WHAT'S INSIDE: Issue No. 5112 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana THE BEACON OF TRUTH guyanatimesgy.com PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDEDFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 PPP2P81115 Guyana among exporting countries to benefit from hike in commodity prices due to oil Visit Rupununi inks MoU to appeal to LGBTQ+ tourists “Killing squad” FB post rearviewontohead”to“IMonkeypoxFerguson’sAFC’stestifiesspecialistCybersecurityinAPNU/Annettetrialvaccinestobereservedforexposed,high-riskpersonsdoesdodrugseasemeh–addictMagistratestealingmirrors …jailed for 4 months Beverly Alert among names being considered to Trotmanreplaceas MP3 busted in carjacking ring along LindenSoesdyke Highway Licensed foreigners no longer need permit to drive in Guyana Gunmen storm, rob supermarketChineseIndustry See story on page 10 See story on page 3 Steel framed $8.5M prefab homes launched Page10 PagePage717 P16
Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member Beverly Alert is among the candi dates being considered to re place Raphael Trotman in the National Assembly. The AFC announced on Wednesday that Trotman would be resigning as a Member of Parliament (MP) next week to allow for rota tion and space for new lead ership training. A party source con firmed to Guyana Times on Thursday that Alert was the preferred choice of the can didates under consideration. However, the source indicat ed that the AFC Committee would be meeting soon and a concrete decision was likely to be made Parliamentthen.is current ly in recess and is expect ed to resume sitting in ear ly October, by which time the AFC is expected to have a new candidate selected to be sworn in as Trotman’s re placement.Alert has been a long-standing member of the AFC and is current ly serving on the party’s National Executive Council (NEC). Under the previous A Partnership for National Unity ly,thisCommissionnewforasResources.to(DPI)ofasAdministration,(APNU)-AFCsheservedHeadoftheDepartmentPublicInformationaswellasAdvisortheMinisterofNaturalShewasalsonamedapotentialcandidatethemembershipofthePublicProcurement(PPC)earlieryear,but,unfortunatedidnotmaketheshort list of five. In a statement on Wednesday, the AFC said Trotman, the par ty’s co-founder, would of ficially resign from the National Assembly next week. According to the par ty, this move by Trotman is honouring a commitment he had made previously to step down as an MP in this – the 12th – Parliament.
“Mr Trotman had in dicated before the stag ing of [the AFC’s] National Conference that he would not be available for nomina tion as he would be resign ing mid-term in the life of the present Assembly, which commenced in 2020, to allow for rotation and space for new leadership training,” the party said.
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“Although leaving the National Assembly, Mr Trotman will remain a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the AFC and continue to provide counsel to the lead ership of the AFC on a range of national and regional de velopments. He will also continue to render his ex pert counsel on the nascent oil production sector,” the party’s statement said. (G8)
Beverly Alert among names being considered to replace Trotman as MP
“Mr Trotman has served as a Member of the National Assembly continuously from 1998 to present, and during that time, has been the 10th Speaker of the National Assembly, and served on many Standing and Select Committees includ ing – Constitution Reform, Security, Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources, and contributed to the passage of scores of critical pieces of legislation,” it added. During his tenure in the National Assembly, Trotman also led sever al parliamentary delega tions to international con ferences and meetings in the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Peru, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Barbados, Mexico, and New Zealand, among others. Even with his resigna tion, the party said Trotman remains a vital member of the leadership of the AFC.
AFC’s Beverly Alert is tipped to replace Raphael Trotman in Parliament
Trotman has been an MP since 1998, entering the National Assembly un der the People’s National Congress (PNC). He then left the party to join forces with current Leader Khemraj Ramjattan to form the AFC, which won several seats in the National Assembly at the 2006 Trotmanelections.served as Speaker of the National Assembly in the 10th Parliament in which the Opposition AFC and APNU, collectively, held a majori ty of the seats from 2011 to 2015. The AFC went on to coalesce with the PNC-led APNU to contest and win the 2015 coalitionUnderelections.theAPNU/AFCAdministration, Trotman served firstly as Minister of Governance and then as Minister of Natural Resources.TheAFC said it was proud of the work that Trotman has provided over the years as a valuable member of its team, and in particular, his work as a Member of Parliament.
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The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily Friday, August 26 –16:35h-18:05h and Saturday, August 27 – 16:50h-18:20h. TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the morning and early afternoon hours. Light rain showers are expected in the late afternoon and into the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Even as the regional commodity terms of trade (TOT) are ex pected to fall by an average of seven per cent this year in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guyana has been named among a group of countries in the region that will benefit from this trend. This is according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) annu al report titled “Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2022: Trends and challenges of investing for a sustainable and inclu sive recovery”. The report ex amines the region’s econom ic performance in 2021 and analyses trends in the ear ly months of 2022, as well as the outlook for growth for the year. It explained that the sev en per cent decrease in the regional commodity TOT –which is the ratio between the index of export prices and the index of import pric es – is caused largely by a 20 per cent rise in the prices of commodity exports and a 29 per cent increase in com modity imports’ prices. “As usual, performance will vary from one subre gion to another. Net hy drocarbon exporting coun tries will benefit most in 2022 from an increase in the commodity terms of trade of around 17 per cent. The countries in this group are the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago. This group also includes Guyana and Suriname, which, although they have a small share of the world oil market, have significant reserves and ma jor production potential,” the ECLAC report forecast. It went on to note that while some of these countries need to import refined prod ucts to meet their domes tic demand, they maintain a hydrocarbon trade surplus.
Withdrawal from oil fund In the Caribbean, total revenues are expected to in crease again in 2022, driven mainly by rises in tax reve nues and revenues from oth er sources, such as non-tax revenues, capital revenues, and external grants. In the case of Guyana, non-tax rev enues are expected to rise substantially owing to a first withdrawal of resources from the sovereign wealth fund, in which the country deposits its revenues from crude oil production offshore.
Winds: North-Easterly to North Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres. High Tide: 16:20h reaching a maximum height of 2.46 metres. Low Tide: 09:55h and 22:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.74 metre.
Guyana among exporting countries to benefit from hike in commodity prices due to oil
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, August 26 –02:30h-04:00h and Saturday, August 27 – 13:00h-14:00h.
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In contrast, however, the rise in energy prices is det rimental to hydrocarbon im porters, particularly the oth er Caribbean countries and those of Central America, whose commodity TOT will deteriorate. In South America, the ef fect is mixed, as some coun tries are oil producers, so they benefit from the high er price; but they also import refined products, which are currently more expensive, the report found. High-energy prices Moreover, ECLAC, a United Nations organisation, further outlined in its report that although net exporters of hydrocarbons will bene fit the most from the 17 per cent hike in the TOT for com modities, an opposite result would be seen for importers when it comes to increasing energy prices. “…this rise in energy pric es is detrimental to hydro carbon importers, particular ly countries in the Caribbean (except Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago) and Central America, whose terms of trade of commodities will de teriorate. In South America, the effect is mixed, as some countries are oil producers, so they are expected to ben efit from the higher price, but they also import refined products, which are current ly more expensive,” the re port further highlighted. It was found that after re cording 6.5 per cent growth in 2021, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Latin America and the Caribbean was expanding at a project ed rate of 2.7 per cent on av erage, following a slowdown in the first half of this year, thus returning to the path of low growth it was following before the COVID-19 pan demic.Nevertheless, South America is projected to grow by 2.6 per cent in 2022 com pared to 6.9 per cent in 2021, while the group compris ing Central America and Mexico expand by 2.5 per cent against 5.7 per cent in 2021. The Caribbean – the only subregion that will grow more than in 2021 – is pro jected to increase by 4.7 per cent, if Guyana is excluded, in comparison with 4.0 per cent in the year earlier.
WEATHER
BRIDGE OPENINGS
A brief history of Guyanese Indian music & culture
Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess spearheaded a four-day military exchange visit to the Florida National Guard Headquarters at St Augustine, Florida. Brigadier Bess and his team used the opportunity to re-establish the Guyana Defence Force's commitment to fruitful partnerships with the Florida National Guard, particularly in the areas of military exchanges and training opportunities for members of the GDF at various levels (GDF photo)
From the onset, it should be stated that Guyana would have been in a better position regarding an affordable, reliable supply of electricity if there had been bipartisan support for the AFHP, which was proposed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) years ago. In fact, had the Amaila Project gone through, it would have been in the system since 2017, and by now the problem of constant blackouts would have been a thing of the past. Therefore, it was refreshing for Guyanese to hear, coming out of the now-concluded International Energy Conference and Expo, that the AFHP is expected to get underway later this year, and that Government has committed to hiring international experts to both oversee and manage the project.
Almost two months ago, even as China Railway First Group (CRFG) indicated to Government its inability to execute the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) in keeping with the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, President Dr Irfaan Ali had made it pellucid that Government would continue to pursue the project. Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) is part of Government’s energy mix that would ensure the nation is provided with clean, reliable and affordable electricity.
Energy pursuit
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:marketing@guyanatimesgy.comnews@guyanatimesgy.com, 4 Views guyanatimesgy.comFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
Petroleum Economist at the Natural Resources Ministry, Winston Brassington, in one of his updates, informed stakeholders that after over a decade since its conceptualisation, the transformational 165-megawatt (MW) project is very close to becoming a reality. It could be recalled that the project was not given parliamentary support by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) parties, which had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat majority at the time. Further, in spite of pleadings from the PPP/C to continue the conversation and ensure the project was restarted, when the APNU/AFC took office in 2015, they moved ahead and killed the project. However, now that the PPP/C has returned to Government and has a parliamentary majority, it is now a reality that this transformative project would get off the ground. Amaila was expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy, and was envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels. The Electric Plant was proposed to be a 165MW (installed capacity) hydropower generation facility located in west-central Guyana approximately 250 kilometres south-west of Georgetown. In addition, it would have improved Guyana’s balance of payments by significantly reducing end-user costs for electricity and improving reliability of energy supply and generation of clean energy, which would have helped to encourage economic growth and development by improving regional competitiveness, Private Sector investment, and Foreign Direct Investment. An “objective and facts-based” assessment done by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm from Norway, had concluded and recommended that “the only realistic path” for Guyana moving towards an emissionfree electricity sector and achieving its 2025 Green Agenda commitment was to develop its hydropower potential in general, and maintain the AFHP in particular. In spite of assurances from the power company that blackouts would be a thing of the past, over the past couple of years, prolonged periods of blackout have actually increased across the country. Consumers have written several letters to this newspaper expressing their disgust over the situation. The Government has now taken steps to ensure that citizens are provided with affordable and reliable electricity utilising an energy mix of wind, solar and hydro. It is also working seriously on the gas-to-shore energy project which would see additional megawatts of power being provided. As we had stated before, energy is one area in which there could be a bipartisan approach by politicians; meaning, the Opposition and the Government could work together towards a lasting solution to Guyana’s electricity problems.
Dear Editor, I have been asked many times by Indian nationals why Indo-Guyanese still sing, play and enjoy Indian music and its attendant cul tural traditions almost 180 years after they were brought here, and lived in slave-like conditions for many of those years. I hope your reader ship would find interesting the very abbreviated expla nation musicWestofthatgion'sintheybelovedlonelinessintheyvastnesshadwhereverernwerekereditwasthesearculturalicallysoon“alien”andlife.asic,calgioncameMosthereunder.Indo-GuyanesefromtheBhojpurireofIndia,wheretheloBhojpuricultureofmusongsanddancesplayedseminalroleineverydayDespisedbythecreolesthe“massas”fortheirways,thesearrivalsformedalmosthermetsealed,self-sustaining,enclavesonthesugplantations.ThisisNaipaul'sviewofearlyimmigrants:"Itlessanuprootingthanappears.Withtheirblinviewoftheworld,theyabletorecreateeastUttarPradesh,orBihar,theywent.TheybeenabletoignoretheofIndia,sonowignoredthestrangenesswhichtheyhadbeenset."Outofthepainofangst,andnostalgiaforonesleftbehind,recreatedpiecesofIndiatheWestIndies.ItwastheBhojpurirefolk-musicculturewouldmakeupthecorethelegacybroughttotheIndies.TheimportedBhojpuriculturewastypicallya simple rural folk-song genre, but it was heavily oral-nar rative based. It’s widespread use - even today - was of the dholak and dental, in addi tion to the fact that great emphasis was placed on Bhojpuri words/lyrics to these early performances (contrastingly, the meaning and words of Indo-Guyanese Indian singing today is al mostReligiousirrelevant!).practices soon became a standardised set of devotional forms, later co alescing into formal associa tions. There was a more fo cused bhakti (devotion) type of worship, rather than ritu als. In this new cultural cru cible, song sessions created a dynamic where caste hierar chies were gradually cast off, infusing an egalitarian spir it. To a considerable extent, traditional family structures, religious practices and ex pressive cultural forms were recreated in ethnically ho mogeneous Indian commu nities.Even today, we are fa miliar with the various Bhojpuri genres – discussed below - that were imported but morphed and coalesced into something uniquely Guyanese.The Birha (genre) was one of the most popular to be “imported”. It consisted of a long narrative text set to a simple, repetitive melody, and sung by a solo male sing er with accompaniment on the nagara drum pair. Both birha and the nagara are as sociated with wedding songs. Lamentations for loved ones left behind became standard lyrical fares set to the birha. The Sohars genre is associated with childbirth, and is usually sung only by the handful of grandmothers and "aunties" who are able to recall texts. Often, such songs can be performed col lectively only with the help of a hired lead Nirgunsinger.bhajans which are funeral songs. Songs associated with the Phagwah or Holi festival, such as the chow tal songs performed by two groups of men. Singing groups, called chowtal groups, became widespread. • Religious songs. Particularly prominent in this category are the various forms of bhajan, or Hindu de votional songs, which may be sung collectively, or in some cases by a solo singer, at tem ple services and other func tions. (The term "kirtan" is generally used more or less synonymously with "bha jan.")• “Ramayana gols”. Verses from the Ramayana are also traditionally chant ed by male choruses in a vig orous “give-and-take” style that is similar to chowtal. These genres persisted, and were maintained almost defensively by the cultural and religious structures that gradually solidified over the decades in the secluded and culturally isolated confines of the sugar plantations. For example, key festivals such as Divali and Phagwa sup planted older “lesser ones” and became prominent; and domestic events like bhag vats (nine-day ritual ses sions), pujas (formal prayer sessions), and neighbour hood song sessions called satsangs became prevalent. Today, although the afore mentioned genre has slowly disappeared (but counter-in tuitively and fortunately, has sprung up in Guyanese/ TT immigrant communities in cosmopolitan NY, Toronto and London), they have given way to Bollywood music and the locally Indo-Caribbean derived Chutney-Soca. But the singing and performance of Bhajans, Bollywood Geets and Ghazals still enjoy priv ileged status at concerts and Mandirs wherever IndoGuyanese reside. Virtuoso drummers, like my close friend “Biscuit”, are still prevalent.Amidst the deculturating effects of the slave planta tions and the larger colonial environment, we have man aged to recreate those old strands to weave an almost new repertoire and adjusted forms of the Bhojpuri compo sitions. Naipaul says, "The Indians endured and pros pered. The India they re-cre ated was allowed to survive. It was an India in which a revolution had occurred. It was an India in isolation, unsupported; an India with out caste or the overwhelm ing pressures toward caste. The effort had a meaning, and soon India could be seen to be no more than a habit, a self-imposed psychological restraint, wearing thinner with the years."
