Guyana Times - Friday, July 8, 2022

Speaker urges Parliaments to do all they can to fight climate P12 change Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5063

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

Belize opens “tremendous door” for Guyana’s produce …as MoU signed to enhance cooperation Page 3

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: 6 years later

Businessman accused of P17 smuggling gold, falsifying documents freed Commuters battling giant potholes on Diamond- P7 Mocha bypass access road

Mon Repos pensioner’s death

'Weeder man' slapped with murder charge remanded P8 President Dr Irfaan Ali and Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño witnessed Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd and Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Eamon Courtenay signing the MoU at State House on Thursday evening (Office of the President photo)

CCJ dismisses election petition cases for Dominica …on same grounds as Guyana’s AG seeks to have APNU/AFC petition thrown out Page 18

Fatal Police shooting at Riverview

"Mischievous" acts OPR preparing to seek to block GPF promotions legal advice as family See would affect 710 story on patiently awaits justice ranks – Brutus page 7 …gun allegedly belonging to victim never recovered Guyanese must flex their power to cancel careers of politicians who spew race hate – AG Page 11

Page 9

…warns of legal consequences for instigators of ECD violence

Trial into 2008 murder of soldier

No threats, promises held out to alleged killer – retired Policeman P16 tells jury 1 year in prison, $600,000 fine for ganja trafficker P16

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, July 8 – 23:30h-01:00h and Saturday, July 9 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, July 8 – 10:40h-12:10h and Saturday, July 9 – 11:55h-13:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy conditions are expected in the morning hours followed by sunshine in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy skies and light rain showers are expected during the night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to South South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 11:33h reaching a maximum height of 2.33 metres.

Low Tide: 17:28h reaching a minimum height of 0.89 metre.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

09 11 15

18 21 22

16

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

04 07 10 19 21 LUCKY 3

9

7

1

6

Afternoon Draw

1

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 04 06 08 18 19 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022

01 02 08 11 16

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$104.50/barrel

-0.10

Rough Rice

$294.174/ton $555.80/ton

-0.10 0.00

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1744.30

$1745.30

Low/High Change

$1738.40 +4.50

$1750.70 +0.26%

Belize opens “tremendous door” for Guyana’s produce …as MoU signed to enhance cooperation

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uyana and Belize have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see enhanced cooperation in food security and trade between the two countries.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the MoU is not only the signing of an agreement but “it is the sealing of exceptional personal relationships and commitment translated into national good”.

Referring to the “coalition of the willing”, a term used at Caricom’s 33rd Inter-Sessional Heads of Government Meeting, which was held in Belize earlier this year, President Ali on Thursday evening said that discussions entitled understanding the “possibilities and understanding the possibilities of each individual country that makes up Caricom is critical”, adding that “Belize, for example, opens up tremendous doors for us in the support of Guatemala, for our sugar sector; Mexico; Honduras”.

He added that in expanding Guyana’s diplomatic work and reach in network to those countries, Belize is a natural ally in helping Guyana to mobilise understanding of the policies his Government is driving.

“Guyana is transitioning in terms of its international image and Belize is not only part of the Caricom community but also part of that integrated whole through which Guyana can advance its cause and Belize can advance their cause,” President Ali said.

Meanwhile, in a joint communiqué issued on Thursday evening, it was outlined that the leaders – President Ali and the Prime Minister of Belize, John Antonio Briceño – engaged in substantive dis-

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Belizean Prime Minister John Antonio Briceño at State House on Thursday evening

cussions on agriculture and food security, in the context of Guyana and Belize being mainland countries in the Caribbean Community. It also stated that both Heads of State agreed on the importance of strengthening agriculture and food security to mitigate the growing food crisis and provide lasting solutions to the challenge of food and nutrition security in their countries and the wider Community.

In that context, they exchanged views on practical ways to advance the regional objective of decreasing the food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

Discussions were held on regional and international challenges including the protracted effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of the ongoing economic recovery, climate change, and existing geopolitical tensions.

According to the joint

communiqué, both leaders committed to collaborating and sharing experiences and expertise in designing policies to promote economic, social and cultural advancement of their Indigenous peoples. They also agreed that Belize and Guyana would share best practices and expertise in tourism as Guyana moves to further develop its tourism industry.

Additionally, Prime Minister Briceño and President Ali also agreed on the urgency and value of deepening bilateral ties within Caricom. Both leaders reaffirmed their firm reciprocal support for the efforts towards the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their countries.

Prime Minister Briceño and his delegation also held discussions with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond along with other Ministers.

Prime Minister Briceño has been visiting Guyana at the invitation of President Ali, from July 5 to July 8.

The Belize delegation, along with a delegation from Guyana, also visited Boa Vista, the capital of the State of Roraima, Brazil.

There the delegations were hosted by Governor of the State of Roraima, Antonio Denarium.

Discussions were held with the Governor and members of the business community on potential exports of agricultural products from Roraima into Caricom and beyond.

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

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

Sacrifice and success

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n Saturday, Guyanese Muslims will join in the global celebration of Eid-ul-Adah, a most auspicious day for Muslims across the world. It signifies the ultimate sacrifice the Prophet Ibrahim was willing to make in obedience of God, and embodies humility and generosity; attributes that are vital to the upliftment of humanity.

Throughout civilisation, mankind has been making sacrifices for personal and societal advancement. Here, in Guyana, our history is inundated with stories about selfless sacrifices by Guyanese fore-parents as they laboured in search of betterment for the generation following them.

That cycle continues, and today none can dispute that parents want the best for their children, a desire they would pursue with unwavering commitment. These are not mere words, but inherent in parenthood, as exemplified by the untold and sometimes unrecognised sacrifices they make as that sense of responsibility through hard work remains.

It is not without its difficulties, more so for some than others. However, on the average, many, locally and across the globe, have unfortunate commonalities which are driven by financial challenges. Despite this, parents and guardians remain steadfast to that responsibility of steering their children towards opportunities for societal upliftment.

This is more profound in the provision of education, and will continue to be something on which they will not compromise while often masking their sacrifices and formidable challenges with a protective smile. That smile, which hides the pain over the years, becomes one of unbridled joy when success is finally achieved, as will be evident when this year’s just concluded National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results and likewise the CSEC and CAPE results are published.

For those whose achievements would propelled them into the national spotlight, their academic brilliance would become added inspiration for those who would subsequently strive to emulate. Importantly, for those whose parents or guardians battled against the odds for such a realisation, the achievements will embody the many elements of their sacrifices, as it will become overtaken by pride and tears of joy.

That feeling of success unfolding buries the uncertainty of the outcome which might have prevailed during the process.

Not only parents make sacrifices, but the students too. While it may pale in comparison, the students will speak of their own sacrifices they consciously had to make in a world that is not short of lure and distraction. Some are quite aware of what their parents face in the process, and often that in itself galvanises and intensifies the efforts for a successful outcome, bringing added value to it.

In addition to the sacrifices and the hard work, success takes commitment, diligence, and the ability to remain focused.

As these young and brilliant minds step into the next phase of their academic lives, those who would not make it into the spotlight must not be forgotten. Many, and those around them, would have made similar sacrifices with similar dreams. It’s a natural part of life, and they will also be entering another phase. They must be encouraged and not belittled. They must be inspired and not disappointed in the success of their peers, for new opportunities would beckon.

The results will be analysed with the hope that strategic interventions be made to close existing gaps for the success to be holistic. As the world continues in its technological evolution and competitiveness heightens, all will need to be adequately prepared as they inevitably enter the work sphere. This in itself dictates holistic preparation with an aim for increasing that success base to meet growing demands of this competitive environment. While there will be related challenges, the process of helping to derive that mechanism cannot be delayed.

It will necessitate the involvement of all, with cognizance of the stark realities. A crucial component is the teachers.

They also sacrifice, have their fair share of challenges, and with some being parents with obvious dreams and aspirations, their challenges will be further exacerbated. For the process to derive wider positive results, it will take, among other things, unfettered commitment by those is charge to ensure the provision of adequate resources.

Naturally, teachers will need to feel a sense of comfort, so that their commitment would be adequately rewarded. In the end, for that pride to be sustained, the commitment to success must also be made by the policy makers as well.

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s son, Zayd Ali, cheerfully chatted with Prime Minister of Belize, John Antonio Briceño, at State House on Tuesday evening. President Ali and First Lady Arya Ali hosted a cocktail reception in honour of Belize’s Prime Minister and Managing Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service, Brian Glynn, who are visiting Guyana. Prime Minister Briceño was accompanied by his wife, Rossana Briceño, and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Courtenay (Office of the President photo)

President Ali is “a man for all seasons” Dear Editor, Guyana’s young and restless President, HE Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali, has become a global-trotter, spanning continents; crossing seas and oceans; flying over forests, deserts and mountains; and visiting lands far and near.

Possessing a bold and beautiful personality, he is meeting people of all races, religions, genders, colours nationally, regionally and internationally. Braving all weathers and climatic conditions, shunning pride and prejudice, he presents himself as a simple, humble and friendly representative of a thriving and striving nation of potential wealth from her natural resources and agricultural products.

As the world turns to accept, embrace and welcome him, his audiences listen to his powerful speeches, words of sincerity, and his inspired messages. His charismatic flamboyance attracts the crowd to catapult him in the limelight, and usher him in the front seat without reservation or hesitation.

The memories from his recent visits are still fresh and akin to “A Man for all Seasons.”

His visits include: London Caribbean Council’s House of Lord’s Annual Reception; Guyana Festival Committee’s Dinner in Toronto; The Ninth Summit of Americas in California; Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda; Suriname Energy, Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition; AGROFEST’22 in Barbados, and the 43rd Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom in Suriname.

Dr Ali knows no fear, and the word “failure” does not exist in his vocabulary. Knowing that optimism lies in his positive approach, he is determined to market his people, country and products for their highest values. His admirable

popularity is the window to the world which easily allows him to win friends and influence people, and all doors are automatically opened to meet and greet him with open arms and extend the hand of friendship.

The world is growing to respect President Ali for his dynamic leadership, his energetic enthusiasm, and his integrity to be an honest, frank and fair speaker. His Excellency does not cower behind cloaked costumes, hide behind hidden agendas, issue veiled threats, speak with a forked tongue, mislead with crafty and cloudy words, pollute the atmosphere with uneasiness, make unrealistic demands; nor does he ask unreasonable questions.

He was well received last year at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland and also at EXPO 2020 in Dubai. At the UN General Assembly in NY Sept’21 (UNGA76), he revealed to interviewers that Guyana would be receiving high-level visits from Kenya, Colombia, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Latin America, the Caribbean, EU and Asia, all of which materialised.

Prior to this visit, he was also in Mexico for the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit.

President Irfaan Ali recognises that Guyana is going through a period of growing pains, and has many obstacles and hurdles to overcome internally and externally. His job is no piece of cake, and does not come with a written manual. Being the chauffeur at the wheel, it is far from driving any Miss Daisy on a quiet Sunday afternoon. From the inception, heavy traffic prevailed at the time of swearing in to office, and he and his ministers were cognisant of the many problems the country and people

were taxed with. That neither daunted nor deterred him, but made him more determined to create a pathway to clear all impediments blocking the road to progress and prosperity.

There is little room for errors and mistakes, and he is daily challenged by critics who are hunting to find faults to discredit him and punch holes in his bag. Not surprisingly, His Excellency has been involved personally, along with members of his cabinet, on outreach programmes to all the 10 Regions, meeting and greeting Guyanese from all sectors of the community, listening and learning, advising, making suggestions and recommendations, and solving problems on the spot.

He has initiated a number of cash grants to all qualified stakeholders who have been affected by economics, politics, and nature via financial constraints: compensation for the fired sugar workers during the Granger regime; flood relief; school relief; medical relief; dialysis and handicapped farmers’ relief; COVID-19 packages; business start-ups; unemployment relief; easy bank loans for house construction, etc.

