Guyana Times - Monday, July 11, 2022

P12

GPF honours 65 Police ranks killed while performing duties Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5066

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

Pres Ali urges partnerships between Guyanese, Saudi Arabian Private Sector bodies Page 3

– says Guyana is open to establishing Saudi Embassy, desk at Foreign Affairs Ministry

Guyana to tender Oil Block C by year end – Min Bharrat ...says ... says 300,000 bpd currently being produced; could increase to 600,000 by 2023 Page 9

Brazilian, Colombian arrested after landing cocaine-laden aircraft at Mahdia Page 14

– pilot tells Police aircraft ran out of fuel

PRICE

$100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

China Railway says it strictly abides by P7 Guyana’s laws, regulations – “strongly condemns” VICE News for defaming Chinese businesses in Guyana

27 trained Police Prosecutors to boost performance at Magistrate's P15 Courts

Mother of man who threatened to assassinate President Ali begs for mercy – says son is mentally ill

P10

The Cessna 172 aircraft that landed at Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Sunday, Inset are the arrested men

National Reports of cost of living doubling by Toshaos Conference opens year end misleading, mischievous today at ACCC …Shuman hails Govt for laying out – Finance Minister progressive agenda for Indigenous peoples ...says portion of $5B relief fund still available Page 11

Page 5

Prison officers complete training in prison management, human rights among other P 14 courses

Squatters in North Sophia assured of safe relocation P15

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, July 11 – 01:00h – 02:30h and Tuesday, July 12 – 02:00h – 03:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, July 11 – 14:25h – 15:55h and Tuesday, July 12 – 15:20h – 16:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-Easterly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 14:40h reaching a maximum height of 2.46 metres.

Low Tide: 08:09h and 20:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.77.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2022

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

09 11 15

18 21 22

16

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022

DAILY MILLIONS

02 03 08 09 24 LUCKY 3

8

1

2

2

Afternoon Draw

8

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 04 08 09 16 17 18 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

01 02 08 11 16

01 10 13 16 18

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2X Afternoon Draw

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1 Evening Draw

3X Evening Draw

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$107.02/barrel

+2.21

Rough Rice

$296.1/ton $568.90/ton

+0.16 0.00

London Sugar

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1740.50

$1741.50

Low/High Change

$1739.90 -2.10

$1745.70 -0.12%

Pres Ali urges partnerships between Guyanese, Saudi Arabian Private Sector bodies – says Guyana is open to establishing Saudi Embassy, desk at Foreign Affairs Ministry

A

ddressing a large contingent of private sector representatives from both Saudi Arabia and Guyana, President Dr Irfaan Ali impressed on them the need for collaboration and partnerships, including the forming of consortiums, where both sides can mutually benefit from investment opportunities.

President Ali gave the main address during the Guyana-Saudi Arabia Investment Engagement that was held in the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Saturday. In addition to an over 60-member delegation of investors from Saudi Arabia led by Deputy Minister for Investors Outreach, Badr al Badr, Guyana’s private sector including members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) was present.

“In the private sector, if you have a specific idea, today, that you can bring to the private sector and partner with them in a consortium, an opportunity that you see today…put the two private sector bodies in a room. Let us not do circular talks,” President Ali said.

“Put the two private sectors in a room and let us come up with five or six areas that we will move forward on. And then let us agree that we’re going to remove all the barriers in those areas… let us not work in a way that is circular. Let us identify the areas, and the priorities, and put together two working groups from the private sector and from the Government agency. And let us get this ball rolling.”

According to President Ali, in the same way, the Government has taken a decision to establish an embassy in Saudi Arabia, Guyana is also ready to accommodate the Saudi Arabians, with the grant of a piece of land for them to establish a permanent footprint. Additionally, he said that Guyana is prepared to house the Saudi Arabian Development Fund branch for the region.

“I’ve said to the leadership of Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince. And I’ve said to the Minister of State, we are prepared to make the land available for you to establish your embassy for this region, in Guyana.”

“And I expect that within the next quarter, we must have positive movement on this. I’ve already established there are many additional reasons beyond investment and economic ties, that you should have a footprint here,” the President also said.

President Ali explained that work is already well advanced in Guyana establishing an embassy in Saudi Arabia. The President also said that the Ministry of Finance will be establishing a help desk for the Saudi’s.

Since the passage of

President Dr Irfaan Ali (left) with Deputy Minister for Investors Outreach Badr Al Badr

the Local Content Act last year, the Government has said that foreign companies have been actively seeking out local companies with which they can form a partnership.

According to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo back in May, the Government saw the passage of local content legislation as a way of making sure that Guyanese could reap the benefits of the oil

and gas sector, though it is not limited to this industry.

The Vice President noted that even today, Guyanese individuals and companies are reaping those benefits and that foreign companies looking to invest in Guyana are actively seeking partnerships with locals.

“We had to get a legislative framework. We passed a tough law now, that created huge opportunities for Guyanese and

Guyanese companies. And you should ask the people, the Guyanese companies here now, that the foreigners are busy now running them down. When they were treating them with disdain because now there’s a benefit to partnering with a Guyanese company.

The Local Content Act lays out 40 different services that oil and gas companies and their subcontractors must procure from Guyanese companies by the end of 2022. For instance, these companies must procure from Guyanese companies 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent pest control services; 100 per cent local insurance services; 75 per cent local supply of food; and 90 per cent local accounting services.

These are just a few of the services highlighted in the first schedule of the Local Content Act. The Local Content Act mandates penalties for oil and gas companies and their sub-contractors who fail to meet the minimum targets of the legislation, as well as those who are in breach of the Act. These fines range from as low as $5 million to as high as $50 million.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

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

A New Cold War?

A

fter a very hot war broke out in Ukraine when Russia invaded what had once been one of its “Soviet”, all eyes have been turned towards China to see whether their “economic competition” will morph into a new Cold War. The old Cold War, between 1945 and 1989 turned out to be very traumatic for what was then called the “Third World” – the first and second world being the West and the USSR-Eastern Europe. We were the grass that got trampled when the two elephants fought for political, ideological and strategic dominance.

China’s economic challenge was recognized for decades now after they inexorably moved up the economic food chain to their present position of number two and their eclipse of the US only a matter of time. Ironically, it was the US, under the leadership of President Nixon who brought China out of the cold in 1972 and made them their tacit ally in that Cold War by facilitating the latter’s industrial base to become “America’s factory”. When the USSR fissioned in 1989 there was talk of an “End of History” in the sense that America’s ideology of Liberalism had seemingly conquered all, especially when new Russian president Boris Yeltsin adopted its premises liberally.

But China turned out not to be a one-trick pony and began using the economic clout garnered through over US$3trillion foreign reserves accumulated by running export surpluses with primarily the US and the EU. Under their new model of capitalism of an economy run by a very disciplined Communist Party with most of its financing and manufacturing funneled by the state, China became a juggernaut. In the meantime, after Mao’s China had refused to play a junior role to the USSR during the days of “world communism” they became the de-facto numero uno after the USSR crumbled ignominiously. The competition with the US was foreshadowed since its new mode of “directed capitalism” could prove to be an ideological model for the third world – now euphemistically called the “developing world”.

China had joined the nuclear club very early on and soon began to beef up its military capabilities including a navy through which it could project its power. Its People Liberation Army is the largest standing army in the world, far exceeding its next two challengers India and the USA. It is also very technologically proficient and manufactures its own missiles and aircraft. After it clashed with its erstwhile Asian rival India at their borders high in the Himalayas it demonstrated that it is not afraid to be aggressive.

Outside its border, it has moved aggressively in the economic arena to not only “win friends and influence countries” with its trillion-dollar “Belt and Road Initiative” (B&RI) spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. All these countries are now being influenced

by China since they received extraordinarily large loans for infrastructural projects and some being unable to service the loans become amenable to Chinese pressure. Finally, it has declared Taiwan to be under its sovereignty and has challenged the US in the South China Seas, which it declares to be its area of influence, a la the US’ 1823 “Monroe Doctrine” and its "backyard".

In 2019, preeminent foreign policy expert and architect of the US rapprochement with China, Henry Kissinger warned that the United States and China were in “the foothills of a Cold War”. Dr Kissinger’s warning cannot be taken lightly because China is no USSR that was economically hollow, bereft of the strategic wherewithal to put its money where its mouth was. We should note China’s implicit support of Russia in its Ukraine War. While it cannot be gainsaid that China has a tremendous amount of intricate relations with the US because of the history of its economic miracle, the dynamics of power have a logic of its own when China is challenging the US’ hegemony as the sole superpower left standing after the first Cold War. As a minnow, Guyana has to take cognisance of the larger picture within which it must situate its foreign policy.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Investors Outreach, Badr al Badr in discussion with Director of Education at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) Shaykh Moeen Ul-Hack and several other members of the visiting delegation

The National Toshaos Conference Dear Editor, There is excitement in Georgetown as the Toshaos from across the country descend on the nation’s capital once again.

I have noted the article in the Stabroek News publication on Sunday, July 10, 2022, “Amerindian Affairs Ministry accused of attempting to hijack Toshaos’ Conference.”

I do recall that during the period 2015 to 2018, I was threatened, accused, prosecuted, and almost lost my family over attempts by the APNU/AFC Administration to destroy me and the NTC for taking some strong positions on Indigenous Rights and the role of the NTC. I do recall also that the then APNU/AFC Administration destroyed our agendas at every opportunity and actively and openly hijacked our conference to the point where it made it to the news. I also recall the then Minister of Public Security, Minister Ramjattan, opted to go to watch a cricket game instead of engaging with the Indigenous Leaders (Toshaos), no doubt a clear demonstration of where his priorities then lied.

Given the recent global pandemic, it no doubt has been a difficult balancing act for the conduct of the conference. Many communities have not had mass vaccination for various reasons, while many others have. It would have been very reckless to host a conference in a COVID

environment where over 220 Toshaos and Senior Councillors are asked to attend knowing such realities and not being prudent in the planning process.

Yes! The rest of the country has been operating in an open state; however, the Indigenous communities are not like the coast.

Having read the Article in Stabroek, I enquired from Minister Sukhai on the volition of the article and the Minister was explicit that the NTC Secretariat and the outgoing Chair of the NTC were engaged in the consultative process of planning the conference. And, having had no proposal from the NTC for the Conference, the Ministry developed the agenda and forwarded it to the NTC to initiate the process and there has been no feedback on it to date. I also enquired as to the status of the Chair and his presence to which I was informed that aside from initiating the process by drafting the agenda, all arrangements for travel and accommodation were made for the Chair, and he never showed up for his flight.

That the invitation to the opening ceremony states “In collaboration with” speaks of the importance of the relationship between the Government through the Ministry and the First Peoples – the Amerindians through NTC. The fact that many challenges are making their way to the public

domain is a demonstration of the APNU/AFC’s failure to address anything under their tenure, and the Government of Guyana under the PPP/C Administration has laid out a more progressive agenda for Indigenous Peoples and has recognised more Indigenous communities through the Amerindian Land Titling Programme than the net zero under the APNU Administration.

The NTC has always been an organisation that works in concert with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as the budget agency. The relationship has helped to alleviate the massive logistical and coordination issues of the NTC and has served as the financial oversight body as the NTC is also a non-budgetary agency.

During the period 2015 to 2018, a tremendous amount of work was done under the leadership of Chief Joel Fredericks, to ensure the NTC was a body representative of its mandate in Part 4 of the Amerindian Act. It is important that we now turn our sights to the NTC’s annual report and see what was accomplished, what the challenges were and how the NTC can charge forward.

Part 4 of the Amerindian Act, Sub 43.

States: “The National Toshaos Council shall: (b) allow Amerindians to attend its meetings.” I wonder how many will take advantage of this opportu-

nity to listen to the issues their elected leaders bring and work with and through “their” leadership to addressing them; or will they be counted in the many who would rather choose to not attend meetings, stay silent at home, be obstructionists and expect the problems to automatically go away or get solved.

I would ask that the incoming leadership of the NTC develop a strategic path for dialogue with the Government to address concerns in the “communities” wholistically – not individually, to deconflict communities; to strengthen its relationship with the Indigenous Peoples Commission; to meet its mandate under Part 4 of the Amerindian Act; and, while I have been reassured of its commitment to and have every reason to believe, that the Government works with communities to fulfilling their manifesto commitments inclusive of the Amerindian Act. And let’s face the fact, more Indigenous Peoples voted for the PPP/C to be in a Government that any other party including the APNU/AFC, LJP, and all the other parties combined which is a clear indication of the strength of their mandate and where the majority is most comfortable.

Most respectfully, Hon Lenox R O Shuman, MP Deputy Speaker

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

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News

Reports of cost of living doubling by year end misleading, mischievous – Finance Minister ...says portion of $5B relief fund still available

S

enior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh has rubbished reports by a local newspaper that the cost of living in Guyana will double by the end of this year, saying that the article is not only inaccurate but also a misrepresentation of the Bank of Guyana’s report.

