Guyana Times - Friday, October 8, 2021

P5

Navratri, a period of awakening and self-consciousness – President Ali Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4794

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

ExxonMobil's oil-equivalent barrels now exceed 10 billion − with new oil discovery in Cataback well offshore Guyana Page 3

46.5-megawatt generation plant soon to be commissioned − will see more reliable power for consumers Page 5

100,000 Pfizer shots to arrive today from COVAX

Page 7

Businesswoman, housewife robbed at gunpoint

…5-year-old manhandled ...as 5 more unvaccinated persons die from COVID during ordeal Page 21

Robbery accused charged for setting Brickdam Police Station on fire Page 8

− as GFS concluded fire was act of arson

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Fuel prices to be reduced P20 when current inventory is depleted – Sol Berbice P21 farmer killed in bee attack Chinese P10 national drowns while swimming at Buck Hall

Businessman’s $5M vehicle disappears while he was collecting P22 Chinese food − confesses to staging incident to claim insurance

Female patient at GPHC P20 found dead in washroom

Guyoil donates $1M to GTT’s Pinktober awareness initiative P22

2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, October 8 – 04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, October 9 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, October 8 – 05:15h-06:45h and Saturday, October 9 – 06:00h-07:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the day. Partly cloudy to clear skies are expected at night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to North-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 17:49h reaching a maximum height of 2.93 metres.

Low Tide: 11:25h and 23:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.39 metre and 0.27 metre.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

06 11 15

17 22 28

FREE TICKET

14 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

01 10 15 24 26 LUCKY 3

8

9

6

6

Afternoon Draw

3

9

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

04 09 11 14 16 17 18 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

03 05 11 16 17 13

05 06 08 16 21

7

7 Afternoon Draw

F

P Afternoon Draw

6

2 Evening Draw

2

X Evening Draw

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

$81.95/barrel

+1.06

Rough Rice

$247.95/ton

-0.56

London Sugar

$508.50/ton

+0.20

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1756.90

$1757.90

Low/High Change

$1751.90 +1.50

$1768.30 +0.09%

ExxonMobil's oil-equivalent barrels now exceed 10 billion – with new oil discovery in Cataback well offshore Guyana

L

ess than one month after ExxonMobil made its 23rd oil discovery offshore Guyana in its Pinktail well, the US oil giant has made yet another discovery, which will see Guyana reserves exceeding ten billion oil-equivalent barrels.

ExxonMobil, in a release on Thursday, stated that the new discovery was made in the Cataback-1 well, which brings the total significant discoveries to more than 20 within the Stabroek Block.

The Cataback-1 well, the oil company stated, encountered 243 feet (74 metres) of net pay in high quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It is located approximately 3.7 miles (6 kilometres) east of Turbot-1 and was drilled in 5,928 feet (1,807 metres) of water by the Noble Tom Madden.

“This discovery adds to the resource in the Turbot/ Tripletail area, enhancing the development project potential,” Senior Vice President of Exploration and New Ventures at ExxonMobil, Mike Cousins, stated. “Our proprietary technologies, global exploration experience and drilling capabilities continue to yield positive results in the Stabroek Block, which will generate additional value for Guyana,” he added.

The release further stated that ExxonMobil’s recent discoveries and ongoing projects continue to contribute to the advancement of the Guyanese economy, with more than 2,850 Guyanese now supporting the company’s project activities.

“ExxonMobil and its key contractors have spent over $480 million with more than 800 Guyanese vendors since 2015,” the oil company related.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, has stated that the recent discoveries and ongoing projects continue to contribute to the advancement of the Guyanese economy.

The Government, in a release, welcomed the new discovery and stated that it remains committed to enhancing the exploration and development of Guyana’s oil and gas resources.

“As Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for Petroleum, I would like to once again remind all Guyanese and stakeholders that the oil and gas investments and activities will be undertaken in a manner that is in keeping with international best practices for compliance and transparency within the petroleum sector,” the subject minister has said.

The government, he added, is continually working through consultations to enhance local content with policies and legislation that would create a sustainable development pathway to ensure maximum economic

The Noble Tom Madden offshore Guyana

benefits for all Guyanese.

The Minister further stated that the Government would like to restate that the Liza Unity FPSO is halfway on its journey to Guyana, and it is expected to arrive by mid-November 2021 with an anticipated startup of production in early 2022.

“The Liza Unity FPSO has a capacity of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day, which will complement the Liza Density FPSO which is currently producing approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day, bringing Guyana to producing approximately 330,000 barrels of oil per day in 2022,” a statement from the Natural Resources Ministry detailed.

Back on September 9, ExxonMobil announced that it found 220 feet (67 metres) of high-quality oil in the Pinktail well offshore Guyana. It was stated that the Pintail discovery, which was drilled by the Noble Sam Croft drill ship, is 21.7 miles southeast of the Liza Phase

1 project.

Additionally, Exxon was able to successfully appraise the Turbot-1 and 2 wells, where oil was previously found. In the case of the Turbot-2 well, drilling encountered 43 feet (13 metres) of net pay, separate from the oil previously encountered in the Turbot-1 well.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through subsidiary Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019 in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being banked in the New York Federal

Reserve Bank, where they are earning interest.

In August, 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 Natural Resources Ministry had stated that the aforementioned payment was for 1,047,820 barrels of oil, which was extracted from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel on July 3, 2021.

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

Guyana received its first payment of US$54.9 million for an oil lift dated February 19, 2020. The second lift, on May 21, 2020, was valued at US$35 million; while the third lift, which occurred on August 9, 2020, was worth US$46 million.

The fourth lift of oil offshore Guyana occurred on December 9, 2020 and came in at US$49.4 million in value. And on February 5, 2021, some 997,420 barrels of oil were lifted from Liza Destiny.

A sum of US$61 million was paid for that lift.

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.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 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

Moving forward with Corentyne bridge

T

he Request For Proposals (RFP) tenders for the model of the Corentyne bridge is being amended as we move ahead with its construction.

This comes months after President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Surinamese counterpart, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, established working groups to follow up issues they discussed during the Head of State’s visit, chief among which is the Corentyne bridge.

During President Ali’s visit, there were discussions and subsequent signing of the formal agreement that would pave the way for the two sides to begin exploring financing options, the construction and operation of the facility.

It could be recalled that this transformational project has been in the pipeline for some time now, and we are very pleased that the two leaders have decided to place it back on the agenda. From both sides, many persons have expressed the need for such a bridge to physically link the two countries, and it is now expected that serious efforts would be made to ensure it becomes a reality.

It is well known that many Guyanese have taken up permanent residence in Suriname over the years, and there is some amount of trade/business being done between the two countries. Hence, the bridge across the Corentyne River would considerably enhance trade and economic relations as well as cultural exchanges between Guyana and Suriname.

The Governments of Guyana and Suriname have recognised the enormous benefits the bridge can bring in the areas of transportation, tourism and trade. Important to note, too, is that once constructed, the bridge would not only serve as a permanent physical link between Guyana and Suriname, but also to the rest of the South American continent. This in itself would allow Guyana to access a whole host of opportunities relative to commerce etc.

That said, Guyana and Suriname have a history of enjoying good neighbourly relations, and there are many areas which both sides can explore to the benefit of all. For example, now that both countries have proven to have vast amounts of oil and gas resources, it would be in their interest to develop synergies and work collaboratively, especially considering the fact that they are both relatively small.

President Ali has already revealed that the two countries have recognised the need to develop synergies in relation to the oil and gas sector. He was quoted as saying: “In terms of shore-base and deep-water harbour, we are exploring synergies, and this is where we are. When we talk about local content, because of how the industry would emerge, you can either be in direct competition with each other or you can be supporting each other with synergies that bring benefits to both countries.”

Additionally, there is need for both countries to work more collaboratively to tackle the issue of cross- border crime. The fact that criminal elements are using the borders between the two countries to carry out criminal activities poses a serious threat to both countries’ national security. We had previously called for the borders between the two countries to be tightened up so as to prevent the level of illegal activities that are taking place.

Also, in view of the many robberies at sea which have occurred over the years, it is crucial that both countries share information and work together to address this challenge, which has had a severe impact on the fishing industries of our countries. Over the years, many of our fisherfolks have been attacked at sea, most times in Surinamese waters. Sometimes law enforcement officers seem lost as to how to tackle the problem.

It is our hope that the meaningful engagements between the Governments of Guyana and Suriname would bring about positive results, as it is clear that both sides are eager to move ahead with various projects that would see a better quality of life for their citizens.

