Guyana Times - Monday, July 18, 2022

Gas-to-shore project

Significant interest shown for consultant to manage construction – Bharrat P2

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 5073

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

Gail Teixeira writes PAC Chair to halt combined scrutiny of 2019, 2020 Audit Reports

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Labourer P11 dies in tragic Essequibo Coast accident

Page 3

…says greater scrutiny, time needed for 2 years of APNU/AFC’s caretaker governance

Over 200 farmers benefiting from Demerara Bank’s Farmers Credit Line initiative See story on page 7

Cops nab man attempting to rob women P11 TikToker busted with cocaine refused bail P8 again

A display by Camille’s Academy Inc at the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry’s regional Science Fair Competition at Everest Sports Club on Saturday (DPI photo)

Exxon seeking environmental approval for 35 exploration wells Page 9

Govt spending on infrastructure See story on page 10 aiding economic growth – GCCI President

…cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment needed – EPA …describes boost as “shot in the arm” for Private Sector

102-year-old woman among 2 new COVID-19 deaths …46 more new cases recorded

See story on page 12

Dental Council warns of P13 quacks advertising orthodontics services

Sept 12 trial for Opposition’s challenge P16 to NRF law …as AG relies on Parliament's live-stream video as evidence

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gas-to-shore project

Significant interest shown for consultant to manage construction – Bharrat

T

he tender issued by the Government for a company to manage the construction of the gasto-shore project has attracted significant interest beyond Guyana’s shores, with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat noting that companies have been reaching out.

In an interview, Bharrat was asked by this publication what the response has been since the Government issued a tender for an international firm to manage the construction phase of the integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and the 300 MW power plant, all part of the gas-to-shore project.

Noting that there is significant interest in the project, the Minister said that the ideal company will be one that is very experienced in these kinds of projects.

He explained that this company will have the import-

ant role of acting on behalf of the Government while interfacing with the contractor, ExxonMobil.

“That advertisement is out presently. We have also issued an RFP (Request for Proposals) for the nine prequalified companies that submitted Expressions of Interest when we would have advertised initially for companies to design and build the powerplant. So that will close off sometime in September. The closing date for the procurement of the company is in August.”

“We’re hoping that we can attract companies with the kind of experience and expertise to manage a project of such magnitude.

There is interest. I can tell you that. But we have to wait until the closing date.

Because as I mentioned in August and September. So, we still have time. But I know companies have been reaching out to us for addi-

The gas-to-shore power plant model

tional information.”

In addition to seeking an international firm to manage the construction phase of the project, the Government had also issued Requests for Proposals a few weeks back to the companies that were prequalified earlier this year.

Exxon had submitted an environmental study for a US$1.3 billion gas-toshore project earlier this year to the Environmental

Protection Agency. The gasto-shore project, which has a 25-year lifespan, is expected to employ up to 800 workers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time workers during the operations stage, and another 50 workers during the decommissioning stage.

It features approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will

run from the Destiny and Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to onshore.

Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline will continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of dry gas to the NGL plant but has the capacity to push as much 120 mmscfd.

The pipeline’s route onshore will follow the same path with the fibre optic cables and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) which will house the gas-to-shore project.

The Guyana Government has already invited interested parties to make investments in the

Wales Development Zone, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land has been allocated.

Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

Head of the Gas-toShore Task Force, Winston Brassington has previously stated that ExxonMobil Guyana, which is funding the pipeline aspect of the project out of cost oil, has found that there would be substantial savings from combining these two facilities.

Hence, it was agreed that the power plant and the NGL plant be done under a combined Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) process. The aim is to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024 for the power plant while the NGL facility is slated to be online by 2025.

(G3)

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Gail Teixeira writes PAC Chair to halt combined scrutiny of 2019, 2020 Audit Reports …says greater scrutiny, time needed for 2 years of APNU/AFC’s caretaker governance

G

overnment Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira is calling on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)-chaired parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to halt the combined examination of the Annual Audit Reports for the years 2019 and 2020 – a period during which the coalition was operating a caretaker Government.

Now, as chair of the PAC, the APNU/AFC Opposition, through Chairman Jermaine Figueira, is moving to consolidate and rush through the financial records of the party’s controversial last years in office.

Teixeira, who is also the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, wrote the PAC Chairman and members of the committee Friday last, indicating her objection to the move. “…these two years require much greater scrutiny and time and therefore cannot be combined as has been done previously on some occasions by the PAC.” “I, on behalf of the Government members of the PAC, am calling on you as Chairperson to halt any preparations to commence the examination of the combined Annual Audit Reports of 2019 and 2020 and, further, to allow the examination of Annual Audit Reports of 2019 and of 2020 to be examined separately and sequentially in the PAC,” Minister Teixeira detailed in the correspondence.

The Committee is slated to meet today to commence scrutiny of the audit reports

Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

for these two years.

But the Chief Whip argued, on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, several points as to why the two years cannot and must not be combined. She reminded that after the December 21, 2018 passage of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the then Administration, the coalition regime was a “caretaker or interim” Government as determined by Guyana's apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in its June 2019 ruling that ascertained the successful passage of the motion.

Minister Teixeira went on to outline also that the APNU/AFC Government was in breach of the Guyana Constitution, which requires elections to be called within three months after the successful passage of the No-Confidence Motion.

“Despite the ruling of the CCJ in July 2019 that elections must be held within three months following this ruling (having been paused due to a series of litigation), elections were not held until March 2, 2020.

In this period, the 2019 budget was executed with no oversight and scrutiny.

Parliament was meeting in breach of the Constitution between January and May 2019,” she posited.

The Minister further stated, “There was no budget allocations or appropriation act approved by the National Assembly for the first nine months of the year of 2020. Therefore, monies were being withdrawn and spent without the authority of Parliament or oversight as required by the statutes.”

Aberrations

Against this backdrop, Teixeira contended that the years, 2019 and 2020, were “aberrations and not in accordance with the Constitution and statutory requirements” regarding expenditures from the public purse.

On December 21, 2018, a No-Confidence Motion brought by the then PPP/C Opposition was successfully passed in the National Assembly after one of the one seat-majority coalition parliamentarians took a “conscious vote” and supported the motion.

The coalition’s failure to uphold the constitutional requirements triggered a number of legal challenges in the courts in Guyana, which ultimately led to two days of hearings at the CCJ in May 2019. The regional court validated the passage of the NCM and said Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution was activated, that is, elections, which were already long-due at

PAC Chairman Figueira

Jermaine

that time, be held within the next three months.

But the David Grangerled regime employed a series of delay tactics and elections were not held until March 2, 2020. However, even after its defeat at the polls, the coalition refused to demit office and held the country at ransom for five months.

With mounting international and local pressure, a national recount was eventually held and confirmed the PPP/C’s victory by over 15,000 votes. Irfaan Ali was eventually sworn-in as Guyana’s Ninth Executive President on August 2, 2020.

Corrupt deals and wanton spending

Shortly after taking office, the PPP/C Administration disclosed that the coalition’s mismanagement of the local economy left the nation’s coffers severely depleted. The Ali Administration subsequently disclosed acts of corrupt practices and wanton spending by the APNU/ AFC during its waning days in office.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 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

The Empire Strikes Back?

W

hen we were ruled as part of the British Empire, we in the colonies were told that we had to be “tutored” to govern ourselves. After WWII, most colonies gradually achieved independence and now govern ourselves with varying degrees of success and failure. Some question whether the fault lie with the teacher, the students, the pedagogy or the substance of the lessons. During the colonial era, many citizens of the empire defined as “British subjects” emigrated to Britain generally to provide labour.

By 2022, it appears that the citizens of the Empire were not only ready to govern themselves but their descendants in Britain might be ready to lead the “Mother Country”.

There are .5 million of these from the Caribbean, but they are dwarfed by those from India (1.5 million) and Pakistan (.5 million). Their participation in politics has been slowly building to where we now have a person of Indian origin, Rishi Sunak as one of five individuals vying to succeed Conservative Party PM Boris Johnson, who resigned last week.

The Conservative Party’s procedure for choosing their new leader is for their MPs to nominate and then vote for one of eight candidates. The ones with the lowest number of votes or less than 30 are eliminated after each round until two remain. These will then go to the hustings to court the 200,000 registered members of the party to make the final decision on September 5. Two rounds of voting have seen three competitors knocked out of the race. Attorney General Suella Braverman, who is also of Indian origin, was eliminated last Thursday and has since given her backing to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. At this time ,the most likely person to remain in the race, along with Sunak, is projected to be Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, who interestingly enough is the bookmakers’ favourite to go all the way, even though she is a relative newcomer and political lightweight compared to Sunak.

But who is Rishi Sunak and what are his chances of actually succeeding Boris Johnson to actually become Prime Minister for the remainder of his term? His grandparents were part of the Indian populace in British India who were recruited to serve the labour needs of the Empire. There were two types: the 465,000 indentured labourers who, for instance, were sent to the West Indies of which 239,000 ended up in British Guiana. The other type were “passenger immigrants” who paid their way. Sunak’s grandparents were of the second type and ended up in Kenya and other colonies in East Africa.

They emigrated to Britain in the 1960s just before Idi Amin had expelled all of their ilk in 1972 from Uganda and worked in “administrative jobs”.

Sunak’s parents became part of the immigrant middle class when his father swotted to become a medical doctor and his mother a pharmacist with her own neighbourhood pharmacy over which they also lived. They, in turn, scrimped to send Sunak to one of the most prestigious (and expensive) grammar schools in England – Winchester and then on to Oxford to read for the very competitive Bachelors in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). A Fulbright scholarship took him to Stanford in California for an MBA that got him into the top investment house Goldman Sachs and then into private hedge funds where he would earn his fortune. But the Stanford stint also saw him getting hitched to the daughter of the founder of Infosys, the second richest men in India. His wife’s 1% share of Infosys stocks makes her richer than the Queen of England and together the richest family to enter British politics.

This he did after his return to the UK in 2009 and he was elected to Parliament from a safe Tory seat in 2015. As a backer first of PM Theresa May on Brexit and then of PM Johnson after her exit, he was appointed first Secretary of the Treasury and then Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2020.

Yet, Peggy Mordaunt is a clear favourite to beat him among Conservative voters.

Indigenous leader Maximo Wassu says a prayer at the Cathedral in São Paulo, Brazil, July 16, 2022, accompanied by Beatriz Matos (left), the wife of the late Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, and Alessandra Sampaio (right), the widow of British Journalist Dom Phillips, during a service in honour of Phillips and Pereira who were killed in the Amazon region (VOA photo)

No “ands, ifs or buts”, Mount Sinai partnership in health is a positive development Dear Editor, Most Guyanese are grateful that the Hess family used its relationship with Mount Sinai to encourage their Global Health team to include Guyana in their global work. We are grateful that Hess as a Mount Sinai donor has identified a significant sum (US$32M) of their donation to Mount Sinai to be assigned for work in Guyana.

The Ministry of Health, the GPHC and other parts of the health sector, including the private sector, have already started to work with Mount Sinai in an agreement for robust development of health in Guyana, as the GoG pursues a development trajectory to bring worldclass health to Guyana and to make Guyana a destination of high-quality health care. While Mount Sinai succeeded in securing funding through the Hess organisation, there are multiple other partners working with the GoG to lift health standards and the scope of healthcare in Guyana. President Irfaan Ali, the Minister of Health and the GoG have no reason to be apologetic for aggressively pursuing world-class partners to help Guyana accelerate development in health. President Ali and his Government have made clear that the goal is, sooner than later, every Guyanese must have access to services that meet all their healthcare needs.

As the MoH has done in the past, all potential partners are welcome to contribute to the lofty goals the GoG has established for healthcare and to meet the overall objective of in-

creasing life expectancy to a minimum of 75 by 2030.

The GoG wants to eliminate preventable maternal and infant deaths, to eliminate premature deaths from the non-communicable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, renal failure and to stop pandemics such as COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health recognises we need more, not less partners. In pursuing partners, all of them have invested resources into the partnerships for health.

In signing an agreement with Mount Sinai, the MoH was not looking for a single candidate to help “revolutionise the healthcare system”. The MOH is cognisant of our need for help and has embraced partnership as a way forward to accelerate the health development trajectory. Mount Sinai is only one of the many partners working with the MOH at this time; it was not chosen as a “best candidate”.

The reason Mount Sinai has come to most people’s attention recently is because one of their donors earmarked Guyana for Mount Sinai’s global health work. The GoG is highly appreciative that this opportunity has come to Guyana. The Guyanese people will benefit enormously from this and other partnerships.

The GoG has been able to conclude an agreement with Mount Sinai for that global health leader to be in partnership with Guyana to accelerate development in the health sector so that all Guyanese and visitors to Guyana can access world-class high quality health care, no matter

what services are needed.

