Guyana Times - Monday, August 24, 2020

P12

Liberia, SADR Presidents congratulate President Ali Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4387

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

$600M support extended to GuySuCo for wages and salaries See story on page 9

– Govt approves $90M for MMA-ADA

Evaluation of Bayphase Payara review extended

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Regional hospitals being equipped P14 to tackle increased COVID-19 cases – as 30 new COVID-19 cases confirmed on Sunday

Police probing assault on P2 traffic rank by motorcyclist

See story on page 3

– Natural Resources Minister says review should be completed this week

Police acted properly to recover State assets – AG ...Jones has legal recourse if he feels otherwise See story on page 10

GECOM gazettes election results, lists of MPs — list includes WPA member despite See story on page 16

party asking her to withdraw

Executives of Change Guyana dissolve party

Handyman found dead in alleyway at Atlantic Gardens

P2

Liliendaal P14 youth hopes to be next “big thing” in music industry

Pomeroon River double murder Page 11

– will work towards building a new political movement

Injured family members P15 remain hospitalised

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police probing assault on Handyman found dead in traffic rank by motorcyclist alleyway at Atlantic Gardens

The alleyway where the man was found dead Dead: Phillip Ketwaru

A

The officer being assaulted by the suspect

P

olice are now investigating an assault committed on a police constable who was performing traffic duties at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, on Saturday.

According to the police, the rank observed a motorcycle driving up a one-way at King Street.

As a result, the rank approached the driver, who then jumped off his motorcycle and walked towards a nearby snackette.

Guyana Times understands that the constable

called out to the driver in an attempt to get his attention but he did not pay heed.

Instead, the errant driver went into the snackette and it was at this time that the police held on to the motorcycle.

The driver, in a fit of rage, ran out of the fast-food outlet and dealt the officer several cuffs to his head, face and other parts of his body.

During the assault, the rank’s cap fell off and he was forced to let go of the motorcycle. As the officer was recovering from the blows, the

motorcyclist picked up the bike and began running towards Regent Street in an attempt to escape.

However, with the assistance of other ranks that arrived at the scene, they were able to restrain and arrest the driver, who was escorted to the Brickdam Police Station, where it was observed that he is not the holder of a driver’s license and had no insurance for the motorcycle.

He was placed in custody pending charges. The entire ordeal vent viral on social media.

handyman, who did odd jobs for people, was on Sunday found dead in an alleyway in Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man has been identified as 58-year-old Phillip Ketwaru of Lot 34 Mon Rose Seawall Road, ECD. Based on reports received, the man might have fallen and sustained injuries but was left on the alleyway without anyone rushing to his assistance.

He was found in close proximity to a businessman’s house with whom he worked.

At the scene, Kaman Ketwaru, the man’s son, told media operatives that his family would have received a telephone call informing them that he had

fallen and was in need of medical attention.

The person on the other line was the businessman who the now dead man was working with at the time he fell.

The family members, however, arrived at the location about an hour later but by this time, the handyman would have taken his last breath. He was reportedly lying in a motionless state and was not breathing, the son stated.

The police were immediately contacted and the police arrived at the scene soon after. They would have examined the man’s body and escorted it to Lyken’s Funeral home for a post-mortem.

One woman who lives close to where the man was found recalled hearing a moaning sound emanating from the alleyway. She reportedly went out to check

but did not see anyone and as such, she went back in her yard.

Soon after, she explained that she saw a crowd in the alleyway and it was then she was told that someone had died. The police have since detained the businessman who Ketwaru was working with up the time of his demise.

The businessman’s wife reportedly told Police the now dead man was supposed to work on Saturday but he did not show up.

However, he showed up on Sunday morning claiming that he was not feeling well. She claimed that she told him to return home and come another day.

She told Police that the man jumped the fence instead of using the gate. It was while scaling the fence, he reportedly fell.

The police are continuing their investigations.

NEWS

3

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 24 – 11:00h – 12:00h and Tuesday, August 25 – 09:30h – 11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 24 – 07:55h – 09:25h and Tuesday, August 25 – 08:45h – 10:15h.

Evaluation of Bayphase Payara review extended

– Natural Resources Minister says review should be completed this week

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloud and light rain showers will prevail during the day. There will be clear skies during the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to South South-Easterly to East South-Easterly to Easterly to East NorthEasterly to South South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 08:22h and 20:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.55 metres.

Low Tide: 14:14h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

13 18 19

20 27 28

17

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

03 08 10 12 25 LUCKY 3

2

3

0

2

Afternoon Draw

6

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

03

05

10

11

12

PAY DAY

19 SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

02 04 08 15 16

13 15 16 18 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$44.35/barrel

-1.24

Rough Rice

$222.53 /ton

-0.26

London Sugar

$370.60/ton

-1.44

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1934.80

$1935.80

Low/High

$1929.90

$1943.40

Change

-7.60

-0.39%

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

T

he Government has agreed to an extension of a few days for the consultants evaluating the review done by British firm Bayphase Limited on the Payara project Field Development Plan (FDP).

This was revealed by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat in an interview with Guyana Times on Sunday. Previously, the evaluation was supposed to be completed by today but Bharrat revealed that the team of consultants led by former Alberta Premier Allison Redford needed more time.

“The consultant is still working on the examination of the review done by Bayphase. And you would understand that it’s not something we want her to rush through. Her and her team. So, we are hoping that she can wrap up sometime this week,” Bharrat explained.

“She had asked for a little extension, which we were okay with. We didn’t want to rush the process and compromise it in any way. We wanted to ensure we got quality work. So, it’s still on course, it’s still ongoing.

We’re hoping it will wrap up shortly.”

When it comes to ExxonMobil’s environmental issues, Bharrat noted that the consultant is working with regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

She has also met with officials from ExxonMobil, in order to resolve outstanding issues.

Payara, which was discovered in 2017, is Exxon’s third potential development project within the Stabroek Block after Liza Phase 1 and 2. The discovery well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering more than 29 metres of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

The Payara development plan includes a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, named Prosperity. It is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day, supporting up to 45

wells, including production, water injection and gas injection wells.

Under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the Energy Department contracted Bayphase to conduct a review of the FDP in December of 2019.

The review was completed but in the wake of the controversies that followed the March 2, 2020 elections, little progress was made on approving the plan. Exxon’s Final Investment Decision (FID) hinges on gaining approval for the development.

Exxon has complained that further delays in granting approval for the project could result in less revenue for Guyana after the project

starts up in 2023. But experts have argued that unless Exxon is able to give proper environmental and local content assurances and even improve the terms of its contract with Guyana, approval should be withheld.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had recently explained that because Cabinet lacks the technical capacity, it tapped into an

mer Attorney General and Premier of Alberta, Canada, and has worked with other groups around the world to conduct similar reviews in nature.

She has served as a World Bank Advisor on Gas Sector Reform in Pakistan and Afghanistan and in other jurisdictions, as they develop new approaches to upstream regulation, transparency and accountability inclusive of community engagement.

As Premier of Alberta, she introduced the Responsible Energy Development Act, which created the Alberta Energy Regulator. The Act sets out rigorous regulation, compliance, and enforcement provisions on all aspects of oil and gas produc-

existing Canadian grant to recruit independent experts who would review the work done on Exxon’s Payara project FDP, before granting final approval for the project.

Those experts included Allison Redford, who is a for-

tion, including permits and licenses.

Further, she also developed the Canadian Energy Strategy for Canadian First Ministers and the Transition Energy Initiative for the Conference Board of Canada.

Former Alberta Premier Allison Redford

4

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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

Guyanese workers and oil

I

n our editorial in yesterday’s edition, “Local Content and Citizen Participation”, we outlined the commitment of the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime to proceed with enacting legislation that would ensure Guyanese obtained a larger share of the opportunities created by the nascent oil industry. Today, we would like to explore what some of those opportunities might be and exactly what the Government ought to be doing with its proposed legislation. Since it was announced that President Irfaan Ali would be conducting a series of countrywide consultations under the ambit of “Citizen Participation”, it would be helpful if the citizenry were better informed on the issues flowing out of a “Local Content Policy”.

While it might seem obvious, the first requirement is that there must be a clear articulation of what Guyana considers to be “local content”, since there is wide variation across the globe on this issue. For instance, Tanzania defines Local Content as, “The added value brought to the country in the activities of the oil and gas industry in the (country) through the participation and development of local (citizens) and local businesses through national labour, technology, goods, services, capital and research capability.” On the other hand, in his second draft to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government in 2018, Trinidadian expert Anthony Paul had defined the term as “the sum of inputs of local goods and services including employment across the oil and gas value chain”.

We should note, first of all, that “Local Content” does not refer to the revenues that will be accruing to Guyana from the 2% royalty plus the 12.5% profit (in oil) that Raphael Trotman accepted from the Overseas Oil Companies (OICs) for the oil from the Stabroek Block. These revenues are being deposited in the US financial institution the NY Fed, and will be acceptable for specified uses determined by the Government after it revisits the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act that was hurriedly passed in the wake of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM), without the participation of the PPP/C. Local Content seeks to have Guyanese directly “get a piece of the action” from the activities that actually extract the crude oil out 120 miles off our shores from under the Atlantic Ocean and ship it directly from that point. Citizens should be aware that at this point, not a drop of this oil will enter Guyana. Today, we look at employment of Guyanese. The Liza 1 oil field phase one development involves 17 wells, comprising eight production wells, six water injection wells and three gas injection wells, and a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel with the capacity to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed).

The drilling of those wells by a specialised ship, Stena Carron and processing and shipping from the FPSO “Liza Destiny” at best would have employed several hundred workers. According to ExxonMobil, however, “around 1700 of ExxonMobil’s employees and other workers supporting its activities in Guyana are Guyanese – more than 50 per cent of the total workforce”.

ExxonMobil expects that by 2025 at least five FPSOs will be producing more than 750,000 boed from the Stabroek Block.

Some of those workers are ancillary staff that would be based on shore.

It has been revealed, however, that most of these workers are actually being paid abysmal wages much lower than foreign workers doing the same jobs, which shocked even the APNU/ AFC Administration. The PPP/C Administration has committed itself to addressing this problem. Another source of employment would be individuals who are employed at some of the shorebased companies that service the operations at sea, such as, for instance, the company Schlumberger that purchased the Gafson’s facility at Houston to facilitate a “mud plant” that services the oil extraction process. There are at least a dozen of these foreign companies plus a number of local ones such as Muneshwers’ “Guyana Shore Base Inc”.

Overall, however, it must be recognised that direct employment in the off-shore oil extraction business will not solve Guyana’s massive unemployment problem since even by the most optimistic projections, even when the entire Stabroek Block is serviced to produce its targeted 750,000 barrels per day (bpd), the 7000 jobs lost in the APNU/AFC sugar closure would not be covered.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Located just outside the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is the largest religious site in the world. It was created originally as a Hindu temple and mausoleum for the Khmer ruler in the early part of the 12th century and was converted to a Buddhist temple at the end of the 12th century. Just part of an enormous ancient city. There are hundreds of other ruin sites in the area, all part of the ancient capital of Angkor.

The APNU/AFC party has an uphill task to retain confidence of its supporters Dear Editor, Seems as if the Democratic Convention in Washington was orchestrated to facilitate the completion of Guyana’s election so that, the local scenario can play a pivotal role and all the salient events can be capitalised upon to drive home and support the various speakers’ presentations.

President Donald Trump was portrayed as being the wrong person to represent the interest of the American people because he lacked empathy and what he allowed to go on in the country is not right and not what the people want to be.

So typical of the former President of Guyana who completely misrepresented the mass and failed to keep in touch. Mr Granger ran a campaign on truth, honesty and integrity. We know how far at sea he was from this slogan with all the corruptions being highlighted, seen as the tip of the iceberg then, and now, we are getting a deeper insight as to the reality of the deep destruction and to the magnitude of the catastrophic damage.

“Unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free: the cold hard truth”, Michelle Obama had stressed at the closing of the first night on Tuesday. A lie fact sheet as monitored by the Washington Post confirmed that Trump made some 20,000 misleading statements to the public.

Everything about Granger

was intertwined between lies and deceits.

No wonder he chooses to hide from the nation rather than hold regular meetings with the press and media.

Not surprising, the PPP/C was able to capitalise on the APNU/AFC party’s misfortunes because, “when they go low, we go high,” according to Michelle Obama.

She also said, “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can, and they will if we don’t make a change in this election.” Luckily for Guyana, with the help of the domestic and international community, Guyana was able to avoid a state of pariah and the popular will of the people saw the PPP/C replacing a beaten APNU/AFC for a changing of the guard.

Trinidad Prime Minister, Keith Rowley did exclaim, “Things will not end well.”

Perhaps he had a premonition that the APNU/AFC would experience a state of dismantling with all hell breaking loose as is currently happening.

More analogies were replicated to capture the attention of Guyanese and to make pertinent comparisons. The first Black and Asian woman to be on a national ticket for a major party, Kamala Harris, underscored our ethnic issue saying, “There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to put in the work.”

The strife created by many guilty perpetrators tried to undermine the

peaceful divide in this country but thankfully, they were unsuccessful and when the new President was declared the winner and sworn in, there was no disturbance and, violence did not materialise in the streets as the instigators were hoping.

Guyanese have learnt a lesson and are unprepared to revisit the past and indulge in irresponsible behaviour.

This generation is more mature and sober and cannot be easily fooled. Those bygone days are shelved and Guyanese are more united and will not replay the race match that translates to violence and animosity. The new breed of political leaders has to be cognisant of this sensitive issue and never again “try a thing” because the “slo fiya, mo fiya” will only boomerang.

Hillary Clinton’s speech was on the money, this can’t be another “woulda, coulda, shoulda” thought to entertain that can impede the relationship of Guyanese and the progress of this nation. Guyana was snatched from the mouth of “Jaws” just in time and democracy was given a new life.

Bernie Sanders hit the nail on the head, synchronising America and Guyana when he commented, “During this President’s term, the unthinkable has become normal, I and my family and many of yours know the insidious way authoritarianism destroys democracy, decency and humanity.”

Under the PPP/C mantle-ship, society will be al-

lowed to function with the decency of humanity and freedom and equality will not be questionable. With this youthful generation in Parliament, this concept becomes necessary for the admonishment of the First Lady and so, there is no choice for the President but to endorse. The Presidential family is grounded in a deep-seated culture that permeates around decency and dignity and will be the guiding example for the rest of the nation.

To supplement America and Guyana’s comparisons, John Kasich, who alluded that even though he is “proud” of his Republican heritage, Trump is a leader who “belies those principles.” “I’m a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. It’s a matter of conscience.” After holding this nation at duress for five months and wanting power illegitimately as the ransom, Guyanese from all walks of the electorate saw the true nature of the APNU/AFC and, like the NCM, it was a conscience call that motivated many of the coalition supporters to become critical of them and switched side to uphold truth and defend democracy.

