Guyana Times - Monday, August 2, 2021

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4727

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

“We must continue to work, fight against racism, other injustices” – PM See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Venezuelan P8 women are most trafficked in Guyana – Police

Fisherman P10 beaten, robbed Prison escapee recaptured P11

Convicted child rapist appealing life sentence

P10 Prime Minister Mark Phillips and his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips on Emancipation Day. Also in the photo are Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond and Education Minister Priya Manickchand

1st anniversary in office

Dr Irfaan Ali

Govt has done an excellent job -… ICDPSC Chairman applauds Govt for caring approach

Page 7

Hotdog vendor found dead in alleyway P14 PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

Unvaccinated nurse dies from COVID-19, 2 unvaccinated doctors hospitalised …74 new cases, death toll now 546

Page 9

Prisoner found dead in Lethem lock-ups P11

US$50M bypass road project

“We are in final stages of P2 selecting contractor” – President Ali

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$50M bypass road project

“We are in final stages of selecting contractor” – President Ali

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has said that the process of selecting a contractor to build the four-lane bypass road project that will link the East Coast of Demerara at Ogle to East Bank Demerara at Haags Bosch in Eccles is in the final stages.

He made this revelation during his remarks at the opening of the Amazonia Mall at Providence, EBD, last week.

“We are in the final stages, with the help of the Indian Government to contract a firm to commence work on a highway from Ogle to Eccles in the initial phase,” the Head of State said.

Four Indian companies were prequalified in May to construct a four-lane bypass road.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill told Guyana Times in June that these companies will submit their financial bids for the road project in August.

It was previously reported that after the tender was issued and the companies have submitted their bids, Guyana would have 21 days to evaluate the proposals and award the contract for the tune of $10.4 billion.

Back in 2015, the Indian Government had provided a US$50 mil-

lion Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, EBD. However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime and the project was

at a standstill since 2019.

But when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government took office last year, it redesigned the project into two phases to fit the LOC – the first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road, which is about 50 per cent of the project, and the second, from Haags Bosch to Diamond – in order to fit the US$50

million LOC. Another aspect of the project will see the road going all the way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri.

According to President Ali on Friday, Government is currently working on financing the Eccles to

Timehri phase of the road.

“The Minister of Finance [Dr Ashni Singh] has already commenced negotiations to get financing to move from Eccles to Diamond and from Diamond to Timehri,” the President said last week.

Meanwhile, in a previous interview with Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner, Dr KJ

Srinivasa had explained that while an Indian company was required to do the construction as per the LOC terms and conditions, Guyanese could also expect to benefit from the project.

“As per the line of credit norms for India, whenever we give lines of credit,

we insist on a 75 per cent Indian content. But for Guyana, we’ve made a special exemption, which will be 47 per cent content only from India. So, the remaining 53 per cent will be locally sourced in Guyana. I think this will fall perfectly in your local content policy and we also would appreciate that the local people can get jobs and local pro-

ducers can be able to sell their… raw materials that are required for making the road,” Dr Srinivasa had related to this newspaper.

The entire bypass road project will create a new highway in the backlands, thus allowing for an alternative route to the country’s two main thoroughfares. This project will see a total of 26 kilometres of road constructed with links to connect key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara.

These include Diamond, Mocha and Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown. These connections will prove crucial in diverting traffic.

M e a n w h i l e , Government has undertaken several new road projects along the EBD corridor to ease the heavy traffic congestion normally encountered there. These include an alternative road connecting Diamond and Eccles. The new road that runs from Sixth Avenue, Diamond, to the Windsor Estate Road that leads on to the Eccles Landfill Site Road is already completed but Government is awaiting the completion of

President Irfaan Ali

a bridge along the Mocha Access Road that will lead the new road from Diamond straight into Eccles.

The other project will see an alternative road from Eccles to Mandela Avenue. Construction of the $2.3 million project is currently ongoing. Last week, Housing Minister Collin Croal told this newspaper that the road is 30 per cent completed and is on track for its November month-end completion.

According to President Ali, “This is the vision, this is the type of infrastructure that will not only open up new lands but will open up new opportunities for people in this country. Hundreds of acres of commercial and industrial lands would be opened [up from these road projects].”

(G8)

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, Aug 2 – 00:30h – 02:00h and 12:00h – 13:30h and Tuesday, Aug 3 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 13:00h – 14:30h.

“We must continue to work, fight against racism, other injustices” – PM

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, Aug 2 – 11:55h – 13:25h and Tuesday, Aug 3 – 13:10h – 14:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light cloud and thundery showers during the day. Expect thundery showers at night.

Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: West South-Westerly to South-Westerly between 0.89 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 11:29h and 23:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.13 metres and 2.18 metres.

Low Tide: 17:22h reaching a minimum height of 1.1 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Prime Minister Mark Phillips

W

hile noting that Emancipation Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of enslaved Africans to attain freedom, Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips has said that the fight against social injustices such as racism and social inequalities continues even today, hence, he underscored the importance of remaining resilient to overcome these hurdles.

PM Phillips made this remark in his Emancipation Day 2021 message, which he delivered on Sunday at the Emancipation concert held at the 1823 Monument located at the Georgetown seawall.

The event, which was streamed virtually for the public, was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in observance of Emancipation 2021. Prime Minister Phillips attended the concert in company of his wife, Mignon BowenPhillips.

During his address, the Prime Minister reminded that time must always be taken to reflect on the sacrifices of ancestors and their astounding will and courage that were exhibited in their fight for freedom.

“In the spirit of Emancipation, I encourage that we continue to work towards mutual respect and to fight against the injustices of society, much like our African forefathers did.

We must remember the strength that lies in being a unified nation – for it is unity that will forever allow us to thrive,” PM said in his Emancipation Day message.

According to Phillips, it is important to remember that despite the achievement of Emancipation, there still remain many challenges that people of African heritage have to overcome that are as a result of the lingering aftermath of slavery. These include racism and socioeconomic inequalities, among others.

“Globally, issues of racism, and other social, political and economic problems remain critical areas of concern and discussion - particularly in territories where slavery reigned centuries ago. While solutions to these issues continue to be sought, there are successful takeaways that Emancipation

Prime Minister Phillips and his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips on Emancipation Day

has produced. It reminds us of the importance of perseverance, resilience, justice and respect for human rights,” he asserted.

These lessons, the Prime Minister went on to point out, can continue to be observed in everyday life, both as individuals and as a nation.

Moreover, PM Phillips contended that these lessons learnt from ancestors can help guide this current generation as they strive to overcome issues that plague Guyana today. This includes the global pandemic and a natural disaster by flooding, the likes of which the country has never seen before.

He noted that both of these have taught the im-

portance of working together, persevering and being resilient in the face of major threats to the world’s existence.

“Similarly, we are constantly reminded of the need to appreciate the freedom of our beliefs and respect for our differences in our multi-ethnic society in Guyana – such freedoms and respect were rights fought for in the fight for Emancipation,” the Prime Minister stated.

On this note, Phillips further contended that the enslavement of Africans remains one of the most odious events in history, where millions of men, women and children endured unimaginable acts of violence, oppression and exploitation

over four centuries.

“Through it all, the African peoples suffered not only a loss of freedom, but slavery took from them their home, their culture, their identity and their families.”

“Yet, they endured – on the backs of the sacrifices of slaves like Cuffy, Damon and Quamina. The rebellions led by these slaves and many other rebellions in the British West Indies played a major role in the abolition of slavery,” the PM said.

M e a n w h i l e , Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Waldron were among those in attendance at the Emancipation Day event. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 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

Emancipation from mental slavery

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ow that the official Public Holiday and its observation is behind us, it may be opportune to reflect on what “Emancipation Day” should mean for us in Guyana. First of all, it was very clear that of recent an increasing number of persons across the country have been observing this special day wearing garments made from “Kente” cloth. This “basket weave” from brightly coloured silk and cotton yarn was originally the wear of royalty in the Akan and Ewe peoples of modern-day Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa from where most of people of African Descent originated.

In the modern period, as they determinedly tried to extricate themselves from the hegemonic structures that were imposed during and after slavery over their minds, they realised that everything of African origin had been denigrated as “inferior” even in the education they were receiving in the new schools that had been launched after Emancipation. “Proper clothes” were those of the Europeans – and in particular the British – who were our latest rulers before independence.

When one looks at the pictures of the descendants of Guyanese slaves during the late 19th century, the men are generally garbed in dark woollen suits with ties and the women, in the voluminous dresses of Victorian England, including the obligatory parasols. It was not until the 20th century that visionary leaders, like Marcus Garvey from Jamaica, began to teach an alternative view that things African could not, by definition, be “inferior” and in fact could be of equal value, if not sometimes better, than anything else. This idea slowly spread, interestingly by individuals who in the main had some connection to the West Indies, across the world. By the middle of the 20th century, the “Black Power” movement was launched.

The garments made from Kente cloth come out of the new consciousness to signify that no one’s heritage should be degraded.

It is our hope, therefore, that the wearing of the Kente cloth garments in Guyana by Guyanese of African origin signals that they have moved beyond the mere annual donning of the garment to a point where they have freed themselves from “mental slavery” of which Bob Marley sang about so many decades ago. Beyond the clothes, food, drumming, and dancing, the peoples of Africa also evolved profound philosophies of life that provide cogent alternatives to the ennui that modern man faces after two centuries of Eurocentric “development” that unfortunately focused on the individual and not the collectivity.

In each part of Africa, on the other hand, one’s identity was acknowledged as arising out of the group and as such, the latter takes precedence. From Southern Africa, for instance, there is the concept of “ubuntu”. According to Michael Onyebuchi Eze, the core of ubuntu can best be summarised as follows: “‘A person is a person through other people’ strikes an affirmation of one’s humanity through recognition of an ‘other’ in his or her uniqueness and difference. It is a demand for a creative intersubjective formation in which the ‘other’ becomes a mirror (but only a mirror) for my subjectivity.

“This idealism suggests to us that humanity is not embedded in my person solely as an individual; my humanity is co-substantively bestowed upon the other and me. Humanity is a quality we owe to each other.

We create each other and need to sustain this otherness creation. And if we belong to each other, we participate in our creations: we are because you are, and since you are, definitely I am. The ‘I am’ is not a rigid subject, but a dynamic self-constitution dependent on this otherness creation of relation and distance.”

Would that all Guyana heed this message.

After Emancipation, the miseducation of the People of African Origin continued, with the other peoples who were dragged here to work on the plantations being inducted into the hegemonic structures. It is time that the powersthat-be resuscitate all their heritages that were suppressed.

The Canine Section of the Guyana Police Force on patrol along Main Street, Georgetown on Thursday evening (GPF photo)

Govt has done a great job

Dear Editor, One year in and there is so much to talk about. It has been a challenging year with the pandemic and everything but despite all of it, there is still a lot that has happened which should be recognised. The Government of Guyana has adapted to all the challenges which they faced from all sides and are still standing strong. One thing is for sure, the PPP/C is dynamic because it would appear that no matter what hurdle is before them, they always come out on top.

I just want to express my gratitude to the Government for doing what they promised to do. The PPP/C campaigned hard prior to last year’s elections and knowing what was going on in the country at the time, change was needed. Guyana was stagnant and there was little

to no progress being made.

However, that all changed when the Government took office in August 2020. The PPP/C has shown that they are capable of managing the country in the best interest of all Guyanese. Under the leadership of Dr Irfaan Ali, all the Ministers and other individuals that make up the Government have been playing their part to ensure the betterment of Guyana. I commend them all.

While we are still faced with challenges as a nation and there is still a long way to go, we are moving progressively. We are able to see a brighter future under the current Administration and there is so much to expect in the near future.

Personally, as a member of the Indigenous community, I am very happy to say the least with what

I am seeing on the part of the Government. They are putting hinterland development, women empowerment and economic dynamism at the forefront of what they are doing. Indigenous communities are benefitting from grants, training, infrastructure and other resources. Women throughout the country along with vulnerable groups are being given opportunities to better themselves through training programmes and other developmental projects. The economy is positioned to expand and become stronger in the coming years and for that, I am in full support.

Another one of the many things that I am very happy to see is the promotion of culture, youth and sports in Guyana. The Ministry in charge of such has been making strategic decisions

which ought to be commended. Many communities are seeing groundwork being done on their sporting and recreational facilities and donations being made to improve youth initiatives. In addition to this, creative arts are being put in the spotlight through talent shows like the Guyana Talent Search which has just recently concluded.

These efforts to promote the culture, youth and sports arms of the country should be applauded as they are critical areas.

All in all, the Government has done a great job over the last year in my view.

I trust that similar sentiments are echoed by my fellow Guyanese.

Respectfully, Pastor Darion Comacho

I am elated at what I am seeing in Guyana Dear Editor, I write to you with a lot of pride in my heart for my country, Guyana. I am happy to see that we are finally being recognised for what we have to offer on a global level. We have so much to be thankful for but today I want to focus on the past year and the PPP/C Government. I ask that you kindly allow me a space in your publication to express my views.

Almost one year ago, the PPP/C Government entered into office. It was a long battle to get there but they succeeded in the end.

Today, I am beyond happy to say that I am proud of the Government for what

they have done from 2020 to now. I look around in my own community and I can see major upgrades. The roads are better, the drains and trenches are cleaner, and the level of crime has dropped significantly. As I traverse the road daily, I see roadwork underway in different areas. I also see buildings being erected all over the place. In addition, just by reading the newspapers I am seeing investors express interest in Guyana to build hotels and so forth.

