Guyana Times - Friday, October 23, 2020

Minimal to no risk of oil spill from sinking tanker P15 off Venezuelan Coast – CDC Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4447

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

Parties can request elections documents during petition hearing – acting CJ guyanatimesgy.com

...flags issues in APNU/AFC petitions ...APNU/AFC will be required to produce SoPs upon request See story on page 3

PPP/C challenges validity of APNU/AFC's election petitions See story on page 7

– coalition says complied with all legal requirements

Removing Success Guyana’s economy squatters is for in better greater good of shape than other entire country countries’ on – Nandlall planet – economist Amid COVID-19 pandemic

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P17 Brothers allegedly doused with hot oil in Berbice

P15 27 new COVID-19 cases recorded GWI owes $7B for electricity supplied P11 ...debt creates uncertainty for GPL – PUC

Anna Catherina business P10 broken into, robbed Berbice teen disappears while mother P2 sleeps

See story on page 9

See story on page 11

Minimum wage increase for Private Sector employees being discussed – Labour Minister Page 17

East Ruimveldt youth stabbed P16 to death

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice teen disappears while mother sleeps

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16-year-old girl of Number 19 Village, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) disappeared from her home while her mother was asleep on Monday last.

The teen, Kamani Mahadeo of Lot 12 Number 19 Village, was last seen by her mother, Samantha Bacchus on the day in question about 05:00h.

The mother went back to bed, but when she woke up again , the teen was nowhere to be found.

“She didn’t say she was going anywhere, we both does sleep in the same room, and when I get up about 9 o’clock, I didn’t see her in the house. I don’t know when she came out the house, because I didn’t even hear the door open…,” Bacchus stated.

According to Bacchus, the last time she saw her daughter, she was clad in a green top and grey pants.

She said she was unaware what may have led to her daughter’s disappearance, since everything seemed fine the last time she saw her.

Missing teen: Kamani Mahadeo

Bacchus said what was more worrying was that her daughter left without her personal belongings.

“She didn’t take no money, no jewellery, nothing,” the mother explained.

Bacchus is calling on her daughter to return home.

The family is offering a monetary reward for any information about Mahadeo’s whereabouts.

Anyone with information can contact the family on 610-6138 or the nearest Police Station.

Police refute claims of injuring man in accident

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has refuted reports by a section of the media that suggested that the three officers who were caught on camera allegedly trying to abandon a pedal cyclist after an accident were under close arrest.

GPF Public Relations Officer Royston AndriesJunor said that the Force was aware of the accident and had revisited the scene where the accident occurred, but now one was willing to cooperate with the Police in their probe.

He noted that when investigators returned to the scene, they were unable to locate the man that was involved in the accident.

Junor added that none of the officers “have been placed on close arrest”.

Guyana Times understands that the ranks told investigators that at the time of the accident they were in a Police mobile patrol driving along a street in the area, when the pedal cyclist rode into their path.

The cops claimed that they exited the vehicle and found the man sitting on the road with his bicycle lying next to him.

However, a video that was circulated on social media did not show how the accident happened, but per-

GPF Public Relations Officer Royston Andries-Junor

sons were alleging that the officers struck down the cyclist and attempted to drive away.

The ranks, however, told their superiors that they had asked the pedal cyclist if he wanted to go to the hospital for treatment, but he refused. Nevertheless, in the video the person behind the camera was insisting that the ranks take the injured man to the hospital, but the ranks verbally abused the observer.

Nevertheless, the pedal cyclist reportedly told the ranks that he did not want to be taken to the hospital, since he did not receive any serious injuries. An investigation into the matter is underway.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 23 – 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, October 24 – 12:00h-13:30h.

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Parties can request election documents during petition hearing – acting CJ ...flags issues in APNU/AFC petitions ...APNU/AFC will be required to produce SoPs upon request

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t the virtual case management conference of the APNU/AFC’s election petitions on Thursday, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George indicated that parties are allowed to make applications for electoral documents to be produced during the hearing.

Justice George pointed out that Section 19 of Chapter 1:04 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act provides for the documents and papers to be inspected or produced upon an order of court for the purpose of an election petition.

“The provisions say that a Party would have to apply with supporting evidence to satisfy the court if such inspection or production is required for the purposes of the election petition… I do not consider that another party can object to an application for the production of election documents or papers, or to inspect election documents and papers,” the Chief Justice stated.

However, she noted that her preliminary view is subjected to be contested by the parties named in the case.

This would mean that the APNU/AFC can be mandated to finally reveal its Statements of Poll (SoPs) from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections – which it has been hiding from the public despite claiming victory based on those very electoral documents.

The SoPs contain the votes tabulated at each of the 2339 polling stations at the close of polls; and, when tabulated, would indicate the winner.

However, a National Recount exercise conducted revealed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in fact won the elections by securing 233,336 votes, which is some 15,416 more than the 217,920 votes obtained by the then caretaker APNU/AFC. But the Coalition is now challenging the processes, that is, Recount Order 60 of 2020 that was used to conduct the recount and its outcome, among other things, in the first petition that was filed on August 31, 2020 in the names of Heston Bostwick and Claudette Thorne, both private citizens.

The APNU/AFC filed the second petition on September 17, 2020 in the names of Monica Thomas and Bernnan Joette Natasha Nurse. This petition is claiming that the March 2 elections were unlawfully conducted, citing various allegations of irregularities and improprieties.

Nevertheless, during Thursday’s case management hearing, Chief Justice George raised several issues pertaining to the coalition’s election petitions.

Justice George pointed out that both petitions are seeking, among other things, for the APNU/AFC’s Presidential Candidate David Granger to be declared winner of the March 2 polls.

But according to the Chief Justice, Granger’s interest as the second named respondent, representing the APNU/AFC, conflicts with the petitions under the Validity of Elections Act. She cited Section 4 (2) of Chapter 1:04, which states that the respondent in an election

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde

petition would be a person representing a List of Candidates, whose interest conflicts with the petition.

As such, Justice George asked “…whether the second respondent (Granger) has an interest that conflicts with the petition?”

She also referred to Section 27 (2) of the Act, which states that a respondent who has given notice of intention not to oppose the petition shall not be allowed to appear to act as a party against the petition in any proceedings thereon.

“I want to put respondents on notice that Section 27 (2) is a very important provision; so that if one is not opposing the petition, one has to so indicate to the court, and one would not be allowed to be a party. One would recognise that this is going to be – at least in relation to [the second petition] – a full blown trial with witnesses… So if it is that a party does not have an interest that is in conflict with the petition, then one would expect that that particular respondent would not call witnesses,” the Chief Justice asserted.

The other preliminary issue raised by the Chief Justice during Thursday’s case management conference is that of “late service” in the case of the second petition filed. She noted that it appears that service of the petition on Granger – the

second named respondent – has been “out of time”.

Justice George further explained that according to the rules, the petition must be served within five days of filing on the respondents. But she outlined that the court’s records show that the petition was filed on September 15, 2020 and it was served until September 25.

She further noted that having considered Section 8 and Rule 9 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules, this “would appear to be outside the time for the service of the petition.

Attorney Mayo Roberston

“According to my records, the last date of service would be September 22, given the intervening weekend.”

To this end, the Chief Justice set out timelines for the parties involved, including Attorney General Anil Nandlall who asked to present his input on the issues raised, to file relevant submissions and affidavits in answer. These are to be done

by November 24, after which the court will hear arguments on the issues raised at a hearing fixed for November 30 and December 1.

Justice George went on to inform the parties that following the hearing and determination of these preliminary issues along with those raised by

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

the fourth-named respondent – PPP/C, the court will then proceed with the two substantive election petitions, which she said are likely to be heard together, since they are seeking the same end result.

However, the lawyers representing the petitioners are pushing for the matters to be deal with separately.

Attorney Mayo Robertson, who is one of the lawyers on the legal team representing the second set of petitioners, contended that petitions are “sufficient different”, hence the court should consider hearing them separately.

“There is a very slight overlap in the issues raised in the two petitions, but for the most part, Petition 99 goes into substantial detail, would require a substantial amount of evidence, and the court may find it more convenient to detail with that separately from Petition 88,” Robertson asserted.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who is part of the legal team for the firstnamed petitioners, requested that the court not take a decision at this stage of the proceedings.

Forde posited that the first petition, which is a matter of legality, “could be heard and determined separately and independently from all the evidential issues which are required for the second petition. So I just ask Your Honour to not come to a settled position as yet.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

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

Zero tolerance for substandard work

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ith Guyana now on the verge of major development deriving from our oil wealth and massive infrastructural plans, it was welcoming news when Public Works Minister Juan Edghill made it pellucid to contactors that there will be zero tolerance for substandard work.

Over the years, there has been much disappointment with the unbelievable quality of work that is being carried out by some contractors engaged in public infrastructure projects.

Most of these projects cost the treasury millions of dollars, and, all around the country, one can point to numerous examples of substandard work for which contractors were paid huge sums.

Therefore, it was welcoming that the Public Works Minister is publicly warning contractors that they would not benefit from a second contract under the Government if their works are found to be substandard.

In many cases of substandard public infrastructure works, very little action is taken against these errant contractors for not meeting their contractual obligations, resulting in them walking scot free. In fact, some persons would even be shocked to learn that these same persons who have done poor work or left work incomplete were awarded additional contracts.

As this publication had said in a previous editorial, year after year, in his report, the Auditor General would highlight a number of examples of substandard or incomplete work in construction projects across the country - whether they be schools, hospitals, roads, bridges etc.

The AG has previously pointed to some instances wherein projects were incomplete or left abandoned, even though contractors were already paid huge sums to do a proper job.

Many have asked what actions are being taken against these contractors to recoup these sums of money, or what sort of systems have been put in place to ensure these contracting firms are debarred from bidding for future projects. At several previous sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and regional officials, it was pointed out that, in the past, sums of money were overpaid to contractors in mobilisation fees – which is a fraction of the contractual cost that is paid to the contractor to get his/her equipment to the site where the project is to be implemented. In some cases, sums of money over the standard or required amount are paid to the contractor, and the works are still not completed.

This certainly is unacceptable. And while tax payers have used different forums to complain previously, the relevant agencies have a duty to ensure that public money is well spent and accounted for.

It is clear that, in the past, there were poor monitoring and reporting mechanisms in place to ensure contracting firms carry out works as per contractual agreement. Also, previously, there seemed to be no strict policy to penalise and/or debar contractors for failing to meet their contractual obligations.

After much public criticism, the then Public Infrastructure Ministry had said it is in the process of establishing a database which would keep a track record of the number of projects awarded to local contractors, and their performance with respect to each. It would also be helpful if procuring entities keep a proper record of the performance of companies in regard to projects awarded. This could be used as an effective measure to better inform the process for selecting competent contractors to handle Government projects.

With the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in place, one had hoped that the relevant mechanisms would have been put in place with the aim of ensuring these lapses are corrected. The PPC would need to re-examine and implement effective measures for blacklisting, so that contractors who are consistently delinquent could face the requisite level of debarment. That said, citizens also have a role to play in ensuring that they get value for money. They should also be encouraged to provide the relevant feedback to the respective authorities in relation to how certain projects are progressing in their communities.

This publication supports Minister Edghill’s decision that a contractor found to have a record of producing poor and incomplete work would not be awarded additional contracts.

The Colorado River has carved the biggest canyon in the world. It provides numerous hiking, climbing and camping opportunities.

Some places, like Havasu Falls and pools, provide a refreshing swim

Guyana is under the test of time and the patience of tolerance

Dear Editor, Guyana’s nightmare continues, with criminal characters and elements pervading their professions in a most diabolical manner, unravelling the fragile protection that is offered in today’s society. Daily, the horrendous and villainous events occur, as if lawlessness is a way of life that is accepted, and rules and regulations can be circumvented at the whims and fancies of robbers, thieves, pick-pockets, choke-and-rob bandits, burglars, and just about anyone young, middle age or old - who chooses to adopt this method of making a living.

Not to get into the economic, political, sociological or any other problematic reason for this mishap, the blame game certainly does not help. The bottom line remains that there are those who are determined not to work the honest way for a living, but choose the dishonest way to earn an income. This cannot be condoned, encouraged, accepted, overlooked, ignored, permitted, or allowed to continue; and this cannot be an answer to provide for survival.

Whether it is sanctioned, organised or orchestrated by a figurehead; whether it’s in collusion or co-operation with some authority; whether there are gangsters or individuals involved, this sad state of affairs must come to a complete end in order for Guyanese to live peacefully.

There is great uncertainty regarding whether or not law enforcement is being exercised at its maximum in order

to address this disastrous situation. What is certain is that this dangerous operation continues to damage the morale of the Police and the Minister of Home Affairs.

Is there some underground force administering this habit of the transgressors to be in control of circumstances, and maintaining the upper hand?

Are there variable inadequacies in terms of providing protection to the Guyanese public throughout Guyana? Are the Police unable to cope with the prevailing factors?

Are the Police surveilling sensitive areas? How involved is the neighbourhood watch in the communities? Isn’t there a need for more Police patrols?

Guyana is not at war, and the availability of manpower from the Guyana Defence Force should be explored. There is need for a conversation about soldiers taking part in assisting to keep law and order.

There frequent presence at different hours in different places may prove to be a deterrent to this malfeasance. Perhaps the Police are at their wits’ end and are doing their level “best” to grapple with the ongoing.

But there are many angry and tense questions to be asked, as the entire Guyana remains hurt and disturbed by these awful happenings. The sufferings and losses are tremendous, and people are genuinely scared. A degree of fear has seized the public, and this is conveniently accepted in some quarters.

