Guyana Times - Monday September 14, 2020

P16

Truck owners cautioned on weight, speeding as DHB retractor span fixed Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4408

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Conditional survey to determine phased reopening of sugar estates – Agriculture Minister Page 12

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

President Ali P9 says justice for Henry cousins must be swift, achieved in a peaceful manner

...says ... says reopening of estates is not a "political gimmick"

Guyana has US$1.79B in debt hanging — bill for managing future over its head borrowing to be enacted See story on page 3

APNU/ Hundreds bid final farewell to murdered AFC to participate Berbice teens See story on page 14

in budget debate – Opposition Leader

Page 11

...debate commences today at ACCC

Cash grant for students in private schools being considered – Manickchand Page 10

…significant number of students transferring to public system

Miner drowns after boat P15 collides with floating log Tailor shot P2 during foiled robbery on Essequibo Coast

Guyana records 56th COVID-19 death, 41 new cases in 24 P16 hours P8 Plight of soldiers injured in explosion was ignored — Ombudsman …were each receiving less than $30,000 as compensation

2 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Stall at Anna Regina Market burglarised, money stolen

Police ranks reviewing the CCTV footage

P

olice on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), are on the hunt for two persons, who broke into a stall at the Anna

Regina Market and stole an undisclosed sum of cash.

The incident occurred sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The stall is owned by

businessman Frederick Jones, whose son made the discovery on Sunday morning. Guyana Times was told that the businessman’s son, Kevin, visited the Anna Regina Market and found the padlocks on the steel door of their stall broken.

Upon entering the stall, he noticed that the cash canister had been broken into and money from Friday’s and Saturday’s sales was missing.

The matter was immediately reported to the Anna Regina Police Station which saw ranks promptly visiting the scene and launching an investigation.

The stall that was broken into The recording of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage was subsequently reviewed and the police were able to positively identify one of the two perpetrators. He is yet to be

arrested.

Petty crime on the Essequibo Coast has become a concern for residents and the police. On Friday evening, a security

officer attached to Shawn’s Mini Mart in Anna Regina was chopped and robbed of his cell phone by a masked man on a motorcycle.

With the increase of these petty crimes, the residents are calling on the police to be more vigilant, especially at nights. They have since recommended that Police patrol some of the troubled areas.

In light of the seriousness of these crimes, one businessman has since recommended that a policing group be established to assist the police in the division.

Tailor shot during foiled robbery on Essequibo Coast

A

The gunshot injury inflicted on Narindra Persaud

tailor of Onderneeming Sand Pit, on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), is now nursing a gunshot wound to his right foot after evading armed bandits on Saturday evening.

The injured man is 38-year-old Narindra Persaud.

Based on information received, Persaud and his wife were sitting in a hammock in the verandah of their flat concrete home when the woman started to scream.

As Persaud turned around to see what had happened, he saw two masked men entering his yard by scaling the fence.

Persaud recalled that both men had on hoodies but one was armed with a “shiny handgun”.

The couple was accost-

ed by the gunman who demanded that they remain quiet but both Persaud and his wife managed to enter the house through an open door. It was at this time the gunman opened fire in their direction. One of the bullets struck the tailor in the lower right foot.

However, they were able to close the door, leaving the men outside. They then raised an alarm but the bandit discharged several rounds before fleeing the scene.

The matter was reported to the police and Persaud was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was treated and sent home.

Meanwhile, ranks from the Anna Regina Police Station visited the scene and retrieved several spent shells. An investigation was launched.

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 14 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Tuesday, September 15 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 14 – 14:30h – 16:00h and Tuesday, September 15 – 15:15h – 16:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunshine during the day. There will be clear skies and thundery showers at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Easterly to Northerly to North North-Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 14:29h reaching a maximum height of 2.38 metres.

Low Tide: 07:56h and 20:20h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.83 metre.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

03 05 14

15 21 26

FREE TICKET

08 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

05 11 14 16 24 LUCKY 3

8

7

0

Afternoon Draw

05

11

8

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

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15 17 19

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

01 12 13 14 16

02 09 11 14 20

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$39.83/barrel

-0.58

Rough Rice

$218.34/ton

-0.29

London Sugar

$357.20/ton

+0.82

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1945.50

$1946.50

Low/High

$1937.10

$1946.80

Change

+5.40

W

ith US$1.79 billion in debts hanging over Guyana’s head like the Sword of Damocles, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government is keen to tackle the debt they inherited, through a comprehensive debt management strategy and laws that will control future borrowing.

This was explained by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, when he presented the $329 billion budget last week. According to Edghill, Guyana registered total public debts of US$1.79 billion at the end of 2019. He explained that there were reductions in various categories making up this debt.

For instance, Edghill revealed that there were reductions in external and domestic public debt. In the case of external public debt, there was a 1.3 per cent reduction from US$1.32 billion in 2018 to US$1.31 billion in 2019. He cited a US$50.7 million debt reduction secured from Kuwait following the signing of a bilateral agreement in March 2019.

“The domestic debt stock declined by 0.7 per cent, from US$386.3 million at the end of 2018, to US$383.6 million at the end of 2019, mainly due to principal repayments under a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Debenture and on Treasury Bills (T-bills),” Edghill also announced.

“The public debt to GDP ratio at end-2019 was 32.6 per cent, representing a 3.2 percentage-point reduction compared to end-2018.

This ratio is expected to decline further over the shortto medium-term, in view of Guyana’s robust economic growth projections.”

It was also announced

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01

5

– bill for managing future borrowing to be enacted

Debt servicing

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

7

Guyana has US$1.79B in debt hanging over its head

+0.28%

The Bank of Guyana

that debt servicing payments for 2019 came up to US$84.4 million, which was lower than the 2018 figure of US$85.4 million. Lower interest costs on domestic Treasury Bills was cited as the reason behind the decrease.

Domestic debt service payments were US$6.3 million, while external debt service payments were US$78.1 million. While domestic debt servicing was 19 per cent lower than the previous year, external servicing was slightly higher than in 2018.

“In 2019, 6.8 per cent of Government revenues went towards external public debt service, a 0.6 percentage point decrease compared to 7.4 per cent in 2018. This decline was primarily attributable to an 11 per cent increase in Government revenues. Work is ongoing to ensure the consistent treatment of T-bills issued for fiscal purposes,” Edghill noted.

The Minister noted that going forward, the Government will seek to transform the work programme and enact a Public Debt Management Bill, which would seek to control future borrowing and ensure it is sustainable.

“Enactment of this bill would promote transparency, accountability and sustainability by enshrining and reinforcing key elements of sound debt management.

These elements include the authority to borrow and debt ceilings; the establishment of clear debt management objectives; the mandatory formulation and implementation of a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy and an Annual Borrowing Plan, among others.”

State of finances

Prior to the PPP taking office in August, it had been revealed that the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change

(APNU/AFC) Government had left the General Reserves with a balance of $0.

In fact, the account was left with an overdraft to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.

This situation was illustrated in the Bank of Guyana’s statement of Assets and Liabilities, published in the May 23 Official Gazette, revealing that the General Reserve was -$290,667,332.

Additionally, Public Deposits were also depleted to below $0, also recording a negative balance of -$88,629,401,855.

Guyana’s Contingency Reserve account had also reflected an alarmingly low amount of $2.3 billion.

When APNU/AFC took office in May 2015, Guyana’s General Reserve had in its coffers just about $6 billion while the Contingency Reserve held $4 billion.

Questions had been raised about how the PPP Government would source the money for an almost $330 billion budget, considering the fact that the country has been in a prolonged political standoff since 2018, after the passage of a No-Confidence Motion against the former Government.

In addition, the last time a budget was passed was in November 2018. But Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had revealed recently that the monies comprise funds the Government borrowed, as well as rollover sums.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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

“Whither the Ethnic Relations Commission”

A

fter a hiatus of eight years, the National Assembly reconstituted the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in the beginning of 2018 with new representatives selected by the constitutionally-mandated bodies to serve on that body.

The ERC had its genesis in the aftermath of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-induced protests and riots following the 1997 General Election, which they claimed was fatally flawed. As part of the Herdmanston Accord brokered by Caricom and signed on January 17, 1998, the ERC was established as a constitutional body by Constitutional Amendment (#2) Act of 2000, which was assented to by the President on August 11, 2000. It was finally launched in 2003 in the throes of the violence with Buxton as its epicentre.

As such, the ERC held out great promise to finally address the ethnic fears and interests that drove the political system in Guyana. Its legitimacy was intentionally made very wide, to include the widest possible participation of Guyanese civil society – defined broadly as those organisations working outside of the governmental apparatus: Christian, Hindu and Muslim religious bodies; the Labour Movement; Private Sector; Youth; Women’s Organisations; Afro-Guyanese; Indo-Guyanese; and Indigenous/Amerindian bodies. As can be seen, the members of the ERC are not drawn only from “ethnic” organisations.

The mandate of the ERC, as adumbrated in Article 212A of the Constitution, was extremely wide, and detailed in 24 functions that were both proactive and reactive to the very ethnic issues that were being articulated at the time by the armed gunmen. For instance, on the first prong, the ERC could: “Identify and analyse factors inhibiting the attainment of harmonious relations between ethnic groups, particularly barriers to the participation of any ethnic group in social, economic, commercial, financial, cultural and political endeavours; and recommend to the National Assembly or other relevant Public or Private Sector bodies how these factors should be overcome”.

Sadly, it must be conceded that the ERC never really fulfilled the promise of its formation and blame may be laid at the feet of many, including itself and the PNC. The latter objected to the operations of the institution that was supposed to be independent and autonomous. By 2011, just before the General Election scheduled for that year, Robert Corbin, then leader of the PNC, filed an injunction against the ERC that effectively derailed the organisation.

Even though the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) controlled the National Assembly following the 2011 elections, and chaired the Appointments Committee, they never reconstituted the ERC in that Parliament. After their victory at the 2015 elections, they launched a new “Social Cohesion” Ministry, which had incorporated much of the proactive agenda of the ERC. In fact, early in the new Administration, it was explicitly stated that the Social Cohesion Ministry would deal with “ethnic relations”.

However, as described above, the ERC was reconstituted in 2018, but its performance since then can hardly be described as “salutary” even as the incumbent APNU/AFC Government launched a most ethnically-polarising programme ranging from the firing of thousands of Indigenous peoples employed in the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) to firing of even more thousands in the sugar industry in an ethnicallydirected manner.

In the midst of the five-month war of attrition waged by APNU/AFC to remain in office through rigged elections, there were countless opportunities for the ERC to intervene in the racially-charged atmosphere created especially by social media, but these were addressed in the breach, at best. In the aftermath of the brutal killing of Joel and Isaiah Henry, followed by the murders of Haresh Singh and Prettipaul Hargobin, the ERC has been very reactive and not intervening affirmatively as they should have to prevent the situation from careening out of control as the protests over the murders morphed into raciallydirected violence.

The Government needs to review the bona fides of this organisation for which it has just allocated $220 million.

President Dr Irfaan Ali paid a floral tribute to the murdered Berbice teens during a private viewing of their bodies at Sandy’s Funeral Home, Chapel Street, Lodge, Georgetown on Sunday (OP Photo)

Response to former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan Dear Editor, I am obliged to respond to the Former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, who made outlandish claims on the current PPP/C budget that is before Parliament for debate and approval.

Mr Jordan is the last person who should comment on this budget, as his leadership at the Ministry of Finance wreaked havoc on the economy, and bankrupted Guyana.

His misguided philosophical approach is one which not only stifled the average consumer in Guyana but was onerous and burdensome on the Private Sector. No incentives were given for production and the promotion of productivity. To compensate for this, unleashed on taxpayers was a regime of abrasive and wide-reaching taxation; unprecedented in its nature in the Caribbean.

I would like to apprise the public that out of the budget of $329.5 billion, the PPP/C Administration met with unauthorised and illegal spending of more than half of the budget from January 1, 2020, to August 2, 2020, as there was no Parliament since December 2018. A substantial portion of this budget had to cater for ‘rollover’ projects from 2019, undertaken by the APNU caretaker Government. The claim

by Jordan that the PPP/C Administration has to spend $329.5 billion within the last quarter of the year is nothing beyond soundbites demonstrating both his ignorance and incompetence.

It is important to note that in 2014, the final year of the PPP/C’s Administration, tax revenue totalled $135.2 billion. Within a mere five (5) years, the APNU Government’s tax revenues sky-rocketed by $91 billion or, a 67 per cent increase from 2014. Notably, this increase in tax revenue came directly from the pockets of the citizens of Guyana in order to fund their lavish lifestyle in office. The sum-effect of Mr Jordan’s policies is that the

citizens of Guyana were left poorer.

What they did with this money is Mr Jordan’s legacy to answer to the Guyanese people. But to point out a few, we saw bloating of the public sector characterising this period, driving operational costs up by astronomical levels with no corresponding increase in work output. He must also answer why he transferred lands to people illegally whilst a caretaker Minister, why monies were spent on capital works in Guyana against the financial laws of the country and why he lied to the Guyanese population about the US$18 million signing bonus. Mr Jordan has the dubious distinction of being the worst Finance Ministers to ever set foot in that office.

