Guyana Times - Monday August 23, 2021

3 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4748

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

PRICE

Flood compensation

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

“Great relief!” beneficiaries hail Govt as $7.8B relief grant begins

Govt moving P 2 ahead with development agenda – Teixeira

…says “no sleep lost” over APNU/AFC's rhetoric

13-year-old P11 robbed while walking home from lessons

Page 3 Residents of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who were severely affected by flooding receiving cash grants as part of the Government’s $7.8 billion programme to help them resuscitate their livelihoods

Guyana’s credentials on environmental are unquestionable – President Ali See story on page 7

…to work jointly with Suriname to tackle climate change, environment issues

Guyana driving COVID-19 death toll climbs to 594 agricultural 3 more die agenda in Region after …112 new cases recorded – Agri Minister Teen stabbed to death during …he was an “upstart” – drunken brawl killer to deceased's mother Page 10

Page 9

Page 8

3 injured in motorcycle accidents P11

Improper P14 garbage disposal continues in Pomeroon River Operation “Get Ready” held

by Guyana Fire P14 Service …as equipment tested for better preparedness

2 NEWS Govt moving ahead with development agenda – Teixeira MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…says “no sleep lost” over APNU/AFC’s rhetoric

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

M

aking it clear that she is personally not losing any sleep over the political Opposition’s neg-

ative rhetoric, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira said the Government’s developmental agenda will forge ahead with or without the Opposition onboard.

During an interview on Sunday with another section of the local media, Teixeira was asked about the current impasse between President Dr Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.

While the two men have constitutional matters to meet on, Harmon and his parliamentary Opposition have continued a campaign to brand the Government illegitimate.

This is despite the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) losing the elections by over 15,000 votes and having both its election

petitions tossed out by the court. Teixeira was optimistic that the APNU/AFC will come around to civil discussions with the Government at some point in time.

“We’re supposed to use our powers to govern on behalf of the people. So that’s going to be our main focus.

At some point the PNC is going to come along. They have to come along. Whether you bring them fighting and spitting or whatever,” Teixeira said.

“But when you listen to the statements in New York, they’re not helpful. How can you say you wanna talk to us and you’re calling us racist, get out of the country, we’re going to bring you down and make it ungovernable? What kind of atmosphere is that for discussions?”

Teixeira recounted the events that followed the 1997 elections and the unrest that followed because the People’s National Congress (PNC) did not want to accept the elections. She noted that at that time, the Herdmanston Accord had to be drafted and there had to be external mediation for dialogue so the country could move forward.

She noted that the PNC, the majority party in APNU/ AFC, is up to their old modus operandi.

“There is a mood out there. You’ve lost an election, you put in two petitions, you lost those as well. But

you’re carrying on fooling your supporters that you’ve won. Then you’re saying you want to talk to us. I’m sure the time will come when they will be tested. Because there are issues that have to be looked at.”

“I heard Ramjattan saying, oh we’re asking them to go on their knees. We’re not asking that… the fact that the PNC is refusing to accept the democratic will of the people, that they lost and lost more than in 2011.

In 2011 the margin of votes was 5000. It’s now 15,000. I think at some point they’re going to have to accept. They may never, but the point is, life goes on.”

Accept electoral loss

While Teixeira acknowledged that APNU/ AFC’s defeat in the March 2nd General and Regional Elections must still rankle, she pointed to the example of former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte, who stepped down from power and gracefully accepted defeat. The Minister called former President David Granger’s acceptance of the electoral loss “chalk and cheese”.

“No President likes to accept defeat. It hurts, personally and politically.

Granger’s so-called response has not helped. And then Harmon’s response has not helped. Maybe it’s the time

Opposition Harmon

Leader

Joseph

people need to settle and the Opposition isn’t allowing that to happen.”

“I think Guyanese, even those who supported APNU, are saying, look there’s a new Government. Let’s see what they’re going to deliver to us.

What people want to see is improvement in health, education, in the roads, the water, electricity, in their provision of services, in education and health.”

Teixeira highlighted the importance of a political opposition, but pointed out that society is made up of so much more. These other important facets of society include civil society, Neighbourhood and Regional Democratic Councils and the grass roots

communities.

“We had said when we came in, that we would hit the ground running. And we’ve done that, but there are issues we discover along the way. Things that were changed or undone by the former Government. People, having gone through the five months, are not patient to give us time. They want changes, they want reforms, they want house lots, they want jobs.”

“And that’s what we’re trying to do every day, in terms of our budget, the investments, the COVID relief, the flood relief which is now going to start. For our Government, in a situation where we have an Opposition that doesn’t accept you being legitimate and using these words ‘installed’ and carrying a race card all the time, this complicates the trajectory we had. It doesn’t stop us, but it does complicate it.”

The APNU/AFC has been complaining about the lack of dialogue with the PPP Government on key areas of interest, but at the same time have been labelling the Ali-led Administration as “installed”.

President Dr Irfaan Ali himself has said he is not averse to meeting the Opposition, though he has noted the Opposition designating his Government as “illegitimate” is a practical obstacle to engagements. (G3)

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Flood compensation

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, Aug 23 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, Aug 24 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Aug 23 – 17:00h – 18:30h and Tuesday, Aug 24 – 05:20h – 06:50h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Easterly to East North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 17:21h reaching a maximum height of 2.62 metres.

“Great relief!” – beneficiaries hail Govt as $7.8B relief grant begins G

overnment has officially rolled out its $7.8 billion flood relief compensation package for ordinary citizens who lost crops and livestock due to recent floods and the recipients are hailing the initiative as a “great relief.”

Four Ministers, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall, were out in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where

another recipient, also thanked President Ali, going on to urge him to “continue to do the good work.”

“Very good initiative, that will help people in this place here. And we glad that this Government doing a very good job. And we congratulate them. The President, the Vice President. They doing very good, they helping the poor people. Is a lot of loss we lost. So, we accept and bless,” one emphatic recipient said.

Omawattie Rampertaub, meanwhile, said that the

Navin Jaikissoon cheque

A beneficiary holds his cheque

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh speaks to persons who came for the flood relief grants in Port Mourant

Low Tide: 10:56h and 23:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 and 0.57 metre.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

04 08 14 18 19 23

FREE TICKET

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DAILY MILLIONS

01 13 23 24 25 LUCKY 3

6

3

1

6

Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 04 05 08 10 16 17 SUPER

PAY DAY

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$65.18/barrel

-1.95

Rough Rice

$238.68 /ton $483.50/ton

-0.21 -2.22

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1782.90

$1783.90

Low/High Change

$1776.30 +2.20

$1784.10 +0.12%

with

his

the distribution started.

The distribution points included the Rose Hall Estate Ground, the JC Chandisingh Secondary School in Port Mourant and the Yakusari Primary School in Black Bush Polder.

Paula Chisolm, who was one of the recipients of the flood relief cheques, lauded the imitative and explained that when the floods came, she experienced significant losses in her poultry stocks.

According to her, she first got her start thanks to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and now she has a second chance thanks to the flood relief cheque.

“I’m very grateful for the cheque because I know to myself I had a great loss in my meat birds and also my layers. USAID gave us 145 layers and I build from that.

And now I have 15 layers.

So I’m grateful,” Chisolm said.

Shellon Wilson, another recipient, also expressed thanks to the Government.

Lauding President Dr Irfaan Ali and Government for taking care of the people, she said the money will go a long way to replace crops and livestock that were destroyed by the floods. Another beneficiary described it as a great relief “It’s great relief, it comes at a very good time. Because the flood waters had really shake we up. And this is a great imitative of the Government,” the man, who also lost crops in the floods, explained.

Prakash Singh, who also collected his flood relief cheque, extended thanks to the Government for the assistance. Navin Jaikissoon,

flood relief cheque is much needed, as her husband is unwell. “He used to work at Oldendorff and since Oldendorff gone he na work anymore. So I’m very grateful for this kind of assistance,” Rampertaub said.

Between May and June this year, heavy rains resulted in widespread flooding across the country, affecting

Paula Chisolm was among those who received compensation

thousands of households.

The devastation included submerged buildings and vehicles with adverse effects on crops, livestock and health.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of

One of the beneficiaries of the initiative

rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. All 10 administrative regions in Guyana experienced varied levels of flooding, prompting Government to roll out immediate responses such as evacuation of those most at risk and flood assistance.

TURN TO PAGE 10

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 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

Strengthening economic alliances

W

ith a population of three-quarter million, our market is simply too small for us to seriously consider autarkic economic policies. That is, achieving self-sufficiency in fulfilling our basic needs, which, it would appear, Burnham aspired towards when he effectively banned several essential items during his dictatorship. Ironically, he acknowledged the unreality of that aspiration when he helped usher in CARIFTA - a free trade zone - among a number of ex-British West Indian colonies (1968) which then evolved into CariCom in 1973.

At a minimum, the leaders were hoping to benefit from the assumed “economies of scale”, but also aspiring to create a “community” with all that implies. They were imitating the example of the ex-colonial European rulers who had formed the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1958 and which morphed into the European Union in 1992.

But the colonial order had imposed a mindset that violated the first law of Geography: “everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things.” To wit, that while the entire world is related - and increasingly so in an age of hyper globalization for us in Guyana, our neighbors in South America were logically “more related” physically and advantage should have been taken to convert that contingency into economic ties to create synergies way above economies of scale.

Especially when we shared with Brazil, one of the largest economies in the world, a border and historically good relations. A Common Single Market and Economy (CSME) goal was adopted by CariCom in 1989 but never fructified even between us and next-door Suriname, which became a member in 1996. CSME was put on “pause”, and remains in suspended animation.

In the meantime, under the leadership of our Southern neighbors Brazil and Argentina, South America had embarked on its own ambitious “Southern Union” Mercosur - in 1991. In 2013 Guyana became an “Associate State” through a special arrangement that qualified states which had special trade arrangements with a Mercosur member - in this case Brazil. This was the “Economic Complementation Partial Scope Agreement” of 2001, which allowed tariff-free entry to an enumerated number of Guyanese products. Unfortunately, after an initial rapid increase in intra-Mercosur trade, the benefits of the union lagged by the time we joined. Mercosur, like CariCom has not moved from being a trade agreement to a customs union. China. has since become the largest trade partner with all of the Mercosur states and this remains the status quo today.

However, the just concluded visit of the President of Suriname along with a large complement of high-level government officials to promote a raft of trade and other economic agreements suggest that Guyana is poised to enter a new era as far as effectively taking economic advantage of the first law of geography - especially to enter into global and regional value chains. With Guyana and Suriname serendipitously becoming probably the last major oil/petroleum play in South America - if not the world - as we move into a new regime of renewable energy, there is much scope for cooperation and this was given official recognition. Agreements on the Corentyne Bridge between Suriname and Guyana and the completion of the paved Linden-Lethem Highway will make trade with Brazil much more feasible as had been expected with the Tataku Bridge into the latter country. Earlier this year, President Ali had already indicated the intention of his administration to strengthen economic linkages with South American neighbors and this was reiterated by both him and President Santoki as they evinced an early meeting with the president of a Brazil was in the cards.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Mercosur and maybe the leaders of this important economic bloc might be inspired by its early promise and accomplishments to once again test the maxim that in unity lies strength. And Guyana and Suriname might at last be able to fulfill their post-colonial continental destiny.

Guyana Fire Service ranks conducted Exercise “Get Ready” along Robb Street, Georgetown aimed at testing and ensuring the effectiveness of both trainee and regular firefighters in the event of a major fire (GFS photos)

Vaccine passports are less a threat to liberty than a mark of solidarity

By David Robert Grimes

I

n France over the past few weeks, the topic of vaccine passports has induced an avalanche of outrage.

Opposition to the measure has united both the hard left and right, with more than 200,000 people taking to the streets to express their contempt. In the kaleidoscope of disparate groups involved, the only unifying banner is the assertion that Emmanuel Macron’s policy is an infringement of the French tenet of liberté.

Nor is France unique in facing such resistance. In the United States, mask and vaccine mandates have generated passionate opprobrium and legal action.

Those resolutely opposed to anything styled as a vaccination passport tend to frame the issue as a solely personal choice. That can seem superficially reasonable but it highlights a crucial misunderstanding – a presumption that vaccination is solely an individual boon. On the contrary; immunisation is, at heart, a public health measure, implemented to reduce incidence and burden of disease at a population level. That it has huge individual benefit is undeniable but viewing vaccination through this reductive, individualistic lens fundamentally distorts the reality that it is about much more than protecting oneself.

Immunisation collectively reduces reservoirs for disease, providing a firewall that protects vulnerable members of society. While a Covid infection might not do a young, healthy person lasting harm, their passing on that infection could inflict substantial, even fatal, damage to vulnerable people.

This is a consideration frequently missed in the arguments about proof of vaccina-

tion in public spaces. Those decrying it as an infringement of their liberties fail to realise that others have a reasonable expectation that they should not be needlessly exposed to a potentially deadly virus if it can be avoided.

