Guyana Times - Friday April 16, 2021

CXC will accept SBAs in January 2022 P9 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4619

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

Persons 18 years and over can access COVID-19 vaccines …1 death, 153 new cases recorded

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

One busted over 30 cases of smuggled rum in Lethem …loose vicious dogs on CANU ranks

P16

See story on page 3

La Soufrière eruption

Guyana assures St Vincent of full support during crisis …2nd shipment of relief aid left for volcano-ravaged island Page 7

Massive corn, soya bean farms to be developed by local investors

Ganja trafficker jailed, fined $1.5M on his P8 birthday Child rapist P11 asks court to reduce 25-year prison sentence

Repeat curfew violator jailed P18

…as Govt to explore public-private partnership

4 missing Guyanese

One had been deported from US in October 2020

Page 17

Page 19

Minibus driver charged for causing death by dangerous P10 driving

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 16 – 04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, April 17 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 16 – 05:55h-07:25h and Saturday, April 17 – 06:30h-08:00h.

Persons 18 years and over can access COVID-19 vaccines …1 death, 153 new cases recorded

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed that the 83,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccines that were expected to arrive here this week would come in the new week.

“Originally, we were thinking we would get them this week, but when we look at logistical plan, those vaccines would be arriving early next week,” Dr Anthony explained.

Government has bought some 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccines to the tune of $4 billion. Already, Guyana has received some 55,000 doses of the Russiamade jab and with the additional 83,000 expected, more persons in the country will be inoculated.

“Our vaccine exercise has been quite good. As of

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the day. Clear skies are expected during the night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 06:39h and 19:05h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.46 metres.

Low Tide: 12:39h reaching a minimum height of 0.60 metre.

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overnment has widened the eligibility requirement for COVID-19 vaccination to now allow for persons 18 years and older to get immunised against the novel coronavirus.

This announcement was made by Health Advisor, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, as well as several other key Government officials in social media posts on Thursday evening.

“We go to all age groups starting at age 18 and above as of [today] for COVID -19 vaccination,” Dr Ramsammy said in a post on Facebook.

Guyana commenced its COVID-19 vaccination exercise in February and to date, more than 70,000 persons have received the first of two doses.

In a statement earlier on Thursday, Dr Ramsammy reassured that there were enough COVID-19 vaccines in storage to provide all persons who have received their first dose with their second dose.

“Many persons have been calling expressing concern that they will not be able to get their second dose. Their concerns have been heightened by rumours that the Ministry of Health has been using up all vaccines that have come into the country. These rumours are the work of persons with malicious intent.

The Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health have ensured that for everyone receiving a first dose, there is an equivalent amount of vaccine doses stored away. We assured persons not to worry, their first doses are secured safely and there will be no delay in them receiving their sec-

ond doses,” he posited.

As the vaccination rollout continues with almost 100 permanent sites in the 10 regions along with temporary sites in some areas, outreaches are being conducted in communities on a daily basis to get more persons immunised.

With the vaccines Guyana has already acquired, once their arrival, the country will be able to fully vaccinate 261,000 persons. The Health Ministry’s goal is to administer 100,000 first doses by early next week.

During the COVID-19 update on Thursday,

[Wednesday], we had more than 70,000 persons who have already received first shots and those who took the Sinopharm vaccine, many of them are due for their second shot. So, once they get their second dose, they’ll become fully immunised,” Minister Anthony noted.

Death, new cases

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Thursday reported that another person who tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has died.

The latest fatality is a 94-year-old male from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), who died on Wednesday while receiving care at a medical facility.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

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

Regional Food Security during COVID-19

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ue to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Region and the world at large, the issue of agriculture and food security has not been talked about much. However, we have always maintained that food security for the Region is as important as any other matter, and must be treated as such by Governments and other development partners.

In Guyana’s case, we have, over the years, been at the forefront in pushing for an effective agriculture and food security strategy. In December 2020, at the Seventh virtual Summit of the Heads of State of Caricom and the Republic of Cuba, President Dr Irfaan Ali brought the issue of regional food security once again into the spotlight. The President used the opportunity to press the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to review the inter-regional trade mechanism and its food security, in an effort to strengthen the bloc and place greater focus on an Agriculture and Food Security Strategy.

We believe Regional Heads need to place more emphasis on developing their agriculture sector, and making the kinds of investments necessary to ensure the Region is not only food secure, but that we produce enough to tap into export markets, so as to earn foreign exchange.

It could be recalled that, in 2002, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who at the time had lead responsibility for Agriculture in the Caricom quasi-Cabinet, had sought assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to boost the Region’s efforts to ensure it is food secure. One year after, he proposed that the Region build on its past efforts to develop a common agriculture policy, and requested that the IICA and the FAO support the Caricom Secretariat in developing a framework for repositioning agriculture in the Region.

In underlining the problems that the agriculture sector faces in the Region, Jagdeo had stressed that, in the changing global environment, the sector was neither providing for food security nor earning the foreign exchange needed to cover the Region’s growing food import bill.

In addition, at a Caricom Heads of Government Conference in Grand Anse, Grenada, Jagdeo had presented a paper titled “A Framework for the Repositioning of Caribbean Agriculture”. In that framework, he stressed the need for a regional policy and strategy aimed at strengthening food security and alleviating poverty; and in January 2005, the President’s proposal was formally dubbed the “Jagdeo Initiative”, with the theme “Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Development”.

The declining role of agriculture in the Region, the continuing loss of preferential markets for the Region’s traditional products, and the rapidly-increasing extra-regional food import bill are among the serious and challenging issues highlighted in the Initiative. However, while there has been much banter on the topic, it is not clear what concrete actions (if any) have been taken since then to strengthen the Region’s agriculture sector and to bring it to a level envisaged in the “Jagdeo Initiative”.

Regional Governments would need to show by their actions that they are willing to go beyond the rhetoric. Guyana has made tremendous efforts to ensure the country produces enough to meet the demands of its citizens.

As we are presently doing, other countries would need to organise themselves and their individual farming sectors, and encourage young persons to embrace new technologies to see farming and agriculture as a business. By doing so, the Region would not only be ensuring there is enough food to satisfy the demands of people, but the surplus of what is produced could be exported.

Several years after, many of the proposals detailed in the Jagdeo Initiative are still relevant, and perhaps even more needed now, considering the changing global dynamics relative to countries producing enough to meet the needs of their populations and to satisfy export markets.

President Ali’s call for countries to develop an effective agriculture and food security strategy is another reminder of Guyana’s commitment to the issue of food security.

A student of President’s College demonstrating a lesson as Education Minister Priya Manickchand, teachers and students look on following the commissioning of the first smart classroom in Education District Four at President’s College on Thursday (Education Ministry photo)

PPP/C giving education its rightful place Dear Editor, I draw attention to a recent OXFAM (Oxford Committee for Famine Relief) study detailing that “A robust education system is imperative to any growing nation.” The study emphasised that “It is all the more necessary when the country is battling a raging pandemic and aiming to become self-reliant.” As we all know, the (COVID-19) pandemic has virtually reversed progress in the education system by years, and has laid bare the inequalities in the sector.

Right now, there is an ever-growing global concern; that is, of stemming the possibility that “… teachers fear that a third of the children might never return to schools after they reopen.” They are surmising that this is so because many of them “…are likely to be from the marginalised social groups, making governments’ support crucial in the recovery of school education and prevention of drop-outs.”

It is in this context that I applaud the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government for its many contingency plans and innovations. This forward planning was evident in Budget 2021 when a whopping $60.6 billion was allocated to support education delivery across the country. The plan that

has already started to unfold is most comprehensive: equipping all nursery and secondary schools with necessary resources (including trained and highly qualified teachers); constructing new secondary schools in Regions Four, Six and Nine; upgrading schools in all the other regions; constructing and rehabilitating education facilities; improving the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE); financing operation of the University of Guyana’s two campuses, in Regions Four and Six; and the list goes on.

So, even as the world is taking a hammering educationally, Guyana is bracing itself for the aftermath of the causative factor, the COVID-19.

I add here another dimension, already up and running. It is the online training, through the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), of some 1,000 untrained teachers. This necessary initiative, as we know, is in keeping with the PPP/C Government’s goal to transform the education sector, making it possible for all teachers to be trained, especially those in far-flung regions, who can utilise this ubiquitous and modern mode to upgrade their qualifications.

The figures show that, in 1992, Guyana had just 30 per cent of its teach-

ers trained, and that ratio improved to about 80 per cent at the end of the last PPP/C Government’s tenure (2015). So, this growth is expected to resume until the education system is fully functioning with a gamut of trained teachers.

I now highlight the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which is about to take off. This is where the Government of Guyana must be commended yet again for delivering on its manifesto promise: to provide, over the next five years, some 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese. GOAL is being housed at the Ogle Estate, East Coast Demerara, and Professor Dr. Jacob Opadeyi, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, is heading the venture.

Guyana’s aim is to facilitate development of the country’s most important asset, that is, its human capacity. The first phase, this year, will see some 4,500 students pursuing programmes at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), the University of Applied Sciences (IUBH), the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), and the JAIN “Deemed To Be” University. This is indeed a phenomenal undertaking, and it promises

rich rewards for the nation, which is on the cusp of its greatest financial boom.

I remind readers that Guyana’s educational drive is in good hands.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has recently been recognised as a Commonwealth Wise Woman, and is now a mentor on the Commonwealth Wise Woman Mentoring Project. This recognition has been for her work with the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) in launching the Workforce Recovery Initiative in Guyana, along with Coursera.

