Guyana Times - Friday April 30, 2021

P15

Int’l Center for Democracy applauds High Court’s dismissal of election petition …calls on Opposition to work with Govt

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4633

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Granting of new oil blocks will be open, public process – President Ali See story on page 3

…as Govt mulls retaining, managing some blocks

Prequalified contractors can now bid for new Demerara River crossing See story on page 7

62 persons succumbed to COVID-19 to date in April …active cases surpass 1700

Page 14

with 143 new positives

Schools to remain closed in May – Education Minister …teachers, parents urged to get vaccinated See story on page 10

Business owners devastated after losing livelihoods to Sharon’s Mall fire

See story on page 2

…cause of fire still unknown

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

74-year-old busted with P12 ganja

“Smallie” P11 acquitted of 2007 double murder

“Short Boss” gets life P15 imprisonment for gunning down mason Brazilian jailed for killing P14 Guyanese miner

Cop under P9 close arrest for punching civilian Linden promoter charged for breaching COVID-19 P14 restrictions

More NIS staff test positive for COVID-19 P16

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, April 30 – 04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, May 1 – 09:00h-10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, April 30 – 06:25h-07:55h and Saturday, May 1 – 07:15h-08:45h.

Granting of new oil blocks will be open, public process – President Ali …as Govt mulls retaining, managing some blocks

by Total E&P Guyana B.V. (60%) and Qatar Petroleum (40%).

With these changes, the joint venture partners on the Orinduik Petroleum Agreement are Tullow Guyana with its 60 per cent working interest, Eco Atlantic with 15 per cent WI and TOQAP with 25 per cent WI.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers are expected during the morning followed by sunny conditions, with partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 06:34h and 19:07h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.55 metres.

Low Tide: 12:38h reaching a minimum height of 0.44 metre.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

03 05 08

11 18 22

FREE TICKET

15 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

07 10 17 20 24 LUCKY 3

1

2

0

7

Afternoon Draw

2

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

08

09

11

12 17 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021

01 04 10 14 15 13

01 12 16 20 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$68.56/barrel

+1.88

Rough Rice

$246.42/ton

-0.06

London Sugar

$461.20/ton

-0.26

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1767.40

$1768.40

Low/High Change

$1754.20 - 4.60

$1786.00 -0.26%

TURN TO PAGE 9

T

President Dr Irfaan Ali

he Guyana Government is contemplating retaining some of the oil blocks offshore Guyana to be managed locally, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali. He made this remark in response to a question asked by Guyana Times on the sale of oil blocks during a news conference on Wednesday at State House.

Ali said, however, that this consideration is still in the preliminary stage.

“Discussions are still ongoing. It calls for a lot of technical analysis on whether Guyana itself will retain some of those blocks for our own development and to manage by ourselves. But that is very preliminary,” he posited.

But the Head of State outlined that when it comes to granting of the new oil blocks offshore Guyana, that process will have to be an open and public one.

“We have made it very clear that the process in awarding new oil blocks will be very much different.

It will be an open, public process, and when we get to that stage, it will be a public, open bidding process.

We will be looking for the best offer in an open public bid,” Ali stressed.

Currently, United States oil major ExxonMobil has operating stakes in the three oil blocks offshore Guyana, where exploration activities, and in one case production, are ongoing.

Exxon’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres) Stabroek Block, and holds a 45 per cent interest. It’s operating partner Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and the other operating partner, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

There have been 19 discoveries, with the latest one announced just this week, in the Stabroek Block, which is estimated to have over 9 billion oil-equivalent barrels of oil. Production of the “light sweet crude” found there started in December 2019 at the Liza-1 project.

Exxon also has a 35 per cent operating interest in the Canje Block, along with partners, France’s Total which also has 35 per cent interest, Canadian junior JHI with 17.5 per cent interest, and local company Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc. with 12.5 per cent interest. This block could hold as much as 10 billion barrels of oil in total, and drilling is ongoing there.

The Kaieteur Block, which spans 13,500 km2 and holds a gross estimated prospective resource of 2.1 billion barrels of oil, is being operated by Exxon’s local subsidiary EEPGL (35%); and Cataleya Energy Ltd. (25%), Ratio Guyana Ltd. (25%) and Hess Guyana (15%) are its partners.

Meanwhile, the joint venture partners in the Orinduik Block, which is operated by British-owned Tullow Guyana B.V. (60%), renewed their block licence last month, with some changes in the Petroleum Agreement.

The 25 per cent working interest held by partner Total E&P Guyana B.V. has been transferred to a new company – TOQAP Guyana B.V. – jointly owned

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 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

Intimate partner violence: Another attacked

O

n Wednesday, another woman with young children was stabbed by the hands of the father of her children. In this particular incident, which occurred in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the man attacked the woman in public. Even as the 27-year-old woman is hospitalised, her children have had to deal with the trauma of watching their father violently attacking their mother, and also the fact that he took his own life.

This attack comes weeks after another young mother was severely injured at the hands of her husband. As a matter of fact, the six-month pregnant woman had to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, having received chop wounds so severe that some of her fingers were severed.

It is no secret that women worldwide, including those in Guyana, continue to face unacceptable levels of violence in various forms.

WHO has estimated that nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to increasing the risk of violence, particularly domestic violence, against women.

The UN recently pointed to reports from countries around the world which suggest that restrictions in movement, social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures, are leading to an increase in violence in the home.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed had detailed the many problems women are faced with during lockdown, and made recommendations in relation to various forms of support governments and other partners could provide to ensure women are able to confront these challenges.

According to SG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden, and place more stress on women. The disruption of their livelihoods and ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families, with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.

Violence against women and children has a tremendous cost to communities, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

These measures include criminalising gender-based violence, massive public awareness campaigns, and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and support victims of the scourge at the community level.

Every year, between 25 November and 10 December - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – Guyana joins the WHO and other partners to raise awareness about the global need to prevent and respond to violence against women, and provide support to survivors.

However, not many women admit to being victims of violence.

The Human Services Minister had, some time ago, said, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation, or result in an overwhelming silence”.

As pointed out by the Human Services and Social Security Minister, “Violence against women is a heinous crime and a pervasive breach of human rights. Yet it continues to be one of the longest, hardest challenges to the world, and involves psyches, attitudes, poverty, cultures, emotional manipulation, substance abuse, and lack of education”.

We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women. We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard, including the ‘914 emergency hotline’ which was launched in December 2020.

Since its launch, the 24-hour hotline operators have been seeking to offer support, referral to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Childcare and Protection Agency.

We echo the call by the Minister that better can and must be done. Everyone must work in every home, school, office, community in every part of our country to expose violence against women where it exists; support the women; work with the perpetrators; create safe spaces; educate persons, and share solutions.

That said, we again urge the Government to reconvene a stakeholders’ engagement to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

The aim should be to reassess and modify current strategies, taking into account the lessons learnt from past experiences.

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag assisting this Region One (Barima-Waini) student in filling out a scholarship application during a two-day outreach to Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Wauna and Mabaruma (DPI photo)

Poor building codes are the cause of fires Dear Editor, The huge fire at Sharon’s Mall evokes the urgent need for adequate building construction with updated building codes, especially electric circuit designs and shut-off mechanisms (like a series of valves along pipelines).

With Guyana stepping into construction of mega shopping centres, the country still relies on archaic outdated systems in workmanship, architecture, and sloppy enforcement of building codes.

New building regulations (material quality, design, structure elevation, plumbing and electric codes etc.) are needed in the area of commercial buildings.

It is noteworthy that Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn showed up and declared the need for fire fighters to better understand the types of building construction and the challenges they are likely to face when engaging conflagrations. He added that, in the future, persons who would like to construct buildings higher than two floors must have a fire alarm system, a sprinkler system, and a rising main in place.

Well, the Minister is correct, but, more than 5 years ago, I indicated the very deficiencies he now talks about.

Even worse is the poor training and flimsy equipment firefighters have to use to perform their tasks; not to mention the wretched state of the country’s water supply structure.

Guyana needs a complete overhaul of its archaic building codes and safety standards, even if prophylactic measures need to be instituted. Here are some solutions:

Buildings in Guyana, generally do not confirm to designate classification. Single family homes are converted into tenant occupied portions, so that homeowners can accommodate family members and gather some income. The flaw in this is that there is the same original plumbing and electrical systems that now have to support more lighting and appliances. As Guyana is entering the technological era, a host of appliances are utilised — almost always invariably from one outlet. A microwave oven, an air conditioner and an iron can total as much as 4,000 Watts—enough to induce overloading and precipitate (sparks) fire.

Extension cords - most times hidden under carpets - with their multiple connections pose extreme fire hazard.

Then there is the scenario where persons break off one of the prongs in three-way plugs to accommodate plug-ins. The earth safety is thus discarded, and overloading is facilitated.

Single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings, prevalent in university and hospital vicinities, need to be registered with the Building Department and given a registration number. In this way, inspection – say, on a yearly basis - can be carried out, safety designs instituted, and complaints taken and investigated. A phone number must be established for this. Thirty-five persons occupying an uninsured building borders on insanity.

A minimum space between buildings, say 5 feet, is a requirement that needs to be incorporated into building codes and zoning regulations.

This facilitates evacuation as

well as allows access by firefighters.

Commercial buildings, especially attached ones, need sprinkler systems: a series of road-side connections to connect fire hoses which would distribute water inside a building in event of a fire.

Automated oxygen retardant systems need to be installed inside, where an increase in temperature (say, at 110F) will trigger off the chemical spray. As this chemical spray sucks out the oxygen, the fire will be greatly contained.

Smoke alarms are cheap, and should be installed along corridors, which are the principal pathways for smoke.

Regardless of what is stored, Bonds need to be sectionalised, much like the compartments in ships such as oil tankers. Concrete separating walls with steel (fire-proof) connecting doors must be the code for storage warehouses. This, coupled with periodic safety inspections, must be the way forward.

Storage of cooking gas containers must never be inside a closed building. Propane is highly flammable (after all, people cook with it) and needs to be stored outdoors: any leakage/ explosion would dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere.

Perhaps the worst aspect of construction in Guyana is the electrical system’s material and installation codes.

This is in serious need of overhauling. Systems such as 100 Amperes distribution with Fly Back Breakers are the standard for commercial buildings such as warehouses, offices, shopping centres and night clubs and so on. This is virtually non-existent. GFI outlets

(with built in overload kickout) rarely exist, while electric wiring is predominantly vinyl coated (easily combustible) copper wire. Additionally, old wiring coupled with corroded fuses which do not trip or ‘blow’ pose severe risk of fire. As evidenced in the Cummings Lodge case.

Fire hydrants are taken for granted, instead of being seen as a means of emergency water supply. It is comical that hydrants invariably have little water in the “land of many waters.”

The Bureau of Standards must arise from its slumber and monitor the very poor-quality electrical fittings and accessories (mostly from China) that flood the Guyanese market. And the Housing Authority must determine the safety features and occupancy of commercial buildings. The partitioning of buildings with the mere addition of a few walls to obtain an ‘apartment’ to get rental income has proven to have fatal consequences.

In the final analysis, the Mayor of Georgetown should install rigid policies which must be mandated by law to prevent further tragedies. All buildings must carry insurance, have sprinkler systems, and undergo a yearly inspection by the Fire Department, who would identify pitfalls and have them corrected.

Fines must be imposed on all forms of non-compliance if Guyana is truly serious about preventing fires.

Sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Real Estate Builder (New York)

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 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

Passing of a legend: Eshri Singh

Dear Editor, It was with a profound sense of sadness that I learnt of the death of veteran broadcaster Eshri Singh last Sunday. While I knew he was ailing, even in those circumstances − as hope for recovery is rife − death is extremely painful for relatives and, in his case, fans across many countries.

Eshri was as icon with a commanding presence on radio. His rich, unique baritone voice was a fixture on the airwaves, and few, if any at all, may have missed a segment.

As a boy, I grew up listening to his powerful voice early in the morning, and for an extended period on Sundays. Our alarm clock was fixed at 4:30am − when he was on. As my dad prepared for work, I for school, and my mom ensuring meals, Eshri’s regular time checks and sharing of relevant information were extremely useful; not forgetting the comfort he provided through music.

I recall that many from various backgrounds in the village, including sugar workers, tuned in. I know that people across the country did likewise. On Sundays, during that period when there was no internet or computer or cellphone, and when landlines

seemed to be for a privileged few, the radio, whether transistor or “tabletop”, blared for the three-hour period from 1-4pm when Eshri dominated.

Whilst original Bollywood songs and information on films from India and the much beloved stars were anticipated, there was a segment that featured and promoted local talent – “Local Indian Performers”. Many of our legendary singers, musicians and budding artistes were on show.

My parents, having introduced me to Indian music at a very early age, generally ensured that the radio had batteries; Berec and Eveready were the popular brands then.

