Guyana Times - Friday, February 5, 2021

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UN, Guyana collaborate to eradicate squatting by 2030 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4550

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Speaker reprimands Opposition MPs for attacking his character — says MPs breached several Parliamentary Standing Orders Page 3

African Union to donate 149,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Guyana See story on page 12

446 scholarships issued

by PPP/C Govt since August 2020 Page 9

Schools remain closed for February – Education Minister See story on page 14

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 fatalities, death toll now at 179

— 66 new cases recorded within 24h P11

Govt will not P7 establish diplomatic ties with Taipei, but Private Sector can do business – Todd

Katoonarib residents worried as “rumbling sounds” persist days after P16 earthquake

— scholarships valued over $80M … says NGSA likely for July/August

Sophia man arrested, confesses to shooting contractor in front of “Red Bar”

Page 15

House passes Bill to streamline budgetary process

NWD man P13 attacked, stabbed on way home Police unearth P2 ganja, guns, ammo in Berbice raid

Page 7

High Court orders GRA to release P8 $80M in fuel seized from Atlantic Fuels

2 NEWS Taxi driver shot thrice Police unearth ganja, guns, during robbery at BV ammo in Berbice raid F FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

orty-one-year-old Raulvin Maynard, called “Raulo”, a taxi driver of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Wednesday evening shot thrice during a robbery at Quamina Road, Beterverwagting, ECD. He is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and his condition is reportedly stable.

Based on reports received, the victim, who was accompanied by his daughter, was working at the time of the incident. He had just dropped off a customer in Beterverwagting, and was about to leave the area when he was stopped by a male.

Upon entering the car, the man asked to be taken to the Railway Embankment, but as the driver was in the process of turning around his car, the man whipped out a hand-

gun and ordered him to stop the vehicle, hand over his cash, and exit the vehicle.

In defence, Maynard held on to the suspect’s gun, but the suspect pulled the trigger and the round hit Maynard to his upper right thigh. The armed man then relieved Maynard of his phone, and demanded that he exit the car.

Maynard again held on to the suspect’s gun, and was shot two more times, once to his left upper arm and once to his left wrist. The suspect then exited the car and made good his escape.

Public-spirited citizens took the injured Maynard to the Georgetown The cannabis found Public Hospital, where he was olice ranks in Region Six treated and admitted. The matter (East Berbice-Corentyne) was reported, and an investigation swooped down on a home at has been launched. No arrest was No. 68 Village, Corentyne and conmade up to press time. ducted a search that unearthed a quantity of cannabis, ammunition, and a 12-guage shotgun.

Based on information received, the search was initiated after the Police had received certain information on Wednesday.

During their search, the Police cash, a quantity of phone cards, and her personal items, including found a black plastic bag containher mobile phone and jewellery. ing the ganja, which amounted to Thereafter, the men exited the es- 84 grams when weighed; a transtablishment and made good their parent plastic bag with 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition; eight 12-gauge escape.

The shaken cashier, a resident of cartridges, and one 12-gauge sinDairy Farm, West Bank Demerara gle-barrel shotgun.

At time of the raid, two men (WBD), raised and alarm and the Police were contacted. Statements were in the house, and they have were taken and an investigation both been taken into custody. Up was launched. No arrest has as yet to late Thursday evening, the Police were interrogating the two been made. men.

The ammunition found at the home

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Gunmen storm, rob WBD mini-mart

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he Police have launched a manhunt for two armed men who executed a daring robbery on the NV Mini Mart at First Avenue, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Wednesday evening.

Based on information received, two men - one armed with a handgun - walked into the establishment at about 18:45h and went straight to the 23-year-old cashier. They reportedly held her at gunpoint and confiscated an undisclosed sum of

The shotgun

Earlier in the year, Police found and destroyed more than $100 million in ganja at De Veldt Savannah, Upper Berbice River.

During that exercise, ranks had discovered three cannabis farms measuring about 15 acres and containing roughly 600,000 ganja plants ranging in height from six

inches to five feet. In addition, six makeshift camps were found.

A search was conducted in the area, during which one 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun, along with two live 12-gauge cartridges and one spent shell, was found. The camps were subsequently destroyed by fire.

3 Speaker reprimands Opposition MPs for attacking his character NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 5 – 00:30h-02:00 and 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, February 6 – 01:00h-02:30 and 11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, February 4 – 09:15h-10:45h and Friday, February 5 – 10:30h-12:00h.

– says MPs breached several Parliamentary Standing Orders

FERRY SCHEDULE

Friday, February 5 – 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, February 6 – 11:50h-13:20h.

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the day.

Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected during the night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:30h and 23:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.37 metres and 2.23 metres.

Low Tide: 16:39h reaching a minimum height of 0.86 metre.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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USD Per Ounce

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Low/High Change

$1783.60 -0.30

$1827.60 -0.02%

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

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peaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, on Thursday reprimanded Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon and Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan for breaching several parliamentary Standing Orders, including attacking his character.

Speaker Nadir noted that, in the past week, there have been many breaches of the Standing Orders in the Parliamentary Convention on Customs and Practices that demand him to once again caution Members of Parliament.

Nadir referred to a pronouncement by former House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland, who had stated that one of the best parliamentary rules of procedure that should be known by all parliamentarians is that the conduct of the Speaker cannot be criticised unless by way of a substantive motion. Dr Scotland had also cited the Canadian House of Commons’ Procedures and Practice – second edition – which detailed that “Reflections on the character or actions of the Speaker (an allegation of bias, for example) could be taken by the House as breaches of privilege and punished accordingly.”

Against this backdrop, the Speaker of the House noted that last week’s sitting appeared to have been an “open season” to criticise him and level accusations of biasness against him over his decisions regarding several motions tabled by the Opposition.

Nadir referred to a social media post made by Duncan in which he said, “Mister Speaker started out nice like them new cook shop, and then the price raise and the standards fall. I thought after the second bout of COVID he’d stay closer to God, but the devils got him bias, partisan… you name it. Everybody showing deh self for 30 pieces of silver. Guess after protesting Granger at Pegasus there (is) no coming back, is just straight to hell.”

While reading the contents of Duncan’s Facebook post, there were spouts of giggles from Opposition MPs, to which the Speaker remarked, “And that is funny?”

The House Speaker then cautioned Duncan to desist from such acts.

“The Honourable Duncan’s

social media comments and lampoon is a direct charge of bias against the Speaker and imputes on the Speaker’s character. Also, it’s something that is not condoned in a Westminster Parliamentary system,” Nadir asserted.

He also mentioned that, on January 28, Duncan hosted Harmon on his social media programme, during which they again attacked the character of the Speaker and accused him of being “coaxed” by the Government’s side – all in violation of the Parliamentary Standing Order.

In fact, the Speaker noted, the vilest and most atrocious action to emanate from the Leader of the Opposition is when he said, “They – the PPP/C – are blocking things and they are getting the help of the Speaker to prevent certain measures from going through… Very early we had an indication that the Speaker was going to take a position on this matter, that the matter is sub-judice…”

Harmon was at the time referring to the Speaker’s decision to not allow the Opposition’s Motion on the West Berbice killings of Isaiah and Joel Henry and Haresh Singh. He imputed that the Speaker was in collusion to prevent the motion from being heard.

But according to Nadir, he had clearly outlined the process, noting that the motion was circulated in accordance with the necessary timelines, and was included in the Order Paper.

However, it was a matter of sub-judice, hence it was not allowed, the Speaker noted. In fact, he added that such matters are well documented, and the Opposition Leader is

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan

aware of this.

“I am neither anyone’s little boy nor am I intimidated by the front yard or the backyard bullies. Any occurrences or recurrences of the breaches of the Standing Orders, I will have to ask a minister to move a motion – and that is in Standing Order 47(3) - to refer the errant member or members to the Committee of Privileges,” the Speaker posited.

In response to the Speaker’s reprimand, Harmon said the ANU/AFC has the right to speak on behalf of its more than 200,000 supporters. He also indicated that he takes strong offence to the Speaker describing his behaviour as “backyard” bullyism.

Meanwhile, another issue Speaker Nadir raised on Thursday was a leaked recording of proceedings from Monday’s Public Accounts Committee meeting, which is an in-camera session. He explained that “Arriving on my Whatsapp account was a recording of a part of the proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee of

Monday February 1, 2021…

Someone who was present at the meeting made the recording. I would not speculate on others,” the House Speaker stated.

However, he reminded of Standing Order 95 (9) (a) which states that all meetings of a parliamentary committee must be held in private; while sectoral committees and the Public Accounts Committee may sit in public, unless the committee determines otherwise.

“At the Public Accounts Committee, the custom is that the public is invited when the Auditor General’s Report is being considered,” Nadir pointed out.

The House Speaker again went on to make reference to his predecessor, who had stated back in December 2018 that recording private committee meetings “…is not the practice”.

As such, Speaker Nadir implored MPs to adhere to the Parliamentary Standing Orders and not bring the House into disrepute. (Vahnu Manikchand)

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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

Developing children’s cognitive skills

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s we attempt to retool our educational system to prepare us for the 21st century, aided by oil revenues, we should note that our schools are still almost exclusively concerned – especially at the younger ages – with developing children’s cognitive skills. Now, there is nothing wrong with this in and of itself, studies have shown consistently that there is an unequivocal and unambiguous correlation between cognitive ability and later success in life.

But, as one study pointed out, “there is convergent evidence that, independently of cognitive skills, children’s selfcontrol, ie the ability to control their impulses and to delay gratification, is highly important for academic, economic, and health outcomes during adolescence and beyond.” Addressing a symposium on the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, former President Desmond Hoyte, in a speech titled “Looking beyond the horizon”, pointed out that this was an even greater challenge for post-slave societies, such as Guyana is.

He noted that slaves had been forced to be “constantly preoccupied with the exigencies of the moment”, and asserted that this was “one of the most pernicious consequences of slavery.” He concluded: “And so, lacking a social motive, he developed no interest in, or aptitude for, making long term arrangements. Moreover, the colonial polity which succeeded the era of slavery did not provide the former slave and his descendants with significantly greater incentive or opportunity for cultivating these pursuits. Thus, there persists in our society, even to this day, a reluctance to focus too intently on the future.”

We must accept that this attitude remains one of the major fetters of our development, both in terms of our national and individual stunted growth needs. But, as Mr Hoyte pointed out, the attitude was socially constructed, and therefore it can also be socially deconstructed and replaced with attitudes that foster the willingness to plan and work for the future.

While we might have rectified some (but certainly not all) of the debilitating premises of our post-slavery schooling that continued to hegemonise our minds into the last half a century, we have a far way to go.

Because we often find that, even with the willingness to develop cognitive skills, or in parents to promote such skills in their children, many are still stuck in living for the moment. And crucial to moving from the cramped and crabbed present into a liberating future of economic, academic and other measures of success is the ability of children to control their impulses and delay gratification, as the study cited above showed.

In most instances, successful individuals were able to bootstrap their way upwards through imitating the habits of other successful individuals and groups. But we do not have to allow the process to be based on “luck and chance”. The studies have shown that when youths are placed in self-control situations in a structured manner, and they are allowed to experience the potentially negative consequences of impulsive behaviour, they will increase their ability to delay gratification.

The same goes for teaching them the benefits of a future time perspective. There are now programmes out there to impart future thinking.

While all children can benefit from this kind of training, with our scarce resources, it may be best to identify and begin with youths that exhibit low self-control, and therefore suffer the greatest risk of ending up as “failures”. As the authors of the study that prompted this refection suggest: “Because children from disadvantaged backgrounds often score low on self-control ability, and may also be those for which parents may least be able to promote these skills, interventions as part of the formal education may therefore serve distributional purposes.

Instead of redistributing (economic) outcomes later in life, such early interventions allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop better self-control skills. In this way, it is possible to redistribute along the whole spectrum of life outcomes, including outcome categories that are otherwise hard to redistribute, like health, occupational skills, and education.”

A crab vendor soliciting buyers for his catch on Sunday at the Leonora Market, West Coast Demerara (WCD) (Abel Harris photo)

Restoring City Hall as a landmark

Dear Editor, According to reports in the press recently, the Government of Guyana has announced that it shall be undertaking the enormous task of completely rehabilitating and restoring to its former beauty the now very decrepit and ramshackle City Hall Building in Georgetown.

This initiative is most commendable, timely and magnanimous, and points to the consistency of the President and the Government in honouring the commitment they gave in their manifesto: of enhancing Georgetown. It is a well-known fact that the current Opposition party always garners more than double the votes of those obtained by the party in central Government, which shows the altruism of the Government.

