Guyana Times - Friday, May 28, 2021

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Issue No. 4661

P12

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

PRICE

Electoral fraud

WHAT'S INSIDE:

SoPs, SoRs not personal property of Lowenfield − CJ …orders release to DPP, Top Cop

Reinstatement of CET on soap in keeping with CCJ ruling – P16 Finance Minister

Page 3

Health Ministry urges persons to take 2nd dose AstraZeneca, Sinopharm Page 2

$80 VAT INCLUDED

…says APNU/AFC disregarded regional court’s 2018 order

2 more COVID-19 deaths take P7 toll to 376 …98 new cases, 24 in ICU

M&CC gets $30M from Govt, $100M more for City Hall restoration

…financial statements still …says Sputnik V vaccines shipment within timetable to be audited – Minister

Page 10

Heavy rainfall/flooding

Take precautions against consuming contaminated P9 water – Health Minister warns

Heavy rainfall countrywide

Floodwaters devastate Region 1 businesses, homes …as cash crop, livestock farmers suffer losses in Region 6 Pages 13, 15 & 16

…3 arrested as protest erupts in Black Bush

Sophia man absconds from trial P9 …convicted of raping 5-year-old

Police unearth 10lbs ganja at roadblock P11

As heavy rainfall continues to batter Guyana, the Government, along with the Civil Defence Commission, has distributed aid to help flood-affected communities across the country

Suriname-bound cocaine-laden plane

Brazilians remanded on narco-trafficking, illegal entry charges

Page 8

GRA security P11 officer killed by drunken driver 22-year-old attacked, P11 beaten while walking home

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health Ministry urges persons to take 2nd dose AstraZeneca, Sinopharm

…says Sputnik V vaccines shipment within timetable

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s health authorities continue with the COVID-19 vaccination exercise across the country, the Health Ministry has disclosed that second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are unavailable along with first doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford and Sinopharm vaccines.

On Thursday evening, the Ministry said only first doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V jab are currently available. Additionally,

only second doses of the AstraZeneca and the Chinese-made Sinopharm are presently available.

“Currently, all sites have in stock the Sputnik V first dose available for vaccination. Sputnik V second dose can be administered between 4 to 12 weeks. However, we currently have a delay in our supplies. A further shipment of Sputnik V first-dose and second-dose vaccines will arrive in Guyana soon,” the Ministry noted.

In a statement, it went on to say that the Guyana Government was awaiting shipment information, and would advise the public

as soon as the Ministry received the details.

With regard to the other two jabs, the Health Ministry said: “AstraZeneca and Sinopharm are no longer available for the first dose. But everyone who has received their first dose will get their second dose. These doses are currently available.”

Like Sputnik, AstraZeneca has a 4 to 12week interval between dos-

es, but persons are advised to take their second shot at 12 weeks. For the Sinopharm jab, the second dose can be taken after four weeks of receiving the first shot.

To date, Guyana has received just over 205,000 doses of the Sputnik V jab. Initially, Government had bought 400,000 doses, enough to immunise 200,000 persons, at the cost of US$4 million. However, it was recently announced that another 400,000 doses of the COVID-19 jab from Russia were being procured.

The country also benefited from donations of

83,000 AstraZeneca jabs – 80,000 and 3000 from the Governments of India and Barbados, respectively – and 20,000 Sinopharm from the Chinese Government.

Additionally, Guyana has received some 62,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility.

While the AstraZeneca and the Sinopharm vaccines use the same dose in the first and second shots, the second dose of the Sputnik V

vaccine is a different component than the first dose.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday evening, Health Advisor, Dr Leslie Ramsammy explained that while Guyana had bought, in the first instance, 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V component 1 and a corresponding 200,000 doses of the component 2, the shipments did not carry the same quantity hence the unavailability of the second dose.

“We’re getting both doses in each shipment, but different quantities because the focus initially was on [administering] the component 1 and they mixed

it with some dose 2 when the shipment comes in.

So our next shipment will have a number of dose 1 and a number of dose 2…

We were expecting another shipment last week, but that’s been delayed a little. So, it could be that it’s coming anytime now,” Dr Ramsammy stated.

Of the 205,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine received, some 141,000 doses were component 1 and the remaining were component 2.

The Health Advisor noted that the second set of 400,000 doses of the Russian-made jab, which Guyana has already paid another US$4 million for, will also come in batches with a mixture of both components 1 and 2.

Vaccination figures

Since rolling out its vaccination exercise in February 2021, Guyana has so far immunised some 191,151 persons with their first dose, which represents 39.3 per cent of the country’s adult population. The number of fully immunised persons currently stands at 62,610, accounting for 12.9 per cent of persons eligible for the vaccine.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony reported on Thursday that the second drive-through vaccination exercise at the National

Stadium was successful despite inclement weather. This time around, more than 1000 persons again turned up for first and second doses.

“People came out in their numbers. At no time did we have any space in between. There was a constant flow of people and I think that’s good. We’re encouraged by the response and this is something that certainly the team would be reviewing and we probably would have many of these at the Stadium. We’ll also be working with the various regions to see whether there is the possibility to do similar things in the various regions,” he shared.

A smaller version of this exercise was recently rolled out in Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne), and also saw success.

“It really offers a lot of convenience because you drive up, you’re in your car, you fill out the questionnaire and then you go get your vaccines. It’s a really simple process, so we have to keep working on this. If this is one way that people are going to come out, well, then we’ll be willing to facilitate it.”

Vaccination numbers are growing in the country, with 191,151 persons receiving their first dose or 39.3 per cent of Guyana’s adult population. The number of completely immunised persons currently stands at 62,610, accounting for 12.9 per cent of persons eligible for the vaccine.

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NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, May 28 – 04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, May 29 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, May 28 – 05:25h-06:55h and Saturday, May 29 – 06:10h-07:40h.

Electoral fraud

SoPs, SoRs not personal property of Lowenfield – Chief Justice …orders release to DPP, Top Cop agent of GECOM,” the acting Chief Justice noted.

Lowenfield’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes had contended that under the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act and the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), his client can only release the documents

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and light rain showers are expected throughout the day and night.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 18:07h reaching a maximum height of 2.60 metres.

Low Tide: 11:38h and 23:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.39 metre and 0.67 metre.

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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FREE TICKET THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$69.46/barrel

+0.85

Rough Rice

$238.50/ton

+0.19

London Sugar

$457.50/ton

+1.67

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1893.80

$1894.80

Low/High Change

$1887.40 -2.10

$1903.90 -0.11%

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

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hief Justice (ag) Roxane George has ordered the Registrar of the High Court, Suenna Lovell to release certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC. In doing so, the acting Chief Justice on Thursday refused an application by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who was seeking to intervene as a respondent in a case filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie.

In that case, the DPP and acting Top Cop asked the acting Chief Justice to order the Registrar to release the election documents as they constitute part of Police investigations into electoral fraud charges against the CEO and other high-ranking Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) officials.

Following the dismissal of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) election petition number 88 on January 18, 2021, Justice George ordered GECOM to hand over the original copies of the SoPs and SoRs to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for safekeeping. Lowenfield handed over them three days later.

Not personal property

“The documents are not the personal property of the CEO. They are public documents of which he is merely the custodian pursuant to the law on behalf of GECOM,” Justice George underscored.

Although Lowenfield is the legal custodian of the documents, Justice George said that he did not have an interest such as to object to the court granting permission for the release of the SoPs and SoRs for the reasons outlined by the DPP and acting Top Cop. “While the CEO is the custodian of these documents, he is merely so as an

safekeeping of election documents and the challenge to the validity of an election, do not mean that these documents cannot be released to law enforcement entities as part of their investigations.

The election laws do not contemplate that the documents cannot be released

“The documents are not the personal property of the CEO. They are public documents of which he is merely the custodian pursuant to the law on behalf of GECOM…while the CEO is the custodian of these documents, he is merely so as an agent of GECOM” – Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George “for the purposes of an election petition” .

Justice George, however, labelled this contention “untenable” given the fact that the election law contemplates criminal proceedings as regards an election.

Further addressing Hughes’ contention, the acting Chief Justice pointed out that the election jurisdiction and criminal jurisdiction of the court are “separate and distinct”.

According to Justice George, the provisions of RoPA and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, speaking as they do, for the custody and

in support of criminal proceedings that are related to an election even where the CEO is also a defendant, Justice George said.

Neither gain nor lose

Justice George held that Lowenfield, in his affidavit, failed to disclose how he will be “adversely affected” by the release of the election documents. “It is only where the CEO will gain or lose by the direct legal operation and effect of the judgment should he be allowed to intervene.”

In this regard, she said that an order for the release of the SoPs and SoRs “would

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

not cause the CEO to be adversely affected. That is to say that as CEO, he will neither gain nor lose as the mere provision of these documents will enable the applicants (DPP and Top Cop) to exercise their right to institute proceedings relating to the conduct of election officers…”.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

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

World No Tobacco Day

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s Guyana prepares to join the rest of the world in observing World No Tobacco Day, CARPHA Executive Director Dr Joy St John has said that tobacco use remains a public health problem in the Caribbean.

Observed on May 31 each year, World No Tobacco Day aims to inform the public of the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, and what people can do to claim their right to health and healthy living, and to protect future generations.

This year’s observances are being held under the theme “Commit to Quit”, which is apt and timely as, increasingly, we are seeing the tobacco industry utilising more innovative and attractive ways to lure young people into smoking.

According to CARPHA data, cigarette smoking is the main form of tobacco use, and men are far more likely to use cigarettes than Caribbean women. The prevalence of current tobacco smoking ranges from 13.3% in Barbados to 23% in Guyana for adult males, and from 7.7% in Barbados to 12.6% in Guyana for adult women.

Its data also shows that in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, adolescents use more e-cigarettes than conventional cigarettes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 40 million young people aged 13 to 15 have already started to use tobacco. This, by any measure, is quite alarming, and one can only imagine the kind of impact this would have on our young people if urgent action is not taken to discourage such actions.

For this year’s observances, CARPHA has embarked on highlighting that to quit smoking is one of the most important steps a person can take to improve their health.

People who quit smoking, the CARPHA data shows, after having a heart attack, reduce their chances of having another heart attack by 50%.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the benefits of quitting tobacco are almost immediate. In data released for World No Tobacco Day, the WHO highlighting that within 20 minutes of quitting, a person’s heart rate and blood pressure drop, and within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal.

Dr. Kavita Singh, Guyana’s Chronic Diseases Coordinator and Secretary of the Tobacco Control Council, lamented the fact that the tobacco industry is capitalising on new trends in targeting young persons. She noted that it is during this point in time that ‘big tobacco’ is using strategic marketing techniques to try to get young people to experiment with the new and emerging novel products like the e-cigarettes and the heated tobacco products.

While there is a myth that these products are safe, they are equally as harmful as the smoke of an actual cigarette. According to WHO, smoking e-cigarettes and hookah pipes – marketed as “safer” alternatives to conventional cigarettes - is harmful, addictive, and increases the risk of developing heart and lung diseases.

Of note is that these products have the same tobacco which has cancer-causing cells among other deadly emissions. The WHO notes that most of the countless flavours on offer – such as bubble gum and candy - are there to attract youngsters, who at least double their chances of smoking cigarettes later in life.

It should be stated that tobacco is responsible for over 7 million deaths per year worldwide. Those include approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke.

Over 40% of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

Guyana’s tobacco control law, enacted in 2017, follows several of the articles of the WHO Convention, and mandates the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100% smoke-free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation and specified outdoor spaces, to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60% of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines’ sales, and a ban on the manufacture and sales of toys and candies and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco, as 78% of all deaths here are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill due to tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, stricter enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use, and more recently, tackling the newer forms of cigarette substitutes, which are proving to be very attractive to youths.

The Richmond Hill South Ozone Park Lions Club of New York on Thursday donated 15,000 exercise books to the Education Ministry.

In photo, Education Minister Priya Manickchand receives copies of the books from President of the Richmond Hill South Ozone Park Lions Club of New York, Romeo Hitlall (Education Ministry photo)

Great danger in wrong belief about Guyana’s gold, oil sectors Dear Editor, With regard to our natural resources, I believe, like every Guyanese, that we should always be looking to get a bit more directly and/ or indirectly; but, however well intended, it is inaccurate, and there is great danger to believe and, worse, in preaching, that we Guyanese are receiving crumbs from the ongoing extraction and commercialisation of our natural resources, gold and oil. It is not true.

