Guyana Times - Monday November 23, 2020

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AmCham Guyana hosts Thanksgiving treat for less fortunate Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4478

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

World-class bridge construction companies submit EOIs for new DHB …virtual meeting held with Public Works Minister Page 3

NICIL asserts circulated Board’s “permission” for subleases fabricated Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Operation COVI-CURB

Over 100 persons arrested for breaching COVID-19 P10 guidelines

ECD woman P2 beaten, robbed by armed bandits Palm Court P11 denies breaching COVID-19 measures — PSC calls for letter to be withdrawn forthwith

...as fmr Head’s legal team blames deceased CEO for amendments to leases

Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 40 new cases Page 9

Women in P13 Business Expo to be held virtually on Friday

Lusignan Prison escape

1 prisoner accounted for, 2 remain at large Page 2

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas: The 70 foot Christmas tree at Rahaman’s Park was on Sunday illuminated signalling the commencement of the festive season

On the run: Donald Baird

On the run: Phillip Jhogroo

Micobie facing degradation from illegal P12 mining – APA

2 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lusignan Prison escape

1 prisoner accounted for, 2 remain at large T

he Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Sunday clarified that only two prisoners escaped from the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday and not three as was initially reported.

In a press statement, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels said that a detailed check showed that only two prisoners were unaccounted for.

Those who escaped are Phillip Jhogroo of Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels Lot B3 Good Intent,

It was reported that the escape occurred between 01:28h and 01:48h on Saturday. However, Officer in Charge, Superintendent Alstan Scott reported the matter a few hours later.

It was during a routine check that an improvised rope made of bed sheets was seen hanging from the southwestern corner of the prison fence.

This prompted a physical muster and it was discovered that the aforementioned prisoners were unaccount-

ing the incident and working to recapture the criminals. Family members are warned not to offer any support to the escaped inmates.

“The Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service are conducting further investigations surrounding the escape.

Every effort is being made to recapture the three escapees. Family members and members of the public are advised not to offer

any support to the escapees. Should you see them or have any information on their whereabouts, please contact the nearest Police Station,” Samuels directed.

Last month, three inmates also escaped from the Lusignan Prison by jumping a fence. After a manhunt was launched, two of them were recaptured at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) hours later.

Those recaptured were:

ECD woman beaten, robbed by armed bandits

A On the run: Phillip Jhogroo

Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Donald Baird of Hardina Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown – both of whom were indicted for murder.

“A detailed, forensic recheck of the names of the

On the run: Donald Baird

prisoners officially recorded in the location’s records against the names given by prisoners during the physical muster held as soon as the escape was discovered has revealed that two prisoners not three escaped,” the statement from the Prison Service reiterated.

ed for. Further investigations confirmed that they escaped from the facility by scaling the section of the fence where the improvised rope was found.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is also part of the team that is prob-

Alex Mathias of Good Hope Dock Yard, Essequibo, who was committed to stand trial for murder with his case underway at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, and Arnold Kennedy, of Lot 847 Zeeburg Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The third fugitive was Mark Rafino of Good Intent Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who is committed to stand trial for robbery.

woman from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is now nursing minor injuries about her body after she was beaten and robbed by armed bandits on Saturday evening.

The victim, 28-year-old Koretta Otho, a flight agent of Prince William St Plaisance, ECD, was reportedly standing on a bridge in front of her home at about 22:00h when she was confronted by two men - one of whom was armed with a handgun.

At the time, she had in her possession a handbag containing her mobile

phone, a quantity of cash and other valuables.

The victim reportedly told Police that her handbag was valued at some $9000 while her mobile phone costs $45,000. She also had $31,000 in the bag.

Guyana Times was informed that the armed bandit hit the woman about the body as his accomplice de-

manded that she hand over her valuables. she reportedly refused and the bandits retaliated by further dealing the woman several blows about the face and chest.

During the ordeal, the men relieved the woman of her bag and made good their escape on pedal cycles.

The matter was reported to the police and the injured woman was taken to a medical facility where she was treated and sent away.

A statement was taken and the police are on the hunt for the two suspects who fit the description given by the victim.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, November 23 – 00:30h – 02:00h and 11:30h – 13:00h and Tuesday, November 24 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 12:00h – 13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, November 23 – 11:45h – 13:15h and Tuesday, November 24 – 12:45h – 14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and light cloud will prevail during the day. There will be light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to South-Easterly to East South-Easterly to Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 0.89 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 11:28 and 23:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.09 metres and 2.12 metres.

Low Tide: 17:24h reaching a minimum height of 1.16 metre.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

05 09 10

13 18 26

FREE TICKET

8 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

05 11 13 14 26 LUCKY 3

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World-class bridge construction companies submit EOIs for new DHB …virtual meeting held with Public Works Minister

A

lmost 50 international and local companies, including some with a number of major infrastructural projects under their belt, are interested in the contract to design and build the new Demerara River bridge.

This was confirmed in an exclusive interview with Public Works Minister Juan Edghill. While he did not divulge names, Edghill did confirm that many of the companies which purchased bid documents and attended meetings with the Ministry have an international track record of large-scale projects that include the building of bridges.

“Almost 50 companies would have registered, most of them would have bought the bid documents and many of them attended a virtual meeting we had on November 17th. But from the companies who have contacted us, enquired to get information, paid for the bid documents and signed the Non-Disclosure Agreement, it is close to 50.”

“Very reputable international companies who would have build bridges and would have been engaged in civil works at an international level, have been engaging and enquiring and participating,” the Minister added.

Edghill also noted that many of the companies, even if they do have a local partner, are international names. He further explained that they will ultimately know the exact number of proposals submitted when tenders close on December 4.

The Government is aiming to have a new fixed-span, four-lane bridge constructed over the Demerara River that will be able to bridge the East and West Banks of Demerara from Nandy Park to La Grange, reduce traffic build-up and last for at least

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $44.96/barrel $223.92/ton $413.30/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change % +1.69 -0.06 -0.34

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1873.20

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Low/High Change

$1868.10 +2.80

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

President Irfaan Ali with Public Works Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar along with other officials back in September at the site where the eastern end of the new Demerara River bridge will land

the next 50 years.

According to the Government’s invitation for Expressions of Interest (EoIs) and prequalification of qualified contractors, firms are being sought to submit their proposals for both the design of the bridge and for available financing options. All EoIs for the new bridge are to be submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) by 14:000h on December 4, 2020.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, who conducted a walkabout at proposed sites associated with the new Demerara River bridge back in September, made it clear that the bridge must be completed within four years and promised that they will begin inviting contractors to submit Expressions of Interest for the project this weekend.

The construction of the new bridge will be a time-

ly one, as the East Bank is notorious for its heavy traffic congestions due to the current retractable bridge.

Floating at 1.25 mile, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of Demerara.

It facilitates the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo.

The structure was built in the 1970s but was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years.

However, some 42 years after, it is still floating.

The former APNU/AFC Administration was originally going to go with another retractable, three-lane design for the new bridge but after immense criticism had switched to a fixed, four-lane proposal.

Not long after it took office in 2015, the APNU/ AFC Government engaged in efforts to have a feasibility study for the project.

However, the awarding of that contract was marred in controversy, with the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, pointing to major breaches of Guyana’s financial laws.

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had subsequently flagged former Public Infrastructure Minister, David 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 after the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders, NPTAB had approved for the project to be re-tendered. But instead, Dutch company LievenseCSO was handpicked by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to conduct the study.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

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

Democracy demands moral citizenship

T

he political philosopher Robert Tallese wrote the following very relevant meditation just before our elections in March and the US elections of November 3. Democracy is hard work. If it is to function well, citizens must do a lot of thinking and talking about politics. But democracy is demanding in another way as well. It requires us to maintain a peculiar moral posture toward our fellow citizens. We must acknowledge that they’re our equals and thus entitled to an equal say, even when their views are severely misguided. It seems a lot to ask.

To appreciate the demand’s weight, consider that a citizen’s duty is to promote justice. Accordingly, we tend to regard our political opposition as being not merely on the wrong side of the issues, but on an unjust side. Citizens of a democracy must pursue justice while also affirming that their fellow citizens are entitled to equal power even when they favour injustice. What’s more, citizens are obligated to acknowledge that, under certain conditions, it is right for Government to enact their Opposition’s will. This looks like a requirement to be complicit with injustice. That’s quite a burden.

To be sure, the demand is not altogether unconstrained.

For one thing, citizens need not respect every kind of political opponent. Although the boundaries are contested, there are limits to what counts as a valid political opinion.

For example, citizens aren’t required to respect those who call for the absolute subordination of one portion of the citizenry to another.

Although these consolations may make the moral demand of citizenship more bearable, it remains onerous.

When it comes to debates over crucial matters like health care, taxation and immigration, there are several valid yet opposed opinions, many of which will strike some citizens as unacceptable. When such views prevail, Government is right to implement them, despite the fact that many citizens assess them as unjust. Democracy gives an equal voice even to citizens who favour injustice, even after an electoral or policy defeat.

Put simply, it is not easy to regard those who promote injustice as one’s equals, rather than as obstacles to nullify.

However, this awkward posture is fundamental to the democratic enterprise. If we give it up, we cede the idea of self-government among equals to a view of politics as, at best, a cold civil war. Perhaps democracy simply asks too much of us. Though tempting, this conclusion is hasty.

The lesson for citizens is clear. To sustain the moral posture that democracy demands, we must refuse to see partisan affiliation as the defining trait of our fellow citizens. Alas, this is easier said than done. As I document in “Overdoing Democracy”, politics has infiltrated the whole of social life.

Not only do we increasingly interact only with those who share our politics, we also have become more prone to take those who are politically unlike ourselves to be irredeemably depraved, benighted, and dangerous. By placing our partisan identities at the centre of nearly everything we do, we have eroded the conditions under which we can regard our fellow citizens as our equals. As a result, democracy is swiftly devolving.

The proper response is to participate in cooperative endeavours in which partisan identity is irrelevant. Activities of this kind are needed, not because we must be perpetually reaching across our political divides, but rather because if we are to perform well as democratic citizens, we need to see in our fellow citizens something beyond partisan affiliation, something like a common quest to live a valuable life.

In short, democracy needs us to acknowledge that there’s more to our shared life than politics. This acknowledgement does not neutralise the conflict at the heart of democratic citizenship — we still must bear the burden of our fellow citizens’ equality. But it does help us to navigate that conflict in a way that is consistent with a commitment to a robustly democratic society.

Our Guyaneseness must go beyond our politics.

Hindu devotees stand in the water of the Buriganga River during rain as they observe Chhath Puja festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They are praying to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth (Reuters/Mohammad Ponir Hossain)

PPP/C Government’s Hinterland Electrification Project is a reality in Kwakwani Dear Editor, Residents of Kwakwani will now be benefiting from improved electricity supply thanks to the commissioning of a 900-kilowatt generator engine by the Kwakwani Utilities Inc (KUI).

Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Friday, November 20, 2020, commissioned a 900-kilowatt generator at Kwakwani, which is expected to lead to the Upper DemeraraBerbice community having 24-hour electricity.

The Prime Minister called the event momentous for community development, indicating that “what the PPP/C Government has done here is a shining example for the rest of Guyana. Kwakwani residents can boast now of having adequate electricity, with the addition of the 900KW generator commissioned, the power plan will generate over two megawatts of power.

This added capacity will give KUI current generation capabilities and will provide much-needed diversification, reliability and reserves to the grid which would provide the community with enough electrical power to sustain the community that will now be able to produce 24 hours of electricity to Kwakwani

and residents that will see improvement of business opportunities, the water distribution to the homes of residents but most importantly paving the way for new investors and opportunities for industrial development in Kwakwani and surrounding communities. As simple as this commissioning ceremony may have seemed, it was significant to the more than 4000 residents in the Kwakwani district, community leaders and residents who must be proud of our Government’s efforts and commitment to our hinterland communities, where there are vast plains in this country’s interior that (house roughly 20 per cent of our population).

These lands are home to most of Guyana’s Indigenous population, where electricity is unstable and scarce. Our PPP/C Administration, led by President Irfaan Ali, has stepped to the plate, vouching to continue the PPP/C Government Hinterland Electrification Project launched in 2011 which is a reality in Kwakwani, aimed at expanding access to clean and affordable energy throughout Indigenous communities. An important first step has been to procure 25,000 solar panels from India to supply power

to households in those areas.

One must remember that it was under the previous APNU/AFC Administration there were lots complaints and dissatisfaction which forced residents of Kwakwani to go to the streets and protest the KUI’s poor quality of water and electricity supply in the area. The disgruntled residents had long been complaining about the poor quality of water they receive, as well as the constant fluctuation in power supply, with electricity at times going off for eight hours during the day.

With the challenges experienced over the years, Kwakwani’s KUI management must establish a comprehensive preventative maintenance plan with an attractive apprenticeship programme, for longevity (life expectancy of KUI) with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will measure value and demonstrate how effective KUI as a company is at achieving business objectives and evaluate success at reaching the targets to provide services, transforming its electrical transmission distribution grid to further enhance and accommodate the west bank of Kwakwani and other areas that are lacking electricity in the near fu-

ture. KUI is responsible for the provision of electricity, water, television stations and other public utility services in Kwakwani.

