Guyana Times - Friday May 20, 2022

Digicel makes donation to assist voluntary after-school lessons P15

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

Issue No. 5014

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

PRICE

Agri-Investment Forum and Expo

C’bean cannot continue to import what it can produce – President Ali

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

74-year-old man latest COVID fatality, 62 new cases recorded P14

See story on page 3

G/town vendor nabbed with ganja after disembarking boat at P10 Bartica

...commits to moving Region forward in its "25 by 2025" vision Heads of State of Caricom at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo on Thursday at the National Cultural Centre, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. Also in photo is Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett

Regional trade barriers must be dismantled – Caricom leaders

24 Training Officers P15 graduate from "Trainthe-Trainers" programme

See story on page 7

...current trade restrictions imposed by some countries have negative impact – PM Mottley

Invest in shipping CCJ orders GRA to move food to repay $45M within the in wrongfullydeducted Caribbean – Montserrat income tax Caribbean must rid itself of dependency on food imports – Caricom SG Page 16

See story on page 9

Page 12

…Vision 25 by 2025 is more than a “catchy slogan” – Chairman

5-year-old P17 critical after found hanging from tree Father of 4 freed on drug trafficking P14 charge

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, May 20 – 22:00h-23:30h and Saturday, May 21 – 22:00h-23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, May 20 – 07:20h-08:50h and Saturday, May 21 – 08:20h-09:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers are expected during the day and night with instances of thunder. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 07:23h and 20:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.33 metres.

Low Tide: 13:34h reaching a minimum height of 0.66 metre.

Agri-Investment Forum and Expo

C’bean cannot continue to import what it can produce – President Ali

...commits to moving Region forward in its "25 by 2025" vision

R

eiterating Guyana’s position that it is ready to lead the Caribbean to achieve food security, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday underscored that the Region can no longer import what it can already produce.

The Guyanese leader, in his address at the opening of the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, at the National Cultural Centre on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, expressed that the region is ready to move forward in the food production system, as he re-emphasised the need to take action now.

President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

03 13 14

16 26 28

FREE TICKET

18 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

03 04 07 10 13 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

02 04 06 12 13 18 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

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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

$111.7 /barrel

-0.33

Rough Rice

$304.2 /ton

-0.59

London Sugar

$553.00/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1840.50

$1841.50

Low/High Change

$1810.70 - 1.00

$1850.30 -0.05%

A packed National Cultural Centre on Thursday

Among dignitaries gathered at the opening ceremony were Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceño; Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit; Prime Minister of Trinidad, Dr Keith Rowley; Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell; and Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Isaac Chester Cooper.

“We, the leaders of Caricom, through this AgriInvestment Forum, must send a strong message. We must correct the imbalance… As a region, we cannot continue the importation of billions of dollars in products that we can produce right here.

“Vision 2025 is looking at investments by countries to collectively reduce these imports by 25 per cent,” Ali underlined.

Together, countries within the regional bloc have thrown their support behind an agricultural agenda that would ultimately reduce imports and enable a sense of self-sufficiency. According to Ali, all issues to ensure a

smooth and sustainable system are on the table.

“Together, we are ready to move forward in every as-

pect of the food production system: from production; trading; trade relations; issues of markets, barriers,

transport, and logistics.

Every single issue is on the table, because we recognise if we cannot address these issues in a collective, multifaceted manner, then we will not be able to bring the longterm solutions,” he said.

In dealing with challenges confronting the agricultural sector, Ali pointed towards support from the Private Sector. These extend to financing, logistics, transport, improving agro-processing, and linking markets. He highlighted reports which signalled severe food insecurity increasing by 72 per cent within the last year.

Moreover, the costs of key commodities are positioned to rise even further in coming years. This year, wheat prices are projected to increase by 40 per cent. Global use of cereal, wheat, corn and soya would increase to three billion tonnes by 2030, of which developing countries would account for 90 per cent.

Current inflated costs for food products have been driven by a 100 per cent increase in fertilisers. Caricom has also reported a 17.1 per cent increase in transport expenditure linked to higher charter rates.

In light of this, Ali commented, “The challenge for developing countries and us in Caricom is not only the rise in prices, but the supply. As the vaccination war taught us, our position in the line is definitely not in front.”

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 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

Corporate Social Responsibility

E

very business seeks to maximise its profits, but Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would seem to contradict this logic by taking away some of the company’s resources.

At its heart, Corporate Social Responsibility is about an organisation taking responsibility for the impacts of its decisions and activities on all aspects of society, the community, and the environment. Corporate Social Responsibility is more than just donating money; it’s about contributing to the health and welfare of society, and operating transparently and ethically. More importantly, this way of operating should be embedded in the business, rather than as an afterthought.

What many may not know is that Corporate Social Responsibility also helps to build a good corporate reputation.

In other words, companies agree to do more for society than simply creating jobs and paying wages and taxes with the expectation of some reward — such as a good reputation or a competitive advantage in the local market.

Corporate philanthropy can serve to promote solidarity in a society in which different groups agree on what is ethical and beneficial, according to the researchers. In societies built on this consensus model, CSR can smooth out the effects of economic inequality, and corporations voluntarily support public benefit projects to achieve this goal.

It can be understood that CSR helps to build a reputation as a responsible business and as a good citizen.

Keeping social responsibility front of mind encourages businesses to act ethically, and to consider the social and environmental impacts of their operations. In doing so, organisations can avoid or mitigate detrimental impacts of their business on the community. In some cases, organisations would find ways to make in their services or value chain changes that actually deliver benefits for the community, where they once didn’t.

In addition, CSR supports public value outcomes; put simply, public value is about the value that an organisation contributes to society. A sound, robust Corporate Social Responsibility framework and organisational mindset can genuinely help organisations deliver public value outcomes by focusing on how their services can make a difference in the community.

This might happen indirectly — where an organisation’s services enable others to contribute to the community — or directly, through the organisation’s own activities, such as volunteerism and philanthropy.

Another benefit of a strong Corporate Social Responsibility framework is that it is essential to building and maintaining trust between the company and clients. It can strengthen ties, build alliances, and foster strong working relationships with both existing and new clients. One way this can be achieved is by offering pro-bono or similar services where a company can partner with not-for-profit organisations to support their public value outcomes, where funds or resources may be limited.

In turn, this helps deliver public value outcomes that may not have been delivered otherwise. Studies have shown that a robust Corporate Social Responsibility framework can also help a company become more attractive to potential future employees who are looking for workplaces with socially responsible practices, community-mindedness, and sound ethics.

The era of social enterprises is upon us. Now more so than ever before, the most successful, respected, and desirable businesses exist to do much more than make money; they exist to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Study after study has shown that socially responsible businesses (aka social enterprises) not only provide sustainable business models, but also have improved marketing, employee recruitment, employee satisfaction, legal treatment, customer loyalty, brand perception, and richer partnerships.

Connecting Mahdia and Bartica, the Denham Suspension Bridge, also known as the Garraway Stream Bridge, hangs over the Potaro River. One of Guyana’s oldest infrastructural landmarks, the Denham Bridge was named after Sir Edward Brandis Denham, who served as Governor of Guyana from 1930 to 1935. The bridge was declared open by Governor Denham on November 8, 1933. After more than 30 years of closure, the bridge was rehabilitated in 2019-2020, and has been reopened to vehicular traffic at a maximum weight of 10 tons (Jermaine Massiah photo)

The banks collapsed in 2008 – and our food system is about to do the same

By George Monbiot

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or the past few years, scientists have been frantically sounding an alarm that Governments refuse to hear: the global food system is beginning to look like the global financial system in the run-up to 2008.

While financial collapse would have been devastating to human welfare, food system collapse doesn’t bear thinking about. Yet the evidence that something is going badly wrong has been escalating rapidly. The current surge in food prices looks like the latest sign of systemic instability.

Many people assume that the food crisis was caused by a combination of the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. While these are important factors, they aggravate an underlying problem. For years, it looked as if hunger was heading for extinction. The number of undernourished people fell from 811 million in 2005 to 607 million in 2014. But in 2015, the trend began to turn. Hunger has been rising ever since: to 650 million in 2019, and back to 811 million in 2020. This year is likely to be much worse.

Now brace yourself for the really bad news: this has happened at a time of great abundance. Global food production has been rising steadily for more than half a century, comfortably beating population growth. Last year, the global wheat harvest was bigger than ever.

Astoundingly, the number of undernourished people began to rise just as world food prices began to fall. In

2014, when fewer people were hungry than at any time since, the global food price index stood at 115 points. In 2015, it fell to 93, and remained below 100 until 2021.

Only in the past two years has it surged. The rise in food prices is now a major driver of inflation, which reached nine per cent in the UK last month. Food is becoming unaffordable even to many people in rich nations.

The impact in poorer countries is much worse.

So what has been going on? Well, global food, like global finance, is a complex system, that develops spontaneously from billions of interactions. Complex systems have counterintuitive properties. They are resilient under certain conditions, as their self-organising properties stabilise them. But as stress escalates, these same properties start transmitting shocks through the network. Beyond a certain point, a small disturbance can tip the entire system over its critical threshold, whereupon it collapses, suddenly and unstoppably.

We now know enough about systems to predict whether they might be resilient or fragile. Scientists represent complex systems as a mesh of nodes and links.

The nodes are like the knots in an old-fashioned net; the links are the strings that connect them. In the food system, the nodes include the corporations trading grain, seed and farm chemicals, the major exporters and importers and the ports through which food passes.

The links are their commercial and institutional rela-

tionships.

If the nodes behave in a variety of ways, and their links to each other are weak, the system is likely to be resilient. If certain nodes become dominant, start to behave in similar ways and are strongly connected, the system is likely to be fragile. In the approach to the 2008 crisis, the big banks developed similar strategies and similar ways of managing risk, as they pursued the same sources of profit. They became strongly linked to each other in ways that regulators scarcely understood.

When Lehman Brothers failed, it threatened to pull everyone down.

So here’s what sends cold fear through those who study the global food system. In recent years, just as in finance during the 2000s, key nodes in the food system have swollen, their links have become stronger, business strategies have converged and synchronised, and the features that might impede systemic collapse (“redundancy”, “modularity”, “circuit breakers” and “backup systems”) have been stripped away, exposing the system to “globally contagious” shocks.

On one estimate, just four corporations control 90 per cent of the global grain trade. The same corporations have been buying into seed, chemicals, processing, packing, distribution, and retail. In the course of 18 years, the number of trade connections between the exporters and importers of wheat and rice doubled.

Nations are now polarising into super-importers and super-exporters. Much of this

trade passes through vulnerable chokepoints, such as the Turkish Straits (now obstructed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), the Suez and Panama Canals and the Straits of Hormuz, Bab-elMandeb and Malacca.

One of the fastest cultural shifts in human history is the convergence towards a “Global Standard Diet”. While our food has become locally more diverse, globally it has become less diverse. Just four crops – wheat, rice, maize and soy – account for almost 60 per cent of the calories grown by farmers. Their production is now highly concentrated in a handful of nations, including Russia and Ukraine.

The Global Standard Diet is grown by the Global Standard Farm, supplied by the same corporations with the same packages of seed, chemicals and machinery, and vulnerable to the same environmental shocks.