This Workforce Recovery Initiative, via reputable universities through the Coursera programme, offered Guyanese 4000 free online courses. Since launch of this programme, on September 5, 2020, over 53,371 Guyanese have registered to pursue courses in various areas, and 43,305 certificates have been issued to 9,473 persons. No wonder Ms. Manickchand has been honoured.

It is my wish, and that of all right-thinking Guyanese, that education would continue in this upward and holistic manner.

Guyana must not only be the ‘food basket’ of the region; it must (as it can) be the ‘think tank’ also.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

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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

There must be more trust between Govt and Opposition

Dear Editor, Guyana is one of the few countries in the western hemisphere that are not affected by national disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes or hurricanes, but it has politicians who are considered almost as bad, and, as such, progress is impeded.

It is more than a month ago since Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon issued a call for the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and the acting Chief Justice to be confirmed, but nothing has since been done or heard in this regard. Maybe Harmon’s speech was merely to make news, because he was speaking at an international women’s forum, and

was advocating that the two women, who have been acting in their respective positions for three years, be confirmed.

Harmon said, “I am prepared to do what is necessary to ensure that it happens”.

He has since not taken any step, but the move for the confirmation has to be initiated by President Irfaan Ali. However, he has not done so, and has not stated whether or not he would do so.

Confirmation of the two top legal positions has been on the horizon for decades. The last confirmed Chancellor was Madam Justice Desiree Bernard, and when she quit to take up higher judicial office,

to become a Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice in April 2005, no confirmed appointment was made.

In fact, Justice Carl Singh acted as Chancellor for more than a decade, until his term ended without confirmation; and so did Justice Ian Chang, who, until his retirement, acted as Chief Justice without being confirmed. He died subsequently.

It seems to me that there will never be agreement between the Government and the Opposition in regard to the appointment and confirmation of the two top posts, and one wonders why “consultation” was removed and replaced by “agreement”. I

seem to recall that the late Bryn Pollard, former Legal Consultant of Caricom, had suggested that there be a safeguard in the constitution if there is no agreement that two-thirds of Parliament should vote for the measure.

This too might be difficult to achieve. It is very unfortunate that no agreement has been reached despite calls and pleas from former CCJ President Sir Denis Byron; Sir Shridath Ramphal; Justice Desiree Bernard, former Chancellor; and even the current President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, and other legal luminaries.

Despite court rulings and a clear recount of the votes,

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon is still maintaining that Irfaan Ali is not the legitimate President, and Harmon says he would not recognise Ali as the Republic’s Head of State.

The only solution to this impasse is to reamend the Constitution - removing “agreement” and replacing it with “in consultation with”; and this might pose a problem, because, in my view, a simple majority of votes is not enough to amend the Constitution, it may require either twothirds or three-quarters, and if the Government cannot win over the support of some Opposition members, the amendment will be

stalled. Therefore, it is not likely that there will be a confirmation of the two top judicial officers.

What a shame. If Guyana is to move forward, Government and the Opposition have to agree on certain aspects in the interest of the nation and the populace. The country cannot afford further gridlock, and politicians must work in the interest of the country/populace, and not on their personal aggrandisement. There must be more trust between the Government and the Opposition.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Guyanese would benefit from a host of advantages from these scholarships Dear Editor, When we examine how the pandemic has changed our country, one of the things that stand out is that education delivery has become more technologically advanced. While this may be out of the ordinary, especially for students in Guyana, it forces us all to embrace technology in this modern era. That definitely is not a bad thing, but, at the same time, COVID-19 has resulted in many individuals, including our young people, being out of jobs. The question we must ask ourselves, as a society, is: What are we doing to keep our young people

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

meaningfully engaged and motivated?

I believe the PPP/C Government had thought along these lines even as they were campaigning for the 2020 national and regional elections. The reason why I hold such a view is that, amidst the pandemic, they have managed to swiftly provide Guyanese with access to thousands of scholarships from countless universities around the world. The best part about this is that the scholarships are being offered online.

At start of the pandemic, I wondered about the severity of the effects on the ed-

ucation system in Guyana.

Being an educator for over 15 years, I recognised that certain systems were rigid in terms of education delivery. However, I was hopeful that, in some way, changes could be made. I casually examined the manifestos of the contesting parties at the 2020 elections and, not surprisingly, I saw a clearly defined commitment to improving the education system in Guyana. This was in the PPP/C’s manifesto.

The Government committed to providing 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese within their first term in office, upon their re-election.

His Excellency President

Irfaan Ali also committed to building a knowledge-based society while diversifying and building Guyana’s economy into a more resilient, multi-dimensional one. The fact that this Government has already managed to provide Guyanese with access to thousands of scholarships in a matter of months since they took office is an indication of their efforts to fulfill their commitments, as outlined in their manifesto. Such efforts must be applauded.

In addition, it is no doubt that the way in which the Government is going about the scholarship pro-

gramme is the right one. I examined the list of scholarships that were published, and I was very happy to see transparency in the way they were presented. This is commendable on part of the Ministry of Public Service, as interested persons can clearly see the prerequisites for each area of study without being confused on their eligibility.

The previous administration did not approach their scholarship initiative in this manner. In fact, there was minimal public knowledge on scholarships being offered to Guyanese, as far as I am

aware. Nevertheless, I am glad to see that we are on the right track, and that the PPP/C Government is showing steadfast commitment towards improving the education system in Guyana, even amidst the pandemic.

Guyanese citizens would, no doubt, benefit from a host of advantages from these scholarships, and it only reiterates the President’s position on empowering Guyanese to benefit fully from the country’s development.

Respectfully, Pastor Darion Comacho

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

by

David Rubadiri

From the west Clouds come hurrying with the wind Turning sharply Here and there Like a plague of locusts Whirling, Tossing up things on its tail Like a madman chasing nothing.

Thursday’s answers

Pregnant clouds Ride stately on its back, Gathering to perch on hills Like sinister dark wings; The wind whistles by And trees bend to let it pass.

In the village Screams of delighted children, Toss and turn In the din of the whirling wind, Women, Babies clinging on their backs Dart about In and out Madly; The wind whistles by Whilst trees bend to let it pass.

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riting songs or poems is a creative, powerful way to express an opinion, convey send a message, or tell tion, an emo ugh folk songs, raps, Thro . a story spoken word and ic, mus country writers and poets song es, other genr s to protest, to word their have used listeners and re inspi to unite, and e works are thes es etim Som readers. meanings their and d rwar straightfo Shall "We ple, exam For . are clear em anth l erfu pow a is e" Overcom Civil the g durin lar popu very that was Rights Era of the 1950s and 1960s.

Other songs and poems use imagery and symbols to convey their messages, like the folk song "This Land is Your Land".

Write a song or a poem that tells or expresses your opinion story a something important t abou Include lots of you. to convey your to ils deta (Minimum age. mess stanzas e thre th: leng s). verse e thre or ets. rock ding (rea org)

Clothes wave like tattered flags Flying off To expose dangling breasts As jagged blinding flashes Rumble, tremble and crack Amidst the smell of fired smoke And the pelting march of the storm.

Questions: What type of poem is it? What is it all about? How did you know what it was about?

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

La Soufrière eruption…

Guyana assures St Vincent of full support during crisis

…2nd shipment of relief aid left for volcano-ravaged island

W

ith two shipments of relief aid already on the way to St Vincent and the Grenadines, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured Guyana’s Caricom sister State of Guyana’s support in the long term as the island state continues to grapple with the ongoing volcano crisis.

The Guyanese Head of State made this commitment during the 14th Special Emergency Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government, held virtually on Thursday.

President Ali assured Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves that Guyana is fully committed to assisting the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, not only in the immediate period, but also in the medium and long terms, the Office of

50 water tanks to St Vincent and the Grenadines, and 50 water tanks to Barbados in response to an appeal from that island’s Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.

Barbados has been greatly affected by the ash emanating from the erupting La Soufrière volcano in SVG. Meanwhile, the Guyanese Head of State indicated that Government has received immense support from the local Private Sector, which has mobilised financial resources as well.

He added that his government intends to supplement this.

At Thursday’s virtual Caricom meeting, President Ali was accompanied by Prime Minister Brigadier (ret'd) Mark Phillips, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, and other officials at Thursday’s virtual CARICOM meeting

Consulate in SVG has not found any Guyanese in the nearly 100 shelters established by the island’s government. Most of these per-

Banks DIH donated over 2,300 cases of water to St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has been ravaged by La Soufrière volcano eruptions

the President said in a statement.

The Guyanese Leader informed the regional meeting that a vessel had already departed with 350 tonnes of varied needs, including water, water storage containers, sugar, rice, peas, chowmein, sanitisers, detergents, disinfectants, personal care items, and supplies for infants. That vessel is due to arrive in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday.

Private Sector support

Additionally, it was noted that a 20-foot container of water also left on a Tropical Shipping vessel on Thursday.

That container, according to Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC), holds water supplied by Banks DIH. The local beverage company donated 800 cases of Tropical Mist water, 1152 cases of Rainforest Water, and 400 cases of Aqua Mist water.

Further, the CARICOM leaders were told that another shipment of items is being prepared for departure from Guyana next Monday. That shipment would include water, sugar, rice, assorted food items, and personal care and hygiene items.

President Ali also committed to sending a further

Minister Hugh Todd, and other officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including Permanent Secretary Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Cabinet Secretary (ag) Marcia NadirSharma, and Director of Department of the Americas, Ambassador George Talbot.

