Guyana Times - Saturday, February 20, 2021

New Canadian P9 HC renews commitment to partnering in petroleum sector Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4565

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

PRICE

Govt terminates $413M Leguan Stelling contract after contractor fails to meet obligations

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Eccles-to- P13 Mandela road project will facilitate easier housing access – Min Rodrigues

Mother, son nabbed with ganja, stolen P5 items

See story on page 7

Opposition APNU/AFC ineffective and weak – Attorney Selwyn Pieters

– Should quit calling the PPP Govt “illegal”

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Berbice Assizes

Man pleads guilty to killing brother P15 in 2017 – 2 others plead guilty to manslaughter, attempted murder

Page 3

Govt distributes No smart classrooms $161.1M to North Pakaraima at PC, East Ruimveldt, communities – PM says Govt aims to bridge developmental gap between coast and hinterland regions Brickdam schools Cathy Hughes’s falsehood exposed:

See story on page 11

Page 9

Beepat threatens $200M lawsuit against Georgetown Mayor over false tax claims

Page 2

Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases drop to 514 P12 – 19 new cases recorded in 24 hours

Lusignan inmate throws bag with ganja into prison compound

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2 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Beepat threatens $200M lawsuit against Georgetown Mayor over false tax claims — Mayor Narine contends he is representing City Council

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hairman of the Giftland Mall, Roy Beepat has threatened a $200 million lawsuit against Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine if he refuses to apologise for making false remarks about the company owing mega taxes to City Hall which has caused the Group “irreparable harm”.

Chief Justice Roxane George on Thursday ruled in the case brought by Giftland that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) acted illegally when it claimed more than $100 million in rates and taxes from the Giftland Group.

In a statement on Friday, Giftland said that the High Court found too that at this period, no taxes are owed by the company to the city.

The M&CC had used a valuation that was in breach of the Valuation Act to impose the huge charges against

the Group, hence the court threw out the demand notice that was sent to the company claiming taxes.

Beepat said he has been vindicated by the court. As such, he has given an ultimatum to Mayor Narine to apologise to him in person by 14:00h on Monday (February 22, 2020) at the Giftland Mall in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, otherwise, he will face a $200 million lawsuit in his personal capacity for defamation and damages caused to the company’s reputation.

“I have no interest in suing the city. I would be suing the Mayor personally because he had made it personal. So, it’s either he can come up here and he can offer an apology for all the wrong things he has done to me and my company or he face the whole brunt of the Giftland wrath,”

Giftland Chairman Roy Beepat

Beepat asserted during an interview with Guyana Times on Friday.

According to the Giftland Group of Companies Chairman, his company has been victimised, polarised and its reputation has suffered “irreparable harm”.

“He has boycotted the hundreds of people that owe taxes and made it a point to

attack Roy Beepat and the Giftland Group. And such actions are reprehensible considering that we were in discussion to have all our taxes matters to be settled at the time he decided to make these statements and come out and attack us. He has caused irreparable harm to our reputation and a lot of damages with our bankers and a lot of our international corresponding associates and our local community associates. We’ve been under this cloud for the last year, almost, for what the Mayor has put us under and it has been personal with him,” the businessman pointed out.

Beepat went on to note that he has been waiting over a year now to respond to the Mayor’s “personal attacks” against him and his company, and he will not be backing down from his threats.

He added that Narine’s allegations have not only tarnished his character and the company’s reputation but also affected its massive investment ventures.

“So he needs to understand that his words have consequences… We’ve lost a lot of customers based on the Mayor’s accusations against this company. They were completely unfounded. He has led this personal attack and it has caused this company money,” the Giftland Chairman posited.

However, in its missive on Thursday, the Group, cognisant of its corporate responsibility, offered an olive branch to the M&CC to find a way to work together having recognised that the country cannot run without taxes.

Asked on Friday whether this offer is still on the table, the businessman contended that he is still willing to work with the City Council going forward.

“Giftland has never shied from paying its taxes. We pay hundreds of millions in taxes every year and we’re to continue to try and find a way to continue work with them.

There are many properties around this area – Caricom, [Arthur Chung] Conference Centre and the [National] Aquatic Centre where you can get comparative values of taxes and we’re willing to go along with that. But when they pick a figure of 275 per cent out of the year and they compounded 21 per cent interest – where they could show no logical reasons where

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

they getting these hundreds of millions from, and where they can’t even provide basic sanitisation like garbage collection – and now they want huge taxes. These need to be worked out and we were trying to work it out before the Mayor jumped up and victimised me,” Beepat outlined.

Meanwhile, when contacted for a response to the business on Friday, Mayor Narine contented that the court only ruled on one aspect of the matter, that is, the illegality of the valuation.

Nevertheless, the city Mayor insisted that he was acting on behalf of the M&CC when he made the tax claims against Giftland.

“The only way I will apologise to Mr Beepat is after he shows the public a copy of his receipt that he had paid the Mayor and City Council since his business come in existence. And I represent the Mayor and City Council. I took an oath to represent the people of the city so I don’t have [to] attack Mr Beepat personally. I’m speaking on behalf of the citizens of Georgetown,” Narine asserted.

Lusignan inmate throws bag with ganja into prison compound

The ganja and other items found in the parcel

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n inmate of the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is in hot water after he was caught retrieving a parcel of marijuana from a car parked outside of the prison and then throwing it into the compound.

Shadrack King, 25, is currently serving a sentence for a wounding offence and he serves as an orderly in the penitentiary.

Based on reports received, at about 08:20h on the day in question, the prisoner was emptying garbage

outside of the prison when it was observed that he went into an old car parked outside of the jailhouse and retrieved a bulky plastic bag.

The inmate then threw the bag over the prison’s fence.

The Police said “alert prison officers” escorted the prisoner to the suspicious package which, when opened, revealed tobacco leaves, bamboo, zip lock bags and 1110.5 grams of ganja.

Investigations are ongoing.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, February 20 – 00:30h – 02:00h and 10:30h – 12:00h and Sunday, February 21 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 11:00h – 12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, February 20 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Sunday, February 21 – 10:50h – 12:20h.

Opposition APNU/AFC ineffective and weak – Attorney Selwyn Pieters – should quit calling the PPP Govt “illegal”

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 partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 10:11 and 22:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.07 metres.

Low Tide: 16:20h reaching a minimum height of 1.04 metre.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$62.91/barrel

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Rough Rice

$230.63/ton

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London Sugar

$481.40/ton

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USD Per Ounce

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$1785.60

Low/High Change

$1766.90 0.00

$1793.30 0.00%

Canada-based Guyanese Attorney Selwyn Pieters

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rominent GuyaneseCanadian Attorney-atLaw, Selwyn Pieters said that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition needs to step up and be a stronger parliamentary Opposition that is able to hold the Government accountable.

During an appearance on a social media programme “In the Ring” hosted by APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan, Pieters expressed the view that the coalition Opposition is not performing up to par.

“The Opposition needs to step itself up. I mean press conferences and that sort of stuff doesn’t really cut it,” he contended.

While noting that Joseph Harmon is a former client and a friend, the lawyer said he is not pleased with his work as the Leader of the Opposition.

“I’m not impressed with how he’s performing as a Leader of the Opposition. The Opposition is to keep Government accountable through Parliament and I’m not seeing it,” Pieters posited.

According to the Canadabased Guyanese attorney, who had participated in several major Commissions of Inquiry (CoIs) in Guyana and has been an activist on a plethora of social issues here, for the Government to perform effectively, there needs to be strong Opposition.

“You know, the Opposition shouldn’t be weak… The [12th] Parliament is only a separation of two seats so the Opposition has to be strong.

The Opposition has to perform well and the Opposition has to be responsible and sort of hold the Government to their promises to the people of Guyana…

As long as there is parliamentary accountability, the Government will perform just so that the scrutiny is not blistering in Parliament.”

However, Pieters surmised that the APNU/AFC Opposition is unable to effectively perform due to the differences within the coalition and the two individual parties by themselves.

“I think what has been happening and what the perception is – even with your own people, the perception is that the Opposition is weak… I think what needs to happen is the Opposition needs to work within its sphere,” the prominent lawyer stressed.

Back in August, two of the five parties that constituted the PNC-led APNU fraction of the coalition – the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the Justice For All Party (JFAP) quit the

partnership. This was further compounded by the divide within the PNC which saw several senior party members walking away in recent months as well as embattled PNC member James Bond publicly lashing out at the former President David Granger for causing the party’s loss at the March 2, 2020 elections as well as for the exclusion of Chairperson Volda Lawrence from the Members of Parliament list.

Meanwhile, AFC – the minority party in the coalition – has also faced its own challenges over the past months with several senior members resigning. Most of them accused the party of being consumed by the PNC. Only earlier this week, former AFC parliamentarian Reynard Ward said the party is “…in a broken, abusive and one-sided relationship…” with its coalition partner.

However, the AFC leadership seemed unfazed by this and during a press briefing on Wednesday, Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and General Secretary David Patterson had brushed off the claims of the party playing a submissive role to the APNU – a longstanding criticism since they joined forces in 2015.

Nevertheless, Pieters went on to outline that there is a lot of work that has to be done and the Opposition and Government need to find ways of working together for the betterment of the country.

Stop calling PPP Govt illegal

In the same breath, the attorney pointed out that this cannot happen if the Opposition continues to refer to the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration as “illegal”.

“The Opposition, who has just left Government, cannot operate as though they are estranged from the

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

Government of the day. From what I hear the posture is, you guys call them the “illegal Government”. They’re not an illegal Government, they’re the Government in power right now unless a court says that they’re not. And so it makes no sense not talking to them… If you call somebody illegal, and illegitimate and all that sort of stuff, you know, they may react in kind and not give you recognition even though that’s not a posture that should be taken,” the lawyer argued.

According to Pieters, who was an election observer at the contentious March 2 polls and had spoken out against the blatant attempts to “frustrate” the tabulation process of the Region Four votes, it is time to move on.

“The Opposition APNU/ AFC and the PPP/C have to engage in dialogue. We had five horrible months and some of us are still healing from it. I was getting death threats and kind of vitriols was spewed against me simply because I called things as I saw it. People didn’t agree with that and I had to bury that and move on. I don’t hold any ill-feelings against people for what happened during those five months but we all have to move on from that. The APNU/AFC is

in Opposition. The APNU/AFC will be well served by trying to build bridges with the supporters that left,” the attorney stressed.

To this end, he suggested that an independent interlocutor may be needed to bring the two sides to the drawing table to work on critical issues such as the pending judicial appointments and the most pressing matter that requires all Guyanese to have a collective front – the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

On this note, Pieters lauded the PPP/C Government for retaining former Foreign Affairs Minister and Foreign Secretary under the coalition regime, Carl Greenidge, who is currently Guyana’s Agent leading the local team in the border case.

“There has to be a coming together in some way for the development of this country.

Like how long will this [political] stalemate go on with just a small population of 750,000 people,” the Canada-based Guyanese asserted.

Moreover, the prominent attorney-at-law further cautioned the APNU/AFC against riling up its supporters. This was after Host Duncan claimed that persons on the ground are “waiting on the signal” to act.

But according to Pieters, “… if the Opposition party is the intellectual author of any conduct such as that which happened in the United States, there is always consequences – whether through the Parliament or whether through the criminal court or civilly. So, the Opposition always have to act responsibly even when people are calling to go out onto the streets. You don’t want an outcome that occurred in the United States recently, which was quite frankly disgraceful and a sort of a desecration of the sanctity of their legislature.”

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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

Substandard service by City Hall

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he Mayor and City Council have once again been called out by citizens over their garbage collection system, or lack thereof. This time the call started on social media, as tired citizens called out the M&CC by posting photos of garbage pileup in sections of the city. On many occasions, to justify their inability to carry out their fiduciary duty to the taxpayers of the city, the M&CC have consistently claimed that because of the lack of tax collection, they are unable to function expeditiously.

However, it seems like the M&CC have never grasped the fact that taxpayers expect authorities to provide them with quality services in return. That has always been the thrust of paying taxes. Further, it is their responsibility to ensure that they receive the type and quality of services they are paying for. To the disadvantage of the taxpayers of the city of Georgetown, there is hardly a way available to them to ensure that the M&CC keep their end of the bargain. This is unfair, since M&CC have legal recourse against delinquent taxpayers.

If City Hall is able to impress residents generally, the latter would be disinclined to default on their payments.

As it stands right now, M&CC not only owe garbage collection contractors, but the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). As this publication has said over and over again, of great concern is the M&CC’s lack of payment to NIS. This means that M&CC have put the employees’ benefits and entitlements at risk because of missing contributions. Also, of great concern is: why did NIS tolerate M&CC’s unlawful act? Year after year, City Hall has come in for heavy criticism over the management of its finances.

Just in August, the Local Government and Regional Development Minister raised questions regarding accountability for the $300 million Restoration Fund which was contributed for the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall building. As this publication had previously pointed out, the iconic City Hall structure has become an eyesore, and it would be no surprise if it crumbles in the near future. The Georgetown municipality has been cash-strapped for many years – mostly linked to lack of transparency and mismanagement of funds.

