Guyana Times -- Monday December 14, 2020

P Guyanese urged to participate in ERC's National Conversation

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

Issue No. 4499

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

Govt launches childcare subsidy for essential workers Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

6-year-old accidentally drinks mentallyill grandmother’s medication P13 …goes berserk, CCPA launches probe

5 homeless after fire razes NA home

…as part of comprehensive COVID-19 relief measures

Greater regional cooperation needed to fight COVID, economic fallout – PM

…says must press for vaccines to be accessible for everyone

Delivery man robbed of motorcycle P14 Page 3

Fishing expedition turns into tragedy

Jealous Bartica man burns wife, children to death

Page 15

…teen missing, feared drowned

Berbice cyclist killed by speeding minibus Page 7

Page 2

Carolina Kennedy and her two daughters, Gabriella Kennedy and Mariana Downer who died in the fire

ExxonMobil, Petronas strike oil offshore Suriname in 15,000 ft well

P10

Page 11

…find adds to “high value” discoveries offshore Guyana – executive

79-year-old man P15 is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 death …41 new cases recorded Appointment of Chancellor, CJ

P16

Constitutional amendment may need to be reviewed – AG Nandlall …regrettable top judicial positions not substantively filled

Arakaka man P13 confesses to arson attempt on Police outpost

Dead robbery P10 suspect identified as Annandale man

2 NEWS Jealous Bartica man burns wife, children to death MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The wooden Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Potaro Road house on fire (Bartica Newsletter photo)

A

mother and her two daughters, aged three and five, perished in a fire at Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Potaro Road, Region Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Saturday, after her reputed husband and the father of her two children set their house ablaze.

Dead are Carolina

Kennedy, 48, a housewife, and her two daughters, Mariana Downer, five, and Gabriella Kennedy, three, all of Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Potaro Road.

Reports are the man allegedly heard his reputed wife on the phone speaking with a male and became enraged.

Police on Sunday said at about 21:30h on Saturday evening, an unknown caller contacted the Bartica Police Station and reported a fire at the couple’s home.

As a result, the lawmen and the Guyana Fire Service responded but upon arrival, they saw the wooden structure completely engulfed in flames.

“The water tender was unable to reach to its location and as such a buck-

et brigade was formed,” the Police said.

When the fire was extinguished, what appeared to be the charred remains of three humans was found in the southeastern corner of where the house stood, Police said.

The bodies of the victims were subsequently removed from the scene and taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary.

Based on information received a search was launched for the suspect and he was found in the bushes in close proximity to the house.

He was immediately arrested and escorted to the Bartica Hospital where he is presently admitted for minor burns to his feet.

Investigations are still ongoing.

Carolina Kennedy and her two daughters, Gabriella Kennedy and Mariana Downer who died in the fire

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post on Sunday, Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall expressed sadness about the incident.

He said: “What I witnessed was beyond comprehension. Little Mariana Downer 5yrs and her sister 3 yr old Gabriella Kennedy did not deserve to die the way they did. Their mom Caroline Kennedy, I'm cer-

tain was looking forward to spending the holidays with her dear daughters. Like Mariana and Gabriella, she did not deserve to die in that tragic manner. It is cruel and heartless to kill your spouse, but a father who kills his daughters, is not human. Our prayers are with the relatives, friends and the entire Four Miles community.” (G9)

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 14 – 03:00h – 04:30h and Tuesday, December 15 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 14 – 17:00h – 17:30h and Tuesday, December 15 – 16:35h – 18:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail during the day. There will be thundery showers and partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Easterly to East South-Easterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Easterly to North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 16:11h reaching a maximum height of 2.83 metres.

Low Tide: 09:45h and 22:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.56 metre and 0.37 metre.

Greater regional cooperation needed to fight COVID, economic fallout – PM

…says must press for vaccines to be accessible for everyone

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he virtual Heads of State forum for the Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR) currently underway saw contributions from Guyana, with Prime Minister Mark Phillips urging greater regional collaboration to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retired Brigadier Phillips, who is representing President Dr Irfaan Ali, reminded that the current COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption in social systems and economies across the world. To overcome it, it will be necessary for South American countries to redirect their finances to support local health sectors.

“This means that there must be sustained advocacy for greater access to financing from international financial institutions for the building of more resilient economies. We must also continue to press for the recognition of the vaccines against this virus to be a global public good – vaccines that would be accessible to all our peoples,” Phillips said.

The Prime Minister also hailed the platform offered

by PROSUR, as it allows South American leaders an opportunity to work together for the greater good and to consolidate their collec-

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Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips

tive efforts.

“We have in PROSUR, a mechanism that can provide us with the opportunity to consolidate our efforts to combat not only this problem, but other issues which pose a challenge to the development of our continent – in particular migration, crime and security and climate change.”

PROSUR was launched in 2019 following division amongst Member States of the Union of South American

Nations (UNASUR). The regional mechanism provides a platform for the integration of South America through dialogue, coordination, and regional cooperation among the body’s eight Member States: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay.

On March 22, 2019, during a meeting in Santiago, Chile, the Governments of Guyana, Argentina,

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru signed the Presidential Declaration on the Renewal and Strengthening of the Integration of South America (Santiago Declaration).

The declaration affirmed the will of the representative countries to “consolidate a regional space of coordination and cooperation, without exclusions, to move towards more effective integration… progress and development of the countries of South America.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Colombia’s Ivan Duque had led the push for the new political grouping after more than half the members of the previous regional bloc, UNASUR, left in 2018, saying it had failed to take action on Venezuela.

The old group, UNASUR was created in 2008 when the leftist populism advocated by late former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was at its strongest in South America. (G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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

Background on Ethnic Conversation

I

n Guyana, the various ethnic groups – Portuguese, Indians and Chinese – with the exception of the Amerindians were brought by the Whites from all parts of the world to replace the Africans after the abolition of slavery in 1834.

Separated chronologically to a great extent, they were segregated into separate economic and geographical niches with profound and lasting consequences for their future relationships. While the separation may have prevented sustained contact and possible clashes, it further reinforced the initial cleavages of race/ethnicity, language, religion and culture to demarcate social boundaries, which were distinct and have proven long lasting.

At the end of indentureship in 1917, the society was vertically stratified, with ethnicity and class coinciding in a given stratum. The Whites were at the apex followed in descending order by the Coloureds, Portuguese, Chinese, Africans, East Indians and Amerindians. It was almost the paradigmatic structural hierarchical plural society, with the ethnic groups differentially integrated into the power structure. This differential integration provided dynamism for change as each group tried to improve their position. It was not difficult to foresee that “culture” would become a stalking horse for “power”.

Guyanese politics, like all politics, is rooted in the structure of the society and the rules of the political game. The nature of the “faction” influences the political culture; political competition and any political conflict. Unfortunately, the nature of the salient cleavage continues to be a contested topic in Guyana. While most countries are multicultural, and the cultural differences may be the most common axis of differentiation and even political cleavage between the groups, the societies do not all inevitably become as divided as Guyana and a number of other countries have become. In fact, they have earned themselves a special name in political science: deeply divided societies. The major variables in determining the difference in the intensity of the politics and whether the conflict may become undemocratic in multiethnic societies have been the rules of political competition, the relative sizes of the groups, the resources at their disposal, and the strategies of their leaders.

In a word, before any attempt to craft a stable democracy in Guyana, an appreciation of the nature of the social groups in Guyana is essential to evaluate the claims of our politicians as to the nature of the social cleavage that is most pertinent in structuring our political competition and participation.

If the competitors for political power do not share a common framework for conceptualising their struggle, they would simply be talking past each other in any attempt at reconciliation. It is a commonplace view that political mobilisation is always done along some actual or potential fault-line, which creates political factions in every society.

In Guyana, as mentioned earlier, the cultural differences and origins (ethnicity) co-joined with “race” evolved as the most pertinent marker for political mobilisation and in Guyana, the terms are used interchangeably. In his seminal work, Fredrik Barth argued that the defining feature of an ethnic group is not the particular elements of culture or kinship that differentiate it from other groups, but the mere fact that boundaries are perceived and persist. The membership criteria and the membership itself tend to change over time as people come and go and invent or develop new traditions and ways of life, but the group itself nevertheless endures as a way of structuring social life. This is a very important point in Guyana where some observers have pointed out that all the groups here share so many cultural features in common – especially language, we should not speak of Guyana as “multicultural”.

In a world of scarce resources and all-pervasive governments, ethnic political entrepreneurs do not find it difficult to persuade fellow group members that their social, economic and identity interests are better served if their group controls the State – that is if they unite their political interests. The affirmation of themselves as a people and the economic interest served mutually reinforce each other.

The National Conversation must not be facile.

First Lady Arya Ali chats with a child while distributing Christmas presents at the Jesus Home of Prayer & Praise: New Beginnings Church in Albouystown, Georgetown (Office of the First Lady photo)

Guyana: Oil and the rites of passage to a brighter future

Dear Editor, Many equate oil and gas with wealth, and for good reasons. Oil, along with its sister coal, has been the primary source of energy for the rapid industrialisation that occurred in the twentieth century. This dominance, especially from the point of view of oil, is likely to continue way into the 21st century as we can see from the feverish search by industrialised nations for untapped sources of these precious resources, even as the focus on alternative sources of energy becomes more pronounced.

Developing countries are as intent on accessing oil and gas as the bigger and more powerful economies are.

The strong nexus between oil and economic development cannot be denied. No one has underscored the importance of oil as the writer who a decade or so ago said, “Oil is the linchpin for modern prosperity”.

This assertion essentially means that the discovery of oil in Guyana should enable the transition from an economically impoverished country to one that will see a marked improvement in citizens’ standards of living.

In fact, citizens are already talking about transformations that go well beyond simply improving their standards of living. They have begun to envisage a future that is akin to the standards of living of oil-rich nations, fully aware that the fulcrum of those countries’ enormous prosperity has been the abundance of oil

and gas. In this regard, no place comes into focus more than Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates that is known “for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightly scene.” In forecasting Guyana’s future, the phrase “next Dubai” seems to be on everyone’s mind.

Surreal as the expression “the next Dubai” is, local citizens, as well as those in the diaspora, seem certain that the Dubai trajectory is where Guyana is heading to. Far-fetched as this expectation seems, citizens do have a right, both from a logical and instinctive point of view, to expect a brighter future based on the massive oil and gas reserves that the country has - if nothing else. Guyana is ranked among the top 20 countries in terms of oil and gas reserves, meaning that it is not implausible to imagine the future of Guyana in those terms. Before the discovery of oil and the dazzling splendour that we see today, Dubai “was mostly inhabited by Bedouins, who were engaged in the cultivation of dates, breeding of camels and goats.” Today, Dubai is a major economic hub in the region. Dubai has become so transformed by the discovery of oil and gas that people from everywhere visit it for business, entertainment, sports and other purposes.

The major natural resources that Dubai has are oil and gas, albeit in huge amounts. Little of other natural resources exist. Yet

Dubai is seen as the epitome of economic success and modernity. In a sense, Dubai has become the envy of the world with one of the highest standards of living.

In contrast, countries such as Papua New Guinea, also blessed with an abundance of oil and gas, lag miserably in economic development.

In fact, about 40 per cent of the population of Papua New Guinea lives in poverty despite billions that the resources of oil and gas resources have raked in for the country since the 1990s.

But the greatest paradox in this regard is Venezuela.

Once considered the richest country in South America due to its large reserve of oil and gas, Venezuela today is merely a shadow of its former self. Poverty is so pervasive that hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have been forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries to obtain food, medicine, work and other essential things.

Why have the outcomes been so starkly different when it is an axiomatic truth that oil and gas have produced billions of dollars for the producing countries?

The irrefutable explanation is ubiquitous corruption or mismanagement or a conflation of both on the part of some leaders on the one hand; and on the other hand, the deep belief in the primacy of oil and gas to nation-building on the part of other leaders.

Some leaders see oil and gas as a path to personal richness and as a gateway

to self-aggrandisement.

These corrupt practices are so egregious that the common people barely get any benefit from the enormous revenues generated by oil and gas. Pocketing most of the proceeds from oil and gas stymies opportunities of many citizens to be able to live a life that is commensurate with the abundance of these resources. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are leaders who consider oil and gas as the focal point of national development. Oil revenues are not siphoned off to benefit only a few. They are instead used for infrastructure, for education, for health, for research and for other developmental needs, all of which will decidedly enhance the well-being of citizens.