Recently, a $300 million fraud was discovered by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) around fuel supply at GuyOil. Since GuyOil falls under the Ministry of Finance, Mr Jordan will have to answer for these as well.

It is my duty to ensure that the record is clear on this matter from the outset.

This Emergency Budget is a step in the right direction to rectify the wrong-doings and malpractices of Mr Jordan and the Granger Administration and seeks to usher in a new era of economic boom through our plan for prosperity.

Measures enacted by President Ali’s Government The PPP/C’s budget underpins its philosophy of a pro-poor approach to managing the economy where every measure is designed to affect the Guyanese population in a positive way.

A few of the measures in the budget can be categorised as efforts to: 1. Support COVID-19 frontline workers by setting aside $150 million for their direct benefit 2. Reduce the cost of living by the reversal of VAT on electricity and water – a hardship measure placed on

the Guyanese people by Mr Jordan’s policies which are being removed by Dr Ali’s Government.

3. Increase disposable income by directly providing $25,000 per household through $4.5 billion in the budget.

4. Measures to improve the provision of education and health a. Removal of 25 per cent corporate tax on private education which will translate into a reduction in school fees per child b. Removal of 25 per cent corporate tax on healthcare.

This will translate itself to a lower hospital bill. c. Removal of VAT on medical supplies. This simply means that the bill at the pharmacy is cheaper.

5. Support for miners through the removal of VAT on machinery and equipment.

Hardship measures created

by Mr Jordan’s policies severely hampered many smallscale miners, forcing them out of operation. This new measure will enable 60 per cent of small-scale miners to re-enter the mining sector.

6. Support for farmers through the removal of VAT on ATVs, the reversal of VAT on exports, reversal of land lease fees across all sectors which grew between 67 to 1900 per cent under the APNU Government, removal of VAT on fertilisers, agrochemicals, pesticides, key inputs in the poultry industry, zero-rating of the poultry industry and the affording of tax concessions on investment in agro-processing facilities, cold storage and packaging. These measures will help to drastically reduce the cost for farmers.

7. Support vulnerable groups through: a. Provision of $15,000 per child b. Doubling of the uniform allowance c. Reduction in cost of construction material through the elimination of VAT, contributing to the dream of homeownership for the aver-

age Guyana, a reality. d. Reducing the cost of a mobile phone which is now used by children to access their online learning platforms e. Slashing of all licensing fees by half – this will assist every person who is operating a small business, shop, grocery store, transport f. Increase in old-age pension from $20,500 to $25,000 8. Measures to support our Amerindian brothers and sisters through: a. The implementation of a programme that will see 25,000 solar units being distributed; b. $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) including the reintroduction of the Community Service Officers (CSO) programme aimed at developing young Amerindians in various villages. This will create job opportunities for approximately 2000 youth; c. $300 million from the ADF for investments in productive assets including tractors, trailers and agriculture tools; d. $10 million for the commencement of the design of the National Toshaos Council Headquarters; and, e. Resumption of the Amerindian Land Titling programme.

With the approach laid out

by Dr Ali’s Administration, citizens of all walks of life can be assured that his policies and commitment will result in prosperity. President Ali has committed to ensuring that his plan for prosperity, despite the challenges, will ensure that the standard of living for every citizen is lifted. Guyanese can look forward to an inclusionary and participatory agenda in the medium-term, leaving behind the dark days of Mr Jordan and the APNU’s oppressive economic policies.

Sincerely, Deodat Indar Junior Public Works Minister

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

5

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

Guyanese will live through and overcome this vicious PNC storm Dear Editor, I wish to first record my strongest condemnation of the horrendous murders of Joel and Isiah Henry, as well as Haresh Singh.

These dreadful and unacceptable occurrences recently sparked huge disappointment and immense anger on the East Berbice corridor. Please permit me to also join with the thousands of Guyanese in condemning the violent protest, robberies and destruction of property that has been unleashed on many innocent citizens, fueled by irresponsible reactions from some PNC leaders seeking to capitalise on a perhaps ill-conceived opportunistic situation.

The nation finally exhaled following a five-month ransom-driven hiatus, in the aftermath of the now-infamous Guyana March 2, 2020 elections. However, one month following the swearing-in of the elected PPP/C Government, our citizens’ deserved relief in contemplation of a progressive forward path, is again threatened by the callous insensitivities of the ejected APNU liars who had at-

tempted to falsify the elections results.

Before and during this period leading up to President Ali’s swearing as Guyana’s ninth Executive President, the nation rejected PNC cabal who aggrandised themselves while imposing and inflicting grave and deep wounds on the Guyanese people. Now out of Government, leaders of this sadistic irresponsible power-hungry faction demonstrates no restraint in manipulating and sacrificing even the wellbeing of many in their own support base to derail national progress. They must be condignly stopped, and their knees removed from the necks of our people.

The PNC held this nation at ransom since they were humiliated and defeated with the No-Confidence Motion in 2018. The Granger Administration dragged this nation through the courts and after they were forced to hold National and Regional Elections, they shamelessly used all the delaying tactics to prevent the winning PPP/C from going into office for five long months.

Editor, popular news

Dear Editor, After five (5) years of APNU/AFC reign, followed by five months of electoral turmoil and conspiracies, Guyana breathed a sigh of relief on August 2, when President Irfaan Ali was sworn into office as the ninth President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. It has been five weeks since the country’s rightfully elected President Irfaan Ali took office. Since then, he has encountered a myriad of problems in dealing with the almost bankrupt economy, crumbling infrastructure, the COVID 19 pandemic, and most recently the brutal murders of the Henry cousins, Haresh Singh of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB) and Pettipal Hargobin of Bath Settlement, WCB. Not to mention the ensuing riots, vicious and barbaric assaults on innocent residents in and out of the region, and the callous destruction of vehicles and houses.

President Ali’s Administration seems to revolve around improving the economy and the lives of the masses, reopening of the three of the four sugar estates shuttered by the previous Government and the up-

grading of the infrastructure.

Dr Irfaan Ali should be applauded for some of the bold actions his Administration has taken to combat the COVID 19 pandemic, and to provide assistance in the form of food hampers and a cash payment of $25,000 per household as allotted in the budget. The increase of oldage pension from $19,500 to $25,000, the removal of VAT on several items and the exclusion of senior citizens from paying water bills have vastly improved the image of his Administration.

However, the applause for President Ali and his Government would be more resounding if His Excellency shifts into a Promethean approach with incisive and new methods. The “don’t rock the boat” mindset must be discarded. Many have asserted that huge sums of money would be wasted by this Government in its quest to resurrect the bankrupt GuySuCo, maintain the two security State agencies, SOCU and SARA and the huge salaries paid to some officials appointed by the APNU+AFC Government for doing little or nothing.

President Ali must address the enormous amount of time being wasted as a re-

media have recently reported the response of new Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, to statements made by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali regarding the extremely volatile behaviours of persons in this area. Mr Harmon has made loud noises about the confirmation of reported rapes while demonstrating another hypocritical agenda by remaining largely silent on the vulgar murders, flagrant robberies and brutal attacks of citizens in his promotion of a race hate environment. The Ethnic Relations Commission should take swift and condign actions against Mr Harmon in this respect.

It is indeed difficult for our people to continue living with the vengeance of some deceitful and power-hungry dictators who would stop at nothing in their determination to rope and knee our people’s necks. With the unflinching international support along with a united people, the PPP/C is back in office and enjoying the support of a united Guyana much to the anger of the Granger-Harmon bulldogs.

Guyanese from all sides of

the divide need to operate with an open mind and beware of their clandestine and surreptitious plots.

Against the foregoing, it is also appropriate and necessary to recognise the highly appreciative and receptive reactions by our citizens to the 2020 Budget of the PPP/C Government.

This budget, albeit the financial crisis into which was created under the hands of the APNU/AFC coalition, has certainly put this Opposition group to so much shame that they have moved to invoke their common dirty tactics to destabilise the country and serve as a distraction.

The 2020 Budget is a people’s Budget. It has a human side and provides assurance of the most heartening considerations that will serve as a solid support platform for the resuscitation of the economic growth and development engines in the country. It demonstrates that the President Ali-led team has paid attention in the consultative driven approach and has acted swiftly to urgently address the campaign promises made to the People of Guyana.

Tasks for President Ali sult of long traffic lines; its parallel is the ever long wait in line to pay public utility bills, obtain birth or death certificates and land titles and in other areas such as Customs, Deeds Registry, Courts and a litany of bureaucratic entanglements.

Most of the above-mentioned issues should be viewed as straightforward procedures, but not for bureaucrats. It should be noted that these long waits in lines have and continued to result in a significant loss in production due to the fact that a large number of persons who spend hours waiting in lines are workers. President Ali should establish a task force aimed at creating an efficient and competent public/civil service in order to end this terrible ordeal on the people and enhance the production output of the country.

President Ali’s Administration should embark on the task to reduce the long hours being spent at the public hospitals throughout the country for medical treatment, but more so at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the nation’s largest referral hospital. To this end, the Government should employ more competent and adequate medical staff at the

public hospitals, including more qualified doctors, nurses and technicians and have more modern medical equipment. Such an approach, if adopted immediately by the Ali Administration, will go a far way in reducing the waiting time at hospitals and saving lives. Loss of human lives have become a daily phenomenon at the hospitals and have remained unabated.

The fact that many have and continued to die from simple infectious diseases, childbirth and other trifle illnesses at the hospitals have become an accepted norm in our societal culture, but more importantly with no repercussions for the medical staff. It is the responsibility for President Ali to act immediately to reduce or end the ongoing mayhem at the public hospitals and to solve all of the aforementioned problems. The adage “new brooms sweep clean” should hold true for this Administration. Whatever course President Ali takes in the coming months and years, as a people, we must hold him accountable.

Sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTER ON PAGE 17

The Private Sector is now heavily motivated for a safe and successful flight and through this 2020 Budget, an overwhelming viable commitment targeting the healing of our nation from the dreaded COVID-19 is assured. Further, our youths and students are extremely happy and could boast of the new initiative driven developmental support under the Ministry of Education, while our older generations are also delighted with their immediate increases and relief measures.

Notwithstanding, the budget’s allocation to the Guyana Election Commission is worrying.

One is of the view that with the clear subterfuge approach adopted and the roles of the identified notorious actors in GECOM at the 2020 Elections, details clarification should have been provided and this agency made to defend any immediate allocations. How can the notorious characters at GECOM receive in excess of four billion dollars? To do what and to address which programmes? These are questions that must be answered forthwith or appropriately revised.

It cannot be denied that all the hatred and violence that are now taking place in our country, are related to the new callous tactics of the Granger cabal which tried desperately to stay in power. This nation is bleeding and needs to heal. It is

the same ‘lunatic’ led cabal who while in Government, questioned the legality of Community Policing Groups referring to them as “illegal vigilante groups”, that is now saying “if the Government cannot protect us, then we must protect ourselves.” Worst is the other racist instigator, who is on record as saying that “too many Black youths are vanishing in the same way that cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry were killed and mutilated.” Today, we must vehemently oppose these damaging hate race statements Editor, it is indeed disappointing that several PNC leaders are on the ground instigating violence.

The vicious incitement approach is the root cause for racial hostility, racial profiling, and discrimination.

Many innocent persons as a result have had cause or were forced to the hospital.

People with important business appointments were severely beaten, raped and robbed in the unleashing of this overwhelming vendetta spurred on by irresponsible PNC leaders. Our people must be protected, as this Government must now do everything necessary to make our streets and road a safer place.

The Guyanese people have faced, will live through and overcome this vicious PNC storm.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Page

Foundation

SUMMER OF LEARNING

◄

Æsop’s Fables

Dividing fractions by whole numbers To divide a fraction by a whole number, multiply the denominator of the fraction by the whole number.

Example: Divide: 20/32 ÷ 8

Exercises: Multiply

1) 3/3 ÷ 3

Step 1: Keep the original numerator Step 2: Multiply the denominator of the fraction by the whole number.32 x 8= 256. This is the new denominator.

So 20/32 ÷ 8 = 20/256

FOR CHILDREN

2) 10/4 ÷ 10

3) 1/3 ÷ 2

4) 6/8 ÷ 8

5) 4/16 ÷ 4

6) 1/5 ÷ 2

Silly Putty Investigation

A

lthough not inventing in the strictest sense, this activity is a wonderful way to reinforce the scientific process and strategies for problem-solving as students experiment with silly putty recipes.

Materials White school glue Liquid laundry starch (one 32 oz bottle or smaller) Measuring spoons of different sizes to share Cups and stirrers Food colouring (optional) How Silly Putty was invented In the 1940s during WWII, the United States Government needed more rubber for airplane tyres, soldiers’ boots and other uses. Unfortunately, there was not enough natural rubber (the kind that comes from the rubber tree) available, so someone needed to invent a synthetic (or human-made) rubber.

Silicon was a substance found in sand that was believed to be appropriate for making this synthetic rubber.

Since there is a lot of sand (and therefore silicon) available, the Government asked several large companies to have their engineers try to make a rubber substitute.