This publication reported last year that, on his part, the Local Government Minister has accused City Hall of “gross incompetence and mismanagement”. According to the Minister, the only thing that has been done in a year, despite $65 million being provided to City Hall to construct the admin building, was a design review of the structure that ought to be built. He said that information would have to be provided on whether City Hall has expended those resources on other things, or whether the resources are being held in escrow. It could be recalled also that the M&CC and then the APNU+AFC Government had embarked on a massive city-wide clean-up campaign in Georgetown and its environs.

While these efforts produced fairly good results regarding the general appearance of the city and its environs, the political Opposition at the time (PPP) and other stakeholders had raised questions in relation to the contracts awarded to carry out the works. The general perception was that friends and party supporters were the main beneficiaries. However, in spite of concerns that were raised about accountability and transparency, no effort was made to provide clarity to the public in relation to the sums expended and the beneficiaries of the contracts.

Once records are submitted, the current audit may determine to what extent public funds are being expended in a transparent and efficient manner. It would also seek to examine the tax collecting system, to determine if the allegations of dishonesty, deficiency, and discrepancies have any merit.

The mere fact that M&CC see it fit on several occasions – with the past and present Government - to request millions of tax payers’ dollars as bailout from their financial woes is enough reason for the Administration to act in the public’s interest.

Perhaps a reason why the M&CC seem to think that they can always depend on Central Government for a bailout is because they are under no pressure to perform. The leniency that has been afforded the council must stop if there is to be any improvement at City Hall.

The American space agency has successfully landed its Perseverance rover in a deep crater near Mars’ equator called Jezero. The sixwheeled vehicle will now spend at least the next two years drilling into the local rocks, looking for evidence of past life.

Jezero is thought to have held a giant lake billions of years ago. And where there’s been water, there’s the possibility there might also have been life

APNU Region 5 MP targeting professional public servants Dear Editor, In a very recent post on Facebook dated 19th February 2021, regional MP for the APNU\PNC Mr. Viceroy Jordan made a post under the heading and I quote “Breaking News!

Breaking News! Massive corruption unearthed in Mahaica-Berbice Region #5, contracts to build/install two (2) new incinerators at Mahaicony and Fort Wellington Hospitals which were awarded to contractors under the APNU+AFC Coalition government to the tune of $12 million both of which were given over by the now REO to PPP cronies.

The two contracts were awarded to a contracting service by selective tendering, to the tune of over $13.5 million each in late October,2020.

What is even more damning is that over 60% of the contract sums has already been paid to both contractors and to date no work has started. Fort Wellington hospital has an old incinerator that is not functioning properly and the one at Mahaicony Hospital is out of service staffers has been complaining about the large built up of garbage at both facilities”.

It is sad when persons are put at the highest place of representation to represent the people and sit one place on their behind and

play as if they know it all and whatever they hear is factual.

Firstly Mr. Sleeping MP, you need to wake up and smell the coffee, all most everything you have said in that post is absolutely untrue and as a member of parliament representing the people of region 5, you should do some research, in fact you are just representing yourself and trying hard to play the hate and race game.

Mr. Sleeping MP, you have mentioned massive corruption unearthed in region 5 and went on to state where or what caused you to make that allegation.

Let me say this, that you and your comrades have been targeting the said engineer for the past five years under the APNUAFC and have been accusing the said engineer who is a professional public servant, all because you guys could not have corrupted him to go the corrupt way.

As a former regional councillor, I have always found that the engineer acted in a very professional manner although he was targeted and pressured by even the former PNC REO and some of the top regional PNC officials. He was abused and many attempts were made to remove him but little did you guys know; I was rebelling against all the ministers that wanted to remove that

young man and it could not have happened as long as I sat as a regional councillor.

Mr. Sleeping MP, not only were your comrades and the former REO targeting the engineer, but a few contractors, esp. the contractor who was getting all the D&I work in the region and later became a building contractor (many of his work was not upto standard). They would complain to the REO and their PNC comrades when being corrected or when the engineer refused to sign off on works that didn’t go through the tendering process or not upto standard.

Mr. MP, you went on to mention a contractor name and label the engineer as a friend of the said person. Well, I guess because the public servant is an engineer, he should not have friends esp. those that he has friendship with over the many years. Is it only APNUAFC contractors who are allowed to be friends with government engineers? I guess so.

Maybe you as an MP need to know that the engineer does not control the tender board or even the selection of contractors, but it is being done in the most professional manner when giving out contracts through the tendering process and bidding, which has been happening for the past six months or so, unlike what was happening under

APNUAFC. Now to deal with the cream on top of the coffee, it’s this simple, you are lying to the public by stating in your post that the contracts are now being awarded to two separate contractors, which was already given to two other contractors for said work under APNUAFC. Mr. Sleeping MP, the facts of the matter are here and straight to your face, those two contractors that were awarded the correct under the APNUAFC, have chuck-in their hands (withdraw) from the said work because they know that it will be hard for them to manage and or complete.

Infact, both of the contractors that were given (please note I haven’t used awarded) the work under APNUAFC did not do any sort of building work. Both were newcomers, like many contractors that were given work under APNUAFC and have no experience.

One of the said contractors, was given multi million dollars contracts through hand pick and hand out to supply IT equipment to the regional education department. That very IT contractor was also given the contract to look after all the computers, printers, internet and all other IT equipment that falls under the region without any opening tendering process.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

5

News

Mother, son nabbed with ganja, stolen items

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The cannabis found during the raid

ngrid Chase, 66, and her 48-year-old son, Andrew Paul, both vendors of Lot 180 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, have been arrested for having in their possession a stolen television set and a quantity of marijuana.

Police ranks acting on information received went to

the duo’s home on Thursday where they conducted a search.

During the search, a brown barrel was inspected and within it, ranks found two brown salt bags. One of the bags contained five parcels while the other bag contained four parcels. The parcels contained suspected

The other items that were recovered at the home

cannabis.

A further search was conducted and a carton box was found under a bed, containing three transparent parcels with leaves seeds and stems suspected to be can-

nabis.

Also, two television sets and two gas bottles were found in the lower flat of the house, which is occupied by the elderly woman’s daughter. Police said one of the

television sets was stolen during a break and enter and larceny offence which occurred on January 15 at Pike Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

The mother and son were

arrested while the suspected cannabis was weighed, and it amounted to 27 kilograms and 343 grams.

Efforts are being made to locate the woman’s daughter.

The PNC’s bullying tactics know no boundaries Dear Editor, They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s precisely what took place when I viewed the footage of The PNC’s protest action at Parliament. It was such a despicable display of sheer lawlessness in immeasurable proportions that one had to stop and give a long, sickening sigh.

At first I really wanted to disprove what I was actually seeing. I thought that my vision was somewhat failing me, or that the videographer was just being histrionic, or something of that nature, but closer scrutiny of the video revealed just what was portrayed there: a senior Parliamentarian from the Opposition scaling the Police barrier and kicking the offi-

cer in his head during the process.

This was a reprehensible act, judged from any standard, and if I were the officer assaulted in such a shameful way, I would have arrested Patterson and have him charged forthwith. But this is not the case. Instead, the Opposition are now demanding an apology from the Police for the foolish actions of the officer. Interesting!

So, why are the Opposition so belligerent?

This we shall delve into.

Now, you have to realise where Patterson is coming from. He was just rehashing an age-old dogma of the party, wherein they claim ownership and control of the armed forces and, as such, they can do whatever pleases

them. It was Desmond Hoyte who emphatically repeated that “The Police and the army are my kith and kin.”

So whether or not it was in an accident that the officer got kicked is immaterial to the argument; Patterson could brazenly scale the barrier and confront the lawman from the known standpoint of the “kith and kin” theory.

And Patterson knew fully well that he could commit such an atrocity and get away with it.

So, while the party is steeped in that bullying and thuggish mode, its mindless friends are holding out for their comrade in a series of never-ending excuses. The PNC apologists claim that the PPP/C, while in Opposition, did a lot of

things; so, Patterson ought to be given a free pass on this one.

We are yet to be apprised of “the things the PPP/C did”, as per the shallow excuse of the Opposition, so I quickly drew up the following scenario.

Let us switch roles and place a Bharrat Jagdeo at the scene, and picture him scaling a Police barricade and accidentally kicking that very same officer. Would that officer be so calm about it?

Or, greater still, would the PNC accept that sort of display from Jagdeo? I think not. We all know full well what would have become of Jagdeo. Rest assured that, at about this time, Jagdeo would have been hobbling around on a prosthetic limb,

Funding for Corentyne River bridge can be better spent to improve ferry service Dear Editor, On February 17, 2021, it was reported in the news that a press release from the Ministry of Public Works had stated that 30 companies have expressed interest in providing consultancy services to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a detailed design for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River, to connect Guyana with Suriname.

It is highly unusual to engage a consultancy firm to prepare a feasibility study for a project and at the same

time give it an assignment to prepare detailed design and contract documents for the project. A feasibility study is intended primarily to determine the financial and economic viability of a project.

If the project is found viable, the next step would be to ensure that funding is available for it, before any assignment is given for its detailed design, which can be costly.

Once finance is assured, a consultant is appointed to prepare a detail design and construction contract documents. The project is then

put out on tender for a construction contractor to build the project in accordance with the drawings and specifications, and within the bid amount.

An assessment of the traffic flow between Guyana and Suriname would indicate that the construction of a costly bridge across the Corentyne River would not be a viable project, and large subsidies would be required to service the capital investment, as well as for its operation and maintenance. The feasibility study should bear

APNU Region 5 MP...

When I question as to, why is it only this now come, just started, the contractor was getting all the IT work and no other person that is qualified? I was told that the said contractor is attending the church with a very senior regional official and she recommended him and is ensuring he gets work every

week. In fact, I was told that the contractor was also paid to change the internet password every week.

So, Mr. Sleeping MP, after those two contractors that were given the work cut and run because they don’t know what needs to be done, the work has to go on and that is how the story goes. Infact,

the two contractors that are now being awarded with the work, also bid for said work during that said bidding period.

So, those two contractors are the ones that are in line to get the work after the two chaps who are starters in building construction cut, run and burn because they

this out.

Funding would be better spent on improving the ferry service.

Finally, the Government should reconsider its priorities and realise that a Demerara River crossing bridge vis-a-vis that for the Corentyne River would fit into its national development programme, and create a producing asset which would realise benefits in a very short period of time.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan FROM PAGE 4

could not have managed the work.

Mr. Sleeping MP, that is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

So please get your facts and then try something new.

Happy Republic all.

Regards Abel Seetaram

with the collateral inferno of the Indian business places in Georgetown. There would have been mayhem ad infinitum!

So, if we cannot countenance that foolishness from a Jagdeo, why should we accept it from Patterson?

Moving on, I would like the Police, who right now are behaving as if they are stupid, to reconsider the way they were treated by that party when Fineman was on a rampage. Those officers who withstood Fineman’s murderous acts did so at their own peril. I am talking about twenty-three Policemen who were killed at the hands of the notorious “freedom fighter” gang.

It is a known fact that the criminals were outfitted with military camouflage, and were provided with arms and ammunition. In addition, valuable information was passed on to them when

raids were about to be made.

Who did this? Or, who was capable of doing this? These are facts the Police should consider.

Further, as the lawmen were closing in on the criminals, aka freedom fighters, there were loud chants in the streets of, “Kill de Police! Kill de Police!” This was brutal tribalism akin to the Hutus versus the Tutsis!

Those chants did not come from PPP/C supporters; those chants came from supporters of the PNC. So, when Granger talks about the “time of troubles,” he should give a cogent explanation as to who were the intellectual authors behind those atrocities, and why 23 of our Policemen lie dead?

The PNC need to stop behaving like sanctimonious gangsters and speak the truth.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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Foundation Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

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ew construction in many towns and cities is increasing the amount of impervious surfaces – surfaces that don't allow water to be absorbed. Too many rooftops, driveways, and parking lots result in an increase of storm water runoff and a greater chance for pollution to enter our waterways through storm sewer systems. Design a rain garden to help direct water through the soil.

Supplies • Books and guides to plants native to your region or materials from your local Extension Service • Database for native plants in your area: • Pencil and journal • Tape measure • Soil mix: 50% sand, 30% compost, 20% topsoil • Seeds, seedlings, or starter plants.

Remember to choose native plants if possible, and plants that attract pollinators like butterflies and bees Get thinking ...

Rain has to go somewhere. Where does it go when it can’t soak into the soil?

Head outside and take notes about all the pervious and impervious surfaces you

see. Draw a picture (aerial view if possible) of the current space. Where do you see water collect or travel when it rains?

How could rainwater be filtered into the surrounding soil? Why is it important for rain to be directed to the soil rather than the drain?

Let's get started!

As you see drainage patterns and how drainage could be improved, start mapping out your rain garden. Gardeners make and use maps to plan what, where, and when to plant.

You’ll need to think about and investigate: • If this is a real or imaginary garden (if you can’t plant, it is still fun to imagine and plan) • How much water your rain garden will drain • What kind of soil you have (sandy, clay, loamy, or mixed) • How much space you need for your rain garden (sandy soil, a rain garden should be 20-30% of the drainage area; or clay soil, a rain garden should be about 60% of the drainage area) • What’s already in or near the space (the house, paths, driveway, existing plants) • Natural depressions in the landscape

(a rain garden can be up to six inches deep) • Native plants (plants that typically have deep root systems with water holding capacity) • Where plants would find sun or shade Take good notes as you research plants for your garden, keeping in mind what you’ve learnt about soil types and availability of sun.