To judge whether we are receiving crumbs or not, we must think of all the benefits we are receiving. These may be considered in three groups: i) Royalty and/or a share in profits. Royalty is a percentage taken off-thetop before anything else.

Royalty and profit-share may be taken in kind or in cash, assuming sales at prevailing world market prices (not a giveaway sale to some family member; although there have been lots of arguments about sale prices within a group of companies, when there are no world prices). ii) Taxes – Corporate income tax; taxes on imports, on purchases, on sales (if applicable), etc.

These may be waived to the extent allowable by law, and as stated in the general regime. Note that these incentives and waivers are monies “foregone” by the Treasury, not paid out by the Treasury. iii) Employment and personal income tax; the provision of organisation

and structure, purpose and training to the workforce employed; supporting “local content” businesses; direct and indirect infrastructural development, etc.

In certain circumstances, like the opening up of new distant hinterland areas, some economists may calculate and argue that benefit (iii) is important, and great enough to waive altogether or to put benefits (i) and (ii) at the lowest lawful values, so that the development can happen. Note also that if the project does not proceed, there are no cash benefits (i) and (ii). All the benefits are enjoyed only when there is an ongoing project; no project, no benefits.

Note, too, that our investment regime of incentives, waivers and pre-qualifications is based on the nature and size of the investment – the regime is available to everyone, whether local or overseas Guyanese, or foreigners of all nationalities.

Some countries may find it economically and financially beneficial to subsidise a key activity to a certain extent. A number of Caribbean Governments used to provide some cash support to hotels and airlines bringing in the tourists, in order to keep the air fares low and the tourist flow high. The benefit is in the employment and economic activity created by the spending of the tourists.

We must think about all that we would not have had if there were no project, before engaging in any talk

about crumbs.

What is often forgotten when one reads about 1000 ozs of gold mined and sold at US$1800/oz, or one million bbls of oil recovered and sold at US$60/bbl is the cost of recovering and placing the commodity in the world market.

Those who say we are receiving crumbs are ignoring those costs, thinking that “our” gold and oil and other natural resources are being recovered and put to market at negligible costs.

It is the easiest thing to forget the costs and the work and sacrifices involved when counting the money the other guy is receiving.

Those of us who lived through the nationalisations of the 1970s and early 1980s (like I did) would know that it is a real challenge to keep costs less than world market prices, over which we have no influence. Indeed, for most of the time we owned and ran the bauxite operations, it was more a situation like costs $120, world market price $100. Over the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, many believed that we were getting crumbs for our bauxite (and most likely we were then) and that was part of the drive for nationalisation, but when we owned it over the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, we were putting in lots of money from our Treasury to keep the operations from closing (as subsidies to those communities, including my family and me).

Allow me now to respond directly to a ques-

tion put to me earlier: if I (a former Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the GGMC) do not subscribe to the notion that Guyana and Guyanese are receiving crumbs, then should I not show gold and oil contracts from other jurisdictions that are worse than the Aurora Gold and Exxon oil contracts.

I do not have any contract for any particular company in gold or oil in some other country to show, but the matter does not end there – Governments and companies are required to publish and make available lots of information in different places/agencies, local and foreign, as required by law. Indeed, as far as I can tell, all the “secrets” that are being revealed have been taken from publicly available documents.

Experienced, knowledgeable persons readily perform overall comparisons, which show that we are at least middling in what our Government receives directly in royalty and/or profit share and taxes.

In the case of gold, our GGDMA had obtained sponsorship in about the year 2000 for one of the international financial services companies to compare the investment regimes in about 20 significant gold producing countries. Our regime was about the most demanding (taking the most) with Royalty at 5% when most were at 2.5 or 3%; and our corporate income tax was the highest.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

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

Narrative painted is far from reality Dear Editor, I have taken note of a publication made recently

by Mr Jagnarine K. Singh titled “Party loyalists and activists getting increasingly frustrated over pay to play”.

It is my view that the narrative painted by the author is far from the reality, and, as such, I hope to shed some light on same.

To begin, it is important to note that the author built on the views expressed by the APNU+AFC, suggesting that loyal supporters of the

PPP/C are “mentally lazy”.

The fact that such a position was taken shows the biased nature of the missive which was put forth, and it should therefore be rejected. One of the main things that Mr Singh stressed on is that the PPP/C Government should be governing the country only in the interest of its “loyal” supporters.

Again, this could not be farther from the truth.

Mr Singh is also up in arms about the award of contracts to persons not con-

nected to the PPP, or who didn’t campaign for that party. In this regard, it is central for individuals like Mr Singh to recognise the fact that contractors go through a very competitive bidding process in order to secure contracts. The Government does not simply award contracts as they feel. The narrative which was presented in the missive was that even contractors who supported the coalition are nowgetting contracts. Mr Singh alleges that such is an indication

that they are paying to get in on the action.

My confusion with Mr Singh’s position on this note is whether or not he thinks that contractors who supported the coalition should be locked out of the bidding process now that the PPP/C is in office. Such a stance is ridiculous, because the reality is that the PPP/C cannot just award contracts to contractors who support them. The bidding process is very fair and transparent, and as such, ANY contrac-

tor can make bids to secure contracts, as dictated by the laws.

One of the things that I have taken note of with the PPP/C Government is that every contractor is allowed a fair shot when bidding, despite whom they support.

The author is suggesting that something shady must be going on, since contractors who supported the coalition are being allowed to get contracts under the current administration. In my view, Mr Singh fails to re-

alise that despite whom these contractors support/ supported, they are still Guyanese. At the end of the day, the PPP/C Government is governing in the interest of all Guyanese, so there is no discrimination in terms of awarding contracts.

I trust that Mr Singh would reassess his position on this matter, as it is not only biased, but also far from reality.

Yours respectfully, Erin Northe

Great danger in wrong belief about Guyana’s gold...

At that time of falling gold prices, our GGDMA argued for a lower royalty, and we eventually settled for a sliding scale of reducing royalty for selling prices below US$400 an oz.

About ten years later, with gold prices running high, our Government argued for an upward sliding portion of the sliding scale, and set royalty at 8% for gold prices over US$1000/per oz for large scale operations.

Small and medium scale operations were exempted, as they received no waivers on their general purchases.

I can maintain with all confidence that our gold mining regime is not a regime of the least Government take – crumbs.

Concerning what we, Guyanese and Guyana, receive from our oil, I will take refuge in a number of writings in prose and poetry (appearing in all our

newspapers over recent months, and presentations at Moray House) of that Guyanese émigré living in Midland Texas – Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh. In particular, I would refer to his article which appeared in Stabroek News of March 2nd, 2021, “Guyana got 17.4% of oil sales in profit for 2020”.

I quote one paragraph: “To be clear, Guyana got 17.4% of sales in its share of the profits plus 2% of sales in its royalty receipts, making a total of 19.4%.

Not bad in a generally dismal year for the oil industry, especially for Guyana’s two main partners in this enterprise – ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation, both of which reported substantial losses for 2020.”

You don’t have to take my word that we are not receiving crumbs; go back and read the whole arti-

cle and others by Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, and other commentators too. Some contracts may have a royalty of say 15%, seven and a half times Guyana’s 2%. They have no profit share, so for the year in question, they would have received 15% of the oil, Guyana would have received somewhat more – 19.4%: not a bad share, not crumbs, but we would not have complained if it were a little bit more. As indicated here, one has to read and compare agreements/ documents in total so as not to get carried away wrongly with a comparison of one or two headings only.

I think that I have justified my view that we are not receiving crumbs and dribbles. Indeed, our question should not/never be whether we are receiving crumbs or not, but about what alternatives are realistically available to us. What better

alternatives can we make accessible to ourselves and apply ourselves at? In my experience, getting bogged down in arguing and lamenting whether we are getting crumbs is to wallow and get lost in feelings of self-pity and victimhood; it provides us with a cop out from doing anything constructive, while inculcating destructive moods and attitudes and opening the door to recurring tantrums, which get us nowhere.

However, addressing the questions of what alternatives are realistically available to us, and looking to make better alternatives accessible to us gets us knitting our brows, rolling up our sleeves, and getting into action. It gets our creative juices going, challenging ourselves and developing ourselves and country.

We Guyanese are a people of less than one million:

with our history of slavery, indentureship and colonialism in a world of 7,000 million, we are understandably suspicious, but we must be fair and reasonable. Our challenge is to avoid and overcome all in our history that might restrain our participation, survival and success in this huge evolved world of today and tomorrow; finding strengths in

FROM PAGE 4

our history to serve us today, and developing partnerships with foreign peoples and countries of the world for our mutual benefit.

Sincerely, Samuel A.A. Hinds Former President and former Prime Minister

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Continued Part VI Oh! dream of joy! is this indeed The light-house top I see?

Is this the hill? is this the kirk?

Is this mine own countree?

Thursday’s answers

We drifted o'er the harbour-bar, And I with sobs did pray— O let me be awake, my God! Or let me sleep alway.

The harbour-bay was clear as glass, So smoothly it was strewn!

And on the bay the moonlight lay, And the shadow of the Moon.

WORD SEARCH

L

ook at the photo of the lunar landscape (see page 76). Select one of the places on the Moon that sounds interesting to you. Sea of Rains? Ocean of Storms? Archimedes? Imagine what it would be like to be there.

Think about how the air feels, what colors you see, what the landscape features feel like.

Write a cinquain poem about your lunar landscape.

(Adapted from startwithabook.org)

The rock shone bright, the kirk no less, That stands above the rock: The moonlight steeped in silentness The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light, Till rising from the same, Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow Those crimson shadows were: I turned my eyes upon the deck— Oh, Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood!

A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight!

They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light; This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart— No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars, I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turned perforce away And I saw a boat appear.

The Pilot and the Pilot's boy, I heard them coming fast: Dear Lord in Heaven! it was a joy The dead men could not blast.

I saw a third—I heard his voice: It is the Hermit good!

He singeth loud his godly hymns That he makes in the wood.

He'll shrieve my soul, he'll wash away The Albatross's blood.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more COVID-19 deaths take toll to 376 …98 new cases, 24 in ICU

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An analysis of new cases shows two in Region One (Barima-Waini), 14 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 41 in Region Four, three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), six in Region Six, three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), five in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 24 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) In Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and Eight (PotaroSiparuni), the figures are constant at 456 and 368 respectively.

Meanwhile, during his COVID-19 update on Thursday, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said that more than 1000 persons received vaccines at the second COVID-19 vaccination drive-through held at the Guyana National Stadium on Wednesday.

He noted that despite heavy rainfall, persons turned up to receive their vaccines.

“We were encouraged by the response, and this is something that certainly the team would be reviewing, we probably will have more of these at the stadium. And we will also be working with the different regions to see whether there are possibilities to do simi-

wo more deaths from the novel coronavirus have taken the country’s death toll to a startling 376. Of this total, 75 deaths have occurred in May – the deadliest month of the pandemic locally.

The fatalities are a 62-yearold female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who died at a medical facility; and a 52-yearold male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who succumbed at home.

Six deaths had been reported on Wednesday and seven on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry’s dashboard on Thursday showed 98 new cases. This means the total confirmed cases in the country have now increased to 16,654. There are 24 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 109 in institutional isolation, and 1922 in home isolation. Additionally, 10 persons were placed in institutional quarantine.

Some 14,223 of the 8268 males and 8386 females who tested positive for the coronavirus have since recovered. Guyana has tested 150,020 persons since the virus was first detected here.

SoPs, SoRs not personal...

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

“For the court to allow the CEO to become an intervening party in these proceedings would have the effect of complicating these legal proceedings unnecessarily. As such, I do not consider that the CEO is a proper party in these proceedings.

No law prevents the release of the documents,” Justice George stated.

Additionally, the acting Chief Justice said that Lowenfield could have been requested to produce the SoPs and SoRs in the general course of a Police investigation and that any refusal on his part would have permitted the Police to seek the assistance of a Magistrate in getting a search warrant.

