Guyana Times - Monday May 10, 2021

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$15M bakery at Capoey commissioned Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4643

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

EPA reviewing application for Exxon’s 4th oilfield − Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

EU envoy calls for peace P12 to prevail in Guyana, other territories in European Day message

Page 3

Human Services Ministry launches women's empowerment programme See story on page 7

COVID death toll Defamation laws now stands at 325 remain a concern in Guyana – Reporters after 2 more die − 159 new cases detected in 24h Without Borders Page 9

Driver allegedly beaten by armed men in heavily-tinted vehicles in P15 Berbice Body of Linden labourer found in Mabura P13 Creek

as 108 recorded in Region 4 Page 14

− as Guyana drops 2 places in latest ranking

P10 Miner arraigned for fatally stabbing teen 4 months after incident

Electoral fraud cases

Chief Justice to hear Page DPP, Top Cop’s 11 requests for SoPs, SoRs on Friday

6 ECD residents charged for P15 narco-trafficking

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, May 10 – 03:30h – 05:00h and Tuesday, May 11 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, May 10 – 16:00h – 17:30h and Tuesday, May 11 – 16:35h – 18:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers will prevail during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 15:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 09:33h and 21:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.66 metre.

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

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DAILY MILLIONS

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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

$68.28/barrel

+0.28

Rough Rice

$260. 24/ton

-0.21

London Sugar

$464.70/ton

+0.39

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1832.40

$1833.50

Low/High Change

$1829.50 +1.70

$1837.40 +0.09%

EPA reviewing application for Exxon’s 4th oilfield – Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out

A

n application for the Yellowtail oil development, oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth project in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, is currently being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has invited members of the public to make submissions on the oilfield within 28 days.

According to the EPA, Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), submitted an application for environmental authorisation to undertake the Yellowtail development.

“The proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages including: wells drilling and completions, mobilisation and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF); installation of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, production operations, offloading of crude and decommissioning, and use of support vessels and helicopters throughout the stages,” EPA explained.

“The proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and would also utilise land-based support activities such as marine shore bases, fabrication facilities, warehouses, and storage yards.”

According to the EPA, the project could have an impact on the environment, including on marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, and socio-economic resources, among others. As a consequence, and in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be carried out.

“An EIA is required to be conducted before any decision to approve or reject the proposed project is taken, since this development may significantly impact the environment. Members of the public are hereby invited, within twenty-eight (28) days of this Notice, to make written submissions to the Agency, setting out those questions and matters which they require to be answered or considered in the EIA,” the EPA said.

It is meanwhile expected that the Field Development Plan (FDP) for Yellowtail will be submitted later this year.

This was recently revealed by Hess Chief Operating Officer Greg Hill. Hill, whose company is a co-venture partner of ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block, was at the time taking part in the 2021 first quarter earnings call.

While the operator is slated to submit the FDP later this year, Hill had explained that for now, design work and front-end engineering, the process of establishing

ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny

project costs and potential risks, are ongoing on the prospective oilfield.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). EEPGL is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. Already, the oil major has established

an ambitious oil exploration plan for 2021 offshore Guyana.

Over the past few months, Exxon, the only company to have found and started producing oil in local waters, has been drilling simultaneous deepwater wells in both the Stabroek and Canje Blocks.

In March 2021, ExxonMobil secured a sixth drillship, the Noble Sam

Croft, for exploration and evaluation drilling activities offshore Guyana. Yellowtail has an anticipated start date of late 2025 pending governmental approvals and project sanctioning. This project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of the Liza oilfield, where production is currently ongoing.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 10, 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

COVID and our world

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s of three days ago, there were 158 million persons across the word infected with the COVID-19 virus that emanated out of Wuhan, China in December 2019, causing 3.28 million deaths. While the USA led the world both in total number infected (32.7 million) and deaths (581,000), in its present second wave, India has suddenly skyrocketed to 22.3 million infected and 242,000 deaths. Still behind Brazil’s 421,000 deaths, but with more contagious and deadly new variants, it is feared that India’s crisis might careen out of control.

While our 14,203 cases and 323 deaths might appear insignificant, compared with our 780,000 population, we have been hit proportionately harder than even India, with its 1.3 billion population.

Those stark numbers remind us that with the globalisation process increasing exponentially over the last 50 years, we are now totally interconnected. Even those countries that have managed to bring their rates down to manageable proportions cannot be complacent. With the COVID-19 virus, like all viruses, mutating constantly, there is the certainty of new outbreaks.

At this point, therefore, our only hope is for the entire world to achieve herd immunity with about 80 per cent of the population vaccinated. We would also have the capability and capacity to produce new vaccines to deal with the new variants.

With this prognosis, we will have to concede that we will have to be living with this threat for some years.

In the meantime, we have to address the identified needs: to produce enough vaccines to inoculate the world and to be innovative enough to keep up with the mutating virus. The challenge, therefore, is a technological one, which, however, becomes an economic one since it takes massive funding to both create and produce vaccines. Generally, because of the latter factor, most of the creation of vaccines have been done by the so-called “Big Pharma” companies in the developed countries. And these companies have patented their discoveries which then creates a monopoly condition that is protected by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) through its “Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights” (TRIPS) agreement which all member countries have signed.

The argument being that if the incentive to recoup their investments and to also make a profit is removed, by forcing companies to waive their patents for the “greater good”, there will not be enough new innovations. Which would present a Catch-22 situation since the deadly COVID-19 virus is mutating constantly.

The developed countries, where “Big Pharma” is traditionally located, led by the US, have vociferously defended the “incentive argument” and even new entrants like Russia with their Sputnik V and China with its Sinopharm have fallen into line. Last week, however, US President Joe Biden did a volte-face amid protests from Big Pharma. He announced that his country was willing to push for a temporary waiver of WTO patent protection because of the enormity of the threat to world security – especially the poorer countries.

The news was applauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and about 100 other countries that have been pushing for just such a decision within the WTO. The EU also agreed with Biden, but a spoke was thrown into the slowly-turning consensus wheel that governs the WTO’s decision-making process by Germany, which hunkered down on the incentive argument. It also made the argument that the manufacturing capabilities are not available in a wide spectrum of countries and instead what is needed is an increase in productive capacity of the present manufacturers.

The argument superficially carries some weight in the present crisis since India, which is the largest manufacturer of vaccines, has been unable to keep up with their own demand. But this ignores the fact that India also has a number of smaller manufacturers which have been unable to pay the large licensing fees to produce vaccines such as AstraZeneca.

More importantly, a positive decision would encourage other significant countries such as Nigeria to initiate their vaccine manufacturing programmes without having the licensing albatross around their necks.

Some 50 mothers at the West Demerara and Georgetown Public Hospitals on Sunday received hampers from the Office of the First Lady, Arya Ali, as part of an initiative to give back to mothers on Mother’s Day. In photo, Junior Departmental Sister, Nurse Althea Bristol delivers a hamper to the mother who delivered the first baby on Mother’s Day at GPHC. The hampers were sponsored by Muneshwers Limited

For the children’s sake, all should get vaccinated Dear Editor, Parents need to better understand the risks that are present in essential activities and occupations that are not telecommute-friendly.

It is critical for all parents to take full responsibility and adopt all COVID measures in their homes, allowing it to become a normal practice, ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate physical distancing are a priority at all times and that it is encouraged in the home to take COVID-19 vaccines, risk reduction needs to be the key to protecting ourselves as parents and our children.

Clearly outlining to our children, persons who are refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine could be prolonging the pandemic by contributing to spikes in cases and giving the virus more opportunities to mutate.

As epidemiologists have said from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vaccine is the only true way to eventually resume much of life as we knew it. Now, more than a year later, there are several vaccines against COVID-19 circulating rapidly through the Guyanese population.

As more people get vaccinated against COVID 19, research continues to show the shots are safe for people and effective at preventing them from developing severe cases of COVID-19,

namely those that end in death. What is evident and of great importance to the Government of Guyana has been to make COVID-19 vaccination available for every Guyanese in every region and we must get vaccinated. We owe this to our children, the next generation of Guyanese.

Many people are sighing in heavy relief after getting their shots, while there are still some people whose areas are convinced the shots aren’t for them and say they won’t get them when it’s their turn. Even though surveys show vaccine hesitancy is going down, it remains a concerning issue in Regions Eight and 10 still.

However, it’s something our PPP/C Government, the Minister of Health and the Regional Health Officers are attempting to tackle through a new ad campaign.

There is new research that sheds light on the tragic toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children.

It is estimated that over 40,000 children in the United States have lost at least one parent to the virus. Children who lose a parent are at elevated risk of traumatic grief, depression, poor educational outcomes, and unintentional death or suicide, and these consequences can persist into adulthood, Guyanese! We are not preparing to accept catastrophe and the denoue-

ment of drama, especially a classical tragedy.

This burden will grow heavier as the death toll continues to mount. Losing a parent is traumatic at any age and in any circumstance. But now, compounding that grief is a year plus of lockdown where routines have been disrupted and children have had to stay distanced from friends and other loved ones.

When it comes to how a child responds to the death of a parent, much of it depends on the child’s age, the relationship the child had with that parent, their own temperament, and their relationship to their other support systems, such as other family members, friends, and loved ones Younger children are typically affected in many different ways than older kids. For example, primary age children often partake in what experts refer to as “magical thinking”.

However, all kids will try to make sense of what happened, but the little ones tend to see things in very egocentric ways, so they might worry that they did something wrong or that they caused it.

This can especially play out in the time of COVID-19, where children may worry about how their parents contracted the virus and if they played a role.

It’s really important to listen to kids’ worries and

reassure them that there’s nothing they did or didn’t do to cause this, Older children, particularly teens, can have a better handle on reality, though given the nature of COVID-19, it wouldn’t be uncommon for them to also worry if they were part of the reason their parent got sick, However, teens may also be dealing with more complex feelings.

They may be struggling with feelings of guilt or worry if there were conflicts or challenges which are really normative in that developmental period, and worrying if their parent knew what they meant to them, they may need a lot of reassurance that their parent knew how much they loved them.”

The death of a parent from COVID-19 may also prompt severe anxiety in kids of all ages about the health and safety of other loved ones.

Additionally, it’s important to note that there’s no time limit on grief and feelings of sadness, guilt, and anger may come on at different times.

Children grieve differently and they also grieve for different lengths of time. The loss of a parent, in particular, is lifelong grief. Everyone should get vaccinated and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sincerely, David Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

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

COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge Dear Editor, Today as we reflect on the past one and half years of this COVID-19 pandemic, we are still puzzled about the new normal and the end result. As soon as the thoughts come that life can return to some normalcy something happens in another part of the world that causes chain reactions in many countries and we regress. The people who we have elected to make policies and decisions for us are having nightmares in finding solutions to this evolving upheaval.

This novel COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge that has confronted the world. It has certainly established the limitations and vulnerabil-

ity of human beings. One asks the question, is this an act of God for all the transgressions that have taken place for the past centuries?

Let us look around the world and see the destruction which was created by men’s greed for power by some arrogant and hasty politicians. Let’s examine the realities of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Myanmar, China and the Balkans, Kashmir and Palestine just to name a few. The poor innocent civilians are led to immeasurable suffering for reasons even the oppressors cannot understand.

We have seen in the Biblical scriptures how the Lord of the heavens and

the earth humbled great nations when they transgressed and overstepped their boundaries. The time has come for the leaders of the world to do some introspection and return to dialogue and compromise to settle international issues.

On the contrary, we see the countries that are least affected in this crisis are those that did not participate in those unjust wars that have plagued the nations aforementioned.

Recently, I read a disheartening story which involved a decorated American soldier in Iraq.