Farmers harvest chrysanthemum flowers from a field in India on the outskirts of Bangalore (AFP photo)

Renaming Middle Street after Mahatma Gandhi

Dear Editor, I have noticed the letters expressing disapproval of the proposal to rename Middle Street after Mahatma Gandhi. While it is not a nice thing to speak about persons, with respect to one of the writers, the least said, as others have already remarked, the better.

However, in the most recent of these letters, GKH Lall’s “Shake this blind obeisance to things and people foreign” (SN 10/7/2021), noted for its stridency and xenophobic fervour, the writer wonders how Indians would react to his proposal of naming a street in India after Cheddi Jagan.

He feels they would think him presumptuous. Maybe not, as there are many places in India, especially streets in New Delhi, named after non-Indian persons. Among the streets in New Delhi’s diplomatic district, Chanakyapuri, one is named after Kwami Nkrumah and another after Nelson Mandela. In fact, there is an Africa Avenue.

In other parts of the metropolis, streets are named after Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Kadakin, former Russian ambassador to India, former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the French novelist and Minister of Cultural Affairs, Andre Malraux; Archbishop Makarios, and Benito

Jaurez, a former Mexican President. Our communist friends in Guyana would be happy to know that there is a Josip Tito Road and, even more interesting, a Ho Chi Minh Street in Kolkota, which ironically houses the US and UK consulates.

As far as the proposal to rename Middle Street goes, which may not now become a reality, given Mr. Lall’s strident and adamant, “Not here! Not anywhere here…do it there,” Guyana would not be the first country to honour the Mahatma in this manner.

After all, we already have our Promenade Gardens’ Gandhi Monument.

There are similar monuments to Gandhi in Lake Shrine, California; in Union Square, New York; Tavistock Square, London; Copenhagen, Denmark; Pietermaritzburg, South Africa - which was unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Canberra, Australia; Memorial Gardens, Jinga, Uganda; Garden of Peace, Vienna, Austria; and Arina Park, Geneva, Switzerland. The most recent of these is the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, London.

Apart from monuments, streets, avenues, roads and boulevards in more than fifty countries of the world are named after Gandhi.

These include Trinidad, Jamaica, Brazil, Mexico, United States and Canada.

Interestingly, of all the countries of the world, Mahatma Gandhi seems to have great appeal among the people of the Netherlands, where streets and roads in more than twenty-five towns and cities are named after him, second only to India itself.

Coming back to Mr. Lall’s hypothetical proposal, “I wonder if I were to propose a street in India being named after Cheddi Jagan, how the Indians would react?” I have shown how, in my view, Indians may not be averse to the idea.

In fact, I believe it to be quite a brilliant idea. Why shouldn’t India have places and streets named after her distinguished sons and daughters in the diaspora?

I am now making a formal request to the Government of India, through its High Commissioner, to name a locality somewhere preferably in the north after Cheddi Jagan, with streets and roads named after Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Irfaan Ali, and J.B. Singh, to name a few. Thank you, Mr. Lall, for the idea. Indeed, if Indians in Trinidad, Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa and those in Guyana can come together on this, what to talk of streets, we may get towns and cities named after our heroes.

In history, there are many persons who, because of their achievements, struggles and values, transcend borders, so the question of “blind obeisance to things and people foreign” simply cannot apply to them. I am in no way an expert on Gandhi. This is best left to those who feel competent to remark on his “stain” and “failure.” But I truly believe that Mahatma Gandhi belongs to all humanity, and specifically to that small, cherished group of human beings who cannot be described as “foreign” by any stretch of the imagination by any people, and of whom it may be said, with reference to Gandhi, “Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.”

In conclusion, I have seen Mr. Lall’s strong admonition to Guyanese on “obeisance to things and people foreign,” as an argument against the proposal of naming Middle Street after Mahatma Gandhi. Based on this, Nelson Mandela would also be seen as foreign. I am not part of any advocacy, but it is my hope that Mr. Lall would not start a campaign to un-name the Nelson Mandela Avenue.

Yours faithfully, Swami Aksharananda

NEWS

5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Navratri, a period of awakening and Increased COVID cases among unvaccinated pregnant women worrying – Health Minister self-consciousness – President Ali

H

indus in Guyana and throughout the world are currently observing the sacred period of Navratri, paying obeisance to Goddess Durga for nine days.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his greetings to the Hindu community, has said the festival of Navratri is one of awakening and self-consciousness.

“It is my hope that this festival will help dispel ignorance and adversity from within our midst, and instill wisdom and fortune in our lives. Navratri ignites a glow in our hearts and the opportunity for renewed confidence and the spreading of goodwill towards others. The sacred period reminds us that, with divine blessings, we all can possess the courage and strength to overcome life’s formidable challenges,” the President said in his message.

He added that he is hopeful that the special blessings of this period radiate from hearts to homes and our communities.

Navratri is a nineday festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. One of the prominent Hindu festivals celebrated in a different re-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

gion with different names, Navratri holds great significance for the devotees. The word ‘Navratri’ in Sanskrit means ‘nine nights.’ For the nine days ‘Nine Forms of Maa Durga’ is worshipped.

Navratri generally falls four times a year, but only two: Chaitra Navratri (March-April) and Sharad Navratri (SeptemberOctober) are celebrated widely with grandeur. The Shardiya Navratri celebrated during Autumn is one of the most awaited ones.

This year, Navratri commenced on October 06, and

will end on October 14 with Durga Navmi. On October 15, the Hindu community will observe Vijai Dashmi (the victory celebration).

Navratri, or Maha Navratri, symbolises the victory of good over evil.

For nine long days, Goddess Durga fought the battle with demon king ‘Mahishasura’, and killed him, marking the victory of good over evil.

Navratri also marks the beginning of the festival season, which is followed by Dussehra, Diwali and Bhai Dooj.

On the occasion of the Navratri, the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped, which are collectively known as Navdurga.

Each day of the Navratri is dedicated to an incarnation of Ma Durga. The first day is for Mata Shailputri, then Brahmacharini, C h a n d r a g h a n t a , Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri on the ninth day. Each form of Maa Durga is also associated with a specific colour, and has a special meaning. Wearing these colours on the specific days of the Navratri is considered auspicious.

O

ver the past few days, the Health Ministry has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases among pregnant women – some of whom are developing a severe form of the virus.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has said the infected pregnant women are being monitored at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital and other regional facilities.

Alarmingly, all positive cases were unvaccinated against the coronavirus.

“We have seen a number of cases of persons who are pregnant coming in with COVID-19. We have seen that at the Ocean View Hospital… All of these women are unvaccinated. Some of them luckily would have a milder form of the disease, while others go on to have a severe presentation of the disease. In a few cases, we had to do emergency Caesarean sections.”

As of Thursday, antenatal mothers can now access the Pfizer vaccine. The Health Minister indicated that many persons were skeptical a few months ago to take the vaccine, given the lack of scientific evidence. However, the data now proves that the

46.5-megawatt generation plant soon to be commissioned – will see more reliable power for consumers fuel oil and natural gas simultaneously.

Additionally, the Minister noted that the Government was working quickly on providing Guyanese with cheap and reliable energy. Expressions of Interest (EoIs) were requested for the gas-to-shore project, which will generate about 300 megawatts of power. Of that amount, about 250 megawatts will go towards the national grid and projected to be completed by 2024.

Further, Minister Indar

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar

G

uyanese will soon begin enjoying more reliable energy as a new 46.5-megawatt power generation plant will be commissioned.

This was stated by Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Wednesday.

“It is actually on the grid right now, but we are going to have the commissioning very shortly. They are doing the reliability test. So, they are actually putting power onto the grid, but on a test basis,” Minister Indar stated.

The $10 billion power plant is located at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Garden of Eden Power Station. The state-of-the-art power plant constructed by Wärtsilä is dual-fuel energy, meaning it can utilise heavy

said Government was working to fulfil its manifesto promise with the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. He noted that a Request for Proposals (RFP) is also out for that project, which will produce 165 megawatts of renewable energy.

The RFP outlines two options. The first is to BuildOwn-Operate-Transfer (BOOT). This means that all costs of the project up to the commissioning date would be borne by the developer,

who would operate the project for a 20-year BOOT period. At the end of the period, the project would revert to the Government at no cost.

The second option is for a Design-Build-Finance (DBF) where the developer finances the development of the project up to the commissioning date. The Government would later take over the project and fulfil the financing repayment obligations, only upon the satisfactory completion and commissioning.

Duo remanded on gun possession charges

T

wo men were remanded to prison on Wednesday on separate illegal firearm charges. Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was 18-yearold Tyreke Saunders of 4591 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on October 3, 2021, at Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he had a .38 revolver in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time. He was remanded to prison until November 3, 2021.