“The evidence before me permits the release of the certified copies of the documents. There is no reason not to grant the application made by the Commissioner of Police and the DPP,” she added.

According to Justice George, the effect of the order sought by the applicants would only be to permit ac-

cess to the documents for criminal proceedings. And in the acting Chief Justice’s view, “there can be nothing unlawful about this; a commonplace occurrence in many criminal proceedings”.

The Registrar of the High Court was ordered to hand over the SoPs and SoRs to the Attorney General within 10 days of the court’s ruling. The Attorney General will in turn deliver the documents to the DPP and the Top Cop. Though the DPP’s counsel, Dharshan Ramdhani pressed for costs to be awarded against Lowenfield, Justice George made no such order, stating “I think the intended intervener [Lowenfield] is fortunate in this case. But I do think the issue needed to be clarified and it has now been clarified.”

Fair hearing

Following the conclusion of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which were marred by controversy, several election officials were investigated by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and charges were later recommended against them by the office of the DPP. Apart from Lowenfield, the others charged are Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo. The DPP’s position is that the SoPs and SoRs are needed for a fair hearing of the charges as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences

Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie

by Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo.

Ali-Hack deposed that unofficial copies of the SoPs were in the public domain and that certified copies of them would confirm and show that certain numbers of cast votes were recorded on those documents. AliHack noted that the SoPs and SoRs, together with other evidence, will show that Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo deliberately ignored those recorded figures and made false declarations in furtherance of their conspiracy.

Others charged

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence and APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph are also before the courts on electoral fraud charges. There are also electoral fraud charges against GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller and GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique

lar things in the various regions,” he said.

He added that the public could expect to see similar exercises rolled out, as the Ministry continues its COVID-19 vaccination campaign. (G12)

FROM PAGE 3

Livan.

All those charged have been released on cash bail.

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still

unknown. The certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily

inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district – in favour of the then caretaker APNU/AFC regime. The DPP has since hired a team of special prosecutors consisting of about six Attorneys-at-Law to prosecute the electoral fraud cases on behalf of the State.

(G1)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Suriname-bound cocaine-laden plane

Brazilians remanded on narcotrafficking, illegal entry charges

Moving along…

S

The cocaine bricks found onboard the crashed aircraft Salim Nobrega De Alimser and Andre Pereira at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (Fresh Studio photo)

T

he two Brazilian nationals who were onboard the cocaine-laden aircraft when it crash-landed at Orealla in Region Six were on Thursday

arraigned for trafficking in narcotics and illegal entry.

Salim Nobrega De Alimser, 60, and Andre Pereira, 30, were arraigned in the Springlands Magistrates

Court, where the charge read to them stated that, on May 20, 2021, they had in their possession 450 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The Police have also said that the men illegally entered Guyana on that

said day.

The duo reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore. They are expected to return to court on June 22, 2021.

TURN TO PAGE 11

…with the rigging crew urely, people abroad must think that Guyana can’t be a real country. How else could they deal with the news that comes out from here day after day?? It must definitely be concocted by followers of Baron Sacha Cohen - you know, the fella who spoofed dictatorships in Borat and (what else?) the Dictator!

There was the attempt by the coalition PNC Government - which BECAME the Government by winning 33 out of 65 seats in 2015 - arguing in 2019 that 33 seats in the Parliament of the same 65 seats wasn’t a majority to put them OUT of Government!! Surely, no one could be so mathematically challenged?! Then when the top court ruled 33 WAS TOO the majority, and the President and Cabinet should follow the Constitution and resign, the PNC then claimed that “resign” had another meaning!!

Anyhow, they and their myrmidons are still screaming that the earth is flat and they wuz robbed by the PPP. Would people abroad really believe that the PPP - which were in power in 2015 and were voted out - had the capability to rig elections when they were OUT of power? But we don’t have to rehearse all gymnastics that eventually involved a soiled bedsheet, do we? Thought not!! Even though foreigners must still be scratching their heads about officials who thought they could play THREE CARD Monte with ballots in front of the world!!

What we do know is that CEO Lowenfield of GECOM one of those charged with the fraud - did his darnedest to hide his official copies of the SOPs. Today, the Chief Justice, sitting in the High Court, ordered that the documents must be turned over to the DPP and the Police, so they could prosecute their case. Now, how could she do otherwise?

Weren’t the SOPs the property of GECOM, who was acting on the behalf of the state to make sure polls were conducted fairly? The mind of foreigners boggle some more!

Well duh! who told her to do that!?! The CEO complained that the SOPs might get him into trouble!! And that’s a problem? For whom? Surely not for the people of Guyana!!

After all, it was their votes the CEO misrepresented by claiming that 115,000 votes had been cast by dead and migrated people!! Foreigners already think Guyana’s that ghoulish place where Jim Jones served Cool Aid to commit the largest mass suicide in human history! But 100,000 dead people voting and no one noticed?

But your Eyewitness wasn’t surprised Lowenfield squawked and balked at the release of the SOPs. But after nine months to gestate their thoughts on the rigging, the PNC supporters still felt compelled to cuss out the CJ? Shame! …on Independence Well, your Eyewitness was up and about the day after the Big Bash (did you see all those fireworks? Not as much as the PNC will be shooting off in the next few months, but still!!) and his little eyes spied all those signs on our 55th Independence Anniversary! Would’ve warmed the cockles of his heart if it weren’t for the squalour he faced when he reached Georgetown. Nasty!

Independence? Well, the PNC received Independence because they played the foreign affairs game better that the PPP. That’s it…nothing less, nothing more. If Cheddi’s PPP had been more cynical (but realistic) about what fuelled the Cold War (pun intended) things coulda turned out much different. Wasn’t there that folk-saying to “pat tiger head when yuh haan in tiger mout’”?

Anyhow, that Cold War was over since 1989 - hence the PPP being allowed to come in from the cold. But another one is evolving, isn’t it? Between the US and China.

Hope the (once burnt) PPP is “twice warned”! …on COVID-19 Your Eyewitness was pleased that, at long last, the PNC added its voice to the call for citizens to take their jabs.

It’s one people, one nation, one destiny on COVID-19!

Or else!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Heavy rainfall/flooding

Take precautions against consuming contaminated water – Health Minister warns T

he rainy season has triggered flooding across Guyana within recent days and persons experiencing inundation should take precautions against consuming contaminated water.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony issued this warning on Thursday, highlighting that attention should be placed on ensuring that water sources are free from contamination during floods. Contaminated water can cause illnesses in both children and adults.

He added that apart

from sourcing drinking water elsewhere, persons could opt to use bleach or boil their water for safe consumption.

“If water supplies have been contaminated, people would be drinking that contaminated water. A lot of times, because the sewage can be flooded, it mixes with the water that probably they would be using to drink. We have to make sure that if that is happening, they get a better source of water.”

The Minister added, “Some people have been capturing rain water and if you have rain water, it

also mean that you can add bleach so whatever bacteria is in the water, you can kill the bacteria so that you get water that is free from contaminants. A simple thing is to boil water. Once you boil it, it would kill the bacteria.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry is also monitoring communities for skin infections, caused by traversing through floodwaters without protection.

“For those communities that have experienced flooding, I would urge that you take those extra precautions to keep your water supply

Sophia man absconds from trial …convicted of raping 5-year-old

A

22-year-old man who absconded his trial on the day the jury was set to deliberate on a verdict has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl.

Alex Garraway of Lot 1162 Cummings Park ‘E’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown has been convicted in absentia at the High Court in Demerara.

Garraway, also known as ‘Uncle Alex’, between November 1 and 30, 2018, in the county of Demerara, engaged in sexual penetration of a five-year-old girl.

On the second charge, he was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with the child by touching her buttocks and putting his penis at her buttocks. This also occurred during November 2018.

The facts revealed that Garraway is known to the

Wanted: Child rapist Alex Garraway, called “Uncle Alex”

child, who complained that while she lived with her grandmother, Garraway “used his birdie to juk in her vagina” during the night.

The child also said that Garraway placed his penis at her buttocks, and he did this to her while she was

lying on her back on a bed.

A report was made to the Police, and Garraway was arrested and charged with the offences.

When the allegations were put to him, he denied them by stating, “I never try anything with [her].”

Garraway’s counsel, Ravindra Mohabir, has asked that a probation report be prepared on his client before a sentence is imposed.

Prosecutors Nafeeza Baig and Sarah Martin have been asked by trial Judge Brassington Reynolds to have a victim impact statement compiled.

The sentencing hearing for Garraway is set for June 17. He had been out on bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

In the meantime, the High Court Judge has issued an arrest warrant for the child rapist. (G1)

An inundated yard in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

safe. If you do that then, then we’ll not see an increase in the diarrheal diseases, especially in children.

In addition to diarrheal diseases that we normally see, we’re also on the lookout for skin rashes because would be walking through the wa-

ter. They can get skin infections. That’s another thing that we’re on the lookout for,” Dr Anthony advised.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), floods can cause water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, lep-

tospirosis and hepatitis A; along with vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, and dengue haemorrhagic fever and yellow fever.

“Floods may indirectly lead to an increase in vector-borne diseases through the expansion in the number and range of vector habitats. Standing water caused by heavy rainfall or overflow of rivers can act as breeding sites for mosquitoes, and, therefore, enhance the potential for exposure of the disaster-affected population and emergency workers to infections,” the Organisation said.

Within recent days, high tides have also caused severe flooding across a number of regions, leaving residents counting their losses.

Livelihoods of those with farmlands and livestock were also affected. (G12)

Teen allegedly drowns after falling into creek

T

he lifeless body of 15-year-old Luixander Xavier Donald Castillo was on Wednesday evening pulled from a creek at Arou Mountain, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Police are working on the theory that the teenager might have drowned after falling into the creek while

crossing same.

Based on reports received, the now dead teenager left his father’s mining camp at Arou Mountain, Cuyuni River to go to the Landing. After some time had elapsed and he did not return, his father went in search of him, but he was nowhere in sight.

As a result, the worried

father organised a search party which went to look for the teenager, but a few hours later, his motionless body was found floating in a creek with a depth of about six feet.

His body was pulled therefrom and examined, but no marks of violence were seen. An investigation is underway.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

M&CC gets $30M from Govt, $100M more for City Hall restoration …financial statements still to be audited – Minister

C

entral Government has given City Hall another lifeline by injected an additional $30 million into the coffers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

This money is intended to support the construction of an administrative building for that entity.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall has already handed over the cheque to Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke. The building will house employees of the Council so that the City Hall building can be restored.

Speaking with the media, Dharamlall noted that Government is looking closely at the proceedings in order to ensure there is accountability for the money as it is expended from the Council’s end.

“In 2019, an initial sum was provided to City Hall of $65 million. That work has gone to the extent where a superstructure has been

agreed to put $100 million for it as well.”

Lagging

Local Government Ministers Nigel Dharamlall and Anand Persaud handing over the cheque to Finance Committee Chairman Oscar Clarke

completed. This is part of Government’s commitment to support the construction of the admin building…City Hall has committed to put an additional $50 million during the course of this year. We expect that the resources are going to be used very wisely.

“We’re hopeful that, by now, the City would have already publicly tendered for this work,” he expressed.

It has been announced that another $100 million is promised from the state’s coffers for the restoration of the City Hall building – a historical structure in the

heart of Georgetown.

“That is one of the legacy buildings in Georgetown.

It is a historic landmark in our country, and it is on the front burner of our Government. The President has been adamant for us to get the City Hall Building restored, and so he has

The Minister added that the Council is still lagging behind in having its financial statements audited, and this is a serious concern for the current administration. He reported that in the Auditor General’s Report, it is indicated that the local organ body has not been forthcoming with these documents.

“The fact is that they have not yet been able to get their financial statements audited. I hope that the head of the Finance Committee is taking note of it. We’re very, very serious about these issues as a Government. There have been some complaints from the Auditor General’s statements that I have read, where City Hall has not been forthcoming in presenting a lot of the verification information towards the conduct of an audit,” the Minister detailed.

However, Clarke, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, indicated that the Council is trying to catch up on this backlog.

Clarke claimed, “We’re catching up on that now, and I’m sure (that) by the end of this year we’ll be up to last year. We have been submitting our statements now, and I think we’re catching up on our backlog of audits.”