This iconic structure, which was constructed since 1889 and which was scrupulously maintained for more than a century by the very City Council to which it belongs, proudly served as a key tourist at-

traction, and hosted many concerts, recitals, and other cultural activities, including civic receptions for visiting Heads of State and Governments.

Why the Council just sat over the last 25 years or more and did virtually nothing to maintain the structure, but rather opted to just sit inside and squabble over very frivolous matters, is just beyond everyone’s wildest imagination.

Were they just Philistines who had no appreciation for historical or artistic values? Were they cultural barbarians? Or was it just irrational politics?

Whatever it was, it is clear that the Council preferred to await the coming along of some fairy godmother who would fund the preservation of the building that they own and occupy, while they choose to use this time to illegally give away hundreds of millions of dollars in interest waivers to delinquent property owners who found favour with them; money which they could have used on the building’s upkeep.

The whimsical excuse

always provided for not maintaining that and other municipal buildings in the city is that they were cash-strapped, a most imprudent justification given, when everyone is aware of the lavish spending that was undertaken on overseas travel; on the purchase of fancy vehicles; on pointless projects, such as constructing an unfinished Presidential Park on Merriman’s Mall, attempting to convert a recreational space in Bel Air Park into their private housing estate, and contracting out refuse collection and other municipal services rather than doing the jobs themselves, as they once did etc. during this period.

A bit of sound advice to the central Government as they embark on this mammoth project is that they ensure that the role of the Council be nothing more than mere spectating, as it is public knowledge that there is a complete dearth of transparency and accountability, and competence and professionalism at City Hall. This is evidenced by the fact that

they even botched the only maintenance work that they did to the building when they replaced the original wooden windows with PVC windows, a complete no-no in heritage building conservation using dissimilar architectural surfaces and fittings.

Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage, and therefore I would like to recommend that the Government put in place a special team to manage this project, with competent personalities such as members of the National Trust; Guyana Heritage Society; former engineers of the City Council: Berkley Wickham, Egbert Carter, Cephas James, and Lloyd Alleyne - engineers who have a wealth of knowledge, experience and prowess in conservation and restoration of cultural heritage; and other personalities, such as Carleton Joao who worked on the St. George’s Cathedral Restoration project.

Sincerely, Jermain Johnson

Let’s put aside our differences and row our boat in the same direction Dear Editor, It is public knowledge that I have been sick with COVID-19 and recovering in New York. I do not know how and where I caught this dreaded decease, but can assure one

and all that I followed all protocols.

I am eternally grateful to the staff of New York Presbyterian Hospital, who took care of me. I am especially thankful to Don Bissessar and

Ms Kamini, two Guyanese staff who went the extra mile.

They were the bridge to my family, who could not visit me.

While lying in bed for 16 days, pondering and being grateful to The Almighty, I

kept myself occupied with following the news in my Guyana.

This morning I looked at the sitting of Parliament and the statements made by the Speaker, Hon Manzoor Nadir.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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

We reserve the right to know where we are coming from and where we are going (Part 1) Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC are at it again; that is, spinning their mindless yarn in Parliament, but this time it is done at the forum of The Public Accounts Committee, or PAC. Now, this party holds the prestigious position of chairing the verification process of the Government in power. It is a hallowed position, in which the Opposition, through intense scrutiny, would go through the books of

Government’s spending and general stewardship of the public’s affairs. They are now called upon to hold the Government accountable to the people of this great country; or is it?

Now, I have asked that question for the sole purpose of clearing up one salient point that is hitting the headlines right now; that is, the highly questionable character of the chairman of The PAC when he was in Government.

Based on the findings

of the recently held audits, Patterson was the recipient of very expensive “gifts”, as well as being involved in other corrupt dealings while in office. Therefore, if good sense should prevail, it would be wise that someone whose character has been so mired in scandals recuses himself from the chair. It is the firm belief of all right-thinking people that someone who has had such a sordid background should at least do the right thing and bow out of the

Let’s put aside our differences and row...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

I was taken aback by the personal attack and awful wishes made against the Speaker. I am aware that robust debate and public relations statements are par for the course.

When I served the National Assembly, I had my share of such approaches. But there were always elders in Parliament and out of Parliament there to counsel when any of us stepped out of line.

Opposition Leader Hon Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Haslyn Parris, Winston Murray, Robert Corbin, Yvonne Hearwood-Benn among others, were sobering heads. What we never did was to personally at-

tack a political opponent’s health.

What was reported by the Hon. Speaker was an attack on his health, he being a victim of COVID. My muscles are sore, lungs weak, 10-feet walk to the washroom is like climbing the Kanuku Mountains.

I empathise with all the victims of COVID, their loved ones, friends and families. Unless you experience this COVID and have gone through what I did, you would never be able to have a sympathetic heart and mind. Were it not for social media platform, I would have had a serious mental breakdown.

My appeal, begging to one and all is: please respect victims, even if you don’t agree with them politically. I hope the leadership of the PNCR apologise to Mr Nadir, as that apology is for all victims.

Even if there is no apology forthcoming, I ask that Mr Nadir forgive MP Duncan. I know that in every human being there is basic goodness; so, as we continue to fight COVID-19, please, one and all, put aside your differences on this matter and let’s row our boat in the same direction.

God bless all!

Jerome Khan

chairman’s position, and stay clear of heading that committee.

But Patterson is holding fast and standing his ground, refusing to give up the chair, while he goes about posturing that he is holding the Government accountable for its actions.

Well, I must say what a fool he is, because, with so many issues hanging over his head, Patterson should not have the gall to be chairing anything, much less to be considered holding the present administration accountable.

He should be the one under the microscopic scrutiny of the Public Accounts Committee - something we will eventually get to.

For starters, much of what would be discussed centres around the PNCled Coalition - the audit report shows this quite clearly - and Patterson would be hard pressed to give sensible responses to these questions. How can the PAC effectively scrutinise the books when Patterson sits in the chair? Isn’t this a conflict of interest? Well, it certainly is! Trying to frustrate a legitimate process on the PAC will not do him any good, because the more he resists the hearing into the actions of his Government, the more stupid and ignorant (Caribbean version) he appears before the people.

Patterson’s filibustering tactics is exposing his depravity. What Patterson is not telling us is that his administration promised the people the good life when in reality it provided them with a “good lie.” This is what he is afraid to face up to!

Patterson and his party are a representation of anything and everything the people of this country would never like to experience again.

And I will tell you this: the people of Guyana would not be kind to that party when the next local and regional elections come up.

I can further assure him that he would not be there to posture with those unintelligible comments of his;

those posturing days will soon be over.

So, in closing, I must state categorically that Guyana is in a new dispensation of governance, and the watchwords are “transparency and accountability.” Everyone that holds office in this land must give an account of their stewardship, whether it is good or whether it is bad.

We reserve the right to know where we are coming from, so that we can charter a safe course into the future. This can be ascertained only by peering into the books; and no one, I repeat: no one, should try to stop us.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

TEST 1) The length of a ribbon is 5/6 metre. How many 1/6 metre pieces can be cut from the ribbon?

2) Five packets of macaroni cost $1100. How much will 20 packets cost?

ii) What would be the perimeter of a square made with four of the 1/6 metre pieces in centimetres and inches?

ii) If a 5% discount is offered on every packet in excess of 10 purchased on Tuesday, what would 20 packets cost on Tuesdays?

iii) Calculate the area and perimeter of the shapes below. Round to 1 decimal place.

iii) If each package costs $90 to produce, what is the percentage profit?

Fizzing colours!

You’ll need: box of baking soda small bowl of white vinegar medicine dropper (also known as a pipette) food colouring or liquid watercolours baking sheet or a messy craft mat

The experiment: Begin by sprinkling baking soda all over the baking sheet.

Then shake the baking sheet back and forth to evenly distribute the baking soda.

Next, using food colouring and liquid watercolours, squeeze drops of colour all over the baking soda.

And now for the fun part: drop one drop of vinegar on top of a drop of food colouring.

Fizz, fizz, bubble, bubble!

Record what happens and research why.

(Adapted from happyhooligans.ca)

A

fowler, taking his bird-lime and his twigs, went out to catch birds. Seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree, he wished to take it, and fitting his twigs to a proper length, watched intently, having his whole thoughts directed towards the sky.

While thus looking upwards, he unknowingly trod upon a viper asleep just before his feet. The viper, turning about, stung him, and falling into a swoon, the man said to himself, "Woe is me! That while I purposed to hunt another, I am myself fallen unawares into the snares of death."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

House passes Bill to streamline budgetary process – constitutional bodies’ national budgets to be combined

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he PPP/C Government on Thursday used its one-seat majority to amend the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) in order to streamline the budget process so as to improve efficiency and the effectiveness with which Parliament can consider the budget of the various constitutional agencies.

The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2021 seeks to amend the FMAA Chapter 73:02 to allow for the correction of a number of anomalies relating to the budget process for the constitutional agencies.

The legislation was tabled at last Thursday’s sitting, by Senior Minister with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who noted that his amendments will fix the process implemented by the previous APNU/AFC regime in 2015 to have the constitutional agencies present their budgets separately from the National Budget.

“The then amendment [by the Coalition] articulated a two-stage process whereby the budgets of constitutional agencies would be brought to the

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

National Assembly, considered by the Assembly and approved, and then incorporated into the National Budget, which would subsequently be submitted to the House for consideration, at which time the budgets for the constitutional agencies would not be reconsidered by the House,” Dr Singh noted.

According to the Finance Minister, his Government is now moving to remove that two-step process and combine them into a single presentation to the National Assembly for consideration.

He pointed out that the framers of the Constitution had gone at length to specify that the budgets of the constitutional agencies are required to be a part of the process of determination of the national budget.

Further, Dr Singh went on to outline that matters of a financial nature are vested in the Executive, that is, the President, who in turn designates this responsibility to the Finance Minister. This constitutional provision, along with others, was violated with the Coalition’s amendments, the Finance Minister argued.

Nevertheless, the proposed amendments to the FMAA were passed on Thursday evening after the third reading.

However, this was not without opposing arguments from the Opposition Members of Parliament.

A P N U / A F C Parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan insisted that the APNU/AFC had a “good purpose” for its 2015 amendments.

As such, he noted that the PPP/C Government should not “throw out the baby with the bath water” but “learn to

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

develop and evolve. A living Constitution this thing is, so let’s breathe life into it rather than abort that extension that was grown out of the 2015 fiscal amendments… that was given some backbone to grow…

What we’re doing here is a clip of the wings, an abortion, and that is not right.”

Ramjattan, who served as Public Security Minister in the previous administration, and is currently the Leader of the AFC, added that having the budgets of the constitutional agencies dealt with separately should not be a problem, as

Govt will not establish diplomatic ties with Taipei but Private Sector can do business – Todd …agreement for Taiwan Office in Guyana terminated after miscommunication

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gainst the background of conflicting reports of Taiwan establishing an office here, the Guyana Government on Thursday announced that it has terminated the agreement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in a statement, said Government has noted various media releases on the matter of a Taiwan Office in Guyana and, as such, sought to clear that it did not establish any diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

In fact, it was noted that there was a miscommunication regarding the agreement signed.

“The Government has not established any diplomatic ties or relations with Taiwan, and as a result of the miscommunication of the agreement signed, this agreement has since been terminated,” the Ministry said.

When contacted on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd told Guyana Times that there was too much miscommunication and misinterpretation, both here and in the international environment surrounding the issue.

“We don’t plan to have diplomatic ties in the future.

At least that is not something that’s being discussed,” he insisted.

According to Minister Todd, while there will be no formal establishment of diplomatic ties, the Guyanese Private Sector is free to conduct business with Taipei.

Questioned whether Government would be inclined to allowing Taiwan to establish an investment office here in the future, the

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd

Foreign Affairs Minister said, “The Taiwanese are free to do business with the private sector. What was confusing is that apparently some quarters thought that we were establishing diplomatic ties with Taipei, which is not the case… They can go ahead and have an office [here] to do investment, but private sector-wise.”

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the country had signed an agreement with the Guyana Government on January 11, 2021 to set up in Guyana an office that focuses on cooperation in areas like agriculture, education and trade.

The news of the establishment of a Taiwanese office in Guyana was first disclosed by the United States Embassy in Guyana on Wednesday.

“The United States applauds the agreement to establish a Taiwan Office in Guyana. Deepening ties between Guyana and Taiwan will advance their shared goals of prosperity and secu-

rity. Closer ties with Taiwan will advance cooperation and development in Guyana on the basis of shared democratic values, transparency, and mutual respect,” the embassy said in a statement.