I am glad that these things are happening, thanks to the Government of Guyana.

The PPP/C Government has done in one year what the coalition could not do in

five years; develop Guyana.

Every single Guyanese can see how much effort is being placed in the various sectors by the Government to ensure that the country progresses.

From improvements to education to provision of adequate housing and water, the Government has been working very hard to make the lives of Guyanese better. The Dream Realised initiative in particular is one commendable initiative that must be mentioned as thousands of Guyanese are able to receive house lots and land titles. This just reiterates what I have been saying that the PPP/C Government is working in the interest of the people.

I am elated at what I am seeing mainly because I can only imagine what else is in store for us. The Government continues to do what they are mandated to do by the Constitution and they deserve to be applauded for their efforts. I personally want to thank the President for leading the charge and for making Guyana a great nation. We have so much to look forward to and I call on every single Guyanese to support the Government as we get ready for massive improvements and development in our country.

Respectfully, Anson A Paul

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

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Govt continues Reconciliation needed to mend nation’s wounds to receive strong

Dear Editor, The Irfan Ali-led PPP Government has completed its first year in office. As an objective observer and a concerned Guyanese who is not a member of any political party in Guyana, I would say to all Guyanese, regardless of race or political affiliation that they should never allow what happened in the aftermath of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections to occur again.

The March to August 2020 election fiasco period was extremely painful, tension filled, racially charged and violence filled that could have exploded had it not been for the wisdom of the ordinary citizens and the sound and proper decisions of the appellate court in Guyana and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Thankfully, international pressure especially from the ABC countries eventually forced former President David Granger to capitulate. The perpetual trumpeting by President Granger that he would accept the results as declared by the

GECOM Chair was a sham with sinister underpinnings to prolong the agony for five long months. But time was not on his side; ultimately, he had to accept defeat and surrender against the wishes of PNC hardliners. His capitulation fits neatly with the adage “the longest rope has an end.”

Now is the time for every Guyanese of every race in and out of Guyana to put the country first and stand up for what is right and just. Sadly, many in high society simply analysed how the wind blows to choose their team. The people of Guyana, especially the youths who are 65 per cent of the population, must never again experience such political trauma. What transpired at the Ashmins building and at GECOM head office in March 2020 by the Returning Election Officer of Region Four and others was reprehensible, scandalous, outrageous, unpatriotic and borders on treason. It was a blatant attempt by the Grangerled Administration to steal the elections and remain in

In just 1 year Govt has done much

Dear Editor, It is with much enthusiasm that I write to you today to join in the celebration of the PPP/C’s one year in office. I could not be happier with what I have seen accomplished in such a short time and I am ecstatic for what is to come. In just one year, the Government has done much more for us Guyanese than what the previous Administration did and for that reason I call on my fellow brothers and sisters to commend the PPP/C Government for the strides they have taken thus far.

I cannot begin to outline everything that the Government has done that is worthy of applause because it will be too much to write about. However, I must stress on the strides they have taken to improve education and healthcare delivery throughout Guyana. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting us all, we were forced to adapt to newer systems in both these areas. Education delivery became much more challenging as everything moved online. However, the Government has shown their dedication to the children of Guyana by providing access to online resources and even providing tablets and laptops to students in need. More specifically, they have enhanced the Learning Channel which has now become a vital part of the education system throughout the country. The Quiz Me

platform which was recently launched is a great initiative that will help thousands of students and I commend the Government for bringing such an idea to fruition.

I must also commend the Government for reintroducing the cash grant as it is a great help for parents across the country. With the pandemic changing so much of our lives, the grant will help to provide our children with the resources they need to continue learning online until the pandemic is over. On this note, the only way for the pandemic to come to an end is for us all to get vaccinated. The Government has shown how focused they are on making that the reality by going to all length and breadth to secure vaccines for us. The rolling out of a robust countrywide vaccination programme is just one of the many initiatives aligned with the health sector that the Government has implemented which is helping to improve healthcare in Guyana. The removal of VAT on medical supplies and private healthcare are indicative of their commitment to such.

I wrap up by commending the Government for their efforts over the past year and I offer congratulations to the President for leading his Cabinet in the right direction. I am excited for what else is to come.

Yours respectfully, Attiya Baksh

power. And those who perpetrate such vicious and thuggish acts and held the nation hostage for five long and arduous months must face the full force of the law and should be banished from politics and society. So far, such exercise has been at a snail paced toward the pursuit of justice.

It is true that from March to August 2020, Guyanese everywhere had witnessed an election filled with trauma, falsehoods, and threats to destabilise the country, discredit the elections, and overturn democracy, thus denying the will of the people to elect a Government of their choice.

However, these efforts have failed, thanks to the overwhelming support from the ABC and EU countries, Caricom, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth of Nations whose goal was to make sure that democracy prevailed in Guyana.

The five months ordeal has disgraced the citizens, stained the country, and damaged its reputation in the international community. The lesson learned is that overturning election results in Guyana after the votes were cast and counted was not an easy task considering the impact of high technology and social media. It is time for everyone, including our politicians, not to dabble or be involved in such deceitful and barefaced venture. Whether we believe it or not, Guyana has and continues to be a blessed land with its tal-

ented and skilled people at home and abroad and its abundance of raw materials and natural resources, especially its huge oil reserves. What happened in the five precarious months in 2020 must never be allowed to occur again in the country we love and cherish.

As Guyanese of every walk of life celebrate the 183rd Emancipation anniversary, we must call on the present Government to initiate a national reconciliation process, to heal the nations wounds and prevent any impending danger posed by the country’s two major ethnic groups—Indo- and AfroGuyanese. This year’s celebration of Emancipation comes at a critical juncture for all of us as we continue to navigate the changed political environment triggered by the change of Government a year ago.

As many of us recognise, any change of Government brings with it new anxieties and fears for all in society, but most importantly, for the group that has lost power. Like other elections, the last election has left in its trail an unprecedented racial fallout that has worsened ethnic relations in the country between the two major ethnic groups.

Therefore, we again call on the present Government to initiate a national reconciliation process to lessen the racial tensions, mend the ethnic wounds and unite the people.

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

Congratulations to Govt Dear Editor, It has been a full year since the PPP/C has returned to office. I have paid keen attention to their performance as I was very intrigued by the promises which were outlined in their manifesto leading up to the 2020 elections. As such, it would be remiss of me not to voice my opinion on their performance to date.

To begin, I have always been critical of governments throughout the years so I am speaking from an unbiased perspective. The PPP/C Government has shown that they know what they are doing. They do not look for short-term fixes to problems but rather look at the long-term advantages before making decisions. The revival of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and the gas-to-shore project are both evidence of such. These projects will bring a host of advantages and benefits for the country and I am in support of them both. The fact that the PPP/C Government has been moving ahead so far with them shows that the Cabinet has been adopting a visionary approach.

On another note, the Government has shown that they are for the people. They have rolled out several programmes and initiatives for the benefit of all Guyanese.

In particular, the partnering with Commonwealth to offer hundreds of Coursera programmes, the provision of 20,000 online scholarships and the establishment of several resource centres in different regions point to the Government being proactive and focused on the betterment of the people. I commend the PPP/C Government for these efforts as they have been doing what they were elected to do.

I trust that the Government would continue to serve the people of Guyana with the same zeal that they currently show.

I am confident that should we continue down this path, Guyana will be developed beyond that which we imagine. Congratulations to the Government for a great year and a more progressive one ahead.

Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

approval ratings

Dear Editor, The findings of an opinion poll I have been conducting shows President Irfaan Ali and his Government remain popular a year into his Administration.

The Government continues to receive strong approval ratings and satisfaction for handling of the flood situation and COVID although voters are not pleased with the high cost of living. It has received widespread praise for the stimulus and educational grants, but respondents are looking forward for flood relief cash. Almost all the Ministries and Ministers and the Prime Minister -- Works, Agriculture, Education, Social Security, Local Government, Public Works, Natural Resources, Information, Housing, among others, received strong ratings for delivery of services.

The survey is being carried out to determine the popularity of the Government as it completes a year in office after the President was sworn in on August 2 last year, some five months after the election was held on March. The poll, being conducted over the last couple of weeks, interviewed 750 respondents (41 per cent Indians, 30 per cent Africans, 18 per cent Mixed, 10 per cent Amerindians, and 1 per cent other ethnic categories) to reflect the demographic diversity of the population. The poll has a margin of error of 4 per cent, meaning views can vary 4 per cent in either direction.

The Government faced one crisis after another since it took office August 2, 2020. The public feels the Administration has managed the crises very well, receiving kudos for handling COVID-19, flooding, education, housing, social services, public works, agriculture, and other areas of governance. But there is widespread complaint about rising cost of living and crime, with people expressing fear of public security. The public complained about very high cost of living, crime, joblessness, and low wages that are not keeping pace with almost daily rising prices of basic food items

and fuel.

Based on the findings of the poll, 63 per cent approve of the performance of President Irfaan Ali, while 29 per cent disapprove and 8 per cent not expressing an opinion. It finds that 59 per cent respondents approve of Government’s performance with 34 per cent dissatisfied and 7 per cent not expressing a view. The trend is similar for the performance of Prime Minister Mark Phillips, with approval at 61 per cent, disapproval at 33 per cent, and 6 per cent not offering an opinion.

The Opposition trails the Government in rating -- only 33 per cent approve with 56 per cent disapproving and 11 per cent not offering an opinion. The Opposition Leader’s (Joe Harmon) approval rating is at 34 per cent with a disapproval of 54 per cent and 12 per cent not expressing a view.

Queried about the NoConfidence Motions (NCMs) against the Ministers of Health, Home Affairs, and Opposition Leader, a majority (52 per cent) feels it would be a waste of time. However, the public supports the idea of the Opposition holding the Government accountable. But a majority don’t feel the Opposition has been doing an effective job in taking the Government to task, saying the Opposition “is opposing for opposing sake” without offering credible workable alternative solutions to problems or Government policies. The findings show most Government supporters oppose the NCM against their Ministers while Opposition supporters support it. Most APNU supporters oppose the NCM against the Opposition Leader while Government supporters back it. However, 10 per cent APNU supporters back the motion against the Opposition Leader.

The poll queried adults on a number of other issues. The findings will be released in a subsequent report.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

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Foundation ◄ Past NGSA questions

By Kim Stafford

The design committee for making the world had stalled with the problem of drought.

“We have the sea over here, the desert over there—how many roads do we need, how many trucks, how many miles of pipe?”

At the back of the great hall stood the daughter of the doorman, who had brought him supper.

She pulled him down to whisper in his ear her dream of the mystery of mist. “My child,” he whispered, “that makes no sense at all.”

Source: Poetry (March 2021)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1st anniversary in office

Govt has done an excellent job – PSC Chairman … ICD applauds Govt for caring approach

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unday marked 100 days in office for the Dr Irfaan Aliled People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government and according to Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Paul Cheong, the President has done an excellent job leading the nation.

In an invited comment, Cheong told this publication that the President has led from the front in various facets ranging from the economy to how his Administration has handled the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide floods.

“He’s been leading from

the front. Both in terms of how he has managed the economy and other sectors.

He’s put the country on a good footing. In the flood relief efforts, he’s been fantastic,” Cheong said.

Caring approach

Meanwhile, the International Center for Democracy (ICD) sent out a statement in which it congratulated President Ali’s Government on reaching its one-year anniversary following the struggle for democracy to have every vote

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

counted. The Center went on to give the Government a passing grade, noting that it has paid keen attention to events in Guyana.

“During the past year

the ICD have continued to monitor Guyana’s politics and its development. We are pleased that the Irfaan Ali Administration has consistently kept their election promises to the people of Guyana.”

“We applaud the Government, not only for their vision, management of the economy and the massive infrastructural works they have embarked on but, also for their caring approach. President Ali has delivered to all Guyanese, irrespective of race, religion, political affiliation

and or geopolitical location,” the Center said.

According to the ICD, it will continue in its unwavering support to the people of Guyana, President Ali, and his Cabinet. The Center noted that it remains committed to Guyana’s development and the country’s democratic ideals.

The PPP’s first year in office got off to a feverish start, with a $330 million emergency budget passed within two months in office and a number of projects that had stagnated under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government taking off.

One of the major concerns persons had with the former President David Granger Administration was the increase in the tax burden on the ordinary man. President Ali, in the 2020 Emergency Budget, prepared in a record 29 days, made sure to roll back these measures.

Making good on an issue it campaigned on and criticised the former APNU/ AFC Government for, the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government rolled back the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) and duties on mining equipment.

VAT was also removed from exports, cell phones, medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and building and construction materials, as well as pesticides and agricultural chemicals. VAT was also removed from the importation of stones as the construction sector sets up for a boom.

One project that the PPP Government jumpstarted was the Diamond-Ogle bypass road. Originally, Guyana had signed a US$50 million loan with the Indian Exim Bank in 2016 for the

project. By 2019, that price had shot up to US$175 million and the Exim bank was reluctant to fund it. The PPP Government was able to reconfigure the project back into the US$50 million bracket within the first 100 days.

The contract for the new Demerara River bridge is another project the PPP jumpstarted. After site visits by the President and a team of officials, the Government settled on plans to construct a four-lane, high-span fixed bridge from Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, to La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

Meanwhile the Eccles to Mandela road project, which has seen six contractors work on completing the important road link under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Water, is on course for completion and opening by this year end.

The Government has also gone countrywide with its “Dream Realised” housing initiative - an exercise that has so far distributed

President Irfaan Ali

thousands of house lots and over 500 land transports.

