Guyana Times - Monday, February 1, 2021

Despite COVID-19, economic slowdown P9

Citizens Bank records increased profit for 2020 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4546

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

PRICE

Media workers to benefit from Govt’s scholarship initiative – President Ali

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Captain missing, 4 injured in P10 Essequibo River boat collision

Page 3

GPA calls for waiver on TV, radio licence fees…as COVID-19 impacts media fraternity’s finances

Male skeletal remains found in P12 Linden

Page 13

5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Deep South Rupununi

Page 15

60 new COVID-19 cases recorded

P12

Govt retenders for construction of St Rose's High School P11 …contractors to attend pre-bid meeting

P10 Moneychanger, daughter's deaths

…houses, roadways damaged

Significant investor Cop shoots interest in waste-to colleague -energy projects during row – GO-Invest CEO over missing …says discussions held, local See story on page 7

& foreign investors interested

slippers

Page 8

DPP recommends PI begin for 4 P10 murder accused

Driver banned from driving after 3rd DUI P12 conviction

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, February 1 – 04:30h – 06:00h and Tuesday, February 2 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, February 1 – 06:55h – 08:25h and Tuesday, February 2 – 07:35h – 09:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies during the night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Media workers to benefit from Govt’s scholarship initiative – President Ali

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured members of the local media fraternity that they too will benefit from his Government’s 20,000 scholarship initiative.

The Head of State made this announcement on Sunday at the Annual Media Brunch held at State House.

“In our scholarship programme, we are setting aside specific areas of specialisation in mass communication, journalism and marketing that will be available for report-

in our society. How do we sit together and develop a strategy that deals with national unity, the important issues – domestic violence, engagement with the diaspora, suicide. These are all areas that we can work on and find a common agenda on which we can build a common strategy with the Government and media working together,” the President asserted.

According to Dr Ali, initiatives such as these will help to build trust between the two President Irfaan Ali speaking with President of the Guyana Press Association, Nazima Raghubir

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Guyana Times Editor-in-Chief Tusika Martin and Associate Editor Devina Samaroo with President Irfaan Ali at Sunday’s Media Brunch

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ers and personnel in the media industry. A big component of the programme moving forward incorporates these areas that I think are critical in moving our country forward,” the President stated.

As leader of the country, Dr Ali said he is open to constructive criticisms, ideas and the sharing of responsibility for the development of Guyana. He is of the opinion that while every view has a value and must be expressed freely, this comes with a responsibility to ensure that what is being reported is balanced, fair and factual.

“Since my assumption as President, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with almost all the media houses… and my style is a bit different. My style is a very open, down to earth style. You can approach me at an event, I’m ready to take your questions. I do not confine myself to a style that occurs on a given day at a given time, I’m open every day to respond to questions in relation to development of Guyana,” he noted.

President Ali went on to highlight that the most common thing the Government shares with the media is Guyana.

“Whilst we exercise the freedom we have, it is important that we identify a few key areas that are important to Guyana and Guyanese in which all of us must find a common ground in promoting and the media plays a critical role in these areas,” he posited.

One such area is national unity and according to the Head of State, the Government and the media must work to build a platform that brings together Guyanese from all facets of society and cuts across all the social societal plagues.

“We have a common agenda against those who try to divide our society, push hate

important entities.

“It is important that we build trust among each other also and we have to deal with things realistically.

Sometimes, for no reasons at all, there is mistrust among us. We have to build that level of trust and confidence among each other in sharing information and in understanding that at the end of the day we all have a common agenda in moving our country forward,” he contended.

On this note, President Ali assured the media fraternity that his Administration will have more frequent engagements such as post-Cabinet

briefings – something which President of the Guyana Press Association Nazima Raghubir called for.

However, the Head of State explained that like many others, the Government too is operating within a different kind of environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted even Cabinet meetings are held virtually.

Another issue that was raised by the Press Association Head during her remarks at Sunday’s brunch is for Government to recognise the importance of facilitating the dissemination of information to the public.

“I agree with you that the Government has to play a greater role in getting information out there and involving you in understanding the information in a very practical way, ensuring that the media is engaged not only from a desk but from where development actually takes place because it is important that the media understands where the country is going, the development shift that is taking place,” he posited.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese leader also took the opportunity to again express gratitude to and laud the media for its role in ensuring Guyana’s democracy was not under-

mined during last year’s contentious General and Regional Elections.

Following the March 2, 2020 polls, the country was plunged into a political and electoral deadlock after the former APNU/AFC regime refused to concede defeat and demit office. Instead, the coalition employed a series of delaying tactics including several unsuccessful litigations to hold on to office despite the condemnation of local and international stakeholders.

“With very little resources and with long hours, the media did an exceptional job in securing democracy for Guyana. Some of the work that was done, the documentaries, in my view, are of international standards and it is because of the vigilance of the media, the steadfastness of the media and to a large extent, the independence and balance in the media that allowed us as a country and as a people to ride out that period successfully,” Dr Ali lamented.

Nevertheless, the Head of State further assured that he and his Cabinet are ready to engage and work with the media to create an environment that will build a stronger and more secure and unified Guyana. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Finally becoming a republic

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oday is the first day of February and in three weeks, we will be commemorating the 51st anniversary of republican status.

While we became “independent” four years earlier, we remained tethered to the colonial “Crown”, through her representative, the Governor General as “Head of State”. As a republic, this last vestige of colonialism was removed and the sovereign people would be governed totally by their chosen representatives, including the Head of State.

For decades before, we – along with so many colonies in the British Empire – on which “the sun never set” – had railed against the imperialist structures that were identified as retarding our progress by keeping us in a state of underdevelopment. The promise of republican government was that at long last, we were to be “masters of our fate; captains of our destiny”. And why not? We could now implement all the measures that would remove the imperialist shackles on our progress – both internationally and domestically.

But as we enter our second half-century, hard questions must be asked as to why we have not fulfilled the promise of republican status, as other colonies such as Singapore and Malaysia, who became independent at the same time we did, have done. One of the most pertinent factors is that the Government that took us into this new station never had the necessary legitimacy conferred upon it by the people. The PNC had been installed into office in 1964 through a coalition with the UF, arranged by the colonial power in a naked and blatant manoeuvre to oust the disfavoured PPP, that had been promised to lead Guyana to independence after winning the previous elections.

After we were granted independence in 1966, the PNC massively rigged the 1968 elections with the connivance of the ex-imperial powers, and declared us a republic on February 23, 1970. More than half of the country retreated into sullen resistance to the imposed PNC Government. This resistance became more open as the PNC militarised the State and proceeded to nationalise and control 80 per cent of the economy to buttress its draconian rule. Their insistence on making their party membership card the sine qua non of keeping a job, ensured that the economy imploded in the decade after attaining republican ranking.

During the same period, the aforementioned ex-colonies of Singapore and Malaysia were moving “From Third World to First” by making completely different strategic decisions on their governance and economic structures. While they were performatively demonstrating the promise of republicanism, Guyana was doing the opposite with a wide swathe of citizens believing that they were better off as a colony.

By the time the PNC was removed through “free and fair” elections in 1992, the political and economic debilitations had become systemic, with both the human and physical resources severely depleted. After 23 years at the helm, the PPP returned the country to a heightened level of normalcy as all social and political development metrics saw upticks. The PNC’s five-year return to Government between 2015 and 2020 in another coalition unfortunately returned the regressive political divisions through its blatantly racially biased policies and its last-gasp attempt to rig the 2020 elections.

The PPP are back in office and after a mere six months, have demonstrated that they are serious about Guyana finally achieving the promise of being a republic. They have been returned to office in free and fair elections that were certified by the international community, including the Western nations and Caricom. This confers international legitimacy. Unlike the case in 1992, Guyana is now a nation of minorities and since the PPP secured an absolute majority of votes, this means that they were able to secure support across the traditional social and political cleavages to earn wide legitimacy for their actions.

With oil revenues to provide financing and natural gas to supply cheap electricity for the next three decades, Guyana is poised through the strategic developmental choices of the PPP to finally move “From Third World to First”.

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the Annual Media Brunch at the Baridi Benab in State House. Also in photo are First Lady Arya Ali; Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips along with members of the local media (Office of the President photo)

Saving one life is making a difference Dear Editor, I think that all of us recognise and can clearly see that the spread of COVID-19 has had a major impact on the business community here in Guyana and Region 10.

The business community in our area is diverse and made up of businesses large and small, from manufacturing to restaurants.

No matter the business, there is a near-universal understanding that slowing the spread of the virus and working to return to normalcy would be good for all of our citizens and obviously good for large segments of our local economy.

That desire to get back to normal business is why the Linden Chamber of Commerce and the Linden busi-

ness organisations and community must establish a partnership with the PPP/C Government, a partnership with the small roadside businesses and NGOs, M&TC and companies region-wide by joining to Stop the Spread of COVID-19.

We must come together to mobilise our workforces, our customers, our vendors and our family and friends in advocating for the steps we know are effective in fighting back against COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases are spiking. Whatever you think about the pandemic, the increase in cases could prompt public policy decisions that affect our business and our jobs.

Everyone in Linden and Region 10, especially our employers and employees should make

their new year resolution to do even more to slow the spread of this disease by ensuring safe practices in the workplace and at home. It will be those mitigation steps that allow for a quicker and safer return to the life we knew before this global pandemic.

There are proven methods for safeguarding our health and stopping the spread. Places where people follow these steps are experiencing smaller spikes in the disease than in places where safe steps have not been followed. Let’s do what we can here in Linden and Region 10 to stop the spread!

As I reflected on the many earthly lives lost to this virus and the loved ones that remained behind to remember them,

including those that have touched me in some way.

Saving one life is making a difference. Even though vaccine supply remains a limiting factor, that will improve, Our Minister of Health, public health and other authorities are working feverishly to move that needle forward and our first responders, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals are sacrificing much to fight this invader. Believe that! Our local health officers are a good source of coordinated information, let’s all stay connected with them and rely on them. There is sunshine at the end of this dark tunnel and I believe we will get there sooner with vaccination.

Dear Editor, It is welcomed news that anti-COVID vaccines are coming to Guyana soon as announced by the President (Jan 31) – 3800 Covax of WHO (likely from Serum Institute of Pune, India) and 20K Sinovac (Chinese). It is a political achievement of the Government at a time when it is most difficult to get vaccines even in a developed country like America or the continent of Europe. A word of caution for the health authorities of Guyana on both vaccines – efficacy and safety information are not widely known.

Surveillance of the vac-

cines is not known. Also, side effects are unknown.

Questions are raised on how many years is one immunised with two doses and how long will the immunity last.

While the vaccines were tested and affirmed in the respective countries for efficacy, a recipient country like Guyana should monitor the efficacy and effects of the vaccines among Guyanese.

Conditions are different in each country and efficacy may also be different.

People have expressed fear about some of the vaccines. We are plying in the dark about some vaccines.

In such a situation, our

planning for the vaccine and for the economy as a whole is defective. When we don’t plan well, we can’t perform effectively.

When we don’t perform, our economy declines.

Some science is missing about the vaccines. Since some studies on vaccine efficacy (Covax, Sinovac, Sputnik, Covaxin) are not publicly known (only told they are above 50 per cent), they are not very trusted in the West and India. I have not been in a Biochem lab for some forty years. So I am rusty on my science knowledge on the efficacy of tests. But I do know that 50 per cent efficacy is

better than no vaccine.

The four vaccines noted above are being administered to millions and are not found to be life-threatening.

The Covaxin, for example, was given to almost two million in India without side effects. What is needed is data on infection following any vaccine to determine if it really inoculates someone from the virus. Experts say the immunity of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, being given in the US, kicks in about a month after receiving the dose. India’s Covaxin and Covishield kick in after two weeks.

Sincerely, David Adams

Wise to get more vaccines and measure their efficacy

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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

Debt ceiling should not be confused with debt

Dear Editor, There has been some alarm raised about the stated intent to increase the country’s debt ceiling, much of it sounding as criticisms one would expect with the incurrence of debt. The two are not the same – debt is a liability whereas a debt ceiling is the capacity to incur debt. Further, debt for some is inherently dangerous and by this, large levels should be avoided. But that is conditional as debt can be very beneficial when well managed and used for generating income and development.

Since debt is the consumption of future income, its value, or lack thereof, is determined by the future-income position of the debtor.

That position is beneficial when the present worth/value (PV) of the stream of incomes from the employment of the debt is greater than the debt itself. It is wasteful when those charged with its liquidation, are no better off

than without the debt. So, a student who uses debt to acquire a skill, which marginal returns in PV terms exceed that of the debt, benefits from the debt. The same for a worker who uses debt to acquire a vehicle for transportation purposes when the PV the avoided costs from alternative means of transportation exceed the debt. This rationale is not limited to households but has application to business investments and public infrastructure.

Much debt worldwide is poorly managed and incurred for short-term objectives. One example is for the boosting of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an economic index of progress and wellbeing. The encouragement of the consumption of household commodities, along with unfunded tax cuts and stimulus packages by Governments are often used for this purpose.

This practice has become so

egregious, that for many developed countries, their entire growth in GDP is funded by debt, not by productive assets, but by their societies living beyond their means.

The resulting impact is for future GDPs of these countries to sharply decline.

Fortunately, this is not the case in Guyana as it is basically a cash society and its population is not saturated with the means of facilitating debt such as credit cards.

Another economic wellbeing-index is the ratio of public debt to GDP, or how many years of productive activity it would take to liquidate this debt. In the USA, for example, the 2020 ratio of public debt to GDP was 127.3.

Debt exceeds the annual productive capacity of the country. But the USA is by far not the worst.

Japan’s public debt ratio for 2020 was 266.18, and closer to home, Barbados has a ratio of 134.09. Guyana com-

parative ratio is 56.3, which level is considered by many financial organisations as easily manageable, an indication that debt here is not a problem.

And finally, Guyana’s oil and gas revenues will provide it with the means for rapid development.

The revenue flows are time-dependent, and the only way to speed up this development is through debt.

So, Guyana’s public debt ceiling should not be confused with public debt. The public debt ceiling will allow the country to raise debt which when properly managed and used to acquire assets and infrastructure for development in telecommunications, transportation, education, clean energy and health care sectors, can be most valuable in improving the living standards for all Guyanese.