Mount Sinai brings to the health sector of Guyana its 170 years’ history of innovation, research and discovery, a history of exceptional care for patients, a tradition of caring patient experience and excellence in health management.

The GoG and the Ministry of Health are privileged to be partnering with Mount Sinai as President Ali and his Cabinet pursue health for all.

One section of the media is the latest in a long list of entities and individuals that have acknowledged that the partnership with Mount Sinai is a positive development in Guyana. It did bring in the usual “but”. The “but” in this case is that the GoG is investing resources in an unaccountable and non-transparent way that negates the positive from this partnership. No matter what perception one might have about the financing arrangements, the importance of the partnership is not diminished and we are happy that this section of the media has acknowledged this.

Mount Sinai will help the health sector of Guyana to accelerate development, including expanding the scope of services provided, improving the quality of care and patient experience, building human resources, both in management and in technical capacity, in Guyana, no matter what the financing arrangements are.

With major investments in infrastructure and procurement of new technology, Mount Sinai will provide technical expertise to ensure optimisation in these invest-

ments. The need to digitalise data and to integrate electronic medical record is now long overdue. The major deficit in service provision for heart diseases (cardiac) and cancer which the G0G is determined to eliminate is a priority area for inputs from Mount Sinai. With partners like Mount Sinai, the integration of modern health practices is assured.

The opportunity to foster a robust partnership arose out of the interest of the President of Hess Corporation and the corporation itself. The Hess family has a close long-time relationship with Mount Sinai, long before Hess was in Guyana and encouraged Mount Sinai to enter the partnership with Guyana.

President Ali and Vice President Bharat Jagdeo were key players in catalysing the rapid movement towards concretising an agreement for Mount Sinai to commit resources to Guyana. Every Guyanese will benefit.

The partnership requires many members of Mount Sinai’s leadership team to work alongside teams in Guyana on an ongoing basis for the next three years. For example, the whole administrative and clinical management team for Mount Sinai’s Morningside Hospital will work alongside the management team of GPHC in counterpart arrangements. Some of the interaction will be by virtual methods, but some of the interactions will be in-person with the Mount Sinai team members in Guyana or the Guyana team members at Morningside.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

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APNU/AFC most ridiculous party ever Dear Editor, The NRF Law was passed in a legal and transparent way on December 29th, 2021, however, the main Opposition PNC party think otherwise and have moved to the High Court to challenge its passage.

The claimants, Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones and his trade union lackey Norris Witter, are of the view that the NRF Law is illegal, because of (a) the absence of the authentic mace from the parliamentary chamber, and (b) Members (Opposition members) not being in their seats during the voting process that would bring the Bill into law. Now, there are a few questions to be asked here, what prevented the Opposition from being seated? Why weren't they seated?

Why was the Mace missing?

Who took the Mace? And the accusing finger points straight at the APNU Opposition, they were the ones who orchestrated that confusion in the Parliament chamber and carried it out. On December 29, 2021, members of the main Opposition coalition APNU/ AFC in a failed bid to derail the passage of the NRF Bill attempted to steal the ceremonial Mace - which is a symbol of authority in the House - from its rightful place. In a

cacophony of noises and a mad rush to the Speaker's chair, they grabbed the Mace and attempted to take it away. It was a shameful display of vulgarity never before seen in our noble House.

The Opposition PNC are always embroiled in a stealing and lying ruckus since time immemorial, that party is pickled in their own diabolical juices of fraud and violent confrontations with no end in sight. Therefore, it comes as nothing new when they stormed the Speaker’s podium, it is in their DNA. Now, cross reference this to the 5-month hiatus when the very same Opposition were at it again. In riotous fashion they disregarded a successful no-confidence vote brought against them, snubbed their noses against it, then turned again and legally challenged the validity of the legal number for that no-confidence. Talk about their asininity and I'll tell you take a look across at the actions of the main Opposition! I am talking about a Government who at the time were legally constituted at number 33 to hold office as Government, could posit that 33 is not the greater half of 65, rather it should be 34.

They then legally put for-

ward the fallacy that a no-confidence could only be deemed successful only if the count was 34. This is the ridiculous nature of the party called the PNC. The problem with these folks is that they are so stupid in their whole outlook, that they are now engaging the courts to legitimise that foolishness. It is a situation that leaves all sober right-thinking persons to wonder!

So, this latest vulgar display of theirs now has a legal flair to it, no wonder a Caribbean neighbour of mine made the remark "Do educated people live in this country?

Is Guyana a real place?

Shocked and dumbfounded as I was, I gathered up enough courage to finally give an answer, "most certainly," I replied, "we are an educated bunch of people in this part of the globe; however, we are embarrassed and shocked to the core when we view the actions of the main PNC". We have in our midst a small select group of individuals called the PNC who are entertaining the international stage with their stupidity. Like I would always say in satirical irony, goodness gracious me, that stupidity is utterly stupendous!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Scientific and medical research in Guyana Dear Editor, Guyana has shown that we are home to hundreds of unknown species of mushrooms that are now being researched for their medical benefits. Most of the analysis is being done overseas. Creating the local capabilities to carry out such research will take advantage of the brainpower being developed in the country as well as encourage further exploration of the unknown biodiversity within our rainforest. The Ministry of Education is laying the foundation for educational development. Regaining a very high literacy rate in the country as we had before will prepare the country for such an undertaking. The strategy around the use and purpose of Iwokrama is just at its beginning, and there is an opportunity to make it a hub of intellectual and research activity.

Hea r t /ca rd iovas cu la r disease is the top cause of death for humanity. Our country has been impacted in the past by this medical illness at the highest levels of our leadership. There is an opportunity to also be a part of the solution. In the West, cancer is ranked

No “ands, ifs or buts”, Mount Sinai...

For the next three years, the two teams will work daily alongside to ensure better services, including patient experience and quality of care, at GPHC. While this missive is not intended to provide a listing of all the activities, several activities merit mentioning. One area that Mount Sinai will work alongside the Ministry of Health to improve is the provision of a comprehensive set of interventions for cardiology (heart diseases) and oncology (cancer).

Mount Sinai is globally recognised for its cardiology and oncology services.

Another area that Mount Sinai will work alongside the Ministry to accomplish is the integration of a national electronic medical system so that patient data is accessible by medical personnel throughout the system. These support areas will be available to both the public and private sector.

Mount Sinai has a global health department and is presently working in many countries as they seek to improve health in developing countries. Mount Sinai’s cost for being in the Guyana partnership will be through a direct funding arrangement with the Hess family. There is an agreed list of activities between the MoH and Mount Sinai.

Hess will not have any veto rights. Guyana has always, at least since 1992, pursued partnership to help develop the health sector.

Presently, Guyana is working with partners such as Mount Sinai, Northwell, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Columbia University, McMaster University and many, many others. These institutions raise their own funds to partner with Guyana and other developing countries. To optimise the partnership, Guyana will need to invest in technology and infrastructure and training costs. These costs, for example, personnel travelling to the US from Guyana, will be borne

by Guyana.

When COVID-19 came to Guyana, Guyana was able to begin PCR testing because, as early as 2008, Guyana’s National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) was established for high-end laboratory testing. Working alongside partners facilitated by PEPFAR, Guyana was able to establish the reference lab. While its development to a world-class facility was stymied for a while, Guyana is now resuming the trajectory to have one of the top public health labs in the Region.

Partners, such as Harvard which is supporting the MoH to introduce DNA sequencing testing will en-

able Guyana to meet its objectives. This will ensure that in future variants of infectious organisms, such as COVID-19 variants, can be identified right in Guyana.

Guyana today trains its own specialist doctors in fourteen different areas. There is also training for nurse anaesthetists.

There are also training in echocardiology and in ultrasound diagnostic techniques. Since 2006, Guyana has developed cardiac services, introduced radiotherapy and chemotherapy, rolled out an aggressive transplant program and is gradually making laparoscopy a routine surgical intervention. Guyana has already rolled out a teleradiology and teleophthalmology service where specialists from GPHC are providing services in other parts of Guyana virtually. These have all been made possible by partnerships, where partners invest their own resources.

We need more, not less.

As the MOH continue to embrace partnership, no one is pushed aside. All partners that can make a meaningful contribution are welcome. Guyanese with skills in the diaspora are already part of the partnerships and partners like Mount Sinai and Northwell Health have brought on Guyanese and Caricom

as the 2nd highest cause of death for humans. Houston, Texas, is known for its excellent cancer treatment and Israel has shown significant advances in discovering effective treatments for certain types of cancers.

Establishing a cardiovascular and cancer research institute in Iwokrama may be just what the doctor ordered to allow for the simultaneous understanding of the health benefits of new species as we continue the exploration of the extensive biodiversity within our rainforest, while also focusing on an applicable solution for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The intellectual capital of the country will significantly increase as well as access to funds to support such an undertaking. An un-

dertaking that blends well with a vision for the sustainable development of a green and healthy economy. More importantly, being a part of the Guiana Shield, which is known as the lungs of the planet, helps make this undertaking a strong part of a larger vision for a healthy planet.

Our country has been blessed with being a part of the Amazon, which is home to more species than any other location on the planet. This is the source of Guyana's power to have an impact on the planet, and with great power comes great responsibility. Our country must focus on the positive impact we can have on our planet.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

FROM PAGE 4

professionals in the diaspora. Where Guyanese organisations and professionals in the diaspora could contribute, the MoH is open to those discussions. Some of the programmes in place at this time is with the help of diaspora contributions.

For example, through the initiative of the Vice President, Guyanese professionals from Atlanta will work alongside the Ob/Gyn Department of the GPHC to introduce a urogynaecology programme, targeting incontinence in women which is a major public health problem plaguing women in countries around the world.

The Minister of Health and the MoH will ensure that all partners work to build a healthcare system that is recognised around the world for its agility, its capacity to ensure all Guyanese receive the best healthcare possible. This will happen over time. Our hope is that with partners such as Mount Sinai that the trajectory toward this goal is not slow, but as rapidly as possible. The Mount Sinai health partnership, like many other equally important ones, is a cause of optimism and celebration; it ought not be another reason for pessimism and division.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Monday, July 18, 2022

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Foundation ◄

Example: Step 1:

Step 2:

By Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so the son went in and found the chamber where the golden bird hung in a wooden cage, and below stood the golden cage, and the three golden apples that had been lost were lying close by it.

Then thought he to himself, "It will be a very droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage"; so he opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden cage. But the bird set up such a loud scream that all the soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner and carried him before the king. The next morning the court sat to judge him; and when all was heard, it sentenced him to die, unless he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as swiftly as the wind; and if he did this, he was to have the golden bird given him for his own.

So he set out once more on his

the

Brothers Grimm

journey, sighing, and in great despair, when on a sudden his friend the fox met him, and said, "You see now what has happened on account of your not listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell you how to find the golden horse, if you will do as I bid you. You must go straight on till you come to the castle where the horse stands in his stall: by his side will lie the groom fast asleep and snoring: take away

CONTINUED FROM SATURDAY

the horse quietly, but be sure to put the old leathern saddle upon him, and not the golden one that is close by it." Then the son sat down on the fox’s tail, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled in the wind.

All went right, and the groom lay snoring with his hand upon the golden saddle. But when the son looked at the horse, he thought it a great pity to put the leathern saddle upon it. "I will give him the good one," said he; "I am sure he deserves it." As he took up the golden saddle the groom awoke and cried out so loud, that all the guards ran in and took him prisoner, and in the morning he was again brought before the court to be judged, and was sentenced to die. But it was agreed, that, if he could bring thither the beautiful princess, he should live, and have the bird and the horse given him for his own.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 200 farmers benefiting from Demerara Bank’s Farmers Credit Line initiative L ess than two months after Demerara Bank partnered with the Guyana Government to launch its Farmers Credit Line programme, some 206 farmers are already benefiting from financial assistance provided by the bank.

In May, Demerara Bank launched the Farmers Credit Line that provides much-needed financing to farmers, mostly those along the coast. The loan ranges from $1 million to $1.5 million with a low interest rate and does not require any collateral from applicants.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Parvinchandra Dave, disclosed that since rolling out the initiative, 206 farmers have benefited from some

Demerara Bank CEO Pravinchandra Dave

$250 million in financing.

“The base feature of this advance is it's an overdraft.

It's a credit card loan. They can use their credit card at any time. Once you get a loan of $1.5 million, not necessarily you will withdraw [the entire] $1.5 million. But the facility is available in your account so

you can withdraw $200,000 or $300,000, deposit it back then withdraw and repeat again,” he explained.