To quote President Ali: “Let me be very clear: we are not going to abandon this project…if we have to go out again and again, we are going to, because we know the studies and everything, including the independent review by Norway, has point to this project as being good for Guyana, being good for the environment, and bringing greater prosperity.”
DevSincerely,Persaud
The PNC marginalised its own people
Dear Editor, The call for ethnic balance in the Public Service and its agencies has provided provok ing, perplexing and petrify ing responses, especially since a “What Guyana looks like” term has been introduced. Commissioner of Enquiries, pre-colonial and post-colonial periods, have all found and recommended the need for equating the imbalances. To date, there has commenced no serious approach adhering to this recommendation, and the issue has survived to this day unresolved.Theconversation re cently revolved around GECOM’s staff, which com prises over 75% of one eth nicity. Incidentally, this is a reflection of most other agencies, and of the Public Service. The demographics of Guyana show the following: Indian Descent – 39%; African Descent – 29%; Mixed - 20%; Amerindians - 11%; and oth ers – 1% (Portuguese, Chinese andSocialWhite).media is the elec tronic medium, engineer ing-variable platform to pour and spill grievances, opin ions, remarks, complaints, news, views, interviews and nuanced innuendoes. At the tip of a finger, the world con gregates to accommodate the flash of a reflection or deflec tion, whether accurate or in accurate, and a response, whether appropriate or inap propriate.Many took to Facebook to express their endorsement of the subject of ethnic imbalanc es. Some questioned the mean ing of the induced terminolo gy, and a few are disgruntled over the uncomfortable topic, while others are annoyed with the discussion. One contribu tor suggested hiring more in dividuals from the minority composition. This idea was re ceived with immediate rebut tal with a “that’s how you get
Dear Editor, The wisdom in the ad age “Prevention is better than cure” is most timely to embrace at this time. I am saying this in regard to the Monkeypox disease that has now come upon Guyana. As was the lev ity of the populace when the COVID-19 struck, so may be the case with the Monkeypox, I fear.Many in Guyana are taking a laid-back attitude. They even posit that Monkeypox is unlike ly to cause a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19. However, we need to exercise medical sense, as the Monkeypox vi rus is still a force to be reck oned with, even though it is far more forgiving than that of the COVID-19, is less transmissi ble, and can be readily subdued by existing vaccines. I see that Guyana is ready, as it is clear that planning has been ongoing. The news has it that “Monkeypox vaccines (are) due by September month end.” The Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, explained that “…the vaccines that pro tect against Monkeypox are in limited quantity globally. However, through an agree ment with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Guyana should receive some of these vaccines by the end of September.”AsIsaid, Guyana must not take any chance whatsoever.
Monkeypox containment calls for Guyanese to comply with the Government
Yours Haseefsincerely,Yusuf
Yours truly, H Singh
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 5guyanatimesgy.com You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com 06:00 (Sign on) Inspirational Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Stop Suffering 09:00 MasterChef Junior 10:00 Celebrity IOU 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 Movie - Two Tickets to Paradise (2022) 13:30 Wheel of Fortune 14:00 Raven's Home S1 E1 14:30 Liv and Maddie S2 E20 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Henry Danger S1 E19 16:30 Inspector Gadget 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Back to School Giveaway with Anthony Persaud 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine S5 E20 21:00 Friday Night Smackdown 23:00 Never Have I Ever S3 E3 23:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway? S16 E13 00:00 Sign off Friday, August 26, 2022 Dear Editor, I had to again read an interesting article by Dr David Hinds; captioned ‘The APNU+AFC Govt. and African Guyanese: After three years, no major Policy Initiative that targets Black Empowerment’, it appeared in the Kaieteur News of May 13th 2018. In this article, Hinds ad mitted that even though the PNC, during its 28 years, ini tiated some projects which benefited Afro-Guyanese, those benefits were destroyed by the same PNC before they vacated office. This trend of marginalisa tion of the Black people had continued during the next round of the PNC-dominated Coalition rule, from 2015 to 2020, and even though Dr Hinds tried to tie the PPP/C Government to this margin alisation agenda, he failed, since, from 1992 to 2015, Afro-Guyanese and all oth er Guyanese were living a far better standard of living than they did under the PNC. Moreover, under this Government, from 2020 to now, there has been massive development in all Black pop ulated areas, and all across Guyana. No area has been ne glected in the President’s One Vision for Guyana. Dr Hinds, in that arti cle, made a revealing state ment concerning the Coalition Government’s incompetence when he pointed out that “the average African Guyanese knows full well that after three years in office, this Government has not imple mented a single policy ini tiative aimed at addressing the structural socio-economic problems of that community”. Let us now compare this with what the PPP/C Government has done for Afro-Guyanese.Duringits tenure in of fice, the Coalition literal ly snatched bread from the mouths of each and every Guyanese; its own support base was not spared. Today, billions in infra structural and housing devel opment works are taking place in Linden, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Albouystown, Ithaca and Buxton, among other Afro-Guyanese commu nities nationwide. Thousands of jobs have been created by the PPP/C Government, and President Ali has unequiv ocally declared that it is his Government’s responsibili ty to provide jobs and a bet ter standard of living for all Guyanese.Thisis quite unlike what former President Granger had said. He had said, “There is no magic wand. The Government cannot provide jobs in the Government Service, in the Police Force, or in the Defence Force. Employment is not something to be provided by the ItGovernment.”wouldnow seem that President Ali has the ‘magic wand’. There is more money in Afro-Guyanese pockets than ever before, and the same can be said for all Guyanese, who now are enjoying a better life.
One Guyana? By firing AfroGuyanese parents? Most of you don’t realize how one-sid ed you are. That means you can only see things from your perspective, due to lack of em pathy. The Public Service had more Afro-Guyanese during British rule than it has now. Being mostly Afro-Guyanese is NOT the cause of the PNC. You need to learn Guyanese history.”Awalk down memory lane will show that the period 1964 to 1992 and 2015 to 2020 saw the impetus of PNC card hold ers (in particular of one race) dominating and domineer ing the employment of Public Servants and Government agencies, especially in the 70s and 80s. Employment was primarily based on race, face, party membership, one's reli gion and one's English name. The educational qualifica tion became subservient, and played second fiddle. As it is currently, it's not a process of wanting to fire anyone with a replacement, but going forward and imple menting a balanced system to employ those who have been denied for generations, to make it look more like a “true Guyanese representation, and not a one-faced Guyana.” Guyanese history cannot be rewritten to change the course of history. Rather, his tory has engrained the sad, di abolical and damaging effects of the Burnham era, which has left devastating and de monic repercussions, most of which many are ashamed to acknowledge and accept be cause of their atrocities and monstrous nature. Historians have already captured and re corded who have been real ly and truly biased, unilater al, prejudiced; ill-conceived, conceited, discriminatory, vi olent; those who have rigged elections; those who are fraud sters, raped the Treasury; those who have indulged in corruption and crime; those who have mismanaged the economy to lead the country to bankruptcy; those who have squandered funds; those who are guilty of being suppres sors, oppressors, depressors and dictators; those who have violated law and order; those who have disobeyed rules and regulations; those who have disregarded the Constitution; those who have used the state machinery for party, person al and private use; those who have abused power; those who have created poverty and mis ery; those who have deliber ately caused dishonesty, de ception and degradation to derail the moral dignity of Guyana.Again, on the contrary, historians do provide glowing records of the men, women and children who have uplift ed Guyanese from the bottom of the pit to emerge on the pedestal of pride once again and enjoy the freedom of in dependence to lavish in peace, progress and prosperity. Guyanese are no longer put to shame, and history is being made to show the world that in the annals of the li brary, it is people of dignity and honour who are respon sible for lifting this nation and its people to highlight the worth of Guyana and Guyanese in the true text and nature of the greatness of this land. History will reflect that the national, regional and in ternational communities are in advocacy and agreement with those who have been elected, and not selected to le gally govern this land legit imately, effectively and effi ciently.The continuous outpour of support and the perpetual in jection of investors from over seas is overwhelming. This confirms the confidence of the risk-bearers, and the belief that management of Guyana is in the right and capable hands.The harsh reality of truth is always difficult to face, and even more strenuous to swal low.
The mere fact that Government is putting in extra work to inoc ulate the vulnerable and infect ed people is enough reason for citizens to be cautious and co operative.Letus bear in mind, as the Minister pointed out, that in deed “There are very few medi cations that are currently avail able to treat the virus… (and currently) the United States is working on three different an tiretrovirals that are in limit ed supply, and they are being used under emergency-use au thorisation.”However, what is good to note is that patients with Monkeypox are being treated based on their symptoms; that is, “The treatment for these persons when they get infected would be symptomatic; there fore, if they have fever, we’ll treat fever; if they have an en larged lymph node, we’ll treat that,” the Minister detailed, and in all likelihood, patients’ recovery after treatment is re alised within 14-21 days. I posit here again the need to take all precautions, as, “Basically, monkeypox is trans mitted from animals to hu mans. So, if there is an infected animal and a person comes in contact with them, it can get in fected. So, that’s the first form of transmission.”“Simple…stay put in your corner if and when infected.” I admonish all to be alert, as Monkeypox can become a national scourge that our healthcare providers and pub lic health systems can very well be challenged with. So, with an aggressive, well-coordinat ed public-health campaign, we can be on top of the situation. As we learned from COVID-19, access to testing can mean the difference between a growing outbreak and a disease that can be promptly diagnosed, treated, and contained through isolation and contact tracing. Stigma may also discourage people from coming forward. “Please be honest and compli ant!”
"What Guyana
However, when one reads about the hundreds of millions pumped into the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPADA-G),Assembly-Guyanaitisonlythen that Granger’s ‘magic wand’ can be seen at work, but not for the poor Afro-Guyanese. If there was ever a case of emerg ing apartheid in Guyana, it was under the Coalition Government, so the pro-PNC Cuffy 250 group is barking up the wrong tree. This Government has done for Afro-Guyanese in its two years what the PNC did in its 33 years in Government. History has testified to this, and the future will make this a lot more manifest as this Government continues to reach out and satisfy the needs of all Guyanese in an equitable and just manner. The myth of AfroGuyanese marginalisation by the PPP/C Government has no sales value. Let those who are trying to divide this nation un derstand that Guyanese will not fall for such Goebbels pro paganda. History has attest ed that the PNC has margin alised its own people for more than 33 years.
Yours respectfully, Jai Lall looks like"
On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle, from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. There they all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with his princess; and the soldier, who was all the time invisible, danced with them too; and when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her, he drank it all up, so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was terribly frightened, but the eldest always silenced her. They danced on till three o’clock in the morning, and then all their shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave off. The princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time the soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess); and on the opposite shore they took leave of each other, the princesses promising to come again the next night.
What you will need: A large open space, i.e. a games hall or garden Buckets or hula hoops (the flowers) Bean bags or small balls (the pollen) Teams of children (the worker bumblebees) One hula hoop per team (the nest) How to play:
Remember: Some fractions cannot be changed easily to percents. If 100 cannot be divided evenly by the fraction’s denominator, you will not be
Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke a branch from each; and every time there was a loud noise, which made the youngest sister tremble with fear; but the eldest still said, it was only the princes, who were crying for joy. So they went on till they came to a great lake; and at the side of the lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them, who seemed to be waiting there for the Oneprincesses.ofthe princesses went into each boat, and the soldier stepped into the same boat with the youngest. As they were rowing over the lake, the prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier said, “I do not know why it is, but though I am rowing with all my might we do not get on so fast as usual, and I am quite tired: the boat seems very heavy today.” “It is only the heat of the weather,’ said the princess: ‘I feel it very warm too.”