Sincerely, Louis Holder

Wise to get more vaccines...

Since the number of COVID cases in India is rapidly declining suggesting herd immunity, India may not need as many vaccines as originally thought for her 1.4 billion people.

In such a situation, India

may increase exports of her two vaccines, Covishield or Covaxin, both of which can be stored at normal refrigeration as opposed to Sinovac which must be stored at low temperature. Guyana should order Covaxin and

or Covishield since the expected 24,000 doses slated for Guyana will hardly vaccinate 12,000 of our population of 800K. Regardless of the vaccine administered in Guyana, it is wise to get

FROM PAGE 4

more vaccines and measure their efficacy – monitor or confirm the effects of how well vaccines work among Guyanese.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Y

ou must fill yourself with holy thoughts. That is the purpose of sacred festivals.

Sankramana is the time when the inward journey towards a pure and unsullied heart is made. Just as the Sun embarks on his northward journey, Sankranti is the day on which the intellect should be turned towards the Atma for Self-Realisation.

Men and women have to change their vision, their thoughts, their words and their conduct. This is the meaning of Sankramana. Unless you purify yourself, what can any number of Sankrantis mean to you?

Sankranti promotes mental transformation. It illuminates the minds of people. It induces unfoldment of innermost feelings. It brings about the manifestation of the invisible Atma within everyone. Sankranti is pregnant with such immense significance. Sankranti should be hailed as the harbinger of unity and peace.

This was an immemorial message of the Vedas. (Divine Discourse, Jan 15, 1996)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

Kashif and Shanghai Tournament should not have been played at Guyana National Stadium Dear Editor, I had partial involvement with the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament in the late 1990s through my then employer as a corporate sponsor. Back then, it was traditional for the final match to be played at the McKenzie Sports Ground along with some preliminary matches.

It is my view and notwithstanding logistics, after its dormancy, (given its

fitting theme, ‘Bounce Back Football’) the tournament should have returned to and be played at the McKenzie Sports Ground as the place of homage and not at the Guyana National Stadium.

This I think would have been pleasing and of benefit to the community and Linden as a whole.

Sincerely, Paul Ramrattan

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

1) There are 432 girls in a school, if 3/8 of the students

FOR CHILDREN 3) Find the perimeter and area of the shape below

are boys… (i) What fraction of the total number of pupils are girls? (ii) What is the total number of pupils.

2) In a pack of 12 pencils, eight are blue and the others are purple. (a) What is the ratio of purple to blue pencils? (b) Jonathan bought 3 boxes of pencils. Calculate the number of blue pencils he received. (c) If one blue pencil was replaced with one purple one, how many boxes of pencils should Soia buy if she wants to have 35 blue pencils?

T

elescopes take our eyes beyond Earth to the stars and planets of the night sky. The curves of a telescope’s glass or plastic lenses make this possible. The curved surface bends light — or refracts it — and the light changes direction. This change in direction makes objects seen through the telescope’s lenses seem bigger than they really are.

The refracting telescope uses lenses to bring more light rays to a focus in your eye. You can make a simple refracting telescope with a tube that contains two lenses: one at the front end which gathers light, called the objective lens; and another

that is closest to the user's eye, called the eyepiece. The objective lens collects the light. The eyepiece lens takes the collected light and magnifies what you are looking at.

Supplies • A pair of weak reading glasses — the kind you can get from the store • A small, strong magnifying glass • Heavy cardstock or cardboard tubes, about 10-12 inches long, with

A Warning: Never, under any circumstances, should you point the telescope at the sun.

The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun will permanently damage their eyes. a diameter slightly larger than your magnifying glass lens • Masking tape • Scissors

Get thinking To observe objects in space, you need to get a closer look! Why can't you see things that are very far away? What can you do to observe things that are far, far away? What kinds of tools or technology do you know about that can help you take a closer look at objects that are very distant?

Kick off discussion with older kids with this TED-Ed video: The Story Behind Your Glasses Let's get started!

Engineering the telescope: the tube that holds the lenses is really two tubes — one that fits inside the other — that need to have openings that can hold the lenses.

Will the lenses fit into the bottom of the cardboard tube? How can you make them fit?

Experiment r to either narrow a tube by cutting along its length, making the tube smaller as it is fitted around the lens and then taped into shape, or to create a larger tube by rolling cardstock to the diameter of the lens and taping it into shape.

Instructions: 1. Form a tube for the stronger lens (your magnifying glass). The lens should be at the bottom of the tube and with the edges of the lens taped neatly to the tube to keep it secure. This is the telescope’s eyepiece.

2. Form a tube for the objective lens that is either bigger or smaller in diameter than your first tube. Tape the lens neatly to the end of the tube.

3. Insert the empty end of one tube into the empty end of the other tube. Look through the eyepiece and point the other end of the telescope at a distant object.

Slide the two tubes in and out until the object comes into focus. If it is difficult to focus the telescope, experiment with lengthening the tube.

Check out images with your telescope.

What do you see? Are you surprised to find things upside down? Do you have ideas for how you could make your telescope not show upside-down images? Email readonworld@gmail.com (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

n eagle made her nest at the top of a lofty oak; a cat, having found a convenient hole, moved into the middle of the trunk; and a wild sow, with her young, took shelter in a hollow at its foot.

The cat cunningly resolved to destroy this chancemade colony. To carry out her design, she climbed to the nest of the eagle, and said, "Destruction is preparing for you, and for me too, unfortunately.

The wild sow, whom you see daily digging up the earth, wishes to uproot the oak, so she may on its fall seize our families as food for her young."

Having thus frightened the eagle out of her senses, she crept down to the cave of the sow, and said, "Your children are in great danger; for as soon as you go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to pounce upon one of your little pigs."

Having instilled these fears into the sow, she went and pretended to hide herself in the hollow of the tree. When night came she went forth with silent foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens, but feigning to be afraid, she kept a lookout all through the day.

Meanwhile, the eagle, full of fear of the sow, sat still on the branches, and the sow, terrified by the eagle, did not dare to go out from her cave. And thus they both, along with their families, perished from hunger, and afforded ample provision for the cat and her kittens.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Significant investor interest in wasteto-energy projects – GO-Invest CEO …says discussions held, local & foreign investors interested

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aste to energy is just one of a series of renewable energy options that can help reduce the carbon footprint of a country and according to the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), there is significant interest from investors in such projects locally.

In an interview with this publication, GO-Invest Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Ramsaroop was asked about investor interest in the energy sector. According to him, this is one of the areas that registered significant investor interest.

“We’ve had an influx in interest for waste to energy projects. I’m working with the Ministry of Local Government and City Council to kind of moderate what could be a solution to that,” Ramsaroop explained.

“Waste to energy is all the trash, basically, that persons are looking to convert to megawatts of power. So, there’s a significant interest in that. There are many different types of waste,” he added.

Waste to energy projects involve plants that burn solid waste and generate electricity. According to Ramsaroop, this can be considered as a form of renewable energy. He also explained that when it comes to opportunities for waste

GO-Invest Head, Dr Peter Ramsaroop

to energy, both local and foreign investors have expressed an interest.

Last year December, it was announced that a United States (US)based company called the Hoskinson Group had held talks with the Government of Guyana and Private Sector officials when it comes to developing a waste to energy project locally.

The company had announced that it was conducting a feasibility study and would be submitting a proposal to the authorities for consideration. Among the agencies the company held discussions with are GOInvest, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A tour was also done of the Haags Bosch landfill on the

East Bank of Demerara.

At present, talks about renewable energy projects in Guyana have revolved around the gas-toshore project that would include pipelines to bring gas from the Liza field offshore Guyana. Soon after the Government issued permit licences to oil giant ExxonMobil for the Payara Development Project last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Government would turn its attention to negotiating the gas-to-energy project.

He had pointed out that Guyana is generating at nearly 17 to 20 cents per kilowatt/hour. As such, he noted that the project could cut the cost of electricity in the country by more than half. To this end, he had announced that a team has been set up to start negotiations on the gas-to-energy project, with the Government eyeing 2023 to bring the project to fruition.

A Gas-to-Shore Project Advisory Committee headed by former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head, Winston Brassington was set up soon afterwards to look at various locations for the gas-toshore location.

A number of factors, including geotechnical, geophysical and environmental were examined before

A diagram of a waste to energy project Vice President Jagdeo announced recently that the Government had settled on Wales to land the pipelines for the project.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, has previously said that the Government is looking to produce 200 megawatts of power from the gas-to-shore project by 2024.

Exxon has said that around 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural

gas would be required for the gas-to-shore project.

Recently-released data from Norwegian research company Rystad Energy had in-

dicated that less than 20 per cent of the 1.8 billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) discovered last year was gas. (G3)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cop shoots colleague during row over missing slippers

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dispute over a missing pair of slippers left a policeman nursing a gunshot wound to his leg and his colleague who shot him under close arrest.

Injured is Constable David Lampkin, who was stationed at the Brickdam Police Station.

Reports are Constable Lampkin was shot to his leg at about 05:00h on Sunday.

Police in a statement said that the duo was on duty at the Brickdam Police Station when the argument ensued early Sunday morning over a missing pair of slippers.

Following the incident, Constable Lampkin was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and is receiving treatment for the gunshot wound to his right leg.

His colleague remains in custody assisting with the investigation.

Some years ago, a similar incident occurred when a Police Constable who was attached to the Anti-Crime Unit of the Brickdam Police Station was shot once to his upper right arm by his colleague during the pursuit of an alleged robbery suspect.

Injured: David Lampkin

(G9)

Former cops implicated in businessman’s murder to lead defence

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From left: Murder accused: Former Best Cop Derwin Eastman, Aubrey Bobb, and Jamison Williams

he two former policemen - Derwin Eastman and Jamison Williams - charged with the murder of businessman Godfrey Scipio are expected to lead an alibi defence on Friday - when the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continues in a city court.

Eastman, who has been adjudged the Guyana Police Force’s Best cop on several occasions, and Williams are jointly charged with Scipio’s murder which occurred on October 17, 2017, at Kitty, Georgetown.

In November, Magistrate Fabayo Azore had ruled that a prima facie case was made out against the duo at the close of the prosecution’s case. In response, Eastman and Williams elected to lead

a defence.

Also charged with the murder is Aubrey Bobb, a 26-year-old ex-convict of Kitty. Bobb was the first to be charged and later implicated the two former policemen in a caution statement he gave to law enforcement.

In February 2019, Bobb was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the businessman’s murder following the conclusion of a separate PI after it was established that there was sufficient evidence against him.

It was reported that 64-year-old Scipio, also known as “Saga” was gunned down just as he exited a popular Kitty hotel with a female companion during the furtherance of a robbery.

Dead: Godfrey Scipio

He later succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.

Bobb, in a caution statement, reportedly told Police that Eastman was the mastermind behind the brazen daylight killing. He accused Eastman of hiring him as

the hitman and providing him with the gun.

Eastman reportedly had everything planned out, even assuring the hitman that a lady would deliver the target to the spot while directing that the killing be executed in such a way as to appear like a robbery gone wrong.

Notwithstanding the assurance of protection given by Eastman, reality struck when Bobb returned home the next day to find Eastman, in the company of other Police ranks, ready to arrest him.

Bobb had claimed that he was forced to confess to the crime as he was intimidated by Eastman, who was present at every step of the interrogation. (G1)

Woman killed by Police minibus

Case file sent to DPP for advice to determine whether to charge cop

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he Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, has been asked to determine whether enough evidence is present to charge an officer of the law who fatally struck down 59-year-old Dulmattie Boodlall, a saleswoman of Lot 950 Block Y Section C Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) some three weeks ago.

This came shortly after Boodlall’s son, Sookram Deochand, publicly declared that he has no intentions to stop seeking justice for his mother, no matter how long

Dead: Dulmattie Boodlall

it takes for such to happen.

On January 5, the saleswoman was struck and killed by a Guyana Police Force (GPF) minibus along the East Bank Demerara Public Road.

This newspaper had reported that at about 07:26h on the Peters Hall Public Road, the woman was hit by minibus PWW 7172, driven by a Police Constable.

Police in their report stated that minibus PWW 7172 was proceeding north along the roadway when the driver alleged that the woman attempted to cross

the road.

The driver claimed that on seeing the woman, he swerved to avoid a collision, but ended up hitting the woman. As a result of the impact, she fell onto the roadway and received injuries about her body. She subsequently died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Following the accident, the dead woman’s family alleged that they have been tirelessly seeking answers from the Police but all of their visits proved futile. (G9)

New nationalism...

F

...over COVID-19 vaccine or two centuries we were assured that the “free market” was the way to go if we wanted to improve the well-being of all nations at the same timeframe.

Didn’t Adam Smith dub his 1776 masterpiece “Wealth of Nations” – as in “nations” – plural? And after a detour in the mid-20th Century with all sorts of “socialistic” governmental interventions “to correct market imperfections”, didn’t we return to market fundamentalism on the backs of the Thatcherite and Reaganite new-liberal revolution in the 1980s?

Enough of all this “nationalistic” nonsensical notions that preach one’s country must take precedence using tariffs and barriers and other controls!! Let the “invisible hand” of the market make all decisions. Its very impersonal nature will ensure “fairness”. And so said, so done as the eponymously named “Washington Consensus” opened up our markets to goods from up north. Well, it would seem that the “free market” is all well and good – once it serves the interest of the Big Ones! We’re seeing cynical moves in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As every country reeled from the invisible viral killer, we all hunkered down in isolation inside our homes or behind our masks and sanitary ablutions waiting for the silver bullet – vaccines. But while not discounting the upcoming BRICS powerhouses India, Russia and China, all of us knew it was gonna be big pharma – located in the developed countries – that would take the lead in this area.

And so said, so done and the rest of the world breathed a sigh of relief because of the free market logic: once we had the bucks, we’d get the shots, right? Wrong! The Big countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, etc, jumped to the head of the line and ordered enough vaccines to inoculate SEVERAL TIMES THEIR POPULATIONS!! And forbid their companies to export to other countries until their orders were filled!! This has now been labelled, “COVID Nationalism”. Could you imagine the chutzpah?

