Guyana Times - Friday November 12, 2021

Robbery victims, single mothers among P15 beneficiaries of Govt’s hamper distribution exercise Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4829

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Numerous opportunities in Guyana – President Ali tells Qatar team See story on page 3

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Weekend night lockdown for Demerara P14 Harbour Bridge …closed from 9pm to 5am

P10 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 94 new cases recorded

…highlights Govt’s plan to make country hub for agriculture, food security

City Hall owes over $1B to GRA, NIS, other entities Page 11

Technical studies underway forPage replicas of 19 Hope Canal in Regions 3, 5, 6

Aubrey Norton leading nomination nods for PNCR leadership …endorsements do not win elections – Harmon camp Page 7

…as APNU/AFC Chief Whip calls for name, photo to be removed from campaign banners DPP’s power to direct Magistrates

“It is very incongruous if someone Page is invested with a power to 17 direct a court”– court”– Justice Saunders

…CCJ to engage DPP, Queen’s Counsel on modifying statute

“Troubling” decisions, P13 double-dealing at City Hall eroding public trust – Town Clerk

Armed bandits rob Johnny P Shopping P16 Centre Deputy Speaker calls for int’l assistance in hiring P19 new GECOM CEO, senior functionaries Jamaican P18 human rights lawyer admitted to local Bar

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Numerous opportunities in Guyana – President Ali tells Qatar team NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, November 12 – 00:30-02:00h and 11:00h-12:30h and Saturday, November 13 – 01:00-02:30h, 12:30h-14:00h and 21:00-05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, November 12 –11:15h-12:45h and Saturday, November 13 –12:35h-14:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers and light rain showers are expected during the day, with partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 11:10h and 23:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.09 metres and 2.14 metres.

Low Tide: 17:05h reaching a minimum height of 1.17 metres.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

02 03 05

07 11 13

FREE TICKET

15 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

05 06 08 18 22 LUCKY 3

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3

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2

Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 06 10 12 13 14 21 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

03 04 08 13 16 13

03 06 11 13 15

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.63/barrel

-0.29

Rough Rice

$252. 45/ton

+0.18

London Sugar

$507.20/ton

-1.42

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1859.20

$1860.20

Low/High Change

$1849.20 -2.70

$1867.30 -0.15%

…highlights Govt’s plan to make country hub for agriculture, food security

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s a follow-up to engagements during his visit to Dubai last month, President Dr Irfaan Ali and a high-level local team on Thursday met with senior officials of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) – the sovereign wealth fund of the Middle-East State.

The visiting team comprised of two QIA Executives, Abdulhadi F A Al-Hajri and Dany Farah Nakhoul. Their visit is a follow-up to talks started by President Ali and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

During the meeting, held at the Office of the President, the Guyanese Head of State informed the QIA officials that the engagement was critical, and can open up many opportunities for cooperation between the Guyana Government, the local Private Sector and QIA. President Ali went on to highlighted his Government’s desire to make Guyana the hub for agriculture and food security within the region and further afield. He also pointed to the numerous opportunities in other sectors that would promote the overall growth and development of Guyana.

Accompanying President Ali during Thursday’s high-level meeting were Senior Minister within the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Agriculture, Zukfikar Mustapha; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Rafeek Khan; President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker; President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong; President of the Aircraft Owners Association, Gerald Gouveia; and President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, were the Private Sector representatives.

The State of Qatar is among several Middle-East nations that have expressed serious interest in investing in various sectors in Guyana during President Ali’s visit last month for the Dubai World Expo.

Only two weeks ago, a representative from the Private Office of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Gaspar Lino, met with several Government Ministers during a visit here, including with Minister

President Dr Irfaan Ali and his delegation met with officials of the Qatar Investment Authority

Mustapha, to discuss a number of investment opportunities for Guyana’s agriculture sector.

During the meeting, Lino expressed his country’s willingness to invest in the agriculture sector in several areas.

According to Mustapha, the talks were favourable, and he detailed that proposals for possible areas of investment would be submitted to the office of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum soon.

“We were able to draft a preliminary list of areas for investments for Mr. Lino. My office is currently in the process of compiling a detailed investment package for him to take back to Dubai. As a Government, we understand the need for investments in all the sectors. As we work to revitalise and resuscitate the agri-

culture sector, the Ministry will be engaging a number of investors, both locally and internationally.

There are a number incentives and investment opportunities available, and I can easily say that there has been no better time to invest in Guyana,” Minister Mustapha said.

Some of the areas in the sector earmarked for investments are fertiliser production and assemblage; organic poultry rearing; coffee, cocoa, corn, soya bean, spices; and online agriculture and product development.

Meanwhile, during a virtual meeting with a high-level Government team last week, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) was told that Guyana has the capacity for the large-scale production of many agricultural commodities, such as soya bean,

ginger, corn, rice, coconuts, eddoes, cassava and plantains, which can be exported to Dubai. It was emphasised that with Dubai being a major global commodity trading hub, Guyana stands to gain access to wider markets for its products. Other investment opportunities were noted, such as those in the forestry and mining sectors.

After hearing of these opportunities, DMCC expressed interest in learning more about Guyana’s agricultural and mining potential, including commodities such as coffee, cocoa and rare earth minerals. The Guyanese representatives from both the Public and Private Sectors thereby noted that now is the opportune time for Guyana’s abundant resources to be transformed into wealth for the prosperity of all citizens.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 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

City woes, congestion

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arking areas in downtown Georgetown, which were specially prepared by the Police Traffic Department and designated for parking by minibuses plying various routes, have been overrun by vendors plying their trade and by private cars working as taxis. As a consequence, chaos and congestion have been created in central areas in the city, as well as piles of garbage have been accumulated over time.

The garbage accumulation continues unabated, with no solution in sight. This appears to have been started in 2014 as a deliberate attempt to derail the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s “Clean Up My Country” initiative.

Now with insufficient space because of constrained parking allotments to park the buses for which the various areas were designated, bus drivers are forced to occupy areas not allotted for parking purposes, thereby creating traffic hazards and danger to pedestrians, as well as incurring the wrath of the Police Traffic Department.

Former Mayors and City Councillors have, over decades, encouraged the lawlessness prevailing all over the city and its environs. Visitors come to this country to, among other things, enjoy our heritage sites, and a heap of garbage has accumulated just outside one of Guyana’s primary sightseeing locations specially promoted by the Tourism Ministry and tour operators – Stabroek Market.

This development is not only a public nuisance, but also constitutes a serious public health threat, with the attendant hazard of escalation of vector-borne and other serious diseases.

While the City Council condemns the business houses that are lax in paying their taxes, it simultaneously inhibits their businesses by allowing illegal vending outside the stores. This creates unfair competition, especially during special holidays, and is wreaking havoc on the viability of legitimately-established businesses, because most vendors do not pay taxes, they have no overheads, are not subject to the various by-laws governing established trade; and, worst of all, many create humongous piles of garbage and litter that jam the waterways, with the consequence being an exacerbation of drainage problems in the city and its environs.

Georgetown has always fallen under the jurisdiction of the People’s National Congress (PNC), and from being the pride of Guyana as “The Garden City,” it has increasingly deteriorated, losing its pristine and idyllic environment because it has become a microcosm of the decay of Guyana under the PNC’s watch.

Political leaders have a duty and responsibility to encourage citizens to respect the laws of the land in the interest of their constituency in particular, and the nation as a whole, and illegal vending breaches the city’s by-laws in a multiplicity of ways.

However, every time there is a governmental effort to find alternative accommodation for vendors, there is a hue and cry by political protagonists, who organise protests.

Successive PPP/C Governments intermittently pump millions of dollars into clean-up campaigns in the city, but as long as illegal vending prevails, Georgetown would always remain a “garbage city”.

Oftentimes Government executes essential capital works that are the direct responsibility of the M&CC, and that body in turn castigates the Government for not giving it the money allocated for that purpose. However, the corruption at City Hall seems to have become endemic, as was revealed by the Burrowes Commission of Inquiry.

Georgetown was once a pristine and extremely scenic city, legendary for its idyllic beauty. However, under successive PNC-run City Councils, the deterioration continues to escalate, to the point where it would be a Herculean task and necessitate the injection of massive amounts of funding, with extremely wise, creative and honest management to restore Guyana’s capital city to its former glory.

High Commissioners of Canada, UK and India joined with the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Veterans Legion on Thursday to remember and honour those who served in the armed forces (Canadian High Commission photo)

Vending, legal or illegal, is an issue to be addressed Dear Editor, Vending is now a serious problem in our country.

However, vending is a necessity and is very convenient for the population at times.

While vending can, and sometimes does, prove to be a traffic hazard, leaving the surroundings messy and creating a place from where criminals and bandits prowl on our citizens, our country - like any other country would have to appreciate and accommodate some amount of vending.

As the Christmas season approaches, we will witness much more vending, and people would appreciate the situation. However, it is imperative that serious measures be put in place to prevent havens where dangerous bandits operate freely, particularly during the busy shopping season.

Guyana is on the rise.

Development is taking place at a fast rate, hence legitimising vending and providing safe spaces for vendors must be accompanied by adequate security for our citizens. Vendors must not offer security and hiding space for criminals and thieves who are around the markets.

We must appreciate that vending takes place where commuters and people traverse – at the market places, junctions, parks/carparks and venues that attract people, particularly during peak hours. These are some of the spaces that attract ven-

dors.

Vending is a business.

Our vendors must ply their trade at the appropriate places and times which are most suitable. The place of vending must be kept clean, and must not be littered and rendered unhealthy. Vendors at road corners and street parapets must not cause traffic problems.

Vendors must be responsible for their customers’ wellbeing. School children in particular must purchase their fruits and snacks in the appropriate hygienic environment.

Our people love fresh fruits and vegetables, and housewives on their way home usually make these purchases at the most convenient venue. Also, many persons love to take their breakfast on their way to work, hence the food handlers must be clean and provide quality service to the working population.

The Ministries of Agriculture, Public Works, Health, Home Affairs and Tourism must work together to empower the vendors and guide them to work within the law. With all the development taking place in the country, the Municipalities, Regional Democratic Councils and Neighborhood Democratic Councils must derive means and identify cites where vendors can be placed.

The pandemic is with us, and our people must be pro-

tected. We must have attractive facilities with all the necessary accommodation, while the markets must have bathrooms and, where necessary, seating facilities.

Service providers must dress properly. Food handlers and service providers must look elegant, and at all times be polite and courteous to the public.

Guyana is a tourist destination, and we must invest to make our country more attractive. We must have more night facilities, floodlight-type atmosphere, so as to have real night-time economic activities. As such, our communities must be spick and span, and inviting at all times for recreation and enjoyment. Our designs must enfranchise and empower

our communities to produce a commodity that would make our country a special place.

Roadside vending, market and seawall vending must be clean and attractive. All relevant stakeholders must put Guyana first.