Citing a Bank of Guyana Quarterly Report, Kaieteur News on Thursday last reported that the cost of living in Guyana is “expected to more than double” by the end of 2022. They premised this assertion on the fact that it was reported that the inflation rate in Guyana is projected to increase to 4.1 per cent by the end of the year from the 1.7 per cent recorded at the end of March.

But Minister Singh has labelled the article as spurious.

“Either they have the same arithmetic challenge that the APNU/AFC has, that is, they count or do not know numbers or they are intent on misrepresenting the facts because the Bank of Guyana Quarterly Annual Report did not say that there is going to be a doubling of cost of living.

The Bank of Guyana report simply reported what first-quarter inflation is go-

ing to be and presented an updated outlook… based on what was projected in the [2022] Budget,” he told Guyana Times on the sidelines of an event recently.

According to the Finance Minister, this forecasted increase in the inflation rate cannot possibly mean that cost of living will double.

“A report that says you have 1.7 per cent inflation in the first quarter and said that the Budget projects 4.1 per cent inflation for the whole year simply means that prices would increase by 4.1 per cent. For cost of living to double, prices have to increase by 100 per cent.

So, a doubling of the inflation rate from 1.7 to 4.1 cannot possibly constitute a doubling of the cost of living.”

“To report that that means that cost of living would double can only translate to an intent to deceive.

And so that headline was completely inaccurate, misleading, and downright mischievous, and does not reflect what was said in the quarterly report issued by the Bank of Guyana… So, that headline was crafted by a completely mischievous individual or a person who is numerically illiterate,” the Minister contended.

In fact, this similar

Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

point was also driven home

by Chief Statistician of the Bureau of Statistics, Errol La Cruez, who has debunked the report.

“Note that inflation is the general increase in prices and the inflation rate is reported in percentages. That is to say inflation of two per cent means prices increased by two per cent and inflation of four per cent means prices increased by four per cent,” La Cruez said in a social media post on Sunday.

He added, “In other words, if something cost $100 last year and it had inflation of two per cent this means it now costs $102 and if there is inflation of four per cent then it would cost $104. Which is just four dollars more than the $100 price last year and two dollars more than the $102

price earlier this year.”

The Chief Statistician noted that even in the reports which claim that cost of living will double this year, the reports also reference an article that inflation will increase from 2 per cent earlier this year to 4 per cent by year-end.

“Which, to be abundantly clear, is absolutely wrong!

How is it that prices moving from $102 to $104 (represent) a doubling of prices/ cost of living? I want to believe that this is a case of trying to sensationalise and perhaps deliberately mislead people,” he said.

Back in May, President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced a series of ground-breaking measures, ranging from cash grants to households in hinterland and riverine communities to the provision of free fertilisers for farmers, which are aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

The first initiative he had announced was the distribution of a one-off $25,000 cash grant to every household in the riverine and hinterland communities of the country. This measure, according to Ali, will result in $800 million being pumped into the economy and will cushion the impacts of the rising cost of living.

He had also announced

The Amaila Falls Hydro Project is vital to Guyana’s development

Dear Editor, This is good news indeed. It is that “Head of State, President Irfaan, Ali last week, declared that despite the hiccups, Government was not going to abandon the project (that is the Amaila Falls Hydro Project-AFHP).” The timely pronouncement came as he was speaking during a critical briefing held at State House. According to the President, the project is currently undergoing a process (and rightly so) but he was most firm, detailing that “… we are not going to abandon this project, if we have to go out again and again, we will”.

And why not?

First, I care little for the logistics and minutiae of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), since for me, what is vital is that Guyana simply move ahead and realise this long-overdue ambition. It is most necessary from a financial aspect, and of course, in terms of being the climate and environmentally wise, it is the way to go. I back up to December 2016, as many of us seem to forget too conveniently. Back then, the independent assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower

Project (AFHP) did reveal that the only realistic path for Guyana moving towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential and the fastest way forward is to maintain the AFHP. The report, compiled by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, and which was contracted by the Government of Norway, detailed an “objective and facts-based” assessment of the project on the agreement of the two Governments and made some telling statements.

Essentially, the go-ahead is unambiguous, and that was way back in 2016. Part of the statement says that “It is our opinion that BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) type public-private partnership model should be maintained for the project implementation.

An internationally well-merited investor and operator in the hydropower industry should be invited to take the majority position and the driving seat (main sponsor) in the project company. So, irrespective of the means of accomplishing the AFHP, the bottom line is that Guyana must not stall for

too long.

Secondly, when it is all said and done, Guyana will be supplied with electricity “at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh, as against what currently obtains, which is also largely fossil fuel-based, at $0.32 per kWh. This must not go on.

We also know that power is not stable in many areas, and the current high cost of electricity continues to affect operating performance for businesses and is a major challenge to the productive sector, as profitability is severely compromised.

My hope is that the opposition and sceptics will be unbiased and quit playing politics.

The well-being of all Guyanese is far too important and our leaders must be candid when it comes to the overall betterment of the country.

Yes, Guyana has oil, and even this emerging oil and gas sector is being lambasted. I remind all that renewable energy is growing rapidly around the world, but fossil fuels still make up a majority of the world’s energy use. So, Guyana has to be very prudent. In 2017, 81 per cent of the energy the world consumed as oil, coal, and natural gas.

According to the Global Material Flow Database developed by the UN Environment Programme, three countries use more fossil fuels than the rest of the world combined: China, the United States and India. Together, these countries consume 54 per cent of the world’s fossil fuels by weight. So, the capacity for renewable energy is enormous, and I repeat, that Guyana must think ahead.

In closing, even if Guyana has to shift from the BOOT contract to an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) one, it devolves to the Government’s lead in having to secure the finances for the project, then so be it. It is the end result that matters, both locally and globally. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo summed it up succinctly, stating the preference and that “… if we can’t get it done under the BOOT, we will have to retender…” as “it was not a case of the Chinese not being in favour of a BOOT arrangement…” but rather it is that “they simply can’t raise the financing, because of that”.

Yours truly, H Singh

Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez

fertiliser support to farmers in order to cushion the impact of the rising cost of fertiliser on farmers and to limit the trickle-down effect on food prices, by the Government purchasing 1 billion dollars’ worth of fertiliser for free distribution to farmers.

The third measure announced by the Government is the setting up a special unit to help landowners of both private and Government-owned lots build their houses. President Ali said the unit will support applicants with the process of applying to banks for financing and with the initial phase of construction by releasing the necessary resources. Persons will also have the option of choosing $7 million, $9 million, or $12 million house models, for the Government to help them build.

Since taking office in 2020, the Ali-led Administration has introduced several measures to put more disposable income in the pockets of Guyanese.

From the onset, VAT was removed from water and electricity. There has also been an increase in old-age pension and public assistance, putting $2.3 billion and $432 million, respectively, into the pockets of Guyanese.

Nevertheless, Minister Singh has further reassured Guyanese that the PPP/C Government will continue to monitor the situation and make interventions as required.

“I don’t want to be specific about what those future interventions are but I do want to assure the Guyanese people that the Government continues to be extremely mindful of the realities globally and the realities domestically… and will do all that we can to alleviate the situation,” he posited.

In fact, the Government had allocated some $5 billion in the 2022 Budget to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.

According to the Finance Minister, these monies have not been exhausted.

Portions have so far been used to fund interventions such as fertiliser support and the riverine and hinterland household grant.

While he could not provide an exact amount as to how much was spent thus far at the time when he was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event recently, Dr Singh explained that Government will ascertain how the remaining money will be utilised as the needs arise.

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

Page

Foundation ◄

Estimating Sums and Differences

T

o estimate sums and differences of whole numbers, begin by rounding each number. Rounding tells you approximately what the number is. To round, look at the highest place value in each number. That’s called the rounding place. Then look at the second highest place value. If that is less than 5, keep the originals digit in the rounding place. If the second highest place value is 5 or more, add 1 to the digit in the rounding place. When you have decided what digit should go in the rounding place, substitute 0 for all the other digits in the original number.

The rounding place The second highest place value Example: 3450 + 1765 3000 + 2000

Remember…

When you estimate, your answer will not be exact. But it will probably be better than a guess

What do I need?

The Roto-Copter pattern pencil scissors paper clips crayons or markers newspaper cereal bowl What do I do?

Cut along the solid lines only of the Roto-Copter pattern.

Fold on the dotted lines. Fold A toward you. Fold B away from you. Fold C and D over each other so they overlap. Fold the bottom up and

put a paper clip on it.

Hold the RotoCopter by the paper clip. Throw it like a baseball, as high and far as you can. It will spin to the floor. You can also stand on a chair or on the stairs and drop it. Ask a grown-up if you can drop it out the window.

If you want, you can use crayons or markers to colour your Roto-Copter before you fold it. The colours will blur together when it spins.

Make three RotoCopters for each per-

By

the

son. Use a marker to draw a 1-foot circle on a piece of newspaper.

Put a cereal bowl in the middle of the circle. The circle is the target area and the bowl is the bull's-eye.

Take turns standing on a chair at the edge of the newspaper and dropping your RotoCopters: normally, it’s 3 points for a bull's-eye, 2 points for a copter inside the circle, and one point for just hitting the newspaper – but you can make up any rules you want. (exploratorium.edu)

Brothers Grimm

The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said, "Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the land."

"Wife, wife," said the man, "why should we wish to be the king? I will not be king."

"Then I will," said she. "But wife," said the fisherman, "how can you be king? The fish cannot make you a king?"

"Husband," said she, "say no more about it, but go and try! I will be king." So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king.

This time the sea looked a dark grey colour, and was overspread with curling waves and the ridges of foam as he cried out, "O man of the sea!

Hearken to me!

My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a gift of thee!"

"Well, what would she have now?" Said the fish.

"Alas!" Said the poor man. "My wife wants to be king."

"Go home," said the fish, "she is king already."

Then the fisherman went home; and as he came close

CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

to the palace he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets. When he went in he saw his wife sitting on a throne of gold and diamonds, with a golden crown upon her head; and on each side of her stood six fair maidens, each a head taller than the other.

"Well, wife," said the fisherman, "are you king?"

"Yes," said she, "I am king." And when he had looked at her for a long time, he said, "Ah, wife! what a fine thing it is to be king! Now we shall never have anything more to wish for as long as we live."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

China Railway says it strictly abides

by Guyana’s laws, regulations – “strongly condemns” VICE News for defaming Chinese businesses in Guyana

S

tate-owned China Railway First Group Co Ltd (CRFG), the firm that won the contract to revive the highly-touted 165-megawatt Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), has contended that it strictly abides by the laws and regulations of Guyana in conducting business here.

This is in response to the controversial broadcast by VICE News titled “Undercover in Guyana: Exposing Chinese Business in South America”. Already, the current Guyana Government has previously criticised the news agency for attempts to paint top Government officials and the country at large as corrupt, specifically accepting bribes from Chinese investors following the release of parts of the broadcast prior.

But in an extended video released just last week, VICE News journalist Isobel Yeung went undercover and spoke to sever-

al Chinese citizens operating businesses or managing large projects here on alleged corruption deals. The spotlight was shown on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project – a flagship initiative of the governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic regime.

In the more than 24 minutes broadcast, the journalist mentioned being shown a contract between embattled Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong and China Railway for a major road project. CRFG had won the contract for “East Coast Demerara Public Road Widening and Improvement Project-Better Hope to Belfield Village” back in 2014.

But according to China Railway in a statement over the weekend, the news piece is “misleading the public… on the groundless fabrication of so-called factors in an attempt to defame Chinese enterprises here in Guyana.”

The state-run Chinese construction firm solemnly stated that it has never signed any agreement with Su, nor has it conducted any actions that were shown in the footage.

“Since its presence in Guyana from 2008, CRFG strictly abides by the laws and regulations of Guyana in conducting its business operations in the country.

We express strong indignation on the behaviours that VICE News and Su Zhirong deliberately fabricated stories and spread such untruthful information on the internet to mislead the

public and damage the reputation of our company.

We strongly condemn such behaviours of defaming Chinese enterprises,” the company said in the statement.

CRFG further declared that it reserves the right to seek legal actions against both VICE News and Su Zhi Rong for their “reputation-damaging behaviours” and the right to claim compensation for loss so incurred to the company’s business.

China Railway had been involved in the AFHP since 2008 when the initiative

was first conceptualised under a previous PPP/C Administration.

At that time, Sithe Global, a United Statesbased company, as the investor of the project and beneficiary of the concession rights, publicised the invitation to bid for the project across the globe in May 2008, and CRFG participated in the bidding process.

In November 2008, CRFG was announced the successful bidder for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract of Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which was officially signed between CRFG and Sithe Global in September 2012.

But in August 2013, Sithe Global, due to the expiration of the concession rights for the project, exited the development of Guyana Amaila Falls Hydropower Project resulting in the project being set aside.

However, the current

Government of Guyana in July 2021 publicised the Request for Proposal (RFP) to revive the Amaila Hydropower Project.