The food industry is becoming tightly coupled to the financial sector, increasing what scientists call the “network density” of the system, making it more susceptible to cascading failure. Around the world, trade barriers have come down and roads and ports upgraded, streamlining the global network.

You might imagine that this smooth system would enhance food security. But it has allowed companies to shed the costs of warehousing and inventories, switching from stocks to flows. Mostly, this just-in-time strategy works. But if deliveries are interrupted or there’s a rapid surge in demand, shelves can suddenly empty.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

5

News

Guyana commits to assist in finding solutions to address global food security concerns – endorses roadmap to curb ongoing food crisis

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Jailing Girmitiyas

By Guyanese of Indian Ancestry Association

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n British Guiana, there was an infamous statement made by a planter: that the place for Girmitiyas “should be in the fields, in the hospitals, or in jail”. He was brought to provide labour, and ensured he did that...

Uniquely, while the “Girmit”, or Indentureship “agreement”, was a civil contract, breaches were criminal offences that could result in imprisonment, fines, or both. In most instances, the fines were so onerous that the immigrant was forced to accept imprisonment, which generally ranged from two weeks to two months.

In the fields

The Girmitiyas could be prosecuted for refusing to start work, or leave work unfinished; absenteeism without permission; disorderly of threatening behaviour; neglect, or even drunkenness. While, technically, Girmitiyas could take the managers to court, they saw this as “trying the Devil in Hell”, and most refused to do so. The magistrates who pronounced on these charges were generally friendly to the planters. According to one report, “the planter won 91 per cent of his cases; the Indian only 38 per cent.”

In 1874, for example, there were 4,936 persons in the Georgetown prison, and 3148 were indentured labourers. By 1884, out of a total Indian indentured adult population of 15,251, 2043 were in jail out of the total prison population of 4659. That is, 13 per cent of Indentured were in jail, and they formed 44 per cent of the prison population. As late as 1907, of the 9784 Girmitiyas, 2019 were convicted due to the labour laws.

The period the Girmitiya was in jail was added to his indentured period. He earned no money while in jail, even though he was made to labour on nearby plantations as punishment. The money charged for his labour went to the prison.

ith Guyana already being proactive at the national and regional levels in efforts to achieve food security, the country has now committed to do the same on the international field to curb the ongoing food crisis around the world.

This assurance was given by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd on Wednesday at a high-level Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers at the United Nations Headquarters on “Global Food Security Call to Action.”

He was invited to the forum

by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The High-level meeting was convened to address the accelerating rises in food prices, and the shortages of fertilisers, both of which threaten to destabilise fragile societies, deepen extreme poverty, increase hunger, expand already record-high humanitarian needs, increase migration, and cause further economic dislocation.

Minister Todd in his address to the Assembly, which included United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, underscored the Government of Guyana’s commitment to finding solutions to address the global food security concerns.

He emphasised the fact that agriculture is a major anchor of Guyana’s non-oil economy, and informed that the Government’s priority is to increase domestic production as well as agro-processing capabilities, while focusing on both traditional and non-traditional crops.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted the threats posed by food insecurity to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this regard,

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd at the high-level UN meeting on Global Food Security

he outlined Guyana’s ambitious food security agenda in relation to the priorities at the national level, and at the level of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), to improve food security and resilience.

Minister Todd further noted that President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the lead Head of Government responsible for Agriculture and Agriculture Diversification and Food Security, is currently advancing Caricom’s strategy on the Agri-Food Systems Agenda: Prioritising Regional Food and Nutrition Security. The agenda aims to commercialise the agri-food sector, boost food supplies, and enhance food and nutrition security in the region; and reduce the food imports by 25 per cent by 2025.

The Minister further stated that Guyana would be hosting the 38th Session of the Food and Agriculture Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024 (LARC38).

The LARC offers a vital space for deliberation among countries of the region on priorities for the agri-food sector with a view to promoting alignment with global policy frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Guyana’s hosting of

The banks collapsed...

FROM PAGE 4

Mazaruni Prison

In addition to the Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Wakenaam Capoey (1838), and Mazaruni (1842) jails, to deal with the increased number of incarcerated Indentureds, the following jails were built: Fellowship (ECD) (1868), Mahaica (1868), Suddie (1874), Best (1879) and Number 63 Village (1888).

DID YOU KNOW? •

•

Any immigrant leaving his plantation had to have a “pass” on him, on penalty of arrest and prosecution. This was supposed to be for his own good, because it made the planters “responsible” for his being away from work.

As Girmitiyas developed the rice industry, summonses for “absence from work” and “failure to complete task” increased from 18.48% in 1896/97 to 37.8% in 1906/07.

A paper in Nature Sustainability reports that in the food system, “shock frequency has increased through time on land and sea at a global scale”.

In researching my book Regenesis, I came to realise that it’s this escalating series of contagious shocks, exacerbated by financial speculation, that has been driving global hunger.

Now the global food system must survive not only its internal frailties, but also environmental and political disruptions that might interact with each other. To give a current example, in mid-April, the Indian Government suggested that it could make up the shortfall in global food exports caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Just a month

later, it banned exports of wheat, after crops shrivelled in a devastating heatwave.

We urgently need to diversify global food production, both geographically and in terms of crops and farming techniques. We need to break the grip of massive corporations and financial speculators. We need to create backup systems, producing food by entirely different means.

We need to introduce spare capacity into a system threatened by its own efficiencies.

If so many can go hungry at a time of unprecedented bounty, the consequences of the major crop failure that environmental breakdown could cause defy imagination. The system has to change. (The Guardian) George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist

LARC38 is founded on the longstanding priority attached to efforts for the continuous development and modernisation of the agrifood sector, both locally and in the Caribbean sub-region.

On the other hand, Minister Todd also alluded to the vulnerabilities that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face – including food security concerns – and called for the finalisation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.

At conclusion of Wednesday’s high-level meeting, Guyana endorsed the chair’s Roadmap for Global Food Security – Call to Action, which outlines approaches to be taken in curbing the ongoing food crisis.

This comes on the heels of Guyana currently hosting the inaugural AgriInvestment Forum and Expo to propel the Caribbean’s drive to reduce its high food import bill and move closer towards food security.

The three-day event, which commenced on Thursday, saw the participation of several regional

leaders as well as scores of exhibitors, both local and international. It is anticipated that Guyana would be the hub for potential investment talks during the forum.

Over 250 exhibitors will be on display at the expo, with international stakeholders coming from countries such as Jamaica, the United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and Barbados. Some 82 local agro-processors are participating in the event.

During the Forum and Expo, potential investors and donors would discuss emerging opportunities for agriculture in Caricom. A matching of bankable agricultural projects with willing private and public financiers would also advance the food system agenda for the region.

However, even as global leaders look to address the accelerating food prices and the shortages of fertilisers, the Guyana Government only this week announced that $1 billion worth of fertilisers would be bought for free distribution to farmers across the country. This is expected to reduce the expenses of farmers and result in cheaper prices at the markets for food.

“This initiative will significantly reduce input cost and help ensure scaled up production and adequate supply of output, which is critical to maintaining price stability,” President Ali explained.

This measure, he noted, would be financed by the $5B allocated in Budget 2022 for the purpose of easing the impact of rising cost of living of locals.

Friday, May 20, 2022

06:00H (Sign on) Inspirational Time 06:30H Cartoons 07:00H Evening News (RB) 08:00H Stop Suffering 09:00H MasterChef Junior 10:00H House Hunter Renovation 11:00H Paternity Court 11:30H Divorce Court 12:00H Movie - Music and Lyrics (2007) 14:00H The Thundermans S2 E22 14:30H The Evermoor Chronicles S1 E21 15:00H Indian Soaps 16:00H Richie Rich S1 E3 16:30H Inspector Gadget S1 E3 17:00H The Young & The Restless 18:00H CNN 19:00H The Evening News 20:00H Stop Suffering 20:30H For Better or Worse S5 E13 21:00H Friday Night Smackdown 23:00H The Ranch S4 E1 23:30H Whose Line Is It Anyway? S12 E13 00:00H Sign off

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

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n this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate air by making a balloon expand and contract.

NB: Adult assistance required

Materials:

Two containers – each needs to be big enough to hold a two-litre soda bottle 2-litre soda bottle Ice Water Balloon

Instructions:

How it works:

Fill one container with hot water.

Please do not use boiling water.

Fill the other container with ice and then add cold water.

CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY

cell.

“It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” — René Descartes

SCENE I. Before PROSPERO'S

Enter IRIS IRIS Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom -groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn: thy poleclipt vineyard; And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air;-the queen o' the sky, Whose watery arch and messenger am I, Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace, Here on this grass-plot, in this very place, To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain: Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter CERES CERES Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;

Blow up the balloon and stretch it out to make it flexible.

Now, place the stretched-out balloon over the mouth of the soda bottle.

Place the battle in the hot water and watch the balloon slowly start to expand.

Now, remove the bottle from the hot water and place it in the ice container. The balloon will deflate and contract.

Repeat as many times as you like!

As the air molecules inside the balloon are heated up, they expand and inflate the balloon. In contrast, as the air molecules are cooled, they

Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers, And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down, Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?

IRIS A contract of true love to celebrate; And some donation freely to estate On the blest lovers.

CERES Tell me, heavenly bow, If Venus or her son, as thou dost know, Do now attend the queen?

Since they did plot The means that dusky Dis my daughter got, Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company I have forsworn.

IRIS Of her society Be not afraid: I met her deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos and her son Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but vain; Mars's hot minion is returned again;

condense and become more compact and deflate the balloon.

Make this a science project:

Try different sized bottles. Try different sized balloons. (sciencefun. org)

Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more but play with sparrows And be a boy right out.

CERES High'st queen of state, Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO JUNO How does my bounteous sister? Go with me To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be And honour'd in their issue.

They sing: JUNO Honour, riches, marriageblessing, Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joys be still upon you!

Juno sings her blessings upon you.

CERES Earth's increase, foison plenty, Barns and garners never empty, Vines and clustering bunches growing, Plants with goodly burthen bowing; Spring come to you at the farthest In the very end of harvest!

Scarcity and want shall shun you; Ceres' blessing so is on you.

FERDINAND This is a most majestic vision, and Harmoniously charmingly.

May I be bold To think these spirits?

PROSPERO Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines call'd to enact My present fancies.

FERDINAND Let me live here ever; So rare a wonder'd father and a wife Makes this place Paradise.

Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment PROSPERO Sweet, now, silence!

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously; There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

IRIS You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the windring brooks, With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels and on this green land Answer your summons; Juno does command: Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs You sunburnt sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow and be merry: Make holiday; your ryestraw hats put on And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Regional trade barriers must be dismantled – Caricom leaders

…current trade restrictions imposed by some countries have negative impact – PM Mottley

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley

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n the true sense of establishing a regional apparatus that allows for free trade among Member States, leaders within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have raised their voices to put an end to these barriers.

On the frontline of these calls is Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley as she addressed regional leaders during the AgriInvestment Forum and Expo that is currently taking place in Guyana . With countries exploring plans to provide and deliver food within the Region, Mottley noted that current trade restrictions imposed by some countries would have a negative impact.