Pollen Game
1. Split the children into teams of equal size and give each team a hula hoop (a nest blue in diagram)
The aim of the game is for each nest to collect as much pollen as possible before the pollen runs out. It is a race and the team with the most pollen in its nest at the end is the winner. Make the game easier/ harder by adding/ taking away pollen.
WORD SEARCH Page Foundation 6 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 ◄
GrimmTHURSDAY Percents and Examples:fractions Exercises: Convert the percent to a fraction and reduce where possible 1) 10% 2) 73% 3) 30% 4) .04 5) 84.6% 6) 65.5% 7) 1775% 8) .9678% 9) 10)450.2%53.78% Since percents are ratios, you can change them to frac tions. The denominator will be 100. The
2. Place hula hoops containing bean bags/ small balls around the hall, ideally an equal distance from each team’s nest. These represent the flowers which contain the pollen (pink flowers in diagram) 3. Number the players in the team. When you shout out a number, the corresponding child from each team has to run to a flower, collect a piece of pollen and bring it back to the nest. Only one piece of pollen can be carried at a time. This is repeated until the pollen has run out.
Or, why not use bumblebee names instead of numbers for each team member. able will be 100. The front of
By The BroThers numerator
numerator will be the number in
to convert that fraction to a percent. Power Up Maths Percents and fractions Since percents are ratios, you can change them to fractions. The denominator
the percent sign. WhatExample>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>s:is20%of25? Step 1: Convert the percent to a fraction: 20% = 20 100 Step 2: Simplify the fraction if you can: 20 100 = 1 5 Step 3: Multiply 1 5 x 25 = 25 5 Step 4: Simplify the product: 25 5 = 5 1 = 5 You can also change fractions to percents: 1 4 = %? Step 1: Divide 100 by the denominator: 100 ÷ 4 = 25. Step 2: Multiply the numerator by the product: 1 x 25 = 25. Step 3: Add the percent sign: 1 4 = SomeRemember>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>25%.fractionscannotbechangedeasily to percents. If 100 cannot be divided evenly by the fraction’s denominator, you will not be able to convert that fraction to a percent. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Exercises: Convert the percent to a fraction and reduce where possible 1) 10% 2) 73% 3) 30% 4) 04 5) 84.6% 6) 65.5% 7) 1775% 8) 9678% 9) 450.2% 10) 53.78%
In nature bumblebees need pollen and nectar from flowers to survive. If the pollen or nectar was to run out the bees would eventually die. This is why it is really important that we plant lots of pollen and nectar rich flowers in our gardens; so that there are plenty of flowers throughout the year to feed all of the bees.
will be the number in front of the percent sign.
A variation for this game would be to replace the pollen (bean bags) with nectar (water) and give each team a cup/ jug to carry the nectar from the buckets (the flowers) back to their nests (also buckets). The team with the largest volume of water at the end of the game would be the winner. This variation would be best played outdoors.
On the other hand, the Caribbean’s public spending is expected to grow in 2022, driven by public investment and higher interest pay ments. At the country lev el, it was highlighted that a significant expansion of pub lic investment is expected in Guyana, financed in part by the withdrawal from the new oil fund. At the launch of the ECLAC report at the UN Central Headquarters in Santiago, Chile on Tuesday, a projected 2.7 per cent av erage economic growth was revealed for the current year in a context of acute macro economic restrictions that are hurting the region’s economies. It was further outlined that a sequence of crises has led to the scenario of low growth and accelerating in flation seen in the global economy, and this – coupled with lower growth in trade, the dollar’s appreciation and tougher global financial con ditions – will negatively af fect the region’s countries.
Guyana among oil exporting...
“In a context of multiple goals and growing restric tions, there must be a coor dination of macroeconomic policies that would support the acceleration of growth, investment, and poverty and inequality reduction, while also addressing inflationary dynamics,” acting Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Mario Cimoli stated during the launch of the Economic Survey 2022. The document emphasis es that Latin American and Caribbean countries are fac ing a complex economic out look in 2022 and the coming years. (G8)
Foreign drivers who are holders of a val id driver’s licence in their home country will now be able to drive on Guyana’s roadways without requiring a permit.Thiswas announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday in a post on his Facebook page. “If you do not live in Guyana and have a valid driver's licence from anoth er country, you can drive a vehicle using that licence for 60 days from your date of entry,” the Head of State declared in exercising pow ers conferred upon him by Section 103 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. This new law takes effect from today, August 26, 2022 and will now allow foreign ers to operate on Guyana’s roadways for up to two months.Previously, persons who came to Guyana were re quired to fill out a form and submit their valid driver’s li cence along with a small fee in order to obtain a driver’s permit to be able to drive in this country. The permit was valid for only one month. But with this new regu lation in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, this practice will no longer be in place. All that is required under this new law is for the driv er to produce a valid licence and documentation to show the date of their arrival in Guyana when driving here. These changes made by the President will be cited as the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (The Use of Foreign Issued Driver’s Licence in Guyana) Regulations 2022. It states: “A person not resident in Guyana shall be permitted to drive on a road for a period of sixty days af ter his entry into Guyana without a driver’s licence as required by Section 23 (1) provided that he is the holder and in possession of a valid driver’s licence is sued by a competent au thority in the country of his residence along with such documents which shall es tablish the date of his entry into Guyana. Guyana now joins a few other Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, that allow foreigners to drive without a domestic Driver’s Permit or an international driver’s licence. In Trinidad and Tobago, foreigners 17 years and old er with a valid driver’s li cence/permit from any coun try that is a signatory to the Geneva Convention are al lowed to operate vehicles on the road for 90 days from the date of their arrival in the country or until the permit/ licenceOtherexpires.Caricom countries such as Barbados and neigh bouring Suriname either re quire a visitor's/driver’s per mit or valid international driver's licence in order for foreigners to drive in those countries.Thechange in Guyana’s Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act comes as the country continues to receive a high influx of foreign na tionals, mostly owing to its nascent oil and gas industry and other new as well as ex panding sectors. (G8)
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Licensed foreigners no longer need permit to drive in Guyana
7 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
FROM PAGE 3
APNU/AFC Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson
Now, this upbraiding should disabuse anyone of the notion that the “Acting” before her name has, in any way, shape or form, made her diffident in performing her role –and then some!!
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
The former junior Public Infrastructure Minister un der the previous Coalition Government was released on self-bail after denying the charge. When her trial contin ued on Thursday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, Police Assistant Superintendent Jhared Koulen, a Cyber Security Specialist, testified about the role he played in probing the allegation against the HeMP.said that on June 16, 2021, he received instruc tions from his superior to take screenshots of the post Ferguson had made and print same, which he did. With permission from Ferguson’s attorney ASP Koulen recalled that he checked her Facebook activity log, but noticed that the post wasFollowingremoved. his testimony, eight printed screenshots of the post were tendered into evidence, and the trial was adjourned until September 30. The senior GDF rank is reported to have made a com plaint with the Police Cyber Crime Unit after Ferguson, in a Facebook post, said he would be in charge of a kill ing squad. As such, the for mer Government Minister was called in for ques tioning at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary,PoliceGeorgetown.subsequently in stituted the charge against Ferguson after receiv ing advice from the cham bers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). After Ferguson’s arrest, members of the Opposition had come out attacking the Police Force and the PPP/C Government, but Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had condemned this, especially remarks made by then Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, who had claimed that Ferguson was arrested on spurious grounds, and that it was a clear case of political persecution against the Opposition member. The former Opposition Leader had also called for the withdrawal of what he had said were “spurious, base less and politically-motivat ed charges,” but Benn, in a subsequent missive, had dis missed Harmon’s remarks. “Mr Harmon, of all per sons, should need no remind ing that all persons – inclusive of Members of Parliament and also members of the APNU/ AFC – are subject to the Laws of Guyana, adherence to which the Guyana Police Force is duty bound to enforce without fear or favour,” Benn hadThesaid.Home Affairs Minister had gone on to further ad dress what he described as Harmon’s natural reflexive instincts to make unwarrant ed attacks about partisan “po litical persecution”, “weap onising of the Guyana Police Force”, and the dire warnings of civilBennunrest.had said that Harmon’s statements were not only grossly untrue, but were of malicious intent. In fact, he had said that Harmon’s statements were seemingly intent on continu ing the effort to shield and protect from judicial review lawbreaking by persons who are intent on precipitating a breakdown of law and order and the undermining of de mocracy by initiating civil un rest.Passed in the National Assembly in 2016 by the for mer APNU/AFC Government, the Cyber Crimes Act had ca tered for, inter alia: illegal ac cess to a computer system; il legal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisi tion of data; illegal system in terference; unauthorised re ceiving or granting of access to computer data; computer-re lated forgery; computer- re lated fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identi ty-related offences; child por nography; child luring, and violation of privacy, among a slew of other offences. It treats with the creation of cybercrime offences, and contains provisions for penal ties, investigations and prose cutions of such. Despite criti cisms of the bill at that time, the then Government was unmoved, insisting that the measure was for national se curity.Ferguson has been charged contrary to Section 19(3)(a) of the Cyber Crime Act. That section of the law states that a person commits an offence if he/she uses a computer system to dissemi nate any information, state ment or image that caus es damage to the reputation of another person, knowing same to be false; or subjects another person to public ridi cule, contempt, hatred, or em barrassment by the dissem ination of such a statement when they know same to be false.Persons charged under the Cyber Crime Act, if con victed, face time in prison and hefty fines. In fact, a person who com mits an offence under this sec tion renders himself/herself liable to the following penal ties: (a) on summary convic tion, to a fine of $5 million and to imprisonment for three years; and (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of $10 million and to imprisonment for five years. Meanwhile, over at the Demerara High Court, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has filed a $20 million lawsuit against Ferguson, whom he alleges had made certain slanderous statements about him. (G1) FB post
Your Eyewitness’s surmise is the stepping aside has to do with the Exxon giveaway. A LOT!! Enough to make all those ambitions of “pelf and power” fade into insignificance!!Arewegoing to have that investigation suggested by Global Witness? …for plane skidding The Ogle Airport PR shill announced that the Skyvan that took President Ali and Bajan PM Mia Mottley to Brazil and back skidded off the runway. Mottley swears there was no skid.Mama mia!! Wasn’t Mottley told??
“Killing squad”
Tonguelashing...
The trial of suspended APNU/AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Annette Ferguson over her alleged use of Facebook to commit a cybercrime is ongo ing before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in her Georgetown court.In a post on that social me dia platform, Ferguson is ac cused of stating that Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Omar Khan is part of a killing squad, and she is charged un der the provisions of Guyana’s Cyber Crime Act for us ing a computer, on June 15, 2021, to humiliate the Joint Services member.
After all, while all this gamesmanship is playing out to the galleries, it shouldn’t have surprised anyone that our societal institutions are unravelling; and unless something’s done, we’ll soon be imploding into a black hole!! Maybe like what happened in the 1960s! Anyhow, in handing down her judgement on two cases brought before her on the appointment of some constitutional commissions in general, and the appointment of the COP in particular, the Madam Chief Justice (ag) stood up! She tongue-lashed the political leaders for the “confrontational tone” that’s become their default mode of communicating with each other!! She reminded the political leaders that the Constitution, which governs all state issues, mandated a “consultative process”, with the stress on the word “consultative”which doesn’t connote hurling barbs at each other!! In fact, because of previous lapses, the term has now been refined as “meaningful consultation” - for which the parameters had been spelled out!! She also pointed out that they gotta stick to the issues before them, and not get bogged down by “irrelevant matters”. And the relevant issues, of course, are those that redound to the better welfare of our dear land of Guyana!!TheCJ didn’t even mention fancy terms like “judicialization of politics”, for which the political elites had been accused by some academics! That’s for throwing matters to the courts that they could resolve themselves only - if they acted maturely and not go off on detours and frolics!!
Your Eyewitness only hopes the politicians understand that the Judiciary has had it with their infantile behaviour, after being taken behind the woodshed and given this spanking!!Let’ssee if they’ve learnt their lesson!! …and bowing out?? It couldn’t have surprised anyone - that Trotman’s dropping out of Parliament, could it? That’s Raphael, not Desmond - in case you’d forgotten him after his prolonged absence from the news!! He says it’s because he’s ill and he wants to foster “parliament rotation and space for new leadership in the AFC”! If you believe that, then your Eyewitness has a bridge across the Essequibo River to sell you!! Trotman’s a fella whose hero is Burnham. And by the time Burnham was TWELVE, he’d already written out a list of six positions he wanted to be when he grew up. Among them was to be PM of BG and the WI Federation!! Trotman had even bigger ambitions, and it’ll take more than some illness to derail them!!
Cybersecurity specialist testifies in trial
…on the political leaders
Well, it’s high time some adult in the room spoke up –the political room, that is!! Just think of the depths to which our politics have sunk in the last couple of years. And your Eyewitness isn’t even talking about rigging and other such hijinks – that’s been going on so long now that it’s pretty much as “Guyanese” as pepperpot!! We’re not going to get rid of pepperpot just because it burns some people’s mouths, are we?? Anyhow, with senior politicians refusing to shake hands; refusing to call the President “President” (while accepting that they’re the “Opposition Leader” via the same elections!); making demands that everyone knows are unconstitutional; creating mayhem in the hallowed halls of Parliament etc, etc (there’s a lot of etcs!!) somebody had to grab these fellas by the scruffs of their necks and talk some sense into them!!