The APNU/AFC has an uphill task and restless nights for the next five years to retain the confidence of their supporters.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

5

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

“Peace & unity” is what we all seek

Dear Editor, The new Government of Guyana is steadily moving forward in difficult circumstances and is pressing ahead with the challenging business of managing the economy, COVID-19 and the affairs of the State in the best interest of all the people.

Guyana, over the last five years, was not a vibrant, prosperous, economically stable country. If it had been, there would have been no need for the people of Guyana to remove the APNU/AFC coalition Government.

This is a story which is not always told, nor is it appreciated; and neither are the unavoidable ramifications of the corrective actions which are imperative to restoring order, equilibrium, credibility, confidence and lawfulness to the society’s progress. Guyanese can confidently expect to live in a country that is moving forward with communities that are now going to

see development and are safer in a society that is more cohesive, with better infrastructure, greater access to quality education and an economy that is more resilient, to proving and providing better jobs.

Guyanese, we are on the right path, I urge every Guyanese of whatever background, to support the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government and President Dr Irfaan Ali to give us the opportunity to secure the best future for Guyana. I ask every Guyanese to remain focused as we see a future in which our children could grow up respecting one another, other religions, ethnicities, cultural practices.

We have to start aiming our children to ensure they learn to live together and respect one another…[and] in due course we would have more respected relations, “Peace & unity” is what we all seek to reduce race-hate

and violent conduct between the two historically divided ethnicities, through advocacy that uses the power of strategic storytelling, public education, monitoring engagement of political leaders and citizens, across the divide.

We understand this is not the kind of challenge that can be sorted overnight. We are healing and Guyanese are committed to this. When it comes to the ethnic divide, this is one we plan to commit to on a longterm basis. However, this healing must be fast and quick. If you are going to be a part of the development process, once we are healed fully from all that ailed our nation, the better life which has begun to emerge will be realised fuller.

We are already seeing unmistakable signs of it with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government, that is the commitment to deliv-

er a better life for every Guyanese. Guyana is not yet a “paradise”, but there can be no question that our country is on the path to prosperity and realising its long-lamented potential.

After four years of David Granger and his APNU/AFC Government’s mismanagement of our country’s resources, the Ali Administration has capitalised on the lessons learnt, mistakes made, gains and successes, achievements and progress. Guyana cannot move from minus 20 to 100 overnight, but every day Guyanese are see moving projections already made by our Government, the announcement of our Vice president that they are going to train 400 young people must be welcoming news to this nation and our youth.

Sincerely, David Adams

Contact tracing – Coronavirus

Dear Editor, I think this pandemic needs some more serious thinking on approaches to managing it that is not only focused on restricting/punishing the people.

I believe more people are dying and traumatised by these restrictions than

by COVID-19.

I know the people need help. Businesses need help too. Who will be around to employ the people when you have the pandemic under control?

Everybody repeats the same thing. We need testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine and treatment. If we are able to effectively manage these functions, then we will have the pandemic under control. However, how long do we have to wait?

From all appearances, the Minister of Health has excellent plans for improvement in the testing area. Hopefully, he can make the right projections as to how much testing capacity we will need to take effective control of the situation.

I do not believe contact tracing is given the importance and priority that it should get. Let me explain: Someone tests positive. How do you trace his contacts in the shortest time possible?

Whatever methods are currently being used is definitely not working or effective.

Now, if you drive a car and you hit someone down, you might either injure them or you might kill them. In either case, you are liable, whether personally or through your insurance company.

Compare that to a person who just tested positive for COVID-19. We don’t know how many persons he was in contact with and would have injured or possibly killed. And we cannot really wait a long time to find out. We need to know as soon as possible.

I am saying that this contact tracing is important enough for the person tested positive to be identified in their community and to the public in general so that anyone who could have or did come into contact with them, will have the option to identify themselves and get tested. You have to bear in mind that these people were injuring people on a daily basis.

I agree that they would not have known, but now that they do, I cannot see how they can justify not wanting to have themselves identified to save the lives they would have injured. You have to remember that this would also be helpful to close friends and loved ones.

This would speed up the contact tracing and save lives. In my humble opinion, there is no justification to keep the identity

of positive cases confidential.

We should hire and train at least 500 – 1000 contact tracers all across the country. There is no shortage of people to work. Assign a contact tracer to one or more Positive case and their contacts. Assign a unique phone number to every contact tracer so that he can handle and manage all contacts quickly.

From my layman’s understanding, persons who were in contact with positive cases can have 3 conditions which should be managed as follows: 1. Contact with no symptons/ virus – Isolate.

Test. Release after 7 days if test returns negative.

- Hotels all over this country have self-contained facilities for isolation. Most would have the ability to provide meals and some form of recreation. Hotels throughout the country are closed.

Government should establish protocols for isolation and rent hotels which can meet their needs. If people know they will be treated decently during isolation, they will quickly identify themselves.

- If their condition should change during isolation, then move to the next level of quarantine.

2. Contact with symptons/virus.

Quarantine – for isolation and treatment.

- Asymptomatics can be treated and released from these facilities.

- The sick can be released after treatment and recovery if they do not need intensive care.

- The sick who are not recovering should be sent to the hospital for more intensive care.

- You need to establish/standardise therapeutics for this level of care that is practical for this type of environment.

3. Contact who is sick.

Send to hospital for more intensive care.

- Full range of therapeutics should be available at all of these facilities.

As we open up the country, each new arrival should be assigned to a contact tracer in his area until he is no longer a risk. Even if we have to hire 5000 contract tracers, that would serve the country much better than handouts.

It is in this area that some of that $4.5 billion should be spent to get the pandemic under control, support local businesses and create employment at the same time.

I believe that we can open up the country in less than a month after proper testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine and treatment is implemented.

Respectfully, Sase Shewnarain

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 17

Caricom, US, etc applauded for saving Guyana’s democracy Dear Editor, At the international conference in Trinidad over the weekend to commemorate the 100th anniversary since the end of indenture, accolades were showered on the late PM of Barbados Owen Arthur in the protection of the ballot in Guyana. This writer presented a paper on the role of the Indo-Caribbean diaspora on the restoration of democracy in Guyana in 1992 and the struggle for the right count in 2020.

Questions were raised about the role of Caricom to combat the 2020 fraud as opposed to its silence (and by extension complicity) on electoral rigging between 1965 and 1992.

The beneficiaries of electoral fraud were the PNC and its supporters. The international struggle against fraud was carried out

by Indians and people of other ethnicities who themselves could not stomach electoral fraud and ethnic persecution. Some of the latter, like many Indians and members of the minority groups, were brutalised.

Internationally, in the US, Canada, UK, Trinidad, Surinam, Venezuela, and French Guiana, Indo-Guyanese organised to combat the fraud. (Small numbers of members of other ethnicities were also involved in the organised protests against electoral fraud). IndoGuyanese were joined by IndoSurinamese and Indo-Trinidadians to fight rigging. I used to liaise with the groups in Trinidad where I visited regularly (between 1981 and 1992) from New York to meet with sympathisers.

In NY, Indo-Trinis were deeply involved in the struggle against the Burnham and Hoyte dictatorships.

Ditto Indo-Trinis in Canada and the UK. In NY, two leading figures in the anti-dictatorial struggle, Baytoram Ramharack and myself, were initially motivated, groomed, and trained by Trinis, Vassan Ramracha and his brother Rennie and others. The Trinis were largely responsible for Ramharack and myself switching from a planned career in the Biomedical sciences (after I completed my undergrad Bio-Chem degree) to social sciences and educational administration.

It was the Trinis who introduced us to and nurtured us in organised struggle on the college campus in New York in 1977.

I came with some experience in organised struggle from my youthful teenage days in opposition to the 1968 and 1973 electoral frauds and the student dissension on the Corentyne in 1976 and 1977 and the protests against compulsory student national service.

Ramharack also partook in that 1977 student dissension when he was a student in Bohemia. I came from Corentyne High.

While the leadership of political parties and civil rights organisations, labour unions, etc, were involved in the struggle in Guyana, their support groups in the diaspora played effective roles in exposing electoral frauds and human rights violations in Guyana. The group I belonged to, that would later link up with Ravi Dev’s group in 1985, did not belong to any particular political party. We supported all parties that belonged to the PCD. We were not partisan. We were above party politics.

And we were above ideology. I,

in particular, made financial donations to all of them and attended all of their events and programmes and fundraisers in America. We collaborated on protest activities in NY and Washington although we distributed our own literature.

Our group was centre and right of centre as opposed to PPP and WPA groups. The DLM, URP, and UF support groups and our group was pro-America while some others were pro-Eastern Europe. We read the politics well that in order to bring about political change in Guyana, one had to be pro-America. It is also ungrateful to live in America and be anti-US or take positions that threaten the national interests of the country that provide us sanctuary. If America had not accepted us, what would have happened to the more than 10K that escaped Guyana annually to the US between 1977 and 2017?

The Indo-Caribbean diaspora, which also formed the base of all the groups, except for the WPA that had a mixture of ethnicities, lobbied the US Government to support democratic reforms in Guyana. We wrote to and met Members of Congress as well as members of the Administration of Carter, Reagan, and Bush appealing for their intervention to restore democracy in the homeland.

We were ably assisted by the Indian diaspora (Indians from India) that had strong links with Congress and the Carter, Reagan, and Bush Administrations. Their connections opened political doorways for the Indo-Caribbean diaspora that led to statements from Ron Brown, Ted Kennedy, Benjamin Gilman, Stephen Solarz, Joe Addabbo, Gary Ackerman, Elliott Engel, Stephen King, Chuck Schumer, Ted Weiss, among others. We wrote to and convinced politicians in other countries to take a position against the dictatorship. Pressure from the US and other Governments paved the way for political and economic reforms and restoration of democracy in Guyana. A similar struggle lobbying Congress and the Trump Administration as well as the Governments of UK and Canada and the Commonwealth of Nations, the OAS, and Caricom was waged by the Indo-Guyanese diaspora between December 22, 2018, and September 25, 2019, for a date for the election and for the right to the ballot on March 2 and the correct count that came on August 2, 2020. As I acknowledged in my presentation, Caricom, OAS, the Commonwealth, and the ABCE countries played pivotal roles in protecting the right to the ballot in Guyana.

The Government must applaud the work, and I salute that small group of Indo-Guyanese in the diaspora that played a most important behind the scenes effort in interacting with and lobbying the Trump Administration and Members of Congress that helped to foster political change on August 2. They did not want their names to be publicised for fear of victimisation. I didn’t object to my name being used in statements and correspondences to the State Department since I was doing it from the 1970s.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

6

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

Page

Foundation

SUMMER OF LEARNING

◄

Æsop’s Fables

P

rincipal Haynes is planning for the school’s upcoming academic year. There are 335 students in Grade 1, 400 in Grade 2, 265 in Grade 3, 398 in Grade 4, 407 in Grade 5, and 298 in Grade 6.

1. How many students are in Principal Haynes’ school?

2. If Principal Haynes wanted to lower the class size to 25, how many classes will she have in Grade 4, Grade 5 and Grade 6 separately? (Count the remainder as a new class.)

3. Last year, Todd had 435 stamps in his stamp collection.

This year, Todd added 76 more. How many stamps does he have in his collection now?

4. Brianna’s favourite book has 47 chapters. Each chapter averages 17 pages in length. Approximately how many pages are in the book?

5. At 1622 feet in length, the John B Hamilton Bridge is one of the longest multiple-level bridges in the world. What is the length of the bridge written in word form?

6. What is the expanded form of the number 7,456, 932?

FOR CHILDREN 7. According to the United Nations, the estimated population of Guyana is seven hundred and eighty-six thousand, five hundred and fifty-two. What is the standard form of that number?

8. If the population increases by 10,359, what is the new estimated population written in expanded form?

355+54 = 556+8 =

68x8 = 253x4 =

1286+788 =

67890x10 =

67890+23452 =

89x45 =

11+8 =

2345x43 =

34567+67 =

345x726 =

54-3 =

45/5 =

89-35 =

78/16 =

2345-1998 =

123/3 =

567-204 =

778/70 =

99-88 =

63348/81 =

46789-8990 =

285/46 =

A

fox fell into a well, and though it was not very deep, he found that he could not get out again. After he had been in the well a long time, a thirsty goat came by. The goat thought the fox had gone down to drink, and so he asked if the water was good.

“The finest in the whole country,” said the crafty fox, “jump in and try it. There is more than enough for both of us.”

The thirsty goat immediately jumped in and began to drink. The Fox just as quickly jumped on the goat’s back and leaped from the tip of the goat’s horns out of the well.

The foolish goat now saw what a plight he had got into, and begged the fox to help him out. But the fox was already on his way to the woods.

“If you had as much sense as you have beard, old fellow,” he said as he ran, “you would have been more cautious about finding a way to get out again before you jumped in.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Commonwealth Law books

“It was never about the books” – Nandlall – cites audit done in 2016 that exonerated him but charge was still instituted

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall had disclosed that an audit done back in 2016 had exonerated him from any wrongdoings regarding the 14 Commonwealth Law books, which he was wrongfully accused of stealing by the APNU/AFC coalition regime, yet charges were still filed against him.

During a recent press conference, Nandlall, who had previously served as Attorney General between 2011 to 2015 under the Donald Ramotar Administration, recalled that when the matter initially came up back in 2016, he had explained that the law books were purchased by the Ministry for him as part of his contract of service. It was agreed that the Government of Guyana would stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law books to the tune of $2.3 million.

He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the law reports.

He noted that his predecessor, former Attorney General Basil Williams, had ordered an audit into the matter in February 2016. Nandlall disclosed on Saturday that in its report, the Audit Office of Guyana concluded that, “The Commonwealth Law Books/ Reports acquired by the Ministry were not subject to storekeeping procedures and were not required to, since the Commonwealth

Attorney General Anil Nandlall displaying the new series of Commonwealth Law books he bought to donate to the State

Law reports purchased by the Ministry during the period was delivered to the former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, as part of his conditions of service as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.”

This finding by the Audit Office came to after former President Ramotar had corroborated Nandlall’s claims. In a letter to the Auditor General during the probe, Ramotar explained that he had entered into an arrangement with his Attorney General Anil Nandlall to allow him to buy law books for his personal use as part of his em-

ployment agreement.

Despite this, however, charges were still instituted against Nandlall by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for larceny of the law reports and he was arraigned in April 2017.

“So, this audit report exonerated me with those books from any wrongdoings but nevertheless, Basil Williams instructed and directed SOCU to institute those charges against me.

When the charges were instituted, I said publicly that it was never a matter of the books, it was a matter of principle. Those books are my property and I’m not going to give up my property.

I said that then and that is my position now,” he asserted.

Although Nandlall had challenged the charge to have it quashed in the higher courts, the matter is still

pending in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Nevertheless, the new Attorney General posited that he will not use his influence as Minister to interfere with the administration of justice regarding this matter against him but instead will have to “see how that proceeds”.

Nandlall went on to say that while an injustice was done to him, those very law books he was charged for played an instrumental role in getting the APNU/AFC coalition out of office.

