Guyana Times - Monday February 22, 2021

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Prime Minister's wife talks about family, politics and supporting her husband Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4567

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Budget 2021 measures will boost revenue from logging, value-added production – NR Minister ...says ... says Guyana only produces 35% of logging quota Page 3

Giftland halts supply of electricity to GPL grid due to damaged turbocharger ...to be back up in 6-8 weeks – Beepat

See story on page 7

Guyanese, Surinamese take advantage of reopening of ferry service

Page 16

Passengers arriving at the Moleson Creek port from Suriname on Sunday following the recommencement of the Guyana-Suriname ferry service

Govt will continue to provide support for small businesses to grow – Min Walrond Page 9

— as Floor It Guyana opens showroom in Georgetown

Body found in septic tank

Murder suspect nabbed in minibus

Page 2

Murdered: Colin Anthony King

Fazal Mohamed Ibrahim

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

1 dead, 1 critical after Linden P10 Highway smash-up

Mahaicony P10 farmer crushed to death by water pump Mabaruma Town Council awaits expert advice on cutting down of century-old rubber trees P14

Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases stand at 498 P10 — as 21 new cases recorded in last 24 hours

Govt to build more courthouses along EBD P16 corridor, hinterland regions Caricom P12 congratulates St Lucia on its 42nd Independence Anniversary

2 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body found in septic tank

Murder suspect nabbed in minibus

Murdered: Colin Anthony King

H

ours after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued a wanted bulletin for Fazal Mohamed Ibrahim for questioning in relation to the murder of Colin Anthony King, whose body was found in a septic tank aback his Belle West, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home, he was arrested in Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Twenty-seven-year-old

Ibrahim also called “Scottie” is from Lot 38 Belle West, Canal No 2 Polder, WBD, but upon his arrest in a minibus on Sunday gave his address as Herstelling, EBD. Upon his arrest, he was handed over to agents of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) and will be interrogated on the murder accusation.

It was reported that Anthony, also called “Harry” or “Pablo”, was discovered on Saturday with chop wounds to his head in a septic tank at Second Street Belle West, WBD. He would have celebrated his 33rd birthday just a few days prior to the gruesome discovery. The now dead man would have moved in with one of his friends, where the birthday bash was held.

Fazal Mohamed Ibrahim after his arrest in Timehri

Other friends recalled leaving the party late that evening and not seeing King since. As such, a search party was launched for him during which his body was found in the septic tank.

The dead man’s distraught relatives stated that they had not heard from him since his mother’s funeral in 2019.

Speeding motorcyclist hospitalised after slamming into parked lorry

T

wenty-year-old Inzinaan Ishak of New Area, Canefield, East Canje, is now hospitalised after he collided with a

parked lorry in the village in the wee hours of Sunday.

Based on reports received, at about 04:35h, the young man was driving his motorcycle at a fast rate of speed when he lost control and slammed into the parked lorry. As a result of the collision, he reportedly fell onto the roadway and sustained severe body injuries.

He was picked up in a semi-conscious state

by public-spirited citizens and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He is reportedly suffering from a fractured left thigh, fractured jaw and lacerations about the body.

His condition is listed as serious but stable. An investigation has been launched into the accident.

Duo nabbed with ganja in hotel

T

wo men of Nabaclis and Haslington on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) were nabbed on Saturday evening in a hotel room in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), with a quantity of ganja.

Based on reports received, a team of Police ranks acted on information and swooped down on the hotel where the two males, both of whom are 25, were found in a room.

As such, the Police re-

quested to conduct a search in the room during which the cannabis as found in a black plastic bag. The two men were cautioned and told of the offence but one of them admitted ownership.

The two men were taken to the Bartica Police Station where the drugs were weighed in their presence and amounted to 80 grams.

They remain in custody as Police continue their investigations.

Charges are expected to be laid shortly.

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, February 22 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 12:30h – 02:00h and Tuesday, February 23 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:00h – 14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, February 22 – 12:10h – 13:40h and Tuesday, February 23 – 13:15h – 14:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect light cloud during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 5.36 metres.

Budget 2021 measures will boost revenue from logging, value-added production – NR Minister ...says Guyana only produces 35% of logging quota

E

ven though Guyana is a carbon sink, with large tracts of forest, Guyana’s extremely low deforestation rates pose an economic problem. According to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, Guyana only produces some 35 per cent of its permitted logging quota.

The Minister made this revelation during a recent episode of “Budget In Focus” aired on television stations across the country. According to Minister Bharrat, the Government intends to work with the ex-

we’re producing at about 30 to 35 per cent of our allowable cut and that is not satisfactory at all. That is what we need to work on and not just increase production, but to move towards value-added,” the Minister explained.

He referenced the recent opening of an $11 million showroom for Floor It Guyana, which displays a line of value-added Guyanese products that include kitchen cabinets, closets and other wood products. According to Bharrat, these are the type of invest-

back these traditional productive sectors. Oil is lucrative. We will make a lot of money as a country from oil and gas. But our traditional productive sectors are the ones that create the bulk of employment, especially agriculture and logging and mining. Oil and gas sector is not labour intensive.”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government has been taking active steps to resuscitate the logging sector, which has included revising the National Log Export Policy to allow for licensed timber dealers and

High Tide: 12:41h reaching a maximum height of 2.13 metres.

Low Tide: 06:08h and 18:55h reaching minimum heights of 1.2 metres and 1.03 metres.

Guyana only produces 35% of its logging quota

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

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FREE TICKET

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DAILY MILLIONS

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tractive industries, including the logging sector, in order to boost production.

“In logging, we will be working with the sector to ensure that we increase our production. Because when production increases, it means the loggers benefit, the Guyana Forestry Commission benefits, the country benefits as a whole.

Our exports will increase so we gain more foreign currency. So it’s a win-win situation.”

“The sad situation with logging right now is that

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$62.91/barrel

-1.62

Rough Rice

$236.34/ton

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London Sugar

$481.40/ton

+1.73

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1786.10

$1787.10

Low/High Change

$1781.10 +1.50

$1789.90 +0.08%

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

ments the logging sector needs.

“These are the kind of things we want to encourage. Because when we have value-added industries, it means right away you’re creating jobs. You’re building a Guyana brand. And that is what Budget 2021 will encourage.”

“It will ensure we build

sawmillers with Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to export logs, regardless of whether they own a concession.

Back in September 2020 when he was presenting the 2020 Emergency Budget, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had revealed that during the period of 2014 to 2019, the forestry sector

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

contracted by more than 30 per cent. He had noted that at the end of 2014, the GFC had a surplus of some $211 million.

By 2019, after four years of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, this had plummeted to a surplus of $2.3 million. The depleted state of the GFC is coupled with the reduction in exports, from US$53 million in 2014 to US$34 million in 2019.

The GFC itself was left in a state of bankruptcy by 2020. When the current Government took office last year, the agency did not even have sufficient funds to pay salaries and had owed money to utility companies.

This had raised questions as to how the agency went broke, since it was garnering revenues at the end of each year.

As a result of the financial state of the entity, President Dr Irfaan Ali had approved $350 million last year to bail out the Commission, ensuring that salaries were paid to staff and utility services covered.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Burnham’s dangerous legacy

D

avid Granger, leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), has vowed to continue the legacy of Forbes Burnham, his party’s “Founder Leader”, whose birth centenary they are planning to commemorate. What was that legacy? After 1968, the PNC jettisoned its junior coalition partner, the United Force (UF), and began to rig elections to remain in office. To retain power in a minority regime, Burnham introduced a form of governance (post-1968) that sought to establish and maintain absolute control over the State and society. The model of a “totalitarian state” introduced by Carl Friedrich, to analyse the nature of the Soviet State of the early fifties, can serve as a useful heuristic to do the same for the PNC regime.

First: A single mass party, led by a dictator. While Burnham allowed other parties to exist during the electoral-rigging era, those parties never threatened the PNC’s rule, and Guyana in actuality became a one-party State. That is, while other parties might have been permitted to exist, they were never allowed to compete effectively with the PNC. If they ever posed a real threat to the regime, as the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) did briefly by 1979, the totalitarian “sharper steel” (Burnham’s words”), was bared. The following year (not coincidentally), a new Constitution confirmed Burnham’s absolute control over Guyana.

Second: A system of terroristic control. The House of Israel — loyal to the PNC – “Kick down the door” bandits, arbitrary search and seizures by the Police, Police informers in every locality, assassinations, ostentatious marches by the army through Opposition strongholds, etc, kept the Opposition parties under control, and their supporters in terror. Indian-Guyanese responded to the pressure by mass migration: joining the earlier wave of migrants – primarily Portuguese. Soon half the country was abroad. For those who remained, corruption was institutionalised, as it became the avenue of relating to, and dealing with, the system. Corruption was power, and absolute corruption became absolute power.

Third: A near-monopoly control over mass communication and education. The Government’s nationalisation of, and PNC control over, the media (radio and newspapers – television was not permitted), and establishment of the GPSA in tandem with a programme of harassment of the opposition newspapers through libel suits and bans on newsprint, consummated this imperative. Schools were all nationalised, and mass games introduced.

Fourth: A near-monopoly control over the “coercive” apparatus of the State.

The Guyana Disciplined Forces — Army, Police Force, Fire Service, National Service, People’s Militia and National Guard Service — were expanded exponentially and staffed with a 90 per cent African-Guyanese membership. All officers swore personal loyalty to Forbes Burnham, to provide — along with the similarlyconstituted Police Force — the coercive basis for the PNC’s rule.

David Granger was in charge of their ideological training.

Fifth: The central control and direction of the economy. By the PNC’s boast, they nationalised 80 per cent of the economy by 1976. Party membership and support for the party’s position became prerequisites for maintaining a job. In Burnham’s words, those who were fired stayed fired. The co-operative, which was to be the cornerstone of the economy, was to be the vehicle for rewarding the poorer African-Guyanese supporter, but by the late 1970s, most had collapsed. African-Guyanese now joined the exodus to “foreign”.

Sixth: A near monopoly over all civil organisations. Trade Unions, religious organisations, schools, cultural organisations, and social bodies were all either subverted or controlled by the PNC intimidation: by buying off compliant leadership, or by the creation of paper organisations which were given governmental recognition and a place at the Government’s trough. IndianGuyanese leaders were placed in highly-visible but essentially powerless positions to create a façade of a “non-racial” Government.

Seventh: an official ideology. The PNC announced in 1974 it was a Marxist-Leninist party, and was reorganised as the “vanguard of the masses”. While there have been interminable discussions as to the “sincerity” of the PNC in its avowal; at a minimum, Marxism-Leninism gave the PNC an appropriate vocabulary and methodical postulate for its innovations and excesses.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Vitoria Bueno, a 16-year-old dancer born without arms, performs with classmates from the Andrea Falsarella ballet academy at the Inatel Theatre in Santa Rita do Sapucai, Brazil, February 5, 2021. Bueno’s talent has made her a social media star and an inspiration to many. “For me, arms, they’re just a detail,” she said. “I follow with my eyes, as if they were there.” (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

For a professional, depoliticised, and independent public service (Part 1)

T

he Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the public service submitted its report to then President David Granger in May 2016 by Professor Harold Lutchman, Chair of the Commission. The report was also circulated to Members of the National Assembly for debate and consideration.

There was no debate following a disagreement between the Government and Opposition on referring the report to a Select Committee of the National Assembly.

Many of 87 CoI recommendations support the creation of a professional and politically neutral public service to provide for efficient and effective service to the national community. The Government and the Public Service Ministry should carefully consider the CoI report and its recommendations.

Lutchman’s CoI notes that Guyana’s Constitution provides for an independent Public Service Commission on employment matters for the public service. However, there is no law governing the Public Service Ministry which should function under a Public Service Law in which the governing principles are stipulated. The basic principles would be embodied in a Public Service Act along with appropriate regulations as recommended by the G Burgess and J K Hunn Report on Public Administration in Guyana, dated November 16, 1966.

The Burgess and Hunn Report recommended a strong, well structured, and capable Public Service

Ministry, supported by a Public Service Act which defines the functions of a Public Service Ministry as the lead Ministry responsible for public management and administration.

Such an Act defines the status and duties of the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry with powers, duties and responsibilities for the effective organisation of the departmental and ministerial machinery of Government, and human resource management, outside the constitutional duties of the Public Service Commission.

The report also specifically recommended, “that the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry be the convener of the Permanent Secretaries’ Committee to discuss and implement ways and means of improving efficiency and economy.”

The Burgess and Hunn Report further emphasises that a Public Service Act is generally regarded as a fundamental requirement and is referred to in the revised New Zealand’s State Service Act 1988 which outlines the purpose of such an Act as “to promote and uphold a state sector system, which: • is imbued with the spirit of service to the community; • operates in the collective interests of Government; • maintains appropriate standards of integrity and conduct; • maintains political neutrality; • is supported by an effective workforce and personnel arrangements;

• meets good-employer arrangements; • is driven by a culture of excellence and efficiency; and • fosters a culture stewardship”.

The Bertram Collins Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service, dated May 26, 1969, affirms the justification of the creation of the Public Service Ministry with defined functions and responsibilities for continued improvement of the public service. The Collins Commission also supported the enactment of legislation for a strong public service embodied in a Public Service Act. This is a common feature for effective public management and public administration in Caricom countries.

Such legislation can be found in the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. In Canada, its Public Service Employment Act provides for a “Public Service that is based on merit and non-partisanship and in which these values are independently safeguarded” by its Independent Public Service Commission which has exclusive authority on public service appointments.

Professor Lutchman’s CoI into the Public Service of May 11, 2016, in its first recommendation, (number 1) strongly supports the enactment of a Public Service Law which provides for professional and effective public management by the Public Service Commission, having regard to its constitutional functions, and by extension,

a Public Service Ministry should be enacted.

Such a law establishes the Public Service Ministry, defines the functions of such a Ministry, identifies the Permanent Secretary as the Head of the Public Service, and as Chairman of a Committee of all Permanent Secretaries to advise the Government on public management matters for the improvement and efficiency of the public service, among other relevant provisions, and “to insulate the public service from irregular political influences and other external pressures”. (Drawing from Barbados and examples of Caricom countries and PSC Circular No 46 of 1966, and other international examples)

Permanent Secretaries and Professional Relations with Ministers

The public administration system, in line with the Constitution, Article 115 and other laws, mandate that where any Minister has been charged with the responsibility for any department of Government, the Minister shall exercise general direction and control over that department. Such direction and control is of a general and policy nature. While the Minister is primarily concerned with the determination of policy, the Permanent Secretary and the technical and other staff under the Permanent Secretary are required to faithfully implement the policy decisions of the Government of the day in an impartial and professional manner.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

5

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

To be or not to be, that is the question Dear Editor, The first few words of a famous soliloquy from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, was featured humorously, ironically and sarcastically in a recent pronouncement.