Guyana is poised to take off on the backbone of oil and gas, and it can learn a lot from the scenarios discussed above. If oil and gas are to serve as the linchpin for prosperity in Guyana, there must be great oversight over how these resources are managed. Oversight means putting programmes and mechanisms in place to block accountability loopholes, among other things. This will have the effect of precluding the potential misuse and abuse of these resources for selfish purposes.

In this way, the transition from oil and gas that Guyanese hope for will become a reality.

Sincerely, Sheik M Ayube

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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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

Supporting genuine inter-party dialogue, Rediscovering but must be based upon right foundation a professional, politically-neutral public service Dear Editor, The leaders of PNC/APNU have been saying that the new PPP/C Administration, since it assumed office after winning the last elections, dismissed scores of public servants. The PPP/C pointed out that they have dismissed no public servants since they have no authority to do so, that authority being with the Public Service Commission.

Unlike the public servant who serves the country, the political appointee serves his political party. Accordingly, PPP/C Government did not renew the contracts of political appointees who should, in any case, have demitted office, and had dismissed politically appointed persons who were either corrupt or were in sinecures.

Many PNC/APNU politicians seem to confuse political appointees with public servants as for instance when there was a change of Government, Mr

Harmon still felt he was employed by the new President.

It seems that Mr Harmon and Mr Granger would wish to have a non-political public service like in England where public servants would have no fear that anyone will dismiss them on change of Government.

To achieve this, both Government and Opposition should meet and agree to adopt the recommendations of the Commission on the reform of the public service which was chaired by Professor Harold Lutchman and presented to the then Government in May 2016.

The recommendations of the Commission would result in a professional, neutral, politically impartial and efficient public service. The salaries of public servants should be higher than the Private Sector and allow for career service.

Yours sincerely, Paul Validum Ramlochan

Let us continue to respect our symbols of nationhood

Dear Editor, It was with great pleasure that I recently saw a report and pictures in the print media in relation to the historic signing of the open-air services agreement between Guyana and Suriname. I was delighted to note that the flag of Guyana was positioned in its rightful place, that is to say, it was on the right of the flag of our eastern neighbour. This was reflected in photographs taken in and out of the Pegasus Hotel. It was a vast contrast of what took place a few months ago at Moleson Creek during a ceremony for the proposed

construction of the GuyanaSuriname river bridge across the Corentyne River, where images emerged showing the Golden Arrowhead incorrectly flying on the left of the flag of Suriname which I alluded to in a letter to the editor.

Cheers. Congratulations to those who got it right this time. Let us continue to respect our symbols of nationhood.

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

“P

lant in the tender hearts of children, the seeds of love, sympathy, truth, justice, charity, c o m p a s s i o n , repentance and selfcontrol. That is the prime duty of all who deal with children.

When the father asks the child to tell someone at the door that he is not at home, or when the son asks his brother to reply to a phone call, saying he has gone out, the vice of dishonesty is implanted in the child. Do not burden the tender brains with all kinds of lumber, information that can never be put to use, facts that warp and twist the truth, and so on. Teach them only as much as they can use beneficially and as much as can be of direct help to them in their lives. Train their character more than their brains. The parents first and foremost, teachers next, comrades, playmates and companions next, and the various levels of society later - these shape the character of the children, and the destiny of the country!” (Divine Discourse, Jan 19, 1969)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

Dear Editor, I feel compelled to respond to Mr Raphael Trotman’s letter “What Comes After,” in which he raises several issues on the need for constructive dialogue between the PNCR coalition and the PPP/C. While I share his view of engagement, I do not subscribe to his line of arguments or reasoning. He mentioned, for example, that the AFC had “forcefully brought attention to the dire consequences of the “political ethnicisation” campaign that the Irfaan Ali-led Administration has embarked on since August.” A top PPP/C Government official rejected this vulgar mischaracterisation of the PPP/C’s action, and wonders how could they engage the opposition in moving the country forward with such distorted information that is designed to foment tension and conflict.

Such reckless comments are not conducive to positive engagement. The reality is that the PPP/C Government has been exercising its rights, but in a measured way, as all new governments of western democracies, to appoint its own political and contract workers and technical advisors. Many of those slots were occupied by PNCR/AFC operatives and the incumbents know that they had to vacate office when a new Government occupies office. I wonder if Mr Trotman is influenced by the incendiary rhetoric of Mr Rickford Burke, who stated erroneously that the PPP/C fired 1021 of their supporters? A top Government source expressed shock at this pronouncement and said that less than 300 workers were terminated. In contrast, the PNCR-led Government terminated over 9000 workers

(6000 Indo-Guyanese sugar workers, 1972 Amerindian CSOs and hundreds of IndoGuyanese public servants and other non-Indo-Guyanese who were thought to be PPP/C supporters.

Why did Mr Trotman support those massive firings?

Did he ever view those dismissals as a “political ethnicisation” that was carried out by his coalition Government?

Mr Trotman laments; “tens of thousands of supporters of the APNU and AFC continue to feel uninvited to participate, equally and unconditionally,” in governance and that this apparent deficiency undermines the PPP/C’s legitimacy. Well, it is interesting to know if Mr Trotman believes that the PPP/C supporters had similar feelings when they (PPP/C) were in the Opposition? Even though the PPP/C identified electoral irregularities and filed an election petition, they eventually conceded that the APNU/AFC won the 2015 elections and recognised their legitimacy to govern until December 2018 when the NCM was passed.

It would have been nice if Mr Trotman had addressed the over-bureaucratisation of the public service during their term in office (2015-2020).

They expanded the public service workers’ roll by 10,000, with many of those workers having nothing much to do, while many “others were doing PNCR party work.” Numerous instances of these aberrations have been documented in the Guyana press, Feeling entrenched in office, Mr Trotman lashed out at Opposition Leader Mr Jagdeo at a parliamentary sitting in June 2017, saying that he (Jagdeo) was a “waste and relic that presided over a

Government riddled with drug trafficking and wastage of millions of dollars.” This caustic statement has returned to haunt Mr Trotman as Mr Jagdeo and his party was returned to Government in 2020. In relation to Trotman’s allegation of “wastage of millions,” he has been accused of causing Guyana to lose US$55 billion in a lopsided Exxon contract deal. Nevertheless, what is interesting is that when Mr Trotman’s party was in office, they didn’t show any eagerness to pursue meaningful engagement with the Opposition. Instead, they made empty calls for talks and identified Mr Moses Nagamootoo as their team leader. Mr Trotman asserted that they have an “honest interlocutor,” in the person of Joseph Harmon, but herein lies a dilemma: Mr Harmon said publicly that he does not recognise the PPP/C Government as legitimate.

To complicate the issue, Mr Trotman’s colleague Mr Khemraj Ramjattan has now emerged with a preposterous suggestion that President Irfaan Ali should produce his first-degree certificate before there is any dialogue with the coalition. This is like the Tower of Babel. Mr Trotman states one position (dialogue must not have pre-conditions set), while Mr Granger and Mr Ramjattan take another position (setting out pre-conditions).

Mr Trotman posited, “one Government, or one party alone, cannot effectively rule Guyana.” This statement, however, applies only to PNCR. Despite the PNCR’s declared position to make the country ungovernable and the recent call for a revolution, the PPP/C’s governance

credentials, according to pollster Dr Vishnu Bisram, are formidable. The electorate which includes all constituencies and where no ethnic group forms a majority, voted for a party to govern the country and not for power-sharing.

This WTA system is no different from other Caribbean and Commonwealth countries.

There has not been a sustained call for inclusive governance in any of those states, and there is no convincing evidence that power-sharing will lead to better results.

Mr Trotman said inclusive governance (IG) is a requirement of the Constitution, but he did not define this concept. As part of IG, the PPP/C has already established Parliamentary Sectoral Committees, Constitutional Commissions, among others. I believe that IG for him really means executive power-sharing at Cabinet level, including the rotation of the presidency between the major political parties. Does Mr Trotman also want Opposition representation on State Boards?

The PNCR supporters already occupy all layers of the public service bureaucracy, except the Cabinet-level and statutory Boards. Perhaps Mr Trotman should have a look at a federal system as advocated by Ravi Devi, Dr Ramnesh Gampat, and Dr Baytoram Ramharack to produce a system based on fair representative governance and equity. Most Guyanese agree with the need for constitutional reform, of which power-sharing should be integral. I support genuine inter-party dialogue but this must be based upon the right foundation.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

A

quadrilateral is a 2-dimensional figure with four sides – and four angles. The following are the main types of quadrilaterals

Exercises: Identify: Determine the type of quadrilateral

Friday’s answers i) ii) iii) iv) v)

M

olas are cloth panels that form part of a blouse for the Kuna women of Panama. They use a quilting technique called reverse appliqué to create the design formalisers of fabric. A Mola is a fabric panel with colourful strips sewn in.

How to make Papercut Molas

Start your drawings by drawing the main body or

largest shape first onto a piece of 12? x 18? white paper using a black marker.

Use markers or crayons for colouring. It really helps to trace around a shape and then colour slowly; giving ample time for the ink to flow onto the paper. After the image is coloured, cut it out.

Glue coloured pieces onto black construction paper and glue strips of paper along the borders. (Adapted from deepspacesparkle.com)

Scalene triangle Isosceles triangle Equilateral triangle Scalene triangle Isosceles triangle

T

here was once a dog who was so ill-natured and mischievous that his master had to fasten a heavy wooden clog about his neck to keep him from annoying visitors and neighbours. But the dog seemed to be very proud of the clog and dragged it about noisily as if he wished to attract everybody's attention.

He was not able to impress anyone.

"You would be wiser," said an old acquaintance, "to keep quietly out of sight with that clog. Do you want everybody to know what a disgraceful and ill-natured dog you are?"

WORD SEARCH

7 Govt launches childcare subsidy for essential workers NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…as part of comprehensive COVID-19 relief measures

T

he Government, through the Human Services Ministry, has launched a childcare subsidy for essential workers.

Frontline workers who are providing an essential service or key public services during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply to the Ministry for the subsidy programme.

This latest subsidy is among a slew of measures announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali geared towards easing the burden of Guyanese as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among some of the measures announced by the Head of State are agreements with the local banking sector to extend the moratorium on loan payments until this year end and to cut interest rates. This means that customers with mortgages and other loans will be spared the financial burden of servicing these loans during the pandemic. In addition, their loans will not be classified as non-performing, ensuring that they do not default.

“Commercial banks have agreed to waive all bank charges, including ATM and

President Irfaan Ali

Merchant Bank charges to encourage more out-ofbank transactions, as well as charges for transactions by senior citizens,” President Ali had previously said.

Additionally, the Bank of Guyana will relax certain requirements that will allow banks to cushion their losses and increase liquidity by $9.4 billion. These requirements are set out in the 13 guidelines that the Bank uses to regulate financial institutions.

The President also announced that commercial banks agreed to continue supporting businesses with short-term capital needs.

This will allow the businesses to meet payroll, remain open, and keep their staff em-

ployed during the tough economic times accompanying COVID-19. It is also something the Private Sector had called for, since COVID-19 had resulted in reduced demand for certain goods and services. Additionally, all Guyanese households are receiving a $25,000 cash grant as COVID-19 relief with frontline workers also receiving an added risk allowance.

Food hampers, Personal Protective equipment among other measures have since been distributed by the Government.

Meanwhile, in a release on Sunday, the Human Services Ministry stated that the childcare subsidy programme would assist essential workers who have chil-

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Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

financial crisis. We’ve certainly all been impacted, but none more so than our essential workers who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. Many of these workers have to balance their jobs, maintain a household and oftentimes have to cover childcare expenses or find a safe place to leave

their children,” Minister Persaud noted.

The detailed application form, which includes the criteria for eligibility, can be downloaded from the Ministry’s website: https://form.jotform. com/203022779944056.

A hard-copy version of the application form will be available at the Ministry’s Lamaha or Cornhill and Water Streets locations, at the Child Care and Protection Agency on Broad Street or any Probation Offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

Throughout the programme, the Ministry will make direct payments for services, per term, to the childcare facilities.

Berbice cyclist killed by speeding minibus

COMMODITIES Indicators

dren aged seven and under.

Categories of groups that qualify include members of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service; frontline health workers; human services workers; domestic workers; security firm workers and supermarket employees.

According to Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, the programme is “an all-rounded approach to not only facilitate daycare subsidy for essential workers but to improve the conditions of the 224 registered daycare centres nationwide ensuring they open safely under the COVID-19 guidelines”.

“The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented health and

Dead: Purshotam Tilak

A

peddle cyclist is now dead after being hit by a minibus on the Corentyne Highway at Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Sunday morning.