Following the March 2, 2020 elections, a series of litigations had ensued.

“Those very books were very instrumental in removing them from office. If you were listening to the political cases, you would’ve heard how many cases were cited from India, from New Zealand, from Australia and from throughout the Caribbean – well they were all in those books… So those books served the very purpose of putting them out of office,” Nandlall asserted.

He further outlined the

importance of him defending himself in this matter, and his property as well, noting that he would be unfit to hold the AG post if he could not have done so. Still maintaining that he had done no wrong, Nandlall revealed that he had even purchased the same series of law books and offered to donate it to the State but they were never accepted.

At Saturday’s virtual press conference that was live-streamed, he displayed the untouched books – unboxing them for the public to see and even offered them to whichever arm of the State would like to have them.

“These are the books I bought for them but they refused to accept it and they proceeded with charging me for larceny. So, it was never a matter of the books. I can donate the entire volume to the State but it was not that. It is a matter of principle and I would’ve gone to jail, if possible, for my own property, in defence of what I believe is right,” he contended.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lusignan Prison to get additional holding areas to practice social distancing among inmates

and a cell phone.

At that time, another incident was also occurring simultaneously, whereby a prisoner was behaving “hostile.” He was assaulted by a prison officer and taken out to the prison’s yard, where another assault followed.

This escalated the situation whereby the inmates started a riot by breaking sections of the building and setting it alight.

As a result of the fire, 11 persons were injured – two of which were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during the visit on Saturday

H

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Saturday visited the Lusignan Prison, located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where he had a firsthand look at the Holding Bay which was destroyed by fire a few weeks ago. The Minister stressed the importance of social distancing as one of the main measures to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his visit, Benn was briefed by the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels and Officer in Charge of the Holding Bay, Senior Superintendent of Prisons (ag) Deoraj Gyandat with respect to the population in the prison, security challenges, COVID-19 initiatives and others.

Deemed as a pressing issue, several facilities will be constructed so that social distancing can be practiced and more so, better supervision and management of the prisoners can be ensured.

The Prison Directorate and engineers were also tasked with detailing the development plans for the Lusignan Prison.

The Minister also visited the kitchen area and the livestock sections where he was told that more can be achieved if the requests for additional lands and other resources are approved.

Benn expressed concerns that the conditions he observed were very unsatisfactory.

He committed to working with all concerned to bring measurable improve-

Officer in Charge of the Holding Bay, Senior Superintendent of Prisons (ag) Deoraj Gyandat indicating damages to Minister Benn

ments, not only to Lusignan but also to the Georgetown, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, and Timehri Prisons on a timely basis.

This will be pursued to ensure better public safety, a more secure environment for the prison population, improved rehabilitation, and safer and less stressful working conditions for the prison officers and staff.

He was also brought up to date on the current status for court hearings at the various levels – Magisterial, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Inmates made some representations on accommodations, court hearings, legal assistance, food, familial visits, recreational diversions, and counselling services.

The Minister was accompanied by the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels; Assistant Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim, and other Senior Officers of the Guyana Prison Service. Engineers from the

Ministry of Home Affairs and Guyana Prison Service, as well as other staff from the Ministry, comprised the team.

Only last month, Prison Director Gladwin Samuels noted that overcrowding now poses a severe challenge, taking into account the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines following the recent fire that devastated sections of the Lusignan Prison.

Samuels told Guyana Times that the area where the prisoners are currently kept is overcrowded, although 27 inmates were sent to the Camp Street penitentiary, 51 to Timehri Prison, and another 50 to the Mazaruni Prison.

Samuels had indicated that a total of 286 prisoners were displaced, of which 156 are still at the Holding Bay. The last fire occurred on July 12, 2020, after a single search of an inmate, which led to the discovery of contraband. This included two parcels of cannabis, a juice bottle containing alcohol,

Corporation (GPHC) to receive further medical attention. No one escaped during the commotion.

As soon as the fire started, the Joint Services were immediately dispatched to the area to bring the situation under control.

Following the 2017 deadly fire at the Camp Street, Georgetown Prison, and 2017 prison break, the current Government had moved a motion in Parliament to have the APNU/AFC Government accept responsibility for tragic events at the prison.

This was after the former Government, and more so, former Public Security Minister Ramjattan was not forthcoming with details relating to the fire, during which four prisoners escaped. The motion was subsequently defeated, but there was much discussion also on prison reform.

However, not much has been done since in the area of reform.

Teen nabbed while attempting to break into businessman’s car

A

juvenile is now in Police custody after he attempted to break into a businessman’s car on Friday.

Based on reports received, the car belongs to 44-year-old Nezam Alli – the owner of Nezam’s Grocery and General Store, located at Republic Road and King Street, New Amsterdam.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 21:30h, just after the man and his family had retired to bed.

Neighbours told this publication that they saw someone entering the businessman’s yard but first took him for a family member.

They added that after the teen-

The suspect along with his tools

ager entered the yard, he began behaving strangely, after which he took out a weapon and was attempting to break into the car.

Shortly after, residents informed Alli, who then managed to apprehend the youth and placed him to sit on the parapet with his bag of tools until ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) arrived.

He was handed over to the police and taken to the Central Police Station where he is expected to be charged.

Only recently, a suspected car thief was nabbed after he attempted to hijack a Prado Sports Utility Vehicle at Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

It’s a rum...

W

...AFC situation ell, it isn’t as popular as it was back in the day, but you do know, Dear Reader, that “a rum situation” means a strange, weird or odd state of affairs, don’t you?? It’s British, old chap!! But it’s doubly appropriate for what your Eyewitness wants to discuss today – which is Ramjattan, known universally as “Rumjattan” for well-known reasons! -- and the AFC!! The man had an interview in the Stabber about post-elections matters that was as weird as it gets!!

He was reacting to the criticisms he’d been subjected to ever since he agreed to hitch up with the PNC and Granger – even though he himself had predicted if that were to occur, he and his party would become “Dead Meat”!! In this case, he didn’t let loose with his patented “Haul yuh ass!” to the reporter, but actually took time to expound on his philosophy of politics – in his inimitable style. He proposed that Guyana is a young democracy and lots of folks are critical of politicians, but just sit on the sidelines and refuse to enter the fray.

“Parrot love to tell donkey how to bat the ball, but parrot don’t want go to the crease. That is the problem we get hay. “Hit the ball, donkey; hit the ball!”, they cry. But when donkey say, “get your backside hay and bat!” parrot don’t want fuh come – but we will parrot all the criticisms.”

There you have it, folks, the AFC liaison with the PNC for the last five years explained!! The AFC – represented aptly as “donkeys”! – had the guts to step up to the crease with the PNC on Valentine’s Day 2015 and bat!! And here it thought they were getting married to take care of the Guyanese family writ large!!

It would’ve been nice though if Rumjattan – to use his “call name” – had elaborated on one of the balls he said was bowled to him by the US and British Ambassador on that fateful day when Mingo did his thing. According to Rumjattan, the diplomats told him, “some terrible things are going on. I indicated that quite clearly they have to be remedied...I decided to go back and indicated to Amna that there were problems and by that time a number of circumstances took hold and then an order for a recount.”

Not a word on Mingo’s dastardly deed!!

And that is what the AFC is all about, isn’t it? Ramjattan and the rest of the AFC bigwigs will support Granger come what may...so Granger gave them 9 undeserved seats simply to hold off the PNC faction that wants him out!!

It’s a rum situation!! ...Greenidge situation Greenidge’s retention by the PPP/C as advisor on the Border Issues shouldn’t really have surprised anyone. Even though a true-blue PNC going back to Burnham’s time, he always presented a technocratic face to the public. As Finance Minister back in the day, for instance, he took a lot of heat from PNC insiders for announcing that Guyana has been driven into bankruptcy under the PNC! But that’s what his numbers told him!!

He had an insider view of the real Granger when Corbin and others rigged the PNC party elections to have Granger pip him by a handful of votes. He knew from that bitter experience – notwithstanding his sanctimonious exterior – Granger was a gangster!! So, to reassure the public that he’s not a political grasshopper, he announced he was still PNC and in the appropriate forum he would be more forthcoming. Can’t wait!!

In the meantime, he pointed out that the lot sent by Granger to Parliament really doesn’t represent a crosssection of the PNC’s constituency.

They’re just stalking horses for Granger!! ...Russian situation Sadly, Rumjattan didn’t clear up a matter that intrigued Guyanese during the PNC’s 5-month rigging heist.

Now that he’s arguing that “anomalies” caused them to be out of office, shouldn’t he apologise to those Russian “hackers” he expelled??

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$600M support extended to GuySuCo for wages and salaries

– Govt approves $90M for MMA-ADA

T

he Government will inject some $600 million into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to assist with the payment of wages and salaries for employees.

This was according to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Sunday, who also stated that $120 million is required weekly to fulfil the payment of salaries.

Previously, it was reported that due to the financial state of the entity, the Corporation will not be in a position to pay wages from the week ending August 21.

Minister Mustapha on Sunday said the move by the

PPP/C Administration is in keeping with commitments made in its manifesto to revamp and reopen those sugar estates which were closed under the previous APNU/ AFC Government.

The Agri Minister confirmed that the sum was among others approved

by Cabinet and has received the green light by both President and Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Dr Bharrat Jagdeo respectively.

Minister Mustapha also relayed that as part of its capital works, GuySuCo will be required to submit a re-

port which will take into consideration the reopening of closed sugar estates.

Additionally, immediate infrastructural works are expected to begin at the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) Scheme.

Following a proposal made by the subject Minister, Cabinet has approved $90 million to aid in this regard.

On August 15, Minister Mustapha along with a team from several Agriculture agencies visited the Mahaica-Berbice district, where he engaged several farmers. While there, the

4 remain in custody for murder of Canadian

– maid’s son implicates brother

A

s members of the Major Crimes Unit within the Guyana Police Force continue their investigation into the gruesome murder of 23-yearold Nicholas Jaipaul, a Canadian national, the son of the maid who is in custody, confessed that his brother helped him to burn the

corpse.

The charred remains of Jaipaul were found on Thursday last at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

Guyana Times understands that the man, who is autistic, was abducted, strangled to death and his body burnt with truck tyres.

TURN TO PAGE 13

Dead: Nicholas Jaipaul

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in discussion with workers in Berbice

Minister learnt about the dilapidated state employees are forced to endure.

The Minister also referred to concerns raised by farmers that despite the previous Government instituting steep increases in land rentals, no proper infrastructural work was done to help alleviate their plight.

Under the APNU/ AFC Administration, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) stated that it was unable to pay work-

ers their wages and salaries for July as it is still awaiting a disbursement of $750 million from Government’s holding company, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Prior, NICIL had disbursed $250 million to the sugar company which was used to purchase materials, fuel and execute maintenance at its three factories.

Wages were also paid from the sum.

As a result, production for the first crop this year fell short by almost 9500 tonnes and the new crop was expected to start on August 1.

Meanwhile, after complaining about not being embursed by NICIL, GuySuCo was chided for resorting to petty disclosures and untruth in the press.

NICIL and GuySuCo have been at loggerheads for months over the $30 billion bond and control of the corporation’s assets.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police acted properly to recover State assets – AG ...Jones has legal recourse if he feels otherwise

A

ttorney General Anil Nandlall has challenged A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member Christopher Jones to sue him if “a wrong” was done to him on Thursday during the removal of several items belonging to the State from his Tucville house while at the same time defending the actions of members of the Guyana Police Force.

“If a wrong has been done to Mr Jones, let him, Mr Jones, sue the Attorney General. But the police acted in the way to verify the custody of the assets that prima facie belongs to the State and they went about and do that,” the AG noted.

According to Nandlall, there is nothing “special” about Jones as he reminisced that he, President Dr Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Dr Roger Luncheon were all arrested in 2017 and taken to Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to be questioned in relation to misappropriate of State assets.

In fact, the AG pointed out that Jones was very confrontational and was allegedly abusive towards Police ranks.

“There is nothing special about Christopher Jones. The police, as I understand, went there at about 5 pm to verify that he had the items that were discovered in the audit, and he abused the police, he even loose his dogs on them,” he stated.

To this end, Nandlall stated that the former Director

Former Director of Sports, Christopher Jones

should have been cooperative and gone down to the Police Headquarters to verify the items instead of being confrontational.

On Thursday last, Police visited Jones’ Lot 609 Conciliation Street, Tucville, Georgetown home to conduct a search for State assets.

Police, in a release, had stated that a report was made against Jones, alleging that he was in possession of State assets valuing over $4 million.

Upon receiving the report, the ranks of the GPF proceeded to investigate by going to the residence of Jones, where he was contacted and told of the purpose of their visit.

According to Police, upon arrival at the residence, the ranks observed items at the home fitting the description of the items reported to be State

assets. The police further stated that contact was made with Jones, who was told of the allegation but refused the lawmen permission to search his property, claiming that they were not in possession of a search warrant.

By then, several officials, including Executives of both the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), turned up at the property as Police stood guard. The ranks nevertheless conducted their operation and removed the items.

According to audit documents seen by Guyana Times, the regional administration received an Inter/Intra Departmental Warrant (IDW) 6/2019 dated June 19, 2019, from the Social Protection Ministry valuing $4.985 million for the procurement of equipment for a barbershop under Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED).

The SLED programme works by distributing interest-free cash grants to registered groups and associations needing the economic boost to improve their economic enterprises.

According to the audit report, a financial return presented revealed that the full amount was expended as of December 31, 2019. An audit examination of the relevant records revealed that two payment vouchers to the value of $4.084 million and $900,999

were issued for the purchase of the equipment.

Audit documents further discovered that approval was not granted from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the procurement of a Condensing Unit valuing $1.528 million. However, audit checks revealed that the item was still purchased and supplied.

Additionally, audit investigations revealed that the cheque was paid to the supplier on October 2, 2019, but the time of reporting in August 2020, items to the value of $900,999 were not supplied.

Meanwhile, the audit report stated that a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084 million were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary, Christopher Jones.

Further, the audit report stated that details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Social Protection Ministry, dated May 22, 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who “operates” a barbershop.

However, at the time of the physical verification, it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barbershop, since the construction of the said barbershop has not yet commenced.

On Friday last, after being released on $100,000 station

Some of the items being removed from Jones’s home

bail, Jones claimed that he had applied for assistance under the SLED programme under the then Social Protection Ministry, and the application was approved. However, questions are being raised regarding the process that was used to determine that Jones, a senior Government official at the time, was qualified for such as-

sistance.

There has been widespread criticism over the fact that Jones, as Director of Sport, benefited from the programme which is intended to help vulnerable persons and registered groups and associations needing the economic boost to improve their economic enterprises.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Executives of Change Guyana dissolve party – will work towards building a new political movement

L

ess than a year after it was formed, Change Guyana (CG) – one of the new political parties that contested the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections – has announced its dissolution.

