Guyana Times - Friday, September 17, 2021

More strides being made to tackle mental health issues P 17 in Guyana Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4773

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

17,000 private school children to get "Because We Care" cash grant – President Ali …$3.3B already distributed to 175,000 children in public school system See story on page 7

Head of State enjoys absolute immunity under Constitution — High Court

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

$5M in ecstasy unearthed by P8 CANU

Essequibo P11 man dies after crashing into utility pole

See story on page 3

…removes President Ali from suit filed by defunct PSC

Holistic plan to use oil 78 COVID-19 deaths monies will be made public recorded in 16 days …as 2025/2026 to see “steep – VP ramp-up” in oil revenues …299 new cases in 24h Page 12

Page 9

Dartmouth fatal shooting

Police unable to clear blocked roadway, as makeshift explosives hurled at cops Pages 10&16

…persons forced to walk, fetch the dead through debris …protesters damage backdam road preventing farmers’ access

Businessman P 14 charged for failure to produce employees’ records to NIS P GTU needs to 14 “reorganise itself” before any talks — Education Minister P15 Ex-GFC workers call on Commission to safeguard rights …as Commission refuses to pay severance to sacked workers – GAWU

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Friday, September 17 – 01:30h-03:00h and 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, September 18 – 02:00h-03:30h and 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Head of State enjoys absolute immunity under Constitution – High Court …removes President Ali from suit filed by defunct PSC mance of the functions of his or her office or for any act done in the performance of those functions and no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against him or her in his or her personal capacity in respect thereof either during his or her term of office or thereafter.”

The PSC was ordered to pay costs in the sum of $200,000 to Nandlall.

Friday, September 17 – 14:05h-15:35h and Saturday, September 18 – 14:50h-16:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunshine is expected throughout the day, interrupted by thundery showers at noon. Partly cloudy to clear skies are expected at night.

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

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

High Tide: 14:15h reaching a maximum height of 2.26 metres.

Low Tide: 07:39h and 20:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.88 metre and 0.97 metre.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

01 14 16 18 22 24

FREE TICKET

12 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

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Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

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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

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Change %

Crude Oil

$75.67/barrel

+0.28

Rough Rice

$246.834/ton $512.90/ton

+0.35 +0.20

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USD Per Ounce

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$1755.50

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$1745.10 +1.80

$1792.60 +0.10%

Immunity from judicial process

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Justice Gino Persaud

igh Court Judge Gino Persaud has ruled that President Dr Irfaan Ali enjoys absolute immunity from civil litigation for official acts undertaken while he is President, and consequently ordered that he be struck out as a named respondent to a case filed by the defunct Police Service Commission (PSC).

The ruling was delivered on Thursday via Zoom at the Demerara High Court.

The Judge held that Article 182 (1) confers upon the President a constitutional shield of immunity that is internationally recognised in the Constitutions of many countries, adding “it is a privilege usually attached to most Heads of State”.

He, however, noted that this does not mean that any act of the President done in the performance of his functions is not subjected to judicial review or cannot be questioned by a court.

Any such notion, he said, would be a violation of the rule of law. According to Justice Persaud, the PSC’s lawyer, Selwyn Pieters “conflated” the concepts of immunity and impunity when he argued that the President was a proper and appropriate party to the proceedings.

“No holder of the office of the President is above the law. Any act of the President done in the performance of his functions is subject to judicial review.

Immunity from suit does not mean impunity from an unlawful act,” underscored Justice Persaud.

He said that Pieters’ argument that the President must be named as a party since he is not above the law and must be held accountable for his decision, is essentially to argue that Article 182 (1) is a sword.

Rather, the Judge pointed out that the above article is intended to be a shield.

Citing case law from here and other Commonwealth jurisdictions, Justice Persaud said, “The purpose of presidential immunity is not achieved where the of-

fice is subject to the judicial scrutiny of the court, but the person is not. They must be considered the same to ensure that the dignity of the office is preserved and protected.”

Notwithstanding this, the Judge noted that the State can still be held liable for the actions of the President. “To name the President, while simultaneously naming the Attorney General [Anil Nandlall] in the application is “impermissible and wrong in law” given the provisions of Article 182 (1),” Justice Persaud said.

Article 182 (1) reads: “Subject to the provisions of Article 180, the holder of the office of President shall not be personally answerable to any court for the perfor-

H

Nandlall, through a notice of application, had argued that the President has immunity from the judicial process pursuant to Article 182 (1) of the Constitution and Section 10 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act, and as such, naming him as a party to the case violated the Constitution.

He had argued that in any proceedings challenging the decision of the President, the Attorney General is the right and proper party to name. As such, he had asked that the Head of State be removed as a respondent.

The PSC, which was chaired by retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe is challenging its June 16 suspension by President Ali. In the substantive matter, which will be heard on November 10, the PSC, among other things, is asking the court to declare

Suspended PSC Chair Paul Slowe

its suspension unconstitutional. With the Head of State removed, the respondents in the constitutional action are Prime Minister Mark Phillips, the Attorney General, Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie and the Commission’s Secretary.

Slowe and several members of the PSC – Michael Somersall, Claire Jarvis, Vesta Adams, and Clinton Conway – all retired Assistant Commissioners of Police – are currently facing criminal charges in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. They have been implicated in a $10 million fraud over duties delegated to them for revising the Police Force’s raft of Standing Orders.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 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

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Children and self-control

s we attempt to retool our educational system to prepare us for the 21st century, aided by oil revenues, we should note that our schools are still almost exclusively concerned – especially at the younger ages – with developing children’s cognitive skills. Now, there is nothing wrong with this in and of itself, studies have shown consistently that there is an unequivocal and unambiguous correlation between cognitive ability and later success in life.

But, as one study pointed out, “there is convergent evidence that, independently of cognitive skills, children’s self-control, ie the ability to control their impulses and to delay gratification, is highly important for academic, economic, and health outcomes during adolescence and beyond.” Addressing a symposium on the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, former President Desmond Hoyte, in a speech titled “Looking beyond the horizon”, pointed out that this was an even greater challenge for post-slave societies, such as Guyana is.

He noted that slaves had been forced to be “constantly preoccupied with the exigencies of the moment”, and asserted that this was “one of the most pernicious consequences of slavery.” He concluded: “And so, lacking a social motive, he developed no interest in, or aptitude for, making long term arrangements. Moreover, the colonial polity which succeeded the era of slavery did not provide the former slave and his descendants with significantly greater incentive or opportunity for cultivating these pursuits. Thus, there persists in our society, even to this day, a reluctance to focus too intently on the future.”

We must accept that this attitude remains one of the major fetters of our development, both in terms of our national and individual stunted growth needs. But, as Mr Hoyte pointed out, the attitude was socially constructed, and therefore it can also be socially deconstructed and replaced with attitudes that foster the willingness to plan and work for the future. While we might have rectified some (but certainly not all) of the debilitating premises of our postslavery schooling that continued to hegemonise our minds into the last half a century, we have a far way to go.

Because we often find that, even with the willingness to develop cognitive skills, or in parents to promote such skills in their children, many are still stuck in living for the moment.

And crucial to moving from the cramped and crabbed present into a liberating future of economic, academic and other measures of success is the ability of children to control their impulses and delay gratification, as the study cited above showed.

In most instances, successful individuals were able to bootstrap their way upwards through imitating the habits of other successful individuals and groups. But we do not have to allow the process to be based on “luck and chance”.

The studies have shown that when youths are placed in self-control situations in a structured manner, and they are allowed to experience the potentially negative consequences of impulsive behaviour, they will increase their ability to delay gratification. The same goes for teaching them the benefits of a future time perspective. There are now programmes out there to impart future thinking.

While all children can benefit from this kind of training, it may be best to identify and begin with youths that exhibit low self-control, and therefore suffer the greatest risk of ending up as “failures”. As the authors of the study that prompted this refection suggest: “Because children from disadvantaged backgrounds often score low on self-control ability, and may also be those for which parents may least be able to promote these skills, interventions as part of the formal education may therefore serve distributional purposes.

Instead of redistributing (economic) outcomes later in life, such early interventions allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop better self-control skills. In this way, it is possible to redistribute along the whole spectrum of life outcomes, including outcome categories that are otherwise hard to redistribute, like health, occupational skills, and education.”

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday afternoon handed over 29 pieces of ground cutting equipment to be distributed to various communities around the country over the next few weeks. In this aerial view are 12 lawnmowers and 17 brush cutters, which will be used to prepare the community centres for sports and other recreational activities (Office of the President photo)

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ youths fire them to victory!

Dear Editor, As the senior players Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and skipper Dwayne Bravo all failed to reach double figures, the young players Dominic Drakes, Joshua Da Silva, Fabian Allen and Sherfane Rutherford sparkled as they took the 2021 Caribbean Premier League title for the Patriots.

It was indeed an exciting and thrilling finish to the highly competitive 2021 CPL. All 33 games were keenly contested. It was a tough struggle to get into the final four for the semi-final play-off.

It must be realised that the powerful Barbados Tridents failed to reach the semi-finals, and were at the bottom of the points table.

The powerful Jamaica Tallawahs were also denied a place among the top four teams. However, it was the elimination of the defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders, and the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ removal at the semi-finals that really gave the Leewards and Windwards Islands teams the opportunity to give the home crowd joy and satisfaction.

At the end of the 2021 CPL, the franchise owners must take a serious look at their investment. Sport is a business, and while the sportsmen/players are looking forward for their money’s worth, the franchise owners, who are putting their money and time into the event, must demand results.

While it is clear that only one team can win each year, it is imperative that the administrators and players give of their best and bring that fair amount of satisfaction to all.

A careful look at the GAW reveals that the batsmen were a total failure. The top

batsmen: Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Chandrapaul Hemraj, not to mention the inclusion of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, failed to bat consistently. The inclusion of Anthony Bramble in the team created a vacuum, with one less prominent batman. Three players who were expected to play as batsmen and score runs failed miserably.

As for the bowling, Romario Shepherd is our lead bowler and the certainty in the team. Whenever we need a pinch hitter, the first choice must be Shepherd.

Odean Smith is a pretty good fast bowler, but he needs to be nurtured and assisted so that he could be a match winner. With only two quick bowlers in the team, the franchise must find a genuine quick bowler in the team.

As for the spinners, we must take into consideration the fact that the CPL will be played in the Caribbean, hence the team must have very good spinners. Gudakesh Motie is our best spinner; he is a very good fielder and a reliable lower order batsman.

He certainly was not properly utilised in the competition.

Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd are two bowlers with talent and potential.

The franchise holder must be careful with the ageing Imran Tahir, and we must look for a better bowler than Naveenul-Haq. The leadership must accept that, in one match, the Warriors put down seven catches. While in many ways the fielding was good, the GAW must be better in the field. In the CPL, we must have less dot balls; the batting team must score off almost every ball, while the

bowlers must bowl to their field and stifle the batsmen.

While the GAW did not fail, they certainly did not pass. Come on, leadership;

it is time the Warriors bring home the silverware.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Duncan’s complete lack of respect Dear Editor, Women Empowering Communities and Neighbourhoods (WECAN) condemns the recent attacks on Ministers of Government the Honourable Priya Manikchand and the Honourable Onidge Walrond.

Mr Duncan’s utterances in his Facebook broadcast In the Ring demonstrate unintellectual, tasteless, vile attacks on anyone who does not support the positions of the APNU+AFC. Mr Duncan’s primal attacks have been aimed at Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, among countless others.

Duncan’s outbursts demonstrate his complete lack of professional respect for his colleagues in Parliament, an entrenched attitude of chauvinism that finds favour with his comrades, and a total absence of even the most basic standards of decency and humanity. Unfortunately, his actions fail to attract repulsion and condemnation from his leaders and followers, many of whom are themselves women.

Mr. Duncan continues to behave as though he escapes all accountability for his words. Duncan has repeatedly and cantankerously attempted to denigrate the character of these women in a callous and reckless manner,

although they have done nothing, nor could they have possibly done anything, to have become the victims of such primal attacks from a sitting Parliamentarian.

However, it is generally accepted that ad hominin attacks emerge from those whose reason has failed them.

We call on the APNU+AFC to hold Mr. Duncan to higher standards of leadership that more closely align with goals of national unity.

We also call on the Ethnic Relations Commission to investigate and sanction Mr. Duncan for his calling Minister Walrond a ‘house slave’, a ‘cross’, a ‘devil’ and ‘an incompetent devil’ on his September 7, 2021 Facebook broadcast of In the Ring. In a society where violence against women is rampant, behaviours such as displayed by Mr. Duncan must be condemned in the strongest terms. We therefore call on all women’s organisations to condemn Mr. Duncan’s behaviour.

Finally, we join the rest of the nation in condemning Mr. Duncan’s vile and contemptible attack on Minister Manickchand, on his broadcast of In the Ring.

Sincerely, Women Empowering Communities and Neighbourhoods (WECAN)

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

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

Sexist attacks on women have not gone unnoticed

Dear Editor, Sherod Duncan’s latest video/song posted on Facebook, “Priya is a Wild Hog”, is another act that illustrates the depth of depravity that permeates the PNC/APNU/AFC and Guyana Teachers’ Union connection.