When the batteries suddenly lost power and timely replacement could not have been afforded, placing them in the sunlight was a desperate short-term remedy for “recharging”, so as not to “miss out”.

On Sundays, I would sit on the front steps, listening and hoping I would not be distracted by being asked to do a chore. Sometimes when I was unceremoniously commanded to perform a task, not only did I have to hide my frustration, but I had to grapple with the fact that my much anticipat-

ed and momentary “existence” in the world of Bollywood had ended, especially when the task was to purchase something at the shop.

In the evenings I would sing some of the songs played, or at least I tried to, loudly and much to the annoyance of those around. They forgave me, or so I felt, having known my passion for the music.

Eshri might have unknowingly been one of those responsible for me constantly tormenting those within earshot.

Then, cinema − with its derivatives of songs and stars − were the main form of entertainment for many. It was integrally woven into the culture, and Eshri ensured interest never waned. Very often, conversations about Bollywood films dominated conversation in the village, and Eshri was a reference when doubt crept in. He had a part to play in driving my interest at an early age in wanting to become an actor, given how seemingly obsessed I was with Bollywood films and music. I am sure many others were influenced by him.

Listening to Eshri, I never dreamt that one day my own voice would be coming through radio and hosting programmes related to

Bollywood music and films.

Through his voice, he touched many throughout the country, and he continued to do so in parts of the diaspora after he migrated to the USA. There, he became a fixture on television, thereby increasing his influence.

His daughter Tanuja and I were classmates at St. Joseph High School. She had a catalogue of cassettes featuring songs from Bollywood films, and my dad, after my insistence on occasions, gave me a treat by providing the necessary money to purchase a few over time.

My choices for cassettes were made easy by the songs Eshri played, and conversations about the stars and upcoming Bollywood films were regular with Tanuja.

Eshri’s death has left broadcasting poorer. However, the legacy he has left: his invaluable contributions to help preserve aspects of our culture, the influence he had on many, and the wonderful memories he has imprinted, will live on. I wish to extend my sincere condolences to his immediate and extended families.

Dear Editor, As the saying goes, “If you allow a lie to be told over and over again about a group of people without anyone objecting to it, it becomes believable, and difficult with the passage of time to prove it as being a lie or concoction”.

This quote rang true in my head as I listened to one Opposition Parliamentarian speak with professor David Hinds on his ‘Politics 101’ podcast. This MP is Amanza Walton-Desir from the People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change coalition. She said that PPP supporters were not seemingly “free” to decipher what’s wrong or right, make decisions for themselves, and were happy with not questioning the various rationale put forward by the PPP politicians.

If this wasn’t bad enough, the MP then said the PPP supporters/members were “trapped”, “in bondage” and are “mentally lazy”.

She ended her diatribe by comparing us to the PNCR/ APNU/AFC supporters, whom she described as being “far more enquiring and inquisitive, and have a far (greater) appreciation for the democratic process…”.

Firstly, I confess I thought the MP was living in a world that had no Guyana when she made those statements.

The MP could not be speaking about a part of our population, or Guyanese for that matter, in the way that she was speaking. I forgive this lack of knowledge, evidence, critical analogy and conscience that she seemingly

displayed, which has been a feature of far too many political talking heads in the party.

But I will never forget what she truly thinks about PPP supporters and members. That she thinks we are not able to decipher for ourselves is almost laughable and crazy at the same time.

I want to give her an invitation to come into the PPP family and you will see what makes our politics worthy of being superior to the current Opposition in terms of track records while in and out of Government, development and thinking. We are critical thinkers. We know what or who we want as our leaders.

We could decipher for ourselves. We know who we can trust with the governance of this country and our future.

We are responsible, grown and mature Guyanese. We are not enslaved or “shackled”, nor are our backs in a corner. We are not trapped or mentally lazy.

The fact that Walton responded the way she did is mentally lazy. It’s unintellectual, unscholarly and bankrupt. It is unreasonable, and it is politicking. It is a critical analysis of a sitting member of a political party or legislature. It is a school boy synopsis of things or people in the modern world. It is racist.

I resent this shameful level to which this MP has taken her “reasoning skills or lack thereof”. It must be condemned, and points to a wider problem in society that is leading to many of the dilemmas we are faced with, including racism and pent-up anger.

The supporters/members of PPP have contribut-

ed to this country in critical ways that have to do with thinking far more than any politician has in the current Opposition. Just look at our infrastructure and agriculture development for example.

We hold this disgraceful politician as an example of the way the APNU/AFC thinks about the people that they wanted to lead at the last election.

When they come to our homes again, we will shun them.

You see, we are a proud and peaceful people. We don’t fight our leaders in the public or malign them secretly or covertly, like the PNC/APNU/ AFC does. Just look at your own house while throwing stones.

Finally, if the Opposition

really can think critically or freely, as Walton-Desir suggests, why are we still reeling from their attempt at rigging our national elections?

Why are we still trying to make sure everyone who participated in the rigging is held accountable for their actions? And finally, why is the Opposition still losing in all the courts?

This is an unfair assessment of one section of the population. I might be even bolder to suggest it is indicative of a racist, narcissistic and narrow way of thinking.

Guyana deserves better thinkers. The PNC APNU/ AFC does itself a disservice if it is going to think like this.

Flooding of Little Diamond residential areas

Dear Editor, It has been reported in Guyana Times that during the early morning of April 26, an earthen dam that was constructed to protect a twodoor sluice that is under construction as well as the adjoining residential areas at Little Diamond was breached during high tide from the Demerara River, and over 100 households were flooded, causing extensive damages.

The evidence suggested that water from the river at high tide had overtopped a damaged section of the protecting earthen dam and had flooded the residential areas.

Damage to the dam’s crest was done by the contractor’s equipment, which, by the contractor’s operation, had compacted the elevation of that dam, thereby lowering it and caused a gaping hole to develop on it in the process.

No attempt was made by the contractor to repair the damage done, or restore the dam’s elevation and plug the hole/gap. Hence, a tragedy was waiting to happen, and it did on the morning of April 26, when high tide breached

the dam at its most vulnerable location at the damaged section, and flooded the adjoining residential areas.

The residents of Little Diamond are entitled to adequate compensation, and not cleaning supplies and hampers for the damage they suffered from the flooding. They should each record the damage done to their properties, with evidential costs and with photos where possible.

A class action suit should then be filed in the court on the contractor and his client for recovery of the damages done to their properties by the flood water.

The evidence will show that the contractor was negligent and lax in the execution of his contractual obligations, as he failed to repair with dispatch a protective dam he had damaged, and for which he had responsibility for its maintenance. His tardiness has caused loss and suffering from flood water to so many poor citizens of Little Diamond.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Sincerely, Neaz Subhan

A little smoke, APNU/AFC MP’s statements wrong, offensive, and racist such devastation

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

Amanza Walton-Desir should resign over racist remarks Dear Editor, I have listened to a recording of APNU/AFC MP Amanza Walton-Desir on a chat show with David Hinds. I was disturbed to hear her describe the PPP’s support base, whom she said is “predominantly Indo-Guyanese” as “a bunch of mentally lazy people”. She went on to state that PNC supporters are more inquisitive and concerned about the democratic process.

I don’t need to go on about the racist overtones overloaded in that statement. Anyone with a working brain can see that what

this individual said is a racist remark. Every single right-minded Guyanese should condemn her for her remarks. I trust they will condemn her as they did when Bheri Ramsaran and Anil Nandlall made offensive remarks about particular groups of people.

I call on the ERC to prosecute her for such remarks. I also call on her to resign from Parliament, as such a deviant, hate-filled mind should not represent Guyanese in the legislative process of this country.

Yours truly, Suresh Kissoon

Dear Editor, The smell of smoke was detected earlier in the day.

Later, it started as a small fire, which could not be contained, and became a conflagration that completely destroyed a four-storey building in the heart of the city.

Many factors might contribute to the cause of the fire not being contained and literally flaring out of con-

trol. A little smoke, such devastation.

The lesson here is: if a burning smell is detected, or sparking of electrical items seen, investigate and take the necessary steps to avoid a devastating situation.

My sympathy to all those who suffered this disastrous heartbreak.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄ Question 1

Thursday's answers ai)

aii) {15, 21, 25} bi)

bii) 12 cm

By Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood-shod.

All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!— An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

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 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prequalified contractors can now bid for new Demerara River crossing M

ore than a month after prequalifying, the nine international contractors will now be able to bid for the designing, building and financing of the new Demerara River Bridge.

This was first announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a press conference on Wednesday.

He said that by the end of this week, the nine prequalified bidders would be invited to submit their tenders.

Then, on Thursday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced that the bid documents for the “long-awaited and extremely necessary” new Demerara Harbour Bridge were launched at about 16:00h.

In a statement, the Minister said the nine prequalified contractors – some of whom have partnered to form joint ventures in order to carry out the project – were each sent a copy of the bid documents.

“This process requires that the bidders present proposals for a Design, Build and Finance (DBF) option, or a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) option.

A pre-bid meeting will be held within the next few weeks, and bids will be closed on August 3, 2021,” the missive detailed.

The prequalified bidders are: China State Construction Eng Corp (China); Ballast Needam

Infra Suriname BV (headquartered in The Netherlands); China Geizhouba Group Co Ltd (China); JV – China Railway International Group Co Ltd, China Railway Major Bridge Eng Group Co Ltd, Reconnaissance & Design Inst Co Ltd (China); JV – China Road & Bridge Corp Peutes y Calzadas Infrastructuras SLU (China and Spain); JV – OECI SA and Odebrecht Engenharia E Coonstrucao SA OEC (Brazil); JV – China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Ltd, China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co Ltd, and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Ltd (China & Trinidad and Tobago); JV – Rizzani de Eccher S p A & Preconco Ltd (Italy and Barbados), and Boskalis Guyana Inc Eiffage Genie Civil (Guyana & Netherlands).

According to the Public Works Minister, a contract with the preferred bidder is expected to be entered into within the fourth quarter of this year. The bridge is expected to be completed in two years from the date of the commencement order.

This project, grounded in principles of transparency and accountability, saw 21 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) in the first round.

Following their shortlisting, these prequalified bidders had benefited from an information session held on March 15, 2021, during

which they were privy to the general requirements of the tender.

This new bridge across the Demerara River will be high-fixed span with a 50-metre flyover at minimum or “as high as, or higher than, the Marriott Hotel” to allow for marine vessels to pass without any interruption to vehicular traffic.

As such, the bridge would land aback Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara, from where an alternative highway would be constructed all the way to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

Meanwhile, an application for the project was filed at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), followed by an advertisement for a firm to complete the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

The construction of the new bridge will be a timely one, as the East Bank is notorious for its heavy traffic congestions due to the current retractable bridge.

In addition to reduced travel time, Minister Edghill further outlined in Thursday’s missive that the impact of this project will also see greater economic activity, greater accessibility for new housing opportunities, expansion of the manufacturing sectors - which will be able to operate freely on the West side and not be limited to

the Georgetown and East Bank Demerara areas, unhindered marine traffic, and swifter movement of cargo and the expansion of the Demerara Waterfront, since marine traffic will no longer be encumbered in any way whatsoever.

“This major transformational project is tied to key road networks to be developed on the East Bank and West Bank of the Demerara River. This project is a Manifesto promise of the PPP/C in the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Guyana is on the rise,” the Public Works Minister declared.

Floating at 1.25 miles, the current Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the

East and West Banks of Demerara, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo.

The structure was built in the 1970s, but was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years. However, some 43 years later, it is still floating.

The former APNU/AFC Administration was originally going to build another retractable, three-lane bridge, but after immense criticism, had switched to a fixed, four-lane proposal.

However, the awarding of the $146 million contract to have a feasibility study done for the project was marred in controversy, with Auditor General Deodat

Sharma pointing to major breaches of Guyana’s financial laws.

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had subsequently flagged former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from the then Cabinet that the feasibility contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The PPC had found that after the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders, NPTAB had approved that the project to be re-tendered. But, instead, Dutch company LievenseCSO was handpicked by Patterson to conduct the study.

Additionally, it was revealed that funds from the Asphalt Plant which is managed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) were used to pay for the feasibility study.

As such, former Minister Patterson and former Head of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams, were charged in January this year for defrauding the Asphalt Plant of $162.6 million. They are currently out on bail as the matter engages the court.

(G8)

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice man charged for ganja trafficking

Hunkering down…

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Charged: Wesley Antonio Barry

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41-year-old man of AA-Kingston, (Little India) Number 79 Village, Corriverton, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) was on Thursday charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Wesley Antonio Barry appeared before Springlands Magistrate

The cannabis that was found during the raid

Alex Moore and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on April 26, at Corriverton, Berbice, he had in his possession 25.9 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Defence attorney Pamela De Santos made a successful bail application on his behalf, and he was

placed on $150,000 bail after initially being ordered to post bail in the sum of $250,000.