After taking office, the PPP/C Government had launched an audit targeting both the financial and operational makeup of the municipality.

Calls for transparency come on the heels of reports last year that there was no accountability for the $300 million Restoration Fund which was contributed to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall Building. The structure seems to be falling apart, and some sections have already been labelled unsafe.

11 Police unearth 10lbs ganja at roadblock NEWS

GRA security officer killed by drunken driver A

security officer attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA’s) Springlands branch was on Wednesday evening killed by a drunken driver along the No. 77 Public Road in Corriverton, Corentyne Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is Norma Rose, 41, of Scottsburg, Corriverton, Corentyne Berbice.

Based on information received, motor car HC 3098 was proceeding along the No. 77 Public Road at a fast rate of speed when the left side front of the car collided with Rose, who was

standing at the side of the road.

As a result of the colli-

sion, Rose was flung into the air, and landed on the bonnet of the car before tum-

bling onto the parapet. She was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital for the injuries she had sustained, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the motor car, a 32-year-old man of Port Mourant, Corentyne, was arrested and taken to the Springlands Police Station, where a breathalyzer test administered on him proved that his alcohol consumption was above the legal limit.

He remains in custody, and is assisting with investigations.

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The ganja that was found in the minibus

22-year-old attacked, beaten while walking home A

A

22-year-old man was on Wednesday evening attacked and beaten by three men at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) while he was heading home.

The Police have said

that, at about 22:30h, the victim had collected his mobile phone from a repair shop, and was heading home when he was attacked by the three men, who were armed with pieces of wood.

The victim was reported-

ly beaten about the body by the men, causing him to sustain injuries. After the assault, the three suspects fled the scene, leaving the victim on the roadway.

The young man was assisted by Police and taken to

the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was treated and sent away.

The identities of the men have been given to the Police, and a manhunt has been launched to apprehend them.

Brazilians remanded on...

It was reported that the green and white Beechcraft Bonanza plane, carrying registration number PTSRR, crash-landed in the Amerindian community of Orealla on the Corentyne River in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) after encountering difficulties.

The two occupants in the aircraft when it crash-landed were Brazilian nationals, and one was the pilot.

The men reportedly told residents of Orealla that they were travelling and visiting several areas to do sport fishing and other leisure activities, but had encountered difficulties with the weather. They further claimed that the aircraft was almost out of fuel, and they had gotten lost after circling the area for some time.

However, the men were subsequently accosted by Police ranks, who questioned them about their presence in the area. They then took the ranks to the aircraft, where a search conducted unearthed a quantity of cocaine. With a street value of about US$30,000 per kilogram, the estimated cost of the drug is $2.9 billion.

Shortly after the discovery, ranks of the Disciplined Forces and agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were mo-

bilised and dispatched to the scene from Camp Ayanganna via the GDF’s Bell 412 helicopter.

CANU has reported that from all indications and information received, the aircraft was heading to Suriname. However, in addition to the 450 bricks of cocaine which each weighed one kilogram, two Global Positioning Systems, one radio set, three smartphones, two identification cards and the registration documents of the aircraft were found at the crash site.

Only last September, another Brazilian-registered Beechcraft crash-landed at Issano, Middle Mazaruni in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with some 390 kilograms of cocaine. Also onboard that aircraft was the motionless body of a foreigner, who was later identified as 49-year-old Brazilian national Alessandro Eduardo Petravicies.

The completely wrecked plane was discovered on September 14, 2020 in the vicinity of the Nine Miles Airstrip, where authorities had discovered another aircraft that landed in the country on the previous night.

The Police had said that the first plane, which had three occupants, had no illegal items onboard, nor

were any illegal articles found nearby. It was reported that that plane, a

FROM PAGE 8

206 Cessna, was travelling along with the Beechcraft, heading to Suriname.

34-year-old man has been arrested after being intercepted with a quantity of ganja at a road block erected in front of the Fort Wellington Police Station on the West Coast of Berbice in Region Five.

Based on reports obtained, on Wednesday, at about 18:57h, Police acting on information received intercepted minibus BYY 5866, which was carrying about 10 passengers. The minibus was taken into the station’s compound, and a search of the vehicle was conducted in the presence of its occupants and the driver.

During the search, one red, white and blue travelling bag was found under the conductor’s seat, and upon inspection, two wrapped parcels containing cannabis were found.

It was later found out that the bag belonged to a passenger who had joined the minibus at Rosignol. The suspect was told of the offence, but he denied ownership of the bag. He was nevertheless arrested and is in custody pending charges.

The marijuana, when weighed in the presence of the passengers, amounted to 10 pounds.

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PM calls for funding to support “energy revolution” P rime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has called for Caricom member states to receive improved and prioritised access to pubic grant-based investment funding to support a “Caricom energy revolution”.

The Prime Minister, Chairperson of the Caricom Council on Trade and Economic Development

he explained.

(COTED), made the call while delivering remarks at a virtual high-level meeting with Caricom ministers responsible for energy, heads of international financial institutions, bilateral development partners, and the Private Sector.

“We are of the firm view that a front-loaded and fasttracked investment surge is urgently needed to achieve, within the next five to ten

Leadership

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips

years, what may have otherwise taken 30 years, because time is of the essence,” he declared.

He said the region requires an average of US$5.3B in private and public investments for its push towards energy security.

Guyana, on its own, he said, requires US$1.1B for

a range of energy projects which are expected to add 230 megawatts of renewable generation capacity to the country’s electricity mix. These projects include the modernisation of the electricity grid, hydropower generation, and the inclusion of rooftop solar photovoltaic power.

“This would simultaneously improve our energy security, reduce energy pricing, and reduce carbon emissions from the power sector, among other things,”

Energy security is essential to the region, the Prime Minister said, since energy issues are inextricably linked to climate change.

“The ‘Caricom energy revolution’ will not only allow Caricom countries to play the leadership role that we’ve assumed in global climate mitigation efforts - recognising that collectively we contribute less than 0.2% of greenhouse gas emissions but also facilitate our ability to implement some of the measures that are necessary for our climate adaptation,” he said.

He added that each time there is a natural disaster or climate-related challenge, Caricom member states suffer.

“These externalities have consistently eroded the modest economic gains made by some, and, in many instances, exacerbate our inability to attract the right quantity and quality of financing for investments,” he explained.

Prime Minister Phillips

noted that it is imperative that the region employs modern infrastructure and techniques that are capable of effectively supporting our requirements for, and national aspirations toward, sustainable development.

“Countries can recover better from the various exogenous shocks, including those that are caused by climate events and the COVID-19 pandemic, through an accelerated clean energy transition that, inter alia, delivers long term economic growth and job creation,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he is eagerly awaiting the expressions of interest on “our proposal that will emerge from this meeting, and more so, the collective actions that will follow in the years to come. Our citizens continue to depend on us for solutions. Let us not let them down on this occasion,” he declared.

Among those present at the meeting were Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, and Secretary General of Caricom, Irwin LaRocque.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Heavy rainfall

Floodwaters devastate Region 1 businesses, homes

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illages in Region One (Barima-Waini) are the latest to face the spate of flooding due to high tides and rainfall; businesses and homes have been completely ambushed by excessive inundation.

Floodwaters that began to rise on Wednesday and continued throughout Thursday have affected Barabina, Kumaka and Hosororo. This was communicated by Mayor of the township of Mabaruma, Chris Phang, during an interview with Guyana Times after he had visited some of the inundated areas on Thursday morning. Mayor Phang has noted that livestock and cash crop farmers have been devastated by the losses to their livelihoods.

“Three constituen-

coastline in Region Three have been affected, along with sections of Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara. The township of Bartica in Region Seven has been heavily inundated from hours of continuous rainfall.

In Region Six, the communities of Yakusari, Johanna, Mibicuri and Lesbeholden in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne have suffered damages.

Following a visit from Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) have been instructed to carry out a comprehen-

Sections of Region One under water on Thursday

ing has affected businesses in the region’s economic hub, Kumaka. He said other drainage issues have exacerbated the conditions in Barabina, and Horsororo has been severely affected.

It is estimated that some 20 business establishments have suffered losses, with approximately 40 households being similarly affected in the Horsororo stretch.

Phang detailed, “Barabina was suffering from a water issue, where the road would (be) blocked, and it because worse with the high tide and rain. The water is actually about four feet in height.

“Constituency Five is the main shopping area within the town Kumaka, and business persons… have suffered also, because it ac-

Relief supplies being dispatched to Regions Five and 10 (CDC photo)

we don’t have the necessary equipment, for example the pump and excavator, to help excavate the trenches. So I’m hoping that the residents would get some relief…I would have forwarded that information to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development,” he said.

Distraught farmer Harrel Thomas expressed, “On Monday, we had continuous rainfall in the night. It was raining cats and dogs on Wednesday the whole day, plus we were expecting a high tide that flowed

over the defence dams and flooded the place. My farmland has been covered with water from that day to now.

Other cash crops’ farmers are counting losses - even myself - at present.”

Communities along the

Countrywide rainfall/flooding

Officials braving the conditions to assess Region Nine

cies were affected, mainly Constituencies Four, Five and Six. I…have visited them this morning, and I saw for myself where houses are actually under water.

There are persons with cash crops…their gardens…have been affected as well. This is the same (situation) for livestock (farmers).”

The Mayor indicated that the unforeseen flood-

tually caught everybody offguard. Horsorro suffered the worst,” he said.

Officials on site are monitoring the conditions with visits to communities.

Phang explained that there is not enough equipment to drain the land immediately, but the water is receding at a slow pace.

“It was receding, but not at a fast rate, because

This week, flooding was reported in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

More than three days after lands in Hackney and Jacklow Villages in the Lower-Pomeroon community were completely inundated, residents and farmers complained on Thursday that the water has not receded.

Speaking with this publication, residents voiced their plight, noting the impact the flood water has on their livelihood, especially at the farmlands.

Region Two farmlands have remained inundated for several days

sive assessment of the losses in the entire Black Bush Polder scheme.

Residents have also been informed that the Government has allocated in excess of $140 million to the Water Users’ Association to clear the canals and drains.

Meanwhile, more than 60 homes in Region Nine, especially in Shea, Awarewaunau, Maruranau and Aishalton in the Deep South Rupununi, have been affected by floodwaters.

The CDC on Wednesday conducted an assessment of the situation and distributed cleaning hampers to impacted communities in Region 10, mainly Silver City, Three Friends, and Coomacka.

Additionally, a large tube has been installed under the roadway to help with water recession.

Older tubes have incurred some damage and are being repaired. Assessments have been done at Malali, Muritaro, Watooka and Nottinghampshire.

Several cabinet members have since reached out to the affected villages as the CDC continues relief efforts.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Better Hope father-daughter murder

2 accused lead defence as PI winds down T

wo of the three men charged for the July 4, 2019 murders of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna Latchman, have led their defences in an ongoing Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Paul Chan, 37, called

closed its case earlier this month, Sean Thomas, 41, called “Yankee”, an electrician of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who had been jointly charged with the three men, was informed that he was free to go after the case against him was discharged.

This was after the pre-

From left to right: Lloyd Sadloo, Mark Rufino (on the run), Paul Chan, and Troy Abrams

Dead: Arianna Latchman

Dead: Aaron Latchman

“Anthony”, a bus conductor of Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Troy Abrams, 44, called “Rasta Man”, a vendor of Agricola, Greater Georgetown; and Lloyd Sadloo, 37, of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are accused of the murders.

So far, Abrams and Sadloo have led their defences, with the latter calling two witnesses. The PI continues today before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

When the prosecution

siding Magistrate upheld a no-case submission made by his lawyer.

A fifth person accused of the double murder, Mark Rufina, 25, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), who escaped from the Lusignan Prison some time between October 20 and October 21, 2020, remains on the run.

It was reported that on the day of the murder, both Latchman and his 19-year-old daughter had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert Street, Better Hope, ECD home when

they were attacked by armed men.

It is alleged that the men held the man and his daughter at gunpoint and took them into the upper flat of their home, where they demanded money. Upon receiving a bag that contained an undisclosed amount of cash, the men shot the money changer and his daughter before escaping.

Shortly after, the businessman and his daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.