Is this a designed result from a reprehensible entity?

A look at some of the recent incidents that occurred reveals things that are deplorable and frightening: two men last Wednesday invaded the premises of a resident of the ECD and escaped with a generator. On Wednesday, a man was caught red-handed in the act of burglarising a house at Bushy Park, EBE. Again, on Wednesday, two men robbed a security guard of his valuables at Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant.

On Wednesday, there was an incident of break-and-entry at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD in which a man suffered tremendous losses. A shop at Anna Catherina, WCD was burglarised on Wednesday; and a woman lost some $600,000 in stock, again, on Wednesday. Two bandits robbed a teenager of her purse at Sussex Street, Charlestown last Tuesday. There was a daring robbery by four men on an East Canje, Berbice family, who lost a considerable sum in cash and jewellery; and a pensioner was beaten and robbed by two men last Saturday at Plantain Walk, WBD. Indeed, all these incidents tell a tale of horror, and have a damaging effect on the Guyanese society. Do you reconcile this behaviour with the repercussions of COVID-19 and/or the failure of the past Government to resolve the unemployment and crime problem? This new Government inherited this sick disease, and needs to implement a rigid strategy quickly in order to curb this situation. Otherwise, it will become a greater tragedy.

To crown the eventualities is the incident that occurred at the residence of the Chief Justice, which is an unimaginable reality. This latest calamity is catastrophic and devastating. One newspaper claims it was a four-man attack, and others claim it was a one-man attack. Regardless of which, it was criminal in nature, and the ultimate intent is unknown. There are many speculations surrounding this issue, which occurred at a most sensitive time; and two and two does not add up to four in this case.

It seems as if there are more than meet the eye, and the ears are vibrating with other ringing tones. There is classic political waxing, and the freedom of expression is curried with mischief and mayhem. Opinions are flying left, right and centre, and the creative force of unpleasant vicissitude is certainly at work overnight.

How this game will play out will run into overtime, and the umpires will be hard press to comply with the rules to make a conclusive decision.

Is this the artistry of another Shakespearean drama, and will the work of its writer again unfold in later scenes? Guyana is certainly an unwelcome audience, and will refute and refuse any such material! But Guyana continues to march onwards, with democracy being undermined under the test of time and the patience of tolerance.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Tactics of intimidation and fear will not work

Dear Editor, I say this with the strongest conviction possible: Guyana and Guyanese will not; I repeat: will not, be intimidated by fear or violence of any sort. And I would further add that this country will move forward peacefully, progressively, and in accordance

with law and order.

In light of the foregoing, I shall endeavour to discuss the latest in an ongoing saga in a hapless society called Guyana. The question is: Why would a gunman go to the residence of the Chief Justice; or, for that matter, confront anyone with a gun - toy or oth-

erwise? Is this a joke? Or, is this the Guyanese version of Halloween?

You might very well say it is not, because Guyana does not celebrate Halloween. So, what is it? My dear readers, this is a clear, calculated move to drive fear in society; but I daresay it will not work.

It is strangely coincidental that all of these things are taking place at a time when certain major matters are taking place in Guyana. I am talking about the election petitions filed by the Opposition coming up for hearing before the very same Chief Justice.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

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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

Unforgettable IPL season so far Dear Editor, I have followed the IPL like no other set of 20/20 matches. This year’s 13th edition of the Indian 20 overs’ professional cricket league has been the most exciting one I have followed. It has been an unforgettable experience, cricket at its best, the like of which I have not seen since the days of Kanhai, Kalicharran, Lloyd, Sobers, Richards and others.

This year has produced some of the best performances I have ever watched in person or live on TV. Performances are extraordinary, spectacular, amazing, sensational and exhilarating. Guyanese are expressing opinions about these matches in New York and on social media, describing some matches and last Sunday’s match as the best they have ever seen. Those matches are unforgettable, some say.

For me, this is the best IPL season so far; and I have followed all the seasons, even attending a few games in person. (I did attend a few games in India in previous editions

of IPL, and they were a great experience: worth attending, quality games, and visiting India is highly recommended).

In IPL 2020, there were fielding heroics (reminiscent of Jonty Rhodes’s leaps and dives two decades ago); unbelievable catching; brilliant batting, even from the aging Chris Gayle; terrific bowling, including from West Indians like Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine (now suspended); superb wicket keeping, even from the old man MS Dhoni. A few matches were super-thrilling and nail-biting. There were cliffhanger matches that went down to the last ball or last over.

One could not ask for better quality cricket, and that is why the IPL is so special.

It is the most watched and most advertised of all 20/20 professional leagues around the globe. It is also the most lucrative, and has the most highly paid players, with some earning as much as US$1.5M a season.

This year’s games are played in the United Arab

Emirates (UAE) because the Indian Government has not given permission in light of the challenges posed by COVID. A few of the IPL matches were also played in UAE last year because of India’s mammoth elections, when security would have been too taxing.

This year’s IPL is played in a bubble (no audience or players interacting with the public) just like the CPL 2020 and the WI tour of England in the summer gone.

The UAE is comprised of seven ‘semi-independent’ states: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, and Umm al Quwain. The matches are played in the first three, which have huge multi-purpose stadiums that host cricket matches for the millions of guest workers from South Asia. They are beautiful places to visit. They comprise a memorable experience and worthy trip, one which I made over a decade ago. One flies into Dubai or Abu Dhabi and take a bus or taxi for a short distance to visit the oth-

ers. They are good test cases for economists and policymakers to study development of developing economies and how to avoid the Dutch disease.

The most exciting matches of this season were played last Sunday (but many other matches were also very entertaining), when both games were tied and had to be resolved with super overs, a rarity in cricket. One over is bowled when a game is tied and the team that scores the more runs in that over wins.

Only two wickets can fall in that over, or else the innings is over; and that did happen in an earlier match. There were a couple of super overs early in the season.

One match last Sunday had two super overs because the first super over was also tied, necessitating another one. It was somewhat reminiscent of the 50 overs World Cup in London in 2019, when the final was tied and had to be resolved by a super over that was also tied, with England declared winner because they scored more boundaries than

New Zealand in their innings.

That World Cup final and the double super over match, or both matches of last Sunday, were the greatest matches I ever saw, and perhaps the world has ever seen. They were incredible performances. The performance of all the teams was great, and they all deserved to win. Any team could have won the matches.

The first match (early in the day) in UAE was between Kolkota and Hyderabad, and it ended in a tie. Kolkota won the super over. The other (late evening match) was more captivating, because it required two super overs to get a winner between Punjab and Mumbai. It was nail biting. All eyes were on TV; activities came to a stop till the last ball. Punjab won.

West Indian players were in the thick of the competition so far in UAE, including in the batting and bowling as well as in the drama on Sunday.

Trinidadian Nicholas Pooran, on the final delivery of the super over, with his brilliant throw caused a run out and a tied match. Pooran

also cracked a six in the regular match, which led to a tie. Chris Gayle, in the same team (Punjab) as Pooran, in the double super over, also cracked a towering six that paved the way for victory in the super super over. Pooran is among the players in line for “player of series” award for his hard hitting, but his involvement in the competition would be cut short, as he is on the team to leave for New Zealand later this month. He toured NZ the last time WI were there, before breaking bones in his leg in an accident in Trinidad. He has been an exciting player this year in England, Trinidad, and now UAE; and the IPL has helped him, Hetmyer, as well as several other international players to hone their skills and talent.

Fans look forward for the rest of the IPL season. If the standard in past games is anything to go by, the remaining twenty games promise to be very exciting.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Vihara responds to concerns about industrial hemp cultivation Dear Editor, I refer to the article on industrial hemp written by Dr Tara Singh, dated October 21, 2020 and published in your newspaper. The following is a response to the concerns raised about the impact of industrial hemp on food security and management concerns.

Industrial hemp “will not compete” with Guyana’s National Food Security agenda; industrial hemp would be a highly controlled and regulated crop. It is not an opensource crop like tomato, corn, rice, soyabeans, which easily facilitate a farmer randomly accessing seed and planting.

In this regard, there will not be a “rush” of farmers abandoning their yearly normal cropping to “indiscriminately” plant hemp.

Industrial hemp requires careful business planning and cultivation execution, along with most important markets’ tie-ups. To appease the “hemp financial investor,” this high-value crop will be carefully managed, with careful

sourcing of specific seed varieties to meet Guyana’s tropical climatic and soil conditions. The “third party” financial investors/stakeholders would secure their investment on these carefully planned grounds to secure their returns on investment.

There will be no arbitrary cultivation, as people may seem to think.

To ensure this crop benefits the nation’s farmers, the Vihara Foundation and its consultants would work with Government Ministries to ensure the proper controls and farmers’ engagement/ scheduling are in place. There are various business development formulas that Government could encourage, and the Vihara Foundation suggests the best sustainable one to support all farmers is hemp farmers’ cooperatives.

Investment models that are adaptable by Government policies are: (I) Most advisable – Farmers’ cooperative model. This will collectively allow small and medium-sized ex-

Tactics of intimidation...

These occurrences would lead anyone - even if that person has half a brain - to believe that there is a political motive behind this. Things do not just happen in a vacuum.

What I am saying is that this visit by a man with a toy gun to the Chief Justice’s residence is a political vendetta to intimidate, and how much headway that had achieved is left to be seen. However, I am sending a warning to the political operatives on the Guyanese landscape to be very careful of their actions, because these goings-on are before an international community that would not exact any scruples should any injury or harm come to any member of the Judiciary. Further, the international community will

FROM PAGE 4

not, in any way, shape or form, countenance instability in our country.

Be it known that strict attention, both at home and abroad, is being paid to the political developments here in Guyana. There will be serious consequences for those who do not want to abide by the law.

In other words, those who would want to have Guyana slide into lawlessness and mayhem, where scenarios of violence and the rule-by-fear exist. That is not going to happen! So, my advice is that we stay calm and allow the law to take its course. Guyana is still a country where the law rules supreme. I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

isting farmers to merge their resources and assets to collectively achieve hemp private sector enterprise development. This business model is not only dependent on land and assets, but would incorporate skills and labour, and include no land-owning stakeholders. (ii) Advisable – Government-owned enterprise investment, like GuySuCo, by which Government owns and controls the hemp cultivation investments and lands, and passing down the social benefits to workers (e.g., jobs). (iii) Advisable - Government may also sub-lease unused sugar and other lands to private hemp growers under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. (iv) Least Advisable – Monopoly Corporate Control: by which Government permits and allows large corporations with deep investment pockets to own and control the hemp industry.

BUSINESS CAUTION: Industrial hemp cropping must be carefully scheduled to meet market outlets (domestic

and international) and downstream manufacturing schedules. Hemp financial investors are overly cautious not to finance hemp cultivation that has “no precision market outlet.” Production must be 100 percent marketable; either directly, as in the case of raw fibres for textiles (China being the biggest market) with by-products having market absorption, such as feedstock for downstream industries such as hempcrete building materials, paper, cardboard, composites, etc. Without careful planning, harvest may end up being backlogged into warehouses (without market outlets), creating an investment loss.

Ideally, industrial hemp will be incrementally scheduled (zoned and sized) and permitted (by Government), and scaled up to complement market outlets and manufacturing. To do otherwise is impractical, and will not be encouraged. Local seed production investments will be foremost. Industrial hemp must be zoned and highly regulated to manage

Government’s legal compliance, with heavy penalties and potential prosecution for wilful violation (since it has very close resemblance to the marijuana crop). Modern technologies would be specified to deal with managing these issues and helping Government meet compliance.

Industrial hemp is a high carbon sink (meaning, the plant sucks four times the amount of carbon dioxide that a normal plant sucks from the atmosphere, and buries it in the soil). With this natural trait/benefit, industrial hemp replenishes soil fertility naturally. Further, when rotated with sugar cane, it can increase sugar yields by 30 percent (based on existing trials).

Industrial hemp will in fact augment Guyana’s national food security, as it is a nutritious source of rich human and animal food. The aim in cultivating industrial hemp is to augment existing food security planning with right Government policy and controls. The industrial hemp proposal also is not an isolated cropping idea, as it is meant to be integrated with Guyana’s national food security master planning. We are happy to provide further clarification if requested.

Sincerely, Dennis Ramdahin, MSc President/CEO & Founder, Vihara Foundation

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

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umbers behave in specific ways. Each kind of number behaviour is called a property.

The Commutative Property of Addition: Addends may be added in any order without changing the sum. An addend is any number in an addition problem. It does not matter the order in which you add those numbers. The sum will always be the same.

The Commutative Property of Multiplication: Numbers may be multiplied in any order without changing the product.

The Associative Property of Addition: Addends may be grouped in any order without changing the sum.

The Associative Property of Multiplication: Numbers may be grouped in any order without changing the product.

Example:

Find the answers to the following problems and tell which property they represent.

28 + 42 + 11 = ?

11 + 28 + 42 = ?

(Answers are 81 and 81, examples of the commutative property)

26 x 3 x 4 = ?

4 x 26 x 3 = ?

(Answers are 312 and 312, examples of the commutative property) (12 + 18) + 9 = ?

12 + (18 + 9) = ?

(Answers are 39 and 39, examples of the associative property) (4 x 5) x 7 = ?

4 x (5 x 7) = ?

(Answers are 140 and 140, examples of the associative property)

1) 33

Y

2)5186

ou can start thinking about how important inventions are to daily life by creating an Invention ABC book.

