Guyana Times - Friday November 5, 2021

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4822

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Investing in sustainable climate action means securing economic future for Guyana – acting President …urges regional leaders to prioritise disaster risk reduction policies Page 3

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Doctor’s murder

Police hunting P close friend 15 …as dead man’s vehicle found abandoned on WBD

Child rapist appealing 15year prison sentence P11

$6M romance scam

Nigerian man found guilty of conning Guyanese pensioner P8

As Guyana participated with the rest of the world in celebrating the Festival of Lights, Guyanese joined in the ceremonial lighting of diyas. In photo, these children partake in the Diwali celebrations by lighting diyas (Abel Harris photos)

PNCR leadership race

Page 11

Van West-Charles demands Amna Ally recuse herself from party elections

…“Van West-Charles did not employ me” – General Secretary

Targeted cash transfers from oil & gas money may be pursued – Vice President

Page 7

…says important for Govt to invest in non-oil industries

Foreigners nabbed as illegal aircraft lands in Region 8 Page 5

Centenarian among 2 COVID-19 deaths, 129 new cases recorded Page 10

Local legal committee set up to P7 spearhead work on Local Content Bill

PAC will P9 interrogate David Patterson for “glaring infractions” – AG …reminds Committee has power to recommend criminal charges

First pill to treat COVID gets P19 approval in UK

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, November 5 – 03:30h-05:00h and Saturday, November 6 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, November 5 – 16:30h-18:00h and Saturday, November 6 – 05:00h-06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East SouthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 16:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.97 metres.

Low Tide: 10:21h and 22:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.39 metre and 0.22 metre.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

03 06 11

13 15 23

FREE TICKET

24 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

07 12 13 14 18 LUCKY 3

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9

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DRAW DE LINE

06 09 13 14 16 17 20 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

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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

$81.71/barrel

+1.45

Rough Rice

$241.74/ton

-0.17

London Sugar

$506.30/ton

-0.57

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1792.20

$1793.20

Low/High Change

$1770.10 +0.40

$1800.00 +0.02%

Investing in sustainable climate action means securing economic future for Guyana – acting President

…urges regional leaders to prioritise disaster risk reduction policies

G

uyana is aware that securing its economic future means investing in sustainable climate action, acting President, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips told the Seventh Regional Platform Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Americas and the Caribbean on Thursday.

Prime Minister Phillips, who is performing the functions of President, said that Governments within the Region must place DRR policies as national priorities and mainstream disaster risk management into all aspects of their countries’ developmental efforts.

“Over just a few months, our Region has been faced with an earthquake which has devastated our brothers and sisters in Haiti, volcanic eruption which has created complex emergency response challenges for St Vincent and the Grenadines and surrounding islands, and persistent floods, which have had severe impact on our productive sector in Guyana, Suriname and other parts of South, Central America and the Caribbean... our assignment now is to get ahead of the curve,” he noted.

The acting Head of State highlighted Guyana’s efforts in Government’s drive to make the necessary changes.

“A few days ago, Guyana launched our Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.

A strategy that is intended to map Guyana’s new growth trajectory, guiding the management of our rich natural resources in line with Sustainable Development Goals. This strategy is supported by our Comprehensive Disaster Management Country Work Programme 2021-2025, an important tool to guide our country’s continued and increasing investments in DRR. Together

Acting President, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips addressing the Seventh Regional Platform Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Americas and the Caribbean

these frameworks form the undercurrent of our development thrust,” Phillips is quoted as saying by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Guyana, he noted, has ongoing major investments to strengthen sea defence infrastructure in vulnerable coastal communities. “There’s also extensive enhancement of road networks to support sustainable development with a view of enhanced evacuation planning. Rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems to reduce flood risk is also ongoing,” Phillips said.

The Seventh Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean was aimed at raising awareness about the increasing challenges faced

by Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) with regard to enhanced natural disasters stemming from the effects of climate change.

The four-day event, which concluded today, was themed “Building Resilient Economies in the Americas and the Caribbean”.

LCDS initiative

Launched

virtually

on

Thursday by President Dr Irfaan Ali, Guyana’s LCDS 2030 outlines Government’s plans for clean energy and a suite of low-carbon development opportunities that will drive the future low- carbon development of the country.

The LCDS initiative was the brainchild of former President and now Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and was launched in 2009 as the first low carbon development strategy from a developing country.

According to President Ali, while the scale of vision captured 12 years ago remains valid today, a lot has happened since then hence the concept of the initiative has been refashioned to reflect the current-day context of low-carbon development.

A key feature of LCDS 2030 is the transformation of Guyana’s energy landscape with the aim of ensuring that the nation is fully powered by affordable and non-polluting power in the next decade.

The Head of State posited that the country’s high cost of electricity, which is 97 per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels, would have been coun-

tered with the completion of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) – the flagship initiative under Jagdeo’s LCDS. President Ali said on Thursday that his government would resume this project as part of its clean energy transition – a three-phase initiative under LCDS 2030.

The first phase covers 20222027, during which there is anticipated to be a near tripling of electricity demand in the country. This, the President noted, will be met through a combination of natural gas from offshore oil production operations and the AFHP to boost the main national grid.

Added to this will be a major expansion of solar power with batteries on the rural networks.

In 2022, work will start on the implementation of Guyana’s Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan, which was produced using revenues received under the Guyana-Norway partnership.

Work will re-start to implement the strategy and upgrade sea defences, irrigation systems, build agriculture systems that are more resilient and address the threat to public health from climate change,” the President added.

Meanwhile, as Government outlines its transformation vision under LCDS 2030, the 110-page document has been made public and will undergo a four-month consultation to get feedback from stakeholders countrywide. A Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee will be reconstituted to carry out these discussions before the initiative receives final approval.

During this time, however, President Ali reassured citizens that no agreements would be entered into, before LCDS 2030 is finalised.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 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

Proliferation of firecrackers

E

very year, communities and villages are inundated with persons throwing firecrackers during Diwali and Christmas. For years prior to very strict enforcement, it had almost become customary for the Alexander Village Mandir to come under attack from strangers, who seemed to have made it their task to make the lives of the villagers miserable each year on Diwali Day. In the past, persons had assembled in the village and lit squibs and other types of dangerous firecrackers, which were then tossed towards the mandir, disrupting activities and doing damage.

Thankfully, this is a thing of the past, and mandir members can now celebrate Diwali peacefully and without fear.

These little devices are no different from bombs. In the past, persons have paid the price for not heeding warnings to desist from playing with these explosives. Persons were left maimed, blind, and without limbs, among other irreparable harm, when the firecrackers exploded in their faces. Sadly, even toddlers and children have suffered severe burns from either playing with firecrackers or coming into contact with those that were lit by other persons. Yet, despite these many disasters, and in the face of repeated warnings, Guyanese still play with these explosives.

A ban was imposed on all fireworks, and persons caught selling the device could face fines and jail time, as could persons caught playing with the items. But, if this year has been anything to go by, the Police have been incredibly weak in clamping down on this practice and in preventing the banned products from entering into the country.

This year’s Diwali celebrations were again greeted by an overwhelming number of dangerous firecrackers popping around the country. The excessive noise suggests that very little – if anything at all – was done to ensure that the banned products have been kept off the market. Too many citizens had banned firecrackers in their possession on Diwali Day; and although the Alexander Village Mandir was spared the harassment, various communities were not so fortunate.

In some areas, young people assembled on the road, lit these explosives, and tossed them, being unconcerned about the dangers in which they were placing innocent people, and the damage they could have done. Motorists are often times aggravated about this.

The wide use of firecrackers during Diwali and Christmas suggests that the products were easily available on the market, and the Police did not make it their duty to crack down on their illegal importation and sale.

The Police could say that tracking down illegal products and finding every seller of banned firecrackers in every nook and cranny in the country is difficult, perhaps impossible, to do; but that is not what we had in mind.

Our contention is that, when it comes to smuggling, law enforcers are still not on top of the situation. If they were, this year’s Diwali celebrations would have been peaceful, or only a small number of firecrackers would have been set alight.

In previous years, when the Police targeted sellers of firecrackers in the lead-up to Diwali and Christmas celebrations, there was a major difference.

Playing with firecrackers is no longer fun. One of the major concerns about the practice is that citizens cannot distinguish between the sound of a firecracker popping and a gun being fired. With the proliferation of firecrackers during these holidays, gun-toting bandits would have an easy time escaping after committing their acts. So, if the Police want to prevent more serious crimes from happening, they might want to start paying attention to issues of seemingly lesser consequence, but which in truth hold many dangers.

This beautiful Rangoli was on display at a residence in Rahaman’s Park, Houston, East Bank Demerara on Thursday evening (Abel Harris photo)

Stop the racial masquerading and support Guyana’s national development

Dear Editor, As I sit here to pen this letter on the above subject, several questions arise through my mind, such as: what have the Opposition APNU (PNC) done in the past five years that took the present PPP Government less than two years in office to outclass them when it comes to national development?

Is it that the previous Government had too many pensioners as Ministers and top Government officials, who had outlived their contributions to Guyana’s national development, and could hardly think positively, but just for their benefits? Is it that the then Government was working through racial lines? Is it that the then Government had as a President a leader who lacked the vision in taking Guyana forward? Is it that they had no clue as to what “national development” means? Is it that they lacked vision to see positive projects and benefits for Guyana and all Guyanese?

Is it that they were not listening to the people on the ground? Is it that they had personal agendas to become rich and leave the poor to suffer? Is it that they had lots of in-fighting and cussing as to where to go and what to do for Guyanese?

After all those questions, I came to a conclusion that the only way to answer those questions and in one word is, “YES, YES, YES”.

Mind you, not a Charrandas Persaud YES, YES, YES. Several other questions arise also, but I am not going to mention all, only a few that need detailed answers, and they are: Did the previous APNU (PNC) Government care about the poor man’s livelihood?

And if they did, what have they done to better the standard of living of the poor man? Did the previous Government care about workers and their families’ welfare? And if they did, why would they put almost 3000 sugar workers out of jobs, and their families on the breadline? (Remember those very 3000 workers are the ones that made the AFC win the elections for APNU (PNC) in 2015). Did the previous Government know how to set a developmental agenda that would benefit all Guyanese?

The answer to the above few questions is straightforward, and that is: they had no “vision” when it came to national development, and they did not care for the people at all, because they forgot where they came from.

As the saying goes, “yuh can’t give a donkey mouth organ to blow”.

It was the former PM – who, by the way, betrayed the then AFC and became PM candidate – who always said to the nation, “You cannot live a Cadillac lifestyle in a donkey cart economy”. That is what was happening under the previous Government: they were living a Cadillac lifestyle in the donkey cart economy that they had created.

Moses Nagamootoo ensured that he brought Guyana and Guyanese down to their knees with the PNC because of his personal selfish aims and agenda. I want him to doubt that he never had secret meetings with the PNC prior to the 2015 elections, and also before the 2020 elections, so that he would remain as PM candidate.

That is why David Granger could have held out that he won’t name a

PM candidate until after he won the elections, and say that he is working with the Constitution; but that is the same Granger who breached the same Constitution and made Patterson Chairman of GECOM. There is a saying, “day fuh dag and night for labba”.

Anyway, let me say that since this PPP Government took office, Guyana is on the boom towards national development; and moreover, the people have benefited tremendously since this administration took office.

I am not saying that the previous Government did not do any developmental projects, it would be shameful of me if I did say that. But at what cost was it done, etc?

Tell you what, I also know and heard the then Opposition openly mention and thank the then Government for certain projects and programmes.

It’s shameful that since this Government took office, the APNU (PNC) never saw any national developmental projects and programmes that happen in Guyana where the people benefited, although Granger publicly collected his COVID-19 cash grant.

It tells me that the Opposition APNU (PNC) do not know what national development means, and how it is being done. It tells me that their talk show puppets are all about negativity, and not about the positives happening in Guyana under this Government.

The Opposition APNU (PNC) are masquerading under the race umbrella to gain attention. They have nothing positive to say to us, the Guyanese people.

I am calling on the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Joseph Harmon MP, to pull in all of his MPs and charge them for mental fitness, because they

are mentally lazy when it comes to educating the people about the present positives in national development and programmes happening under this PPP Government.

I can recall many of those very MPs, including Granger, saying they won’t acknowledge Irfaan Ali as President, but yet called the gentleman President Irfaan Ali, that’s what mental laziness is, eh.