In the Government’s first four months in office, 3500 house lots were distribut-

ed, an amount that was half the number of house lots distributed during the former Government’s five years in office. (G3)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelan women most trafficked in Guyana – Police D

ata released by the Guyana Police Force Counter-Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Unit has revealed that Venezuelan women were the most trafficked for 2021. There are 49 alleged human trafficking victims for this year of which 44 are females; the remaining five are males. Of the 44 females, 34 of them are Venezuelan nationals, six of them are Guyanese and the other four are Jamaicans.

As for the nationality of the males, two are Guyanese and another two are Jamaicans. The other victim is an Indian national. This information was revealed during a recent we-

binar hosted by the Guyana Association of Women Judges and the Supreme Court of Judicature - Justice Education Institute to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which is observed on July 30 annually.

This year was observed under the theme “Victims’ Voices lead the Way”.

Fourteen cases of human trafficking were reported and they spanned Region One (Barima-Waini); Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Region Four (Demerara-

Mahaica); Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

One case was recorded as unknown, while another was listed as the United States of America.

Five of the cases came from Region Four, two each was reported in Regions Seven and 10, while one each was recorded in Regions One, Two, and Six. Meanwhile, of the 14 reported cases, three each were recorded in January and February from which there were one male victim and seven female victims, respectively. Two cases were reported in March from which there were four female victims.

As it relates to April, five cases were reported this month; there were 22 victims - 18 females and four males. There was one case of TIP in May which resulted in 15 female victims.

Over the years, Trafficking In Persons has remained one of the hidden crimes in Guyana due to the difficulties in detecting it.

The restrictions imposed on indoor and public social gatherings to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have dampened the efforts of the Police Force Counter-TIP Unit in terms of conducting countrywide inspections. Police Sergeant Ranatha McBean, who is attached to that Unit, revealed that bar owners are adopting “other methods” of perpetrating human trafficking during the pandemic.

According to her, this is making it difficult for law enforcement officers to detect instances of the crime.

She disclosed that the traffickers are now finding other means to lure their victims. According to her, these include parties being held at private locations, advertisements of half-naked women on social media, escort services, and victims being delivered to the homes of clients.

Meanwhile, Guyana has maintained its Tier One status for the fifth consecutive year - this was highlighted in the United States State Department 2021 TIP Report.

Reacting to this achievement, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan said, “the fact that Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 status over the years and continues to have successful prosecutions even during a pandemic is testimony to the work being done and the progress made by the Judiciary and all stakeholders in relation to Trafficking In Person prosecutions in Guyana. We are up at the top and we are proud of it.”

A year after…

W

…the storm ell, we made it, didn’t we? After a year of living dangerously, here we are, celebrating the PPP’s first year of its term following the harrowing five-month record-breaking wait for the results of the 2020 elections. And yes, it was a year of living dangerously, what with the PNC huffing and puffing and threatening to blow the entire house (of Guyana) down. There is their history!

But the PPP kept their cool and have really done wonders in these strained circumstances. When they took over, the COVID-19 pandemic was well on its way of levelling the health systems of the most advanced countries in the world. With us having so many relatives in the US – especially in New York – it was heartrending to see hospitals without basic PPE equipment, oxygen or even doctors, overwhelmed with bodies stacked in refrigerated trucks in their parking lots. It was the same in Britain and Italy.

At that time, most of us were wondering how were we going to cope. Well, we did – even without us having the authoritarian rules and institutions of, say, China, to enforce compulsory lockdowns and vaccinations. While obviously it would be great if we’d done better, the PPP Government and its Health Ministry can hold their heads up high on the COVID pandemic. As we can see from the violations of COVID protocols and vaccination refusals, our eventual performance doesn’t just depend on the Government but on all of us.

The second worry was the economy – partly due to the impact of COVID-19 but also on the emaciated state in which the PNC left it. In the sugar belt, which had faced the full brunt of the PNC’s callous placing of politics over people, the Government moved to reopen three of the four shuttered sugar estates. As with agriculture overall, the torrential rains leading to massive floods made this turnaround much more difficult. While we can’t call this a success right now, at least the PPP should get high marks for trying.

Then, there was the oil. We spent the five years of the last PNC regime hoping there’d be an investigation into the circumstances under which Trotman of the PNC signed the worst possible oil contract in the world.

This couldn’t possibly be seen as witch-hunting, since it had been recommended by Global Witness, a natural resource watchdog NGO. The need for the inquiry goes way beyond Trotman – even though we lost US$55 billion through his negligence or perfidy. It would send a message to all in government to protect Guyana’s interest first and foremost.

The PNC’s locked in a leadership struggle – thanks to the PPP not blinking against the PNC’s bullyism.

…what’s ahead?

With the PNC’s travails, some ask whether they’ll be able to survive. While they’re locked in what appears to be a mortal struggle, the PPP’s been busy making hay in — what has to be sunshine amid the rains!! Never in the annals of Guyana’s post-independence history has anyone seen a President and his Cabinet leading the Guyanese people so visibly, including the PNC’s traditional base. House lots and houses? Being given away like candy to build a solid strata of Guyanese who’ll have something to protect from the nihilists in the PNC!!

New firms opening up to create employment? While no one expected the creation of the promised 50,000 jobs to be accomplished in the first year, few expected so many companies opening up! The real explosion in jobs, however, will come when our agro-processing and manufacturing sectors get their jump start. That’ll be the provision of cheap electricity from the gas-to-shore and AFHEP projects.

We can see clearly now: the (PNC) rain is gone!

… Inquiry into WCB troubles?

One of the mistakes of the Jagan Presidency was to allow the PNC to go unsanctioned for their illegalities.

They became emboldened. We can’t repeat this.

There must be an inquiry into the WCB troubles.

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unvaccinated nurse dies from COVID-19, 2 unvaccinated doctors hospitalised …74 new cases, death toll now 546

A

n unvaccinated nurse died on Sunday morning while being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after contracting the novel coronavirus.

In addition to the nurse, at least two other doctors who are also unvaccinated have been infected with the deadly virus.

Guyana Times understands that one of the doctors, a 31-year-old male, is in the COVID-19 ICU. A senior health official told this newspaper that the doctor is said to be in a critical condition.

Communications Manager at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Chelauna Providence, when contacted, confirmed that both the nurse who died and the doctor currently in the ICU were both unvaccinated.

However, the nurse’s death was not reflected in Sunday’s COVID-19 update.

The Ministry of Health reported that five more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died as of Saturday.

This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Guyana to 546.

These latest fatalities are three women from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – a 59-year-old and a 77-yearold, both of whom died on Saturday as well as a 65-yearold female who died on Tuesday last. The other two deaths are a 64-year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and an 82-year-old man from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), both of whom died on Friday.

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 subsequently returned positive results.

Meanwhile, 74 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 from some 1165 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

With these, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana has gone up to 22,597. But only 858 of these are currently active cases.

This includes 12 patients in the COVID-19 ICU and the remaining 846 persons in isolation, that is, 87 in institutional isolation and the other 759 in home isolation.

There are also four other persons in institutional quarantine, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 Dashboard on Sunday.

Meanwhile, some 21,193 persons have so far recovered from the life-threatening disease – 10 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

To date, 226,856 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana of which 11,592 females and 11,005 males were positive cases.

A breakdown of the 74 new COVID-19 cases detected on Sunday showed that 10 were from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), three from the Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara region, a whopping 32 cases from Region Four, four from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 19 cases from the East BerbiceCorentyne region, another one from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), three more from Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), and the remaining two cases from

Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Regions One (BarimaWaini) and Eight (PotaroSiparuni) recorded no COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to Sunday’s COVID-19 dashboard.

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 heard immunity.

So far, over 50 per cent of the adult population has received their first dose of the vaccine and recent date puts this figure at more than 250,000 persons. Meanwhile, fully immunised persons in the country stand in excess of 137,000 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 urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures.

The new guidelines for August indicate that the national curfew from 22:30h to 04:00h remains intact until the end of the month along with masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising.

Among the new measures is public transportation operators – including taxi drivers, minibus drivers, and boat operators, now being required to

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 1 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

74

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

87

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

759 12

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

4

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,592

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

11,005

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

22,597

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

21,193

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

249,908

FULLY IMMUNISED

136,919

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1302

REGION 2

639

REGION 3

2562

REGION 4

10,132

REGION 5

764

REGION 6

1899

REGION 7

1280

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

2093

REGION 10

1546

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.

546

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

be fully vaccinated.

In addition, cinemas, betting shops, and casinos are now allowed to operate at 40 per cent capacity but only to vaccinated persons, who are still required to wear facemasks.

Regarding the operation of

a cinema, the measure posited that there shall be no concession stand available.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said as of Sunday, some 196,553,009 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 4,200,412 deaths.

The WHO also reported on Thursday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 76,788,166 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,003,542. (G8)

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Convicted child rapist appealing life sentence M ichael Abrams, who was sentenced to life imprisonment back in 2017 after a jury found him guilty on two counts of child rape, is appealing against his conviction and sentence. Abrams, who is now in his late 50s, at the time of his conviction had described himself as a “devoted Catholic.”

The first count for which Abrams was found guilty occurred sometime between January 1 and 19, 2016, and the second count was on January 19, 2016.

The jury’s verdict on both charges was unanimous.

During the trial proceedings which were held in-camera, the court had heard the testimony of Abrams inserting his finger into the six-year-old girl’s vagina, and also sodomising her.

Trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall had admonished Abrams for his wrongdoings, telling him that “you say are a devoted

the worst possible way, shattering her innocence.

From the testimonies presented at trial, Justice Morris-Ramlall said it was evidence that the young girl loved Abrams. The Judge said that Abrams

“pretended” to love her and treater her “like a beast.”

In sentencing the child rapist, the Judge took into consideration the aggravating and mitigating factors as well as the circumstances surrounding the

case. In the end, she sentenced him to serve life imprisonment on each count.

The sentences will run concurrently.

He will be eligible for parole after severing 35 years in prison.

Fisherman beaten, robbed

A

Child rapist: Michael Abrams

Catholic; I hope you pray to God and ask forgiveness.” Following the guilty verdicts, Abrams said that even though the jury “in their wisdom” found him guilty, he maintains his innocence.

“This situation makes me feel sad. I felt like the accused [Abrams] would

try to hurt me,” the rape survivor had expressed in a victim impact statement.

For her part, the State prosecutor had urged the court to impose the maximum sentence on Abrams, and in doing so, pointed out that the rape convict abused his position of trust and violated the child in

fisherman was beaten and robbed on Saturday as he was awaiting transportation to go to work.

Reports are that at about 05:00h the 42-year-old fisherman was at Unity Junction, East Coast Demerara, when he was approached by a red motor car with three occupants.

According to Police, the driver of the motor car enquired from the fisherman where he was going but as they spoke one of the occupants exited the vehicle with a steel bar in his hand and snatched the fisherman’s phone.

The man was robbed of a

Samsung S10 cell phone, valued $200,000, after which the fisherman was dealt several lashes about his body and head.

The suspects immediately fled the scene. The fisherman was subsequently tak-

en to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was admitted a patient.

One of the suspects known as “Thick Slice” was arrested while checks are being made for the other two.

Investigations continue. (G9)

NEWS

11

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prison escapee recaptured Berbice man A

n inmate of the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast Demerara, who had escaped from the facility on Saturday morning, was recaptured by members of the Joint Services.

Reports are that about 18:50h on Saturday, a party of Policemen acting on information received went to a house at Calendar Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, where escaped prisoner Quincy Clarke, 38, of Lot 35

Recaptured: Quincy Clarke

West La Penitence was apprehended and taken to the Brickdam Police Station.

He was later collected by ranks from the Guyana Prison Service and returned to custody.

Guyana Times had previously reported that two Prison ranks on duty at the holding bay noticed an unidentifiable male running and pushing a black and red XR motorcycle.

The officers ordered the male to stop but he didn’t

and a chase ensued. The male then dropped the motorcycle, jumped a trench and ran west into some bushes, making good his escape.

The ranks who gave chase later learnt that the individual was Clarke and the motorcycle belonged to a Prison Officer.

Clarke was sentenced to two four-week terms concurrently for two counts of threatening language on Thursday. (G9)

Prisoner found dead in Lethem lock-ups

P

olice in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were confronted on Sunday morning with the body of a convicted prisoner in their lock-ups.

It was reported that at about 01:10h on Sunday, the convicted prisoner, Allen Thomas, 25, of Shea Village, South Rupununi, was found in a sitting position in what appears to be an apparent suicide at the Lethem Police Station.

At the time, the man was only clad in his underwear. He was subsequently rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On Friday last, Thomas had appeared before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on a charge of assault causing actual bodi-

ly harm, where he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

According to prison officials, Thomas was the only prisoner in the lock-ups at the time, and was awaiting transportation to the Georgetown Prison.

The body is at the Lethem Regional Hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

In a report from the Guyana Police Force on Sunday, it was stated that investigators from the Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility are conducting investigations into the matter. (G9)

Lethem Police Station

chopped during attack

A

Berbice resident is now hospitalised after he was chopped during an attack by three men on Saturday at Belvedere village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Injured is 45-yearold labourer, Subraminie Permaul called “Recardo” of Hampshire village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), who was chopped to his head in the area of his ear.

Reports are that the incident occurred at around 22:30h on Saturday.

According to the Police’s report, Permaul was heading home on his pedal cycle

when he was confronted by three unidentifiable men, who were armed with a cutlass.