Materials

Paper Crayons, markers or other art materials Books about inventions

9 3) 481 25

Procedure

FOR CHILDREN Exercises: Identify the property 1) 2 x 3 x 1 = 1 x 3 x 2 2) 2 + 10 + 23 = 23 + 10 + 2 3) 2 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 2 + (5 + 5) + 4 4) 3 x 1 + 1 x 2 = 1 x 3 + 2 x 1 5) 8 x 3 x 8 = 8 x (3 x 8) 6) 6 x 6 x 7 x 6 = 7 x 6 x 6 x 6 7) (9 + 8) + 6 = 9 + (8 + 6)

A

8) 3 x 4 x 4 x 3 = 4 x 4 x 3 x 3 9) 3 + 7 + 9 + 4 = 7 + 4 + 9 + 3 10) (5 x 3) x 1 = 5 x (3 x 1)

Thursday’s answers 4) 16

1. Define the word “invention.” One way of putting it is that an invention is something new or different that solves a problem.

Inventions are everywhere!

2. Write the letters of the alphabet and try to come up with one invention for every letter. Think about things you use to get ready, things around the classroom or

5) -14

6) 786

7) 13 8)0

inventions you read about in a book.

3. Once the invention alphabet is completed, create a picture of the invention and write a sentence about how the invention is used.

5. Once completed, bind the book together and add it to your library. (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

9) 255

10) 9

n ass was feeding in a pasture near a wood when he saw a wolf lurking in the shadows along the hedge. He easily guessed what the wolf had in mind, and thought of a plan to save himself. So he pretended he was lame, and began to hobble painfully.

When the wolf came up, he asked the ass what had made him lame, and the ass replied that he had stepped on a sharp thorn.

“Please pull it out,” he pleaded, groaning as if in pain. “If you do not, it might stick in your throat when you eat me.”

The wolf saw the wisdom of the advice, for he wanted to enjoy his meal without any danger of choking. So, the ass lifted up his foot and the wolf began to search very closely and carefully for the thorn.

Just then the ass kicked out with all his might, tumbling the wolf a dozen paces away. And while the wolf was getting very slowly and painfully to his feet, the ass galloped away in safety.

“Serves me right,” growled the wolf as he crept into the bushes. “I’m a butcher by trade, not a doctor.”

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP/C challenges validity of APNU/AFC’s election petitions — coalition says complied with all legal requirements

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Attorney General Anil Nandlall

he ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has asked the High Court to throw out both of the APNU/AFC Coalition’s petitions that challenge the outcome of the March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections.

During the virtual case management conference on Thursday, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, appearing on behalf of the PPP/C, raised a point in relation to service of the petitions.

He contended that PPP/ C’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the fourth named respondent in the case, was not served with the petitions in accordance with established procedures, hence the orders

made by the court are not compliant with the relevant rules.

“Essentially, the application will be that the service has not been effected at all on Mr Jagdeo, because the rule that is there to deem the service was not followed in this case,” Mendes indicated.

However, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George explained that an application was made ex parte for substituted service in both petitions, and based on evidence tendered in both petitions, the court reviewed applications and ordered that there be substituted service to be done via registered post for both petitions. She noted that those orders still stand.

But according to the SC Mendes, proper service was not followed in either, and flawed service would essentially amount to nonservice, hence both petitions would be a nullity in their entirety.

“While the [court] order stands, the application and order were not in accordance with the rule. In election petition matters, as we would know, the rules are required to be very strictly followed, certainly in relation to service, and the opportunities that are allowed to a petitioner who does not serve within time – of course, as

Trinidadian SC Douglas Mendes

you know My Lady, if you don’t serve within time, the petition is a nullity. The way you get out of the requirement that you served within particular period of time is that you make an application under the rule, and what we’re saying provisionally is that the application and/or the order did not comply with the rule, and therefore service has not been effected properly,” the Trinidadian lawyer asserted.

However, Mendes informed the court that because his client did not receive all the documents, including the formal court order, this is a preliminary position. As such, he requested time to finalise a position and subsequently

file a formal application on this issue, if necessary.

In this sense, the acting Chief Justice had also raised a concern on service during Thursday’s case management hearing. In fact, she pointed out that service of the petition on the second named respondent in the matters – APNU/AFC’s David Granger – was “out of time”.

She pointed out that according to the rules, the petition must be served within five days of filing on the respondents, but the court records show that the petitions were served until September 25, 2020, when they were filed on September 15.

Nevertheless, Justice George asked SC Mendes to make applications/submissions on the issue he raised, and has set dates for the petitioners and Attorney General Anil Nandlall to respond. This matter is fixed for hearing on November 24 and 25.

However, during a press briefing following the case management hearing, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who is part of the legal team in the first petition, is confident that Coalition has complied with all the legal requirements in filing both election petitions.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde

“I am satisfied that we would have complied with all the legal requirements in relation to the elections petitions and the laws governing them… To clarify, we complied with every material particular in respect of these election petitions,” Forde contended.

The Senior Counsel further told the media that the party is pleased with the fact that the court recognises the urgency in dealing with these matters.

“We expect that these election petitions would be heard and determined quickly and in favour of the petitioners who would have filed them,” he added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall,

commenting on Thursday’s hearing, emphasised the importance of the rules and procedures of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act peculiar to the election petitions.

“If there is noncompliance with any of the procedural steps or procedure, or there if any violation of any of the timeframes prescribed for proceedings to be done or steps to be taken, those deviations, those violations, those non-observations of either those rules, regulations, procedures or timeframes, can be fatal and can cause the petition to be dismissed without any further hearing,” Nandlall explained.

The Attorney General, who has a “roving jurisdiction” and has the liberty to address any issue of law, outlined that the procedures for election petitions are far different from the normal civil litigations, where a judge might have the latitude to forgive a violation of noncompliance with timeframes.

“Those jurisdictions and discretions do not exist in an election petition… You get one bite of the cherry so to speak, and if you don’t comply, well, that’s too bad for you,” AG Nandlall asserted.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Squatting...

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…and living or a country in which its population has pretty much remained stagnant for the last forty years, (770,000 in 1980 and same today!) how do you explain all this squatting for house-lots? Surely, if we were all housed in 1980 (after Burnham’s “feed, house and clothed the nation programme), the same number of houses should be able to give us all shelter now, right? And when you toss in all those humungous housing schemes that were created during the PPP’s 23 years in office - from 1992 to 2015, with at least 60,000 housing lots - surely that would’ve covered the fact that maybe the families are smaller and need extra housing units?

But here we have it – there are those squatters at Success, on the East Coast of Demerara, who insist they just don’t have anywhere to go to put their heads down but those flimsy hovels they created out of flotsam and jetsam seemingly washed ashore. Where did they come from to occupy this cane field that was the site of experimental cane varieties for the sugar industry? While the Enmore/ LBI sugar estate might’ve been closed down in 2017 by the PNC, the experimental varieties would still be needed for the running estates.

Your Eyewitness has been trying to get to the bottom of this mystery. He found out that there are several categories of squatters. Some of them have been there for years – at least since the estate’s closure. They were basically jumping the line of those who’ve applied for house-lots years ago.

But the question arises: What was NICIL doing – especially its Special Purposes Unit (SPU) that was formed specifically to deal with GuySuCo’s shuttered estates’ property? Were they too busy spending the $30 billion they borrowed fixing up the Managers’ Club at Ogle? Didn’t they notice those squatters? After all, the PNC Government had moved out those from behind Cummings Lodge.

Then there are those who suddenly appeared out of the woodwork when word spread like wildfire – like when gold used to be found back in the days of the Wild West! “There’s gold in them thar hills!!” And this is where matters get interesting. Some of these land squatters were Guyanese who’d returned from Venezuela and were landless for sure. You could see the stark desperation in their eyes. Now the Government received some US$5 million from the US to deal with “Venezuelan refugees”.

Don’t these folks qualify? Some of that money should be used to help them out.

But the last lot (excuse the pun!) are the most interesting: these are the “plants” by the PNC. Some of them with heart-rending stories of deprivation – never mind those stories have been proven to have holes elsewhere!!

But the PPP Govt has to be tagged as “heartless”! …on the election petitions Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George held the Case Management Meeting on the PNC’s two election petitions, arising, they claim, from the March 2 elections. Your Eyewitness is still wondering what happens to the PPP’s election petition from the 2015 elections. Is it now moot?

Overtaken by events? Somebody should say so definitively.

The law must be certain, no?

Anyhow, as far as your Eyewitness is concerned, the most salient announcement that came out of the meeting had nothing to do with the timings for submissions, which stretch out from Nov 5 all the way to Jan 5 next year. That’s all mechanical. The Chief Justice pleased your Eyewitness when she announced: “Parties can call for elections documents to be produced.”

This means, of course, that the PNC (at long last) WILL HAVE TO THEN PRODUCE THEIR SOPs upon request!! And as they asserted, these will, of course, match the numbers produced by Mingo!!

The PNC wouldn’t lie, would they?? …mushrooming Just when the Government might’ve thought they were making headway on the squatting at the Success front, up comes news that squatters at Sara Johanna on the East Bank Demerara are now protesting for “regularisation”.

Why is no one surprised?

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amid COVID-19 pandemic

Guyana’s economy in better shape than other countries’ on planet – economist

Chief Economist for Smith’s Research & Gradings, Scott B MacDonald

G

uyana’s economy is tipped to perform extremely well, and ride through the COVID-19 pandemic in better shape than practically any other economy on the planet, according to Chief Economist for Smith’s Research & Gradings, Scott B. MacDonald.

MacDonald, who is also a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and a Research Fellow at Global Americans, noted that Guyana is no longer “the isolated country on the northeastern shoulder of South America it once was”.

“The combination of massive oil discoveries; im-

proved global communications; and a better-connected diaspora in North America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean means that Guyana is no longer on the outskirts of the global economy,” the expert wrote in an opinion piece published recently by Caribbean News Global.

He outlined that Guyana, now being considered one of the most promising oil producers in the Region, has managed to attract large multinational companies, including US’ ExxonMobil and Hess, Spain’s Repsol, and China’s CNOOC. He pointed out that in 2020, Guyana’s economic growth is expected to be a little over 50 percent, which he said, “even in normal times would be amazing”.

He noted, however, that this rate has been revised downward to 26 percent as a result of the COVID economic downturn.

MacDonald highlighted that Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Americas, was long due for some good luck, which finally came with massive offshore discoveries of oil.

Noting that Guyana’s good luck on the economic front should continue into 2021, he observed that the country has challenges which it needs to address if it wants to achieve a longer

term and equitable trajectory of expansion.

“Prudent management of the nation’s resources will give Guyana an opportunity for a far better future, something that has to be carefully weighed against the corruption and uneven development of other oil-based economies, such as Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela,” he stated.

MacDonald expressed that one of the major challenges facing the country is governance. This, he explains, comes at a number of levels, “starting with the messy nature of the country’s electoral politics”.

“The last election cycle commenced with a vote of no confidence in late December 2018, which was challenged by the standing government. Contesting the legitimacy of the no confidence vote dragged on through 2019 (complete with the involvement of the Caribbean Court of Justice), finally ending with national elections in March 2020. Even then, the results were held up through August, with the outgoing government finally agreeing to bow out (though the losing party still fights the results in court)”.

On this basis, he suggests that considering the convoluted nature of the 2020 elections, the electoral process needs a review and

overhaul, “but it must be done with sensitivity to the country’s ethnic mix”.

The expert further detailed the need for an overhaul of the judicial system to reflect the changes coming into Guyanese economic life and society, and to improve the regulatory system so that it is friendlier to both local and foreign businesses, which could help facilitate greater investment, including the non-oil sectors of the economy.

Importantly too, MacDonald underlined the need for an upgrade in the

country’s infrastructure. He pointed to an Inter-American Development Bank report in 2019 which stated: “The infrastructure stock is inadequate to support delivery of public services or facilitate private sector growth. The country’s transportation infrastructure (roads, airports and seaports) requires substantial improvements to support the growth of the private sector.”

He observed that the high energy costs, dependability of electricity and upgrading the country’s telecommunications system also

need attention.

Another area he outlined is the improvement of the country’s human capital. He explained that although efforts have been made to improve the education system, the new oil-based economy is creating demand for everything, from skilled welders to accountants and engineers.

“Related to upgrading the school system is the need for further efforts to inject further professionalism into government service, with an emphasis on reducing patronage,” he urged.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Anna Catherina business broken into, robbed

P

olice are investigating a break-and-enter committed on a grocery shop at Anna Catherina Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), during which a quantity of goods and items were stolen.

According to information received, the robbery took place between 21:30h on Tuesday and 04:00h on Wednesday.

Police stated that the

owner of the business, Nafiza Samtani, had secured her shop, a wooden and concrete structure attached to the Caribbean Temptation Sports Bar building, and went home.

However, she subsequently received a telephone phone call from the landlord, informing her that her business place had been burglarised.

An assessment of her losses showed that a quan-

Springlands Police Station Management Committee resuscitated

tity of alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages valued at $260,000 were stolen along with 50 cartons of cigarettes valued at $200,000; two electrical fans valued at $13,000; five hammocks valued at $20,000; $30,000 worth of snacks and purses valued at $10,000.

Police have questioned several persons – none of whom have been arrested.

Investigations are continuing.

Home of elderly man burglarised

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andits on Wednesday carted off a number of items after they invaded a house at Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Based on reports received, the incident occurred at Lot 59 New Road, Vreeden-Hoop, between 07:05h and 19:45h. The owner of the house had already left for work.

The proprietor , 59-year-

old Courtney Benjamin told Police ranks that everything was intact when he left for work about 07:05h on the morning in question.

However, the elderly man returned home about 19:45h only to find a padlock removed from the western door which was left ajar.

Benjamin became suspicious and immediately made checks inside the house and around the property.