Among all the Proposals submitted by the companies in September 2021, CRFG’s Proposal presented the lowest price. Therefore, in November 2021, the Guyana Government expressed that it would proceed to next round of negotiations for the project preferably with CRFG. According to China Railway, similar procedures were followed for the fulfilment of the “East Coast Demerara Public Road Widening and Improvement ProjectBetter Hope to Belfield Village”. In November 2013, the Guyana Government publicised the notice for pre-qualification for this project, and eight companies including CRFG participated in the pre-qualification process.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

8 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

China Railway says it strictly abides...

Later on, CRFG and other five companies were shortlisted to enter the official bidding as the second stage. The bids were opened in May, 2014, and CRFG, with its lowest price (lower than the Engineers’ estimates), was announced as the successful bidder among all four companies who have submitted the bids. In December, 2014, CRFG signed the contract of this project with the Ministry of Public Works and according to CRFG it has “delivered to Guyanese people so far the best roadway in Guyana with the highest quality at the lowest price, which is highly commended by local residents”.

However, even as China Railway has been placed on the spotlight

for its involvement with the Amaila Falls Project, there is a possibility that the company could lose the contract after it indicated to Government its inability to execute the project in keeping with the BuildOwn-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model.

Back in May, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had disclosed that the AFHP is at risk of being delayed and possibly retendered, as CRFG has difficulties in meeting the contract obligations and wants the financing model changed. CRFG wants to enter into an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with the Government instead of the BOOT model.

It is unclear whether a

decision will be taken or has been taken to move the project forward, but the Vice President had posited that the Government is not in agreement with any attempt to change the basis of the tender that went out last year. He had also made it clear that if China Railway cannot get the contract done under the BOOT model, then the contract would have to be scrapped and retendered.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali earlier this month made it clear that Government will continue to pursue the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project even if it means it has to keep retendering “again and again”.

“Let me be very clear: we are not going to abandon this project… because

FROM PAGE 7

we know the studies and everything, including the independent review by Norway, has point to this project as being good for Guyana, being good for the environment, and bringing greater prosperity…

So, this project will get underway,” President Ali affirmed.

The revival of the 165-megawatt AFHP was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in its 2020 election manifesto. The project is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy that is affordable and reliable, and is envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs, while removing dependency on fossil fuels.

Hiding… …(NGSA) bright bulbs??

W

ell, there was; one of our annual rituals – our little (11+) darlings writing what used to call their “Common Entrance” exams! Just as de rigueur were the little tykes’ parents – mostly mothers – fussing and wishing them luck and all that!! That the name of the exam is now NGSA – the National Sixth Grade Assessment – Is supposed to be significant. The “Common Entrance” signalled the colonial-era exam that was open to all the “Standard 4” children across our not-so-fair-land to compete for “entrance” to a few spots at Queens or Bishops.

That “exam” was said – by the “experts” at the Ministry of Education - to put too much pressure on the little ragamuffins at such an early age. So instead they instituted not one but THREE “assessments” – at Grander 2, Grade 4, and Grade 6!! They’re not REALLY “exams” the kids were now assured from age seven!! But what exactly is different!?! The results of the 2nd and 4th Grade “assessments” are factored into the NGSA - on the premise that the students strengths and weaknesses were monitored over a larger span!! And when they enter High School’s 7th Grade, the teachers would have a good assessment of the raw material they’re being handed to mould into the new Guyana citizen!!

Have you even heard such a crock? Your Eyewitness would like to know of a SINGLE instance where this kiddie utopian paradise was achieved!! The bottom line is there’s been ABSOLUTELY no change in whatever pressures the Common Entrance exam brought on and the present NGSA. It does what was always the case – it determines whether the kid will enter one of the 5 or so “elite” schools in GT or whether they’ll be schlepping over to their local “Secondary School”. Where, in addition not having the posh facilities of the “town school” bears the “familiarity breeds contempt” burden!!

And the pressure?? Since it’ll pretty much determine the “life chances” of the kids’ success or failure, why’d you think?? Of course, there’s gonna be exceptions but by and large the race is gonna be won by the “bright”.

So over in La la land of the Carnival and Calypso THEIR powers-that-be have decided to quit publicly releasing their - Common Entrance Exam results which had been dubbed SEA – Secondary Entrance Assessment – and have them only available on a portal!!

Each kid can now check his or her score personally.

So, what’ll happen when the same old “high flyer” cohort shows up at the Premier High Schools?? Won’t the regular students know THEY didn’t get in - and suffer by comparison?? Some feel the change is to hide that one ethnicity dominates the top rankings.

Did you ever hear of such schupidness?? …Indigenous swing power There’s a bit of a little dust-up over the hosting of the annual National Toshaos Conference - which will now be held this week. Seems the funds that couldn’t be found to grease the activities of the Conference have now been located by the government. Who, not surprisingly, are being accused of wanting to “control” the goingson by setting the agenda and not inviting the previous executive!!

Now, from where your Eyewitness sits – on his high horse observing the goings-on in his native land – he’s not surprised. Doesn’t matter what subject you’re talking about here - be it horse racing or beauty pagents (same thing?!) - politics will intrude. Now you’ll hope they won’t be too heavy-handed– but since when politicians have been known for sensitivity?! All he knows is our Indigenous Peoples are in the driver’s seat when it comes to politics – since they pretty much hold the “swing vote”.

And to tell politicians to keep off their affairs is like telling a bee to abjure honey!! …and bailing out The Rajapaksa family ran the affairs of Sri Lanka like their personal fiefdom. But once the bottom fell out of the economy the natives became restless.

Pres. Gotabaya Rajapaksa just bailed when his barricades were stormed.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

9 Guyana to tender Oil Block C by year end – Min Bharrat NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...says 300,000 bpd currently being produced; could increase to 600,000 by 2023

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government plans to go out to tender for a partner to help them develop the Block C offshore oil block, which is currently unawarded and which the Government believes holds significant resources and investment potential.

This was according to Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, during the Guyana-Saudi Arabia Investment Engagement that was held in the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Saturday. He described it as a major opportunity for investors.

“There’s a major opportunity for persons, companies, and countries that wish to invest in Guyana’s oil and gas sector. If you notice, Block C, which is close to Suriname and is close to the discovery, Apache discovery in Suriname, that block is unawarded.”

“It still lies with the Government of Guyana.

And we’ve already decided that before the end of this year, we will go out through an open bidding process, to award Block C to any country, company or organi-

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat The area shaded red is referred to as the Stabroek Block C

sation, that is willing to partner with us to develop Block C,” Bharrat further said.

Earlier this year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that Guyana had been the recipient of significant interest, particularly from Middle Eastern companies, to partner with the State in developing Guyana’s remaining blocks.

Guyana has long been expected to go out and auction oil blocks, both untapped and relinquished.

Considering the more than 30 oil finds that have been made by oil giant ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block, the country is likely to be in a good position to

leverage the value of those blocks when the context of the global oil and gas industry is considered.

The relinquishment clause is typically included in contracts so that companies can relinquish a portion of the block when the renewable period is up, thereby allowing other companies to buy into the respective blocks.

For the Stabroek and Canje Blocks, operators are required to relinquish 20 per cent of their blocks after the first renewal period; while those of the Demerara and Corentyne Blocks are expected to relinquish 15 per cent within this period.

The Kaieteur Block’s relinquishment provision is said to be 25 per cent, then 20 per cent by the first renewal; with the Mahaicony and Roraima Blocks at 25 per cent. By the time of the first renewal for the Orinduik Block, the operators are not expected to relinquish any portion.

Barrels per day

Another revelation from Bharrat during his presentation to the Saudi investors, is that Guyana is currently producing 300,000 barrels of oil per day, from the Liza Phase One and Two fields and the Liza Destiny and Unity Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessels, combined.

“We discovered oil in

May of 2015, and we started production in December of 2019. To date we are producing at over 300,000 barrels per day with only two FPSOs. This, I’m sure you would agree with me, is unprecedented speed and I don’t think this has happened in any small developing country around the world – the rate at which we are moving our petroleum sector.”

“We have already signed two more licences.

So very soon, as a matterof-fact next year, we will see our third FPSO arriving in Guyana’s waters.

Which will have a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.

And this will take us close to 600,000 by the ending of 2023,” Bharrat said.

He also noted that in the

case of the Yellowtail development, a fourth FPSO will arrive in Guyana by 2024 called the One Guyana FPSO. This, he said, will produce 250,000 barrels.

Another Field Development Plan (FDP), for the fifth Warrau development, will also be handed over to Guyana very soon.

“And Government will be placed in a position where we will review and finally approve the fifth project in the Stabroek Block. And that will take us to over 1 million barrels per day of production. And this, we see, will happen in another five to six years from today. So, by 20272028, Guyana will be safely producing over 1 million barrels of oil per day,” the Minister said.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEGPL) is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother of man who threatened to assassinate President Ali begs for mercy – says son is mentally ill

President Irfann Ali

C

laire Richmond, the mother of 35-year-old Marvin Richmond also known as “Wakie” of Sealey Street, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was arrested for threatening to kill the President during a protest, is asking the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Government to have mercy on her son.

The woman in an interview with Guyana Times on Sunday explained that her son has been battling a mental illness for the past 22 years and did not threaten the President’s life while he was in his sound mind.

The man had threatened the President’s life amid violent protests on the ECD over the killing of 23-yearold Quindon Bacchus, a father of one. The threats were captured on a live broadcast

Claire Richmond, mother of the allegedly mentally ill man

by an Opposition Member of Parliamentarian (MP).

Police had confirmed that Marvin was treated on several occasions by a psychiatrist.

Following the threats, President Ali expressed that it was “unacceptable”.

“It has been brought to my attention by a number of stakeholders about a video… in which a direct statement was made that ‘we will kill the President’…there was no condemnation by the one who was doing the live broadcast at that moment…this is also unacceptable in a democratic society…but I want to assure all the stakeholders that that is a separate issue and that must also be subjected to investigation,” President Ali had posited.

Two days after the threats were made, the man was ar-

Marvin Richmond also known as “Wakie”

rested by Police. He is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital under Police guard.

According to his mother, she was told by the Police that her son’s case is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) awaiting advice. However, she is asking those in authority to kindly have some sympathy for her son due to his health condition.

“Between April to now, I've been running at the station, after he was on the streets, asking them to help me take him into a mental health institution but I got no help. At one point, I went to Cove and John Police Station, and the Police told me that it

Marvin Richmond at the protest

is not their job, they are not coming to carry a mad man anywhere. One Police officer told me that if he carrying him and he do him anything, he will shoot him,” she explained.

The woman said her son usually gets worked up in certain situations and she would have to take him to the hospital to get injections to calm him down. She further stated that he was taken once to the Berbice Mental Institution where he spent some time.

The woman recalled that on the day of the protest, she went to drop the man’s son to school and after hearing that the protest was growing, she went on the road to look for him. She said she did so because she knew he would get worked up in such a situa-

tion.

“When I go on the road, I found him. I told him when the media comes, he should not go to the front to say anything because I know these situations would trigger his condition. I was monitoring him all the time. Not knowing the boy done say what he had to say…”.

“When I come home people started sending the thing to me and I got sick right away. It's only now my son start coming on the road. He locked himself inside for a whole year [last year] and was peeping through a crease. He doesn’t do these things intentionally. When he gets better, he does feel so embarrassed he doesn't even want to come outside,” she explained.

The anxious mother said

seeing the comments from the public on social media about her son was very painful to read because according to her, no one knows the truth behind her son’s condition.

“Nobody knows what I have been going through for over 20 years. It isn’t easy.

I don’t have a life because I have to take care of my son and grandson. He can’t work anywhere because of his condition. I told the Police that he has a mental illness.”

She said even though she knows the severity of the threat he made, she is still praying and asking that the law have some mercy on him.

Following the threats, several organisations, including the Private Sector Commission, condemned the attack.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

National Toshaos Conference opens today at ACCC …Shuman hails Govt for laying out progressive agenda for Indigenous peoples

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman

A

fter a two-year hiatus due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) opens today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The NTC is being held under the theme: “Good Governance and Fast-Tracking Amerindian Development” and will be addressed by President Dr Irfaan Ali. And, already, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman has hailed the Government for laying out a progressive agenda for the country’s first people.

The NTC brings together Amerindian leaders from over 212 hinterland communities across the country. It is a platform for Amerindian leaders to engage the Government and other stakeholders on issues about the development of their communities. It will also see the election of a new executive to the NTC. The NTC, which spans five days, will focus on improving access to Government services such

as health, education, land titling, demarcation, security, and infrastructure, among others.

In a recent letter to the editor, Shuman said that unlike the APNU/AFC, the PPP/C has laid out a more progressive agenda for Indigenous peoples and has recognised more Indigenous communities through the Amerindian Land Titling Programme than the net-zero.

According to the parliamentarian, the NTC has always been an organisation that works in concert with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as the budget agency. This relationship, he noted, has helped to alleviate the massive logistical and coordination issues of the NTC and has served as the financial oversight body as the NTC is also a non-budgetary agency.