According to Demerara Bank’s General Manager, Dowlat Parbhu, the amount given to each farmer is specific to their needs but the facility is a maximum of $1.5 million. This credit

Demerara Bank General Manager Dowlat Parbhu with a farmer who is benefiting from the Credit Line

line carries an interest rate of 6.5 per cent.

Parbhu explained that the interest is calculated only on what is used by each client.

“And the interest on

that facility, on a six-month basis, works out to about $32,000 for farmers, which is basically quarter of an acre of cultivation to repay the interest. And they get it back immediately because

it's revolving. At the end of the crop, they repay it [and then get back the full credit line sum in their account],” the General Manager noted.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

8 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TikToker busted with cocaine refused bail again

L

Remanded: Lisa Ramnarine

isa Ramnarine, the 23-year-old Guyanese TikToker who was busted while attempting to smuggle $560,000 worth in cocaine at DHL in Georgetown, has been refused bail again and remanded.

Ramnarine of Hague,

West Coast Demerara (WCD), made her second appearance last week before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Her case comes up again on August 17. She had pleaded not guilty to

the charge which alleged that on June 7 at DHL’s Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown offices, she had 540 grams of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) arrested the young woman who attempted to ship the cocaine hidden in a Havan Kund.

Reports are that CANU officers, acting on information received, went to the DHL Headquarters and intercepted a parcel containing a Hindu Havan Kund and other religious items.

“The officers examined the items and discovered a hidden compartment within the Kund, which was suspected to contain narcotics.

Further examinations determined that a substance suspected to be cocaine was concealed within the religious item,” the anti-narcotics agency said.

It was reported that the sender’s information was retrieved from the package, and this led CANU ranks to Ramnarine, who was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters, where the item was dismantled in her

presence and the suspected narcotics were revealed.

CANU had said the cocaine had a street value of US$2500-US$2700 but would have been worth more had it reached its intended destination.

In February 2021, one person was arrested after CANU ranks had unearthed 294 grams of cocaine concealed in a box at the DHL Alberttown, Georgetown location.

Acting on information received, the ranks conducted a search at the shipping business, during which they discovered a multi-coloured floral box.

Upon checking the box, the cocaine was found in a false wall at the bottom.

One person was arrested in relation to that discovery.

During that same month, a Christianburg, Linden couple was arrested for attempting to ship cocaine concealed in fudge via DHL. Shaka Nunes, a 36-yearold labourer, had pleaded guilty to a narcotics trafficking charge and had received a four-year sentence along with a fine of $1.7 million.

The charge against his wife was subsequently withdrawn.

It was reported that on February 15, 2021, Nunes had given his wife a box filled with several snacks and asked her to ship it to the United States of America (USA).

The DHL Georgetown branch summoned CANU about the suspicious package that had arrived from its Linden branch. This resulted in an inspection, and the field test conducted on the contents of the box revealed that the fudge contained 3.692 kilograms of cocaine.

As a result, CANU ranks visited the mailing address in Linden, where they met Nunes’s wife, who told them that her husband had given her the package to post. (G1)

Ordah!!!... …in the House!!!

F

inally, the eight Opposition MPs – who’d been called out by the Speaker for their riotous behaviour back on Dec 29th last – have been dealt with by the Privileges Committee. But NOT condignly enough! Your Eyewitness will be scarred for life after witnessing that scene of wild disorder and mayhem committed by folks who’re supposed to possess the maturity, gravitas and nous to represent their constituency in the highest law-making forum in the land!! That’s right – they’re supposed to be making laws to govern us – and yet they had no compunction to break the laws of the very institution of which they’re part!! How will the country take our laws seriously when they see the LAWMAKERS behave so lawlessly?? Oh tempora!! Oh mores!! Look what the world’s coming to!!

How do we get that image of the Mace – symbolising the authority and power of the Parliament – being violently snatched by Opposition MP Annette Ferguson? And then joined by several colleagues who viciously manhandled that patriotic staff who held on to it for dear life. And the ultimate degradation of the civility expected in the House was when one of them, Maureen Philadelphia, straddled the staff – now on the ground with the Mace clasped to his chest – and called him a “house slave”. Now both of them were African Guyanese and knew this was one of the most despicable and lowdown insults to an individual. He was merely protecting the symbol of an institution that was meant to move us away from the law of the jungle and such crudities and towards civilised behaviour!!

There’s also the image of those other Opposition MPs – including their Whip who’s supposed to keep them in line!!

– blowing whistles at deafening decibel levels directly into the ears of Finance Minister Ashni Singh -- who they’d encircled while he was delivering his speech on the NRF Bill being debated. It was utter bedlam and was obviously well planned and coordinated: whistles aren’t the usual accessory carried around by Parliamentarians. Then there was the leader of the Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM), whose assignment, evidently was to disrupt communications by ripping out wires and connectors in the communication control room.

But sadly, all the Privileges Committee did was dole out some suspension orders for four and six sittings!! This isn’t even a slap on the wrist!! They’ll still be drawing their fat salaries and enjoying their perks –- without even having to lodge an excuse for not showing up!! At a minimum, some of them should’ve been EXPELLED – especially the one who used that racial epithet!!

It took several millennia for humans to invent democratic governance. But only 50 years for the PNC to destroy it here!! …in oily world Before he was President of the US but campaigning to become so, Joe Biden had declared he was going to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah state” for their role in the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi in their Turkish Embassy!! But here he was – greeting, meeting and holding extensive talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia and heir to the throne held by his father, King Salman. And not so incidentally, the man fingered – by US intelligence!! – as the person who masterminded the murder of Khashoggi!!

What gives?? Oil, that what!! Nowadays when oil talks, everyone – and everything – walks!! Of course, Biden said he brought up the Khashoggi murder and that the meeting started off “frostily” – but MBS wasn’t treated like a “pariah”, was he?? On the main agenda item, MBS agreed there was gonna be a slight increase in OPEC’s oil production – to help offset the West’s embargo on Russian oil.

Was that enough to buckle on a principle?? …in the Police Force Critics of new COP Hicken want the Courts to reverse his appointment. What do they say to his progressive moves made to improve the GPF? Like community relations and investigating Police excesses!!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Exxon seeking environmental approval for 35 exploration wells …cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment needed – EPA

The proposed area in the Stabroek Block for the 35-well campaign

E

xxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is currently seeking authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 35 exploration/appraisal wells in the Stabroek Block.

According to EEPGL’s application, if all requisite approvals are granted then the drilling of the wells is expected to start in the 2023 third quarter, with the proposed drilling campaign coming to an end by the fourth quarter of 2028.

“The process of drilling these wells will be very similar to the process followed during prior EEPGL exploration drilling campaigns and may include mobilisation, drilling, ancillary processes (possibly including sidetracks, well tests, and/or vertical seismic profiling), and demobilisation… the specific features and activities for each well are still being finalised and will be provided to the EPA in advance of spudding,” EEPGL explained.

According to the company, the wells will be drilled using any one of its six drill ships currently operational - the Stena Carron, the Stena DrillMAX, the Noble Bob Douglas, the Noble Tom Madden, the Noble Don Taylor, and the Noble Sam Croft. And while the exact locations are still being finalised, there is a general loca-

tion that has been identified.

“Onshore facilities to be used will include pier/port/ quayside space with sufficient draft for receipt of cargo vessels bringing materials to and from the shore bases; marine support vessels will be used to service the offshore activities and operations,” the company further said in its application.

Meanwhile, EPA in its screening report on the application noted that the schedule for the drilling campaign is only a preliminary one and can be affected by new discoveries and other external factors.

“While some of the 35 wells will be drilled for exploration purposes, it is also possible that some of the wells may be drilled as appraisal wells within the proximity of previously drilled exploration areas,” EPA also said in its screening report on the application “If discoveries are found at particular locations, subsequent wells could be drilled in the vicinity of such locations to further assess the commerciality of the discoveries,” the agency further explained.

In EPA’s screening report, the agency explained that while any ill-effects from the 35 exploration/appraisal well project by itself can be mitigated, the number of similar activities that have already been carried out in the Stabroek Block may

have significantly affected the environment. The agency therefore decided that

an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was needed to assess the project in the context of the other projects.

“Given the number of exploratory projects that have occurred in the Stabroek Block and oil production projects that are currently ongoing in the same block, then in accordance with Section 17 (1) 1, it is recommended that an Environmental Impact Assessment of the cumulative effects of project be conducted (ie Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA).”

“Further, it is also recommended that the Project be placed on 30 days’ Public Notice in keeping with the Environmental Authorisation Regulations.

Once there are No Objections/ Appeals from the public during publication time, the decision of the Agency shall be communicated to the Developer,” EPA further not-

ed.

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

Exxon, through subsidiary EEPGL, is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

So far, Exxon’s total investments in Guyana total GY$1.3 trillion on its own and over GY$3 trillion with its partners. Additionally, the joint venturer exploration and production plans up to 2025 will likely increase their investments to more than GY$6 trillion.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027, with de-

velopmental drilling having been recently started on the second one, the Liza Phase 2 project. Production has already started in the second phase, with the Liza Utility floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in operation.

The third project – the Payara Development – will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted. (G3)

10 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt spending on infrastructure aiding economic growth – GCCI President …describes boost as “shot in the arm” for Private Sector Tucker, the private sector has been lobbying for local content laws for years now.

“We’ve lobbied since 2017, for local content.

Because we believe local content was one of the things that would really give an adrenaline shot to the private sector and give us a chance to participate in an industry that we had no clue about.”

“After that, we are lobbying presently for bet-

available, agricultural production can be boosted by the demand. This means that when the cost of electricity is lowered, as is the Government’s intention with the various projects coming on stream including Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and the gas-toshore project, manufacturing can be boosted with the very supplies.

Of course, agricultural production is intricate-

MoU. The good thing is and why they got our support, is because they addressed the issues or concerns.

They listened to us. And I appreciate that - they didn’t have to listen to us.

But they did,” Tucker said.

There are a number of infrastructural projects planned, ranging from the bridge across the Corentyne River to the new Demerara River bridge, for which a US$260 million contract

ter access to finance. So that’s something high on our agenda. Trade barriers. We’ve been fighting (to dismantle) because we believe that the removal of the non-tariff barriers is important when it comes to boosting the farmers. Of course, at the current cost of electricity, that is why you don’t have a lot of value added.”

But Tucker noted that once more markets are

ly tied to access to market and trade barriers.

Tucker noted that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Trinidad is promising, because it includes many of the things the private sector itself has been calling for.

“The Government signed the MoU, like the previous Government they went ahead and signed the

has already been signed between the Government and China Railway and Construction Corporation (International) Limited.

China Railway led a joint venture that outbid four other pre-qualified international companies that submitted proposals for the bridge, which will land aback Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on the eastern side and at La Grange, West Bank

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

T

he billions being spent by the Government on infrastructural projects has been described by Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Timothy Tucker as a “shot in the arm” for the private sector that is integral to economic growth.

During a recent appearance on GlobeSpan, Tucker spoke about how the Chamber supports any Government in power that is doing its job and facilitating the growth of the private sector. He noted that in the case of the incumbent People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, their spending on much needed infrastructure is necessary.

“We believe in real growth. We believe that infrastructure and the spending that the Government is undertaking in infrastructure, is a shot in the arm for the private sector. It’s boosting the economy tremendously. And it’s growing businesses. And creating a lot of entrepreneurs,” Tucker said.

He noted other areas where Government policy has positively impacted the private sector, such as with local content. According to

Demerara (WBD) on the western side.

The new bridge will be a fixed 2.65-kilometre four-lane high-span cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres. The bridge, which features a bicycle lane, will bring an end to closures to vehicular traffic with a 50-metre fixed high span to cater for the free flow of vessels uninterrupted. The river will be dredged along a 13.5-kilometre stretch to accommodate large vessels.

Already, the Guyana Government has allocated some $21.1 billion in the 2022 budget towards work on the bridge. It will have a lifespan of 100 years. This new bridge will replace the ageing floating Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which has outlived its lifespan by several decades.

At 1.25 miles (2.01km), the current Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of Demerara, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo. (G3)

NEWS

11

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Labourer dies in tragic Cops nab man attempting Essequibo Coast accident to rob women

T

The gun and ammo that were found at Blygezight Gardens

Dead: Lincon Moore

A

The vehicle that was involved in the accident

56-year-old man died in an accident on Sunday morning while he was seated in the tray of motor pick-up that was allegedly speeding at Onderneeming in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Dead is 56-year-old Lincon Moore known as “Rock”, a security officer of Sandpit, Onderneeming.

The accident occurred at around 07:00h and involved a motor pick-up, GJJ 8947, which was driven by a 36-year-old man of Perseverance.

