Guyana Times - Monday October 11, 2021

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4797

Despite losing millions to flood, Andy Williams refuses to give up farming

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

Brickdam fire must be treated as possible domestic terrorism – VP Jagdeo See story on page 7

...says int’l assistance will be pursued to bolster local investigation

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

15 arrestedP16 for breaching COVID curfew Guyana’s Mid-Year Report

Increased prosecutions, cordon P9 & search operations led to reduction in serious crimes

World Mental Health Day

GYSBI's career fair at Uitvlugt

Conversations around mental health should not remain taboo – Minister Persaud P2

Finance Minister urges Guyanese to capitalise Page on job opportunities 7 offered in oil & gas sector

COVID death toll hits 840 AFC appoints “select team” to with 5 more fatalities Page 15

review party’s positioning in “evolving political atmosphere” − 130 new cases recorded in 24h Exxon has spent more than US$500M on local companies since 2015 – Country Manager Page 17

Page 3

...in excess of 800 local businesses involved in supply chain

Over 100 accused killers awaiting trial at Demerara High Court P8 Intoxicated man beats visually- P16 impaired wife, daughter Medium- P9 scale miners benefit from auction of mining blocks

2 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Mental Health Day

Conversations around mental health should not remain taboo – Minister Persaud

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ctober 10, every year, is dedicated as World Mental Health Day and in observance of the day, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud said that work needed to be done to destigmatise conversations around mental health.

In a statement, the Ministry said that it has taken note of the damaging effects that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on people’s mental health while emphasising the need to be optimistic and take on new, meaningful projects.

“Our mental health determines our state of well-being and our ability to function optimally, cope with challenges, and make everyday life choices and decisions. It is critical that conversations around mental health not remain taboo

and people seeking help to alleviate mental health illnesses not be stigmatised.

The COVID-19 pandemic stressors have increased the numbers of persons seeking treatment for mental health issues. It is imperative that every person can access that help and not be disparaged,” Dr Persaud was quoted as saying.

The Ministry also noted that it has been working to rally practical support measures for sufferers. It added that the pressures of everyday life can have an overwhelming effect and thus lead to frustration in some persons, causing them to develop a pessimistic outlook on life. The Ministry is urging persons who are struggling with mental health issues to cultivate optimism, described as, “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of some-

thing”.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the mental health situation in the Americas, “increasing new cases of mental health conditions and worsening pre-existing ones”. The pandemic has also produced significant disruptions to services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.

Doctors the world over concur that being optimistic positively impacts health and well-being. The Mayo Clinic lists the following health benefits that positive thinking may provide: increased life span, lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress, greater resistance to the common cold, better psychological and physical well-being, better cardiovascular health and

reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and better coping skills during hardships and times of stress.

Doing something new and keeping the mind and brain occupied also work wonders when it comes to managing stress during the pandemic. In this context, hundreds have been signing up for the Ministry’s Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, to which men are also welcome, to be trained in a number of skills areas.

A brainchild of Dr Persaud, WIIN encourages persons who are unemployed and at home doing nothing, to make effective use of their time in learning something new, and even receiving a certificate upon completion of the course.

World Mental Health

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

Day 2021 was observed under the theme, “Mental Health in an Unequal World.”

The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

The COVID-19 pandem-

ic has had a major impact on people’s mental health.

Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, Governments from around the world recognised the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Monday, October 11 – 09:00h-10:30h and Tuesday, October 12 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Exxon has spent more than US$500M on local companies since 2015 – Country Manager …in excess of 800 local businesses involved in supply chain

Monday, October 11 – 07:30h-09:00h and Tuesday, October 12 – 08:25h-09:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the day. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to West South-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 07:46h and 19:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.52 metres.

Low Tide: 13:32h reaching a minimum height of 0.83 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

13 16 18

19 20 28

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

04 05 06 09 12 LUCKY 3

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Exxon Country Manager Alastair Routledge

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ince it first found oil in Guyana in 2015, oil giant ExxonMobil has spent over US$500 million on local companies, and has added close to 1000 local businesses to the supply chain that provides goods and services to its operations offshore Guyana.

During a recent video interview, Exxon Country Manager Alastair Routledge was asked about local content. The Executive spoke of the importance the company places on ensuring that Guyanese benefit from its oil projects.

On ExxonMobil’s part, Routledge explained that 800 local businesses were part of the supply chain.

He further explained that Exxon has spent more than US$500 million with local companies since 2015.

“You look back and you say, we’ve made remarkable progress since 2015, since that first discovery.

More than US$500 million has been spent with local companies and businesses.

More than 800 local businesses are involved in the supply chain. These are significant progress milestones in a short space in time,” Routledge said.

In the video interview, Routledge also encouraged businesses to get involved in the sector early and to take advantage of the available opportunities. He

DRAW DE LINE

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.39/barrel

Rough Rice

$247. 104/ton

-0.20

London Sugar

$519.70/ton

+1.80

Live Spot Gold

+0.53

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1760.00

$1761.00

Low/High Change

$1750.90 + 2.90

$1761.90 + 0.17%

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

pointed out that the sector is growing –a growth that ExxonMobil is playing a direct role in, with a number of projects in the Stabroek Block planned.

“The fact that we can have a line of sight to a number of projects that are sequential enables not just ourselves to build up a very successful execution model that builds one project after project, we’re able to roll people over from one project to the next; we can also build more and more of a local supply chain.

“And that’s really the benefit to the people. It’s that us as a company, our primary suppliers but also local businessmen can see there are more projects coming, it’s worthwhile to make the investments and prepare for those, and, therefore, be able to gain more and more from the opportunity,” Routledge said.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its subsidiary Esso

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

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana would be online by 2027, with developmental drilling recently starting on the second one, the Liza Phase Two project.

Back in May 2019, EEPGL was granted approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to go ahead with its Liza Phase Two development offshore Guyana.

The oil company had said that the project would have the capacity to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Exxon had also revealed that the Liza Phase Two development was funded at the cost of some US$6 billion, including a lease

capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion, for the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

For the Phase Two development, six drill centres were planned, along with approximately 30 wells – 15 production, nine water injection and six gas injection wells.

The US$9 billion Payara development, the third development, will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels and is considered to be the largest single investment in the history of Guyana.

A fourth project, Yellowtail, has been identified within the Block with anticipated start-up in late 2025 pending Government approvals and project sanctioning. This project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of the Liza developments.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

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

Guyana, Gandhi and non-violence

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t the commemoration of the the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at his statue in the Promenade Gardens at Main and Middle Sts in Georgetown, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, made the suggestion that locations be renamed in honour of the man viewed worldwide as “the apostle of peace”.

There is merit in the suggestion to honour Gandhi, paramount being his espousal through his introduction and practise of “non-violent” protests against injustice, which he called “satyagraha”, or “truth force”. He invented the technique from his deep reading and immersion into the teachings of Jesus - especially the Sermon on the Mount from the Christian Bible - and the Bhagavad Gita of the Hindus. It was not based on weakness, but on the strength of conviction about the truth that oppression must be confronted, yet taking cognisance of the simultaneous truth that “an eye for an eye will leave everyone blind”. The resistance to oppression would not be made with physical force, but with moral force.

The technique was first deployed and honed in South Africa, where Gandhi had gone in 1893 and become involved with the plight of Indentured Indians who had been shipped to that country’s sugar plantations and coal mines. He was willing to challenge the authorities on the moral principle that, as citizens of the British Empire, Indian indentureds had legal rights that could not be violated. His activities earned him the respect of the Indian National Congress (INC), which had been formed in 1885 to secure those very rights for Indians in India.

Through his activism, Gandhi brought the vicissitudes of Indian Indentureship in Guyana and other colonies to the attention of the INC, which petitioned the Indian Government and British Government. Indentureship was consequently halted, first in South Africa in 1910, and in the rest of the world in 1917. As such, Gandhi and his work had a direct bearing on Guyana, since he played a critical role to end this exploitative form of labour.

But Gandhi was much more than a “one trick pony” even though satyagraha was adopted most famously in the struggle for Civil Rights in the USA by Black Americans under the leadership of Dr Martin Luther King. Some of his other groundbreaking initiatives were mentioned by President Ali at the event in the Promenade Gardens. One was on respecting the environment, and not destroying it through unbridled consumerism, which fuels the industrialisation that created global warming by pumping gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Gandhi’s insistence on placing need over greed made him a prophet for today’s generation.

While Pres Ali emphasised the need for peace in Guyana: “Individual peace transforms itself into societal peace; community peace; national peace”, he went further: “Gandhi’s philosophy was meant to create change bottom up. It was meant to create active minds and thinking people from the bottom up.

To awaken a sense of consciousness. And that is important in the message. How do we awake a sense of consciousness in society? This is why people must take the responsibility of their own participation.”

It is noted that some Guyanese have reacted negatively to the request for the renaming of the Promenade Gardens and Middle St on the grounds that Gandhi was “racist” towards Africans in South Africa during his sojourn there, and the location is hallowed grounds for African Guyanese. It is true that the young Gandhi, a freshly-minted lawyer from England, did have an attitude that today would be called “racist”. But to judge him by present standards illustrates the fallacy of “presentism”, which is not fair, according to Nelson Mandela, who was an admirer of the Mahatma. Even in his own lifetime, Gandhi showed much growth in overcoming western hegemonic notions. We should judge him by his contributions to all mankind, including Africans.

He was human, with human failings.

Maybe, as a compromise, the Ogle-Diamond bypass road funded by India can be named the Mahatma Gandhi Highway.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and other officials at the Arya Samaj Gurukul in Jamaica, Queens. The Prime Minister and a high-level team are currently in New York on official business on behalf of the Government of Guyana

Guyana will see rapid growth and expansion, despite inflation Dear Editor, Earlier this year, Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had indicated that Guyana would be one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of real GDP, and would see rapid transformation in a number of sectors, especially since Government would make efforts to boost the non-oil economy as well.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the unprecedented devastating floods experienced in May-June, which impacted particularly the agriculture, forestry and mining sectors, Guyana was able to recorded real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 14.5 percent, while non-oil GDP grew by 4.8 percent.

While the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic spilled over into the latter part of the year and even beyond, the revised full-year forecast for real GDP growth in 2021 is now 19.5 percent overall, and 3.7 percent for the non-oil economy.

However, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, for the first half of 2021, were estimated to have contracted by 2.4 percent, compared with a decline of 4.1 percent for the corresponding period last

year, and it has been noted that this was as a result of lower output from the other crops, sugar growing, forestry and fishing industries.