Police Prosecutor Richard Harris told the court that a party of Policemen, acting on information, went to the address mentioned in the charge around 04:00h, and carried out a search on the teenager. The Prosecutor

said that Saunders was carrying a blue Lacoste which contained the unlicensed firearm.

As such, he was told of the offence committed, cautioned, and arrested before being taken to the East La Penitence Police Station. Prosecutor Harris opposed bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds that no special reasons as required by the Firearm Act were provided to the court.

In a similar matter, Dwayne Coppin, 30, was brought before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court. He admitted that on October 3, he had a 9mm Glock 19 Pistol, along with nine live rounds of 9mm ammunition, in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence in force at the time.

He was remanded to prison pending sentencing Remanded: Tyreke Saunders which is fixed for October 20.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

vaccines are safe and effective. Given the continued detection of the coronavirus among this bracket, he is encouraging persons to take the vaccine.

Pregnant women are cleared to take any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently offered in Guyana.

“Most of the obstetrics society globally have been encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated in any one of the trimesters, because the vaccine is safe and it is protective. Observing from the cases that we have locally, almost every day we’re seeing between 15 and 20 cases of persons with COVID-19 who come into our hospitals…It is a challenge to manage these patients, especially if they have some form of respiratory distress. That is posing a challenge,” Dr Anthony related.

He further stated that exemptions can be provided if a person is allergic to a component of the vaccine, but the letters would have to be signed by the Chief Medical Officer. Persons found guilty of issuing exemptions without following the requisite guidelines would face conse-

quences.

“This would be a very, very rare event, so very few conditions medically would require an exemption. I know some people have been issuing exemptions, but the exemption cannot be based on any serious medical illness.

Some of those letters that have been issued, we have been investigating them, and if they were issued without proper medical information, then we are going to put those medical practitioners before the Medical Council,” he warned.

The Health Ministry has completed 365,274 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing 71.2 per cent of the adult population. Second doses are at 218,120 shots, or 42.5 per cent. Meanwhile, 25,510 adolescents, or 35 per cent, have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, while second doses are at 14,367 or 19.6 per cent.

Last month, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Carissa F Etienne urged countries to prioritise expectant and lactating mothers for vaccinations.

“PAHO recommends that all pregnant women after their first trimester, as well as women who are breastfeeding, receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” she had said, while adding that COVID vaccines approved by WHO are safe to administer during pregnancy and are a critical tool to protect expectant mothers during the pandemic.

More than 270,000 pregnant women have become sick with COVID in the Americas, and more than 2,600 have died from the virus. The problem is particularly acute in Mexico and Colombia, where COVID-19 has become the leading cause of maternal deaths in 2021.

6 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CIOG lauds financial aid Guyana records 43.4% GDP to severed sugar workers growth in 2020 despite pandemic – FAO Representative D

A

s the University of Guyana’s School of Research and Graduate Studies (SRGS) continues its first annual research symposium, studies have revealed that while there was a fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) globally, Guyana was the only country among the Latin American and Caribbean nations that saw a growth in GDP. The country saw a 43.4 per cent growth in GDP in 2020 amid the pandemic, as opposed to other Latin American and Caribbean countries which saw declines.

During day two of the research symposium, panellist Dr Gillian Smith, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative for Guyana, revealed that even as the world grapples with the health impacts of COVID-19, there has been an emerging and ever-evolving economic and social crisis.

She was at the time giving a presentation on “Food Production and Food Security Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

“2020 saw a fall overall globally. It was suggested that there was a 9.1 per cent fall globally in GDP, and if you look at all of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, every single country suffered a decrease in their GDP growth projection with the exception of Guyana, which actually had a growth projection of 43.4 per cent,” Dr Smith stated.

She said that according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), prior to the pandemic, in

FAO Representative to Guyana, Dr Gillian Smith

September 2019, the GDP projected for Guyana in 2020 was 85.6 per cent.

“The actual growth was 43.4 per cent. An amazing amount of growth, absolutely, because of the emergence of the oil economy.

But certainly, you can see that the impact of COVID on the economy was certainly quite significant,” the FAO Representative noted.

Prior to this presentation, Dr Smith revealed that the global impact on food systems in 2020 saw little to no food shortages globally. However, despite the availability of food, prices increases in key areas somewhat impacted food availability.

“We do know, in fact, that there have been few food shortages and most of us have essentially seen what we think are shortages, but, in fact, global food has been mostly available,” she said.

“FAO food commodity price index has steadily

risen… from August 2020 to now, the prices of all the basic commodities that are traded on the world market have continued to increase.

In fact, they are up to 30 per cent higher than they were at this time last year – prior to COVID-19.”

To this end, Dr Smith related that transportation and logistics disruptions along the food supply chain within and across countries globally subsequently led to shortages in shipping containers that transport food.

“We continue to see in the world today, shortages in shipping containers that carry food and carry global food trade. They are simply not moving around to be in the right place at the right time,” she noted.

She went on to state that in developed countries and those where agricultural commodities are grown, owing to the issue of mobility caused by the pandemic and the unavoidable shutdowns that had to occur, there was a reduction in the ability of labour to get to places where it is needed.

Additionally, she revealed that from a social perspective, the impacts on the global food system saw the suspension of school meals, restrictions in selling food in public places, restrictions in the functioning of markets, and limited supplies in food commodities as well as rising food prices.

“There was also this global threat of reduced trade among countries, as countries moved to try to ensure that they secured their own food systems,” she pointed out.

ays after the government announced that sacked sugar workers will be given a cash grant of 250,000, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), has applauded this move by the PPP/C Administration.

“This assistance will undoubtedly alleviate the sufferings of the seven thousand sugar workers and their families,” CIOG stated in a release on Thursday.

Further, the religious body commended the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Government on its decision to reopen three of the four closed estates. The reopening, CIOG reasoned, will have a positive impact on not only the lives of sugar workers, but the communities in which they live.

“CIOG congratulates the government for displaying

their caring attitude and consistency in delivering on their promises to this nation.”

The Islamic organisation also expressed trust that the severed workers will utilize the grants wisely and for the benefit of their families.

“God Bless Our Government and Guyanese people,” CIOG concluded.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday last announced that the Government would give a one-off payout of $250,000 to each sugar worker who was sacked under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration. This will amount to some $1.8 billon.

He was at the time meeting with sugar workers at Skeldon, Berbice during a one-day visit.

Some 7000 sugar workers had lost their jobs at the end of 2016, when the APNU+AFC moved to downsize the sector; the majority came from Region Six. “By January or so, each sugar worker, each sugar worker who was severed, would also get another $250,000 on their severance.

That would be between $1.7 and $1.8 billion, because we have 7,000 workers who were severed who will all get that. If this is crucial, it is important that we fix this.

It was a great injustice and many people stood out there and remained silent. Many of them to justify the action of APNU because of politics, but any decent person would have stood up and defended it. It was only the People’s Progressive Party,” Jagdeo said.

43% decline in fire calls recorded for 2021 – acting Fire Chief …says calls for Emergency Medical Services increased by 50%

T

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has responded to 832 reports of fire for the year thus far – a 43 per cent decline when compared to the same period for 2020.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham on Thursday stated that calls were pegged at 1469 within this period last year.

“When we do the math, we recognise that we have a decrease in the number of fire calls by 43 per cent. The Fire Service, over the years, has been working assiduously to ensure that this number remains or be reduced further when it comes to end of the year for the activities or response of the Guyana Fire

Acting Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham and Fire Prevention Officer Sheldon Sauns

Service,” he shared.

Meanwhile, calls to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system increased by 50 per cent, after 4728 calls were made.

“It is obvious that we have more calls for medical assistance this year as against last year and even if you were to make a comparison with fire calls as against calls for medical assistance, we will see that the percentage would be far greater for the number of instances where …

[EMS] had to respond would be greater than fire calls,” the acting Fire Chief said.

Wickham was keen to point out that the Fire Service has to be ready at all times to respond to calls from the public, even if it is a prank call.

“It is our duty. It is one of our functions to stop the destruction of life and property by fire…The standard rule of a firefighter is when in doubt, turn out. We can never sit at the fire station and say it is a prank call, because we had one five minutes ago.

We would always have to respond with intent that if we see a fire, we have to firefight or extinguish it,” he stated.

He announced that systems were put in place to trace calls that are made to the GFS. Anyone found guilty of prank calls will be hauled before the court.

Fire Prevention Officer Sheldon Sauns added that since the devastating Brickdam Police Station inferno last week, newer methods have been introduced to conduct regular checks at Police Stations and other structures across the country.

“We understand the severity of what transpired and we’re also putting ample systems in place so as to avoid any reoccurrences of same.

