Guyana Times - Monday August 30, 2021

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Farm Supplies Ltd opens $100M Corentyne branch ...investment testimony of expanding economy – Min Indar Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4755

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

“I will spend every ounce of energy to unite this country” – President Ali ...says all Guyanese have a role to play in safeguarding our society

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man of unsound mind sets P10 house on fire

Page 3

Overwhelming turnout for MoE’s adolescents’ vaccination drive at MovieTowne …get up, make a conscious decision and get vaccinated – Education Minister

Hit-and-run P10 victim succumbs 3 weeks later

See story on page 13

Corentyne pandit beaten to death by drunken men − wife says Police did not respond to report of disorderly behaviour

Page 16

Tanager-1 well plugged by Exxon could contain over 65M barrels of oil Page 14

− report says highest un-risked estimate for Tanager is 131M barrels

Drilling commences at Sapote-1 well in Canje Block − to end by November month-end

Page 9

Minibus driver busted with ganja at Kurupukari P2 Crossing

Bosai employee allegedly sets self on fire P10 after leaving foreman’s office Flooding could result in reduced growth for P11 Guyana’s non-oil economy − IDB ...says floods have affected rice production, livestock & mining

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Minibus driver Wife arrested, husband in hiding busted with ganja after discovery of ganja, spent shell at Kurupukari Crossing small amount of ganja. The woman was told of the offences and under caution, she replied saying, “That is my husband thing he does smoke weed and he put it deh”.

The woman was taken to the Leonora Police Station,

where the suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 2 grams. Both the spent shell and cannabis were lodged.

Checks for the suspect proved futile while his wife remains in custody pending investigations.

Motorcyclist injured after colliding with car

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The ganja and spent shell found at Anna Catherina The ganja that was found in the minibus

A

53-year-old man was arrested on Saturday evening after he was found with a quantity of cannabis in his possession at Kurupukari Crossing, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Police stated that on the day in question at about 18:40h, ranks acting on information received contacted the suspect, who is the driver of minibus BWW 8540, and told him of the allegation.

As a result, a search

was conducted on the minibus and a large brown parcel was found in the back seat which contained a quantity of the narcotic.

Another black welltaped parcel was also found concealed in a compartment within the minibus.

The driver was cautioned, arrested and taken to the Lethem Police Station along with the suspected cannabis. He has been placed into custody pending investigations.

A

41-year-old woman was taken into custody and the Police are on the hunt for a 37-year-old man following the discovery of two grams of cannabis and a .32 spent shell at Anna Catherina Side Line Dam, West Coast Demerara (WCD), on Saturday.

Police stated that acting on information received that a male was discharging several rounds in the air with a handgun at the said location, a team of detectives attached to the Leonora Police Station vis-

ited the area.

Whilst there, the ranks contacted the female and informed her of the report they would have received that her husband was discharging a loaded firearm behind their home.

The woman informed the ranks that the suspect was not at home. However, a search was then conducted on the premises during which the .32 spent shell was found.

A further search unearthed a transparent ziplock bag containing the

wenty-two-yearold Delon Adams of Barnwell North Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (ECD), was admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he reportedly collided with a motor car along Russell and Howes Streets, Georgetown, on Saturday.

Preliminary investigations revealed that on the day in question at about 11:00h, the motor car with plates PRR 646, driven by a 32-year-old male, was proceeding along Russell Street, Georgetown, while the motorcycle bearing registration number CK 1773 was proceeding behind in the same direction.

As the vehicles behind approached the intersection of Russell and Howes

Streets, it was alleged by the driver that Adams attempted to cross but whilst doing so, the motorcycle collided with the left side rear-view mirror of the motor car.

As a result of the collision, Adams lost control and fell on to the roadway where he sustained injuries about his body.

He was picked up in a conscious state by Emergency Medical Technicians and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted a patient.

An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the motor car but there were no traces of alcohol in his system.

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, Aug 30 – 11:00h – 12:30h and Tuesday, Aug 31 – 12:00h – 13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

"I will spend every ounce of energy to unite this country" – President Ali ...says all Guyanese have a role to play in safeguarding our society

Monday, Aug 30 – 09:35h – 11:05h and Tuesday, Aug 31 – 11:10h – 12:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to Northerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 09:32h and 21:51h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 15:22h reaching a minimum height of 1.09 metres.

President Dr Irfaan Ali delivering remarks at the Hare Krishna Study Centre on Sunday

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday said he would spend all of his energy towards uniting the people of Guyana, but noted that Guyanese must first learn to respect and treat each other as one for national unity to be achieved.

“I will spend every ounce of my energy in leading the effort to unite this country.

But all of us across this country must commit to spending every ounce of [our] energy to achieve the same outcome,” he posited.

According to President Ali, achieving national unity would not be a smooth road given the numerous challenges, but he contended that it should be the only road, especially since we are fundamentally stronger together.

On this note, the President expressed the hope that Guyanese would see similarities over differences and would band together out of appreciation for each other’s uniqueness and oneness.

“In order to achieve national unity, it cannot be abstract… I embrace the message of national unity; I embrace the message of the great responsibility that is before me and all of us…

How often do we see each other first and foremost as human beings? And fundamentally that is what all of us are - human beings. We are the same human beings, made up the same way; and that is the first fundamental pillar we have to change in our thought process – seeing each other not as orange, pink, white, blue [and] green, but seeing each other fundamentally as part of the same family of humanity.

And that is a fundamental principle that we would have to establish on this journey of achieving national unity,” the Head of State asserted.

He made these remarks during an address at the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada at the Hare Krishna Study Centre in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown on Sunday.

President Ali with guests at Sunday’s event hosted by the Hare Krishna Movement

The late Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement.

The President noted that whenever he visited any of the ISKCON’s facilities across the country, he would always feel comfortable, welcomed and honoured. He said that Prabhupada’s life experiences and work can be reflected on to see “real examples, real principles, real values that existed and continue to exist that shape the mind and thinking of individuals”.

Those values and principles, he added, must be

translated into everyday life.

He explained that while spiritual and political leaders were seen as at extreme ends of the spectrum, it was not entirely true given that both have similar tasks.

“A spiritual leader has the responsibility of instilling values, principles, morals, ethics, of shaping the lives and enhancing the wisdom of their devotees, their followers. A political leader is guided by principles, values, a system of governance, ethics, morals that should go into shaping the lives of those that he is or she is leading, and also contribute positively to changes in society. So, then, what is the dif-

ference?” the President reasoned.

The Head of State further explained that the difference between the two came because in politics there was competition internally and at a national level. This competition, he said, drives people to try to stay ahead of each other.

However, President Ali noted that in normalising the relationship and in achieving national unity, every Guyanese should fundamentally understand that “we must govern ourselves by certain principles and values that make up society”.

TURN TO PAGE 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 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

Entering global value chains

S

ixteen years ago, an “Aid for Trade” (AfT) strategy was proposed by G7 at the WTO’s Hong Kong Ministerial meeting. Reacting to the growing gap in exploiting the opportunities in trade opened up by globalisation, the AfT regime was intended to assist developing countries to build their “trade capabilities” in line with their own development plans. The catchphrase was that “market access must be converted into market presence”. An AfT strategy for Caricom was launched by 2013, but judging by our shrunken share of global trade (market presence), something happened on the way to securing “market access”.

But the premises of AfT remain critical because, with the evident abandonment of the Doha (Development) Round of the WTO, the developed world has focused in creating trading regimes in which the less developed countries are not in a position to benefit from their trade commitments. A good example was the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that Caricom entered into in 2008 with the European Union (EU).

The Caricom nations were by and large in no position to exploit the “trade opportunities”, unlike the case with the EU nations.

As part of the EPA, the EU had made a commitment to proceed with the AfT and to work with both Government and the Private Sector yet very little came out of the effort.

The WTO had more specifically emphasised that AfT must be deployed to assist developing countries to enter the Global Value Chain (GVC) in which production is spread among any number of countries and value is added at each stage of the transfer. Much of today’s global trade is in intermediate goods which are imported, value added, and then exported.

The problem is that most value is captured in the design and conceptual stage of the value chain, as well as in the final sales and marketing end of the GVC. However, this is not where most developing countries are located. They are generally located in the lower-value manufacturing section of the GVC, and even then, this is true for some, not all developing countries.

The benefit a country gets from participating in the GVC will depend on where a country is lined up in terms of its technological capacities; the depth of their manufacturing capacities; how developed their services sectors are; the size of their enterprises; their managerial expertise; and their ability to meet the standards of the international markets to name only a few criteria.

Due to these and other limitations, developing countries could open up, and they could become more integrated, but the quality of their integration may not be of real benefit.

Mere liberalisation will not upgrade countries’ technological or services supply-side capacities. Nor will Trade Facilitation Agreements – expediting the entry of imports through a range of customs procedures.

So, the focus of AfT to increase trade via the GVC should have been to deepen the production capacities of developing countries so that they can garner a bigger share of the value added. From a decision Caricom made in 2009, the AfT strategy was crafted towards “upgrading key economic infrastructure; enhancing export competitiveness; diversifying economies; retooling the Private Sector; strengthening regional integration; and creating financial and other instruments to encourage and support innovation and research and development”. How much was actually done?

We suggest that the strategy can be revived against the background of the return of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to Government and its launching of a holistic development plan. It has to engender the movement of our manufacturing capacities beyond being assembly lines; creating a more vibrant agricultural sector – including agroprocessing and increased production capacities in a range of service sectors. The latter is crucial because with the entry and exit of intermediate goods between countries, the service component of the GVC has grown exponentially. It now surpasses trade in manufactured goods.

Failure to engage in structural transformation especially of services and deepening of production capacities could mean that our countries will continue supplying raw materials, or at best, sites for low value-added manufacturing tasks.

President Dr Irfaan Ali greets a health worker in the presence of Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony at MovieTowne on Sunday at the Ministry of Educations’ adolescent vaccination drive

Are cash grants from oil revenues likely?

Dear Editor, Over the past two weeks, several Guyanese have been complaining that they do not know what is happening to the oil money. They say, for example, “Guyana will become rich with oil money but we have not gotten any of that money or benefit yet.” They want to know what the Government is doing with “all the countless millions of oil money!”

Ever since Professor Clive Thomas stated that the Government should give each household an astronomical sum of US$5000 from oil revenues (costing US$1.05 billion or G$215 billion, or 56 per cent of 2021 budget), Guyanese have also been continually bombarded with such extravagant notions as “Guyana is on the cusp of being another Dubai,” or of “becoming the next Singapore,” or “Guyana will become one of the richest developing countries.”

While untamed exuberance might be responsible for these startling statements, they do not reflect social reality. Creating exaggerated expectations could lead to exasperation and frustration whose expression could be unsettling. It seems that public education on the possible disposition of oil revenue is essential to allay any further misgiving.

An expectation of a coherent movement towards equity tends to generate greater expectation of equity. Professor Clive Thomas’

assertion of hefty oil cash grants keeps resonating in many Guyanese minds and feeds into their concept of fairness and equity. Additionally, the recent cash grants delivered by the Government lend support to the thesis of greater expectation of equity. As examples of movement towards equity, the Guyana Government has either reduced or removed taxes from several items that has led to an increase of G$9 billion in disposable incomes.

To supplement the tax relief, the Government has made cash grants (COVID-19 pandemic, flood, one-time payment to pensioners and public assistance recipients, front line workers) and increased the child education grants, the old age pension and public assistance payments, thus increasing consumers’ disposable income by another G$19.6 billion (5.1 per cent of national budget). If the amount released through the tax measures are combined with the new/ increased grants, the total increase into the economy of disposable income is G$28.6 billion (7.5 per cent of national budget).

There is a perception that the source of the several types of grants given out by the Government is oil revenue. The Government has repeatedly stated that no money has been taken out from the oil revenue to fund any programme. The current net proceed from

profit oil is US$436 million which sit in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

However, measured, this does not constitute the massive oil wealth that is reported sometimes in the media. It should be noted that the annual remittances (US$484 million) of Guyanese abroad are more than the combined oil revenues thus far.

The oil revenue would increase gradually until the next 3 years. After then, it would take off to higher levels of return as oil production begins to expand. By 2026 Guyana may be able get more than US$500 million per annum.

What is particularly important to know is that the Government states it will not touch the oil revenue until the Petroleum Act is revised, the Petroleum Commission is established, and the Natural Resources Fund (referred to as Sovereign Wealth Fund) is modified.

Once these actions are completed, oil revenues would be utilised to fund infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, airports, communications), education, health, poverty reduction, agriculture expansion, neighbourhood revitalisation, etc that would have been integral to the Government’s economic development strategy. The Government expects that the implementation of these categories of projects would bring Guyana fully into the 21st century. A substantial

portion of oil revenues (20 per cent-25 per cent) could be placed into the SWF for future generations’ benefit.

There is no plan to use a portion of oil revenue as direct cash grants to households as suggested by Professor Thomas and his APNU operatives.

However, should the need arise, the Government might consider further cash grants to be taken from general revenues but that such grants be utilised on targeted household projects such as home improvement, skill enhancement, business start-up, etc. These should be “conditional” cash grants that must be used for the intended purpose and where accountability is necessary.

As indicated before, an expectation of creating equity would tend to generate higher expectation of equity. Guyana must be careful, therefore, not to allow this frenzy to continue but to develop strategies to either halt or mitigate it in order to avoid the creation of an entitlement society. The Guyana Government must continue to educate people on the disposition of oil revenues, work to reduce unemployment and poverty, as well as, encourage the boosting of the productive capacity of labour and capital. It is work, more than anything else, that gives dignity and self-worth to people.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

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

Guyana will “green” its grid in the future Dear Editor, The PPP/C Government recognises the appeal of its newfound treasure and has vouched that its future oil contracts will generate more profits for the Government and the people of Guyana also recognising the need to pump out as much oil as possible while “there is still demand” for fossil fuels. While some feel we are faced with a “Catch 22”: accelerating oil production and increasing oil profits, while at the same time depending on changing energy demand and companies seeking to maximise their shareholder returns.