To determine the size of the area that will drain into the rain garden, measure the amount of impervious surfaces surrounding the location of your rain garden. Use this formula: length (ft) x width (ft) = ______________ square feet (drainage area) If you are able to plant your rain garden, be sure you have accurate information about underground utilities before you start digging.

Consider planting seeds or using seedlings grown in trays. It may take longer to fill in the space in the garden, but it will help keep costs down.

As the garden grows, you can continue to add details to your map such as birds, insects, and animals that have visited or plant growth charts.

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scorpion befriended a ladybug who became a loyal companion to him. A time came when she struggled to cross a challenging and dangerous river, and so the scorpion offered to take her to the other side on his back. He had come to care for her and promised he would never harm her. But, safely across the river, he allowed his tail to dip upon her with its venomous sting. As she lay in greatest pain, she said, "... but, you promised... why?" He shrugged and said, sadly, "Because it is my nature."

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NEWS

7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt terminates $413M Leguan Stelling contract after contractor fails to meet obligations

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ublic Works Minister Juan Edghill on Friday ordered that the $413 million contract to construct the deplorable Leguan Stelling be terminated since the contractor, S Maraj Contracting Services, failed to meet his obligation.

This comes one day after the Minister and his team met with residents who echoed their concerns about the slow pace at which the project is being done. On this note, Minister Edghill stated that the contractor would have applied for an extension to complete the project but he posited that it is unacceptable.

However, in a subsequent release issued by the Minister, he stated that on Friday at about 11:00h, he met with the contractor along with a team from the Transport and Harbours Department and was guided by the special report on the rehabilitation of Leguan Ferry Stelling conducted by the Audit Office.

Based on the report, it was determined that the contractor, S Maraj Contracting Services, is incapable, unable, and does not possess the wherewithal to successfully execute the project.

The contract was signed on September 20, 2018, under the leadership of David

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill addressing the residents of Leguan

Patterson, the Minister of Public Infrastructure.

The contractor would have received $199,435,000 in payments. This is outside of the normal procurement practices and a breach of the Fiscal Management Accountability Act. Presently, actual works and materials on site are estimated at about $100 million.

“A contract that should have been completed in

six (6) months, signed on September 20, 2018, received an advance payment on September 26, 2018, but the contractor only received his order to commence works on December 6, 2018.

So the contractor was in possession of tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars for almost three months before he was required to begin work,” Edghill noted.

This contract, he added, was expected to be com-

pleted by June 7, 2019. “It is now 20 months beyond the completion date. By April 19, 2019, the advance payment bond, as well as the performance bonds, had expired.”

“At the time of assuming office in August 2020,

the PPP/C inherited one of the most troubled, wasteful, corrupt, and poorly managed contracts of the David Granger Administration which fell under the purview of David Patterson and Annette Ferguson,” Edghill noted in the release.

In the Auditor General’s report, it was stated that the contractor having received the contract for the building of a stelling used the argument of a faulty bill of quantities and earned himself by October 30, 2019, an additional $20,650,000 for the supply and delivery of piles for the same Leguan Stelling.

“It is inconceivable that a contract for the building of a stelling will not include the piles, one of the most important components for the construction of the stelling.”

The Auditor General has informed that at the time of the audit, the contractor was paid for measured works but there was no measured works break down attached to the payment certificates.

“Secondly, variations and change of scope of works could not have been mea-

sured and quantified since no documents were available and submitted. It was clear that there was poor contract administration and oversight. The Auditor General has indicated that payments made in some instances were in breach of the Fiscal and Management Accountability Act,” the Minister stated.

This was the fourth engagement the Minister had with the contractor and Transport and Harbours Department on the project but to avail.

“I have therefore ordered that in keeping with the contractual terms that this contract be immediately terminated and any adverse consequences resulting from this must be placed squarely at the feet of the David Granger APNU/AFC Administration with David Patterson and Annette Ferguson as the gazetted Ministers responsible,” Edghill stated.

As such, the Attorney General will be engaged to ensure that the money disbursed to the contractor is recovered.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brothers deny murdering Brazilian national in 2016 — man acquitted of raping underage girl

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wo brothers, Phillip and Fidel Williams, have pleaded not guilty to a joint murder indictment brought against them by State Prosecutor Lisa Cave. The duo is on trial before Justice Gino Persaud at the High Court in Essequibo.

They are accused of the February 9, 2016 murder of Brazilian national, Naldinho DeCosta Souza which occurred at Fish Creek, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Reports are Souza’s throat was slit when he was attacked by four men.

Following investigations, a wanted bulletin was issued for Fidel Williams, who was implicated in the murder by his close relative.

When Fidel Williams was caught by lawmen, he reportedly confessed to being one of the four men who was involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, in another case, Hewburn Boston, 23, also called “Boy” was found not guilty of raping an underage girl by a jury on Friday.

Particulars of the charge against him stated that between September 1, 2013, and July 31, 2014, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with an underage child.

Following the unanimous not guilty verdict at the High Court in Demerara, Trial Judge Jo-Ann Barlow seized the opportunity to lend a word of advice to the young man.

Justice Barlow told him he is still a young man and even though he was found not guilty, he should use his experience to teach others to stay out of trouble. The Judge shared that the fight against sex crimes is not only for the court, defence, and prosecution but rather

the entire community.

According to the facts of the matter, between the dates mentioned in the charge, the young girl went to use the toilet. The young girl said that when she came out of the bathroom, she saw Boston lying on her cousin’s bed. She said that the man told her “don’t tell nobody” and she replied “alright” because she didn’t know what he was talking about.

In her statement to the Police, she said that Boston placed something oily on his penis and then instructed her to lie on the floor to which she complied. She added that he placed her to lie on her side and then inserted his penis into her anus while placing his hands over her mouth. She said that he told her again not to tell anyone and she told him that she would tell her grandmother.

The girl stated that when Boston stopped, he left the

Starting over...

Dead: Naldinho DeCosta Souza

room and she went to complain to her grandmother and uncle, who were doing chores in the yard. It is understood that the girl’s relatives cursed Boston and chased him out of the yard after learning of what had transpired between him and her.

A report was later lodged with the Police which led to Boston being arrested and charged.

S

...in sugar ugar’s been quite in the news lately. The management of GuySuCo announced that the 2021 crop had begun with Albion kicking things off this week. As usual, targets were announced, and this time they were quite modest 98,000 tones for Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, which are presently operational.

Back in the days of the Sahib, these estates used to produce more than 125,000 tonnes. And with Uitvlugt’s cane merged with Wales’, one had hoped that could be matched.

But, at least from the workers’ perspective, modest targets are welcome, since workers earn year-end bonuses based on achieving those targets.

And management looks good! Of recent, the main excuse proffered for not reaching targets has been “the rains”, which have extended way into the traditional harvesting periods.

So, we hope the planners aren’t depending on a wing and a prayer for better weather in 2021, to allow longer harvesting periods.

But even the sub-projections have been modest, and this is a bit inexplicable. For instance, from the Albion manager’s figures, the expected tonnes of cane per acre were a measly 27, when they should be more like 33tpa. What gives?

Something wrong with the cane in the fields? Are the mechanical harvesters damaging the plants, so that the cane density isn’t as heavy as of yore?

Then the tonnes of cane needed to produce one tonne of sugar was projected at 12.5. What happened to the standard 10 tc/ts? Where’s all that extra sugar going, into the molasses? Or are the canes brought into the factory bereft of the sucrose content? Enquiring minds want to know!

And we turn to some other recent commentators, one being the now ex-PRO of GuySuCo, who announced that not only does she have ideas for improving GuySuCo, but, indeed, the entire country! She’ll be running for the Presidency presumably along with the nine other parties that threw their hats into the ring in 2020. Well, good for her! Shows that we can boast (along with America) that, in Guyana, anyone can expect to become President!! She asked one good question, though: what happened to the promised production of 50,000 tonnes of “plantation white” that would add value to our sugar??

Our former President Donald Ramotar, who sat on the GuySuCo Board for ‘donkey’ years and presumably knows a thing or two about sugar - like the former PRO - also weighed in. Apart from making some technical suggestions and proposing sugar workers be transitioned into co-op-owned sugar farmers, he broached the sensitive area (arena?) of management capabilities.

Here, your Eyewitness says that’s something that can’t be hidden. The proof of the capability will be in the tonnage of sugar produced come December!

Ho! Ho! Ho! …with the Suriname crossing Now, after three persons unfortunately perished by using the “backtrack” route to get back from Suriname, comes the announcement that the official route has been reinstituted.

Not with the proper ferry, the MV Canawaima that had been donated by the EU, but that old pontoon the MB Sandaka, from which you’re always in deathly fear of your vehicle slipping into the Corentyne!

But keep hope alive. We’ve been promised that the longheralded bridge across the Corentyne will soon be nigh upon us. You don’t remember Bouterse’s promise? There have been concerns raised about the viability of the project; that is: whether there would be enough revenue generated to service the debt that would be accrued. Why should we worry about that? If the Brazilians built the Bridge across the Takutu at their expense, why shouldn’t the Surinamese build the bridge across the Corentyne when they actually OWN the entire Corentyne River?

Then, again, we hope that folks don’t think the bridge is only for today’s traffic.

It’ll connect two PETRO-STATES!! …to regulate vending in GT Going all the way back to the sixties, with Mayor Archie “Bruk ‘em up” Codrington, there’ve been attempts to regulate vending. We wish the incumbent well with his efforts.

But not to hold his breath!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cathy Hughes’s falsehood exposed:

No smart classrooms at PC, East Ruimveldt, Brickdam schools

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ormer Minister Cathy Hughes during a virtual press briefing claimed that smart classrooms were provisioned to 11 schools under the APNU/ AFC Administration. She further added that the smart classrooms were constructed during July 2015 and July 2020.

However, her claims were refuted by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who said none of the schools listed or named by Hughes had any smart classrooms up and running when the current PPP/C took office in August 2020.

Following the claims by the former Minister, an independent investigation conducted by Guyana Times found that at least three of the schools that Hughes had mentioned did not have fully functional smart rooms.

However, the idea was put forward in 2019 and spaces in the schools were marked to be restructured to

serve as smart classrooms.

Acting Principal of President’s College, Samantha Success explained that “the initial project started in 2019, whereby we had to secure the room. Nothing was done in 2020. But in 2021, work progressed very speedily with the carpeting of the floor, the installations of the air conditioning, the wiring. We have the smartboard and smart TV”.

She further disclosed that the school recently had an internet hub installed during February which provides internet to students and teachers on the school’s grounds.

Success noted that the school is now awaiting the special furniture and more equipment to complete the smart room. She further expressed her gratitude and added that the room is now well prepared to have the smart room up and running.

Additionally, visits were made to two other secondary schools; the Brickdam

The smart classroom that is in progress at President’s College

Secondary and East Ruimveldt Secondary School.

Currently, at the East Ruimveldt Secondary School, the construction of the smart classroom is in progress.

A senior teacher of the school explained that infrastructural works have already begun and furniture was supplied during February of this year to the school for use in the smart

rooms.

She further explained that the school is now awaiting the equipment, smart boards and TVs, which are slated to arrive later in the month in order to complete the rooms.

Meanwhile, Samantha Alleyne, the Deputy Head Teacher at the Brickdam Secondary School, noted that works had begun on the

school’s smart classroom in 2020 - this includes the installation of air-conditioning units and remodelling of the room’s ceiling.

She further explained that in 2021, furnishing and wiring were done. In addition, the flooring will be completed this week.

Godfrey Munroe, the System Development Coordinator at the Department of Education told Guyana Times that the schools will receive the necessary furnishing and equipment needed to complete the project. Provisions were made in Budget 2020 and Budget 2021 to make the classrooms possible.

“We are dedicated to complete this project very soon.

We want to have the rooms fully functional,” he posited.

On February 10, Education Minister Priya Manickchand had declared open, the second smart classroom in the public school system at Queen’s College. This

is the second smart classroom created for the public education sector. The first was done in 2014 at North Ruimveldt Secondary.

Manickchand said the intention is to eventually have a smart classroom rolled out in every high school across Guyana. She said the Education Ministry is on track to deliver 20 more such classrooms within the coming weeks. Manickchand had previously said “ if we had those classrooms functional it would have made life far easier in this pandemic in terms of how we delivered education and the scope it would have given us.” She has also accused the APNU/AFC of trying “to re-invent themselves from the self-serving, uncaring, incapable, inefficient Government they were” and has called on Hughes and the APNU/AFC to try to be truthful at least as far as children’s education is concerned.

New Canadian HC renews commitment to partnering in petroleum sector eas of mutual interests,” the Ministry stated in a release.

Additionally, talks were held on Guyana’s participation at the PDAC 2021 Convention—the world’s premier mineral exploration and mining event which will be held virtually next month. The annual PDAC Convention is the world’s premier international event for the minerals and mining industry and has attracted more than 25,000 people from 135 countries in recent years.

Berman, who worked as the Director General for Global Affairs Canada, replaced Lilian Chatterjee

Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman with Minister Vickram Bharrat

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ewly-appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman has committed to continuing partnerships and collaboration between his country and local counterparts, in efforts to benefit from matters of mutual interest.