This would be along the line of fire prevention and fire safety. Further, we will be conducting inspections at Police Stations to ensure that those stations are fitted with the requisite equipment to combat these fires if any shall occur at its incipient stage. When we have fires of that magnitude, it leaves an indelible mark on our economy. The Guyana Fire Service is committed to continue to offer service with confidence as we operate under our mandate,” said Sauns.

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

100,000 Pfizer shots to arrive today from COVAX ...as 5 more unvaccinated persons die from COVID

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 7, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

224

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

157

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

3473

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

32

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

7

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,470

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

15,705

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

33,175

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

28,692

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

365,274

FULLY IMMUNISED

218,120

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

821

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1530

REGION 2

1247

REGION 3

4491

REGION 4

15,884

REGION 5

1161

REGION 6

2339

REGION 7

1678

REGION 8

516

REGION 9

2411

REGION 10

1918

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.

The Health Ministry on Thursday reported that five more persons who were infected with the novel coronavirus have died, taking the country’s death toll to 821.

The fatalities were all unvaccinated. On October 7, an 88-year-old female and an 80-year-old male – both from Region Four – succumbed to the virus. On October 6, two females from Region Four – aged 56 and 72; and a 93-yearold woman from Region 10

died.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 224 new cases were detected in one day. The total of the confirmed cases in the country has now climbed to 33,175. There are 32 patients being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 157 in institutional isolation, 3473 in home isolation, and seven in institutional quarantine.

Some 28,692 of the 15,705

males and 17,470 females who tested positive have since recovered. Guyana has tested 337,434 persons since the virus was detected here.

An analysis of new cases shows nine in Region One (Barima-Waini); 37 in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 58 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); five in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); three in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 14 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni), seven in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 11 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

There were no increases in Regions Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Meanwhile, the Ministry has announced that Guyana is expected to receive another shipment of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism – amounting to 100,000 Pfizer jabs.

The country has already been utilising the PfizerBioNTech jabs to immunize the adolescent population and pregnant women with a donation of 146,250 doses from the United States Government.

The double-dose component, one of two which have

been approved for children, is proven to be 95 per cent effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 in people who received two doses.

COVAX is a partnership between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The mechanism aims to secure 1.3 billion doses for 92 low and middle-income countries by the end of the year.

Guyana has been included among ten countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that are receiving vaccines at

no cost through the Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

Thus far, 120,000 AstraZeneca vaccines have been sent to immunise Guyanese.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480, or 6246674 immediately; or visit us at www.health.gov.gy All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise: the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Robbery accused charged for setting Brickdam Police Station on fire – as GFS concluded fire was act of arson

A

26-year-old man who was arrested for robbery under arms was on Thursday remanded to prison for setting fire to the Brickdam Police Station on Saturday last.

Clarence Greene appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was arraigned on two indictable charges of armed robbery and arson.

He was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Daniel and Kiswana Jeffords.

The first charge stated that on October 2, 2021, he robbed Chitrannie Ramkissoon of a cellphone valued $160,000 while being armed with a gun. He was later arrested

by Police at Leopold Street, Georgetown.

That same day, while being a prisoner at the Brickdam Police Station lock-ups, he unlawfully set fire to the Police Station. The accused then reportedly raised an alarm and other inmates were evacuated from the lock-ups. He was escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station, then to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Major Crimes Unit.

After interviewing Greene, Police were able to secure a confession on record, where he admitted to setting the building on fire.

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels objected to bail and asked for the charges to remain indictable. As such, Greene was remanded to prison until October 28, 2021.

The fire on Saturday destroyed 80 per cent of the

Charged: Clarence Greene

Police Station – which housed the Region Four A Divisional Headquarters.

Among the destroyed facilities were the Property Room, Inquiries Office, Traffic Department and Officers’ Mess. Just the barracks, located at the western end and along Manget Place, remained intact, along with the Impact Building and the lock-ups.

All 16 prisoners within the facility were accounted for.

Salvage records were saved, and the station’s arsenal of weapons was secure before the building was completely destroyed.

Guyana Times understands that 398 officers were working from the compound at the time of the fire.

Initial reports from the Guyana Police Force regarding Greene’s confession indi-

cated that the suspect told the Police that he became frustrated after being detained for a long period of time, and he then decided to start the fire.

The confession led Police to question all the prisoners at the Brickdam Station at the time of the incident.

Two informants were taken from the Brickdam lock-ups to the Sparendaam Station, where they were placed in a cell with the suspect. During that time in the cell, the suspect allegedly informed the men that it was he who had started the fire which destroyed the Police Station.

The two men said the suspect allegedly told them that he took a piece of sponge, wrapped it on a piece of wire, and lit it with a cigarette lighter before pushing it through a ventilation hole in the cell.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Fire Prevention Officer Sheldon Sauns said the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) investigation concluded that the fire was an act of arson. This is after debris and other materials were processed from the scene.

“Speaking to the cause of the fire at Brickdam Police Station, I must say that it was a coordinated effort among the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force. There were several procedures undertaken in trying to ascertain the cause of that fire.

Such procedures would have included interviews, layout of the fire scene and also the collection of debris. At this point, it is concluded that the supposed cause for the Brickdam Police Station fire was suspected arson,” he said.

The samples collected included paper, wood from the building, and a fragment of a lighter. The investigation revealed that the fire started in the second storey at the administrative building, located 1.5 feet away from the lockups.

“Feasible information was gathered, coupled with the samples collected, which would have led us to our conclusion,” the Fire Prevention Officer underscored.

Meanwhile, in response to questions about the GFS’s response to the fire, acting Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham said, “No two fires are the same. Therefore, the Fire Service always has to be able to improve its fire-fighting strategy.”

ss

Ripping down...

Y

…Gandhi our Eyewitness was never such a big fan of Gandhi, to being with. He liked those other leaders who challenged Gandhi’s whole passive resistance bit dubbed “radicals” by the Brits. He figured Gandhi was doing exactly what the British wanted in a “freedom fighter” just turn the other cheek when they knocked down some Indian initiative or other. Your Eyewitness believes that “knock got knock back”!! Or SHOULD have knock back!

This scenario was repeated by Gandhi’s most famous follower - Martin Luther King - in the American South during the late fifties and sixties, when Black Americans’ rights were being trampled upon like there was no tomorrow.

Which there wasn’t for most of them! He was opposed by Malcolm X and others, who carried the exact line as the “radicals” of India. Malcolm X pushed violent protests, and his motto was “Burn Baby, Burn!!” - when whole sections of several inner cities were serendipitously torched.

Anyhow, there’s a big hue and cry in Guyana over the Indian HC’s suggestion that since there’s already a statue of Gandhi in the Promenade Gardens from God knows when, why not name the Park and adjoining Middle St after him!!

Well…how dare he!!

First came the retort that who is Gandhi and what did he even do for Guyanese? Well, the same could be said for another fella who happened to be an admirer of Gandhi Nelson Mandela, couldn’t it? There’s that whole road being made into a super highway named after him, no? But, to your Eyewitness, it would be pretty churlish to question that decision!!

Another thought that struck your Eyewitness is that President Ali’s getting all the flack from elements of the Afro-Guyanese community, who’re up in arms against the suggestion. Gandhi’s sentiments about the Zulus he encountered in his long sojourn in South Africa was “racist”, and how dare the changes even be contemplated for a place that was consecrated by African slave blood?

Back when slaves were being executed and “piked” on Parade Grounds, what’s now Promenade Gardens was part and parcel of the Grounds. Well, for one - as said before Gandhi’s statue’s been there for donkey’s years, so why the fuss now and not back then?? And Mandela had known of Gandhi’s views on Zulus and still commended him.

Then, again, it’s not the Central Government’s decision - is it? It’s the Mayor and his Council’s and his Worship Pandit - who was in the thick of the commemoration. He didn’t utter a word of protest! Shouldn’t these complaints be directed at him?

But we know where all of this is coming from, don’t we?

Never mind the two great African icons of the 20th century honoured Gandhi.

All politics is local, ain’t it? …lax services President Ali is starting to put his stamp on his administration - and it’s a “no-nonsense” one. A lot of folks had figured that since Granger was an army man, he would’ve been quite disciplined in getting things done.

They forget that Granger had never seen action in his decades of service in the army!! The man NEVER had to get anything done - and has never gotten anything done!

Ali, on the other hand, had been the young go-getter Housing Minister who’d also held the Ministry of Tourism!

He led one of the biggest housing drives the Caribbean had ever seen. And, once the PNC finally stepped aside, he’s been literally on the go nonstop. He doesn’t seem to have a “pause button”!!