The La Soufrière volcano erupted in St Vincent last Friday, and intense ash has covered the entire island, spreading also to the Grenadines as well as to neigbhouring countries such as Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada.

Some 16,000 persons have had to be evacuated from communities in proximity to the volcano, and many residents are without running water, and even electricity.

Currently, there are just over 3,000 Guyanese residing in the Caricom island State, and according to Head of the Diaspora Unit at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Guyana, Rosalinda Rasul, all of them are out of the Red and Orange Zones, which are the danger areas closer to La Soufrière.

“They are safe and they are in the Green Zone,” she told <<Guyana Times>> on Thursday.

According to Rasul, the team from the Guyana

sons are currently seeking accommodation at private homes.

“They’re properly accommodated at this time… The good thing is that we have people now coming forward to indicate whether they are, and that they are okay; wherein, earlier on, when the volcano started [erupting] we did not hear much from the Guyanese. But now we are in contact with them, and at least now we can get an idea what their needs, if any, and how we can assist them,” she posited.

Rasul further told this newspaper that apart from inhalers for asthmatic persons, there has not been any special request from the Guyanese in St Vincent thus far. However, she noted that the Guyanese would also benefit directly from the relief items Guyana has sent to the island.

“We are assured that the aid that’s going there (from Guyana) is actually going to reach the Guyanese population that’s in St Vincent and the Grenadines. They’re definitely being taken care of, we are assured of that,” she indicated.

Meanwhile in a scientific update at 18:00h on Thursday, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre said

the seismic activity at La Soufrière has changed its pattern.

“The last of a series of bands of tremor ended at about 5:40 am, and unlike all the previous bands, had no strong venting or explosive activity associated with it. The seismic network has now recorded a near constant swarm of long-period and hybrid earthquakes,

with three brief episodes of low-level tremor each lasting less than 30 minutes.

The continuous GPS network shows a signal consistent with depressurisation of the magma reservoir following the initiation of explosive activity on 9th April 2021,” the UWI SRC noted.

It went on to say that the volcano continues to erupt although explosive activi-

ty appears to have slowed at this time. Further, the Centre added, the current pattern of seismic activity may indicate growth of a lava dome, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Nevertheless, it was noted that explosions and accompanying ashfall of similar or larger magnitude could recommence in the future. (G8)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ganja trafficker jailed, fined $1.5M on his birthday

The ganja that was found in Cadogan’s suitcase

Jailed: Joel Cadogan

nited States citizen Joel Cadogan was on Thursday slapped with a four-year prison sentence and fined $1.52 million after pleading guilty to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The 51-year-old man appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Grove/ Diamond Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him.

Sandiford stated that on April 12, Cadogan arrived in Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport with three large suitcases and two handpieces.

Upon clearing immigration, he was subjected to a search by agents of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), during which four plastic bags containing the compressed marijuana were found wrapped in several pairs of jeans in one of the

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The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) stated that, on April 12, 2021, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Cadogan had 2.036 kilograms of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Cadogan was represented

by Attorney-at-law Dexter Smart.

CANU Prosecutor Konyo

suitcases.

Customs officials conducted an additional search on the remaining luggage, and unearthed several packs of small empty Ziplock bags and a tabletop scale. The items were stuffed in several pairs of sneakers.

Following the discovery, Cadogan was reportedly arrested and taken to CANU Headquarters, where he was processed and charged. (G10)

Moving on…

U

…in Afghanistan?

S President Joe Biden has just announced that he’ll be pulling out all American troops from Afghanistan.

We’ve heard this before…notably from President Obama when he took office in Jan 2009. Instead, he escalated the war even after Osama Bin Laden - who was ostensibly the reason for the war, after he had found refuge there with the Taliban - after his Al-Qaeda blew up the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001.

But let’s take Biden at his word. After all, the US signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Feb 2020, agreeing to a US pullout within 14 months. Which is next week!! Looking forward to ending the longest war in US history, the New York Times ran a tally sheet. They, of course, focused on the money, since that’s what makes the world go around, doesn’t it? Turned out the US spent US$2 TRILLION in the twenty years since George W. Bush launched Operation “Enduring Freedom”.

The Americans talk about getting “a bang for their buck”, and there was certainly a lot of “bang” for those two trillion bucks! More than 60,000 Afghan National Forces members and 40,000 civilians were killed, plus 3500 Americans and their allies. The Taliban? No one knows, since they operate as guerrillas, and withdraw with their dead. But it has to number in the tens of thousands.

But after all that bang and those bucks - augmented most recently by Trump - what’s the status of Afghanistan? While there’s a “democratic government” in place, that doesn’t say much, since the Taliban control most of the country. And they’ll certainly take over after the withdrawal of the Americans. So much for “Enduring Freedom”.

So, your Eyewitness asks: are there any lessons we can take away for us in Guyana? Well, the first one that jumps out is that history seems to like ironies. The banging had started when the US became upset when the Soviet intervened in Afghanistan, when the latter’s communist government came under attack from Muslim insurgents in 1979. The US pumped funding and special forces into training the latter, among them one Osama Bin Laden, and the Soviets were routed. But the Muslim forces, now called the “Taliban”, became the enemy when they and Osama defined America as “the Great Satan”, for the US actions in the Middle East, and they took down the WORLD Trade Center.

Another lesson we can take away is that democracy can take root only when the people see it in a positive light. Right now, in Guyana, the PNC and many of those in their camp have rejected democracy, as we saw on March 5, 2020.

This does not bode well for us. Forewarned is forearmed?

…with selfishness?

Your Eyewitness has been carrying on at a rate for quite a while now, at the refusal of us, as Guyanese, to get with the programme on observing the COVID protocols.

To no avail. So, he’s been putting some thought as to why this is so. And his conclusion is that, as a people, we are just too selfish. Why don’t we wear masks when masks would prevent us from spreading any virus we may have? Well, “I” want to breathe easier. Why party when the event can become a super spreader? Hey! “I” have to enjoy myself.

But this selfishness just didn’t start with the COVID-19 pandemic. Have you not experienced the “boring” phenomenon at every traffic jam? So what if folks were waiting patiently for hours? The use of “lines” to jump any line? The scientist Robert Dawkins, who wrote about “The Selfish Gene”, also wrote about “memes” - behavioural patterns that are passed down culturally by imitation.

Selfish persons survive better, he says. But not with COVID!! …from loneliness As you may’ve suspected, your Eyewitness is in a reflective mood. Is it because of loneliness occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown? We’re finding out that virtual interactions just aren’t keeping the doldrums out.

Gotta press the flesh more!

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

NEWS

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CXC will accept SBAs in January 2022

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he Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will for the first time accept Student Based Assessments (SBAs) in January 2022 for candidates deferring to sit exams for subjects offered in that period.

This decision, according to CXC, was made in light of the disruption COVID-19 and the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines have caused to the education system in the Region.

CXC said that it was cognisant of the many challenges across the Region at this time and has recognised that not all candidates may be ready for

assessment during the June-July 2021 examinations cycle. As a result, the examination body said it has opted to offer candidates the option.

In addition, CXC said that students would also be permitted to transfer SBA scores to the January and May/ June 2022 examination periods. Moreover, students will also be able to submit new SBAs or delay submission of SBAs until the chosen sitting.

Meanwhile, CXC explained that “the granting of the deferral will be managed by the principal for in-school candidates, and by the CXC Local Registrar for private candidates”.

Further, for candidates

Persons 18 years...

FROM PAGE 3

With this, the total number of deaths from the virus in the country is now 263 – with 20 in the month of April, and eight for this week, so far.

Moreover, a whopping 153 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a 24-hour period.

According to the updated COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 11,527.

But only 1249 of these are currently active cases.

These include 10 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 1239 persons in isolation – 78 persons in institutional isolation and 1161 in home isolation.

There are also eight persons in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 10,015 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus in Guyana – 135 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Meanwhile, Guyana has

tested some 104,531 persons thus far for the novel coronavirus, of which 5647 males and 5680 females were positive.

Of the 153 cases detected on Thursday, one each was detected in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 31 in Region Three; a whopping 82 cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); four in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); eight in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); nine cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 10 in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo and seven in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The figure for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remains the same.

The rising number of COVID-19 cases and death toll comes as local authorities continue to battle with a new wave of the coronavirus that is seeing infected persons becoming sicker and requiring hospitalisation. (G8)

wishing to make use of this option, the examination body is offering it free

of charge. However, candidates are required to indicate same by May 1, 2021.

In addition, CXC also highlighted that in efforts to continually meet the needs of candidates and stakeholders, SBA requirements have been reduced by as much as 50 per cent in some subjects.

Moreover, broad topics for the Paper Two aspect of the examinations will also be distributed to Education Ministries for candidates.

This, CXC noted, will be done for subjects where such details are not already available in the syllabus.

The information, CXC said, will be made available on May 10, a mere five weeks before the examinations.

Nevertheless, CXC has

at the same time reminded candidates that the entire syllabus is assessed on Paper One. Earlier in March, CXC had announced that the 2021 examinations will be written between June 14 and July 16; however, students registered for the 2021 exams have the option to postpone writing their subjects until 2022.

CXC further said that the 2021 sitting will see the examinations returning to their normal format to include the writing of both the Paper One and Paper Two components, in addition to Paper Three for private candidates.