APNU/AFC's Annette Ferguson’s
The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM 8 NEWS
With 38 new cas es of COVID-19 as of Thursday, the country’s total confirmed cases made another jump to 70, 926. The new infections came from a batch of 420 test samples. The statistics were published on the Health Ministry’s daily dashboard, with the death toll remain ing at 1278. In terms of gen der, 32,502 males and 38,424 females have been infected thus far. The number of persons in the designated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains at two. The num ber of individuals in home isolation is eight, with 302 in institutional isolation and two in institutional quaran tine. Of the confirmed cases, 69,336 persons have recov ered.As new infections sur face, the Health Ministry is monitoring 312 active cas es – a slight decline from last week’s figures. Ten per sons are hospitalised – eight of them at the Infectious Diseases 67.4dose,offar,numbersThursday’sHospital.vaccinationindicatethatso445,855or86.9percentadultshavetakenafirstwhilesome345,610orpercentarefullyvacci nated. For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, 35,561 have had first doses or 48.8 per cent and 26,069 or 35.7 per cent, second doses. Vaccination numbers for children in the age five to 11 category show 7774 first dos es or 7.6 per cent. Only 3008 or 2.9 per cent have returned for their second shot. In ad dition, 72,329 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony underscored during the COVID-19 up date that authorities were relying on parents to bring their children to health facil ities in order to get them vac cinated. However, he added, “I think there is still a lot of re luctance and we’re not see ing as many parents bring ing their children to be vaccinated. We have worked very hard to get vaccines, especially for the five to 11 age group in the country… We have adequate supplies of vaccines. What we would like to see is parents making sure that their children are properly vaccinated. There is a lot of room for growth.”
9 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 25, 2022 UPDATE GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181. NUMBER OF NEW CASES 38 NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION 8 NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION 302 NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU 2 NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE 2 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES) 38,424 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES) 32,502 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020 70,926 NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES 69,336 TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED 445,855 FULLY IMMUNISED 345,610 TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS 1278 DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1 2686 REGION 2 3131 REGION 3 8723 REGION 4 35,289 REGION 5 2572 REGION 6 6898 REGION 7 2654 REGION 8 921 REGION 9 4337 REGION 10 3715 HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask. Keep a physical distance of at least 6 Washfeet. your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline. 38 persons test positive for COVID from 420 swabs …virus has evolved to milder infection – Health Minister
An evolving pattern of the COVID-19 virus has led authorities to changes in the way the pandemic is man aged, especially positive pa tients. As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the incubation period quar antine for infected persons. According to the Health Minister, adopting this stance here can result in ir responsible behaviour, since positive patients can mingle in the public without taking precautions.“Thepattern of the dis ease has changed, where you’re now seeing a milder form of infection. Incubation periods have shortened and that is why I think the CDC has recently changed their guidelines. So, they no lon ger require persons to stay at home if they test positive, but if they are going to go out, they have to take pre cautions by wearing an N95 mask so that they don’t in fect others.” In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 173 million while the death toll has gone up to 2.8 Globally,million.there are 590 million confirmed positive cases with 6.4 million deaths. If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associ ated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy. (G12) |
Region Six Health Officer, Dr Vishalya Sharma receiving the donation from Food For The Poor
The National Psychiatric Hospital has received 100 beds with mat tresses from the Food For The Poor (FFTP), in fulfilment of a promise that was made in May.Representatives of FFTP Inc met with the Health Ministry in May, and a re quest was made for the organ isation to visit the National Psychiatric Hospital. The team visited, and the institution’s needs were raised. The FFTP had as sured of its commitment to working with the institu tion to ensure that the es sential needs of the hospital, patients, and staff were met. One of the major needs of the Psychiatric Hospital was spe cialised beds suitable for the institution.Assuch, 100 beds and 100 mattresses, along with oth er items, were handed over to Regional Health Officer for Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Dr Vishalya Sharma, who expressed sin cere gratitude to FFTP (Guy) Inc for fulfilling its commit ment.She further stated that the Psychiatric Hospital would be the primary focus of the dona tion, but the other hospitals and regional centres would benefit from this valuable do nation. FFTP (Guy) Inc said it continued to be committed to the health sector and the citizens of Guyana. Last June, there was a fire at the New Amsterdam, Region Six facility during which some patients were in jured and others escaped. The escaped patients were later returned.Twomonths after that, a similar fire broke out, de stroying an 18-bed ward. Then in November, quick ac tion by staff of the Hospital averted disaster after a pa tient set fire to a section of the medical facility’s Male Admission Ward. The patient had lit the vinyl (vinolay) cov ering one of the tables in the ward.Pegged at $26 million, works are ongoing to restore the 18-bed ward that was ear lier destroyed and effect oth er needed repairs. (G12)
3 busted in carjacking ring along Linden-Soesdyke Highway
Gunmen storm, rob Industry Chinese supermarket
Psychiatric hospital gets 100 new beds from FFTP
F our men on motorcy cles executed a daring robbery on a Chinese supermarket at Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday evening. Based on reports re ceived, the 28-year-old busi nesswoman who operates the Wan Li Supermarket was about to close the busi ness when she was con fronted by four males, all of whom were wearing skull hats and face masks. They arrived at the scene on two separate mo torcycles, and the two pil lion riders rushed into the supermarket and held the businesswoman at gun point, before ransacking the cashier area and collect ing an undisclosed sum of cash while their accomplic es waited outside. While the robbery was in progress, a 37-year-old man reportedly drove up to the supermarket to make a pur chase, and he was accosted by the waiting bandits with a demand that he hand over his valuables. Fearful for his life, the man drove off at a fast rate, but collided with a fence as one of the gun men reportedly fired two shots in his direction. Soon after, the two pil lion riders exited the super market and jumped on their motorcycles, by which they fled the scene. The Police have con firmed that no one was in jured, but an investigation is underway.
The stripped cars that were found at Long Creek
Three men are assisting Police ranks in their investigations follow ing the discovery of sever al stripped cars along the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway on Wednesday.Basedon reports re ceived, the Police were in vestigating an armed rob bery committed on a 48-year-old resident of Roxanne Burnham Gardens in Georgetown, who had Toyota Allion motorcar HD 514 taken away from them in the vicinity of Deokie Sand Road at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday. Acting on infor mation received, ranks went to the home of a 26-year-old suspect at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and conducted a search that unearthed a 9MM pistol and several car lights and bum pers on the premises. After interrogation, the 26-year-old suspect took the ranks to a location in St. Cuthbert’s Mission, where stolen motorcar HD 514 and another vehicle, PSS 1871, which was also reported sto len earlier in the month, were found. The engine, front suspension and oth er parts were missing from PSSIn1871.the process of con ducting their investigations, ranks stopped two other men, a 30-year-old of Kuru Kuru and a 29-year-old of Linden, who were driving along the main access road to St Cuthbert’s Mission, and upon being questioned, they claimed they were heading into the mission. These men were arrest ed, and the car in which they were travelling was lodged. Based on information re ceived at the station, ranks conducted a search in an area of Long Creek on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and discovered several stripped cars in a valley. Further investigations are ongoing.
10 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
11 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
Monkeypox vaccines to be reserved for exposed, high-risk persons
From March to present, more than 42,000 monkey pox cases have surfaced glob ally. Across the region, cases have been detected in coun tries like Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, but Brazil has been plagued with more than 3000 infec tions.Doctors and other med ical staffers were briefed on the protocols to be fol lowed should persons pres ent themselves at any health facility with symp toms associated with mon keypox. Meanwhile, persons were sent for training to support testing capacity at the National Public Health ReferenceMonkeypoxLaboratory.would ap pear as a rash. Once infect ed, a person can spend from seven to 21 days in incuba tion before the symptoms manifest.Theacute skin rash may be present with maculopap ular (flat based lesions); ves icles (fluid-filled blisters), pustules, and subsequent crusting affecting the face, palms, soles and the rest of theItbody.may be accompanied by headache, acute onset fe ver, myalgia, back pain, as thenia, and lymphadenopa thy. (G12)
Persons who have been exposed to monkey pox or others deemed at high risk will receive the vaccines which have been sourced to support the Health Ministry’s monitor ing of this new epidemic. This was according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorisa tion for the Jynneos vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older who are deter mined to be at high risk for monkeypox infection. Guyana has initiated ef forts to source the MVA [Modified vaccinia Ankara] vaccine for monkeypox (com monly referred to as Jynneos in the US). However, giv en that there is only one manufacturer in the United Kingdom, this order is be ing facilitated through the Pan American Health Organisation. It is expected that the shots will arrive in September.“Theyhave taken or ders from other countries in Latin America and pool the orders together. We’re going to the manufactur er with a common order for the Americas. By doing so, we have a large amount of vaccines and that order has been placed. We’re expecting those vaccines to come in by the end of September,” said the Health Minister. Once they arrive, the Health Ministry will be us ing the shots for high-risk or exposed persons within the population.Heexplained, “In this context of the vaccines be ing very limited, one of the things that is being recom mended in countries that have started to use the vac cine is to determine the per son’s risks. You can group people by their level of risks. What they have recommend ed is not to give it as a pre-ex posure prophylaxis type of vaccine, but rather you do it as a post-exposure vaccine.” It was advised that like with any other vaccine, there are temporary side ef fects which some people may experience.“It’smore protective. The safety profile is extremely good. It is something that has been recommended, has been used and has worked to prevent the disease from spreading,” the Minister ad vised.Guyana has only detect ed one case of monkeypox, which was confirmed on Monday. Since then, those in contact with patient zero have been quarantined. “All the contacts that he has given us, we have been working with those contacts. They have been quarantined and all the suitable mea sures have been taken,” the Minister assured.
12 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
The second phase under construction Deputy British High Commissioner to Guyana, Judy Kpogho (fourth right) with the visiting team
13 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
1st phase of $4B expansion at Mazaruni Prison completed
The completed first phase at the Mazaruni Prison
The first phase of the $4 billion expan sion of the Mazaruni Prison has been complet ed, and is expected to be put into operation shortly. After the phases of ex pansion have been complet ed, the new facility would accommodate 220 prisoners, which would assist to alle viate the overcrowding be ing experienced at the other prisons across the country. Works on Phase 2 of this expansion have commenced, while the Mazaruni Estate has also been recipient of a much-needed road net work that links each of the sections of the vast Prison Estate.Further, a water puri fication system that would supply water to the wings of Phases 1 and 2 has also been erected.This is according to Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Rajiv Bisnauth, in a release to the media on Thursday. Newly accredited Deputy British High Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Judy Kpogho, visited the correctional institution on Wednesday and was im pressed with the modern correctional facilities ob served, but was even more impressed with the prison reintegration programme.
“I am totally impressed with this facility. It will defi nitely improve overall secu rity among prisoners and officers. You have to create a good living condition for prisoners, and at the same time enable them to learn skills that would help them once they have complet ed their terms,” the Deputy British High Commissioner related.Further, Kpogho posit ed that she is encouraged by the comprehensive suite of programmes offered by the GPS for the rehabilitation of inmates.“The inmates, who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, we want to make sure that we give them an opportunity to learn from whatever wrongs they may have done. So, I was very impressed with the work I saw to help prisoners to prepare for life back in the community. The staff and the prisoners themselves demonstrated their dedica tion and commitment to im proving inmates’ chances of leading a positive and fulfill ing life when they leave cus tody,” Ms. Kpogho declared. Kpogho was accompa nied by Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack; Deputy Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim; Regional Commander Dion Moore, and other officials of the Guyana Prison Service and the Home Affairs Ministry.Overthe years, the GPS has been focusing on pro grammes such as educa tion, vocational training, life skills, and the overall men tal and therapeutic develop ment of the inmates. The Deputy Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim, has described the new prison block as being very modern and incorporating respect for human rights. He said it indicates an innovative ap proach to the treatment of prisoners.
First Runner-up Anasa Williams (Miss Ghana) kept it subtle and delivered a worthy presentation in this segment.Notable presentations also came from Miss Congeniality, Aliyah Branche, (Miss Zimbabwe) and Gabriel Thomas (Miss South Africa), who copped the award for Best Evening Gown. The queen and first runner-up, as stated by the judges, were separated by a mere two points’ difference when the scores were finally tallied. From the very beginning of the proceedings on pageant night, the race for royalty was on among Miss South Africa, Miss Nigeria and Miss Ghana. These three saucy divas each tried to outdo the other with eloquent speeches, electric pivots, sultry sashays, and a runway presence associated with legendary fashion icons.Sadly, there was no prize for Best Talent, but it was Queen Rashumba who thrilled the audience with her dramatic poetry. Her talent piece told the riveting tale of the serene beauty of an African woman. As the poem unfolded, it carried with it a rich, suggestive, and almost erotic tale of the African woman’s undulating curves, lush hips, plush bosoms, pouting lips, and mirthful laughter that echoes in the valleys and hills of Africa. She sealed the deal nicely with lots of hip-shaking and strutting across the stage like a regal African Queen. First Runner-up Anasa Williams opened her talent showcase with a captivating tale of the strength and worth of the African woman. What started as a simple presentation culminated with an exciting crescendo as she delivered a mind-boggling vocal presentation of the popular song “I’ll Rise Up”, much to the delight of the largeAliyahaudience.Branche and Gabriel Thomas were also impressive with their talent presentations.TheEvening Gown and Intelligent Segment was one to die for, as the seven beauties took to the stage showcasing mesmerising pieces created by some of the best countryside fashion designers. As opined by many, Anasa Williams’s Evening Gown was by far the most intricate and stately, but maybe the judges had a different point of view. As the ladies paraded in some of the most creative and eye-catching apparel, a magnificent blur of African hues and shades was created. Miss Congeniality Aliyah Branche’s headwear was deemed the most alluring, and she surely rocked it well during her presentation. Many stuttered and fumbled during the Intelligence Forum, forgetting parts of their answers and freezing up on stage altogether. But the queen and first runner-up were on point, delivering answers that had the audience loudly applauding and the judges nodding their heads in approval.When the judges’ decision was announced, it was no surprise that the bubbly Rashumba Bacchus was declared queen. Relatives and friends rushed to the stage screaming, almost knocking the queen’s crown and bouquet of flowers to the floor. The brilliance of the night was augmented by presentations from talented local singer/calypsonian Paul Perry; poet Hazel Chester; ‘Keisha’ with her ‘Puppet Demonstration’, and a few notable others.