He would have shared

this position during a courtesy call on Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat on Friday, where wide-ranging discussions were held relating to economic development for the much-anticipated development that Guyana will see from its booming petroleum sector.

“During discussions,

possible areas for technical cooperation and capacity building were also explored, particularly for technical training to enhance capacity in oil and gas, underground mining and quarrying. It was agreed that the Ministry and the Embassy will work closely in the near future to advance ar-

as Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana and also functions as Canada’s Representative to the Caribbean Community.

Shortly before leaving, Chatterjee had said that her country was willing and ready to share its expertise and experience with Guyana given its history in commercial oil production and clean oil and gas technologies.

During the Caribbean Oil and Gas Virtual Summit (CARIVS) 2020, she had noted that the Canadian Private Sector, in particular, has much to offer Guyana in terms of world-class technologies, a wealth of expertise,

and a sound track record in oil and gas, infrastructure, renewables, and clean technologies.

She expressed that Canada was “ready to assist Guyana with innovative solutions including technology that reduces the environmental footprint while maximising the energy potential of Guyana.”

Guyana benefitted from development assistance from Canada in areas such as climate resilience, inclusive economic growth, extractive sector governance, and Private Sector development.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Duo guilty of killing Rose Hall security officer sentenced

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wo men, including a teenager, who had pleaded guilty to killing a Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) security officer during the course of a robbery were sentenced on Thursday.

Twenty-two-yearold Carlos Ballers of Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town, was sentenced to 13 years while his partner, a teenager, was given a two-month jail sentence

by Justice Simone MorrisRamlall.

Ballers and his co-accused, who is now 19, of Guava Bush, Albion Front, Corentyne, had pleaded

Convicted murderer: Carlos Ballers

guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter after admitting that they killed 53-year-old Munisperen Iyasammy Monien of Lot 45 Clifton, Port Mourant, Corentyne, on March 31, 2018.

The incident took place at Sukhsram General Store at Lot 13 Public Road, Rose Hall Town. The man’s body was found in a pool of blood in a storeroom.

After the discovery was made, it was also discovered that the $1.5 million that was locked in a drawer in the store was missing.

Police later questioned the employees following the theory that the robbery/murder

was an inside job.

Two days after, Ballers confessed to plotting the robbery while admitting his involvement while at the same time implicating the teenager.

In handing down the sentence, Justice MorrisRamlall contended that Ballers was of the age to be conscious of his lawful actions.

She said the court was imposing a 27-year sentence but deducted three years for Ballers being remorseful currently and the fact that he is a young defender and he has good prospects of being reformed.

A further eight years

Murdered: Munisperen Iyasammy Monien

were deducted from the sentence for the fact that he entered a guilty plea and the 2 years 10 months he spent on remand awaiting trial.

On the other hand, in sentencing the teenager, the Trial Judge said she found that that a custodial sentence coupled with counselling, probation and supervision is warranted.

However, she noted that Pursuant to Section 44, the maximum sentence which the court can impose on the offender under the Act is five years. “This is the starting point of the sentence,” she said.

“I have considered the fact the offender has a previous good record/character and his genuine expression of remorse. His personal history and the possibility

for rehabilitation have also been taken into account.”

For those mitigating circumstances, six months were deducted from the sentence. Additionally, onethird of the remainder was deducted as mandated by law for the guilty plea.

The teenager had already spent close to three years on remand. That too was taken off the sentence thus leaving two months.

The Judge further ordered that immediately upon the conclusion of the period of custody, he will have to undergo a period of probation and supervision for three years during which time he is obligated to keep the peace.

In addition, he is to report to the Chief Probation Officer every Monday and he must remain in the territorial jurisdiction of Guyana unless the offender obtains the permission of the court to leave.

Additionally, the teenager will have to complete a course in computer studies and/or any other technical field and make reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain suitable employment.

Community service

The sentence also included community service which must be done after the two months of jail time. This will be for two hours weekly for a period of six months.

The case was prosecuted

by Tuanna Hardy.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt distributes $161.1M to North Pakaraima communities

– PM says Govt aims to bridge developmental gap between coast and hinterland regions

Those involved in the distribution exercise at Kato Village

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips interacting with a child from Kato

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rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai have distributed a whopping $161.1 million to communities in North Pakaraima.

The funds will be used for capital projects in the mountainous communities and to begin the groundwork to ensure that they are prepared to benefit from fully-equipped ICT hubs.

The two senior Government officials and their team travelled to several communities on Wednesday and Thursday to hand over the funds and to outline Government’s impending development programmes.

Of the total, $152 million will go towards the Investment Fund (COVID-19 Relief Grant) and the remaining $9.1 million for capital grants and assets.

The team visited Monkey Mountain in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) before stopping at Paramakatoi

and Kato on Wednesday.

On Thursday, they travelled to Kopinang and Kurukubaru. The areas were used as central locations to deliver the funds to over a dozen communities.

Based on a report by the Department of Public Information (DPI), approximately $2 million of the investment funds will be allotted to either construct a new building for the ICT hub or towards the renovation of an existing structure in each community.

The reminding monies will be used to fund a project of the community’s choice or to assist with critical transportation needs. The projects will be governed by consensus and will be transparent with the guidance of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

During the distribution exercise, Prime Minister Phillips assured that there were several projects earmarked for Guyana’s Amerindian communities as Government aims to bridge the developmental gap be-

tween the coast and the hinterland.

He noted that there is also a development plan in place that will benefit all Guyanese.

“It is a development plan that says to the people of Guyana that notwithstanding COVID-19 and its negative effects on our population, we still have to develop as a country, we still have to support our people in their community wherever they live and ensure that they also benefit from development in Guyana.”

Phillips further stated that the hinterland would not be left out of the equation and that several projects are forthcoming.

Distribution

Of the $151 million handed out for the Investment Fund, $10 million was given to Monkey Mountain, $7 million to Tuseneng Village and $5 million to Taruka Village.

On the second stop, $15 million was distributed to

Paramakatoi, $10 million to Mountain Foot/Bashvale and $10 million to Bamboo Creek Village.

Another $10 million was handed over to Kato, $3 million to Red Creek and $5 million to Chuing Mouth Village.

Kopinang Village received $10 million while Maiwak CDC got $3 million.

In addition, Kurukubaru got $10 million and $3 million was given to Arsawa.

Kaibarupai collected $10 million, Itabac Village $5 million, Waipa Village $10 million, Sand Hill $5 million, Katch-Cow $3 million, Kanapang $10 million, Pennak $3 million and Kamana $5 million.

In terms of capital projects, two All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) valued at $2 million each were handed over to Pennak and Kurukubaru.

Finally, Sand Hill received $1.4 million for the construction of a village benab (2020 Presidential Grant); Itabac collected $1.5 million for the construction of a pavilion (Capital Project), Kanapang Village received $1 million for the construction of an ICT hub and Pennak was given a cheque valued at $1.2 million for the construction of a village office.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases drop to 514 – 19 new cases recorded in 24 hours

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he Health Ministry on Friday stated that from the 843 tests that were done for COVID-19 during a 24-hour period, only 19 came back as positive. This now takes the number of positive cases in Guyana to 8357.

There are presently 514 active cases in the country.

The death toll remains at 189.

New statistics released by the Minister revealed that nine persons remain in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 42 persons in institutional isolation, 463 in home isolation and 12 in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has tested 57,745 people since the virus was detected in March 2020.

A breakdown of the new cases showed that three were detected in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 10 in Region Four (Demerara-

Mahaica); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 1019, 233, 225, 462 and 245 respectively.

Guyanese have been asked continuously to follow the outlined national measures, which were implemented by Government to curtail widespread infection.

While some may experience little to no symptoms, others can contract the worse form of the virus that lingers months after recovery. Data shows that the infection can affect the brain, digestive system, respiratory system, kidneys and skin.

The World Health

Organisation has pointed out, “For some people, some symptoms may linger or recur for weeks or months following initial recovery. This can also happen in people with mild disease. People are not infectious to others during this time. Some patients develop medical complications that may have

lasting health effects.”

Additionally, older persons have been succumbing to the virus since comorbidities increase the risk of developing a worse form of the virus. Persons in this bracket have been asked to continue taking their respective medications or treatment to control their condition. Next, the preventative measures and guidelines to protect against the virus must be adhered to.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement. If persons are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a positive person, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

2 charged for narcotics’ possession

Jason Carmichael

J

ason Carmichael of Lamaha Park Squatting Area appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday to answer to a narcotics charge.

He appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, where the charge was read to him which stated that on February 16, 2021, he had 8.832 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Carmichael pleaded

not guilty to the charge.

However, bail was refused since the defendant has a pending firearm charge made out against him. As such, he was remanded to prison until March 19, 2021.

Back in November 2019, Carmichael was jointly charged with another defendant for the possession of 245 grams of cannabis.

Due to insufficient evidence, the case was dismissed against him. In the same matter, the other party was given a three-year sentenced and ordered to pay $367,000 in fines.

Meanwhile Esaun Rose also appeared before Magistrate Daly to answer to a narcotics charge.

According to the charge, on February 17, 2021, from Laine Avenue to La Penitence, Georgetown, Rose had in his possession 158 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Rose pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

He is set to return to court on April 23, 2021.

news@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Eccles-to-Mandela road project will facilitate easier housing access – Min Rodrigues

An artist’s impression of the Eccles-to-Mandela Avenue four-lane road

Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond. Under the previous Government, the project was at a standstill for several years.

The Ali-led PPP/C Administration has since redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LOC. It will now run from Ogle

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

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he four-lane road project that will link Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and Mandela Avenue will make it significantly easier for persons to access house lots on the outskirts of the city.

These were the sentiments of Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues on Friday when several agencies assembled to give their input on the road project, which is slated for completion by November 2021.

She noted that with such infrastructural transformation, persons can easily access Georgetown despite living outside the city. Rodrigues noted that before taking this step, Government must be able to prove to persons that their daily activities will not be challenged with traffic woes.

“Infrastructural projects are what enhances a nation and without that major infrastructure, we won’t be able to move forward. While we search for lands to develop housing communities, we have to make sure that there is the necessary infrastructure within the housing schemes and we are running out of space in Region Four…I do believe that we can cut that travel time and start to ease the burden on our commuters. This is why the infrastructural development is so important that people must feel confident to work in one city and live in another. And it must not be too burdensome on them or take away from their daily lives,” the Minister positioned.

She signalled that the country must capitalise on the changes that will occur over the coming years by establishing mechanisms that will benefit the population

and ensuring that plans turn into fruition.

“We all suspect that major transformational change is coming to our country and our Government is here to ensure that while we keep the commitments that we made in our manifesto, we’re also going to ensure that this country develops, that the welfare of our citizens is put on the front burner and that all Guyanese will benefit from that major transformation that will take place.

It is our duty to ensure that the transformation becomes a reality.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal in his virtual presentation underscored that the flurry of projects currently ongoing forms part of a macro vision of Government.

The plan is to create greater linkages across the country, which will have a domino effect on trade and economic activities.

“Our Government is working assiduously to link communities, link regions as part of our One Guyana vision. What we do apart from new housing schemes and housing areas; it is also important that we have the necessary infrastructure in place to facilitate and enhance our citizens’ lives,” he stressed.

The first phase of the Ogle-Diamond bypass project is expected to be completed by April 2021. The second phase, which is from Eccles to Mandela Avenue, will tie in with the overall four-lane project currently being built.

These projects are part of the India-funded Bypass Road Project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara, creating a new highway in the backlands. The Indian

Some of the stakeholders at the event on Friday

to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Friday’s consultations were conducted by the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA) – which is overseeing the works for this second phase.

Chief Executive Officer of the CHPA, Sherwyn Greaves said that the event was organised to ensure that all stakeholders are kept abreast with the works.

“As we embark on this major infrastructural work that would bring great relief and benefit to the residents of East Bank Demerara, we believe that it is all in our best interest to have this

session. The success of the Mandela to Eccles road project is dependent on the full cooperation of all agencies and it is imperative that we are all on the same page,” Greaves indicated.

Plans have already been drafted to mitigate the temporary environmental impacts that will emerge from the project.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Students with disabilities complete STEM robotics training

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The graduates posing with their certificates and medals

wenty-six children with disabilities have graduated after completing a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Robotics training facilitated by the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana.

A simple ceremony was recently held at the auditorium of the David Rose Special Education Needs (SEN) school.

Each participant was

presented with a certificate of successful completion of the programme, while the outstanding participants were presented with 3D printed medals.

The participants also displayed the robots they built during the programme.

Another ceremony is scheduled for the remaining 27 persons who participated in the programme.

Programme Coordinator of GCOPD, Ganesh Singh expressed gratitude to ExxonMobil Guyana for funding the programme

which has been in the pipeline for more than two years.

He also expressed gratitude to the members of

the University of Guyana Robotics Club (UGRC). Also speaking at the graduation was ExxonMobil Guyana’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Karen Matusic and Coordinator of the UGRC Farnaz Baksh.

The STEM programme for children with disabilities was piloted in five Special Education Needs (SEN) schools in Region 4.

Throughout the fourmonth programme, the children were exposed to STEM subjects using robotics technology. Additionally, the children were taught com-

plex concepts using the technology which helped them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The participants also developed a higher level of environmental awareness, since the robotics kits were solar-powered and utilised recyclable materials for the construction of the robots.