Sometime later, a motor car that belonged to the dead businessman which had been used by the bandits, was found at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

During a search of the vehicle, an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammuni-

tion were found.

Two of the accused killers – Abrams and Sadloo – had previously been arrested and placed before the court for various offences ranging from robbery under arms to trafficking in narcotics.

Abrams had, in 2016, been found guilty of rob-

bery under arms, committed on money changers Rayburn Fraser and Osaffo Ward at America Street, Georgetown on November 3, 2015, and had been sentenced to five years in prison.

Sadloo had, in 2008, been charged with murder.

It is unclear at this time

what had been the outcome of that matter. However, in 2016, Sadloo had been handed a four-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of trafficking in marijuana.

He had also been previously charged with armed robbery and escaping from lawful custody. (G1)

Health Ministry urges...

President’s plea

President Irfaan Ali has made an earnest plea to all Guyanese to actively participate in COVID-19 preventative measures, which have been instituted for their protection.

During his Independence Day address to the nation on Tuesday, he pointed towards the thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths brought on by COVID-19 in Guyana. The length of this battle against the dreaded virus, he added, depends on how soon each citizen is fully vacci-

nated, which will enable the nation to return to a normal life.

“Let us get vaccinated, let us take each other and get vaccinated, so that we can return to normalcy as fast as possible. I urge that we all recognise the value to our own lives, to the lives of our family and friends, to our livelihoods, and to the betterment of our country by vaccinating to defeat the coronavirus, as we have defeated so many others in the past,” the Head of State implored.

The President added

FROM PAGE 2

that to date, 20 per cent of Guyanese have been vaccinated, which is a “significant accomplishment” in a world where less than one per cent of the people in developing countries have access to vaccines.

“We have already purchased thousands of vaccines, and we are sparing no expense in ensuring that we have enough vaccines to cover our full population – 18 years and above. Our objective is to ensure that we can inoculate everyone from this dreadful virus.”

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Heavy rainfall countrywide

Cash crop, livestock farmers suffer losses in Region 6 R esidents of Jermaina and Mara, which are the last two villages on the East Bank of Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) woke up on Thursday morning to

regional or Government officials can do something for us immediately,” he told Guyana Times.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall,

find water in their kitchens and bedrooms.

The farming communities which are located 30 miles up the Berbice River are currently underwater, with farmlands inundated with up to four feet of water.

Chairman of the Citizens Group of Mara, Randolph Prass said the floodwaters started to rise a few days prior and now backyards, chicken pens, kitchens, and bedrooms are flooded.

He said personally he has about 45 birds.

Prass noted that many homes are underwater.

“We are tired living in these primitive, bewildered, and subdued conditions. We will be very grateful if the

along with Region Six Chairman David Armogan, visited the community on Thursday evening.

Yvonne Prass, who lives a short distance away from

Chairman Prass, said that continuous rainfall since

Wednesday night has led to tremendous flooding.

“When we get up, the whole place flooded. My husband when he left to go out, the water was not so much, he left early,” she related.

When this publication visited Prass’s home there were several inches of water in her kitchen and living room.

Meanwhile, Jaimoon Lindie of Mara told this newspaper that she has already lost hundreds of meat birds and countless layers.

Even her ducks are finding it difficult to cope.

“I had some ducks sitting and the water come and all the eggs float away and some small chickens that just hatch out, all of them dead,” she revealed.

Silognie Babmattie, who operates a shop at Jermaina, noted that it was

the second time her shop has been flooded in its 25

years of existence. The previous instance was more than two decades ago.

“The water coming from the back pressing down all the time, when the rain finish the water keep on coming all the time. This morning when I woke up, I see the water till in the shop,” she explained.

The shop owner noted that her lone freezer was submerged in floodwater when she opened the shop on Thursday morning.

Another resident of that village, Jamir Mohammed, who cultivates citrus and bananas, said the trees are all underwater.

He said the community had approached the regional administration seeking

to have the canal cleared ahead of the May-June rainy season and one of the engineers had visited the

turned from the ties on Thursday this publication machines would

communinight told that two be need-

community and taken information.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Armogan who re-

ed to clear the canal so as to get the water off the land and out of the buildings in the shortest possible time.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Reinstatement of CET on soap in keeping with CCJ ruling – Finance Minister …says APNU/AFC disregarded regional court’s 2018 order

F

inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has debunked claims by A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has unilaterally reimposed a 40 per cent tax on soaps by saying that the move was in keeping with a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which was ignored by the Coalition regime.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Thursday released a statement criticising the current administration

per cent Common External Tariff (CET) on various soaps, including hand soaps, following a public notice from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

According to Harmon, the APNU/AFC Coalition had removed the CET on soaps after the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year in order to make soaps more affordable and accessible to persons.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

for being “rash” and “unnecessarily” reimposing the 40

Official complaint

In response to the Opposition Leader’s statement, Minister Singh reminded that, in 2018, Dominica

3 arrested as protest erupts in Black Bush over flooding

T

hree persons were taken into custody as residents of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) burnt tyres on the road in protest over the blocking of a canal at Lesbeholden (which is one of the four Polders in Black Bush).

Police confirmed that the arrests were carried out after ranks engaged the protesters, who were reluctant to put out the fire.

Reports are that several persons protested, but only three were arrested as the others fled the scene when Police started making arrests.

Local authorities had opened a waterway allowing water from Mibicuri to be drained through Lesbeholden, to the Adventure outfall.

However, water levels in Lesbeholden started to rise and flood both the residential and farming areas, forcing authorities to take a decision to close the canal which was

The tyres on fire at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder which were immediately extinguished by Police

draining water from Mibicuri.

This prompted outrage from Mibicuri farmers, who said they need the water to continue draining to save their crops. Local authorities have since said that they were going to reopen the canal when the water levels at Lesbeholden had fallen to a satisfactory level.

A pump at Adventure has been assisting in taking water from the Polders out to the sea.

Up to press time, the sit-

uation at Mibicuri had been de-escalated and returned to normalcy.

Several areas in Black Bush Polder have been flooded; as such, the Government has sent relief to residents, especially the farmers, in those areas.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, along with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, visited Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari on Wednesday to assess the situation.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

had filed an official complaint at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) against a number of member States which were applying rates of duty on extra-regional soaps that were less than the prescribed CET rate of 40 per cent.

The Finance Minister noted that Guyana was among those countries, given that it was charging at the time a rate of 20 per cent – something which he said the Coalition has been well aware of, since it was in office at the time.

“COTED ruled on the matter and directed that all such member States which were in violation of the CET should reinstate the 40 per cent.

Following the 2018 ruling

by COTED, the then APNU/ AFC Government started to take steps to implement the reinstatement of the CET, including drafting the required legal instruments. They, however, did not proceed to finalise these…,” he stated.

Dr Singh added that shortly after the onset of COVID-19, the APNU/AFC regime proceeded to lower the rate of duty charged by Guyana from 20 to zero per

cent, which further exacerbated the CET violation.

“Worse yet, they did so without invoking emergency procedures through the appropriate COTED channels which might have been used to regularise the matter… Since then, Dominica has continued to pursue the matter bilaterally, and has suffered severe economic consequences as a result of the CET violation,” the Minister pointed out.

It was further noted that Dominica and Guyana share an important trading relationship. Guyana is one of Dominica’s main export markets for soaps, accounting for approximately 42 per cent of Dominica’s exports. In addition, Dominica sources 75 per cent of its total rice imports from Guyana and 32 per cent of its total imports of sugar.

Minister Singh went on to highlight that Guyana’s failure to respect COTED’s 2018 ruling on this matter exposed our country to legal action by Dominica and other regional producers of soap through the Caribbean Court of Justice, and could result in very substantial damages being awarded against Guyana, which would in turn result in a significant cost to the public treasury.

“The APNU/AFC is well aware of the history of this matter, and they had themselves already started to take action to reinstate the CET before they got busy trying to steal the 2020 election.

Despite being in full possession of the facts surrounding this matter, they have chosen once again to follow the route of trying to mislead their rapidly dwindling number of supporters with a completely contrived and fanciful mis-

representation of this matter,” the Finance Minister asserted.

Meanwhile, Dr Singh further sought to clarify that no soap imported from Dominica or any other CET member State would be subject to duty. In fact, the reinstated CET applies only to soaps imported from outside the CET region.

“The action taken today is consistent with the current Government’s respect for the rule of law, the CET being a legally binding regional obligation. This action is also consistent with Guyana’s solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Dominica, for whom soap manufacturing is a major industry, a major employer, and a major source of foreign exchange. In exactly the same manner, Guyana would not wish for any other CARICOM member State to violate the CET as it relates to any of the goods we produce and can export to the region,” the Finance Minister stressed.

He added, too, that, “It is indeed ironic, and even comical, that the APNU/AFC would seize on a single item on which the CET is being reinstated in keeping with a regional ruling on the matter, when it was the very APNU/ AFC that imposed a vast array of punitive and unconscionable taxes on the people of Guyana, including on electricity, water, medical and educational supplies and services, household necessities, building materials, and heavy equipment for use in the mining and other industries. These punitive taxes have since been removed by the current Government, in line with its pre-election commitment to do so.”

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt providing support to floodaffected regions through NDIA

T

he Government has said it continues to help flood-affected communities across the country following persistent heavy rainfall.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, it noted that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would continue to make the necessary interventions to bring relief to affected residents and farmers.

Flooding is reported in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten; all sluices were opened at low tide, and the water is receding in some areas.

In Region One, the water level remains high in the

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Prime Minister Mark Phillips visited flood-affected Black Bush Polder on Wednesday

are impassable in some areas from Six Miles. Farmers suf-

Agriculture Minister Mustapha interacting with flood-affected Yakusari residents and farmers on Wednesday

creeks, while some internal roads have been eroded and

fered losses to cash crops such as cassava, and some poultry

farmers have been affected.

The NDIA, the statement said, is continuing to maintain the outfall channels and pumps in Region Two, while the sluice will be opened tidally. The Authority recently received an approval tender to replace the Capoey Sluice, and has opened tenders as part of its capital works to empolder farmlands.

In Region Three, there are reports of flooding at Oku residential and farming areas, farmlands at North and South Section, Debuff and conservancy seepage in Canals Numbers One and Two. In response, the statement noted that instructions have been given to the Water Users’ Association (WUA)

to mobilise on-site for mechanical pulling of both main drains in Canals Numbers One and Two. The Ministry of Public Works has also deployed tow machines and one from GuySuCo to help clean clogged drains in areas such as Tuschen/Zeelugt Scheme and Railway View/MetenMeer-Zorg.

The water has receded in Sans Souci, Maria’s Pleasure and Maria Johanna in Wakenaam.

Meanwhile, in Region Four, two sluice doors have been replaced at Alliance, and repairs are in progress at another. The Indian pump supplier is currently working to repair or replace the drive shaft which broke in the Nootenzuil new pump. A mobile pump has been installed and is operable.

Additionally, a contractor is currently executing works at the Belfield 40 cusec pump.

The NDIA has deployed two excavators on the right bank and two on the left bank of the Mahaicony Creek to reinforce the flood embankment. It has also completed cleaning the Mahaicony Creek channel and has mobilised a mobile pump at Gordon Table in Region Five.

Interventions in Region Six include deployment of four excavators to Black Bush Polder, repairs to the pump at Eversham, installation of

Prime Minister Phillips; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; Minister within the Ministry of Public Affairs, Deodat Indar; CDC and other officials visited flood-affected communities in Region Nine

two tractor pumps to drain floodwaters at Canefield and Adelphi in Canje, desilting of outfall at Borlam, installation of a pump at Adventure and Number 47 Villages, and the commencement of dredging at Number 43, Eversham, Lesbeholden and Numbers 51 and 52 Villages.

Giving an update on the situation in Region Nine, the statement highlighted that the water has receded minimally in some areas, such as Tabatinga and the Culvert City housing area.

Meanwhile, in Region 10, mechanical cleaning is being executed in Coomacka. A contractor is working on an erosion project, and tubes are being installed at Coomacka mines.

The NDIA will undertake cleaning with the Community Development Councils shortly.

The statement also noted that Government Ministers have been visiting communities affected by flooding throughout the country, and making the necessary interventions on the spot. Relief hampers and other support have also been provided to residents.