A large crowd turned out last Sunday at the TechnicalMahaicony Institute -- all buzzing with excitement with their presumed choice of queen -- for the 2022 Miss Catre-Cal-Ab African Heritage beauty pageant. The pageant has returned to the Mahaicony district after an 18year hiatus, and, quite naturally, it was attended by patrons from almost every village in Mahaicony andTheBerbice.seven beautiful ladies, each representing countries in the African continent, took to the stage in the Introductory Segment, and left the crowd enthralled after they had performed a sizzling opening dance.
The audience at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday eve ning will be blown away by the me lodious rhythm of the sitar, as vibrant dances and a beautiful soundtrack signal that the 24th Edition of Naya Zamana is being held. The show is expected to start at 20:00h.Thisspectacular theatrical production returns after a two-year hiatus, and is be ing staged under the theme ‘AgniSutra’the thread of fire. It is a much-loved pro duction that is scripted and directed by Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud, who also does all the dance choreography. The show has a die-hard following of fans who love the majestic sets and the dazzling costumes created by Trishala Persaud because they perfectly comple ment the intriguing storyline brought to life by talented actors. AgniSutra revolves around topical is sues and intriguing self-exploration, all creatively presented and perfectly com plemented by beautiful and vibrant danc es. It is the perfect entertainment event for every age cohort, and the message is certain to impact everyone present. Many have described the Naya Zamana experience as watching a movie on stage. It is a phenomenal introduction to theater for anyone interested in the arts, for persons visiting Guyana, and for persons looking for an exciting event. The cast has been trained at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Dharmic Kendra, and talented perform ers Travez and Amber Piaralall, Aliyah Hassan, Anusha Doodnauth, Amisha Sarjoo, Omkaar Tiwari and Malcolm Hintzen comprise the main cast, playing relatableJoiningcharacters.theGuyanese team is Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, a disciple of the late legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar, who will captivate the audience with his skill in the sitar and singing. Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is pleased to present this production, which consistently sets the standard for the ater in Guyana and focuses on edutain ment with a purpose. With only one day to go, tickets for the production are available at all Enetworks locations; Unique Innovations at Amazonia Mall; Dharmic Kendra in Prashad Nagar; Red Mango in Robb Street; and at the National Cultural Centre Box Office. Persons can also secure their tickets by calling 227-6181. Dharmic Sabha would like to thanks all its sponsors, includ ing Toolsie Persaud Ltd, Digicel, Enetworks, Ansa McAL Trading Ltd., Demerara Bank Ltd., Unique Innovations, Caribbean Airlines, NTN, and Readymix Concrete Limited. All proceeds will go towards construction of the Dharmic Sabha’s Primary and Secondary Schools.
14 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM ENTERTAINMENT
Rashumba Bacchus (Miss Nigeria) is the new Catre-CalAb African Heritage Queen Williams (Miss Ghana) receiving her cash prize from organiser Culburn Abel Aliyah Branche (Miss Zimbabwe) copped the Miss Congeniality Award Gabriel Thomas (Miss South Africa) received the award for Best Evening Gown
The eventual queen, Rashumba Bacchus (Miss Nigeria), was a scene stealer from the start of the event, delivering an introduction that created shockwaves and evoking thunderous applause at the venue. Saucy, bubbly and flirtatious, she unleashed a sultry sizzle that had the audience screaming their unanimous approval.
Remanded: Ishwar Persaud Remanded: Devon Hope Remanded: Wayne Bascom Jailed: Raymond Mohammed
“I does do drugs to ease meh head” – addict to Magistrate on stealing rearview mirrors
…jailed for 4 months Trio remanded over attack
15 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
A57-year-old drug ad dict has been jailed for four months for persistently stealing vehicle rearview mirrors, which he would then sell to buy drugs. Unrepresented by le gal counsel, Raymond Mohammed, a vagrant, ap peared on Thursday be fore Georgetown Magistrate Annette Singh and plead ed guilty to two counts of simple larceny. The first charge detailed that on May 10, at Quamina Street, Georgetown, he stole two ve hicle rearview mirrors val ued at $30,000, property of Cash City Inc. The sec ond charge detailed that on August 23, at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, he stole two car rearview mirrors valued at $80,000, property of Monica Sharma. In brief remarks to the court, Mohammed admitted that he steals to support his drug addiction. “I does do drugs to ease meh head…I is a drug addict. I does live in a drug yard” on Charlotte StreetThe[Georgetown].”Policeprosecutor told the court that Mohammed, who is no stranger to the courts, is known for steal ing vehicle rearview mirrors and selling Magistratethem.Singh ad monished the convict for his illegal actions, and advised that he needs to take steps to reform himself. In the end, she sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment on each of the two charges, ordering that they are to be served servingheSinghgratitudeMohammedconsecutively.expressedtoMagistrateforherleniencybeforewastakenawaytobeginthejailtime.(G1)
Three men who alleged ly carried out a brazen attack at a construc tion site at Monday.courtinMagistrateonallIshwar35;armedhaveSoesdyke-LindenYarrowkabra,Highway,beenchargedwithrobbery.Themen:DevonHope,WayneBascom,28;andPersaud,50,havebeenremandedtoprisuntilSeptember30bySunilScarce,whoseDiamond/GoldentheywerearraignedonGunmenonSaturday
morning attacked and robbed a number of employ ees who were contracted to work at a secondary school at Yarrowkabra, SoesdykeLinden Highway. The in cident occurred at around 10:00h.Based on reports re ceived, while the employees were working at one end of the building, the payroll ar rived and was locked away in the school’s office. At the time, the pay clerk was sort ing out the wages. Shortly after arrival of the payroll, Police have said, a group of men armed with guns pulled up in a motor car and stormed the office, re lieving the female pay clerk of the payroll. Some of the employees had already been paid, and they, too, were robbed before the men made good their escape in the car, which was waiting for them. Guyana Times was in formed that after the bandits had left, an alarm was raised and the Police were sum moned to the scene. The car was later found. (G1) on construction site
Seeking to expand its tourist demograph ic to the LGBTQ+ community, both locally and internationally, Visit Rupununi has partnered with the LGBTQ+ Coalition by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in hope of achieving this goal. Visit Rupununi on Monday inked a MoU be tween the LGBTQ+ Coalition, comprising Guyana Trans United (GTU), the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), and SASOD Women’s Arm Guyana (SWAG). The joint effort will mo bilise resources, seeking op portunities for funding and projects related to the pur pose of the agreement in or der to deepen and develop the partnership between the parties.Managing Director of Visit Rupununi, Melanie McTurk, said it is import ant for Visit Rupununi as a tourist destination to equip itself with the skills and knowledge to appeal to the LGBTQ+ community, an ev er-growing market base in the tourism sector, not just in Guyana, but around the world.“As humans, we all seek out the destinations that treat us with respect, make us feel safe, and that make us feel better about our selves and the world around us. With this in mind, it is important for the Rupununi that we continue to equip ourselves with the skills and knowledge to appeal to an ever-growing market base to ensure that all visitors to the Rupununi are treated with equal respect and consider ation,” McTurk said. Before onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that sent the world into a glob al lockdown, the pink econ omy – a socioeconomic and market phenomenon of in cluding gays/lesbians and/or people with other non-main stream sexual orientations in the market economy – was worth an estimated US$3.6 trillion worldwide, and the LGBTQ travel market was worth more than US$218 billion worldwide, according to McTurk.
“The Investments that are taking place on the East Coast will see job opportuni ties by the Meanwhile,thousands.”residents at the distribution exercise ex pressed their gratitude for the initiative, after being al located their plot of land. Navendra Persaud stat ed that he is very happy that he has been allocated a new plot of land, as his current residence is prone to flood ing.“Since 2011 I ap plied…I’m really happy because, by the time it’s Christmas, we’ll get flood again where I’m living. Its 3 floods in 1 and a half years, and it’s very hard,” he said. Ishmattie Gowkaran and other residents explained that receiving a house lot means a lot to them, as it would reduce some expens es. “I feel very happy, and it means a lot because I’ve been renting for years and it’s hard sometimes,” Gowkaran related.“Itmeans a lot, and I am very, very happy about this…it will help me a lot, because I am living with my sister and my two kids,” Lilawattie Beepat added.
“What a lot of LGBTQ travel advisory services tell people first when they're considering where to go in terms of destinations, or what kind of laws those countries have, specifical ly, there are popular appli cations that LGBTQ people meet other LGBTQ people in the same localities, and when you arrive in Guyana, the first that will pop up is a warning that says, ‘Guyana has laws that criminalise sex between men.’ And be cause of these laws, these policies, the lack of protec tion, high incidents of hate crime, and violence. Our country is missing out on a huge opportunity.” (G2)
Residents of East Coast Demerara at the outreach
Visit Rupununi inks MoU to appeal to LGBTQ+ tourists
3000 more house lots for distribution on ECD by year end
It also states that Visit Rupununi will promote re spect for all people regard less of sexual character istics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. This includes promoting respect and un derstanding of sexual and gender diversity among its members.Inaddition, Simpson said that with the agreement, some 15-20 trainers at Visit Rupununi would be trained on LGBTQ+ culture. “One of the first practi cal actions that we are go ing to take within this cal endar year is to work with Visit Rupununi to train a cadre of trainers from Visit Rupununi on LGBTQ issues, gender, and sexual diversi ty in the context of customer service and tourism. So, that cadre of 15-20 trainers could also do retraining within their own businesses and within their member organi zations of Visit Rupununi,” SASOD’s Managing Director said. LGBTQ+ rights Visit Rupununi is the first tourism agency to partner with the LGBTQ+ Coalition.Though a major step for the LGBTQ+ Coalition and Visit Rupununi, Simpson still maintained that there is a lot more to be done as per tains to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in Guyana. This, he noted, has to begin at the Government level with the transforma tion of the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997, which makes no mention of sexual orientation or gender identity.Because of this, Simpson said, Guyana is losing out on income because of the laws that frighten tourists of the LGBTQ+ community from coming to the country. “Guyana is losing out on significant income that we could gain by the reputation that our country and this part of the world have for be ing homophobic and for hav ing homophobic laws in the books,” he said.
LGBTQ+ tourists Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson, high lighted that Visit Rupununi would provide necessary in formation to LGBTQ+ tour ists, and direct them to the Guyana LGBTQ+ Coalition and SASOD Guyana’s travel service, as needed. This part of the agreement is recipro cative.Simpson explained, “We’ve committed to work ing together to mobilise re sources to be able to deepen and develop this partner ship. So, this first MoU is a start, but we don’t see it as being static. We want to also be able to find resourc es to market the Rupununi as LGBTQ-friendly. So, now that we’ve signed this agree ment, some of the imme diate steps that we are go ing to take, we are going to reach out to an international LGBT travel service called LGBTQ Travel Planet, and to get Visit Rupununi listed there. So, when people are searching these databases, searching these internation al websites for places that are gay-friendly in South America, Visit Rupununi and Guyana will pop up.” Travel service
“The history will show that there are persons who were relocated to this prox imity. We have persons who have applied in the right way, and they were await ing allocations for years, so we have about 250 house lots to be allocated within the Lowlands cluster,” the Minister said at the time. The Minister related that, since taking office in August 2020, Government have been able to allocate 7900 house lots to Region 4. Of that amount, just under 4000 house lots were distrib uted to people living on the East“ByCoast.the end of this year, we want to allocate about another 3000 plus for the East Coast of Demerara,” he said.He noted that the Government would achieve its manifesto promise of dis tributing 50,000 house lots by the end 2025. He also stated that the Ministry’s Coastal Water Treatment Plan is also pro gressing well, as they are slowly moving towards achieving 90 per cent treat ed water by 2025, which would see investment of $28 billion by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).
Some 3000 more house lots will be distribut ed to residents on the East Coast of Demerara by the end of this year. This is according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, who, during a recent outreach, distributed 250 house lots to residents from Nootenzuil to Unity on the East Coast of Demerara. These residents have now all been allocated lands at Hope,SpeakingECD. at the outreach, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal stated that the outreach was initiated to ad dress a current issue with the Lowland areas on the East Coast, which has led to backlog of applications.
“We have not had any recent outreach in terms of Ministry of Housing on this part of the region on the East Coast of Demerara, so the cluster that we are ad dressing today is between Unity and Nootenzuil…we have an outstanding matter of the Lowlands area.
The MoU reads that SASOD Guyana will devel op its own travel service that LGBTQ+ tourists can utilise to book local tourism ser vices and receive peer sup port from LGBTQ+ people in Guyana.