We are all shocked by this yet another occurrence in a stream of incidents of bullyism, sexism and misogyny on social media and in street protests. These attacks have established a clear trend and intent of the APNU-AFC’s distasteful attack against women, a recurrence of similar attacks displayed similarly during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, with the vile racist and sexist attacks and threats to the safety of the Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Chatterjee, and US Ambassador, H.E. SarahAnn Lynch, who dared to represent the positions of their principals in their capitals supporting the democratic will of the people be upheld. It was the same APNU/AFC leaders who made O-line stream of abuse and intimidation targeting the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley, in 2020.

The APNU/AFC leadership in the past has demon-

strated a pattern of reprehensible behaviour that is of such decadence that it undermines the values and laws of our society. We should not forget the public personal attacks by the then Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, against professional women in government service in 2016 and 2017.

As Guyanese, we should be outraged by these escalating incidents, fomented and orchestrated by the PNC/APNU/AFC leaders and activists, and now joined by the Guyana Teachers Union, and denounce them.

The time is now for all to condemn this behaviour as unacceptable, and to dissociate publicly from all who promote this depravity and threaten the safety of all women and girls in our country.

The lyrics of the song posted by Sherod Duncan are close renditions of the distasteful chants used during the PNC/APNU/ AFC and Guyana Teachers Union’s attempted protests. Whilst many of these chants went unnoticed, “Rape! Rape! Priya trying to rape we” was undeniably among the most abrasive and abhorrent statements to be made about a

Opposition willing to stoop low

Dear Editor, There is no doubt that the death of Essequibo businessman Orin Boston sent shockwaves throughout the region. Statements being issued about his death by various parties seem to contradict each other; and as concerned citizens, families and friends, we deserve clarity on what really happened.

At this time, the circumstances surrounding the killing of Mr. Boston

by Police ranks are not entirely known. As such, I am calling on the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police to ensure there is a speedy and impartial investigation into the matter. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, it is important that those found culpable face the full brunt of the law.

I cannot even begin to imagine what Mr. Boston’s family is going through at this time. I personally want to express my sincere condolences to everyone who was a part of Mr. Boston’s life, especially his family. Death is never something easy, and it has a lasting impact.

I pray that God gives everyone the strength to go on, and to keep Mr Boston’s memory alive.

I would also like to urge the family to steer clear of

those individuals who may want to use Mr. Boston’s death to push their own agendas. It is very clear that there are Opposition politicians who are actively trying to hijack and misuse the family’s loss and suffering at this time to perpetuate racism and score political points. Such actions should be condemned not only by Mr. Boston’s family, but by everyone affected by his death.

It is distasteful, to say the least, that at such a sad time, Opposition politicians would desperately try to shift attention to further their own political agendas.

It just shows how low they are willing to stoop.

In closing, I just want to reiterate my call for there to be a speedy investigation into Mr. Boston’s death. I trust that the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police would prioritise this, so that in the event there was any wrongdoing on the behalf of the Police ranks, they are held accountable for their actions.

Once again, I express my sincerest condolences to Mr. Boston’s family and friends, and hope that we can all get closure soon.

Respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

Guyanese woman.

How can the leadership of the Guyana Teachers Union, an organisation comprised overwhelmingly by women, and who teach girls in our schools, representing 50% of the school population, support songs and chants which surreptitiously mock the pervasive crime of rape? How can parents trust these teachers with their daughters?

Once again, we see the depraved behaviour of some APNU+AFC members, who, instead of dealing with the issues they are representing, have sunk to their usual low-life behaviour in attacking the current PPP/C Government.

The video shared by Duncan on social media is crass and clearly displays sexist and misogynistic behaviour to Minister Manickchand.

These sexist attacks on women have not gone unnoticed.

This is a Minister of Education who has championed women’s rights issues and has initiated progressive legislation to protect the rights of women and children, as well as the WOW programme to help women. This blatant attack on Education Minister Priya Manickchand must be condemned, and serious action must be taken against the APNU-AFC leadership, Sherod Duncan, and the Guyana Teachers Union.

Minister Priya Manickchand has been working tirelessly each and every day since our PPP/C Government came in to office on August 02, 2020. She has been implementing the Government’s programme aimed at ensuring that

our children are protected during this pandemic, which has negatively affected our children in Guyana and across the globe.

Fact check for Sherod Duncan, the APNU/ AFC leadership and the Guyana Teachers’ Union: Our Education Minister Priya Manickchand is i n deed a successful Minister, who was able to lead her Ministry through systemic challenges and endure unexpected crises. She has worked to build the capacity of the education system as a whole by fostering leadership, accountability, evaluation and innovation. Education now has an outcome that everyone can agree on today! Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, under Minister Priya Manickchand’s leadership in Education, we now have well-rounded, educat-

ed children who have been given life skills to be able to generate a successful future for themselves. In turn, they are able to contribute positively to the societies in which they live. It is the job of an education system and its leaders to prepare these students for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead of them.

To give a child an education is to give everyone a future, hence we condemn the vicious attacks on the Minister of Education and efforts made by persons such as Duncan that seek to disrespect women and put them in great danger of being victims to this bullyism, sexism and misogyny; and worse yet, rape and other sexual offences.

Sincerely.

David Adams

Teachers’ call for cessation of automatic deduction of union dues understood Dear Editor, As someone with a lot of friends in the teaching fraternity, I feel compelled to echo some of the concerns raised by teachers with whom I am close. Many of these very teachers are afraid to speak out themselves because they fear being targeted by some in the GTU leadership.

It is for this reason I feel compelled to bring these matters to the attention of the public and those in authority, so that they can be addressed.

During the course of the week, I met up with about ten of my friends in

the teaching profession, and we had conversations about the ongoing issues with the GTU. One of the things that they all related was that they want the automatic deduction of union dues from their salaries to be stopped. However, they expressed concerns over the fact that if they were to make this known to the GTU, their names might end up “In The Ring”, and they might suffer attacks similar to those meted out to the Minister of Education.

My friends in the teaching profession are of the view that the GTU in its

Region 5 rejected PNC shutdown call

Dear Editor, Please permit a space in the letters’ section of your newspaper to say a little on the above.

The PNC, and I say PNC because we all know that APNU is PNC and AFC is PNC, had been making some calls to shut down some of the regions, and by extension Guyana on the whole, for their selfish political purposes and gain.

Their call was to shut down the region on Monday 6th and Monday 13th September 2021.

They asked the many businesses to shut their doors, public transportation not to work, workers not to turn out for work, etc.

I traversed the entire Region 5; that is, from Ithaca to Mahaica, and business places were open as usual. People were at work; public transportation was at work, be it private or public sector; and teachers were at school,

etc.

I deliberately stopped in villages that are said to be strongholds of the PNC, viz Central Mahaicony, Belladrum, No.41, Litchfield, Yeoville, No.30, Hopetown, No.5, Rosignol and Ithaca. Almost all of the business places in those villages were open for business.

I can clearly and safely say that even the PNC supporters reject their call to shut down the region.

The entire Region 5 rejected the PNC’s call, and it seems that from now onwards, everything that is being done or called for by the PNC will be rejected, because they only play racism in their politics.

Thank you, Region 5, for rejecting the PNC call.

Regards, Abel Seetaram, Former Region 5 RDC Councillor

current configuration is not working in the interest of teachers, and this is in spite of that Union collecting millions of dollars in union dues which are deducted from their salaries.

They related the absence of support from the Union on issues related to their welfare and their ability to cope with the economic and other challenges brought on by the pandemic. They contrasted this against the support received from the Government, and said

there is a great disparity between the two, even though the Union collects millions of dollars in dues.

Many of the views expressed I agree with, as I believe the GTU has become political, and is operating as an extension of the APNU+AFC. I can clearly see where many teachers are coming from when they say they want the automatic deduction of union dues to be stopped.

Sincerely, Thomas Cole

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

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Foundation

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henever you hear of/study/visit a different place, make an entry into your passport. Sometimes it is a clip-art stamp, a flag sticker, a drawing, handwriting sample of the country name or even a hand-drawn dated passport stamp.

To create your passport: Print the cover and laminate it.

Print the photo page and fill in your details and photo.

Then cut several pages the same size as the photo page, fold and staple.

WORD SEARCH

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

17,000 private school children to get “Because We Care” cash grant – President Ali …$3.3B already distributed to 175,000 children in public school system

President Dr Irfaan Ali

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t least 17,000 children who are attending private schools across Guyana will soon benefit from Government’s “Because We Care” cash grant, which initially was available to public schools.

The greenlight to roll out the initiative to private school students was granted

by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday. This came on the heels of parents of children attending private schools expressing strong support for the programme to be extended to them.

“The decision to extend the programme to private schools will see an additional $320 million distributed to the parents of some 17,000 children. This is on top of the $3.3 billion already distributed to the parents of the more than 175,000 students attending public schools,” a release from the President’s Office stated.

Under the “Because We Care” programme, cash grants totalling $19,000 are

given to the parents of each child attending school, to provide support to parents in procuring school supplies.

“The programme enjoys widespread popularity, but was discontinued by the APNU/AFC while they were in office. It has since been reinstated by the PPP/C upon their return to office, and the amount of the grant (has been) increased to a total of $19,000 per student,” the release added.

However, President Ali has instructed that work commence immediately to make the payout to all eligible parents.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, back in July, had stated that consideration is being given to extend the initiative to students in the private school system.

“We are actively examining now the possibility of extending the grant to kids going to private schools.

Maybe not all of them will take, but some parents have

been making the solid case that they struggle at home to send their kids to private schools. It’s not as though they’re rich. And in a way, those kids who go to private schools, they take some pressure off public schools in terms of space. So, the Government will consider all the facts on the issue and we’ll make a determination very, very soon on the matter,” Jagdeo has stated.

During that interview, the Vice President has also stated that Education Minister Priya Manickchand was in the process of gathering the number of children in the private school system. “…they’re trying to verify the numbers and then to see, should we extend to kids going to private schools, how we’re going to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the money without any leakage or corruption,” he posited.

Government commenced the rollout of the “Because We Care” cash grant programme in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in July last, with many parents of public-school students praising the initiative and saying it would greatly help in assisting them to ensure that their children’s needs are fulfilled.

But some parents took to social media to question the move by the Government to only give the cash grants to those children who attend public schools.

In fact, back in 2020, just after the PPP/C Administration took office, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, during a

Head of State enjoys...

It is alleged that they collected payments amounting to $10 million, but never provided the Force with a raft of revised Standing Orders. President Ali suspended the PSC weeks after the Prime Minister had written to the Chairman and Commissioners asking them to show cause why the fraud charges against them should not result in their removal from the constitutional body.

The Prime Minister, in the letter, had said he was exercising powers vested in him by Article 225 of the Constitution, which mandates that a person shall not be removed from a constitutional office except for inability to discharge the function, or for misbehaviour.

That article further provides that a constitutional office holder can be removed by the President if an appointed tribunal recom-

mends the removal of that person.

The tribunal is to be appointed following the advice of a prescribed authority, in this case, the Prime Minister and is to be constituted in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The JSC is currently not functioning. The last JSC was appointed by former President Donald Ramotar on September 11, 2014. The tenure of each appointed member is for three years; therefore, the tenure of the last Commission expired on September 12, 2017. The life of the PSC expired on August 9.

The PSC is vested with the authority to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in high offices within the Police Force or even remove them from office as well as the promotion of

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Policemen above the rank of Inspector. (G1)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

press conference, had stated that discussions were still in the pipeline on whether the “Because We Care” cash grant initiative would be open to private school students.

Manickchand had agreed that some parents are facing difficulties in sending their children to private institutions, and Government was

not opposed to providing the grant, which is meant specifically to those attending public school. But almost one year later, it appears as though no decision has been taken on this.

The “Because We Care” project was launched back in 2014 under the then PPP/C Government. It was implemented to provide support

to parents with school-age children, and increases their disposable income to raise enrolment and attendance rates.

After taking office in 2015, however, the APNU/ AFC Government scrapped the project, saying the treasury cannot afford to continue with the programme.

But the Irfaan Ali-led Government restored the initiative after taking office last year – a promise the PPP/C had made in its 2020 election campaign manifesto.

As such, in the $383 billion National Budget passed in March 2021, some $60.7 billion was allocated for the education sector. In keeping with its manifesto, the PPP/C Administration increased the “Because We Care” cash grant from $10,000 to $15,000. The party has promised a phased increase of the cash grant to $50,000 per child by the end of its five-year tenure in office.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$5M in ecstasy unearthed by CANU

Arrested: Dutch citizen Dwight Garconious

T

he Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday intercepted $5 million worth of ecstasy tablets during several operations between

Georgetown and the Corentyne in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Three males including a Dutch citizen – Dwight Garconious, and one female were arrested. They are currently assisting with investigations.

CANU stated that a total of 3097 methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (ecstasy) pills were found concealed within two cornflake boxes in transparent Ziploc plastic bags. The total weight of the tablets is 1.262 kilograms.