It is no secret that Guyana boasts some of the world’s most economic offshore fields, now our Government must navigate how to produce them in a “world” that is asking for oil producers to pull back.

Guyana’s prized green fields have emerged against a backdrop of mounting pressure to decarbonise the world’s energy supply in a bid to curb climate change.

However, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo defended Guyana’s position at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston when he spoke about the juxtaposition while telling attendees at

the industry conference that with over 85 per cent forest cover, Guyana is “already a net-zero emitter” and added, “Where the world is trying to get to by 2050, Guyana is already there.”

Despite this, there are voices from within Guyana and from environmental groups around the world imploring our Government to halt future offshore development, which “We believe it’s totally unfair,” said Jagdeo, who rejects the “leave it in the ground” argument.

He emphasised that Guyana has a “legitimate expectation” to achieve prosperity after highlighting that per capita income in the country is around $6000—one of the lowest such figures in the western hemisphere. Guyana’s Government wants to raise the income benchmark to $30,000 in the coming years, something that won’t happen without oil and gas revenue.

Trying keep Guyana on the side lines only benefits those countries already participating in global oil trade. “Why should we not want to displace some of the higher-cost producers in the world? We want to share in that market,” the Vice President said.

As Guyana seeks to ramp up oil production by about tenfold in the coming years, it is also looking to establish new terms for future licensing agreements. Our Vice President outlined some of the recently adopted licensing changes along with some of the proposed changes: President Ali recognises the urgency of the situation, as he recently pledged to create the Petroleum Commission by year’s end.

While implementing these important regulatory changes, Our PPP/C Government will include incentives for CCSU, renewable energy and nature-based solutions.

The path is being charted for Guyana to become an energy powerhouse.

Another top priority for our Government is to pursue what our Vice President called “an aggressive local content strategy.”

Our country doesn’t have the capacity to build FPSOs, but it can turn out more welders and absorb more of the offshore logistics and support business.

Our Government is trying to bolster local participation in these areas by improving access to universities and trade schools.

For its part, since making its first discovery 6 years

ago, the ExxonMobil-led consortium reports spending nearly half a billion dollars on goods and services from hundreds of Guyanese vendors.

An ExxonMobil Executive speaking later at OTC shared that the international major employs 2800 Guyanese nationals, including about 500 women.

This represents 50 per cent the workforce supporting Guyana’s first two offshore projects. The consortium is also backing a $100-million initiative to fund local education, health, and economic-development projects across the country.

Another project aimed at improving the quality of life in Guyana plans to bring offshore gas via a 160km pipeline to an onshore power plant. Proposed by ExxonMobil and the PPP/C Government last year, the gas-fired power plant would be the nation’s first.

Like several of our neighbours in the Caribbean region, Guyana is wholly dependent on bunker fuel for power generation. Our country’s generators are not only unreliable but also are the reason why Guyana has some of the highest electricity rates in South America— around $0.30 per kWh, a

price that is “debilitating for industry and for people.” of Guyana Our Government is looking into what it would cost to build new hydroelectric plants and solar farms, but the gas-to-power project is considered a bigger priority. While construction has yet to begin, ExxonMobil’s subsea pipeline as proposed would carry enough gas to generate up to 250 MW, more than double Guyana’s current 120 MW installed capacity.

Some people are saying our Government shouldn’t do it, but those who are criticising the gas-to-power project for running afoul of global climate goals cannot see the long-term vision of our People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government, this gasto-power project will make a big difference in the lives of many not just Guyanese but investors, and it can catalyse a whole series of new industries.

Guyana continues to diversify its economy in a proactive and through manner and transform itself into a new type of oil & gas producer: one in which fossil fuel production is mixed with CCSU technologies, cleaner power generation, and nature-based solutions. This

will allow for Guyana’s energy sectors to be preferred over other dirtier, less profitable, and riskier jurisdictions.

Our Government will ensure that these strategies will also be accompanied by a more transparent and accountable Government while complementing all these strategies with the development of renewable energy sources to sustain its growing energy demand.

Historically, Guyana has been reliant on diesel and heavy fuel oil to power its economy, which not only emit more carbon emissions but are also more expensive.

By developing our wind resources along the Atlantic shoreline, installing solar panels in the hinterland, and developing a large-scale hydro project, Guyana will “green” its grid in the future.

Our country will also capitalise on the large offshore gas discoveries by developing a gas-to-shore plant that produces cheaper and cleaner power that can be dispatched quickly to back up renewable energy, allowing Guyana to play an important role in the Emerging Green Energy Transition.

Sincerely, David Adams

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Page

Foundation

W

here do you get your best ideas?

At school with your friends?

When you are out for a bike ride?

Over 2200 years ago, a scientist named Archimedes got one of his best ideas when he sat down in his bath. Eureka! He went running through the streets without even bothering with his clothes. What was he so excited about? He had discovered that when objects, like his body, are placed in water, water is pushed out of the way. Have you noticed that, too? The weight of the water that is pushed out of the way is equal to the lifting force on that object. He used this idea, called Archimedes' principle, to help the local king figure out if his crown was made of pure gold or not, and engineers use his principle today to help build ships of steel that can float. In this hydrodynamics science project, you will make little spherical "boats" out of aluminium foil and find out at what point they can't push away enough water, causing them to sink. You will determine the diameter at which the lifting force is just not strong enough to keep them afloat.

Objective To determine the diameter at which aluminium spheres of equal mass sink.

Materials Towel or paper towels Large clear bowl or container Tap water Heavy-duty aluminium foil Ruler, metric Pen Scissors Permanent marker Hammer or mallet Lab notebook Optional: Graph paper Procedure Spread out the towel or paper towels on a hard work surface.

Fill the bowl or container about twothirds full of tap water and set it on the towels or paper towels.

Using the ruler and a pen, measure out a square of aluminium foil that is 25 cm square.

Feel free to use a slightly larger or slightly smaller square of aluminium foil in your experiment. Just be sure to write down the size of the aluminium foil you decided to use for all your trials in your lab notebook.

Cut out the square of aluminium foil with the scissors.

Repeat steps 3–4 until you have three equally sized square sheets of aluminium.

For each aluminium sheet, create a data table in your lab notebook for testing. You should have three data tables—one for each aluminium sheet.

Testing the aluminium Mark the four corners of each sheet with permanent marker so you can spot the corners later.

With your hands, pull the corners of one of the aluminium sheets together and crumple the sheet of aluminium into a loose

ball that is approximately 6 cm in diameter.

Use the coloured corners as guides as you crumple the ball—this will be important in step 3.

Measure the diameter of the aluminium ball with the ruler and record the exact measurement in your data table (it is ok if it is somewhat different from the example value in the data table).

Read steps 3a and 3b, then set the ball gently in the bowl of water and immediately write down in your lab notebook whether it sinks or floats.

To avoid the ball filling up with water, since it does have some air pockets inside when it is loose, put the ball in the water so that the coloured corners that you marked and brought together during crumpling are at the top of the ball.

Record in your lab notebook whether the aluminium foil ball is floating on the surface, or if it is partially submerged (if part of it is below the water and part of it is on top).

Get down low so that you are at eye level with the aluminium foil, and quickly record in your lab notebook approximately how much of the ball is below the top of the water. Have an adult help you with this step, if necessary.

Remove the ball from the bowl of water, shake out any water, and dry it on the towel.

Now crumple the same aluminium ball a little more tightly, into a smaller ball that is approximately 5 cm in diameter. If you crumple it too much, just carefully pull apart some of the aluminium foil to get the desired size.

Repeat steps 2–5.

Crumple the aluminium ball more into an even smaller ball.

If it is too hard for you to squeeze smaller, you can ask an adult for help.

If it is too hard to squeeze smaller by hand strength alone, then use the hammer or mallet to gently pound the foil into a smaller ball on a surface that your parents say is okay to pound on. Use caution with the hammer or mallet so that you don't smash your fingers! It may be hard to get a perfect sphere (ball shape), but that is okay.

Just approximate a sphere, and use the largest width of the aluminium that you can measure for your diameter measurement.

Repeat steps 2–5.

Repeat steps 8–9 until the ball sinks.

Repeat steps 1–10 for the other two sheets of aluminium foil, using the same diameters that you used in your first trial.

Compare the data. What does it reveal?

(Kristin Strong, Science Buddies)

By Edna St Vincent Millay

My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light!

Source: Poetry (Poetry)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 40% decline in rice production due to devastating May-June floods − India assisted local millers to offset export shortfall – High Commissioner

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa

I

n light of reports that the present rice crop has recorded a 40 per cent decline due to the devastating May-June floods, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa on Thursday disclosed that assistance was given to several local rice millers to meet their export demands.

According to the Indian diplomat, in addition to providing support to the Guyana Government, his office has also been assisting many rice producers and major millers to get their equipment from India. More recently, however, he said assistance was given to fulfil rice export orders.

“We are working with many players in the rice sector – big rice mills. We have, recently… assisted them in getting supplies from India because, obviously, there was some shortage of rice in fulfilling their various export commitments. So, they

had to fill that shortfall by importing rice from India.

We assisted them in that,” Srinivasa related.

He did not, however, reveal who the local millers were that received assistance from India.

Guyana Times however, made several inquiries with major players in local rice industry as to the reason behind the shortfalls.

But many of them including President of Rice Producers Association (RPA) Leakha Rambrich, and Head of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) Rajendra Persaud, as well as rice millers were unaware of any shortfalls in the last crops.

However, Persaud explained that at least one rice miller with major export markets had run short of supplies to meet increasing demands from existing markets especially in neighbouring Venezuela.

“I think the demand in Venezuela is really high and the prices are high all over including Brazil. So, they might have looked at India as an alternative [source to secure rice to fulfil this ris-

RPA President Leakha Rambrich

ing demand],” he stated.

But according to the GREMA Head, outsourcing rice is nothing new for local exporters.

“A lot of the millers now, we normally buy rice from other [countries] to trade…

These are things we all do from time to time so I don’t think it’s a big issue,” he posited.

In fact, Persaud, who is a major rice exporter himself, being the Chairman of the Nand Persaud Group, related that they had previously sourced rice from neighbouring Suriname and even the United States to export to other countries.

Nevertheless, the GREMA President noted that the current crop will be a poor one due to the recent floods that destroyed most large-scale agricultural crops and livestock across the country. He added that rice exporters will now have to figure out how to meet the export demands and which of their respective markets they will have to prioritise.

Meanwhile, the RPA President, Rambrich, told this newspaper that the devastating May-June floods have resulted in a 40 per cent shortfall in rice production from the current crop.

“That will put in dent in our market… And to be honest, there is nothing we can do to address it because there is not enough raw material, paddy to manufacturer rice to export,” Rambrich indicated.

He further explained that with this anticipated shortfall, exporters cannot take in new contracts to supply rice.

“All we can do now is sustain the present contracts that are there and we’re hoping that from the next crop, we can have a good crop and

GREMA President Persaud

Rajendra

we can be able to enter into new contracts. But for now, we will work with existing contracts and we will not be taking on any new contract to supply [rice],” the RPA Head said.

Rambrich, nonetheless, pointed out that rice production should return to normal capacity for the next crop, barring disasters.

Following the unprecedented floods in all 10 regions that were caused by intense rainfall, President Dr Irfaan Ali last month announced over $7.8 billion in relief to affected farmers in various categories.

In the rice sector, 50,000

acres of farmlands of some 2000 farmers were directly impacted by the floods across the country.

The relief included $80,000 per acre for rice that was ready to harvest but was lost in the floods; $65,000 per acre for rice sowed and lost in the autumn crop; and $45,000 per acre for land that was completely prepared but was not sowed.

In addition to this support to farmers, Government will be distributing 60,000 bags of seed paddy. This assistance to rice farmers amounted to more than $3.2 billion.

Government rolled out the distribution of the relief last weekend in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where in excess of $1 billion of the total relief sum will be given to rice farmers in the ancient county.

During the distribution exercises last week that were spearheaded by various Government Ministers, many of the farmers were grateful for the financial assistance which they say will significantly help to get into the next crop.

8 NEWS Convicted killer to know fate today MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dead: Clifton Bonus

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he Court of Appeal will this morning render its ruling in an appeal filed by Lakeraj Fredericks, who is challenging his conviction and 65 years’ jail sentence for the June 2011 murder of his brother-in-law, Clifton Bonus.

The appellate court comprising Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud had reserved its ruling after concluding arguments in the case last year October.

Bonus was found buried in a shallow grave at Old England Backdam, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), days after he was reported missing.

In April 2017, Fredericks was found guilty of the crime by a jury and it was Justice Navindra Singh who imposed the 65-year jail term.

It was reported that Frederick murdered Bonus called “Mutts” on Saturday, June 4, 2011. The man’s body was found in the shallow grave, buried almost three feet deep beneath groves of cannabis days after he was reported missing.

The autopsy proved that he was shot to the head.

Media reports are that the men argued over marijuana seeds before Bonus was killed. Fredericks is already serving a 22-year jail sentence for the June 11, 2011 unlawful killing of 38-year-old Vernon Romaldo, who was stabbed twice to the chest at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

He was initially charged with the murder of Romaldo but pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter in April 2018.

During the appeal hearing, Fredericks’ lawyer,

Convicted killer: Lakeraj Fredericks

Rachael Bakker, asked the court to overturn her client’s conviction and sentence or reduce the 65-year prison term imposed on him for the killing of Bonus.

She proffered four grounds in support of her case. She contended that Justice Singh erred in law when he admitted a caution statement alleged to have been given by her client to detectives.