It is not by luck and chance that he is not above the law, but by sheer diligence, and not negligence, President Mohammed Ali is guided by established rules and regulations, protocols of precedence, the Constitution and mandatory guidelines. He is not a oneman show, as evidenced from previous dictators, but he refers to his advisors for proper counselling, guidance and advice.

The sound of music is muffled by the constant cry from antagonists and protagonists, bellowing a bugle of tuneless melodies and out of sync with rhythms and beats. He hears those sour notes, and does not ignore the lesson to improvise

while fine-tuning the instrument to produce sweet, simple and soft notes. There is always a bending curve, and His Excellency flexes time out to learn and listen, and to reconfigure any compromising approach to appease the satisfied customer and consumer.

There is the borderline which determines the line of demarcation between reality and fantasy, and he does not hesitate to quickly install that fence. He is the first to always shake hands! The Honourable President makes it his duty to visit those involved in accidents, fire victims, crime scenes, wake-houses, weddings, sports activities, religious functions, and can be seen at charitable events and fund-raising activities. His hands are involved in numerous clean-up campaigns, and when he makes a promise, he delivers.

This is no country for old men, and so his cabinet vibrates with the power of youths, ready, willing, able and capable to handle the future of the young generation, this nation, and the opportunity of providing a “One Guyana” with all the amenities and necessities to make Guyana the potential economy to be one of the world’s richest nations per capita.

Under President Ali’s leadership, the infrastructure of this country is quickly and vastly taking the shape of a new face, with numerous projects unfolding daily, new businesses opening, and visitors and investors flocking this land. He toys with an Opposition which lacks integrity, maturity and sobriety.

President Irfaan Ali lives, breathes and works for Guyana and Guyanese; and thus deserves no rotten tomatoes, but only fresh tomatoes.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

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

Guyana moves forward On the subject of credibility in peace and quiet Dear Editor, On Caricom Day 2022, there was a great feeling of togetherness in that “love and unity” development plan of our Government in the latest community outreach programme, in the village of Buxton. It was the great sight to behold, as Prime Minister Phillips led a high-level team of Ministers to that village to look into the plight of the villagers, and sourced out ways to solve them. It was a very important form of social cohesion done at the Local Government level.

Incidentally, this was supposed to be a day of massive demonstration done in the very same area, done with the associated destruction of property. Opposition forces had planned it to be a day -as one mobster put it -- of massive destruction to the point where there would have been a shutdown of the country. Pretty ambi-

tious project by the subversives, who want Guyana and Guyanese to go backwards.

This was thwarted by the true spirit of the Buxtonians, coupled with the determination of a Government that would not be deterred by anyone.

Our Government would not let the detractors gain traction. Those who have nothing constructive to do with the short time God has given us here to inhabit are up and about their nefarious agenda, but they will not succeed.

It is for the selfsame reason that we keep pressing on with the developmental plans for this nation. The focus here is building a country's infrastructure that is modern and well suited for investors to readily come and invest. It means that we must take care of the educational needs of our youths and the setting of goals for the job market in

the new and emerging oil and gas sector. Our primary industry, agriculture, and mining will also take front burner places as Guyana moves forward.

To be stuck in the debilitating quagmire of the detractors is not an option. Guyana says forward ever, backward never. The people of this great country are sending the strongest message ever: that we are not going back into the filth of violence and race-baiting politics of yesteryear; instead, we are moving forward together as One Guyana.

Long live the Cooperative Republic of Team Unity Guyana!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, I agree with one local newspaper that the Guyana Police Force may be facing a loss of credibility as a result of the initial attempt to cover up the killing of Quindon Bacchus by the ranks involved.

However, the checks and balances in place (such as the PCA investigation), together with the activism of relatives and others, ensured that the offenders are now before the court.

I urge the newspaper editorial team to similarly share their perspective on the importance of having a credible political Opposition.

What mechanism is there to protect the citizenry from the spread of outright lies, such as the claim by Opposition Leader Mr Aubrey Norton that the PPP/C sent persons to infiltrate the Quindon Bacchus protest, and that it was those persons who attacked vendors and commut-

ers at Mon Repos market?

What about the lie by Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, that banks are giving loans only to Indo-Guyanese?

How are Guyanese expected to take seriously an Opposition which claims to this day that it won the March 2nd, 2020 elections but refuses to provide its copies of the “winning” SoPs? And these are but a few examples of the lies being told by an Opposition that presents itself as an

alternative to the current Government, and which is expected to provide credible leadership to thousands of Guyanese.

Also, one of the main roles of an Opposition is to provide checks and balances in the functioning of a democracy; therefore, the Opposition needs to demonstrate credibility just as in the case of the Guyana Police Force.

Regards, Thomas Cole

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

Page

Foundation

◄

Place Value In numbers, the value of a single numeral or digit is dependent on its place, that is – where in the complete number it falls.

For example, the 1 in 1000 has a different value than the 1 in 100. The 1 in 1000 is in the thousands place and the 1 in the 100 is in the hundreds place, so the first 1 denotes a value of one thousand and the second 1 a value of one hundred.

Example: In the number 246, the 2 is in the hundreds place the 4 is in the tens place and the 8 is in the ones place. So, 246 means 2 hundreds + 4 tens + 6 ones.

USE A PLACE-VALUE CHART This place-value chart shows the places occupied by all the digits in the number 372,859,812

In this number, the 3 is in the hundred millions place, the 7 is in the ten millions place, the 2 is in the one millions place and so on.

DECIMAL PLACE VALUES: Decimals have place value too. Look at this place-value chart.

The number is 14.250 NUMBER FORMS: You can write a number in three different forms • Standard form: 2,863,782 • Expanded form: (2 x 1,000,000) +(8 x 100,000) + (6 x 10,000) + (3 x 1000) + (7 x 100) + (8 x 10) + (2 x 1) • Word form: two million, eight hundred and sixtythree thousand, seven hundred and eighty-two Exercises 1) In 65, 823, the underlined digit is in which place?

2) In 0.764, the 6 is in which place?

3) In 5, 478, 340, which digit is in the hundreds place?

4) Write the following in word form: 10, 987, 654 5) The standard form of 87,654, 321 has the 7 in which place 6) In 43.12, the underlined digit is in which place?

7) Write the expanded form of 5, 478, 340,

What do I need?

A bag of gumdrops (If you can't find gumdrops, try using bits of rolled-up clay, minimarshmallows, or partlycooked beans. Be creative!)

A box of round toothpicks What do I do?

Making squares & cubes Start with 4 toothpicks and 4 gumdrops. Poke the toothpicks into the gumdrops to make a square with a gumdrop at each corner.

Poke another toothpick into the top of each gumdrop.

Put a gumdrop on the top of each toothpick. Connect the gumdrops with toothpicks to make a cube. (A cube has a square on each side. It takes 8

gumdrops and 12 toothpicks.)

Use more toothpicks and gumdrops to keep building squares onto the sides of the cube. When your structure is about 6 inches tall or wide, try

wiggling it from side to side.

Does it feel solid, or does it feel kind of shaky?

Making triangles & pyramids Start with 3 gumdrops

and 3 toothpicks. Poke the toothpicks into the gumdrops to make a triangle with a gumdrop at each point.

Poke another toothpick into the top of each gumdrop.

Bend those 3 toothpicks in toward the center. Poke all 3 toothpicks into one gumdrop to make a 3-sided pyramid.

(A 3-sided pyramid has a triangle on each side. It takes 4 gumdrops and 6 toothpicks.)

Use more toothpicks and gumdrops to keep building triangles onto the sides of your pyramid. When your structure is about 6 inches tall or wide, try wiggling it from side to side. Does it feel solid, or does it feel kind of shaky? (exploratorium.edu)

By the Brothers Grimm There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty, close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go out all day long a-fishing; and one day, as he sat on the shore with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all of a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water. When he reeled in his line, he pulled out a golden fish. But the fish said, "Pray let me live! I am not a real fish. I am an enchanted prince. Put me in the water again, and let me go!"

"Oh, ho!" Said the man.

"You need not go on much more about the matter. I will have nothing to do with a fish that can talk, so swim away, sir, as soon as you please!" Then he put him back into the water, and the fish darted straight down to the bottom, and left a long streak of blood behind him on the wave.

When the fisherman went home to his wife in the pigsty, he told her how he had caught a

golden fish, and how it had told him it was an enchanted prince, and how, on hearing it speak, he had let it go again. "Did not you ask it for anything?" Said the wife. "We live very wretchedly here, in this nasty dirty pigsty. Do go back and tell the fish we want a snug little cottage."

The fisherman did not much like the business - however, he went to the seashore, and when he got back there the water

looked all yellow and green. He stood at the water’s edge, and said, "O man of the sea!

Hearken to me!

My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a gift of thee!"

Then the fish came swimming to him and said, "Well, what is her will? What does your wife want?"

"Ah!" Said the fisherman.

"She says that when I caught you, I ought to have asked you for something before I let you go. She does not like living any longer in the pigsty, and wants a snug little cottage."

"Go home then," said the fish, "she is in the cottage already!" So the man went home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a nice trim little cottage.

"Come in, come in!" Said she. "Is not this much better than the filthy pigsty we had?"

There was a parlour, a bedroom, and a kitchen; and behind the cottage there was a little garden, planted with all sorts of flowers and fruits. There was a courtyard behind, full of ducks and chickens. "Ah!" Said the fisherman, "How happily we shall live now!"

"We will try to do so, at least," said his wife.

TO BE CONTINUED

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

"Mischievous" acts to block GPF promotions would affect 710 ranks – Brutus

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hairman of the Guyana Police Officers’ Association, Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, has underscored that recent action to challenge the Guyana Police Force promotions would affect a whopping 710 ranks and send ‘shockwaves’ across the security landscape.

Brutus has relayed that there are concerns from newly promoted ranks regarding impending legal challenges to their promotions filed by former Police Service Commission Chairman Paul Slowe. Slowe has filed an action at the Demerara High Court to block the recently reconstituted Police Service Commission (PSC) from promoting or publishing a promotions list of officers.

Brutus has explained that should such litigation be successful, the resultant consequence would be annul-

ment of the promotions that fall between the brackets of Assistant Commissioner and Inspector, which amounts to 255 members of the Force.

This, he said, would reverberate to the recently promoted 455 junior ranks, given that approximately half of the vacancies ranging from sergeants to lance corporals were created in the wake of senior promotions.

He added, “Hence, rescinding senior promotions would erase those vacancies, with the unreasonable and excruciating reversal of those junior promotions. Importantly, the majority of those members who are beneficiaries of the July, 2022 promotions have families and/or dependents, rent, mortgages, medical and other commitments. The impact of such an occurrence will inevitably shatter the morale of those affected officers, Inspectors, and other ranks.

Guyana Police Officers’ Association Chairman Calvin Brutus

“Moreover, it would abruptly snatch those affected members’ benefits by reducing their new payment packages and allowances.”

With such a move, he stressed, members of the Force would be demotivated, translating to undesirable performance at all levels of the organisation.

Pointing out that while everyone alleging injustice is afforded equal access to the judicial organ in a democratic society, Brutus asserted that, in this case, these aspersions can be best described as mischievous and disingenuous against the background of the comprehensive postulation of a well-balanced compendium of recommendations made

by Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken to the current Police Service Commission.

According to him, the recommendations focused on satisfying a large number of existing vacancies at all levels within the organization, precipitated by the “biased approach and obvious machi-

nation” of the previous Police Service Commission. It was also done to reverse the alltime low morale of members of the Force, who were distressed about the seemingly infinite litigations concerning Police promotions.

“It is the candid view that any person(s) that undertake such an unnecessary and hazardous endeavour is certainly mischievous, void of consciousness, empathy for law enforcement officials, fellow citizens, and lack any semblance of nationhood.

Moreover, members of the Force are cognisant of the minuscule portion of society that is pontificating and insinuating sinister intentions. Should such litigation materalise, it would not succeed, due to the lack of legal foundation, public policy considerations, and the negative implication for public security in Guyana.”