I am calling on the members of the Opposition to open your eyes and hearts and see the positives that are happening in Guyana, and come boldly forward and tell the PPP Government that you are willing to be part and parcel of this positive national developmental agenda and programmes whereby all Guyanese are benefiting.

On a serious note, the APNU (PNC), at present as an Opposition, make no sense, because nothing edifying is being said by any of them.

Put politics aside and put Guyana first, and I am sure that all in the Opposition are now enjoying the good life under this Government, just as they had promised they would do for the people. Don’t only enjoy the good life, but join in helping to ensure that more of that good life continues by offering a helping hand (I am sure the Government would offer a stipend to you guys).

APNU (PNC), as an Opposition, this is the time to stop your racial masquerading and join the leaders in the PPP Government in taking Guyana positively forward.

APNU (PNC), stop the racial masquerading and support Guyana’s national development.

Regards, Abel Seetaram

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

5

News

Foreigners nabbed as illegal aircraft lands in Region 8 A foreign pilot and his co-pilot have been detained in Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) after they landed at an airstrip in the area.

Reports are that the men – a Colombian and a Venezuelan – landed about 18:00h in a twin-en-

gine Piper Seneca plane, a source said. Following their detention at the Mahdia Police Station, several personal items, along with a Global Positioning System (GPS), were seized

by Police.

On June 14, about 20:15h an aircraft was

seen circling the Bissaruni trail (12 miles east of Kwakwani), Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and subsequently landed, but when it was found, it was completely burnt.

Examinations identified no illicit drugs or burnt bodies on board.

Meanwhile, another aircraft was seen flying over Southern Guyana also on June 14. Attempts were made by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to intercept it, but the aircraft managed to land in Kaaimangrasie,

Suriname.

Surinamese officials were alerted and managed to arrive on site and subsequently seized more than 400 kilos of cocaine.

In May, Guyanese authorities intercepted an aircraft carrying 450 kilos of cocaine near the

Indigenous village of Orealla. The two occupants of the aircraft claimed to be on their way to Suriname to deliver a shipment of magnesium. However, the cargo turned out to be cocaine. Both men have since been charged in Guyana for narco-trafficking.

Cancerous tumour called crime

Dear Editor, The shooting death of young bandit Sydel Bourne marks our country’s continuing struggle as we grapple with this cancerous tumour called crime.

At the present moment, law enforcement seems to be on top of the crime situation; however, ever so often, the criminals get a leeway, which drives fear and foreboding in society.

We must bring crime under control, and all of us have to be on our guard as we move forward in crime fighting.

I have viewed the many comments posted on

Facebook. Many were very callous and gruesome. You must understand why these comments are so cold, because too many persons out there have had friends and family members who have either been robbed, maimed, or even killed by these same bandits.

Yours truly has had a life-threatening experience with a group of them some years ago.

Nevertheless, I would be a bit more modest in my response, in that I do not rejoice, neither am I sad, at his passing. However, I am concerned, very much concerned, at the loss of

a young life, which could have otherwise been an ambitious and productive one.

It is certainly a waste of human resources when you witness a Sydel Bourne dead. At age 16, he should have been meaningfully engaged in online classes at home as he prepared for a career, or he could have even engaged in a sporting venture befitting a productive life. But here he is going, down the path of ruin and eventual death.

Several factors are on display here when you study this unfortunate episode; the first is bad parenting. When you study

the background history of most of these hotspot inner city youths, the sad reality is that most of them had no real guidance at home.

Those who should have led them along the straight and narrow were actually facilitators and enablers in this vicious crime ring.

I am pretty sure this was not his first incident along this road of crime, but sadly, this time it was his pitiful last.

My final point is directed at the political directors in Guyana today; and my point is this: stop the foolishness of politicising crime or using it as campaign

Dear Editor, In an article published in Guyana Times on October 3, 2021 under the caption, “PNC’S CONTEMPT FOR INDIANS”, the writer, Mr. Ravi Dev, one of my critics, was exploring the attitudes of certain public figures in issues of race and stereotypes. Of course, he appeared to be unaware of his own attitudes in these areas. I hope to examine some of his one-sided findings in another letter.

For me, a high point of Ravi Dev’s article was his reference to me as the person responsible for describing the PPP in the early sixties as a “coolie-rice government”. The quotes he used suggested to me that he had found an arti-

cle or a speech by me using the words quoted. By habit, I first examined myself in a quick memory review to find whether, in my long years of public activity, I had ever sunk so low.

I took the private decision that I would ask the author to make public the source of his discovery about my disrespect for people of a certain race. I also decided privately that if my critic could present the evidence, I would have to put myself on record with a public apology.

Before starting this letter, I engaged one of my helpers to use a search engine to find whether there was any report in cyber space of my use of the offensive words my critic

claimed came from me. I was fairly certain that I had never written or uttered such words. In a few minutes, however, my friend informed me that his search was rewarded.

He had found the source of my critic’s information. It was an article written in 2010 by the critic himself, in which he had concluded in his own mind, without quotes, that I was one of the persons in the PNC responsible for describing the PPP as a “coolie-rice government”.

In short, on October 3, 2021, Mr. Ravi Dev wrote pretending that he had found a source allowing him to claim that I conceived and used the phrase “coolie-rice government”.

He had indeed found a source, but the source was his own malicious invention, first published by him in the Kaieteur News under the caption “Kwayana’s contribution”.

In my opinion, what my critic did is an example of abuse of power, and, at the same time, a deliberate attempt to deceive his trusting readers.

I am not attempting to revise any opinion that I may have expressed about the PPP’s economic policies. I resent the practice of placing falsely provocative and disrespectful words in the mouth of a person seen as an enemy.

rhetoric; it is not doing our nation’s youth any good.

Stop lending a sympathetic ear to criminals and criminal activity. Statements like “they are killing Black Youth” and other such nonsensical statements do not help; rather, they embolden the young who might be criminally inclined. To glorify crime is a mortal sin, and I say this lawlessness must stop now!

How could these people sleep at night when you witness the death of another of our nation’s youth while in pursuit of a crime?

Is this a commendable act?

It seems so when you examine their logic for tacitly supporting crime. Guyana can ill afford the burden of criminals roaming free, a traumatised population, and politicians who facilitate such activities. This is subversive behaviour to the maximum, and it must be rooted out of modern society.

Guyana must move forward as an orderly, law-abiding, free state.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Criticism goes Never written or uttered such words with the territory

Yours respectfully, Eusi Kwayana

Response to Eusi Kwayana Dear Editor, I was asked by you to respond to the letter above by Mr Eusi Kwayana.

The objected-to phrase “coolie rice government” was in a section of my article that noted: “He (Burnham) coalesced his PPP(Burnham) with the League of Coloured People’s political vehicle, the United Democratic Party (UDP), along with Sydney King (later Eusi Kwayana), who was to dub the subsequent PPP government as a “Coolie-rice government”. Burnham had been chastised by the Coloured elite when he was in the PPP with Jagan as “betraying his own” for “coolies”, as per Ashton Chase in his book “Guyana, A Nation in Transit: Burnham’s Role”.

First, I want to point out that in addition to indicating words actually spoken by someone, quotation marks are often used with terms used in an

unusual way, or other expressions that vary from standard usage. The term “coolie rice government” was colloquially used to describe the PPP in the run-up to the 1961 elections and after by the PNC, in which Mr Kwayana was an integral part.

Mr Kwayana says he did not use the colloquial description of the PPP before the 1961 elections, and I accept his word.

However, in a letter to the press, “The PPP should apologise for its lead role in dividing the Guyanese society” (KN June 20, 2009), Mr Clarence Ellis described the above categorisation of the PPP in more standard language: “Matters (inter-ethnic tensions) escalated in the 1957 Government when Jagan decided to put emphasis on the cultivation of rice (for export to Cuba) at the expense of the African economy that was based

on fruits and ground provisions”.

Mr Ellis went on to cite Mr Kwayana’s assessment of the then PPP govt: “In “Next Witness” (1962), Kwayana stated that: “First, the Government (i.e. the Jagan Government), the guilty party in the matter of racial conflict, wished to hide the truth because it wants immediate Independence under a constitution which will leave it free to strangle the breath of the African people and the minorities, to create here an East Indian state, to plant the East Indies in the West Indies.”

While Mr Kwayana has apologised for conflating Indian Guyanese with their PPP “leaders” during the 1960s, he has never signalled any change in his opinion of the PPP. Sincerely, Ravi Dev

Dear Editor, The swirling brouhaha concerning recent criticisms against the Judiciary, in particular the CoA, has to be pondered. Isn’t the resort to an appeal against a ruling a form of registering disfavour with the ruling, and can it not be inferred as a criticism against the

Judge, and by extension the Court?

So, the right to appeal a ruling is inherent with basic rights, as is the right to respectfully criticise. Once in public office, criticism goes with the territory.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Page

Foundation

What you need:

Newspaper, book pages, paper painted with watercolours or colour paper Scissors Pencil Ruler Glue Stretch yarn Toothpick Optional: gloss varnish, paints

Instructions

On the chosen paper, draw and cut out an isosceles triangle shape, right triangle shape, and a rectangle shape as shown on the picture.

Be sure that the paper strips are proper length, 8 inch / 20 cm at least. If you want to make larger beads just use longer strips of paper. Put some glue down one side of the paper strip and start rolling it around the toothpick.

When the strip completely glues on itself, take it out of the toothpick and place it aside to dry. Repeat this step with each of the paper strips, until you have enough beads to thread on the yarn.

Apply some glue over the beads and let them dry.

You will need to measure around your wrist to make the bracelet a proper size.

Start threading the beads on the stretch yarn and after you finish, make a firm knot.

All done!

Now put your bracelet on and show it to everyone!

You can make as many as you like.

Make them as colourful as you can. (easypeasyandfun.com)

By Philip Levine As a boy he played alone in the fields behind our block, six frame houses holding six immigrant families, the parents speaking only gibberish to their neighbors. Without the kids they couldn't say "Good morning" and be understood. Little wonder he learned early to speak to himself, to tell no one what truly mattered.

How much can matter to a kid of seven? Everything. The whole world can be his. Just after dawn he sneaks out to hide in the wild, bleached grasses of August and pretends he's grown up, someone complete in himself without the need for anyone, a warrior from the ancient places our fathers fled years before, those magic places: Kiev, Odessa, the Crimea, Port Said, Alexandria, Lisbon, the Canaries, Caracas, Galveston.

In the damp grass he recites the names over and over in a hushed voice while the sun climbs into the locust tree to waken the houses.

The husbands leave for work, the women return to bed, the kids bend to porridge and milk. He advances slowly, eyes fixed, an animal or a god, while beneath him the earth holds its breath.

Source:Poetry

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Targeted cash transfers from oil & gas money may be pursued – Vice President …says important for Govt to invest in non-oil industries

W

hile Guyana has not yet started accessing the millions of dollars it has earned from the oil and gas sector, targeted cash transfers to those most in need is something the Government is willing to consider doing

with the money, once it is available.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was questioned during a recent press conference on when Guyanese can expect to begin feeling the tangible benefits of the oil and gas

sector.

According to Jagdeo, even with oil and gas, Guyana does not have the revenue stream to ensure every household gets a cash payout. However, the Vice President noted that Government can pursue tar-

Local legal committee set up to spearhead work on Local Content Bill …to work closely with visiting Ghanaian delegation of experts

Discussions during the meeting with the Ghanaian officials on Wednesday. At the head of the table are Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

C

oming on the heels of a meeting between Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, legal experts and a visiting Ghanaian delegation, a decision has been made to set up a local legal committee to spearhead work on the forthcoming Local Content Bill.

The Attorney General’s Chambers met with the delegation on Wednesday.

Apart from Nandlall and his Cabinet colleague Bharrat, a number of attorneys-at-law from the chamber and technical staff from the Natural Resources Ministry were present.

The Ghanaian delegation comprised the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Gas Company, Benjamin Asante; Senior Technical Manager for the state agency, Abraham Mensah Snr; and Ghanaian Director of Local Content and Petroleum Commission, Kwaku Boateng.

“The Attorney General welcomed the delegation to the Republic of Guyana, and expressed his gratitude to the team, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, for offering their assistance, experience, guidance and expertise in respect of the oil and gas sector generally, and more specifically on the issue of local content,” the statement said.