Now he’s showing a further dimension - he expects results from the people serving in Government. When he saw the lackadaisical response of the GFS to the Brickdam conflagration, he made his dissatisfaction known to Minister Benn.

The Fire Chief was soon taking his extended leave! …new (PNC) leaf?

Your Eyewitness must confess he wasn’t actually holding his breath that the PNC would follow up on former PM Sam Hinds’s call for them to commit to eschewing rigging in the future as they rebuild.

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

9

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chinese national drowns while swimming at Buck Hall

A

search is on for the body of a Chinese national who reported-

ly drowned while taking a bath at Trial Boss Landing, Buck Hall, Essequibo River

on Wednesday.

The man has been identified as 57-year-old Sude

Tui, who was employed with Huixin Mining Company at Buck Hall, Essequibo River.

The Police have said that on the day in question, between 15:00h and 15:30h, Sude Tui and one of his friends went down to the river to take a bath. At the time, they were reportedly wearing life jackets, but after about five minutes, they came out of the water, took off their jackets, and went back into the river to swim.

Persons who were at the said landing observed

the two men going up and down in the water. One man who thought something was amiss jumped into the river and managed to save the other man, while Sude Tui went down under the water and never resurfaced.

An alarm was raised and a search was conducted, but there were no signs of the Chinese national. The Police were contacted, and the matter was reported.

1 busted with ganja during Police patrol

The ganja that was found in the man’s motorcycle compartment

P

olice arrested a 22-year-old man at Enmore Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday evening after he was found with a quantity of marijuana.

Based on information received, at about 6:30h, the man was found with 33.7 grams of cannabis sativa.

The Police have said that ranks were on patrol along the Enmore Railway Embankment when they observed a motorcycle being driven by the suspect, who was not wearing a safety helmet.

He was stopped and asked to produce his driver’s

licence and relevant documents, but failed to do so.

He and the said motorcycle were taken to the Enmore Police Station, where a search was conducted in the seat compartment of the motorcycle in his presence, and a transparent plastic bag containing a quantity of ganja was found.

He was told of the offence committed and was cautioned, but he denied ownership of the narcotics. The said narcotics were weighed in his presence and amounted to 33.7 grams.

He was immediately placed into custody pending charges.

2 arrested for stealing truck batteries

T

wo men, respectively aged 26 and 38, are currently in Police custody for stealing two batteries that belong to a businessman at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The Police have said that the incident occurred at sometime between 20:30h on Monday and 06:00h on Tuesday. The 36-yearold businessman reportedly told Police that he had parked and secured his can-

ter truck, GZZ 1756, in front of his home on Monday at about 20:30h. However, at about 06:00h on Tuesday, he went to start his truck to head out to work but he discovered the batteries were missing. A report was subsequently made to the Police and an investigation was launched.

Following Police investigations, the two suspects were detained for questioning, and are both in custody as investigations continue.

11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

15

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

17

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

18

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fuel prices to be reduced when current inventory is depleted – Sol

H

ours after the Government lowered excise taxes on fuel, Sol Guyana has assured its customers that the prices at the pump for its gasoline and diesel products would be reduced in accordance with the Government’s recent announcement of a cut in excise taxes on fuel.

This reduction in excise tax will be applied to all fuels which were imported by Sol subsequent to the announcement by the Minister of Finance.

However, the company stated, in the short-term, prices at the pump for gasoline and diesel, which were imported prior to the an-

nouncement, will be based on the previous excise tax which that inventory had attracted.

“While the recently announced excise tax reduction took effect immediately, the lowered tax does not have an impact on product that was already purchased at the higher excise rate, and which is currently in storage by Sol,” Sol stated in a release.

General Manager of Sol Guyana, Earl Carribon, reiterated that Sol is committed to its customers, and it welcomes the Government’s policies that have been designed to reduce the cost of fuel to consumers.

“We look forward to

passing on any savings from the Government’s reduction in excise taxes to our customers once the current inventory has been depleted”.

The release stated that “The views expressed in this release or statement are made by Sol, and are not made on behalf of, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of, any company of the Shell Group of Companies.”

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announced that Government would be further reducing the excise tax on gasoline and diesel, to ease the domestic impact of the continuous rise in the world market price for fuel.

“The prices at the pump are expected to also be reduced with immediate effect, with gasoline prices expected to reduce from $213 per litre to $198 per litre, and diesel prices from $200 per litre to $185 per litre,” the Ministry stated in a release.

Back in February of this year, the Government

had reduced the excise tax rate on both gasoline and diesel from 50 percent to 35 percent. Since that time, oil prices have continued to rise steadily on the world market, moving from over US$60 a barrel to over US$80 a barrel at close of trade on October 5, 2021. This steady rise in the world price has had a resul-

tant effect on the domestic market, with prices rising therein also.

Minister Singh has said that the adjustment in the excise tax rate on fuel from time to time is part of the measures that the PPP/C Government would implement to cushion the domestic impact of world market price fluctuation.

Female patient at GPHC found dead in washroom

A

female patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital was found hanging in the ward’s washroom by a staff member on Thursday at about 11:05h.

The Guyana Police Force and family members of the patient were immediately contacted.

A release issued by the GPHC stated that a team from the GPHC has been identified to support the family of the patient, and provide all the necessary information to assist the GPF in their investigations.

“As a hospital dedicated

to providing the very best care to the most acutely ill and injured patients, we are deeply saddened that this death occurred, and are taking action to prevent this type of event from ever oc-

curring again,” the release added.

The GPHC extends its deepest condolences to the patient’s relatives and loved ones.

NEWS

21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cattle rangers beaten, robbed while on duty

O

The stolen items that were discovered by the Police

ne suspected bandit is in Police custody while a second is on the run after they allegedly robbed two cattle rangers at Gurman Gate, Tain, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The two men, a 32-yearold and a 44-year-old, were relieved of two haversacks and its contents and one torchlight.

The Police have said that on the day in question, the two victims were on duty at Gurman Gate, Tain, in the

guard hut when they were confronted by the two perpetrators, who dealt them several lashes about their bodies and relieved them of the items before making good their escape.

The matter was immediately reported to the Police, and based on information received, the Police went to a home at Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant, where a 24-year-old male was seen lying in a hammock under the house.

A search was carried out, and two haversacks

were found on a bench next to him. The haversacks were claimed by the two victims as theirs, identified by secret markings and their general appearance.

Further checks were made in the house, and three bicycles were found, two of which were identified by the victims to be their properties.

As such, the suspect was arrested and placed into custody, while checks were made in the area for the other suspect.

area, the others went to look for Sutherland but his motionless body was found lying on the ground. His body was swollen at the time.

He was picked up, placed on the tractor and taken out of the backdam, after which he was transported to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Another farmer who was also stung during that bee invasion is being treated at the Port Mourant Hospital.

A post mortem is expected to be done on Sutherland’s body soon.

Back in 2019, sugar worker Rameshwar Poonoo, 31, of Grassfield, Ankerville, Port Mourant, Berbice

was killed by a swarm of Africanised bees as he was clearing bushes. It was reported that Poonoo, a father of two, was working at the Albion Sugar Estate, and was instructed to build two “footbridges” and to cut a tract on the Resource Middlewalk Dam. However, during the process, Poonoo and two others were attacked by a swarm of bees. The two men, who were stung several times, were able to run to the sideline and escape the attack, but Poonoo remained in the canal.

He was later taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

nition running.

He was confronted by the four perpetrators - two of whom were armed with handguns. They reportedly arrived on two motorcycles registration number, model and colour unknown.

One of the pillion riders dismounted the motorcycle, pulled out a handgun from his pants waist, pointed it at the victim, and demanded that he hand over his valuables.

After committing the act, the said pillion rider drove off with the motorcar, which had one iPhone X, one Lenovo laptop and $17,000 in cash. The other perpetrators also left the scene, and the man was left standing helplessly on the roadway.

The matter was later reported to the Police and an investigation has been launched. No arrest has as yet been made in connection with this robbery.

Berbice farmer killed in bee attack

F

ifty-seven-year-old John Sutherland of Eversham Village, Corentyne, Berbice (Region Six) was killed by a swarm of bees on Thursday while working in his rice field aback the village.

Guyana Times understands that, when the bees attacked, Sutherland was sitting on the fender of a tractor as it ploughed the land. The men who were with Sutherland reportedly ran to save their lives, leaving him behind.

It was later learnt that Sutherland could not run due to a physical challenge, and he was stung by the bees.

