minister, while a majority of the monies owed are from various Ministries which they haven’t been able to collect, there is a sum owed by the APNU – the majority party in the coalition.

“I only see one political party here owing. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic did not use channel of NCN to place ads and if we did, it would've been paid for upfront but as far as I know, we didn’t… But I see here A Partnership For National Unity owing $16,078,000 to the company. I don't see any other political parties owing here,” he stated.

While he could not give much details at the time, Minister McCoy suspected that this sum owed was for advertisements during the elections campaign earlier this year. He promised to provide more details at a later time.

The coalition Government had been accused by many,

including then Opposition members and independent political commentators, of using taxpayers’ money to fund its elections campaign.

Last year, it had launched a “Ministerial Outreach” but insisted that it was strictly Government business to deal with public concerns and not part of the coalition’s elections campaign strategy.

However, one of those outreaches in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) in February 2019 turned out to be a massive elections campaign event.

A large ministerial convoy, comprising of 19 Ministers, had spent three days visiting various communities, making grand promises in exchange for votes.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised again earlier this year during the 2020 Elections Campaign of the previous APNU/AFC Administration using State resources for political activities leading up to the March 2 polls.

In fact, there was public outrage back in January when former President David Granger had used a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter to attend a political rally in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – a move that was defended by Alliance For Change Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan.

At the time, the People’s Progressive Party had called on international observers to pay close attention to the abuse of State resources for campaigning activities.

In fact, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in its preliminary assessment of the March elections had cited the APNU/AFC Government’s abuse of State resources in order to campaign against its political opponents.

The EU group cited as an

pacity as Ministers”.

Moreover, the EU Mission had reported too that Stateowned broadcast and print media are not independent of

political influence, and that “the State-owned broadcast media, which benefit from the widest reach in the country, showed an overt bias in favour of the Government and ruling coalition”.

It was documented also that NCN had devoted 60 per cent of its news coverage to the Government and President and 25 per cent to the APNU/AFC. Additionally, the clear misuse of State resources at DPI and the Guyana Chronicle was also flagged by the mission.

The coalition went on to lose the elections to the PPP/C, which obtained over 15,000 more votes.

The former Granger Government embarked on transforming the flood-prone building into a facility to house COVID-19 patients amidst much criticisms, especially since the Government was in caretaker mode.

In fact, the former Director General under the APNU/AFC coalition, Joseph Harmon, had stated that the Government had acquired the Ocean View Hotel property through a compulsory order and it was officially commissioned on July 30 by caretaker President David Granger – two days before an election declaration was made and Dr Irfaan Ali of the PPP/C was sworn in as President. But even at the time of its commissioning, the hospital was nonfunctional. At the commissioning, Granger claimed the facility was in receivership.

Back in 2008, the ownership of the Ocean View Hotel had passed to local businessman Jacob Rambarran. In the run-up to the 2015 elections, Rambarran had endorsed the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. However, a few days after the PPP/C took office, Wilfred Rambarran contended that he is the owner of the property and demanded millions of dollars in rent.

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

Rambarran, who is a known APNU/AFC associate, claimed that though the previous Government issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition for the former Ocean View Hotel, it is of no effect because compensation has not been discussed or paid.

Rambarran is claiming that the then Government never engaged in negotiations to purchase the hotel. The proprietor has informed the new Government that the property is valued at more than $2 billion, and he is demanding payment of all arrears of rent due in 14 days. An investigation is underway into the matter. (G12)

National Communications Network

example, the former Head of State, who was observed delivering governmental donations during the APNU/ AFC rally in Sand Creek on

February 15.

It was noted too that “several APNU/AFC Ministers actively campaigned using State resources in their ca-

Infectious Diseases Centre to be converted into isolation facility – President …70 COVID-19 cases detected

H

ealth officials have recorded another 70 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Thursday, which increased the total number of positives to 846.

On Wednesday, 39 cases were recorded – adding to an accumulated figure of 776.

Thursday’s statistics were made available via the daily dashboard, which showed that there are still 29 deaths.

A gender distribution shows that 421 males and 425 females contracted the virus.

Six new persons were transferred to the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), amounting to eight patients.

Notwithstanding, another eight persons were removed from institutional quarantine, decreasing the numbers to 47.

There are 333 persons in home insolation and 77 in institutional isolation.

Recovered cases have increased by 18 and now stands at 399.