Those visits will continue countrywide, with the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, expected to revisit Black Bush Polder and other areas in Region Six, while several Ministers are fanning out across Region Nine this weekend.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

Regional

CXC surprised by PNP divided over response to UNICEF statement allegations against Dayton Campbell

C

hairman of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, says the organisation is a “little surprised” by the recent concerns raised

by UNICEF over the format of this year’s suite of regional exams.

He also suggested the international body raised an alarm “without first having all of the information at their fingertips”.

Speaking at a virtu-

Sir Hilary Beckles

al press conference held on Wednesday, Sir Hilary stressed that the regional testing body was on the same page with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as CXC was dedicated to the “principles of fairness”.

He said the new changes announced on Wednesday y were testimony to their endeavour to account for psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the volcanic eruption in St Vincent. (Nation News)

CDEMA launches regional initiative to improve disaster preparedness

T

he Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), in partnership with the World Bank, is launching an initiative to improve disaster preparedness and resilience in the region, as the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches.

CDEMA said the initiative, coined “Disaster Fighters”, will include participation from current and former cricketers, Caribbean musical talent, and other influential figures to spread critical survival messages related to hurricanes, volcanoes, COVID-19 and other hazards.

The initiative is set to launch on May 31 with a musical production filmed in Anguilla, Grenada, Haiti, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago featuring cricket-

ers and artists such as Sir Garfield Sobers (Barbados); Darren Sammy, Ricky T and QPID (St Lucia); Mr Killa (Grenada); Tafa Mi Soleil (Haiti); Omari Banks (Anguilla), Kieran Powell (St Kitts and Nevis); and Darren Ganga and Stacy Ann King (Trinidad).

Disaster Fighters will also engage communities on social media channels such as Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and critical prevention messages and materials will be housed on the initiative’s website: http://www. disaster-fighters.org.

Executive Director (acting), CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley noted that “many Caribbean countries have been battling the compound impacts of drought, COVID-19, volcanic eruptions and now hurricane season.”

“We wanted to use an in-

novative, inclusive approach to ensure that communities are empowered with the necessary plans, information and tools to tackle the disaster impacts that we as a Region have been facing,” she continued.

World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Sayed added: “The past year has been very challenging for the Caribbean.

Although much of the Region has managed the health effects of the pandemic through early actions, the socioeconomic impacts have been severe. It is more important than ever this year for Caribbean countries and people to be well-prepared for hurricane season. We are pleased to support this innovative new campaign from CDEMA, to help protect lives and livelihoods.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina battles health and economic crises as COVID cases soar

More than 3.6 million cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in Argentina [Agustin Marcarian/Reuters file photo]

T

he streets of Buenos Aires belong to people like Gabriel Martinez these days, as he searches high and low for scrap pieces of cardboard to turn into cash in the dog days of the pandemic.

His nine-year-old son, Benjamin, dangles his legs over the edge of the cart, as his father returns empty-handed from a pit stop at a gas station.

He lives in the suburbs of the capital city, but he will sleep with his son,

in a room they rent in the Buenos Aires depot where he sells his trove of scavenged goods, so that they can start early and repeat tomorrow.

“It’s bad. Because there’s nothing on the streets. We walk for hours and hours, from five in the morning until midnight,” he says.

“There are a lot more people trying to survive out here now.”

The roaring metropolis has been muffled again as Argentina tries to tame a

second wave of COVID-19 that is worse than the first.

Last year, the country kept contagion relatively low in a strict lockdown that dragged on for months. It allowed the Government to bolster its healthcare system, but battered a weak economy and took a harsh emotional toll on society.

Now, following a summer of relaxed restrictions and new COVID variants, the number of infections and deaths have exploded exponentially.

Hospital units are overflowing as exhausted healthcare workers plead with the public to heed warnings of distancing and to take precautions. In the province of Buenos Aires, the Government has started producing its own oxygen to confront a looming shortage.

Vaccine shipments are arriving, but as with many countries in Latin America, the campaign was slow to get going amid fierce global competition. Some 20 per cent of the population have received their first shot.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T

he People’s National Party (PNP) of Jamaica finds itself in a pickle as senior party members are reportedly at odds over its response to the allegations brought against its General Secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell.

Reports reaching the Jamaica Observer indicate that members of the party’s executive were unable to arrive at a consensus on Wednesday as to how to respond to the damning allegations made against Campbell by party activist Karen Cross in defence of the defamation suit filed against her.

Officers of the party are scheduled to meet this

morning to further discuss the matter.

Cross’s response in the Supreme Court includes signed statements, allegedly witnessed by Justices of the Peace, from three women making allegations of sexual misconduct against Campbell while they were minors.

Sources said PNP officers struggled to determine how to respond to the allegations against the man who conducts the day-to-day operations of the Party, even as he continued to strenuously deny any wrongdoing.

“There were some who were convinced that an emergency officers’ meeting was needed to craft a

response, while others argued that there was no need for an emergency meeting as this was just a contrived plot by some who never wanted to see him as General Secretary or to see Mark Golding as party leader,” a PNP source told the Observer.

“There was also no consensus on whether the gen sec (general secretary) should resign, take a leave of absence, or tough it out, although it was clear that the majority had serious questions about the allegations and the source from whence they came,” added the source, a senior PNP official. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Grenada to share COVID-19 vaccines

G

renada’s Health Minister, Nickolas Steele has confirmed that the Government is contemplating giving regional countries some of its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine stock that is close to expiration.

Steele said Grenada has held discussions with some countries on the matter, but he did not identify which ones.

“We have been approached by other countries . . . . We also need to remember that our first delivery of vaccines came from a shared agreement with our OECS [Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States] countries and, therefore, the principle of sharing has existed from day one with our OECS and Caricom [Caribbean Community] brothers and sisters,” he said.

“I see no reason why that principle . . . because we have vaccines that cannot be used in time – cannot be done. It will be regrettable to have them go to waste.”

Grenada rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination programme in early February

Thousands of doses, due to expire on June 27, are still available

with AstraZeneca vaccines from Dominica and Barbados. More than 17, 000 people have been inoculated since then and 7917 of those are now fully vaccinated.

Health officials have said that since announcing that the island’s vaccine stock is approaching its expiration date, there has been a steady increase in the number of people coming forward to be vaccinated. Thousands of doses, due to expire on June 27, are still available.

“We are seriously looking at our present uptake

to determine the number of doses that we will use before the expiring date. The excess that we will not be able to administer, we have considered sending it to countries that have a better uptake and can use them, and we will do that with time enough for them to administer those vaccines,” explained Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Shawn Charles.

In addition to receiving the gifted vaccines, Grenada has started to get more doses under the COVAX Facility.

(Excerpt from CMC)

A month on, Colombia continues to grapple with protest violence

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oday marks a month since the beginning of protests that have roiled Colombia, causing fuel and food supply shortages, unemployment, infrastructure damage, forcing businesses to close and hurting local economies.

Negotiations between the Government and demonstrators have made little progress and protester demands are growing.

Although turnout numbers seem to be dwindling, protests and unrest are still a daily occurrence and another major national strike is expected today.

Disruptions have been most evident in Colombia’s third-biggest city, Cali,

where roadblocks have halted supplies of food, fuel and other goods, forcing some businesses to close while thousands are out of work.

Vandals have attacked bus stations and street lights during protests, most prominently in Bogotá and Cali, disrupting public transportation.

“I’ve been subjected to many hours of travel just to get to work and many times, I’ve had to walk home because of the demonstrations,” Felipe Suárez, a 26-year-old electrician in Bogotá told Al Jazeera. “But I still support the national strike … we shouldn’t complain so much about the protests.”

The protests were sparked by a tax reform proposal in mid-April opposed by many working- and middle-class Colombians. Tens of thousands of Colombians took to the streets across the country on April 28 in demonstrations that in some cases turned violent.

Right-wing President Ivan Duque withdrew the reforms on May 2 and the Minister responsible for drawing them up resigned.

But the sometimes-deadly demonstrations – exacerbated by a heavy-handed police clampdown – have since continued and protesters have added a myriad of new government demands.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices gain 1%, boosted by US economic data

O

il prices rose one per cent on Thursday, bolstered by strong US economic data that offset investors’ concerns about the potential for a rise in Iranian supplies.

Brent rose 59 cents, 0.9 per cent, to settle at US$69.46 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 64 cents, or one per cent, to settle at US$66.85 a barrel.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to data from the US Labour Department.

The US economy, which in the first quarter notched its secondfastest growth pace since the third quarter of 2003, is gathering momentum, with other data on Thursday showing business spending on equipment accelerated in April.

“That’s given us more of a risk-on attitude about the markets,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

“We’re back to focusing on supply and demand.”

The prospect of Iranian supplies re-entering the market has pressured prices. Iran and global powers have been negotiating since April about Washington lifting sanctions on Iran, including its energy sector, in return for Iranian compliance with restrictions on its nuclear work.

Those talks will be a major issue for a June 1 meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, a group known as OPEC+. The group is likely to continue gradually easing oil supply curbs at a meeting on Tuesday, OPEC sources said, as producers balance expectations of a recovery in demand against a possible increase in Iranian supply. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Assad wins Syrian election dismissed as farce by critics

While casting his vote, Bashar al-Assad said the West's opinion counted for "zero"

B

ashar al-Assad will serve a fourth term in office after winning Syria's presidential election.

Parliamentary speaker Hammouda Sabbagh told a live conference that Assad had won 95.1 per cent of the vote, and that turnout was 78.6 per cent.

His two challengers, Abdullah Salloum Abdullah and Mahmoud Ahmed Mari, gained 1.5 per cent and 3.3 per cent of the vote respectively.

Syria's Opposition called the vote a farce, while the US and European countries said it was not free or fair.

As he cast his ballot on Wednesday, Assad said the West's opinion counted for "zero".

Syria has been devastated by a decade-long conflict that erupted after Assad's Government responded with deadly force to peaceful pro-democracy protests in March 2011.

The fighting has left at least 388,000 people dead and caused half the popula-

tion to flee their homes, including almost six million refugees abroad.

The election was held in Government-controlled areas of the country and in some Syrian embassies overseas.

A large protest against the election was held in the rebel-controlled Idlib province, while the country's exiled Opposition called the vote a farce.

Yahya al-Aridi, spokesman for the Syrian Negotiation Commission, said that it showed "contempt to the Syrian people".

"It's a decision by the Government, aided by Russia and Iran, to kill the political process," he said. "It's a continuation of tyranny."

Foreign Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US also released a joint statement before the vote, calling it "illegitimate" and saying it would be "neither free nor fair" without the supervision of the United Nations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN Rights Council to investigate crimes during Gaza conflict

T

he United Nations Human Rights Council has agreed to launch an open-ended international investigation into violations during the 11-day conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, and into “systematic” abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories and inside Israel.

By a vote of 24 states in favour, nine against, with 14 abstentions, the 47-member forum adopted a resolution after an all-day special session on Thursday brought by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations.

The resolution calls for the creation of a permanent Commission of Inquiry – the most potent tool at the council’s disposal – to monitor and report on rights vi-

A Palestinian boy walks near his makeshift tent amid the rubble of houses which were destroyed by Israeli air raids in Gaza [Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

olations in Israel, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. It would be the first such COI with an “ongoing” mandate.

According to the text, the Commission is also to inves-

tigate “all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict” including discrimination and repression.

The investigation should focus on establishing facts

and gather evidence for legal proceedings, and should aim to identify perpetrators to ensure they are held accountable, it said.

Israel said it would not cooperate with the probe.

“Today’s shameful decision is yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council’s blatant anti-Israel obsession,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “This travesty makes a mockery of international law and encourages terrorists worldwide.”

A spokesman for the Palestinian group Hamas which governs Gaza welcomed the investigation, calling its own actions “legitimate resistance”, and urging “immediate steps to punish” Israel. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Macron asks Rwanda to forgive France over 1994 genocide role

F

rench President Emmanuel Macron has asked Rwandans to forgive France for its role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide in which about 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus died.

Speaking at the genocide memorial in Rwanda's capital Kigali, he said France had not heeded warnings of impending carnage and had for too long "valued silence over examination of the truth".

But France had not been an accomplice in the killings, Macron added.