Guyana Times understands that Barry was arrested during an operation which was carried out

by CANU ranks. Based on reports received, CANU ranks had swooped down on Barry’s property and

carried out a search that unearthed several well-labelled packages containing ganja. The cannabis was confiscated, and when weighed in the presence of Barry, amounted to 25.9 kilograms. He was thus taken into custody, pending his first court appearance. (G15)

…on COVID ndia should be a cautionary tale for Guyana on the COVID-19 front. Just a few months ago, she was doing so well - compared with the developed countries that had stereotyped her for centuries as poor and helpless. Even though she has such a humungous population of 1.3 billion - beyond what we can possibly conceive! – some of her politicians became a bit too confident. They sent vaccines across the world, but, today, with the tsunami caused by a variant of the virus sweeping everything in its path, they just don’t have enough to inoculate their own people.

So, once again, India’s in the position the West had “orientalised” her into.

Supplies of oxygen are being flown in. Once she didn’t have food, now she doesn’t even have air!! There are not enough cremation grounds and graveyards to dispose of the dead. Never mind that, in the US, bodies were being kept in refrigerated trucks for weeks, and crematoriums were backed up for months. Out of sight was out of our minds. So, Eyewitness asks: what’s the lesson for us?

Let’s not get complacent, that’s what. Please! Did anyone imagine that, in this month alone, we’d suffer an average of two persons dying daily? This mightn’t seem like much, but in proportion to India’s population, our death rate is higher than theirs!! But maybe there’s a silver lining in this dark cloud, because we do detect a quickening in the pace of the official response. The President himself has warned of increased penalties for those violating the COVID protocols – especially in regard to wearing masks.

It’s rather sad that we have to be happy for the Government to increase social controls over us. We can say, “It’s for our own good”, but we’ve all hopefully learnt that governments and their agencies will always take a mile when we give them an inch. From what we know, the best we can do right now is to follow the rules and get vaccinated. As at a couple of days ago, just 124,000 persons had received their first jab, and 2800 had received both.

We know there’s enough vaccines for each of the above to receive their second shot, but we still have a long way to go to reach the 600,000 double doses that is projected to give us “herd immunity”.

Our challenge is to get those vaccines to fill the gap.

The biggest disappointment has been from WHO-COVAX consortium that had promised us 100,000 AstraZeneca, but then reduced it to 24,000 because the rich countries didn’t step up to the crease. The US had been sitting on 100 million doses of AstraZeneca even though it said it wouldn’t be using them on its populace. It has now said it would be distributing 60 million.

Will we get any?

…or frittering away support It’s quite clear that even as we do battle with this COVID wave that’s now a tsunami, the PNC’s not going to offer us any respite on the political front. It’s very common that, during wartime, opposition political parties in democracies stop opposing for opposing sake to make common cause with the government against the common enemy.

We know that the PNC - with Harmon running the COVID Task Force - used the COVID threat to stymie the recount.

But things weren’t so bleak then, and your Eyewitness had hoped that, in light of what we’re facing right now, the PNC would rise to the occasion for the greater good.

Yes, dear reader, hope beats eternal in your Eyewitness’s heart! Unfortunately, they’re unwilling to even encourage their supporters to be vaccinated!! How low can they sink to risk the lives of their own people? This is the height of irresponsibility, if not criminality!

But, surely, they’re alienating some right-minded folks from their camp. Not everyone is a lemming.

…against oblivion It’s rather pitiful that some oldsters are insisting that there’s still a WPA. Whatever goodwill was left going into the campaign was dissipated after they supported the blatant rigging after March 3rd.

Please go quietly into the night.

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

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Toshaos must be able to be accountable” – Gail Teixeira …commissions $8M sawmill at Karrau village

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arliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira, has charged the residents of Karrau in Region Seven, (CuyuniMazaruni) to effectively manage the newly-commissioned sawmill.

She made this plea during the commissioning of the sawmill on Sunday last, whilst she was on a two-day outreach to Regions Seven and Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice). The Department of Public Information reported that the Minister acknowledged that the sawmill, which costs some $8 million, holds the potential to transform the village.

However, she highlighted that the sawmill’s longevity hinges on the management and accountability of the project.

“The same demands that you make from your President, Prime Minister and VP: that they must be accountable; that they must produce; that they must keep up their promises, is the same thing we must demand from toshaos and village elections. They must be able to be accountable” – Gail Teixeira “This project is well-situated for the future, the future for Karrau and the future for Region Seven; and if we don’t manage it well and we don’t put accountability systems in, it will fail and it will be of no use to the village,” she told villagers, adding, “As we congratulate you, we also say to you that we want this to be sustainable. You want this to last for many years to come. You want to add

on new equipment, expand, and you want to become more sophisticated in the type of equipment and wood that you produce.”

The Minister said it would be good for the village to establish a management committee which would oversee the operation of the sawmill. This, she noted, can be spearheaded with support from the toshaos.

“The same demands that you make from your

Granting of new oil blocks...

The entry of Qatar into Guyana’s offshore blocks is reflective of the mounting interest by several other major players in the global petroleum industry in scooping up oil blocks offshore Guyana.

In fact, since 2018, India has been expressing an interest in securing oil blocks here.

“That interest is still there. Whenever [the oil blocks open up] we will bid like everybody else, but we have told [the Guyana Government] openly that we are interested in that,” Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa, told Guyana Times last month during an interview.

Further, the energy-hungry nation is also looking for a long-term contract for the supply of crude. Only last month, India bought a

million-barrel shipment of Guyana’s crude from Hess Corp.

In a recent report published by Reuters, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat was quoted as saying that India has approached the Government of Guyana about the possibility of a long-term agreement to buy crude, currently being produced from the Liza field offshore Guyana.

Bharrat further told Reuters that India, which is the world’s third largest importer of oil, is interested in buying one of the million-barrel oil lifts that Guyana is entitled to, with the intention of testing the crude in its refineries.

According to the Natural Resources Minister, if the crude is compatible, India could begin talks on this long-term agreement.

FROM PAGE 3

High Commissioner Srinivasa had previously explained that India has called on all its refiners – both state-run refiners and also private refiners - to diversify its crude sources.

“The Government of India has asked the refiners to speed up the diversification of imports which will cut our dependence mainly from the Middle East and through all the OPEC+ countries. So, basically, we’re trying to diversify and we’re trying to rekindle our partnership with other countries… You know, we are an energy-hungry nation. We import about 86 per cent of crude… And obviously, your Liza oil – “light sweet crude” are the words used – seems to be well suited for our refinery,” the Indian diplomat had said to this newspaper.

(G8)

President, Prime Minister and VP: that they must be accountable; that they must produce; that they must keep up their promises, is the same thing we must demand from toshaos and village elections. They must be able to be accountable,” Teixeira is quoted by DPI as saying.

She also advised the residents that, annually, a report should be compiled, detailing the amount of wood brought to the sawmill, how much it was sold for, and the cost of maintaining it. This would aid in the transparency of the facility.

She said the project fits into what President Dr Irfaan Ali has been highlighting in relation to creating economic activities to counter the effect of the COVID pandemic.

To ensure its further success, the Minister suggested that the village should work with the Ministries of Amerindian Affairs and Tourism, Industry and Commerce to get technical support for employment and revenue creation. Villagers, she recommended, should also seek support on mar-

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira cutting the ribbon to open the Karrau Village Sawmill

keting strategies.

The Minister informed residents that the PPP/C Government is looking to renegotiate the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Agreement with Norway.

This agreement, which secured billions of dollars for Guyana, was aimed at preserving Guyana’s forest in return for payments.

“When we talk about forestry and logging and having a wood industry, we also have to protect the forests.

We can’t have people cutting

anywhere they want to cut.

It has to be controlled and managed, and we have to make sure that we replace the trees that are being cut. We have to have proper management, not only because of the fact that we have a clean earth, but also that if we continue to cut down the trees, we end up damaging the land, thereby causing soil erosion.”

She added that residents should work along with the Guyana Forestry Commission to ensure that logging is conducted at the highest standards.

Cop under close arrest for punching civilian

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Police Constable attached to the Bartica Police Station has been placed under close arrest after he reportedly punched a civilian several times on Thursday.

Based on reports received, Georgeno Tevrieden, who was charged for assault-

ing two Police officers on April 24, 2021, was ordered by the court to publicly apologise to the ranks. He turned up at the Bartica Police Station with the intention of executing the Court’s orders, but was instead approached

by Police Constable Harmon, who dealt him several cuffs

to his body.

As a result of the injuries Tevrieden sustained, he was taken to the Bartica Public Hospital, where he was treated and subsequently sent away. The Constable was immediately taken into custody, and an investigation has been launched.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 30,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Schools to remain closed in May – Education Minister

…teachers, parents urged to get vaccinated

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand has announced a continued closure for schools across the country throughout May, except for the senior levels that were previously allowed face-to-face learning.

In a virtual statement, Manickchand said the decision to keep schools closed was made after Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony briefed Cabinet on the existing coronavirus situation.

Concerns were raised about the slow uptake of vaccines in some communities, which can affect the infection rate.

“The Cabinet met and heard from Dr Frank Anthony, the Minister of Health about various statistics and the vaccination programme. While we were pleased that some persons came out to be vaccinated and that programme has been smooth in terms of its administration, we’re concerned about the sloth of some communities by region and particular stakeholder groups that have been slow in receiving the vaccines,” Manickchand informed.

In light of the current situation, the Minister has encouraged teachers and par-

ents/guardians to take the vaccine. More than 25 per cent of the adult population have received their first dose.

“The Government continues to maintain that the vaccination process is voluntary in terms of whether someone receives it. But I want to say that all the science in the world has said to us that it is safer to take the vaccine…

While it remains your choice and you’re not going to be forced to take the vaccine, I encourage persons, particularly teachers and parents and grandparents, to go out and take the vaccine.”

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

At the end of May, the Ministry will determine whether classrooms will be reopened in June.

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

The Ministry has already embarked on a massive training programme to equip teachers with the skills needed to deliver teaching in the new circumstances.

Classroom activity has been restricted since midMarch 2020 when Guyana

started witnessing an increase in positive cases.

Presently, Grades 10, 11 and 12 students and those from Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are facilitated in a classroom setting.

The Education Ministry had given parents the option of keeping their children home if they were uncomfortable sending them back to school in the COVID-19 situation. Parents could have also opted to have their children transferred to the nearest secondary school – a process completed in less than 24 hours. (G12)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30,, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Smallie” acquitted of 2007 double murder

Death row inmate Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”

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eath row inmate Mark Royden Williams, aka ‘Smallie’, has, by a jury, been found not guilty of the December 16, 2007 murders of 35-year-old Rajesh Singh and 25-year-old Fazal Hakim. The 12-member mixed jury delivered its unanimous verdicts on Thursday at the High Court in Demerara.

Williams had been on trial for the murders before Justice Sandil Kissoon.

He was represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, while State Counsel Lisa Cave appeared for the prosecution.

The Police, in a statement on the killings, had said that Hakim, Singh, and another man were consuming alcohol at Narendra Mukhram’s shop at Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara when gunmen in camouflage attire turned up.

As Mukhram went to close the shop, he was confronted by three men armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. One of the gunmen held Mukhram at gunpoint and took him to his home next door. The other two gunmen entered the shop, and one of them ordered the three patrons to lie on the ground.

When the patrons hesitated, the gunmen opened fire, killing Singh and Hakim.

Over at Mukhram’s house, the armed men held Mukhram’s wife and children at gunpoint and demanded jewellery and cash. Based on reports, the Mukhrams handed over $500,000 in jewellery and $300,000 in cash to the gunmen.

At the time of his demise, Hakim, called “Boyee”, resided at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara while Singh, called “Rabbit”, lived at Martyrs Ville, East Coast Demerara. Their cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple gunshot wounds.

“I’m innocent”

During the trial, Williams was called on to lead a defence.

In unsworn testimony, Williams said, “I am innocent of this charge. I know nothing about this charge. On June 15, 2008, I was arrested by the Police and taken to the Criminal

Investigations Department Headquarters, where I was placed on the prisoner’s bench with handcuffs and shackles.”

Williams told the court that he signed the statement only “because I could not take it (the beating) anymore.”

Also testifying was Police Inspector Suraj Singh, the detective in charge of crime at the Turkeyen Police Station. He told the court that, during 2008, he held the rank of Corporal and was stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters and was attached to the Homicide Squad.

Inspector Singh told the court that, sometime in June 2008, Williams was arrested and questioned in relation to the murders, during which he opted to give a caution statement. The Police witness testified that Williams, who was 20 years old at the time, requested that he write the statement for him.