About three weeks ago, a 33-year-old man was ar-

Raising the temperature...

W The ecstasy tablets found during the operations

rested after he was nabbed with 88 ecstasy tablets in his possession at Helena # 2 Public Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

It was reported that Police intercepted motor car HC 8851 with the driver and four passengers during a roadblock exercise in Helena.

During the exercise, a search was carried out of the said car and a black plastic bag was uncovered in its trunk. Upon enquiries, one man claimed ownership.

A further search was conducted on the bag during which another black plastic bag was found hidden in a rightside shoe uncovered therein. A quantity of blue, green, and yellow tablets was subsequently found.

During interrogation, the owner reportedly told the Police that his son was diagnosed with cancer and he was doing “a lil hustle” to offset his son’s medical expenses.

The tablets were counted in his presence, amounting to 88 tablets which when weighed totalled 38 grams. He is expected to be charged shortly.

CANU Head James Singh has stated that his unit would continue to track down the traffickers in order to put a dent in the trade locally.

He added that his team has been working around the clock along with other agencies, following every lead at its disposal in order to rid the streets and communities of ecstasy as part of the Government’s mandate to stem the flow of narcotics.

He further stated that a National Drug Strategy Master Plan is being developed with the Home Affairs Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure the sustained safety and security of citizens against trafficking well into the future.

He contended that the drug problem clearly required a holistic, balanced, and multidisciplinary response, and in order to deliver this, the plan has to be done in such a way as to utilise a common and shared sense of responsibility among all sectors and stakeholder agencies.

…in Essequibo ell, well, well!! Used to be a time when Berbice and Essequibo were far from the madding crowd of brick throwing and burning bridges literally and figuratively - but your Eyewitness guesses “the times they are a changin’”!! Last year, it was West Berbice exploding in protests after the Henry cousins were murdered in the backlands. It did take some gasoline to be poured by Granger and Harmon, but the flammability of the material had to been there, ain’t so? The gruesomeness of the murders was just too much for anyone to take, even in what evidently were very close-knit communities across the political divide.

They were like how Guyana was before the riots of the sixties - but then, those formerly close-knit communities also descended into barbarism. On both sides, let’s not quibble about that. There’s enough blame to go around many times, so there’s no need to embellish. The lessons are the same from so many countries around that descended into ethnic hostilities after sometimes hundreds of years of living peacefully with each other. Don’t mess around!!

In this day of “identity politics”, folks see their fates as inextricably linked with “their” group, and it doesn’t take much to ignite a spark!

But the protests in Essequibo are a horse of a completely different colour. While we can urge one and all to await a professional investigation in the shooting of that young businessman Orin Boston by a SWAT team, there are enough uncontested facts to raise serious concerns.

Why, in this day and age, does a SWAT team have to kick down doors to get at citizens without warning?? Is that the Standard Operating Procedure? Forget about warrants… there doesn’t seem to have been any. From what we’re told, the Police had evidence of some serious crimes that were either committed or were to be committed on the Coast.

But what about the “knock and announce” rule, before breaking doors? Was there clear evidence that some crime was going to be committed if the Police didn’t break in?

Was some evidence going to be destroyed?? We’ll find out quickly, your Eyewitness hopes.

We’re now told that some other doors were kicked down in the area…what’s going on? Guyanese experienced the terrifying phenomenon of “kick-down-the-door” banditry some years ago. These things remain in people’s minds!!

Anyhow, we must compliment the TOP COP and the Crime Chief for rushing over to the Coast to commiserate with the family, and assure them and the nation that there will be an impartial inquiry into the circumstances under which young Orin was killed.

It was sad the PNC invoked old killings. We don’t need to pour gasoline again.

…on COVID hesitancy It does seem that this COVID hesitancy will be with us as long as the virus will…which is to say, forever. Let’s face it, folks…from what we’re seeing, this COVID virus might just become the new “flu”. Did you realise that, according to the WHO, about 250,000 to 500,000 folks die annually from the “common” flu?? That’s right…it’s been around so long it’s common. Now, God knows, your Eyewitness isn’t making light of the COVID pandemic; he’s lost enough friends to it for that.

But what he now realises is that whatever method we use to fight the COVID pandemic, it’s going to take vaccines PLUS the protocols we’re now familiar with, of wearing masks, washing hands, coughing into elbows and keeping at more than six feet away from each other. But if you think it’s difficult to get people to vaccinate…think about getting them to follow those rules!!

Not to mention the need for periodic lockdowns to contain local “hotspots”. …on teachers Teachers are in an unenviable position. Most of them are just trying to educate our young. They need to be caught in a buzzsaw between the PNC’s GTU and the MoE like a hole in the head!!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

78 COVID-19 deaths recorded in 16 days …299 new cases in 24h GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 UPDATE

T

he steep climb in COVID-19 cases for the month of September has racked up a death toll of 78 thus far, with two more fatalities reported as at Thursday.

In total, there have been 703 deaths from the coronavirus, the latest being an unvaccinated 60-yearold man and a fully vaccinated 70-year-old woman, both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

There are 34 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 156 in institutional isolation, 3182 in home isolation, and 11 in institutional quarantine.

Total confirmed cases in the country now stand at 28,831 after a record 299 new cases in one day. This represents a gender breakdown of 13,793 males and 15,038 females. There are 34 persons in the Intensive Care Unit, 156 in institutional isolation, 3182 on home isolation, and 11 in institutional quarantine.

Recoveries are pegged at 24,756.

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

299

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

156

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

New cases

Regionally, there were eight new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); 22 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 50 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 157 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 12 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); eight in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 23 in Region Eight (Pomeroon-Supenaam); three in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and 15 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Speaking on the issue of compliance from businesses as it relates to COVID measures, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said on Thursday that these entities should work with the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat.

“These various business entities, whether they want to have events with a lot of people, should work along with the Task Force, so that those measures can be put in place. Right now we have

put certain measures, and really, we have to get the business owners to enforce these things. If they don’t want to enforce it, then, in the end, all of us would suffer. This thing is not about Government alone.”

Flouting the measures and protocols could see positives rising even further than the current daily spikes. He noted that enforcement is needed to prevent these infections, but adherence from Guyanese is equally important.

The Minister has advised, “The Task Force works to enforce measures, including restriction of numbers of people gathering, talking to people about social distancing, looking at getting people to comply with mask-wearing. But while the Task Force would try to do this, it’s really each one of us that would have to change our behaviour to make sure that we’re in compliance with those measures.”

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to con-

3182

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

34

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

11

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

15,038

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

13,793

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

28,831

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

24,756

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

337,030

FULLY IMMUNISED

175,037

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

703

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1409

REGION 2

1002

REGION 3

3618

REGION 4

13,740

REGION 5

979

REGION 6

2182

REGION 7

1468

REGION 8

453

REGION 9

2278

REGION 10

1702

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.

tact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480, or 6246674 immediately, or visit us at www.health.gov.gy Persons with comorbidi-

ties have been asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. The preventative measures and

guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to, since this category of person is at a greater risk if they contract COVID-19. (G12)

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dartmouth fatal shooting

Police unable to clear blocked roadway, as makeshift explosives hurled at cops …persons forced to walk, fetch the dead through debris

Young children being escorted through the protest

By Lakhram Bhagirat

D

ay two of the standoff between Police and protestors at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) continued with the law enforcement officers still unable to clear the blocked roadways.

Tension in the relative-

killed by members of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit on Wednesday during an anti-crime operation.

The Police are contending that the man was shot during a confrontation when the rank entered his home at about 04:40h. However, his relatives are disputing

The Police monitoring the situation

A burnt-out car which was subsequently relit

the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

However, a search of the premises did not reveal any

Persons clustered making “channa” bombs

ly quiet community ran high as the residents took to the streets to protest the killing of businessman Orin Boston.

Boston, who operated the “Ease Meh Stress” bar located at Hoppy Street, Dartmouth, was shot and

the Police’s version of the events.

His wife, Feona Boston, told media operatives that her husband was in his bed when he was shot and killed.

After the shooting, the naked body of the 29-year-old father of two was taken to

prohibited or illegal items.

As word of Boston’s death spread in the community, angry friends, relatives and villagers took to the streets.

They hauled fallen trees, old tyres and cars to the middle of the main access road and began their fiery protest.

They are demanding justice and answers from the Police as to what intelligence they possessed that caused them to enter the dead man’s home.

Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum visited the family on Wednesday and promised to leave no stone unturned as they order an independent probe by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

The SWAT officer who fired the fatal shot has since been placed under close arrest as the investigation continues.

On Thursday, Guyana Times visited the community of Dartmouth, where residents were still engaged in fiery protests and were calling for engagement with the relevant authorities.

Region Two Police

assuring them that no stone will be left unturned to have this matter solved. I spoke with the aunt of the deceased, and she has assured me that she will speak to the residents,” Commander Griffith related.

When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, more than 100 protestors were observed at one side of the road while the Police and firefighters stood at the oth-

More burning debris

Pastor Allan Sandy’s body being transported by his relatives through the protest

Commander Denise Griffith was at the protest, coordinating the Police’s response.

She told this publication that they are monitoring the situation, but have been unable to clear the roadway since the residents blocked it on Wednesday morning.

“We have not been able to clear the roadways at any point in the day. At this moment, we are speaking with the citizens and we are urging them to be calm and cooperate. This is an unfortunate incident, and we are

on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie indicated that Boston was killed as a result of intelligence gathered for an anti-crime operation. He could not say what the Police were searching for when they entered the home of the bar owner.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told reporters that Boston had never been prosecuted by the Police.

er side. At no point in time, for the almost three hours that this publication was on the picket line, did the Police attempt to have the road cleared of the burning debris.

When asked about the Police’s presence, the Commander related that they are monitoring the situation, and if there is an escalation, they would step in to have the roadway cleared.

Georgetown-based operation

At a press conference

When questioned about the operation, Commander Griffith explained that she could not go into the details of the intelligence, but she did say it came from Georgetown.

“Well, the intelligence came from Georgetown, and based on the information that was received, ranks were given specific instructions and the team was given specific information in terms of what they had to do. “Unfortunately, what is the result allegedly was not part of the instructions. In terms of where the unfortunate incident that led to the death, that is to say, the moment that led to the shot being fired (No such instructions were given),” she said on Thursday during an interview with this publication.

“At the moment, I can say the Police (have) a side, the family has a side, and so we have to investigate,” Commander Griffith added while calling for the protestors to retreat.

TURN TO PAGE 12

NEWS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Almost 2000 active COVID-19 cases in Region 4 – Health Minister …mulls reprioritising health services if surge continues

A

continued surge in COVID-19 cases in Guyana could result in reprioritising and a possible shut down of non-essential health services in the country, to accommodate monitoring of these patients.

In Thursday’s COVID-19 update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said there are national contingency plans if cases continue to rise in Guyana. One of them is closing non-essential services at medical facilities and redirecting these healthcare workers to treat positive cases.

“We will have to reprioritise, because the more people we get sick with COVID and the more people coming down with the more severe form of the disease, we will have to reprioritise, and maybe non-essential kinds of services we will have to close those and

redeploy staff and resources to treat with the severe cases. We have a number of contingencies in place, and we’ll activate them as is necessary,” Dr Anthony has said.

From the surplus of 3000 active coronavirus cases currently being treated in Guyana, almost 2000 of them are from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). With over 13,000 reported cases to date, this region has been leading the charts for highest positives since the pandemic started in March of 2020. The alarming active positives have raised concerns for officials, and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) also accounts for the second highest cases.

“Most of the cases that we have that are active (are) in Region Four. We also have about 854 cases in Region Three. Between these two

Essequibo man dies after crashing motorcycle into utility pole

The motorcycle that Singh was riding

Dead: Sugrim Singh

A

driver attached to the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Wednesday evening killed after he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and it slammed into a utility pole.

The dead man has been identified as 59-year-old Sugrim Singh, also known as “Sugo”, of Perseverance Estate. Based on reports received, the accident occurred at about 20:30h at Johanna

Cecelia, Essequibo Coast.

At the time of the accident, the now dead man was riding motorcycle CE 5133. As a result, he sustained injuries about his body, and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigations are ongoing.

Back in August, an accident along the Airy Hall Public Road in Region Two had left a Policeman and another man dead.

Ramesh Das, who had been attached to the Court Superintendent’s Office in Police Regional Division Two, and 23-year-old Zameer Ali were at the time on a motorcycle when it collided with a motorcar.

It was reported that the motorcycle ended up in the path of the car, thus causing a head-on collision. As a result of that collision, both men sustained injuries about their bodies.

They were subsequently picked up and taken to the Suddie Hospital, where Das was pronounced dead on arrival while Ali was admitted a patient. He succumbed a few hours later.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

regions, it accounts for the majority of cases that are active,” said Dr Anthony.

There are 107 persons at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, with 34 of those being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit. Some

13 pregnant women are at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“Indeed, we are seeing cases, and with an increase in cases, we expect that we will get more people being hospitalised. As of today, we

have 150 people in hospital across Guyana…We have really an increase in the hospitalisations, as shown by these numbers.”