The Guyana Police

Officers’ Association has pledged to promptly make an application to join any such litigation, in order to vigorously and adequately represent the interests of all officers who were promoted.

Further, it has expressly indicated that it would pursue the same initiative for the junior members.

“The hierarchy of the Force wishes to assure the 710 diligent and deserving members of the Force that all avenues will be explored to ensure the status quo of July 3, 2022 is not interfered with by any unscrupulous, unconscious, and sinister minuscule portions of Guyanese society. The administration of the Force urges all concerned to not be distracted by these mischievous tactics, but rather to focus their attention and energies positively by continuing to perform law enforcement duties with diligence and poise.” (G12)

Commuters battling giant potholes on Diamond-Mocha bypass access road …Govt’s goal is to fix every road – Edghill

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he Government has committed to fixing the numerous potholes along Sixth Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) – one of the main thoroughfares to access the Diamond-Mocha bypass road that was commissioned with the aim of alleviating traffic woes along the EBD public road.

For weeks, commuters have been battling with the giant potholes, which continue to widen during the ongoing rainy season. In fact, many commuters have resorted to taking a detour through Seventh Avenue, Diamond to connect with the Diamond-Mocha road,

Some of the potholes along Sixth Avenue, Diamond

instead of battling with the pothole-filled Sixth Avenue.

One daily driver informed this publication that it is impossible for two opposing lanes of traffic to smoothly traverse the roadway without dropping into a

pothole.

“This road was meant to reduce the traffic on the main road, but how it stands right now, nobody can really use this road in this current state,” the driver pointed out.

Contacted on Thursday about the issue, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill expressed, “I will address it, we can’t leave it like that; we are here to serve people.” He noted that it is the Government’s goal

to ultimately fix every road and street in the country.

In December 2021, the Government opened the Diamond-Mocha interlink road which runs from Sixth Avenue, Diamond to the Winsor Estate Road

that leads on to the Eccles Landfill Site Road, connecting through the new Herstelling Housing Scheme and other schemes that are being developed along the EBD corridor.

(G11)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mon Repos pensioner’s death

'Weeder man' slapped with murder charge remanded Letting it all

N

emon Persaud, called "Boye", the construction worker accused of stabbing and chopping an elderly woman to death at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been charged with the capital offence of murder.

Persaud, 26, of Second Street, Mon Repos North, ECD, was arraigned before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool in that Sparendaam Magistrate’s court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that he murdered 87-year-old Agnes Dillon at some time between June 29 and June 30 at Mon Repos North, ECD. Persaud has been remanded to prison until September 12.

The body of Agnes Dillon was discovered on Thursday in the bottom flat of a two-storey wooden building at Mon Repos with several chop and stab wounds.

Dillon had last been seen

Murder accused Nemon Persaud, called "Boye"

washing clothes on June 29 at about 17:00h. The following day, her landlady did not see her, and as such called out to her, but there was no answer. This prompted her to contact a neighbour, whom she asked to check on Dillon.

Upon checking, the neighbour reportedly found the main door secured from the inside.

He, too, called out to the elderly woman, but to no avail. Suspecting something was amiss, he went to the woman’s bedroom window and managed to get it open. Upon looking into the bedroom, he saw her lying in a motionless state on the bed. He returned to the main door, which he prised open and entered the house.

A closer inspection revealed that the woman was lying in a pool of blood.

Ranks from Beterverwagting Police Station were summoned.

On July 2, Police ranks acting on information went to Persaud’s home and arrested him. During interrogation, he confessed that he and the elderly woman had had a confrontation over monies owed to him for weeding her yard. He admitted that he had stabbed and chopped the woman, and said he had thrown away the murder weapon.

A source close to the in-

hang out...

Y Dead: Agnes Dillon

vestigation has told this publication that the murder accused took ranks to the scene and pointed out how and where he gained access into the victim’s home.

He also showed ranks some dense vegetation where he had thrown the murder weapon.

However, after combing the area, Police ranks did not find the weapon. (G1)

…in the Police Force

our Eyewitness would be foolish indeed if he were to condemn the entire Guyana Police Force. Surely, in an organisation of some 4500 men and women, who’ve literally been given the power of life and death over their fellow citizens, some of them would abuse those powers.

There’s that famous experiment wherein some college students were given the roles of guards over other students, and, as “guards”, went as far as torturing the “prisoners”!!

Yes, we humans do tend to abuse our powers.

But because this known tendency in humans is taken a whole new level when the Police are handed real weapons with real laws compelling folks to obey them - imagine what can happen! And in Guyana we don’t have to “imagine”, do we?? Police “harassment” has been part and parcel of Guyanese life ever since the Police Force was formed in 1839!!

It was no coincidence that this was the very next year following the abolition of slavery, was it?? Did you think they were told to “serve and protect” those folks who’d been treated like animals for the past three hundred years??

Their job was to protect the SYSTEM, and the whites who ran the system!! Up to independence, most of the officers were whites, weren’t they?? During the riots in the run-up to independence, the name of British Police Commissioner Peter Owen struck fear in the ordinary people. And that attitude never really changed.

Burnham picked up right where the British left off, and he ensured an enlarged Police Force was personally loyal to him. All those who didn’t want to toe his line, it was “off with their heads”!! So, the natural propensity of folks to abuse their power was coupled with the free rein Burnham gave the Police to harass folks who opposed him. Many Policemen were even part of the “kick-down-the-door-bandits” squads up to the late eighties - until Hoyte brought in his “hang-emhigh” policy!!

The GPF that the PPP inherited in 1992 had been corrupted through and through; but, sadly, rather than immediately launching a thoroughgoing revamping and reorientation of the GPF, they courted the top brass and continued with the system and the manpower they inherited. And that was a mistake that the entire country suffered from - during the twenty years of the new millennium, that saw Bandits holing up in Buxton having absolutely no respect for them. And taking on the Police directly.

So, the breakdown in discipline in two Police killings – of Bacchus on the ECD and Singh in Ruimveldt - and the riot at Mon Repos by the protestors from Golden Grove shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

…in politics It ain’t easy being in politics in Guyana nowadays. Used to be you told the folks what they wanted to hear - meaning, promise them the sun and moon! - buy some rum in the rum shops and give your private (racial) spiels under the bottom houses, and that was it!! Since folks voted mostly racially, it was already a foregone conclusion as to who’d win – that depended on the colour of the various noses!!

But now things are different: the noses are almost equal in number - which creates a dilemma for the old order. Suddenly, you gotta be nice to everybody, since the least missteps could cost you those crucial fence sitters’ noses!! Problem is the new “bottom houses” where folks engage in the race talk - the social media. Here, it’s a case of everything hanging out, and since the content’s available to everyone with a smartphone – meaning EVERYBODY – it means everyone’s riled up!!

The politicians now have to be “outing” fires every minute of the day!! …in Old Blighty Boris Johnson was never one to keep his thoughts and actions to himself. Letting it all hang out made him stand out in stiff-upper-lip Britain. But party-gate under Covid was too much.

And he’s now out!!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese must flex their power to cancel careers of politicians who spew race hate – AG …warns of legal consequences for instigators of ECD violence Also forthcoming are legal consequences for those who had a role to play in the recent violence which erupted along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) which resulted in the destruction of public and private property and severe emotional trauma for many.

Investigations

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

C

areer failure is looming for those politicians who continue to spew race hate and division among citizens, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has warned, noting that many Guyanese were now rejecting this kind of politics.

Speaking during his programme “Issues in the News”, the Attorney General revealed that investigations were ongoing locally and outside of Guyana with respect to the mayhem along the ECD. Noting that there were deliberate attempts to “incite, ensnare and encourage thousands of Guyanese” to partake in “riotous and terroristic activities”, the Attorney General warned that “those persons who were doing so in the United States

File photo: Scenes from the violent protest on the ECD on June 28, 2022

of America, on social media in Guyana and who were also present and who, even after the violence, continued along this path to encourage more illegality and more criminality, those persons’ conduct and utterances are

also under review, not only by law enforcement agencies in Guyana but also outside of Guyana.”

“And they also will be dealt with by the full force of the law…We ask for patience. The investigations

are ongoing,” Nandlall stated.

He also reminded that Guyana’s laws create offences in respect to racial hostility and warned that recent utterances by certain politicians are also under review.

He contended that certain utterances can no longer be considered just “irresponsible” statements by politicians.

“This is incendiary and inflammatory utterances in a country where there are ethnic issues like Guyana, they can have combustive impacts and [Opposition Leader] Mr Norton cannot be unaware of these implications, Mr Christopher Jones cannot be unaware of these implications…,” Nandlall posited.

Race hate, division

Nandlall lamented that some parliamentarians wanted to continue the disturbances along the ECD by organising a Day of Protest on Monday in Buxton.

Fortunately, he indicated, those desires were rejected by the people and countered by a massive ministerial outreach to the community which scores of residents attended.

Nevertheless, the AG bemoaned the reality that many politicians continue to racially incite Guyanese.

“I listened with absolute shock to Mr Christopher Jones, a person whom I have

some regard for, and I listened to the level of racism to which he descended on camera and if these guys are saying these things on camera, just imagine what they are saying when the camera is off…and here the guy is telling the people in Buxton and the youths in Buxton that they can’t get jobs because they’re Black…they can’t get a loan at the bank because they’re Afro-Guyanese, they can’t get contracts because they’re Afro-Guyanese,” Nandlall explained.

“And I can take you to tens of thousands of Indian Guyanese who also can’t get loan at the bank, who also are not getting contracts, who also are now getting jobs…David Hinds, a supposedly educated man, is standing next to Christopher Jones as he is making these utterances.”

“Christopher Jones was in office for five years. He had a very powerful position, he was the Director of Youth and Sports, name one single thing that he did for the AfroGuyanese youths in Buxton to who he was preaching,” the AG contended.

He also pointed out that Hinds, a member of the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA) who was in Government for the same period, did nothing to uplift the lives of the Afro-Guyanese population.

TURN TO PAGE 10

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health services to be further decentralised Motorcycle bandits with new clinical technicians – CMO rob medical student

T

he introduction into the public health sector of graduates from clinical and technical programmes of the Health Ministry is expected to decentralise and further enhance medical services to the population.

On Thursday, the Health Ministry facilitated the graduation of the final batch of students from the clinical and technical programmes, who commenced training in 2019. These included Pharmacy Assistants and Medical Laboratory Technicians. These persons, who hailed from eight administrative regions, were engaged through online and blended training solutions amid challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh expressed that, with such a vast cover, services would be decentralised and enhanced even further. Graduates were also urged to further their studies in their respective fields, and return to serve their communities.

“The Ministry is expanding in health services in all the regions. We’re decentralising services, so that we can now have laboratory services in all of the regions, the hospitals, and

CMO Dr Narine Singh presenting an award to one of the graduates

most of the health centres… We have seen many Pharmacy Assistants go on to become Pharmacists, and MLTs go on to become Medical Technologists.

That is a gateway, so don’t stop at this level,” he encouraged.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, acknowledged that with the pandemic still raging, authorities have to find a way to work with-

in the constraints. While the Ministry is training, Dr Mahadeo pointed out, there are always gaps to be filled.

“The numbers that we are graduating cannot, and will not, fill the gaps out there that need to be filled.

We have decided at the Ministry of Health, if you do the same thing day by day or year by year and you can’t fill the gaps that are there, then you will never fill the gaps,” Dr Mahadeo relayed.

To this end, Govt is also expending $1 billion to upgrade health facilities in order to promote a comfortable and safe environment for staffers and patients.

Throughout the pandemic, the Ministry has also been implementing more training to meet the needs of the country.