He was dealt a chop to his left ear, causing him to receive injuries. The suspects then made good their escape in an unknown direction.

The victim made his way to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost where he was then escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital and treated for his injuries.

However, due to the extent of his injuries he was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

Investigations in progress. (G9)

12 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Safety maintained despite flaring challenges – ExxonMobil Production Manager …no major workplace injuries since 1st oil

M

any would imagine that life onboard a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) oil ship is potentially dangerous, but according to Exxon’s Production Manager Mike Ryan, ExxonMobil has gone for almost two years without any recordable incidents on board the Liza Destiny FPSO. The Liza Destiny FPSO began producing oil in December 2019. According to Ryan in a recent interview with his company’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor Janelle Persaud, there have been no record-

able incidents on board the ship one year and seven months later. He defined a recordable incident as any in which an injury is sustained that would require first aid.

“The Liza Destiny team has now gone over 660 days without a recordable incident. When we say recordable incident, it would mean anything more than first aid. We capture every single incident. If someone nips the top of their finger, we record that. Anything beyond that, like say a stitch or something that requires antibiotics or first aid, is called a recordable incident.”

“We’ve gone over 660 days without one of those.

That is phenomenal and I’m extremely proud of that. And I’m proud that we were able to achieve that while working through the very challenging issues we’ve had,” Ryan further explained.

These challenges are a reference to the technical problems Exxon started grappling with in January, regarding the seal on Liza Destiny’s flash gas compressor. The problem resulted in Exxon having to reduce its production and also conduct routine flaring. The compressor is now operation-

al and according to Ryan, Exxon was able to do all this while maintaining safety.

“The team has been very focused on the flash gas compressor. And bringing that flare down to as low as possible and pilot level flaring.

But in the middle of all this and the challenges the team has had, they have also been relentless about safety.”

“And I’m extremely proud of the entire team offshore.

And the Guyanese nation should also be proud of folks working offshore and providing a world class safety performance,” the Production Manager said.

Projects

In the meantime, ExxonMobil envisions at least six projects online by 2027 and sees potential for up to 10 projects to develop its current recoverable resource base. The Liza Destiny FPSO vessel is currently producing about

Exxon Production Mike Ryan

Manager

120,000 barrels of oil per day.

The start-up of Liza Phase 2 remains on target for early 2022, and the Liza Unity FPSO expects to sail from Singapore to Guyana in late August 2021. The Unity has a production capacity of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

The hull for the Prosperity FPSO vessel is complete, and topsides construction activities are ongoing in Singapore with a start-up target of 2024. The first Payara development well was spudded in June 2021, and the offshore SURF

installation will begin in third-quarter 2021.

Yellowtail has been identified as the fourth development project in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana with anticipated start-up in 2025. Following necessary Government approvals and a final investment decision, this project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 19 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of the Liza developments, and potentially adjacent resources.

These new projects continue to contribute to the advancement of the Guyanese economy. More than 2600 Guyanese are now supporting project activities on and offshore, which reflects an increase of more than 20 per cent since the end of 2019.

ExxonMobil and its key contractors have spent approximately US$388 million with more than 800 local companies since 2015. (G3)

Former GNSC custom broker cleared of forgery charges

F

ormer customs broker Jailall Bridglall, who was employed at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) Limited has been freed of six forgery charges levelled against him by the Police. The matters were dismissed by Magistrate Rondell Weever who upheld a no-case submission by his lawyer, Bernard Da Silva.

It was alleged that on August 7, 2020, at Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Head Office Camp Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he forged a letter with bill of lading # CCGH438394; 810 – 88208094; 81087804872; Custom Declaration form # C 283; 285; 284; all purport-

ing to show that same originated from the GNSC and signed by its agent, knowing same to be forged.

Bridglall had pleaded not guilty to all the charges during his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He had been out on cash bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

During his trial, the prosecution called several witnesses to prove its case.

But at the close of its case, Bridglall’s lawyer submitted that the prosecution failed to prove the elements of the offence.

As such, he submitted that a prima facie case was not established against his client and the charges should

Jailall Bridglall

be dismissed. Magistrate Weever, in the end, upheld the no-case submission made by the lawyer and dismissed the case. (G1)

NEWS

13

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unresolved Enmore-Hope residents’ NIS matters resolved “within minutes” …as Finance Minister continues outreach

ful for what happened here. “I’m asking Minister if this can happen like every six months or once a year. It could be great for the people of this country,” Hussein said.

Senior citizen Indranee

One Year Review and Comparative Analysis of President Ali’s Administration in Office

the manner in which the outreach has been executed. As you can see, the NIS staff bring a full team of staff with us, they are fully equipped with online connections to the NIS database.

T

oday is exactly one year since President Irfaan Ali’s Administration was sworn in to form the Government of Guyana. Hence, on this occasion, this author thought it fitting to conduct a one-year assessment of the Administration’s accomplishments in comparison to the previous Administration’s first year in office.

Though space precludes a more granular comparative assessment, the author attempts to provide a very condensed summary of the two Administrations’ first year in office (see highlights and commentary below).

Current Administration’s One Year Performance/Achievements (August 2, 2020 – August 2, 2021) (Key highlights) Budget 2020/2021 Measures: • $150 million allocated to support front line workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provision of $25,000 relief per household (COVID); Reversal of VAT on electricity and water; Increase Mortgage Interest Relief threshold from $15 million to $30 million (100% increase); Increase in low-income loan limit from $8 million to $10 million; Removal of VAT on building and construction materials; Reduction of licence fee by 50% on all licence fees that were increased in 2015; Removal of 25% corporate tax on education; Removal of 25% corporate tax and VAT on health and medical supplies; Removal of VAT on machinery and equipment; Removal of VAT on All-Terrain Vehicles for mining, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing; Reversal of VAT on exports; Change of log export policy to allow saw millers to export logs; $15,000 cash grant for school children; Old age pension increased from $20,500 to $25,000; Reversal of land lease fees across all sectors and water charges back to 2014 rates and reversal of the land taxes and drainage and irrigation charges back to 2014; Removal of VAT on fertilisers, agrochemicals, pesticides, and key inputs in the poultry industry, and zero rating of the poultry industry; Tax concessions on investment in agro-processing facilities, cold storage and packaging; Special incentives to be made available for planting corn and soybean.

• Restoring the VAT Zero-Rate on basic food items and household necessities; reducing water tariffs; zero-rating certain construction materials; reducing duty on industrial grade cement; increase in low-income loan ceiling further from $10 million to $12 million; reducing the cost of connectivity; reducing the cost of transportation in the hinterland; reinstating capital gains tax whereby the sale of assets owned for more than 25 years will not attract capital gains tax on their disposal.

• Govt Deposit Account Balance at the Central Bank, $68.4 billion (Surplus balance), as at the end of June 2021.

• Close to $8 billion in direct cash transfer to farmers and households who were affected in the recent flood crisis.

Previous Administration’s One Year Performance/Achievements (May 18, 2015 – May 18, 2016) (Key Highlights) Budget 2015/2016 • VAT reduced from 16% to 14% but the list of items that attract VAT increased, for example, VAT was added to electricity and water; a plethora of items were moved from VAT Zero -Rate status to VAT exempt status (For a “zero-rated good,” the Government doesn’t tax its sale, but allows credits for the value-added tax paid on inputs. If a good or business is “exempt”, the Government doesn’t tax the sale of the good, but producers cannot claim a credit for the VAT they pay on inputs to produce it.); reduction on excise tax on vehicle imports); reduction on excise tax on vehicle import under four years old; ban on used tyres; ban on Styrofoam boxes; withdrawal of NIS subsidy; increase in income tax threshold from $600,000 to $660,000; introduction of SLED, introduction of Linden Enterprise Network ($155 million allocated); 50% increase in fees for all types of licences.

• Govt Deposit Account Balance at the Central Bank, $3.8 billion (deficit), as at the end of June 2016.

Source: National Budget Speeches The President Ali-led Government is visibly working to reverse these outcomes where the traditional productive sectors were underperforming by pursuing an ambitious transformative developmental agenda, which will result in an upward trajectory in economic activities and unprecedented expansion of the economy that will be reflective of inclusive and broad-based growth.

The infrastructure projects as highlighted on many occasions by His Excellency, will no doubt translate into significant growth in the construction and mining and quarrying sectors, for example – surpassing the growth rates achieved over the last five years of less than 3% and is likely to account for more than 8% and 16% of GDP respectively, by the end of 2021.

The agriculture sector, which is another critical productive sector, is projected to become one of the largest contributors to GDP. Approximately 6% of the 2021 national budget was allocated towards the agriculture sector. Guyana is well positioned to become the regional breadbasket for the Caribbean by potentially tapping into the US$4 billion–US$10 billion Caricom market.

The previous Administration, as argued in many previous writings by this column, significantly misdirected financial resources away from productive activities to non-productive spending. The current Administration, on the other hand, has corrected this by allocating more resources on capital projects that will drive major infrastructural development.

Collectively, Government spending amounts to an injection of more than $200 billion or more than 50% of the national budget, towards capital projects, revamping the traditional sectors, and creating new and emerging opportunities through a transformational development agenda. For example, through infrastructure development; massive housing programmes, new road networks, investing heavily in the agriculture and food security sectors and agro-processing on a mega scale; hydro and gas-to-energy projects are on the table among others. Moreover, the Government has also demonstrated its zest for economic diversification. These developments, in turn, will create many new investment and job creation opportunities to be led by the Private Sector and foreign investors as well.

In a nutshell, the Government’s first year’s performance amid a global pandemic and a flood crisis is beyond commendable. The fiscal numbers as presented in this article summarily, substantiate this view.

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About the Author: JC Bhagwandin is a financial and economic analyst; and an Adjunct Instructor at Texila American University, Business College. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh assists a resident during the NIS outreach

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itizens from the Enmore-Hope, East Coast Demerara communities turned out in large numbers to have their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) matters resolved during an outreach in the area on Saturday.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh led the exercise at the Enmore-Hope Primary School and according to a Department of Public Information report, the beneficiaries all praised the Government for the initiative, noting that it brings service to the people.

In an invited comment, Teekaran Jainarine told DPI the exercise is welcome, especially for elderly persons who often have difficulties travelling to the NIS offices to query matters.

“Bringing the NIS, National Insurance Scheme to the communities is very convenient I must say, and for those who are scared and don’t know how to travel, for example, the elderly.

“For the other persons who don’t like congestion, I think it is very convenient…Oh, they have done a good job, a good job in bringing this exercise to the communities, the various communities. They have done a good job!”

Rampaul Sukhdeo echoed those sentiments.

He said the outreach is much appreciated as many issues are being resolved within minutes.

“Well, I think it’s a wonderful initiative. As you can see the amount of people here today. They’re here, all of them. They have their issues and with this initiative here, bringing it to the community instead of the office and so forth; it just helps to get the process along and speed the process along in terms of assisting people in getting their issues or whatever grievances they have resolved in a timely manner.

So, I think it’s a wonderful initiative, and anything that benefits to people I think it’s a really great initiative… I would like to say thanks to the NIS that I’ve got my issues resolved this

morning I’m very thankful for that and I’m very thankful to NIS…also extended to the Government as well because it’s an initiative that comes from the Government.”

Mohamed Hussein, a GuySuCo employee, is another NIS client who left the venue satisfied that his matter was addressed. He commended the Government for organising the outreach.

“This what the Government is doing through the NIS Board is very, very great. And this never happened for many years that workers can come and get the printout of contributions and whatever, and I’m grate-

NIS staff interacting with Enmore-Hope residents

Baliran was pleased that her grievance was addressed by Minister Singh.

“Yes, he is good. He is doing the right thing and the good thing,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Singh said the NIS would be hosting similar outreaches across the country as part of the Government’s wider plan to serve the citizenry.

“I’m very pleased with it. I’m very pleased with

“We are connected. You can check individual contributors record, you can print contribution statements, you know, so this is almost like a full-fledged NIS office. And we’re moving… this operation is moving from location to location.” As part of this programme, the NIS has already visited Regions Three and Six to address its clients’ concerns.

14 NEWS Hotdog vendor found dead in alleyway MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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hotdog vendor was on Sunday found dead in an alleyway in Georgetown and Police have since said that they suspect that he was murdered.

Dead is 32-year-old Ilan Antonio Singh, a Venezuelan who was living at Lot 5 North Road, Bourda, Georgetown.

Police said on Sunday that the alleyway is the area where a hotel on Church Street, Georgetown, packs its garbage.

Based on investigations, Police said that according to a female associate of Singh,

at about 00:30h on Sunday morning the man told her that he was going to a party at Rio Club, which is located at Forshaw Street, Queenstown, and he left walking.

However, at about 06:00h a maintenance worker at SleepIn Hotel, while on duty, discovered the body lying in the alleyway.

The Police were called

Youths, get involved in nature!

and the body was examined. Police said what appeared to be wounds were seen to his head along with bruises on his knees, right hand and left shoulder.

The body was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital where Singh was pronounced dead. An investigation is ongoing as Police await a post-mortem examination.

Man found dead in canal

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he body of a man was on Sunday morning found floating in a canal along the Mocha Access Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Police on the East Bank Demerara said at about 10:30h they received information from a passer-by that there was a body floating in the Mocha trench in the vicinity of fourth bridge.

Upon arriving at the scene, Police discovered the body clad in a red jersey and multi coloured pants.

It was also observed to be a male of African descent, who had marks of swelling around the left eye.