But Minister Todd subsequently confirmed to media entities that it is actually an investment office that Taiwan would be setting up in Guyana. He has assured that there will be no bilateral diplomatic relations between Guyana and Taiwan, which China – one of Guyana’s major bilateral partner – claims as its sovereign territory.

However, the reports of the Taiwanese Office in Guyana had triggered a number of concerns about Guyana’s foreign policy and its relations with the People’s Republic of China and, by extension, the “One China Policy”.

In fact, according to international reports, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing hopes Guyana would not engage in any official ties with Taiwan, and called on the country to “earnestly take steps to correct their mistake”.

Guyana traditionally has close ties with China and supports the “One China Policy”, which does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state.

In a Reuters report, Minister Todd is quoted as saying “Guyana is not recognising Taiwan as an independent state. Guyana is not establishing diplomatic relations with Taipei.”

Moreover, the Foreign Ministry’s termination statement on Thursday added,

“The Government of Guyana wishes to clarify that it continues to adhere to the One China policy, and its diplomatic relations remain intact with the People’s Republic of China.”

it reduces the number of agencies the Finance Minister has to deal with.

Meanwhile, another Opposition MP, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, argued that these amendments were a move by the PPP/C Administration to take control of the constitutional agencies. He pointed out that the Coalition’s 2015 amendments and the PPP/C’s current amendments reflect a divergence in the philosophy of the two sides in the House.

“Whilst the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change 2015 amendments reflected the ethos of decentralised government, enhancing and empowering the constitutional agencies, compliance with the Constitution; on the other hand, the PPP Civic has not changed, and is here reflecting its philosophy of centralised Government and capturing the independence of the constitutional agencies,” Forde contented.

However, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall dismissed those contentions.

“We were careful, in inserting the amendments which we are proposing, that the budgets of the constitutional agencies be determined by the official in charge of the constitutional agency in consultation with the Minister of Finance, but that official remains in charge…

The official is the dominant persona in the creation of the budget… and there is a process there that allows the financial officer to adjust based upon the needs of his constitutional agency,” he posited.

According to the Attorney

Opposition MP Khemraj Ramjattan

General, the purported fiscal autonomy that the Coalition claimed to have given these constitutional agencies was taken back because the budgets of the constitutional agencies were presented as a lump sum, and so whenever there are cuts, it would be in a lump sum. He noted that when this happens, the constitutional agencies had to go back and adjust their entire work programme for the budgeted year.

Nandlall went on to note that the previous administration had removed the constitutional entities from financial scrutiny, which is one of the fundamental functions of Parliament apart from law-making, and now the PPP/C Government is trying to bring these agencies back into regularity.

“They have hived off a whole set of entities and make their monies not susceptible to any form of scrutiny… This bill seeks to bring back into parliamentary oversight a lot of monies that were spent without parliamentary scrutiny,” he explained.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

High Court orders GRA to release $80M in fuel seized from Atlantic Fuels

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

Dr Richard Van West-Charles

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC

GEA CEO, Dr Mahender Sharma

cting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, has ordered the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to release over $80 million in fuel it had seized from Atlantic Fuels Inc (AFI), whose main Director is Dr Richard Van West-Charles, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).

This was confirmed by the High Court in Georgetown.

AFI’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, in a release to the press, said that the acting Chief Justice in her ruling noted that both the GRA and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) acted unlawfully in seizing the fuel, since, among other things, over $20 million had been paid in fees and taxes for its importation.

On November 1, 2020, AFI imported diesel fuel into Guyana. Then, the GEA had said that after its investigations, it was revealed that the fuel was purchased from Staatsolie, a Surinamese company, and not Global Oil as stated in documents by

AFI. Consequently, the 635, 353 litres of fuel were seized.

AFI, however, refuted making any false allegations and filed a lawsuit against GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia and GEA CEO, Dr Mahender Sharma.

In the suit, AFI sought several orders, including one compelling the GRA and the GEA, to release the fuel forthwith and another for the agencies to bear the cost of storage.

In its defence, the GRA stated that the AFI used a false invoice to import the fuel and provided authorities with wrong information on the supplier, value, and quantity of the fuel. Dhurjon said that because of the alleged false declaration, the GRA contended that “full and applicable taxes could not have been determined” and that the release of the fuel would cause “significant losses of revenue” to the Government.

Sharma, according to Dhurjon, claimed that AFI

was merely facilitating the importation of the fuel for another company Clean Energy Guyana Inc, and as such, acted in breach of Petroleum Regulations 2014 when it imported the fuel by way of a false declaration.

The lawyer added that Dr Sharma explained that the company in Suriname who AFI claimed it had purchased the fuel from had sent a letter saying that it never transacted business with AFI. Against this backdrop, Dhurjon said that the GRA and GEA submitted that they had the power to seize the fuel based on customs laws.

In her ruling on Wednesday, Justice George declared that the fuel was the property of AFI and that the GRA and the GEA acted illegally and unconstitutionally in their actions to prevent the marking and clearance of the fuel so that AFI could successfully import it.

In addition, the Chief Justice (ag) issued two orders of mandamus, the law-

yer stated. One of them compels the GEA to mark the fuel and the other compels the GRA to release the fuel since over $20 million in taxes and fees were already paid to both agencies to facilitate its marking and release.

“The Chief Justice held that because such taxes and fees were already paid, it was difficult to see how revenue owed to the State could be lost,” Dhurjon noted in a statement. He stated that Justice George agreed with submissions proferred by him that “the GEA and GRA had no power under law to hinder or impede the importation of the fuel”.

The Chief Justice (ag) further ordered that the hefty storage costs which AFI now owes to the ‘Falls’ service station storage facility owned by China Zhonghao Inc at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are to be paid by the GRA and the GEA, the lawyer noted in the release.

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Authoritarian impulses…

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…towards Parliament our Eyewitness has repeatedly emphasised that democracy doesn’t depend only on what’s written in constitutions and statutes. Even more important is the attitude of those who vie for office, to represent the will of the people towards the customs and traditions that provide the scaffolding on which the law resides.

For democracy to be practised effectively, the politicians must read between the lines as much as what are on the lines. The PNC have never learnt this lesson - starting from their founder leader, the cynical and Machiavellian Forbes Burnham.

Take, for instance, the shameful insults that are being hurled at the Speaker of our Parliament by PNC MPs. Do these people have any idea of the position in which the Speaker is held in parliamentary democracies? Even Burnham never breached the protocols towards this figure in all the shenanigans he pulled to remain in office illegally.

There’s a famous instance when, even in walking out of a sitting of the House in protest, he paused on his way out to genuflect to the Speaker!!

Not this lot! No, they’re filled to the brim with the hubris and authoritarian instincts of that Sanctimonious Gangster who’s their present leader. The Speaker must be seen as above the fray, and his rulings must be explicitly obeyed. He’s the symbol of the sanctity of “we the people”, in whom sovereignty lies and to whom the greatest respect must therefore be given. Imagine the temerity of one cowardly MP, appropriately known as “Lampy”, who’d stoop so low as to insist that the Speaker’s bout with COVID-19 was somehow something the Speaker brought upon himself for his stance in the House! And which he, the MP, could crow about! What next? Are they going to drag him from his seat to literally tar and feather him?

They should be reminded of a famous incident that epitomises the standing of Speakers in Parliamentary governments. Back in 1642, King Charles 1 (who was later to be beheaded!) was looking for five MPs to charge them with High Treason. He ventured into Parliament and asked the Speaker as to their whereabouts. Which gave the Speaker the opportunity to utter the immortal words that have guided all Speakers since: “May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here.”

But lest some think the authoritarian arrogance of the PNC MP Lampy was an aberration, we were just told that the PNC plan to convene their own “Parliament”, literally in the den of inequity in front of the Stabroek Market.

This shows how little the authoritarian mind thinks of democracy! …from Maduro A lot of news outlets highlighted that it was Maduro who personally ordered our twelve fishermen and their boats be released and returned to Guyana. Some implied that we - and the rest of the world - should be thankful for this “gesture”. But they miss the entire point! If a President can unilaterally make such a decision, all that does is confirm that he has no checks and balances in his governance structure. In other words, he’s a dictator!!

And that’s exactly what we’ve been emphasising after Maduro rigged the last elections to seize control of his National Assembly, after already subverting the judiciary.

What this also confirms is that if Maduro could unilaterally free our men, it was he who had unilaterally ordered their seizure! So, any thought of dealing with a “beneficent” Maduro should be banished by our Government.

Let’s remember that this latest act of hostility is only the latest in the tradition of Venezuelan governments of all stripes since the 1950s.

And it’ll continue! …from the PNC The PNC’s insistence to put a cat (Patterson) to guard the (national) milk betrays their authoritarian instincts.

They say he must first be proven guilty. For what?

He already ADMITTED he lied about receiving the bling!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

446 scholarships issued by PPP/C Govt since August 2020 – scholarships valued over $80M

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ince taking office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has issued some 446 scholarships for both local and international studies totalling more than $80 million.

This was revealed by Public Service Minister Sonia Parag in response to questions asked by her predecessor, Opposition Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, in the National Assembly.

In her written response, Minister Parag noted that a total of 39 scholarships was awarded locally, amounting to some $16.1 million. This includes some 34 scholarships to the University of Guyana (UG) to the tune of $13.2 million.

Three scholarships were also granted for the Guyana School of Agriculture totalling some $855,000.

Additionally, one scholarship each was issued to Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical School and Texila American University to the tune of $880,000 and $1,100,000 respectively.

The Minister pointed out that in excess of $67 million in scholarships was issued for studies overseas. Of these 35 scholarships, seven were study leave with pay while two were donor-funded.

In addition, the Minister disclosed that of these 446 scholarships issued since last August, 26 are being facilitated online.

“It must be noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most scholarships awarded are of an online na-

ture,” the Minister noted.

Moreover, the 446 scholarships were distributed across all 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

Most of the 226 was awarded in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), while Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) received 51, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) got 45, and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) 42.

Twenty-three scholarships were given to Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), while Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) got 21 and Region One (BarimaWaini) 14.

Region Nine (Upper Takuku-Upper Essequibo) received 10 scholarships, while Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) got seven each.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has promised to grant 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese over the next four years. In fact, in the 2020 Emergency Budget, the PPP/C Government had earmarked over $1 billion for the award of scholarships for both local and overseas studies, as well as training of public servants.

At a press conference last August, mere weeks after assuming office, Minister Parag had disclosed that the system for vetting scholarships was heavily flawed under the David Granger-led regime.

“What I have found is that the system that we have for vetting scholarships is heavily flawed. That is what I have personally observed, and that is something that

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag

I plan to review and change.

If I may say, it is skewed to one demographic and geographic in Guyana. That has been going on for the last five years,” the Public Service Minister had revealed during a virtual press conference.

For persons who had applied before and were denied, or those who were facing other difficulties, the Minister said such will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. The entire system will be reviewed to ensure that these services benefit all stakeholders.

In fact, back in August, Guyana Times had reported that a medical doctor was denied six times when he applied for scholarships or sponsorship to study neurology under the APNU/AFC Administration.

Dr Jason Ramcharran had studied in Cuba from 2008 to 2015. He recorded almost perfect scores in all the subjects he covered in both theory and practice.

After returning to Guyana, his first posting was at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), but Ramcharran, who hails from

La Penitence, Georgetown, always aspired to be a neurologist. He first applied for a postgraduate scholarship to study neurology in China in the 2016/2017 academic year, but was told that his application was refused because of limited scholarships, and “due to the competitive nature of the selection process”.

That same year, 2016, he had approached the Government for sponsorship to do his post-graduate studies in Cuba after being accepted by the University of Medical Sciences Havana to do the neurology programme. But he got another rejection letter. This pattern of rejection continued on four more occasions.

However, Dr Ramcharran was subsequently awarded the scholarship by the PPP/C Administration.

According to Minister Parag, her most urgent task is to ensure that those Guyanese who returned from scholarship programmes are adequately employed. She underscored that one of her main goals,

as she embarks on this new journey, is to have the citizenry involved, especially the young people. As such, her aim is to see Guyanese of all walks of life benefit from scholarships.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Cancer Day observance

GTT donates $4M towards cancer care

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n the occasion of World Cancer Day, which was observed on Thursday, GTT has donated some $4 million from its ongoing Pinktober Fund towards the diagnostic testing and treatment of cancer patients in Guyana.

This year, the global village is called upon to “speak up, stand up and take action together” in commemoration of World Cancer Day – and GTT’s donation is a direct response to that rallying call.