“We need to accelerate our advocacy to remove the international trade barriers that have so strangled us. We cannot expect our

farmers to produce for us only in a crisis. They have to be able to produce all year round or we face the corpocracy of the world that continues to allow the most powerful countries to subsidise domestic agriculture while the rest of us literally have to play by rules that do not allow us to support our farmers when they most need it,” Mottley vocalised.

She added, “We have a responsibility to take preemptive action in this Region to protect our people…A crisis like no other is before us…There has to be a change in mindset.”

Sharing similar sentiments on the barriers was Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who asked fellow leaders to create linkages for goods and services.

C’bean cannot continue to import...

FROM PAGE 3

Guyana currently produces 50,000 metric tonnes of poultry, and there are plans to increase production to 90,000 tonnes by 2025.

High-value corn and soya, a new introduction for the country, would be increased from 4,300 metric tonnes to 35,000 metric tonnes.

Vegetable production would move from 324,000 tonnes to 400,000 tonnes. A current 560,000 metric tonnes of rice would increase to 847,000 metric tonnes during the projected time.

Guyana carries a food import bill of US$30 million, but investments into increased production and diversified crops are geared at reducing these importations. Over $100 million has been invested in aquaculture for brackish water shrimp-rearing, and another $150 million will be injected to boost this production by 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, research to determine the viability of

wheat production in Guyana has been remarkably successful. There have been investments in other projects, such as the shade house initiative and the black-belly sheep project.

The Guyanese Head of State related that the overarching strategy of leaders should be aimed at streamlining procedures for exports and imports; a time commitment for the removal of barriers; developing a precarious system for the export of goods, so as to reduce bureaucracy and spoilage; standardisation of certification process; technical support in developing business proposals for farmers; incentivised agricultural lands for financial institutions; greater involvement of youth and women in the production chain, among other things.

“This tells the story that we have the ability and we have the know-how to do this,” the President told his regional counterparts.

“We must also resolve to act urgently now with interest, including by honouring the terms of the Caricom treaty and not committing breaches. Countries, from time to time, impose these illegal non-tariff barriers on goods, particularly products from other Member States… The goods must reach the consumers in a way that is safe and affordable. It is up to us to work with farmers, retailers, distributors, and transporters to bring this puzzle together,” PM Browne asserted in his address.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley is currently in Guyana and met with President Dr Irfaan Ali and some of his Cabinet Ministers. However, sections of the Private Sector called on Guyana’s Government this week not to sign any agreement with the twin-island republic until certain trade barriers are removed.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) noted its awareness of the Government’s intention to establish and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the T&T Government that would target the areas of agriculture, energy, and national security. The Chamber has expressed its objection to such a move and has urged the Guyanese authorities not to sign any such document until the removal of non-tariff barriers, or NTBs, which are trade restrictions put in place by countries to protect their own local industries.

This position by the GCCI comes months after widespread public outrage erupted among Guyanese Private Sector stakeholders in January over comments made by the Head of the Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), who

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne

in a leaked email claimed that Guyana’s local content law, which makes provisions for Guyanese persons and Guyanese businesses to benefit from the oil and gas sector at specified percentages, violates certain provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The issue had also sparked calls for Guyana to consider exiting the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), with GCCI President Timothy Tucker pointing out that Guyana has always been short-changed within the regional bloc when it comes to trade.

Months after assuming office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to ex-

porting food and agricultural products to markets within the Region.

As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) earlier this year.

The Ministry subsequently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana. According to the assessment on market access by the Working Group, most of the challenges found were related to technical measures including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It also found several technical and administrative regulations that were all hampering the export of Guyanese products.

8 NEWS 19-year-old girl busted with ganja at Bartica FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– tells Police “is for my personal use”

The ganja found on the teenager

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ineteen-year-old Shaniya Godette, who was busted with a quantity of ganja on

Wednesday, has been released on $40,000 when she appeared before Bartica Magistrate

Crystal Lambert to answer a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

It has been reported that on Wednesday, between 20:00h and 20:30h, a team of Police ranks at the Bartica Stelling conducted searches on passengers travelling from Parika, and the search conducted on this female, a cook from New Amsterdam, Berbice, unearthed the ganja in a transparent plastic bag.

The teen was told of the offence committed, cautioned, and arrested. She admitted ownership of the ganja, indicating that the cannabis was for her personal use. The cannabis was weighed in her presence and

Punching...

Y

Charged: Shaniya Godette

amounted to 36 grams.

She will make her next court appearance on June 10 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

…after the clinch our Eyewitness is a boxing fan. He knows some of you, dear readers, might be surprised at this confession!! But hey…he came up in the “school of hard knocks” - that’s no figure of speech!! If you weren’t able to stand up after those knocks, then you just couldn’t hang out at the street corners where all the action was!!

Anyhow, reading about the engagements between the new Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, vs the President and VP, it all reminded him of a boxing match!

The media, of course, is playing the role of the shill who announces at the top of their stentorian voice, “And out of the red corner come Irfaaaaaan Aaaaaali to face Auuuuubrey Norton from the green corner!! They didn’t just write about it, but from every angle, showed Norton with his game face staring across at Ali - who came in the room (ring!) later with his own game face. The only reason they didn’t get belly-to-belly as they stared cold eyed at each other was the table between them!!

They, of course, had their cornermen with them.

Interestingly enough, they chose their legal advisors.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall vs his shadow, Roysdale Forde - the newly-minted SC!! Now, these two have their own beef going on for some time - especially after the former claimed the latter was still wet behind the ears!!

They also glowered at each other - but the press didn’t give them much mind.

Anyhow, in the major event, the two big ones threw some blows that had been long telegraphed when the bout was arranged. The President had signalled he wanted to get on with some constitutional appointments, and the LoO had come back with the retort that he needed to know the qualifications of the persons the President was putting up.

So there were no surprises up to then, as they immediately went into a clinch. They had to be separated and sent on a break!! Your Eyewitness guesses this kinda combat’s so intense, there have to be long breaks between rounds.

So, as we await the next round, we know it’ll be a humdinger!!

As the challenger Norton exited the ring, he was asked some piercing questions about his promised bout with the VP Jagdeo. But this is looking too far ahead, isn’t it?? One bout at a time!! However, he immediately complained that Pressie hadn’t played by the rules, and had poked him in the eye during the clinch!! Seems he expected Pressie to deliver more info before the bout, so he could throw his counterpunches!!

This Pressie’s handlers have denied vehemently, and complained that it was Norton who’s playing dirty pool!!

Get out your popcorn, folks!! …and breaking The US has been pummelling Cuba since 1960 for going down the Commmie road - in what they’d declared was THEIR hemisphere via their Monroe Doctrine. Three decades later, over in our western neighbour, their leader Chavez decided to travel down that same (red) road.

What else could the US feel but that their chain was being yanked?! After all, next door, our Jagan had been ousted for merely HINTING he might follow suit!!

Anyhow, after many twists and turns, the US is once again making nice at both the Cubans and the Venezuelans.

What gives?? With the latter, at least we can see that with the Ukraine war disrupting oil supplies, the US is reminded that for all the talk about “renewables”, petroleum ain’t disappearing for quite a while. And with Venezuela having the largest reserves in the world, the Yanks have to hedge their bets. Meanwhile, our politicians better remember the old adage about “No permanent enemies or friends”!!

But Cuba?! What’s changed with them? …or shadow boxing?

Last week, PNC GECOM Commissioner scoffed at the VP’s suggestion for cleaning the Voters’ List through culling the dead more systematically. He preferred to use biometrics - more specifically, fingerprints for greater integrity.

And now the entire GECOM agrees. A new beginning?

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, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Invest in shipping to move food within the Caribbean – Montserrat and Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Chester Cooper.

Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell

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s Caribbean leaders and stakeholders come together at the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo in Guyana to push a common food security agenda, calls are being made for more investments to be made within the region in order to better transport produce and other food items to the member states.

The three-day Forum and Expo, which commenced on Thursday under the theme: “Investing in Vision 25 by 2025”, saw the participation of several regional leaders as well as scores of exhibitors, both local and international.

It is anticipated that Guyana would be the hub for potential investment talks during the forum. Against this backdrop, Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell, during his remarks at the opening ceremony of the Agri Investment and Expo 2022, sounded a call for investments to be made to better connect nations in the region, so that trade can be easily facilitated.

He pointed out that, for the past 25 years, there have been talks of movement of food from countries within the region, but there has been no success in achieving this. “We now need investment in shipping, so that we can move those products from [for example] Guyana in the south to Jamaica in the north… This is what we need at this point in time. Let’s us put our money where our mouth is and invest in shipping,” he stated.

Against this backdrop, the Premier urged Heads of Governments and investors to consider investing in at least two ships to operate in the Caribbean – one to ply the northern route and the other in the south. This way, he noted, products within the region can be easily transported from one nation to another.

Pledging his support to Caricom’s efforts to reduce the region’s high food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025, Farrell pointed out that the Caribbean spends heavily through importation from extra-regional sources and businesses, when that same money could be used to produce locally.

According to the Premier, in Montserrat and the wider Caribbean, it has been thought that anything that is foreign is good, hence countries enjoy importing food from outside of the region.

“It is embarrassing that 75 per cent of the poultry products I import in my country comes from outside of the region. It is absolutely embarrassing that 85 per cent of the food we eat in Montserrat comes from outside of the region,” he noted.

Nevertheless, the Montserrat Premier outlined that his Agriculture Ministry has already identified a number of priority areas in which they can not only produce, but also export.

“After 25 years, Montserrat ventured again to producing white potatoes, and we have produced a very successful crop this year…

We are a small population, but can produce efficiently for export as well. We have produced onions, we produce cabbages, but there is no need for all of us to produce everything. We must begin to specialise. If Belize is producing oranges, I don’t need to produce oranges. We need to specialise and seriously produce,” he said.

“Why should I be importing onions from North America when my colleagues in the region have land to produce it? I understand that there are some limitations on what we can do, but the biggest concern we have is not that food is not available in some of our neighbours, it is getting the food to where it is needed most,” the Premier has posited.

According to Farrell, these are serious times, and the Caribbean region must begin to feed itself and not depend on outside sources.

Meanwhile, speaking about the President Dr Irfaan Ali-crafted ‘Vision 25 by 2025’ initiative, the Premier said he was not confident that this would be fruitful, especially since there had been similar efforts within the region in the past.

However, he noted that the energy and enthusiasm being invested into this initiative by the Guyanese Leader has now convinced him that this could be achieved.

The Agri Investment Forum 2022 being hosted by Guyana is part of President Ali’s drive to push regional agriculture and food stability.

Other regional leaders in Guyana for the three-day event include Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley; Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Motley;

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne; Prime Minister of

Belize, Johnny Briceno; and Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit; as well as

Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Philip Pierre, attended and participated in the event.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

vendor nabbed with ganja Medical student held at G/town after disembarking boat at Bartica gunpoint, robbed of car A A

47-year-old medical student of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology was, in the wee hours of Thursday, relieved of his Toyota Allion motorcar while in the vicinity of the Ascension Primary School in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

In addition to motorcar PNN 2975, the victim, Ikechukwu Otiko, was also robbed of an iPhone 7 and $40,000 in cash.