As it stands, more Guyanese businesses rely on generators for intermittent power than any other country in the Caricom region. The latest figures show that Guyana’s installed capacity is 404 MW, with heavy fuel oil accounting for 67 per cent of energy generation; the remainder comes from automotive diesel oil (21 per cent) and biomass (12 per cent).

This heavy dependency on oil to sustain the grid, and the costs associated with it, has slowed industrialisation and discouraged businesses from settling in Guyana. Diversifying the energy sources that supply the grid, and subsequently lowering energy costs, will be a fundamental factor in Guyana’s economic development. For those reasons, President Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips vouched to cut energy prices by half during their tenure. They have promised to do this by introducing 400 MW of new generation capacity through a mix of hydro, gas, solar and wind power in the near future.

Sincerely, David Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

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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

Who is policing the police?

Dear Editor, The pendulum has swung back to a reality show. Guyanese are waking up to the revelation that there is a $150 million “missing fund” scandal, involving a number of “big wigs” in the Police Force. What is so pathetic is that the hard-working officers were denied their earnings from their laboured sweat and instead, the money was diverted to slippery hands, greedy eyes and bulging pockets.

The Police Force is supposed to be the gatekeeper of the law enforcement arm of the country and Police officers have pledged to uphold law and order by complying with Guyana’s rules

and regulations. They are the protectors of the safety and security of Guyanese and they should practice honesty, dignity and integrity.

The officers should defend right from wrong, promote righteousness over unrighteousness, be wary of any illegitimate activities and instil the demand and need of adhering to all legal ramifications. Police officers are supposed to be role models in society and create the precedence so that others will be able to follow willingly and obligingly. Police officers are not supposed to be breakers of the law or found wanting of any of the aforementioned.

Their involvement includes fighting crime and not “fiddling” with crime or forging by fraud. When Police officers can perpetrate such heinous crimes for such a long time involving senior officers also, the moral of the entire Force is shattered and their values have become redundant. They have lost the respect of the nation and Guyanese can no longer trust them. Their presence will be shunned upon and this can lead to chaos.

Who will want to adhere to the law when the lawmakers themselves are failing to practice what they preach?

Unfortunately, only one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. How sad that

Improving cooperation Dear Editor, Although there is a bifurcation in Parliament, the two major parties should ennoble the institution. There is no need for the callous and undignified conduct that we have all witnessed in the past. The presence of intransigent members makes it difficult to clinch a deal where policy initiatives are co-developed for the good of the nation.

There must be some introspection over the holidays within the upper echelon of each party as to how intrinsic and fundamental change may be brought to fruition. The future interaction between members of Parliament must go beyond euphemisms if progress on key issues will be realised.

Although approaching such

cordiality is a step far from the current imperilled atmosphere witnessed during the recent budget debates.

With a closely contested elections seen during the last two cycles, one would expect less antagonism to increase appeal to the 15,000 swing voters currently in the system. Being collegial within the highest chamber of Government is evidently not the current post-independence model of governance, but we must find our way back towards our learned civility rooted in the Westminster Model.

Then and only then will we see the return of a truly cooperative spirit in Parliament and other Government institutions.

This will also elevate the level of competence

and investor confidence in the Cooperative Republic.

It is dispiriting that the Ambassador from the UK would express reluctance in encouraging investment.

The rule of law although reestablished at the upper levels of the Judiciary must now show its capacity at the lower levels of enforcement to rebuild the confidence of foreign investors who look for strength in the justice system at all levels.

We must silence the sceptics and our leaders in Parliament have it within their reach to elevate the level of discourse and civility within our society via their example and conduct within the National Assembly.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

the minority of criminal elements will represent a Force in its entirety. The majority of law-abiding officers will have to suffer the indignity of that stain and disgrace.

The cruel world is judgmental and that is the harsh reality. This investigation is continuing and the public will fervently await its desirable outcome.

The Police Force has once again become the laughing stock of the nation in another embarrassing issue. Seems as if the number 150 is a favourite tool for the devil’s advocate. Guyanese are learning that to place any faith, trust and confidence with the Police is taking a chance when they’re supposed to be advocates of the rules and custodians of the law.

There is no safe-keeping even with the protectors of the law and the safety and security of the Guyanese public’s wealth and assets are questionably insecure.

A recent audit has revealed that there are over 150 guns missing from the custody of the police. These guns were either seized from criminals or deposits lodged by citizens.

Remember the case of the missing “AK-47’s” from the army? Where did these missing guns end up? Yes, in the hands of criminals to harass Guyanese and rob them of their earnings from their sweat. Army personnel were involved then and now we have police personnel involved. But, is anyone in Guyana surprised by the findings of these audits and investigations?

Hardly, because a pre-

cedence was set by those in charge and subversive motives played a crowning role!

The missing AK-47s caused fear and furore during the PPP/C Government and speculations ran amok. The misappropriation of funds and missing guns occurred under the reign of the APNU/AFC Government when corruption and collusion were rampant. Who was minding the store?

Why is it only now when the PPP/C took office that these revelations are surfacing?

Khemraj Ramjattan was the then Minister of Home Affairs when these activities happened right under his nose. He was in charge of public security but, where were his eyes?

Definitely not on the ball, or, did he turn a blind eye?

When will all these scandalous transactions come to an end? This is an unenviable task for the State auditors from the Auditor General’s office. How can the APNU/AFC face the nation and look them eye to eye when they allowed all of these monstrosities to occur during their stint? No wonder hunger, poverty and suffering were the order of the day when the majority were denied and kept oppressed and the minority were the chosen few to enjoy the richness and be the real man.

This situation is so damaging and disgusting that it makes you want to puke from a stomach turned upside down due to the temerity of the past APNU/AFC Government. Oh, for sure, a number of the bigwigs in that party are ex-military men and they will claim in-

nocent of any knowledge.

Granger sat quietly and had no idea what was taking place in the country?

Who was running the country? Why did he cherry-pick certain law enforcement officers for certain positions, both in the Police Force and the army? Where was Harmon with all his military experience?

Williams, the lawman was too busy at sea? How can the Guyanese public ever trust them again to govern this nation when all of their actions smelled of impudence, impertinence and doltishness? Police officers, in particular, should know that crime does not pay and they should be the last ones to dirty their hands, if any.

The Commissioner of Police must be a disturbed and worried man to learn what is going on with his tried and trusted officers.

The Home Affairs Minister, Robenson Benn certainly has his hands full and needs to weed out all the criminal elements in the Force and the army.

President Irfaan Ali must be in a state of shock and dismay to know that the men he entrusted with safety and security cannot be trusted with security. As Head of State, he should be deeply concerned and not sleep on the job like his predecessor. Honesty is the best policy and those police officers and soldiers who are honest should be commended and encouraged to not let the hands of President Irfaan Ali fall.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

Page

Foundation ◄

Æsop’s Fables

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FOR CHILDREN

TEMPERATURE

he unit of temperature is the degree. It is written as a small circle above the number: 25O = 25 degrees. Customary degrees are measured on the Fahrenheit scale. However, in Guyana, for temperature we normally use the metric scale of degrees Celsius. To make it clear which scale you are using, you must add the letter F for Fahrenheit or the letter C for Celsius.

25O C = 25 degrees Celsius.

On the Celsius scale, the freezing point of water is 0O C. The boiling point of water is 100O C. On the Fahrenheit scale, the freezing point of water is 32O F. The boiling point of water is 212O F. Exercises: Convert To convert from one scale to the other you use the following formulas: (F – 32) x (5/9) = C and C x (9/5) + 32 = F 1) 32O F = __________C

2) 100O C = __________ F 3) 0O C = __________ F 4) 212O F = __________ C 5) 212O C = __________ F 6) 100O F = __________ C

The Astrologer

Friday’s answers 1) 24 hours = _____86,400_____ seconds 2) 365 days = _____525,600_____ minutes 3) 104 weeks = ___728_______ days 4) 26 days = __3.7________ weeks 5) 4000 years = _____40_____ centuries 6) 3 weeks = ___1,814,400_______ seconds

A Explore modern artists: Print like Ellsworth Kelly I

n the spirit of modern artist Ellsworth Kelly, you might enjoy exploring nature’s shapes to create a stencil and make a painting!

Kelly (1923 -) is a master print-maker. His plant drawings and screen-prints of simple shapes in brilliant hues are based on a deep reverence for nature.

Artists use elements – or ingredients – in different ways, and abstract artists use them to express how they think and feel.

To begin, you might discuss the lines, colours, and shapes in pictures with which you are familiar. Ask yourself: What do you see?

Do these pictures look like things in real life? Why or why not?

How do they make you feel? Why? What colours/lines/shapes do you see?

How do the colours make you feel?

Do the colours seem different when they are right next to each other?

Step 1: Draw Kelly began each image with a drawing.

Set up a still life of plants or fruit, or go find flowers outside. Because this is an abstract drawing, observe what you

see and pick out the basic shapes.

Draw large since you will cut these out.

Step 2: Stencil When you are finished drawing, use scissors to cut out the shapes.

If you have cuts in your stencil that you don’t need, feel free to tape them up.

Step 3: Paint Put a piece of paper (or cloth) under your stencil. Choose a paint colour. So that your painted shape retains the outline of the stencil, try holding it down as you paint inwards from the stencil’s edge (or, you could tape down your paper and stencil instead of holding it).

Step 4: Design Use your imagination to experiment with how different colours act when placed next to each other, and explore making symmetrical and asymmetrical designs.

If you’d like to do the project sans water and paint, try cutand-pasted shapes. For a new challenge, try screen-printing; to construct your screen, staple a nylon stocking onto a frame.

Draw your plant forms onto the back of shelf liner paper, cut out these shapes, and adhere the sticky part to your screen.

Paint! (tinkerlab.com)

man who lived a long time ago believed that he could read the future in the stars. He called himself an astrologer, and spent his time at night gazing at the sky.

One evening he was walking along the open road outside the village. His eyes were fixed on the stars. He thought he saw there that the end of the world was at hand, when all at once, down he went into a hole full of mud and water.

There he stood up to his ears, in the muddy water, and madly clawing at the slippery sides of the hole in his effort to climb out.

His cries for help soon brought the villagers running. As they pulled him out of the mud, one of them said: “You pretend to read the future in the stars, and yet you fail to see what is at your feet! This may teach you to pay more attention to what is right in front of you, and let the future take care of itself.”

“What use is it,” said another, “to read the stars, when you can’t see what’s right here on the earth?”

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NICIL asserts circulated Board’s “permission” for subleases fabricated ...as fmr Head’s legal team blames deceased CEO for amendments to leases

F

ormer National Industrial and C o m m e r c i a l Investments Limited (NICIL) Head Colvin Heath-London and his legal team are pointing the finger at London’s late predecessor Horace James, for the amendments to leases that allowed companies to flip hundreds of acres of State land.

According to a statement issued by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, who is representing Heath-London, his client was questioned about James, as well as whether he knew the executives who had leased land from NICIL. Hughes admitted in the statement that some of these leases were missing the clause to ensure that permission had to be sought from NICIL before the land could be sublet. However, he claimed that it was James, who died from cancer last year, who proposed the amendments.

This accusation, however, was debunked by NICIL on Sunday, claiming the document which is currently circulating in the public domain and purports to be part of the minutes of NICIL’s Board Meetings, an official record of NICIL, is fake.

“This unsigned document has been carefully examined by NICIL and it has been concluded that is it neither a document emanating from NICIL nor is it part of the minutes of any Board Meeting of NICIL,” a release from NICIL stated.

It further stated that NICIL’s Board Meetings are

Former NICIL's Head Colvin Heath-London

Former NICIL's CEO the late Horace James

recorded and minuted by the company secretary in a particular style and format and all such minutes and records are kept by the company secretary.

“The document currently in circulation is absolutely inconsistent with and does not meet the standardised format of NICIL Board Meeting minutes or any NICIL document.”

In the circumstances, NICIL intends to approach the Guyana Police Force [to] investigate that document as an alleged forgery.

However, Hughes in a statement on Sunday relied on the alleged forged document to offer an electorate "explanation". He claimed that “The CEO [Horace James] opined that the nation’s inability to secure capital to facilitate business alliances such as joint venture arrangements may be stymied.

It was therefore put forward by the CEO [Horace James]

that lease transactions should be amended to facilitate subletting thus creating a more competitive platform for local companies and nationals to benefit from this new business opportunity.”

Hughes claimed, it was decided that the NICIL CEO would treat with the commissioning of valuation and survey reports and the preparation of leases to qualified applicants to facilitate onward subletting by all approved leases.

It was also decided that industrial parks lease transactions would be formulated immediately for the Peters Hall area, where the flipping of land took place, as well as other areas in Berbice and Demerara. These areas, according to the lawyer, were identified as possible industrial park developments sites.

He explained that this took place before HeathLondon became CEO. At the time, his client was the

head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU). He noted that when Heath-London became the Head of NICIL, James informed him of the plans which were on stream for the Peters Hall area to be designated as an industrial park to support of Guyana’s new oil and gas sector.

Hughes claimed that his client has broken no law.

Hughes also contended that his client is being unlawfully detained, having gone into the police voluntarily on Friday and being arrested and questioned in video-recorded interviews ever since.