Coordinator of the Medical Laboratory Technician Training Programme, Joyce WhyteChin, charged the new graduates to follow protocols in the delivery of service to the population. Whyte-Chin stressed, “Every time you go into the working world, remember that no one at the Ministry of Health is looking at you. Therefore, you need to take pride in the work that you do. You need to follow protocols at all times. Follow the SOPs, adhere to guidelines, and be compassionate to your patients.”

Gabriel Thomas from the MLT programme was named valedictorian, having secured a distinction in the respective course. In her speech, Thomas related, “We did not give up in the face of adversity, even though all of us wanted to.

Our time in this programme was unique, but not without challenges…We conquered the online classroom, which was extremely difficult. It was also difficult to transition to online learning.”

(G12)

at knifepoint

T

wo knife-toting bandits have executed a daring robbery on a medical student at Fifth Street Alberttown, Georgetown in relieving 22-year-old Siva Prakash of $200,000 in cash and one Redmi Note 10 cellphone.

Police have said that the robbery occurred on Wednesday at about 21:00h, when Prakash, of East Street Georgetown, and one of his friends were walking

on Fifth Street, Alberttown.

The two bandits, who were on a blue motorcycle, approached them from behind and proceeded at knifepoint to rob Prakash of the items mentioned.

Having dismounted the motorcycle to commit this robbery, the suspects made good their escape on the motorcycle.

A report was made, and an investigation is underway.

Man wanted for wounding Timehri woman arrested

A

man who was being pursued by the Police for questioning in a wounding incident committed on a Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) woman has been arrested on Thursday.

According to Police, 32-year-old Fadil Shaw was nabbed at Three Friends village on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Shaw, a labourer of Timehri, EBD, was accused of wounding the 31-year-old woman back in 2020, and of ‘stalking and attempting to kill’ the same woman about two months ago.

Captured: Fadil Shaw

He remains in custody at the Anna Regina Police Station, pending charges.

Guyanese must flex their...

“David Hinds has been speaking about Black empowerment from since Noah was a little boy, let David Hinds name one single policy, one single strategy, one single project of substance that he has ever done for the people of Buxton or for Black people anywhere in this country,” the AG said.

Against this backdrop, Nandlall bemoaned that “every time these guys open their mouth, it is about division, it is about putting hate into young peoples’ minds, putting anger into their minds…divisive politics and hate they spew every time they speak.”

He highlighted too that every time certain politicians encourage persons to come out on the roads and participate in violent and dangerous activities, it must be noted that those very politicians would never put their own families in such situations.

“As someone said, you would never see those very leaders who are putting other peoples’ children in danger, you would never see their children being on the road.”

“The Opposition has re-

duced themselves to such an extent that they have nothing to which they can make reference to make a constructive dialogue anymore, they have deteriorated to the lowest end,” Nandlall added.

Career failures

This type of politics, Nandlall reasoned, has no place in a modern Guyana.

And he believes Guyanese are realising that.

“Guyanese are mature, Guyanese are sensible, Guyanese are now looking at issues and they will not be herded like cattle by leaders who preach race and race baiting; they will not fall prey to racial incitement anymore,” he posited.

“Once Guyanese start to behave in that manner, that is the end of the career of those politicians because the career of those politicians are based upon the existence of a gullible uneducated population who they can exploit on racist and racial grounds.”

And he posited that what he saw demonstrated on Monday in Buxton is the people of that and surrounding communities taking the

FROM PAGE 9

“dignified, edified and educated route”.

“They did not lend themselves to be manipulated, used and abused by those politicians,” the AG explained.

He further reasoned that no matter the outcome of the investigations into these types of politicians, the litmus test would ultimately be the will of the Guyanese people.

“To the Guyanese people I’m speaking, are you going to support a political leader or a political leadership that…advocates that degree of degradation and that degree of racism and hate-mongering and division in your country? You have to make up your mind because if tomorrow you decide as a people that you don’t want that type of leadership and leaders, then that is the end of their careers,” Nandlall explained.

“You could determine whether they would continue as politicians or you will determine whether they exit public life, because without you, the people, they have nothing, and they literally have nothing…other than your support.” (G11)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fatal Police shooting at Riverview

OPR preparing to seek legal advice as family patiently awaits justice …gun allegedly belonging to victim never recovered

I

t is approaching two months since 30-yearold Deanraj Singh of Riverview Squatting Area, Ruimveldt, Georgetown was shot and killed by Police, however, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is only now in the process of preparing its report on the matter.

Contacted on Thursday for an update, OPR Head, Assistant Police Superintendent Elston Baird confirmed that the investigation was completed and that the report should be concluded soon. When pressed for a timeline, the OPR Head declined to give one.

“The report is being prepared, in the process of being prepared for legal advice to be sought…I can’t give a timeline, but I know it’s going to be prepared shortly,” he stated.

Baird declined to answer questions regarding the status of the Police Officers who were involved in the operation that led to the fatal shooting of Singh.

In fact, he directed further questions on the matter to the Guyana Police Force’s Communications Unit.

Dead: Deanraj Singh

Head of that Unit, Mark Ramotar has since explained that the OPR could not advise on the status of the ranks involved, that is, whether they are under close arrest or operating as per normal. He was also unable to comment on the role of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), if any, in the investigation.

On the evening of May 24, Singh was fatally shot

by Police who were responding to a report at Riverview.

The GPF released a statement explaining that Singh and his ex-wife, a 32-year-old mother of three,

had separated several years ago. However, Singh would still visit the woman and assault her.

As such, on June 25, 2021, the woman was granted a Protection Order by the court against him.

Police said that “despite the order being granted, he consistently violated the order by going to her house and beating her up and damaging her property”.

Police said the man was also charged criminally with Break and Enter and Larceny and other offences including assault. In fact, two arrest warrants were issued for both offences.

“He also has several criminal charges pending against him,” Police had said.

On the day in question, the woman was at home when Singh went to the house and reportedly severely beat her.

“She called the Ruimveldt Police Station and reported the incident. Police ranks, including a member of the Neighbourhood Police, all responded to the report. One of the Police ranks was carrying a .38 revolver and six live rounds,” Police Headquarters had ex-

plained.

The ranks went to a house at Riverview where the suspect and some friends were consuming alcohol.

Police had said when Singh saw the ranks, he ran into a house, jumped through a window, and dashed towards the Demerara River.

The cops, as well as the victim, reportedly gave chase.

“One of the Police ranks claim that while walking on the landing heading towards the river, he heard a sound coming from the bushes on the river bank, so he quickly shined his torchlight in the direction and saw [Singh] with an object in his right hand, which was followed by a loud explosion, so he immediately discharged two rounds in [Singh’s] direction, and he saw him run and jump into the Demerara River,” Police said.

A search was then conducted for Singh, but he was not found.

The following day, a fisherman of Riverview Squatting Area discovered his body lying on the mudflat of the Demerara River.

The body was examined by crime scene technicians who discovered one suspected

Head of OPR, Assistant Police Superintendent Elston Baird

gunshot wound on the right side of his abdomen.

The hands of both the suspect and the Police rank, as well as clothing, were tested for gunpowder residue. The firearm, ammunition, and spent shells were marked, sealed, and delivered to the Ballistics Department for analysis.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had also disclosed at the time that the OPR was investigating the matter.

No gun recovered

Police had also explained that the area was searched,

but no trace of the now dead man’s suspected firearm was discovered. When contacted for an update on whether the gun was ever retrieved, Ramotar responded in the negative.

“The gun was not recovered,” he told .

The Police’s account that the now dead man had initially fired a shot at them is now being questioned, even more so, in light of the revelations regarding the June 10, 2022 fatal Police shooting of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The GPF’s official statement on that incident indicated that the officers involved in the operation that led to the fatal shooting of Bacchus claimed that the man had discharged shots at them, causing them to return fire.

However, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers disclosed during recent court proceedings that the investigation found that the firearm, which Bacchus had in his possession at the time of the incident, was not in working condition.

TURN TO PAGE 12

12 NEWS Speaker urges Parliaments to do all they can to fight climate change S FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

peaker of the National Assembly in Guyana, Manzoor Nadir, has called on Parliaments around the world to do all they can to mitigate the effects of climate change.

He made this call during a recently-concluded Climate Change Seminar for Parliaments of Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted in the South American country of Uruguay. That event focused on national and regional actions being taken to develop more ambitious, nationally determined contributions and implement the Paris Agreement, and explored actions which parliamentarians can take to support a clean and just energy transition; create green jobs; and strengthen climate finance, including through their legislative and budgetary functions.

During his remarks, Nadir noted that the climate change discussion has been ongoing, and that funding for climate change would reach a height of trillions of United States dollars from public and private sources in the next 50 years.

“He noted that countries therefore need to get on board. To this end, nationally determined contributions are critical,” the Parliament Office noted in a statement.

on the topic. The other presenters were Natalie Pareja, Climate Change Director, Ministry of Environment and Green Climate Fund National Designated Authority, Uruguay; Mr. Blas Llano, Member of the Senate, Paraguay, and President of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) of the

IPU; Silvia Sapag, Member of the Senate, Argentina; Rosa Galvez, President of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Senator, Canada.

The seminar, jointly organised by the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliament of Uruguay, culminated in a

celebration of International Day of Parliamentarism and the IPU’s 133rd Anniversary on June 30.

The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments which seeks to empower parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development.

(G11)

OPR preparing to seek...

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

It has been further explained that the Guyanese House Speaker informed participants that Guyana, where 35% of the people live in the city, is below sea level and is also affected by climate change.

“He spoke of the 2005 floods which affected more than 60% of the economy, and that, every year, flooding affects between 15% (and) 35% of the economy,” the statement noted.

“Importantly, Speaker Nadir enlightened participants that, in 2009, Guyana had made a conscious decision to proceed along a green path, and launched the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, which aims to

have 70% of energy demand powered by renewable sources,” the statement added.

Moreover, it was noted that Speaker Nadir stressed the importance of the individual contributions at the level of the households to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“In this regard, 5% of 200,000 clients of the power company are already involved in self-generating energy in Guyana. He encouraged the gathering to do all they can at the parliamentary level to mitigate against the effects of climate change,” the statement outlined.

Speaker Nadir was one of five panellists to present

Three cops have since been charged in relation to the man’s murder: Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega who was charged with the capital office of murder, and Thurston Simon and Dameion McLennon who were charged for obstruction of justice. They were all remanded to prison.

The charges against the cops were instituted almost one month after the fatal shooting occurred and amid much public pressure coupled with violent protests along the ECD corridor.

Justice

But for family members of Singh, they are still awaiting justice.

“They [Police] never come back and tell we anything,” explained Marissa Atwell, the victim’s sister.

“But we want justice for

my brother,” she contended, admitting that family members never visited the Police Station to follow up on the investigation.

Referring to the way the case was handled with Bacchus, Atwell posited that “we feel bad because like everybody getting justice but them ain’t call we back to tell we anything, we ain’t hear back nothing about the Police or if the Police get charged, lock up or what.”

“And them never say if they find gunpowder pon he hand…but he ain’t had no gun, and they ain’t find no gun, they search the area and they ain’t find the gun, so where the gun deh?” the sister contended.

Back in May, family members who had spoken to this publication under the condition of anonymity had also refuted the Police’s

FROM PAGE 11

claim that Singh was armed at the time when he was being chased by ranks.

“Since the night four of them went out here drinking. I went lay down in my (bed). The Police them come, run the man, the man run (into) the house, from the house the man run through the window. When he run through the window, he had no knife, no gun, nothing on he,” an eyewitness had told this publication.

The eyewitness had contended that the Police, after chasing the unarmed man for a while, started to shoot at him.

“Them shoot the man!

They know they hit the man! Them ain’t tell nobody nothing; they go away…left the man to die, and didn’t tell nobody nothing…They know they shoot the man!”

(G11)

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FRIDAY, JULY 8,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

86 new COVID-19 cases recorded – Health Ministry …2 ICU patients monitored GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD T otal infections of COVID-19 in Guyana have reached 67,929 after 86 new cases were reported on Thursday. There are still 1258 confirmed deaths, with three persons under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.