We must develop a culture of cleanliness and safety.

Our country is known for high-class hospitality, we need to promote and respect our small businesses. Hence, vending must be protected and encouraged, so that our country and people could be a better place. Guyana must have a Vendors’ Association which would operate in the best interest of our country.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Is the leader losing his grip?

Dear Editor, With the overturning of the leader’s suspension order for one of its ardent members, paving the return to the party’s fold on the eve, no less, of nominations day for congress, is this suggesting that the self-imposed-on-leave leader is losing his grip; is being sidelined and thus at the beginning of being phased out?

Is this the transformational rebirth of the party, dominant in the country’s history for decades?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 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

Opportunity to generate electricity using hybrid facility Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana is implementing a plan for a gas-to-energy project which will deliver 250 megawatts (MW) of power from a Wales gasfired plant to the grid, to save on costs and emissions associated with power generation. However, its natural gas programme extends beyond the Wales operation, as it is preparing more power plants to be fuelled by natural gas.

“Guyana Power and Light Inc, (GPL) plans to convert 106MW of their existing [heavy fuel oil] HFO capacity to dual-fuel engines (HFO/NG) by 2026,” states the low carbon development strategy (LCDS) 2030 draft.

However, The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government intends for Guyana’s energy mix to be 67 per cent renewable by 2035, according to the recently launched draft expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The first largescale energy proj-

ect is the 250-megawatt (MW) gas-to-energy project, which is fossil fuel, but the Government does not intend for gas to dominate Guyana’s energy mix for a very long time. It will only act as a transition fuel while Guyana gathers renewable energy projects. When gas comes to shore in 2024, it will make up 94 per cent of the energy mix, according to LCDS projections.

“While natural gas provides a short to medium-term solution, over the medium and long-term, the most sustainable and resilient energy mix in Guyana would be formed by solar, wind, hydro and biomass power plants,” the draft document states.

The Government sees hydro power as important to provide firm capacity and short-term energy storage to make up for daily and weekly fluctuations from solar and wind sources.

It also expects hydro to provide a cheaper solution in the long-term than any other technology, due

to its lifespan, while the Government and the Private Sector will explore options for solar power, hydropower, wind power and biomass technologies.

Most recently, it was announced that Cabinet had granted its no objection for China Railway Group Limited to construct the hydro project. The project will be built under the BOOT model (Build Own Operate Transfer), which will see the Guyana Power and Light buying power from the company at no more than US7.7 cents per kilowatt.

The revival of the 165-megawatt Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in its manifesto. The project was initiated under the previous PPP/C Administration, but was scrapped by the coalition Administration. The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was the flagship of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Amaila was expected to deliver a

Give Toshaos a salary Dear Editor, I take this opportunity to highlight a worrying experience faced by all the toshaos throughout the length and breadth of this beautiful land of ours, Guyana.

Toshaos are paid a stipend of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), and this little amount is usually paid every two months. These men and women are elected leaders of their respective communities, who serve their communities on an almost twenty-four-hour basis every day of the week (24/7).

In the Guyana Times of 30th October, 2021, I read about the commitment made by His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, reassuring the public servants of an increase in wages and salaries before the end of the year, retroactive from January, 2021. I applaud the Government of Guyana for its continued efforts at addressing this issue, since it is my belief that this group of people deserve to be treated with full respect.

This brings me to my main question: Which category of workers do toshaos fall under? Should not these persons be considered as public servants too? In my humble opinion, I think toshaos deserve better than just a stipend. These men and women work tireless-

ly for their respective communities. Toshaos wear many caps, and do the work of peace officers, Police officers, councillors, receptionists, negotiators, forest rangers, managers of their respective communities, and the list goes on.

The Village Councils which they head are like an arm of many Ministries of the Government (Amerindian Affairs, Agriculture, Health), since they are expected to execute many plans of the Government.

The CSOs and the C.I.I.P workers are being paid the same amount of stipend ($30,000), and when one compares their work load to that of the toshao, it is very evident that toshaos deserve to be treated with a lot more respect. The duties and responsibilities of a community leader are far more than one can imagine, and I feel it has been too long that toshaos are being neglected in this area.

To make matters even worse, most toshaos are family men and women.

How can someone do all this work and still manage to provide for their families sufficiently with thirty thousand dollars? We do encounter expenses for our school children, and we have family obligations, which all require money to get done.

Editor, recently pensioners were awarded a twenty-fivethousand-dollar ($25,000) cash grant. That was most welcome. Farmers are in line to benefit soon from some relief cash from the Government of Guyana.

Sugar workers too were able to received monies just a couple of weeks ago. It would not be a sin to consider paying toshaos a salary. I humbly recommend that we be paid a sum equal to, or above, the minimum wage of this country.

Editor, I am fully convinced Guyana has true leaders who really care for all Guyanese, regardless of sex, age, religion, creed or geographical location.

I think it is time to have our toshaos be considered as public servants and be paid a salary, and do away with the stipend they receive presently. The festive season is upon us, and just imagine our toshaos spending thirty thousand dollars to meet the needs of their families.

Reward us with a bonus to motivate us to work even harder to achieve our community goals and serving our communities better. I close here, pleading for salaries for our toshaos.

Respectfully, Vivian Edwards Village Toshao

steady source of clean, renewable energy that would have been affordable and reliable, and was envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs, while removing dependency on fossil fuels.

Guyana has an opportunity to create hybrid-designed facilities to generate electricity by both solar panels and dam turbines, the hybrid facility can prolong the continual period of power generation, and reduce fluctuation and uncertainty that are typical for renewable energy, relying on

weather conditions.

By integrating solar power with hydropower, and creating a hydro-floating solar hybrid power generation plant where power comes from solar cells in the daytime and from hydropower at night or in peak periods, leading to a higher efficiency and marking a major step in Guyana’s planned reduction of its carbon footprint.

Combining these two renewable energy floating solar farms and an existing hydropower plant would also create an opportunity for a tourist attraction, opening it to visitors, a move

which will create more jobs, generate income for local residents, and stimulate the local economic growth.

The emergence of renewable energy has revolutionised world markets, and renewables-driven change continues with unprecedented speed. Even several years ago, few would have guessed the scope of the new technologies that have been developed to help countries like Guyana continue the process of decarbonising their economies.

Sincerely, David Adams

Responsiveness is 1 of the 3 pillars of democracy Dear Editor, On Oct 29, 2021, it was reported that the President directed that the draft amendments of the electoral laws should be released for feedback from stakeholders.

This is commendable. Responsiveness is one of the three pillars of Democracy, the other two being Representation and Responsibility for conduct of public affairs.

The release of the draft provides an opportunity for the stakeholders to comment and made suggestions; however, the adherence to Responsiveness requires that the responses be taken into consideration. If that is not done, Responsiveness would not have been realised.

I write this letter because I harbour the fear that Responsiveness may not be intended or realised for the following reasons.

1. GECOM is the agency that has the mandate for the conduct of elections, and will be the object of much of the envisaged amendments, yet the process has gotten to the stage of a draft amendment and GECOM has in no way been involved.

2. The President’s directive was issued on Oct 29, and the draft was released on November 6.

However, on November 10, when I last checked with the GECOM Secretariat, it had still not received a copy of the draft, which had, four days prior, been released for public scrutiny.

I am therefore left with no alternative but to make the following observations.

1. The draft originates from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and reflects the thinking of the Government

and the party which occupies the seat of Government.

2. In the process of consulting on the draft, GECOM is not treated as, or deemed to be, a major stakeholder; rather, it is apparently being treated as a tool of the ‘powers that be’, rather than an agency that is constitutionally responsible for the conduct of elections.

3. This flies in the face of GECOM’s constitutional responsibility and the governance principle: Inclusivity/Participation, although our Constitution,

in Article 13, enshrines that principle, and the State finances an entire ministerial position with responsibility for governance.

It begs the questions: Are we in for another charade, even as we tout Democracy and Good Governance? Is the publicly articulated mantra the “Opposition gets its say and the Government gets its way” the Government’s understanding and practice of Democracy and Good Governance?

Yours truly, Vincent Alexander

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Page

Foundation

Materials:

2 film canisters and lids Water Vegetable oil 2 halves of an Alka-Seltzer 1 aluminum pan

Instructions:

NB: Adult supervision required Place both film canisters in the aluminum pan.

Fill one canister to the half-way point with vegetable oil and the other canister with water.

Drop the half of Alka-Seltzer into the vegetable oil canister and cap it.

Then do the same thing with the water canister, and back away for safety.

Watch from a safe distance until one of them explodes. Which one was it?

How it works:

Like school, some environments can be filled with excitement, other environments can be dull and boring. One canister is lively and bubbly because of the chemical reaction that happens within the canister and the other is struggling for a reaction.

Extra experiments:

What happens if you turn the canister over after putting the lid on?

What if you try salt water, does that affect the results?

What if you fill the entire canister with water or with vegetable oil? Does it change the results? (scienceisfun. org)

By Charles Simic In my great grandmother's time, All one needed was a broom To get to see places And give the geese a chase in the sky.

The stars know everything, So we try to read their minds.

As distant as they are, We choose to whisper in their presence.

Oh Cynthia, Take a clock that has lost its hands For a ride.

Get me a room at Hotel Eternity Where Time likes to stop now and then.

Come, lovers of dark corners, The sky says, And sit in one of my dark corners.

There are tasty little zeroes In the peanut dish tonight.

Source: Poetry

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aubrey Norton leading nomination nods for PNCR leadership

…endorsements do not win elections – Harmon camp …as APNU/AFC Chief Whip calls for name, photo to be removed from campaign banners

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

Aubrey Norton

Dr Richard Van West-Charles

he race for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform party (PNCR) got underway on Thursday, and party executive Aubrey Norton is leading the nominations, having reportedly garnered more than 50 per cent of the endorsements submitted thus far.

PNC groups from across the country have begun submitting their nominations in support of the candidates who are contending for various leadership posts in the party. These include Leader, Chairman, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and 15 executives for Regional and District Secretaries.

According to General Secretary of the party, Amna Ally, the nominations process will run until today, then it will close off.

However, Guyana Times understands that Norton has

lowing among senior party members, on Thursday evening announced that if he becomes Leader, then he would appoint Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul as the new General Secretary of the PNCR. Earlier on Thursday, Mahipaul had stated in a Facebook post that nominations do not win elections.

He recalled that when he ran for the Central Executive Committee (CEC) seat for Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), he had only received two nominations while his contender got 21. “…but you know what?

At the elections, I won the seat with 97 delegates voting for me. My opponent got 62 votes. I say that to say, nominations don’t win elections.

The race is not for the swift, but for those that can endure it to the end,” he posited.

Moreover, Harmon also published several posters on his Facebook page featuring several other party members who have endorsed his candidacy. Those include several Parliamentarians, namely: Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Jermaine Figueira, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Dr Karen Cummings, Natasha SinghLewis, Nima Flue-Bess, Dinesh Jaiprashad, Maureen Philadelphia, Coretta McDonald, Annette Ferguson and Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones.