It poked fun at its dreary, melodramatic nature, while, at the said time, it seemed to be placing the knee on the neck as a stifling choke and to hold the victim under duress for a handsome ransom. To be, or not to be, that is the question. Do you want to be a friend or do you want to be befriended as a foe? Perhaps, you want to be neither an ally nor an enemy and stay neutral. Again, another choice will be not to be any.

Finally, you can settle to be all of the aforementioned.

Strange but true, you can exercise choices or you can be manipulated or you can be

dictated to. Conditions may provoke a contingent factor and you remain choiceless. But you cannot be a friend and stay neutral or an enemy and stay neutral.

Guyanese are provoked to take a stand or a side sometime or the other in life, especially domiciling at home under testing times continuously. True, there are Guyanese who are naïve or gullible, many are sensitive or smart, others are intelligent or average and then, you will find a few who are easily fooled or pampered.

Would you as a Guyanese want to befriend someone who is a liar, dishonest, conniving and slick? How would you react to someone who is shady, foxy, sly and crooked? Then again, would you want to hang out with a person whose hand is stained with blood, who is callous,

who lurks in the dark with a dagger, who sets bobby traps, who dig holes for you to fall in, who leads you astray, who takes away your bread and butter, who denies you the needed support and who arranges for your demise?

Do you want to be associated with a crook, a criminal, a callous character, and a catastrophic calamity? Are you prepared to deal with a traitor, a racist, a brute and a violent individual? Can you share company with a double-crosser, a hypocrite, a deceiver and an untrustworthy person?

Unhesitatingly, should you not abstain from a dangerous, deceptive, villainous and rogue element? Why be in friendship with a person who steals, who covets his neighbour’s property, who fools you and who is a mis-

chief-maker?

The mind tends to play tricks with us as we advance in age and we become amnesic. Sometimes we deliberately forget some things conveniently and tend not to remind ourselves or others about devious events.

Yet again, we hope others would not remember some of the many alarming altercations we encountered that we wished did not happen.

Cause and effect are beyond reproach and the control factor slips away from us. Doubt and uncertainty strike indecisiveness, leading man to straddle the line between action and inaction.

On the other hand, in life and death, the fear of uncertainty when dying brings about torment and the possibility of ending up in a place labelled as hell, a place even more miserable than life. No

For a professional, depoliticised...

The Permanent Secretary assists the Minister in the formulation of policies, prepares papers for Cabinet, and is also the Accounting Officer who manages, and is accountable for the funds voted by National Assembly for the ministerial departments, and is answerable to the Public Accounts Committee of National Assembly for public expenditure. These duties and responsibilities have not changed since the PSC Circular No 46 of 1966, embodying an extract from a speech from the then Prime Minister, LFS Burnham, and was circulated to public officers in November 1966, noting that the Permanent Secretary is the Accounting Officer and states that: “…

A Minister should never, therefore, give instructions for expenditure to be incurred on any project without prior consultation with his Permanent Secretary to ascertain that appropriate funds are available…”

In a letter dated May 5, 1989, to Permanent Secretaries, former President Desmond Hoyte states that under the Constitution, Permanent Secretaries have the responsibility to manage their Ministries, to advise

their Ministers, to help the Ministers in the formulation of policies, and the effective management of the resources of personnel, finance, stores, plant, machinery, equipment, vehicles and buildings. The letter further warns that: “…No Minister has authority to direct a Permanent Secretary to ignore the law or to breach regulations and directives governing the administration of finances, the use of Government property, etc.

Indeed, no Minister has the power to direct a Permanent Secretary to commit any other act that is unlawful or otherwise irregular…”

President Hoyte’s letter also reiterates that a Permanent Secretary is expected, and is required to act strictly within the scope of law and relevant regulations and other rules governing the management of finances and other resources. The letter further admonishes Permanent Secretaries to bear in mind that the Public Service exists to serve the people promptly and in an efficient manner, and to treat all with courtesy and consideration.

The Permanent Secretaries are to ensure

the Public Service delivers quality service to the citizens and the public at all times. The Permanent Secretary and the Minister’s principal technical staff are concerned with providing advice and assistance in policy determination and formulation. This calls for a cordial working relationship among the Permanent Secretary, technical staff and the Minister and the permanent staff of an impartial public service in a spirit of mutual respect and confidence. “The Permanent Secretary is not a clerk for the Minister.”

In keeping with the foregoing principles and with the supporting testimonies of many witnesses to Professor Lutchhman’s CoI into the Public Service of May 11, 2016, affirms these principles for a capable, professional, and efficient

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FROM PAGE 4

public service as outlined in PSC Circular No 46 of 1966, and President Hoyte’s letter on May 5, 1989, as sound, valid and relevant for the contemporary situation in the public service in Guyana. These principles are strongly recommended to be incorporated in Public Service Law, and related regulations. (Rec. # 1) The Government and the National Assembly are again requested to give serious consideration or pronounce otherwise. The public is invited to join in this discussion on the proposals for the creation of a professional, depoliticised, and independent public service by law in the national interest.

Other recommendations of the CoI of May 11, 2016, will follow in another letter.

Yours sincerely, Samuel J Goolsarran

hen you take your body to different places, and when you go about moving aimlessly, the mind also goes to different places.

If the body is moving all the time, then the mind is also moving. If you have a container filled with water, if the container is continually shaking, then the contents will continually be shaky too. So we should not keep moving our body and limbs in an aimless manner; this is a very essential part of our practice of meditation. We should sit quiet and the body should be steady. Why do we ask people to sit straight and to sit quiet in meditation?

Because when the body is straight and quiet, the mind inside is also straight and quiet. If you cannot control your body, how can you control your mind? The first thing is to control your body by steadying all the limbs and body organs. The basis for the mind wandering is that your physical body is also constantly wandering. So first give up that. (Divine Discourse, Mar 28, 1975)

Shri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation

wonder an intelligent person may attempt to grapple with a difficult decision, deliberating whether to attack, defend or stand aside in this mad rush to live life decisively, decidedly and deliberately and then, only to re-track, sidetrack or run off track.

As the remaining days become less and less available, the clock ticks steadfastly, forcing us to look back and lessen our burden with a light heart. Guilt strikes our conscience for us to ramble openly. The dire need to confess becomes more and more convincing. When the bell rings, we want to be ready to accept any tale or toll.

We want to be brash, bold or brazen to answer the knock on the door with a smile.

Isn’t it time that we stop, pause, ponder and be privileged that there still exists a chance and moment for redemption? Don’t let the opportunity slip away, for too late shall be the cry.

Hopefully, to be, or not to be will unmask the masquerade. Do carefully choose who should be your friend and who shouldn’t be. Don’t forget, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Man’s best friend has always been not human.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

The Corentyne River bridge is an excellent investment for brighter future for SurinameGuyana Dear Editor, I refer to Mr Charles Sohan's attack on the concept of the Corentyne River bridge to which the Government of Guyana is committed. (GT20/02/21).

Mr Sohan feels that the money spent on the Bridge could better be spent to improve the ferry between Guyana and Suriname since the small traffic on the bridge would never repay the investment on it.

Actually, Mr Sohan is thinking in a very narrow economic context and fails to take into account the broader economic and socio-political effect of the bridge. With the bridge, the amount of traffic moving between Guyana and Suriname would immedi-

ately increase many hundredfolds far beyond what the ferry now carries.

Indeed, one may work in Suriname or Guyana and return home the same day to Paramaribo or Georgetown and trade would exponentially increase.

Mr Sohan made a similar misassessment when he supported the APNU/AFC before the 2015 elections and wrote many letters in support of the coalition.

APNU/AFC deeply disappointed those who gave it support and Mr Sohan is still to write a letter of contrition or apology.

Yours sincerely, Paul Validum Ramlochan

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄ Friday’s answers

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

1a) The ratio of lettuce to boulanger is 70:110 1b) 70:110 reduced to its lowest terms = 7:11 1c) The total number of packets = 70 + 110 = 180 1d) The percentage of boulanger planted = the packets of boulanger planted ÷ the total number of packages planted x 100 = 110 ÷ 180 x 100 = 61.111 = 61 (when rounded to the nearest whole number)

Materials

1 (or 2) bottles of water, soda, or juice

Instructions

Put the bottle into the freezer for 45 minutes.

Wait 45 minutes.

Test to see if it is supercooled: put an ice cube in a glass and pour a little liquid out of the bottle. If it is supercooled, it will turn the consistency of a milkshake.

If it is still completely liquid, put the bottle back into the freezer with the lid screwed on for 15 minutes.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have a supercool treat.

If your bottle freezes solid in the freezer, you can try the backup bottle (if you used two bottles) or run the frozen bottle under warm water until it thaws.

A

man had two gamecocks in his poultry-yard.

One day by chance he found a tame partridge for sale. He purchased it and brought it home to be reared with his gamecocks. When the partridge was put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it and followed it about, so that the partridge became grievously troubled and supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the cocks fighting together and not separating before one had well beaten the other. He then said to himself, "I shall no longer distress myself at being struck at by these gamecocks, when I see that they cannot even refrain from quarrelling with each other."

WORD SEARCH How does it work?

Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). It is possible to bring it below 0 degrees C, but usually only for a little while, and only if there are no ice crystals formed in the water yet. Once the supercool water forms a crystal or touches another piece of ice, it freezes in a hurry! (sciencefun.org)

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Giftland halts supply of electricity to GPL grid due to damaged turbocharger ...to be back up in 6-8 weeks – Beepat

A

fter starting with a “good run”, the Giftland Mall’s supply of electricity to the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) was disrupted after a surge in power blew its turbocharger.

This was revealed by Chairman of the Giftland Group, Roy Beepat, during a recent interview with Guyana Times.

“We had an accident where [GPL] had a feedback to our turbocharger and they blew it from the grid. So, right now we’re waiting for the new turbocharger to come in so that we could start resupplying the grid,” he explained.

According to Beepat, this occurred back in December 2020 and the system is expected to be back up in two months’ time.

“They had a voltage surge on the line and we have three feedback which failed to protect our equipment. It’s unfortunate. So, we’re trying to work it out so that it doesn’t happen again and we hope to be back up in another six to eight weeks,” the Giftland Boss noted.

He further stated that Giftland is funding the full cost to repair the turbocharger.

“Although it wasn’t our fault, the contract that we have doesn’t bind GPL to any liabilities. So, any incidents like that – a damage to our

Giftland Chairman Roy Beepat

equipment – we’re liable for it,” he added.

Giftland started to supply the GPL grid with electricity in October 2020. It has a system that produces 6.7 megawatts of electricity, 5 megawatts of which is HFO [heavy fuel oil] fuelled. However, it only uses 1.6 megawatts during prime operations at the Mall.

As such, Government tapped into the excess power supply to boost the capacity of the GPL grid, which currently has a generating capacity of 155 megawatts.

Beepat, when asked, could not say how much power Giftland had supplied to the grid since it started to supply electricity in October to December before the system went down.

As it is, GPL only takes power from Giftland’s supply according to what it needs.

But the Giftland Chairman is confident that once its system is back up, its supply of power to the GPL grid would increase given the massive transformation Guyana’s economy is embarking on.

“We have an expanding economy and an increased demand of power, and we also have very old and aged equipment. In April, we expect the new Wartsila will come online and that’s 45 megawatts.

However, with the growth and demand, that may not be enough especially when you consider we’re using some engines that are 30 to 50 years old.”

“Those engines as they come offline, they will create more demand within the space. The Government has prorated us in order of priority, and that’s done by order of the economy and economics of it… So, if our cost to the grid is 11 cents per kilowatt-hour and using the caterpillar costs 22 cents then if they need power, they told me that they would use our 11 cents instead of their 22 cents. We have to believe that to be true so if the demand for power is there, and they need a cheaper source than what they have then they would give us the contract to supply.

But it is very much according to costs and needs,” Beepat outlined.

According to the agreement between Government

and Giftland, an average of US$46,000 will be paid per month for power from Giftland. This would translate to some $9.9 million per month to Giftland while GPL will additionally be paying for fuel at around $25.6 million per month. In total, this would work out to approximately $35.5 million per month.

Meanwhile, Government is constructing a US$50 million power plant at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara, that will house the five Wartsila generators to add some 46.5MW power to the grid.

During a recent appearance on NCN’s “Budget in Focus”, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips explained that GPL’s main issue is not power generation but the transmission and distribution system, which is undergoing daily repairs.

“We have an old transmission and distribution system that is challenging…

So, even if you have enough or adequate power to supply the whole Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), from time to time people suffer outages and many of those outages are linked towards the repairs being done to the aged distribution system,” he noted.

Nevertheless, the PM posited that with this 46 MW ca-

Prime Minister Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

pacity added to the system, some of these woes will be alleviated.

In presenting the 2021 national budget over a week ago, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh disclosed that electricity supply is estimated to have grown in 2020 by 1.2 per cent.

With this figure slated to further increase this year, Government is pushing to expand its energy supply to Guyanese across the country with more reliable electricity at an affordable cost.

To this end, Government is embarking on piping gas to shore to meet the growing demand for electricity.

Conceptualised as a 210-kilometre pipeline to transport natural gas from offshore Guyana, the gas to power project will be the trailblazer to advance Guyana’s path to domestic energy security within the next three years.

“This transformational project includes the establishment of a power plant to generate up to 250 MW of power, the establishment of an industrial park, including industries to support our agricultural and manufacturing sectors and the creation of a local LPG plant to cater for domestic demand and export. During 2021, detailed geophysical, geotechnical, engineering and environmental impact assessment studies will be launched to inform Government on technical considerations, as we advance efforts to land the gas onshore and bring the power plant into operation by mid-2023,” Minister Singh had noted, The plan is to have the pipeline land at the former Wales Sugar Estate which will now be transformed into the Wales Development Authority (WDA) to house all the facilities and services the Minister mentioned.

On the sustainable side, the PPP/C Administration is also looking at building an energy mix and as such, will be reactivating efforts to bring the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP) into reality.

In fact, PM Phillips explained that his Government wants to have at least 400 MW of power available in Guyana through natural gas, hydro, solar and wind between now and 2025. (Vahnu Manickchand)

8 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Duo gets bail on firearm, ammo possession charges

D

erick Norton was on Friday granted bail in the sum of $200,000 by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The Police stated that on February 11, 2021, at Princes Street, Georgetown, Norton had an unlicensed firearm and several matching rounds of ammunition in his possession.