According to Inspector Singh, Williams told him, “…that work at Agriculture Road, ah uncle plan that work. Me, Uncle, Capone (Michael Caesar), and Mud Up went to that place to rob them boys. I had a cutlass; I was the lookout man. We tek the cane field… Then we went back to Buxton and hide. Me been there, but me nah had gun. Me nah know who kill them man. Me nah know how much money them get… Me nah get none.”

Under cross-examination by Williams’s counsel, Inspector Singh acknowledged that there were no eyewitnesses to the killings.

Hughes put to the Police witness that he and other investigating ranks had beaten and tortured his client to give the caution statement.

Inspector Singh denied this.

Caesar was called as a defence witness. In 2020, Caesar, also known as Capone, 37, who is currently serving various jail sentences for his role in the Bartica and Lusignan massacres, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter over the deaths of Singh and Hakim.

Sitting side by side with Williams at the Mazaruni Prison, Caesar had told the court that Williams was not involved in the killing of the men. He said he met Williams while being incarcerated. Caesar admitted that he was among the men who had stormed the rum shop.

He said it was “Uncle Willie” and “Chung Boy” who shot Singh and Hakim to their heads. The convicted killer further said he was arrested for the murders in 2009 while hiding out in neighbouring Suriname.

Death sentence

In 2017, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis “Anaconda” Williams were sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2008 Bartica massa-

Confessed killer Michael Caesar, called “Capone”

cre which left 12 persons, including three Policemen, dead. Following a trial, they were found guilty of the killings by a jury.

On February 17, 2008, gunmen carried out a brazen attack, while members of the community were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on television. On that fateful night, Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron

Osborne were fatally shot.

Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed. The two Williams convicts have since filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence. That case is yet to be called at the Guyana Court of Appeal.

The two convicted killers remain on death row until their right to appeal has been exhausted. A moratorium on the death penalty is in place, and the last death row inmate was executed in 1997.

Acquittals

In May 2018, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) restored the acquittals of Mark Royden Williams and James Hyles, called “Sally”, for the slaying of 11 persons, including children in the January 2008 Lusignan massacre.

Following a trial at the High

Dead: Fazal Hakim

Dead: Rajesh Singh

Court, a jury had found them not guilty.

The State, however, appealed the acquittals. Following full arguments, the Court of Appeal in March 2016 allowed the appeal, overturned the notguilty verdicts, and remitted the matter to the High Court for a new trial.

The Appeal Court held that several material irregularities in the trial resulted in unsafe verdicts.

Williams and Hyles then appealed the Court of Appeal’s ruling to the CCJ which ruled in their favour.

In the wee hours of January 26, 2008, gunmen invaded the village of Lusignan, ECD and went from house to house on a shooting rampage. In the end, 11 persons were killed as they slept peacefully in their homes.

TURN TO PAGE 13

12 NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ex-cop wanted 74-year-old busted for fraud with ganja

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for one of its former members, for questioning in relation to larceny by Public Officer.

Delon Wilson, of Kuru Kuru, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, reportedly committed the act between 2013 and June 2020. Guyana Times understands that Wilson is reportedly part of a massive investigation being conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to over $300 million fraud allegedly committed at the Police

Wanted: Delon Wilson

Finance Office by several high-ranking officers of the

Guyana Police Force.

Thus far, several persons have been charged for the crime, including Police Finance Officer Marcelene Washington, former Deputy Finance Officer Roxanne Griffith-Adams, former Deputy Commander of Division 4B, Lorraine Saul, and Assistant Police Superintendent Kurt Smith.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Wilson is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 216-0251, 261-5457, 226-7065, 227-1270, 2261928, 911, or at the nearest Police Station.

The ganja that was found in possession of the suspect

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74-year-old man was on Wednesday taken into custody after he was busted with a quantity of ganja during a cordon-and-search exercise conducted at 111 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Based on information re-

ceived, detectives and other ranks of the Mahdia Police Station conducted a cordon-and-search exercise at the home of the suspect, during which a black plastic bag containing a quantity of ganja and $16,300 in cash was found. The suspect reportedly admitted owner-

The money found during the Police operation

ship of the drug.

The ganja, when reportedly weighed in presence of the suspect, amounted to 356 grams. The suspect remains in custody, and is assisting with investigation.

He is expected to be charged shortly.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Edghill urges Region 10 residents to get vaccinated

– reveals Region has lowest vaccination uptake

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n light of reports that residents of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) are reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccines, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has sounded a call for them to get vaccinated.

He made his appeal during a visit to Linden for the launch of the Government’s 20,000 online scholarships programme.

The Minister reiterated the importance of being vaccinated and related that he has spent hours visiting various clinics and encouraging persons to take the vaccines.

However, during a recent visit to several clinics in Linden, the Minister said that he was appalled at the low response rate.

Edghill related that the low turnout was the result of a lot of misinformation that is being peddled about the effects of taking the vaccines, which he vehemently sought to correct.

“I want to encourage everybody to get vaccinated...

Region 10 has the lowest vaccination participation and it’s not because of shortage or lack of access. It has to do with attitude and misinformation...,” the Minister

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill addressing residents in Linden recently

said.

He noted that while it was true that even if persons got vaccinated, they could still contract COVID-19, the vaccine helped in preventing persons from becoming extremely sick and dying.

He noted, too, that at the time of his visit to the region, three Lindeners

were on ventilators in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and stressed that the virus did not discriminate.

“The cases are rising.

It’s a disease that is global.

The way to safeguard yourself is to be vaccinated. I encourage you to go and get your vaccines... I urge you, for the love of your life...

“Smallie” acquitted of..

Those killed were: 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, his 12-year-old daughter Vanessa Thomas and his son Ron Thomas; 22-year-old Shazam Mohamed; 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh; Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter Raywattie Ramsingh; and 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-year-old Seegobind Harrilall and 10-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall.

Moreover, in February 2019, Mark Royden Williams and Sherwin Nero, called, ‘Catty’ or ‘Pussy’, were both found not guilty of the murder of businessman Kumar Singh, which occurred on August 30, 2007. Reports indicate that 51-yearold Singh, also known as “Mango Man”, of Lot 51 Craig Milne, Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, was shot and killed by bandits.

According to reports, the gunmen stormed Singh’s home and began terroris-

FROM PAGE 11

ing his family. Singh and his family members were shot at during the 15-minute ordeal. Singh, who received several gunshot wounds, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In 2017, Mark Royden Williams was among the high-profile prisoners who escaped after a fire gutted the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown. He was, however, apprehended weeks later

by Police ranks while he was on board a public minibus in Berbice. (G1)

the love of your children, the love of your neighbour and the love of your community – let good sense prevail and it is all in vaccination... We are here to serve you. We have made it available... The only way we can get back to normalcy is if we achieve herd immunity, sufficient amounts of people in our nation being vaccinated,” he stressed.

He noted that Government has made it possible for the vaccine to be available to everyone 18 years and over and as such, he believed everyone in that age range should take advantage of the initiative.

“Your Government has gone at lengths to ensure that there are vaccines available for every Guyanese 18 years and over... Linden, Region 10, I appeal to you, let’s get the vaccine. Choose which one you want when

you go to the tent, but make sure you are vaccinated...,” the Minister added.

On Tuesday last, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony noted that a higher uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines throughout the country has resulted in 25 per cent of the adult population taking their first doses in a matter of weeks. This, he noted, translates to about 124,000 individuals.

He added that since the age eligibility was lowered to 18 years and above, many persons have taken the opportunity to get inoculated.

With 25 per cent of the adult population taking their first of two shots, health authorities are aiming to reach closer to the 50 per cent mark by this weekend.

The Minister had previously said that approximately 500,000 persons were

qualified to take the vaccines, since they were not available for children.

“About 25 per cent of our adult population has been covered with first dose of vaccination, but we want that to even be better. So, we’re hoping that we can get more people coming out, so that by the end of the week, probably be closer to 50 per cent of our population. So, we continue to work and we encourage all age groups to really come out and get their vaccines,” the Minister added.

Special emphasis was placed on the older population taking their vaccines, as the mortality statistics point to more deaths for this subset of people. There are more than 100 fixed sites around the country that offer vaccines, along with mobile units that visit various locations.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 30,, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

62 persons succumbed to COVID-19 to date in April …active cases surpass 1700, with 143 new positives

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nother two lives were on Wednesday lost to the coronavirus pandemic, taking the monthly death toll up to a whopping 62.

The Health Ministry on Thursday announced the latest fatalities as two females, a 63-year-old and a 59-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands– West Demerara). They both died while receiving care at a medical facility.

In total, 295 individuals have died since the virus was detected locally.

Guyana’s active coronavirus cases are now at 1701, after 143 new positives were detected within the course of one day. Thursday’s dashboard saw the overall positives rising to 13,106 – 6560 males and 6456 females.

Some 16 patients are seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),

while 88 are in institutional isolation, 1597 are on home isolation, and eight are in institutional quarantine.

The country has seen 11,110 recoveries – 40 of which were reported in 24 hours. Meanwhile, 120,028 individuals have thus far been tested.

Of the new positives, three are from Region One (Barima-Waini), one is from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 27 are from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 80 are from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), five are from Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica), seven are from Region Six (East Berbice -Corentyne), three are from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 21 are from Region Nine (Upper

Brazilian jailed for killing Guyanese miner

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four-and-a-half-year prison sentence has been imposed on Brazilian national Makeal Jackson Da Silva, who on Wednesday pleaded guilty to killing a Guyanese miner at Dukwari Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The sentence was imposed by Justice Navindra Singh at the Essequibo High Court.

Though initially indicted for the murder of Ked Lewis, also known as “Kennedy” and “Keddo”, through the aid of a translator, Da Silva opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He thereby admitted that between November 29 and 30, 2016,

Confessed killer Makeal Jackson Da Silva

in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully killed Lewis, of Quataman Village,

North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

In sentencing the confessed killer, Justice Singh considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, and the fact that Lewis had been the aggressor. Based on reports, the lifeless body of the miner was found with several stab wounds in a mining pit. At the time of the killing, both Da Silva and Lewis were working at the same camp. They were seen leaving work together, but only Da Silva returned.

Da Silva was represented by Attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir, while State Counsel Lisa Cave appeared on behalf of the prosecution. (G1)

Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and two are from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 254.

As at Wednesday, the Ministry was able to surpass 132,000 first doses through the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Recipients of the Sinopharm vaccines are now eligible for their last jab.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony informed, during the COVID-19 update, “That would approximate to about 27 per cent of our adult population, and we also have started giving people their second doses. Those persons who received the Sinopharm vaccine are now up for their second dose. For those, we have already completed about 3,760 persons.”

But as the country seeks to reach herd immunity, he commented that it is not just a Government effort, but one which must involve all stakeholders.

“For us to reach herd immunity or to get most of our adult population, this is a collective effort. Everybody must be involved; so, whether you’re in one sector or another, we all must play a role in encouraging others to get the vaccine. We have been doing well so far,” Dr Anthony posited.

In relation to the vaccination drive, he urged, “We need to understand the opportunity before us, and we can exit this pandemic. But

we can only do so if we’re all immunised. I think for those persons who say they’re fedup wearing masks and abiding by all these rules, well, the faster you take the vaccine and encourage others to take the vaccine, the faster we will be able to remove those rules.”

Going forward, testing is expected to continue at the same rate in order to detect new positives. The Minister has said new cases are unearthed every day because

of this robust testing mechanism.

“We have been consistently testing a lot of people that we’re able to identify new cases. Over the last 24 hours, we have identified about 143 cases, and that’s because we have a robust testing programme.

Our testing system is in every region. If you need to get a COVID-19 test, you can come to one of our hospitals and they’ll be able to do the test there.”

Linden promoter charged for breaching COVID-19 restrictions

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opular Linden promoter Aubrey “Shanghai” Major was on Thursday charged for breaching the COVID-19 guidelines after he reportedly hosted a party in the mining town over the weekend.

The matter was called before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, but Major was a no-show.

The Police stated that Major hosted a party at his Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden home on Sunday, April 25, 2021 which was reportedly attended by scores. The matter was adjourned until May 13, 2021.

Several persons were already arrested and placed before the courts for breaching the restrictions set out by the National COVID-19 Task Force.

A few days ago, 42 persons in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who were in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines were arrested during “Operation COVICURB”.

Police reported that the operation targeted public transportation, public spaces and social activities.

Earlier in the month, a total of 21 persons had been arrested for simi-

Aubrey “Shanghai” Major

lar offences. Of the total, 12 were arrested at Mabaruma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), while the others were arrested at Vergenoegen, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The operation included officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Despite the 22:30h to 04:00h (10:30 pm to 04:00 am) curfew and the existing regulations stipulating the maximum numbers for social gatherings, scores of citizens continue to violate the regulations.

In fact, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday stated that the Government would ramp up enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in light of spiking cases and deaths.

He added that efforts were underway to review the laws with the aim of toughening the penalties for those caught breaching the measures.