Besides James and the leaseholders, Hughes claimed that London was also questioned about Sworn Land Surveyor Timothy Fisher. He was also questioned whether he was aware of any Board or Cabinet approval for the leases which required written permission from NICIL before they could sublet the properties.

“Mr Heath-London after being informed that he was a suspect and was entitled to exercise the right to silence accepted the invitation of the investigating officers of the Guyana Police Force and exercised his right to silence.

“Upon the request of Counsel for Mr London that he be admitted to bail on Friday the 20th November

Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes

2020 he was informed that a decision had been taken that he should not be admitted to bail and no reason for his detention was provided.

Mr London was transported to the Brickdam Police station where he was detained,” Hughes claimed.

“The questioning of Mr London continued with the further questioning about leases which did not contain the requirement to seek the written approval of NICIL before subletting of the property. During the questioning of Mr London, he was confronted by the legal officer of NICIL. The questioning of Mr London was completed for the day after four hours. A request for his admission to bail was again denied.”

According to Hughes, his

client has not been accused of leasing the land below market rate and the police did not provide anything to substantiate their contention that NICIL’s failure to prevent the subletting of property was a criminal offence.

NICIL has been taking flak for the leasing of several plots of land at Peters Hall by two companies, A-Z Pharmaceuticals headed by Eddie Doolall, and Life 1 Pharms Incorporated headed

by Avalon Jagnanan. These lands were leased and then flipped for a profit.

Of interest, too, is the fact that in both lease agreements, a clause was deliberately modified to state that “the lessee may divest the land, may part with possession, may assign it to a third-party interest”.

However, Guyana’s State Lands Act stipulates that whenever State lands are leased, the lease agreement must indicate that the lessee “shall not” part with lands (possession) or “shall not” assign the interest in the said agreement without the consent of the State.

It also states that in the event that there is going to be a transfer to a third party, the State reserves the right to step in and repossess the lands, reverting ownership to the State.

8 NEWS Bidding to extend Appeal Court commences on December 1 T Looting and MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he building that houses the Court of Appeal in Kingston, Georgetown, has been earmarked to undergo an extension, according to a notice published in the daily newspapers by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Sueanna Lovell.

The notice specified that bidding for the extension of the court will be done through the National Competitive Bidding Process specified in the Procurement Act 2003.

According to the advertisement, eligible bidders may obtain further information by contacting the Registrar of the court at Lot 1 Avenue of

the Republic and Charlotte Street, Georgetown, from Monday to Friday between working hours. Bids will be opened on December 1 at the National Procurement

and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

It was previously reported that the extension of the Court of Appeal was delayed due to a dispute

over the land. The Court of Appeal currently has one courtroom.

In recent times, the Judiciary of Guyana has been taking steps to ensure that justice is delivered efficiently with the extension of the High Court in Georgetown, the construction of new Magistrates’ Courts, the renovation of others, the opening of new Magisterial Districts, and appointing new Judges and Magistrates.

Moreover, the Judiciary has been praised for decentralising the magistracy given the country’s geographical layout, which makes travelling and communication very challenging at times.

showing signs of depression for some time now, and was apparently planning his demise.

The son stated that upon his return from work at about 01:00h, he found his father lying motionlessly at the front door. A bottle suspected to have contained a poisonous substance was found close to his body.

He immediately raised an alarm and the police were summoned to the scene. This publication was

informed that an investigation was carried out by the police, who noted that no mark of violence was seen on the man’s body.

The body was then taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem. The police are continuing their investigations.

Tuschen man found dead by son in suspected suicide

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hockwaves ripped through the village of Tuschen, East Bank of Essequibo (EBE), as residents of the community learned of the passing of a man who allegedly took his own life in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

The victim was identified as a 52-year-old joiner of Lot 900 Tuschen Housing Scheme, EBE. The man’s lifeless body was found at about 01:00h by his son, who told investigators that his father was

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

grabbing...

T

...from the State he word “loot” entered the English language directly (and unchanged) from the Hindi dialect the British encountered in North India in the late 18th Century – as they ravished the fabled wealth Marco Polo had described five centuries before. Since that time, even though “looting” became more associated with lower class lumpen elements grabbing as much as they can literally get their hands on during civil unrest, some folks still enter Government “service” to keep up the British original practice!

And, of course, this brings us to Guyana where the PNC – who succeeded the British (through the latter’s connivance!) – even IMPROVED on the latter’s looting of our dear land. Who says Burnham didn’t accomplish anything?! One way the Brits looted India was to transfer all the means by which the natives made money, into their hands. THEY collected all the profits while the natives did all the work. Here, Burnham, for instance, saw those persons owning all those shops – which sold mostly imported goods – and getting rich.

So what he did was pass a law transferring all importation into an “External Trading Bureau”. This then passed on the imported goods for distribution to the weirdly named “Knowledge Sharing Bureau”!

Controlled by PNC party members, this tactic ensured that shopkeepers were squeezed dry and profits went to PNC supporters. He insisted that he was doing this to encourage his policy of “buy local”!! Sneaky, but effective!

But at least he offered an EXCUSE for his looting. With Granger and his PNC crew over the last five years, they just out and out looted the nation’s wealth in full view of the country. Just like the lumpen elements who’d run down the streets with fridges on their backs – hauled from stores they’d broken into! Take for instance, the infamous case of the Durban Park “Jubilee Stadium”.

How come over $600 million is still unaccounted for and no one was prosecuted – even the principals of the company that pulled off the heist in broad daylight??

But let’s not go through the litany of steals during the five years: the last five months are enough. While most of us thought Granger and the PNC were just desperately trying to rig their way back into power (to loot), seems some of their operatives were hedging their bets – and getting in their licks before they were kicked out!

And this explains the greatest land heist since the native Indians in the US gave away Manhattan to the Dutch for $26!!

Here, the lands were simply signed away by NICIL to PNC operatives and these were flipped to sleazy businessmen for hundreds of millions!! ...even from inside police stations!

The story that over 150 firearms – mostly handguns – that were lodged in police custody – either voluntarily by citizens or seized from the “bad guys” – have now disappeared does not surprise your Eyewitness. While, of course, he’ll acknowledge that not EVERY Guyanese cop is bent, he’s convinced that MOST aren’t straight!

You only have to experience some of them just out of Training School, shaking folks down at random traffic stops, to appreciate this is a police CULTURE thing!!

Now, when Granger took over in 2015, he PERSONALLY vowed to straighten out the GPF. He replaced the entire top brass after concocting some “cock and bull” story of an uninvestigated assassination attempt – which his one-man CoI pronounced on. He then said that the officers he promoted to head the Force were “incorruptible”.

Well, the exposure on the missing guns is only the TIP of an iceberg that has surfaced since the Police shakeup.

The new Govt should set up its own CoI to examine what went down. ...ab initio Your Eyewitness returns once more to the blatant contempt the PNC has for the Guyanese people by calling for an investigation into how Raphael Trotman signed the Stabroek Block oil PSA. The PPP has to call their bluff!

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

9 Guyana records 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 40 new cases NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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he Health Minister on Sunday has reported that three more persons who contacted the Coronavirus has succumbed thus taking the death toll to 146.

The latest fatalities are two men, a 29-year-old from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), an 89-yearold man from Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne), and a 88-year-old female of Region Ten (UpperDemerara Berbice) These persons died while receiving care at our medical facility.

Guyana Times understands that the latest victims succumbed after testing positive for the virus.

The country also saw an increase of 40 new cases during a 24-hour period, raising the total confirmed cases to 5133. These comprise 2666 males and 2467 females.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Sunday related that seven persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 78 in institutional quarantine, 886 in home isolation and 57 in institutional quarantine. The number of recovered cases has also moved up to 4019.

With the new cases, a regional breakdown shows nine persons contracting the virus in Region

One (Barima-Waini); 12 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); five in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 12 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); one in East Berbice-Corentyne; two in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) remain at 38 and 376 respectively.

On Friday, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony noted that a large proportion of the active cases have recovered.

However, the ICU patients remain a concern.

“Our rate of recovery has been quite good. Our challenge really is that a small percentage of people, about 20 per cent or so, who require hospitalisation.

Then a smaller per cent, maybe four per cent, require ICU care. Those who require ICU, we’re providing that care, but those are very critical patients,” he explained.

The Infectious Diseases Hospital will have adequate space to handle critical patients, after the fi-

nal piece of equipment is installed. The authorities were expecting to transfer patients this week, but this has been deferred by a few days. Nevertheless, other parts of the hospital are already in use.

“Everything else is operational. There is just one piece of equipment that we had a little difficulty with, so we’re getting that sorted out. A major part of the hospital is in use. This section that we’re talking about, it’s for critical patients and [we] want to ensure that everything that is needed for those patients are in place before we move anybody in there,” Dr Anthony shared.

Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures (No 10), which are in effect until November 31, 2020. This

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

order emphasises, among other things, the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of

COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline at 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Operation COVI-CURB

Over 100 persons arrested for breaching COVID-19 guidelines

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ver a two-day period, the Guyana Police Force has arrested a total of 116 persons after they were found in breach of the national COVID-19 measures. These individuals were mainly from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Creek, Number 54 Village, Number 74 Village, Number 75 Village, West Canje, East Canje, New Amsterdam, Chesney, Albion, Ankerville, Letter Kenny, Belvedere, Rose Hall, Black Bush Polder, Adventure among other areas. Those in Region Five hailed from Bath

A member of the Joint Services distributing masks during Operation COVI-CURB

The arrests were made on Friday and Saturday during an enforcement exercise of Operation COVICURB – which was designed to keep people safe by spreading awareness on mask-wearing, social distancing among other measures. They were placed on bail, pending charges.

Those that were found in breach in Region Six included persons from Springlands, Crabwood

Settlement.

Operation COVI-CURB is an initiative launched by the Government in collaboration with the Private Sector, civil society groups and other stakeholders with its aim of educating the public about the dangers of COVID-19 and to encourage them to comply with the COVID-19 gazetted order.

For the month of November, Government had taken a decision

to extend the National COVID-19 measures and eased the curfew hours to 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am). Published in the official gazette, the measures took effect from November 1, and last until November 30 – unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

These emergency measures are made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement – B, 16th March 2020.

The Government concluded that it made a rapid assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and found that it was fragmented and incapable of administering the public health, economic and social measures needed to keep the population safe. The order noted that the current measures are extended to allow for further assessments and consultations to develop updated protocols to aid in the combatting of the COVID-19 spread.

Gyms were to be opened for only 50 per cent of the building’s capacity and by appointments. Physical exercises shall be allowed only

Members of the Guyana Defence Force at the launch of COVI-CURB

in parks, roadways, beaches, rivers and seawalls while maintaining social distancing.

The restriction to home continues, where persons shall remain in the confines of their house or yard space. No one is permitted to host or attend a cinema except for drive-in movies; private party, banquet hall, bar, public swimming pool or water park, wake or vigil, spa, club, meeting fraternity or any other social activity.

No person shall visit any place of quarantine or isolation facility, prison, patient in a hospital, nursing home, or other care facilities. If it is not a COVID-19 patient, the hospital can grant permission on a case-by-case

basis.

Meanwhile, for religious services, the attendance is restricted to 25 per cent of the building’s capacity and where there are multiple services, there should be no less than 45 minutes between each to allow for sanitising. All measures and guidelines must be followed.

Meanwhile, all persons employed within the public service, a semi-autonomous agency, statutory body or State-owned enterprise shall work on rotation.

From 04:00h to 21:30h, stakeholders will be able to access services at banks, markets, supermarkets, grocery shops, gas stations, postal or shipping services, beauty salons, barbershops, hardware stores, clothing

or stores; or other maintenance services.

Outdoor dining at a restaurant shall only be permitted between these hours, with tables six feet apart and a maximum of four persons that are three feet apart per table. Food services are still permitted to conduct delivery and curbside pickup.

Persons are still required to wear a mask, covering the nose and mouth, when in public. Both private and the public sector will have their staff on rotation while those in the health sector will be subjected to priority treatment. Failure to comply with the mandatory mask requirement would make persons liable under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance.

“We cannot keep the school doors closed” – Manickchand ...says all Guyanese must observe WHO/PAHO guidelines

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ealth Minister, Priya Priya Manickchand during an outreach in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Saturday stated that the Government has done a remarkable job in putting measures in place for the reopening of schools.

She nevertheless stated that while they will be happy for all the children to return to school, this is impossible at this time.

“We don't believe as yet that it is safe to put all of our children back in school.

We believe at this point, given varying factors that it is advisable to open schools for grades of 10, 11 and 12 (fourth fifth and sixth form) to allow those students who are older, back into school so that they can prepare for their exams," the minister noted.

The Minister said, in order to open schools, it was compulsory for every student, teacher and member of the auxiliary staff to wear face masks.

"We are one of the only

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand

countries in the world who gave this kind of support by giving these items to our teachers; a lot of countries opened and did not do that.

We believe that while it is not an obligation it is important that each of us because our very best at this time to ensure that together we can combat this thing called COVID." Some parents were reluctant to send their children to school taking into consideration, the dangers of the pandemic.

But according to the minister, those parents were given the option to home school their children while noting that students from primary and nursery schools will remain at home.