The libertarian argument fails on another level too – unvaccinated populations still pose a threat even to the vaccinated. Apart from the fact that vaccines do not have perfect efficacy, viruses mutate with reproduction. The unimmunised, in effect, constitute a mass of human petri dishes, where mutations endowed with capacity to evade the protection afforded by vaccination swiftly arise. The reduced effectiveness of vaccination against the Delta variant is a telling reminder of this reality.

How we proceed then is a challenging question. We can simultaneously acknowledge that individual rights exist, but also acknowledge that rights are not absolute and must be balanced with the freedoms of others. Very few of us would object to the imposition of speed limits on a shared public road or to restrictions on smoking in public places, given the recognition that these activities can harm others.

The concept of communal vaccination rests on the same principle. It is worth noting that these debates are certainly not new. In England and Wales, the Vaccination Act of 1853 mandated universal vaccination against smallpox, with fines levied on those who opted not to comply. Such was the virulence of smallpox that vaccine mandates for schools were introduced in several US states as early as 1827.

It’s also worth noting that, while these measures were extraordinarily effective at reducing infection,

they too were lambasted by opponents as medical despotism. Such charges have modern echoes in the slew of recent legal challenges against vaccine mandates. In one US case last week, Judge Frank H Easterbrook upheld Indiana University’s right to mandate vaccination for returning students. Ruling that a university has the right to decide the measures necessary to keep other students safe in congregate settings, Easterbrook noted: “Vaccination protects not only the vaccinated persons but also those who come in contact with them and at a university close contact is inevitable.”

Notably, this judgment relied on a 1905 supreme court decision, Jacobson v Massachusetts, which determined that states may require members of the public to be vaccinated against smallpox or risk being fined, a case motivated by the same “liberty” canard.

Context is critical too.

Even before the advent of Covid, anti-vaccine propaganda online had led to a deadly renaissance of diseases that were once virtually eradicated worldwide. Vaccine hesitancy is a spectrum and anti-vaccine activists had proved adept at weaponising social media to terrify parents. In 2019, endemic resurgence of measles forced the World Health Organization to declare vaccine hesitancy a top 10 threat to public health.

Anti-vaccine activists, galvanised by the pandemic, have made the invocation of liberty a central theme of their messaging. One especially ugly, historically illiterate stunt is their appropriation of the yellow star used to stigmatise Jews under Nazi Germany, claiming that they’re being similarly segregated from society for their beliefs. Quite

aside from being staggeringly tone deaf, this is a deplorable false equivalence.

Vaccine certification seems a reasonable requirement for communal activities and one with historical pedigree, especially when the only barrier is misguided ideological opposition. But perhaps the most pertinent issue is whether vaccine passports can help banish the spectre of the pandemic.

Despite the sound and fury, the data from France is extremely promising. The government announcement that full vaccination would be required to enter public spaces caused a massive rise in vaccination uptake in the formerly vaccine sceptical nation.

This is a vital observation, as it suggests much of the apathy was owing to complacency and laissez-faire contrarianism rather than some deep-seated opposition. While those protesting might be vocal, they are very much a minority.

Macron’s move, for all the vitriol against it, was probably well judged.

Vaccines remain our best hope and there are still important conversations to be had on how we most effectively and fairly maximise uptake for everyone and what form mandates and incentives should take. However, one thing is sure – vaccination goes far beyond the individual and choices made have inescapable societal impact. Ultimately, those who would invoke the liberté of the French national motto as their mantra against vaccination betray themselves when they omit the equally vital fraternité.

(Dr David Robert Grimes, a physicist and cancer researcher, is the author of The Irrational Ape: Why We Fall for Disinformation, Conspiracy Theory and Propaganda) (The Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

5

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

Affirmative action programmes in agriculture Dear Editor, There have been persistent cries for affirmative action programmes to help rectify imbalances in valued sectors of the economy. I have supported this initiative since 1998, in areas where there might have been discriminatory practices in the past that contributed to particular groups’ lower participation. Only last year, for instance, I responded positively to a call by Mr Tacuma Ogunseye for such programmes, which, he said are resisted by groups with advantages.

I pointed approvingly to “the Caricom Development Fund’s (CDF’s) $2.6B Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) programme, which the APNU/

AFC Government signed in Dec 2016 and implemented since 2017 to develop sustainable farming in the African Guyanese villages of Ithaca, Buxton, BV and Mocha…” and asked that it “be extended to other groups (and that) Ethnic Impact Statements should be issued to monitor compliance”.

I return to this subject for two reasons. Firstly, I noticed a news report a few weeks ago about a group of farmers in the Buxton backlands complaining to the Minister of Agriculture about “blocked drains”.

As reported by DPI, “The farmer also told Minister Mustapha that members of the various farmers’ groups have been in discussion with officers from NAREI to

identify a piece of land that can be used as a demonstration plot so that farmers in the village can be taught how to properly grow and manage the cultivation of crops like ginger, turmeric, and other non-traditional crops. Another farmer said that works were done, but were discontinued abruptly in the early parts of 2019, and that since then, maintenance works on the drains have not been carried out.” But these were precisely the areas the $2.6 billion RAID initiative was supposed to address. What happened - especially to the $1.3 billion equipment?

I had taken note of the RAID project because it appeared to a very comprehensive one funded by the CDB (US$10.44 million in

grant and loan) and another US$2 million from the Government. It included reviving 2500 acres of abandoned lands behind the 4 villages, organising 1200 farmers into cooperatives, supplying excavators, tractors, pumps (at least one installed to drain Mocha) to clear and plough the lands, having them advised by GMC to build capacity and identify local and Caricom markets. NAREI would help with extension services. The Guyana National Co-operative Union Limited (GNCUL) would assist the farmers in organising themselves while GLDA (Guyana Livestock Development Authority) pitched in. Half of the $2.6 billion would be spent on farming and drainage

equipment that (most noteworthy) would remain in the communities with the remaining funds funnelled through the co-ops.

Seedlings were handed over and then Finance Minister Jordan was commendably present in the communities promoting the RAID Initiative assuring farmers of future supplies as a “jumpstart” from NAREI. “There are crops that are planted and will give a return in 18 months, some three years, some five years, and in between, there will be intercropping with in-demand crops like turmeric, ginger and so forth, so it’s a work in progress. There is rice on the other side then there is cattle and so forth.” Again, what happened?

The second reason was that the closure of Wales was initiated simultaneously with RAID in 2017 and in the White Paper presented to Parliament on the closure, Agri Minister Holder had explained that land would be made available to dismissed sugar workers and they would be transitioned into farming and aquaculture etc. The programme sounded very much like the RAID model. This latter programme never materialised.

I am calling on the PPP Government to audit the RAID programmes for lessons in launching other affirmative action programmes in agriculture.

Sincerely, Ravi Dev

Communities can put people to work transforming their lives Dear Editor, Communities have problems, just like people and these problems are part of life. We all deal with individual problems, families have family issues, and communities have community problems. Communities must come together to solve their problems, just like families.

This must include our Government, Opposition, civil society and ordinary citizens working together and, I am sure, we can resolve most of these problems thereby creating more responsive and accountable public services, leading to a better quality of life for our people President Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Ministers of the PPP/C Government have earned respect as leaders committed to the welfare of the Guyanese people, without fear or favour, these are leaders who work long, unremitting hours toward enhancing the lives and lifestyles of all Guyanese.

However, it is time for Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo resume the rapprochement between himself and the people of Guyana in the various communities, this is the right time for establishment and resumption of the harmonious relations he portrayed and displayed to lead the PPP/C to victory in the 2021.

Vice president Bharrat Jagdeo has always urged members of the community to work together with the PPP/C Government to create people-empowerment and wealth-generating activities.

So that is why it is important for him go into the communities and remind community leaders and residents of the National Development Strategy, which prescribes a future for Guyana based on a shared commitment of private citizens and political leaders working in harmony, regardless of their social status, ethnic origin, or political party affiliation.

We must remember that this plan was developed under the direction of Bharrat Jagdeo.

When communities try to solve problems, they start just like individuals do.

They must reflect and analyse the issue to help come to a solution. But, before discussing solutions, problems must be identified.

Adolescent pregnancy, access to clean drinking water, access to electricity, child abuse and neglect, crime, domestic violence, drug use, pollution, mismanagement of resources, ethnic conflict, health disparities, inadequate emergency services, better roads and bridges.

Kids gather on the street.

Sometimes they drink, and sometimes, they get rowdy.

What is the problem here?

The drinking, the rowdiness, the gathering itself?

Or, is it possible that kids have nowhere else to go and few positive alternatives for engagement? Before looking for solutions, we would want to clarify just what is the problem (or problems) here. Unless we are clear, it’s hard to move forward.

Problems are usually symptoms of something else. What is that something? We should find out.

It is time to determine the barriers and resources It’s good practice and planning to anticipate barriers and obstacles before they might arise. By doing so, residents can mitigate them. Analysing community problems can also help us understand the resources we need. The bet-

ter equipped we are with the right resources and support, the higher our chances of success. Having a deeper understanding of a problem before we start trying to solve it helps us cover all of our bases. There’s nothing worse for members of our communities’ involvement and morale than beginning to work on a problem, and running up against lots of obstacles, especially when they are avoidable.

When we take a little time to examine a problem first, we can anticipate some of these obstacles before they come up, and give ourself and our Government better odds of coming up with a successful solution.

The ultimate goal is to understand the problem better and to deal with it more ef-

fectively, so the method and approach we choose is effective.

We all know community problems can be hard work. It takes real mental effort. Real community problems are likely to be complex. Economic development may depend on the nation’s economy, a force we can’t have much effect on.

We may have opposition, either from within the community itself, or from powerful forces trying to protect their own interests.

The analysis of real community problems may show multiple reasons behind the problem. The analysis may not always be easy. The solution may be more difficult still. But that’s why problems are problems. The analytic methods can take

us a long way. With good analysis, some resources, and enough determination, we believe even the most troublesome problems can be addressed, and ultimately, solved.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo will play pivotal role in our communities, since our community is a vision for our future where all people share equally in the wealth and bounty of Guyana where we protect its abundance, diversity, and beauty for future generations. Our PPP/C Government’s goal is to create living examples of how communities can put people to work transforming their lives.

Sincerely, David Adams

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

Page

H

ave you ever had a sunburn? If so, you know how powerful the Sun's heat can be! Did you know that this heat can also be turned into electrical energy? You may have heard about solar cells, but what about a solar updraft tower? This very simple structure uses the sun to heat up air, which then powers a turbine within a large tower. In this activity, you will build one of these towers yourself. Do you think you can make a propeller spin with just hot air?

Materials Black construction paper (about 20 x 20 inches) Smaller piece of construction paper (any colour) Pencil Scissors Tape Piece of modelling clay Wooden skewer Needle Thermometer Lamp with incandescent light bulb or heat lamp Paper Optional: sunshine, and a wind protected area outside Optional: timer Optional: white construction paper Instructions Prep Work Roll the black construction paper into a cone with a smaller opening at the top (2inch diameter) and a larger opening at the bottom (4-inch diameter).

Use tape to hold the cone in place.

Then, cut the top and bottom ends off to make them straight. The cone should be about 10-15 inches high and able to stand up by itself.

At the bottom of the cone, cut three equally distanced 2-inch by 0.5-inch arches out. These will be your air inlets. Make sure, the cone can still stand on the remaining rim.

Cut an approximately 3-inch diameter propeller out of the construction paper.

Bend the blades of the propellers about 45 degrees downwards.

With tape, attach the needle to the top of the wooden skewer with the pointy end facing upwards.

Make a ball out of modelling clay and place it on your workspace.

Look for a wind-protected space indoors to set up your solar updraft tower. It is

Foundation important that there is no external airflow happening during your experiment.

Place the black paper cone over the clay so that it is located in the centre of the cone.

observe your updraft tower for five to 10 minutes.

Think about: What happened when you switch off the lamp? How are your observations different than before?

After another five minutes, measure the temperature inside and outside the cone one more time.

Think about: How are the temperatures different now?

Clean-up Carefully remove the needle from the skewer. You can reuse all the parts of your construction. Now repeat the experiment using the white paper.

Stick the wooden skewer into the clay through the top opening of the tower, so that the skewer sticks out in the middle of the cone. The needle on top of the skewer should stick about 1.5-2 inches out of the cone.

Take the propeller and place it on top of the needle. It should be balanced and able to turn freely. You might need some practice to make sure the propeller is resting on the needle correctly.

Think about: What happens to the propeller resting on top of the needle? Does it move?

Measure the air temperature inside the tower and outside. Record the measured air temperatures on a piece of paper.

Place the lamp next to the tower and direct it towards the base of the tower as shown in the picture. Make sure you don't leave the lamp unattended during the experiment.

Switch the lamp on and observe the updraft tower for about two to five minutes.

Think about: What happens when you switch on the lamp?

After about five minutes, measure the air temperature inside and outside of the cone again. Record both temperatures.

Think about: What do you notice about the temperatures? Did it change? If yes, how?

Can you explain why?

Switch the lamp off and continue to

What happened?

Did you get your propeller to spin? In the beginning, the propeller shouldn't have moved. If it did, an external airflow from a door or wind was moving the propeller.