From the latest dashboard, 37 persons are in institutional isolation,784 are in home isolation, and two are in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, a total of 66,884 persons have recovered, of which 40 were new.

However, over 800 active infections are still being monitored across health facilities.

Meanwhile, 664,081 tests have been processed to date.

An analysis shows new cases are dispersed among eight administrative regions, with nine in Region One (Barima-Waini), six in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), four in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 50 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), two in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), three in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and seven in Region 10

(Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new reported cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Latest vaccination figures show that, so far, more than 443,177 adults, or 86.4 per cent of persons 18 years and over, have taken a first dose; while some 342,918 such persons, or 66.8 per cent, are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, just over 34,833 persons, or 47.8 per cent of them, have received their first dose, and of that amount, some 25,532 persons, or 35 per cent, are fully immunised.

CPCE commits to 100% trained teachers by 2025

T

he Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has committed to having 100 per cent trained teachers in classrooms across Guyana by 2025 as part of the Education Ministry’s strategic plan.

This is according to acting Principal of that institution, Noella Joseph, who was speaking on an episode of the Education Ministry’s programme titled “Education Spotlight” on Wednesday evening.

“Our major role for CPCE in Guyana, or by extension abroad, is for us to train teachers to become professional educators. Part of our strategic plan in the Ministry of Education’s strategic plan: by 2025, we must have 100 per cent trained teachers in our classrooms,” she said.

Joseph added that the CPCE offers a wide variety of courses and programmes for every level of teaching.

“We have several programmes that we offer. We have the early childhood programme for both pre-service and in-service students, we have the primary programme and the secondary academic and pre-vocational programmes; so, we have 4 programmes for the Associates Degree in Education (ADE),” she explained.

“We also have the Trained Teacher Certificate (TTC) programme that we offer for persons who must be in-service teachers but they are not eligible for the ADE programme.”

Joseph said that some of these programmes and courses even train teachers how to interact with students from different backgrounds while highlighting the importance of having a trained teacher in the classroom.

“Courses like Education and Society, so you know how to interact with students from different backgrounds operating or living in different areas.

So these core courses would teach you what you would not learn in school or from doing CXC classes, subjects, or even certain degrees at the University of Guyana.

“So, you may have a degree but you may not know how to deliver what you know…so we

anymore, which is a great, great improvement,” she explained.

Guyana’s teaching capacity received a timely boost earlier in the year when over 800 persons graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), marking the largest group of graduates in the institution’s history.

Of the 843 graduates, 198 had pursued the Trained Teacher’s Certificate (TTC) Programme, and 645 had pursued the Associate Degree (ADE) in Education Programme.

Acting Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education, Noella Joseph

give you that special touch for you to be able to interact with the students in the classroom, and to use various methodologies to get to all of your students in your class, so no child will be left behind in terms of the learning curve,” she explained.

The acting Principal also commended Education Minister Priya Manickchand for pushing the CPCE to increase the number of teachers they train by going fully, but not solely, online. This now allows the CPCE to offer its courses to teachers in the hinterland, interior and other faroff communities without the physical presence of a lecturer.

“The Minister, in 2021 she decided - through consultation with us, of course - she met with us, the officers and so on, and she said we had to go fully online because we had some minor things we were doing… but when she said it, it was internationally implemented, and we really, really embraced that, because we are able now to reach to all students in all 19 centres across our country.

“Due to the shortage of some staff members in some areas, we now have the ability that if we have a course offered at Anna Regina Centre but someone in Moruca doesn’t have a lecturer for that particular course, because we are now full but not solely online, that lecturer can accommodate a class or a course in another region. So we are not restricted to physical space

JULY 7, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

86

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

37

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

784

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

3

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

36,747

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

31.182

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

67,929

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

65,884

REGION 1

2609

REGION 2

2968

REGION 3

8468

REGION 4

33,761

REGION 5

2475

REGION 6

6562

REGION 7

2517

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4084

REGION 10

2599

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

443,177

FULLY IMMUNISED

342,918

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1258

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

In the 5-to-11 age group, for which the Health Ministry started administering vaccines only last weekend, almost 700 children are inoculated.

Moreover, approximately 67,514 persons have returned for their third-dose booster

shots thus far.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotlines: 2311166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately, or visit www.

health.gov.gy.

Global figures show that 548 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 6.3 million have died. In the Americas, more than 163 million confirmed cases have been reported, with over 2.7 million deaths. (G12)

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Trial into 2008 murder of soldier

No threats, promises held out to alleged killer – retired Policeman tells jury

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hile he was in custody at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, no threats, promises, or any kind of inducement were held out to Mark Royden Williams, the accused on trial for the 2008 murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal Ivor Williams.

Mark Williams, called “Smallie”, who is on death row for killing 12 persons, including three Police ranks during the 2008 massacre at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), is currently on trial before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon for the January 23, 2008 murder of the soldier, who was shot dead by gunmen during a military operation at Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

When the trial continued on Thursday, retired Policeman Trevor Reid testified that, in 2008, he was a Sergeant of Police and was attached to the Homicide Unit, CID Headquarters, which was tasked with investigating such matters as designated by the Crime Chief or Police Commissioner.

Death row inmate/ murder accused Mark Royden Williams

According to Reid, on June 12, 2008, he received a file with instructions to comply with the then Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP’s) advice to institute a murder charge against Mark Williams and others. As such, he said, he caused the charge to be filed in court the next day.

He said he received information on June 15, 2008 that Mark Williams was arrested and was being kept at CID Headquarters. He recalled receiving further

instruction to put an allegation for the offence of murder to the accused, who was charged in July 2008 with some other murders.

While Mark Williams was in Police custody, Reid recounted, he recalled instructing a Police Corporal to ensure that the prisoner was medically examined, “because, habitually, prisoners complain of being assaulted by Police officers.

I instructed that they take him to the Grove Medical Centre, where access to the doctor was very easy, with less security risk…,” he said.

“At no time while he [Mark Williams] was in custody did he make a request, or did anyone inform me that he requested, to see an attorney…nor did I or anyone make any threats, held out any promises or any kind of inducements while he was in Police custody,” Reid said.

Wanted

The witness told the court that prior to Mark Williams’s arrest, he was aware that a wanted bulletin had been issued for him and others, for questioning into several killings.

After Reid testified, the

prosecution, represented

by State Counsels Latifah Elliott and Muntaz Ali, closed their case. This trial continues on Monday, when the defence, led by Attorneyat-Law Nigel Highes, will open its case.

In 2017, Mark Williams and Dennis “Anaconda” Williams were sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2008 Bartica massacre, which left 12 persons, including three Policemen, dead. Following a trial, they were found guilty of the killings by a jury.

The two Williams convicts have since filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence. That case is yet to be called at the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

On February 17, 2008, gunmen carried out a brazen attack on the community of Bartica while members of the mining community were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on television.

On that fateful night, Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne were fatally shot. Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed.

“Mango Man”, of Cove and John, ECD, was shot and killed by bandits.

In May 2013, Mark Williams and another man, James Hyles, called “Sally”, were found not guilty of murdering 11 persons, including children, in the January 2008 massacre that occurred at Lusignan, ECD.

Appealed

Dead: Ivor Williams

Then, in 2021, Mark Williams was found not guilty by a jury of the December 16, 2007 murders of 35-year-old Rajesh Singh and 25-year-old Fazal Hakim, which occurred at Triumph, ECD. Another man, Michael Caesar, called “Capone”, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter over the deaths of Singh and Hakim.

In February 2019, Mark Williams and Sherwin Nero, called “Catty” or “Pussy”, were both found not guilty of the murder of businessman Kumar Singh, which occurred on August 30, 2007.

Singh, 51, also known as

Following the men’s discharge, the State appealed their acquittals to the Court of Appeal, arguing, among other things, that several material irregularities had rendered the not guilty verdicts unsafe and unsatisfactory. The appellate court unanimously allowed the State’s appeal, thereby remitting the matter to the High Court for a new trial.

But Mark Williams and Hyles appealed that ruling to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which, in May 2018, restored their acquittals.

In 2017, Mark Williams was among the high-profile prisoners who escaped after a fire gutted the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown. He was however apprehended weeks later by Police ranks while he was on board a public minibus on the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB). (G1)

1 year in prison, $600,000 fine for ganja trafficker

Jailed: Robert Vyphuis

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obert Vyphuis, a 37-yearold gold miner of Nottinghamshire, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined $603,600 after pleading guilty to trafficking 400 grammes of marijuana.

Vyphuis appeared before Linden Magistrate Wanda Fortune on Tuesday to answer a charge of pos-

The marijuana found on the motorcycle

session of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. Vyphuis was arrested on July 3 at about 16:10 hours, after Police ranks attached to the Mabura Police Outpost intercepted him on a motorcycle in front of the

Mabura Police Outpost. A search was carried out on his person and belongings, during which a bulky transparent plastic bag containing a quantity of marijuana was found on the motorcycle.

He accordingly was arrested and taken, along with the cannabis, to the Mabura Police Outpost.(G1)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Students confident but “kind of nervous too” about NGSA results as exam concludes

P

Neytiri Bacchus

upils across the country on Thursday wrapped up their final two subjects for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Guyana Times spoke with a few students, who had mixed reactions to the exam.

The sitting of Social Studies and Mathematics concluded the examination.

Commenting on the examination, 12-year-old Selena Bentick, a student of Rama Krishna Primary, expressed how happy she felt for the challenging exams to be over.

“I feel good to finally be done. I’ve been preparing for this moment; it feels good. It

Alier Paul

Hally Maternial

wasn’t easy nor hard, it was challenging,” the young student said.

Aspiring firefighter Alier Paul of St Gabriel's Primary School said that preparing for the exam was not easy,

Students following the completion of the NGSA

but it was all worth it in the end.

“It is not easy,” he said, “my phone getting taken away; I cried, but in the end, it is all worth it.”

Another student of Rama

6 years later

Businessman accused of smuggling gold, falsifying documents freed

Freed: Richard Ramjit

S

ix years after he was charged with falsifying documents pertinent to a money-laundering investigation and illegally exporting gold, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Richard Ramjit, 42, has been freed after the prosecution failed to prove its case against him.

The goldsmith, whose jewellery was seized at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while he was an outgoing passenger, had been charged with knowingly falsifying documents contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act and exporting gold without a licence contrary to the Gold Board Act. Ramjit, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat, had been on trial for the offence before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, Rahamat presented a no-case submission in which she contended that the prosecution had fallen below the threshold of a prima facie case.

Concerning the first charge, the lawyer submitted that there was no evidence that her client had documents that were relevant to any money-laundering investigation being conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), no evidence that he had any knowledge of any money-laundering investigation, or that he ever falsified any relevant documents in his possession which were relevant to that probe, or was in possession of any document or falsified any documents.

As it relates to the other charge, she argued that there was no evidence that her client left Guyana with any gold in his possession, no evidence that he exported gold out of Guyana into another jurisdiction since he never left the country, and his jewellery was seized at the airport.

“There is no admissible evidence before the court to show that the jewellery from him that was seized was gold or that it was valued more than US$10,000, and therefore, there is no evidence before the court establishing the essential elements of the offence,” she argued.

Against this backdrop, Rahamat submitted that the prosecution failed to make

Selena Bentick

out a case against her client, and, therefore, urged the court not to call on her client to lead a defence. Magistrate Daly, on Thursday, upheld the no-case submission and dismissed the charges.

The prosecution had contended that on January 19, 2016, at the CJIA, Ramjit had in his possession 19.1 ounces of gold valued at $4.15 million without having an export licence. He was wearing gold jewellery valued in excess of US$10,000 (G$2 million)—the threshold at which seizures can be made under amended anti-money laundering laws if there was no declaration to customs.