Bakker further asked the court to find that the alleged confession statement given by her client was a concoction by the Police to prove their case. She argued that the caution statement was given under duress. From the records of appeal, Bakker submitted that while her client was in custody, he was interrogated by three Police ranks.

The lawyer said that during the trial, someone testified that her client was not given any refreshment or food prior to him being interviewed. She said that all he had was some water during the morning period.

She added that from the evidence of Prison Officer Tuanna Wilson, it can be concluded that her client was assaulted by Police to sign the caution statement, even though he made it clear that he did not know its contents, and did not commit the crime.

In relation to the voir dire which was done to determine the admissibility of the caution statement, Bakker stated that the sworn evidence given by her client was dismissed by Justice Singh. She contended that the Judge should have considered her client’s testimony as it was done while he was under oath.

She further argued that during investigations, detectives failed to carry out

a confrontation between Fredericks and a minor, who testified that he took the Police to where Bonus’ body was buried.

The lawyer said that the Judge failed to direct the jury on how to properly deal with the evidence of the minor, and as a result, this amounted to a misdirection since it allowed the jury to be prejudiced by inadmissible and hearsay evidence.

In fact, she submitted that prior to interviewing her client, the Police ranks informed him that he need not say anything because someone had already told them what had transpired.

She told the court that Police went with a prepared statement and asked him questions about where he lived and about his family members so that he would be tricked into signing the statement.

According to her, her client cannot read and only knows how to write his name. In this regard, the lawyer noted that Justice Singh was duty-bound to withdraw the caution statement from the jury as it was not given voluntarily.

She submitted that the Judge’s failure to do so led to a miscarriage of justice.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien submitted that Police questioning Frederick was permitted under Part One of the Judges’ Rule.

Also relying on the records of appeal, KaulesarO’Brien said that during the voir dire, Fredericks gave sworn testimony as it relates to officers visiting him and signing the statement.

The Assistant DPP further argued that the evidence given by the murder convict does not suggest that he was being interro-

gated.

As a matter of fact, Kaulesar-O’Brien noted that Frederick testified that the Police ranks asked him “one, one questions.” She said that the trial records prove that the Judge properly addressed the allegations of assault put forward

by Frederick.

She contended that the Trial Judge, having evaluated the evidence of the prosecution and defence in the voir dire, made a finding as it relates to the credibility of the caution statement. She reminded that the Judge found that Fredericks was not a credible witness, and rightfully directed the jury to rely on the evidence of the prosecution.

Kaulesar-O’Brien held that the absence of a confrontation between Fredericks and the minor does not affect the admissibility of the caution statement.

She noted that Fredericks’ lawyer at the time made no application for a review of the ruling in the voir dire and that there was no new evidence that would have caused the Trial Judge to question that ruling.

Finally, on the issue of sentencing, Bakker advanced that the 65-year prison term imposed on her client is unduly severe and not in keeping with modern sentencing practices.

While she acknowledged that statutes dictate sentences be imposed for such offences, she said that Guyana’s Criminal Law (Offences) Act is dated.

She noted that while she is aware that it is entirely the discretion of the Trial Judge to impose a sentence, the penalty imposed on her client is not only strenuous to him but also taxpayers.

In closing, Bakker pointed out that modern sentencing guidelines would not allow for a sentence of 65 years to be imposed for murder.

Nevertheless, she said that her client is throwing himself at the mercy of the court to exercise its discretion in reducing the sentence to one that is fair to the system and his rehabilitation.

Kaulesar-O’Brien conceded that there is no indication as to how Justice Singh arrived at a base of 60 years for the sentence imposed.

Why the hesitancy…

T

…to vaccination science? empers are getting quite frayed on both sides of the vaccination divide. On one side we have the antivaxxers of various persuasions – especially those who place their faith on “received wisdom” – and those who place their faith “on the science”. With a whole heap of folks placed on the wide spectrum between that divide – including those captured in the new buzzword “vaccine hesitancy”. In the interest of full disclosure, your Eyewitness confesses to being in the “science” camp.

Now we gotta be careful – which your Eyewitness tries to be – not to fall into the “scientism” fallacy - which is to believe anything and everything once it has the “science” brand slapped on. Science is basically a methodology for explaining observed phenomena and in its application, its success comes from its insistence that all hypotheses must be tested experimentally. The problem with vaccines – and especially the new methods for manufacturing them – is they’re all so esoteric even for those with more than a smattering of a scientific background Can most of us really wrap our heads around the workings of the body’s auto-immune system where we’re told that cells of our bodies (which are between .01 and .1 mm and barely visible to the naked eye) can “detect” foreign cells and “tell” other cells to manufacture specific new cells (antibodies) to “fight off” and destroy the “invading cells”?? And imagine that viruses aren’t even cells (or even “living”!), but just bundles of DNA or RNA covered in a layer of fat and so much smaller than cells!!

And that to make these vaccines, some of the vaccines like Pfizer’s are made by cutting precise DNA sections of viruses similar to COVID-19 and injecting them to trick the body to produce antibodies that can fight the COVID-19 viruses.

Confused already? Well, your Eyewitness’s eyes have long glazed over and he suspects so have yours!!

What all of this suggests is that we gotta be more than a tad sympathetic to those who have some genuine misgivings about vaccines. ‘Cause even if the Government were to try to explain what is going on when the vaccine enters the body, it’ll pass over the heads of most folks. So what does the Government do when the science – and the evidence – tells them that vaccination is the best weapon we have against viruses? Up will come questions – as they already have – as to how effective these are and what are side effects that might pop up down the road! Etc. And no explanation will help when you have politicians cynically exploiting fears of the vaccines’ effects for their own political ambitions!

A plague on their house? There’s already COVID-19!! …as per social science The WHO advises governments that they should take a “proactive approach’ to vaccine hesitancy - based on “behavioural and social insights”. These come from the “SOCIAL” sciences and show that “conformism” is the norm for most folks exhibiting vaccine hesitancy. They take their cues from others. In this case, then, the “secret” to overcoming the hesitance would be to publicise individuals or groups the hesitant admire and will listen to, who are pro-vaccine. Nowadays social media has even created a name for such folks – influencers. The Govt should enlist them.

One of the counterintuitive findings is that the moment Governments start enforcing a particular behaviour, it triggers a kickback from sections of the populace – especially from those who have some degree of mistrust of governments. After all, they aren’t allowing folks to make their own MORAL choice! In polarised Guyana, this effect of reducing intrinsic motivation— to be one’s brother’s keeper – or moral disengagement, will be exaggerated.

The Govt MUST be up to something!! …from the pro-vaxxers?

From the above discussion folks from the vaccinehesitant constituents have a moral obligation to take a public stance to promote vaccination.

Like the National Medical Association, a professional society of African American doctors addressing Black hesitancy!!

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drilling commences at Sapote-1 well in Canje Block — to end by November month-end

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The Stena Drillmax

ess than two months after failing to find oil in the Jabillo-1 well, it has been announced by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) that drilling has now started at the Sapote-1 well in the Canje Block.

MARAD made the announcement recently that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of oil giant ExxonMobil, would start exploration drilling in the Sapote-1 well on August 28. It has been confirmed that this drilling has started.

“MODU Stena Drill Max will be engaged in drilling activities which will conclude on November 30, 2021… the well site is situated approximately 126 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of 0.29 square nautical miles (1 square kilometre),” MARAD stated.

Eco Atlantic is a co-venturer in the Canje Block, along with JHI Associates, Mid Atlantic and Exxon.

Last month, Eco Atlantic’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gil Holzman had said that their next focus would be the Sapote-1 well.

“I will spend every...

FROM PAGE 3

He added that there could be the “fiercest competition”, but values must be established which already exist in the country’s Constitution.

“We must all subscribe to freedom; we must subscribe to fundamental rights; we must all subscribe to democracy; we must all subscribe to the rule of law; we must all subscribe to equitable treatment and we must all subscribe to a fair opportunity in our country.”

Similarly, the President added that the same efforts that Guyanese use to preserve their spiritual beliefs should be used to enhance the unification of the country. He noted that Guyanese must understand that society is governed by certain principles and values, and as such, they need to commit to ensuring that these are never broken. “…When we become weak as individuals and as a society to the breach of any one of those fundamental principles and values that make up the society, then we help to create a break in the unity and the love and the coming together of our country because we are breaking the fun-

damental chain that seals the society… [So] we each play a role in safeguarding, just like this movement will safeguard the values and principles that guide your philosophy, your belief system, you will safeguard that. We also have an equal responsibility to safeguard the same values and principles that cement us as a society. So, let us be better humans to each other. Let us be a bit kinder to each other. Let us care for each other a bit more. Let us understand that a better neighbour, a strong neighbour, is better for us. A weaker neighbour creates greater vulnerability for us,” he stated.

Also attending Sunday’s celebration were former President Donald Ramotar; Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy and the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, among other officials.

“Our stakeholders continue to support our exploration efforts and look for us to continue to define these near-term high impact opportunities. Our next focus is the Sapote-1 prospect to be spud in the upcoming

weeks which brings us another opportunity to share in what we hope to be another major ExxonMobil-led discovery,” he had said.

“JHI was carried on the Jabillo-1 well and this is just the first in a series of exploration wells that Eco expects to be involved in this year and next. Guyana has proven to be one of the most prolific hydrocarbon regions on the globe and the high discovery ratio continues and the company continues to be excited about its near-term future prospects on both the Orinduik and the Canje Blocks.”

According to Holzman, the Saopte-1 well is adjacent to existing discoveries and will be spudded in mid-August 2021. According to him, the drilling targets in the region have proven that they hold hundreds of millions of barrels of oil and oil equivalent and the compa-

ny therefore looks forward to success from Sapote.

“I am happy that we managed to become a part of JHI and the Canje Block exploration program in time that offers our stakeholders a stream of high impact catalysts and an ongoing drilling program operated by ExxonMobil.”

“I have a great confidence that our Canje Block exposure will yield great returns and oil discoveries as it also paves the way to a broader exposure and collaboration in the GuyanaSuriname Basin,” Holzman had also said.

ExxonMobil, the operator, had previously drilled the Jabillo-1 well in the Canje Block offshore Guyana almost simultaneously with its other wells. But in July it was announced that no evidence was found of oil in commercial quantities.

It was announced that the Jabillo-1 well, which was drilled to a depth of 6475 metres, was found not to have commercially viable oil. As a consequence, it was announced that the well would be plugged and abandoned.

It had been reported in March that Exxon was engaged in drilling the Jabillo-1, using the Stena Carron drillship, between March 10 and March 27.

The Stena Carron, after drilling the Jabillo-1 well and maintenance activities, was scheduled to resume drilling on the Koebi-1 well.

The Jabillo-1 well happens to be the second of three exploration wells Exxon had scheduled for drilling in the Canje Block in 2021. The other two are the Bulletwood-1 well and the Sapote-1 well. Like Jabillo, Bulletwood-1 had also come up dry.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bosai employee allegedly sets self on fire after leaving foreman’s office

Hit-and-run victim succumbs 3 weeks later T

he Police have launched an investigation into the death of a plant operator attached to the Bosai Mineral Group, Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden, which occurred on Sunday.

The dead man has been identified as Kersa Robertson, 39, of Central Amelia's Ward, Linden.

Preliminary investigations revealed that on the day in question at about 05:50h, the now dead man went to his place of employ-

S

ixty-year-old Daniram Harrilall, who was reportedly struck down by a motor car along the Railway Embankment, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, about three weeks ago has succumbed to his injuries.

He reportedly died on August 26, 2021, while receiving medical treatment

ment and was seen in the foreman's office.

He subsequently left the said office and went into the compound but shortly after he was heard screaming and seen running in the compound engulfed in flames. Upon seeing this, his colleagues rushed to his aid and were able to dowse the fire but the man subsequently collapsed.

Robertson was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was admitted a patient, suffering

from third and fourth degree burns to about 95 per cent of his body.

He later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention. Shortly after, the area was reportedly searched by the Police during which a haversack belonging to Robertson was found in a small concrete structure in the compound.

It contained a burnt plastic bottle and a box of matches.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed today.

Man of unsound mind sets house on fire Harrilall with injuries on the night of the accident

The registration plate belonging to the car that was involved in the accident

in the High Dependency Unit, Georgetown Public Hospital.

At the time of the accident, the man’s identity was unknown but he was later identified by family members.

It was reported that the now dead man was walking along the southern side of Railway Embankment when he is allegedly struck by a motor vehicle bearing registration number PZZ 1276, which drove away.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian fell onto the roadway and received injuries about his body.

He was later picked up

by EMT personnel in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Hospital where he was

treated and admitted a patient in the Accident & Emergency Unit.

He reportedly sustained broken legs and lacerations to his head and body. His condition was regarded as critical.

Police stated that ranks responded to a report at about 02:30h and upon arriving at the scene, they found a registration plate suspected to be that of the car which was involved in the accident.

To date, no one was arrested for the fatal accident.

A

mentally ill man was arrested in the wee hours of Saturday after he reportedly set his house on fire at Coglan Dam, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The fire was reportedly set at about 23:15h

on Friday evening by the 45-year-old man.

Police stated that on the day in question, residents reported that a fire was seen coming from the building.

An alarm was subsequently raised and the fire service from the La Grange

Fire Station and West Ruimveldt Fire Station were summoned to the scene.

The firefighters went into action and managed to contain the blaze to one building which was subsequently destroyed.

Further reports stated that the suspect may have started the fire and fled the scene. However, the suspect was seen at a neighbour’s residence a short distance away from where the fire occurred.

As such, he was arrested and taken to West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated for burns about his body. An investigation is underway.