After the bees left the

Technician robbed of motor car while urinating

A

27-year-old technician was on Wednesday attacked and robbed of his motor car, among other items, by four armed men at Tucville Terrace, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The Police have said that on the day in question, at about 10:50h, the victim was driving through Tucville Terrace when he stopped to urinate, leaving the driver’s door open with the car’s ig-

Businesswoman, housewife robbed at gunpoint …5-year-old manhandled during ordeal

P

olice are on the hunt for three armed men who reportedly executed a daring robbery on an Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) businesswoman and a housewife on Wednesday evening.

The businesswoman was robbed of $900,000 cash, a quantity of gold jewellery and two mobile phones, while the housewife was relieved of one pair of gold earrings, one electronic tablet, one hand purse containing two silver bands, a pair of earrings and $20,000 cash.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the victim Cheeks related that at the time of the robbery, she was in the company of her fiveyear-old daughter, her 21-year-old daughter-in-law Sofie Lakhram, who has a 10-month-old baby, and her visiting friend Tracy.

“When they come in, I was sitting in the chair [in the house], Tracy was sitting in the chair in the veranda. They come in…enter the door. The first one come in, he hold on pon me and put the gun to me. The second one come in behind, and he scramble Tracy, hold she by she top, pull she in the house with me, and start demanding.”

The woman related that prior to making demands, the bandits began emptying her friend’s bag and picking up monies which were in the chair. These were her earnings for the day.

Subsequently, the one identified as of mixed race

went into the woman’s room, where her five-year-old daughter was heard screaming, and physically harassed her by dragging the child out of the room. “…he go inside the bedroom, pull she out, hold she by she clothes, and drag she out and start swinging she around…I tell he don’t do she nothing, just give meh she and he could do wuh he want after duh.”

The bandits, while threatening the victims with their guns, reportedly proceeded to ransack the house while threatening to kill the victims if they did not comply with their demands.

“He hold on pon me now and push me down, cause he see me looking at he, and he start say (he gon) kill me!

Kill me! Way di money? way di jewellery?!”

The woman then related that he took her to her room and tried to open a wardrobe that was padlocked. He then pointed the gun at the victim and demanded that she open the lock, after which he ransacked the wardrobe and relieved her of her week’s earn-

ings and a number of pieces of jewellery.

The daughter-in-law was also relieved of a pair of gold earrings.

“Wen he done, the next one tell he tie we up! tie we up! ‘Duct tape dem up! Tie dem up!’ Then the next one say, ‘kill dem!’”

The woman stated that she pleaded with the bandits not to bring harm to them, as one of the bandits insisted that his counterpart should kill her.

They were then tied up, with duct placed over their mouths, and were locked in a room, after which the bandits made good their escape.

Cheeks stated that luckily, they did not notice her phone, which was charging, and she was able to untie herself and make contact with her significant other and related what had occurred.

She then called her sonin-law, who transported her to the Police station.

The Police subsequently visited the woman’s home, where they took statements and pictures of the crime scene.

22 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyoil donates $1M to GTT’s Grand Coastal Hotel Pinktober awareness initiative opens to public with strict COVID-19 guidelines

T

Guyoil Marketing Executive Mowshani Lekraj, handing over the cheque to GTT’s Chief Operations Officer, Orson Ferguson

T

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has received a cheque for $1 million from the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) for its annual Pinktober cancer awareness initiative this year.

The funds received will go towards providing support to cancer treatment and care for persons across Guyana.

GTT’s Chief Operations Officer of Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson, who received the sponsorship cheque during a small ceremony during the launch of Pinktober in the National Park, expressed gratitude to Guyoil for its continued commitment to cancer care and treatment in Guyana.

“Over the years, Guyoil has supported our Pinktober initiative; even in the pandemic, their commitment has remained steadfast, and we are truly grateful for their continued support,” Ferguson said.

“Their unwavering sup-

port continues to positively impact on cancer treatment and awareness in Guyana, and we look forward to strengthening our community with this kind of support, as we rise together,” he added.

Commenting on the Sponsorship, Acting General Manager of Guyoil, Molly Hassan, said the company remains dedicated to raising cancer awareness in Guyana and facilitating access to treatment and care.

“We believe it takes a united front to touch the lives of many persons in Guyana; so, whether it’s cancer victims, survivors, or those who take care of them, their families and friends; our aim is to facilitate awareness and aid in providing the necessary treatment and care needed for all in Guyana,” Hassan said.

On October 1, GTT launched its annual Pinktober event during a small ceremony and ribbon cutting event held in the

National Park. The company has mounted a “Wall of Hope”, and outfitted the park with Pinktober messages as part of this year’s event.

GTT has also sourced a number of new Pinktober items ranging from Polo t-shirts, crop tops, caps and fitness trackers, among other items to raise funds.

Items can be purchased at any GTT retail store, mmg+ agents with updated mmg+ code - m20336 - or Pinktober partners at economical prices.

R

– confesses to staging incident to claim insurance

A

said vehicle, including registration, fitness, certificate of insurance and revenue licence.

Checks were made in the area for the said vehicle, but it was not found. The Police were contacted, and an investigation has been launched.

Meanwhile, the 27-yearold businessman, during interrogation by CID officers, confessed that he and a friend staged the incident to claim insurance.

He reportedly told ranks that he staged the incident because he was frustrated after he was involved in an accident with the vehicle and the insurance company refused to pay him for the damages. He disclosed that the plan was to destroy the vehicle to get the insurance benefit.

The vehicle was recovered at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

rant,” said Kevin Daby, CEO of the Grand Coastal. He continued, “We will reward patience. We have plans to renovate the rooms, the bar, and a new outdoor spot is in the works. Our team is excited and ready to serve,” he said in a release.

Grand Coastal Hotel is located five minutes’ drive from the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, ECD. The facility is

well known for its quality service, and a highlighted favourite during Guyana Restaurant Week, which will run its second season in 2021 from November 12 to 21.

All COVID-19 guidelines will be observed, including sanitisation, controlled attendance, and social distancing. In addition, customers will be required to produce an ID and proof of vaccination upon entry.

30-yearGTT expands Fibre old man service to Linden remanded for Internet – Lindeners to enjoy amazing Internet experience unlicensed like never before, among other benefits firearm

Businessman’s $5M vehicle disappears while he was collecting Chinese food businessman is now looking for his white SUV Volkswagen motor van, PYY 7703, after it disappeared while he was collecting food at a Chinese restaurant in Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown on Wednesday evening.

Based on reports received, on Wednesday at about 21:00h, the 27-year-old businessman parked his motor van in front of Seepaul’s Sports Bar with the key in the ignition and the engine running, and went into a Chinese restaurant to collect food.

However, upon his return to where he had left his vehicle, he discovered it missing. The vehicle reportedly had $500,000 in cash, several land transports, several copies of agreements of sale for land, and all the relevant documents pertaining to the

he Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara will reopen its doors to the public from October 28, 2021.

The hotel had closed its doors to the public in October 2020 to facilitate oil and gas employees. One year later, the team has implemented all new COVID-19 measures to ensure guests feel safe.

As part of its reopening, the hotel would introduce a new member of its Food & Beverage team, Executive Chef Mau Marchan, a native of Ecuador, who brings experience in culinary arts. She will now be heading the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant.

“We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers who kept us in mind and waited during this difficult time for this reopening. We have done everything in our power to ensure our guests will feel safe. I want them to experience the high level of service they have come to know of our hotel and restau-

Charged: Dwayne Coppin

T

hirty-year-old Dwayne Coppin has been remanded on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the charge of possession of firearm and ammunition without licence.

The accused appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at Mahdia Magistrate’s Court via Zoom.

Coppin was arrested on Sunday last with one black 9mm Glock 19 pistol and 9 matching live rounds of ammunition. After entering a guilty plea, he attempted to offer an explanation, but was sent to prison until October 20, 2021 for sentencing.

esidents and businesses in Amelia’s Ward, Linden will become the latest persons in Guyana to access the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GTT’s) Fibre internet service, as the company expands its cutting-edge broadband technology to Region Ten. The Amelia’s Ward, Linden roll-out keeps GTT on course to achieving its goal of “Reliably connecting our customers” by delivering GTT Fibre to ten thousand new homes in 2021, providing subscribers with more bandwidth over a greater distance, and better prices.

The company recently unveiled its GTT Fibre service as a major upgrade to the former Blaze service, offering significant increases in upload and download speeds and reliable connectivity at reduced rates.

GTT’s Chief Operations Officer for Home Solutions & Fixed Services, Eshwar Thakurdin, has said it is a proud moment for the company to deliver its fibre optic internet service to Lindeners.

“We are extremely pleased to add Linden to the growing number of residential and commercial districts in Guyana now benefiting from GTT Fibre. GTT Fibre offers fast and reliable internet for all communica-

GTT’s Chief Operations Officer for Home Solutions & Fixed Services, Eshwar Thakurdin

tion needs whether it be for education, entertainment, or supporting you in developing your careers and businesses, even in a pandemic,” he said.