Ramjit had filed a lawsuit against the State in which he sought $10 million in damages, a declaration that his arrest was unlawful and a declaration that his fundamental rights and freedoms were breached after SOCU seized his belongings.

Justice Dawn Gregory, however, dismissed the constitutional motion, ruling that SOCU acted lawfully when it seized the items.

Ramjit had appealed the Judge’s decision to the Court of Appeal. It is unclear what is the legal status of this matter. Guyana Times understands that Ramjit’s lawyer intends to write SOCU requesting the return of her client’s gold jewellery.

The businessman had been out on $100,000 bail pending the conclusion of his trial. (G1)

Krishna Primary, Hally Maternial, said that she was confident about what her grades would be.

“I feel very confident [about] how I write my exams,” 12-year-old Maternial said. However, she did admit that she was “kind of nervous too”, Studious Neytiri Bacchus advised her juniors to study hard and try their best to do good when their turn at the NGSA come.

The NGSA began on Wednesday with more than 16,000 students sitting the examination nationwide.

After day one of the ex-

amination, students from various schools across Georgetown related facing challenges and difficulties in the Science section, specifically paper two.

Kayla Paterson of St Angela’s Primary related, “It was really good, but Science Paper Two was a little bit hard for us today.”

Paterson, who is aiming to become a student of St Joseph Secondary, expressed that science was the only area she may have fallen short in and she was well-prepared for the final challenges in Mathematics and Social Studies.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, during an update on Wednesday, said that she anticipated positive outcomes, given the resources and the many initiatives applied to prepare students for the major examination.

The Education Minister had expressed that the Government was committed to ensuring pupils receive a high-quality secondary education.

This year, the NGSA was prepared similar to 2021’s, covering topics up to the Grade Five level based on the consolidated curriculum.

(G2)

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

News

CCJ dismisses election petition cases for Dominica …on same grounds as Guyana’s AG seeks to have APNU/AFC petition thrown out

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed an application for special leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in relation to 10 election petitions which challenged the results of the last general elections in Dominica.

Importantly, the grounds on which the regional court dismissed the case are similar to what Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and other lawyers have advanced before the court in their bid to have an election petition challenging the results of Guyana’s 2020 national elections, filed by petitioners Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse on behalf of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC), thrown out.

The Trinidad-based court will open arguments in this case from Guyana on July 19.

Dominica’s case

In the case of Cuffy and others v Skerrit and others, the regional court, on Tuesday, agreed that the petitioners who challenged the results of the last national election in Dominica by way of election petitions had no right to appeal the decision of the High Court Judge to strike out their petitions.

After Dominica’s general elections on December 6, 2019, the petitioners filed 10 election petitions claiming that the elections were conducted in a manner contrary to established electoral laws and regulations. The respondents applied to strike out the petitions.

In so doing, they contended that the petitions lacked sufficient details. The trial Judge agreed with the respondents and struck out the petitions. The petitioners then sought to appeal the decision of the trial Judge. The respondents raised the issue that the Court of Appeal had no authority to hear the appeal. They stated that Subsections (ss) 40(6) and (7) of the Constitution of Dominica only permit appeals against a final decision in law. They contended that the decision of the trial Judge was not final, but rather what the law refers to as “interlocutory”. This, they argued, means that the Judge

dismissed the petitions at an intermediate stage and as such, did not determine the merits of the petitions. Consequently, they submitted there was no right to appeal.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the respondents and declined to hear the appeal. The petitioners applied to the CCJ for special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision.

The CCJ, in a judgment authored by its President Justice Adrian Saunders, held that in order to determine what is a final decision in ss 40(6) and (7), one must look at the meaning, aim, history, rationale, and context of those constitutional sub-sections.

The CCJ noted the numerous Commonwealth Caribbean cases which stated that election petitions must be determined promptly so that the legitimacy of a government does not remain in question.

The CCJ found that the trial Judge did not determine the merits of the petitions. In other words, he did not reach the stage where he would have determined the question of whether a candidate was validly elected or not. Instead, the CCJ noted that the Judge struck out the petitions on procedural grounds. Accordingly, it held that the decision of the trial Judge was not final, but interlocutory. The CCJ further noted, however, that the Constitution guarantees every person in Dominica the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal. The apex court emphasised that a very high value is placed on that right.

According to the CCJ, if a petitioner complains at a stage before

the trial of their petition (an interlocutory stage), that their right to a fair hearing was violated, then the Court of Appeal should assume the authority to hear that complaint.

Nevertheless, the CCJ took the view that in this case, no issue arose as to whether the petitioners had not received a fair hearing.

Consequently, the CCJ refused the application for special leave and thus upheld the orders of the Court of Appeal. No order as to costs was made, since the CCJ considered that efforts by the citizenry, in good faith, to call attention to perceived deficiencies in the electoral process should not be discouraged.

Guyana’s case

At the CCJ, Nandlall and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo are challenging the 2 to 1 majority ruling of the Court of Appeal of Guyana in which it took jurisdiction to hear an appeal against acting Chief Justice Roxane George’s decision to dismiss election petition #99 for improper service/non-service on the second-named respondent, former President David Granger.

The petition filed in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana, which was struck out on January 18, 2021, challenged the results of the March 2, 2020 national elections with the intent of having Granger declared the duly-elected President.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory had ruled that to oust the Appeal Court from hearing the appeal against the Chief Justice’s ruling would defeat

the purpose of Article 163 of the Constitution.

The acting Chancellor had noted that although she had considered all the precedents relied on by Nandlall, they failed to invalidate the Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

In a dissenting judgement, however, Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud had said that considering the unambiguous language of that constitutional provision, as well as the fact that the Chief Justice (ag) did not dismiss the petition on its merits, but rather because of procedural errors, a right of appeal did not lie to the Court of Appeal.

The manner of service is prescribed in Rule 9 (1) of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules imposes on the petitioners the statutory obligation to effect service within five days after the presentation of the petition.

Having been filed on September 15, 2020, the petition should have been served on Granger five days thereafter, which would have been September 21, 2020, since the fifth day – September 20, 2020 – was a Sunday.

But in the affidavit of service, it was stated that the petition, along with the relevant documents, was only served on Granger on September 25, 2020 – five days outside of the statutorily prescribed period.

During the appeal court hearing, Nandlall and Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, who are representing Dr Jagdeo – a respondent in the petition – had argued that Article 163 of the Constitution bestows upon the High Court a peculiar jurisdiction to hear such matters.

They contended that there is no statutory or constitutional jurisdiction given to the Court of Appeal to hear an election petition dismissed for procedural impropriety or any other reason not stated in Article 163 (1).

According to the two Senior Counsel, Article 163 constitutes the complete code of how election petitions are to be determined, lists the types of issues that are to be raised by an election petition, and also limits the grounds upon which appeals flow from the determination of those issues.

“Article 163 limits appeals to be filed from decisions coming from the High Court that are commenced by an election petition only to the determination of the questions identified in the Article,” Nandlall had submitted.

“The learned Chief Justice in her ruling struck out the petition on the ground that there was non-service. In her written decision, Her Honour stated that service within the time prescribed is a condition precedent to the hearing and determination of an election petition,” the Attorney General had argued.

He added, “The [Chief Justice] never determined the questions which the petition raised to be determined which are the questions raised in Article 163 (1) from which Article 163 (3) says an appeal lies to the Court of Appeal upon the determination of those questions or orders consequential to the determination of those questions.”

As such, Nandlall argued that with those questions having not been determined, there is no right of appeal in any other statute nor the Constitution upon which the petitioners can hinge their appeal. The Attorney General has advanced these very grounds before the CCJ. But Roysdale Forde, SC, and John Jeremie, SC, – who appear for the petitioners – argued that the Court of Appeal does have jurisdiction to entertain the matter under Article 123 of the Constitution and the Court of Appeal Act. Jeremie had previously submitted that his clients had properly invoked the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to where an “automatic right” of appeal lay as the High Court had determined and made its pronouncement on the petition.

The petitioners contend that the elections were unlawfully conducted and/or that the results (if lawfully conducted) were affected or might have been affected by unlawful acts or omissions. They are also asking the court to declare that President Dr Irfaan Ali is illegally holding office.

The results of a national recount of all ballots cast showed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the general elections with 233,336 votes over the coalition’s 217,920 votes. (G1)

Transnational organised crime discussed at MERCOSUR Public Prosecutors meeting G uyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, recently attended the 31st Specialised Meeting of Public Prosecutors of South American trade bloc, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in Asunción, Paraguay.

The three-day event, held from June 21 to June 23, addressed the thematic and technical areas of Transnational Organised Crime, International Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters, and Fiscal Security.

The meeting also discussed political aspects

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, (fourth right) attending the 31st Specialised Meeting of Public Prosecutors of MERCOSUR in Asunción, Paraguay

related to the Protocol on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters called the “Protocol of San Luis”, Agreement on Arrest Warrants and Surrender Procedures between the MERCOSUR States and the Associated States.

Guyana is one of the seven Associated States, the others are Suriname, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.

The full members of the South American regional group are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

During the Meeting, Paraguay’s Attorney General Sandra Quinonez

Astrgarraga unveiled a commemorative plaque in memory of former Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, who was shot and killed while on his honeymoon in Colombia in May this year.

MERCOSUR is a regional integration process, initially established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and subsequently joined by Venezuela and Bolivia. Its main objective has been to promote a common space that generates business and investment opportunities through the competitive integration of national economies into the international market. (G1)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil settles up nearly US$4 as tight supply outweighs recession fears

O

il prices settled sharply higher on Thursday, rebounding from steep losses the previous two sessions, as investors returned their focus to tight supply despite nagging fears of a potential global recession.

Brent crude futures were up US$3.96, or 3.9 per cent, at US$104.65 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed US$4.20, or 4.3 per cent, to US$102.73 a barrel.

Trade was volatile. At session lows, prices were down about US$2.

Wall Street's main indexes opened higher, making up for some losses last week tied to recession fears as central banks aggressively hike interest rates to fight inflation.

"With Russian oil supplies set to drop as the year progresses and it runs out of Western parts to maintain fields, and with the rest of [the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries] OPEC hopelessly uninvested in maintaining production capacity, I fear the days of US$100 oil will be with us for some time yet," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA. On the supply side, traders are bracing for oil supply disruptions at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which has been told by a Russian court to suspend activity for 30 days.

Exports via the CPC, which handles about one per cent of global oil supplies, were still flowing as of Wednesday morning.

Further squeezing global supplies, Washington tightened sanctions on OPEC member Iran on Wednesday, pressuring Tehran as it seeks to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal and unleash its exports. read more Oil prices have dropped in the past few weeks as investors worried that a sharp economic slowdown could slam demand for commodities.

"Margin call selling that appeared to spur much of this week’s price plunge has likely been completed," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois.

US crude oil stockpiles rose by 8.2 million barrels last week, driven by an increase in inventories and as refiners cut output, the Energy Information Administration said. read more However, product supplied, the best proxy for US consumer demand, was up in the latest week to 20.5 million bpd.

"Almost every indicator in that report seems to suggest that just demand is gaining momentum," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures group.

On Wednesday, Brent and WTI settled at their lowest since April 11. On Tuesday, WTI slid eight per cent while Brent tumbled nine per cent – a US$10.73 drop that was the third biggest for the contract since it started trading in 1988.

"Recession fears continue to grow and that obviously does raise some concerns for the demand outlook," said Warren Patterson, ING's head of commodity research.

"However, supportive fundamentals should mean that further downside is relatively limited." (Reuters)

Putin warns the West Ukraine “heading for tragedy”

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused the West of decades of aggression towards Moscow and warned that if it wanted to attempt to beat Russia on the battlefield it was welcome to try, but this would bring tragedy for Ukraine.

His remarks came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared for a closed-door Foreign Ministers’ meeting at a G20 gathering in Indonesia today which will be the first time Putin's top diplomat comes face-to-face with the most vocal opponents of the invasion of Ukraine in February.