Robert Bales, a former sniper and spree killer of the United States Army who murdered 16 Afghan civilians in Panjwayi,

Will the free press stand its ground in light of this assault by a former President?

Dear Editor, I am reminded constantly of the saying of Nelson Mandela that “a free press is a pillar of a democratic society”. Then I am also reminded of Barack Obama’s saying before he left the Office of US President that “we have to uphold a free press and freedom of speech – because, in the end, lies and misinformation are no match for the truth”.

Editor, this was my mood as I read that former President David Granger filed charges against Guyana Times, Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News for defamation and libel they al-

legedly published about him during and after the March 2, 2020 elections in Guyana.

I know that I can’t say much about the case because it is sub judice but I must say that this case cannot stand the test of reasonable scrutiny and facts.

The former Head of State has made yet another mistake, perhaps the biggest to single-handedly sue the media in Guyana - and there is a plethora of evidence to be called in support of the media’s case.

I, like all Guyanese, will watch this case closely as the media’s freedom to report and tell stories based

upon what they know to be fact is being attacked and threatened.

The courts were assaulted first and they stood their ground. The political party in power was attacked and they stood their ground. Now, it’s the media – the fourth estate that has come under attack with allegations of spreading fake news, libel and defamation.

Will they stand their ground and deliver an unrestrained blow to the former President or will they break under pressure.

Yours truly, Erin Northe

Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2012 – an event known as the Kandahar massacre.

In his reports he said that they were instructed to check a small flat house, they kicked down the door and killed the occupants by gunshot wounds to their

heads and thereafter set the bodies alight. There, they did not find anything harmful in that house.

That soldier disclosed that he is so traumatised by the event that he almost lost his mind. He said that he has never seen so many frightened faces, until to-

day they are still staring at him. My question is, “do we really think that Almighty God will give us a good and happy life when we transgress all boundaries”, never my friends!

Respectfully, Nazar Mohamed

No discrimination or victimisation under PPP/C Govt Dear Editor, The Government appears to have a firm grip on every situation that has affected its people regardless of how they voted during the last elections.

The Government is not holding grudges or watching faces when they are offering people a scholarship or house lot or land. Even more surprising and despite what the Opposition is saying, there appears to be no discrimination or victimisation occurring under their watch.

There appears, for all intents and purposes, to be fair, transparent, and easy access to services being developed or insisted upon.

And, I think that’s very important when you are in the business sector and Private Sector enterprise.

There is just one thing that I think is crucial to Guyana getting back accustomed to doing business is there must be efficiency when dealing with businesses or people. People are getting frustrated because of the long lines and time for them to get access to Government

services. Some of them have to come a long way very early with specific types of documentation only to see the crowd or a surprising buildup. The Government should fix this urgently.

In the meantime, the Government and Guyanese should not allow the Opposition to distract them from doing their businesses and ventures. After every single time, they lead them down the wrong road or get them worked up and even

excited about something that never ever occurs or happens how the Opposition says it would happen. Just look at their disastrous reign in the courts locally and regionally. Does the Opposition have real lawyers? Does it get advice before?

Go on with your day and let them squeal. It will be business as usual.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

Page

Foundation ◄

Question 1

Writing Prompt:

Amelia Earhart

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melia Earhart broke new ground for women pilots, inspired women to try professions traditionally reserved for men, and forged a friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (who wanted to take flying lessons from Amelia). Amelia consistently fought for increased opportunities for women.

Born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1897, Amelia’s parents and grandparents supported her participation in activities usually reserved for boys, such as hunting and climbing trees. As a young woman, Amelia worked as a nurse’s aide in a Canadian military hospital, caring for soldiers wounded in World War I. She became interested in flying after listening to the stories of recovering pilots. She took her first flying lesson in 1921 and earned her pilot’s licence a year later, when she was 23. When she was 25, her mother helped her buy her first airplane. It was in this plane that she set a woman’s record by flying to an altitude of 14,000 feet.

Despite Amelia’s accomplishments, opportunities for female pilots remained extremely limited. She began a career as a social worker and continued to fly planes on the weekends. In 1928, Amelia was asked to accompany two male pilots on a transatlantic flight.

The 20-hour, 40-minute flight made Amelia famous.

By 1930, Amelia had set three women’s world speed records in aviation and was the first woman to make a solo round trip across the United States. In 1931, she married publisher George Putnam in a union she described as a “partnership” with “dual control”.

In 1932, Amelia achieved her goal of becoming the first woman to pilot an airplane across the Atlantic Ocean and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Three years later, Amelia became the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean. She then set another record, a nonstop flight from Mexico City to New Jersey.

As Amelia approached her 40th birthday, she decided to make her last and most challenging longdistance flight as the first woman pilot to fly around the world. On March 17, 1937, she and navigator Fred Noonan took off from Oakland, California. On July 2, Amelia and Fred Noonan began the most dangerous part of their trip: flying 2556 miles over the Pacific Ocean, headed for tiny Howland Island. Despite the US Coast Guard cutter Itasca below to guide her, Earhart’s plane lost radio communication and disappeared. The US Navy launched an extensive air and sea search.

However, after searching 25,000 square miles of ocean, the rescue mission was called off. Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan were never seen again.

The tragedy made newspaper headlines and was the topic of endless speculation and rumors (Was Amelia a spy? Is she still alive somewhere?). Amelia’s pioneering spirit and courage, as well as the mystery of her disappearance, continues to fascinate and inspire people today.

Write a newspaper story detailing a conclusive discovery to answer the question of what happened to Amelia Earhart. Use your imagination! (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

Ode on a Grecian Urn

By John Keats

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?

What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?

What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new; More happy love! more happy, happy love!

For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd, For ever panting, and for ever young; All breathing human passion far above, That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd, A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.

Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?

What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?

And, little town, thy streets for evermore Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.

O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede Of marble men and maidens overwrought, With forest branches and the trodden weed; Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!

When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Human Services Ministry launches women empowerment programme

W

omen’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), a massive new programme by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security that seeks to empower

(Barima-Waini).

The programme is open to women from all across Guyana. It offers free training in information and communication technology, décor and design, graphics, beauty and

A small business owner explains her product to Minister Persaud

women and girls and help them become financially independent, will be launched on Friday.

In the coming days, it will be piloted in Baramita, Region One

wellness, professional care, garment and hospitality, and administration.

The programmes which will be delivered both in-person and on-

line will provide the women with economic benefits along with an enabling environment to help them increase their self-confidence and individuality.

“She will be empowered and able to provide for herself and children,” Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud said, adding that if a woman is in an abusive relationship, she will be able to use what she learns from WIIN to choose if she wants to leave the relationship.

“If she does make such a choice, she would then be in a better position to care for her needs.”

While there are no admission criteria, emphasis will be placed on women and girls who were unable to complete high school. Courses will be presented in Spanish and various Indigenous languages. As a long-term goal, the Ministry will be looking to see how it can arrange to translate the modules into the

dialects of the Indigenous communities.

According to Minister Persaud, WIIN follows on the heels of WE LIFT, an empowerment exercise that was held at the Guyana Conference Centre that was able to get 75 women-centric businesses together, “from food to salons, making soap; you name it, and they were there. We then realised that we needed to tap into much more than that.”

WIIN has several components to it but every person, irrespective of what course they are doing, would be subject to a core component which will equip them with information on the legislation, their rights, and social issues, including

domestic violence and abuse.

“People have to be able to see, seize and create opportunities in preparation of where our country is going and be very creative so that they have a competitive edge in promoting their skills,” Minister Persaud remarked.

Firstly, the Ministry will be rolling out a series of technical vocational training programmes across the country. People can access these through online applications, hard copy applications at Ministry locations, and through community outreaches that have already commenced.

The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, June 14, TURN TO PAGE 13 2021.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DHBC Asphalt Plant Fraud

Patterson, Adams’ trial to begin next month

AFC General Secretary David Patterson

Rawlston Adams

he trial of Alliance for Change (AFC) General Secretary and former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) Rawlston Adams in relation to a joint fraud charge will commence on June 8. They made another court appearance Monday last.

All statements in the matter have since been filed by the prosecution. The trial will be conducted before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against the

of the Public Accounts Committee, is being represented by Attorneysat-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Burch-Smith, and Khemraj Ramjattan, while Adams is represented by Attorney-at-Law Glenn Hanoman. Attorney-at-Law Leslyn Noble is the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor.

In November of 2020, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had disclosed that the Guyana Police Force was actively probing the award of the 2016 $145 million contract to LievenseCSO. The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and the Auditor General had red-

T

duo states that between November 18, 2016, and February 1, 2018, they conspired with other persons unknown to defraud the DHBC Asphalt Plant of $162,635,015.

The charge further states that the funds were for a project about a feasibility study and design for a new bridge across the Demerara River, which was not a function of that corporation, and as such the monies from the Asphalt Plant account could not be used.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bail was granted to them at $200,000 each. Patterson, who serves as Chairman

Chilling effect...

N flagged Patterson for requesting from the then Cabinet that the feasibility contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The PPC had found that the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders. Following investigations, it was revealed that several companies had bid for the project for the feasibility study and design for the bridge and 12 companies had been shortlisted. But only two of the 12 companies had made proposals. As such, the bidding process was annulled.

NPTAB had approved for the project to be re-tendered. However, the project was not re-tendered.

Instead, LievenseCSO was engaged by the then Public Infrastructure Ministry to do the work. It was revealed that the bid from LievenseCSO was “unsolicited”, but Patterson took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval.

Approval was granted for the company to be engaged.

Monies to be spent on the project were taken from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Asphalt Plant account. Reports indicate that in 2017, $215.3 million was used from the fund, while in 2018 a further $74 million was withdrawn. The original sum approved by Cabinet for the contract was $161.5 million. It is understood that the contract price for the handpicked LievenseCSO was $148 million.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

...of Granger’s libel suit ow we know why Granger had converted his Pearl home into a bunker – reminiscent of the one Hitler had holed up in at the end of WWII – the Führerbunker – as the Allied troops closed in on Berlin. In our scenario, defeat was also staring Granger in the face as, one by one, his moves to keep his dreams of ruling Guyana crumbled. Both election petitions are gone for channa; his choice of the banal Harmon as his surrogate Leader of the Opposition (LOO) backfired; challenges to his leadership have come from within and without and so on and so forth!

What to do? What had his army training taught him? Well, he could’ve gone back to WWI and dug in behind trenches.

Or create his own Maginot Wall to keep out the attackers.

Or, as he just did, just bunker down and plan a counterattack.

After nine months of gestating, he seems to have finished planning and has now launched his counterattack: the $2.6 billion libel suit against Kit Nascimento and three private newspapers who published the former’s letters giving his opinion on Granger’s shenanigans.

Now your Eyewitness isn’t going to get into the merits or demerits (a larger target) of his case, since the matter might be considered sub judice. What he’d rather do is comment on what the lawsuit reveals about Granger’s position on the fundamental democratic principle of free speech. After all, this is a man who studied journalism in the US – courtesy of a scholarship issued by the American Government! And did this when he was quite long in the tooth, three decades after his army career began!

So you’d think he wouldn’t have treated the stint as a frat party and would’ve paid attention to the lessons on free press, journalism and their relationship with Governments.

The first lesson, of course, is that it’s a fundamental premise of the free press to view Governments with a (very) jaded eye. And always assume they’re out to hold on to and buttress their power and the devil take the people who put them in office.

He’d have learnt that to protect this value, the press has the right of “fair comment” when it comes to writing about public figures. Formally it’s a "common law defence [that] guarantees the freedom of the press to express statements on matters of public interest, as long as the statements are not made with ill will, spite, or with the intent to harm the plaintiff".

No matter how harsh, wasn’t Nascimento merely concerned about democracy in Guyana – a matter of “public interest – rather than “spiting” Granger?