Dead is 39-yearold Purshotam Tilak called “Navin” of Lot 125 Albert Street, Kingston, Corriverton.

Reports are that Tilak was riding a bicycle coming out of Albert Street onto the Corentyne Highway when he was struck down.

According to one eyewitness, the minibus was travelling at a fast rate of speed at the time.

“I hear the impact; ‘bam’ and I see the man skate… and he [was] bleeding heavy, if he pitch so far it means that the bus was coming with a rate,” Ranjit Ramsundar said while noting that even though the bus was in a township, it was driving at a fast rate at the

The accident scene showing where the minibus stopped and where Tilak was picked up from

time of the accident.

Other eyewitnesses said the driver claimed that he was late for a cricket game.

However, they did not say where the game was being played or if the driver was supposed to be playing in the game.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s mother, 58-year-old

Chitranie Samlall called “Mala” said her son had left to purchase pine tarts when he was hit by the speeding minibus.

She described the 39-year-old man as always willing, noting that he was always there for her and the rest of their family.

TURN TO PAGE 10

8 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Driver nabbed with over 50kg ganja by CANU

R

anks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Thursday discovered over 50 kilograms of cannabis in a hire car at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to a statement from CANU, officers were conducting a narcotics operation in Moleson Creek, when they intercepted motor car HC 9071.

At the time, there were two occupants in the vehicle – the driver and a young male passenger.

The ranks conducted a search on the car in the presence of the two occupants and several parcels of cannabis were found in the vehicle.

When subsequently weighed, the narcotics amounted to 50.664 kilograms.

The driver, who has since been identified as a 33-year-old man of Line Path

Spinning spiels...

Y The narcotics found

C, Corentyne, and the young passenger have both been taken into custody.

Investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

CANU will continue to conduct

narcotics operations in all regions of Guyana in keeping with its mandate.

(G8)

...for survival our Eyewitness returns to Raphael Trotman’s 1260word novella-as-letter-to-the-press, “What comes after”, in which he attempts a statesmanlike pose by calling for “dialogue between the major stakeholders”.

He should’ve taken a cue from a real-deal statesman Abraham Lincoln, whose “Gettysburg Address” clocked in at 272 words. And could’ve been shorter without rhetorical flourishes like “four score and seven years ago” rather than the more prosaic “47 years ago”!

But then Lincoln was known as “Honest Abe” while Trotman, whose hero is Forbes Burnham, is called “Treacherous Trotman” by those who’ve followed his serial betrayals as he tried to crawl up the political dung hill that’s the PNC. The AFC? Naah...that was just another con, funded by the Yanks – after he hit a wall named Corbin while slithering to succeed Hoyte! His heart always remained with the PNC – as was confirmed

by Granger’s cryptic utterance to him: “Nassau”!

So it’s the height of cynicism for Trotman to say, “the difference between the two Leviathans is razor-thin, which means, that no side has a clear and commanding mandate to govern for all. This reality has not changed in over 50 years and is highly unlikely to, in the next five.” Wasn’t it HIS AFC that carved out an 11% chunk of swing voters in 2011? This heralded a new reality that with all groups now minorities, any party winning over 50% of the votes would have significant support across the board.

Wasn’t it this reality that catapulted the APNU/ AFC coalition into power in 2015? And was declared so “inclusive” that the promised shared government with the PPP had become moot? If Trotman really wants to be seen as a statesman – and earn a seat at the table again – he should confess how he and his pal Ramjattan betrayed their idealistic supporters by supporting Granger’s attempted destruction of our fledgling multiracial democracy.

Then there’s Trotman’s blaming the new Ali Administration for the “ethnicisation” of the State.

Wasn’t it Treacherous Trotman himself who betrayed his proclivity for ethnicisation when he chose one Chantelle Smith as an AFC MP over Gomattie Singh, who’d laboured in the trenches for AFC’s Essequibo votes? Or when the AFC put forward Nagamootoo for the Speaker in 2011 and Granger instead chose he, Trotman, for the position?

Or how about the 16 out of 17 Permanent Secretaries selected in 2015 being African Guyanese? And if those appointments and heads of departments and boards to replace PPP incumbents were all from the same ethnic group, shouldn’t Trotman have said something?

But this isn’t just selective amnesia: it’s an indication of the deep moral rottenness at the core of Trotman and his ilk like Granger. ...for epidermal brotherhood Ever since the No Confidence Motion, one could be forgiven for wondering whether Lincoln Lewis is a trade unionist or a PNC executive. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with a trade unionist being a member of a political party – after all, we’re all operating in a “political economy”! But if Lewis wants to represent a political party in the public sphere, shouldn’t he openly do so as an Executive, like the late Komal Chand? Or has PNC rejected him?

Anyhow, Lewis was at it again, this time to join Treacherous Trotman in dissecting President Ali’s invitation to the former Presidents – including Granger – for a luncheon engagement. Like Trotman, he saw this as bypassing and undermining the Opposition Leader – who just happens to be Granger’s hand-picked ex-GDF officer Harmon.

But why the linkage? Mightn’t this be a welcome evolution of our struggling democracy – to utilise the institutional memory of our living presidents? And save Ali from reinventing wheels?

Or is this “No country for old presidents”? ...on gun licences What’s with all the enigmatic references to some “high AFC Executive” who was being bugged after it became public knowledge he was handing out gun licences for cash?

Is it because the fella can see in all directions?

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

9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

5 homeless after fire razes NA home Guyana Water Inc (GWI) were in the area and the hydrant was altered.

Meanwhile, despite an early morning downpour, the fire continued to consume the building until

water was accessed from Republic Road Canal, New Amsterdam. Firefighters finally got the blaze under control at about 06:00h. The fighters were able to prevent the blaze from spread-

ing to nearby buildings.

The building is owned by Rederson Jarvis, who occupies the lower flat and is currently overseas. An investigation has been launched.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Dead robbery suspect identified as Annandale man

T

Fire razing the King Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice home on Sunday morning

F

ive persons are now homeless after fire destroyed a two-storey building at King Street, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Sunday morning.

Those homeless are 84-year-old Doreen Thom, a pensioner, her three grandchildren and acting Town Engineer Alana Joseph.

Reports are the fire started at about 04:30h. This newspaper was told that one of the children awoke and saw the fan next to his bed on fire. The 10-year-old boy then pulled his brother out of the bed and raised an alarm.

Joseph, 40, said she sprang out of bed, alerted Thom and they all exited the building. By this time the fire was spreading quickly, the family related.

“When we called the fire service just the back room

The aftermath of the fire

was on fire,” one family member said.

The firefighters reportedly arrived in about 20 minutes but encountered difficulties accessing water in the area. A fire hydrant situated 80 metres away from the family’s home was tampered with, making it

impossible for the firefighters to access water from there.

Residents in the area said that the hydrant was overflowing some time ago and the water was flowing into the entrance of a nearby gas station. According to residents, personnel from

he suspected bandit who was shot and killed after he and his accomplice were found in the compound of a manufacturing business at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara, has been identified as an Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident.

Dead is Zadan Mohammad, 29, of Annandale Pump Road, East Coast Demerara.

Reports are that at about 21:45h on Friday at Industrial Site, Eccles, Mohammad was allegedly shot by a security officer attached to Delta Security Services.

Police on Sunday said that the armed security officer was making checks around his point of duty when he observed two male intruders in the compound.

He told investigators that he subsequently shout-

The area where Zadan Mohammad’s body was found on Friday night

ed at the men, which led to one of the suspects firing a shot at him. According to Police, the security officer said that to protect himself, he took cover behind a truck and discharged a round in the direction of the men.

In a bid to escape from the premises, which is separated by a canal, one of them fell to the ground. However, upon checking the canal, Mohammad was found with injuries to his abdomen. He died at the scene.

The body was pronounced dead at the scene by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and taken to the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Additionally, a search was conducted in the area and police unearthed a spent 12-gauge shell which was lodged along with the shotgun and five cartridges.

The security officer is in custody assisting with the investigation.

Berbice cyclist killed by...

“He always stay with me; he never married. The last thing he tell me was ‘Mummy, me go come back just now. Me ah go buy cake for Pupa’.”

Samlall and her son lived at the Albert Street home, where they took care of an old man they called “Pupa”.

The accident occurred a stone’s throw away from the Springlands Police Station.

Police officers reportedly

arrived at the scene quickly and supervised Tilak being removed and placed into the minibus to be taken to hospital.

He died while receiving medical attention.

Tilak reportedly suffered head injuries.

Guyana Times was told that the driver has promised to assist the grieving family “in any way possible.”

FROM PAGE 7

Nevertheless, he was taken into custody and is assisting Police with the investigations.

On Friday, 43-yearold Deoranie Sukhram of Dundee village, Mahaicony, died after the minibus she was travelling in slammed into a fence at Britannia, West Coast Berbice.

The accident also left one other passenger seriously injured. (G4)

NEWS

11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil, Petronas strike oil offshore Suriname in 15,000 ft well …find adds to “high value” discoveries offshore Guyana – executive

E

xxonMobil’s affiliate and its partner, Petronas, have announced that they have struck oil offshore Suriname in a 15,682-foot well, a find that could very well be a consolation for the oil giant after its recent setback at the Tanager well.

According to the company, oil was found at the Sloanea-1 exploration well, located on Block 52 offshore the Dutch-speaking country a few days ago. The well was drilled by the block operator, Petronas, using the Maersk Developer rig. According to Exxon’s Senior Vice President of Exploration and New Ventures, Michael Cousins, the find builds on their other successful finds in Guyana.

“Our first discovery in Suriname extends ExxonMobil’s leading position in South America, building on our successful investments in Guyana. We

ExxonMobil Senior Vice President Mike Cousins

will continue to leverage our deepwater expertise and advanced technology to explore frontier environments with the highest value resource potential,” Cousins said.

ExxonMobil had said in November that it is prioritising near-term capital spending on advantaged as-

sets with the highest potential future value. It, therefore, means that the wells Exxon is currently drilling, including those in Guyana and Suriname, are the “crown jewels” in Exxon’s portfolio that experts have long speculated they are.

Block 52 covers an area of 1.2 million acres (4749 square kilometres) and is located approximately 75 miles offshore, north of Suriname’s capital city, Paramaribo. The water depths on Block 52 usually range from 160 to 3600 feet (50 to 1100 metres).

Exxon’s affiliate, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Suriname BV, holds a 50 per cent interest in Block 52. Petronas Suriname E&P BV, a subsidiary of Petronas, is the operator and holds 50 per cent interest.

Last month, the much-anticipated Tanager-1 well that many expected

The Maersk Developer rig that drilled the well

would have led to an oil discovery, was found to contain oil that was not commercially viable. 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.

Last year, Exxon made five discoveries offshore Guyana. Discoveries were made in the Tilapia-1 well, Haimara-1, Yellowtail-1,

Tripletail-1 and Mako-1 wells. These discoveries had pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion.

TURN TO PAGE 13

12 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court shuts down Ponzi scheme accused’s attempt to escape charges …strikes out application to unfreeze accounts, drop charges

I

n a major blow to Ponzi scheme accused Yuri Dominguez, acting Chief Justice Roxane George has thrown out his application to have his accounts unfrozen and the charges against him dropped, while upholding the powers of the Police Commissioner and Bank of Guyana.

Dominguez, who is facing over 70 charges for obtaining money by false pretence, had filed an application in the High Court seeking Orders of Prohibition against the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have both of them drop said charges.

He had also sought an Order of Prohibition against Attorney General Anil Nandlall, to stop him from directing the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Guyana Securities Council, Bank of Guyana and the Guyana Police Force to investigate Dominguez and his company, Accelerated Capital Firm. An Order Mandamus was also sought

CJ (ag) Roxane George

against Nandlall, to have him unfreeze and release Dominguez’s local bank accounts at Demerara and Republic Banks.

Nandlall filed an application of his own, seeking the dismissal of Dominguez’s application. In her ruling, which was handed down a few days ago, the Chief Justice upheld Nandlall’s submissions and stated that Dominguez provided no evidence in his affidavit to support the orders he sought.

For instance, the CJ noted that Dominguez provid-

ed no evidence that there is any law allowing an Order of Prohibition to be granted against a Police Commissioner to stop the institution of charges. Nor was any evidence provided that the Attorney General had been directing the investigations into Dominguez.

When it comes to the order sought against the DPP, Nandlall revealed that the applicant was unable to address the court when asked for a response. Additionally, the applicant admitted that orders sought to have the Attorney General unfreeze bank accounts were not within his jurisdiction but rather, Central Bank. The orders were therefore ruled to be “misconceived.”