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Minibus driver charged for causing Teenager injured after colliding with GDF vehicle death by dangerous driving

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Lamaha Street, Kitty, Georgetown man who was behind the wheel of a minibus when it crashed into an elderly man and killed him was on Thursday charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Leon Kyle, 30, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on April 12, 2021, at the Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, he drove the minibus bearing registration number BWW 7191 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby caus-

Charged: Leon Kyle

ing the death of 72-year-old Keith Alexander McGarrell. in a statement, Police said that on April 12, the minibus was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of the Avenue of the Republic when the driver alleged that as he was in the vicinity of Demerara Fire Insurance Company, McGarrell, a pedestrian, suddenly attempted to cross the road from west to east, and came into the path of the bus.

According to the statement, Kyle claimed that he applied brakes to avoid hitting the pensioner, but the right-side front of the vehi-

cle struck the pedestrian. As a result, the pedestrian fell to the roadway and sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body.

The 72-year-old man of Church Street, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara was picked up in an unconscious state by the driver and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died without regaining consciousness.

Police said that a breathalyser test was conducted on the bus driver, but no trace of alcohol was found in his body.

Kyle was released on $300,000 bail. The case will continue on May 11, 2021.

A

16-year-old boy is now a patient in the Children’s Ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital after he reportedly collided with a vehicle attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday at Katbarrat Public Road, East Bank Berbice (EBB).

The accident reportedly occurred about 16:00h and involved a pick-up bearing registration number DFD 1601 driven by a 42-year-old man of New Amsterdam and the bicycle ridden by the teen.

Based on information received, the vehicle was proceeding along the roadway at approximately 40 kilometres per hour (kmph) when it is alleged that the teenager who was rid-

ing along the Katbarrat Public Road suddenly attempted to cross the road and ended up in the path of the vehicle. As a result, the bike collided with the front section of the vehicle.

Owing to the impact, the teenager fell to the roadway and sustained injuries about his body. He was picked up in a conscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was admitted to the Children’s Ward.

His condition is regarded as stable. A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the motor vehicle, but there were no traces of alcohol in his system. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

NEWS

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Prosecution closes Child rapist asks court to case in D’Urban reduce 25-year prison sentence St murder PI I

Murder accused: Kevin Lewis

Dead: David Barclay

ollowing the testimonies of eight additional witnesses, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Neville Jeffers on Monday closed the case for the prosecution in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of 29-yearold father of two, David Barclay.

Kevin Lewis, a salesman, is charged with Barclay’s murder, which occurred on December 27, 2020, at Georgetown.

He has not been required to plead to the indictable charge, and is currently a remand prisoner.

It was reported that Barclay, of Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), contacted Lewis in a bid to have a tyre on his vehicle repaired after encountering mechanical problems at D’Urban Street, Georgetown.

An argument subsequently ensued between the men over payment during which Lewis whipped out a knife and slashed a tyre on the now dead man’s car.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Lewis turned up at the location and fixed the problem with

the tyre.

However, Barclay was reportedly short of $700 to pay him for his services. This publication understands that the mechanic’s fee was $4000, but Barclay only had $3300.

Police said that Lewis claimed he then jumped into a vehicle and during the process of driving off, Barclay jumped onto the right front door of the vehicle and held on to him. As a result, Lewis lost control of the vehicle and crashed into several parked cars.

Media reports stated that after Barclay was struck, he was dragged several feet before the car came to a halt.

Barclay, who was lying motionless on the roadway, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Following Barclay’s death, the Police conducted investigations and sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, who initially advised that Lewis be charged with manslaughter.

However, earlier this year, the charge against him was upgraded to murder. (G1)

F

vor Laud, the man who was sentenced to 25 years in prison last month for raping a schoolgirl, has filed an appeal asking the Guyana Court of Appeal to either reduce or set aside his sentence.

Through his Attorneysat-Law Paul and Charlene Fung-A-Fat, Laud is contending that the sentence is severe given the circumstances of the case. He contends, too, that the sentence is “manifestly excessive” and that the trial Judge failed to consider any personal or mitigating factors.

Laud, who is said to be in his late 30s, had been on trial for two counts of rape committed on a girl when she was eight and 10 years old. Following a trial, a 12-member jury unanimously found him guilty on both counts at the High Court in Demerara. At this stage, he is not challenging the convictions.

Between March 1 and

Child rapist: Ivor Laud

March 31, 2015, and between August 1 and August 31, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration of the girl when she was just eight and 10 years old respectively.

The facts of the matter are that between March 1 and March 31, 2015, Laud

invited the young girl over to his home under the pretence of having something to give to her.

The girl followed him into the house, and they went into the bedroom, where he placed her to lie on a bed and pulled down her pants and underwear. In her statement to the Police, the young girl detailed that Laud instructed her to hold his penis which he thereafter inserted into her vagina.

After committing the act, the girl said, she saw a whitish substance on his penis, and he then told her to go home and “wash up”, so she did. And in August 2017, Laud performed oral sex on the girl, after he called her over to his home. At the time of the incidents, Laud’s wife and children were not at home.

Although he was found guilty, Laud maintained his innocence.

He begged trial Judge JoAnn Barlow to have mercy

on him, since he was the sole breadwinner for his family.

In sentencing Laud, Justice Barlow considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, the circumstances under which the offence was committed, and the victim’s impact statement.

According to Justice Barlow, the only mitigating factor the court found was the fact that Laud was a first-time offender. Among the aggravating factors she took into consideration when determining an appropriate sentence was that Laud breached a position of trust since he knew the young girl since she was a toddler.

In the end, Justice Barlow sentenced Laud to 22 years in prison on the first rape charge, and 25 years on the second charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently. Further, the Judge ordered that Laud be made to undergo counselling for persons convicted of sexual offences.

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One busted over 30 cases of smuggled rum in Lethem …looses vicious dogs on CANU ranks

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joint operation between the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has resulted in the arrest of one person after a quantity of smuggled alcohol was seized.

The operation was conducted at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Thursday.

Based on reports received, a total of 30 cases of Black Stone Whisky, four cases of Skarloff Beers and nine cases of Blend Seven Whiskey were smuggled into Lethem from Brazil.

CANU Head James Singh when contacted explained that based on information received, agents swooped down on a location and observed goods being offloaded from a truck into a yard. Upon checking, the agents found rum.

As such, Singh added that a businessman was arrested as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the brother of the man who was arrested have since claimed that the items were not smuggled.

“We went with our truck to collect goods from another truck that brought the goods from Brazil… we offloaded the stuff right in front of the GRA officials and paid the necessary duty… next thing we reach home and CANU agents breached the gate and come into the yard with big guns scaring the children,” the man

Some of the rum being off-loaded in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)

related.

When questioned about the alcohol, he told Guyana Times that it was for personal consumption when the family has its “small get-together”.

He noted that alcohol had to pass two checkpoints before it reached Lethem.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that as the CANU agents arrived at the location, the owners loosed their dogs with the intention of having them attack the ranks. But a round was discharged to ward off the animals.

Drug trafficking accused remanded

J

oslyn Felix, also known as Joslyn Percival and Justin Felix, made a virtual appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court and was remanded on a drug trafficking charge.

Felix, 40, of Oronoque Drive, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), was charged under Section 5 (1) (a) (i) of the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substance Control Act Chapter 10/10.

Felix denied the charge, but was remanded to prison by Magistrate Wanda Fortune. The matter was adjourned to May 3, 2021.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday two men were taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after Customs Anti-

Joslyn Felix

Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks unearthed quantities of sus-

pected cannabis at their respective homes during a raid.

Derych Roach and Glen Forde both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged for possession of narcotics.

Forde was granted $20,000 bail while Roach was released on $150,000 bail.

The charge read to Roach stated that on April 10, at his Light Street, Alberttown home, ranks unearthed 206 grams of suspected cannabis along with US$20 and $283,700 in local currency.

Meanwhile, Forde denied the charge which stated that on April 10, at his Fifth Street, Alberttown home, CANU ranks unearthed 33 grams of suspected cannabis together with $144,710.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 missing Guyanese

One had been deported from US in October 2020

The four missing Guyanese

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s investigations intensify into the disappearance of four Guyanese men who had travelled to The Bahamas, it has been revealed that one of the men - Krishan Sukraj, also called “Mark” had been deported from the United States (US) in October 2020.

He was reportedly the husband of one of the sisters of Kevin “Davin” Sukraj, who resided in the United States.

This information was provided by a close relative of the now missing man, who stated that he was deported after he allegedly overstayed his time in that country while working on a visitor’s visa. The relative also confirmed that he was making all arrangements to return to the US. Prior to his being deported, the man had travelled to the US, where he has a teenage daughter. However, the wife of the missing man has refused to comment on the issue, while another relative has directed all questions about his travel to the US Immigration.

Attempts to get this information proved futile.

Family members of Krishna and Kevin Sukraj, also called “Davin”, are maintaining their contention that the men had visited The Bahamas on several occasions, and they continue to refute claims that the men had travelled to The Bahamas in January, 2021 to sneak into the US. These two men, along with two other Guyanese men, went missing on February 10, 2021, and it is believed that they might have been on a boat on their way to Florida when it capsized.

Along with these four Guyanese, two other persons are missing. More than two days after the boat had capsized, a Jamaican national suspected to be the boat captain was rescued by a group of people on a fishing expedition. It subsequently turned out that Orville Lyons, who was spotted sitting on the wreckage, was not the captain of the boat.

After his dramatic rescue, he reported that, along with himself, there were six other persons in the boat, including Haitian, Jamaican and Guyanese. He explained that on Wednesday, February 10, the boat departed Bimini shortly after dark, but as they journeyed, the captain became drunk and fell overboard. He

was reportedly the only one who knew how to operate the boat. Soon after, the water become rough in the Gulf Stream and the 20-foot boat capsized.