What happened to the mantra of “market fundamentalism” – “greed is good” – which would put profits above any other considerations? In being replaced by “looking out for number 1” isn’t socialism returning through the back door by returning the “firm” as “number 1” with “country”? Even among the Big Ones, a cat fight broke out between the EU and Britain when the latter was accused of hogging their vaccine for its own citizens!

But what made the new COVID Nationalism most cynical was the developed countries’ promise to WHO-led COVAX initiative to allocate enough vaccines for a mere 20 per cent of the poorer countries, this was dropped like a hot potato! It’s every rich country for itself and the devil take the bottom half.

Will India and China step up to the crease? ...for Guyana It’s a truism in politics (and sociology) that faced with an outside common enemy, even bitter warring factions will turn their ire on the outsider. Well, the PNC certainly left us with warring factions in the two years following the NCM! We don’t have to regurgitate all the dirty details – including stained bed sheets – do we?

But lo and behold – as Granger is prone to say – Maduro appeared on our western border spewing fire and brimstone. Let’s remember it wasn’t only our fishing boats that he had his Navy seize. Remember their seizure of the Teknik Perdana operated by US’s Anadarko to conduct seismic surveys in our waters back in 2013? Maduro’s an enemy who means business.

So, while your Eyewitness is pleased with the PNC’s positive reaction to the stand by the PPP Government, they have to go further. Now is not the time for political gamesmanship.

All for one (Guyana) and one for all! ...in the US The Biden Administration has certainly made a pivot on the Immigration of his predecessor (who shall not be named!). In giving a commitment to regularise the 11 million “undocumented” immigrants, many Guyanese will now not live in fear.

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Despite COVID-19, economic slowdown

Citizens Bank records increased profits for 2020

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itizens Bank, one of Guyana’s indigenous banks, recorded increased profits for last year compared to 2019, despite the economic challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to Guyana.

rates, another increase from the $2.814 billion the bank made in 2019. Other income in 2020 came up to $547.4 million, a decrease compared to the $606.8 million in 2019.

The bank’s profits grew

this gross amount, there is a provision for impairment of $1.3 billion at the year-end,” the statement said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it forced many local businesses not deemed as “essen-

Citizens Bank branch at Camp Street and South Road, Georgetown

According to the bank’s statement of income for the year ended at September 30, 2020, the bank’s profits before taxation was $1.672 billion, with after-tax profits of $982.1 million. This compares favourably with the 2019 figure, when the bank made $1.599 billion in profits before tax and $955.2 million in profits after tax.

The statement of income also revealed that the bank made $3.201 billion in income from their interest

even though, according to the statement, they provided support to borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. According to the statement of income, this support was in the form of a moratorium on loan payments. The bank, according to the statement, has over $40 billion in gross assets.

“The company has gross financial assets subject to impairment amounting to $40.5 billion, or 63.5 per cent of total assets. Against

tial” to close their doors.

In addition, the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government failed to provide any stimulus to help them survive the storm, resulting in them receiving no help until after the August 2020 change of Government.

After taking office in 2020, one of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s first acts was to initiate talks with the Bank of Guyana and the Guyana

Bankers Association, on measures that would ensure the average Guyanese could remain solvent even if they are unable to pay their bank loans due to the pandemic.

The result was President Ali announcing that his Government had reached agreements with the local banking sector to extend the moratorium on loan payments until 2020 year-end, and to cut interest rates.

This meant that customers with mortgages and other loans were spared the financial burden of servicing

these loans during the pandemic. In addition, their loans would not have been classified as non-performing, ensuring that they do not default.

In December of 2020, when the measures were scheduled to expire, it was announced that there would be an extension of the banking measures for another six months.

In a communique sent to the various commercial banks in Guyana – a copy of which was seen by this publication – Governor of the

Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga, indicated that all COVID-19 measures that were agreed to in August 2020 are now extended until June 30, 2021.

“The Bank of Guyana continues to monitor the developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on households and the business sector, and is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect the safety and soundness of the finance system,” Dr Ganga had detailed in the missive.

(G3)

10 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Captain missing, 4 DPP recommends PI begin injured in boat collision Moneychanger, daughter’s deaths

for 4 murder accused

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he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) commence for four men accused of murdering Better Hope, East Coast Demerara moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arian Latchman, even after one of the accused on remand for the murder escaped from the Lusignan Prison.

This came shortly after reports in the media that the DPP was yet to decide on the way the forward for the PI into the murders.

In a statement on Saturday, the Office of the DPP said that legal advice was given into the matter on January 29, 2021.

“The Police prosecutor ought to have sought legal advice from the DPP on the way forward and not have waited for the Magistrate to have advised that the DPP’s advice be sought,” the statement from the DPP chambers said.

Those charged for the offence are 25-year-old Mark Rufino, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) – the prison escapee who remains on the run; 37-year-old Paul Chan, called “Long Hair”

The men accused of killing the money changer and his daughter

Dead: Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arian

or “Anthony”, a bus conductor of Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; 44-year-old Troy Abrams, called “Rasta Man”, a vendor of Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD); 37-year-old Lloyd Sadloo of Mocha Arcadia, EBD; and 41-year-old Sean Thomas, called “Yankee”, an electrician of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

This newspaper had previously reported that Rufino had escaped from the Holding Bay at the Lusignan Prison between October 20 and October 21, 2020.

Following his escape, the Police prosecutor was granted one month’s leave to seek advice on how to proceed with the matter. This occurred during a court hear-

ing in late December 2020.

Magistrate Alisha George, presiding at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, had instructed the prosecutor to seek advice in the matter by the end of the week. However, when the matter was called, the prosecutor requested another adjournment.

The lawyers for the other murder accused had called for the escapee’s name to be struck off of the joint charge, and for the court to proceed with the PI against the other accused. The matter was adjourned to Monday, February 1, 2021, and the prosecutor was ordered to report the legal advice to the court on that day.

It was reported that on the day of the murder, both

Aaron and his 19-year-old daughter had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home when they were attacked by armed men.

It is being alleged that the men in question had reportedly held the man and his daughter at gunpoint and took them into the upper flat of their home, where they demanded money.

Upon receiving the bag that contained an undisclosed amount of cash, the men then shot the money changer and his daughter before escaping from the scene.

Shortly after the businessman and his daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.

Sometime later, a motor car that belonged to the dead businessman that was used by the bandits was found at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

During a search of the vehicle, an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition were found. Two of the accused murderers Abrams and Sadloo - were arrested and placed before the court. (G9)

The damaged boat that was involved in the collision on the Essequibo River

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boat captain is feared dead after he went missing following a boat collision in the Essequibo River. Four other persons were injured in the accident which occurred at about 19:15h on Saturday between a Bartica Public Hospital boat ambulance and a passenger boat, which had seven persons onboard.

Reports are that the boat ambulance was proceeding from Parika to Bartica along the Essequibo River while the passenger boat was travelling from Bartica en route to Parika.

While in the vicinity of Stampa Point, the two boats collided, causing four of the passengers to receive injuries, and the captain of the vessel fell into the river.

He has not been seen since and a search party has been launched.

The injured passengers were rushed to the Bartica Public Hospital.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Regional Commander Dion Moore told the media that a team which is comprised of Police ranks, an officer from the Maritime Administration Department

(MARAD) and an official from the Bartica Speedboat Association had ventured out to the scene to conduct further investigations.

More than two weeks ago a boat captain died after the boat he was operating collided with a wharf in the Berbice River.

He was identified as 49-year-old James Bender of Sand Hills, Berbice River. The accident occurred at Kimbia, Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Reports are a villager who was in the boat at the time of the accident requested to operate the boat since Bender was under the influence of alcohol, but Bender refused, saying that he did want anyone to operate his boat.

He [the villager] said while travelling in the Kimbia area they ended up crashing into a wharf and Bender fell out of the boat.

He immediately went and took control of the boat and began checking for the captain, but he was nowhere around. His body washed ashore the following day. (G9)

NEWS

11

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt retenders for construction of St Rose’s High School …contractors to attend pre-bid meeting

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tender to reconstruct the St Rose’s High School, which has been plagued with problems dating back to the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, has finally been launched.

According to the tender, bidders are required to submit their bids to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) no later than February 24, 2021, complete with valid National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) compliance certificates.

The tender made it clear that bid security is required for the project and that all bids will be opened in the

presence of the supplier(s) and their representative(s) who to attend. There will be no late bids and electronic bidding will not be permitted.

Importantly, there will be a pre-bid meeting with contractors that is likely to encompass the troubles the project has faced and expectations for the contractors. According to the tender, all the interested contractors are required to attend the pre-bid meeting on February 10, 2021, at 14:00h in the Education Ministry’s boardroom.

On January 20, Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited, the previous contractor that worked on the project, was taken to court by Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil

Nandlall, acting on behalf of the State.

According to the statement of claim, Nandlall is seeking on behalf of the State a total of $414.3 million from the respondents, over the botched construction of the school. A sum of $100 million in damages is being sought from the construction company.

Additionally, a sum of $105.8 million payable under the performance bond issued by Caricom General Insurance.

Aggravated damages of $100 million are also being sought, while claims are also being made for $41.230 million in liquidated damages.

In the statement of claim, the AG contended that Courtney Benn Contracting

The construction site at the St Rose’s High School when Courtney Benn Contracting Services was through with it

failed to execute the scope of works as agreed upon in the work schedule. It was noted that in August 2020, an assessment found that only nine per cent of all the works had been executed, after nine months had elapsed.

2 hospitalised following collision in Berbice

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motorcyclist and his pillion rider are now patients at the New Amsterdam Hospital after they collided with a car along the Corentyne Road, Berbice.

Injured are Shurlon Luke, 21, and Molika Gittens, 18, both of Manchester Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The accident occurred at

about 14:45h on Saturday.

According to Police, the driver of the car said that he was proceeding east along the Liverpool Public Road, Corentyne, when he alleged that while approaching his residence, he had put on his right-side indicator and stopped. While in the process of turning south, into his residence, Luke, who was approaching from behind, collided with the right side of his vehicle

As a result of the collision, Luke lost control of his motorcycle and ended up in a trench located on the southern side of the public road along with his pillion rider.

Luke and Gittens were picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited residents and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

They were subsequently

transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital for further medical attention. Their conditions are regarded as serious.

According to the Police, the driver of the car was taken into custody and a breathalyser test was conducted on him. He had no trace of alcohol, Police said.

The driver remains in custody and is assisting investigations.

In November of last year, the Legal Affairs Ministry had cause to terminate a number of contracts inherited from the previous Government which had been delayed and for which the costs had become inflated.

One such contract was for the construction of a new St Rose’s High School.

The contract for this project was awarded since August of 2018. However, the contractor only managed to complete a small fraction of the works it was contracted to do. Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited (CBCSL), the contractor that was initially awarded the over $350 million contract through NPTAB to construct the school, was subsequently booted off the project.

It was revealed in November that Nandlall on

behalf of the Government, wrote to the company informing them that the contract was being terminated on the grounds that they had failed to complete the project in a timely manner and in accordance with work schedules. “…Your company has committed a fundamental breach of the terms of the contract and as a result thereof, the Government of Guyana hereby exercises its right to terminate the contract with immediate effect,” Nandlall had set out in his letter.

This publication had meanwhile done an interview with Education Minister Priya Manickchand earlier this month, who had said the project had gone under review and would soon be retendered. (G3)

12 NEWS 60 new COVID-19 Male skeletal remains found in Linden cases recorded P G MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

uyana on Sunday recorded 60 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 7641. Of this amount, 6591 have fully recovered from the virus.

The total number of deaths since March 2020 is now 176, with the last death re-

There are currently five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 57 in institutional isolation, 812 in home isolation, and 14 persons in institutional quarantine. Twenty-one recoveries were recorded on Saturday. To date, 49,765 persons have been tested for

in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Of the 7641 confirmed cases, 1004 are from Region One (Barima-Waini), 227 from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam),

olice in Linden have launched an investigation into the discovery of the skeletal remains of a male which were found at about 11:30h on Saturday in a clump of bushes.

The remains were reportedly found about 200 yards from the home of a 47-year-old female farmer of Third Phase Wisroc Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden.

The farmer has been residing on the land for 16 years.

According to Police, at the time of the discovery, the woman was preparing an area about 200 yards away from her home when she stumbled upon

The skeletal remains that were found in Linden

the skeletal remains. The Police were summoned to the scene and the evidence found was lodged for

DNA testing. The remains were taken to the Wismar Hospital Mortuary as investigations continue.

50-year-old man found dead in bed

corded on Friday. The latest fatality is a 53-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

In its updated COVID-19 dashboard, the Health Ministry said that 60 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours from some 1216 tests. Of the overall confirmed cases, 3957 are males, while the remaining 3684 are females.

the life-threatening disease.

New cases

Of the 60 new cases, three were recorded in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 38 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); nine in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), three in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and one each

560 from Region Three, 3366 cases are from Region Four, and 204 from Region Five. In Region Six, 428 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, 618 in Region Seven, 234 in Region Eight, 410 in Region Nine, and 590 in Region 10.

As of Sunday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 102,083,344 confirmed cases globally along with 2,209,195 deaths.

WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 45,345,051 while the death toll stands at 1,047,171. (G1)

A

50-year-old man has been found dead in his bed at his Track A Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Dead is Khemraj Bhim.

His body was discovered at about 07:00h on Thursday – almost one day after he had asked neighbours for money to purchase hypertension medication.

Police said they were told by a neighbour that the man, who lived alone, was last seen on Wednesday at around 16:00h, when he asked him [the neighbour] for $200 to purchase a “pressure tablet”.

However, on Thursday at about 07:00h, persons went

to his residence and called out for him but received no response. One of the persons subsequently entered the home to further enquire and found the man motionless on his bed. The Police were summoned and checks were

conducted on the body for marks of violence but none were found.

Bhim’s body was subsequently escorted to the Enterprise Health Centre where he was pronounced dead. (G9)

Driver banned from driving after 3rd DUI conviction

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driver, who has been convicted three times for driving under the influence, had his driver’s licence disqualified.