“The Chief Justice ruled in favour of the Attorney General. The Chief Justice in the course of her ruling stated that the applicants failed to adduce any evidence in support of the reliefs sought in their Fixed Date Application against the Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Director of Public Prosecutions. Costs were

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

awarded to the Attorney General in the sum of $250,000 and that same is to be paid on or before the 31st December 2020,” the AG informed in a statement.

Together, GarciaDominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael are facing 70-plus charges for obtaining monies by false pretence from some 17,000 people.

They are said to have obtained over $200 million. On October 12, 2020, the couple began reimbursing persons who had invested in their company, Accelerated Capital Firm Incorporated (ACFI).

However, the refunds came to an unexpected halt a few days later after ranks from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) raided their home at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, and seized several pieces of equipment they claimed were vital in processing the refund transactions. Only 27 persons had been refunded at the time.

The ranks had a warrant to search and seize monies, devices, and financial documents that would assist in

Ponzi scheme accused: Yuri Dominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael

their money laundering investigations. But no monies were found at the couple’s home. Instead, Police ranks seized several borrowed computers, cell phones and personal documents including birth, marriage and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) certificates.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, who represents them, has since filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court, asking that all charges and investigations

against them be discontinued immediately. The couple has also asked the High Court to order the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue all charges against them. They are also asking the court to order the police to cease all investigations against them.

In the meantime, the couple is out on over $30 million bail with instructions to lodge their passports and report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters. (G3)

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

NEWS

13

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Arakaka man confesses to 6-year-old accidentally drinks arson attempt on police outpost mentally-ill grandmother’s medication

A

29-year-old man of Central Arakaka Village, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), has confessed to attempting to torch the police outpost in the area.

Reports are at about 02:30h on Friday, a subordinate officer and other ranks were performing duties at the Arakaka Police Outpost when they heard a loud explosion and saw a huge flame at the front door of the building. In a statement, the Guyana Police Force said that ranks escaped unharmed and immediately extinguished the blaze using water. However, upon inspection, the front door of the building was found to be scorched and a partially burnt five-gallon bottle was found at the doorway.

After realising that someone attempted to burn the building, the team of Police ranks combed the area but there were no signs of anyone in the area. Officials of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were called in to assist in the investigations.

Based on information received, Police arrested

…goes berserk, CCPA launches probe

A

six-year-old child went berserk after drinking his mentally ill grandmother’s medication at their Main Street, East Canje, Berbice home.

Reports are the incident occurred on Wednesday last when the mentally ill woman and her grandson were locked in the house by the woman’s 24-yearold daughter.

This newspaper was told that the grandmother was seen with marks of violence about her upper body when her 24-year-old daughter finally returned after neighbours called to

the 29-year-old man, who during interrogation admitted to attempting to set the outpost on fire.

The suspect was charged in March 2013 for breaking and entering, after he broke into a dwelling house with the intent to commit a felony at Meadow, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Meanwhile, in 2018, it was alleged that between April 29 and 30, 2018, at Rahaman’s Park, the said suspect stole a tool kit of the Stanley brand, valued $88,000.

Following the incident, he was released on $100,000 bail after denying that he stole the item.

GPL installs new gensets at Onverwagt, Sophia substations

T

he Guyana Power and Light has installed the six gensets that were recently acquired, at the Onverwagt and Sophia substations.

GPL’s Divisional Director of Operations, Bharat Harjohn made this announcement in an interview with the Department of Public Information.

“Three [gensets] at Onverwagt were already installed and connected to the grid.

Those three are running right now supplying power to the grid, and for the other three at Sophia, we are doing the final test,” he is quoted as saying.

Harjohn said the acquisition of the gensets is in keeping with GPL’s efforts to increase power generation, particularly during the Christmas season when there is a greater demand for power.

Last Saturday, ten new generating sets valued at nearly $500 million arrived in Guyana for the Demerara-Berbice

Interconnected System (DBIS).

While six were purchased, an additional four were sent to serve as backup to maintain power generation.

These gensets, each capable of producing 1.6 megawatts, will complement the five megawatts that were sourced through the Giftland Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA).

The Government had pledged to supply additional power for the energy sector to end the scourge of blackouts that has plagued the nation.

inform her that there was a commotion at her home.

Neighbours told this publication that the child was heard screaming while the grandmother was heard shouting at someone to stop beating him.

Assuming that it was bandits in the house, neighbours rushed to the house but the door was locked and they could not get in. They then telephoned the woman’s daughter, who arrived shortly after. It was then that it was revealed that the child drank his grandmother’s medication. The grandmother is

a patient at the National Psychiatric Hospital clinic, where she gets her medical supplies.

Meanwhile, the child was admitted as a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital and was released on Friday. The Child Care and Protection Agency has since been notified and is investigating the incident.

When this publication visited the home on Saturday, the 54-year-old woman was locked in the house alone. Neighbours related that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. (Andrew Carmichael)

ExxonMobil, Petronas strikes...

The company also discovered oil in the Uaru-1 well back in January 2020. Uaru was ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Uaru-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 94 feet (29 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6342 feet (1933 metres) of water.

In July of 2020, ExxonMobil’s partner in the Stabroek Block, Hess Corporation had revealed that two high-quality reservoirs offshore Guyana were found in 2020 around the time the company was appraising the Yellowtail-2 well.

So far, the Liza-1 well has accounted for all of Guyana’s oil production. Guyana only

FROM PAGE 11

began producing oil last year in the Stabroek Block, lifting its first million barrels of profit oil from the Liza-1 well in February 2020.

The Bank of Guyana’s half-year report, which covers the period up to the end of June 2020, had previously revealed that Guyana produced over 10 million barrels of oil during the first half of 2020.

14 NEWS Public confidence survey launched for Guyana Police Force T MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

o improve the services provided by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Home Affairs Ministry has launched the

ment officers within the last 12 months were treated fairly and with dignity during their interactions.

“We are encouraging all

Police ranks on their way to patrol duties around Georgetown

Public Trust, Confidence and Satisfaction survey which is intended to determine citizens’ satisfaction and confidence with policing services.

According to the Ministry, the survey will also determine if citizens who have interacted with law enforce-

citizens to partake in this public trust survey to improve the services provided by the Guyana Police Force.

All responses will remain confidential…” said Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn.

Meanwhile, members of the Guyana Police Force

will partake in a job satisfaction survey. The survey is to determine the level of performance, job satisfaction, leadership, and communication of the law enforcement body.

“We propose to determine the level of satisfaction of the employees in the workplace and what are the probable measures to be taken based on the responses to the survey. This is important to identify resorts to motivate higher performance as we seek to maintain law and order in Guyana. We support the view that it is crucial to retain an effective and proficient workforce as critical to the institution’s performance,” the GPF said in a statement.

Both surveys opened on Sunday via the Ministry’s and news agencies’ websites and social media platforms.

The surveys will close on January 2, 2021.

Last week, the Home Affairs Ministry hosted a “Performance Improvement” meeting with the GPF, Guyana Prison Service, and the Guyana Fire Service.

The meeting was attend-

Murder Convict: Jermain Maynard

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

ed by 50 senior officers and officials of the agencies.

The meeting was aimed at identifying current issues affecting the agencies and exploring new initiatives they can use to improve service delivery to the citizenry. These include safety and security, infrastructural development, more collaboration between Government agencies, regional and international training for staff among others.

Here is the link to access the Public Trust, Confidence and Satisfaction survey -https://moha.surveysparrow.com/s/public-trust-survey/tt-a51a77

Delivery man robbed of motorcycle

A

delivery man was on Friday evening held at gunpoint by bandits and relieved of his Honda XR motorcycle while going to make a drop off at Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. According to reports, at around 18:50h, Mark Noble was at a house in the community to make a delivery when he was confronted by four men who pulled up alongside him on

Bandits escaped with motorcycle HC 7160

Man serving 88 years for killing ex-lover asks court to set aside conviction

motorcycles.

Shortly after, one of the men disembarked a motorcycle, walked up to Noble and held him at gunpoint, while demanding that he remain silent. A fearful Noble complied and the bandit relieved him of his motorcycle, HC 7160, before making good his escape with his accomplices.

Police are continuing investigations.

J

ermaine Maynard, the 48-year-old man who was sentenced to 88 years’ imprisonment back in 2016 for murdering his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend, has moved to the Court of Appeal. Following a trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court, a jury found Maynard guilty of the charge, which stated that he murdered Carlissa Matthews between December 31, 2013, and January 1, 2014, at Croal Street, Georgetown.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court, Maynard is now asking the Court of Appeal to set aside and/or reverse his conviction and sentence. He has proffered several grounds in support of his application, claiming that the trial judge made several errors in law when summing up the evidence to the jury.

The murder convict is also contending that the 88-year prison sentence is manifestly excessive and not in keeping with established sentencing guidelines. Media reports are that Maynard and the young woman shared a relationship that ended a few months before her demise.

On December 31, 2013, Matthews was standing in front of a fast-food outlet at the Stabroek area when Maynard approached and

Murdered: Carlissa Matthews

asked to speak with her.

At the time, Matthews, who was in the company of relatives and friends, walked away and chatted with Maynard before he whipped out a gun and shot her to the head. The woman, who fell to the ground, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she died the following day.

Maynard was arrested by Police while he was about to board a boat at the GuyanaSuriname “backtrack” crossing at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice.

Justice Singh, in sentencing Maynard, commenced at a base of 60 years. The Judge added 10 years for premeditation, six years for domestic violence, six years because Maynard had a previous similar conviction, three years for the use of a firearm, and three years for public endangerment.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

79-year-old man is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 death …41 new cases recorded

A

pensioner, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), died on Saturday, according to the Health Ministry.

This now takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 155.

The latest fatality is a 79-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Officials of the Ministry said that they have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-deceased person.

The last COVID-19 death in Guyana was recorded on December 6, when a 34-year-old female, also from Region Four, died at a medical facility.

New cases

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also reported on Sunday that 41 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

Guyana’s confirmed cas-

es have now gone up to 5920 – 3060 males and 2860 females.

However, only 692 of these cases are currently active. This includes six patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 686 persons in isolation, that is, 50 persons in institutional isolation and the remaining 636 persons in home isolation.

There are also 35 persons in institutional quarantine. To date, some 5073 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus.

Guyana has tested some 33,898 persons for the novel coronavirus to date.

On the other hand, the 41 new cases recorded on Sunday are from eight of the 10 administrative regions.

Four cases were detected in Region One (BarimaWaini); six in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); one case each in regions Four, Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) as well as a whopping 22 new cas-

es in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The figures remained the same in regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) with 48 and 389, respectively.

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has embarked on a massive testing drive to ensure that all positive cases, especially asymptomatic cases, are detected.

Fishing expedition turns into tragedy …teen missing, feared drowned

A

17-year-old boy is feared dead after he went missing on Sunday at the Windsor Forest seawall, West Coast Demerara (WCD), during a fishing trip with his two friends.

Missing is Surendra Singh called “Shambo” of Line Top Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara.

He went missing at about 12:00h on Sunday.

According to reports, Singh and two other friends

went to the seawall to catch fish and the trio went into the water to set several lines.

While heading back to shore, one of the three teens was in front while Singh and the other friend were behind.

As they were approaching the shore, Singh and the other teen reportedly fell into a channel and were submerging.

A man who was on the seawall at the time saw

what was happening and took his fishing boat to rescue the boys. However, he managed to save one of the teens as Singh who could not swim, went down and did not resurface. An alarm was raised and a search party was launched to find the teen. Up to press time on Sunday Singh was not found.

Meanwhile, the two surviving teens are in Police custody assisting with investigations. (G9)

This has resulted in a high number of cases being detected.

As such, Health authorities are reminding Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 11), which are in effect un-

til December 31, 2020. This order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good

hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 70,461,926 COVID-19 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 1,599,704 deaths from the pandemic.

The Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, continues to be the most affected region by the virus. In fact, the WHO also reported on Sunday that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region has increased to 30,116,384, while the death toll has gone up to 776,708. (G8)

Guyanese urged to participate in ERC’s National Conversation

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he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is urging Guyanese social media users to access the links from its Facebook page to follow and participate in the inaugural National Conversation on improving ethnic relations in Guyana. The Zoom link for participants to register in advance can be accessed at: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZEkd– rqD0jHta7XS90bcudPB2tBrJZTZM0 The Department of Public Information reported that the two-day event, which is the first of its kind

in Guyana, runs from 09:00 to 13:00h on December 14 and 15. From 18:00h to 20:30h on the first day, a special segment will be held to facilitate the views and recommendations of young people. Additionally, television viewers can watch the programme on TVG Channel 28, HBTV Channel 9 and HGPTV Channel 67.