This was indicated in a joint statement from several of the Executive Members on Sunday. The missive was signed by the party’s Chairman, Nigel Hinds; Prime Ministerial Candidate, Attorneyat-Law Mishka Puran; Vice Chairman, Ramesh Ramoutar; and Executive Members, Everton Morris, and Ryan Dey. “In this August month of 2020, the month where we have had a democratic transition, the majority leadership of Change Guyana who have signed [the statement], made the decision that the dissolution of Change Guyana as a political party is in the best interest of our members and supporters,” the party said.

Notably, however, businessman Robert Badal, who was one of the Executive Members as well as the party’s Presidential Candidate at the March 2 elections, was not a signatory on the document.

Nevertheless, the missive further stated that Change Guyana has achieved out-

Change Guyana Chairman Nigel Hinds and Presidential Candidate Robert Badal at the party’s launch back in October 2019

sized accomplishments in pre and post-March 2020 General and Regional Elections of Guyana.

Launched only months before elections on October 29, 2019, the party had secured 1953 votes at the March 2 polls.

“It is with much gratitude that we say thank you to all our members and supporters here in Guyana and in the diaspora. Of the six new parties that contested in Guyana’s March 2020 elec-

tions, Change Guyana received the second most votes in the Regional Elections and third most votes in the General Elections. The results stand as testimony to our courageous outreach efforts across Guyana and the need for implementation of the socio-economic policies set out in our manifesto.”

According to the five Executives, the unique and outstanding contributions made by the party over its ten months of existence –

set out core economic and social policies that speak to the socio-economic needs of Guyana, by outlining policies for massive poverty alleviation, focused job creation, inclusive economic development, restructuring of a burdensome tax system and servant leadership.

Moreover, they pointed to Change Guyana’s role in ensuring democracy prevailed during the post-election period when the country was embroiled in a political impasse for five months before the protracted electoral process finally came to an end earlier this month.

“Our uncompromising and courageous conduct expressed in our writings and actions to ensure a democratic transition based on the majority votes resulting from Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, was second to none.”

Nevertheless, even with the announcement of Change Guyana of its dissolution, the Executive Members have indicated their intention to continue in the political arena.

“The former leaders and members of Change Guyana can now work independently or collectively towards building a new political movement or political party or pursue their goals afresh,

while always being appreciative of those individuals who supported and continue to seek a change in the political culture of Guyana.”

The members further outlined that the focus of Guyanese in leadership positions must be to significantly reduce poverty across Guyana and practice inclusivity and diversity in governance and employment at the Private Sector and public sector levels. This, the five Executive Members contended, must be our continuous pursuit.

Upon its formation, Change Guyana had described itself as “A new and bright political party on a mission to ignite economic and social development for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

Meanwhile, its Facebook page says, “Our focus is the economic transformation and social development of Guyanese by harnessing the entrepreneurial energies of the private sector and the guardianship of civil society.

We promise a lean, clean, open, transparent and accountable Government.”

Initially, Hinds was named as the party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate to run alongside Badal, who owns the Pegasus Hotel and Guyana Stockfeeds Limited.

However, he had to drop out the race due to his dual citi-

Prime Ministerial Candidate Mishka Puran

zenship status.

Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or State.”

Nevertheless, days after being sworn into office, President Irfaan Ali had named Hinds, a Certified Public Accountant, as part of a four-member special technical team to conduct a “rapid financial and management review” of a number of key State agencies.

12 NEWS Liberia, SADR Presidents No arrests made congratulate President Ali for murder of MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Good Hope woman

– want to strengthen bilateral cooperation

President Irfaan Ali

T

he Presidents of the Republic of Liberia and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) have joined other leaders around the world in congratulating President Irfaan Ali on his assumption to office earlier this month.

In a message through its Embassy in the State of Kuwait, Liberian President George Manneh Weah said to his Guyanese counterpart that his election to office is “undoubtedly an affirmation of the confidence reported in you by the people of your great country”.

President Manneh Weah also said that he is “particularly delighted” by President Ali’s “insightful leadership”

and his promise to “unite the country on the platform of combating poverty”, and ensuring peace and stability.

To this end, the Liberian Head of State expressed his desire to see continued co-operation between the nations.

He added that “As you embark on this journey of leadership, we look forward to further strengthening the friendship and co-operation so happily subsisting between our two countries and peoples, as we continue to forge a common front for the promotion of international peace, security and development… I have no doubt that your tenure will bring even greater prosperity to your people.”

Guyana and Liberia established diplomatic ties on November 11, 1974.

Meanwhile, in his congratulatory message to President Ali, the SADR Head of State, Brahim Gali, also expressed a desire to see the ties between the two countries strengthened.

In his letter, President Gali said, “I express the wish to see the strong bonds of mutual understanding and supports linking our two countries continue growing.”

The SADR President

Liberian President George Weah

SADR President Brahim Gali

also relayed his confidence that under President Ali’s leadership “the traditional friendship between our two peoples and countries will definitely be further strengthened”.

President Gali said Guyana and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations at the level of Ambassadors on September 12, 2012.

President Ali was declared Guyana’s ninth Executive President on August 2, 2020 – five months after General and Regional Elections were held in Guyana. The coun-

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

A

try was embroiled in a prolonged electoral and political impasse following the March 2 elections.

A National Recount exercise conducted showed the Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had secured 233,336 votes, while its main political rival the APNU/AFC coalition obtained 217,920 votes – a difference of 15,416 votes.

The PPP/C had received tremendous support from the international community, which had persistently called for the people’s choice to be respected and for democracy to prevail in Guyana after the coalition had refused to accept the recount results.

lmost three weeks after the gruesome murder of 52-yearold Waheeda Shamshudeen of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the police are yet to make an arrest.

After the death of the mother of eight, the police had detained four persons, inclusive of the persons who the family had suspected, but they were all released.

Regional Commander Errol Watts, when contacted on Saturday, explained that the investigation is active but has no new development.

Shamshudeen was found dead by her son-in-law, who went to take her to visit her son who was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was brutally chopped by their neighbour. This occurred just a day after the woman received death threats from the same neighbour, with whom she was not on talking terms.

She was found on August 6 with a dent to her head, her neck was severed, and a plastic bag was placed over her face. Her body was also covered with a sheet.

The woman’s son-inlaw, Leon Parahoo, a minibus driver of Zeelugt, East

Dead: Waheeda Shamshudeen

Bank Essequibo (EBE), said when he went to pick up his mother-in-law, he made several calls to her, but all of the calls went unanswered.

As such, he went into the woman’s house, and it was then he made the gruesome discovery.

The family had told Guyana Times that they were convinced that the neighbour had something to do with the woman’s death since he would usually threaten to kill her.

The two families have not been on speaking terms for about 28 years due to a land dispute.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

NEWS

13

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt will regularise Kingelly lands – Nandlall – vows to protect residents against land grab, bullyism

A

ttorney General Anil Nandlall has vowed to resist attempts to bully residents of Kingelly, West Coast Berbice, off of their land, while leading a team to the location and promising the residents to have their land regularised.

The team, consisting of Nandlall, incoming Member of Parliament (MP) Fizal Jaffarly and former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP Harry Gill, visited Kingelly on Saturday and met with residents.

Kingelly residents, some of whom are second and third generation occupants of the land, turned out in their

individual homes, from birth and their parents lived there as well. Some of them are now 80 years old. In short, their occupation of that village dates back to over a century. Mr Lewis also made his claim of ownership to a Commission of Inquiry, in respect to ancestral lands established by former President David Granger.”

“Mr Nandlall prepared a written statement on behalf of the residents and submitted it to that Commission.

Additionally, Mr Nandlall filed Applications for Prescriptive Title for more than twenty (20) of these residents and all were grant-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall meeting with residents of Kingelly on Saturday

Trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis in confrontation with residents of Kingelly over lands which he is claiming are his ancestral inheritance

numbers to meet with the team. In a statement afterwards, Nandlall explained that residents reached out to the PPP for help even while they were in opposition, at a time when trade unionist Lincoln Lewis began to press his claim that his ancestors owned the village.

“Most of the residents disclosed that they have been living in the village, in their

ed. Some persons received their Transport already. The Registrar of Deeds’ Report disclosed that there was no titular owner of the land.

No one, including, Lincoln Lewis, lodged any opposition to the Applications for Prescriptive Title as is required by the law.”

But the AG noted that despite Lewis not lodging opposition to the application, he

has maintained his claim of owning the village and gone so far as to erect fences in certain parts of Kingelly.

Nandlall explained that as a consequence of his behaviour, residents have complained to the Government.

“In addition, he has been bullying, threatening and assaulting the residents. He has been charged by the police.

The residents complained to the Minister of Agriculture,

4 remain in custody for...

However, after the confession, the police would have arrested his brother, who has joined the three others. The alleged paymaster is among those in custody.

The young man arrived in Guyana in March and was slated to return home in May but was unable to do so due to the closure of the borders, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stayed with his 86-yearold grandfather, Ramkissoon Jaipaul, who reported that his grandson was missing two Mondays ago.

The pensioner reported that the last time he saw his grandson was just before he retired to bed the Sunday evening.

This was during the countrywide power outage. The elderly man explained that he got out of bed and lit two lamps – one of which he gave his grandson and he returned to bed. Upon waking up the next morning, he realised that his grandson was missing.

The elderly man revealed that he received a telephone

call that morning, where the caller claimed that he had kidnapped his grandson, and was demanding a ransom of $50 million Based on information gathered by the police, they launched a manhunt for a son of one of the maids since he was the last person the young man was seen with.

He was later arrested in Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and transported to Berbice, where denied seeing the now dead man.

He, nevertheless, led a team of police ranks to a location at Moleson Creek where the burnt remains of the now dead man were discovered. Up to that time, he held out that he was not involved in the murder of the man.

He had claimed that he was part of the plan but opted out since he did not want to get into trouble. During interrogation, he told ranks that the plan was well detailed and as such, he knew where the man’s body was.

After the discovery, a rice farmer and another man were

FROM PAGE 9

also arrested. The rice farmer is reportedly the mastermind behind the killing since there is an ongoing feud between him and the now dead man’s grandfather.

The rice farmer reportedly owed the senior Jaipaul a large amount of money from land rental.

Guyana Times understands that the suspect had visited the house of the Jaipauls two Sundays ago, and spent a few hours talking with the victim.

It is believed that he returned during the night, lured the young man out of his house, and strangled him to death.

In 2015, the suspect and his brother were accused of killing their stepfather in Port Mourant.

It was reported that the suspect had escaped, while his brother was charged for the murder, and was freed in 2016. The maid, her two sons and the rice farmer remain in custody as the police continue their investigations.

the Minister of Housing and Water, the Minister of Local Government and yours truly, seeking the assistance of the Government of Guyana.”

“Upon the instructions of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs met with the residents. The Attorney General informed the residents that from all indications, the land is State Land and that the Government will regularise their occupation in due course.”

Lewis, the General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, appeared on Friday before Magistrate Rabindranauth

Singh at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court to answer to charges of assault and making use of threatening language.

He is accused of threatening and assaulting Radesh Lall at Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), on August 13. Lall was also charged with the same offences, and both parties were released on their own recognisance. They will make their next court appearance on September 30.

The incident stemmed from a dispute between Lewis and residents of Kingelly over ancestral lands dating back to the 1960s.

The residents are alleging that Lewis is attempting to seize the land that has been in their possession for years.

The residents are accusing Lewis of a barefaced attempt to seize hundreds of acres of land at Kingelly already in their possession. For his part, Lewis has claimed that the lands belonged to his 19th century ancestor Cudjoe McPherson and are therefore his property.

The issue has resulted in various forms of litigation as well as a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) being set up to look into claims made by Lewis that the properties are part of his ancestral inheritance.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Regional hospitals being equipped to tackle increased COVID-19 cases – as 30 new COVID-19 cases confirmed on Sunday

A

s the number of COVID-19 cases continues to spike in Guyana with increased testing across the country, the Public Health Ministry has standardised treatment protocols in the various regions to mitigate increasing cases.

Only Sunday the Ministry disclosed that another 30 new COVID-19 cases have been detected.

This now brings the total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Guyana up to 955 with 472 being males and the remaining 483 females, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard.

Of the total cases, 434 are currently active cases – 13 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 421 are in isolation, that is, 84 persons in institutional isolation and 337 persons in home isolation.

Additionally, there are also 82 persons in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 31. On the other hand, however, the number of persons to recover from the deadly disease has gone

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

up to 490 – an increase of more than 50 as last reported.

Of the 30 new cases recorded on Sunday, five are from Region One (BarimaWaini); three from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); three cases from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); seven from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); eight cases from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); one from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and three from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-

Berbice).

The number of cases in the other three regions – Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) – all remain the same at two, nine and 12 cases, respectively.

To date, the total number of persons tested for COVID-19 is 6904.

However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government said that hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases have gone undetected over the past months given the limited number of tests conducted. Since taking office earlier this month, the new Administration has embarked on a mass testing campaign in all 10 regions of Guyana.

There have been 458 new cases since August 4, 2020, and according to the Department of Public Information (DPI) Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, this number is expected to go up as more new cases will be detected over the coming days due to increased testing.

In addition, the Minister stated that the Ministry has

Liliendaal youth hopes to be next “big thing” in music industry

T

wenty-one-year-old Kevon Roach, a thirdyear student of the University of Guyana pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies is hoping to one day become the next big thing in the music industry here in Guyana, regionally and even further afield.

Not knowing that he would actually take up a career in music, the young man who hails from Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, performed at school concerts at Tutorial High School. After completing his studies at that school, he got enrolled at St Stanislaus College to complete his CAPE exams.

During his secondary school life, Roach always thought about writing about his experiences after which he would add some music and make it pleasant to the ears. He along with two others – Reoneil Chapman and Edmond Williams – formed a group called “Pash Boys” and together they would slay at school concerts. The boys even performed at Christmas concerts – and was a group that everyone looked forward to when there is a cultural presentation.

However, back in 2015, the group recorded a song mocking a “porn video” that went viral. In fact, the song received over 100,000 likes and thousands of shares after it was uploaded onto social media. Even at school, they were supported by their peers for recording the song.

The song, he said, was to divert the attention off the persons who were seen in the leaked porn video. The song,

Kevon Roach

he told Guyana Times had met its objective.

Even though they were praised for the video, they also received a licking from some friends and family members. It was then, they were encouraged to do an apology to the young ladies.

Roach noted that they recorded another song titled “State of Mind” which also went viral. This, nevertheless, was the turning point for the young group. They were contacted by Adrian Johnson of AJ Production, who requested a meeting.

The meeting did happen and they were told to use their talent to make positive music that can promote changes in society. Ever since, he has been working along with AJ Production. He has since recorded at least 18 songs that are yet to be released.

These songs are written

by Roach, based on life experiences and are mixed and mastered by AJ Production who, he said, has been push-

ing him to realise his own potentials. “I get my inspiration from things and events around me… it is like things I have done or seen from day to day… these I just sit down and put them into writing but obviously with a little rhymes and catchy words,” he grinned.

