Guyana Times - Monday July 26, 2021

Protecting forests from climate change P17

We look forward to receiving Guyana’s submission – US State Dept spokesperson Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4720

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

$400M to be distributed as “Because We Care” initiative kicks off in Reg 3 ...parents, guardians need financial support during pandemic – Education Minister Page 13

Int’l firms dominate bids to audit Exxon’s cost oil claims − Guyanese firm among 5 vying for contract

Page 3

Floodwater levels in Kwakwani fluctuating

Page 9

− residents of Lamp Island contemplate relocating

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Local EITI finalises civic nominees for multi- P7 stakeholder group

− names sent to Natural Resources Minister for approval

Govt pumps $30M into Wismar, P14 Mackenzie waterfront enhancement projects

GPL monitoring Vreed-en-Hoop plant after emergency shutdown P12

71-year-old Kitty man injured in hit and run P11

Uitvlugt man 4 more die killed after from COVID, UG student 60 new crashes car cases reported through fence − 1041 active cases being monitored Page 7

Page 11

The death P8 penalty is a lawful sentence – DPP tells CoA Guyana to craft National Drowning P12 Prevention Plan − proposes to bring awareness on preventative measures

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MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, July 26 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, July 27 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, July 26 – 05:40h – 07:10h and Tuesday, July 27 – 06:25h – 07:55h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Easterly to Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 18:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 11:57h reaching a minimum height of 0.56 metre.

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

04 05 08 11 12 25

FREE TICKET

21 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04 07 09 11 22 LUCKY 3

4

9

1

5

Afternoon Draw

9

3

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

06 08 09 13 15 16 19 SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021

03 05 11 16 17 13

05 14 15 20 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$74.10/barrel

Rough Rice

$244.40 /ton

-0.13

London Sugar

$457.70/ton

+0.00

Live Spot Gold

+0.42

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1799.00

$1800.00

Low/High Change

$1798.30 -3.20

$1803.80 -0.18%

Int’l firms dominate bids to audit Exxon’s cost oil claims – Guyanese firm among 5 vying for contract I

nternational firms have dominated bids to audit oil giant ExxonMobil’s cost oil claims for oil production in Guyana. This was evident when the tender documents were opened last week at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in the Ministry of Finance.

Based on the bids that were opened, four international audit firms submitted bids for the project - Bayphase Limited of the United Kingdom (UK), Rosa Correia and Associates of Portugal in partnership with Swale House Partners of the United States and Squire Pat, Gaffney Cline and Associates Incorporated of the UK and Calendar Law Firm.

Eclisar Financial and Professional Services, the fifth firm that submitted a bid, is a local company that was established in 2012 and was founded by Managing Director Azzar Haniff. All companies vying for the contract submitted financial proposals.

In the case of Bayphase, the British company has experience working in Guyana. Under the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, the Energy Department contracted Bayphase to conduct a review of Exxon’s Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Payara oil development in December of 2019.

The review was completed but approval of the FDP was delayed in the wake of the controversies that followed the March 2, 2020 elections. It wasn’t until after the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) entered office last year that action could be taken.

A team of consultants led by former Alberta Premier Allison Redford had conducted a review of Bayphase’s work, at the end of which Government granted approval of the FDP. Exxon is currently conducting developmental works on Payara, which will be its third development in Guyana’s waters.

The work that the eventual contractor will do to audit Exxon’s cost oil claims will be critical to ensuring that Guyana does not lose out on millions in oil revenues. Back in February, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that Government is gearing up to facilitate an audit into Exxon’s cost oil claims covering the period of 2017 and 2020.

There is a pre contract cost of US$460.2 mil-

The cost oil audit will be critical for ensuring Guyana does not lose out on millions in oil revenues

lion that is referenced in Annex C of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with Exxon.

According to the contract, the pre-contract cost “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty-seven hundred thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars in respect of all such costs incurred under the 1999 Petroleum Agreement prior to the year ended 2015.”

There is an additional sum of approximately US$400 million from 2016 to 2017, which it is believed will also come under the rubric of cost oil. The former

Government has received much criticism for agreeing to these costs without an audit being done.

The former Government had contracted a company, British consultancy firm IHS Markit, at a cost of US$300,000 ($62.6 million) in 2019. The contract had to be extended in May of 2020 without cost, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time, former Energy Department Head, Dr Mark Bynoe had said that this was due primarily to flight restrictions.

IHS Markit is the product of a 2016 merger between two companies, United States (US)-based

IHS and London-based Markit. Its data and information services business caters to industries such as automotive, energy, financial services, defence and maritime.

The company is no stranger to Guyana’s oil sector, having published a number of write-ups and analyses on Guyana’s efforts to develop its capacity. This includes “Guyana’s deepwater areas will remain competitive, despite changes to fiscal terms (IHS Markit, 2018)” and “How activity in the Guyana mini basin is booming with five exciting discoveries since 2015 (IHS Markit, 2017)”.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

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

Trouble in South Africa T

his month, we have been transfixed by the brutal assassination of our fellow Caricom member Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse, in the wake of widespread gangrelated political violence. But over in South Africa, a modern symbol of hopeful decolonisation to Haiti’s inaugural attempt in 1804, even more widespread mayhem has broken out. Over 200 malls, thousands of shops and warehouses were burnt and looted, adding to the joblessness that already exceeds 40 per cent in the affected areas. Three hundred and thirty-seven persons were killed, with economic damage exceeding US$3 billion and resulting widespread food shortages. What is going on?

The transition from an apartheid state to a democratic one in South Africa in 1994 was greeted across the world with great satisfaction and hope. As a fellow member of the Commonwealth, sharing a unique common Dutch-British colonial heritage, our fractured Guyanese political elite was uniformly prominent in their support for apartheid’s end. An annual monetary contribution and support for the WI boycott of the all-White South African cricket team were only two examples.

The intensely racially-fractured society and its transition to democracy was hopefully also of interest to our leadership of what it may take to create institutions that would enable a plural society to function peacefully but with justice for all its peoples. While in Guyana our “land of six peoples” might have arrived sequentially and been geographically separated by the colonial government, in South Africa the policy of discrimination, segregation and racism was gradually made the official policy for almost a hundred years. The scars had to have been inscribed much deeper in their national psyche.

As in Guyana, the land was seized from the Indigenous People (Black Africans in this case) who had lived a pastoral life as several tribes, such as the Zulus and Xhosas but were pushed off their land by the Dutch and then the British in several battles. They were then sequestered in barren “Bantustans”. As in Guyana, Indians were also brought in as indentured servants to work in the sugar plantations because the Europeans complained that the Indigenous Africans were not “reliable”. In Guyana, the same excuse was offered in reference to the newlyfreed Africans, who had been enslaved for centuries. Also, as in Guyana, there was a large number of “Coloureds” who were the offspring of White men and African women.

During the apartheid regime, which officially started in 1948, the Whites expropriated over 70 per cent of the farmlands; the gold and diamond mines and almost all large industries, banks and manufacturing businesses. After Indentureship three-quarter of the 152,000 Indian indentured labourers had remained in South Africa where they had increased to some 1.3 million but yet just 2.5 per cent of the 55 million South African population. Africans were 76.4 per cent, Whites 9.1 per cent and Coloureds 8.9 per cent. These categories were officially defined and maintained during apartheid, with Whites at the top of political, economic, cultural and social hierarchies.

By and large, in 1994, South Africa was one of the most unequal societies in the world with the vast majority of Black Africans living in grinding poverty. After their Indentureship, as in Guyana, the Indians had moved on to petty farming and running small shops and other service businesses. During apartheid, however, even though they also were forcibly transferred to their “group areas”, they developed their own schools, etc, and were able to secure employment as the economy industrialised during the 1960s and 1970s.

It was not surprising that in 1994, the Black African majority expected their deprivation would be addressed: that was the explicit promise of President Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC). Unfortunately, the plot was lost along the way and the ANC, exemplified by the State looting of exPresident Jacob Zuma, fell prey to corruption. The latter’s jailing might be the occasion for the violence, but not the cause. This lies in the various factions of the ANC vying to control the State to continue their looting.

In the meantime, groups like the Indian minority are being made scapegoats for the disposed Black frustration and betrayal.

The full moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York City: Raging wildfires in the US northwest and southwestern Canada cast an orange tint on July’s full moon as smoke from multiple blazes gusted toward the east (Reuters)

Space travel for the masses? …space ‘tourism’ as performed by a pair of billionaires is, for now, merely an overpriced joyride for the ultra-rich

By Johnny Luk

E

arlier this month, the British billionaire entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, successfully flew to outer space, trailblazing his brand, Virgin Galactic, to the edge of the outer hemisphere. This week, his fellow billionaire, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, took his own Blue Origin spacecraft for a spin to the outer limits, managing to get a whole 10 miles (16km) higher than Sir Richard.

The journeys were heralded as marking a new era of “space tourism”, in which untrained people could become astronauts, a title previously reserved for highly trained professional scientists and pilots, to see the earth’s curvature and enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness. Perfect for that viral Instagram photo for one’s millions of followers.

But could the idea of space tourism really become anything more than just an overpriced joyride for the rich?

The idea of travelling into space has fascinated human beings for millennia.

Humanity has looked to the stars as a tool for navigation and as a source of spiritual fulfilment. Even now, research from the US think-tank, the Pew Research Center, suggests 29 percent of Americans believe in horoscopes.

In the 20th Century, as scientific discovery advanced, space travel became a symbol of political and ideological prestige, with the superpowers of that era, the US and the former Soviet Union, battling it out for space supremacy.

Both sides poured billions of dollars into a series of space programmes that created new rockets, satellites and most famously, led to humans touching the surface of the moon. It also spun a range of inventions that were commercialised for wider use, such as scratch-resistant lenses for glasses, memory foam and LASIK eye surgery.

These days, with the Cold War long over, political pressure to push forward state-funded space programmes has diminished, with governments even more reluctant to spend after the global financial crisis crippled government budgets in 2007. Thus, a gap has emerged for the private sector to step into.

For Branson, this month’s venture was the culmination of a long-held dream to embark on space tourism, having first promised to build a spaceship in 2004, with the hope of starting a commercial service by 2007. The programme faced years of delays due to, unsurprisingly, having to battle huge technical challenges, including a fatal crash during a development flight in 2014. The current pandemic has made it harder too, having forced Branson to sell $650m worth of Virgin Galactic shares over the past two years to shore up his wider Virgin business empire.

Yet despite delays, Virgin Galactic suc-

ceeded in its quest and has pushed space science forwards as a consequence. It developed a unique flight path, with a “mothership” carrying the main vehicle, VSS Unity, up 15 kilometres (9 miles) in the air before Unity was released and then activated its rockets to fly an additional 70km (43 miles) above the surface of the earth, to reach the edge of space.

Unity then re-entered earth’s atmosphere with rotating wings – a technology known as feathering – to smoothly glide back down to earth without the need for a parachute. This meant no parts needed to be discarded, making it fully reusable, with the plane landing at the same location at Spaceport America in New Mexico, US, making it hassle-free for space tourists to get on and off, just like on a commercial flight.

Similarly, Bezos’s Blue Origin, which flew higher than its arch-rival Virgin Galactic, also utilises advanced science with a fully automated two-part rocket system, requiring no pilots at all. The launcher, which houses the rocket engine and propellant, separates after launch, flying back by itself to return to the launch pad, while the top part of the craft – the crew capsule – safely lands using parachutes. It is also equipped with a crew ejection system for added safety if any part of the launch goes wrong. Thankfully, there was no need for that on this occasion.

Both companies, after years of research and development and sustaining losses, are now finally poised to make money, with a reported 8000 individuals already reserving tickets for Virgin Galactic flights, costing at least US$250,000 each. Tickets to fly on Blue Origin are speculated to be priced at similar levels. Some 7600 people with a lot of spare cash had registered for the auction of tickets for this week’s flight, with the winner paying US$28 million, suggesting there will be strong demand too, at least from the ultra-rich. Indeed, analysts at the investment bank, Bank of America estimate the total value of the space industry will balloon from US$350 billion to as much as US$2.7 trillion by 2040.