The Minister pointed out that with variants of concern causing greater threats to public health, Guyanese must be cognisant of the need to adhere to measures.

“Every time you’re in public, you don’t know if the person next to you is a carrier of the virus or not.

Therefore, you have to take these precautions. If you don’t, unfortunately, you are going to get sick, because you probably would have an encounter with someone who might be carrying the virus. It is really important that people adhere to the measures that we have put out,” he emphasised.

Moreover, persons with

comorbidities should be vaccinated, since contracting COVID-19 could cause them to develop a severe form of the virus.

“We want people to make sure that they get vaccinated, especially those people who know that they have comorbidities; meaning, if they have another illness if they have diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, cancers. They just need to go and get vaccinated. That’s one of the reasons why they need to be vaccinated, because they’re at increased risk.”

Adult vaccination has reached 341,600 first doses, or 66.6 per cent of this population. Second doses stand at 176,695 or 34.4 per cent.

Some 19,686 adolescents have also received their first doses. (G12)

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Holistic plan to use oil monies will be made public – VP …as 2025/2026 to see “steep ramp-up” in oil revenues

V

ice President Bharrat Jagdeo has signalled that Government’s objective is to release a comprehensive plan to the public on how it intends to spend

monies earned from the oil sector.

In a recently released interview, the former Head of State said the aim is to focus on priority sectors that

would ultimately improve the lives of Guyanese, looking at access and improvement in services, among other areas. While his administration is keen on sav-

ing the oil revenues, he noted, there must be a balance.

“We cannot have poor people, people who don’t have water and electricity and basic minimum, and not address those concerns whilst we are saving for intergenerational equity. The process will be publicly identifying the project, saying how much money will be utilised from the fund for that project, ensuring that the Auditor General is also aware…It will require parliamentary approval. You know, we’ll go through the parliamentary process, where the project can be scrutinised, all the questions asked, and then implemented,” said Jagdeo.

The former Head of State also pointed out that accountability is high on Government’s agenda, ensuring transparency in any project undertaken.

But to spend the money, Government would not use the framework established by the previous administration.

“Now, our idea is that, in the latter year, by 2026 or so, 2025/2026, you’re going to have a steep ramp up of how much money will come to us,” he added.

Oil revenues have accrued to about US$436 million thus far.

Just last week, oil giant ExxonMobil made its 23rd discovery of oil offshore Guyana, this time in the Pinktail well. The company announced that it found 220 feet (67 metres) of high-qual-

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

ity oil in the Pinktail well offshore Guyana.

It was explained 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, ExxonMobil 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). 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 it is earning interest.

In March 2021, the Natural Resources Ministry

had disclosed that, to date, a total of 5,009,797 barrels of oil, worth US$246.5 million, have been lifted. This sum, added to the royalties the country receives, took the total in the NRF account to US$267.6 million. And if one considers earnings from the sixth lift in April and royalty payments, this amount is expected to climb to over US$300 million.

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.

Police unable to clear...

Justice

The residents are angry, and say they intend to stay on the road until they are given a comprehensive response to the shooting of their fellow villager. They are angry at the way the Police seemingly dismissed the incident by claiming there was a confrontation.

On Thursday, when Guyana Times spoke with the protestors, they said the Police have acted unsatisfactorily.

“We nah need no Police to come to give we answer…We need justice, because it nah mek sense them send Police, because things will get more bad. We need answers, we need justice,” a protestor said.

This publication was unable to get to the other side of the protest, since the residents began hurling makeshift explosives at the Police and vehicles attempting to breach the debris.

However, they were allowing persons to pass through the debris on foot. It meant that persons coming from the direction of Supenaam and headed to Charity area and vice versa had to disembark their vehicles and get another one to their final destination.

Fetching the dead

During the early hours of the protest, a hearse carrying a dead body had to offload it at one side of the protest, and persons had to fetch it to the other side to a waiting

FROM PAGE 10

hearse. That was repeated again in the afternoon when the body of 22-year-old Pastor Allan Sandy was heading to the Charity Hospital Morgue.

Pastor Sandy, who hailed from Judge Creek in the Pomeroon River, died after crashing his boat into a tree.

His body had to be transported from the Charity Morgue to the Suddie Hospital for a post mortem.

During the later afternoon hours, after speaking with a pastor, the protestors allowed a funeral procession to pass through the debris so that the dead person could be laid to rest.

The protesters are standing their ground as they await their demands to be met.

13

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU needs to “reorganise itself” before any talks – Education Minister

E

ducation Minister Priya Manickchand has expressed that the Ministry is willing to work with the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for the betterment of students and teachers, but the Union must first “reorganise itself”.

She made this statement on Wednesday and called out the GTU for playing politics.

She shared that she held the view that Unions, once properly conducted, were noble institutions that ought to be doing good work.

Manickchand, however, said

that the “minute” a union started introducing political content, it is not acting in the best interest of its members.

Guyana has some 55,000 teachers.

“I am prepared to engage with the [GTU] or any other stakeholders as often

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

as is needed for as long as is needed. At this stage, the Union has to decide if they want to engage with us. The Union has to understand its role and fight for itself. And if they are not prepared to do it, then teachers will see it,” she added.

According to the Education Minister, she hopes that the GTU “fixes itself” so that it can have relations with not only her and, by extension, the Education Ministry, but with other persons on the teachers’ behalf.

She posited that the GTU would have great value once it operated as a union.

On Wednesday, the Education Ministry launched its Teachers’ Welfare and Benefits programme which will see teachers from across the country benefiting from discounted services across a wide range of sectors including electronics, telecommunications, retail goods, air transportation, household furniture, and appliances, optical care, office supplies, insurance, garments and access to loans for home building.

But according to Manickchand, the GTU urged teachers to boycott the launching.

“How can you tell teachers not to come to this programme?” she asked. She added that this clearly showed that the Union was not acting in the interest of the teachers who it claimed to represent.

She went on to say, “unions are usually the people who do this kind of service,…they usually, you go

and talk to businesses and get discounts”.

The Minister said since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Unions from across the Caribbean Region have been training teachers on how to use technology to deliver education. This led Manickchand to ask, “What has our union done?”

Nevertheless, she said that she was not “closed at all as to any talks” with the GTU. Manickchand has repeatedly accused the GTU of being a political party. The Union’s General Secretary, Coretta McDonald is an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentarian. At present, the GTU and the Education Ministry are at loggerheads over the reopening of schools for faceto-face classes.

The GTU has accused the Ministry of not including its executives in consultations, in particular, on the Government’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. The GTU reported that many teachers were locked out of school compounds as a result of the vaccination policy.

As such, the Union urged teachers to boycott the reopening of schools and strike. The strike was held on September 8, 9, and 10 in front of the Education Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown headquarters.

Despite the strike action, the majority of teachers showed up for duties, according to data released by the Ministry. The Education Ministry described the GTU’s call for protest action as “uncaring and unconscionable” while condemning it as “irresponsible and not reflective of the realities of the present state of the COVID-19 pandemic nor the needs of the nation’s children”.

After receiving reports about teachers being discriminated against by the GTU because they chose not to take part in the protest action, the Education Ministry earlier this week

GTU General Coretta McDonald

Secretary

removed the Union from its role of selecting teachers for duty-free scholarships and other benefits.

The GTU is among three unions that have mounted a legal challenge against the vaccination policy, and by extension, the COVID-19 Emergency Measures published in the Official Gazette.

The unions, among other things, are seeking to quash the COVID-19 vaccination and testing mandate in the COVID-19 Emergency Measures dated July 29. Under the most recent Emergency Measures, any person wishing to enter a public building must be vaccinated.

A public building refers to a building to which the public has lawful access and includes both privately- and publicly-owned buildings, including learning institutions.

An unvaccinated person who wants to enter a public building must make an appointment and present a negative PCR test taken within seven days of the day they want entry. The Health Ministry has advised the Education Ministry that it would be better to have students fully vaccinated before they return.

The United States Government recently donated to Guyana 146,250 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is being used to vaccinate children ages 12 to 17. And according to the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, there are enough doses to immunise the adolescent population. (G1)

Businessman charged for failure to produce employees’ records to NIS

T

he owner of PHO 592 Original House of Soup has been charged and released on $60,000 bail after he failed to produce his employees’ records to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Derrick Robertson, 44, was arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on August 16, at the NIS office, he failed to

On bail: Derrick Robertson

produce the wages records and contribution payments of his employees.

The Soup Shop is reportedly located at 17 Duncan Street, Bel Air

Park, Georgetown.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus adjourned the matter to October 27, 2021 for disclosure of statements.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ex-GFC workers call Damage, loss assessment of May-June on Commission to floods being conducted safeguard rights – after Commission refuses to pay severance to sacked workers

S

The ex-workers protesting at the GFC’s Head Office

everal former workers of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), along with officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), picketed the GFC’s Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown on Thursday after the GFC refused to pay them their benefits following a decision to terminate their employment.

GAWU, the workers’ bargaining agent, had represented the matter to the Commission, pointing out that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) obligates an employer to pay severance on the termination of an employee.

Arising from the GFC’s stance, the Union approached the Labour Ministry, and following a meeting on August 16, 2021, the Ministry upheld the Union’s view and recommended that the workers be paid their severance, in keeping with TESPA. The Commission’s representatives at that time requested some time to brief their principals and to respond to the Ministry and the Union. Both GAWU and the Labour Ministry made several attempts to contact the Commission, and by letter dated September 10, 2021, the

GFC informed the Union and the Ministry that it had decided not to respect the Labour Ministry’s recommendation.

The Union, in the meantime, has sought the Ministry’s further intervention, as the matter remains alive.

“The workers, having learnt of the Commission’s decision, were deeply upset and disturbed. They shared that while the Commission and themselves may have had differences, they did not expect the GFC, whom they served for several years, to treat them in the manner which they are,” GAWU stated in a release.

The workers are also contending that they are seeking to move on, and as such, seek their severance.

The GAWU, at this time, urges the GFC, as a state agency, to reconsider its position and ensure that the workers’ rights are safeguarded.

It was reported back in May that several employees of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) were sacked for reportedly playing a game of dominoes during their lunch break. But it was later leant that the men were playing dominoes during a ministerial visit by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat to the office.

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he Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), is seeking technical support to evaluate the risks from hazards and disasters in Guyana, while formulating and implementing plans to manage those risks.

As such, five members of a Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) team arrived in Guyana over a week ago to closely observe and report on the economic impact of the May-June nationwide flood.

On August 12, the sectors of focus and methodology of the assessment were presented to various Government Ministers. The methodology aims to capture the macroeconomic assessment of damage, losses and additional costs which resulted from the flood.

These are said to be particularly focused on the agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing, industry and commerce, education, and infrastructure sectors.

The team, organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), was engaged in earlier discussions with the Government of Guyana to communicate goals and expectations, and to finalise plans for the mission.

The group is led by DaLA Coordinator Omar Bello, and consists of Mining Analyst Francisco Ibarra; Economy and Finance Analyst Michael Hendrickson; Statistician Francis Jones, Population Affairs and Public Policy Expert; and Carlos Espiga, an Infrastructure Analyst.

Additionally, the DaLA entourage was accompanied and guided by CDC personnel, representatives

6th annual Timehri Film Festival on next weekend

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he Timehri Film Festival will be held virtually this year, and will showcase films from Guyana and the Caribbean to mostly Guyanese audiences around the world.

This year, the festival will focus on the Caribbean/South American cultures which make up the Guyanese cultural diversity.

In recognition of Indigenous Heritage Month in Guyana, being observed under the theme “Maintaining Our Traditional Integrity, Celebrating Our Cultural Identity,” a special series of videos created by Indigenous videographers in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will be screened on the opening night, followed by a post-screening conversation moderated by Dr. Janette Bulkan.

Following those films, other films from various Indigenous communities in

Colombia will be screened, and will be followed by a discussion moderated by Romario Hastings.

The rest of the opening night programme would feature fiction and experimental work from local and Guyanese diaspora filmmakers.

Other highlights of this year’s programme include the environmental program, presented in partnership with Green Screen Environmental Film Festival TT, featuring films made in Guyana and Jamaica collectively tackling climate change and extractive industry issues.

In acknowledgement of the challenges Haitian immigrants are facing here in Guyana, three critically acclaimed films on the issue will be showcased.

In addition, a Queer film programme is on the cards, featuring films by queer Guyanese Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora filmmak-

ers, as well as a programme of films by some young and exciting filmmakers from the French Caribbean.

Guyana’s own “PARTY DONE”, a film detailing the work of Trinidadian TV personality Ian Alleyne, will be premiered. The four-day event will see several short films being featured.

Those interested in being a part of the festival can navigate to the film/film program’s page and click the RSVP button. This will take you to EventBrite, where you can register for the screening. You will receive a registration email from EventBrite with the zoom link to watch the film.

If you miss the screening, you can follow this process to receive a link via EventBrite to watch the film online up to 24hrs after the film/film program airs.