“The meeting evaluated Guyana’s draft Local Content Bill, and compared it with the Ghanaian legislation as well as legislation in Nigeria, Uganda and Norway. The visiting delegation offered practical guidance as well as insightful recommendations. Various components of the Bill were discussed and critically examined, with segments from

the various legislation extracted and made part of the local Bill,” it further explained.

According to the Chambers, a local legal committee was established by the Attorney General, comprising lawyers and drafters from the Attorney General’s Chambers, persons from the Environmental Protection Agency, and officials of the Natural Resources Ministry.

“This team will spearhead Guyana’s pursuit of legislative changes in the oil and gas sector. It was agreed that this team and the visiting delegation will continue to collaborate and work closely in helping to develop a modern and effective Local Content Bill, and will continue to collaborate on other matters relating to the legislative infrastructure of the oil and gas industry.

“Upon the request of the Attorney General, the Ghanaian delegation promised to send academic writings as well as court rulings on their legislation, which will be used to guide Guyana’s efforts,” the Chambers said in its release.

Also present at Wednesday’s meeting were Senior Petroleum Coordinator Bobby Gossai Jr; Senior Petroleum Economist Martin Pertab; Senior Legal Coordinator Joanna Simmons; Legal Officer Visal Satram; and Legal Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Michael Munroe, as well as members of the Oil and Gas Subcommittee at the Chambers of the Attorney General.

The oil and Gas Subcommittees comprises Ronetta Sargent, Arti Outar, Janet Ali, Ayana Fable and Debra Singh.

The Ghanaian team’s visit to Guyana follows on the heels of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s own visit to Ghana last month, where he met with top officials of that country to discuss their oil and gas industry, and entered into an agreement for Ghana to exchange knowledge with Guyana on establishing a local content framework.

Last year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had set up a panel to review policy initiatives on local content in the petroleum sector and provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and Legislation.

The panel, which had included former Foreign Affairs Minister and Economist Carl Greenidge, Carvil Duncan, Local content expert Anthony Paul and former Trinidadian Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, had compiled and submitted the Local Content Report.

The end product was a list of recommendations and, subsequently, a draft Local Content Policy that the Government had released in February of this year.

The stakeholders’ consultation on Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy for its petroleum sector started that same month.

Approximately 140 stakeholders were engaged by the panel on the compilation of the report. The report outlines several recommendations to improve the country’s policies and legislation.

Government is likely to hire experts to examine and incorporate comments and suggestions emanating from these stakeholder consultations into the final policy document that will be presented in the National Assembly. (G3)

geted cash payouts once the money from oil and gas becomes available.

“Remember one time when Professor Clive Thomas said we should give US$5000 per family and we thought we had 200,000 households. But it’s more like closer to 300,000 households…But if it was just 200,000, that’s $1 billion a year. We have just over $500 million in the fund, and that’s after nearly two years. We don’t have money at scale to give all these things out,” he said.

“But the capacity, the curve will grow steeply.

As you get to 2024, 2025, that’s when more resources will come in. Right now, we have to look at jobs, education, infrastructure, keeping our people safe, housing, at some point in time maybe cash transfers. But to targeted groups, not generalised.”

According to Jagdeo, wages and salaries in the Public Service are also likely to increase with the oil money. But he warned that sustainability is important, and pointed to the examples of other countries who increased wages but now have budget deficits and no oil sector to cover the additional expenses.

Jagdeo explained that the party is for now focused on investing in the non-oil sector, to create more jobs for Guyanese. He noted that, in the first round, the Government wants to utilise a lot of the oil resources for infrastructure improvement. This includes spending some of the oil money on infrastructure in Georgetown.

“The first thing is to

use the oil and gas resources to support expansion of economic opportunities. Secondly, world class education. Thirdly, world class health care. Fourth, infrastructure for the future. These four-lane roads, cheap power, good ports, good security, so our people can drive in comfort; they can live in comfort; they have modern infrastructure; they can traverse from the airport to Georgetown in 20 minutes,” Jagdeo added.

Jagdeo pointed out that even without touching the oil and gas revenues, the Government has been implementing targeted subsidies. These have included the Because We Care cash grant, which the Government has committed to increasing incrementally until it reaches $50,000.

“We put in place targeted subsidies. Although we haven’t touched the oil resources as yet, we’ve already started funding targeted subsidies. Someone said to me, ‘You know, you all shouldn’t say you’re financing this elsewhere. The children money (and pension), you should say it’s coming from oil’.

“And I said, ‘No, hold on a while. We can’t just go for popular positions. So, we’ve already moved from zero, what APNU took away from the children, to $15,000 per child per year. In the next budget, that’s going to go significantly higher. And for pensions too,” the Vice President explained.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019 in the Stabroek Block. It has since made a slew of finds in the

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Stabroek block, leading to Guyana’s rise as the world’s hottest new oil producer.

Guyana’s oil revenues are being banked in the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where they are earning interest. In August 2021, Guyana received payment for its seventh oil lift to the tune of US$79,617,561.87, the largest single oil payment the country has received to date.

The seventh oil lift brings the country’s oil extraction to a grand total of 7,056,262 barrels, and accumulative earnings to US$388,777,840.

During the 31st Sitting of the National Assembly, subject Minister Vickram Bharrat had reported that this amount plus royalties put the total in Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund (NRF) at US$436 million, which remains untouched.

And it has been estimated that the fund will exceed US$500 million by this year end. (G3)

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$6M romance scam

Nigerian man found guilty of conning Guyanese pensioner A

Nigerian man, allegedly part of an international criminal network in which women are befriended on social media and promised lavish gifts and jewellery, for which they are made to pay money, has been found guilty on 10 counts of obtaining money by false pretense.

Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as Uche Parker, who was charged back in February, had been on trial for the offences before Magistrate Annette Singh in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The convict has been further remanded to prison pending sentencing, which will take place on November

11.

Between October and November 2020, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $6,059,900 from 65-year-old Suruj Dei Balkaran by falsely claiming he had packages for her.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It was the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which filed the charges against him. The SOCU said that Okoye solicited funds from women after befriending them on Facebook under an alias.

During that time, he informed the victim about the supposed packages containing

Found guilty: Uche Raymond Okoye

the latest gadgets and electronic devices. He reportedly told the older woman that he would be sending the items, and that she would need to contact a representative who would clear the packages and deliver them to her. The representative he referred to was himself, the SOCU prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, the Nigerian national sent the woman a WhatsApp number on which he could be contacted about the transactions. The woman paid the monies, expecting to collect the packages, but every time, she was told of some complications, and was instructed to send more cash via bank transfers and Western Union.

During Okoye’s trial, the elderly woman testified that she has been a vendor all her life, and that the monies she was scammed of were her life savings. She disclosed that she sent monies to him on 10 different occasions. Other witnesses testified that monies were sent to their bank accounts, and that they were paid a percentage of the sum upon withdrawing it.

Last November, Okoye appeared at a city court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of obtaining money by false pretense, one count of demanding money by menace, and one count of illegal entry.

The Police Force said the man entered Guyana from Brazil without presenting himself to the nearest immigration officer. The Police have said he is part of a criminal network that has been operating in Guyana which has links to the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and other countries.

According to the Police, the perpetrators would send a Facebook friend request to the intended victims, particularly women, and seek communication via WhatsApp. Police informed that the mastermind, who is residing overseas, would express a romantic interest in the women, and would later tell them he would be sending gifts and jewellery.

The women would later receive a call from someone purporting to be employed at a shipping company about a box arriving at the airport for them. At this point, the Police said, the women would be instructed to pay various sums of money to several individuals to uplift the boxes and to avoid prosecution.

These monies are sent to identified persons through money transfer services or a post office. But once the money is sent, the mastermind is never heard from again, and the victim never receives the packages.

The Guyana Police Force has alerted citizens, particularly women, about this scam.

(G1)

Reforming…

T

…GECOM hey say “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”, so your Eyewitness guesses “if it’s broken, you better fix it” - or deal with the consequences!! And if you didn’t know GECOM has been broken, then you must’ve been in suspended animation on that mission to Mars for the last five years! Luckily for us, seems that one of the few things both sides of our political divide agree on is that GECOM is broken. That’s a start.

But - and there’s a “but” whenever the PNC’s involved! they don’t want to use the old system for appointing the new CEO and DCEO. Remember the last ones - Lowenfield and Myers - were let go after being charged with several counts of “public malfeasance”. They want some “independent” panel to do the screening and hiring. Well, they should know about weaknesses of the present system, since they used it to subvert the hiring of the last Chairman, and DCEO. Remember when Granger unilaterally and illegally appointed James Patterson to become the Chair while traducing the Constitution, and he eventually had to be slapped down by the CCJ? But as Chair and a DCEO were to be hired, he did the damage. He didn’t even use the present deadlock in the Commission, where the Govt and Opposition Commissioners neutralise each other and decisions are then made by the Chair.

When hiring, the full Commission grades the applicants by awarding them points, and then deciding on total scores.

Vishnu Persaud scored the highest points, but Patterson disregarded that and appointed Myers!! The rest, as we know to Guyana’s cost, is now part of our (sordid) history!

But while the PNC’s suggestion might appear sensible on the surface, realistically, it’s impractical. Can you imagine the rigmarole we’ll have to compose this so-called “neutral” panel??

We can’t get the two sides to even decide on two “neutral” judges to fill the top rungs of the Judiciary - for two decades now!! If we choose to go that route, we might have to wait as long for the panel to appoint GECOM personnel.

But we got a country to run and elections to conduct. Has everyone forgotten we should be holding Local Government Elections this year?? And when the PPP don’t, the PNC will be screaming from the rooftops that they’re “undemocratic”!!

Can’t win with them, can you? Even when counting votes!!

So, what to do. Well, we’ll just have to use the present system of scoring the candidates and choose the ones with the highest scores. At least the PNC can’t say the PPP has the advantage.

The Chair, who’ll announce the scores (and the new CEO and DCEO), was chosen by Granger, wasn’t she?

And we know she’ll do the right thing!

…the Police It is with very good reason that the Police are always in the news. After all, they’re the most ubiquitous arm of the state among the people. Secondly, they’re supposed to maintain “law and order”, meaning that they have to provide the visible sanctions to deter folks from breaking the law.

And since laws are only made when folks are already doing something the state figures shouldn’t be done, the Police start from a position of being spoilsports! Who doesn’t take “chances” when driving on the roads? But that’s defined as “illegal”, and the Police are there to nab you!

And with every person and institution, once you give them power, it’s susceptible to being abused. And that’s a fact, Jack! Our problem with our police began with Burnham and the PNC giving the Police power to harass citizens for all sorts of things back in the day - even for being caught with bread!!

And with that kind of power, once it’s bestowed, it’s very difficult to take back.

…the PNC Another task that’s analogous to cleaning the Augean Stables - where horse poop had accumulated for a hundred years! - is reforming the then PNC!!

And among the candidates, your Eyewitness sure doesn’t see any budding Hercules!!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PAC will interrogate David Patterson for “glaring infractions” – AG …reminds Committee has power to recommend criminal charges does not have power under the Constitution of Guyana.

Nandlall went on to explain that the parliamentary Opposition has “tremendous amount of power.”

He, however, noted that whether the Opposition is diligently exercising that power, and whether it can competently use that power, is a completely different matter.

Referring to the Opposition members as “all bright people”, Nandlall said he would never endeavour or try to explain to them what those powers and re-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Opposition Parliamentarian David Patterson

t the appropriate time, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will interrogate its former Chairman, David Patterson, because the Auditor General’s Reports show glaring infractions allegedly committed by him during the reign of the APNU/AFC Coalition Government from 20152020.

This is according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who made this disclosure during his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News’.

In June, the Government successfully passed a motion in the National Assembly ousting Patterson from the chairmanship of the PAC. Government and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira had tabled the motion for his removal, and in that motion, Teixeira contended that members of the PAC had lost confidence in him.

Patterson has been embroiled in controversy after he admitted to receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in gift items from agencies and departments under the then Public Infrastructure Ministry, which he once headed.

He and the former

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company, Rawlston Adams, are also facing criminal charges for their role in the sole sourcing of a contract for the design of the new Demerara River bridge to a Dutch company, LievenseCSO. As such, there had been widespread calls for the embattled Opposition Parliamentarian to step down as Chair of the PAC – the parliamentary body that is responsible for scrutinising the Government’s spending via the audited reports from the Audit Office of Guyana.