However, before we get too excited, we must call this out for what it is. This is an entertainment business for the super-rich, backed by a formidable PR operation.

Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are suborbital space vehicles. They do not yet fly high enough to orbit earth and are therefore in a wholly different category to – say, NASA or SpaceX – founded by another very successful billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk – which has become NASA’s preferred launch vehicle, able to resupply the International Space Station or deploy new satellites.

The new space tourist companies are marketing these joy rides as “bringing space to the masses”. It is true that, before this, if you wanted to fly as a space tourist, you had to broker with the Russians to pay for a seat on the Soviet-era Soyuz class spacecraft for

a cool US$25 million, as seven people did between 2001 and 2009.

But ticket prices for Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin flights will still be sky-high, which makes the claim absurd. There is no doubt that seeing the earth’s curvature could be a life-changing experience, but who are we really inspiring here? Emerging scientists or the children of the billionaire set?

Meanwhile, despite these new crafts being relatively energy-efficient compared with older space rockets, they still burn tonnes of fuel to go up and down through the atmosphere – hardly in the spirit of tackling climate change.

Perhaps it does not matter. After all, compared with state-funded programmes, private companies have the political cover of not – overtly – spending taxpayers’ money.

Private space companies are following market forces, competing against each other in a new market. The ego contest has also begun, with Bezos taunting Branson that his ship can fly higher.

This is good. Competition drives creativity, efficiencies and the development of new safety procedures, given that a launch failure would cause fatal loss of confidence for prospective customers. Having highly driven, charismatic entrepreneurs being the face of private space companies also gives it a sexiness that has galvanised the entire space sector.

While it is a bit cringe-worthy that rich people can now call themselves “astronauts”, no doubt raising eyebrows among professionally trained, actual astronauts, we should not underestimate the science behind flying people safely under such hostile environments.

Normalising space travel could provide opportunities. With Virgin Galactic aspiring to near-daily flights in the future, these suborbital journeys will provide a new platform for science, for example by providing a relatively accessible way to carry out testing in micro-gravity environments. Blue Origin is also developing larger rockets, dubbed New Glen, which aspires to compete with SpaceX on longer distance space flights and Blue Moon, to create lunar landers in partnership with NASA. Cynics may despair at the waste of money, given there are so many other pressing issues to deal with down here on planet earth, such as human poverty. Yet perhaps space travel is a way of capturing the imagination and acting as a symbol of human advancement. Perhaps, as refinements continue and economies of scale further reduce costs, space flight might indeed become accessible to everyone, with space flights changing how people view our precious earth and provide a new way to advance science that leads to new inventions that benefit all of humanity. One can only wonder. (Excerpted from Al Jazeera)

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Agatash gets paved road, nursery school for Dagg Point

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ocal Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall on Saturday visited several project sites in Bartica as part of the Government’s commitment to improve people’s lives and the communities countrywide.

According to a Department of Public Information report, the Local Government Minister first visited the road construction project at Agatash, an Amerindian village a few kilometres away from Bartica.

Minister Dharamlall told DPI that this is the first time that an asphalt road is being constructed in the village of some 1500 residents.

“Previous to this road being here, everything was dusty; basically, a track for people to traverse. This is the commitment, like I said, that His Excellency Dr Mohamed

The nursery school being constructed at Dagg Point

Irfaan Ali has made; every street, we are now going to convert into asphaltic concrete. The asphaltic concrete makes movement much more possible,” the Minister said.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Seven, Kerwin Ward pointed out

that road upgrades are underway throughout Bartica.

He added that many residents, especially those in Agatash, welcome the infrastructural upgrades.

Meanwhile, Minister Dharamlall also visited the site where the Dagg Point

A double drum machine flattening the asphalt on the Agatash Road

Nursery School is being constructed. The Minister told DPI that following consultations with the residents, the Government budgeted for the $29 million school, which is the first to be built in the village. He indicated that the school will accommodate

64 children and is slated for completion in November.

“A lot more resources are going to be retained in the village. The safety and security of the children would be enhanced by them remaining close in the village and at home,” Minister Dharamlall

said.

Constituency representative, Shevon John expressed her appreciation and excitement for the new school. She pointed out that now that a school will be located within Dagg Point, parents and children will not have to struggle to get transportation to go to school in central Bartica.

“A big expense will be lifted off of the parents,” John noted.

During Minister Dharamlall’s one-day visit to Bartica, he also met contractors who are spearheading projects in Region Seven.

At that meeting, the Minister and contractors discussed some of the challenges they face; how best the projects could be implemented and what support the Government could provide for their successful completion.

There are more questions than answers at City Hall Dear Editor, I find it most perplexing as a rate-paying and law-abiding citizen of Georgetown as to how the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Georgetown are allowed to get away with completely ignoring, and honouring in the breach so many laws of this country whilst thumbing their noses at the authorities and citizens, doing so, for such a long time.

For years now, the relevant authorities including the Local Government Commission have been requesting that the Georgetown Municipality provide them with their asset register, for which they have obdurately refused to provide. Why is this? Do they no longer have any assets to which they could create a register? Is everything gone? My question would be, what are the relevant officers/departments who are responsible for the preparation of such a document doing? The Council has a full Internal Audit Department chock full with highly paid officers. Is it not their job to create this register and prepare the Council’s accounts for external auditing?

But they do no such thing. In fact, one has to wonder what they do. And what about the City Treasurer’s Department, why are they not participating in the creation of an asset

register? So why is no one at the Council being sanctioned for the absence of something as important as an asset register all this while?

Year after year the Georgetown Municipality has been deducting from their nearly one thousand strong workforce, pay as you earn (PAYE) taxes but fail to remit them in a timely manner, the same with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions resulting in hundreds of employees being denied medical benefits. They deduct Credit Union dues and loan repayments and do not remit them, resulting in employees being penalised.

Why are the relevant authorities not taking stern action against the Council for such dreadful neglect? Had this been a private entity they would have been hauled before the courts and sanctioned.

Former employees have to wait for years to receive the pensions and gratuities which they worked hard and long for and to which they are entitled whilst current employees, particularly those new sinecures, are drawing down their super salaries without having to stir their stumps as they say. Could this be fair and just?

I would like to know how the National Trust of Guyana, the Guyana

Historical Society, the tourism bodies etc could have remained quiet and allowed the Georgetown Municipality to sit idly by whilst the world-famous heritage building “The City Hall’ deteriorated to the state it is in today. It is culturally barbaric; it is reckless and it is unacceptable that for decades Councillors and Administrators of the city just occupied the building without expending a cent on repairs or maintenance of this nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building. And no one has been sanctioned, instead

they are being rewarded with Central Government picking up the tab for what will be needed to save the building from collapsing.

There are so many things the citizens shall never understand, such as the illegal parking meter fiasco that just slowly died away without anyone being sanctioned, the inhumane slaughtering of animals when someone made a mess of purchasing captive bolt pistols, the collapse of the Stabroek Market wharf which to date remains a death trap, the

continuation of engaging expensive garbage contractors instead of the city purchasing its own refuse trucks and the city going back to refuse collection itself, the continued poor sanitation of the wet municipal markets around the city that are rat infested, hardly cleaned, poorly lit and whose customers are prone to robberies, the closure of the day care centres without good reason or proper notice brought much hardship on many working mothers in the city, the abdication of the City Constabulary to provide service and protection in the

city, the transformation of the Le Repentir Cemetery into a jungle and wildlife reserve and the creation of a monstrosity between Church Street and North Road close to Vlissengen Road referred to as a ‘Presidential Park’.

How is the City Council in the midst of a pandemic allowed to have heaps of garbage around the city, particularly near to municipal markets?

There are more questions than answers at City Hall.

Sincerely, Magagula Jackson

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MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Friday’s answers

Writing prompt:

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our teacher has just marked your English test paper and marked the word spelt “skulduggery” as incorrect. Write a letter to your teacher, providing evidence that you had spelt the word correctly.

By Linda Sue Park

For someone to read a poem again, and again, and then, having lifted it from page to brain—the easy part— cradle it on the longer trek from brain all the way to heart.

WORD SEARCH

7 Local EITI finalises civic nominees for multi-stakeholder group NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– names sent to Natural Resources Minister for approval

T

he Guyana Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) has completed the selection process for the civic component of its MultiStakeholder Group (MSG), paving the way for the body to be reconstituted.

According to a release, eight persons have been selected for the group, which will have a number of important responsibilities including overseeing the work of the GYEITI. Two of them were selected by the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and six by a selection panel that included senior staff from the University of Guyana, the public service and local and international civil society.

The eight candidates emerging are NTC Chairman Nicholas Fredericks, Gomin Camacho, Larry Carryl, Kerry-Anne Cort, Dianna Khan, Vanda Radzik, Sharmain Rambajue and Mike McCormack of the Human Rights Association.

According to the statement, the panel arrived at final decisions through a

process of individual scoring using a weighted score sheet. The score sheet criteria include scores related to candidates’ good standing and technical criteria, with a final score reflecting the candidates’ likely ability to make a positive contribution to the GYEITI. “During the interviews, other questions were asked which explored the candidates’ understanding, capabilities, vision for the GYEITI, sense of purpose and other such factors. In each category, the average of the individual scores was taken. A minimum score of 80 per cent of the total points was established to qualify a candidate for selection to the GYEITI. The final decisions reflect the belief of the entire panel.”

The panel also presented a report containing recommendations to the Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), the body charged with the selection process. It was explained that in a follow-up meeting the final designation of representatives and alternates will be mutually agreed on as the first step in developing a team ap-

Vanda Radzik

proach.

It was further explained that the names will be forwarded to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who has the responsibility for convening the first meeting of the new multi stakeholder group.

“With respect to the selection process, advertisements were placed in the national media and over fifty individual organisations targeted directly.

Written requirements included a personal letter, an application form, three letters of support from civic organisations and a short comment on the GYEITI

second Report.”

“All this material was sent directly to an email address under the control of the selection panel.

Interviews, lasting approximately half of an hour, were conducted by the panel over a three days period in late July,” the release explained.

The panel’s Report also commented in general on candidates. “We found all of the candidates to be well-informed people with a deep concern for Guyana’s development and deep interest in public and civic matters. Each had a good track record of work in major Guyanese institutions over a number of years. Six of them are currently engaged in working with public-interest groups. All the candidates were very aware of the GYEITI, and with one exception, all had a sound understanding of its scope, purpose and goals.”

Meanwhile, a number of recommendations were made by the selection panel. These recommendations include the MSG establishing a contact group of per-

NTC Chairman Nicholas Fredericks

sons that would enable the MSG to benefit from an extended range of expertise.

Additionally, it was recommended that the GYEITI develop links with other EITIs around the world to share ideas and work towards establishing best practices. And while GTEITI reports serve their purpose, it was noted that there should be a more popular version of the report.

The EITI is a global standard to promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas, and mineral resources. Under the EITI standard, com-

panies in the extractive sector publish what they pay to Governments, and Governments publish what they receive in an annual EITI country report.

In many countries, most of the revenues from natural resources accrued at subnational levels are not derived from company payments to Local Government entities, but from transfers to the Central Government.

Depending on the revenue distribution frameworks in place, these transfers can be a considerably larger source of revenue for subnational entities than taxes and fees collected at local levels.

The revised EITI standard requires that such transfers are reported.

Where companies are legally or contractually required to make social contributions, these must be disclosed, under EITI standards. Where countries collect significant revenues from the transportation of oil, gas and minerals, such as pipelines, the Government will also be required to disclose the revenues received.

4 more die from COVID, 60 new cases reported – 1041 active cases being monitored

T

he Health Ministry on Sunday reported that four more persons who tested positive for COVID-19 have succumbed, thus taking Guyana’s death toll to 527.

The fatalities include a 64-year-old man and a 57-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); an 86-year-old male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and a 76-year-old female from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

On Saturday, the country saw an increase of five deaths – all of which were from Region Four. In July, there have been 49 reported fatalities.

New statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 60 new cases were recorded in a 24-hour period.