16 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
SASOD Human Rights Coordinator Melina Harris (centre); Managing Director of Visit Rupununi, Melanie McTurk (left) and a representative from Guyana Trans United (second right), along with Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson (right)
“So far, inclination is we will be able to eventually put a treatment plant some where in the vicinity at the back here of the lowland, where you reach that point of the conservancy,” the Minister explained. Croal added that these developments would provide quality service to the people of the area, and would also open job opportunities for them as well.
“How that transcends here to you on the ground… we said to you we have an ongoing study right here for the use of the Hope Canal as a point for the fresh water use as a constant source, and once that study is successful, then we will be able to har ness that to eventually put a water treatment plant for this end of the East Coast.
17 FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS
“This spark new life into the sector, you have a Government that recognis es the demand for this sector and we know that we can’t re spond to the demands alone; we need support, we need investors in this sector and hence you have the partner ship of these young entrepre neurs today,” he said.
The Minister noted that the non-traditional homes that were now being added to Guyana’s market were im portant for the future devel opment of the country.
“We want to ensure that we provide all of the oppor tunities and the right invest ment climate for people to do things like this, so not just dependent on the Ministry’s housing programme or the models that we have in the Ministry in terms of the hous ing models, but to give peo ple more affordable options,” Minister Rodrigues said.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal along with Minister Susan Rodrigues and Hits and Jams Entertainment team cutting the ribbon for the first prefab home model
328 students, 27 staff to benefit from GEA solar PV system
“The investment that is being made here as part of the housing drive, this ven ture that the team is embark ing on is an indication of the rapidly-changing dynamics in the housing programme, because here you are witness ing a team of local entrepre neurs who are responding to the new demands for housing options,” he RodriguesMeanwhile,highlighted.Ministeraddedthatthe Government was laser-fo cused on Guyanese home ownership, which the launch of these affordable prefab homes would promote.
T hree hundred and twenty-eight stu dents and 27 staff will now benefit from reliable electricity after the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), in July 2022, installed a 3.16 kilowatts peak (kWp) so lar PV system along with a 19.2kWh Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Kamwatta Primary School in Region OneThe(Barima-Waini).itemsforthe in stallation at the Kamwatta Primary School were pro vided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to sup port Government’s sustain able energy interventions at community and public buildings in the hinterland. Kamwatta is a riverine satellite village of Santa Rosa, Moruca located along the Moruca River, in Region One. The GEA conducted an Energy Needs Assessment earlier in 2022 in the village with the objective of provid ing energy for the Primary School.This initiative will pro vide a renewable, stable and reliable electricity sup ply to the Primary School for its daily activities, ben efiting approximately 328 students and 27 staff, in cluding teachers and an cillary staff. Also, its op eration will result in the avoidance of an estimated 2715 kg of CO2 emissions annually.Theteachers present at the time of the solar PV system’s installation ex pressed their gratitude for the initiative, stating that it would allow them to better utilise the Primary School’s services and provide better learning opportunities for the students. GEA’s engineers also provided training to two male and two female teach ers at the facility on the op eration and maintenance of the system. (G2)
The 19.2kWh VRLA Battery Energy Storage System, Inverter and BOS equipment of the solar PV system Solar PV array (3.16kWp) installed on the roof of the Kamwatta Primary School facing the southern end Hits and Jams Entertainment un der its new enti ty, Steel Buildings Guyana Incorporated, on Thursday launched its steel framed pre fab homes. On display at the launch was the first model of the homes to be constructed which costs some $8.5 million. The flat-house, 600 squarefoot model features two ful ly air-conditioned rooms, one bath, a kitchen and comfort able living room space, as well as a small area for din ing.
Hits and Jams Executive Director Kerwin Bollers stat ed that the company focused on the area of prefab hous ing on account of the time ly construction period it of fered which keeps up with Guyana’s demand for houses. “We know exactly what’s happening as it relates to con struction in Guyana and the housing boom…we thought that this particular meth od of construction is definite ly timely, because of the de mand for such. We know that in Guyana as it relates to building, persons who have their land titles or transports need to go to new homes they want to get in as fast as possi ble,” he said. These prefab homes of fered by Steel Buildings Guyana can be constructed in just six Hitsweeks.and Jams Chief Executive Officer Rawle Ferguson stated that the pre fab homes was a gift to young people, owing to their afford ability.“Durable, affordable, fash ionable in six weeks, this is what we present to Guyana. “Our dreams at Hits & Jams are always get the young people to be having their own and this model with this system that we have here will get you that, apart from working the different banks and so forth will get you your home,” Ferguson highlighted. The model on display and the common model of the homes are constructed out of three-and-a-half-inch galvanised steel frames. All the materials used on inter nal and external parts of the home are non-combustible, which lower the risk of losing the entire home to a fire. The homes can also be fitted with any modern architectural fin ishes.Construction of these homes will be done in collabo ration with a Barbadian com pany which has brought in naturalised Guyanese who will teach the local Guyanese team to put together the pre fab Attendingstructures. the launch were Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues.
Croal explained that the Government could not sup ply the current demand for homes in Guyana, with the Ministry distributing close to 15,000 house lots within the last two years.
Steel framed $8.5M prefab homes launched
“We are not satisfied by merely delivering house lots to our people but ensuring that we can put them in a home, ensuring that we cre ate the right climate, that we create the investment climate and that we create the oppor tunities for people to be able to afford their own home.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said earlier in the day that officials would run a proposal by the min ers' relatives to seek their approval before publicly announcing it.
UN's Bachelet condemns Brazil rights abuses, President's rally against Judiciary
Colombia to suspend aerial bombings against armed groups
An 11-year-old schoolgirl is dead after she was mauled by a dog at a relative's home in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday morning. Reports said Rachel Bhagwandeen, of Fairview, Freeport and her brother Jaylon, nine, were watching television inside their un cle's house along Solomon Street, Vistabella. Around 11:00h, one of their relative's dogs ran inside and attacked them. Rachel told Jaylon to run and he alerted relatives. However, they could not get the American Bulldog off the child until the owner arrived 10-15 minutes later. The child died at the scene. Police are currently investigating. (Trinidad Guardian) Rachel Bhagwandeen
The central bank on Wednesday proposed a new strategy to deal with demand for dollars, asking banks to share the foreign currency figure needed by business es and propose an exchange rate that will then be evalu ated by the Government, two sources said. The central bank did not respond to a request for com ment.
The United Nations’ Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet on Thursday condemned Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's upcoming ral ly against judicial institu tions, and said the country's human rights situation was "very difficult".
18 guyanatimesgy.comFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 Regional
"The director told us the rescue will take from six to 11 months," she said. "We are very sad ... I'm think ing about how to break the news to my children." (Excerpt from Reuters)
[File: Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]
F amily members of 10 miners who have been trapped in a flooded coal mine in north ern Mexico for three weeks said on Thursday they re jected a Government plan to find the miners that they said officials de scribed as lasting from six to 11 months.
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Ventocilla, who was studying Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School in the US, had travelled to Bali for his honeymoon. Ventocilla's partner, Sebastián Marallano, ar rived on a different flight and was detained later as he tried to help Ventocilla, a family statement says. The family alleges that Bali Police asked for "ex orbitant sums of money" in exchange for releasing the two men, an allegation Police in Bali have not yet responded to. Both men were trans ferred by police to hos pital on August 9, with Ventocilla subsequently moved to another hospital, where he died on August 11, the family statement adds.A Police official said Ventocilla had been taken ill after consuming drugs which had not been confis cated from him during the search that had led to his arrest. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Peruvian student dies in Police custody
Dog enters house, kills 11-year-old girl watching television in T&T Rising dollar may stymie Venezuela's efforts to combat inflation
The bombing of rebel camps has been a conten tious topic in Colombia, where a brutal civil con flict raged for nearly six decades and left more than 450,000 people dead. In 2019, then Defence Minister Guillermo Botero resigned after eight forci bly-recruited children aged 12 to 17 were killed in a military raid against dissi dents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera) Colombian Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez says “children forcibly recruited by illegal groups are victims of this violence”
A Peruvian transgen der rights activist has died in Police custody in Bali. Police arrested Rodrigo Ventocilla, 32, on August 6 at Denpasar airport, af ter customs officials found what they said were suspi cious items in his baggage. He died five days later in hospital, where Police had taken him after he had started vomiting, local me dia reported. Ventocilla's family ac cuse Police of mistreating the Harvard student and of barring lawyers they had hired from seeing him. The family described Ventocilla's arrest as an "act of racial discrimina tion and transphobia" and insisted that the items which had aroused the sus picion of customs officers were "linked to his mental health treatment, for which he had a prescription from healthcare professionals".
olombia’s new leftwing government has said it will sus pend aerial bombings tar geting armed groups, in an effort to minimise the deaths of civilians and children who have been forcibly recruited into the organisations. Defence Minister Ivan Velasquez told report ers on Thursday that the move was a symbol of the Government’s willingness to engage in possible talks with armed groups. It marks a shift in Colombia’s strategy against leftist rebels and drug-trafficking gangs amid a recent uptick in violence, especially in re mote parts of the country. “The bombings must be suspended. We’re going to evaluate the specific mo ment in which an absolute guideline can be estab lished, but that is the di rection we want to take,” Velasquez said. “Children forci bly recruited by ille gal groups are victims of this violence,” he added. “Therefore no military ac tion with respect to illegal armed organisations can endanger the lives of these victims. “We have to privilege life over death and can not carry out operations … that put at risk the lives of the civilian population.”
Erika Escobedo, the wife of one of the trapped miners, told Reuters that she and the other rela tives had turned down the proposal from Civil Protection.
Relatives say reject Mexico's 6-to 11-month plan to find trapped miners
Mexico's Civil Protection agency, which has coordinated the res cue effort, did not respond to a question about what Director Laura Velazquez shared in a meeting with family members. Reuters could not in dependently verify the Government's propos al. The miners became trapped underground at the Pinabete mine in the northern border state of Coahuila on August 3 when a tunnel wall col lapsed, triggering flooding throughout the mine. Five miners managed to escape after the col lapse, but 10 remain in the flooded mine. Families have been hoping the men were able to find a pock et of air to stay alive. But there has been no contact and it is not known wheth er they are still alive.
"That, I think, is more concerning is the President has called his supporters to protest against judicial insti tutions on September 7, the day of the 200th anniversa ry of Brazil’s independence," she said. Bolsonaro wants his sup porters to attend the ral ly – taking place less than a month before the presiden tial election – along Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach. He has also sought to involve the military in the political event.
"You don’t do things that can increase violence or hate against democratic institu tions that should be respect ed and strengthened and not try to undermine them through strong political speech," Bachelet said. She also slammed Brazil's "very difficult human rights situation", highlighting re ports of increased political violence, structured racism, and shrinking civic space.
Leaders need to ensure the country is able to prog ress where dialogue and re spect for the other exists because that's what democ racy is about,” Bachelet said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
"I think President Bolsonaro has intensified his attacks on the Judiciary and electronic voting system, in cluding during a meeting with Ambassadors in July which sparked strong reac tions, as you know," Bachelet said in a news conference in Geneva, referring to a brief ing where Bolsonaro ex pressed unfounded concern about electoral fraud to dip lomats in Brazil.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet attends her final news conference before the end of her mandate at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, August 25, 2022 (Reuters/Pierre Albouy)
But in recent weeks the central bank has sold fewer dollars and the Government has increased spending, rais ing demand and sending the official dollar exchange rate soaring by 21.7 per cent in six days. "It's impossible to think of exchange stability with the level of prices in Venezuela," said economist Luis Arturo Barcenas. "The balance be tween the official rate and the non-official one was very fragile because it was based on the injection of foreign currency."
"I feel that attacks against legislators and can didates, particularly those of African descent, women and LGBTI people are of par ticular concern," the former Chilean President said. "When a leader starts using a language that can be used in the wrong direc tion, I think it’s really bad. ...
Efforts by the Administration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to tamp down inflation by increasing supplies of foreign currency may be at risk amid econom ic growth after years of stag nation, analysts said. Maduro's Government has succeeded in lower ing consumer price growth, which was 137 per cent yearon-year through July, by in creasing the supply of foreign cash in local banks, limiting the expansion of credit, re ducing public spending, and increasing taxes.
"The changes this week (in the dollar) have been very strong and those who are disadvantaged are those of us who earn bolivares," said 62-year-old snack seller Alicia Rodriguez, who feared the cost of her merchandise may increase by up to 30 per cent. (Excerpt from Reuters)
"The (market) is a little bit concerned about what Jerome Powell is going to say tomorrow about rising interest rates," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures group in Chicago, on Thursday. Powell is expected to summarise where the Fed stands in its fight to control inflation, including information about its rate-path hike in the long and short term. Softening US gasoline demand raised concerns about slowing economic activity and pushed prices lower. Overall US demand for gasoline sunk in the most recent period last week, leaving the four-week average of daily gasoline product supplied seven per cent below the yearearlier period, according to the latest data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Limiting the downside for oil prices earlier in the session were comments on Monday by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman that helped push prices to three-week highs, when he flagged the possibility that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) could cut "Itproduction.may(make) the chance of a move back below US$90 in the near-term hard to come by unless a nuclear deal is agreed upon and OPEC+'s appetite for cuts put to the test," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam said. (Reuters)
World narrowly avoided radiation accident – Zelensky; Putin boosts army
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Monday
Trump
Fighting flares for 2nd day in northern Ethiopia – residents
Oil prices sink US$2/bbl on possible Iran oil exports, rising interest rates Oil prices slumped by about US$2 a barrel on Thursday in volatile trade as investors braced for the possible return to global markets of sanctioned Iranian oil exports and on worries that rising US interest rates would weaken fuel demand. Brent crude settled at US$99.34 a barrel, shedding US$1.88, or 1.9 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled at US$92.52 a barrel, losing US$2.37, or 2.5 per cent. Talks between the European Union, the United States and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal are continuing, with Iran saying it had received a response from the United States to the EU's "final" text to resurrect the agreement.