Each participant was given a tablet computer and a robotics kit. Currently, plans are in place to replicate the programme in the other SEN schools across Guyana using virtual means.

GNBS launches quality awards programme

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o recognise businesses for their commitment to quality systems and best practices, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Friday launched its third National Quality Awards (NQA) programme. The NQA, which is set for October 2021, as part of National Quality Week, will be another opportuni-

ty for businesses to demonstrate that they are meeting quality requirements in the delivery of goods and services to consumers.

Head of the Marketing and Communications Department, Syeid Ibrahim in brief remarks explained that “the NQA provides a comprehensive assessment of businesses. It also en-

(L-R) Head of the Marketing and Communications Department Syeid Ibrahim, Communications Officer Bibi Khatoon and Head of the Certification Department Al Fraser

hances the quality and competitiveness of the products and services offered [and] fosters greater consumer confidence and satisfaction.”

There are four categories of businesses that can participate in the awards.

These are businesses in the manufacturing, services (financial, tourism and hospitality, professional services, etc), small businesses, and those in agro-processing.

Small businesses, according to the NQA criteria, are classified as any business with 25 or fewer employees, earning $60 million or less in revenue and is the owner of assets valuing $20 million or less.

In the NQA, agro-processors are differentiated from other small businesses and placed in a separate category to promote and recognise quality in these businesses. Eligible participants are enterprises involved in the small-scale production of agro-processed products including jams and jellies, sauces, fruit mixes, salted fish and seafood, juices, packaged eggs, local sweets, and chips.

All businesses must also possess at least one of the following or have it in place by the close of the application period: Documented Standard Operating Procedures, Quality Manual/Policy Manual, or Best Practices Manual.

Participating businesses will be evaluated against the ISO 9001:2015 Standard that was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation to help businesses and organisations implement an effective quality management system.

Participants will also

be graded based on Seven Quality Management Principles and criteria for good environmental and safety practices. This year, under health and safety practices, businesses will also be given points for implementing COVID-19 regulations to protect their customers and staff.

Also, the GNBS has introduced an award to recognise media personnel who have been contributing in the effort to promote standards and quality within Guyana. Application forms are available on the GNBS’ website at www.gnbsgy.org and will be posted on the Bureau’s Facebook page.

The application process to participate in the NQA is simple and free of cost.

In addition to a completed application form, applicants are required to submit a copy of a valid business registration from the Deeds Registry, valid tax compliance from the Guyana Revenue Authority, and valid National Insurance compliance from the National Insurance Scheme.

An assessment of each participating business will also be done to arrive at the winners who will be awarded at the ceremony in October. The deadline for application is March 31, 2021.

The GNBS is urging businesses to get on board and take advantage of this opportunity, which will not only provide recognition but promote customer confidence in the future.

For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice Assizes

Ministers, pleads guilty to killing brother in 2017 Mabaruma Town Man — 2 others plead guilty to manslaughter, attempted murder Council meet to resolve challenges

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Gopaul Sewsankar

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Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during the meeting

ousing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Friday visited Region One (BarimaWaini) in an effort to address some of the issues that were raised by regional officials.

Croal, who is the parliamentary representative for the region, was accompanied by Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall and met with Mabaruma Mayor Chris Phang and Deputy Mayor Carolyn Robinson.

The discussions circled around addressing issues that impede the work of the Council and finding solutions to these issues. Efforts are being made at the level of Central Government to resolve some of the issues that have been raised.

Calls were made for the relationship between the Municipal Council and Regional Democratic

Council to be strengthened.

Phang committed that his office will be used as an agent for fostering a better relationship between the town and Central Government.

Meanwhile, Minister Croal noted that for the programmes and policies to be properly executed in the region, there must be greater synergies. He added that even as the housing and water sectors roll out their plans for the region, the municipal and RDC play a critical role in the successful implementation.

"You at the regional level play a big part in the broader consultation process, this partnership will only serve as a mechanism for improved delivery of service for the people of Mabaruma,” Croal highlighted, He further called for co-operation as the region prepares to welcome transformation in the area of infrastructure development.

Several roads closed to facilitate SheriffMandela project

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he Public Works Ministry has announced a number of road closures in order to facilitate the Sheriff StreetMandela Avenue road project.

Road closures were announced for Homestretch Avenue (National Cultural Centre) to D’Urban Street as well as the intersection of Sheriff Street and William Street, Campbellville.

The Ministry explained that the southbound lane from Homestretch Avenue to D’Urban Street was closed to vehicular traffic effective February 18, 2021, for the preparation of asphalt pav-

ing. The northbound lane will be opened to facilitate twoway traffic.

Meanwhile, the intersection of Sheriff Street and William Street will be closed until February 24.

This activity is to facilitate drainage construction works under the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue Road Enhancement Project. The intersection will be re-opened to traffic on February 25 at 06:00h.

Motorists desirous of accessing William Street from Sheriff Street are asked to use Stone Avenue or other suitable alternative routes during this exercise.

wenty-seven-year-old Gopaul Sewsankar called “Romel” of Yakusari, North, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his brother, Vishal Sahora, back in March 2017.

He pleaded guilty to a lesser count of manslaughter when the Berbice Assizes continued on Thursday at the Berbice High Court. It was reported that 18-year-old Sahora was stabbed by his el-

der brother while they were imbibing. It had been reported that Sewsankar asked to borrow his motorcycle but the now dead man refused.

This led to an argument which quickly turned into a scuffle between the two brothers. Sahora was reportedly stabbed to the chest.

However, Sewsankar will return to court on February 24 for sentencing.

In addition, 35-yearold Stanley Edwards called “Buckman” also pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing 40-year-old Sahadeo Sankar, a fisherman of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, on January 3, 2018.

Sankar’s lifeless body was discovered in front of a grocery store in the area. He was allegedly beaten to death

by Edwards. Prior to the incident, they were imbibing alcohol.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardey told the court that on the day in question, the two men were involved in

Stanley Edwards

an altercation. Sankar reportedly fell to the ground and Edwards took the opportunity to continue beating him.

He died while receiving medical attention. He too will have to return to court on February 24, 2021, for sentencing.

Also entering a guilty plea was Leroy La Fleur called “Devon”, 24, of Calabash Creek, Canje River. On September 11, 2011, he attempted to murder Suraj Azeez, called “Collie Boy”, 32, of Canje River.

Leroy La Fleur

La Fleur and the now dead man had an argument over an old grievance. Previously, Azeez told investigators that he felt a chop across his right hand. Upon looking around, he saw the accused with a cutlass in his hands.

The accused began chopping him about his body. The victim received injuries to his face, left arm and left leg.

La Fleur told the court that he was sorry and begged for mercy. He too will return on February 24 for sentencing.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Better Hope money changer, daughter's murder PI

Prosecution to call final 6 witnesses as PI winds down

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s the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murders of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara money changer Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna Latchman winds down, the prosecution is scheduled to call its final six witnesses on March 3, 2021, when the matter continues at the Sparendaam Magistrates’

Courts.

Magistrate Alisha George is presiding over the case. The PI had been stalled for several months after 25-year-old Mark Rufina, one of the five men charged with the killings, escaped from the Lusignan Prison between October 20 and October 21, 2020. The murder accused remains on the run.

In light of this, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that the Magistrate proceeds with the case against the other four accused.

The others charged with the murders are 37-year-old Paul Chan called “Anthony”, a bus conductor of Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater

Georgetown; 44-year-old Troy Abrams called “Rasta Man”, a vendor of Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD); 37-year-old Lloyd Sadloo of Mocha Arcadia, EBD; and 41-year-old Sean Thomas called “Yankee”, an electrician of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

It was reported that on the day of the murder, both

Aaron and his 19-year-old daughter had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert

changer and his daughter before escaping from the scene. Shortly after, the businessman and his daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.

Sometime later, a motor car that belonged to the dead businessman that was used by the bandits was found at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

During a search of the vehicle, an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition were found.

Two of the accused murderers – Abrams and

Dead: Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna

Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home when they were attacked by armed men. It is being alleged that the men in question had reportedly held the man and his daughter at gunpoint and took them into the upper flat of their home, where they demanded money.

Upon receiving the bag that contained an undisclosed amount of cash, the men then shot the money

Sadloo – were arrested and placed before the court before for varying offences ranging from robbery under arms to trafficking in narcotics. In fact, in 2016, Abrams was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison for robbery under arms committed on moneychangers Rayburn Fraser and Osaffo Ward at America Street, Georgetown, on November 3, 2015.

Couple remanded for neglecting 3-month-old baby

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Corentyne, Berbice couple was on Wednesday remanded to prison after they pleaded guilty to neglecting and ill-treating their 3-month-old baby.

Hafeez Persaud, a farmer and his 21-year-old wife, Shanie Singh, both of Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, pleaded guilty to the offence which stated that on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, they willfully ill-treated their baby, thus causing her unnecessary suffering and injury to her health.

Reports are that the couple was consuming alcohol

when Persaud got angry and threw the baby several times into a hammock.

During this period, a Probation and Welfare Officer attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) arrived and warned the couple.

However, they continued consuming alcohol and neglected the infant.

The couple appeared at the Springlands Court before Magistrate Alex Moore who remanded them until March 4, 2021.

The couple also has a 10-year-old daughter. The infant is reportedly in the care of the CC&PA.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CC&PA partners with stakeholders to empower Region 10 youngsters

Stakeholders at the meeting

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he Office of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CC&PA) in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), has partnered with other related agencies and stakeholders to roll out several initiatives aimed at having youngsters make better-informed decisions and improve parent to child and community relationships.

Recently, the CPA brought together these stakeholders for a meeting where issues and solutions were discussed. The agencies also planned proactive

Officials and stakeholders at the seminar

activities which were rolled out this week.

Probation and Social Services Officer attached to the Linden office, Tonza Ward said the agency was made aware of numerous issues and online “challenges” which youths are engaged in which can be considered as detrimental.

This, she stressed, includes the popular “silhouette challenge” which is done on various social media platforms. As such, she noted that the agencies sprang into action in an effort to offer solutions and support to youth who are

mainly at home in light of the pandemic. The meeting was the first in a series of steps planned.

“We thought it important to provide education, not only for them, but for their parents so that they can be properly guided...

So...we decided that this task is a huge one and one that we shouldn’t work with on our own but we should explore all options, all of our stakeholders and pool our different expertise together in an effort to have a holistic approach in remedying the issue,” Ward said.

Coming out of the meet-

ing, it was highlighted that the team will not take a harsh approach in tackling such issues and trends, but a friendly one that will also assist communities in raising children. Ward said the CPA will be working together with parents, children and agencies in the community.

They would have agreed on activities including workshops, media sensitisation, fan-out exercises and whistle stops in an effort to have feedback and provide guidance.

Ward added that it was realised that with lots of

persons at home and on social media, there is a tendency to be part of some activities which are not conducive.

“It was noted during our session that this (challenge) is just one of many things that our youths will occupy themselves with and this approach will have a ripple effect on many other things...so...we would have spoken about value systems, the parent to child relationship, parenting in the whole, how persons occupy their time, safety measures for the use of the internet and issues as it pertains to

the culture...” she said.

Ward noted too that the media plays an integral role in helping to propel the message and urged all to become actively involved. Those present included representatives from the Sexual Offences Unit, schools’ welfare division, regional health, Police division, Blossom Inc (child advocacy centre), social workers of the Linden Hospital Complex and Upper Demerara Hospital, religious organisations, Central Recruitment and Manpower Division and other agencies.

Caribbean people at risk of prolonging COVID-19 to their detriment

By Sir Ronald Sanders

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eople in the Caribbean who refuse to take vaccinations to counter the coronavirus will cause the COVID-19 pandemic to remain longer in the region, endangering lives, livelihoods, and entire economies. Whatever genuine fears may exist, these people must be educated about the value of the vaccine to their own health, and they must be encouraged by all influential agencies to take it. If they need convincing, they should look at the experience of other countries, where more than 139 million people have taken the vaccine and not one of them has died from it.

The churches whose leaders have been preaching against the vaccine are doing neither their followers nor their countries any good. Similarly, the representatives of trade unions who argue that their members have the right not to take vaccines might consider enlightening them about the benefits of the vaccine to their individual well-being, that of their families, the wider community, and the businesses from which they derive a living.

At the rate at which vaccines are currently be-

ing made available and rolled out in the world, the Caribbean would be behind Britain and the US in controlling the virus by at least a year. If a significant number of people remain unvaccinated, the delay would be even longer.

Caribbean countries cannot afford a year, let alone a more extended period, to suppress the virus. Many economies are already in dire straits, poverty is expanding, unemployment is rising, economies are declining, hospitals are besieged, and many more people are dying.

This is why, at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on February 17, all independent CARICOM countries joined Antigua and Barbuda in promoting the adoption of a resolution calling for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally.

Action is necessary to get vaccines into Caribbean countries, so that at least 80 percent of the people can be inoculated to build ‘herd immunity’. This is achieved when a large part of the population is immune to the disease. If enough people are resistant to the coronavirus, it would have nowhere to go, and would peter out.