The total confirmed cases in the country have now jumped to 22,150. There are 11 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 66 in institutional isolation, 964 in home isolation – a total of 1041 active cases. Three persons are being monitored in institutional quarantine.

Some 20,582 of the 10,810 males and 11,340 females that tested positive have since recovered.

Guyana has tested 218,306 persons since the virus

was detected here.

An analysis of new cases showed two from Region One (Barima-Waini), four in Region Two; eight in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 22 in Region Four; four in Five (Mahaica-Berbice), nine in Region Six and 11 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Cases remained the same in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

On Saturday, Government made a decision that non-Guyanese passengers travelling from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana, with the exception of children, should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed entry into the country.

The gazetted document, published as of July 23, 2021, was signed by Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill.

The World Health Organisation had recently said that the Delta and other variants of concern are driving some countries to reinstate strict public health social measures.

This issue, the WHO noted, is further worsening the social, economic and health impact, especial-

ly for the most vulnerable and marginalised people.

Vaccine inequity threatens all countries and risks reversing hard won progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the meanwhile, the Pan American Health Organisation pointed out that countries with a high vaccination rate across the Caribbean and Latin America are now witnessing a steady decline in the positive cases recorded, painting a positive outlook as they navigate through the current pandemic.

South American countries with higher rates of vaccinations, including Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina, are reporting sharp decreases in cases.

Cases are also decreasing across Canada and most of the United States.

But in Latin America and the Caribbean overall, only 15 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and some countries, including Honduras and Haiti, have yet to reach one per cent.

With its low vaccination rate, Honduras is seeing an increase in cases along its border. COVID-19 infections are increasing in most Central American countries, with Guatemala reporting high cases and

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 25 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

60

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

66

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

964

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

11

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

3

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,340

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,810

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

22,150

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

20,582

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

245,092 129,749

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

527

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1295

REGION 2

623

REGION 3

2512

REGION 4

9913

REGION 5

741

REGION 6

1848

REGION 7

1277

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

2034

REGION 10

1527

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

hospitalisations.

Authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand wash-

ing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until July 31, 2021.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms as-

sociated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 6246674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The death penalty is a lawful sentence – DPP tells CoA

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

D

espite strong arguments by several lawyers that the death sentence is unconstitutional and should be abolished, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, has asserted that the death penalty is a lawful punishment as it is provided for under the Constitution of Guyana. The DPP was last Thursday making submissions before the Guyana Court of Appeal in a case challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty that has been mounted by three death row inmates.

The case was filed by three former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard ranks – Sherwyn Harte, Devon Gordon, and Deon Greenidge – who were each sentenced to death in 2013 for murder. A jury had found them guilty of the 2009 murder of Bartica gold miner Dwieve Kant

Ramdass, who was robbed at Caiman Hole, Essequibo River, and then tossed overboard. Following their conviction, the trio filed an appeal against their conviction and death sentence – a penalty which they argue is unconstitutional.

This is the first time in the Commonwealth Caribbean that lawyers have moved to challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty. In the landmark case before the appellate court, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes, on behalf of the former GDF ranks, are arguing that the

was imposed on Greenidge, Gordon, and Harte. “The Judge at the time of the imposition of the sentence imposed a lawful sentence because that was the sentence that was applicable at the time of the commission of the offence. And based on the principle of nonretroactivity, the Judge could not have imposed any other sentence,” argued Ali-Hack.

Before the amendments to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act in 2010, anyone convicted of murder was liable to suffer death.

As the law stands presently, a Judge has the discretion to impose the death

Changing…

“C

Dead: Dwieve Kant Ramdass

Act and constitutional pursuant to Article 138 of the Constitution. She submit-

On death row: Sherwyn Harte, Devon Gordon, and Deon Greenidge

punishment of death is unconstitutional as it is arbitrary, irrational, disproportionate, and contrary to the principles of the rule of law.

The DPP, in her address to the court, said the death penalty was a lawful sentence at the time it

sentence, which is specified for certain categories of murder, imprisonment for life, or such other term the court considers appropriate.

According to the DPP, the death sentence is lawful based on Section 100 of the Criminal Law (Offences)

ted, “Article 138 (1) provides for the death sentence; the death sentence is lawful sentence. It is constitutional and it can be imposed in the circumstances as provided for in the legislation.”

Ali-Hack argued that the death sentence is discretionary, and is reserved for certain categories of murder under Section 100 (1) a-e of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. The ultimate penalty of death must be reserved for exceptionally serious offences or the rarest of the rare cases, said the DPP, adding that this approach involves a strong presumption in favour of life.

While the rarest of the rare principle has not been specifically adopted by Guyana, Ali-Hack told the court that one must note that Judges can only exercise their discretion in imposing the death penalty when criteria set out in Section 100 (1) a – e of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act ais met.

“The mere fact that an accused person has killed another in circumstances pursuant to Section 100 (1) a-e of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act does not mean that death is the appropriate sentence,” she added. The Court of Appeal has set aside October 20 and 21 to hear further submissions in this matter.

…the Constitution onstitutionalism” declares there must be explicit rules governing the distribution of power in a society and these become the supreme law of the land. The democratic imperative of the “rule of law” is about EVERYONE being governed under the Constitution. Now it should be obvious that no constitution can cover all the contingencies that’ll confront a nation as it evolves historically. Even after creative Judges eke out decisions by bending and stretching extant rules!! And that’s where “constitutional amendments” come into play: the Constitution itself describes how it may be altered.

After 200+ years, the USA’s first written constitution is still going strong…but their amendments have become more famous than the original! Who hasn’t heard about their “First Amendment right to free speech”? Anyhow, after the rigmarole the PNC put us through following the NCM and the March 2020 elections by stomping all over the Constitution, lots of folks are insisting on a new round of “Constitutional Change”. Who can forget the prior round between 1999 and 2000 after the PNC rioted in the streets and brought the PPP Government to its knees?

And THAT should be an object lesson to us. At that time, the PNC kvetched that the powers of the President were “too extensive” and they, the Opposition, didn’t have enough. This was quite rich seeing that the said powers were created specifically by and for Burnham in the entirely NEW 1980 Constitution!! But we must ask one question: did those dozens of constitutional changes in 2000 help our political situation? And the answer is a resounding NO!! The violence continued till 2008 and is being threatened again!

And the point, Dear Reader, is you can have all the rules in the world – including constitutional rules – but if the leaders who’re expected to obey those rules refuse to do so – here the PNC – then why keep changing the rules? The Constitution isn’t necessarily the problem – it’s the PNC leaders! The proof is playing out even as we write. PNC leader David Granger’s being accused of violating the rules of his PARTY’s constitution and he in turn is accusing his Executive of doing the same!! If the PNC won’t even obey rules they made for themselves, can we expect them to obey rules made by a committee, including their bête noir, the PPP? Who’s kidding whom?? Now don’t get your Eyewitness wrong. He’s all for constitutional changes, per se. As he said, things change and rules have to be changed to deal with new dispensations. But we can’t be changing those rules every time the PNC stamp their feet. They must first demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law.

Like accepting the election results, unless it’s overturned by the Courts! …the energy mix When your Eyewitness saw the notice in the papers that the Govt is calling for bids to go ahead with the Amalia Falls Hydro Project (AFHEP), he remembered that old ditty which advised, “You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself.” Way back in the day, then President Jagdeo had made AFHEP the centrepiece of his revolutionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). He’d arranged the funding – with a still extant Norwegian chunk – a world-class contractor, a road to the site and a Power Purchase Agreement with GPL. So what happened to this 165MW project that was both green and necessary for our development? The PNC and AFC, that’s what! Having obtained a parliamentary majority at the 2011 elections, they threatened that if they were to get into office, they would cancel the project!! And, of course, the developer Sithe explained that this stance increased the political risks to the project to an insurmountable level and they quit.

Let’s get it on!! …the narrative The GTU’s now saying that Pres Ali announced schools will reopen in September come hell or high water (or a COVID-19 explosion). And they now say they won’t agree until “safety protocols” are agreed to?

Holding the Ministry hostage?

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Floodwater levels in Kwakwani fluctuating − residents of Lamp Island contemplate relocating A

s floodwater levels at Kwakwani in the Upper Berbice Region of Region 10 continue to fluctuate, some residents of Lamp Island who have been amongst the most affected are now contemplating to relocate to other areas.

This is according to Regional Councillor Elroy Adolph, who is tasked with compiling flood reports for the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on a regular basis. Assessing the situation recently, Adolph explained that the water level at Kwakwani had risen to approximately eight and a half feet and continues to fluctuate over time.

“It goes down and then it comes back up,” Adolph explained as he noted that res-

Regional Councillor Elroy Adolph

Sections of Kwakwani still under water

ity supply.

“The slightest issue that

One of the houses that were submerged by water

idents are hopeful that normalcy is restored to their lives.

“They’re eager for the water to go down...some start their cleaning and they had to stop because the water came up a little,” Adolph related.

Over at Lamp Island, however, the Councillor said floodwaters are still at a high level. The situation has gotten somewhat dangerous as it relates to electric-

they have and it is very dangerous...those in the Lamp Island area, they had to cut the current...but they want it to go on back because they have fridges and freezers... nobody can help them because (they’re afraid) somebody might get shock...people using their generator... that’s at their own risk but you can’t get water and current, that don’t mix at all,” Adolph pointed out.

The Councillor explained that some residents have ex-

pressed willingness to relocate, with some stating that they will do so when the water completely recedes.

The authorities have been pleading with residents to

relocate for years owing to the severity of flooding in the Lamp Island community, which consists of over 100 residents, with approximately 50 homes.

“We need Lands and Survey to come in to have a part over at the Jeep Landing...if they come and regularise...a few people said they would move...so if

they come and survey...they could put persons there. So those who want to move (can do so) because I understand this might be an ongoing thing...with the floods...because of global warming and so many things,” Adolph related.

TURN TO PAGE 16

10

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

11

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

71-year-old Kitty man Uitvlugt man killed after UG student crashes car through fence injured in hit and run

O

The car that was involved in the accident

ne man is dead while another is injured after a University of Guyana student lost control of the car he was driving at De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara

(WCD), on Saturday evening The dead man has been identified as Kenneth Smith, 54, of Ocean View Uitvlugt, WCD, while the injured man is 43-year-old

Rampaul Sursen, a carpenter of Tuschen New Scheme, EBE. Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 17:45h, motor pick-up bearing registration number GPP 8150 driven by 39-year-old Sahadeo Singh of Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was driving along the De Willem Public Road in a line of traffic when the driver alleged that he indicated that he was making a turn into Harry Kissoon Street.

In the process of doing so, the UG student who was driving PZZ 9052 lost control of his vehicle and collided with the motor pick-up before crashing into a fence and eventually colliding with the two men who were standing in the yard.

As a result of the collision, both men sustained injuries about their bodies. They were picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where both of them were attended to.

Dead: Kenneth Smith

Smith, however, succumbed while receiving treatment and Sursen was referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was admitted with a fractured left ankle and other injuries about his body.

The UG student, Tyree Li-A-Ping of Public Road, Hague, WCD, was arrested. A breathalyser test was conducted on both drivers but there were no traces of alcohol in their systems.

The body of the dead man is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem.

Investigation ongoing.

S

eventy-one-year-old Griffith Franklyn of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, is now nursing a broken right leg after he was reportedly struck down by a motor car along the Mon Repos Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in the wee hours of Sunday.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 00:20h, the now injured man was walking along the said road when a motor vehicle collided with him. As a result, he fell onto the road’s surface and received injuries about his body.

He was picked up in a conscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted to the facility with a broken right leg. The Police have launched an investigation.

On July 1, 39-year-old Rajendra Singh, a ramp attendant

attached to the Eugene F Correia International Airport, was killed in a hit-and-run accident along the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Railway Embankment, ECD. It was reported that Singh was riding his pedal cycle along the Railway Embankment when he was struck by an unknown motor vehicle. As a result of the impact, he fell onto the road’s surface and received injuries about his body.