Rwanda's leader praised his speech.

President Paul Kagame said, "His words were some-

thing more valuable than an apology. They were the truth." He called it "an act of tremendous courage".

In March, a French expert commission found that France under the late President François Mitterrand had borne "heavy and overwhelming responsibility" for the genocide but had not been complicit. The report said France had been "blind" to genocide preparations.

"Only those who went through that night can perhaps forgive, and in doing so give the gift of forgiveness," Macron said at the memorial, where more than 250,000 victims are buried.

"I hereby humbly and

President Macron laid a wreath in Kigali

with respect stand by your side today, I come to recognise the extent of our responsibilities."

A Hutu elite ruled Rwanda when the genocide

took place, in April-June 1994, but they were later ousted by the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) under Paul Kagame.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigeria: 30 bodies found after COVID: China hits back as US boat accident in Kebbi state revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory A

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hina has denounced US efforts to further investigate whether COVID-19 came from a Chinese lab.

US President Joe Biden has said he expects to release the results of an intelligence report on the origins of the virus.

China's Foreign Ministry accused the US of "political manipulation and blame shifting".

It has rejected any link between COVID-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan in late 2019.

Since then, more than 168 million cases have been confirmed worldwide and about 3.5 million deaths reported.

Chinese officials linked early COVID cases to a seafood market in Wuhan, leading scientists to theorise that the virus had first passed to humans from animals.

The World Health

Organization (WHO) has said it is "extremely unlikely" that the virus spread from a lab leak, following a visit to Wuhan earlier this year to investigate the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.

WHO virologist Marion Koopmans, who was part of that field visit, told the BBC that if the US authorities had any information they should share it.

But recent US media reports have suggested growing evidence the virus could instead have emerged from a laboratory in China, perhaps through an accidental leak.

In a statement on Wednesday, President Biden said he had asked for a report on the origins of COVID-19 after taking office, "including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident". On receiving it this month, he asked for "additional follow-up". (Excerpt from BBC News)

t least 30 bodies have been pulled from a river where a boat carrying more than 150 passengers sank in Nigeria.

Authorities said only 20 people were rescued when the ferry travelling between Niger state and Kebbi state in the north-west broke in two.

Yusuf Birma, head of the National Inland Waterways Authority (Niwa) in Kebbi state told the BBC that 30 bodies have so far been recovered.

"There's no hope of finding any survivors at this moment," he said.

The true death toll may never be known. Some reports said the boat had been carrying up to 200 people, mostly women and children.

Birma said the boat did not load at a designated jetty so there was no manifest to know the exact number onboard.

"It was meant to be carrying between 131 and 150

but certainly not up to the 180 being quoted," he told the BBC. He said some of the boat operators, not wanting to pay taxes, did not load at the jetties but preferred to pick passengers along the way were they are unregulated.

Another official supervising the rescue operation told AFP news agency that so far 45 bodies had been found.

The state governor tweeted that it was "in deep shock and sorrow, over the unfortunate boat accident which claimed the lives of over 100 passengers".

The waterways authority that regulates water transport in Nigeria said the boat had been overcrowded and went down an hour into its journey.

This is the second accident in the region this month, after at least 28 people drowned when their boat capsized two weeks ago in Niger state. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Look at the big picture before trying something new. Having a good sense of what you want and what’s available will help you choose a path that leads to victory. Think and work hard.

Don’t cross boundaries.

TAURUS An unnecessary change will (April 20- leave you second-guessing May 20) your next move. Do what you can without compromising your beliefs, integrity or financial budget. Stick to what you know.

DILBERT

Take care of your responsibilities. If you let someone (May 21- do things for you, disappointJune 20) ment will follow. Keep your plans and budget reasonable.

Take responsibility for your actions and words.

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Don’t jump to conclusions.

Go directly to the source and get information in writing.

Your meticulous nature will keep you ahead of the competition. An open mind will be necessary.

A steady pace and a curiLEO ous mind will help you distin(July 23guish between what’s authenAug. 22) tic and what isn’t. Keep your wits about you to ensure no one takes advantage of your kindness or generosity.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You’ll accomplish the most if you find yourself a quiet cubbyhole where you can focus without interruptions. It’s OK to distance yourself from drama and people who insist on making life difficult.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Channel your emotional energy into something constructive. Idle time will lead to an unnecessary argument.

Bide your time and think matters through. Focus will be difficult, but worth the effort.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Let go of sentimentality.

A minimalist approach will lead you to peace of mind and the opportunity to achieve your goals. Stop spinning your wheels and start making things happen.

Common sense will be your SAGITTARIUS saving grace. If you let some(Nov. 23one pressure or tempt you Dec. 21) into something outlandish, you will have regrets. Change what’s necessary, and believe only what’s verified.

Share your thoughts and

CAPRICORN feelings, and make decisions (Dec. 22in conjunction with people Jan. 19) you love. The changes you make will bring you closer to the lifestyle you want.

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

Uncertainty is the enemy. Use your ingenuity and do the research necessary to help you gain perspective regarding something you want to pursue. A positive domestic change is featured.

Look at every angle of a situation before you make a (Feb. 20decision.

Listen to your inner March 20) voice, not to someone filling your head with unrealistic pursuits. If you want to make a change, do it on your own.

PISCES

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

21

Archer targets T20 World Cup and Ashes E

ngland pace bowler Jofra Archer is focused on being fully fit for the T20 World Cup and England’s Ashes tour to Australia later this year, as he looks to finally get his troublesome elbow injury sorted.

Archer underwent surgery last week, and, as per a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board released on Wednesday, is to undergo an intensive rehabilitation period before being assessed again in about a month’s time.

The absence of this 26-year-old player is a blow to England ahead of a busy

“I just want to get this injury sorted,” he says

home schedule in all formats, with New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India all visiting for tours in the upcoming months.

However, Archer would make his comeback only once completely healthy a decision made with his long-term future in mind, as he prepares to be patient.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in October and November this year, with England then travelling Down Under the following month for the fiveTest Ashes series.

“One thing I am determined about post-elbow operation is not to rush my

comeback, because my primary focus is to be playing for England in the T20 World Cup and Ashes later this year,” Archer wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

“Those are my targets.

If I come back before then and manage to play in the home Test series against India – then fine, so be it. If I don’t, I am quite prepared to sit out the summer.

“The way I am looking at things is that I would rather miss a few weeks of a year so that I have a few more years in my career.

“I just want to get this injury sorted once and for all, and that’s why I’m not looking that far ahead or at dates for a return to action — because if I don’t get this right, I won’t play any cricket. Period.

“I am not going to do myself any good by coming back before I’m fully fit, so I will take my time and do what is best for me and my life.”

Archer, who had an operation on a hand injury earlier this year, attempted to make a return to action in domestic cricket for Sussex recently, only to suffer a further setback with his elbow during the County Championship fixture at Hove.

He has taken 42 wick-

ets at an average of 31.04 in 13 Test appearances for Joe Root’s side, while he is a key member of England’s whiteball squad under captain Eoin Morgan.

England have Tests against New Zealand at Lord’s and Edgbaston in June, with a five-match series in the long format against India beginning at Trent Bridge on August 4.

Several players who appeared in the Indian Premier League will not be involved against the Black Caps, while wicketkeeper Ben Foakes joined Archer and Ben Stokes on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury when slipping in the Surrey dressing room on Sunday. (Adapted from Sportsmax)

Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid for 2nd time Fraser-Pryce plans to chase times & medals at Tokyo Olympics

M

anager Zinedine Zidane has resigned from Real Madrid for the second time in his coaching career.

Real failed to win a trophy this season, and were pipped to the La Liga title by city rivals Atletico Madrid on a dramatic final day on Saturday.

Real said in a statement that they “must now respect” Zidane’s decision.

They thanked Zidane, 48, for his “professionalism, dedication, and passion over the years, and what he means to Real Madrid”.

Former France forward Zidane, who played for Real from 2001 to 2006, won three consecutive Champions League titles and a La Liga title in his first period as manager, between 2016 and 2018.

He left in May 2018, but returned 10 months later, and secured a second La Liga title last season.

“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s great icons, and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as a coach and player at our club,” Real have said.

“He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans, and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid.”

Real finished two points behind Atletico in La Liga, as they failed to win a trophy for the first time since 2009-10.

They suffered an early exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of third division side Alcoyano, and lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals.

Earlier this month, Zidane, who had a year left on his contract, denied reports that he had informed his squad he would leave at the end of the season. His future was a constant topic of discussion in the Spanish press this season, contributing to several spiky exchanges, with Zidane saying he and his players deserved more respect.

He is the only manager to win the Champions League three times, and his trophy haul at Real also include two Club World Cups, two Uefa Super Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups.

Analysis

By BBC Sport’s Guillem Balague It has been a very tiring season for everyone but, on top of that, Zidane feels that, even though he had the backing of the squad, he has not always felt the backing of the board, which basically means Real Madrid President Florentino Perez.

They have a very fluid relationship but, just before a Champions League game against Borussia Monchengladbach, the club leaked that being knocked out of the competition could mean Zidane being sacked.

Instead, Real beat Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach and Atletico Madrid, so the threat disappeared. But Zidane didn’t forget.

The club was not desperate to change his mind, as Zidane has been going back to his trusted players instead of starting the transition the club wanted him to do.

I am convinced Real have got a replacement already. (BBC Sport)

S

helly-Ann FraserPryce has said her priority for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan is running faster than 10.70 in the 100m, but she has indicated that it would be nice to be on the podium with a medal and the time she is so passionately in pursuit of.

During a media session with the media on Thursday, on the eve of her Diamond League 100m race in Doha on Friday (today), the twotime Olympic 100m champion and four-time World Champion was asked what she hopes to get out of the Olympic Games.

“Having been on the podium so many times, if I am honest, I am really looking forward to being on the podium, which is good for me, but I think this time around I am looking forward to running below 10.70. That is

definitely a big dream and something that I am working hard towards,” she said.

“To have both (medal and time) would definitely be a blessing, but if you ask me which one I would rank higher, I would definitely say I want to run 10.6 or even faster. That is definitely what I want, but to have the combination would be good; so, I am working towards the combination as well,” she disclosed.

Chasing times, she explained, would not be detrimental to her goals of bettering her personal best (10.70), a national record that she shares with double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, because she believes the quality of her competitors would help her achieve the time she seeks as well as medals.

“The harder the competitions are, the better I am

at performing,” said FraserPryce, who has run some of her fastest times in the finals of global competitions. “I like a challenge, I like when the competition is hot, because, at the end of the day, that is what the Diamond League is about as well. Because when you are at a Diamond League you know the field is going to be good, and it’s going to be solid,” she said.

“When you’re in a race and you’re the sole competitor that is doing well, the pressure is not there as if you have competitors that are doing exceptionally well just like you. So, for me, I think the bigger the field is, the bigger I perform.

Because I love the opportunity to rise, and I think those are the opportunities I get when I compete in a field that’s stacked.” (Adapted from Sportsmax)

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Maximo shakes up national team with 23-man squad

I

n what the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has termed a shake-up of the Senior Men’s National Football Team, there has been released the names of a 23-man squad that would represent Guyana next week during the second half of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The team comprises 12 players on the local scene and 11 players who are internationally based.

The team has 6 changes, as compared to the unit that represented Guyana against Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas during the first half of the qualification process in March.

International talent Javier George, Marcus Wilson of Santos FC and Osafa Simpson of the Guyana Police Force are among the new faces in this team. Javier George plays in midfield for Stade Beaucairois in the French fifth tier; Marcus Wilson is a midfielder with the Santos FC, and Osafa Simpson is a forward player of the Guyana Police Force.

These three have already made their mark at international level, as part of the recent Guyana U-20 squad which performed admirably during the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, wherein they qualified in Nicaragua in February 2020.

In a shocking twist, on-again off-again captain Sam Cox, who led the Golden Jaguars in their two encounters in March, has not received a call up. Besides Cox, Kadell Daniel, Callum Harriott, Nicholas McArthur, Ryan Hackett and Jeremy Garrett are the

faces missing from this squad.

Their spots have been filled by Stephen Duke-McKenna, Liam Gordon and Kevin Layne.