Lyons reported that there were only four life jackets on board, so a decision was taken to give them to those who could not swim. After some time, exhaustion overtook them, and the swimmers decided to swim to shore.

One day after, only the two Jamaicans kept holding on to the wreckage, but this did not last for long. By the third day, Lyons related, his countryman let go of the wreckage. A few hours later, he was rescued by the crew members of a boat, who alerted US Coast Guards.

The men went missing since February 10, 2021, and the relatives of the missing Guyanese are claiming that they had reported the men’s disappearance to the Bahamian lawmen. But the Bahamian authorities have, up to Tuesday last, not received an official missing person’s report.

When a relative was asked on Wednesday why the report was not made, she explained, “All I know is that they went on vacation.” In addition, she was asked about the various social media posts by relatives, who expressed condolences to the family.

“If we not finding them, or hearing anything or seeing anything, what else shall we look for…the good or the worst, u tell me…So if nothing become of this story, shall we say they probably alive????

The captain has to know what happen and the people at the hotel…I keep saying this over and over,” the relative told <<Guyana Times>>.

Several persons, including the wife of Kevin, took to social media to suggest that the men are dead. In fact, one cousin who spoke with this publication stated that relatives residing in the US were told that the men had died.

It was previously reported that the sister of Kevin had contacted the US Coast Guards after she had heard reports that a boat had capsized while crossing into the US with six people. But a Police source in The Bahamas has asked, “Why would you contact US Coast Guards about a capsized boat if you weren’t expecting someone who was on it?”

Guyana Times has been

told that the four missing Guyanese had been required to pay US$7000 before they left The Bahamas, and upon their arrival in the US, an addition US$8000 had to be handed over.

This has, nevertheless, been vehemently refuted by relatives of the Sukrajs. In fact, the relatives have refuted everything posed to them by this newspaper.

Initially, relatives had claimed that they were not briefed by the US Coast Guards on their recovery mission. It was not until after this publication had informed them of a recording it had secured of the update that they admitted.

After the news had spread about the disappearance, Bahamian media contacted

the hotel where the men had stayed until the night of their disappearance.

In that report, the owner of the hotel stated that the four Guyanese, upon checking into the hotel, had said they were from New York. In the same report, the owner said there was a raid at the hotel by immigration authorities, during which the men were arrested.

The woman also noted that upon checking out one day after the raid, the men had informed her that they had gotten back their passports, which had allegedly been confiscated by the Immigration Officers.

But, again, the relatives claimed that immigration never returned their passports.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday,

Krishna Sukraj in a previous visit to the US

authorities in The Bahamas had stated that the skeletal remains of a human were recovered in close proximity to

Bimini, and it is being processed to determine whether it is that of one of the missing men.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corentyne shallow grave murder…

Repeat curfew violator jailed

“Long Hair” appealing life A sentence, claims trial judge erred

Convicted killer Munilall Sarjoo

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ivestock farmer Munilall Sarjoo, 51, also called “Long Hair”, of Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, who was found guilty of murder, is appealing his sentence at the Guyana Court of Appeal.

His contention, detailed in a Notice of Appeal, is that the trial judge erred in rejecting no-case submissions made by his attorney-at-law.

A jury last month found Sarjoo guilty by of the August 2016 murder of Levan Chandrapaul, whose body was found in a shallow grave at No 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Following that verdict, Justice Simone MorrisRamlall sentenced the convicted killer to life imprisonment with the possibility of being eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years behind bars.

Sarjoo had maintained his innocence following the sentencing. He is now asking the Court of Appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence.

In court documents seen by this publication, his law-

yer is contending that the trial judge erred in law when she rejected the no-case submissions made at the close of the prosecution’s case, and also at the end of the case for the defence.

The lawyer is further contending that “the learned trial judge erred in law when she failed to put to the jury and instruct the jury on the Turnbull guidelines on identification.”

According to defence counsel, Justice Morris-Ramlall again erred in law in saying to the jury that his client said nothing when he was cautioned by the Police, leaving the jury with the impression that his client was bound to deny the allegation put to him, and that his failure to do so could be used against him.

Additionally, Sarjoo is arguing that the trial judge failed to adequately put his defence to the jury for consideration. During the trial, the Court heard that the late Levan Chandrapaul had last been seen in the company of Sarjoo.

Chandrapaul was murdered between August 22 and 26, 2016, and his body was found in a dried-up pond covered with sand. His cause of death was given as internal bleeding of the skull.

A Government pathologist had explained to the Court that there were two fractures to the man’s skull, with one being fragmented. Those injuries, he noted, were consistent with someone being hit with a blunt instrument, thus suggesting that a piece of wood could have been used.

Among those who testified during the trial were the parents of the deceased, ranks

Murdered: Levan Chandrapaul

of the Police Major Crimes Investigations Unit, and a witness who had seen the deceased entering Sarjoo’s motorcar on August 22, 2016.

The prosecutor’s key witness was a fisherman of Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, who told the court that he had had a conversation with Chandrapaul in front of his yard. The witness said that Chandrapaul’s body was found a few days later in a shallow grave in the backlands of Number 68 Village. At the time of the discovery, the body was clad in the same clothes which the late Levan Chandrapaul had last been seen wearing when he entered the convicted murderer’s car. (G1)

repeated offender, taken before the court on Thursday as members of the joint services continue “Operation COVI-CURB” in efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, has been jailed.

Paul Marciano, called ‘Paulo’, 46, of Waterloo Street, Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, will be spending the next month in prison for breaching COVID-19 curfew restrictions.

Marciano, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared virtually before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

The repeat offender was found to be in contravention of No. 4 of the COVID-19 Emergency Measure No. (2), No 53/2020 Contrary to Section 21(2) of the Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 145.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, bar owner Meer Rahaman, his staff and patrons were hauled before the court and charged with breaching the COVID-19 guidelines.

They were brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Rahaman pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on March 13 and April 4, at the club, he hosted a party in breach of

the COVID-19 measures.

He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of $16,350, with an alternative of spending one month in prison.

Meanwhile, Nickel Thomas, 23, a bartender; Tiffany Ross, 32, who is employed with the Guyana Post Office Corporation and with Club Altitude; Kalvin Ramkellawan, 18, who operates a hookah business at the said club; and Fiona Samuels 28, who is also employed at the club, were charged for attending a private party. They all pleaded guilty to the charge, except Samuels.

Those who pleaded guilty were fined $16,350, in default of which they would serve one month’s imprisonment.

Samuels has been released on $5000 bail, and is scheduled to make her next court appearance on April 21.

Further, patrons of the bar Joy Craigan, 19, and Johanna Craigan, 18, have been charged for attending a private party at the club’s location on March 13. They both pleaded guilty to the charge and apologised to the court. They, too, were fined $16,350, in default of which they would serve one month’s imprisonment.

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly issued 21 arrest warrants on Friday last

Jailed: Paul Marciano

for a group of COVID-19 Guideline violators who failed to appear in court.

When the cases were called, each person’s name was called thrice by the court’s orderly inside and outside of the court, but no one answered the call.

Arrests warrants were therefore issued for Eric Moses, Akisha Forester, Natalie Cush, Jason Bacchus, Elizabeth Payne, Aaliyah Harding, Mark Jones, Lisa Smith, Faith Bacchus, Sarah Tucker, Selidyn Prescott, Abiola Lackno, Abiki Moses, Shania Carter, Tiffany Anthony, Roger James, Mark Blackman, Carl Adams, Tanesa Joseph, Tasha Payne, and Janenda Singh. (G1)

Fire destroys Alexander Village apartment

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Wednesday morning fire has completely destroyed an apartment at First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown.

This newspaper was in-

formed that the fire occurred at about 05:00h in the small one door, one window apartment in which Ronald Willis resided.

According to the man’s neighbours, on Wednesday, Willis and his son, who was visiting him, were asleep in the apartment. However, at about 05:00h, they recalled hearing Willis raising an alarm. Neighbours said they rushed out and saw the apartment engulfed in flames.

The neighbours told <<Guyana Times>> that they formed a bucket brigade and were able to put out the flames before firemen of the Guyana Fire Service arrived.

Meanwhile, neighbours are saying that the man believes the fire resulted from a malfunctioning fan. The official cause of the fire is still to be determined.

Also on Wednesday, another fire left a bedridden pensioner dead and several apartments in a yard at Lot 6 Lamaha Park, Sophia destroyed. Resulting from that fire, some 15 adults and seven children – all relatives are now homeless.

The burnt-out apartment at Alexander Village, Georgetown

The pensioner who has died is Vanci Hodge of Lot 7 Lamaha Park Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown.

Relatives of the bedridden 74-year-old woman believe she died from smoke inhalation after the fire had broken out in the neighbouring yard, destroying several living quarters.

Hodge’s husband of 17 years, Leon James, told Guyana Times that a fire

broke out in their neighbour’s yard at some time between 09:00h and 10:00h on Wednesday, and shortly after, they brought out his wife from her room, which was next to the burning house. At the time, he said, the woman was having a hard time breathing, so they rushed her to the hospital.

Another relative said she died on way to the hospital.

(G15)

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Massive corn, soya bean farms to be developed by local investors …as Govt to explore public-private partnership

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ix local companies have joined together to undertake a massive project that could see Guyana on the path to becoming self-sufficient in corn and soya bean over the next few years.