The court heard that on the day in question, Police would have reviewed CCTV footage of the area. It was pointed out that the ac-

Derick Norton

Danny Rajkumar

cused was seen at a funeral with a black side bag which was then placed on a motorcycle.

The bag was then picked

up by an identifiable female. When ranks arrived at the area, they retrieved the bag, which contained the unlicensed firearm and

Motorcycle thief gets $200,000 bail

L

ouie Lewis of West Ruimveldt appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday after he was accused of stealing a motorcycle belonging to one of his acquaintances, Vinshawly Kandasammy.

He was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 and is set to return to court on April 9, 2021.

Lewis appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly

where he denied the charge which stated that between June 5 and June 6, 2020, at Lot 227 West Ruimveldt, he stole one black Yamaha 1000 motorcycle bearing registration number CF 8564, valued at $2 million, property of Kandasammy.

According to the prosecutor’s facts on the matter, Lewis and Kandasammy are said to be well known to each other.

However, on the day

in question, Kandasammy parked his motorcycle at his home but when he woke up the following morning, he discovered that the motorcycle was missing. He immediately made a Police report.

Sometime later, Kandasammy, while in the vicinity of Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), saw Lewis riding his bike. He immediately alerted the Police and the man was arrested and charged.

ammunition, from the female. Both of them were arrested and interrogated.

However, Norton was charged for the offence. He will make his next court appearance on April 9, 2021 Meanwhile, Danny Rajkumar also appeared before Magistrate Daly where he was charged with a similar offence.

Police stated that on February 15, 2021, at Takubo Road, Tucville, he had one black and silver .32 Taurus pistol in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

He was arrested and placed before that courts.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and offered an explanation to the sitting Magistrate after which he was granted bail in the sum of $150,000. He will return to court on April 23, 2021.

2 charged for assault, damage to property

S

hadah Alexander of East Ruimveldt appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday to answer to charges of damage to property and assault.

He appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, where the first charge read to him stated that on February 15, 2021, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged one Alcatel cellular phone valued at $15,000, property of Akeem George.

In addition, the second charged further detailed that on the same day and place, he assaulted George.

Alexander pleaded guilty to the assault charge while denying the damage to property charge.

He was fined $5000 for the assault charge and was granted self-bail for the damage to property charge.

Alexander is set to return to court on April 12, 2021.

Meanwhile, Alvin Adbool Grannum also found himself before Magistrate Daly and was slapped with a fine for an alleged assault committed on Lesley Hope.

The charge stated that on January 22, 2021, at Garnett Street Kitty, while in the company of an identifiable male, Grannum pulled Hope off his bicycle, threw him onto the ground and dealt him several cuffs about his body.

Grannum pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 with an alternative of one week’s imprisonment.

“Oneness”...

W

...trashed by Stabber ith some people, the PPP just can’t win...especially when the said people have control of media to challenge the latter while pretending to be speaking “for the people”. Take the Stabber’s editorial from their Sunday edition, “Oneness”. What a snide slash-andburn they did on President Irfaan Ali’s announcement that he wasn’t just determined to foster a spirit of “oneness” in our society, but he’d already launched the vehicle to execute the task – The “One Guyana Commission” headed by his Prime Minister, Mark Phillips.

After passing through one of the most divisive elections in our history – which ain’t no mean feat, after Burnham’s outrageous electoral heists! – who could question that our country needs to come together? Even the Stabber understood where the President “was coming from” by quoting him: “It is time to set those two impostors (partisan politics and partisan ambition) aside...and to embrace in their place the virtuous cause of patriotic duty.” But no... the Stabber “played stupid” and asserted that all Guyanese are “patriotic in relation to foreign states”. Of course, they are! But how does that contradict the President’s call for us to also exhibit our patriotism towards all our fellow citizens?

How can we say we love our country and not love our fellow citizens? Is “our country” just the land? How prosaic!

Incredibly, the Stabber defended “the partisanship” which the President decried! Surely, they can’t be oblivious to the seismic threat to our country’s survival posed by the PNC’s “partisanship” that demanded their supporters believe that their rigging elections was “for the good for the country”!!

That they accept Mingo’s concocted figures they insisted matched theirs – but still wouldn’t show their SoPs!! Isn’t this the kind of “partisanship” that caused the invasion of Capitol Hill? Is the Stabber willing to also defend that?

Observing the President’s announcement that the programme “will encompass and respect the diversity from which our “oneness” originates”, the Stabber snarkily sneered: “The least that can be said about this is that it sounds like a contradiction in terms. Diversity in and of itself will not generate ‘oneness’. That kind of ‘unity’ normally presupposes a common foundation for the society and greater homogeneity than is evident here.”

What kind of backward, antediluvian nonsense is this?

“Greater homogeneity”? What is this? In what area of life?

“Culture” with the return of the British colonial “white masks over black faces” imperative? So we can only have “oneness” when we jettison cultural differences and become like those controlling the Stabber?

Why can’t it be, as the President seems to assume, that it’s only when we’re each proud of our uniqueness, we won’t have to denigrate “the other”?

Gwan da side, Stabber! ...and COVID-19 vaccines One letter writer advises that our government should “plead” with India for COVID-19 vaccines. He’s convinced the West won’t share theirs. But even though India’s been boasting about its “vaccine diplomacy”: sending its AstraZeneca to its neighbours and countries as far afield as Saudi Arabia and Brazil, Guyana hasn’t been on their radar.

What made this even more pointed was that India clearly wasn’t guided by size or wealth of its beneficiaries: even tiny Barbados received 100,000 shots and even tinier Dominica, 70,000! Guyana had to be grateful for the 3000 shots shared

by Barbados!

The question, of course, is why has Guyana been ignored?

Is it really because they hadn’t “pleaded”? But had Barbados pleaded? Your Eyewitness doesn’t think Mia Mottley is the “pleading kind”! Guyana has had very close diplomatic relations with India even before independence. And this has nothing to do with the People of Indian Origin living here.

Indira Gandhi was closer to Burnham than Jagan! So what gives on the vaccines? ...with cocaine smuggling Your Eyewitness was a bit taken aback by the headline on the woman nabbed smuggling cocaine in her vagina. Was he being prudish?

But he wondered why the greater quantity ingested wasn’t headlined!

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt will continue to provide support for small businesses to grow – Min Walrond — as Floor It Guyana opens showroom in Georgetown

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues

O

ne of the main objectives of the Government of Guyana is to provide the necessary assistance to small businesses for them to grow since they are the key to unlocking economic opportunities and achieving inclusive economic growth.

These were the sentiments of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond while addressing guests and colleagues at the launch of

Floor It Guyana’s showroom at Oronoque and Foreshaw Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown.

The Minister stated that the launch of the Floor It Guyana showroom exemplifies the vision and philosophy of the Government for small business intervention.

She explained that her Ministry through the Small Business Bureau continues to provide support to the small and micro enterpris-

es in the form of grants and loans.

“Our President Dr Irfaan Ali has repeatedly articulated that the Government must support small businesses and this is evident since, in the 2021 budget, over 250 million was allocated to small businesses development fund.”

The Minister further stated that these initiatives are not just about the Government putting money into businesses, but it is a signal that they are investing in the growth and development of small businesses.

“The objective is clear, we want to provide the [means] for growth, with the expectation that these businesses will emerge and move from micro-enterprises to larger corporations that will provide employment and contribute to our gross domestic product.”

The Minister added that Floor It Guyana is an example of how small businesses can emerge in due time with the assistance and commit-

ment of the Government.

“Floor It has benefited from the services of the Small Business Bureau.

This type of outcome is exactly what we envisioned, a small entity providing employment and contributing to the economy… Floor it now has over 50 on its payroll across three locations,” Walrond noted.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues said Guyana is on the cusp of transformation and the Government will ensure that there are the necessary policies and programmes that will see Guyanese benefiting in a big way.

She posited that Guyanese have to start protecting their local content, now that there is an eagerness for investing and expansion. Minister Rodrigues further added that in the 2021 budget, the Government has removed the vat on construction materials to foster more in-

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond

vestments.

“This will boost the confidence that the Private Sector has in our Government… I wish to assure the Private Sector, that you have a partner in this Government, that we will work with you, that we are serious about our commitments that we made to the public,” she alluded.

She added that the Government cannot fulfil all of those commitments on its own, and would need the Private Sector’s assistance.

“At the end of the day,

[what] we want is national pride and national prosperity. We are serious about ensuring that the welfare of Guyanese and the standard of living for every Guyanese is enhanced, and that must happen...” she added.

Also present at the event was Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, Chairman of ActionInvest Caribbean Inc, Dr Vishnu Dorgea, and President of Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) Shyam Nokta.

Govt not accepting “bluff and fluff ” work – Minister Edghill — contractors must be held accountable

G

overnment is taking all necessary measures to ensure greater accountability and financial management of public contracts, according to Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill.

To this end, his Ministry has employed a “boots on the ground” approach to ensure that work being executed by contractors meet all requirements and Guyanese receive value for their money.

Minister Edghill made these comments on a “Budget in Focus” programme on the National Communications Network (NCN).

“Of course, you can see both myself and my Minister within the Ministry out there ensuring that we are not receiving bluff and fluff in papers and reports and emails and WhatsApp messages, but we are see-

ing for ourselves what is on the ground. It is us taking a boots on the ground approach whether it’s roads, sea defences, or supply of contracts.”

The Minister on Friday ordered that the contract for the Leguan Stelling be terminated. The $413 million work agreement was two years overdue, although it was expected to last for just six months when signed in September 2018, under the former Government.

Minister Edghill said the work was rife with maladministration, corruption and mismanagement.

“This is for contractors across the workboard. Any contractor who is not performing, we will terminate the contract. We have to terminate the contract at Speightland where the people are suffering. We have

tried over the years to get the work completed although it’s already bad. I have another contract for the St Cuthbert Mission road, which is ripe for termination. These are contracts that were signed on the 31st of December 2018, just after the passage of the No-Confidence Motion,” he stated.

Minister Edghill noted that he will be notifying the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board of the poor performance of contractors so that their bid for work in other Ministries will not be considered.

“They must not be allowed to get work, because the Board must know that these people come in with their nice fluff and write up for contracts, but they can’t deliver.”

He said he has also put

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

the engineers at his Ministry on notice, that should they sign off on payments for works unsatisfactorily done, they will be dismissed.

“You are put there to protect the public purse, not facilitate mischief and allow contractors to rape the country,” Minister Edghill said of the engineers. He said the Government wants contractors to be partners in the infrastructural development of Guyana.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases stand at 498 – as 21 new cases recorded in last 24 hours

T

he Ministry of Health has reported that another 21 new novel coronavirus cases were detected in the last 24 hours from some 1294 tests conducted in Guyana.

According to new statistics released by the Ministry on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana is now 8420 – 4358 males and 4061 females.

However, the country’s active cases continue to increase with the figure now at 498 – 17 more than what was reported on Saturday.

Of the current active cases, 10 persons remain in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the other 488 persons are in isolation, that is, 38 in institutional quarantine and the remaining 450 in home isolation.

There are also 11 persons in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 189, with the latest fatality recorded on Tuesday last when a 69-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Additionally, the number of persons who have recovered from the life-threatening virus has also gone up to 7733, that is, four more recoveries when compared to the previous day.

To date, some 60,094 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

Of the 21 new cases recorded on Sunday, one was detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 16 cases in the

Demerara-Mahaica region, and the other four cases in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The figures in the other seven regions – Region One (Barima-Waini); Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – remained the same.

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.

As the number of cases continues to increase in the country, Government

1 dead, 1 critical after Linden Highway smash-up

A

60-year-old man is now dead, while another is seriously injured, following an accident on Dora Public Road, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Saturday evening.

The dead man has been identified as Murvey Andrew Madhoo of Independence Boulevard La Penitence, Georgetown. The injured person, Sherwin Rhodius, is said to be hospitalised in a critical condition.

According to the Police report, at about 20:00h on the day in question, a motor pick-up was stationary on the western side of the Dora Public Road while transferring goods to another vehicle when the driver

Dead: Murvey Andrew Madhoo

of a speeding motor lorry allegedly lost control and collided with one of the pickups.

It was reported that the

right-side front of the lorry collided with the right-side front of the pick-up which then collided with Madhoo and Sherwin Rhodius, both of whom were standing between the two vehicles.

As a result of the collision, the two men sustained severe injuries. Madhoo was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival while Rhodius was rushed to Linden Public Hospital Complex where he was admitted as a patient.

His condition is regarded as critical.

Following the accident, a breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the truck and he was found to be below the legal limit of alcohol. He was nevertheless taken into Police custody.

The body of the dead man is at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. An investigation has been launched into the accident.

two weeks ago rolled out the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines to frontline workers and persons with comorbidities to protect against the deadly virus.

This batch of AstraZeneca vaccines was donated by the Government of Barbados and Guyana is awaiting the arrival of the jabs from the COVAX facility.

Nevertheless, health authorities are reminding all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 14), which are in effect until February 28, 2021.

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.

Meanwhile, the measures also stipulate a curfew from 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (04:00 am).

Restaurants and places of worship continue to operate at 40 per cent capacity.

Gyms are to operate at 50 per cent capacity while sporting events are only permitted with approval from the

Health Minister.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 2267480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov. gy.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 110,749,023 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 2,455,131 deaths.

WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 49,296,115 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 1,171,294.

Mahaicony farmer crushed to death by water pump

A

farmer was on Sunday crushed to death by a water pump he was operating at his backdam located at Esau and Jacob Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man has been identified as 51-year-old Seegobin Persaud, a rice farmer of Mortis Mahaicony,

ECD, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

Based on reports received, Persaud would normally pump water into his farmland with a water pump attached to a tractor.

He was seen going into his rice field on Sunday. However, at about 15:00h, his son went to check on his father but in-

stead found his dismembered body. The young man raised an alarm and the Police were contacted.

The severely injured man was taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An investigation has been launched into the gruesome incident.

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Investor to set up US$2M concrete plant in Linden

– after Govt outlines development agenda for Reg 10

By Jarryl Bryan

B

udgets are not just about fiscal plans and economic growth figures. They also contain a road map of the Government’s developmental vision, and one investor paying keen attention to

in Linden.

“Basically, what happened is after the President (Dr Irfaan Ali) came to Linden and announced the thousand house project, we realised that Linden does not have the kind of facility in terms of concrete, ready mix and so on. Basically,

Chetram explained.