GTT’s Pinktober

Coordinator, Diana Gittens explained that the Cancer Institute of Guyana would provide the treatment while the Oncology Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) would identify patients to access the

services as they have done in the past.

Last year, the company collaborated with the Institute to offer similar services, which resulted in 20 patients being able to access treatment and diagnostic testing in the Linden, Bartica and East Bank, West Bank, West Coast, and East Coast Demerara areas.

Gittens highlighted that, of the 20 patients, 55 per cent completed CT scans for diagnostic purposes, while 70 per cent accessed radiation treatment. Of those who benefited, fifty per cent were diagnosed with breast cancer while 45 per cent were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Gittens shared

GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens

that “…those being assisted were between the ages of 39 to 78 years old”.

“The loss of lives and livelihoods due to cancer in Guyana is alarming. GTT remains committed to reducing this burden on our Guyanese society by saving lives using the Pinktober fund and promoting awareness, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. We are grateful for every individual who contributed to the Pinktober funds through the purchase of a bottle or just making a donation. Our give is on your behalf – we are in this together,” Gittens declared.

GTT’s Pinktober initiative is a fundraising and awareness initiative; 100 per cent of all funds raised go directly back into cancer care and treatment in Guyana.

11 Guyana records 2 more COVID-19 fatalities, death toll now at 179 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– 66 new cases recorded within 24h

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u y a n a ’ s COVID-19 death toll has now climbed to 179, after two males died from the virus while receiving medical care on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Health Ministry confirmed that a 54-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) died after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

This was followed by another death on Thursday, this time, that of a 73-year-old male from Region One (BarimaWaini).

This is the third reported death for February. The last was reported on Monday after a 58-year-old female from DemeraraMahaica died while seeking treatment.

New statistics issued by the Health Ministry revealed that a total of 66 new cases were reported within a 24-hour period, moving the confirmed cases thus far to 7780.

The Ministry stated that five persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with another 62 in institutional isolation, 710 in home isolation and 15 in institutional quarantine.

From the total number of cases, 4021 are males and 3759 are females. Out of the 7780 cases recorded since

March 2020, 6826 have recovered. Health officials have tested 51,277 persons since the virus was first detected locally.

Of the 66 new cases, one was reported in Region One; four in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 32 in DemeraraMahaica; four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); eight in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

and 12 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) stand at 228, 238, and 410 respectively.

Improved response

Meanwhile, speaking on Guyana’s response to the pandemic on Thursday, Health Minister Dr Frank

Anthony told the National Assembly that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); Government has improved the situation tremendously from what was inherited from the former Administration.

On the aspect of protecting health-care workers, he voiced, “The plan has various sections including the provision of personal protection equipment for the health-care workers and we have been sourcing things like masks, goggles, gowns, hair cover, foot cover and all that is needed for these frontline health workers to protect themselves while delivering care. That situation has increased dramatically from what we have inherited.”

In relation to testing, the Minister pointed out that they were able to raise the daily capacity from 21 to 2000 at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. In the regions, point-of-care facilities were established for antigen test-

ing, broadening the ways in which a positive detection is made.

He contended, “When we came into testing, we were only doing about 21 tests per day and our range of test was very limited. So now, at the National Public Health Reference Lab, we are able to do about 1500 to 2000 PCR tests per day.

That has increased our capacity tremendously. On an average day, we’re doing close to 450 PCR tests. The Private Sector has come on board and Eureka Medical Laboratories have also been doing PCR testing.”

Presently, there is enough bed capacity for persons who require normal hospitalisation or intensive care. Government has secured a field hospital from the Qatari Government – additional resources which will be made available soon.

Authorities are determining where the facility should be established.

Dr Anthony also spoke on contact tracing as he ex-

pounded. “We have our central team at the surveillance department who is responsible for all contact tracing and in every region of Guyana, the regional task force comprising of the RHO and his team are required to do contact tracing.

So, we have a comprehensive network of persons who are doing contact tracing.”

Efforts have been made to secure the border regions with Brazil from any infiltration, after variants of the COVID-19 virus were detected. Samples will be sent monthly to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for genetic sequencing. Along with this, there are internal measures to protect the population at workplaces, so as to continue economic activities.

The Minister told the House of the Government’s initiatives to provide small businesses with incentives, as well as the $25,000 cash grant for each household to cushion their economic woes.

High Court orders...

Justice George will facilitate another hearing on this matter on March 8, 2021, to decide on the charges that have to be paid by the GEA and the GRA for the storage of the fuel.

In the meantime, one of AFI’s Directors, Eugene Gilbert is currently before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge which alleges that the company made a false declaration to the

GRA on November 12, 2020.

The 67-year-old man pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted $300,000 bail.

Gilbert is slated to return to court next month when his trial is expected to begin.

The charge was instituted under Section 217 (1) (a) of the Customs Act, which reads: “Any person who, in any matter relating to the customs, or under the control or management of the

FROM PAGE 8

Comptroller – (a) makes and subscribes, or causes to be made and subscribed, any false declaration; or…”

On summary conviction, the person is liable to a fine of $25,000, together with imprisonment for three years. AFI has been embroiled in controversy ever since it began operations.

It was granted a licence by the GEA in 2015 to import, wholesale and store fuel.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

African Union to donate 149,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Guyana to deliver some 104,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Guyana shortly.

Presently, the said vaccine is before the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use listing.

The European Union has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use

T

he African Union (AU) will be making a donation of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Caribbean, with Guyana set to receive 149,000 doses.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday told the National Assembly that this arrangement was brokered through the Caribbean Community (Caricom), paving the way for 1.5 million doses to be donated to the Region.

“Caricom has brokered an arrangement with the African Union. They have set aside 1.5 million doses of vaccines for the Caribbean. Out of that allotment, Guyana’s total is going to be 149, 000 doses.

fection. It is highly effective and can be kept at normal refrigeration temperatures – making it much easier to distribute.

The Government of China has already pledged to donate 20, 000 vaccines, manufactured by Sinopharm.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

We’re working with that platform to ensure that we’ll also get doses from that mechanism,” he explained.

The AU is a continental body consisting of the 55 countries of the African continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (19631999).

The Minister stated that the Government was also in contact with several vaccine manufacturers to acquire additional doses. This way, as soon as the vaccine is granted emergency use listing, Guyana is already on the waiting list for early allotment.

Global vaccine mechanism COVAX is planning

authorisation along with several countries, including India and the United Kingdom. When the vaccine is injected, it causes the immune system to start making antibodies and to attack any coronavirus in-

Through the COVAX mechanism, Guyana will receive 20 per cent of the total vaccines needed to immunise the population at zero cost. Guyana is on a list of countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Haiti,

Saint Lucia, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines that automatically qualify to access the Vaccine Alliance.

Minister Anthony had said Government is prepared for the rollout. A total of 35 health teams has undergone training to administer the injections as part of the vaccine deployment plan. The expansion of storage facilities will be completed very shortly.

These arrangements will ensure that the vaccines are at the right temperature when administered. Once the vaccine is successfully delivered to a patient, they will receive an immunisation card. These persons will be kept under observation for a few minutes to en-

sure that there are no adverse reactions.

Dr Anthony said, “We are prepared and ready so once we start receiving the vaccines, we will be able to deploy them as rapidly as possible and in the safest manner…We have started to make sure that sites in every region are prepared and expanded so that we can store more vaccines and be able to roll that out to the public.”

Once the vaccination programme starts, they will be able to deliver 70,000 vaccines per day across the country. Government has noted that there is no mandatory requirement to take the vaccine, but it is encouraged to reach herd immunity.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UN, Guyana collaborate to eradicate squatting by 2030

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uyana has forged an extensive collaboration with the United Nations-Habitat, which will seek to eliminate all informal settlements, commonly referred to as squatting, by 2030.

This was the aim set out during the virtual launch of the Guyana Strategy for Informal Settlements Upgrading and Prevention (GSISUP) on Thursday thus enabling consultations within the next few months.

Statistic from a 2015 study which showed that 15 per cent of Guyanese were living in informal settlements. This translates to 27,570 households and over 100,000 people.

As such, there is need for intervention and mechanisms to prevent this number from growing. The plan is to ‘leave no one behind’ by introducing accessible housing, regularizing lands and upgrading dwelling areas.

UN Habitat Regional

Two squatting areas in Guyana

Director in Latin America and the Caribbean, Elkin Velasques during the virtual meeting noted that the scope of cooperation includes a database on the informal settlements in Guyana, a strategy to upgrade informal settlements and partnerships for financing and capacity building.

“From the UN Habitat’s perspective, this is of course a huge responsibility and privilege you have given to us in trusting our capacity, also our methodologies and you count on us to continue strengthening this collaboration…In South America particular, we are working in different countries on informal settlements support.”

Velasques added that when the strategy is implemented in Guyana, it can be used as a model in the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

“Guyana is taking this leadership and we are sure that what we can achieve

in the implementation of this strategy is going to be a model for the Caribbean and other areas of the world. We are aiming at inspiring our interventions in other countries what we are now undertaking with you.”

These efforts locally entail a multistakeholder approach, prompting contributions from central government agencies, Food for the Poor, Guyana Inc., Housing and Water Ministry, private sector, utility companies, community-based organisations, academia, NGOs, municipalities and religious organisations among other stakeholders.

Some of the challenges regarding informal settlements are based on the paucity of data on the current extent of squatting in the country, need for improved monitoring of government reserves, greater coordination among agencies and the slow transfer rate of regu-

larized areas.

Senior informal settlement upgrading expert Michel Frojmovic indicated that consultations will continue for the next couple of months in order to create a finalized strategy. GSISUP contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 Target One, which speaks to access for all to ad-

equate and safe housing.

“The global context for this strategy is to achieve a part of the sustainable development goals, particularly that focuses on housing and urban services and the issue of slums which is a global issue. Within 10 years, we’ll have access to basic housing, services and really look at formal set-

tlements rather than future informal settlements,” Frojmovic lauded.

Government through the Housing Ministry and the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA) are integrally involved in the process to create better infrastructure for the population.

NWD man attacked, stabbed on way home

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North West District (NWD) man is nursing serious injuries about his body, after he was attacked and stabbed by two men on Thursday.

The injured man has been identified as 38-year-old Delon Baird of Cassie Creek, NWD, Region One (BarimaWaini).

Based on information re-

ceived, the incident occurred about 01:20h. Police stated that Baird was making his way home when he was ambushed by two men in the vicinity of Baramita Health Centre.

He was stabbed to his abdomen and back, after which the men made good their escape.

The injured man man-

aged to reach a relative’s house located nearby, and related what took place. He was taken to the Baramita Health Centre, where he was admitted a patient.

The matter was reported, and a description of the two perpetrators were given to the Police. The Police have launched an investigation.

No arrest has yet been made.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Schools remain closed for February – Education Minister …says NGSA likely for July/August

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand has announced that schools in Guyana would remain closed for face-to-face learning for February 2021, except for Grades 10, 11, and 12 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

After several discussions with stakeholders, these grades were reopened in October 2020, to facilitate the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), which are administered across the Region by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

“All the other grades will continue to be engaged in the way that they are engaging. We are advised by the Ministry of Health that we cannot reopen any other grade and level at this point,” Manickchand noted.

In the meantime, the Education Ministry has been working to deliver the curriculum on other platforms, especially through online teaching, the Guyana Learning Channel, Interactive Radio Instructions, and through the distribution of worksheets and other printed learning materials.

The Ministry has already embarked on a massive training programme to equip teachers with the skills needed to deliver teaching in the new circumstances. Several businesses have donated tablet computers to the Education Ministry to assist students who do not have the necessary equipment to access online classes.

NGSA

Meanwhile, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) for 2021 has been postponed from March/April and is

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

likely to be written in July/August.

“If we were to say what we will do now, it would be premature because we don’t know what the country will look like regarding the COVID and we don’t know what the advice from the Ministry of Health will be in let’s say two or three months. We know for sure that the exam will not be held in March/April which is usually when it is held. It is going to be pushed back to July/August,” Manickchand said.

According to the Minister, the Education Ministry is unable to announce a date for NGSA 2021 because CXC has not announced dates for CSEC and CAPE and the country may not have the capacity to run three major examinations at the same time and maintain the high integrity of those exams.

“So, because we may not be able to run CSEC, CAPE, and NGSA at the same time we want to hear CXC’s dates before we schedule our NGSA. As soon as we have a date, we promise to let the nation know.”