The Police have said that the victim was working his car as a taxi, and at about midnight, he picked up one of the perpetrators at Survival Supermarket on Sheriff Street. That perpetrator requested to be taken to Ice House Road in West Ruimveldt, but on arrival at that destination, the driver was confronted by the two other perpetrators.

They reportedly held their victim at gunpoint and demanded that he exit the

car. However, a scuffle ensued between the victim and the perpetrators, during which Otiko was dealt several lashes to the face with a handgun, before the bandits reportedly dragged the man out of the car and made good their escape.

The matter was reported to the Police and an investigation has been launched.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage with the aim of identifying the perpetrators.

54-year-old female vendor of West La Penitence, Georgetown was on Thursday taken into custody following the discovery of a quantity of cannabis in her possession at the Bartica Ferry Stelling in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Based on reports received, at about 08:50h, a team of Policemen was performing duties at the Bartica Stelling when the vendor, who disembarked one of the boats, was escorted to the Bartica Police Station with her personal

The cannabis found in the vendor’s travelling bag

belongings.

While at the station, a search was conducted on a red-and-blue travelling bag in her possession, and a black parcel containing ganja was found.

She was told of the offence committed, cautioned, arrested, and has since admitted ownership of the illegal substance. The cannabis was weighed in her presence, and amounted to 1416 grams. She remains in custody, pending charges.

Police patrol comes under fire while attempting to stop car

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Police patrol comprising ranks of Regional Division 4’C’ came under fire from occupants of a motorcar while it was performing duties along the Sparendaam Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The incident occurred on Thursday at about 01:22h, after the ranks attempted to stop the motorcar, which was reportedly being driven in a dangerous manner.

The car, Toyota Allion PSS 7835, was seen travelling in a dangerous manner on the Plaisance Public Road, and suddenly turned into Prince William Street.

As a result, the ranks went in pursuit of the motorcar, and while in the vicinity of Crown Dam, Industry, ECD, the occupants discharged two rounds in the direction of the patrol vehicle.

In retaliation, the ranks returned fire, causing the car to stop and three males to exit and make good their escape in a nearby canefield.

Ranks searched the abandoned vehicle, and found multiple passport pictures along with an NBS bank book, several copies of Nigerian passports, and a copy of a Guyanese ID card of a female.

The motorcar and documents were lodged at the Sparendaam Police Station as the Police continue their manhunt for the three men.

11

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caribbean must rid itself of dependency on food imports – Caricom SG …Vision 25 by 2025 is more than a “catchy slogan” – Chairman

C

aricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett on Thursday called on members to take serious strides to reduce the bloc’s dependency on imported food supplies.

The Caribbean carries a weighty food import bill of US$6 billion per annum.

Inflated food costs have triggered this position, as well as created a sense of dependence in the Region .

During her address at the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo on Thursday, Barnett related, “With food prices now at their highest

levels since 2008, we are doing what we must do to seize this challenge as the opportunity to increase our own production for trade within the regional markets and further afield…For the Caribbean Community, investing in Vision 25 by 2025 for greater food and nutrition security is not just a concept, but an urgent necessity.”

Vision 25 by 2025, which was conceptualised

by Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, aims for a 25 per cent reduction in the Region’s food import bill by

Caricom Chairman, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño

the year 2025. Barnett indicated that owing to the Region’s dependency on imported foods, it faces hardships when disruptions occur.

“The time for action is now. The path for the transformation of our food systems is in our hands. We undertake this task at a time of great global uncertainty. Not only has the COVID-19 pandemic exacted a significant toll on our economies, but we are now facing increased prices for food, fuel, and other basic goods due to the war in Ukraine and long-lasting

supply chain disruptions.

This adds on the stresses of vulnerable people in our populations, increases the cost of doing business, and places additional pressures on Government’s budgets,” she noted.

The Caricom SG shared that agriculture posed a high potential to drive the Region’s socio-economic pillar. With food prices now at their highest, she welcomed efforts in seizing the opportunity to produce the Caribbean’s own food.

Caricom Chairman, Belizean Prime Minister

Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett

John Briceño added that “Vision 25 by 2025” was more than a “catchy slogan” for leaders.

“It is a plan which intends to see our Region reduce its dependency on food imports and products by 25 per cent over the next three and a half years. We will have to work with our agro-producers to foster a targeted investment in agriculture,” the Chairman affirmed.

He added, “We’re convinced that President Ali’s plans for agriculture and development in the Region are realistic, and more so, they are imperative if we are to achieve food security for our Caricom Region.”

The three-day forum and expo, organised at the Arthur Chung Conference Center at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, has more than 250 exhibitors with stakeholders from countries such as Jamaica, the United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, and Barbados.

Potential investors and donors will discuss emerging opportunities for agriculture in Caricom. A matching of bankable agricultural projects with willing private and public financiers will also advance the food system agenda for the Region.

At the 32nd InterSessional Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government, a special ministerial task force was established and tasked with guiding the transformation of the regional agri-food system towards full commercialisation. A prime focus was to address the rising food import bill and to stimulate investment in agriculture and food production.

By the 33rd InterSessional Conference, President Ali had presented a detailed plan for commercialising the agri-food sector while reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. Emphasis was placed on countries and their respective target areas. The Heads of State had also agreed on an agriculture forum and expo, cementing a platform for investment in the regional agriculture sector.

13

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Scenes from the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo being held in Guyana from May 19 to May 21, 2022. The grand opening ceremony on Thursday was held at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, while the exhibition is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown (Photos taken from Office of the President, Ministry of Agriculture and Minister within the Housing Ministry Susan Rodrigues' Facebook pages)

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

74-year-old man latest COVID Father of 4 freed on fatality, 62 new cases recorded drug trafficking charge

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fully-vaccinated 74-year-old man of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 fatality, thus taking the death toll to 1229.

He reportedly died while receiving medical care at a health institution.

New statistics provided by the Health Ministry showed that there were 427 active cases with the detention of 63 new ones within the previous 24-hour period.

The positive cases reported to date total 64,082. There are two persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 25 in institutional isolation, 426 in home isolation, and one in institutional quarantine.

Of the 63 new cases, five are from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); two from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 45 from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); seven from Region Six, and two from Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The Ministry also stated that 54 persons have recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours, taking the number

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD May 19, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

62

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

25

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

426

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

2

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

1

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

34,590

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

29,492

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

64,082

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

62,400

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

440,713

FULLY IMMUNISED

340,305

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

of recovered cases to 62, 400.

Vaccination figures remain the same, indicating that 441,071 first doses and 340,572 second doses were distributed to adults. This is approximately 86 per cent and 66.4 per cent, respectively, of

1229

the population. For children aged 12 to 17, 25,355, or 34.7 per cent, are completely vaccinated. Booster shot administration also remains the same, with 63,574 jabs having already been administered.

J

oseph Adams, a 31-year-old father of four, was on Thursday found not guilty of trafficking 492 grams of marijuana on April 24, 2020. A businessman in the transportation sector, Adams had been on trial before Linden Magistrate Wanda Fortune.

The facts of the case are that Adams was taking to Lethem a bus owned by his brother, which had been in a workshop in Campbellville, Georgetown. At the checkpoint at Mabura Police Outpost, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), he was pulled over by the Police and told they had received a tipoff that the bus was transporting marijuana.

There were also several passengers on the bus.

A search was conducted, and the alleged narcotics were found in the bonnet of the minibus. Adams told his lawyer, Jerome Khan, that the bus was brought to him at his home by the mechanic, and he immediately left for Lethem after collecting the passengers, and did not check the bonnet.

During the trial, Khan explained that none of the ci-

Joseph Adams (left) with his Attorney-at-Law Jerome Khan

vilian passengers was called to give evidence. Instead, he said, the prosecution called three Police witnesses, who all claimed that his client gave a caution statement in which he admitted that the marijuana belonged to him.

However, this was challenged by the defence, who argued that no contemporaneous written note was made of the oral statement signed and initialled by Adams.

Additionally, Khan argued that the narcotic was not weighed and marked the same day in the presence

of his client at the Mabura Police Outpost, but the following day at Mackenzie Police Station, raising doubts on the actual quantum or security of the rest.

As such, he contended that it would be unsafe to convict the father of four in a case in which there is conflicting evidence, no corroboration by civilian witnesses, and no caution station tendered marked and admitted into evidence.

Adams had been out on $75,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

24 Training Officers graduate from "Train-the-Trainers" programme

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wenty-four Training Officers of the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday completed the ''Train-the-Trainers'' programme at the Officers’ Training Centre at Camp and Younge Streets, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The Train-the-Trainers course was facilitated through the historic multi-year Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the Guyana Police Force and the University of Guyana (UoG), through its Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CoETal).

The second edition of the "Train-the-Trainers"

The course commenced on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 and went on for a four-week period. The course aimed to increase the teaching repertoire and build the teaching capacity of the GPF trainers, providing them with strategies, concepts, knowledge and skills that they can implement in the classroom.

The ranks received training in Lesson Plan, Learning Theories, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Adult Learner, Instructional Strategies,

The Training Officers, trainers and other officials after the programme

Student Engagement, Reflexive Praxis, Preparing to Teach Online; Policing in a Culturally Diverse Background in the Guyanese Society; Summative, Formative and Authentic Assessments; Constructing Test Items, and Giving Feedback.

The lecturer sessions were done by UG’s Director of CoETal, Dr Charmaine Bissessar, and other University of Guyana experts

Digicel makes donation to assist voluntary after-school lessons

Florance Rowe and some of her students posed for a photo during Digicel’s visit

S

ince March 2022, Florance Rowe has been providing free after-school education to approximately 65 youngsters on Laing Avenue in Georgetown, and she has been volunteering her time on a full-time basis.

Her commitment to this effort was brought to Digicel Guyana’s attention through social media, and the mobile service provider immediately jumped at the opportunity to assist her.

“We paid a visit to deliver some much-needed materials including a whiteboard, backpacks, and stand fans to support Rowe and the students with their day-to-day classroom activities. The kids were just as excited to meet us as we were to meet them.

We learned that several of them wanted to be lawyers, teachers, Police officers, and electricians after speaking for a few minutes; we also met some prospective Digicel employees. Some of them told us that they enjoy going to class after school because Ms.

Rowe pays attention to them and helps them do better in school,” the company stated in a release to the media.

Accepting the donation, Rowe expressed her gratitude for the acknowledgment and said that donations such as these give her the motivation to keep going.

“When we get attention like this, it signifies that people are paying attention to what we’re trying to accomplish, and it gives me the drive and encouragement to keep going. We appreciate your visit, and look forward to your continuing support, Digicel,” she said.

Digicel has pledged to assist youth development through education and sports over the years, and we do so by developing and building excellent community relations.

“We commend Ms. Rowe’s efforts, tip our hats to her for caring so deeply about these children, and we are more than glad to help her with this initiative,” Digicel Guyana added.

- Dr Tamashwar Budhoo, Mrs Bonita Hunter, Dr Troy Brown, Ms Claudette Phoenix, and Professor Stafford Griffith.