He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted a patient with severe head injuries. He subsequently died while receiving medical attention.

At the time of the accident, Singh was reportedly wearing reflective gear, and his family members believe the person who struck him down had no excuse, because they believe the driver could have seen him.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana to craft National Drowning Prevention Plan − proposes to bring awareness on preventative measures

A

national programme is in the pipeline to spread awareness on preventative methods and actions to prevent drowning in Guyana.

Through the Health Ministry, the Chief Medical Officer has been instructed to prepare a National Drowning Prevention

Plan for Guyana - an initiative that will also extend to community groups and Non-Governmental Organisations.

This revelation was made on Sunday, as Guyana joins in the celebration of the United Nations World Drowning Prevention Day. “Drowning is prevent-

able and, therefore, is a worthy area of focus. Our goal is that the subsequent potential drowning death must not occur in Guyana…Recognising that drowning is a risk, the Ministry of Health this year embarks on a national programme to make people aware of prevention methods and actions to reduce and eliminate drowning in our country,” a statement said.

Among the list of measures to be undertaken are the installation of barriers to control access to water, providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children; teaching swimming and safe rescue skills; training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation; setting and enforcing safe boating and ferry regulations; and improving flood risk management.

As part of our prevention effort, the National Commission on the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases will start a television and social media campaign to highlight the danger of drowning and raise awareness of water risks.

“In particular, efforts will be made to provide teachers with information to make water safety education a part of the curriculum in Guyana.

The MOH urges all citizens to be careful when around large bodies of water, such as ponds, drains, canals, rivers and the seashore. Water, required for life, can also be deadly. Let us strive to end deaths by drowning. We can do this now rather than later.”

Although most Guyanese and citizens across the globe rarely think about drown-

ing prevention, more than 236,000 persons die annually due to drowning. This means that more than 650 people die each day from drowning, one every two minutes. It is also the third leading cause of unintentional injury death and accounts for seven per cent of all injury-related deaths in the world. The highest rate of drowning deaths occurs among children, one to four

years old, followed by children five to nine years old.

The release added, “Yet, drowning is an almost completely neglected health risk. Drowning is a preventable cause of death, yet too many people die each year from drowning, including Guyanese. The time has come for countries to highlight this risk and ensure more aggressive actions prevent drowning.”

GPL monitoring Vreed-en-Hoop plant after emergency shutdown

Vreed-en-Hoop power plant

T

he Guyana Power and Light is assessing its Vreed-en-Hoop power plant, West Coast Demerara, after it was taken offline following a generator complication on Saturday evening.

Detailing the incidents which unfolded, the utility company noted that at about 22:45h, one of its larger generating units (8.7 Megawatts) developed a lube oil leak on a turbocharger and had to be taken offline on an emergency basis. This is since there was a high risk of a fire.

An initial analysis suggested the rapid off-loading of the 8.7MW unit resulted in a significant frequency decline. Despite the intervention of other generators and under-frequency load-shedding scheme, the system collapsed.

“Remedial efforts to restore power commenced immediately. At approximately 22:50h the first circuit in Georgetown was repowered, with incremental restoration continuing in Georgetown and lower East Coast. All areas were repowered at approximately 00:33h,” GPL stated.

On Sunday, data gathering and analysis continued to identify the sequence of events as captured by the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

“Despite these challenges, our company remains committed to improving the reliability of service to our customers,” the statement ended. The shutdown had severely affected the Demerara-Berbice interconnecting circuits thus leaving half of the country in complete darkness for almost

two hours.

This did not go down well with the citizens who took to social media to vent their frustration. In most cases the Government was blamed from not putting the necessary infrastructure in place to alleviate the power woes that the country has been experience over the past months.

In addition, persons vented their concerns about security when there is a national shutdown. In fact, <<<Guyana Times>>> understands that several persons were robbed at a wedding in Kitty, Georgetown, by person who went to the bar under the pretext of purchasing alcohol. The Police have not released any information with respect to the robbery.

However, with the aim of putting an end to the frequent power failures, the Government is constructing a US$50 million power plant at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara, which will house the five Wartsila generators to add some 46.5MW power to the grid.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips had recently explained that GPL’s main issue is not power generation but the transmission and distribution system, which is undergoing daily repairs.

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

So, even if you have enough or adequate power to supply the whole Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), from time to time people suffer outages and many of those outages are

linked towards the repairs being done to the aged distribution system,” he was quoted as saying on a televised programme.

Nevertheless, with this 46MW capacity added to the system, some of these woes will be alleviated. In presenting the 2021 national budget, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had disclosed that electricity supply is estimated to have grown in 2020 by 1.2 per cent. With this figure slated to further increase this year, Government is pushing to expand its energy supply to Guyanese across the country with more reliable electricity at an affordable cost.

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

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

The plan is to have the pipeline land at the former Wales Sugar Estate which will now be transformed into the Wales Development Authority (WDA).

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

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

NEWS

13

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$400M to be distributed as “Because We Care” initiative kicks off in Reg 3 ...parents, guardians need financial support during pandemic – Education Minister

T

Education Minister Priya Manickchand in Region Three on Sunday

he Government’s “Because We Care” cash grant programme officially kicked off in Region Three on Sunday with close to $400 million to be distributed over a twoday period.

On Sunday a team led by Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited Wales Primary, Patentia and Endeavour Commons Secondary Schools.

In brief remarks, the Minister noted that the cash grant initiative was not a stunt by the Government.

“We are saying that every single child and you are going to be the living and walking proof that is what we did. No we did not do anything discriminatory and so the people who are trying to introduce that bit of ugliness into the programme, let’s rebuke them because it is not true and you are going to be walking around this community and country as living proof that it is not true.”

Manickchand said she is prepared to defend the grant and what it means to parents and guardians who need financial support to take care of their children during the pandemic and plan for the future.

“We plan to make your lives easier so you will see a Guyana that you will not recognise but we want to make sure that our people rise. We want to see your children do better than you

Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Several parents and guardians receiving their “Because We Care” cash grants

have ever done, be more than you could ever have been and we will put that in place because I know that parents are living their lives wishing better for their children,” the Education Minister said.

Meanwhile, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy visited the Goed Fortuin Primary School and West Demerara and Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary Schools.

He told the gathering that the “Because We Care” initiative is exactly how a Government should function in the interest of its people.

“We believe that the education and health of our people, and particularly our children must be at the cen-

tre of our development programme.

“So, this year, over $60 billion has been invested in the education sector and that shows this is a Government with a clear vision. And let me say that we don’t believe that whenever we give people money, it is a waste of money. We believe that every time we do cash transfers, whether it’s for education purposes for maternity purposes or because we need to respond to COVID… this money is worth it,” the advisor said.

Dr Ramsammy noted that the cash grants along with the online scholarships are more evidence of the Government’s commitment to education.

Meanwhile speaking with the Department of Public Information, Claudine Dawson, a mother of one, said the cash grant

will allow her to purchase an electronic tablet for her son.

“I feel so nice because he is now able to do his schoolwork on the internet and I feel grateful that the Government is looking out for the poor people,” she said.

Another parent, Tikram Ramsook, noted that he is grateful for the support since the pandemic has affected his work.

“COVID is a serious thing and work was very tough. We tried and struggle going through this as I am a carpenter so I have in and out work. I have been trying my best, so this is very good for one child to go to school because it will help a lot, or more rather, it can assist me in a very good way for my child,” he said.

Onicka Romney, another parent, shared the same

Father of one, Tikram Ramsook was grateful for the assistance

sentiments. “I would say that I am very much appreciative because this is a very good initiative, you know.

Knowing that there is a struggle and the times we are facing because of COVID-19 so I am very thankful to the Government.”

The distribution continues in Region Three today.

14 NEWS 700 people will work directly on gas-to-shore project – Exxon rep MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– company fully committed to growing Guyanese workforce

O

il giant ExxonMobil is eyeing the employment of 700 locals during the installation of the gas-to-shore pipeline, even as it reiterates its commitment to local content in Guyana and growing its local workforce.

According to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s (EEPGL) Public and Government Affairs Advisor Janelle Persaud, the 700 Guyanese the company estimates will be employed will also work on the construction aspect of the gas processing facilities.

“We estimate that approximately 700 people will work directly on the pipeline during installation and gas processing facilities construction,” she explained.

“ExxonMobil Guyana is committed to growing our Guyanese workforce, developing the local supplier base and working with our contractors on all of our projects to grow local content,” Persaud also said.

Exxon Advisor on public affairs Janelle Persaud

The installation will see Exxon laying approximately 220 kilometres of pipe from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to the gas plant which will be located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). Initially, however, the pipeline will land at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project says that the offshore pipeline installation phase of the project will employ approximately 300 workers at its peak.

However, it was explained that this is a preliminary

estimate that depends on construction/installation and support vessels.

The gas-to-shore project is a transformative project that will see gas from the Liza Field offshore Guyana being pumped onshore to generate power. The main objective of the initiative is to transport sufficient gas from the Stabroek Block’s petroleum operations to supply some 200250 megawatts of energy to the national grid, leading to a significant reduction in electricity costs.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had previously said the gas-to-shore pipeline would lead to “big industrial development taking place there that is linked to not only power generation and a power plant.”

He also said the investment on the Demerara River’s shoreside would create massive opportunities and a trickle-down effect.

Soon after the Government issued permit licences to Exxon for the Payara Development Project last year, Vice

The pipeline route

President Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Government would turn its attention to negotiating the gas-to-energy project.

A number of factors including geotechnical, geophysical and environmental were examined before Jagdeo announced recently that the Government had settled on Wales to

land the pipelines for the project.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the energy sector, has previously said that the Government is looking to produce 200 megawatts of power from the gas-toshore project by 2024.

Exxon has said that

around 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural gas would be required for the gas-to-shore project. Data from Norwegian research company Rystad Energy had indicated that less than 20 per cent of the 1.8 billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) discovered last year was gas.

Govt pumps $30M into Wismar, Mackenzie waterfront enhancement projects

T

he Government will soon release $30 million to begin the first phase of the waterfront enhancement project at Wismar and Mackenzie in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

This was announced

by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Friday during an engagement with several stakeholders at the Watooka Guest House to identify works that could be undertaken to modernise the waterfront area.

“Whatever we do must be able to impact the people of Region 10. It must bring immediate benefits to the people of Region 10. We

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and regional officials during a site visit to the Wismar waterfront on Friday

pact, and the policy direction that we are governed by … whatever we do must

A scene of the Wismar, Linden waterfront

cannot do development in a way that doesn’t bring im-

answer the felt needs and the desires of the people,

no matter how small it is,” the Minister said.

The consultation saw contributions from Regional Chairman Deron Adams, Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Kevin Samuel; Engineer, Brigadier (ret’d) Gary Beaton; Project Manager Jermaine Braithwaite, among others.

Following the exercise, the team visited the prospective sites at Wismar and Mackenzie shores where works are expected to commence.

Engineers attached to the Public Works Ministry are tasked with crafting

Minister Edghill and other officials at the Mackenzie waterfront

the enhancement proposal for both locations and that document will be delivered to Minister Edghill today.

The projects will include proper sanitary blocks, adequate lighting and recreational facilities.

The Minister said all construction will cater for senior citizens and persons living with disabilities.

“The good news is that light is at the end of the tunnel. The $30 million waterfront development

for Region 10 is on the chart for 2021 and within a very short period works will begin,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Arrindell related that among other enhancement projects, the municipality has put together a plan and scope of work to develop a children’s park along the bandstand route. The Council also wants to recommission the bandstand to host recreational activ-

ities.

Government has made several commitments to ensure all ten administrative regions receive sufficient development in all areas including agriculture, employment, tourism, business and education.

Some $220 million was distributed last week in the region through the “Because We Care” and school uniform and supplies cash grants.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt commissions $20M Phased countrywide rollout of Govt’s WIIN continues water distribution system at St Ignatius

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal at the commissioning of the water distribution system in St Ignatius

H

ousing and Water Minister, Collin Croal on Saturday commissioned a $20 million water distribution system at St Ignatius, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

He was joined by Regional

contractor, Romesh Kissoon of R Kissoon Contracting Services for the timely delivery of the project. He noted that this is reflective of how the Government operates in terms of fulfilling its commitment to communities across the country.