From 2015 to 2018, he said that a tremendous amount of work was done under the leadership of Chief Joel Fredericks, to ensure the NTC was a body representative of its mandate in Part 4 of the Amerindian Act. As such, he pointed out that the NTC’s Annual Report needs

to be examined to see what was accomplished, what the challenges were, and how it can move forward.

Referencing Part 4 of the Amerindian Act, Sub 43 which states: “The National Toshaos Council shall: (b) allow Amerindians to attend its meetings”, Shuman said he wonders how many will take advantage of this opportunity to listen to the issues their elected leaders bring.

He also wants to know if they will work with and through “their” leadership to address these issues or will they be counted among the many who would rather choose to not attend meetings, stay silent at home, be obstructionists, and expect the problems to automatically go away or get solved.

His desire is for the incoming leadership of the NTC to develop a strategic path for dialogue with the Government to address concerns in the communities “wholistically not individually”, to deconflict communities, and strengthen its relationship with the Indigenous Peoples Commission.

Shuman said, too, that he has been assured of and has every reason to believe that the Government will continue to work with Indigenous communities in fulfilling its manifesto commitments inclusive of the Amerindian Act. “And let’s face the fact, more Indigenous peoples voted for the PPP/C to be in Government than any other party including the APNU/ AFC, LJP, and all the other parties combined which is a clear indication of the strength of their mandate and where the majority is most comfortable,” he said.

The National Toshaos Conference will commence today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

The fact that many challenges faced by Amerindian communities are making their way to the public domain is a demonstration of the APNU/AFC’s failure to address anything under its tenure, the Deputy House Speaker lamented.

The PPP/C Government since taking office, has been investing in the development of Amerindian people. The Administration has re-established the Community Service Officers (CSO) programme which has employed 2000 Amerindians.

Recognising the impact of the pandemic on hinterland communities, some $1.73 billion was injected into communities that were neglected under the previ-

ous Government. Villages received $3 to $15 million in grants based on the size of their population.

In addition, President Dr Irfaan Ali recently announced a $25,000 cash grant for riverine and hinterland communities to

cushion the rise in the cost of living.

In keeping with the “One Guyana” vision, the Government also distributed 112 tractors to hinterland communities to ensure food security by boosting agriculture production.

12 NEWS GPF honours 65 Police ranks killed while performing duties MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Minister Benn urges Police Force to rededicate itself to serve and protect

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Sunday paid homage to the 65 policemen and women who died in the line of duty at a Wreath Laying Ceremony

at the Monument for Fallen Heroes, Police Officers' Mess Compound, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The event was observed as part of the GPF's 183rd an-

niversary celebration.

During his opening remarks, Deputy Commissioner Administration (ag) Calvin Brutus related that the event is in its 21st year and is be-

ing held in memory of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice of dying in the line of duty to ensure public security is maintained.

“It is a significant occasion because had it not been for their sacrifices we will not be here standing, celebrating this occasion and remembering their sacrifice and contribution to the security landscape in Guyana.”

As a mark of respect, a 21-gun salute was executed while the Police Military Band sounded the Last Post after which a moment of si-

Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken salutes the fallen heroes after laying his wreath

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn being accompanied by Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Security Advisor Gerald Gouveia

lence was observed followed by another 21-gun salute and the Reveille.

During the event, wreaths were laid by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken along with his deputy commissioners, commanders and other high-ranking officials of the Force with widows, children, relatives and friends of the fallen heroes.

The Minister in his address lauded the efforts being made by the Fallen Heroes Foundation to support the families of those policemen and women who would have died in the line of duty, especially with respect to the ambitions of the children of the

Minister Benn asserted.

Bearing in mind the ultimate sacrifice of the fallen heroes, Minister Benn urged the Force to rededicate itself to duty, not forgetting the dangers posed from time to time.

The Minister also solemnly spoke of the critical period when policemen were killed in the line of duty, the days he termed “dark days”, and expressed sympathy to the family members of those killed.

Further, he added, “I want to identify that, in my view

A part of the procession during the ceremony

fallen heroes.

“Why would policemen stand up, face the danger, not run away...but perhaps lay down and made the supreme sacrifice. They were defending and building and creating the environment for a better and greater Guyana for ourselves and for all Guyanese,”

with the continuing service, the fallen heroes will be and must continue to be proud of us in the Guyana Police Force and proud and satisfied that their sacrifice would not go in vain,” Minister Benn posited.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

NEWS

13

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPF honours 65 Police ranks killed while... by our fellow officers in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.”

The Guyana Police Force, he stated, recognised the importance of honouring the fallen heroes through its Fallen Heroes Foundation Inc, which was established in 2015 in collaboration with the Cops and Faith Community Network.

The Foundation provides benefits to families whose members have died in the line of duty. Such benefits include providing welfare support to families of ranks who died in the line of duty; providing financial assistance to the families of ranks who died in the line of duty; providing education-

The members of the Force during the gun salute

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Hicken emphasised that safety and security are precious gifts that benefit all of the citizens, while noting that too often little thought is given to the price paid for them.

In 2002, the Guyana Police Force, under the tenure of the then Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis, established the Monument of Fallen Heroes that is dedicated to the memory of members of the Force killed in the line of duty.

The Top Cop noted that “the monument serves as a place of reflection, honour, tribute, and communal gathering for the family, friends, fellow colleagues, and the nation of the fallen”.

This, he lamented, is in light of the fact that, as Police officers are frequently exposed to life-threatening situations, not only to themselves but also to the

Some of the family members of those honoured

grieving relatives of the deceased.

"Moreover, we frequently lose fellow officers to on-duty deaths and lasting, career-ending injuries, which can negatively impact our health and well-

being. Henceforth, being a Police officer takes commitment as we must be able to maintain mental and moral strength to resist opposition, and fairness of mind to protect the nation in the line of fire and must stand

al assistance to children of

FROM PAGE 12

The Fallen Heroes Monument

ranks who died in the line of duty who are under the age of 18.

Hicken noted that “through our gratitude and respect for our fallen members, the Guyana Police Force will continue to provide 'benevolent benefits' to the immediate family of deceased ranks; take responsibility for the wake for deceased ranks, and take responsibility for the funeral for deceased ranks”.

“As we pay tribute to the fallen heroes, let us also rededicate ourselves to upholding the passion and purpose they so bravely fought for and died for, so that others might live. Let us keep faith with their service and sacrifice by renewing our own commitment to the Guyana Police Force motto, ‘Service and Protection’. So once again, my sincere condolences to the husbands, wives, parents, children, siblings, friends, and fellow officers, all of those here today who have been touched by the lives we honour. You

have been called upon to bear a special burden. And, though there is no speech that can ease your pain, no tribute or salute, we honour their courage and ask you to fill your hearts with our nation's gratitude.

Chairman of the Guyana Police Force Fallen Heroes Foundation, Bishop Dr Raphael Massiah in his remarks commended the Guyana Police Force for the solemnity for which this occasion was organised.

During the ceremony, words of comfort were offered to the relatives and friends of the ranks killed in the line of duty by the Police Force Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Doolichand.

Also attending the ceremony were National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia, Heads of the Disciplined Services, Former Police Commissioner Floyd Mc Donald, senior officers and other ranks and other retired senior officers of the Guyana Police Force.

14 NEWS Prison officers complete training in prison management, human rights among other courses MONDAY, JULY 11,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Head of the Prison Service Training Board Tracy Shamshudeen and Deputy Director of Prisons and Head of the Staff Training Department Kevin Pilgrim with some of the officers

A

imed at promoting greater efficacy within the Guyana prison system, an additional 114 officers graduated from various courses over the past three days.

The ranks were trained by internal and external facilitators, and among the completed courses were: Prison Management, Human Rights and Supervisory

Prisons Nicklon Elliot disclosed that “Based on the current budgetary allocations for training, same has been utilised to ensure that staff are exposed to not only institutional training but at the technical level so that they can offer more support and guidance to prisoners.”

He also mentioned that training is important, so prison staff are equipped

of skills, hence training is therefore part of developing and maintaining a skilled, motivated and committed prison staff workforce,” Elliot opined.

Finally, he encouraged the officers to share their knowledge and insight gained with their colleagues in order to enhance prison management and the internationally accepted norms

Board is working simultaneously with the Prison Directorate where management structures are being devised to continuously encourage officers to capitalise on training opportunities available locally, regionally or internationally.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Prisons and Head of the Staff Training Department, Kevin Pilgrim added “Beyond that, the programmes foster numerous other beneficial skills and behaviours.

It promotes the abili-

Brazilian, Colombian arrested after landing cocaine-laden aircraft at Mahdia – pilot tells Police aircraft ran out of fuel

The plane that landed at the Mahdia Airstrip on Sunday

(Seated from right): Staff Welfare Officer Grace Roberts, Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot and Deputy Director of Prisons and Head of the Staff Training Department Kevin Pilgrim with another batch of officers

Management.

Additionally, 45 officers attained ABE-endorsed certificates.

At the graduation ceremony held at the National Racquet Centre, Director of

with the knowledge, skills and attitude to perform their duties well, and with respect for the rights and dignity of the inmates.

“Prison work is complex and required a variety

ty to critically analyse arising and existing problems and proactively find creative solutions. It advocates self-confidence, taking responsibility, speaking clearly and effectively, working in a team, critically assessing information, and sharing ideas in an engaging and persuasive manner.”

For the year thus far, some 250 ranks have been trained from 19 completed courses. Additionally, 275 ranks have been identified for further training for the second half of the year.

for managing inmates in a correctional facility.

However, in congratulating the officers, Head of the Prison Service Training Board, Tracy Shamshudeen said the

Matheus Alberto

Vinicius

M

Tontes

atheus Vinicius Tontes Alberto, 23, a Brazilian national, and Rodrigues Canon Dandes Estiven, 43, a Colombian national, were on Sunday arrested after landing a light single-engine aircraft at the Mahdia Airstrip, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Guyana Times understands that the aircraft landed about 15:00h without the necessary permission and clearance from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). A source told this publication that the aircraft is a Cessna 172 with a fake registration number (N5470Z).

Based on the registration number, the plane is privately owned by an individual out of Missouri, USA. When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum explained that on the day in question, Police ranks were conducting duties at the Mahdia Airstrip when the two-seat single-engine airplane landed.

As the plane came to a

Rodrigues Estiven

Canon

Dandes

halt, the Police intercepted same and realised that the pilot and co-pilot were foreign nationals. They were questioned during which time one of them reportedly stated that they were heading to another location, but the aircraft ran out of fuel and as such, they landed.

Further, a search was conducted in the aircraft during which 10 parcels were found with suspected cocaine. On the parcels had the markings “King Coco 30”.

This, the Crime Chief explained, is a trademark used by smugglers as a drop-off destination/individual. A further search unearthed a white salt bag with suspected cannabis. In addition, two Global Positioning Systems (GPS), one satellite phone, one radio set and two cellphones were found in the aircraft.

Blanhum told Guyana Times that after receiving reports about the illegal aircraft, a team of investigators from the Criminal Investigation

Department (CID) travelled to the location to launch an investigation.

The aircraft and its contents were then taken to the Eugene F Correia Airport and then to the CID Headquarters where the men were being questioned. Up to press time, the cocaine and cannabis were still to be weighed, but a wellplaced source estimated the cocaine to be between 300 kilograms and 350 kilograms.

More so, this newspaper was told that the co-pilot is allegedly a serving Brazilian law enforcement officer.

Back in November 2021, a foreign pilot and his co-pilot were arrested in Mahdia after they landed at an airstrip in the area.

Reports are that the men – a Colombian and a Venezuelan – landed in a twin-engine Piper Seneca plane. Following their detention at the Mahdia Police Station, several personal items, along with a GPS, were seized by Police.

In June of that year, another aircraft was seen circling the Bissaruni trail (12 miles east of Kwakwani), Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and subsequently landed, but when it was found, it had been completely burnt.

Examinations identified no illicit drugs or burnt bodies on board. Also in June of that year, another aircraft was seen flying over southern Guyana.

Attempts were made by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to intercept it, but the aircraft managed to land in Kaaimangrasie, Suriname.

Surinamese officials were alerted and managed to arrive on site and subsequently seized more than 400 kilos of cocaine.

In May, Guyanese authorities intercepted an aircraft carrying 450 kilos of cocaine near the Indigenous village of Orealla.

The two occupants of the aircraft claimed to be on their way to Suriname to deliver a shipment of magnesium.

However, the cargo turned out to be cocaine. Both men have since been charged in Guyana for narcotics trafficking.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

27 trained Police Prosecutors to boost performance at Magistrate's Courts

The graduating class along with Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC; Home Affairs Minister Benn, Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and senior Police officers. Also in the photograph are the Director of Nations School of Law Ashme Singh and other representatives from the institution and lecturer on the Elementary Prosecutors’ Course State Counsel Chevy Devonish

C

omplaints from Magistrates countrywide about the poor performance by Police prosecutors have led to 27 Police ranks completing a rigorous six-month internationally accredited prosecutorial programme at Nations University, New Market Street, Georgetown.