Upon enquiry, Police said the man was identified as a 63-year-old labourer, Joseph Curt of Prospect Mocha, EBD. The Police were also told that the victim was an alcoholic and would usually do handyman services for people in the Mocha community. The Police are awaiting a post-mortem examination. (G9)

O

ver the years, young people have had a vested interest in environmental protection. Them being extremely vulnerable to the ecological changes taking place in the world, young people are the new vulnerable group for three main reasons. They are the ones expected to live longer with environmental decisions made by elders. Moreover, they make up a large part of the world’s population. They are also highly at risk to environmental changes associated with hygiene and health, since their bodies have not quite achieved maturity.

Environmental well-being and environmental stresses are not equally distributed across the globe. Moreover, environmental stress is becoming a topical issue because of the increased evidence of its occurrence. The daily declining state of nature is seen through the increasing levels of carbon dioxide emissions, loss of biodiversity, decreasing population of fishes and other marine life, deforestation and poor solid waste management.

With the growing environmental stress, youths in Guyana and around the world are increasingly becoming involved in activities to adapt to changes. Against this, it is important that youths practise environmentally safe actions when dealing with a changed and changing environment. Making up the highest proportion of the current population, youths can and do have great impact and influence. But an important question is: “How do youths become connected with nature?”

Multiple studies have shown that when youths interact with nature, there are many benefits to be derived. Research shows that children who are allowed to play outdoors are socially and emotionally happier and healthier than those who are kept enclosed and indoors.

Outdoor interactions are also touted as one of the most direct ways to combat childhood obesity.

Youths, especially young children, who have positive interactions with nature are more likely to become better informed adult consumers and savers who are environmentally alert. Given the present COVID-19 pandemic, youths have found a profound value for nature and its importance to our world. As future leaders, youths are always encouraged to build a sense of caring the Earth.

As a whole, when connected with nature, it guarantees longevity and continuity of the environment and all its associated processes and components. It is time that youths take their rightful place and protect the environment so that future generations of youths can reap the benefits of this generation of youths.

In order to foster the creation of a positive relationship between youths and nature, it is essential to build a new generation of environmental stewards. Some activities that can help to connect nature and youth include: * Camping * Trips to nature resorts * Nature walks * Bird watching * Clean-up activities such as the International Coastal Clean-up (September 2021) * Trips to natural creeks, springs, etc. * Recycling * Maintaining a flower or vegetable garden * Getting involved in environmental clubs

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

We can all take simple steps by becoming “environmental super heroes”. We can do our part by encouraging our young people to connect with nature.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No evidence J'can Police involved in human trafficking − human trafficking consultant challenges US report

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enowned migration and human trafficking consultant researcher Dr Cleophas Justine Pierre says he is waiting on the United States (US) State Department to “reveal the data that they claim to have” to support their assertion that some Jamaican police “allegedly facilitated or participated in sex trafficking”.

The State Department, which made the claim in its 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, said Jamaica would continue to be ranked at Tier 2, meaning that the Jamaican Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.

The stance was a repeat of the one Washington took in its 2020 report in which

the Americans, among other things, maintained that “there were no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in trafficking offences”, although “the Government demonstrated increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period”.

The State Department further said informal information from survivors indicated that police officers were complicit in sex trafficking operations disguised as massage parlours.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer last Thursday, Dr Pierre — a director of research and business development at Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Company Canada Limited and the lead researcher on the Cariforum/Caricom Human Trafficking research project

— said whatever other illegal activities some Jamaican cops might be mixed up in, trafficking in persons is not one of them as far as data collected over the years from dons, victims and traffickers in the underbelly of the dastardly scheme have shown.

Trinidadians told to brace for further hike in food prices

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n the last six months, there have been steep increases in the prices of imported food items.

The price of pigtails, according to importers, skyrocketed by 74 per cent, canned corned beef went up by 36 per cent, yellow split peas and lentils rose by 34 per cent, brown sugar climbed by 25 per cent, and canned tuna increased by 15 per cent.

Other food items are set to increase by up to 50 per cent in some cases when compared to last year’s prices. The consensus among industry stakeholders is that prices will not stop rising anytime soon.

Consumers will now have to dig deeper into their pockets to purchase even the basic food items from wholesalers and retailers.

A shortage of shipping containers internationally and a steep increase in freight cost to ship these items locally since the COVID-19 pandemic started are the key factors in rising food prices, importers said. This is compounded by the perennial problem of a lack of foreign exchange. Former president of the Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) and CEO of Arima Discount Mart Balliram Maharaj in a letter to Minister of Trade Paula Gopee-Scoon dated July 21 listed the percentage hike in food items and warned about a looming crisis in T&T if nothing is done to fix the problem.

He told the Sunday Guardian that T&T is in "deep trouble" and could face a "frightening situation" like Haiti and Venezuela in terms of food insecurity if urgent measures are not taken.

On critical issues involving shipping, Maharaj said, "Within recent times shipping agents have requested payment for freight and Terminal Handling Charges at the destination to be paid in US currency. Some agents were accepting TT dollars at an inflated exchange rate.

However, within the last week, they are all requesting that payments be made in US currency. Any failure to comply with this mandate results in shipments not being released and incurring demurrage charges."

This, he said, has resulted in an almost 300 per cent increase in freight rates since last year and it is continuously rising. They have also been informed by suppliers that to get the full containers onto the ships on time, a priority fee must be paid.

Maharaj said empty containers are also increasingly difficult to locate, "causing further delays in getting supplies shipped around the world." More than 60 per cent of the world's white sugar is shipped in containers and it has become increasingly difficult to source containers for sugar shipments, Maharaj said.

"Sugar is not a priority product for shipping lines as it is heavy but low value, which means it can only be shipped in 20ft containers, not 40ft. Shippers prefer larger containers as they offer more capacity for the same handling cost," he added.

Sugar, however, he said was an essential item for our local manufacturers producing ketchup, soft drinks, juices, etc. "There is no white sugar available locally and suppliers cannot guarantee order arrivals as it highly depends on the availability of vessels and empty containers."

Should this trend continue, the small cottage industry manufacturers will be jeopardised, he said in the letter. This could cripple local SMEs. World production levels on food supplies have declined due to the pandemic as countries went into shutdown. Factories and production plants are either closed or operated with minimum staff. The ripple effect: further increases in prices.

Former president of the Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) Balliram Maharaj

"There is also a shortage of dairy products in Australia and New Zealand. Milk producers are selling milk powder higher than the added value products such as cheese, butter and ghee for the months of August to October. Supplies have been reduced by over 75 per cent," Maharaj added.

From Belize, where Maharaj gets supplies of red beans and black eye peas, the Government has instructed its people to hold all exports on peas and beans as stocks are required for domestic use due to the pandemic.

Maharaj believes it is critical for the Government and food importers to hold meaningful discussions on the impact of the pandemic on food that is now hanging overhead.

In the letter to the Trade Minister, Maharaj proposed an increase in local food production as the only solution to high food prices and limited supplies.

"We must devise a system for Trinbagonians to start to get a taste in our pallets for the food we grow. Maybe, if permitted by the Caricom Trade Agreement, we can start with a surcharge on all fancy items and the funds can then be filtered into the Ministry of Agriculture for subsidies on food production through our farmers," he said in the letter. (T&T Guardian)

“As an association we conducted one of the largest human trafficking and migration study in the Caribbean region.

We have written many articles on the subject and have looked at the roots, we looked at the trends, we spoke to human traffickers, we spoke to the Johns (slang for prostitutes' clients or pimps) and have seen the stables, we spoke to the victims,” Dr Pierre said.

He said having conducting interviews with a range of individuals, including the dons in Jamaica, police officers, Government officials and individuals within Jamaica's Ministry of National Security, researchers “found no evidence to corroborate the claims of police involvement in human trafficking in Jamaica”.

“Although the data show that there some elements of police involvement in certain crime, human trafficking is not one of them. From our data on smuggling in the Caribbean region, we are also aware of some police involved in lottery scam, guns for hire, and stuff like that. In other countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, we have data suggesting that there is evidence of police involvement in human trafficking, but in Jamaica this was not the case,” he said.

“I am not saying that all police are bad or good, we are saying that from our data set with regard to police involvement in human trafficking ac-

tivities in Jamaica we have not seen that,” Dr Pierre insisted.

He said attempts to secure an interview with the US State Department so far have borne no fruit.

“I am waiting for the US State Department to reveal the data that they claim to have,” he said, noting that from interacting with a desk researcher who compiled the TIP report in 2019, it was revealed that some of the information collected is gathered through administrative data and other third party sources.

“We would like to know where they got that information from. We need to know, so we can follow the evidence. We looked at every article in the US TIP 2018 report on Jamaica and some of the claims made in the report could not stand up to scrutiny. We have done an analysis of every country in the Caribbean using indicators and in all our measurements Jamaica had the highest points. It means that Jamaica is one of the countries making the most progress. We are on the ground, we did the studies.

When we asked them if they went on the ground, they did not,” Dr Pierre added.

Their inability to come up with the evidence to support that claim over the years, he said, “is tragic”.

“We find that Jamaica every year has improved its standing. They [the USA] have made their allegations without any basis and that's my issue as a scientist because everything you do as a scientist has to be measured and we could not do that. In my opinion as a researcher, Jamaica is the best in the region. In my analysis, Jamaica should be tier one.

“We have the largest dataset of human traffickers in the region. Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Haiti but not in Jamaica. We have done the work, we know what is on the

ground,” he stated.

In a critique of the 2019 US TIP Report for Jamaica which returned the island to a tier two ranking, Dr Pierre said more thorough checks should be made to ensure accuracy of the information which is used to form the basis of a ranking, which has major implications for Jamaica. This, he said, could be achieved by simply reverifying information received by doing direct consultations.

Since the establishment in 2006 of a dedicated unit within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to deal with the investigation of trafficking in persons, 108 individuals have been rescued with eight convictions so far secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which has a special unit dedicated to dealing with cases involving sexual offences and trafficking in persons. There are currently 16 matters being tried before the courts with 24 traffickers.

In a 2020 study, the research team led by Dr Pierre concluded that the human trafficking and migrant smuggling industry is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in the region, especially in Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Colombia, employing an estimated 176,000 people, impacting 11 economic sectors with Venezuela being the epicentre for human trafficking, and Haiti and Venezuela the epicentres of migrant smuggling.

According to researchers, the demand for sex is behind the thriving industry. Among the countries where there is a high demand for sex are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

(Jamaica Observer)

16 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T&T PM on unvaccinated workers: Bloody Queens shooting: NYC gang bangers Employers have a responsibility wound 10 with more than 40 bullets to their staff, citizens T

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rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says employers asking unvaccinated staff to take the vaccine or pay for PCR COVID tests on a regular basis, are making decisions based on their responsibility to the population.

He was responding to a question on how he felt about employers' treatment of unvaccinated staff at the weekly media briefing on Saturday at the Anne Mitchell Gift Auditorium, Scarborough Library in Tobago. Dr Rowley said employers are not just responsible for staff.

Some well-established businesses have made COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff. Others have informed unvaccinated staff that they will not be rostered for work or must double mask and wear shields and take the PCR tests often at their own expense.

"The employers who are making that requests of the staff, they have a responsibility not just to the rest of the staff, but to the rest of the population," the PM said. "...Basically, what that policy is doing is asking people to assure others that they are not carrying the virus and posing a threat to persons who have exercised

their rights in a different way.

"It's being discussed in the context of your right as a person, but I am sure by now you all know that we have all restrictions on rights and your personal behaviour."

He also called for employers to show restraint.

"Let us not exploit the situation to the disadvantage unfairly of others, but by the same token, if you (employees) have taken a position, there are other positions that flow from that."

'We give up some leisure for livelihood' Addressing matters in Tobago, he said he had heard the calls from people to reopen beaches and bars to help the tourism industry but the Government would not change its policy, risking increased infections and jeopardising the reopening of schools in September.

"With respect to the beaches, we would love for all of us to be out there, but because of what the alternative is, the alternative of having everybody out there doing everything we want to do is that we can find ourselves, all of us backing up to a place that we don't want to go."

"We are making sacrifices in areas, not that you are unimportant not that you

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley

are a noncontributor (tourism sector)...We give up some leisure for livelihood."

Dr Rowley said the Ministry of Health would focus its attention on vaccinating as many people in the retail sector as possible so that sector can reopen next. He called on caretakers, gardeners, hairdressers, and masseurs to get vaccinated so the personal services sector can reopen in two weeks.

He said as the country celebrates Emancipation Day on Sunday, people should make it their pledge to "Emancipate themselves from COVID and vaccinate."

Asked whether the country's 9 pm to 5 am curfew remains in effect although it is a long holiday weekend, Dr Rowley said the hours had not changed. (T&T Guardian)

en people were wounded when a pair of gunmen fired more than 40 shots down a Queens street in a brazen gang-related shooting, police said Sunday.

The barrage of bullets on 37th Ave. between 97th and 99th streets in North Corona kicked off a bloody night in the city, where 18 people were either killed or wounded in seven separate shootings, cops said.

The masked and hooded Queens gunmen, who were being trailed by two men on scooters, walked down 37th Ave. about 10:40 p.m. and began firing, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said.

“The two males immediately extended their arms and began firing in the direction of a group at a barber shop,” Essig said. “This is a brazen, coordinated attack.”

The gunfire hit people outside the barber shop as well as innocent bystanders walking down the street and people celebrating a birthday party for a nearby restaurant owner, Essig said.