Because of the functional nature of the PAC, Nandlall said, Patterson could have no longer chaired it. “That institution [PAC], at the appropriate time, will be required to interrogate Patterson. Patterson will have to be interrogated, because audit reports from the Auditor General will come there with glaring infractions committed or allegedly committed by Mr. Patterson,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney General pointed out that he is sure the audit reports are already before the PAC. He further dismissed the misnomer that the Opposition

A

sponsibilities are, and how to use them.

“That is a matter for them,” the Attorney General said.

According to him, the PAC is always chaired by the Opposition, because its purpose is to oversight Executive functions. “Look, examine, analyse, scrutinise, police the Auditor General Report and question and investigate the shortcoming, deficiencies, and queries identified by the Auditor General,” he added.

He explained that the PAC is among several com-

mittees set up to interrogate Ministers, public officers, and technical personnel within the Government, for them to account and explain what policies they are pursuing, how the people of Guyana are benefiting from those policies, what are the cost implications, and how it will augment the developmental agenda of the country.

Once it finds wrongdoings and misbehaviour, the Attorney General noted, the PAC has the power to call in the Police or the relevant law enforcement agency and

recommend investigative action and criminal charges, where necessary. He reminded that the PAC was among the many committees created under the PPP administration from 1992 progressively up to now.

“And I want to make that point. Because prior to 1992, we had a dictatorship, where the PNC controlled the Parliament and none of the committees were functioning.”

Opposition Parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira is the current Chairman of the PAC. (G1)

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Centenarian among 2 COVID-19 deaths, 129 new cases recorded T

he Health Ministry has reported that two unvaccinated persons who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 930.

The fatalities include a 100-year-old female from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and a 60-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who passed away on November 3 and 4 respectively.

The death toll for November is now at four.

Moreover, within the last 24 hours, 129 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded from 1,013 tests. As such,

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD NOVEMBER 4, 2021 UPDATE

the total number of confirmed cases has increased to 35,929.

A breakdown of the new cases is as follows: Region One has one case; Region Two has six cases; Region Three has 29 cases; Region Four has 37 cases; Region Five has one case; Region Six has 22 cases; Region Seven has five cases; Region Nine has four cases; and Region 10 has 24 cases.

There are 19 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 56 persons are in institutional isolation, 17 persons are in institutional quarantine, and 2,552 persons are in home isolation.

Importantly, 32,372 persons have recov-

ered from the virus to date.

A distribution of the 35,929 confirmed cases recorded since March 2020 is as follows - Region One: 1,625, Region Two: 1,454, Region Three: 4,882, Region Four: 17,033, Region Five: 1,302, Region Six: 2,705, Region Seven: 1,757, Region Eight: 593, Region Nine: 2,453, and Region 10: 2,125.

As at Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 247,968,227 confirmed cases were recorded globally, along with 5,020,204 deaths.

WHO also reported that in the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 93,966,560, while the death toll is at 2,300,139.

The Health Ministry is reminding all to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are in effect until November 30, 2021. This order, among other things, emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six-feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone displaying

NUMBER OF NEW CASES NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

129 56

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

2552

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

19

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

17

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

18,947

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

16,982

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

35,929

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

32,372

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

383,943

FULLY IMMUNISED

247,822

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

930

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1625

REGION 2

1454

REGION 3

4882

REGION 4

17,033

REGION 5

1302

REGION 6

2705

REGION 7

1757

REGION 8

593

REGION 9

2453

REGION 10

2125

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 handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181. symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needing any additional information, is

kindly being asked to contact the COVID-19 hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480, or

624-6674; or immediately visit www.health.gov.gy.

(G1)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PNCR leadership race

Van West-Charles demands Amna Ally recuse herself from party elections …“Van West-Charles did not employ me” – General Secretary

PNCR leadership contender Dr Richard Van West-Charles

A

s the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leadership race heats up, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, one of the contenders for leadership of the party, has demanded that party General Secretary Amna Ally recuse herself from the electoral process.

Van West-Charles released a statement, in which he cited the need for freedom and transparency when it comes to the voting process.

He claimed that Ally has shown partiality towards one candidate and has openly taken sides, prompting

the need for her to recuse herself.

“The role of the GS, as head of the party’s secretariat, in the instance of an election, is to ensure the process is free, fair and transparent and represents the true and legitimate will of its members.

“It must be said at all times members, particularly the leadership – incumbent and aspiring – should embrace ethical behaviour and hold in esteem the values of the party. Ms Ally’s continued presence as GS threatens and undermines these values,” Van West-Charles said.

Meanwhile, Van WestCharles also alleged in another section of his statement that a list was being circulated which is seeking to influence the votes of the delegates. This list purports to suggest who should be elected as Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and the 15-member Central Executive Committee (CEC).

According to Van WestCharles, the list is alleged to have emanated from one of the candidates for leadership and proposes him as a committee member. The former Guyana Water Inc

Child rapist appealing 15-year prison sentence

S

elwyn Lancaster, formerly of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), who was unanimously found guilty by a jury on two counts of child rape back in 2019, is now asking the Guyana Court of Appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence.

Lancaster is arguing that his conviction cannot be supported, having regard to the evidence adduced at his trial. He argues, too, that the sentence is manifestly excessive, and is not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines.

The 47-year-old Lancaster has been sentenced to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment on two charges, the first of which detailed that he engaged in sexual penetration of a six-year-old girl on October 8, 2018. Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment on that conviction.

The other charge stated that on November 6, 2018, he engaged in sexual activity with the same girl, he was sentenced to serve seven years in prison on that conviction. The sentences will run concurrently.

Child rapist Selwyn Lancaster

According to reports, Lancaster was a male friend of the child’s mother. On the day in question, Lancaster visited the home and was having a conversation with the child’s mother. He then made his way to an area where the little girl was playing with her sibling, where he raped the child.

The girl later told her mother what had transpired. A report was made to the Police station, and Lancaster, who went into hiding, was apprehended and prosecuted. (G1)

(GWI) boss distanced himself from the list.

“Dr Van West-Charles distances himself from this list… the presentation of such a list is deceptive, disingenuous and misleading at best. It is also disrespectful of candidate Dr Richard Van West-Charles and other candidates who are likely to come forward in other positions.

“The party holds in high regard its members’ right to exercise free will to elect the candidate of choice… further, Dr Van West-Charles was not consulted… in the composing of a list that is offensive to the candidate and his campaign,” he also said in the statement.

PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally

“Did not employ me”

Meanwhile,

Guyana

Times made contact with GS Ally herself, for a response to the statement. While she declined to get into a detailed response to Van West-Charles’ allegations, she made it clear that “Van West-Charles did not employ me” in defiance of his call that she recuse herself.

Amid internal party struggles, there has been mounting pressure for the party to host its biennial congress for new leadership to be elected. But incumbent PNCR Leader David Granger has previously cited COVID-19 as the reason behind the delays.

PNCR’s last biennial congress was in 2018, when Granger was returned unop-

posed as Leader of the party.

The PNCR CEC had agreed earlier in the year that the party’s 22nd biennial congress should be held by the end of November 2021, but not later than December 13, 2021. This publication subsequently reported that December 11 had been set for the holding of the congress and November 11 for the nomination of the candidates.

Unlike in 2018, when Granger was returned as Leader uncontested, there are several challengers for the post of Leader. They include Van West-Charles, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, and Aubrey Norton. (G3)

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14 NEWS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Take AstraZeneca 2nd dose – Health Minister lobbies as expiry date nears

T

housands of second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine would expire at the end of this month, and Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony is again calling on Guyanese who are due to receive the second dose of this vaccine to take same.

Speaking during a recent COVID-19 update, he reminded that AstraZeneca utilises the same regimen for both doses. As such, some vaccines were reserved for the administration of second doses. Since persons have not returned for the shots, they thus have remained unused, and time is winding down.

“What we need to understand is that we have put out a statement that some of our AstraZeneca stock by the end of November would expire if

people don’t come and utilise it. The same vaccine that you give as a first dose, you also have to give that vaccine as the second dose.

“What we did when we gave out the first dose is we kept back enough vaccines to give people their second dose,” he clarified.

If the timeline elapses and the jabs remain unused, they would have to be dumped as expired drugs.

Dr Anthony is hopeful that the vaccines would all be utilised. The persons who take those second jabs would then be fully immunised.

“If persons weren’t coming to get their second dose, we would have those vaccines on hand. I’m very hopeful that, before the end of November, those persons

who require the second dose, that they would be able to come and get their second dose in a timely manner, so that those AstraZeneca vaccines would not expire, and those that need it would actually get the vaccine,” he said.

It has been mandated in the latest Emergency COVID-19 Measures (#24) that a person is only considered ‘fully vaccinated’ two weeks after receiving an approved single-dose vaccine; the second dose of an approved two-dose vaccine; or any mix-and-match combination of approved vaccines administered at least 17 days apart. In Guyana, only the Johnson and Johnson jabs allow a single-dose regimen.

The ‘vaccinated’ status is important in allowing persons access to public services and facilities in Guyana; without it, persons would require a negative PCR test taken within seven days, and an appointment, to access public services and facilities in Guyana.

Latest figures show that over 383,000 persons, or 74.7 per cent of the adult population, have received their first

dose of the vaccine, and approximately 47.9 per cent, or more than 245,900 persons who are 18 years and older,

are fully immunised.

As it relates to adolescents, some 27,498 children between the ages of 12 and

17 have been administered first doses, of which some 25.2 per cent are fully vaccinated. (G12)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

health counselling available for Flood-relief grants reach Mental COVID-19 patients, recovered cases Region 1 communities R S

everal communities in Region One (BarimaWaini) are now benefiting from the rollout of flood-relief cash grants to farmers who were affected by the mass flooding that occurred earlier this year.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal is leading the distribution exercise in the Sebai and Canal Bank communities of the Matarkai Subdistrict in Region One. The first exercise was at Canal Bank, where $9.2 million was distributed to 92 farmers in that area. Croal, who held his first engagement at Canal Bank, was accompanied by Matarkai Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairperson Orlando Thorne and a team from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Thorne, who said that yesterday’s exercise was the fulfillment of a promise made by the Government, has encouraged farmers to utilise the funds for the purposes intended.

Minister Croal, meanwhile, speaking of the Government’s drive to ensure that all citizens benefit equally from opportunities, said, “Our people in the hinterland must benefit from every Government policy or programme. We have to bridge that gap and create a level playing field.”

He added that this initiative is part of the many measures put in place by the Government to bring relief to citizens affected by the pandemic and the floods.

A farmer receiving his flood-relief grant from Minister Collin Croal during the exercise

“Those who benefit from a relief support effort, please keep in mind this is not a full compensation, because we can’t fully compensate you for your loss; but what we can do is help you to return to normalcy by getting back to your farming,” Minister Croal said.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall are also in the region, leading distribution exercises at Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma respectively.

Distribution of the cash grant was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali on August 1, 2021 after informing that approximately 52,000 households across 300 communities had been affected by the unprecedent-

ed level of flooding.

Earlier this year, communities across the country experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in severe flooding that affected livelihoods, including farming and mining.

As a result, the President declared a national emergency and announced a support package mechanism so that persons can get back into their farmlands.

Damages and losses in some areas were completely catastrophic when compared to others. Distribution in September saw $110 million in relief going to farmers of Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), so that farmers could reinvest in their lands. In the Pomeroon region, over 1460 farmers and households were eligible for assistance.

(G12)

Doctor’s murder

Police hunting close friend …as dead man’s vehicle found abandoned on WBD

P

olice are on the hunt for a close friend of Dr Collin Roach, who was found murdered in his office at Kingston, Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed Police visited the home of a close friend of the doctor, who is now the prime suspect, but he and his family were not at home.

According to the Crime Chief, Police have received information that the man and his family have since fled the area.

Blanhum confirmed that this came hours after Police stumbled upon the doctor’s vehicle, an Audi SUV, which was stolen from his office, at Schoonord Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The registration plate PXX 4000 had been removed from the vehicle.

The prominent practitioner was found dead on Tuesday evening in his Duke Street, Kingston office, and two employees were detained, Police said. Blanhum

Dr Collin Roach

also confirmed on Friday that the two employees were still in custody.

Dr Roach owned and operated the International Medical Clinic located at Lot 111 Duke Street, Kingston.

Police in a report said two males who worked with the doctor on Tuesday said the clinic was opened for business between 07:00h and 15:00h.

After the clinic closed, one of the males went out of the building while the oth-

er retired to his living quarters in the top flat, leaving the doctor in his office on the middle flat.