The rice industry grew by an estimated 7.8 percent in the first half of the year, marginally lower than the target set for the period. ‘Other crops’ declined by 7.3 percent due to the floods, and the livestock industry was estimated to have grown by 10.6 percent when compared to the same period in 2020.

However, for that same period, the fishing industry contracted by an estimated 6.6 percent, and the forestry industry by 7.1 percent.

The mining and quarrying industries were estimated to have grown by 23.1 percent, with higher output from the petroleum and other mining industries, despite contractions in gold and bauxite.

It has also been noted that total output from the petroleum sector increased by 65.4 percent when compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the services industries were estimated to have expanded in the first half of 2021 by 9.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2020, as it has been noted that

the measures implemented to curtail the impact of COVID-19 have severely impacted such activities last year. Notably, the Report indicates that the gradual relaxation of these measures had contributed to some growth in the sector.

The Report also noted the strong performance of the construction sector, which grew by 25.5 percent in the first half of 2021, reflecting increased emphasis on implementing the Public Sector Investment Programme, as well as increased Private Sector construction, reflecting improved Private Sector confidence and optimism regarding the economic outlook.

At the end of the first half of 2021, consumer prices grew by 5.6 percent. This was largely driven by increased food prices, as a result of the inclement weather and shortages experienced following the flood.

Further, the Report indicated that the bottlenecks in the global supply chain add some measure of imported inflationary pressures. However, the Report underscores that the price increases are ‘transitory’, and are unlikely to have lasting long-term impact

on inflation. Inflation is now projected to be in the order of 3.8 percent for the full year.

Despite the negative impact from the effects of the present inflation, our country will see rapid expansion in the services sector, including transport and logistics; construction of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, office buildings in the Private Sector, etc, along with expansion in other services such as financial services, all of which will contribute to rapid expansion in real output. And we are going to see Guyana being one of the fastest-growing economies in real GDP terms….

Globally, in the hemisphere, and certainly in the Caribbean, a lot of the real GDP growth in the region will be driven by Guyana.

Guyana’s favourable economic performance in the non-oil economy at the end of the first half of 2021 bodes well for the upcoming second half of 2021 and beyond. It is expected that advances in key investments in both the Public and the Private Sectors will buttress the second-half performance of the economy.

Sincerely, David Adams

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Progress being made on mapping new housing areas – Min Rodrigues ...says mapping will be a continuous process, Regions 5 & 6 ongoing

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he Ministry of Housing and Water, which has been mapping new housing areas since last year with a view to opening up new areas and clear the thousands of housing applications the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government inherited last year, is making steady progress with its mapping exercise.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, was asked for an update on the mapping exercise.

According to her, personnel from the Ministry of Housing and Water are presently actively engaged in mapping exercises in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and mapping would be a continuous exercise.

“The areas are coming along fine. This is taking place across several regions.

Regions Five and Six (are being) actively pursued right now. We are looking forward to the new set of allocations

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

that we’ll be able to make,” she said.

“In a few days, we’ll be announcing allocations for the Diamond area on the East Bank. Region Four has the largest number of outstanding applications, so there’s a heavy focus on Region Four, but we’re going to try to equalise and take it to all the regions.”

In a bid to demarcate new areas for housing schemes even as space runs out in Region Four, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) had commenced surveys in November of last year. It

was a multi-agency effort, as the CH&PA had collaborated with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

As at August 2021, the PPP Government had processed close to 2000 titles and transports in its first year in office, while starting construction on 1000 houses and conducting massive infrastructural work - all part of an over $14 billion investment in the housing sector.

Since coming to office, the

PPP Government has made it clear that it is aiming to fulfil its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

The Ministry of Housing and Water has also said it would work with other State agencies to make more land available for housing development. Those agencies include the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL); the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The aim is to pursue land acquisition for housing development.

This year, the housing sector received a total allocation of $8.9 billion in the budget. Of this sum, $6 billion will go towards infrastructure and utility works in new and existing areas. This will pave the way for the allocation of over 10,000 house lots and 7000 land titles to citizens.

The Government has also gone countrywide with its Dream Realised house lot distribution campaign, an exercise that has so far distributed

over 4000 house lots and over 500 land transports.

In the Government’s first four months in office, 3500 house lots were distribut-

ed - an amount equal to half the number of house lots distributed during the former Government’s five years in office.

Pedestrian struck down by drunken minibus driver

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46-year-old driver of Norton Street, Wortmanville Georgetown was on Sunday arrested after he reportedly struck down a 53-year-old pedestrian along the public road at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

At the time of the accident, the driver was driving mini bus BWW 9538. The Police have said that the minibus was proceeding along the public road at New Road, Vreeden-Hoop when the pedestrian reportedly ran into the path of the vehicle while attempting to cross the road.

The driver reportedly

swerved to avoid a collision, but, despite his efforts, the front portion of the minibus struck the pedestrian, causing him to fall on the road and receive injuries about his body.

He was picked up in a conscious state by the said driver, and taken to West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was admitted a patient suffering from injuries to his head and body.

A breathalyser test conducted on the driver proved that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He has been arrested pending charges.

Regulating oil Dear Editor, Protect human health and safety, protect the environment; those two principles alone grant us the license to regulate oil operations with the fine-tooth comb that keeps our shores and mangroves safe, our bodies intact, and some of our more interesting futures possible.

Oil operations are complex and difficult to integrate with as regulators. To regulate the drilling activity alone, for example, requires specialised knowledge par excellence and on par with drilling technology providers.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico awakened us to the need for regulating technology deployment in drilling activities. Geo pressures in this part of the world make drilling activities tricky and dangerous. Things can go wrong, and catastrophically so, if we make the wrong technology choices.

Editor, we have an operator in our young field already in production mode and already plotting its Bayesian march across the field, more recently with success. Maybe the operator is just that good, or maybe miracles were involved in the successes that have been seen so far.

Who knows? Were we working hand-in-hand with the operator throughout these activities, ensuring that the operator was selecting the right technologies to meet the requirements of our regulatory principles?

Editor, more oil operators are on their way over. Are we

getting ready to regulate future drilling activities in our fields? Do we plan to take over our own fields? Would there be time or scope for that at our current rate of regulation? Do we see specialised regulation as a means to creating an advantageous position for ourselves? Do we have time to create ‘institutions’ and ‘build capacity’? If so, what capacities would we begin to build today?

It seems that we have committed to providing a fa-

vourable cost environment for our first oil partner, so that that partner can become profitable. We have been generous (understatement?). Can we leverage that position, in spite of its underlying history, to strengthen our regulatory environment and create a direction of travel toward oil autonomy and strong negotiation in the sector?

In the case of “no new legislation”, should we enhance our existing agencies and equip them to effect the reg-

ulatory principles more rigorously, thereby facing the reality of dangerous oil operations near our shores?

Should we have been doing that all along? Were we working towards specialised regulation all those decades ago, as oil companies came sniffing about our shores, giving us time to get ready? Countless times we have spoken of legislation to protect our long-term strategies across political administrations, but is this form of legislative

action really the only answer we can give? Do we not have agencies with sufficient mandate to effect these duties to our people and our planet?

Could they not be equipped to furnish an evolved regulatory strategy?

Editor, my feeling is that knowing what moves to make is tough, and perhaps we already made a few false steps at the beginning, but does this mean that we have lost our footing altogether? Could technology planning be a step-

ping stone toward the giant leap of mastery over our oil field?

When it comes to oil, are we having the right conversations these days? Should we be talking about local content so intensely, or should we be working to evolve as regulators? Given our current position, is our next move going to be the best move?

Sincerely, Emille Giddings

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

Page

Foundation Int’l Day of the Girl Child

t's gooey. It's sticky. It's slime! Learn to make your own homemade slime with this quick and easy recipe.

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Mixing bowl Spatula Resealable plastic bags or food storage containers

Materials Washable PVA school glue (like Elmer's®) Water Baking soda Contact lens solution (must contain both boric acid and sodium borate in ingredients) Food colouring (optional) Measuring spoons Measuring cup

Procedure Make sure you have a clean work surface, like a kitchen countertop, that can get a little messy.

In the mixing bowl, thoroughly mix 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup glue, and a few drops of food colouring.

Add 1/2 tsp baking soda and mix completely.

WORD SEARCH

What happens when you stretch your slime? Squish it?

Roll it into a ball and bounce it?

Clean-up Store your slime in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. Dispose of any excess bits of slime in the trash – do not pour them down the drain, or they could cause a clog.

Add 2 tbsp contact lens solution and stir vigorously until the mixture starts pulling away from the edges of the bowl.

Think about: How does the thickness of the slime change as you stir?

Use your hands to knead the

slime for 5–10 minutes until its texture stops changing. Do not worry if the slime is very runny and sticks to your hands at first.

It will get easier to peel the slime off your hands as it gets thicker.

Think about: How does the texture of the slime change as you knead it?

Have fun playing with your slime!

Think about:

What happened?

Glue is very runny. When you mix contact solution with glue, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the glue to get thicker.

This reaction takes some time, which is why you have to stir and knead the slime. Eventually the slime will become rubbery and stretchy instead of "liquidy."

Glue is made from long, skinny, chain-like molecules called polymers.

These molecules can slip and slide around each other, kind of like

the noodles in a big pot of freshcooked spaghetti. That is why the glue is very runny and can flow easily when you squeeze it out of the bottle. When you mix a chemical called borax with the glue, it causes links to form between the polymer chains.

This process is called crosslinking. Once crosslinks form, it becomes harder for the polymers to slide over each other, making the glue thicker and creating "slime". (Science Buddies)

Human Services Ministry to launch “The StoryBoard Initiative”

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Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

uman Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, in an effort to empower girls and amplify their voices, will be launching “The StoryBoard Initiative” and a special edition of “Youth Unfiltered” as the Ministry joins the rest of the world in observing International Day of the Girl Child.

The day is observed on October 11 annually, and is used for recognising the importance, influence and budding talents of girls, and to also promote the opening up of more opportunities for them. The occasion is also designed to raise awareness of gender-based issues such as the digital divide, poor learning opportunities, violence, and exploitation of girls.

“Girls in our country must be actively involved in the conversations about their welfare and future, and be given the enabling environments in all spheres to develop their potentials.

“It must be our mission to equip a formidable generation of girls with every tool to make them architects of the world for tomorrow’s women,” Minister Dr. Persaud asserted in a statement.

“The StoryBoard Initiative” was conceptualised during a conversation with one of the Minister’s team members, Anuradha Persaud. This espouses the idea of imparting creative writing skills along with functional literacy to develop storyboards written by girls who had difficult lives but surmounted those challenges.