Experimenting One day James Wright, an engineer at General Electric, was doing tests with silicon oil. He tried adding a chemical called boric acid and came up with a useless gooey substance that bounced, so he had to start over!

Five years later, in 1949, a man named Peter Hodgson thought of an idea for this useless goo.

Through his own experimenting, he thought this goo would make a great toy.

So he borrowed US$147, encased the goo in plastic “eggs” and called it “Silly Putty”. It was first sold to adults and then several years later to children.

Through many adults and children playing with (and testing!) Silly Putty over the years, it has come to have a variety of uses. Can you name any? Maybe you could create a new use for Silly Putty.

Do you think you could make a Silly Putty through your own testing. Sure you can! Just like Peter Hodgson, we have the basic ingredients needed and have played with this substance before, most likely. Now all we need to do is conduct some tests with the ingredients.

Experiment using the glue and starch. (startwithabook.org)

A

frisky young kid had been left by the herdsman on the thatched roof of a sheep shelter to keep him out of harm’s way. The kid was browsing near the edge of the roof, when he spied a wolf and began to jeer at him, making faces and abusing him to his heart’s content.

“I hear you,” said the wolf, “and I haven’t the least grudge against you for what you say or do. When you are up there it is the roof that’s talking, not you.”

WORD SEARCH

7

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Plight of soldiers injured in explosion was ignored — Ombudsman …were each receiving less than $30,000 as compensation

Dead: Kevon Nicholson

Dead: Seon Rose

Dead: Tooley Peneux

Dead: Shaqueel Deheart

even members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who were injured in an explosion at Camp Groomes, the army’s ammunition storage base on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, were each receiving less than $30,000 per month.

What is even worse is that complaints about their dire circumstances and terrible plight were being ignored.

The foregoing was revealed in the latest report (2017-2018) tabled in Parliament last week by Ombudsman, Retired Judge Winston Patterson. Those who were injured included two Corporals, three Lance Corporals and two Privates.

A few of them suffered third-degree burns on their bodies, legs, backs, while others sustained damaged and fractured spines.

According to the report, these young men, all having families and medical issues, were receiving under $30,000 per month as compensation, and all needed regular medical attention and enhanced living conditions.

Even though they complained about their conditions to the relevant authorities, all were ignored. As a result, they requested assistance from the Ombudsman.

“I acknowledged receipt of their complaints and informed them that attempts would have been made to

have their situations dealt with as early as possible.

They were interviewed and having deemed their request justified, the relevant authority expeditiously got on board and resolved their issues much to their satisfaction,” the Ombudsman noted in his report.

The dead ranks were identified as 23-year-old Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice; 28-year-old Lance Corporal Tooley Peneux of Orealla Village, Corentyne River; and 20-year-old Private Shaqueel Deheart, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice.

According to a state-

ment from the GDF, the incident occurred at the Arms Store Complex of Camp Stephenson. The statement said preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the soldiers were involved in the preparation of pyrotechnics (fireworks) for demolition when the incident occurred.

Following the two recent deadly explosions, the GDF launched a Board of Inquiry.

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Others killed

For the years thus far, several ranks of the GDF were killed in the line of duty. On February 22, 2020, Corporal Seon Rose of Friendship, East Coast Demerara, died following an explosion aback of the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard location at Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

He sustained third-degree burns about his body.

Also injured in that explosion were Terrence Neils, Gordon Cornette, Isiah Gordon, Trevon Joseph, Andrew Garnette, Victor Low, Atto Cort and Delroy Baird.

Reports are that the explosives were being prepared for the annual fireworks display to usher in Guyana’s 50th Republic Day celebrations when the explosion occurred.

Meanwhile, on April 30, 2020, three soldiers were killed and two others were injured following a sudden explosion at the armoury at the Guyana Defence Force’s Base Camp Stephenson at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Reconvening of JSC high on Govt’s agenda

I

High Court

n its Emergency Budget presented last Wednesday, the PPP/C Administration reaffirmed its commitment to justice reform and strengthening.

Noting that it has a packed legislative agenda in that regard, Government revealed that it will explore ways in which it can collaborate with the Judiciary to ensure the swift delivery of justice.

Government said that this will include the constitutional process for the appointment of additional Judges under a new Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Among other things, the functions of the JSC is to advise the President on the appointment of Judges, with the exception of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.

Already, there have been calls for the appointment of a Land Court Judge in Berbice. That further, there are only 14 of the expected 20 High Court Judges, and three of the expected five Court of Appeal Judges.

A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) noted that if this state of affairs persists, there will continue to be a backlog of cases plaguing the criminal justice system.

However, Judges cannot be appointed since the life of the last JSC which was ap-

pointed by former President Donald Ramotar expired in September 2017.

“If the present cadre of Judges is not increased, then the issue of backlogs will not be addressed. It is recommended that further options for increasing the human resource capacity including for judicial legal research assistants, Judges, prosecutors, and trained mediators be explored,” the report stated.

While the assignment of temporary Judges has been used in the past in the Court of Appeal, the report noted that this is not seen as a permanent solution.

The JSC is created by virtue of Article 134 of the Constitution. Its composition is set out under Article 198, while its functions are outlined in Article 199. It comprises the Chancellor, who is the Chairman, the Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Among its members are the Chancellor of the Judiciary, who is the Chairman, the Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC). When it comes to the appointment of Justices of Appeal and Puisne Judges, the Constitution of Guyana clearly stated that the President is duty-bound to act on the recommendation by the JSC. TURN TO PAGE 10

Letting it all hang out...

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...at the Henrys’ funeral our Eyewitness viewed the funeral service at the Parade Ground of Joel and Isaiah Henry, the cousins who were so brutally murdered behind the back dams of West Berbice. Their bodies might’ve been found aback the village of Cotton Tree, but evidently there’s evidence that the actual killings were done somewhere else and they were dragged to the spot where they were found.

The funeral service was organised by the International People of African Descent Association – Guyana (IPADAG) – even though leader of the PNC, David Granger had promised the families they’d take care of all the expenses – and they shouldn’t take any monies from anyone else.

But your Eyewitness figures that since David Granger as President had given IPADAG a $68 million grant to fund their activities, he could count on their support to fulfil his promise.

All in the family?? Well, it certainly looked like the PNC family and relatives. Even though it’s been said –even by one of the speakers – that these murders were “a Guyanese tragedy”, the gathering was quite partisan looking. Looks like no one bothered to invite anyone from the “Government’s side” – but then, the PNC insists they’re “illegal”. Earlier in the day, President Irfaan Ali had a private viewing of the bodies at the funeral parlour along with Isaiah’s father Gladstone Henry and they both offered prayers. The President said, “In memory of the boys, all of us should commit ourselves to peace, love, and unity and serving God.” Over at the Parade Ground, it was a different story.

First of all, in something new to your Eyewitness, everyone greeted each other with the word “Ashay”, which is of Yoruba origin and means “the power to make things happen and produce change”. There, your Eyewitness caught Nicolette Henry – evidently a distant cousin of the murdered boys – giving an uncharacteristic but understandably fiery speech.

She spoke of the boys growing up in a society permeated by “prejudice and inequality” and were “slaughtered by an unjust system”. After five years of her being Minister of Education, your Eyewitness wondered what she’s done during her term to reduce those ailments.

Earlier in the day, PNC Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon at the funeral home had been unrepentant about his earlier endorsement of public protests as a proper response to the murders. He repeated that there must be continued pressure – damn the consequences. But at the Parade Ground, Volda Lawrence – rejected by Granger but still the Chair of the PNC – repeated her conciliatory message of non-confrontation.

All in all, the funeral service was more like a political rally than anything else. The conclusion by Vincent Alexander summarised the mood: With absolutely no evidence, he declared, “The murders were a hate crime!” ...as war The ACDA representative read the poem, “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay, written at the turn of the 20th Century when Blacks were being persecuted in the US: “If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursèd lot.

If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”

With us coming off four days of brutal racial confrontation, was this the time and place?

Who’s the “common foe”? ...on Pompeo’s visit The confirmation that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be visiting this week and the conspiracy theorists have gone into overdrive.

If they’re to be believed, he’s coming to launch an attack on Venezuela from our soil!!

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Ali says justice for Henry cousins must be swift, achieved in a peaceful manner

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s family and friends gathered on Sunday to bid farewell of murdered teens, Joel and Isaiah Henry, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who attended the private viewing at Sandy’s Funeral Home, reiterated the need for justice to be served while adding that it must be done in a peaceful and swift manner.

“Today (Sunday) we

support them spiritually and mentally and to use the day for prayer and reflection for these two young men. We should use the day to understand how important love, peace and unity is for our country,” President Ali told those who were present at the viewing.

“What we can pray for ultimately is for justice for these two young men, for

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and other Opposition members on Sunday

should respect the family, have the family in our thoughts and prayers; to

peace and unity and to let their lives be a legacy for the future of Guyana.”

“These events must never occur again… in the memory of these two young men, all of Guyana should recommit to love, peace unity and to serve in God. Today I ask the rest of Guyana to reflect in a peaceful manner, to reflect in prayer and to hold up the families in prayer.

I urge all of Guyana to reflect calmly today,” President Ali further stated.

Meanwhile, also joining the families for the private viewing of the murdered teenagers were several Opposition Members including Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, who alluded that the country is “shaken and distraught” by the deaths of the teenagers.

“This morning (Sunday) Isaiah and Joel should have been in church giving thanks, instead we are in service giving them a homegoing…. We hold their mothers, father and siblings up in prayer and ask the good Lord to keep them and to gradually ease their pain and immense suffering from their passing. Our only solace in this moment of torment is that each Henry family now has a new angel to watch over them”, he stated.

Harmon said though the pain of the boys’ deaths

President Irfaan Ali joined families of Isaiah and Joel Henry for a private viewing at Sandy’s Funeral Home on Sunday

will not easily subside, justice must be delivered for them.

“None of us must rest or relent. We must ensure that those, all of those, responsible for their deaths are brought to justice and met with the full force of the law. This is not about recrimination; it is about justice”.

Meanwhile, the funeral service for the two teens was held at the Number Five Village Ballfield, West Coast Berbice, followed by burial at the Number Five Burial Ground.

The mutilated bodies

of Isaiah and Joel were discovered at the Cotton Tree Backdam, WCB, last Sunday, two days after they went missing. Following their deaths, major protests spread across the

country which resulted in unrest along the West Berbice corridor.

As the probe into the teens’ murder continues, several persons have been arrested for questioning.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cash grant for students in private schools being considered – Manickchand …significant number of students transferring to public system

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday disclosed that discussions are still in the pipeline on whether the “Because We Care” cash grant initiative will be open to private school students.

During a recent press briefing, Manickchand agreed that some parents are facing difficulties in sending their children to private institutions, and Government is not opposed to providing the grant which is meant specifically to those attending public school.

It was noted that many parents have asked to benefit from the initiative and this possibility is not “off the table”.

“Since the last cash grant in 2014, parents said to us that they believe that they’re entitled to benefit. I don’t disagree with them. I know many parents are really trying hard to make them what we would want to see them be – productive adults. They’re making a lot of sacrifices to send their kids to school so we are of the view that once you’re going to private school, you’re rich. That’s not our philosophy. Of course, we are also limited sometimes by budgetary constraints. It’s not off the table. It’s still something we’re looking at,” Manickchand said.

She went on to say that such a decision cannot be

PPP/C Administration announced that in keeping with their campaign manifesto, the grant would be reintroduced. In fact, it was raised from $10,000 to $15,000.

The Administration will be doubling the allowance for uniforms, meaning that the uniform voucher allowance will be $4000 per child

in the public system.

Minister Manickchand had said the grants are expected to provide relief for approximately 187,000 students in the system and are, therefore, expected to channel a $1.87 billion allocation.

While looking at the education sector, the Minister highlighted that the public

system has seen an increase of students, who left private institutions. She said this trend is linked to unaffordability, coupled with situations like the five-monthlong elections impasse.

“We have seen a record number, and not only during the pandemic, of students in private schools who want to come back. Just an-

Reconvening of JSC high...

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

made solely by her, but will be taken by Government after examining the availability of resources.

The “Because We Care” project was launched back in 2014 by then Education Minister Priya Manickchand and was issued to parents for each child in the public school system. It was implemented with the aim of providing support to parents with school-age children and increasing their disposable income, with a view to raising enrolment and attendance rates. However, after taking office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government scrapped the project and displaced thousands of students and parents.

Last week, the new

In fact, Article 128 (1) (d) of the Constitution states, “If the Chancellor advises the President that the state of business of the Court of Appeal or the High Court so requires, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission and appoint a person to act in the office of Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge as the case may require.”

The JSC also has the power to make appointments to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the following offices – Commissioner of Title, Magistrate, Director of Public Prosecutions, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds and Deputy Registrar of

Appeal Court

Deeds and to such offices connected with the courts or for appointment to which legal qualifications are required as may be prescribed by Parliament.

Meanwhile, during a recent interview with Guyana Times, President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorney-at-Law Teni Housty noted that the ab-

sence of the JSC is hindering the administration of justice. “We [Bar Association] are hoping for the timely recommissioning of the JSC,” Housty had said.