The air temperatures inside and outside the tower should have been pretty similar. However, this should have changed when you switched on the lamp.

The incandescent lamp emits light and heat, just like the Sun. You will notice this when holding your hand close to the light bulb. When the light shines onto the black construction paper, it absorbs most of the light and starts to heat up. The heat is trapped inside the cone, which increases the air temperature inside. As warm air is less dense than cold air, it starts to rise up the paper cone. This updraft makes the propeller on top of the cone spin, which you should have observed after a while.

The rising air reduces the air pressure inside the cone, which is why fresh air is sucked into the paper cone through the air inlets that you cut out at the bottom. This air is warmed up again, and a continuous updraft is created that keeps the propeller spinning. The cycle is only interrupted when you switch off the lamp. As there is no heat source, the air inside the cone slowly starts to cool down and after a while returns to the same temperature as the outside air. At that point, the propeller should have stopped spinning as there is no longer an updraft. You might have noticed that it took longer for the propeller to spin and that the propeller didn't spin as fast with the white construction paper. This is because white paper cannot absorb the heat from the lamp as well as the black paper can. (Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies)

By Eloise Greenfield

It takes more than a wish to catch a fish you take the hook you add the bait you concentrate and then you wait you wait you wait but not a bite the fish don’t have an appetite so tell them what good bait you’ve got and how your bait can hit the spot this works a whole lot better than a wish if you really want to catch a fish

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s credentials on environmental are unquestionable – President Ali …to work jointly with Suriname to tackle climate change, environment issues er of some 18.4 million hectares hold carbon in high density of up to 350 tons/hectare and store nearly 5.31 gigatons of carbon. This amounts to approximately 6638 tons/ person, which is the second-highest forest carbon stock per capita of any country on earth.

Net-zero carbon emitter

President Dr Irfaan Ali

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ith mounting global pressure for new fossil fuel exploration and production to halt and the transition to renewable energy be fast-tracked in light of the worsening impact of climate change, President Dr Irfaan Ali last week again defended Guyana’s push to exploit the oil and gas resources offshore to develop the country and its people.

He premised this regurgitated argument on the fact that Guyana’s environmental credentials are unmatched.

“We don’t have to hide from any discussions on environment because our credentials on the environment is unquestionable,” he contended during a joint press conference with Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who was on a fourday visit here last week.

Guyana’s total forest cov-

The Government maintains that even with ongoing oil exploration, and more specifically production activities in the Stabroek Block offshore which has a reserve of more than nine billion barrels of “light sweet crude” oil, Guyana will still remain a net-zero carbon emitter.

In fact, efforts are being made now to market the country’s carbon credit. In the past, Guyana had earned some US$250 million in a deal with Norway to keep its pristine forests intact.

But according to President Ali, while the issue of climate change is global, Guyana is already in a positive situation regarding the environment.

In the same breath, however, he posited that the country needs the trickle-down benefits from developing its oil resources.

“Our credentials on the environment outmatch anyone... We can say that, in a net way, we are a positive story on the environment side.

Now, what do we do? We have this natural resource that is

critical for the transformation of our people; that is critical to make other sectors competitive… More and more there's a timeframe that we have to exploit this natural resource and bring benefits to the other sectors, in making the other sectors competitive, in getting the necessary revenues to create the fiscal space so [that] our food programme can develop in a competitive way to meet regional, and global demand; so our tourism product can develop, and more importantly, so [that there can be] the provision of services – medical, educational services – the creation of opportunities and the opening up of new opportunities,” he stressed.

The Guyanese leader went on to outline that while Guyana, like many other countries, continues to commit to international best practices and international target on climate change, it has recognised the lack of commitment by developed countries to pledge resources to fight the climate crisis. But even as new commitments are being made by developing countries, Ali pointed out that Guyana and many other developing such, especially in the Caribbean region continue to face the brunt of the impact of climate change.

“While we continue to commit to the protection of the environment and securing the environment, we have been at the receiving end of the inaction of climate change and the

consequences but there is no vulnerability fund. We don’t contribute to the climate disaster now but we have floods as a result of climate change.

The Caribbean have changing patterns. Caricom (Caribbean Community) itself; the region suffers the greatest from climate related incidents. All the reports point to this.”

“What mechanism is there to protect the region, to safeguard the region, to help the region to mitigate against this, to help the region to recover from this. Look at what is happening with Haiti; look at the more frequent hurricanes, the floods. Where is the mechanism to help these countries in the region, to help us when we face climate disasters? So, we understand our responsibility but we understand, also, we have to find a balance in ensuring we create prosperity for our people, and prosperity for our people is prosperity for the region as a whole,” the Head of State argued.

Tackling issue together

Nevertheless, recognising that the issue of the environment is critical as they pursue

a joint economic development agenda to exploit shared resources, Presidents Ali and Santokhi during last week’s engagements agreed to tackle the issue together.

“We have had good credentials in the area of the environment. We also recognise that we share similar conditions and opportunities, challenges too as it relates to the environment and climate change. To this end, we have agreed that we're going to jointly approach the area of environment and climate change, to come up with a common strategy for both Guyana and Suriname especially in preparation for COP26 and also in exploring the possibility of merging our forest asset in the carbon credit market.”

He further pointed out that with both Guyana and Suriname in the same forest basin, if they merge potentials then the type of impact and benefit that will come to the table will be massive.

To this end, the two South American neighbours will be tapping into the expertise of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo to advance a com-

mon environmental agenda.

Jagdeo will be leading a delegation to Suriname before COP26, which is billed for October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow, United Kingdom, to coordinate strategies in dealing with climate change and the environment in both nations.

“Environmental parameters and environmental challenges, and the issue of the environment itself will be and has to be addressed in a holistic way. Because as you know, we are pursuing a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and President Santokhi is also working on a strategy that ensures a green economy.

So, issues of the environment are important to both countries and that will definitely be part of the [Joint Development] Strategy,” President Ali stated.

The LCDS is a brainchild of Jagdeo during his second term presidency. It was this initiative that Guyana brokered the deal with Norway and received payment for keeping its forests intact to offset global carbon emissions.

8 NEWS Teen stabbed to death during drunken brawl MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…he was an “upstart” – killer to deceased’s mother

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n 18-year-old was stabbed to death on Saturday night after a fight broke out at a shop where he was drinking with his relatives and friends.

Dead is Roy Boston called “Ugly Man”, a labourer of Lot 5 Swan Village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The incident occurred sometime around 22:15h at a shop in Swan Village.

Police on Sunday said that Boston was at the shop imbibing with his friends and family when several other persons also went to the shop to consume alcohol and an argument ensued.

It is alleged that Boston pulled out a knife and dealt one of the males a stab to his left-side waist and back.

The teenager then began to verbally abuse everyone at the shop and thereafter, he and the suspect had a scuffle.

According to Police reports, the suspect dealt the 18-year-old one stab to his left-side chest and cut him

Dead: Roy Boston

on his right thumb, which caused him to fall to the ground.

The suspect then made good his escape.

Boston was escorted to the Diamond Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 02:30h on Sunday.

His body is presently at the Memorial Gardens awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police said checks were made for the suspect but he

The shop where the teenager was stabbed to death

has not been found.

Guyana Times understands that the suspect is a relative of the dead teenager. He is a cousin of the teenager’s mother. However, the suspect is currently in a relationship with a young woman, with whom the dead teenager shared a one-yearold child.

The young lady got pregnant at the age of 14 and so the Welfare Department had warned Boston to stay

away from her.

Commotion

But Boston’s mother, Alicia Callistro, related to this newspaper that her son was upset over the situation and so she had advised him to leave the young woman.

On the night in question, Callistro said her son was intoxicated when he left home to go to the shop and so she sent her daughter with him. Sometime after, the woman recalled hearing a commotion at the shop.

“When I hear the noise, I tell my next son, ‘Dellon, hear noise pon the road. Go and see what happen.’ And Dellon left and go. When he come back he said ‘Mods, some man stab up meh brother and me can’t help meh brother because this man get knife’,” the grieving woman related.

Upon hearing his, Callistro rushed to the scene, where she confronted the alleged killer.

“I get a message that Marlon stab meh son to death… When I going [to the scene] I see Marlon and I say ‘Marlon, yuh jook meh son fuh true? That’s the message I get.’ He said, ‘Yes, I jook yuh son’,” the mother related.

Callistro went on to say that she questioned the suspect as to why he injured her son to which he responded saying that the teenager is an “upstart.”

Nevertheless, the woman then proceeded to the scene.

“I meet meh son on the ground with a bore in he stomach and he right thumb cut off… No more life in meh son,” the distraught woman said.

Callistro is calling for justice for Boston. She believes that her son’s murder has some connection with the strained relationship he has with the mother of his child.

Boston leaves to mourn his family, friends and oneyear-old child.

Investigations are in progress as Police continue to hunt for the suspect. (G8)

Who are the…

R

…house slaves? esponding to some Big Market cussdowns – all the way from Brooklyn – at an “Anti-PPP Racism March & Rally”, PM Mark Phillips issued a Press Release denouncing the “numerous malicious and false claims” made by the APNU MPs and associates. He also panned statements by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries at the rally as “appalling”. Your Eyewitness thought it quite a mild and temperate response to the very incendiary statements made by the large Opposition delegation. They focused on the alleged “racism” of the Govt of which Phillips is a prominent member.

But how dare he even respond??!! The Guyanese expatriate from Brooklyn – seemingly the chief cook and bottle washer of the Rally – went ballistic. It was clear that the source of his ire wasn’t anything that Phillips said…it was what he DIDN’T say. Phillips didn’t even allude to him much less mention his name!! Now for a fella who’s spent decades in NY fighting to become somebody in GUYANA (!) this was the ultimate humiliation!! After all, what can you say about a man who’s ashamed about living in Brooklyn and claims residence in Dix Hills, an upscale suburb in Long Island??!! Or that he worked in the Office of the President in Guyana, but doesn’t say it was as a teenaged office go-fer!!

So how did the grizzled grifter, “Straight out of Canarsie”, counter the PM? That the latter was “a despicable, token, house slave.” Imagine that!! Following Malcolm X, the term “house slave” has become the worst insult one Black man can hurl against another. House slaves were seen as taking Massa’s side against his own people and were contrasted to the “Field Slave” who was given no quarter and asked for none. But with Haitians at the rally the Brooklyn hustler should know that Toussaint L’Ouverture was a house slave!!

Anyhow, if, according to the Dix Hills wannabe, any African Guyanese who works with the PPP is a “house slave”, what does he call the Indian Guyanese who join the PNC?? Like the six or so of them who shared his stage in Brooklyn?? Well, since they didn’t share the “slave” legacy, maybe he’ll consider the Indian Guyanese equivalent –- “Neemakaram”!! These were the indentureds who wouldn’t strike but take Massa’s side when there was a labour dispute in the fields.

But your Eyewitness really wants to know why the schoolyard name calling? The name caller betrays his lack of imagination to merely regurgitate an abused cliche that’s now bereft of its original sting. Presently don’t most politicians have to be “house slaves” to get elected to Congress? Check out Hakeem Jeffries top 20 campaign donors – all Wall Street biggies!

He who pays the piper… …fans of Fanon Seems that after a decade of relative quiet on the Fanonian Front, the venerable revolutionary who passed away sixty years ago this December is making a comeback. In case you forgot what Fanon was famous for, it was his dictum that violence wasn’t just useful because it could get rid of the colonists – but was “cathartic” since it restores the damaged 'self' of the armed insurrectors!

Violence was good for the soul!!

Have you heard the rhetoric of some of the minnows who want to seize the leadership of the PNC from Granger and Harmon? Positively Fanonian!! They’re not just talking about removing the PPP via the ballot box any longer – they know their rigging attempt failed and they see the petition going nowhere – but they’re calling for its “undermining and overthrow”!! Outflanking Granger!!

But it’s clear they’ve forgotten the last Fanonian assault “Straight out of Buxton”!! As always, the violence ended up devouring those with the guns!

At that point doesn’t the state of their souls become moot?

…successful COVID-19 countries Sure, Mauritius is an island, but with the same population as Trinidad’s 1.3 million imagine them having only 22 deaths from COVID-19 as opposed the latter’s 1219!!

Rowley dissed Guyana, but maybe he should call Mauritius?

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 death toll climbs to 594 after 3 more die …112 new cases recorded

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wo males and one female who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

The woman, 75, was from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) along with one of the males, who was 54 years old. The other fatality was a 62-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

According to the Health Ministry, these patients were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving

care at medical institutions. Samples were taken at the time of admission and the tests subsequently returned positive.

With these three latest fatalities, the total number of deaths from the pandemic has increased to 594. The death toll for the month of August is now 48.

Meanwhile, another 112 persons have contracted the deadly virus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 24,336.

The Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday showed that 16 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 1362 persons are in

isolation, that is, 102 in institutional isolation and the other 1260 in home isolation.

This takes the current active cases in Guyana to 1378. Additionally, there are also five persons in institutional quarantine.