This was revealed by Assistant Commissioner Calvin Brutus while he addressed a graduation ceremony on Friday for 27 Police officers and two employees of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, who recently completed the first-ever Elementary

Prosecutors’ Course.

For the longest while, Brutus admitted that there has been a shortage of trained Police officers to represent the State in criminal matters at the various Magistrates Courts.

“We have had oral and written complaints from Magistrates in different districts. We have had complaints about the performance of prosecutors in the courts. We have also had a shortage of trained prosecutors due to many reasons… retirement and other reasons as well.”

He said that the fastest way to address this issue

properly was to engage with Nations University to customise a prosecutor’s training course to suit the needs of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Emphasising that prosecutors are key to society, Brutus told the graduates, “You play a part in determining the life of individuals who are before the court and even those outside of the court. Your presentations at court in representing the State in summary criminal matters would impact the lives of victims, suspects, and their respective families, friends, and colleagues.”

Squatters in North Sophia assured of safe relocation

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues addressing the crowd on Friday

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inister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues has assured safe relocation to the residents of North Sophia, Georgetown, who are squatting in zero tolerance areas of the community.

Minister Rodrigues on Friday, along with the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame Mccoy and the Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond, engaged the residents.

Squatting has been identified as one of the most prominent issues in the area.

Apart from safe relocation, Rodrigues told residents that the Ministry will also look at regularisation in some areas where possible.

Residents were also given the opportunity to take

part in the house lot application process in order to be eventually allocated a house lot of their own through procedure.

However, Ministers Walrond and Mccoy addressed other land matters while hinting at the establishment of a North Sophia Community Development Council. This outreach is a follow-up to a meeting held with the residents just over a week ago.

Just over a week ago, several Ministers met the same residents during which McCoy registered the point that a collaborative effort is needed for the community to develop.

“All of these things are part of our role as communities if we want to be able to build wholesome communities, and I challenge you to get down to the task, and

let’s all work towards this community, as we work towards improving Guyana in general,” he had highlighted.

Minister Walrond had said her Ministry is open to providing business opportunities for the youth in the community.

“My heart’s desire is for the young people, and for a lot of you to be able to own your own business…so you can learn how to bid…There will be many business opportunities…so those are the kind of things we’ll be looking at,” she had explained.

Meanwhile, Minister Dharamlall reminded residents of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s commitment to upgrade the community’s ground for sporting and recreational activities.

“So, he has committed that we are gonna work with the community to do what has to be done…,” he had said.

Small business grants were also recently distributed in the community of Sophia which saw 100 families benefitting.

These meetings/outreaches to Sophia are part of wider community consultations that the Cabinet has been engaging in across the country.

In execution of their duties, he reminded them that they ought to be guided by the provisions to secure protection of the law pursuant to Article 144 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Guyana—the overarching basis upon which the prosecutors’ code is built.

The Assistant Commissioner told the prosecutors that they have to be fair in presenting the evidence before the court and not seek to “fill in the gaps” or “manipulate” the evidence to secure a conviction. “Your duties as prosecutors are not to strive and to go overboard to convict someone, you are to ensure that you assist the court to deliver justice. Ensure that justice is done in a fair and transparent manner.

If there is insufficient evidence that cannot be cured by legal ways, then the court will decide the way forward at the end of the trial,” he added.

The Elementary Prosecutors’ Course is internationally recognised, as the course content, assessment, and grading process were vetted by ABMA Education — an awarding organisation in the United Kingdom (UK) offering QFQUAL regulated and professional qualifications in the UK and internationally.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus

It is aimed at equipping ranks with the necessary procedural and substantive laws related to criminal prosecutions. The purpose and objective of the training are to improve the efficiency of Police ranks in executing their prosecutorial duties.

Those who graduated are: a superintendent, a deputy superintendent, four sergeants, six corporals, three lance corporals, and 12 constables.

During the six months course, the ranks were exposed to learning, comprising 624 hours, of which 294 were guided learning and 330 hours of independent study – covering 196 lessons across 261 topics, ranging from understanding the duties of prosecutors to trial advocacy.

It is being accepted by

the University of London (UoL) as an entry requirement into its Bachelor of Laws programme, which is being offered by Nations University, one of UoL’s recognised teaching centres. Brutus informed the ranks that the GPF will provide them with scholarships if they desire to pursue this undergraduate degree.

Currently, another batch of Police ranks is attending the Elementary Prosecutors’ Course at Nations University which will run annually for the next five years.

Last October, the Police Force and Nations University signed the firstof-its-kind Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to undertake prosecutorial training for Police ranks.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teen arrested for armed robbery claims being burnt by Police while in lock-ups – Cops say teen’s jersey caught fire while playing with borrowed lighter

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ours after a video surfaced with a teenager, claiming that he was tortured and burnt while in the lockups at the Vigilance Police Station, the Guyana Police Force stated that the young man burnt himself.

In a statement, the Police stated that on Sunday at about 10:10h, the teenager, who is also referred to as “Coolie Boy”, a fisherman of Annandale, ECD, was in Police custody for questioning into an alleged armed robbery.

Jahiem Peters was in custody and alone in the lock-ups. “Screams were heard coming from the lock-ups and when a rank made checks, he observed the jersey that Peters was wearing was on fire,” the release stated.

As such, the EMT from Melanie Fire Station was summoned and Peters was treated.

“He was questioned and related to the Police that he was given a lighter by another person who was in custody (on the bench), and he lit same and was playing with it and his jersey caught afire,” the Police added.

ranks at the said station were placed under close arrest. Also, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the young man stated that he was beaten to say he set himself on fire.

He claimed “I went in-

side the lock-up and them man beat me… after the policeman (Name Mentioned) come in the lock-up now, he want knock me to talk about some gun and I tell he me ain’t know about no gun and me and he start to scuffle… I end up and tek off meh jersey and that catch fire… when the ambulance

come, they tell them I burn meh self… they end up and beat me fuh say duh.”

The man reportedly left his home on the ECD on Thursday and was heading to Georgetown, when he, along with two others were picked up by Police and taken to the Vigilance Police Station.

32 new COVID-19 infections; 5 in ICU GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 10, 2022 UPDATE

The burnt teen at the hospital

Peters was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where was admitted and is being treated for burn injuries to his left side ribs area and hand.

The Police further stat-

ed that statements were taken from persons who were at the station and witnessed when the incident occurred.

In the same statement, the Police reported that two

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

32

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

36

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

697

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

5

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

1

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

36,893

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

31,301

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

68,194

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

66,194

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2619

REGION 2

2980

REGION 3

8487

REGION 4

33,922

REGION 5

2490

REGION 6

6576

REGION 7

2526

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4101

REGION 10

3607

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

443,802 343,575

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1262

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

A

nother 32 persons in Guyana have tested positive for the novel coronavirus within the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday.

Consequently, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana has gone up to 68,194 of which only 738 are currently active cases. This includes five patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in isolation, that is, 36 in institutional isolation and other 697 in home isolation.

One more person is currently in institutional quarantine.

Guyana’s COVID-19 death roll remains at 1251 with the latest fatalities being a 55-year-old male from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), who died on July 7; a 70-year-old male from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died on July 8, and a 79-year-old female from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), who also died on July 8.

Meanwhile, some 66,194 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus in

the country – 64 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total 665,828 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 31,301 males and 36,893 females were found to be positive.

Of the 32 new cases recorded on Sunday, two were from Region One (BarimaWaini), five cases from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and the remaining 25 cases the Demerara-Mahaica region.

There were no new cases recorded in the other seven regions across the country within the reporting 24-hour period.

After a prolonged period of declining cases, the Guyana Government, back in March, removed most restrictions as the country moves to recover from the pandemic and return to normalcy.

But in recent weeks, there has been a spike in COVID cases here, which health authorities have attributed to the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron strain.

Latest vaccination figures show that so far, more than

443,000 or 86.5 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 343,000 or 67 per cent are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, over 35,000 or 48 per cent of them have received their first dose, and of that amount, some 25,600 or 35.2 per cent are fully immunised.

In the 5 to 11 age group, over 4000 children are inoculated. Administration of the second shot is now due for some persons. Moreover, approximately 68,000 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent figures, some 51,226,298 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 6,345,595 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 164,535,057 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,767,057.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 12,037,259,035 doses have been administered worldwide.

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police promotions

Judge to hear Slowe’s case for injunction against PSC today

High Court Judge Gino Persaud

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igh Court Judge Gino Persaud, will today have a hearing in an action lodged by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe, who is seeking an injunction against the reconstituted Police Service Commission (PSC) which recently promoted several officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Mere days after Slowe filed the case to block the promotion of the ranks, Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken announced the promotion of 97 senior Police officers since there was no court order preventing him from doing so.

As a result, Slowe, through his lawyer Selwyn Pieters, had written to Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, calling for an urgent hearing of the matter.

Slowe, the immediate past Chairman of the PSC, is, among other things, asking a Judge to grant an injunction restraining the PSC from promoting officers until his legal challenge to President Dr Irfaan Ali’s June 2021 suspension of the PSC is determined.

In May, the Demerara Full Court upheld a March 9 decision by Justice Persaud that Slowe’s challenge to the Head of State’s suspension of the constitutional commission can proceed.

The respondents in that case, namely Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and the Police Commissioner, have filed at the Court of Appeal an appeal against the Full Court’s ruling.

Before Justice Persaud, Nandlall had contended that, given the three-year life of the PSC had expired in August 2021, during the course of Slowe’s challenge, the case was dead, and should be struck out.

Public interest

In his ruling, however, Justice Persaud had held that the issues raised in the challenge are matters of public interest. Relying on several local, regional, and overseas case laws, he had reasoned that the is-

sue of the legality of the [Commission’s] suspension “…should be heard and determined on its merits, being a matter of public interest”.

To hold otherwise, the Judge had noted, would be to leave the legality of the suspension hanging – never to be adjudicated upon simply because of the inescapable fact that the life of the Commission had come to an end after these proceedings were filed.

“This does not seem to me either logical or fair, but rather an affront to fairness; natural justice; access to justice; and, indeed, the rule of law. A hearing and determination would serve to bring clarity to the role of the Executive in such instances, and ensure that the constitutionally-granted autonomy of the PSC remains protected,” Justice Persaud had reasoned.

Grounds

In the grounds in support of his new application, Slowe said that on August 9, 2018, he, and retired Assistant Commissioners of Police Clinton Conway, Vesta Adams, and Claire Jarvis were appointed Commissioners of the PSC by former President David Granger.

According to him, as part of the duties of the PSC, they drafted a list of 132 Police officers to be promoted, and sent it to the PSC’s Secretary to have it sent to then Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie for the promotions to be effected.

However, Slowe said, the list was never sent to the Secretary and was leaked to Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus and then to the public.

Then, on June 16, 2021, President Ali “unconstitutionally and illegally” suspended the PSC by sending individual letters of suspension to its Commissioners, Slowe submitted.

The promotions list was publicised on June 28, 2021, hours after Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, had dismissed a challenge filed by several senior Police officers who were aggrieved by their non-promotion. The challenge had delayed the promotion of ranks by more than six months. Later that day, the Government rejected as unlawful and illegal the list of purported promotions.

Fraud charges

President Ali had suspended the PSC after its Chairman Paul Slowe and Commissioner Conway, were slapped with fraud charges. They, along with other retired and serving members of the GPF, have been implicated in a $10

Paul Slowe

million fraud over duties delegated to them for revising the Police Force’s raft of Standing Orders. It is alleged that they collected payments amounting to $10 million, but never provided the Force with a raft of revised Standing Orders.

In addition, Slowe is facing three counts of sexual assault. It is alleged that on three occasions in 2019, at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, he sexually assaulted a senior Policewoman by rubbing her left leg and foot without her consent.

Pending case

The suspension, Slowe added, prompted the Commissioners to file a Fixed Date Application (FDA) seeking, among other things, a declaration that the President’s suspension of the PSC was contrary to, in violation of, and ultra vires the Constitution, and therefore was of no force or effect; an order directing the Commission’s Secretary to prepare formal letters to the ranks named on the official promotions list, informing them of their promotion; and an order nullifying the President’s suspension of the Chairman and members of the Police Service Commission.

Inevitable difficulty

The retired cop, in his new case, told the High Court that he has been advised by his lawyers, and verily believes, that the injunction would assist in preserving the status quo of the pending proceedings. He reasoned that should the injunction be refused, the reconstituted PSC would be allowed to promote officers, causing inevitable difficulty at the end of the pending matter.

“When the promotions from the previous list are effected and those said officers were promoted, the previous list which this matter touches and concerns, especially since from the previous list they may have been promoted, making them eligible for promotion to a higher rank,” he explained. Slowe pointed out, “For example, if a

Members of the newly appointed Police Service Commission: (from left) Attorney-at-Law Mark Conway, businessman Ernesto Choo-a-Fat, Pastor Patrick Findlay, along with President Dr Irfaan Ali, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC; and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

Sergeant was on the previous list promoted to the rank of Inspector, he would be entitled to not be promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent and not be promoted twice on two separate lists as an Inspector.”

