Guyana Times - Monday, June 14, 2021

P14

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Issue No. 4678

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

CDC to request flood assistance, including drainage pumps, from EU Page 3

...needs list sent to CDEMA; Barbados pledges assistance ...over 40,000 relief hampers distributed

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$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Farmer busted P12 with gun, ammo at Parika Backdam

WCD man stabbed after accusing neighbour of stealing P12 NWD woman chopped during argument with neighbour P2

Motion to remove Patterson as PAC Chair for debate today in National Assembly

Page 7

− Teixeira urges former Minister to do the right thing & resign

Region 6 flooding

Sections of Port Mourant inundated, causing residents to evacuate Page 14

Region 10 Vice Chairman dies from COVID-19

USSOUTHCOM lauds Guyana for hosting Exercise Tradewinds

Page 5

Page 9

− participants expected to assist Guyana with its flood relief

Human Services Ministry launches extensive P12 campaign targeting child beggars Teen remains in serious condition after being hit by speeding P12 minibus

Floodwaters in Kwakwani still “excessively high” – CDC P5 ...distributes another 1200 hampers to residents

2 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden men busted with cocaine, ganja during Police operations caine.

He was told of the allegation, cautioned and he said "Boss is lil crack I does hussle fuh a man but I can't call he name".

NWD woman chopped during argument with neighbour

The cocaine that was unearthed in Wismar, Linden

T

wo men, a 31-year-old and a 55-year-old are now in custody after they were found with a quantity of ganja and cocaine in their possession during separate Police operations.

The Police stated that on Saturday at about 14:30h at Co-op Crescent Mackenzie Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the 31-year-old male was found with 118 grams of cannabis.

Based on reports, members of an Anti-Crime Patrol observed the suspect acting

in a suspicious manner in Co-op Crescent Mackenzie and as such they approached him and, in an attempt to escape, he started to run.

In retaliation, the ranks gave chase and the man was cornered in the Mackenzie Market.

A search was conducted on his person and the ganja was unearthed in a black fanny pack that he was wearing around his shoulders.

He denied ownership but was cautioned, arrested and

He was arrested and escorted to the Wismar Police Station where he was charged. He is expected to make his court appearance shortly.

The ganja that was found in Mackenzie, Linden

escorted to Mackenzie Police Station with the cannabis which was weighed and amounted to 118 grams. He is expected to be charged in the new week.

Also, on Saturday at around 20:15h at Wismar, Linden, a 55-year-old male was taken into custody after he was found with 5 grams of cocaine.

Police stated that the discovery was made during a

Police operation for drugs, arms and ammunition at Silvertown, Wismar, Linden.

Based on information received, the Police went to “Tika Drug Block” where the 55-year-old male was seen and a search was conducted on his person.

One crazy glue container was found in the pocket of his pants which contained 70 pieces of a whitish rock-like substance suspected to be co-

A

45-year-old woman of Tasawini Village, North West District (NWD), was on Saturday chopped during an argument with her neighbour.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 15:00h, Inez Gouveia and the suspect, Martina Smith, were imbibing when a heated argument broke out between them during which Smith armed herself with a cutlass and chopped

Gouveia to the left arm.

The now injured woman managed to make her way to Pakera District Hospital, where she was treated and admitted a patient. Her condition is regarded as serious but stable.

The suspect was contacted, told of the allegation and cautioned, after which she admitted to committing the act. She remains in custody pending charges.

Plaisance youth shot after leaving house party

A

23-year-old man of Plaisance Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is now nursing a gunshot wound to his right foot after leaving a house party at Plaisance, ECD, in the wee hours of Sunday.

Based on reports received, at about 00:45h, the victim was at a house party in the Plaisance Squatting Area when he observed the suspect, with whom he had an old grievance.

The now injured man reportedly went to pour himself a drink when the suspect made it clear that he was in the wrong neighbourhood. As such, the suspect dealt him several slaps to the face. The suspect then held on to the victim and continued to assault him.

However, the victim managed to free himself and left the party. Police in a release to the media stated that as the victim was pro-

ceeding home, he saw the suspect coming after him.

Out of fear, he began to ride his bicycle faster but upon looking back, he saw the suspect pulling out a handgun. Soon after, he heard a loud explosion followed by a burning sensation to this right foot, which started to bleed.

The victim jumped off his bicycle and started to run but he fell into a trench.

He nevertheless managed to reach home and informed his mother about the incident, who in turn took him to Sparendaam Police Station and made a report.

He was escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted a patient. His condition is regarded as stable.

Checks were made for the suspect but he was not located and no spent shell was recovered. An investigation was launched into the shooting incident.

NEWS

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, June 14 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Tuesday, June 15 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, June 14 – 06:05h – 07:35h and Tuesday, June 15 – 06:50h – 08:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

CDC to request flood assistance, including drainage pumps, from EU ...needs list sent to CDEMA; Barbados pledges assistance ...over 40,000 relief hampers distributed

W

ith Guyana’s flooding being declared a national disaster, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is pulling out all the stops to coordinate assistance for Guyana, including approaching the European Union (EU) for assistance.

port.”

“Another application is to provide priority support, so we can identify pumps and some other elements and some of the other equipment necessary for a response. I’m just waiting for some approval at the highest level and

Sunshine will prevail during the day. There will be partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 06:41h and 19:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.53 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 12:47h reaching a minimum height of 0.69 metre.

Flooding in Guyana

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021

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FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021

DAILY MILLIONS

09 13 15 16 18 LUCKY 3

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7

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Afternoon Draw

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PAY DAY

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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

$72.69/barrel

Rough Rice

$231.17 /ton

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London Sugar

$451.30/ton

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Live Spot Gold

+0.23

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1864.80

$1865.80

Low/High Change

$1863.20 -13.00

$1879.00 -0.69%

This was confirmed by CDC Director, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig on the side lines of the opening of the Tradewinds exercise on Sunday. According to Craig, some 29,000 persons have been directly affected by the flooding across the country.

Additionally, he said the CDC has already distributed, in collaboration with all the regions, over 40,000 hampers including food and cleaning hampers. But according to Craig, the CDC needs all the help it can get, particularly in the heavily-hit disaster areas.

“It is a Level Two disaster with disaster areas being Region Two, Five, Six, Seven and 10. Those are the disaster areas that have been defined in the proclamation the President would have signed and gazette. The other regions, despite being impacted, are more at a Level Two impact.”

“Right now, a priority on our list are pumps to release excessive water, especially in the farming communities in Regions Five, Six and Two. Because of the level of water there, if you continue to have more rainfall, you can have more long term, greater destruction on the crops and livestock in that community.”

According to him, the CDC has approached both the EU under its Civil Protection Mechanism (CPM) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) for assistance. In the case of the EU, Craig explained that the CDC has made two applications earmarked for the EU, which will likely be sent by today once the greenlight is given.

“We’ve already completed the two applications. One application provides for real time flood mapping and GIS support. That would be able to give us a better understanding of impact across the country and other opportunities to provide priority sup-

those applications will be sent off by (today),” he said.

According to Craig, it would be impossible for him to say how long it will take since that mechanism is controlled by the EU. According to him, the CPM is a response mechanism and due to the urgency of Guyana’s needs, he was optimistic that the EU would understand the need for quick action.

CDEMA

When it comes to CDEMA, Craig explained that Guyana has already shared its needs list with the agency. With 19 participating states under CDEMA, it is expected that they will channel their support to Guyana through CDEMA based on this list. One benefit of CDEMA, Craig noted, is that it cuts down on excess aid which could overwhelm Guyana’s ports. Additionally, he said CDEMA will be sending a team to Guyana and that support has already been pledged by Barbados.

“What CDEMA has already committed to do and we’ve already completed the application and documentation, is to send a team to complete a detailed assessment, so we could understand what is happening in those five regions and to support the needs in those regions. And we’re hoping to have that type of support very soon… I have not received any direct country to country pledge except for Barbados,” Craig said.

The CDC later sent out a press release elaborating on CDEMA’s role and the meeting on Saturday between the agency and National Disaster Coordinators (NDCs), of which the CDC was one.

Suriname, which has also been affected by flooding, was also represented at the meeting. According to the CDC, Guyana was commended for the effective updating of its needs list.

“Both countries were asked whether there is a list of organisations to which relief

CDC Director, Lt Colonel Kester Craig

items can be consigned, and whether duty-free concessions were being offered to these organisations since there was an issue in a Member State where containers purporting to transport relief items were found to be carrying personal items,” the statement said.

“Lt Colonel Craig explained that in Guyana’s case, the CDC is not providing concession to items shipped to any organisation, adding that the Commission encourages a Coordinated Approach where supplies are handed over to the CDC for packaging then distributed to residents through local Government bodies.”

According to the statement, Guyana’s request for technical assistance in the form of sectoral damage assessment teams to assess the five severely impacted regions has been acknowledged by CDEMA. “The regional disaster body further urged Guyana and Suriname to start looking at recovery planning which is critical to accessing financing and livelihood planning,” the release further said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 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

Dealing with lagging boys T

en thousand children wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) mock exams in Guyana last week and the question was what happened to the other 4000 or so who failed to participate. But there should be another, even more fundamental question that should have been raised: whither our boys?

Over the last two decades, the Common Entrance/NGSA cohort were distributed almost evenly between boys and girls. Extrapolating from the results over that period, one can predict that at least 70 per cent of the top performers at the scheduled sitting will be girls. This discrepancy in educational performance continues throughout the educational system, not only in Guyana, but across the Caribbean. The phenomenon is extending into other spheres of social life, but we will focus on education in this editorial.

These results are directly opposite of those obtained in surveys at the time of independence in the sixties. Females then, of course, were not expected to ‘compete’ with males across the educational spectrum and in fact, their ‘place’ was expected to be ‘in the home’. Female enrolment beyond the primary levels was minuscule. However, as the drive for gender equality kicked off in the same decade, female enrolment did not just inch upwards but their performance began to gradually surpass males at all levels.

By 1990, the drop-off in male performance in the educational sector, both relatively and absolutely, led to a slew of studies in the Region to explain and hopefully rectify the growing imbalance. It was perhaps a sign of the times that the lag in female performance in preceding decades never evoked the same universal concerns. However, even though the study of the phenomenon had become a veritable cottage industry, none of the subsequent interventions – replacing “tests” by “assessments”, single-sex schools, etc, seems to have made a dent in stemming the tide, much less reversing it.

However, the consensus of the studies, that the falling male performance in schools is a consequence of the broader pattern of their socialisation as ‘males’ should have sensitised policymakers to the need for a wider, more holistic approach.

It is sometimes forgotten that prior to independence, the percentage of males attending high school, while higher than girls, was very small in absolute terms. The introduction of compulsory and universal enrolment brought in a huge number of boys who were not socialised into the ‘sit and listen’ ethos of the school system.

Girls, on the other hand, with that attitude already normalised over the centuries, fitted in quite well and the results have been commensurate. Secondly, with the growth of feminist thinking, it became acceptable for girls to enter and compete in fields that were traditionally ‘male’ while there was no comparable push for boys to enter the traditional ‘feminine’ ones. This was especially noticeable in the teaching profession itself, which is now overwhelmingly dominated by females.

This lack of male role models at this crucial stage of development simply added to the pressures on boys to ‘measure’ up. One growing reaction has been their assumption of a hyper-masculine ‘pose’ that revels in under-performing in ‘girly’ activities such as ‘school work’. Another has been the aggression by boys against female teachers in an evident rebellion to being labelled as ‘failures’. All of these reactions are fed and encouraged by the dominant Dancehall lyrics that extol machismo through misogynic put-downs of females.

As far as interventions are concerned, as we have intimated, there will be no silver bullets to the problem of boys underperforming in schools. But in terms of pedagogy, it must be accepted that boys and girls learn in different ways. This is not a sexist statement, but one guided by modern research.

Boys need to be much more physically involved in the learning process and as such, programmes must be designed to cater for these differential aptitudes.

On the other hand, we must not throw out the baby with the bath water and in any way, shape or form, hold back girls.

In fact, they must be encouraged to enter fields such as science and mathematics where they still are a minority.

Exercise Tradewinds 2021 was on Sunday officially opened at the Drill Square, Base Camp Ayanganna. Military representatives from 14 nations are currently in Guyana for the exercise, which is essentially Caribbean-focused and designed to help participants better respond to natural disasters, and land and maritime threats

Revitalisation of the sugar industry is a must

Dear Editor, No one can argue with what was recently reported in the press, that is, the findings of the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO), that “… has pointed to an increase in the rates of suicide, crime, and alcohol consumption in communities that relied heavily on the sugar estates for their livelihood that were closed by the coalition Government.” In fact, the day before, I did read a letter in one of the dailies, that the planned reopening of the Enmore Sugar Estate will redound into a better society.

It is universally accepted that “being unemployed is associated with a two-fold to three-fold increased relative risk of death by suicide, compared with being employed.”

Locally, the ILO stat-

ed that “Entire communities were sent into depression.” This was the emphatic conclusion of local economist, Dr Thomas B Singh, who authored the socio-economic impact study, which was sponsored by the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO).