Sir Ronald Sanders

Right now, every country in the Caribbean is way behind developed countries with which they interact for tourism, trade in goods, and other commercial and social activities. For example, at the time of writing (February 18), Britain had inoculated 23.7 percent of its population with the first dose of the vaccine; the US had inoculated 12.3 percent; Canada, 3.48 percent; and many of the countries in the European Union, almost 3 percent. No country in the Caribbean has vaccinated more than 0.9 percent of its population.

The main reason for this

is that rich countries, representing only 16 percent of the world’s population, have bought and are hoarding 60 percent of the available vaccine candidates.

This means that 40 percent is left for 84 percent of the global population, including the Caribbean.

This situation demands urgent attention if the Caribbean is to survive the already devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is why the Antigua and Barbuda initiative at the OAS was strongly and fully supported by other Caricom nations. It is also why the resolution received full support at the OAS. Twentynine of the Organisation’s 34 member states, including in the Caribbean, are among the more than 100 nations that have vaccinated less than one percent of their people.

The Caribbean needs greater access to vaccines, and at an affordable price. Hence, the donation of 570,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by India to Caricom countries is a great relief. The rollout has started in a few countries, but there are not sufficient stocks to accelerate the inoculation programme to get all Caricom countries to at least 80 percent of their

populations.

The main vaccine manufacturers have to be urged to ramp-up their production at an affordable price. Concentrating on selling only to the rich nations would not eliminate the global pandemic. A research study sponsored by the US National Bureau of Economic Research in Massachusetts shows that even if wealthy countries are fully vaccinated by the end of this year, but poor countries remain largely shut out, “the global economy would suffer losses exceeding $9 trillion, a sum greater than the annual output of Japan and Germany combined”.

What should worry every citizen and resident of every Caribbean country is that their economies have already declined so significantly that, even if there is recovery later in 2021 or 2022, it would not be sufficient to return them to 2019 levels.

Foreign direct investment in the Caribbean declined last year by more than 50 percent. With many economies across the region being in a state of prolonged inactivity, the downward investment trend for 2021 is even more precipitous.

The year 2022 is unlikely to

get any better, unless each country gets the virus under control.

The combined population of Caribbean countries, amounting to 20 million people, is competing with 450 million people in Latin America, and another 360 million in the US and Canada, to achieve 80 percent inoculation. It is also competing against 7 billion people globally. It cannot afford to leave itself behind; those people must get themselves inoculated.

Leaders and influencers in every sector – the churches, the trade unions and the media – have to support Caribbean governments that have tried their best, with scarce and reduced financial resources, to manage the coronavirus, and now to inoculate against it.

No Caribbean country can afford to be a year behind the nations with which they interact for their livelihood and development.

Sir Ronald Sanders is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, and at Massey College in the University of Toronto.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Regional

Peru slammed by Commissioner calls on oxygen shortage as Bajans to report breaches coronavirus deaths spike

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he death toll in Peru continued to mount on Friday as a relentless second wave of the coronavirus left many hospitals short of oxygen for critical patients even as daily infections continued to climb.

In Lima, long lines snake down city blocks as friends and relatives seek to snatch up the last remaining bottled oxygen available in the capital. Oxygen has tripled in price in some regions, officials say, as price gougers squeeze the desperate.

At least 11 hospitals in Lima - home to almost a third of the country’s population - have run short of oxygen, Peruvian Medical Federation President Godofredo Talavera said in an interview.

The shortage has prompted hundreds of COVID-19 patients to attempt to transfer to the Ica region, well south of Lima, where some waited on a highway to access a plant that had earlier offered to sell oxygen, television im-

A person sleeps next to empty oxygen tanks to save a spot in the queue, as the supplier refills a tank per person and attends only up to 60 people a day, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Callao, Peru, February 4, 2021

ages showed.

The crisis follows revelations that high-level Government officials, including the health and foreign Ministers, had jumped the line to receive the Sinopharm vaccination months before it was widely available in the Andean nation. The crisis has thrown the country’s nascent vaccination programme into disarray.

Peru’s Government said last week that the oxygen deficit amounted to 110 tons a day. Chile and South Korea have both pitched in to help.

Infections in Peru have spiralled to a new daily average of 7000 in the last week, while the death toll has hit around 200 per day, according to the Ministry of Health. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T late to order COVID vaccines from India

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rinidad and Tobago is among the Caribbean countries late to order COVID-19 vaccines.

T&T waited until the Indian-made vaccine received World Health Organisation (WHO) approval before reaching out for vaccination donations.

The Serum Institute in India received that accreditation in mid-February.

In an exchange with Guardian Media on Thursday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley sought to clarify why T&T was behind countries like Barbados, Guyana and Dominica with regards to the roll-out of the vaccine.

On Wednesday before the media event to start

the rollout of the vaccinations, Guardian Media messaged Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh asking about the 2000 vaccines from Barbados and whether there were any purchase orders for the rest of the orders.

The Minister responded saying “as we have stated numerous times this is a gift. Free. Therefore no purchase order needed”.

Hours later, the Minister said that the vaccines from India were for the region and that Barbados was just the distribution hub.

By 10 pm that evening, he issued a clarification, reverting to what he had initially told Guardian Media, that the 2000 vaccines were

in fact a gift from Barbados and that he was “misinformed”.

According to a Caricom report, India was making some 500,000 vaccines available to the Caribbean, but Rowley, who is also head of Caricom said he had no idea what that was about.

There have also been reports in the Jamaican Gleaner about the 500,000 vaccines being offered to Caricom countries.

According to those reports, the Indian High Commissioner assigned to each country said that the distribution of the vaccines would start once the host country completed its approval process. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

ommissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith is calling on Barbadians to play their part in reducing breaches of the COVID-19 directives.

During Thursday’s update and media conference, he asked members of the public to report any breaches they might be aware of.

He was responding to a question from Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson regarding people who continue to leave home when there is no need to do so.

Under the new COVID-19 emergency directive, Barbadians are to remain home unless doing business with an essential service, are an essential

worker or have an emergency.

Earlier, Griffith said Police brought 20 cases of curfew breaches brought before to court, but some people were still flouting the directives. He cited attempting to open shops or businesses, not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly and crowding at the beaches.

There are 15 teams of two to three people in the North, South and Bridgetown divisions performing protocol monitoring functions. They work closely with the COVID Monitoring Unit and the Compliance Officers as the enforcement arm in the fight against the viral ill-

ness.

The Commissioner also addressed the challenges the Force faces during the question and answer segment. Several stations had to be closed as officers either tested positive or had to be quarantined after suspicion of being exposed to COVID-19.

He also reminded the public that the Force does not operate in a vacuum, but is very much a part of the society. They have families in all parishes and would be affected from time to time. The very nature of police work, which involves interfacing with members of the public would also put them at risk. (Excerpt from Nation News)

US Coast Guard cutter seizes drugs, nabs smugglers in Caribbean Sea

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he United States Coast Guard said on Thursday that its Cutter Harriet Lane has returned to its homeport here after a 71-day counter-drug patrol in the Caribbean Sea in which crew members seized a significant amount of drugs and apprehended several drug smugglers.

In support of the US Coast Guard’s 11th District and Joint Interagency Task Force South, the US Coast Guard said the Harriet Lane crew worked throughout the duration of the patrol in conjunction with a deployed aviation detachment from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) based in Jacksonville, Florida.

HITRON specialises in the execution of airborne use of force for the purpose of disabling non-compliant vessels suspected of illicit drug smuggling.

On crossing into the

Pacific, via the Panama Canal, it said the Harriet Lane crew and her embarked aviation detachment interdicted two non-compliant vessels suspected of illicit drug smuggling.

The US Coast Guard said these interdictions included the seizure of 980 kilograms of cocaine and 1600 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of US$40 million.

The Harriet Lane also detained seven suspected drug smugglers associated with the interdictions, the US Coast Guard said.

Between operational tasking, it said the cutter crew completed aviation, damage control, seamanship and navigation training to maintain operational readiness and prepare for future multi-mission deployments.

Prior to returning home, the US Coast Guard said the Harriet Lane stopped in Port Everglades, Florida to transfer 17 suspected drug smugglers and US$206 million of illicit drugs to partner agencies for prosecution. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica demands honesty and transparency Cocaine “worth £184M” found in about JAMCOVID data breach – PNP

banana boxes sent from Colombia

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ocaine weighing 2300kg and with an estimated value of £184 million has been found inside a consignment of bananas that arrived in the UK from Colombia.

The haul of cocaine was intercepted in Portsmouth and the drugs were removed, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The pallets were then loaded with dummy packages and delivered to Tottenham Industrial Estate in north London.

Ten people were arrested over the haul, which represents one of the UK’s big-

gest ever drugs seizures.

The NCA said three people had been charged.

The raid was a joint operation between the NCA and the Met Police and was the culmination of a weeklong investigation, following intelligence received by detectives.

Officers tracked the shipment of drugs on 41 pallets as it arrived in Portsmouth, where UK Border Force officers removed the cocaine.

The pallets were then delivered to Tottenham.

Police moved in once enough evidence had been

gathered from a surveillance operation at the site.

Body-worn footage showed armed officers breaking into storage units where the drugs had been due to be delivered.

The Met’s Det Supt Simon Moring believes officers have cost organised criminals more than £100 million in profits.

The consignment is equivalent to more than half the quantity of cocaine seized in an average year.

About 4200kg of the drug was intercepted in the year to March 2020.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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eople’s National Party spokesperson on science, technology and commerce, Hugh Graham, said the Government and the Amber Group need to clear the air surrounding the JAMCOVID data breach “quickly and with honesty and transparency”.

This follows investigative reports this week that the data of nearly half a million people was left unprotected for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time and was only rectified after direct contact was made with the contractors, the Amber Group of Companies.

“Everything we know

right now has come from investigative reporting.

Already, the information from the Government conflicts with the reports from tech experts, and this is causing alarm and deep concern in the public domain,” Graham said.

“We need clarity from the Ministries of Health and National Security about when they first learnt of the breach. The Ministry of National Security issued a statement on Wednesday indicating that they discovered the breach on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, yet the technical team that initiated contact with the Government claims to have

alerted them from as early as February 13, 2021,” Graham said.

Graham is also demanding that the Government and Amber Group explicitly outline the steps undertaken to cauterise the leak, and be truthful about steps taken to notify vulnerable people about the potential risks to themselves and their data.

He also pointed out that the Government’s handling of this incident “does not inspire confidence, and that a nervous public is already expressing reservations about the proposed NIDS”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil extends losses as Texas prepares to ramp up output after freeze

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il prices fell for a second day on Friday, retreating further from recent highs, as Texas energy companies began preparations to restart oil and gas fields shuttered by freezing weather and power outages.

Brent crude futures ended the session down YS$1.02, or 1.6 per cent, at US$62.91 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$1.28, or 2.1 per cent, to settle at US$59.24.

For the week, Brent gained about 0.5 per cent while WTI fell about 0.7 per cent.

This week, both benchmarks had climbed to the highest in more than a year.

“Price pullback thus far appears corrective and is slight within the context of this month’s major upside price acceleration,” said Jim Ritterbusch, President of Ritterbusch and Associates.

Unusually cold weather in Texas and the Plains states curtailed up to 4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude production and 21 billion cubic feet of natural gas, analysts estimated.

US energy firms this week cut the number of oil rigs operating for the first time since November, according to Baker Hughes data.

Texas refiners halted about a fifth of the nation’s oil processing amid power outages and severe cold.

Companies were expected to prepare for production restarts on Friday as electric power and water services slowly resume, sources said.

“While much of the selling relates to a gradual resumption of power in the Gulf Coast region ahead of a significant temperature warmup, the magnitude of this week’s loss of supply may require further discounting given much uncertainty regarding the extent and possible duration of lost output,” Ritterbusch said.

Oil prices fell despite a surprise drop in US crude stockpiles last week, before the big freeze hit. Inventories fell 7.3 million barrels to 461.8 million barrels, their lowest since March, the Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday.

“Vaccines and the impressive rollouts we’ve seen have delivered strong gains, as have the efforts of OPEC+ - Saudi Arabia, in particular - and the big freeze in Texas, which gave oil prices one final kick this week,” Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA, said.

“With so many bullish factors now priced in, it seems we’re seeing some of these positions being unwound.”

The United States on Thursday said it was ready to talk to Iran about returning to a 2015 agreement that aimed to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Still, analysts did not expect near-term reversal of sanctions on Iran that were imposed by the previous US Administration.

“This breakthrough increases the probability that we may see Iran returning to the oil market soon, although there is much to be discussed and a new deal will not be a carbon-copy of the 2015 nuclear deal,” said StoneX analyst Kevin Solomon.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump in presidential debut on world stage

U

S President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his much-derided predecessor, Donald Trump, and urged democracies to work together to challenge abuses by autocratic states such as China and Russia.

In his first big appearance as President on the global stage, an online “virtual visit” to Europe, Biden sought to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player after four years of divisive “America First” policies under Trump.

Speaking to the Munich Security Conference, Biden drew a stark contrast with

I

ic landing. But before that nail-biting moment, Mohan had been working for years to make it all happen.

Mohan, an Indian American who moved to the United States when she was a year old, is the guidance and controls operations lead for the Perseverance rover mission, acting as the "eyes and ears" for NASA's most sophisticated spacecraft to date.