20-year-old Duke-McKenna, a firm favourite among the Guyanese faithful after several eye-catching displays in the golden yellow jersey, made his team debut for EFL Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) this year.

Defender Kevin Layne, 23, has recently signed for Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant Academy. He join Golden Jaguars goalkeeper Akel Clarke in the island’s top flight.

Bolton Wanderers; full back Liam Gordon, 22, has impressed on loan at fifth tier Dagenham and Redbridge.

Following a 3-0 defeat against Trinidad and Tobago and a 4-0 win over the Bahamas in March, which left Guyana’s qualification to round two of the qualifiers in the balance, Head Coach Maximo said the following about the team: “My job is very clear – to qualify for the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. I am confident in the players and the squad to deliver this.

“The domestic group has been working very hard in our intensive training, and we are constantly tracking the performances of our nondomestic players. The aim for the non-domestic group is to raise the quality of the team by selecting players who are in fulltime professional environments, such as Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Bournemouth and Bolton in England,” the former

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Brazil U17 and U20 national coach said.

“We know that Guyana’s chances of qualification to round two rely on results elsewhere, but the Guyana Football Federation is confident that this new-look squad – with its strong mix of exciting domestic and overseas-based talent – will put serious pressure on the other teams as we head into the business end of the group,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“We are delighted to see so many young players, who have

Yassin commits to collaborating with NSC

graduated through the GFF’s Academy Training Centres and national youth programmes, making the grade and showing they can compete at the highest level as we build for the future. We ask the whole nation to stand up and roar with the Golden Jaguars in June as they seek to make Guyana proud and keep our FIFA World Cup dream alive.”

Guyana is set to take on St Kitts and Nevis on Friday, June 4 from 4pm local time, and then Puerto Rico on Tuesday June 8

at the same time. Both games will be played in St Kitts and Nevis.

The hosts, St Kitts and Nevis, are the Group leaders with 6 points drawn from 2 wins in 2 games. A win against Guyana and a draw against Puerto Rico set Trinidad and Tobago at second with 4 points, while Guyana sits at third with a win and a loss. Puerto Rico is fourth with 1 point, following a loss and a draw, while the Bahamas are yet to register a point after two losses.

Call: 223-7230-1 Ext 50

Randolph Roberts awarded for outstanding service to cycling

223-7230-1 (Ext 55) Franco Crawford making a presentation to President and Coach of Flying Ace Cycling Club, Randolph Roberts Members of the NSC Board

P

resident of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), KA Juman-Yassin, while sending best wishes to the newly appointed National Sports Commission, expressed his intent to work along with the Board.

The National Sports Commission is expected to get going soon, following this week’s appointment of its new board. At the helm of that Board is Chairman Kashif Mohammed, who is no stranger to sport organisation and administration.

According to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President K A Juman Yassin, an experienced person leading the body is just what the Commission needs.

“I would like to wish Mr. Kashif all the best.

You know, he’s been in sport a long time, as an administrator, an organiser, and perhaps that is what

is needed. So, I want to wish him all the best, and I think it’s time enough to get the National Sports Commission going,” the GOA President expressed during a press conference with media operatives earlier this week.

Yassin has shared that he is keen on partnering with the NSC for the betterment of sport.

“Once the appointments are there - I understand persons have already been appointed - we, when I say ‘we’, (I mean) the GOA, we are willing to work along with them,” Yassin declared.

He then added, “I’ve said that if we pool our resources, we can do a lot.”

Speaking specifically to the fruit that partnership could bare, the GOA Boss gave an example of one project the two entities could team up to execute.

“You know, if we pool

our resources as it regards funding for coaches, we would be able to give a coach a very decent salary. So, I’m hoping we could talk with the new Sports Commission about this and other matters,” Yassin explained.

A six member NSC board was recently appointed following approval from the Cabinet. The Commission consists of renowned football organizer Kashif Mohammed, who will act in the capacity of Chairman; Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Bissoondyal Singh, Guyana Lawn Tennis Association President Christy Campbell, Guyana Hockey Board President Phillip Fernandes, Chartered Accountant Cheteram Ramdial, and Dellon Davidson. The appointment of the Director of Sport is expected to come soon.

F

ormer National cyclist and overseas-based Guyanese Franco Crawford made a great gesture in offering long-serving cycling coach and President of the Flying Ace Cycling Club, Randolph Roberts, an award in recognition of his outstanding services in cycling over the years.

The presentation was made on Thursday morning in New Amsterdam. After receiving this award, Roberts expressed gratitude to the former cyclist, now businessman Crawford.

“I would like to extend gratitude to Mr Franco Crawford for recognising what I am doing in the society for cycling. Crawford was a former national cyclist that came from my camp, and we worked together and we live as family.

Whenever I leave the cycling scene, Mr Crawford will be my successor. He will take over the coaching. With him being around cycling, the cyclists will have more opportunities of going places and seeing faces,” Roberts has said.

Roberts took this opportunity to call on the business community to follow suit and come on board in supporting cycling.

Crawford, meanwhile, has said he decided to award Roberts for all the great work he has done for cycling in the country throughout the years.

“Mr Roberts has been a very standout coach in what he has been doing, and we are asking more people to come forward and sponsor more races,” Crawford has said.

“I would like to say Mr Roberts is a great man, and without him cycling would not have been in Berbice,” Crawford opined.

Roberts has been a cycling organizer and coach for an extended period. He has produced some top riders from the ancient county of Berbice.

Currently under his wings are top junior riders Jeremiah Joseph and Mario Washington. Balram Narine and Ralph Seenarine are also riders of the Flying Ace Cycle Club based in New Amsterdam.

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(Ext 55)

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House Speaker Manzoor Nadir questions CWI’s inconsistent selectors

By Brandon Corlette

S

peaker of the National Assembly, the President of the Everest Cricket Club, Manzoor Nadir, has said that Shimron Hetmyer’s contract snub and his absence from the West Indies red-ball training camp have to do more with his fitness.

Nadir, who came out with all guns blazing in highlighting the flaws in the CWI administration, also said that whoever occupies the CWI chair “behaves the same.”

Asked on the Mason and Guest Radio programme why Hetmyer should have been offered a CWI International Retainer Contract, Nadir said: “He has merited it, the talent that he has. His performance on the field has not been outstanding in the Test matches, but for a 24-year-old that I consider superstar - and clearly the IPL did too - you just don’t give a person a 1.1-million-dollar contract who has not performed and who does not have that talent to be awarded that (contract).

“In solidarity with respect to good cricketing decision, our club (Everest Cricket Club) wante d to speak out, because,

Speaker of the National Assembly and President of Everest Cricket Club, Manzoor Nadir

clearly, the rationale given by the selectors at CWI just does not measure up,” Nadir said.

Further, he explained that older people with averages below Hetmyer’s are making the West Indies Team.

“Clearly, it has to do with something more than his talent or his fitness. We have seen this before, and if people do not speak up, selectors with their own bees in their bonnets will continue to do injustice to cricketers and cricket,” Nadir declared.

Not holding anything back, Nadir said the inconsistency with the selectors is part of the issue.

While admitting that Hetmyer has to work on his fitness and the mental aspect of his game, Nadir compared the Berbician’s raw talent to that of the

great Sir Vivian Richards.

“I say to Hetmyer, ‘Go out there when you get the next chance and talk with your bat, and destroy all the naysayers who exist and who want to put you down’.”

Nadir also spoke about Keemo Paul, who likewise has missed out on an International Retainer Contract. Nadir had no issue with this, since Paul is recovering from an injury.

Speaking on the programme, former West Indies batsman Philo Wallace said West Indies want more than talent from Hetmyer.

The left-handed Hetmyer, who was named in the 18-man provisional T20 squad for the upcoming home series against South Africa, Australia and Pakistan, has had his first signing with the Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League.

Below is a statement by the Everest Cricket Club on Hetmyer: The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel has named a 30-man squad for a three-week HighPerformance Red-Ball training camp in St Lucia, which started Sunday, May 16, in preparation for the upcoming Test Series against South Africa.

Talented, performing, Guyanese batsman

Gayle, Shakib, du Plessis return to Hero CPL

Chris Gayle led the SKN Patriots to their only final in 2017

C

hris

G a y l e , Shakib al Hasan and Faf du Plessis will he playing at 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which takes place in S t

Shakib al Hasan will return to the Tallawahs for a second time

Kitts & Nevis in August and September.

Chris Gayle will be back with the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, a team he played for in 2017 and 2018. Gayle guided the Patriots to their only Hero CPL final in his first year with the franchise.

As the leading run scorer in T20 history he brings a huge amount of experience to the Patriots squad.

Shakib al Hasan has joined the Jamaica Tallawahs for the 2021 season. This will be the second time that the world’s leading spin-bowling allrounder has represented the Tallawahs having been with the franchise in 2016 and 2017.

Faf du Plessis will be playing for the St Lucia Zouks this season. The former South Africa captain has been in outstanding form in recent months for the Chennai Super Kings at the Indian Premier League where he made four consecutive half centuries, including 95 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders. This

is his secHero CPL for the 2016.

ond stint at the having played Patriots in

Faf du Plessis previously featured for the Patriots in the CPL

Shimron Hetmyer, who lost his retainer contract for the 2021-22 season, has again been snubbed and not selected for the camp.

“The Everest Cricket Club (ECC) registers its dismay and disappointment at the non-selection of Hetmyer for the camp, given the 24-yearold’s pedigree.

Everest also supports the position of the GCB on the issue of criteria and consistency in the selection

process.

“Hetmyer has been a tremendous talent for West Indies, and it is bewildering how a player of his calibre is not among the top 30 in the Caribbean preparing for any international series.

His fitness should not be used as a fault, since it should be the intention of a HighPerformance Camp to aid in the player’s further development.

“Given the pandemic and a load of limited-overs cricket for the West Indies on the horizon; most importantly, the defense of the World T20 title come October-November, it would have been wise to have one of your most destructive batsmen in a high-performance camp.

“The pros outweigh the cons of allowing Hetmyer simply to return home and possibly join the squad of the Twenty20 International series against South Africa, rather than making the investment in him to help improve and in turn be more consistent for West Indies.

His inclusion would also be a boost and motivation for the other players.

“Furthermore, the ECC

is calling for CWI to have fairness in their selection criteria. The ECC will support any system which seeks to create one of meritocracy, but it must be transparent, and all should be held to the same standards.

“What raises further eyebrows is that the camp has selected players who would have excelled at this year’s Super50 tournament in Antigua, or are regular members of the West Indies’ white-ball teams in recent years.

“Hetmyer was the fifth leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 300 runs from seven innings at an average of 50.00, and a top score of 113. Some names in the camp are those that have been under-performing tremendously at the Test level, but have gotten an opportunity to improve their game. Why was Hetmyer not afforded that opportunity?

It would be unfathomable to think that Hetmyer’s recent exclusion from the West Indies HighPerformance Training Camp is setting the stage for the casting away of another bright talent.

“We at the Everest Cricket Club call on Cricket West Indies and their selection panel to correct this injustice to the most talented batsman in the West Indies today.”

Tipped to run things! Steve Ninvalle is likely to become Guyana’s next Director of Sport

P

resident of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle is likely to be appointed Director of Sport. This is according to a well-placed source within the relevant organization.

Ninvalle has long been one of the front runners for the position, owing to his vast experience in sport administration. Now, with the National Sports Commission Board in place, it appears as though the GBA boss is closer to receiving the position officially.

Aside from his elected post at the helm of the GBA, Ninvalle has also been a part of the Caribbean Boxing Steering Committee, of which he was Chairman before resigning from the post in October 2020. He was elected to that post in 2019.

On the International stage, Ninvalle was the first Caribbean Executive Committee Member of the International Boxing

Tipped to run things! Steve Ninvalle is likely to become Guyana’s next Director of Sport

Association (AIBA), elected in 2014. In 2017, he was elevated to the Executive Bureau of that same entity, before ascending to the position of Chairman of AIBA’s Youth Commission in February 2019. During the same period of time, Ninvalle was elected as the Vice President

of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC).

On the local front, Ninvalle garnered his Government knowledge as a Parliamentary Secretary, and was also employed as a Sports Journalist and later Sports Editor. He was re-elected as the President of the GBA in 2016.

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

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

Maximo shakes up national team with 23-man squad

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