The former PSC Chairman further pointed out that if the injunction is not granted, and this matter is subsequently completed and the previous promotions on the past list are effected, there would be inevitable issues as to which officers are of a higher rank than others, if the promotions would be backdated, and there would be future problems as to who will be entitled to be Commanders and even the Commissioner of Police.

Slowe contended that

under the Civil Procedure Rules, the High Court has the authority to grant an interim injunction restraining the PSC from promoting members of the GPF until the hearing and determination of the other matter.

Appointment

On May 31, President Ali swore in the members of the PSC at the Office of the President.

They are Attorneyat-Law Mark Conway, businessmen Ernesto Choo-a-Fat and Hakeem Mohammed, and Pastor Patrick Findlay, who will serve as Chairman.

Shortly after the members took the oath of office, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton threatened to take

legal action, citing that President Ali was carrying out constitutional duties without engaging him.

Norton has since filed legal proceedings in this regard.

But the President responded by stating that the development of the country will not be held hostage by political objects.

The PSC is a constitutional body established under Article 137 (1) of the Constitution, and has been given the authority under Article 212 (1) subject to the provisions of Article 211 (1) to make appointments to any office in the Police Force of or above the rank of Inspector, and exercise disciplinary control over and to remove persons holding or acting in such offices.

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

COVID impacts heavily Jamaica: D’Aguilar seeks backing of politicians for CoI into State corruption on Bahamian economy L A

new joint report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has estimated the total cost of the impacts and effects of COVID-19 on The Bahamas to the tune of US$9.5 billion, with tens of thousands of job losses and long-lasting effects on the country’s tourism sector.

The report, “Assessment of the Effects and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Bahamas”, say that most losses, due to COVID-19 for the period 2020 to 2023, were concentrated between 2020 and 2021, at 84 per cent.

The worst year was 2020, when 48 per cent of losses occurred, the report says.

It says total losses in tourism were estimated at almost US$7.9 billion, largely from the fall in stopover visitors.

According to the report, the economy is expected to

IDB Country Representative in Bahamas, Daniela CarreraMarquis

return to its pre-pandemic level only by 2024, mainly because of the gradual pace of recovery in the tourism sector and the long-lasting effects of COVID-19 in this sector.

“This estimate represents more than two-anda-half times the US$3.5 billion estimated cost of damage and losses due to Hurricane Dorian, which devastated parts of Abaco

and Grand Bahama in September 2019, just six months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says the report, adding that the pandemic overlapped and negatively impacted the Hurricane Dorian rebuilding process.

The two disasters are estimated to have cost the country a combined US$13.1 billion. In addition, the magnitude of the impacts of COVID-19 highlighted the need for comprehensive Disaster Risk Management and Health Risk Management, among other strategies and instruments, to serve the country better, in areas that range from strengthening disaster risk governance, investing in disaster risk reduction, and enhancing disaster preparedness.

“The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world’s economic order and global public health,” said IDB Country Representative in Bahamas, Daniela Carrera-Marquis.

(Excerpt from CMC)

obby group People’s Anti-Corruption Movement (PAM) says it has written to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding seeking their support for a People’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into State corruption.

Convenor of PAM, Lloyd D’Aguilar, says the Inquiry should lead to a forensic audit of the public debt.

In justifying such an Inquiry, D’Aguilar argued that Jamaica is regarded

as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

By way of corruption, Jamaica slipped one place on the 2021 Transparency International corruption ranking, falling to 70th in 2021 from 69th out of 180 countries in 2020.

However, its corruption perception index (CPI) remained at 44, where 0 is considered highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Jamaica also remained the fifth most corrupt country in the Caribbean behind

Argentine anti-Government protests build as President calls for unity

Some Barbadians hit by debit card denial

S

ome Barbadians were still unable to conduct transactions using their CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Visa debit cards over the weekend.

The issue affected pointof-sale transactions, with customers being unable to purchase items using their cards.

One customer, who requested anonymity, said

her problems began last Sunday.

“I went to a supermarket and it said my card was declined, so I ended up having to do a cash withdrawal from the ABM nearby. I called customer care that day and Monday but only got through on Tuesday when I called CIBC Warrens and went through the process of getting my card checked,” she said.

The upset woman said she was told there was nothing wrong with her card, but her card was again declined later that day as she tried to buy some food. She said she again called customer care and spoke to someone in Jamaica. She was told her card was restricted as there had been an alert that someone in Canada was attempting to use it. (Nation News)

Panamanian President diagnosed with ‘low-risk’ blood disorder, wife says

Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

D’Aguilar charged that “Millions of dollars are corruptly pocketed each year by corrupt politicians and public sector officials.

Consequently, important social services like health, education, infrastructure, sanitation, are grossly underfunded and deficient”.

Yet, he is not too optimistic that such a CoI will be facilitated. (Jamaica Observer)

Demonstrators protest against Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez’s Administration, on Independence Day, in Buenos Aires, Argentina July 9, 2022 (Reuters/Agustin Marcarian)

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rgentine President Alberto Fernandez called for unity on Saturday as protesters marched in the capital to the gates of the presidential palace, lambasting his Government over soaring inflation and a crushing national debt.

The centre-left president is facing a rising challenge from a militant leftwing of the ruling coalition that wants more State spending to ease high poverty levels and inflation.

Two key moderate allies have left his Cabinet in the last month.

The South American country, a major producer of soy and corn, is grappling with inflation running at over 60 per cent, huge pressure on the peso currency and spiking gas import costs that are draining already weak foreign currency reserves.

In a speech to mark the anniversary of Argentina’s declaration of independence, Fernandez called for

“unity” and asked different factions to work towards it.

“History teaches us that it’s a value we must preserve in the toughest moments,” he said, adding the country needed economic responsibility with low foreign currency reserves and soaring global inflation “seriously damaging” the local economy.

“We must walk the path towards fiscal balance and stabilise the currency.”

Argentina, which has cycled through economic crises for decades, struck a US$44 billion debt deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this year to replace a failed 2018 programme.

Many blame the IMF for tighter economic policies.

In the streets of Buenos Aires thousands of protesters marched on Saturday afternoon with banners saying “breakaway from the IMF” and “Out, Fund, out”. Marchers criticised the Government and called for debt payments not to be made. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Boy, 16, murdered; 2 men wounded in Maraval, Trinidad

A Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo and First Lady Yazmin Colon (Reuters/Daniel Becerril)

P

anamanian President Laurentino Cortizo suffers from a lowrisk type of a rare blood disorder known as myelodysplastic syndrome, his wife Yazmin Colon said on Sunday after tests carried out in the United States.

Myelodysplastic syn-

drome is considered a type of cancer affecting the body’s ability to make healthy blood cells in bone marrow, the American Cancer Society states.

“Good news,” she said in an audio message shared with local media. “He has myelodysplasia, but at low

risk.” Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the file.

Cortizo had travelled with his wife to the United States a week ago for the tests. The condition was first detected last month but Cortizo said he would seek another opinion.

(Reuters)

shooting in Le Platte Village, Maraval on Saturday night has left a 16-year-old form four student dead and two men wounded.

The dead boy has been identified as Caleb Martineau of Morne Coco Road, Le Platte Village, Maraval.

A police report said, at about 23:30h on Saturday, Martineau was liming near his home on Back Street for his birthday, along with 35-year-old Ric Toussaint and 18-year-old Lauranzo Pereira, both also from Le Platte Village.

A hooded and masked man, dressed in black and armed with a Glock 17 firearm, approached the group and fired several shots.

Martineau was shot to the right side of his head, Toussaint was shot in the neck on his right side, and

Periera was shot in the upper back.

All three were taken to hospital where Martineau was declared dead.

Toussaint and Periera were treated and are currently in a stable condition.

(Trinidad Newsday)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Brent crude fell over 4% in a week amid economic worries; could trade in US$98 and US$112 range

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entral banks around the world are raising interest rates to tame inflation, spurring fears that rising borrowing costs could stifle growth, while mass COVID-19 testing in Shanghai this week caused worries about potential lockdowns that could also hit oil demand.

Brent posted a weekly decline of about 4.1 per cent and WTI a loss of 3.4 per cent, following the first monthly decline since November. Prices tumbled on Tuesday when Brent's US$10.73 drop was the contract's third-biggest daily fall since 1988 when it started trading.

The US oil benchmark has been down so far this week, tracking a broader decline in commodity markets, as restrictive monetary policy among major economies threatened an economic downturn.

Two of the Federal Reserve's most hawkish policymakers, Christopher Waller and James Bullard, backed raising interest rates by another 75 basis points this month to curb red-hot inflation while also playing down concerns of a slump.

Meanwhile, oil prices are still up about 35 per cent this year as global economic recovery coincided with disrupted Russian supply due to the war in Ukraine.

In the latest developments, a key export route for Kazakh oil risks being suspended as it appeals a Russian court order for it to temporarily shut down.

Crude oil prices also slipped after the labour strike ended in Norway. Crude oil and natural gas prices also slipped as the euro hit a 20-year low against the US dollar.

Natural gas prices surged more than 17 per cent in the EU and UK due to supply shortages from Russia. Record energy prices in the EU and UK could send their economies into recession.

US non-farm payroll data showed that the economy added more jobs than expected in June, a sign of persistent labour market strength that gives the Federal Reserve ammunition to deliver another 75-basis-point rate hike this month.

US energy firms this week added two oil rigs, bringing the total to 597, the highest since March 2020.

Economic worries may have roiled oil prices this week, but the market is still flashing bullish signals. This is because supply tightness is more likely to intensify from this point than to ease.

Western bans on Russian oil exports have supported prices and sparked a re-routing of flows while the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allied producers struggle to deliver on pledged production increases.

We may see the same kind of high volatility in the coming week.

The weekly time frame suggests a period of consolidation may be ahead; the range could form between US$98.00 and US$112.00.

Overall, we suggest that selling on jump strategies will be beneficial for trade. In the domestic market, crude has very good support at Rs 7970.00, sustaining below this can show Rs 7760, while upsides Rs 8390 and Rs 8550 are acting as a resistance.

This week the rupee will play an important role to decide crude movement. (The Economic Times)

Death and devastation as Russian rockets hit Ukraine apartment block

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t least 15 people were killed and two dozen more are feared trapped after Russian Uragan rockets hit a five-storey apartment block in Ukraine's Donetsk region, local officials said on Sunday as rescuers picked their way through rubble.

Ukraine also reported clashes with Russian troops on fronts in the east and south, while Moscow said its forces struck Ukrainian army hangars storing USproduced M777 howitzers, a type of artillery, near Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region.

Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said the strike on the apartment building took place on Saturday evening in the town of Chasiv Yar. The regional emergency service gave the death toll

Rescue operation is underway after a missile strike, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a location given as Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, in this handout image released July 10, 2022

at 15 on Sunday afternoon, adding that 24 more people could still be under the rubble.

"We ran to the basement, there were three hits,

the first somewhere in the kitchen," said a local resident who gave her name as Ludmila, speaking as rescuers removed a body in a white sheet and cleared rub-

ble using a crane as well as their hands.

"The second, I do not even remember, there was lightning, we ran towards the second entrance and then straight into the basement.

We sat there all night until this morning." Another survivor, who gave her name as Venera, said she had wanted to save her two kittens.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a Telegram post that the strike was "another terrorist attack", and that Russia should be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism as a result.

Russia, which says it is conducting a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine, denies deliberately attacking civilians.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Gunmen kill 19 people in 'random' bar shootings in South Africa

Gunmen killed 19 people in two apparently random shootings within hours of each other at taverns in South Africa, Police said on Sunday, reinforcing the country's bleak status as a global centre for murder.

Attackers armed with rifles and pistols opened fire in the Orlando East bar in the township of Soweto in the early hours of Sunday, killing 15 people and wounding nine, Police said.

"You can see by the way the bullet cartridges are cast around that they were just shooting randomly," said Elias Mawela, Police Commissioner for Gauteng province.

Sololo Mjoli's two sons, Sthembiso, 34, Luyanda, 18, and were both killed in the attack at the bar in one of Soweto's poorer neighbourhoods, made up most-

ly of metal sheet shacks.

"I'm so heartbroken," said the 59-yearold gardener, adding that Sthemibiso's girlfriend had arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting to find him still breathing.

"Then he was rushed to hospital, where he died."

Bar waiter Thobani Mhlabiso said he hid behind the fridge to survive the onslaught.

"There was blood everywhere," he said.

Police confirmed a second apparently random shooting hours earlier, at around 8:30 pm on Saturday, in a tavern in Pietermaritzburg, 500 km southeast of Soweto, which saw four people killed and eight wounded.

Officers said they did not believe the two shoot-

Police cordon off the scene where 15 people were killed by unknown gunmen inside a tavern, in Nomzamo, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 10, 2022

ings were linked. The killers from both incidents are on the run, according to Police, who said it was not clear how many attackers were involved in either shooting.