It was reported that the motor pick-up was proceeding east on the Onderneeming road at a rate of speed when the driver alleged that Moore was seated in the tray of the motor pick-up and upon passing a steel bar at the toll gate which is fitted across the Onderneeming Sandpit Road, he heard an impact from the rear of his vehicle.

The driver told Police that he immediately stopped his vehicle and exited, and there he saw Moore lying motionlessly in the tray of the vehicle, bleeding from his head. He said he picked

the man up and drove to Suddie Public Hospital where Moore was pronounced dead on arrival.

Moore’s body was placed in the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem ex-

gruesome death.

She said that the family were told that he hit his head on a metal bar while he was in a truck. The family also said that they cannot blame the driver of the vehicle for Moore’s death since the accident was unfortu-

Lincon Moore’s grieving mother and sister

amination.

The scene was later visited by Police and statements were taken. Checks were also made for CCTV cameras.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Moore’s family on Sunday, the man’s sister, Sharon, told Guyana Times that on Sunday morning the family was left in shock after receiving the news of the

nate.

“He was a good person and he was very good to me.

His mother is 84 years and he used to support her because she cannot walk. He would help her a lot.”

Following the incident, the driver of the motor pick-up was arrested and is presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

wo men are now in Police custody after they were found with guns in their possession following their arrest in Werken-Rust, and Blygezight Gardens, Georgetown.

Reports are that at about 20:00h on Saturday, ranks from Regional Division 4A (Georgetown) were on motorcycle patrol duty in Blygezight Gardens, and while the ranks were in the vicinity of the ‘Line Top’ area, they observed two men, both clad in dark-coloured clothing. At the time, one of the men was allegedly armed with an object, scuffling with two females whom they appeared to be robbing.

One of the ranks immediately discharged a round with intent to stop the robbery and during this, the armed suspect dropped an object on the roadway, while his accomplice and the two

Meanwhile, on Sunday at 03:20h, acting on information received, Police went to a house in Werk-enRust, Georgetown, where a 43-year-old miner was observed standing in front of the house, and upon seeing the Police, he attempted to escape.

Police gave chase and

The firearm and ammunition that were found at Werk-en-Rust

females ran away.

The ranks immediately approached the man, who dropped the object and it was observed that it was a firearm. The ranks immediately arrested the 29-yearold suspect who is from B Field Sophia.

He was taken to the Kitty Police Station where the firearm and one round of ammunition were lodged.

Efforts are being made to contact the female victims as investigations continue.

the suspect was apprehended. A search was carried out on his person and a brown .38 Smith and Wesson revolver along with two live matching rounds of ammunition were found in his left side pants waist.

He was escorted to Brickdam Police Station where he remains, pending charges.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

12 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

102-year-old woman among 2 new COVID-19 deaths …46 more new cases recorded

T

he Health Ministry on Sunday reported that two more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

These latest fatalities are a 57-year-old male who died on Sunday, July 17 and a 102-year-old female who died on Saturday, July 16 – both from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

With these, the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Guyana has gone up to 1266.

Meanwhile, another 46 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 within a 24hour period.

Active cases in the country are now 984. This includes two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

and the remaining persons in isolation, that is, 950 in home isolation and 32 in institutional isolation.

One other person is also in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 66,663 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus – 74 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total 670,095 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 31,607 males and 37,306 females were found to be positive.

Of the 46 new cases recorded on Sunday, one was from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), four cases from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 33

cases from the DemeraraMahaica region, three more from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), another four cases from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and the remaining one case from Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

There were no new cases recorded in the other four 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 subvar-

Gail Teixeira writes PAC Chair...

FROM PAGE 3

These included hundreds of millions of dollars being withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund for capital projects without any parliamentary oversight. Among such project was the controversial $1 billion Ocean View Hotel rehabilitation – a facility which the PPP/C had to take possession of and transform into a COVID-19 hospital.

It was also found that mega-salaries were being paid to a number of political appointees. Additionally, one of the

most egregious bombshell revelations made by the PPP/C was the massive land giveaways by the coalition, where large tracts of prime State lands were frantically distributed to known associates of the party as well as to legitimate businesses, in some cases, unbeknownst to them.

About five companies that were vested lands by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) have since returned those to the State, in a bid for a more transparent

process. Some of these land giveaways occurred mere days before the 2020 elections, and during the controversial period after the March 2 polls.

Today, the PAC, which is tasked with scrutinising Government spending, is set to commence examination of these and other spendings of the APNU/AFC regime while in caretaker mode in 2019 and 2020.

The PAC is made up of nine members; five from Government and four from the Opposition. (G8)

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 17, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

46

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

32

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

950

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

2

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

1

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

37,306

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

31,607

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

68,913

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

66,663

REGION 1

2651

REGION 2

3036

REGION 3

8532

REGION 4

34,283

REGION 5

2515

REGION 6

6625

REGION 7

2555

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4185

REGION 10

3645

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

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

441,071

FULLY IMMUNISED

340,572

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1266

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.

iant of the Omicron strain.

To this end, health authorities have been urging persons to get vaccinated, and for those qualified to get their booster shots, as a layer of protection.

Vaccination

Latest vaccination figures show that so far, over 442,200 or 86.6 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 344,000 or 67.1 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, more than 25,700 or 35.3 per cent are fully vaccinated. Vaccination for children in the five to 11 categories showed over 4000 first doses or 4.5 per cent.

In addition, more than 69,700 persons have returned for their booster shots thus far.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent figures, some 557,917,904 confirmed cases

were reported globally along with 6,358,899 deaths.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 166,308,606 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2,773,046.

As it relates to vaccination against COVID-19, the WHO also reported that a total of 12,130,881,147 doses have been administered worldwide. (G8)

NEWS

13

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Dental Council warns of quacks advertising orthodontics services T

he Dental Council of Guyana has warned against quacks advertising dental braces procedures at significantly lower prices.

The regulatory authority created by the Dental Registration Act issued the caution after Mikhail Tadius McLennan was caught last week posing as a medical doctor while volunteering at the Guyana Cancer Foundation.

In a post via its Facebook page, the Dental Council released screenshots of promotions being offered by unqualified, unregistered individuals who are performing dental treatment.

It noted that these quacks such as "Braces Lopez" are operating illegally and that procedures done by them can result in irreversible damage to patients.

It is, therefore, urging all members of the public to avoid using such services and to report them to the Dental Council if they are aware of such practices for relevant action to be taken.

It is also reminding persons that it is in their best interest to ensure they visit a duly qualified and registered dental practitioner, because not doing so, can be and

will be detrimental to their health. The Dental Council has also released a list of Dentexes, Dentists, and Dental Technicians, who are registered with the Dental Council for 2022. The list can be viewed here: https:// officialgazette.gov.gy/im ages/gazette2022/may/official_gazettes_14MAY2022. pdf?fbclid=IwAR08RM0kqtSelP9NmtUV6LgSXDvVbeCpM0k1wqXDLmPK5zPL2ntnnF5R15A) All registered dental practitioners are issued a certificate of registration at the beginning of the year.

That certificate is displayed within their practice whether it be private practice or at a hospital. Persons are encouraged to look out for the certificate and to ask about it if they do not see it.

Late last year, the Dental Council had highlighted that members of the public are oddly referring to this form of orthodontic treatment as fashion pieces and this has caused several persons to want them installed, though having no reason for it.

“These braces are also being advertised for fashion purposes…it’s somewhat of a trend globally where people want to have braces because it looks cool [and]…very much a status thing, but there is no such thing as fashion braces. Braces are an orthodontic treatment done to correct dental and medical issues, not to look good,” it had explained.

The list of registered medical practitioners can be found here https://www. medicalcouncil.org.gy/index. php/reg/doctors-cme-summary-grades-3?fbclid=IwAR0YI8MWuw2gvjZc-FvWfTx0b0LXveZ-fyOrdIDPJIxRtEx7TmQTWLSUMxI

Felony

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has warned that practicing medicine without a licence is a felony under the Medical Practitioners Act. The offence attracts a penalty of 18

months’ imprisonment together with a fine of 225,000 upon summary conviction.

He was at the time commenting on the incident involving Mikhail Tadius McLennan. It is understood that the Guyana Medical Council intends to write the

Guyana Police Force (GPF) by the end of this week for an investigation to be conducted into McLennan’s incident.

In the young man’s curriculum vitae (CV) to the Guyana Cancer Foundation, he stated that he studied medicine at the University of Guyana

(UG) and the Texila American University.

Both universities, however, have confirmed that he was never registered as a student at the institutions. Also, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan whom the man had listed in his CV as a reference and whom he said was his aunt, has denied being related to him.

In fact, in a Facebook post, the Chief Magistrate wrote: “This character never approached me to be a reference for him and I am in no way related to him.”

The University of Guyana, in a statement, said it views the incident involving McLennan as very serious and urges the young man, and all others wishing to take up significant professions, to follow the lawful and bona fide route in doing so.

Further, the university added that it “does provide many avenues for different types of students as well as academic counselling to assist prospective students in making the right choices in fulfilling their dreams and achieving success.”

It is therefore urging persons to take advantage of these opportunities. (G1)

14 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 18,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt actively seeking to acquire more land from State agencies for housing – Croal …land recently received from GuySuCo; GL&SC, MMA-ADA also being engaged

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he Government is in a constant mode of seeking land to acquire from State agencies for housing development, and according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, their efforts paid off recently with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) transferring land to them.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Croal explained that the demand for housing largely drives how much land they seek to acquire from State agencies. According to Croal, land acquisition is always ongoing as the Housing Ministry engages agencies that fall under other Ministries and hold large tracts of land.

“We have to work closely

with GuySuCo too. Because they need their land for their purpose. But there has been some land they’ve been giving up, that allows us future expansion for housing development. And we received some recent-

ly. We received in Region Three and we’ve now gotten some on the East Coast.”

“There are some new areas we’ve been working on, on the East Coast.

So, for example, there’s a new opening at Enterprise.

And we’re coming down the line, we have Lusignan. I’m working closely to get the Success land. You know we had some issues with squatting there,” Croal said.

He noted that in Region Four, most of the land they are interested in is either under the auspices of GuySuCo or the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Croal explained, however, that the first agency the Ministry interfaces with is the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the custodian of all State land.

“Once we are able to identify with them possible areas we can get, then

we would engage the agency,” Croal explained, noting that another agency they would engage with after GL&SC is the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

Zeroing in on Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), where there are 13,000 pending applications, Croal explained that land acquisition is an ongoing exercise here. In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), he noted that there will be a Dream Realised initiative during the Building Expo period from July 22 to 24.

“We will be having another round of our Dream Realised land allocation exercise that will see some lands on the East Bank, as well as some lands on the East Coast. So, these are always an ongoing process.

And in Region Five case, lands fall under two agencies,” Croal explained.

“This year, all regions can look forward to being part of our programme to ensure we have additional distribution taking place. Likewise, you saw the President when he went to Region Seven. There was a commitment. I’m going

back there with the team in August. Right now, our focus is on the Building Expo.

We committed our programme for housing, 500 houses in Bartica as well as additional land for allocations.”

With the delivery of Budget 2022 back in February, the Government of Guyana is aiming to accelerate an already robust housing plan that will include the distribution of 15,000 house lots for the year.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal had previously told Guyana Times that the 2022 plans include the distribution of 15,000 house lots as well as the continuation of the home improvement and subsidy programme.

Of the $552 billion in the budget, $12.4 billion had been allocated for the housing sector. This figure had included money to build out the infrastructure required to sustain these house lots, including roads.

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has made it clear that it was aiming to fulfil its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots over the next five years. (G3)

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 2 residents benefit from free eye tests from free eye testing for refractive errors and eye diseases.

The George Subraj Foundation, based in New York, continues to provide healthcare services to Guyanese in need and would visit annually to conduct the outreaches with the help of local authorities.

Speaking with the foundation member and coordinator of the effort, Richard B Mahase said that the founder, George Subraj (now deceased) always believed in helping the people of Guyana.

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…suspect rides into Police station, confesses

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Technicians assisting persons to select the correct pair of spectacles

Another 'Facebook romance scheme' man charged

Charged: John Patrick Lewis

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ust a few days after the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) charged an East Bank Demerara (EBD) man for defrauding a woman on Facebook, a 56-year-old man from Berbice was Friday charged with Conspiracy to Defraud.

John Patrick Lewis of Williamsburg village, Corentyne, Berbice, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Leron Daly where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on reports received by SOCU, John Patrick Lewis, who is a carpenter, was the recipient of $146,500 sent by the victim with the understanding that

Meanwhile, the foundation’s team members are Gloria, Tony and Jasmine Subraj, along with Jay Jainarine.

They have been coordinating various health initiatives in Guyana since the early 1990s, doing so with personal funds to give back to the country.