“We cannot keep the school doors closed or we can end up in trouble with what happens to your children educationally…so at some point in time, the children will have to attend school."

However, she believes that if at least 80 percent of Guyanese were to sanitize and wash their hands frequently and adhere to social distancing, Guyana will be safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister applauded the efforts of teachers who have gone the extra mile to ensure that children receive instructional and guidance.

“Those who are doing their best to ensure that the children are engaged I want to commend. They have done their best in trying to

A student getting his temperature checked upon resumption of school on November 9, 2020

engage students." "... not all teachers because we have also received complaints, we have had some lazy teachers who have done nothing. But of course, we don't always hear about the teacher who is doing work late into the night and reaching your child however, he or she can. We usually hear about the teacher who did nothing but are few in number and do not reflect walk the teaching service in Guyana at this point in time looks like," the minister noted.

School doors were opened from November 9 for students of grades 10, 11 and 12 as well as for all Practical Instruction Centres (PICs) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Centres.

Prior to the reopening of schools, the ministry has held a number of consultations with the Health Ministry, medical professionals, CXC, head teachers, teachers, the Guyana Teachers’ Union, parents, students and other stakeholders to discuss and con-

sider the relevant issues relating to the pandemic.

Internationally, several countries have reopened schools. Germany and France announced on Wednesday that their schools will remain open while taking the necessary precautions. Ireland too had decided that schools will remain open despite restrictions being placed on other sectors. Regionally, Jamaica has begun a phased reopening, starting with 17 institutions in nine parishes.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Palm Court denies breaching COVID-19 measures – PSC calls for letter to be withdrawn forthwith

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PSC Chairman Nicolas Boyer

hile the National COVID-19 Task Force has reportedly dispatched a last warning to the operators of Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown for breaching the national measures, the popular business has denied

doing so.

A letter was issued by Task Force Director Nazrul Hussain, alleging that the nightspot has operated in violation of the national COVID-19 measures, without specifying what were the breaches.

It specified that legal sanctions could be taken, including having Palm Court’s licence revoked.

However, Palm Court has supported the national measures and the authorities which are in place to ensure compliance.

On this note, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a statement to the media highlighted that the Task Force chose to ‘discredit’ the restaurant while adding that the letter was leaked before the alleged defaulter was notified.

“The Private Sector

Commission notes with concern the contents of the said warning letter to Palm Court … The Private Sector Commission is extremely disappointed that the COVID Task Force chose to discredit the oldest and most internationally-recognised restaurant in Guyana (1950), the Palm Court by issuing a final warning letter of closure and leaking the said letter to the media even before the alleged defaulter was notified,” the PSC release said.

The PSC did also admit that scores of businesses have been operating in a similar manner, but with all the necessary measures in place and as such, called for the letter to be withdrawn.

“The Task Force must be aware, as it is public knowledge, that hundreds of businesses operate in a simi-

lar manner to that of Palm Court. Hence, this action would appear to be biased and discriminatory and the letter should be withdrawn forthwith,” the PSC stated.

Nevertheless, the Commission said it was ‘committed’ to the original mandate given to the Task Force by President Irfaan Ali. These emergency measures are made pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)(b) of the Direction by the President, given under the Public Health Ordinance, Cap 145, and published in the Gazette, Legal Supplement – B, 16th March 2020.

The Government concluded that it made a rapid assessment of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and found that it was fragmented and incapable of

Popular nightspot Palm Court

administering the public health, economic and social measures needed to keep the population safe.

The Order noted the current measures extended to allow for ther assessments and sultations to develop

that are furconup-

dated protocols to aid in the combating of the COVID-19 spread.

For social and entertainment spots, it specifies that there should be strict social distancing and persons must take precautions. This is especially important in an indoor setting.

Aurora Mine denies reports of 17 COVID-positive workers – says strict protocols in place; ahead of Minister’s visit

AGM Corporate Director Peter Benny

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n the eve of Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton’s scheduled visit, Chinese-owned Aurora Gold Mine has come out in denial that there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 at the mining camp.

The company made this pronouncement in a statement on Sunday. According to AGM’s General Manager, Victor Wu, not a single worker at AGM has tested positive under the dispensation of Zijin Mining Company, the mine’s new owner.

According to him, efforts will be made to clarify the reports of 17 workers at AGM testing positive and that Minister Hamilton will be contacted for clarity. He described the reports as having “repercussions on the morale of the workforce and other stakeholders of the company.”

Meanwhile, AGM’s Director of Corporate Office and Governance, Peter Benny, also denied the reports, while also noting that AGM has implemented several stringent measures and controls. These include temperature and oxygen test-

ing, social distancing and the wearing of masks and hands washing at all its locations.

“There is social distancing in the lunchrooms and mess hall. The playground, gyms and places of recreation have all been closed,” Benny was quoted as saying.

“Of the 24 Chinese working with AGM and the 26 working with Sinohydro, none of them has been tested positive nor has any of our employees, whether it is at Aurora, or the Georgetown Office, or Buckhall.”

When it comes to reports that there are gold mining companies treating employ-

Goldfields workers, who were rehired when Zijin Mining Group took over Aurora, were transferred to sub-contractor Sinohydro.

This was confirmed by a letter dated November 8 and seen by this publication, in which AGM wrote to National Mine Workers Union (NMWU) President Sherwyn Downer, informing him that the first set of transfers took effect from November 1, 2020 - seven days prior.

In the letter, Downer was informed that the decision would affect a total of 141 workers, most of whom were former Guyana Goldfields

Aurora Gold Mine

ees who have symptoms of COVID-19, for malaria and typhoid, Benny distanced Aurora Gold Mine from these reports.

“That statement does not apply to AGM. The company has in its employ three fulltime medical doctors,” he noted adding that it is known for having one of the best screening practices for malaria. “The company looks forward to the Minister’s visit at its locations,” he added.

It was only recently that over 100 former Guyana

employees who were rehired and placed on a three-month contract.

The transfer of 24 permanent employees, who Downer had said belonged to his Union, took effect from November 1, while 117 workers who were on the contract will be transferred from December 14, 2020, to January 2021.

According to AGM, “due to the efforts by the company to complete the preparation for the full resumption of operations, a number of former and new employees

were hired.”

“The company has also engaged a contractor Sinohydro Corporation Limited for the Stripping and Mining activities at its Mines at Aurora. In this regard, the company has decided to transfer those employees who were hired by AGM to work for the contractor Sinohydro,” the letter had also said.

But following the contro-

versy around this decision, it was reported in sections of the media on Sunday that Minister Hamilton would be paying a visit today to both Aurora and the Australianowned mining company Troy Resources.

According to the Minister, the visit would serve to inspect working conditions at the locations after the Ministry received reports that a total

of 41 workers from both locations tested positive for COVID-19 between October and November.

Meanwhile, out of the 5133 COVID-19 cases Guyana has recorded as of Sunday, Region Seven has accounted for 440 of those cases. 40 new cases have also been recorded, with seven persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 143 deaths.

12 NEWS Micobie facing degradation GCCI condemns violence from illegal mining – APA meted out against women SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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Evidence of the illegal mining at Micobie which has resulted in an intervention (APA photo)

he Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has raised serious concerns over the act of illegal mining on lands at Micobie village, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), resulting in environmental degradation.

The situation was observed by its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist and Forest Policy Officer during a visit to the community earlier this month.

Land degradation is described as a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. This disturbance to the land is most often undesirable.

At the Micobie area under question, a large portion of the land has already been washed away and is moving closer to the forest resources.

Guyana Times understands that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is aware of the issue and has

issued a removal order to the owner of the illegal dredge.

While illegal mining and logging have long been problems for the Government and the source of revenue leakages, the new Administration is clamping down on the scourge, conducting operations over the past month that resulted in illegal logs being seized and the destruction of illegal mines.

Last month, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat during an interview with the media said that when the PPP Government took office, illegal mining and logging were very prevalent.

Bharrat noted that one way they have been addressing the problem is by interagency collaboration, between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, who once headed the GDF; the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other agencies.

“Upon assuming of-

fice, what we found is that there have been a lot of illegal mining and logging as well. We’ve been clamping down on illegal logging as well. We’ve seized a number of logs in the past month. Mining is the same issue. A lot of illegal mining,” Minister Bharrat explained.

Apart from communities in the interior, even the Iwokrama International Centre discovered more evidence of illegal activities within the reservation and reminded of the penalties as outlined in the Iwokrama Act. Three weeks ago, the Centre said during planned monitoring and enforcement exercises in the week of October 16, Iwokrama staffers along with Natural Resources Ministry Corp of Wardens and the Guyana Police Force witnessed more intrusions of illegal mining operations, not only in the Iwokrama protected forest, but also in the one-kilometre buffer zone on the other side of the Siparuni River.a

ollowing the recent spike in the number of domestic violence cases against women, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has publicly condemned such actions perpetrated against the female populace.

GCCI said It is with much disdain and pain that there have been increasing reports in the media of such incidents which leave much to be desired.

“Domestic violence culminating in fatality is even more sad as oftentimes children are left motherless and relatives are left to grieve. It is common knowledge that women are the backbone of our families and communities as they play an integral role in the moulding of our future generations.

Concurrent with domestic violence is the psychological damage and physical harm that is attendant to the victim, and children and persons who may have witnessed same” the GCCI stated in a release to the media.

Further, the organisation stated that Guyana’s law on domestic violence is very clear as it strictly prohibits same and allows victims recourse to the Magistrate’s Courts to seek redress in the form of protection and other orders.

“A comprehensive national survey, the first of its kind conducted by the Guyana Bureau

of Statistics with support from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), UN Women, UNDP, USAID, the Global Women’s Institute of George Washington University and the University of Guyana and released in the last quarter of 2019 revealed startling data that more than half (55%) of all women in Guyana between the ages of 15-64 experienced at least one form of violence at the hands of their partner”, the statement read.

GCCI posited that the report titled “Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey (WHLES)” indicated that in Guyana, 38 per cent of women [surveyed] have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, above the global average.

“It unveiled that while the global estimates show that 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences either

physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner at some point in their lives, that in Guyana, this was 1 in every 2 women”, they said.

For a population of our size, the chamber said these statistics reflect dismally on the Guyanese society and are totally unacceptable.

They added that it is also suggestive of a tolerance level which we need to dispel.

“Collectively, as stakeholders, be it Government agencies, education and enforcement arms, Private Sector, religious organisations and non-governmental organisations; we have to urgently work together to wipe out the scourge of this disease coined domestic violence that is plaguing us and impacting on our country’s socioeconomic strata. Our womenfolk must feel and be protected”, they alluded.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Women in Business Expo to be held virtually on Friday T

he Women in Business Expo 2020 will be held virtually on Friday, November 27, 2020, at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown. The Women in Business Expo originally started in 2016 and is being organised by the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA) in collaboration with the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development (WASD).

Annually, this event is hosted in March, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its fifth-year celebrations were postponed.

The main objective of hosting this virtual event is to generate business during the holiday season and beyond for women with small businesses.

Last year, the event made phenomenal inroads and some of the exhibitors went to Miami for the Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo.

The virtual edition

Guyanese fashion icon Sonia Noel (second from left) with some of the exhibitors for Friday’s event

will be a true celebration of entrepreneurship, positioning the entrepreneurs a step closer to their goals. General Manager of Pegasus Hotel, Carlos

Montenegro said “Pegasus Hotel is very happy to support this great initiative.

[We] have been supporting from the first year.”

According to Skepmire,

who is a first-time exhibitor and founder of the D’Lions Herbal Store, she will be focusing on introducing new products to the public. She said, “One of which will be

a face scrub that cannot only shrub your face but also moisturise”.

The expo will showcase many first-time exhibitors and many veteran

exhibitors like Bibi Khan, founder of Lisa’s Beauty Shoppe. According to Khan, “I am pleased to be a part of the virtual edition of the Women in Business Expo.

It’s always refreshing to be among my expo sisters and to be in such an inspiring and positive atmosphere”.

The expo over the years created a sisterhood among the women. A fashion display will be part of this virtual event.

“I am happy the expo did not remain as just an idea in my head. When I listen to the testimonials from the exhibitors it reminds me of the many lives that were transformed by this event and I give God the glory.

SNFCA expresses gratitude to the companies who are supporting the virtual Women in Business Expo.

[They are] Pegasus Hotel, Impressions Branding, GTT, HJTV, NCN, Amare Investment, and Destiny's Events,” said fashion icon Sonia Noel.

17 children now equipped for online learning compliments of Entertainment592

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n observance of its third anniversary, Entertainment592 on Saturday donated 17 electronic tablets to children to aid in online classes, which has become the new norm since the discovery of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The company’s CEO, Odelyn Parker, a journalist at the National Communication Network (NCN), said that Entertainment592 is not only about hosting and covering social events, but also about giving back to the community.

According to her, Entertainment592 is cogni-

Entertainment592 CEO Odelyn Parker hands over a tablet computer to a student

news@guyanatimesgy.com

sant of the effects the pandemic has placed on learning, especially on children whose parents cannot afford to provide them with tools for online learning, be it a laptop, tablet computer, or internet connection.