The Minister had previously stated that since the NGSA was a placement examination administered locally, the Education Ministry can decide when and how to set it. “It’s a placement exam. It’s not an assessment to determine whether you’re bright or not. It’s an assessment to place students. Are there other ways we can place students fairly to secondary school?”

The Ministry has been consulting with parents and teachers on what format the examinations will take.

According to Manickchand, the most desirable option would be to have what everyone is most accustomed to, that is, Papers One and Two examinations which have been the most popular among stakeholders.

“The most popular option among stakeholders is a Paper One and Paper Two mostly up to the level of Grade Five.” Also discussed was not having an assessment at all. Minister Manickchand has already assured that the absence of these assessments will have no negative impact on children’s records.

The 2020 NGSA was pushed back to July/August 2020. During that time, concerns were raised by many parents about their children’s safety given the health risks associated with COVID-19.

The Chief Education Officer then, Ingrid Trotman had noted that the ministry was not forcing students to write the exams and that students who chose to opt-out would be placed in a secondary school closest to their home.

Caricom congratulates Grenada on 47th Independence anniversary

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he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM) has congratulated Grenada on its 47th Independence Anniversary, while praising its great example of resilience.

CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, said Grenada has made great strides, and its citizens have made their mark globally in academia, diplomacy and sport, to name a few areas.

He added that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Rebuilding Together a safer, More Resilient Nation in these Challenging Times,” resonates throughout the Community during this current period.

“The people of Grenada have been a great example of resilience throughout the period of nationhood, demonstrating time and again a resolve to surmount whatever challenges stood in the way of developing the country”, LaRocque stated.

He also praised Grenada for being a strong and ded-

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

icated advocate of regional integration. “ T h e Community has benefitted significantly from your enlightened contribution in the field of Science and Technology (including Information and Communications), the country’s portfolio in the QuasiCabinet of the Heads of Government. The new reality brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for the use of ICT in its efforts at recovery,” the SG said while reaffirming the Community’s commitment to supporting that country’s efforts at achieving sustainable development.

Grenada celebrates its Independence anniversary on Sunday, February 7, 2021.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sophia man arrested, confesses MoU inked to establish business to shooting contractor in front of registration hub in Bartica “Red Bar”

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25-year-old man of ‘D’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was on Wednesday arrested for the murder of Peter Gonsalves, who was gunned down in Garnett Street, Kitty in December last.

Based on reports received, the Police, acting on information received, made the arrest.

During interrogation, the man reportedly confessed to the murder. He told agents

Charged: Kacey Heyliger

The stolen motorcycle which was discovered at Kuru Kururu

of the Major Crimes Unit that on the night of the shooting, his accomplice contacted him via phone and informed him that he was heading to his house, claiming that he had to get an XR motorcycle.

The suspect explained that his accomplice turned up at his home with a motorcycle and told him that they have to make some spins with the aim of robbing someone of an XR motorcycle. He joined his accomplice, and was given a handgun and was instructed to shoot anyone who resisted.

However, they made several spins around the Sophia area before going to Kitty, where they saw Gonsalves

and a pillion rider on an XR motorcycle.

The suspect further told Police that Gonsalves and his friend were on David Street Kitty in the vicinity of "Cheese Please". As the men pulled off, he and his accomplice followed them to Garnett Street, where, in front of Red Bar, they rode alongside Gonsalves and held onto him.

“I take out the gun and fire a shot at the man, and he came off the motorcycle,” the suspect recalled.

The suspect stated that he jumped onto the now dead man’s motorcycle, but the pillion rider held on to him, so he discharged another round in the direction of Gonsalves and rode away.

Later that night, the man

Murdered: Peter Gonsalves

in custody told detectives, he handed over the motorcycle and the firearm to his accomplice in Sophia.

A few days later, he said, his accomplice told him that he had sold the motorcycle and handed him $40,000.

After admitting to the crime, he took the Police to the crime scene and pointed out the area where the shooting had taken place.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the suspect took the detectives on Thursday evening to a location at Kuru Kururu, on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, where the motorcycle was recovered.

The Police are in the process of completing the file to be send to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

A few days after the shooting, 28-year-old Kacey Heyliger was charged for the heinous crime, and was remanded to prison. A taxi driver, Heyliger, of Shell Road, Kitty, was charged with committing the murder in the course or furtherance of a robbery.

The Police have stated that on December 7, 2020 at Garnett Street, Kitty, Heyliger murdered Gonsalves, 60, of Pere Street, Kitty. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

From left to right: REO of Region 7, Kurwin Ward; President of the Bartica Chamber of Commerce, Anthony Murray (sitting); Rushell Karpen of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; and Irwin Ward, who represented the Prime Minister (photo credit: DPI)

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he Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry and the Bartica Chamber of Commerce have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at simplifying the business registration process for Bartica entrepreneurs.

Bartica residents have previously had to journey to the Essequibo coast to register their businesses,

but with the signing of this MOU, a business registration hub will be established in Bartica.

The office of the Bartica Chamber of Commerce will now serve as a hub, where application forms can be submitted and the requisite payments made. The office would then forward the applications to the Registration Office in Essequibo for swift processing.

This initiative is ex-

Driver charged for fatal WCB accident

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ampersaud Persaud was on Thursday charged with the offence of causing the death of Shamsudeen Mohammed on the West Coast Berbice (WCB) Public Road.

He appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The facts of the case

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Murder accused: Alexis Turpin

It was reported that Turpin and Johnson shared child. On the day in question, Johnson returned home and found Turpin in bed with Barlow. A fight erupted among the trio, during which Johnson was stabbed multiple times about his body with a crowbar.

Following the incident, Johnson was hospitalised, while Turpin and Barlow were subsequently charged with attempted murder.

However, after the man succumbed to his injuries, the charge against them was upgraded to murder.

were not presented to the court, but Persaud has been placed on $250,000 bail.

He is expected to return to court on February 18, 2021.

Man on trial for murdering brother-in-law

to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the time of his demise, Adams operated a small rum shop at his residence.

Woman, lover on trial for 2016 murder of reputed husband lexis Turpin, formerly of Lodge, Georgetown, and her lover Sterfon Barlow are presently on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a 12-member jury for murder. They are jointly charged with the July 2016 murder of Sherwin Johnson.

On Wednesday, they pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared before Justice Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

The trial continued on Thursday, when two more witnesses were called by State Prosecutors.

pected to benefit several businesses in Bartica, and increase the number of registered businesses in the township.

The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry had in January established a business registration hub in Mabaruma, as that township had also lacked a commercial registry office. The Mabaruma hub is located in the Regional Democratic Council building.

Murder accused: Les Charles Critchlow

Murder victim: Terrence Adams

he trial of Les Charles Critchlow, who is accused of the May 12, 2016 murder of his brother-in-law Terrence Adams, is continuing before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara. He has

pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It was reported that Adams, called “Sleepy” and “Uncle Terry”, 56, of North Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was stabbed during an argument. He was rushed

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Katoonarib residents worried as “rumbling UG addresses alleged breach of sounds” persist days after earthquake COVID-19 protocols R esidents of Katoonarib Village in South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) are worried as they continue to hear “rumbling sounds” some four days after they were hit by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake.

In a statement released by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), it was explained that “residents living around the area have not been able to sleep well at nights since the tremor last Sunday. Reports have also been made about cracks on the ground which are slowly widening.”

SRDC representative Immaculata Casimero, when contacted by Guyana Times, explained that the situation has left many residents fearful.

“Residents are fearful now and they don’t know what is really happening, and they are asking if persons can come and assess or investigate what is happening,” she explained.

“It’s just the sounds, like explosion sounds…,” Casimero revealed when asked if vibrations were also still being felt.

This publication was informed that the sounds occur over 10 to 15-minute intervals.

When the 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck on Sunday, tremors were felt throughout Guyana.

South Rupununi District Council representative Immaculata Casimero One of the houses where some walls came tumbling down when the earthquake struck on Sunday last

Based on assessments conducted to determine the extent of the damage from the earthquake, it was concluded that Region Nine – which shares a border with Brazil – was the hardest-hit location in Guyana.

The assessments had revealed that two houses were damaged and cracks opened in the earth in several instances in South Rupununi.

According to the SRDC representative, in one of the houses that suffered damage, the cracks are getting wider as the days go by.

The Regional Administration has since committed to helping the families rebuild their houses.

The Civil Defence

Commission (CDC) has announced it would be partnering with the Natural Resources Ministry to conduct further analysis, observation, and assessments to gain a comprehensive perspective of the region’s susceptibility to seismic hazards.

The Commission said it was also in discussion with The Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide technical support if the need arises.

According to the CDC, the result of these assessments could determine future actions which can include conducting earth-

quake preparedness and response planning and training, evacuation drills and exploring the possibility of developing earthquake-resilient infrastructure codes for that region and by extension, Guyana.

The SRDC said it has been in constant contact with the CDC and it has been relaying information about the situation on the ground.

“A team from the CDC will be here on February 5 (today) and 6 to investigate and assess the situation on the ground,” the SRDC said.

“For now, we advise all, especially those who are directly affected, to be vigilant and exercise caution, as we are still unaware of the full cause and extent of this natural event,” the Council stated.

The village of Katoonarib has a population of roughly 460 persons with some 85 households. Its main economic activity is farming.

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he University of Guyana (UG) has noted that the tertiary institution is acting immediately to address possible breaches of its internal COVID-19 protocols.

The University, in a release to the press, stated that it has received and investigated a “selfie” video purported to be of some of its students engaging in activities that contradict the institution’s protocols.

Although the University had transitioned into “safe mode” back in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some students were still to complete practical aspects of their programmes as a requirement to graduate and as such, were permitted on campus.

UG had, however, developed strict protocols to ensure the safety of its

students and staff. These protocols mandated that handshakes, fist bumps, hugs, and other forms of physical interaction were prohibited.

In addition, the protocols had also catered for adequate ventilation in classrooms, proper seating and the provision of supplies such as water, sanitisers, and soaps to ensure the campus remained safe amid the pandemic.

The administration had expressed its disappointment in the students for breaching the protocols, and noted that they would face disciplinary action under the Acts and Statutes of the University immediately.

The University reminds staff and students that there must be strict adherence to the protocols that can be found on its website.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to support Coomacka farmers with tools, other technical assistance

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha addressing farmers and residents of Coomacka

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griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha recently met with representatives of several farming groups and residents of Coomacka, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and surrounding communities, and pledged them his Government’s support in the form of tools and technical assistance.

The meeting was held at the Coomacka playground, and saw residents venting their concerns on a number of issues affecting them. One such concern was the need for technical support, and to an extent

equipment.

“I really appreciate these interventions. We all know that these things are long overdue. Nothing has been done here in terms of agriculture for a long time.

I can see there’s a lot of potential for agriculture in these parts. While we may not have enough arable land to do crops - we still do some amount of crops we can also do a lot of livestock. We can do aquaculture. We live alongside the river,” Paul McFarlane, a representative of one of the farmers’ groups, noted.

He noted that about 90

percent of the residents reside alongside the river, and thinks there is great potential for aquaculture.

“We need the technical support. We don’t see, or we hardly see, the crops extension officers. We do see GLDA officers, but we really need the technical support,” he said.

“We also need the relevant tools and equipment.

I don’t know when last the farmers’ group from the Mines received any tools.

We also need a boat and an engine, because most of the lands available are across the river, and we need access to those lands,” McFarlane noted.

In response, Minister Mustapha said the Ministry would be rolling out a programme soon to work with small farmers.

He told the residents that acquisition of tools such as tillers and other equipment needed to invest in the livestock and poultry industry will be discussed.

“I’ve also asked the Permanent Secretary to trace back, from our Ministry, to see how much equipment we’ve given to Linden over the years. If individuals have the equipment, we’ll take it back and give it to the groups.

We will commence an audit

A resident of Coomacka, Paul McFarlane

of all the equipment that came to Region 10, so that we can ensure the farmers’ groups benefit from them,” the Minister stated.

The Minister also assured residents that the extension officers would be more responsive to farmers’ needs.

Additionally, he said he had instructed the relevant agency heads to ensure officers visit the farms in the community at least once per month, and submit a report of their findings.

Another resident, Ronald Narine, related that he is displeased about some of the works conduct-

Ronald Narine, another resident, making his point during the meeting

ed in the area.

“I’ve been living in Nottinghamshire for over 25 years. The area that I’m living in is in a pond. I have a bill of quantities here that says Nottinghamshire: clean and excavate in depth eight feet, 6,250 feet, $625,000 to clean because this is the road trench in front people house wuh got title fuh they land. It has been neglected for the past couple years, the drainage structure,” he said.