But Granger, like Burnham, can’t brook criticism and will use the jackboot to quash it! ...on electoral reform When discussing “electoral reform” in Guyana, we’re really talking about either rectifying the PNC’s corruption of the electoral system or plugging holes in it to prevent them from rigging elections! It all started in 1968, of course, when Burnham decided to dump his coalition partner – the United Force of D’Aguiar – and rule unencumbered. The US declassified files from that era tell that sordid tale. And there are reports from international observers that denounce their electoral larceny in 1973, 1980, and 1985. The most apt one being “More crooked than barbed wire”!

So when Harmon expresses “concerns” about the International Republican Institute (IRI) offering its assistance to the Government to implement the electoral reform it had promised, you know there’s more in the mortar than the pestle! And what’s in the mortar is the PNC’s knowledge that after its shameless and blatant rigging attempt last year, it has a snowball’s chance of surviving in hell to get back in power via elections!

Hence his “concerns”! ...of the COVID-19 numbers Never mind the announcement of nine deaths from COVID-19 might’ve been from a slip-up in reporting. No matter how we slice it or dice it, our COVID death rate is heading towards a crisis inflection point.

Lockdown, anyone?

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

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Defamation laws remain a concern in Guyana – Reporters Without Borders ...as Guyana drops 2 places in latest ranking

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uyana’s position on the 2021 World Press Freedom Index has taken a hit this year and the reason why may lie in the reasoning given by Reporters Without Borders, as they once again draw attention to Guyana’s defamation laws and the way they can and have been used to muzzle the media.

According to the 2021 index, Guyana was ranked at 51 out of 180 countries… a

thority are appointed directly by the President.”

“This restricts the freedom of certain media outlets, which are denied licences. Recent attempts to improve regulation of the broadcast industry involved no consultation with any broadcasters,” Reporters Without Border said.

There have been calls for some time, including from the Guyana Press Association (GPA) for

Guyana is currently ranked at 51 out of 180 countries when it comes to press freedom

drop compared to the 49th place ranking Guyana got last year. The index noted that Guyana’s global score of 26.63 from 2020 was reduced by 1.02.

Reporters Without Borders (RWB) noted that Guyana’s Constitution provides protection for free speech and the right to information. However, they noted that legislation including defamation laws, which provide for fines and custodial sentences, have been implemented – and in the past used to censor journalists who criticise the sitting political party.

“Journalists have also faced harassment in the form of prosecutions, suspensions, and intimidation… because members of the media regulatory au-

Guyana to amend the existing criminal defamation laws, to reflect globally accepted standards prevalent in democratic societies.

The situation has been compounded by legislation passed in the National Assembly by the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, including the contentious Cybercrime bill and the Broadcasting Act. And in recent times, criticism of officials from the former Government has been met with lawsuits.

It was only last week that former President David Granger, claiming that his reputation was tarnished, mounted a mammoth $2.6 billion lawsuit against three news

entities – Guyana Times, Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, and Public Relations Specialist Christopher “Kit” Nascimento.

The 134-page Statement of Claim was filed by Granger’s lawyer, Roysdale Forde, SC, and lodged at the

High Court in Georgetown.

In the lawsuit, Granger alleged that he was defamed in letters sent to the newspapers’ editors by Nascimento relating to the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and the events that unfolded after.

Former President David Granger

Apart from the billion-dollar award for damages, Granger wants the court to grant him aggravated and exemplary damages, interest, costs, and any such further or other orders the court deems.

TURN TO PAGE 12

10 NEWS Main suspect in 2017 NWD murder arraigned MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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fter being on the run for almost four years, Joseph Kerr, who is accused of fatally shooting Orlando La Cruz, 40, in June 2017, was on Thursday charged with murder.

Kerr, 59, appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictment when it was read to him. The Police stated that on June 15, 2017, at Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District (NWD), he murdered Orlando La Cruz.

As such, he was remanded to prison until August 3, 2021.

It was reported that on the day in question, La Cruz was lying in a hammock at his mining camp when Kerr and another man visited him and they started to consume alcohol and shortly after, Kerr asked La Cruz to perform oral sex on him, however, when the now dead man refused, an argument ensued.

During the ordeal, La Cruz was shot in the right side neck by Kerr. After the shooting incident, Kerr

and his acquaintance left the scene.

The injured La Cruz was subsequently discovered in the hammock

bleeding by his colleagues a few hours later. He was picked up and taken to the Matthews Ridge District Hospital but it was too

late.

Meanwhile, Kerr’s accomplice, Eustace Abrams, has already been charged for the murder.

He was found guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter by a 12-member jury on April 6, 2021. He is awaiting sentencing.

Miner arraigned for fatally stabbing teen 4 months after incident

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ason Howard was arraigned for the 2020 Christmas Eve day murder of 19-year-old Neville Moonsammy Jr when he appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 24, 2020, he murdered 19-yearold Neville Moonsammy.

The case will continue on August 6, 2021.

It was reported that the now dead teen was in the company of his father and a friend when he was killed. According to Police, the dead man’s father and his friend were also at-

tacked.

Reports are that the teen, his father and the friend were imbibing at a shop at Four Miles, North West District (NWD), and after some time, they decided to go home.

According to the dead man’s father, they were talking to two females along the Four Miles Access Road when his son, who had been standing a short distance away from

them, ran towards him with a bloodied left hand.

Soon after, the teenager was attacked by a group of men who stabbed him to his face, while another wounded the friend.

After committing the act, the suspects reportedly made good their escape. The injured teen was taken to the Port Kaituma Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

NEWS

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electoral fraud cases

Chief Justice to hear DPP, Top Cop’s requests for SoPs, SoRs on Friday

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n application filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie requesting certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) comes up for hearing on Friday, May 14, 2021, before Chief Justice Roxane George.

Ahead of the hearing into APNU/AFC election petition #88, Justice George had ordered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hand over the original copies of the SoPs and SoRs to the Registrar of the Supreme Court of

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Judicature, Sueanna Lovell, for safekeeping.

Following the conclusion of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections which were embroiled in controversy, several high-ranking GECOM officials were investigated by the Guyana Police Force.

They are Chief Elections

Chief Justice Roxane George, SC

Officer (CEO) Keith Lownenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DECO) Roxanne Myers, and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Police later sent a file to the chambers of the DPP which recommended charges for the trio.

Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo were subsequently charged with several counts of misconduct in public office in relation to their conduct at the national elections.

Lowenfield was also charged with forgery for allegedly uttering forged documents on two occasions purporting to show that they were a true report of all the votes cast at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

They were all released on monetary bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial. In her application requesting certified copies of the documents, the DPP said that after charges were laid against the trio, she advised and instruct-

ed the Police to obtain certified copies of the SoRs and SoPs from GECOM as part of its probe and gathering evidence for presentation in court.

According to Ali-Hack, the SoPs and SoRs are necessary for the fair hearing of the charges as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences for which Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo are charged.

Pursuant to the Representation of the People Act, the DPP pointed out that SoPs are public records for which there is no restriction such as priva-

Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers

cy, privilege, or secrecy. As such, she submitted, “There is no restriction to the Police obtaining them.”

“By the common law and statute, namely Section 50 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, the Commissioner of Police and any member of the Police Force have the lawful right

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

to collect and recover all documents and property which are relevant to the investigation and prosecution of any criminal offence,” the DPP further submitted.

After the elections concluded, Ali-Hack deposed that two election petitions were filed with the High Court and that on January 18, 2021, the Chief Justice ordered that the SoPs and SoRs in possession of Lowenfield be lodged with the Registrar of the High Court for safekeeping.

The Top Cop later wrote to the Registrar requesting certified copies of the documents but was informed by her that she is unable to provide them without a court order.

The DPP said that unofficial copies of the documents are in the public domain, and she believes that the original documents will confirm and show that cer-

tain numbers of cast votes were recorded on those documents and that together with other evidence will show that those charged deliberately ignored those recorded figures and made false declarations in furtherance of their conspiracy.

Additionally, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence and APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph are also before the courts on electoral fraud charges. There are also electoral fraud charges against GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller and GECOM Elections Officer Shefern

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan. They, too, have been released on bail.

Lowenfield’s report

Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie

claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (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/AFC regime. The DPP has since hired a team of special prosecutors consisting of about six attorneys-at-law to prosecute the electoral fraud cases on behalf of the State.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana lacks oil & gas trained labour officers to send on board FPSOs – Labour Minister – says PPP/C inherited crippled Labour Dept, capacity now being built

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espite the rapid growth of the oil and gas sector in Guyana and the discovery of oil since 2015, Guyana still lacks specialised Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) officers with the appropriate training to go offshore and examine Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels or drillships.

This admission was made by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton during a recent appearance on Globespan that focused on OSH and Guyana’s developing economy. According to Hamilton, the lack of capacity in Labour is because no oil and gas training was done for labour officers during the tenure of the former David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

“We are seeking to fix the structure. More impor-

tantly, at the level of both labour officers and occupational health and safety, there was no training done by the Granger regime, at the higher technical level, whereby these officers could properly supervise the oil and gas industry,” Hamilton explained.

“As I speak to you, we have no one who I can send to supervise these matters on those FPSOs or drillships. Because firstly, you have to know what you’re going to look for before you go to look. We are in the process of discussing with an international firm to train the OHS officers we have, to take them to a higher level so that they could be in a position to supervise the new officers that will be appointed.”

According to the Minister, they are also looking to have OHS officers who specialise in various

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

sectors, such as in the oil and gas sector, mining, agriculture, construction and forestry. He noted that the aim is for these officers to themselves become trainers, not just for the Ministry of Labour but for other agencies – private or public sector.

Hamilton also noted that the Ministry of Labour was

not only underskilled but also understaffed. To give an idea of how understaffed the Labour Ministry was, Hamilton revealed that the staffing structure when the PPP entered office required 120 staffers at the Ministry.

But when they got into power, there were only 87 staff.

“I can say to the public, that we are going to be increasing the staffing at the Ministry of Labour. From 84 that I met, to nearly two hundred staffers. Because we have to create administrative departments that did not exist.”

ExxonMobil, whose affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has dominated Guyana’s oil industry since being the first to discover oil in 2015, has so far made 19 oil discoveries offshore Guyana… the latest discovery being made at the Uaru2 well in the Stabroek Block

last month.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. It is expected to submit a Field Development Plan (FDP) for one such project, Yellowtail, for governmental approval later this year.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). EEPGL is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

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

Already, ExxonMobil has established an ambitious oil exploration plan for 2021 offshore Guyana. Over the past few months, Exxon, the only company to have found and started producing oil in local waters, has been drill-

ing simultaneous deepwater wells in both the Stabroek and Canje Blocks.

In March 2021, ExxonMobil secured a sixth drillship, the Noble Sam Croft, for exploration and evaluation drilling activities offshore Guyana. A fourth project, Yellowtail, has been identified within the block with an anticipated start-up in late 2025 pending Government approvals and project sanctioning. This project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 19 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of the Liza developments.

Despite all these developments, however, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) entered office to find that just one oil and gas related legislation, the Natural Resources Fund Act, had been passed and even that will have to be reviewed.

EU envoy calls for peace to prevail in Guyana, other territories in European Day message

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urope Day was celebrated on Sunday and while its observance is mostly to bring about peace and unity in Europe – the day is also celebrated throughout the world including Guyana.

The European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto was happy to share the celebration with Guyana while noting that the date marks the anniversary of the historic “Schuman Declaration”.

The then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, at a speech in Paris in 1950 set out his idea for a new form of cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe's nations unthinkable.

Ponz Canto recalled that this was the start of an economic union, which has now become a political, fundamental union, and a major player in international relations.