Chetram, whose company is Caribbean Concrete Guyana Limited, already has a sawmill and zinc factory and so has a foothold in the construction sector. He noted that with the expected demand the construction of the thousand homes proj-

The concrete plant at Amelia’s Ward Industrial site

the current Government’s agenda has taken the bold step to make a huge investment in the mining town of Linden.

Thirty-eight-year-old Amar Chetram, who is in the process of establishing a US$2 million concrete production facility in Amelia’s Ward Industrial site, Linden, spoke of how he was inspired by the Government’s developmental agenda for Region 10 and the expected demand for concrete produced right

what everyone does is they use the old-fashioned way of spade, ransom, the most equipment they would use in terms of getting readymix.”

“For them to get ready mix in Linden they have to use the people in Georgetown or East Bank, which is very costly for them. By the time the truck drive and reach to Linden, the concrete already gets hard. So, they couldn’t get quality concrete to build infrastructure in Linden,”

ect and other projects like the Linden to Lethem road will create, investing in the facility made business sense.

“They will need concrete for the shoulders and all these things. So, we looked into those markets, if the Government decides to use concrete and do concrete shoulders. And then we realised they’ve been doing a lot of concrete drains and culverts. That made us actually invest into the project.”

The businessman described the plant as a stateof-the-art one, capable of producing up to 1000 cubic yards of cement per day.

Chetram explained that the project is likely to employ around 50 persons, although this could increase depending on the demand for concrete.

According to Chetram, who only last week inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Ramsaroop, they expect the project to become operational within two months.

“We currently have around 20 (workers) on-site working now, getting the office buildings and other things done. We have normal clerical persons. And these are persons from Linden. We’re looking to hire persons from the community, unless we can’t get people from the community, then we have to source them from outside the community,” he said.

“We have the plant and everything on-site now. We have equipment coming in.

We were waiting to sign

Investor Amar Chetram

the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with GOInvest to get our concessions and so on, so we are in preparation to ship. We would have already bought a lot of the equipment and stuff already. Now that we signed last week, we will start shipping out.”

The long-awaited Linden to Lethem road, funding for which was put on pause by the British Government owing to the political upheaval in Guyana, is likely to see work beginning sometime this year.

The Linden to Lethem road, a key link between Guyana and Brazil with the potential to boost trade, is at present little more than an unsurfaced trail that deteriorates in rainfall. As

such, the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme, administered through the CDB, will be providing funding for the first phase of the road from Linden to Mabura Hill, as well as a crossing at Kurupukari.

During a stakeholder consultation with members of Cabinet at Watooka Complex in the mining town last month, President Ali, who was accompanied by a number of Government Ministers and State agency representatives, had announced plans for the construction of 1000 houses in Linden.

The President, in his address, told residents that Government is working along with the Private Sector and the financial institutions to soon make the 1000 homes project a reality. In response to the issues of squatting and inaccessibility of land, which were outlined as issues plaguing the community by Regional Chairman Deron Adams, the President assured that Government would place focus on the housing sector, to meet the needs of the people.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom congratulates GWI commences replacing aged St Lucia on its 42nd transmission lines in city Independence Anniversary

T

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) has congratulated the Government and people of Saint Lucia on the country’s 42nd Independence Anniversary which will be celebrated today under the theme “A Resilient Nation.

We can, we will”.

“The many achievements of Saint Lucia as an independent nation serve as testimony to the strength and resilience of its exceptionally talented and innovative people,” Caricom Secretary

General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said in a congratulatory message to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.

“It is those characteristics which will enable Saint Lucia to continue on its path to sustainable de-

Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

velopment despite the challenges brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic,” the Secretary General added.

He noted that the efforts of the Government and people of Saint Lucia to advance the regional integration process are most appreciated.

“I am particularly ap-

preciative of your dynamic leadership, as the Head of Government with responsibility in the QuasiCabinet for Sustainable Development (including Environment and Disaster Management and Water) and do look forward to Saint Lucia’s continued and active engagement in advocating in favour of the Community’s objectives,” Ambassador LaRocque posited.

“Honourable Prime Minister, as Saint Lucians mark this important milestone, our Caricom family and I celebrate with you, and extend best wishes for the continued growth and advancement of Saint Lucia.”

T

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh at the site of the breakage in the vicinity of the Bank of Guyana

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in 2021 will intensify efforts to replace the over 100-year-old transmission lines in Georgetown, with the support of Central Government.

This is according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, on Sunday during a visit to a breakage in the vicinity of the Bank of Guyana.

He was accompanied

by Senior Engineer in the Special Projects Unit of the Public Works Ministry Colin Gittens. The Ministry has been playing a major role in reinstating the roadways when these repair works are done.

Baksh explained that

over the last few months there have been several breakages within the same area, which has heavy traffic traversing and these breakages have been causing the deterioration of the roadways.

He stressed that repair works to such mains only serve as temporary fixes, as what is needed is the total replacement of these castiron mains. This, however, is very costly and cannot be done just over a one-year period.

Nevertheless, GWI, with financial support from the Government has already commenced the replacement of the transmission mains. Works are ongoing between Lamaha Street and Shelterbelt and are ex-

pected to be completed by the end of March 2021.

The CEO said the replacement of these mains is high on GWI’s agenda and three such projects have been catered for in the 2021 budget.

This includes the replacement of transmission mains from Shelterbelt to Church Street, which will lead to Water Street; Shelterbelt through Cemetery road and Shelterbelt to Cummings Street. The company is also hoping to secure funding for the replacement of mains from Cummings Street to Water Street.

The replacement of the aged mains also forms part of GWI’s five-year Strategic Plan for 2021-2025.

NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Prime Minister's wife talks about family, politics and supporting her husband

H

aving recently retired from over three decades of stellar service to the public service, Mrs Mignon Phillips, the wife of Guyana’s Prime Minister (ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips, has now committed herself to give her husband her undivided attention as he once again provides service to his country.

“I have committed myself to give my husband my undivided attention in terms of his work. He is new to politics. He has got quite a lot on his plate in terms of the portfolio. So, although he leaves home every day very happy to serve the people of Guyana, I would still like to make sure that he has the support he needs when he comes home.

Things can be very stressful and I am his first line of defence to support him.”

The mother of one made these remarks during a recent interview with journalist, Leroy Smith on The Big Smith News Watch.

Supportive wife

Mrs Phillips knew that her husband was always committed to serving his country so after he told her that he was entering the political arena she was not surprised. She recounted that one day she was at work when her husband telephoned and informed her that they would have a family meeting to discuss something. She added that the last time they had such a discussion was when he was one of the four officers being interviewed for the leadership of the Guyana

Mrs Mignon Phillips, wife of Guyana’s Prime Minister

Defence Force (GDF).

According to her, while her husband served as Chief-of-Staff in the army, he was always away from home and as such, she was responsible for keeping things steady and calm so that he was allowed to perform his duties without having to worry. She shared that this came with the greatest invasion of privacy.

“You’re now high profile.

I had to be aware of what I say, I had to be careful about making new friends, I had to be careful of dealing with some of the friends that I had also. It was important that I did not place myself in a position where I could have been misquoted on anything. It allowed me to step back and give him all the support that he

needed so that he could focus on what he was doing in terms of service to the country.

Really concerned

According to Mrs Phillips, her husband was really concerned about what happened in Guyana after the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion.

Given that she and the Prime Minister both studied public administration, she pointed out that they are both interested in good governance, the rule of law, and the electoral process.

Like any caring wife, she asked her husband if he was certain that was what he wanted. “He said he felt it was the right thing for him to do,” she added. In light of Guyana’s political

climate, she expressed that they were extremely worried about the personal attacks they would encounter along the way. In this regard, she commended her husband for how he prepped their family.

“I must say that he did a good job preparing us as a family for the public scrutiny. I had to be careful not to wear certain clothes at work because of the organisation.

Every Monday I wore my red shoes to work, I had to stop wearing my shoes, my red brooch because I did not want to give anybody the chance to say that I was campaigning for any political party. As a retired public servant, we have to remain neutral.”

The Prime Minister’s wife said that he is a “very tough cookie.”

“He is a soldier, well trained. So, he knew what he was getting into. And my duty was to support him and help him to prepare. And one of the big things for us was helping him prepare for his very first public speech at the Kitty Market Square.

After his second speech, he got so comfortable on the platform…. He went out there knowing that we supported him 100 per cent.”

While she declined to comment on the events following the March 2, 2020 elections, she expressed that she is very proud that Guyana has one of the most robust and rigid electoral systems in the Caribbean.

“I say that because when you look at the total package, what goes into the printing of the ballots, the training of electoral staff,

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

how people ought to identify themselves going into the polling station. What played out after the elections, I would want to leave that to the people who are more authorised to talk about it.”

Accomplished public servant

Mrs Phillips grew up in North East La Penitence, Georgetown, where her parents, a tailor, and housewife, instilled in her and her sister the importance of earning their own money.

“My mother is someone who told myself and my sister, Gillian, it pays every young girl to get a job. So, I always see myself as being able to go to work and earn a decent income.”

During her early years, she seized every opportunity to benefit from courses in sewing, cooking, and other disciplines offered by the Carnegie School of Home Economics and the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA). She landed her first job at the National Insurance Company, and would lat-

er move to the Bank of Guyana where she worked in the Exchange Control Department.

Mrs Phillips recently retired as the Project Officer responsible for the documentation centre and the registry at the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

She joined the regional organisation back in 1988 as a clerk and was promoted over the years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration.

She shared that her journey at Caricom was quite an interesting one as it allowed her not only to work, but also to travel and be a part of countless training opportunities. While there, she served as a Caricom electoral observer and observed elections in The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.

Given all her accomplishments, Mrs Phillips advised young girls that they should always be themselves. “Try always to be your own beacon of light. We are all different individuals; we are not on the same path. Stay in your lane. Focus on yourself, develop yourself as an individual and you never can tell along the road of life’s journey you will meet somebody compatible with your dreams and aspiration and you could become a perfect team.”

In the meantime, though she is not in the spotlight a lot, the Prime Minister’s wife revealed that she desires to work on a project that will promote the uniqueness of being Guyanese.

14 NEWS Town Council awaits expert advice GPF, GDF conduct security Mabaruma on cutting down of century-old rubber trees assessment in Region 1 T MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Members of the Joint Services meeting with the regional administration

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Thursday last conducted a security assessment in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Wiani).

The initiative was aimed at improving and repairing its image among the residents in that region. This came shortly after the allegations of rape were levelled

dia on Friday.

Both teams expressed concern about such and committed to rebuilding the image and public trust of the Joint Services across the region.

The Joint Services team was led by Colonel Skeete of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Clifton Hicken.

Members of the Joint Services

against five GDF ranks.

“The visit was and also to meet with the regional administration to assure that the Joint Services were thoroughly investigating the allegations of rape brought against military personnel in the past week,” the Police stated in a release to the me-

The team also met with the regional administration including Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, Vice-Chair Annasha Peters, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Tikaram Bisesar, and other members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The members of the Joint Services also met with the Mabaruma Town Council.

During the meeting, the regional team raised the concerns of the issue of poor accommodations for the members of the Joint Services and noted that proper and adequate transportation is needed for both land and water for the effective combating of crime and other duties.

The issue of timely payment of contracted suppliers of the Joint Services was also raised.

The Joint Services team also reiterated that the members of the Joint Services who are serving in the region must and will be proactive while approaching their duties with a high level of professionalism.

A commitment was also given for the serving members to continue collaborations with the regional administration on various projects and activities that the administration may propose. These assurances were met with the regional administration team’s pledge of support to the Joint Services’ members serving in the region.

Talks of continued collaboration to ensure highly maintained security to the region were also explored.

After the meeting, the Joint Services team visited several areas including Morawhanna, Shell Beach, Imbotero and the Mabaruma Police Station where they briefed ranks on what was expected of them while serving in the region and urged them to continue to work together as a team to fulfil the mandate of securing the region and the country’s frontier.

he Mabaruma Town Council is awaiting a report from experts at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) on whether the century-old rubber trees that line Philbert Pierre Avenue in its township are a threat to citizens.

This is according to Mayor Chris Phang, who told Guyana Times that the Town Council and Regional Administration are presently engaging the Public Works Ministry and the GFC on the way forward.

The trees were scheduled to be removed on January 27, 2021, to facilitate a road project which started under the previous APNU/AFC

findings of the previous consultation report and to engage the Public Works Ministry to have the engineers come up with a solution to have the road constructed with the trees intact.

Mayor Phang, however, explained that another consultation on the cutting down of the trees is likely to be held in the coming week among stakeholders including residents from the town.

He is hoping that the report from the GFC will be completed and dispatched to the Town Council as soon as possible since it would assist in the consultations.

According to Mayor

The century-old rubber trees that line Philbert Pierre Avenue, Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini)

Government.

However, following mounting public outcry, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall intervened and ordered that the cutting down of the trees must be halted until another consultation is held.

Minister Dharamlall also instructed the Mayor and Town Council and Regional Chairman to publicise the

Phang, a similar consultation was held under the previous APNU/AFC Government and the majority of persons voted in favour of having the trees removed. He further explained that persons residing in Mabaruma are aware that the trees have outlived their time.

He explained that branches are falling from the trees which pose a threat

Mabaruma Mayor Chris Phang

to citizens as the trees are located on the main access road, next to public offices. He recalled an incident in which one of the branches fell into the churchyard, but fortunately, no one was injured.

Reports are that the road project has already commenced but has not yet reached Philbert Pierre Avenue.

Despite protests from residents, the Mabaruma Mayor and Town Council had informed road users that the tree cutting exercise would begin on the morning of Wednesday, January 27, 2021, and end around 14:00h.

This led to an online petition urging the township’s Mayor and Town Council to reconsider what was described as a “poor decision” of having the trees removed.

The original petitioner stated that the trees are iconic and meaningful to Guyanese everywhere, as well as foreign visitors.

As such, calls were made to the relevant authorities for the trees to be preserved.

The petitioners have insisted that there is another route to facilitate the desired road expansion without cutting down these trees.

GPF teams up with businesses to construct home for Linden family

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he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Police Division along with several stakeholders have come together to construct a home for a Linden single mother of two.

Regional Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter said the initiative which is in the initial stage was birthed after Police conducted a community outreach programme at Prosville, Wismar, where they learned of the woman’s plight.

Ranks from the Police Division, with the assistance of businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pooled their resources and started to construct the two-bedroom concrete home.