He has moved away from compiling violent songs and his focus is now on his emotions and getting the message of peace and love out there.

Some of the songs he has released thus far, are “Slavery”, “Close”, “Need Your Touch”, and “Come over”.

The young upcoming artiste was privileged to be a part of a concert featuring “Jameel” in Berbice. There, he performed some of his songs for about 10 minutes.

“It felt so good to be on stage and to perform before hundreds of people…It was amazing…I felt the energy and the audience was extremely supportive,” he recalled.

He hopes one day to have a concert of his own so that he can showcase his talent and those of some of the people with whom he had collaborated with to make music. These include “Bluetooth” and “Breena S”. In the near future, he intents to do more collaborations.

Meanwhile, he encouraged those young men and women of his age range to “do big things for yourself”. He urged them to be who they want to be and not to impersonate others. “Try your best to be real and original and you will see prosperity.”

All of Roach’s music can be found on his YouTube page.

standardised treatment protocols in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as it works to mitigate the high numbers of positive cases being identified daily.

The Minister said in a Department of Public Information (DPI) report that as more testing is being done and new cases are being reported daily, a technical and clinical working group has compiled a document which can serve as a national treatment guideline for COVID-19.

It recommends that doctors are trained and accredited by the Medical Council of Guyana to handle these cases.

The protocols outlined in the document will guide these doctors on what should and should not be done and how treatment varies for different COVID-19 patients The treatment protocol/guideline will speak to care for persons in isolation whether at home or in an institution, those hospitalised with severe symptoms and those with mild symptoms.

Crucially, intensive care will be paramount for those displaying severe symptoms. The Health Minister recognised that this will be necessary as more cases are being identified, requiring hospitalisation while others are asymptomatic and simply need to be isolated.

Beginning from the point of screening at all hospitals,

the protocol/guideline will ensure that persons visiting health facilities for treatment outside of COVID-19 are protected.

Currently, there is an ongoing evaluation of regional hospitals. This is to allow for the creation of a section specifically for COVID-19 patients to be treated separately from the remaining hospital population.

Also, each of these hospitals is likely to cater to ICU spaces for patients with re-

spiratory distress. With that coming on stream, 29 ventilators which have recently been procured will ensure this process is complete.

Minister Anthony intimated that the first batch of these ventilators will be received this week and the first facility to benefit will be the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The hospital currently has four working ventilators and the additional machines will boost the treatment capacity in the ICU.

Local sitcom “Days Like Dese” with COVID-19 theme airs nationwide

Simone Persaud

“D

ays Like Dese”, now a 15-minute sitcom with its main theme on the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, has begun airing on all local TV stations throughout Guyana.

A release from GEMS Theatre Productions (GTP) stated that it has found it necessary to develop these scripts with a COVID-19 message in order to help persons deal with the new pandemic that is spreading rapidly in Guyana.

Many Guyanese are ignoring the COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines and as such, the GTP believed that adding some humour to the scripts and making it entertaining will send home the

messages.

“Days Like Dese” is supported in this first episode by Toolsie Persaud Ltd, Chungs Global Inc, Church’s Chicken, Infinity Gas Station, Nand Persaud & Co Ltd, NAGICO and NALICO Insurance Co Ltd and Guyana Power and Light.

Season one and two were aired in 2017 and 2018 respectively. These episodes can be viewed on YouTube.

Each episode will feature two or three main characters, filmed apart with respect to physical distancing. Filming of season three will be done mostly in open spaces.

Producer, Gem MadhooNascimento will be teaming up with Sean Thompson in scripting the episodes. He will also film and edit the series.

The episode featured two of Guyana’s most popular actors, Sonia Yarde and Simone Persaud.

The original “Days Like Dese” was set in the living room of a mixed Guyanese middle-income family of good standing and moral ethics.

There were children, friends, grandparents, uncles, neighbours and cousins of various income levels and living standards.

Social cohesion was reflected deeply in the component of the extended family.

Issues affecting our every-

Sonia Yarde

day life, for example, domestic abuse, climate change, recycling, trafficking in persons, conservation of basic everyday utilities all played a major role in the series.

Education through comedy was its main focus.

Some of the main actors were Mark Kazim, Nathaya Whaul, Simone Dowding, Ron Robinson, Lavonne George, Mark LukeEdwards, Rajan Tiwari, Simone Persaud, Kirk Jardine, Michael Ignatius, Joel Gansham, Makayah Smith, Safira AbrahimWilliams, Paul Budnah, Olivia Rodrigues and Kaylee Liverpool. Season 3 will feature most of the above actors plus others.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt seeking contractor to fix Mahaicony sea defence breach D

ays after another bout of flooding following another section of the sea defence at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) breaching, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill stated that the Government is yet to acquire a third contractor to fix the breached sea defence.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Sunday, Minister Edghill explained that his Ministry is working to have the contractor come on board as swiftly as possible, however, he noted that the tender procedure needs to be followed in order to ensure that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.

Minister Edghill said

be engaged for the sealing of that breach while the works are ongoing. Since I am here, listening to you the residents and observing and listening what is being done to the 5km already under construction and where we are on that, we have seen that there is a possibility that another contractor can be mobilised both with equipment and materials to get to work to seal that breach because ultimately you are the ones that are suffering,” he explained.

The contractors had highlighted that another contractor will not be feasible since there is only one access to the sea defence. But Minister Edghill explained

paramount to President Dr Irfaan Ali, whose vision is to ensure that all issues are resolved in a timely manner.

“The intent of his Excellency the President is to ensure that relief comes to you as speedy as possible and that these matters be resolved,” he noted, while adding that the estimated cost to repair the breached sea defence is pegged between $145 and $175 million.

The sea defence at Dantzig, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), experienced a second breach last month, resulting in thousands of acres of rice and pasture lands as well as households being flooded with water from the ocean.

Minister Edghill interacting with residents

done.

In addition to BK International, another contractor, A&S General Contractors Inc, is also conducting repairs to the breached sea defence at Glaciers Lust in the vicinity of Content, Mahaicony.

The Junior Public Works Minister had stressed the need for the existing breach of 800 metres to be sealed immediately as the violent tides can result in more damages and expenditure.

The first breach of the

he is aware that residents are expecting BK International and A&S General Contractors Inc, to complete their work that is ongoing in a timely manner.

He pointed out that he will not be accepting any excuses for further delays.

“Another contractor will

that following a meeting with the technical team and local authorities, they have established another route to access the site to transport machines and materials contrary to the previous advice given.

He ended on the note that the plight of the residents is

The breach was initially 200 metres but due to delayed response, the breach extended to five kilometres, part of which BK had been working on. Upon assuming office earlier this month, Minister Indar had visited the breached sites where corrective works are being

Pomeroon River double murder

Injured family members remain hospitalised

T

he two children and adults who were brutally stabbed by a 15-year-old relative remain in hospital but are recuperating.

According to Regional Commander Crystal Robinson, based on an update received, the four persons inclusive of two children are in a stable condition. She was, however, unable to confirm if the children are still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Suddie Hospital.

On August 16, a knife-wielding teen attacked and killed his 3-yearold nephew and brother-inlaw after he went berserk at his Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) home.

The frustrated teen reportedly killed 55-year-old Ramdat Singh also called “Shami” of Bat Creek, Upper Pomeroon River, and formerly of Aberdeen,

Dead: Ramdat Singh

Essequibo Coast. His threeyear-old nephew, Kissoon Williams, also died.

It was reported that after the teen stabbed his brother-in-law, he attacked the three children, aged one, three and six, and his two sisters. It is said that the

teenager was reportedly in self-isolation after he tested positive for COVID-19.

After committing the act, the teen fled the area.

Following the stabbing, the injured persons were placed in a boat and rushed to the Charity Hospital. Singh was pronounced dead on arrival.

The two women and the three children were all transferred to the Suddie Hospital, where two of them were rushed to the theatre for emergency surgery. This publication was informed that the other three were admitted to the ICU in a stable condition.

Sadly, three-year-old Williams succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.

The suspect was later found and arrested. A search was conducted on the teen and Police found stab wounds to the chest and a cut around his neck.

He confessed that he attempted to take his own life.

sea defence had occurred in October 2019, with floods affecting both the residential and farming communities.

Farmland between Planters Hall and DeHoop became barren and remained that way. Cash crops, rice, and cattle farmers were all thrown out of business.

Since then, hundreds of farmers would have lost business as a result of being unable to cultivate their lands due to it being flooded with saltwater from the ocean.

COVID-19 pandemic

PAHO urges countries to make prenatal care services accessible to pregnant women

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas, which Guyana is a part of, to step up efforts to ensure access to prenatal care services for pregnant women due to recent studies that show that they can be severely affected by COVID-19.

“Recently published results and studies based on COVID-19 surveillance data have indicated an increased risk among pregnant women of presenting with severe forms of COVID-19 and, therefore, of being hospitalised and admitted to intensive care units,” PAHO noted.

The Organisation stated that data compiled showed that 28,387 cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women have been reported by 10 countries, with 356 deaths reported from January to August 11.

PAHO’s epidemiological alert said, “The current available data suggest that pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19; in some cases, this may lead to death.”

PAHO, therefore, recommended that countries address specific risks and vul-

nerabilities faced by this population, ensure the continuity of prenatal care services, as well as provide timely attention to severe signs and symptoms among pregnant women with COVID-19.

The Organisation also recommended that health services “maintain communication with pregnant women in order to provide resources on whom to consult in case of an emergency and to coordinate virtual, face-to-face, or home checkups if necessary.”

It suggested that countries “intensify efforts to ensure access to prenatal care services, as well as to implement preventive measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 across all levels of the health system, in order to maintain the commitment to reducing maternal and perinatal mortality and the progress achieved to

date.”

PAHO’s alert said, “priority should be given to diagnostic tests for pregnant women because they are at risk for developing severe forms of the disease and will require hospitalisation at some point during their pregnancy.”

“All pregnant and postpartum women must be clinically managed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations established and in effect in each respective country and territory in the region of the Americas. Additional specific care measures will be required for pregnant women for whom SARS-CoV-2 infection is suspected or confirmed,” PAHO said, listing a series of guidelines for critical care and algorithms for managing patients with suspected infection at primary care levels and in remote areas.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM gazettes election results, lists of MPs — list includes WPA member despite Party asking her to withdraw

T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) has gazetted the final results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, as well as the lists of persons who are supposed to serve in the National Assembly from the various parties.

The gazetted order is dated August 20, 2020, and as a formality, it gazettes the results of the elections; the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with its winning total of 233,336 votes and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) with its total of 217,313.

It also includes the list of MPs drawn from the National Top-Up list and the geographical list. On the top-up list, the PPP has as its MPs Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Public Works Juan Anthony Edghill.

Also included on the Top-Up list are Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag, Junior Minister of Public

Works Deodat Indar, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Warren Mc Coy, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Anand Persaud, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin, veteran trade unionist Seepaul Narine, Yvonne Pearson Fredericks, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Bhagmattie Veerasammy, and Dr Jennifer Westford.

When it comes to the

Minister of Social Services Dr Vindhya Persaud and Junior Minister of Housing Susan Rodrigues. Faizal Jaffarally is the party’s parliamentary representative for Region Five.

For Region Six, the party’s geographical representatives are Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Dr Vishwa Mahadeo.

For Region Seven, the party is represented by Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail

The Guyana Elections Commission

geographical list, the PPP has Minister of Housing Collin Croal as MP for Region One, Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall for Region Two and Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Dr Thandika Smith for Region Three.

For Region Four, the PPP has Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd,

Teixeira. And in Region Nine, PPP is represented

by Alister Charlie.

On APNU/AFC’s geographical list are Ronald Cox for Region One, Shurwayne Holder for Region Two, Ganesh Mahipaul for Region Three. Also included are Cathy Hughes, Maureen

by passion and zeal, Pierre, Alan and Stuart started PALS, an acronym of their names. After many experiments, testings and tastings, their first signature beer “Cold One” was born.

These now very fine craftsmen will, in the future, be venturing into different types/flavours of beer.

“Our reason for doing this is simple. Because we wanted a different beer,” Alan said.

Cold One is exclusive since it is brewed from the very best grains, unlike rice used in most beers.

Rich grains used in the process are Brewers, Munich and Caramel Malts. Added to the blend is yeast which

is the defining ingredient in craft beer, and the type of yeast used in the brewing process has a huge influence on the style of beer produced. PALS uses a fresh hop and a special yeast which is imported all the way from Northern Europe.

The processing is done in a Micro-brewery located in Georgetown which houses state-of-the-art equipment and extreme care is taken in the different stages of the brewing process. PALS aims to only use high-quality and unique ingredients to achieve refined, unique flavours when brewing.

“Cold One” is now available nationwide.

APNU/AFC

Philadelphia, Deonarine Ramsaroop and Nima FlueBess for Region Four and Vinceroy Jordan for Region Five.

For Region Six, the coalition has Dineshwar Jaiprashad, while Dawn Hastings-Williams represents the party for Region Seven. Richard Sinclair represents APNU/AFC for Region Eight and in Region 10, its representatives are Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears.

In its National Top-Up list, APNU/AFC retained former Public Service Minister Tabitha SarabooHalley of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) as its chosen MP. But the WPA has not only withdrawn from APNU/AFC but told the coalition to pull back Halley’s name from consideration.

On this note, there are reports that Halley has resigned from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

This publication was unable to make contact with Halley and when contacted, WPA Executive Dr David Hinds was unaware of her resignation.

In a letter to APNU Leader David Granger, the WPA, a party which was founded by respected historian and politician Dr Walter Rodney, had indi-

APNU nominee for Parliament, Tabitha Saraboo-Halley has reportedly resigned from the WPA after the party withdrew from the coalition and asked APNU to withdraw her name from the list of MPs

cated a few days ago that it has withdrawn from the political group, citing several instances of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) taking and implementing decisions without the involvement of smaller parties.

The letter, which was signed by party Secretary, Tacuma Ogunseye, referred to the most recent case of the People’s National Congress (PNC) leadership unilaterally selecting persons to represent the APNU/AFC coalition in the 12th Parliament.

“To our utter embar-

rassment, not for the first time the WPA was informed by the media that APNU had decided on its representatives for the next National Assembly,” the letter had stated, a reference to Halley’s selection by Granger to go to Parliament.

The party explained that it was only after a letter was sent to Granger enquiring about the state of affairs that it was informed by the General Secretary of the PNCR that Halley, the Chairperson of the WPA, was one of the selected persons.

GPSU hosts workshop in PALS Beverages launches commemoration of 57th new product anniversary of WAC

P

The founders of PALS Beverages

ALS Beverages, a new Guyaneseowned company, recently launched a new and unique crafted beer, called the “Cold One”. It is a combination of ale and beer, a blend that is definitely new to Guyana.

Driven by the love of “a cold one”, 3 local businessmen ventured into developing a beer product that has everything beer lovers crave -- refreshing, smooth on the palate, a delicious hoppy tang with an eye-catching clear amber colour. As a medium-bodied beer, the alcoholic composition is just right for anyone.