Minister Mustapha said groups contracted to execute developmental works in the communities would

now be held accountable when works are not executed according to the project specification.

“I’ve instructed the NDIA to work along with the CDC groups. The issue raised, that some of these groups are collecting money and not doing anything, will be investigated. We must ensure that people do the work, because when we budget these monies and the works are not done properly, the beneficiaries suffer.

“Although we are encouraging groups to work, and (are) giving them contracts, we will ensure that the works are done to the specification before the groups receive their payment. The works have to be completed according to the required specification.

From now, and as long as I am Minister of Agriculture, I will ensure this happens,” Minister Mustapha said.

Residents also raised concerns about the need for improvements to the community’s drainage system. Minister Mustapha informed them that the NDIA is currently working to develop a work programme detailing all the requested drainage and irrigation needs in the Region.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Regional

Venezuela arranges repatriation flight Mining company reaches US$7B settlement over deadly T dam collapse in Brazil

People survey the damage after a Vale SA dam burst in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais state, Brazil on Friday, January 25, 2019, killing 270 people [File: Bloomberg]

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ale SA reached a settlement agreement with Brazilian authorities for a dam collapse that killed 270 people and led to production cutbacks that stripped the company of the title of world’s biggest iron ore producer. Its shares rose.

The deal comes two years after the Brumadinho disaster, giving affected communities a clear framework for compensation and reparations and removing a considerable legal overhang for Vale shareholders.

Vale will pay 37.7 billion reais (US$7.03 billion) including cash payments to affected people and investments in environmental projects, the Rio de Janeirobased company said in a statement. Vale estimates it will book an additional expense of 19.8 billion reais in 2020 results.

“This is the largest reparation agreement ever signed in Latin America in financial terms and with the participation of the state,” and one of the largest in the world, Minas

Gerais said in a statement.

The two sides come together after Vale initially presented a value of about 21 billion reais, while the state of Minas Gerais outlined 28 billion reais in material damages plus 26 billion reais in moral damages.

Vale said about 8900 people were already parties of civil or labour indemnification agreements, while more than 100,000 have received emergency aid totalling 1.8 billion reais.

With Vale benefiting from high iron ore prices, the Brumadinho settlement isn’t expected to jeopardise any of its investment plans, according to Ativa Investimentos. Iron ore futures climbed 73 per cent last year on strong Chinese demand.

Vale shares extended gains on the back of the news after trading was halted for more than half an hour in Sao Paulo. The stock was up 2.1 per cent at 10:57h local time compared with a 0.6 per cent advance for the Ibovespa. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T&T kidnapped victim found dead

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he search for kidnapped victim Andrea Bharatt ended Thursday afternoon after her body was found down a precipice along the Heights of Aripo.

According to reports, around 12:20h, a motorist was driving his vehicle along the Heights of Aripo Road when he looked down a precipice and saw a de-

composed body. He contacted the Police who responded immediately and found the body in an advanced state of decomposition. Based on the clothing on the body, relatives have confirmed that it is Andrea Bharatt, 23, a clerk who was last attached to the Arima Magistrates’ Court. Bharatt boarded a taxi in Arima on January 29, 2021, and had not been

seen since.

Several units within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS); the Defence Force; hunters and members of the public have been searching for Bharatt for the past seven days. Several persons of interest are in Police custody.

Investigations are continuing. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica: Former Education Minister, University President to stand trial

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hief Parish Court Judge Chester Crooks has ruled that former Senator and Education Minister Ruel Reid; President of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Professor Fritz Pinnock and several others will go to trial for the allegations of fraud brought against them.

Law enforcement agencies in October 2019 arrested and charged Reid, his wife Sharen, daughter Sharelle; Pinnock; and Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence (Jamaica Labour Party, Brown’s Town Division, St Ann) during early-morning raids at their homes in a coordinated strike acting on allegations of financial improprieties in which funds were supposedly siphoned off from the University and the Education Ministry.

he Venezuelan Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago is updating the list of people interested in returning to their country.

Venezuelan officials told Newsday on Wednesday that the country’s authorities are “evaluating the approval of a free repatriation flight, from TT to Venezuela.”

This is part of the “Vuelta a la Patria” (Come Home) plan that the Nicolás Maduro Government put into practice in August. It is an air and land bridge for the voluntary return of all those migrants and their

families who lack the means to return.

The list of possible travellers managed by the Venezuelan Embassy ??at one point last year reached 150, but some have decided to stay in TT and cancel their return trip.

Officials explained that they are waiting the confirmation of the flight by Caracas, so no date has been set.

“The approval of the flight is in process. It would be on a plane from the Conviasa company, which belongs to the Venezuelan State, and not through pri-

vate airlines, so the tickets have no cost,” said the source.

The final passenger list will be decided according to the vulnerability and conditions of each applicant.

The plan is expected to triple the number of flights this year in order to take home more than 300,000 Venezuelans scattered around the world.

Venezuelan Government sources expect the largest numbers to return from Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Panama, and Argentina.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Sandals boosting investment across Caribbean over next 7 years

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Swim-up Rondoval Suites at Sandals South Coast

andals Resorts International (SRI) aims to create more than 5000 additional jobs across the Caribbean over the next five to seven years through a continued multimillion-dollar investment in planned new developments even as the Region continues to grapple with the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The new jobs would increase the resort group’s employee count to 20,000.

The disclosure was made Wednesday by the resort group’s Executive

Chairman Adam Stewart in an interview with veteran Jamaican journalist Cliff Hughes on his mid-morning talk show Cliff Hughes Online, aired on Hughes’ Nationwide Radio.

Stewart gave the update on the luxury-included, all-inclusive resort chain’s plans while answering questions about his elevation to the head of the empire built over the past 50 years by his father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who died on January 4 this year.

“We have the better part of the next five to seven years of development al-

ready planned,” Stewart said, pointing to SRI’s acquisition of the former Jewels hotel in Mammee Bay, St Ann from Playa Group, which was previously run and managed

by SRI as Sandals Dunn’s River; the old Jamaica Jamaica hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann; the former Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort in Curaçao, which has been renamed Sandals Curaçao; and the former Buccament Bay Spa and Resort in St Vincent, which will be rebranded as Beaches St Vincent.

Stewart said his group will double the room count at the former Sandals Dunn’s River to 550. “It will be the most premium hotel in Jamaica,” he said.

He noted that on Wednesday the resort group reopened two of its properties — Sandals Ochi in St Ann, Jamaica, and Sandals Halcyon Beach in St Lucia — that were closed after both countries implemented travel restrictions last year during the height of the pandemic. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Barbados: Governor General, Chief Justice in self-quarantine

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Former Education Minister Ruel Reid (second left) and Caribbean Maritime University President Professor Fritz Pinnock (left) about to enter the Corporate Area Parish Court in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew on October 10, 2019 for a bail hearing

They were subsequently brought before the HalfWay-Tree Criminal Court and charged but subsequently released on bail.

Attorney Hugh Wildman has been lobbying the court to throw out the case against Reid and Pinnock on the basis that his clients were arrested by Officers of the Financial Investigation

Division (FID), which has no jurisdiction so to do as they are purely an investigative body and not empowered to carry out arrests.

Wildmann has maintained that by arresting both applicants, the FID acted outside of its statutory powers and, therefore,, what it did was a “nullity”.

(Jamaica Observer)

overnor General Dame Sandra Mason and Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham are both in self- quarantine after two people associated with their staff were exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley made the announcement in an unexpected appearance via Zoom during Thursday’s COVID-19 management update which was streaming live to the nation.

Mottley said a member of the Governor General’s staff tested positive for the

Governor General Dame Sandra Mason

virus. She and her family are in quarantine pending the results of a second test.

The first was negative.

As a result, everyone was removed from Government House so sanitising could be done.

Meanwhile, Sir Patterson did not require a COVID test, because there was no direct contact. In his case, a close contact of someone who works with him is exhibiting symptoms of the virus.

Mottley again told Barbadians that COVID “ain’t playing” and urged them to take the precautions to fight the virus.

(Nation News)

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rises on OPEC+ output cuts, US inventory draw

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il rose on Thursday on strong US economic data, falling inventories and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries-plus (OPEC+) decision to stick to its output cuts, but a stronger US dollar limited prices.

Brent crude gained 41 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to US$58.87 a barrel, having earlier hit its highest level since February 21 at US$59.04.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled 0.6 per cent higher at US$56.02 a barrel.

“Fresh highs in Brent and gasoline again today keeping this bull market alive with OPEC+ output restraint still supportive item,” said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates. “The oil bull market remains much intact.”

US Labour Department data, which showed a drop in Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits last week, helped boost prices, while investors were also expecting positive data from the Government’s comprehensive monthly employment report due today.

The market was further bolstered by news that Democrats in the U.S. Congress took the first steps toward advancing President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid plan.

But a strong U.S. dollar, which typically moves inversely with oil prices, took some of the steam out of oil’s momentum. The dollar hit a more than two-month high against a basket of other currencies.

On Wednesday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies - known as OPEC+ - extended its oil supply pact at existing levels, suggesting that producers are happy the cuts are draining inventories while uncertainty remains over the outlook for a recovery in demand as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

A document seen by Reuters on Tuesday showed that OPEC expects output cuts to keep the market in deficit throughout 2021, even though the group reduced its demand forecast.

Also on Wednesday, government data showed that U.S. crude oil stockpiles last week unexpectedly fell to 475.7 million barrels, their lowest level since March.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits decreased last week, suggesting that the jobs market was stabilising as authorities start to loosen pandemic-related restrictions on businesses. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

China promotes education drive to make boys more 'manly'

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notice from China's Education Ministry has caused a stir after it suggested young Chinese men had become too "feminine".

The message has been criticised as sexist by many online users – but some say China's male celebrities are partly to blame.

For a while China's Government has signalled concern that the country's most popular male role models are no longer strong, athletic figures like "army heroes". Even President Xi Jinping, a well-known football enthusiast, has long been seeking to cultivate better sports stars.

So last week, the Education Ministry issued a notice with a title that left no doubt about its ultimate goal.

The Proposal to Prevent the Feminisation of Male Adolescents called on schools to fully reform their offerings on physical education and

strengthen their recruitment of teachers.

The text advised recruiting retired athletes and people from sporting backgrounds – and "vigorously developing" particular sports like football with a view to "cultivating students' masculinity".

It is a decisive push in a country where the media does not really allow for anything other than squeaky clean, "socially responsible" stars.

But there were some earlier signs suggesting such a move was coming. Last May, a delegate of China's top advisory body, Si Zefu, said that many of China's young males had become "weak, timid, and self-abasing".

There was a trend among young Chinese males towards "feminisation", he claimed, which "would inevitably endanger the survival and development of the Chinese nation" unless it was "effectively managed".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

COVAX: Canada defends taking vaccines from sharing scheme

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anada has defended its decision to draw on a supply of coronavirus vaccines from a global inoculation-sharing initiative known as COVAX. COVAX pools funds from wealthier countries to help buy vaccines for themselves and low-income nations.

The scheme has announced a plan to deliver more than 330 million vaccine doses in the first half of 2021.

Canada is the only member of the G7 group of rich countries listed as a COVAX beneficiary at this stage.

Other wealthier countries, including New Zealand and Singapore, have requested an early allocation as well.

Most of the first doses available, though, will be delivered to low- and mid-

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced pressure to roll out vaccines faster, after delays

dle-income countries.

Many of those countries haven't even started vaccinations. Meanwhile, Canada has vaccinated 2.29 per cent of its population with one dose, including 48 per cent of health workers, Government data shows.

Aside from COVAX, agreements for 398 million

doses of vaccines have been struck by the Canadian Government – more than enough to cover the country's population of 37 million.

In an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC News, International Development Minister Karina Gould, was asked

why the country decided to access COVAX vaccines now.

"Our top priority is to ensure Canadians have access to vaccines," the Minister said. "COVAX's objective is to provide vaccines for 20 per cent of the populations of all member states, both self-financing and those who will receive donations.

"Canada made the decision, as other countries have, to take on this first allocation, because we recognise how important it is that all Canadians have access to vaccines."

Canada is facing temporary delays for the two vaccines currently authorised in the country. That has put PM Trudeau under pressure to ensure a timely vaccine rollout. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Biden ends US support US Rep Greene disavows for Yemen war QAnon conspiracies, expresses "regret"

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resident Joe Biden on Thursday declared a halt to US support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen, saying that the more than six-year war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, “has to end”.