Police said at 20:00h a male was seen exiting the building and returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.

About 22:18h, the vehicle belonging to the doctor headed north out of Duke Street.

It was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on which prompted one of the employees to call the doctor on his cellular phone, but he received no answer.

The medical doctor was later found lying motionless on his back in a pool of blood in the examination area.

Police were summoned and a wound was seen on the left side of the doctor’s forehead. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced him dead on the scene, and his body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary to await a post-mortem. Police are continuing their investigation.

ecognising the significant mental health complications which may arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Ministry is opening its services to persons who are affected and in need of assistance.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony declared on Wednesday that the Mental Health Unit is open to facilitate anyone requiring counselling. In addition, since last year, health workers have been trained at the primary level to detect instances of mental health complications among those who visit the Health Ministry’s facilities.

“Here, in the Ministry, we have a Mental Health Unit, and if there are persons that require counselling, they can go to that Unit, where our counsellors would provide that sort of counselling. But generally, we have been offering a service at the level of the health centres, because, over the last year, we would have trained a number of doctors in the primary healthcare setting to look out for mental health conditions, especially those associated with COVID,” Dr Anthony explained.

The Minister explained that the consequences of contracting the virus, such as mandatory isolation and other factors, can cause persons to develop mental health conditions.

“We know that persons who might have been exposed to COVID, if they have to quarantine, there might be a lot of anxiety and worry.

In some cases, persons who are sick can get depressed,

(creating) more problems for their ongoing condition. So, they may require some type of help. We have trained our staff to offer that type of help,” he said.

However, even after persons recover, “long COVID” could take months to completely recuperate from. As such, assistance is required until those patients are back to some level of normalcy.

For some people, COVID can cause symptoms that last for weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome, or ‘long COVID’.

He shared, “We have also seen that even after persons have recovered, they can have mental health challenges, because one of the forms of long COVID can be with persons that experience brain fog, meaning that they can get confused and so forth. In the midst of a conversation, they can get confused and that sort of thing. There is that as well, and these persons might require assistance for another six months or so.”

In September, it was an-

nounced that a multi-disciplinary team would be established to analyse the condition and treat recovered patients suffering from long COVID. One month ago, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said a social media campaign was created to raise awareness of the sustained burden the COVID-19 pandemic poses on the mental health of frontline health workers, and is inviting them to share their stories and strategies to better manage and cope with this added challenge.

Preliminary data from the COVID-19 “HEalth caRe wOrkErS” (HEROES) study, a collaboration between the University of Chile, Columbia University in the United States, and PAHO, indicate that between five per cent and 15 per cent of respondents in several countries in the Americas reported suicidal thoughts in the two weeks prior to being consulted for the survey. Between 15 per cent and 22 per cent reported symptoms compatible with depression. (G12)

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Decline in COVID-19 cases COVAXIN vaccine gets in the Americas – PAHO Emergency Use Listing …still urges vigilance in adhering to measures

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he Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is reporting a decline in trends of COVID-19 cases and deaths across most of the countries located in the Americas for an eighth consecutive week.

However, PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa has urged that persons continue to be vigilant, and not become complacent in regards to upkeeping health measures to stay safe.

“It is critical for all of us to stay the course until everyone is vaccinated and protected from the virus,” he said during a weekly media briefing on COVID-19.

The Assistant Director reported that, thanks to strong immunisation systems in the region, 1.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, and 46% of the overall population are now fully vaccinated.

At least 32 countries in the region have already reached the WHO’s target of 40% vaccination coverage by the end of 2021, and several more are on track. However, many continue to face delays, and coverage in Haiti, Nicaragua, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guatemala remains below 20%. Vaccine inequity remains the biggest barrier to reaching our coverage tar-

gets,” Dr. Barbosa has said.

Public health measures are therefore “our best strategy for reducing COVID-19 transmission and saving lives.” PAHO also reported that, in the last week, more than 745,000 new COVID-19 infections and just over 18,000 deaths have been reported among countries.

“The United States, Canada and Mexico all reported drops in cases and deaths, and there have been similar declines across most countries in Central and South America,” a release from PAHO has indicated.

Additionally, PAHO has been working with countries to train healthcare workers, ensure access to vaccination, improve cold chain capacity, implement communication strategies, and overcome challenges with the supply of syringes and diluents.

Meanwhile, addressing the inequity, he said allocations of vaccines from COVAX are expected to accelerate in the coming weeks. The COVAX facility, with the support of PAHO’s Revolving Fund, has already delivered 64.3 million doses to the region.

As more vaccines become available, Dr. Barbosa urged, countries must follow latest guidance from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts

on Immunization (SAGE) to ensure that shots go into the arms of those that need them the most.

While these decisions are ultimately up to individual countries, they “should always be based on evidence, equity, and the commitment to protect our most vulnerable,” he said.

Priority

SAGE recommends that when vaccine availability is low, the elderly, frontline workers, and people with pre-existing conditions must be prioritised.

“Once those at greatest risk are protected, the next step is to immunise a high percentage of the adult population. Only afterwards should countries consider vaccinating younger groups,” Dr. Barbosa said.

SAGE also currently recommends that a booster dose only be provided to those who are immunocompromised and people over the age of 60, who received an inactivated virus vaccine such as Sinovac or Sinopharm.

As most countries in the region still lack sufficient vaccine doses, it is critical to follow expert guidance and maximise the impact of the doses that are available.”

Vaccination combined with effective public health measures make up the best strategy for reducing COVID-19 transmission and saving lives, Dr. Barbosa added.

They, “lay the best foundation for countries to reduce circulation of the virus, and eventually get their economies and societies back on track.”

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he World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the COVAXIN vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Earlier this week, Guyana was one of the latest nations to recognise COVAXIN, announced Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa.

It is now one of eight approved vaccines for travel into the country.

WHO’s EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, and is a prerequisite for COVAX vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

“This Emergency Use Listing expands the availability of vaccines, the most effective medical tools we have to end the pandemic. But we must keep up the pressure to meet the needs of all populations, giving priority to the at-risk groups who are still waiting for their first dose, before we can start declaring vic-

tory,” said WHO AssistantDirector General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, Dr Mariângela Simão.

COVAXIN was assessed under the WHO’s EUL procedure based on the review of data on quality, safety, efficacy, a risk management plan, and programmatic suitability. The Technical Advisory Group, convened

by WHO and made up of regulatory experts from around the world, has determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against the novel coronavirus, that the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally.

The vaccine is formulated from an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen, and is presented in single dose vials and multidose vials of 5, 10 and 20 doses. COVAXIN was also reviewed by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), which formulates vaccine-specific policies and recommendations for vaccines’ use in populations.

The SAGE has recommended use of the vaccine in two doses, with a dose interval of four weeks, in all age

groups 18 and above. It was found to have 78 per cent efficacy against COVID-19 of any severity 14 or more days after the second dose, and is extremely suitable for lowand middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements.

Available data from clinical trials on vaccination of pregnant women are insufficient to assess vaccine safety or efficacy in pregnancy; however, initial studies were reassuring. The vaccine has been given to over 120,000 pregnant women in India with no short-term adverse effects noted. Further studies in pregnant women are planned.

“The Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure assesses the suitability of novel health products during public health emergencies.

The objective is to make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics available as rapidly as possible to address the emergency, while adhering to stringent criteria of safety, efficacy, and quality.

The assessment weighs the threat posed by the emergency as well as the benefit that would accrue from the use of the product against any potential risks,” said the WHO. (G12)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

On-the-spot interviews to be $597M contract signed for construction of pump done at GTT job fair today station at Greenwich Park …as company aims to hire more staff

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Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and several Ministry officials and contractors

he Agriculture Ministry has signed over $665M in contracts for works to be done to improve the agriculture sector as the end of the Ministry’s project cycle.

A total of seven contracts, valued at $665,706,092, were signed on Tuesday at the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry. These contracts are for some of the remaining works to be done in the agriculture sector as the sector’s project cycle comes to a close for the year 2021.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the contracts being signed are multiyear contracts, which will go over to 2022.

“These contracts that we’re signing here are multiyear contracts…contracts that will roll over to next year.

We’ll be monitoring the work very closely, and these agencies have to ensure that they deliver these services to the various categories in the agriculture sector,” the Minister stated.

Among the contracts signed was one for the construction of a pump station at Greenwich Park/Barnwell on the East Bank of Essequibo.

It was signed to the tune of $597,851,578.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) signed this contract with Roopan Ramoutar Investments.

“This will bring our pump stations this year to four.

Four new pumping stations!

So, you can see the emphasis that we are putting in our drainage system. Because, earlier this year, we would have suffered one of the worst floods in the history of our country, so we are ensuring that we put system in place – drainage system – so that we can have 24hrs drainage,” Minister Mustapha indicated.

The project is expected to be completed within a 12-month period, and will see the construction of two 100 cusec module pump station units, inclusive of an R.C. sump, a structural steel pump house, the supply and installation of pump units, as well as all ancillary works.

The project also entails the construction of a steel sheet pile revetment and the rehabilitation of the drainage system.

Additionally, the Ministry

signed a contract with R Persid Construction for the construction of a processing facility at President’s College totalling $14,917,414 as part of the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) project.

This project will see the provision of a facility that is capable of supplying large quantities of chicken and vegetable products, in accordance with international safety standards.

Meanwhile, contracts were signed for the construction of an asphaltic drying floor at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, to the tune at $15,329,475; the construction of an access road bridge and fence at Garden of Eden to the tune of $22,316,418; the supply and delivery of agro-processing equipment for Region Nine at a cost of $6,508,505; and the procurement of 40 cassava mills for agro-processors in Region Nine at $2,800,000.

The minister urged the contractors to follow all the guidelines and abide by all the clauses stated in their contracts so as to complete them on time and produce quality work.

Roadside shops under CANU surveillance for narco trade

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday discovered 872 grams of marijuana hidden among rubbish and green vegetation during an operation conducted at the D’Urban Backlands,

Georgetown.

In a brief statement on the operation, CANU explained that “these narcotic operations are targeting the persons that are engaged in the selling as well as distribution of narcotics

from stands, shops and other roadside areas”.

CANU Head James Singh posited that the aim of these operations was “to make communities safer by removing those engaging in narcotic activities.”

GTT’s Employee Experience Director, Tiana Gurcharran

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he Guyana Telephone & Telegraph company (GTT) has announced that persons looking to be employed by GTT can expect to be hired on the spot during its job fair today.

Commencing at 10:00hrs, potential employees are expected to walk with their curriculum vitae (CV), proof of identification, vaccination card, and other relevant documents in order for this process to be carried out.

As the company hosts its first career fair, some 30 persons are expected to be hired. The job fair will be held at the company’s 55 Brickdam retail location (Blackberry Store).

GTT’s Employee Experience Director, Tiana Gurcharran, has indicated that the company has a range of vacant positions to be taken up by suitably qualified professionals who are hoping to be employed by company.

Among those positions are Project Manager, Customer Experience Associate, Heavy Duty Driver, IT Manager, Procurement Manager, Call Centre Agent, Payroll Specialist, Engineer 1,

Security Agent, and Senior Engineer, to name a few.

Gurcharran stated that as long as their CV appears to have met the requisite criteria, persons can expect to be given an on-the-spot interview. The Director explained that this strategy is to provide persons with the opportunity to market themselves on an interpersonal level.

“For the past year, we have been conducting interviews virtually. While this has been of much convenience to many, we know others prefer an interpersonal interaction. So, we are doing it a bit differently, and giving persons the opportunity to market themselves on the spot,” she explained.

“StoryBoard” initiative receives funding from UN Spotlight Initiative

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nder the United Nations Spotlight Initiative, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has received funding from United Nations and the European Union for the StoryBoard Initiative which was launched on International Day of the Girl Child, October 11.

The initiative will target facilities such as the Mahaica Children’s Home, Camal Home for Battered Women and Children, Bal Nivas, Sophia Care Centre, Children and Family Care Centre, Cornelia Ida Children’s Home, and Hauraruni Girls Home.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has expressed delight that an added benefit of this initiative is the creative therapy that it will provide to the girls.

“I believe the outlet is important and timely, and I have no doubt the opportunity to chronicle their experi-

ences through story-telling/ writing will serve to inspire and help other young people,” the Minister expressed.

Six journalists from the Guyana Press Association have volunteered to be mentors on this programme, and the Ministry wishes to express its gratitude to them.