I need to emphasise that this is not some whimsical “guess work”. The findings cover at least 5000 sugar workers, their families, and their communities. These workers, as we all recall, in 2016 and 2017, were callously dismissed by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, when they closed the sugar estates at Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon. This widespread closure, as the report pointed out, “…was also so disruptive to those economies, that the house-

holds of many of the affected workers could have been driven into poverty traps.”

The actual money stats read quite frighteningly: “…weekly household income had fallen by 64 per cent, from an average of G$32,238 to G$18,450.” Let us bear in mind that “…the majority of dismissed workers were fathers, who were the sole breadwinners of their families.”

So, the APNU/AFC, without a doubt, wrecked not only the daily lives of these workers in a financial way, but made negative inroads in the student children population, whose education, at a young age, had to be seriously compromised, and maybe permanently so.

I need not belabour the point, but suffice it to say that a Crudele report states that in the United States,

“Every one per cent rise in unemployment leads to 40,000 deaths.” These deaths, it was pointed out, had nothing to do with the COVID-19 virus and a distressed economy.”

I add that unemployment has both individual and social consequences that require public policy interventions. For the individual, unemployment can cause psychological distress, which can lead to a decline in life satisfaction.

It can also lead to mood disorders and substance abuse.

I must commend the Government for its immediate intervention, in revitalising sugar and estate employment, on assuming office. This must be pursued until all the estates are fully operating.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

PPP takes action in Parliament is back spite of injustices Dear Editor, When I saw the news on what our esteemed Attorney General did concerning Walter Rodney of the WPA, at first, I was surprised that this was a priority for the Administration. This step to honour Rodney is one that our (AG and I) schoolmate Crum-Ewing would also be proud of if he was here.

After all, it was the WPA’s leadership that made the call and implemented the shutdown in the sugar industry that affected so many of our Indian

families and communities across the country. The Ali Administration continues to show that they are willing and able to take the high road and look beyond the callous acts of the vengeful few.

Clearly, this Administration will also be capable of bringing the much-needed closure to the Mackenzie massacre that has left a nasty mark on our nation. Only time will tell.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Dear Editor, It is good to see and hear our parliamentarians debate issues instead of picking at personalities. I was impressed with the order of the parliamentary session on Thursday last. It had all the things of a traditional Parliament mixed in with the modern scene.

The Speaker was in full charge of the Assembly and the business for the day.

One parliamentarian who took home the prize for best debate and good speech was the Senior Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

Singh was masterful throughout the debate on the Opposition motion about

shore-bases and land.

It was particularly interesting for me, how the Minister showed the hypocrisy and double standard, and untruths spread by the other side to hide their dealings in the oil and gas sector especially with the signing bonus.

I am looking forward to this continuing without the rancour, hate, ethnic clashes, and political talkingheads. This sitting may go down in history as the most normal session of the Twelfth Parliament. I hope I didn’t talk too fast.

With regards, Baldeo Mathura

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

5

News

Region 10 Vice Chairman dies from COVID-19

M

ere days after being tested positive for COVID-19, Vice Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Douglas Gittens died on Sunday from complications caused by the deadly virus.

Guyana Times understands that Gittens died Sunday while undergoing treatment at the Upper Demerara Hospital in Wismar, Linden. He was hospitalised on Friday after complaining of feeling unwell.

The Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) disclosed that Gittens experienced symptoms including loss of taste, and as

“ V i c e such he went to take a C h a i r m a n COVID-19 test, which Gittens is reproved positive. He membered as was subsequently ada very friendly mitted. and approachThe RDC had preable person who viously indicated that shared his afwith the advent of the fable character floods, the late Vice in interactions Chairman had travwith persons elled to various areas from all walks of in the region includlife and in coming the heavily-hit munities across logging community of Region 10. One Kwakwani to assist of his last work with relief efforts and assignments was subsequently reportto deliver food ed feeling unwell.

Dead: Region 10 Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens and other supIn a subsequently plies to the peomissive, the RDC on ment to public service, while Sunday hailed Gittens for extending condolences to ple of sub-region 2 including his dedication and commit- Gittens’s family and friends. Kwakwani and Landersville,

which formed part of his direct responsibility, to assist in relief efforts and subsequently reported feeling unwell,” the Council stated.

Gittens was a teacher of the Mackenzie High School and also served as a Regional Councillor, representing the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

Following his death on Sunday, numerous officials had taken to social media to express grief over his passing.

Meanwhile, the coalition also expressed condolences to Gittens’s mother and family members.

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon in a Sunday statement described Gittens as a tireless worker, who dutifully served the people of Region 10 to his last day.

“I am in a state of shock and am deeply saddened having learnt of the sudden passing of Mr Douglas Gittens… His positive personality and contribution to the advancement of Region 10 will be sorely missed and the void he leaves will be a challenge to fill. The APNU/ AFC coalition will examine ways in which his legacy will be honoured and these will be announced in due course,” Harmon posited.

TURN TO PAGE 7

Floodwaters in Kwakwani still “excessively high” – CDC ...distributes another 1200 hampers to residents

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Saturday posited that the floodwaters in Kwakwani, Region 10 is “excessively high” thus resulting in homes in the community being completely submerged.

As such, CDC personnel are managing the shelters in the region, and are monitoring evacuation and relief distribution.

Six shelters have been established in Region 10 at the Hururu Day Care Centre and Forestry Compound, Kwakwani Primary and Secondary Schools, Mapletown Aroaima (Nursery and Primary Schools) and the Rockstone Primary School.

These shelters are provid-

Hampers delivered to flood-affected Kwakwani, Region 10

ing accommodation for 135 persons.

Shelters have also been established at the Barama Building, Karawab (Region Two), Mortice Primary School (Region Five) and

Tabatinga Sports Complex (Region Nine).

Altogether, the shelters are accommodating 205 persons who have been displaced by flooding.

However, on Saturday,

another 1200 food hampers were distributed to residents.

As of Friday, the CDC has distributed 39,564 food and cleaning hampers countrywide. This includes some 21,735 food and 17,829 cleaning hampers. Of that amount, 6335 hampers have been delivered to Region 10.

Apart from Region 10, the CDC is also monitoring the water levels in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

As the flooding persists, all Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) are tasked with reporting the situation on the ground to the CDC daily, to ensure its response is timely, and to determine the kind of support needed.

The CDC is liaising with

One of the houses that is completely submerged in Kwakwani

all RDCs, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and regional and city engineers to ensure immediate relief is provided to flood-affected

people.

The National Weather Watch Centre has already predicted continued above normal rainfall, with the wet season ending in August.

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Questions 1

Friday’s answers

By Emily Dickinson

Wild nights - Wild nights!

Were I with thee Wild nights should be Our luxury!

B

ased on the sculpture, titled “Headington Shark”, created by artist John Buckley, we challenge you to create or find a creature to dive into the roof of a building you create.

Here is how: Find an old cardboard box. Tape it shut.

Place it and tape it to the top of the box.

Find or make a critter and punch it through the roof! (archkidecture.org)

Futile - the winds To a Heart in port Done with the Compass Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden Ah - the Sea! Might I but moor - tonight In thee!

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Motion to remove Patterson as PAC Chair for debate today in National Assembly –Teixeira urges former Minister to do the right thing & resign

I

t is expected that when the National Assembly convenes today, it will be to debate a motion to approve the removal of APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament David Patterson, as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The motion, which is being piloted by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, is seeking Patterson’s removal on the grounds that he “has consistently and openly violated the Standing Orders and has introduced a level of bullyism unbefitting of a Member of Parliament, and, in doing so, bringing the image of the National Assembly into disrepute.”

The motion also notes that “as a result of Mr David Patterson’s conduct as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee with respect to his open violation of the Standing Orders, among other things, in particular since February 1, the majority of the members of the Public Accounts Committee have lost confidence in him as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.”

The Minister told the state media on Sunday that while removing a Chairperson of a parliamentary standing committee is rare, it does happen and therefore there is precedent for the former Public Infrastructure Minister’s removal.

“The whole view that this is something that the PPP, and me as the Minister, is

The motion for Patterson’s removal will be heard before the National Assembly

doing something wrong and that this doesn’t happen in Parliaments is untrue.

There are instances in the various Parliaments over the decades of Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees being removed based on, in many cases, what are… allegations or criticisms to do with impropriety and matters connected with what may be considered corruption.”

It was pointed out by Teixeira that Patterson has been refusing to comply with instructions from both the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly, even though they sought independent legal advice on his appointment. According to her, the situation is mind-boggling.

“I have never seen a situation where a Chairperson or a Member of Parliament refuses to obey an instruction of the Speaker and vi-

olate the Standing Orders massively and still continues to remain there.”

The Minister noted that the actions have meant that meetings of the PAC have not been convened, thereby blocking scrutiny of the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2016 to 2019, years the coalition was in office. It is this standstill that has led to the motion before the House as a last resort.

The motion had been set for debate at last Thursday’s meeting but never came up after protracted presentations from Opposition MPs on another motion that Mr Patterson had brought before the House. According to Teixeira, she expects the Opposition to try the same tactic today.

“We’re not going to be intimidated by that. I expect the motion will come up to remove Patterson, and it will be debated until it’s fin-

ished, and if that takes us to 12, 1 o’clock in the morning, then so be it.”

“I hear rumblings from the Opposition that even if the motion passes, they are going to try and elect

him for every sitting (of the PAC). I wish just to inform the public that a Resolution of the House, in this case, the removal of Patterson as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, means he can never be Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee unless the Resolution is amended in the future or rescinded by a motion in the House.”

Patterson was nominated and declared Chair when the PAC met on December 28 last. However, at its sixth meeting on February 1, the examination of the 2016 Auditor General’s Report revealed several concerning expenditures from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which Patterson had led during the period under review.

A motion was first moved by Minister Teixeira urging him to step down as

Chairperson. Following his refusal to do so, another was introduced calling for his resignation as Chair while remaining a committee member. The intention was that another Opposition member of the PAC be the Chairperson instead.

The motion requires a simple majority to pass. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) holds 33 seats in the National Assembly, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition 31, and the joinder list of small parties one seat.

“If I were Mr Patterson, or if I were any Member of Parliament that was in the position that the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee was in, I would resign just in order to retain some sense of dignity and integrity,” Minister Teixeira said.

Region 10 Vice Chairman...

The Vice Chairman had tested positive after taking the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on May 27. But the RDC reminded that health officials have stated clearly that the first dose of the vaccine does not protect you against contracting the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. It added that full protection against the disease is expected 14 days after a person would have taken their second dose and is fully vaccinated.

Gittens’s death comes on the heels of Region 10 lagging severely behind in

terms of having its adult population vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Only Thursday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony told the National Assembly that only 13 per cent of the adult population in the Upper DemeraraBerbice region was vaccinated and called for efforts to be redoubled in order to get more residents there to take their shots.

Against this backdrop, Harmon on Sunday implored persons to get vaccinated.

“I take this opportuni-

FROM PAGE 5

ty to implore all Guyanese to not become complacent and to intensify their efforts in observing all COVID-19 measures and make your best efforts to get vaccinated if you have not yet gotten the vaccine,” the Opposition Leader urged.

Gittens is the second Regional Councillor from the Upper Demerara-Berbice region who has died from the novel coronavirus.

Gem Narine, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor in Region 10 died on April 13, 2021, after contracting the deadly virus.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pensioner appeals 60-year jail sentence for murdering brother-in-law

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Convicted killer: Les Charles Critchlow

ixty-five-year-old Les Charles Critchlow who was sentenced back in March to 60 years’ imprisonment for murdering his brother-in-law has moved to the Court of Appeal (CoA) to challenge his conviction and jail term. He argued that his trial was unfair.

Critchlow was found guilty of the capital offence by a jury following a trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara. On May 12, 2016, in the county of Demerara, he murdered Terrence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy”.

At a sentencing hearing, the convicted killer had expressed remorse, saying that he was “sorry” while begging the Judge for leniency. For his part, Justice Singh said this was a very unfortunate case. The Judge noted that the convicted killer had expressed no genuine remorse.

Reports are that 56-year-old Adams of Haslington, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death by his brotherin-law, who was armed with a knife, during a heated argument. His cause of death was given as multiple incise wounds.

At the time of his demise, Adams operated a small rum shop at his res-

Hypocrisy...

W Dead: Terrence Adams

idence. The defence team was led by Attorney-at-Law Rachael Bakker, while the State was represented by Attorney-at-Law Tiffini Lyken. The prosecutor had described Adams’s killing as an “unprovoked and vicious” attack.

...and PNC/APNU coalition ell, who said the PNC’s coalition fig leaf was ripped away with the departure of the WPA and JFAP leaving their nakedness exposed? As Burnham once said, “if you kill this Rasta, another one will take its place!” And so said, so done. One upping the two erstwhile exited “parties” – each with a literal handful of members (all EXECUTIVES though!!) – the PNC has replaced them with a one-woman-party and a oneman-party!! You may accuse the PNC of many sins (the mind boggles!) ,but don’t accuse them of sex bias on this occasion! Gender-bias? Maybe!

And who said the Sanctimonious Gangster doesn’t have a sense of irony? The WPA and JFAP knew they were paper organisations that, along with Keith Scott’s National Front Alliance (NFA), just gave the PNC an opportunity to say with a straight face it was in a coalition! But as happens in these matters, the pipsqueaks soon started believing their own BS and started to think they represented hordes of warm bodies out there!!