Rupert Marshall appeared before Magistrate

Zameena Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Friday to answer for the third time to charges of driving under the influence. He admitted to the charge of operating a motor vehicle while his

news@guyanatimesgy.com

alcohol level had exceeded the prescribed legal limit. As such, he was permanently disqualified from being the holder of a driver’s licence.

In January 2020, another driver had his driver’s licence permanently disqualified after he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with the offences of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and failure to have his vehicular parts maintained.

The taxi driver was ordered to pay a fine amounting to a total of $12,500 after pleading guilty to the offences. Prior to this, his licence was suspended twice for DUI. The court further heard that on December 4, 2019, the taxi driver drove motor vehicle HD 84 along the Bamia Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway while his alcohol level was 185 micrograms, which is above the prescribed legal limit. (G15)

13 GPA calls for waiver on TV, radio licence fees NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as COVID-19 impacts media fraternity’s finances

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ith the local media fraternity, like the rest of the world, battling to survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Raghubir, has called on the Government to waive the hefty licensing fees that television and radio broadcasters are required to pay.

“Due to lingering adverse impact of the pandemic on revenues due to the diminished advertising and sponsorship, the Guyana Press Association publicly endorses a request by the Guyana Media Uniters Broadcasters to the Broadcasting Authority, the telecommunications agencies and the Government of Guyana for a waiver of all licences’ fees.

We urge the Prime Minister and the President to favourably consider this, having the law amended temporarily to facilitate such a waiver,” Raghubir stated during her remarks at a Media Brunch hosted by President Dr Irfaan Ali at State House on Sunday.

The GPA President lauded the PPP/C Administration for continuing this event, which was initiated by its predecessor and is aimed at fostering better relations between members of the media and Government.

According to Raghubir, it has been a trying few months for members of the media in Guyana that dates back to December 2018, which continued into years

GPA President Nazima Raghubir

with the pandemic, that pie has virtually disappeared.

Few of us have managed to diversify to ride the wave of those changes. Even in the pandemic, of some of us, we’ve missed the tide.

In 2020, I pointed out that whilst solutions may lie in implementing better business models, we implore advertisers – State and private – to consider what a true, independent media can mean for this country,” Raghubir asserted.

and months filled with court cases, elections campaign, a five-month-long election and a transition of a new Government.

“The latter two were while trying to maintain our safety and sanity during a pandemic… The pandemic has challenged the media in more ways than one…

Notably, in this instance, the pandemic has exposed media houses to financial instability, salary cuts and even resignations and retirement,” she noted.

The GPA President added that the economic viability of the media is being threatened with shrinking finances and like the rest of the world, the local media fraternity has had to adapt to special conditions to maintain viability and earn in order to remain active.

“The advertising pie of which most of us depend on continues to shrink, threatening the existence of true and independent media in a growing democracy, and

To this end, the GPA President also called for an even playing field in the allocation of State ads to “accredited and recognised” media houses across the various platforms, that is, online, television, radio and newspaper.

She further spent time lamenting on the role of “true and independent” media operators as opposed to “social media commentators”.

“Media houses are not the same as social media commentators,” Raghubir contended, while adding “We have different duties and ethics, and provide a service unmatched. Further, no administration must be seen as funnelling taxpayers’ dollars to media squatters who do nothing more than diminish the quality of the media and by extension under-educate and under-inform the public to the long-term detriment and ho-

Allocation of State ads

listic role to develop the society.”

The Press Association Head went on to outline that the Sustainable Development Goals, which Guyana has signed onto, are not achievable without a properly informed and educated nation.

“Our roles are much different than that of social media commentators. We are to provide factual, unbiased information to our readers and audience. This means we have to put our fact-checking journalism skills to use. Ask questions, clarify, research, ensure there is a right of reply and provide that balance. The media have shown over the decades, it understands its role. There have been some challenges, no doubt, but we understand what needs to be done and we’ve applied ourselves as we’ve thrived to adapt,” Raghubir, a senior journalist herself, posited.

Meanwhile, the GPA President also implored the Government to have more frequent engagements with the press. Noting that these engagements are of utmost importance in informing the public about critical issues, she called for the return of the post-Cabinet press briefings which provided the country with a needed update of the country’s internal affairs.

Raghubir also requested for health officials to be more interactions with the media so they can correctly

Members of the local media fraternity at Sunday’s brunch at State House

raise awareness of the pandemic that continues to affect the lives of Guyanese.

Additionally, the Press Association Head further expressed the need for Government to facilitate key field trips to the various border towns so as to be better informed and in the know when reporting on related issues.

“Most of us remain Georgetown-based. For instance, many of us may not have travelled to Regions One, Seven or Nine…

We seek the Government and your intervention, as Commander-in-Chief to facilitate the media’s visit to some of the border locations.

This we believe will provide the media with a better understanding of some of these locations we often report

on,” she noted.

Moreover, Raghubir also urged the Government to ensure that there is greater awareness about the roles and functions of the Commission of Information, which she noted is a much-needed mechanism in Guyana’s emerging democracy.

The GPA President further noted that the organisation is always aiming to set a high standard for the media in the country and has thus far this year, facilitated virtual training on a number of key issues such as reporting on sexual offences, understanding and reporting on the judicial system and more recently, held a sensitisation session on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

Children’s Court fostering rehabilitation of young offenders – Magistrate Bess

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ince its establishment in late 2018, the Children’s Court which is situated in the compound of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, has been aiding significantly with rehabilitating young persons who come into conflict with the law in keeping with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. This is according to Magistrate Dylon Bess, one of the Magistrates assigned to the court, who revealed that the court which promotes modern juvenile justice, has been partnering with several agencies to ensure that juveniles are educated and rehabilitated for reintegration into society.

“We have been able to see some phenomenal results with our interactions and engagement with the children. We have been able to see instead of hardcore sentences, drug treatment sponsorship from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) and waiver of fees for the Phoenix Recovery [Project],” said Magistrate Bess as he detailed the court’s success story.

According to him, children are provided with school uniform assistance, funding for tools to access trades, stipends from probation ser-

vices to assist them with their needs, grants from the Small Business Bureau to start-up their own business and referred to coaching and counselling programmes.

“We have seen the probation assisting one family to get a house lot because the needs of the child demanded a space that was safe.

We have seen children being placed in schools and homes and have been responding very well to psychologist and counselling.”

“We have seen their lives changed as a result

the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) and the Kuru Kuru Co-operative College, just to name a few.

Criminal capacity

The Juvenile Justice Act defines a juvenile as a person who appears to be 14 years and older but less than 18 years old. Magistrate Bess explained that under Section 4 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act, the presumption is any child under the age of 14 is incapable of committing an

Inside of the Children’s Court in Georgetow

of these interventions,” he noted, adding that the Children’s Court has also helped juveniles enlist in

offence.

“I wish to note that this is just a presumption.

Presumptions can be re-

Magistrate Dylon Bess

butted in law by presenting evidence to the contrary.

This does not mean that if you are below the age of 14 you cannot be charged. It means that the court must engage in an elaborate procedure to determine whether or not that child has the criminal capacity to commit an offence.”

The criminal capacity of the child, he said, can be determined by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the prosecutor or the child’s lawyer requesting that the child’s cognitive, psychological and social development be evaluated by a qualified person. Once this is done, he pointed out that the court will then conduct an inquiry to determine if the presump-

tion is rebutted.

If it is rebutted, the child is dealt with under the Act. If it is not, the child is referred to the CPA and the DPP withdraws the charge against them. If the child, on the other hand, pleads guilty to an offence, Magistrate Bess noted that the court must be satisfied that the facts of the matter constitute an offence, before proceeding to pass a sentence which is done after a pre-sentence report is submitted.

Among other things, the pre-sentencing report contains information on the child’s character, willingness to improve and make amends, history of delinquency and diversion and school attendance. According to the Magistrate, the court will proceed with a trial, which is conducted in-camera, if the child pleads not guilty.

Throughout the proceedings, the Act mandates that the child must be represented by a lawyer. If for any reason the child does not have a lawyer, the court must grant him/her reasonable time to retain a lawyer. The child will be referred to legal aid or given a State-appointed lawyer if he/she cannot afford to retain counsel.

No jail time

The Magistrate added that the Juvenile Justice Act stipulates that a child cannot be sentenced to imprisonment. The Act also stipulates that a child cannot be sentenced to death for the offence of murder.

The Act states that where a juvenile is found guilty of an offence, this finding of guilty shall not be recorded as a conviction. According to Magistrate Bess, there are two categories of offences listed under the Act - scheduled offences and non-scheduled offences.

For the non-scheduled offences like break and enter and larceny, he explained that a wide range of sentences is available such as reprimand, discharge, payment of fines and restitution, being placed on probation and orders to perform community service, letters of apology.

For scheduled offences like murder, manslaughter and serious robbery, the child can be placed on probation, committed to an open residential facility such as the New Opportunity Corps, both for a period not exceeding three years, and be given supervision orders with conditions for a period not exceeding five years.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt will not neglect Essequibo Coast as done by APNU/AFC – AG

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, has assured residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) that the Government will not neglect them like the previous Government. The AG made this commitment during an outreach held at the regional State House where he had one-on-one interactions with residents.

They raised several concerns, particularly about housing.

“We are told by the residents here that Lands and Surveys simply stopped processing their applications and stopped addressing their matters, that much was made clear. Also, almost every area on the coast was neglected. So, what you have now is a preponder-

ance of issues being raised and the constant complaint is that for five years people did not see a Minister other than election time,” the AG is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The Attorney General assured the residents that since the Administration took office things are starting to change.

During his engagement with Rookmin Roopchan, who has a disability, AG Nandlall advised them that they could access support from the Human Services and Social Security Ministry.

Roopchan said she was grateful for the AG’s intervention. “We are very happy and it motivates us a lot and we are thankful for the help and the advice that he gave

us because I was awaiting this for about three years now in this chair, and awaiting help so he gave us advice and it will be beneficial to us.”

The Attorney General also committed to examining a matter of non-payment for services offered since March 2020. Roy Griffith brought to the AG’s attention that he along with others were hired by the Guyana Police Force’s G Division, Anna Regina, for services on Elections Day, for which they are still owed.

AG Nandlall is on a twoday outreach exercise in the region. He is accompanied

by Regional Chairperson Vilma Da Silva, Regional Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt, Vice Chairperson Humace Odit and Prime Minister’s representative Arnold Adams.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and Regional Chairperson Vilma DaSilva engaging Teekarran Rebai and his wife Rookmin Roopchan

COVID-19 and treatment of adults

Dr. Moti Ramgopal, the

Guyanese doctor who

led the clinical trial on

COVID-19 treatment given

to

US President Donald Trump

Clinical manifestations

The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to critical illness.

Among patients who are symptomatic, the median incubation period is approximately four to five days, and 97.5percent have symptoms within 11.5 days after infection.

Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, malaise and myalgias.

Some patients have gastrointestinal symptoms, including anorexia, nausea and diarrhoea. Anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) have been reported in up to 68 percent of patients and are more common in women than in men Risk factors for complications of COVID-19 include older age, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, smoking, pregnancy, diabetes, and obesity.

It is unclear whether other conditions (example, uncontrolled HIV infection or use of immunosuppressive medications) confer an in-

creased risk of complications, but these conditions may be associated with worse outcomes after infection with other viruses.

Laboratory findings in hospitalized patients may include lymphopenia and elevated levels of d-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and ferritin. These inflammatory markers are important to trend during the clinical course.

Evaluation of COVID-19 is guided by the severity of illness. According to data from China, 81 percent of people with COVID-19 had mild or moderate disease (including people without pneumonia and people with mild pneumonia), 14 percent had severe disease, and five percent had critical illness. Patients who have mild signs and symptoms generally do not need additional evaluation.

However, some patients who have mild symptoms initially will subsequently have precipitous clinical deterioration that occurs approximately one week after symptom onset. In patients who have risk factors for severe disease, close monitoring for clinical progression is warranted, with a low threshold for additional evaluation. If new or worsening symptoms (example, dyspnea) develop in patients with initially mild illness, additional evaluation is warranted.

Physical examination should be performed to assess for tachypnea, hypoxemia, and abnormal lung findings. In addition, testing for other pathogens (example, influenza virus, de-

pending on the season, and other respiratory viruses) should be performed, if available, and chest imaging should be done. Typical findings are ground-glass opacifications or consolidation.

Hallmarks of moderate disease are the presence of clinical or radiographic evidence of lower respiratory tract disease, but with a blood oxygen saturation of 94 percent or higher while the patient is breathing ambient air.

Indicators of severe disease are marked tachypnea (respiratory rate, ≥30 breaths per minute), hypoxemia (oxygen saturation, ≤93 percent; ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen, 50 percent of the lung field involved within 24 to 48 hours).

Treatments

Remdesivir, an inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, has activity against COVID-19 in vitro and in animals.

In the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 1 (ACTT-1), which involved hospitalized patients with evidence of lower respiratory tract infection, those randomly assigned to receive 10 days of intravenous remdesivir recovered more rapidly than those assigned to receive placebo (median recovery time, 10 vs. 15 days); mortality estimates by day 29 were 11.4 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively. In another trial, clinical outcomes with five days of remdesivir were similar to those with 10 days of remdesivir.

Currently, remdesivir is recommended for the treatment of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, but consider data to be insufficient to recommend for or against the routine use of this drug for moderate disease – studies are ongoing.

Data from patients with COVID-19 who were enrolled in a large expanded-access programme for convalescent plasma in the United States suggested that mortality might be lower with receipt of plasma with a high titer of antibody than with receipt of plasma with a low titer of antibody; the data also suggested that mortality might be lower when plasma is given within three days after diagnosis than when plasma is given more than three days after diagnosis.

Ongoing randomized trials must be completed to determine the role of convalescent plasma.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the COVID-19 spike protein are being evaluated in randomized trials as treatment for people with mild or moderate COVID-19 and as prophylaxis for household contacts of persons with COVID-19.

In the recovery trial, dexamethasone reduced mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but the benefit was limited to patients who received supplemental oxygen and was greatest among patients who underwent mechanical ventilation.

Clinical studies have shown that in 1,703 criti-

CONTINUED FROM SUNDAY’S EDITION

cally able patients, glucocorticoid reduced mortality versus standard of care passivity of 32 percent versus 40 percent.