Visit the festival’s website: TIMEHRI FILM FESTIVAL, to see the full lineup of films.

(R-L): Members of the DaLA Team. Francisco Ibarra, Michael Hendrickson, Omar Bello, Francis Jones, and Carlos Espiga, along with CDC’s Mitigation and Recovery Manager Allana Walters and Julian Cadogan of Caliper Drones

of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Public Works Ministry, and Regional Authorities.

Over a five-day period, assessments were done in some of the flood affected regions across Guyana, such as Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), where the team assessed farms along the Abary River and the sea defence at Dantzig/Fairfield, along Guyana’s coastland; Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) farmlands and communities in the town of Lethem and the village of Sand Creek were observed; Region Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni)- where the team examined mining operations along the Issano to Olive Creek communities, as well as communities in the lower and middle sections of the Mazaruni River.

In Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Kwakwani, Aroaima, Hururu, Ladernsville and Lamp Island areas were visited, as well as a shelter managed by the CDC. And in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), specifically Black Bush Polder and Port Mourant, they assessed farmlands and commercial communities.

Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, was updated on the progress made with the assessment.

Previously, a Detailed Damage Sectoral Assessment (DDSA) was conducted months prior by a team discharged by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) during the final stages of the MayJune 2021 national flood.

The DDSA, which is also part of the DANA continuum, is an assessment that is distinctive from the DaLA, as it is usually done during the response and early recovery stages of the hazard impact, with specific geographical and sectoral focus.

The DDSA reports are currently being reviewed by the CDC and other relevant technical agencies, and can be referenced as baseline data for the DaLA.

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dartmouth protests…

Commercial slowdown recorded as protesters block main thoroughfare …protesters damage backdam road preventing farmers’ access

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usinesses along the Essequibo Coast are reporting a commercial slowdown as protestors in the community of Dartmouth, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) continue to block the roadways, preventing access to both commercial hubs in the region.

Charity and Anna Regina are the main commercial hubs on the Essequibo Coast, and would see hundreds of people traversing the coast to conduct business there.

However, since the protests started following the shooting to death of 29-year-old businessman Orin Boston, there has been a constant decline.

Boston was shot and killed in his home by the Guyana Police Force’s SWAT team early on Wednesday morn-

Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit

mercy of being cut out more than they are, those who need medical help, and of course the severing of that roadway affects the rice crop that is ongoing now,” Baksh said.

He explained that the farmers depend on both the main thoroughfare and backdam roads to transport their paddy from field to mill, and with harvesting season ongoing, they are ever more dependent. He added that the farmers cannot delay the harvesting of their paddy, since the rice crops work with their own schedule.

“The crop has its own schedule, and because the paddy cannot go back and forth over that bridge, the mills are isolated. The paddy can’t flow back and forth, and it is going to disturb the harvesting significantly,” he added.

The ECCI, in a statement, called for calm and restoration of the roadways.

“We believe that the protestors’ refusal to deny fellow Essequibians access to

go ahead to reconstruct the dams, so that the farmers can access it to transport their paddy. He added that they are also appealing to the residents to discontinue blocking the roadways, so that the Region can be serviced.

He explained that farm-

the rights of everyone else,” the statement said.

Baksh further related that he has not been able to fully assess the situation on the ground, but expects a comprehensive report soon.

Meanwhile, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, who visited the picket line on Thursday, told Guyana Times that businesses have been significantly impacted by the blocking of the roadways.

“So Charity, which is an economic hub here, a lot of business people in Charity depend on Bakewell, Banks, DDL and all of those agencies, but they are stuck up and they could not have passed to go down and supply their customers in Charity,” he said.

Oodit said the Regional Democratic Council is waiting on the Police to give the

ers with perishable goods that come from the Pomeroon would offload at Charity and then trucks would transport from there to Supenaam to the ferry and then to Parika; but, with the roads being blocked, they cannot do so.

Those farmers, he said, may suffer financial losses if the blocking of the roadways continues.

This publication spoke to a number of truck drivers who are hoping that the road would be cleared so they can ply their trade.

The usually bustling Anna Regina Market was almost at a standstill as well when Guyana Times visited.

Friday is usually market day at Anna Regina, and the vendors there are monitoring the situation to see the impact of the blocked roadways.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), Aadil Baksh

service and goods will result in harm to the most vulnerable among us, especially the farming residents of the riverine outlying areas, who

depend on these roadways to sell produce and get essential supplies. We call for calm on both sides in this ing during an anti-crime operation. Since then, Boston’s fellow Dartmouth villagers have blocked the main roadway as well as dug out the dams preventing access beyond the community on both ends.

President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), Aadil Baksh, told <<Guyana Times>> on Thursday that the blocking of the roadways would have a particularly devastating impact on the most vulnerable communities.

“What is happening here is going to affect the most vulnerable parts of our population. The people in the riverine area who are at the

emotional time, and that we all consider how our actions affect others.

“The ECCI also urges the relevant authorities to secure the roadway and restore its function in a manner that is safe and decisive.

A small number of persons cannot be allowed to deny

NEWS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese engineers commence training to work on Prosperity FPSO ising careers in the country’s oil and gas sector. It is geared towards building and developing key competencies needed in the local petroleum industry.

The company’s Human Resource Manager, Onecia Johnson, has said, “SBM Offshore takes its commitment to local content very seriously, and is leaving no stone unturned in the engagement and upliftment of Guyana and Guyanese in the oil and gas sector.”

The Prosperity will be Guyana’s third FPSO, and is expected to be deployed The six graduates currently undergoing training

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even graduate engineers from SBM Offshore’s Graduate Engineering Programme have been sent to the Netherlands to officially begin training in preparation for work on the Prosperity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO).

These engineers are Malik Lewis, Raymond Luckhoo, Kishaun Lall, Paula Ceres, Daniel Troyer, Tanisha Selby and Andy Sattan. They will spend the next six months in the Netherlands working along-

side the project team on the development plans for the Prosperity FPSO, which is currently under construction in Singapore.

These engineers were all recruited from the University of Guyana (UG) earlier this year. “Their journey began on July 26 when they travelled to Suriname, where they were placed in quarantine for two weeks, in keeping with COVID-19 protocols. After their period of quarantine, they departed Suriname on August 9 for The Netherlands,” said SBM in a press statement.

Following this aspect of the training, they will then move on to Singapore for another six months, where they will be receiving hands-on training and will be engrossed in the practical aspects of engineering on the Prosperity FPSO. They will then return to Guyana to complete their training, and await placement on the Prosperity FPSO when it begins operating at the Payara field.

SBM Offshore’s Graduate Engineering Programme is a model project that seeks to empower, train and prepare young Guyanese for prom-

GHDS urges Hindus to get vaccinated – must present vaccination card to enter Satsanghs

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n light of the rising number of COVID-19 deaths and positive cases, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) is now urging all Guyanese, especially devotees who are worshipping in mandirs across the country, to get vaccinated.

To this end, those who wish to attend mandir are now asked to present proof of vaccination/vaccine cards before entry to Satsanghs and services.

The alternative is for mandirs to hold virtual Satsanghs to cater for all devotees safely.

In a statement on Wednesday, the organisation noted, “Some of our important observances that attract large numbers of devotees are forthcoming, notably Navratri and Diwali. For us to enjoy and observe these sacred days to the optimum and safely, it is necessary for the maximum number of persons to take the vaccines.”

Further, the organisation stressed the need for vaccination by highlighting the easy transmission and deadly nature of the new Delta variant, which calls for even more precautions to be taken, including vaccination.

“While vaccinations are not compulsory and remain a choice, they are the most important medical interventions that can save lives and prevent complications from COVID-19. We urge all to get vaccinated,” the statement further stated.

The Dharmic Sabha is also pleading with its members and the general public to adhere to the COVID guidelines by continuing to practise social distancing, wear masks, and sanitising often.

“As the world and our country battle the COVID-19 virus, we want to ensure that all our Guyanese brothers and sisters remain safe and protected. Together we all need to fight against this virus with the mechanisms at our disposal. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha reiterates its support for the vaccination drive as a critical form of protection and life-saving intervention.”

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony also sounded a warning to Guyanese about the seriousness of the coronavirus disease locally, where many persons are now being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with a more severe form of the virus.

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha President, Dr Vindhya Persaud

“The ICU is filling up, and we really want to urge people to be cautious, to wear their masks, to keep social distancing, to sanitise their hands when they’re in indoor environment, to be in a ventilated environment.

All these things help; so it’s not just about vaccination, which is very important, but it is all the additional measures that you have to use,” the Minister has warned.

Works are ongoing to further expand the Infectious Diseases Hospital’s intensive care capacity to accommodate a surge. Recently, the ICU was expanded to cater for an additional 10 patients – a bed capacity of 38.

Thus far, there is adequate supply of oxygen for the facilities.

at ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block offshore Guyana as part of the Payara oil field development.

Prosperity, which will be able to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day, will have an associated gas treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. It will be spread moored in a water depth of about 1900 metres, and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.

Meanwhile, the second FPSO, Liza Unity, is on target to achieve first oil in

Guyana in 2022. The Liza Unity will have a capacity of 220,000 bpd per day.

Exxon has estimated that there are eight billion barrels of recoverable reserves in the Stabroek Block, and until recently, it predicted that the country would produce 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025. According to experts, 750,000 barrels of oil per day would make Guyana the fourth-largest oil producer in Latin America. In current production growth, that would be behind Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. (G12)

More strides being made to tackle mental health issues in Guyana

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s continuous efforts are being made to bring awareness of the seriousness of mental health in Guyana, and the severity of its impacts on youths, the Health Ministry’s Mental Health and Adolescent Health Unit, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Georgetown, Life Reform, and Desert Flower Guyana, on Wednesday evening held a webinar session called “The Mind Matters”.

Senior Psychologist and Supervisor of the Psychology Department within the Mental Health Unit at the Health Ministry, Balogun Osunbiyi, along with Assistant Mental Health Counsellors Crystal Debidin and Rosana Wilson shared information on the importance of a healthy mind.

With the presentation focusing primarily on how individuals can improve their overall well-being by getting their minds in tune to the goals they hope to achieve, Osunbiyi explained why it was important to have a healthy mind and the resultant benefits.

“Looking after our mental health and emotional well-being is just as important as caring for our physical health. Our mind and body are not separate, disconnected things – they are a part of what makes us whole,” the psychologist expressed.

He went on to state that “mental health and physical health, therefore, are both part of our overall health and well-being. For example, experiencing physical symptoms like headache, tiredness, shaky hands, etc, as a result of stress, anxiety or low mood.”

Osunbiyi noted that whereby there were times persons may feel as though they have no control of the thoughts and feelings they might be having at a given time – which may sometimes be negative, there are ways in which persons can

Senior Psychologist Mental Health Unit, Balogun Osunbiyi

at

the

improve their mood, which will make a difference in improving their mental health.

“Just as with our bodies, we need to look after our minds at all times, not just when we feel bad.”

Assistant Counsellor Debidin then shared key activities for a healthy mind – sleep time, physical time, time in, down time, play time, and connecting time.

Debidin explained that sleep time entails ensuring you have a sufficient amount of sleep so that you can continue functioning properly.

In regard to physical time, she advised that persons do exercises or yoga. The “time in” component referred to taking the time to process internal conflicts, whereby down time is the time taken to relax or meditate. Play time and connecting time, she stated, can usually be put together. This is when we socialise and take the time to strengthen bonds with our friends, family, and co-workers, etc.

In addition to this, she noted that the adoption of positive thinking is a simple but necessary process in developing a healthy mind.

“When we think about positive thinking – how we do this, there are different methods… you can take control of your state – that is taking control of your body, your physical body,

your physiology… have a healthy outlook of things,” the Assistant Counsellor explained.

She further noted that adjusting your mindset by being optimistic, studying your habits and creating new ones can have a great impact on the journey of a healthy mind.

Assistant Mental Health Counsellor Wilson shed light on the need for persons to surround themselves with positive people, since this also played a major role in the development of a healthy mind.

“It’s really good to surround yourself with positive people, and we know that negativity and positivity have been shown to be contagious. So, you must consider who you’re spending your time with,” Wilson advised.

She further explained that surrounding yourself with positive people improved self-esteem and increased chances of achieving goals. Surrounding yourself with positive people, she noted, lifts you up and helps you to see the brighter side of life and have positive thoughts about yourself.

Wilson recommended practising positive self-talk, since research has shown that even a small shift in the way you talk to or about yourself can influence your ability to regulate your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours while under stress.

Senior Psychologist Osunbiyi shared, “As a boy growing up, my father used to sit us [siblings] down and he would say, you know everybody is looking for somebody to love them, and then he would ask, do you love yourself?”

He went on to say that “It starts with you really loving you, really loving yourself. Treating yourself the way you would like someone to treat you.”