Not only is Mohan a pivotal player in the effort to determine whether there was ever life on the red planet; she's also a reflection of the progress NASA has made in reflecting the nation it represents.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks as he takes part in a Munich Security Conference virtual event from the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 19, 2021

Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, a senior administration official said.

Biden plans to join G7 members for an in-person summit hosted by Britain this summer.

He said US allies must stand firm against the challenges posed by China, Iran and Russia, saying Russia was seeking to weaken the transatlantic alliance and calling for unity to counter what he called China’s abusive economic practices.

Biden said the world was at an inflection point, but he was convinced that democracies, not autocracies, offered the best path forward for the world. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ferret becomes 1st North American endangered species to be cloned

U

S scientists have successfully cloned a highly-endangered black-footed ferret using DNA from an identical animal that has been frozen since 1988.

The birth of the ferret, named Elizabeth Ann, was announced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The cloning is a first for a US endangered species.

Once thought to be extinct, all black-footed ferrets are descended from seven ancestors that were found in 1981.

Scientists say the clone will help increase the population's gene pool.

Elizabeth Ann's birth on December 10 was announced as a "bold step forward" by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Thursday.

She was cloned from the DNA of an animal named Willa.

Willa was not one of the original seven ancestors.

The face of the Perseverance landing was an Indian American woman t was Swati Mohan who first delivered the news to earthlings that NASA's Perseverance rover had successfully landed on Mars.

"Touchdown confirmed," she announced to roaring applause from mission control at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"Perseverance safely on the surface of Mars, ready to begin seeking the signs of past life."

You might have seen her in the front row of the control room, bindi on her forehead, providing constant updates to the team as mission commentator for the histor-

the more transactional foreign policy of Trump, who angered allies by breaking off global accords and threatening to end defence assistance unless they toed his line.

Several years ago as a private citizen at the Munich Security Conference, Biden reassured participants rattled by the Trump presidency, telling them: “We will be back.” On Friday, he told the virtual online audience: “America is back.”

The message of collaboration echoed his message during a private videoconference earlier on Friday with the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies, Britain,

Swati Mohan, NASA's Mars 2020 guidance and controls operations lead, sits in mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The Perseverance rover landed on Mars successfully Thursday

Elizabeth Ann is about two months old and was cloned from 33year old DNA

Before those ferrets were found in 1981 on a ranch in the state of Wyoming, it was believed that the species had gone extinct forever.

Willa, who has no living

descendants, was captured in the wild and researchers hope that her clone will increase genetic diversity and help the severely-threatened species recover.

Elizabeth Ann will not be released into the wild.

She will instead live at the Colorado facility where she was born so that researchers can study her.

The ferret was created by pet cloning company ViaGen Pets & Equine, which successfully transferred the embryo into a surrogate ferret.

The black-footed ferret is North America's only ferret species and is among the most endangered mammals in North America.

They are so threatened that scientists gave 120 of them COVID-19 vaccines over the summer.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Texas weather: Water shortages continue to plague storm-hit south

P

ower is returning to Texas in the wake of a major winter storm, but some 13 million Texans are still facing difficulties accessing clean water.

With boil water advisories affecting nearly half the state, Texas' water supply has also dropped amid damage to systems from the historic cold snap.

At least 24 people have died, and officials expect that number to rise.

Several other southern states hit by snow and ice storms this week have also reported water service outages.

Winter weather has also cut off water in the city of Jackson, Mississippi - home to around 150,000 people as well as the largest county in Tennessee that includes the city of Memphis, with over 651,000 residents.

Across the US South, a region unaccustomed to such frigid temperatures,

Bottled water has become hard to find, due to water shortages

people whose pipes have frozen have taken to boiling snow to make water.

As of Friday, about 180,000 homes and businesses in Texas still had no electricity. Amid freezing temperatures earlier this week, as many as 3.3 million were without power.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday approved a state of emergency for Texas.

As of Friday, storm warn-

ings are still in place across much of Texas, but temperatures will rise in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The forecaster has also warned of dangerous travel conditions and power outages in eastern parts of the US as another winter storm system is expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain and ice. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Trust the facts, not what someone leads you to believe. Pay attention to detail, nurture meaningful relationships and take a closer look at your options. Don’t sell yourself short.

Check rules and regulations before you get involved in something that can affect your financial standing or reputation.

Take a cautious approach to joint ventures.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Plan to have some fun, but not at someone’s expense. Kindness and consideration -- coupled with a positive, helpful attitude -will help you avoid trouble.

Romance is favored.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Go about your business.

Look for alternative ways to reach your goals. Use the power of persuasion to get others to help you.

Keep life simple, practical and moderate.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Speak up, say what’s on your mind, share your ideas and be passionate about your intentions. Don’t waste time and energy on anger or those who will never see things your way. Collect your thoughts.

Control your emotions, and everything will fall into place. Live up to your promises, make yourself available to help a cause you believe in, and encourage others to do the same.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You’ll have lots on your mind. View situations realistically, and you will avoid taking on too much, overspending and indulgent behavior. Love is in the stars.

SCORPIO

An investment looks promising. Someone close to you may not agree with something you want to pursue. Handle situations with diplomacy. Don’t let anger take the reins.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take action and finish SAGITTARIUS what you start. Assume a po(Nov. 23sition of leadership. Express Dec. 21) your intentions and feelings to a loved one. Don’t miss out on an opportunity; if you snooze, you lose.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make adjustments at home that will help you accomplish your goals. An energetic approach will help you gain the respect of someone you are trying to impress. You will get a chance to branch out.

Brighten up your living space to lift your spirits.

Reach out to your loved ones and make plans to do something that you can enjoy together. Plan your day with care and tact.

Work toward a personal goal, and refuse to let an outsider get in your way. What you accomplish will raise your self-esteem and give you the confidence to make positive changes.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

21

BCB/Nand Persaud 30 overs’ female tournament…

Rose Hall Town Metro storm to championship win – NA/Canje to play WCB for runners-up position

T

he West Indies trio of Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi, together with national off-spinner Plaffina Millington, where the outstanding players as defending champions Rose Hall Town (RHT) Metro easily retained their status as holders of the BCB/Nand Persaud 30 overs’ female title.

Rose Hall Town Metro, the only female club team in Guyana, easily defeated a combined New Amsterdam/ Canje team and a West Coast Berbice team to remain un-

T

he long-awaited Devon Ramnauth Youth Cricket League is finally set to bowl off today at two venues on the Essequibo Coast, Region 2.

At the Pomona venue, Rising Stars Spartans will tackle United Warriors from 10am, while at the Imam Bacchus Ground at Affiance, Essequibo Eagles Under-19 will match skills with the Golden Fleece Vikings Youths from 09:30hrs.

In the other fixture at the Imam Bacchus Ground, Reliance Hustlers Youths will clash with Queenstown Under-19s from 13:30hrs.

League founder Devon Ramnauth has said that since formation of the league in early 2020, his aim has been to improve the game in Region 2, and he had decided to start off with the youths.

He explained that the 6 contesting under-19 teams would be participating in a T20 round-robin competition, and

beaten in tournaments since their founding in 2008.

The BCB/Nand Persaud & Co. Ltd 30 overs tournament is the first of three scheduled tournaments to be organised by the BCB for female players in the Ancient County.

Playing at the Cotton Tree Ground, WCB on Thursday, West Berbice won the toss and elected to bat first. The match having been reduced to 25 overs due to early morning rain, West Berbice were bundled out for 68 runs scored in 24.3 overs, as Giddings continued her purple patch to claim

Erva Giddings was adjudged Player of the Match

4 wickets for 10 runs from five very impressive overs.

Devon Ramnauth Youth Cricket League bowls off in Region 2

the championship game is billed for March 20 at a venue to be announced.

As founder of the League, Ramnauth says, he is “superbly excited” to get things “cracking”, and is highly optimistic that the inaugural tourney would be a success.

He singled out for special gratitude all who have contributed in various ways to making this initiative a reality, especially at this difficult time of the global pandemic’s presence.

Vibrant individual Travis Simon is the tournament’s organiser.

According to Ramnauth, a former Essequibo and Guyana Under-19 youth player, special thanks must be extended to Simon for his contribution towards the realisation of this new tournament.

“I am extremely excited to get things going. Initially, the competition was supposed to start last year, but because

of the pandemic (it did not).

Again, we have an active Facebook page, which is very informative, and the focal point of this competition is about development,” Ramnauth, currently residing in Canada, has disclosed.

Further, he emphasised that aspiring cricketers on the Essequibo Coast would get more opportunities to showcase their skills and talents, as this League is here to stay.

Ramnauth, who plays professional cricket in North America, declared this initiative as all about giving back to the coast, and by extension to Essequibo cricket.

There are lots of prizes for the winning and runner-up teams, while outstanding individual performers are similarly in for a treat, he disclosed.

“This is about encouragement and motivation for these youngsters,” Ramnauth has declared.

in

Gajnabi took 2 for 10 three overs, Plaffina

Millington claimed 3 for 15, and Grimmond had 1 for 14 as the other successful bowlers for RHT Metro. Only Devona Frank and Katana Mentore, with 12 and 30 not out respectively, reached double figures for WCB. In reply, RHT Metro posted 70 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, with Grimmond being unbeaten on 32, while the batters dismissed were Marian Samaroo (08), Kimmone Thomas (19), and Gajnabi (04).

WCB play New Amsterdam/Canje on Monday

to determine the runners-up position.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, in congratulating the Shemaine Campbelle-led Rose Hall Town Metro team on retaining their title, also praised the attitude of the youthful West Berbice team.

He pledged that as long as he remains at the helm of the BCB, female cricket and cricketers would not be neglected.

He also expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of Nand Persaud & Co. Ltd for their continued support of Berbice Cricket.

Roraima Airways supports Roraima Cup Airways supports President’s Softball tourney President’s Cup Softball tourney President’s Cup Softball tourney

Roraima Airways Reservations Manager Gilleon Chase (left) presenting the tickets to Secretary of the GSCL Inc, Telesha Ousman-Yamin

R

oraima Airways Limited of Bel Air Park, Georgetown have thrown their support behind the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL) for the hosting of the inaugural President’s Cup tourney, which is set for play from March 5 to 7.

Yesterday, at the company’s Bel Air Park offices, Roraima Airways’ Reservations Manager Gilleon Chase presented two complimentary tickets

for travel to Kaieteur Falls to Secretary of GSCL Inc, Telesha Ousman-Yamin.

Chase declared the company happy to be part of the competition, and wished the teams well. She described cricket as a unifying influence, and said the company is happy to give back to the community.

Moreover, she pledged the company’s continued support for the tourney.

Ousman-Yamin thanked Roraima Airways for their backing, and revealed that

the GSCL hopes to make the tournament an annual feature. She also reminded that teams have until Sunday, February 22, to deposit a refundable $60,000 so as to confirm their participation.

This inaugural President’s T20 Softball tournament would be contested in three categories: Open (All ages), Masters (over 40 years old) and Legends (over 50 years old), and games would be played at venues in and around Georgetown.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

Stiff competition expected in Agro Services-Amazon Planx Golf Tournament on Sunday 21/2

T

know will be a fierce competition.

“For those who may not know who we are and what we do, Agro Services Inc is one of Guyana’s leading quality suppliers of bulk whole and processed fresh fruits and vegetables. Recently acknowledged by the GMSA for ‘Emerging Entrepreneurship’ with a product of a consistent quality, we also specialise in a number of additional agricultural development specialisations.

“Our name essentially translates to ‘agricultural growth services’; this is tied to our commitment to quality and improved service for all of our clients, customers and partners. We thank you once more for havPatanjilee Persaud (left) stands alongside CEO of Amazon Planx Amit ing our tournament, and would like to pledge Persaud, and Corporate Liaison of Agro Services Renuka Singh our continued support instant from 09:00 hrs. compete, among whom would for this and upcoming tournaThis Open tournament expectedly be Max Persaud, ments.”

Also speaking at the simwould be contested in the Patanjilee Persaud, Avinash medal play format, which Persaud, Troy Cadogan, Ravi ple ceremony, CEO of Amazon would see an individual golfer Persaud, Brian Hackett and Pranx, Amit Persaud, noted recording each of his shots in the veteran Maurice Solomon. that, as a company, they are an attempt to finish the round Speaking at a simple cer- fulfilling their corporate reusing the lowest number of emony to launch the tourna- sponsibility, hence they are ment, Corporate Liaison of pleased to be associated with strokes.

Most people regard stroke Agro Services, Renuka Singh, the development of the game play as the traditional way of said, “We are thankful to of golf.

He explained that Amazon playing golf, as it is the one Lusignan Golf Club for havmost often seen on television, ing us being a part of the tour- Planx is a complete woodnotably in tournaments held nament. On behalf of our Agro processing facility, the prodby the PGA Tour and its inter- Services team, we would like ucts of which range from logs to thank and acknowledge all to moulded products such national equivalents.

In terms of Gross, the golf- of the outstanding organisers, as base board, tongue-ander who has posted the lowest other sponsor, and competi- groove, lap-edge crown mouldround wins, and in terms of tors in the upcoming tourna- ings, deck boards, and a wide Net, the golfer who has post- ment. We are extremely ex- variety of lumber.