These inspirational stories would be published, and the proceeds accruing therefrom would be used for these young women’s wellbeing. A series of inspirational books is intended to be published over time. Each girl in the programme will be tutored for six weeks, and provided with a creative survival kit that includes a tablet, hygiene products, toiletries, stationery supplies, and a backpack to motivate and support them.

Teachers and journalists will be partnering with the Ministry of Human Services in the pilot programme, intended to be rolled out countrywide next year.

Dr. Persaud believes that ‘Youth Unfiltered’, a programme featuring young influencers who will discuss timely topics on the Ministry’s social media platforms, would help to ignite healthy discussions among girls across the country, heightening awareness of their challenges and proposing solutions as well as offering profiles of girls who have overcome hurdles and succeeded.

In her recently launched Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, a practical skills training programme for women and girls, Dr. Persaud included courses on Information Technology, garment construction, graphic designing, video editing, photography, and interior decorating.

This is used as a tangible solution to bridge the digital divide, as captured in the theme of this year’s celebration, “Digital generation. Our generation.” Dr. Persaud has said she is cognisant of the heavy dependence of this generation on digital technology to connect, learn, and network.

NEWS

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`MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brickdam fire must be treated as possible domestic terrorism – VP Jagdeo ...says int’l assistance will be pursued to bolster local investigation

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ice-President Bharrat Jagdeo believes the recent fire that razed the Brickdam Police Station must be treated as a potential act of domestic terrorism, one that would necessitate the assistance of overseas investigators to bolster the capacity of local sleuths.

He made these observations during an interview with social media commentator Mikhail Rodrigues.

While he emphasised that he did not want to be pre-

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Self-confessed arsonist Clarence Greene

mature with his conclusions, he said the inferno should be treated as a possible terrorist act.

“As it relates to the fires, it seems as though there is a pattern. I do not want to be premature in accusing anyone of anything at this point

in time, but it’s a worrying trend… It seems as though, on the face of it, that all of these are not isolated, unrelated events.

“I have long-term memory, and I’ve spoken to the President about this. We may need external assistance…it would be worth it if we have external assistance on this matter, to bolster our investigative capability and to trace if this was a terrorist act - and this is domestic terrorism I’m talking about. That’s how we have to treat it,” he said.

According to Jagdeo, the fire and other events recall periods under his own Presidency. One example he used was the Ministry of Health which was burned down in 2009, two years before Jagdeo left the Presidency.

Jagdeo recalled that the Government received help from the United

The gutted Brickdam Police Station

States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and links were drawn to a number of prominent members of society, some of whom are still around to this day.

While he noted the importance of being on guard, Jagdeo also noted that Government cannot afford to become paranoid.

“So, we have to be on our guard, while avoiding being paranoid… Paranoia is not a useful condition in which to do clinical analysis. And so, I’m not suggesting that we should avoid in-depth clinical analysis - that has to be done, and it is being done - it is to ensure that we don’t get too distracted, and it becomes the prevailing state of mind,” Jagdeo said.

It has been reported that the devasting fire,

which started at about 11:00h, consumed 80 per cent of the three-storey structure. Among the facilities destroyed are the Property Room, Inquires Office, Traffic Department and Officers’ Mess. Just the barracks located on the western end and lining Manget Place remained intact, along with the Impact Building and the lockups.

All 16 prisoners within the facility were accounted for. Salvage records were saved, and the station’s arsenal of weapons was secured before the building was completely destroyed.

This publication understands that 398 officers were working from the compound at the time of the fire.

Twenty-six-year-old Clarence Greene subse-

quently confessed on video to setting the Police Headquarters on fire, after he was ratted on by two of his cellmates. Based on reports, the suspect was recently arrested in connection with a robbery-under-arms incident, and was placed in the Brickdam lockups prior to starting the fire.

The man told the Police that he became frustrated after being detained for a long period of time, and he then decided to start the fire. The confession led Police to question all the prisoners at the Brickdam Station at the time of the incident. The suspect was later interviewed on camera, and he allegedly confessed again to Police.

He was later charged and remanded to prison.

GYSBI's career fair at Uitvlugt

Finance Minister urges Guyanese to capitalise on job opportunities offered in oil & gas sector

D

uring a visit to the Guyana Shore Base Inc’s (GYSBI’s) career fair held at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, WCD on Sunday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh urged Guyanese persons to capitalise on job opportunities being offered in the oil & gas sector.

The Minister commended the company for arranging the event as well as a larger series of career fairs, while noting that the event provides ample illustration of the job opportunities that have arisen and will continue to arise due to Guyana now being an oil and gas producer.

Minister Singh further emphasised that Government would like every Guyanese to be an active participant in the exciting transformation underway in Guyana by taking up the thousands of job opportunities that will inevitably arise.

At the event, Minister Singh highlighted the extensive training opportunities being created by

Dr Singh in discussion with officials of GYSBI

Government to ensure that Guyanese workers are equipped with skills relevant to the oil and gas sector and other new and emergent economic activities.

These include Government’s investment in universal primary and secondary education as well as technical and vocational education, along with the GOAL scholarship programme.

The Minister also highlighted many aspects of the economic transforma-

tion that is expected to take place in Region Three specifically, including private investment in new shorebase facilities, and new industrial activity expected to come on stream with the Wales Development Authority and the landing of the gas-toshore project.

He also highlighted Government’s plans for investment in infrastructure to improve access and connectivity within Region Three. These include the

new Demerara River Bridge, the new Parika to Schoonord Road, the Parika to Goshen Road, and the new Sand Hills to Makouria road.

Meanwhile, according to the GYSBI, since August 2020, after the company had obtained numerous construction permits held in limbo, it has been able to accelerate construction to expand its facilities, with 30 acres of additional space developed and multiple warehouses and operational areas set up to the tune of almost US$50M. Already, this has created 140 new, permanent jobs for Guyanese.

GYSBI noted, too, that it now has about 470 Guyanese on permanent employment, and, over the next six months, will be looking to fill some 150 jobs for its next wave of expansion.

GYSBI noted that, as it develops its Oil & Gas Industrial Park, located strategically across from its shore base, this will become a Centre of Excellence and Opportunity for Guyanese wanting to work in the industry.

A young woman being interviewed at the fair on Sunday

GYSBI, competing as a local company, has stated its intention to employ at least 97% local staff for upcoming tenders from the oil and gas operators and major companies to fill out the Industrial Park. “90% of GYSBI's contractors and suppliers are Guyanese, ensuring that locally- generated wealth not only stays in Guyana, but reaches a diverse group of small, medium, and large companies,” the company indicated.

Even as he applauded GYSBI for holding the

event, Minister Singh urged the company to consider hosting similar events in all three counties of Guyana, and called on other companies operating in the oil and gas sector and in the broader Private Sector to conduct similar activities. 320 persons were interviewed today at Uitvlugt, while it is estimated that over 750 persons attended Saturday’s event at the Guyana National Stadium. GYSBI is holding a similar event on October 16 at the Enmore Martyrs Monument Ground.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 100 accused killers awaiting trial at Demerara High Court M

ore than 100 people charged with violent felonies – including 85 persons accused of murder and 19 of manslaughter – are awaiting trial before a judge and jury at the Demerara High Court. Even though the October session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes opened last Tuesday, it is still unclear when some of these accused persons would appear in court as only two Judges have been rostered to preside over cases.

Apart from sexual offences, the capital offence of murder accounts for the majority of the 341 cases that are listed for trial at this session. In Guyana, murder is among the very few offences for which bail is not granted to an accused person. This means that an

accused person is remanded to prison until the hearing and determination of a Preliminary Inquiry, and in some cases, until their trial concludes.

There is a total of 61 murder cases for which 85 accused persons are waiting for the State to present the indictment against them. In some instances, up to three persons have been jointly

charged. Manslaughter, on the other hand, is a bailable offence. Of the 19 persons awaiting trial for manslaughter, two of them are women – Dacia Bourne and Lisa Haley, who are charged separately for killing their reputed husbands.

Among those listed to be tried for the capital offence of murder is 51-yearold taxi driver Matthew

Munroe, who is accused of murdering Kescia Branche, 23, a teacher at the Richard Ishmael Secondary. It is alleged that the teacher, a mother of one, was murdered between November 5 and November 7, 2017.

Branche, of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was discovered lying at the corner of Princes Street and Louisa Row in Georgetown on November 5, 2017. She was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she died two days later. Her cause of death was given as haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head.

Meanwhile, the three men accused of gunning down Ganesh Ramlall, the owner of the Multiplex Mall in Georgetown, are also listed for trial. The three accused are Fazeel Bacchus, Lennox Roberts, and Kurt Erskine. The 48-year-old businessman was fatally shot on July 5, 2015, outside his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home.

Ramlall was reportedly shot five times about his body, including once to his head.

Reports are that the father of one had just returned home from a barbecue with friends when he proceeded to use an outdoor bathroom at his premises. As the man walked into his yard, four bandits opened fire on him before escaping with his jewellery and wallet.

Also awaiting trial for murder are Clifton Gibson, Linton Eastman, and Stancey Rodney. They are jointly charged with the murder of 27-year-old Rubis accountant Jason Cort, who was fatally shot by bandits on June 17, 2015, shortly after entering his Jamoon Drive, Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown home.

Several persons in his neighbourhood reportedly told Police that upon hearing loud explosions and looking outside, they saw three men jumping the fence to Cort’s yard and running up the road.

Other persons are to be tried for carnal knowledge, buggery, rape, indecent assault, sexual activity with a child family member, sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, sexual assault, incest, attempt to commit murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm, narcotics trafficking, abduction, obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery under arms, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder, wrongful confinement for ransom, and receiving stolen property.

ss

Exploring linkages…

S

…with Brazil ingapore is conceded to be a success story par excellence as far as the Third World - to which it once belonged - is concerned. Hard to believe we were once doing better that Singapore, isn’t it?? In his book, “From Third World to First”, miracle man Lee Kwan Yew (LKY) pointed out how Jamaica’s Manley used to be the big kahuna at Commonwealth Meetings in the seventies, with the answer to everything. Well, Lee Kwan Yew had the last laugh! He mightn’t have been as blunt as Naipaul, but he did imply we have more “talk men” than “do men” here in the Caribbean!!

One of the reasons Singapore succeeded so spectacularly was because of the strategic decisions LKY made. Leaders are supposed to look beyond the horizon to identity opportunities that others mightn’t even be thinking about.

