Guyana Times - Monday, March 29, 2021

GRA boosting capacity to handle P14 Guyana’s oil economy Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4602

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Guyana’s human capital its greatest resource — ExxonMobil Country Manager …cites importance of growing local content capacity

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Soldiers P17 hospitalised after fight at BBQ 5 homeless P2 after East Canje fire

Page 3

M&CC must implement stricter monitoring of D&I structures — Govt ...as malfunctioning koker door leads to flooding of GT communities

Aquaculture could be a money-spinner – India’s P7 diplomat

Pages 10 & 16

…250 households affected – CDC

…says Guyana, India to increase collaboration in agriculture

These children were seen in their Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara yard enjoying the spirit of Phagwah on Sunday as all of Guyana joined with the Hindu community in celebrating the Festival of Colours (Abel Harris photo)

Row during drinking Pedestrian struck, killed spree ends in by off-duty cop murder at Tuschen Page 2

Page 2

14-year-old injured in accident with Opposition Leader's vehicle See story on page 7

COVID-19 death toll climbs as 2 more fatalities recorded P11 …96 new cases in 24 hours

Legal Aid Clinic assisted over 1800 persons with civil, P9 criminal matters …says divorce matters most prominent

Fishermen P8 arrested after leading cops to gun, ammo in "salt bag"

2 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

5 homeless after East Canje fire F ive persons are now homeless after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed a two-storey house at Betsy Ground, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Reports are that a fisherman who lives opposite the property that was destroyed called the Guyana Fire Service at about 21:45h and reported that he was sitting on his verandah and noticed sparks coming from a utility pole situated in front of the Betsy Ground home.

One of the occupants of the house, Zamile Khan, who lived in the house with her two children and two

The burnt-out building at Betsy Ground, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

other children, told this publication that she was not at home at the time of the fire.

According to her, since she does not have a television,

she would take her two children, aged 14 and 12 along with her eight-year-old grandson and 13-year-old nephew - all of whom live

south along the eastern side of the road when Williams, who was walking north on the western side, allegedly ran from west to east across the road, into his path.

The driver claimed that he then applied brakes and pulled in a south-western direction to avoid a collision, however, due to the short distance, the front left side of the vehicle collided with the pedestrian, who fell onto the bonnet, windscreen, and then onto the roadway.

Williams received injuries to his head and about

the body.

He was subsequently picked up by Police and public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the cop and no alcohol was detected. He has, however, been placed under close arrest as the investigation continues. (G15)

Pedestrian struck, killed by off-duty cop

A

23-year-old man was struck and killed by a motor car driven by an off-duty cop on the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is Charles Williams of Timehri Public Road, EBD. Reports are that the accident occurred at about 20:20h on Saturday in the vicinity of Bounty Farm Limited.

According to reports, the 27-year-old off-duty cop was driving motor car PMM 4120 and was proceeding

with her - to her uncle’s residence, situated in the next street behind her home, to watch TV. “I told the children that is time to go home and we started walking through the yard and then I see this bright light I thought it was ‘Holi’ they burning for Phagwah,” she related while noting that it did not take much longer for her to realise that it was her house on fire.

“Fire was from all four sides – all over. The whole house was in fire, I did not get to save anything.”

Khan said she immediately raised an alarm and neighbours started to rush out.

Efforts by the Guyana Fire Service to extinguish the blaze proved futile.

Residents reported that the Fire Service did not take long to respond. However,

Zamile Khan standing at her roadside stand

when they got to the scene fire had already consumed the entire building.

Khan, who operates a small business along the roadside, explained that she also does domestic work in the community to make ends meet.

“All the children school things burn up,” she said.

The building is owned by the very uncle Khan was visiting at the time of the fire.

Damages are estimated at $3.2 million. The GFS has since launched an investigation. (G4)

Row during drinking spree ends in murder at Tuschen

T

hirty-four-year-old Floyd Mc Garrell, a driver of Tuschen, Wrong Turn Squatting Area, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was killed on Sunday while he was drinking with a group of friends.

Reports are that the man was stabbed at about 04:45h at Back Street Tuschen Squatting Area, EBE. According to Police, at about 02:00h on Sunday, Mc Garrell was consuming alcohol with the suspect and two other friends opposite his home. The man left his friends and went home for a while after which he left home telling his reputed wife that he would be back soon. Mc Garrell then went and continued imbibing alcohol with his friends, the woman reported. His reputed wife, Natasha Dass,

Dead: Floyd Mc Garrell

said she heard an argument erupt between her reputed husband and his friends.

As a result, she went to where the men were drinking and met her husband and the suspect in a heated argument, she reported to Police. The woman said the fisherman allegedly dealt her husband a cuff to his face followed by a stab to his abdomen with scissors.

According to the woman, the

man who stabbed her reputed husband ran away following the incident.

Mc Garrell was assisted home, after which Dass went to a neighbour for assistance to take him to the hospital.

She said by the time she returned from the neighbour’s house, she found her husband in a motionless state.

She then raised an alarm and reported the matter to Leonora Police Station.

Several persons were questioned in the area and checks were also made for the 41-year-old suspect, who is also of Tuschen, and he was later arrested. Mc Garrell’s body was then taken to Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police are awaiting a post-mortem examination as investigations continue. (G9)

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, March 29 – 04:30h – 06:00h and Tuesday, March 30 – 04:30h – 06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, March 29 – 16:40h – 18:10h and Tuesday, March 30 – 05:20h – 06:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect light rain showers and sunny intervals during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 17:22h reaching a maximum height of 2.93 metres.

Guyana’s human capital its greatest resource – ExxonMobil Country Manager …cites importance of growing local content capacity

G

uyana was on Saturday reminded that its greatest resource is its human capital, by Country Manager of ExxonMobil, Alastair Routledge.

Routledge was at the time giving the keynote address virtually at the University of Guyana’s 54th convocation ceremony. He reminded the graduates that their country needs them and that notwithstanding Guyana’s abundant resources, they remain the most valuable.

will continue to grow. More importantly, Guyana will need talented people to implement these projects and make this transformation happen,” Routledge told the graduating batch.

“Your country needs you. You are the most valuable resource in the country. Sustainable transformation also means making steady progress in growing local capacity in a wider range of sectors. The oil and gas sector is capital, not labour intensive. And oil is finite,” Routledge ex-

Low Tide: 10:55h and 23:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.26 metre and 0.33 metre.

University of Guyana

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“A sustainable transformation here will require investment and the oil and gas industry is already helping to deliver funds to the Natural Resource Fund. Projects identified in the budgets reflect that and

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Rough Rice

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plained.

According to Routledge, he has been impressed by the way his staff and the University have weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that it is usually young people,

just out of the university, who drive the most changes. And the country manager noted that his company will continue to do what it can to grow Guyana’s human capital and local capacity.

“Every day, I see evidence that Guyana is already transforming. And University of Guyana graduates are playing a key role. In our company, we have UG grads in key positions, in socio-economic department, communications, IT, construction and accounting,” he said.

“Our long-term support for the University through the ExxonMobil Foundation and the greater Guyana initiative is meant to help the University play its greater role in growing human capital and local capacity. It will take talented people and hard work to implement the University’s vision.”

The annual graduation exercise is a highlight on UG’s calendar of institutional events since it provides not only an opportunity for celebrating the efforts of students, lecturers, families, and supporters but for stirring graduation speeches from valedictorians and high-profile keynote speakers.

For this year, the University had previously announced that a total of 2500 graduands from 50 different disciplines would graduate in a series of online graduation events at the end of March 2021. The

Exxon Country Manager Alastair Routledge

University marked a number of historic events, including the first UG-trained PhD graduands from the Doctorate in Biodiversity programme.

UG had also said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of prospective graduands this year is set to break last year’s graduation record of 2133 by 367 or 17 per cent.

Owing to the need to conduct business in safe mode in prevailing COVID-19 conditions, graduands participated in a virtual march with their graduate portraits taken in advance as well as through a live online interface.

The University of Guyana has graduated upwards of 50,000 graduates in its 58-year existence.

Many of these graduates have gone on to serve at the highest levels nationally and internationally. (G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 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

Hate crimes T

he political polarisation that has dogged our country since the 1960s – which, unfortunately, plays out as racial polarisation and violence – was once again intensified by the political cynicism of the People’s National Congress (PNC) following the March 2 General Election. But amazingly, there has been no prosecution of those who perpetuated the violence even though it was clearly racially directed. While the violence was clearly criminal in that it was manifested in beatings, arson, destruction of property, it was accompanied by taunts, etc, that confirmed the racial nexus.

Similar crimes are also directed against specifically distinguished persons based on such criteria as colour, sex, gender, sexual orientation, etc. In some countries, they have been legislatively addressed by the juridical concept of “hate crimes” in an effort to deal with their effects and their elimination. Maybe we should have a discussion in Guyana as to whether persons can pursue civil suits – individually or as a class action – for hate crimes.

Back in 2017, Scotland revived their laws on hate crimes and its “Report to the Hate Crime Legislation Review” might offer a salutary background for our discussion. From the legislative perspective, it defined hate crimes as the creation of offences, or sentencing provisions, “which adhere to the principle that crimes motivated by hatred or prejudice towards particular features of the victim’s identity should be treated differently from ‘ordinary’ crimes”.

Hate crimes legislation can be divided into two categories.

First, sentence aggravation provisions, which do not create distinct criminal offences, but allow for offences aggravated by prejudice to be recorded as such and require the aggravation to be taken into account in sentencing. Secondly, substantive offences, which primarily consist of offences relating to the stirring up of racial hatred, but also include offences of racially aggravated harassment and threatening communications intended to stir up hatred on religious grounds.

The possible justifications can be divided into three broad categories: harm-based justifications; culpabilitybased justifications; and denunciation-based justifications.

Assessing the available evidence, it concludes that the argument that hate crimes are – compared to parallel nonhate crimes – more likely to cause harm both to the direct victim and to members of the group to which the victim belongs or was perceived to belong is particularly compelling.

The argument that it is important to send a message to victims of hate crime that bias and inequality of treatment is roundly condemned by the State is also persuasive. Collectively, the harm argument and the denunciatory argument (and perhaps to a lesser extent the culpability argument) provide compelling justification for punishing hate crimes more severely.

The characteristics generally protected (in one form or another) under hate crime law are race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity. There are two specific legislative models to deal with hate crimes. The first is the discriminatory selection model (where a hate crime is committed where the victim has been selected because of their membership of a protected group). The second is the animus model (where the offender is motivated by, or demonstrates, prejudice against a protected group). It notes a clear preference for the animus model in legislative practice and strong arguments of principle in support. In relation to punishment, there are three broad models: (i) the penalty enhancement model, (ii) the sentence aggravation model, and (iii) the substantive offence model, noting that jurisdictions may choose to combine these models rather than choosing one alone. It concludes by outlining the thresholds specified for a crime to count as a hate crime in a range of jurisdictions, and examines various questions about the precise formulation of these thresholds.

“Hate speech” was also considered. This has been defined as speech that “expresses, encourages, stirs up, or incites hatred against a group of individuals distinguished by a particular feature or set of features such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, and sexual orientation”. Hate is primarily relevant not as the motive for the crime, but as a possible effect of the perpetrator’s conduct.

As Christians begin Holy Week 2021, the observances started with Palm Sunday – the feast which commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before he was crucified. In this composite photo, parishioners of St Sidwell’s Anglican Church wave palms in celebration of Palm Sunday; and palms are blessed by Reverend John Rodriguez (St Gabriel’s, No 28 Village, West Coast Berbice); Reverend Eric Bissant (St Anne’s, Agricola) and Reverend Monsell Alves (St Sidwell’s, Vlissengen Road, Lodge, Georgetown)

GECOM must get rid of all rogues and lone rangers!

Dear Editor, This month, the anniversary of the infamous public rigging attempts by staff at the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) awakens the freshly inflicted wounds on our nation.

No doubt, the Guyanese people are certainly looking forward to President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to constitutional and electoral reforms. The public outcry has been immense, spewing from every nook and cranny, with demanding drivers of necessity emerging from even those who regrettably were conned into supporting the thievish APNU/PNC crookery.

The obvious infiltration of the GECOM Secretariat was demonstrated through the shameless dirty work of many of its leading officials, a circumstance which stands tall in justifying a most urgent forensic review and ultimate cleansing of the Secretariat. While the casual factors of this critical undertaking must not be delayed, these reforms understandably will have to be dealt with through adequate consultations. The organisation must move to prove its worthiness of service that would engender improved national confidence.