Millennium Development Goals. We will continue in our efforts to match hinterland development with those on the coastland."

The Minister also implored residents to play their part in safeguarding the water infrastructure.

He noted that far too often breakage and leakage result in losses and defective services.

He added, “Cabinet recently give it's no object for a Community Service Officer to be assigned to the water system and oversee its operation in every village".

Also, Hinterland Service Director Jailall in his comments on the occasion spoke to investments being made in Region Nine to improve the lives of residents.

"This village has grown and over the years the service we offer has improved,

Residents of the community also gathered for the opening

Chairman Brian Allicock, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailall; Toshao William Laurentino and villagers.

A contract to the tune of $20 million was inked just over a week ago for the upgrading of the water distribution system in the community. The upgrade saw the installation of a fourinch transmission main to provide an adequate volume of water to feed the network and the interconnecting of three wells, which will now serve the entire village.

A total of four kilometres of four-inch PVC transmission mains and 500 metres of two-inch PVC lines were installed, which will now see some 125 residents accessing water for the first time. With the completion of the upgrade, residents have reported that the level of service has since increased drastically.

This major upgrade will ensure residents now receive a minimum of 12 hours of service per day.

On the occasion, Minister Croal lauded the

"Our future is in the hands of a well-educated generation and whose social well-being is taken care of in every aspect. I’m pleased to see more than 100 families now benefitting from potable water which is a basic necessity,” the Minister stated.

The Minister also announced that to bring better service delivery, as of August 1, 2021, GWI will be paying for the electricity supply for the water system, thus easing the financial burden on the Village Council. This now means the Council can channel its resources to other development projects.

Touching on other development in Region Nine, the Minister spoke of the villages of Toka, Katoonarib, Potarinau, and Parikwarinau which have all benefited from new water distribution systems and the construction of a new $23 million GWI/housing office in Lethem, to ensure improved services.

"We are ensuring that water is delivered to every household as outlined in the

and we continue to improve.

We want to celebrate the fact that three wells are now interconnected to better supply this community,” said Jailall.

He explained that this new system is so designed to ensure there is little to no disruption in services when there is a need for maintenance. Meanwhile, as promised, when the contract was signed a month ago, the contractor, Romesh Kissoon delivered on his promise and handed over ten electronic tablets to school children and a complete computer system to the Village Council.

Following the commissioning, Regional Chairman Allicock expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Guyana Water Inc for the numerous tangible investments in the region over the past few months.

"Our region is leading in terms of development, and this is as a result of a Government that is committed to equal infrastructure development,” said the Regional Chairman.

Minister Persaud has recently been taking time out to educate women and girls all across the country about the WIIN programme

H

uman Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud has reassured that the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme is not going anywhere anytime soon and will continue as long as needed to include all those interested.

WIIN is a massive new programme launched by the Ministry which seeks to empower women and girls and help them become financially independent.

It offers free training in information and communication technology, décor and design, graphics, beauty and wellness, professional care, garment and hospitality, and administration.

“So if you haven’t yet heard from us, don’t panic,” Minister Persaud said, adding, “WIIN has generated a lot of excitement. Some people haven’t heard from us as yet but this is not an all in one rollout; it’s a phased rollout depending on the courses and locations.”

Even so, persons who have not yet received a response after submitting their application can contact the Ministry and also follow its social media platforms to

keep updated on how the programme is progressing.

WIIN has started in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) and other locations and will be moving to Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) next week. The online programmes have started for Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four and are being rolled out in different communities every week.

“So people shouldn’t get too worried if others started and they haven’t. The idea behind WIIN is that no one will be turned down. For those people who didn’t manage to make it into the first phase of WIIN, it will be continued. We will do WIIN as long as we can to make sure we capture more people who are interested,” Minister Persaud guaranteed.

Her advice though is to, “Commit and see it to the end.”

She said, “Don’t start and give up. This is an opportunity not only to have a certificate but an accredited one. It can help you to really move from a state of dependence to independence. You just have

to decide what you want to do with the training.”

Just last Friday, 25 women of the Riverview community in Georgetown signed on to the programme.

WIIN, a brainchild of Minister Persaud, is available both online and in-person across the country and seeks to provide women and girls with economic benefits, along with an enabling environment to help them boost their self-confidence and individuality.

Whether persons are interested in garment construction, ICT, graphic designing, video editing, photography, interior decorating, or child and elderly care; the Ministry is moving to cater for major development in the country.

WIIN also includes the provision of functional, business, social issues, and legislative literacy, and covers areas in anger management, emotional intelligence, coping mechanisms, as well as information on support systems from the Ministry.

Each course is followed by an assessment, and the top five students will be eligible for assistance to start up their businesses.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Agri Minister instructs NDIA to withhold payment to contractors over incomplete works A griculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has instructed the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to withhold payments to contractors who have failed to complete works in the Plegt Anker area on the East Bank of Berbice.

This decision was made after several residents raised concerns about in-

munity. They told the Minister that only a small percentage of the works were carried out and that when they questioned the contractor, they were told that the conditions were not favourable to complete the works.

One farmer who was present at the meeting told Minister Mustapha that one of the reasons he experienced severe losses

A farmer raising his concerns during the meeting

complete works that were carried out in the com-

during the flooding was because the canal in his area

had not been desilted.

“One of the things that caused us to suffer during this flood, the northern empoldering within the La Retraite Scheme area, that is Belmont Canal; that canal is very silted. A few months ago, a contractor went there to execute some works on that canal and another one at La Retraite.

They did a part. Just the outfall at Belmont and at La Retraite, about 200 rods in, and then they left.

If that canal was excavated during that time, we would not have suffered so tremendously because right now the water is at dam level and still very high in the backland. At the front low but when you go at the back it is high because the trench silt up,” the farmer explained Another resident who raised a similar issue said that water levels would recede if works are carried out on the canal.

“What caused the most ducking out really, is a tubing they put on the road.

With the Government’s help we dug a trench but the contractor them go away and leave the trench.

He dig about 200 rods and

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha (centre) with residents of Plegt Anker, on the East Bank of Berbice

they clean 200 (rods). They had two Hymacs there.

They didn’t use any mats.

They had the mats on the road and the trucks came and pick up the mats and carry it away. They were supposed to go 1000 rods.

A lot of cattle farmers at the back there and we wish the dam could reach there,” the farmer said.

The farmer also said that the Chairman of the NDIA had met with a group of farmers from the area to discuss the works needed. He said that the area in question is swampy and that the farmers said that they were willing to wait until the lands were dry for the works to be done.

After listening to the concerns raised, Minister Mustapha questioned the regional NDIA engineer about the status of the works. The engineer informed Minister Mustapha that the contractors had indicated that the remaining areas were swampy, hence the machines could not go there to execute the remaining works.

Minister Mustapha then instructed the NDIA to put a hold on payments

for works that were incomplete, adding that contractors should not tender for works that they cannot execute.

“I made some commitments when I was here late last year and based on those commitments, works were allocated to a number of contractors. Today we are hearing that they only did part of the works and we will deal with that. Contractors should not tender for works that they cannot execute. I instructed the engineer that if these contractors do not complete the works, they will not be paid. If they cannot complete the works, we will get new contractors to do the works,” Minister Mustapha said.

Another farmer who was present at the meeting also raised issues with the state of the crown dam.

“The conservancy dam at the back, the Belmont Canal is linked to the conservancy dam where a tubing was installed but the dam needs to be rehabilitated. About three years ago they ended up patching the dam but then that didn’t solve the problem

because when the heavy rain comes, the lower part keeps overtopping and it has big breaches.

Right now it has about five breaches there now.

When the water comes and cannot pass through the Belmont Canal, it overtops and goes to our side in the farming area,” the farmer said.

Minister Mustapha told residents that a machine will be sent to carry out the necessary rehabilitation works on the crown dam.

“I want to make one commitment here. Within one week, I will send a machine here to carry out all the works on the crown dam,” Minister Mustapha told residents.

Residents also formed a group comprising of representatives from each of the communities in the area.

Minister Mustapha tasked the group with consulting with residents from their respective communities on the works needed. A work programme would then be developed so that funds could be made available to execute them based on what is considered a priority.

Floodwater levels in...

He further noted that presently food supplies are not an issue while praising the work of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in rendering assistance during the intense flooding.

“The CDC has done a wonderful, marvellous...job throughout the floods...I was one that helped with the shelter and they come and take over the shelter and run the shelter. They also supplied food and assist in giving help to the needy... where the hampers are concerned, they help play a major role,” the Councillor added.

He also compliment-

ed the Regional Education Department for opening up the schools at Aroaima and Kwakwani to be used as shelters, as he noted that persons are currently still utilising them.

In addition, he stated that overseas-based Guyanese and organisations have also contributed in the flood relief efforts.

“The Christian Association worked through the Region (RDC) and was also able to supply hampers for the people, not only in Kwakwani but as far as Ebini down the Berbice River which is also affected by the flood. We went to Wiruni...Ebini and Hururu (where) we were

FROM PAGE 9

able to share out hampers for persons who were affected...the CDC and the Government did not leave the people on their own and other private partners, private citizens did not leave Kwakwani out.

It was one of the highest floods, I was told...A lot of persons gave small and medium sized help,” Adolph said as he noted that assistance also came from persons at Kimbia.

The region, especially Kwakwani, was devastated by the May-June rainfalls which saw several homes being submerged as well as mining operations severely affected. Accor

NEWS

17

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Protecting forests from climate change

We look forward to receiving Guyana’s submission – US State Dept spokesperson

E

ven as the Government of Guyana negotiates its forest pact with the Kingdom of Norway and is currently searching for markets to sell its carbon credit, the country could potentially earn from a global public-private initiative that was launched back in April to accelerate climate action by providing results-based finance to countries committed to protecting their tropical forests.

The Lowering Emissions

by Accelerating Forest finance (LEAF) Coalition was established by the United States, United Kingdom and Norway along with nine leading private sector companies to provide substantial financial support to tropical and subtropical countries that successfully reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

This initiative aims to mobilise at least $1 billion in financing that will be used for the protection of tropical forests, to the benefit of billions of people depending on them, and to support sus-

tainable development. It was reported that the final list of governments and companies participating in the LEAF initiative, and the total financial support mobilised through the Coalition, will be announced when emissions reduction purchase agreements are signed with tropical forest countries by the end of the year.

“We understand that

Guyana, like a number of other jurisdictions, is considering submitting a proposal and we look forward to receiving their submission,” a spokesperson from the US State Department told Guyana Times.

This was in response to questions from this newspaper on climate financing and support from the US to Guyana.

Amongst its pledges to the global climate fight, President Joe Biden has committed to double overall climate financing and triple the amount of finance going towards adaptation in countries that need help in managing climate impacts.

In fact, the State Department spokesperson posited that the US is working to increase global climate ambitions through bi-lateral engagement and multilateral and regional initiatives, like the Renewable Energy for Latin America and Caribbean initiative and Lowering Emissions

by Accelerating Forest finance (LEAF) Coalition.“ President Biden has also directed US agencies to integrate climate considerations

Ethiopia’s Amhara rallies residents to fight Tigrayan forces

E

thiopia’s Amhara region has called on all armed residents to mobilise for battle against rebels from conflict-hit Tigray, calling it a “survival campaign”, state media reported.

Amhara borders Tigray to the south, and the two regions are embroiled in a decades-old land dispute that has become central to the eight-month-old war in Tigray.

Sunday’s statement from Amhara regional president Agegnehu Teshager echoes a call made Friday by the president of Ethiopia’s Afar region just east of Tigray.

Together the two statements highlight the potential for the Tigray war, which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared all but over in late November, to draw in the rest of the country.

Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, sent troops into Tigray last November to overthrow the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a move he

Amhara borders Tigray to the south, and the two regions are embroiled in a decades-old land dispute that has become central to the eight-month-old war in Tigray

said was in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps.