“The fines are inadequate, and I’ve asked the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, indeed, to relook at the laws to see how we can have amendments that can speak to the seriousness of what we’re dealing with; so, that is ongoing,” President Ali stated.

Currently, the fines for COVID-19 breaches range between $5000 and $16,000.

However, President Ali pointed out that the Government would be shifting its focus from prosecuting citizens who partake in social gatherings that breach the COVID-19 guidelines to now prosecuting the owners of those social venues.

This is in keeping with a previous commitment by Government for businesses to face the “full brunt of the law” for breaching the guidelines.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Int’l Center for Democracy applauds High Court’s dismissal of election petition

…calls on Opposition to work with Govt

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he International Center for Democracy (ICD), a New Yorkbased organisation, has applauded the decision of the Guyana High Court to dismiss the election petition which was filed by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

The ICD, which was present in Guyana for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, said that it witnessed first-hand the “blatant and deliberate attempt” by officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the APNU/AFC regime to “hijack and rob the Guyanese electorate of their democratic right“ to choose their Government by perverting the tabulation process.

In a statement, the organisation said: “The ruling by the Honourable Chief Justice Roxane George concluded that the victor of the March 2, 2020 Elections was

indeed the PPP/C [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] and that the APNU/AFC claim that the election process was flawed was simply unsubstantiated.”

It added that “now that the Judiciary has ruled, the ICD demands that the Opposition Leader of the APNU/AFC, Joseph Harmon, do the right thing and accept the decision of the court, publicly recognise the PPP/C as the legit-

imate Government and refrain from encouraging his supporters to participate in lawless and destructive protesting”.

The ICD said it also demanded that the Opposition Leader work with the Irfaan Ali-Government to promote the national interest of Guyana.

The ICD said it would continue in its unwavering support of democratic principles and values to ensure

that the will of the people prevail in Guyana and that the democratic rights of the Guyanese people are not trampled upon.

The High Court on Monday dismissed the election petition filed by the APNU/AFC coalition, which was seeking to vitiate the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

APNU/AFC’s petition, number 88 of 2020, had targeted the recount

that confirmed the PPP/C as the winner of the elections. However, acting Chief Justice George ruled that Order 60 of 2020, which created the recount, did not breach the Constitution.

It is a similar ruling to what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) found when it ruled on the Eslyn David case last year. The acting Chief Justice made it clear that Article 162 of the Constitution of Guyana fully empowered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to take whatever actions that were necessary to conclude the elections, including the recount.

Justice George noted that had there been no difficulties with the election, then GECOM’s creation of Order 60 would have been illegal. However, she pointed out that even the election petition highlighted the difficulties GECOM faced in arriving at a valid election result. Among her findings was that the petition-

ers failed to prove their case that there were substantial irregularities.

The fate of this election petition means that the APNU/AFC has now had both of its petitions dismissed by the High Court.

In January, Justice George also dismissed APNU/AFC’s petition number 99 of 2020, owing to its late service.

This ruling is currently being appealed.

The High Court’s dismissal of the coalition’s sole surviving election petition was greeted by protests from coalition supporters.

As APNU/AFC supporters took to the streets of the city, from Avenue of the Republic to Regent Street, Georgetown businesses on the usually-bustling Regent Street rushed to close their doors and secure their premises. Commuters were seen rushing off the streets as the APNU/AFC protesters marched along. However, heightened Police presence led to minimal disruption.

“Short Boss” gets life imprisonment for gunning down mason ...“This is the gravest offence that can be committed by man on his fellow man” − Justice Kissoon

Confessed killer: Travis Evans

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aving been unable to identify “a single mitigating circumstance”, Justice Sandil Kissoon on Thursday sentenced 26-year-old Travis Evans to life imprisonment for manslaughter.

Earlier this month, Evans was arraigned before Justice Kissoon for the August 2, 2018 murder of 21-year-old Ronsley Clarke.

Then, the murder accused opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Sentencing was deferred to Thursday.

The Prosecutor had stated that on August 2, 2018, Clarke, a mason of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, and his girlfriend were at a birthday celebration at “C” Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. While Clarke was sitting next to a horse cart with his friends, Evans walked up to him and shot

him before making good his escape.

He was subsequently arrested, and according to the prosecutor, he gave Police ranks a caution statement in which he stated that he and Clarke had had a disagreement a day before, and as a result, he shot him.

Reports are that Clarke was shot to his right-side rib and his right-side upper back in the presence of his girlfriend. His cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot wounds.

During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Justice Kissoon told Evans, “This is the gravest offence that can be committed by man on his fellow man.”

Taking that into consideration, the Judge noted that although the matters highlighted in mitigation were considered, they would not be of tremendous aid, given the circumstances under which Clarke had met his demise.

According to the High Court Judge, apart from sexual offences, which account for a large portion of matters listed in the criminal assizes, murder also dominates the list.

Considering this, Justice Kissoon emphasised that the Court must be cognisant of the presence of homicide in society.

As such, he noted that the Court is duty-bound to impose a sentence that

suspected something was amiss and decided to check on his son.

A post-mortem performed on Frank’s body revealed that he died as a result of asphyxiation due to compression injury to the neck, compounded by blunt trauma to the head.

Moreover, Evans is

Dead: Ronsley Clarke

would reform Evans, and deter other like-minded individuals who might have intentions of committing murder.

In the end, Justice Kissoon sentenced Evans to life in prison, and ordered that he should become eligible for parole only after serving a minimum of 25 years behind bars.

Evans is also charged with the 2018 murder of 46-year-old Gregory Frank.

That charge against Evans alleges that between July 31 and August 2, 2018, at Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway, he murdered Frank during the course of a robbery.

According to reports, Frank, a legal clerk, was found lying in a pool of blood in his Lot 686 Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway home. The gruesome discovery was made

by Frank’s father after he

awaiting trial at the High Court in Demerara for rape.

It is alleged that on October 30, 2010, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent.

He has also been charged with robbing the same woman of $650,000 on the same date, while being armed

with a knife. He has pleaded not guilty to this charge, but was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Evans was among three prisoners who escaped from the Lusignan Prison in October 2018. For that offence, he has also been sentenced to a term of imprisonment. (G1)

16 NEWS Silvertown residents turn to self-help to alleviate flood woes R FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

esidents of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have resorted to self-help to assist in alleviating the woes of flooding in their community.

As a result of the current inclement weather, the area has suffered several days of flooding.

Residents have indicated that the situation had been worsened owing to clogged drains.

As such, they have formed themselves into an organised community group, which is involved in the cleaning and clearing of blocked drains throughout Silvertown.

The residents said the Community Development Council (CDC) has not done enough to alleviate the flood situation. More than 15 residents are involved in the daily activities, which commenced a

Residents of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 involved in self-help activities as they clean their community to avoid flood woes

few weeks ago.

According to resident Kwesi Parks, who is actively involved in the selfhelp project, the community which is known to suffer

tremendously as a result of floods has been adversely affected recently, hence the move to conduct the self-help campaign.

He noted that the aim

was to clear all the drains in the entire community, and a significant portion has been completed, mainly along the streets which were the ones most affect-

ed. Additionally, he said that the community has reached out to Regional Chairman Deron Adams, who visited and assessed the situation on Monday.

In the meantime, he noted that residents would continue to work to complete cleaning and clearing all areas of the community.

More NIS staff test Man fined $100,000 positive for COVID-19 for committing bigamy

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he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has, for the second time this week, paused operations at another branch after more employees tested positive for coronavirus.

NIS said that operations at the Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) office would be temporarily interrupted for the remainder of the week. This, management said, is owing to the fact that some employees tested positive for COVID-19 while others are still being screened.

In light of this situation, the management of NIS has made a decision to suspend all services with the exception of the distribution of pension books which will continue throughout the week.

On Wednesday, NIS had announced that operations would be paused temporarily at the New Amsterdam branch. Management had said that this closure was as a result of five members of staff of that branch testing

A

positive for coronavirus.

Despite the interruption of a number of services, NIS had said that the distribution of pension books would continue throughout the week.

36-year-old man was on Thursday slapped with a fine of $100,000, with a default sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, after he was found guilty of ‘marrying’ for a second time although he was still married to his first wife.

Michael Taylor, an airport ramp attendant of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD), made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where the sentence was handed down by the presiding Magistrate, Rondell Weever.

Taylor, a father of two, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that he committed bigamy, and was released on $50,000 bail. However, his bail was later revoked after the evidence put forward by the prosecution proved that he was indeed guilty of the

Found guilty: Michael Taylor

offence.

As a result, Taylor was remanded to prison, pending sentencing for the charge.

Based on reports received, the man’s first wife had made a call to the Police after discovering that her husband had gotten ‘married’ to another woman in

February 2020 despite the fact that they were still married.

Taylor and his first wife tied the knot in August 2015.

The couple separated in November 2019, which saw Taylor moving out of the marital home and going to live with another woman.

The man’s first wife claimed that she has had no contact with Taylor since then.

The 32-year-old woman after receiving news that her husband had remarried, went to the Registrar’s Office at the Guyana Post Office Corporation and sought advice. There, she was told that he had committed a crime and the Police were contacted.

At the time, Taylor and his first wife were also engaged in a court case over his failure to financially support his children. (G15)

Beggar struck, killed by container truck

The area where the accident occurred on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown

Sandy Adonis, called “Lil man”

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n 88-year-old of Parfait Harmony, West Bank Demerara was killed after he was stuck and killed by a container truck on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Dead is 88-year-old

Sandy Adonis, called “Lil man”.

Reports are that the man, who is a known beggar, died at about 17:00h on Thursday.

According to a vendor, who sells within the vicinity of the accident, the dead man frequents the area daily. He told Guyana Times that the man usually seeks financial assistance from drivers

along the road way.

“The container truck knock he and he fall, but like it hit he head. So, he collapse and dead right there,” the vendor explained.

Following the accident, Police were summoned and the victim’s body was picked up by undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Home and is awaiting identification. (G15)

NEWS

Guyana Academy of Learning for Region 2 launch on Saturday

Orealla-Siparuta to get new Toshao on Sunday ...as residents express no-confidence in incumbent Toshao

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Toshao Carl Peneux

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Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva

he Public Service Ministry is expected to launch in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, as many young people in the region are excited for such an opportunity.

The launch of the GOAL programme would be held on Saturday at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom.

Additionally, the outreach will commence at 09:00h at Johanna Cecelia, Anna Regina, and Charity.

Among those who will be at the launch are Public Service Minister Sonia Parag; Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall, along with regional officials, including Regional Chairperson Vilma

De Silva.

The Ministers will be present at Johanna Cecilia Secondary School, RDC compound on the Essequibo Coast to enlighten persons on the programme and offer guidance on the application procedure. Applicants are required to have in their possession the application form, a copy of their academic certificates, a passport-size photograph, a copy of their ID card/driver’s licence back and front, letter of support, and motivational statement.

“The initiative is a golden opportunity for young people in the region which is a flagship project of the PPP/C Government. The process has been made easier and the Ministers … [are] on the spot to assist persons,” Regional Chairperson De Silva told Guyana Times on Thursday.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Amerindian communities of Orealla and Siparuta are to get a new toshao on Sunday, after villagers have expressed no confidence in the leadership of the current toshao, Carl Peneux.

Nominations for a new village leader were held on Tuesday, and none of the residents of either Orealla or Siparuta nominated Peneux for re-election. Those who were nominated instead, and will be running at Sunday’s elections, are Randolph Hutson and Joseph Aaron, both of Siparuta, and Lewis DeVair and David Henry of Orealla.

No toshao has ever been elected from Siparuta, which has only about 30 per cent of the entire population of the sister communities.

One resident of Orealla, Charles Loo, has said he wants integrity among the members of the new Village Council. He believes that

those nominated will be able to move the community forward.

“They are good candidates, and I think (that) as long as the toshao, whoever he may be, as long as he has a good Council with him, he would make a change in Orealla for the betterment and good of the people. We will see more development, and as we have the Government behind us now, I think it is time that we seek for persons who can take up the responsibility and who can be accountable, (have) transparency, and not (be) a boss,” Loo contended.

The life of the Orealla Village Council (OVC) expires on Sunday. However, Arman Edwards, who is a Councillor on that Council, explained that during the three years of the current OVC, some members resigned while others lost their seats because of non-attendance. He feels that a new administration would be good for the twin communities which are situated 50 miles up the Corentyne River.

Over the past two decades, only one female was elected as toshao. However, Ann Van-Trump was removed following allegations of a fuel racket.

Two Penuex family members have also served as head of the twin village

Nomination Day held in the community of Benam at Orealla

community over the past two decades.

Carl Peneux has been criticised for a lack of transparency. Villagers say he had been running the OVC as a one-man show, and had been refusing to hold community meetings. Residents had been reporting a lack of accountability over the past 18 months.