Biden also named veteran US diplomat Timothy Lenderking as the US special envoy for Yemen in a bid to step up American diplomacy “to end the war in Yemen, a war which has created humanitarian and strategic catastrophe”.

The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, with 80 per cent of its people in need and millions on the verge of a large-scale famine.

“This war has to end,” the Democratic President said during a visit to the US State Department in Washington.

“And to underscore our com-

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mitment, we’re ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales.”

The move is a reversal of a policy of both the Democratic Obama and Republican Trump Administrations. Biden was Vice President in the Obama Administration.

“At the same time,” he said on Thursday, “Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks, UAV (drone) strikes and other threats from Iranian-supplied forces in multiple countries.

We’re going to continue to support and help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity and its people.”

Saudi Arabia welcomed Biden’s remarks, particularly his commitment to the country’s defence and addressing threats against it, according to the country’s State news agency. (Excerpt from Reuters)

m b a t t l e d United States Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, facing a censure vote in the House of Representatives on Thursday, issued her first public apology for offensive social media posts and rejected QAnon conspiracy theories as false.

“In 2018 when I started finding misinformation, lies, things that were not true in these QAnon posts, I stopped believing it,” Greene said in remarks on the House floor in which she acknowledged that “school shootings are real” and “9/11 absolutely happened”.

“I was allowed to believe things that weren’t true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them. And that is absolutely what I regret,” Greene said.

At the same time, Greene struck a combative tone, pushing back against accusations by Democrats and reports in US media out-

lets that she had advocated or “liked” posts suggesting the execution of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic politicians.

The Democraticcontrolled House was prepared to vote on Thursday afternoon to remove Greene from her Education and Budget committee assignments, after Republican leaders refused to do so on Wednesday.

Democrats rejected Greene’s apology as insufficient and said she has continued to espouse false claims and disinformation still circulating on rightwing internet sites.

“She’s now trying to denounce QAnon ,but yet she said recently that they’re ‘patriots’. Never seen anything other than patriotic sentiment coming out of that source. QAnon is a dangerous, sick cult,” Democrat James McGovern said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UN Security Council calls for release of Myanmar's Suu Kyi, Biden tells Generals to go

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he United Nations Security Council called for the release of Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the military and stressed the need to uphold democracy, but stopped short of condemning this week’s coup.

In the United States, the din of voices weighing in to warn the Generals to change course grew, as US President Joe Biden said the military should step down and his security adviser said the

Administration was considering an executive order that could include sanctions.

Myanmar’s long and troubled transition to democracy was derailed on Monday when army commander Min Aung Hlaing took power, saying there were irregularities in a November election that Suu Kyi’s party won in a landslide. The electoral commission had said the vote was fair.

The 15-member UN Security Council said in a

statement agreed by consensus on Thursday that they “stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law”.

Language in the statement was softer than the original draft by Britain and made no mention of a coup - apparently to win support from China and Russia, which have traditionally shielded

Myanmar from significant Council action. China also has large economic interests in Myanmar and ties to the military.

China’s UN mission said Beijing hoped the key messages in the statement “could be heeded by all sides and lead to a positive outcome” in Myanmar.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the Myanmar Government for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

Put your money and possessions in a safe place.

(March 21Handle financial matters reApril 19) sponsibly. Watch your budget. A contract may be challenged due to an unforeseen circumstance.

A discussion or plan TAURUS may not go the way you want, but it will help you (April 20see what you must overMay 20) come. Evaluate your position, and you’ll find an innovative way to reverse a problem you face.

ARIES

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Invest in your ideas and future. A contract will have more to offer than you first thought. Get all your facts straight and make the necessary adjustments; you’ll get what you want.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t worry about what others do; choose the path that resonates with you.

Physical improvements will fetch compliments, and personal growth will lead to enlightenment. Broaden your horizons.

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You’ll get everything under control if you take matters into your own hands.

Don’t let anyone push you in a direction that doesn’t feel right. Use your intelligence and follow your instincts.

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Reach out to friends, relatives and peers. You’ll gain insight into what’s possible.

Be prepared to do the bulk of the work yourself. Find out who you can rely on.

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You’ll face a dilemma that can affect your reputation or relationship with a friend, relative or peer.

Think before you say or do something that will change your life.

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Keep your life simple, run your home efficiently and stay out of trouble.

If you get involved in other people’s business, someone will accuse you of meddling.

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Stand back, keep an open mind and learn by observation. When you’re uncertain, do your own thing and keep your plans to yourself. Selfimprovement and personal growth are favored.

Don’t let anger set in when you should be focusing on reaching your goals. Set your sights on what’s important to you. Refuse to let anyone or anything stand in your way.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

21

BCB to launch $1M Vitality Inc cricket gear project for 8 clubs in Upper Corentyne area

– 8 more youths benefit from Clayton Lambert Gears project

T

he fast-moving development train in Berbice Cricket continues to motor on with the news that eight cricket clubs in the Upper Corentyne area would benefit from cricket gears worth one million dollars.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Simon Naidu on Wednesday last successfully completed discussion with an overseas businessman to host the Vitality Inc and Vitality Accountants and Consultants gears project for teams between No 68 and No 73 Villages on the Corentyne.

Foster, who is spearheading a massive marketing drive to raise funds for the development of the game in the Ancient County, has said he was contacted by a former resident of

the area, who wishes not to have his identity made known and who wanted to assist cricket in the Upper Corentyne sub-association.

After a fruitful discussion, the businessman, owner of the two companies, decided to donate the gears to eight clubs: No 68 Dark End Superstars, No 68 Turn team, No 69 Vikings, No 69 Red Rose, No 72 Cut and Load, No 72 All Stars, No 73 Young Warriors, and No 70 MYO. Each of the eight clubs would receive a gear bag, three pairs of batting pads, three pairs of batting gloves, three helmets, two boxes of cricket balls, three thigh pads, three forearm

Members of the Bush Lot CC pose with their gears and uniforms

guards and two private guards. The gears would be handed over to the clubs during a special ceremony to be organised by the vibrant cricket board during the first week of next month.

The donor would be

specially honoured by the BCB during the ceremony, which would have in attendance executives of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and representatives of the eight clubs.

Foster has hailed the support of overseas-based Berbicians who are all very

supportive of the BCB efforts. Local offices of Vitality Inc and Vitality Accountants and Consultants would be opened next month at the Ramnaresh Sarwan owned Mall located at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Meanwhile, eight young cricketers from the West

Berbice Sub-Association received gears and white cricket uniforms from the BCB under its Clayton Lambert Gears project. The players were drawn from the Bath Cricket Club and the Paradise Cricket Club. Four of them collected a piece of cricket gear while the others received a completed set of uniforms. PRO Simon Naidu stated that the eight players missed the main distribution of the gears on the second of January, but the board was determined to assist them.

He urged the players to take care of the items, and committed the BCB to continue assisting in the future. The PRO disclosed that a total of ninety-two youths benefited from the $1.5M gears projected which was spearheaded by former West Indies opening batsman Clayton Lambert.

Australian Open "will go ahead" – Tiley …as players wait for test results

A

ustralian Open boss Craig Tiley has said he is "absolutely confident" the Grand Slam will start as planned on Monday, despite 160 players waiting for the outcome of coronavirus tests.

A total of 507 people connected to the event were told to isolate by Melbourne health officials on Wednesday after a hotel worker had tested positive. Play at six warm-up events and the Slam draws were postponed on Thursday.

"We fully expect to keep the original schedule after today," said Tiley.

The warm-up events, which are all taking place at Melbourne Park, will resume on Friday.

The women's matches have been reduced to two sets and a first-to-10 match tie-break, although the men's matches will still be played over three sets.

The Australian Open draws have been moved back to Friday at about 03:00 GMT. The disruption came after it was announced on Wednesday that a 26-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19 after working at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where the players affected were staying in a 14-day quarantine.

The security guard tested

Bednarek ban overturned, Arsenal lose Luiz red card appeal

People connected to the Australian Open queued for coronavirus tests at a Melbourne hotel on Thursday

negative after his final shift at the hotel on 29 January, but returned a positive result after he was tested again on 2 February.

The 160 players, plus their support staff and tournament officials, are deemed to be casual contacts by Victorian state health bosses. They will be allowed out of isolation once they return a negative test.

British players Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie are among those who stayed in the hotel, but were able to practise on Thursday after receiving negative tests.

Evans, Britain's leading men's player, was due to play in the Murray River Open on Thursday, and is now set to play twice on Friday.

"The probability is very low that there will be any issues, and we fully expect them all to test negative," said Tiley. "We're absolutely confident the Australian Open will go ahead."

The Grand Slam tournament was pushed back by three weeks to enable players to quarantine on their arrival in Australia.

Australia has imposed some of the world's toughest restrictions over the past year in a bid to suppress coronavirus.

Months of strict border controls - both internationally and domestically - have helped limit COVID-19 cases to less than 29,000 and deaths to less than 1,000.

(BBC Sport)

A

rsenal have lost their appeal to overturn David Luiz’s red card against Wolves, but a ban for Southampton’s Jan Bednarek has been rescinded.

Gunners centre-back Luiz clipped Willian Jose’s heel in the box in a 2-1 defeat at Wolves, while Bednarek was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Martial in Saints’ loss at Manchester United.

An Arsenal statement said the club was “disappointed” with the appeal result.

Defender Bednarek will now be available for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle.

The Gunners were 1-0 ahead when Luiz was judged to have fouled Jose, and because there was no attempt to play the ball, the defender was dismissed and Ruben Neves scored the resulting penalty.

Craig Pawson was the

referee in charge - and following a video assistant referee check the decision remained, although Pawson was not asked to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Luiz, 33, will now miss Arsenal’s Premier League game at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said earlier on Thursday that he was “very hopeful” the decision would be reversed.

“I’m very hopeful. That’s why we put the appeal in. We went through all the images and we think the red card should be overruled. That’s why we appealed,” said Arteta.

“We know the law. For me, it’s more about the decision and what happens in that instance. He was on the side of the player that completely changes the angle, the purpose and the player’s ability to finish the action, but it’s still a similar action. I think

they will look at it.”

Meanwhile, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl felt the decision to overturn Bednarek’s sending off in the 9-0 defeat at Old Trafford was the correct one.

“I knew that Jan was not guilty for having made a foul, because I saw the scene after the game, so it was the only possible decision for me,” said Hasenhuttl.

Mike Dean was the referee for Saints’ defeat at Manchester United, and the club have requested that neither he nor Lee Mason, who was the fourth official, officiate their games in future.

Dean initially only awarded a penalty to Manchester United, but dismissed Bednarek after being instructed to watch replays of the incident on the pitchside monitor by video assistant referee Graham Scott. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

WI vs Bangladesh: 1st Test…

Bangladesh has a day to remember – after century from Miraz, strikes from Rahman

Campbell lbw with the one that went on with the angle.

On the next ball, he Kemar Roach loads almost had Moseley in similar manner, up a delivery but the decision was overturned on review.

Moseley hardly looked comfortable during his brief e h i d y innings, as Rahman kept Hasan Miraz’s peppering his pads. Eventually, maiden Test hundred, he was lbw to the seamer followed by a new-ball when a yorker hit him almost burst from Mustafizur full on the shoe, and this time put the review didn’t help. At that Rahman, Bangladesh in a point, Rahman had figures of dominant position 6-2-8-2.

Brathwaite was firm at the against West Indies in the first other end, and didn’t hesitate to Test in Chattogram.

After being reduced to come down the wicket against 134 for 4 on the opening day, Shakib to hit him over mid-on.

Bangladesh’s lower-middle Even though the Bangladesh order rallied on Thursday to spinners kept the batsmen on post 430 in the first innings. their toes, Brathwaite, donning Rahman then showed the way his sunglasses, ensured West with the ball, as he dismissed Indies didn’t get bogged down, John Campbell and debutant and added 51 in an unbroken wicket stand Shayne Moseley cheaply, to t h i r d w i t h Bonner. leave West Indies 24 for 2.

I n the morning, After that, Kraigg

M

Brathwaite and debutant Nkrumah Bonner began the rebuild, and took the side to 75 for 2 at stumps.

Earlier, Miraz became sixth Bangladesh the batsman to score a hundred from No. 8 or lower. However, it wasn’t a chanceless innings.

He was dropped off Jomel Warrican when on 24, and had another slice of luck at 71, when he skipped down the ground to Rahkeem Cornwall only to get an inside edge, but the ball kept low and sneaked between wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva’s legs.