An issue to be dealt with once the JSC is reconvened is whether Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh, who was convicted earli-

ecdotally, I know of a lot of students whose parents can no longer afford it. That’s what happens when you have very harsh economic conditions that are imposed by external factors, such as extremely long waits for elections results. People have lost income, they’ve lost jobs,” Manickchand expressed.

FROM PAGE 8

er this year of fraud, will resume duties. Reports are that Baksh increased her payment to $400,000 in 2014 when the Deeds Registry was merged with the Commercial Registry, without the approval of the JSC. As a result, she was charged with fraudulently procuring over $4.5 million.

Speaking on the matter, Attorney General and Legal Affair Minister Anil Nandlall had said that Baksh’s conviction is the subject of an appeal and if that conviction is quashed or set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registry will address the issue of her resumption, since, for all intents and purposes, she remains the Registrar of Deeds, having not been removed by the JSC.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC to participate in budget debate – Opposition Leader ...debate commences today at ACCC

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aving boycotted the actual presentation of the 2020 Emergency Budget last week Wednesday, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has assured that his Members of Parliament (MPs) drawn from A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) will be there for the budget debates.

Harmon gave this assurance during a brief interview with this publication. Asked whether the Opposition would be participating in nominating members to the Parliamentary Select Committee and Committee of Supply, Harmon signalled the Opposition’s readiness to play its role.

“They will be there, we

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

will start the budget debates (today)… we’ll deal with whatever matters have to be dealt with in the Parliament tomorrow (today), we’ll deal

with it,” the Opposition Leader explained.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly released its lineup of speakers for the budget debate. First up for the budget debates which start today at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) is Opposition MP and AFC Chairman Raphael Trotman. He will be followed by Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton.

Hamilton will be followed by Opposition MP Shurwayne Holder, Junior Public Works Minister Deodat Indar and Opposition MP Coretta McDonald.

Also slated to speak are People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MPs Seepaul Narine, Sanjeev Datadin, Alister

Human services badly managed under APNU/AFC Govt – Edghill

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or five years, Guyana’s human services were badly managed and poorly executed because of improper hiring practices by the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

This was revealed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who during his maiden budget speech said that there was a common theme of unaccountability in the implementation of programmes that were supposed to target women, youth, migrant families, juveniles and other sections of society.

On the legislative aspect, Edghill noted that there was incessant neglect of policies and recommendations that would have addressed issues such as sex-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

ual offences, trafficking in persons and domestic violence.

He, however, said that the PPP/C Administration is committed to the welfare and wellbeing of all

Guyanese.

“We will continue to deliver key services to the most vulnerable groups, including women and children, disadvantaged families, the elderly, the differently-abled and those who are at risk of being trafficked.”

Minister Edghill continued, “…we will continue to partner with all stakeholders in Guyana to assist in the delivery of hampers and other forms of assistance to our underprivileged and vulnerable groups, included as part of our COVID-19 relief measures. A focused programme to address the issue of homelessness and indigence is anticipated to be operationalised in the last quarter of 2020.”

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre will see a week of budget debates, starting today

Charlie, Minister of Public Affairs Kwame McKoy and Junior Local Government Minister Anand Persaud.

On the Opposition side, the other MPs scheduled to speak on Monday are Devin Sears, Amanza WaltonDesir, Vincent Henry and Maureen Philadelphia. The budget debates will continue through the week until Friday, September 18.

The $329 billion, 2020 Emergency Budget was on Wednesday last presented at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, marking the first budget in almost two years and providing Guyana with much-needed resources and development plans after the political upheaval of the past year.

Of the billions being presented, $51.7 billion, representing 15 per cent of the total budget, will be going to health. This includes $14.3 billion for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.

In the field of education, $52 billion has been set aside including $1.7 billion for construction and rehabilitation of schools. A further $3 billion has been set aside for housing and $2 bil-

lion for the Guyana Water Incorporated.

In addition, $34.4 billion has been allocated to go to the Public Works Ministry, where work will be done on a number of projects including the Ogle bypass road and the East Coast railway embankment.

After the figures are debated, the Parliamentary Committee of Supply is convened and must review the line items for the estimates. It is only after the Committee’s work is completed and they report to the National Assembly that the budgetary sums can be adopted and disbursed.

Previously, the National Assembly had approved a total of $11.2 billion for 16 constitutional agencies for the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year. Among the agencies that had their 2020 budgets approved in its entirety for the period ending December 31, 2020, is Parliament Office, which got $1,799,248,000.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) received a whopping $4,943,052,000; while the Supreme Court of Judicature got $2,443,164,000. Another

$908,636,000 was approved for the Office of the Auditor General.

The Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) received $226,822,000, while the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) got $220,802,000 and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) secured $206,460,000.

The National Assembly further approved a total of $150,636,000 for the Public and Police Service Commissions. The Teaching Service Commission received $117,075,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman got $70,001,000 and the Women and Gender Equality received $58,327,000. An additional $46,095,000 was approved by the House for the Rights of the Child Commission along with $40,911,000 for the Public Service Appellate Tribunal.

The Human Rights Commission secured $25,958,000; while the Indigenous Peoples Commission got $24,392,000 and the Judicial Service Commission received $10,020,000.

12 NEWS Conditional survey to determine phased reopening of sugar estates – Agriculture Minister MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...says reopening of estates is not a political gimmick

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conditional survey currently underway will guide the Peoples Progressive Party Civic Government on how it proceeds with the reopening of the three closed sugar estates with an object to revive the cash-strapped and heavily indebted industry.

This is according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, during a recent appearance on the televised programme “Insight”.

Back in 2016, the former A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change Government closed the Wales Estate and the following year, shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates – putting over 7000 sugar workers on the breadline. The downsizing of the sugar industry saw only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates in operation.

However, the PPP/C had promised to reopen the closed estates, re-employ the sacked workers and revive the sugar industry once it gets into office. After taking office last month, the PPP/C Administration last week announced in the 2020 Emergency Budget that some $5 billion will be injected into the sector for the phased reopening of the closed estates. An initial $3 billion was earmarked for critical works this year as the Government carries out an assessment on the state of the assets and the level of reinvestments needed at the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates for their reopening.

In fact, Minister Mustapha disclosed during the programme that a team has already been assembled and is on the ground conducting the conditional survey. He noted that once this

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

is completed, they will present the findings to President Dr Irfaan Ali and the Cabinet for consideration on the way forward.

“I had a meeting with GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) and NICIL (National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited), and His Excellency met with us and give us certain directives. So, we are working with that and within two weeks we should have a plan and that conditional survey, which I can present to Cabinet and then we can disburse funds in these areas,” the Minister noted.

He added that “the reopening will depend on [the] outcome of [the] conditional survey. First, we have to look at the conditions of the factories, we have to see what is needed in those factories and then we have to look at the field. This is very important because you can’t have a factory without any canes in the field to supply the factory.”

According to the Agriculture Minister, the growing of canes and the production of sugar requires a lot of infrastructural work and support systems such as dams, canals and bridges.

He further explained that

they will also have to look at issues such as the condition of the fields for replanting of canes.

“I went to closed estates at Skeldon and Rose Hall [earlier this month] and spoke to former sugar workers and they said when they look at the systems in place, a lot of work will have to be put in to get the estates up and running again. So, the major thing for me right now is this conditional survey because based on this conditional survey then a decision will be taken which one of the estates will be reopened first, which will be done in a phased manner,” he stated.

Meanwhile, with regards to the Wales Estate, however, it will not be reopened due to the extreme deterioration of the factory. Instead, the PPP/C Government has announced that it will be used to create opportunities and employment under the newly established Wales Development Authority.

Minister Mustapha explained that this will not only create much-needed jobs for surrounding communities but small businesses will also receive assistance with the installation of a business incubator there.

He pointed out that these steps taken by his Government to return the industry to a state of viability is because of its recognition of the important role sugar played in the past and will continue to have in Guyana’s future.

According to the Minister, by the end of this term in office, the PPP/C Administration will have a total of six estates functioning.

Mustapha, who is PPP’s Executive Secretary, recalled that when his party announced its plans to reopen the closed estates,

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

the former coalition regime called it a political gimmick.

“When we said in the manifesto, we will reopen the closed sugar estates, the then Government – the APNU/ AFC Government, said it was political gimmick. But now we are seeing the reality… as Minister of Agriculture, I’m extremely pleased and happy that this is now coming to reality, where money has already been budgeted and we have started work on the ground to reopen these estates,” he asserted.

The Agriculture Minister went on to respond to criticisms that the ailing sugar industry will continue to bleed the treasury, stating that GuySuCo is much more than sugar.

“GuySuCo is not only the production of sugar canes –

there are other spin-off effects of sugar production.

GuySuCo was taking care of D&I (drainage and irrigation) systems, GuySuCo was taking care of the sports grounds, GuySuCo was taking care of primary healthcare within those communities and had their dispensary there. So, GuySuCo is much more than sugar,” he outlined, adding that the reopening of the estates will

The East Demerara Sugar Estate, popularly known as Enmore Estate

re-energise communities, increase the standard of living and boost business activities across the country.

The Minister further stated, “For the survival of GuySuCo, we cannot only produce raw cane sugar. We have to diversify, we have to modernise our products.”

Vital to the industry’s

survival too is prudent management, Mustapha highlighted. He noted that in addition to installing a new Board, they will also reorganise and resize GuySuCo’s management across the country.

Turning his attention to the three operating estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion – Minister Mustapha said the priority will be capital investments.

SYMPTOMS

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

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

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

New loss of taste or smell

Muscle pain Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

“Over [the] last five years, management informed me that there were no major investments or no major capital works carried out in these estates. The former Government left these estates [to function but] they neglected them and I think it was only time, if they, APNU/ AFC Government, would’ve returned to Government, for these three sugar estates to close as well. That would’ve been the end of sugar production in Guyana,” he posited.

Since being downsized, GuySuCo has been struggling to meet its production target and has had to revise the target on several occasion. In fact, only earlier this month the Guyana General and Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) criticised the sugar corporation for failing to meet its already lowered revised production target for this year.

The Union body said the industry was heading towards its worst production output in history and blamed the “lackadaisical” attitude of the leadership of GuySuCo for this state of affairs.

However, in an effort to bring back the sugar sector to its previous state of profitability, the PPP/C Government had approached India for assistance with the reopening of the closed estates. The Indian Government had in the past offered technical assistance to Guyana in the sugar sector but this was never capitalised on by the former coalition Government.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has also called on the new Government to revive the closed estates in order to boost the production of molasses, which is a key and critical ingredient in several industries here.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) is the largest local consumer of molasses and since the closure of the estates, the beverage giant has had to import molasses from various countries including Guatemala and Mexico, which it is currently buying from. Although Uitvulgt was producing molasses, the quantity was insufficient, thus forcing DDL to import the deficit amount for its production.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS Hundreds bid final farewell to murdered Berbice teens MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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creams for “Isiah!” and “Joel!” penetrated the already austere atmosphere as the two teens, 16-year-old Isaiah Henry and 19-year-old Joel Henry, who were found brutally murdered on Sunday last at a coconut farm at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB), were laid to rest.

Scores of persons from all walks of life flocked Parade Ground in Georgetown on Sunday morning, where a public service was held to bid farewell to the two teens.

During the proceedings, tears flowed from the eyes of many, as they could not begin to comprehend what could have led to the gruesome murders of the two teenagers, who were in the prime of their youth, and on the cusp of adulthood.

The question “why?” was steadily asked by mourners who claimed that the Henry boys had great potential and a lot to contribute to Guyana. But all that

resentatives from the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) among other organisations.

Following the public service, and a private viewing by politi-

The relatives of the two murdered teens standing next to the caskets

was taken away.

Giving remarks at the public service in Georgetown were Opposition leaders as well as rep-

Mourners at Parade Ground in Georgetown

Family and friends carrying the bodies

cal leaders in the city, the funeral procession left Georgetown at about 10:20h to head up to the

boys’ hometown at Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice.

As the purple caskets bearing the bodies of the two young men were escorted to WCB, hundreds of Guyanese lined the East Coast and West Berbice corridors holding placards and coconuts, while screaming “No Justice, No Peace”.

There were even the sounds of African drums as the entourage passed through Buxton.

As they arrived at the teenager’s respective homes, screams erupted as family and friends decked in red and black tried to get a glimpse of the cousins’ remains which bore scars from the brutal chops they received as they were being murdered.

They were then taken to the Number Five Ball Field, WCB, where a funeral service was held after which they were laid to rest at the No Five Burial Ground, WCB. The teens were found brutally chopped at a coconut farm in Cotton Tree Village two days after they went missing, Their disappearance prompted family members to launch sever-

al search parties to look for them.

After hours of searching, their mutilated bodies were discovered among the bushes and were partially covered in mud.

The gruesome murder of the

calling for justice to be served.

However, despite an aggressive police investigation and several persons being arrested, there has been no confession or conviction and the motive behind the

Drummers pay tribute to the murdered teens

two teenagers sparked outrage in the community on Sunday last, which quickly spread to other villages resulting in a fiery protest

killing of the young men remain a mystery.