So far, some 22,364 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease – 46 more recoveries were recorded in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a total of 254,453 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak

of the pandemic here last year. Of this, 11,811 males and 12,525 females were found to be positive.

Of the 112 new COVID cases recorded on Sunday, 12 were detected in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 15 in the Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara region, a whopping 59 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica region, three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 21 cases in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and the remaining two cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) in the last 24 hours.

In order to curb the rising number of cases in the country, the Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February and is aggressively rolling it out in the various regions in order to achieve herd immunity.

According to recent figures, more than 58 per cent of the adult population has received their first dose of

the vaccine, which is approximately over 298,000 persons. Meanwhile, fully immunised persons in the country are in excess of 152,000, representing just over 29 per cent of the population who are 18 years and older.

Persons are encouraged to get immunised since the COVID-19 vaccine gives full protection against death. In fact, Health authorities have disclosed that no one who is fully vaccinated with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been hospitalised or died from the virus.

Nevertheless, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 22 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

112

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

102

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1260

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

16

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

5

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

12,525

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

11,811

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

24,336

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

22,364

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

296,059

FULLY IMMUNISED

152,433

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

594

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1348

REGION 2

720

REGION 3

2839

REGION 4

11,109

REGION 5

798

REGION 6

2008

REGION 7

1320

REGION 8

381

REGION 9

2217

REGION 10

1596

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include vaccination requirements to access certain social locations

such as restaurants and cinemas as well as some Government services.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 209,876,613 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 4,400,284 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 81,226,913 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,065,166. (G8)

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana driving agricultural agenda in Region – Agri Minister

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Caricom Secretariat

ith Guyana recently taking up the chairmanship of the Special Ministerial Task Force on agriculture in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that Guyana is once again driving the agriculture agenda in the region.

Guyana has for some time had the epithet “bread basket of the Caribbean”.

According to Mustapha during a recent programme, the country is firmly back on track as a regional leader in agricultural matters.

“Guyana today is on the international stage. We are driving the agenda of agriculture in the Caribbean.

We have once again taken our rightful place.

Our President is our lead spokesperson on agriculture in Caricom,” Mustapha said.

“Guyana today is chairing the Special Ministerial Task Force on the agri food system in Caricom. And we are diversifying, not only going through the normal activities that were there

all the time, traditional activities like the crops. We are diversifying, including what we have and we are moving to create more crops.”

The Minister also spoke of the progress the Ministry of Agriculture has made under his tenure. According to him, there has been an increase in production in a number of areas, including in the rice industry.

“More markets are being created for our farmers. they are now embarking on more development in terms of agri-processing. Generally, we are moving the sector from a subsistence sector to one where we are back on track,” Mustapha said.

The Special Ministerial Task Force is a product of the 32nd Caricom Heads of Government Meeting that was held in February.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had put forward the Food Production and Food Security Agenda during the meeting and Caricom subsequently endorsed the agenda, agreeing to the estab-

lishment of the task force to implement the strategy.

The task force comprises Agriculture Ministers and other officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, The Bahamas, Dominica, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Mustapha, who currently serves as Chairman of that Special Ministerial Task Force, had hosted the inaugural meeting with Ministers of Agriculture from the ten participating Caricom member states in April.

During his address at the meeting, Mustapha had said the objective of the task force is to guide the regional position towards the transformation of the agrifood system, allowing for a significantly more resilient, wealth-generating and food-secure region.

To this end, the Minister had also said that an implementation plan with 36 broad policy areas will be used. Select priority sectors such as poultry, corn/soya

bean, rice, beef, pork, mutton, coconut, niche vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices, ginger and turmeric have also been identified to advance the commercialisation agenda of the regional food system.

During the meeting, the Task Force also reviewed, amended, and accepted the Terms of Reference (ToR) which were developed by a team of technical officers from the Caricom Secretariat. The TOR outlines the objectives, purpose, membership and governance of the task force.

Programme Manager with responsibility for Agricultural and AgroIndustrial Development of Caricom, Shaun Baugh had also discussed the implementation plan for the

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

strategy during the meeting.

He had said the objective of the plan was to commercialise the regional agrifood industry with actual

commencement of Private Sector production activities in priority sectors identified, within a three-year window. He also discussed several broad policy measures and reforms required to support the commercialisation of the region’s agrifood system.

For 2020, Guyana saw mixed performances from the agriculture sector. While sugar production fell, rice production increased. The rice-growing sector grew by 4.8 per cent, with paddy production reaching 1,057,580 tonnes in 2020. With respect to the production of other crops, despite excessive rainfall in November and December, this sector is estimated to have grown by 6.6 per cent in 2020. (G3)

“Great relief!” –beneficiaries hail Govt as $7.8B...

FROM PAGE 3

One of the beneficiaries

Prakash Singh poses with his compensation

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha hands over a cheque to a recipient in Black Bush Polder

Following extensive fieldwork, the President had announced in a national address last month that $7.8 billion in flood relief assistance would be provided for citizens and farmers who were affected in all 10 administration regions by the rains and flooding that beset Guyana earlier this year Approximately 52,000 households were affected in categories of homestead farmers, kitchen gardens, and households exclusive of farms/gardens. In these categories, the Head of State noted, farmers within the context of a homestead will receive $100,000 each, those with kitchen gardens will receive $50,000 each and households excluding homestead

Another beneficiary

some large-scale farmers were severely affected, especially in the rice and poultry sectors, the ceiling of assistance will not exceed $10 million for individual farmers.

With regards to the rice sector, where 50,000 acres of farmlands and 2000 farmers were directly affected, President Ali announced that farmers with harvest ready rice that were destroyed will receive $80,000 per acre and rice sowed and lost in the autumn crop, these farmers will receive $65,000 per acre.

For land that was completely prepared but was

Residents turned out in their numbers for the flood relief compensation in Rose Hall

and kitchen garden will receive 50,000 each.

The President explained that the combined assistance to homestead farmers, kitchen gardens and households for these categories will be in excess of $3.5 billion. He acknowledged that whilst

not sowed, $45,000 per acre will be given to these farmers. In addition to this support, 60,000 bags of seed paddy will be made available. The combined assistance in these four categories will be in excess of $3.2 billion. (G3)

11 3 injured in motorcycle accidents Unidentified man found dead at Vreed-en-Hoop NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

The damaged minibus and motorcycle that were involved in the accident

hree persons were injured over the weekend in separate accidents involving motorcycles.

Injured are 24-year-old Semaul Welcome; Maroldo Durant Marvin, 18, and his 14-year-old pillion rider.

Reports are that Police in Berbice, Region Six, (East Berbice-Corentyne), are on the hunt for the driver of an unregistered minibus who hit two teenagers on a motorcycle.

Eighteen-year-old Marvin and his teen pillion rider, both of North Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice, were on motorcycle CE 9855 around 22:00h on Saturday evening on Main Road, New Amsterdam, when the silver-coloured minibus with trade plate MP#1 struck them.

Investigations revealed that the bus with trade plate MP#1 was proceeding east along Pitt Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, at a fast rate of speed and turned north onto Main Road without stopping and the rightside front of the vehicle collided with the left portion of the motorcycle, which was proceeding north along the western drive lane on Main Road at a fast rate of speed.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist and the pillion rider were thrown from the motorcycle and landed onto the road’s surface, resulting in them receiving injuries.

They were picked up in a conscious state by public-spirited citizens and placed in the minibus, which took them to New Amsterdam Public Hospital

for medical attention.

However, the driver drove away afterwards.

The two teenagers were seen and examined by the doctor on duty who admitted them for observation in the Accident and Emergency Department suffering from cuts and bruises about their bodies.

Checks were later made to locate motor vehicle MP#1 which was found parked in a yard at Bristol Street, East Canje, Berbice.

The vehicle was seen with damages consistent with a collision. Police said that several efforts were made to locate the owner and driver of the vehicle but this proved futile.

Meanwhile, a Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

resident is now hospitalised with a fractured hip and left foot after his motorcycle collided with a car late Saturday night.

The accident occurred at about 22:30h on the Tuschen Public Road.

Police said enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding west along the southern side of the road when the driver turned north into the path of the motorcycle, which was proceeding east along the northern side of the said road.

The motorcycle collided with the left side front door of the motor car.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist fell onto the road’s surface and received a fractured hip and left foot, along with lacerations to his neck, chest, lip and stomach.

He was picked up in a conscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital but as a result of the extent of his injures he was later transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was further treated and admitted as a patient.

The driver of the motor car, a resident of Zeelugt North, EBE, along with his vehicle, was escorted to the Leonora Police Station. A breathalyser test was conducted and showed zero micrograms of alcohol.

Investigations are ongoing in both incidents.

13-year-old robbed while walking home from lessons

A

teenager was Saturday afternoon robbed by two bandits on a motorcycle while on his way home from lessons.

Reports are that the incident occurred at about 16:30h at West Minister, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

According to Police, the 13-year-old boy was heading home from lessons when he was approached by the two males on an XR motorcycle.

One of the men jumped off the motorcycle and pointed a black metal gun to the victim’s head and relieved him of a LG cellular phone valued $35,000 and $500 cash. The perpetrators then made good their escape.

The Police were summoned and the area was searched for the suspects but they were not seen.

Only on Friday evening, an 18-year-old of Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, was robbed after being ambushed by men armed with a cutlass.

Police reports state that the incident occurred at about 21:30h.

The victim was walking home along the Tuschen Access Road when the two unidentifiable suspects rode up alongside him from behind on one bicycle. They

then dismounted the cycle and one of the suspects rushed to him with a cutlass and placed it to his neck.

The teenager was threatened to hand over his belongings, to which he complied. Both suspects jumped onto their bicycle and made good their escape.

The stolen articles included a five-pennyweight gold chain valued $65,000, two Samsung Galaxy cellular phones (A10 and A20) valued $90,000 and $10,000 cash.

The incident was subsequently reported to Police and an investigation has since been launched.

Meanwhile, on the same evening, two males pulled off a similar robbery at La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

A 23-year-old female and her husband were walking along the La Grange Public Road at about 00:10h when they were approached by two unidentified males – one armed with a gun and the other with a knife.

The suspects managed to escape on foot after relieving them of a haversack containing one ID card, one bank card, one umbrella, $42,000 cash, one Blu cell phone valued $4000 and a silver chain valued $17,000.

Police are still investigating.

The unidentified man who was found on the Vreed-en-Hoop New Road, West Coast Demerara, on Sunday morning

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he body of an unidentified man was found on the Vreed-enHoop New Road, West Coast Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The discovery was made on Sunday morning at about 07:30h.

Police say an unknown caller reported that the body of a male of East Indian descent was seen lying motionlessly on the road.

As a result, the scene was visited by a party of Police who discovered the

male lying motionlessly on the road’s corner, clad in a brown short sleeved jersey, long blue jeans and white sneakers.

The body was checked but no marks of violence were seen on the exposed parts of his body.

He was picked up and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

12

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

Scenes from distribution of floo

1 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13

od relief cash grants in Region 6

14 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Improper garbage disposal continues in Pomeroon River …persons caught will be punished – Regional Chair

Region Two Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva

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egion Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva will be working assiduously in the coming week to address the alarming reports of garbage disposal in the Pomeroon River.

The issue of garbage disposal was raised at a recent statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at the Anna

Regina boardroom.

She related that there are numerous complaints about the unlawful dumping of garbage in the Pomeroon River.

"I will not tolerate such a practice under my stewardship. I am a person who is passionate about eco-tourism, and it is quite distressing to see that residents and vendors in the Charity area are indiscriminately dumping their waste into the Pomeroon River," De Silva said.

It was reported that this is a regular practice by residents and vendors at Charity.

Sometime back in March, De Silva called for hire car and minibus drivers to ensure that they carry a black bag in their vehicle so that passengers can properly dispose of their garbage.

"Essequibo is known to be one of the cleanest regions in Guyana and we want to maintain its good name, so I'm calling on all Essequibians to uphold that good name and practice proper garbage disposal and other good hygiene,"

Garbage that has been dumped into the Pomeroon River under Charity wharf Garbage floating in the Pomeroon River

De Silva said at the statutory meeting.

The regional official, however, urged the general public to fully utilise the dumpsites that are available in Lima and Charity. Proper waste disposal improves air and water quality as well as reduces greenhouse gas emissions, she told the RDC. On this note, she promised to engage the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to speedily address the situation. She also threatened to

punish those found culpable.

Meanwhile, speaking with Guyana Times, a captain who operates a boat service along the river said that vendors and businessmen in Pomeroon and Charity are carelessly dumping their garbage in the waterways.

He added that this act imposes negative effects on people, the surroundings, and also marine lives.

"Plastic bags, food boxes, bottles, and other unwanted wastes are dumped into the river... Although persons

know it's not right and can pave a grave danger to boat operators utilising the waterways, yet they continue to dump their garbage into the water," the boat captain noted.

Meanwhile, Otham Smith, a resident of Charity stated that plastic bags can severely affect operators of outboard engines, and can cause serious accidents and the concomitant loss of innocent lives.