“Europe is about many things, but when they ask

me what is the most important one, I say it about peace and reconciliation with our former enemies. We have made many mistakes in the past, we had many confrontations, but we managed to reconcile ourselves,” he said.

The EU’s Ambassador further highlighted that this is also something that Europe wants for Guyana and all their international partners.

“Let’s turn to something very important for us

which is our presence here in Guyana. The European Union has been a partner of Guyana all since the creation of the republic, and we have been present in the country and I’m happy to say we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the formal establishment and agreement that allows for the establishment of a full-fledged delegation of the European Union,” he explained Ponz Canto further added that he would like to see Guyana’s natural resources being put to good use. He said Guyana can now count on the EU in helping in such an area.

“We have been helping in development cooperation we could release an important amount by the end of last year, and we know that more support is upcoming.”

Moreover, Ambassador Ponz Canto said Guyana will be getting another ship-

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto

ment of the COVAX vaccines from Europe in May. He added that even though Europe is not in a good state due to COVID-19, they continue to pledge their support to Guyana.

“In difficult times, one recognises his real partners, his real friends. I want to remind everyone to take the necessary precautions against COVID even if you

are vaccinated,” he implored Guyana received its first shipment of 24,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX on March 29.

The doses arrived in Guyana after being dispatched by PAHO’s Revolving Fund that was responsible for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for the countries of the Americas.

Defamation laws remain...

The lawsuit accuses Nascimento of launching and sustaining a series of defamatory attacks from March 2020 to August 2020 against Granger through opinion pieces that were published by the newspapers. According to Granger’s counsel, the attacks were “relentless and displayed a complete disregard for the truth”.

Granger had said the publications suggested that he was of unsound mind, a liar, involved in criminal and illegal activities and practices, and unfit to be the President of Guyana.

Nascimento, in an invited comment to this newspaper, had said he was standing by his remarks about the former Head of State.

“I am astonished at Mr Granger’s lawsuit. He certainly places an extraordinarily high price on what he believes to be his reputation. I am satisfied that anything I have written or said about Mr Granger was in defence of democracy and the freedom of Guyana,” the PR specialist had said.

There is also the existing case of defamation filed by former Junior Housing Minister Annette

FROM PAGE 9

Ferguson, against now Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Ferguson had sued Jagdeo, as well as Guyana Times, back in 2020, over what she claimed were libellous statements pertaining to her acquisition of land and wealth.

A default judgement for $20 million was issued against Jagdeo back in March, following the failure to file a defence within the required time. That default judgement is currently being appealed. Ferguson also recently sued Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton for similar statements.

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Buxton businessman busted with ganja in home A

Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman was arrested on Saturday following the discovery of over two kilograms of marijuana in his home.

Based on reports received, a team of Police ranks, acting on information, went to the home of the 65-year-old businessman of Middle Walk, Buxton, ECD, and conducted a search.

During the search, a large transparent Ziplock bag containing a quantity of cannabis was found in his possession.

Based on the discov-

The cannabis that was found in the home of the businessman

ery, the Police conducted a search on the busi-

nessman’s premises where another two transparent

Ziplock bags were found in a drawer in the kitchen

area with ganja. In addition, the Police unearthed

another bag hidden in a refrigerator with the illegal substance.

He was arrested and escorted to the Vigilance Police Station where the narcotic drug was weighed and amounted to 2.242 kilograms. He is expected to make his court appearance in the new week.

About a month ago, Police unearthed several bags of cannabis in an empty lot at Spliff Street Buxton, ECD. The cannabis was subsequently weighed and amounted to 160 grams.

Teen shot during alleged Body of Linden labourer scuffle with cops found in Mabura Creek

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17-year-old boy who is allegedly a “known character” to the Police was on Friday shot and injured during an alleged scuffle with cops following a high-speed chase around Georgetown.

The incident occurred sometime around 16:40h along Dennis Street and D Field Access Road, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

It was reported that a group of policemen were conducting an exercise in Division 4 A (Georgetown), and whilst in the vicinity of Dennis Street and D Field Access Road, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, the teen was observed riding a red motorcycle with a haversack on his back.

Upon seeing the Police patrol vehicle, the teenager immediately made a U-turn

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and sped off in a western direction on Dennis Street.

In retaliation, the Police went after him and after navigating several cross streets and roads, the suspect eventually abandoned the motorcycle at his home and ran into his yard. He then scaled his neighbour’s fence.

As ranks closed in to apprehend him, he put up

a fight during which the teenager held on to a policeman’s service revolver. As the scuffle continued, the firearm reportedly went off.

Two circular injuries were observed on the suspect’s body. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted a patient under guard.

Human Services Ministry...

WIIN will provide opportunities for training in both conventional and unconventional avenues.

“Whether persons are interested in garment construction, or Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology, graphic designing, video editing, photography, interior decorating; we’re moving to cater for what is happening in our country, and what will be opened up,” Minister Persaud explained, noting that they will also be taught how to do a business proposal.

She added: “People are being equipped with the skills so that they can go out there and make a good living, or they can choose to be their own bosses.”

Additional benefits of WIIN include the provision of functional, business, social issues, and legislative literacy. It will also cover areas in anger management, emotional intelligence, coping mechanisms, as well as

information on support systems from the Ministry.

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

“WIIN is for them to go out there and become employed or start their own business. We will link them to other funding opportunities, including but not limited to Small Business Bureau.

So while it may not be financial assistance, let’s say we’re training them to sew; we will work to give them a sewing machine, fabric, or whatever they need,” the Minister explained.

“The programme will help them to find links to funding sources so that they can get their businesses registered and have a guide on how they can access funding and grow their businesses. This was piloted and was successful, so this is now the full programme that is being rolled out. We will also provide mentorship so that they

FROM PAGE 7

are not left on their own after this project.”

The WIIN programme is creating an employment opportunity for some of the victims of the recent Sharon’s Mall fire who practiced cosmetology to become trainers.

Currently, the Ministry is in the process of setting up a female-centric business incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership where WIIN and other programmes will be rolled out. The Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute will be the lead agency for all of these programmes and while training will happen there, it will also happen in all communities across the country.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is also in the process of creating a digital directory and app for women-owned businesses in Guyana, and female business owners have been urged to send in their information to be added to the directory. This is an initiative at no cost to businesswomen.

he search for missing 20-year-old Linden labourer Akeem Davidson ended on Friday after his body was recovered in a creek at Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Davidson went missing on Tuesday last after plunging into the creek and never resurfacing.

However, after close to one week’s search for the missing man, Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter confirmed that the body was spotted by Police and civilians who were still combing the area.

Winter stated that the body was found among some rocks a short distance from where the young labourer went missing. His body was transported to

Dead: Akeem Davidson

Linden Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

It was reported that on the day the young man went missing, he and a friend, Sheldon Vanaco, went to take a bath at the creek about 300 metres away from their camp.

While they were swimming, Davidson went down into the water and did not resurface. His friend told investigators that he shouted at him, telling him to “stop playing”, but after about 15 minutes, the situation remained the same.

As a result, the friend reportedly went back to camp and alerted the owner of the camp. They both went back to the area where they conducted a search but came up empty-handed.

The Police were later informed and a team of ranks travelled to the area where they joined in the search.

After several hours of searching, Davidson’s body was finally found floating in the creek.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID death toll now stands at 325 after 2 more die

−159 new cases detected in 24h as 108 recorded in Region 4

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wo more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus have died, the Health Ministry reported on Sunday, thus taking the death toll to a staggering 325.

These latest fatalities are two males – an 82-yearold from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and a 60-year-old from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) – both of whom died on Saturday while receiving care at medical facilities.

Only Saturday, the Ministry had reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths that were recorded between April 25 and May 7, 2021.

It was explained that the patients were all admitted with COVID-19-like symptoms but died while receiving care at various medical institutions across the country.

Samples were taken at the time of admission, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests confirmed the positive results but this was after they would have already died.

With the two more fatalities recorded on Saturday, the COVID-19 death toll for the month of May has

jumped to 24. April has since been deemed the deadliest month, with 66 persons dying from the novel coronavirus.

However, a whopping 159 new COVID-19 cases were detected within a 24-hour period.

According to new statistics provided by the Health Ministry on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana now stand at 14,362 – 7183 males and 7179 females.

Active cases in the country have now skyrocketed to a whopping 1883 of which 16 are patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining 1867 persons in isolation, that is, 101 in institutional isolation and the other 1766 persons in home isolation.

In addition, there are also 16 persons in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 12,154 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus - 82 more recoveries

than the figure reported the previous day.

Some 130,388 persons in Guyana have been tested for the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic here last year.

Of the 159 new cases recorded on Sunday, two were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); five in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 15 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); a whop-

ping 108 cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); five in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); two in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); another five cases in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); six in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and one new case in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The figure in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region remained the same.

This rising number of

COVID-19 cases and the death toll come as local authorities continue to battle with a new wave of the novel coronavirus that is seeing a higher number of young people contracting the virus, and infected persons becoming sicker with some requiring hospitalisation.

Government has been aggressively rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, immunising over 154,000 persons with their first shot, while more than 7000 persons have been fully vaccinated with both doses.

In order to further boost the vaccination exercise to achieve herd immunity at the earliest time possible, Guyana will be receiving another batch of 60,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines sometime this week. This is part of a US$2 million purchase of 200,000 doses of the Russian manufactured jab by the Irfaan Ali-led Administration.

Additionally, the country is also expected to receive its second tranche of 38,000 vaccines from the COVAX facility later this month.

In the meantime, health

is much within my reach than has ever been before.

The Virtual Writers Retreat not only harnessed my innermost voice, but expanded my mindset that tapped into my ability to now write compelling authentic stories.”

Very soon, several Guyanese including Pamela Dillon, Dr Raquel Thomas Caesar, Beverley Benn, Latoya Barton, Marisa Bonnie Morgan, Lillian Thomas, Latoya Barton and many more will become first-time authors before the end of the year.

Part proceeds from the

last retreat provided some items for personal care hampers for women in various parts of Guyana.

Noel, who is working on her 11th and 12th book, encourages people to write their stories because every story matters.

Her books are on Amazon and at Austin’s Book Store.

“I have come a far way from my first book, “Living with Intention”. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because I am a testimony that it is possible,” Noel related.

Noel also collaborated with Vidal and found-

authorities are reminding all Guyanese to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No 17), which was extended for this month and will be in effect until May 31, 2021.

Among these measures is the 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew, which the National COVID-19 Taskforce has been working to enforce by prosecuting persons who are in breach of the measures.

The order further emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), as of Sunday, some 157,289,118 confirmed cases were reported globally along with 3,277,272 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 63,510,112 while the death toll in the region has gone up to 1,551,603.

3rd instalment of Virtual Writers’ Retreat set for June

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he Virtual Writers’ Retreat was launched during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the third instalment is slated for June 11-13, 2021.

The three-day event will cover the Create Compelling Stories curriculum that has been broken into a number of interactive sessions for the participants to enjoy from the comfort of their homes.

In the past two instalments of the event, persons from French Guiana, The Bahamas, the USA, Cameroon, Nigeria and Guyana participated. The participants were surprised that they came with the intention to work on one book and left with inspiration for as many as four.

"The sessions were informative, educational, entertaining as well as spiritually-uplifting. During the sessions, I was able to unlock doors I didn't know existed; as talent and ability became known, I was in awe. I had no idea that in that short space of time…I could have conceptualised a book, but I did more than one. I thank God for lighting my path, for starting a new chapter and my first book, “A Compilation of Daily Reminders”. That memorable weekend now forms part of history that I will always cherish," Reverend Wendy Hermonstine related.

She is now working on her second book.