T

already racked up support and endorsements from most of the party’s groups as well as from senior party members.

When contacted on Thursday, Norton indicated that the overwhelming support has put him ahead of his contenders – Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and PNC Executive Richard Van West-Charles – for the party’s leadership post.

“From the information I’m getting, I have more than

80 per cent of the nominations… supporting me thus far. I’m doing extremely well in the nominations,” he related, noting that his campaign had seen him engaging the party’s support base across various regions.

In fact, he has received the support of most of the PNC groups in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – the largest voting district – and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – his home region.

Norton, who has dubbed

himself the front-runner for this post, and had anticipated leading the race, reiterated his confidence in emerging as the next PNCR Leader at the upcoming Biennial Congress on December 11.

“Yes. I’m confident I will win the party’s leadership,” he declared to this newspaper.

Harmon camp

Meanwhile, Harmon, who himself has a large fol-

Remove my name

But Jones, who is the Opposition Chief Whip, took to his social media page on Thursday to indicate that he has not endorsed any of the candidates as yet, and asked that his name and photo be removed from campaign banners.

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Rumble in the mudflats…

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…Nomination Day nd the foreplay continues in the PNC! Today’s “Nomination Day” for the supposed elections for the leader of the PNCR. Folks keep reminding your Eyewitness to append that “R” for “Reform” and your Eyewitness just did. Did it change a darn thing? What the heck did the PNC ever reform - save bringing in a few new faces to dilute whoever were the old guards who stood in the way of the new-leader-on-the-block!!? That wasn’t “reform” -just “deform” - as in trying to change the appearance of the PNC without changing its nature.

Invariably, the “moderates” brought in as “Reform” wilted!

So, today, party groups will nominate individuals for party leadership - but all eyes will be on the nominees for Party Leader. There’s no question that the three fellas (no felines!) who threw their hats into the ring will be nominated and seconded. But THE BIG QUESTION that’ll be answered is whether Granger’s gonna be drafted at the last moment. After all, he didn’t follow that other General - Sherman of the USA - in giving a definitive position on a possible nomination- “If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve”!!

But your Eyewitness has already taken the position that Joseph Harmon has the backing and blessing of Granger for the top spot. And he’ll decline if he’s nominated. Observers must know this is the PNC we’re dealing with - and things are never what they seem. After the nominations are over, there’s the main event - the rumble in the mudflats if you will - on Dec 11. And that’s where all the action’s gonna be. Not that today’s “weigh in” won’t be bereft of excitement! There will be the usual braggadocio - hyping the endorsements from party groups each contestant was able to garner.

In this round, Norton has everyone else beaten by light years - they aren’t even in the picture. But as your Eyewitness has been emphasising, it’s all shadow boxing.

The next key moment will be the accreditation of delegates who’ll vote for the contestants - and even before that, the selection of the “credentials committee”. It’s gonna be like the lottery - you can’t win if you don’t have a ticket.

Here you can’t vote if you aren’t credentialised!! And it’s the party leader and the General Secretary and other incumbent officials - read Team Granger - who control this!!

So, right now, fellas like Norton can huff and puff all they want - but like in 2009 against Volda in the Georgetown elections - and in 2011 against Granger - he ain’t gonna be able to blow the “house fix” down!!

There will be those ex-GDF types strategically positioned to ensure that!! The more things change… …and Plan B But like any General who sat through so many courses in strategy - the man never had to implement what he learnt under fire! - Granger will have some Plan B, and even a Plan C. Several scenarios can unfold if, by some stretch of the imagination, Norton beats Harmon for the leadership to become leader of the PNCR. That won’t change a darn thing about who’ll be Opposition Leader Harmon remains in place. That appointment is made by the Representative OF THE APNU/AFC COALITION’s list who remains Granger!!

It’s this latter person who also selects MPs to Parliament and such like. The new Leader, Norton, can’t even enter the National Assembly unless Granger allows it!! This, of course, would be the classic illustration of a “Pyrrhic” victory for Norton - the costs would outweigh the victory!

Harmon would remain the Leader of the Opposition and an MP sitting in Parliament - while Norton walks around as “Leader” with no input into governance!!

Oh, what a tangled web we weave… …with recycled troops Granger showed good tactical awareness by not opposing the return of Vanessa Kissoon into the party. He gains goodwill while knowing that the new female blood he sent to Parliament will defang the Lindener’s bluster!

Checkmate!

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

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Relocations for new Demerara River bridge

Fair market value, varying compensation – Edghill

By Nathifa Punch

I

n light of preparations for the building of the new Demerara River bridge, a small number of properties aback Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD) where the bridge will land are expected to be demolished to facilitate this process.

However, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has reassured that the acquisition of the properties would be done at fair market value as required by law.

“The law requires us to acquire at fair market val-

ue,” the Minister stated.

“We can’t take somebody’s property and don’t pay them. The law requires fair market value…

And there’s a process to go through with that,” he further indicated.

“And it will not be until there is a full resolution on which properties will have to be acquired and the process in acquiring of those properties is followed…we have to be able to name the properties, get to the property owners, we’re not there yet.”

Article 142 of the

Constitution of Guyana and the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act are the two legal frameworks which will guide the Government in its process of acquiring the privately-owned lands that are needed for the new

Demerara River Bridge project.

While noting that different persons may prefer to be compensated differently, the Minister stated that this process would entail the Government and parties to be compensated deriving a common solution.

“It is something that is worked out with the Government and the parties that are concerned.

Different people might prefer different things. We’re not at that stage yet,” Edghill noted.

He also highlighted that the recent inspection conducted was not only to facilitate the building of the bridge, but also for the building of roads that will be connected to the bridge.

Public Works Ministry’s Chief Transport Planning Officer Patrick Thompson, during a recent tour of the site of the project, had an-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

nounced that a “handful” of houses would have to be removed to facilitate the construction of the bridge and connecting roadways.

The construction of the bridge is slated to start in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The project is expected to be finished within two years.

The bridge will land aback Nandy Park, EBD and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Only recently, Cabinet granted its no-objection for China State Construction Engineering to construct the bridge at a proposed cost of US$256.6 million.

The new bridge will offer easy connectivity to both the existing East Bank Demerara road as well as the new Diamondto-Ogle bypass on the eastern side of the river and to the existing West Bank Demerara road and the new Parika-to-Schoonord road on the western side of the river.

The new bridge will also offer critical connectivity to the new Wales Development Authority, which will be a major centre of productive activity when it comes on stream.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 more COVID-19 deaths, 94 new cases recorded GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD NOVEMBER 11, 2021 UPDATE

T

he Health Ministry has reported three more COVID-related deaths as of Thursday, taking the death toll to 955.

Two of these persons were unvaccinated while the third was fully vaccinated. On November 10, a 60-year-old female from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and a 63-yearold male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) died. A 73-yearold male from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) previously succumbed on November 9.

Ninety-four more cases were detected within the course of one day – raising the number of total confirmed cases to 36,533.

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

There are 17 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 53 in institutional isolation, 2232 in home isolation and 13 in institutional quarantine. So far, 368,395 COVID-19 tests were administered – with 17,238 males and 19,295 females testing positive.

A region-by-region breakdown of new cases shows five persons testing positive in Region One (BarimaWaini); nine in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 14 in Region Three; 40 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); five in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 10 in Region Six; one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)

and nine in Region 10.

Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) saw no new cases.

Even with an overall decrease in active cases and hospitalisations across the country, there are spikes of infections in Regions Six and 10.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Thursday pointed out a recent trend of increased cases in the regions, and in some communities, this is coupled with a low vaccination uptake.

There are 215 active cases in Region Six and 194 in Region 10. Region Three currently has the highest active cases at 1085 followed

by Region Four at 724.

“If people are not immunised, then they’re not

REGION 1

1638

REGION 2

1478

REGION 3

4955

REGION 4

17,261

REGION 5

1348

REGION 6

2865

REGION 7

1766

REGION 8

609

REGION 9

2454

REGION 10

2159

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

94

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

53

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

2232

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

17

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

13

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,238

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

19,295

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

36,533

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

33,276

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

389,349

FULLY IMMUNISED

257,196

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

955

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

protected…In Region 10, we have very low vaccination uptake so maybe that’s one of the reasons that is driving the increase in cases. If people are not immunised, then they’re not protected.”

He cautioned that the country’s death rate will also climb in wake of low immunisation rates, since the virus will prey on unvaccinated persons with low immunity or underlying conditions, causing them to develop worse COVID infections.

Overall adult coverage for first doses is 75.9 per cent and second doses, 50.1 per cent. For children, 26.4 per cent are completely vaccinated.

The first dose uptake is 81.5 per cent for Region One, 61.3 per cent for Region Two, 72.9 per cent

for Region Three, 85.3 per cent for Region Four, 74.6 per cent for Region Five, 75.4 per cent for Region Six, 75.1 per cent for Region Seven, 47.6 per cent for Region Eight, 74.7 per cent for Region Nine and 34.5 per cent for Region 10.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, contact the COVID-19 hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480, or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise: correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and good hand hygiene. (G12)

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

City Hall owes over $1B to GRA, NIS, other entities

M

City Hall

ore than $1 billion owed to key entities and stakeholders is among the list of debts to be cleared by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

Town Clerk Candace Nelson disclosed on Thursday that the cashstrapped local organ owed these monies to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI). The sum also includes pension, gratuity and benefits to staff.

Even as financial instability hovers over the Council, Nelson pointed out, there is still imprudent spending. In a recent instance, a bill of $600,000 was requested by a lawyer

after he drafted a letter on behalf of the former Town Clerk.

“The core of an ongoing contention is a payment of $600,000 to an Attorney-atLaw for one letter written on behalf of former Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick to the Local Government Commission.

When the matter was brought to my attention, I expressed profound concern at what appears to be imprudent spending. Further, I wrote the Mayor and explained that while I have no difficulty with lawyers charging their fees for their work, the sum in question does appear to be exorbitant,” the Town Clerk highlighted.

She pointed out that

while the municipality was battling to stay afloat and fulfil its obligations to the city, it could not afford to spend funds irresponsibly.

Auditor General Deodat Sharma was also written on the issue, and his advice requested.

“We are at our wits’ end trying to sustain basic services such as garbage collection, maternal and child welfare, public health and environmental services, and the maintenance of our cemeteries, but the Mayor is insisting with great urgency that I pay this money – $600,000 for a single letter. I sought and obtained legal advice on this matter and I have since written the

Auditor General asking for pre-emptory advice on it,” the Town Clerk said.

In the past, Mayor Ubraj Narine had alleged that the new Town Clerk has been signing cheques without proper authority. He contended that vouchers were not signed before the cheques were written, signed by the city treasurer and countersigned by Nelson.