The course will consist of six sessions with a two-hour session per week, where the facilitator will explain key elements of story writing and teach on different language tools that are used in story writing. President of the Guyana Press Association, Nazima Raghubir, who is volunteering as a mentor at the Sophia Care Centre, welcomes the opportunity to work with the girls.

She said, “Already, the feedback has been positive, and much work is being done. The girls, their stories, their ability to tell their stories, and write about how they feel, could help to boost morale and self-esteem. For that, the project earns our

support”.

At the end of the six weeks, the children should be able to produce a story.

The stories will be printed and published in a book.

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry intends to partner with key Private Sector partners to secure publishing of the stories. The monies earned from the publishing of these stories will be remitted back to the beneficiaries of this programme, to help them in supporting themselves after they have aged out of the alternative care system.

To this extent, the programme aims to strengthen the social safety net for girls in alternative care facilities. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security also intends to continue this programme beyond the initial funding of Spotlight, and integrate same into its social safety net programme for gender-based violence survivors.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Regional

Holness lauds US President Chile’s campaign trail goes Joe Biden for 2nd shipment of virtual as all but 2 candidates over 200,000 Pfizer vaccines forced into COVID lockdown

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rime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed his gratitude to United States President Joe Biden for his Government’s second donation of 204,750 doses of Pfizer vaccines to Jamaica on Wednesday.

“Jamaica received its second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday afternoon at the Norman Manley International Airport,” wrote Holness on social media Thursday.

“These vaccines, as previously announced, will be used to vaccinate members of the population who are awaiting their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Priority is given to children 12-17 years old,” the prime minister reiterated.

“I wish to express our sincere gratitude to President Biden and the people of the United States of America who made this shipment possible,” he stated.

A release from the United States Embassy said the 204,750 doses of vac-

hile’s presidential candidates had to host news conferences from home and cancel travel plans on Thursday as five out of seven candidates were forced to isolate for a week after left-wing hopeful Gabriel Boric tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to Boric, four candidates had all been in close contact with him recently and have since tested negative for the virus, they said on social media. But Chile’s regulations mandate that any close contacts isolate for at least seven days

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

cines brought the total number of vaccines it has donated to the country to date to 413,010 doses.

“Since the start of this global crisis, the US Embassy has taken a strong mission-wide approach, contributing over J$1 billion in support of Jamaica’s fight against the virus,” the re-

lease said.

It added: “Through the donation of vaccines, two field hospitals, medical supplies, motor vehicles and other essential equipment, the US Embassy continues to work with local partners to ensure we all come out of this stronger.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

regardless of test result.

The presidential election, the first since widespread protests in 2019 rocked the Andean copper-producing country, will be held on November 21 and will go to a second round if no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the votes.

With three weeks before the first-round vote, Boric and far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast are head-tohead and likely to both pass to a second round to be held in December. On Thursday, Kast was also forced to isolate.

“Having confirmed (Boric’s) diagnosis, I will strictly follow the current sanitation regulations and will be in quarantine for the next few days,” Kast said in a video shared on social media.

“I hope to see you all soon,” he added.

The candidate from the ruling right-wing party, Sebastian Sichel, said on social media he would be sharing his campaign proposals virtually, but would head to the streets again starting on Tuesday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Migrants injured in fresh clashes with Mexico’s National Guard

Argentine oilseed workers ordered by Government to end hours-long strike

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r g e n t i n a ’ s Government on Thursday ordered oilseed workers to end an hours-old strike over the amount of taxes taken out of their pay, as political and financial uncertainty rises ahead of November 14 midterm elections, a union official said.

Agricultural exports from the grains powerhouse country have been slowed by a drought that has lowered the amount of cargo that can by carried from Argentina’s Rosario grains hub.

The SOEA oilseed work-

ers’ union went on strike Thursday morning, putting the inflow of export dollars at further risk at a crucial time for the Government, which needs to bolster an economic recovery as voters get hit by inflation running at more than 52 per cent per year.

“Everything is operating normally,” Daniel Succi, the SOEA’s Secretary, told Reuters.

He said the Government ordered labour and management back to the table to hammer out a deal over how much money would be taken out of paycheques for taxes.

Argentina is a major corn and wheat exporter as well as the world’s top supplier of soymeal livestock feed, used to fatten hogs and poultry from Europe to Southeast Asia.

Succi said negotiations would restart on Monday.

The protest by workers began informally on Wednesday at a soyoil plant in northern Rosario, with a strike beginning on Thursday morning.

The union says the companies were taking too much money out of workers’ paycheques for the purpose of paying taxes. (Reuters)

Privy Council reserves ruling on death penalty in Barbados

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as the mandatory death sentence imposed on a convicted killer unlawful and should the law be modified to make it a discretionary sentence?

These are among the questions nine judges of the Privy Council will answer when they give their decision in the appeal on sentence brought by convicted prisoner Jay Chandler who received permission to challenge his sentence on the basis that the mandatory death sentence was unconstitutional as had been deemed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in a ruling out of Barbados in 2018.

At the close of submissions by Chandler’s Attorneys and those for the

State, the Judges acknowledged the case was an important one for both sides and have reserved their decision.

Chandler was convicted and sentenced to hang for the 2004 murder of an inmate at the prison in Arouca in 2011. He lost his appeal against conviction, but was allowed to challenge the constitutionality

of the death sentence as provided for in section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1925. He is asking for a modification of the law, which provides that anyone found guilty of murder “shall” be subjected to death by hanging to the discretionary “may”, leaving it up to the Judiciary to impose the appropriate sentence based on the severity of the crime.

His Attorneys have advanced submissions that the court can modify the law while overruling its previous decision which reinstated the mandatory death penalty in 2005, despite it being “saved” by the provisions of the Constitution which protects colonial laws from challenge by the constitutional courts. (Excerpt from Nation News)

A vehicle of the National Guard rides near migrants as they take part in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in Pijijiapan, Mexico on November 4 [Daniel Becerril/Reuters]

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ozens of migrants travelling north to Mexico City have clashed with Mexican National Guard officers in the southern state of Chiapas, near where a Cuban national was killed on Sunday by the militarised police force.

The group of mostly Central American women and children resumed their journey on Monday in the Pijijiapan municipality of Chiapas, after fatigue and illnesses among some members prompted a two-day break.

“There are two injured migrants, they were badly beaten. The officers tried to surround them with their

shields,” Luis Garcia, who helped organise the caravan, told Reuters news agency over the phone.

“Everything was chaotic. It’s not right that the authorities keep acting this way. Despite all the repression we’re not going to stop,” Garcia said, adding that authorities had escorted away migrants in at least four buses.

The AFP news agency also reported that at least one officer was injured and 25 people were detained amid the clashes on Thursday.

The National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters or AFP.

National Guard troops, who donned helmets and riot shields, confronted the migrants, according to images on social media. Other videos shared with Reuters showed several migrants being detained by National Migration Institute (NMI) agents.

The NMI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The clashes occurred near where a Cuban migrant was shot dead and four others were wounded by National Guard officers early on Sunday in an area where a caravan of migrants was heading towards the United States border.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Shooting near Cancun leaves 2 dead, Prosecutors say

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shootout involving rival gangs on a beach near the Mexican resort of Cancún has left two suspected drug dealers dead, prosecutors say.

The shooting happened on a beach in Bahia Petempich, Puerto Morelos, the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s office tweeted.

“Two of them lost their lives,” it said.

People posted on Twitter that guests were told by staff to hide inside a hotel because of an active shooter.

There were chaotic scenes as guests took cover in the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Resort.

“Guests are telling me they were playing volleyball on the beach, gunman approached firing gun.

Everyone ran from beach and swimming pools. Staff hustled us into hidden rooms behind the kitchens,” tweeted former NBC executive Mike Sington, who is staying at the resort.

There have been no reports of any other serious injuries.

More than 300,000 people have lost their lives in cartel-related killings in Mexico since the Government deployed the military to combat drug-related crime in 2006.

Riviera Maya, home to popular resorts like Cancún and Tulum, has seen an increase in violence in recent years.

Last month Mexican security forces were sent to Tulum after two foreign tourists were killed and others injured during a shootout between suspected gang members. (BBC News)

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

19

Around the World

pill to treat COVID OILNEWS OIL NEWS First gets approval in UK Oil prices sink, reversing gains as Saudi TV reports looming output rise

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il prices sank on Thursday, reversing earlier gains in a volatile session after a report that Saudi Arabia’s oil output will soon surpass 10 million barrels per day for the first time since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, from Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, came after the nation, along with other Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, agreed to stick to previously agreed upon production increases.

Brent crude fell US$1.45, or 1.8 per cent, to settle at US$80.54 a barrel. Earlier, Brent rose to US$84.49 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate crude fell US$2.05, or 2.5 per cent, to settle at US$78.81 a barrel, well off the session high of US$83.42.

Since Tuesday’s close, Brent and WTI have fallen by about five per cent and six per cent, respectively.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, collectively known as OPEC+, agreed to stick to plans to raise oil output by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) on a monthly basis, sources said, despite calls from the United States for extra supply to cool rising prices. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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he first pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid has been approved by the UK medicines regulator.

The tablet – molnupiravir – will be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease.

In clinical trials, the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the treatment was a “gamechanger” for the most frail and immunosuppressed.

In a statement, he said: “Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for COVID.” Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is the first antiviral medication for COVID which can be taken as a pill rather than injected or given intravenously.

The UK has agreed to purchase 480,000 courses with the first deliveries expected in November.

Initially, it will be given to

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID to report clinical trial results

both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients through a national study, with extra data on its effectiveness collected before any decision to order more.

The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.

It’s not immediately clear how it will be distributed so quickly by the NHS. It’s thought some care homes may be offered supplies while other elderly or vulnerable patients may be prescribed it by their GP after testing positive for Covid.

Molnupiravir, developed by scientists at Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and MSD,

is the first of a number of oral antiviral treatments for COVID to report clinical trial results.

The new treatment targets an enzyme that the virus uses to make copies of itself, introducing errors into its genetic code. That should prevent it from multiplying, so keeping virus levels low in the body and reducing the severity of the disease.

Merck said that approach should make the treatment equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.

The UK regulator, the MHRA, said the tablet had been authorised for use in people who have mild to mod-

erate COVID and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness such as obesity, old age, diabetes or heart disease.

The organisation’s chief executive, June Raine, described it as “another therapeutic to add to our armoury against COVID-19”.

“It is the world’s first approved antiviral for this disease that can be taken by mouth rather than administered intravenously,” she said.

“This is important, because it means it can be administered outside of a hospital setting, before COVID-19 has progressed to a severe stage.”

England’s deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, warned on Wednesday of some “hard months to come” in the pandemic.

He said that while COVID cases appeared to have stabilised, deaths were rising and there were signs infections were starting to “penetrate” older age groups.

The UK recorded 41,242 COVID cases on Thursday and 214 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Sudan’s army chief orders release of 4 Ministers COP26: Indonesia criticises “unfair” detained in coup deal to end deforestation

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udan’s Army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has ordered the release of four civilian Ministers detained since he led a military coup last week, State-run television said.

Sudan TV on Thursday identified the four Ministers as Telecommunications Minister Hashem Hassab Alrasoul, Trade Minister Ali Geddo, Information Minister Hamza Baloul and Youth and Sports Minister Youssef Adam,. Several others remain detained.

The announcement came as the United Nations has been coordinating efforts to find a way out of Sudan’s political

crisis following the October 25 coup in which top civilian politicians were detained and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was placed under house arrest. Pro-democracy protesters have staged large demonstrations denouncing the coup, which derailed the country’s fragile transition towards civilian rule.

The UN special envoy for Sudan said talks had yielded the outline of a potential deal on a return to power-sharing, including Hamdok’s reinstatement, but added it had to be agreed in “days not weeks” before both sides’ positions harden. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Indonesia’s Environment Minister cited the need to cut down forests to make way for roads

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ndonesia has criticised the terms of a global deal to end deforestation by 2030, signalling that the country may not abide by it.

Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said the authorities could not “promise what we can’t do”.

She said forcing Indonesia to com-

mit to zero deforestation by 2030 was “clearly inappropriate and unfair”.

Despite President Joko Widodo signing the forest deal, she said development remained Indonesia’s top priority.

The deal, agreed between more than 100 world leaders, was announced on Monday at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. It was the event’s first major announcement.

It promises to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, and includes almost US$19.2 billion of public and private funds.