Alesia Amanda from French Guiana and Ikoojo Theophilus Umoru, an

ed the CCS Writers’ Collab Subscription Club for people who desire to write their books sometime in the future.

This is a members-only subscription service for anyone interested in crafting their story in a safe, slowpaced, conscious-driven environment.

In this space, you can acquire skills for strong writing, compelling presentations, and creative thinking.

Persons who are interested in joining the retreat or club can send an email to info@ createcompellingstories. com or call 609-6778.

Guyanese fashion designer and author Sonia Noel

Attorney from Nigeria, also published books on Amazon after the retreat.

“The event was also able to inspire and empower individuals to write compelling stories to impact the world and that is a blessing,” Sonia Noel, who is one of the facilitators, related.

The other facilitators were holistic and integrative psychotherapist, training and development consultant, social innovator, and best-selling author Claudia Vidal and art/fashion director, stylist, conceptualist, production designer, image/ event manager, magazine editor, screenwriter for television and theatrical presentations Richard Young.

Another participant, Alia Dean who is an entrepre-

neur in the Bahamas and who contributed to the 365 Invaluable Life Experiences, is working on publishing her first book and shared her experience at the retreat.

"It was the mesh between the personalities of our support team and coaching techniques that brought out the best in all of us the following day. I felt as though something unlocked in me; it came so quickly; it came so naturally. I started this journey by saying I would like to leave with an unforgettable experience that I will always want to talk about and that I did.

Today, I stand before you, well-equipped and ready to make my music. I stand aware of my contribution to the solution in a world that

Chief Commercial Officer of Digicel Guyana, Simone Pierre hands over a quantity of food hampers for the young mothers of Women Across Differences (WAD). Receiving on behalf of WAD was Coordinator, Wendella Colonel Samuels-Boston

15 6 ECD residents charged for narco-trafficking A NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

total of six persons were charged on Friday for trafficking in narcotics after they were nabbed with a quantity of cannabis on separate occasions.

Appearing before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court was 23-year-old Gerald Kissoon, along with 23-year-old Avinash Mahabal and 64-year-old Parasram Mahabal.

The trio of Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was charged contrary to Section

Devon Premchand

Teernauth Baskaram

Gerald Kissoon

Avinash Mahabal

5 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Control Act, Chapter 10:10.

The allegations stated that the defendants had in their possession, 885 grams

of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking but they all denied that charge and

were remanded to prison.

The matter will continue on June 9.

Also appearing in court was 27-year-old Neil Krishna of Mon Repos, ECD. It is alleged that Krishna had in his possession 10.63 grams of cocaine and 31.71

Driver allegedly beaten by armed men in heavily-tinted vehicles in Berbice

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wenty-three-yearold Vevekanand Singh, a driver of Section B No 68 Village Corentyne, Berbice, was allegedly beaten by a group of armed men on Friday evening along the No 66 Public Road.

Based on reports re-

ceived, on the day in question at about 17:30h, Singh was proceeding south in his motor car when two vehicles suddenly came up behind him. They were both heavily tinted.

He was reportedly intercepted by the vehicles.

Singh told detectives that

three men exited one of the vehicles and another one from the second vehicle.

They were all armed with small black guns.

The men reportedly walked up to the victim’s car, pulled him out and began to beat him with their guns. After committing the

act, the men boarded their vehicles and left the scene.

The injured man was later rescued by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

An investigation has been launched.

Venezuelan gets 12 months for break and enter

A

Venezuelan national appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he was arraigned on a break and enter and larceny charge.

Cristian Jose Cedeno was not required to plead to the charge but a summary disposal was granted and the defendant eventually entered a guilty plea.

Following his plea, Cedeno was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Richard Chase of Lot 231

Richard Chase

Bristol Street, No 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice, was also arraigned for a break

and enter and larceny charge.

Chase made his appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

The charge was laid under Section 229 (a) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01. It is alleged that between June 14, 2020, and June 15, 2020, he committed the act.

The defendant was placed on $200,000 bail by presiding Magistrate Renita Singh. He is set to reappear in court on June 1, 2021.

Similarly, Clifton Ramsarran also known as

“Witch” was charged for a similar offence.

It is alleged that between April 8, 2021, and April 19, 2021, he broke and entered a property at No 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice. Ramsarran was not required to plead and was granted bail in the sum of $200,000.

The matter was also adjourned to June 1, 2021.

grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. He too pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until June 9, 2021.

In addition, 30-year-old Teernauth Baskaram also known as “Gopal” pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and was fined $5000 and ordered to perform a month of community service at the Mahaica Police Station.

Moreover, 37-yearold Devon Premchand of Mahaicony, ECD, also pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotics.

Premchand was also ordered to perform six months’ community service at the Mahaica Police Station as well as pay a $20,000 fine.

Labourer injured during fight with “Dumb Boy”

F

ifty-year-old Shazad “Shazo” Madeen of Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), is now injured after he was allegedly beaten by a man called “Dumb Boy” at Port Mourant, Corentyne.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the now injured man and the suspect were involved in an altercation on Saturday.

While information about the incident remains sketchy, a neighbour explained that he heard a commotion but did not intervene and as such, he went back into his home.

However, shortly after, the neighbour went back

outside and it was then he saw the now injured man lying on the ground with blood on his head.

The neighbour, according to information received, informed the injured man’s sister of what transpired and without hesitation, with the assistance of others, Madeen was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was treated and referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

He was admitted a patient and his condition is regarded as stable. The suspect, who is popular in the area, has not yet been apprehended. Investigations are ongoing.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$15M bakery at Capoey commissioned

Over 120 Mon Repos residents receive 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and members of the Block 8 Development Group of Mon Repos interact during the vaccination drive Prime Minister Mark Phillips (centre) is flanked by First Lady Arya Ali, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman, regional officials, and staff of the bakery

H

ighlighting the importance of community development, Prime Minister Mark Phillips over the weekend commissioned a $15 million bakery at Capoey, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Sunrise Bakery, which will create employment for 18 residents - 17 females and one male of the community - was constructed and furnished by The Guyana Foundation, in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

Prime Minister Phillips in his remarks said that the gesture contributes to the overall empowerment of the Capoey residents.

“More countries are recognising the importance of strengthening the economies of their rural communities to provide a better quality of life to the people through increased investments, policies, and programmes that can support these communities to

The $15 million Sunrise Bakery that has been commissioned at Capoey, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

working closely with these communities to develop priorities that meet those needs is what is important… through this initiative, we are reassured that there are stakeholders in our country who hold the commitment and the passion for capacity building and advancement of our people in high regard.”

He added that his Government is committed to ensuring that Indigenous communities across the country benefit from similar initiatives. “Your Government

The Sunrise Bakery is furnished with modern equipment

become economically vibrant and sustainable. In Guyana, this goal has always been placed as a top priority for the PPP/C Administration.”

The Prime Minister commended The Guyana Foundation for working closely with the community to identify and develop the initiative.

“While every community has different needs and opportunities for investment,

remains dedicated to ensuring that more such projects see the light of day in all Indigenous communities in Guyana and we assure you that this will be the reality from hereon as we continue to work in the best interest of our people”.

Founder of The Guyana Foundation, Supriya SinghBooden said that the bakery is equipped with all new and modern industrial-sized bakery equipment.

According to the charitable trust founder, the 18 residents will manage the affairs of the business and remit the proceeds to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council for the benefit of the community. She also expects the business to add value to the village economy by encouraging residents to produce more.

“We have encouraged the women to bring in other products such as craft, cassareep and other things because if tourism picks up in the village, and I’m sure it will, they can make an income in addition to the baked goods which they will sell to the community and surrounding areas… the bakery is also going to need other supplies like chicken, mince and eggs and this will stimulate the production of these items by villagers to supply the bakery,” Singh-Booden added.

Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman commended the inclusion of women in the initiative.

“We know that when women are empowered and gender equality is achieved, communities and economies thrive… That’s why we are so pleased to partner with The Guyana Foundation on this project, it will ensure that Indigenous women of this community have access to equal opportunities and employment…We know that this is going to have far-reaching effects.”

Also present at the ceremony were First Lady Arya Ali, Regional Chairman Vilma DeSilva, and Toshao of Capoey Village Ralph Hendricks.

O

ver 120 residents of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, received their second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine during a community outreach exercise on Saturday.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has commended the Block 8 Development Group of Mon Repos for responding to the Government’s call to collaborate and promote COVID-19 immunisation.

“It shows the power of working with community groups. Here it is we made that call and we are extremely pleased that this community group here, Block 8 Development Group heeded that call and has been able to work with the Ministry of Health. We have provided the technical personnel, the vaccines, and so forth but they did all the community organising and mobilising of people,” Minister Anthony said.

Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues held a walkthrough of the community and distributed food hampers to less privileged individuals and families. The Minister said that she too was impressed with the community group’s organisation of the vaccine drive.

“I’m very proud of the efforts that are being put into

the vaccination drive from the community itself. This type of community effort, you know, is exemplary and it would be wonderful if this can be replicated throughout the country,” Minister Rodrigues added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the community group, Karamchand Jaikaran, said that with the pandemic, it was only fitting to support the Government in its quest to achieve herd immunity by ensuring that more than 80 per cent of the population is immunised against COVID-19.

“I have been living in the community for the past 10 years or so and we have a few members who want to do a lot for the community, that’s where we actually started this exercise. Concerning the COVID-19, we realised that vaccination is the only solution we have presently. So, we are going out sensitising the people in the community and even beyond the community to be vaccinated,” he said.

The Block 8 group’s Public Relations Officer, Troy Edmondson, said it has seen quite an overwhelming response from villagers. He added another exercise will be organised soon.

The first person to receive

Resident Lakshmi Lakshman was the first person to receive her second dose of the Sputnik V

her second dose of the vaccine was Lakshmi Lakshman who disclosed that she had no adverse symptoms after receiving her first dose.

Another resident, Dasmattie Balram, recounted a similar experience. “I’m here for my second dose of the vaccine. The first dose, I did not have no symptom in spite of all the allergies that I have.”

Even as the Government appeals to the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19, it is set to receive two consignments of COVID-19 vaccines this week. The vaccines are being sourced from Russia and through the COVAX facility.

Man gets $350,000 bail for causing death by dangerous driving

O

n Friday, Marco Neville appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Though he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, an application was made for the matter to be disposed of summarily.

As such, he was granted bail in the sum of $350,000 and will return to court on June 10, 2021. The particulars of the case were not readily available to the media.

Meanwhile, a number of

persons were on Thursday hurled before the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for various traffic violations.

Those appearing before Magistrate Dylon Bess were Kevin Phillips, Fabian Houston, Llyod David, Julian Joseph, Ganesh Williams and Joshua James.

Phillips was charged for driving without being the holder of a valid driver’s licence and breach of insurance.

As a result, he was fined $50,000. In addition, Huston was also charged for driving without being the holder of a valid driver’s licence and breach of insurance, how-

ever, he was slapped with a fine of $45,000.

Meanwhile, David and Joseph were charged with permitting a breach of insurance and permitting unlicensed driving. They were fined $45,000 and $40,000, respectively.

Additionally, Williams was charged for driving without being the holder of a valid driver’s licence along with a number of other offences and was fined $50,000.

James was arraigned for permitting unlicensed driving along with other offences, however, he was found not guilty.

NEWS

17

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

All regions to get Legal Aid Clinics, Help and Shelter – Min Persaud − to assist victims of domestic violence

M

inister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud has said offices for Legal Aid services and Help and Shelter will soon be established in all regions.

The two entities saw an increase in Government subvention in the 2021 national budget, with Help and Shelter receiving $52 million, Legal Aid Clinic $94 million and the Linden Legal Aid Clinic, some $20 million.