Upon entering, he discovered that a quantity of clothes, two pairs of shoes, a haversack, one gas cylinder and hats were missing. The items had an estimated value of $105,000.

The Police were summoned to the house and a report was made. The identities of the bandits remain unknown, but Police are continuing their investigations.

Senior ranks of the Springlands Police Station along with members of the resuscitated Committee

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he Springlands Police Station Management Committee was on Wednesday evening resuscitated after a motion was moved by Chand Hardyal and seconded by Seeraj Seepersaud to remove the previous dormant Station Management body.

As such, an election followed during which several persons were elected to serve on the

Committee. These include the Chairman, Narendra Loknauth; Vice Chairman, George Baijnauth; Recording Secretary, Seeraj Seepaul; Treasurer, Nicholas Jaundoo; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Philbert Wilburgh; Public Relations Officer (PRO), Juniour Blair and Organiser, Fizul Ally.

The committee members include Ryan Jagessar,

Muiveshwar, B Mahadeo, C Hardial and Hemwattie Bachan.

This Station Management Committee has committed to work holistically with ranks of Springlands Police Station to create a more people friendly-relationship between the Police and communities at large, to ensure effective and efficient policing within this station district.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Removing Success squatters is for greater good of entire country – Nandlall

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ttorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has said that action being taken by the Government to remove those squatting at Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD) off lands belonging to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is for the greater good of the entire country.

Nandlall, during a recent programme hosted on his social media page, said that while some may view the flooding of the lands as very harsh, the action was necessary, as the Government has a development agenda which would benefit all Guyanese.

“The situation must be looked at from the country’s interest, and a Government must always act for the greater good,” Nandlall contended.

“Running a Government”, he outlined, “is not a popularity contest. There are harsh decisions that have to

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

be made by Governments all over the world; that is the cost of being in Government.”

He argued: “It is not in the best interest of the whole country that the back of Success be converted into a squatter swamp.”

The Minister reminded that squatting is illegal, and

creates a whole host of problems if left unaddressed.

“That is what squatting does: it stymies development; it creates housing areas without proper planning: no roads, no water; leads to sickness, violence; all these things are associated with squatting,” he explained.

According to Nandlall, there is a backlog of 60,000 applications for house lots, and when persons engage in squatting, they do so with the intention of “jumping the line”. This, he noted, is unfair to those who have been waiting for a number of years to acquire their lots.

“These people must understand that when squatting takes place, it pushes them down the line further, because it delays their application,” he highlighted.

About 150 persons had illegally taken up residence on the cane lands owned by GuySuCo, but now that that

Flooded-out GuySuCo lands at Success, ECD

corporation is embarking on efforts to revitalise the industry by reopening three estates which had been closed by the APNU/AFC regime, including the East Demerara Estate (Enmore), attempts are being made to remove the squatters from

GWI owes $7B for electricity supplied ...debt creates uncertainty for GPL – PUC

PUC Chairperson, Attorneyat-Law Dela Britton

T

he Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in reviewing the operating standards and performance targets of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), was keen to point out that, if allowed to grow, the $7 billion debt owed to the power company by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) would create uncertainty in planning, with negatives for both the company and its consumers.

In an Order dated October 19, 2020, signed by its Chairman, Attorney-atLaw Dela Britton, the PUC found that GPL was unable to meet its Accounts Receivable, one of its eight standards and targets.

The PUC said it noted the company’s explanation in not achieving this standard, and agreed that enforcing compliance to collect the GWI debt is not in the national interest.

“Having recognised GPL’s commitment to the national good, the impact of GWI’s default on GPL, and by extension on their customers, must be considered.

Given the magnitude of the current debt, if allowed to grow exponentially, it would create uncertainty in planning for the company, with negatives for both the company and its consumers,” the PUC noted.

GPL is hoping that Government would offset part of the water company’s electricity debt.

During a hearing at the PUC, GPL’s Divisional Director of Finance, Loris Nathoo, had stated that the water company’s average monthly light bill is between $220 million and $250 million, and the Gy$7 billion electricity bill was accumulated over the past two years, ending in August 2020.

Nathoo said GWI has already notified GPL that it did not have the money to pay its electricity bill. He said Government is aware of the situation, and he hopes some resolution would be ar-

rived at soonest.

According to GPL Deputy CEO Renford Homer, GWI’s non-payment is a major challenge for the power com-

pany. He reasoned that if GWI had been receiving payments, it would have been able to meet its targets and overall production.

the lands.

Moreover, GuySuCo has disclosed that some 17,000 varieties of sugarcane have been damaged by the squatters in those areas.

Not long after the PPP/C Administration assumed office, it began to work with the squatters to legitimately resolve the problem.

In fact, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has visited the area twice to commence the land application process, so that residents could be eligible for a house lot.

Additionally, the Prime Minister, Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips, recently visited the area and offered Government’s support to provide shelter at the Graham’s Hall Primary School at Cummings Lodge, ECD to persons until other permanent measures are put in place.

However, with prodding from some political operatives, most of the squatters are refusing to take up Government’s offer. To date, only about five persons have taken up residency at that

shelter.

“It simply can’t happen! It can’t be tolerated by a Government in a civilised society! Squatting is illegal!

It is wrong, and politicians who care about people have to stop using people as political pawns, and using their plight as a political platform. That is what is taking place at Success,” Nandlall expressed.

He added that it is not the Government’s intention to put residents off lands, but the correct procedures must be followed.

The squatters at Success, he noted, would benefit from having their own land, but they would have to follow a procedure.

The Government, he said, has promised to accelerate the housing programme that would cater for everyone, “but it takes time.”

President Ifraan Ali, during his speech at the two-day housing drive held at the National Stadium recently, expressed that all Guyanese under his administration would benefit from housing, but the process has to be done the right way.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Remar set to launch 90s Flex mixtape this weekend

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here is not one particular thing – it’s just something about EVERYTHING in the 90s. From the fashion to the iconic movies and TV shows we got back then to the analogue photos we now look back on from that era, and of course, the rich offerings of music we received from every imaginable genre.”

These were the words of Guyanese artiste Remar.

He noted that he was fortunate to fully experience and remember the years of the tail-end of the 1990s, but those memories were vivid and have always inspired his craft. A quick listen to his music, and it would be very obvious that 90s R&B and hip-hop have influenced his sound tremendously.

He connected with the super-talented Shamar “KINCOMARCO” Grant in late 2018, and the first beat which he heard from him carried a sample of “Flex”

by Mad Cobra. His ability to flip samples and give

Baby” by Mariah Carey online and met up with the sample wiz, Kinco, for him to try his hand at it. At the meeting, Remar explained the bounce, tempo and overall style he wanted for it and Kinco captured it PERFECTLY! “That meet-up birthed Miss Forever. We began meeting every Saturday for the next month and a half, and repeating the process that birthed Miss Forever.

It usually involved me searching for acapellas, full songs or instrumentals from my favourite 90s joints during the week and

Remar’s Manager, Jonathan Beepat along with Remar and Mad Cobra

them a modern feel immediately stood out from just that first beat.

As such, the Guyanese artiste felt compelled one day to create a song with a classic 90s sample to pay homage to his love for an era that he considers

to be golden. “What sample should I go with?’ was the question. In looking for samples, it soon became clear to Remar that he was not going to be able to pick one or just do one song.

He found the acapella version of “Always Be My

flipping them when we met in person on the weekend.”

He used the beats that were created during the sessions to talk about everything his life encompasses, from love and ambition to self-development and growth. Collaborating more with his peers was something high on his priority list as he was creating this EP, so reaching out to the likes of David Lyn to get on “Candy” or FlyGuy to get on “No Assists” was automatic.

The talented R&B singer believes that music is the closest thing to a time

machine that everyone will ever have in real life; one note, one lyric, one melody can take us back to times and places like nothing else can. His intention with this project was to take listeners on an audible journey.

This was by far one of the most fun projects he had the pleasure of creating, and he is sure that the energy will be felt by every person who listens.

His mixtape will be released live on-air this Sunday on HJ BOOM FM at 15:00h with entertainer Rawle Ferguson.

Linden man gets 4-month jail sentence for threatening to kill ex-wife

– another slapped with 2-year sentence for possession of narcotics

O

sbert Johnson who threatened to kill his ex-wife and burn down her house was slapped with a four-month jail sentence by Magistrate Wanda Fortune.

The sentence was handed down when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court charged with the offence of threatening language.

Prosecution facts on the case indicated that Johnson made the threats against Natasha Lambert during an altercation at Wisroc, Wismar, Linden on October 12, 2020.

Meanwhile, Lennox Jackman was sentenced to two years behind bars by the said Magistrate on Monday after he was convicted of the offence of possession of nar-

cotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Jackman, who made his final appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, was nabbed by Police ranks with 495 grams of cannabis on January 16, 2020. After a lengthy trial with several witnesses, the court found him guilty and as such, sentenced him to prison.

Police issue arrest warrant for taxi driver

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for

a Corentyne taxi driver on Tuesday after he failed to appear in court.

news@guyanatimesgy.com

Fifty-year-old Troy Manns, of Fifth Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), was charged on October 19, 2020, for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Vijay Ramcharitar.

However, when the matter was called on Tuesday before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate's Court, Manns was a no-show.

As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and the case was postponed until November 2, 2020.

Particulars of the charge stated that on October 13, 2020, at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, he inflicted grievous bodily harm on Ramcharitar with intent to maim or disfigure him.

The matter was investigated and the charges were instituted.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

27 new COVID-19 cases recorded G

uyana on Thursday recorded 27 new COVID-19 cases, thus taking the total number of positive cases to 3877.

The latest data was published in the Health Ministry’s dashboard, showing that the death toll remains at 117.

To date, 2042 males and 1835 females have tested positive – a significant difference in the gender breakdown.

There are 16 persons seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Additionally, 70 persons are in institutional quarantine, 821 are on home isolation, and 43 are in institutional quarantine. This is a total of 950 active cases.

A breakdown shows that four new cases were recorded in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 21 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The number of cases remain at 626 in Region One (Barima-Waini), 64 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 25 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 127 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 375 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and 131 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced three COVID-19 fatalities. All three victims are males from Region One (Barima-Waini).

The most recent death is that of a 68-year-old male, who died on Wednesday while receiving care at a medical facility. The other two COVID-19 fatalities are 80-year-old Lionel Peters of Red Hill Settlement and 78-year-old Lewis Miller of Manawarin – both of whom died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at medical facilities.

In an update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony noted that some regions are doing well, and this is reflected in the number of active cases and transmission rate.

“While the national average would be going up, when you disaggregate it by different regions, you would see that quite a few regions are doing very well,” the Minister said.

In regions One and Nine, which were considered hotspots for the virus a few months ago, there was a sudden rise in recent times. Dr Anthony said a health response team was sent in to deliver test kits and bolster the human resource capacity. More testing was done, thus revealing the positives.

He went on to say that most

persons have been isolating in their own homes, following protocols.

“Once we know somebody is positive, we isolate that person.

We have been able to isolate most of them in their own homes, and we have explained to the persons living with them what precautions they need to take. In some cases, we have been able to provide them with some amount of PPEs and other things that are necessary when you are in these types of environment. In addition, there is restriction in moving in and out of the community,” he said.

Dr Anthony had disclosed on Wednesday that steps are being taken to fast track testing in hinterland regions. He noted that Government has ordered 20,000 antigen tests, which are expected to arrive next month and will then be deployed to various interior areas. This type of testing, he explained, will be more practical for use in remote hinterland areas.

“This is not the RTPCR tests that we take samples of and bring them to the lab. This antigen test is one where, right at the site where you’re seeing the patient, if you suspect them to have COVID, you can run the test there and, within 45 minutes, get back the results,” the Minister was quoted as saying.

Murder accused remains at large Minimal to no risk of oil spill from sinking after escaping from Lusignan Prison tanker off Venezuelan Coast – CDC

The Nabarima oil tanker tilting and being suspended by anchor chains

Dead: Aaron Latchman and his teenage daughter, Arianna Latchman

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ark Rafino, of Goed Intent Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and Queenstown Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam), who escaped from the Lusignan penitentiary on Tuesday, remains at large.

He was among three inmates who escaped from the prison, but two- Alex Mathias of Good Hope Dock Yard, Essequibo and Arnold Kennedy of Lot 847 Zeeburg Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD) - were recaptured on Wednesday.

Rafino is one of the five persons charged for the murders of Better Hope money-changer Aaron Latchman and his 18-year-old daughter Arianna Latchman, who were killed on July 4, 2019 at Robert Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) during a robbery.

Rafino was remanded at

that prison on July 15, 2019 for the offences for which he was charged.

It was reported that the three prisoners were checked and locked in on Tuesday at about 17:00h, but at about 23:00h, the Joint Services ranks on the ground received information that the prisoners had escaped. An alarm was raised, and the ranks immediately conducted checks around the prison and its environs, but no one was found.

However, at about 06:00h on Wednesday, the headcount revealed that the three prisoners were missing.

The recaptured prisoners were found on the Zeelugt Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). The prisoners will aid in the ongoing investigation in the escape, and they will also be processed for charges.

The public is asked to report any suspicious individual or activity to the nearest

Murder accused: Mark Rafino

Police Station, or call 2256411. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

In recent times, inmates have been escaping from the Lusignan Prison by merely jumping the fence. The last known incident of a jailbreak of this nature occurred on September 23 when 23-yearold Leroy Graham, who is accused of robbery under arms, escaped from the prison by jumping a fence at the burnt section of the penitentiary. Graham was later recaptured.