In Ukraine, the regional governor of the north-eastern city of Kharkiv said late on Thursday that three people had been killed and

T

In May, Haitian gang leader Joly "Yonyon" Germine became the first defendant charged in the crime that brought global attention to the power of gangs in the Caribbean nation. He has pleaded not guilty.

Two of the hostages were released in November, and three more in December.

The group that organised the missionaries' trip, Christian Aid Ministries, later said the remaining hostages escaped.

another five wounded after Russian forces shelled the city.

Russian forces also shelled other potential conquests in eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected new offensive.

"We have heard many times that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but it seems that everything is heading towards this," Putin said in tele-

James Caan: Oscar-nominated actor and “Godfather” star dies at 82

U

James Caan

S actor James Caan, who rose to fame for his portrayal of Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather”, has died aged 82.

A leading man in Hollywood throughout the 1970s whose career spanned decades; he was nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy and four Golden Globes.

Caan's family thanked fans on Thursday for an "outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences".

The New Yorker, known

Haitian charged for role in 2021 kidnapping of missionaries

he US Justice Department on Thursday said it had charged a Haitian gang member with hostage-taking for his role in the kidnapping of 16 American missionaries last year.

Jean Pelice is a member of the 400 Mawozo gang and was transferred into US custody on May 16, according to the statement from the Department, which also said the criminal complaint was unsealed on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with parliamentary leaders in Moscow, Russia, July 7, 2022 (Sputnik/ Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via Reuters)

vised remarks to parliamentary leaders.

The West had failed in its attempt to contain Russia, and its sanctions on Moscow had caused difficulties but "not on the scale intended", Putin added. Russia did not reject peace talks, but the further the conflict went, the harder it would be to reach agreement, he said.

Earlier, Kyiv lost one of its main international supporters after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would step down.

Ukraine said it expected Britain's support to continue and thanked Johnson for defending Ukraine's interests, while Moscow did not conceal its delight at the political demise of a leader whom it has long criticised for arming Kyiv so energetically. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Haiti on Thursday commemorates the one-year anniversary of the murder of President Jovenel Moïse, whose killing created a power vacuum and allowed the country's gangs to expand their territory and even take over the headquarters of the nation's courts.

Pelice made his first appearance on Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the Justice Department said. (Reuters)

for his partying lifestyle, was married four times and leaves behind five children.

Among the tributes to

Caan, fellow actor Gary Sinise wrote on Twitter that it had been "wonderful to know him and call him a pal", while filmmaker Rob Reiner said he "loved working with him".

Comedian Andy Richter said he had been "lucky enough, after a lifetime of loving [Caan's] work, to get to work with him and I loved him as a person even more...

They say never meet your heroes, but he proved that to be very wrong".

Born to a butcher in the Bronx, Caan initially planned on pursuing

a career as an American Football player.

He took to acting when he began studying at Hofstra University, where he met Francis Ford Coppola - his director in “The Godfather”.

After a string of minor TV and film appearances, Caan finally got his big break in 1965, when he starred in two Howard Hawks films: “Red Line 7000” and “El Dorado”.

But it was 1972's mob drama epic “The Godfather” that saw him become a household name. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Boris Johnson quits as UK Prime Minister, dragged down by scandals

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candal-ridden Boris Johnson announced on Thursday he would quit as British Prime Minister after he dramatically lost the support of his Ministers and most Conservative lawmakers, but said he would stay on until his successor was chosen.

Bowing to the inevitable as more than 50 Government Ministers and aides quit and lawmakers said he must go, an isolated and powerless Johnson said it was clear his party wanted someone else in charge, but that his forced departure was "eccentric" and the result of "herd instinct" in Parliament.

"Today I have appointed a cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place," Johnson said outside his Downing Street office where his speech was watched by close allies and his wife Carrie.

"I know that there will

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement at Downing Street in London, Britain, July 7, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them's the breaks," he added, making no apology for the events that forced his announcement.

His term in office was ended by scandals that included

breaches of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules, a luxury renovation of his official residence and the appointment of a Minister who had been accused of sexual misconduct.

There were cheers and applause as he began his speech, while boos rang out from some outside the gates of Downing Street. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill; the consequences will leave you in a precarious position. Stay calm and look for alternatives that make your life easier and your relationships better.

Emotional situations will escalate quickly. Have another plan in place if something goes awry. Be true to yourself, and don’t believe secondhand information. Rethink your goal.

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Focus on how you look and what you do for others. How you handle those around you and what you put up with will determine the outcome.

Don’t overlook what makes you happy.

Pay attention.

Participate, and do your best to make a difference. How you reach out to others and what you are willing to do will speak volumes about your character, integrity and desire to do what’s right.

Work to get along with everyone. It will be easy to get into an emotional spat with someone if exaggeration occurs. Precision and attention to detail will be necessary.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Get fired up about what you want to do, and don’t stop until you bring about positive change. A move, trip or educational pursuit will help you take your attributes in an exciting direction.

You’ll face opposition if you try to make unpopular changes. Find out what the majority wants. Market what you have to offer, and aggressively seek approval. Build a strong base.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don’t let desire or greed lead you astray. Consider what you can offer and who you want to help. Paying attention to what’s essential will make you feel good about what you do and who you are.

Dedication and hard work will not go unnoticed. Stop anyone who interferes or tries to lead you astray. Focus on home improvement and getting along with loved ones. Don’t exaggerate.

Ask friends, relatives and peers to help you make your home into a fun gathering place for everyone to enjoy.

Understanding what others desire or expect will help you gain popularity.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

You’ll face opposition when dealing with sensitive issues. If you let anger take the reins, you will face a stalemate. Look inward and concentrate on self-improvement instead of trying to change others.

Deal with money matters first and foremost. Spontaneous purchases will end up costing more than you can afford. Be wary of a forceful sales pitch.

Stick close to home. Think big; be moderate.

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

21

GAW Women’s team is balanced -Captain Stafanie Taylor optimistic about prospect of WCPL

G

GAW Women’s Captain Stafanie Taylor

uyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Women’s team captain Stafanie Taylor has tons of experience in the shorter format of cricket under her belt, being the only World Cup-winning Women’s captain in the Caribbean region.

With the first Women’s CPL tournament approaching, Taylor is both excited and optimistic about what the tournament can do to boost the female cricket talent in the region.

“Having a CPL for women is a huge deal. I mean, going away to play in franchise

cricket and to see that we have our own league now is fantastic, and it’s great for development of women’s cricket. So, I personally am really glad to see that come about now, and hope that in the future we have more franchise teams,” Taylor said during the Hero CPL Player Draft on Thursday morning.

Shifting focus to the team under her charge, Taylor figured that the GAW Women’s team has the right amount of balance necessary to go all the way. She said about the local women’s franchise, “I find that

the team is very balanced, and I’m hoping that we come out victors. Yeah, it would be really nice to, you know, be in the same place, coming in August where everyone gets to gel and get ready for the tournament.”

Quizzed by CPL’s Alex Jordan about what the Women’s CPL can do for players and the development of the game in the Caribbean, Taylor answered in the affirmative, as she anticipated the preparation and scouting that would occur for the women’s international tournaments next year.

“Such introduction is really good for the development. A few of us are getting older, and it would be really nice to get some new faces out. I think, with this tournament, we could see a lot more new faces, you know, young players coming through,” Taylor explained.

She further stated, “Coming up for the under-19, you’ll definitely see some promising players that I hope will go on to play for West Indies. Yeah, I’ve been saying it for a long time: that the next generation will be good for the game, and with the CPL now,

that will definitely happen.”

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Women’s Team currently reads: Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Shemaine Campbelle (Vice-Captain), Rashada Williams, Rachael Vincent, Kaysia Schultz, Chedean Nation, CherryAnn Fraser, Shamilia Connell, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi and Zaida James.

No international signings have been announced for the women’s franchises as yet; it is expected at a later date. Each team has 3 international spots to fill.

Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon semifinal

R

afael Nadal, with an abdominal injury, has withdrawn from his Wimbledon semi-final match against Nick Kyrgios.

The 36-year-old Spanish second seed received treatment during his quarter-final against Taylor Fritz on Wednesday, but pushed through the pain to win in five sets.

“I have tried a lot of times in my career to keep going, but it is obvious the injury will get worse,” he said.

Kyrgios will play Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie in Sunday’s final.

Nadal confirmed he has a tear in his abdominal muscle, which means he would not be able to be competitive over two matches.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion had practised at Wimbledon away from the media earlier on Thursday, but then called a news

conference.

“Throughout the whole day, I have been thinking about the decision to make,” Nadal told reporters. “I think it doesn’t make sense to play. I feel very sad to say that.”

Nadal had strapping on his abdomen during his fourth-round match, but was in visible pain from the injury against Fritz. He took a medical timeout during the match, and ignored calls from his father and sister to quit, before somehow rallying to win.

The two-time Wimbledon champion had been on course for a calendar Grand Slam, having won the Australian and French Opens already this year.

’Happiness more important than titles’

Nadal had been a doubt for Wimbledon because of a chronic

foot condition which he had to manage during his run to a recordextending 14th French Open title last month.

He had performed well at the All England Club, but was visibly struggling during the match against Fritz. His serve was noticeably affected by the injury, and he said on Thursday that he could not serve “at a normal speed”.

“I can’t imagine myself winning two matches, and for respect to myself, in some way, I don’t want to go out and not be competitive enough,” Nadal said. “A couple of weeks ago I saw my career very different because of the foot injury. The most important thing is happiness more than any titles.

I can’t risk that match and stay two or three months out of the competition. I am very sad, and it is a very tough one.”

Kyrgios wished Nadal well in a

social media post, adding: “We all hope to see you healthy soon.”

Nadal does not regret finishing Fritz match

Nadal has had a stunning year so far, despite playing much of it in pain from various injuries. He began the year by rallying from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and lift the Australian Open title. He won his first 20 matches of the year, before losing the Indian Wells final to Fritz, where he was hampered by a rib injury.

Nadal then won the French Open with no feeling in his left foot, as it was anaesthetised because of chronic pain.

He suffers from Mueller-Weiss syndrome - a rare degenerative condition that affects bones in the feet - and shortly after his Paris triumph, he had a treatment that

places heat on the nerves to numb pain.

Nadal said it was the right decision to finish his match against Fritz, adding he was not a person to have regrets over decisions he makes.

“I had this feeling in the abdomen for the past week,”

he said. “It will be three or four weeks, which is normal for these kinds of injuries.

“I hope this will allow me to do my normal calendar, the calendar which I have in mind.”

The US Open, which begins on 29 August, is the next Grand Slam tournament. (BBC Sport)

Edwin Allen ‘speed twins’ to go pro, join MVP, according to report

GFF/Women’s Development League…

Santos and Police record comfortable victories

The Clayton twins - Tia (r) and Tina (l) - with eight-time Olympic gold medallist and 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt, after their 1-2 finish in the 100m at the 49th edition of the Carifta Games at the National Stadium in Kingston in April

E Santos’s goal scorers, from left: Akeelah Vancooten, Breann Solomon, Alexandra Baptist and Rose Flue

W

hen the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Development League (WDL) continued on Monday last at the GFF National Training Centre, Santos FC got past New Amsterdam United 102, while Police FC arrested

Tiandi Smith (left), Annalise Vincent, Shantel Green, Melina Larson, Marta Chane, and Siasi Adams – Police FC scorers

Potaro Strikers of Bartica 15-1.

Contesting the feature match, Santos was led by Akellah Vancooten, who was on target on five occasions during the encounter. Rose Flue tucked in a hat-trick, while one goal each came from Breeann Solomon and Alexandra Baptist.