Radio listeners can tune in to Newstalk Radio 103.1FM which will live stream the conversation on both days.

The conversation will be launched with a general discussion on “How can we improve ethnic relations in Guyana”. The fully virtual

forum, unavoidable due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is intended to facilitate presenters drawn from Guyanese residing here and abroad and will reflect diversity.

The ERC hopes that the varying points of view of presenters and participants can serve in some measure, as a blueprint for possible solutions on the related challenges that confront Guyanese of all ethnicities.

The Commission is collaborating with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the University of Guyana in hosting the premier event.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Appointment of Chancellor, CJ

Constitutional amendment may need to be reviewed – AG Nandlall …regrettable top judicial positions not substantively filled

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ome 20 years after Guyana’s Constitution was amended to facilitate the appointments of top judicial officers by the President with the agreement of the Opposition Leader, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandllall said it is “regrettable” that there is yet to be a substantive appointment of a Chancellor and Chief Justice (CJ).

In 2001, Article 127 (1) and (2) of the Constitution was amended to have the President make appointments to the top judicial positions after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition. However, there have not been any substantive appointments made in over a decade to fill those posts.

Currently, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards is the acting Chancellor while Justice Roxane George is the acting Chief Justice.

“As Attorney General, I find this position where these two Judges have been acting for so long and their positions have not been confirmed for so long as regrettable. It was never intended by the framers of the Constitution for these two offices not to have been occupied by confirmed appointments,” Nandlall told reporters on the sidelines of an event recently.

The AG pointed out that the requirement of agreement between both the governing and Opposition

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

sides to make the appointment has failed to work under several Administrations over the past 15 years.

“I have had the privilege of sitting in meetings between former President [Donald] Ramotar and then Opposition Leader David Granger, where President Ramotar went at great lengths to attempt to get the incumbents at the time confirmed – those were Chancellor (ag) Carl Singh and Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang. All President Ramotar’s entreaties then were rejected,” related Nandlall, who also served as AG from 2011 to 2015 in the last People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration.

With a similar failure to make the appointments in the last five years under the APNU/AFC coalition, Nandlall posited that this constitutional amendment may need to be reviewed.

“When we are going to consider constitutional reforms, we should consider

whether we should change it again because Guyana, as you know, is the only country in the Commonwealth that has this provision and we have great difficulty filling it,” he asserted.

Nevertheless, the Attorney General is hopeful that there can be an engagement between current President Dr Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon. However, Harmon and the coalition Opposition have been claiming that the PPP/C Government is illegal – a position which Nandlall said is “bizarre”.

“The quicker [Harmon] jumps off that position, it’s better for the country. He can, with respect and comity, sit with the President as a substantive leader of this country and hopefully begin constructive engagements that can see the positions being filled by confirmed appointments,” Nandlall contended.

With the 2001 amendments, Article 127 (1) states: “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”

Regarding the appointment of acting Chancellor and Chief Justice, Article 127 (2) was amended to say: “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant… those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as shall be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the

Leader of the Opposition.”

Guyana’s last substantive Chancellor was Justice Desiree Bernard, who served until 2005 when she left to join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Since, Justice Carl Singh was appointed acting Chancellor – a position held until his retirement without being confirmed.

Justice CummingsEdwards was then appointed acting Chancellor in 2017 by former President David Granger. He had also appointed Justice George as acting Chief Justice in 2015 following the retirement of Justice Ian Chang, who was also not confirmed after serving as acting CJ for some 10 years.

Guyana’s failure to have substantive appointments in its two top judicial posts have been lamented both locally and regionally.

In fact, CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders had called on Guyana’s political leaders back in 2018 to resolve their impasse and appoint a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and a Chief Justice for Guyana’s courts.

He had said the situation is a matter of “serious concern” as it has implications for the proper running of the Guyana courts.

As such, Justice Saunders had also recommended that local authorities revisit the procedure for the appointments of the key judicial personnel.

“That formula is like-

Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Chief Justice George

(ag)

Roxane

ly to throw up this kind of situation, and so perhaps some attention should be given to perhaps whether that is an appropriate formula; or if the formula is to be kept, what other mechanisms should be put in place to break a deadlock.

But for the country to not have a Chancellor — and it has implications for the Chief Justice as well, because it just cascades down for that length of time — it’s just not right,” the CCJ President had told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Guyana.

At the time, the local legal fraternity, including the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), was calling for the substantive appointments of both Justice CummingsEdwards and Justice George.

However, then President Granger had dismissed those calls, saying that he went through the constitutional process and recommended a candidate.

Granger had nominated Justice Kenneth

Benjamin and Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards for the substantive posts of Chancellor and Chief Justice, respectively. However, following discussions, then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who had done his due diligence on the candidates, had rejected the President’s nominees.

More recently, however, the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) – at its sixth Biennial Conference late last year – had issued in a statement, expressing “…concerns over lengthy acting appointments for Heads of Judiciaries and singled out the position of Chancellor of Guyana which has not had a substantive office holder since 2005. The CAJO also reasserted that it is the duty of all courts to guarantee integrity and to secure the trust and confidence of the people of the Caribbean.”

Both Justice CummingsEdwards and Justice George had attended that conference in Belize.

Fire Chief cautions citizens to “be mindful” of fire safety during holidays

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ire Chief Marlon Gentle has called on citizens to take extra precautions and adhere to fire safety practices during the Christmas holidays in order to prevent fires.

During a recent interview with Leroy Smith’s New Watch, Gentle pointed out that one of those precautions is ensuring that Christmas decorations do not obstruct any fire exit.

“Decorations should not be near heat-generating appliances. Drop cords should not be passed under carpets or near blinds and do not impede your means of escaping a building,” he said, according to an article published by the DPI. The Fire Chief also noted that overloading electrical outlets goes against fire safety as it leads to overheating and short-circuiting, which can result in fire.

“The rule is that there should not be more than two appliances to every point.

If appliances are used for heat-generating purposes like microwaves, those

should not be shared with any other appliances,” Gentle said.

He added too that appliances should be switched off and unplugged when not in use.

Another aspect of the festive season is the shopping fever. Whether it is a gift or for personal use, consumers purchase and upgrade many household electrical appliances.

A statement by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has advised persons to ensure their appliances have certification marks – which can be found at the back of the appliance, and indicates that the product has been tested and meets safety and quality requirements for effective and safe usage.

Some certification marks include UL, CE, CSA, NOM and CCC, the DPI report detailed.

GNBS also advised consumers to ensure purchased household appliances are in keeping with their house’s electrical requirements.

“Ensure that the appliance has the correct voltage (110 or 220 volts). If you purchase any high voltage appliance, you must have a higher voltage electrical line installed.”

This installation must be conducted by a certified electrician.

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Gentle further relayed electrical instalments being done by uncertified persons and not in keeping with the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI) department’s standards are among the main contributors to fires.

GEI’s Chief Electrical Inspector, Roland Barclay, said the nation’s electrical sector is managed by the Electrical Technical Standards Regulations.

This regulation has established guidelines on who can conduct electrical installations, and also ensures safe electrical instalments to reduce fires.

“The lawful act is the Electricity Technical Standards Regulations, which every electrical con-

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle

tractor or any aspiring electrician should have in their possession,” Barclay said.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) of the United States also forms part of Guyana’s Electricity Technical Standards Regulation, which lays out the foundation for electrical safety and all electrical work locally.

Barclay said electrical fires could be prevented once the NEC guidelines are followed. “You must use proper materials because not using proper ma-

terials is the main cause of fires…We work in collaboration with GNBS and the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission to implement and enforce the electrical standards,” he said.

Citizens should not allow electricians without a permit from GEI to conduct any installation.

This was reiterated by Gentle, as he implored persons to act responsibly.

“The public, business owners and persons using and renting buildings all have a role to play because

most times, investigations reveal that there are simple things that cause fires like failing to adhere to established practices – either using equipment against its purpose or exceeding the limit of operation for the equipment,” the Fire Chief said.

While the Guyana Fire Service has seen a decrease in persons tampering with electricity, persons using fire for land clearing and garbage disposal have been linked to an increase in deliberate fires.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils are among organisations responsible for proper garbage disposal.

Fire Chief Gentle has also advised the public to work with the NDCs for proper disposal procedures. The Fire Service has recorded nine fire-related deaths compared to ten last year, a decrease in children playing with matches by five per cent, a reduction in persons tampering with electricity, and a decline in buildings on fire.

NEWS

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

5-year strategic HIV plan to be rolled out

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he Health Ministry has announced the roll-out of a five-year strategic plan to tackle HIV/ AIDS in Guyana.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made the disclosure Monday last during DPI’s “The Progress Report”.

“In another maybe week or so we are going to release a special plan, strategic plan, that we have for HIV and AIDS that is going to be going from this year to 2025 and would serve as our road map for the next five years,” he said.

Dr Anthony said a more aggressive approach has

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

to be taken to achieve the United Nations 90-90-90 target.

By the end of 2020, the UNAIDS programme seeks to achieve 90 per cent of all people living with HIV

knowing their HIV status, 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy having viral suppression.

Guyana has achieved the first goal which is people knowing their HIV status and is working towards accomplishing the other two.

“We currently have about 8000 persons who are HIV positive and while we put most of these persons on treatment, we have to get all of them on treatment.

Additionally, it’s not just about having them on treat-

ment but to ensure that the treatment they are receiving is effective so that they can remain virally suppressed,” the Health Minister said.

Viral suppression could be used as a preventative measure to curb the spread of HIV. “If we achieve viral suppression, persons who are infected would not be able to transmit the virus and therefore this is very important as a preventative tool as well,” Dr Anthony explained.

He emphasised the need for more targeted approaches to address HIV/AIDS. One such approach is the

“comprehensive prep.”

“We also want to prevent new infections from happening and we’ll be doing a lot of work with persons who are at risk and one of the things we want to introduce is to ensure that [we] have what we call a comprehensive prep. That is preexposure prophylaxis because if you use the medication before sexual contact and use it as prescribed you can prevent infections from occurring,” Dr Anthony said. The Health Minister noted that the measure has been effective in several countries and it should be no different in Guyana.

shops as the UK transitions to new trading rules with the EU. The UK and the EU have agreed to carry on trade talks past Sunday's deadline.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President

key things", and said the "most likely" course is an Australian-style trade deal with the EU. He admitted that this type of deal "it is not where we wanted to get to but if we have to end up with that solution the UK is more than prepared".

However, Dickinson warned: "Without a deal, the British public will face over £3bn in food tariffs and retailers would have no choice but to pass on some of these additional costs to their customers who would see higher prices filter though during 2021."

Other business groups welcomed the extension to trade talks but also cautioned that it was imperative that the UK avoid a no deal Brexit with the EU. "The news that talks will continue gives hope," said Tony Danker, director-general of the CBI business lobby group. "A deal is both essential and possible." (BBC)

Britons told not to stockpile food ahead of January

H

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat shares a photo moment with residents of Quarrie Village, South Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), during a stakeholders’ outreach to discuss Government’s plans for support and development for the community. The Minister was also accompanied by regional and community leaders. (Natural Resources Ministry photo)

New IDB study highlights ways to reduce Caribbean prison population

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new Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study has highlighted ways to increase public safety in the Caribbean by focusing on reducing pre-trial detentions and expanding rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for incarcerated persons.

The Washington, DCbased financial institution says the report analyses survey data collected from both sentenced and remanded individuals in six Caribbean countries from 2016-2019: The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In these countries, the report finds that the average prison population is 93 percent male and the average age of inmates is 33 years old.

The study says that unconvicted prisoners constitute a large portion of the prison population in the Caribbean, and that these pre-trial detainees spend an average of 2.5 to four years in prison before sentencing, “often in worse conditions than those already convicted of a crime.”

Individuals in pre-trial detention were also found to have experienced higher

levels of victimisation and violence compared to sentenced individuals.

The study says that pre-trial detainees reported higher rates of victimisation in almost all countries under study, except for Barbados and Suriname.

“Data shows that inmates on provisional detention are more likely to live in overcrowded circumstances than sentenced prisoners,” the study says.

For example, in The Bahamas, 77 percent of pretrial detainees lived in overcrowded conditions, compared to 62 percent of sentenced individuals.