Meanwhile, a breakdown of the regional contraction rate proved that 124 positives were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), eight in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 44 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 248 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), eight in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 174 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 11 in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), 169 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 59 in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The new cases originated from Regions One, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10. From Sunday to Thursday, 137 new cases were reported with seven new deaths.

Isolation facility

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali during his address to the nation on Wednesday announced that the controversial Infectious Disease Hospital at Lilliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD), will be outfitted to serve as an isolation facility as Guyana continues to battle the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“In dealing with issues of isolation, the Ministry would convert the inoperable Infectious Disease Centre to an isolation facility. To this end, arrangements are being made to have a facility that caters for 150 patients requiring isolation,” the President announced.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma has completed an audit into the controversial rehabilitation of the COVID-19 facility. The audit commenced just after the new Government took office earlier this month. The audit came after it was revealed that some $1.6 billion was spent by the former Government to refurbish the facility.

NEWS

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Traumatised Grove residents tell of losses after koker collapsed in no time, it was also coming from the back. We were trying to get sandbags to place at the door so that the water would not go in, but that did not help us,” the distraught woman expressed.

It took just a few minutes for floodwaters to gush into the woman’s house, despite placing sandbags at the entrance. They were forced to empty all the wet items and appliances outside to clean the house. Paul said her appliances were completely damaged. Eleven persons reside at her home, and they were contemplating their next move since the water destroyed their food supplies as well.

“We tried packing sandbags, but by the time we got into the house, it was under water. We put everything outside wet. This morning, my husband tried to put on the fridge, but it wasn’t working. A lot of things damaged for us…I feel so weak and devastated. I have six grandchildren. We had some

Affected resident Celestine Butters

E

motions and tears overwhelmed some residents of Grove, East Bank Demerara, on Thursday – one day after they were ambushed by high floodwaters when a nearby koker collapsed.

When Guyana Times made a second visit to the area in the morning, individuals from the community were still in the process of bailing out water from their

Floodwaters did not recede from some homes

ter from the lower flat of the building. Butters said her daughter’s medical books were damaged, along with appliances and household items. At that time, some of her items were still floating in floodwaters.

“We’ve been trying with a water pump. We’re also doing it by hand, and there’s a lot of damages. The water is still up. I brought everything outside…It’s millions of dollars,” she estimated.

Temporary fix

Over at the sluice, one of the workers indicated that

the temporary fix will prevent any flooding until a new door is installed. They have installed two supplementary doors at the front and back of the koker under the main structure.

Imran Hussain said these doors constantly erode due to barnacle activities, which makes the wood weaker.

According to him, such situations are not highly preventable. By 12:00h, the repair works had concluded, and persons in the community remained on alert for the afternoon high tide.

“The door was there for

about four or five years.

When barnacle eat it out, it get weak, and the water pressure break it, so it’s not anybody’s fault,” he shared.

Meanwhile, a Councillor of the Diamond-Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Heman Ramphal, lauded the officials for their quick response on Wednesday night to secure the breach. He said villagers with livestock suffered the most losses. Ramphal told the media that the sluice operator would have reported another issue a few days back to the Drainage and Irrigation Authority, which was addressed.

“Within three to four days, they will build another door. So far, we visited residents with the Ministers.

The response was genuine.

I’m so happy with that. We had a quick response in less than an hour…It’s just the water in the yard, but people that does cattle rearing, they had to evacuate them,” the Councillor stated.

Shortly after the floodwaters hit at about 17:30h on Wednesday evening, Prime

Affected resident Parbattie Paul

Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips was accompanied by several Ministers to the location where they proceeded to provide relief to residents.

The Diamond Secondary School was earmarked as a shelter, where persons could access facilities until their situation was under control.

Phillips, who has responsibility for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), said residents would be supplied with sanitation materials and hampers. (Rupa Seenaraine)

Welder commits suicide after stabbing wife

A Temporary works being conducted at the sluice

houses and putting soaked items to dry in their yards.

Simultaneously, works were completed to install an improvised door at the sluice to cater for a predicted high tide later in the afternoon, when the water would rise again. This system is expected to last a few days until the original door is replaced.

Parbattie Paul, who suffered major losses, told this publication that she was in her kitchen when someone shouted that the koker “breakaway”. In that instant, the 57-year-old woman said she ran outside and saw water rushing in through the drains and onto her property.