On September 29, James Moore, also 23, who was serving a three-year sentence for armed robbery at the Lusignan Prison, escaped from custody. Moore made his escape when he, along with 13 other inmates, was booked out from the Holding Bay to work at the kitchen. He has not yet been recaptured, according to Police records.

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uyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) announced on Thursday that, based on recent assessments, there is minimal risk of an oil spill in the Gulf of Paria, where a Venezuelan-flagged tanker is sinking.

Guyanese officials were put on high alert as FSO Nabarima, which has been carrying millions of gallons of oil, started sinking – a situation that triggered major worry about a potential spill in the Caribbean Sea. According to the CDC, efforts are being conducted to relieve the vessel of its cargo, and remedial works are ongoing to prevent the vessel from sinking further.

In fact, Trinidad and Tobago’s Energy Minister Franklin Khan says the Nabarima is currently upright and stable, with no visible tilt.

Reports also indicate that Venezuelan authorities have started to offload the tanker.

The CDC says it will continue to liaise with its local, regional and international counterparts to ensure the situation is adequately monitored and that no threats are

Director General of the CDC, Kester Craig

posed to Guyana.

The Nabarima is jointly owned by the Venezuelan State-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and Italian oil giant Eni. CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, had told this newspaper that if a spill were to occur, Guyana would experience little to no direct impact.

However, the CDC had noted that “indirectly, it may affect fisherfolk who are licensed to operate in sur-

rounding waters off the coast of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.”

The CDC recently completed and officially handed over the country’s National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the sector.

Among other things, the plan accounts for oil and petroleum products entering Guyana’s territorial waters from spills which occur in neighbouring States.

The plan states that due to the proximity of Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, a spill occurring in any one country may have direct or indirect social, economic, or environmental impacts on the others.

Therefore, the plan noted that a good working relationship is to be established among the neighbouring territories in the interest of reducing impacts of major spills that occur near the borders.

Additionally, it said a rapid response agreement of equal rights of access must be established. This is included in Section 2.8 of the Caribbean Island Plan.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PUC upholds Order for GTT to revert to detailed paper bills previous paper bills. These were the Calling Party Call Table and overseas call details.

The PUC facilitated a hearing on the matter, during which GTT officials acknowledged failure to notify Gaskin of the change to the billing system and apologised.

Criticised

PUC Chairperson, Attorney-atLaw Dela Britton

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he Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in Order 1 of 2020 dated October 19, 2020, refused a request by the GTT for a variation/ review of Order 2 of 2019 made by the Commission relating to the issuance of detailed paper billing as opposed to summarised e-billing.

The PUC heard extensive arguments in the matter on August 19, 2020, during which submissions were made by GTT; PUC; the Guyana Consumers Association; and Raymon Gaskin, a GTT landline customer who had complained about changes to the format of his paper telephone bill for May 2019.

In August 2019, Gaskin had complained to the Commission that the format of his paper tax invoice (telephone bill) for his landline service for May 2019 was changed. He said the new submission omitted from his bill details which were now available only via GTT’s online portal.

As a consequence, he noted, this unilateral change resulted in the exclusion of substantial billing information which was contained in

The PUC upbraided GTT for its failure to give prior notification and hold effective educational campaigns for its customers in relation to the change in the billing format. Further, the PUC criticised the utility company for embarking on this new method of billing without even notifying the Commission. The Commission rendered its decisions in October 2019 via Order 2 of 2019.

In Order 2 of 2019, the PUC ordered that GTT revert to its old system of dispatching detailed paper bills to customers. It ordered that the choice to cancel online billing and resume paper billing must be clearly stated on the GTT online portals. It ordered that the company must ensure that its billing platform, over which paperless billing is offered, is uptime and experiences minimum latency.

In the event that the platform fails during any billing period or cycle, GTT is required to inform all paperless customers, and dispatch to said customers physical bills.

The PUC further ordered that any customer who was issued a summary bill from May 2019, but is desirous of receiving a detailed bill, is to be issued same by GTT free of charge upon request by that customer. This particular order

is guided by the PUC’s view that an invoice which conforms to commercial practices should include, among other things, an itemised breakdown of all charges on the invoice, and the charges for the consumer.

Among other things, GTT has also been ordered to place notices, disseminated prominently via online-media and Short Messaging Service (SMS), to notify consumers of the new billing format, and give them the choice to remain with paper billing.

Notwithstanding Order

with Order No. 2 of 2019 which mandates that an option must be provided by the company to allow customers to opt out of receiving the new billing format and to receive the detailed paper bills free of cost.

GTT submitted that since Order No. 2 of 2019 was enforced, GTT had received approximately 120 applications from its customers for detailed paper bills, and, to date, 114 applications have been successfully processed. The company maintained that, with respect to the issuance of Raymon Gaskin

1 of 2019, the PUC commended GTT for its efforts in moving towards a green economy in utilizing technology for its billing systems.

Review

In a letter dated June 24, 2020, GTT, among other things, requested that the Commission review/ vary Order 2 of 2019 in accordance with Section 77 of the PUC Act. The PUC, in August 2020, convened a hearing in relation to GTT’s application. During the hearing, GTT informed the Commission that its online portals allow consumers to access details of their transactions free of cost. It posited that it is compliant

bills, it is guided by section 51 of the PUC Act, No. 10 of 1999, and that nowhere in the Act does it state either format or the content to be contained in the bill.

The company informed the Commission during the virtual hearing that electronic billing has become an international best practice, and provided examples of several countries where electronic billing has subsumed paper billing.

International best practices evolve over time, and are never universally uniform. Socio-economic conditions of jurisdictions are contributory factors, the GTT contends.

Order stands

In declining to vary Order 2 of 2019, the PUC noted that the summarised paper bill version as issued

by GTT since May, 2019 lacks sufficient detail, as it fails to set out the requisite information for the consumer. In the decision, signed by its Chairman, Attorney-at-

Law Dela Britton, the PUC maintained that GTT is required to issue detailed paper bills to all persons who are desirous of receiving same.

“Consistent with Order 2 of 2019, since GTT shall provide detailed paper bills to all persons desirous of receiving or reverting to the same, free of cost, the proposed categories of persons as contemplated by the company, namely the elderly and disabled, for whom the company requested the issuance of paper bills free of charge, does not arise for consideration.”

The Commission emphasised that GTT's opt-out request form is applicable only to consumers who had received the new billing format (summary bill) from May 2019 and who were requesting to access GTT's online portal in order to view their detailed bills.

“All customers who had not opted for the electronic format of the bills are to receive their detailed paper bills. In light of the aforementioned, the Commission declines to vary Order 2 of 2019, and that Order stands,” PUC noted in Order 1 of 2020.

It said that, in arriving at a decision, it examined Section 51 of the Public Utilities Commission Act, which provides as follows: “Every public utility shall supply every consumer every month, or at such other intervals as may be

agreed to by the Commission or provided for in a licence or any written law in relation to any consumer or class of consumers, a bill showing the sum payable by the consumer on account of any service provided by the public utility during the preceding month, or other relevant period as may be agreed to by the Commission, or for such other intervals and periods as may be prescribed by its licence.”

It said that whilst the Commission cannot be presumptuous to clothe itself with the apparent role of interpreting statutes, which is solely within the purview of the Court of Appeal, it noted that at the time of the promulgation of the Act, the concept of electronic billing was not within the contemplation and spirit of the framers of the law, as the technology had not advanced to embrace the electronic billing format, and as such was in reference to paper bills.

“We [PUC] believe that with technological changes, the section is sufficiently broad to cover what obtains today, that is both the electronic and paper billing formats. The Commission's position is that either format is acceptable, once the consumer is in receipt of a detailed bill. For clarity, by detailed bill we mean the bill that is issued inclusive of the Calling Party Pay Call tables and overseas call details.”

The Commission therefore held that it has no objection to the company issuing detailed bills on its electronic billing platform.

It said, too, that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a paradigm shift in the way businesses are conducted.

The PUC noted that if it is to hold true to the adage that regulation must not stifle innovation, it must use this opportunity to emphasise that the Commission has no objection to the electronic billing formats, provided that it is the consumer who voluntarily determines the medium for same.

East Ruimveldt youth stabbed to death

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n argument over money at Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown on Wednesday evening has left an East Ruimveldt, Georgetown youth dead.

The dead teen has been identified as 18-year-old Adrian Purlette.

Based on reports received, the now dead teen was visiting a friend’s house at Hoopie Lane, between Durban and Hadfield Streets, when, at about 21:00h, three men turned up at the location and demanded money from him.

Purlette reportedly told the men that he had no money, and this led to a heated argument. The

Dead: Adrian Purlette

teenager reportedly was leaving the area, but the

men followed and confronted him, during which he was dealt several stabs to his body.

The friend told investigators that five minutes after leaving his home, he heard Purlette shouting that he had been stabbed.

He stated that in going to his rescue, he saw the youth lying in a pool of blood, and he then picked him up and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he succumbed to the injuries in the wee hours of Thursday.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the three males as investigations continue.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brothers allegedly doused Minimum wage increase for Private Sector employees being with hot oil in Berbice discussed – Labour Minister

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iscussions are underway to increase the minimum wage in the Private Sector to $60,000, even as consideration is given to how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected businesses.

This was according to Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton during an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday.

Under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, a tripartite committee was responsible for reviewing the matter of increasing the Private Sector’s minimum wage.

The committee had recommended an increase to $60,000 from the current $44,200 per month.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

Minister Hamilton said while he was comfortable with the recommendation, the tripartite committee has not met since March.

However, there are plans to reconfigure and re-establish the committee with assistance from Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle.

The Minister said the downturn in business was discussed in his engagement with the Private Sector.

“To be fair, I have to take the [COVID-19 impact] into consideration…What I can say is that the minimum wage will be raised. The question is: should or can we do it now and how will it impact more workers who are working in the Private Sector?” he said.

Many Private Sector entities were forced to dismiss some of their employees as a result of the pandemic.

Discussions with stakeholders are underway to see how soon the minimum wage increase will take effect.

OAS to focus on stability, security as COVID-19 persists

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he Organisation of American States (OAS) this week concluded its two-day General Assembly discussion, where dialogue was fostered on stability and security in the hemisphere.

These issues were essentially targeted, given the upsurge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro on Thursday expressed that initiatives in communications and response to climate change were also addressed while the political situation in some countries was reviewed.

He stated the body’s willingness to continue strengthening organisation and coordination with Member States. Almagro insisted that the present situation showed the relevancy of discussing issues that are impacting the entire world.

Meanwhile, Assistant SG Nestor Mendez posited that the Organisation readily adapted to facilitate this meeting and pressing issues were deliberated on. They were able to dive into the political situations and find resolutions for Member States.

“The General Assembly also adopted important resolutions and declarations relating to issues such as financing the Organisation’s budget, food and nutrition security. Another hemispheric initiative in the area of integral development, multidimensional security, international law, and support for and follow-up to the Summits of the Americas,” Mendez shared.

Earlier in the week, Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd made his presentation at the Assembly, as he acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a most negative impact on the development of countries. He said it was

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro

“overturning the gains made towards attaining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals while disrupting economic growth and increasing poverty and inequality”.

“Any further delay in bringing this pandemic under control and alleviating the extreme economic distress our countries are experiencing will result in a deepened crisis, involving an increased debt burden, also a worsening unemployment situation, continued challenges to the provision of education to our children and young people, as well as a weakening of our ability to deliver adequate health care, among other things,” the Minister had noted.

Todd went on to laud organisations such as the OAS, for helping to find lasting solutions to existing hurdles that have impeded progress.

The Permanent Council of the OAS had planned a meeting on July 21 regarding the ongoing political crisis in Guyana at that time.

The meeting was announced after the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government continued to re-

fuse to facilitate a smooth transition of power even though a National Recount had confirmed that it was defeated at the March 2, 2020 polls. However, the elections stalemate was brought to an end on August 2, 2020 when Dr Irfaan Ali became Guyana’s President.

As such, the Minister acknowledged the OAS team led by Bruce Golding for its advocacy in upholding democracy: “Guyana, like many other countries of the hemisphere, is committed to upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It is, in this regard, that I extend, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, to Secretary General Luis Almagro and officials of the General Secretariat, in particular the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, as well as the Member States of the Organisation, sincere gratitude for the support provided during our recent electoral crisis, which culminated in the will of the Guyanese people being respected and democracy and the rule of law triumphing, after five tense long months.”

The OAS Member States have approved the offer of Guatemala to host the 51st General Assembly of the Organisation in 2021.

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The two brothers who were allegedly doused with hot oil

ore than one week after two brothers were allegedly burnt with hot oil, they remain hospitalised.

The incident reportedly occurred at Murphy Dam, Rosignol, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on October 11.

The injured men are 30-year-old Urawle Fordyce and his 24-year-old brother, Jason. They received third-degree burns about their bodies.

Based on reports received, on the day in question, Urawle and some villagers had an altercation, which quickly turned violent. Guyana Times was unable to ascertain what

Minister, APA in talks on Indigenous peoples’ development

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai meeting with a delegation from the APA

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he Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) on Wednesday met with Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai to discuss ways in which the Ministry can further support the development of Indigenous peoples in Guyana.

During the discussion, a team from the APA provided the Minister with an overview of the priority areas of work for the organisation. These included works with the following

Cane harvester charged for wounding man

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hirty-four-yearold Rocky Ramoo, of Williamsburg, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was on Tuesday arraigned for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Veetasammy Rammangal when he appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

He pleaded not guilty

led to the fight.

The two men’s sister, Karen, who was not at the scene when the incident occurred, related that her mother was summoned to the scene where there was an altercation between Jason and some villagers.

“She go through the street to go to the people which they were having a problem with her son. She asked them, ‘What is going on?