“The ranks brought it to our attention. Then we decided that we’re going to do it. When we visited the site, she indicated to us that she

The foundation is set and blocks are being laid

doesn’t have any outside bathroom, any outside toilet, no bathroom to bathe. It was just something put up with couple blocks around, no windows. You know, the condition wasn’t nice,” the Regional Commander said.

He explained that based on a needs assessments, the group donated a mattress to the single mother after which, the focus was placed on erecting the home. With the Linden businesses com-

ing forward to donate materials, construction workers and contractors have volunteered free services in the humanitarian drive.

The Police have also contacted the Linden Electricity Company Inc to have electricity supplied to the home once completed.

In addition, a plumber is on board with the initiative.

The construction is expected to be completed in three weeks.

15 Teixeira calls for elimination of racism at UN ECOSOC Special Meeting P NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

arliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira decried the fact that too often ethnic insecurities, real or perceived, and race are used opportunistically in the political arena to deliberately manipulate issues in a manner that promotes and fans sentiments of fear, tensions and racial feelings.

This was her message to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) which was held under the theme “Reimagining Equality: Eliminating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination for all in the Decade of Action for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)”.

“Despite some advances made over decades of struggles, racism, racial discrimination, ethic insecurities continue to be sources of conflicts and inequalities among people of all regions

around the world. These inequalities are evident in the levels of disproportional poverty rates among different ethnic groups, unequal access to power, justice, education, health, social services, jobs and promotions.

“In Guyana, we speak proudly of being a nation of many peoples and celebrate our diversity. In fact, our people seamlessly participate in each other’s religious and cultural festivals and traditions. In many ways, we have the potential to be a wonderful example in the world. “…unfortunately, too often ethnic insecurities, real or perceived, and race are used opportunistically and expediently in the political arena…social media, whilst a powerful tool to inform the people, has been added to artisanal of those who want to exploit ethnic insecurities and racial discrimination,” Teixeira noted.

She stressed that it is only with collective will and commitment that the scourge of racism can be eradicated so that our world could move closer to the achievements of SDGs. “The Government of Guyana will continue to do its part,” the Minister assured.

The Minister assured the meeting that “…efforts will continue to be made nationally to prohibit all forms of racism, racial discrimination and to address ethnic insecurities by fighting poverty and marginalisation and ensuring that there is inclusive development with equal access and sharing in Guyana’s wealth.”

The meeting was informed of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s “One Guyana Commission”, which was announced during his address to Parliament on February 12, 2021.

“The work of the

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira

Commission would be countrywide, and it would listen to the free expressions of all voices, concerning ways in which every Guyanese can honour their ancestral heritage while giving the highest regard to our uniquely blended Guyanese civilisation,” the President had stated.

Teixeira said, “In ad-

dition, to strengthening Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Commission, one of four constitutional rights bodies, the establishment of the One Guyana Commission will commence an innovative measure towards building trust and confidence and removing the divisions caused by race and politics.

She pointed out that a day later the President initiated a “Corridor of Unity” between villages comprised of different ethnic groups along one part of the country, which has historically suffered over the decades with ethnic tensions, insecurities and violence.

She concluded that the UN ECOSOC Special Meeting was a timely reminder that the SDGs and the overarching objectives of eradicating poverty, protecting our planet and building a peaceful world

cannot be achieved without confronting all forms of inequality.

“This year, 2021, is a very significant year as we begin the decade of action for accelerating efforts towards achieving the sustainable goals in the midst of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on every nation of the world,” the Minister stressed.

The ECOSOC Special Meeting was intended to address the links between structural racism, inequalities and the SDGs. The Council focused on policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.

It is also expected to contribute to the thematic reviews by the UN’s Highlevel Political Forum of SDG10 on reducing inequalities and SDG16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.

Khan Hill in Region 1 soon Labour Minister urges adherence to labour laws to get improved access to potable water – Min Croal – says Govt will not allow employees to suffer

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uyana is open for business and welcomes foreign investments but there should be an amicable labour relationship between employers and employees and all businesses must adhere to the nation’s labour laws.

This was the message of Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Sunday during a one-day seminar hosted for Chinese entrepreneurs, at the Chinese Association building, Brickdam, Georgetown.

The Minister stated that he is aware that businesses will work to make good returns on their investments, but the Government will not allow the law to be disregarded in the process.

Minister Hamilton noted that the PPP/C Government will not sit idly by and allow employees to suffer at the hands of their managers. To this end, the Ministry has been able to increase labour officers from 16 to 26 and these officials will be assigned to every region.

“Because when you have a difficulty

– other wells to be drilled within Region 1

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton at the seminar on Sunday

portfolio in August 2020.

Therefore, the Ministry is also increasing the complement of staff from nine to 30. These officers responsible for ensuring health and safety in the

Members of the Chinese Association of Guyana

at any workplace, in my view, it helps no one. First, there is downtime of business, that means the businessman suffers, the employees suffer because they might not be earning during the period and generally, the economy suffers based on the type of business that is involved,” the Minister told members of the Association.

He pointed out that the Ministry will no longer be the “death announcement bureau” which means it is taking a stern approach on health and safety in workplaces — an issue the Minister has made a priority since taking up the

workplaces will also be dispatched to all regions. Region Four, however, will be sub-divided into Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank.

“The officers will be interfacing with employers to ensure that workers work in a safe space and that they go back to their families in one piece when the afternoons come.”

Minister Hamilton related that he is also willing to lend support to the Chinese business community through a range of services offered by the Ministry of Labour. One such area, he said, is the Central Recruitment and

Manpower Agency.

This Department was established in 1944, tasked with registering applicants for employment, taking note of their qualifications, experiences, and desires with the objective of placing them in suitable employment while providing career guidance and counselling.

Further, the Labour Minister underscored the effective function of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), saying that persons are being trained with various technical skills and can become an asset to establishments.

“Last year we trained 2000 persons and this year we hope to train 3500 persons. BIT is the premier institution in Guyana by the law to work along with companies to place apprentices. So, I say to you, business people, this might be a good facility to utilise, where you bring young Guyanese into your operations at our expense.

Because when the apprentices are functioning in your company, they are paid a stipend via BIT and therefore you can have an employee or employees becoming a part of your company that we are paying for you to train,” the Minister added.

He noted that the Ministry is reviewing the labour laws to make the fines more punitive to ensure full adherence. Following Minister Hamilton’s remarks, presentations were conducted on child labour, the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This segment was facilitated by officers from the Ministry.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during the outreach in Mabaruma over the weekend

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esidents of Khan Hill in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), will soon benefit from improved access to potable water through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

This was according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, who stated that the project is already catered for in the 2021 national budget.

“Many of the communities along the way, all the way down to Yarakita will be benefitting from increased water supply,” Minister Croal told residents in Mabaruma during an outreach in that region over the weekend.

The water well at Khan Hill will form part of a series of wells to be drilled within the region using a new rig procured by GWI. These works will be supported by an electrometer system that is currently being installed to enhance water distribution.

“By April, the [Mabaruma] compound, the Barabina, the Wanaina, all of those systems right through up to Wanaina will be interconnected on the same level. So, whatever you are getting as Hosororo, you

will get here too.”

Additionally, a number of households at Chan-ASue junction and a number of other areas will gain access to GWI’s grid. Plans are also in the pipeline to further extend the system, but this will be limited to water capacity.

In relation to housing, the Minister stated that his Ministry intends to pursue legal avenues through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) to allocate lots to residents.

Following a series of inspections led by Croal, GWI had upgraded the water trestle in the Mabaruma compound so that public buildings can have access to increased pressure.

The previous tank within the compound was replaced with four new tanks as part of that project.

Under the 2020 Emergency Budget, $130 million was invested in hinterland water service expansion and management.

Croal’s contributions at the community discussion was part of a wider set of engagements in the region, led by Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to build more courthouses Guyanese, Surinamese along EBD corridor, hinterland take advantage of reopening of ferry service regions

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T

Some of the passengers making their way off the ferry

he Guyana-Suriname ferry service recommenced operations on Sunday for residents of the two neighbouring countries.

The recommencement of operations followed months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sunday the ferry left Moleson Creek at 09:00h for South Drain, Suriname, with eight passengers of

to return home since it did not require a COVID-19 test. She decided against it due to the risks involved.

“It is too dangerous for me to take my two children ages 4 and 6 years old.

I need to go back home because my other three children have to go to school and school has already reopened. They are with their grandmother and she is

Passengers waiting to board the ferry for Suriname

which five were Guyanese and returned at about 12:00h with a similar number, of which three were Surinamese.

Among those who departed was Niles Roberts, a Guyanese who was on his way to French Guiana.

He arrived in Guyana in November 2020 and was not able to return after his vacation.

“I am feeling comfortable that the service has reopened because since the pandemic, I have not been able to travel.”

He told Guyana Times that one of the requirements to travel was a negative COVID-19 test.

Unlike him, another passenger, a mother of five who has been stranded in Guyana since early last year, cannot afford to pay for the test.

The tests are being done at private labs. She told this publication that she is stuck in Guyana with two of her children and had contemplated using the backtrack

sick and cannot take care of them,” the Surinamese national explained.

Some of those who departed Guyana on Sunday were returning for work.

As the ferry operations recommenced on Sunday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill was at Moleson Creek to bid farewell to those who were returning to Suriname and welcome the passengers who arrived in Guyana.

He explained that several instruments had to be put in place before the service was reopened, one of which included an agreement between the two countries.

He noted that Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force headed by Prime Minister Mark Phillips had to give the necessary approval and the same happened in Suriname.

“Also getting the agencies such as security; customs, immigration, CANU… the Canawaima staff, everyone had to be on deck so that the service could have re-

commenced….It has been a journey but it has been a rewarding one to see our people travelling and safety."

The Minister related that the Public Works and Health Ministries had to collaborate to ensure that Guyanese in Suriname knew where they could get the approved COVID-19 test done. Those tests are available both at private facilities and public hospitals.

With the absence of the ferry service, many persons have been using an illegal way to cross the Corentyne River which borders the two countries.

Only recently two persons drowned and a third person is still missing after they attempted to use the “backtrack route” to get from Suriname to Guyana.

The Minister refuted claims that it was that incident that resulted in the two governments agreeing to reopen the service.

"We are reopening today because 1, we have been able to get the situation with the Cuban Caravan resolved and secondly we have been able to reach an agreement and have all of the protocols in place."

Suriname has agreed not to have persons in quarantine before and after travel once they have a negative PCR test at least 72 hours before travel.

Meanwhile, some of those who arrived in Guyana are here on vacation.

Denzil Wilson explained that he needed a break after the curfew in Suriname and is looking forward to some good Guyanese cuisines.

Khemraj Balkumar, a Guyanese who now resides in Paramaribo, Suriname, said he was happy to be back home. Another passenger, Anita, a native of Suriname, said she is visiting Guyana to attend a funeral.

“We were trying to get a private flight to Guyana but it is too expensive. So, I am very happy that the ferry started to operate.”

The service will operate thrice weekly, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays with one trip on those days.

(Andrew Carmichael)

o provide easier access to justice to every citizen, the Government intends to establish more courthouses along the populated East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor and in the hinterland regions. Under the 2021 budget, a whopping $4.6 billion has been allocated for Justice Sector Reform and Strengthening.

The sum of $1.2 billion has been set aside for the construction and equipping of new courtrooms as well as living quarters and supporting facilities in Port Kaituma and Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini), Vigilance in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and on the East Bank of Demerara.

During his budget speech, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh said that the construction of new courtrooms will reduce travel time and cost for citizens requiring the services of the courts.

In December 2020, the Government launched several container courtrooms at the Lusignan Prison to conduct virtual court hearings to minimise the spread of the deadly COVID-19 and to ensure that accused persons are afforded a trial within a reasonable time. Similar facilities will be implemented soon at the New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, and Camp Street Prisons.

The Judiciary has been taking steps to ensure that justice is delivered on time regardless of where citizens live by constructing new Magistrate’s Courts, expanding several courthouses, opening new Magisterial Districts, and appointing

new Magistrates and Judges.

Last November, the Judiciary opened bids for the construction of new Magistrates’ Courts at Vigilance, Port Kaituma, and Mabaruma. Bids were also opened for the expansion of the Court of Appeal in Kingston, Georgetown.

The Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, which houses the head office of the East Demerara Magisterial District, is currently housed in a two-storey wooden building in the compound of the Vigilance Police Station.

This Magisterial District also consists of the Sparendaam, Cove and John, Mahaica, and Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court. The Vigilance Magistrate’s Court was the first court in that district to be equipped with audio-visual recording including a camera, monitors, smart television, microphone, a surround system, a reliable internet connection, and Skype.

In 2016, the Judiciary demolished the ageing building which had housed the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court which is situated in the compound of the Sparendaam Police Station.

The court was re-commissioned in February 2017.

When this was done,

its quota of Magistrates increased from one to two. The fully air-conditioned building has washroom facilities, briefing rooms for witnesses, and a prisoners’ holding area, which boasts tight security features such as sturdy grillwork on its lower flat.

In 2017, the Judiciary opened the Upper Demerara Magisterial District – the country’s tenth Magisterial District. In early 2020, it commissioned the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts. Before the opening of this court, which costs $132 million, the Providence Magistrates’ Courts served the entire East Bank of Demerara corridor from Agricola to Timehri.

The Judiciary has also commissioned a Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Court and a Children’s Court which are both housed in the same building with the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. There are also specialised courtrooms to hear sexual offences cases in each county.

The Judiciary has been praised for decentralising the magistracy given the country’s geographical layout, which makes travelling and communication very challenging at times.

Father and daughter, neighbour on trial for fisherman’s murder

Murder accused: Mandy Sukhdeo

Murder accused: Rean Ghani

Dead: Shereffudeen Nazamudeen

father, his daughter, and their neighbour are presently on trial for the February 14, 2017 murder of 22-year-old Ruby, East Bank Essequibo fisherman, Shereffudeen Nazamudeen. The trial is currently being heard by Justice Navindra Singh and a jury at the Demerara High Court.

Mandy Sukhdeo; her father, Surendra Sukhdeo; and a neighbour, Rean Ghani, are accused of fatally beating the fisherman on

the day in question. At the time of the killing, Mandy Sukhdeo was an AFC Councillor.

Mandy Sukhdeo had reportedly claimed that she was confronted by Nazamudeen, who snatched her bag and attempted to escape. She raised an alarm and residents in the neighbourhood pursued the man.

Reports are that Nazamudeen was caught in the ruins of a house.

According to reports, he was tied up and beaten by

the woman, her father, and their neighbour.