“When I rush out, the water was in the drains and street coming in. Water was coming only from the front,

good neighbours that gave us some porridge this morning because all the goods damaged,” Paul cried.

A short distance away, Celestine Butters explained that she had just come home when her nephew informed her that the sluice had collapsed. In a split second, the water came rushing in, and Butters scurried to move her car from the yard. When she returned, the house was inundated.

“The water started rushing all the way in. I drove the car in water, and by the time I got in back, there was water just all over. There was nothing I could’ve picked up.

We couldn’t save anything.”

On Thursday, some public-spirited persons helped her to pump some of the wa-

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27-year-old welder of Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, took his own life on Monday, after stabbing his reputed wife during an argument.

Dead is Leon Gobin of Kwakwani Park, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Reports are the man stabbed his 37-year-old reputed wife on Sunday at about 23:00h after she threatened to end the relationship. This newspaper was told that during the domestic dispute, Gobin threatened that he would take his life if she left him since if he cannot be with her then no one else will.

The woman told investigators that Gobin then broke

Dead: Leon Gobin

a beer bottle and dealt her a stab to her upper neck behind her ear. She, howev-

er, managed to escape and went to her cousin’s home, situated at Kwakwani First Phrase Housing Scheme. The cousin then took her to the Kwakwani Hospital where she was treated for her injuries and admitted a patient at the health facility.

Meanwhile, on Monday at about 09:00h, the woman’s 14-year-old son went to the house and found it secured by a padlocked hasp and staple from the outside. He managed to make his way inside, where he found Gobin’s body.

He raised an alarm and went to the police station where he informed the police of the discovery. The body was taken to the Kwakwani Hospital.

A post-mortem examination which was performed

by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Memorial Garden Funeral Home and Crematorium Mortuary on Monday revealed that the injuries are consistent with suicide. The body was handed over to relatives for burial.

If you or anyone you know is feeling depressed and possibly contemplating suicide, please call the Guyana Interagency Suicide Helpline which operates 24 hours and is organised by the Guyana Police Force. Telephone – 223-0001, 223-0009, 2230818 and cellphone – 6007896, 623-4444.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil Guyana keeps faith with Guyana Amazon Warriors ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

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xxonMobil Guyana is again throwing its support behind the ever-consistent Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) team, who are seeking to bring home the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Championship Trophy in 2020 after being runners-up since the inception of this league in 2013.

ExxonMobil initially started sponsoring the Guyana Franchise in 2018, making this its third consecutive year of sponsoring the GAW in this, the eighth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League.

Although the CPL tournament is differently structured this year, with all games being played in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Warriors are excited to get started, and are highly appreciative of ExxonMobil Guyana’s support.

GAW Team Manager Omar Khan, speaking about the importance of Exxon’s sponsorship, said: “The survival of franchise cricket is dependent on support from sponsors, and ExxonMobil Guyana has been a tremendous partner as our main team sponsor over the last three years. ExxonMobil Guyana has clearly demonstrated their commitment to developing young Guyanese and regional cricketers by being a team sponsor.

“In these challenging economic times, taking into consideration the existing pandemic, it’s a huge boost to the Guyana Amazon Warriors team.”

Khan added, “Young Guyanese players like Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Ashmead Nedd, Kevin Sinclair, Shimron Hetmyer and Chandrapaul Hemraj are all now able to represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors at an international tournament like the CPL. They also have the opportunity to interact with the International players:

Knight Riders bag 2nd win

GAW Team Manager, Omar Khan

Imran Tahir, Ross Taylor and Captain Chris Green, and this will definitely redound to their overall development as professional cricketers.

“We commend ExxonMobil Guyana for supporting efforts like these.”

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge shared that he is excited to experience the tournament. He said, “This is a great opportunity to showcase Guyana on an international stage, highlight the local cricketing talent, and bring the thrills of the game to the Guyanese watching at home. It is also a way of bringing people together for the love of the game.”

Routledge added: “We are proud to support our Guyanese team as the presenting sponsor. Being a cricket fan myself, growing up in the UK, I am really excited to experience the games while living in Guyana. I want to wish the team success throughout this season.”

Zouks beat rain and Tridents to get 1st win

efficient in getting the field ready for the resumption of play, and St. Lucia were tasked with getting 47 runs from 5 overs.