Then, on 85, Cornwall himself put Miraz down - off Bonner - as he failed to hold on to a low chance at first slip.

For the most part of his innings though, Miraz showed excellent use of the feet against spinners by either going deep in the crease to cut through point, or skipping down the pitch to hit inside out. At the start of the day, Shakib Al Hasan and he added 67 for the seventh wicket, before Shakib fell for 68.

If West Indies had thought they were into the tail, those hopes were soon dashed, as Miraz stitched together 44 with Taijul Islam for the eighth wicket, and a further 57 with Nayeem Hasan for the ninth.

Miraz was on 92 when Hasan fell to Bonner, but Mustafizur Rahman hung around to see him reach the three-figure mark.

In all, Miraz hit 13 fours before being caught at longon off Cornwall at the stroke of tea.

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Campbell had their work cut out even if the pitch had shown few signs of assistance for bowlers. Just like Bangladesh, West Indies started with a four off the first ball of the innings, as Brathwaite flicked Rahman to the square-leg boundary.

The similarities ended there, as Rahman showed exemplary control with the ball, moving it both ways and mixing searing yorkers with an odd bouncer. With just 11 on the board, Rahman trapped

some control on the first day, and he looked set to continue in the same manner today as well. However, he could add only four to his overnight score of 34 before being bowled while trying to cut an arm ball from Warrican, who bowled unchanged throughout the session.

At 248 for 6, it looked like West Indies could bowl Bangladesh out for under 300, but Miraz showed his skill with the bat and kept finding boundaries with ease, while Shakib continued batting calmly at the other end.

Gabriel’s struggles to get his length right also helped the Bangladesh cause. With the new ball just ten overs old at the start of the day, that was an opportunity missed for the visitors.

Warrican created another opportunity when Miraz, attempting a b i g shot, got an inside edge onto his pad and the ball lobbed towards silly mid-off.

And despite taking evasive action initially, Moseley had two chances at it, but failed to hold on.

West Indies finally got the breakthrough when Shakib had a lapse in concentration against Cornwall. After getting beaten on the previous ball, Shakib tried to cut Rahkeem Cornwall the off-spinner finished the innings again. This time, with two scalps though, Cornwall tossed the ball higher and the resulting slice was pouched by Kraigg Brathwaite at point.

At that stage, the match Bangladesh was hanging in the balance, lost Liton Das in but by the end of the day, the third over of Bangladesh were the day. His positive certainly the happier intent had helped side.

Bangladesh wrest back

Brathwaite praises bowlers’ discipline West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has said after the day’s play that there wasn’t much on offer for the bowlers in the surface. He was happy his attack had dried up the runs for Bangladesh, even though wickets weren’t regularly falling.

“We wanted to be a little aggressive this morning.

Obviously, the guys played well, showing a lot of discipline.

There’s not much turn in the pitch,” he said.

“I think once we build dots, it created pressure to get wickets.

LAND FOR SALE We were tight throughout the innings.

We didn’t go over three runs (an over), which was good.

I thought Bangladesh batted well.”

(ESPNC ricinfo) Jomel Warrican took another wicket on Day 2 to end with 4 wickets

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS Shadman Islam lbw b Warrican 59 Tamim Iqbal b Roach 9 Najmul Hossain Shanto run out (Roach/†Da Silva/ Mayers) 25 Mominul Haque (c) c Campbell b Warrican 26 Mushfiqur Rahim c Cornwall b Warrican 38 Shakib Al Hasan c 68 Brathwaite b Cornwall Liton Das † b Warrican 38 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c sub (KAR Hodge) b Cornwall 103 Taijul Islam c †Da Silva b Gabriel 18 Nayeem Hasan b Bonner 24 Mustafizur Rahman not out 3 Extras (b 2, lb 7, nb 5, w 5) 19 TOTAL (150.2 Ov, RR: 2.86, 598 Mts) 430 Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Tamim Iqbal, 4.3 ov), 2-66 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 23.1 ov), 3-119 (Mominul Haque, 50.5 ov), 4-134 (Shadman Islam, 56.2 ov), 5-193 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 74.2 ov), 6-248 (Liton Das, 92.2 ov), 7-315 (Shakib Al Hasan, 113.5 ov), 8-359 (Taijul Islam, 133.2 ov), 9-416 (Nayeem Hasan, 145.6 ov), 10-430 (Mehidy

CLASSIFIED ADS

Hasan Miraz, 150.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kemar Roach 20-5-60-1 Shannon Gabriel 26-4-69-1 Rahkeem Cornwall 42.2-5-114-2 Kyle Mayers 7-2-16-0 Jomel Warrican 48-8-133-4 Kraigg Brathwaite 4-0-13-0 Nkrumah Bonner 3-0-16-1 WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) not out 49 John Campbell lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 3 Shayne Moseley lbw b Mustafizur Rahman 2 Nkrumah Bonner not out 17 4 Extras (lb 1, nb 3) TOTAL (29 Ov, RR: 2.58) 75/2 Yet to bat: Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva †, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Jomel Warrican, Kyle Mayers Fall of wickets: 1-11 (John Campbell, 4.4 ov), 2-24 (Shayne Moseley, 10.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mustafizur Rahman 8-2-18-2 Shakib Al Hasan 6-1-16-0 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 7-2-24-0 Taijul Islam 5-2-9-0 Nayeem Hasan 3-0-7-0

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(Ext 55)

NOW!

E

clipsing one of Michael Jordan’s records on Wednesday was “a remarkable achievement” for Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

Beal scored over 25 points for the 17th straight game to start the season, beating Jordan’s mark of 16 from the 1988-89 campaign as the longest such streak since the NBA-ABA merger.

In his latest prolific performance, Beal poured in 32 points as the Wizards overcame the Miami Heat 103-100, despite Russell Westbrook being rested on the second half of a back-toback.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s a remarkable achievement,” said Beal after Washington improved to 5-13 on the season. “It’s not something you always shoot for, but it’s amazing just to hear all the stats that we come up with in our game.

“To pass him is always a

great feeling, it’s something you always put in your accolades; but, at the same time, it felt even better getting it in a win. It was a milestone in a lot of fashions tonight, and so I was happy we got the dub overall.

But to pass Michael means a lot.”

The all-time record is held by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored at least 25 points in all 80 games of the 196162 regular season.

Asked if he felt emulating that was

achievable, Beal responded: “Well, if one man did it, it’s definitely possible. I’m not worried about it.”

While Wizards coach Scott Brooks has been amazed by Beal’s highscoring start to the campaign, he was keen to emphasise the other areas of the guard’s game that he admires.

“When I think of Brad, two things come to mind:

winner and toughness.

A lot of times, just because a guy has a high scoring average, they don’t want to say that he’s an all-round player, that he’s tough; but he’s a

winning basketball player, and we’re not winning enough right now,” said Brooks.

“He’s tough. He was fighting for every minute tonight. The key to the game was the start of that fourth quarter we took Brad out, it was a tough decision. We gave him a chance to get his legs and get some rest.”

He added: “What he’s doing offensively, you don’t see it often.

James Harden had it in the last few years, but what Brad’s doing, he’s doing it without the ball in his hands throughout the game.

“He scores in so many different ways. The thing he doesn’t do is he doesn’t post up, but I think he’s gonna be eventually able to post up.

He does have a good post-up game that we can maybe get going, that’s why it’s hard to guard him.” (Sportsmax)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Holder and Pollard's presence vital for Hetmyer 'the leader'

Test skipper Jason Holder and young Hetmyer

Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetmyer

By Brandon Corlette

H

aving being tipped by many to be the next West Indies captain, former West Indies WorldCup winning captain and current Guyana Jaguars vice-captain Shimron Hetmyer has said the presence of his West Indies Test captain Jason Holder and One-Day International captain Kieron Pollard have helped him over the years, and that will certainly nurture his leadership qualities in the upcoming Super50 tournament.

Since wearing the captain's armband in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2016, Hetmyer's appointment as Leon Johnson's deputy for the Guyana Jaguars team is his first appointment to the leadership capacity in senior Regional cricket. He noted that this is

something he would have to get used to.

"I will have to get used to it, but I have been taking in. Being around Jason and Pollard for a while, learning some new things always helps; so, I will just try to help the guys as much as I can," Hetmyer said in Thursday's virtual Super50 media briefing.

With Guyana Jaguars searching for that Regional Super50 title, Hetmyer said there is no added pressure for him to perform, but he views this Super50 as a challenge he is willing to confront.

"I haven’t been playing any cricket from since in New Zealand, since I got hit; so, it's more of a challenge. I have been doing some fitness work, but I haven't had time to hit enough balls due to the weather in Guyana. But I am re-

ally looking forward to being around the guys and playing competitive cricket again," he said.

With a host of big names set to play the Regional Super50, which bowls off on February 8 in Antigua, Hetmyer has said he is looking forward to competing with his fellow West Indian team mates.

"It's more of us going out there and enjoying ourselves and see who wins the bragging rights," Hetmyer has said.

This will be Hetmyer’s first List A match for the Jaguars since the Super50 tournament back in February 2018. He had an opportunity to bat in seven innings, and he scored 284 runs at an average of 47.33, and had a best of 103.

Guyana Jaguars will play their

first match against Barbados Pride on February 8 from 13:30h. On Wednesday last, Jaguars ended their two-day isolation, and now have the luxury of being able to engage in small group sessions.

The team is expected to begin outdoor sessions today, Friday February 5.

Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kemol Savory, Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson (captain), Shimron Hetmyer (vice-captain), Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach. Esaun Crandon is the head coach, Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the Manager/Assistant Coach, and Ernesto Campo Gonzalez is the physiotherapist.

England batsman Tom Banton 1st developmental meet placed on indefinite hold convinced Pooran is best six-hitter Track and Field restart…

T

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will see a disruption to their calendar of activities for 2021, as their first developmental meet of the year has been postponed until further notice.

Scheduled for this weekend, February 6 and 7, at the Leonora Track and Field facility, West Coast Demerara (WCD), the meet has not received the go-ahead from the National COVID-19 Task Force, and will have to be postponed.

AAG President Aubrey Hutson has said he has not received word from the Task Force as at Thursday.

“We didn’t get any response from the Task Force, so the meet is off,” a disappointed Hutson confirmed on Thursday afternoon. “I do not have a confirmation letter as yet.”

The decision to call off this weekend’s meet, al-

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

though profoundly disappointing, was made in the interest of protecting the athletes’ health and safety, and was influenced by the need to abide by the country’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Hutson has explained that it would be impossible for the AAG to organise a meet at the 9th hour.

“After today, I cannot go ahead (with holding the meet). To plan for these evets, it takes more than one day or two days, but

they did not say yes or no,” he divulged to this publication.

Probed on whether the AAG would push for the meet to be hosted over the following weekend, Huston commented that he is unsure at the moment.

The AAG had 3 developmental meets planned to be staged on the weekends of 6th & 7th Feb, 21st & 22nd Feb, and 27th & 28th Feb. Thereafter, the National Senior Championships would be held on April 17 & 18, and the South American Senior Championships from May 14 to 16. Owing to this delay, it is likely that the calendar would have to be restructured to facilitate enough meets to get Guyanese athletes ready for international meets such as the National Juniors in Nairobi, Kenya and the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

(Jemima Holmes)

E

ngland batsman Tom Banton believes rising West Indies star Nicholas P o o r a n could be the best six-hitter in the game at the moment.

The 25-year-old Pooran has seen his stock rise after a big-hitting display in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, a trend that he continued in the Abu Dhabi T10 league.

In a league with the likes of his West Indian compatriot Chris Gayle and Chris Lynn, Pooran leads the way with 33 sixes and 21 fours in 9 matches. In fact, Nicholas Pooran has scored more runs from fours and sixes than Gayle. Pooran’s 89 off 24 balls for Northern Warriors against Bangla Tigers last month included 84 runs from boundaries, while Gayle

chalked up 78 in his savage 84 off just 22 balls on Wednesday.

"He's (at a) different level, that guy,"

Banton said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

"Anyone that bowls to him he'll get hold of. I reckon he's the best in the world at the minute at [hitting sixes],” he added.

"We're actually playing them in a few days' time, so I'm going to try and talk to him and actually see what he does. He probably doesn't do anything different to anyone else, he's just a lot better than everyone else."

Pooran’s Northern Warriors are currently second in the Super League standings, but are at the top of group A.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

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

Page 23

Track and Field restart…

WI vs Bangladesh: 1st Test…

Pg 22

Bangladesh has a 1st developmental day to remember meet placed on indefinite hold – after century from Miraz, strikes from Rahman

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