Smith added that this debris can harm physical habitats, transport chemical pollutants, and threaten

aquatic lives, while further interfering with human uses of the river, marine life, and coastal environment.

"Dumping garbage into the Pomeroon River will ruin the beautiful surrounding of Charity and the good name of Essequibo... So I think that people should desist from throwing their unwanted waste into the river and let Essequibo remain as the cleanest region in Guyana,” Smith said.

Dumping garbage into the river causes oceanic pollution and can lead to the death of marine life. (G14)

Operation “Get Ready” held by Guyana Fire Service …as equipment tested for better preparedness

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he Guyana Fire Service on Sunday hosted operation “Get Ready” on Robb Street, Georgetown, as it tests the ability of 60 of its ranks to respond to major fires.

Speaking with the media during the exercise, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who was on site, said that the fire service is testing its operational assets as

well as its preparedness for any major fire. “…So the effort is to test both the readiness and functionality of the equipment, but also the engagement of the crews and the management,” Minister Benn said.

As part of the exercise, several fire trucks, the high ladder truck and the fire boat, which was sending water from the

Demerara River at the John Fernandes Wharf, were operationalised.

“We are rolling out both the fire service and its sister unit the emergency management personnel and assets, the ambulance service, which has been busy, we recently opened up the fire stations at Melanie along with an ambulance unit, Mabaruma, Mahdia and

Lethem are fire stations that are to be operationalised. “We all know what the risk of fire means to the city itself, Georgetown but also the outlying communities and interior communities, so this is the response both in relation to fires, mitigation and prevention, and the lifesaving aspect and response related to emergency ambulance services,” Benn is quoted by DPI as saying.

He also emphasised that public relations will be ramped up to spread awareness to communities, using social and traditional media to spread the messages

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn examining the fire boat on Sunday during Operation “Get Ready”

in relation to fire prevention and safety.

Additionally, all fire hy-

drants in the city are being checked.

“Testing the functionality of the hydrants, what work is needed to repair them over a period of time, and also to identify the lines leading to them whether they could be pressurised or would have to be replaced, so that’s a big assessment project that is underway,” Benn said.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer noted that the equipment acquired through the Government of Guyana’s initiative will boost the service’s strength and will help them to be better prepared for any eventuality.

The Government, he said, will continue to invest in ensuring that the GFS is adequately equipped to fight fires in Guyana. The five recently acquired fire trucks were also part of the exercise.

Chief Fire Officer Kalamadeen Edoo and Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Wickham were present during the activity on Sunday.

NEWS

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Construction of surgical block underway at Kamarang District Hospital

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y the end of this year to early 2022, construction of a surgical block currently underway at the Kamarang District Hospital, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), should be completed as Government aims to outfit the facility with full diagnostic capacity.

During a multipurpose two-day visit to the Upper Mazaruni region, Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa

Mahadeo and his team from the Regional Health Services (RHS) inspected ongoing works and services at the health institution.

“At Kamarang, the theatre, the surgical capacity is being built as we speak.

There the contractor is building the new surgical block to which wards will be attached. Subsequently and hopefully at Kamarang you will also have full diagnostic capacity; that is to have X-rays, to have

full laboratory capacity, not only to have the ultrasound machine but to have someone to be able to use the ultrasound machine,” the Health Director noted, according to a report from the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Dr Mahadeo said as the secondary health facility in that part of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Kamarang is being outfitted with modern facilities to meet the needs of residents. This, the Director General noted, is in keeping with the mandate of President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to develop regional health services and ensure every citizen regardless of geographic location benefits from proper healthcare.

“So, patients from all these areas that are referred to Kamarang, and very often they are referred to Kamarang but

Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo speaking with residents of Kako during his two-day visit to the Upper Mazaruni region

end up being in transit to Georgetown because of the types of emergencies, we want this to change. People

need to be able to access services like the regional hospitals on the coast,” Dr Mahadeo stated.

He said this can only be achieved through the support of doctors and medical officers who are also willing to take up the mantle and serve the Government in this capacity in the hinterland regions.

The Kamarang District Hospital serves approximately 12 communities in the Upper Mazaruni region, these include, Waramadong, Jawalla, Quebanang, Kako, Phillippai and Paruima.

In 2019, the hospital’s capacity increased with the construction of a doctors’ quarters. The hospital also got additional rooms to facilitate the Environmental Health and Dentistry departments and a Laboratory. However, the facility had no electricity, and since coming into office, the PPP/C Government has ensured the hospital is fully powered, with its own solar power system.

Govt focused on making social services more accessible – Minister Persaud cannot attend an office, how alternative venues for payment have been established, and how the banking system for delivery was made possible. All of these new systems, the Minister noted, were put in place to cater for the issues that pensioners have been having.

“I have always been concerned about the long lines

at the post offices, so this triggered me to push all of this,” she reflected, as she encouraged residents to get to know the members on the Board of Guardians and share concerns with them.

“If we are doing all of this in one year, you can be assured that there’s so much more to come. We want you to keep abreast with what

we’re doing and take advantage of the opportunities,” Minister Persaud urged.

The Minister also outlined the recent measures announced by the President that will benefit pensioners, those receiving public assistance and living with disabilities at each of the stops including Three Friends, the final stop in the visit.

Eteringbang gets additional flood relief supplies Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud during her outreach to Region 10 on Friday

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n her latest outreach to communities across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud assured residents that her Ministry is constantly working to improve the services being offered and will stop at nothing to ensure that access is made easy to them.

Persaud and her team made their first stop at a village called Old England, where they engaged with residents, sensitising and updating them on the numerous programmes being offered by the Ministry including for persons living with disabilities, public assistance, foster care, among others.

As the team was in the process of distributing hampers, several persons signed up for the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme and benefitted from one-

on-one interactions with Minister Persaud.

“We, my team and I, are here to troubleshoot, problem solve and tell you all about the good programmes that are ahead,” Minister Persaud told residents in the company of Linden Childcare and Protection Officer Huette Moore, Senior Training officer of the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) Sanjay Pooran, Deputy Director of Social Services Hamwanttie Bissesar, and other officers.

At Coomacka, one of the areas visited, Minister Persaud emphasised, “Each one of you is to be supported, provided for. The entire team is here to ensure that you not only know of the services we offer but that you are able to access the services right in your community,” she added.

By taking the Ministry’s services to the people of Region 10, residents were

able to benefit from the Ministry’s spectacles programme of free eye tests, get their questions about the COVID-19 vaccine answered, sign up for several programmes, and iron out issues that have impacted their access to services. Training was also done with the local Boards of Guardians during which members were trained on public assistance programmes and how cases should be handled.

“Government has been focused on development across the country. The President and all of the Ministers have been addressing every sector and today I am focused on the human services sector,” Minister Persaud told residents.

She pointed out how the Ministry has shortened the time for providing pension books, how pensioners can now present their life certificates via WhatsApp if they

Eteringbang residents receiving additional flood relief supplies

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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Friday last delivered a quantity of additional food hampers, hygiene kits and water purification tablets to the community of Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Persons residing on the waterfront are significantly impacted, and as such, were in need of supplemen-

tal relief aid.

The hampers were distributed by regional representatives, along with CDC personnel. The Commission maintains partnerships with all national and regional bodies to receive regular updates on the flood situation across Guyana.

Last week, the CDC reported that dozens of households, commercial en-

tities and farmlands were inundated in the mining community.

Relief supplies were then dispatched to Eteringbang after a flood assessment conducted by the CDC at in the community, and nearby locations, showed the waters had risen some 10 feet.

TURN TO PAGE 16

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Haiti quake toll rises as Eteringbang gets additional... gangs hamper aid efforts

In this file photo Police Officers monitor the crowd as earthquake victims receive supplies during the distribution of food and water at the '4 Chemins' crossroads in Les Cayes, Haiti, August 20, 2021. (Photo, AFP)

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he death toll in the major earthquake that struck Haiti on August 14 has risen to 2,207, authorities said Sunday, as attacks on aid convoys have complicated efforts to bring relief to survivors.

"New bodies have been found in the south," said a statement from the country's civil protection office, adding that 344 people remain missing and 12,268 have been listed as injured.

The previously reported toll was 2,189 dead.

Search-and-rescue workers are continuing to pick through the jumbled mounds of debris left by the powerful 7.2-magnitude quake, but hopes of finding survivors were fading by the hour.

Haitian authorities said nearly 600,000 people were directly affected by the disaster and are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

But efforts to deliver food, water and medical supplies to quake victims have been complicated not just by road and bridge damage but by attacks on aid convoys by so far unidentified gangs.

"We have a security problem that is becoming more and more serious," said Jerry Chandler, director of Haiti's civil protection agency.

Since early June, a two-kilometre (1.2 mile) stretch of highway running to the southwest peninsula from Port-au-Prince has

been unsafe to travel, amid persistent gang violence in a desperately poor neighbourhood of the capital.

"We're literally facing a problem of banditry, and we're working flat out with the police, who are sending reinforcements to the south," Chandler said.

Some of the worst destruction was in hard-toreach rural areas, so the Haitian authorities have been using a United Nations helicopter and eight US aircraft to deliver aid.

Aid delivery in hard-hit Les Cayes, Haiti's third-largest city, was being organized largely by inexperienced private groups or individuals, and fights have broken out amid those waiting for help.

"We don't want to discourage the good Samaritans," Chandler said, but he urged people to communicate with his office so it could help organize the most efficient delivery of aid to those in greatest need.

Brazil meantime joined in the aid efforts, dispatching a military KC-390 cargo plane carrying a team of 23 firemen and 10 tons of medical and emergency equipment to Haiti.

"Solidarity is a characteristic of the Brazilian people," President Jair Bolsonaro said in announcing the flight. (AFP)

Other areas in Region Seven were also affected by the floods caused by torrential rainfall over the past few weeks.

The National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) received reports that an average of 80 households, commercial entities and farmlands were inundated at Eteringbang and as such, dispatched a small assessment team along with 80 food hampers, 200 cleaning hampers, and 10,000 water purification tablets.

The team travelled by boat from the town of Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, where they noticed many landings and villages impacted by the rising waters of the Cuyuni River due to torrential rainfall. The Wyamo Landing, Two Point Mining Camp, Devil’s Hole Island and Kurushie Landing all had seen water levels rise by at least three feet over one week. Cumang Landing and Makapa saw flood waters increase by at least four feet in less than one week.

All the settlements and dwellings observed along the Cuyuni River were affected by the current floods, the CDC said last week.

After careful observation and interaction, it was surmised that at least two dozen business establishments and over 170 households were affected by the floods.

The health centre and primary school at Eteringbang

FROM PAGE 15

CDC officials handing over relief hampers to flooded Eteringbang residents

were impacted as well.

Many persons were forced to seek higher ground as the waters rose, which also meant limited access to healthcare and essential supplies. The regional representatives distributed the hampers and long boots to affected residents by way of a list they compiled while going door-to-door along the riverbank. The assessment also revealed that more food and cleaning hampers are needed, along with mosquito nets; more long boots and medical supplies.

Residents and visitors in the area confirmed that

while the water levels have fluctuated over the past three months, this is the highest it has been in a long time. Eteringbang is located on the Guyana-Venezuela border.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. All 10 administrative regions in Guyana experienced varied levels of flooding, prompting Government to roll out immediate responses such as evacuation of those most at risk and flood assistance.

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T&T tourism sector Afghan woman gives birth to baby prepares for reopening girl on US evacuation plane

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A

s vaccination numbers and vaccine options in T&T continue to rise, plans for the reopening of shutdown industries continue to be developed.

In the past few weeks, restaurants have resumed service, and retail outlets have reopened their doors.

Personal services are also gearing up to follow suit soon.

While the country’s borders have been reopened in July 17, the tourism industry has not.

But, at the start of August, there was some indication that there might be movement towards that changing as an official document from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts entitled “Tourism sector resilience:COVID-19 Protocols for the T&T Tourism Sector 2021.” was released.

According to the document, “the overarching goal of this document is to support the recovery and sustainability of the tourism sector, particularly from a health perspective in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

The document outlines guidelines for the tourism and hospitality sector to implement recommended public health measures, protocols and procedures that can mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the conduct of their operations as well as facilitate a sustainable restart of the tourism economy in T&T. The document, according to its mission is also to be used to ensure that all entities who fall under the umbrella of the sector fall in line and conform to the ‘new normal’ throughout the tourism value chain in order to promote the health of visitors and the workforce.

The Ministry shared the document on its social media page on Thursday.

Among the entities ad-

vised to follow these guidelines are hotels, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, villas, restaurants and bars, beaches, lifeguards, sites and attractions, tour operators and tour guiding services, tourism transportation and water sports.

Apart from typical social distancing and sanitisation guidelines, the document also strongly advocates for digital processes for ordering of food and booking or rooms and services.

In his message in the document to stakeholders, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell noted the industry had suffered significantly during the pandemic after seeing an upward trend prior.