"If the diesel generators hadn't turned on, if the au tomation and our staff of the plant had not reacted after the blackout, then we would already be forced to overcome the consequences of the radiation accident," President Zelensky warned on Thursday night. The damage was caused by fires which Ukraine's State nuclear agency said had interfered with power lines connecting the plant on Thursday, temporari ly cutting Zaporizhzhia off from the national grid for the first time in its history. "As a result, the station's two working power units were disconnected from the network," Kyiv officials said. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that hav ing "a secure off-site power supply from the grid is es sential for ensuring nuclear safety".Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree which could see 137,000 service personnel added to the country's armed forces in the coming Currentlymonths.Russia has a limit of just over a million military personnel and al most 900,000 civilian staff. Putin's decree comes amid a recruitment drive around the country, with large cash incentives on of fer. Western officials say 7080,000 troops have been killed or wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine six months ago. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Sewage in sea: French appeal to EU over UK discharges of waste Pakistan floods have affected more than 30 million – Minister
AUS Judge has ordered investigators to re lease a redacted ver sion of court papers used to justify a search of ex-Pres ident Donald Trump's Florida home. The public version of the affidavit, a court document that includes evidence pre sented by Prosecutors, could reveal new details about the inquiry.The Department of Justice opposed releasing an unredacted version amid its ongoing investigation. The FBI search was part of a probe into the potential mishandling of documents. Trump has denied wrongdoing and insists the classified files that inves tigators say were found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach had already been declassi fied by himself. On Thursday, US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered the affida vit to be released with redac tions by noon (16:00 GMT) today.He said Prosecutors had demonstrated a "compelling reason" to black out parts of the document, which would reveal the identities of wit nesses, law enforcement agents and uncharged par ties, as well as "the investi gation's strategy, direction, scope, sources and meth ods".His ruling came short ly after the Justice Department confirmed that it had submitted to the judge a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions. Even in redacted form, the affidavit could provide clues as to why the former President allegedly took classified documents with him in the chaotic final days of his presidency and what he did with them while they were stored in Palm Beach. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Fighting flared for a second day in north ern Ethiopia, resi dents said on Thursday, an outbreak of violence that has shattered hopes for fledg ling peace talks between the Government and forces from the Tigray region. “We are frequently hear ing the sound of heavy weap ons, more than the previous days,” a farmer in Amhara's Kobo area who did not wish to be named told Reuters. “More troops including those from Ethiopian National Defence Force, local mili tias and Fanos (volunteer militia) are heading to the front.” Leul Mesfin, medical di rector of Dessie Hospital, the largest medical facility in the vicinity of the fighting, said that as of Thursday the facility had not received any casualties from the fighting, which is in Amhara region just to the south of Tigray. Reuters was unable to reach the nearest hospital on the Tigrayan side as the region has been cut off from phone communications for more than a year. It was not clear if the troops moving through Kobo were going to offensive or defensive positions, or who started the fighting. Both sides blamed each other for breaking the fourmonth-old ceasefire be tween Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls Tigray. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Europe faced the pros pect of a radiation di saster on Thursday when a Russian-occupied nuclear plant was discon nected from Ukraine's power grid, President Volodomyr Zelensky has said. It was only due to backup electricity kicking in that the Zaporizhzhia plant was able to operate safely, he added.Fires had earlier dam aged overhead power lines, cutting the plant off. There is growing concern over fighting near the com plex, which is the largest nuclear plant in Europe.
Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) party, in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia, July 7, 2021 (Reuters/Stringer)
"Nobody wants to jump in here and commit to a size position when you can get ambushed by an Iranian headline at any given moment," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho, citing thin trading volumes during the session.Investors also were waiting for scheduled remarks today by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Kansas City Fed’s Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Around the World
The United Kingdom is threatening health and marine life on the French coast by allowing raw sewage to be dumped in the Channel and North Sea, say three Euro Members of ParliamentPollutionMPs.warnings have been issued for almost 50 beaches in England and Wales, after heavy rain caused sewage overflow to be diverted into rivers and the sea.The French MEPs accuse the UK of neglecting envi ronmental commitments and risking marine life and fish ing. British water companies have said they are investing in solving the problem. Since its departure from the European Union, the UK had neglected its envi ronmental commitments, the MEPs said in a letter calling for legal or political action from the European Commission.AUKgovernment spokes person said their allegation was "simply not true". Despite no longer being bound by EU laws, the UK was still a signatory to rele vant United Nations conven tions on protecting shared waters, the MEPs argued. The three MEPs all be long to French President Emmanuel Macron's proEU En Marche party. One of them, Pierre Karleskind, chairs the European Parliament's fisheries com mittee.The UK could not be al lowed to neglect commit ments made under Brexit and jeopardise 20 years of European progress on water quality standards, he argued. The MEPs warn that in the short term the sewage leaks risk bathing waters on the French coast and could also harm marine biodiver sity, fishing and shellfish farming. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Historic monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan have af fected more than 30 mil lion people during the last few weeks, the country’s cli mate change minister said on Thursday.Pakistan has urged the international community to help with relief efforts as it struggled to cope with the aftermath of torrential rains that have triggered massive floods since last month, kill ing more than 900 people. “Thirty-three million have been affected in differ ent ways. The final homeless figure is being assessed,” climate minister Sherry Rehman said. In a news conference on Thursday, Rehman de scribed the floods as a “hu manitarian disaster of epic proportions” that had left thousands without food and shelter.“We need to ask not just the provinces and Islamabad, it is beyond the capacity of any one adminis tration or Government to re habilitate and even manage the rescue and relief,” she added.Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal separately said 30 mil lion people had been affect ed, a figure that would rep resent about 15 per cent of the South Asian country’s population.United Nations agency Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update on Thursday the monsoon rains had affected some three mil lion people in Pakistan, of which 184,000 have been displaced to relief camps across the country. Heavy rains have trig gered flash floods and wreaked havoc across much of Pakistan since mid-June, leaving 903 dead and about 50,000 people homeless, the country’s disaster agency said on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
OIL NEWS
Judge orders release of redacted search court papers
19guyanatimesgy.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
Push forward. Be the powerhouse who gets things done on time. Make promises, follow through and build a name for yourself. Put your heart and soul into your beliefs. A steady pace forward is your best path to success. Say what's on your mind and work to achieve your goal. Quick thinking will help you outmaneuver anyone who wants to compete with you.
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21FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
“Only three of those coun tries won gold medals, in cluding Saint Lucia, which won one gold and one silver medal.”Fredericks added: “It’s a very tough tournament, but I always appreciate our young boxers competing be cause the standard is high. Our two boxers representing the island this year are rela tively new to the sport, and it’s their first tournament. However, we will try our best to medal at the tourna ment.”Assistant Coach Hilary Dalson said the two young sters show great promise, and he’s confident that they will give a good account of themselves in Guyana. “Herve is very techni cal, and in the ring he uses all the technical skills that Coach Conrad and I train him to use. Kevert is more of a brawler-type fighter. So I’m expecting great things from them in this tourna ment,” Dalson explained.
“We are delivering more organised leagues than ever before across the various age groups,” President Forde said. “The recent renew al of our partnership with NAMILCO to ensure U17 football is played across the country is further proof of our commitment to the ho listic and continued devel opment of talent throughout the age groups.”
The course offered an opportunity to update ref erees on the latest inter pretation and changes to the laws of the game, and focused on areas such as handball, offside, and pen alty
…St Lucia sends 2 boxers
The standard week-long FIFA course involved intensive physical training
U nder the watch ful eyes of Head Coach and for mer Golden Jaguars mem ber Vurlon Mills, the un der-17 boys’ national football squad are hard at work in preparation for the forthcoming Concacaf U17 Championship qualifi ers. They are going through their paces at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Centre at Providence, EBD. Drawn in Group A of the qualification stage, Guyana takes on Bonaire (30 August), the Bahamas (1 September), Saint Martin (3 September), the British Virgin Islands (5 September), and Bermuda (7 September) in Florida to decide who would progress to the championship stag es of this competition, spon sored by Nike, Scotiabank and Qatar Airways.
are confident the boys will represent the flag with hon our,” Joseph added. “We ask the nation to get behind the team as we seek to secure A glimpse of a mock-up game between the national U17 players qualification for the finals.” When the GFF sent a U16 boys’ squad to BosniaHerzegovina this year as part of a UEFA Assist de velopment tournament, it represented the first time a national team from Guyana had competed in a UEFA competition.Withthe squad encamp ed since Saturday, GFF President Wayne Forde has said the U17 engagement is an important pillar in the GFF’s strategy to develop youth football at all levels.
FIFA delivers referee training course in Guyana
“Trainingdecisions.is important; it is ongoing, and it nev er stops,” GFF Executive Committee member and Head of Refereeing, Dion Inniss, has said. “We al ways have to be reminded of the fundamentals and the foundations of what we do.”
Winfield tournamentBraithwaitepunches off today
U17 Boys in camp ahead of CONCACAF Qualifiers
The Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors tournament will span the en tire weekend: August 26th, 27th and 28th. Guyana has fielded a 17-member team in hopes of retaining their title at the event. T he Guyana tionoflyDepartmentRefereeingFederation’sFootballhassuccessfulcompletedthefacilitationaFIFAmemberassociatrainingcourseforits matchThisofficials.standard five-day course, part of the world governing body’s regular ac tivities to support the ca pacity-building of referees worldwide in order to main tain standards in the officia tion of matches, was held at the GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, EBD, and was led by FIFA Referee Development Officer Javier Santos.Referees and assistant referees from across the country were put through their paces by the FIFA team, including theoreti cal classroom and practi cal field sessions and fitness conditioning.“Wehave seen a very good attitude from the ref erees,” FIFA’s Santos has said. “They were very en thusiastic. Every time we visit this country, we have seen a good improvement.”
The winners of each of the four qualification groups would join the 16 top-ranked nations in the region to com pete for the confederation’s title in “We2023.aredelighted to be able to bring this squad of players together again, af ter a history-making stint in Europe earlier in the year. We have invested heavily in the preparation phase, and I believe they will do very well in Florida,” GFF acting Technical Director Bryan Joseph has said. “We have been drawn in a competitive group, but we The Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors tour nament is set to punch off today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with several of the Caribbean’s top youth boxers vying for top honours. The first bell is expect ed to be heard at 18h, and participants are coming from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and St. TheLucia.St. Lucia Boxing Association has sent two youth boxers to trade punch es in Guyana. These box ers are 14-year-old light weight contender Herve Charlemagne and 17-yearold middleweight pugilist Kevert Similien. They are accompanied by their na tional head boxing coach ConradPresidentFredericks.of the St. Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA), David “Shakes” Christopher, has said Saint Lucia has competed at every edition of the tournament. “This tournament has been a major stomping ground for the St. Lucia Boxing Association, espe cially for boxers like Nathan Ferrari, Kareem Boyce, Gilchrist Medard, to name a few.” said Christopher. “Most of the young box ers who came through the ranks went to this tourna ment, where they really de veloped their craft. We’ve also always won medals at this championship. This is a very good stepping stone for our young boxers, so we want to wish our two young boxers the best at the tour nament.”National Head Boxing Coach Conrad Fredericks has said young Saint Lucian boxers have always showed great effort at the Guyana tournament over the years. “In the last year we com peted in the tournament we had two boxers and placed third overall among sev en teams,” Fredericks said.
Herve Charlemagne (centre) flanked by Coach Conrad Fredericks (left) and Coach Hilary Dalson (right) at the Vigie Boxing Gym on Tuesday afternoon
Dalson noted that the boxing programme at the Vigie Boxing Gym caters to male and female boxers –both juniors and seniors. He has issued a call for more people to take up the sport. “I wish more youths would show up at the box ing gym,” Dalson said. “We don’t have that many youths showing up consistently. But it’s a very good boxing programme we run here, and you’ll see the fruits of it at this tournament. “We also definitely need more female fighters coming to the gym. Whether they want to participate or not, we provide the training they need for the andgym1995cludingworldheldpetedPrinceerfromsaiderCharlemagne,Meanwhile,sport.”theyoungofthetwoboxers,hashegetsinspirationformerBritishboxNaseemHamed,aliasNaseem,whocomfrom1992to2002andmultiplefeatherweightchampionships,intheWBOtitlefromto2000.CharlemagnejoinedtheinNovemberlastyear,isanxiouslylookingfor ward to his first bout. “So far, I think I’m more physically fit and have seen much improvement com pared to when I first joined the gym,” he said. “For this tournament, I’m just looking to go out and do my best. I want to win, but also want to give a great performance.”
First-time attendee Selena Persaud, an assis tant referee from Region 7, has said the course was “very interactive and infor mative”.“I’velearned a lot, as ev eryone did,” she said. “It has shown me that there is room for improvement, and it was a great experience.”
The CONCACAF finals will take place in Guatemala in February 2023, with the four semi-finalists progress ing to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru 2023.
ExxonMobil Guyana batting for GAW once again
NOTICE 2-storey stall in Stabroek Market un der the clock. Please call for more in formation: 667-7259/ 658-5664.