The Agriculture Ministry on Thursday said that the owners of Guyana Stock Feed Ltd, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Ltd, along with the Brazilian-owned NF Agriculture, have partnered to produce soya bean and corn for both the local and the regional markets.

According to the Ministry, the seven-member group has been aggressively engaging the relevant bodies and is expected to commence this massive project over the next few months.

Following a tour of their Timehri operations, Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Limited, David Fernandes explained the group’s vision for the project.

During his presentation, Fernandes said that Guyana has long been touted as having the potential of being the bread basket of the Caribbean and that in recent years there has been a greater appreciation of the high dependence on imports for livestock feeds.

“With the onset of COVID-19, we have realised our vulnerability to global prices, supply, and freight variability.

This underscored the importance of self-reliance

Managing Director (ag) of Bounty Farm Ltd, David Fernandes showing Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha some of the corn products during a tour of Bounty Farm Limited's hatchery and poultry feed packaging facility at Timehri

in the area of food security. As a group, we want to be able to help transform Guyana’s food and agricultural systems, shorten the value chains nationally and regionally, become self-sufficient in commodities needed for the poultry industry, create employment, and boost rural development among other things,” Fernandes said.

Fernandes also said that such a massive project would result in a substantial reduction in the cost of raw materials for livestock production while improving Guyana's competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

With Guyana expending close to US$25 million annually on proteins for the poultry sector, Government, since taking office, has taken steps to

promote domestic cultivation of grains like corn and soya bean. Government, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, removed ValueAdded Tax (VAT) on agricultural machinery, fertilisers, agrochemicals, and pesticides, making it more feasible for such investments. Additionally, the Government has reversed land lease fees across all sectors and water charges back to 2014 rates.

Further, in this year’s budget, an additional $500 million was allocated to develop the corn and soya bean industry. These sums will be invested to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to support private investment.

Investors from Dubai, United Arab Emirates have also signalled their

Minibus driver from viral assault video charged

T

he minibus driver who was seen in a viral video ignoring a passenger’s request to lower the vulgar music, and who later snatched that

conduct of a driver, failure to carry a conductor, and breach of condition of road service licence.

Harry pleaded not guilty to all charges, and has been

Josh Harry

The speakers that were seized from the bus

passenger’s phone, was on Thursday slapped with four charges.

Twenty-eight-yearold Josh Harry of Back Street, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara has been charged with making loud and continuous noise, mis-

placed on bail in the sum of $30,000. He is expected to make his next court appearance on April 19.

The Police have said that Harry would also be charged with damage to property and assault.

The video of the incident

shows the female passenger complaining about the loud and vulgar music being played in the minibus.

The passenger, who was recording the encounter, requested the bus operator to turn down the music; but, instead, the driver stopped the vehicle, came around to the passenger’s side, and demanded that the woman disembark the vehicle.

However, the passenger refused to do so, and continued recording. This caused the bus driver to slap her cellphone out of her hand.

It is unclear what transpired after that incident, or where it occurred.

interest to cultivate corn and soya bean locally.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that Government was keen on reducing its spending especially on commodities that can be produced locally. The subject Minister also said that Government is ready to work with investors and provide the necessary support to en-

sure projects of this nature get off the ground.

“We already have an investor from Brazil who is doing corn cultivation in the Ebini, located in upper Berbice River and I am looking forward to seeing more companies coming on board. Today's presentation was well-received and I commend our local investors for signalling their interest in such a large-scale project. If we can produce the amount of corn and soya bean required to become self-sufficient in proteins for our poultry industry, those funds can be used to further develop the sector. As a Government, we are also working to reduce Guyana’s food import bill and food import dependency,” Mustapha said.

He also said that Government would be making the necessary resources available so that this project could commence as soon as possible, and would explore having a public-private partnership as with an initial investment of $500 million being allocated to commence infrastructur-

al works in areas like the Intermediate Savannahs that have been earmarked for the cultivation of corn and soya bean, and other large-scale agricultural activities like the development of mega-farms.

So far, the team has engaged several other relevant bodies like the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC); the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), and other relevant stakeholders. Once given the green light, cultivation is expected to commence before the end of the year.

Presently, Guyana’s national feed consumption for the poultry industry is 113,000 metric tonnes annually, with broiler birds consuming approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of feed and layers consuming approximately 13,000 metric tonnes of feed annually.

This feed comprises 60 per cent grain (corn and rice), which is equivalent to approximately 68,000 tonnes, and 30 per cent soya bean meal, which is equivalent to approximately 34, 000 tonnes per year.

20

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

UN to launch funding appeal for St Vincent

T

he United Nations is set to launch a funding appeal to support St Vincent and the Grenadines as ongoing volcanic explosions continue to disrupt life on the island and nearby countries, a top UN official said on Wednesday.

UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, briefed journalists in response to the growing humanitarian crisis sparked after long-dormant La Soufrière volcano erupted last Friday, displacing some 20 000 people, or roughly one-fifth of the population.

Around 6000 are con-

Eruptions at La Soufrière, April 14, 2021 (Picture courtesy Thomas Christopher, MVO)

sidered vulnerable, the UN said.

“We are about to initiate

US imposes sanctions on Russia over cyber-attacks

T

he United States has announced sanctions against Russia in response to what it says are cyber-attacks and other hostile acts.

The measures, which target dozens of Russian entities and officials, aim to deter "Russia's harmful foreign activities", the White House said.

The statement says Russian intelligence was behind last year's massive "SolarWinds" hack, and accuses Moscow of interference in the 2020 election.

Russia denies all the allegations and says it will respond in kind.

The sanctions announced

on Thursday are detailed in an executive order signed by President Joe Biden. They come at a tense time for relations between the two countries.

Last month, the US targeted seven Russian officials and more than a dozen Government entities over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Russia says it was not involved.

In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Biden vowed to defend US national interests "firmly", while proposing a meeting with Putin to find areas where the two countries could work together.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T&T Government reimplements COVID restrictions

T

he Government has reimplemented COVID-19 restrictions in a bid to curtail the current upward trajectory of cases. For the next 21 days, effective as of 12:00h – April 15 – beaches are closed to the public except those affiliated with leatherback turtle conservation activities, inhouse dining is prohibited in restaurants, cinemas, casinos and bars and the number of people allowed to gather in public was brought down to no more than five.

It’s the second time for the year the Government has had to reimplement restrictions in an attempt to bring the spread under control.

On April 1, the Health Ministry reinstated a ban

on contact sports. It was the first measure to be reimplemented since the second “lockdown” period was enforced on August 17, 2020.

When numbers first started to rise earlier in March, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley warned that another “lockdown” period would be imposed if they continued to rise.

However, he noted that unlike previously done, the Government would not be able to afford to provide financial assistance to citizens.

In that time, the seven-day rolling average of daily cases increased by over 1400 per cent – going from as low as three per day to now 42. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

the UN funding appeal and response plan to support the humanitarian response but also the early recovery for the next six months,” he said, speaking via video link from Barbados.

“This is a crisis that is going to last certainly more than six months in the sub-region, in St Vincent, and other

islands,” Trebucq added.

The UN said St Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the southern Caribbean, consists of more than 30 islands and cays, nine of which are inhabited.

It said at 4000 feet in height, La Soufrière dominates the largest island, St Vincent and that the volcano had been silent since 1979, but began spewing smoke and rumbling in December, before erupting on Friday.

“We are facing regular eruptions of the volcano, including up to last night. We are expecting that continuous explosions and ash fall will continue over the coming weeks in St Vincent and the Grenadines but also in neighbouring islands such as Barbados, which has also been severely affected, as well as St Lucia and Grenada,” Trebucq said. (Excerpt from Nation News)

France outlaws sex with children aged under 15

T

he French Parliament on Thursday adopted legislation that characterises sex with a child under the age of 15 as rape and punishable by up to 20 years in jail, bringing its penal code closer in line with many other Western nations.

While the age of consent was previously 15, Prosecutors in France used to be required to prove sex was non-consensual to obtain a rape conviction.

"This is an historic law for our children and our society," Justice Minister

Eric Dupond-Moretti told the National Assembly.

"No adult aggressor will be able to claim the consent of a minor younger than 15-years-old."

The vote in favour of the bill was unanimous at its final reading, the Assembly said on Twitter.

There had been concerns from some lawmakers that an age of consent below which sex automatically constituted rape might criminalise a consensual sexual relationship between a minor and a person only a few years older.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

George Floyd case: Defence, prosecution rest as Derek Chauvin declines to testify

C

losing arguments are scheduled to be heard Monday in the trial of former Minneapolis Police (MPD) Officer Derek Chauvin for George Floyd’s murder after the defence and prosecution rested their cases Thursday.

Chauvin waived his right to testify in his trial, a surprise as the defence rested following two days of testimony.

“I will invoke my fifth amendment privilege to-

day,” Chauvin, 45, told defence lawyer Eric Nelson as Judge Peter Cahill observed.

Chauvin, who is white, is accused of second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter by killing Floyd, 46, by keeping his body weight on the Black man’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. Floyd was arrested after allegedly using a counterfeit US$20 bill at a neighbourhood market.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Oil prices could drop to US$10 in 2050 – WoodMac

B

rent Crude oil prices could fall to US$10 per barrel by 2050 if the world accelerates the energy transition with decisive action to achieve the Paris Agreement climate goals, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Thursday.

The scale of change if the world moves on track to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius would be so great that it would revolutionise the energy industry and sink demand for oil, the power of major oil producers, and oil prices, according to WoodMac. Still, the consultancy’s Accelerated Energy Transition Scenario (AET-2) is just one of many scenarios for the future of global energy systems and not the base-case scenario, Wood Mackenzie noted.