Taxi driver hospitalised following 2-vehicle collision

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ne man is now nursing a broken left rib following a two-vehicle collision along the Houston Public Road, Greater Georgetown, on Saturday. The injured man is Collis James, 40, of Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Police stated that at about 05:00h on Saturday, a taxi bearing registration number HC 1391 driven by James was proceeding south along the Houston Public Road at a fast rate of speed.

It is alleged that he lost control of the car and collided with a concrete median after which he collided with a minibus with plates BJJ 9051 driven by 54-year-old man of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD), which was

driving in the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, drivers and passengers received injuries about their bodies and were taken to Georgetown Public Hospital

where they were treated.

James suffered a broken left rib and was admitted a patient while the others were sent away. The GPF has since launched an investigation into the accident.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Flooding could result in reduced growth for Guyana’s non-oil economy − IDB ...says floods have affected rice production, livestock & mining

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he Inter-American Development bank (IDB) foresees reduced growth in the non-oil economy as one of the effects of the flooding that plagued Guyana earlier this year and led to the government distributing billions in assistance to those affected by the disaster.

According to the bank in its latest quarterly report, Guyana’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was originally projected to be 6.1 per cent. But with the floods brought on by heavier than usual MayJune rains, this may be revised.

It was pointed out that there was flooding in riverain communities throughout Guyana that affected approximately 52,000 households and caused around 200 people to be re-

A flooded area in Region Five

claring the flood a national disaster, passing a supplementary budget of approximately US$102 Million back in June, with US$48 million of that amount earmarked for flood relief efforts.

The financial institution also recalled the last major flood in Guyana, which was in January 2005 when

Black Bush Polder under water in June

located to temporary shelters.

“The floods have affected all regions in Guyana spanning the coast from west to east as well as the south, where river levels rose. A regional team of experts arrived in Guyana to assess the extent of the damage.

Floods have affected rice production, cash crops, livestock, transportation, and mining,” IDB noted.

“GDP growth of the nonoil sector was originally projected to expand by 6.1 percent, but that could now be subject to revision considering the current context of heavy flooding in Guyana since the end of May,” they also stated.

The IDB acknowledged the steps taken by the government to mitigate against the floods. This included de-

GDP fell by almost 2 percent and the extent of the damage was valued at approximately 60 percent of GDP. According to the IDB, the overall economy is expected to grow by 20.9 per cent this year.

“Guyana’s GDP grew 43.5 percent in 2020 and is projected to grow by 20.9 percent in 2021. The main driver of GDP in the medium term is oil exports, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates will represent 38.2 percent of GDP in 2020 –2021,” they said.

“Although the non- oil economy contracted by 7.3 percent in 2020, the agriculture sector expanded by 4.1 percent, led by 4.8 percent growth in the rice sector and 6.6 percent in a variety of crops making up almost 11

percent of GDP. The service s sector, which makes up a quarter of the economy, contracted by 9.4 percent,” the IDB said in its report.

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

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

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

Following extensive fieldwork, the President had announced in a national address last month that $7.8 billion in flood relief assistance would be provided for citizens and farmers who were affected in all 10 administration regions by the rains and flooding that beset Guyana earlier this year.

Approximately 52,000 households were affected in categories of homestead farmers, kitchen gardens, and households exclusive of farms/gardens. In these categories, the Head of State noted, farmers within the context of a homestead will receive $100,000 each, those with kitchen gardens will receive $50,000 each and households excluding homestead and kitchen garden

will receive 50,000 each.

The President explained that the combined assistance to homestead farmers, kitchen gardens and households for these categories will be in excess of $3.5 billion. He acknowledged that whilst some large-scale farmers were severely affected, especially in the rice and poultry sectors, the ceiling of assistance will not exceed $10 million for individual farmers.

With regards to the rice sector, where 50,000 acres of farmlands and 2000 farmers were directly affected, President Ali announced that farmers with harvest

ready rice that were destroyed will receive $80,000 per acre and rice sowed and lost in the autumn crop, these farmers will receive $65,000 per acre.

For land that was completely prepared but was not sowed, $45,000 per acre will

be given to these farmers.

In addition to this support, 60,000 bags of seed paddy will be made available.

The combined assistance in these four categories will be in excess of $3.2 billion, the distribution of which has already started.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 1 health services to improve tremendously − with 52 CHWs completing training programme

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony encouraged Community Health Workers (CHWs) who graduated on Saturday to continue advancing themselves in the area of health with the educational opportunities being provided by the PPP/C Government.

Minister Anthony was delivering the feature address at a graduation ceremony held on the lawns of the Mabaruma Town Hall.

“You can now further your studies in nursing, midwifery, lab technology and other healthcare professions,” Dr Anthony stated.

He noted that while the 14-week training programme has prepared the CHWs as health police and

A few of the Community Health Workers with Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal at the graduation ceremony for Community Health Workers in Mabaruma, Region One on Saturday

grammes taking place at the moment, and there are other opportunities with

pand the regional health services to treat chronic illnesses and provide mental

(Region One), said he was proud of the steps the graduates have taken to better themselves and to further develop their respective communities.

Croal also urged them to continue to broaden their knowledge and to serve their communities with pride. “Healthcare professionals are critical in building healthy populations, especially as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This is the largest batch to graduate from the programme, which is piloted by the Ministry of Health.

Apart from their usual duties at health facilities, CHWs usually work to enhance the communication between community members and healthcare providers.

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo; Hinterland Coordinator of the Ministry of Health,

Michael Gouveia; Regional Health Officer of Region One, Dr Steven Cheefoon; Regional Executive Officer of Region One, Tikaram Bisesar and Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley also attended the ceremony.

Earlier in the day the team visited the Mabaruma Regional Hospital to assess the equipment needs of the institution. The facility is being retrofitted under the Smart Hospital Project.

Farm Supplies Ltd opens 100M Corentyne branch Newly-graduated Community Health Workers with Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

ambassadors in their communities, this is only the start.

“The Government, Ministry of Health has numerous training pro-

GOAL to further your studies, and we want everyone to have that opportunity to advance themselves and develop their own communities.

“We have plans to ex-

...investment testimony of expanding economy – Min Indar

healthcare services as well, so there are those areas as well.”

Also, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, who is the parliamentary representative for Barima-Waini

Minister Indar cuts the ribbon to commission the Farm Supplies Ltd Corentyne branch

M

inister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, who is currently performing the duties of Agriculture Minister, on Saturday commissioned another branch of Farm Supplies Limited in Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six. Minister Indar, speaking on behalf of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, said the $100 million investment is testimony of the country’s expanding economy. Farm Supplies Ltd specialises in the sale of agricultural and industrial equipment.

Indar noted that agriculture in 2020 accounted for the lion’s share of Guyana’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product.

Government through its 2021 National Budget invested over $22 billion in the sector.

The Minister reminded the gathering that when

the PPP/C Government took office, it kept its promise to remove a slew of taxes. One of those was the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on farming equipment.

The removal of those taxes, the Minister said, is among the first things undertaken by the Administration when it took office. He reiterated that every time a farmer buys equipment, the removal of VAT places over $6 million back into their pockets.

“Government is not taking any more money from farmers in that way, leave that to the APNU Government, let them do that, that is why they are in the Opposition.”

Indar further stated that President Ali will continue to support the agriculture sector while applauding the Managing Director of Farm Supplies Ltd, Renger Van Dijk, for investing in one of

Acting Agriculture Deodat Indar

Minister

the regions that contribute heavily to the country’s agriculture sector.

He noted that such investments will be needed as the country continues to expand.

“People only invest their hard-earned money when they know there is stability and there will be returns on their investment.”

Van Dijk in his remarks said the company does more than just provide farming equipment to stakeholders.

“We offer complete solutions for the farmers,” he pointed out. Since its establishment in 1993, the company has been a supplier of agriculture equipment to a number of Government agricultural and mining agencies, and the wider Caribbean.

It offers a wide range of product lines such as Doosan Infracore, Tatu Marchesan, Jacto, FG Wilson and more.

NEWS

13

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Overwhelming turnout for MoE’s adolescents’ vaccination drive at MovieTowne …get up and make a conscious decision and get vaccinated – Education Minister

T

A child displaying his vaccination card

he Education Ministry kicked off its adolescents' vaccination drive on Sunday at MovieTowne parking lot which saw hundreds of children between the ages 12 and 17 being adminis-

children to the vaccination site from as early as 08:00h.

Some of them sat in vehicles and queued in long lines, while others stood in the sun. Several parents also took their first dose of the adult vaccines. Apart

over 1000 children received their first dose.

Given the large turnout, he revealed that vaccine drives will be held countrywide to ensure that as many children are immunised ahead of the reopening of schools on September 6. In this regard, he urged parents to get their children vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister shared similar sentiments. She noted that the response to Sunday’s vaccination drive was “very encouraging” while adding that the Pfizer vaccine is limited and has an expiration date.

On this point, she advised parents not to “take too long” to make up their minds in giving consent

President Irfaan Ali greets those who turned up to take their first jab of Pfizer at MovieTowne on Sunday

Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony pose with a child who received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at MovieTowne

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony administering the Pfizer vaccine to a child

tered the US FDA approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

It is one of the many efforts to encourage COVID-19 vaccination

from health professionals, President Irfaan Ali, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, and Education Minister Priya Manickchand were

for their children to receive the jabs. According to the Education Minister, this brand of vaccine is not one Guyana can “just pick up

Parents waiting with their children at the vaccination site

among children in a bid to make the physical reopening of schools safer and to achieve herd immunity.

Parents accompanied their

present at the event.

Dr Anthony, who helped with administering the vaccines, hailed the vaccination drive as a success as

and buy”.

“The vaccines are not for sale; it was a donation from the American people to Guyana. So, if they are finished, so if they run out,

people will not be able to access them. People need to get up and make a conscious decision and get vaccinated.”

She disclosed that there are enough vaccines for ev-

eryone under 18.

“I choose to come out and get vaccinated to protect myself and to create a new definition of normal. I would like to say to the children at home and to their

parents to take the vaccine to save the nations,” one student expressed.

Another student said, “I am very excited about taking my COVID-19 vaccine. I want to protect my friends and family and I want to return to the classroom.” Sharing similar sentiments was a 13-year-old child who said he is all set for school.

Last week Thursday, the Health Ministry commenced its vaccination rollout for children aged 12 to 17. During the launch at the St Stanislaus College, students were inoculated using the 146,250 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines Guyana received as a donation from the United States of America.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tanager-1 well plugged by Exxon could contain over 65M barrels of oil — report says highest un-risked estimate for Tanager is 131M barrels

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he Tanager-1 well that oil giant ExxonMobil drilled and plugged last year, is estimated to contain over 65 million barrels of oil. At least this is according to a report produced by an independent consultant.

United Kingdom (UK) investment firm Westmount Energy, which holds indirect shares in the Kaieteur block, released a statement in which they alluded to a post-well report from independent consultant Netherland, Sewell and Associates Incorporated (NSAI).

In NSAI’s Competent Person Report (CPR), they had noted that Tanager-1 contains a ‘best estimate’, unrisked gross oil resource of 65.3 million barrels of oil.

However, an unrisked estimate means its commercial value is not factored in.

Additionally, NSAI ranged their estimate from the low to the high. For instance, the lowest estimate is 17.7 million barrels of oil, the best estimate 65.3 and the highest estimate 131 million barrels of oil.

Last year November, it was announced that the much-anticipated Tanager-1 well, which many expected would lead to an oil discovery, was found to contain oil that was not commercially viable.

Westmount, had revealed in a statement that ExxonMobil encountered 16 metres of net oil pay. Westmount Executive Chairman Gerard Walsh had at the time described Tanager-1 as a “mixed bag”.

“The outcome of the Tanager-1 exploration has proved to be a mixed bag – confirming the extension of the Liza play fair way onto the Kaieteur Block, but apparently coming up short at the deeper stratigraphic level,” he had said.

Tanager-1, drilled by the Stena Carron is the deepest well ExxonMobil has so far drilled offshore Guyana, with a total depth of 8000 metres.

It was also widely believed by experts to have high prospects of success.

In fact, Westwood Global Energy Group had iden-

The Kaieteur Block, relative to Stabroek and Canje Blocks

tified Tanager as a key well to watch. Back in September 2020, analyst Jamie Collard had this to say during a webinar.

“If we start with Suriname and Guyana…

Westwood has highlighted two wells – Sloanea and Tanager as key wells to watch. They are both targeting the upper creta-

ceous. Tanager is targeting an upper floor fan outward of the Liza discovery and Sloanea will be trying to extend the Liza play further up,” Collard had said.

Exxon, through its subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) operates the Kaieteur block with a 35 per cent stake, Ratio

owns 25 per cent, Cataleya Energy now has 20 per cent, and Hess now holds a 20 per cent stake in the Kaieteur Block. Westmount owns stakes in Ratio (0.7 per cent) and Cataleya (5.4 per cent).

Since Tanager, ExxonMobil has found commercially viable oil elsewhere. Last month, the oil

company announced its 21st and 22nd oil discoveries offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block, striking oil at the Whiptail-1 well, which it started drilling only in June, and the Whiptail-2 well.

According to Exxon, drilling at Whiptail-1 encountered 246 feet of oil reserves. The double discovery of oil by Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) follows its 20th oil discovery at the Longtail-3 well in June.

Additionally, Whiptail-2 well encountered 167 feet of oil reserves while being drilled. Exxon said that drilling will continue at both wells to test for deeper targets, with the results being evaluated for future development.

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 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

Death of Region 4 woman takes COVID-19 fatalities to 611 − 176 new infections recorded, active cases now 1834

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he COVID-19 death toll continues to rise in Guyana with another person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) succumbing.

This latest fatality is a 59-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) who died on Saturday while receiving care at a medical facility.

With this, the total number of deaths from the pandemic in the country has gone up to 611. The death toll for the month of August is now 65.

However, new statistics released by the Ministry showed that another 176 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 25,323.

The Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday showed that 26 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 1808 persons are in isolation, that is, 105 in institutional isolation and the remaining 1703 in home isolation.

This takes the current active cases in Guyana to 1834. Additionally, there are also seven other persons in institutional quarantine.

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

Meanwhile, a total of 265,263 persons have been

tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic here last year.

Of this, 12,257 males and 13,066 females were found to be positive.

Of the 176 new COVID cases recorded on Sunday, two were recorded in Region One (Barima-Waini); 14 cases in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 43 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 102 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica region; six in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); another two cases in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and the remaining three cases in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases recorded in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) in the last 24 hours.

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

According to recent figures, more than 60 per cent of the adult population has received their first dose of the vaccine, which is approximately over 308,000 persons. Meanwhile, fully immunised persons in the country are in excess of 159,000, representing just over 30 per cent of the popu-

lation who are 18 years and older.

However, Government last Thursday rolled out vaccination for children between the ages of 12 and 17 ahead of the reopening of schools next month. This was after Guyana received 146,250 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccines, which the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for adolescents.

Since Thursday, over 1000 children in Guyana have been immunised, largely due to Sunday’s vaccination drive at MovieTowne targeting adolescents.

Government has said over 4000 students have been granted consent to get vaccinated against the deadly virus.

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, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include vaccination requirements to access certain social locations such as restaurants and cinemas as

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 29 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

176

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

105

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1703

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

26

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

7

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

13,066

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

12,267

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

25,323

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

22,878

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

308,758

FULLY IMMUNISED

159,460

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

611

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1356

REGION 2

776

REGION 3

3015

REGION 4

11,698

REGION 5

829

REGION 6

2050

REGION 7

1351

REGION 8

386

REGION 9

2246

REGION 10

1616

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

well as some Government services.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 214,468,601 confirmed cases

were reported globally along with 4,470,969 deaths.

The WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the

Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 82,868,668 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,088,341.

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“It costs Police more to prosecute COVID EIAs used as tool to provide decision-makers with solutions guidelines violators when compared to – Canadian High Commissioner imposed fines” – Region 8 Commander — says failure to undertake same could result in costly, harmful effects

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Mark Berman

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embers of staff of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Legal Affairs Ministry recently participated in a three-day virtual workshop which focused on the legal framework of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

Recently, the importance of EIAs came to the forefront in Guyana, as the country navigates its newfound oil wealth and embarked on examining the environmental, economic, and social implications on its growth and development.

The workshop was facilitated by the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project, a regional civil society justice sector reform project funded by the Government of Canada.

The participants were given an overview of the Guyana Environmental Protection Act and more so looked at several issues including EIA litigation, shortcomings of the EPA provisions, and policy review of the Guyana EPA. In 2018, IMPACT Justice conducted a review of Guyana’s EIA model as part of a wider analysis of Caribbean EIA provisions which was shared with local stakeholders in 2019.

Subsequently, in 2020, the project worked with the EPA to review its Environmental Protection Act. Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman in delivering the feature address during the opening ceremony explained that, “The aim is not to impede development, but rather to predict potential environmental impacts in the early stages of project planning and design in order to find ways to reduce adverse impacts and to provide decision-makers with solutions. In effect, EIAs serve as

EPA Executive Director Kemraj Parsram

a policy tool for governments to weigh the environmental, economic and social pros and cons of development.”

“Failure to undertake this type of due diligence could result in costly and harmful effects down the road,” he further stated.

Further, High Commissioner Berman also spoke of other support Canada provides to environment and climate protection in Guyana including the $20 million Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility with the World Bank, which provided technical expertise to improve the construction methodology of the East Demerara Water Conservancy dam,

speed up its construction, and reduce the risk of flooding in affected communities.

Meanwhile, EPA Executive Director, Kemraj Parsram stated that the workshop is a “timely collaborative effort” as the EIA is a critical component of the EPA’s statutory mandate and functions.

“The importance of understanding this legal framework which governs EIA cannot be overstated and it is important that we continue to be engaged in improving our processes in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act - more so, in the light of Guyana’s new and developing petroleum sector which brought with it concerns about new and potential significant impacts on the environment,” he stated.

He further stated that “such realities require our staff at the EPA, members of its Board of Directors, members of the Environments Assessment Board, our colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sister agencies to enhance their understanding of Guyana’s EIA framework”.

It is Canada’s hope that this development will be sustained and supported by the appropriate legislative and policy frameworks to protect the environment for generations to come.

EIAs are an important tool in ensuring this sustainable development.

The facilitators of the workshop were Dr Fiona PompeyHandl, an attorney specialising in environmental and development legislation who worked as a legal advisor on environment, sustainable development and health issues for the Government from 1990-1995; Christine ToppinAllahar, an attorney-at-law who prepared environmental, planning and coastal zone legislation for countries such as Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia and Antigua & Barbuda, and Dr Thérèse Yarde, an environmental specialist with over 20 years of experience in the biodiversity and environmental sector of the region.

IMPACT Justice has been operating from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus since 2014.

This Environmental Impact Assessments workshop is the second major workshop that IMPACT Justice has conducted in Guyana since the start of the year. The “Sound Policy for Better Law” workshop for Permanent Secretaries and other senior public officials was held in May.

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iolators of COVID-19 guidelines, especially for not wearing masks in the mountainous areas, cost the Guyana Police Force more to bring them to Mahdia to appear in court compared to fines attached to the charge.”

These were the sentiments of Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston, who added that the public will have to be constantly educated about the safety of wearing masks and the dangers of the deadly disease.

“In the North Pakariamas, we continue to share masks and plead with them to have it on...because it wouldn’t work out financially,” the Commander stated.

The official was at the time a guest on the Guyana Police Force’s weekly Police & You radio programme.

Kingston nevertheless added, that “Court is being held in every quarter in Mahdia and most times when you put persons on bail, you don’t see them again…you see Mahdia is a mining district so most of the times when you arrest persons and they’re being

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston

placed on bail they don’t return for court”.

He further pointed out that even though the Police face challenges in having persons adhere to the guidelines set out by the Government of Guyana in the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 20), they continue to educate persons.

He added that persons in the outlining areas belief that COVID does not exist and there are some who are bent on using their own remedies to fight the virus.

Earlier this year, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali spoke of the inadequacies of the fines while imploring the Attorney General, Anil

Nandlall, to revisit to have amendments which speak to toughening the penalties for those persons caught breaching the measures.

Currently, the fines for COVID-19 breaches range between $5000 and $16,000.

The Guyana Police Force has charged a number of persons for these breaches so far.

Additionally, President Ali had disclosed that the Government would be shifting its focus from prosecuting citizens who partake in social gatherings which breach the COVID-19 guidelines to now prosecuting the owners of those social venues.

In addition, he had engaged Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who is heading the National COVID-19 Taskforce, to discuss this issue.

Therefore, if the owners and managers allow breaches at their facilities, they will be charged to the full extent of the law.

In fact, a series of enforcement exercises has already seen several managers and owners of popular bars and night spots in Georgetown being charged and fined.

$2.1M raised for Linden flood relief

The cheque was handed over to Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

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total of $2.1 million was raised by several US-based organisations through a GoFundMe campaign to assist flood-affected communities in Linden.

These organisations were G.I.V.E Foundation #592, Guyana Youth Development Association (GUYDA), Linden Dream Team, Caribbean American Family Fun Day Committee, Mackenzie High School Alumni Association North American Chapter, and Linden Fund USA. At a simple ceremony held on Thursday in the Boardroom of the Mayor and Town Council’s Office in Linden, the funds raised were handed over.

In her remarks, the Mayor, Her Worship Waneka Arrindell, noted

that the funds will be used to prepare hampers, cleaning supplies and, where possible, provide infrastructural support to the affected residents.

Moreover, it was also noted that through consultation with Regional Agricultural Officer (RAO) Deryck Collins, support will also be provided to farmers for agricultural essentials such as seeds and in some cases, livestock.

During the May-June rainy season, unprecedented rains led to devastating floods in several regions in Guyana. One of the worsthit regions was Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), particularly Kwakwani and Malali.

Several pockets of communities within the township of Linden itself expe-

rienced severe flooding due to heavy downpours, with losses to small-scale farmers and damage to homes.

As a result of the devastation, Mayor Arrindell and Deputy Mayor Wainwright Bethune engaged the six organisations to rally support for the community.

Board Member with Linden Fund USA, Damani Corbin noted that the opportunity to support the relief efforts is one which the diaspora organisations were proud to be a part of.

“These organisations consider Region 10 home and the opportunity to provide support to fellow citizens of the region during this time is a continuation of work that some of these organisations have already been doing in the community.”

16 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corentyne pandit beaten to death by drunken men − wife says Police did not respond to report of disorderly behaviour

The area where the man was beaten to death

By Andrew Carmichael

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Corentyne Hindu priest was in the wee hours of Sunday beaten to death by a group of men in front of his Lot 10 Grant 106 Crabwood Creek, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) home. Dead is 60-year-old Rishi Bharrat.

He was reportedly lashed to the head with a piece of wood and beer bottles. The man’s 11-year-old son was also injured in the

attack.

Police initially stated that a group of eight men were imbibing and using foul language in front of the now dead man’s property and as such, Bharrat went out to the men with a piece of wood and told them to remove from the area. This was at about 02:15h.

However, the men became annoyed, armed themselves and begun hitting the religious leader about his body, causing him

to collapse on the street.

He was picked up by his relatives in an unconscious state and rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the home of the dead Pandit, his wife, Jasmin Bharrat, explained that on Saturday at about 18:30h, a group of young men had gathered in front of their home and were speaking loudly and using foul language. This, she said, was

disturbing her family.

She related that the family endured it until about 21:00h when they were ready to retire to bed.

Her husband, she added, opened a window and spoke to the group of men.

He reportedly told them that his premises was not a “rum shop” and asked them to go elsewhere.

“He told them that people are living here and we are trying to sleep because we have work to do the next day.”

According to the wife, the men started to curse Bharrat. Upon hearing their verbal abuse, she reportedly contacted the Springlands Police Station to seek their intervention but no one responded to the report.

Bharrat reportedly went out of the house and onto the street to speak with the group of men. His only son followed him. <<< Guyana Times>>> understands that as he approached the men, one of them picked up a piece of wood and lashed Bharrat to his head. As he fell to the ground, the others took beer bottles and started to

Dead: Pandit Rishi Bharrat

hit the pandit.

His son went to shield his injured father using his hands and received some of the blows intended for his father. According to the now dead man’s wife, she did not see when her husband was attacked.

“All I heard was a big commotion, ‘beat him, kill him’ some of them were saying. When I run down, I see the persons moving away from the bridge going to the other side.”

As she looked closer, she saw her injured husband lying unconscious in a pool of blood. According to the widow, she called for assistance

several times and eventually a few neighbours came out of their homes.

Moments later she was able to get the injured man to the hospital where she was given the devastating news.

In addition, she noted that her family has been enduring the noise nuisance on a weekly basis for years.

“It is every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and sometimes Monday night is the same thing. They come regularly here and we always get this issue and nothing is being done…” she added.

Bharrat made a living and had been operating a temple there for more than a decade. He had complained to Guyana Times some time ago about the unholy behaviour in front of his mandir.

Back then he had stated that the Police were reluctant to respond when he called.

Meanwhile, Police have confirmed that a total of 11 persons were arrested and are being questioned in relation to the brutal murder of the pandit.

Iwokrama continues to build partnerships for conservation

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MoU signed with GMCS, CEO Dane Gobin, and GMCS Chair Annette Arjoon

uyana has a long history of good conservation practices and Iwokrama was a flagship initiative created in 1989 and later formalised in 1996 with the Iwokrama Act being passed. The foundation of Iwokrama is about partnerships at the highest level.

The Government had developed a special agreement with the Commonwealth to create models of sustainable use of tropical forest within the one million-acre

Iwokrama Forest that lies in Central Guyana above the North Rupununi Wetlands.

Critical partners have been on many levels including Government and non-governmental agencies, donors, academic institutions, business entities, zoos, and corporate sponsors to name a few.

The Indigenous communities in the area that have ancestral ties to the Iwokrama Forest are linked to Iwokrama through the North Rupununi District Development Board

(NRDDB), and since 1996 has worked closely with Iwokrama on many projects and development activities.

In fact, the two agencies have a collaborative management agreement that gives the communities a direct say in how Iwokrama is managed.

Within the past month, Iwokrama has seen formalised Memoranda of Understanding signed with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and

MNR Corp of Wardens learning about bird monitoring techniques from Iwokrama Rangers

Management Commission and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS).

Iwokrama also continues to be grateful for the support given by the Minister and the Natural Resources Ministry and was happy to host several groups of youth apprentices recently.

The Corp of Wardens visited last week where there was a ranger exchange programme and they also par-

ticipated in a joint operation to check on illegal gold mining in the Siparuni area. This was done in collaboration with Iwokrama staff and the Guyana Police Force.

Over the past few months, Iwokrama was invited by the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) which requested rangers and other staff to assist and learn about sea turtle monitoring.

Iwokrama and the PAC collaborate very often with

training exchanges being held for staffers on a wide variety of courses/workshops over the years.

Some other key agencies giving Iwokrama support over the years include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International – Guyana, Hydromet, and the Fisheries Department.

FEATURE

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS

MENTAL BREAKDOWN - PSYCHOSIS cially schizophrenia.

* Neglecting self-care * Feelings of suspicion * Thoughts and ideas that seem strange to others, or hearing voices.

Auditory hallucinations appear to be the most common types of hallucinations for people with schizophrenia. The person hears things, and believes them to be real when they do not exist. Often, the person hears voices. There may be one or many voices, and they will sound exactly like real voices.