“Before our first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, the first three months of the year showed great promise with an improved performance for the first three months, and the Carnival period led the way with a 6.5 per cent increase in visitor arrivals over Carnival 2019. The period March 2020 and continuing into 2021 has presented the greatest challenge to the travel and tourism industry by far,” said Mitchell, who added that this country and by extension the Caribbean region had seen “ its vulnerabilities exposed by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mitchell said, “ The development of these health and safety protocols will ensure that the warmth and hospitality that our twin islands have become known for is still available to our visitors, but within the context of a safe environment through a robust continuing system of the monitoring and management of risk.”

He explained that the health and safety protocols are intended to give our stakeholders the confidence that they can once again welcome their guests safely

while also providing potential visitors with the confidence “ that they are coming to a destination that can give them a memorable experience, within an environment that cares for their safety.”

CEO of Tourism Trinidad Heidi Alert agreed that harping on health and safety was now key to the industry. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

woman evacuated from Afghanistan amid the continuing chaos in the country has given birth to a baby girl on an evacuation flight.

The US Air Force said the Afghan woman went into labour en route to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Medical personnel boarded the plane after it landed and delivered the baby in the aircraft’s cargo hold.

Both baby and mother are said to be in good condition at a nearby medical facility.

At one point on the journey, the pregnant woman began having “complications”, the thread said. The pilot had to descend in order to increase air pressure on board the plane, “which helped stabilise and save the mother’s life”.

Thousands of Afghans are outside the international airport in the capital, Kabul, days after the Taliban took control of the city, waiting in the sweltering heat and a

throng of people for a chance to flee the country. US forces currently control the airport.

About 17,000 people have so far been airlifted from the site by the US military, the White House said on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden has set a deadline of 31 August for the withdrawal of all US troops from the country. However, several nations are seeking an extension to this deadline to help safely evacuate their citizens and Afghans who served with Western agencies. It is feared they are at risk of Taliban reprisals.

“They want to evacuate 60,000 people between now and the end of this month,” EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell told AFP news agency on Saturday. “It’s mathematically impossible.”

The Taliban have blamed the US for the chaos at the airport.

“America, with all its power and facilities... has failed to bring order to the airport,” Taliban official Amir Khan Mutaqi reportedly said.

“There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport.”

(BBC)

Tracking Henri: State of emergency declared in New York and Connecticut

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Storm Henri is expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain in the New York area (NY Post photos)

state of emergency is in effect in both New York and Connecticut due to Henri.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday in anticipation of the storm reaching the coast of Long Island on Sunday.

President Joe Biden has approved Cuomo’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration, which authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency protective measures in the storm’s aftermath.

“We’ve move equipment from as far away as Buffalo all the way down to Long Island. When you have a situation like this, we go into what we call ‘flex mode,’ where the area of the state that is affect-

ed reflects all the equipment and personnel to that affected area. That is all very expensive. And this federal declaration means the state and the local government will be reimbursed for that cost,” Cuomo said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has also declared a state of emergency in New York City. He urged New Yorkers to prepare for the storm and stay indoors Sunday.

“Take time now. Change your plans for tomorrow if you have to. Prepare if you’re in someplace prone to flooding. Take whatever steps you can, prepare.

We’ll constantly update you. If you have belongings outside that might fly around in high winds, please secure them now,

and then tomorrow, keep an eye on neighbors, loved ones, see if they need any-

thing. Provide that support,” de Blasio said. (CBS New York)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

Regional

“Everyone was crying”: Barbados, Ghana hold special service Grieving Haitians bury B their dead a week after quake arbados and Ghana held a special joint virtual/in-house church service Sunday morning, which was broadcast simultaneously from the Christ Church, Legon chapel in Ghana and the St George Parish Church in Barbados.

The service formed part of activities for the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. In addition, the service celebrated the continuing relationship between the two countries, following the Transatlantic Slave

F

amilies gathered in villages in southwestern Haiti this weekend for church and funeral services a week after an earthquake battered the region, killing more than 2200 people and destroying tens of thousands of buildings.

The collapse of churches in some of the worst-affected towns and villages of the impoverished Caribbean nation left residents to grieve in open fields.

At the Paroisse SaintJoseph de Simon Roman Catholic Church on the outskirts of Les Cayes, a southwestern city that bore the brunt of the quake, about 200 worshipers gathered early for the first Sunday Mass since the disaster.

“Everyone was crying today for what they had lost,” said the priest, Marc Orel Saël. “And everyone is stressed because the Earth is still shaking,” he added, referring to near-daily aftershocks that have rattled nerves all week.

The quake struck Haiti amid a period of political upheaval following the as-

People carry coffins during the funeral of four family members after the earthquake that took place on August 14, in Marceline near Les Cayes, Haiti, August 21, 2021

sassination of President Jovenel Moïse last month.

Allegations in a report by a local human rights group stirred new ferment on the weekend.

The report by the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) into Moïse’s killing alleged that new Prime Minister Ariel Henry had spoken on the night of the assassination by telephone to one of the main suspects, Joseph Felix Badio.

Jean-Junior Joseph, a close aide to Henry, wrote on Twitter on Saturday afternoon that the Prime

Minister had told him he had “never spoken” to Badio, a former Haitian official.

Last Saturday’s quake claimed the lives of at least 2207 people. A total of 344 people are missing, while 12,268 people were injured, authorities said.

The disaster followed a devastating quake in 2010 that killed tens of thousands of people.

Recovery efforts have been impeded by flooding and damage to access roads, feeding tensions in some of the hardest-hit areas. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelans among 9 held with protected animals in Trinidad

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even Venezuelans were among nine people arrested on Saturday when they were found with protected animals and a quantity of food items at a house in Mayaro, Trinidad.

A Police media release on Sunday reported that members of the Mayaro CID, Task Force and the

Emergency Response Patrol went to a house at San Sucker Road, where they found a number of protected birds in small cages and a turtle.

Police also found food items which they suspect were illegally imported.

The Agriculture Ministry Game Warden Department is assisting

Police with their enquiries.

The release said the Venezuelans would be quarantined at the Chaguaramas heliport while the two local men would be detained by Police.

Eastern Division Police are continuing enquiries.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Trade, under the theme “Transforming the Middle Passage from an Abyss of Darkness to a Ray of Hope”.

The ceremony included drumming, sermons from the Bishop of Barbados Reverend Michael Maxwell and Bishop of Accra Reverend Dr Daniel Torto and addresses from Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Jerome Walcott and his Ghanaian counterpart, Shirley Botchway.

In addition, there were musical renditions from The Most Honourable Anthony “Gabby” Carter and the St Leonard’s school

choir.

Botchway said the Transatlantic Slave Trade was something never to be forgotten, but it was also important to recognise how far both countries had come since then, adding the roots of poverty and despair from hundreds of years ago had to be broken.

Walcott said Barbados and Ghana shared a bond and out of that horrific past, they were building a better future with links in education, tourism and an upcoming air and marine travel agreement.

(Nation News)

Jamaica to roll out digital currency

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he Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) is reporting that pilot implementation of a local Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which commenced in June, remains on schedule.

This includes minting of Jamaica’s first batch of CBDC on August 9, totalling J$230 million, which will be issued to deposit-taking institutions and authorised payment service providers.

Speaking during the BoJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Friday, Deputy Governor, Natalie Haynes, indicated that one financial institution, National Commercial Bank (NCB), has been engaged as the initial wallet (account) provider under the pilot, which ends in December, She told Journalists that CBDC would be issued to NCB in September at which time it was expected to initiate its rollout to customers.

“They are targeting, first, what they call friends and family, which would be staff and their families, then they will go to other NCB account holders, prior to moving to other non-NCB account holders,” the Deputy Governor outlined.

Haynes said it was antic-

The Bank of Jamaica (GP)

ipated that details of the CBDC customer take-up would be forthcoming in October Meanwhile both Governor, Richard Byles, and Haynes said that there has been positive feedback, so far to the CBDC’s introduction.

Byles said there was some degree of scepticism up to a year ago, but stakeholders were now more positively oriented to the CBDC implementation.

Meanwhile, the Deputy

Governor said that based on the level of interest in CBDC, “it behoves the BoJ and the other [prospective] wallet providers to capitalise on that and ramp up the communication so [that] we have full acceptability of the product.”

CBDC is a digital form of central bank-issued currency and is therefore legal tender which can be exchanged dollar for dollar with physical cash.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Switzerland, DR offer aid Mottley: COVID-19 must not divide us following Haiti earthquake, but gangs hamper efforts

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n her first public appearance since taking a twoweek official holiday, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on Saturday attempted to bring the country together on the controversial choice of getting vaccinated in an all-out effort for Barbados to reach herd immunity.

During a 60-minute nationally televised address, Mottley said she had paid rapt attention to the thoughts, feelings, and choices of Barbadians surrounding a decision to be or not to be vaccinated during three recent town hall meetings. Health Ministry officials tried to settle the nerves of citizens through explanation of the advantages of taking vaccines, but Mottley did not want the is-

T

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

sue to split the country down the middle.

“We want to be able to set clear objectives to keep Barbadians safe. The variants have placed pressure on all countries across the world, and we are very con-

scious of what is happening with the Delta variant.”

Mottley added that stakeholders would be meeting the Social Partnership on the matter for a second time on August 30. (Nation News)

he Governments of Switzerland and the Dominican Republic have both offered humanitarian aid and other forms of assistance to Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake.

According to officials in Switzerland, the country has mobilised specialised staff and equipment to support the Haitian Civil Protection.

This is being facilitated through the Embassy of Switzerland.

Last week, a plane with members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (CSA) left for Haiti – the team consists of a logistician, two water sanitation specialists, two structural

engineers, a disaster area advisor and a team leader.

The team will support actions already initiated by the Swiss Embassy here that has already mobilised its staff on-site in the aftermath of the earthquake – in particular architects, emergency shelter and risk reduction specialists to support the Haitian civil protection in the needs assessment.

Meanwhile, the AFP reported that attacks on aid convoys have complicated efforts to bring relief to survivors.

Haitian authorities said nearly 600,000 people were directly affected by the disaster and are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

But efforts to deliver food, water and medical supplies to quake victims have been complicated not just by road and bridge damage but by attacks on aid convoys by so-far unidentified gangs.

“We have a security problem that is becoming more and more serious,” said Jerry Chandler, Director of Haiti’s civil protection agency.

Since early June, a two-kilometre (1.2 mile) stretch of highway running to the southwest peninsula from Port-au-Prince has been unsafe to travel, amid persistent gang violence in a desperately poor neighbourhood of the capital. (Excerpts from CMC and AFP)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

19

Around the world

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Cheap oil stocks lure investors even in an ESG-conscious world

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urope’s oil stocks may not be the most obvious picks in an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) conscious world, but some investors can’t get enough of them.

They’re cheap, pay big dividends and have benefited from a recovery in oil prices. That’s an attractive combination for investors who are nervous that the broader market is overvalued after the relentless rally from the pandemic bottom last year. As an added kicker, many crude producers are ploughing cash into renewable energy, helping to blunt criticisms that they’re contributing to climate change.

“It just strikes us that looking right now in the market at what is very cheap, generating lots of cash, but also having very strong earnings momentum, the energy stocks really stick out as being very attractive,” Niall Gallagher, investment director of European equities at GAM Investments, said in a telephone interview.

Gallagher owns Equinor ASA, BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and is overweight the energy sector in his GAM Star European Equity and GAM Star Continental European Equity funds.

For now, even with their big investments into renewable energy, battery storage, electric-vehicle charging points, carbon-capture technology and other decarbonisation efforts, these companies still devote a big chunk of their capital expenditures to fossil fuels, which weighs on their environmental, social and governance scores.

“I think oil and gas is quite a difficult one to spin them as positive ESG plays at this stage because their proportion of non-fossil fuel revenues is still very small as a percentage of their overall revenues,” said Alan Custis, head of UK equities at Lazard Asset Management LLC. And for investors in oil and gas stocks, it hasn’t been easy: The pandemic prompted oil majors to slash dividends in an effort to cut costs and preserve capital, and the sector lost a quarter of its value in 2020, the biggest drop in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index.

But now that economies have reopened and oil prices have recovered from their 2020 plunge, they’re turning the taps back on with pledges to increase cash payouts and buy back shares. Still, the sector is again the worst performer in the broad market.

For this, investors blame economic concerns but also worries over Big Oil’s role in contributing to climate change. European crude producers are fighting back by increasing investments in the transition to cleaner energy, but that causes its own problem: The spending threatens to deprive the companies of cash needed for dividend payments.

Europe's oil majors are set to spend around $8 billion on energy transition Investors have wondered how much cash oil and gas firms would divert to renewables, when it’s yet to be proven that they can earn a return long term on that investment, Custis said. These worries are abating as companies have given more details of their plans.

“It does feel that the market’s become incrementally more comfortable with how these companies are going to ultimately pivot their business away from fossil-fuel production,” Custis said by phone.

Meanwhile, oil producers will continue to profit from drilling for crude. Fossil fuels are here to stay for at least 30 or 40 years, and there’s still demand from the chemicals industry for making plastics, said Alasdair McKinnon, lead manager of the Scottish Investment Trust. He counts Exxon Mobil Corp, BP, Shell and TotalEnergies SE among his holdings, with oil and gas companies making up 15 per cent of his portfolio, almost quadruple their weight in the European stock market.