Fighting dragged on for months before the war took a stunning turn in late June, with pro-TPLF fighters reclaiming the Tigray capital Mekelle and Abiy declaring a unilateral ceasefire.

Yet clashes have continued and officials from six regions and the city of Dire Dawa have since said they would send troops to back up government forces.

Last week the Tigrayans pushed their offensive to Afar, their neighbouring state to the east, where they said they planned to target troops from the Amhara region fighting alongside the federal military in the area.

Afar is a strategic region for landlocked Ethiopia because the main road and railway linking the capital Addis Ababa with the seaport of Djibouti runs through it. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

across their global initiatives. Confronting the climate crisis presents a historic opportunity to create jobs and sustainable economic growth. As we work to reduce emissions, we resolve to strengthen adaptation and resilience to protect people from the impacts of climate change,” the official stated.

Further, the spokesperson noted that the United States is also reinvigorating the US-Caribbean Resilience Partnership (USCRP), which Guyana is a part of. The partnership works to increase disaster preparedness and enhance resilience in the Caribbean Island countries through technical cooperation between the United States, Caribbean countries, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the Regional Security System (RSS).

Already, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch has stated that Guyana will be a good partner in the United States’ climate efforts.

Nevertheless, at the launch of the LEAF initiative during President Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate back in April, Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo welcomed the initiative, stating that countries like Guyana have long pressed for the ecosystem services provided by their standing tropical forests to be properly valued, through both public and private finance.

“This will enable people who live in forests and forest countries to create jobs and economic opportunity from an economy that works with nature, instead of today’s reality where forests are often worth more dead than alive.

If this new economy is to be more attractive than the old economy, LEAF must also catalyse funds that flow quickly and efficiently. The systems to enable this can only be successful if forest countries are involved in their design –

and we stand ready to work with the LEAF Coalition to achieve the innovation required,” Jagdeo posited.

The Vice President, who has long championed the use of forests in climate mitigation, previously explained that the forests tend to lose a lot of ground in the global fight against the climate crisis since developed countries are more focused on retrofitting buildings or mitigation solutions that deal with decarbonising energy.

Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) saw Guyana being paid some US$250 million from Norway following the 2009 pact. Funds are still remaining from that deal and have been redirected towards the local renewable energy sector.

The agreement, which covered a five-year period, was not renewed under the previous APNU/AFC coalition, and so, the current PPP/C Administration is now renegotiating a new deal with Norway under a revised LCDS programme.

Those discussions are still ongoing.

However, President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced back in April that Guyana has signed a letter of intent to market Guyana’s carbon credit – an arrangement that has the potential of earning the country millions of US dollars annually.

This new deal was inked with US-based non-profit organisation (NGO), Emergent Finance Accelerated Inc, which is one of the nine private partners in the LEAF Coalition and is the administrative coordinator of the initiative.

Based on the agreement with the Guyana Government, Emergent will look for markets to sell Guyana’s carbon credit through a credit contract.

A carbon credit is a tradable permit or certificate that allows the holder of the credit the right to emit a tonne of carbon dioxide or an equivalent of another greenhouse gas. Countries that exceed this limit can purchase carbon credits from other nations that have low emissions such as Guyana.

Guyana’s 18.4 million

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

hectares of largely pristine forest stores approximately 5.31 gigatons of carbon.

However, while there is little focus on forests as a carbon sink, United States Renewable Energy Specialist, Jeffrey Logan believes that developed countries need to play a greater role in assisting emerging economies to preserve their forests.

Logan, who is an Associate Director of Energy, Policy, and Analysis of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) at the University of Colorado, USA, was one of the presenters during a threeweek Virtual Report Tour (VRT) on “Combatting the Climate Crisis Through US Innovation” sponsored by the US Department of State’s Foreign Press Centers back in May. Logan told Guyana Times that for countries like Guyana, it’s neighbour Brazil – both of which are part of the Amazon Rainforest and the Guiana Shield – and even Indonesia, forests are an extremely important part of the carbon calculus.

“There are a growing number of carbon offsets available to investors around the world that want to help preserve forests in emerging economies.

Unfortunately, the rules are often somewhat unclear even if the goal is clear: developed countries should help developing countries to preserve their forests as carbon sinks as this is a win-win for both parties if done properly,” he stated.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Regional

St Lucia heads to the polls today Earthquake shakes sections of

S

t Lucia citizens will cast their ballots today, Monday, July 26, 2021 in the country’s General Elections.

The small Caribbean territory of only 178,000 inhabitants and an area of 600 square kilometres, will elect a new government and members of the Legislative Assembly.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is seeking re-election and leads the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) after leading the formation to victory in the 2016 elections, winning 11 of the 17 seats at stake.

It will face the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP).

A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) arrived in Castries, St Lucia last Thursday and Friday, and will be deployed to polling stations across the country to observe pre-poll preparations, voting day and result counting processes.

In an arrival statement, the Chair of the COG and former Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas, Alvin Smith, said: “We recognise that these elections are taking place in a challeng-

Trinidad; no reports of damage

T

he Seismic Research Centre at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus says that several tremors rocked areas in the north-west of Trinidad shortly after 03:00h on Sunday.

The quake that occurred

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is seeking re-election

ing environment when the world is confronted with a global pandemic…. The group will observe the voting, vote-counting and results procedures.

The Group’s mandate is to assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the national, regional, Commonwealth and international standards to which Saint Lucia has committed itself. Where appropriate, the group can also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework.”

The COG will issue an Interim Statement of its preliminary findings on July 28 before departing Saint Lucia on July 30.

The Commonwealth Observer Group members are: Alvin Smith – former Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member of Parliament, The Bahamas; Baroness Denise Kingsmill – Member of House of Lords, United Kingdom; Ian Hughes – electoral official at the Electoral Commission of Antigua and Barbuda; Orette Fisher – former Commissioner/Director of Elections, at the Electoral Commission, Jamaica; and Dr Tres-Ann Kremer – Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security, University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

(Excerpt from Nation News and Rio Times)

UWI Professor: Vaccines for emergency use safe

T

o be approved for emergency use, a vaccine has to demonstrate itself to be safe and effective during clinical trials, explained UWI Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Christine Carrington.

For full approval, clinical trials have to show the vaccine is safe, that it works and it has to be known how long the protection would last. Any adverse effects would have likely happened in the first two to three months after vaccination and would have been seen in the trials.

So even though several vaccines were only given Emergency Use Approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO), they are still safe to use.

On Saturday, Carrington said, “We don’t have time to wait two years to find out if the vaccine is going to protect us for two years. It’s an emergency. So nobody knows at this stage how long it (immunity) will last.

“It’s important to remember that your immune system, although you lose some of those antibodies, your body remembers how to make them and

how to make them quickly so should you get infected again, that disease is expected to be mild.”

She said both natural and vaccine immunity seemed to start declining around six to nine months.

Not enough time had passed to be sure any vaccine could give lifetime protection.

Addressing herd immunity with the COVID-19 vaccines, Carrington stressed that being infected was different from being sick. The aim of the vaccines was to keep people as healthy as possible. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Venezuela’s Maduro aims for dialogue with opposition in August

V

enezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said that he was aiming to begin a dialogue with the country’s political Opposition next month in Mexico facilitated by Norway, a process he hoped the United States would embrace.

In May, the Opposition changed strategy and indicated its willingness to return to negotiations to resolve the political crisis in Venezuela.

Maduro has overseen an economic collapse in once-prosperous Venezuela since taking office in 2013, and stands accused by his domestic opponents, the United States and the

European Union of corruption, human rights violations, and rigging his 2018 re-election. Maduro denies the accusations.

In June, top diplomats in Washington, Brussels and Ottawa said they would be willing to revise their sanctions on Maduro’s Government if the dialogue with the Opposition led to significant progress toward free and fair elections.

“I can tell you that we are ready to go to Mexico,” Maduro said in an interview on the State-funded Telesur television network late on Saturday. “We have begun to discuss a complicated, difficult agenda.”

Venezuela’s Opposition,

led by Juan Guaidó, has accused Maduro of using previous rounds to buy time in the face of diplomatic and sanctions pressure by the United States and others. Guaidó is recognised

by Washington and several other Western democracies as the country’s rightful leader.

Opposition groups have said they are willing to negotiate the conditions for presidential and parliamentary elections with Maduro’s Government.

Maduro, in turn, has said he wants the negotiations to focus on the lifting of US sanctions targeting the financial and oil sectors.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

off the north-eastern coast of Venezuela was recorded at exactly 03:18h, and emanated from a depth of 78.35 kilometres.

Located at Latitude 10.93 degrees North and Longitude 62.26 degrees West, it would have been felt most strongly in Venezuela

in the areas of Macuro, and the Parque Nacional Península de Paria.

Residents on the islands of Monos and Chacachacare off the north-western tip of Trinidad also may have experienced tremors.

There were no reports of damage or injuries. (CMC)

Coffee froths to new highs as Brazil frost hits crops

C

offee prices surged this week to multiyear peaks, extending stellar gains this year after frost damaged crops in the world’s biggest producer Brazil.

The futures price for arabica coffee, one of the South American nation’s top commodity exports, soared Friday to just over US$2 a pound, the highest level since 2014.

The commodity has rocketed by a blistering 60 per cent since January.

Lower quality robusta coffee, mainly grown in Asia, leapt to an October 2017 peak of US$1993 per tonne, capping a near 40per cent gain so far this year.

“Several reasons explain the astronomical gains for coffee prices,” Rabobank analyst Carlos Mera told AFP, citing mainly the devastating weather conditions in Brazil.

Mera also blamed soaring transportation costs and political unrest in number-three producer,

Arabica coffee soared to its highest level since 2014

Colombia.

Brazil suffered a historic drought earlier this year.

That was followed by damaging frosts this week at key plantations in Minas Gerais – a south-eastern inland state that produces 70 per cent of the nation’s arabica beans.

Sub-zero temperatures have “sparked defoliation of crops and even kill the youngest plants” that are crucial for future harvests, Mera said.

Arabica has also been

heavily impacted because the crop has a biennial plant cycle, whereby lowyield production one year is followed by bumper output the following year.

The market rallied “on freezing temperatures in Brazil growing areas last night”, added Price Futures Group analyst Jack Scoville on Friday.

“Freezing temperatures were reported in much of Minas Gerais and Parana and also in São Paulo.”

(Excerpt from AFP)

Chuck rejects call to send disabled persons’ appeals to CCJ

J

amaican Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has dismissed a suggestion from Opposition Senator Floyd Morris that the implementation of the Disabilities Act would require disabled persons to have access to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Minister told Observer Online that it was the first time that he was hearing the argument, but dismissed it because he said there was really no difference between the cost of appealing to the Privy Council in London, or to the CCJ. “The truth of the matter is that the expense is no different from that of the CCJ now, because everything is being done virtually. So that’s not a good argument,” he said.

He said that he was not aware, either, of a virtual conference of regional bodies representing persons with disabilities, nor of an issue in relation to wheth-

Jamaican Justice Minister Delroy Chuck

er or not the participating countries wished for a disconnect from the UK Privy Council to join the controversial CCJ for that purpose.

“It appears to be another argument to justify shifting from the Privy Council to the CCJ. It was never raised with me,” he added.

During his contribution to the annual State of the Nation (SON) de-

bate in the Senate on Friday, Senator Morris said that while he welcomed Parliament’s affirmation of the long-delayed regulations for the Disabilities Act, which was passed during the Administration of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in 2014, he wanted to be assured of their implementation. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS China crackdown could knock crude oil import growth to 20-year low

B

eijing's crackdown on the misuse of import quotas combined with the impact of high crude prices could see China's growth in oil imports sink to the lowest in two decades in 2021, despite an expected rise in refining rates in the second half.

Shipments into the world's top crude importer and No 2 refiner could be steady, or increase by up to 2 per cent to just over 11 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, consultancies Energy Aspects, Rystad Energy and Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) found.

That compares to an average annual import growth rate of 9.7 per cent since 2015, and would be the slowest growth since 2001, China customs data showed.