In a Facebook post (in Indonesian), Nurbaya argued that the country’s vast natural resources must be used for the benefit of its people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US Justice Dept sues Texas US Judge sets Jan 4 for Prince Andrew to over law curbing voting seek dismissal of sex abuse civil lawsuit

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he US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Texas on Thursday over a State law that places strict curbs on voting by mail, in the latest effort by the Biden Administration to combat new voting restrictions being enacted in Republicancontrolled States across the nation.

The Department’s lawsuit takes aim at Texas Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in September, saying it violates voters’ rights.

The Texas law makes it tougher to cast ballots through the mail by pre-

venting officials from sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications.

It also adds new identification requirements for mail-in voting, prohibits drive-through and 24-hour voting locations, limits early voting, and restricts who can help voters requiring assistance because of disabilities or language barriers.

The Justice Department complaint alleges that the Texas law improperly restricts disabled voters or voters who cannot read or write from being able to receive adequate assistance at voting locations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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US Judge on Thursday scheduled a January 4, 2022 hearing where lawyers for Britain’s Prince Andrew are expected to argue for a dismissal of Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was under 18.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan issued the scheduling order one day after saying he expected Giuffre’s civil case to go to trial between September and December 2022, provided it is not settled or dismissed.

Giuffre, 38, sued Andrew for unspecified damages in

Britain’s Prince Andrew speaks to the media during Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Windsor Great Park, Britain, April 11, 2021

August.

She accused Queen Elizabeth’s second son of forcing her to have sex more than two decades ago at the London home of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, and abusing her at two homes belonging to financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, 61, has denied Giuffre’s claims, and accused her of trying to profit from accusations against Epstein, who Giuffre says also abused her, and people who knew him. The prince has not been charged with crimes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

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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)

Approach whoever is available to help you. Don't take a risk with your health or let anyone put you in a compromising position. Keep your spending to a minimum and get things done.

Expect someone to make a change of plans. Plan to go about your business, and focus on self-improvement, personal growth and raising your profile or qualifications.

Romance will ease stress.

Gather information, find the best way to present what you have to offer and live frugally. An opportunity will require some finagling if you are going to take advantage of it.

Plan something you've never done before. A funfilled day with people who think like you and enjoy the same things will bring you closer together. Stay within your budget.

Do what's best. Don't let anger ruin your plans with friends or family. Be open and receptive to what others want and need, and make adjustments that allow everyone to do as they please.

Share quirky stories with friends and relatives, and it will give you a different perspective on your life and theirs. Be sure to stick to the script when passing along information.

Expect the unexpected.

Don't ignore the inevitable; embrace a challenge headon and become the mediator.

Taking charge will put you in the best position to barter for what you want.

Use your insight, gather information and keep a poker face until you are ready to present what you have to offer. Make changes count by ensuring they align with your long-term goals.

The fewer people who get SAGITTARIUS wind of what you are doing, (Nov. 23the better. Put your energy Dec. 21) into whatever brings the highest return, and distance yourself from anyone likely to interfere.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

Deal with restrictions swiftly. Refuse to let someone stop you from doing what's right. A positive change at home will add stability to your life. An unusual offer will cause you to rethink your next move.

Speak up before it's too late. If you don't want to participate in a joint venture, say so and move on to something you feel comfortable doing.

Use others' mistakes as leverage for the best results.

Talk to someone in an position of authority and get the (Feb. 20lowdown before you decide to March 20) take part in something costly. Do your homework. Don't participate in something if you feel uncomfortable about it.

PISCES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

21

Zampa’s 5-for, aggressive batting give Australia massive NRR boost in big win over Bangladesh Both teams have a tricky final group game on Saturday; Australia take on West Indies, who may or may not still be in contention by then, and South Africa meet the group's runaway leaders England.

Starc, Hazlewood crash through top order

Mitchell Starc handing the match ball over to Adam Zampa

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t was deja vu all over again for Bangladesh: South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, and Australia in Dubai on Thursday, and the punishment on this occasion was even more severe.

Sent in to bat, Bangladesh were bowled out for 73, their fourth sub-100 total of the year in T20Is, and their second of the tournament.

It was the result of some superb bowling - particularly from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood early on, and then from Adam Zampa, who polished off the lower order to pick up his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is. However, the batting was quite dire for the most part too.

There was a sense that Bangladesh simply sleepwalked their way to their doom, with a number of their top-order batters getting out to shots of imprecise intent, neither attacking nor defensive.

Having started the day with a net run rate that was worse than South Africa's by more than a run per over, Australia suddenly had a chance to leapfrog their nearest rivals in a tight semi-final race. They began their chase knowing that they'd leapfrog South Africa's NRR if they won in 8.1 overs or less. And their captain Aaron Finch brought to this task exactly the intent that was required.

It was a slog a ball virtually, and although there were a number of swings and misses, he also connected enough to slap his way to 40 off 20 balls.

That innings set the tone as Australia romped home in 6.2 overs, leaving a massive 82 balls to spare.

With that performance, Australia moved to second on the Group 1 table, equal on points with South Africa, but with a superior net run rate - 1.031 to their 0.742.

Starc began the match with three attempted yorkers aimed at the stumps.

Mohammad Naim blocked the first one and inside-edged the second to fine leg for a single. The third angled across the right-handed Liton Das before swinging in late. Das pushed at it with an open face, looking for a single into the covers, and inside-edged into his stumps.

That set the tone for Bangladesh's top-order collapse, as two more wickets fell to strike-rotating attempts in the next two overs.

Soumya Sarkar played on to Hazlewood while looking to steer him to third man, then Mushfiqur Rahim was lbw while looking to work Glenn Maxwell into the leg side.

Bangladesh: 10 for 3.

The Adam Zampa Show

By the time the powerplay ended, Bangladesh had lost another wicket, Hazlewood's extra bounce cramping Naim into a miscued pull in the sixth over.

Thereafter, it was all Zampa.

He struck with his first ball, and the mode of dismissal - a wrong'un floated across the left-handed Afif Hossain and finding his edge - repeated itself two more times with slight differences in the variation out of the hand or the length.

Zampa could have had a hat-trick too, had Matthew Wade clung on to another outside edge from a left-hander at the start of the 15th over, but the ball plopped out of his gloves, and Taskin Ahmed survived. Not for long, though, as Zampa ended the innings with the fourth and sixth balls of the same over.

Only three Bangladesh batters got into double figures - the opener Naim, the captain Mahmudullah, and Shamim Hossain, who provided the innings its only real moments of spark when he slog-swept Starc and Zampa for a four and a six soon upon arrival.

Finch's intent leads Australia home

Were Australia looking at their NRR target? The first over answered the question emphatically. Only four runs came off it, but Finch swung and missed at two balls outside off stump, and went hard at a pull that he failed to middle.

The intent would soon find its reward. Sometimes it wasn't quite off the middle of the bat - a four through extra-cover off Mustafizur Rahman in the second over, a miscued leg-side whip that

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) Mohammad Naim c Cummins b Hazlewood 17 Liton Das † b Starc 0 Soumya Sarkar b Hazlewood 5 Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Maxwell 1 Mahmudullah (c) c †Wade b Starc 16 Afif Hossain c Finch b Zampa 0 Shamim Hossain c †Wade b Zampa 19 Mahedi Hasan lbw b Zampa 0 Taskin Ahmed not out 6 Mustafizur Rahman c Smith b Zampa 4 Shoriful Islam c Finch b Zampa 0 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 TOTAL (15 Ov, RR: 4.86) 73 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Liton Das, 0.3 ov), 2-6 (Soumya Sarkar, 1.6 ov), 3-10 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 2.5 ov), 4-32 (Mohammad Naim, 5.3 ov), 5-33 (Afif Hossain, 6.1 ov), 6-62 (Shamim Hossain, 10.5 ov), 7-62 (Mahedi Hasan, 10.6 ov), 8-65 (Mahmudullah, 12.2 ov), 9-73 (Mustafizur Rahman, 14.4 ov), 10-73 (Shoriful Islam, 14.6 ov)

just cleared a leaping Soumya Sarkar in the third - and sometimes it was - a flicked six off Mustafizur, a lofted drive over extra-cover off Taskin - and the runs simply kept coming.

David Warner chipped in as well with a trio of fours in the fourth over, and Australia were romping home with ease.

Both Finch and Warner were bowled while attempting big

BOWLING Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Glenn Maxwell Pat Cummins Adam Zampa

O-M-R-W 4-0-21-2 2-0-8-2 2-0-6-1 3-0-18-0 4-0-19-5

AUSTRALIA INNINGS (TARGET: 74 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) David Warner b Shoriful Islam 18 Aaron Finch (c) b Taskin Ahmed 40 Mitchell Marsh not out 16 Glenn Maxwell not out 0 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 2) 4 TOTAL (6.2 Ov, RR: 12.31) 78/2 Did not bat: Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade †, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-58 (Aaron Finch, 4.6 ov), 2-67 (David Warner, 5.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Taskin Ahmed 3.2-0-36-1 Mustafizur Rahman 2-0-32-0 Shoriful Islam 1-0-9-1

slogs, but they'd done their respective jobs by then.

Mitchell Marsh, recalled in place of Ashton Agar for this match, finished the job in the seventh over, clattering Taskin for a four over mid-off and swatting a short ball over the midwicket boundary to seal the deal on a near-perfect day for Australia. (ESPNcricinfo)

9 to represent Guyana at West Indies set for T20I, ODI tour Junior SA Swim C/ships of Pakistan from December 13-22

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Members of the Guyanese Swim Team before their departure on Wednesday

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nine-member swim team has jetted off to Peru, where they will vie for honours in the Junior South American Swimming Championships which begin next Monday. The event will run from November 8 to 14 in Peru.

This team consists of Guyana’s youngest Olympian, Aleka Persaud; Junior Pan American Games qualifiers Leon Seaton Jr and Patrice Mahaica; and Amber

DeGoeas, Ariel Rodrigues, Shareffah Lewis, Daniel Claxton, Nathan Jackson and Elliot Gonsalves.

The young swimmers are accompanied by Coaches Shyka Gonsalves and Sean Baksh, while Loren Mahaica is the team’s chaperone.

Being close in proximity to the start of the first-ever Junior Pan American Games, a multisport event for the younger crop of athletes in the Pan Am region, the SA

Junior Championships will act as a great preparatory competition for the likes of Persaud, Seaton Jr and Mahaica. Paul Mahaica is also a part of the Guyanese team for the Pan Am event.

The trip to Peru, according to the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), has received support from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

T JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday confirmed that the West Indies Men’s Team will play three T20 Internationals (T20I) and three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi, from December 13 to 22.

The ODI Series will be West Indies fourth series of 12 in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, in which the top seven teams can secure automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. West Indies currently lie in eighth position out of 13 teams, and have the opportunity to move above Pakistan into seventh position. The current ICC Super League table standings can be found HERE This will be the West Indies’ first tour of Pakistan since April 2018, when three T20Is were contested. The two-time former World Champions will be playing ODIs in Pakistan for the first time since December 2006.

Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI, said: “Today we have confirmed the details for the West Indies Men’s white ball tour of Pakistan in December. CWI would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and our own cricket operations, medical and security teams for the work that has gone into the organisation of this tour.

West Indies and Pakistan have always

delivered exciting series, and we’re looking forward to visiting Pakistan to complete what has been a hectic and momentous year of cricket in the light of the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour starts a new cycle of T20I cricket, building towards next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. The ODIs also have great significance as West Indies look to earn more points towards securing qualification for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.”

Independent security advisors Eastern Star International (ESI) will continue to monitor the security situation in Pakistan, and will also have a representative assigned to the team for the duration of the tour.

Meanwhile, the West Indies Women’s Team are presently in Karachi, Pakistan for three ODIs as part of their final preparations for the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.

Tour Schedule: * December 9 - West Indies arrive in Karachi * December 13 – 1st T20I, Karachi * December 14 – 2nd T20I, Karachi * December 16 – 3rd T20I, Karachi * December 18 – 1st ODI, Karachi * December 20 – 2nd ODI, Karachi * December 22 – 3rd ODI, Karachi

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

West Indies name squad “THE TIME HAS COME” – West Indies superstar Dwayne for Test tour of Sri Lanka Bravo confirms retirement …Permaul is lone Guyanese, Solozano earns first call-up W

Jeremy Solozano

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T JOHN’S, Antigua – The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel today announced the West Indies squad for the Test Series in Sri Lanka. The Selection Panel named one uncapped player in the 15-member squad – the left-handed opening batsman Jeremy Solozano - following the two recent three-day Best v Best matches and training sessions at the Coolidge

their skills for this tour. The aim was to simulate as much as possible the conditions that the team will likely face in Sri Lanka, so it was good to see the batsmen spending time at the crease while putting some scores together; and the bowlers looking to build pressure and create wicket-taking opportunities.