Following the beating, the man suffered severe injuries to his body and was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he subsequently succumbed.

Three pieces of wood, suspected to be the murder weapons, were recovered from the scene by detectives.

The woman and her father were immediately arrested, while Ghani was apprehended the following day.

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NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US nears 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

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he United States was on the brink Sunday of the grim milestone of 500,000 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, as the nation's top virus expert warned a form of normality may not return until the end of the year.

Signs of hope were emerging in the rollout of vaccines and the dropping off of a massive winter spike in infections, but the heavy toll continues to mount in a nation that has reported the most fatalities and cases in the world.

US President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland on February 11, 2021, with White House Chief Medical Adviser on COVID-19, Dr Anthony Fauci in the background

"It's terrible. It is historic. We haven't seen anything even close to this for well over a hundred years, since the 1918 pandemic of influenza," Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to US President Joe Biden, said on NBC's "Meet The Press".

"It's something that is stunning when you look at the numbers, almost unbelievable, but it's true," he added, as the toll on the Johns Hopkins University tracking website stood at 497,600.

After the first COVID-19 death was announced in the

IDB, global CEOs launch partnership for Caribbean recovery

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nter-American Development Bank (IDB),President Mauricio Claver-Carone has collaborated with a coalition of 40 global corporate executives in launching an historic partnership in aiding Latin America and the Caribbean's recovery in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Claver-Carone recently hosted the inaugural “Private-Sector Partners Roundtable on the Future of Latin America and the Caribbean”.

Meeting as a coalition, the business leaders pledged to work together in three areas that will be critical to

post-pandemic economic recovery: Empowering women, accelerating digitalisation, and strengthening regional value chains, according to the IDB. The Washington-based financial institution said the leading Private Sector executives discussed the historic challenges and the unique opportunities to drive growth and investment in the region.

The IDB said that Latin America and the Caribbean has been hit harder by the pandemic than any other region, adding that it “deserves a robust response”.

In presenting the IDB's vision and priorities, Claver-

Carone said these include economic empowerment for women, digitalisation, integration, and moving value chains to the Region.

The IDB said the business leaders signed a “Partnership Declaration” and pledged to work with the IDB to mobilise resources in these three critical areas.

“The meeting is the start of an intensified effort to strengthen collaboration between the IDB and top Private Sector companies to promote investment and create the type of jobs that will help the Region's post-pandemic economy thrive,” said the IDB, stat-

ing that this was the first in a series of collaborations that the IDB planned to host with the Private Sector.

“When I look at Latin America and the Caribbean, I see a region brimming with opportunities – but it is time to turn rhetoric into action,” said Claver-Carone, stating that the gathering with leaders from 40 of “the world's most innovative global and regional companies, and the signing of this historic 'Partnership Declaration', enshrines our shared vision and an action plan for future investment, growth and prosperity in our countries”.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Intersessional meeting of Caricom Heads of Govt to be held this week

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he 15-member regional group, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will be meeting this week for the 32nd Intersessional meeting of Heads of Government.

In a statement on Sunday, the office of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, who is also Caricom Chairman, said the intersessional would be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ahead of that meeting, Dr Rowley will today have a meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on the Caribbean Single Market and the Economy in

preparation for the wider regional meeting.

Meanwhile, Dr Rowley is also scheduled to visit Tobago next week, where on

March 3, he intends to meet with the 12 recently-elected Assemblymen of the Tobago House of Assembly, Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis and

all available former Chief Secretaries and Chairmen of the House of Assembly.

On Friday, Dr Rowley will speak at the Atlantic Council's “Front Page” event regarding the issues emerging from the intersessional meeting and the Region's outlook for improved cooperation and collaboration with the United States and the hemisphere.

The Atlantic Council is a nonpartisan organisation that galvanises US leadership and engagement in the world, in partnership with allies and partners, to shape solutions to global challenges. (CMC)

IAEA strikes deal with Iran to cushion coming blow of slashed access

T

he United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Sunday it had struck a deal with Iran to cushion the blow of steps Tehran plans to take this week that include ending snap inspections, with both sides agreeing to keep “necessary” monitoring for up to three months.

The announcement

by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi, made at Vienna airport after a weekend trip to Iran, confirmed that Tehran would go ahead with its plan to slash cooperation with the

agency on Tuesday.

Iran has been gradually breaching terms of a 2015 nuclear pact with world powers since the United States, under former President Donald Trump, withdrew in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. The pact aims to keep Iran at arm’s length from being able to make nuclear arms, which Tehran says it has never wanted to build.

US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to talk about both nations returning to the accord, although the two sides have been at odds about who makes the

first step.

A key part of Iran’s plan for reducing cooperation this week is ending implementation of the Additional Protocol, under which the IAEA has the right to carry out snap inspections in Member States at sites not declared to the Agency. Iran had agreed to implement the protocol under the 2015 nuclear deal.

“This law exists. This law is going to be applied, which means that the Additional Protocol, much to my regret, is going to be suspended,” Grossi told the airport news

conference.

Before he spoke, the IAEA and Iran issued a joint statement saying Tehran would continue implementing the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, its core obligations to the agency that allow for monitoring of its declared nuclear facilities.

The IAEA will also continue “necessary verification and monitoring activities for up to three months”, the statement said, without specifying what those activities are. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US in February 2020, it took about three months to pass the 100,000 mark, during a first wave that hit New York particularly hard.

But as the outbreak grew in the United States the pace of deaths increased, with the toll jumping from 400,000 in just over a month amid a spike fuelled in part by holiday gatherings.

Dr Fauci noted that the number of daily new infections was on a steep decline after peaking in January, but he added normal life may still be some way off.

"I think we'll have a significant degree of normality... as we get into the fall and the winter, by the end of the year," Dr Fauci said in an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union".

Biden said last week the programme to deliver vaccines into people's arms was as complicated as the

already intense challenges of manufacturing them in huge quantities at speed.

"There has never, ever, ever been a logistical challenge as consequential as what we're trying to do, but we're getting it done," he said.

According to Biden, his goal of administering a million shots a day for a total of 100 million in the first 100 days of his presidency is on track to be easily surpassed, with a current average of 1.7 million vaccinations a day.

With the US death toll set soon to pass 500,000, Biden said he did not want to give firm predictions of when the crisis would be curbed.

However, he said that 600 million doses – enough to provide the two-dose regimen to most of the country – were expected to be ready by the end of July. (AFP)

Huge crowds in Myanmar undeterred by worst day of violence

The military has been unable to quell the demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes against the coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others

H

uge crowds marched in Myanmar on Sunday to denounce a February 1 military coup in a show of defiance after the bloodiest episode of the campaign for democracy the previous day, when security forces fired on protesters, killing two.

The military has been unable to quell the demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes against the coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others, even with a promise of new elections and stern warnings against dissent.

Tens of thousands of people massed peacefully in the second city of Mandalay, where Saturday’s killings took place, witnesses said.

“They aimed at the heads of unarmed civilians.

They aimed at our future,” a young protester told the crowd.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that despite “unlawful demonstra-

tions, incitements of unrest and violence, the authorities concerned are exercising utmost restraint through minimum use of force to address the disturbances”, adding they were maintaining public safety in line with domestic laws and international practices.

In the main city of Yangon, thousands of mostly young people gathered at different sites to chant slogans and sing.

“Us young people have our dreams, but this military coup has created so many obstacles,” said Ko Pay in Yangon. “That’s why we come out to the front of the protests.”

In Myitkyina in the north, people laid flowers for the dead protesters. Big crowds marched in the central towns of Monywa and Bagan, in Dawei and Myeik in the south, Myawaddy in the east and Lashio in the northeast, posted pictures showed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Regional

DR deploys troops Arauz and Lasso advance to to border with Haiti Ecuador’s presidential runoff P T

he Dominican Armed Forces has deployed 7200 troops on the border with Haiti, and has, so far this year, intercepted and returned more than 38,000 Haitians who illegally crossed the territorial division to the neighbouring country.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, the general commander of the Dominican Republic Army, Julio Ernesto Florian Perez, said if more soldiers were needed “we will use them so that the country is safe in this part of the territory”.

Florian noted that the Dominican military recently caught “some people wanted” by the Haitian justice system and “some criminals” who were handed over to the Haitian National Police in the border province of Dajabon.

The former Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Ralph Youry Chevry was arrested last Sunday in Dajabón together with former official Wenson Pierre, Haitian Policeman Antonine Maquendy and civilian Wiquenesonnt

Despiene because they did not have passports or visas to enter the national territory, said the Defence Ministry.

Chevry, against whom the Haitian Government has issued an arrest warrant, has not requested asylum in the Dominican Republic, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez said on Thursday, affirming that Haiti had not asked for his extradition.

Florian assured that the surveillance by air and land would be maintained to “provide all the security” as a result of the socio-political

situation that Haiti is going through.

“We are vigilant together with the General Directorate of Migration ….more than 38, 000 people who tried to enter the country illegally have already been captured,” he said.

He also warned that “the persecution against undocumented people who were doing agricultural and construction work will begin to be regularised”, since the authorities granted grace for these people owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

(CMC)

rogressive economist Andres Arauz will face conservative former banker Guillermo Lasso in the second round of Ecuador’s presidential election on April 11, according to the country’s National Electoral Council.

Arauz, the 36-year-old protege of former socialist President Rafael Correa, won the first round with 32.72 per cent of the vote.

Lasso won 19.74 per cent, beating left-wing Indigenous leader Yaku Perez who won 19.39 per cent, according to the final results of the February 7 poll announced by the electoral body’s secretary, Santiago Vallejo on Sunday.

The results were approved by four out of the five members of the electoral body at a meeting that lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Perez, a 51-year-old environmental lawyer, had formally submitted a request for a recount in 17 of Ecuador’s 24 provinces, which was suspended on Wednesday.

The recount would have

T&T Govt ordered to reverse cement tax increase

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government has been told to reverse a decision to increase the import duties for cement to 50 per cent.

The order came from the Caribbean Court of Justice on Friday as it ruled on an interim measure application by local cement importer Rock Hard Distributors and its St Lucia-based parent company.

The interim measure means that the Common External Tariff of five per cent on imported cement remains in place until the court determines Rock Hard’s challenge of the increase on im-

port duties.

In reading out the court’s order, Justice Jacob Wit said the Government “shall not enforce the statutorily rate of duty applicable’ on other hydraulic cement, as far as it exceeds the Common External Tariff (CET) of five per cent.”

Wit also ordered Rock Hard to indemnify the Government as well as Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) against any loss or damage sustained by them if it could be proven at the substantive trial that the loss was caused by the interim measure.

CCJ Judges Jacob Wit, Winston

Anderson and Maureen Rajnauth-Lee heard arguments on the interim order this month.

Rock Hard has applied for special leave to start proceedings against the Government of T&T to have reviewed the decision of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of Caricom to grant T&T’s request to suspend the CET of five per cent on imports of other hydraulic cement and impose the 50 per cent rate, starting January 1. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Argentina’s President decries “unforgivable” vaccine scandal

A medical worker fills a syringe with a dose of the Sputnik V vaccine in Buenos Aires on February 19 [Agustin Marcarian/ Reuters]

T

he President of Argentina has decried an “unforgivable” COVID-19 vaccine scandal that prompted the resignation of the country’s Health Minister.

Gines Gonzalez Garcia stepped down on Friday af-

ter reports surfaced that he had aided people in the South American nation to jump the queue to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

“Gines was a great minister, and on top of that, I like him. But what he did was unforgivable,” President

Alberto Fernandez said in an interview with the Pagina 12 daily published on Sunday.

“Politics is ethical, we have to end these types of practices, with the Argentine culture of liveliness, craftiness [and] the management of influences,” Fernandez said.

The President had reportedly asked Garcia to step down after the scandal broke.

“Responding to your express request, I present my resignation from the position of Minister of Health,” Garcia wrote in a letter addressed to Fernandez that was shared on social media.

Garcia has been replaced

by Carla Vizzotti, one of his Deputy Ministers who had secured supplies of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

Argentina, which has reported nearly two million

COVID-19 cases and more than 51,000 coronavirus-related deaths, began its vaccination programme in December.

The country gave first priority to health-care workers and vaccinations for people aged above 70, which began last week in the province of Buenos Aires.

Local media have reported the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the vaccines scandal.

Vizzotti insisted on Sunday that “in no way was there a VIP immunisation” programme.

She told Radio 10 that the scandal involved “a small number of people” and that there was no policy of “reserving vaccines”. She added that going forward, the country would implement a plan to monitor jabs.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Incumbent President Lenin Moreno’s term in office ends on May 24 [Santiago Arcos/Reuters file photo]

involved about six million ballots, representing about 45 per cent of Ecuador’s registered voters.

Perez has alleged there was fraud to keep him out of the runoff after he was displaced from second to third place by Lasso’s narrow lead in the middle of the count.

“Today democracy has triumphed, we are going with courage and optimism to this second round,” Lasso

said in a statement following the announcement.

Incumbent President Lenin Moreno’s term in office ends on May 24.

The Organisation of American States urged Ecuador’s National Electoral Council to “guarantee compliance with the electoral calendar” to ensure that the April runoff takes place as scheduled.

(Al Jazeera)

“Rage Room” a hit with Brazilians

F

eeling frustrated and stressed out?

Brazilians now have a place to vent their anger and fury in the newly opened “Rage Room”.

Inside a warehouse on the outskirts of São Paulo, people are able to swing giant hammers at old televisions, computers and printers, demolishing the machines, and shattering the glass into tiny pieces.

Forty-two-year-old Vanderlei Rodrigues, who opened the business a month ago in Cidade Tiradentes, said he has received a fair number of customers wanting to vent, especially during the pandemic.

“I think it was the best moment to be able to set this up here in Cidade Tiradentes, related to everything that people are going through, a lot of anxiety, stress.”

The “Rage Room” experi-

ence costs US$4.64.

Wearing protective suits and helmets, participants write issues that bother them on the walls – ex-girlfriends, ex-husbands, corruption and work. These words become the targets of their anger.

Alexandre de Carvalho, 40, who works in advertising and drives two hours back and forth to work, said with worries about health due to the pandemic, “it’s great to come here and release some adrenaline and pent-up feelings”.

For Luciana Holanda, 35, who is an unemployed mother of two daughters, she said she prefers to vent her frustration inside the “Rage Room”.

“With all this accumulated stress, being a mother, having children and not being able to work … it is very good to be able to release some stress and vent.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Probe underway following crash of single-engine aircraft in the Bahamas

I

nvestigations are continuing following an incident in which a plane crashed in waters off North Cat Cay in The Bahamas on Saturday afternoon with three people on board.