It is disappointing that those at the helm of GECOM still seem to be pussy-footing around, waiting on the courts to interpret and determine what is credible, or rather acceptable performance by staff members under their monitoring control. The courts have already ruled definitively regarding the Commission’s role and authority to supervise matters related to the selection of staff and the work of the Secretariat. Given the level of public defiance displayed by members of the Secretariat to the Commission itself, the level of hesitancy towards necessary actions at the administrative level now befuddles the mind.

GECOM can no longer be a nesting ground for lone-rangers and rogue personnel. Failure to act concerning this apparent ‘rule of thumb’ disciplinary position is indeed an aberration of the organisation’s constitutional mandate. The level of gross indecency is tantamount to the PNC/APNU’s claim in the No-Confidence Motion that 33 is not greater than 32, and it is abusive to our national investments in education. Such insulting unconcerned posture must therefore be immediately dispelled, and GECOM must ensure actions are taken to realign the functionality of the organisation with our constitutional ideals for acceptability.

It would be another disaster of catastrophic proportions if the current GECOM leadership falls short of being appropriately objective. A measure of hope was decerned when Chairman Justice (retired) Madam Claudette Singh made some tough but necessary and instructive decisions during the enforced 5-month hiatus (March to August 2020).

Although the foregoing followed court matters, they led to the eventual correction and release of the election results following the publicly held Recount after a most threatening period of disaster-filled possibilities.

Notwithstanding, the number of occasions the lone-ranger Chief Elections Officer had to be instructed to correct deliberately presented incorrect results demonstrate his patent incompetence and outright partisan corroboration with the thieving APNU/AFC Cabal.

The sloth in assertiveness concerning the Commission’s functionality and directions raises numerous further questions and highlights the vice grip of pervading uncertainty. I share the humble but solid rationale that had this been a court matter held before the retired Chief Justice, who now

chairs the Commission, CEO Lowenfield and many of his acolytes would have long been dispatched to a stinking jail cell. It is simply not business as usual and the worms of rotting contamination in GECOM have to be exterminated now.

Editor, local and international observer missions to the March 2020 Elections have submitted reports containing myriad positive recommendations to the Chairwoman of GECOM, yet the nation has not witnessed any significant remedial action. It seems not to matter concerning the way the organisation is seen at home and through the lenses of the global democratic community.

The damage done by the thieving attempts and delays is immeasurable, and Guyana cannot be placed on hold to extend this impacting cancer for further years under the Lowenfield vice-grip.

Consequently, it is imperative that GECOM immediately get down to the business of preparation for this year’s Local Government Elections (LGEs), and this demands the necessary cleansing of all lone rangers and rogue elements.

GECOM MUST put on its agenda LGE scheduled for this year. Standard operational procedures have to be activated to put in place appropriately competent staff and operationalise the necessary new period of Continuous Registration, followed by a period of Claims and Objections.

This will cleanse and update the Voters’ List and realise an acceptable position from which the Commission can proceed.

GECOM must get down to the serious task of employing staff that would win the trust and confidence of the nation.

The training of staff must be objective, and never again be allowed to be infiltrated by the PNC cabal, who have in the past largely employed their tugs and fraudsters. Therefore, stakeholders’ concerns with

the attitude and performance of the Election Day staff must also be addressed and remedied. For the LGEs, the constituency boundaries must be properly demarcated, with appropriate consultation and timely notification.

The Presiding Officers must be women and men with integrity. Polling clerks and ballot clerks, along with the others who will be at the polling stations, must be trained to work closely with all respective parties’ polling agents for transparency and clarification purposes. The theme for smooth polling day transactions, therefore, must have the cumulative effect of reconciliation with the Presiding Officers following all the established procedures to do the necessary counting of the ballots to realise the accurate preparation of the statements of poll.

With the statements of poll, the respective contesting parties will know the true results from which the calculation of the number of seats won in the various constituencies would be determined. The system of employment must produce the best and most highly trusted persons to work at GECOM, while the organisation must ensure the operationalisation of a strong and heavy penal system to deter the emergence of all riggers and fraudsters.

GECOM itself must lobby for the penalties of electoral offenses to carry strong jail terms and a mechanism for the collection of evidence towards the establishment of violations enforced. If this cannot be done, Guyana’s history of continuous rigging of elections will not be corrected. This nation was put to shame at the last National and Regional Elections, and this must not be allowed to continue. The Chairperson of GECOM must act decisively now, and get rid of the riggers.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

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ERC did not function when it was most needed

Dear Editor, As a Commissioner who would have publicly expressed concerns over what I believe to be ineffectiveness, a lack of consistency and timeliness by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on aspects of its functions in keeping with its mandate, it is with a sense of compulsion I offer this response to a letter from another Commissioner, Ashton Simon, captioned, “ERC functioned and never lost its way”, and which was published in the media.

Functioning, in my view, can generally be effective or ineffective and with regard to the Commission never losing its way as professed, I believe that public sentiments and my own letter of February 28, 2021, would suggest otherwise. In the past, I did mention publicly that the good work the Commission would have done through messaging for racial healing and numerous interactions with stakeholders across the country, would be overshadowed by what appeared a sense of partisanship by some that constituted a majority specifically regarding events

pre and post the March 2, 2020 elections.

The Commission’s performance or functioning, has to be viewed from a holistic standpoint. Surely, Commissioner Simon cannot be oblivious that the Commission was heavily criticised for not meaningfully responding and for its failure to take action within its remit on constitutional transgressions and electoral fraud as declared by the courts during the period following the December 2018 No-Confidence Motion (NCM) and August 2, 2020.

Those events led to a heightening of ethnic tensions and many Guyanese, who beseeched the Commission to act, were left woefully disappointed.

The Commission and Commissioner Simon cannot claim to have been unaware of what transpired during the almost eighteen-month period following the NCM since, even internally, myself and a few other Commissioners in the minority, brought those developments to attention and urged actions/interventions within its remit.

If the Commission func-

tioned seemingly impeccably as Commissioner Simon seems to be suggesting, then why a motion became necessary to have the said Commission merely recognise the role of Caricom and the recount in an effort to have the political impasse resolved? With every passing day then, that impasse exacerbated racial tension. So, if the Commission had to be forced to even acknowledge (which it hasn’t) efforts to help resolve the then situation and for tensions to be lowered, how then did it function and didn’t lose its way? Why up to now the Commission hasn’t submitted its report having observed the March 2, 2020 elections?

With the entire Commission branded as ineffective and a complete failure with regard to a lack of action on constitutional transgression during the extended election period, each Commissioner has a right to publicly clarify and to distance him/ herself if so desired in the context of integrity. If the intent is to achieve that through facts, as I did, how is that having “ulte-

rior motives” as articulated by Commissioner Simon regarding Commissioners who wrote to the press? If, by his principle, writing to the press is having “ulterior motives”, then the same can be levelled against him.

He mentioned that the current Deputy Speaker was summoned before the Commission to answer for comments made and cooperated. That’s is true, however, the Commissioner failed to state why leaders of the previous Government and others involved were not summoned, as advised by the Legal Officer, to denounce statements made during the violence at West Coast Berbice following the heinous killings of the Henry cousins. Why was a vote necessary to decide on something as simple and routine as sending a letter to a current Opposition Member of Parliament to caution him over his public utterances? If one were to conclude that’s a derivative of the seeming partisanship alluded to, then it could be a reflection of the Commission not functioning effectively and losing its way.

Over time, the fact that every Head of Department within the Commission be-

ing of one ethnicity was discussed and, while no affirmative action was officially agreed to bring some balance, it was articulated that efforts should be explored. With such a small organisation and, by extension, even smaller departments in some instances, internal advertisements for two specific vacant senior positions attracted one and two applications respectively. Subsequent recommendations from the Human Resources Sub-Committee would have resulted in persons of the same ethnicity as the other Heads being appointed, thereby continuing the imbalance.

With the sole intent of exploring mechanisms to bring ethnic balance to the senior staffing, through a motion and by a vote by a majority of one, a decision was taken to advertise vacancies for those two positions externally. Monies were expended and the deadline for submission was January 28, 2021. Applications received showed diverse and very capable candidates. To date, interviews are still to be held despite the urging of myself and a few other Commissioners for them to be conducted. With the life of the Commission coming

to an end on April 1, 2021, more than likely those interviews will not be done.

Inexcusable excuses were given for not holding the interviews, despite taxpayers’ monies spent to advertise.

Myself and other Commissioners were racially attacked on social media for voting to have the vacancies advertised externally. That information could have only come from someone present at that meeting. The Commission promised an investigation over the leakage of information.

To date, I am yet to be informed on the format and status. I can question if there was an ulterior motive.

Given what I have articulated now and prior in the public domain, it is my humble view that barring measurement of impact and in spite of the commendable work the Commission would have done in public awareness, it did not function effectively as expected especially when it was most needed and lost its way at some point. To say otherwise would be a conservation in truthfulness.

Sincerely, Neaz Subhan Commissioner

From a night school to a leading university Make concerted effort to

Dear Editor, One one duttie a build dam - the longest journey starts with the first step The University of Guyana (UG) was described as Jagan night school by Forbes Burnham when he was in the opposition in 1963, and Cheddi was Premier. Most of the first intake were working students and could have only attended classes in the evenings. Dr Jagan contacted his friend Harold Drayton who was in Ghana, to assist in the establishment of the learning institution. Drayton returned to Guyana in December 1962 and recruited a few socialist scholars from the United Kingdom and the United States to be lecturers including Lancelot Hogben, Joan Duke and Paul Baran.

The University opened on the grounds of Queens College in late 1963 with what can be considered a handful of students. The first Chancellor was Edgar Mortimer Duke. Lancelot Hogben, an English mathematician and biologist, the first Principal and ViceChancellor. Now after 58 years it boasts of 8000 students on roll and statistics show that more than 21,000 students have graduated from that learning institution. However, about 90 per cent of the graduates left after graduation for overseas countries to seek higher education and to secure lucrative jobs --- many of them

have gained their masters and doctorate degrees and are lecturing at universities or serving in senior positions in multinational corporations. Prior to the establishment of UG, students were forced to seek higher education overseas - mainly the University of the West Indies at Mona in Jamaica.

Of course, only the well to do parents can afford to send their children to Jamaica, the United Kingdom, or Canada. Now with the advent of the University in Guyana, ordinary and ambitious students took advantage because it was affordable.

A large number of UG students came from the county of Berbice and in a move to decentralise the learning institution, a campus was set up at Tain, Port Mourant, Corentyne, in the county of Berbice. Now in its 58th year in existence, UG has 136 programmes in 60 disciplines including medicine, law, engineering, agriculture, business, accountancy, education, etc...

President Irfaan Ali speaking at the graduation exercise two days ago said that a higher level of education is the key to national development and stressed with Guyana’s move to expand and develop its resources the university’s graduates can play an important role. What is important, in my view, is that the Government will have

to seek ways and means to encourage the graduates to remain in the country and to those abroad to return home. This, of course, will have a price tag - incentives, tax-free concessions. What is more important is to ensure safety and proper health facilities, and for proper education for their children.

UG was the brainchild of Dr Jagan, but Burnham when he became Prime Minister after independence played a very important role in developing the institution and in a few short years it was recognised by the international community. Forbes went a little overboard when he insisted that students are compelled to do national service in order to graduate from the institution. He also had a slogan - education from the cradle to the grave.. which means university education was free and this was not only for Guyanese but all Caricom nationals. of course, many Caribbean nationals took advantage of the free education.

What is important is that the Government must ensure that the University has competent and qualified lecturers and tutors and that it functions without political interference. The current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, the first woman to hold such office.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

establish a youth group

Dear Editor, As a person who has been actively involved in education, especially of the young people of Guyana, in my long career as a teacher, in seminars all over our country, and in my weekly columns as Uncle Roy, I am now advocating the start of a movement by which a continuous effort can be made towards the education of our youth in the various aspects of their lives, including ethical, social and spiritual.

I firmly believe that this will not only help them in their everyday lives but will lay the foundation for a just and peaceful society in the future of our nation. It would be of immense advantage when these youths will find themselves responsible for making a combined effort towards their own upliftment.

I am proposing that to fulfil this goal in the entire country, each community, through its local authority, schools and other worthy organisations, make a concerted effort to establish a youth group with its members being mainly teenagers, with this objective as its main purpose. It would be ideal for each of these groups to meet on a regular basis, and also invite knowledgeable members of their community to speak to them about their concerns. Please also explore how your newspaper

can make additional efforts towards this goal of getting our young people to behave and improve themselves, which would ultimately ben-

efit our people and country in so many ways.

Sincerely, Roy Paul

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

FOR CHILDREN

Question 1 Find the area

Æsop’s Fables

Friday’s answers

1a) Petronella scored 15 + 19 + 18 + 18 + 14 +12 +16 on her first 7 tests for a total of 112.