South Africa, home to

about 60 million people, is one of the world's most violent countries with 20,000 people murdered every year, one of the highest per-capita murder rates globally. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Uber Files: Massive leak reveals how Portugal deploys 3000 firefighters top politicians secretly helped Uber to battle heatwave blazes

T

housands of leaked files have exposed how Uber courted top politicians, and how far it went to avoid justice.

They also show how the taxi firm's former boss personally ordered the use of a "kill switch" to prevent raiding Police from accessing computers.

Uber said its "past behaviour wasn't in line with present values" and it is a "different company" today.

The Uber Files are a trove of more than 124,000 records, including 83,000 emails and 1000 other files involving conversations, spanning 2013 to

2017.

They were leaked to the Guardian, and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and a number of media organisations including BBC Panorama. They reveal, for the first time, how a US$90 million-a-year lobbying and public relations effort recruited friendly politicians to help in its campaign to disrupt Europe's taxi industry.

While French taxi drivers staged sometimes violent protests in the streets against Uber, Macron - now President - was on first name terms with Uber's controver-

sial boss Travis Kalanick, and told him he would reform laws in the firm's favour.

They show how ex-EU digital commissioner Neelie Kroes, one of Brussels' top officials, was in talks to join Uber before her term ended and then secretly lobbied for the firm, in potential breach of EU ethics rules.

At the time, Uber was not just one of the world's fastest-growing companies - it was one of the most controversial, dogged by court cases, allegations of sexual harassment, and data breach scandals. (Excerpt from BBC News)

W

ildfires are sweeping across northern and central Portugal, where an estimated 3000 firefighters and more than 60 aircraft are battling to quell the flames amid scorching temperatures.

Authorities said 12 firefighters and 17 civilians required medical assistance to treat minor injuries caused by the blazes, Portuguese state television RTP and other local media reported on Sunday.

The European Union on Sunday activated its firefighting air fleet assistance programme that allows

member nations to share resources. Spain, which has also endured wildfires recently, quickly responded by mobilising two firefighting planes to send to its Iberian neighbour, according to EU Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.

Portugal’s Government said it has deployed 60 aircraft to support its ground crews.

Portugal has long suffered large, and sometimes tragic, forest fires. In 2017, out-of-control wildfires killed more than 100 people.

The EU says climate change has the continent

facing one of its hardest years for natural disasters such as droughts and wildfires.

Fires have been burning in several areas since last week and nearly 250 new fires were reported to have started on Friday and Saturday.

The Government has announced a “state of contingency” from July 11 to 15 – on level beneath the states of calamity and emergency, and Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa has cancelled a planned trip to Mozambique so that he can monitor the fires. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Think big, spend wisely and offer only what you can deliver. Question suggestions that sound good but have little substance. Do your homework, and don't trust the hype.

(March 21-April 19)

DILBERT

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Don't spend unnecessarily. Take care of matters personally to avoid being disappointed. Display patience and understanding, but don't let others take advantage of you. Set guidelines.

You'll be caught between truth and false hope if you trust an outsider.

Discipline will uncover what's possible and give you clarity regarding business and how to navigate your way to the top.

Draw on the resources you will need to get things done. Initiate change without going overboard. Look over your options, but don't be fooled by someone's sales pitch. Seek out quality partnerships.

Take measures to ensure your facts are accurate before you get into a debate or decide to make a move. Work with people who have as much to contribute as you. Teamwork will pay off.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You'll come up with sound ideas that can help you reach your dreams.

Don't hesitate to make a move, invest in yourself or end situations that are holding you back. Now's the time to take big steps.

Don't share your thoughts or intentions until you have done the legwork to turn your ideas into reality. Pay attention to self-improvement. Love and romance are on the rise and will enhance your life.

Be careful how you handle domestic situations. Don't ask others to do something you wouldn't do yourself.

You'll find a way to use what you discover to help you advance. Make necessary updates.

Be honest, regardless of the consequences. You will only make matters worse if you give someone the wrong impression. Take care of business by making your position clear.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

LAST PUBLISHED WORD -- BRAZIERS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Put your energy to good use, and make your space more functional. The changes that transpire will impact you and those you live with. Happiness begins with you. A change of perspective is apparent.

Concentrate on what you can do to improve your life. Focus on your health, finances and emotional well-being. Start an invigorating daily routine that motivates you to make a difference.

Use your imagination to come up with a plan that helps you and others.

Be careful when dealing with emotional matters. Avoid a run-in with someone in a powerful position.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

21

England beat India despite Yadav's century

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ngland held on for a consolation victory in the third Twenty20 against India despite Suryakumar Yadav's sensational century at Trent Bridge.

Chasing 216, the tourists were 31-3 after five overs before Yadav's 48-ball ton – his first for India – gave them real hope.

He dominated a partnership of 119 with Shreyas Iyer, hitting 14 fours and six sixes in an incredible display of flamboyant shots.

After wickets tumbled at the other end, Yadav launched an assault at the start of the penultimate over with 41 runs needed.

The first four balls yielded 16 runs, but the 31-year-old mistimed his stroke looking to clear the ropes again and was caught at long-off for 117 off Moeen Ali. Chris Jordan closed out the final over as India ended on 198-9, England winning by 17 runs and responding to heavy defeats in the first two matches.

Dawid Malan had earlier top-scored with 77 from 39 balls in their 215-7. India take the series 2-1 with the sides' attention turning to a three-

match One-Day International series, which starts on Tuesday at The Oval.

England needed this win after their disappointing performances in the first two games. With India needing 185 from 15 overs and Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant back in the dressing room, the hosts looked comfortable.

What followed was anything but – Yadav playing one of the great innings in a losing cause.

The right-hander, often referred to by his nickname SKY, wristily took down both spin and seam. Two drives where he opened the bat face and cleared the off-side for six defied belief.

He also swept Jordan off his stumps as he took advantage of the short Trent Bridge boundaries.

The first crucial moment came at the start of the 16th over when, with 66 needed from 30, the impressive Reece Topley had Iyer caught behind for 28.

That halted India's momentum and the wickets of Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja, both lbw to David Willey and Richard Gleeson respectively, left the match on

Yadav's shoulders.

Moeen began the 19th over with a wide before Yadav cut him for four, smashed a six over long-on, and hammered another cut to the fence.

India's support was raucous, but when Moeen tossed the ball up again, Yadav was caught after miscuing off the toe of his bat. He departed with the second-highest T20 score for India and the secondbest individual total against England.

Jordan was left with 20 to defend against the tail and he did so expertly, taking wickets with two pinpoint yorkers.

England won but were given an almighty fright.

Malan delivers timely knock for England After batting failures cost England in the first two games, Malan's knock powered England on in a much-improved performance, albeit against an inexperienced attack.

After getting through the first over unscathed for the first time in the series, Captain Jos Buttler chopped on for 18, Jason Roy nicked behind for an uncontrolled 27 from 26 and Phil Salt, brought in at number four to strengthen the batting,

was bowled by a slow yorker from seamer Harshal Patel, leaving England teetering at 84-3.

Malan too had a stuttering start. He chipped a drive back to Patel in his follow-through on four only to be dropped and also could have been caught at extra cover early on.

But after finding his range, he powered on, lifting the spinners over the leg side and crashing the seamers through the off.

He combined with Liam Livingstone, who ended 42 not out, for a stand of 84, which capitalised on India resting Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and replacing them with seamers Umran Malik and Avesh Khan.

Malan's knock - -his first fifty in 11 T20 innings – was timely with the T20 World Cup three months away.

He fell top-edging a sweep off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 17th over, and Ali departed for a duck in the same fashion two balls later. But Harry Brook's cameo of 19 from nine balls ensured England's innings did not fall away. Credit goes too to Topley, whose three wickets cost just 22 runs in India's chase. (BBC Sport)

Yadav scored his maiden T20I century

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND INNINGS Jason Roy c †Pant b Umran Malik 27 Jos Buttler (c)†b Avesh Khan 18 Dawid Malan c †Pant b Ravi Bishnoi 77 Phil Salt b Patel 8 Liam Livingstone not out 42 Moeen Ali c Patel b Ravi Bishnoi 0 Harry Brook c Ravi Bishnoi b Patel 19 Chris Jordan run out (Jadeja/†Pant) 11 Extras (b 1, lb 5, nb 2, w 5) 13 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.75) 215/7 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Jos Buttler, 3.4 ov), 2-61 (Jason Roy, 7.1 ov), 3-84 (Phil Salt, 9.3 ov), 4-168 (Dawid Malan, 16.3 ov), 5-169 (Moeen Ali, 16.5 ov), 6-197 (Harry Brook, 18.5 ov), 7-215 (Chris Jordan, 19.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Avesh Khan 4-0-43-1 Umran Malik 4-0-56-1 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-30-2 Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-45-0 Harshal Patel 4-0-35-2

INDIA INNINGS (Target: 216 runs from 20 overs) Rohit Sharma (c) c Salt b Topley 11 Rishabh Pant †c †Buttler b Topley 1 Virat Kohli c Roy b Willey 11 Suryakumar Yadav c Salt b Ali 117 Shreyas Iyer c †Buttler b Topley 28 Dinesh Karthik lbw b Willey 6 Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Gleeson 7 Harshal Patel c Gleeson b Jordan 5 Avesh Khan not out 1 Ravi Bishnoi b Jordan 2 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 7) 9 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.90) 198/9 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Rishabh Pant, 1.1 ov), 2-13 (Virat Kohli, 2.4 ov), 3-31 (Rohit Sharma, 4.6 ov), 4-150 (Shreyas Iyer, 15.1 ov), 5-166 (Dinesh Karthik, 16.5 ov), 6-173 (Ravindra Jadeja, 17.3 ov), 7-191 (Suryakumar Yadav, 18.5 ov), 8-196 (Harshal Patel, 19.4 ov), 9-198 (Ravi Bishnoi, 19.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W David Willey 4-0-40-2 Reece Topley 4-0-22-3 Richard Gleeson 4-0-31-1 Chris Jordan 4-0-37-2 Liam Livingstone 2-0-36-0 Moeen Ali 2-0-31-1

Leclerc shrugs off late reliability scare Novak Djokovic beats Nick to overhaul Verstappen for Austrian Kyrgios to win Wimbledon title Grand Prix victory

N

F

errari’s Charles Leclerc won the Austrian Grand Prix over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium for Mercedes – after Carlos Sainz retired.

Leclerc took the lead when the Sprint winner and championship leader Verstappen pitted on Lap 12. Leclerc pitted much later, on Lap 27, and retook the lead with a pass on Lap 37. With Sainz challenging Verstappen for P2, the Dutchman pitted again on Lap 37.

Leclerc took his second stop on Lap 51 and retook the lead on Lap 53. With Sainz right on Verstappen’s tail, the Spaniard suddenly slowed – the fire at the rear of his Ferrari signalling the end of his race. That promoted Hamilton, who had battled from P8 to P4, to the final podium place.

Despite a late-race scare in which Leclerc reported his throttle pedal to be sticking, making downshifts difficult and allowing Verstappen to close to within 2.3s, he won for

the first time since Round 3 at Melbourne, Verstappen missing out on a third-straight win at the Red Bull Ring.

George Russell was a distant fourth having started there, the Mercedes driver losing time in his first pit stop – a five-second penalty also tacked on as he collided with Red Bull's Sergio Perez early on. Alpine's Esteban Ocon rounded out the top five having started sixth, Perez having retired soon after that Russell collision.

Mick Schumacher was the fans' Driver of the Day, having overtaken both McLaren's Lando Norris (P7 having served a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits) and Haas team-mate Kevin Magnussen in P8. Daniel Ricciardo made it a double points finish for McLaren in P9, both of the team's drivers enjoying renewed pace with their medium-hard-hard strategy.

Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10 from last on the grid for Alpine, having had to

pit three times – a potentially unsafe release causing him to come in twice during the virtual safety car caused by Sainz’s retirement.

Starting from the pit lane, Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas made it up to P11 at Alex Albon’s expense, the Williams driver having finished 12th after starting 15th.

Lance Stroll was next in the order, 13th for Aston Martin, with Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu just behind in P14. Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda struggled for AlphaTauri, finishing 15th and 16th respectively. Damage picked up early on, however, left Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel 17th following a collision with Gasly for which the Frenchman was penalised.

Sainz was the third retiree, Williams' Nicholas Latifi and Perez also bowing out, yet Ferrari have scored two consecutive victories to pile some pressure on championship leader Verstappen ahead of the French Grand Prix. (F1)

ovak Djokovic underlined his recent dominance at Wimbledon with a composed and controlled fightback against Australia's Nick Kyrgios to win a fourth consecutive men's singles title.

Serbia's Djokovic, 35, lost the first set after some incredible serving from Kyrgios, but ended up winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3) on Centre Court.

It is Djokovic's seventh SW19 men's title and only Roger Federer has more.

Victory also moved him one behind Rafael Nadal's record 22 men's majors.

Top seed Djokovic made a slower start than his 27-yearold opponent, who initially seemed unnerved by playing in his first Grand Slam singles final.

