handle P economy

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM GRA boosting capacity to handle Guyana’s oil economy

The 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 authority 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 strengthen 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

Almost 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 online,” 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 authority 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

Police 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.

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)

An image from the CCTV footage showing the woman being robbed

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

As 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.

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.

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

(G9)

Weapons, drugs unearthed during raid at Lusignan Prison

Joint 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 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 contraband 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.

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

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM M&CC must implement stricter monitoring of D&I structures – Govt

...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

Government 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.

4 new schools to be constructed in Region 7

Four 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. 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.

Regional Executive Officer Kerwin Ward

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM A 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. Soldiers hospitalised after fight at BBQ A 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 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 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 More tugs join effort to refloat ship blocking Suez Canal UN chief criticises wealthy countries for vaccine “stockpile” 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 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 despercostly 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 shipUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised developed counone of the world’s busiest waterways. As of Sunday, more than ately trying to avoid. It also would require a crane and other equipment that have ments arriving amid the blockage. Spencer Welch, vice tries for creating a “stockpile” 300 boats were waiting to yet to arrive. president of oil markets and of COVID-19 vaccines, and transit the canal, including Experts have warned downstream consulting at called on them to share with dozens of container ships, that such a process could be IHS Markit, told Al Jazeera the rest of the world to help bulk carriers and liquefied complex and lengthy. that some refineries usually end the pandemic. natural gas (LNG) or liq- “We’re dividing the day have around a week’s worth

“I’m very concerned with uefied petroleum gas (LPG) into two halves, 12 hours for of spare crude. this very unfair distribution vessels. dredgers and 12 hours for “If we take an oil refinery of vaccines in the world,” “There are positive indi- tugs, because not all times in the Mediterranean which Guterres said in an inter- cators from yesterday and are suitable for tugs due to is using crude oil coming view broadcast Sunday by the the day before yesterday,” the tide,” said Rabie, adding from the Middle East, that Canadian channel CBC. Rabie told Egyptian state that 14 tug boats were be- refinery will typically keep

“It’s in the interest of ev- TV. ing deployed. around seven days worth erybody to make sure that as “The rudder was not Later on Sunday, Rabie of spare crude in a tank for soon as possible and in a fair moving and it is now mov- said the SCA is considering delays. It is now estimated way, everybody gets vaccinat- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ing, the propeller is work- discounts for vessels affect- that it could take two weeks ed everywhere and that vac- ing now, there was no water ed by the blockage. He also to clear the blockage in the cines are considered to be a truly global public good,” he said. The UN chief criticized the “self-interest” of rich councountries 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) underneath the bow, and told Al Arabiya TV that the Suez Canal.” (Al Jazeera) tries 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

Regional

Brazil's President ordered to pay damages to Journalist

ABrazilian 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 animosity 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 using 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)

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

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

Hours 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 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, 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

Cuban protesters demand US lift trade embargo, sanctions

Hundreds 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) Mexico 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

When 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, 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 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

The 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)

19 Around the World

OILNEWS

China's Sinopec raises 2021 capital expenditure by 23.8%

China 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

So 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 local media reports. Thai PBS reported about 3000 people had reached Thailand [Karen Women's Organization/ Twitter]

The military (KNU). launched air raids on five ar- The 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 defend-

There 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)

Killing of youths sparks protests in northwest Pakistan

Thousands 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.

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)

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

Mozambique: Dozens dead after militant assault on Palma

Dozens 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 unaccounted 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

Sudan’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 scheduled to take place in late 2022.

Last year, Sudan’s transitional authorities and another rebel alliance signed a peace deal that was a step towards ending the country’s many and long-running conflicts.

Al-Hilu’s group, which is active in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan provinces where it controls significant chunks of territory, participated in negotiations leading up to it but did not sign the final deal.

In a video posted online by the SPLM-N, al-Hilu joined

Sudan's Sovereign Council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, left, SPLM-N leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, centre, and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir gesture

after signing the declaration of principles in Juba [Jok Solomun/Reuters] and raised hands with the leader of Sudan’s interim sovereign council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan after the signing of the Juba agreement, which means talks on a final peace accord can now commence. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ARCHIE

DILBERT

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SATURDAY'S WORD - LIGATION

SUDOKU

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

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

Pay attention to detail and do the best job possible. Strive for the outcome you desire. Quickly size up situations and risks that could leave you in limbo.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Take the initiative, do your homework and put your 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.

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)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 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.

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.

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.

A secretive approach will ward off interference. A change at home or to the way you live will get you one step closer to realizing your dreams. Stop wishing and start doing.

Make changes at home that will add to your comfort and convenience. Starting a side business or making it easier to earn a living from home will help you distance yourself from certain harmful individuals.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Be willing to make the first move. Size up your situation, then take an innovative approach. Control your emotions to avoid facing a problem that limits your choices.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20- Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Hold on to your cash. Search for the best deal. Bide your time. If you act in haste, it will cost you. Sort through the pros and cons before making a decision. Anger will only make matters worse.

Hold your head high. Use your imagination to come up with a superb idea that will help you save time and money. Don't buy into someone else's dream. Consider your options, then do your homework.

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

England 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 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.

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

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 5-0-43-1 Reece Topley 9.2-0-66-1 Mark Wood 7-1-34-3 Ben Stokes 7-0-45-1 Adil Rashid 10-0-81-2 Moeen Ali 7-0-39-1 Liam Livingstone 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 season-opening victory as Mir

Windies must brush up on bowling, discipline ahead of 2nd Sri Lanka Maverick 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 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 misses out on Qatar podium West 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 masTest, insists Coach Simmons his Ducati team-mate Jack Miller. second – Bagnaia, who had blitzed the sive concern. The Sri Lankans were led by 103

With defending world champion Joan Losail lap record in qualifying, battling back from Pathum Nissanka and 96 from Niroshan Mir – starting in 10th – and fellow Suzuki to mark his first race for Ducati with a po- Dickwella. The pair frustrated and blunted rider Alex Rins struggling to keep pace ini- dium finish. the Windies bowling attack. tially, it was Monster Yamaha's Vinales who Fabio Quartararo completed the top five, For large periods of the second innings, it made his move. with Mir's team-mate Rins finishing sixth. seemed the hosts had lost their way, with a

Finding himself in fifth with 15 laps re- There was misery for Takaaki Nakagami, series of poor displays in the field and poor maining, Vinales closed the gap on Bagnaia who crashed out on turn nine midway choices to review. Simmons believes if the by the time the final seven came around. through the race, with Danilo Petrucci's team are to win a second straight Test seAfter threatening once but being held off, Vinales spotted a gap and dived through to take a lead he would not relin- quish. Bagnaia's race Tech3 KTM debut also coming ture end. (Sportsmax) to a prema- ries, 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)

Khan wins LGC Survival Phagwah Tourney

The 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,

Kylian 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) The 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)

Kazakhstan 0-2 France: Mbappe penalty miss not costly as Les Bleus cruise

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 Coach Popovich joins exclusive club

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23 GCB forces adjournment of CWI AGM

...claims Skerritt used compromised means to debar them from voting

The 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

Cycling 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

The 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 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.