While expressing that the Mayor has failed to provide evidence to prove such, Nelson replied, “The truth is that allegation is simply not true. I have been following the systems and procedures that deal with such matters.

However, the nature of the allegation and the potential

Mayor Ubraj Narine

implications it could have on my personal and professional life have influenced my decision to consult with my

lawyer. I am taking the utterances of His Worship very seriously.”

Just recently, seven employees of the City Council’s Treasury Department were dismissed amid serious misconduct claims that surfaced.

The Local Government Commission made this unanimous decision, which saw tax collection officers, cashiers and clerks being terminated. The dismissals were in response to the Mayor and Councillors officially notifying the Local Government Commission of suspected financial irregularities which had surfaced within the City Treasurer’s Department. (G12)

12

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13 “Troubling” decisions, double-dealing at City Hall eroding public trust – Town Clerk T NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

own Clerk Candace Nelson has outlined that growing concerns over financial and administrative decisions taken by the cash-strapped Georgetown Mayor and City Council are having a negative impact on operation of the entity and on public trust.

At a press conference on Thursday, the Town Clerk uncovered several instances where the Council had taken decisions without the requisite authority and without due procedure.

“The Council has been attempting to instruct me to carry out decisions that are troubling, unreasonable and

ultra vires. The council has been taking decisions without proper organisational or legal authority,” she revealed.

The Council had lost a case against Houston Estate for the payment of rates, and was thereby required to comply with the subsisting ruling of the court, part of which is the issuance of compliance certificates. It has received legal advice to comply with the order. However, Nelson said she discovered an alarming revelation.

“I discovered a file in which His Worship advised the former Town Clerk not to regard that advice, and in fact continued to prevent

Houston Estate from being issued with the requested documents. Even after that was brought to the attention of the Council, the Mayor insisted that the Council should not give certificates to the estate.”

In keeping with the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Nelson said she used the authority conferred on her to issue the certificate.

The Town Clerk said it appears as though Mayor Ubraj Narine is preventing the issuance of compliance and sanitisation certificates to Houston Estate and Giftland Group, but unilaterally wrote another corporation with outstand-

Aubrey Norton leading...

“I wish to clarify that I did not give consent for my image to be used on, or form part of the campaign for, either Comrade Norton or Comrade Harmon’s election as Party Leader. As such, it is concerning to note that an image of myself, along with others, is circulating on social media, giving the impression that I have endorsed Comrade Harmon, which I have not…

I therefore humbly request that this misunderstanding be corrected by the relevant parties, and that my image be removed from Comrade Harmon’s campaign poster,” Jones stated in his Facebook post.

The Opposition Chief Whip went on to note that he would make his endorsement of a candidate at his “convenience and a time of my choosing.”

On the other hand, there has been no word from Dr Van West-Charles, who has

also been on the ground to rally PNCR supporters.

Several attempts by this publication to contact him on Thursday were futile.

However, it was reported that he has received nominations from certain party groups.

Only last week, Van WestCharles had called for GS Ally to recuse herself from the post to allow for transparency and accountability in the election process. He had also alleged there were efforts by some to sway the PNCR membership to vote in a particular manner.

In addition to the PNCR leadership, party members will also be electing a new Chairman, since it was reported that current Chairperson, Volda Lawrence, might not be contending for the post, despite being nominated as a candidate at the December 11 Congress.

FROM PAGE 7

When contacted on Thursday, Lawrence declined to comment.

Other candidates for the Chairmanship post include: Christopher Jones, Simona Broomes, Roysdale Forde, Shurwayne Holder and Amanza Walton-Desir.

The PNCR – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity faction of the APNU/AFC Coalition Opposition – has been embroiled in an internal divisive power struggle since the party’s loss at the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Hence, there was mounting pressure for Congress to be held to elect new leadership, including incumbent PNCR Leader, former President David Granger, who will not be contesting for the post.

At the party’s last biennial congress in 2018, Granger was reelected leader after the post was uncontested. (G8)

Town Clerk Candace Nelson

ing payments with the intention of granting a temporary certificate. This ‘double-dealing’, she noted, cannot be continued.

“In practice and policy, there is no policy for temporary sanitisation certificates.

And the issuing of those fa-

cilities is managed by administration, not policy-makers.

This kind of doubling-dealing and lack of consistency on the part of the Council (is) affecting the reputation, image and treasury of the Council. It is continually eroding public trust, respect and confidence in the authority and work of the municipality.”

On another matter, she brought up the issue of disrespectful behaviour that has been meted out to her since her appointment in July, 2021. This is particularly from male Councillors, to whom she referred as ‘chauvinists’. At previous statutory meetings, she had asked for protection against such conduct, but according to her, it is usually ignored.

“I have been enduring intense pressure and persecution from His Worship and a clique of Councillors.

They have managed to cre-

ate a very negative and hostile work environment. It is not only affecting the general and specific operations, but systems of the Council to deliver vital municipal services to citizens…I am consistently humiliated at those meetings, and in many other ways. It is so bad that, on occasions, I have had to ask for the protection from the Chair – the Mayor. My requests have been largely ignored. I tend to raise this matter with the appropriate organisations before the end of this month,” the Town Clerk told media operatives.

For operations to run smoothly, Nelson is seeking to iron out such matters with the Mayor in the best interest of the municipality and citizens within its scope. Calls made by this publication to the Mayor for a comment on this development proved futile. (G12)

14 NEWS Weekend night lockdown for Demerara Harbour Bridge FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…closed from 9pm to 5am

T

he Demerara Harbour Bridge is scheduled to be closed to all traffic on Saturday, November 13 from 21:00h (9:00pm) to 05:00h (5:00pm) on Sunday.

This closure is to facilitate urgent works on retractor spans 9 and 10.

In a statement on Thursday, the management explained that given its

aged structure, the bridge requires frequent maintenance to allow for the free and safe flow of both vehicular and marine traffic.

Earlier this year, a contract was awarded to INFAB for the rehabilitation of retractor spans 9 and 10 and design, fabrication, and installation of retractor span 9.

The daily openings for sea-going vessels occur along spans 9 and 10. This is, therefore, the most critical section of the bridge which absorbs the most wear and tear.

“The contractor, INFAB, has completed their offsite design and fabrication works and is now ready to work onsite ie, to remove

and replace damaged components. This work will result in the opening of the retractor spans. It will be extremely unsafe to commute during this time. Consequently, the Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to all traffic on November 13 and 14,” management stated.

TURN TO PAGE 18

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Robbery victims, single mothers among beneficiaries of Govt’s hamper distribution exercise

Hamper distribution exercise for persons in Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

By Andrew Carmichael

W

hile it may not seem like a lot, the hampers being distributed by the Guyana Government come as a great relief for single mothers, elderly persons, and even those who were robbed of all their earnings.

On Wednesday, vulnerable persons in Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) got to meet with officials from the Human Services and Social Security Ministry to have their concerns addressed. Leading the delegation was subject Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud.

In addition, some 250 households benefited from the distribution of care hampers which included groceries and toiletries.

In June this year, sections of Port Mourant were significantly flooded and many have not yet recovered from the losses suffered.

Moreover, the impacts

of the COVID-19 pandemic have not spared the residents of this area, many of whom have found themselves in the unemployment bracket and battling the rising cost of living.

One such person is Clairese Haywood, a single mother of two living at Ankerville, Port Mourant.

She explained that the father of her five-year-old and eight-month-old left eight months ago to work in the interior and has not returned.

“It is very difficult to manage with the kids.

Sometimes I get work by my friend and sometimes I don’t. I am really punishing,” the single mother lamented.

Haywood said she only got to work some weeks as a domestic helper and when she did, it is only two days per week.

An elderly woman from the same community told Guyana Times that she was grateful for the hamper, since she and her husband were robbed of all their money few weeks ago.

“Is me and me husband living. Both of us is pensioners and things hard. Two weeks back, they break in our house and carry away all our money. So, I am very thankful for this hamper,”

she expressed.

Rayon De Haart, another resident, was very happy for the visit. “I feel really glad for this hamper, because right now me and my family punishing a lot. We lost a lot of things in the flooding, so thank God the Government

come today and meet with us and share a little grocery with us, so we can rally out for a couple weeks,” he expressed.

The hamper drive is being conducted in all regions across the country.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Armed bandits rob Johnny P Shopping Centre A rmed bandits have pounced on two cashiers at the Johnny P Shopping Centre in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, robbing them of cash and jewellery, among other

items.

Reports are that the bandits entered the business premises at about 08:30h while a 26-year-old female and a 28-year-old male sales representative were on duty.

Reports are that 28-yearold male sales representative exited the Western Union Office, leaving the wooden door open, and went to the front of the supermarket to conduct a transaction for a physically-challenged customer.

According to Police, on his return to the office, he was confronted by one of the suspects, who was armed with a handgun with which he held him at gunpoint.

The suspect, Police said, then ordered the employee to hand over cash and other valuables. Reports are that the man complied and

handed over an HP laptop computer valued at $75,000; one iPhone 11 valued at $180,000, a gold ring valued

at $112,000, and an undisclosed sum of cash.

Police say the man was then ordered to lie on the

ground as the suspect exited the Western Union Office through a wooden door to the supermarket, where he joined his accomplice.

According to the Police, both suspects then exited the supermarket and mounted a white and black XR motorcycle without a number plate, which was parked in front of the supermarket, and made good their escape east of Aubrey Barker Road, South, Ruimveldt.

An alarm was raised after the bandits left, and the Police were summoned.

An investigation has been launched.

NEWS

17

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DPP’s power to direct Magistrates

“It is very incongruous if someone is invested with a power to direct a court” – Justice Saunders …CCJ to engage DPP, Queen’s Counsel on modifying statute

By Feona Morrison

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Thursday expressed concern over the powers granted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of Guyana’s Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, and said it would be engaging the DPP on possibly modifying this statute.

This statute empowers the DPP to direct a magistrate, after a discharge in a preliminary inquiry (PI), to reopen the said PI with a view to committing an accused person to stand trial.

On Thursday, the regional court entertained arguments in an appeal filed by murder accused Marcus Bisram against a ruling by the Guyana Court of Appeal for him to be committed to stand trial at the High Court in Berbice for the October 2016

The CCJ convened via video conference on Thursday to hear the matter which was live-streamed on its Youtube page

cision after finding that the DPP’s directive was not unlawful.

Bisram was granted special leave to appeal the decision of the Appeal Court to the CCJ.

Strike down

Marcus Bisram

murder of Berbice carpenter and father of two, Faiyaz Narinedatt.

The appeal stemmed from a directive given to Magistrate Renita Singh by the DPP, Ms Shalimar AliHack, SC. Bisram was charged with murder on the basis that he counselled and procured the death of Narinedatt. On two occasions, Magistrate Singh, who conducted a PI, found that there was not sufficient evidence to commit Bisram to stand trial for the capital offence, and accordingly discharged him. The Magistrate, nevertheless, committed him to stand trial on the direction of the DPP. Bisram then filed judicial review proceedings, challenging the DPP’s directive. High Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall, having reviewed those proceedings, quashed the decisions of the DPP and the Magistrate.