Force Training Officer Superintendent Keithon

King, in his address, said: “Training is paramount. I was once a training instructor, now I am the Force Training Officer, and so I want to encourage all the ranks to see the training environment as

an important area, and not a pitfall. Moreso, training will help you, the members of the Force, when you depart the organization, to have life skills and knowledge that can be used beyond the Guyana Police Force; so you can be productive citizens to build our country.”

Also speaking at the closing ceremony was the Director of CoETal, Dr Charmaine Bissessar, who applauded the Police ranks for taking the time and making the effort to complete the first level of the Train-the-Trainers course.

“Congratulations to all of you…and I would like to thank the GPF for its confidence in the University of Guyana and CoETal in allowing us to impart our knowledge, expertise, and skills. I would also like to thank you, the participants, for (your) commitment to this initiative.

We, the experts, have wit-

nessed the resilience, hunger, passion, and creativity within you, the officers, for learning, and we hope that we leave you with a fire or thirst in your belly for learning. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity, which has motivated and energised us.

“Hats off to all of you Officers,” she said, while thanking the experts from UG for planning and designing the course.

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent Nedd thanked the experts for sharing their knowledge and ideas with the ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

“Thank you for clearing up all our concepts and misconceptions, and enhancing our understanding as it relates to training. You, the lecturers, have put forward your best effort to make this training a success, and we thank you for that,” Nedd said.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CCJ orders GRA to repay $45M in wrongfully-deducted income tax

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he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ordered the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to repay the sum of Gy$45,132,975 to the Linden Mining Enterprise Limited (Linmine) as wrongfully- deducted taxes from its former employee James Ramsahoye.

The CCJ had allowed Ramshoye’s appeal against the tax authority on November 26, 2021, but issued the reasons for its decision only on Friday.

When the regional court had allowed the appeal, it had ordered that the money belonging to Ramsahoye, which the GRA had deprived him of, should be paid to him.

In an earlier case, Ramsahoye had been awarded by the Court of Appeal of Guyana damages of approximately Gy$78M for breach of contract of service by his former employer. These damages constituted loss of salary for 41 months (until Ramsahoye reached 65 years of age), and pension for the years 1972 to 1998, and interest.

In 2004, the GRA wrote direct-

ly to Linmine, demanding that the company pay $45,132,975 for income tax allegedly owed by Ramsahoye for the years 1990 to 1998. On the sum awarded by the Court of Appeal representing Ramsahoye’s salary for 41 months in accordance with Sections 93 and 102 of the Income Tax Act Cap 81:01, Linmine paid the GRA the sum by deducting it from the damages owed to Ramsahoye without informing him. In fact, Ramsahoye found out about Linmine’s payment to the GRA only when he sought to enforce the judgment against the company.

As such, the CCJ said, he was totally denied his right to dispute the GRA’s assessment.

Ramsahoye subsequently initiated proceedings against the GRA in the High Court of Guyana. A High Court Judge issued an order quashing the assessment of tax, and found that the damages awarded were not taxable. The GRA then appealed to the Court of Appeal. “The Court of Appeal ordered them to pay the sum into court, pending appeal.

After the hearing, the Court of Appeal upheld the quashing order in its entirety.

Nonetheless, in its subsequently issued formal order, the court stated that it allowed the appeal in part, presumably on the basis that the Court of Appeal had decided that damages constituted income under S5(b) of the Act,” the CCJ noted.

In delivering the majority judgement of the CCJ, Justice Denys Barrow noted that GRA’s counsel acknowledged that the violation of the dispute resolution procedures under the Act nullified the entire assessment, both in respect of the years 1990 to 1998 and Ramsahoye’s loss of earnings.

The CCJ therefore held that, because the Court of Appeal had upheld the quashing of the assessment, the matter could have been resolved by a simple application to the court below for an order directing the Registrar to pay the sum to Ramsahoye. The CCJ explained that success on a ground of appeal does not mean that the appeal is allowed.

According to the CCJ, the decision of a ground is part of the reasoning process that ends with a judgment that either grants or refuses the relief or remedy sought.

In this case, the CCJ said, the Court of Appeal’s finding that damages were taxable in principle had no effect on the result, which was the upholding of the quashing order. The CCJ held that the order of the lower court to allow the appeal in part was wrong.

Meanwhile, CCJ Judges Andrew Burgess and Jacob Wit, in their respective reasons, considered whether the damages

for breach of contract of services awarded to Ramsahoye were subject to income tax. Justice Wit reasoned that the damages paid to Ramsahoye fell squarely under S 5(b) of the Act, as they constituted compensation for the termination of a contract of employment.

Justice Burgess, on the other hand, found that, the damages being compensatory in nature, were income within the meaning of S5(b) of the Act. However, he stated that the damages could not be said to be derived from employment for the following reasons: (i) the Court of Appeal awarded Ramsahoye income until he reached age 65, and (ii) that the damages were not in respect of any services rendered, but were awarded for his wrongful dismissal.

Justice Burgess further found that Ramsahoye could enforce the return of the sum unlawfully deducted by the GRA, as a taxing authority that erroneously taxes a person could be ordered to repay the money taxed plus interest as

a matter of common law. Justice Burgess therefore decided that (i) the principle of unjust enrichment applied, as the GRA was enriched; (ii) the enrichment was at the expense of Ramsahoye; (iii) it was unjust; and (iv) the GRA’s defence that it was acting according to the powers granted to it under the Act was not a defence.

For the above reasons, the CCJ allowed Ramsahoye’s appeal, and ordered GRA to repay the taxpayer $45,132,975, as well as costs in the sum of US$32,383.39 or its Guyanese equivalent.

Apart from Justices Barrow, Wit, and Burgess, CCJ President Adrian Saunders and CCJ Judge Winston Anderson also comprised the Bench. Ramsahoye was represented by Attorneys-at-Law C.V. Satram, R. Satram, and R. Motilal, while GRA was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Judy StuartAdonis, H Yasin-Nandlall, M. Halley, F. Hamilton, O. Gordon, and J. Persaud.

17 Full Court divided on VP Jagdeo’s appeal to overturn libel judgement NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

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ith the two-Judge bench in the Demerara Full Court returning a split decision on Thursday, High Court Judge Sandra Kurtzious’s ruling that granted a default libel judgement to former APNU-AFC Government Minister Annette Ferguson against Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo still stands.

Last October, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, and High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, comprising the Full Court, heard arguments in an appeal filed by Dr. Jagdeo against Justice Kurtzious’s ruling, which was handed down on March 11, 2021. In her decision, the High Court Judge had found that the Vice President defamed Ferguson in statements he had made concerning her acquisition of a plot of land.

However, the Full Court was split, the Chief Justice

ruled that the default judgement should not be vacated, while Justice SewnarineBeharry ruled that it should be vacated. In light of the divided opinion, Justice Kurtzious’s decision remains in effect.

Guyana Times understands that Jagdeo’s legal team has intentions of further challenging the default judgement, and, as such, applied for, and was granted, an eight-week stay of execution by the Full Court.

The default judgement was awarded against Dr. Jagdeo after he failed to file a defence within 28 days of the filing of Ferguson’s Statement of Claim, which was done sometime in January 2020.

The 28-day period is prescribed under Art 12:01 (2) (d) of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).

In delivering her reasons for the default judgement, Justice Kurtzious also ruled that the Vice President did indeed defame the former Government Minister with his utterances.

During the Full Court hearing, Dr. Jagdeo’s lawyer, Devinda Kissoon, urged the panel to overturn the default judgement, arguing that Ferguson did not meet the requirements for the granting of such a judgement.

Moreover, he contended that his client has a real prospect of defending the lawsuit, since the statements he had made were not defamatory.

This is the second time the Vice President has been unsuccessful in his attempt to overturn the default judge-

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

ment. In fact, Kissoon had asked Justice Kurtzious to overturn her own judgement, but his application had been dismissed after the Judge had found that Dr. Jagdeo’s excuse for the non-filing of the defence was unreasonable, and that the statements he had made about Ferguson were certainly slanderous.

In explaining the reason for the non-filing of the defence, Kissoon had submitted that his client’s then lawyer, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, had been preoccupied with the 2020 National Elections, and the constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic had led to him inadvertently failing to file the defence, though it was drafted.

Before the Full Court, Ferguson’s lawyer, Lyndon Amsterdam, had argued that inadvertence by counsel as a reason for non-compliance with the CPR cannot be

countenanced as a reason for non-compliance. If that were to be allowed, he said, all lawyers would advance such a reason as a ploy to get an extension.

According to the lawyer, the elections were concluded on August 2, 2020, and right up to the time Dr. Jagdeo was served with the judgement order in April 2021 – more than half of a year later – there was no application filed by his lawyer for relief from sanctions, nor was there any request for an extension of time to file his defence.

While Dr. Jagdeo contended that the pandemic had caused some level of constraint in the judiciary, Ferguson’s lawyer noted that the pandemic is still affecting the world, and he went on to point out that it did not affect Dr. Jagdeo from filing, within a few days of the judgment order to pay, an application to

Pensioner dies after falling into path of moving garbage truck

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pensioner was on Thursday killed by a garbage truck in B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown after falling into its path. The dead woman has been identified as Yvonne Morrison, 65, of B Field, Sophia.

Police stated that on the day in question about 11:30h, Morrison was proceeding along the roadway in front of the garbage truck owned by Puran Brothers. It is alleged that in the process of passing the pedestrian, the driver

sounded the horn of the vehicle and as such, she stopped and allowed the garbage truck to pass.

As the truck proceeded forward, it was further alleged, the pedestrian lost her balance, fell onto the roadway, and ended up under the truck where the left rear wheel ‘squeezed’ her.

The porters immediately signalled the driver to stop, which prevented the rear wheel from crushing the pedestrian.

The pedestrian was then picked up in a semi-conscious condition by the driver and the porters, and was placed into a motor car and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was treated, but subsequently succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment.

Her body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary to await a post-mortem. The driver was taken into custody and he is assisting with the investigation.

5-year-old critical after found hanging from tree

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olice on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two are questioning the mother of a five-year-old boy who is currently critical at the Suddie Public Hospital after he was found hanging from a tree in Akawini, Lower Pomeroon River.

Based on information received, Adrian Benn, a student of Akawini Nursery School, Lower Pomeroon River, was found hang-

ing at just after 11:00h on Thursday. The mother told Police that the child had been in her room from 9:30h to 10:00h looking at a movie on her phone. She, however, fell asleep, and awoke at about 11:00h, whereupon she made checks for the child in the house, but he was not seen. As such, she ventured into the yard, and it was then she made the gruesome discovery.

Without hesitation, she raised an alarm and took down her son. At the time, he was not breathing. He was rushed to the Charity Public Hospital, where he was admitted and later transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit, (ICU) but is expected to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention.

have the judgement set aside.

In the claim, Ferguson complained that Dr. Jagdeo made statements in which he questioned her acquisition of a house lot and the construction of her home at Eccles, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). Ferguson had submitted that the unjust statements have tarnished her reputation.