Investigations into their deaths are ongoing.

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police, RPA at loggerheads over permission for combines to traverse highway

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he misuse of the Corentyne Berbice roadway by rice farmers has become a major concern for the police in that division. Over the years, combines have been traversing the Corentyne roadway while several sections are being used to dry paddy but these actions have not been approved by the Guyana Police Force.

Police Regional Commander Linden Isles only recently stated that no permission has been given to the rice farmers for their combines to traverse the Corentyne Highway but the President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) claims that the police have given the green light.

The drying of paddy on the Corentyne Highway

Paddy being dried on the road during harvest season is an age-old problem in Region Six but the police have put their foot down on such activities, citing the danger they pose to road users.

In addition, there has been an increase of unregistered grain carts traversing the roadway – some of which Guyana Times understands are before the courts.

However, President of the Rice Producers Association, Leaka Rambrich in a post on social media claimed that the Officer of Traffic in Region Six has given approval for the use of combines on the county’s roadways.

“I had a discussion with Mr Williams and I asked for some consideration be given to farmers during the harvesting period of

them to use the road and he agreed with me and as such instructions was handed down…‘Combine can drive on the road early and late in the day…grain carts permitted without paperwork must carry back reflector…Paddy can be dried on the roads’ shoulders,” the post stated.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment on the recent spat, Officer in Charge of Traffic, Timothy Williams said that he had never instructed anyone to break the law.

“How can I tell someone to break the law? I have never told anyone to use the road for combines,” Williams told Guyana Times.

He also denied granting any permission for persons

to dry paddy on the road, saying that he does not have the authority to give such permission.

Williams posited that he was made aware of the social media post and will be addressing the issue shortly.

On the other hand, the RPA’s President said he was promised by a Government Minister that permission will be granted to the rice farmers and this he communicated to Williams.

While the drying of paddy on the country’s roads is an illegal practice, many on the Corentyne also place objects along the roadside to prevent vehicles from getting close to the paddy.

In light of this issue, rice millers have since offered the farmers to dry their paddy at their facilities at no cost but many farmers are comfortable putting the produce on the Corentyne Highway and more so, in front of their homes, to dry.

Meanwhile, the stateof-the-art seed paddy drying fatality at Number 56 Village, Corentyne, is being underused as farmers opt to have their paddy dry on the roadways.

With respect to the grain carts, the Guyana Revenue Authority has in the past indicated that the

Access to goods and services severely disrupted due to WCB unrest – Berbice Chamber

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he recent unrest on the West Coast of Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), has severely affected the delivery of goods and services to both Region Five and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This is according to Vice President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) Ryan Alexander, who highlighted that since manufacturing is done on a small scale in the county, much of the products consumed are imported and have to be delivered via the WCB corridor.

“What has transpired over the past days in the West Berbice area has hampered the services and products industry in East Berbice and to some extent West Berbice. These products and services are critical to everyone’s survival.”

However, the New Amsterdam Hospital, according to reports, has run

out of oxygen and as a result, patients had to be airdashed to the city. For this to happen, the airstrip had to be lit up using lights from vehicles.

The company that supplies oxygen to the medical facility related that it was short and could not have processed the orders.

Apart from the four public hospitals in the Region, the same company supplies oxygen to private institutions.

The same oxygen is used in the construction industry for welding. “Oxygen is very important for industries purposes in Berbice and also for medical health.

So, the message that I want to send is that it might be one of your relatives in the hospital and in need of oxygen and if we are out of oxygen in the hospitals across Berbice… you may not understand that you are affecting your family’s survival,” Alexander ex-

Vice President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), Ryan Alexander

plained.

On the other hand, beverage companies ran out of supplies in Region Six. According to Alexander, the Chamber has nothing against protesting but it should have been peaceful.

“We see that when you protest things start mov-

ing more apace where all different entities which are required to bring a solution to the issue are all engaged and activated. So, we do agree with protest but we believe it should be done in a decent manner and at the same time allowing the free flow of goods and services.”

The Chamber’s Vice President called on Berbicians to be more responsible, noting that prior to the protest which started hours after the bodies of the two Henry teenagers was discovered at Cotton Tree backdam, residents of Belladrum had taken to the streets blocking sections of the WCB corridor.

He believes that there is need to ensure that goods and services are delivered in a timely manner taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Chamber expressed condolences to the grieving families.

A combine traversing the Corentyne Highway carts must be licensed.

During last year, Williams had reported to this publication that several rice farmers were placed before the courts for having unlicensed grain carts on the road.

Under the traffic laws, combines are not allowed to drive on the roadway because of the damage they cause to the road surface.

They are to be placed on low bed trucks and transported.

Miner drowns after boat collides with floating log

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39-year-old miner is now dead after the boat in which he was travelling collided with a log at Bush Cow Landing, Imbaimadai, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Saturday evening.

The dead man has been identified as Kary Henry, a miner of Jawalla Village, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Based on reports received, Henry and four others were in a wooden boat captained by a twenty-fouryear-old miner of Kabauri village, when the accident occurred. They were said to be heading to Beanamarupai Backdam from Imbaimadai Landing.

However, while in the vicinity of Bush Cow Landing, the boat allegedly collided with a floating log. As a result of the impact, Henry was thrown out of the boat and landed in the river.

Another passenger sustained injuries to his head.

However, a search party was launched to locate Henry to no avail.

The search continued on Sunday during which his body was recovered from the Mazaruni River, a short distance from the mishap.

The body was escorted to the Imbaimadai Health Post awaiting a post-mortem. The police have since launched an investigation into the accident.

news@guyanatimesgy.com

16 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 56th COVID-19 death, 41 new cases in 24 hours

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uyana’s COVID-19 death toll has increased to 56 following the death of an elderly woman on Sunday morning.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said: “as of 7:00h on September 13, 2020, one other person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died.”

This latest fatality has been identified as an 83-year-old woman from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), who died while receiving care at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

According to the Ministry, the test sample was collected from the elderly woman at the time of her admission and the results returned positive for COVID-19 subsequently.

This comes on the heels of the Ministry reporting three new COVID deaths since Friday.

These were a 70-yearold man from Region Four; 62-year-old Viber Gomes from Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and 67-year-old Jacob George from Port Kaituma, Region One (BarimaWaini).

Samples were also collected from these victims at the time of their admission and they were tested positive for COVID-19.

Guyana would have recorded 10 deaths from the novel coronavirus over the past week. The week began with the COVID death toll at 46.

Meanwhile, the updated COVID-19 dashboard for Sunday shows that Guyana has recorded 41 new COVID-19 cases.

This now brings the country's total number of coronavirus cases up to 1853 – 915 males and 938 females.

Of the total number of cases, however, only 582 are active. This includes 15 persons in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC and the remaining 567 in isolation, that is, 55 in institutional isolation and the 512 in home isolation.

Meanwhile, there are 87 persons in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, some 1215 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease here.

To date, Guyana has tested a total of 10,920 persons for the novel coronavirus.

A breakdown of the 41 new cases recorded on Sunday shows that a whopping 26 were detected

Truck owners cautioned on weight, speeding as DHB retractor span fixed

Works being done to repair the retractor span on the Demerara Harbour Bridge

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week-long battle to repair a section of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DBH) retractor span finally wrapped up on Sunday.

The retractor span at section nine of the bridge had developed mechanical issues resulting in no retractions for marine traffic for several days. In fact, the bridge had to be closed off to both marine and vehicular traffic on Sunday for over

three hours to facilitate the urgent rehabilitation works.

In a statement, the Public Works Ministry said the works were successfully completed ahead of the 16:00h scheduled reopening of the bridge and vehicular traffic was able to flow as per normal.

The Ministry is now call-

ing upon all motorists, especially truck drivers, to observe the weight limit as well as the speed limit since both excessive weight and sudden application of brakes create damages to age-old structure that are very costly.

During the period of repairs, special retractions had to be supervised by the engineers to facilitate marine traffic. However, it was noted that by today retrac-

tions will be back on schedule, to facilitate both north and southbound marine vessels.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill lauded the engineering team as well as the management and technical team from the Demerara Harbour Bridge

Corporation for their work beyond the call of duty over the last week, since announcing to the public severe damages to the retractor span.

According to Minister Edghill, longterm solutions as it relates to the weight on the bridge are still being pursued, trucks and heavy motor vehicles will still have restrictions at this time.

The team had held consultations last Sunday to come up with a work plan for the repair works to be executed.

It was noted at that time that the deteriorating structural integrity of the bridge exists and had been identified since 2016 and the matter was raised several times by the engineers to the then Ministers of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Jaipaul Sharma, as well as the Minister of Finance.

An average of 10,000 vehicles traverse the crossing daily which was initially designed to last for 20 years. However, the bridge has outlasted its lifespan by more than 20 years.

Nevertheless, the PPP/C Government has announced plans to construct a fourlane high span bridge across the Demerara River.

from Region One (BarimaWaini), one from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 12 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), and one each in Regions Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The other regional figures remain the same, with 25 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 12 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 26 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 244 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 82 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Government has also

embarked on significantly increased testing to ensure that all positives are detected. The Department of Public Information on Wednesday reported that authorities are examining the possibility of sending COVID-19 samples from Region Nine to neighbouring Brazil for testing.

“We have been exploring with the Government of Brazil, and in particular the State of Roraima to be able to send our samples from Region Nine, across to Brazil for them to process them for us,” Health Minister, Dr Frank

Anthony, was quoted as saying.

Dr Anthony said Government is hoping to finalise these arrangements in a meeting with the Brazilian authorities that is set for Friday. These efforts will clear the existing backlog that resulted from increased testing.

Already, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has assisted to test a few hundred samples.

Out of the 500 samples that were sent to CARPHA, over 400 have returned, and an additional 138 were sent last Monday.

Linden hosts march calling for justice for slain Berbice teens

Leaders of the procession on Friday in Linden

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indeners took to the streets of Linden on Friday in a solidarity march calling for unity and peace among Guyanese but more importantly for justice for slain West Coast Berbice teens, Haresh Singh and Isaiah and Joel Henry.

The march which was organised by Lester Glen, the founder of a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), Members of Parliament Devin Sears and Jermaine Figueira and the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) was held under the theme, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

Participants who marched from the Bayroc

Community Centre Ground, Poker Street (Wismar) and the Five Corner areas (Mackenzie) all congregated at the Linden Martyrs Monument at Wismar where messages of peace were spoken.

Glen told the gathering that the aim of the march was in solidarity with the grieving families of the teens, the West Coast of Berbice and Guyana as a whole.

“It’s to let the people know that we Lindeners, we mourn with them, we feel their pain and we are also seeking justice for the murders of those young men”, he noted.

The Regional MPs also joined the calls for peace

amongst Guyanese.

“We are saying this is a just cause. This is a call that is calling for unity in Guyana; a call that is being made to end discrimination... and it is the leadership of this country, in every sector, who has to lend their voice to put an end to discrimination...We believe change can come if we reason as brothers...we are asking all who are responsible to act responsible in your actions...and we’re calling on all who can make a difference to play your part and play it responsibly...”, Figueira noted while speaking at the event.

The Henry cousins were laid to rest on Sunday.

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden youths benefit from virtual empowerment camp

One of the beneficiaries of the virtual camp

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tudents who are home from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic recently benefited from a weeklong virtual camp hosted by the For the Children Sake Foundation (FTCSF) in collaboration with the Health Ministry’s Adolescent Department and an NGO, Dessert Flower. The youth camp was hosted via Zoom under the theme, “Empower U”.

According to the President of FTCSF, Tina Duke, the aim was to breach the gap between the challenges of the current pandemic and schooling through virtual platforms.

“Our mandate and objectives remain the same as we continue to recognise the need for youth engagement and involvement in building their own capacity and empowering them to take charge of their futures. Summer camps are known for providing a safe environment where children gain self-confidence as they learn new skills, an environment where they can interact with peers who understand their challenges and can relate adequately. Camp

allows us to have interactions that may be lacking and clear up myths and make the transition to adulthood easier for our youths. It’s a place where children develop a variety of social skills - communication, conflict resolution ability; where they build self-esteem and understand the importance of self-love”, Duke stated.

She further stated that the camp provided an array of fun and exciting methods of inclusive learning whereby each learner was stimulated.

The campers were engaged in empowering and motivational talks from representatives of the Health Ministry, Dessert Flower and motivational speaker Astel Collins, while FTCSF peer educators led discussions on puberty, hygiene, abuse, self-esteem and emotional intelligence. These sessions were aimed at empowering adolescent youth to make better, informed decisions.

“We did have a craft element that was both inexpensive yet creative, as campers utilised household items.

Campers expressed gratitude for the initiative and

actively participated and were receptive to knowledge dispensed. One child, name given ‘Latifah’ said and I quote, ‘I just wanted to reach out to express heartfelt thanks to FTCSF for another great summer, we have been loyal to your camp for four summers and it never disappoints’,” Duke related.

Parents who were in the presence of their children also praised the initiative.

“We had a fabulous camp experience here, so I wanted to talk about it. My young kids were in such great hands with caring facilitators; they did many different activities that wove in concepts such as confidence building, sharing, and empathy”, the parent related.