Dexamethasone can be given at dose of 6 mg a day for 10 days or until discharge. Other steroids maybe similarly effective, such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, and prednisone.

Dexamethasone did not improve outcomes, and may have caused harm, among patients who did not receive supplemental oxygen, and thus it is not recommended for the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19.

Use of Concomitant Medications in People with COVID-19

Because COVID-19 enters human cells through the ACE2 receptor, questions were raised regarding whether the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) – which may increase ACE2 levels – might affect the course of COVID-19.

However, large observational studies have not shown an association with increased risk.

Patients who are receiving ACE inhibitors or ARBs for another indication should not stop taking these agents, even if they have COVID-19.

Regeneron cov 2 antibody cocktail has shown to rapidly reduce viral load and associated symptoms and cause an antibody to spike protein that neutralizes the virus. Broadly direct acting antivirals are now in clinical trials. They have been shown to inhib-

it replication of viral pathogens from multiple RNA virus family including SARS influenza RSV, filovirus, flavivirus to name a few.

The mechanism of antiviral activities viral error catastrophe is a concept that’s predicated on increasing the viral mutation rate beyond a biologically tolerable threshold resulting in impairment of viral fitness and activity leading to viral extinction.

There are multiple other strategies for antiviral work. Another mechanism in treatment is the role of light cytokine which belongs to the TNF family, which is secreted in high-level general viral infection by reducing the cytokine. This is associated with related lung fibrosis and cytokine storm.

Infection Control and Prevention health care workers must be protected from acquiring COVID-19 when they are providing clinical care. Using telehealth when possible, reducing the number of health care workers who interact with infected patients, ensuring appropriate ventilation, and performing assiduous environmental cleaning are critical.

PPEs used while caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 should include, at a minimum, an isolation gown, gloves, a face mask, and eye protection (goggles or a face shield).

Article submitted as part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 public information and education programme

15 5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Deep South Rupununi NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…houses, roadways damaged

S

everal houses and roadways were damaged on Sunday afternoon following a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in the Deep South area of Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) that was felt throughout Guyana.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) shortly after the tremor reported the earthquake with a shallow depth of 10 kilometres and an epicentre near Boa Vista in the Brazilian State of Roraima, which borders Guyana’s Lethem, at about 15:05h.

Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface.

In a subsequent up-

date, Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant

Colonel Kester Craig said the regional authorities in Region Nine confirmed that there are some damages to properties and earth surfaces as a result of the earthquake that shook several parts of the country.

He noted that the R e g i o n a l R e s p o n s e System is mobilised and ready to conduct an assessment and give support to affected families.

Craig also shared some photos from the Facebook page of Karlos Kroft showing damages to at least two houses and the earthen road in the Katoonarib community, Deep South,

Cyclist hospitalised after riding into presidential guard’s path

A

48-year-old pedal cyclist is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was struck down on the Unity Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Reports are that Narine Hashram was struck down at about 16:45h on Saturday by a presidential guard. According to Police, the pedal cyclist was proceeding south along the eastern side of the Unity Access Road, however, as he approached Unity Public Road, he failed to stop and ended up in the pathway of the vehicle driven by the presidential guard.

The vehicle was reportedly proceeding east along the Unity Public Road and collided with Hashram, causing him to receive injuries about his body.

He was picked up and transported to the

Mahaichony Cottage Hospital but was transferred to GPHC for further medical attention.

The presidential guard has since been placed under arrest pending an investigation. (G15)

Rupununi.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a yellow alert for economic losses, that is, while some damages are possible the impact is relatively localized.

“Estimated damages is less than 1% of GDP of Guyana. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional response level,” the USGS noted.

The agency further noted that the overall population in the affected region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking though resistant structures exist.

“The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and informal

(metal, timber, GI etc) construction,” it stated.

USGS added that there

were no other earthquakes with significant population exposure to shaking within a 400-kilometre radius of Sunday’s tremor.

Following the earthquake, persons from various regions across Guyana took to social media after having felt the tremor.

Nevertheless, the Civil Defence Commission will continue to monitor this event through the National E m e r g e n c y M o n i t o r i n g System (NEMS) and provide updates as more information becomes available.

If you would have suf-

fered any damages from the impact, kindly contact NEMS at (592) 600-7500 or at (592) 623-1700.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US Coast Guard seize cocaine Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi "detained by military" — NLD party valued US$8.5 million

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he United States Coast Guard, last week, transferred custody of two suspected smugglers and US$8.5 million in seized cocaine to US federal agents at Coast Guard Base in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A go-fast vessel carrying the narcotics were interdicted in the Caribbean Sea. In a statement on Friday, the Coast Guard said the interdiction was the result of multi-agency efforts in support of the Miami, Florida-based US Southern Command’s enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) programmes, and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF).

“This successful interdiction is a reflection of the seamless team work and the unwavering resolve between the Coast Guard, our federal law enforcement and Department of Defense partners to protect the nation’s southernmost maritime border against narco-trafficking threats,” said Commander James L. Jarnac, US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk commanding officer.

“The strength of our joint collaboration and partnerships is key to a safer Caribbean region and disrupting transnational criminal organisation activities through the interdiction of drug smuggling vessels in the maritime domain,” he added.

The bust occurred on Sunday afternoon, after the aircrew of a maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspi-

cious 25-foot go-fast vessel, about 200 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic.

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk diverted in response to the sighting and interdicted the go-fast vessel with the assistance of the cutter’s small boat, the US Coast Guard said.

Following the interdiction, the Coast Guard Mohawk’s boarding team located and recovered nine bales of suspected contraband, which weighed about 302 kilogrammes (666 pounds) and tested positive for cocaine, the US Coast Guard said.

“The crew of the cutter Mohawk embarked the seized contraband and the two men from the go-fast vessel, who both claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals,” the US Coast Guard said.

“The Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr. later embarked the two suspected smugglers and a representative sample of the contraband that were disembarked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Caribbean Corridor Strike Force federal law enforcement agents received custody,” it added.

(Antigua Newsroom)

UK: Centenarian fundraiser Captain Tom hospitalised with COVID

C

entenarian Captain Tom Moore, who captivated the British public in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his fundraising efforts, has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, according to his daughter.

The British World War II veteran caught the public’s imagination in April, just before his 100th birthday, when he was filmed doing laps with the help of a walking frame around his garden in the village of Marston Moretaine, north of London. He hoped to raise 1,000 pounds ($1,370).

Instead, he raised more than 30 million pounds ($41m) for the National Health Service, broke two Guinness world records, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, scored a Number 1 single, wrote an autobiography and helped set up a charity.

“I wanted to update everybody that today … my father was admitted to hospital,” his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said on Twitter on Sunday.

“Over the last few weeks he was being treated for pneumonia and last week tested positive for COVID-19. He was at home with us until today when he

Centenarian Captain Tom Moore

needed additional help with his breathing. He is being treated in a ward, although he is not in ICU (intensive care unit),” she said. She said he had been receiving “remarkable” medical care in the past few weeks. The family knew the staff at Bedford Hospital would do all they could to make him comfortable and “hopefully return home as soon as possible”, she added.

The UK has vaccinated nearly nine million people against the coronavirus, with the over-80s in one of the top priority groups. But Sky News quoted a family representative as saying Moore had not yet received a vaccine because he was being treated for pneumonia.

Moore, who rose to the

rank of captain while serving in India and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War II, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July for his fundraising efforts.

His hospitalisation prompted an outpouring of support.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter his thoughts were with Moore and his family.

“You’ve inspired the whole nation, and I know we are all wishing you a full recovery,” Johnson said.

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer also wished him well, saying: “The whole nation hopes you get well soon @captaintommoore. You’ve been an inspiration to us all throughout this crisis.” (Al Jazeera)

A

ung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's governing National League for Democracy (NLD) party, has been arrested, a party spokesman said.

It comes amid tensions between the civilian government and the military, stoking fears of a coup.

At elections in November, the NLD won enough seats to form a government, but the army says the vote was fraudulent.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the military until 2011. Ms Suu Kyi spent many years under house arrest.

The newly elected lower house of parliament was due to convene for the first time on Monday but the military was calling for a postponement.

Soldiers are on the streets of the capital, Naypyitaw, and the main city, Yangon.

Mobile internet data con-

nections and some phone services have been disrupted in major cities, while the state broadcaster MRTV says it is having technical issues and is off air.

The BBC's South East Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, says this looks like a full-scale coup, despite the military promising only last week to abide by the constitution which it drafted more than a decade ago.

Under the constitution it does have significant powers to declare a state of emergency, but detaining political leaders like Suu Kyi is a provocative and very risky move, one which may well be strongly opposed, our correspondent says.

NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told the Reuters news agency by phone that Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders had been "taken" in the early hours of the morning.

“I want to tell our people not to respond rashly and I want them to act according to the law," he said, adding he also expected to be detained.

Soldiers also visited the homes of chief ministers in several regions and took them away, family members said. The NLD won 83% of available seats in the 8 November election in what many saw as a referendum on Ms Suu Kyi's civilian government.

It was just the second election since the end of military rule in 2011.

But the military has disputed the result, filing complaints at the Supreme Court against the president and the chair of the electoral commission.

Fears of a coup rose after the military recently threatened to "take action" over alleged fraud. The election commission has rejected the allegations. (BBC)

WHO team in Wuhan to visit provincial CDC on Monday

A

World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic was due on Monday to visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Hubei province, the central Chinese region where the outbreak emerged in late 2019.

The group of independent experts left two weeks of quarantine on Thursday in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, and is conducting two weeks of field work. So far, it has included visits to hospitals, markets, and an exhibition commemorating Wuhan’s battle with the outbreak.

The WHO, which has sought to manage expectations for the mission, has said that team members would

Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) visit Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 31, 2021. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

be limited to visits organised by their Chinese hosts and would not have any contact with community members, because of health restrictions.

No full itinerary for the

group’s field work has been announced, and journalists covering the tightly controlled visit have been kept at a distance from team members. (Reuters)

Doctors Without Borders suspends work in El Salvador after attack

The logo of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) is seen at the international medical humanitarian organisation MSF logistique centre in Merignac near Bordeaux, France (REUTERS/Regis Duvignau)

M

edecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has temporarily suspended its operations in El Salvador after one of its teams came under attack from an armed gang, the med-

ical NGO said on Sunday.

“All of our medical activities are suspended for the time being, but not canceled, until we can investigate this, and it’s clear we can carry out our interventions safely,”

MSF said.

MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the attack occurred in the municipality of Ilopango on the eastern fringe of San Salvador, as its team was traveling by ambulance in response to an emergency call.

Local media described the assailants as suspected gang members.

Members of the MSF team suffered some light injuries and bruises, but no one was seriously injured, the NGO said. It was unclear what provoked the attack, which was condemned by the government of El Salvador.

Ilopango is regarded as potentially dangerous area in El Salvador, one of a group of Central American countries that has for years battled to keep chronic gang violence in check. (Reuters)

NEWS

17

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt eyes 1 million tonnes Worst blizzard in 5 years construction aggregate this year predicted for NYC

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

W

ith the coming national infrastructural developments, the Government is working with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to up production of construction aggregates to over one million tonnes for 2021.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said recently that the upcoming plans of the Government for this year will see an increase in demand for the materials. As such, production rates must also be increased,

the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported the Minister as saying.

The production rate for quarriable substances have been much lower than the demand over the last few years, Bharrat noted. For 2020, just about 650,000 tonnes of materials were produced.

The Dr Irfaan Ali Administration is advancing a number of infrastructural projects aimed at improving the quality of life for all Guyanese.

President Ali has committed to the construction of a new Demerara River Bridge and the new four-lane road from that bridge to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

Hundreds of communities across the country are expected to see new and improved road networks along with other infrastructural projects.

Through collaboration with the Government of Suriname, the Government here will also be embarking on the construction of the first-ever bridge across the Corentyne River, connecting

the two South American nations.

The Ogle to Haags Bosch road project is also in the cards.

A massive housing drive is also underway that targets some 5000 homes, for this year. The Government also intends to allocate some 10,000 house lots by end of this year.

“So, the demand for these materials will increase tremendously. For lumber, for stone, for sand, for cement.

So, we are working with the GGMC to increase production, to double our production to produce over one million tonnes this year,” Bharrat said in a recent interview.

He said the Government will also be granting licences to a number of companies that have applied to produce the aggregates to meet the impending demand.

President Dr Ali himself had late last year said that there will be an increase in demand for quarry and construction materials and labour with the coming developments.

UK to help Caribbean in its fight to identify new COVID-19 variants

T

he UK will offer its world leading genomics expertise to help identify new variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 in countries in the Caribbean and around the world. The announcement comes as part of a speech delivered by UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock at Chatham House.

As part of the UK’s Presidency of the G7 this year, the Health Secretary outlined his vision for a stronger, more collaborative and effective global health system, not just in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, but to ensure the international community is better prepared for future threats. Countries will be offered UK capacity to analyse new strains of the virus through the launch of the New Variant Assessment Platform which will be led by Public Health England (PHE) working with NHS Test and Trace and academic partners, as well as the World Health Organization’s SARS-CoV-2 Global Laboratory Working Group. In due course, it will be led by the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) and will involve PHE laboratories and staff as well as academic partner capabilities.

They will be working directly on samples provided from abroad or will provide expert advice and support remotely where the partner country already has capabilities in this area but requests further assistance. The offer could include training and resources as well as personnel and equipment. Countries will be able to apply for assistance by contacting the World Health Organization where an existing channel does not already exist with the UK. This vital work will combat the spread of coronavirus by identifying more Covid-19

variants around the world to keep the global community one step ahead of any mutations.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This pandemic has shown that the foundations of so many of the exciting experiences that make life worth living are contingent not just on our health, or the health of our neighbours, but the health of people we’ve never met. When one of us suffers, we all suffer.

“So we must work to promote health security in every single part of the world. Not only will this Platform help us better understand this virus and how it spreads,

tentially cause the virus to spread faster, make people sicker, or possibly affect how well vaccines work. Genomic testing is crucial to our efforts to control the virus – it allows us to keep an eye on how the virus is changing and to respond before it’s too late.