The team provided eye tests, blood sugar, pressure and glucose testing, and distributed thousands of glasses for adults and children, including anti-glare and blue-light glasses.

“Deportee” stabbed to neck with grass knife during fight

Some of the Region 2 residents at the outreach

ver 100 residents of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) have benefitted from free eye tests and spectacles as the Health Ministry continues to work with the Ophthalmology Department in the region along with the Regional Health Services and George Subraj Foundation and to host medical outreaches.

The testing was held at Region Two Police Headquarters, Anna Regina, where both children and adults benefited

He added that the foundation started the eye clinics where the members would travel to various parts of Guyana, along with a team from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

“Our foundation purchases all of the medication, eyeglasses.

Some cannot get to Georgetown because of different factors, so we take the specialists to them to help them save costs,” Mahase pointed out, adding that the members do not hold fundraisers, but use personal funds to get their work done.

she would receive a money laundering certificate to clear her expensive package sent by her ‘Facebook boyfriend.’

He was alleged to have acted as a third party for another person who befriended the victim via the said Facebook connection. Lewis is just one of the four recipients to whom the victim sent money. SOCU has since said that they are currently looking for the others.

The victim claimed she sent the money to Lewis after she was instructed to do so by her ‘Facebook boyfriend’, who provided her with all of Patrick’s personal information. She said she sent the money using a Western Union money transfer.

To date, the woman said she has never received any package and her Facebook boyfriend has since disappeared. The matter was investigated by SOCU and the suspect was arrested and charged. He was represented by Attorney-atLaw Euclin Gomes. SOCU was represented by attorney Towanna Hardy. Lewis was released on $50,000 bail

and the case will continue on September 2.

On Tuesday last, SOCU instituted similar charges against Jaffon Hinds of Downer Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Hinds, who is a production administrator at Caribbean Containers Incorporated, collected a total sum of $502,340 from his victim. The payments were made on three separate occasions. He was alleged to have acted as a third party for another person who befriended the victim via Facebook.

The victim claimed she sent the money to Hinds using a Western Union money transfer after she was instructed to do so by her Facebook ‘boyfriend’, who also promised her a huge package with lots of expensive items, but she said she never received any of the items.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Assistant Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh is once again calling on all Guyanese to be vigilant against package delivery and romance scams.

36-year-old man of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), was stabbed to death during a fight.

Dead is Jermaine Elias called “Deportee”, who was killed at around 11:35h on Saturday evening in front of a business place at Kent Street, New Amsterdam.

Reports are that the now dead man and the suspect, a 40-year-old labourer of Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, had a misunderstanding during which a scuffle ensued.

It is alleged that during the argument, Elias attacked the suspect with a mop stick, and the suspect reportedly whipped out a grass knife from a back-

pack he was carrying and stabbed Elias in the neck.

Video footage that was seen by this publication on social media, showed Elias lying on the road covered in blood, while persons around him were heard contemplating whether or not to take him to the hospital.

One man was heard saying “Here is not where he got to go, is the hospital he have to go, not here. Who gon help he? Who gon carry he in them car?”.

Elias was eventually picked up and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Guyana Times understands that after committing the act, the perpetrator picked up his bicycle

Dead: Jermaine Elias

and rode to the Central Police Station where he turned himself in and related to Police what had occurred.

He is currently in custody assisting Police with their investigation. (G9)

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sept 12 trial for Opposition’s challenge to NRF law …as AG relies on Parliament's live-stream video as evidence

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File photo: A scene from the infamous Mace grab of December 29, 2021

ustice Navindra Singh has fixed September 12 for the commencement of trial in the challenge to the passage of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act. The action was filed in April

by Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones and Trade Unionist Norris Witter. They argued that due to the absence of the parliamentary Mace – the most significant symbol in the National Assembly and some APNU/ AFC members not seated – the NRF Act cannot be regarded as being lawfully passed.

“They do not admit that they broke the Mace, they do not admit that they behaved in a riotous and vulgar manner. They claimed that the Speaker [Manzoor Nadir] unfairly and unlawfully prevented them from speaking, not accepting that it is their conduct that prevented anyone from speaking,” Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, told reporters after Friday’s preliminary hearing.

He said that he does not anticipate the trial to be lengthy because the issues are very clear.

“Of course, our evidence is simple. We are relying on the video that Parliament has in its system of the day’s proceedings. As you know, it was streamed live, and then the video is left. So, what we have done, is to extract that video, and put it on a flash drive, and that is all we need to put to the court because that is what transpired, and that is what we are relying on,” he said.

On the night of December 29, 2021, members of the APNU/AFC had dislodged the Mace from its position at the House Clerk’s desk in an attempt to prevent the Natural Resource Fund Bill from being passed. At one point, the Speaker’s Personal Assistant was seen latching onto the Mace while lying on the floor in an attempt to secure it, while the Opposition parliamentarians stood by hurling racial slurs and taunts at him. Despite the Opposition’s protest and its mounting calls for the Bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee, the Government went ahead and passed it.

Nandlall contended that the challenge is an abuse of the court process and without any legal basis.

Trade Unionist Norris Witter

According to him, there is no principle known to the law, neither does the Constitution of Guyana nor the Standing Orders of the National Assembly require that the Mace must be present and in place for Parliament to exercise its constitutional power to make laws.

Witter argued that under Article 154A of the Constitution and Article 25 of the Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, he has a fundamental right to political participation in the conduct of public affairs. He, however, contended that this right was violated with the passage of the Bill. In light of this, the Trade Unionist is asking the court to declare that pursuant to Article 154A, the Government in formulating an NRF policy, had a responsibility to engage in consultation.

Authority of Parliament

But Nandlall submitted that a lack of consultation does not in any manner affect the law power and authority of Parliament. He deposed, “It will be contended that the debates among the elected representatives of the people in the National Assembly which is a component of the legislative process constitutes consultation.” He said that the Natural Resource Fund Bill received widespread national consultations. To support his argument, he reminded that the legislation was a promise contained in his party’s manifesto for the 2020 National Elections – a document he has included as an exhibit. He said, too, that the manifesto itself was a product of five years of public consultations from 2015 to 2020, across all 10 regions, including a grand public consultation held at New Thriving

Restaurant, Providence, on February 17, 2019.

Since the passage of the legislature last December, the Government has established the Natural Resource Fund Board. Following parliamentary approval, the Government has made two withdrawals from the fund amounting to $83.3 billion which were transferred to the Consolidated Fund to finance national development priorities.

However, Jones and Witter want the High Court to declare null, void and of no effect, all actions taken by anyone, including the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, pursuant to the passage of the Bill, or the constitution of any Board under the NRF. They are also seeking orders necessary to ensure that the NRF is replenished to the extent of all sums disbursed from it.

nored the authority of the Assembly and that of the Speaker, thereby committing contempt and breaches of privileges. The eight MPs in question are: Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Maureen Philadelphia.

After seeking an extension to its one-month timeline to consider the violations committed by the members, the Committee finally completed the report and submitted it to be laid in the National Assembly for debate. The next sitting is slated for Thursday, July 21.

According to the re-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones

port, the Committee’s findings were based on video recordings, statements by staff of the Parliament Office and the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, eyewitness accounts by other Members of the House, media reporters and the public, both locally and internation-

ally.

Additionally, each Opposition Member was written to and asked to “show cause” why sanctions should not be meted out to them. Their responses were received and considered by the Committee.

Supreme distributors now exclusive of Premier, Evergreen brands

Lawfully passed

Meanwhile, the Attorney General submitted that he maintains “most resolutely” that the Natural Resource Fund Act was lawfully, validly, and properly passed, and received the due assent of President Dr Irfaan Ali in accordance with the Constitution.

Jones and Witter are being represented by Roysdale Forde, SC, and Attorney-atLaw Selwyn Pieters. Besides Nandlall, Nadir, and Singh, the other respondents to Jones and Witter’s action are: the Parliament Office and Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs.

Suspension

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges has recommended the suspension of eight A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Members of Parliament who participated in the infamous Mace grab and disruptions of the National Assembly sitting on December 29, 2021.

The Committee was tasked with considering a Privilege Motion which stated that the eight Opposition Members who attempted to prevent the second and third readings of the Natural Resource Fund Bill No 20 of 2021, conducted themselves in a gross disorderly, contumacious, and disrespectful manner, and repeatedly ig-

Supreme distributors is now the exclusive distributor for Premier Agencies Caribbean Ltd in Guyana. In a press release following the signing of the agreement, Supreme distributors said it will be selling the Premier and Evergreen brands of household and commercial cleaning products. The distributorship agreement was signed on July 14, 2022, in Trinidad and Tobago between Managing Director of Premier Agencies Caribbean Ltd, Indar Maharaj and Managing Director of Supreme Distributors, Mohamed Faizoul. Both parties said that they are looking forward to expanding their presence in Guyana and are excited about the new range of affordable cleaning products that will now be available to the Guyanese market

NEWS

17

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mon Repos stabbing

No arrest yet, no autopsy can be done on body – Commander I

t has been a week since 21-year-old Krishna Maniram, an audit clerk at National Hardware, and of Lot 190 Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was fatally stabbed by a man at a bar at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Police are still unable to identify or arrest the suspect.

On Sunday a relative of Maniram told Guyana Times that a suspect was arrested in relation to the man’s murder, but was later released after they were informed that it was the wrong person.

However, when contacted, Regional Commander of the Division, Keithon King said that based on his knowledge no one was arrested for the incident.

Reports stated that Maniram had left his home on July 8 with four of his friends and went to the S&S Bar at Mon Repos, ECD, where they were imbibing. While at the bar, Maniram’s friend was allegedly involved a heated argument with another man, and in a bid to defend his friend, Maniram intervened.

It was during the row; the man was stabbed three times

incident, and was told that they are unable to locate the suspect.

No autopsy

Meanwhile, Maniram’s sister said an autopsy would be conducted on her brother’s body today to know the cause of death, but according to Commander King, an autopsy will not be performed on the remains of the 21-year-old.

umentation from pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh to determine the way forward in the matter.

However, Maniram’s family is questioning why an autopsy cannot be done on the body when surgery was done on the man while he was COVID positive.

Investigation into the matter continues. (G9)

Canter driver resisting arrest pelts cop with brick

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Dead: Krishna Maniram

about his body with a broken bottle. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and was later transported to the infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The man’s family said he was transported to the hospital, because, according to doctors he tested positive for

COVID-19. They said while he was at the centre, they were told that he had to undergo surgery.

Three days later, the man succumbed to his injuries.

After the stabbing incident, the dead man’s sister, Vineta Maniram, told this publication that she went to the Police to follow up on the

Over 200 farmers benefiting from...

FROM PAGE 7

He further disclosed that the farmers currently benefitting from the programme hail from the Mahaica area, especially Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara; West Coast and Corentyne Coast Berbice, and in Essequibo. These are primarily small to medium farmers with a blend of crops and cattle rearing.

“They are mostly small farmers – cash crops and so on… because most of the farmers who plant are a blend of rice, cattle and small farming,” Parbhu said.

At the programme launch in May, President Dr Irfaan Ali had lauded the initiative, saying that it will play an important role in aiding farmers to increase and sustain their productivity, which in turn will contribute to the country’s, as well as Caribbean region’s food security initiative.

In fact, in order to boost Guyana’s production to combat the looming global food crisis, the Head of State last month lobbied the Demerara Bank to extend its Farmers Credit Line to small farmers in

He said they were advised by doctors that a post-mortem should not be conducted on the body, because the man was COVID-19 positive.

“The officer in charge of the investigation spoke with Dr Nehaul Singh, and he said once somebody dies of COVID, a post-mortem will not be done on the body…”, he said.

King added that ranks are currently waiting on doc-

Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday during an outreach exercise in Bartica.

After hearing pleas of farmers and hinterland village leaders during an outreach exercise in the region for assistance to venture into or expand their agricultural programmes, President Ali reached out to the bank on the spot and was able to secure a commitment from the bank to provide financing to Cuyuni-Mazaruni farmers.

“The people from Demerara Bank, they said to me they’re willing to bring the small agricultural loan – which I think is $1.5 million – to this region, to your communities.

So, I’m going to have a special programme for farmers,” the President stated.

As such, he had urged farmers, especially single parents, in the region to mobilise and apply for this loan so that they too can participate in the agriculture drive and food security initiatives. Moreover, the President also encouraged Indigenous Village

Councils to come up projects not only to get financing from the bank but also support from Government.

Last week, Demerara Bank held a sod-turning ceremony for a new branch at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, and during his address there, President Ali said Government is presently examining ways to work with the local banking sector to create more opportunities for Guyana’s ever-evolving economy, particularly for small businesses.