In a recent interview with DPI, Minister Persaud expressed concern over the recent spate of domestic vio-

lence cases and its impact on victims and their families.

“So, the attention would be on both, because with domestic violence, we need to have legal representation for persons who cannot afford it because sometimes this is a stumbling block for women.

Shelter is also key because when they leave their homes, where do they go?”

Dr Persaud said her Ministry would soon launch a public education and awareness campaign to tackle the issue nationwide. The campaign will focus on anger management and the Survivors Advocates

Programme, targeting persons with violent tendencies.

Family and couples counselling will also be available.

Strengthening partnerships with civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will also be among the focus of the Ministry to address the issue of domestic violence.

“In terms of domestic violence, it’s not that the Ministry alone can do it alone. It has to be a collaboration between the Ministry and the Police first, but also the wider society, civil society, as well as persons who are in NGOs who work in the

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud

area of domestic violence.

So, let us know the cases, get the cases to us, get them to report so that we can help these women. We don’t want these women to feel that there is no support; there is

… the bottom line is we have to get the women away from the preparators and abusers,” Minister Persaud said.

Meanwhile, the 914 emergency hotline, launched in December, has been linked to all services available to victims of domestic violence.

These include immediate access to shelters, counselling and other psychosocial support, and access to training programmes offered by the Ministry.

However, Minister Persaud said people have not been fully utilising these services. She said several persons have been calling 914

for information for other services offered by the Ministry.

There are also some challenges with prank calls and persons abusing the operators. She urged persons to desist from this behaviour.

“I think 914 should be used more. It is a hotline not only for adult victims, it’s a hotline that children can call because it filters right back to Childcare and Protection, and we have also been focusing on elderly abuse,” Dr Persaud said. She added that her Ministry would also be reviewing legislation that protects domestic violence and other abuse victims.

19 new scholarship programmes added to GOAL

− courses offered by UWI Open Campus

S

ome 19 programmes have been added to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme and will be offered by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus.

UWI is among five international universities offering 85 online programmes to Guyanese through the GOAL initiative according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Of the 19 programmes, six are post-graduate diplomas, nine technical and vocational and craft pro-

grammes, and four sixmonth certificates in early childhood.

For the post-graduate diplomas, applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Applicants will also be required to teach in the area of specialisation for the duration of the programme.

The six-month certificate courses require applicants to possess at least five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects or London General Certificate of Education (GCE).

Meanwhile, candidates for the nine technical and vocational and craft programmes do not need entry requirements.

The programme also spans six months and offers certificates in art, painting and drawing; photography; welding and fabrication; joinery and cabinet making; jewellery making; garment construction; therapeutic massaging; event management; and wedding planning and decoration.

The Government has promised to establish partnerships with other academic institutions to offer

A citizen examining a GOAL scholarship form during the programme launch at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility, Region Three

more programmes.

Over the past few weeks, Government Ministers have

been leading outreaches to the administrative regions to promote the GOAL proj-

ect. Citizens are being encouraged to tap into the educational opportunities made possible by the Government in keeping with its manifesto promise to provide 20,000 online scholarships over its first term.

The programmes are a partnership between the Ministries of Education and Public Service.

Interested individuals can apply at www.guyanagoal.org, www.goal.edu. gy or complete and submit hard copy application forms to the Ministry of Public Service.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

Regional

Under-fire Bolsonaro leads Jamaica: Doctors insist on motorcycle rally of supporters getting their J$200 million to mark Mother’s Day T

P

resident Jair Bolsonaro rode at the head of a large motorbike rally by his supporters on Sunday amid harsh criticism over his management of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazil is one of the worst hit countries in the world by the pandemic having suffered 420,000 deaths.

Surrounded by security guards, Bolsonaro led hundreds of motorcyclists riding from the presidential palace in the capital Brasilia for a one-hour trip around the centre of town to mark Mother’s Day. “We had a very serious problem last year, something that no-one expected: the pandemic. But bit by bit we’re winning,” farright leader Bolsonaro told his supporters.

“Rest assured, as supreme commander of the Armed Forces, my army will never go into the streets to keep you in your homes.”

At the end of the rally, Bolsonaro, a fierce critic of social lockdown measures

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rides a motorcycle as he leads a caravan of more than 1000 bikers to celebrate Mother’s Day in Brasilia

to contain the spread of the virus, took photographs and shook hands with supporters, many of whom, like him, were not wearing face masks.

“I’m taking part in the event to support everything (the Government) has done these last few years to save Brazil,” said protester Carlos Toledo, 61.

Although the number of new coronavirus cases has dropped in recent weeks, Brazil has the highest fa-

tality rate in the Americas and the southern hemisphere.

Bolsonaro supporters also took to the streets in several major cities such as Brasilia, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro during Labour Day celebrations just over a week ago.

That came just three days after the Senate began an investigation into the government’s management of the pandemic. (Excerpt from AFP)

Virologist on CDC’s latest COVID warning: T&T can lose fight if citizens do not play their part

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s the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to climb, virologist Professor Christopher Oura is warning that if citizens do not play their part in flattening the curve, then this country can possibly lose the fight to the COVID-19 virus.

On Saturday, T&T recorded 233 new cases and eight deaths, the latter being the highest number of deaths during a 24-hour period. There have been 42 deaths for the first nine days of this month and an overall total of 211 deaths.

Oura noted that last Friday the US Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) recognised that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is airborne and can be transmitted via respiratory fluids, which are fine droplets released during respiration.

Revising its public guidelines on COVID-19, the top US medical body modified the listed modes of SARSCoV-2 transmission to comprise the probability of the virus being airborne.

“People release respiratory fluids during exhalation (e.g, quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing) in the form of droplets across a spectrum of sizes. These

droplets carry virus and transmit infection,” the updated guidelines on the CDC’s website noted.

Speaking to Guardian Media Ltd from the UK Oura said while the Health Ministry “can advice, recommend and mandate certain things” at the end of the day “it’s the people who need to follow the rules.”

“If the people of Trinidad and Tobago do not follow the rules; if they continue to mix households, get up close and congregate then this virus is going to carry on spreading so it’s a matter of not just the Government.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

he Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) is frustrated over the delay in payments of J$200 million in gratuity to its members.

JMDA President Dr Mindi Fitz-Henley said 80 per cent of the J$200 million is owed by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), plus there were issues with delay in salary payments and non-payment or late payment of salary deductions.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Dr FitzHenley said the majority of persons have been owed for three years, but there were

Residents in Jacarezinho protested after the deadly Police operation

T

he United Nations human rights office has strongly criticised a Police raid against suspect-

ed drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, amid allegations of abuse and extrajudicial exe-

for 15 to 20 per cent gratuity. Remember we don’t have pension. This is in lieu of that.

At the end of each contract, whether it’s a two- or threeyear contract you are eligible for your gratuity. At the end of your contract you are supposed to just put in your paperwork to receive it and people are just waiting donkey years to get their gratuity. When we did our adding up, it was basically $200 million that was owed and SERHA owed 80 per cent of that amount,” Dr Fitz-Henley continued. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Dominica preparing for return of cruise ships

T

he Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Port Authority (DPA), Benoit Bardouille, says several stringent measures are being put in place to ensure that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic does not severely affect the island’s cruise ship season that opens in June.

He said that the DPA is working to limit the contact cruise ship visitors will have with the local population.

Dominica on Friday reported that it had no cases or deaths linked to the virus and that the 175 cases registered since the first case was detected in March last year, have all recovered.

“During the summer when we will be getting ships from June…we will have to do a couple of things. We will have a new health screening area on the pier, so when the people come off the vessels they

Several stringent measures are being put in place

will be screened.

“Only persons who are going on pre-sold tours will be allowed out. In the past people could walk off the ship and go into the city and move on their own journeys. Now you will not be able to do that,” Bardouille said.

Until “the all clear” is given by the health authorities there, people will be allowed to come off the vessels, “but they will have to be screened…and if the persons don’t meet with

those requirements they will have to go back on board the ship, the CEO said.

“People who come off the ship and are not able to go on the pre-sold tours will be allowed to come off the ship and stay within the safe zone.

So on the Bayfront we are going to establish a safe zone so that vendors, traders will be allowed to operate their businesses within those areas with certain guidelines.” (Excerpt from Nation News)

Mexico City metro collapse victims’ families to get compensation

T

he families of more than two dozen people killed when a train overpass collapsed in

Rio Police accused by residents of abuses in raid cutions.

The deadliest Police operation in the city’s history has left 28 dead, including a Police Officer.

Residents say Police killed suspects who wanted to surrender and entered homes without a warrant.

Police have denied any wrongdoing, saying officers acted in self-defence.

Rio de Janeiro is one of Brazil’s most violent cities, and vast areas are under the control of criminals, many of them linked to powerful drug-trafficking gangs.

Security forces are often accused of disproportionate force during their anti-crime operations.

few who had been owed for up to five years, resulting in disquiet among members.

“We are just more frustrated than anything else.

They owe us money all the time and we have to be begging for our owed money that we have worked for. It is very upsetting when it is that we are trying to get that [money] and we can’t get it. We can’t get hazard pay, our salary deductions are late, our pay is late and on top of that you can’t get your gratuity. It’s just a combination of things,” Dr Fitz-Henley said.

“Gratuity is part of our contracts that we sign. It is

Thursday’s raid in Jacarezinho, one of the city’s largest slums known as favelas, was carried out by about 200 heavily armed Police Officers and included an armoured helicopter with a sniper. The area is dominated by Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, one of Brazil’s largest criminal organisations.

A television helicopter filmed men jumping from rooftops, while desperate residents posted videos on social media showing intense shootouts as they claimed Police had invaded their houses and used excessive violence. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mexico City last week will receive financial compensation, the city’s Mayor has announced, as the country continues to reel from the deadly incident.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday that about US$35,000 (700,000 pesos) would be made available to families of the 26 people who died on May 3.

The relatives will receive about US$2500 (50,000 pesos) from the city, as well as US$32,650 (650,000 pesos) from the metro train line, Sheinbaum said.

“We are not going to leave them alone,” she said during a news conference.

“We are going to be with them and we are going to give them all the support they require.”

More than 80 people were also injured in the collapse of an elevated section of the Line 12 metro line in southeast Mexico City.

Calls for accountability

have grown as funerals for the victims were held over the past several days, and hundreds of people protested on Friday in the city to demand answers.

Sheinbaum and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier promised that a thorough investigation into what happened would be conducted.

“A thorough investigation will be carried out … to know the truth,” Lopez Obrador said the day after the incident. “From that, the responsibility will be established.”

The Attorney General’s office, its Mexico City counterpart and an external auditor, Norway’s DNV GL, are investigating, Government officials have said.

But Sheinbaum has faced questions about whether the metro network has been properly maintained since she took office in 2018. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS US Government working to help top fuel pipeline operator after cyberattack S Government officials were working closely with top

U

US fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline on Sunday to help it recover from a ransomware cyberattack that forced the company to shut a critical fuel network supplying populous eastern states.

The attack is one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations reported and has prompted calls from American lawmakers to tighten protections for critical US energy infrastructure against hackers.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Washington was working to avoid more severe fuel supply disruptions and to help Colonial restart as quickly as possible its more than 5500mile (8850 km) pipeline network from Texas to New Jersey.

"It's an all hands on deck effort right now," Raimondo said on CBS' "Face the Nation" programme. "We are working closely with the company, state and local officials, to make sure that they get back up to normal operations as quickly as possible and there aren't disruptions in supply."

Colonial said on Saturday it was "continuing to monitor the impact of this temporary service halt" and to work to restore service. Neither Raimondo nor the company gave an estimate for a restart date and Colonial declined further comment on Sunday.