The study says a similar case is observed in Trinidad and Tobago, where 51 percent of people on remand live in cramped facilities, compared with 23 percent of sentenced individuals.

The report also highlights the impact of not having effective or sufficient prison rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in the Caribbean.

In aggregate terms, it says 41 percent of inmates surveyed in the six countries of the study were recidivists or repeat offenders, compared to 33 percent of Latin American prison populations.

In the Caribbean, the study finds roughly 40 percent of recidivists return to prison within six months to one year of release, depending on the country.

Also, less than one in five prisoners has access to rehabilitation and reentry services, which have been shown to reduce recidivism and repeat offending, the study finds.

In order to increase the effectiveness of penitentiary policies, the report recommends “broad reforms that take an integrated approach to security and justice in the Caribbean.”

Key recommendations include establishing programmes to divert people who have committed non-serious offenses, and reforming judicial procedures and strengthening pre- and post-release services, among others.

The study says that the COVID-19 health crisis has highlighted the impact of prisons on society, “as many prisons have become transmission hotspots”.

The study underscores this finding and advocates new ways of reducing prison populations, “with creative approach to justice and rehabilitation”. (CMC)

ouseholds have been warned not to stockpile food and toilet roll ahead of 1 January when the UK stops trading under EU rules.

On Sunday, the UK and the EU agreed to extend a deadline aimed at reaching a deal on post-Brexit trade.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said ongoing uncertainty made it harder for firms to prepare for the New Year.

But it said shops had plenty of supplies and shoppers must not buy more food than usual.

"Retailers are doing everything they can to prepare for all eventualities on 1 January - increasing the stock of tins, toilet rolls and other longer life products so

there will be sufficient supply of essential products," said BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.

"While no amount of preparation by retailers can entirely prevent disruption there is no need for the public to buy more food than usual as the main impact will be on imported fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, which cannot be stored for long periods by either retailers or consumers."

Supermarkets are now used to dealing with anxious shoppers.

During the first lockdown earlier this year to stop the spread of the coronavirus, grocers introduced limits on goods such as toilet roll, dried pasta and UHT milk after panic buying by Britons.

There are fears shoppers might think disruption at ports after 31 December could lead to shortages in

Ursula von der Leyen said it was "responsible at this point to go the extra mile".

But Mr Johnson told the BBC the two sides are "still very far part on some

news@guyanatimesgy.com

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

Regional

11 migrants found dead off Brazil's vaccination plan of Venezuela's eastern coast assailed as “incompetent”

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E

leven people believed to have travelled from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago were found dead in waters near the South American nation’s coast, Trinidad and Tobago’s Coast Guard said on Sunday.

At least 40,000 Venezuelans live in Trinidad and Tobago, the majority fleeing the South American country’s economic crisis, unemployment, and lack of basic public services, often travelling in small rickety boats above their capacity with limited supplies of fuel and food.

Last year at least two ships that set off from Venezuela en route to the archipelago disappeared at sea.

The bodies were found Saturday near the Venezuelan coastal town of Guiria, Trinidad’s Coast Guard said in a press release, citing information provided by Venezuela.

The statement added that preliminary information suggests the 11 bod-

Venezuelan migrants, who were recently deported, arrive at shore on Los Iros Beach after their return to the island, in Erin, Trinidad and Tobago, November 24, 2020

ies found could be related to a boat that left the town of Guiria, in the northeast of Sucre state, on December 6 with more than 20 people on board, who have not been seen or heard from since.

Omalirves, who did not provide her last name, had warned her friend Noebis Aspudillo, 27, who had been a passenger on the boat about the precarious journey. Aspudillo has gotten increasingly desperate during the pandemic, Omalirves said, after she had gotten laid off from the

bread shop she had been working at and her mother’s heart condition got increasingly severe.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment nor did the country’s prosecutor’s office.

The Coast Guard said that in the last week it had not intercepted any vessels leaving from Guiria and that authorities are working together with the South American country in a joint search effort. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaicans urged to think of students and not engage in reckless behaviours this Christmas

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ducation, Youth and Information Minister Fayval Williams is encouraging well-thinking Jamaicans to adhere to COVID-19 infection prevention protocols in order to curtail transmission and not jeopardise the resumption of face-to-face classes for students and teachers.

Williams, who was speaking following the presentation of tablet computers at Seaforth Primary School in St Thomas on Friday, said as people seek to enjoy the Christmas holidays, they should do so responsibly in order to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 case spike.

“We are asking [that], over the Christmas holidays, persons consider our students, because if we have a COVID-filled Christmas and we see the numbers increasing in January, schools are not going to be able to go back to face to face [interaction]. So everybody has a responsibility [to play their part],” she said.

Williams indicated that the administrations of primary and high schools have been advised to place emphasis on the various scheduled examinations, starting February 23, 2021.

She said while the Ministry has initiated several interventions to cush-

ion the effect of COVID-19 on the education system, parental and community support is needed “to get our students in that frame of mind to meet those exams”.

“I am calling on all Jamaicans to give our students a push in encouragement, and pray for them.

We have been making a lot of effort to ensure that our schools are physically ready,” Williams said.

She invited schools and parents needing additional help to reach out to the Ministry so that the issues arising can be resolved.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

resident Jair Bolsonaro faced scathing criticism Sunday over his Government's plan – or lack thereof, opponents said – to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 in Brazil, the country with the second-highest death toll worldwide.

Brazil published its vaccination plan Saturday with notable holes, including a start date and details of how to reach its target of 70 per cent of the population.

That prompted a new salvo of criticism of the farright President, who has persistently defied expert advice on containing the

T

OAS tourism working group Chairman Edmund Bartlett

and cruise industries in the post-pandemic stage of the Organisation of American States inter-American committee on tourism.

Bartlett said tourism-de-

pendent economies, such as those in the Caribbean, were being disproportionately impacted by the socio-economic fallout from the global health crisis.

Noting that the Region has limited social safety nets, he argued that “this means that our people, economy and future are far more likely to be decimated

by COVID-19 than nations with more diversified economies”.

Against this background, the Minister said countries could no longer operate in isolation and independent of each other.

target populations and vaccines to be used in Brazil's initial immunisation drive.

It envisions four phases targeting sensitive groups, including health workers, the elderly, Indigenous Brazilians and teachers, for a total of 51.6 million people, or 24 per cent of the population of 212 million.

The plan says the optimal target is to vaccinate more than 70 per cent of the population, but provides no details on how to reach that figure.

Experts said details on the timeline, logistics, and sources of vaccines were also lacking. (Excerpt from AFP)

Cayman Islands to start COVID-19 vaccinations in January

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he Premier of British Overseas territory Cayman Islands, Alden McLaughlin says a mass vaccination campaign to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), will be rolled out across the territory starting in January.

In making the recent announcement in Parliament, McLaughlin said that he will be among the first to take the vaccine.

He added that based on how well the vaccination campaign does, his administration could open local borders by March.

“Because by then we would have had enough of our people inoculated to create the oft-talked-about herd immunity which will protect the entire community,” he said.

McLaughlin added that all of this remains contingent on the public’s participation in the vaccination exercise.

In unveiling the plan, the Premier said it has been approved by Cabinet, and will initially focus on people over 60 years old, and those who have certain defined conditions and diseases that make them more vulnerable

Stakeholder collaboration key to Caribbean's recovery from COVID – OAS tourism working group ourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says regional and global multi-stakeholder policy collaboration is key in ensuring the Caribbean's full recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

Bartlett said COVID-19 has not only wreaked havoc on Caribbean economies, but has brought tourism to a point where “nothing will, probably, ever be the same again”.

He was speaking in his capacity as newly-appointed chairman of the working group on accelerating the recovery of the airline

pandemic and recently declared he did not plan to be vaccinated.

"Enough shenanigans with the vaccine!" leading newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said in a front-page editorial.

"President Jair Bolsonaro's murderous stupidity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic has surpassed all limits."

Rival daily Estado de Sao Paulo condemned the Government's "lethal incompetence".

The plan, which the Supreme Court required the government to present, gives a rough sketch of the

“We have to be smart and put our collective minds together to tackle this common enemy and prepare ourselves for that postCOVID-19 era,” he emphasised.

Bartlett said the economic fallout for tourism in 2020, consequent on the pandemic, is projected to range between US$910 billion and US$1.2 trillion.

Additionally, he said 100 million to 120 million direct jobs are at risk as a result of international travel restrictions and reduced global demand. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin

to the effects of the coronavirus.

“And while I am not yet in those ranks, I will say that I will be one of the first in line to take the vaccine to lead by example and to demonstrate my confidence in the safety of the vaccine,” he said.

The vaccine will greatly reduce the chances of getting COVID-19, and “the potential severity of the illness if we should contract it, but nothing is guaranteed”, he said.

The Premier said the vaccines will be provided by the United Kingdom and will be free.

He said inoculation will be voluntary, but he encouraged the public to do due diligence, and to keep their minds open to the benefits that participation will offer.

“It is an opportunity for us, as individuals, to take action to protect this community that we love so much, and which has done so much for us, while at the same time we protect ourselves,” he said. (Excerpt from CMC)

COVID-19 spread at 3 parties in Tobago

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rinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Saturday criticised people who attended three birthday parties in Tobago resulting in one death and numerous other positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as regional countries continued their plea to citizens to take precaution and heed the call to curb the spread of the virus.

Deyalsingh, speaking at the Health Ministry news conference, said that 11 people tested positive for the virus as a result of the parties.

“Tobago is seeing, in our view, a disturbing and significant upsurge in cases. And the contact tracing has revealed a very disturbing series of events that took place in Tobago with the help of people from Trinidad,” Deyalsingh said, noting that there was a birthday party in Tobago on November 22 which led to five COVID-19 cases and one death.

He said on November

28, there was another birthday party leading to five more cases, and another on December 8, which led to one COVID-19 case.

“We have been advising the population not to have gatherings out of your immediate family. We are concerned about what is happening in Tobago. We stand ready to support the Tobago Regional Health Authority,” the Health Minister said.

Meanwhile, the health authorities said that 19 new cases of the virus were detected from samples taken between December 8 and 10.

Of these, one was a recently repatriated person.

In its latest bulletin, the Ministry said that there were 627 active cases, six people have been discharged from public health facilities and there were 27 newly-recovered community cases.

It said that there was no new death with the total remaining at 122. Of the 6852 cases since March, 6103 recovered. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices find new strength as financial markets prep for a 2021 recovery

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rent crude topped US$50 a barrel last week for the first time since March, a milestone for an oil market that’s been grinding its way back out of a deep slump for months.

Things aren’t back to normal yet, but the positive signals are proliferating. The enormous glut of fuel that accumulated this year on everything from tiny barges to giant supertankers is being steadily depleted.

While the coronavirus pandemic is worse than ever in the US, demand in Europe is bouncing back as a second wave of lockdowns eases and Asia continues to pull in huge volumes of crude.

But there’s more to this than a realignment of supply and demand -- huge financial flows are also driving the price rally.

In a world that’s expecting to see travel recover sharply next year, crude has become a hot COVID-vaccine trade.

In some corners of the world, the recovery in demand is almost complete. India’s largest refiner said last week its plants are processing at full capacity and it’s expecting a V-shaped rebound in fuel use. Consumption of gasoline is also at or near pre-COVID levels in China and Japan, the world’s second and fourth-biggest oil consumers.

European motorists are hitting the roads again as governments relax national lockdowns in countries including the UK, Spain, and France, according to an index of road usage and traffic compiled by Bloomberg News. Road freight is sharply higher as companies rebuild inventories and the Christmas shopping season gets in full swing.

As demand is recovering, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are keeping tight limits on production. The group cancelled January’s 1.9-million-barrela-day supply hike and will instead add no more than 500,000 barrels a day to the market each month in the new year.

Estimates for US shale oil output are still falling.

Cargoes of crude are changing hands at higher prices from the North Sea to the US shale heartland of Midland, Texas as consumers trawl the globe for extra supplies. Saudi Arabia raised the cost of its oil for Asia -- a benchmark for the world’s refiners -- by the most since August last week.

A more subtle shift in the market has also got traders excited. For most of December, nearby crude futures have been trading at a premium to later-dated ones, a price structure known as backwardation.

That buying of contracts at the front of the so-called price curve is evidence that managed money is flowing into the market, Eagle Commodities said in a note. The steeper the backwardation, the greater the return from holding futures from one month into the next, which encourages further buying in a “self-reinforcing cycle,” the brokerage said.

In recent weeks, cash has poured back into energy markets.