“This new initiative will bring Public Health England’s cutting edge science to countries that have little or no ability to sequence and analyse COVID-19 virus strains themselves. It will also give us crucial early warning of new variants emerging around the world.”

As the UK holds the pres-

Sanitation trucks, salt loaders and a mound of road salt are seen here ahead of a major snow storm at a depot on Pacific Street in Brooklyn on Sunday, January 31. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

N

ew Yorkers were in for a winter wallop Monday in what’s expected to be the worst snowstorm in five years.

On Sunday night, Mayor de Blasio declared a state of emergency and asked that all but essential workers stay off roadways.

“This storm is growing all the time,” de Blasio warned, declaring: “We’ve got a much more intense situation.”

The National Weather Service was forecasting the storm would dump from 16-22 inches of snow, the mayor said.

The snowfall totals would mark the highest total since January 2016 when Winter Storm Jonas hit the city with a record-high 27 inches.

“This is not a storm to underestimate,” the mayor said earlier Sunday. “Take it seriously. This is a dangerous storm. Tomorrow is going to be a very tough day. If you do not need to be out and about on Monday, stay home.”

Flurries began to hit the city around 5 p.m.

Sunday and up to 6 inches of snow could fall by the time Monday morning rush hour picks up at 6 a.m., National Weather Service meteorologist David Stark

said. But that will just be the start of the whiteout.

“It’s going to be coming down pretty heavy in the afternoon,” said Stark.

“The city could see 2 or 3 or 4 inches per hour.”

The National Weather Service projects a minimum of 16 inches of snow and wind gusts of up to 50 mph in the city by the time it’s over — but city officials are preparing for the potential full 22-inch whammy.

Snow plows were already out on Sunday coating city streets with a salt brine to prevent icing, Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson said.

Grayson was appointed head of sanitation in late December, a week after he managed the response to a nor’easter that dumped up to 11 inches on parts of the city. He was already working with fewer resources than his predecessors due to pandemic-related budget cuts that slashed 397 snow removal jobs from the city’s payroll.

“This snow response will clearly be a very slow and very methodical response as there will be a sustained period of active snowfall,” Grayson said.

“The residents should know that they will not see blacktop immediately at

all on Monday.”

The furious flurries prompted de Blasio to close all in-person learning for Monday, moving all students to remote learning for the day.

The storm also prompted authorities to postpone COVID-19 vaccinations, which have already been hampered by a national shortage of doses.

Monday appointments at state-run vaccination sites in the city such as the Javits Center and Aqueduct Racetrack will be postponed, officials said. Patients will receive an email or text message to reschedule.

The lack of supply had already forced the city Department of Health to offer zero appointments for Monday at all its vaccine sites except Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, health officials said. New Yorkers with a vaccine appointment at Elmhurst for Monday could be forced to reschedule if the roads are bad.

COVID-19 testing at the city’s hospitals will continue during the storm but testing at mobile and popup locations will be suspended, according to de Blasio spokeswoman Avery Cohen. (NY Daily News)

Queen Elizabeth to host Biden before G7 summit in June but it will also boost global capability in this important field, so we’re all better prepared for whatever lies ahead”. The UK has carried out more than half of all SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences submitted to the global database, and this capability helped PHE’s scientists identify the variant in Kent, informing new measures to tackle the spread of the virus.

Dr Isabel Oliver, Director of Public Health England’s National Infection Service, said: “We know that the virus will evolve over time and certain mutations could po-

idency of the G7, improving global health security will be a key theme as we encourage countries to work collaboratively both to tackle this pandemic and ensure stronger preparedness for further health threats.

New variants of coronavirus can be threats to the progress made so far with treatments and vaccines, so it is vital that the global community is able to react to them quickly and decisively. The UK’s genomic expertise will guide the global response to controlling their spread and saving lives.

(Antigua Newsroom)

US President Joe Biden

Q

ueen Elizabeth will host new US President Joe Biden and other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before a summit of

the G7 big economies in June, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

Describing it as a “soft power” reception, the Sunday Times said the Queen would be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The palace declined to comment on the report.

Britain has announced plans to hold the first in-person summit of the G7 for nearly two years in June in Cornwall, southwest England.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the meeting will

Queen Elizabeth

forge a consensus that the global economy must recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a pro-free trade and sustainable way.

(Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Regional

BVI announces travel ban St Kitts Police launch probe on South Africa, Brazil following death of infant in car

T

he British Virgin Islands has implemented a ban on flights from Brazil and South Africa in the wake of reports of new strains of COVID-19 emerging in both countries.

The announcement was recently made by Health Minister Carvin Malone.

This is in addition to a travel ban on flights from the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom that came into effect on January 11.

Health Minister Carvin Malone on Sunday announced that a travel ban has been imposed against travellers from Brazil and South Africa due to new strains of COVID-19 in

these countries.

“In a most recent Cabinet meeting, in light of new strains of COVID-19 being prevalent in South Africa and Brazil, a decision was taken that in addition to the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic, to implement a travel ban on persons travelling from South Africa and Brazil to the Virgin Islands,” Malone explained.

He, however, stated that the ban – that was implemented to protect the public from COVID-19, does not apply to BVI nationals, Belongers, residents, work permit holders, diplomats and Government workers travelling from these countries.

British Virgin Islands Health Minister Carvin Malone

The Health Minister reiterated that these individuals would be subjected to a 14-day quarantine period once they travelled from the affected countries. (CMC)

Bermuda experiences record low temperature

B

ermuda residents huddled to stay warm after the North Atlantic island recorded a record low temperature for January 30 following Thursday’s fiercest winter storm in a decade.

The Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) confirmed that Saturday morning’s temperature dropped to 49.1 Fahrenheit (9.5 degrees Celsius) which sets a new record low for the date.

“We hope you are keeping warm out there in

these cold and blustery, wintertime conditions.

Check out these temperatures! This morning’s minimum reached a very chilly 49.1F/9.5C,” said a spokesperson from the Bermuda Weather Service.

“This sets a new record low for the date surpassing the previous record of 51.4F/10.8C back in 2005.

Our unofficial wind chill measurement produced a ‘feels like temperature’ near 40F/4.4C. Brrrrr!

“Expect temperatures

to gradually recover ahead of Monday’s return to daily highs near 70F/20C.” Thursday’s storm, which saw winds reach 130.4 kilometres per hour (81 miles per hour) with gusts of more than 136.9 kilometres per hour (100 mph), battered the island for nine hours, knocking out power to several thousand homes.

But the Bermuda Electric Light company says the number of outages decreased to 90 by late Saturday. (CMC)

100,000 COVID vaccines for T&T by the end of February

T

rinidad and Tobago is set to receive between 100,000 and 120,000 doses of the AstraZeneca two-dose vaccine by the end of February into March.

Approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people will receive the vaccine in T&T in this first phase.

The good news was announced by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh late Saturday, hours after he was informed by Dr Erica Wheeler of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), who said the vaccines had been procured via the COVAX Facility. Addressing the T&T Medical Association Virtual Presidential Inauguration & Conferring of Honours Ceremony 2021, Deyalsingh said the hope to manage this pandemic was a vaccine.

Admitting the rollout of vaccines across the globe had proven to be very problematic, the Minister said “Some countries have taken a decision that they will roll out all their doses, not knowing whether they will get a batch of vaccines for the second shot as recommended by

had brought with it many sleepless nights.

Pointing to the 4000 deaths per day that had been occurring across the US, he said if the Government had not moved decisively to take action, they could have seen 17 people dying per day in T&T. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

A

probe has been launched by the Police in the twin-island federation following reports that a baby who was left in a car for several hours, later died.

The Police report that on January 21, they were summoned to a hospital emergency room where healthcare professionals said they were treating the child.

A statement from the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force said: “Preliminary investigations so far have revealed that the father, who had collected the baby to take her to the nursery, returned to work that morning. Sometime after midday, he went back to the vehicle and discovered the baby was still in the back seat.”

The child was taken to the hospital and subsequently warded in the Intensive Care Unit.

She died early the following morning.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy due to asphyxia as a consequence of confinement in a closed space. (CMC)

NY Attorney General vows to fight deportations to the Caribbean

N

ew York Attorney General Letitia James has vowed to fight alongside the new Joe Biden Administration in the United States in stopping deportations to the Caribbean and other places.

On Tuesday, a US Federal Judge in Texas issued a temporary restraining order, in effect for two weeks, that blocked President Joe Biden’s plan to pause the deportation of undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants for 100 days.

“As we continue to reel from a public health crisis that has affected every corner of this country, the last thing we should be doing is moving to deport more immigrants — many who are standing on the frontlines of the pandemic and de-

New York Attorney General Letitia James

livering essential services to Americans nationwide,” James told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“These immigrants are delivering our packages, stocking our grocery shelves, providing us with health care, and so much more,” she added.

“I strongly support President Biden’s willingness to freeze these deportations as the Administration reviews its policies, and I will continue to review the court order as I stand ready to take legal action,” the New York Attorney General affirmed. “I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our immigrant community.”

On the first day of the Biden Administration, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo ordering a moratorium on the deportation of undocumented immigrants for 100 days, while a thorough review of the DHS’s policies took place, but two days later, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden Administration, seeking to overturn the order. (Excerpt from CMC)

4 held in connection with T&T woman’s kidnapping TT Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh

manufacturers.”

With T&T preparing to receive vaccines since last year, Deyalsingh recounted that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley signed an expression of interest on July 18, 2020, cementing T&T’s entry into the COVAX Facility.

Declaring the COVID-19 pandemic had “put a different spin on life”, Deyalsingh said T&T had managed it very well so far though it

F

our men have been detained by Police Officers of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) and the AntiKidnapping Squad (AKS) for questioning into the kidnapping of 23-year-old Andrea Bharatt.

The men ages 20-30 were held just after 11:00h on Sunday – following information received by Police.

The operation, spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, led SORT officers under Sergeant Mark Hernandez

and the AKS to two separate homes in East Trinidad earlier Sunday morning.

Senior sources say one man was held at a home in Petit Bourg, while three men were later held at another home in Malabar.

“Personal belongings of the young lady were recovered at both homes,” said a senior Police source speaking on the condition of anonymity.

However, the source said there was no sign of Bharatt and they were still pursuing “certain clues.”

“The investigation is

still at a very early stage, but we are hoping for the best outcome,” the source told Guardian Media.

Bharatt, a clerk at the Arima Magistrate’s Court, entered a taxi in King Street, Arima with a fellow employee on Friday.

A few minutes later Bharatt’s friend was dropped off in Cleaver Heights, Arima.

Bharatt’s father became worried when she did not arrive home and made several calls to her phone, but was unsuccessful in reaching her.

Shortly after 19:30h on Friday night he again called his daughter’s phone only to be greeted by a male voice on the other side of the line. The man told her father that if he was not paid some money, he would cut off Bharatt’s ears.

Her father later made a report to the Arima Police Station.

Investigators say they are scouring several areas in East Trinidad as they attempt to locate Bharatt and take her safely back to her family. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Fossil fuel transition: Expect oil price spikes as capital investment declines

N

obody loves oil companies. Tesla Inc, the emblem of an emissions-free future, is worth more today than the top five Western supermajors combined.

Yet the world’s disdain for its petroleum giants could carry a sting in the tail -- a jarring price spike.

Oil may be on the way out, but it will be a long goodbye.

Even if demand peaks, companies like Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell Plc need to keep investing tens of billions of dollars every year into fossil fuels just to stand still. Right now, many investors would prefer to take that cash in dividends, or see it channelled into renewables.

Oil producers have been hammered by the coronavirus.

In 2020, collapsing cash flow, tens of billions of dollars in writedowns, large quarterly losses and dividend cuts became the norm for the industry.

Companies have taken dramatic steps to conserve cash.

Many cut their dividends -- in Shell’s case for the first time since the Second World War. Combined capital expenditures by the supermajors in the third quarter of 2020 were just half the level of a year earlier, and the lowest since 2005, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

With demand recovering and crude back above US$50 a barrel, the worst of the COVID-19 crisis appears to be over for the oil industry. But there are reasons to doubt that these companies are in a position to significantly boost spending on oil and gas.

On both sides of the Atlantic, the supermajors appear to have little financial leeway. S&P Global Ratings warned on Jan 26 that it may cut the credit score for a plethora of oil companies due to “greater industry risk” and climate change.

Such a move could increase their cost of capital and potentially put new projects at risk.

“We don’t see upstream investments by the majors returning to 2019 levels of spending, and that was already a relatively low level from a historical context,” said Giacomo Romeo, an equity-research analyst at Jefferies.

An increasing number of people might consider declining investment in fuels a good thing. There are alternatives available -- from electric vehicles to wind and solar power -that don’t change the climate, but it is taking time to deploy them on a global scale.

In the meantime, an oil-price spike would be a big economic headwind for a world recovering from the pandemic, especially in developing countries where the burden falls hardest.

There’s plenty of historical precedent for an investment drought leading to a surge in crude a few years later. It happened after oil fell below US$10 a barrel in the late 1990s.

But in the most recent example, the warnings about a looming supply shortfall were wrong.

After crude slumped from above US$100 a barrel in 2014 to below US$30 two years later, influential voices from International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol to Total SE Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne said the industry’s huge spending cuts would lead to a supply shortfall and price spike by the end of the decade.

Instead, the 2010s ended with Brent crude hovering near US$65 a barrel in London and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies deepening production cuts to support prices amid warnings of a surplus.

The predictions were confounded largely by US shale explorers, who not only survived the downturn, but cut costs and found more productive places to drill, igniting a second boom that surpassed the first.

Whether the shale industry can confound expectations again is an open question.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the American oil industry harder than the previous downturn. Production is down about 2 million barrels a day from its peak, almost twice as big as the drop that followed the 2014 price slump. The companies that have survived 2020 say they’ve learned from their mistakes, and investors are demanding an end to years of profligate spending.

Not everyone is so convinced that shale drillers have kicked the growth habit, especially when OPEC+ may once again be offering a life raft to the industry by pushing up prices. Since Saudi Arabia announced a surprise production cut on Jan 5, West Texas Intermediate crude has held above US$50 a barrel.