“We have been working since the beginning of this year on this expansion.

The current global challenges in acquiring vital equipment and resources to make this happen did affect us, but did not deter us. Today, we are happy to deliver on our promise of reliably connecting our customers in Linden,” he added.

Chief Executive Officer of GTT, Damian Blackburn, has said the company is happy to deliver on anoth-

er promise, and he reminded of the company’s continued investment to bring its 21st century highways vision alive.

With the new residential plans of Fibre50, Fibre100, and Fibre150 providing 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 150 Mbps download speeds respectively, customers in Linden can apply for the service at $8,999, $10,999, and $12,999 respectively. Each service also comes with a fixed voice line included.

Business customers would also benefit from the BizFibre service with plans ranging from Biz50, Biz100, and Biz500 at reduced costs, starting as low as $14,999.

GTT promises to continue expansion of its Fibre service to new residential and business areas in the coming months, and will announce on the company’s social platforms.

The company is also making provision for all customers remaining on DSL service in the interim, by providing free speed upgrades to most DSL customers, while reducing DSL costs to those where upgrades are not possible.

This upgrade is ongoing, and will be completed

by November of this year.

Customers will be contacted directly to be informed of their upgraded speeds and prices.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

"N

ever in the history of Guyana cricket has a cricket board worked as hard to make a positive difference as we in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have done over the last three years. My executives are fully committed to lifting our cricket even higher, and I would like to urge you to take care of every donation you receive from us; but, most importantly, use it for the intended purpose."

Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster as he and his executives handed over first aid kits and coaching manuals to cricket clubs with junior sections and first division teams. The meeting was held at the Area H Ground, and was attended by representatives of 20 of the 24 clubs invited.

Foster noted that since his election to office in early 2018, clubs in the county have benefited from more than fifteen million dollars’ worth of items, as the board was committed to assisting all clubs to fulfill their mandate and also to allow all youths the same opportunities to fulfill their potential.

Clubs with junior sections each received a first aid kit

Members of the different clubs posed with the BCB President after the presentation

along with copies of the BCB historic coaching manual, while the remaining ones who play at first division level carried home a kit.

Foster has said that the board is fully aware of the ongoing pandemic, and had, earlier in the year, donated over five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of protective items, including face masks, face shields, and hand sanitisers to junior clubs.

The first aid kits were donated to the BCB by

businessman Ricky Deonarine of the popular 4R Bearing Store in Duncan Street, Georgetown, and are intended to assist clubs to render assistance to players on the spot.

The coaching manuals would be given to individual players to allow them to work on their game in the safety of their homes, and the BCB President has warned the club executives to make sure that follow up is done on the players. The BCB, he noted, is doing all in its power to assist, and now it is up to them to play their part if the

23

legacy of Kanhai and Butcher is to be upheld.

The BCB, he disclosed, would update the manual on an annual basis, and clubs would be provided with copies on a regular basis.

Noting that several promising players might have quit the game over the last two years due to the pandemic, Foster urged the clubs to seek out new players, and even encourage others to return, as the future of Berbice cricket is exciting.

Once the permission is granted for a restart of the Berbice cricket season, the board has plans to host over 30 tournaments at the junior, female, intermediate, second division, internal zone and first division levels.

Foster also discussed some upcoming activities of the proactive cricket board, including social skills seminars for junior players, cricket academies in four sub associations, distribution of cricket gear for junior players, production of a coaching manual, 2021 Christmas Charity Programme, and more educational grants to assist players in the pursuit of an educational career.

Clinical Knight Riders in line for final playoff spot after demolition job on Royals

U

nless Mumbai Indians pull off a miracle even more miraculous than their great escape of 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders have sealed the fourth and final playoff spot in IPL 2021.

On another Sharjah pitch with treacherous low bounce, Knight Riders enjoyed the perfect game on Thursday - a solid opening stand to ensure they'd get to a competitive total after being sent in, a series of cameos from their middle order to lift them to the season's best total on this ground, and a ruthless bowling display to keep Rajasthan Royals to their second successive sub-100 total.

They might have preferred to chase, given all the net run rate permutations, but this route suited them just fine too. They began the day with an NRR of 0.294, and their 86-run win lifted it to 0.480.

Mumbai, who are on -0.048, will have to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by a ridiculous margin on Friday to bridge that gap. How ridiculous?

They'll need to win by 171 runs if they bat first. And if they lose the toss and bowl, they'll have no chance of making up their NRR deficit. Knight Riders don't just have a foot in the playoffs, they have everything but their trailing little toe in them.

Gill and Iyer lay solid platform

The pattern of the game was quite clear during the opening exchanges. Royals bowled exclusively seam through their first 10 overs, and all their seamers looked to hit the shorter side of a good length and bowl cross-seamers and cutters into the pitch.

With neither pace nor bounce to work with if they batted normally, Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer looked to counter this tactic by shuffling out of their crease to manufacture momentum towards the ball.

The first nine overs produced a contest that neither side dominated, with the runs coming at barely more than a run a ball, but with no wickets falling, Knight Riders came out of it the happier side.

Then Iyer hit two sixes in the 10th over, with Jaydev Unadkat overpitching on one occasion, and bowling a perfectly acceptable ball on the other, only to be met by a straight-bat hit back over his head off a shortish length. In the next over, Gill stepped out to the evening's first ball of spin, found himself a long way from the pitch of the ball, and reached out to hit Rahul Tewatia for a not-entirely-

controlled one-handed six over longon. Knight Riders were 75 for 0 in 10.1 overs.

Middle order blasts off

Tewatia ended the 11th over strongly, bowling Iyer as he attempted to reverse-sweep, and the match was interestingly poised, with Knight Riders having nine wickets to play with o v e r j u s t 9 . 1 overs.

W o u l d their middle order bat with a suitable lack of fear about losing their wickets?

They would.

Nitish Rana set the tone, lasting just five balls but

hitting 12 off them, feasting on the Royals' decision to bowl a part-time offspinner at him. Rana is one lefthander who's definitely not troubled by offspin, as his IPL record against that style of bowling - an average of 42.00 and a strike rate of 162.79 - and his past takedowns of R Ashwin have testified.

G l e n n Phillips is no Ashwin, and he overpitched twice to Rana to concede a

SCOREBOARD KKR INNINGS Shubman Gill c Jaiswal b Morris Venkatesh Iyer b Tewatia Nitish Rana c Livingstone b Phillips Rahul Tripathi b Sakariya Dinesh Karthik †not out Eoin Morgan (c)not out

56 38 12 21 14 13

Extras (b 5, lb 3, w 9) 17 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.55) 171/4 Did not bat: Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Mavi Fall of wickets: 1-79 (Venkatesh Iyer, 10.5 ov), 2-92 (Nitish Rana, 11.5 ov), 3-133 (Shubman Gill, 15.4 ov), 4-145 (Rahul Tripathi, 17.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jaydev Unadkat 4-0-35-0 Chris Morris 4-0-28-1 Chetan Sakariya 4-0-23-1 Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-31-0 Shivam Dube 2-0-18-0 Rahul Tewatia 1-0-11-1 Glenn Phillips 1-0-17-1

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS (TARGET: 172 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Yashasvi Jaiswal b Shakib Al Hasan 0 Liam Livingstone c Tripathi b Ferguson 6 Sanju Samson (c)†c Morgan b Shivam Mavi 1 Shivam Dube b Shivam Mavi 18 Anuj Rawat lbw b Ferguson 0 Glenn Phillips b Shivam Mavi 8 Rahul Tewatia b Shivam Mavi 44 Chris Morris lbw b Varun 0 Jaydev Unadkat c Shakib Al Hasan b Ferguson 6 Chetan Sakariya run out (Shakib Al Hasan/†Karthik) 1 Mustafizur Rahman not out 0 Extras (b 1) 1 TOTAL (16.1 Ov, RR: 5.25) 85 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 0.3 ov), 2-1 (Sanju Samson, 1.1 ov), 3-12 (Liam Livingstone, 3.2 ov), 4-13 (Anuj Rawat, 3.4 ov), 5-33 (Glenn Phillips, 7.3 ov), 6-34 (Shivam Dube, 7.6 ov), 7-35 (Chris Morris, 8.6 ov), 8-62 (Jaydev Unadkat, 11.2 ov), 9-85 (Chetan Sakariya, 15.3 ov), 1085 (Rahul Tewatia, 16.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shakib Al Hasan 1-0-1-1 Shivam Mavi 3.1-0-21-4 Sunil Narine 4-0-30-0 Lockie Ferguson 4-0-18-3 Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-14-1

carved four behind point and a big six down the ground. Even though Rana holed out immediately afterwards, Phillips ended up conceding 17 off the 12th over, with Rahul Tripathi whipping its last ball for a first-ball four.