One of those decisions was to choose Europe and the US - thousands of miles away - as Singapore’s “hinterland”, to which it would supply services! Imagine that!! At the same time Burnham gave us co-operativism!

Well, our young President Ali is a “do man”, and not a “talk man”!! Your Eyewitness has always believed that one strategic decision we needed to make was quit looking so fixedly north when it comes to our trade linkages, and shift our gaze south - to the behemoth beyond the Rupununi.

And it looks like President Ali has already pivoted south!!

Brazil - the #7 economy in the world, with GNP of US$1.4 TRILLION - might be stuttering a bit because of the COVID pandemic, but it’s a giant that can only grow in the years ahead, and take us along with it in the diversification of our economy while taking advantage of our coming oil revenues.

President Ali and President Santokhi of Suriname, after coming together to create more heft, have already scheduled a meeting with their Brazilian counterpart, to discuss a number of initiatives on the strength of the two countries becoming South American energy powerhouses.

Lat weekend, our ubiquitous Minister of Agriculture met with his counterpart from our adjoining Roraima State, to discuss concrete matters of cooperation in the agriculture sector and cattle rearing. Roraima has a long history in the cultivation of soya beans and corn that a private conglomerate is experimenting with in our Intermediate Savannahs. Now they want to explore getting into the business on our side of the border in Region 9, which has the identical terrain add soils like theirs. And the Rupununi may soon be crowded with cattle!

Minister Mustapha also brought up the not-soincidental matter of us completing the Highway to the Takutu Bridge. Which will give Brazil entry to an Atlantic port to ship their products from Roraima and Manaus to their northern markets!

Boom!! …but do it legally We do know that one of the first things the PPP did, when the PNC finally got out of the way and let them have their legitimate seat of Government, was to effectuate the long-promised communication liberalisation. The PNC was just futzing around for reasons we can all figure out!

Anyhow, while GTT had been holding up the works by insisting that they should have first dibs at expansion…the technology had leapfrogged over them with wireless.

Anyhow, today we got the shocking news that Digicel, which had been knocking on GTT’s doors for so long, had criminal and civil charges filed against it by the Government!! Seems like they just couldn’t wait to get their licks in, and had jumped the gun to use portions of the spectrum illegally!! Now, one can forgive a layman for thinking that folks can just send signals into the atmosphere.

But an experienced operator like Digicel?

So, what’s next? We’re going to see some of their executives in handcuffs? …with Gandhi What’s all this beating up on Gandhi?? Your Eyewitness looked up his honorific “Mahatma”, and it didn’t say he was PERFECT. Just that he was a “great soul”!

Isn’t he allowed some slack?

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Medium-scale miners benefit from auction of mining blocks

Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat

A

Minister

number of medium-scale miners benefited from the auction of approximately 65 mining blocks within four mining districts on Saturday.

The auction took place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC),

Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, and was hosted by the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Mining blocks within the North West, Cuyuni, Mazaruni, and Potaro Mining Districts were auctioned at the event with bids starting at $300,000 per mining block. This was the first auction in a number of years.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat told the participants that the event was the fulfilment of yet another promise made by the Government to ensure that more mining lands were made available.

He added that the activity also added to the many initiatives being implemented to encourage mining at all scales – small, medium, and large.

“We would have promised that we will continue to work in the mining sec-

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Commissioner Newell Dennison

tor, that we will continue to provide incentives in the mining sector and most importantly, the big cry is for mining properties and we said that we will make that available as much as possi-

ble and today we are delivering on yet another promise,” he said.

As part of a collaborative effort to develop the sector, the GGMC and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) have procured equipment that will help to minimise carbon emissions and reduce the use of mercury in mining.

Bharrat explained that not only was that equipment mercury free, but it would also increase mining recovery rates by more than 100 per cent.

“Over the years ahead, we will see different methods being introduced in the mining sector. We will see different approaches…as miners, we have always been resilient and we will adapt to the changes,” he told the miners.

GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison said auctions were the result of years of work by the GGMC to make lands available to promote the development of

A miner participating in the bidding process

mining in Guyana. He said the intention was to give recognition and to create an avenue for the different miners to have access to lands to do more exploration and ultimately convert some of the properties to productive endeavours.

“We have attempted here to give recognition and create an avenue and opportunity for those several different types of mining scales to have access to lands, to do more explorations and hopefully convert some of these properties to very productive

endeavours that can see an expansion of revenues not only to GGMC, but to the State at large,” he said.

Meanwhile, in an effort to make more mining properties available to small miners, the GGMC also held mining lotteries within the four mining districts. That activity saw 202 small miners gaining access to mining properties for the first time.

Back in 2014, after gold declarations slumped, the authorities opened up more lands for mining in all of the mining districts.

Guyana’s Mid-Year Report

Increased prosecutions, cordon & search operations led to reduction in serious crimes

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uring the first half of 2021, $22.6 million was expended towards the training of 1049 Police ranks in 47 courses.

These efforts, coupled with an increased number of prosecutions, cordon-andsearch operations, and enhanced vehicular and foot patrols have led to a 22.7 per cent reduction in serious crimes countrywide during the first half of this year when compared to the same period last year.

This is according to the Finance Ministry’s recently-released Mid-Year Report for 2021.

According to the Report, it is projected that an additional 1654 ranks will be trained during the second half of the year to tackle crime and ultimately strengthen the Police Force’s crime-fighting and investigative capabilities.

During the first half of 2021, the Mid-Year Report noted, $16.1 billion was expended of the $38.1 billion, which was allocated to the security sector to advance the Government’s efforts of ensuring that every citizen is living and working in a safe, orderly, and peaceful environment.

As of June 2021, 21 motorcycles were added to support the Police Force’s anti-crime patrols.

For the latter half of the year, the Report further noted, the land and water transport capacity of the Police Force will be strengthened with the delivery of programmed vehicles, motorcycles, and boats to allow for better response to crime, in fulfilment of the Government’s manifesto promise.

Moreover, the Report

said that in keeping with the Budget 2021 promise of resuscitating Community Policing Groups (CPGs), the sum of $11.4 million was expended towards supporting plans and programmes through community involvement in 225 policing groups nationwide.

This period also saw the formation of 139 new groups in areas such as Moruca, Orealla, Santa Mission, Siparuta, Mabaruma, and communities in the coastal regions. Also, during the first half of this year, $567 million was spent on the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Police infrastructure.

Works are nearing completion at Whim, Albion, and Cove and John Police Stations while works will commence in the second half of the year at Ruimveldt, Providence, Kamarang, and Acquero Police Stations.

Stats For the period January 1 to September 6, 2021, the Guyana Police Force reported a 20 per cent decrease in serious crimes when compared to the same period last year. Statistics released by the Force, however, showed that there has been a significant increase in reports of rape.

Murder, rape, robbery under arms, break and enter and larceny, larceny from person, robbery with

aggravation, robbery with violence, robbery, kidnapping, and burglary are considered serious crimes.

According to the Police, all serious crimes except robbery, rape, and kidnapping have declined.

For the reporting period, a total of 1393 cases of serious crimes were reported to the Police. This reflects a decrease when compared to the same period in 2020 which recorded 1742 reports. There has been a 19.8 per cent decrease in murder

so far.

As of September 6, 89 persons were murdered when compared to the same period last year during which 111 murders were recorded.

For the reporting period, no murders occurred in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The Police disclosed that the majority of murders that took place this year were disorderly in nature. Murders in this category numbered 54.

For the same period last year, there were 65 such murders. Additionally, five persons were murdered execution-style, seven were murdered during the course/ furtherance of robberies, while nine persons were killed owing to unknown circumstances.

Like last year, there have been 14 domestic-related murders thus far for the year. The Police received 208 rape reports in

the first half of 2021, reflecting a 47.5 per cent increase when compared to 141 reports during the same period in 2020. Robbery reports increased by 21.1 per cent.

One report of kidnapping was made this year. When it comes to the prosecution rate, the Police reported that all serious crimes except burglary have seen an increase in persons being prosecuted.

Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) recorded the lowest number of serious crimes with 28 reports, down from 47 for the same period last year. Regional Division Four A, which stretches from Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown to Agricola, Greater Georgetown accounted for the majority of the reports with 401.

This represents a decline when compared to the same period last year in which there were 669 reports.

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NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID death toll hits 840 with 5 more fatalities − 130 new cases recorded in 24h

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he Health Ministry on Sunday reported that five more persons have succumbed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), thus taking Guyana’s death toll to 840.

The patients reportedly were all admitted at various medical institutions with COVID-19-like symptoms, and died while receiving care.

Samples taken at the time of their admission all subsequently returned positive tests.

Of the five new deaths, three of the persons were unvaccinated, one was partially vaccinated, and a 57-yearold man from Region Five

(Demerara-Mahaica) was fully vaccinated The details on the latest fatalities are below: However, new statistics provided by the Ministry shows that 130 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 33,696, with 27 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), nine in institutional quarantine, and 148 in institutional isolation.

Additionally, 3689 persons are in home isolation, while 28,992 recoveries have been recorded.

Of the 332,400 tests administered, 15,947 males received a positive result and 17,749 females contracted the virus.

With the exception of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice), all of the other administrative regions have recorded new cases of the virus. Region One (Barima-Waini) recorded two new cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in that region to 1545. Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) saw 19 new cases. Region

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) recorded 10 new cases of the virus. An additional 73 persons contracted the virus in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). Over in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), five new persons tested positive. Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) saw three new cases. One new case has been recorded in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) saw 16

new persons testing positive; while Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) saw a single new case.

The United States Government on Friday contributed another tranche of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Guyana - 100,620 jabs through the COVAX mechanism. These will be made available with immediate effect to pregnant women, the group being targeted. This is in light of recent reports that there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases among pregnant women. In fact, several pregnant women who tested positive for the virus are being monitored at the

Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown and at other medical facilities.

In August, the US had sent 146,250 doses of the vaccine, enabling Government to commence vaccination of children over 12 years of age.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also benefiting from the Pfizer jabs.

Uptake of the first dose of the various COVID vaccines among the adult pop-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD OCTOBER 10, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

130

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

148

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

3689 27

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

9

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

17,749

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

15,947

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

33,696

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

28,992

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

366,190

FULLY IMMUNISED

220,017

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

840

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1545

REGION 2

1295

REGION 3

4566

REGION 4

16,133

REGION 5

1180

REGION 6

2377

REGION 7

1695

REGION 8

536

REGION 9

2420

REGION 10

1949

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

ulation in Guyana stands at more than 366,000, while the second dose uptake stands at more than 220,000. More than 25,000 first doses have been delivered to adolescents.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms asso-

ciated with COVID-19, or needs additional information, they are invited to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately, or visit www. health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are remind-

ed to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise: correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; maintaining six feet of physical distance from others; and good hand hygiene.