Another parent explained

One piece done by the students

that her children were shown great respect from all of the campers. They noted that the coordinators of the camp catered to the development

of each child and took time to understand and motivate them.

Another parent said she was thrilled to have found

FTCSF years ago and the peace of mind she gains from knowing her children will be in a safe, meaningfully engaging and fun environment was really appreciated. As such, she commended the FTCSF on the concise planning and execution of all calendar activities as she related that her kids were excited daily to share what they had done virtually.

Yet another parent said the camp provided a safe, fun and educational environment.

The organisers expressed gratitude to the facilitators, presenters, members of FTCSF, Dessert Flower and Health Ministry as well as those who invested in prizes and internet plans that would have allowed some of the youths to participate.

Deadline for Coursera registration extended – over 24,000 Guyanese already registered

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he Education Ministry publicly announced its collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning to provide free access to online courses to the general population offered by Ivy League and other reputable universities through Coursera.

The objective is to provide the opportunity for Guyanese to improve their skills and competencies to enhance their performance and employability. This initiative will serve to help unemployed Guyanese and those who may need to transition to new occupations.

Following the September 4, 2020 launch, as of Wednesday, September 9, 2020, a total of 24, 498 Guyanese have registered on

the platform and 161 persons have completed their courses or graduated.

The initial deadline for registration was September 30, 2020, but Education Minister Priya Manickchand engaged the Commonwealth of Learning and explained that because of the prolonged election process and our coun-

try’s failure to take up the offer previously, Guyanese were not on equal footing with the rest of the Commonwealth and would, therefore, be disadvantaged.

Coupled with the tremendous response and interest, the Education Minister sought an extension of the deadline which now stands at

October 31, 2020.

Several Caribbean countries have benefited from this programme, and will have their citizens graduate on September 22, 2020.

The Education Minister has been invited to speak at that ceremony.

Guyanese who wish to register on the platform can visit the website: www.education. gov.gy/upskill The online launch video can be found on the Education Ministry’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LearningCh/videos/236067911180960/, where you will hear remarks from Minister Manickchand and Commonwealth of Learning Vice President, Dr Venkataraman Balaji.

Another proof of the legacy of a PNC party's unfavourable post-election result lives on Dear Editor, Over the past week, Guyana went to hell and back, having survived the travesty of a distorted absurdity that Guyanese were hoping would not emerge with its ugly face so quickly (at least not until another 5 years perhaps, if at all). But the dream was shortlived and like they say, “the rest is history.”

Having imbibed on the regular weekend inhibitions, a sobered society is waking up to the stark reality that Guyana had traversed an unwanted path; they have indulged in an embarrassing engagement that has deepened a shame; encouraged, induced and enticed by a couple of false leaders whose deceptive methods have harmed the pure relationship that they had previously enjoyed with their neighbours, regardless of political affiliation; and now, they are burdened with atonement and know not the path to relief a guilty conscience. Granger, Harmon and Gladston Henry read the

same Bible but they do not see Jesus Christ, “eyeball to eyeball.”

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump took aim at people protesting racism and police brutality, saying they are “just looking for trouble”, “They’re not protesters,” Trump said at a rally at the airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, last month.

“Those are anarchists, they’re agitators, they’re rioters, they’re looters.” Sounds familiar? Guyana is well known as copycats, ask Dave Martin, he gon say, “The Tradewinds told yu so.”

“Black Lives Matter” quickly (rightly) adopted its place in Guyana, the only difference is that coloured is the majority in Guyana, not white and, Afro Guyanese dominate 90 per cent of the Public Service employment.

I am sure Guyanese are alerted to the new trend in America since the 19th 911 observance ie “Blue Lives Matter.” How soon Guyanese?

At the last Republic National

Convention, the convention tried to sell a version of Trump a lot of Americans don’t recognise.

Volda Lawrence was quickly recognised at the Ashmins building during her outburst at Mingo’s fiasco, but in Berbice last week? A lot of Guyanese didn’t recognise the character who presented a carefully worded persuasion that articulated a circumambulated transformation! It was show-time for a cat and dog spar to flex the muscle. Is someone nursing a wound?

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Thursday condemned President Irfaan Ali’s claims that protesters against the killing of three youths had also raped innocent people.

“There are no known police reports of any rape associated with recent protest actions.

Yet Mr. Ali, in his statement, among other charges said ‘raping people’s children has nothing to do with justice.’

What rape Mr. Ali? This is a figment of your speechwriter’s imagination,” Mr Harmon

said.

Shortly afterwards, the President’s office did correct and adjust the issue that belonged to a prior period when the subject matter had occurred.

Past President David Granger on Monday attributed the killing and mutilation of two youths at the weekend to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) failure to condemn post-election unrest in West Berbice earlier this year, but President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo denied his claims.

“It is their attitude! If on the 6th of March, they had condemned what happened here on the West Coast Berbice the stoning of the school buses and the vandalism that occurred, this would not have occurred but they are sending a message that sort of behavior is normal; they could do it again and again,” he said. Mr Granger lauded the residents for sending a message that “we are not going to put up with this nonsense.”

But VP Bharrat Jagdeo was quick to respond saying, “This is a politician who has failed to do anything in five years to improve relations and Mr. Granger doesn’t read much because he was to go now to look at the party’s (PPP) Facebook page, you would see a condemnation of the bus incident on the party’s page. I personally approved that and put it on the party’s page.”

To date, there has not been any retort from the sheltered visitor. Ever heard the story of two bald men wrangling over a comb? Mr Granger must have been imbibing in mental telepathy with a prognosis that spelt his parliamentary isolation in the near future and his political exclusion in a limited autonomy. His power extinction is a quick retreat through the back door in a quiet and subtle manner and in a slow metamorphosed process. As a tired and beaten person, he is an affront to his family’s dignity and should be encouraged to draw the cur-

tains and bow to the call of a sedated lifestyle.

One of the die-hard and old fateful of the PNC party had said, “To those advocating exclusion of others from involvement in the nation’s management and decision-making, on whatever pretext, such action is not only promoting discrimination and alienation of sections of society, but could eventually lead to destabilization and social unrest.”

This pre-meditated threat did materialise and Berbice did burn, this being another proof that the legacy of a PNC party’s unfavourable post-election result was brought forward and will be carry-forward. “Big Jail” is about to re-open for the Christmas semester but the “Headmaster” will be in school on the 17-18th September.

Watch how all dem school children gon be on them P’s and Q’s with dem mouth and tail yu know where!

Respectfully, Jai Lall

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Regional

T&T Police charge homeless Search continues for Jamaicans, with failing to wear masks as Haitians missing at sea COVID-19 restrictions extended M

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t least five homeless people were issued fixed penalty tickets

by Police for failing to wear masks in public as a means of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The men were all stopped and ticketed by Police near Harris Promenade and Mucurapo Street, San Fernando on Saturday.

Reports are that the homeless people were stopped and questioned by Police and told of the offence. The ticket states they have 14 days to pay the TT$1000 fine. If they fail to pay, they must appear before a magistrate in the San Fernando Traffic Court for a virtual hearing.

In order to pay the fine, people must call a number provided on the tickets to be told when and where they have to pay.

Newsday spoke to one of the men. He said he and many others do not have any money to buy masks or pay the fine.

“I don’t live anywhere. I live on the streets, because I

Homeless men sleep near the San Fernando Police Station on Harris Promenade on Saturday

don’t have a place to go. You think I like it here? I have no money to buy food, so where will I get money to buy a mask?”

He said the Police will have to go and find him after the 14-day period.

“I don’t even have a phone to contact any court.”

We are aware of what is happening in the world and our country with COVID-19.

We read papers, we are not stupid. But we don’t have a choice. We don’t have any masks and people don’t even come near to us, so the Police

are really wasting their time charging us.”

Another homeless man said people have donated masks to them, but they have no clean water to wash them when they become dirty.

Public health restrictions implemented a month ago to roll back on the reopening of the economy as the country’s COVID-19 spread worsened will be extended for another four weeks, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced Saturday. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday and Trinidad Guardian)

Hurricane Paulette rolls toward Bermuda

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esidents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette, while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the United States’ Gulf Coast.

Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring a storm surge, coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda, according to a US National Hurricane Centre advisory.

Bermuda’s Government announced that LF Wade International Airport would close Sunday evening, and Government buildings would be closed on today and Tuesday. It opened several

Forecasters said Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 128km/h (80mph) as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda [RAMMB/NOAA/AFP]

shelters for evacuees.

Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 130 kilome-

tres per hour (80 mph) as the system moved along a curved course towards Bermuda, forecasters said. The biggest threats were strong winds, storm surge, up to 15cm (6 inches) of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents.

The storm was 386km (240 miles) southeast of the territory Sunday and was moving northwest at 23 km/h (14mph). It is the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the centre was tracking in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Up to 3.4m (11 feet) of water was predicted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

embers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Marine Division, and the United States Coast Guard were on Sunday continuing a searchand-rescue mission for several Haitian and Jamaican nationals reportedly missing at sea.

The Police say they received an alert early Saturday that a 27-foot vessel was taking in water nine miles south of Chub Cay in the Berry Islands, and, on arrival, the cops found the vessel partially submerged with several individuals in the water clinging to the vessel.

Twelve people were subsequently rescued with ongoing search efforts to find the others.

The rescued migrants were transported to HMBS Coral Harbour to be processed and checked by medical personnel in advance

of subsequent handover to Police and immigration officials for further processing and investigation.

Defence Force Coordinator, Commander William Sturrup and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force both reminded boaters of their responsibility to observe boating safety requirements related to the possession of adequate safety, survival and communications equipment as per the

Port Department regulations. The boaters were also warned to pay strict attention to weather warnings, which are guided by the Bahamas Meteorological Department.

In addition, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force urged the general public to report instances of smuggling and trafficking in people trends to its Operations Department to effectively counter such transnational maritime threats. (CMC)

Venezuelan media names alleged US spy arrested near refinery complex

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ro-Government media in Venezuela on Sunday named an alleged US spy who President Nicolás Maduro said was captured last week near the country’s largest oil refinery complex.

Outlets close to the ruling Socialist Party identified the detainee as a former marine, John Heath Mattew, and said he was arrested on Thursday with three other people including a sergeant major in Venezuela’s National Guard as they drove between Falcon and Zulia states in north-western Venezuela.

Ultimas Noticias newspaper, citing a preliminary report by the authorities, said the US suspect was a former marine who had fought in Iraq, and that during the arrest soldiers seized a satellite phone,

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro

credit cards, and mobile phones.

Reuters could not independently confirm the reports.

Neither Venezuela’s Information Ministry nor Prosecutor’s Office immediately responded to requests for comment on Sunday.

The US State Department

had no comment on the matter. The White House did not respond to request for comment.

Falcon state is home to the giant Paraguana Refining Complex, comprising the Amuay and Cardon refineries. Both have experienced multiple outages in recent years that the Opposition blames on mismanagement and lack of maintenance.

Maduro has said the suspect was caught while spying on the refineries and had been in possession of “specialised weapons ... large amounts of dollars and other items.”

“All the evidence is there, the photographs, the videos, this spy is a marine, who was serving as a marine at CIA bases in Iraq,” Maduro said on State TV on Friday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica receives US$2.1B to support medium-term socio-economic framework Barbados: Deputy DPP

J

amaica has received US$2.1 billion in official development assistance from international development partners to advance the Government’s strategic objectives and priorities under the 2018-2021 medium term socio-economic policy framework.

As contained in the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s 2019 Economic and Social Survey, the provision was part of an overall US$2.2 billion, which included counterpart funding by the Government, to finance new and ongoing projects.

The implementation framework facilitates stageby-stage operationalisation of the long-term national

development plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica, which aims to position the island to achieve developed country status and, in the process, make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

The funding support comprised loans of US$1.5 billion and grants amounting to US$595.3 million, with disbursements totalling US$273.3 million.

Bilateral partners were the largest providers with 48.4 per cent, with multilateral financing institutions accounting for the second highest provision of 47.5 per cent.

The remaining inputs came from multilateral tech-

nical cooperation agencies – 2.1 per cent; environment and climate change funds – 1.8 per cent; and multi-donor funds – 0.2 per cent.

The five largest cooperation programmes with Jamaica, by total resources, were the People’s Republic of China – US$750.6 million; the Inter-American Development Bank – US$597.5 million; the World Bank – US$232 million; the European Union – US143.3 million; and the United Kingdom – US$100.9 million.

New official development assistance funding for 20152019 totalled approximately US$1.8 million. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

warns lawyers

A

s the legal profession prepares to welcome new Attorneys next month, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale is urging new lawyers to catch the bus if necessary to avoid the pitfalls that befell disgraced Attorney Cheraine Nicole Parris.

“If it takes catching a bus, put your files in a bag and come down,” he said.

“People will laugh, but people will not laugh when you are in a dock [after] pleading guilty to a criminal charge with a sentence hanging

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale.

(FILE)

over your head.

“You cannot foist your

expectations on other people by either charging exorbitant fees or simply stealing from the client,” Seale advised.

