Guyana Times - Saturday August 7, 2021

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Unvaccinated persons need appointment to enter GRA offices Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4732

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

25 homes to be constructed for financiallystrapped families See story on page 2

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

3-year-old P8 struck down by motorcycle 60-year-old critical following hit-and-run P10

…118 persons to get $500,000 each in home improvement subsidies

Stop paying MoH working to unjustifiably fix weaknesses in supply absent employees chain system – Teixeira in record time to PS – PS tells PAC GPF builds house for Linden single mother Page 3

…as recipient breaks down in tears of gratitude

Page 7

Page 15

Burning of 2-year-old's back, genitals

Mother’s boyfriend gets 30 months' jail time P12

Multimillion-dollar gold heist

Police arrest 1 suspect, guard remains in custody P11 P13 Father previously jailed for wounding daughters remanded for shooting woman

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter, and one of Malika Thomas’s daughters cut the ribbon to commission the home

50,000 AstraZeneca vaccines expected from COVAX next week

…Sputnik V-vaccinated Guyanese will be allowed entry into 9 & 14 Caribbean countries …1 more die, 54 new Pages COVID-19 cases

Slain mechanic was shot 3 P13 times – autopsy

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

25 homes to be constructed for financially-strapped families …118 persons to get $500,000 each in home improvement subsidies

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wenty-five financially-strapped families who would have received lands through the Housing and Water Ministry’s “Dream Realised” initiative but cannot afford to build their homes will get help from Government assistance to build their homes.

This was announced on Friday by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal during a contract signing at the Ministry.

Funding for this Home Support Programme will be done through the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). The 25 homes will be in La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Minister Croal explained that the beneficiaries must be owners of the lots, while noting that persons will be selected through a process of transparency.

Croal stated that the Government has made a commitment to provide the necessary resources needed to complete the infrastructural works in the areas that are in dire need.

“This programme has

selected households for the purchasing of the necessary materials needed for the repairs such as building materials for repairs to walls, floors, electrical works and sanitation improvements, among others.

The contract was awarded to Cemax Procurement and Contracting – Lot Seven at a sum of $10,881,287, and Mike and Daughters

Lumberyard – Lots OneSix along with Lot Eight at a sum of $54,257,545.

Lots 1-5 of the rehabilitation contracts were awarded to Tristar Industries Inc at a sum of $98,920,225.

The Minister urged the contractors to ensure the projects are delivered in a quality and time efficient manner.

Unvaccinated persons need appointment to enter GRA offices Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal handing over the contract for the construction of core homes to a representative of Tristar Industries Inc. Also in photo are CEO of CH&PA Sherwyn Greaves (left) and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally (right)

been reformulated, as part of our goal to provide sustainable and affordable housing, as well as access to basic infrastructure for Guyanese, particularly those in low-income communities,” Croal expressed.

The core homes will [be] 330 square feet single family homes with concrete blocks for the outer walls and floors, basic doors, win-

dows, electrical wiring, and water connections designed to meet basic standards that a family can move into and expand over time.

In addition to the 25 houses, some 118 persons in the La Parfaite Harmonie area will receive $500,000 each in home improvement subsidies.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Housing

& Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn Greaves explained “…we would have had our staff visit the areas and have seen houses that were badly in need of repairs, but the persons residing in them – due to financial situations can’t do the repairs.”

The CEO stated that a sum of $500,000 will be contributed to each of those

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he Guyana Revenue Authority has announced that all unvaccinated persons must make an appointment before visiting its offices. In a notice published on Friday, GRA said that in keeping with the COVID-19 Emergency Measures published in the Official Gazette on July 29, 2021, it is now advising that all taxpayers desirous of entering its offices show proof of vaccination (hard copy vaccination card) and a valid form of identification (ID Card/Passport/ Driver’s Licence) with effect from Monday August 9, 2021. The revenue body noted that no electronic or photocopies will be accepted.