EU calls on Guyana to formalise de facto death penalty moratorium

…sees this as step towards abolishing it

D

escribing the death penalty as inhumane, the European Union (EU) is pressing for the capital punishment to be abolished worldwide, and has made this appeal in a message to mark World/ European Day Against the Death Penalty, which is observed on October 10 annually.

The World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global movement for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Views are expressed by politicians, members of civil society, lawyers, and members of the public.

In a statement to commemorate the day, the EU noted that it has a strong and principled position against the death penalty, which has been in existence in Guyana since colonial times.

Importantly, while the EU congratulated Guyana for its de facto moratorium on the death penalty, it urged that same be formalised into a de jure moratorium as a step towards removing it from the country’s laws. The de facto moratorium has been in place since 1997.

On the World and European Day Against

the Death Penalty, the European Union has reaffirmed its opposition to the use of capital punishment in any circumstance, and calls for the universal abolition of the death penalty, a statement from the EU noted. The EU pointed out that abolition of the death penalty worldwide represents one of the main objectives of its human rights policy.

The EU has assured that it would continue using all its available tools of diplomacy and cooperation assistance to work towards abolition of the death penalty in countries where it still applies.

According to the EU, it is a leading institution-

al actor and lead donor to the efforts of civil society organisations around the world in regard to the abolition of the death penalty.

“The imposition of the death penalty contravenes the right to life and the right to not be subjected to cruel, inhumane, or other degrading punishment.

The death penalty does not deter crimes more effectively than other punishment,” the EU asserted in a statement.

The statement adds, “While other procedures revised when new evidence arises, in the case of the death penalty, judicial mistakes are irreversible. This means that innocent people are regularly

and wrongfully executed.

Abolition of the death penalty does not lead to an increase in crime.”

For the first time in several years, Guyana, in 2018, abstained from voting on a United Nations Resolution in favour of a moratorium on the death penalty.

Newly-appointed UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, recently announced that she intends to engage President Irfaan Ali on several major human rights issues, including abolition of the death penalty.

Although no execution has been carried out since 1997, Guyana continues to impose the death sentence.

In fact, three persons who were found guilty of murder this year have been sentenced to death.

There are a little more than 10 persons, including a woman, sitting on death row. The death sentences imposed on some murder convicts have been commuted to life/term of imprisonment by the Guyana Court of Appeal.

Legal challenge

For the first time in the Commonwealth Caribbean, lawyers have moved to

challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty.

In the landmark case before the Guyana Court of Appeal, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes and Guyanese lawyer Nigel Hughes argue that the death penalty is unconstitutional, as it is arbitrary, irrational, disproportionate, and is contrary to the principles of the rule of law.

The lawyers are representing three former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard ranks – Sherwyn Harte, Devon Gordon, and Deon Greenidge – who were each sentenced to death in 2013 after they were found guilty of the 2009 murder of Bartica gold miner Dwieve Kant Ramdass.

The three have filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence. The

Court of Appeal is hearing arguments on whether it has jurisdiction to hear the case challenging the constitutionality of the capital punishment. The case will continue later this month.

The Death Penalty Project – a London-based NGO which has, for over three decades, been providing free legal representation to those facing the death penalty – reported that it facilitated the submission of expert reports from leading academics for the case before the Guyana Court of Appeal.

They include Carolyn Hoyle, Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford; Williams Schabas, Professor of Law at Middlesex University; and Jeffery Fagan, Professor of Law at Columbia University.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GFS distributes multipurpose dry chemical Intoxicated man beats fire extinguishers to Tiger Bay residents visually-impaired wife, daughter

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Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn interacting with residents of Tiger Bay

ome Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, along with Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham, Fire Prevention Officer Sheldon Sauns and others, participated in an event in Tiger Bay, Georgetown during which several smoke detectors were distributed to res-

idents.

A demonstration was also done to educate the residents on the proper use of the gadget.

Residents were able to participate in the use of the multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher to put out simulated fires.

According to the Guyana

Fire Service, the aim is for citizens to be more aware of fire prevention and safety measures, hence the GFS is educating persons on the use and importance of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

While in that Georgetown area, Minister Benn divulged that he in-

tends to use members of the Community Policing Groups as first responders by providing them with the necessary training and access to fire extinguishers.

Similar walk-through exercises will be conducted in other communities which are considered to be congested and at high risk of fires.

The event was planned as the Fire Service celebrates Fire Prevention Week and its 64th Anniversary, from October 3-15 under the theme “It’s better being safe with Fire Prevention in place”. During this period, there will be demonstrations, exhibitions, radio/television programmes and outreaches carried out by the Guyana Fire Service with the aim of educating the public on all things relating to Fire Safety and Fire Prevention.

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anks of the Guyana Police Force on Saturday arrested a resident of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) after he had physically assaulted his visually-impaired wife and daughter.

According to the Police, the suspect is in the habit of regularly assaulting his 27-year-old wife, and on the day in question, he reportedly went home under the influence of alcohol and started to verbally abuse the woman. This was followed by him dealing her several cuffs to her face, causing her to sustain injury.

The suspect then turned his attention to his 11-yearold daughter, whom he also dealt several cuffs to her face

before throwing her through the door. Thereafter, he departed the home.

A report was made at the Parika Police Station, and the suspect was arrested, told of the allegations made against him, and cautioned.

In the process of being arrested, the suspect assaulted the sergeant by pushing him several times to his chest.

He was eventually subdued by other ranks, arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station, where he started to use a series of expletives in a loud tone of voice, causing a crowd to gather in the vicinity of the station.

He was later taken to the Leonora Police Station, where he remains in custody, pending charges.

15 arrested for breaching COVID curfew

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total of 15 persons were arrested on Saturday for breaching the COVID-19 curfew and for being in spaces that violated the gazetted measures, which limit the occupancy of bars and restaurants to 40 per cent capacity.

The Police have said the arrests were made between 21:30h and 02:20h by the ranks of Regional Division # 4 C, along with ranks from the Guyana Defence Force, as those ranks were carrying out a COVID-19 enforcement exercise around the division.

Those who were arrested have been identified as Desmond Long,

Pamela Deslal, Daniel Pellew, Samuel Jerrick, Troy Miller, Jomo Kelvin, Mohani Singh, Lisa Jagnarine, Chairtram Singh, Leowattie Denpaul, Kiamma Page, Anthony Jacob, Ronald Wilson, Mark Parris and Realon Thang. They have all been placed on station bail, and their matters are scheduled to be tried in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Only a week ago, a total of 25 persons were arrested and charged for breaching the national curfew.

The arrests were made in Buxton, at Chico Ramas Gas Station, and at Melanie Market Square on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

They were all placed on bail and processed to attend the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where all these matters were tried.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) has recently announced that the Joint Services would be conducting nationwide patrols to enforce the COVID-19 curfew. The curfew is in effect from 22:30h to 04:00h, but bars and restaurants are to close at 21:30h.

The Guyana Police Force is urging all citizens to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations, and to report all breaches thereof to the COVID-19 Task Force on hotlines 626-6674, 6243067, 624-2819, and tollfree (GTT) 0180.

NEWS

17

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AFC appoints “select team” to review party’s positioning in “evolving political atmosphere” …postpones National Conference due to rise in COVID-19 cases

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) has announced that it has appointed a select team to make recommendations to its National Executive Committee (NEC) regarding the best positioning of the party in the evolving political atmosphere.

The AFC made the announcement in a statement on Sunday evening following a meeting of the NEC, where it was also decided that the 2021 National Conference would be postponed owing to the growing number of COVID-19 cases being recorded.

“By a unanimous decision of the NEC, it was agreed that the National Conference would be deferred due to the runaway COVID situation, which shows no expected improvement in the immediate future.

The NEC agreed to postpone the National Conference until a date after March 2022 at which time, it is hoped that the country is better able to manage the pandemic,” the statement read.

Additionally, the AFC said that its NEC was updated on attempts to resolve outstanding issues regarding the Cummingsburg Accord.

The AFC joined hands with the People’s National Congress

(PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections and the coalition subsequently won. The parties signed the Cummingsburg Accord, which outlined the parliamentary seats and ministerial portfolios for AFC and APNU members respectively.

However, the APNU led by former President David Granger has been continuously violating the Accord and sidelining the AFC. The party announced in 2020 after the APNU bullied its way to installing its own nominee for the Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Vice Chairman position, that it would be reviewing the Accord.

“The NEC was of the strong view that a fundamental breach of the Accord was committed; as such, a committee has been established to provide guidance and recommendations to the party on the continued effectiveness of the Accord as well as a review of the mechanisms to effect any future agreements,” it had said.

The Accord had stipulated that the AFC would get the Vice Chair positions in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and

Four. Indeed, it did get its own candidate elected to the Region Seven Vice Chairman position.

However, following the election of APNU candidate, former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Daniel Seeram as the Region Four Chairman, things went awry. The AFC had nominated Neilson McKenzie for the Region Four Vice Chairman position, APNU nominated Samuel Sandy and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) nominated Desmond Morian.

Voting was along party lines, as APNU and PPP/C cast their 14 votes each for their candidates and the AFC with its five votes backed McKenzie.

Seeram then used his deciding vote as Chairman to elect Sandy, prompting the fallout.

Since it came into office after joining forces with APNU in 2015, the minority AFC has been criticised for the submissive role it has been playing to the abusive APNU. Decisions the former Government made, such as the closure of sugar estates, which put thousands of sugar workers out of jobs, were passed unchallenged and even supported by the AFC. This is despite the AFC retaining the Agriculture Ministry.

This passive relationship

with APNU was cited by former AFC parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, as one of the reasons he voted for the No-Confidence Motion that brought down the APNU/AFC Government in 2018.

In addition, there was the then Government’s strategic reallocation of responsibilities away from Ministries that were headed by AFC officials, to other Ministries.

This included removing the oil

and gas portfolios from then Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and the citizenship portfolio from then Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

There is also the fact that despite the Cummingsburg Accord containing stipulations that should have seen former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo being vested with the responsibility for chairing Cabinet and domestic issues,

the then APNU Government never honoured this.

On December 24, 2019, after much back and forth between APNU and the AFC a revised Cummingsburg Accord was signed, but the full details were never released to the public. The revised Accord was to contest the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections which the APNU/ AFC coalition lost but tried to rig.