A glimpse of the action as Patentia opposed New Central High
Eight entertain ing games lit up the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Wednesday afternoon when the Round-of-16 games in the ExxonMobil Boys’ Under-14 tournament were staged.As they fought for the chance to keep their cham pionship hopes alive, the young school footballers en tertained, despite several one-sidedDolphinvictories.Secondary set the tone in one of the ear lier games by thumping St. Winefride’s Secondary 8-0. Tyshawn James got the scoring started with a brace in the 1st and 6th minutes of the game; and Jason Sandiford (14th, 39th, 48th) netted a hattrick, while Damani Hardy (10th), Malaki Gowan (24th) and Kellon Alleyne (36th) each added one to Dolphin’s large tally.Lodge Secondary kept their momentum going with a 4-0 victory over East Ruimveldt Secondary. Samuel Tinch (18th) and Emanuel Tinch (6th) each registered a goal, while late strikes from Melchezedec Holder and Cleon LaRose in the 40th and 42nd minutes brought the count to four. Patentia Secondary upset what appeared to be a formi dable Central High School in the following game. Led by a double from Omarion Dawson (30th, 39th); Devon Anderson (16th), Tristan Roberts (22nd) and Shawn Griffith (24th) contributed one each for the 5-0 win. Ann’s Grove defeated Plaisance Boys by a similar margin. Selwyn Fraser was the chief marksman, scoring a hat trick with goals in the 5th, 7th, and 38th minutes, while Isaiah Pellew (3rd) and Devon Chance (10th) each troubled the nets once. A late double from Nicholas Watts (39th, 42nd) and one from Duquan Thom (18th) was enough to get Cummings Lodge Secondary over the line when they met with Tucville Secondary. On the other side of the MoE ground, however, West Ruimveldt Secondary were carrying out an onslaught against Westminster Secondary. Two hel met-tricks from Donovan Welcome (2nd, 6th, 11th, 12th) and Wayne Solomon
West Ruimveldt, Dolphin win big in ExxonMobil Round-of-16 (26th, 28th, 29th, 31st) in the first and second halves respectively, supported by a single strike from Mark Johnson in the 37th, got West Ruimveldt to a com fortable 9-0 victory. Nicholas Nieuelder (10th, 40th) was the hero for Charlestown Secondary, scoring a double in their 2-1 victory over Freeburg. Jeremiah Lawrence was Freeburg’s goal-scorer. He found the back of the net in the 48th, but it was a lit tle too late for the Norton Street-based outfit. In the final game of the day, North Ruimveldt Multilateral narrow ly got past Campbellville Secondary 3-2. Joshua Augustine opened the scor ing in the 6th, after which Delon Wray found favour in the 30th for Campbellville’sNorth. Dawyne Wallace netted a brace, the first coming in the 34th and the second in the 40th. Before Wallace could find his second, North’s Jarel Smith found the back of the net in the 39th to ensure North stayed ahead of their opponents.TheExxonMobil and Pepsi-fuelled tournament will continue this Saturday at the same venue.
Melchezedec Holder ensuring his strike for Lodge Secondary makes it to the back of the net
SERVICE Astrology and Spiritual Healer Pt. Mohan: +592-692-1009 If there is any problem in your life, he will get the solution. Please contact spiritual healer, regarding health, love, busi ness, husband and wife problems, etc. Address: Georgetown, Guyana. Application for Money Lender Certificate. Pursuant to Section 4 of the Money Lender Act. I, Cedric Joel Weekes of Lot 8 Den Amstel, Old Road West Coast Demerara, Guyana is hereby given notice that I have ap plied to the Magistrate of the West Demerara Magisterial District for a certificate under the Money Lender Act, authorising the grant to me of a Money Lender License to carry on the business of a Money Lender un der the title “WEEKES FAST CASH PAWN SHOP” at Lot ‘Y’ Blankenburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara, Guyana. Notice of any opjection to the application should be sent forth with to the clerk of the court of the West Demerara Magisterial District and a copy of such notice should be sent to the subscriber Cedric Joel Weekes (applicant dated at the West Demerara Magisterial District this day 24th August, 2022).
President Irfaan Ali has com mended ExxonMobil Guyana for its role in making the CPL a real ity. “This year’s CPL tournament will be the biggest it has ever been, and something that Guyanese can be proud of for a long time. Cricket is a great uniter of people, and coming together to host this re gional tournament supports our vision of realising a ‘One Guyana’,” he said.The Warriors will be captained by Guyanese and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer, an exciting left-handed batsman. “Cricket fans are in for a treat when CPL gets underway. ‘Cricket Carnival’ in Guyana will be a whole new experience for lovers of the game, and the team looks forward to doing its best and making Guyana proud,” Hetmyer hasChairmansaid. of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, has said GAW once again welcomes ExxonMobil Guyana as the Exclusive spon sor of our team as we launch our 2022 Caribbean Premier League T-20 Cricket season. Dr. Ramroop has lauded the partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana, and expects the team to do well this year. “We have an exciting lineup of talent and experience, which I be lieve can pull off a successful sea son and be the last team standing here in Guyana. I urge Guyanese to come out and support, and let’s make this an unforgettable tour nament.Cricket in general, and Warriors T-20 Cricket in particu lar, has come to define Guyanese unity and pride as a people since CPL’s launch in 2013, and ExxonMobil Guyana has enthusi astically embraced and support ed our passion. Not only the corporation placed its money where its mouth is to make Guyana poised to be come one of the hasingtoadditionbutworld,ersproducoffshorelargestoilintheinsupportourWarriors,beenaggressive ly fulfilling its corporate so cial responsibility to sponsor a host of activities in commu nities all across Guyana.” The Guyana leg of the tournament would be run from September 21st to September 30th. Guyana will host 11 games, includ ing the semi-finals and the final, which will be held here for the next three years.
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ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge
ExxonMobil Guyana is proud to announce that it is the exclusive sponsor of the Guyana Amazon Warriors teams for the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tourna ment.This is the sixth consecutive year that this company is spon soring the Amazon Warriors, and this year it will be the exclusive sponsor for both the men’s and women’s teams. This is the first year that women’s teams would be contesting the Hero CPL, and ExxonMobil Guyana will be spon soring the GAW women’s team.
GAW Captain Shimron Hetmyer sporting the ExxonMobil-branded team jersey
22 GUYANATIMESGY.COMFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
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President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, has noted that this year’s sponsorship is recognition of the importance of cricket to Guyanese, and the excit ing opportunity to host the semifi nals and final. “We are thrilled to be part of this year’s tournament in such a tangible way. The many benefits of sport are well known, and we take our role as a part of the Guyanese community very seriously. That’s why we support sports at the youth level as well as raising our sponsorship of the Warriors.”
Tyshawn James (on ball) on the prowl for Dolphin Secondary Ann’s Grove schooled Plaisance
Jamaica Tallawahs de livered a resounding performance to win their SKYEXCH 6ixty men’s opening match against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts on Thursday. After posting a mam moth 139 all out in 9.5 overs, Tallawahs dismissed Patriots for 84 in 7.2 overs, to win by 55 runs.Fabian Allen struck 45 off 18 balls, with two fours and three sixes, to lead the way for RaymonTallawahs.Reifer and cap tain Rovman Powell also helped Tallawahs to the mas sive total. Reifer belted 38 not out off 19 deliveries, and Powell cracked 32 off 13 balls.
beaten 12 from eight. Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop claimed 1-8 in a col lective bowling effort that saw wickets from Corbin Bosch, Rahkeem Cornwall, and Hayden Walsh. The tournament will con tinue today with Patriots taking on Kings from 10:00h, Amazon Warriors taking on TKR from 12:30h, and Royals battling Tallawahs fromAmazon5:30h. Warriors Women will battle TKR Women from 15:00h tomorrow in the lone female match of the day.
Rahkeem Cornwall celebrating with Devon Thomas USA teenage sensation claims hat-trick to fire TKR to 1st win in Women's 6IXTY
USAaGeetikamedium-pacerKodalitookhat-tricktoin spire the Trinbago Knight Riders to their first victory of the Women's 6IXTY on Thursday in St Kitts. Beaten by the Barbados Royals and the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday, the Knight Riders put up an imposing In the final match of the day, TKR, led by Ravi Rampaul, lost their en counter against Barbados Royals. The Kyle Mayers-led Royals team restricted TKR to 76 and sealed the game, compliments of Corbin Bosh, who made 42 from 23 balls. His blistering knock was dec orated with four sixes and threeRoyalsfours.ended on 80-3 in 6.3 overs. Ireland's talisman Harry Tector made 16 from six balls, including two fours and one Earlier,six.a jaded TKR bat ted first and posted 76-6 in 7.5 overs. West Indies top spinner Akeal Hosein was the standout with the bat, scoring 27 from 16. Tion Webster made 18, while Andre Russell made an un TKR men lose to Barbados Royals
Kodali then had Chloe Tryon stumped off a leg-side delivery by Kyshona Knight to claim the hat-trick. She finished with 3 for 6, the joint best figures of the tournament, along with the Amazon Warriors CherryAnnChinelleFraser’s.Henry (37) re vived the Royals' hopes of an unlikely win, but when she went LBW to Sheneeta Grimmond (1/12), the writ ing was on the wall for the Barbados Franchise. The Royals ended on 63 for 5, with the Knight Riders winning by 29 runs. The Knight Riders will play the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday, and need to win to have any hope of making it to the finals on Sunday. The Royals will face the Amazon Warriors on Saturday for a possible place in the finals.
CPL PatriotsTallawahs6IXTY:crushby55runs
TKR ladies got their first win of the 6IXTY Deandra Dottin showed her skill for TKR Kennar Lewis and aPowellRovmancelebratingwicket
Raymon Reifer showing his power for Jamaica
Off-spinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar was the only bowler who managed to contain the Tallawahs batsmen, ending with 1/13 in two overs. Patriots lost early wickets, and were all out for 84. South African Dewald Brevis gave Patriots a glim mer of hope with 34 off 11 balls, and Evin Lewis made 15 off seven deliveries. The Tallawahs trio of Jamie Merchant (2/8), Migael Pretorius (2/9) and Nicholson Gordon (2/16) grabbed two wickets each. (Newsday)
92 for 3 after being sent in to bat at Warner Park. Deandra Dottin spanked 46 off 34 balls, and was well supported by South African all-rounder Sune Luus (25). Aliyah Alleyne (1/9) was the pick of the bowlers for theChasingRoyals. 93 for victory, the Royals were rocked in the second over when Kodali took three wickets with her first three deliveries. The US U19 captain had Hayley Matthews caught off a lead ing edge for 2, and then bowled Britney Cooper for a duck off an attempted offdrive.
GUYANATIMESGY.COMFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 23
(Loop News)
Odean Smith finished the batting innings in style Shai Hope got the Warriors off to a great start
Roshon Primus had his stumps shattered by Odean Smith in a nail-biting finish
ExxonMobil Guyana batting for GAW once again Page 22
Captain Shimron Hetmyer enjoyed his first win as Warriors skipper S himron Hetmyer’s first outing as Guyana Amazon Warriors’ captain has inspired an allround effort on the field in route to an opening victo ry in the SKYEXCH 6ixty over the St. Lucia Kings at Warner Park, St. Kitts on Thursday.TheAmazon Warriors sent fireworks around the stadium in the beginning and near the end of their batting innings, while the bowling department tried their best to keep it tight with the ball. But, as short format games go, it almost came down to the wire for the Warriors. Fireworks Opening batsman Shai Hope, who is better known for his prowess in the longer formats, looked unlike him self on Thursday morning. However, the uncharacter istic version of Hope is one that the Guyana Amazon Warriors may come to love, as he got the team off to a flying start. In spite of the Warriors losing the toss and being sent in to bat, an unphased Hope raced to a quickfire 19 from 8 balls, consisting of one 4 and two 6s, before being clean bowled by Jevar Royale.At the other end Chandrapaul Hemraj’s script was almost simi lar. He hit 18 runs from 9 balls before succumbing to Royale.Ina lull during the mid dle overs, Heinrich Klassen didn’t do much for the Warriors, as he only got to 8 runs, while captain Shimron Hetmyer held it to gether with 13 runs before becoming Matthew Forde’s victim. In reality, the cap tain was only playing sec ond-fiddle to Odean Smith, who was hitting it out the park at the other end. A blistering 36 from Smith, off 24 balls - includ ing two 4s and three 6s - got the Warriors to a defend able total of 111/5. Adding to Royale’s two wickets, Matthew Forde also picked up 2-24 from his 2, while St. Lucian cap tain Mark Deyal bagged 1-3 from one over. In the chase, Ronsford Beaton’s pace sent Johnson Charles back to the dug out early, while Waqar Salamkheil sent Deyal packing for 7 Salamkheilruns.also picked up the wickets of Ravendra
Persaud and Ackeem Auguste as St. Lucia tee tered and tottered through the chase. Edge-of-seat finish With one wicket in hand, Roshon Primus dared to get the Kings close to their in tended total, making for a nail-biting finish to the game.After Salamkheil’s backto-back wickets at the end of the 6th, Primus bided his time before he exploded against Shepherd in the 8th over. The boundaries flowed over into the 9th, and sud denly a victory was within sight for the Kings. Primus smashed 41 from 23, inclusive of four 4s and two 6s; but needing 20 from 6, the last over became a showdown between bats man and bowler. The con test was eventually won by Odean Smith, who sent Primus’s stumps flying in the penultimate ball of the game.The Male Amazon Warriors would oppose the Trinbago Knight Riders to day from 12.30pm local time. The Women would also be playing against the Trinbago females from 3pm today.
GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC. Sport is no longer our game, it’s our businessFRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