Under the AET-2 scenario, global oil demand is expected to drop significantly and lead to a significant decline in oil prices. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will likely have a market share of over 50 per cent by 2050, but less control over the market because of the steep fall in demand, according to WoodMac. The low-cost producers in the Middle East would still be the main oil suppliers to the world, but prices could be as low as US$10 a barrel Brent.

Although the scenario is neither a prediction nor a base-case scenario, the oil industry should not be complacent about the scale of change that would come from the energy transition, said Ann-Louise Hittle, vice president, Macro Oils, at Wood Mackenzie.

(Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Iran, world powers resume nuclear talks amid strains over enrichment, Natanz attack

The Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, Wang Qu arrives for a meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission, in Vienna, Austria, April 15, 2021

I

ran and global powers resumed talks on Thursday to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal in an effort potentially complicated

by Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium enrichment and what it called Israeli sabotage at a nuclear site.

Casting a shadow over the Vienna talks, Tehran on Tuesday announced its decision to enrich uranium at 60 per cent purity, a big step closer to the 90 per cent that is weapons-grade material, in response to an explosion at its key Natanz facility on Sunday.

Calling the move “provocative”, the United States and the European parties to the deal warned that Tehran’s enrichment move was contrary to efforts to revive the accord abandoned

by Washington three years ago.

The 2015 agreement sought to make it harder

for Iran to develop an atomic bomb in return for lifting sanctions.

Tehran's refusal to hold direct talks with the United States forced European intermediaries to shuttle between separate hotels in Vienna last week when Iran and the other signatories – Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia – held what they described as a first round of “constructive” negotiations.

Senior diplomats, excluding the United States, initially met to set the tone on Thursday in what diplomats anticipated would be a tougher round of talks to salvage the pact.

Two expert-level groups, seeking to marry lists of sanctions that the United States could lift with nuclear obligations Iran should meet, have now resumed their discussions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

21

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

Get involved in something you care about, and it will lead to a new beginning. Be the pioneer that you long to be, and delve into something that excites you. Indulge in an inspiring adventure.

Make sure you have your facts or instructions in order (April 20before you proceed. A physiMay 20) cal or health issue will prevail if you don’t take steps to resolve the problem swiftly.

TAURUS

DILBERT

Listen carefully, stick to GEMINI the truth and don’t take a (May 21- risk that will jeopardize your June 20) reputation. Look at the possibilities, and put paperwork that will help you achieve your goal in place.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Work alongside people who share your beliefs and concerns. Stick to a realistic plan that allows you to show off your intelligence and ability to get things done on time and within budget.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Keep your goal in mind when asked to take on additional responsibilities.

Emotional tactics will put you in an awkward position.

Weigh the pros and cons, and don’t be afraid to say no.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

View a problem from every angle. To make the most of a situation and feel good about your contribution, it’s best to make suggestions instead of offering your time or money.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SCORPIO

SUDOKU

Leave nothing to chance.

Develop your plans carefully. Exaggeration will backfire when someone questions what you are doing. Moderation and patience will help you work your way to concrete results.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Hang on to your cash.

Don’t get involved in a joint venture or invest in someone’s plan. Make a change that is within budget and that gives you a new lease on life.

Put your health first.

You’ll have plenty of opSAGITTARIUS portunities to bring about (Nov. 23change. Focus on valuable Dec. 21) partnerships. Engage in pastimes that are exciting, adventurous and push you to be and do your best.

Say less and do more. If CAPRICORN you are too accommodating, (Dec. 22someone will take advantage Jan. 19) of you. Put more emphasis on what will ease stress, make you happy and encourage a positive outcome.

YESTERDAY'S WORD - VOLATILE

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

Spend time with loved ones, fix up your space or aggressively pursue something you enjoy doing. Something good will transpire. Don’t take a risk with your health or cash.

Don’t take on anything or PISCES anyone you can’t handle. Be (Feb. 20wary of physical or financial March 20) dealings that can put you in a difficult position. Rely on what you know you can do, and don’t make empty promises.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

Jaydev Unadkat was adjudged Man of the Match

B

ack at the scene of their heartbreak in a massive chase against the Punjab Kings, the Rajasthan Royals managed to make 148 appear more difficult to achieve than 222, before sealing the chase in a chaotic finish.

For a majority of the chase, it looked like the Delhi Capitals would add to the successful low defences of the two nights preceding this, but David Miller and Chris Morris dragged the Royals back after they had been 17 for 3 and 104 for 7.

Not one six was hit in the first 35 overs of the match - it was the first time a 20-overs innings had ended without a six at the Wankhede Stadium - but Miller, Morris and Jaydev Unadkat managed seven sixes between them as the Royals scored 60 in their last 4.4 overs.

Unadkat undercuts the Capitals Bowling three overs in the Powerplay for the first time since 2011, Jaydev Unadkat went through the Capitals batting with his changes of pace. Prithvi Shaw got a leading edge to point in the second over, Shikhar Dhawan ramped one to be caught behind acrobatically by Sanju Samson in the fourth, and Ajinkya Rahane chipped one back to Unadkat

Millionaire Morris, Miller lead Royals in tense chase

in the sixth. This was Unadkat's first IPL three-for in three years.

Mustafizur Rahman made it four wickets with slower balls as Marcus Stoinis was caught off a leading edge in the seventh.

Capitals 37 for 4 after seven overs.

Pant goes along the ground The Capitals scored 72 runs in the 9.3 overs that Pant spent at the wicket; 51 of them came off his bat off just 32 balls - that was a pace good enough to score 190 on a 140 pitch. He did so without hitting, or trying to hit, a six. This included a severe attack against his former teammate Rahul Tewatia, lacing the cover fence with four various cuts in the 11th over.

A quick run sets the Capitals back Having brought the Capitals back into the game, Pant looked good for a much bigger knock himself when he called Lalit Yadav through for a quick single while the ball had hardly gone past the bowler Riyan Parag.

The Capitals, five down in the 13th over, only managed five boundaries in the last seven overs as Capitals went from 88 for 5 to 147 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Capitals go seam-up Teams usually see how the opposition has bowled and try to replicate what has worked for them, but the Capitals didn't quite go looking for the cutters and the slower balls that worked so beautifully for the Royals.

However, the seam movement that they managed to extract worked just as well for Chris Woakes and Kagisa Rabada, who had the Royals down at 17 for 3 in no time, including the key wicket of Samson.

Dhawan kept attracting catches: Samson at regulation slip, Shivam Dube at wide slip, and Riyan Parag at cover, making it 42 for 5 in the 10th over.

Miller, Tewatia start the comeback Miller looked in good touch,

probably as good as Pant had earlier in the night. Rahul Tewatia provided him company.

For some reason, despite two left-hand batsmen being in the middle, Pant took the stifling R Ashwin off and went to Stoinis, which resulted in a shift in the momentum. Perhaps it was the dew that influenced his decision?

Three fours came in Stoinis's only over, and two more came in the next, the 14th of the innings, bowled by Tom Curran. Rabada's pace hurried Tewatia to dismiss him on the pull, but the Royals now had some fluency. Miller converted it into two sixes off Avesh Khan in the next over. He holed out trying to make it a hattrick, and once again 44 off 25 looked out of sight.

Rishabh Pant hit a half century in a losing cause

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Morris, Unadkat end it It was fitting that Unadkat got the partnership going, with a pulled six off Woakes. Curran bowled a good 18th over to make it 27 off 12, but the wet ball played havoc with Rabada and Curran in the last two overs.

Rabada kept bowling it in the slot, and Morris connected with two of those balls, bringing the equation down to 12 off the last over.

In the last game, Morris had had a single refused in the last over when the Royals failed to get 13. If there were memories haunting them from that game, the second ball of the last over exorcised them. The slower bouncer sat up, and Morris smoked it over square leg. A fulltoss two balls later took the Royals over the line. (ESPNcricinfo)

BCC revived with Chatterpaul as new President

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

SCOREBOARD DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Prithvi Shaw c Miller 2 b Unadkat Shikhar Dhawan c †Samson b Unadkat 9 Ajinkya Rahane c & 8 b Unadkat Rishabh Pant (c)† run out (Parag) 51 Marcus Stoinis c Buttler 0 b Mustafizur Rahman Lalit Yadav c Tewatia b Morris 20 Tom Curran b Mustafizur Rahman 21 15 Chris Woakes not out Ravichandran Ashwin run out (Miller/†Samson) 7 Kagiso Rabada not out 9 5 Extras (w 5) TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.35) 147/8 Did not bat: Avesh Khan Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Prithvi Shaw, 1.6 ov), 2-16 (Shikhar Dhawan, 3.1 ov), 3-36 (Ajinkya Rahane, 5.5 ov), 4-37 (Marcus Stoinis, 6.5 ov), 5-88 (Rishabh Pant, 12.4 ov), 6-100 (Lalit Yadav, 14.5 ov), 7-128 (Tom Curran, 18.2 ov), 8-136 (Ravichandran Ashwin, 18.6 ov) O-M-R-W BOWLING Chetan Sakariya 4-0-33-0 Jaydev Unadkat 4-0-15-3 Chris Morris 3-0-27-1 4-0-29-2 Mustafizur Rahman Riyan Parag 2-0-16-0 Rahul Tewatia 3-0-27-0

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (TARGET: 148 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Jos Buttler c †Pant b Woakes 2 Manan Vohra c Rabada 9 b Woakes Sanju Samson (c)†c Dhawan b Rabada 4 Shivam Dube c Dhawan b Avesh Khan 2 David Miller c Lalit Yadav b Avesh Khan 62 Riyan Parag c Dhawan 2 b Avesh Khan Rahul Tewatia c Lalit Yadav b Rabada 19 Chris Morris not out 36 11 Jaydev Unadkat not out 3 Extras (lb 2, w 1) TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 7.62) 150/7 Did not bat: Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Manan Vohra, 2.4 ov), 2-13 (Jos Buttler, 2.6 ov), 3-17 (Sanju Samson, 3.3 ov), 4-36 (Shivam Dube, 7.4 ov), 5-42 (Riyan Parag, 9.2 ov), 6-90 (Rahul Tewatia, 14.5 ov), 7-104 (David Miller, 15.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W 4-0-22-2 Chris Woakes Avesh Khan 4-0-32-3 Kagiso Rabada 4-0-30-2 Ravichandran Ashwin 3-0-14-0 3.4-0-35-0 Tom Curran Marcus Stoinis 1-0-15-0

A

The new executive committee members posing after the elections

fter seven years of cricket inactivity in the town of Bartica, the situation came to a halt last Thursday when the Bartica Cricket Committee (BCC) was again constituted with the hosting of elections to identify its Executive Committee.