Holdings of energy contracts rose by US$3.6 billion through early December, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co, driven by inflows into Brent and West Texas Intermediate. Investors pumped money into US exchange-traded energy funds last week, with a swing of almost US$400 million from the prior period’s outflows.

There are reasons to think US$50 could be oil’s ceiling for now. The price could tempt producers from Baghdad to Oklahoma to increase production. There are already tensions within OPEC+, with some members chafing at the cartel’s selfimposed supply limits.

The backwardation that’s attracting speculators could also draw real barrels into the market, because the price structure isn’t profitable for any traders still storing physical crude.

On the west coast of South Africa, a supertanker loaded oil from the tanks at the Saldanha Bay storage terminal earlier this month before sailing to Asia. It’s a reminder that there are still plenty of barrels leftover from the spring surplus.

Relentless Asian buying may pause at some point, especially with Lunar New Year celebrations starting in early February.

Higher-cost crude will start to dampen the profitability of refiners in the region. A standard refining process in Singapore is now loss-making when using five of the eight oil grades tracked by Oil Analytics Ltd. For now, positive trends in fuel consumption are buoying traders’ desire for both real and paper barrels. And there could be more hot money coming down the pipe.

At the start of 2021, billions of dollars of commodities investments will be affected by a broader rebalancing of portfolios. The move could attract US$8 billion of inflows into Brent and WTI futures, according to Citigroup. (Excerpt from World Oil)

Pakistan's Opposition to lead march to capital in bid to oust PM Khan

T

he leaders of an anti-government alliance urged tens of thousands of supporters at a rally on Sunday to join a march to the Pakistani capital next month to demand the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who they say was installed by the military in a rigged 2018 election.

An alliance of 11 major opposition parties - Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) - has been holding mammoth rallies in since its inception in September to seek Khan’s ouster and press the military to stop interfering in politics.

Khan, who says the protest campaign is aimed at blackmailing him into dropping corruption cases against its leaders, has criticised the rallies amid the

novel coronavirus pandemic.

The opposition, which has held six mammoth rallies in recent months, says it plans to put pressure on the Government to call a fresh

election. The next election is due in 2023.

Pakistan has reported 72 coronavirus deaths and 3369 infections in the last 24 hours, the highest numbers

since June.

The protest campaign comes as the country’s economy struggles with high inflation and negative growth, which the opposition blames on Khan and the military.

“Who else do we blame,” asked former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, addressing the rally via a video link from his home in London where he has been living since he left on a medical bail late last year.

Sharif, after he fell out with the generals, was convicted in 2018 on corruption charges.

“Don’t use the military’s institution for your political ends,” Sharif urged the military generals.

Khan and the military deny the accusations.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

UK set to leave EU rules at the end of the month.

The leaders agreed to tell negotiators to carry on talks in Brussels "to see whether an agreement can even at this late stage be reached". von der Leyen said Sunday's call with Johnson had been "constructive and useful".

But Johnson repeated his warning from earlier in the week that a no deal scenario

was "most likely".

The UK and EU have been carrying out negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal since March and are attempting to secure one before the so-called transition period ends on December 31 - when the two sides would move to trading on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Without a trade deal, tariffs - charges on goods being

bought and sold between the two sides - could be introduced and, in turn, prices on certain products may go up.

Johnson later said "where there is life, there is hope", and that the UK "certainly won't be walking away from the talks".

But he added: "I've got to repeat the most likely thing now is of course that we have to get ready for WTO terms.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Supporters of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of political Opposition parties, wave flags as they listen to the speeches of their leaders during an anti-government protest rally, in Lahore, Pakistan December 13, 2020

Brexit trade talks: UK and EU to “go the extra mile” in effort to agree deal

I

n a joint statement, Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was "responsible at this point to go the extra mile".

The pair discussed "major unresolved topics" during their call.

The two sides had said Sunday was the deadline for a decision on whether to continue with talks, with the

Niger holds city, regional vote after armed group attack kills 27

N

igerien voters have cast ballots in municipal and regional elections, the day after an attack by the Boko Haram armed group killed dozens of people, according to local officials.

A senior local official was quoted as saying by AFP news agency that Saturday’s attack left 27 dead and was of “unprecedented savagery”, with dozens of assailants laying to waste 60 per cent of the town of Toumour, burning down up to 1000 homes and the central market Issa Lemine, governor of the southeastern region of Diffa, went to Toumour to attend the victims’ burials on Sunday.

The Diffa region is home

The December 27 presidential election is expected to mark Niger’s first peaceful transfer of power

to 120,000 refugees from neighbouring Nigeria – where Boko Haram launched a bloody campaign of violence in 2009 – as well as 110,000 people internally displaced within Niger, according to the UN.

An official of the Bosso region that includes Toumour said the elections did not go ahead there on Sunday. The vote had been postponed repeatedly because of attacks in many parts of the country.

The governing Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) is the overwhelming favourite in Sunday’s elections, held two weeks before a landmark presidential vote.

The PNDS’ presidential candidate, 60-year-old Mohamed Bazoum, is the runaway frontrunner in the December 27 ballot, which should mark the first peaceful transfer of power in the country.

Incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou, 68, will not contest that election because his two terms are up.

Bazoum, a former interior and foreign minister under Issoufou, is among 30 candidates in the race. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Arrests as Indian workers ransack iPhone plant over wages

I

ndian Police have arrested more than 100 workers who went on a rampage over claims of unpaid wages at a Taiwaneserun iPhone factory near Bangalore.

Footage on social media showed smashed CCTV cameras and glass panels, broken lights and a car set on fire at Wistron Infocomm's manufacturing facility.

The workers claim that

they have not been fully paid for four months and are being forced to do extra shifts.

Wistron said that it "pledged to follow local labour (laws)".

In a statement to the AFP news agency, the company did not refer directly to the workers' complaints but said that "the incident was caused by people of unknown identities from outside who intruded into and

damaged its facility with unclear intentions".

It said it would resume operations as soon as possible.

Bangalore, the capital of southern Karnataka state, is India's technology hub.

The violence broke out as about 2000 workers from the night shift were leaving the building at Narsapura on Saturday, the Times of India reported.

Hundreds went on a ram-

page, ransacking the offices of senior executives, destroying furniture, assembly units and smashing glass panels and doors with rods.

Karnataka state's deputy chief minister, CN Ashwathnarayan, condemned the "wanton" violence and said his government would ensure the situation was "resolved expeditiously". (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Put an emphasis on education. A lifestyle change looks promising, as long as you verify information and leave nothing to chance. Dealing with institutions will lead to confusion and uncertainty.

Dare to be different. An TAURUS innovative approach will (April 20boost your reputation and May 20) encourage others to support your efforts. Vigorously address matters that have been left unresolved.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Be careful whom you trust. Someone will give you the wrong impression or lead you on a wild goose chase if you aren’t careful. Ask questions, do your research and take nothing for granted.

Dig in, and don’t stop until you finish what you start.

Channel your energy into getting ahead, not into negativity or argument. Avoid joint ventures, and be careful when divvying up shared expenses.

Hone your skills and improve how you live. Do what’s best for you, and speak up about your feelings and plans. Don’t be swayed by others’ actions or opinions; trust your gut.

A domestic disagreement will turn into an emotional tug-of-war if you let it. Pause and consider every angle of a situation before you take action. Don’t limit your potential by acting in haste.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Busy yourself with something that excites you. Pick up a new hobby, reconnect with an old friend through social media or sign up for an online course that can lead to additional income.

SCORPIO

Refuse to let anyone put limitations on you or what you can do. A change to your appearance will give you the wherewithal to make an overdue change that will have positive results.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t play games or participate in activities that might affect your reputation, position or status. Verifying information will be what saves you from a bad situation. Focus on fitness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Gather information before you make a move. Look over contracts, negotiate your position and get what you want in writing to ensure no one takes advantage of you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Check in with people you have successfully collaborated with in the past for valuable input. Speak from the heart, and take action. You can solve several problems today.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Stick to what and who you know you can trust.

Someone will mislead you.

Don’t share your plans prematurely, or someone will take charge. Concentrate on discipline and hard work.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

21

GABBFF Championship

Ramsammy overall champion, Fung retains Miss Bikini …Caldeira, Sinclair among winners

Julio Sinclair, Over-165lb winner (Emmerson Campbell Photos)

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic first struck, everything sportwise came to a halt. Gyms were closed, social distancing came into effect and the number of coronavirus cases rose daily.

This dealt a great blow to many of Guyana's athletes; however, with true resilience, the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF), in collaboration with the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, was able to pull off a Resilience Bodybuilding and

Ronaldo Caldeira, Men’s Physique winner

Fitness Championship at the National Cultural Centre.

The competition was tough as each individual brought their best as they were competing for prize monies of over $1 million in cash in their respective categories. The participants vied for victory in the categories of Physique, Miss Bikini and two divisions in the bodybuilding segment – lightweight (Under165lb) and heavyweight (Over165lb).

The top three from the bodybuilding competition

clashed for the overall title, with the winner guaranteed $200,000. The top three finishers in all the categories prior to the overall were rewarded with purses of $100,000, $70,000 and $50,000, respectively along with hampers, compliments of Fitness Express.

In the lightweight category, coming in third was Marlon Bennett, in second was Ebo Orford and in first position was Darious Ramsammy, a definite crowd favourite.

In the Physique category,

Darious Ramsammy, Under-165lb and overall winner

coming in third was Darren Harris, second was Jonathan Jeffery while Ronaldo Caldeira walked away with first place.

In the Bikini category, third place went to Christina Ramsammy, the second-place finisher was Ashanti Conway, and stealing the show and coming in first was Rosanna Fung.

In the heavyweight category, in third position was Carlos Peterson, in second was Nicholas Albert, and the top position went to Julio Sinclair.

The top three finishers for

Moseley’s ton, Shepherd's unbeaten 77 rescue West Indies A

W

est Indies A were 26 without loss at stumps on day three of their four-day match against New Zealand A, still needing a further 332 runs to achieve victory.

New Zealand A declared at 174 for 7 in their second innings after the West Indies were bowled out for 298 in response to the home team’s first innings total of 481 for 7 declared on the back of 144 from Rachin Ravindra and 135 from Michael Bracewell.

In reply, opener Shayne Moseley scored 110 and Romario Shepherd 77, which rescued the West Indies A from 83 for 5, after top-order batsmen Brandon King, Kyle Mayers and Rovman Powell all failed to score.

Nicholas Pooran (26) and Fabian Allen (21) also fell after getting starts.

Keemo Paul and Moseley added 79 for the sixth wicket before the former fell for 43. Shepherd, who scored a century in the previous match, then

partnered with Moseley to add 115 for the seventh wicket. However, once Moseley fell to Bracewell for 110, the Windies A’s resistance ended.

Bracewell, who took the wickets of Moseley, King, Mayers and Paul, returned to take two of the last three wickets to return figures of 6 for 42 from his 15 overs. Blair Tickner provided support with 3 for 34.

With a formidable lead of 183, New Zealand A raced to 174 for 7 off 27.5 overs before declaring for a second time. Mark Chapman top-scored with 40 from 45 balls while Scott Kuggeleijn got 34 from 25 balls. Jimmy Neesham scored 38 from 37.

Rahkeem Cornwall benefited from the run chase, taking 3 for 37 while Hayden Walsh returned figures of 3 for 71. Chasing 359 for an unlikely victory, King and Mayers were at the crease on eight and 15, respectively heading into the final day’s play. (Sportsmax)

each category then took to the stage competing for the title of overall champion and $200,000. In the end, it was the one and only Darious Ramsammy who walked away with the coveted title.

According to GABBFF President Keavon Bess, this win secures Ramsammy a spot on the CAC team for Barbados 2021.