The flat forecasts coincide with plans by OPEC+ to raise oil output by 400,000 barrels per day between August and December. News of the decision by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers sparked a sell-off in benchmark prices this week.

China has been the global oil demand driver for the last decade, and accounted for 44 per cent of worldwide growth in oil imports since 2015, when Beijing started issuing import quotas to independent refiners.

While analysts expect global crude markets to stay in deficit this year despite the OPEC+ output rise, China's investigations into the trading of crude import quotas, and the resulting lower import allocations to independent refiners, have already cooled demand from the group that provides a fifth of China's imports.

China's crude imports in June fell to the lowest since 2013 after Beijing clamped down on import quota trading as part of a drive to consolidate its refining industry and reduce emissions.

Several small refiners did not receive any quotas in a second batch issued in June, while others have already used their full allocations, traders and analysts said.

The remaining refiners are expected to reserve whatever quotas they have left for the fourth quarter, when fuel demand typically peaks, FGE said.

Shandong refiners, where most of the small, independent refiners, known as teapots, are located, will reduce imports by around 350,000 bpd and 250,000 bpd in third and fourth quarters, respectively, FGE added.

This has curbed demand for crude from Africa, Brazil and Russia, prompting traders to divert cargoes to Europe and the United States.

A senior trader based in Singapore, who also asked to remain anonymous, said teapot refineries had lost their position as market drivers and it was wise for sellers to find other outlets.

Increasingly, he said, Brazilian and Russian ESPO crudes have been heading to the United States while Brazilian Buzios crude has gone to Europe.

Despite slowing imports, China's crude processing could hit another all-time high this year as state-owned majors and large private refiners operate plants at higher rates and buy more crude to offset lower independent refining, analysts and traders said.

Sinopec and PetroChina are likely to consolidate their positions as the top Chinese crude traders as the independent refiners are sidelined.

Together with other refiners, they are boosting output to replace lower supplies of light cycle oil and mixed aromatics used in fuel blending, imports of which have slumped since new taxes took effect in June.

Rystad Energy, FGE and Energy Aspects forecast higher refining throughput at 14.5 million to 14.6 million bpd in the second half, with imports between 10.85 million and 11.5 million bpd.

Beijing-based consultancy SIA Energy forecasts processing of 16 million bpd in the second half of 2021, 6.8 per cent higher year on year, leading to imports of 12.48 million bpd, up 15 per cent.

Analysts were split on whether China will repeat its massive stockpiling drive that fuelled record imports in 2020. More than 100 million barrels of crude storage is expected to be commissioned in 2021, but the current market backwardation structure discourages traders from holding stocks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Australia COVID: Anti-lockdown protesters condemned

A

ustralian politicians have condemned protests against coronavirus restrictions amid a rise in cases.

Thousands marched through Sydney on Saturday to demand an end to lockdown measures, with smaller demonstrations taking place in Melbourne and Brisbane.

At least 57 people involved in the Sydney protest have been charged, while more than 500 have been fined.

On Sunday, New South Wales (NSW) premier Gladys Berejiklian said the protesters "should be ashamed".

"Millions and millions of people across our state are doing the right thing, and it just broke my heart that people had such a disregard for their fellow citizens," she told reporters.

The state recorded 141 new infections on Sunday, the second-highest daily increase of the year. There are fears of a further rise in cases following Saturday's protests.

Officers issued hundreds of fines to people involved in the demonstration on Saturday

Authorities in NSW are expected to extend the current lockdown, which is set to end on July 30.

Some 13 million Australians are back in lockdown after state governments re-imposed restrictions in recent weeks to combat the highly contagious Delta variant, which has driven up cases across the country.

Fewer than 14 per cent of the population have been fully vaccinated, a far lower percentage than most European countries and the US. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been crit-

Tunisia PM sacked after violent protests

Protesters erupted with celebrations at the news that the prime minster had been dismissed

T

unisia's President has sacked the Prime Minister and suspended Parliament, after violent protests broke out across the country.

Thousands of protesters, angry at the Government's mishandling of COVID-19, had flooded onto the streets and clashed with Police on Sunday.

President Kais Saied announced he would take charge with help from a new Prime Minister, saying he intended to bring calm to the country.

But opponents branded his move a coup.

"We have taken these decisions... until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state," Saied said in a televised address after an emergency security meeting at his palace.

Late on Sunday night, protesters erupted with celebrations at the news Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi had been sacked.

Thousands of people had

demonstrated against the ruling party in the capital Tunis and other cities, shouting "Get out!", and calling for Parliament to be dissolved.

Security forces blocked off Parliament and streets around the central Avenue Bourguiba, the centre of anti-Government protests during Tunisia's 2011 revolution.

Police fired tear gas at protesters and arrested several people, with clashes breaking out in several other towns.

Protesters stormed the offices of the governing Ennahdha party, smashing computers and setting fire to its local headquarters in Touzeur.

The party denounced the attack, blaming "criminal gangs" who were trying to "seed chaos and destruction".

President Saied vowed to respond to further violence with military force. (Excerpt from BBC News)

icised for Australia's vac-

cine programme, has promised more doses to NSW. But he said that they could not disrupt the rollout nationwide, and stressed that the lockdown in the state would only end when it brought case numbers down.

He also branded those who took part in Saturday's demonstrations "selfish" and "self-defeating", saying the protests "only risk the lockdowns running further."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Cars, pavements washed away as Belgian town hit by worst floods in decades

T

he southern Belgian town of Dinant was hit by the heaviest floods in decades on Saturday after a twohour thunderstorm turned streets into torrential streams that washed away cars and pavements but did not kill anyone.

Dinant was spared the deadly floods 10 days ago that killed 37 people in southeast Belgium and many more in Germany, but the violence of Saturday's storm surprised many.

"I have been living in Dinant for 57 years, and I've never seen anything like that," Richard Fournaux, the former Mayor of the town on the Meuse river and birthplace of the 19th

century inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, said on social media.

Rainwater gushing down steep streets swept away dozens of cars, piling them in a heap at a crossing, and washed away cobble stones, pavements and whole sections of tarmac as inhabitants watched in horror from windows.

There was no precise estimate of the damage, with town authorities predicting only that it would be "significant", according to Belgian RTL TV. The storm wreaked similar havoc, also with no loss of life, in the small town of Anhee a few kilometres north of Dinant. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rumbling meteor lights up Norway; part of it may have landed near Oslo

A

n "unusually large meteor" briefly lit up southern Norway on Sunday, creating a spectacular sound and light display as it rumbled across the sky, and a bit of it may have hit Earth, possibly not far from the capital, Oslo, experts said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Reports of sightings started arriving around 1 am with the phenomena being seen as far north as Trondheim.

A web camera in Holmestrand, south of Oslo, captured a fireball falling from the sky and erupting into a bright flash lighting up a marina.

The Norwegian Meteor network was analysing video footage and other data on Sunday to try to pinpoint the meteor's origin and destination.

Preliminary data suggested a meteorite may have hit Earth in a large

wooded area, called Finnemarka, just 60 km (40 miles) west of the capital, Oslo, the network said.

By Sunday afternoon no debris had been found and given the "demanding" location, one could take "some 10 years" searching for possible meteorites, Bilet said.

Some eyewitnesses also said they felt a stronger wind blow with the event also causing a pressure wave, Bilet said.

"What we had last night was a large rock travelling likely from between Mars and Jupiter, which is our asteroid belt. And when that whizzes in, it creates a rumble, light and great excitement among us (experts) and maybe some fear among others," Bilet said.

There were no reports of damage or people being particularly frightened, Bilet said, adding that for those nearest it was likely more of a "spooky" event.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Opportunity is closer than you think. Open your eyes, and you’ll discover something that excites you.

A chance to change direction is within reach. You won’t regret taking a leap of faith.

Pitch in and help, and you’ll become a part of something meaningful. Work hard and efficiently to ensure you reach the level of success you desire.

Don’t limit what you can do or give up prematurely.

Take a moment to go over every detail before you decide to make a move. An opportunity is good only if it takes you where you want to go. Evaluate your position and make a leap forward.

Stop pondering what to do and start putting your plans in motion. Time is of the essence, and your emotional, physical and financial well-being are dependent on what you do next.

Stick to a routine that will help you accomplish your goal. Pay more attention to how you present yourself.

Don’t limit your chance to advance because you refuse to compromise.

Jump-start your plans and put them in motion.

Let go of negativity; find a way to have a constructive impact. Now’s the time to get moving and make a difference.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Concentrate on what you are doing, and aim to make a difference. Reach out to people who motivate you to get things done and are willing to pitch in and help.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Opportunity is apparent, but it’s up to you to take advantage of what’s available. Don’t make excuses or put things off. Be the one to make things happen and to embrace the life you want.

Think twice before you SAGITTARIUS believe what others say.

(Nov. 23Develop a plan that will Dec. 21) keep you moving in a financially sound direction.

Take care of your health and well-being.

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

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Leave nothing to chance.

Look at what’s available, and invest in whatever will bring you closer to your goal.

A financial opportunity will improve your status, health or bargaining position.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Proceed with caution.

Don’t jump into something uncertain, and don’t fold under pressure. Be respectful, but do your own thing.

Research will provide you with crucial information.

PISCES

Your intuition is spot on, and the decisions you make will affect the way others treat you. Express your thoughts and feelings, and let your intentions be known.

Today is about opportunity.

(Feb. 20March 20)

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

21

Dhoni v Rohit to kickstart IPL's UAE leg from September 19

T

hirty-one matches will be played across 27 days with Dubai hosting the final on October 15 The remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will resume in Dubai on September 19 with MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings taking on Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians.

The fixtures were unveiled on Sunday, with a total of 31 matches spread across 27 days.

The Super Kings will return to these same shores where they finished second from last on the points table in IPL 2020. However, they have bounced back this season to be placed sec-

MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings to take on Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians as IPL return

ond, with five wins in seven matches.

That opening fixture

of the second leg will be followed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore tak-

ing on the Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi. Like the Super Kings, the Royal

Challengers are in contention for the play-offs, and are currently placed third.

The Knight Riders, meanwhile, need a succession of wins to remain in the race.

The matches will be held across three venues. Dubai will host 13 games, including Qualifier 1 (October 10) and the final on October 15, while Sharjah, which will host a blockbuster first game between Super Kings and Royal Challengers on September 24, is also slated to host Qualifier 2 (October 11) and the Eliminator (October 13) as part of its 10 matches. The Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host eight matches.

There will be seven double-headers in all during the UAE leg. There will be

no change in the timings of the matches: afternoon matches will start at 15:00h (3:30pm) IST while the evening games are scheduled for (19:30h) 7:30pm starts.

The top brass of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah – were in the UAE last week to finalise preparations for the tournament.

The IPL was postponed in May after members from a number of teams tested positive for COVID-19 amid a devastating second wave that hit India.

The tournament will be followed by the BCCI's hosting of the T20 World Cup immediately in UAE from October 17. (ESPNcricinfo)

Tokyo Olympics: France end USA men's Tokyo Olympics: Atkinson finishes 3rd in 100m Breaststroke, basketball team's 25-game win streak fails to progress to semi-finals

– Sobers sets new Barbados national record for men's 200m freestyle

D

ecorated Jamaica swimmer Alia Atkinson failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke on Sunday, in what was one of the slower heats.

Competing in heat three, the Jamaican swimming sensation clocked 31.48 seconds in her first 50m and held a slight lead over the field at the halfway point. She, however, faded in the last few metres and returned to touch the wall third, with a time of 1:07.70 seconds. Atkinson’s second leg split was timed at 36.22.

The heat was won by 19-year-old Lithuanian Kotryna Teterevkova, who clocked 1:06.82 to touch first, in the process securing her spot in the semi-finals with one of the top 16 fastest times. German swimmer Anna Elendt also qualified from the heat after finishing second with a time of 1:06.96.