CAUSES OF PSYCHOSIS

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Fam Medicine, Endocrinology / Diabetes

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sychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, and can feature hallucinations and delusions. It is a symptom of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but it has many other causes. Psychosis affects how a person thinks, and that person’s perceptions. Their senses may seem to detect things that do not exist, and they may find it difficult to determine what is real and true.

The exact causes of psychosis are not well-understood, but might involve: * Genetic factors: Research shows that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may share a common genetic cause. * Hormones: Some people experience postpartum psychosis after giving birth. Due to this, and the fact that the early signs of psychosis often occur first in adolescents, some experts have suggested that hormonal factors may play a role in those with a genetic susceptibility. * Brain changes: Tests have found differences in brain chemicals — specifically, the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine — in people who ex-

polar disorder experience psychosis, either during a very high or very low mood. * Severe depression: Also known as major depressive disorder with psychotic features. * Postpartum (postnatal) psychosis: This type of

People with psychosis may:

* Hear voices * See people or items that are not there * Smell odours that other people cannot detect They may also believe that they are in trouble, someone is chasing them, or they are very important, when these situations are not the case.

A person may not be aware that they have psychosis because the delusions feel real to them.

Psychosis can be overwhelming and confusing.

Sometimes, the symptoms can cause the person to harm themselves. In rare cases, they may hurt another person.

RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING PSYCHOSIS

It’s not currently possible to precisely identify who is likely to develop psychosis. However, research has shown that genetics may play a role. People are more likely to develop a psychotic disorder if they have a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, who has a psychotic disorder.

Children born with the genetic mutation known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome are at risk of developing a psychotic disorder, espe-

perience psychosis. * A lack of sleep may also trigger psychosis.

TYPES OF PSYCHOSIS

Apart from schizophrenia, various other disorders and factors can cause psychosis. The different types include: * Schizoaffective disorder: This disorder is similar to schizophrenia but includes periods of mood disturbances. * Brief psychotic disorder: Symptoms occur in response to a stressful life event, last less than a month, and do not return. * Delusional disorder: The person has a strong belief in something irrational and often bizarre, with no factual basis. * Bipolar psychosis: Some people with bi-

psychosis can present after giving birth. * Substance-induced psychosis: The misuse of alcohol, some recreational drugs, and certain prescription drugs can cause this.

Psychosis can also result from other disorders, such as: * A brain tumour or cyst * Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease * Neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease * HIV and other infections that can affect the brain * Some types of epilepsy * Malaria * Syphilis * Stroke * Low blood sugar * Multiple Sclerosis * Stress

The voices may:

SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS

The signs and symptoms of psychosis include: * Hallucinations: The person hears, sees, smells, tastes, or feels things that do not exist. * Delusions: The individual believes things that are false, and they may have unfounded fears or suspicions. * Disorganised thinking, speech, and behaviour: The person may jump between unrelated topics in speech and thought, making connections that appear illogical to other people. Their speech may make no sense to others. * Catatonia: The person may become unresponsive. * Unusual psychomotor behaviour: The person makes unintentional movements, such as pacing, tapping, and fidgeting.

The person may also experience: * Mood changes * Difficulty focusing * Sleep problems

Depending on the cause, psychosis can appear quickly or slowly. It can also be mild or severe. In some cases, it may be mild when it first appears, but becomes more intense over time.

Early signs

The mild, early symptoms of psychosis might include: * General anxiety * Depression * Social isolation * Problems focusing * Mild or moderate disturbances in language, energy levels, and thinking * Difficulty taking initiative * Lower tolerance to stress * Sleep problems

* Be recognisable, nonspecific, or of someone who has died * Sound either clear, or like mumbling in the background * Give instructions or criticise the person * Be intermittent, or constant Hearing voices can be very confusing, and it can affect a person’s actions.

It can lead to the individual harming themselves; or, less often, others.

Treatment can manage or prevent psychosis, but it can return if the person stops taking their medication.

There may also be a risk of suicide.

Delusions during psychosis

During a psychotic episode, a person may experience delusions. Paranoid delusions can cause a person to be suspicious of individuals or organisations, believing them to be plotting to cause the person harm.

Delusions of grandeur involve a strong believing that he or she has a special power or authority. For instance, they may believe that they are a political leader.

DIAGNOSIS OF PSYCHOSIS

Anyone who is experiencing psychosis should receive urgent medical attention. Treatment can provide both short- and long-term help.

Early diagnosis

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder usually appear in a person’s teenage years, or during early adulthood. Early treatment can improve long-term outcomes, but it can take time for healthcare profession-

als to provide an accurate diagnosis.

Psychiatrists recommend considering the possibility of a psychotic disorder in a young person if they show signs of: * Increased social withdrawal * Changes in mood * Reduced focus or performance at school or work * Distress or agitation without being able to explain why.

There is no biological test for psychosis, but laboratory tests can rule out other medical problems that might explain the symptoms.

TREATMENTS FOR PSYCHOSIS

Psychosis can be disruptive, but treatment is available to help people manage it. * Antipsychotic drugs Antipsychotic drugs are the main form of treatment for people with a psychotic illness.

Antipsychotics can reduce psychosis symptoms in people with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. However, they do not treat or cure the underlying condition. A person can use these drugs only under supervision of a doctor, as they can have adverse effects. The doctor would also treat any underlying conditions responsible for the psychosis.

Where possible, family support can also help.

Psychosis is one of the key symptoms of schizophrenia, but it has other causes. It can make the individual and those around them anxious, but treatment is available to help manage psychosis in those who are at risk.

It is essential to follow the treatment plan for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions in order to prevent a relapse of symptoms, such as psychosis. Psychosis doesn’t have many medical complications; however, if left untreated, it can be challenging for people experiencing psychosis to take good care of themselves. That could cause other illnesses to go untreated. Most people who experience psychosis would recover with proper treatment. Even in severe cases, medication and therapy can help.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Regional

Bolsonaro: Prison, death or victory Rowley says face-to-face classes for vaccinated only B razilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he sees three alternatives for his future: prison, death or victory in next year’s presidential election.

The right-wing populist leader is trailing left-wing former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the polls.

“I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed or victory,” he told evangelical leaders.

But the former military officer said there was no chance of prison because “no man on Earth will threaten me”.

Bolsonaro was nearly stabbed to death on the campaign trail in 2018. His remarks come amid fierce tensions between him and the country’s Judiciary and election authorities.

The 66-year-old President, who hopes for a second term next year, has been questioning Brazil’s electronic voting system and threatened not to accept the result of next year’s presidential election.

On Wednesday, the head of Brazil’s electoral court in-

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

sisted there was no problem with the voting system.

But at a meeting with Christian leaders on Saturday, Bolsonaro refused to back down in his criticism.

“We have a President who neither desires nor provokes a rupture, but everything has a limit in life. I can’t continue to live with this,” he said.

The President urged the evangelical leaders to join planned nationwide demonstrations on September 7 in support of him.

On Friday, 150 Indigenous people protested in front of his presidential palace ahead of a key Supreme Court ruling on their ancestral lands.

Bolsonaro has backed a roll-back of Indigenous rights, saying they are a block on agricultural expansion.

While grappling with coronavirus, which has killed more than half a million Brazilians, the country is also struggling with high inflation, hunger and unemployment. (BBC)

Migrants in Mexico protest slow asylum system

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undreds of migrants and asylum seekers from Central America and the Caribbean departed the southern Mexican city of Tapachula on Saturday in a caravan headed to the country’s capital, where they hoped to seek expedited asylum proceedings.

The group of about 500 people included families with young children from Haiti, Cuba, Central America and Colombia, a witness told the Reuters news agency.

The caravan comes after days of protests by migrants in Tapachula, who have been demanding their cases be expedited so they could leave the southern

state and relocate to other parts of Mexico or head to the United States border without risking deportation, according to local news reports.

“We can’t survive in Tapachula,” said Carlos Correa, a 31-year-old Colombian man, who said he joined the caravan on Saturday after waiting for three months without receiving a response to his asylum application.

“We are asking the Government of Mexico to please create a humanitarian corridor for us so we can travel to the (US) border,” he said.

Under Mexican law, migrants must remain in the state where they sought asy-

lum until their cases are resolved, a process that can take months or years.

Mexico and the United States have witnessed high levels of migration this year, particularly from Central America, where violence, poverty and a hunger crisis have driven hundreds of thousands to flee.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have conducted more than 1.2 million arrests or expulsions of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the US border since October.

Mexico is facing mounting pressure from Washington to take steps to curtail US-bound immigration. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pope Francis prays for flood victims in Venezuela

P

ope Francis is praying for victims of flooding in the Venezuelan state of Merida.

Following Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his “closeness” to the people of the Venezuelan state of Merida, which has been struck by torrential rains and ensuing landslides.

The tragedy has left at least 17 people dead as a result of the disaster, and more than 20 others are missing. In Merida and neighbouring states, more than 8000 homes have been destroyed. Huge areas of western Venezuela are still being pounded by heavy rain, which could last as long as another 10 days.

Ramon Guevara, the Governor of Merida – which

is suffering the brunt of the disaster – says swollen rivers have overflowed and burst their banks. A prominent member of the Opposition Democratic Party, Guevara is urging that politics be set aside at this time of dire need.

Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, is helping with the Governor’s appeal to establish a coordination centre in the nation’s capital of Caracas for the collection of fresh drinking water, non-perishable food, medical supplies, blankets and clothing, to be swiftly sent to areas where it is needed.

Venezuela’s armed forces have been deployed to help emergency workers cope with the enormous scale of the still-unfolding disaster.

Local or regional funds are

insufficient to help with disaster relief and subsequent rebuilding. Instead, central funds and coffers will have to supply aid.

Television footage and photos from cellular phones show a chocolate-coloured lunar landscape, with onetime streets now raging torrents strewn with huge boulders, and houses flattened and swept aside, while others are upended, teetering on their sides.

Debris can be seen swirling around like wisps of straw and soggy matchwood, with cars being carried along in the torrents like toys.

For now, the number one priority is the search for the missing, and it’s certain that the death toll will rise. (Excerpt from Vatican News)

he Trinidad and Tobago Government on Saturday outlined a two-tier system of education for secondary school children as it expressed disappointment that only 25 per cent of students had been vaccinated ahead of the virtual re-opening of schools on September 6.

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, speaking at a weekly news conference updating the population on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), said that the Government would allow face-to-face classes for students from October 1.

“But that option is going

to be offered to vaccinated children only. And those children who are not vaccinated will get their education at this time by an alternative means which the Ministry of Education will outline in the near future.

“It means we are asking that those students be vaccinated fully, meaning first dose, second dose and two weeks to develop their immunity and today I am asking that we offer these children face-to-face education with the relevant teaching and teachers from the first of October.”

Rowley told reporters that the intention is to fin-

ish the vaccination of children authorised by the parents by September 14.

“It means that this figure of 25 per cent should rise considerably between now and the 14th of September and the other children who have not been positioned for that arrangements will be made, the school term starts virtually for everybody on the sixth of September. So schools are going to start on September 6, but for those who are vaccinated there will be the option of face-to-face classes because they are in that condition”. (Excerpt from CMC)

US airlifts aid to Haiti to reach hardest-hit areas

T

he US military has airlifted food, tarps and other material into southern Haiti amid a shift in the international relief effort to focus on helping people in the areas hardest hit by the recent earthquake to make it through hurricane season.

Aircraft flying out of the capital, Port-au-Prince, arrived throughout the day Saturday in the mostly rural, mountainous southern peninsula that was the epicentre of the August 14 earthquake, the Associated Press reported.

“In Jeremie, people waved and cheered as a Marine Corps unit from North Carolina descended in a tilt-rotor Osprey with pallets of rice, tarps and other supplies.”

Haitian aid workers unload food from a VM-22 Osprey at Jeremie Airport, August 28, 2021, in Jeremie, Haiti (AP)

The earthquake has compounded the problems facing the impoverished nation, which is already reeling from a political crisis following the assassination of its president last month.

Haiti has been hit by a series of natural disas-

ters in the past, including Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

The deadliest was the 2010 earthquake which killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure and economy.

Jamaica loses Reggae icon “Scratch” Perry

E

ntertainment Minister Olivia Grange, on Sunday confirmed the passing of Reggae pioneer, record producer and singer Lee “Scratch” Perry.

In a statement, Grange said that Perry who was a “giant of Jamaican music” died in the Noel Holmes Hospital in the western parish of Hanover.

“I have spoken with his son and other members of the family, and I can confirm the sad news ….his contribution to developing and propelling Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae has been mammoth.

Lee “Scratch” Perry, started as an apprentice to the legendary “Sir Coxone” at Studio 1 in the 1950s and spent the rest of his life helping to develop Jamaican music. In addition to being an outstanding producer and singer, he was also an inspirational figure who helped young singers and musicians to develop their craft.

“I recall his work with Bob Marley. It is said that “Scratch” helped with for-

Lee “Scratch” Perry

mulating Marley’s unique sound. The story is told that “Scratch” gave his “Upsetter” band to Marley and that band later became known as “The Wailers”, ” said Grange.

Some of Lee Perry’s great works with The Wailers have included “Duppy Conqueror”, “Small Axe”, “Rastaman Live Up”, and “Jah Live”.

Lee Perry produced an impressive body of work that charts the evolution of Jamaican music — with more than 000 songs over

60 years. His latest release in 2019 was a 12-track album, “Heavy Rain” that topped the Billboard Reggae Album Charts.

“What a man, what a music, what a life, what a genius! I am incredibly saddened by his passing, but I will continue to celebrate his genius and the body of work he’s given us. I express sincere condolences to his widow, Mireille, his children, his entire family, friends, colleagues and fans across the world who all mourn today,” Grange said. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

19

Around the world

US strikes at Islamic State militants in Kabul as withdrawal nears end Hurricane Ida slams critical US oil port A

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

as it makes landfall

H

urricane Ida made landfall on Sunday as a Category 4 storm near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, lashing critical US oil infrastructure with winds up to 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour).