Restorative justice needed for effective justice system – AG

Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

A

s the Government battles to repair the criminal justice system in Guyana, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has said that in order for there to be an effective criminal justice system, restorative justice must be applied.

According to AG Nandlall, the justice system in Guyana has, over the past years, conformed to the brutal punishments that are prescribed by law. However, he noted that experts in the field have prov-

en the system to be ineffective, “and we, as a nation, should try to detour from it”.

“Now they are recommending a different approach, a softer approach, an approach that requires a little more engagement, and pursuing alternative method of punishment, alternative to imprisonment,” he noted.

He added that pre-trail detentions and alternatives to pre-trial detention are all concepts that emerged from the precepts that restorative justice embraces.

He said that, aside from alternative sentencing, restorative justice would have better outcomes for persons convicted of crimes.

“It examines the root cause of why the persons went into the criminal justice system in the first place, because if those underlying factors are still there and he goes into prison - and he goes back to that environment and those underlying factors that precipitated his conflict with the law are still there - there is a likelihood that he will return…”

Meanwhile, Home Affairs

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Minister Robeson Benn also noted that most of the persons who are being charged for criminal offences are not first-time offenders. He, too, believes it is paramount for Guyana to understand the factors that lead to these offenders becoming part of the criminal justice system.

“I speak of the overall new paradigm we have to undertake, and which this activity represents in having a more empathetic, a more respectful, engagement with our people,” Minister Benn said.

Region 6 Chairman reiterates call for Police to enforce COVID-19 measures

C

hairman of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), David Armogan, has reiterated calls for the Guyana Police Force to enforce the National COVID-19 Measures.

On Thursday, Regional Health Officer Dr Vishalya Sharma related that COVID cases are on the rise in Region Six, with quite a number being in New Amsterdam. Armogan expressed concern over the rising number of cases in the region, while pointing out that there may be even more persons who may have contracted the virus, since everyone has not been tested. He said regional authorities are currently trying to increase testing in the region.

"One of the big problems in the region is that of people (not) complying with the COVID-19 guidelines, and also we have difficulty still with people not wanting to see the vaccine. The vaccine is perhaps the safest way out of this pandemic,” Armogan said.

He added that the first solution to the pandemic is for persons to get vaccinated, and, as such, he called on persons to spread the word that the vac-

cine is very important, and, more so, it is offered free by the Government.

"There are some people who are hesitant to take the vaccine for whatever reasons.

If you have medical conditions, you would need to see a doctor before you take the vaccine; but there are still people, even though they receive the vaccine, they can still contract COVID-19. That is one of the other problems, because they might show little symptoms but are walking around other people who are unvaccinated. So, even though you are vaccinated, as we want you to be, we also want you to adhere to the COVID-19 measures," Armogan said.

His comments came after Councillor Colin Moore pointed out that even Regional Councillors are not adhering to the measures. Moore noted that one Regional Councillor had recently hosted an event which scores of people had attended. This, he said, was unacceptable. At the same time, Moore called out leaders for breaching the guidelines.

While noting the effectiveness of the proper use of a face mask, Armogan lamented that

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

many persons are not using face masks. "…especially when they go to the marketplaces. even the vendors themselves are not wearing face masks. That is something we have to get the Police to enforce," he said.

According to Armogan, the enforcement aspect of the guidelines and measures must come from the Police. "This is a call for the Police within the region to become more active in terms of enforcement of all of these measures," Armogan said.

He also called on persons hosting events that would attract huge crowds to desist from so doing.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

Feature

Despite losing millions to flood, Andy Williams refuses to give up farming

change. Williams explained that he’s having trouble accessing an adequate supply of water, and now has to use manure and fertiliser simultaneously with the soil he is now cultivating. In comparison with his farm, he would frequently journey by foot some one hour and 20 minutes from home, where water is in abundance and he only needs to use fertilizers on particular crops in a limited edition.

He disclosed that he has benefited from the Government’s cash grant for flood affected farmers, for which he is grateful,

effort to get an understanding of his love for farming as well as magnify the hard work that goes into producing our food.

Andy “Jeep” Williams struggling to reap his produce

F

arming is an art; it requires some level of knowledge of the fundamentals in order to generate a flourishing crop. No, the work does not end there; rather, it has just begun.

While physical strength is needed, one must be mentally and emotionally built to withstand the journey that farming brings.

Bountiful harvests, devastating losses, underproducing crops, pests, thieves are all part of the farming journey.

Andy Williams, popularly known as “Jeep”, is a perfect outfit of mental stability amongst a career path that is constantly plagued with a host of hardships being thrown its way.

As we observe Agriculture Month across Guyana, Sunday Times sat down with Williams in an

Many times, consumers disregard the amount of work farmers put in to grow their crops, and would often engage in aggressive beat down of prices while side-

Andy cultivating his yard

lining the hardship being fought by farmers.

Forty-five-year-old Andy, who hails from Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), recently lost millions to the May-June floods, but that is not deterring him.

“Things rough bad, bai.

Every week I use to cut like 200-300 pounds of plantain, but now things hard,” he said.

Williams is among the 90 per cent of aggrieved farmers whose farms were submerged by the recent unprecedented floodwaters. The farmer noted that while there had previously been floods in the community, his farm was never affected. This new reality has come as a great shock to him, as water levels were approximately four to seven feet high in various sections of the farm.

He noted that at the time of the flood, he had one acre of sweet cassava ready to be harvested, but was too late, 2000 bananas, 2500 plantains (efforts were made to reap a fraction), scores of cash crops among other crops went downstream as the flood waters created havoc.

“I had to build a bamboo raft to save some of my produce at hand reach, mainly banana and plantains,” Williams recounted.

Based on the magnitude of the flood, the Civil Defence Commission listed the sub-region among four other regions hardest hit.

The distraught farmer has hinted that he would be investing in his 10-acre farmland ‘with a pinch of salt’. However, he confidently and courageously added that life must go on, since this is his only means

Bamboo raft used to navigate his inundated farm

of employment, and customers are occasionally inquiring as to when he would be back in the farm, as the waters have receded.

“I will plant up my yard here at home, myself and family have to eat,” he affirmed.

When this publication visited the home of Williams, we were swept off our feet by the passion and dedication which goes into everything he does. He has thus far cultivated a huge plot of his land at home with cash crops, consisting of 512 tomatoes, 896 pak-choi, 384 bora, 384 ochro and 128 watermelon seedlings in his efforts to get back on his feet.

Although all may seem well, he is encountering his share of blows with the soil

but it was not sufficient, as there is a spike in prices of agricultural supplies.

“I received $100,000. I am thankful for what the President and his cabinet did for us, but more could have been done for us who was greatly affected. By the time I purchase fertilisers, pesticides and seeds, with other fine things, the money finish; and seeds expensive bad right now,” Williams stated.

Williams is pleading with the Government to further assist him so he can achieve his goal in creating food security in his community, which, sadly, imports perishables while there is abundance of agricultural land in the community.

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

19

Feature HEALTH TIPS

BREAST CANCER − PART 1 RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family Medicine, Endocrinology/Diabetes

C

ancer occurs when changes, called mutations, take place in genes that regulate cell growth. The mutations let the cells divide and multiply in an uncontrolled way.

Breast cancer is cancer that develops in breast cells.

Typically, the cancer forms in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast.

Lobules are the glands that produce milk, and ducts are the pathways that bring the milk from the glands to the nipples. Cancer can also occur in the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast.

The uncontrolled cancer cells often invade other healthy breast tissue, and can travel to the lymph nodes under the arms. The lymph nodes are a primary pathway that help the cancer cells move to other parts of the body.

In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer, and there were 685,000 deaths globally. As at the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. According to the latest WHO data published in 2020, breast cancer is the most common cancer seen in patients in Guyana, with a 22.6% incidence, and it is more prevalent in IndoGuyanese women. Breast cancer can also be diagnosed in men.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) also estimates that, in 2019, more than 2,600 men were diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 500 died from the disease.

• 50% of new diagnosed breast cancers are explained by known risk factors • 1 in 8 women with a new breast lump has cancer (1 in 100 if <40)

There are several risk factors that increase one’s chances of getting breast cancer. However, having any of these factors doesn’t mean there will definitely be development of the disease.

Some risk factors can’t be avoided, such as family history; while other risk factors, such as quitting smoking, can be changed. Risk factors for breast cancer include: • Age. The risk for developing breast cancer increases with age. Most invasive breast cancers are found in women over age 55 years.

• Drinking alcohol.

Alcohol use disorder raises the risk of breast cancer.

• Having dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue makes mammograms hard to read. It also increases the risk for breast cancer.

• Gender.

White women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than white men, and Black women are 70 times more likely to develop breast cancer than Black men.

• Genes.

Women who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are more likely to develop breast cancer than women who don’t. Other gene mutations may also affect their risk.

• Early menstruation. Having a period before the age of 12 years increases the risk for breast cancer.

• Giving birth at an older age. Women who have their first child after age 35 years have an increased risk for breast cancer.

• Hormone therapy.

Women who took or are taking postmenopausal estrogen and progesterone medications to help reduce their signs of menopause symptoms have a higher risk for breast cancer.

• Inherited risk. If a close female relative has had breast cancer, it is an increased risk for developing it. Having no family history doesn’t exempt someone from getting breast cancer. In fact, most women who develop it have no family history of the disease.

• Late menopause starts. Women who start menopause after age 55 years are more likely to develop breast cancer.

• Never having been pregnant. Women who have never become pregnant or carried a pregnancy to full term are more likely to de-

velop breast cancer.

• Previous breast cancer. Persons with previous breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk for developing breast cancer in the other breast, or in a different area of the previously affected breast.

• Night Shift Workers • Smoking • Obesity

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER

In its early stages, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. In many cases, a tumour may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be seen on an ultrasound or mammogram.

If a tumour can be felt, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that was not there before.

However, not all lumps are cancerous.

Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some can be different. Symptoms for the most common breast cancers include: • A breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different than surrounding tissue, and has developed recently • Breast pain • Red, pitted skin over the entire breast • Swelling in all or part of the breast • A nipple discharge other than breast milk • Bloody discharge from the nipples • Peeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on nipples or breast • A sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of the breast • Inverted nipple • Changes to the appearance of the skin on the breasts • A lump or swelling under the arm Having any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean it is breast cancer. For instance, pain in the breast or a breast lump can be caused by a benign cyst or other non-cancerous causes. However, if a lump is discovered in the breast,

or persons are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, they should consult a health care provider for further examination and testing.

DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER

To determine if the symptoms are caused by breast cancer or a benign breast condition, a doctor will do a thorough physical exam in addition to a breast exam.

The doctor may also request one or more diagnostic tests, to help understand the cause of the symptoms.

Tests that can help diagnose breast cancer include: • Ultrasound.

A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the tissues deep in the breast. It is preferred in persons below the age of 30, since the breast tissue is denser and the ultrasound can help distinguish between a solid mass, such as a tumour, and a benign cyst.

• Mammogram. The

most common way to see below the surface of the breast is with an imaging test called a mammogram. Many women aged 40 and older get annual mammograms to check for breast cancer.

• Breast biopsy. If breast cancer is suspected and a mammogram and an ultrasound can’t tell the cause of the mass, a breast biopsy is ordered. During this test, a tissue sample is removed from the suspicious area to be tested.

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION

While there are risk factors that cannot be controlled, following a healthy lifestyle, getting regular screening, and taking any preventive measures recommended can help reduce the risk for developing breast cancer.

• Lifestyle factors: Lifestyle factors can affect your risk for breast cancer.

For instance, women who are obese have a higher risk for developing breast cancer. Maintaining a nutrient-dense diet and getting regular exercise as often as possible could help lose weight and lower the risk.

• Alcohol misuse also increases the risk.

This can be having more than two drinks per day, or binge-drinking. However, one report that analysed worldwide research showed that even one drink per day increases the risk for breast

cancer.

BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Having regular mammograms may not prevent breast cancer, but it can help reduce the chances that it will go undetected.

The ACS suggest that women of average risk can choose: • To have yearly scans from the age of 40-54 • They may decide to switch to screenings every other year when they reach 55-74 years of age.

• Beyond 75 years of age, screenings are done only for women with an estimated life expectancy of 10 or more years.

The American College of Radiologists recommend screening every year, starting from 40 years of age.

Fortunately for women and men around the world, people are increasingly aware of the issues associated with breast cancer.

Breast cancer awareness efforts have helped people: • Learn what their risk factors are • How they can reduce their level of risk • What symptoms they should look for • What kinds of screening they should be getting.

Join the world in bringing more awareness of breast cancer - with a theme that focuses on buddying up with one another, because no one should fight cancer alone.

20

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

You can advance if you are willing to make a move.

(March 21Consider what you need to April 19) brush up on to ensure that you'll be up to the task. Preparation will lead to new beginnings and self-satisfaction.

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Confusion will set in regarding money, joint ventures and dealings with institutions, government agencies or medical issues.

Be persistent and get to the bottom of matters promptly.

Take a chance and explore what interests you, and you will discover something remarkable. It's up to you to do what makes you feel good and keeps you content. You have more options than you realize.

Slow down, view what's happening around you, think outside the box and make decisions that suit your needs.

Get along with your peers, but don't share information that might incriminate you.

Listen, and you'll find out something that can help you better understand someone you love. Reach out to those you share work, expenses or interests with for help deciding which path to pursue.

Be careful how you treat those close to you. A lack of empathy will turn into a battle. Focus on self-improvement instead of trying to change someone else. Personal growth will help immensely.

Know what you are up against, then forge ahead.

Take charge of whatever situation you face and work diligently toward a goal that will put a smile on your face. Stick to a budget.

Think twice before you take on something you cannot afford. Look for alternative ways to satisfy your needs without giving in to demands or temptation. Keep personal information to yourself.

Slow down and think.

SAGITTARIUS Change may entice you, but (Nov. 23going through the proper Dec. 21) channels will be necessary.

Don't trust someone offering shortcuts when you know the journey is what matters.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY'S WORD -- EDUCABLE SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Think big, but budget wisely. Keep the peace, but do so without arguing. Take the road less traveled and implement changes that make you happy. Choose passive persuasion, not aggressive action.

Talk to an expert before you invest in something risky. Choose to look inward and to make your health and well-being priorities. Once you map out a long-term plan, it will set your mind at ease.

An emotional incident will confuse you. Go about your (Feb. 20business, take care of your March 20) responsibilities and give unstable situations a chance to settle. Keeping busy will allow you to think things over.

PISCES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

21

Dhoni turns it on as CSK reach IPL final

A

vintage MS Dhoni made his presence felt as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in Qualifier 1 of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in Dubai and became the first team to reach the final.

The Delhi Capitals will now take on the winners of the match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a place in the summit clash.

Needing 173 runs to win, CSK lost Faf du Plessis when Anrich Nortje disturbed his timber in the first over.

From thereon, though, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-Robin Uthappa

joined forces in the 11th over, added 83 runs together. The two kept the scorecard ticking and took DC past 100 in the 14th, over as Hetmyer creamed a six off Moeen. The DC captain hit his first maximum – a one-handed six – of the night in the 16th over, before the pair completed the

overs.

The pair continued their good work, and Uthappa brought up a superb fifty in the 10th over. The pair completed a hundred-run stand in the 13th over, as CSK moved to 111/1.

However, just when it looked as though CSK were dominating the proceedings, DC pulled things back. First, a double-wicket 13th over from Tom Curran helped DC see the back of Robin Uthappa and Shardul Thakur. Shreyas Iyer took both the catches, and then, along with Rabada, pulled off a sensational run-out to dismiss Ambati Rayudu in the 15th over.

Ruturaj, who completed yet another fifty in the season,

SCOREBOARD

Ruturaj and Robin came to CSK’s rescue early on

Shimron Hetmyer continued his good form

show commenced.

While Gaikwad welcomed Kagiso Rabada into the attack with a six in the fourth over, Uthappa turned the clock back and went 6, 4, 6, 4 against Avesh Khan as CSK zoomed to 59/1 after 6

and Moeen Ali scored 28 runs in the next three overs as CSK moved to 149/4 after 18 overs.

However, after scoring 70, Ruturaj got out on the first ball of the penultimate over. But Moeen, who hit a four, and

50-run stand in the next over.

Rishabh and Hetmyer hit a four each in the 18th over as DC moved past 150.

While Hetmyer got out in the penultimate over, Rishabh went on to complete a fine lastball half-century to guide DC to 172/5. (IPL)

captain Dhoni, who tonked a maximum on the second ball he faced, kept CSK in the hunt.

While Tom Curran’s slower one did Moeen in, Dhoni hit three fours and scored an unbeaten 18 off 6 balls to power CSK to their ninth IPL final.

Earlier, an unchanged CSK elected to bowl against DC, who brought in Tom Curran in place of Ripal Patel. Prithvi Shaw played his shots as DC zoomed to 32/0 after three overs, with the right-hander scoring 29 of those runs. However, CSK struck in the fourth over when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Shikhar Dhawan. The right-arm pacer

got his second of the match as he got Shreyas Iyer out in the final over of the powerplay.

Shaw continued his merry ways and brought up a 27-ball half-century in the ninth over.

CSK, though, picked up the three DC wickets as Moeen dismissed Axar Patel, who was caught in the deep by Hazlewood in the 10th over. Shaw was the next man to get out, as Ravindra Jadeja had Shaw caught in the deep after the right-hander had scored 60.

DC were looking for a solid partnership, and captain Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer rose to the occasion. The duo, who

DC Innings Prithvi Shaw c du Plessis b Jadeja 60 Shikhar Dhawan c †Dhoni b Hazlewood 7 Shreyas Iyer c Gaikwad b Hazlewood 1 Axar Patel c sub (MJ Santner) b Ali 10 Rishabh Pant (c)† not out 5 Shimron Hetmyer c Jadeja b Bravo 37 Tom Curran not out 0 Extras (w 6) 6 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.60) 172/5 Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Shikhar Dhawan, 3.2 ov), 2-50 (Shreyas Iyer, 5.3 ov), 3-77 (Axar Patel, 9.4 ov), 4-80 (Prithvi Shaw, 10.2 ov), 5-163 (Shimron Hetmyer, 18.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Deepak Chahar 3-0-26-0 Josh Hazlewood 4-0-29-2 Shardul Thakur 3-0-36-0 Ravindra Jadeja 3-0-23-1 Moeen Ali 4-0-27-1 Dwayne Bravo 3-0-31-1

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS INNINGS (TARGET: 173 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Ruturaj Gaikwad c Patel b Avesh Khan 70 Faf du Plessis b Nortje 1 Robin Uthappa c Iyer b Curran 63 Shardul Thakur c Iyer b Curran 0 Ambati Rayudu run out (Iyer/Rabada) 1 Moeen Ali c Rabada b Curran 16 MS Dhoni (c)†not out 18 Ravindra Jadeja not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4 TOTAL (19.4 Ov, RR: 8.79) 173/6 Did not bat: Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Faf du Plessis, 0.4 ov), 2-113 (Robin Uthappa, 13.3 ov), 3-117 (Shardul Thakur, 13.6 ov), 4-119 (Ambati Rayudu, 14.4 ov), 5-149 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 18.1 ov), 6-160 (Moeen Ali, 19.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Anrich Nortje 4-0-31-1 Avesh Khan 4-0-47-1 Kagiso Rabada 3-0-23-0 Axar Patel 3-0-23-0 Tom Curran 3.4-0-29-3 Ravichandran Ashwin 2-0-19-0

Fury defeats Wilder with 11th ICC announces list of prize money on offer in T20 World Cup round knockout to retain WBC title

— title winners get US$1.6M, Runners-up get US$800,000, losing semi-finalists get US$400,000 each

W

hoever lifts the T20 World Cup Trophy on November 14, 2021 in Dubai will get a cash award of US$1.6 million to go with it.

This was confirmed when the ICC announced the list of prize money for the tournament - a total of US$ 5.6 million overall - on Sunday. The losing finalist will get US$800,000, while the two losing semi-finalists would each get US$400,000.

Every win in the Super 12s stage of the tournament would fetch teams US$40,000 - 30 Super 12 games will be played, totalling US$1.2 million in prize money. The teams going out at this stage of the tournament eight teams in all – would each get US$70,000.

Wins in round one of the tournament - 12 matches in all – would each fetch US$40,000, and the four teams that don't make it to the Super 12s would get US$40,000 each.

Eight teams will take part in round one, starting on

Darren Sammy and Eoin Morgan at the last T20 WC Final

October 17 - Ireland, Namibia, Netherlands, Sri Lanka (who all constitute Group A), Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Bangladesh (Group B). The top two teams from Group A and Group B make the Super 12s.

Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies (Group 1), Afghanistan, India, New Zealand and Pakistan (Group 2) are already in the Super 12s.

All innings to have drinks breaks.