The eight clubs that make up the committee participated in the electoral congress, which was held at the St. Anthony’s Primary School and resulted in Budhesh Chatterpaul, who ran unopposed, being unanimously voted as the new President.

In the presence of two observers from the Essequibo Cricket Board and Vice President Alvin Johnson and Secretary Atto Christiani, the following persons were

elected to the Executive Committee: President: Budhesh Chatterpaul Vice-President: Brian Bascom Secretary: Tyron McIntyre Treasurer: Keano Harry Asst Secretary/Treasurer: Delroy McIntyre On assuming the Presidency, Chatterpaul thanked all those who supported his bid to run for the presidency, and also promised a new approach to the administration and promotion of the sport in Bartica.

He said the new committee looks forward to working closely with all clubs, stakeholders, and past executives for the

development of cricket.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic still greatly affecting how the game is being played, we will use this opportunity to help clubs to be properly structured, and will also approach the relevant authorities to have better infrastructure in place.

Our first major project will be to construct a new cricket pitch, because at present we have no real pitch on which to play”, Chatterpaul added.

The clubs that now constitute the committee are: Pit Bull, Dogg Point, Rising Star, Cavaliers, Foreign Link, Agatash, Tyube Knight Rider and Byderabo. The Bartica Cricket Committee is affiliated to the Essequibo Cricket Board.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TT Olympic Qualifiers…

Edghill makes it to round of 16

23

Love for cricket, hunger to make a difference inspired Foster to GCB, CWI posts – calls for unity at county boards

By Brandon Corlette

H

– focus now on Mixed Doubles

F

Chelsea Edghill in action against Mabelyn Enriquez

ollowing a quad of losses on Tuesday, the Guyanese Table Tennis contingent in Rosario, Argentina went back to the tables on Thursday, in the second knockouts of the Latin American Singles and Mixed Doubles tournament in another bid for Olympic qualification.

their opponents.

Shemar Britton came close to advancing to the Round of 16, but fell short 4-2 to Colombia’s Alexander Echavarria. After winning the opening game 115, the Colombian was given a ‘run for his money’ by Britton with a 4-11 victory.

The pair went tit for tat as Echavarria won the next

Shemar Britton

The Guyanese team fared considerably better on Thursday morning, fending off their opponents as best they could to ensure there was no sweep by

sets 11-9, 11-6, and Britton the subsequent one 8-11.

Disappointingly, Britton was edged in what would be their last set, 118.

Also, in the men’s singles, Joel Alleyne showed an improvement from his first outing, but lost 4-1 to Venezuela’s Cecilio Correa. Alleyne punctuated two initial wins by Correa (11-7, 11-5) with a victory of his own (9-11), but failed to repeat the feat as Correa took the game with another two successful sets (11-4, 11-3).

Also showing improvement on Thursday was Natalie Cummings, who braced Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes in a six-set encounter. The Ecuadorian took the first two sets 1311, 11-9, but the Guyanese fought back to take wins in sets three and five 11-8, 119. However, Cummings’s opponent got the edge in the final game for an 11-6 victory.

Chelsea Edghill was the lone Guyanese player to advance to the Round of 16, following an enterprising run against Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez. The racquet-wielding Guyanese commanded the game with three wins on the trot 118, 11-7, 17-15, but Gomez fought back in the fourth to win 7-11.

Edghill wrapped up the fifth set quickly to advance to the next stage.

In the women’s singles’ Round of 16, Edghill was matched up with Guatemala’s Mabelyn Enriquez. The Guatemalan got ahead in the first set with an 11-8 win but Edghill replied with and almost perfect 2-11 set. Enriquez broke the Guyanese’s momentum with two set wins on the trot (11-8, 11-6). A resilient Edghill, who trains professionally in Portugal, rebounded with another win, 6-11.

In a disappointing turn for the Guyanese camp, who ferociously cheered on their teammate, Enriquez outplayed Chelsea, 11-8, to book her spot in the next round.

The Olympic qualification hope is not at all lost for the Table Tennis contingent, as Edghill and Britton will anticipate Thursday’s Mixed Doubles competition. The Guyanese pair will have to outwit a field of 12 other pairs to clinch the lone Olympic spot up for grabs in that division.

Team Alanis/GCF 60-miler showdown set for Sunday

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Top duo: Jamual John and Briton John (Brandon Corlette photo)

uyana's top wheelsmen will continue to battle for supremacy when the Team Alanis/Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) 60-mile road race pedals off on Sunday April 18 from 7:00h.

The race is set to commence at Carifesta Avenue and proceed to Mahaicony, ECD, before returning for the finish at the point of origin.

M o n e t a r y rewards will be given to the first six finishers in the elite/ seniors’ category, while the first three veterans and the first three juniors would

also receive rewards.

The National COVID-19 Task Force had, earlier in the week, given the GCF the green light to proceed with the race, and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had duly been notified, hence a safe environment has been confirmed for the race.

Top cyclists Jamual John and the red-hot Briton John are among the riders who are preparing to take centre stage on Sunday. Proprietor of Ele's Trading, Eybo Orford, has come on board with sponsorship.

The senior placing first would be rewarded with $20,000, while the one placing second would receive $18,000.

Top veterans and Juniors would pocket $15,000.

The GCF has expressed gratitude to the National COVID-19 Task Force and the GPF for their continued support for the development

of cycling in the country.

Cyclists are being reminded to adhere to all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, and are debarred from using their forearms on handlebars in Sunday's race.

This restriction was mentioned in a memorandum issued on February 8, in which the UCI indicated it would prohibit riders from racing with their forearms on their handlebars in a position similar to a timetrial when on a road bike.

The UCI is taking things even further, banning the popular practice of a rider placing his forearms on the handlebar to gain an aerodynamic advantage. This riding posture is often seen in breakaways, as riders look to speed away from chasers by assuming a posture similar to one used in a time trial bicycle.

ilbert Foster is a man who wear different caps.

Recently, he added more caps to his hat stand when he became VicePresident of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and a Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI).

According to Foster, who is also Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President, the love he possesses for cricket and the hunger to make a difference in young people's lives are responsible for his performances so far.

"From the start, I made it known that I was not interested in Presidency, but I was willing to serve in any other capacity. (This) because of my love for cricket and, more importantly, the need to make a difference in the lives of young people and to assist them to fulfill their dreams," Foster said.

Appearing on the Sean Devers Sports

Watch, Foster said he would ensure that young individuals fulfill their ambition.

"There are many cricketers who do not get the opportunity to fulfill their talent because of poverty. I will be trying to get the GCB to assist them as much as possible."

Foster is also aiming to achieve unity in Guyana cricket. "I would like us to get past this stage of ‘them verses us’ and for everybody to have a place around the table and be united, and for our cricketers to have faith and trust in our administration, and to join hands with us and lift Guyana cricket," Foster echoed.

During the recent elections, it was known that Essequibo was not present and it is no secret that

GCB Vice President, BCB President and CWI Director , Hilbert Foster

many from the Cinderella county were loyal to the previous administration.

The man from the ancient county also shared the slots available in the GCB committee, and the new GCB are willing to include Essequibo.

"We have named a committee. I know for a fact that there is space for a senior selector, a junior selector, and the cricket development committee has spaces for three or four from Essequibo.

Likewise with the other committee, so we are awaiting Essequibo to join us at the table," Foster disclosed.

Asked what would be the biggest challenge for the GCB, Foster said sponsorship, since the new GCB is interested in hosting U-21, U-23, and U-25 inter-county tournaments in addition to the customary U-15, U-17 and U-19.

"Gaining back the trust of the general public and sponsors is going to be a slight, and not a major, problem," Foster added.

Foster said he would work overtime to see that Guyana gets the fair share of its cricketing pie, as he aims to contribute to the overall development of cricket in the West Indies.

"All of us are here for a short period of time, and at the end of it, we must be remembered as people who contribute to the development of cricket, and not the destroyers of the game. I would like to urge my Essequibo colleagues to come on board, and there is a legal cricket board," the GCB Vicepresident said.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

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

Pg 23

Pg 22

TT Olympic Qualifiers…

Edghill makes Millionaire Morris, Miller it to round of 16 – focus now on Mixed Doubles lead Royals in tense chase Pg 23

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