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Regional

Under scrutiny in murder inquiry, Haiti’s Bahamas heads to polls in close election overshadowed by COVID-19 PM receives international backing

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ahamians headed to the polls on Thursday to elect a new government as the Atlantic island chain continued to reel from an ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases and slump in the tourism-dependent economy due to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis of the Free National Movement (FNM) is hoping to become the first premier in 24 years to win a second five-year term. But his party was neckand neck with the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in polls ahead of the snap election.

The PLP has focused its campaign on what it says is the Government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak and the economy which has seen unemployment surge to an estimated 20 per cent and the fiscal deficit bal-

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 27, 2019

loon during the pandemic.

Some 119 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Wednesday, taking the active number to 1679 in the nation of just 400,000 people, while the positivity rate has hovered around 25 per cent for the past six weeks.

Julian Rolle, Chairman of the Public Hospitals Authority, told Bahamian media it had become difficult to staff healthcare facilities properly given about 5-10 per cent of staff was quarantined due to exposure to the virus.

“We can continue to wander aimlessly under the visionless, inept, scandalised Free National Movement, or we can usher in greater transparency, equality and prosperity with the PLP,” PLP leader Philip Davis told voters during his eve-of-election campaign rally.

Minnis has countered that the PLP cannot be trusted with reviving one of the most prosperous economies in the Atlantic-Caribbean region where tourism accounts for around 50 per cent of output and 60 per cent of employment.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s Judiciary aiding repression, UN finds

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United Nations fact-finding mission has found that Venezuela’s justice system has played “a significant role” in the State’s repression of Government critics.

Venezuela’s Judiciary lacked independence and had allowed serious human rights violations to go unchecked, its report concluded.

Public officials have been able to commit crimes with impunity, it adds.

The Venezuelan Government has not yet commented on the report.

The team conducted 177 interviews and analysed 183 detentions of people who are,

or whom the Government perceives to be, opponents.

It found that detainees had been subjected to torture, including sexual violence, and that some had been “arbitrarily deprived of life”.

No high-level officials have been investigated or prosecuted in these cases, the report added.

One of those cases is that of student Juan Pablo Pernalete, who died after being hit with a teargas canister shot at close range by the National Guard during an anti-Government protest in 2017.

In May 2021, Attorney General Tarek William Saab

announced that 12 members of the National Guard had been arrested and charged with “complicity in an involuntary homicide”.

The Government, including Saab, had for years falsely maintained that fellow protesters had killed Juan Pablo Pernalete with a bolt gun.

Saab’s announcement caused surprise, but the parents of Juan Pablo Pernalete have pointed out that none of the accused were detained.

They have also said that the charge of “complicity in an involuntary homicide” does not reflect the serious nature of their son’s killing.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Pandemic deeply impacting children and adolescents, PAHO Director says

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an American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director, Dr Carissa Etienne said on Wednesday, COVID-19 has severely impacted the mental and physical health of children and adolescents in the Americas.

Dr Etienne, therefore, urged countries in the Region to take several specific measures to protect them, including safe reopening of schools.

She said over 1.5 million cases of COVID-19 were reported among children in the Region last year, while more than 1.9 million have already been reported in the first nine months of this year.

While children and young people generally experience mild or no symptoms, they can also develop severe illness.

“As more adults receive their COVID-19 vaccines, children – who are not yet eligible for vaccinations in most countries – are representing a larger percentage of COVID hospitalisations and even deaths,” Dr Etienne said in a media briefing.

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group of leading Haiti-based diplomats met with Prime Minister Ariel Henry and said it backed his efforts to solve the country’s political crisis, an apparent vote of confidence as he faces off accusations of links to the slaying of President Jovenel Moïse.

A Public Prosecutor said on Friday phone call records showed Henry had spoken twice with the suspected mastermind behind Moïse’s killing just hours after it took place on July 7.

Henry, who denies he had anything to do with the murder, this week fired the Prosecutor, who had sought

to have him charged as a suspect, as well as the Justice Minister. Henry, a former neurosurgeon and political moderate, has not publicly addressed the phone calls.

He has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated.

The Core Group of Western Ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations and Organisation of American States said in a statement late on Wednesday it encouraged efforts by Henry and others to form “an inclusive government and accelerate the return to normal functioning of democratic institutions through elec-

tions”.

Power struggles under Moïse had led to a political and constitutional crisis, with only a handful of elected officials in post after the country failed to hold parliamentary or municipal elections.

At the weekend, Henry announced an agreement between Haiti’s main political forces on a transition government, aiming to lead next year to elections and a referendum on a new Constitution.

But the questions over his links to the suspect in Moïse’s assassination have overshadowed that news.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

El Salvador drafts proposal for controversial constitutional changes

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l Salvador’s Vice President has delivered the final proposal for constitutional changes to President Nayib Bukele, including the extension of presidential terms and a new electoral tribunal body, the Government said on Thursday.

The President’s legal adviser, Javier Argueta, said in an interview with a local television station that Bukele will review and study the proposals before sending them to Congress, where Bukele’s party has a large majority.

A team of lawyers led

by Vice President Felix Ulloa had been drawing up the controversial proposals that have worried rights groups and US officials, who are concerned about what they see as democratic backsliding and authoritarianism under Bukele.

The lawyers put forward 216 reform proposals to the Constitution relating to fundamental rights as well as El Salvador’s political and economic sys-

El Salvador’s Vice President Felix Ulloa speaks with members of the media after a briefing with the diplomatic corps on the plan to reform the Constitution, in San Salvador, El Salvador, August 13, 2021

tem.

“El Salvador is in a foundational phase. We are founding a new country and with that new vision of the future we have collected this document from the people,” Ulloa said in a video released by the Government at midnight on Wednesday.

At the moment, the reform package would need be approved in one legislature and ratified by the other, before it could take ef-

fect. Bukele’s Government, however, proposes bypassing Congress and ratifying the changes to the Constitution through a referendum.

Bukele would be in a strong position to push through any changes via a referendum due to his high approval rating, which stands close to 85 per cent, according to a recent poll by the newspaper La Prensa Grafica. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bolsonaro’s support hits fresh low ahead of Brazil 2022 vote, poll shows PAHO recommends measures to protect children from the pandemic’s indirect and direct effects, as more than 1.9 million children and adolescents reported infected with COVID-19 this year

“So, let’s be clear: children and young people also face a significant risk of disease from COVID-19.”

The PAHO Director said an array of secondary impacts caused by the viral illness are hitting children and adolescents particularly hard.

“The virus indirectly has consequences and is hindering their growth and development, and jeopardising their chances at a bright fu-

ture,” she said.

“With each day that children go without in-person schooling, the higher the likelihood that they drop out and never return to school.

For some of the most vulnerable children – particularly for our girls – this can have lasting consequences.

“Experts agree that the pandemic has triggered the worst educational crisis we have ever seen in the Region.” (Excerpt from CMC)

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razilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s popularity has hit the lowest point of his time in office, a Datafolha poll showed on Thursday, with 53 per cent of respondents disapproving of him ahead of a presidential election next year.

The pollster’s last survey, in July, showed 51 per cent of respondents disapproved of the far-right former army captain. This month’s poll showed 22 per cent rate him as good or excellent, down from 24 per cent in the earlier poll.

Bolsonaro has seen his poll numbers sink due to his handling of the world’s second-deadliest coronavi-

rus outbreak, rising inflation, stubborn unemployment and running battles with federal courts.

On September 7, at a series of pro-Bolsonaro rallies that drew tens of thousands of yellow-clad supporters across Brazil, the President said he would no longer comply with the rulings of one Supreme Court Justice.

Although he later walked those comments back, the latest Datafolha poll suggests his attacks on the courts have done him no favours with voters who are more concerned about rising prices and a lack of work.

Polls show Bolsonaro

trailing his most likely 2022 election rival, leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro has yet to announce his candidacy, but that has not stopped him from making unfounded attacks on the integrity of Brazil’s electronic voting, drawing rebukes from the federal electoral court and congressional leaders.

Bolsonaro has so far avoided consideration of the many impeachment proposals against him in Congress, but must walk a fine line to avoid alienating a centrist bloc of lawmakers whose support he needs to remain in power.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices steady as US storm threat wanes

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il prices steadied on Thursday after hitting a multi-week high a day earlier as the threat to US Gulf crude production from Hurricane Nicholas receded.

Brent crude ended the session up US$0.21 or 0.3 per cent at US$75.67 a barrel. On Wednesday Brent touched US$76.13, its highest since July 30.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ended the session unchanged at US$72.61 a barrel after climbing to the highest since August 2 on Wednesday.

"With prices now back around summer highs, we are seeing some profit taking kicking in, but the rally continues to look well supported," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda.

US Gulf energy companies have been able to restore pipeline service and electricity quickly after Hurricane Nicholas passed through Texas early this week, allowing them to focus on efforts to repair the damage caused weeks earlier by Hurricane Ida. "As Nicholas spared US production from further disruptions, it is difficult to see how oil prices can increase further in the near term," said Rystad Energy analyst Nishant Bhushan. "Ida-affected oil production capacity continues to recover in the US." Oil jumped on Wednesday, supported by figures showing US crude inventories fell by a bigger-than-expected 6.4 million barrels last week, with offshore oil facilities still recovering from Ida's impact.

Brent has rallied about 45 per cent this year, supported by supply cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, plus some recovery from last year's pandemic-related collapse in demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

COVID: Italy to require all workers to show “green pass” certificate

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School staff in Italy are already required to show a so-called "green pass"

taly is to make it compulsory for all workers to have a Covid "green pass" – proof of vaccination, a negative test or recovery from the virus.

The measures are a first for Europe and some of the strictest in the world.

Anyone without a pass will reportedly face suspension from work and may have their pay stopped after five days.

The measure, due to come into force on October 15, aims to boost vaccinations in a country that has been badly hit by the virus.

Green pass certificates for COVID-19, provided both digitally and on paper, are already required to access Italian train stations, cinemas, restaurants, gyms and swimming pools.

School staff are also required to show a pass and some teachers have reportedly been turned away from work.

On Thursday, the Italian Government approved a new

law to extend the requirements to all workplaces and employees across all sectors, including the self-employed.

Businesses and staff could face fines of up to €1500 (£1,280) if people are found to be working without a valid green pass.

Announcing the decision, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the new measures would improve safety and "make our vaccination campaign even stronger".

"The implementation of a pass such as the one we are bringing into force with this decree will, we are certain, help us push forward this vaccination campaign," he said.

Despite a vocal anti-vaccination minority, Italians have broadly backed the government's vaccination campaign.

Nearly 65 per cent of Italians have now been fully vaccinated, but infections have been rising, driven by the Delta variant. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China denounces US-UKAustralia pact as irresponsible

C

hina has criticised a historic security pact between the US, UK and Australia, describing it as "extremely irresponsible" and "narrow-minded".

The deal will see the US and UK give Australia the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.

It is being widely viewed as an effort to counter China's influence in the contested South China Sea. The region has been a flashpoint for years and tensions there remain high.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the alliance risked "severely damaging regional peace... and intensifying the arms race".

He criticised what he called "the obsolete Cold War... mentality" and

The deal will see the US and UK give Australia the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.

warned the three countries were "hurting their own interests".

Chinese State media carried similar editorials denouncing the pact, and one in the Global Times newspaper said Australia had now "turned itself into an adver-

sary of China".

The US is sharing its submarine technology for the first time in 50 years, having previously only shared it with the UK. It means Australia will now be able to build nuclear-powered submarines that

are faster and harder to detect than conventionally powered fleets. They can stay submerged for months and shoot missiles longer distances – although Australia says it has no intention of putting nuclear weapons on them.

The new partnership, under the name Aukus, was announced in a joint virtual press conference between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

And while China was not mentioned directly, the three leaders referred repeatedly to regional security concerns which they said had "grown significantly".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Glasgow climate summit at risk of failure, UN chief warns Reuters in an interview at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

"There is still a level of mistrust, between north and south, developed and developing countries, that needs to be overcome."

"We are on the verge of the abyss and when you are on the verge of the abyss, you need to be very United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres

U

nited Nations chief Antonio Guterres said a critical meeting on climate change later this year in Scotland is at risk of failure due to mistrust between developed and developing countries and a lack of ambitious goals among some emerging economies.

The UN COP26 conference in Glasgow aims to wring much more ambitious climate action and the money to go with it from participants around the globe. Scientists said last month that global warming is dangerously close to spiralling out of control.

"I believe that we are at risk of not having a success in COP26," Guterres told

careful about what the next step is. And the next step is COP26 in Glasgow," he said.

Guterres and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Monday host a meeting of world leaders on the sidelines of the annual high-level week of the UN General Assembly in a bid to build

Canada's Trudeau hammers main election rival's COVID-19 approach

C

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seeking to carve out a lead ahead of Monday's election, accused his main rival on Thursday of showing weak leadership in the fight against COVID-19.

Opinion polls show Trudeau's centre-left Liberals effectively tied with the right-of-centre Conservatives led by Erin O'Toole and set to fail in their bid to win a parliamentary majority.

Trudeau, 49, noted that O'Toole, 48, had praised Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's decision earlier

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

this year to quickly lift public health restrictions in the Western Canadian province.