Atkinson was competing in a remarkable fifth straight Olympics. The fastest time of the round was recorded by South African Tatjana Schoenmaker, who smashed American Lilly King’s fiveyear-old Olympic record, clocking 1:04.82 to win heat five. The semi-finals will get underway on today at 20:50h

U

Alia Atkinson

(8:50 pm).

Meanwhile, Barbadian swimmer Alex Sobers has set a new national record in the men's 200m freestyle. Competing on Sunday, Sobers smashed his previous record of 1:48.35, set earlier this year. The 22-yearold, swimming out of lane seven, in heat two, finished in a time of 1:48.09 to finish sixth. The heat was won by Romania’s David Popovici, who touched home first in a time of 1:45.32. Second place went to Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanovic, who recorded a time of 1:46.26. Both men advanced to the event’s semi-finals.

For Sobers, the result follows up on the second-time Olympian’s seventh place finish in heat two of the men’s 400m freestyle on Saturday.

Alex Sobers

He finished in a time of 3:59.14 seconds. Sobers failed to advance to the semi-finals in any of his events.

Meanwhile, his teammate, Danielle Titus also finished sixth in her heat on Sunday. The Olympic debutante hit the pool for the women’s 100m backstroke and finished with a time of 1:04.53.

She did not advance to the semi-finals. That was her only event. The event was won by Moldova’s Tatiana Salcutan, who was first in 1:01.59, with McKenna DeBever Elliot second in 1:02.09. (Sportsmax)

SA's men's basketball team saw their 25-game winning streak at the Olympics ended as they lost 83-76 to France in their Tokyo opener. Evan Fournier poured in 28 points for the French as the Americans, who have won gold in the last three Games, were beaten for the first time since 2004.

A strong third quarter, where France outscored Gregg Popovich's all-star team 25-11, proved decisive.

Rudy Gobert was also influential with 14 points and nine rebounds.

It was a disas-

trous start for Team USA who struggled in their preparation for the tournament, losing warm-up matches to Nigeria and Australia. They looked to have taken control of the game with an eight-point half-time lead.

But,

with Kevin Durant in foul trouble early on,

they could not maintain that momentum as a flat third quarter saw them score just 11 points. Jrue Holiday, with 18 points in just under 28 minutes of action coming off the bench, was a bright spot in their struggles and helped them to a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But the Americans missed four open threepoint attempts in the last 30 seconds to hand France the advantage and Boston Celtics guard Fournier led them to an impressive victory. Popovich will now hope his side can respond against Iran on Wednesday, July 28, with France taking on the Czech Republic. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

Caribbean Cycling Championships Hardworking Jones eager to break into Jaguars to pedal off on August 12

T

he Caribbean Cycling Championships Road Race is set for Thursday, August 12, 2021 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The men’s road race will be 130 kilometres and the women’s road race 80km.

The races will be held just before the Pan American Cycling Championships, which start on Friday, August 13, 2021, with the time trials.

For the Caribbean Cycling Championships Road Race, each team will limited to five male and three female riders.

These championships will serve as a qualification

academy set-up

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Colombia from November 25 to December 5. Seven qualification spots will be allocated in the U-23 category.

The time trial for the Caribbean Cycling Championships will be the same event as the Pan American Cycling Championships which are scheduled for Friday, August 13.

The teams should each comprise a maximum of 22 people: six riders of the category elite male, six riders of the category Under-23 male, six riders of the category elite ladies and Under-23 ladies, one delegate, one coach, one mechanic, and one masseur.

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F

ormer Guyana youth fast-bowler Joshua Jones is putting in the hard yards of work to break into the Guyana Jaguars academy set-up.

The big Essequibian who is in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is confident of balancing work and playing the game he loves.

He indicated that he is training four days weekly, and he trains three times on these days. Jones, one

Franchise cricket tournament and I’m looking forward to join the academy so I can better my self,” Jones said. When asked if he will be able to balance work and cricket, Jones added: “so basically the unit or department I’m at in the GDF is the sports department, so basically once I get a letter from the board I will be relieve from all duty, and I only work one time a month

MSC congratulates Chelsea Edghill

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Guyana's Chelsea Edghill in action at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan (AP/Kyusung Gong photo)

M

alteenoes Sports Club (MSC) President Deborah McNichol extends congratulations to their members, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill and her Coach Idi Lewis, who are at the Tokyo Olympics.

This is Guyana’s 17th appearance at the biggest multisport games in the world since its inaugural participation in 1948 as British Guiana.

On behalf of the Executives and members of the Malteenoes Sports Club, McNichol said: “I take this opportunity to congratulate 22-year-old Chelsea Edghill on being Guyana’s first-ev-

er table tennis player to represent her country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”

Edghill, t h e Caribbean U-21 champion, created history when Idi Lewis and Chelsea Edghill she received a for your dedication and com“wild card” for the Olympics mitment to the sport. Also as the only female table tento the coach, Idi Lewis, also nis player in the world to get a member of Malteenoes, one. for his contribution over the “We at Malteenoes are years nurturing and training very proud of your achieveChelsea to achieve this feat,” ment and we wish to exMcNichol said. press our heartfelt gratitude

his best days can rush batsmen while hitting the pitch hard. In his last Under-19 tournament, he had the most wickets for Guyana in 2018, where he claimed 14 wickets in five games.

The right-arm speedster who will trun 22 in October, also had good outings in senior local cricket. Playing for the strong Essequibo outfit at the franchise level, Jones had 10 wickets in a season, with his best bowling figure being 5-18 against West Demerara, including a hat trick in 2019.

“I did well at the last

without a letter. It will not be difficult balancing both once I get a letter from the Guyana Cricket Board.”

Essequibo has been known for producing international fast bowlers the likes of Ronsford Beaton and Keemo Paul. Given the opportunity at the Jaguars academy, Jones is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen. The multi-talented Jones also has a passion for athletics, and he represented Guyana at throwing the shot put, discus and Javelin. He was also a junior record holder for shot put in Guyana.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Akeal Hosein: Blocking social media noise, aiming for consistency and variety

By Brandon Corlette

E

ight matches and 13 wickets. That is how good a start Akeal Hosein is having to his OneDay International (ODI) career for the West Indies.

While social media continues to erupt with noise about Gudakesh Motie being the leading wicket-taker in the recent Regional Super50 and by virtue of that, he should have been selected ahead of Hosein, the calm and collective Hosein has not yet failed to justify his selection to the ODI team.

Responding to a question posted by <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> on how he deals with social media, Hosein said: “I just block it out…

It's something that can give you good motivation if you see the right messages and the right things circulating, and it is something that can demotivate you very quickly and make you feel terrible about yourself."

"I tend to block it out and keep a strong mind and focus on the task at hand, and

C

Social media continues to erupt, noting that the leading Super50 wicket-taker Gudakesh Motie should have earned selection ahead of Hosein

I am here to represent West Indies and I will do that to the best of my ability."

The left-arm spinner, who made his debut in Bangladesh and picked up 3-26, said he has liked how he started international cricket, but he would have loved it to be better. He disclosed that he was aiming to

be consistent and add more variety to his game.

While having poor returns in his first two T20 Internationals, Hosein has a solid ODI bowling average of 22.61 and a stellar economy rate of 4.12.

The Trinidadian leftarm spinner who looks up to Ravindra Jadeja and

Shakib Al Hassan, said for West Indies to polish off the Australian middle-lower order, the bowlers have to stick to plans and keep a high level of energy.

Sharing his sentiments on his transition from regional to international cricket, Hosein says at times international cricket is difficult with better pitches and better batsmen on show, but he is fortunate to have experienced players and coaching personnel around him.

"Any room for error (batsmen) will pounce. It is a matter of going out there and learning for yourself," Hosein indicated.

West Indies who last won an ODI series against Australia in 1995 have a chance to rewrite the history books with the series tied 1-1, and the decider on today. Hosein said winning this ODI series would be a special feeling for him, being a young player and playing a part in the team’s success.

The 28-year-old Trinidadian also credit-

West Indies and Pakistan to play revised 4-match T20I series

ricket West Indies (CWI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced a revised match schedule for the upcoming “Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup” between the West Indies and Pakistan in the Caribbean.

A four-match T20 International (T20I) series has been agreed, scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 28 at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The first ball is 10am (9am Jamaica time) for the first match, with the final three to be played at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday, July 31; Sunday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 3 at 11am (10am Jamaica time).

The adjustment to the Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup schedule was necessary due to the changes to the fixtures for the ongoing CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) series between West Indies and Australia, which are part of the International Cricket Council’s ODI Super League, which concludes today, July 26.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “Together with the PCB, CWI have examined various scenarios, and we jointly agreed that the best solution in the present circumstances is to cancel the first T20I and play a four-match T20I series starting on Wednesday and keep the rest of the tour schedule

Akeal Hosein

ed West Indies Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick, whom he described as the man who knows everything, the man who is always spot on and gets the best out of

40% fully-vaccinated fans to attend West Indies-Pakistan T20Is at Providence

– commencement of ticket sales at GCB office unconfirmed

A

West Indies and Pakistan will play four T20 Internationals instead of five

unchanged. We want to express our gratitude to the PCB Chairman, Ehsan Mani and CEO, Wasim Khan and the Pakistan team for their understanding in this situation and for agreeing to the revised match schedule. Both teams are in the final stages of preparing for the ICC T20 World Cup, so we anticipate an exciting and entertaining series of games as both teams compete for Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup.” West Indies, the two-time World Champions (2012 and 2016), are using this series as part of their build-up to the next ICC T20 World Cup, which will be played from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. They enter the se-

ries on the back of a 4-1 triumph over Australia in the recent CG Insurance T20Is at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.

Pakistan won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009.

Following the Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup, West Indies and Pakistan will then play two Betway Test matches at Sabina Park in Jamaica from August 12-16 and then from August 20-24. This is the first Test series for the West Indies in the new 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship.

Full Match Schedule

July 28: 1st Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup match at Kensington Oval – 10am local time (9am

Jamaica time) July 31: 2nd Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup match at Guyana National Stadium – 11am local time (10am Jamaica) August 1: 3rd Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup match at Guyana National Stadium – 11am local time (10am Jamaica time) August 3: 4th Osaka Presents PSO Carient T20 Cup match at Guyana National Stadium – 11am local time (10am Jamaica time) August 12-16: 1st Betway Test at Sabina Park – 10am Jamaica time (11am Eastern Caribbean) August 20-24: 2nd Betway Test at Sabina Park – 10am Jamaica time (11am Eastern Caribbean)

individuals. West Indies and Australia will lock horns for one final time today, Monday, July 26 from 14:30h in Bridgetown, Barbados.

total of 40 per cent capacity fully-vaccinated fans will be allowed to attend the West Indies and Pakistan T20 Internationals on July 31 and August 1 and 3 respectively at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. This was confirmed by the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry and the Health Ministry.

Tickets will be sold at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) office on Regent Street, but the date of commencement of ticket sales is still not yet confirmed.

The last time Guyanese witnessed international cricket at Providence was when West Indies played India in a T20I back in August 2019. Fullyvaccinated fans are those who have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine two weeks before the date of the matches.

Spectators would be required to wear face masks throughout these matches, and must present their national identification card and vaccination documentation upon arrival for admission to

the venue.

Officials of the Health Ministry and the National COVID-19 Task Force would be present to verify vaccination documentation. Tickets will be available for the three stands (Green, red, orange) only. No tickets would be made available for the grass mound, where there is a no-entry policy.

Like in other countries in the West Indies that saw the return of fans, persons under age 18 years would not be allowed entry, while a no re-entry policy would be in effect.

Other measures implemented for the three match days: Concession stands are not allowed, but persons will be roving to sell beverages Glass bottles of any kind are not allowed No firearms, knives, or sharp metal objects are permitted Tickets are US$20/ G$4000 for each match.

Stadium gates would be open at 07:30h to facilitate early admission and prevent congestion.

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

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

West Indies and Pakistan to play revised 4-match T20I series Pg 23

Page 22

Pg 23

40% fully-vaccinated fans to attend West Caribbean Cycling Championships Indies-Pakistan T20Is at Providence to pedal off on August 12 – commencement of ticket sales at GCB office unconfirmed

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