Justice Kurtzious, in her ruling, had said that although the reasons proffered by the Vice President to justify his not filing a defence were numerous, “they left the court unconvinced as to their accuracy and reasonableness.”

She noted that the time for filing a defence began to run from January 2020, and one year later, in January 2021, no steps had been taken to cure the default; and, more so, no evidence was provided to prove same.

Kissoon’s submission that the defence of justification, fair comment, qualified privilege, and the provisions of the Defamation Act were applicable in this case was rejected by the Judge.

Having examined the statements made by the Vice President about Ferguson, Justice Kurtzious held that they were very serious allegations, as they suggested that she was corrupt and involved in misappropriation.

To this end, the Judge held that as a result of Jagdeo’s statements, Ferguson stood to be prejudiced by suffering financial loss and injury to her character. Apart from the default judgement, Dr.

Former APNU/AFC Government Minister Annette Ferguson

Jagdeo was also ordered to pay $75,000 in court costs to the former Minister.

Following her ruling, Justice Kurtzious had fixed another hearing to assess damages, having instructed the parties to file submissions on the issue.

Two days after the judgement was granted, the Vice President moved to the Full Court to have it set aside, along with another order dismissing Ferguson’s Statement of Claim for delay.

She was initially seeking more than $50M in damages from Dr. Jagdeo for statements he had made on December 18 and 19, 2019. She had also filed a separate claim seeking more than $10M in damages from Guyana Times newspaper, which she said had published the libellous statements the Vice President had made about her.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

Regional

Jamaica’s Commonwealth SG PM Mottley congratulates candidate gets UK backing Rihanna on birth of baby

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Jamaican Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith

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he United Kingdom has thrown its support behind Jamaica’s Kamina Johnson Smith in her bid to become Commonwealth Secretary General.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement in a tweet Thursday.

“With a month to go until the Commonwealth comes together in Rwanda, delighted to confirm the UK will support @kaminajsmith’s campaign to be the next Secretary General. She has the vast experience & support to unite our unique family of nations and seize the opportunities ahead,”

Johnson tweeted.

Johnson Smith will challenge incumbent Dominicaborn Baroness Patricia Scotland for the post, in a move which has divided Caricom.

Jamaica recently apparently scuttled any attempt by the 15-member Caricom grouping to have a consensus candidate for the position, with Kingston defending the decision to nominate its Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith for the post.

In April the Caribbean leaders issued a statement indicating that they were still divided in their support for the two candidates for the position, agreeing instead to appoint a subcommittee to delve further into the matter. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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rime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said on Thursday that she is “absolutely delighted, on behalf of all Barbadians, to offer heartfelt congratulations to our newest National Hero, the Right Excellent Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty, on the birth of her baby boy”.

Rihanna, 34, has given birth to her first child with American rapper A$AP Rocky.

Mottley said the pregnancy “captivated the world for the last few months and it is my sincere view that Rihanna represented well, women everywhere”.

“She chose to ‘wear’ her pregnancy with pride, never once treating it as a sickness or a period of withdrawal, as so many woman have been made to feel was their place for centuries.”

The Prime Minister said Rihanna redefined the world

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky strolling in Harlem. (GP)

view on how women should be viewed during pregnancy.

“Today, Barbadians join tens of millions across

the globe congratulating Rihanna and Rocky and sharing the joy of the birth of their son.” (Nation News)

agree on issues affecting our people like drug trafficking, the lack of employment, and at the same time we know our friendly relations and desire to encourage well-being will be key to solving those problems.”

The First Lady has toured an early childhood centre and is set to meet with Venezuelan migrants during her stay in Ecuador.

Earlier this week, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said he would not attend the summit, a day after the United States criticised the Central American country for appointing its Attorney General to serve another

term.

Meanwhile, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said his Government was “not interested” in attending the US-hosted Summit of the Americas next month, which some leaders have criticised for reports it may exclude the Central American country along with Cuba and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s Government.

Nicaragua was previously informed that it would be excluded from the summit, which will take place in Los Angeles, according to a person in Washington familiar with the matter. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T: Arsonists destroy 4 Ecuador’s President to attend USroad-paving vehicles hosted Summit of the Americas

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fter waiting months for the restoration of parts of Saddle Road in Santa Cruz, residents awoke this morning to find that the equipment being used to pave the road had been destroyed by fire in an apparent arson attack.

The equipment belonged to contractors Kallco Limited, which had begun paving the road just one day prior.

Santa Cruz Police are trying to determine who is responsible for destroy-

ing two excavators, a steam roller and a road paver with a combined worth of well over US$1 million.

Two sections of the road were being paved – in front of Undercover Nurseries (which was fully paved on Wednesday) and near the Sam Boucaud Road (which was only partially paved by the end of work Wednesday).

The road paver and roller were left near the worksite at Sam Boucaud Road as workers had

planned to resume paving Thursday morning.

The excavators were parked half a kilometre away in an open area on a lot containing the Roundabout Bar. All of the equipment were rendered useless after the fires.

Residents have condemned the arson attack, particularly given that those portions of the roads had been needing repair for more than a year. (Trinidad Guardian)

E

cuadorean President Guillermo Lasso will attend the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next month, he said on Thursday during a visit to the South American country

by US First Lady Jill Biden.

Lasso’s decision is a boost to the summit due to be hosted by the United States, because a number of Latin American leaders have cast doubt on their attendance.

“We are thrilled to attend the summit,” Lasso said after he and his wife met with the First Lady.

Lasso said he had a phone call with President Joe Biden about the summit.

“President Biden and I

Cuba accused of using upcoming summit as propaganda

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will join President Joe Biden in hosting the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next month [Patrick Semansky/Reuters file photo]

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he administration of US President Joe Biden has accused Cuba of creating controversy about its possible exclusion from the US-hosted Summit of the Americas next month to portray Washington as the “bad guy” and distract attention from Havana’s human rights record at home.

Speaking at a Latin America conference on Thursday, Kerri Hannan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said countries that have threatened to skip the regional meeting if Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are not invited should attend or else they would lose an op-

portunity to engage with the United States.

A potential boycott of the June 6-10 summit by a growing number of leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has raised the risk of embarrassment for Biden, who will host the gathering in Los Angeles.

Earlier this week, a US delegation travelled to Mexico to discuss the issue.

The development comes as the White House has said it has not yet sent out invitations and refused to provide details. However, a senior Department of State official said in April that Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s Government would likely be excluded because they have not shown respect for democracy. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil rebounds from 2 days of losses in volatile trade

O

il prices rebounded from two days of losses in a volatile session on Thursday, bolstered by weakness in the dollar and expectations that China could ease some lockdown restrictions that could boost demand.

Crude benchmarks continued their spate of wild swings, with both Brent and US crude rising by nearly US$5 a barrel in the span of a few hours, recovering from losses earlier in the week.

"The market has been extremely volatile," said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. "The market is reacting to all sorts of different headlines hour to hour, and the movement in oil markets on a day-by-day basis getting even more exaggerated."

Brent crude futures for July settled at US$112.04, a gain of US$2.93 a barrel, or 2.7 per cent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for June settled up US$2.62, or 2.4 per cent, to US$112.21 a barrel.

In China, investors are closely watching plans to ease coronavirus curbs from June 1 in the most populous city of Shanghai, which could lead to a rebound in oil demand from the world's top crude importer.

Oil markets also rebounded as the dollar weakened. The broad dollar index was down one per cent on the day after recent gains.

Oil benchmarks often move inversely to the dollar as most global crude transactions are handled in dollars, so a rising greenback makes crude more expensive for big importers Crude gains have been limited, however, with the Brent and US benchmarks trading in a range due to the uncertain path of demand. Investors, worried about rising inflation and more aggressive action from central banks, have been reducing exposure to riskier assets.

"Brent seems pinned above US$100, but I think the recession risk and all of the concerns about Chinese demand are limiting the upside and will continue to do that," said Bill Farren-Price, head of oil and gas macro research at Enverus in London.

The looming possibility of a European Union ban on Russian oil imports has been supporting prices. This month the EU proposed a new package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

That would include a total ban on oil imports in six months' time, but the measures have not yet been adopted, with Hungary among the most vocal critics of the plan. (Reuters)

“Hell” in Ukraine's Donbas as Russia piles on pressure, warns Zelenskiy

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kraine's industrial Donbas region, the focus of recent Russian offensives, has been destroyed, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said as some of the world's richest countries pledged to bolster Kyiv with billions of dollars.

Since turning away from Ukraine's capital, Russia is using massed artillery and armour to try to capture more territory in the Donbas, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, which Moscow claims on behalf of separatists.

"The occupiers are trying to exert even more pressure. It is hell there – and that is not an exaggeration," Zelenskiy said in a late Thursday address. "(There are) constant strikes on the Odesa region, on the cities of central Ukraine. The Donbas

T

he Group of Seven's financial leaders agreed on Thursday on US$18.4 billion to help Ukraine pay its bills in coming months and said they were ready to stand

by Kyiv throughout its war with Russia and do more if needed, a draft communiqué showed.

Finance Ministers and central bank governors of the United States, Japan,

P

President Joe Biden

tional security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters en route to South Korea when asked about the possibility of a weapons test.

"We are prepared for those eventualities," Sullivan said.

The United States has told allies and China that such a provocation during the US visit would "cause adjustments to the way that our military is postured in the region", he said.

Yoon has signalled he will take a tougher line on North Korea than his predecessor and is expected to

is completely destroyed," he said.

Moscow calls its invasion a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of fascists, an assertion Kyiv and its Western allies say is a

baseless pretext for an unprovoked war.

Russia has intensified its offensive and assault operations in Donetsk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said.

G7 agree on US$18.4B to keep Ukraine running, ready with more

Biden, South Korea's Yoon to meet amid worries about North Korea resident Joe Biden is likely to get a warm welcome from South Korea's leadership on his first trip to Asia, but he may face a less friendly greeting from North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Biden lands in South Korea this evening, where he meets new President Yoon Suk-yeol, a relative newcomer to politics, for the first time in person. The two will tour a Samsung Electronics plant together today ahead of a full day of events on Saturday.

Biden and Yoon may quickly move from formalities to dealing with a weighty issue with North Korea at the top of the agenda. Leader Kim Jong Un abandoned a freeze on intercontinental ballistic missile testing and appears poised to resume testing of nuclear bombs, perhaps while Biden is in the region.

US cooperation with South Korea and Japan "will only strengthen in the face of further provocations"

by North Korea, Biden na-

View of the rubble after a building was hit by what was reported to be an air strike, during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Bakhmut, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released May 19, 2022 (State Emergency Service of Ukraine Handout)

Five civilians were killed in Donetsk on Thursday, according to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. "The enemy is destroying all civil infrastructure even in places relatively far from the front line," he told local television.

Reuters could not immediately verify the information. Moscow denies targeting civilians.

The past week has seen Russia secure its biggest victory since the invasion began, with Kyiv announcing it had ordered its garrison in a steelworks in Mariupol to stand down, after a protracted siege of the city.

Russian forces have, however, been pushed back this month from the outskirts of the second-largest city Kharkiv. Ukraine says it has recaptured 23 settlements near Kharkiv in the last two weeks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ask for Biden's help. Yoon has warned of a preemptive strike if there is a sign of an imminent attack and vowed to strengthen the South's deterrent capability.