Justice Morris-Ramlall ruled that the DPP acted unlawfully, as there was not sufficient evidence against Bisram to warrant his committal. The DPP then appealed Justice MorrisRamlall’s decision to the Court of Appeal, which set aside the judge’s de-

During the hearing, which spanned over three hours, Bisram’s lawyer Darshan Ramdhani, QC, contended that the DPP is part of the executive, and that her directive amounts to judicial interference. He told the seven-bench panel led by CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders that Ali-Hack’s directive is unlawful because it infringes his client’s constitutional rights provided for in Articles 122 A and 144 (1) of the Constitution.

Article 122 A reads: “All courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any other form of direction.”

Article 144 (1) states: “If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.”

The Queen’s Counsel urged the CCJ to strike down, as being unconstitutional, the offending parts/provisions/ words in section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, as they encroach on the judicial determination of a Magistrate, while he noted that such encroachment offends the separation of powers doctrine.

No usurpation

The DPP, however, submitted that as a constitutional office holder, she was merely exercising a quasi-judicial function when she directed the Magistrate to commit Bisram.

Ali-Hack argued, “That direction itself does not af-

fect any judicial powers. I say this because the PI is only a stage in the trial. When the DPP directs the Magistrate to reopen and to commit, who hears those matters? It goes before a judge and jury…the DPP has no control over what decision the judge…or jury makes.”

According to her, the powers vested in her pursuant to section 72 are just a matter of convenience to expedite the charge, and do not in any way collide with Articles 122 A and 144 of the Constitution.

She insisted that her directive to the Magistrate does not usurp the functions of the judiciary.

Very incongruous

Given that Article 122 (A) is intended to secure the court’s financial and administrative independence, Justice Saunders asked the DPP whether the purpose of this constitutional provision is not to ensure that “no one can direct a court how it must decide cases.” Ali-Hack agreed.

Emphasising that the court’s understanding and appreciation of statutes grow over time, Justice Saunders noted, “What was considered appropriate 50 years ago, today, because of our understanding and appreciation of the impact of language grows and develops over time, that same language might be considered to be a little unfortunate now.”

The CCJ President asked the DPP if she does not consider the language of section 72 to be in conflict with Article 122 A, since it empowers her to direct a court to commit someone and reverse a decision to discharge made by a sitting Magistrate. The DPP, however, did not hold this view.

The Senior Counsel explained that when she gives a directive to commit, she is not making a final decision, because when the Magistrate follows her directive, it is the High Court that will be making the final decision, and not her.

Justice Saunders then

asked the DPP, “In this day and age, does it sit comfortably with you that an authority, even if that authority is not considered to be part of the executive, but an authority which is not a Court of Appeal, is not a part of the core judiciary, can actually direct a court as to how it must dispose of a matter before that court… doesn’t that strike you as being incongruous?

“A litigant [DPP] before that court is vested with the power to direct the court on what it should and should not do in a matter in which that litigant is a party, and I’m asking you: does that strike you as being too odd?” the CCJ President again asked Ali-Hack.

“Whether the DPP is or is not a member of the executive, to me, it does not detract from the fact whether a court ought not to be directed by some other authority other than a Court of Appeal; only a Court of Appeal can direct a court. It is very incongruous if someone is invested with a power to direct a court,” he noted.

Puzzled

Meanwhile, CCJ Justice Jacob Witt described the directions outlined in section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act as a “really remarkable concept.”

He said, “When the Magistrate decides not to commit, the [DPP] can then say, ‘Listen here, I don’t agree; you have to do what I tell you, and so you have to commit’. I don’t know of any legal system where that happens. I also wonder, if that is the case, why, in the first place, do we have the committal procedure? Why is it necessary that the Magistrate should commit, because if he doesn’t, then you [DPP] can tell them to do it anyway.”

Considering the foregoing, he expressed that he was “puzzled”, and asked Ali-Hack to shed some light on the process. She replied, “That is how the legislation

was created, and that has been the system here in the criminal law procedure in Guyana all the years.”

The DPP went on to remind the panel that she cannot act whimsically, but rather from an informed position based on the evidence and the public’s interest. According to her, section 72 takes into account that the Magistrate can discharge a case where there ought to have been a committal.

While noting that the evidence against Bisram established a prima facie case, the DPP said that any reasonable jury, if properly directed, might convict. The DPP argued that the Magistrate in Bisram’s case was assessing the credibility of the prosecution’s main witness, Chaman Chunilall.

But this, she pointed out, is “strictly” a duty for the jury, while her task is to assess whether the evidence

not intend for the DPP to be a judge over, or to interfere with, the judicial functions of the Magistrate, but rather to take the process to another tribunal for determination.

Modification

In closing, the CCJ President noted that the DPP’s argument to the court should be on how “we will modify” section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act to make it consistent with Articles 122 A and 144 of the Constitution.

CCJ Justice Peter Jamadar questioned whether this law can be modified to facilitate the core intention of the DPP under section 72, while at the same time not infringing on the independence of the judiciary and the fundamental right to a fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

In response, Ali-Hack said that for the law to be mod-

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

Darshan Ramdhani, QC

is sufficient and admissible.

Considering this, she argued that Chunilall’s evidence is admissible, that her directive to the Magistrate was lawful, and that there is nothing unconstitutional about section 72.

ified, it would have to go to Parliament. “Excuse me!”

Justice Anderson replied, and went on to ask the DPP, “Who has the modification power under the Constitution?” The court can also do it, she responded.

In the end, the CCJ disclosed that it would engage the DPP and Bisram’s lawyer on possible modification of section 72 (1) and (2) (ii) (b) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, which allows the DPP to ask a High Court Judge to review the depositions from a PI and exercise his/her independent discretion on whether to direct a committal or not.

With the law modified this way, Justice Jamadar pointed out, the PI process will “stay within the separation of powers, it stays within the [judiciary], preserves the independence of the judiciary, and in terms of the human rights…conforms to the right to a fair hearing by an independent and impartial court.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions and Bisram’s lawyer were asked by the CCJ to file written submissions regarding the scope of the modification. The court has reserved its ruling in this matter.

Unfortunately framed

For his part, CCJ Justice Denys Barrow said the statute is unfortunately framed in a way “where it seems as though the DPP is telling the Magistrate what to do.”

He explained that the Belize legislation regarding indictable matters allows the DPP to ask the Magistrate to send the depositions to him/ her, or a High Court Judge and the Judge would then examine the depositions upon the DPP’s request to commit an accused.

“So what takes place is that the [DPP] is not overruling or imposing upon the Magistrate a new decision, but rather taking that decision which is a completed decision by the Magistrate and taking that decision for that decision to be reviewed by a different judicial body,” Justice Barrow explained.

Justice Barrow reasoned that he is of the view that the Guyanese legislation did

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

News Jamaican human rights lawyer admitted to local Bar A

39-year-old Jamaican Attorney-at-law, Malene Chagni Alleyne, who has a passion for promoting human rights and Caribbean integration, was admitted to the Guyana Bar on Tuesday by High Court Judge Damone Younge.

Her petition was presented by eminent lawyer Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, in association with lawyer Siand Dhurjon. In giving the court insight into Alleyne’s life, the petitioners told the court that she completed the two-year course for the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica.

They said that she is currently an Attorney-atlaw in good standing at the Supreme Court of Jamaica, having been admitted to practise there back in 2011.

After her admission to the Jamaican Bar, she joined the law firm of Myers, Fletcher, and Gordon, where she worked as an associate from 2011 to 2013.

Thereafter, she joined the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Washington, D.C., where she worked until 2016 as a human rights specialist, carrying out the initial evaluation of petitions against Organisation of American

Justice Damone Younge (extreme left); Attorney-at-law Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (top right), and Attorney-at-law Malene Chagni Alleyne (bottom right)

States’ (OAS) member states, trained interns and fellows, and received an award for outstanding performance in 2016.

Alleyne was involved as a researcher from July to October 2017 at the Harvard International Human Rights Clinic, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she assisted with the litigation of Mamani et al v. Sánchez de Lozada and Sánchez Berzaín.

This was an alien tort statute case against the former President of Bolivia and his Minister of Defence for their roles in the commission of crimes against humanity. She conducted legal research, prepared memoranda and legal briefs of Spanish language documents.

Persaud-McKinnon also spoke of the lawyer’s other notable involvements as a legal consultant at Avocats Sans Frontières in Canada

from July to August 2018, where she conducted a mission to Haiti to coordinate a project related to seeking justice for victims of crimes against humanity committed during the dictatorship period.

Persaud-McKinnon, who has thus far enjoyed 20 years of practice at the local Bar, indicated she would tell young lawyers the importance of reading, researching, and knowing where to find the law. She said that Alleyne has mastered this, having conducted research and prepared documents in English and French, and worked from October to December 2017 at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Washington, D.C., as a Refugee Status Determination Associate.

Currently, Alleyne is the founder and executive director of Freedom Imaginaries Limited, based in Kingston, Jamaica.

Justice Younge granted her petition to practise law in, and before, the court of Guyana. The Judge then offered Alleyne words of advice based on her decades of esteemed service.

Alleyne, in an invited statement, said: “It was an honour to be called to the Guyana Bar by Ms. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon. I was so moved by the words of encouragement from the Hon. Madam Justice Damone Younge, who also reminded me of my important duty to the bench and the bar, and to the people of Guyana.

“I look forward to working with the Guyanese

community and the wider Caribbean region to advance human rights through the law. Together, we can build

a region in which every person lives in equal dignity and harmony with nature,” she added.

Weekend night lockdown for...

“The general objective of the rehabilitation project is to restore the retractor spans by eliminating the existing structural deficiencies and reconstruct retractor span 9 so as to improve the bridge’s condition, geometrics, safety, and load-carrying capacity. The contractor is required to supply, deliver, install, test, commission, and transport, and demolish assembly with all necessary permits, ancillary and work systems, whether expressly indicated or not.”

Works are currently being done to facilitate the building of a new four-lane Demerara River bridge.

Just last month, Dutch maritime solutions provider Koole Contractors had begun a wreckage removal project in the Demerara River.

The company was hired by the Maritime A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Department (MARAD) to remove three separate wrecks.

The $787.6 million contract was signed in early September between MARAD Director General Stephen Thomas and Koole

FROM PAGE 14

Contractors representative Janneke Kuijper.

In addition to this, a small number of properties will have to be acquired by the Government to facilitate the building of the new Demerara River bridge.

This was revealed by the Public Works Ministry’s Chief Transport Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson during a tour of the site where the new bridge will land on the East Bank of Demerara at Nandy Park.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, however, has reassured that the properties would be acquired at fair market value as required by law.

Cabinet granted its no-objection for China State Construction Engineering to construct the bridge at a proposed cost of US$256.6 million.