Kenney, who served in

ECOWAS resorts to sanctions over Guinea and Mali coups

W

est Africa’s main regional bloc has imposed sanctions against the military Government in Guinea and those slowing Mali’s postcoup transition – its toughest response yet to a run of military takeovers.

The move on Thursday was agreed at an emergency summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra to respond to last week’s putsch in Guinea and per-

the chances of success at the climate conference, being held from October 31 to November 12.

"My objective and the reason why we are convening a meeting on Monday is exactly to build trust, to allow for everybody to understand that we all need to do more," Guterres said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

ceived slow progress towards constitutional rule in Mali following a coup last year.

Regional Heads of State decided to freeze the financial assets and impose travel bans on Guinea’s military leaders and their relatives, insisting on the release of President Alpha Conde and a short transition.

“In six months elections should be held,” said ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude

Kassi Brou at a briefing.

The bloc also piled more pressure on Mali’s transitional government, demanding they stick to an agreement to organise elections for February 2022 and present an electoral roadmap by next month, according to the post-summit communiqué.

Anyone in Mali hindering preparations for the elections faces the same sanctions as those imposed in Guinea, it said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Conservative former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Cabinet before the Liberals took power in 2015, backtracked this week after a surge in COVID-19 cases threatened to overload the provincial healthcare system. Kenney apologised and said he would introduce vaccine passports.

"The choices that leaders make in a crisis matter ... just a few days ago Mr O'Toole was still applauding Mr Kenney for his management of the pandemic," Trudeau told reporters in Montreal.

"That's not the leadership we need in Ottawa to end this pandemic for good," added Trudeau, who backs mandatory vaccine mandates. The Liberal leader heads a minority government that depends on the Opposition to pass legislation.

O'Toole has repeatedly sidestepped questions about his earlier support for Kenney's approach to COVID-19.

"As prime minister, I will work with all premiers, regardless of stripe, to fight against the pandemic," O'Toole told reporters in Saint John, New Brunswick, saying Trudeau should not have triggered an election during a pandemic. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

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Pull strings, discuss your plans with someone who helps and believes in you, and shoot for the stars. Your insight, knowledge and ability to articulate what you want will take you far.

Take a step back, recalculate your final steps and complete your journey. Precision is everything when you are trying to establish your position. Stay focused on your strengths.

Fine-tune your skills.

Focus on what you want to accomplish. You’ll get the recognition and accolades you desire. Having a plan in place will build confidence.

Let your creative imagination wander, and you’ll come up with a brilliant idea that will set you apart from any competition you encounter. Embrace change instead of running from it.

Having a plan in place will help you avoid mistakes.

Don’t allow outside influences to interfere with your process. Deal with matters personally to avoid regret. Take better care of your home.

Settle in, take care of business and don’t stop until you are satisfied with what transpires. Your discipline and desire to get ahead will encourage you to do your very best.

Finish what you start.

A proactive approach will show others that you are serious about what you are trying to accomplish. Refuse to let physical restrictions block your progress.

Reevaluate the past and present before you plunge into the future. Having a handle on what’s transpired will prevent you from making the same mistake twice. Put a wellthought-out plan in place.

You’ll have the upper SAGITTARIUS hand if you are organized (Nov. 23and innovative. A positive Dec. 21) attitude and a staunch approach will ensure that you keep anyone who tries to interfere at a distance.

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Consistency will be your ticket to success. Stick to the rules and regulations, and don’t take risks that can jeopardize your health or reputation. A physical change could leave you feeling vulnerable.

Focus will help you overcome temptation and interference. Know what you want and don’t let up until you reach your goal. Look over your options, and stay centered on what’s of utmost importance.

You may not welcome a change, but the results you achieve will surprise you.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

21

CG Insurance Women's ODI series…

South Africa trounce WI Women in fourth ODI S

outh Africa Women completed another demolition job on the West Indies Women in the fourth One Day International in North Sound, Antigua. The South African Women won by 35 runs in a low-scoring game.

Batting first, West Indies Women restricted the South Africans to 185-6 in 50 overs; while West Indies, batting all 50 overs, managed only 150-9 in 50 overs.

Rashada Williams topscored with 42, before she was run out with Guyanese Shabika Gajnabi (08) at the crease. Earlier, West Indies Women won the toss and opted to field first, and had a dis-

2. Deandra Dottin attempted mission rebuild with her 22 from 58 balls, but she fell at 48-3.

SCOREBOARD

Guyanese Cherry-Ann Fraser made her ODI debut

Rashada Williams top-scored for the West Indies Women

Mignon du Preez

ciplined outing with the ball, restricting the South African Women to 185-6 in their allotted 50 overs.

Mignon du Preez topscored with an intelligent, unbeaten 65 from 91 balls, which included five fours.

Tauzin Brits made 30

The innings lacked firepower for the West Indies as Dane van Niekerk grabbed 3-23 in her top spell.

while Sinalo Jafta chipped in with an unbeaten 28.

The West Indies Women bowlers kept South Africa Women in check, as every bowler had an economy rate below six.

Captain Anisa Mohammed claimed 2-26 from her quo-

ta of 10 overs, while Shaker Selman, Aaliyah Alleyne, Hayley Matthews and Guyana's Cherry-Ann Fraser, on her debut, had one wicket.

SA Innings Laura Wolvaardt c Grimmond b Alleyne 1 Tazmin Brits c Dottin b Mohammed 30 Lara Goodall b Matthews 9 Dane van Niekerk (c) b Fraser 20 Mignon du Preez not out 65 Chloe Tryon c Gajnabi b Selman 12 Nadine de Klerk c & b Mohammed 1 Sinalo Jafta †not out 28 Extras (b 5, lb 2, nb 2, w 10) 19 TOTAL(50 Ov, RR: 3.70) 185/6 Did not bat: Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Laura Wolvaardt, 1.1 ov), 2-36 (Lara Goodall, 12.6 ov), 3-57 (Tazmin Brits, 19.6 ov), 4-88 (Dane van Niekerk, 26.6 ov), 5-118 (Chloe Tryon, 32.3 ov), 6-122 (Nadine de Klerk, 35.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shakera Selman 10-1-31-1 Aaliyah Alleyne 6-0-28-1 Deandra Dottin 5-0-16-0 Hayley Matthews 10-0-33-1 Anisa Mohammed 10-0-26-2 Cherry-Ann Fraser 7-0-33-1 Sheneta Grimmond 2-0-11-0

In response, West Indies lost early wickets, with Reniece Boyce and Guyanese Sheneta Grimmond batting at three back in the hut at 19-

WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 186 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Reniece Boyce †c Wolvaardt b Klaas 7 Rashada Williams run out (D van Niekerk/†Jafta) 42 Sheneta Grimmond c Brits b Mlaba 1 Deandra Dottin c & b van Niekerk 22 Hayley Matthews lbw b de Klerk 14 Kycia Knight c van Niekerk b Ismail 15 Shabika Gajnabi c Ismail b Klaas 8 Anisa Mohammed (c) lbw b van Niekerk 8 Aaliyah Alleyne not out 8 Cherry-Ann Fraser c Brits b van Niekerk 8 Shakera Selman not out 1 Extras (lb 7, nb 3, w 6) 16 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 3.00) 150/9 Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Reniece Boyce, 3.5 ov), 2-19 (Sheneta Grimmond, 6.4 ov), 3-48 (Deandra Dottin, 16.1 ov), 4-70 (Hayley Matthews, 21.6 ov), 5-111 (Kycia Knight, 37.3 ov), 6-115 (Rashada Williams, 38.5 ov), 7-126 (Shabika Gajnabi, 43.3 ov), 8-129 (Anisa Mohammed, 44.4 ov), 9-144 (Cherry-Ann Fraser, 48.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Shabnim Ismail 8-0-29-1 Masabata Klaas 10-2-25-2 Nonkululeko Mlaba 8-0-29-1 Dane van Niekerk 8-0-23-3 Nadine de Klerk 6-1-19-1 Chloe Tryon 10-2-18-0

Athletics coach Alberto Salazar's ban upheld by CAS

B

anned athletics coach Alberto Salazar's fouryear suspension has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The 63-year-old was banned two years ago by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for a series of doping violations, but appealed the decision.

Salazar ran the Nike Oregon Project (NOP) based in Beaverton, Oregon. It was established in 2001 and was the home of British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah.

Farah has not been accused of doping, and left the Oregon Project in 2017.

A BBC Panorama programme in 2015 focusing on Salazar and the NOP prompted a four-year investigation by USADA and a two-year court battle behind closed doors.

It eventually resulted in bans for both Salazar and Nike Endocrinologist Dr Jeffrey Brown, announced in October 2019.

The appeals of Salazar and Brown, who was also banned

for four years, were heard virtually over seven days in March earlier this year.

A full report by CAS, which has upheld both bans, is due to be published within days.

Background to Salazar's downfall The investigation into Salazar began after a BBC Panorama programme in 2015.

UK Athletics (UKA), the sport's UK governing body, conducted its own review into the claims, and gave Farah the green light to continue working with Cuban-born Salazar.

Doping charges against Salazar and Dr Brown were brought by USADA in June 2017. The pair contested the charges, supported by Nike-paid lawyers, and the case went to the American Arbitration Association.

Farah announced he was leaving Salazar in October 2017, the same year he was knighted, but denied his decision was to do with the doping claims. During his time at the NOP, 5,000m and

Alberto Salazar was banned from athletics in 2019

10,000m runner Farah won six World titles and four Olympic gold medals.

An independent panel upheld findings of four violations by Brown and three

by Salazar, with both being found to have tampered with the doping control process, and Brown to have trafficked a banned performanceenhancing substance to Salazar.

Salazar was found to have possessed testosterone, with Brown complicit, plus Brown was found to have administered a prohibited

method, with Salazar complicit. A request by USADA for their bans to be increased was also rejected.

The panel emphasised that none of the violations "directly affected athletic competition, and that there was no evidence put before the CAS as to any effect on athletes competing at the elite level within the NOP".

CAS previously said Salazar and Brown "communicated repeatedly" about the athletes of the NOP’s performance and medical conditions, exchanging information without any apparent formal authorisation

by the athletes at the NOP or distinction between Dr Brown's role as an athlete's physician and NOP consultant.

USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart said his organisation was "pleased" CAS had upheld the antidoping violations and fouryear sanctions, and described the case as a "long and difficult road".

"Hopefully, this sends a powerful message that when athletes come to us with information of doping violations or other misconduct, they know we will listen to them and protect them by pursuing the evidence, no matter the power, influence, or financial resources of those in violation - even those, like here, who orchestrate cover-ups and attempt to obstruct the truth," he added.

"While this CAS case dealt only with technical antidoping rule violations, the whistleblowers who came forward prompted an ensuing investigation that resulted in

a cascading effect, exposing a toxic and unhealthy culture at the Nike Oregon Project, and unacceptable behaviours and practices against athletes that were carried out by people at the top of the programme sworn to protect them."

Nike said it had "supported Alberto in appeal because we understood, and the first panel found, that there was no doping".

The company added: "There was no finding that performanceenhancing drugs have ever been used on Oregon Project athletes, and the panel went out of its way to note Alberto's desire to follow all rules.

"We are glad to see that CAS reiterated this in their decision, and stated that the way that the case was handled was disproportionate to the severity of the violations established.

"Alberto is no longer a contracted coach, and we shuttered the Oregon Project almost two years ago." (BBC Sport)

22

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Kohli to step down as India's T20I captain after World Cup

irat Kohli has announced that he would be stepping down as India's T20I captain after the upcoming T20 World Cup. He, however, wants to continue as Test and ODI captain.

Kohli announced his decision on Twitter, saying he made it with his workload in mind as a three-format player, and that he has already spoken about it with BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah, and the selectors.

He said he arrived at his decision after "a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people", including India Head Coach Ravi Shastri and the whiteball vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who has already led India in 19 T20Is when Kohli has been rested.

Although the BCCI is yet to name a successor, Rohit is likely to be the frontrunner.

"Understanding workload is a very important thing, and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years, playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI Cricket," Kohli said.

"I have given everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain, and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as a batsman moving forward."

The development comes exactly eight days after Kohli sat with the selectors to finalise the India squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be played in the UAE in October-November.

"Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time," Kohli said.

"After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people,

Virat Kohli will step down from T20 captaincy after the upcoming World Cup

Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I've decided to step down as the T20 Captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October."

In a statement, BCCI President Ganguly said the decision was made keeping "the future roadmap" in mind.

"Virat has been a true asset for Indian Cricket, and has led with aplomb," he said. “He is one of the most successful captains in all the formats. The decision has been made keeping in mind the future roadmap. We thank Virat for his tremendous performance as the T20I Captain. We wish him all the best for the upcoming World Cup and beyond, and hope that he continues to score plenty of runs for India."

Shah said he had been in talks with Kohli "for the last six months" over his workload.

"I have been in discus-

sions with Virat and the leadership group for the last six months, and the decision has been thought through.

V i r a t will continue to contribute as a player and as a senior member of

the side in shaping the future course of Indian Cricket."