But the Serb did not lose belief as he showed all of his experience and nous to turn the match around.

"He's a bit of a god, I'm not going to lie. I thought I played well," Kyrgios said as he congratulated Djokovic.

Losing his winning

position began to irritate Kyrgios, who is known for his fiery temperament as well as his exciting tennis.

While Kyrgios increasingly remonstrated with his support team, Djokovic remained cool in the heat of the battle on a scorching Centre Court.

After clinching victory with his third match point, Djokovic dropped to his haunches and picked a blade of the Centre Court grass to eat in what has now become a customary

celebration.

It was a first major win of the year for the Serb, who was stopped from playing in the Australian Open after being deported because of his vaccination status, and lost to Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarter-finals. (BBC Sport)

22

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GAW’s newest kid on the block, Junior Sinclair credits RHTY&SC after CPL selection

By Brandon Corlette

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to produce solid cricketers. The newest Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) selectee, Junior Sinclair is another product of the RHTY&SC. The 21-year-old versatile off-spinner, who is more than useful with the bat and an electric fielder, said he was shocked but excited to be selected by the Warriors.

His journey as a player started at age 11 when his friend and RHTY&SC teammate Keith Simpson introduced him to the cricket club, and since then, his career has taken off.

"At age 11, my friend Keith (Simpson) encouraged me to join the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. From schools, we play cricket in the yard, he saw

Junior Sinclair bowls during a Guyana Harpy Eagles trial match (Brandon Corlette photo)

National Under-14 Rapid Chess Tournament set for Saturday

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he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) is set to host the Under-14 Nationals on Saturday, July 16 at Queen’s College.

The National Under-14 Rapid Chess Tournament was last held in February 2020 at Mae’s School, where Marian Academy’s Ronan Lee was victorious a total of 75 students from 12 schools. Lee has since aged out of the division. Players expected to be competing for the national title include Kyle Couchman, Mayas Khan, Julian Mohabir, Nicholas and Alexander Zhang, Omar Shariff, Pooja Lam, Anaya Lall, and Maliha and Mahir Rajkumar.

The young players will face off in seven rounds of

boost for me," Sinclair added.

Like many of his peers, Sinclair is eager to play in the “Biggest Party In Sport”.

"I am very eager, you know as a kid watching the CPL and now to be a part of it is a dream come true.

Getting to rub shoulders with some big names in the dressing room, that is very exciting, to learn from them and to develop as a cricketer and as an individual."

"I'm feeling great; to be honest a bit shocked, but thankful at the same time," Sinclair said on the CPL selection.

For most cricketers, the transition phase from junior to senior cricket is difficult.

For Sinclair it is no different, and not earning while playing cricket is challenging. The Berbician said: “It is a bit more challenging comparing to U-19 but I am a hard worker, so I was up for the challenge."

When asked if he felt like giving up, Sinclair said he kept telling himself that he would continue to work hard and make his family proud.

The youngster, who comes from a family with rich cricketing heritage, said: "I must thank my family. They are very supportive of me, especially my brothers. My mom, and all the coaches that I worked with over the years. I must thank Mr Foster and everyone that supported me."

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for 2022 CPL: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer Tabraiz Shamsi, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Colin Ingram, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Paul Stirling, Shai Hope, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Jermaine Blackwood, Gudakesh Motie, Ronsford Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul, Junior Sinclair, and Matthew Nandu.

DeNobrega wins annual Ballot Box Martyrs 55-mile cycling race in Berbice

Kyle Couchman and Matthew Singh

against far more seasoned players for the earlier part of the year and while they sometimes excelled, this tournament provides them with an opportunity to compete against others in their age group.

Women's champion Pooja Lam (left) v QC student Maliha Rajkumar

matches from 09:00h to 16:30h. The time control of the matches is 15 minutes with added fivesecond increments.

All Guyanese chess players who were under the age of 14 on January 1, 2022, are encouraged to take part.

Some of these youngsters have been competing

my talent. He said "Junie, you should join this club” and I decided to go. There I met Mr (Hilbert) Foster and he told me about the necessary stuff I had to get. From there, my career took off at Rose Hall Town. I played for Berbice at 12, then I played at all youth levels for Guyana," Sinclair said in a recent interview.

Having played with Sinclair at club and inter-county levels, he has held various positions. He was an opening batsman, wicket-keeper, and now a dangerous off-spinner. His growth was evident during the Guyana Harpy Eagles trial matches, where he outfoxed some of the most senior batsmen in the Guyana set-up.

"I am still a work in progress, but I am thankful for what I have achieved thus far in my cricketing life span. I will keep on working hard, and this is a very big

GCF Vice President Anand Raghunauth said: “Many of the young boys and girls look forward to the shorter version of chess. It’s a faster game.

“The younger players like to play quickly. It’s an exciting game, the entire tournament finishes in one day. It’s a fun tournament

even though it’s a serious competition. We have some young players who have just completed Grade Six exams, I’m sure they will be looking forward to returning to chess. We have many of the seasoned players who have been competing over the past three to four months with the adults and with the older junior players, and they also will be looking forward to having a go at each other and I’m sure it’s going to be an interesting tournament.”

The Federation had a large influx of new junior players earlier this year owing to the extensive work done on the Chess in Schools programme. As a result, a large turnout is anticipated for this weekend’s matches.

Interested persons can register through the GCF’s website – guyanachess.org.

Registration closes on July 15 at 17:00h.

No late registration or in-person registration will be facilitated. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third places in both open and girls’ categories along with the best Under-10 and Under-8 at the end of seven matches.

T

The racing officials, cyclists and members of the PPP/C at the presentation

eam Evolution's Paul DeNobrega won the Ballot Box Martyrs 55-mile cycling race in Berbice.

The race pedalled off at Freedom House, New Amsterdam before proceeding to Corriverton and culminating at Number 63 Beach; while the ladies and veterans over 50 finished at Tagore Secondary School.

The results of the race are as follows: Open category: 1.

Paul DeNobrega (Team Evolution) 2. Briton John (United We Stand) 3. Christopher Griffith (Team Evolution) 4. Curtis Dey (Team Evolution) 5.

Andre Greene (Kaieteur Attack Racing)

6. Mario Washington Juniors: 1. Mario Washington 2. Aaron Newton (United We Stand) 3.

Alexander Leung (United We Stand) Veterans: 1. Walter Grant Stuart (Kaieteur Attack Racing) 2. Paul Choo-wee-nam (Team Alanis) 3. Junior Niles (Team Coco's) Veterans Over 50: 1. Talim Shaw 2. Ian Jackson Ladies: 1.

Clivecia Spencer (Team Coco's) 2. Marica Dick (United We Stand)

Background of race

On Election Day, July 16, 1973, Bholanauth and

Ramessar were part of a crowd that had gathered outside a polling station at Number 63 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

They were at the time protesting the removal of the ballot boxes from the place of poll at the end of voting.

The protesters wanted the ballots to be counted at the place of poll before the ballots were taken away. As such, during the protest, Bholanauth and Ramessar were shot and killed by a member of the Guyana Defence Force. This was during the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime. The 1973 incident was one of the many struggles to restore democracy to Guyana.

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Bangladesh thump Windies in 1st ODI at Providence

By Brandon Corlette at Providence

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angladesh cruised to a six-wicket win against West Indies in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence. In a reduced 41-over game, Bangladesh bowlers restricted West Indies to 149-9 on a slow surface, and the Tigers ended up victorious on 1514 in 31.5 overs.

Bangladesh lost Litton Das for one, but Tamim Iqbal and Najimul Hossain Shanto added 48 runs together for the second wicket. Iqbal, who looked solid as a rock, was run out for 33 from 25 balls, an innings that included four fours and one six.

Shanto, who also looked set for a half-century, was dismissed by the debutant Gudakesh Motie for

Gudakesh Motie and Nicholas Pooran celebrate

were reduced to 41 overs per side. Motie was presented with his maiden ODI cap and Bangladesh won the toss and took the field.

West Indies leading ODI batsman Shai Hope

overs.

The next ball saw Brooks looking to go over the top and he was dismissed for a 66-ball 33, which included three fours. West Indies were in a spot of bother at 55-4. Rovman Powell had a brief stay at the crease, getting out leg-before for nine off Mehidy.

Bangladesh continued

did not make the most of that, as Mehidy cleaned him up for 18.

Romario Shepherd entered with West Indies on 91-6 after 27.4 overs.

Akeal Hosein was run out for three. Afterwards, Shepherd attempted to

Jayden Seales then added 39 vital runs for the last wicket. The duo, who scored career-best scores of 21 and 16 respectively, took advantage of the dropped

ed on 149-9 in their allotted 41 overs. Shoriful Islam ended with 4-34 in eight overs, while Mehidy had 3-36 in nine overs.

The second ODI will

A Guyanese family enjoying the match on Sunday

37. Motie, who displayed accuracy and variation on a familiar surface, forced Shanto into a loose shot at 98-3 in 19.3 overs. The West Indies seamers did not enjoy the surface; Captain Nicholas Pooran then introduced himself and he picked up Afif Hossain for nine.

was removed for a golden duck when left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman shattered his stumps. Shamarh Brooks, who is enjoying the ODI format in recent times, came and timed two sublime fours in consecutive balls. Bangladesh attacked from the inception with Pooran is pumped after taking a wicket

catches. Phillip struck the lone six of the West Indies innings, and it came in the final over. West Indies endStar batsman Shai Hope is cleaned up for a duck

to control the middle overs, and they have shown why they have the best economy rate since the 2019 50-over World Cup, in the middle overs. Skipper Pooran came and reverse swept with con-

clear the ropes, as did Motie but that led to their downfall. Shepherd made 16 from 19 balls, striking two fours, but departed with the score on 110-8 after 33.1 overs.

Motie, who was put down

Shoriful Islam ended with four wickets

Pooran also bowled Nurul Hasan, but it was a no-ball.

Mohammad Mahmudullah top-scored with 41 from 69 balls for Bangladesh.

Islam, Hasan Miraz rock West Indies Early morning showers prevented the match from starting at 09:30h. As a result of wet spots on the ground, the match started at 11:45h and the overs

spin and the pitch offered assistance to the spinners.

Kyle Mayers, who looked tentative, was the second West Indies wicket to fall at 32-2 in 11.2 overs. He was bowled all ends up by the off-spinner, Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Brandon King, batting at number four, faced 31 balls and scored only eight runs. He was caught as he attempted to clear mid-off at 55-3 after 20.4

Guyanese fans turned out at Providence despite the rain

fidence. He got the small gathering at Providence on their feet with his strokeplay, but he was living dangerously. He was given a life when he reviewed, but

by the Bangladesh fielders, departed for seven, and West Indies slipped further downhill.

Anderson Phillip and

bowl off on Wednesday, July 13 from 09:30h Eastern Caribbean time at Providence.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES INNINGS Kyle Mayers b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 10 Shai Hope †b Mustafizur Rahman 0 Shamarh Brooks c †Nurul Hasan b Shoriful Islam 33 Brandon King c sub (Anamul Haque) b Shoriful Islam 8 Nicholas Pooran (c) b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 18 Rovman Powell lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 9 Romario Shepherd c Afif Hossain b Shoriful Islam 15 Akeal Hosein run out (Mehidy Hasan Miraz) 3 Gudakesh Motie c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shoriful Islam 7 Anderson Phillip not out 21 Jayden Seales not out 16 Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 4) 9 TOTAL 41 Ov (RR: 3.63) 149/9 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Shai Hope, 1.1 ov), 2-32 (Kyle Mayers, 11.2 ov), 3-55 (Brandon King, 20.4 ov), 4-55 (Shamarh Brooks, 20.5 ov), 5-74 (Rovman Powell, 25.3 ov), 6-91 (Nicholas Pooran, 27.4 ov), 7-96 (Akeal Hosein, 30.4 ov), 8-110 (Romario Shepherd, 33.1 ov), 9-110

(Gudakesh Motie, 33.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Nasum Ahmed 8-3-16-0 Mustafizur Rahman 8-0-34-1 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 9-2-36-3 Taskin Ahmed 8-0-25-0 Shoriful Islam 8-1-34-4 Bangladesh Innings Tamim Iqbal (c) run out (Phillip) 33 Litton Das lbw b Hosein 1 Najmul Hossain Shanto c Pooran b Moti-Kanhai 37 Mahmudullah not out 41 Afif Hossain c Phillip b Pooran 9 Nurul Hasan † not out 20 Extras(nb 2, w 8) 10 TOTAL 31.5 Ov (RR: 4.74) 151/4 Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Litton Das, 2.4 ov), 2-49 (Tamim Iqbal, 7.4 ov), 3-98 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 19.3 ov), 4-111 (Afif Hossain, 22.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Akeal Hosein 8-0-43-1 Jayden Seales 3.5-0-26-0 Anderson Phillip 2-0-15-0 Romario Shepherd 2-0-10-0 Gudakesh Motie 9-1-18-1 Nicholas Pooran 7-0-39-01

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022

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