The mean then = 112 ÷ 7 = 16.

After she collected her 8th test score, that average decreased to 15.5.

So the total of the 8 scores = 15.5 x 8 = 124.

Therefore, the eighth test score = total of 8 test scores – total of 7 test scores = 124 – 112 = 12 1b) The modal score or mode (the number that appears most frquently) = 18

be?

Try using several different types of soda (eg: Pepsi, Coke, etc). Which soda works the best?

Try using diet soda versus regular soda. Which soda works the best? (sciencefun.org)

Materials:

12-ounce drinking glass 8 oz of 7-up or Sprite 12 candy conversation hearts

Instructions:

Fill drinking glass with the soda Drop all the conversation hearts into the soda Observe the hearts dance up and down in the soda

How it works:

The carbon dioxide picks the candy hearts up and throws them to the top of the glass. When they reach the top, the bubbles burst and the candy works its way down again.

Extra Experiments:

Try doing several glasses, but in each glass have only one colour of conversation hearts inside. Does one colour of conversation heart do better than others? If so, why could that

A

shipwrecked man, having been cast upon a certain shore, slept after his buffetings with the deep.

After a while he awoke, and looking upon the sea, loaded it with reproaches.

He argued that it enticed men with the calmness of its looks, but when it had induced them to plough its waters, it grew rough and destroyed them.

The sea, assuming the form of a woman, replied to him: "Blame not me, my good sir, but the winds, for I am by my own nature as calm and firm even as this earth; but the winds suddenly falling on me create these waves, and lash me into fury."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Aquaculture could be a money-spinner – India’s diplomat

…says Guyana, India to increase collaboration in agriculture

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uyana and India, two countries which share a common bond in agriculture, are in the process of increasing their collaboration as Guyana seeks to benefit from the expertise India has to offer and even potential investments.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, disclosed that the Government of Guyana reached out to India for technical assistance not just in sugar, but in other

sectors such as aquaculture.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has reached out to us, to work on rice, sugar and aquaculture. So, on the rice front, yes, we are working on that. Aquaculture is a big thing. The Government has reached out to us, to see if we can send a few experts from India. Because Guyana has tremendous potential, with its water canals and waterways. In fact, I went to Essequibo and Berbice,” Dr Srinivasa said, adding that there are tremendous oppor-

File photo: Fishing being done at a local aquaculture farm

tunities in this area. “…and the Government of Guyana has correctly recognised that aquaculture

14-year-old injured in accident with Opposition Leader’s vehicle

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vehicle belonging to Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon was involved in a four-car collision at Mon Repos Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) leaving a teenager injured.

side of the southern carriageway and the minibus had stopped on the south-

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon’s vehicle that collided with three others at Mon Repos, ECD

ern side of the southern carriageway awaiting the changing of the traffic light.

Police added The rear end of one of the vehicles involved in the accident that the motor van was facing Police said that the acci- North, coming out of Mon dent occurred about 20:15h. Repos Access Road and was According to Police, motor also awaiting the changing lorry GZZ 4852, minibus of the light, which the moBJJ 5402, motor van GNN tor vehicle, PTT 8491, which 6734 and motor vehicle PTT was proceeding west on Mon 8491 were all involved in the Repos Public Road ran into accident. the three other vehicles.

According to Police, the Motor vehicle PTT 8491 motor lorry was parked fac- belongs to Harmon. ing west on the northern As a result of the colli-

sion, a 14-year-old male passenger of Linden received injuries about his body.

The minor was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty, treated and sent away. Guyana Times has since confirmed that Harmon was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Meanwhile, a breath alcohol test was conducted on all four of the drivers. It was found that the driver of the Opposition Leader’s vehicle test gave a reading of 400 per cent while the other drivers’ readings were zero per cent alcohol.

could be a money-spinner for the local people. It can be a source of exports and provide employment for local Guyanese,” the diplomat explained.

According to him, the Indian Government is also working with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to collaborate in not just the main agricultural sectors but also on the coconut front.

“A project we’re doing is with NAREI. We are working very closely with them to see if we can collaborate in sugar, rice. Those are separate boards, but with NAREI we want to do work on the coconut development front and other crops. With the amount of land Guyana has, I think there was some talk of contract farming.”

Lauding the abundant resources that Guyana possesses and the current Government’s drive to build capacity in the agriculture sector, Srinivasa explained that his diplomatic office has

also been seeking to facilitate Indian investors with an interest in Guyana. This has involved the Indian High Commission working alongside agencies like the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest).

“We’ve been working very closely with Indian companies to invest in Guyana.

And we’ve talked to GOInvest and been in touch with Indian companies. In fact, one big Indian company that wants to come to Guyana is UPL. United Phosphorous Limited. I think it is a $9 to 10 billion company, with production facilities across the world. They even have one in Costa Rica. They do pesticides, fungicides, fertilisers.

And they want to explore Guyana. We’re trying to facilitate that.”

“Apart from that is Mahendra Motors. It’s a name for quality in India.

And we are working to see if these people get a good dealer. And once that comes, the farmers can make good use of it. It’s good quality and at the same time, durable. That’s what matters for the farmer,” the diplomat explained to this publication.

Under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the agriculture sector took severe blows when they closed four of Guyana’s seven sugar estates – Wales, Enmore,

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa

Rose Hall and Skeldon – in an effort to downsize the ailing sugar industry. This resulted in thousands of sugar workers being placed on the breadline.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had promised on the campaign trail to reopen these estates and within weeks of being in office, had taken steps in this direction. In fact, last September, the Irfaan Aliled Administration had invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for “A joint venture, partnerships, or a leasing arrangement on the now reopened vested sugar estates at Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon and also on the operational sugar estates at Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion…”

It was reported last November that along with one local entity, some nine international companies had submitted EoIs from Asia, North America, South America and the Caribbean.

At least three of those foreign companies were Indian. (G3)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fishermen arrested after leading cops to gun, ammo in “salt bag”

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wo fishermen are presently in custody following the discovery of a 16-gauge shotgun along with ammunition, which was found within a “salt bag”. The duo was arrested after they led ranks to the bag with the illegal gun and ammo.

Police on Sunday said that acting upon information, ranks

The gun and ammunition that were found in the bag

Wife finds husband dead in drain

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61-year-old man is now dead after his lifeless body was discovered by his wife in a drain at Liverpool Village, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dead is Ralph Corlette.

Reports are that the man was last seen alive on Saturday morning at about 06:00h by his sister.

However, at about 06:30h, he was found in the drain in front of the home by his wife.

The dead man’s sister, Mercia Hall, revealed that whilst her sister-in-law was sweeping in front of her yard on Saturday morning, she saw her husband’s motionless body inside of a drain.

An alarm was raised and the Police were summoned to the scene.

Police on Sunday said that when they arrived at the scene, the body was clad in a burgundy T-shirt and black trousers.

It was examined and no marks of violence seen.

Corlette’s body was later escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was then escorted to Ramoo’s Funeral Parlour where his body is awaiting a post-mortem examination. Investigations are in progress.

About a month ago, 60-year-old Janki Goberdhan

of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, was also found dead in a drain at Corentyne, Berbice.

According to Police reports, Goberdhan, who suffers from an illness that requires her to be in the company of someone, left her residence unknowing to any of her relatives for an unknown location.

She was later seen lying in a drain and was then escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body, which bore no marks of violence, was then taken to Ramoo’s Funeral Home where a post-mortem examination was conducted.

(G9)

carried out a search on two men at Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

According to Police, during an operation in the area, ranks entered Number 63 Village where they saw the two suspects - a 22-year-old of Number 63 Village and a 26-year-old of Number 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, standing next to a tree.

A search was conducted on their persons but nothing was found.

Ranks were then led by the fishermen to an unoccupied wooden and concrete structure in a fenced yard at Number 63 Village, where they conducted a further search.

During the search, ranks unearthed one white “salt bag” from a seven feet reservoir in the yard. Upon examining the bag, a brown wooden-handled single-barrel 16-gauge shotgun along with a black plastic bag was found. Upon checking the black bag, two 16-gauge cartridges were found. The two fishermen were then escorted along with the firearm and ammunition to the Springlands Police Station. (G15)

Post Phagwa...

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...postings o... there’s absolutely no significance that the acronym of this section of your Eyewitness’ rumination is “PPP”! But since he doesn’t believe in coincidences it must be some deep, unconscious prompt to say something about the PPP during these Phagwa celebrations. Well, it doesn’t take much to figure out that the actions by the PPP since their NCM on December 21, 2018 was a modern take on the old story of Prahalad and his dastardly dad, Hiranyakashipu. (Henceforth, HKS. Too tedious to spell out!)

Let us count the parallels. Granger had become leader of the PNC solely on the sanctimonious reputation he garnered by dropping on his knees at the drop of a hat and praying ostentatiously! Corbin figured the PNC needed a makeover. So did HKS, who’d prayed so hard, he got a boon from on high that he thought would let him rule forever!! Granger had slithered into office because he cut a deal with the slimy RumJhaat and Mo. But he obviously figured he’d gotten HKS-type boon from Corbin to rule forever and quickly dumped all over RumJhaat and Mo. He soon declared he was greater than the Constitution that authoritatively allocated power in Guyana – just like HKS dissing his God who’d blessed him. And it was this hubris that brought both him and Granger down. Because he’d parachuted his own hand-selected minions into State positions, Granger thought he couldn’t be removed from office. Not by the NCM – which ordered him to step down immediately or not by the votes of the people, the majority of whom decided they wanted him gone.

But just as the youthful Prahalad stood up and spoke truth to power and invoked the higher powers who got rid of HKS, so did the PPP – under the leadership of young Irfaan Ali. He refused to be bullied by Granger, who’d try to burn him in the Courts with 19 trumped-up charges. He refused to blink when Granger’s minion Mingo cocked up the SoPs. Just as Prahalad had faith in justice prevailing and it did, so did Ali, who was backed by the entire world in his assertion that Granger was a cheat and a blunder. Fittingly, his Caricom peers awarded Granger the oxymoronic moniker “Sanctimonious Gangster”!

In HKS’s case, he was gone for good (or bad?) and it does appear that Granger will now suffer the same fate.

After all, his shenanigans and hooliganism – especially his provocation of racial violence on WCB – strains credulity that he can ever be voted into office. And if he tries to get in by extra-parliamentary means – as he and his followers are threatening?

The world will surely slap him silly! ...bloodbath Myanmar used to be Burma. Ruled as a colony of Britain as an appendix of its Jewel of the Crown, India, and got its independence a year later from the former in 1948.

But it quickly fell into military rule which lasted from 1962 all the way to 2011. A tad longer than Burnham’s PNC, eh? Burma’s claim to fame was U Thant – UN Secretary General between 1961 and 1971 – the years Burnham established his dictatorship.

Anyhow, the military didn’t just hand over power –- none of these dictators ever do. It took a “Saffron Revolution” from 2007 –- so dubbed because civil society was led by saffron-clad Buddhists Monks. And democracy was reluctantly returned. But on February 1, the Army removed the Government just voted back in. They’ve cracked down on protests violently, culminating with over 100 persons killed two days ago.

There, for the grace of the international community, goes us! The military mustn’t be allowed a taste of power...or they’ll never let go!

The Government must condemn this army coup! ...PhDs UG just awarded its first PhDs – two of them – after being in existence since 1963 – 57 years! Your Eyewitness isn’t going to speculate as to the credentials of UG to offer this credential.

Save to say it’s about time!

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Legal Aid Clinic assisted over 1800 persons with civil, criminal matters …says divorce matters most prominent

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total of 1860 persons were assisted with various civil and criminal matters last year by the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic (GLAC). The majority of them, 796, were those seeking to terminate their marriages. This was revealed in statistics published by the GLAC for January to December 2020.

Most of the persons who visited these offices requested help with civil matters.

They were either given advice and legal representation or advice alone. At the GLAC’s office in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supennam), 310 persons were interviewed 159 males and 151 females.

Of the number of persons interviewed, 272 received advice and representation, while the remaining 38 received advice only.

For this region, 35 persons were interviewed for divorce matters and all of them received advice and representation. Another 56 persons were interviewed concerning estate matters; 55 of them received advice and representation. As it relates to cases concerning deed polls and affidavits, 39 persons were interviewed and every one of them received advice and representation.

For property dispute matters, of the 30 persons interviewed, only 16 re-

ceived advice and representation. The other matters for which persons were interviewed include custody and access, maintenance, personal injury/death claims, domestic violence, landlord and tenant, late registration of birth/deaths, adoption, power of attorney, property dispute, and employment.

A total of 41 persons were interviewed for criminal matters at the office in Region Two. Thirty-six of them received advice and representation. The others were only advised. These criminal matters included: murder/ manslaughter, robbery, theft, narcotics, assault, threatening language, rape/carnal knowledge, disorderly behaviour, and firearm.