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), the largest privately-owned crude terminal in the United States, paused deliveries ahead of the storm after forecasts indicated possible impacts to its operational areas.

LOOP's marine terminal is located in open waters about 18 nautical miles (29 km) off the shores of Louisiana, while Port Fourchon is its land base.

The Louisiana port is the only US deep-water terminal capable of offloading super tankers. It handles about 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the country's domestic oil, 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the nation's imports of foreign oil, and is also connected to about half of the US refining capacity, according to the Port Fourchon website. It services 90 per cent of the Gulf of Mexico's deep-water oil production.

As of Sunday, more than 95 per cent of US Gulf of Mexico oil production was suspended, representing about 1.74 million barrels per day of output, according to the offshore regulator.

The Gulf supplies about 17 per cent of the nation's oil.

Ida intensified faster than officials predicted, prompting evacuations along the Gulf Coast and business closures.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Saturday warned it could be the state's worst direct hit since the 1850s.

Other ports in southern Louisiana, including Houma and the Port of New Orleans, were closed on Sunday. In Mississippi, the ports in Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula and the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway were closed.

LOOP was formed in 1972 and became a limited liability company in 1996 as a joint venture between Marathon Pipe Line, Shell Oil Company and a unit of Valero Energy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Singapore vaccinates 80% of population against COVID-19

People older than 70 wait in an observation area after getting a COVID-19 jab at a vaccination centre in Singapore [Edgar Su/ Reuters]

S

ingapore has fully inoculated 80 per cent of its 5.7 million people against COVID-19, according to officials, becoming the world’s most vaccinated country and setting the stage for further easing of curbs.

“We have crossed another milestone, where 80 per cent of our population has received their full regimen of two doses,” Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

“It means Singapore has taken another step forward in making ourselves more resilient to COVID-19.”

That gives the tiny citystate the world’s highest rate of complete vaccinations, according to a tracker by the Reuters news agency.

Other countries that have high vaccination rates include the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Chile, which have fully inoculated more than 70 per cent of their populations.

Singapore, which began its vaccination campaign

in January, relied mostly on the vaccines developed

by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Earlier in August, Ong said if Singapore can “continue to keep the number of severe cases and illnesses under control and our healthcare capacity is not overly stretched,” then the country will further open up its economy and allow social activities and quarantine-free travel to resume.

“Our lives will be more normal, (and our) livelihoods will be better protected,” he said.

Ong, along with two other Ministers, described what the new normal would look like in an article in the Straits Times in June.

They said large gatherings such as the New Year Countdown will resume and “businesses will have certainty that their operations will not be disrupted”.

Singaporeans will also be allowed to travel again, at least to countries that have also controlled the virus.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US drone strike on Sunday hit a suicide bomber in a vehicle who was aiming to attack Kabul airport as US forces worked to complete a withdrawal that will end two decades of military involvement in Afghanistan, US officials said.

The strike was the second by the US military since an Islamic State suicide bomb just outside the airport on Thursday killed 13 US troops and scores of Afghan civilians.

The airport has been the scene of a massive airlift by US and allied forces evacuating their citizens and Afghans desperate to leave a country since the Islamist Taliban took control two weeks ago.

Officials said the

US Marines prepare for the arrival of evacuees from Afghanistan at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, US, August 27, 2021

strike targeted suspected militants from ISIS-K, a local affiliate of Islamic State that is an enemy of both the West and of the Taliban movement that took over the capital on Aug 15 after a lightning offensive.

One US official said it was carried out by an unmanned aircraft piloted from outside Afghanistan, and that secondary explosions following the strike showed the target had been carrying a substantial amount of explosives.

US officials had said they were particularly concerned about the ISIS-K attacking the airport as American troops depart, in particular the threat from rockets and vehicle-borne explosives.

The drone strike took place while remaining civilians waited at the airport to be flown out before the last troops leave, a Western security official told Reuters.

A US official told Reuters on Saturday that fewer than 4000 troops remained.

President Joe Biden has said he will stick by his deadline to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan

by Tuesday. He had said on Saturday that his military chiefs had told him another militant attack was highly likely. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Powerful Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Louisiana

O

fficials in the United States have warned of the “catastrophic” effects of Hurricane Ida, as the Category 4 hurricane brought extreme winds, a dangerous storm surge and flash flooding to the southern state of Louisiana after making landfall there on Sunday.

“We are expecting catastrophic impacts from this,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell said during a news briefing in the afternoon alongside US President Joe Biden.

“We should start to see some of those impacts tonight, but we won’t have the full picture until tomorrow,” Criswell told

reporters from the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC, where Biden was briefed on the situation.

Biden said the storm “continues to rage and ravage everything it comes into contact with” and urged residents in affected areas to listen to instructions from local and state authorities. “The storm is a life-threatening storm,” he said.

Ida made landfall as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, at 11:55am CDT (16:55 GMT) on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, bringing maximum sustained winds of 241 kilometres per hour (150mph).

Rival faction in Philippines' ruling party tries to oust Duterte from chairman role

A

row between rival factions in the Philippines's ruling party escalated on Sunday when a group led by boxing star Emmanuel Pacquiao tried to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from his role as party chairman by electing their own.

Refusing to recognise the decision, Duterte's supporters said he was still chairman and branded the other faction as "pretenders and attention seekers".

Pacquiao, Duterte and their respective supporters have been trying to wrest control of the PDP-Laban party ahead of elections in May by unilaterally electing their own members to leading party roles.

The faction supported by Duterte recently booted out Pacquiao as party president, but Pacquiao has refused to step down.

The two men fell out in June after Pacquiao criticised Duterte's stance on the South

China Sea territorial dispute with China, while the latter lashed back by lambasting the boxer's "shallow" foreign policy knowledge.

Pacquiao and his allies in the party elected Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III as chairman, according to one of his backers, the party's executive director Ron Munsayac.

Duterte's backers refused to acknowledge Pimentel's election.

The head of the Philippines' election commission was cited last week as saying it would have to decide based on documents and the party's Constitution which faction is the legitimate representative of PDP-Laban.

Last week Duterte, who has been in power since 2016, said he would run for the vice presidency in May 2022 elections under the PDP-Laban banner. Under the constitution, a president can serve only one six-year term. (Excerpt from Reuters)

It hit the US Gulf Coast region on the exact date Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi 16 years ago, inundating historically Black neighbourhoods and killing more than 1800 people.

Ida caused a “catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds

and flash flooding in portions of Louisiana” and was expected to remain a hurricane through late Sunday night, the Miami-based NHC said in a later update.

It is moving towards New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as a key industrial corridor. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Yemen war: Drone attack on Government airbase kills 30 soldiers

Soldiers who survived the attack said a hangar was hit by missiles and bomb-laden drones

A

t least 30 pro-Government fighters have been killed in an attack on an airbase in southern Yemen, security and medical sources say.

A spokesman for Yemeni southern forces said al-Anad airbase was targeted with armed drones and missiles.

He blamed the Iranaligned rebel Houthi movement, which is fighting a war against the Saudi-backed Government.

The Houthis have not yet commented on the reports, but they have attacked the same airbase in the past.

Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when the Houthis seized control of large parts of the country and a Saudi-led coalition launched an operation to restore President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's rule.

The fighting has reportedly left more than 130,000 people dead and triggered what the UN says is the world's worst

humanitarian crisis, with 12 million people reliant on food aid and half of children under five facing malnutrition.

A soldier who witnessed what happened at al-Anad on Sunday said he and his comrades were gathered inside a hangar after breakfast when they saw a drone hovering overhead.

"We tried to fire at it and bring it down, but we couldn't hit it," he told AFP news agency. "The craft flew over and headed directly towards the hangar, where it fired two missiles."

Southern forces spokesman Mohammed al-Naqeeb said at least 30 soldiers were killed and 60 others were wounded, many of them critically.

President Hadi expressed condolences to the families of those killed and promised that the Houthis would "pay heavily for all the crimes they have committed against the people of Yemen". (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

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(April 20May 20)

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

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You've got the means to make a difference. Dive in headfirst. Prepare and organize your thoughts and plans.

Do what stimulates your mind, body and soul, and don't look back. Romance is on the rise.

Question anything or anyone that confuses you.

Don't let changes made by others lead you down a rabbit hole. Think and do things for yourself, and you'll excel.

A receptive attitude will put others at ease and encourage talks about sensitive issues. Much can be accomplished if you put thought into how you want things to unfold. Use your intelligence.

Put more thought into how you want to portray what you have to offer. Taking a unique approach will grab attention and quickly provide insight into who is on your side. Now is the time for action.

Get in touch with someone you know you can count on for good advice. Discussions will encourage a working relationship that will benefit everyone involved. Speak from the heart to inspire others.

Spend more time learning and planning the best way to get ahead. A change of pace, beliefs or direction will raise your morale but stifle your free time momentarily. Weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Conversations will be informative and help you realize your potential. Doing the best with what you have will encourage others to try harder. A group effort will turn out well.

Put your thoughts in motion. Listen to suggestions, and don't disregard any expert, friend or older relative.

Having a broad view of what's possible will help you stay in control.

Perk up and enjoy what SAGITTARIUS life has to offer. A positive (Nov. 23attitude will get you the Dec. 21) support you need to follow through with your plans. An opportunity is beneficial only if appropriately handled.

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

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A realistic approach to health, fitness and education will ward off illness and poor judgment. An emotional scene over shared expenses or imbalanced or negative partnerships is best dealt with.

Share ideas with a loved one, and make sure you are on the same page. Once you have a plan in place, it will be easy to implement the changes you want to make.

A financial gain is apparent.

Take a moment to experience what's unfolding around you. Be observant, and you will detect if anyone is trying to outmatch or undermine you. Keep your thoughts secret.

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

21

Max Verstappen declared winner of aborted rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix R

ed Bull's Max Verstappen was declared the winner of a Belgian Grand Prix that lasted two laps behind the safety car. Heavy rain prevented any competitive racing at the SpaFrancorchamps track.

The start was delayed by half an hour before two attempts were made to start the race – with a gap of nearly three hours between them. But conditions were deemed too dangerous and the red flag was flown after two and a half laps behind the safety car.

The result was, therefore, declared from the grid order, with Verstappen ahead of Williams driv-

er George Russell and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

Two laps was enough to award half points, according to the regulations, so Verstappen has cut Hamilton's championship lead to three points.

And Russell has achieved his first podium finish, thanks to a qualifying lap in the wet on Saturday that will go down as one of the greatest in F1 history.

Russell, 23, said: "We don't often get rewarded for great qualifyings, but we absolutely did today.

"It was a shame we did not get the race under way, but, from my side, and the team's side it's an amazing

result.

“The whole team deserve it because there has been so much hard work going into work over the last few years and there has been nothing to show for it, but we absolutely nailed it yesterday."

The initial start was delayed before the cars followed the safety car briefly – only for the track to be declared too wet. Then there was a delay of nearly three hours before the cars again followed the safety car out of the pit lane at 18:17h local time, only to return three laps later.

Verstappen said: "Now, in hindsight, it was very important to get that pole position. It's a shame to not

get proper laps, but the conditions were very tricky.

"At 3.30pm the conditions were decent but the visibility was very low. I think if we'd started at 3pm we would have had a decent chance.

"Big credit to the fans for staying here all day."

Hamilton added: "They knew, at the end, the track wasn't any better and they did it just so they could do two laps and declare a race.

I really hope the fans get their money back.

"You couldn't see even five metres in front of you on the straight. You couldn't even see the flashing light in front of you." (BBC Sport)

Skerritt, Shallow offer full support to Rising Stars U-19s – players receive COVID-19 vaccine

C

CWI President Ricky Skerritt

ricket West Indies (CWI) President Ricky Skerritt and Vice President, Dr Kishore Shallow have offered words of encouragement and support to the members of the West Indies Rising Stars U-19s ahead of their tour of England.

They spoke to the squad via Zoom before their departure for the trip, which will feature six Youth OneDay Internationals (ODIs).

Skerritt also congratulated the players on their selection to the 18-member squad. He also reminded them of their responsibility to represent the people of the West Indies and to be ambassadors for the Region on and off the field.

“We congratulate you on your selection to the West Indies Rising Stars U-19 team for this tour.

You have been chosen to represent the people of West Indies and this is a great honour. This is a stage in your development; we want to assure you that you have our full support as you embark on this stage of your journey,” Skerritt said.

“We want you to work hard, to support each oth-

Matthew Nandu and Isai Thorne are the two Guyanese in the squad

er and always give us your best. You are from different countries, but you are now representing the West Indies and that is the most important thing.”

The West Indies Rising Stars U-19s will be led

by Ackeem Auguste, a left-handed top-order batsman. The Vice Captain is Giovonte Depeiza, a right-handed middle-order batsman who also bowls left-arm spin. The six matches will be played at The County Ground, Beckenham and The Polo Farm, Canterbury from Saturday, September 4 to Friday, September 17. This is part of their preparations for the International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 Cricket World Cup to be hosted by CWI from January 4 to February 3, 2022.

West Indies Rising Stars receive COVID-19 vaccines

Several members of the West Indies Rising Stars U-19s team received their first doses of vaccination against COVID-19 in Antigua, where they have been preparing for their upcoming tour of England. CWI, in partner-

ship with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, through the support of the Ministry of Health and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), secured COVID-19 vaccines for all interested squad members between the ages of 16 and 18 who received parental consent.

CWI continues to support the efforts of regional Governments to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19, with the West Indies Women’s team and West Indies Men’s team having received vaccines in recent months.

In a statement, CARPHA noted: “CARPHA is pleased to have worked with Caricom to execute the United States Government donation of 5.5 million Pfizer vaccines to the Caribbean.