According to the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA), officials received information about a downed plane near Cat Cay shortly before 14:00h (local time).

Preliminary informa-

tion revealed that a single-engine Piper PA28 aircraft, with United States registration, had an engine malfunction, shortly after the plane left Cat Cay with three people on board en route to Grand Bahama International Airport.

According to AAIA, the three people were transported to Grand Bahama for medical evaluation, but the extent of any injuries were not disclosed. (CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Iraq decides to freeze oil prepayments deal as oil prices rising

I

raq has decided to freeze its first crude oil prepayment deal, which had aimed to boost its finances, because oil prices are rising, the country’s Oil Minister told BBC Arabic on Sunday.

“We had concerns that oil prices would not rise above US$40 when we announced this deal for the first time in the history of Iraq,” Ihsan Abdul Jabbar told the channel.

Brent crude has been trading above US$60 a barrel recently.

Asked about the status of the prepayment crude oil deal, Oil Minister Abdul Jabbar said: “With the start of this year and the economic stability resulted from boosted oil prices, we decided to freeze this option”.

Chinese state oil trader Zhenhua Oil Corp had emerged as the frontrunner in a tender to buy Iraqi crude for five years after it submitted the “most competitive bid” in the tender held by Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO that attracted participation from international oil companies, trading houses and Chinese and Indian refiners.

OPEC member Iraq was seeking a five-year prepayment starting January 2021 until December 2025 to be repaid with cargoes of its Basra crude, according to a letter sent by state oil marketer SOMO to its customers and seen by Reuters.

Under the prepayment deal, the winner of the tender was to pay SOMO about US$2.5 billion in return for 48 million barrels of crude between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Pangong Lake: India and China complete pull-back of forces

Israel shuts Mediterranean shore after oil spill devastates coast

I

srael closed all its Mediterranean beaches until further notice on Sunday, days after an offshore oil spill deposited tonnes of tar across more than 160km (100 miles) of coastline in what officials are calling one of the country’s worst ecological disasters.

Activists began reporting globs of black tar on Israel’s coast last week after a heavy storm.

The deposits have wreaked havoc on local wildlife, and the Israeli Agriculture Ministry determined on Sunday that a dead young fin whale that washed up on a beach in southern Israel died from ingesting the viscous black liquid, according to Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster.

Israel’s Nature and

I

ndia and China have completed the pull-back of troops from part of their disputed Himalayan border, a joint statement issued by the Indian Defence Ministry said.

Soldiers completed their withdrawal from the Pangong Tso Lake area on Saturday, according to the communiqué.

Clashes on the poorly marked border led to the deaths of 24 troops last June.

Both sides say they will work to cut tensions on other parts of the border, or Line of Actual Control.

China and India announced their intention to withdraw forces from the lake area on February 11, and commanders met on Saturday to assess how the operation was going.

Commanders held nine rounds of talks to get to this stage.

The statement acknowledged that other parts of the border remained tense and

looked forward to continuing talks.

Before the completed withdrawal round Pangong Tso Lake, troops from each side were positioned on the north and south shores in territory claimed by both sides.

Months of tension has increased fears that the continued deployment of thousands of troops in the Ladakh region and the Chinese-administered Aksai Chin could lead to an escalating conflict.

India and China have been locked in a border dispute for decades and went to war in 1962. The border is 3440km (2100 miles) long and ill-defined.

Rivers, lakes and snowcaps along the frontier mean the line can shift, bringing soldiers face to face at many points, sparking confrontation. The two countries however have a long-standing agreement not to use guns or explosives along the border.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Parks Authority called the spill “one of the most serious ecological disasters” in the country’s history.

The Environmental Protection, Health and Interior Ministries issued

a joint statement warning the public not to visit the entire length of the country’s 195km (120 miles) Mediterranean coastline, cautioning that “exposure to tar can be harmful to

3 killed in New Orleans gun shop shooting

T

hree people have been killed and two injured in a shooting at a gun outlet in the US state of Louisiana.

The local sheriff said an "initial shooter" opened fire, striking two people, which prompted several others at the shop to fire their own weapons.

The two people and the initial gunman were killed.

They have not been publicly identified.

Officials said investigations into the shooting at the Jefferson Gun Outlet, in a New Orleans suburb, were ongoing.

"It appears that several individuals ended up engaging that original suspect," Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto told reporters.

"From what I understand I have multiple shooters here at this location that were either customers, employees or individuals here at the location itself," he said.

"We're trying to put it all together, piece it together."

Tyrone Russell was at the store when the shooting happened on Saturday afternoon.

"We heard the gunshots and the screaming," he told the Associated Press news agency. "When the police came, they escorted us out.

I could see glass everywhere… It was just like a really scary scene."

The two people injured in the shooting are in a stable condition in hospital, the sheriff's office said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ens of military and airport officials picked through the charred remnants of the aeroplane.

Fire engines and ambulances stood by. The smell of burning chemicals lingered in the air but no fire or smoke was visible, a witness told the Reuters news agency.

The air force said an investigation into the crash was under way.

“We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military,” Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika said in a Twitter post.

Witnesses at the site said the crash was terrifying.

Rescuers and people gather near the debris of the plane [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]

“Everybody there was screaming full of disbelief,” Olugbenga Alaade, a Government employee who said he has worked at the airport for nine years and who saw the crash, told The Associated Press news agency by phone.

Photos of the crash site show black clouds of smoke over parts of the shattered plane. Witnesses told local media they saw the plane struggling to turn around and get back to the airport before the plane exploded.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Bazoum is facing former president Mahamane Ousmane.

A vehicle belonging to the electoral commission (CENI) and carrying election workers to their polling stations hit a mine in the rural commune of Dargol in the southwest, said Harouna Mounkaila, the Vice President of CENI’s local branch.

“They were leaving to drop off the ballot boxes and

the members of the polling station,” Moukaila told Reuters. Three other workers were seriously wounded, he said.

Dargol is about 80 km (50 miles) from the border with Mali, a hotbed of militant activity. An attack on two villages near the border in January killed at least 100 civilians, the worst such incident in recent memory.

Niger’s twin security crises - one near its west-

ern border with Mali and Burkina Faso, where militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State operate, and the other along the southeastern border with Nigeria, where Boko Haram is active - were the dominant campaign issues.

One of the world’s poorest nations, Niger has struggled with drought, floods, coronavirus and weak prices for its main export, uranium.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

7 killed as Nigerian military aircraft crashes near Abuja airport

A Troops from both sides have faced off across the lake

The tar from the oil spill smeared fish, turtles, and other sea creatures

public health”.

Representatives from a coalition of Israeli environmental groups said in a news conference on Sunday that the Environmental Protection Ministry was woefully underfunded and that existing legislation did little to prevent or address environmental disasters.

They cautioned that this disaster should be a wakeup call for opposition to a planned oil pipeline connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israeli oil facilities in Eilat – home to endangered Red Sea coral reefs.

The Environmental Protection Ministry and activists estimate that at least 1000 tonnes of tar have already washed up onshore. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Nigerian military aircraft has crashed near Abuja airport, killing all seven people on board, according to officials.

“First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash,” Ibikunle Daramole, air force spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday.

The Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja airport after reporting engine failure en route to Minna, he said.

Minna is a city about 110km (69 miles) northwest of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

In scrubland just outside the airport perimeter, doz-

7 poll workers killed by landmine as Niger votes in presidential runoff

S

even poll workers were killed during Niger’s presidential vote on Sunday when their vehicle struck a landmine, an election official said, marring a day meant to usher in the country’s first democratic transition of power.

The West African country regularly suffers attacks by Islamist militants and had stepped up security to protect the poll, in which ruling party candidate Mohamed

20

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

If you recognize what’s possible, success will follow.

Let go of negativity and let your innovative ideas set new trends. Make romance and love priorities, and work to end discord.

An open mind will encourage you to try something new. Express your thoughts and feelings. Share something special with someone who can contribute to your plans.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Stay on course. Look for the right opportunity and put everything into your objective. If you take on too much, you will fall short of your goal.

Bring about change and persuade others to follow suit.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Work in your best interest instead of trying to impress or please someone.

Push your ideas and vision, and invest time and effort into pursuing what makes you happy.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Don’t let your emotions interfere when you’re making an important decision.

Stay calm, use discipline and verify facts before you take action. Strive to avoid discord.

Information, education and communication will lead to positive changes. Focus on what you have to offer.

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Keeping up with trends will help you find success.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t let an unexpected change bring you down.

Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way, and get things done without compromising your financial status or health.

SCORPIO

Don’t let uncertainty or confusion lead to your downfall. Look at the possibilities and use your skills to bring about the changes that will make your life better. Put an end to bad relationships.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Settle into something SAGITTARIUS you do well or love to do.

(Nov. 23Opening up to a loved one Dec. 21) will help you make decisions that add to your comfort and well-being. Don’t let others make decisions for you.

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

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Consider how you earn and handle your money, and make changes that will stabilize your future. Look at what’s trending and how you can take advantage of an opportunity.

Brighten up your living space to lift your spirits.

Reach out to your loved ones and make plans to do something that you can enjoy together. Plan your day with care and tact.

Make your space inviting. Move things around to suit your lifestyle. Share your feelings and plans with loved ones. Now’s the time to make some dramatic self-improvements.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

21

Local footballer set to launch business today O

nly weeks ago, legendary West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan opened the doors to his very own restaurant and bar, along with it came some advice from Sarwan to local athletes. He urged them to become business savvy and plan before their retirement.

While this move comes long before his retirement from football, it seems that local baller Jeremy Garrett has taken heed of Sarwan’s wise words.

The 21-year-old ,who has represented Guyana at all levels in the national team programme, will today witness the grand opening of his very own business. Finish Line Express Delivery is the newest courier service on the block, specialising in the delivery of food and other packages.

When probed about the bold move, Garrett shared that it was something that he has always been intrigued by.

“I was always interested in business, any business that is. I’m a firm believer in getting things done and making money,” Garrett noted.

“But this time around, the pandemic hit and

things were becoming a bit slow, monetarily that is and I had to sit and decide on what I wanted to do. You know because football isn’t playing, so what is it that I can do to make ends meet in this pandemic,” Garrett recounted, as he explained to Guyana Times Sport why he made the move.

Garrett detailed to this publication that he sought to find an area of business that he could improve upon in the Guyanese market.

“And it just hit me to launch a delivery service. I figured that that was an avenue here in Guyana that we certainly need or lack quality and efficiency and that’s what I’m going to bring to the table with my company.

“I hope to provide my customers with efficient service, customer-friendly based. I also hope to provide them,” the footballer explained.

When questioned about his focus on sport and whether this would hamper that, Garrett highlighted that his love for the sport and his support system would keep him hyper-focused.

“I don’t think running a business will distract me from sport because I’m not alone, I have the support. So, I don’t think that it would distract

me that much from my sport,” Garrett replied.

“From the academic side, yes, I’m always looking to further my academics. This is just an avenue, a long-term something, this is not just something for tomorrow. My academics will always be priority, so this business wouldn’t affect it in any way,” the new GDF player shared.

The defensive maestro is of the belief that business is something anyone can step into.

“Honestly, I think business is an avenue that everybody can explore, not only athletes. A lot of persons tend to have the idea to venture off into their own stuff, either being the head of an organisation in whatever they’re involved in.

“So for me, yes I would say that more athletes should be involved, but everyone isn’t the same.

Thing might be different for me, or it might be different for them; however, I think everyone – not only athletes – should be involved in business,” Garrett concluded.

Jeremy Garrett’s business can be found on social media sites Facebook and Instagram, and contact numbers are 592-226-9114 and 592683-8796. (Jemima Holmes)

Novak Djokovic wins 9th Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev N

ovak Djokovic continued his dominance of the Australian Open by overwhelming an irritated Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth men's title.

Top seed Djokovic won 7-5 6-2 6-2 to claim his 18th Grand Slam, leaving him two behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the men's record books. The 33-year-old Serb has never lost a final at Melbourne Park and beating Medvedev is a third triumph in a row.

Russian fourth seed Medvedev, 25, has lost both of his Grand Slam finals. After collecting the trophy, Djokovic told the Rod Laver Arena: "I love you each year more and more. The love affair keeps going."

Medvedev, who lost to Nadal in the 2019 US Open final, was tipped to push Djokovic close and win his maiden major. The Russian had reached the Melbourne final on the back of a 20-match winning streak, but floundered under the intense pressure applied by Djokovic.

Throwing racquets, poor body language, and shouting angrily at his team were an illustration of how the Russian imploded in the third set, contrasting starkly with Djokovic's confident and steely exterior.

Djokovic clinched the title after one hour and 53 minutes with a backhand overhead volley, falling to the blue court on his back before lapping up the acclaim of the reduced 7500-strong crowd.

Djokovic roared loudly and tapped his heart, before exchanging hugs with Coach Goran Ivanisevic and the rest of his support team. After thinking an abdominal injury earlier in the tournament might scupper his chances, the pride and relief of Team Djokovic were clear in their celebrations.

In-form Medvedev had, perhaps playfully, insisted "all the pressure" was on Djokovic because of his desire to chase Nadal and Federer in the battle to finish with the most men's Grand Slam titles. Maybe it was

Novak Djokovic has won three consecutive titles at the Australian Open for the second time in his career, having also achieved the feat in 2011-13

a ploy to deflect the attention off himself.

Either way it did not work as Djokovic emphatically proved he is still the man to beat.

World number one Djokovic responded to Medvedev's comments with a withering tone in his assessment that the younger generation "still have a lot of work to do".

"I'm not going to stand here and hand it over to them," he told Eurosport after his semi-final win against Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev. He was true to his word.

Djokovic produced a masterclass of intensity, focus, and execution, looking comfortable on a court he has described as a "home from home".

Djokovic, like he had in his previous three Melbourne finals, started quickly with

an immediate break of serve as he looked to stamp his authority. Medvedev remained unflustered – until later in the match, at least – and continued in his attempt to drag Djokovic into some gruelling baseline exchanges.

Djokovic tried to avoid long points by employing the odd drop-shot, but that helped the Russian to level at 3-3. A fascinating opening set could have swung either way, but it was the reigning champion who edged it when he unpicked Medvedev's serve again in the 12th game.

History was ominous for the Russian: Djokovic had only lost five of 264 Grand Slam matches when he had won the first set. Medvedev went into the final on the

back of a 20-match w i n n i n g streak and had won his past 12 matches against top10 opponents.