Kohli took charge as T20I captain in 2017 after MS Dhoni stepped down.

Kohli has so far led India in 45 T20Is, of which India have won 27, lost 14 and tied two. As captain, he has scored 1502 runs at an average of 48.45 and a strike rate of 143.18, with 12 fifties, including a best of 94 not out in a successful chase of 208 against West Indies in Hyderabad.

Since the start of 2017, Kohli has been the third-highest run-getter in T20Is overall, and the highest among India batters ahead of Rohit, who has scored 1500 runs at an average of 33.33 and a strike rate of 148.95.

The timing of the announcement, just over a month before the World Cup begins, as well as the news itself, may have caught many within and outside the India camp by surprise, but Kohli has been mulling over lightening his workload for a while. It's something India's selectors and team management have also kept an eye on, resting Kohli whenever possible from T20Is, to the extent that he has only played 45 of India's 67 matches in the format since taking over as captain.

Not having to worry about the T20I captaincy could also help Kohli focus more on his batting, particularly at a time when he's in the middle of a trough in Test cricket.

Since the start of 2020, Kohli has averaged 26.80 over 12 Test

matches, and across all formats, he has gone 53 innings without an international hundred.

Kohli would have also been aware of the growing pressure on his captaincy from outside, with nu-

F

merous pundits, including the former India opener Gautam Gambhir, suggesting that India need to adopt split captaincy.

Last year, immediately after Rohit led the Mumbai Indians to their fifth IPL title, Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo that would be Indian cricket's "loss" and "misfortune" if Rohit did not get the opportunity to take over the white-ball captaincy.

Gambhir had stressed that Kohli was not a "poor" T20 captain, but contrasted his failure to win an IPL title during his long reign leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore with Rohit's strong record with Mumbai.

"They can also consider split captaincy," Gambhir said. "No one is poor. Rohit has shown in white-ball cricket how big the difference is between his and Virat's captaincy. One player had led his team to five titles, the other hasn't won yet. I'm not saying this because Kohli is a poor captain, but he has received the

same platform that Rohit has, so you have to judge both of them on the same parameters. Both have been captains in the IPL for the same length of time. I feel Rohit stands out as a leader."

Kohli's decision also comes close on the heels of the BCCI deciding to appoint Dhoni as the team's mentor for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. While Shah did not provide the exact reason why Dhoni was brought on board, ESPNcricinfo understands that the BCCI wanted to ensure two things: that he could help the leadership group in their planning, and, more importantly, also play a key role in selections for matches.

While India have been highly successful in all three formats under Kohli, they are yet to win a global trophy during his reign, which Ganguly has pointed out in the past.

The presence of Dhoni would both lighten Kohli's burden and help Shastri and his coaching staff with planning. (ESPNcricinfo)

Guyanese players invited to Barbadian female chess tournament

emale chess players from Guyana will this weekend have the opportunity to flex their minds and skills as they have been invited to participate in the inaugural Margaret Prince

Barbados Chess Federation, and will be held in honour of Ms Margaret Prince who was the first Women’s Chess Champion for that Caribbean island.

A total of seven rounds

Lam and Anaya Lall have all played in the recent FIDE Online Youth and Cadet World Cup 2021 with favourable results, and are expected to head into the weekend’s tournament with great momentum.

Older, more experienced players such as Jessica Callender, Shazeeda Rahim, Nellisha Johnson and Sherlyta Campayne, who have all participated in the Online Olympiad recently, are also looking forward to demonstrating their skills in this much-anticipated female tournament.

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The invitation was extended by the Barbados Chess Federation to the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) for all female players to participate, and will see a two-day competition on Saturday, September 18th and Sunday, September 19th.

The event is being organised by the Women’s Chess Sub-Committee of the

will be played over the twoday event, which will see females from over 20 countries in and around the Caribbean participating.

According to the GCF, Guyana will be well represented by a team of both senior and junior players, mostly veterans of past international online tournaments.

Top junior female players such as Adia Alphonso, Maliha Rajkumar, Pooja

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23

Pooran, Shepherd, Smith in CPL ‘Team of the Tournament’ T he 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League’s (CPL’s) Team of the Tournament has been announced. The

team was selected by the Hero CPL commentary team, comprising Ian Bishop, Danny Morrison, Daren Ganga, Simon Doull and Samuel Badree.

The team features nine Caribbean players and two

overseas stars, and selection rewards consistent performances across the 2021 tournament.

The team heavily fea-

tures young players from across the Caribbean, who have been extremely impressive in this year’s Hero CPL. The team includes Ravi Rampaul, leading wicket-taker for this season, and

the World Cup-bound Evin Lewis, who has been excellent throughout. The two overseas players who make the team are Faf du Plessis

and Tim David, both from the Saint Lucia Kings.

The performances of Rampaul and Roston Chase in the tournament have seen them gain selection for the West Indies squad for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Ian Bishop, former West Indies international and Hero CPL commentator, said: “The commentary panel, in selecting the Team of

the Tournament, would like to commend the teams and players for making the job a very challenging one.

“A few players stood head and shoulders above the crowd due to their high level of excellence, and their

performance simply made their case impossible to ignore.

With the remaining selections, there was vigorous debate and sometimes splitting hairs due to the high levels of performance and competition for similar roles from experienced, mid-level and young players.

“The abundance of talent, enthusiasm and passion shown by so many players in 2021 was laudable, and once again made the tournament extremely competitive and compelling viewing.

“We accept and welcome the view that fans will have varying opinions and debates on their favourite player, and we commend all the players for their distinguished efforts throughout

the tournament.” (CPLT20)

Hero CPL 2021 Team of the Tournament

1. Evin Lewis (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots) 2. Faf du Plessis (Saint Lucia Kings) 3. Nicholas Pooran (Guyana Amazon Warriors) 4. Roston Chase (Saint Lucia Kings) 5. Kieron Pollard (Trinbago Knight Riders) 6. Tim David (Saint Lucia Kings) 7. Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders) 8. Romario Shepherd (Guyana Amazon Warriors) 9. Odean Smith (Guyana Amazon Warriors) 10. Akeal Hosein (Trinbago Knight Riders) 11. Ravi Rampaul (Trinbago Knight Riders)

Relieved and thrilled to pull off CPL, says Pete Russell

Hutson sees upcoming Championships as ‘second chance’ to make SA U23 roster

F

ollowing a brief pause over the last few weeks, athletics will return on a grand scale next weekend when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosts the National Youth and Junior Championships.

The meet is scheduled for next weekend, September 25th and 26th, and the AAG is said to be working on ensuring there is a smooth competition.

In an invited comment to Guyana Times Sport, AAG President Aubrey Hutson revealed that preparations are going well, as the AAG hopes to put together a group of capable officials

ternoon, and we've received quite a few of them.

So, we’re just going to meet with some of our officials this afternoon for an initial discussion on the conduct of the meet,” the AAG President informed.

“We're going to look during the course of next week too, to do a little refresher with all officials, (so) that we can have the right officials coming with the right attitude to have a great Youth and Junior Championships.”

Hutson also hopes to see many young athletes out on the track next Saturday and Sunday. He is citing the absence of the

to oversee the meet.

“Preparations are coming along quite nicely. We expect all the entry forms to be returned by this af-

National Schools Track and Field Championships which are customarily hosted in November as his reason.

T

Pete Russell

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

He said, “We expect some good performances from our young athletes, because we know that we know that there’ll be no schools’ championships this year. So, we're trying to encourage a lot of the young athletes to come out, be active before, you know, we start next season.”

While the National Youth and Junior meet will be quite important, it can be seen as only a warm-up, as some of those athletes prepare for the South American Under 23 Championships next month.

Even though there was already a trial for qualification, Hutson says he will not be depriving any outstanding performers a spot

on the South American Under 23 team.

“If any athlete does anything special, yes, we will look at it. And, you know, try to get them on the team,” he said.

The athletics boss explained, “We're not going to look at an athlete who’s doing great things at the Youth and Junior Championships and ignore their performance. So, outside of the Under 23 trials, which most of them attended, to me it’s like a second shot at making it to (the) Under 23 team.”

The Championships will be hosted at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

he thrilling Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is done and dusted, and what a spectacle it was for the world. This is the second year the tournament was hosted in a bio-secure environment, and according to CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell, he is relieved and thrilled at the successful hosting of the tournament.

"It's been a huge challenge second year running that we were able to do it in a bubble, safe and secure. Really thrilled it has come off the way it did,” Russell said.

He added: "I just feel relief that we got to where we got to, but thrilled fans around the world enjoyed a great spectacle. We cannot wait for the tenth anniversary."

In the 33 matches played at Warner Park, St Kitts, the highest team total was 255-5, scored

by Jamaica Tallawahs, in contrast to 185-3, the highest total in CPL 2020 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Considering the small nature of the venue in St Kitts, they were three

other scores of 200-plus in the CPL 2021. The commentators on air made numerous mention of the ground staff, commending their efforts.

"We had to play 33 matches (at one venue); everyone said we would not be able to do it. That wicket has played fantastic, we had great cricket all the way through, we had great success," Russell explained.

The CPL CEO is also impressed with the young players who made that transition from the CPL to the global stage.

"That's the beauty of it.

If you look at the Team of the Tournament, there are nine West Indians.

Look at the players going to the IPL, we have 14 on that flight, and people want Caribbean players to play around the world. A lot of them are the young guys that done amazing," Russell disclosed.

Host nation St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won their maiden CPL title in the 2021 edition under the captaincy of Dwayne Bravo, in his 500th T20 match. (Brandon Corlette)

Ph Ca

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

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

Page 23

President Ali reiterates encouragement to Shepherd …puts Selection Policy under the microscope

By Jemima Holmes

G

uyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday afternoon handed over 17 lawnmowers and 17 brush cutters to directly fuel the Government’s ‘Ground Enhancement Programme’ which has been ongoing for some months now.

While this was a notable presentation at the National Stadium, Providence, and will augur well for numerous facilities across the country, it was by no means the highlight of the President’s time spent in the world of sport, as he addressed a number of trending topics, the most significant of which is the debate on Cricket West Indies’ selection process.

The Head of State was posed with questions about his social media post made over the past weekend, wherein he questioned the non-selection of Guyana’s Romario Shepherd to the West Indies T20 World Cup squad.

“It is crazy. It is crazy that he’s not selected,” a flabbergasted President Ali told sports journalists.

He added, “As a matter of fact, I will go beyond that to say it’s not only an issue of transparency. Who owns West Indies Cricket? If the people of the West Indies own West Indies Cricket, then somebody has to be accountable to the people.”

The President empathised with what he imagines to be Shepherd’s plight, after a stellar performance in the recent Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in which he took 18 wickets in 9 games at an average of 14.11 and an economy of 7.69.

“I put myself in his place. If I know that I am going in this tournament to secure a place in the West Indies team, and I’m putting everything out there to show my talent and to show that I’m in form, and then at the end of the tournament, that doesn’t matter; I’m not

picked based on my form and my performance, then what happens, you know?”

President Ali related.

“I feel as a Guyanese, not only as a Guyanese, as a West Indian fan, and I’ve seen situations when people who are in a position to speak up did not speak, and I’ve seen great talent fall by,” he said in an appeal for the utilisation of the Berbician all-rounder’s talent.

As such, President Ali disclosed that he took the onus upon himself to reach out to the Guyanese cricketer to offer advice and encouragement.

“This is a superb talent.

This is an all-rounder that I think has a great, great future ahead of him. I’m happy I had the opportunity. I spoke to him directly, and I told him hold his head up high and continue to work hard, perform and let your performance speak for itself.

“When there’s injustice,

you have to speak up, and this is a case of injustice.”

Hoping for some form of justification, President Ali continued, “And I hope that there’s an official release on his exclusion.”

Moreover, the President revealed that he is yet to hear from anyone in high cricket authority, since his Facebook post attracted overwhelming attention over the weekend.

“I’ve not heard from anybody at the GCB; I’ve not heard from anyone,” Dr. Ali related.

“But this is a matter for the Cricket Board and the authorities also to weigh in.

This is not a Guyana matter, I think this has to be a regional matter, in which the region itself has to pay attention to how people are treated.”

The Cricket Authorities, however, were not the only ones that came under scrutiny from Dr. Ali, as he went on to question Cricket West Indies’ Selection Policy.

President Irfaan Ali

“Because if you have the regional tournament as the tournament that selects the West Indies team, and you have bowlers coming out of the regional tournament with the most wickets and can’t find a place in the team, what happens? Then there is no incentive to being the best bowler in the tournament.

You have batsmen coming out with high average and they are not part of the team. It is time the people of the region know what criteria the board is using to select teams,” Guyana’s

Head of State declared.

In addition to his wickets in the tournament, Shepherd also smashed 109 runs in the tournament, striking at 165.15, with a high score of 72 not out.

It is important to note that the Cricket West Indies Selection Policy is no secret, but is rather a public document that can be found on the organisation’s website.

However, the question that remains is the Selection Panel’s tendency to abide by the directives of the policy.

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