Granger knew they had nowhere to go...since all of their members...oops! EXECUTIVES!... had been given well-compensated sinecures! And, of course, THEY knew they had nowhere to go...save into oblivion! So they put their tails between their legs and slunk back into their corners when Granger pi55ed all over them for five years!!

‘Cause when did they finally leave? When it was clear the PNC had lost the elections!! Talk about rats deserting a sunk ship!!

So the son of the two-person-man-and-wife JFAP and the daughter of the all-executive WPA were duly declared

by APNU to have respectively launched the “Equal Rights and Justice Party” (ERJP) and “Guyana Nation Builders Movement” (GNBM) and immediately applied for membership. It was more than passing strange that even the “founders” of the parties hadn’t bothered to even issue a press release on their ventures.

If a party is “launched” but no one is told, does it exist?

At least the precedent they’re trying to follow – Craig Sylvester launching his Democratic National Congress – showed up at the Public Library and introduced himself since there was no one at his side! Ah well...the PNC said their applications for membership were immediately accepted – evidently without the negotiations that brought the AFC into their fold!! But then the two scions were known quantities, weren’t they? The son of JFAP had declared he had a dream in which God told him, “Jai, Jaii, Jaiii…Follow your father…David (Granger)”!! And the daughter of the WPA had broken ranks with HER party to remain as Granger’s unilaterally chosen MP! Greater love hath no man or woman than who’d betray their parents!! Or stab them in their backs! ...and political betrayal The all-executive WPA is miffed that Granger said they jumped the APNU ship when they didn’t get the appointments they wanted. How dare he? Wasn’t he aware they were men of the highest integrity? Hadn’t they proven that when they’d closed their eyes (and probably held their noses) when they entered into the coalition with the PNC – even as the CoI had just announced that the said PNC had assassinated their former comrade Rodney?

Then again, even though they knew it was a matter of the national record that Rodney had opposed the PPP when the latter wanted to include the PNC in a Govt of National Unity, they insisted Rodney this time around would’ve approved their coalition. Why? Because the PNC had dropped its rigging ways!! “What is not so well known is his (Rodney’s) acceptance that a PNC that embraces free and fair elections as normative and eschews dictatorship must be part of Guyana’s political solution.”!!

They will now assassinate the man’s principled stance on the party that murdered him! ...and unsportsmanlike conduct In their riposte to Granger, the WPA executives really went to town on the poor guy. Weren’t they ever taught it’s not fair to kick a fella when he’s down?

They claimed Granger had an “unfraternal attitude”!

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

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

USSOUTHCOM lauds Guyana for hosting Exercise Tradewinds − participants expected to assist Guyana with its flood relief

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uyana was on Sunday lauded for hosting the Tradewinds joint military exercise which officially kicked off with a simple ceremony at Camp Ayangana and will see the participation of militaries from 14 countries around the world.

According to the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Director of Exercises and Coalition Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Bostick, it is commendable that Guyana agreed to host the exercise and so many persons were able to put their heads together to plan the initiative.

“We will always strive to make sure that we’re building partnerships, teaming with our partners and in this case, give a special thanks to Guyana for hosting Tradewinds 2021. It’s a big endeavour, so thanks for all the joint forces. Coast guard, navy, marines, air force, army, the defence forces from all the different countries,” Bostwick said.

On the other hand, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier General Godfrey Bess described the exercise as a multi-dimensional one.

He lauded the participating countries for braving the COVID-19 pandemic to come out in their numbers, but reminded that COVID protocols will still be in place so that everyone remains safe.

“Tradewinds 2021 is a multi-dimensional exercise that involves troops from the Caribbean, North and South America and Europe.

It is definitely good when partnering nations come together like this so we can be able to train and partner together,” he said.

According to Bess, it is also possible that the participating militaries will even help in flood relief efforts across Guyana in the way of logistics. Guyana’s flood situation was recently declared a national disaster by President Dr Irfaan Ali. “That is possible in terms of logistics. I’m almost certain that we would have them incorporated in our logistics. Airlift, assisting us to get items into the flood-affected areas, for example. It would basically be the items we have at the CDC and over the period, have been accumulating,” Bess said.

Military representatives from 14 nations are cur-

conducted in collaboration with the US Coast Guard Cutter Stone, which was at the time in the region for a multi-country tour.

In September, Blinken’s predecessor as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had visited Guyana and signed a maritime patrol pact with officials in Guyana to guard against narcotics and other regional security threats.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had explained that the maritime pact would see joint patrols to interdict narcotics trafficking. The President had also noted that it would allow for the improvement of technical and human capabilities in monitoring Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

GDF Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess (centre) flanked by senior officers of other participating militaries

rently in Guyana for the exercise which is essentially Caribbean-focused and designed to help participants better respond to natural disasters and land and maritime threats. Exercise Tradewinds is sponsored by USSOUTHCOM. With the Caribbean region as its focus, Exercise Tradewinds is designed to help prepare participating nations to be able to better respond to natural disasters, as well as land and maritime threats.

In January, during the signing of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with Commander of the US Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, Bess had explained that Guyana was in a region prone to natural hazards and man-made threats which have the potential to undermine security.

Aside from natural disasters, the GDF Head had explained that terrorism, trafficking in arms, narcotics and human trafficking undermine the rule of law and corrupt youths and institutions, resulting in threats to regional security and stability.

He had further highlighted that defence cooperation also contributed to the enhancement of professionalism and training of military officers, noting that the GDF would participate in the an-

nual “Exercise Tradewinds”.

Earlier this year, the GDF Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard had commenced the first of a series of joint exercises as part of the operationalisation of the Shiprider Agreement ratified by the two countries in 2020.

This exercise took place off the coast of Guyana and focused mainly on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The activity was

Director of Exercises and Coalition Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Bostick

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rice farmer stabbed 4 arrested for attempting to rob by drunken relative Campbellville businessman

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64-year-old rice farmer is now hospitalised after he was reportedly stabbed by a 40-year-old carpenter at Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), in the wee hours of Saturday.

Police stated that the victim and the suspect are relatives and the suspect would regularly visit the victim's residence.

On the day in question, the suspect went to the victim's house under the influence of alcohol and behaved in a disorderly manner.

At the time, he was armed with a knife and as such, he dealt the victim three stabs - two to his chest and one to his left arm.

The victim was then taken to the Suddie Public Hospital by other relatives

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where he was seen and examined by a doctor who treated and admitted him a patient. His condition is regarded as stable.

The suspect was arrested and placed into custody pending further investigations.

Only on Wednesday last a 40-year-old woman walked into the Sparendaam Police Station with a knife in her hand, confessing that she had just stabbed her part-

ner.

The woman told investigators that she was imbibing with some friends at a location on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) when her reputed husband showed up and started to physically assault her. In retaliation, she reportedly stabbed him twice.

The man is currently hospitalised while the woman has been taken into custody.

23-year-old man and his three accomplices were taken into Police custody on Thursday after they reportedly attempted to rob a Campbellville, Georgetown businessman.

Based on information received, on the day in question between 17:50h to 19:00h, an intelligence-led sting operation led to the arrest of the 23-year-old male in Campbellville, Georgetown, for attempting to commit a robbery.

During that time, Police

searched the suspect and unearthed an axe, a knife, 12 grams of cannabis and two iPhones. He was told of the allegation and cautioned.

The suspect cooperated with the Police.

He then led Police ranks to John Smith Street Campbellville, where a second suspect was arrested in front of his yard.

A search was conducted on his motorcycle and home, and a quantity of ganja was found along with two iPhones that were suspected to

have been stolen.

The two other suspects were also in the area and were promptly arrested.

They were taken to Brickdam Police Station where the first suspect gave a written statement under caution, admitting that he was attempting to rob an identified businessman.

He further stated that the others who were arrested were part of the plot to commit the robbery. They remain in custody and are assisting with investigations.

22:00h, Gounga retired to bed and never woke up. Her body was discovered on Friday morning at about 08:00h by her relatives.

The Police were contacted and an investiga-

tion was launched. There were reportedly no marks of violence about her body.

Gounga’s body was escorted to the Pakera District Hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Woman found dead days after complaining of feeling unwell

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he lifeless body of a 32-year-old housewife was discovered in her home after she allegedly became unwell after imbibing alcohol at a “rum shop” located at Minad village, Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).

The woman has been identified as Jacqueline Gounga.

Police in a statement on Saturday said Gounga was reportedly an alcoholic, and on Tuesday last, she was seen at a drinking spot at Minad.

She was reportedly consuming high wine.

She subsequently fell ill and on Thursday at about

NEWS

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud cases

Mingo, Lawrence and Joseph to go on trial from August 27

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he trial of embattled Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence, and APNU/ AFC’s activist Carol JosephSmith who are accused of electoral fraud will commence on August 27, 2021, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Back in April, the Chief Magistrate ruled in favour of submissions by the prosecution for the charges against the trio to be disposed of summarily. The prosecution has already made full disclosure of statements to the defendants.

The first charge alleged that on March 5, 2020, with intent to defraud, Lawrence and Mingo uttered a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, knowing same to be forged.

It is further alleged that on March 13, 2020, Mingo and Joseph uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, knowing that the report was forged. It is also alleged that on the said date, Joseph conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four.

Over the past week, the Guyana Police Force

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

filed an additional charge against Mingo, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, and Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers. The case will be called again on June 29, 2021, before Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

That charge states that between March 2, 2020, and August 2, 2020, at Georgetown, Lowenfield, Mingo, and Myers conspired with each other and together with Lawrence; SmithJoseph; Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Elections Officer Sherfern February; GECOM’s Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan and GECOM clerks Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller, and others, to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes cast for the Regional Elections of

March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Besides this, Lowenfield is facing three counts of misconduct in public office and three counts of forgery concerning the National Elections. Mingo is facing three counts of misconduct in public office. Myers, on the other hand, has been slapped with two charges for misconduct in public office.

In February, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) will be conducted into the two counts of misconduct in public office against the DCEO to decide whether there is sufficient evidence for the matters to be tried at the High Court in Demerara. The prosecution, at that time, signalled its intention of challenging the Magistrate’s decision in the High Court.

Given the magnitude of the allegations levelled against Mingo, Myers, Lawrence, Joseph, and Lowenfield, their lawyers are of the view that the High Court would be the best forum for the matters. There are also electoral fraud charges against Bob-Cummings, Miller, February, and Livan. All those charged have been released on monetary bail pending their trial.

Earlier this month, three PPP/C GECOM Commissioners who are all Attorneys-at-Law tabled motions before GECOM’s Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh for the dismissal of Lowenfield

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence

and Myers. Justice Singh has since written to both Lowenfield and Myers asking them to provide, in writing, responses to the motion indicating why they should

not be dismissed from their substantive posts.

They have until June 15 to do so.

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How he arrived at those figures is still unknown. The certified results from the recount exercise supervised

by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting District – in favour of the then caretaker APNU/

APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph

AFC regime. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, has hired a team of lawyers to prosecute these electoral fraud cases on the State’s behalf.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Human Services Ministry launches extensive campaign targeting child beggars − says child labour calls for more than formulation of policies, legislation, and programmes responsibility, Minister Persaud noted the need for the line to be drawn on exploiting them and putting them in the labour force when money and power are involved.

“That is when it becomes wrong. It is a crime, it leads to poverty, and it leads to deprivation of education, social exclusion, psychological trauma, and harm and it can lead to the worst forms of abuse of

children,” she pointed out.

She thanked all of the Ministry partners, notably UNICEF and other Government Ministries for their support in addressing issues that affect children, and called on parents who cannot adequately provide for their children to reach out to the CPA. “We are moving on an extensive campaign to target what is happening on the streets. Many children

can be seen asking for money. What we want you to do is to report it. We will get them off the streets and we will work with their families to keep them at home.

Sometimes because we are filled with compassion, we want to help that child immediately. You can help them by reporting it and moving him out of that situation and risk of abuse.

That’s how you help,” she stressed.

WCD man stabbed after accusing neighbour of stealing Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud with Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton (second, left), Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen (first, left), and Deputy Director of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Irfan Akhtar at the head table

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he Human Services and Social Security Ministry has embarked on an extensive campaign to target children begging at street corners and traffic light junctions across Georgetown.

This was revealed on Friday by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who disclosed that this is part of the Ministry’s efforts to eradicate child labour and remove children from situations that can harm and exploit them.

Minister Persaud was at the time delivering remarks at the Labour Ministry’s launch of World Day Against Child Labour.

The event was also attended by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, Deputy

Director of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Irfan Akhtar, Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) Ann Greene, representatives of International Labour Organisation (ILO), religious and union leaders, and other stakeholders.

During her remarks, Minister Persaud called attention to the simple, powerful, and motivating theme for this year’s observance, being: “Act Now: End Child Labour!” While child labour is visible in Guyana, Minister Persaud noted that it could be the attitude of disinterest, dismissal, and acceptance that allows the scourge to be something that has become so entrenched.

To end child labour, then, she said it calls for more than the formulation of policies, legislation, and programmes.

“It is the collectivity of action. That means when we see it, we need to report it… and ensure that we keep following up again and again until we do not see that child as part of the labour force,” she urged, even as she called attention to how challenged some parents are when it comes to accessing jobs and providing for their children.