“The Revenue Authority will only facilitate entry to unvaccinated taxpayers on prior appointment made via the switchboard operator on telephone numbers 2276060 or 227-8222 extension

1502, 1506/7, or through its online mailboxes: appointments@gra.gov.gy – for GRA’s Headquarters; branches@gra.gov.gy – for all Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs); wharves@ gra.gov.gy – for all GRA’s operations at the Wharves/ Transit Sheds.”

GRA said that the mandate will be in effect at all of GRA’s offices and wharves countrywide. These are Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini); Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); New Amsterdam and Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and GRA’s operations at the respective wharves.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, Aug 7 – 03:30h – 05:00h and Sunday, Aug 8 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Aug 7 – 16:15h – 17:45h and Sunday, Aug 8 – 16:50h – 18:20h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be light rain during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies and light rain at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-Westerly to West South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 16:06h reaching a maximum height of 2.41 metres.

Low Tide: 09:38h and 21:53h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.8 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Stop paying unjustifiably absent employees – Teixeira to Permanent Secretaries

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inister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira on Friday said that the accounting officers from the various Ministries should stop paying employees within the public sector who fail to show up to work.

This was after it was revealed during the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on Friday, where the Ministry of Health’s accounts in the Auditor General 2016 report was being examined, that some $1.7 million was overpaid as net salaries to 16 employees – a recurring issue across the various Government Ministries and agencies.

Former Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas told the PAC that the Ministry continues to grapple with the issue of overpayments. He offered that one of the scenarios that would lead to this situation is when employees walk off the job or resign at the end of the month but salaries would have already been paid. Public servants’ salaries are paid by the third week of every month.

According to the former PS, the Ministry has made attempts to recover some of these salaries and has even sought legal advice on addressing the issue.

“It’s an ongoing problem that we’re dealing with…

The Ministry has put systems in place to reduce it as such as possible so, for example, if a person proceeds on leave, their salaries are there until they resume duties and so on. But the main challenge is that the structure is that persons are paid before the end of the month and sometimes the person just leave like that [afterwards]… and while we make attempts to recover the funds, because salaries are paid through the bank, it is not always that successful. So it’s an ongoing effort to continue to recoup monies from persons,” Thomas explained.

In fact, it was explained that the salaries that go through the banks, some of the financial institutions are sceptical of withdrawing from the accounts since they can only do so with permission from the account holders.

On this note, Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul asked about systems in place to reduce the continuous overpayments.

Current Permanent Secretary at the Health Ministry, Malcom Watkins disclosed that they are currently working to speed up the bureaucratic process.

This, he noted, begins with getting the backlog cleared up so that when an employee leaves, the records can be updated in order to reduce the “haemorrhaging” of the public accounts.

However, Principal Personnel Officer, Chetram Phoenix informed

the Committee that this issue is further compounded by logistic challenges that the Health Ministry faces including the fact that there are staff across all 10 administrative regions.

He noted that this adds to the overpayments since by the time the Ministry is informed of persons leaving the job in some of these regions then salaries for one, sometimes two months would have already been paid.

Nevertheless, PS Watkins indicated that they are currently working to improve these deficiencies in the current system, which he described as “broken”. He noted that this will take time.

But this did not go down well with Minister Teixeira,

who contended that there must be more alertness and better communication linkages between the Regional Health Officers (RHOs) and Heads of Departments in the Ministry to work together to avoid this issue of overpayments.

“There has to be a more careful examination of the payroll… [So] that the RHOs out there who are in charge of the regions and the Ministry’s Heads of Department. [When] someone walks off the job – they haven’t found them for three-four days and they haven’t submitted medicals and they may not have officially resigned but they’re not just there, there is supposed to be a system in the Personnel Department for those Heads to [be alert-

ed that] that’s reason to stop the payroll in the first place,” the Minister posited.

She went on to say that “Whilst we are pleased to hear that there will be some improvements, we have to be structured and systemic… I keep hearing every Ministry say people walk off and we can’t do anything about it… [But] there is the means and ways that the PS can say to the Finance people that the following people are not here and therefore, the cheque in the first place would not be electronically distributed.”

According to Minister Teixeira, while this is not a fool proof system, it will reduce the prevalence of overpayments to employees who are unjustifiably absent from work.