Over at the GLAC’s office in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), a whopping 1373 persons, including 993 females and 380 males were interviewed. A total of 650 of them were interviewed for divorce matters for which 487 received advice and representation. The remaining 163 were given advice only.

Another 141 persons were interviewed for miscellaneous matters, 100 for custody and access, 89 for property dispute, 56 for division of property, 53 for injunctions, 51 for mainte-

nance, 41 for domestic violence, 32 for landlord and tenant, and 30 for employment.

Persons in Region Four were also given help with civil matters relating to adoption, custody and access, domestic violence, damage to property, power of attorney among others. A total of 41 persons were interviewed for criminal matters; 36 of them received advice and representation. The remainder were only given advice. The criminal matters for which these persons sought assistance were the same as those in Region Two. Meanwhile, at the Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) office, 26 males and 11 females were interviewed. Most of them, 34, were interviewed in relation to divorce matters, but only seven of them received advice and representation in court. The others were given advice. One person each visited the office concerning matters for custody and access, property disputes, and damage to property.

At the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) office, 160 persons including 85 females and 55 males were interviewed. Seventy-seven of them were interviewed for divorce matters; 32 were given advice and representation and the remaining

were given advice only.

Other civil matters which engaged the attention of this office are custody and access for which 10 persons were interviewed, property dispute for which seven persons were interviewed, and prescriptive title which saw five individuals being interviewed.

Persons were also interviewed concerning the following matters: adoption, contract, damage to property, division of property, estate, landlord, and tenant, among others. Sixteen persons were interviewed at the Region Six office for criminal matters. Nine of them were interviewed for murder/manslaughter.

Only three, however, were given advice and represen-

tation.

In cases where persons did not qualify for legal aid, they were referred to the private bar.

GLAC has been providing legal aid to persons who cannot afford to employ the services of a member of the

private bar. Since opening in March 1994, 27 years ago, it has assisted 46,663 people, the majority being women, to vindicate and protect their rights.

GLAC has four offices: King and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Anna Regina, Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); and Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

With a team of nine lawyers, GLAC is largely funded by the Government, donor agencies, and socially-conscious entities and individuals.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Malfunctioning koker door leads to flooding in Charlestown, Werk-en-Rust …250 households affected – CDC

A worker at a business establishment cleaning after floodwaters receded on Sunday morning

F

looding due to a malfunctioned door at the Princes Street, Georgetown koker affected 250 households on Sunday at Charlestown, Georgetown, said the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The floodwaters have since receded.

Following the flooding, the CDC deployed a team

to assess the damage to homes and businesses in the communities.

According to the CDC, while homes in Hadfield, Bent, and Princes Streets were not affected, over 250 households in the Charlestown and Werken-Rust communities were impacted.

In the Charlestown area, the

roads were inundated with about eight inches of water while as much as 12 inches of water were on the Werk-en-Rust roadway.

On Sunday, City Engineer Colvern Venture reported that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had successfully managed to close the koker door and that the Princes Street pump was used to drain the water from the land.

“At 4:40 am when the door closed, we were continuously pumping water until about 6:30 am, at which time we saw a significant reduction in the level of the water," Venture informed.

The CDC has assured that it will continue to support the M&CC in providing relief to the affected households in the Charlestown and Werk-en-Rust communities.

Flood warning Meanwhile, the Public Works Ministry is advising the public to take all

necessary precautions during the spring tide period which commenced last Friday, March 26, 2021, and is expected to end on April 1, 2021. The Ministry warned that the predicted tide indicates above-normal levels.

The Sea and River Defence Department considers the following areas to be particularly susceptible to possible flooding as a result of storm surges

which may induce overtopping of sea/river defence structures.

The areas are San Souci to Sarah and Maria’s Pleasure to Meerzorg, Good Success, Zeelandia and Moorfarm, Wakenaam Island on the Pomeron River banks.

Amsterdam/Retrieve, Endeavour/Blenheim, Cane Garden on Leguan Island; Windsor Forest to De Willem, West Coast Demerara; Zeelugt, Parika

Market Area, Salem to Sparta, East Bank Essequibo; Water Street, Georgetown; Helena # 1 & 2 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara; Belvedere to Cottage, Mahaicony; Wellington Park/Tarlogie, Lonsdale/Glasgow, East Bank Berbice, and Sheet Anchor, Canje River.

The highest tides are expected to be on Monday, March 29, 2021, at 4:30 am and 4:42 pm at a height of 3.27 metres, and on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 5:07 pm at a height of 3.28 metres. In addition to the above-named locations, all persons residing along the banks of rivers and low-lying coastal areas are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flooding.

Mariners are also being advised to take precautions, including those operating fishing vessels and larger vessels. The use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreational purposes during this period is not advised.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 death toll climbs as 2 more fatalities recorded …96 new cases in 24 hours

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he coronavirus death toll continues to rise as the Health Ministry reported that two more persons who tested positive for the disease passed away while receiving treatment at a medical facility. The latest fatalities are a 30-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man, both from

Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). The total number of deaths now stands at 227.

The Health Ministry has since expressed sincerest condolences to the families of the two deceased and assured that it will make every effort to provide support during this difficult time.

In addition, 96 new COVID-19 cases were recorded from 954 tests.

The Ministry’s updated

COVID-19 dashboard stated that these cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 13 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Another 54 persons are in institutional isolation, 995 are in home isolation, and 12 persons are in institutional quarantine. Of the 96 new cases, one was recorded in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 30 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 48 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 11 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and three each in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Of the overall confirmed cases in Guyana, which now stands at 10,168 - 5203 are males and 4965 females 8879 persons have recovered. To date, 88,135 persons have been tested for the life-threatening disease in Guyana.

As of Sunday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 126,359,540 confirmed cases globally along with 2,769,473 deaths.

The 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 55,243,776, while the death toll stands at 1,331,419.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19

Emergency Measures which are in effect until March 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask

when leaving home, maintaining six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of

COVID-19.

Anyone displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19, or who needs any additional information

is being asked to contact the COVID-19 hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Scenes from P

President Dr Irfaan Ali, First Lady Arya Ali and their son Zayd Ali celebrating Holi

Essequibians celebrating Holi

Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir members during Satsang on Sunday

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh celebrating Holi in Berbice

Essequibo Coast women enjoy the Festival of Colours

Staff from the Health Ministry celebrating Holi

1 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Phagwah 2021

Education Minister Priya Manickchand places powder on a child's face in celebration

ECD residents celebrating Holi

Essequibo residents adorn each other with powder

Public Affairs Minister Kwame McCoy holds hand with members of the Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir during Phagwah celebrations

Members from Swarswattie dance academy about to play Phagwah

Health Ministry staff celebrating Holi

14 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA boosting capacity to handle Guyana’s oil economy

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is strengthening its ability to meet the tax demands of the emerging oil and gas sector.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said the Government is working on upgrading the GRA’s system, since oil and gas “is a completely new sector to the Guyanese landscape”.

In a recent interview with DPI, he said new skills are needed in the tax au-

thority to administer and discharge the responsibilities relating to oil and gas.

“So, there is an oil and gas department that was recently established and we are currently working on building the capabilities in that department, including things like audit capabilities et cetera, to be able to perform the important responsibilities that the GRA has with respect to the oil and gas sector. But even more broadly, to strength-

en capabilities in taxpayer audit, and tax enforcement.

That work is very much ongoing,” Singh is quoted as saying.

GRA is implementing a new information technology system, the Revenue Management System (RMS), which will modernise its operations.

“We are currently in the process of introducing greater online capability so that people can interface with the GRA in an online envi-

Trial continues for man accused of bigamy

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lmost one year after he was charged with bigamy, the trial of 36-year-old Michael Taylor is continuing before City Magistrate Rondel Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Taylor, a father of two, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD), had pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him on May 22, 2020.

Pursuant to Section 83 (1) of Criminal Law (Offences) Act, “Everyone, who being married, marries any other person during the life of the former husband or wife, whether the marriage takes place in Guyana or elsewhere, shall be guilty of a felony and liable to a term of imprisonment for seven years.”

Michael Taylor

It was reported that his first wife informed the Police of the development after discovering that her husband had gotten married to another woman in February without legally filing for a divorce. Taylor and his

wife tied the knot in August 2015.

After experiencing troubles, the couple separated in November 2019 with Taylor leaving the matrimonial home to go and live with another woman.

Neither of them had filed for a divorce. Nevertheless, after receiving news that her husband had married the other woman, the wife visited the Registrar’s Office at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) where she confirmed the information.

The Police were called in and Taylor was arrested and charged with the offence.

Already, the wife and several ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have testified in the trial. (G1)

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

ronment. There are some things that you should not have to go to the GRA to do.

To pick up a tax declaration form or assessment form or to complete and submit your form. There are a number of services that should be capable of being performed on-

line,” Singh added.

He said the task of building and equipping institutions to manage Guyana’s economy is ongoing. However, the GRA has made a lot of progress since its establishment, becoming the single revenue au-

thority collecting all taxes in Guyana.

“Having the single GRA has enabled us to have a more comprehensive view of tax collection processes. I would be the last to tell you that the GRA has all the capacity to meet its needs and that it is fully equipped to perform all its functions. We recognise acutely, the need to strengthen the GRA, to continue to modernise and strengthen it to respond to the rapidly changing realities of the Guyana economy,” he said, pointing out that a single revenue authority allows the agency to integrate its approach to tax collection as it gives a 360-degree perspective on tax collection for 365 days a year on all taxes.

Bandits rob woman in broad daylight

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olice are investigating a daring robbery committed on a woman on the public road at D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), following the release of the CCTV footage.

Based on the CCTV footage, the victim was seen standing on the public road in bright daylight awaiting transportation when a white Toyota 212 Carina pulled up alongside her on Tuesday last.

In an effort to distract the woman, the occupants of the car had allegedly asked her about something.

Following this, three men subsequently exited the said vehicle and approached the woman. They then relieved her of her bag among other valuables.

The woman, who appeared traumatised, released her items and made a sprint in the southern direction in efforts to escape the three-man gang.

The bandits then hopped back into their vehicle and made good their escape with the woman’s valuables.

An image from the CCTV footage showing the woman being robbed

Similarly, in February, a woman was robbed by two armed bandits at Welfare Street, East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

According to information received, the woman was in the vicinity of Welfare Street when a motor car bearing registration number HD 183, with two men, executed the robbery on her.

One of the suspects was

armed with a cutlass.

In efforts to raise an alarm, she began to scream but she was instructed to remain silent by the armed men.

The men then proceeded to take her passport, two ID cards, two bank cards, $6000 in cash and her mobile phone.

The bandits also escaped with a bag containing fruits and vegetables. (G15)

NEWS

15

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 arrested at WBD party for breaching curfew

Troy Cadogan

Okacee Bobb

Mayrani Hookcumchan

Junior Forrester

Rajindra Mahangoo

Jasmine Henry

Brandon Smith

Dellon Jardine

Jumain Romain

Samantha Fraser

Nyron Persaud

Vickash Shivgobin

LLoyd Frank

Dannyram Mohabir

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s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines as set out by the National COVID-19 Task Force, several persons were arrested on Sunday morning for breaching these rules.

Over 200 persons had to be dispersed from a party spot in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD), by Police at about 02:00h on Sunday morning.

The persons that were arrested for breaching the COVID-19 guidelines

Police in a statement said most of the persons who attended that party complied, but the defiant ones were promptly arrested and charged.

“The GPF is once again appealing to citizens to adhere to the curfew and to further report breaches to the COVID Task Force hotlines: 626-6674, 624-3067, 624-2819 and toll-free (GTT) 0180,” the Police said in a statement.

As COVID-19 cases and the death toll continues to rise in Guyana, health authorities have been imploring citizens to adhere to the guidelines as set out by the Health Ministry.

Only last week, Health Minister, Dr Frank Antony said that Guyanese have dropped their guard in taking precautions and following national guidelines to protect themselves from COVID-19, prompting the

use of law enforcement to impose stricter penalties for violations.

He cited the level of complacency currently seen, thereby contributing to rising cases. Along with citizens, businesses are on the radar for violating guidelines. “We are going to be more stringent using the Joint Services to be able to enforce these guidelines.

You will see more people being charged for not wearing

masks and those businesses that are not complying with the guidelines will see stricter penalties coming their way. All of this can be avoided if people do the right thing. If we keep violating these things and allowing people to do the wrong thing, we are going to see spread,” the Minister had said, as he insisted that persons should take the virus seriously since the country is yet to exit the pandemic successfully.