She urged those listening to act tangibly so that they can look back and see that they have made an impact, even in the life of one child. While not dismissing the importance of getting children involved in home chores and giving them

Teen remains in serious condition after being hit by speeding minibus

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ixteen-year-old V i s hw a n aut h Doodnauth of Lot 126 Dr Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was struck down by a minibus along the Mon Repos Public Road about a week ago has been discharged from the hospital but he is not showing signs of improvement.

His grandmother, Hansrajie Jagrup, told Guyana Times on Sunday that her grandson’s condition remains the same.

“He is still not responding; he is moving his eyes a little bit. He was discharged from the hospital and still not moving and so. Tomorrow (today) we have to take him back to the hospital to do another scan,” she said.

The family is still hopeful that the teen recovers soon.

It was reported that on the day of the accident, Doodnauth and his younger

Injured: Vishwanauth Doodnauth

brother were on separate bicycles riding home when he was struck by the speeding minibus.

As a result of the collision, the teenager fell onto the roadway and sustained injures about his body.

Police said the minibus

stopped and several persons exited to render assistance but while doing so, the driver sped away. The said minibus was found abandoned on the Mon Repos Public Road with damages consistent with the accident.

The teenager was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suffering from intracranial haemorrhage (bleeding in the skull).

The following day, the owner of the minibus, Quincy Trotman, 37, of Dochfour Housing Scheme, ECD, turned up at the Beterverwagting Police Station where he identified himself as the driver of the minibus at the time of the accident.

The Police are yet to institute charges.

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West Coast Demerara (WCD) man has been hospitalised after he was stabbed several times about this body by his neighbour.

Injured is 29-year-old Davindra Harrikissoon of Edinburgh, Anna Catherina, WCD. The incident occurred sometime around 16:30h at the No 2 Koker, Anna Catherina.

Based on Police reports,

Harrikissoon and the suspect were at the koker in the village when an argument broke out between them after the now injured man accused the suspect of stealing his brother’s music box.

The suspect became annoyed, picked up two glass bottles and stabbed Harrikissoon about his body before making good his escape.

The matter was reported at the Leonora Police Station,

and the injured man was escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. He was treated by a doctor for stab wounds to his back, chest, navel area and above the left eye.

Harrikissoon was later transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

His condition is listed as stable.

Meanwhile, checks were made for the suspect but he was not located. An investigation is in progress.

Farmer busted with gun, ammo at Parika Backdam

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olice in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) on Sunday unearthed a .32 pistol and 11 matching rounds of ammunition.

The discovery was made at Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo. Police say the firearm and ammunition were found during a search of a farmer’s home at Parika Backdam.

The man has claimed ownership of the firearm, while also confessing that he had discharged a round in the air the night before, the Police said.

As such, he was arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue.

Pedestrian injured after being struck by drunken driver

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pedestrian was on Saturday evening rushed to the emergency unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital after she was reportedly struck down by a drunk driver along the Rupert Craig Highway, Greater Georgetown. The injured woman has been identified as 28-year-old Shevorna Rhyna.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 23:30h a motor car bearing registration number PYY 962 was proceeding along the Rupert

Craig Highway and whilst in the vicinity of Conversation Tree Road, it is alleged by the driver that the traffic light signal was showing green and as such, he continued his journey.

However, while doing so, he told Police, he saw a female suddenly attempting to cross the road and she ended up in the vicinity of rightside front of the vehicle.

As a result of the collision, Rhyna fell onto the road’s surface and received injuries about her body and was later picked up in a con-

scious state by EMT personnel and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit where she was treated and admitted a patient suffering from a broken left leg and injuries to the head.

The driver was arrested and a breathalyser test was conducted which proved that he was over the prescribed limit of alcohol consumption.

The injured woman is reportedly in a stable condition. An investigation is underway.

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Housing Ministry slams misinformation about house lot distributions in Region 2 – says another 350 lots are expected to be distributed this month

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he Housing and Water Ministry has refuted allegations regarding the allocation of house lots in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The misinformation which was circulated on social media is disappointing and was created to cause public mischief.

The Minister reiterat-

As such, the Ministry stated that 110 house lots were allocated in Region 2 for the period 2015-2020. In fact, these allocations were done in 2019. In May of 2019, one lot was allocated in Onderneeming Phase II and 20 in Onderneeming Phase III; in October 2019, one lot was allocated in Charity and 44 in Onderneeming

Phase II; in November 2019, 44 lots were allocated in Onderneeming Phase II. The Ministry added that no house lot was distributed during 2015-2020 in Onderneeming Phase I. Since August 2020, the Ministry through CHPA has allocated 350 house lots in Region 2. A similar amount will be handed out within

the month. This is far in excess of what was allocated between 2015 to 2020 by the APNU/AFC coalition.

“We urge citizens to seek out information from credible sources and to not be swayed by desperate persons who for 5 years did nothing to significantly reduce the demand for housing in Region No. 2,” the Ministry

in a missive to the media stated.

The Housing and Water Ministry said it will continue to engage citizens and the relevant agencies in addressing the existing challenges within the system, as well as implement new policies and interventions for a more expeditious and transparent process.

Orlando La Cruz.

It was reported that on the day in question, La Cruz was lying in a hammock at his mining camp when Abrams and another man, Joseph Kerr, visited. They began consuming alcohol. It was reported that shortly after, Kerr asked the now dead man to perform oral sex on him.

Convicted killer: Eustace Abrams However, when he refused, they the cartridge to load a shotgot into an argument during gun. Kerr shot La Cruz to which Abrams gave Kerr the neck after which he and

Abrams made good their escape. La Cruz was later discovered in the hammock bleeding. He was rushed to the Matthews Ridge District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

After four years on the run, Kerr was arrested and charged with La Cruz’s murder in May 2021. A probation report revealed that Abrams, a pork-knocker of Matthews Ridge, is the sole breadwinner for his family.

Although he was found guilty, a probation officer said that Abrams continued to maintain his innocence, stating that he did not shoot the man. Notwithstanding, the probation officer said that Abrams has expressed regret for the loss of a life.

According to the probation officer, La Cruz had a fondness for imbibing alcohol and misbehaving but this never led to physical altercations. For his

part, Justice Reynolds told Abrams that he recognises that he does not fully understand the nature of the offence for which he was found guilty by the jury.

“While you were not the trigger man, and while you did not fire the weapon on that day. You were properly indicted by the State for your participation in the commissioning of that offence,” Justice Reynolds explained to him.

Like many others in the riverine and interior districts, the Judge further told the convicted killer, “You have had a challenging childhood. But I say this, you get no credit for drinking yourself to a point where your judgement becomes seriously impaired.

But for your passing of that cartridge to your workmate that day, we would not have been here today. And that I say is the sad truth that confronts us in several dis-

tricts in the riverine and interior community and as well disturbingly so, on the coastland.”

According to the High Court Judge, Guyanese men in large measure find it necessary to drink themselves to stupor for hours at a time. “And we as a nation have come to accept this as normal, and that is the sad reality for all Guyana.”

Considering Abrams’ relatively young age, his domestic circumstances, and the favourable probation report, Justice Reynolds said to him, “there is a real prospect of rehabilitation in your circumstances.”

In the end, Justice Reynolds urged Abrams to use his time in prison to rethink, detox, and ween himself off of the excessive use of alcohol. The Judge further ordered the prison authorities the deduct the time he spent in pretrial custody from the sentence.

ed that all applications received prior to 2020 are fully accounted for, and are stored in its database.

“We wish to state too, that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) has not under any circumstances forced the return of lands from anyone for reallocation in Region No. 2,” the Ministry added.

Manslaughter convict appealing 15-year prison sentence

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ustace Abrams, a 34-year-old father of four who was found guilty of manslaughter in April 2020, has lodged an appeal at the Guyana Court of Appeal (CoA) against his 15-year jail sentence. The custodial sentence was imposed on him by Justice Brassington Reynolds following a trial at the High Court in Demerara.

Initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, the jury found him guilty on the lesser count, in that, he on June 15, 2017, at Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District (NWD), unlawfully killed 40-year-old

Mings Optical branch in Mon Repos now open for business

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ings Optical is continuing to give sterling optical service to the Guyanese community, with its new branch now open at the Mon Repos Mall, 30 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Dr Michele Ming and

Associates have over 25 years of knowledge and experience in the eyecare field and their state-of-the-art equipment provides a wide range of vision care that can detect various eye diseases and conditions.

Eye care and protection

is a key component of overall healthcare. Mings Optical offers modern frames, lenses, and contact lens technology, such as Crizal, Transitions and Mirror lenses. Anti-reflective coatings and blue light blocking protection.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Region 6 flooding

Sections of Port Mourant inundated, causing residents to evacuate

Marilyn Mohamed’s yard

By Andrew Carmichael

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everal residents were forced to evacuate their homes on Sunday as a result of extensive flooding to sections of Port Mourant,

Those residents had already experienced three floods but Sunday’s has been considered the worst.

Following extensive flooding to several sections of Region Six from heavy and

Another home under water on Sunday

Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The flooding was reportedly caused by overtopping of a canal which sent as much as two feet of water in some sections of Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne.

continuous rainfall, there was sunshine over the weekend but it was amid the sunshine on Sunday that water started to pour into some yards.

The water which was coming from a canal went

Brian Sahadeo in his yard in distress

into the cultivation area and stretched several miles, carrying a very strong foul stench.

Ramsammy Drugen was seen with two bags and a bucket leaving the community. He told this publication that he was on his way to Lancaster, which is a few villages away.

“Because of the flood, I can’t stay in the place; I have to go to higher ground. That is the most I can do.”

The 56-year-old man lives in a flat house at Ankerville New Scheme. He said the water had reached a little below his knees and he was trying to protect himself from diseases.

He also noted that there are all kinds of reptiles taking over his house.

In addition, Marilyn Mohamed, who has been living at her Lot 215 Ankerville home for the past 26 years, had to move a few houses down the street as several inches of water settled in her

Water in Dhanwattie Dhanraj’s kitchen

home.

The bedrooms, the kitchen and other parts of the house were covered with the “smelly” water.

“I have been flooded for the past two weeks… my

An excavator along with three tractor pumps were in the community on Sunday, she noted while calling on the relevant authorities to intervene.

“Every day we are talking

Ramsammy Drugen with some personal belongings moving to higher ground

house has been under water and for the past four days the water came into my house and it flood us from front to back – inside out. We had to leave because we cannot stay in this situation.”

and asking them what will happen, everybody putting us off and tell us to call the other person and the other person and nobody is doing anything. Today (Sunday) we see that they are here and they

start to do some work. So, we are hoping that the water will recede soon because the water is smelly and it is not healthy,” Mohamed said.

Meanwhile, Dhanwattie Dhanraj, also of the same village, related that she has been under water for the past two weeks. However, water levels rose over the past four days, causing her not to be able to use her kitchen.

When this publication visited, there was water which was about two inches high at her bed foot and about three inches of water was in her kitchen.

Another resident, Brian Sahadeo, who makes a living from farming, pointed out that the recent floods have completely destroyed his farm.

“All my crop duck out there. I had calaloo over there and inside I had all kinds of seasoning; fine-leaf thyme…”

Region Six has been under water for the past two weeks due to heavy rainfalls.

UG set to launch inaugural virtual career fair on Friday

T

housands of prospective students, both locally and internationally, hoping to secure a place at the University of Guyana (UG) to further their academic careers, will get the opportunity to learn about the university’s 140 programmes across 50 disciplines, in the institution’s 12th Career Fair.

The Career Fair will be held virtually for the first time on June 18 and 19, 2021. The theme for this year’s event is; “Discover Your Potential: Beyond Limitations.”

The two-day event seeks to provide all the necessary career, application, registration guidance, and support to prospective students in helping them to make informed decisions as they choose their next academic step.

Deciding where to go and what to study in higher education is usually bewildering for most persons as it is life-changing. In addition to providing useful information, the Career Fair also seeks to educate and inform prospective students about campus life, student services offered by the institution, and how they could cope effectively with the demands of tertiary education.

In a virtual space, prospective students will have an opportunity to network and engage university staff and faculty, current students, international and local partners, and members of the senior management team in ways that were previously not possible.

There will be a virtual auditorium, virtual lobby, virtual hall,

and virtual booths for partners, sponsors, and the various faculties, schools, and institutes of the university. There will also be fun games, educational talks, and prizes to be won.

The virtual platform provides a richer, more inclusive guest experience as the set of integrated chat rooms, polls, question and answer sessions, emoji reactions, seminars, and similar interactive elements are leveraged in creating a memorable experience. These features will make participants feel almost as if they were physically present at a face-to-face event, even though they are there virtually because of the rich immersive visual and interactive experiences.

The event is free of cost to prospective students, parents, university staff and current students, partners and sponsors, and all other interested persons. Please click

here to register: https://opencareerday2021.uog.edu.gy/ Meanwhile, for the new academic year, UG has launched several new programmes at the certificate, undergraduate and post-graduate levels in response to the growing need for quality, affordable and relevant academic programmes in Guyana and the Caribbean.

For example, the Centre for Communication Studies (CCS) has launched three new Master’s in Communication Studies in three areas of specialisations: Strategic Communication, Social Change Communication, and Visual Communication.

UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) will also launch three new programmes - BSc in Sustainable Tourism Management which will replace

the Bachelor of Arts Tourism and Associate of Arts Tourism Studies, MSc Supply Chain Management & Procurement which is in response to the institution’s recognition of a skills gap within the public and private sectors in the areas of supply chain management and procurement, and MSc in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management which is in response to UG’s recognition of a gap in the national framework of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management.

Also, the newly-established Institute of Energy Diplomacy has announced a suite of Executive Level Professional Courses, some of which have already begun.

These courses are being taught by leading international academics and experts from universities around the world with long track records in training for the energy sector.

Additionally, UG’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) has introduced six new programmes set to commence in the new academic year, these include BSc Computing, Information Technology and Business, Diploma in Crime and Criminology, Pre-University English Reading Skills, PreUniversity English Writing Skills, Small Business Management, and Business Plan Preparation and Writing.

The University of Guyana is pushing ahead in ensuring the realisation of its main goal of having one graduate per household as laid

out in the Institution’s Blueprint 2040 - a policy document that outlines the transformative growth of the University over the next twenty years.

Vice-Chancellor XI, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin noted that the university is focused on ensuring that everyone who joins succeeds and is fully equipped with the skills necessary to cope in an ever-changing world.

UG was forced to take a number of bold initiatives as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that academic learning continued with very little interruption by taking the majority of its course offerings and services online.

The University of Guyana, on April 19, 2021, opened its online application process for prospective students, both from Guyana and around the world, who wish to commence studies in the academic year 2021/2022.

The university has instituted a rolling application process for the first semester of the new academic year. Applicants can also apply for admission pending their results.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education sector, there is a choice of online or blended learning with the use of stateof-the-art technologies.

The degrees being offered by UG are internationally recognised and marketable and are being offered at globally competitive prices. The university also boasts one of the highest successful completion rates in the world.

15 Narcotics bill awaiting parliamentary select committee – Teixeira NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

− others, including oil & gas bills, not ready for Parliament

A

number of bills that have not been passed in the National Assembly and made into law are either awaiting the appointment of the parliamentary select committees or are not ready for Parliament.

This is according to Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, during a recent televised programme. According to her, among the bills awaiting the select committees are the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Hire Purchase Bill 2020.

“Of course, we have one

pending, which is the adoption of the children’s bill, which will not be done this sitting. And then you have the two others that are sitting for select committees. The one on marijuana and the one on hire purchase? Those are two that are waiting for the Parliament to have a committee of selection to meet and appoint those select committees.”

Additionally, Teixeira explained that there are other bills currently in the drafting stage. Here she pointed to bills for the oil and gas sector, a possible reference to the Natural Resource Fund Act, which the People’s

Progressive Party (PPP) Government has said it will either repeal or amend.

“So, there are a number of things. There are some more bills coming which aren’t ready yet for Parliament, that are drafted. So, I think there’s going to be legislation that covers all sectors. There’s going to be legislation dealing with the social issues, you’re going to have legislation dealing with law enforcement and improving the capacity of the law-and-order bodies.”

“The other areas, of course, oil and gas. All those are going to be coming up, as well as other amendments to remove the impediments for

Local entrepreneur to launch Guyanese version of BET’s “Cypher”

C

hief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kast Talent Management, Khamisi Sloee has indicated his interest in bringing “The Cypher” to Guyana.

While he is aware of the US version, he noted that the

tween himself and his production team (based in the US), Honest Illusions.

This America-based and operated business is a production house focusing on marketing, production and corporate brand building. Aside

Guyanese version will be a bit different. Instead of the group type, he will focus on individuality.

During the interview, he stated that the project is a collaborative venture be-

from the foreign production team, everyone else is Guyanese including the cameramen, sound engineers and performers.

The production, Cypher 360, is slated to be launched

people to have service or get things done in our society.”

According to Teixeira, the Government has been doing its best to parallel the push for investments and infrastructure development, with

five years, and a fine of no less than $30,000 or three times the market value of the drug.

Under the bill, possession of 15 grams or less of cannabis is an offence of simple possession. An amount over 15 grams, but no more than 30 grams, will attract community service. This includes employment in public work under the Extra-Mural Work Act for a maximum of six months.

“Public work is defined by Section 2 of the Extra-Mural Work Regulations, Reg 8 of 1998, to include any work on State or Government land or any property belonging to, or rented or leased to the State or with the permission of a Local Government authority, on any land or any other property belonging to, or rented or leased to, the Local Government authority.”

UG to host round-table discussion on approaches to teaching adult learners

T Khamisi Sloee

Some of the local musicians

Minister of Governance & Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira

the modernisation of the laws to better serve the interest of Guyanese.

Earlier this year, the Government had tabled in the National Assembly the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2021, which if passed, would see persons in possession of 15 grams of cannabis or less sentenced to counselling.

“Under the new subsection (2A), the possession of a quantity of cannabis or any substance held out to be cannabis which does not exceed 15 grams is punishable by mandatory counselling for a period to be determined by the counsellor,” the bill reads.

Currently, possession of 15 grams or more could attract a trafficking charge with a prison sentence of three to

in August and Sloee said that due to his love and respect for the arts and entertainment industry in Guyana, he was approached by his production team to showcase talented locals.

The show will be aired internationally and the first season will be a 13-episode stint. Once the reviews are within calculations, the next season will be green lighted.

Airing will be once a week and each episode should be 1 hour long. He will also be collaborating with Channel 67 when production starts to have it aired.

he Faculty of Education and Humanities at the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus (UGBC) will be hosting a round-table discussion today under the theme “Approaches to Teaching Adult Learners”. It will run from 13:00h to 15:00h via Zoom.

The event will see presentations being made by four adept lecturers - Dr Karl Dawson (Virgin Islands), Dr Schontal Moore (UWI, Mona, Jamaica), Bonita Hunter (University of Guyana - Turkeyen), and Maureen Bynoe (University of Guyana - Tain).

In the first hour, the presenters will each expand on unique perspectives on the topic, and in the second hour, they will engage the lecturers and students participating in the event. Lecturer of the Faculty of Education and Humanities at UGBC, Dr Dennis Gill is the moderator.

Dr Gill is encouraging lecturers and students to join the discussions and get involved in the conversation.

He noted that the event is free of charge and will provide pertinent information that will aid in both adult students and lecturers finding a system that leads to the best results.

The University of Guyana

has always been an institution that strives to remain relevant. The way education is delivered is constantly changing and the leadership of the university encourages and supports lecturers and departmental heads tapping into new data and resources available to ensure that students have an equal opportunity to be successful.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s COVID death toll now at 426 after 2 more die – 83 new cases recorded

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uyana’s COVID-19 death toll has gone up to 426 after two more males who tested positive for the deadly virus died.

These latest fatalities are a 63-year-old from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and a 71-yearold from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

They both died on Saturday while receiving care at medical facilities around the country.

With these, the death toll for the month of June is 28. May became the deadliest month with 99 fatalities since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus here last year after surpassing April’s 66 COVID-19 deaths.

Meanwhile, new statistics provided by the Health Ministry on Sunday showed that another 83 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 from some 1191 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

This now takes the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 18,386.

However, only 1680 of these are currently active cases including 23 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 1657 persons in

isolation, that is, 115 in institutional isolation and the other 1542 in home isolation.

Additionally, there are four persons in institutional quarantine.

Some 16,280 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus thus far – 30 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

To date, 169,475 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

Of the 83 new cases detected on Sunday, one was in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 12 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 42 cases in the Demerara-Mahaica region; two in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); three cases in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); eight in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and the other 15 cases in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region.

There were no new cases recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) in the last 24 hours, according to Sunday’s dashboard.

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 13 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

83

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

115

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1542

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

23

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

4

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

9360

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

9026

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

18,386

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

16,280

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

216,862 83,729

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

426

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2022 REGION 1

1159

REGION 2

511

REGION 3

2129

REGION 4

8626

REGION 5

631

REGION 6

1321

REGION 7

1232

REGION 8

378

REGION 9

1107

REGION 10

1292

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.

The Guyana Government launched its COVID-19 vaccination exercise back in February and is aggressively rolling it out in the

various regions in order to achieve heard immunity.

So far, more than 216,800 persons in the adult population have received

their first dose of the vaccine. Fully immunised persons in the country stand at over 83,000.

Persons are encouraged

to get immunised since the COVID-19 vaccine gives full protection against death.

In fact, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has disclosed that none of the persons who have died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus had their full vaccination.

Meanwhile, as more people continue to get vaccinated, authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 175,306,598 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 3,792,777 deaths.

The WHO also reported on Sunday that in the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 69,519,254 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 1,826,772.

NEWS

17

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ECLAC asks for development Fire rips through Rohingya camp in Delhi, leaving hundreds homeless financing adjustments during pandemic A

Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

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he region of Latin America and the Caribbean is basically made up of middle-income countries that, in the context of financing for development, have been left out of access to concessional funds, especially Caribbean island states and small, Central American economies. That is why it is urgently necessary to reconsider the criteria for measuring and classifying development while also suspending the “graduations” of middle-income countries during the pandemic.

This was according to Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), proposed during the 20th session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (June 1-4).

Bárcena was one of the panellists in the the-

matic discussion entitled “Accelerating the achievement of the SDGs through effective implementation of the BAPA+40 outcome document while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and similar global crises”.

“We need to have an index of multidimensional vulnerability for middle-income countries. ‘Graduation’ from Official Development Assistance (ODA) cannot be tantamount to exclusion and winding up in limbo in terms of cooperation. This is about contributing to a different way of addressing international cooperation, among peers, more horizontally. South-South cooperation teaches us important lessons in this sense,” ECLAC’s highest authority explained.

“We are also seeking to be incorporated into initiatives such as the debt service suspension initiative or to participate in a more mul-

tilateral committee on taxes worldwide,” said Bárcena, recalling that ECLAC; the European Commission; the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and other partners, have created the concept of “Development in Transition,” which questions the use of per capita Gross Domestic Production (GDP) as the sole criterion for graduating countries.

“We consider development to be a gradual process, not a linear one. We should talk about gradations, not graduation, because these indicators should include countries’ capacity to save, access to capital markets, investment, and fiscal progressivity,” she expressed.

According to Bárcena, today more than ever, Latin America and the Caribbean has demonstrated its historic commitment to SouthSouth and triangular cooperation, with innovative, solidarity-based criteria.

ECLAC, she highlighted, has had a Committee on South-South Cooperation since 1981.

Latin America and the Caribbean should strengthen its regional agreements and collaboration mechanisms, and build a vigorous and concerted voice in the world, she added. (Excerpt from ECLAC)

WhatsApp launches privacy campaign after backlash

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hatsApp has launched its first major privacy-focused advertising campaign in the United Kingdom.

It follows a customer backlash against changes to its terms and conditions, announced earlier this year.

The platform also said it was standing firm against pressure from Governments, including the UK, to compromise on the way that it encrypts messages.

Authorities should “demand more security” rather than less, WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart told the BBC. “The first step of keeping people safe is, you have to have strong security,

and we think Governments shouldn’t be out there trying to encourage tech companies to offer weak security,” he said.

“They should be out there trying to encourage or even mandate that companies offer the strongest security possible.”

The marketing campaign is set to run internationally, beginning in the UK and Germany today.

WhatsApp uses endto-end encryption, which means messages can only be read on the device which sends one and the device which receives it. WhatsApp itself – and by default its parent company Facebook – cannot view or intercept

them, and neither can law enforcement.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has described the use of end-to-end encryption as “not acceptable” in the fight against the sharing of illegal content.

In a speech in April, Patel said she wanted to see it used “in a way in which is also consistent with public protection and child safety”, but did not elaborate on how this might work.

Facebook says it intends to roll out encryption more broadly across its other services.

WhatsApp is already blocked in mainland China, and it is suing the Indian Government over new digital rules that will force it to violate its privacy protections. Around 400 million of its two billion global users are in India.

Cathcart said he lived “with the reality” that more countries could also choose to block the platform as tech sector regulations tighten around the world. (Excerpt from BBC News)

massive fire has destroyed a Rohingya refugee camp in the Indian capital, New Delhi, leaving hundreds of people homeless.

The blaze broke out about 23:30h on Saturday and quickly spread through the camp, reducing 55 ramshackle shelters to ashes in the Madanpur Khadar area in the capital city’s south.

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported in the fire – the second time the camp has been reduced to ashes since 2018.

The fire service depart-

ment of the national capital said that it put 15 fire tenders into service and brought the blaze under control in about six hours.

“We rushed to the spot quickly and started dousing the flames,” Sandeep, an operator at the Delhi Fire Service, told Al Jazeera by telephone on Sunday.

The fire tore through the camp, home to 55 families – filling the sky with plumes of smoke and flames as refugees scrambled to safety, crying for help.

Sufia Khatoon, 32, was

asleep inside her hut along with her physically challenged mother and her child when the fire broke out. It started in an abandoned hut, she said.

“When we saw the fire, I held my mother’s hand and lifted my child in my arms and ran away to safety outside the camp,” Khatoon said. “We lost everything. The fire destroyed even the little cash that we had kept for our daily needs. We don’t have a single [Indian] rupee to buy water.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

G7 chides China on rights, demands COVID origins investigation

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roup of Seven (G7) leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in its Xinjiang region, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy, and demanded a full and thorough investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China.