What happen? What is the problem?’ She was standing on the bridge leading to the grandmother of the people and while she was talking to her, the people came out with things in pot and cup. Her

sons were there waiting for her to find out what was going on and they pour oil on them,” Karen related.

She said as far as she was aware there was no ongoing feud with the family. As a matter of fact, she referred to the relationship between the two families as a good one.

“As a matter of fact, my mother buys greens from them. My mother grew up with one of them; we never had a problem with them,” Karen related.

Meanwhile, Jason told this publication on Thursday that he was burnt while trying to enquire about the issue between his brother and the villagers in question.

“We go to see what going on with we brother and the guys just throw the hot oil on we – the man (name withheld) and he nephew,” the injured man explained.

Guyana Times understands that a third person also received burns to his leg while a fourth person was also treated at the hospital for other injuries and sent away.

The men who committed the act were placed on $10,000 bail. The Fordyce family is calling for justice and does not believe that the Police are treating the incident with the seriousness and urgency it deserves.

to the charge when it was read by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh. The charge stated that on May 12, 2020, at Williamsburg, Ramoo inflicted grievous bodily harm on Rammangal.

However, he was placed on self-bail, and the matter was adjourned to November 9, 2020, for statements.

project partners to varying extents, over the past five years: The Rainforest Foundation US with NORAD funding, the Tenure Facility, the Nia Tero Foundation, Forest Peoples Programme with NICFI funding, and IUCN Ecuador with EU funding.

A written submission was also presented to the Minister containing a description of each project, as well as the efforts of the organisation in supporting Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai, in her remarks, said she has been following the activities of the APA and looked forward to future collaborations.

As a rights advocacy group, the APA has committed to working to support political administrations in ensuring that the rights of Indigenous peoples are protected: that the right to free, prior and informed consent is respected in projects, programmes, legislative and policy reform, and development.

The APA will also continue to advocate for Indigenous peoples to be given spaces for effective participation and inclusion in decision-making at the national level.

“We [the APA] will continue our work on ensuring that projects, legislation and policy are developed to make lasting contributions to the furtherance of democracy in Guyana, and the sustainable development of the interior will reduce the proliferation of conflicts around land and natural resources and enhance the platform for Guyana’s leadership on global climate action,” the body said.

Also present at the meeting was the Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary, Sarah Brown. Representing the APA at the meeting were its President, Lemmel Benson Thomas; Executive Director, Jean La Rose; Policy Officer, Sharon Atkinson; Governance and Rights Co-Ordinator, Laura George and GIS Specialist and Forest Policy Officer, Michael Mc Garrell.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

Regional

Brazilian Indigenous leader wins COVID-19 crackdown in Barbados Robert Kennedy rights award O

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lessandra Korap of the Munduruku tribe in the Amazon was awarded the 2020 Robert F Kennedy Human Rights prize for her work defending the rights, ancestral lands, and culture of Indigenous people in Brazil.

The award was to be presented to her by the former US Senator’s daughter, Kerry Kennedy, in a virtual ceremony from Washington at which former US Secretary of State John Kerry was to speak.

“This prize is not for me alone, it is for all of Brazil’s Indigenous peoples that are crying out for help,” the 36-year-old said in a telephone interview.

The award draws attention to the struggle of her tribe to stop the building of hydroelectric dams on the Tapajos River, where the

Munduruku live, and gain recognition for their reservation lands, she said.

It comes at a time when the Government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has “dismantled” health and education services for Indigenous people and turned a blind eye to illegal loggers and gold miners increasingly invading protected reservations and destroying forests, she said.

Bolsonaro defends his policies as integrating Indigenous people into Brazilian society and lifting them out of poverty.

The President has turned the Government’s Indigenous affairs agency Funai into a “farmers organisation” run by appointees by the farm lobby who are seeking to expand commercial agriculture into tribal lands, she said.

Alessandra Korap, an Indigenous woman of Munduruku tribe, speaks during a press conference to ask authorities for protection for Indigenous land and cultural rights in Brasilia, Brazil, November 21, 2019

“This prize has strengthened our cause. We will cry out louder,” she said.

(Reuters)

Cuba says US trade embargo cost more than US$5B last year

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uba on Thursday said the decades-old US trade embargo, tightened under President Donald Trump, cost it a record total of more than US$5 billion over the last financial year and hurt its ability to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez made the comments at the launch of an annual campaign for a United Nations resolution condemning the embargo put in place after Cuba’s 1959 revolution.

This year’s UN General Assembly vote, originally set for October, was postponed to May next year due to the pandemic. It will be

the 29th time Cuba has marshalled international support against the embargo.

Damages from April 2019 through March 2020 amounted to US$5.570 billion, some US$1.226 billion more than in the prior year, Rodriguez said, bringing the total cost to US$144 billion since the embargo’s inception.

He added that sanctions had also made it hard to acquire necessary personal protective equipment and ventilators to fight coronavirus while US policy had separated families.

“Whoever wins the US elections will have to face the tangible reality that the blockade ... hurts the Cuban

people, families, Cubans who live abroad (and) violates human rights,” Rodriguez told a news conference in Havana.

The Trump Administration has backtracked on nearly all the measures his predecessor, Barack Obama, had taken to ease the embargo and improve ties between the United States and its old Cold War foe.

It has even imposed new sanctions, partly in a bid to lock in the Cuban-American vote in the hotly contested swing state of Florida in the November 3 US presidential election. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rescued endangered Loa water frogs have 200 offspring

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onservationists in Chile are celebrating after a group of critically endangered Loa water frogs produced 200 offspring in Santiago zoo.

Fourteen Loa water frogs (Telmatobius dankoi) were airlifted to the zoo in 2019 after they were found in a muddy puddle, all that was left of their habitat in Chile’s Atacama desert.

Herpetologists managed to nurse 12 of them back to health.

Earlier this month, the frogs successfully mated.

The rescue mission was launched last year after herpetologist Andrés Charrier found that the stream outside the city of Calama – the only place where the Loa water frogs are known to live – had dried up.

The 14 specimens left in a muddy puddle were dehydrated and malnourished and with their habitat threatened by illegal water extraction for mining, agriculture and real estate development, the decision was taken to transfer them 1500

kilometres to the south to Chile’s National Zoo in the capital, Santiago.

The rescue of the 14 frogs received international praise and even caught the attention of Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who celebrated their safe transfer in an Instagram post.

Zoo Director Alejandra Montalba praised the team which looks after the frogs – and now their 200 offspring as well – for their meticulous work.

“They had to replicate the exact conditions of the water... to keep them alive,” she said.

Gabriel Lobos, who with Andrés Charrier has spent years studying the Loa water frogs, told local media that the challenge now was to restore the frogs’ habitat to allow their return to the wild. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ne person has been charged and two others may also face prosecution as Barbados cracks down on people breaching COVID-19 quarantine protocols after they arrive in the island.

Health Minister Jeffrey Bostic revealed this on Wednesday as he emphasised that Government would not compromise the health of Barbadians by allowing those in quarantine to get away with ignoring the rules to stay indoors and away from family, friends, and the general public.

“One person has been charged so far and one person who went missing and the Police actually had him in custody yesterday, and I believe a second one today.

But a decision to charge, that is being investigated at the moment by the Police and then we will see where

Barbadian Health Jeffrey Bostic

Minister

we go from there,” Bostic said.

He added the Police would soon release the details of who had been charged under the emergency legislation.

Two people tested positive for COVID-19 in Barbados among the tests conducted by the Best-

dos Santos Public Health Laboratory on Tuesday.

The Health and Wellness Ministry said they were a 64-year-old male visitor, who arrived on Air Canada on October 8, but whose travel originated in Nigeria; and a 56-yearold Barbadian female, who came into the island on British Airways on October 11. They both tested positive after retests.

Meanwhile, two people were discharged from isolation on Wednesday. There are now nine people in isolation, while 207 people have recovered. Confirmed cases have risen to 224, comprising 119 females and 105 males.

The laboratory conducted 448 tests for COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total for the year to 31,982.

(Excerpted from Nation News)

Mexico and US reach water deal before Saturday deadline

Mexico was under pressure to honour its obligations from the 1944 treaty and send water from its side of the Rio Grande to the US [Getty Images]

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exico reached a deal to supply water to the United States under a seven-decade-old treaty, ending an escalating stalemate ahead of a Saturday deadline, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.

AMLO, as the Mexican leader is known, announced the agreement at his morning news conference on Thursday. Under the deal, the US will help supply water when needed in emergencies to the northern Mexican state

of Chihuahua, just across the border from Texas, Roberto Velasco, the Director General for North America at the Foreign Relations Ministry, said at the conference.

The deal also makes the water delivery schedule more flexible for Mexico, said Blanca Jimenez, director of Mexico’s national water commission. The country will pull water destined for the US from more and different sources, reducing pressure on places like Chihuahua where farmers shut down a dam in

protest, she said.

Mexico was under pressure to honour its obligations from the 1944 treaty and send water from its side of the Rio Grande to the US, with Texas politicians threatening to take action. Tensions at the border have included protests on the Mexican side by farmers suffering from drought and the shutdown of a US-Mexico railway.

AMLO has sought to maintain a positive relationship with President Donald Trump’s Administration as Mexico faces its worst economic crisis in nearly a century and the US holds a presidential election. The efforts included a trip to Washington in July to celebrate a new freetrade deal and avoid Trump making Mexico a punching bag on the campaign trail, as he did in his first run in 2016.

The issue was a sensitive one in Mexico because much of the nation’s supply comes from Chihuahua, where droughts have hurt capacity to irrigate farms. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Khan: T&T has nothing to fear over FSO Nabarima

E

nergy Minister Franklin Khan Wednesday night said Trinidad and Tobago and its marine environment have nothing to fear from Venezuela-registered oil tanker FSO Nabarima.

He said the vessel, which was thought to be sinking, is actually stable.

He disclosed the findings of a visit by a team of experts who on Tuesday boarded the vessel to assess if there were any threat to the marine environment after reports that the ship was tilting to one side and/or was sinking.

The ship stores approx-

imately 1.3 million barrels of oil and an oil spill from it could threaten T&T, Venezuela, and other territories in range of the Gulf of Paria, where it is anchored in Venezuelan waters.

Khan told Newsday on Wednesday night that the assessment team reported on the FSO Nabarima: * It is upright and stable and there was no visible tilt and imminent risk of tilting or sinking; there was no visible water egress. He said Venezuelan state oil company PdVSA confirmed that in the engine room, which was flooded, there was no mixing

of bilge water, suggesting the double hulls are intact and pose minimal risk for an oil spill at this time. * Major maintenance is ongoing, with pumps and motors being repaired and replaced as needed; and the current maintenance programme on the ship is satisfactory.

Khan explained that the ships that were on standby near the Nabarima were actually smaller cargo ships that transported crude from it and since US sanctions were imposed, there has been a backlog. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

19

Around the World

Trump, US intelligence In his comeback as chief push to Lebanon's PM, Hariri declassify document vows to halt collapse Oil jumps on US on Russia's 2016 L election role – sources stimulus hopes

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

F

ollowing the biggest daily slide in three weeks on Wednesday, oil prices rose by more than two per cent on Thursday morning after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi instilled hope in the markets that a deal on a new US stimulus package could be imminent.

As of 11:37h EDT on Thursday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude was rising by 2.25 per cent at US$40.94, and Brent Crude prices were up 2.28 per cent at US$42.70.

Oil prices were only slightly up in earlier trade, but extended gains after Speaker Pelosi said that talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continue and a deal could be imminent.

Secretary Mnuchin “and I continue our conversation.

We’re about pretty soon ready to put pen to paper”, Speaker Pelosi told MSNBC about a coronavirus relief deal.

Additional support to the markets came from the US Department of Labour, which said on Thursday that new weekly jobless claims in the US were 787,000 for the week ending October 17. The figure was lower than analysts had expected – the median economist estimate compiled by Bloomberg was of 870,000 unemployment benefit claims.

Despite the still persistent concern about the stalled global oil demand recovery amid surging COVID-19 cases in major economies, including in Europe and the US, oil prices rebounded from Wednesday’s losses on the hopes of a new stimulus package and the better-than-expected job figures.

Prices had slipped on Wednesday by over three percent, with WTI Crude dipping below US$40 a barrel after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported the biggest build in US gasoline inventories since June. Despite the fact that the EIA reported a small crude inventory draw, market participants focused on the rise in gasoline stocks, which increased by 1.9 million barrels for the week to October 16. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Time running short, UK and EU get back down to Brexit business

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier

W

ith time fast running out, Britain and the European Union (EU) were starting intensified daily talks on Thursday in a final push for a deal to protect billions of dollars of post-Brexit trade.

Although Prime Minister Boris Johnson halted negotiations last week in frustration, the two sides agreed on Wednesday to resume talks just 10 weeks before a status quo transition arrangement expires and Britain goes it alone outside the 27-member bloc.

With tempers frayed and trust damaged between the estranged allies, their teams will sit down each

day until Sunday and then fix an agenda for further talks in both Brussels and London.

The EU is ready to negotiate until mid-November, but then needs time to ratify any deal before the yearend deadline.

“Time is now very short and we’ve been repeatedly clear that any agreement needs to be in place before the end of the transition period and if an agreement can’t be reached, we will leave on Australian-style terms,” a spokesman for Johnson told reporters, using the Government’s term for no deal.

“Both sides have agreed to a genuine intensification of the negotiations with talks taking place daily, including at weekends.”

Arriving in London, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier told Reuters it was important to be back at the table. “I think we have a huge common responsibility. Every day counts,” he said.