Eight men and two women were hit by gunfire, officials said. Once the gun smoke cleared, the two shooters hopped onto the backs of the scooters and sped off. Their victims ranged from 19 to 72 years old, Essig said. All were rushed to area hospitals and

The masked and hooded gunmen, who were being trailed by two men on scooters (NYPD/DCPI)

were expected to survive.

“I was at home relaxing and I heard the shots, boomboom-boom, like ten,” said Josephine Cepim, 58, who lives a few buildings away from the scene. “I said ‘Oh my God’.”

Police believe the duo were aiming at three Trinitarios gang members standing outside the barber shop. All the other victims were collateral damage, Essig said.

Raphael Torres, 50, heard the gunfire as he stood outside a bodega where he has worked for about the past year-and-ahalf. “I heard shots, but it was far away,” he said.

In his hands was $8 he planned to use to pay for his dinner, and someone in the store told him to come inside as his food was ready.

“Then I turned around, and that’s when I felt pain,” he

said.

Torres said that he was hit about an inch from his right knee.

The most seriously wounded victim was a 21-year-old man, believed to be a Trinitarios member, who was shot in the stomach, officials said. The 72-year-old woman was shot in the left leg, a 40-year-old woman was shot in the right foot, a 39-year-old man was hit in the right leg and a 19-year-old man hit in the right ear, cops said. Teresa Asitimbay, 42, who runs a restaurant nearby, said the area is plagued by violence and trouble. When she closes up shop, she said, she makes sure to avoid walking through the area.

“There’s a lot of drinking, a lot of people asleep in the street. On the weekends it’s crazy,” she said. (Excerpted from NY Daily News)

US will not lock down despite surge driven by Delta variant - Fauci

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he United States will not lock down again to curb COVID-19 but "things are going to get worse" as the Delta variant fuels a surge in cases, most-

ly among the unvaccinated, top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday.

A sufficient percentage of Americans have now

been vaccinated to avoid lockdowns, Fauci said on ABC's "This Week".

"Not enough to crush the outbreak, but I believe enough to not allow

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci

us to get into the situation we were in last winter," he said.

The average number of new coronavirus cases reported nationwide has nearly doubled in the past 10 days, according to a Reuters analysis.

Even if states do not resort to lockdowns again, the spread of the Delta variant could still threaten the economy.

Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari told CBS' "Face the Nation" that the Delta variant was "creating a bunch of caution" among millions of out-of-work Americans and could slow the U.S. labor market recovery.

The surge in Delta variant cases is also rattling

the globe. Parts of Asia that were previously relatively successful in containing COVID-19, such as the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, are now locking down hot spots.

Some are pushing back against new restrictions.

From Monday, unarmed soldiers will help police Australia's biggest city Sydney, checking that people who have tested positive are isolating.

In France, where the government is fighting a fourth wave of infections, thousands of people protested for a third consecutive weekend against the introduction of a mandatory health pass proving vaccination that will be required for entry to many public venues.

While vaccines remain scarce in much of the world, they are freely available to anyone 12 years or older in the United States, where cash prizes, new cars and other incentives have failed to motivate more than a third of the population to get immunized.

"We have 100 million people in this country who are eligible to be vaccinated who are not getting vaccinated," said Fauci, who is also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases About 58% of Americans

have received at least one dose of vaccine, ranging from a high of 76% in Vermont to a low of 40% in Mississippi.

After declining for weeks, the number of Americans getting vaccinated has started to rise again.

"The silver lining of this is that people are waking up to this and this may be a tipping point for those who have been hesitant," National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins told CNN on Sunday. "That's what desperately needs to happen if we're going to get this Delta variant put back in its place, because right now it's having a pretty big party in the middle of the country."

Florida has one of the worst outbreaks in the nation, based on new cases per capita and has seen infections rise 50% week-overweek. However, Governor Ron DeSantis has blocked mask mandates in the state's schools, saying parents should decide.

"It just makes common sense in a community where the virus is spreading, and that's pretty much all of Florida right now, to do everything you can to prevent that, which includes mask wearing for kids in schools," Collins said. (Reuters)

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coronavirus: New rules for fully Canada officially marks first jabbed US and EU arrivals begin nationwide Emancipation Day

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eople who were fully vaccinated in the US or European Union will no longer have to isolate when arriving in the UK from an amber list country.

The rule change comes in across the country from 04:00 BST on Monday.

The UK government has said the change, which was announced last week, will help to reunite family and friends whose loved ones live abroad.

Airline bosses have welcomed the move but are calling for more countries to be added to the UK's green travel list.

Travellers will still need to take either a lateral flow or PCR test pre-departure and a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.

Under-18s will be exempt from isolation, and some will not have to test, depending on their age.

Since 19 July people who have been double-jabbed in the UK have not had to isolate when arriving from amber list countries, but all other travellers are required to

quarantine for 10 days when doing so.

Tougher rules also remain in place for France, with travellers still required to quarantine even if they have been double jabbed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said this will be reviewed at the end of the week.

As part of the changes, international cruise ships will be able to depart from England from Monday - after a 16-month pause.

International cruises have been allowed from Northern Ireland since Saturday.

In a letter to Mr Shapps the leaders of UK airlines described the change as a "positive step" but said they were concerned that the UK aviation sector was not on the path to recovery "due to the continued restrictions that are being imposed on international travel".

They wrote that green status should "increasingly become a default" for countries, citing falling case numbers and the proportion of the UK population now vaccinated.

The airline bosses also warned that the UK aviation industry was "far behind" its European equivalents, with travel bookings at 16% of pre-pandemic levels compared with 60% in Germany and 48% in France.

Meanwhile, Tory MPs have raised concerns about the prospect of a so-called amber watch list of countries that holidaymakers would be warned could move to the red list at short notice.

People coming to the UK from red list countries are required to isolate for 10 days in a government-approved hotel regardless of their vaccine status.

Huw Merriman, chairman of the Transport Select Committee told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour that the potential new travel category would "be viewed as a massive red flag" that would "likely" cause bookings to those countries to "collapse".

He added: "In my view, we don't need any more uncertainty, complexity, or anxiety for passengers, or this beleaguered sector. It just needs clarity. I would urge the government not to do anything with it."

Theresa Villiers, the former environment secretary, told the Times: "The travel sector desperately needs some stability. Getting travel back to more normal levels would give a great boost to the economy. Real progress has been made. Let's not start to reverse that." (BBC)

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fter years of campaigning by Black legislators and community advocates, Canada on Sunday is officially marking the abolishment of slavery nearly 200 years ago in its first nationwide Emancipation Day. Canadian parliamentarians unanimously voted in March to recognise Emancipation Day across the country on August 1, the same date in 1834 that an act came into effect banning slavery in former British colonies, including Canada.

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, a leading figure in the years-long push for federal recognition of Emancipation Day, said the day “is not a celebration” but rather “a time of reflection, a time of remembering our ancestors and a time for honouring our ancestors”.

“The national recognition of Emancipation Day signals the beginning of what we do next,” Thomas Bernard said during an online event ahead of Sunday, explaining that Black history must be taught across Canada year-round, and that an apology and reparations need to be discussed.

“If we use our collective power, Emancipation Day and the recognition of Emancipation Day should propel us to move forward in very positive ways,” she said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement on Sunday that “Emancipation Day is a representation of social activism, justice, and our

commitment to an equitable future”.

“Today, we recommit ourselves to fighting anti-Black racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination, and related intolerance faced by people of African descent in Canada,” he said. But the history of slavery in Canada remains largely unknown, with much more attention paid to – and more education available on – slavery in the United States, which in June made Juneteenth a national holiday to commemorate the end of the practice.

In Canada, slavery took place over a 200-year period prior to the signing of the Slavery Abolition Act in the United Kingdom in 1833. The act came into effect on August 1, 1834.

Slavery was practiced in the early colonies of what later became Canada, with one historian estimating that 4,200 people were enslaved in New France (the modern-day province of Quebec) and then in Upper and Lower Canada (Quebec and neighbouring Ontario) between 1671 and 1831.

Both Black and Indigenous people were enslaved in the early colonies of what is now Canada.

“After British colonial settlers established Upper Canada, the number of enslaved Africans and their descendants increased significantly. It is estimated that 3,000 enslaved men, women and children of African descent were brought into

British North America and eventually outnumbered enslaved Indigenous Peoples,” the Canadian government says on its website.

“Many enslaved Black people resisted slavery by fleeing Upper Canada to a territory known as the Northwest Territory, which included Michigan and Ohio, as well as to Vermont and New York, which had banned slavery in the late 18th century.”

Canadian municipalities and provinces – including Ontario, the country’s largest province, and Nova Scotia, home to an historic Black community – also have formally recognised Emancipation Day. Several events are planned across the country on Sunday.

“Emancipation Day and the creation of other federal holidays that recognize Black suffering is an important step toward equality – but only if accompanied with a genuine will to pair recognition with action and justice,” Sarah Raughley, an academic, public writer and novelist, wrote in a July 31 column for CBC News.

“For real progress to continue, we need more than just a tacit acknowledgement from Canadians and our government,” the Canadian Commission for UNESCO also wrote in a blog post this week.

“Observing a shameful historical moment in our history is one thing. Doing something proactive to address its legacy is another.” (Aljazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

Regional

Bolsonaro supporters Colombia ex-Army chief will be rally for change to charged over extrajudicial killings Brazil’s voting system

Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro take part in a demonstration calling for the addition of paper voting receipts to electronic ballots in the presidential election, at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on August 1 [Andre Borges/AFP]

S

upporters of Brazil’s embattled farright President Jair Bolsonaro have rallied in Rio de Janeiro to show support for his call to change the country’s electronic voting system, which has been in use for more than 20 years.

Bolsonaro, who is under pressure amid corruption allegations and the country’s COVID-19 crisis ahead of presidential polls scheduled

for next year, wants a receipt to be printed after each vote on the electronic ballot box to allow the votes to be recounted physically.

Bolsonaro is expected to face a serious challenge from left-wing former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, whom recent polls show would defeat the far-right leader in the 2022 contest.

“What we want is for the votes to be recounted public-

ly, for more transparency because there have been suspicions of fraud,” 46-year-old Ronaldo Calvalcante told the AFP news agency from the rally in Rio, which drew about 3000 people. Thousands also rallied in the capital, Brasilia.

The country’s electoral tribunal has said the current voting system is completely transparent and never showed widespread irregularities, but Bolsonaro has alleged without evidence that fraud marred the 2018 presidential election that he won.

Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew, reporting from Rio on Sunday, said Bolsonaro has argued that fraud prevented him from winning in the first round. “But there is no proof of that,” Yanakiew said.

Experts have accused Bolsonaro of seeking to sow doubt ahead of next year’s election, much like former United States President Donald Trump, whom the Brazilian leader had emulated. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexico holds referendum on whether to investigate ex-Presidents

M

exicans have begun voting in a referendum promoted

by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate former Presidents for alleged corruption, but experts have criticised the vote as a political stunt.

Lopez Obrador, widely known as AMLO, has cast past administrations as deeply corrupt and made combating the practice his top priority.

But critics have said the Mexican President hopes to use the consultation to energise his base, and that it is unlikely to muster enough votes to be valid. To be binding, 37.4 million people – 40

per cent of the electoral roll – must participate.

Polls opened at 08:00h local time (13:00 GMT) on Sunday and were due to close at 18:00h (23:00 GMT), with the result expected to be known within two or three days.

While the “yes” vote could win up to 90 per cent, it will be difficult to achieve even 30 per cent turnout, said Roy Campos, director of the polling company Mitofsky.

“The consultation has become ideological,” Campos told the Reuters news agency.

“The President’s supporters are the ones who want to go and vote, and vote yes.”

That was echoed by Jose

Antonio Crespo, a political analyst at Mexico’s Centre for Economic Research and Training, who called the referendum “strictly an exercise in politics and media exposure” and noted that the outcome of the ballot question is not in doubt.

“The question isn’t whether the ‘yes’ option will win, we know that 90 per cent or more will vote yes,” said Crespo.

According to a recent survey by the newspaper El Financiero, 77 per cent of respondents said they would back the proposal to investigate former leaders, but only 31 per cent of people said they would vote. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

C

olombia’s Attorney General’s office will charge former army commander General Mario Montoya for responsibility for 104 extrajudicial executions, as part of the “false positives” scandal, it said on Sunday.

The false positives took place between 2002 and 2008, during the term of ex-President Alvaro Uribe, when soldiers murdered civilians and registered them as guerrilla fighters killed in combat to receive benefits.

The country’s transitional justice court (JEP) says at least 6402 people were killed this way, but some victims’ groups allege the numbers could be higher.

The accusations against Montoya, who is retired, relate to killings that took place from November 2007, including the deaths of five minors.

Despite orders from the Defence Ministry and military command to prioritise captures, Montoya, 72, did not pass them on and continued to incentivise combat deaths, for which he will be charged with multiple counts of aggravated homicide, the Attorney General’s office said.

“He continued to evaluate commanders by number of reported combat deaths,” said an Attorney General’s office document seen by Reuters.

“General Montoya continued to exert pressure on

all the country’s commanders to comply with his policy of operational results, in which combat deaths were the only criteria for evaluating the campaign,” the document added.

Montoya has previously denied committing the crimes he is accused of, while his lawyer, Andres Garzon, told local press the case is being investigated by the JEP and is therefore outside the Attorney General’s jurisdiction.