After discussing how to come up with a unified position on China, leaders issued a highly critical final communique that delved into what are for China some of the most sensitive issues, including also Taiwan.

The re-emergence of China as a leading global power is considered to be one of the most significant geopolitical events of recent times, alongside the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union that ended the Cold War. China’s rise has also unnerved the United States: President Joe Biden casts China as the main strategic competitor and has

vowed to confront China’s “economic abuses” and push back against human rights violations.

“We will promote our values, including by calling on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” the G7 said.

The G7 also called for a transparent, expert-led Phase 2 COVID-19 Origins study including in China, to be convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Reuters earlier reported on the finalised version of the draft communiqué.

“We haven’t had access to the laboratories,” Biden told reporters.

Biden said it was not yet certain whether or not “a bat interfacing with animals and the environment...

caused this COVID-19, or whether it was an experiment gone awry in a laboratory”.

Before the G7 criticism emerged, China pointedly cautioned G7 leaders that the days when “small” groups of countries decided the fate of the world were long gone.

The G7 also underscored “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues”.

“We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions,” they said.

Biden said democracies were in a global contest with “autocratic governments”, and that the G7 had to deliver viable alternatives.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

Regional

5 Ortega critics jailed as political Relatives of Guatemala’s crisis in Nicaragua deepens disappeared hope for justice

The latest raids targeted the leadership of the leftist Opposition Unamos party, including its President, Suyen Barahona, and former General Hugo Torres

N

icaraguan Police arrested and jailed five prominent opponents of President Daniel Ortega over the weekend, including one-time rebel allies who denounced the detentions as an assault on democracy.

The arrests beginning late on Saturday marked a deepening political crisis in the Central American nation, ahead of an election in November in which the leftist Ortega, 75, is seeking to extend his 14 years as President.

Over the past few weeks, a dozen Opposition figures have been arrested on orders from Ortega’s security apparatus, including four declared presidential rivals.

Ortega loyalists argue they are only enforcing the law, which prohibits wouldbe candidates from receiving foreign financing or the publication of information the Government determines to be false.

In statements, the Police blamed the detainees for seeking to undermine the

country’s independence and sovereignty, as well as for “inciting foreign interference in internal affairs, requesting military interventions and organising with foreign financing”.

The latest raids targeted the leadership of the leftist Opposition Unamos party, including its President, Suyen Barahona, and former General Hugo Torres.

Unamos is made up of many former Ortega allies like Torres, who fought alongside him in the late 1970s as they drove rightwing dictator Anastasio Somoza from power.

Just before he was arrested, the 73-year-old Torres uploaded a video that denounced Ortega for launching a “second dictatorship” and betraying the values he once championed.

“These are desperate acts from a regime that can feel itself dying,” he said.

Critical journalists have also been questioned by authorities in recent weeks.

Last week, a senior US diplomat blasted the “wave of repression” by Ortega and his allies, adding the United States is prepared to review trade relations with Nicaragua if the upcoming election is not free and fair.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

14 more die from COVID-19 in T&T

T

he Health Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago has reported another 14 deaths from COVID-19 and a further 301 new cases.

The announcement was made in its daily update on Sunday. Total deaths now stand at 670 while active cases are at 9249.

On Sunday, Trinidad and Tobago received a donation of Pfizer vaccines from the United States.

The National Security Ministry advised in a statement that it had accepted a small donation of Pfizer vaccines from the Government of the United States of America for use by national security.

In the statement, the Ministry said, “This donation is much appreciated and indicates the continued working relationship between the Ministry of

National Security and the Government of the United States of America.”

“We have been very fortunate to have received gifts of vaccines from different countries such as St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, Bermuda, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and now the United States.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

M

arcia Mendez never stopped searching for her sister.

Now, decades after Luz Haydee was disappeared by Guatemalan military forces, justice may be on the horizon, after a Guatemalan Judge this month ordered a trial into crimes committed in the 1980s.

“For us this is already a huge step forward,” Mendez told Al Jazeera outside the Guatemala City courthouse complex following the hearing last week.

Luz Haydee Mendez Calderon was detained and disappeared in 1984 – one of an estimated 45,000 people disappeared during the civil war in Guatemala. An estimated 200,000 people were killed over the course of the

1960-1996 armed conflict.

At the time, Mendez Calderon was secretary of international relations for the Guatemalan Labour Party, which had been forced underground after a United States-backed coup in 1954 and became one of the armed fighter groups involved in a 36-year conflict with the military.

She was also a mother of two. Her nine-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted during the abduction, and together with her younger brother was held and tortured for several days.

The children reappeared, but their mother never did.

In 1999, leaked documents bolstered the family’s search for the truth.

The Diario Militar, or

Death Squad Diary, documented the abductions, torture, disappearances and executions of 183 people, including Mendez Calderon, between 1983 and 1985. The military intelligence dossier includes a section with a numbered list of the 183, with their names, affiliations, photograph, date and location of abduction, and other basic details.

On June 9, a Guatemalan judge ordered six ex-military officers to face trial for their roles in the allegations contained in the Death Squad Diary – a move that was celebrated by relatives of the victims, who also reiterated calls for their loved ones’ remains to be located and returned. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

As Castillo nears victory, Peru prepares for what comes next

T

he official result has yet to be declared, but Pedro Castillo appears all but certain to be Peru’s next President.

The radical-left outsider will face an uphill struggle to unite the bitterly divided Andean nation, however, and the most urgent question will be whether he moderates his politics or insists on the Marxist policies in his Free Peru party manifesto.

Those proposals include making Peru’s vast mining sector leave 70 per cent of its profits in the country, nationalising the media, and spending 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education and health care – more than the country has ever raised in tax revenues.

With all of the 18.8 million votes cast in the June 6 presidential runoff now counted, Castillo has 50.15 per cent support, giving him a razor-thin lead of just more than 50,000 votes

Peru’s left-wing presidential candidate Pedro Castillo gestures to his supporters from the balcony of his party headquarters in Lima on June 10 [Gian Masko/AFP]

against his hard-right opponent Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the jailed 1990s president Alberto Fujimori.

She has cried fraud – despite international observers giving the elections a clean bill of health – and this week hired some of Lima’s top lawyers in an attempt to annul 200,000 votes, mainly from impoverished rural areas in the Andes and Amazon where Castillo won overwhelmingly, in some cases with more than 80 percent support.

But Fujimori’s effort, which is unprecedented in Peruvian electoral history and has delayed the official declaration of a winner, appears to have failed.

Peru’s National Electoral Tribunal (JNA, according to its Spanish acronym) ruled on Friday that most of her challenges had come after the legal deadline. There are now just less than 40,000 votes still in play, not enough to overturn the result. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil reports 1129 new COVID-19 deaths, nearly 40,000 cases Jamaica woman claims

B

razil reported 1129 COVID-19 deaths and 37,948 new coronavirus cases, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Nearly 490,000 people in the country have died from the virus during the pandemic, with 17.4 million people infected, the data show.

Meanwhile, after uncertainty over what country would host it, a Brazilian Supreme Court hearing about its possible postponement, and coronavirus infections reported by three teams, the long-delayed Copa America football tournament has opened in Brazil’s capital.

Hosts Brazil opened the international contest against Venezuela at

robbed at Police Station

A

A patient with suspected COVID-19 infection arrives at the Sao Jose hospital in the Emergency Mobile Care Service (SAMU) ambulance, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 20, 2021

6:00pm local time (21:00 GMT) on Sunday in an empty Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia.

The opening match comes just days after lo-

cal health authorities reported that Venezuelan players and staff had tested positive for COVID-19.

(Excerpt from Reuters and Al Jazeera)

woman is still fuming and asking obvious questions after she said her car was partscrapped on the compound of a Police Station recently.

And as she awaits answers from the police, Sherida Collins continues to scratch her head in disbelief that something like that could have happened on the compound of the Spanish Town Police Station in the St Catherine capital.

The Toyota Probox 2012 motor car was taken there on February 7 of this year, after it crashed into a utility pole in Spanish Town, which followed a shooting incident seconds before. The individual she authorised to drive

the vehicle came under fire from men, whom, it was theorised, wanted to steal the vehicle. The driver lost control in the melee and the car ended up in the pole.

Shortly after, Police personnel visited the scene, ordered that the vehicle be towed to the Spanish Town Police Station, and the man who was driving it was taken into custody for four days, as the Police did their checks as to whether or not, according to Collins, he was involved in anything.

He was released without charge.

But the car was detained.

“I was supposed to get back the vehicle, because the Police said that it was

not involved in any mix-up, so I have been going to the station without any result, and calling all the time without success... no one was responding,” Collins related to the Jamaica Observer.

“On May 20 when I called, I was told to come to the station to collect the vehicle, but the Police Officer said that I would have to pay the wrecker fee, which I thought was a lot of money, but I just wanted to get back my car.

“When I went there, to my shock, the vehicle was on four blocks... all four tyres and rims were gone.

The spare tyre was missing too, and the good mirror was taken off. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS OPEC projects further oil demand growth in the second half of 2021

O

PEC predicted that the recovery in global oil demand will gather strength in the second half of the year, as the group prepares to consider reviving more halted

output.

Oil consumption will jump by about 5 million barrels a day -- or roughly 5 per cent -- in the second half of 2021 versus the first as the world emerges from the pandemic slump, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries forecast in a report. The estimates are little changed from a month ago.

“The recovery in global economic growth, and hence oil demand, are expected to gain momentum,” the group’s Viennabased research department wrote. The need for transport fuels should climb as vaccination programmes contain the virus, it said.

OPEC and its partners have restored almost 40 per cent of the production they shuttered when the coronavirus crushed demand a year ago, and will gather on July 1 to consider reviving the remainder.

The 23-nation OPEC+ coalition has already indicated it expects world crude markets to become tight in the coming six months, while the International Energy Agency has warned of higher prices if the group doesn’t open the taps. Brent futures are trading above US$70 a barrel in London.

Yet so far Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has said he wants demand to be clearly manifest before the alliance raises supplies.

OPEC’s latest report reaffirms that there will be a substantial gap in the market for the producers to fill.

Demand for OPEC’s crude will average 29 million barrels a day in the final six months of the year, whereas the group’s 13 members pumped only 25.46 million a day in May, according to the report. Even if they proceed with an increase scheduled for July, they’ll be considerably below the level needed.

Oil inventories, which had ballooned when demand sank during last year’s crisis, are almost back to normal levels as a result of OPEC’s supply cutbacks. In April, stockpiles in developed nations stood just 34 million barrels over their average for the period of 2015 to 2019, according to the report.

(Excerpt from World Oil)

Netanyahu out, Bennett in as Israel marks end of an era

B

enjamin Netanyahu’s record 12-year run as Israel’s Prime Minister ended on Sunday with Parliament approving a new “Government of change” led by nationalist Naftali Bennett, an improbable scenario few Israelis could have imagined.

But the razor-thin 60-59 vote of confidence in a coalition of left-wing, centrist, right-wing and Arab parties with little in common except for a desire to unseat Netanyahu, only underscored its likely fragility.

Addressing Parliament before Bennett was sworn in, a combative Netanyahu said: "If we are destined to go into the Opposition, we will do so with our heads held high until we can topple it."

That will happen, 71-year-

Head of Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gesture following the vote on the new coalition at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 13, 2021

old Netanyahu added, "sooner than people think".

The new Government, formed after an inconclusive March 23 election, largely plans to avoid sweeping moves on hot-button international issues such as policy

Swiss voters reject key climate change measures

S

witzerland's policy on fighting climate change has been thrown into doubt after voters rejected key measures in a popular vote.

A referendum saw voters narrowly reject the Government's plans for a car fuel levy and a tax on air tickets.

The measures were designed to help Switzerland meet targets under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Many voters appear to have worried about the impact on the economy as the country tries to recover from COVID-19.

Opponents also pointed out that Switzerland is re-

sponsible for only 0.1 per cent of global emissions, and expressed doubts that such policies would help the environment.

The vote, under Switzerland's system of direct democracy, went 51 per cent against, 49 per cent in favour.

The Swiss Government wants to bring emissions down to half of 1990 levels by 2030.

Two more national votes

billion COVID vaccine doses for poorer nations

L

G7 pledge of a billion doses for poorer countries is "another big step towards vaccinating the world", said UK PM

had pledged to supply the vaccines to poor countries either directly or through the World Health Organisation's COVAX scheme - including 100 million from the UK. The communique issued by the summit pledges to "end the pandemic and prepare for the future by driving an intensified international effort, starting immediately, to vaccinate the world by getting as many safe vaccines to as many people as possible as fast as possible".

It also includes steps to tackle climate change, with leaders re-committing to the target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest and pledging to eliminate most coal power.

Johnson rejected suggestions the vaccines pledge was a moral failure by the G7 as it was not enough to cover the needs of poorer countries. (Excerpt from BBC News)

on environmental issues were also defeated, though the results were expected.

A proposal to outlaw artificial pesticides, and another to improve drinking water by giving subsidies only to farmers who eschew chemicals were both voted down by 61 per cent.

Voting also took place on other initiatives: anti-terrorism legislation and emergency COVID-19 funding.