Plenty could still go wrong for investors betting on energy.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus is threatening to damp growth more than investors had expected, and at the same time the Federal Reserve is lining up to begin a pullback on economic stimulus this year. Both elements are already weighing on oil prices. Oil bulls aren’t deterred.

“The companies themselves are transitioning into being integrated energy companies from integrated oil companies, so they are becoming greener in what they are doing, but they are also generating a lot of cash,” GAM’s Gallagher added. “At the current share prices, these are very, very cheap investments.” (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Afghanistan: US orders civilian jets to join evacuation T

he US has enlisted commercial planes to help with the evacuation of people from Afghanistan.

A Pentagon statement said the 18 aircraft would not fly to Kabul, but would instead help move people transiting in third countries.

Many thousands of Afghans are crowded outside Kabul airport, desperate to flee the country after the Taliban swept to power last week.

At least 20 people have died, a NATO official told Reuters news agency.

But reports suggest the scene is calmer on Sunday than in previous days.

UK Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the Taliban were now marshalling

British Ambassador to Afghanistan Laurie Bristow (left) speaking to a member of the UK armed forces at Kabul airport

people into queues at Hamid Karzai International Airport, making the process faster for those hoping to leave.

The UK has airlifted out more than 1700 people in the past 24 hours, he said, as the situation had improved.

The day before, Sky News's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay said that people at the front of the crowd of thousands outside the airport were being "crushed to death", with British soldiers pulling those in most danger from the

throng.

On Sunday, the US Department of Defence announced the activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) to help with the evacuation.

This allows the US to mobilise civilian airlines to help in an emergency. It was last used ahead of, and during, the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the Gulf War of 1990-1991.

According to the statement, the level one activation is for 18 planes: four from United Airlines; three each from American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines and Omni Air; and two from Hawaiian Airlines.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Tropical Storm Henri bears down on US East Coast

T

ropical Storm Henri hit the coast of Rhode Island on Sunday, packing high winds that knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and bands of rain that led to flash flooding from New Jersey to Massachusetts on the east coast of the United States.

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, and made landfall near Westerly, Rhode Island on Sunday after-

noon with sustained winds of about 60 mph and gusts of up to 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Henri has since weakened and now has sustained winds of 50 mph as it moves inland.

There were few early reports of major damage due to wind or surf, but officials warned of the danger of spot flooding in inland areas over the next few days.

Millions in southern New England and New York

braced for the possibility of toppled trees, extended power outages and flooding from a storm system that threatened to linger over the region well into Monday.

National Grid reported 74,000 customers without power in Rhode Island and over 28,000 customers were affected by outages in Connecticut.

As the surface layer of oceans warms due to climate change, cyclones are becoming more powerful

and carry more water, posing an increasing threat to the world’s coastal communities, scientists say.

Storm surges amplified by rising seas can be especially devastating.

A swath of the north-eastern coastline, including New York City, was under alert as the storm approached. If Henri is upgraded again then it would be the first hurricane to hit New England in 30 years.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Tokyo weighs use of Olympic venues as temporary medical facilities – paper

A

uthorities in the Japanese capital are considering plans to convert some of the city's Olympics and Paralympics venues into temporary medical facilities as they combat soaring COVID-19 infections that have piled pressure on the healthcare system.

Japan's fifth wave of infections, which is being driven by the highly infectious Delta variant, has prompted the Government to extend pandemic emergency measures in Tokyo and other re-

gions until Sept 12.

Planners of the Paralympics, set to run from Tuesday until Sept 5, agreed last week to hold the Games generally without spectators, a measure taken at the recently concluded Olympics.

Medical experts have urged temporary use of facilities owned by the Tokyo Government, such as the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, site of swimming competitions, and the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza used for badminton, the Sankei newspaper

said.

However, the earliest they could be drafted into use would be after the Paralympic Games, the paper said, adding that more time might be required to complete arrangements.

Other challenges include enforcing strict infection control measures, acquiring sophisticated medical equipment and securing a large number of medical staff, it added.

Saturday's 5074 new daily infections in Tokyo broke

above 5000 for a fourth straight day to hover near the Aug 13 record of 5773.

On Friday, Paralympics organisers said the Games would be held in "very difficult" circumstances, with Tokyo hospitals overstretched in the COVID-19 battle.

Thirty new daily infections were confirmed on Sunday among Paralympic participants, the highest such figure yet, broadcaster NHK quoted organisers as saying.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

COVID: New Zealand pandemic strategy in doubt amid Delta spread

T

he arrival of the highly infectious Delta variant "does raise some big questions" about New Zealand's pandemic response, a Minister has said.

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the variant "changes the game considerably" and makes existing protections "look less adequate".

It comes as the country announced a further 21 confirmed cases in the latest outbreak of the virus.

New Zealand had

quashed earlier COVID outbreaks with rapid, strict lockdowns.

The country was praised for its efforts, which effectively stopped the spread of the virus. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has repeatedly referred to New Zealand as "our team of five million".

According to Johns Hopkins University data, there have been 3016 total confirmed cases in the country, and 26 reported deaths.

But authorities recent-

ly announced a snap lockdown after one man tested positive in Auckland with the Delta variant.

There are now 72 active cases. Seven schools in the city have reported positive cases among students, and the country has also announced six infections in the capital, Wellington.

Officials are now warning that they will probably extend the Auckland lockdown, which is set to expire on Tuesday.

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health

website, as of Thursday more than 960,000 people were double vaccinated, and nearly 1.7 million had received a first dose, in a population of just under five million.

But critics have questioned the speed of the vaccine rollout. New Zealand has one of the lowest number of fully vaccinated people among the OECD - an international group of countries that are among the world's most prosperous economies. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

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DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

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CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Don't let uncertainty stop you from reaching your goal.

Discuss possibilities before you proceed, and you will lessen your chance of failure.

Someone will try to withhold information.

Seek information from people you trust to give you the lowdown. Ask questions, and get involved in something that concerns you. Branch out socially, and you'll see what you are up against.

Consider the consequences before you take sides or get involved in something that can affect your position or ruin your reputation. A steady pace toward your goal will be key. Don't believe everything you hear.

Make a change that helps you look at your life from a different perspective.

Discuss emotional issues and make logical suggestions. Keep the peace by not overreacting to what someone says.

Take time to reflect.

Touch base with someone you haven't talked to in a while, and you will close the door on something that has been confusing you or holding up your progress.

Put your energy where it counts and embrace change.

Learn from your mistakes, and refuse to pass up something that sparks your imagination and inspires you to try something new. Share your thoughts.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Concentrate on personal gain, physical strength and endurance. Don't limit what you can do. Look for a way to overcome any obstacle that gets in your way.

Romance is encouraged.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Status, reputation and doing what you do best are favored. Step out on a limb and be original. Not everyone will like your way of thinking, but those who do will help you reach your target.

Slow down, look over SAGITTARIUS every detail and verify any (Nov. 23information you receive.

Dec. 21) Time is on your side, and taking precautions will save you from stress and unnecessary expenses.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Saturday's Word -- Morale

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Put a financial plan together that encourages personal gain. An opportunity to expand one of your interests will lead to a new venture. A lifestyle change will pay off.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

A disciplined approach to finances, health and contractual matters will help you achieve your goal. Don't give anyone the right to speak on your behalf or make decisions for you.

PISCES

You'll make headway if you discuss personal matters with someone close to you. A partnership looks promising and can help you make positive changes to the way you earn and handle money.

(Feb. 20March 20)

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

21

Jamaica’s girls set 4x100m world U-20 record on final day

– Jamaica end championships with 11 medals

J

amaica had a medal-filled final day of the 2021 World Under20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday capped by a gold-medal run in world-record time by the Women 4x100m team. Jamaica won seven medals on the final day and 11 medals overall that included two gold medals.

The team of Serena Cole, Tia Clayton, Kerrica Hill, and Tina Clayton, clocked a world-record 42.94 to win by about 10m over a fast-finishing Namibian team that ran 43.76 for the silver medal.

Interestingly, Namibia’s anchor Christine Mboma clocked an astonishing 9.86s on the anchor leg.

Nigeria ran a season-best 43.90 for the bronze medal.

Jamaica’s winning time broke the previous world record of 43.27 set

by Germany in 2017. The time also erased the cham-

pionship record of 43.40 set by Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Aneisha McLaughlin and Simone Facey when the championships were held in Kingston in 2002.

It was Jamaica’s third gold medal of the championships following those won by Tina Clayton in the 100m and Ackera Nugent in the 100m hurdles. Earlier, Jaydon Hibbert jumped a personal best 16.05m to win the silver medal in the triple jump competition won by Sweden’s Gabriel Wallmark with a mark of 16.43m, a Swedish national U-20 record.

Frenchman Simon Gore jumped a personal best 15.85m for the bronze medal. Jamaica also won a silver medal in the discus in the form of Ralford Mullings, who threw a personal best 66.68m to finish behind the now two-time champion Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania who won with

a new championship record of 69.81m.

Raman Khartanovich threw a personal best 62.19m for the bronze medal. Devontie Archer was an unexpected medallist in the 400m hurdles after he finished fourth in a new personal best of 49.78.

However, Sweden’s Oskar Edlund, who crossed the finish line first, was disqualified which meant that Archer was promoted to third and a medal.

Neutral athlete Denis Novoseletsen won the silver after he too ran a personal best of 49.62 with the gold going to Turkey’s Berke Akcam, whose winning time of 49.38 was a national U-20 record.

Jamaica mined three additional silver medals in the relays as the 4x100m team of Alexavier Monfries, Bryan Levell, Andrew Gillips, and Sandrey Davison clocked an area record

Manny Pacquiao loses to Yordenis Ugas on return to ring

Jamaica ended with 11 medals

38.61 behind South Africa U-20 world record of 38.51.

Poland was third in 38.90, which is a new area record as well.

The final two medals came in the 4x400m relays in which the teams delivered strong perfor-

mances. The girls ran 3:36.57 to claim silver behind Nigeria’s winning time of 3:31.46. Italy was the other team on the podium clocking 3:37.18. The boys clocked 3:05.76 in a valiant effort to finish second to Botswana, who took

the gold medal in 3:05.22.

Kenya clocked 3:05.94 for the bronze medal.

Overall, Jamaica finished fifth on the medal table with three gold, six silver and two bronze medals at the championships.

(Sportsmax)

Romelu Lukaku: Striker “unplayable” on 2nd debut for Chelsea in win over Arsenal

I

Lukaku failed to score in 15 appearances for Chelsea in his first spell

M

Manny Pacquiao (left) last fought in July 2019

anny Pacquiao lost on his return to the ring after a two-year absence as Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas upset the odds to win by unanimous decision and retain his WBA (super) welterweight title.

Ugas was only drafted in on August 10 for the Las Vegas fight to replace the injured Errol Spence Jr. It was Pacquiao’s first bout since beating Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title in July 2019.

“In the future, you may not see Manny Pacquiao fight in the ring,” he said.

Pacquiao, 42, also told ESPN he was “thinking about retirement” and he was “60-40” in favour of quitting. The eight-division

world champion now has a record of 62 wins, eight defeats, and two draws.

Reflecting on his defeat, he said: “That’s boxing.”

I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments.

My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best.”

Pacquiao, who is a serving politician in his native Philippines, was stripped of the WBA title in January because of inactivity. Ugas beat Abel Ramos for the vacant WBA regular welterweight title in September 2020 before being elevated to WBA super champion after Pacquiao was stripped of the belt.

The 35-year-old had been preparing to make his

first title defence against Fabian Maidana, but was promoted from the undercard to face Pacquiao. Ugas dominated with his jab and clean punching to win on all three cards – 115-113, 116112 and 116-112 – at the T-Mobile Arena.

“I’m very excited, but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today,” said Ugas, who now has a record of 27 wins and four defeats. “We only had two weeks of training, but I listened to my corner and it all worked out.

“I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. A lot of respect for [Pacquiao], but I won the fight.” (BBC Sport)

t was a move seven years in the making and 10 years since he last wore the shirt, but Chelsea proudly declared on their website earlier this month that Romelu Lukaku had “come home”.

His second debut, against Arsenal on Sunday, turned into a dream afternoon as Lukaku opened the scoring in an “unplayable” performance which the player himself described as “dominant”.

His strike was his first goal for the club, having failed to hit the net in his three years and previous 15 appearances at Stamford Bridge between 2011 and 2014, when he was a peripheral figure and never given a Premier League

start.

European champions Chelsea coasted to a 2-0 victory over their well-beaten London rivals and the early signs are Thomas Tuchel’s side will take some stopping this season with Lukaku on board.

“What a start for Lukaku”

Belgium international Lukaku returned to “the club he supported as a kid” for a second spell after moves to Everton, Manchester United, and most recently Inter Milan, to whom the Blues paid a handsome £97.5 million.

That fee made Lukaku, 28, the Premier League’s second most expensive player of all time, after Manchester City’s £100

million Jack Grealish.