Annual investment needs to be 25 per cent higher over the next three years to stave off a supply crisis, the report estimated.

The coming year will be crucial in determining whether the industry is capable of rising to that challenge. (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Russia detains more than 5000 at protests backing jailed Kremlin critic Navalny

R

iot Police broke up protests across Russia on Sunday in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, detaining more than 5000 people who had braved the bitter cold and the threat of prosecution to demand he be set free.

In a massive show of force, Police imposed a sweeping security lockdown in the heart of Moscow, sealing off streets to pedestrians near the Kremlin, closing metro stations and deploying hundreds of riot Police as snow fell.

At one point, a column of protesters marched towards the prison in northern Moscow where Navalny is being held, chanting “Let him go!”. In another scene,

people in a crowd raised their hands above their heads in front of a row of riot Police and chanted “we’re not your enemies”.

Navalny, 44, was arrested on Jan 17 after returning

to Moscow from Germany where he had been recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in Russia last summer. He accuses President Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, which the

Kremlin denies.

His dramatic return to Moscow despite the obvious threat of arrest and the second straight weekend of protests at his jailing pose a challenge for Putin who has dominated the Russian political landscape for more than two decades.

Police said protesters could face criminal prosecution for attending or calling for an unauthorised demonstration and warned they could spread COVID-19.

Navalny’s allies used social media to repeatedly change the location of their rally, scattering the crowds over different parts of Moscow and making it harder to disperse. (Excerpt from Reuters)

that it would cut supplies to the EU of its vaccine candidate in the first quarter, sparking a row over supplies.

“AstraZeneca will deliver 9 million additional doses in the first quarter (40 million in total) compared to last week’s offer and will start deliveries one week earlier than scheduled,” Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission wrote on Twitter. The company

would expand its manufacturing capacity in Europe, she said.

Last week, the company had offered to bring forward some deliveries to the EU. It had also offered eight million more doses to the European Union to try to defuse the dispute but an EU official told Reuters that was too far short of what was originally promised as AstraZeneca had committed to at least

80 million shots in the first quarter.

Earlier on Sunday, the EU Commission President held a videoconference with CEOs of companies manufacturing vaccines and warned of the threat of coronavirus variants.

“It is crucial to prepare for the appearance of such variants,” Von der Leyen said in a statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Demonstrators stand in front of law enforcement officers during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as Saint Isaac's Cathedral is seen in the background, in Saint Petersburg, Russia January 31, 2021

EU's Von der Leyen says AstraZeneca will deliver 9 million more vaccine doses

A

straZeneca will deliver nine million more doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the first quarter of this year, making a total of 40 million for the period, and will start deliveries one week earlier than expected, the President of the European Commission said on Sunday.

The Anglo-Swedish company unexpectedly announced earlier this month

Somalia’s al-Shabab armed group attacks hotel in Mogadishu

S

omalia’s al-Shabab armed group has launched a car bomb attack on a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, killing at least three people before fighters stormed inside, said a security source.

“So far three people, two of them civilians, and a security guard were confirmed dead, but the death toll could be higher,” said Mohamed Dahir a senior official with the national security agency.

Six civilians were wounded in the attack on Sunday afternoon, he added.

Earlier, Police officer Ali Hassan told DPA more than nine people, most of them civilians, were killed in the attack.

A vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the entrance gate of the Afrik hotel, near Mogadishu’s strategic K-4 junction, Police spokesman Sadiq Adan Ali had confirmed earlier.

A number of gunmen then quickly invaded the hotel, opening fire on staff and patrons inside, he said.

Government forces responded to the attack and gunfire could be heard coming from the hotel. Police rescued many people from the hotel, including its owner and an army general, according to The Associated Press news agency.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group that seeks to overthrow the coun-

Security officers secure the scene of the car bomb explosion in Mogadishu [Reuters]

try’s internationally-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack through its Andalus radio station.

Al-Shabab frequently carries out bombings in its war on Somalia’s Government, which is backed by the United Nations and African Union (AU) peacekeeping

troops.

In a separate incident, at least eight children were killed and many others wounded when a bomb went off in the Golweyn area, about 40km (25 miles) north of the coastal town of Merca, some 120km (74 miles) south of Mogadishu. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

At least 13 killed in car bombs, shooting in Syria’s north

A

t least 12 people have been killed and 29 wounded in two car bomb blasts in northwestern Syria, according to rescue workers and media reporters.

The successive explosions on Sunday took place in the town of Azaz and another village some 50km (30 miles) away, both areas held by Syrian rebel fighters allied with Turkey.

Turkey and the allied Syrian fighters control large parts of northern Syria, and

are at odds with Government troops and Kurdish-led forces, who are considered “terrorists” by Ankara. The rebel-controlled areas are the scene of recurrent attacks that are rarely claimed by any one side.

The Syrian Civil Defence, a volunteer rescue group operating in rebel-held parts of Syria, said it has responded to 11 explosions in the country’s northwest since the start of January, before Sunday, where at least 11 people were killed.

Separately, Syria’s state news agency SANA said one Syrian was killed on Sunday and four were wounded in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, Deir Az Zor province, after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened fire at pro-Government demonstrators protesting against a siege on their neighbourhood. The area is known as the security square and is controlled by government forces.

The Kurds, Syria’s largest ethnic minority, have carved

out a semi-autonomous enclave in Syria’s northeast following the start of the war in 2011. In the area, they run their own affairs and control most of the country’s oil resources.

In both Hassakeh and Qamishli cities, they share control with Government forces – which have a presence in security zones, near the airport and in some neighbourhoods. Both cities have a sizeable Kurdish population. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Embrace the future with optimism. Personal growth, knowledge and peace of mind will highlight your day.

Romance is favored. Network with in-touch people to find out what’s trending.

Concentrate on what you want to achieve. Gather information and consider the cost before you begin, and you’ll find a way to streamline your plans to fit your budget. Keep your emotions in check.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

The way you handle partnerships will determine how well you do. Opportunity is within reach, but beware interference and poor judgment. Listen carefully, and don’t rush into anything

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Keep moving forward, let your intuition guide you and be charming instead of forceful. Take the time to help others, and you will impress someone influential.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Send out your resume, apply for a job or pursue a promotion. You’ll make a good impression. A positive change is heading your way. Don’t let unfinished business hold you back. Be responsible.

Information will come your way. Consider your options and take action. A responsible attitude will lead to an opportunity that will help boost your earning potential. Learn from the past.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Consider the changes you want to make, and set a realistic budget. If you overspend, you will add undue stress to your life. Know your capabilities and stick to a plan.

SCORPIO

Be secretive. Put everything in place, look for potential problems and find solutions. Bide your time and protect your assets, health and financial future.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Do what comes naturally.

SAGITTARIUS Use your skills to get ahead (Nov. 23professionally, financially Dec. 21) and personally. Verify information others share with you before you pass it along.

Romance is featured.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) SATURDAY''S WORD -- DUCTILE

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Stay on top of your responsibilities. Get things done on time, and refuse to let emotional matters spin out of control. Have a backup plan in place and be ready to act.

Focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t. Don’t let the changes others make disrupt your plans. Arguing is a waste of time, so put a smile on your face and embrace positive alternatives.

Call in favors, and you’ll receive the help you need.

Make the first move and adapt when necessary.

Don’t lose sight of your goal because of what someone else is doing. Stay focused.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

21

Barcelona, Messi to take legal action over €555M contract leak L

ionel Messi and Barcelona will take legal action against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it released the leaked details of the forward's record-breaking contract on Sunday.

El Mundo published documents relating to Messi's fouryear deal, signed in 2017, and gave an intricate breakdown of the €555 million he would receive if all add-ons were met.

The report claimed that Messi's contract is the biggest ever signed by an athlete.

Sources have confirmed to ESPN that Messi will take action against El Mundo and any Barca personnel involved in the leaking of the contract. There are only four copies of the contract -- Messi has one, Barca have another, La Liga has a copy and so does Cuatrecasas, the law firm used by the Argentina international.

Barca, meanwhile, responded by denying any involvement in the leaking of the contract and said they would also take "appropriate legal action" against the newspaper.

"In view of the information published today by El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties," the Catalan club said in a statement.

"FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.

"FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where

Lionel Messi

he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history."

According to El Mundo, Messi would receive a maximum of €555,237,619 (US$673,919,105) over four seasons, if a series of conditions were met.

Including image rights, the report explains that Messi was paid a €115 million renewal bonus and a €77 million loyalty bonus split into two payments – as revealed by ESPN in November.

Messi is also said to earn around €72 million annually in addition to add-ons for playing more than 60 per cent of games throughout the course of a season, Champions League progression, winning La Liga or the Copa del Rey and winning FIFA's The Best.

A number of those performance-related add-ons have not been met and it should also be noted that Messi accepted a salary cut when the coronavirus pandemic first affected football last March.

Therefore, he will not earn the full €555 million written into the contract, which expires on June 30.

Messi's future beyond then remains unknown. He tried to leave the club last summer, but was shut down by then President Josep Maria Bartomeu.

In a recent interview, he explained that he has not yet made a decision on his future and will decide his next step when the season ends.

Since then, Bartomeu has left Camp Nou and a new president will be elected on March 7. All three candidates for the presidency – Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Friexa – have expressed a desire to keep Messi at the club.

However, negotiations over a new deal will not be able to begin until March and the new terms will have to correspond with the club's new financial position.

The club's annual accounts, dated August 2020, revealed earlier this month that the Catalan club's gross debt has risen to nearly €1.2 billion. (ESPN)

“Wouldn't wish it on anyone” – Moeen Ali on COVID-19 experience

I

t is fair to say that testing positive for COVID-19 on arrival in Sri Lanka earlier this month was not the start to 2021 that Moeen Ali had hoped for.

Rather than vying for a place in England's team and trying to re-start a Test career that has been on hold for 18 months, Moeen had to endure 14 days of self-isolation in a hotel room. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone to be honest with you, just stuck there," he says now.

Thankfully, Moeen has fully recovered and is fit for selection for the opening Test against India in Chennai, beginning on Friday (February 5). But how he picked up the virus remains a mystery, particularly as Chris Woakes, who Moeen shared a minibus with on the way to Heathrow Airport before the flight to Sri Lanka, did not get ill. "Personally I feel like I got it at the airport or on the plane," Moeen says. "Nobody in my family got it and Woakesy didn't get it so I think it was the plane or the airport.

"I felt fine all the way through. Left home fine, got to

the airport, fine. I didn't sleep much on the plane and felt a bit jetlagged and then in the evening, I started to get splitting headaches. The test was positive. I was not surprised, I had a feeling because once I landed I didn't feel great. Through the evening, I had splitting headaches. Part of me was thinking 'let's get this over and done with, as long as it's not too bad'.

"I had loss of taste for a day or so, splitting headaches for three days, body was very sore and the fatigue was....I've never experienced that sort of tiredness before in my life. It was three days feeling pretty rough and the rest was fine. When I initially got it, I thought the next five days will be crucial here, I didn't want the cough and fever and thankfully I didn't have that.

There's part of you that's worried and anticipating it would be bad."

Looking back on the two weeks of isolation now, Moeen says he is not sure how he got through it. "The 14 days felt like they were dragging. The last four days in particular were very tough, because I felt fine but I was just stuck in a room. It was tough. I somehow got through and didn't think too much about it, just used the time as wisely as I could."

Moeen spent time reading, playing Call of Duty and speaking to friends and family at home. He said the rest of England's players and support staff were constantly checking in on him and he had a couple of chats with Dr James Bickley, the sports psychologist that England have taken with them to Sri Lanka to help support the players' well-being. "It's one of those things," Moeen says. "It has been tough, but I'm a big believer in 'after hardship comes ease'. Hopefully, there is some ease after this."

Whether Moeen will be selected for the first Test remains to be seen. He has not had any match practice – although neither have the likes of Ben Stokes or Jofra Archer – but says he is, at least, available for selection.

"I'm good. I've been training normally for a while. I had a good five or six net sessions in the end. I had to start quite slow, but then during the second Test match [in

Sri Lanka] I was training every day. I had a good few sessions.

"When I got out [of isolation], for four or five days we had to be careful because I think heart-rate can be an issue after COVID for people who do a bit of running. From my point of view, I'm good now, but I have no match practice or anything. I think I'm fine, whether or not I get picked is another matter."

The first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2019 was the last time Moeen played Test cricket for England. He was dropped after that game, despite being the top wicket-taker in Tests in the previous 12 months, and then decided to take some time out from the longer format to refresh mentally. "At the time I felt I needed it," he says. "It makes you reassess. I wanted to see if I missed it and if I yearned to play it again.

"At the time I was playing so much cricket – and I'd been dropped – I thought it was a chance to take a step back. I enjoyed it, played a few leagues around the world – but ultimately it was Test cricket that I missed and I felt like I could still do quite well in."

Dom Bess and Jack Leach improved as the series in Sri Lanka wore on and are ahead of Moeen in the spin bowling pecking order. But if the 33-year-old can rediscover his best form, there is little doubt that he would improve England's team. He has, after all, 181 Test wickets to his name and has been working on a few technical elements of his batting which he hopes will help him improve on his rather disappointing recent showings at the international level.

"I have little targets I want to achieve," he says. "I am not too far away from getting 200 wickets. I know people say they don't look at these things, but it would be something I would look at. I am just going to go series by series, not take things for granted too much. I think I got to a point when I was going on every tour and I was almost too comfortable. It is a nice position to be in now and has motivated me big time.

"I still feel I've got wickets and runs in me and match-winning performances within me." (Cricbuzz)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Reifer shines with bat and ball as CLASSIFIED ADS Windies warm-up match ends in draw LAND FOR SALE

The Trinidadian wicketkeeperbatsman faced 116 balls and struck three fours in his knock that lasted 130 minutes.

Reifer was more aggressive, striking five fours and a six in the 94 balls he faced by the time the innings came to an end. Jomel Warrican was the last man out for 2 as Mukidul ended with 4 for 59. Saif Hasan took 2 for 45.