Plans to give the Police

greater powers to combat terrorism, and an extension of funding for businesses affected by COVID were approved.

Switzerland's system of direct democracy means all major decisions in the Alpine nation are taken at the ballot box.

Campaigners simply have to gather 100,000 signatures to ensure a nationwide vote. (Excerpt from BBC News)

clear who was behind the shelling, which reportedly came from areas where Syrian Government troops and Kurdish-led fighters are deployed.

The Governor of Turkey’s Hatay province, across the border from Afrin, and Turkey’s Defence Ministry also said the attack killed 13 civilians and injured 27, adding that it involved rocket and artillery shelling of the hospital. The Governor’s office blamed the attack on Syrian Kurdish groups.

Ankara condemned the attack, saying it was launched by the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units

(YPG), which forms the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF said it was not behind the attacks.

Ankara considers the YPG a “terrorist” group linked to Kurdish separatist group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), inside Turkey. The PKK is designated as a “terrorist group” by the United States and the European Union.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 18. Al Jazeera could not verify the conflicting death toll figures. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

deep economic meltdown that is threatening its stability.

The World Bank has called it one of the deepest depressions of modern history.

The last time the pound hit a low of 15,000 in March protesters took to the streets across Lebanon for over a week, blocking roads by burning tyres.

Foreign reserves, used to fund a subsidy programme for basic goods including fuel, medicine and wheat, are run-

ning out and shortages have been worsening across the board in recent weeks.

Some hospitals are ruling out elective procedures and only performing emergency surgeries to ration what is left of medical supplies. Most pharmacies staged a two day strike this week as medications run out and hours long car queues for gasoline have frustrated motorists causing squabbles. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Deadly missile attack targets hospital in Syria’s Afrin

A G7: World leaders promise one eaders of the major industrial nations have pledged one billion COVID vaccine doses to poor countries as a "big step towards vaccinating the world", Boris Johnson has said.

At the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall, the PM said countries were rejecting "nationalistic approaches".

He said vaccinating the world would show the benefits of the G7's democratic values.

There was also a pledge to wipe out their contribution to climate change.

After the first meeting of world leaders in two years, Johnson said "the world was looking to us to reject some of the selfish, nationalistic approaches that marred the initial global response to the pandemic and to channel all our diplomatic, economic and scientific might to defeating COVID for good".

He said the G7 leaders

toward the Palestinians, and to focus instead on domestic reforms.

Palestinians were unmoved by the change of administration, predicting that Bennett, a former defence chief who advocates annex-

ing parts of the occupied West Bank, would pursue the same right-wing agenda as Likud party leader Netanyahu.

Israel's longest-serving leader, Netanyahu was Prime Minister since 2009, after a first term from 1996 to 1999.

But he was weakened by his repeated failure to clinch victory in four elections over the past two years, including a vote in March, and by an ongoing corruption trial, in which he has denied any wrongdoing.

Under the coalition deal, Bennett, a 49-year-old Orthodox Jew and high-tech millionaire, will be replaced as Prime Minister by centrist Yair Lapid, 57, a popular former television host, in 2023.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

t least 13 people, including two medical staff, have been killed and several wounded in two separate artillery attacks in the northern Syrian town of Afrin controlled by Turkey-backed fighters, activists and an aid group said on Sunday.

The first attack struck a residential area, while the second hit a hospital shortly afterwards, civil defence sources told Reuters news agency. Video footage on social media showed casualties amid the ruins of the al-Shifa hospital, which went out of service after the attack.

It was not immediately

Lebanon currency drops to new low as financial meltdown deepens

L

ebanon’s currency crashed past a milestone on Sunday reaching a new low against the dollar, as the country’s financial meltdown and political deadlock linger.

Market dealers said the Lebanese pound was trading at around 15,150 to the dollar, losing around 90 per cent of what it was worth in late 2019, when Lebanon's economic and financial crisis erupted.

Lebanon is in the throes of a

20

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Don’t rely on others when you can do things yourself. Focus on your objective. Don’t put your health at risk to please a loved one.

Be smart, take action and do what’s best for you.

Slow down, mull over your options and keep your emotions under control.

Handle change with dignity and optimism, and you’ll discover something that offers interesting incentives.

Back away from a situation if you feel you are being pressured or bullied.

Take the road that leads to peace of mind. Discipline and hard work will be necessary if you wish to reach your objective.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Trying to dodge your duties will be futile. Embrace your responsibilities instead of fighting the inevitable.

You may not like the changes taking place, but they’ll work out in the end.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Erratic behavior will lead to confusion and uncertainty. Make yourself clear and follow through on your promises. Your easygoing attitude will help you make friends and get things done.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Take care of what’s necessary, and then set aside time for reflection. Too much of anything will bog you down and confuse you. Don’t act on something until you’re sure about it.

Growth is encouraged.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Step up and do your part.

An intelligent approach will lead to new beginnings.

Dedicate more time and effort to doing your own thing and establishing yourself in a satisfying position.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Keep your emotions under control, and you’ll avoid getting into a disagreement with someone you love and respect. Don’t spend unnecessarily or take on debt that will cause stress.

Do your own thing SAGITTARIUS and follow your heart.

(Nov. 23Refuse to let anyone talk Dec. 21) you into something that isn’t in your best interest.

Discipline and hard work will pay off.

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

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Make adjustments to avoid going into debt. Home improvements should ease stress, not make matters worse. Do only what’s feasible, regardless of the demands someone puts on you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Stop worrying about what others are doing. Concentrate on personal matters, important relationships and improving your surroundings. An idea you have will pay off. Set your plans in motion.

PISCES

Think twice before making an offer you may not want to fulfill. Look at every angle of a situation before getting involved. Put more energy into personal improvement and good health.

(Feb. 20March 20)

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

21

Haynes, Constantine inducted into ICC Hall of Fame Sir Learie Constantine

W

est Indies cricket legends Sir Learie Constantine and Desmond Haynes were inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame on Sunday. They have joined an esteemed list of fellow cricketing icons who have received this prestigious honour.

The late Constantine was an early pioneer of West Indies cricket and an outstanding all-rounder. He was a member of the cele-

Desmond Haynes

brated team which played in the first Test match in West Indies history in England in June 1928. He played 18 Test matches and made an indelible contribution to the sport and the West Indian community at home and abroad.

Haynes was one of the most successful opening batsmen in the history of the game and formed a world- famous batting partnership with his long-standing teammate, Gordon Greenidge.

He

was a member of the West Indies World Cup champion team in 1979. Haynes played 116 Test matches and scored 7487 runs, including 18 centuries, at an average of 42.3. He also made 8648 runs in 238 OneDay Internationals, which included 17 centuries.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Ricky Skerritt paid tribute to Haynes and Constantine.

“This is another special day in West Indies crick-

et history as these two exemplars of the wonderful game of cricket have been honoured globally through the ICC Hall of Fame – true indicators of their performance and their impact,” Skerritt said.

“Sir Learie Constantine was the quintessential West Indian cricketer – a lively fast bowler, attacking batsman and superb fielder, a man who took to the field on that famous day at Lord’s 93 years ago when

the West Indies started the challenging but exciting journey as a Test nation.

“He embodied what we as West Indians value most in our players – dedication, commitment and strength of character. After his playing days were over, he also made his name as a popular lawyer and politician, with a dedication to serving and improving the lives of others.”

On Haynes, Skerritt said: “Desmond’s cricket career showed early promise as a member of the Barbados U-19 team.

It wasn’t long before he shot onto the world stage with a sensational century and never looked back. He was an opening batsman and a close-to-the-wicket fielder par excellence, and together with Gordon Greenidge set the standard for how the new ball should be played.

“Out in the middle,

Indians previ West ted into The ously c ICC indu Hall of Fame: Sir Curtly Ambrose Joel Garner Lance Gibbs Sir Gordon Greenidge Sir Wes Hall George Headley Michael Holding Rohan Kanhai Brian Lara Sir Clive Lloyd Malcolm Marshall Sir Viv Richards Sir Andy Roberts Sir Garry Sobers Courtney Walsh Sir Clyde Walcott Sir Everton Weekes Sir Frank Worrell

Desmond was lion-hearted and never surrendered no matter the circumstances. As an integral and valued member of the West Indies all-conquering team, he proudly represented Barbados and the West Indies and opened doors for many others to follow.”

French Open 2021: Novak Matthews slams ton, Djokovic outlasts Stefanos Guyanese duo in the wickets Tsitsipas for 19th Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic is the first man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam after twice fighting back from two sets down

N

ovak Djokovic won his 19th Grand Slam title after fighting back from two sets down to beat Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open final.

Top seed Djokovic, 34, was in deep trouble before rediscovering his energy to win 6-7 (6-8) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4.

The Serb's greater experience shone through as fifth seed Tsitsipas wilted in his first Grand Slam final.

The victory moves Djokovic one major title behind the men's record jointly held by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Having beaten Nadal in an epic semi-final on Friday, Djokovic said: "It has been an unforgettable few moments for me in my life and my career. I will definitely remember these last 48 hours in my life."

Djokovic, who previously won at Roland Garros in 2016, has become the first man to win all four Grand Slams twice since the fully professional Open era began in 1968. The world number one will have the opportunity to move level on 20 titles with his great rivals Nadal and Federer when he defends his Wimbledon crown

later this month.

After Tsitsipas saved one championship point with a nerveless forehand winner down the line, Djokovic remained calm to take his second attempt after four hours and 11 minutes with a clinical overhead.

His expression r e m a i n e d emotionless as he shook hands with Tsitsipas, before bursting into a manic roar in front of the area where his parents, wife Jelena and coach Marian Vajda were celebrating.

Tsitsipas was a picture of devastation as he slumped in his chair, draping a towel over his head to hide the full extent of his emotions. (BBC Sport)

H

ayley Matthews is peaking at the right time in the West Indies Women’s high-performance camp as she scored a brilliant century to lead in the latest inter-squad match. The stylish opener made 106 off 110 balls as the Chinelle Henry XI defeated the Aaliyah Alleyne XI by seven wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday.

Henry’s XI won the toss and elected to bowl first. Alleyne’s XI scored 103 all out in 40.1 overs. Henry’s XI was then given a revised target of 210 to score off 50 overs, but they reached their target in 43.3 overs.

Matthews struck 11 fours on her way

Hayley Matthews

to triple figures, but just when her team looked to slide home easily to victory, she was caught behind off Anisa Mohammed.

Speaking to CWI Media after, Matthews said: “I’m really happy; we’ve been working really hard in camp over the last few weeks and it’s finally good to be able to see some results… and hopefully, I can carry this form forward into any international matches we may have in the coming months.

Bowling for Alleyne’s XI, left-arm orthodox Steffie Soogrim finished with 2-22 from five overs, followed by right-arm off-spinner Sheneta Grimmond with 2-25 from six overs.

After being sent in to bat first, Alleyne’s XI never got their scoring off the ground, as newcomer and teenager Zaida James was the sole batter to cross 20. She made a very patient 22 off 89 deliveries before she was run out. Shakera Selman was next best with 15 off 39 and Japhina Joseph with 14 off 39.

Right-arm medium pacer Cherry-Ann Fraser was the pick of Henry’s bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-19 from five overs, while Shamilia Connell backed up with her experience and pace, finishing with 2-20 from 6.1 overs.

The match was set using a format where all players got a chance to bat, bowl and field, as a gauge of applying the skills practiced in the nets in a match simulation.

This is the fourth practice match since the start of the camp in May. The players live and train in a bio-secure bubble in Antigua as they prepare for a return to international cricket. (CWI)

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

H

ead Coach Phil Simmons has defended West Indies’ preparation for the opening Test following their crushing innings defeat inside two and a-half days against South Africa, but said they now needed to raise their intensity and rebound strongly in the second Test beginning in St Lucia this week.

The home side produced two lacklustre batting efforts, rolled over for 97 in their first innings and then for 162 in their second, to slide to a heavy loss late in an extended first session on the third day at the Daren Sammy National Stadium.

While West Indies spent a month prior to the opening Test in a high-performance camp, Simmons said they had been undermined by poor batting.

“Bad judgement, bad shot selection — how-

ever you want to put it. You can’t be out for 97 [in the first innings] and there’s any other question [about the result]. It’s just about bad selection in the first innings especially,” Simmons lamented afterwards.

“The fact is we need to bat well in the first innings. We need to bat a hundred overs and we need to find a way to do that against this team. I think if we bat a hundred overs against this team, we’re putting ourselves in a good position to put them under pressure.”

He added: “All the guys here, from one to nine at least, have Test fifties against proper bowling attacks. Yes, they (South Africa) are potent, but the guys have made runs against all different kinds of bowling attacks.

“I think that the way we got out was not something we would be proud of and we have to come back and show what we’re really made of in the second Test.”

West Indies lost a grip on the contest once they were dismissed cheaply after opting to bat and then conceding a massive lead of 225, as South Africa gathered 322 behind Quinton de Kock’s superb unbeaten 141.

They finished day two on 82 for four, but lost wickets steadily in the first session on day three to collapse, despite Roston Chase’s defiant 62.

With the second Test starting Friday, Simmons said it was important that the side again prepared themselves mentally in order to get a positive result. “I think in each person themselves, they have to get themselves fired up,” a composed Simmons explained.