Parris, of Lowlands, Christ Church, had confessed to stealing Bds$302, 000 belonging to former horse trainer Ashleigh Morrison, between April 15 and August 20, 2010. She had originally been charged with stealing Bds$462, 000, but was indicted for the lesser amount after she repaid the difference. (Excerpt from Nation News)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS OPEC bid to rescue oil market falters as demand bounce fades

I

t was meant to be the week when OPEC nations gathered in Baghdad to celebrate the cartel’s six decades as a dominant force in global oil markets.

Instead, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies will convene online, and reflect on whether the coronavirus has thwarted their best efforts to keep the market afloat.

After reviving crude prices from an unprecedented collapse over the spring, OPEC+ is seeing the recovery stall and fuel demand falter as the deadly pandemic surges once again.

Prices slipped below US$40 a barrel last week for the first time since June.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and Russia -- the leading members of the alliance -- will chair a monitoring meeting to assess whether the vast production cuts, which they started easing in August, are still staving off an oil glut. New signs of exporters reneging on the deal aren’t helping.

The relapse is a source of acute financial distress for OPEC nations, from poorer members like Nigeria and Venezuela -- who need crude prices far above current levels to cover Government spending -- all the way up to wealthy Gulf monarchies like Kuwait.

Riyadh and Moscow had anticipated that a resumption in global economic activity, combined with the supply curbs, would sharply deplete the hoard of surplus oil inventory accumulated during lockdowns. But there are growing signs the market isn’t tightening so fast.

The peak holiday driving season has passed in the US, yet rush-hour traffic is still sparse and crude inventories stubbornly high. In India, the third-biggest consumer, transport-fuel sales remained 20 per cent below year-ago levels last month. Even in China, where refiners binged on crude at the height of the crisis, buying has slowed.

Trading houses are hiring oil tankers on long-term contracts once again to store surplus barrels.

And Libya, which is exempt from the output cuts because of a civil war that’s all but shut down its oil industry, may resume exports soon, according to US officials. The North African country’s production has slumped to less than 100,000 barrels a day from 1.1 million at the end of last year.

The downturn isn’t yet severe enough for OPEC+ to reimpose the full output cutbacks made in the second quarter, according to Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets LLC. After tapering the cuts last month from 9.7 million barrels a day to 7.7 million, a sense of inertia means there will be a “high bar” for any new action, she said.

In theory, OPEC’s task should get easier next quarter as demand for winter fuels kicks in and a gradually mending global economy rekindles the need for road and aviation fuels, data from the International Energy Agency in Paris shows.

But as the outlook continues to darken, the Saudis may choose to underscore their readiness to act.

In the meantime, the kingdom will press on with its mission to enforce rigorous implementation of the curbs.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has achieved an unusual degree of success in this area, bringing habitual quota-violators like Iraq and Nigeria to heel by assigning them “compensation cuts” to make up for earlier cheating.

The two countries have so far implemented only a fraction of those extra curbs, and Baghdad is expected to seek more time to deliver the rest. Nonetheless, the punishment itself has apparently spurred them to previously unseen levels of compliance with the original quotas.

Just as they toe the line, Riyadh is encountering a new challenge from an unexpected quarter. The United Arab Emirates, traditionally a staunch ally, has admitted to flouting its limits by roughly 20 per cent, while promising to correct the error. Export data from consultants like Petro-Logistics SA and Kpler SAS indicate the UAE’s transgression could be many times bigger.

The Saudis will likely to try discreetly address the misbehaviour of their Gulf partner, which for now appears a minor blemish in an otherwise well-executed strategy, said RBC’s Croft. The bigger issue is whether OPEC+ responds promptly enough if the deterioration in oil demand continues.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Coronavirus: Israel to impose 3-week national lockdown

I

srael is to impose a new national lockdown - becoming the first country in the world to take such a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It will begin on Friday and last three weeks, including Jewish new year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the measures would "exact a heavy price on us all", but the country faced a surge with 4000 new daily infections.

A Minister has resigned to protest against the restrictions that overlap with important Jewish festivals.

Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who leads an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party, said the measures would prevent Jewish people from

Israel - with a population of nine million - has been seeing some 4000 new cases a day

celebrating their religious festivals, including Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, on September 27.

He also threatened to pull

his party out of the governing coalition.

The country has seen 1108 deaths from COVID-19 and more than 153,000 confirmed infections, according

to a global tally kept by US university Johns Hopkins.

Netanyahu acknowledged the disruption the lockdown would cause to Jewish communities celebrating religious holidays that normally see families come together.

"This is not the kind of holiday we are used to. And we certainly won't be able to celebrate with our extended families," he said.

The restrictions on indoor gatherings will severely impact prayers in synagogues.

The second lockdown will cost the economy, which is in recession due to the pandemic, an estimated 6.5 billion shekels (US$1.88 billion), the Finance Ministry said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Los Angeles Police Officers shot in “ambush”

T

wo Los Angeles Police Officers are in a critical condition after being shot in what Police are calling an ambush.

Video of the incident shows a figure approach the officers' vehicle, before opening fire and running away.

Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the act "cowardly". The suspect remains at large.

Almost 40 US police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020, FBI statistics show - eight of them were victims of an ambush.

Protesters shouted anti-police slogans and blocked the entrance to the emergency room where the two officers are being treated, Police and witnesses said.

Two people were arrested, including a journalist who

Police said tried to interfere with the arrest of the other detainee and did not identify herself as a member of the press.

The reporter, Josie Huang, tweeted she had "thoughts and videos" to share, while her employer, NPR, said they were "appalled" by her arrest.

The officers involved in the shooting have not been

named, but have been described as a 31-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man.

Sharing the footage of the incident, US President Donald Trump, tweeted: "Animals that must be hit hard."

His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, said he was praying the officers recover. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Several dead and missing after landslides in Nepal

L

andslides triggered by torrential rain swept through two villages in Nepal on Sunday, killing at least 12 people, a Government official said.

Ten people were killed and 21 declared missing after a massive landslide swept away homes and people in Bahrabise, 100km (62 miles) east of capital Kathmandu near the border with the Tibet region of China, Nepalese Government official Murari Wasti said.

The village and the surrounding area were among the regions worst hit by Nepal's devastating 2015

The latest fatalities raise death toll from landslides and flash floods in the June-September monsoon season to more than 300

earthquake and reconstruction work had been continuing when the landslide struck.

The torrential rain, which caused a foothill to collapse, destroyed more than 100 houses in Bahrabise.

"We fear more landslides as the soil has grown weaker after the earthquake," said Nimphunjo Sherpa, Mayor of the affected Bahrabise municipality.

The municipality is planning to move some at-risk

settlements, he added.

Two others died in a landslide in Baglung in the northwest.

Both landslides struck the villages before dawn and people could not escape to safety, rescuers said.

"Rescuers are looking for those who are missing," Wasti told Reuters news agency.

The latest fatalities took the death toll from landslides and flash floods in the June-September monsoon season to 314.

At least 111 people remain missing and 160 have been injured, Wasti said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Death toll rises in US as wildfires continue in West Coast states

M

ore than 30 people have been killed by wildfires that are sweeping through US West Coast states, officials say.

Dozens of people are missing in Oregon alone, with one emergency official saying the state should be preparing for a "mass fatality incident".

Fires have been raging in Oregon, California and Washington for three weeks, burning millions of acres of land and destroy-

ing thousands of homes.

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.

Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden warned on Saturday that "climate change poses an imminent, existential threat to our way of life" and accused President Donald Trump, a climate sceptic, of denying "that reality".

Trump, who is due to visit California on Monday to

be briefed on the latest situation, blames the wildfires on poor forest management.

The smoke pollution from the wildfires has left Oregon's largest city, Portland, with the worst air quality in the world, followed by San Francisco and Seattle, according to IQAir. com.

In Oregon, where firefighters are battling 16 large blazes, 40,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.

In Washington state, firefighters are tackling 15 large fires. A one-year-old boy died earlier this week as his family tried to escape a blaze. His parents remain in a critical condition.

California has seen at least 22 deaths in total from fires since August 15. Tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders as 14,800 firefighters continue to combat 28 major fires in the state. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Mental, physical and emotional stimulation will help you release pent-up energy and encourage you to bypass potential conflicts.

Concentrate on what's important, not on trivial matters or people who don't share your values.

TAURUS Take your time. If you act (April 20in haste, you will end up havMay 20) ing to backtrack. Monitor situations carefully, and avoid taking a risk that can affect your physical or emotional well-being.

Look inward and consider GEMINI what makes you happy. Strive (May 21- to spend more time with loved June 20) ones and to take better care of yourself and your surroundings. A positive change at home will encourage good health and strong relationships.

DILBERT

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Lessons from past will help you make better decisions as you move forward.

Use your imagination, and look for new ideas that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

Be diplomatic. Problems will arise at work if you aren't adaptable. Look for a way to work with whatever comes down the pike. Make personal growth a priority.

Look for the truth, question your motives and pursue what's most important.

Positive changes at home will open your eyes to possibilities.

Make moves for the right reason, and you will get the results you desire.

Search for the truth., It's essential to feel comfortable with the decisions you make. Don't spend money on something you don't need.

Impulsive actions will lead to regret. Focus on peace and love.

Explore your options, and learn all you can about the people you are dealing with and the projects you want to pursue. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone if it will help you bring about positive change.

Look for financial opportunities, tie up pending legal matters or contracts, and don't take risks with your health. Take better care of yourself, your loved ones and your money. Romance is in the stars.

Rely on your experience when it comes time to make a decision. Don't be fooled by someone's charm or give in to persuasive tactics that tempt you to do something you shouldn't. Concentrate on gaining stability and making home improvements.

You'll gain insight into where you stand and how you can move forward without jeopardizing your position, reputation or status due to a change someone makes. Romance is favored.

Don't fight a change regarding how you earn your living. Reluctance to move forward with the changes going on around you will hold you back. Embrace the future with gusto.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

C

Holding slams England Cricket Board for abandoning show of support for BLM

ricket commentator Michael Holding has taken the England Cricket and Wales Board (ECB) to task for not continuing the practice of players taking the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) for their series against both Pakistan and now Australia.

During the West Indies tour of England in July, players took the knee in support of the global movement for equality for people of colour. However, that has since ended with subsequent tours triggering the ire of the former West Indies fast bowler.

"Now that the West Indies team has gone home, that doesn't mean that you still shouldn't be respecting the message and exactly what it stands for," Holding said.

He explained that the movement had generated global momentum and awareness.

The ECB should do what it can to help maintain it. "So for Pakistan and England not to then take that signal – because you are not doing anything other than going down on one knee – you are not chanting anything, you are not saying anything, all you are doing is making a signal to keep the awareness going.”

Meanwhile, the ECB responded to the SkySports commentator that while they respect his opinion, they have chosen to go in the direction of a more sustainable form of action. "Many of cricket’s teams, both domestic and international, took the knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement for their opening games, with the Men's Test Team continuing throughout the entire series with the West Indies,” the ECB statement said.

Hamilton beats Bottas to win crazy Tuscan GP, as Albon secures maiden podium

M

21

ercedes’s Lewis Hamilton overcame two red-flag stoppage periods to claim victory in an action-filled Tuscan Grand Prix, beating his team-mate Valtteri Bottas, as Red Bull’s Alex Albon claimed the maiden podium of his Formula 1 career.

A late red flag, the second of the race – after Racing Point’s Lance Stroll went off at Arrabbiata 2 while holding fourth place – set up a dramatic finale to the first Grand Prix to be held at Mugello, with Hamilton holding on to take his 90th career win from Bottas, as behind, Albon pulled off a fantastic move on Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo to claim an important third with eight laps of the race to go.

Ricciardo was left to come home fourth, tantalisingly close to his first podium with Renault, as Sergio Perez finished fifth for Racing Point. With just 12 runners classified at the finish, Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren, ahead of the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc classified eighth at the team’s 1000th Grand Prix.

Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen was ninth after receiving a five-second race penalty, with the second Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel rounding out the top 10. That left Williams’ George Russell 11th, agonisingly close to the team’s first points of the year, while Haas’ Romain Grosjean finished 12th of 12.

Max Verstappen and Monza winner Pierre Gasly’s Tuscan Grands Prix lasted just two corners, with both caught up in a melee at Turn 2 – Verstappen having already suffered a power unit issue that saw him fall down the order before getting punted off, with Gasly caught up in the incident as well. A resultant safety car then led to a huge accident at the Lap 7 race restart, with Carlos Sainz, Antonio Giovinazzi, Kevin Magnussen, and Nicholas Latifi all taken out of the race – thankfully without serious injury, with the race red-flagged while the debris was cleared up, before the second red flag came on Lap 45 after Stroll’s accident, making for a first race at Mugello that won’t be soon forgotten. (F1)

"Our response to the Black Lives Matter debate has been to view the issue alongside the whole inclusion and diversity space, to ensure that long-term and sustainable change happens for all communities who are not treated equally. We remain committed to this philosophy.

"Our refreshed inclusion and diversity strategy, published at the start of the West Indies Series, commits to several comprehensive initiatives that focus on eliminating discrimination from all areas of cricket.