He noted that creating “innovative ways” were essential for micro-enterprises, which do not possess the type of collateral or cash outlay to benefit from the opportunities available.

“We have to have a discussion on the apportionment of that risk and how we can minimise or remove the collateral requirement and take the contract at face value, and then work out a mechanism through which a contract at face value is used to support those business operations.”

(G8)

policeman is now hospitalised after he was hit with a brick to the eye by a driver, who drove away after he was stopped by the rank.

Injured is Lance Corporal Edmondson, who is stationed at the Dem Amstel Police Station, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and who was performing traffic duties when the incident occurred on Saturday at about 18:15h at Anna Catherina, WCD. Reports are that the cop was on traffic patrol duty in the vicinity of Anna Catherina when he observed the driver of a white motor canter, GDD 5340, acting in a

suspicious manner.

As a result, the cop stopped the canter and asked the driver, whose name was given as Daniel Singh called “Anand”, to produce his licence and other relevant documents.

The driver allegedly drove away and Edmondson gave chase on his motorcycle. The carter driver stopped at his residence in Anna Catherina and as the cop attempted to arrest him, the driver's father and sister held onto the policeman.

It is alleged that Singh picked up a piece of brick and threw it toward the officer, hitting him in his right eye

and causing him to receive injuries.

Soon after, the family reportedly went into their house and locked the door.

Edmondson was then taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by ranks of the Police Anti-Crime Patrol, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty. He was then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He has since been taken to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where a CT scan was done, and he was admitted as a patient in the male surgical ward. The suspect was arrested and remains in custody pending charges. (G9)

18

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

T&T: Venezuelan woman declared 4 injured after drag racer crashes dead at hospital after shooting into crowd at Vernamfield

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Venezuelan woman was killed on Sunday morning after she and two of her countrymen were shot.

Police reported that about 04:45h Mayerlin Carreno, 23, of St Augustine was with two other Venezuelans, an 18-yearold man and 22-year-old woman, when they were attacked. The woman was shot in the abdomen and the man in his groin.

Police said they responded to a call of gunshots at Evans Street, Curepe, and found the deceased in the back seat of a vehicle, make and model unknown. She was then taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she was declared dead.

The moment the drag racer loses control of the vehicle just before the car veers off into the crowd

Police recovered seven spent 5.56 mm shells at the scene

No motive was given for the shooting. Police did not say where Carreno and the others lived and if they were

shot in the vehicle.

Police recovered seven spent 5.56 mm shells at the scene.(Trinidad Newsday)

CoP summoned to Cabinet retreat as crime worries PM

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rime in Trinidad and Tobago became one of the main issues on the agenda when Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley chaired a two-day Cabinet retreat which ended Sunday.

Guardian Media understands that on Friday acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob met with Rowley, who is chair of the National Security Council, to discuss crime, matters involving the T&T Police Service (TTPS) and national security at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, where the

retreat was held.

The retreat, which started on Friday, was attended by Cabinet Ministers including Attorney General Reginald Armour, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi and Finance Minister Colm Imbert. Ministers of State were not part of the retreat.

With crime and murders reaching unprecedented levels in the country and citizens expressing worry, fear and panic, the meeting between both men became a critical item on the agenda.

On Friday night and Saturday, there were two brazen killings in Port-ofSpain and D’Abadie, bringing the murder count close to 300.

This follows several murders in the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago, residents of East Port-of-Spain staged a fiery protest and blocked off roads leading into Port-ofSpain for the police-involved killings of Isaiah Roberts, 16; Leonardo Williams, 17 and Fabian Richards, 22, on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica to host Caribbean Rhythm Showcase

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he Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) says it is cooperating with the European Union (EU) and the Jamaica-based Headline Entertainment in supporting Caribbean artistes gain greater exposure to international music executives.

It said that the second Caribbean Rhythm Showcase to be held in September, will provide at least 25 acts from the Caribbean to perform live to

an audience including music scouts.

“We are looking for artistes from all genres to perform at this Showcase.

From Zouk, Soca, Calypso, Reggae Rap, Dancehall and Pop, we want to support our artistes,” said Allyson Francis, Services Specialist at Caribbean Export.

“Music is a critical industry for us in the Region, and we are committed to supporting the development of our practitioners with our Business of Music courses

to leverage digital platforms and to give them the exposure needed to be discovered,” she added.

The organisers said that the Caribbean Rhythm Showcase aims to unearth and display more of the Region’s talent and that they are inviting new and emerging artistes to register and submit a performance video for assessment, for a chance to participate in a dynamic event that will also include follow-up meetings with interested music executives.

The organisers said unlike previous editions which were held online, this years’ staging will be in person in Kingston, Jamaica and aims to give artistes the opportunity to showcase, gain exposure and create opportunity to collaborate with other regional musicians and generate international interest.

Artistes are encouraged to visit the website for details and are required to submit two original songs.

(Excerpt from CMC)

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our people were rushed to hospital after a drag racer lost control and crashed into spectators at an event at

Vernamfield in Clarendon in Jamaica on Sunday.

The horrific accident was caught on camera, with video being posted of

the moment the drag racer loses control of the vehicle just before the car veers off into the crowd. (Jamaica Observer)

466 TSTT workers say goodbye to company

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ver 460 workers of the Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) are now formally retrenched from the company after the expiration of 45 days’ official notice ended on Friday.

The sacking of the workers is part of restructuring of TSTT in order to cut costs and keep it running in competitive market. The workers’ last day of work was on June 15, but they were subsequently given the statutory 45-day notice.

Speaking to Newsday on Saturday, Clyde Elder, Secretary General of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) which represents the TSTT workers said, of the 468 retrenched workers, only two were still employed as their retrenchment letters were delivered late.

He said TSTT’s staff has been reduced significantly with just around 600 workers remaining. “Right now, the number of workers would be just over 600 with around 200 and 250 under

Communication Workers Union (CWU) Secretary General Clyde Elder

the union.”

Elder said the Union would keep fighting for the rights of the retrenched workers. He criticised TSTT for its handling of the retrenchment exercise and its treatment of the workers.

“I would like to indicate that the company has been so woefully incompetent in this retrenchment process,” Elder said.

Elder said there also seemed to be no planning since two workers who were supposed to be retrenched were unaware, worked tirelessly and were given their notices earlier this month.

He also added that the retrenchment could have been avoided without disrupting the new restructuring plan.

“This retrenchment should not have happened, it was mismanaged and mishandled.”

Contacted for comment, TSTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lisa Agard said, “The decision to restructure TSTT and retrench employees was a difficult but necessary exercise for the survival of the company. It meant having to say farewell to people we care about and who have made invaluable contributions to the company and its evolution.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Agriculture sector on board with PP Mottley’s plan

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embers of the farming community are standing behind Government’s measures to assist consumers with the rising cost of living.

They are also pleased with the commitment by the island’s lone feed company to keep prices at a minimum for the next six months.

On Saturday, in response to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s announcement last Thursday, some livestock and crop producers said that given the financial hardships many Barbadians were experiencing, it was important to put the nation’s interest at the forefront and come up with a way to help people cope.

Mottley had said the

From left: General manager of Fasons Foods Inc. Amir Juman conversing with managing director of Star Chick, Wendell Clarke, and operations manager at Chickmont Foods, Trevor Gunby, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday after the signing of the Food Prices Compact (Picture by Reco Moore)

Private Sector agreed not to mark up certain items higher than between 12 and 15 per cent.

President of the Barbados Egg and Poultry Producers’ Association,

Stephen Layne, said that before the announcement, the Prime Minister would have held meetings with the stakeholders to see what measures were feasible. (Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Top US energy envoy expects further steps from OPEC producers on supplies

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ajor crude oil producers have spare capacity and are likely to boost supplies following President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East, a senior US energy envoy said on Sunday.

Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," Amos Hochstein, senior US State Department adviser for energy security, said: "Based on what we heard on the trip, I'm pretty confident that we'll see a few more steps in the coming weeks."

Hochstein did not say which country or countries would boost production or by how much.

"It's not just about Saudi...We met with the GCC, and with Saudi Arabia. I'm not going to go into how much spare capacity there is in Saudi Arabia and in UAE (the United Arab Emirates) and Kuwait etc. But there is additional spare capacity. There is room for increased production," he said.

GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council and includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Biden visited Saudi Arabia on Friday as part of his first trip to the Middle East as US President, hoping to strike a deal on oil production to help drive down gasoline prices. A rise in US gasoline prices to more than 40-year highs is fuelling inflation and pummelling his ratings in opinion polls.

But he has not secured a clear assurance on an oil production increase.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister said a US-Arab summit on Saturday did not discuss oil. He said that OPEC+ would continue to assess market conditions and do what is necessary. OPEC+, which also includes Russia, meets next on Aug 3.

Oil prices rocketed to their highest levels since 2008, climbing above US$139 a barrel in March, after the United States and Europe imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation". Prices have slipped since then.

Hochstein also said he expected to see US gasoline prices to fall further towards US$4 a gallon, after exceeding US$5 a gallon earlier this year for the first time in history. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia prepares for next Ukraine offensive in face of new Western weapons

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ussia is preparing for the next stage of its offensive in Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said, after Moscow said its forces would step up military operations in "all operational areas".

As Western deliveries of long-range arms begin to help Ukraine on the battlefield, Russian rockets and missiles have pounded cities in strikes that Kyiv says have killed dozens in recent days.

"It is not only missile strikes from the air and sea," Vadym Skibitskyi, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said late on Saturday.

"We can see shelling along the entire line of contact, along the entire front line. There is an active use of tactical aviation and attack helicopters.

A local boy speaks with a Ukrainian serviceman near a military vehicle not far from front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the Donbas region, Ukraine July 17, 2022

"Clearly preparations are now underway for the next stage of the offensive."

The Ukrainian military said Russia appeared to be regrouping units for an offen-

sive toward Sloviansk, a symbolically important city held

by Ukraine in the eastern region of Donetsk.

The British Defence Ministry said on Sunday that

Russia was also reinforcing defences across areas it occupies in southern Ukraine after pressure from Ukrainian forces and pledges from Ukrainian leaders to drive Russia out.

Ukraine says at least 40 people have been killed in Russian shelling of urban areas since Thursday as the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb 24 intensifies.

Dozens of relatives and local residents attended the funeral of 4-year-old Liza Dmytrieva in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia on Sunday. The girl was killed in a missile strike on central Vinnytsia on Thursday that killed 24 people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Greece plane crash: Cargo aircraft was carrying weapons to Bangladesh – Minister

A

cargo plane which crashed in northern Greece was carrying 11 tonnes of weapons - including landmines - to Bangladesh, officials say.

People living within two kilometres of the site where the Antonov-12 came down have been warned to stay indoors.

The aircraft was flying from Serbia to Jordan when it crashed late on Saturday close to the city of Kavala, killing all eight people on board.

Eyewitness video showed the plane on fire and a huge fireball as it crashed.

Drones were used to survey the site of the wreckage out of caution, while Greek staterun TV reported the army, explosives experts and Greek

Atomic Energy Commission staff were not approaching the site until it was deemed safe.

"The (air) measurements at the moment have not shown anything but nonetheless instability in the field was observed," Lieutenant General Marios Apostolidis, of the Northern Greece Fire Brigade, told reporters.

The pilot had reportedly requested an emergency landing at Kavala airport in Greece, due to an engine problem shortly after take-off, but was unable to reach the runway.

Serbia's Defence Minister Nebojša Stefanovic said that the plane was transporting almost 11 tonnes (11,000 kg)

Drones are being used to survey the wreckage of the plane

of Serbian-made weapons to Bangladesh.

But there are conflicting reports of what kinds of weapons were on board.

The plane, which was due to make stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and India be-

fore reaching its final destination of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, was being operated by Meridian, a Ukrainian cargo airline. The crew are understood to have been Ukrainian. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 9 killed in South hopes Canada trip China urges banks to extend Africa shootings – Police Pope will help heal “evil” done loans for real estate projects

P

olice in South Africa are on the hunt for suspects after nine people were killed in separate shooting incidents in two provinces in the country on Saturday night, law enforcement said.

The latest slew of shootings comes on the heels of an uptick in violent deaths in a country with one of the world’s highest murder rates.

Four people were shot and two more were injured in the Thembelihle informal settlement, a southern suburb of Johannesburg.

Preliminary investigation suggests that a group of men was playing dice on a street corner, at approximately 7:30pm (17:30 GMT) on Saturday, when they were attacked by unknown assailants who shot at them, the authorities said in a statement.

“Four people were certified dead on the scene on Saturday while two people were taken to the nearest medical care centre after sustaining gunshot

wounds,” the Police said on Sunday.

Regional Police Commissioner Elias Mawela called the crime scene “horrific”.