The new bridge will offer easy connectivity to both the existing East Bank Demerara road as well as the new Diamondto-Ogle bypass on the eastern side of the river and to the existing West Bank Demerara road and the new Parika-to-Schoonord road on the western side of the river. (G2)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

19

News

Deputy Speaker calls for int’l assistance in hiring new GECOM CEO, senior functionaries

A

s the Guyana E l e c t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) seeks to shortlist the dozens of applications received for several top positions, Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman, has said he wants the electoral body to enlist the help of international partners to fill the posts of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) and other senior functionaries.

Shuman, whose LJP party has one seat in the National Assembly as part of a Joinder arrangement with two other political parties, currently holds the post of Deputy Speaker. In a letter to GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh on Thursday, the political leader said, “I write to solicit your forceful intervention as the Executive Chair of the Commission to seek external support for the hiring process for these very important positions.”

In the correspondence, which was shared with the media, he pointed to the recurring troubles of the political history of Guyana regarding the two main political parties. “…we know they are very partisan; and the nation is aware that the Price-Carter formula has outlived its usefulness, as was clearly evidenced by the most recent elections and previous elections,” he stated.

According to Shuman, the 2020 General and Regional

Deputy Speaker and LJP Leader, Lenox Shuman

Elections in Guyana saw the largest number of observer missions being present, and at least four reports were produced. He noted that in all the reports dating back to the initial elections that came out of the Price-Carter formula, there have been consistent calls for a revision of a variety of processes to ensure an impartial and unbiased Commission.

He opined that if those recommendations were once again set aside, then it would demonstrate the respect, or lack thereof, Guyana has for its international partners and the value it places on their work.

The LPJ Leader further noted that such an occurrence has the potential of painting Guyana as finding friends of convenience, instead of friends with mutual

values and respect.

“Against this backdrop, as the Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and as a Sitting Member of Parliament, I am imploring you to guide the Commission to solicit and accept support from our international partners to conduct this process to fill these important offices and restore the integrity, credibility and public’s confidence in the Commission that is so desperately needed at this juncture,” Shuman pleaded in his letter to the GECOM Chair.

He added, “If this cannot be done, there exists a public fear that status quo will once again lend itself to political manipulation, as we have seen in the past, and that will further undermine “THE” institution that was meant to fortify democracy in Guyana.”

GECOM has received over a dozen applications from persons seeking to fill the post of Chief Elections Officer alone, while there are six other top posts to fill at the electoral body.

Earlier this week, Government-nominated Commissioner Manoj Narayan told Guyana Times that the seven-member Commission is working to complete the shortlisting process by next week.

“We’re actively working on shortlist, and then moving to the interview process… because of the large

volumes of applications we have received for the various posts, it is not possible to interview all of them,” he said. “And a lot of them do not meet the minimum criteria set forward in the advertisements either. So, there will be a shortlisting process we’re actively working on, and when that process is complete, we’ll move immediately into the interview process.”

Narayan acknowledged that there is a need to fill the vacancies as expeditiously as possible. This is especially in light of the fact that Guyana was due to have Local Government Elections (LGE) this year.

GECOM’s advertisement for the post of CEO has generated significant interest, attracting local and international applications, some from as far as Texas, United States of America (USA). According to a list seen by this publication, Dr Kurt Clarke from Texas, Leslie Oliver Harrow from Jamaica, and Eugene Godfrey Petty from St Kitts were the foreign applicants. Of the three, this publication was able to ascertain from news reports in Jamaica that Harrow was up until May employed as head of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

Meanwhile, the local applicants include Vishnu Persaud, the former Deputy CEO, whose non-appoint-

GECOM Chairwoman Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh

ment for the role in 2018 triggered controversy of its own, had also applied.

Another applicant for the post was Attorneyat-Law Saphier Hussain, who was the Presidential Candidate for his National Independent Party (NIP) in the May 2015 General and Regional Elections. Former Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President, Omar Shariff, was also among the applicants.

The persons who are eventually hired will fill the vacancies caused by the removal of former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; his former Deputy, Roxanne Myers; and former Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who were on August 12 dismissed from their respective

posts at the GECOM. The embattled trio are before the courts, facing a number of electoral fraud charges for their alleged attempts to sway the results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Meanwhile, in his letter to Justice Singh, Shuman when on to say that while he has unquestionable confidence in her, the six Commissioners that sit on the Elections Commission, though highly qualified and capable as individuals and specialists in their respective fields, do not enjoy the same from him nor the public.

Currently, the seven-member Commission is comprised of the GECOM Chair and three-Commissioners each from the governing and main Opposition parties.

The PPP/C Governmentnominated Commissioners are Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shadick and Manoj Narayan, while the APNU/ AFC Opposition-nominated Commissioners are Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin.

Several international observer missions have been recommending over the years that there be no political appointments at the Elections Commission. (G8)

Technical studies underway for replicas of Hope Canal in Regions 3, 5, 6

T

he Guyana Government has already embarked on ground works for the construction of replicas of the Hope Canal in at least three other regions across Guyana, to aid with drainage and irrigation and water management in those areas.

The Hope Canal, or Northern Relief Channel, which is located at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, is a multi-component channel that allows excess water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) to be drained into the Atlantic Ocean via an eight-door sluice, so as to avoid overflowing and possible flooding.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has said the Hope Canal was instrumental in preventing massive flooding along the East Coast of Demerara during the unprecedented MayJune floods, and has announced that similar infrastructure would be constructed in other regions to curb devastating floods. These include Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

During an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the sod-turning ceremony for the Hyatt Place Georgetown hotel, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh disclosed that work has already

An aerial view of the Hope Canal

started on those projects. He noted that technical teams are currently looking at possible sites in those regions to replicate the Hope Canal.

“We’ve started the technical work already. Our engineers have been going out and are looking at locations and are thinking about design structures, so this is something that is very much on the front burner. I don’t want to attach a date on the commencement of construction, but I can tell you that the technical and engineering work has started,” the Minister indicated.

Dr Singh was at the time talking about Guyana’s vulnerabilities as a low-lying coastal state. He explained that because the country’s coast is below sea-level, elaborate drainage and irrigation infrastructure is necessary, and large canals have the potential to aid with water management.

“The low-lying nature of our coast has necessitated a very elaborate and complex system of drainage and irrigation on the coast, to manage and contain the influx of salt water, particularly into agriculture lands, and at the same time manage the accumulation of water in the highlands. As you know, we have an elaborate structure of conservancies and of dams. The East

Demerara Water Conservancy is one such example, and so the task of coastal defence and drainage and irrigation has always been a very complex and costly one for Guyana,” the Finance Minister stated.

Nevertheless, he posited that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government would continue to do all it can to invest in robust sea defence structures in order to protect the country’s vulnerable coastline, while simultaneously investing in the necessary drainage and irrigation structures that are necessary to protect the coastal zones and pursue water management objectives, including drainage and irrigation for the purposes of agriculture.

The $3.6 billion Hope Canal channel, which was conceptualised under the Bharrat Jagdeo-led Government, was constructed following the 2005 floods, when excessive rainfall compounded by a breach in the embankment had resulted in Regions Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Five (MahaicaBerbice) experiencing massive flooding, causing significant damage to agricultural and residential areas.

After several delays, the project became operational in 2016. (G8)

20

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil bounces around, settles up despite strong dollar, near US$83/barrel

O

il prices settled slightly higher on Thursday, as the market grappled with a stronger US dollar along with concern over increasing US inflation, and after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut its 2021 oil demand forecast due to high prices.

Brent crude futures settled up 25 cents to US$81.59 a barrel after falling during the session to US$81.66. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 23 cents to US$82.87, bouncing off the session low of US$80.20.

The energy complex traded higher toward the end of the session on confidence that post-pandemic demand would strengthen further in the coming months.

"Fresh highs lay ahead as the ingredients needed to place a top in this market remain elusive, namely global oil demand exceeding new production," said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois.

However, the rate at which demand returns may be dampened by higher energy prices according to the OPEC. The cartel said in a monthly report it expected oil demand to average 99.49 million barrels per day (bpd) in the fourth quarter of 2021, down 330,000 bpd from last month's forecast.

"A slowdown in the pace of recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021 is now assumed due to elevated energy prices," OPEC said in the report, also citing slow demand in China and India.

On Wednesday, US data showed consumer price inflation rose in October at an annual rate of 6.2 per cent, the fastest in 30 years, driven largely by steeper energy prices. Expectations that the data would prompt US rate hikes pushed the dollar higher and sent Brent and WTI crude down by 2.5 per cent and 3.3 per cent, respectively.

On Thursday, the dollar rose to almost 16-month highs against the euro and other currencies due to bets on interest rate hikes.

OPEC sees world consumption surpassing the 100 million bpd mark in the third quarter of 2022, three months later than forecast last month. The producer group has cited the uncertain path for demand as a primary reason why it would not increase supply to satisfy calls for more crude from the United States. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US appeal court pauses release of Trump documents to House riot probe

A

US appeal court on Thursday put off allowing congressional investigators access to former President Donald Trump's White House records relating to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and scheduled a hearing on the matter for November 30.

Trump's lawyers had asked the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to put Tuesday's lower court ruling on hold pending an appeal, which they said could be fast-tracked for a quick ruling.

The three Judges on the appeals panel randomly assigned to the case were all appointed to the Judiciary by either President Joe Biden or former President Barack

A mob of supporters of US President Donald Trump fight with members of law enforcement at a door they broke open as they storm the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021

Obama, both Democrats.

The National Archives, a federal agency that holds Trump's White House records, had been scheduled to give Congress hundreds

of pages of documents on Friday.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan's decision on Tuesday allowed the US House of Representatives

committee investigating the attack to access telephone records, visitor logs, and other White House documents that Trump wants blocked.

The committee has said it needs the requested materials to understand the role Trump may have played in fomenting the riot in which his supporters aimed to block lawmakers from certifying Biden's presidential win.

The Republican former president had argued that the materials requested by the committee were covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege that protects the confidentiality of some White House communications. (Excerpt from Reuters)

COP26: UN chief says global warming target on life support

U

nited Nations chief Antonio Guterres has told the Associated Press news agency that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C is on "life support".

He said the COP26 summit would probably not see

Governments make the pledges needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by enough.

Pressure is mounting for countries to strike a meaningful deal before the summit ends today.

But the UN Secretary

General also said hope remained "until the last moment".

Scientists say that limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C will help humanity avoid the worst climate impacts. This is compared to pre-industrial temperatures.

At Paris in 2015, world leaders pledged to try to

keep the world from warming by more than between 1.5C to 2C through sweeping greenhouse gas emissions cuts. Latest projections are for a rise of 2.7C. Guterres warned that promises to reduce emissions were meaningless while Governments continued to invest in fossil fuels.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US calls on Americans to leave Haiti amid China's Xi Jinping worsening crisis cements his status with historic resolution

Russia, Western nations row at UN over Belarus migrant crisis

R

ussia traded barbs with Western members of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday over a crisis on the border between Belarus and Poland, with Russia's deputy UN envoy suggesting his European colleagues have "masochist inclinations".

Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United States, and Britain raised the migrant crisis during a closeddoor meeting of the 15-member body.

"We condemn the orchestrated instrumentalisation of human beings, whose lives and well-being have been put in danger for political purposes by Belarus, with the objective of destabilising neighbouring countries and the European Union's external border and diverting attention away from its own increasing hu-

man rights violations," they said in a statement.

They described the Belarusian approach as "unacceptable", and accused President Alexander Lukashenko of becoming a threat to regional stability and called for a "strong international reaction" to hold Belarus accountable, pledging "to discuss further measures that we can take".

The EU says Belarus is encouraging thousands fleeing war-torn parts of the world to try to cross into Poland and other neighbouring countries to retaliate for EU sanctions.

Belarus has warned the crisis could escalate into a military confrontation, while Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia said Belarus posed a serious threat to European security. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Government officials acknowledge Haiti is facing a widespread lack of fuel, which also has threatened the country's generatordependent water supply [Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters]

A

mid a deepening political crisis and a severe fuel shortage that has impacted hospitals, schools and businesses in Haiti, the United States is urging American citizens to leave the Caribbean nation.

The US State Department warned that “widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, Internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options”.

US citizens “should carefully consider the risks of travelling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infra-

structure challenges”, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The US Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist US citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable.”

It is unclear how many US citizens currently live in Haiti, but the rare warning from the State Department comes as the Haitian Government and Police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks.

The US Department of State warning comes as 17 missionaries kidnapped last month, including 16 US citizens, still remain captive.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

As only the third leader to have issued such a report, the move establishes Xi's status as an equal to party founder Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping

T

he Chinese Communist Party has passed a "historical resolution", cementing Xi Jinping's status in political history.

The document, a summary of the party's 100year history, addresses its key achievements and future directions.

It is only the third of its kind since the founding of the party – the first was passed by Mao Zedong in 1945 and the second by Deng Xiaoping in 1981.

It was passed on Thursday at the sixth plenary session, one of China's

most important political meetings.

As only the third Chinese leader to have issued such a resolution, the move aims to establish Xi as an equal to Party founder Mao and his successor Deng.

Some observers see the resolution as Xi's latest attempt to turn back decades of decentralisation by Chinese leaders that began under Deng and continued through other leaders like Jiang Zemin – a sign that China might be moving back to a so-called cult of personality. (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

21

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Pay attention to shared expenses and responsibilities. Be open and honest about how you feel, and it will help you avoid a misunderstanding. A change will turn out more beneficial than you'd anticipated.

Put an emphasis on looking your best, staying healthy and fit and spending time with someone who brings out the best in you. Explore possibilities and consider making a positive lifestyle adjustment.

Focus on what you can do.

Research, preparation and promotion are essential if you want to get ahead. Leave nothing to chance or in someone else's hands. Relax once you've gotten things done.

Mingle, enjoy life and indulge in pastimes that pique your imagination and bring you in contact with interesting people. Take a pass on joint ventures or costly investments.

Let things unfold naturally. You cannot change the inevitable. Keep a positive mindset and focus on personal growth and acquiring information that will help you get ahead.

Unleash your creativity and see what happens. Changing your beliefs and lifestyle will get you moving in a direction that excites you. A new look or an adjustment to your living arrangements will pay off.

Explore possibilities.

Attend events that encourage networking and connecting to people who share your interests. Learn from your mistakes to avoid making more of them.

Don't waste time or money.

Maintain a simple lifestyle and refuse to get involved in the drama that goes on around you. Stop wasting time and start doing what you love to do.

Now's the time to go for it!

Sharing too much with SAGITTARIUS others will end up costing you.

(Nov. 23Take care of your responsibilDec. 21) ities before you move on to recreational activities. A change of plans will cause an emotional tiff.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Tidy up unfinished business. The freedom to follow your heart and do what makes you happy is priceless. Self-improvement and romance are favored and will encourage you to make a bold move.

Listen carefully, plan precisely and leave nothing to chance. Take on essential tasks, and handle matters personally to avoid setbacks and opposition. Don't be afraid to do things by yourself.

Pay attention to detail and budget. If you have your (Feb. 20finger on the pulse, you'll March 20) know what's required to get what you want. Change begins with you, so get cracking.

PISCES

22

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

ICC T20I World Cup semi-final…

Wade, Stoinis tee off at the close to SCOREBOARD put Australia in final F

or the second night in a row, the second tournament favourites Pakistan this time - paid the price for conservative batting in the first innings, and were consumed by the curse of the defence.

They looked in much more control than England did in Abu Dhabi, with Australia needing 62 off the last five with just five wickets in hand. They had two batters who had barely batted in the tournament, but Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis got the better of possibly the best attack of the tournament with clean hitting.

It will be tempting to paint Hasan Ali as the villain, since his 18th over went for 15, and he dropped Wade in the 19th, before that batsman unfurled a hat-trick of sixes, but the match was lost when Pakistan scored just 71 in the first 10 overs on arguably the best batting track Dubai has rolled out all tournament.

They somehow got to 176, thanks to Fakhar Zaman's 32-ball 55. Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan then kept Pakistan's noses ahead.

Shadab's 4 for 26 are the best figures in a T20 World Cup semi-final, but Stoinis and Wade had the final say.

Babar, Rizwan get stuck Mohammad Rizwan was in the hospital till late Wednesday night, getting treated for a flu-like illness.

He cleared the fitness test on match day, and there was no way Pakistan were splitting a successful opening partnership.

Asked to bat first, the questions for them were: Do you go for a par score and ask your bowling to bail you out, or do you try to provide them some cushion?

Rizwan attacked almost everything. His approach was clear the moment Pakistan saw what a belter the pitch was. Babar Azam, though, failed to help his partner out. Together, they let Australia take out their fifth bowler's quota for just 31 runs within the first 10 overs. Glenn Maxwell bowled an over to two righthand batters, and neither made any attempt to score a boundary. When Babar finally slogged Adam Zampa to be caught at long-on, Pakistan were 71 for 1, and had once again left themselves needing 120 off the last 10.

At what is considered the best time to bat in T20s, Babar scored at 114.7 per 100 balls.

No-balls help Pakistan out Backloading their best

bowlers, Australia managed to put Rizwan and Zaman under immense pressure.

Mitchell Starc conceded just three off the 13th. Zampa gave five in the 16th. Rizwan and Fakhar kept trying to hit, but nothing came off.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, though, ended up bowling two high full tosses which got deposited - with one of the free hits going for a six too. This was just the momentum Pakistan needed, reaching 158 for 2 in 18 overs.

good length, high pace, slight variations; nor did the pitch do much for him. It is

By the time Shadab was done, Australia needed 74 off the last seven overs.

The joy of Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade knew no bounds

PAKISTAN INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Mohammad Rizwan †c Smith b Starc 67 Babar Azam (c) c Warner b Zampa 39 Fakhar Zaman not out 55 Asif Ali c Smith b Cummins 0 Shoaib Malik b Starc 1 Mohammad Hafeez not out 1 Extras (b 5, lb 1, nb 2, w 5) 13 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.79) 176/4 Did not bat: Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Babar Azam, 9.6 ov), 2-143 (Mohammad Rizwan, 17.2 ov), 3-158 (Asif Ali, 18.1 ov), 4-162 (Shoaib Malik, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 4-0-38-2 Josh Hazlewood 4-0-49-0 Glenn Maxwell 3-0-20-0 Pat Cummins 4-0-30-1 Adam Zampa 4-0-22-1 Mitchell Marsh 1-0-11-0

Matthew Wade scooped Shaheen Shah Afridi for two sixes at the close

Cummins sucks momentum out Cummins, though, bowled a superb 19th over, with slower ones into the pitch, conceding just three runs and also taking out Asif Ali. The template was set for Starc in the 20th over, which gave him Shoaib Malik's wicket and also just a single to Zaman.

However, Starc went back to attempting yorkers in the end, and conceded two sixes.

Boom-boom Afridi First ball to a right-hand batter, and Afridi ripped off the front pad of Aaron Finch.

It was plumb. Second ball to a right-hand batter, Mitch Marsh had his toe taken off, only to survive an lbw on an umpire's call. Australia 1 for 1 in 1.

Warner sets up the chase Given the kind of finish, it is easy to forget the man who set up the chase. David Warner was in sublime touch, hitting three sixes in his 30-ball 49, one of them was an incredibly powerful hit off a ball almost rolling along the ground. He looked nothing like a batter who had just been left out by his IPL side, and Pakistan needed to get him out if they were hoping to compete.

Shadab keeps Pakistan in Shadab actually did nothing extraordinary. He bowled like he usually does:

just that the batters kept attacking him, and they kept mis-hitting.

Except for Warner, who It was nothing short of heartbreak for Pakistan walked when he The Stoinis-Wade finale thought he had nicked a slidAustralia might have er that he actually hadn't, Shadab had little agency lost four extra wickets than over his other three wickets. Pakistan at this stage because Marsh and Steven Smith of the risks they took, but they slogged him to deep catch- had 12 extra runs. Those 12 exing fielders, and Maxwell tra runs proved to be the differswitch-hit for the same re- ence in the end, as Stoinis and Wade didn't panic, and finsult.

ished the game off with one full over to spare, roughly worth 12 runs.

It wasn't Hasan's night, though. With 62 required in five overs, he bowled a no-ball in the 16th over to give away 12. Then he went for 15 in the 18th, which can happen to any

Dover disappointed, but pleased with U20s’ efforts

G

uyana’s under-20 men’s football team the Junior Jaguars suffered a disheartening loss on Wednesday night to Nicaragua during the CONCACAF Under-20 Qualifiers.

To add insult to injury, the 5-0 loss means the Junior Jaguars would be knocked out of contention for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships.

The encounter with Nicaragua was favourable in the first half of the match, with the Nicaraguans being able to connect with the back of the net only once; but the second half left much to be desired from the Guyanese youngsters, as Nicaragua added another four goals to their tally in those 45 minutes.

Reviewing the performance on Wednesday night following

Wayne Dover

the game, Head Coach Wayne Dover admitted it was disappointing to miss out on the victory.

“Yesterday’s loss is a disappointment. We prepare and we come to this game with the intention to win and qualify.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results we sought,” Dover said.

Regarding the performance of the team, Dover commended the Guyanese youths on the fight they put up. The Head Coach shared, “And, you know, the lads them, all I could say is, ‘Well done! You gave a splendid effort, a 110% effort, to get to this stage’. Unfortunately, they didn’t cross the line, but we go again from here. So, ‘Well done to you, lads’.”