In 2018, with little brewing knowledge, but fuelled

T

Women with the GPSU

he Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) will host a one-day workshop to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the formation of its Women's Advisory Committee today.

The opening session will commence at 09:30h at the Union's Headquarters, 160 Regent & Shiv Chanderpaul Drive Bourda, Georgetown.

On August 23, 1963, the Women's Auxiliary (as the committee was initially called) was formed after

the 1963 strike where women trade unionists played a major role in its success.

Part of its mandate was "...to establish a real equality of status and opportunities between men and women in the public service", among others.

This Committee was the first of its kind in the Caribbean region and Sister Trade Unions within the region adopted a similar feature within their unions also. Today, women from around the world are

represented at the highest forums, including the United Nations were annually the Commission on the Status of Women is hosted in New York and key elements of women's development and progress are discussed and standardised.

However, among the presenters to the workshop are representatives from the Social Protection Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

17

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

GECOM must be audited forensically as a priority BITTERSWEET Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as a constitutional Agency, is subjected to being audited by the Audit Office of Guyana. The Auditor-General Mr Deodat Sharma must be allowed to do his work and his recommendations enforced for accountability, and enforce necessary sanctions where they provide overwhelming evidence of corruption. The role of the Auditor MUST not be diminished and if it was appropriately acted on in the case of the GECOM Secretariat, would have saved Guyana from the emerged threatening and embarrassing March to August 2020 fiasco.

The GECOM Secretariat since 2014 was increasingly criticized for a less than candid approach to procurement and operational matters, and it was proved to be a nest of corruption and distrust leading up to, and following March 02, 2020, General and Regional Elections. The ignored signals were camouflaged by former President Mr. Granger’s pretense of respect for the constitutional autonomy of the organization, while his party’s henchmen wreaked havoc. It created a situation which perilously threatened national civility and all democratic rights, which MUST no longer be ignored. Our citizens demand an immediate restructuring of the legal operation basis, and a forensic cleansing that will disembowel the cancerous agents exposed through the X-rays of the recount and

accompanying sequence of events.

The Audit report for 2014 raises some very serious queries of damming corruption and breach of procedures, to which the Chief Executive Officer Keith Lowenfield has flagrantly and bluntly refused to respond. It was an alarming signal evidencing a glaring abuse of positional authority and a quite troubling indicator of what should never occur in an institution which pillars, ought to have been grounded on transparency, trust, and accountability. Indeed, a conundrum of inaction against the conflict was created by the loud silence of the then APNU/AFC Government in the apparent advancement of rewards for their intended surreptitious rigging attempts.

There is no doubt that the foregoing framework and actions, served the mushrooming explosion of the most unacceptable public behavior from a GECOM Chief Executive Officer, in the history of the organization hosting of Elections. This has realized a need for urgent deterring actions, that are necessary to halt further and future questions against evidential damming likeliness of corruption. GECOM since 2014, was appropriated over Twenty billion dollars from the Parliament. In preparation for the 2015 General and Regional Elections, approximately one Billion dollars was spent on purchasing equipment and flimsy Capital works.

An overview of the emerged conflicts between the Audit Office and the GECOM, highlights many areas of lack of cooperation with the Auditors while prepared response Statements were shelving as Lowenfield refused to answer. The serious Political interference by David Granger further confounded matters when he unilaterally appointed James Patterson as the Chairman of GECOM. The AuditorGeneral’s request for the Chairman of GECOM James Patterson to assist his Office in getting Mr. Lowenfield to provide reasonable answers to the queries, was met with a rude referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

To date the numerous thieving questions, remain unanswered and Mr. Lowenfield behaviour has become more unacceptable for a person holding the sacrosanct office to Chairman of the Elections Commission.

The GECOM status on accountability since 2014 remains deficient and must be put above board as taxpayers’ monies are being spent. In 2015 and 2016, the GECOM Secretariat did not respond to the queries referred by the Auditors while in 2017 and 2018 there were no audits conducted. It is of serious note that a rollover of expenditure from 2018 was reported in 2019. Compounding matters is that in 2018 GECOM spent One hundred and $48M and another $586M on Capital works in 2019. These spending must be properly verified

given that the Parliament in 2019, was told that there were G$ B 4.239 billion dollars rollover while a further G$ 3.9 billion were further appropriated to GECOM. It is extremely serious that GECOM bond and by extension Stocks were not allowed to be audited for years. This is because the CEO Lowenfield refused to give permission for the necessary verifications. As such, the Auditor-General’s Office may have to give a “disclaimer” in respect to the millions of dollars of stocks that were bought and never accounted for regarding Stationary, black ‘Water’ tanks, plyers, Cameras, Paint, and many other items.

Information received indicate that on December 31, 2019, GECOM issued 37 cheques totaling a sum of $86.2 million dollars including $37M spent on media matters. On January 03, 2020, GECOM a further two hundred and fifty-eight cheques totaling a massive sum of Five hundred and sixty million dollars was also issued. At the same time, there have been reports of massive spending at the organization paying ‘Phantom staff”. It is now imperative that we see the verification of the staff and their work clearing up all the dubious employment and suspicious practices.

Let the forensic Audit begin now! The Guyanese people deserves better!

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Poor building codes are the cause of fires Dear Editor, All fires are preventable (except arson) and almost all are caused by irresponsible conduct. The recent fire on Sheriff Street which saw a magnificent place of commerce reduced to ashes in the space of a few hours is ample testimony that there is a dire need for the safety of people and the safeguard of property in Guyana by the Housing Authorities. Earlier, on Feb.18, 2020 in Regent Street, the Sachi Store was reduced to ashes in similar manner. I recall that it was only last year when I opined in a letter that Guyana has poor building codes and weak existent safety enforcement procedures. In that year, residential fires have left more than 100 persons homeless throughout the country. The massive fire on the western half of Pike and Thomas Streets in Kitty in 2019 is the type of destruction I have constantly written about in this newspaper.

The fires at Plaisance and Ms. Joslyn Dow’s Charlotte Street complex a year ago together with fires at Cummings Lodge and at the Medical Storage bond in Patentia (West Demerara) are sad testimonies to the tragedy unfolding in Guyana on a regular basis. Fazia’s Collection building on Avenue of the Republic fell victim to similar

tragedy. The fire at Gafoor’s bond three years ago further supported the fact that proper procedures are not being followed in the construction of buildings in Guyana. The Congenital Super Center in Cane Grove which was reduced literally to ashes in November 2016 is also a case of weak non-existent Fire Safety practices. Guyana needs a complete overhaul of its building policies and codes and safety standards, which according to some construction experts are outdated.

The experts have alleged that many buildings in Guyana generally do not confirm to designate classification. For example, many single-family homes are converted into tenant occupied portions so that homeowners can accommodate family members and at the same time obtain rental income to help defray mortgage payments and other expenses.

The flaw in the above example is that when a single-family building is converted into a multi-family dwelling; using the same original electric systems could result in overloading because of the increase use of wattage due to the powering of more electrical appliances. As Guyana entered the technology era, a host of electrical appliances such as toasters, microwave ovens, blenders, computers

etc., are utilized almost always, invariably, from one outlet. A microwave oven, an air condition unit and an iron can use enough wattage to induce overloading of the electrical system and precipitate electrical sparks and a sudden outbreak of fire. Extension cords, some of which are hidden under carpets with their multiple connections could pose a fire hazard. Then to make matters worse, there is the situation where persons break off the third prong with the earth wire in three way plugs to accommodate plugins. It is important for the public to understand that the earth wire provides safety in case of an overload or electrical shocks from externalities such as lightening.

It should be a policy for single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings to be registered with the Building Department where registration numbers are issued for purposes of inspection on a yearly basis, or by complaints from the public. Furthermore, in order to prevent fires from spreading from one building to another, a minimum space of roughly 10 feet should be allowed between buildings, especially in residential areas. This is a requirement that should to be incorporated into the building codes and zoning regulations in Guyana in order to facilitate smooth

and orderly evacuation as well as to allow easy access to firefighters and other first responders.

It is vitally important for commercial buildings, attached or unattached to have adequate and suitable sprinkler systems to douse flames of fires before the arrival of firefighters. In addition, Guyana should have a policy for automated oxygen retardant systems to be installed inside of buildings to smother fires and smoke alarms installed along corridors to warn occupants of dwellings on the eruption of fires. Also, the government should have a policy to conduct inspections semi-annually or annually on sprinkler systems, smoke alarms and oxygen retardant systems. Finally, all bonds, regardless of what is stored in them, must be sectionalized much like the compartments in oil tankers to limit the spread of fires to other sections of the buildings.

These policies, though rigid in nature should, in the final analysis, be mandated by law to prevent further tragedies. Fines must be imposed on all forms of non-compliance if those in authority is truly serious about preventing fires and save lives.

Sincerely, Leyland Roopnaraine

Chitlall

VICTORY

Written by: SAYWACK SINGH

Victory, you finally answered our call, To help Guyanese, the dictators had to fall, Now it is time to rebuild with strength and unity, Our country will develop, we need progress and prosperity.

Victory, it was a long time and you were so elusive, But the world stood by us and was very cooperative, For 5 months we waited and lived in fear, Until the hands of justice said that freedom is near.

Victory, we will now treasure you until the end, But a helping hand every one must lend, Guyanese will again stand tall and proud, Singing our anthem ever so loud.

Victory, you came to us so bitter but sweet, Citizens are now celebrating in every street, Cheddi’s fight was never in vain, Democracy will prevail despite the pain.

Victory, you taught us the way to cooperate, And that peace we must always demonstrate, We are one people, one nation, one destiny, Our progress is now for the world to see.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

Regional

Brazil coronavirus cases pass 3.6 Venezuela’s Maduro thanks Iran for helping oil industry million, death toll at 114,744 overcome US sanctions B razil reported 23,421 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 494 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the Health

Ministry said on Sunday.

Brazil has registered 3,605,783 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from COVID-19 has ris-

en to 114,744, according to Ministry data, in the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Thomas Restobar Club: Crush kills 13 as Peru Police raid party violating lockdown

The crush happened as people were trying to exit the nightclub

A

t least 13 people died in a crush in Peru after trying to escape Police who raided a nightclub violating coronavirus restrictions, Police say.

The crush happened as revellers tried to leave the Thomas Restobar Club in Lima’s Los Olivos district.

Some eyewitnesses said tear gas was used.

President Martín Vizcarra said 15 of 23 revellers arrested had tested pos-

itive for the coronavirus.

Peru has been among the Latin American countries hardest hit by COVID-19.

It has recorded more than 576,000 cases of coronavirus cases and more than 27,000 fatalities.

A night-time curfew has been in place since March, and a ban on large gatherings was reimposed earlier this month.

Peru’s Interior Minister said around 120 people had

attended the illegal birthday gathering on Saturday.

After Police raided the club, the partygoers “tried to escape through the single exit, trampling each other and getting trapped in the stairway”. Eleven men and two women aged in their 20s and 30s died.

The Ministry said Police “did not use any type of weapon or tear gas” during the operation but this was disputed by at least one local resident who told RPP radio: “It appears that police entered and threw tear gas canisters at them, and boxed them in.”

The club’s owners, a married couple, were among those detained. Six people were injured, including three police officers.

President Vizcarra said such large gatherings were common and were posing a serious threat to public health. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Miroslava Breach murder: Mexico jails man who ordered journalist’s death

A

man in Mexico has been given a 50-year prison sentence for ordering the killing of a prominent journalist.

Miroslava Breach, who covered drugs violence and corruption in the country, was one of 11 journalists murdered in 2017 in Mexico.

Prosecutors said the lengthy prison term for Juan Carlos Moreno set a precedent in cases involving crimes against free expression.

Some 90 per cent of attacks on journalists in the country reportedly go unsolved.

A press rights group, Propuesta Cívica, urged the Mexican authorities to investigate such attacks.

Four journalists have been killed this year, according to journalism watchdog Reporters Without Borders, which describes Mexico as “one of the world’s deadliest countries for the media”.

“Collusion between officials and organized crime

Miroslava Breach reported on organised crime and corruption

poses a grave threat to journalists’ safety and cripples the judicial system at all levels,” it says.

The 54-year-old was shot eight times in her car outside her home in the city of Chihuahua on 23 March 2017. One of her children was in the vehicle but was not hurt.

Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption for a national newspaper, La Jornada, and a regional newspaper, Norte de Ciudad Juárez.

Her killers left a note saying: “For being a loudmouth.”

Prosecutors say she was murdered “with premeditation” after being sent intimidating messages meant to impinge on her freedom of expression, AFP news agency reports.

Moreno was convicted of being the “intellectual author” of Breach’s murder.

The man suspected of the actual shooting, Ramon Zavala, was himself killed by unidentified assailants.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

This is in addition to 62 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases to 1765, with 1504 of those active.

Concerning the deaths

– two women, a 45-yearold and a 63-year-old, both from the island of New Providence, died on Friday night and Saturday morning respectively.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, March 12, 2020

V

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday thanked ally Iran for helping the South American country overcome US sanctions on its oil industry and floated the idea of purchasing missiles from the country.

Washington maintains strict sanctions against Iran’s oil industry to try to halt the country’s nu-

clear programme. Earlier this year, Tehran sent several gasoline cargoes to Venezuela to help it overcome fuel shortages, as well as equipment to help state oil company PDVSA repair its dilapidated refineries.

“We are helping each other,” Maduro said in an interview broadcast on state television. “I think the Iranian experience will help us re-

inforce our management capacity.”

He did not provide further details of how Iran was helping, noting he should maintain “silence since we are in a war.”

Washington’s sanctions on PDVSA are meant to pressure Maduro, a socialist accused of rigging his 2018 re-election, to resign. Earlier this month, the United States seized four cargoes of Iranian gasoline en route to Venezuela.

The growing ties between Iran and Venezuela are concerning other countries in the region. Colombian President Ivan Duque said this week Maduro was eyeing missile purchases from Iran, which Venezuelan officials denied.

But in the interview, Maduro said Duque’s statement was a “good idea” he had not yet considered. “If it is possible and convenient, we will buy those missiles,” he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands evacuated as 2 storms head for southern US

T

housands of people have been evacuated from parts of the Caribbean and southern US as two storms tore through the region on Sunday.

Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura have brought high winds and rough seas, causing damage to areas of Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Heavy rains have also battered the US territory of Puerto Rico.

Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana today, with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday.

But forecasters say that Laura may swing east to-

wards Louisiana, and it could be the first time in recorded history that the state has been hit by two simultaneous hurricanes.

A least three people have been killed in the Dominican Republic as Laura swept through the country, leaving more than a million people without electricity.

Five other deaths have been reported in Haiti, including that of a 10-yearold girl. The capital Port-auPrince, is also experiencing severe flooding.

Meanwhile in Cuba, many residents in the country’s eastern regions have been evacuated and housed in shelters or safer buildings

on higher ground.