The outgoing toshao declined an invitation to be interviewed during the recent Nomination Day activities.

Meanwhile, 61-year-old Lewis DeVair, one of the front runners at Sunday’s elections, explained that over the past decade the Toshao and the Council had not been delivering, leaving residents to cry over several issues.

He is of the view that the services are not distributed equally in Orealla, and has said that those downhill receive more support from the OVC than those uphill.

But Siparuta residents also make the same cry, saying that all of the development goes to Orealla.

DeVair has said that leaders have not been living up to the promises that made.

“So, I decided that I should really do something, and I decided to get up and take my stand and try to get into the Council,” DeVair related.

The nominees from Siparuta are campaigning on the Orealla/Siparuta Road, and DeVair thinks that should be one of the priority projects.

For more than a decade, the OVC has been talking of developing the Orealla/Siparuta Road to an all-weather road.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Six, Navindra Persaud, will be the returning officer at Sunday’s polls. A winner is expected to be announced that very day. (G4)

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Regional

COVID: Brazil passes 400,000 Ecuador abortion: Terminations deaths amid slow vaccination in cases of rape decriminalised

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he number of deaths related to COVID-19 has passed 400,000 in Brazil, the second-highest in the world, as the country continues to struggle with its vaccination programme.

There were 3001 deaths in 24 hours, after a peak of more than 4000 was reached at the start of April.

The 14-day average of deaths and cases remains high, but has seen a slight fall.

Congress has opened an inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who has frequently spoken out against lockdowns, masks, and defended unproved drugs as treatment, is facing widespread criticism and his support has plummeted.

The outbreak has been fuelled by more transmissible variants of the virus and a lack of coordinated national measures. The situation

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The 14-day average of deaths has been falling though the number remains high

has improved in many areas, including where the health system was on the brink of collapse, after states and cities imposed restrictions, but they are already being eased.

The rate of occupancy of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds remains at or above 90 per cent in more than a third of the states, according to the health institute Fiocruz, which said the scenario remained “critical”. “[There’s] a tendency of a slight fall, but not yet of

containment of the epidemic,” the institute said in a report (in Portuguese), warning that the daily number of deaths is likely to remain high.

Brazil recorded 100,000 deaths in just 37 days, between March and April, which were the worst months in the country. Only the US has a higher death toll.

Since the start of the pandemic, Brazil has had more than 14.5 million cases. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Strict measures in T&T as COVID cases rise

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he Trinidad and Tobago Government Thursday announced stricter measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) after the country recorded 328 new cases of the virus in a 24hour period.

Late Wednesday, the Health Ministry reported that 223 new COVID-19 cases – from samples taken between April 25 and 27– have pushed the overall total past 10,000.

The country has now recorded 10,170 COVID-19 cases since the first reported infection in March 2020.

From these, 8351 patients have recovered. The death toll also increased to 163 af-

ter the Health Ministry recorded two new deaths on Wednesday. There are now 1656 active cases.

“The numbers we are seeing now are slightly ahead of the projected numbers that we would have made in some quarters and in some other quarters we would see the curve not going in the direction we would like it to go,” said Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley.

“But taking the raw number 328, as against 250,as against 180 and as against 15 you don’t have to be an Einstein to understand what we dealing with,” Dr Rowley said, reminding the country that Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world is

dealing with a pandemic.

“Difficult as it is, it is the best option open to us,” added Dr Rowley, who just recovered from virus.

He said the new measures would go into effect from midnight and last until May 23.

He said that all restaurants, bars, malls, places of worship, gyms, fitness centres as well as spas, hairdressing and beauty places, casinos, cinemas, theatres and clubs, will be closed.

In addition the public service will operate on essential services. All tours to areas of recreation will also be curtailed in both islands. (Excerpt from CMC)

Barbados: Big economic decline in 1st quarter

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arbados’ economy contracted by nearly 20 per cent as tourist arrivals virtually vanished between January and March.

Governor Cleviston Haynes reported this in his first quarter economic review this morning and said the outlook had worsened.

The Central Bank of Barbados, which in January forecast the economy would expand by just under five per cent, now expects growth to be as little as one per cent.

Haynes attributed the 19.8 per cent decline, which was the fourth consecutive quarter of economic downturn, to a 96 per cent slump in visitor arrivals.

With the intake from tourism down, the Governor said there was an Bds$86 million reduction in the foreign reserves. Government also spend more foreign exchange on debt repayments and to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

Central Bank of Barbados Governor Cleviston Haynes

However, he said this was not a major worry as Barbados had the “buffer” of Bds$2.6 billion in reserves.

Unemployment remained a concern in the first quarter.

“With renewed dampening of economic activity, there were over 6000 more unemployment claims than for the first quarter of 2020, principally from business and other services, tourism and the wholesale and retail sectors,” said the Governor.

Haynes said uncertainty continued to cloud the economic outlook, and stressed that recovery still hinged on a big tourism industry rebound.

“The eventual outturn for 2021 will be influenced in large measure by the country’s ability to contain the domestic spread of the [COVID-19] virus and by the timing and pace of the resumption of activity in the tourism sector,” he elaborated. (Excerpt from Nation News)

cuador’s high court has decriminalised abortion in cases of rape, a major step in the traditionally Catholic country.

The Constitutional Court voted 7-2 in favour of declaring two articles of the penal code unconstitutional.

The decision came in response to a petition from women’s rights groups, and paves the way for parts of the legislation to be changed.

Abortion remains a deeply divisive issue in Latin America, where countries have strict laws banning terminations.

The only places where abortions are currently legal in the region are Argentina,

Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and parts of Mexico.

But terminations are allowed in cases of rape in several countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Panama, according to the advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights.

Ecuador’s current legislation allows abortion only when the mother’s life is in danger or after the rape of a woman with a mental disability. With the court ruling, abortion in all cases of pregnancy resulted from rape has been decriminalised.

Analysts say the court can now demand the

National Assembly reform the articles declared unconstitutional. In 2019, the assembly voted against decriminalising abortion in all cases of rape and foetal abnormalities, amid strong opposition of the influential Roman Catholic Church.

Pro-choice activists celebrated outside the Constitutional Court building in the capital, Quito. Ecuador’s National Coalition of Women, a human rights group, said it was a “historic” day, but that it would continue “to fight” for abortion to be legal in all circumstances.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica’s UK travel ban to be lifted May 1

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amaica’s travel ban on the United Kingdom that is scheduled to come to an end today, April 30, will not be extended.

This means that the ban, which was instituted as part of the measures under Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Act, will be lifted as of May 1, 2021.

Speaking on the significance of the lifting of the ban, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said, “On Saturday, May 1, Jamaica will reopen its borders to international visitors from the United Kingdom. This will enable the critical gateways of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, to have transit for passengers coming through and who are fully compliant with

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett

health and safety protocols required for international travel.”

The ban brought travel between Jamaica and the UK to a halt and was done as part of the island’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) noted, how-

ever, that with the global deployment of COVID-19 vaccines there has been an increase in confidence as it relates to travel and tourism.

“Jamaica’s position at this time is critical in relation to the opening up of the summer tourist season and in fact, the importance of enabling the Diaspora, particularly the strong British clientele that have always come to the island. The lifting of the ban is also against the background of the improved vaccination programme in the UK and the fact that pretty close to 50 per cent of UK residents have received their second dose of vaccinations.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Heavy rains cause mudflows, flooding in St Vincent

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he La Soufrière volcano is “quiet” but secondary hazards like lahar (mudflow), caused by heavy overnight and early morning rains, are posing a new kind of danger to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Speaking on the daily update on NBC Radio on Thursday, seismologist Roderick Stewart said the equipment that was monitoring the volcano indicated it was quiet and there were no tremors, but lahars were occurring in all of the major drainage valleys and these could have caused damage as they passed from the volcano to the sea.

Stewart, who is monitoring from the Belmont base, said this would lead to flooding because lahar tends to block existing culverts and drainage and cut new roads and paths.

“The actual danger from the volcano itself has lowered at the moment, but these sorts of secondary hazards – which are major

This screengrab shows the mudflows and damage to the railing of the Rabacca Dry River which was rebuilt at a cost of US $5 million

hazards – are taking over for a while,” he explained.

“This may well be the picture we have throughout the next rainy season.

We could have this sort of hazard happening all the time.”

Last week Tuesday on the same programme, volcanologist Professor Richard Robertson of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre warned of the possi-

bility of lahar as the rainy season approached.

A lahar is a violent type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley, and is extremely destructive, flowing tens of metres per second and tend to destroy any structures in their path. (Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil price climbs to fresh 6-week high on bullish demand

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il prices rose to fresh six-week highs on Thursday as strong US economic data, a weak dollar and an expected recovery in demand outweighed concerns about higher COVID-19 cases in Brazil and India.

Brent futures rose US$1.29, or 1.9 per cent, to settle at US$68.56 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$1.15, or 1.8 per cent, to end at US$65.01.

That put both benchmarks up for a third day in a row to their highest closes since March 15.

"Summer season is a synonym for driving season and drivers in the United States, China and the United Kingdom are about to start consuming more fuel, a development the market believes will make up for India’s COVID-19 downturn," said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy.

He added that oil prices drew additional support from a weak dollar, which made "oil cheaper to buy internationally."

The greenback hovered near nine-week lows, under pressure from a dovish outlook from the US Federal Reserve and bold spending plans from US President Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, positive news out of Europe included announcements from Moderna Inc that it will almost double vaccine capacity for the next year and Germany on administering a daily record of almost 1.1 million COVID vaccine doses on Wednesday.

"The crude demand outlook is getting a big boost from Europe and that should overcome some of the risks across India and many emerging markets," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York.

New York City aims to "fully reopen" on July 1 after more than a year of closures and capacity restrictions, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, citing satisfactory progress in vaccinating its more than eight million residents. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian Air Force airlifts 3 cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore, 6 from Dubai

I

n an effort to meet the increased demand for liquid oxygen in view of the surging COVID-19 cases, the Indian Air Force airlifted three cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore and another six from Dubai to West Bengal's Panagarh on Thursday.

As per an official statement of the Indian Air Force, the IAF C-17 aircraft were used for carrying the cryogenic oxygen containers and another C-17 is presently airlifting three containers from Bangkok to Panagarh Airbase.

In addition to that, IAF C-17s also airlifted two cryogenic oxygen containers from Chandigarh to Bhubaneswar, four from Hindan to Ranchi,

Indian Air Force airlifts cryogenic oxygen containers

four from Mumbai to Bhubaneswar, two from Chandigarh to Ranchi and one from Indore to Jamnagar on Thursday.

IAF said the airlift of two

containers from Bhopal to Ranchi, two from Lucknow to Ranchi and two containers from Jodhpur to Jamnagar was in progress.

"In addition, IAF C130 air-

lifted Navy medical team personnel from Mumbai to Ahmedabad today [Thursday] and have been deployed for airlifting of 75 oxygen cylinder from Baroda to Hindan," the statement added.

The surge in the COVID-19 cases continues to affect India as the country recorded 379,257 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. This was the highest single-day spike in the cases since the pandemic began last year.

According to the Union Health Ministry, as many as 3645 deaths and 269,507 recoveries were also recorded in the last 24 hours. Total active cases of the infection in India have now mounted to 3,084,814. (ANI)

5 arrested in Lady Gaga dognapping case

F

ive people have been arrested over the violent theft of two French bulldogs belonging to US artist Lady Gaga.

In February, attackers shot dog walker Ryan Fischer in the chest and took Lady Gaga's dogs, Koji and Gustav.

Fischer had to have part of his lung removed but survived the attack, and has

since left the hospital.

On Thursday, Los Angeles Police announced they had charged three suspects for the incident itself as well as two others as accomplices.

James Jackson, Jaylin White and Lafayette Whaley – aged 18, 19, and 27, respectively – have been charged with attempted murder and robbery.

Officers also charged

40-year-old Harold White – Jaylin White's father – and Jennifer McBride, 50, with accessory to attempted murder. McBride returned the dogs to the Police two days after the theft, after Lady Gaga had offered a $500,000 (£359,000) reward for their return.

"Detectives were able to establish McBride had a relationship [with] Harold White," a Los Angeles police press release said.

All four men charged were "documented gang members", the release said, without giving details.

Police said they did not think the attackers were

aware Fischer worked for Lady Gaga – whose real name is Stefani Germanotta –- when they attacked him.

But evidence suggested they knew "the great value of the breed of dogs", which was "the motivation for the robbery".

Fischer was walking the three dogs in a residential area of Hollywood at night when the attackers pulled up in a car.

He was shot in the chest with a semi-automatic handgun and two of the dogs were taken. Another of Lady Gaga's bulldogs, Asia, was unharmed in the incident.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Zulu Queen Mantfombi Dlamini dies a month US Supreme Court hands after becoming regent victory to immigrants Israel stampede: facing deportation Dozens killed in crush at religious festival T

he United States Supreme Court on Thursday offered new hope to thousands of longterm immigrants seeking to avoid deportation in a ruling that faulted the US Government for improperly notifying a man who had come illegally from Guatemala to appear for a removal hearing.