At stake is US$900 billion of annual trade between the world’s largest trade bloc and its sixth biggest economy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

U

US President Donald Trump

S President Donald Trump and his intelligence chief have pushed for quick declassification of a document disputing the 2017 intelligence community finding that Russia acted to help Trump get elected in 2016, three US Government officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

But their effort faces strong objections from inside the intelligence agencies, two officials said on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. One reason for their opposition is the proximity of the November 3 election.

An October 15 letter written by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to the inspector general for the intelligence community, reviewed by Reuters, confirmed he was seeking the declassification of the document at the request of Devin Nunes, the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee.

“I have requested that the document undergo a formal declassification review in response to a request” from Nunes, Ratcliffe wrote, noting that Republicans on the committee first requested that it be declassified in December 2018 when they controlled the House.

A former US intelligence official familiar with the issue said that the CIA and the National Security Agency – which monitors worldwide communications – were trying to stop Ratcliffe from releasing the document “because it would damage national security assets and jeopardise sources and methods”.

Ratcliffe and others had been pushing to have the intelligence declassified by Thursday night, one of the officials said. If successful, that would allow its release around the time that Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden square off in their final debate. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China slams Canada after report calls Uighur policy “genocide”

C

hina has slammed Canada after a parliamentary committee this week concluded the Chinese Government’s policies against the country’s Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang amounts to “genocide”.

The committee on Wednesday called on Ottawa to condemn Beijing’s policies against the Uighurs, which it said included “mass detentions, forced labour, pervasive State surveillance and population control”, and to impose sanctions against all Chinese Government officials involved.

“Witnesses were clear that the Government of China’s actions are a clear attempt to eradicate Uighur culture and religion,” the committee said.

On Thursday, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as “groundless” and accused Canada of trying to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

“The sub-committee of the Canadian Parliament neglects the fact of political stability, economic growth, ethnic solidarity, and social harmony in Xinjiang,” Zhao Lijian told reporters during a news conference.

“Its groundless statement is full of lies and disinformation. This is blatant interference in China’s internal affairs and reflects those Canadian individuals’ ignorance and prejudice. China firmly deplores and rejects that,” the spokesman said.

Relations between China and Canada deteriorated in December 2018 when Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, an executive with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, on an extradition request by the United States, where she is wanted on fraud charges.

Two Canadians – former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor – were arrested in China soon thereafter and accused of spying. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ebanese veteran politician Saad al-Hariri was named Prime Minister for a fourth time on Thursday and pledged to form a new government to tackle the country’s worst crisis since its 1975-1990 civil war.

After his nomination, Hariri said he would quickly form a Cabinet of specialists to bring in economic and financial reforms set out in a French plan to get foreign aid.

But he faces major challenges to navigate Lebanon’s sectarian politics to agree a Cabinet, which must then fix a mounting list of woes: a banking crisis, currency crash, rising poverty and State debts.

A new government will also have to contend with a COVID-19 surge and the fallout of the August explosion at Beirut port that killed nearly 200 people and caused billions of dollars of

damage.

The blast prompted the outgoing Government, which succeeded Hariri’s last administration, to resign.

At 50, Hariri has already served three terms as premier – a post reserved for a Sunni in Lebanon’s power-sharing system. He quit almost exactly a year ago as the crisis erupted and protests gripped the country, furious at the ruling elite for decades of State graft and waste.

Hariri, the sole candidate in Thursday’s talks, was backed by a majority of parliamentarians.

“I tell the Lebanese who are suffering from hardships to the point of despair that I am determined to work to stop the collapse that is threatening our economy, our society and security,” he told reporters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Nigerian President warns protesters, fails to address shooting

Protesters chant and sing solidarity songs as they barricade the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against Police brutality [Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP]

N

igerian President M u h a m m a d u Buhari spoke to the nation about the unrest that has gripped the country in recent days without making any mention of the deadly shooting of peaceful protesters that prompted international outrage.

Buhari called on Nigerians to stop demonstrating and engage with the Government in a short televised speech on Thursday.

The shootings have been widely condemned, but he did not speak of them at all during his address.

“I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this Administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy,” said Buhari.

“For you to do otherwise

will amount to undermining national security and law and order… Under no circumstances would this be tolerated.”

He called on Nigeria youths “to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage the Government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding”.

Gunfire rang out in the affluent Ikoyi neighbourhood of Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos on Thursday, with witnesses saying assailants attacked a detention facility in the area that is home to Government offices.

Smoke was also seen rising from the direction of Ikoyi correctional facility, and trucks carrying Police were seen heading towards the prison. The wreckage of a dozen cars smouldered in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood and two official buildings were ablaze.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Refuse to let the past infiltrate the present. A meaningful relationship will abruptly change if you say something insensitive. Concentrate on something that will benefit you as well as others.

An emotional incident TAURUS could interfere with your (April 20productivity. Say less and do May 20) more. How you handle your friends, colleagues and loved ones will determine how much respect you receive.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Take care of what you have worked so hard to achieve. Offering your services to a cause will be enlightening. Refuse to let criticism daunt you. Stand up for your beliefs.

Your heart is in the right place, but if you are too generous, someone is likely to take advantage of you. An important relationship needs some tender, loving care.

Physical activities and hard work will help you stay out of trouble. Avoid arguments by keeping your opinions to yourself.

Stay focused and take care of business.

Take your ideas to the next level. Discuss your plans with someone who can help you reach your objective. Sharing a hobby with a loved one will improve the relationship.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Work on self-improvement and let others fend for themselves. Avoid demanding situations and arguments. Take precautions to maintain a healthy immune system.

SCORPIO

Travel down the information highway. Gather facts, take care of unfinished business and plan for the future. Stop procrastinating. An unexpected visit will be eye-opening.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Be wary of anyone askSAGITTARIUS ing too many questions about your past. Being a little mys(Nov. 23Dec. 21) terious will play out in your favor when you face competition. Physical fitness will help you maintain good health.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Deal with friends, relatives and colleagues carefully. Don’t let your emotions lead to poor decisions.

A change may be overdue, but that doesn’t mean you should make it now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Mull over your thoughts and feelings, but don’t be too quick to share your plans. A change someone makes will be revealing. Spend time clearing up mental, physical and emotional clutter.

You may think you know what’s best for you, but before you take a risk, consider the repercussions. Overdoing it will result in setbacks. Play it safe.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

21

Windies women quartet set for international leagues D

eandra Dottin and Shakera Selman, two of the West Indies Women’s most popular players, are among some of the game’s best women cricketers set to participate in the upcoming Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) Challenge from November 4 to 9 in the United Arab Emirates.

Over in Australia, West Indies Women’s captain and star all-rounder, Stafanie Taylor, will also be featuring in franchise cricket as she lines up for Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Another outstanding West Indies player, Hayley Matthews, will also be competing in the tournament, and is once again playing for the Hobart Hurricanes.

Dottin, one of the most

Deandra Dottin

exciting all-rounders in the women’s game, announced her return to international cricket with an impressive series batting performance against England Women last month when she scored two half-centuries in the fivematch series. For this event

she will be part of Team Trailblazers alongside Indian stalwarts Jhulan Goswami and Smriti Madhana, as well as Sophie Ecclestone of England.

Dottin expressed her eagerness to participate. “It’s an exciting time for me to be selected for the Women’s IPL Challenge. Having played at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, and more recently the series against England Women, I am now back into the groove of T20 cricket. I am looking forward to teaming up with some of the superstars in women’s cricket. I have good memories of playing in Dubai and I’m hoping that my recent return to form will continue throughout this tournament,” the 29-year-old said.

Selman, one of the top

performing West Indian fast bowlers of all-time, will be back for her second stint in the Women’s IPL Challenge, and will be playing for defending champions Supernovas. The team is led by Harmanpreet Kaur, and includes Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues and Chamari Atapattu of Sri Lanka. The other team to participate in the tournament is Team Velocity, led by Mithali Raj. Selman said: “I’m looking forward to my second stint in the Women’s IPL Challenge.

Last year we just missed out on being in the final, but this time I’m with the defending champions, the Supernovas, and I hope I can contribute to their defense of the trophy. To line up with the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Chamari Atapattu, I know

Arsenal fight back to beat Rapid Vienna in Europa League

A

rsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said there is more to come from “fantastic” Thomas Partey, after the midfielder’s superb full debut in the 2-1 Europa League win at Rapid Vienna.

David Luiz and PierreEmerick Aubameyang scored two goals in five second-half minutes after a Bernd Leno mistake had gifted Taxiarchis Fountas the opener to ensure the Gunners began Group B with a victory.

But it was the performance of £45m deadline day signing Partey that stood out.

The former Atletico Madrid player was a calm presence in midfield, breaking down attacks and building play with apparently effortless ease.

It was only Partey’s second appearance in an Arsenal shirt after a late cameo in the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend, and Arteta is excited by what is to come from the Ghana international.

“I think he held the midfield by himself in the second half when we were a little bit more open,” said the Arsenal boss. “He started to take more chances attacking certain spaces with some players.

“I think he was fantastic, and there is much more to come from him.”

Thomas Partey, right, was given his first start since joining Arsenal on deadline day

"The best debut ever" - pundits praise Partey

For a long time in this game, the performance of Partey was the only highlight.

The midfielder oozed class, breaking up play with welltimed tackles, getting the ball forward with calm and accurate passes, and being alert to any danger posed by the hosts.

Partey made a particularly crucial intervention in the first half when he prodded the ball from under the feet of Fountas as the Rapid Vienna forward was about to shoot.

BT Sport pundit and former Manchester United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves described it as “one of the best debuts I have ever seen”.

“He is a key ingredient of

what Arsenal have been missing for years,” former England and Chelsea winger Karen Carney, commentating on the game for BT Sport, added.

“He has a knack of breaking up play and keeping the momentum going. He is pure class. He is versatile and tactically astute, gives more balance, and is technically very good.

“He is brilliant, and Arsenal fans will be overjoyed to see him in this team.”

Leno errors a concern for Gunners

After a tight first half in which chances were few and far between, the hosts took the lead after a big error by Leno.

The goalkeeper’s attempted pass was intercepted by

Fountas, who then fired home from a tight angle.

Another error by Leno almost gifted the Austrians a second when he hit a clearance straight at Fountas, but he was able to recover and parry the striker’s effort.

Arsenal lacked quality in the final third, as they struggled to open up the hosts, but found their bite when Aubameyang came off the bench. Luiz put Arsenal level when he headed in Nicolas Pepe’s free-kick, and Aubameyang secured the win when he tapped in from Hector Bellerin’s excellent assist.

Leno still looked nervous dealing with passes back to him, and another poor clearance hit Luiz and deflected to Fountas, but this time Rapid Vienna’s top scorer could not capitalise.

But despite those mistakes, Arteta is not considering giving up on playing out from the back. He added: “In a split second you have to make a decision, you have to make the right touch and the right pass. The opponents as well are intuitive, and they are waiting for that.

“It’s something we have to keep working on, because we want to play the way I want to. It’s necessary that I keep using both in our build-up play.” (BBC Sport)

we’re going to bring the heat to this tournament. I’m looking forward to competing against Deandra, and I know she’s not going to hold back her destructive batting and bowling.”

The opening fixtures for Strikers and Hurricanes in WBBL|06 on October 25, will be against each other.

This is the sixth edition of the tournament, and Taylor and Matthews have participated every year since inception, with Taylor winning the title with Sydney Thunder in 2015-2016.

Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket, lauded the players, saying, “CWI is extremely proud to have four of our international women’s players featuring across both the WBBL in Australia and the Women’s IPL Challenge

in Dubai.

The four players have all been rewarded for their performances at the highest level, and we wish them all the success possible with their franchise teams.

“This opportunity for some of our players to play at the franchise level is welcomed on the back of limited opportunities this year due to the prevailing pandemic. Their involvement will no doubt also serve to inspire our young women in the Caribbean both inside and outside the game of cricket.”

Pooran to be given Test cricket audition on New Zealand tour, claims Harper

W

Nicholas Pooran

est Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran will have the chance to show off his Test cricket credentials in upcoming First-Class matches during the tour of New Zealand.

Recently, calls have grown louder for the 25-yearold batsman to be included in the team for the game’s longest format. Pooran has put together a string of impressive performances in both the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Indian Premier League (IPL); convincing some, including legendary West Indian batsman Sir Viv Richards, that some of that success can be translated to the four-day format.

The batsman was not picked on the Test squad for next month’s tour, but was named as part of the team’s T20 squad. Despite that, Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief of selectors, Roger

Harper, recently revealed that the matter was being given some serious thought.

“There was a lot of consideration given to Nicholas Pooran. We are still looking at it, and I am sure (that) as we move forward, Pooran will have an opportunity as well,” Harper said.

The pair of First-Class matches are expected to take place at the same time as the Test match. The first Test is scheduled to be played in Hamilton from December 3 to 7, and the second is booked for Wellington from December 11 to 15.

Harper has indicated that the team will consist of some of the T20 players and Test reserves.

“He is in the T20 squad, and he has expressed willingness to play in four-day games that will be available during the tour,” Harper said.

So far, Pooran has played only three First-Class matches, and has a top score of 55.

In One-Day Internationals (ODIs) he is considered as one of the most talented young batsmen. In 25 matches, Pooran has scored 932 runs at an average of 49, with one century and seven fifties. In T20 cricket, he has 14 fifties and one hundred in 146 global matches. (Sportsmax)

22 Sunrisers keep play-off hopes alive in 8-wicket win over Royals

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

– Holder takes 3; Pandey, Shankar dominate

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Jofra Archer took two early wickets Sanju Sampson and Ben Stokes had a crucial partnership

M

anish Pandey’s The Sunrisers didn’t have a counter-attacking great start to their chase either.