In this regard, she said that the company partnered with several other stakeholders to ensure that these children are not left behind with their schooling. The CEO explained that the company reached out to those who are in need of equipment to access learning.

Entertainment592 Public Relations Officer, Odacia Forde said “The pandemic came unexpected and as

such schools are closed. So, the next best thing is to ensure that students are a part of online learning.”

Speaking specifically to the students, she added, “We want to ensure that you get to tap in with your schools so that you would get to complete whatever work they are giving. We are hoping that you leave here motivated to be a part of your classroom. And with that same motivation, you complete what needs to be done. Make sure that you care it because we do not know how long the pandemic will be here.”

The CEO extended gratitude to Patrick Joseph, Duck and Drake

Promotions, Collin Haynes, Renwick Duesbury, Natasha Goodridge, Xpress Delivery Service, Marlon Pearson, Deborah Shortt-Parker, and to the many other sponsors who may have assisted in making the venture a success.

Since the pandemic, Entertainment592 has been hosting several virtual parties as it aims to keep Guyanese entertained while adhering to the safety guidelines to curb the spread of the virus. Its mission is to provide wholesome entertainment and to edify its followers on the beauty of Guyana and all it has to offer.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AmCham Guyana hosts Thanksgiving treat for less fortunate

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mCham Guyana in collaboration with the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) hosted a Thanksgiving treat under the patronage of the US Embassy on Tuesday last.

During the initiative, the organisation distributed several hampers which comprised of food supplies and hygienic items to the less fortunate, care homes and institutions.

Some of the institutions that benefited were the CIOG, the Night Shelter,

United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch delivering care packages on behalf of AmCham Guyana and the US Embassy, Georgetown to the CIOG

the Archers’ Home, the Mercy’s Home, Byer’s Senior Citizens Home and Purpose Charity.

“While we are facing the biggest health challenge of our lifetime where our elders are the most vulnerable, we have decided to provided care packages to a number of care homes and institutions,” AmCham stated.

Also, the CIOG handed over a plaque of appreciation to the US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, for her service, dedication, commit-

ment and contribution towards upholding the democratic process in Guyana.

Meanwhile, CIOG extended gratitude to the members of AmCham and volunteers who donated selflessly of their time and resources. The religious body also thanked Keen360 Inc, Japarts, Guyana Payroll Solution, Slingshot Funding Inc, GTT, El Dorado Trading, Giftland Office Max, Twins Manufacturing Chemists, Pinnacle Business Services Inc among others.

Kuru-Kuru woman is newest attorney GPF hosts annual church service

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ormer St Rose’s High School student, Cicelia Corbin is among the newest attorneys-at-law admitted to the Guyana Bar. Haling from Kuru-Kuru, SoesdykeLinden Highway, Corbin graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School on September 4, 2020, having earned her Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

Her petition for admission to the Bar was presented by her sister, State Counsel Tuanna Hardy before Chief Justice Roxane George at the High Court in Demerara. The new lawyer gained passes in 12 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Thereafter, she continued her studies at St Rose’s High School, where she graduated with an Associate Degree in Humanities at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). According to her, during that time she participated in the annual Youth Parliament session of 2013 and was adjudged best speaker in the main debate as well as the most disci-

in observance of Road Safety Week

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie and Deputy Commissioner “Operation” (ag) Clifton Hicken at the ceremony on Sunday

Attorney-at-Law Cicelia Corbin

plined parliamentarian.

Corbin graduated from the University of Guyana in 2018 with her Bachelor of Laws degree. While attending the university, she was an active member of the Moot Court Guyana.

This young woman participated in the Aubrey Bishop Mooting Competition in 2017 and was named best speaker.

During the said period, she participated in the annual Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Mooting

competition. From 20182020, she attended the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad. While there, Corbin participated in the Children’s Rights Mooting Competition in 2019, held in the Netherlands in which her team placed third overall.

She is the daughter of Marilyn Williams, Head Teacher of Yarrowkabra Primary School; and Cecil Corbin, Superintendent of Works at the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport.

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he traffic department within in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Sunday hosted its annual National Road Safety Week church service under the theme “Stop Speeding, Don’t Drink and Drive, Stay Alive” at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The service was graced with the presence of Home

Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie, Deputy Commissioner “Operation” (ag) Clifton Hicken; Traffic Chief, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram; Coordinator of the Guyana National Road Safety Council, Ramona Doorgen and other ranks of the traffic department.

During the church ser-

vice, there were several sensational hymns performed by members of the Guyana Police Force Choir and included “Blessed Assurance”, “He Has Made Me Glad” and “Break Every Chain”.

The service ended with the message and benediction which were done by Inspector Maniram Jagnanan.

GTA donates garbage disposal equipment to Seawalls & Beyond

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s part of its programme of activities for Tourism Awareness Month, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) donated a quantity of solid waste items to the Seawalls and Beyond group to assist with their continuous efforts to maintain and clean the Georgetown Seawall and its environs.

According to GTA, the Seawalls and Beyond team have been making strides to promote a clean environment.

Nevertheless, volunteers who are passionate about the environment, with support from enthusiastic Guyanese, have been able to transform the seawall areas, specifically in the vicinity of the Kingston Seawall Bandstand.

“This initiative has since created a positive ripple effect around Guyana as a number of other persons have been taking the conscious effort to clean and beautify their surroundings.

They volunteer their time, energy and resources to ensure that they get the job done - not only to clean the

GTA officials presenting the items to the group

area but to have it restored to its initial pristine, welcoming state.”

GTA said that it understands that this is a continuous effort and the responsibility should not lie with one group alone, but also with all of us as Guyanese.

As such, GTA is calling on everyone to be more conscious and to form better habits that will restore Georgetown to the Garden City title it once claimed and keep our communities clean.

“The GTA will contin-

ue to raise awareness of and pursue a collective approach to keep our beautiful country clean and maintain Guyana’s position as a top sustainable destination in the world,” the tourism body stated.

Seawalls and Beyond is a volunteer group headed by its coordinator, Dwayne Hackett. They have been carrying out frequent cleanup activities at the Kingston Seawall in Georgetown, with the aim of keeping Guyana clean.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden woman’s battle with eczema inspires her to launch all-natural skincare line

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young woman’s struggles with eczema inspired her to launch a natural skincare line of body scrubs and butters. On October 8, 2020, Cherrise Duke, an Optometry major at the University of Guyana launched her very own skincare line called Glosoleil (glo-so-lay).

Glosoleil currently specialises in body butters and body scrubs.

Available are Soothing Lavender Whipped Body Butter; Citrus Burst Whipped Body Butter; Coffee Cake Whipped Body Butter; Coffee Cake Moisturising Body Scrub; Turmeric and Lemon Whipped Body Butter; Turmeric and Lemon Moisturising Body Scrub and Cinnamon and Oats Moisturising Body Scrub.

The business venture was conceptualised in 2018 after she was diagnosed with eczema. This sparked

encing a very painful outbreak, she was forced to seek medical attention. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that leaves the skin flaky, leathery, swollen, itchy, and dry. Eczema flares up periodically and as there is no cure, the aim should be to prevent symptoms.

Duke explained that the symptoms of such an ailment should be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage to the skin’s texture. She further explained that an eczema outbreak can be triggered by allergens (pollen, foods, dust, etc), dry skin, coarse fabric, genetics (eczema is hereditary), immune dysfunction, and by using certain skincare prod-

her desire to share newfound remedies with others who might be experiencing the same skin ailment or to simply cater to those who prefer natural alternatives to commercial skincare.

Duke, 20, who hails from the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), related that she has suffered from the symptoms of eczema for as long as she could remember.

However, after experi-

ucts (namely those that are highly scented).

“To combat my eczema, I changed my diet and adjusted my life to avoid major irritants. Alas, this did not prove very effective. In my quest to find a solution for my skin, I began to use skincare products that were described as non-scented and hypoallergenic.

However, they did not remedy my situation and many of them made my symptoms worse.”

The talented Cherrise Duke

According to her, she began to do extensive research and found something amazing; body butter and body scrub. A body butter is a natural moisturiser containing shea or cocoa butter and a plant-based oil. It is more viscous than lotion and has hydrating, rejuvenating, and moisturising properties.

Experiment

She later embarked on her experimental journey sourcing ingredients such as

raw shea butter and coconut oil. “I used the body butter I made and within a couple of days, my skin improved drastically,” she said, adding that, within a matter of days the flaky, dry skin around her elbows, knees, and neck was silky smooth.

Body scrubs are physical exfoliants that buff away dead skin cells and debris to reveal smooth and soft skin underneath. They also promote circulation and moisturise. Duke confessed that she was beyond shocked by the results she received and as such, continued to make and use her body butter.

“Over time, I decided to add a multitude of essential oils to my concoctions because of their healing properties. I experimented by using brown sugar and a plethora of oils to produce my own body scrub. The results were instantaneous and paired with the body butter, the symptoms of my eczema were a thing of the past. I was eager to share my discovery and research led me to formulate numerous recipes.”

Challenging

This young woman stated that most of the ingredients used to make the body butter and body scrubs are not native to Guyana. As such, they have to be imported which would see numerous delays in shipment.

She added that she was a patient and now all issues in that regard are resolved.

Managing a small business while being a full-time university student is challenging, Duke added.

This has, however, led her to cultivate time management skills. She disclosed that the first step was to break the habit of procrastination. “Instead of waiting until the last minute to complete my assignments and to study for tests, I began to take on the tasks immediately after they were assigned.”

In doing so, she was left with adequate time to pour into her business while still maintaining acceptable grades at her studies.

Duke said that she also began waking up early in the morning and is keeping to a rigid daily schedule to ensure that her days are productive.

When asked where she foresees her business in the next five years, she noted, “I desire to have acquired such monumental managerial expertise that Glosoleil has become a household name that [is] well known for providing customers of all class and creed with handcrafted skincare products”.

Never give up

It may sound cliché, but her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to never give

up. The university student added, “Many people may not see your vision right now and may try to discourage you, but don’t let that deter you. Also, remember that everything doesn’t need to be perfect for you to start.”

She pointed out that starting is the most important step and everything else flows after. “Just keep promoting your brand. It doesn’t matter if your posts don’t get any likes or engagement, the right people will see them.”

Glosoleil’s slogan is “Give your skin the gift of glow” and its products will surely not break the bank.

Glosoleil’s mission is to further expand its skincare line to include a plethora of natural and cruel-free bath and body products that not only hydrate, moisturise and aid in the treatment of skin ailments but are affordable and accessible which can be used by all age groups and genders.

Its objectives are to provide completely natural skincare products; to provide skincare that is inexpensive and effective and to hydrate, moisturise and repair dry, damaged skin to enhance its natural glow.

Those desirous of trying out these superb skincare products can contact the company on its Facebook page at Glosoleil.

Regional bodies preparing for reopening of tourism sector

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ith the tourism sector being one of the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Tourism Committees have been using this downtime to prepare for the eventual reopening of the sector. This is according to Director General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair.

During a recent interview, Sinclair revealed that tourism stakeholders have organised more than 50 events for this year’s Tourism Awareness Month, the most events ever. He said that stakeholders have been capitalising on the lockdown to enhance their facilities.

“That has not dampened the enthusiasm of people, especially in the regions, to do things to organise events and to execute initiatives to raise the awareness of tour-

Director General of the Department of Tourism Donald Sinclair

ism in the regions,” he said.

The regions have identified their tourism products and are working on marketing them to attract visitors, he said. For example, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), coconut farms are being promoted as a tourist attraction.

“They have been prepar-

ing the coconut farms for persons to visit, a visit to a coconut farm can be a fascinating experience,” Sinclair shared.

In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) the focus is on “agritourism”, while in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), two large tourism billboards that will highlight the main attractions in that region will be erected.

Rose Hall Beach is one of the focus areas for Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The beach will be cleaned and promoted as a destination for recreation.

Signs will be erected at the Bartica Stelling in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) depicting the beauty of the region. The group there will also be engaged in cleaning exercises and will host a photo contest, where persons who vis-

Aruwai Resort at night, Region 7

it the region can take photos and send them to the Committee to build a visitors’ album.

Meanwhile, despite the lodges being closed and activities in the area restricted due to COVID-19 numbers there, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is buzzing, Sinclair said.

“Region Nine is launching their 2021 Tourism Calendar, because Region

Nine is looking beyond COVID, looking beyond these hard times, these lockdowns and restrictions and so on, to a brighter 2021, when Region Nine can once again come into its own as one of the premier tourist destinations in Guyana.”

The region will also recognise tourism stakeholders there who have been exceptional in their area of

expertise.

Meanwhile, the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) Committee has organised a clean-up activity, with a focus on the town of Linden. Special attention will be paid to the water wheel and the bauxite trains, which are historical features of the mining town.

The region will also promote Rockstone as a fishing destination with Gluck Island as a must-see for naturalists. Linden will also host its “Tourism Day” on November 27, with several activities including the launching of the best of Linden Magazine.

Sinclair emphasised that all of the activities countrywide are to adhere to strict COVID-19 guidelines. “We want to keep our visitors safe; we want to keep our stakeholders safe.”

16 NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GNBS urges stakeholders in tourism sector to set high standards

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s Guyana is still grappling to guarantee the safety of all Guyanese and tourists, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is imploring stakeholders in the tourism sector to set high-quality standards that will regale visitors to the country.