Led by Andre Fletcher and Rahkeem Cornwall, the Zouks racked up the total in 4.1 overs to get the Zouks their first two points.

SCOREBOARD

SCOREBOARD JAMAICA TALLAWAHS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) CAK Walton c Fawad Ahmed b Ali Khan 0 GD Phillips † c DJ Bravo b Seales 58 NR Kirton lbw b Seales 0 R Powell (c) c DJ Bravo b Ali Khan 8 Asif Ali b Narine 22 CR Brathwaite b Fawad Ahmed 1 AD Russell c Munro b DJ Bravo 25 RA Lewis not out 15 FH Edwards run out (Fawad Ahmed/Ali Khan) 1 S Lamichhane not out 0 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.75) 135/8 BOWLING Ali Khan JNT Seales K Pierre SP Narine Fawad Ahmed DJ Bravo

4-0-25-2 3-0-21-2 2-0-20-0 4-0-19-1 3-1-18-1 4-0-32-1

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (TARGET: 136 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) LMP Simmons c Brathwaite b Edwards 0 SP Narine c Brathwaite b Lamichhane 53 C Munro not out 49 DM Bravo c & b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 14 KA Pollard (c) not out 5 Extras (lb 5, w 10) 15 TOTAL (18.1 Ov, RR: 7.48) 136/3 BOWLING FH Edwards 4-1-19-1 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4-0-13-1 RA Lewis 1-0-14-0 AD Russell 2-0-25-0 CR Brathwaite 3.1-0-30-0 S Lamichhane 4-0-30-1

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he Trinbago Knight Riders cruised to their second win of the Hero Caribbean Premier League 2020 tournament after posting 136 from their 20 overs and restricting the Jamaica Tallawahs to 135/8.

Fortune was not on the Tallawahs’ side in this encounter, as both their opening batsmen, Chadwick Walton and Nicholas Kirton, were sent back to the dugout for a golden duck. Glenn Phillips again anchored the innings with 58 runs from 42 deliveries; while Asif Ali’s 22, Andre Russell’s 25, and Ramaal Lewis’s 15 were valuable contributions to a respectable Jamaica total.

In the TKR chase, Sunil Narine racked up another halfcentury, while Colin Munro fell short of the milestone by a single run. In the end, the Knight Riders reached their target with eleven balls to spare.

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he St Lucia Zouks’ mix of smarts and firepower saw them home in a breathless chase, after a heavy shower of rain had cut short a Barbados Tridents innings that started brilliantly but was derailed by the Zouks’ battery of off-spinners.

A late burst of four wickets for 11 runs in just 18 balls proved crucial in keeping the revised target in range, as the power of Rahkeem Cornwall and the overall excellence of Mohammad Nabi meant that even Rashid Khan couldn’t deny the Zouks their first win of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020 season.

Contributions of 35 from Johnson Charles, 19 from Shai Hope, 27 from Jason Holder, and 16 each from Kyle Mayers and Ashley Nurse helped the Tridents to 131-7 before rain halted play at The Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The Ground staff were

Barbados Tridents Innings (18.1 Overs maximum) J Charles c Sammy b Kuggeleijn 35 SD Hope † c Deyal b Mohammad Nabi 19 CJ Anderson c Chase b Kuggeleijn 2 KR Mayers c Kuggeleijn b Chase 16 JO Holder (c) c Sammy b Williams 27 JL Carter c Mohammad Nabi b Chase 5 AR Nurse not out 16 RA Reifer c †Fletcher b Deyal 1 MJ Santner not out 8 Extras (w 2) 2 TOTAL (18.1 Ov, RR: 7.21) 131/7 BOWLING Saad Bin Zafar OC McCoy SC Kuggeleijn Mohammad Nabi KOK Williams RRS Cornwall RL Chase M Deyal

St Lucia Innings (47 from 5 Overs Target) RRS Cornwall st †Hope b Rashid Khan 14 ADS Fletcher † not out 16 Najibullah Zadran c Carter b Reifer 5 Mohammad Nabi c Carter b Rashid Khan 15 DJG Sammy (c) not out 0 Extras (null) 0 TOTAL (4.1 Ov, RR: 12.0) 50/3 BOWLING JO Holder Rashid Khan RA Reifer

2-0-10-0 2-0-25-0 3.1-0-28-2 4-0-19-1 3-0-24-1 1-0-14-0 2-0-8-2 1-0-3-1

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