Latest Points Table Pos Club P 1 Fruta Conquerors 3 2 GDF FC 2 3 Police FC 2 4 Santos 2 5 Pakuri Jaguars 1 6 NA United 1 7 Potaro Strikers 1 8 Foxy Ladies 1 9 Essequibo 10 Bartica All Stars 11 Milerock W 12 Orealla Falcons 13 Moruca 14 Coomacka 15 Swan 1

W 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0

D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

Police took on Potaro Strikers in the opening match, and made light work of their opponents, thanks to a sevengoal performance from national player Annalise Vincent, whose teammate at the national level, Tiandi Smith, scored a hat-trick. Siasi Adams netted GF 33 8 19 10 0 2 1 0 0

GA 4 0 1 6 4 10 15 14 19

GD +29 +8 +18 +4 -4 -8 -14 -14 -19

twice, and one goal each came from Shantel Green, Melina Larson, and Marta Chane.

Matches will continue today as per the fixtures below.

Upcoming Fixtures Thu 07:07:22-16:00hrs - NTC - Pakuri Jaguars vs Orealla Falcons -18:00hrs - Leonora Santos vs Fruta Conquerors Points -20:00hrs - Foxy Ladies vs Police 6 6 Sat 09:07:22 - 16:00hrs - St 6 Cuthbert - Pakuri Jaguars 3 vs Essequibo All-Stars 0 -13:00hrs - NTC - Coomacka 0 0 United vs NA United 0 -15:00hrs Orealla Falcons vs GDF -18:00hrs Bartica Potaro Strikers vs Santos -20:00hrs - Bartica All-Stars vs Fruta Conquerors 0

dwin Allen High School speed twins – Tina and Tia Clayton – will go pro and join the MVP Track Club, according to a report published in the Jamaica Observer.

The twins, who turn 18 on August 17, have been standout high school athletes for the past few years, with Tina developing more quickly than her sister Tia over the past couple of seasons.

Both were members of Jamaica’s 4x100m team that set a world record 42.94s at the World U20 Champions in Nairobi, Kenya last year. Both were also members of the team that ran 42.58, a world record at the 2022 Carifta Games held at the National Stadium in Kingston in April. However, that time was not ratified by World Athletics when Jamaican authorities failed to test Tia, who had won the 100m title the night before.

At the National Championships at the end of June, Tina, the World U20 100m champion, set a new national U20 record of 10.96, breaking

the previous record of 10.97 set by Tokyo Olympic gold relay medallist Briana Williams.

Tia, the Carifta Games silver medallist, who was third at the National Championships, boasts a personal best of 11.25.

Sources have indicated that on the basis of the incredible performance by Tina at the National Championships, several potential sponsors have been chasing their signatures, but according to a report in the Jamaica Observer, one of those companies managed to move ahead of the rest and seal a deal that would see the girls ending their respective impressive high school careers.

At MVP, Tina and Tia Clayton will most likely be under the guidance of Stephen Francis, who has enjoyed tremendous success over the past decade with twotime Olympic champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah, the only woman to win the 100/200m double at consecutive Olympic Games. (Sportsmax)

22

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bangladesh vs West Indies: T20I series, game 3 of 3…

Prolific Pooran, masterful Mayers lead West Indies to T20I series win including a six over extracover. He and Afif Hossain stitched together a 47-run partnership for the third wicket. Das missed out on his half-century, scoring 49 from 41 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Captain Mahmudullah partnered Hossain at 99-3 in 12.5 overs, and the duo looked to finish the innings

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ENTERTAINMENT Afif Hossain struck an even fifty at Providence

By Brandon Corlette

I

nternational cricket returned to Providence for the first time since July 2021 when approximately 500 spectators watched West Indies beat Bangladesh by five wickets in the third and final T20I. On the back of Kyle Mayers's maiden T20I fifty and Nicholas Pooran's ninth T20I fifty, West Indies ended on 169-5 in 18.2 overs, to claim the three-match series 2-0.

West Indies began the chase with Brandon King slamming left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed for a six over mid-wicket. He then attempted to play a lofted shot but found mid-on, and was dismissed for seven, with West Indies on 9-1 in the first over.

Shamarh Brooks came and played some shots that were easy on the eyes in making a run-a-ball 12, and the West Indies were reduced to 22-2 in 3.2 overs.

Odean Smith was promoted to number four, but he was trapped for two, placing West Indies at 43-3 in 6.1 overs.

“Player of the match” and “player of the series”, Nicholas Pooran, joined Mayers, and the duo took control. Mayers then took on Ahmed, clipping him for a boundary and smoking him for a six over long-off. Mayers played the shot of the match, a 90-metre pull-shot over square leg that took their partnership past 50. Mayers and Pooran added 85 runs for the fourthwicket, a stand that took the game out of Bagladesh's reach.

Mayers eventually hit one up in the air and was caught for 55 from 38 balls. He had an innings that was

laced with five sixes and two fours.

Rovman Powell, looking for a six over long-off, found the fielder and was caught for five, placing the West Indies at 1535, requiring 11 from 16 balls.

However, the Trinidadian duo of Akeal Hosein and Nicholas Pooran ensured no further hiccups as West Indies stormed to an easy five-wicket win in 18.2 overs.

Captain Pooran, who sealed the match with a six down long-off, ended the game on 74 from 39 balls. His innings included five fours and five sixes. Nasum Ahmed had 2-44 for Bangladesh.

Kyle Mayers scored a maiden T20I fifty

on a high. At that stage, more spectators entered Providence, and Hossain was looking to entertain. He took Shepherd for 16 runs in the 16th over, and Bangladesh were in control at 129-3 after 16 overs.

Bangladesh captain

two sixes. He was run out by the sharp Rovman Powell with Bangladesh on 150-5 in 18.5 overs.

Mosaddek Hossain came and struck two boundaries to propel Bangladesh to 163-5 when overs expired.

Walsh was the pick of the

Dass missed out on his fifty

Hossain and Das prop up Bangladesh Earlier, Bangladesh had won the toss and opted to bat first.

Despite overnight and morning showers, Providence was ready to host the match from 14:00h with the full quota of 20 overs.

Dominic Drakes came into the team, replacing the unwell Keemo Paul.

Bangladesh reached 35, and then lost their first wicket when Anamul Haque was caught by Akeal Hosein for 10 off Odean Smith.

Das continued to play some delightful shots, while Shakib Al Hasan looked to threaten. However, he was removed by son of the soil Romario Shepherd at 42-2 after 5.3 overs. While the surface was not of the quickest, Das played s o m e swe et shots,

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The Shepherd family entering Providence (Brandon Corlette photo)

Mahmudullah then attempted to reverse, but was trapped leg-before for 22 by Hayden Walsh, carrying the innings to 148-4 and ending a 49run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Hossain was then run out for a 38-ball 50, which was decorated with two fours and

Windies bowlers with 2-25 in four overs. Smith was expensive with 1-34 from three overs, yielding 20 runs in the 12th over. Shepherd picked up 1-19 in two overs.

The teams will shift focus to the ODI series, starting on Sunday July 10 from 9:30h Eastern Caribbean time.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH INNINGS Litton Das c Hosein b Walsh 49 Anamul Haque c Hosein b Smith 10 Shakib Al Hasan c Smith b Shepherd 5 Afif Hossain run out (Powell/ †Pooran) 50 Mahmudullah (c) lbw b Walsh 22 Nurul Hasan † not out 2 Mosaddek Hossain not out 10 Extras (b 2, lb 3, nb 1, w 9) 15 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.15) 163/5 Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Anamul Haque, 4.3 ov), 2-42 (Shakib Al Hasan, 5.3 ov), 3-99 (Litton Das, 12.5 ov), 4-148 (Mahmudullah, 18.3 ov), 5-150 (Afif Hossain, 18.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Kyle Mayers 2-0-14-0 Obed McCoy 4-0-29-0 Akeal Hosein 4-0-31-0 Odean Smith 3-0-34-1 Romario Shepherd 2-0-19-1 Dominic Drakes 1-0-6-0 Hayden Walsh 4-0-25-2 Nicholas Pooran slammed his ninth fifty

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WEST INDIES INNINGS Brandon King c Mahmudullah b Nasum Ahmed 7 Kyle Mayers c Mahedi Hasan b Nasum Ahmed 55 Shamarh Brooks c Anamul Haque b Mahedi Hasan 12 Odean Smith lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 2 Nicholas Pooran (c)† not out 74 Rovman Powell c Liton Das b Afif Hossain 5 Akeal Hosein not out 3 Extras (b 2, lb 1, w 8) 11 TOTAL 18.2 Ov (RR: 9.21) 169/5 Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Brandon King, 0.6 ov), 2-22 (Shamarh Brooks, 3.2 ov), 3-43 (Odean Smith, 6.1 ov), 4-128 (Kyle Mayers, 14.4 ov), 5-153 (Rovman Powell, 17.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Nasum Ahmed 4-0-44-2 Mahedi Hasan 4-0-21-1 Shakib Al Hasan 2-0-10-1 Mosaddek Hossain 4-0-34-0 Mustafizur Rahman 2-0-27-0 Shoriful Islam 1-0-13-0

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FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Hope, Nandu, Sinclair drafted; Permaul, Beaton return

T

he Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), like the other 5 franchises in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), have announced t h e

remainder of their team for the 2022 season of the regional franchise tournament.

After naming a balanced but electric group of international players, the Warriors sought to draft another balanced group that would certainly boost the already talented batting and bowling departments.

According to the draft rules, after retaining/signing up to five locals and a maximum of 5 international players, the teams are required to select two emerging players. Those players d o not necessarily need to be from the West Indies’ recent Under-19 teams, but being

uncapped is a requirement.

When it was the Warriors’ turn at the draft, leading West Indian batsman Shai Hope headlined the Warriors’ draft picks, being scooped up in Round 8. Another batsman that is seeing success at the international level is Jermain Blackwood. He also heads to the Land of Many Waters, having being drafted in Round 12.

In Round 13, Veerasammy Permaul came back home to Guyana, after a few years with the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise in recent years.

Ronsford Beaton, another player that is making a return, will feature in his first Regional T20 franchise tournament since having had to correct his bowling action. He was Warriors’ Round 15 pick.

For the Warriors’ emerging players, under-19 Cricket World Cup centurion Matthew Nandu was drafted in Round 16, while Junior Sinclair, an

off spinner hailing from Berbice, also earned his maiden call up to the local franchise in Round 17.

T h e remainder of the Warriors’ franchise reads: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Heinrich Klassen, Keemo Paul, and Gudakesh Motie.

The Hero CPL will bowl off on Wednesday, August 31, in St Kitts and Nevis before moving to St. Lucia on September 7.

The tournament then heads to Trinidad and Tobago on September 13, and later to Guyana on September 21, where it will conclude on Friday, September 30.

CPL squads stacked with International and rising stars

T

he Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022 squads were announced

on Thursday morning, and the squads are stacked with a host of international superstars

and some rising stars.

During the draft, West Indies Test spinner Rahkeem

Cornwall has moved from the Saint Lucia Kings to join the Barbados Royals. The Royals also picked up exciting young batter Teddy Bishop and seamer Nyeem Young.

The Jamaica Tallawahs picked up Trinidadian batter Amir Jangoo and experienced Barbadian seam bowler Raymon Reifer.

The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots re-drafted Test wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva and Jon Russ Jaggesar, and have brought in Keacy Carty and Jaden Carmichael.

Saint Lucia Kings have picked up Akeem Auguste, who captained West Indies

at the 2022 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, along with Preston McSween and Leroy Lugg.

The power-packed Trinbago Knight Riders redrafted the experienced Khary Pierre along with fellow Trinidadians Anderson Phillip and Terrence Hinds.

Saint Lucia Kings and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots each have one overseas spot yet to be filled. Those players will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2022 men’s Hero CPL tournament will take place from August 31 to September 30. The host countries for 2022 will be St Kitts & Nevis,

Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana.

The first running of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) will be in 2022, and will feature Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders. The WCPL will take place in St Kitts & Nevis from August 31 to September 4.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots are the current Hero CPL champions, and the other competing teams are Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, Saint Lucia Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders.

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

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

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