Marco strengthened to a hurricane on Sunday, with sustained winds of up to 75mph (120km/h), and is moving north between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Laura is also predicted to become a hurricane on Wednesday, with its course heading northwest towards Houston, America’s fourth-largest city.

The US National Hurricane Centre has warned that back-to-back hurricanes arriving in the US within days of one another could result in prolonged periods of hazardous weather. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Antigua’s food import bill is $18M yearly

A

ntigua and Barbuda is spending more than $18 million annually to import produce, something Prime Minister Gaston Browne says needs to change.

“What the Government is seeking to do now is to increase production and to displace most of those imports,” Browne said. “I don’t see for

example why we should be importing as much as $2 million annually in onions when our conditions are such that we can grow some of the best onions anywhere in the world.

“We need coconut orchards, we need avocado orchards. We import a lot of avocados, nearly $90,000 a year in avocados. Why

can’t we plant some of those and meet our domestic demands? Even sweet peppers, we should not be importing sweet peppers especially the green ones when we can grow them here.”

The Government is encouraging more people to get involved in farming.

(Excerpt from Antigua News Room)

Bahamas records 2 COVID-related deaths, 62 new cases

T

he Ministry of Health on Sunday reported that the territory has recorded two more deaths attributed to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Renward Wells has offered condolences to the family of a registered nurse, Bernadette Rolle, who was a victim of the vi-

rus.

“As we mourn the loss of a brave warrior from the frontline in our fight against the pandemic COVID-19, the nation is

grateful for her service,” he said. The death toll across the country now stands at 29. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Aramco reshuffles top management, with new focus on portfolio

S

audi Aramco reshuffled its senior management, putting a top executive in charge of “portfolio optimization,” as the world’s biggest oil producer adjusts to low crude prices.

Aramco appointed Senior Vice President Abdulaziz Al Gudaimi to head up the new department that will “assess existing assets” and boost access to growth markets, it said in a statement. He previously ran Aramco’s downstream business.

It also named Nasir Al Naimi as acting head of the upstream business -- the exploration and production arm -while Mohammed Al Qahtani will take over the downstream business, according to people familiar with the situation.

The moves come as Aramco adjusts to the reality of oil at US$40 a barrel. It’s slashing spending and investment to try to preserve a US$75-billion dividend even as its debt surges past targets set just last year. Most of the dividend goes to the Saudi state, which needs the funds as it faces a major revenue squeeze.

Earlier this year the company hired advisers to review a potential multi-billion dollar stake sale in its pipeline business, according to people familiar with the matter. And Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan said in February there were non-core assets that could be monetised.

In another potential sign of Aramco’s changing priorities as it tries to preserve cash, the company suspended a US$10billion project to build a refinery in China, Bloomberg reported last week. The project was unveiled to great fanfare last year but low oil prices — driven by the impact of the coronavirus on demand — are forcing energy companies to reassess.

Aramco didn’t comment on the appointments to the upstream and downstream businesses. In the oil industry, the upstream business focuses on exploration and production, while the downstream business focuses on refining, chemicals and marketing. By far, Aramco’s most profitable unit is its upstream business. (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Global coronavirus deaths exceed 800,000

T

he global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 800,000 on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, with the United States, Brazil and India leading the rise in fatalities.

Nearly 5900 people are dying every 24 hours from COVID-19 on average, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the past two weeks that ended on Friday.

That equates to 246 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.

The rate of deaths is holding steady with it taking 17 days to go from 700,000 to 800,000 deaths — the same time it took to go from 600,000 to 700,000.

The US death toll surpassed 170,000 on Sunday, the highest in the world.

While the number of new cases is down from a peak in

July, the country is still seeing over 360,000 new cases a week.

Many public schools and universities reopened classrooms to students despite positive test rates of nearly 20 per cent in some parts of the country. Less than a week after welcoming students, some schools are switching to online-only learning due to a spike in infections.

In India, the world’s second-most populous country, COVID-19 deaths topped 50,000 on Monday, five months after the country reported its first coronavirus fatality.

Health experts have raised the alarm that Brazil and the United States still have no coordinated plan to fight the pandemic, as many officials focus on reopening schools and businesses, which is likely to worsen the outbreak.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Belarus opposition holds mass rally in Minsk despite ban

O

pposition supporters in Belarus have held a mass rally in the capital Minsk, two weeks after a disputed election gave President Alexander Lukashenko another term in office.

Correspondents in the city said tens of thousands filled the central square despite a heavy police presence.

The protesters say Lukashenko stole the election and want him to resign.

The President has vowed to crush unrest and blamed the dissent on unnamed "foreign-backed revolutionaries".

Recent protests were met with a crackdown in which at least four people were killed. Demonstrators said they had been tortured in prisons.

Tens of thousands filled the central square in Minsk despite heavy police presence

According to official results, Lukashenko - who has ruled Belarus for 26 years won more than 80 per cent of the vote in the August 9 election and opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya 10 per cent.

There were no independent observers and the opposition alleges massive

New Zealand court set to sentence Christchurch mosque shooter

The Christchurch High Court will hear statements from more than 60 victims of the mass shooting

A

court in New Zealand is set to begin hearings today on the sentencing of an Australian man who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in the city of Christchurch last year.

Brenton Tarrant, a self-confessed white supremacist, pleaded guilty in March of 51 murder charges, 40 of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act. The plea came a year after Tarrant attacked Muslims attending Friday prayers in Christchurch with semi-automatic guns, broadcasting the shooting live on Facebook. During the fourday sentencing hearing at the Christchurch High Court, Judge Cameron Mander will hear statements from 66 survivors of the attack.

Tarrant, who is likely to be present in the courtroom, disembarked from a

New Zealand Air Force plane at Christchurch Airport on Sunday afternoon. Television footage showed him wearing a protective vest and helmet as escorting armed officers directed him into the back of a white van.

He will be sentenced after being allowed to make a statement.

With wounds still raw from the attack - New Zealand's worst mass shooting in recent history - Mander said the sentencing was an important milestone for victims.

Many of the people who will give victim impact statements have travelled from overseas for the sentencing, undergoing two weeks of quarantine so they can participate.

Victim support workers will also be present, with local mental health specialists on standby for referrals. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

vote-rigging.

Tikhanovskaya, who was forced to flee to neighbouring Lithuania the day after the election, vowed to "stand till the end" in the protests.

Tens of thousands of people - from the elderly to those with small children - poured into Independence Square on Sunday. Many were carrying the opposition's red and white flags, and chanted "freedom" and anti-Government slogans.

Similar demonstrations were held in other Belarusian cities.

Meanwhile in Lithuania, thousands of people - including President Gitanas Naus?da - formed a human chain from the capital Vilnius to the Belarusian border in solidarity with those protesting in Minsk.

This weekend's rally in Minsk follows the country's biggest protest in modern history last Sunday, when hundreds of thousands filled the streets. Strike action in key factories across Belarus is also keeping up the pressure on the President.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Sanctions in focus as West African mediators meet Mali coup leaders

T

alks between Mali’s military junta and mediators from West Africa’s regional bloc were underway in Bamako on Sunday in an ongoing effort to return the country to civilian rule.

The delegation from the Economic Community of West African States, led by Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, met junta leaders led by Colonel Assimi Goita behind closed doors for several hours on Sunday morning, before adjourning for lunch.

A senior officer close to the junta told Reuters that the morning’s discussion had focused on the bloc’s sanctions on Mali following the military coup.

The two sides also met briefly, for about 20 minutes on Saturday.

Another officer close to the junta said the West Africa delegation had made proposals which would be examined.

The 15-nation Economic

Community of West African States (ECOWAS), weary of prolonged instability in Mali and the potential for similar power grabs in the region, have taken a hard line on the coup.

It suspended Mali from its decision-making institutions, shut borders and halted financial flows with the country.

The overthrow of Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday has been condemned abroad, but celebrated by many in a country battling an Islamist insurgency and months of political unrest following a disputed legislative election in March.

While the delegation arrived in Bamako on Saturday with the aim of reversing the coup, a diplomat told Reuters that reinstating Keita - who is being held by the junta - was out of the question, adding that the only thing it could achieve was a transition. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coronavirus: Missing school is worse than virus for children – Whitty

C

hildren are more likely to be harmed by not returning to school next month than if they catch coronavirus, the UK's Chief Medical Adviser said.

Prof Chris Whitty said "the chances of children dying from COVID-19 are incredibly small" - but missing lessons "damages children in the long run".

Millions of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to return to school within weeks.

Prof Whitty also said COVID-19 would be a challenge for at least nine months.

He said it was unlikely there would be a vaccine in 2020 but there was a "reasonable chance" of a success-

ful jab being ready for the following winter in 2021-22.

The Government has said all pupils, in all year groups, in England will be expected to return to class full-time in September. Schools have already reopened in Scotland.

Prof Whitty, who is also England's Chief Medical Officer, said "many more [children] were likely to be

harmed by not going than harmed by going" to school.

His interview came as Chief and Deputy Chief Medical Officers for all four UK nations said there were "no risk-free options" and it was important for parents and teachers to understand both the risks and benefits as schools reopen. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR SATURDAY'S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Avoid taking on too much of a financial burden or giving the impression you are capable of doing something you cannot. Take a moment to rethink your strategy.

Keep the peace.

Don't let someone's flirtation or poor judgment lead to a bad decision. The more hands-on you are when making decisions, the easier it will be to control the outcome.

Don't let your personal life interfere with your work responsibilities.

Recognize when someone is taking advantage of you. Focus on getting ahead, not on pleasing someone who doesn't deserve you.

A hobby or self-improvement project will push you to pursue an exciting path.

Reconnect with old friends, and plan a virtual reunion. A forgive-and-forget attitude is favored.

Finish what you start, and honor your promises. A lifestyle change will improve an important relationship. If you have doubts, say what's on your mind and find out where you stand.

An online journey will lead you in a new direction. A chance to use your skills differently will lead to interesting partnerships. Reconnect with someone you haven't seen in a long time.

Don't overspend or let anyone take advantage of you financially. Unfinished business will leave you in an awkward position. Damage control will be necessary.

Use reason when dealing with people delivering ultimatums, and you will find a way to get them to see things your way. A change is likely to happen quickly. Go with the flow, and the result will be better than anticipated.

Helping someone who has assisted you in the past will make you feel good. A sales pitch may entice you, but make sure you can afford the buy-in. Stick to what you can afford.

Listen to someone's plan, but don't make any hasty commitments. Concentrate on your health and emotional well-being. Don't hesitate to do your own thing. Your ideas will be sound.

Being observant will keep you out of trouble and allow you to make a wise decision.

Distance yourself from a situation that is causing confusion or making you feel bad.

You can repair a damaged partnership if you are willing to accept some of the blame. An exciting new perspective on something you've always wanted to do will encourage you to take a chance.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

21

BCB, Albion CC hold cordial discussion on the future of Berbice cricket — Butcher Fund donates clocks to Police B Division

of Guyana to develop the game and to work hard to return regional and international cricket to the Albion Ground, where the first One-Day-International (ODI) in the Caribbean was played in 1977 against Pakistan.

He admitted that it was unlikely that any cricket would be played for the rest of the year, but stated that efforts would

merous changes would have to be made in Berbice cricket, including the reduction of cash prizes for finals and the attendance of spectators at matches. Both delegations agreed to meet in the future and Walters pledged Albion’s support towards the development of the game. The BCB delegation also handed over a donation of stationery, clocks, cleaning detergent and a warm-up

BCB Secretary Angela Haniff hands over the donation to the ACCCC

B

erbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster earlier last week led a seven-member delegation to visit the Albion Sports Complex by invitation of the President and Executives of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC).

The Albion Club had requested the meeting despite the pandemic crisis to discuss Berbice cricket development and seek answers to several of its concerns. The BCB President, as part of “his meet the clubs programme”, readily agreed to the meeting within 72 hours. Since his election to the BCB presidency, Foster has visited the majority of clubs within the county to listen to their concerns and recommendations.

The BCB President was accompanied

by Secretary Angela Haniff, Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry, Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Assistant Treasurer Rovin Bahadur, Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu and Executive Member Edwards.

Albion President Vemen Walters thanked the BCB for agreeing to the meeting and congratulated the executives on the great

job they are doing on and off the cricket field.

Among the topics that were discussed were immediate plans for Berbice cricket, developmental programmes, the relationship with the Guyana Cricket Board, the ongoing BCB/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) programmes, functioning of BCB sub-0committees and representation of players at the national level.

Walters expressed some concern at the BCB involvement in several legal matters and stated that Berbice needed proper representation on the GCB as decisions were taken about Guyana’s cricket without any input from the county. Foster explained that the legal actions were about restoring democracy to Guyana’s cricket and making sure that cricket development was for all Guyanese and not a select few.

He committed to having an Albion executive in the BCB official delegation whenever it met with Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. President Foster committed himself to work along with the Government

Presentation of clocks to the B Division of the Guyana Police Force

be made to conduct developmental programmes off the cricket field. The BCB delegation also provided answers to the ACCCC on the Basil Butcher Trust Fund, the COVID-19 response project, sponsorship after the COVID-19 pandemic and the work of the Board’s four sub-committees.

Foster disclosed that the BCB was trying to establish a working relationship with some regional cricket boards in its ongoing development efforts and arrangements are being put in place for coaching of youths using the Internet. He also disclosed that nu-

football to the ACCCC. Meanwhile, the joint BCB/RHTY&SC Basil Butcher Trust Fund on Wednesday handed over 20 clocks to the management of the Guyana Police Force B Division. BCB Public Relations Officer and RHTY&SC Vice President Mark Papannah handed over the donation to B Division Traffic Chief Williams. Under the Fund, a total of $250,000 worth of clocks would be distributed to public institutions across Berbice, including schools, churches, fire stations, and post offices.

Bayern beat PSG to win Champions League B

ayern Munich won the Champions League for a sixth time by beating Paris St Germain 1-0 in Sunday’s final thanks to a goal from former PSG youth academy graduate Kingsley Coman.

France international Coman appeared at the back post to glance home a cross from Joshua Kimmich in the 59th minute, completing a sweeping move by Bayern, who until then had been the second-best side on the pitch.

Coman’s strike punished PSG’s wastefulness in the first half as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe both failed to beat Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer from close range while Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera also narrowly missed the target.

PSG substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting missed two late opportunities to level for the French side, who are still waiting to win their first Champions League title after billions of euros of investment from the Qatar royal family.

(Reuters)

Bayern Munich players celebrate after beating Paris St Germain to win the Champions League at Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, August 23, 2020, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

TKR’s batting too good for Tridents B

rutal death hitting from Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard saw the Trinbago Knight Riders post the highest score of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, and though Johnson Charles gave the Barbados Tridents a chance, once he fell, the spinners took firm control and

until the fifth. Simmons hit the next ball for a Hero Maximum and then clubbed Jason Holder to mid-on. It took Colin Munro to kickstart the innings, taking 18 off Kyle Mayers, including a glorious flick over mid-on for six, and the Knight Riders ended the Powerplay at 45-1.