“We also have facilities ed the lowest round net of his cited to be a part of what we he Lusignan Golf Club, having hosted a most interesting tournament just under a month ago, is hosting the Agro Services-Amazon Planx Golf Tournament on Sunday, 21st

handicap wins.

In Sunday’s competition, prizes would be awarded to the top four best net finishers, best gross, nearest-to-the-pin, and the longest drive. A total of 40 players are expected to

Forbes Burnham Memorial road race rolls off on Sunday 21/2

R

iders are hereby informed that competitive cycling returns to the 592 with the Forbes Burnham Memorial road race being staged on Sunday 21/2.

These and other details have been confirmed

by Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Malcolm Sonaram.

According to Sonaram, the race, organised by the Flying Stars Cycling Club, was on Wednesday given the green light by the COVID-19 Task Force and Health Minister

Dr. Frank Anthony.

This, the first competitive cycling event for the 2021 season, is scheduled to get off to a fast start from CARIFESTA Avenue at 07:30hrs on Sunday. The peloton will be heading east to Belfield, ECD, before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Sunday’s 30-miler would cater for riders in the categories of Open, Juniors and Veterans. Cycling standout Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams won last year’s event, which was a two-stage race.

for kiln dried lumber,” he explained.

President of the Lusignan Golf Club, Patanjilee Persaud, was grateful to the sponsors.

She noted that all COVID-19 precautionary measures would be in place for the tournament. Special surprise hampers and prizes would also be obtainable at this tournament, according to its sponsors (Agro Services and Amazon Planx).

Those wishing to learn

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more about Agro Services are invited to check out its premises at Lot 181 Section D Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, or make contact on cellphone # 608-2588 or visit the Web page www.aryasfreshcut.com and www.agroservicesintl. com.

As for Amazon Planx, this business can be found at Lot 29 Coldingen Industrial Estate, East Coast Demerara, or can be contacted on cellphone # 621-1199.

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Live stream in works for first Drag meet

T

he Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) have ticked all the boxes when it comes to their upcoming drag race meet, including anticipating fans who would be at home.

As such, it was confirmed on Friday that the meet would be live-streamed.

“Fans will not miss the action at the South Dakota raceway, as the event will be streaming via the club’s Facebook page, as well as broadcast on several local and cable channels,” Club President Rameez Mohamed disclosed on Friday.

Mohamed added, “The event will be live-streamed via one of our major sponsors, E-Networks.”

E1, SKAR TV (Channel 102) as well as Tarzee TV in Bartica are the other channels that will be broadcasting the drag action.

For those wondering about in- person attendance, Mohamed shared that it may be a possibility, but it is yet to be confirmed.

“We may allow a limited amount of spectators into the venue, but that is still in its discussion phase, and we don’t want to speak more about that just yet,” he stated. “This move represents a great step forward in the sport, because it’s something we’ve been trying to do for a long time, and this time presents the perfect opportunity to test

it,” Mohamed stated of the opportunity to live stream next weekend’s meet.

With just over a week remaining for the February 28 event, track preparation is continuing.

The track is being prepped daily to ensure that, come race day, complaints regarding its surface would not arise.

Meanwhile, the GMR&SC has reminded that the event would be held under the COVID-19 guidelines, with masks and sanitisation mandatory for all drivers, marshals, and persons entering the venue.

Among the meet’s sponsors are AR Jiwanram Printery, Associated Construction Services, BM SOAT Auto Sales, Cyril's Transportation Services, Homeline Furnishing, Imran Auto Works, KFC, KGM Security, Land Star Drilling Company, MMD Hollow Blocks and Pavers, Mohamed's Enterprise, Motor Trend Service Center, Modern Building Solutions, Panko Steel Fabrication, Power Tech Sound Company, Prem's Electrical, Ready Mix Concrete, Rush Energy Drink, Samaroo Investments Inc., Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. STAG Beer, TransPacific Motor Spares & Auto Sales, Truck Master, UNICOM - United Commodities, West Coast Customs Washbay and Windjammer.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

23 3 of 5 Board members elect Bissoondyal Singh President of DCB SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– Roger Harper, Bradley Fredericks to function as vice presidents

By Timothy Jaikarran

“T

oday is the dawn of a new era”, were the words uttered by the new president of the Demerara Cricket Board, Bissoondyal Singh, after being unanimously elected to the helm of that body in courtmanaged elections.

The results of the elections having been clothed in legitimacy, the way is now paved for the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr, to consult with Cricket West Indies (CWI) on a date for the hosting of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) election, as stipulated in the Guyana Cricket Administration Act, Chapter 21:03.

For the elections, Major General (Ret’d) Norman McLean was nominated as Returning Officer by former DCB President

Nicholas Pooran

Newly appointed Cricket Ombudsman Kamal Ramkarran

Claude Raphael and seconded

by GCA President Neil Barry.

Thereafter, Bissoondyal Singh was nominated for the role of President by Roger Harper, and was seconded by Azad Ibrahim.

Justice Navindra Singh’s Monday ruling paved the way for elections of the DCB after a series of court cases. Of the five associations that are part of the DCB, three appeared; namely, the Georgetown

Cricket Association, the East Coast Cricket Board, and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association, who provided a list of delegates.

The two other associations; the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) and the East Bank Cricket Association (EBCA), did not provide delegates despite being served the Court Order.

The Full Court had quashed an appeal

Jaguars, Red Force lock horns today in clash of the titans

By Brandon

Corlette

W

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon Charles Ramson

ith both t h e Guyana Jaguars and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force being unbeaten in this ongoing CG Insurance Regional Super50 Cup, their match today (Saturday February 20) is set to be a clash of the heavyweights, and the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua is set for the grand stage, with the action commencing from 13:30h.

Both teams have qualified for the semi-finals, with table leaders Red Force having played four matches and registering wins in all, while the roaring Jaguars are in second position with three matches having been played and wins registered in as many matches.

According to captain Leon Johnson, the Jaguars are in high spirits and the team aims to take it one game at a time. "We have been in situations before where we were fancied to win or get in a final and it did not happen. So, the guys are cognisant of that," he said.

In the last five competitions between the Jaguars and the Red Force, the Guyanese franchise chalked up one win while the Red Force have four wins. However, on their day, the Jaguars, with a well-rounded unit that is high on confidence, can topple the Red Force or any force for that matter.

Having recovered from his hamstring injury, Johnson, who is expected to return in the

starting XI, believes the strength of the Jaguars is in the allround players. "We have a lot of bowlers who can bat and batters who can bowl, so we have a lot of two- and three-dimensional cricketers, which makes us a very strong team," Johnson said.

Speaking about promising fast bowler Nial Smith, who has six wickets in the tournament thus far, Johnson said the Berbician has been learning quickly. "His extra pace! I would like to get him into new batsmen when they are not settled. He bowls a good yorker. He played last year and he didn't have the best of times, but he has learnt quickly; so, cudos to him."

Numbers don't lie, and the captain of the Jaguars is delighted to have team analyst Dinesh Mahabir.

“We have been working with an analyst for the first time, and it's very useful. The amount of information that we have makes it a lot easier when we go on the field," Johnson said in a recent Sean Devers Sports Watch.

“Mr. Consistent” Christopher Barnwell is the leading Jaguars batsman with 158 runs, including his maiden century, while Johnson has 106 runs in the two matches he played.

Romario Shepherd (93) and Shimron Hetmyer (90) are also in the runs, while Anthony Bramble (85) has shown good signs with the bat.

Impressive left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has reigned supreme with the ball, having taken nine wickets in three matches, while Smith (6) and Shepherd (5) are among the

Shimron Hetmyer

wickets.

Meanwhile, the Red Force looks a well-oiled unit, with Evin Lewis (233) and Jason Mohammed (203) leading the batting charts. Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul and Anderson Phillips each have six wickets in the tournament thus far.

After the Red Force’s latest victory against the Hurricanes, Pollard said his team was aiming to bat first, since all four of their wins came batting second. He noted that Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo are suffering with niggles, but it's not too alarming.

The West Indies white-ball captain has said his team would be aiming to continue that winning momentum.

Both teams are filled with ‘big gun’ players, and the match promises to be the biggest of the season thus far. Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran will be aiming to come good with the bat.

Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Shimron Hetmyer (vicecaptain), Assad Fudadin, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kemol Savory, Christopher Barnwell, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force squad reads: Kieron Pollard (captain), Darren Bravo (vice-captain), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Jayden Seales, Kjorn Ottley, Anderson Phillip and Khary Pierre.

Newly elected Demerara Cricket Board President Bissoondyal Singh (Centre), Vice President Claude Raphael(left), Vice President Roger Harper (right)

made by President of the WDCA Anand Sanasie, to prevent the hosting of a free and fair election for the Demerara Cricket Board.

At the end of the elections those elected were: * President: Bissoondyal Singh * Vice President: Roger Harper * Vice President: Bradley Fredericks * Treasurer: Azad Ibrahim * Asst. Treasurer: Pretipaul Jaigobin * Secretary: Daveteerth Anandjit * Asst. Secretary: Ronald Williams * Committee Commissions Chairman: Raymond Barton * Marketing Manager: Neil Barry * PRO: Claude Raphael * Trustee: Troy Khan * Trustee: Fazal Eshahack Bissoondyal spells it out “I’d like to thank the delegates and everyone for putting their trust in me. Today is the dawn of a new era, and democracy has returned to the Demerara Cricket Board.

We intend to have this process to be (as transparent) and

democratic as possible, as everything will remain public.

“We have decided that the entire Guyana and everyone that loves cricket (must) know that we are here to serve the people, and not manage them.

Our cricket should not be played in the court, our cricket should not involve people who have a personal agenda; it is something that should unite us, as we have a responsibility,” Bisoondyal declared.

The new DCB President noted that he is grateful if the DCB would pursue the President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster and the Essequibo Cricket Board, Faizal Bacchus so they can have one plan.

Bissoondyal also said, “We would also like to pursue a National Cricket College, a satellite academy across Guyana. This college will fix the bridge between academics and sports, as we would like to have the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, on board. We will have to engaged all schools, clubs and associations, as school cricket has to be fixed just as inter-house and interzone cricket. This will have to be done in collaboration with the Teacher’s Union,

the Ministry and the Cricket Board.”

In his closing remarks, the DCB boss reiterated that those who are in court attempting to derail the process of democracy must desist from so doing, as that type of action must come to an end.

After the results were made public, Sport Minister, Charles Ramson Jr in a statement, said: “With the Demerara Cricket Board election just concluded as directed by Order of Court of the 15th February, 2021

by Justice Navindra Singh in Action number 2018-HC-DEMCIV-FDA-622, and having just consulted with Cricket West Indies (formerly known as West Indies Cricket Board) pursuant to the requirements of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act, I hereby make the following appointments: 1. The 26th February, 2021 will be the day for the first election of the Guyana Cricket Board.

2. That Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law, is the Cricket Ombudsman.

The Cricket Ombudsman will hereafter advise as to next steps in accordance with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act.

Albion, Port Mourant to clash in BCB/Lewison General Store 2020 Under-15 finals today he Berbice Cricket Board’s Port Mourant teams are strong The presentation ceremony

T

(BCB’s) cricket season continues to gather steam with today’s hosting of the long-awaited finals of the BCB/ Lewison General Store 2020 tourney at the Jai Hind Cricket Ground at Albion.

Arch-rivals Port Mourant and Albion oppose each other in this match, scheduled to start at 9:30h.

BCB President Hilbert Foster has said that when the 2020 season was suspended in March last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a total of eight finals were affected. Among the other finals were the Elizabeth Styles Under-21, Let's Bet Sports 20/20 County wide, and Mike's Pharmacy Under-15.

The BCB hopes to complete all the outstanding finals by late April, while at the same time hosting junior, female, and second division tournaments for 2021.

Both Albion and

on paper. Port Mourant would be led by West Indies Under-15 player Rampertab Ramnauth, who would receive support from Salim Khan, Rampersaud Ramnauth and Romesh Bharrat.

Albion would be led by the promising Damien Cecil, with support from Shiv H a r r i p e rs a u d , Afraz Budhoo and Ari Afrizal Kadir.

would take place immediately after the match. No spectator would be allowed into the venue, and all the players and umpires are hereby asked to bring along their own face masks, hand sanitisers and drinking water.

Albion Community Centre Cricket Club squad reads: Tameshwar Mangal, Ari-Afrizal Kadir, Damien Cecil, Afraz Budhoo, Devin Lalbehari, Antonio Ramphal, Shiv Harripersaud, Kumar Deopershad, Asaf Esau, Shared Persaud, Dion Sital, Dhanesh Prabudial, Feeaz Baksh, Joel Cort and Reetish Nathoor.

Port Mourant Community Centre Cricket Club squad reads: Rampertab Ramnauth, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Romesh Bharrat, Salim Khan, Khanromel Budwa, Vishal Williams, Yoganand Mohan, Krish Ramroop, Jaikishan Latchhman, Balram Chappell, Chatur Mohobir, Ganesh Seosahai and Leon Teddy.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021

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

3 of 5 Board members Page 23 elect Bissoondyal Singh Jaguars, Red Force lock horns President of DCB – Roger Harper, Bradley Fredericks today in clash of the titans to function as vice presidents Pg 23

Page 22

Stiff competition expected in Agro Services-Amazon Planx Live stream in works Golf Tournament on Sunday 21/2 for first Drag meet Pg 22

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