In a 6-3 decision that divided the high court’s conservative bloc, the Justices overturned a lower court’s decision that had prevented Agusto Niz-Chavez from pursuing his request to cancel the attempted expulsion based on the length of time he has lived in the United States.

Niz-Chavez lives in Michigan with his family after entering the US irregularly in 2005.

The Justices decided that federal immigration law requires authorities to include all relevant details for a notice to appear for a hearing in one document rather than sending the information across multiple documents.

The ruling could affect hundreds of thousands of immi-

gration cases.

“In this case, the law’s terms ensure that, when the Federal Government seeks a procedural advantage against an individual, it will at least supply him with a single and reasonably comprehensive statement of the nature of the proceedings against him,” conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the ruling.

Gorsuch was joined by the court’s three liberal justices as well as conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett.

In a dissent, conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, said the ruling was “perplexing as a matter of statutory interpretation and common sense”.

The ruling upends years of practice by the US Department of Homeland Security and in the short term will slow down the number of people placed in immigration proceedings, said Cornell University immigration law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Queen Mantfombi MaDlamini Zulu pictured in about 1973 when she was a princess of Swaziland, now known as Eswatini

T

he Zulu royal family in South Africa has announced the death of its monarch Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu just a month after she became regent.

Queen Mantfombi, 65, became interim leader of the country's largest ethnic group last month after the death of her husband, King Goodwill Zwelithini.

The Queen's Prime Minister said her death had taken the family by surprise and they were "utterly bereft".

A successor as ruler of the 11 million-strong nation has not yet been named.

"It is with the deep-

est shock and distress that the Royal Family announces the unexpected passing of Her Majesty Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, Regent of the Zulu Nation," Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the prime minister, said in a statement.

He said he wanted to assure people that there would be "no leadership vacuum in the Zulu Nation".

Queen Mantfombi was admitted to hospital a week ago after suffering an unspecified illness, South African media reported.

She had been appointed to the role on March 24, after her 72-year-old husband, King Zwethilini, died in hospital from diabetes-related complications.

He had ruled the nation for almost 50 years – making him Africa's longest serving monarch.

Queen MaDlamini Zulu held the highest status among the king's wives, as she came from royalty.

She was the sister of Eswatini's King Mswati III – Africa's only absolute monarch.

Queen MaDlamini Zulu had eight children – including five sons – with the late king.

Their eldest son, 47-year-old Prince Misuzulu, is the favourite to take the throne, reports say. (Excerpt from BBC News)

D

Authorities said dozens were killed and many more injured

ozens of people have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival in the north-east of Israel.

Israel's national emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) confirmed the deaths without giving exact numbers, and said dozens more had been wounded.

Newspaper Haaretz reports at least 38 people have been killed. Emergency services are evacuating the injured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a "heavy disaster", and said he was praying for the casualties.

The Lag B'Omer festival at the foot of Mount Meron is the largest event held in the country since the coronavirus pandemic began, with tens of thousands reportedly attending – despite concerns about spreading the virus.

Dozens of ambulances are at the scene and emergency services have laid out bodies under foil covers on the ground. Police have asked everyone at the site to evacuate.

Emergency officials said 38 people were in critical condition at the site, with six more critically injured by evacuated. Dozens more were wounded less seriously. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Rahul Chahar clinched two crucial wickets

Q

uinton de Kock’s unbeaten 70 off 50 balls has consolidated the Mumbai Indians’ position in the top four on the points table as they defeated the Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Delhi.

Chasing for the first time in IPL 2021, de Kock’s knock

well with a 26-ball 39 as Mumbai reached the target with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma put the Royals in on a pitch he reckoned was much better to bat on than the slow tracks of Chennai. Jos Buttler (41 off 32) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (32 off 20) gave the Royals

This is the third win of the season for the defending champions

ensured Mumbai never let the asking rate become an issue.

Krunal Pandya supported him

a 66-run start in 7.4 overs before both fell to Rahul Chahar.

Sanju Samson also struck a

Chahar, de Kock bring Mumbai back to winning ways

27-ball 42, but Shivam Dube’s 35 off 31 didn’t let the Royals reach where they wanted to.

Buttler, Jaiswal make up for slow start Trent Boult found swing with the new ball to trouble Buttler in the first over, and Jasprit Bumrah hit the good length at a high pace to keep the Royals’ openers in check. As a result, the Royals could score only 20 in the first four overs.

But once Boult and Bumrah were done with their spells, Buttler and Jaiswal opened up.

Buttler skipped down the pitch to the first ball of the fifth over,

by Jayant Yadav, but was lucky that the miscued slog just cleared backward point. Later in the same over, Buttler dispatched Jayant for a four and a six off successive balls. Jaiswal meted out the same treatment to Nathan Coulter-Nile in the next over, as the Royals ended the powerplay on 47 without loss.

T20 World Cup could be moved to UAE, says BCCI

T

his year’s Twenty20 World Cup could be moved to the United Arab Emirates if India continues to suffer with a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament is due to begin in October, but the COVID death toll in India has passed 200,000, with at least 300,000 new infections every day in the past week.

Last week, India joined the UK’s travel red list - effectively banning travel to and from that country. Other countries including Australia - have also closed their borders to India.

Speaking to the BBC’s Stumped podcast, Dhiraj Malhotra, from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said he is hopeful India could still host the T20 World Cup. “I’ve just been named one of the tournament’s directors,

so I’m doing everything we can to make sure it happens,” said Malhotra, who is General Manager for Game Development with the BCCI. “We will be doing normal scenario and worst-case scenario; so, with all that, we’re talking to the ICC at the moment,” he said.

Australia will host a T20 World Cup in 2022, postponed from last year due to the pandemic.

When asked whether there is a country earmarked as the contingency, Malhotra said:

“It would be the UAE. We’re hoping again that it would be done by the BCCI. So, we’ll take the tournament there, but it’ll still be done by the BCCI.” Meanwhile, Malhotra has said that India’s cricket governing body will go with “common sentiment” on whether the Indian Premier League continues.

The IPL - the world’s richest Twenty20 league - is currently taking place in India, with the final set for 30 May. Australia cricketers Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have withdrawn from the IPL, and the tournament has faced calls for a suspension.

“There’s not been any clear implication of any clear directive that it is bad to host the IPL, or good to host the IPL,” Malhotra added. (BBC Sport)

Quinton de Kock slammed 70 runs

Chahar’s strikes put brakes on scoring rate For a moment, it looked like there was no stopping Buttler and Jaiswal. Buttler hit Jayant for another six to take the side past 50. When Sharma brought Chahar on, Buttler smashed him too, over the deep squareleg boundary, but Chahar struck back on his next ball to beat the batter with flight and turn to give de Kock an easy stumping.

In Chahar’s next over, Jaiswal slog-swept a googly for a six, but the bowler bounced back once again. Two balls later, Jaiswal closed the face of the bat too early to spoon a googly back to Chahar.

That wicket put the brakes on the scoring rate as the Royals managed only 30 runs from the 10th to 14th over.

Suryakumar Yadav started in his usual stylish manner with back-to-back fours off Rahul Tewatia. But he, too, fell to Morris, whipping one straight to Buttler at short midwicket. de Kock, though, kept Mumbai on track, and brought

Bumrah restricts Royals at death Samson had started by caressing three fours in his first six balls. After that five-over lull, he hit Boult for two fours in two balls, but with Dube struggling at the other end - he was 28 off 27 at one point - that didn’t help the Royals as much.

Boult uprooted Samson’s middle stump with a yorker, while Bumrah was yet again exceptional at the death by aiming for the batters’ toes.

Bowling the 17th and 19th overs, Bumrah gave away just nine runs, which was a big factor behind the Royals scoring only 45 from the last five overs, despite having wickets in hand.

up his fifty in 35 balls.

De Kock leads Mumbai’s chase After only 14 runs had come from the first three overs of the chase, de Kock decided to cut loose. He started the fourth over by steering Mustafizur Rahman for four behind point. On the next ball, he hopped towards the off side and swiped the seamer for a six over fine leg. Morris came on for the sixth over, and de Kock welcomed him with a pulled six over midwicket.

All this while Sharma was struggling at the other end. His laborious 14 off 16 balls came to an end when he chipped the last ball of the powerplay, an overpitched delivery from Morris, straight to mid-on.

21

Hardik Pandya, never let the asking rate go out of hand. He hit the first balls of the 15th, 16th and 17th overs for a six, four and six respectively, to take the pressure off de Kock as well.

By the time he chopped on against Rahman, Mumbai Sanju Sampson contributed a quick 42

Krunal’s cameo takes Mumbai closer With 53 required from 36 balls, the Royals were still in the game, especially given Mumbai’s misfiring middle order this season. But Krunal, sent at No. 4 ahead of Kieron Pollard and

needed just 26 off 20.

Pollard started the 18th over with a six and four off Morris, who responded with a bouncer.

Pollard ducked, the ball hit his helmet and rolled to the fineleg boundary. A four each from de Kock and Pollard in the next over took Mumbai home.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Jos Buttler st †de Kock b Chahar 41 Yashasvi Jaiswal c & b Chahar 32 Sanju Samson (c)† b Boult 42 Shivam Dube c & b Bumrah 35 David Miller not out 7 Riyan Parag not out 8 Extras(lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 6 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 8.55) 171/4 Did not bat: Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-66 (Jos Buttler, 7.4 ov), 2-91 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 9.5 ov), 3-148 (Sanju Samson, 17.4 ov), 4-158 (Shivam Dube, 18.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Trent Boult 4-0-37-1 Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-15-1 Jayant Yadav 3-0-37-0 Nathan Coulter-Nile 4-0-35-0 Rahul Chahar 4-0-33-2 Krunal Pandya 1-0-12-0

MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS (TARGET: 172 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Rohit Sharma (c) c Sakariya b Morris 14 Quinton de Kock † not out 70 Suryakumar Yadav c Buttler b Morris 16 Krunal Pandya b Mustafizur Rahman 39 Kieron Pollard not out 16 Extras(lb 15, w 2) 17 TOTAL(18.3 Ov, RR: 9.29) 172/3 Did not bat: Hardik Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Rohit Sharma, 5.6 ov), 2-83 (Suryakumar Yadav, 9.2 ov), 3-146 (Krunal Pandya, 16.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Chetan Sakariya 3-0-18-0 Jaydev Unadkat 4-0-33-0 Mustafizur Rahman 3.3-0-37-1 Chris Morris 4-0-33-2 Rahul Tewatia 3-0-30-0 Shivam Dube 1-0-6-0

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Shaw’s carnage leads Delhi Capitals to comprehensive win against KKR

nearly a run off the required rate to the target in 16.3 overs, joining - 7.75 to 6.84 - and deflated the the Chennai Super Kings and the Knight Riders completely. He Royal Challengers Bangalore on didn’t stop there, continuing to ten points at the top of the table. pick off boundaries as if he were let loose in an orchard and every Starting troubles for boundary was a low-hanging the Knight Riders fruit.

The Knight Riders have a lot His half-century of power in the middle, but their Prithvi Shaw launching one of was raised in 18 balls problem has been utilising that many boundaries - the quickest of IPL effectively, given their rather 2021 - with 42 of those slow starts. That was in evidence in the first over of the innings runs having come via once again, as the top three of boundaries. His innings Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill and r i t h v i progressed at such pace that Rahul Tripathi couldn’t score Shaw provided a every time he didn’t score off a quickly. masterclass in how ball it turned into an event.

Credit was due to the to kill a T20 chase in the first over, as the Delhi Capitals romped to a commanding seven-wicket win against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Having put up 154 for 6 thanks to a late Andre Russell flourish, the Knight Riders might have thought they had a fighting chance to defend that total if they bowled well.

However, Shaw took one over to blow that idea to smithereens.

Shivam Mavi, who had given up only 13 runs in four overs in the Knight Riders’ last game against the Punjab Kings, ended The Delhi Capitals now sit at second on the IPL points table up giving that many off just his first three legal balls this time around. At the end of the first Shaw fell with victory within Capitals’ bowlers, who kept over, Mavi might have thought touching distance. While looking things tight, denying room and that the first ball he bowled, to add to his 11 fours and three varying pace so that the batsmen a wide down the leg side, was sixes, he got caught at point couldn’t line them up. The Knight his best one. All the others for 82 off 41 balls. It was only Riders’ top order couldn’t really disappeared for fours, as Shaw a momentary victory for the create scoring opportunities went straight, square, wide and Knight Riders though, with nine through adventurous batting imperious. needed in 28 balls when Shaw either, which meant the run-rate In one over, Shaw had shaved departed. The Capitals duly got mostly dawdled.