83 not-out off 47 Archer had sent back David balls, studded with four fours Warner and Jonny Bairstow and eight sixes, nullified Jofra by the third over, but those Archer’s opening burst in the turned out to be the only two second innings as the Sunrisers wickets the Royals managed in Hyderabad beat the Rajasthan the whole game, as Royals by eight wickets in Pandey and Vijay Dubai.

Shankar The win - their first in five who struck an attempts while chasing in IPL unbeaten 51-ball 2020 - lifted them to the fifth 52 - added an spot on the points table. While unbeaten 140 the Royals also have eight for the third points, at 11 matches, they Vijay Shanker hit a half-century have played one more than the Sunrisers, and have therefore slid further away from playoff qualification.

Put in to bat, the Royals struggled to get going, and could manage only 154 for 6, the lowest first-innings total by any team in Dubai this season. w i c ke t , A big reason for that was Jason and took the Holder, who came in for the injured Kane side home with 11 Williamson and balls to spare. picked up a Uthappa run-out breaks Royals’ momentum After managing only t h r e e - nine in the first two overs, wicket haul. the Royals looked to step

SCOREBOARD RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) BATSMEN R RV Uthappa run out (Holder) 19 BA Stokes b Rashid Khan 30 SV Samson † b Holder 36 JC Buttler c Nadeem b Shankar 9 SPD Smith (c) c Pandey b Holder 19 R Parag c Warner b Holder 20 R Tewatia not out 2 JC Archer not out 16 Extras (w 3) 3 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.7) 154/6 Did not bat: S Gopal, AS Rajpoot, Kartik Tyagi Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Robin Uthappa, 3.3 ov), 2-86 (Sanju Samson, 11.4 ov), 3-86 (Ben Stokes, 12.1 ov), 4-110 (Jos Buttler, 15.3 ov), 5-134 (Steven Smith, 18.1 ov), 6-135 (Riyan Parag, 18.2 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Sandeep Sharma 4-0-31-0 JO Holder 4-0-33-3 V Shankar 3-0-15-1 T Natarajan 4-0-46-0 Rashid Khan 4-0-20-1 S Nadeem 1-0-9-0

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD INNINGS (TARGET: 155 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) BATSMEN R DA Warner (c) c Stokes b Archer 4 JM Bairstow † b Archer 10 MK Pandey not out 83 V Shankar not out 52 Extras (lb 1, w 6) 7 TOTAL (18.1 Ov, RR: 8.58) 156/2 Did not bat: PK Garg, Abdul Samad, JO Holder, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, S Nadeem Fall of wickets: 1-4 (David Warner, 0.4 ov), 2-16 (Jonny Bairstow, 2.4 ov) BOWLING JC Archer AS Rajpoot Kartik Tyagi BA Stokes S Gopal R Tewatia

O-M-R-W 4-0-21-2 1-0-11-0 3.1-0-42-0 2-0-24-0 4-0-32-0 4-0-25-0

up the scoring, with Robin Uthappa hitting Sandeep Sharma for a six and a four in the third over.

His innings

w a s , h o w e v e r, cut short by a brilliant piece o f fielding.

Ben Stokes had looked to dab Jason Holder on the off-side, but the ball hardly went off the square. Uthappa, keen for a quick single, charged towards the other end while Stokes barely moved. Holder was quick to the ball, and nailed the direct hit at the bowler’s end to find Uthappa short.

S a n j u S a m s o n , though, hit Sandeep Sharma for back-to-back cover-driven fours, to keep the Royals ticking. It looked like it was going to be his night, especially when he pulled Holder over deep midwicket for a six in the 12th over, but Holder cleaned him up next ball with an offcutter. He scored a 26-ball 36.

previous over, then mistimed a slower short ball to a backpedalling Warner at mid-off, to give Holder his first threewicket haul in T20s since 2015. It took a four and a six from Archer in the 20th over to push the Royals past 150.

Archer gets Warner and Bairstow Before this game, Archer had dismissed Warner five times in six innings across formats in 2020, while leaking only 28 runs off 41 balls. On Thursday, Warner lasted only four balls against the pacer.

After beating him on the first two balls of the innings, Archer drew an outside edge that flew over Rahul Tewatia at first slip. Next ball, Archer found the outside edge once again.

This time the ball flew knee high to the left of Stokes at second slip, and Stokes dived full length to complete

Stokes fails to cash in on early luck Stokes had scored 13 off 11 balls at the end of the fifth over, and was trying to break free. One such attempt against Shankar fell just short of the deep-backward square leg.

Two overs later, he tried a reverse sweep against Rashid Khan, but the ball bounced in front of deep backward point.

On the last ball of the same over, Shankar put him down while running to his right from deep square leg.

Stokes, though, failed to utilise those chances, and was finally bowled by Khan for a 32-ball 30.

Holder’s strikes keep Royals in check Royals were looking at Jos Buttler to provide impetus to the innings, but once he fell for 9 off 12, Steven Smith looked to take charge. Smith soon holed out to long-on off Holder, while trying to dig out a full delivery.

Riyan Parag, who had hit T Natarajan for 4, 6, 4 in the

Manish Pandey had electrifying innings of 83

an

the catch.

Bairstow, too, had no answer to Archer’s pace, as a

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VEHICLE FOR SALE Jason Holder took three for the Sunrisers

149kph length ball found its way through the gap between bat and pad to leave the Sunrisers at 16 for 2 after three overs.

Pandey’s counter-attack nullifies early impact With no Williamson in the side and doubts over the Sunrisers’ middle order, there was a case for Archer to bowl a third over in the powerplay, but the Royals decided against this.

That allowed Pandey to counter-attack to pull the Sunrisers out of trouble. He was one off five balls before he hit Kartik Tyagi for consecutive fours. Stokes replaced Archer from the other end, but he also wasn’t spared. A halfvolley on the leg stump was whipped over deep square leg.

When Stokes tried a bouncer, Pandey pulled him over deep midwicket off the front foot.

Tyagi came in for more punishment in the next over, as Pandey struck 1 four and 2 sixes to take the Sunrisers to 58 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. By the end of the ninth over, Pandey had brought up his fifty off just 28 balls.

Shankar proves the perfect foil Earlier in the day, Shankar had registered figures of 1 for 15 from his three overs.

With the bat, his 10 off 18 at the halfway stage in the chase looked unattractive, but with Pandey going at a much higher tempo from the other end, he just needed to stay in there.

Successive inside-out fours over cover off Shreyas Gopal helped Shankar turn things around. So much so that when Smith brought Archer on for his fourth over - the 16th of the innings - Shankar hit his first three balls over mid-off, over mid-on, and over the bowler’s head for a hat-trick of fours.

Pandey collected two more sixes in the next two overs, before Shankar sealed the game with a pulled four off Tyagi in the 19th over.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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Pompey to serve on World Olympians Association (WOA)

t

Guyana’s Aliann Pompey

Renowned Guyanese Olympian Aliann Pompey was on Thursday elected to serve as the Executive Committee Member on the World Olympians Association (WOA).

The four-time Guyanese Olympian was nominated to the post by President of the Guyana Olympians Association Geoffrey Sankies, and received the support of Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President K.A. Juman-Yassin.

The Guyanese was lucky to beat out Barbadian Olympian Freida Nicholls for the position at the WOA General Assembly, which was hosted virtually on Thursday.

At WOA, Pompey will be

representing the interests of female athletes in the Americas.

The former Guyanese athlete has plenty of experience serving in athletics administration, as she currently serves as President of the Pan Am Sports Athletes Commission. She is also a coach at the St. John’s University in the USA. The 400-metre specialist, who spearheads the Aliann Pompey Invitational annually, represented Guyana at four Olympic Games: Sydney, Australia in 2002; Athens, Greece in 2004; Beijing, China in 2008; and London, United Kingdom in 2012.

g i v e s financial aid to the Associations, so they can run their programmes, and our NOA Grant Fund helps pay for longer-term projects that benefit their local communities.

“We are creating a range of benefits for Olympians. We have secured online university scholarships, mentorships, job placements and life coaching programmes for Olympians, assisting them to transition to a life beyond competitive sport following retirement.

“Olympians have a special capacity to use the power and neutrality of sport for the good of society, employing its unique potential to foster social cohesion wherever it is needed.

“Olympians also personify the values of excellence, teamwork and discipline.

They can serve as role models to help bring communities together across all ethnic, religious and social divides.”

About the WOA

There are 148 National Olympians Associations (NOAs) spread across all five continents. These organise events for Olympians and run projects that help their local communities.

Projects are based on the Olympic ideals laid down by Pierre de Coubertin.

Describing itself, the WOA has said: “We help the National Associations help their Olympian members, and spread the spirit of Olympism in their country.

“Our recently launched NOA Development Fund

spinners, as had obtained in England, but Cornwall is in that squad as spinner, along with all-rounder Roston Chase, who is tipped to play in both Tests.

After Cornwall had had an underwhelming last Test in England, Harper had made this disclosure: Given the right conditions, the Selection Panel strongly believes that Cornwall is the most potent spinner. “…as displayed when he had the track to bowl against Afghanistan, so he was chosen because of that. While it might be similar to what Chase does, we still believe he is our most potent spinner,” Harper explained.

The lead selector has said that, if opportunity presents itself, Cornwall will have the opportunity to exploit conditions.

Fondly called “Jimbo” by the team,

the 27-year-old Cornwall has thus far claimed 13 wickets in three Test matches, but had failed to have a significant impact in England, where the team lost the series 2-1 to their hosts.

Cornwall was added to the bowling line-up for the third Test in England, and his 27-ball spell had produced 85 runs without reaping a wicket.

Cornwall is, nevertheless, anticipating an improved performance in New Zealand. In his interview with the local Antigua Observer publication earlier this week, he said: “I think I am prepared for the tour. I think that this one either makes me or breaks me. I think it’s about time I show what I am worth on the international scene. I do have a tenwicket haul in Test cricket, but I need to

BCB starts planning for historic semiprofessional tournament in 2021

BCB President Hilbert Foster

“Cornwall is our most potent spinner,” says Roger Harper W hen the Test squad and list of reserves was announced for the England tour, a lot of individuals had questioned the omission of Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyanese who consistently dominates Regional First-Class cricket.

The WI Test squad and list of reserves for the New Zealand tour was recently announced, and Permaul has still not been selected. From all indications, the West Indies Selection Panel has kept faith with Rahkeen Cornwall and Roston Chase.

On the most recent Mason and Guest radio programme, Lead selector Roger Harper disclosed that Cornwall is regarded as the most potent spinner in the West Indies.

It is evident that conditions in New Zealand will not favour

T

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show a little bit more in terms of starting to get my performance together and make sure this New Zealand tour counts.”

Cornwall’s best Test match figures –

10 for 121 came against

Afghanistan.

Before that, he had captured two wickets against India on his debut. In 63 First-Class matches, Cornwall has produced an impressive 303 wickets at 24.11, with 19 fivewicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls, and a best bowling figure of 8-51 along with a best match haul of 12/205. (Brandon Corlette)

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier this year unveiled plans to host a historic semi-professional cricket tournament, but was unfortunately forced to temporarily shelve those plans because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The BCB 2020 cricket season was suspended in early March, and would likely restart in the second quarter of 2021; but, vibrant as ever, the board has used the last eight months to put into place several plans with the objective of hitting the ground running whenever the Government gives the green light for sports to restart.

The BCB has meanwhile been involved in a COVID-19 response effort; countywide coaching programme; securing sponsorships for activities; assisting clubs and youth players with cricket gear and equipment; and hosting numerous meetings with Government officials.

BCB President Hilbert Foster is heading a special committee that is tasked to make sure the proposed semi-professional tournament is successful.

For the first season, the tournament would be played on a knockout basis with 12 teams being involved. Those teams are: Combined Upper Corentyne; Port Mourant; RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour; Albion; Rose Hall Canje; Young Warriors; Tucber Park; Police; Blairmont; West Berbice; East Bank Berbice, and Berbice River.

E a s t

been proposed, with the winner taking home half that amount ($500,000) The grounds to be used are: Albion; #69 Vikings; Rose Hall Canje, and Port Mourant; and two matches would be played at one venue for a day. The organisers are expected to cover the cost of cricket balls, transportation, meals, umpiring and scoring, while the final match is expected to be broadcasted live via Facebook and radio.

Foster has also disclosed that, if they so desire, a club can have one non-Berbician player in its squad. One highlight of the tournament would be a Say No/ Say Yes campaign by the twelve teams. The main objectives would be to get youths to Say No to Drugs and Yes to Education. The BCB President has expressed confidence that all of the plans would fall into place.

Foster and his executives have already met with incoming Honorary Patron of the BCB, Minister Vickram Bharrat, who has committed to making the tournament a success.

Meetings with potential sponsors would start shortly, and Foster has disclosed that several major companies have already indicated great interest in participating.

Funds raised from the hosting of this tournament would be used to expand the county coaching programme; assist weaker first division

Rahkeem Cornwall

Bank Berbice and Berbice River teams would, for the first time, be playing in a BCB first division tournament.

Foster has disclosed that each player and team official would receive a financial stipend per match, with the amount rising for every match played in the tournament. A combined prize package of $1M has

clubs a n d playe r s ; and host the regular cricket tournaments at the j u -

nior, female and senior levels.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Pompey to serve on World Olympians Association (WOA)

Windies women quartet set for International Leagues League s Page 21

Sunrisers keep playoff hopes alive in 8-wicket win over Royals Pg 22

– Holder takes 3; Pandey, Shankar dominate

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