Rana, Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan together tallied 60 off 41, and Gill did his bit too, going from 27 off 27 to an eventual 56 off 44, using his wristwork to defy the sluggishness of the surface and manufacture exquisite leg-side boundaries off Mustafizur Rahman and Chris Morris along the way.

The last 10 overs brought Knight Riders 102 runs, leaving the Royals a highly tricky chase against one of the best attacks in the competition.

Slower balls and cutters work

very well on slow, low pitches, but their utility mainly lies in drying up boundaries and sucking the life out of innings. They aren't necessarily a means of full-frontal attack.

In Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi, however, Knight Riders had two of the quickest bowlers in this match, and they showed that high pace can be utterly devastating when there's low bounce on offer.

Royals were already three down before this became apparent, and there had been no grand design behind the first three wickets.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was bowled attempting to reverse-sweep Shakib Al Hasan, Sanju Samson hit an uppish flick too close to short midwicket, and Liam Livingstone lost his shape while trying to pull.

Thereafter, however, Mavi and Ferguson ripped through the Royals largely by means of bowling fast and getting the ball to skid through low from the shorter side of a good length, with Anuj Rawat, Phillips and Shivam Dube all stuck on the crease and either bowled or lbw to balls of this nature.

Then Morris was lbw trying to sweep Varun Chakravarthy, and the Royals were 35 for 7 with no way back into this game.

Tewatia is always the last man to concede defeat however, and he slog-swept his way to a 36-ball 44 to ensure the Royals didn't threaten the record for the lowest IPL total. They did, however, end their season by being bowled out for the lowest total of the season. (ESPNcricinfo)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

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

Green Machine back in business for RAN 7s Championships …GRFU pleading for Task Force approval to train together

T

he ‘Green Machine’ will be back in action later this month as the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Championships Men’s 7s gets underway.

In anticipation thereof, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), on Thursday morning during a press briefing at the National Racquet Centre, named a 12-man team that will make up the feared ‘Green Machine’ later this month.

The RAN’s Championships will be hosted in the Turks and Caicos Islands over the weekend of October 16 and 17.

Senior Vice President Joshua Griffith revealed the members of the travelling teams, which comprises experience and youth.

“The team will be led by its dynamic captain Jamal Angus, along with Senior players Godfrey Broomes, Osei McKenzie, Rondel McArthur, Fabian

Joseph, Lancelot Adonis, Peabo Hamilton and Avery Corbin. Also in the team are newcomers to the sevens teams Oneil Charles and Jonathan Garnett, who have both made the 15s team prior.

Debutants Lionel Holder and Tyrese Prescod complete the 12man squad,” Griffith announced.

The total expenses of the trip have been set at some US$39,000, with the GRFU still expecting support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport among other stakeholders to reach their target.

“The GRFU wishes to appeal to the Government and Corporate Guyana to support the Green Machine on our journey to success; as the Green Machine has done so 8 times prior,” Meanwhile, preparations are going full steam ahead, with Head Coach Theodore Henry sharing that he is content

Sitting from left, 7s Captain Jamal Angus, Referee Society representative George David, and Head Coach Theodore Henry. Standing are PR Godfrey Broomes and Senior VP Joshua Griffith

with their prep, given the circumstances.

Henry shared, “The team has been in training for just over 3 months thus far, and right now I could honestly say that I’m 90% comfortable with

the preparation that we’ve had so far. I would have liked for us to at least have a couple more quality practice games against some good opposition, but given the circumstances and what we had to work with, I’m fairly

comfortable with it.”

Public Relations Officer Godfrey Broomes took the opportunity to plead with the National COVID-19 Task Force, so that they can have a holistic training session.

“We would have written three letters to the COVID-19 Task Force to actually approve training as a group, and we have not gotten any response from them. And I’m talking about two months ago we would have written to the Task Force.

“To date, we haven’t gotten that approval to train as a team, but we would have been training the best we can in adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines,” Broomes revealed.

The Guyanese team has been drafted in Group C, with Bermuda, Belize and Curacao.

The team will travel with Manager George David and therapist Akeem Fraser. The team is expected to depart on October 13 and return on October 18.

Rahul’s top-class knock sends CSK to 3rd defeat in a row ticking, and made sure CSK approached a respectable total.

While Faf completed a wellcompiled half-century in the 18th over, CSK also moved past hundred in the same over, as du Plessis creamed two fours to

finish the over. du Plessis then tonked two sixes and a four in the next two overs before getting out in the final over after scoring a vital 76.

However, his fine hand with the bat guided CSK to 134/6. (IPL)

SCOREBOARD Faf continued his good form (Photos: IPL/BCCI)

KL Rahul slammed 98

C

aptain KL Rahul set the stage on fire with the bat as Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in Match 53 of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The right-hander hammered an unbeaten 98 off 42 balls, hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes as PBKS, who needed 135 runs to win, chased down the target

in 13 overs. In the chase, PBKS were quick off the blocks, as captain KL Rahul cut loose and powered his side to 42/0 after 4 overs, scoring 33 of those runs in 15 balls.

However, Shardul Thakur’s double-wicket over helped CSK see the back of Mayank Agarwal and Sarfaraz Khan. Rahul, though, continued to target CSK bowlers, and went on to complete a sensational 25-ball

fifty. While PBKS lost Shahrukh Khan in the ninth over, Rahul continued making merry, playing some jaw-dropping shots.

The PBKS captain added 46 runs with Aiden Markram before the South African got out in the 13th over. However, Rahul finished things off in style, creaming a six, and taking PBKS home.

Earlier, CSK, who were put into bat, remained unchanged, while PBKS brought in Chris Jordan in place of Nicholas Pooran. PBKS kept things tight with the ball, and were rewarded with the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad, as Arshdeep Singh struck in the fourth over.

Arshdeep and PBKS scalped the second CSK wicket in the powerplay, as Moeen Ali got out

in the sixth over.

Jordan then picked up two wickets in his first two overs, as Harpreet Brar and Arshdeep took two excellent catches to get Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu out to reduce CSK to 42/4.

In the 12th over, after being hit for a four, Ravi Bishnoi dismissed MS Dhoni as CSK lost their fifth wicket with 61 runs on the board.

While the wickets continued to fall at the other end, Faf du Plessis stayed put, and continued to do a fine job with the ball after Dhoni’s dismissal.

The right-hander was joined by Ravindra Jadeja in the middle, and the pair did a fine rebuilding job for CSK, adding 67 runs together.

The pair kept the scorecard

CSK INNINGS Ruturaj Gaikwad c Shahrukh Khan b Arshdeep Singh Faf du Plessis c †Rahul b Mohammed Shami Moeen Ali c †Rahul b Arshdeep Singh Robin Uthappa c Harpreet Brar b Jordan Ambati Rayudu c Arshdeep Singh b Jordan MS Dhoni (c)† b Ravi Bishnoi Ravindra Jadeja not out Dwayne Bravo not out

12 76 0 2 4 12 15 4

Extras (b 1, w 8) 9 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.70) 134/6 Did not bat: Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3.5 ov), 2-29 (Moeen Ali, 5.4 ov), 3-32 (Robin Uthappa, 6.5 ov), 4-42 (Ambati Rayudu, 8.3 ov), 5-61 (MS Dhoni, 11.6 ov), 6-128 (Faf du Plessis, 19.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 4-0-22-1 Harpreet Brar 4-0-22-0 Arshdeep Singh 4-0-35-2

Chris Jordan Ravi Bishnoi Moises Henriques

3-0-20-2 4-0-25-1 1-0-9-0

PUNJAB KINGS INNINGS (TARGET: 135 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) KL Rahul (c)†not out 98 Mayank Agarwal lbw b Thakur 12 Sarfaraz Khan c du Plessis b Thakur 0 Shahrukh Khan c Bravo b Chahar 8 Aiden Markram c †Dhoni b Thakur 13 Moises Henriques not out 3 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL (13 Ov, RR: 10.69) 139/4 Did not bat: Chris Jordan, Harpreet Brar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Mayank Agarwal, 4.3 ov), 2-46 (Sarfaraz Khan, 4.6 ov), 3-80 (Shahrukh Khan, 8.6 ov), 4-126 (Aiden Markram, 12.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Deepak Chahar 4-0-48-1 Josh Hazlewood 3-0-22-0 Shardul Thakur 3-0-28-3 Ravindra Jadeja 1-0-9-0 Dwayne Bravo 2-0-32-0

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.