P

Mackenzie Sports Club’s AGM, elections set for May 30

A

Flashback: A look at the MSC’s executive following their 2019 election

rising out of its last monthly meeting in April, the Mackenzie Sports Club Management Committee has announced that its Annual General Meeting and Biennial Elections are carded for Sunday, May 30, 2021 starting at 3.00pm at the MSC’s Main Pavilion.

It was also decided that there will be an Ordinary Members Meeting set to take place on Sunday, May 16, at 16.00hrs.

The last Management Committee’s last Monthly Statutory Meeting is to take place on Thursday, May 20 from 17hrs.

A release reminded that only financial members would be eligible to participate at those meetings for which a quorum comprises 50 percent of members.

It has also been pointed out that the MSC Rules and Constitution in-

forms the following under ARTICLE 6: “MSC RULES AND CONSTITUTION, MEMBERSHIP, Criteria (f) Cessation of rights of Members Where the subscription or any other payment or fees payable to the MSC is outstanding for three months, such member shall cease to enjoy the rights and privileges of membership until such arrears are paid in full.”

Further, arrears of three (3) months shall cause the membership to cease after a full investigation.”

Avery Trim is the incumbent President of the MSC, and Joseph Chapman is the General Secretary of a ten-member body.

Last year, an approach

by Charles Ramson Jr, MP, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, was made on behalf of Government concerning making the central Mackenzie located

Mackenzie Sports Club into one of three multipurpose facilities in Guyana. Meetings were held, and discussions are ongoing for which the Government of China is identified to fund this massive project.

The architect has visited the site, and a concept drawing is being done, which is to be presented for approval by the MSC Committee of Management.

Based on a change in the MSC Constitution in 2017, the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) and the Linden Mayor and Town Council each has a representative who sits on the MSC Committee of Management, to have a clear understanding of how it functions.

The last Annual General Meeting and Biennial Elections of the MSC took place on June 30, 2019.

Gill did end up scoring 43, but he took up 38 balls to do so, and collectively, the top three contributed 77 while consuming 67 deliveries. That left the middle and lower order with a bit too much t o d o against a quality attack.

It spoke of the Capitals’ depth that, despite missing Amit Mishra to a shoulder niggle, they still had an attack that posed questions of the batsmen. Lalit Yadav, who replaced Mishra, returned 2 for 13 in three overs, allowing the Capitals control in a phase wherein the Knight Riders might have been expected to target them.

Russell blazes at the finish He didn’t begin his innings on his 33rd birthday in typical Russell fashion, having to contend with pinpoint yorkers and well-directed short balls first up.

At one point, Russell was on 7 off 14 balls, but crucially,

Andre Russell made a quickfire 45 for the Knight Riders

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He unerringly picked the gaps, and the ball seemed to be drawn to the meatiest part of his bat as if hypnotised.

Incredibly enough, he hit his first six when he had already crossed 30, while going at a strike rate of 300-plus. After five overs, he was on 48 off 15 balls, with the Knight Riders’ shoulders - and hopes - drooping.

Shikhar Dhawan, himself in fine touch this season, opted to drop anchor, and was happy to play second fiddle, with Shaw going ballistic at the other end.

Curiously enough, Eoin Morgan didn’t introduce Pat Cummins into the attack until the sixth over. Shaw’s attack seemed to have robbed the Knight Riders’ bowlers of ideas on how to bowl to him, and it

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Lalith Yadav took two wickets for the Capitals

had got the time to calibrate his batting to the bowling and the pitch before teeing off. The next 13 balls brought a cascade of 38 runs, as the Knight Riders finished on a strong note.

Russell ensured 59 runs came off the last five overs. He carted Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan - who had been good earlier - for sixes and fours.

Shaw kills the chase After the first over of the chase, there was only one team winning, despite the vagaries of

didn’t help that he was putting away balls in all areas of the boundary.

The Capitals looked like they would steam-roll their way to a ten-wicket, win with Shaw on track for a century. But Cummins gave his team some minor cheer by getting Dhawan for 46, and then having Shaw hole out for 82. He added the wicket of Rishabh Pant too, out trying to finish the match in a hurry; but that was only a minor bump in the Capitals’ coast to victory.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

SCOREBOARD KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Nitish Rana st †Pant b Patel 15 Shubman Gill c Smith b Avesh Khan 43 Rahul Tripathi c Lalit Yadav b Stoinis 19 Eoin Morgan (c) c Smith b Lalit Yadav 0 Sunil Narine b Lalit Yadav 0 Andre Russell not out 45 Dinesh Karthik †lbw b Patel 14 Pat Cummins not out 11 Extras(lb 6, w 1) 7 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 7.70) 154/6 Did not bat: Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Nitish Rana, 3.4 ov), 2-69 (Rahul Tripathi, 9.3 ov), 3-74 (Eoin Morgan, 10.2 ov), 4-75 (Sunil Narine, 10.4 ov), 5-82 (Shubman Gill, 12.6 ov), 6-109 (Dinesh Karthik, 16.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Ishant Sharma 4-0-34-0 Kagiso Rabada 4-0-31-0 Axar Patel 4-0-32-2 Avesh Khan 4-0-31-1

Lalit Yadav Marcus Stoinis

3-0-13-2 1-0-7-1

DELHI CAPITALS INNINGS (TARGET: 155 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Prithvi Shaw c Rana b Cummins 82 Shikhar Dhawan lbw b Cummins 46 Rishabh Pant (c)† c Shivam Mavi b Cummins 16 Marcus Stoinis not out 6 Shimron Hetmyer not out 0 Extras(b 1, nb 1, w 4) 6 TOTAL(16.3 Ov, RR: 9.45) 156/3 Did not bat: Steven Smith, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-132 (Shikhar Dhawan, 13.5 ov), 2-146 (Prithvi Shaw, 15.2 ov), 3-150 (Rishabh Pant, 15.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shivam Mavi 1-0-25-0 Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-34-0 Prasidh Krishna 3.3-0-36-0 Sunil Narine 4-0-36-0 Pat Cummins 4-0-24-3

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Crawford Memorial’s 45-miler set for Sunday C ycling will continue in the ‘ancient county’ on Sunday May 2 with the Marcel Crawford Memorial 45-mile race.

The race will pedal off from the Sukphaul Gas Station in New Amsterdam at 8:30h and proceed to Number 51 Police Station, before returning for the finish at Alness Village at the late Marcel Crawford’s residence.

This race is open to Berbice cyclists only, and is the first memorial race for the former national champi-

on Marcel Crawford. Eight sprint prizes will be awarded, while the first five finishers in the open category, the first three juniors and the top veteran will be rewarded.

The race is sponsored by Franco Crawford, a former national cyclist who is based in London, and Colin Elcock Crawford. This race has been approved by the COVID-19 Task Force, and all those in attendance are asked to wear a mask.

The race is the second event of the 2021 season in Berbice. On Easter Sunday,

Romello Crawford took the top spot in that encounter that started at Sukphaul Gas Station in New Amsterdam and ended in Corriverton.

This race will see the likes of Andrew Hicks and the return of Balram Narine and Andre ‘Padlock’ Green, among other top Berbice cyclists.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has disclosed three dates in late May for the hosting of the National Cycling Championship.

However, hosting of the three-legged race is dependent on ap-

Lady Jags meet GFF to iron out issues

GFF President Wayne Forde

E

arlier this month, the Lady Jags football team reached out to the relevant members of Government for assistance with grievances they had with the handling of the team and, by extension, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

In a joint letter to First Lady Arya Ali and Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr., members of the Senior Women’s National Football Team expressed a number of issues they have endured over the years, inclusive of inad-

equate assistance, lack of match fees, and the dormancy of the team.

While the Guyana Football Federation had responded to those claims soon after they were voiced, in a new revelation this week, it was disclosed that some of the team met with the GFF. According to President Wayne Forde, the women had legitimate concerns that needed to be heard.

“I think we had a very good meeting with some of the players and we really talked through the issues that were affecting them. We were able to; we gave ourselves an opportunity to explain to them, things that we felt they weren’t up to speed with. And we heard from them, matters that they felt are of great concern to them,” the GFF president disclosed.

“And some of those matters are very legitimate,” he added.

In expressing his intentions for the GFF’s relationship with the Lady Jaguars, Forde emphasised the need for the Federation to make the women feel valued following their stellar accomplishments.

Further Forde commented, “So, as an organization, we continue to learn and we will start to make the necessary changes to ensure that our women feel valued, because they are highly valued.

And whatever it takes to make sure they feel that the football administration places their interests just as high as all the other categories - well, I should say as their male counterparts - that will be a goal that we will work towards,” Forde concluded.

In spite of being the first Guyanese team, whether male or female, to qualify for a major CONCACAF tournament, the Lady Jags are not recipients of match fees. This fact played a large role in the Women’s letter to the first Lady and the Sport Minister, which was disseminated on April 7.

proval from the National COVID-19 Task Force.

According to the release on the GCF Facebook page, the proposed dates are May 22, 23 and 30, with the format being Time Trial, Senior Road Race and Junior/Female/Veteran Road Race. These races hosted in Berbice would be used to prepare the men from the ancient county for those events. Another cycle race is set to be run off from Georgetown to Mahaicony on May 5, Indian Arrival Day.

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Franco Crawford presenting sponsorship to Flying Ace President Coach/Manager Randolph Roberts

Mangru among 6 Guyanese in Windies Women's camp

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he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel has named 30 players for an estimated month-long West Indies Women’s highperformance camp to be held in Antigua starting on May 2.

This will be the second such month-long camp in 2021 assembled under the guidance of Head Coach Courtney Walsh and his support team.

With the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers now rescheduled for December, Coach Walsh has devised a programme to maximize team preparations ahead of international cricket and the qualifiers later in the year.

“The purpose of this camp is to work on consistency and game awareness. The last camp was more observational, and we got a pretty good idea where the ladies are at. There are 30 players coming in and a few of them are coming in nursing injuries, so the coaching staff and medical team are ready to work with all of them,” he said.

“We are going to use this camp to see as much of the players as possible. I am most excited to see the younger ones coming into the camp, because we’re trying to build the pool of players available. So, I think it’ll be a great opportunity for these youngsters and the other new players to grasp the chance before them.”

Among the 30 players called up for the camp are eight (8) uncapped players including teenagers Zaida James from St. Lucia and Jannillea Glasgow from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

James is a left-arm medium pacer while Glasgow is a rightarm medium pacer.

The other uncapped players are Rashada Williams, Caneisha Isaac, Shanika Bruce, Mandy Mangru and Rachel Vincent. Making a return to the camp is left-handed wicket-keeper/batter Kycia Knight. CWI’s Lead Selector for Women’s cricket, Ann Browne-John was excited by the bigger pool of players for this camp.

She said: “It is very important to have the West Indies players back in a training camp as the coaches

Guyana’s Mandy Mangru

can continue to help them hone their skills as we prepare for our next series. Most of the top international teams have now restarted playing and it is critical for the WI team to prepare as we anticipate more international cricket coming up this summer.”

She added: “In an effort to continue to unearth talent, eight players have been included who were not in the January camp. It serves as an opportunity for the coaches and selectors to look at some of the young up and coming players. Due to the pandemic, a regional tournament has not been held yet, so the players haven’t had the opportunity to impress the selectors in competitive matches. Heavy emphasis has been placed on batters including first timers Rachel Vincent, an opening batter from Trinidad and Tobago, and Mandy Mangru, a young player from Guyana who has been impressive in the Under-19 tournament. The camp also includes two young teenage medium pacers Zaida James and Jannillea Glasgow.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sport in Antigua & Barbuda to orchestrate logistics and agree the safety protocols for the camp after the successful hosting of the first Women’s high-performance camp, the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and the West Indies Men’s International Home Series against Sri Lanka. All players and support staff were tested with negative COVID-19

results before their arrival into Antigua. The players and support staff will train and live in a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the camp.

FULL SQUAD SELECTED: Aaliyah Alleyne, Reniece Boyce, Shanika Bruce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell,Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Caneisha Isaac, Zaida James, Japhina Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Steffi Soogrim, Stafanie Taylor, Rachel Vincent and Rashada Williams. (CWI) TEAM MANAGEMENT UNIT Courtney Walsh - Head Coach Sheena Gooding - Team Manager Ryan Austin - Assistant Coach Corey Collymore Assistant Coach Steve Liburd - Assistant Coach Samantha Lynch - Assistant Coach Robert Samuels - Assistant Coach Neil Barry - Physiotherapist Shayne Cooper - Strength & Conditioning Coach Garry Belle - Team Analyst Amanda Johnson – Team Mental Skills Coach Naasira Mohammed Media & Content Officer

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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

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Lady Jags meet Mangru among 6 Guyanese GFF to iron out issues in Windies Women’s camp T20 World Cup could be moved to UAE, says BCCI

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