“They were seated. They were attacked for no apparent reason,” he said.

In a separate incident also in Thembelihle, a 36-year-old man who appeared to have been robbed of his belongings, including a mobile phone and a bicycle, was found shot dead, they added.

Police said that the motive for the shootings cannot be confirmed at this stage.

Meanwhile in the Western Cape province, Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of a triple murder on Saturday night in Khayelitsha township. A fourth murder was an unrelated incident, Colonel Andre Traut said.

About 20,000 people are murdered in South Africa every year out of a population of about 60 million.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

to Indigenous people

P

ope Francis said on Sunday his trip to Canada next week will be a "pilgrimage of penance" that he hopes can help heal the wrongs done to Indigenous people by Roman Catholic priests and nuns who ran abusive residential schools.

The July 24-30 trip will include at least five encounters with native people as Francis makes good on a promise to apologise on their home territory for the Church's role in the state-sanctioned schools, which sought to erase indigenous cultures.

"Unfortunately, in Canada many Christians, including some members of religious orders, contributed to the policies of cultural assimilation that in the past gravely damaged native populations in various ways," Francis said at his weekly address to people in St Peter's Square.

About 150,000 children were taken from their homes.

Many were subjected to

abuse, rape and malnutrition in what Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called "cultural genocide".

The stated aim of the schools, which operated between 1831 and 1996, was to assimilate Indigenous children. They were run by Christian denominations on behalf of the Government, most by the Catholic Church.

The schools were at the centre of discussions between the pope and Indigenous people at the Vatican in March and April. Recalling the meetings, Francis said on Sunday he had expressed "my pain and solidarity over the evil that they endured".

The recurring schools scandal broke out again last year with the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the former Indian Residential School in Kamloops in the Western Canadian province of British Columbia. The school closed in 1978. (Excerpt from Reuters)

amid mortgage boycott

C

hinese regulators on Sunday urged banks to extend loans to qualified real estate projects and meet developers financing needs where reasonable, in their latest effort to ease concerns triggered by a widening mortgage-payment boycott on unfinished houses.

The remarks by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) came after a growing number of home buyers across China threatened to stop making their mortgage payments for stalled property projects, aggravating a real estate crisis that has already hit the economy.

Investors have continued to dump Chinese banking stocks as well as developers' shares and bonds, even after the CBIRC vowed on Thursday to strengthen its coordination with other regulators to "guarantee the delivery of homes".

In an interview with the official China Banking and Insurance New on Sunday,

the CBIRC reiterated that it will support local governments to promote home delivery, and expressed confidence that with concerted efforts, "all the difficulties and problems will be properly solved."

More specifically, the regulator urged banks to "shoulder social responsibility" and actively participate in the study of plans to fill the funding gap, so that the construction of stalled real estate projects can be resumed swiftly and homes can be delivered to buyers early.

It also urged banks to strengthen communication with mortgage clients and support acquisitions of real estate projects to help stabilise the property market.

In addition, the watchdog said that financial risks in the north-eastern province of Liaoning have been growing recently but were under control, and the Government will take measures to prevent risks at China's small lenders.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Stability is required if you plan to accomplish your goals. Listen to your inner voice, not to what an outsider is shoving down your throat. Look at the long-term effects of your actions.

(March 21-April 19) Get fired up and make your mark.

Don't wait for someone to beat you at your own game. Look for a unique way to outshine anyone who gets in your way. Turn your home into a sanctuary.

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(May 21-June 20) Check out something that interests you, and it will give you insight into a direction that can change the way you think and push you to follow your heart. Personal growth is encouraged.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Don't let the changes others make put you in a precarious position. Head in a direction that satisfies your needs.

Anger and distress are wastes of time.

Plan to put your energy where it will do you good.

Pick up momentum and do what you do best. Set your sights on what matters to you most and close the deal.

Step outside your comfort zone if it will help resolve a money or health matter.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Take better care of yourself and those you love. Proper diet, keeping things in perspective and not taking on more than you can handle will play in your favor. Strength and determination will be key.

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(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

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(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

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Communicate and listen, and you'll discover how to get what you want without a fight. Call on experts and trustworthy sources to help break down options. Don't be limited by the past.

Take another look at what's happening around you and recognize where you fit. Don't adopt changes others make if following a path that is better suited to your attributes is an option.

Keep your life simple, and you'll avoid wearing too many hats and running in circles. Make decisions tailored to suit your needs. Look for gratification, and you'll find the way to go.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

21

Pant, Pandya guide India to ODI series victory W

inning the toss, India skipper Rohit Sharma had no hesitation in putting England in to bat. The decision paid rich dividends as the Indian pacers struck at regular intervals.

Mohammed Siraj, who replaced Jasprit Bumrah, would scalp the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, with both walking back for a duck.

Jason Roy and Ben Stokes then took the attack to India, establishing a 54-run stand. But the pair walked back to the pavilion in relatively quick succession. Roy was dismissed for 41 by Hardik Pandya and the all-rounder struck again to send Stokes packing for 27.

England now found themselves struggling at 74-4.

England then fought hard, with skipper Jos Buttler leading the way. A stand with Moeen Ali of 75 runs steadied the ship for England. The pair played some glorious shots to put the pressure back on the Indians.

Moeen Ali finally departed for 34, with Ravindra Jadeja get-

England bowlers did not have any answers against their brilliance.

Both Pandya and Pant brought up their half-centuries and started to up the ante. This would bring about Pandya's downfall as a brilliant catch by Stokes brought an end to his incredible knock of 71.

There was still a job remaining to be done, as India needed 55 runs to win. But there was no stopping Rishabh Pant as he guided India home, notch-

ing up his first One-Day International (ODI) ton in the process.

He treated the England bowlers with disdain, smashing David Willey for five fours in an over. India would chase down the target in only 42.1 overs to win the series 2-1. It was another feather in the cap of the young wicketkeeper-batter, who is quickly carving out a reputation of thriving under pressure.

(ICC)

SCOREBOARD Team India

ting his scalp. Liam Livingstone chipped in with 27 runs, with Pandya again doing the damage.

Pandya got his fourth of the match, with Buttler walking back after a wellmade 60. David Willey (18) and Craig Overton (32) scored vital runs to ensure that England had a total to defend.

India finally bowled out England for 259 in the

46th over.

England again had the Indian top order struggling again, striking early. Shikhar Dhawan could only score 1 before Reece Topley dismissed him.

Rohit Sharma would be the next to depart, with Topley striking again.

Topley would have his third as Virat Kohli edged one to the keeper after scoring only 17. Suryakumar

Guyana U-17 team depart Guyana in quest for 1st title at this level

Yadav scored 16 before he was sent back to the hut by Craig Overton. India were now reeling at 72-4.

A big partnership was of paramount importance for the visitors. And they got just that, with Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya launching a brilliant counter-attack. The pair embarked on a partnership of 133 runs, which came in only 115 deliveries.

There were some audacious shots, coupled with sensible defending. The pair found it easy to pierce the field at ease, as the

England Innings Jason Roy c †Pant b Pandya 41 Jonny Bairstow c sub (SS Iyer) b Mohammed Siraj 0 Joe Root c Sharma b Mohammed Siraj 0 Ben Stokes c & b Pandya 27 Jos Buttler (c)†c Jadeja b Pandya 60 Moeen Ali c †Pant b Jadeja 34 Liam Livingstone c Jadeja b Pandya 27 David Willey c Yadav b Chahal 18 Craig Overton c Kohli b Chahal 32 Brydon Carse not out 3 Reece Topley b Chahal 0 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 13) 17 TOTAL 45.5 Ov (RR: 5.65) 259 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Jonny Bairstow, 1.3 ov), 2-12 (Joe Root, 1.6 ov), 3-66 (Jason Roy, 9.5 ov), 4-74 (Ben Stokes, 13.2 ov), 5-149 (Moeen Ali, 27.2 ov), 6-198 (Liam Livingstone, 36.3 ov), 7-199 (Jos Buttler, 36.6 ov), 8-247 (David Willey, 43.4 ov), 9-257 (Craig Overton, 45.3 ov), 10-259 (Reece Topley, 45.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Shami 7-0-38-0 Mohammed Siraj 9-1-66-2 Prasidh Krishna 9-0-48-0 Hardik Pandya 7-3-24-4

Yuzvendra Chahal Ravindra Jadeja

9.5-0-60-3 4-0-21-1

INDIA INNINGS (Target: 260 runs from 50 overs) Rohit Sharma (c) c Root b Topley 17 Shikhar Dhawan c Roy b Topley 1 Virat Kohli c †Buttler b Topley 17 Rishabh Pant †not out 125 Suryakumar Yadav c †Buttler b Overton 16 Hardik Pandya c Stokes b Carse 71 Ravindra Jadeja not out 7 Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 3) 7 TOTAL 42.1 Ov (RR: 6.18) 261/5 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Shikhar Dhawan, 2.1 ov), 2-21 (Rohit Sharma, 4.6 ov), 3-38 (Virat Kohli, 8.1 ov), 4-72 (Suryakumar Yadav, 16.2 ov), 5-205 (Hardik Pandya, 35.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Reece Topley 7-1-35-3 David Willey 7-0-58-0 Brydon Carse 8-0-45-1 Moeen Ali 8-0-33-0 Craig Overton 8-0-54-1 Ben Stokes 2-0-14-0 Liam Livingstone 2-0-14-0 Joe Root 0.1-0-4-0

Abrams into 400m semi-finals at World Championships, Fraser-Pryce leads Jamaica quartet into semis

G

T

he Guyana Under-17 team departed Guyana for Trinidad and Tobago Sunday for the Regional Under-17 tournament set to begin on July 19.

The national team, who are aiming to be the first team to win the Regional Under-17, will be led by Alvin Mohabir.

Mohabir led Demerara to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 Inter-County title two weeks ago when they went undefeated in the 50 overs tournament, where he

was also the leading wickettaker. The squad also includes talented and experienced batsman Mavindra Dindyal, who is expected to lead the batting along with Jonathan Van Lange, who recorded more than 100 runs in this year’s Inter- County.

Guyana will face Barbados in their opening match at the National Cricket Centre, Couva on July 19, then play hosts Trinidad and Tobago in the second round at Powergen on July 21. Jamaica and Leeward

Islands are the third- and fourth-round matches at Inshan Ali Park and Gilbert Park on July 23 and July 25 respectively. Guyana will then take on Windward Islands also at Gilbert Park in the final match on July 27 before returning home on July 28, 2022.

Guyana have never won the Regional Under 17 Tournament. The GCB wished the team well and encouraged them to believe in themselves and their ability as they seek to make history.

uyanese Aliyah Abrams moves on to the semi-finals of the women's 400m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

She finished second (51.98) in her heat, which was won by World and Olympic champion Shaune Miller-Uibo (51.10). At the World Indoor Championships, Abrams was fifth in the 400m finals.

Meanwhile, defending 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has expressed satisfaction with a seemingly effortless firstround trot to the line, at the Oregon World Championships, on Saturday.

The Jamaican looked in superb form as she stopped the clock at 10.87, easily covering the field before shutting down comfortably ahead of Britain’s Daryll Neita and Germany’s Gina Lückenkemper who also qualified.

In fact, overall, as expected, there was no

Aliyah Abrams

drama in the opening round as Fraser-Pryce’s compatriots Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah also won their heats, while the fourth Jamaican Kemba Nelson also advanced to the semi-finals after being third in Heat 4.

“I was trying to qualify as easy as possible and I hope I was able to do that and just look forward to the next round,” Fraser-Pryce said after the race.

“I couldn’t see the start from where I was so I’m not

Shelly-Ann action

Fraser-Pryce

in

sure how that was executed, but I’m sure when I go around the coach will have it and I’ll be able to look at it and see if I was able to execute. First rounds are usually hit and miss because there are so many things happening.”

Fraser-Pryce, who will be looking for a fifth world title, has come into the event with the fastest time in the world this year, 10.67, recorded in Nairobi, Kenya. (Adapted from Sportsmax)

22

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club cricket academy bowls off today – special emphasis being placed on females and Under-12 players T

he annual cricket academy of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) will bowl off today, Monday, July 18 after an absence of two years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Area H Ground’s concrete all-weather court and the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School would be used to accommodate the academy as the Club had to seek alternative ways to host the academy due to the ongoing rainy season.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster, who heads the organising committee, stated the Academy was catering for about 120 youths between the ages of eight and eighteen. The team of coaches will be led by level three coach Winston Smith, who has been working with the club for over 15 years. He will be assisted by Delbert Hicks and national player Eon Hooper, both products of the Academy.