Colonial transports roughly 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline and other fuels from refiners on the Gulf Coast to consumers in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.

Its extensive pipeline network serves major US airports, including Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport, the world's busiest by passenger traffic.

Retail fuel experts including the American Automobile Association said an outage lasting several days could have significant impacts on regional fuel supplies, particularly in the southeastern United States.

While the US Government investigation is in the early stages, a former US official and two industry sources said the hackers are likely a professional cybercriminal group and that a group called DarkSide was among potential suspects.

DarkSide is known for deploying ransomware and extorting victims while avoiding targets in post-Soviet states.

Ransomware is a type of malware designed to lock down systems by encrypting data and demanding payment to regain access.

Cybersecurity firm FireEye has also been brought in to respond to the attack, according to the two industry sources.

Colonial has said it was working with a "leading, third-party cybersecurity firm," but did not name the firm.

Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter, reported late on Saturday that the hackers are part of DarkSide and took nearly 100 gigabytes of data out of Colonial’s network on Thursday ahead of the pipeline shutdown.

Messages left with the DarkSide hackers were not immediately returned. The group's dark website, where hackers regularly post data about victims, made no reference to Colonial Pipeline.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the cyberattack on Saturday morning, the White House said, adding that the Government was working to try to help the company restore operations and prevent supply disruptions.

Another fuel pipeline serving the same regions carries a third of what Colonial does. Any prolonged outage would require tankers to transport fuels from the US Gulf Coast to East Coast ports.

Gasoline futures and diesel futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose on Friday after the outage was reported. In previous Colonial outages, retail prices have risen substantially, if briefly.

Oil refining companies contacted by Reuters on Saturday said their operations had not yet been impacted. Some were monitoring developments and working to find alternative transport for customers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

At least 68 killed in Afghan school blast, families bury victims

T

he death toll from a bomb attack outside a school in the Afghan capital Kabul has risen to 68, officials said on Sunday, with doctors struggling to care for 165 injured victims and families searching desperately for missing children.

Explosions on Saturday evening shook the neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, home to a large community of Shi'ites from the Hazara ethnic minority which has been targeted in the past by Islamic State, a Sunni militant group.

A car bomb was detonated in front of the Sayed AlShuhada school and two more bombs exploded when students rushed out in panic.

Officials said most of those killed were school-

girls. Some families were still searching hospitals for their children.

"The first blast was powerful and happened so close to the children that some of them could not be found," said an Afghan official, requesting anonymity.

An eyewitness told Reuters all but seven or eight of the victims were schoolgirls going home after finishing their studies. On Sunday, civilians and policemen collected books and school bags strewn across a blood-stained road now busy

with shoppers ahead of celebrations for Eid al-Fitr next week.

President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday blamed Taliban insurgents but a spokesman for the group denied involvement and condemned any attacks on Afghan civilians.

Pope Francis called the attack an "inhuman act" in remarks to pilgrims in St Peter's Square in Vatican City on Sunday.

United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack and expressed his deepest sympathies to the victims' families and to the Afghan government and people.

Families of the victims blamed the government and Western powers for failing to put an end to violence and the ongoing war. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Lampedusa is one of the main arrival ports for people wanting to reach Europe.

More boats were spotted off the coast of nearby Malta, with charity Alarm Phone saying they needed assistance.

"One rescue operation could put a total of around 231 people out of danger of drowning," it said.

Some 11,000 migrants have landed on the island

since the start of the year.

That is up on last year's figure of 4105 for the same period, Reuters news agency reports. However, it is still down on 2015 - the height of the migrant crisis.

But Sunday's sudden surge has led populist politician Matteo Salvini to demand a meeting with the caretaker Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.

"With millions of Italians

in difficulty, we cannot think of thousands of illegal immigrants," he said.

Salvini is currently awaiting trial in relation to blocking a rescue ship with more than 100 migrants on board from landing at Lampedusa in August 2019. Prosecutors in Sicily accuse the former Interior Minister of illegal detention, which could bring a jail term of up to 15 years.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Men dig graves for the victims of Saturday's explosion during a mass funeral ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan May 9, 2021

Lampedusa: More than 1000 migrants arrive on Italian island

M

ore than 1000 migrants landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa in the space of a few hours on Sunday, according to local media reports.

One boat alone was carrying almost 400 men, women and children, Italian news agency Ansa said.

The island's Mayor Toto Martello said he believed the rise in arrivals coincided with the good weather.

Scottish leader to London: Independence vote a matter of “when, not if”

S

cottish leader Nicola Sturgeon told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday that another referendum on independence was inevitable after her party won a resounding election victory.

Johnson and his Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, strongly oppose a referendum, saying the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted against independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

But pro-independence parties won a majority in the Scottish Parliament in elections held on Thursday, which Sturgeon said gave her a mandate to push ahead with plans for a second referendum after the COVID-19 crisis.

"The First Minister re-

Scottish First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon, SNP candidate Jim Fairlie and Deputy First Minister John Swinney visit Perth Farmers Market as Sturgeon campaigns in Perth, Scotland, Britain, May 1, 2021

iterated her intention to ensure that the people of Scotland can choose our own future when the crisis is over," Sturgeon's media office said in a statement after she spoke to Johnson on the phone.

"(She) made clear that the question of a referendum is now a matter of when - not if."

Sturgeon's Scottish National Party (SNP) won 64 seats in the Scottish Parliament, just one short

of an overall majority. With its Green allies, who won eight and also favour independence, it is in control of the political agenda in Scotland.

Speculation has been mounting that when the Scottish Parliament legislated for a referendum, the British Government would go to court to stop it.

Sturgeon told the BBC it would be "absurd and completely outrageous" for the British Government to take legal action to stop a referendum.

She argued that for London to use "force of law" to prevent a vote would amount to saying that the 300-year-old union between England and Scotland was no longer based on consent.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel plays for time on flashpoint Jerusalem evictions

I

srael’s Attorney General secured a deferment on Sunday of a court hearing on planned evictions of Palestinians in Jerusalem, a session that had threatened to stoke more violence in the holy city and heighten international concern.

The Israeli Supreme Court had been due today to hear appeals against the planned evictions of sev-

eral Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, an area captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

A lower court had found in favour of Jewish settlers' claim to the land on which the Palestinians' homes are located, a decision seen by Palestinians as a bid by Israel to drive them from contested Jerusalem.

But in a last-minute legal move, the appellants asked the court to seek a legal opinion from Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, opening the way for today's session to be postponed and the possibility he could argue against the evictions.

East Jerusalem tensions have spilt over into clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians around Al-

Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest mosque, at the height of the Ramadan fast month.

Whether further violence will erupt could also depend on another event scheduled for Monday - an annual march by Israeli flag-waving Jewish youth to Jerusalem's Old City, whose population is largely Palestinian, to mark what Israel cel-

ebrates as Jerusalem's reunification in 1967.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Israel views all of the city as its capital, including the eastern part that it annexed in a move that has not won international recognition. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

You’ll have some terrific ideas, but don’t go overboard. Consider your resources and capabilities, and find a way to stay within budget. To do things properly, go slowly.

Put your knowledge, experience and dedication to (April 20- the test. Take on a challenge.

May 20) Don’t let rigidity hold you back. Be open to suggestions and willing to try something new. Moderation is encouraged.

TAURUS

DILBERT

GEMINI

Don’t hide your feelings. It’s important to let people know (May 21June 20) how you feel and what your expectations are. If you want change to happen, you may need to give someone a nudge.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Don’t rely on anyone but yourself. Don’t buy into a grandiose plan someone presents to you. Moderation and strategic planning will get you where you want to go on time and within budget.

Concentrate on what you can LEO accomplish. Use charm to win (July 23the support of people you can Aug. 22) count on to help you reach your goal. Romance is favored, and you will become much closer to a loved one.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

A change will be enlightening. Observe what’s going on around you, and work to ensure you don’t get left behind. You don’t have to overspend to get ahead. Update your skills.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Dedication and persistence will help you get ahead.

Refuse to let anxiety lead to an unnecessary argument with a friend, relative or colleague. Put your time and effort where it counts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Involvement in situations that need close monitoring will leave you at sea when you have to make a decision.

Let your intuition be your guide, and you will find the right path.

Pay more attention to your SAGITTARIUS relationships. Indulgent be(Nov. 23havior will lead to trouble.

Dec. 21) Find common ground, and you will avoid an argument.

Choose to be amicable, not argumentative.

Strive

to

make

chang-

CAPRICORN es that are within your bud(Dec. 22get. Consider what you can do to cut costs. An intelligent apJan. 19) SATURDAY'S WORD - INCUBATE

proach to situations that may involve your health will help you avoid a setback.

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

Put your feelings aside and consider what others are going through before you make a move. It’s always best to find out what’s going on with those around you before you voice your opinions.

Consider your financial options.

Connecting with people (Feb. 20from your past and exploring March 20) and expanding skills are encouraged. Discipline and hard work will boost your reputation.

PISCES

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

21

Hamilton reels in

Verstappen to win Spanish GP

L

Hamilton's victory was the 98th of his career (Photo: F1)

ewis Hamilton and Mercedes produced a brilliant, attacking, strategic race to beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s third win in four races this season came despite losing the lead to Verstappen at the first corner. Mercedes put Hamilton on a two-stop strategy and the seven-time champion closed a 23-second deficit in 18 laps to pass the Red Bull with six laps to go.

Verstappen bailed on his onestop strategy after losing the lead and took second and the point for fastest lap as consolation. Hamilton’s victory was the 98th of his career, after he set his 100th pole position on Saturday, and it extends his championship lead to 14 points.

Verstappen put himself in control of the race with a brave pass on Hamilton at the first corner, braking late and throwing his Red

Bull inside the Mercedes, forcing the Briton to take evasive action to avoid contact.

But the Dutchman was unable to shake Hamilton, who tracked him closely towards the first pit stops. Mercedes were unable to pass Verstappen by stopping first because the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez was just close enough to mean Hamilton would come out behind the Mexican if he stopped.

That enabled Verstappen to make his stop first, and Mercedes decided to delay Hamilton’s stop by four laps to give him a tyre advantage.

Hamilton rejoined 5.5secs behind the Red Bull, but was on its tail with-

in three laps. He stayed within a second of

Verstappen for another nine laps, clearly faster but unable to pass on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Then, with 24 laps to go, Mercedes brought Hamilton in again for a new set of tyres, rejoining 22.4secs behind.

F1’s computers predicted that Hamilton would catch Verstappen on the last lap, but he was soon lapping nearly two seconds faster than the Red Bull. Team-mate Valtteri Bottas cost Hamilton well over a second when the Briton caught him, despite the Finn being ordered by the team not to delay the other car.

But once past Bottas, Hamilton caught Verstappen on lap 60 of 66, immediately sweeping around the outside of Verstappen at Turn One to take a superb team victory after a drive from the top drawer.

I t

was the fourth race in succession this season in which the two title contenders have gone wheel to wheel. Verstappen said: “In a way, I could see it coming. Already with the softs [in the first stint], he was faster and then the mediums [in the second stint], he clearly had a lot more pace – he could stay within one second.

“There was not a lot we could have done. Then they went for the second stop and I knew it was over. You could see he was getting closer and closer and I was a bit of a sitting duck.”

Hamilton said: “I feel great after this. I feel like we could go again.

“It was close start. After that, just hunting – I was so close for so long and I didn’t think I could make the tyres last, but I managed to keep them in. It was a long way to come back but it was a good gamble.