Against Arsenal he did not disappoint, showing the kind of form that saw him rebuild his reputation in Italy – scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances and helping Inter Milan to a first title since 2010 – after a difficult time at Manchester United.

Lukaku began in perfect fashion, tapping in after just 14 minutes with his third touch of the game and celebrated by putting his finger to his lips. Only a superb save from Bernd Leno denied him a second, touching Lukaku’s diving header onto the bar. Overall, he completed 19 of his 20 passes against the Gunners and contested 15 duels, more than any other player.

(BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

tinue his dream run and help the side declare at 302 for 9. His unbeaten 124 helped the visitors go from being 231 for 7 to past 300.

This after he had helped the side recover from 2 for 3 on the opening day.

Pakistan will look back at the day with satisfaction and disappointment. Around 90 minutes of play was lost at the start because of a damp outfield. Once the West Indies players made their way out, the first session was cut short Jayden Seales was in the wickets again to just eight deliveries. A damp area near the bowler's est Indies slipped run-up meant the surface to 39 for 3 at risked injury to the playstumps on day ers. Kemar Roach startthree as Pakistan made ed with a maiden against rapid progress in their bid Mohammad Rizwan while to level the two-Test seJason Holder bowled two ries. Fawad Alam struck deliveries before the playhis fifth Test ton – his ers walked off. Kraigg fourth since making his Brathwaite had no hesiTest comeback – to con-

W

SCOREBOARD Pakistan 1st Innings Abid Ali c Blackwood b Roach 1 Imran Butt c †Da Silva b Seales 1 Azhar Ali c †Da Silva b Roach 0 Babar Azam (c) c Holder b Roach 75 Fawad Alam not out 124 Mohammad Rizwan † lbw b Holder 31 Faheem Ashraf lbw b Seales 26 Nauman Ali c †Da Silva b Holder 0 Hasan Ali run out (Bonner/†Da Silva) 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi c Powell b Seales 19 Mohammad Abbas not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 9, nb 6) 16 TOTAL (110 Ov, RR: 2.74) 302/9d Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Abid Ali, 0.3 ov), 2-2 (Azhar Ali, 2.3 ov), 3-2 (Imran Butt, 3.5 ov), 3-160 (53.1 ov), 4-168 (Babar Azam, 60.4 ov), 5-218 (Faheem Ashraf, 83.6 ov), 6-231 (Mohammad Rizwan, 91.1 ov), 7-231 (Nauman Ali, 91.2 ov), 8-267 (Hasan Ali, 100.4 ov), 9-302 (Shaheen Shah Afridi, 109.2 ov) BOWLING

O-M-R-W Kemar Roach 27-9-68-3 Jayden Seales 15-4-31-3

Alzarri Joseph Jason Holder Kyle Mayers Roston Chase Nkrumah Bonner Kraigg Brathwaite

18-1-75-0 23-9-46-2 17-5-34-0 8-0-32-0 1-0-6-0 1-1-0

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) b Shaheen Shah Afridi 4 Kieran Powell lbw b Shaheen Shah Afridi 5 Nkrumah Bonner not out 18 Roston Chase b Faheem Ashraf 10 Alzarri Joseph not out 0 Extras (nb 1, w 1) 2 TOTAL (18 Ov, RR: 2.16) 39/3 Yet to bat: Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva †, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Kieran Powell, 3.5 ov), 2-9 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 5.3 ov), 3-34 (Roston Chase, 13.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammad Abbas 6-1-17-0 Shaheen Shah Afridi 6-4-13-2 Hasan Ali 3-1-8-0 Faheem Ashraf 2-2-0-1 Nauman Ali 1-0-1-0

A damp spot at the run-up resulted in a session loss

tation in letting the officials know his displeasure about the playing conditions before play was suspended.

Post lunch, the opening hour turned out to be

drinks break. Pakistan were reeling at that stage and the onus was on Alam to drive the score forward.

Having done the damage, West Indies had to endure two frustrating

Fawad Alam scored his fifth Test century

uneventful. Though West Indies nipped out Faheem

Joseph's 5-fer leads Boston Eagles to comfortable win F ormer Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club player Kumar Joseph continues to shine in the United States of America. Playing for the Boston Eagles, Joseph claimed 5-30 in eight overs to lead Boston Eagles to a five-wicket win against St Columba’s in a Division A 40over match at Wrentham II. Batting first, St Columba’s Cricket Club posted 116 all out in 35.4 overs.

Nithyanandan Chellamuthu top-scored with 37 while Suman Kant made 23, but it was not enough as the off-spinner Joseph destroyed the batting line-up in

Ashraf – trapped lbw by Jayden Seales for 26 – there was not much apart from that action. Holder managed to push Pakistan on the backfoot when he dismissed Rizwan and

his impressive eight overs, that only yielded 30 runs and produced five wickets.

In reply, Boston Eagles reached 118-5 with Nikhil Nethaji Reedy scoring 29 and Shaquille Williams scoring 28. Joseph also contributed 12 with the bat, and Harshal Patil made an unbeaten 16 to see the Eagles home. Kant took 2-25 in a losing effort. Joseph was awarded Player of the Match for his top bowling effort.

Nauman Ali off consecutive deliveries after the

lower-order stands. Alam scored 36 for the eighth wicket with Hasan Ali, then 35 for the ninth wicket with Shaheen Afridi.

Before Pakistan declared, Afridi had to endure blows to the helmet during his 33-ball stay. The pacer, however, returned the favour in kind with a hostile opening spell that left the hosts feeling the heat.

West Indies were eight for no loss in the opening three overs, but Afridi struck twice to leave them reeling at 9 for 2. Kieran Powell was lbw while West Indies Captain Brathwaite was bowled by a delivery that nipped in and took out the poles. Nkrumah Bonner and Roston Chase did manage to ease some of the nerves in the dressing room with their 48-ball stay, but could not quite see their side to stumps.

Faheem nipped one past the defence of Chase to clean up the batsman to leave West Indies gasping at 34 for 3. Bonner stayed put and so did nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph, but the early wickets meant the hosts will have to work extra hard on the fourth day to ensure Pakistan do not find a way back and West Indies are able to take out as much time as possible from the game. (cricbuzz)

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23

CPL CEO: You would give away your right hand to have Kohli, Rohit in CPL

The leading T20 batsman Chris Gayle will play for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

Full CPL squads

By Brandon Corlette

F

or years many have looked forward to seeing star players from India feature in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain barred from playing in leagues around the world owing to the strict Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell said anyone would want to give away their right hand to have a Virat or Rohit playing for them in the CPL, but, as he noted, that was not going to happen anytime soon.

"You look to give your right hand away to have players like that. We can only deal with the reality with where we sit. Indian players in any of these T20 tournaments is not going to happen anytime soon, but we are very pleased to get what we believe are the best players in the world. All the West Indies players to

All of the top players in the Caribbean will battle in the CPL

compete in our tournament make it the spectacle that it is," Russell said.

He added: "While everyone will like to have a Kohli and a Rohit playing for them, we got Pollard, Gayle, Bravo and a bunch of others who I think are the equal of those.

We are very comfortable of the players that we have."

On the international front, the CPL CEO is very fascinated with newly-drafted international players such as Tim David, who is in redhot form, and the experienced

Englishmen Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel. Still, even though the CPL CEO is excited to see these players, his focus remains on the West Indian players. "For us we want to see who is the next Hetmyer, who is the next Keemo Paul and who is the next Pooran that will come out of the pack and surprise us and have successful international careers."

In addition to the West Indian players and new overseas players drafted, a host of other internationals are

ready to set the CPL alight.

Australia's Chris Green will turn out for the Jamaica Tallawahs while the New Zealander Glenn Phillips and Englishman Jake Lintott will play for Barbados Royals.

Pakistan's Yasir Shah and Black Caps Tim Seifert are the late drafts for Trinbago Knight Riders while Aussie leggie Fawad Ahmed and Pakistan's Asif Ali will play for Patriots, alongside Dutchman Paul van Meekeren.

Jamaica Tallawahs: Andre Russell, Chris Green, Carlos Brathwaite, Rovman Powell, Haider Ali, Chadwick Walton, Fidel Edwards, Qais Ahmad, Jason Mohammed, Migael Pretorius, Kennar Lewis, Shamarh Brooks, Veerasammy Permaul, Abijhai Mansingh, Joshua James, Kirk McKenzie, and Ryan Persaud.

Saint Lucia Kings: Faf du Plessis, Keemo Paul, Wahab Riaz, Tim David, Andre Fletcher, Kesrick Williams, Usman Qadir, Samit Patel, Obed McCoy, Rahkeem Cornwall, Mark Deyal, Roston Chase, Javelle Glen, Keron Cottoy, Jeavor Royal, Kadeem Alleyne, and Alzarri Joseph.

Trinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Yasir Shah, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Isuru Udana, Tim Seifert, Anderson Phillip, Denesh Ramdin, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Leonardo Julien, and Ali Khan.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Dwayne Bravo, Chris

Arguably the best T20 spinner, Imran Tahir will represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors

Gayle, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Ravi Bopara, Paul van Meekeren, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell, Fawad Ahmed, Devon Thomas, Rayad Emrit, Asif Ali, Colin Archibald, JonRuss Jaggesar, Dominic Drakes, Joshua Da Silva, and Mykile Louis.

Barbados Royals: Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Thisara Perera, Mohammad Amir, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Oshane Thomas, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr, Azam Khan, Raymon Reifer, Justin Greaves, Ashley Nurse, Jake Lintott, Nyeem Young, Joshua Bishop, and Smit Patel.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Nicholas Pooran, Shoaib Malik, Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Mohammad Hafeez, Brandon King, Naveen-ul-Haq, Romario Shepherd, Waqar Salamkheil, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Odean Smith, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, and Ashmead Nedd.

Head Coach, Assistant Coach positions Griffith beats “Padlock” and company up for grabs at Guyana Cricket Board to clinch Carlton Wheelers 44-mile race Guyana during the contract period, must be able to efficiently plan, organize and implement a players'/ team development program and the applicant must be prepared to submit written proposals plans and reports to the GCB on all aspects of their coaching assignments.

Additionally, the applicant must be able to work unsupervised and must be highly motivated individuals. According the advertisement, salaries and ben-

T

Julian Moore and Esuan Crandon

he position of Head Coach and Assistant Coach to the Guyana Jaguars senior cricket team are up for grabs, as the Guyana Cricket Board recently announced the vacancies via an advertisement in a local daily publication.

Highly qualified and experienced level three coaches Esuan Crandon served as the Guyana Jaguars Head Coach and Rayon Griffth, and Julian Moore served in the Assistant Coach capacity on different occasions. Former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul also served as Assistant Coach/Manager of the Guyana Jaguars senior team. Under this new GCB led by President Bissoondyal Singh, this move somewhat new for these coaches in Guyana.

Crandon, who served as

T

Christopher Griffith claimed the top spot

Rayon Griffith and Esuan Crandon

the Head Coach and was instrumental in Jaguars clinching the Regional 4-Day title for five consecutive outings has reapplied for the Head Coach position. Coaches applying for this job must have at least a CWI Level two coaching certificate or its equivalent, at least two years coaching experience. The applicant must be a resident in

efits will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications must be addressed to the Hon. Secretary of the GCB and must reach the GCB office at Lot 221-22 Regent Road Bourda, Georgetown or admin@guyanacricketboard.org no later that 17:00h on September 3, 2021.

eam Evolution's Christopher "Chicken Legs" Griffith was too hot to handle as he clinched the Carlton Wheelers 44mile cycling race on the West Demerara corridor, stopping the clock at one hour 46 minutes and 20 seconds.

The race, which took place in collaboration with David Persaud Investments Ltd of Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, pedalled off from Schoonord and proceeded to Bushy Park at Parika before returning to finish at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Griffith finished ahead of the in-form Andre "Padlock"

Green (second); Kemuel Moses (third); Curtis Dey (fourth); Kwame "Keyman" Ridley (fifth) and Alanzo Ambrose (sixth), rounding out the top seniors who shared the six sprint prizes on offer. In the veterans’ category, Ridley finished first followed by Alex Mendes and Warren McKay. Clavecia Spencer was the lone female rider on show.

This race was held in memory of David Persaud, the late Managing Director of David Persaud Investments Ltd, who played and captained North Cote second division team for the Everest Cricket Club, and also played and

captained First Division Case Cup at a time when Everest was not one of the premier clubs.

Persaud was also one of the few captains to win two major trophies in a single year – the Case and Rothmans Cups.

Cycling will continue on August 29 at 08:00h, on the outer circuit of the National Park. This lucrative 15lap event is sponsored by Touche Kosmetics, and the winner of the open category would bag a cash prize of $60,000.

The Veterans under-50 and over-50 will ride for 10 laps, and each winner thereof will be rewarded with $40,000. Top female, junior and juvenile riders will each be rewarded with $40,000 in their 10-lap race. The masters will have the option to choose which race they prefer to participate in on the day, either the Open or Masters event. (Brandon Corlette)

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

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Griffith beats “Padlock” and company to clinch Carlton Wheelers 44-mile race GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.