North Korea has revealed a COVID-19 outbreak in the past week, but it has ignored calls to return to diplomacy.

Washington has said it is open to direct talks at any time with Kim, but it has not publicly offered new ideas about how to coax the country's leadership into conversation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada, Britain, Germany, France and Italy – the G7 – are holding talks as Ukraine, invaded by Russia on February 24, is struggling to fend off the attack and is running out of cash.

"In 2022, we have mobilised US$18.4 billion of budget support, including US$9.2 billion of recent commitments," the draft communiqué seen by Reuters said.

"We will continue to stand by Ukraine throughout this war and beyond

and are prepared to do more as needed," it said.

In the draft, the G7 welcomed the European Commission's proposal on Wednesday to lend nine billion euros to Ukraine and noted that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Financial Corporation planned support worth US$3.4 billion.

But it was not clear if these funds were part of the $18.4 billion or separate.

Earlier on Thursday,

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said Germany would grant Ukraine one billion euros and Japan pledged to double its aid for Ukraine to US$600 million to help it cover its near-term needs.

Ukraine estimates it needs some US$5 billion a month to keep public employees' salaries paid and the Administration working despite the daily destruction wrought

by Russia. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Activate your resources and connect with people you know you can rely on to get things done. Learn on the go and implement innovative methods. Refuse to let your emotions get in the way.

(March 21-April 19) It's up to you to make things happen. Don't sit around waiting for someone to step in and take charge. Consider what makes you happy and implement a schedule that offers peace of mind.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Speak up, promote your intentions and concerns, and do your best to make a difference. Look for a unique way to use your skills, intelligence and connections.

(May 21-June 20) Pay attention, pitch in and help, expand your circle and learn through observation. Consider how different relationships transform and evolve. Take the path that makes you happy.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Speak from the heart. Show how passionate you feel about your pursuits.

Don't offer false hope. Honesty will keep you out of trouble and prevent you from making unrealistic promises.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Discuss possibilities with experts, and gain insight into what you can do on your budget. Reach out to someone you trust to keep your secrets. Take responsibility and do the needed work.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Look at the bright side, be positive and use your charm and diplomacy to win favors. Shoot for the stars and put in the energy required to meet your expectations. Romance is encouraged.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Don't play with fire. Leave well enough alone when dealing with a friend, relative or loved one. Bide your time, and work on personal growth and creative endeavors. Steer clear of trouble.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You'll gain insight into what's happening if you trust your instincts and rely on experience. Speak up and make your feelings and intentions clear. Do something to lift your spirits.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) You'll regret a change or decision made under duress. Keep anyone who is pushy at arm's length. Don't take a risk that can lead to poor health or injury.

Stick close to home.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take on a challenge that stimulates your mind, body and soul. Explore possibilities and work quietly to raise your earning potential by doing something you enjoy. Romance is featured.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pitch in and do your part, and you'll make new connections. Knowledge is power, and the information you gather now will help you make better decisions.

Aim for more stability.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

Saha in the ninth over, Titans were 62 for 3. Pandya and David Miller then got together to forge a 61run fourth-wicket stand. Pandya, in particular, struggled to time the ball on a pitch that offered grip to the slower bowlers. He swung so hard at Maxwell that he not only lost his shape, but also his grip, with the bat flying over square leg in the tenth over.

As for Miller, he was more fluent against spin, taking fingerspinners Maxwell and Shahbaz Ahmed for 23 off 11 balls. However, Wanindu Hasaranga, the wristspinner, cut short Miller's innings at 34 off 25 balls by pulling off a terrific return catch.

Despite the unavailability of Harshal, Royal Challengers

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis took RCB to 115 for the first wicket Virat Kohli making it known how important the halfcentury was by gesturing towards the sky

V

irat Kohli finally broke out of the funk, scoring 73 off 54 balls, his highest score this IPL, to keep Royal Challengers Bangalore's campaign alive; but only just.

Royal Challengers still need Delhi Capitals, who now have a net run rate that is superior to theirs, to lose their final league

SCOREBOARD

GUJARAT TITANS INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Wriddhiman Saha †run out (du Plessis) 31 Shubman Gill c Maxwell b Hazlewood 1 Matthew Wade lbw b Maxwell 16 Hardik Pandya (c) not out 62 David Miller c & b de Silva 34 Rahul Tewatia c †Karthik b Hazlewood 2 Rashid Khan not out 19 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.40) 168/5 Did not bat: Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Shubman Gill, 2.3 ov), 2-38 (Matthew Wade, 5.2 ov), 3-62 (Wriddhiman Saha, 8.3 ov), 4-123 (David Miller, 16.2 ov), 5-132 (Rahul Tewatia, 17.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Siddarth Kaul 4-0-43-0 Shahbaz Ahmed 2-0-15-0 Josh Hazlewood 4-0-39-2 Glenn Maxwell 4-1-28-1

with his first-ever six off Rashid.

Kohli, however, judiciously played out R Sai Kishore, who varied his pace smartly and got more purchase from the pitch.

When he drifted one into Kohli and got it to turn away sharply, it veered away from Kohli's outside edge.

There were enough signs that this was Kohli's night. Kohli was so pumped he even celebrated du Plessis' boundaries with

bowling hand. Despite late blows from Hardik Pandya (62* off 47 balls) and Rashid (19* off 6 balls), a Harshal-less RCB managed to limit Titans to 168 for 5 on a slow Wankhede pitch.

Maxwell in the thick of the action

Maxwell's first contribution of the evening was a spectacular one-handed grab at wide slip to send back Shubman Gill for 1.

Maxwell then bowled two overs in the powerplay, which brought

21

Mahipal Lomror 1-0-11-0 Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 4-0-25-1 Harshal Patel 1-0-6-0 ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS (Target: 169 runs from 20 overs) Virat Kohli st Wade b Rashid Khan 73 Faf du Plessis (c) c Pandya b Rashid Khan 44 Glenn Maxwell not out 40 Dinesh Karthik † not out 2 Extras (b 4, w 7) 11 TOTAL 18.4 Ov (RR: 9.10) 170/2 Did not bat: Rajat Patidar, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul Fall of wickets: 1-115 (Faf du Plessis, 14.3 ov), 2-146 (Virat Kohli, 16.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 2-0-23-0 Hardik Pandya 3-0-35-0 Rashid Khan 4-0-32-2 Yash Dayal 4-0-35-0 Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore 4-0-20-0 Lockie Ferguson 1.4-0-21-0

gusto.

Rashid then returned to the attack to give Royal Challengers some late jitters.

He snagged du Plessis and Kohli in successive overs, and almost added Maxwell to his scalps.

He hit the top of Maxwell's leg stump, but the bails didn't get dislodged. Maxwell went on a boundary-hitting spree to close out the game that he had set up beautifully. (ESPNCricinfo)

Glenn Maxwell raced to 40 from 18 to finish in style

a review almost immediately, but UltraEdge didn't detect a spike, although some side-on replays suggested a deflection off the bat.

So there wasn't enough evidence for TV umpire Navdeep Singh to overturn the on-field out call.

Maxwell could've also had Pandya on 14, had Suyash Prabhudessai not misjudged a Hardik Pandya played a captain’s knock

fixture to Mumbai Indians if they are to sneak into the playoffs.

Royal Challengers' victory means that Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of the reckoning for playoffs.

Kohli's second half-century against Gujarat Titans -- and only his second overall this season -formed the centerpiece of Royal Challengers' successful pursuit of 169. Faf du Plessis simply rode in Kohli's slipstream during a 115run opening stand, before holing out for 44 off 38 balls. Rashid Khan also got rid of Kohli in his next over, but the game was all but over by then. Glenn Maxwell got the job done with a flurry of boundaries, along with Dinesh Karthik.

Such a dominant win didn't seem likely when Royal Challengers' designated death bowler Harshal Patel bowled just one over, and then left the field after splitting the webbing in his

Rashid Khan took both wickets for Gujarat

the wicket of Matthew Wade and cost Royal Challengers just two runs. Wade was visibly frustrated at being given out lbw when he thought he had bottom-edged a sweep onto his pad. He called for

catch at the long-on boundary.

Miller and Pandya do the repair job

When du Plessis nailed a direct hit to run-out Wriddhiman

made Pandya work hard for the large part of his innings. He needed 42 balls to get to a halfcentury. Rashid and Pandya then plundered 34 off the last two overs bowled by Siddharth Kaul and Josh Hazlewood, but they still couldn't reach 170.

The Kohli Show

Kohli gave Royal Challengers' chase a jumpstart, claiming 34 runs of the 55 they hit in the powerplay.

His innings was pure theatre, with the Wankhede crowd right behind him. He pumped Mohammed Shami over his head for four in the third over, and regularly hit over the top, a departure from his usual cagey approach in the powerplay.

Fortune was also on his side on Thursday. When Shami found some seam movement, the ball did not shave the outside edge.

And when Hardik Pandya nipped the ball into him and cramped him, the inside edge missed the stumps.

Kohli also got a reprieve on 16, when Rashid, standing a few yards in from the square-leg boundary, dropped a catch.

Kohli's early assault prompted Titans to rush Rashid into the attack as early as the fifth over, but Kohli attacked him as well. He lofted him over his head for four, and then rattled up a 33-ball fifty in grand style,

Thompson-Herah winning the 200m in Kingston on May 7

E

laine Thompson-Herah has withdrawn from the Birmingham Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

The Tokyo Olympics triple gold medallist has cited her withdrawal as precautionary.

“The decision not to travel to Birmingham was taken out of an abundance of caution, after she experienced some discomfort in training,” said a statement from her management.

The fastest woman alive was expected to match strides with the likes of compatriot Tokyo Olympics 100m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, Olympic 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas, as well as NCAA champion

Cambrea Sturgis, as well as Britain’s Daryll Neita.

However, with Jamaica’s National Championships just over a month away, Thompson-Herah, who has been troubled by a longstanding foot injury, was not taking any chances. The 29-year-old Jamaican has been unbeaten so far this season, running 10.89 to win her heat at the USATF Golden Games in California on April 16, and 10.93 to win at the Puerto Rico International Athletics Classic on May 12.

In her 200m opener at the JAAA/SDF Jubilee meet in Kingston on May 7, the fivetime Olympic gold medallist won in 22.75.

22

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

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resident of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, is of the opinion that the GFF has been able to spread its resources evenly. Speaking to criticism of overspending on the Golden Jaguars, Forde has said the work must be done in order to see results.

For the year 2022, the Guyana senior men’s national team played two friendly tournaments overseas, and will depart today for prepa-

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ration leading up to the beginning of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Answering inquiries about the GFF’s spending and earnings from those upcoming games in June, GFF President Wayne Forde shared a breakdown of the numbers.

“Whenever you pick up the papers and see a GFF national team heading out for an international game, you can safely consider that we would have invested be-

tween $12 and $14 million between travel, hotel and other costs,” Forde shared.

“The Nations League is a totally different animal altogether, because it’s a different level we’re operating on.

Each away fixture pushes back between $16 and $18 million, and home fixtures come in around $10 and $12 million. So, when you work out the fixtures, you will see what that financial burden will be on the Federation.”