As the match progressed to the expected draw Reifer took two early Bangladeshi wickets while conceding just seven runs from the four overs he bowled. However, Shadman Islam (23) and Yasir Ali (33) put together an unbroken stand of 49 that ensured that

Raymon Reifer bats during his unbeaten 49

A

n 82-run eighth-wicket partnership between Joshua Da Silva and Raymon Reifer was the highlight of the final day of the three-day warm-up match between the West Indies and the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI that ended in a draw on Sunday.

Da Silva made 46 and Reifer remained unbeaten on 49 as the West Indies pushed their overnight score of 179 for 5 to 291 all out. Chasing 389 for victory, the Board XI were 63 for 2 when play ended.

The disappointment for the West Indies was that Nkrumah Bonner failed to add to his overnight score of 80, falling with the score at 183 to the bowling of Khaled Ahmed, who took 3 for 42. Rahkeem Cornwall fell shortly after for just 4 to Mukidul Islam to leave the West Indies at 190 for 7 and facing a lower-order capitulation.

However, Da Silva, who was on nought overnight, partnered

SCOREBOARD

John Campbell c Rishad Hossain b Saif Hassan 68 Shayne Moseley lbw b Khaled Ahmed 0 Nkrumah Bonner c †Nurul Hasan b Khaled Ahmed 80 Jermaine Blackwood c Towhid 4 Hridoy b Saif Hassan Kyle Mayers lbw b 8 Towhid Hridoy Kavem Hodge b Mukidul 19 Islam Joshua Da Silva † c Khaled Ahmed b Mukidul Islam 46 Rahkeem Cornwall c Towhid 4 Hridoy b Mukidul Islam Raymon Reifer not out 49 Veerasammy Permaul c Towhid Hridoy b Khaled Ahmed 7 Jomel Warrican b 2 Mukidul Islam Extras (b 3, lb 1) TOTAL (89.2 Ov, RR: 3.25, 356 Mts)

4 291

Did not bat: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Shayne Moseley, 0.4 ov), 2-130 (John Campbell, 30.3 ov), 3-135 (Jermaine Blackwood, 32.3 ov), 4-144 (Kyle Mayers, 35.4 ov), 5-177 (Kavem Hodge, 46.1 ov), 6-183 (Nkrumah Bonner, 51.1 ov), 7-190 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 54.5 ov), 8-272 (Joshua Da Silva, 83.2 ov), 9-281 (Veerasammy Permaul, 86.6 ov), 10-291 (Jomel Warrican, 89.2 ov)

West Indies players had a light moment after exiting the field of play

with Reifer for the stand that took the score to 272 before he became the third of Mukidul’s four victims in the innings.

the visiting bowlers made no further inroads and sealed the stalemate. (Sportsmax)

BOWLING Khaled Ahmed Mukidul Islam Saif Hassan Rishad Hossain Shahin Alam Towhid Hridoy

BANGLADESH CRICKET BOARD XI 2ND INNINGS (TARGET: 389 RUNS) Shadman Islam not out 23 Saif Hassan lbw b Reifer 7 Mohammad Naim c †Da Silva b Reifer 0 33 Yasir Ali not out TOTAL (29 Ov, RR: 2.17, 119 Mts) 63/2 Did not bat: Shahadat Hossain, Nurul Hasan (c)†, Akbar Ali, Shahin Alam, Khaled Ahmed, Towhid Hridoy, Mukidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Saif Hassan, 11.4 ov), 2-14 (Mohammad Naim, 13.2 ov) BOWLING 4-3-2-0 Kemar Roach Shannon Gabriel 4-3-5-0 Veerasammy Permaul 11-4-21-0 Raymon Reifer 4-0-7-2 Alzarri Joseph 4-0-17-0 Nkrumah Bonner 2-0-11-0

— Region 6 REO praised for support of Berbice cricket

T

seas-based Guyanese Ricky Itwaru has agreed to sponsor the Lower Corentyne tournament, which would be played in June at the Albion Sports Complex.

The teams to play in the tournament would be Albion, Rose Hall Town Pepsi, and Port Mourant. Itwaru, a certified special needs teacher based in the United States, stated that he was very impressed by the development of Berbice cricket and that was the main reason why he contacted the BCB to sponsor the tournament.

The BCB is currently on the verge of clinching the fourth sponsorship for the West Berbice sub-association and an announcement would be made shortly.

Foster, who is spearheading the BCB marketing effort, disclosed that the Board has in one month obtained sponsorship for 24 tournaments and the four internal zone tournaments would be followed by a countywide Under-19 50 overs which would be sponsored by the New York Business Group. The main aims of the four internal zone tournaments would be to encourage youth players to join clubs in their areas, to identify promising players for the BCB Elite Coaching programme and to allow different clubs across Berbice to win BCB titles.

Foster hailed the cooperation of Region Six Regional Executive Officer (REO) Navindra Persaud, who he hailed as a true friend of cricket development. Persaud played a major role in obtaining the sponsorship for the proactive Board.

Foster also expressed thanks to Jagdeo, Itwaru, Ahmad, and Uborn France for their support.

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BCB secures sponsorship for 3 interzone U-19 knockout tournaments he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) as part of its ongoing efforts to invest heavily in youth development has agreed to host four inter-zone Under-19 knockout cricket tournaments across Berbice. The zones would be Upper Corentyne (including Black Bush Polder}, Central/Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/ Canje/East Bank and West Berbice.

The Under-19 tournaments would be one of three tournaments that would be played in each of the sub-zones as part of an aggressive cricket development programme.

On Thursday last, the President of the vibrant BCB, Hilbert Foster received sponsorship from two sponsors for the Upper Corentyne and New Amsterdam/East Bank Berbice tournaments while an overseas-based Guyanese has committed to sponsoring another in June for teams in the Lower Corentyne area. Contractor Tevindra Jagdeo of Premium Asphalt Inc would be sponsoring the New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank Berbice tournament.

Among the teams expected to play in that tournament would be Kendall's Union, Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Mt Sinai, Guymine, Edinburgh and East Bank Blazers. The matches would be played at the Canje, Edinburgh and Kendall's Union venues, with the final set for the Edinburgh Ground.

Contractor Mohamed Ahmad of Mohamed Ahmad Construction Ltd is the sponsor for the Upper Corentyne leg of the tournaments. Teams to play would include No 73, Scottsburg, Skeldon and Radha Krishna Academy. Meanwhile, over-

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The Jaguars will look to Shimron Hetmyer to come good in the Super50 Cup

By Brandon Corlette

F

ormer Guyana and West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, like many patriotic Guyanese, is hoping that Guyana Jaguars can succeed in the upcoming CG Insurance Regional Super50 tournament that is set for February 7-27 in Antigua.

Sarwan recently proffered advice to Captain Leon Johnson and his men ahead of the all-important Super50 tournament.

He said that over the

years, collectively, the Guyana Jaguars have done well, but the problem would arise when the team failed to put things together in the semi-finals and final.

Sarwan believes that one of the biggest concerns for the Jaguars has been the batting.

"The bowling tend to play its part. But for Leon personally, he just has to believe in his ability. We know he has a lot of talent and he also works very hard on his game. In terms of his fitness, he is right up there

with guys in the Caribbean.

It is just a matter of him expressing himself and I think he has probably been afraid to do so, but I always encourage him to express himself and be positive," Sarwan disclosed in a Sean Devers Sports Watch radio programme.

Sarwan is aware of Johnson's supreme leadership qualities, which he has shown over the years, especially in the Regional 4-Day tournaments, where he wore the captain's armband and clinched five successive

championships.

"Hopefully, Guyana can do really well and go to the final and win. I just need him to ensure that he leads from the front with his batting and stay positive while continuing to believe," Sarwan said.

The year that Guyana won the Super50 Cup back in 2005, Sarwan was the leading run-scorer for the side, hitting 462 runs, including three hundreds and two fifties, in six innings.

Sarwan’s aggregate remains the highest for a Guyanese batsman since that championship win. The man who landed Guyana the title in 2005 – Sewnarine Chattergoon – scored 325 runs in the season. Mahendra Nagamootoo claimed 12 wickets in the tournament while Neil McGarrell had 11 victims.

Meanwhile, in the 2019 season, Jaguars suffered four defeats and recorded four wins. Christopher Barnwell was Mr Consistent, scoring 351 runs with the bat while a returning Jonathan Foo made 334 runs. Veerasammy Permaul (11); Raymon Reifer and Ramaal Lewis (10) were among the wickets for the Jaguars.

With the addition of West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer and a returning Assad Fudadin among familiar and new faces in the

Brathwaite and co ready for 1st Bangladesh Test — delighted with performances from Bonner, Cornwall

W

Kraigg Brathwaite

est Indies and Bangladesh will play the first of two Test matches Tuesday, February 2 at 11:30pm Eastern Caribbean time.

The West Indies had a decent outing in the three-day warm-up match against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI with the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Nkumrah Bonner, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican and Joshua Da Silva having good showings in their respective department.

After play, Brathwaite said that

he was satisfied with the fact that his batsmen got two hits in the middle, while his bowlers, too, got to bowl enough overs. He was especially happy with how Cornwall, who took a fivefor in the first innings, and Bonner performed.

"I am very happy. I thought the guys got a good blow," Brathwaite said. "The batters got two chances to bat. Some guys got good scores. Fast bowlers and spinners got to bowl in the second innings where we could get 29 overs in. So, I am quite happy. We got

10 wickets in the first innings, which was good. I think the guys are ready to go.

"I was very impressed [with Cornwall]. He bowled well, created a lot of pressure with dot balls. I know Rahkeem's ability. I knew he was always a quality off-spinner. It is good to see him in these conditions. I know he will do well in this Test.

"It was very good to see Bonner get to a nice score. I thought John batted well in both innings. I don't want to single out guys. Everyone is working really hard. I am happy with all the batters. They are confident, so we have to enjoy it out there."

Bangladesh squad: Mominul Haque (Captain); Tamim Iqbal; Shakib Al Hasan; Najmul Hossain; Mushfiqur Rahim; Mohammed Mithun; Liton Das; Yasir Ali; Saif Hassan; Mustafizur Rahman; Mehidy Hasan Miraz; Taijul Islam; Shadman Islam; Nayeem Hasan; Taskin Ahmed; Abu Zayed; Ebadat Hossain and Hasan Mahmud.

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain); Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain); Nkrumah Bonner; John Campbell; Rahkeem Cornwall; Joshua Da Silva; Shannon Gabriel; Kavem Hodge; Alzarri Joseph; Kyle Mayers; Shayne Moseley; Veerasammy Permaul; Kemar Roach; Raymon Reifer and Jomel Warrican.

15-man squad, if they can click collectively, and the bowlers continue their usual reliable performances, that title dream may become a reality for the Jaguars next month in Antigua.

The Jaguars will open their Super50 campaign on Monday, February 8 against Barbados Pride from 13:30h.

Guyana Jaguars 2021

23

squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain); Shimron Hetmyer (Vice Captain); Assad Fudadin; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Kemol Savory; Christopher Barnwell; Keon Joseph; Romario Shepherd; Kevin Sinclair; Ramaal Lewis; Nial Smith; Gudakesh Motie; Anthony Bramble; Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.

Pooran slams brutal 89 in T10

P

rolific West Indies T20 Vice Captain Nicholas Pooran set the Abu Dhabi T10 alive on Sunday, smashing a brutal 89 off 26 balls to power his team Northern Warriors to a 30run win over Bangla Tigers in Match 11 in Abu Dhabi.

Batting first, the Caribbean-filled Northern Warriors made 162-4, the second highest total in the T10 League, with Pooran hammering 12 sixes and three fours. The left-hander cracked 32 runs (four sixes and two fours) in the eighth over, bowled by England’s left-arm fast bowler George

Garton.

Pooran and his fellow Trinidadian teammate Lendl Simmons, who opened the batting, added 132 in 53 balls for the second wicket to form the base for the Warriors’ total. Simmons made 41 off 22 (3x4s, 3x6s), while Rovman Powell struck a six and a four in 13* off four.

Karim Jamat took 2-18 for Tigers, who responded with 132-3 with Andre Fletcher scoring 53 off 28 (4x4s, 4x6s) and Chirag Suri 42* off 16 (5x6s). Bowling for Warriors, Fabian Allen, Wahab Riaz, and Junaid Siddique took a wicket each.

SCOREBOARD NORTHER WARRIORS INNINGS Lendl Simmons c Afif Hossain b Karim Janat 41 Waseem Muhammad c Hose b 12 Mujeeb Ur Rahman Nicholas Pooran (c)† c Fletcher b Karim Janat 89 Rovman Powell not out 13 Fabian Allen c Garton b Qais Ahmad 4 Extras (w 3) 3

BANGLA TIGERS INNINGS (TARGET: 163 RUNS FROM 10 OVERS) Johnson Charles b Wahab Riaz 0 Andre Fletcher (c) lbw b Junaid Siddique 53 Afif Hossain c Powell b Allen 10 Chirag Suri not out 42 Tom Moores † not out 16 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 7) 11

TOTAL (10 Ov, RR: 16.20) 162/4 Did not bat: Rayad Emrit, Wayne Parnell, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Wahab Riaz, Brandon King, Junaid Siddique

TOTAL (10 Ov, RR: 13.20) 132/3 Did not bat: Adam Hose, Karim Janat, George Garton, Qais Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Irfan Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Johnson Charles, 0.3 ov), 2-46 (Afif Hossain, 4.2 ov), 3-114 (Andre Fletcher, 9.1 ov)

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Waseem Muhammad, 1.5 ov), 2-144 (Lendl Simmons, 8.4 ov), 3-144 (Nicholas Pooran, 8.5 ov), 4-162 (Fabian Allen, 9.6 ov) BOWLING Mohammad Irfan Mujeeb Ur Rahman George Garton Qais Ahmad Karim Janat

2-0-36-0 2-0-22-1 2-0-48-0 2-0-38-1 2-0-18-2

BOWLING Wahab Riaz Junaid Siddique Rayad Emrit Fabian Allen Wayne Parnell

2-0-9-1 2-0-33-1 2-0-33-0 2-0-39-1 2-0-16-0

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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

Pg 23

Reifer shines with bat and ball as Windies warm-up match ends in draw Pg 22

Pg 22

Pooran slams brutal 89 in T10 Page 23

BCB secures sponsorship for 3 inter-zone U-19 knockout tournaments

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