Montoya, who remains free, was commander of Colombia’s army between 2006 and 2008. He submitted himself to the JEP in 2018.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Virtual celebrations for Jamaica 59

C

ulture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange is inviting Jamaicans to join the virtual celebration of the country’s 59th anniversary of Independence.

With restrictions on live activities owing to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Minister Grange said that events would be broadcast on national television or online to allow the public to participate from the safety and comfort of their homes.

“I made a conscious decision as Minister that we will work as much as possible using our online platforms at this particular time,” she said.

“All of our events will be carried on television and online and limited activity with a live audience. We really want to make sure that we are part of an effort to be compliant… so we do not expose too many persons in face-to-face contact.

We are doing that and hope-

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange

fully, we will come out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger and better so we can really celebrate next year,” Grange said.

“We are going to really launch big for next year when we celebrate our 60th anniversary of Independence, our Diamond Jubilee,” she added.

This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme: “Jamaica 59: Come Mek We Celebrate Online”.

The schedule of activities includes the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation and the Jamaica Gospel Star Final on Sunday, August 1. (Jamaica Observer)

7 new COVID-19 deaths, 119 new cases Peru protesters rally against Pedro reported in Trinidad Castillo’s new Government

H

undreds of Peruvians have rallied against left-wing President Pedro Castillo days after he appointed a hardliner and a Marxist as his Prime Minister.

The protesters marched through Peru’s capital, Lima, on Saturday evening, carrying placards denouncing newly-appointed Prime Minister Guido Bellido as a “terrorist” and a sympathiser of the Shining Path, a Maoist rebel group that killed tens of thousands of Peruvians in the 1980s and 1990s in an attempt to seize power.

“Terrorism, never again,” the crowd chanted. Some also held placards that said: “No to communism.”

President Pedro Castillo (right) and Prime Minister Guido Bellido pose for photos after a symbolic swearing-in ceremony at the site of the 1824 Battle of Ayacucho as part of Peru´s bicentennial celebrations, July 29, 2021

Many in attendance were allied to the Popular Force Party of Keiko Fujimori who ran against Castillo in a bitterly-contested presidential runoff in June.

“Guido Bellido is a ques-

tionable person, considered as misogynistic and homophobic. But more than anything, he has spoken well of the Shining Path,” Al Jazeera’s Mariana Sanchez said, reporting from Lima.

“People here are saying, we don’t want a terrorist in the government. That is an insult to our memory.”

She added: “Some people who voted for Pedro Castillo are expressing their discontent on social media, saying they did not vote for him so that he could put “extremists” in the Cabinet. He had promised to put moderates in the Cabinet, and they are saying the President has betrayed them.” Castillo, a political novice who has promised to be a champion of the country’s poor, was officially sworn in as President on Wednesday, two weeks after he was declared winner of the June 6 runoff. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

S

even new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on Sunday in the Health Ministry’s daily update. The Ministry also revealed that there were 119 new cases recorded, but these new cases were from samples taken between July 28 and July 31.

The new deaths included two elderly men, a middle-aged man and three middle-aged women with comorbidities together with one elderly woman without comorbidities. The national COVID-19 death toll stood at 1084 up to Sunday evening.

The new cases brought the total number of active cases to 5905.

The update also report-

ed that there were 115 recovered community cases.

These are cases where people who were COVID-19 positive were placed in home isolation, but later met the discharge criteria and were released.

Forty-three people were also discharged from public health facilities.

Up to Sunday afternoon, 392,650 people received their first dose of the vaccine while 195,070 received their second dose.

The Ministry also reported that there were 314 COVID positive patients at the hospital, with 81 patients at the Couva Hospital and MultiTraining Facility. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Exxon profit tops estimates on boost from chemicals, oil prices

E

xxon Mobil on Friday posted its biggest quarterly profit in more than a year that also sailed past analysts' estimates, boosted by higher oil prices and record earnings at its chemicals business.

The upbeat results following a contested board fight over the company's direction highlighted how oil producers are taking advantage of a recovery in oil prices to cut debt and boost shareholder payouts rather than spend more to raise production.

"Positive momentum continued during the second quarter across all of our businesses as the global economic recovery increased demand for our products," Chief Executive Darren Woods said.

Exxon said its 2021 capital spending is expected to be at the lower end of the prior range of US$16 billion to US$19 billion.

Earlier in the day, rival Chevron cut its 2021 budget, although both US producers expect higher spending in the second half of the year as they resume investments on key projects, including the prolific Permian basin.

"ExxonMobil continued the parade of major oils companies with rapidly improving results, recovering from the depths of the COVID crisis during the second quarter last year," Third Bridge Group's Peter McNally said.

Exxon again used higher cash flow to pare a massive debt built up to preserve its shareholder dividend amid historic losses. The company cut debt by US$2.7 billion, bringing total reductions to about US$7 billion since the end of 2020.

While Exxon backed shareholder returns through dividend, Chevron said it would resume share buybacks at an annual rate of between US$2 billion and US$3 billion.

Exxon also said it was on pace to achieve cost savings of US$6 billion through 2023 relative to 2019. In the first half of 2021, it cut over US$1 billion in costs, on top of reductions of US$3 billion last year.

Exxon earned US$1.10 per share in the second quarter, beating market expectations of 99 cents, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Late last month, the company had given a broad indication about its results, prompting several analysts to reduce their earning projections.

Shareholders had cast out three Exxon directors in May for a hedge fund's nominees, promising to boost returns and better prepare the company for a low-carbon world.

CEO Woods said the company started working with the new directors in June with in-depth reviews of its businesses and the first in-person regular meeting of the board took place this week following virtual sessions.

Earnings from its chemicals and plastics business rose nearly fivefold from a year ago to a record US$2.32 billion as margins expanded on strong demand for plastic packaging, tight industry supply and shipping constraints.

Higher oil prices pushed earnings in the company's exploration and production business to US$3.19 billion.

Output fell 2 per cent to 3.6 million oil-equivalent barrels per day during the quarter.

The company said it expects higher oil and gas volumes in the current quarter due to reduced planned maintenance.

However, refining and marketing business is yet to recover and posted a loss of US$227 million, hurt mainly by maintenance costs and product oversupply.

Exxon's US refining business has lost money for six quarters in a row. Outside the United States, refining operations have run in the red in five of the last six quarter.

Shares of the company, which have risen 43 per cent this year after plunging during the height of the pandemic, were down 2.3 per cent at US$57.59, amid a broader drop in energy stocks.

Net income for the second quarter came in at US$4.69 billion, compared with a loss of US$1.08 billion a year ago, which included a gain related to reversing an inventory writedown. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hackers shut down system for booking COVID-19 shots in Italy's Lazio region

H

ackers have attacked and shut down the IT systems of the company that manages COVID-19 vaccination appointments for the Lazio region surrounding Rome, the regional government said on Sunday.

"A powerful hacker attack on the region's CED (database) is under way," the re-

gion said in a Facebook posting.

It said all systems had been deactivated, including those of the region's health portal and vaccination network, and warned the inoculation programme could suffer a delay.

"It is a very powerful hacker attack, very serious... everything is out. The whole re-

gional CED is under attack," Lazio region's health manager Alessio D'Amato said.

According to ANSA, Italy's postal police and Rome prosecutors are looking into the matter and could open an investigation to find out who is behind the attack.

Italy recently followed France in announcing that proof of vaccination or immu-

nity from COVID-19 would become mandatory for an array of activities.

The move triggered a series of protests across the country against introduction of the so-called Green Pass which shows people have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from COVID-19. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US COVID spike: “More pain and suffering” ahead, says Fauci

T

he top infectious disease expert in the United States has warned that the country will experience more “pain and suffering in the future” as coronavirus infections are surging, especially in parts of the country where large segments of the population remain unvaccinated.

In an interview with ABC’s This Week programme on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci said “an outbreak of the unvaccinated”

has spurred a dramatic increase in the seven-day average of new COVID-19 infections in the US. “We’re looking not I believe to lockdown, but we’re looking to some pain and suffering in the future because we’re seeing the cases go up,” he said, “which is the reason why we keep saying over and over again, the solution to this is get vaccinated and this would not be happening.”

COVID-19 vaccines have been available across the

US for months and 60.4 per cent of adults are considered fully inoculated, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, many people have not been vaccinated for a variety of reasons, including ideological and political views – and health officials for weeks have been desperately calling on people to get their jabs as

the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading.

Amid the increase in infections, last week the CDC recommended that fully vaccinated Americans wear masks in indoor public spaces in COVID-19 hotspots. The agency said in very rare cases, vaccinated individuals can contract the virus and pass it on to others. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Myanmar: State of Tanker attack: Tensions emergency extended rise as Iran and Israel with coup leader as PM trade accusations

Gen Min Aung Hlaing's speech defended his coup and railed against his opponents

Naftali Bennett raised speculation about retaliation, saying "we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way"

I

srael's PM has said he knows "with certainty" that Iran was involved in a deadly tanker attack off Oman, accusations Tehran called "baseless".

Two crew members died when the MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeliowned firm, was attacked on Thursday.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett warned "we know how to send a message to Iran", while Tehran said it would "not hesitate to defend its interests".

There have been several recent attacks on Israeliand Iranian-operated ships.

The attacks since March have been seen as tit-for-tat incidents.

The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, said this undeclared shadow war - and its counter-denials - had been heating up, but the human casualties on the Mercer Street marked a significant escalation.

A British security guard

and a Romanian crew member died on the Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel, with the US pointing to a drone attack.

Bennett told a Cabinet meeting on Sunday intelligence evidence existed that Iran had carried out the attack.

He called on the international community to make it clear that Iran had "made a serious mistake".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was "confident that Iran conducted this attack," and that an "appropriate response" would follow.

Iran has accused Israel of attacks on its nuclear sites and scientists.

It comes against a backdrop of talks in Vienna that are trying to revive a 2015 international deal under which sanctions on Iran are lifted in return for commitments from Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he general who took power in a coup in Myanmar in February has named himself Prime Minister and said emergency rule may now extend to August 2023.

In an hour-long speech, Min Aung Hlaing pledged to hold a "free and fair multi-party election" but also called the elected party he removed "terrorists".

Hundreds have died in continuing protests against the military coup.

Many protesters were in the healthcare system, which has collapsed amid a massive surge in COVID-19 infections.

Myanmar has so far reported 300,000 cases and 9300 deaths, although the limited testing available suggests those numbers are vast underestimates.

In the general's televised speech, he accused those opposing the coup of deliberately spreading COVID-19.

He spoke of "fake news and misinformation via social networks" about his

government's COVID policies, calling it a "tool of bioterrorism".

The general said COVID would be contained through more vaccines, extended public holidays and what he called the harmonious co-operation of the people.

But our correspondent says dozens of medical personnel have been arrested and many more are in hiding since the coup, while people seeking treatment say the military is turning them away from hospitals, and restricting access to oxygen, leaving many to die in their homes.

After the military seized power in February, a oneyear emergency rule was announced.

But the nationwide civil disobedience campaign continues, with tens of thousands of workers sacked or on strike.

Gen Min Aung Hlaing insisted the country was stable, adding: "I pledge to hold multi-party elections without fail." (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Evaluate your position, what's possible and the best way to move forward.

Keep the peace and make your move. Concentrate on what you need to do to get ahead.

Rethink the changes you TAURUS want to enforce, and look for (April 20- a better way to move forward.

May 20) Kind gestures and a willingness to do the work yourself will get you where you want to go.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Observe others, and you'll recognize what's doable and what isn't.

Knowledge and experience will help you bypass mistakes due to jealousy and insecurity. Trust and believe in yourself.

Refrain from sharing what you are working on or toward until you feel confident you have everything in place. Revealing too much too soon will lead to interference and competition. Stick close to home.

Flow with the current, and you'll find a way to master the skills you need to fulfill your dreams. Be fair and concise, and make the most out of whatever comes your way.

Idle time will lead to emotional disagreements with people you live or work alongside. Focus on positive changes and personal gain, not criticizing others. Be supportive, loving and kind.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Bring everything in your investment portfolio or personal documents up-to-date.

Make adjustments that will counter any lapse of service.

Voice your opinions, and you will make a difference.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take responsibility for sourcing opportunities and following through with your plans. Be unique and do things your way. Keep everyone guessing, and you'll outmaneuver any challenge.

Make adjustments that SAGITTARIUS put your mind at ease. Focus (Nov. 23on what you can do, and stop Dec. 21) stressing about things you cannot change. Trust in your ability to get things done.

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

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

An updated appearance will lift your spirits and make a positive difference to the way people perceive you. Lighten up and enjoy what life has to offer.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Pay attention to what's going on at home and in your community. Speak from the heart, and you'll appeal to someone influential. A meaningful relationship will benefit if you start an open discussion.

PISCES

Focus on what's doable, and use your skills to bring about change. An opportunity to spend time with someone who has a unique approach to health and happiness will positively affect you.

(Feb. 20March 20)

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

21

Esteban Ocon wins thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton fights back A lpine's Esteban Ocon took a maiden Formula 1 victory in an extraordinary and madcap Hungarian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton regained the world championship lead for the first time since May after fighting back to finish third having been last five laps into the race.

His title rival Max Verstappen was a victim of an incident-strewn wet start, but managed to salvage a point for 10th place in a badly-damaged Red Bull.

A race featuring an opening first few laps among the most remarkable in Formula 1 history left Hamilton with a six-point lead over Verstappen as the sport goes into its threeweek summer break.

A pile-up at the first corner on a slippery track left Hamilton briefly leading Ocon and Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel on the first lap before

The crash was caused by Valtteri Bottas, with several drivers unhappy at his late braking

the race was red-flagged to clear up the mess strewn over the track.