However, extending those runs looked unlikely once he began to implode in the second set. After the pair exchanged breaks in the opening two games, Djokovic pounced again when a raft of unforced errors crept into Medvedev's game.

Medvedev started to look a little irritated, perhaps partly because of some disruptive fans in the previous game, but mainly because he could not negate Djokovic, bouncing his racquet down on the court before the Serb moved 4-1 ahead. The racquet survived that, but not the second thud Medvedev gave it when he whacked a forehand long for 5-2.

Djokovic sealed the two-set advantage with a crunching forehand which Medvedev could not handle. Medvedev had never won after losing the opening two sets, but did fight back against Nadal at the 2019 US Open to force a decider. Negativity looked to be deep-rooted, however, and the prospect of a similar fightback looked far-fetched.

There was a brief glimmer of hope at 3030 in the seventh game of the third set, but Djokovic held for 5-2 – prodding his temple with his finger to emphasise his mental toughness – and served out to seal a one-sided win which few expected.

"We know how tough Novak is and he played a sensational final," said former British number one Annabel Croft on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You have to be so dialled in, in all departments. Medvedev went away from the tactics he showed in the first set and went into a slump and a strop." (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Sanasie challenges appointment CLASSIFIED ADS of Cricket Ombudsman as illegal LEARN TO DRIVE

— 7-day period for holding elections unreasonable and non-compliant

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr

T

he Attorneys of current Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie have written to the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Attorney Kamal Ramkarran. The letters claim that the appointment of Ramkarran as cricket Ombudsman is illegal AND that the seven-day period given to the GCB to hold elections is unreasonable and does not comply with the Cricket Administration act.

Below are the letters in FULL. Letter to Mr Ramkarran on his appointment as Cricket Ombudsman We act as Attorneys-at-Law for M. Anand Sanasie, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Director of Cricket West Indies Inc (CWI), formerly the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). We have read the announcement made by the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Charles Ramson Jr MP purporting to appoint you (KAMAL RAMKARRAN) as the Cricket Ombudsman acting in accordance with Section 17 of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act, Chapter 21:03, Laws of Guyana (Cricket Administration Act).

This is the third such appointment to be made by a Minister of Sport.

The first person appointed under that section was Professor Winston McGowan. He served in the office for some time and then resigned.

The Minister is only once required to exercise his power to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman. The Minister claims to have “just” consulted with CWI in his Notice appointing you as Cricket Ombudsman, which was published on the 19th February 2021.

We are instructed that the Minister did not meaningfully or at all consult with CWI. There has been no meeting with CWI convened for this purpose. Our client is aware that the Minister shares a close relationship with the current President of CWI and supports his re-election as President of CWI in elections slated for March 2021. Our client is his challenger for the post of President at the upcoming CWI elections.

The consultation which was critical to the validity of your appointment was improper for the foregoing reasons and was motivated by an improper purpose and was taken in furtherance of the interest of the current President, Mr Ricky Skerritt who did not raise the issue of the Cricket Ombudsman of Guyana with the Board as is required by the Cricket Administration Act. Meaningful consultation could not in the circumstances take place by a phone call between the Minister and a single member of the Board of CWI. Your appointment is, therefore, illegal and we call upon you to decline the appointment and/or resign. The Minister has fixed a time frame of less than seven (7) days with which you are to fulfil your obligations of the establishment and verification of a Register of Clubs.

In our view, this essential statutory function of the Cricket Ombudsman is to be performed before the holding of the elections. This has not been done and our instructions are that you have not even commenced this process. In the circumstances, the date fixed is unreasonable and does not comply with the Cricket Administration Act. We expect to hear from you before 9am on Monday, 22nd February 2021, failing which we will institute legal proceedings to quash your appointment and have the office of the Cricket Ombudsman declared vacant. You are reminded that any and all acts done by you pursuant to your appointment, which was invalid, will be deemed invalid and of no effect.

Letter to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson We act for Mr Anand Sanasie, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Director of Cricket West Indies Inc (CWI), formerly the West

establishing and verifying a Register of Clubs before the holding of the GCB elections. The time frame fixed is not in accordance with the Constitution of the GCB, Schedule I of the Cricket Administration Act. The membership of the GCB has a right to and/or a legitimate expectation that a period of at least thirty (30) days would be given before the holding of any elections. Members must be allowed a reasonable period to identify delegates and contestants and to canvas support for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary elections. The rules of the GCB also Anand Sanasie permit the presentation of Motions Indies Cricket Board (WICB). We have for consideration at the meeting. read your notice published on the You committed an egregious 19th February 2021 purporting to error of law when you purported to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman and consult with the President of CWI fixing the date for the elections of alone. The President has an interest the GCB acting in accordance with to serve in this matter and the Cricket the powers vested in you by Sections Administration Act clearly requires 7 and 17 respectively of the Guyana that you engage in meaningful Cricket Administration Act, Chapter consultation with the Board of CWI. 21:03, Laws of Guyana (Cricket No such consultation took place. Our Administration Act). client is a Director of the Board and no The Minister of Sport was only once meeting to discuss the appointment permitted by the said Act to appoint of the Cricket Ombudsman and the a Cricket Ombudsman. Your recent fixing of a date for GCB elections was purported appointment by Notice of called or ever took place.

19th February 2021 is the third such In all the circumstances, the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman decisions to appoint the Cricket by a Minister. Your predecessors in Ombudsman and to fix a date for office, Dr George Norton and Dr Frank the holding of elections of the GCB Anthony had done so in 2015 and are illegal, invalid, null, void and of 2017, respectively. Professor Winston no legal effect. Former Minister of McGowan was the first Cricket Sport, Dr George Norton had fixed a Ombudsman to have been appointed date for elections. Your powers under

by Dr Anthony and although he later the Act are clearly at an end if they resigned his office, his appointment ever existed in you at all at the time was never declared to be invalid. In of your notice on the 19th February the circumstance, your appointment 2021. We have written to the Cricket of Mr Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney- Ombudsman and copied you. If we do at-Law, as Cricket Ombudsman is not hear from the Cricket Ombudsman unlawful and of no effect. by 9am, Monday, 22nd February Your acts are in excess of the 2021, then legal proceedings will be powers conferred upon you by the filed to quash your decision and for Act. Our client notes the rushed a declaration that you have no power manner in which the date for the GCB under the Cricket Administration Act or elections was fixed. Our client is aware at all to fix or further fix a date for the that you share a close relationship elections or to make any appointment with the President of CWI, Mr Ricky or any further appointment of a Skerrit who is being challenged by our Cricket Ombudsman. client for the Presidency of CWI at the The Attorneys-at-Law representing upcoming CWI elections to be held in Sanasie are: R Satram, BSocSC, LLB; March 2021.

CV Satram, LLB; M Satram, LLB; Visal The period of 7 days for the holding Satram, LLB, LLM, MCIArb (Trinidad of elections is unreasonable and does Bar) and Ron Motilall, LLB from Satram not allow the Cricket Ombudsman and Satram Attorneys-at-Law Patent to carry out his statutory function of and Trademark Agents.

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NOW!

Albouystown engaged: Police community engagement picks up pace F

ollowing a community walkabout, the Police Regional Division 4A Administration pledged to work with the residents of Albouystown in building a safe community and the Police-public partnership.

On Sunday, the first of a number of planned activities was executed on the community tarmac at Hunter Street and Independence Boulevard. This was a four-a-side football competition between the youths of Albouystown. Six teams – Top Strikers, Positive Ballers, Albouystown Stars, Little Ballers, Spartans and Future Stars – participated; among their number were two female sides.

For the males, first place went to Positive Ballers, second was Future Stars and third was Albouystown Stars. On the distaff side, Little

Ballers carted off the top spot with Top Strikers settling for second.

Prizes were given to first, second, and third place; Most Valuable Players (MVPs) and top goalscorers.

On hand to witness the action were Superintendent Guy Nurse, Second in Command, Regional Division #4 A; Officer-in-Charge #2 SubDivision, Assistant Superintendent Mahindranauth, Woman Inspector Grandson, Sgt 14861 Hossana ,Sgt 20404 Griffith, Sgt 21299 Scott , W/ Sgt 19012 Daley and other ranks in addition to members of the Albouystown Police Youth Group and their Kim Morgan and Donna Plass.

Meals were provided to all while the trophies, medals and uniforms were donated by Attorney-at-Law Anastasia Sanford, who has pledged her support in working with the Albouystown community.

The first-place team, Positive Ballers

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

"We must address it" – Johnson on Jaguars’ batting collapse

By Brandon Corlette

G

uyana Jaguars had their worst performance of the CG Insurance Regional Super50 tournament when they were blown out by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. With qualification alongside their name, Jaguars will be aiming to pull themselves together and today, Monday, February 22, they will meet the Windward Islands Volcanoes from 9:00h at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Jaguars were rallying against the Red Force as the new-look opening pair in Tevin Imlach and Chandrapaul Hemraj added 106 runs together. But things then went downhill for the Jaguars, with them losing nine wickets for 81 runs. After the match, Captain Leon Johnson said the team must address this batting collapse.

"We always stress about the importance of the guys (batsmen) taking it long as possible. I think there was some uncalled-for strokeplay, especially at the top of the order. I think the first two wickets led Trinidad in.

I don't think they had us under any pressure; we just let them back in the game and when these things hap-

Tevin Imlach Leon Johnson (CWI Photos/Phillip Spooner photos)

Andre Fletcher and Sunil Ambris

pen: you see a collapse in the middle order, it's something we must address going forward," Johnson explained.

Sharing some thoughts on Jaguars debutant Imlach, Johnson said: "He's done a lot of work, he came in and played well today. I think the left-right combination throws Trinidad bowlers off, but I think he should have taken his innings a bit longer and put some more

pressure on the bowlers."

The skipper said players were much better than what was shown in the Red Force clash. With there being a strong possibility of Jaguars meeting the Red Force in the business end of the tournament, Johnson is hoping that his batsmen can go as long as possible.

Christopher Barnwell is the leading Jaguars batsman with 170 runs while

Keiler storms to victory in Forbes Burnham Memorial Race

M

arcus Keiler stormed to victory in one hour 12 minutes on Sunday in the 30-mile Forbes Burnham Memorial Race, which pedalled off at Carifesta Avenue to Belfield, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and returned for the finish at the point of origin.

Keiler finished ahead of shot-gun Briton John (second); Alex Mendes (third); Christopher Griffith (fourth); Marlon Williams (fifth) and Jaikarran Sookhai (sixth).

In the veteran category, Mendes rode in first while Sookhai claimed second. Lyn Murray and Warren McKay came in third and fourth respectively.

Alex Leung was the top junior cyclist while Aaron Newton came in second.

According to Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Malcolm Sonaram, the race was organised by the Flying Stars Cycling Club and was on Wednesday given the green light by the COVID-19 Task Force and Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

This race was the first competitive cycling event for the 2021 season. Cycling standout Marlon “Fishy” Williams won last year’s event, which was a two-stage race. The Team Evolution cyclist won the two-leg event. Although he had placed first in the Linden-to-Georgetown race, he had to settle for sixth in the Carifesta Avenue-to-Belfield-and-back leg last year while the second leg was won

by Christopher Griffith, followed by Andrew Hicks and Keiler.

Keiler had claimed third overall in the last Burnham road race.

Alex Mendes and Christopher Griffith

Hemraj, fresh from his 87, has 154 runs. Gudakesh Motie continues to be consistent with the ball, and he leads the wickets tally with 11 wickets.

Volcanoes are in third place with two wins under their belts, and the likes of Sunil Ambris and Andre Fletcher will be hoping to come good against the Jaguars.

Ambris leads the Volcanoes batting with 190 runs while all-rounder Keron Cottoy has 148 runs.

Volcanoes left-arm spinner Larry Edwards has shown

great control and will be aiming to continue his great tournament.

Guyana Jaguars squad: Leon Johnson (Captain); Shimron Hetmyer (Vice Captain); Assad Fudadin; Chandrapaul Hemraj; Kemol Savory; Christopher Barnwell; Keon Joseph; Romario Shepherd; Kevin Sinclair; Ramaal Lewis; Nial Smith; Gudakesh Motie; Anthony Bramble; Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.

Windward Islands Volcanoes squad: Sunil Ambris (Captain); Andre

Fletcher (Vice Captain); Alick Athanaze; Roland Cato; Keron Cottoy; Kenneth Dember; Larry Edward; Ryan John; Ray Jordan; Desron Maloney; Obed McCoy; Preston McSween; Kimani Melius; Emanuel Stewart and Kevin Stoute.

Keep the ball on the ground:

Niall O'Brien to Hetmyer F

ormer Irish cricketer and cricket commentator in the CG Insurance Regional Super50 Cup, Niall O'Brien said Guyana Jaguars batsman Shimron Hetmyer should keep the ball on the ground and concentrate more while batting.

O'Brien believes that Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran are the two best batsmen in the tournament, talent-wise.

"At the moment, Hetmyer is gifting his wicket away.

You don't have to work that hard for his wicket. First game, he played brilliantly and got 80; next game, he runs himself out; third game, hits it straight to cover and the next game, he hits one straight to long-off. He is too good a player to give his wicket away like that," O'Brien said.

The talented Hetmyer has not yet dominated this Super50 tournament and his scores thus far have reflected that. In the four matches, he has an aggregate of exactly 100 runs. He recorded scores of 80, 09, 01, and 10 in his four outings.

Hetmyer is also performing the role of Vice Captain in this tournament. Earlier in the Super50, he told Cricket West Indies media that he was delighted that he got the opportunity to hit a few balls after his long absence from competitive cricket.

When asked if he would continue applying that fearless and aggressive approach during the rest of the tournament, Hetmyer told Cricket West Indies: “I will see how it goes. It all depends on when and how we bat, if we are chasing or defending. I don’t want to play like that each and every game, and then we keep losing wickets. That won’t really help the team, so I am trying to do my best and help the team; and with doing that, enjoy myself at the crease.”

In that first match, Jaguars were bowled out in 41.4 overs.

Moving ahead in this tournament, Hetmyer said, the team would be looking to bat the full quota of 50 overs. “It’s time for us to put that right now, and it’s been a couple of years now that we are not being able to bat full 50 overs as a Guyana team. I am trying to make that one of my goals: for us to bat 50 overs; and if we do more time than that, we make over 300 runs,” Hetmyer posited.

The left-hander will be aiming to come good in the remaining matches of this Super50 Cup.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

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

Page 23

“We must address it” – Johnson on Jaguars’ batting collapse Local Keiler footballer storms set to to victory in Forbes launch Burnham business Memorial Race today Page 23

Page 21

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