The CONCACAF Qualifiers were the gateway tournament not only to the CONCACAF Championships, but also the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2023 and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS (TARGET: 177 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) David Warner c †Mohammad Rizwan b Shadab Khan 49 Aaron Finch (c) lbw b Shaheen Shah Afridi 0 Mitchell Marsh c Asif Ali b Shadab Khan 28 Steven Smith c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 5 Glenn Maxwell c Haris Rauf b Shadab Khan 7 Marcus Stoinis not out 40 Matthew Wade † not out 41 Extras (lb 2, nb 3, w 2) 7 TOTAL (19 Ov, RR: 9.31) 177/5 Did not bat: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Aaron Finch, 0.3 ov), 2-52 (Mitchell Marsh, 6.2 ov), 3-77 (Steven Smith, 8.3 ov), 4-89 (David Warner, 10.1 ov), 5-96 (Glenn Maxwell, 12.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-35-1 Imad Wasim 3-0-25-0 Haris Rauf 3-0-32-0 Hasan Ali 4-0-44-0 Shadab Khan 4-0-26-4 Mohammad Hafeez 1-0-13-0

bowler when batters are swinging for the hills. In the 19th over, with 20 required off 10, Hasan over-ran a catch in the deep, possibly the first big error from Pakistan in the field.

What should have been 20 off nine with one bowler in was now 18 off nine. Wade then unleashed his pace hitting, pouncing on the small errors Afridi made in length. Two of the sixes were ramps, using Afridi's high pace to his advantage. Rauf ended up not bowling 25% of his quota because Hasan was given the 18th.

That was not the first mistake Babar made on the night.

(ESPNcricinfo)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

West Indies Women seal ODI series after Matthews’ heroics

A

ll-rounder Hayley Matthews produced a stellar performance with bat and ball to spearhead West Indies women’s 37-run win in the low-scoring second ODI

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES WOMEN Deandra Dottin run out (Javeria Khan) 34 Rashada Williams c Javeria Khan b Fatima Sana 14 Kyshona Knight c †Muneeba Ali b Fatima Sana 0 Stafanie Taylor (c) c Fatima Sana b Nashra Sandhu 23 Hayley Matthews c †Muneeba Ali b Sadia Iqbal 26 Shemaine Campbelle †not out 23 Kycia Knight retired hurt 19 Chinelle Henry b Omaima Sohail 1 Anisa Mohammed c †Muneeba Ali b Anam Amin 2 Shamilia Connell c Diana Baig b Omaima Sohail 2 Shakera Selman lbw b Anam Amin 0 Extras (lb 1, w 8) 9 TOTAL (45.4 Ov, RR: 3.35) 153 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Rashada Williams, 11.1 ov), 2-31 (Kyshona Knight, 11.4 ov), 3-64 (Deandra Dottin, 19.3 ov), 4-97 (Stafanie Taylor, 28.5 ov), 5-114 (Hayley Matthews, 33.1 ov), 6-143 (Chinelle Henry, 40.1 ov), 7-147 (Anisa Mohammed, 41.5 ov), 8-152 (Shamilia Connell, 44.5 ov), 9-153 (Shakera Selman, 45.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Anam Amin 9.4-1-21-2 Diana Baig 4-0-19-0 Fatima Sana 4-1-19-2 Nashra Sandhu 10-1-27-1 Sadia Iqbal 10-0-41-1 Omaima Sohail 8-0-25-2

PAKISTAN WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 154 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Muneeba Ali † c †Campbelle b Selman 17 Sidra Ameen lbw b Matthews 11 Javeria Khan (c) run out (Henry) 24 Omaima Sohail b Connell 27 Iram Javed c Selman b Matthews 4 Aliya Riaz c sub (AA Alleyne) b Mohammed 3 Fatima Sana b Matthews 17 Diana Baig c sub (AA Alleyne b Matthews 1 Nashra Sandhu b Connell 0 Sadia Iqbal not out 1 Anam Amin b Connell 0 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 7) 11 TOTAL (39.2 Ov, RR: 2.94) 116 Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Muneeba Ali, 12.5 ov), 2-39 (Sidra Ameen, 17.3 ov), 3-67 (Javeria Khan, 24.2 ov), 4-75 (Iram Javed, 25.6 ov), 5-80 (Aliya Riaz, 28.1 ov), 6-111 (Fatima Sana, 36.1 ov), 7-113 (Omaima Sohail, 37.1 ov), 8-113 (Nashra Sandhu, 37.3 ov), 9-113 (Diana Baig, 38.1 ov), 10-116 (Anam Amin, 39.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shamilia Connell 9.2-2-18-3 Shakera Selman 7-0-22-1 Chinelle Henry 6-0-11-0 Hayley Matthews 9-2-26-4 Anisa Mohammed 6-0-25-1 Stafanie Taylor 2-0-11-0

GFF to continue vaccine drive this weekend

I

n the coming weeks, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is expected to ramp up its vaccination drive as time draws near to a packed year-end calendar.

As such, there will be a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive on Saturday, as the football community continues to join forces with national health authorities to protect players, match officials, coaches, staff, and fans in the run-up to the hotly-anticipated yearend football bonanza.

The GFF-Kashif & Shanghai Super-16 Cup, the GFF Women’s Super-16 Cup, and the GFF Futsal Championship Cup are the three tournaments that the Federation has slated for its COVID-secure “return to play” schedule to mark the resumption of senior competitive football during the Christmas holiday season.

All competition participants and fans would be required to show official proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to access all tournament venues.

On Saturday, November 13, players, match officials, coaches, staff and fans will be able to attend the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre vaccination sites in Berbice, Linden, and on the West Coast of Demerara. Expansion of the vaccination programme, according to the GFF, builds on clinics held last weekend at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank

Demerara, and in Linden.

GFF President, Wayne Forde, said about the initiative, “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the public, the football community, the Government of Guyana, and our frontline health workers for the incredible support they have shown for this crucial vaccination campaign so far.

“Everyone who wants to take part in our year-end festival of football, including players, match officials, staff, coaches, fans and vendors, must be able to show proof of vaccination to access these competitions,” Forde added.

Concluding, he said, “As such, we kindly urge our entire community to get vaccinated, both to protect our loved ones and to help us safely deliver a memorable return to play for senior men’s and women’s football during this end-of-theyear celebration.”

The locations for the COVID-19 Vaccination Drive are: For the Berbice Football Association: New Amsterdam Scotts School Ground - 10am to 3pm Corriverton Springlands FACT Pavement: 10am to 3pm West Coast Demerara Football Association, No. 5 Village No. 5 Ground, from 10am to 3pm.

Upper Demerara Football Association, Linden Egbert Benjamin Exhibition and Conference Centre - 9am to 3pm

against Pakistan at the National Stadium at Karachi on Thursday.

The victory gave West Indies an unassailable two-nil lead in the three-match series, with the third and final match scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.

The visitors won the first match by 45 runs on Monday.

Chasing a 154-run target, Pakistan were bowled out for 116 in 39.2 overs. Omaima Sohail (27) and captain Javeria Khan (24) were the only batters to post a 20-plus score as the West Indies bowlers maintained a stranglehold on the scoring, besides chipping in with wickets at regular intervals.

Shamilia Connell took three wickets for 18 runs in 9.2 overs, and Shakera Selman and Anisa Mohammad each took a wicket.

Earlier, West Indies were West Indies Women celebrating the win bowled out for 153 in 45.4 overs.

Pakistan bowlers and fielders had made regular inroads after dismissing Dottin, Fatima a brilliant outing after captain Javeria Khan won the toss being ably supported by Anam Amin and Omaima Sohail, and opted to bowl first. Pacer Fatima Sana, who took five who each took two wickets as they conceded 21 and 25 runs wickets in the previous match, took two wickets in one over respectively. to peg the visitors back in the 12th over.

Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal each took a wicket.

Pakistan got the prized wicket of first-match centurion Dottin was the top-scorer for West Indies, Hayley Matthews Deandra Dottin (34) via a run out with the score at 64 in the contributed 26, while Shemaine Campbelle scored an un20th over, and beaten 23. Captain Stafanie Taylor scored 23 off 46 balls.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

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

Coach Simmons says Cornwall is team’s number one spinner

By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has declared that off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall is the number one spinner in the West Indies Test team currently in Sri Lanka.

The Kraigg Brathwaiteled West Indies Test side will battle their Sri Lanka counterparts from November 21 in the first of two Tests in Galle.

Addressing the media in a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Coach Simmons previewed the Test series and shared his assessment of some of the players in the squad.

While Roston Chase is in the squad for his steady batting in the middle-order, he is expected to play a role with his off-spin; but according to Simmons, that is left to be seen.

"We have a lot of spinners. So far, on away tours, Rahkeem Cornwall has been the number one spinner. In Bangladesh, we saw at the start of the year… We (will) look at the main spinners, and I would suppose that Rahkeem will be your first (choice) spin-

ner," the West Indies Head Coach has said.

In addition to Chase and Cornwall, who are both rightarm off-spinners, the West Indies have Jomel Warrican and Veerasammy Permaul in the mix.

A look at the spinners in the squad

Cornwall, who played in eight Test matches, has 32 wickets, with two five-wicket hauls to his name, taken at an average of 35-40. His best bowling figure is 7-75.

Cornwall has also done well at the regional level, picking up 329 first-class wickets in 70 matches.

Jomel Warrican has played 11 Test matches and taken 32 wickets at 37.15, with a best bowling figure of 4-62.

In Warrican's 70 first- Veerasammy Permaul class matches, he has taken 8-60. He also has taken five-for 271 wickets with a best bowl- wickets on three occasions. ing figure of 8-34.

Veerasammy Permaul, Warrican's fellow who last played a Test in June Barbadian Roston Chase has 2015, played six Tests and has played in 41 Tests, mostly as taken 18 wickets at an average a batting all-rounder, and has of 43.77. His best bowling figpicked up 71 wickets at 43.94, ure is 3-32. with a best bowling figure of Permaul has since domi-

ICC T20I World Cup semi-final…

Pg 22

Wade, Stoinis tee off at the close to put Australia in final

Rahkeem Cornwall Jomel Warrican

Coach Phil Simmons

nated regional cricket, his tally including 536 first-class wickets in 121 matches.

With Sri Lanka equipped with spinners, West Indies

would be looking to rotate the strike and bring that Bangladesh series win mentality to this series.

Coach Simmons is keen on assessing the players and the pitches before he and the captain make a decision in terms of selecting the starting XI. The two Test matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium, and the men in maroon will have a four-day warm-up match in Colombo from November 14 to 17. The Tests will follow from November 21 to 25, and from November 29 to December 3.

The series is the second of six series, three at home and three away, that West Indies will play in the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championships.

WEST INDIES’ FULL SQUAD FOR SRI LANKA TESTS: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jeremy Solozano and Jomel Warrican.

West Indies Women seal ODI series after Matthews’ heroics Pg 23

Player of the match, Hayley Matthews

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