“We have to put them back through the paces that we did leading up to the Test match and prepare in as diligent a way as we did prepare going into this one and maybe add a little bit more.

“Over the next couple days, we’ll sit and have a look back at the Test match itself. I personally think that the preparation and training we did before was quite intense, but we’ll see if we missed anything and try to put that in.

“But that’s all you can do, because you as a Test cricketer have to fix your mindset and make sure your mindset is ready for it, and we’ve done that a lot of times leading up to this and in the past.”

For West Indies, the defeat was their first in five matches this year after thumping Bangladesh 2-0 away and drawing nil-all at home with Sri Lanka in another two-match series. That form propelled them up to sixth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, one notch above the Proteas, but Simmons said the heavy defeat was now cause for deep introspection.

“It will definitely be [a reality check] for me. I don’t take things for granted,” he stressed. “I think we played well in four Test matches, but again, that’s only the start of how we have to get up the table and how much we have to play, so this has shown us that there is a lot of work still to be done which we kept reiterating to the players all last week.

“There’s a lot of work still to be done so we have to keep working.” (CMC)

Jayden Seales provides silver lining as Brathwaite rues collapse

Jayden Seales

1

9-year-old quick has big future, says Captain, after 3-wicket debut Despite slumping to an innings defeat before lunch on the third day of the first Test in St Lucia, West Indies had one undoubted silver lining in the form of their debutant fast bowler, Jayden Seales, whose fiery performance in a losing cause hinted at a hugely-promising future in the sport.

Seales, 19, had played just one First-Class game before he was thrust into the Test team against South Africa – and that came last winter on West Indies' tour of New Zealand – but Kraigg Brathwaite, the captain, said he saw enough in that display to know he was ready for higher honours.

"The first time I saw him was in New Zealand, and I just knew he had a natural length," Brathwaite said. "Not all bowlers have that natural length, and he obviously swings the ball. So, I was not surprised by his performance in this game, or for the future."

Seales finished South Africa's only innings of the first Test with figures of 3 for 75 in 21 overs, having bagged his maiden wicket in his first over of the game, as Keegan Petersen spliced an edge to Jason Holder at second slip. He followed up with two more in consecutive overs at the end of the

first day, before Quinton de Kock took the match away with a superb 141 not out.

"I think he's something special and obviously he's quite young, he's only played one First-Class game," Brathwaite said.

"That says a lot. Even at practice, there are different little things that he does with the ball, and what he says to back it up, is quite phenomenal.

For sure, he's one for the future, big time.

"Fast bowling is hard work. In this game, he bowled over 20 overs and he never once complained.

Obviously, he's young, but he was strong, his pace was up throughout, and I really think he's something special for sure."

With his strong approach to the crease and powerful shoulders though his action, Seales drew some mid-match comparison with South Africa's star of the second innings, Kagiso Rabada, who mopped up the resistance with figures of 5 for 34, his first five-wicket haul since March 2018.

"He is a great prospect for West Indies," Rabada said. "They have always produced those who can bowl really well, right from the 1980s. They are continuing the prestigious lineage of producing fast bowlers.

"He has come to the fore," he added. "I don't know how much he

tried to copy me. I think he is just natural. I don't see a huge similarity, maybe a small similarity between our bowling. He is a good bowler and he showed that. I wish him all the best."

Reflecting on West Indies' failings in the first Test, Brathwaite rued their collapse to 97 all out on the first day of the match, after which their defeat was only ever a matter of time. However, he denied he had erred in choosing to bat first.

"We saw today some variable bounce, the pitch was a little dry, but we didn't bat well in the first innings, so we were under pressure from the start.," he said.

"We were always on the back foot." "[South Africa] are quality bowlers but even batting second we thought they would be quality. In the second Test, we've got to bat better. As a group we bowled well, and Seales in his first Test was magnificent. [Roston] Chase showed fight today, but that first innings hampered us a lot."

"We'll take a little break and come back stronger," he added.

"For me it's about getting your mind in the right place. It's more mental than technical." (ESPN cricinfo)

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23

Actions speak louder than words: Should Hope open the batting?

Shai Hope returned to Test cricket after last playing in July last year

By Brandon Corlette

P

rior to the commencement of the first Test match between West Indies and South Africa in St Lucia, Shai Hope, in a virtual press conference, said he was comfortable batting as an opener. The West Indies lead selector Roger Harper shared

similar sentiments.

After scoring 15 in his first innings in his return to Tests, the usual classy Hope surely did not look like his One-Day International (ODI) best, playing as an opener. His return innings was far from comfortable, by his standards, in white-ball cricket to be precise.

Hope, who scored heavy in the Best v Best matches in the build-up to this series, looked technically flawed against the quality South African pacemen while he dominated the regional boys, displaying recent form from the ODIs against Sri Lanka.

While Hope was picked in the starting XI to open the batting with Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, ahead of Kieran Powell, he did not open the batting in the second innings, owing to Nkrumah Bonner's concussion.

This meant Powell slotted in to open while Hope dropped down to three, where he scored only 12.

Blazing away on air, international cricket commentator Fazeer Mohammed was critical during his commentary stint,

noting that Hope should bat in the middle. As soon as West Indies management had the opportunity, Hope batted at three and Powell slotted in to open.

In the post-match press conference, Head Coach Phil Simmons said the only person who could answer whether or not Hope was comfortable as an opener was himself.

"He has the ability to bat anywhere in the top six. This is the position that he was asked to do and that is where he scored his runs leading into (this match).

Powell came in and we decided that he will open and Hope will bat three," Simmons said in response to a question posted by Guyana Times Sport.

Without a doubt, Hope is one of the better batting talents in the Region, but his Test record says otherwise. Hope's return has pleased many; in the upcoming second Test match, from June 18, he will want to make those individuals happy and turn over that new leaf he spoke of prior to the match.

The 27-year-old batsman last played for the red ball team

Cyclists set to battle for supremacy at Father's Day showdown W ith the likes of national champion Romello Crawford, Raynauth Jeffrey, Michael Anthony, Jamual John, and Briton John slated to be absent, Sunday's upcoming cycling event is set to see some new riders coming to the fore.

The Father’s Day (June 20) contest will see riders battling for cash and trophies in a 44-mile road race in West Demerara. The event will pedal off from 08:00h at Schoonord, proceed to Parika and return to the point of origin for the finish.

Team Evolution's Paul DeNobrega, who was hot in the National Cycling Championship, and his team-mates, Christopher Griffith and Curtis Dey are favourites to come out victorious. New riders are expected to step up to show their abilities.

The collaborative race effort, involving Banks DIH Limited brands Malta Supreme and Rainforest Waters and Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, will see the first six overall finishers being rewarded for their efforts with trophies and cash prizes.

The top three finishers in each of the following categories – juniors, juveniles, veterans, and ladies – will also be rewarded. The Carlton Wheelers-organised race was last held in 2019, owing to restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Club is awaiting confirmation from the COVID-19 task force, which gave approval for some major cycling events in May.

Curtis Dey

in July of last year, after being dropped for a poor run of form in Test cricket ahead of the New Zealand series, in November 2020.

"Cricket covers different aspects, both technical and mental. So, I have been working on different things. The main thing is just to get success out

who started his Test career as an opener, has scored two centuries in the longest format, both coming in 2017 against England in Headingley in the same match.

After that, things went downhill in Tests for Hope. If ever there was a time to score runs, it is now, after West Indies lost the first Test inside three days.

Rutherford’s fifty insufficient as Hetmyer's Multan Sultans flourish

S

himron Hetmyer was not needed as Mohammad Rizwan's adjectivedefying T20 run shows no signs of abating. He produced another masterclass as Multan Sultans coasted to a nine-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi with 27 balls to spare.

Chasing 167, Rizwan never once looked remotely under pressure as he caressed a classy 56-ball 82 without once appearing to take any risks. The flawless chase was merely following on from a fairly error-free effort from the Sultans’ bowlers, who had the wood over the Zalmi batsmen for much of the innings. Only Sherfane Rutherford's breezy half-century briefly threatened to leave them with a bigger target.

Batting first, Zalmi got themselves into a strong position thanks to a strong start from evergreen opener Kamran Akmal, but Sultans bowled well enough to ensure Zalmi never really succeeded in pulling clear.

While speeding along to 70 inside the ninth over looked imperious, u n c a p p e d Shahnawaz

Dhani's devastating second spell ripped the heart out of the top and middle order.

Imran Tahir, operating from the other end, while wicketless, rarely allows too many runs, and with the wickets falling and run scoring spluttering, Zalmi were visibly fading in the game.

A handful of clubbed sixes from Rutherford at the death threatened to rob Multan of momentum at the changeover, but a shoddy Powerplay from the Zalmi bowlers meant all that advantage was swiftly squandered.

Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan operated too often along a leg stump line Rizwan was working away to a vacant

Rutherford slammed a brilliant fifty

SCOREBOARD ZALMI INNINGS Haider Ali c Muzarabani b Shahnawaz Dhani Kamran Akmal †c Imran Tahir b Shahnawaz Dhani Shoaib Malik c †Mohammad Rizwan b Shahnawaz Dhani David Miller c †Mohammad Rizwan b Muzarabani Rovman Powell c †Mohammad Rizwan b Shahnawaz Dhani Sherfane Rutherford run out (Imran Khan/†Mohammad Rizwan) Fabian Allen run out (†Mohammad Rizwan) Wahab Riaz (c) not out Umaid Asif not out Extras (b 2, lb 6, nb 1, w 5) TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.30)

Christopher Griffith and his Team Evolution team-mates are pre-race favourites

there and I believe in finding a way. I just need to find a way to score runs for the team,” Hope said before the opening Test.

This is the Test where Hope must find a way to score runs, whether he bats at the top of the order or in the middle. After 35 Tests, he has scored 1630 runs at an average of 25.87. Hope,

28 35 0 22 4 56 3 0 4

14 166/7

Did not bat: Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Imran Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Kamran Akmal, 8.4 ov), 2-71 (Shoaib Malik, 8.5 ov), 3-84 (Haider Ali, 10.1 ov), 4-88 (Rovman Powell, 10.5 ov), 5-117 (David Miller, 15.4 ov), 6-161 (Sherfane Rutherford, 19.5 ov), 7-162 (Fabian Allen, 19.5 ov) BOWLING Imran Khan Sohail Tanvir Blessing Muzarabani Shahnawaz Dhani Imran Tahir

4-0-25-0 4-0-38-0 4-0-37-1 4-0-31-4 4-0-27-0

MULTAN SULTANS INNINGS (TARGET: 167 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Shan Masood c †Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Irfan Mohammad Rizwan (c)†not out Sohaib Maqsood c Umaid Asif b Mohammad Imran Rilee Rossouw not out Extras (lb 1, w 9) TOTAL (16.3 Ov, RR: 10.12)

14 82 61 0

10 167/2

Did not bat: Shimron Hetmyer, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Shahnawaz Dhani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-45 (Shan Masood, 3.4 ov), 2-161 (Sohaib Maqsood, 16.2 ov) BOWLING Wahab Riaz Mohammad Irfan Mohammad Imran Umaid Asif Fabian Allen

3-0-33-0 4-0-24-1 2.3-0-34-1 3-0-36-0 4-0-39-0

boundary for fun, and with wides and misfields thrown into the mix, it was little surprise to see the 50 brought up in the fifth over.

Once Sohaib Maqsood got together with Rizwan at the crease, the contrast of styles proved a devastating combination, much too hot for Riaz's side to handle. If Rizwan was painting his way through his innings, Maqsood was hammering away during his. A whirlwind 31-ball 61 guaranteed this was never going to be allowed to go too deep, and when Rizwan helped a Riaz delivery over fine leg with six to go, it seemed a fitting way to end.

The Rutherford Revival With eight overs to go and Dhani's fourwicket burst leaving Zalmi reeling, it was Rutherford who ensured what looked set to be a belowpar total would end up a somewhat competitive one.

Having taken a few balls to bed in, he was content to play second fiddle to David Miller while the South African was around. But when Miller holed out thanks to a spectacular catch from Rizwan, Zalmi were running out of batters, and the time for caution was over.

A six clubbed back over Blessing Muzarabani's head began a momentum shift, but the left-hander was only getting started. He would follow it up with a monster hit over square leg the same over, and two more off Sohail Tanvir brought up a 34-ball halfcentury. Where Zalmi looked like they might meander to 140, 45 runs off the final three overs got them past 166.

Akmal and Shoaib Malik were removed off successive deliveries, and Dhani would take two more in a brilliant follow-up over. Haider holed out to mid-off before the dangerous Rovman Powell top-edged a pull thanks to a canny change of pace, leaving Zalmi reeling after a strong start. It helped keep the target manageable and Rizwan, who took a phenomenal catch running backwards to remove Powell, ensured with the bat Dhani's efforts would not be in vain.

Where they stand Multan bolster their chances of finishing in the top four, and are tied with fourthplaced Karachi on six points.

Peshawar remain third with eight. (ESPN cricinfo)

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021

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

Cyclists set to battle for supremacy at Father's Day showdown Page 23

Matthews

slams ton, Guyanese duo in the wickets Page 21

Rutherford’s fifty insufficient as Hetmyer’s Multan Sultans flourish Page 23

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