In a recent webinar, GNBS Public Relations Officer Lloyd David, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Mitra Ramkumar and GTA’s Manager of Product Development Kamrul Baksh chewed over the significance and importance of high-quality standards, especially in the tourism sector.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Mitra Ramkumar

David added that the GNBS has outlined a number of standards that can

help establishments within the sector in their recovery and for them to bounce back and become more sustainable.

He added that all stakeholders need to take into consideration health and safety, food safety and bed and breakfast standards that could be beneficial to those who comply with the outlined implementations.

David further noted that since Guyana is now an oil and gas producing nation, a lot of tourists and business owners will be visiting the country and will expect great hospitality with quality standards.

“As it related to safety tourism, when these diplo-

GNBS Public Relations Officer Lloyd David

mats and these visitors visit us they expect a certain level of service,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar

GTT donates SIM cards with data to push online learning in Guyana

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he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has connected over 195 students and teachers with online schooling through its recent SIM and 5GB data donation to several schools.

According to GTT, the donation aims to meet the needs of students and teachers who are unable to connect with each other due to financial constraints.

GTT’s Public Relations Manager, Jasmin Harris said the company is delighted to give to such a worthy donation. “We are always grateful for opportunities where we can contribute to [the] benefit of our children’s tomorrow. It is our hope that these students and teachers will capitalise on the month-

agreeing with GNBS’s PRO, said with standards come authenticity that will make visitors comfortable.

“The business traveller in the tourism private sector is a huge market, and it is going to be more important now than ever before in Guyana’s history because of the oil and gas sector. You will have a huge amount of expats in-country who are looking for something to do on a weekend, but they will not go out to places that do not have standards,” Ramkumar said.

Agreeing with THAG’S President, David added that even though implementing these standards might sound difficult, it is not. He said that stakeholders don’t have to take all together and try to do all at once, but they can focus on health and safety, on cleanliness, and how their staff interacts with the tourists.

GTA’s Manager of Product Development, Kamrul Baksh during his

address highlighted that the GTA’s regulatory framework has four broad categories under which businesses are licensed - tourism accommodation establishments, interior lodges and resorts, tour operators and tour guides.

He added that there will be an expansion in that area that will include experiential providers, destination management companies and outfitters.

“All of these areas will be added to the mandate of the Guyana Tourism Authority so that we could have a broad reach and to ensure that the majority of tourism operators are compliant with the laws.”

For those stakeholders who familiarise themselves with the standards, technical assistance is provided to them. GTA has also commenced standardised training with a syllabus from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

Region 10 Police Division kickstarts Road Safety Week

Students from the Huis't Dieren Primary

ly 5G contribution from our company,” she said.

Among the schools benefitting are DeHoop Primary, No 10 Primary, Karamat Primary, Helena Primary, Huis't Dieren Primary and Charity Secondary Schools.

Senior Assistant Master at the Charity Secondary School, Dhirendra Deonarine stated that the donation was helpful in connecting with his students.

“Most of my students are from the Pomeroon area and

I am from Charity, so it has really helped us in connecting with each other to push online learning.”

Sharing similar sentiments was Grade Three Assistant Mistress at the Helena Primary School, Indera Jebode, who extended gratitude to the telecommunications company, noting its data donation was well received by some students and teachers at her school.

Meanwhile, Martin Samaroo, a teacher at the Huis’t Dieren Primary School, said he made calls to the telecommunications company for internet connectivity with his students and is grateful for their immediate response.

“GTT has demonstrated that they are a company that cares about the education system in our country from grassroot level. Of the 33 students in my class, only 13 could afford internet so this donation will go a long way in ensuring that my class would be savvy with virtual learning,” Samaroo added.

Only recently, GTT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to zero-rate several educational websites in support of online learning in Guyana amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Repainting of road markings

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he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Police Division on Friday kickstarted its Road Safety Week 2020 observances with numerous activities in Linden.

The initiatives, which are being spearheaded by

along Mackenzie.

Several other activities including radio and television sensitisation programmes are also expected to be held in observance of Road Safety Week.

The Regional Traffic Statistics for 2019 to

Members of the GPF and CPG after clearing roadways in Mackenzie

the Traffic Department, officially commenced with the hosting of a church service on Friday.

On Saturday, the Regional Division in collaboration with the Community Policing Group (CPG) and the Public Works Ministry repainted road markings and cleared the roadways

2020 are also expected to be presented during the Christmas Policing Plan rollout on Tuesday.

Road Safety Week is being observed in Guyana from November 22 under the way theme, “Stop Speeding! Don’t Drink and Drive, Stay alive!”.

NEWS

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

G20 says it will strive for fair global access to COVID-19 vaccine

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eaders of the 20 biggest economies vowed on Sunday to spare no effort to supply COVID-19 drugs, tests and vaccines affordably and fairly to “all people”, reflecting worries that the pandemic could deepen divisions between the world’s rich and poor.

The pandemic and prospects of an uneven and uncertain economic recovery were at the centre of a twoday online summit under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, which will hand the G20 presidency to Italy next month.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedent-

King Salman in Riyadh presides over the G20 Summit on Saturday, virtually attended by world leaders owing to the COVID-19 pandemic (SPA)

ed impact in terms of lives lost, livelihoods, and econ-

omies affected, is an unparalleled shock that has

revealed vulnerabilities in our preparedness and re-

sponse and underscored our common challenges,” the final communique said.

G20 nations will work to “protect lives, provide support with a special focus on the most vulnerable, and put our economies back on a path to restoring growth, and protecting and creating jobs for all”.

On vaccines, tests and treatments, the leaders said: “We will spare no effort to ensure their affordable and equitable access for all people”.

“There is a clear recognition from the G20: If we leave any country behind, we will all be behind,” Saudi Finance Minister

Mohammed al-Jadaan told the closing news conference.

The world’s economy has suffered a sharp contraction this year as measures to contain the spread of the virus have curbed transport, trade, and demand across the planet.

The meeting was held by video link, like many such gatherings this year.

Saudi King Salman said in his closing remarks that the group had “adopted important policies that will achieve recovery all the way to an economy that is resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and balanced”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

IACHR slams “excessive force” Pro-Government mob sets in Guatemalan protests upon protesters in Havana

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he Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has condemned what it called an “excessive use of force” by Police in Guatemala against demonstrators opposed to a new budget that slashes social spending, while the Government called fires set by protesters at Congress “terrorist acts”.

Protesters broke into the building of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala and set one office afire on Saturday and tossed rocks at Police. Flames poured out of the building’s neoclassical facade.

Police used tear gas and batons to push demonstrators back, attacking not only about 1000 demonstrators in front of Congress, but also a much larger protest in front of the country’s National Palace. Some protesters also damaged bus stations.

The IACHR wrote on Twitter on Sunday that it “condemns the excessive use of force by authorities against demonstrators”, but also asked for an investigation into “the acts of vandalism against Congress, after which State agents indiscriminately suppressed the protest”.

It said Governments “must respect peaceful demonstration,” but when faced with violence, they “must identify persons — protesters or third parties — who risk rights or infringe State property ”.

The protests were part of growing demonstrations against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending. Lawmakers approved US$65,000 to pay for meals for themselves, but cut funding for coronavirus patients and human rights agencies.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

M

ore than a hundred pro-Government civilians on Sunday mobbed a handful of protesters who showed up at Havana’s Central Park to support a group of dissidents on a hunger strike, while security forces watched on, according to a Reuters eyewitness.

Police detained more than a dozen people for attempting to protest while security forces prevented around a dozen more from leaving their homes in the first place, according to exiled rights group Cubalex.

The Reuters eyewitness saw Police arrest at least

one young man after a mob chased him down as he ran across the park waving a sign, pushing and shoving him into a nearby building.

The mob surrounded, chased, pushed and punched another young man and woman, with Police and other security personnel doing little if anything to stop them.

The rabble then turned on credentialed foreign Journalists filming the story, pushing, shoving and punching one cameraman four or five times in the body.

The protest had been called in support of a group

of activists who say they have gone on a hunger strike to protest authorities’ attempts to prevent them from publicly demonstrating against the imprisonment of a fellow member on charges of contempt.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the claims and could not access their headquarters due to security forces blocking off the street.

The Cuban Government dismisses dissidents as mercenaries seeking to destabilise the country and did not reply to request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

Regional

Bahamian organisation wins global Bolsonaro slams “unjustified” attacks over Amazon deforestation film award for transforming society

A handout picture released by Brazilian presidency press office shows Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaking at the G20 Heads of State Meeting, which was held via video conference, from Planalto Palace in Brasilia on November 21, 2020

B

razil's outspoken President Jair Bolsonaro hit out at "demagogic" and "unjustified" attacks over growing deforestation in the Amazon during the virtual G20 summit on Sunday, claiming critics were from "less competitive" countries.

The far-right leader has drawn international condemnation for presiding over a surge of deforestation and wildfires in the world's biggest rainforest.

"I present the facts, concrete data, not demagogic phrases which undermine public debate over a cause (my detractors) pretend to defend," he said during the summit.

Bolsonaro claimed that an "agricultural revolution" had allowed Brazil to use "just eight per cent of its territory" for farming and crops and 19 per cent for livestock, preserving existing vegetation on two thirds of the land.

"It's with pride that I pres-

ent these figures and reaffirm that we're always working to ensure a high level of protection and reject unjustified attacks by countries which are less competitive and less sustainable," he said.

Bolsonaro, who has slashed funding for environmental agencies and wants to open protected Amazon lands to industry, often accuses foreign critics of hypocrisy or coveting the region's natural resources.

He has publicly clashed over the issue with French President Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Joe Biden, among others.

Fires continue to ravage swathes of Brazil's tropical rainforests, with at least 93,356 blazes reported in the Amazon between January and October, a 4.5 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier.

Environmental destruction by Brazilian agribusiness firms is also threatening a long-sought trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, of which Brazil is a member.

(Excerpt from AFP)

Brazil signs letter of intent to purchase 5 COVID-19 vaccines

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razil’s Health Ministry said on Sunday it would sign non-binding letters of intent to purchase coronavirus vaccines from four companies and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, adding that any purchase would depend on the approval of the nation’s regulators.

According to the Ministry, officials met last week with representatives of Pfizer Inc, India’s Bharat Biotech, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Moderna Inc and Janssen, a unit of

Johnson & Johnson.

In a statement, the Ministry said its legal and technical departments were analysing the documents presented by the five entities and determining the best way to go about purchasing vaccines at “the opportune moment”.

The Government has contracts in place to guarantee access to 142,900,000 coronavirus vaccine doses, enough to immunise at least a third of Brazil’s population, officials said in the statement.

So far, the Brazilian Federal Government’s main bet is on a vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca PLC, with which it has already signed a supply contract.

In São Paulo, Brazil’s largest state, local authorities have signed a deal with China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd to test and produce a vaccine locally. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a long-time critic of China, has dismissed that vaccine as untrustworthy, without presenting evidence. (Reuters)

T

he Bahamas Reef Environment E d u c a t i o n a l Foundation (BREEF) captured top honours at the ninth annual Global Sustainability Film Awards (GSFA), held recently in the United Kingdom.

The GSFA recognises outstanding films from the business, non-profit, media and creative sectors that inspire audiences with real-world solutions for a more sustainable future.

The 2020 awards were held online from November 16-20, with BREEF winning first place in the Transforming Society category.

BREEF and the Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative collaborated to produce the award-winning short film about educating the next

generation of Bahamian environmental stewards.

The film highlights BREEF and its Eco-Schools programme, and points to steps being taken by young people within schools and communities to combat climate change and to sustain the Bahamian way of life.

The film prominently shares the beauty of The Bahamas with a global au-

dience. It includes footage of the island of Eleuthera where BREEF's Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert was born.

The film was directed by award-winning filmmaker Fran Mendez, and includes underwater footage by world-renowned Bahamian photographer Andre Musgrove. (CMC)

Attorney calls on State: Find and return Venezuelan children

A

ttorney Nafeesa Mohammed is calling on the Trinidadian authorities to find and return a group of children who were repatriated back to Venezuela without their parents on Sunday.

She said the children, who ranged from four months to six years, were detained since last Tuesday at the Erin Police Station. “The matter came up a while ago and we filed a writ of habeas corpus.

When we got word they

were being moved out of the Cedros Police Station, the Judge was kind enough to move the matter up from 2pm to 12.30pm, but before 12.30pm, we got information and pictures of the children on two pirogues.

“The relatives were not able to see any registered names on the boats and the boats came in out of the port in Cedros. Who is in control of that boat?

The children were in custody of the Police and it begs the question of who was responsible for taking them

out knowing that court proceedings were being pursued,” Mohammed told Newsday.

She said the boats had no covering and there was rough weather in both Trinidad and Venezuela.

“Those children are out in the open seas and we have no idea where they are, and this was after communication had been made with State officials that court proceedings have been commenced. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Guatemala: Congress on fire after protesters storm building

H T&T bans Christmas parties in the Public Sector

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government on Saturday announced a total ban on Christmas parties within the Public Sector and urged the Private Sector to do the same.