This will facilitate the vaccination of young persons from 12 years of age, which was not possible before.

This is crucial for protecting young people from severe illness and death.”

CWI Chief Medical Officer, Dr Israel Dowlat again offered CWI’s appreciation of the support re-

The Rising Stars are COVID-19 vaccinated

ceived on the vaccinations and their importance to the squad.

“CWI is fully committed to supporting the vaccination drive throughout the Region. We are extremely grateful to have our Governments and CARPHA who have been partnering with us to host cricket safely and to get our squads vaccinated.”

The West Indies Rising Stars U19s will depart for England on Saturday.

(CWI)

West Indies U-19 Rising Stars Squad

Onaje Amory Age: 17 (Right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) Anderson Amurdan Age: 18 (Right-hand opening bat) Ackeem Auguste Age: 17 (Left-hand bat/rightarm leg-spin) Justin Beckford Age: 17 (Right-hand bat/right-arm

off-spin) Teddy Bishop Age: 18 (Right-hand opening bat) Carlon Bowen-Tuckett Age: 17 (Right-hand bat/ wicket-keeper) McKenny Clarke Age: 18 (Right-hand bat/rightarm fast) Rivaldo Clarke Age: 18 (Right-hand bat/wicket-keeper) Giovonte Depeiza Age: 18 (Right-hand bat/leftarm spin) Nathan Edward Age: 16 (Left-hand bat/left-arm fast-medium) Andel Gordon Age: 18 (Right-hand bat/left-arm medium-pace) Sion Hackett Age: 18 (Right-hand bat/right-arm medium-fast) Justin Jagessar Age: 16 (Right-hand bat) Johann Layne Age: 17 (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium) Anderson Mahase Age: 18 (Left-hand bat/left-arm

spin) Matthew Nandu Age:18 (Left-hand bat/right-arm off-spin) Isai Thorne Age: 16 (Right-hand bat/right-arm fast) Vasant Singh Age: 17 (Right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin)

Match Schedule

Saturday, September 4: 1st Youth ODI – Beckenham Monday, September 6: 2nd Youth ODI – Beckenham Wednesday, September 8: 3rd Youth ODI – Beckenham Friday, September 10: 4th Youth ODI – Canterbury Tuesday, September 14: 5th Youth ODI – Canterbury Friday, September 17: 6th Youth ODI – Canterbury

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

St Lucia Kings win thriller against TKR T

he Saint Lucia Kings claimed their first victory of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a thrilling win over the Trinbago Knight Riders by five runs.

Tim David was once again the star for the Kings with 43 from 32 balls that saw his side post 157-5 from their 20 overs.

The Knight Riders looked to take the game deep thanks to a brilliant 40 from 16 balls from Tim Seifert, but the Kings claimed a last-ball win.

The Kings started brightly after being put in to bat with Andre Fletcher and Rahkeem Cornwall putting on 51 for the first wicket. It was Cornwall who went first, when he lobbed a ball from Ravi Rampaul to extra cover.

A burst of three wickets for the addition of just four runs pegged back the Kings and they looked to rebuild. A partnership of 68 between Roston Chase and David brought the Kings back into the match, with Chase playing the an-

hitting took his team tantalisingly close to a victory, but Wahab Riaz successfully defended 14 runs from the final over. (CPL)

SCOREBOARD

St Lucia Kings clinched a thriller over defending champs TKR

chor role to David’s more aggressive approach.

An enterprising stand between Chase and Keemo Paul took the Kings to 1575, with Chase finishing on 30 not out.

The Kings bowlers kept things tight at the start with the Knight Riders

scoring at less than a run a ball inside the powerplay, with Jeavor Royal being particularly impressive with his left-arm spin.

In the face of some excellent bowling, Lendl Simmons and Colin Munro struggled to kick on with Simmons falling to Paul

for 25 from 30 balls. At the fall of Simmons’ wicket, the Knight Riders needed 88 from 43 balls.

When Kieron Pollard fell for 9 from 10 balls it was down to the New Zealand pair of Munro and Seifert to get their side home. Seifert’s brilliant

Kings Innings Rahkeem Cornwall c Webster b Rampaul 23 Andre Fletcher † c & b Hosein 28 Faf du Plessis (c) c & b Rampaul 10 Roston Chase not out 30 Mark Deyal c †Ramdin b Rampaul 0 Tim David c & b Seales 43 Keemo Paul not out 12 Extras (lb 4, w 7) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.85) 157/5 Did not bat: Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Alzarri Joseph, Jeavor Royal Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 5.4 ov), 2-65 (Andre Fletcher, 8.4 ov), 3-69 (Faf du Plessis, 9.2 ov), 4-69 (Mark Deyal, 9.4 ov), 5-137 (Tim David, 17.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jayden Seales 4-0-22-1 Akeal Hosein 4-0-27-1 Sunil Narine 4-0-30-0 Isuru Udana 4-0-45-0 Ravi Rampaul 4-0-29-3

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (TARGET: 158 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Lendl Simmons c Royal b Paul 25 Tion Webster c Wahab Riaz b Chase 18 Colin Munro not out 40 Kieron Pollard (c) c Joseph b Wahab Riaz 9 Tim Seifert not out 40 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 1, w 16) 20 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.60) 152/3 Did not bat: Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin †, Isuru Udana, Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Tion Webster, 5.3 ov), 2-70 (Lendl Simmons, 12.5 ov), 3-102 (Kieron Pollard, 16.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jeavor Royal 4-0-23-0 Wahab Riaz 3-0-17-1 Alzarri Joseph 4-0-33-0 Roston Chase 4-0-17-1 Rahkeem Cornwall 2-0-20-0 Keemo Paul 3-0-39-1

Curtis Dey clinches Touche Kosmetics-Embellisha circuit race – Leung, Sampson, Hamilton, Ridley, Shaw in winners row

Kwame "Keyman" celebrates in style after winning the veterans Under-50 category

Alex Leung receiving his prizes at the ceremony from Touche Kosmetics representative

Story and photos By Brandon Corlette

I

n scintillating sunshine in the capital city, Team Evolution's Curtis "Chappy" Dey took top honours in the feature event

Paul DeNobrega won the sprint for second in the senior category

Embellisha circuit race on the outer circuit of the National Park. Dey, who had a huge lead, rode solo to

Suzanne Hamilton receiving her prizes at the ceremony from Touche Kosmetics representative

of the Touche Kosmetics-

stop the clock in the 15-lap

seniors/open category event, at one hour 29 minutes and five seconds.

He finished ahead of his teammate Paul DeNobrega while the ever-improving Andre "Padlock" Green came third, followed by fellow Berbician Andrew Hicks – all coming home in an exciting bunch sprint.

Christopher Griffith came fifth and Marcus Keiler rode in sixth in the seniors/open category. Green claimed two sprint prizes in the lucrative event while Dey had one followed by Dutch rider Sahadeo, who also had one sprint prize.

Kwame "Keyman" Ridley stopped the clock at one hour one minute and 56 seconds to win the veterans Under-50 followed

by Jaikarran Sukhai and Warren McKay. In the veteran over-50, Talim Shaw rode in first while Ian Jackson, Shameer Baksh and Gary Benjamin came home in that order.

In the juveniles category, We Stand United promising star Alex Leung rode in first, with three sprint prizes followed by Aaron Newton.

Sherwin Sampson was the top junior rider while Flying Ace’s top junior Mario Washington came in second, followed by Berbice's David Hicks, who claimed three sprint prizes. Linden's Suzanne Hamilton continued to reign supreme as she won the female category, and claimed all the sprint prizes on offer, followed by Clevica Spencer.

The race, which was sponsored by Touche Kosmetics/Embellisha, was hailed as a huge success. The Guyana Cycling

Federation (GCF) expressed gratitude to the National COVID-19 Task-Force and the sponsors, along with the Guyana Police Force who played an integral role.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rutherford wins it for Patriots as Warriors suffer bowling meltdown

S

t Kitts and Nevis Patriots maintained their unbeaten start to the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dramatic six-wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The Amazon Warriors

23 Dutchman Paul van Meekeren had two wickets

chored the innings allowing Hetmyer to play his natural game.

The pair put on a 101run partnership from 67 deliveries, but both fell in successive balls in the 18th over. Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King then scram-

t h e opening

f r o m Patriots game,

Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo, forged another match-winning partnership to bring the Patriots to the verge of victory.

Bravo was dismissed with 18 runs still needed, but Rutherford made light work of the equation with his second 50 of the tournament to seal a memorable win. (CPL) Patriots have won all three matches thus far

bled some late runs to ensure the Amazon Warriors posted their highest score of the tournament so far.

A target of 167 looked a hard task, but the Patriots openers Evin Lewis and Devon Thomas laid the foundation for the chase

with an opening stand of 69.

The introduction of Imran Tahir proved crucial for the Amazon Warriors as he removed both openers to swing the game back in their favour.

However, the heroes

Shimron Hetmyer made another 50

won the toss and opted to bat first and posted a very challenging 166-3 buttressed by a sparkling partnership between Mohammed Hafeez and Shimron Hetmyer.

In reply, the Patriots fired once more with the bat, to chase down the target, led by Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 59 from 34 balls. The Amazon Warriors had paced their innings superbly and they had Hafeez to thank, his 70 runs from 59 balls an-

SCOREBOARD Warriors Innings Mohammad Hafeez c Rutherford b van Meekeren 70 Chandrapaul Hemraj c Rutherford b Allen 14 Shimron Hetmyer c Allen b van Meekeren 52 Nicholas Pooran (c) not out 11 Brandon King not out 6 Extras (lb 7, w 6) 13 TOTAL ( 20 Ov, RR: 8.30) 166/3 Did not bat: Shoaib Malik, Anthony Bramble †, Odean Smith, Naveen-ul-Haq, Imran Tahir, Nial Smith Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Chandrapaul Hemraj, 6.3 ov), 2-148 (Shimron Hetmyer, 17.4 ov), 3-148 (Mohammad Hafeez, 17.5 ov) BOWLING O -M- R-W Jon-Russ Jaggesar 3-0 -18-0 Paul van Meekeren 4-0 -23-2 Dominic Drakes 4-0-32-0 Fabian Allen 3-0-31-1 Fawad Ahmed 2-0 -17-0 Dwayne Bravo 4-0 -38-0

Imran Tahir bowled well for Warriors

T

ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS INNINGS (TARGET: 167 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Devon Thomas b Imran Tahir 31 Evin Lewis c Hetmyer b Imran Tahir 30 Asif Ali c †Bramble b OF Smith 2 Sherfane Rutherford not out 59 Dwayne Bravo (c) c Pooran b Naveen-ul-Haq 22 Fabian Allen not out 4 Extras (b 4, lb 3, w 13) 20 TOTAL (19.2 Ov, RR: 8.68) 168/4 Did not bat: Joshua Da Silva †, Dominic Drakes, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Paul van Meekeren, Fawad Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Evin Lewis, 8.6 ov), 2-73 (Asif Ali, 9.4 ov), 3-77 (Devon Thomas, 10.5 ov), 4-149 (Dwayne Bravo, 18.3 ov) BOWLING O -M-R -W Nial Smith 2-0 -25-0 Mohammad Hafeez 4-0 -25-0 Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-43-1 Odean Smith 3.2-0-30-1 Imran Tahir 4-0-26-2 Shoaib Malik 2-0-12-0

Tristar’s Kris Persaud and the Tallawahs in high spirits at the start of the CPL

he Jamaica Tallawahs, owned by Kris Persaud, started their Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season with a record-setting 120-run win over St Lucia Kings. Led by a breathtaking, unbeaten half-century, off just 14 balls from Andre Russell, the Tallawahs posted an unassailable score of 255 for 5.

The Kings were bowled out for a mere 135 runs, after just 17.5 overs.

The second outing of the Tallawahs on Sunday fell just short of victory over the Barbados Royals, but the team remained buoyed by their impressive start to the League, with owner Kris Persaud feeling quite optimistic about the tremendous display

by his team and the future in general. Persaud could hardly contain his excitement: “I am really proud of the way the team performed. They have given a sign of even bigger things to come!”

When talk of creating the CPL first emerged, while many were sceptical about the viability of a startup cricket league, Persaud seized the chance to become a franchise owner.

This successful Guyanese-American businessman has married his passion for the game of cricket with his deep passion for the Caribbean and his home country Guyana and is about to bring his Midas touch to Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil and gas industry.

Persaud’s latest venture, the West Demerara Shore Base (WDSB), will be the newest shore base in Guyana. It is being established by Tristar Inc, a company wholly owned by Persaud. The project is a bold venture that will be a game changer of Guyanese shore

Kris Persaud

base services and the lives of the people of the West Bank.

The WDSB is a 70-acre, sixberth facility being built at a cost of US$200 million. It will support the operations of oil and gas companies operating in Guyana’s waters.

With exploration and development activity in offshore Guyana ramping up, there will be an increased need

for more shore base services that meet international standards.

The project has already received all regulatory approvals and construction will commence shortly, in keeping with the requirements of the oil industry and will be operated in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 as well as ISPS standards.

Conscious of its social responsibility, Tristar is also working closely with the Government of Guyana, as well as environmental stakeholders, to minimise the project’s environmental impact, particularly on the country’s mangroves.

Savouring the success of his Jamaica Tallawahs, Persaud said: “Cricket teaches us the importance of putting together the right team; that’s what we’ve done with the Tallawahs and now with Tristar and the WDSB we have assembled a winning team, and that’s why I’m confident this project will be also a huge success.”

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

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

Pg 23

Pg 22

Curtis Dey clinches Touche Kosmetics-Embellisha circuit race Skerritt, Shallow offer full – Leung, Sampson, Hamilton, Ridley, Shaw in winners row

support to Rising Stars U-19s – players receive COVID-19 vaccine

Page 21

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