Earlier this month, Government extended the COVID-19 measures including the national curfew. The curfew remains in place from 22:30h to 04:00h (04:00 am to 10:30 pm) for the month of March.

Restrictions remain in place on visiting, hosting, or attending private parties, wakes, clubs, receptions, and any other social activity, including going to the cinema.

(G9)

Weapons, drugs unearthed during raid at Lusignan Prison

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oint Services ranks conducted a raid at the Lusignan Prison where numerous contraband including improvised weapons and drugs were unearthed.

The raid was conducted between 06:33h and 10:00h on Saturday at the B Holding Bay located in the Lusignan Prison compound, East Coast Demerara.

During the search, 26 knives, 44 “juka”, 19 lighters, six pairs of scissors, 12 cell phones, two SIM cards, two memory cards, five razor blades, a quantity of cell phone parts, 10 cell phone chargers, a quantity of metal objects, a quantity of wires, and 83 small transparent ziplock bags of cannabis amounting to 20

The items that were found in the possession of prisoners at the Lusignan Prison

grams were found.

Just a week ago, a raid by law enforcement officers at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, unearthed a quantity of drugs, improvised weapons and alcohol among other contra-

band items.

It was reported that ranks of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service conducted a search at the Lusignan Prison where the items were discovered.

Among the items seized were 34 improvised weapons, five cellular phones, six lighters, four pieces of broken mirror, three cellular phone chargers, three earpieces, three mobile SIM cards, a bottle of fermented wine, and seven bottles of oil.

All of the items were seized, as well as a quantity of cannabis which weighed 34 grams, and later taken to the Vigilance Police Station and lodged.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 new schools to be M&CC must implement stricter monitoring of D&I structures – Govt constructed in Region 7 ...as malfunctioning koker door leads to flooding of GT communities

Residents of Charlestown, Georgetown, pointing to how high the water level was after the M&CC-operated Princes Street, Georgetown koker was not properly closed

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overnment has called on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to enforce better management practices of drainage and irrigation structures under their control in the city after over 250 households and businesses in Charlestown and Work-enRust were affected by flooding on Sunday.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Sunday evening said that on Sunday morning the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) received reports from City Engineer Colvern Venture that there was an issue with closing the gate at the Princes Street, Georgetown sluice. It was reported that

sometime between 21:00h and 04:00h on Sunday morning the sluice operator was supposed to close the sluice gate but this did not happen.

As a result, the Agriculture Minister said that the tide began to rise which resulted in an intrusion of water through the sluice gate, ultimately resulting in the flooding of several nearby communities. “Thereafter, it was reported that several unsuccessful attempts to close the gate were made by the sluice operator and engineers from the Georgetown M&CC. After speaking with the NDIA Board Chairman, I instructed that the NDIA lend support to the City Council to monitor this structure. So during the next scheduled closure of

the sluice door, our engineer was on-site to monitor and give assistance to M&CC personnel. The door was closed and they were able to use the Princes Street pump to start draining water from these areas, which ultimately resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of floodwater in these communities,” Mustapha said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Mustapha added that the operation of the city’s D&I structures that drain water into the Demerara River is the primary responsibility of the City Council. He also said that, at the time, there appeared to be a lack of effective management at the sluice in question which resulted in flooding of the neighbouring

communities.

He said that it was unacceptable that persons were subject to this amount of discomfort on a national holiday and called on the M&CC to enforce stricter penalties on persons who are found to be negligent in their responsibility of opening and closing city sluices in a timely manner.

A statement issued by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) noted that, in the Charlestown area, the roads were inundated with about 8 inches of water while as much as 12 inches of water was on the Werk-en-Rust roadway. The CDC is said to be assessing the damages to the households and businesses affected.

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our new schools are to be constructed in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) through its 2021 National Budget allocation.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kerwin Ward said sums were allocated for schools at Dagg Point, St Martin’s, Waramadong and Kurutuku.

During a recent interview with DPI, he said the allocation is another demonstration of the Administration taking steps to ensure it reduces the disparity between the coastland and rural communities.

The construction of schools would create more learning spaces and better ensure the delivery of education.

A nursery school will be built at Dagg Point and primary schools at St Martin’s, Waramadong and Kurutuku.

“In Waramadong, the school has outgrown its existence of over 60 years and so its structure is at its toll hence our decision to establish a new school there.

The one at Dagg Point – it is due to its vastly developing community and a school is absent, absolutely none and so the students from Dagg Point have to travel from Bartica to get to school,” the REO said.

He explained that because of this, attendance from Dagg Point students is low, as the transportation costs weigh heavily on the parents.

It was highlighted that between Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, 239 schools serve 32,603 learners.

Regional Executive Officer Kerwin Ward

However, most of the schools are primary schools. There are 13 secondary schools which are located as follows: three each in Regions One, Seven and Eight and four in Region Nine.

The Education Ministry has budgeted some $10 million for feasibility studies for the construction of new schools in the hinterland and remote areas, in keeping with its goal to provide universal secondary education countrywide. Attaining universal nursery education is also one of its aims. In the meantime, the Government has restarted and augmented several of its programmes to alleviate the financial burden on parents of school-age children.

This includes the “Because We Care” cash grant, which was increased from $10,000 to $15,000 per public school student, and the school uniform and supplies voucher valued at $4000, per public school student.

NEWS

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

tugs join effort to refloat Soldiers hospitalised More ship blocking Suez Canal after fight at BBQ A

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rank attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is currently hospitalised nursing a stab wound to his body after he, along with another GDF rank, was injured during a fight at a barbecue in Linden.

Reports are on Saturday around 22:00h, Selwyn Cumberbatch, 30, of Wisroc, Linden, a Corporal attached to the Special Force Unit in the GDF, and Terrence Collis, 27, of Wismar, Linden, also a GDF rank, were injured.

Guyana Times was informed that both Cumberbatch and Collis were at a barbecue at Block 22, Wismar along with friends when a fight broke out.

It is still unclear how the

fight started and who was involved. However, during the process, Cumberbatch was dealt several stabs about his body with a broken bottle. His “squaddie”, Collis, was also hit in his head with a glass bottle.

Following the incident both men were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they were treated for their injuries.

Cumberbatch was then admitted to the hospital, and was said to be in serious condition.

On the other hand, Collis was treated and sent away.

Investigations are ongoing.

Earlier in this month, 24-year-old Shafeek Abdool was admitted in critical condition to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was stabbed about his body

by a teen at Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (EBD).

According to reports received, the suspect and victim had a misunderstanding which resulted in the suspect arming himself with a glass bottle, breaking it, and stabbing the victim several times about his body.

The victim was subsequently rushed to the medical facility. Abdool reportedly suffered a puncture to the left lung.

The suspect, who was arrested, was escorted to the medical facility to seek medical attention after crying out for pains about his body. He was examined by a doctor and deemed medically sound.

He was later charged for the offence.

UN chief criticises wealthy countries for vaccine “stockpile”

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N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised developed countries for creating a “stockpile” of COVID-19 vaccines, and called on them to share with the rest of the world to help end the pandemic.

“I’m very concerned with this very unfair distribution of vaccines in the world,” Guterres said in an interview broadcast Sunday by the Canadian channel CBC. “It’s in the interest of everybody to make sure that as soon as possible and in a fair way, everybody gets vaccinated everywhere and that vaccines are considered to be a truly global public good,” he said.

The UN chief criticized the “self-interest” of rich countries for building up vaccine supplies beyond the needs of their populations.

“First, don’t stockpile vaccines,” he said, adding that it “doesn’t make sense.”

“We have been appealing to developed countries to share some of the vaccines that they have bought and in many situations, they have bought more than what they need.”

The secretary-general lamented that the Covax international system of vaccine aid to disadvantaged countries is having “difficulties” because “there’s been a lot of hoarding.” He said that ending the pandemic “depends a lot on having the possibility to vaccinate as quickly as possible the population all over the world,” and he pleaded in favour of a mechanism powered by the G20 to put in place a global vaccination plan.

Asked about the possible adoption of vaccination passports, Guterres was cautious, saying that before any decision is taken, there must be serious discussion to ensure fairness and to make sure that there is effective global cooperation.

“The worst is for some

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

countries to have it and for other countries not have it... it will be devastating if this would mean that people could

move within the developed world but not within the developing world,” he warned.

(AFP)

massive container ship remained wedged in Egypt’s Suez Canal on Sunday, blocking the busy waterway as major shippers divert their boats out of fear the vessel may take even longer to free.

As extra tug boats steamed in to assist with salvage efforts, experts were pinning hopes on a Sunday high tide to help dislodge the ship. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered preparations for the possible removal of some of the ship’s cargo to help refloat it, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie told Egypt’s Extra News.

Any operation to lighten the ship’s load would not start before Monday, an SCA source said. The 400-metre (440-yard) long Ever Given – a Panamaflagged, Japanese-owned ship that carries cargo between Asia and Europe – became jammed diagonally across a southern section of the canal in high winds more than five days ago, halting shipping traffic in one of the world’s busiest waterways.

As of Sunday, more than 300 boats were waiting to transit the canal, including dozens of container ships, bulk carriers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.

“There are positive indicators from yesterday and the day before yesterday,” Rabie told Egyptian state TV. “The rudder was not moving and it is now moving, the propeller is working now, there was no water underneath the bow, and

now there is water under it, and yesterday there was a four-metre deviation in the bow and the stern.”

However, two SCA sources told Reuters news agency that a mass of rock had been found at the bow of the ship, complicating salvage efforts. Rescue workers from the SCA and a team from Dutch firm Smit Salvage have been weighing whether some of the Ever Given’s 18,300 containers will need to be removed by crane in order to refloat it.

Taking containers off the ship likely would add even more days to the canal’s closure, something authorities have been desperately trying to avoid. It also would require a crane and other equipment that have yet to arrive.

Experts have warned that such a process could be complex and lengthy.

“We’re dividing the day into two halves, 12 hours for dredgers and 12 hours for tugs, because not all times are suitable for tugs due to the tide,” said Rabie, adding that 14 tug boats were being deployed.

Later on Sunday, Rabie said the SCA is considering discounts for vessels affected by the blockage. He also told Al Arabiya TV that the

canal was losing $13-14m in revenue daily after halting traffic due to the grounded ship and that 369 vessels were waiting to transit the canal.

About 15 percent of world shipping traffic transits the Suez Canal.

Shipping rates for oil product tankers nearly doubled after the ship became stranded, and the blockage has disrupted global supply chains, threatening costly delays for companies already dealing with COVID-19 restrictions.

Syria has begun rationing the distribution of fuel in the war-torn country amid concerns of delays of shipments arriving amid the blockage.

Spencer Welch, vice president of oil markets and downstream consulting at IHS Markit, told Al Jazeera that some refineries usually have around a week’s worth of spare crude.

“If we take an oil refinery in the Mediterranean which is using crude oil coming from the Middle East, that refinery will typically keep around seven days worth of spare crude in a tank for delays. It is now estimated that it could take two weeks to clear the blockage in the Suez Canal.” (Al Jazeera)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Regional

Brazil's President ordered to pay damages to Journalist

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Brazilian court has ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to pay compensation to a Journalist after he made degrading comments about her.

Bolsonaro had suggested last year that Patrícia Campos Mello had offered sex to a source for negative information about him.

The Judge said Bolsonaro's remarks had damaged the Journalist's honour.

The President was told to pay her 20,000 reais (US$3500) in damages. He can appeal the ruling.

In a tweet, Campos Mello, an award-winning reporter for Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, said the Judge's decision was a "victory for all of us women".

The Journalists Against Harassment group said the ruling marked a "great day" for female reporters and professional journalism in Brazil.

Bolsonaro, a right-wing President who has been in office since January 2019, has a history of animosi-

The Judge's ruling was hailed as a victory for women and Journalists in Brazil

ty towards Journalists who have been critical of his Administration.

Campos Mello brought legal action against him in response to comments made in February 2020.

In its report about the remarks, the Folha newspaper accused Bolsonaro of insulting MCampos Mello with sexual innuendo.

Bolsonaro said the Journalist "wanted a scoop" at "any price against me", the newspaper reported.

Campos Mello wrote a series of investigative reports about a group us-

ing WhatsApp to boost Bolsonaro's campaign by denigrating his rivals ahead of the 2018 presidential election.

In January, Campos Mello won an almost identical case against the President's son, Eduardo, who is a Member of Parliament in Brazil's lower House of Congress.

He had suggested in a YouTube video last May that the reporter had "tried to seduce" a source for damaging information against his father. Related Topics (Excerpt from BBC News)

Cuban protesters demand US lift trade embargo, sanctions

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undreds of Cubans joined a protest caravan on Sunday along the seaside road in the capital, Havana, to demand an end to the longstanding United States trade embargo against the country.