“Jeremy played for the West Indies ‘A’ Team in 2019 (against India ‘A’) with success, and in the Best v Best matches, he displayed a sense of application, patience and composure, while looking very comfortable against both pace and spin, which encouraged the panel to invest in him at this point.”

Harper added: “The squad is well balanced, with good depth in all departments. The composition is very similar to the squad that brought us success in our last away tour to Bangladesh, with a few changes in personnel. There are a number of players who are familiar with Sri Lankan conditions, and most of the others have good experience in the Indian sub-continent; so, they know what to expect and are gearing themselves for it.”

Both Test matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium. West Indies will have a four-day warm-up match in Colombo from November 14 to 17. The Tests will follow on November 21 to 25 and 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 Championship. Please see ICC World Test Championship table at https://bit.ly/3EcJXpV

FULL SQUAD

Veerasammy Permaul

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 Jomel Warrican

MATCH SCHEDULE

Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Roger Harper, Lead Selector, has said: “The Best v Best matches provided the opportunity for the players to spend some time in the middle honing

November 14 to 17: Warm-up match in Colombo November 21 to 25: 1st Test at Galle International Stadium November 29 to December 3: 2nd Test at Galle International Stadium

est Indies superstar Dwayne Bravo has confirmed he will retire at the end of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In August, captain Kieron Pollard announced Bravo had played his final T20I in the Caribbean.

Following his side’s loss to Sri Lanka on Thursday, Bravo confirmed he would be hanging up his boots in a conversation with former captain Daren Sammy and commentator Alex Jordan on the ICC’s post-match

A T20 trend-setter throughout his career, Bravo has been one of the format’s finest exponents of the slower ball, and excelled at the death with both bat and ball.

In 2012, he was the man to take the winning catch when West Indies won the T20 World Cup for the first time, and he was there again when they took out the tournament in 2016.

The veteran spoke glowingly of West Indies’ future prospects in limited overs

that, and these are the guys who inspired us to play the game.

“This is a format that was born in 2008 or something like that, for us to dominate the way we dominate in that short period of time in a fairly new format - I remember having a conversation with you (Sammy) that ‘yes, Sir Viv and Sir Gary have their own legacy, Sir Clive Lloyd and these guys, but we have our opportunity to create our own.’ We should be proud of ourselves.

cricket, vowing to do what he could to help the next generation.

“For me now, I want to try and pass on whatever experience and information I have with the younger players,” he said. “I think in the white ball formats West Indies cricket have a bright future, and it’s important for us to keep supporting the guys and keep encouraging them.

“It wasn’t the World Cup we expected, it wasn’t the World Cup we wanted as players. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves, it was a tough competition, we should keep our heads high.”

Bravo spoke proudly of the legacy his generation of Caribbean cricketers has been able to leave.

“It’s important for us to have our own identity, and not always be in the shadow of the previous legends.

Obviously, what these guys have done in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, we respect

“We create our own legacy.

Some people might think this is a format that a lot of people don’t respect, but the reality is this is an ICC tournament, and it’s a tournament that is sanctioned by ICC cricket, so we should be proud of what we have achieved.”

Bravo’s international career will come to a close after West Indies’ final match of their T20 World Cup campaign against Australia on Saturday. If he plays, it will be his 294th match for the side. (ICC)

Dwayne ‘DJ Champion’ Bravo

Facebook Live show.

“I think the time has come,” Bravo said. “I’ve had a very good career. To represent the West Indies for 18 years, had some ups and downs, but as I look back at it, I’m very grateful to represent the region and the Caribbean people for so long.

“To win three ICC trophies, two with my captain (Daren Sammy) on the left here.

“One thing I am proud about is that the era of cricketers we had, we were able to make a name for ourselves on the global stage, and not only do that, but have silverware to show for it.”

A two-time T20 World Cup winner, Bravo has played 90 T20Is for the Caribbean outfit, taking 78 wickets and scoring more than 1000 runs.

The seam-bowling all-rounder made his international debut in 2004, and went on to play 293 matches.

Crawford ‘Trucking Enterprise’ recognises top junior cyclist Washington

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uyana’s top junior cyclist Mario Washington has been recognised for his consistency by Franco Crawford of ‘Crawford Trucking Enterprise’ and Syril Hunts, brother of former national cyclist Nevelle Hunts of USA-based Core Cycling team.

In a blooming three-year career, the 17-year-old began his journey at Flying Ace Cycling Club of New Amsterdam as a juvenile. He also represented Guyana at the Caribbean Junior Championships, and his threeyear journey has since been an outstanding one.

Flying Ace rider Washington has shown dominance in the 2021 cycling season, chalking Mario Washington being presented by Franco Crawford in the presence of Coach Randolph Roberts up more than seven wins, with

his most recent being the ‘Gold’ race in Essequibo last month. He also copped silver in the National Championships.

In addition to his exploits in cycling, the disciplined Washington copped ten subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Examinations while attending the Line Path Secondary School.

He copped two grade ones, three grade twos and five grade threes.

Mario Washington has expressed gratitude to Franco Crawford, who was also a national cyclist and is the nephew of the late Marcel Crawford, a former national cycling champion; the Hunts, of Core Cycling, his parents, and his long-time coach Randolph Roberts.

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23

Sri Lanka end West Indies' title defence with inspired win

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ri Lanka produced an inspired performance to win their final match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 and end West Indies’ hopes of defending their title.

Kieron Pollard’s side went into the game knowing that they needed a big win to give them a chance of qualifying from Group 1. But Sri Lanka, who already knew they were out of qualification contention, put West Indies to the sword after being put in to bat, with Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka scoring outstanding half-centuries in a daunting total of 189/3.

And in reply, West Indies lost both openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis in

side Shimron Hetmyer gave West Indies a glimmer of hope. But Pooran’s dismissal in the 12th over ultimately ended the chance of the chase, with Andre Russell, Pollard and Jason Holder all falling cheaply.

And even Hetmyer's explosive finale wasn't enough, as West Indies finished on 169/8, still 21 runs short.

Earlier, openers Perera and Nissanka got Sri Lanka off to a strong start in their final game of Shimron Hetmyer scored a the tournament. career best 81

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka Innings Pathum Nissanka c Hetmyer b Bravo 51 Kusal Perera † c & b Russell 29 Charith Asalanka c Hetmyer b Russell 68 Dasun Shanaka (c) not out 25 Chamika Karunaratne not out 3 Extras (lb 4, w 9) 13 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 9.44) 189/3 Did not bat: Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Kusal Perera, 5.2 ov), 2-133 (Pathum Nissanka, 15.3 ov), 3-179 (Charith Asalanka, 18.4 ov) BOWLING Roston Chase Jason Holder Ravi Rampaul Andre Russell Akeal Hosein Dwayne Bravo Kieron Pollard

Roston Chase is cleaned up

O-M-R-W 1-0-6-0 4-0-37-0 4-0-37-0 4-0-33-2 2-0-22-0 4-0-42-1 1-0-8-0

Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 7) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.45) 169/8 Did not bat: Ravi Rampaul Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Chris Gayle, 1.2 ov), 2-10 (Evin Lewis, 1.6 ov), 3-47 (Roston Chase, 5.3 ov), 4-77 (Nicholas Pooran, 11.1 ov), 5-94 (Andre Russell, 13.1 ov), 6-107 (Kieron Pollard, 14.1 ov), 7-117 (Jason Holder, 15.2 ov), 8-131 (Dwayne Bravo, 16.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-21-0 Binura Fernando 2-0-24-2 Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-41-1 Chamika Karunaratne 4-0-43-2 Dasun Shanaka 2-0-18-1 Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 4-0-19-2

bowled by Andre Russell.

But the fall of Perera brought Asalanka to the crease, and the 24-yearold showed attacking intent right from the off, putting on a fine partnership with Nissanka through the middle overs.

Golden duck for Kieron Pollard

the second over, and never looked like reaching the target, despite lively knocks from Nicholas Pooran (46) and Shimron Hetmyer (80*).

West Indies struggle with the bat

With 190 to get, and knowing that a win would only just keep them alive in the tournament, West Indies’ reply got off to an inauspicious start when Chris Gayle fell in the second over, plonking a catch to mid-off for 1 off 5.

Binura Fernando picked up a second wicket just four balls later, when the dangerous Evin Lewis chopped on as he looked for a third boundary of the over. And Sri Lanka struck another blow in the sixth over when Roston Chase was brilliantly caught by Bhanuka Rajapaksa to leave West Indies three down inside the Powerplay.

Pooran, promoted to number three, looked fluent in his 46 off 34, and along- Nicholas Pooran showed form again

WEST INDIES INNINGS (TARGET: 190 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Chris Gayle c de Silva b B Fernando 1 Evin Lewis b B Fernando 8 Nicholas Pooran † c sub (DM de Silva) b Chameera 46 Roston Chase c Rajapaksa b Karunaratne 9 Shimron Hetmyer not out 81 Andre Russell c & b Karunaratne 2 Kieron Pollard (c) b de Silva 0 Jason Holder c Karunaratne b Shanaka 8 Dwayne Bravo b de Silva 2 Akeal Hosein not out 1

Asalanka’s brilliance

Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka showed class

The 91-run partnership for the second wicket finally came to an end when DJ Bravo had Nissanka caught on the boundary for 51.

Assalanka overtook Jos Buttler as the highest runscorer of the tournament before falling in the penultimate over for 68.

And skipper Dasun Shanaka rubbed salt into West Indies’ wounds with a sparkling late cameo, smashing 22 off just 13 balls to help his side post 189/3.

West Indies bow out

The wicketkeeper-batter in particular looked in sparkling form, hitting three boundaries as he raced to 29 off 20, before being dismissed by a spectacular caught-and-

Sri Lanka’s win saw them end their tournament in style and with hope for the future, particularly after the impressive individual displays of Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga. But West Indies still have a game to play against qualification hopefuls Australia in what could be the final match of the careers of a number of the West Indian stars. (ICC)

Elite League clubs to "fight" for Super 16 berth

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ootball is already looking promising this year-end, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have announced three tournaments to be staged in and around the Christmas season.

As if that were not enough to appease them, local football fans will now have the opportunity to witness some of Guyana’s biggest clubs vying for a spot in the Super 16 Cup, which is being hosted in collaboration with the Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Organisation.

This was announced

by GFF President Wayne Forde, who shared that the Elite League teams will have to go back to the Regional Member Association level in order to qualify for the event.

“What we’re going to be doing that year is that all of the Elite League clubs will be migrating back to the Associations from which they came, and they will be part of the qualification,” the GFF President shared.

He went on to explain, “The reason for making that

GFF President, Wayne Forde

decision is because the truth of the matter is that no-one has been playing any sort of football, so there isn’t any club that can claim they have any particular advantage, no-one has had any meaningful leg hours,” Advancing another reason why this decision was taken by the Federation and organizers Kashif and Shanghai, Forde opined that it would add some exciting value to the tournament. He said, “We believe it would add an element of excitement if those big clubs, like

the GDF, the Conquerors, have to go right back in Georgetown and fight their way through.

“It would be interest to see if the Elite League clubs will be able to fight themselves out of the qualifier,” he later added.

Also, on the topic of the Elite League clubs, Forde revealed that the Federation’s ‘Vaccination push’ has been well received thus far. “10 elite league clubs have received notification of our vaccination push almost 6 weeks ago, because we

were hoping to do some preliminary friendly matches among those clubs in preparation for the league, not knowing what will happen in 2021,” Forde informed.

He added, “So far, we have positive response from 9 of the 10 clubs.

Everything, of course, is time sensitive, so we’re hoping the vaccination initiative is really taken on board by our members, and we can get this going.”

There are no fixed dates as yet for the year end events.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

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

Sri Lanka end West Indies’ title defence with inspired win Page 23

Elite League clubs to “fight” for Super 16 berth Pg 23

West Indies name squad for Test tour of Sri Lanka …Permaul is lone Guyanese, Pg 22

Solozano earns first call-up

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