Ashley Nurse put the

as Raymon Reifer dramatically splattered Narine’s stumps to end a stuttering innings.

At the drinks break, the Knight Riders were a subdued 63-2. Munro brought up 50 off just 29 balls, then fell to a fantastic Rashid catch to give Nurse

started with two full tosses, and while Pollard

was almost bowled by the first one, he dismissed the second for a Hero Maximum.

Bravo punished Rashid for going too full with a slog-swept six.

Mitchell Santner couldn’t contain Bravo, who clubbed 10 off the first two balls of the over, or Pollard, who hit an extraordinary one-handed Hero Maximum over the sightscreen.

P o l l a r d repeated the trick to end a Reifer over that started with Bravo hammering a full toss for six, and, suddenly the Knight Riders were 155-3 off 18.

Holder proved expensive in the 19th, with three wides punctuating Pollard hammering a Hero Maximum Johnson Dynamic duo: Kieron Pollard and Bravo on a late assault (Photos: CPLT20 via Getty Images) and Bravo essaying Charles a classy lofted drive. extended the Knight Riders’ pressure back on, but Munro a deserved wicket off the against last ball of his spell. But that In the 20th, Bravo found and unbeaten start to this year’s counter-attacked Rashid Khan, clobbering a was as good as it got for the then cleared the mid-wicket tournament. fence to take himself to 50, Choosing to bowl, the sweep into the stands. Narine Tridents with the ball.

Rashid lost his line to and the Knight Riders to an Tridents started well – the at the other end should have first boundary didn’t come fallen to Nurse on 6, but was the left-handed Bravo, going imposing total. The last four until the third over, and Sunil dropped by Shai Hope. The for 12, including a set of overs went at a bruising 17.25 Narine didn’t get off the mark drop was not costly; however, five wides. Hayden Walsh Jr an over, and the Tridents were left wondering if they’d got their bowling strategies right.

The Tridents had to go hard and Johnson Charles did exactly that, targeting Jayden Seales to the tune of 20 runs to start the chase in

RHTY&SC, Republic Bank donate educational materials to schoolchildren

G

uyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and its 10 cricket teams have begun their annual Back to School programme.

Last Wednesday, with support from the Rose Hall Town branch of Republic Bank (Guyana), the Club provided school bags and educational materials to dozens of students preparing for their first term at the secondary school level.

Assistant Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simon Naidu noted that every year the teams normally would distribute more than $1 million in school bags and educational materials, but owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the target would be $400,000 in items. Naidu note d that under the Basil Butcher Trust Fund, students would also benefit from other form of assistance as the cricket teams seek to encourage youths to stay in school and complete their education.

The Assistant Secretary/CEO disclosed that for over a decade, Republic Bank and the RHTY&SC had hosted an annual Summer Camp for 60 Grade Six students preparing for secondary school, but this year’s edition was cancelled owing to the worsening COVID-19 situation in Berbice.

He noted that while all arrangements were in place, the club consulted with the sponsor as the COVID-19 cases increased rapidly in Guyana and decided to call off the

camp. The funds were then used to provide the school bags and items such as pens, exercise books, pencils, rulers, sharpeners, and folders.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, at the presentation ceremony, hailed Republic Bank as a friend of the club and one of the main reasons why the RHTY&SC was successful in fulfilling its mandate to youths.

Foster, in a well-received inspirational speech to the students, urged them to make education the number one priority in life and told them that the five years in secondary school would determine their future.

Foster, who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), also spoke of the importance of getting involved in sports. He advised the youths to choose their friends carefully as secondary school required a more mature attitude than primary school.

Foster spoke broadly on the need to say no to drugs, suicide, alcohol, tobacco, crime and yes to education, religion, life, and culture. The RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO committed the club to assisting the students in the future so that they can fulfil their potential in the classroom and even in sports.

The cricket teams of the RHTY&SC are Poonai Pharmacy Under 12 and Under 13, Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, and Namilco Thunderbolt Flour First Division and Under 21.

overdrive. It was a measure of how concerned Pollard was that he went to DJ Bravo in the Powerplay.

It was a dramatic over – elder brother Darren dropped Charles off the first ball, ensuring the wait for a 500th T20 wicket for DJ went on, and the Tridents opener rubbed it in with two boundaries. Hope was very much the support act, ending the Powerplay at 9 off 11 to Charles’s 46 off 25.

Remarkably, those 46 came entirely between long leg and midwicket.

But Narine, Ali Khan and Fawad Ahmed slowed scoring significantly, and the pressure told as Charles lost his off-stump to Fawad just after reaching his 50. Corey Anderson’s horror start to Hero CPL 2020 continued as he was run out by Seales for 2, and after a promising start the Tridents were falling away.

The elder Bravo pulled off a good low catch to dismiss Mayers off Khary Pierre. Hope picked up a four off Pierre and a massive Hero Maximum off Fawad, but the leg-spinner responded well to limit the damage and send the rate above 12.

Though Carter found the fence with a deft reverse scoop off DJ Bravo, it was not enough, with 14.5 an over needed off the last six, he aimed a swipe at Ali Khan and was bowled. The Tridents had lost all momentum, and Hope’s sluggish innings finally ended with a top-edged hoick.

Had Rashid been promoted up the order to help out Holder, who struck the ball beautifully, it may have been a closer-run thing. Seales bowled a nervy last over, but by then it was too late, and the Knight Riders had shown their class to go three wins from three. (CPL T20)

SCOREBOARD TKR Innings LMP Simmons c Reifer b Holder SP Narine b Reifer C Munro c Rashid Khan b Nurse DM Bravo not out KA Pollard (c) not out Extras (lb 1, w 10)

21 8 50 54 41 11

TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 9.25) 185/3 Did not bat: TL Seifert †, DJ Bravo, K Pierre, Ali Khan, Fawad Ahmed, JNT Seales Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Lendl Simmons, 4.4 ov), 2-63 (Sunil Narine, 9.3 ov), 3-87 (Colin Munro, 12.6 ov) BOWLING JO Holder KR Mayers AR Nurse Rashid Khan RA Reifer HR Walsh MJ Santner

4-0-37-1 3-0-25-0 4-0-20-1 3-0-27-0 4-0-47-1 1-0-9-0 1-0-19-0

BARBADOS TRIDENTS INNINGS (TARGET: 186 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) J Charles b Fawad Ahmed 52 SD Hope † c Seales b Narine 36 CJ Anderson run out (Seales/Fawad Ahmed) 2 KR Mayers c DM Bravo b Pierre 1 JL Carter b Ali Khan 8 JO Holder (c) not out 34 AR Nurse c Pierre b Seales 21 RA Reifer not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 8) 12 TOTAL(20 Ov, RR: 8.3) Did not bat: MJ Santner, HR Walsh, Rashid Khan

CLASSIFIED ADS EDUCATION Maths is Fun - Registration ongoing for Christmas Term. Placement exams Forms 1 and 2. Also 3rd, 4th and 5th Forms Math and English. Call 227-7850

FOR RENT Bottom Flat to Rent 25 Oronoque / North Road, Bourda. Either for Domestic / Business use. Fully Furnished A.C, Windows / Door Grilled or Mesh 4 Rooms Tel. 2267012

SERVICE Shalom Enterprise - 2 Coral Street, Stabroek. You could also obtain an International Driving Permit covering 131 Countries. Call: 227-7560/6190106/659-3381. Follow us on Facebook.

SPIRITUALITY Solutions to All problems such as – Domestic, Job, Relationships such as :- Marriage , Love Relations.

Removal of blockages and Bad Luck. Call for Appointment – 592 696 8222. Address: Georgetown or Vreed-en-Hoop.

VEHICLES FOR SALE Toyota Tacoma. 2013 model, 2 Wheel Drive, Immaculate Interior, A.C, Fog Light. Contact : 227-0176

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

166/6

Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Johnson Charles, 7.6 ov), 2-73 (Corey Anderson, 9.2 ov), 3-75 (Kyle Mayers, 10.1 ov), 4-100 (Jonathan Carter, 14.2 ov), 5-120 (Shai Hope, 15.5 ov), 6-165 (Ashley Nurse, 19.5 ov) BOWLING Ali Khan K Pierre JNT Seales SP Narine DJ Bravo Fawad Ahmed

4-0-32-1 3-0-19-1 2-0-34-1 4-0-17-1 4-0-46-0 3-0-14-1

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Zouks silence Warriors despite Pooran's brilliance 19-3; Hemraj and Pooran took the score to 50-3 in 9.3 overs.

After the drinks break, Hemraj’s struggles came to an end when he was caught by Chase for a 20-ball 15, ending a 57-run partnership that was dominated by Pooran. At 60-4, Warriors required 85 runs from 58 balls, with Paul being promoted ahead of Sherfane Rutherford.

P o o r a n

Zouks celebrate the wicket of Brandon King

By Brandon Corlette

L

ed by Roston Chase’s second half-century, St Lucia Zouks defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by 10 runs in Match 10 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Zouks batting first, reached

Nicholas Pooran got in the groove for the first time this CPL

144-7 in 20 overs with Chase leading the charge with a classy 66. In reply, some early inroads by Zouks seamer Scott Kuggeleijn pegged the Warriors back despite Nicholas Pooran's blistering 68.

Indies Test player Roston Chase and Mohammad Nabi joined forces and began the rebuilding.

Chase continued to show his ability to up the tempo and rotate the strike with Nabi as the duo added a partnership of 57.

Tahir returned and struck gold, removing Nabi for a 24-ball 27 with the Zouks reduced to 99-5. In the process, the elegant Chase reached his second fifty of the tournament and he formed a useful partnership with Javelle Glen, taking the score to 142-6 in the final over.

Odean Smith, playing in his first match of the tournament, picked up Chase in the same over. The right-handed Chase scored 66 from 51 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Tahir was the star with the ball with 3-22 in his four overs as Zouks ended on 1447. Smith claimed 2-33, while Nedd had 1-20 and Green had 1-24.

Chase revives Zouks innings Daren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat first after a slight delay due to the late start of the first match. Captain Chris Green unleashed his spinners early testing the Zouks’ top order. Debutant Kimani Melius struck Chandrapaul Hemraj for a sweet six down the ground,

but the veteran Imran Tahir showed his class with two wickets in his opening over.

Zouks were reduced to 19-2 in 2.5 overs when Melius departed for eight and Mark Deyal, playing one shot too many, fell for two. Green, bowling a tight line, removed

Roston Chase came to the rescue

the dangerous Andre Fletcher for 12 at the end of the power play, with Zouks on 41-3.

The impressive Ashmead Nedd, who continues to demonstrate good control, removed Afghanistan international Najibullah Zadran for a duck after he held out on the boundary at 42-4. West

Kuggeleijn, Nabi pepper Warriors In the Warriors’ chase, they lost Brandon King for one with a ripper from Kuggeleijn at 1-1. Enter Shimron Hetmyer, the tournament's leading runscorer, who was peppered with short balls from the New Zealander. Hetmyer was rushed and was caught off a quick short ball for four as Warriors slumped to 5-2 in two overs.

Zouks continued to tighten the screws, removing the experienced Ross Taylor for one to Nabi. Warriors were reeling on 7-3 in 4.3 overs, as Hemraj and Pooran countered some good Zouks bowling. In the power play, Warriors were

continued to power the Warriors along and he reached his 50 in 32 balls, but the ball after, he was dropped by Sammy at mid-off. Paul played the supportive role and took the score to 115-4, bringing up the 50 partnership with an arrow six. Warriors required 30 from 18 balls, but soon after Paul scored 20 from 18, he departed to golden boy Kuggeleijn.

Rutherford came and struck a sweet six into the largest part of the ground, but Kesrick Williams

silenced the virtual fans when he sent Pooran back.

Pooran chopped the ball onto his stumps for a well-played innings of 68 from 49 balls which included seven fours and one six.

In the final over of the game, Warriors required 13 runs to win after Williams missed a run-out opportunity at the final ball of the penultimate over.

Chemar Holder, playing his first match of the season, had the task of bowling the final over.

He struck gold, uprooting the stumps of Rutherford with a brilliant yorker as Warriors were reduced to 132-7. Holder continued to impress, removing Green caught behind and it was all hopes lost as Warriors ended on 1348 in 20 overs.

Kuggeleijn finished with 3-24 while Holder and Williams c l a i m e d 2-32. As the tournament moves to the Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday, August 25, Warriors will play the Jamaica Tallawahs from 17:30h.

Imran Tahir with his new trademark celebration

SCOREBOARD Zouks Innings ADS Fletcher † b Green KS Melius c Hetmyer b Imran Tahir M Deyal c Nedd b Imran Tahir RL Chase c †Pooran b Smith Najibullah Zadran c Rutherford b Nedd Mohammad Nabi c Green b Imran Tahir J Glen c King b Smith DJG Sammy (c) not out SC Kuggeleijn not out Extras (b 3, lb 3, w 2)

12 8 2 66 0 27 19 0 2 8

TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.2) 144/7 Did not bat: KOK Williams, CK Holder Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Kimani Melius, 2.2 ov), 2-19 (Mark Deyal, 2.5 ov), 3-41 (Andre Fletcher, 5.6 ov), 4-42 (Najibullah Zadran, 6.4 ov), 5-99 (Mohammad Nabi, 14.3 ov), 6-142 (Javelle Glen, 19.4 ov), 7-142 (Roston Chase, 19.5 ov) BOWLING CJ Green C Hemraj Imran Tahir AR Nedd KMA Paul OF Smith

3-0-24-1 1-0-9-0 4-0-22-3 4-0-20-1 4-0-30-0 4-0-33-2

GAW Innings BA King c †Fletcher b Kuggeleijn

1 C Hemraj c Chase b Williams 15 SO Hetmyer c Deyal b Kuggeleijn 4 LRPL Taylor c †Fletcher b Mohammad Nabi 1 N Pooran † b Williams 68 KMA Paul c Mohammad Nabi b Kuggeleijn 20 SE Rutherford b Holder 15 CJ Green (c) c †Fletcher b Holder 1 OF Smith not out 1 Imran Tahir not out 1 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 5) 7 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.7) Did not bat: AR Nedd

134/8

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Brandon King, 1.3 ov), 2-5 (Shimron Hetmyer, 1.6 ov), 3-7 (Ross Taylor, 4.3 ov), 4-60 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 10.2 ov), 5-116 (Keemo Paul, 17.2 ov), 6-124 (Nicholas Pooran, 18.1 ov), 7-132 (Sherfane Rutherford, 19.1 ov), 8-133 (Chris Green, 19.4 ov) BOWLING Mohammad Nabi SC Kuggeleijn RL Chase CK Holder KOK Williams

4-0-17-1 4-1-24-3 4-0-28-0 4-0-32-2 4-0-32-2

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Zouks silence Warriors despite Pooran’s brilliance Pg 22

TKR’s

batting too good for

Tridents

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