Waving Cuban flags, the protesters – who participated in the rally in cars and on bikes and motorcycles – shouted “down with the blockade” as they passed the US Embassy.

The caravan was one of several actions held this weekend in more than 50 cities around the world aiming to put pressure on US President Joe Biden to lift the embargo and reverse

other harsh economic measures imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

“We are here for the end of the blockade, for the end of the sanctions,” protester Felix Moya told the Reuters news agency.

The Cuban Government supported the demonstration, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla telling reporters the blockade has been “harmful, illegal, immoral [and] criminal” and that it must be lifted.

“Summoned by our own feelings of rejection at the #blockade that tries to suffocate us as people, hundreds of citizens from the capital, threw themselves on the

boardwalk this morning in an enthusiastic caravan,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel also tweeted.

Trump had pursued a hardline stance against Cuba, imposing sanctions on Cuba’s Interior Ministry and designating the country as a “State sponsor of terrorism” in the final weeks of his presidency.

Then US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said the US was designating Cuba “for repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbour to terrorists” – a charge rejected by Havana. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T&T Opposition wants AG fired, Al Rawi apologises for maskless appearance

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ours after Opposition Senator Wade Mark called for him to be fired as a Cabinet Minister, Attorney General Faris AlRawi apologised for appearing in an Instagram livestream without wearing a mask and physically distancing himself from other people. But he insists all public health regulations were obeyed during the event.

Al-Rawi appeared on the game show “Vibes with Voicey” on Instagram. The show was hosted by Soca artiste Aaron "Voice" St Louis on Thursday night.

The episode, to raise

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it’s a miracle I survived. I wouldn’t even wish that on my worst enemy.”

As he began to improve after 12 days battling the virus, he was startled – not just that he had been at risk, but by the many other patients in their 20s, 30s

and 40s also on respirators in his ward.

As Brazil grapples with its deadliest peak of the pandemic yet, with a series of grim records for coronavirus-related deaths and infections, health officials have reported an alarming

Al-Rawi said he was aware of the criticisms and assured while all rules were followed, he apologised for not wearing a mask and promised to do better.

"Quite simply, and in all the circumstances, I am renewed in giving my personal redoubled commitment to do better by being seen to adopt best practices.

"I fully support the Honourable Prime Minister’s reflections on this issue and especially his expressed view that each of us has a part to play in fighting COVID-19.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Mexico’s COVID death toll much higher than previously reported

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exico has registered more than 294,000 coronavirus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, new Government figures show, confirming long-held beliefs that the country’s confirmed death count was far below the real figure.

The data shows 294,287 coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in Mexico through March 15 of this year.

That is 61.4 per cent higher than the confirmed death toll of 182,301.

The Mexican Government has long said it believed COVID-19 fatalities were higher than the official count, largely due to a lack of testing in the country.

The number of excess deaths, which is the difference between projected deaths and reported ones, in Mexico during the pandemic stood at 417,002 by the sixth week of 2021, the new data also showed.

Last week, the Government announced that coronavirus-related deaths had surpassed the 200,000 mark, the third-highest total in the

“A miracle I survived”: Younger Brazilians hit by COVID-19 surge hen Allessandro Cabral began to experience COVID-19 symptoms in early March, he thought nothing much of it. In fact, the 41-year-old even reassured his friends: “I have COVID,” he wrote them in a WhatsApp message from his home in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone. “But I’m not at risk: I eat healthy, I work out. It will pass.”

After a week of light COVID symptoms, however, Cabral’s condition worsened dramatically. He couldn’t breathe and went to a local hospital, then to a field hospital, where he was put on oxygen and was on the verge of being intubated.

“But God didn’t allow it,” he told Al Jazeera. “I felt sensations of death,

funds for charity, also featured appearances from radio personality Ancil "Blaze" Isaac Jr, Beyond the Tape cohost Supt Roger Alexander and celebrity bodyguard and bouncer Kevin "Johnny Bravo" Da Costa.

At a COVID-19 media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Saturday, the Prime Minister said he was disappointed by Al-Rawi's conduct, and no official was exempt from following the public health regulations.

Responding to Newsday, via WhatsApp on Sunday, on the call for him to be fired,

shift: since the new year, more young patients are developing severe COVID symptoms and dying.

According to data collected by the Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine (Amib) across 1593 public and private Intensive Care Units, the number of Brazilians aged 18 to 45 requiring intensive care for COVID-19 has tripled between the first wave from September to November 2020 and second wave from February to March 2021.

The data also showed a staggering 193 per cent increase in coronavirus-related deaths for this age group, increasing from 13.1 per cent to 38.5 per cent during the same period. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The new total is 61.4 per cent higher than the confirmed death toll of 182,301 [File: Victor Medina/Reuters]

world after the United States and Brazil.

Mexico also has struggled to secure vaccines to inoculate its population.

Earlier this month, the US Government announced it would “loan” 2.7 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Mexico to help with its vaccination effort.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter last week that the country expected

to receive all the doses by April 1.

“Mexico appreciates this great support from the Government of President Biden against COVID-19,” he said.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has himself recovered from the virus, has been accused of being slow to impose a lockdown and has worn a mask only on rare occasions.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Venezuela slams Facebook “totalitarianism” for Maduro page freeze

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he Venezuelan Government has hit out against Facebook after the social media giant put a “freeze” on the page of President Nicolás Maduro over COVID-19 misinformation.

In a statement on Sunday, the country’s Information Ministry accused Facebook of going after “content geared toward combatting the pandemic”.

A day earlier, Facebook confirmed that it had put a freeze on Maduro’s page for 30 days after he violated the platform’s policies around the spread of COVID-19 misinformation.

Without any medical evidence, Maduro has touted Carvativir, an oral solution derived from thyme, as a “miracle” substance that he says can fight the novel coronavirus.

“We are witnessing a digital totalitarianism exercised by supranational companies who want to impose their

law on the countries of the world,” the Ministry said.

It described Carvativir as a retroviral of “national production and engineering”.

Facebook did not comment on the Ministry’s statement.

On Saturday, a Facebook spokesman told the Reuters news agency that it follows guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which “says there is currently no medication to cure the virus”.

“Due to repeated violations of our rules, we are also freezing the page for 30 days, during which it will be read-only,” the spokesman said.

A company spokesperson also told the AFP news agency that a video had been removed from Maduro’s page “for violating our policies against misinformation about COVID-19 that is likely to put people at risk for harm”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS OIL NEWS China's Sinopec raises 2021 capital expenditure by 23.8%

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hina Petroleum & Chemical Corp, better known as Sinopec, plans a 23.8 per cent increase in capital spending to 167.2 billion yuan in 2021 following recovery of oil prices and energy demand as the COVID-19 epidemic subsided.

Sinopec expects to spend 66.8 billion yuan on upstream exploration focusing on shale gas development in southwest China and construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in coastal areas, up from 56.4 billion yuan last year.

“China’s economy is recovering and is expected to achieve relatively good growth. Demand for refined oil products is expected to recover strongly and demand for natural gas and petrochemical products will continue to grow,” the company said in a statement filed to the Shanghai Stocks Exchange on Sunday.

The company on Sunday also reported a 42.9 per cent drop in net profit to 32.92 billion yuan last year, the lowest since 2015, as the pandemic dented fuel consumption amid monthslong lockdowns.

That just beat analysts’ forecast for net profit of 32.3 billion yuan, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

In 2020, Sinopec’s crude oil throughput fell 4.7 per cent from a year earlier to 236.91 million tonnes, with gasoline and diesel output down 7.7 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively, while kerosene production plunged 34.6 per cent.

Its crude oil production was 280.22 million barrels in 2020, down 1.4 per cent year-on-year, and natural gas output at 1,072.3 billion cubic feet, was up 2.3 per cent from 2019.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Myanmar army air raids on Karen force 3000 to flee for Thailand

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o m e 3000 people from Myanmar’s southeastern Karen state have fled to neighbouring Thailand following air attacks by the army on an area held by an ethnic armed group, according to activists and Thai PBS reported about 3000 people had local media re- reached Thailand [Karen Women's Organization/ Twitter] ports.

The military (KNU). launched air raids on five arThe armed group signed a eas in Mutraw district near ceasefire agreement in 2015 the border, including a dis- but tensions have surged afplacement camp, the Karen ter the military overthrew Women’s Organisation said Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian on Sunday.

Government in a February 1 “At the moment, villag- coup. ers are hiding in the jungle The KNU and the as more than 3000 crossed Restoration Council of Shan to Thailand to take refuge,” State, also based on the Thai a statement from the group border, have condemned the said. military’s takeover and an“We demand an interna- nounced their support for tional response to the atroci- public resistance. ties taking place to send the KNU said it has been shelmessage that the military tering hundreds of people who cannot longer act with impu- have fled central Myanmar nity,” it added. in the face of an increasingly Thai PBS also report- deadly crackdown against seed about 3000 had reached curity forces in recent weeks.

Thailand.

The military has defendThere was no immediate ed its power grab, citing alcomment by Thailand’s au- legations of fraud in the thorities.

November election which The air assaults are the Aung San Suu Kyi’s National most significant attack for League for Democracy won by years in the region controlled a landslide. (Excerpt from Al by the Karen National Union Jazeera)

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

19

Around the World

Killing of youths sparks protests in northwest Pakistan T

housands of protesters broke through a Police blockade in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday as they tried to march on the city of Bannu and then on to Islamabad to demand a Government probe into the deaths of four young men who they allege were tortured and killed by security forces.

Police fired tear gas in an attempt to keep them from entering the city of Bannu, which lies on the way to Islamabad, on Sunday evening.

The protesters were carrying the bodies of the four young men, aged between 15 and 20, found in a shallow grave on March 21 in the town of Jani Khel, outside Bannu.

“The Government didn’t pay any attention to us and left us alone to mourn the slain boys,” Haji Mohammad Wali, one of the protesters, told Reuters by phone.

Relatives of the dead, alleging they died during interrogation by security forces, held a sit-in in Jani Khel for nearly a week, refusing to bury the bodies until an investigation was opened against an army officer they said was responsible.

A Pakistani military spokesman declined to comment about the incident on Sunday, and the military has not commented publicly on the case.

People chant slogans demanding an investigation following the deaths of four teenagers in Jani Khel area in Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan March 28, 2021

The central Government has not commented on the case.

Officials of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial Government, including Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, travelled to Bannu on Sunday to meet with protesters.

The protesters said that after their demands for an inquiry went unheard

they decided to march to Islamabad 300 km (190 miles) away - and local police tried to stop them by placing barricades in Bannu.

The four dead boys had been missing for several weeks, according to their relatives. Relatives said their bodies bore signs of torture when they were found. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mozambique: Dozens dead after militant assault on Palma

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ozens of people are dead following an attack on the town of Palma in northern Mozambique, according to a spokesperson from the country's defence department.

Seven were killed trying to escape a siege on a hotel, said Omar Saranga.

Hundreds of others, both locals and foreigners, were reportedly rescued.

The area has been under attack by Islamist militants since Wednesday. Witnesses

have described hiding out while waiting to be rescued by boat, on a beach strewn with headless bodies.

Marine traffic websites showed a string of vessels around Palma, and the port of Pemba to the south, as people tried to escape by any means - cargo vessels, passenger ships, tugs and recreational boats.

One source close to the rescue operation told AFP news agency that a boat with about 1,400 people on

board had arrived in the port town of Pemba, which is about 250km (155 miles) south of Palma, on Sunday afternoon.

Aid agencies said several more small boats packed with displaced people were en route to Pemba and likely to arrive overnight or on Monday morning.

The exact number of casualties in Palma, a town of about 75,000 people in Cabo Delgado province, is unclear. Many are still unac-

counted for.

The town and beaches are strewn with bodies "with heads and without", according to Col Lionel Dyke, whose private security firm, Dyck Advisory Group, is contracted by the Mozambique Police in the area.

The armed group is reported to have taken control of Palma, but those claims are hard to verify amid a communications blackout.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Sudan Govt and SPLM-N sign agreement to pave way for peace talks

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udan’s Government and a major rebel group have struck an agreement paving the way for peace negotiations between the two sides after months of deadlock.

Led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, Sudan’s People Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) is one of two groups that has yet to sign a peace deal with the transitional authorities that have been in power in Sudan following the 2019 removal of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir.

The “declaration of principles” signed on Sunday in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, outlines priorities including the unification of armed forces and the establishment of a democratic, secular state with freedom of religion.

It also said “a military solution cannot lead to lasting peace and stability in

the country” and that a “peaceful and just political solution must be a common goal”.