The Academy will end on Friday, July 29 with a grand graduation ceremony where several attractive prizes would be distributed to the

Busta Regional Manager Fhlarish Mohamed handing over the donation to RHTY&SC’s Hilbert Foster

top performers. Among the prizes will be tablets, cricket gear, uniforms, household and kitchen utensils, educational grants and school materials. The Club, at the end of the Academy, would also be opening its membership to allow non-mem-

bers to join the very vibrant youth and sports organisation, which would be undertaking a record 700 activities annually under a wide range of subheadings including coaching, education, community development, youth development

and charity.

The Club’s 2022 cricket academy has been co-sponsored by Bakewell and the Guyana Beverage Company while several friends of the club have also assisted, including members like Kevin Sinclair, Shawn Perriera,

Kevlon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle and Shakabi Gajnabi.

The Guyana Beverage Company, under its Busta brand, on Thursday last came on board as a co-sponsor by handing over a quantity of water, drinks, and juices. Government Ministers Collin Croal, Nigel Dharamlall and Joseph Hamilton have all committed to personally donate a bicycle towards one of the top awardees. RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary Jonathan Rampersaud expressed thanks to the Guyana Beverage Company, especially General Manager Samuel Arjoon, for its cooperation and committed the club to organising a very successful event. Meanwhile, the Club’s Republic Summer Camp would also start on Monday at the Rose Hall Town Primary School.

The camp would involve about 90 students, preparing for entrance into secondary school. Foster noted that the Club had a target of 50 students, but the organisers received 40 extra applications from parents and

did not want to disappoint any person. The cricket teams of the club raised the extra funds to hire another teacher to accommodate another class. Students would be taught four subjects – Maths, Social Studies, English and Science while they would also be involved in several lectures on a wide range of topics including personal hygiene, public manners, peer pressure, how to choose friends, and suicide.

Like the cricket academy, outstanding students would receive prizes at the end of the four-week camp and every participant has 100 per cent attendance would receive a school bag and educational materials.

The two events have been organised by the cricket teams of the Club under the guidance of management. The teams are Poonai Pharmacy Under-13, Farfan and Mendes Ltd Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, Vitality Under-23, Namilco Under-21 and First Division teams.

World Athletics Championships: Fred Kerley wins men's 100m gold in US clean sweep of medals

F

red Kerley won his first individual World Championship title as he led an American clean sweep of the men's 100m medals on home soil.

The 27-year-old, who won Olympic silver last year, won in 9.86 seconds as Marvin Bracy edged out Trayvon Bromell for silver on reaction time in Eugene. It is the first time any nation has won all three medals in the world 100m since the United States in 1991.

"I know today opened up many doors for me," said Kerley. "The future is bright for me."

Former 400m runner Kerley only dropped down to the shorter sprint distance in 2021, having won 400m bronze and 4x400m relay gold in 2019. His silver-medal winning performance in Tokyo came on his major championship debut over 100m, and less than a year later, he is world champion.

On Friday, he set the fastest heat time ever recorded in World Championship history with his 9.79 second effort, but left it late in the final to dip over the line 0.02 seconds ahead of his compatriots.

The last US clean sweep of the 100m po-

The United States is hosting the World Athletics Championships for the first time

dium came 31 years ago and featured Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Dennis Mitchell in Tokyo. Lewis led the previous occurrence, alongside Calvin Smith and Emmit King, in Helsinki in 1983.

"It's amazing to be among the greats, they did it in 1991, we did in 2022," said Kerley. "This is history, to be part of something that has only happened three times ever just means the world to me."

Jamaica's Oblique Seville, the fastest qualifier for the final, was fourth while American defending champion Christian Coleman placed sixth in what was his first ma-

jor final after his whereabouts suspension. He received a two-year ban in 2020 after missing three drugs tests, meaning he could not compete at the Olympics.

The champion in Tokyo, Marcell Jacobs, earlier withdrew from the 100m before the semi-finals after experiencing tightness in his right thigh.

The Italian, a shock winner at the Olympics last year, has struggled with a thigh injury this year and finished second in his heat on Friday.

A statement by the Italian team doctor said Jacobs competing would "put muscle integrity at risk and lead to injury". "A

painful choice, I am forced to stop," Jacobs said on Twitter.

"I am a fighter and this is why I decided to be in Eugene. Now, in order not to compromise the rest of the season by risking a more serious injury, I have to postpone the challenge. I promise, I will do my best to make you dream!"

Earlier on day two of the championships, Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey held on to win gold in the women's 10,000m. Gidey, who won silver at the Doha worlds in 2019, led going into the final turn and narrowly held off her rivals in the kick for the line before finishing in 30 minutes

09.94 seconds. Kenya's Hellen Obiri (30:10.02) and Margaret Kipkemboi (30:10.07) were second and third respectively, while defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, was fourth in 30:10.56.

Poland's Pawel Fajdek won his fifth successive hammer title with a world-leading throw of 81.98m, while China's Wang Jianan took men's long jump gold with a jump of 8.36m on his last attempt.

Before Kerley's victory, Chase Ealey won the United States' first gold medal of the home championships in the women's shot put, a best throw of 20.49m earning her a first major title.

In the men's 110m hurdles, American Grant Holloway (13.14) was the fastest qualifier, but Daniel Roberts, who won the US trials and is the third-fastest man in the world this year, failed to advance from the first round after hitting a hurdle and falling while in the lead of his heat.

"I was really ready to go, maybe I got lazy with it," said Roberts. "It's really disappointing as I came here to win, not just to get a medal." (BBC Sport)

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

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23

Jason Holder returns as West Indies name ODI squad to face India C

ricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel on Sunday named the 13-player squad to face India in the three-match CG United One-Day International (ODI) Series in Trinidad.

The teams will compete for the CG United trophy. The three matches will be played on Friday, July 22; Sunday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 27 at the historic Queen’s Park Oval. All matches start at 09:30h (8:30am Jamaica Time/7pm India time).

The Selection Panel recalled experienced allrounder Jason Holder, who returns to the squad after missing the Bangladesh series to help manage his workload as one of the West Indies all-format players.

Lead Selector, Dr Desmond Haynes said: “As we all know Jason is one of the leading all-round cricketers in the world and we’re happy to have him back in the team. He will be refreshed, re-energised and ready to go and we can expect to see his brilliance on the field as well as meaningful contributions off the field as well.”

Haynes added: “We had a very challenging three matches against Bangladesh in Guyana, so we will be looking to rebound when we face India in the conditions

ESPN Caribbean and listen to live radio commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. For the first time, fans in India will be able to watch India against the West Indies on FanCode, India’s premier digital sports destination for all fans.

Jason Holder is back after his rest

in Trinidad. We have seen some growth among some players, but overall we need to regroup and play better against the Indians.”

Fans can purchase their tickets at tickets. windiestickets.com or via www.windiescricket.com/ tickets avoiding the need to queue or travel and to choose their preferred seat.

The Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard, provides advance tickets for every West Indies home fixture, delivering tickets securely and directly to fans’ ticket accounts to store on their mobile devices or to print out for entry into the

stadium.

Fans can also purchase tickets from box offices at Queen’s Park Oval and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) headquarters at the National Cricket Centre, Couva from 10:00h to 16:00h daily (excluding Sunday, July 17) leading up to each match day. Stadium box offices will open two hours before the match start time on each match day.

For all matches, adults can purchase half-price tickets for children under the age of 16 and seniors can also benefit from halfprice tickets too.

Fans can watch live on

Team Guyana win junior CASA

T

Guyana’s Shomari Wiltshire in action

eam Guyana emerged victors of the Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) on Saturday afternoon at the Georgetown Club Courts.

The Guyanese regained the title after claiming 20 points, finishing ahead of Barbados who finished with 16 points and Trinidad and Tobago who secured 10 points.

Bermuda (10 points), Jamaica (eight points), Cayman Islands (seven points), and British Virgin Islands (three points) rounded off the table.

Team Captain Abosaide Cadogan led the way batting an injury, coming from behind to win 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-6.

Girls’ Under-19 silver medallist Kirsten Gomes won 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 14-12 against Mia Todd. For the Guyanese boys, Shomari Wiltshire dispatched Barbados’s top player, and the tournament’s number two seed, Darien Benn 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, Caribbean Under-17 Champion, Nicholas Verwey defeated Alex Stewart 11-9, 11-9,

11-8. Likewise did Shiloh Asregado and Samuel InceCarvalhal.

In the individual segment, Guyana won three gold medals compliments of Wiltshire, Verwey and Avery Arjoon, and Guyana finished with 12 medals, seven more than second-place Trinidad and Tobago.

The 2023 Junior CASA is likely to be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines or the Cayman Islands, while this year’s Senior CASA will be staged in Jamaica next month.

Full squad Nicholas Pooran (Captain); Shai Hope (Vice Captain); Shamarh Brooks; Keacy Carty; Jason Holder; Akeal Hosein; Alzarri Joseph; Brandon King; Kyle Mayers; Gudakesh Motie; Keemo Paul; Rovman Powell and Jayden Seales.

Reserves: Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr. FULL MATCH SCHEDULE CG United ODIs start at 9:30am (8:30am

West Indies will be led by Nicholas Pooran, while India will be without Rohit Sharma for the ODIs

Jamaica/7pm India) 22 July: 1st CG United ODI – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad 24 July: 2nd CG United ODI – Queen’s Park Oval 27 July: 3rd CG United ODI – Queen’s Park Oval T20Is start at 10:30am (9:30am Jamaica/8pm India) 29 July: 1st T20I – Brian

Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad 1 August: 2nd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts 2 August: 3rd T20I – Warner Park 6 August: 4th T20I – Broward County Stadium, Florida 7 August: 5th T20I – Broward County Stadium

“These pitches are frustrating us” – Pooran after West Indies' 3-0 loss to Bangladesh …Tamim Iqbal also said the pitches were "worse than Mirpur", which is known for its slow and low surfaces

W

est Indies whiteball Captain Nicholas Pooran has criticised the pitches used for the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Bangladesh in Guyana, after the home side lost the series 3-0.

The subcontinent-style surfaces at the Providence Stadium put a lot of emphasis on the toss. Bangladesh called correctly in all three games, and won by chasing low totals.

Pooran's opposite number, Tamim Iqbal, also said the pitches were "worse than Mirpur", in reference to the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which is known for slow and low surfaces that offer turn.

"These pitches are not helping us," Pooran said. "The most it is doing is frustrating us as a group. It doesn't matter who we brought into the team, we will struggle on wickets like this. Tamim Iqbal got Man of the Series for scoring 110 [117] runs. We do know that every time we got good batting pitches in the Caribbean, we as a batting unit have been doing well.

Not only batting wickets, but better cricket pitches.

"Nine-thirty start is always challenging… a lot of moisture in the wicket. That had been the biggest challenge for us.

The toss hasn't gone in our favour in the last six ODIs in the Caribbean, and we lost all six [five]. I believe that the toss played a big role."

Despite the pitches, West Indies have looked lost as a batting unit of late. In the rain-affected first One-Day International (ODI), they lasted the allocated 41 overs thanks to an unbeaten 39run stand for the 10th wicket between Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales. In the

West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran

other two games, they were bowled out for 108 and 178 respectively. Before this, in Pakistan, they were bowled out for 216 and 155 in consecutive ODIs. In February, Kieron Pollard, who was West Indies' white-ball Captain at the time, had talked about trying to bat the full 50 overs. Pooran also reiterated the same goal.

"As a batting group, [we have to] try to bat 50 overs," Pooran said. "It is the game plan for us. We weren't looking at any target, to be honest. We tried to assess the wicket as fast as possible.

Our goal was to bat 50 overs, but we fell short by one over today [in the third ODI]."

West Indies were also at a disadvantage, because Keemo Paul could not bowl owing to a hamstring injury, while Rovman Powell also pulled up with a side strain.

"I definitely felt that we had a really good chance," Pooran said. "We knew the wicket would get better as well. But losing Keemo Paul was big for us, especially since his skills were key in Providence. We were one bowler short. I had to bowl seven overs, which made it

very difficult."

Pooran was one of two bright spots for West Indies in the third ODI, having made 73 off 109 balls, but felt that he should have stuck around for longer. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who took a four-wicket haul, was another positive for West Indies.

"If that half-century helped us win the game, then definitely... I know I have to improve my batting, and as a team, we have a lot of work to do. I played well today, but I left 20-30 runs out there. It was vital for the team. If we got those runs, maybe we would have won the game today. "[Motie] has been tremendous in the entire series, not just today's game.

It was his debut series in front of his home crowd. He was consistent, something that we have been asking of the spinners for a long time.

I am just happy that he took his opportunity with both hands."

West Indies' next assignment begins in less than a week's time. They will host India for three ODIs and five T20Is starting July 22.

(ESPNcricinfo)

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022

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