It also announced a TT$30 million (One TT dollar= US$0.16 cents) initiative aimed at assisting persons who lost their jobs, or have fallen on hard times as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley and Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh told a news conference that instructions would be given to the appropriate Public Sector officials so to ensure that Government funding for Christmas parties over the coming weeks would not

be entertained.

“There is to be no Statesponsored or Christmas party in the Public Sector,” Dr Rowley said, acknowledging that the new order would have an effect on the economies of “those who supply the Christmas party but this is to curb the spread of the virus”.

“It ought to be not only a holy Christmas but also a quiet one,” Deyalsingh said, urging people to celebrate within their family unit and not invite persons to partake in the celebrations.

Dr Rowley said he was aware that many villas in Tobago were fully booked for the Christmas season and while Government would not prevent people residing in Trinidad travelling to the sister isle for the season, he

Dr Keith Rowley

was reiterating the need to follow all protocols and measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus that killed 113 and infected more than 5000 people in Trinidad and Tobago. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

undreds of anti-Government protesters in Guatemala have vandalised and set fire to parts of the Congress building, before being dispersed by Riot Police.

The building in Guatemala City was empty at the time of Saturday's attack, which lasted for about 10 minutes.

The fire services put the fire out, but several people were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

The protesters are opposed to a budget approved by Congress of the Central American country on Wednesday night.

The Opposition says the budget prioritises big infrastructural projects to be handled by companies with Government connections and overlooks the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are also angered

Flames rose from the building's large windows

by what they describe as major cuts to education and health spending.

Another key complaint is that the budget was passed by Parliament while the rest of the country was distracted by the after-effects of two damaging storms, Eta and Iota.

The protesters are now pressing for President Alejandro Giammattei to resign.

The bulk of Saturday's demonstrations, which some observers said were the biggest yet against the budget, were peaceful.

Vice President Guillermo Castillo earlier expressed his opposition to the budget, and said that both he and Giammattei should step down "for the good of the country".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Renewed lockdowns threaten more refinery closures in Europe

M

ore refineries in Europe are at risk of permanent closures, with fuel demand on the continent falling again as major economies re-imposed lockdowns to fight the spike in coronavirus cases.

Gasoline demand in Europe is expected to be between 15 and 20 per cent lower in November and December compared to the same months of 2019, Argus reported, citing market participants.

The new lockdowns, partial lockdowns, and curfews in the biggest economies in Europe, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, are dragging down oil demand again while a double-dip recession in the Eurozone and wider Europe now looks almost inevitable.

Refiners have struggled since the spring with the crash in fuel demand, and many of them are restructuring operations, including closing down permanently crude oil processing capacity.

Petroineos, a joint venture of Ineos and PetroChina, said earlier this month it plans to permanently close some units at the 210,000-bpd Grangemouth refinery, the only refinery in Scotland, which will cut the facility’s refining capacity to 150,000 bpd.

Neste of Finland said in September that it was exploring the shutdown of its refinery operations in Naantali and transforming the Porvoo refinery operations to co-processing renewable and circular raw materials.

“The forthcoming operating and maintenance investments in the Naantali refinery are not viable nor sustainable in a situation where there is large over-capacity for oil refining globally,” Neste’s President and CEO Peter Vanacker said in September.

Refiners in the United States are also idling refinery capacity and cutting jobs to cope with the losses from the demand crash.

Refiners around the world have been announcing permanent closures of refinery capacity this year, but significant overcapacity still remains, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly Oil Market Report last week. Permanent shutdowns of refinery capacity have reached 1.7 million bpd. But more than 20 million bpd crude oil distillation capacity now sits idle, the Paris-based agency said, noting that “there remains significant structural overcapacity.” (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Deadly ISIL attack north of Baghdad sparks anger

I

raq’s Salahuddin province declared three days of mourning on Sunday after a deadly attack blamed on the ISIL (ISIS) armed group, as some criticised the authorities for failing to fight back.

Late Saturday, a roadside bomb hit a civilian car on an open road about 200km (120 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, Police and a local official said.

When security forces arrived at the scene, ISIL fighters opened fire on them.

The attack killed at least six Iraqi security officers and four civilians, including one who died of his wounds overnight, according to medics.

There was no claim of responsibility by ISIL but both the mayor and police blamed the armed group, which Iraq’s Government said it defeated in late 2017.

That victory came after three years of brutal fighting to wrench back the onethird of Iraqi territory that

was captured by ISIL in 2014.

Although the fighters no longer hold territory, sleeper cells wage hit-and-run attacks on state infrastructure, particularly in desert areas north of Baghdad.

ISIL also launches attacks on the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

The Hashd al-Shaabi, founded as a loose network of Shia-majority factions, played a crucial role in defeating ISIL alongside the US-led coalition.

Two weeks ago, 11 people were killed in an ISIL attack on a lookout post in al-Radwaniyah on Baghdad’s outskirts, areas that are predominantly Sunni Muslim.

The attacks have coincided with a new campaign by Iraq’s security forces to arrest fighters in hiding across the country – but some say it has not been enough.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

COVID: 1st Americans “could get vaccine in early December”

T

he first Americans to receive a COVID-19 vaccine could get it as soon as December 11, according to the head of the US coronavirus vaccine programme.

Dr Moncef Slaoui told US network CNN the plan was to "ship vaccines to the immunisation sites within 24 hours" of a vaccine being approved.

The comments come amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

The US has recorded more than 12 million cases and 255,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

These are the highest tolls registered anywhere in the world.

Pfizer has applied for emergency authorisation for its vaccine in the US

American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its partner BioNTech submitted an application on Friday for emergency authorisation in the US of their COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from an advanced trial showed the vaccine pro-

tects 94 per cent of adults over 65.

Pfizer hopes to produce up to 50 million doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. Each person needs two doses.

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vac-

The PM, who came to power on an anti-corruption platform, has said the campaign is aimed at blackmailing him to drop corruption cases against opposition leaders.

Pakistan's powerful military denies interfering in politics and Khan rejects claims it helped him win.

The next general election is not due until 2023.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has held a series of mass demonstrations since October 16.

Huge rallies have taken place in three of the country's four provinces - Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

Sunday's is the first the PDM has held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The PDM is the latest alliance which aims to restore "real" democracy in Pakistan's perpetual civil-military conflict.

But this time a top highlight is the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to public politics.

Liberation Front (TPLF), which is refusing to surrender its rule of the northern region, said its forces were digging trenches and standing firm.

Abiy’s federal troops have taken a string of towns during aerial bombardments and ground fighting, and are now aiming for Mekelle, a highland city of about 500,000 people where the rebels are based.

The conflict erupted on Nov 4 and has killed hundreds, possibly thousands, and has sent more than 30,000 refugees into neighbouring Sudan. Rockets have been fired by rebels

into neighbouring Amhara region and across the border into the nation of Eritrea.

Foreign nations have urged talks, but Abiy has pressed on with the offensive.

In his statement on Sunday evening, Abiy said that during what he terms a law enforcement operation “all the necessary precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that civilians are not harmed”.

Referring to the TPLF, he said that “all that the clique is left with is the fort that they have set up in Mekelle and empty pride”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

cine advisory committee is set to meet on December 10 to discuss whether to authorise the vaccine.

Dr Slaoui said the vaccine could be rolled out "maybe on day two after approval, on the 11th or the 12th of December".

He said the vaccine would be distributed based on each state's population. States will be responsible for deciding who gets the vaccine first, but it is recommended that priority be given to those most at risk, like frontline workers and the elderly.

Dr Slaoui said that by May, the country could achieve "herd immunity" with 70 per cent of the population vaccinated. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pakistan opposition seeks end to Imran Khan's “puppet” rule

O

pposition parties in Pakistan are keeping up the pressure on Imran Khan, holding a series of mass protests against his Government.

They allege the Prime Minister came to power in rigged 2018 elections backed by the military.

Protesters have demonstrated in the city of Peshawar, despite a Government threat to ban gatherings to curb rising coronavirus cases.

And he has done this with a difference.

His direct hits at the two top military officials - army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and chief of the top military intelligence agency, the ISI, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed - are unprecedented in the country's 73-year history.

He said they are responsible for Pakistan's political and economic woes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ethiopia PM gives Tigray forces 72 hours to surrender regional capital

E

thiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave Tigrayan regional forces 72 hours to surrender before the military begins an offensive on the regional capital of Mekelle.

“We urge you to surrender peacefully within 72 hours, recognising that you are at the point of no return,” Abiy said in a message posted on Twitter on Sunday evening.

A military spokesman said earlier that advancing Ethiopian troops plan to surround Mekelle with tanks and may shell the city to force surrender.

The Tigray People’s

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed waits for the arrival of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before their meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia December 7, 2019

“Backward in time”: Israeli scientists claim to reverse ageing

I

sraeli scientists say they have managed to not only successfully stop the biological ageing process but to reverse it, using only oxygen.

The study, a collaboration between Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center, administered high-pressure oxygen in a pressurised chamber and said it reversed two processes relating to ageing and illness.

Using hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBOT) on ageing healthy adults, the researchers found the shortening of telomeres (chromosome ends) and the accumulation of old and malfunctioning cells in the body could be reversed.

That is, the adults’ blood cells actually grow younger as the treatments progress.

Some 35 adults over the age of 64 took part in the study and were given

HBOT for 90 minutes a day, five times a week for three months.

The study was published in Aging magazine on November 18.

Shai Efrati, a professor at Tel Aviv University who runs the Aviv Clinics in Florida, told The Jerusalem Post the study indicates that the cellular basis for the ageing process can be reversed.

His partner at the Shamir Medical Center, Chief

Medical Research Officer Amir Hadanny, said interventions such as lifestyle modifications and intense exercise have shown “some inhibiting effect on telomere shortening”, but the hyperbaric oxygen treatment is more effective.

According to the study, the physical changes were equivalent to how the participants’ bodies were at the cellular level 25 years earlier. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Review and revise your financial situation. Knowing exactly where you stand will help you make better decisions. A positive change will encourage you to get involved in a joint venture.

Romance will bring you TAURUS closer to a loved one. More (April 20stability will result if you May 20) discuss your intentions and make suggestions that lead to a healthier lifestyle. A surprise will lift your spirits.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Monitor what everyone around you is doing. If you don’t like the change of direction someone is pursuing, back away and do your own thing. Use your energy productively.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Try something new, change the way you do things and listen to the experts. Positive plans will begin to unfold if you nurture a meaningful relationship.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

LAST PUBLISHED WORD - ANXIOUSLY

Pace yourself. Enjoy the process of getting things done the way you see fit. A personal change will boost your reputation and offer insight into what else you can accomplish.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Someone will use persuasive measures to get you to take on added responsibility. You may want to specify what you are willing to do before you commit. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Keep an open mind, but don’t give in to someone putting demands on you.

Problems at home will develop if uncertainty takes charge. Focus on how you earn your living and handle your money.

Change your lifestyle to suit your needs. Use your intelligence and ingenuity, and follow your passion.

A creative pastime looks promising. Romance is favored.

Refrain from sharing personal information. Set up a budget that will help you adjust to a change in income. Don’t take on someone’s problems or responsibilities.

You’ll be able to make adjustments to how you work, earn your living or handle your personal affairs. Your insight will help you gauge how others feel and what they are capable of contributing.

Refuse to let anyone push you in an uncomfortable direction. When uncertainty sets in, turn to something that makes you feel at ease. A physical or creative outlet will help you gain perspective.

Your persuasive charm will compel others to see and do things your way. A positive change will transpire with the help someone offers. Romance is encouraged.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020

21

CWI willing to send “best available” West Indies team to Bangladesh in January 2021 C

ricket West Indies (CWI) President Ricky Skerritt has given Bangladesh hope that they will be touring the country in January 2021 with the "best available" West Indies team, also hinting that the three-Test series might be reduced to two, keeping the players' requirements in mind.

According to the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme, the tour was slotted for January 2021 featuring three Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two T20Is, with the Tests part of the World Test Championship. By the time this month ends, Bangladesh will be among the few Full Member teams to have not played international cricket since March.

"There has been an option to reduce from three to two Tests, but it is not finalised yet," Skerritt told the Dhaka-based Maasranga TV. "It will be finalised within the next few days. The problem is [that] we have to look at it from all perspectives, that of COVID-19, scheduling and cost. These days, the pressures that COVID has brought to world cricket are significant in

terms of reve n u e .

We want to come to Bangladesh, because we respect the relationship and the bilateral agreements that we have.

"I just want to assure you that we will always send the best available team to any tour that we undertake, including Bangladesh. We believe a tour to Bangladesh is always a challenging tour, because it is an environment that's very different to our own conditions. But we have always done well in Bangladesh. Our players enjoy playing against Bangladesh. At the moment, we are fairly evenly matched and it is always a good series between West Indies and Bangladesh. We are doing everything we can to participate in tours abroad and at home. The COVID-19 pandemic is making it extremely difficult to implement our plans."

On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said in a press briefing that CWI had requested one fewer Test due to the length of the bio-bubble in Bangladesh.

"It is not final yet. The West Indies cricket board has requested us, as staying inside bio-bubble for a long time is tough for players," Chowdhury had said.

"They requested to consider if it is possible to shorten the duration of the series. In that case, one of the options is to reduce one Test match. We are still discussing the issues; nothing is finalised yet."