Sudan’s transitional government has been engaging in peace talks with rebel groups for the past two years, looking to stabilise the country ahead of long-awaited elections sched- Sudan's Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, left, SPLM-N uled to take leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, centre, and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir gesture after signing the declaration of principles in Juba [Jok Solomun/Reuters] place in late 2022.

Last year, Sudan’s tran- active in the Blue Nile and and raised hands with the sitional authorities and an- South Kordofan provinces leader of Sudan’s interim other rebel alliance signed where it controls significant sovereign council General a peace deal that was a step chunks of territory, partic- Abdel Fattah al-Burhan aftowards ending the coun- ipated in negotiations lead- ter the signing of the Juba try’s many and long-running ing up to it but did not sign agreement, which means the final deal. talks on a final peace accord conflicts.

In a video posted online by can now commence. (Excerpt Al-Hilu’s group, which is the SPLM-N, al-Hilu joined from Al Jazeera)

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

Pay attention to how you look and how you present (March 21yourself to others. Keeping April 19) fit and healthy will attract like-minded people who appreciate life. Collaboration looks promising.

ARIES

Pay attention to detail and do the best job possible. Strive (April 20May 20) for the outcome you desire.

Quickly size up situations and risks that could leave you in limbo.

TAURUS

DILBERT

Take the initiative, do GEMINI (May 21- your homework and put your June 20) plan in motion. An opportunity will develop if you are proactive and ready to take on a challenge. Don't listen to someone who talks big.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Take better care of your emotional and physical well-being. Don't let down your guard in the face of opposition. Look for an alternative way to follow through with your plans.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Refuse to allow uncertainty regarding a partnership to lead you in the wrong direction.

Think for yourself and take action based on your conclusions.

Personal growth and self-improvement are favored.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Live up to your promises and take care of business.

Walk away from no-win situations and manipulative people. A positive attitude and personal change are favored.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Consider the best way to achieve happiness. Start making improvements that will ensure you have the confidence to carry out your plans. All talk and no action will lead to disappointment.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

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MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

21

Sam Curran falls short as India clinch cliffhanger to seal ODI series E

ngland came up just short in the third OneDay International (ODI) despite the best efforts of Sam Curran, meaning India secure a 2-1 series triumph to complete a clean sweep in all formats.

Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya all hit half-centuries as India – who had rallied to win 3-1 in the Tests, then 2-1 in the Twenty20 games – were bowled out for 329 in 48.2 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck twice in the powerplay on his way to figures of 3-42, while Shardul Thakur claimed 4-67 in an England reply that looked doomed at 257-8.

However, with Mark Wood as an able ally, Curran continued to take the fight to India, making 95 not out. His defiant hitting – which included nine fours and three sixes - -reduced the equation down to 14 from the final over, yet left-arm paceman T Natarajan held his nerve to seal a seven-run victory.

For the first time in the series, England had failed to build a foundation in a run chase. Openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow had put on 135 and 110 in the previous two games, only to both fall cheaply to the impressive

SCOREBOARD

INDIA INNINGS (50 OVERS MAXIMUM) Rohit Sharma b Rashid 37 Shikhar Dhawan c & b Rashid 67 Virat Kohli (c) b Ali 7 Rishabh Pant †c †Buttler b Curran 78 KL Rahul c Ali b Livingstone 7 Hardik Pandya b Stokes 64 Krunal Pandya c Roy b Wood 25 Shardul Thakur c †Buttler b Wood 30 Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Curran b Topley 3 Prasidh Krishna b Wood 0 T Natarajan not out 0

Kumar in the finale.

Ben Stokes made 35 and Dawid Malan (50) hit a maiden ODI half-century – during which he added 60 with Liam Livingstone (36) – but wickets continued to fall regularly, leaving India in control.

Curran capitalised on some poor fielding to keep his side afloat – the hosts dropped four catches – but England were unable to end their tour on a winning note.

Having seen their opponents chase down a target of 337 with more than six overs to spare last time out, India

adopted a more aggressive approach with the bat at the start of the day.

Openers Rohit Sharma (37) and Dhawan zipped along at faster than a run-aball rate in a century stand that was eventually ended by a superb delivery from Adil Rashid, who bowled the former with a googly.

Rashid also dismissed Dhawan for 67 two overs later, while fellow spinner Moeen Ali cleaned up Virat Kohli cheaply with one that turned sharply to surprise India's Captain, who saw his team slip from 103 without

loss to 157-4.

However, Pant and Pandya went on the offensive in a 99-run stand that was eventually ended when wicketkeeper Jos Buttler reacted quickly to take an edge from Pant, who fell to Curran for 78 off just 62 deliveries.

Pandya followed not long after for 64, bowled by Stokes.

Wood claimed three late wickets as India were bowled out with 10 deliveries to spare. It turned out they still had enough runs, despite Curran's heroics providing a thrilling finish to England's tour.

Extras (lb 1, w 10) 11 TOTAL (48.2 Ov, RR: 6.80) 329 Fall of wickets: 1-103 (Rohit Sharma, 14.4 ov), 2-117 (Shikhar Dhawan, 16.4 ov), 3-121 (Virat Kohli, 17.4 ov), 4-157 (KL Rahul, 24.2 ov), 5-256 (Rishabh Pant, 35.6 ov), 6-276 (Hardik Pandya, 38.6 ov), 7-321 (Shardul Thakur, 45.6 ov), 8-328 (Krunal Pandya, 47.2 ov), 9-329 (Prasidh Krishna, 47.6 ov), 10-329 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 48.2 ov) BOWLING Sam Curran Reece Topley Mark Wood Ben Stokes Adil Rashid Moeen Ali Liam Livingstone

5-0-43-1 9.2-0-66-1 7-1-34-3 7-0-45-1 10-0-81-2 7-0-39-1 3-0-20-1

ENGLAND INNINGS (TARGET: 330 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Jason Roy b Kumar 14 Jonny Bairstow lbw b Kumar 1 Ben Stokes c Dhawan b Natarajan 35 Dawid Malan c Sharma b Thakur 50 Jos Buttler (c)†lbw b Thakur 15 Liam Livingstone c & b Thakur 36 Moeen Ali c HH Pandya b Kumar 29 Sam Curran not out 95 Adil Rashid c Kohli b Thakur 19 Mark Wood run out (HH Pandya/†Pant) 14 Reece Topley not out 1 Extras (lb 1, w 12) 13 TOTAL (50 Ov, RR: 6.44) 322/9 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Jason Roy, 0.6 ov), 2-28 (Jonny Bairstow, 2.6 ov), 3-68 (Ben Stokes, 10.3 ov), 4-95 (Jos Buttler, 15.1 ov), 5-155 (Liam Livingstone, 23.5 ov), 6-168 (Dawid Malan, 25.4 ov), 7-200 (Moeen Ali, 30.3 ov), 8-257 (Adil Rashid, 39.2 ov), 9-317 (Mark Wood, 49.1 ov) BOWLING Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10-0-42-3 T Natarajan 10-0-73-1 Prasidh Krishna 7-0-62-0 Shardul Thakur 10-0-67-4 Hardik Pandya 9-0-48-0 Krunal Pandya 4-0-29-0

MotoGP 2021: Vinales clinches Windies must brush up on bowling, season-opening victory as Mir discipline ahead of 2nd Sri Lanka Test, insists Coach Simmons misses out on Qatar podium

M

averick Vinales got his 2021 MotoGP campaign up and running with a season-opening victory as he charged up from fifth at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Pole-setter Francesco Bagnaia could not get away from the chasing pack, which included Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and his Ducati team-mate Jack Miller.

With defending world champion Joan Mir – starting in 10th – and fellow Suzuki rider Alex Rins struggling to keep pace initially, it was Monster Yamaha's Vinales who made his move.

Finding himself in fifth with 15 laps remaining, Vinales closed the gap on Bagnaia by the time the final seven came around.

After threatening once but being held off, Vinales spotted a gap and dived through to take a lead he would not relinquish.

Bagnaia's race

looked set to go from bad to worse when he dropped out of the top three altogether.

It left Zarco and Mir tussling for second, and last year's champion had the edge on the last lap, yet, in a remarkable twist, he fell short on the final corner.

Mir appeared to run wide, with his exit speed dropping and allowing Zarco to clinch second – Bagnaia, who had blitzed the Losail lap record in qualifying, battling back to mark his first race for Ducati with a podium finish.

Fabio Quartararo completed the top five, with Mir's team-mate Rins finishing sixth.

There was misery for Takaaki Nakagami, who crashed out on turn nine midway through the race, with Danilo Petrucci's Tech3 KTM debut also coming to a premature end. (Sportsmax)

W

est Indies Coach Phil Simmons insists the team will need to brush up on its bowling and work in the field ahead of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, which gets underway today.

The West Indies successfully negotiated the fifth and final day on the back of a patient 113 undefeated from the bat of Nkrumah Bonner. After being dismissed for 169 in the first innings, a massive 476 piled up in the second innings would have been a massive concern. The Sri Lankans were led by 103 from Pathum Nissanka and 96 from Niroshan Dickwella. The pair frustrated and blunted the Windies bowling attack.

For large periods of the second innings, it seemed the hosts had lost their way, with a series of poor displays in the field and poor choices to review. Simmons believes if the team are to win a second straight Test series, the errors must be cleaned up.

“I think our discipline when we are bowling has to improve,” Simmons told Windiescricket.

“The few hours in the field that we allow runs to just slip by us, because of the discipline, that definitely has to tighten up, and then we just have to bat in the second innings like we batted in the first innings,” he added. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Khan wins LGCSurvival Phagwah Tourney T

he Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) on Saturday hosted its annual Survival Phagwah Golf Tourney.

The competition saw countless rivalries, but in the end only one could walk away with the title. Emerging as the champion was Kasim Khan.

The results for the tournament were as follows: * 1st: Kasim Khan – gross 74, Hc 7, net 67 * 2nd: Shanella London – gross 80, Hc 10, net 70 * 3rd (after a countback): Hilbert Shields – gross 84, Hc 13, net 71 * 4th: Vijay Deo – gross 82, Hc 11, net 71 At the end of the tournament, speaking on behalf of the LGC was Secretary Chet Bowling, who said, “It was good, it was well-attended. We had an approximate total of 30 persons, what I would term as the high point of the tournament was the fact that we had one or two other females competing in the competition. I hope that turns into a trend where we have more females participating in the future; so, hopefully, that grows.”

Bowling also went on to state another high point was the level of competitiveness at the 19th hole,

as there was fierce competition as is evident in the scores. “There wasn’t much of a difference in the gross scores, it was fierce, but, of course, it was all done in camaraderie. The guys enjoyed the game, and so much so that they went back to play it again after the competition. We will also have a non-sponsored club tournament today, so from that we can see the sport is growing. What’s next for us is that we have some big brand names coming on board and we are slowly beginning to plan the Guyana Open, which may be slated for the end of October this year. But, nevertheless, we are looking to push the sport to higher heights.”

Survival Group of Companies is a household name that is fulfilling its corporate social responsibility of giving back to schoolchildren and the young ones in golf, and to the sport of golf as a whole, since golf is a family sport. The Survival Group of Companies is about families, so this tournament represents it well.

All COVID-19 protocols were followed.

Clippers snap

76ers' winning streak, Jazz stay hot as Spurs Kazakhstan 0-2 France: Coach Popovich joins Mbappe penalty miss not exclusive club

costly as Les Bleus cruise

K

ylian Mbappe missed a second-half penalty, but a much-changed France still coasted to a 2-0 win away to Kazakhstan in World Cup qualifying.

Les Bleus were punished for wasteful finishing in their opening Group D game against Ukraine on Thursday, allowing their opponents – who failed to manage a shot on target – to grab a 1-1 draw through Presnel Kimpembe's own goal.

However, there was to be no repeat on Sunday as the reigning champions registered a first win in Group D at the second attempt.

Ousmane Dembele gave the visitors a 19th-minute lead in Astana, accepting a pass from Anthony Martial before firing a low shot across goalkeeper Alexandr Mokin for a rare international goal.

Kazakhstan defended in stoic fashion for the remainder of the first half until unfortunately falling further behind just before the interval, France doubling their advantage thanks to an own goal.

Having impressively denied Martial from scoring with a superb last-gasp clearance, poor Sergiy Maliy – preoccupied with marking Paul Pogba – then headed the resulting corner into his net.

Antoine Griezmann – who, along with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, retained his place in the starting XI – had a goal ruled out for offside early in a second half that saw Martial forced off with an apparent injury sustained while playing on a synthetic surface.

Replacement Mbappe offered a far greater threat during a cameo appearance off the bench, including drawing a foul from the combination of Nuraly Alip and Temirlan Erlanov inside the area.

However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was unable to capitalise on the opportunity from 12 yards out, Mokin guessing correctly as he dived to his left to turn away the spot-kick attempt.