"England's men’s and women’s players all remain committed to using their reach and influence to keep promoting inclusion and diversity in perpetuity, for the betterment of cricket and sport. We understand the importance of symbolism, and its power to keep an issue high on the agenda, our goal is to

ensure we deliver both reach and change.”

However, Holding believes that change will require more than just education.

"It is not a matter of which one is more important. Education is very important – I said that when I had my talk on Sky – but you can't just say that education is the most important thing and do nothing else. We have still got to keep the awareness going.

“I don’t care about any politics behind the Black Lives Matter – I just care about those three words. Black Lives Matter. And it’s time for the world to accept that black lives matter and move the entire world towards that agreement and that realisation, because it is obvious that we need to do something in this world if we are going to get equality for all races and all nations.”

(Sportsmax)

Lionel Messi plays for Barcelona in preseason friendly win

L

ionel Messi made his first appearance for Barcelona since his failed attempt to leave the club, playing in their friendly with Gimnastic de Tarragona.

The 33-year-old Argentine submitted a transfer request in August, but decided to stay last week because no club would be able to afford his release clause. Messi started in the 3-1 win over third-tier Nastic after the club confirmed he would remain as captain.

He was replaced along with the other starters at half-time. Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring with Antoine

Griezmann and Phillipe Coutinho netting penalties. Messi, Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer, believed he had a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave for free and did not begin pre-season training.

Barcelona and La Liga insisted that clause was no longer valid – with any club wishing to buy him required to pay a release clause of 700 million euros (£624 million) - and Messi returned to training after saying he would not take the club to court. Barca's season starts on Sunday, September 27 with a home game against Villarreal in La Liga. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

How Brendon McCullum used the “Last Dance” to spur Trinbago Knight Riders H

ead Coach Brendon McCullum impressed upon the Trinbago Knight Riders the way to build a T20 dynasty by showing them clips from the “Last Dance”, the mini documentary series about how Michael Jordan ensured the Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles in the 1990s.

The Knight Riders went on to win all their 12 matches in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020, including a dominating eight-wicket win in the final against the St Lucia Zouks.

This was the Knight Riders' fourth CPL title in the last six editions, and as McCullum rightly envisioned, this indeed is becoming a

Sikandar Raza this year have also made a difference. Pollard was adjudged Player of the Tournament, while Simmons was the Player of the Final. The 48-year-old Tambe bowled economically in his three appearances while Raza finished with seven wickets at an average of 15.71.

According to Raza, McCullum laid down a new marker for the Knight Riders from the very beginning. "It started with one game at a time," Raza told ESPNcricinfo. "We won the first one. We put our focus on the second one. Baz [McCullum] challenged all of us. He wanted to create a dynasty out of this TKR team by telling us that this team

Sikandar Raza and co

dynasty. Both Dwayne and Darren Bravo have been involved in all four triumphs. Anderson Phillip, Colin Munro, and Khary Pierre have won it thrice, while Amir Jangoo, Fawad Ahmed, Ali Khan, and Sunil Narine are among those who have been on the winning side twice.

McCullum and Nikita Miller have won it twice as a player and now as head coach and spin-bowling coach respectively, while Kevon Cooper has won it thrice as a player and now as the seam-bowling coach.

The continuity within the squad has certainly helped them ease to a fourth title, but the additions of Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons in 2019 and then Pravin Tambe and

has a lot in common with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

"He showed us clips of the “Last Dance”. He wanted to challenge us to write some sort of history, something that hasn't been achieved before. The idea came from Baz. We all bought into this. One game led to another, and another, and we won 12 out of 12."

Raza rated the Knight Riders right up there among the best T20 sides in the world, thanks to the presence of some of the biggest names in franchise cricket. He also said that McCullum gave him a clear role in the team, which helped

Brendon McCullum

him prepare accordingly.

"Among all the T20 sides I have been part of, I would most certainly rate this TKR side as the best one going around. It was exciting hitting the nets with Polly [Pollard] and Bravo. These guys will just tee off. I will even add Sunny [Narine] bhai, Lendl and Darren Bravo.

These guys hit a long ball as well.

"It was important to have that chat with Baz, to basically have an understanding of my role, what's expected and train accordingly. Once you have these chats and the role is clear, then training becomes a lot clearer. The takeaway was basically how best I can improve my game with what I have.

Polly, Bravo, Lendl and Colin Munro were great guys to talk to."

Raza's wickets of lefthanders Kyle Mayers and Corey Anderson in the game against the Barbados Tridents came in the slog overs, while his figures of 3 for 15 against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots were his best performance in the competition.

"With the TKR, one thing that I understood was that it's the culture we have," he said. "We didn't care if we were bowling the first or the last over. Once you are asked to get the job done, you do it the best you can.

If it works, it works. If it doesn't work, it's okay. You will come back and be asked to do a better job. If you sulk, it will have a ripple effect on your batting and fielding.

"So if you are asked to bowl in the later stages… we have worked hard, we are clear in our plans and we try to execute our skills the best way we can. I thought every over I bowled in the Caribbean was a death over, so there wasn't much of a change. I had to bowl my best balls, that's all."

Raza said that the prolonged preparatory phase also gave him a chance to work on his new variations, including an arm-ball that swings in the air. "If you are not evolving as a cricketer consistently, I think you are missing out. So, yes, I have developed a ball that swings in the air. I bowled a couple of variations on my last Bangladesh tour as well, which I felt were okay but they were still raw.

"We had a lot of training time here and we bowled a lot with Nikita Miller. We bounced off the idea with the back-of-the-hand and the leggie going the other way. Hopefully, I will manage to bowl those deliveries next time I play for Zimbabwe or in one of those leagues."

Raza, though, could have missed out on being part of the Knight Riders had it not been for their CEO Venky Mysore's intervention. Raza's arrival to Trinidad had become a bit of concern due to limited flight options, and he had to go through six transits to reach his destination.

"Harare to Trinidad was a long journey, but the credit goes to Venky sir. There was a time when it looked like I wasn't going to make it to the CPL. They basically asked the TKR to sign a replacement, but Venky sir said 'No, no, no, we will get our boy'.

"To tell you the truth, he made sure I get there. The journey was Harare-Addis Ababa-DubaiAmsterdam-Paris-Fort de FranceMartinique-Barbados-TKR. As much as it was tough, now that I look back, it was all worth it."

(ESPNcricinfo)

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

From CPL to IPL: Players touch down in UAE P

layers who recently competed in the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have already left Trinidad for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will bowl off in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on September 19.

Colin Borde, Manager of 2020 CPL champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), told Newsday that the players who would represent Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL left on Friday. TKR and KKR are both owned by Red Chillies Entertainment and the Mehta Group.

“KKR players from the league (CPL)…they all left (on Friday) night for Dubai via Malta and are en route to Dubai as we speak,” Borde said on Saturday afternoon.

TKR pair Ali Khan and Sunil Narine, along with Jamaica Tallawahs all-rounder Andre Russell and Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain and off-spinner Chris Green left to join KKR. They were joined by TKR Vice Captain

Flashback: Guyanese in IPL Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford

Dwayne Bravo who will play for Chennai Super Kings. TKR leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, who became the first Indian to play in the CPL, joined them on the flight.

TKR Captain Kieron Pollard departed on Thursday night immediately after the finals were played to join the Mumbai Indians. Sherfane Rutherford of the Amazon Warriors arrived in UAE alongside Pollard to play for Mumbai.

Other West Indies cricketers who will play in the IPL are Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul (Delhi Capitals); Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell (Kings XI Punjab); Fabian Allen (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals).

The rest of the foreign players who represented TKR left on Saturday for their respective destinations. They include the New Zealand pair of Colin Munro and Tim Seifert, Australian Fawad Ahmed, and Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe.

(T&T Newsday)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

A hopeless CPL for some big names

Shai Hope

Corey Anderson

Sherfane Rutherford

Darren Sammy

By Brandon Corlette

Chadwick Walton Over the years, Walton has been a prolific batsman in the CPL. This season is simply his poorest since the inception of his career. A classy right-hander known around the Caribbean, Walton made 24 runs in eight matches at an average of three at a strike rate of 60 with a high score of 10.

Walton tried his fortunes at the top of the order, in the middle order but his failures continued across the eight matches he played.

tournament continued downhill.

had a high score of 34 at a poor strike rate of 107.8.

That strike rate is evidence of how he struggled in this edition of the CPL.

A

ssessing players who return to cricket after an extended period is certainly a difficult task.

The 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw some poor performances recorded by some good players. A quick turnaround between matches and life in a bio-secure bubble may have resulted in these failures.

Ross Taylor Taylor is regarded as one of the more stable T20 batters in cricket and he came with the intention to stabilise the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ batting in place of Shoaib Malik. By his high standards, scoring 164 runs in 11 matches at 23.4 at a strike rate of 87.2 is poor. Taylor played one impactful innings of

Brandon King The Guyana Amazon Warriors missed that batting royalty this season from the Kingman. This season, King scored 116 runs at an average of 11.6 and a strike rate of 98.3. His high score was 51*, but the fashion in which he was dismissed was beyond poor for a player with such talent. He lacked application but like many other players, this may be a result of the nature of the tournament and the long lay-off he had.

Chadwick Walton

Shai Hope After a horrific Test tour in England, Shai Hope's poor run of form continued in the 2020 CPL. It took his countryman, Jason Holder eight matches and three Tests for him to be excluded from a starting XI. For Hope, many would have said he found it difficult to play the red ball in Test cricket, but his fortunes did not change with the white ball in CPL. Many may argue that Hope is not a T20 player, but his batting style is not far off from his Test team-mate Roston Chase’s and he succeeded in the shorter format. In eight matches, Hope scored 118 runs at a poor batting average of 14.75, with a strike rate of 88.7 and a high score of 36. His OneDay International (ODI) record is supreme, but of recent that has been forgotten.

Carlos Brathwaite On air, Brathwaite usually receives a boost from Ian Bishop. The fluent Bishop always reminds the viewers that Brathwaite has a good Test batting average, he scored a World Cup century and hit four sixes to hand West Indies a T20 World Cup. In this tournament, that batting prowess was nowhere in Brathwaite's touch.

Playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs, Brathwaite scored 60 runs in 11 matches. Many will argue that his primary role in the Tallawahs team this season was to bowl, but when he was called upon to hit those big sixes, he failed, over and over. His strike rate this season is 78. With ball in hand, Brathwaite had good outings, taking 10 wickets at an average of 24.9.

Carlos Brathwaite

Corey Anderson The New Zealand international was dropped from the Barbados Tridents after playing seven matches and scoring only 53 runs at an average of 7.57. With a strike rate of 86, Anderson failed to show his six-hitting prowess and his performances halted Tridents’ title defence. Anderson began the campaign batting at number three, but his

Chris Lynn

33 when he partnered Nicholas Pooran in a centuryrun partnership.

Chris Lynn The big Australian, Chris Lynn had shown glimpses of Lynsanity, but his overall tournament was below par, for a T20 player of his quality.

The 138 runs he scored in nine matches proved insufficient for his St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Lynn

Sherfane Rutherford Heading into this tournament with a high-level of fitness, Rutherford expected more than 39 runs in seven matches at an average of 5.5 and a strike rate of 76.4. The usually explosive left-handed batsman had a high score of 15. Given this lean patch, he will be aiming to make amends when he rocks the Mumbai Indians outfit in the India Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Daren Sammy If leadership was the only basis on which you are selected, Sammy has perfected this. For the first time in the history of CPL, St Lucia Zouks reached the final. However, Sammy scored only 42 runs in 10 innings at an average of 6 and a strike rate of 82.

He only took one wicket and had little time with ball in hand and batted very low in the order.

“Bowlers looked 10 times better than they were” – WI legend Roberts critical of CPL pitches

W

est Indies legendary fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts has criticised the recent pitches used in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for offering significant assistance to otherwise average bowlers.

The surfaces at the recently-concluded CPL were at the centre of attention for most of the campaign. Many argued that the condition of the surfaces played a significant part in scores that were

much lower than usual. In the end, the tournament was won by the home team, Trinbago Knight Riders who often did not seem to struggle on the surfaces. In fact, the Knight Riders ended with a perfect record. Also not finding fault with the surface, however, was the majority of the bowlers.

“I know we blame COVID for everything, but this is not one of the things we should try to blame on COVID…we are

making bowlers look 10 times as good as they are and especially in the spin department,” Roberts recently said on Antigua’s Good Morning Jojo Radio programme.

The competition was held in unusual circumstances this season, with all the matches held in Trinidad and Tobago due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Roberts, however, still believes the pitches, notwithstanding, could have been better prepared.

“You knew about three or four months ago that you’re going to have this tournament in Trinidad, one country, but you have two different facilities that you are going to play at, so arrangements should be made to get all the pitches up to a certain standard,” he added.

“When I say all, I mean the entire square, because you can’t just use two pitches for the number of matches you are going to be playing on them.” (Sportsmax)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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

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A hopeless CPL for some big names Pg 23

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“Bowlers looked 10 times better than they were” – WI legend Roberts critical of CPL pitches

From CPL to IPL: Players touch down in UAE

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