“It was the plan all weekend to have two new mediums for a twostop. Even though the one-stop looked better, I knew from experience that a one-stop is very difficult to pull off. What a day.” (BBC Sport)

Manchester United comeback at Aston Villa keeps City waiting on title

Bruno Fernandes has scored 27 goals for Manchester United in all competitions this season, the most by a Premier League midfielder in a season since Frank Lampard for Chelsea in 2009-10

M

anchester United guaranteed a Premier League top-four finish and ensured rivals Manchester City must wait to be crowned champions as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Having sealed their place in the Europa League final despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat by Roma on Thursday, second-half goals from Bruno

Fernandes, Mason Greenwood and substitute Edinson Cavani – followed by West Ham's loss to Everton – ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side secured a Champions League place.

A win for Villa would have sealed the title for leaders City – beaten 2-1 by Chelsea on Saturday – and Bertrand Traore's emphatic finish into the top corner midway through the first half

threatened to do just that.

Emiliano Martinez was equal to attempts from Greenwood and Marcus Rashford as United struggled to respond initially, while Dean Henderson kept out Ollie Watkins' strike to deny Villa a second before half-time.

United levelled shortly after the restart when Fernandes calmly slotted in a penalty after Douglas Luiz needlessly fouled Paul Pogba, and Greenwood completed a four-minute turnaround when his low strike found the bottom corner.

A VAR check for handball against Greenwood was dismissed after Luiz headed the ball onto

the arm of the United forward and the visitors successfully resisted late Villa pressure despite the loss of Captain Harry Maguire to injury, before Cavani confirmed victory in the closing stages.

In a frantic finale, Villa forward Watkins also received a red card for a second booking for simulation when under pressure from goalkeeper Henderson.

United are 10 points behind champions-elect City, but will have the chance to move within four points as they face Leicester and Liverpool before the leaders next play. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

West Indies won't ever see glory days again – Ambrose

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Sir Curtly Ambrose

ast bowling icon Sir Curtly Ambrose believes it will be difficult for the West Indies to unearth players with similar talents to those from the team’s glory days of the 70s and early 90s, because the current crop of players has not grasped what cricket

means to the people from the region.

The outspoken 57-yearold Ambrose, who took 405 Test wickets in 98 Tests between 1988 and 2000, was speaking on Talk Sports Live with Michael Bascombe in Antigua on Saturday when he made his stunning decla-

ration.

“This is no disrespect to the players we have now, because we have a couple of guys who have some quality in them and can become great, but what we have to understand is that I don’t think we will ever see those great, exceptional glory days again,” said the towering Antiguan, who famously took seven wickets for one run in a devastating spell against Australia in Perth in 1993.

“It’s going to be difficult to find another Viv Richards, or a Haynes and Greenidge, a Brian Lara, Richie Richardson; you know, a Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, and the list goes on and on, Clive Lloyd.

“It’s going to be extremely difficult to find those quality players again.”

He believes this to be the case because the modern players have little appreciation for the legacy that made the West Indies great.

“Most of the youngsters we have now probably don’t quite understand what cricket means to West Indians in the West Indies and abroad, because cricket is the only sport that really unites Caribbean people,” argued Ambrose, who took 22 five-wicket hauls during his illustrious Test career.

“When we were the best team in the word, West Indians all over the globe could walk and boast about how good we are because we were the best, so it’s going to be difficult to see those glory

days again.

“Yes, we can be competitive and climb up the ICC [International Cricket Council] rankings and be a force to be reckoned with again, but those glory days, I don’t think we will see them again.”

For almost 20 years, the West Indies under the leadership of Sir Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards, was the number-one Test and OneDay International (ODI) team in the world. The team won the ODI (Prudential World Cup) in 1975 and 1979, but have not won the tournament since. The West Indies are now ranked eighth on Tests and ODIs and 10th in T20 cricket despite being the defending champions, having won the tournament in 2016 and 2012. (Sportsmax)

Hetmyer must Bibi Farida Shaw honoured take some as Brian Ramphal/BCB of the Year responsibility Mother − Foster stresses importance of parents

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− mercurial talent partly at fault in development of youth cricketers for missing out on CWI retainer

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t his best, the fluid stroke play of Shimron Hetmyer typifies everything we love about West Indies cricket, but should any of us truly be surprised that he has not been offered an international retainer contract?

If the contracts were offered on talent alone, then Hetmyer would always be close to the front of the line-up. When it comes to recent performances, however, things are not so clearcut.

In Test cricket, which he has not played for the team since 2019, he averages 27.93 having played 16 matches.

In One-Day International (ODI) cricket, which he last played in January of last year, he averages 36.66. In T20

international cricket, he averages 18.95 with a strike rate of 116.97.

A quick analysis of the above will tell you that except for T20I cricket, which he last played in November, Hetmyer will have missed the majority of Test and ODI matches the team played over the last year. In addition, during the period, the player has failed not one but two fitness tests. The first ahead of the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka last year and the second this year when Sri Lanka toured the Caribbean.

In both cases, he missed out on selection due to falling below a wellestablished fitness requirement. As such, with all that has been stated above, it is not hard to imagine Cricket West Indies (CWI) deciding the player has not done enough to merit a retainer. He must surely take some responsibility, in at least some respects, for the way he is grooming and developing his own talent.

(Sportsmax)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Brian Ramphal/BCB Mother of the Year 2021, Bibi Shaw poses with BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, UCCA Treasurer Victor Thakurdeen, her sons and others

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday last honoured Bibi Farida Shaw of Number 72 Village, Upper Corentyne as its Brian Ramphal Mother of the Year awardee for 2021. Shaw, a mother of two cricketers, was selected based on her support of cricket in the area and for the role she is playing in the careers of her two sons, Seiraj and Devanand Chatterpal.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu visited Shaw at her residence to honour her, in the presence of her children and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Treasurer Victor Thakurdeen. Foster stated that since the election of his elder brother Keith to the presidency of the BCB in 2009, the Board has honoured mothers and fathers of cricketers.

The rationale behind the honouring of parents in this manner , according to the BCB President, is to recognise the important role they play in the lives of their children.

He stated that players usually joined cricket clubs around 11 years of age and as such, parents were usually their first role model, teacher and coach. The BCB boss stated that it was at home that the virtue of discipline is

instilled. He noted that in Berbice, most mothers were housewives and as such, they were the parent who had regular contact with children in the home.

Foster congratulated Shaw on her achievement and urged her to uphold her high standard as a parent and to continue her support of the game. Foster also hailed the outstanding work of the UCCA and described it as the best organised sub-association in Guyana.

Speaking on behalf of the UCCA, Treasurer Thakurdeen congratulated Shaw and urged other mothers to follow in her footsteps . He stated that her support for activities of the UCCA was unmatched and she was always available to assist. Thakurdeen expressed thanks to the BCB for its outstanding stewardship of cricket in the Ancient County.

An emotional Shaw stated that she felt very humbled to be honoured, and pledged that she would continue to support her two sons and the UCCA. Shaw received a plaque, medal of excellence, framed certificate of excellence and several special gifts. The programme was sponsored by overseas-based Guyanese businessman Brian Ramphal, a long-time sponsor of Berbice cricket.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

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No South Africa tour to be hosted in COVID-19-rampant Trinidad and Tobago

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South Africa and West Indies will play five T20s and two Tests

rinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) President Azim Bassarath understands why Cricket West Indies (CWI) has decided not to consider TT as the host country for matches in the South Africa tour of the West Indies scheduled to bowl off next month.

Speaking to Newsday on Saturday, Bassarath said, “It is difficult in these circumstances to really host any international

cricket here in Trinidad, because the virus is rampant. We are in the most serious position we have ever been since the virus hit globally.”

In recent weeks, T&T has had its worst period since the COVID-19 pandemic began as the country has recorded over 300 new cases per day on multiple occasions.

Anyone entering T&T must quarantine for 14 days because of the pandemic. West

Indies have a packed home schedule in the coming months, so a two-week quarantine would be difficult to accommodate.

On Friday, CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave told Newsday in a WhatsApp message, “Unfortunately, our schedules are so tight, we can’t have players in room quarantine for so long without being able to train, as that will mean we have to reduce the match schedules.”

Australia and Pakistan are expected to visit the Caribbean shortly after the South Africa tour. West Indies and South Africa are expected to play two Test matches and five T20 matches.

Bassarath agrees with the 14-day quarantine rule for people entering T&T. “The Chief Medical Officer (Dr Roshan Parasram) was not budging from the 14 days...I think that under the present circumstances he was right and there is nothing we can do.”

Grave said he understood the Government has to put certain measures in place. “Understandably, they can’t allow anyone into the country at this moment without going through their quarantine requirements.”

The TTCB President urged the public to obey the COVID-19 guidelines to get the virus under control: “If we behave ourselves for one month, I think we are going to see some results, but everybody has to be on board and support the authorities and ad-

TTCB President Azim Bassarath

here to the instructions that are given out.”

Bassarath remains optimistic that Trinidad will be in a better position to host international cricket later in the year.

CWI has tried to limit players’ travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka and West Indies faced off in three T20 Internationals, three One-Day Internationals and two Test matches from early March to early April. All those matches were played in Antigua at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and the Coolidge Cricket Ground. (T&T Newsday)

West Indies players Cyclists calling for back in Caribbean "proper receipts" after IPL suspension from GCF

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

Cyclists will be gearing up for the Three-Stage race this weekend

T

he West Indies players who were involved in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) are back in the Caribbean, with the exception of veteran batsman Chris Gayle.

According to Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave, in a Whatsapp message to Newsday, "All of our IPL players are now safely back in the Caribbean (apart from Chris Gayle who has decided to travel back at a later date)."

On Wednesday, it was announced that the IPL’s Governing Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had decided to postpone the IPL because of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Since April 21, India has reported over 300,000 new

I

Andre Russell and Shimron Hetmyer during the 2021 IPL

cases of the virus per day. The tournament bowled off on April 9 and was scheduled to end on May 30.

A total of nine West Indies players were playing in this year’s IPL: Gayle; Pooran; Fabian Allen (Punjab Kings); Sunil Narine, Andre Russell (Knight Riders); Dwayne Bravo (Super Kings); Shimron Hetmyer (Delhi

Capitals); Holder (Sunrisers) and Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians).

The IPL statement explaining the decision to suspend the tournament said, “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken, keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.”

BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla said the tournament would eventually be completed.

t is no doubt that cycling is not one of the more recognised and organised sport, in Guyana.

Cycling is still in its developmental process and the administrators are still in the learning phase. Some of the top riders took to social media and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) for failing to provide receipts to cyclists after financial transactions.

The GCF had made it known to the cyclists that they were prohibited from riding with their forearms on their handlebars. This position is deemed illegal. Those found using the illegal position are asked to pay G$2000. The cyclists are unhappy that these fines

were not published in the same fashion that the official statement concerning the policy was published. Cyclists say that the fine is heavy and is enforced without a warning.

While most sporting activities in Guyana are at a standstill, cycling has returned.

The next race is set for May 15 and May 16 – the Three-Stage race sponsored by the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry.

Below is the statement published by the GCF via Guyana Cycling News on Facebook: “In a memorandum issued on February 8, the [Union Cycliste

Internationale] UCI indicated it will ban riders from racing with their forearms on their handlebars, in a time-trial-like position, when on a road bike.

“The UCI is taking things even further, banning the popular practice of placing one’s forearms on the handlebars to gain an aerodynamic advantage.

This riding posture is often seen in breakaways, as riders look to speed away from chasers by assuming a posture similar to one used on a time-trial bicycle.

The list of riders to use this position is simply too long to list.”

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021

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

Page 22

West Indies won’t ever No South Africa tour to be see glory hosted in COVID-19-rampant days again Trinidad and Tobago – Ambrose See story on page 23

Hetmyer

Page 22

must take some responsibility

− mercurial talent partly at fault for missing out on CWI retainer Page 22

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