What does it mean? Job done, despite laboured display There may have been a concern that France were in danger of history being repeated when they struggled to build on Dembele's opener, despite controlling proceedings. They coasted in the second half too, yet still ended up having 15 shots – nine of which were on target.

Still, qualifying is about results, rather than performances. Considering the long journey and the artificial pitch, collecting three points was all that mattered.

Dembele shows Deschamps what he can do Ahead of the trio of international fixtures in March, Deschamps had challenged the recalled Dembele to be a more consistent contributor, both for club and country.

The Barcelona forward certainly made a difference against Kazakhstan, moving into double figures for goals in the 2020-21 season when opening the scoring with a crisp finish.

Missed opportunity for Martial Martial looked certain to grab just his second international goal from Thomas Lemar's chipped cross, yet Maliy stretched out a leg to somehow send the ball over the crossbar.

Instead of being able to celebrate scoring, he finished the game with concerns over his fitness. In 59 minutes, Martial completed 78.3 per cent of his attempted passes and had three shots, two of which were on target.

There was also the assist for Dembele too, yet Mbappe was far more prominent following his introduction.

What's next?

Both teams are back in qualifying action on Wednesday. France have a trip to Sarajevo to take on Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Kazakhstan head on the road as they travel to Ukraine. (Sportsmax)

T

he Los Angeles Clippers spoiled Doc Rivers' return as they topped the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers 122-112 in the NBA. Rivers reunited with the Clippers for the first time since being fired and joining the 76ers in the offseason, having led the Los Angeles franchise to six playoff appearances.

But Rivers did not have much to celebrate after the 76ers had their four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday.

Kawhi Leonard posted 28 points – 19 in the first half – and Clippers team-mate Paul George added 24 of his own in Los Angeles.

Terance Mann had a season-high 23 points for the Clippers on 10-of-12 shooting from the field, while he made both of his three-point attempts.

The 76ers had a six-game road winning run ended, despite a game-high 29 points from Tobias Harris.

Mitchell sparks Jazz Donovan Mitchell put up 35 points as the NBA-leading Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110. Mitchell was efficient in Utah, where he was 12-of-17 shooting from the field, to go with his five three-pointers from seven attempts in 28 minutes. All-Star team-mate Rudy Gobert (16 points and 14 rebounds) contributed a double-double.

Gregg Popovich became the third Coach in NBA history to reach 1300 regular-season wins following the San Antonio Spurs' 120-104 victory against the Chicago Bulls. Only Don Nelson (1335) and Lenny Wilkens (1332) have had 1300 wins or more. All-Star Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and nine rebounds in his debut for the Bulls after being traded by the lowly Orlando Magic.

Zion Williamson's 38 points led the New Orleans Pelicans past the Dallas Mavericks 112-103. Tim Hardaway Jr had 30 points off the bench for the beaten Mavericks.

Russell Westbrook's triple-double of 19 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists fuelled a 106-92 win for the Washington Wizards against the Detroit Pistons.

The Milwaukee Bucks were upstaged 102-96 by the New York Knicks despite double-doubles from two-time reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 points and 10 rebounds); Jordan Nwora (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Brook Lopez (12 points and 10 rebounds).

Awful Richardson The Mavericks went down to the Pelicans and Josh Richardson struggled. The shooting guard finished one-of-11 from the field.

Richardson missed all four of his attempts from beyond the arc for a measly four points in 34 minutes.

Mike Scott – in the starting five for the 76ers – finished with just three points in Los Angeles. He was one-of-six from the field, making just one three-pointer in 29 minutes.

Barnes calls game!

With the Sacramento Kings trailing 98-97, Harrison Barnes nailed a buzzer-beating three after catching a full-court pass to sink the Cleveland Cavaliers. De'Aaron Fox's 36 points set the tone for the Kings, who edged the Cavaliers 100-98.

Saturday's results Washington Wizards 106-92 Detroit Pistons New York Knicks 102-96 Milwaukee Bucks Houston Rockets 129-107 Minnesota Timberwolves San Antonio Spurs 120-104 Chicago Bulls New Orleans Pelicans 112-103 Dallas Mavericks Boston Celtics 111-94 Oklahoma City Thunder Utah Jazz 126-110 Memphis Grizzlies Los Angeles Clippers 122-112 Philadelphia 76ers Sacramento Kings 100-98 Cleveland Cavaliers (Sportsmax)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

GCB forces adjournment of CWI AGM ...claims Skerritt used compromised means to debar them from voting T

he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and by extension, the highly-anticipated presidential election has been postponed to April 11, owing to the non-attendance of several members.

In a missive on Sunday morning immediately after the decision to adjourn the meeting was taken, CWI explained the reason for the postponement.

The CWI missive is as follows: “The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was due to start at 10:00 am this morning (Sunday), was adjourned as there was a lack of quorum.

The meeting therefore could not proceed to business as the CWI Articles of Association stipulate that nine (9) representatives of the Full Members need to be present in person to constitute a quorum. All eight (8) representatives duly authorised to represent the Jamaica Cricket Association, Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB), Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Windward Islands Cricket Board were present.

“Despite having previously authorised their representatives to attend, when the roll was called there were no representatives present from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) nor the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

“The Articles of Association provide that if there is no quorum within thirty minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, it shall stand adjourned to the next business day or to such other time and place as the Board of Directors may determine, and at the adjourned meeting no other business may be transacted.

“Attempts to reach the representatives from the BCA

and GCB were unsuccessful.

The meeting was eventually adjourned at 10:50 am.

The CWI Board of Directors subsequently held an Emergency Board Meeting at midday today, Sunday 28th March 2021, and decided that the AGM will resume on Sunday 11th April 2021 at 10:00 am ECT/09:00am Jamaica Time.”

It is important to note that the quorum is set at nine representatives.

Hours after its nonattendance, the GCB explained its absence from the AGM, citing concerns about financial matters and foul play by the current CWI Executives.

The GCB press release, penned by GCB Vice President Drubahadur stated: “As the Vice President of Guyana Cricket Board and an appointed representative of the GCB, at all CWI General Meetings, it is unacceptable to condone the numerous breaches of the CWI Articles of Association on Financial Matters And Governance Issues.

“The GCB has written to CWI corporate secretary on numerous occasions regarding the conduct of the AGM of 28th March especially as it relates to the financial matters, and the responses were unacceptable with adversarial views as we maintain that only shareholders can alter the Articles of Association. I am aware of all the required standards for financial accountability and would endeavour to adhere to them.

The GCB is also reliably informed that plans are being formulated to attempt to debar the GCB of its voting rights as a CWI shareholder. We were made aware of a legal opinion sought by CWI without board approval from a source that is

John claims senior title …Sampson bags junior and

Mendes takes veterans’ title

Part of the action during the day

C

ycling action continued on Sunday as many of Guyana’s top riders in the senior, junior, and masters categories participated in a 50-mile road race that began at Carifesta Avenue and headed onwards to Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) before returning to the point of origin.

Emerging as the winner in the senior category was Briton John with a time of 1:49:12, while coming in second was Marcus Keifer and third, Christopher Griffith. In the junior category, the winner was Sherwin Sampson, while in second and third were Aaron Newton and Alex Leung.

In the masters’ category, first place went to Alex Mendes, while second and third went to Sequan Hubbard and Stephen Fernandes.

The prizes for the event were as follows: senior category – 1st – $20,000; 2nd – $18,000 and 3rd – $15,000; masters’ category – 1st – $15,000; 2nd – $12,000 and 3rd – $10,000 and junior category – 1st – $15,000; 2nd – $12,000 and 3rd – $10,000.

compromised on the matter of Guyana’s situation regarding the Cricket Administration Act. We are prepared to stand our ground until there is full compliance with the CWI articles.”

Controversy over Guyana’s vote

In documents obtained

by Guyana Times Sport, this publication was able to ascertain that a legal presentation was, indeed, made surrounding the legality of Guyana’s vote at the now-postponed CWI AGM. In a letter to CWI’s Secretary/ Legal Counsel, Alanna MedfordSingh, Devindra Kissoon on London House Chambers’ behalf, outlined the timeline of GCB’s court troubles, in conflict with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (Chapter 21:03) and other administrators who had concerns about the legality of GCB’s existence and electoral process.

Kissoon’s analysis of the

Anand Sanasie

situation stated: “In light of the foregoing, it is our view that (i) There currently is no lawfullyappointed executive of the GCB, that being the case since the Act was commenced in 2014, (ii) the election held on January 2020 is unlawful, and in light of the Court’s ruling in the Kalladeen matter, in any event any such

election would be/are irrelevant, and (iii) the currently represented GCB is not entitled to participate in the upcoming Cricket West Indies election given its defunct status.”

As such, the lawyer drew the conclusion that: “We are of the firm view that there is currently no lawfully-appointed Guyana Cricket Board. The impact of this state of affairs ought to be considered by the Board, especially to consider whether the GCB can vote in the upcoming elections. Additionally, consideration ought to made as to whether any person who unlawfully holds themselves out to be a Board member of Cricket West Indies offends any other law outside of Guyana. This opinion ought to be circulated to all member boards for their information and action if needed.”

The conclusion being the cause of GCB’s belief that Guyana would have been prevented from voting in the CWI election.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt

Back in 2019, the services of Kissoon and London House Chambers were retained by then recently-elected CWI President Ricky Skerritt, on the part of the regional cricket board. This retention of the lawyer’s services coincided with Skerritt’s initial visit to Guyana; with India Games in Guyana, youth cricket and GCB’s legal woes on the CWI bosses agenda for discussion.

— Kevin aiming to improve batting

By Brandon Corlette

T

he moment Kevin Sinclair made it to the senior West Indies white-ball squad and then made his debut, he made the entire nation proud, but his grandfather Carlton Sinclair is beyond proud.

In a recent interview with <<<Guyana Times Sport>>>, the Sinclair duo spoke about their everlasting bond and Kevin's journey to the West Indies team.

The 21-year-old off-spinner also spoke about his experience with the senior West Indies team and the areas he aims to improve.

Carlton's corner

The 73-year-old proud grandfather from Angoy's Avenue in New Amsterdam, Berbice, spotted talent in his grandson from a tender age. "Since he was around eight years, he was the smallest in the set. Most of these boys were even better than him, but he held on with me. From a very young age I could have seen it in him, he had this thing in him," Carlton said.

During Sinclair's early days, his grandfather would always reward him for his success. These rewards would come in the form of Chinese food. Carlton recalled one of the most instrumental matches in Kevin's career, a match played at the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre.

"I could remember a match when I sent them guys up early. I said: if you make so much runs you will get so much money, and if you take so much wicket, you will get a raise again, we going restaurant.

When I come and asked what is the score, Kevin was ripping them boys apart," Carlton said.

That was the youth match where Kevin took seven wickets for three runs, and scored a century.

Carlton, who wore many caps in Kevin's life, including mentor and coach, was also a security guard, who invested a lot of his time in

Kevin, giving him throwdowns in the school compound and on the basketball court. The duo were always seen working hard and training at the Police Ground located at Shoe Lane, New Amsterdam.

The senior West Indies experience

Kevin, who played three T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka, said it was a special feeling to be in the West Indies squad. "The first day I was a bit nervous because I didn't know what it's like, in terms of preparation before a game, I watched and grooved in. Bravo and Pollard, the senior guys were behind me, motivating me and I was grateful for that experience, they boost me and I did fairly well."

"I am looking to cement a spot in the team. I know that would not come easy, but I need to work on my all-round game harder. In terms of staying and being consistent, you have to be consistent in all three

areas. I am looking to improve on my batting, because my bowling has gotten away from my batting, so I am looking to polish up on that area," Kevin explained.

In his debut match, he claimed 1-26 and in the final match of the T20 series against Sri Lanka, he claimed 1-19 with his off-spin.

Kevin on the bond "It started when I was small.

I was not a power packed in the team, I used to run water until I got a break in the team. He motivated me by telling me how we will go to the restaurant when I do good. I used to look at that as a million dollar for me," Kevin said.

Kevin, who plays his local cricket for Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, also spoke about that match at Rose Hall Canje, where he took 7-3 and scored a century. He described

Chris Gayle presents Kevin with his debut cap (AFP Getty Image)

that match as a turning point in his career. "He used to be motivating, even when I don't do good, he will vex with me, but I know every morning he used to train me and afternoon before games. All in all, he was behind me through my failures and success," K e v i n disclosed.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

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

GCB forces adjournment of CWI AGM

John claims senior title … Sampson Page 23

Britton John won the senior category

bags junior and Mendes takes veterans’ title

...claims Skerritt used compromised means to debar them from voting See story on page 23

Page 23

Khan wins LGC Survival Phagwah Tourney

See story on page 22

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