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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

Traffic lawlessness

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s Guyanese continue to express concern and shock at the numerous horrific accidents that have occurred recently, there are various reasons for those accidents.

A common theme appears to be the unnecessary taking of risks and speed, factors often lamented as causes.

Historically, the shock, concern and caution that follow a fatal accident seem to be fleeting, and the major contributary factors are seemingly swiftly resumed despite public outcry.

However, given that those accidents are occurring on our roadways, and judging from sentiments expressed on social media, it seems that a large number of Guyanese are outraged and are calling for drivers to slow down.

While that is encouraging, only time will tell if public pressure would indeed make a positive impact. Social media wields tremendous influence, and traffic violations by some irresponsible drivers have been captured and attracted the attention of the Police.

There were instances when some drivers imbibe alcoholic beverages while in the process of transporting members of the public. The conductors randomly stick their hands out to demand that the bus be allowed to cut in front of vehicles, without considering the risk involved.

The said drivers literally drive on the parapets at times to illegally undertake, just to avoid staying in lanes and to reach their destinations within the shortest possible time. They also blatantly block turning lanes while ignoring the pleading horns.

The end result is that those who respect the traffic laws are made to spend much longer commuting, and are left at the mercy of those inconsiderate drivers. This in no way suggests that all minibus drivers are reckless; however, many are noticeable offenders across the country. Sadly, their unacceptable behaviour has been allowed to continue, seemingly encouraged by both the travelling public and the Police to an extent.

While some passengers have objected to the overall despicable behaviour of minibus operators, and were in the process abused, there is an urgent needed for a collective and robust approach to denounce what has unfortunately become a culture of disrespect to both passengers and traffic laws.

There are times when the Police act and times when they seemingly turn a blind eye. Serious consideration must be given to the fact that some Police officers own minibuses.

Every day, roadways - including those in some villages that are not approved on the road service - are used by minibuses.

The Police cannot be oblivious of that, for, in some cases, when they are managing the flow of traffic, they allow those buses to re-enter the main thoroughfare. That can only be seen as encouraging a transgression of the said road service.

Also, on a daily basis, many minibuses are crammed with passengers, having exceeded the legal limit.

There are times when the Police intervene, and commendations must be given; however, there is a lack of much-needed consistency, not just for the minibus drivers in question, but for all others.

The situation has worsened, and will further decline if no meaningful and sustained intervention is made. If the working traffic lights were to be configured to best suit the rush hours, then more ranks could be freed up to deal with traffic violations.

In addition, there should be consideration for more stringent mechanisms, including raising the required age to obtain a licence to drive a minibus or taxi, and higher costs.

Penalties for traffic violations must be more punitive, possibly even for minor offences.

In whatever review that may now take place, maybe a protocol on how minibuses owned by Police officers should be treated in the context herein, and to simplify a complaint process for the public, needs to be established.

The bottom line is that this issue must be addressed immediately and holistically, since a lack of sustained action would be continually interpreted as encouragement for the lawlessness.

The Italy artistic swimming team competes during the team technical routine at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan (VOA)

Get vaccinated today! Let’s get our lives back on track Dear Editor, In 2020, I wrote, “any rational examination will lead to the conclusion that we cannot avoid COVID-19 infections and deaths and those most vulnerable should take as many precautions as affordable” (published on 20.5.20).

Today, all Guyanese have access to COVID-19 vaccines, made available by the Government at no cost to the recipient. This is as affordable as it gets, and yet many are hesitating or are outright refusing to get inoculated.

The hesitant and intransigent are now feeling pressured because of new Government regulations requiring proof of vaccination for entry into Government buildings, recreation and dining facilities, etc.

The country has become a battlefield between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, and the politicians have entered the fray to add to the already confusing landscape.

There must be a better way to assist the undecided, the uninformed, and even the intransigent than to force the vaccine down their throats.

We can begin with understanding their hesitancy, and providing helpful information to overcome it.

In Guyana, we have Sputnik V, OxfordAstraZeneca and Sinopharm readily available. A small quantity of Moderna was donated and utilised also. The Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, uses a weakened virus to deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response.