Skerritt also said they want to ensure that the BCB followed the recognised worldwide health protocols – that the West Indies team had experienced in England – after they became the first international cricket team to tour during the pandemic.

"We want to be sure that the protocols established in Bangladesh meet the requirement that we have established so far in the various tours we have been on," Skerritt said. "There are case

studies to benchmark from.

This is not going to be the first overseas tour. As you know, we did the first overseas tour to England.

"Certain standards were set, certain learnings were achieved, and I think once Bangladesh can meet those standards, I don't think there's going to be

any major problem. We just have to verify in our own way that the situation will be safe for all concerned."

The BCB has so far held one domestic tournament, the President's Cup, in which they managed to keep three teams in a bio-bubble,

allowing them only to commute between the hotel and the Shere Bangla National Stadium. From Tuesday, they will be hosting the fiveteam Bangabandhu T20 Cup, which will also have a BCB-sponsored bio-bubble.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Calvert-Lewin scores twice as Everton beat Fulham D

ominic Calvert-Lewin continued his excellent scoring form with two goals as Everton returned to winning ways in an absorbing encounter with Fulham.

Richarlison made an immediate impact on his return from a three-match suspension by providing the cross for Calvert-Lewin to bundle in after just 42 seconds.

In a dramatic game, Bobby Decordova-Reid equalised for the hosts with a clean rightfoot finish before England forward Calvert-Lewin went top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 10th of the season from Lucas Digne's cross.

France left-back Digne provided another assist before half-time, this time for Abdoulaye Doucoure to head home unchallenged for Everton's third – and his first since joining from Watford.

French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure scored his first Premier League goal since netting for Watford against Brighton on February 8

Fulham missed their third penalty of the season when Ivan Cavaleiro blazed over in the second half after Ben Godfrey's foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Substitute LoftusCheek's deflected finish from Ademola Lookman's pass set

up a grandstand finish, but it was not enough to prevent Fulham from sinking to a seventh defeat in nine games.

Everton back on track

This was much harder than it should have been for

Everton – so much so that their players greeted the final whistle with evident relief. After coasting into a 3-1 lead, they were left hanging on as they allowed Fulham a lifeline before finally securing a first win for seven weeks to reignite their campaign.

After a tough run of results, there were many positives for Carlo Ancelotti to take back to Merseyside.

Alex Iwobi has struggled to nail down a regular slot in the side, but was dynamic in south-west London.

With Brazil forward Richarlison eager to make up for lost time in his first club game since October 17 and Digne providing a couple of quality assists, Everton dominated Fulham for long periods. But Ancelotti will be annoyed his side has failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening weekend, with Tom Cairney's

pass splitting the defence for Decordova-Reid to score before Loftus-Cheek netted moments after Fulham's latest di-

saster from the penalty spot.

With a tough December

loomi n g which includes g a m e s a g a i n s t C h e l s e a , L e i c e s t e r , A r s e n a l , Manchester City and Manchester United, Everton's season is at least back on the right track.

(BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

“Advisable” does not mean “required” T

he Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry has noted the reports in the media on November 20, 2020 with captions “CWI says approval for ‘Big Man Cricket’ must come from territorial boards” in the Guyana Chronicle and “CWI tells Big Man Cricket organisers to get GCB approval” in the Kaieteur News.

The Ministry has seen and read the e-mail communication emanating from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Johnny Grave cited in the news

reports and respectfully directs attention to the statement contained therein by the CEO, “In short, in order to officially host your Big Man Cricket Tournament in Guyana, it is advisable

that you solicit the Guyana Cricket Board’s approval or no objection by them.”

The Ministry agrees with the statement from the CEO in this regard, but notes that this was not accurately reflected in the reported caption and the content of the media reports referenced above. The Ministry respectfully directs attention to the word “advisable” used by the CEO and underscores an important distinction with the use of the word “required” as stated and/or suggested in the news reports.

“Advisable” does not mean

“required”.

For the sake of definitive clarity, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and S p o r t for the

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Government of Guyana reverts to its previous statement on the issue contained in the approval/imprimatur conferred on the “Big Man Cricket” tournament i.e. “… the approval or imprimatur for any sport tournament by respective

sport Associations/Federations, while inherently beneficial, is not strictly required unless it is a vehicle for advancement within the structure of a world/ international sport body.”

(Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry)

West Indies, New Zealand A 3-day match ends in draw

New Zealand duo Will Young and Devon Conway

W

est Indies and New Zealand A three-day match in Queenstown predictably ended in a draw on Sunday. New Zealand A were 124-1 in their second innings when stumps were called at 17:00h (5pm).

The West Indies would have been satisfied with their batting efforts in Queenstown, scoring 366 in their first innings, in reply to New Zealand A's 308-3 declared.

Their batting stars were Darren Bravo, who struck 135, and Shamarh Brooks, who chipped in with 80. The pair combined for a third-wicket partnership of 122. Skipper Roston Chase contributed 42, while opener Kraigg Brathwaite notched 47.

West Indies’ Test contingent face New Zealand A in a four-day match in Queenstown from Thursday to Sunday.

The opening Test is at Hamilton's Seddon Park, beginning December 3.

Test batting cover Will Young and Wellington run-scoring machine Devon Conway both took their chance for New Zealand A in Queenstown.

Young, who edged Conway for the batting cover role in the 13-strong Black Caps’ Test squad to

face the West Indies, made the most of the final day's play. It was a nice gift for Young, who would have been frustrated with the way he got out in the first innings, caught down the leg side for 27.

Conway, who many felt should have been in the Test squad, kept the pressure on Young with a faultless display with the bat in Queenstown.

South Africa-born Conway, who has completed his three-year residency and is eligible for the Black Caps, having been named in the T20 squad, frustrated the West Indies attack.

Conway could make his New Zealand debut in the first T20 at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday night. He notched an unbeaten 41 in the second innings, to go along with 46 not out in the first innings.

Conway has picked up where he left off last season in red-ball cricket, and is the leading run-scorer in the Plunket Shield through four rounds with 410 at 58.57.

Test number five Henry Nicholls was in the runs too after being sidelined through the opening three

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New Zealand A and West Indies will meet in a four-day game from November 26

rounds of the Plunket Shield owing to a calf injury.

Nicholls hit 76 in the first innings in his lone turn at bat, following on from 87 against Otago in his return to the Plunket Shield l a s t w e e k f o r

Canterbury. Rising New Zealand talent Rachin Ravindra showed why he is rated so highly in the first innings, top-scoring with 112 opening the batting.

New Zealand A 308-3 decl (Rachin Ravindra 112, Henry Nicholls 7 6 ,

Roston Chase and NZ A Captain Cole McConchie

Devon Conway 46no, Joe Carter 41no) and 1241 (Will Young 64no, Conway 41no) drew with West Indies 366 (Darren Bravo 135, Shamarh Brooks 80, Kraigg Brathwaite 47, Roston Chase 42; Jacob Duffy 3-49)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Marlon "Fishy” Williams clocks best time at 1st time trial

Marcus Keiler, Briton John and Junior Niles Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

T

eam Evolution's Marlon “Fishy” Williams stopped the clock at 11 minutes 18 seconds to emerge with the best time in the first of three time trials organised by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF).

This event, which marked the return of competitive cycling in Guyana, saw the wheelsmen pedal off under strict COVID-19 guidelines at Sparendaam, pedal through Kitty, turn at the Roundabout and end at the COVID-19 Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

As the cyclists began in cloudy conditions, Briton John stopped the clock at 11 minutes 26 seconds followed by Jamual John's 11:38.

Marcus Keiler had the fourth best time at 11:47 while Kwame Ridley rode in at 12:06.

Veteran Alex Mendes (12:09); Pastor Nigel London (12:30); Berbice's

Balram Narine (12:38); Team Evolution's Paul De Nobrega (12:40) and Raymond Newton (12:57) completed the top 10 cyclists.

This time trial saw over 30 cyclists competing. The event was sponsored by Zoom Online Shopping, Star Party Rentals, Professional Business Services and friends of Guyana's cycling.

The second time trial event will be held in Berbice on November 29 in memory of the late star cyclist Wilbert Benjamin.

That time trial in Berbice is set to start from 09:00h and the race will commence at Benjamin Sport and Fitness Centre in Fyrish along the Number 19 road and end at GuyOil gas station at Palmyra.

The final time trial event will be held on December 6 in Linden, commencing at Amelia’s Ward (KD&J Supermarket) to Moblissa Hill and back from 09:00h.

Walter Grant Stuart finished when rain showers hit the East Coast area

Barcelona beaten, Pique injured as Atletico go level on points with leaders

A

tletico Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Real Sociedad after beating Barcelona, who are now nine points adrift of the top two.

Yannick Carrasco scored the only goal on the stroke of half-time, driving in from midway inside the Barcelona half with goalkeeper MarcAndre ter S t e g e n having

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique hobbled off with a knee injury in the second half

tried to to the

beat him b a l l .

Barcelona

also l o s t d e fender Gerard

Pique to injury to cap a bad night.

Pique looked visibly upset as he hobbled off in the second half. Barcelona confirmed after the game that Pique had sprained his right knee and was "waiting for more tests to ascertain the extent of the inju-

ry".

There is no timescale on how long Pique could be out for, but reports in Spain suggest he could be sidelined for up to six months.

The win gave Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone his first La Liga win against Barcelona in 18 attempts Barcelona rarely looked like rescuing a point from the game, with Jan Oblak's save from a Clement Lenglet header the closest the visitors came. The result leaves Barcelona 10th in La Liga. They have 11 points from eight games, nine behind Sociedad, who are only ahead of Atletico on goals scored, both having the same goal difference, although Atletico have a game in hand.

This win continued Atletico's unbeaten start to the season and stretched

The win gave Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone his first La Liga win against Barcelona in 18 attempts

their unbeaten run to 24 games in all competitions, while it was Barca's third defeat in eight La Liga games. Lionel Messi was unusually subdued, al-

though the forward had only returned from a long trip to South America on Thursday after international duty with Argentina.

(BBC Sport)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020

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GCB/Tropical Springs Water Over-40 T20 tournament...

West Demerara Masters brush Bel Air Rubis on rain-hit day – wins for Jai Hind Jaguars, West Berbice Masters

Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

T

he rain continues to play a major part in the ongoing Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Tropical Springs Water Over-40 T20 tournament, with only three matches possible In the second round; play was only possible at two venues – Enmore and Jai Hind.

West Demerara Masters, West Berbice Masters, and Jai Hind Jaguars recorded wins in their respective matches.

West Demerara Masters v Bel Air Rubis Ultra Tec

West Demerara got the upper hand over the Bel Air Ultra Tec with a seven-wicket win in match two at Enmore Community Centre Ground. Winning the toss and batting first on a sticky wicket, Bel Air posted 78-9 in their allotted 15 overs. The rain stopped play at 14:14h with Bel Air on 34-3 in 5.4 overs.

Play resumed at 15:10h and the Bel Air boys continued, on the back of a promising contribution from Richard Ramdeen, who scored a first-round fifty and top-scored this time around with 18. Nadir Baksh, batting down the order, made 11 but that

proved insufficient.

For the upbeat West Demerara Masters, who looked a well-uniformed unit, Seenarine Mathura took 2-5 while Abid Hanif claimed 2-14. In pursuit of the DLS target of 78, Masters lost the burly Elroy Fernandes, but a 41-run second-wicket partnership between Damesa Thakur (19) and Sudesh Persaud (18) took the game away from Bel Air. Master batsmen rotated the strike with ease and pressured the Bel Air fielders, ending on the victorious side with a seven-wicket win in 13.1 overs at 78-3. Arthur Duke took 2-16 in a losing effort

for Bel Air. A ball was not bowled in the opening match at Enmore owing to one team’s failure to turn up at the venue, despite the weather being cricket-friendly at that point.

Jai Hind Jaguars v Sarjoo Tigers

Jai Hind Jaguars completed a 38-run win against Sarjoo Tigers at Jai Hind, the beautiful venue located behind the Albion Police Station. Batting first, the home team scored 154-7 in their allotted 20 overs, with Suramani Mangali leading the way with 36, inclusive of two fours and

one six. Kumar Sumair chipped in with 29 while Zahir Moakan scored 18.

David Pereira claimed 2-19 for Sarjoo Tigers.

In response, Jaguars restricted the Tigers to 116-7 when 20 overs had elapsed. Jaguars’ collective bowling effort saw Kasim and Mangali claiming two wickets each in another polished team effort.

Tagenarine Ramroop hit 39, but he lacked support from his other Tiger teamates.

West Berbice Masters v General Marine Masters

Led by an unbeaten 44 from Jaipaul Hiralall, West

Berbice down Marine Masters by six wickets.

Earlier, Marine Masters, batting first, scored 91-9 in 20 overs, with Rajban Hemraj destroying the opposition with 4-8, including three wickets in one over.

In reply, Hiralall, batting at number three, hit three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 44 to guide the West Berbice Masters to a comfortable six-wicket win, ending on 92-4 after 16 overs. Owing to the constant rainfall, no matches were played at Everest and at the Imam Bacchus Ground in Essequibo. The tournament will continue on Tuesday, November 24.

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