Speaking to those

lowing two elbow operations.

Archer was on track in his recovery, and was hoping to play domestic cricket this month, only to feel soreness in his back last week. He is also set to miss the T20 World Cup in Australia this autumn, with no timeframe set for his return.

It is the latest injury to an England pace bowler, with seven - including Archer - ruled out of the summer’s first Test against New Zealand. Of the other six, four - Sam Curran, Olly Stone, Matt Fisher and Saqib Mahmood - have back injuries.

This new blow will be a concern Archer was expected to make his for Archer, once return to action this summer England’s most ex-

citing pace prospect, but now facing more than a year on the sidelines.

Called up just before the 2019 World Cup, he memorably bowled the ‘super over’ that helped England triumph in the final against New Zealand at Lord’s.

He made his Test debut on the same ground against Australia later that summer, bowling a ferocious spell that resulted in Steve Smith being struck on the helmet and suffering a concussion.

Archer has played 13 Tests, 17 one-dayers and 12 T20s for England, and has taken 86 international wickets. His last appearance for England was in March of 2021. He has also had a successful career in franchise leagues, and was named as the Most Valuable Player in the Indian Premier League in 2020. (BBC Sport)

E

ngland fast bowler Jofra Archer will miss the entire season after suffering a stress fracture of the lower back.

It is another setback for the 27-year-old, who has not played since last July, fol-

who may believe that the Federation’s focus is solely on the senior men’s national team, Forde denounced this, while noting that the GFF has been managing its resources well.

The GFF boss said, “I said to someone a few weeks ago how challenging it was to play the last two games that we played. And the choice, for me, was very simple: don’t play the games, and save some money. But guess what? How does that affect the preparation that is so crucial?” he asked.

“The GFF wants to qualify for the Gold Cup, and the only way we can do that is to win the group; and while we have very strong opponents in our group, we feel that we have put in the work, and we believe that we have done the work that we need to do to achieve that goal,” he said.

“But the investment is something that we cannot ignore. It’s huge, and it’s

Travis Waterton of Topp XX

W

hen the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Senior League championship resumes tonight, a double-header feature will see Capital FC and Haynes Winners Connection meeting from 06:00h while at 21:00h it will be a grudge match between Topp XX and Milerock at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.

Dubbed the “Return To Play” championship league after the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the playing of competitive football over these past two years, footballers are eager to display their skills at the championship level.

Game one tonight between Capital FC and Winners Connection will provide fans with what is expected throughout this 13-club league championship.

Among those appearing for Capital FC will be forward Tyric McAllister,

for that reason we will continue to engage our corporate partners,” he added on the need for continuous corporate support.

With regard to the Golden Jaguars’ extensive Nations League preparation, the GFF boss posited that without the preparation, the Federation cannot see desired results.

“The notion that the national team itself is gutting our resources, it’s not true.

Because we’ve managed as many as five national teams over the past six months; you’ve seen the Under-17 Girls, the Lady Jags, the Under-20 Girls, and we have on the horizon the Under-15 Girls, the Under-17 Boys,” he commented.

Forde continued, “So we maintain, as best as we can, a good balance. The leagues kicked off yesterday, we’re providing support there through the MFAP pro-

who will be seeking goals while the schemers will be their captain, Andre Myers and David Fiedtkou with the backline centred on Jamal Almond and Omari Ramsammy.

They will face the experienced Haynes Winners Connection, a team which have won three GT Beer year-end tournaments among others and will make formidable opponents.

Haynes Winners Connection will not take Capital FC lightly, and their line-up has Akeem Caesar and Kevin Dare as forwards seeking to pressure the opposing defence with Anthony Layne showing up in the middle while their defenders will be Andre Phillips and Raynard Caesar.

The next game will gather momentum from this opening game when Milerock and Topp XX come to grips with each other.

Milerock will be introducing an almost new breed of players this time around. Marcus Tudor will be up front with the midfield play shared by Ramjan Ramdeholl, Neil Kennedy, and Odessa Tudor, who have all played for Guyana at the youth levels.

Add the veteran player Rawle “Boney” Gittens to Marcus Tudor and you get the challenge Topp XX are up against.

On the other hand, Topp XX will bring all their experience into this game which makes it most interesting.

GFF President Wayne Forde

gramme. We’re outfitting our teams with equipment.

So, the Federation has been doing quite a lot, and it’s because we’re prudent and shrewd in terms of how we really manage our resources.”

Standing on his belief that the even spread is clear for everyone to see, Forde concluded, “I believe anyone with a fair pair of eyes looking into what we’ve been trying to do the past couple years would have to acknowledge we’ve been making an effort. It hasn’t been easy, but I think the evidence is clear that we’re making impact.” (Jemima Holmes)

Malachi Todd of Winners Connection

Led by Travis Waterton and Carlos Grant in the midfield and the likes of Keion Hall and Jamal Bentick up front with Omari Gordon defending and in goal Gregory Hinds, Topp XX will be a tough lot.

Two more matches will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

Chanderpaul in full flow at Queen’s Park (Brandon Corlette photos)

Akeem Jordan took three wickets for Pride

By Brandon Corlette in T rinidad

T

he Guyana Harpy Eagles were "large and in charge" at the end of the second day of their third-round clash against Barbados

Anthony Bramble was on 21.

Chanderpaul and Bramble came out with an obvious intention to score runs, but Bramble was struck on the arm and was forced to retire hurt on 38.

Reifer congratulating Chanderpaul

Pride in the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day Tournament.

In this match, played at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad, contrasting centuries from Gudakesh Motie and Tagenarine Chanderpaul lifted the Guyana team’s score to 490-7, at which point they declared; while Barbados Pride were at 48-2 at stumps, trailing by 442 runs. Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks have both been dismissed.

The second day began with the Guyana Harpy Eagles on 219-4 after 90 overs. Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 64, while

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A ball that kept low caused Keemo Paul to be bowled by Raymon Reifer for one, and the courageous Veerasammy Permaul then came and looked positive. Chanderpaul, who was stuck on 84 for more than 20 minutes, eventually broke the shackles, and reached his third firstclass century with a sweet boundary towards the cover region.

His century came off 319 balls, and was scored in 469 minutes. It was the slowest in regional cricket, and the second slowest by a West Indian batsman in first-class cricket. In

terms of minutes, Jimmy Adams has the slowest century, which he reached in 496 minutes against Zimbabwe.

‘The young tiger’, who had been under pressure and was prospectively about to face the axe from the national team, celebrated his century with great emotion, and responded with the bat.

At lunch, Guyana Harpy Eagles were at 313-5 in 115 overs. Chanderpaul was on 103 from 331 balls, while Permaul was on 34.

The first ball after lunch, Permaul hung his bat outside and was caught at second slip off debutant pacer Akeem Jordan. Permaul had struck five fours in his 34, and had added 53 runs for the sixth wicket with Chanderpaul.

Gudakesh Motie came and slammed the Pride bowling line-up to all parts of the ground. He played fearlessly, and when the spinners came to bowl, he played without a cap and helmet. Chanderpaul, on the other end, was rock solid, and looked unbothered.

Motie and Chanderpaul took the score to 437-6 at the tea interval, with Motie being on 92 and Chanderpaul on 135 not out. Kraigg Brathwaite had shifted around his bowlers in hot conditions, and those changes even saw Jonathan Carter bowling medium pace and off-spin.

Upon resumption of play after tea, Motie reached his maiden firstclass century with a powerful boundary straight

23

Gudakesh Motie and Tagenarine Chanderpaul added 143 runs

down the ground. He had used 112 deliveries to reach the milestone. He then smoked six on the roof of the Cyril L Duprey Stand, but top-edged a short delivery from Keon Harding and had to depart for 110. Motie had faced 118 balls in 128 minutes in crafting an innings that was decorated with 12 fours and four sixes. He had featured in a 143-run sixth wicket stand, and departed with Harpy Eagles on 456-7 after 151.2 overs.

Nial Smith came and played some good shots, reaching his career best run-a-ball score of 28 at this level. With the Harpy Eagles on 490-7 after 157.4 overs, the declaration was made, and Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 140 from 434 balls. He had batted for 644 minutes, and had struck 14 fours. Akeem Jordan claimed 3-108 from 30 overs for the Pride.

In Pride's first innings’ response, Brathwaite started things off with a firm push off Keemo Paul.

It was a ball that was pitched up and was laced towards long-off.

The Guyanese looked to attack Sheyne Moseley, and Nial Smith was operating from the Brian Lara pavilion with five slips and a gully.

Brathwaite was brilliantly caught by Akshaya Persaud at forward short leg for 17, and Keemo Paul got one to straighten as Brooks left it and was trapped leg-before for two.

Shai Hope was yet to score, and he will resume with Moseley on day two, from 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Compliments of

Summary from other matches: TT vs LEE: LEE 357 & 23/0 (13) Powell 13*.

TT: 140 (58) Da Silva 65; Archibald 4/27, Louis 4/32.

LEE lead by 240 runs.

JAM vs WIN: WIN 137 & 101/3 (33.1) Smith 34, Hodge 30*; Green 2/35.

JAM: 346 (87) King 119*, Merchant 58; McSween 4/96, Thomas 3/56. WIN trail by 108 runs.

The players applauding after Motie reached his century

SCOREBOARD GUYANA 1ST INNINGS Tagenarine Chanderpaul not out 140 Chanderpaul Hemraj c Dowrich b Reifer 19 Tevin Imlach c Brooks b Jordan 53 Leon Johnson c Reifer b Brathwaite 37 Akshaya Persaud b Jordan 13 Anthony Bramble retired not out 38 Keemo Paul b Reifer 1 Veerasammy Permaul c Brooks b Jordan 34 Gudakesh Motie c Brooks b Harding 110 Nial Smith not out 28 TOTAL (7 wickets, 157.4) (17 extras) 490 20/1 (4.5) Chanderpaul Hemraj 114/2 (53.5) Tevin Imlach172/3 (77.3) Leon Johnson 191/4 (83.5) Akshaya Persaud 260/5 (97.1) Keemo Paul 313/6 (116.1) Veerasammy Permaul 456/7 (151.2) Gudakesh Motie

BARBADOS BOWLING Raymon Reifer (15-6-37-2) Akeem Jordan (30-7-108-3) Jonathan Carter (26-8-64-0) Keon Harding (24-3-104-1) Roston Chase (24-8-49-0) Jomel Warrican (28.4-8-81-0) Kraigg Brathwaite (10-1-42-1) BARBADOS 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite c Persaud b Permaul 17 Sheyne Moseley not out 17 Sharmarh Brooks lbw b Paul 2 Shai Hope not out 0 TOTAL (2 wickets, 16.0) (12 extras) 48 29/1 (11.5) Kraigg Brathwaite 48/2 (14.5) Sharmarh Brooks GUYANA BOWLING Keemo Paul (6-1-18-1) Nial Smith (5-1-18-0) Veerasammy Permaul (5-3-2-1)

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

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

Page 23

Gudakesh Motie slammed his maiden first-class century

Tagenarine Chanderpaul celebrating his century

Page 21

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