SCOREBOARD NZ A 1st Innings 481-7d WI A 1st Innings 298 all out Shayne Moseley c †Fletcher b Bracewell 110 Brandon King b Bracewell 0 Kyle Mayers c Phillips b Bracewell 0 Rovman Powell b Kuggeleijn 0 Nicholas Pooran (c)† c Kuggeleijn b Tickner 26 Fabian Allen c Bracewell b Sodhi 21 Keemo Paul lbw b Bracewell 43 Romario Shepherd not out 77 Rahkeem Cornwall lbw b Bracewell 0 Hayden Walsh b Bracewell 4 Jayden Seales c †Fletcher b Tickner 6 Extras (lb 5, nb 5, w 1) 11 TOTAL (88.3 Ov, RR: 3.37, 536 Mts)

298 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Brandon King, 0.4 ov), 2-5 (Kyle Mayers, 2.3 ov), 3-7 (Rovman Powell, 5.3 ov), 4-47 (Nicholas Pooran, 15.5 ov), 5-83 (Fabian Allen, 25.5 ov), 6-162 (Keemo Paul, 48.1 ov), 7-277 (Shayne Moseley, 80.2 ov), 8-277 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 82.2 ov), 9-282 (Hayden Walsh, 82.5 ov), 10-298 (Jayden Seales, 88.3 ov) BOWLING Doug Bracewell Scott Kuggeleijn James Neesham Blair Tickner Ish Sodhi Rachin Ravindra Michael Bracewell Glenn Phillips

Shayne Moseley celebrates his ton

Rosanna Fung, Miss Bikini

15-5-42-6 16-2-56-1 7-3-16-0 12.3-2-34-2 17-3-56-1 13-0-56-0 3-0-17-0 5-0-16-0

NZ A 2nd Innings 174-7d Glenn Phillips c Allen b Cornwall 9 Tim Seifert lbw b Cornwall 13 Mark Chapman b Cornwall 40

James Neesham c Powell b Walsh 38 Scott Kuggeleijn not out 34 Doug Bracewell(c)c King b Walsh 12 Michael Bracewell b Walsh 01 Rachin Ravindra c Cornwall b Shepherd 22 Cam Fletcher † not out 1 Extras (lb 4, nb 1) 5 TOTAL (27.5 Ov, RR: 6.32, 129 Mts)

174/7d Did not bat: Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Glenn Phillips, 3.3 ov), 2-27 (Tim Seifert, 5.3 ov), 3-103 (James Neesham, 17.6 ov), 4-105 (Mark Chapman, 18.2 ov), 5-124 (Doug Bracewell, 21.1 ov), 6-125 (Michael Bracewell, 21.5 ov), 7-156 (Rachin Ravindra, 26.6 ov) BOWLING Jayden Seales Rahkeem Cornwall Fabian Allen Brandon King Hayden Walsh Romario Shepherd

3-0-23-0 10-3-37-3 2-0-15-0 3-0-12-0 7.5-0-71-3 2-0-12-1

WI A 2nd Innings 26-0 Brandon King not out Kyle Mayers not out

8 15

Extras (nb 3) 3 TOTAL (8 Ov, RR: 3.25) 26 Yet to bat: Shayne Moseley, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran (c)†, Fabian Allen, Keemo Paul, Rahkeem Cornwall, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh, Jayden Seales BOWLING Doug Bracewell Scott Kuggeleijn Ish Sodhi Blair Tickner

3-0-18-0 2-2-0-0 2-1-4-0 1-0-4-0

22

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— Da Silva hits 50 on debut

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New Zealand celebrate the wicket of Holder

Jason Holder is bowled all ends up

T

im Southee and Neil Wagner picked up two lower-order wickets apiece as New Zealand completed a 2-0 series sweep over West Indies; the hosts taking just 13.3 overs on the fourth morning to wrap up their second successive innings win.

The win moved New Zealand up to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, and also enabled them to take a full 120 points from this series to strengthen

their chances of making the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

West Indies, who began the day trailing by 85, came within 11 runs of making New Zealand bat again.

Southee ended any hopes of a miraculous West Indies comeback when he straightened one past Jason Holder's defensive bat to knock back his off stump in the first full over of the morning, but there were positives for the visitors to take back from the final day of their tour,

courtesy of a debut half-century from Joshua da Silva and some breezy hitting from Alzarri Joseph.

Da Silva looked organised while defending off either foot, and was alert to any scoring possibilities, be they off-drives, clips off his legs, or most impressively, pouncing onto the short ball to pull. Given how comfortable he looked against a quality attack, it seems likely he'll retain his place even when the regular wicketkeeper, Shane Dowrich, returns.

Joseph, meanwhile, followed up his second-innings 86 in Hamilton with an 18-ball 24 that contained two pulled sixes and three fours, including a stunning straight drive off Southee.

He looked like a proper

GCB hopeful of hosting over40 tournament twice per year

G

uyana Cricket Board (GCB) honorary secretary Anand Sanasie indicated that the Board was hoping to host the over-40 T20 tournament twice per year in the near future.

After the final at Everest, Sanasie said this approved tournament in the calendar of events was quite fitting to bowl off at the opening of the season. The GCB honorary secretary expressed gratitude towards the sponsors for their aid in making the tournament a success.

Speaking on behalf of the Everest Cricket Ground, the designated venue for the final round, National Assembly Speaker Manzoor Nadir emphasised the importance of cricket serving as a mechanism for growth as well as entertainment.

"All in all, the tournament was a success despite in-

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Neil Wagner wrapped up the Test match

batsman when he played his shots, and if he does a bit more work on his defensive game, West Indies could think of pushing him up to No. 8 and Holder up to No. 7 to allow them to play an extra bowler.

West Indies carried on going after the bowling after Joseph played on to Southee, with Chemar Holder clattering successive

fours off Daryl Mitchell, who was brought on with New Zealand waiting for the second new ball.

They did not need to take it in the end, with Wagner managing to swing a 77-over-old ball into Da Silva to trap him lbw for 57, and finishing the match in his next over by yorking the No 11 Shannon Gabriel.

(ESPN cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

GCB’s Anand Sanasie presenting the runners-up trophy to West Demerara Masters’ Captain

clement weather," Nadir said.

The inaugural Guyana tournament saw Regal Masters clinching the championship trophy and the $250,000 winners’ prize while runners-up West Demerara Masters took home the second prize of $100,000 and a trophy.

Aravinda Gainda, General Manager of title sponsor Tropical Spring Water, congratulated both finalists and the other teams who competed in the tournament. He added that his company was delighted to be able to sponsor this event and it intended to do so again, in the future.

NZ 1st Innings 460 all out West Indies 1st Innings 131 all out West Indies 2nd Innings 317 all out Kraigg Brathwaite c Young b Boult 24 John Campbell b Jamieson 68 Darren Bravo c Nicholls b Boult 4 Shamarh Brooks c †Watling b Wagner 36 Roston Chase c Latham b Jamieson 0 Jermaine Blackwood b Boult 20 Jason Holder (c) b Southee 6 Joshua Da Silva†lbw b Wagner 57 Alzarri Joseph c †Watling b Southee 24 Chemar Holder not out 13 Shannon Gabriel b Wagner 0

Extras (b 1, lb 7, nb 1, w 1) 10 TOTAL (79.1 Ov, RR: 4.00, 366 Mts) 317 Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 11.1 ov), 2-41 (Darren Bravo, 11.4 ov), 3-130 (Shamarh Brooks, 34.6 ov), 4-131 (Roston Chase, 37.4 ov), 5-134 (John Campbell, 39.4 ov), 6-170 (Jermaine Blackwood, 48.1 ov), 7-252 (Jason Holder, 66.6 ov), 8-282 (Alzarri Joseph, 70.6 ov), 9-307 (Joshua Da Silva, 77.2 ov), 10317 (Shannon Gabriel, 79.1 ov) BOWLING Tim Southee 22-4-96-2 Trent Boult 21-3-96-3 Kyle Jamieson 15-4-43-2 Neil Wagner 17.1-4-54-3 Daryl Mitchell 4-0-20-0

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Briton John continues hot streak with back-to-back time trial wins

By Brandon Corlette in Berbice

F

resh off clocking the best time in Linden on Sunday last, Briton John did the same thing to his fellow cyclists on Sunday, winning the final leg of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) time trial held in Berbice.

Briton clocked in at 18 minutes and 26 seconds while Marlon “Fishy” Williams clocked in at 18:37.

Jamual John stopped the clock at 18:43 while Stephen Fernandes, the top veteran, claimed fourth overall, after clocking in at 19:06. Marcus Keiler (19:24) had the fifth best time while veteran Alex Mendes clocked in at 19:36.

Segun Hubbard (19:39); Balram Narine (20:08); Jaikarran Sukhai (20:12) and Lear Nunes (20:19) completed the top 10.

In the junior category,

Briton John steams in to finish with the best time (Brandon Corlette photos)

Jamual John

Marlon “Fishy” Williams

Alex Leung was the best junior rider with 20:02 while Aaron Newton (20:03) and Kwame Fortune (20:20) were among the top junior and novice cyclists respectively. Atiya Thompson was the lone female cyclist on show, clocking in at 39:36.

After the race, Briton, the overall time trial champion, said the time trial was daunting, since it was windy along the Number 19 Road.

The talented cyclist said he had been training during the COVID-19 shutdown of sports, mostly indoors. "I am very satisfied with my performance because I have trained hard and I came out on top, so I am very satisfied," he said.

The time trial champion added that he was looking forward to the 2021 season as he would be aiming to extend his dominance.

Meanwhile, Yvette Benjamin, the wife of

23

the late champion cyclist Wilbert Benjamin, described the time trial event as a huge success. Benjamin said that she and her daughters would be seeking to extend Wilbert's legacy and continue to support cycling events and otherwise donate to the sport.

GCF President Linden Dowridge, who was present at the time trial, said he would sit down with his team and decide whether or not the cycling season would be closed for 2020. For the three time trials overall, Briton John (1:02:42); Jamual John (1:04:21); Marlon Williams (1:04:29); Marcus Keiler (1:07:02) and Balram Narine (1:10:12) were the top five riders in the open category.

Alex Mendes, Segun Hubbard, Kwame Ridley, Lear Nunes, and Jaikarran Sukhai were the top five veterans.

Missigher, Tyrell win 1st SA 10K

And they’re off! (Jemima Holmes Photo) Story

I

and photos by

The three PPYC athletes branched off in a group of their own

Jemima Holmes

t was an afternoon of firsts for Winston Missigher and Sheama Tyrell as they crossed the line first in the male and female categories respectively at the Athletics Association of Guyana’s annual South American 10K road race.

The AAG opted to forsake its usual Carifesta Avenue to National Park route, and the race was hosted for the first time on the West Coast of Demerara, cashing in on the ambience of the Region Three Public Road starting at Mary and ending at the National Track and Field facility at Leonora.

Devoid of international competition and the mastery of Cleveland Forde, the competition was wide open for the likes of Missigher and Cleveland Thomas.

After languishing behind for a few metres, Missigher made his way to the leading pack of which Thomas had control. The likes of Anfernee Headecker and Jonathan Fagundes could not keep up with the pace of the frontrunners, creating a second pack.

Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) athletes Thomas, Missigher and Sir Kennard Harding commanded the race from the 4K to 8K point.

The senior men eventually fell behind later in the race, as the youngster paced himself well, maintaining the third position for much of the race.

all over and Missigher led all the way from the tar to the one lap on the track until the finish line.

Missigher’s time was 34:22:34, while Thomas clocked 34:53:20. Third-place finisher Harding clocked 36:06:84 while Rosmond Harvey (36:23:40) and Fagundes (37:19:25) made up the top five.

In the female category, the ladies fought hard and while their times were not as

Winston Missigher takes the lead as they approach the track and field facility

As 10K races go, one leading athlete had to make the decision to get going and, in this case, Missigher took advantage of Thomas’s sloth and pulled away from his stiffest competitor. There, at the entrance of the synthetic track facility, the race was

Odida Parkinson crosses the line

Missigher crosses the line in first place

The Tyrell sisters took first and third place

good as their male counterparts, the race had thrills of its own. Tyrell bided her time behind the experienced Claudrice McKoy, perfecting her plan to take her closest rival down.

It was on the red track that she executed her master stroke, moving with long strides past McKoy, who was visibly tired by this point.

Nonetheless, McKoy finished second behind Tyrell’s first-place time of 43:00:87.

Tyrell’s younger sister Shaqua completed the podium, clocking a time of 45:27:47.

Aaliyah Headley (49:56:68) and Kissanna Glen (54:29:08) completed the top five.

Honourable mention in the Sunday afternoon race goes to 16-year-old Odida Parkinson, who romped smartly with the big dogs and maintained a position in the top 10. The youngster clocked 39:45:48 in what was his first-ever 10K outing.

The first-place finishers in both categories received $150,000, second place $125,000, while third place collected $100,000. The fourth- and fifth-place finishers pocketed $75,000 and $50,000 respectively.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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

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New Zealand crush West Indies GABBFF Championship to complete Ramsammy overall comprehensive champion, Fung Test win Page 21 retains Miss Bikini Pg 21

— Da Silva hits 50 on debut Caldeira, Sinclair among winners row

Missigher, Tyrell win 1st SA 10K

Briton John continues hot streak with backto-back time trial wins Pg 23

Page 22

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