The ICC also announced that the tournament would feature official drinks breaks - that is, a two-and-a-halfminute break in play at the 10over mark in each innings.

The UAE's weather may have had an influence on this decision. While the worst of the summer is over, the country is still transitioning into its cooler months, though temperatures are expected to be relatively pleasant in November. (Espncricinfo)

T

yson Fury retained his WBC heavyweight title on Saturday when he sent Deontay Wilder to the canvas for a third time with a vicious right hand to the head in the 11th round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The enthralling slugfest was more competitive than many had expected, but still ended as most had predicted, with the Briton outboxing the American to remain the undefeated lineal champion.

After losing the WBC belt to Fury 20 months ago in a one-sided bout, Wilder was the aggressor early, using his jab to back up the larger Fury while seizing every opportunity to throw his powerful right hand. Fury weathered the early storm, and knocked Wilder down in the third round with a short uppercut, but the American responded in the fourth, knocking Fury down twice with shots to the head from close range.

But like he did when he was knocked down in the 12th round of their first meeting, Fury absorbed

the punishment and picked himself up. From there Fury took control and bludgeoned Wilder, knocking him off his feet in the 10th round, before ending the brutal affair with a clean right hand to the side of Wilder’s head that sent him face-first into the canvas.

Although down on the score cards, the fight never felt completely out of reach for Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) due to his right hand, but the defensive-minded Fury mostly managed to avoid it. With the win, Fury (31-01) has now taken two of the three meetings between the

rivals, after the first fight ended in a draw and Fury dominated the second.

"It was a great fight tonight. It was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport," Fury said on Saturday.

"Deontay Wilder's a top fighter, he gave me a real run for my money. I always said I'm the best in the world and he's second best."

Fury serenaded the crowd after the bout with a rendition of "Walking in Memphis." The battered Wilder reportedly went to hospital immediately after the fight. (Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

Mangra narrowly wins Bruster’s Open

A

lthough it was not as straightforward as taking ice cream from someone with a sweet tooth, Maxim Mangra emerged on top of a large field of golfers to take the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Open tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Popularly known as “Danny”, Mangra finished with a net of 65, as did Andre Cummings and Jeetendra Dhanpat, but was adjudged winner after a countback. The champion played off a handicap of 15, and took 80 strokes to complete the course ahead of Dhanpat, who had the best gross of the day, 73.

Dhanpat played off a handicap of 8, and took the overall second

Joann Deo (left) receiving her prize for the Longest Drive on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club. Sharon Khan of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is giving her the prize

Champion Maxim Mangra (left) collecting the champion’s trophy from Paton George of W&T George Enterprise

spot; while Cummings, with a handicap of 14 and a gross of 79, finished third.

Rescheduled from April earlier this year, the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Open attracted

44 registrants, with 42 eventually teeing-off. This was comfortably the best turnout of the year, as players looked to fine tune their preparations for the 2021 edition of the Guyana Open.

In sunny conditions, with

a persistent light breeze, the players enjoyed the course and got great value for their strokes, thanks to the hardworking team of curators headed by Mike Guyandin, who is also an excellent golfer. The experienced

golfer put down the tools and picked up the clubs to add to the competitiveness on the course.

Playing off a handicap of 12, businessman Guyandin finished with a net score of 68 (gross 80), and copped a prize for having the Best Net in the Front Nine, 29.

Troy Cadogan also had a welcome return to the course, and marked the occasion by picking up the prize for the Best Net in the Back Nine, 31.

Cadogan played with a handicap of 22, and took 97 strokes to finish the course.

The prize for Longest Drive went to one of three female starters, Joann Deo, who finished with a net of 69 playing with a handicap of 13; while the Nearest to the Pin trophy went to Roy Dhori.

Also in action were Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud, Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud, Tom Watkins, experienced golfer William Walker, Club Captain

Affiance Sports Ground to receive lawn-mowers — Minister Ramson

Maxim Mangra swinging his way to the top at Lusignan on Saturday

Patrick Prashad, Guillermo Escarraga, and LGC executives Patanjali Persaud and Paton George.

George, Treasurer of Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) and Director of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, in a presentation at the trophy ceremony after the action on the greens, said his company is honoured to be sponsoring a tournament of this magnitude, and is looking forward to a longterm relationship with the club.

George then provided three delicious flavours of ice cream to everyone present.

Also addressing the membership was LGC President Persaud, who thanked W&T George Group Enterprise for branding the tournament, and spoke of the competitive spirit shown in golfers ahead of the

highly anticipated Guyana Open.

Persaud also made special mention of the large turn-out, the extremely good condition of the course, and the immediate plans in terms of tournaments for the club.

The next tournament, Saturday’s Trophy Stall Open, would be followed by the Crown Mining Supplies Open, then the three-day Guyana Open, set for October 29, 30 and 31.

BRUSTERS’ WINNERS: Golfers and representatives of the sponsor at the end of the tournament. From left to right are Selwin George, Sharon Khan, Maxim Mangra, Troy Cadogan, Joann Deo, Andre Cummings, Jeetendra Dhanpat, Roy Dhori, Mike Guyadin, Paton George and Patanjali Persaud.

France wins Nations League with comeback win over Spain

Minister Ramson with members of the Affiance Sports Ground at the meeting. Also in the picture are Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit and the Prime Minister’s Representative in Region Two, Arnold Adams

M

inister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, recently visited several communities along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) as he continued his outreach across Guyana.

Ramson visited the Affiance Sports Ground during his outreach, and was prompted by members of the cricket clubs in the area, who told stories of their needs and wants, and asked him to assist.

"I am here, most importantly, to examine what will be done to

maintain this ground. Facilities will be built to provide room for persons who travelled to watch a game, and also to make the audience feel safe and comfortable while looking at a game." Ramson said in Region Two. He declared that the Affiance Sports Ground would be provided with tractor lawnmowers and bush cutters in order to maintain the grassy area within the ground. He added that an educator personnel would be in the region to assist in training volunteers on how to use the equipment.

"The Regional Cultural School will be a new initiative from the Ministry to get into music, art, dances, drama, and Affiance Sports Ground is a chosen area for such activities.

This initiative will involve youths, and motivate them to participate in cultural activities and sports also. However, the world of work is changing, and we need our people to be creative and innovative in the future."

Ramson told the gathering.

Minister Ramson has said it is the vision of President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his PPP/C Administration to transform communities across

Guyana, and sport is one of the conduits to be used to channel Government’s initiatives.

Ramson also met with members of the communities of Anna Regina, Lima, Henrietta, Reliance, Queenstown, and Golden Fleece to address several issues in the area of culture, youth, and sports.

During the community meeting, Minister Ramson handed over some $300,000 worth in textbooks to children of the Affiance community.

The books were donated by a member of the Affiance Sports Club.

Kylian Mbappe stayed onside to score the winner in the Nations League final

K

ylian Mbappe fired a contentious winner as France came from behind to beat Spain and become the second team to win the Nations League.

Mbappe was adjudged to be onside when he slid the ball under Unai Simon after Karim Benzema's stunning equaliser at Milan's San Siro.

Spain had taken the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, who shrugged off defender Dayot Upamecano to beat Hugo Lloris. Lloris denied

Oyarzabal later on to ensure victory for the world champions. Portugal won the inaugural Nations League title in 2019.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

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23

Jamual launching the final and most significant attack Story and photos by Brandon Corlette

“M

r Consistent”, Jamual John, produced another top-class performance to win the 10th annual Kadir Mohamed Memorial (Ounce of Gold) cycle race in three hours, 17 minutes and 21 seconds in a dominant solo mission that saw him clinch this prestigious race for a third time.

Backed by bright conditions, the cream of Guyana’s cycling crop departed the starting point of this race – before the Thirst Park

category, Walter GrantStuart came first, followed

by Mendes, Chooweenam, Horace Burrowes and Segon Hubbard in that order.

These top riders were presented with awards at Chin Chan Cycling Shop in Robb Street, Bourda.

Reflecting on the race, gold winner Jamual said the race was tougher that he had

cool and made his move at the right time.

The Berbician Crawford also made attacks, and at Falls Gas Station at Land of Canaan, Crawford was in the lead, but not for very long.

Despite all the attacks, which saw Griffith leading the race at one point, the most significant attack

though, especially on the way towards the turn-back point, which saw a host of attacks.

"I was feeling a little hurting coming back, but I catch back myself," John said.

was the one Jamual made at Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

The National COVID-19 Task Force gave the green light to this event being staged, and COVID-19 protocols were strictly observed. The Guyana Police Force had the event under control despite poor communication from the Guyana

Riders returned from overseas to battle for the most prized event

John left the competition trailing in the dust as he opened a huge gap between

himself and them, and then he made his final getaway move at Friendship, EBD. Team Evolution's Paul De Nobrega won the battle for second position, finishing ahead of his team mates Christopher Griffith (third), and Curtis Dey (fourth).

Paralympian Walter GrantStuart (fifth) showed his class in a sprint when he edged past Alexis Mendes (sixth).

Berbician Andrew Hicks claimed five sprint prizes, while Paul Chooweenam, Jamual John, Briton John, Myron Rose and Christopher

In the Ladies category, the National Champion Suzanne Hamilton emerged winner, while Clavecia Spencer came second. In the veterans Over50 category, Ian Jackson

Ian Jackson was the best Over-50 rider

Attack on attacks

Briton John is arguably the most attacking rider, but due to cramps, he and National Champion Romello

Headquarters of Banks DIH Limited – and headed for the East Bank Demerara highway, where the seniors raced to Dora on the LindenSoesdyke Highway while the Juniors and Ladies rode to Yarrowkabra, and everyone returned for the finish at the point of origin.

Guyana's top female rider Suzanne Hamilton continued her dominance

The sponsors and top riders at the presentation

Paul De Nobrega sprinted his way to second

Griffith each claimed one sprint prize.

In the junior category, Sherwin Sampson emerged victor, followed by Alex Leung and Mario Washington in that order.

emerged winner while Garfield Lormer and Kennard Lovell came second and third respectively. Nivonne Wilson was the top juvenile rider.

In the veterans Under-50

Crawford were not among the top finishers. On the way towards the turn-back point, Briton launched many attacks. It was the same ploy used by the We Stand United rider, but Jamual kept his

Cycling Federation (GCF) as it relates to the turnback point.

The riders will now shift focus to another gold race in Essequibo, slated for Sunday October 17.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

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

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Pg 22

Affiance Sports Ground to receive lawn-mowers — Minister Ramson

Mangra narrowly wins Bruster’s Open Page 22

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