Extraordinarily, when the race restarted, Hamilton’s was the only car on the grid for a second start as every other driver made pit stops for dry-weather slick tyres because the sun had come out and the track was almost dry.

Hamilton had to stop at the end of the next lap, dropping to the tail of the field, leaving Ocon to fend off Vettel

for the rest of the race.

Vettel tried to pass a number of times, but Ocon – a former Mercedes young driver – held on for the entire 70 laps to take a superb first win.

Ocon's team-mate Fernando Alonso played an important role in securing the win for the Frenchman, defending valiantly against Hamilton for 10 laps in the closing stages.

Hamilton, having fought his way back up to fourth from

Tokyo Olympics: Mourad Aliev in ring protest after Frazer Clarke defeat

last, made a pit stop with 23 laps to go to fit fresh tyres and make a bold bid for victory.

The Mercedes driver had the pace to make it happen and might have done, had Alonso not held him off for lap after lap with a display of tough racecraft, a couple of times just on the edge of acceptability.

After Hamilton finally got past Alonso with five laps to go, he passed Ferrari's Carlos Sainz two laps later and charged up to the front two, finishing just 0.8secs behind Vettel, with Sainz fourth and Alonso fifth.

After the race, Hamilton went to see the Mercedes doctor because he was suffering from fatigue and dizziness. He said in the news conference later that he had been struggling with his fitness all year after contracting COVID-19 last December.

How did Hamilton end up last from the lead?

By the time the race restarted, the rain had stopped and the sun was out, but all the drivers were on intermediate tyres when they set off on the formation lap for another standing start.

The first-lap crash caused chaos

Hamilton was telling his team the track was ready for slicks, but he did not come in – whereas everyone else did.

That created the surreal sight of just one car on the grid for the start of the race.

The extra pace the slick tyres gave the rest of the field meant when Hamilton pitted for his own slicks next time around, he was shunted to the back in 14th place after six cars had retired. The question became how much ground he could recover on a track on which overtaking is notoriously difficult.

He had made three places when he pitted on lap 19 for fresh tyres, the idea being to run in clear air and then make up places on those on

older tyres in front of him.

By lap 46, Hamilton was up to fourth place behind Ocon, Vettel and Sainz when he pitted again for fresh tyres.

The move dropped him a further place behind Alonso, but the hope was he could pass all the cars in front to take an unlikely win.

But Alonso, who was showing strong pace himself and had closed up to the back of Sainz, had other ideas, and in one of the greatest displays of defensive driving for years held off the much faster Mercedes for 10 nail-biting laps, before he ran a little too deep into Turn One with five laps to go, giving Hamilton the chance to pass into Turn Two. (BBC Sport)

Bailey on the verge of completing move to Aston Villa

F

Mourad Aliev sat on the ring apron in protest after his defeat

rench boxer Mourad Aliev said he staged a remarkable protest after defeat by Frazer Clarke because of the “injustice” of his disqualification.

The 26-year-old Frenchman was disqualified in round two of his +91kg quarter-final against Britain’s Clarke for excessive use of his head.

Aliev spent 30 minutes sitting on the ring apron after the fight and left the arena, only to return to the same spot.

“I sat down to protest against the unfairness for me,” said Aliev.

“I prepared for these Games for four years. I really wanted to fight against the injustice, so that was my way to show that I don’t

agree with that decision.”

Aliev kicked the canvas and remonstrated angrily upon hearing of his disqualification, behaviour he said was “natural”, because he has “prepared my whole life for this event”.

Head clashes had caused cuts above each of Clarke’s eyes and the British boxer –- who is now guaranteed a medal – had his cuts checked over twice by a ringside doctor.

Aliev insists he was not warned about his use of his head by the referee, adding: “I was just stopped without any warning and they just told me that ‘you lost’ – just like that. So I think it was an act of sabotage.”

Clarke believes his cuts will not pose a threat to his participation in the semi-fi-

nals.

“I’m not going to stand here and say he did it on purpose, because I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted his Olympics to end in the way they have,” Clarke said.

“I told him to calm down, because I’ve been in those situations before. The last thing I want him to do is damage his reputation or be rude to the judges and officials, because they are only doing their job.”

The longest known protest in a boxing ring at the Games saw South Korean bantamweight Byun Jongil sit in the centre of the ring for 67 minutes after losing a bout at the 1988 Olympics, delaying the rest of the competition for more than an hour. (BBC Sport)

J

amaica’s international Leon Bailey seems set for a move to the English Premier League (EPL) after reports of reaching an agreement with Aston Villa.

According to the club’s official website, an agreement has been reached between the EPL club and German Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen where the player has spent the

last four seasons. The move is subject to a medical and agreeing to personal terms.

Bailey is coming off a strong campaign for Leverkusen, scoring, in total, nine goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga last season. The player had been linked with a move away from the German club for several seasons, but Aston Villa had not been on the list of clubs that had the

player on radar.

However, after a rumoured £100 million move for star player Jack Grealish to Manchester City, the club is in the market to strengthen the team.

Bailey would become Villa’s third signing of the summer after the arrival of Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City and Ashley Young from Inter Milan.

(Sportsmax)

22 Padlock dominates Ashana's Beer Garden 30-miler

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

A

ndre “Padlock” Green bagged his first win of the year when he dominated the field to win the Ashana's Beer Garden/Flying Ace

point of origin.

The talented man from Ulverston Village also bagged all six sprint prizes at stake, displaying his power and skill as 14 riders

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Andre “Padlock” Green dominated the race

Mario Washington in that order for the senior riders.

Washington, a Flying Ace cyclist who has shown form across all races in 2021 so far, also claimed the top spot in the junior category.

In the veterans’ category, Travis Cipriani claimed the top spot while Myron Rose rode in second, announcing his return to cycling in grand style. Veteran Gary Benjamin, who recently returned to the roadways,

Green accepts his award from the race sponsor

Cycling Club 30-mile road race on Sunday.

Green stopped the clock at 55 minutes as he got the better of his fellow Berbice cyclists, who battled for supremacy from Number Two Village to Tain, and returned for the finish at the

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Another We Stand United rider, Andrew Hicks claimed second, followed by Jason Cameron and

The riders at the presentation

claimed third place in the masters category.

The exciting race, which was organised by the Randolph Roberts-led Flying Ace Cycling Club, was an accident-free event, which saw the Guyana Police Force with an allhands-on-deck approach.

The cycling organisers expressed gratitude to the GPF and the National COVID-19 task force.

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In post-Bolt era, Jamaica fails Tokyo Olympics: “Can we have two to make Olympic 100m final for 1st time in 2 decades Classified Ads golds?” – high jumpers share win $5+VAT per word

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Mutaz Essa Barshim asked the Olympic official if they could have two gold medals, to which the steward nodded, saying, “if you can agree to share it”

A

n incredible Olympic high jump final ended with both Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi taking gold medals.

After an exhausting twohour competition, the pair couldn’t be split, having recorded best clearances of 2.37 metres.

The athletes were offered an opportunity to take part in a jump-off.

But in a moment of sportsmanship, they agreed to share the title, sparking huge celebrations.

Both had three failures as they attempted to match the Olympic record of 2.39m and, with error-free records on countback, could have fought for sole possession of the title.

Instead, they made history – it was the first joint Olympic podium in athletics since 1912.

Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus took bronze, having also jumped at 2.37m, but having more failed attempts across the competition.

Tamberi and Barshim embraced before running to celebrate with their coaches and team-mates, hoisting their nation’s flags above their heads.

Barshim can add the gold medal to his back-toback world titles, and is the winner of Qatar’s second-ever Olympic gold medal, after weightlifter Fares Elbakh won the first on Saturday in the men’s 96kg event.

Tamberi was still celebrating on the track when his compatriot Lamont Marcell Jacobs ran into his arms, following his surprise win in the men’s 100m final.

Both athletes have had to overcome tough injuries in their careers, but

Barshim says the sacrifices were worth it.

“It is amazing. This is a dream I don’t want to wake up from,” he said.

“I have been through a lot. It’s been five years that I have been waiting, with injuries and a lot of setbacks.

But we are here today sharing this moment and all the sacrifices. It’s really worth it now in this moment.”

Tamberi had to take time out to recover from a career-threatening injury that ruled him out of Rio 2016.

“After my injuries, I just wanted to come back, but now I have this gold, it’s incredible. I dreamed of this so many times,” said the Italian.

“I was told in 2016 just before Rio there was a risk I wouldn’t be able to compete any more. It’s been a long journey.” (BBC Sport)

Jamaica’s best bet, Yohan Blake, failed to advance to the final

fter the high of winning three straight titles, Jamaica did not contest the final of the Olympic men’s 100 metres for the first time in two decades, as the event culminated on Sunday.

In the end, history was made as the title went to Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs, the first time that country has won the title. At the starter blocks, however, the famous black, green, and gold gear, which has become synonymous with speed, particularly over the last decade, was nowhere to be seen.

The country’s two representatives in the event, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville exited the competition at the semi-final stage. Seville failed to advance after finishing fourth in semi-final two, with a time of 10.09.

Blake saw his bid come to an end after finishing a disappointing sixth in semi-final 1, with a time of 10.14. The country’s

other entrant Tyquendo Tracey, Jamaica’s national champion, pulled out of the competition before the heats after sustaining an injury.

It was a particularly disappointing end for Blake, likely to be in his final Olympics. For several years he was considered the heir apparent to compatriot Usain Bolt, who dominated the event for the last three editions, the first man in history to do so. Blake has the second-fastest time ever run over the event (9.69) and finished just behind the great sprinter at the 2012 edition of the Games in London.

Since sustaining devastating hamstring injuries in 2013 and 2014, however, Blake has not come close to rediscovering his best form. At the previous edition of the event in Rio 2016, he finished just outside the medals behind Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the USA’s Justin Gatlin, and Bolt.

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(Ext 55)

NOW!

23 Washout: Rain wipes out 3rd T20I at Providence MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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ndre Fletcher had one of his better starts with the bat, scoring 14 from six balls, but rain allowed only six minutes of play in the third T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana before the umpires decided to call off the match, minutes before 14:22h, the cutoff time for a five-over contest.

Two out of four matches of the series have now been washed out, and only one game is left in the series, which Pakistan lead 1-0.

West Indies had opted to bat first, with Evin Lewis missing out as a result of injury , Andre Russell returning, and Chris Gayle opening the batting in a T20 International for the first time since March 2019.

In the eight deliveries that were possible Fletcher found time to smack two sixes from the six balls he faced – one each from Mohammad Hafeez and Mohammad Wasim.

Players in discussion with match officials

Andre Fletcher had a good start

Fletcher then walloped Hafeez over long-on, before swinging a Wasim delivery back over the bowler's head. That turned out to be the final delivery before the heavens opened up again.

Rain stopped almost one-and-a-half hours later with the covers taken off

soon after as prospects of a five or six-over shootout brightened. But an inspection 17 minutes prior to the cut-off time put paid to any hopes of play, with one part of the ground still relatively wet.

The originally-scheduled five-match T20I leg of the tour, which first had

one match shaved off owing to a non-playing player testing positive for COVID-19, is now down to one more game at the same ground on Tuesday.

Tough, low and inconsistent – Pooran on Guyana pitch

N

icholas Pooran played his career-best innings in the second T20 International at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Pooran slammed 62 from 33 balls which included six maximums, the most he has ever struck in a T20I innings.

Speaking ahead of the third match, Pooran said West Indies, after facing 47 dot balls, are working on getting a better dot ball percentage, but the wickets in Guyana are not making it easier.

"It's a big concern (batting against spin) and we spoke about it, the wicket in Guyana is tough, low

and inconsistent. We are trying to work on our dotball percentage, and playing in Guyana doesn't make it easier for the batsmen. We spoke about it yesterday as well, we have our plans and hopefully today, we can go in and eliminate the dot-ball percentage.

"It wasn't easy in the last game; in Guyana wickets: whichever batsman is in, you have to take advantage of that. I'm blessed and talented and work really hard, happy for yesterday. Hopefully, we can be more positive today and we felt Shadab Khan was the biggest threat being the leg-spinner and he didn't get any wickets yes-

terday. Mohammad Hafeez bowled really well, yesterday (Saturday) was his day; hopefully, our batsmen have different plans today (Sunday) and put pressure on him today," Pooran disclosed.

Historically, the Providence pitch is slow and hard for batsmen, especially in T20I cricket. The highest team total at Providence came in March 2010 with England scoring 191-5 against the West Indies. The second highest team total is 173-7, scored by Sri Lanka, while Pakistan's 157-8 in the second T20I on Saturday was the third highest team total.

West Indies’ highest T20 total at Providence is 150-4, which came in that same match. Historically, the National Stadium at Providence is not a happy hunting ground for the men in maroon. Prior to the start of this series, the head curator said the new and improved surface at

Nicholas Pooran slammed six maximums on Saturday at Providence

Providence will see team totals of 170-180.

Pakistan in that second T20I with Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan at the

crease looked set to score that 170-180, but they fell short to 157-8. With the rains persisting in Guyana, both teams will have to con-

sider the amount of moisture in the pitch for the final T20I set for tomorrow, Tuesday, August 3.

(Brandon Corlette)

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

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

Washout: Rain wipes out 3rd T20I at Providence

Page 23

Padlock dominates Ashana’s Tough, low and inconsistent Beer Garden 30-miler

– Pooran on Guyana pitch

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