The Oxford AstraZeneca is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus

(known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees. It has been modified to contain genetic material shared by the coronavirus - although it can’t cause the illness. Once injected, it teaches the body’s immune system how to fight the real virus.

Sinopharm is an inactivated virus vaccine. This means it’s made from viral particles produced in a lab, which are then inactivated so they can’t infect you with COVID-19. The vaccine is mixed with an adjuvant, which is a substance added to vaccines to stimulate a stronger immune response.

The Sinopharm vaccine contains many proteins the immune system can respond to, stimulating the production of antibodies to fight COVID-19.

Many other vaccines use similar platforms, including injectable polio, Hepatitis A, and flu vaccines.

Editor, above is the technical information, but there are other reasons for persons to inoculate against the virus. A refusal to vaccinate puts your own life at risk, which is a choice that a person should enjoy in a free society. However, refusal also puts the lives of others at risk.

Our children are experiencing truncated childhoods, unable to attend school for over a year, valuable periods of socialisation lost forever; soon they will return to classrooms, and the onus is upon responsible adults to ensure that we minimise the risk they encounter.

Teachers who refuse to inoculate are not part of the solution, but are creating a problem where none should exist.

It is a teacher’s right to refuse vaccination, but it is the re-

sponsibility of the authorities to put the welfare of our children first. Other professions exist for teachers who refuse to inoculate, and the same applies to all professions.

Coretta McDonald of the Guyana Teacher’s Union is organising a protest against the possible mandatory vaccination of teachers, and in her voice note to members, she ended with the following words: “Remember, wear your masks. Wear them correctly every time you have to go out there. Wear them, and if you have to be in large crowds, ensure that you sanitize, you wash your hands, you wash when you get home, you take every single necessary precaution when you get home from these events”, this is the ad-

vice of a fully vaccinated person to unvaccinated teachers; it is vile advice from a heartless place.

I have survived COVID-19 (without fuss) being inoculated with Sputnik V (both doses). I look forward to returning to normalcy, real freedom from masks, endless bouts of sanitizers, and meaningless temperature checks and curfews. All of these curtails to our life can cease to exist when Guyana gets to a higher percentage of inoculation.

Get vaccinated today! Let’s get our lives back on track and our children back into schools safely.

Sincerely, Robin Singh COVID-19 survivor

AFHP is the way to go!

Dear Editor, I write to you today in regard to the Amalia Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) which the Government of Guyana is looking to revive.

Over the years, I have paid close attention to the project, and with its revival on the way, I write with much enthusiasm.

I strongly believe the AFHP is the way to go, and I commend the Government for looking in its direction once again. With the advent of climate change, we can all agree that it is time for countries to do more so as to mitigate the effects which it may have on the earth. One of the things that were taught to us in school is that countries should try to implement strategies that would

help them to become carbon neutral in order to save the environment. However, we see many countries lacking in this regard. Nevertheless, Guyana is presented with a great opportunity, wherein it can transform its electricity sector into becoming much closer to an emission-free status. This opportunity is through the AFHP. If memory serves me right, it was in 2016 when the Government of Guyana and the Government of Norway commissioned a study by Norconsult AS to carry out an initial analysis of the project. The study was objective and based solely on facts, and the results reflected same.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Lifting Guyana to a new plateau of sustainable economic prosperity Dear Editor, As the PPP/C celebrates its first year in office, it is important that we examine its performance.

In order to get a true perspective, I think we have to examine the general environment in which that party ascended to national political leadership, as well as other factors, which I set out to do below.

After the elections were called in March 2020 and polls were closed, the journey of time from ascertaining the results of those elections to the declaration of the winner was an extremely rough and treacherous journey. It took the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) five months to produce the result of an election that involved less than 600,000 people.

During that time too, the novel Coronavirus disease, which first struck in 2019 and which threatened to unravel human society, was raging all over the world, ravishing the lives of millions of people and collapsing global economic, health and social systems. The im-

plications were and still are very staggering for global trade, commerce and industry. Developing countries were hard hit by the fallout of this virus, at the base of their economies and fragile public health systems.

In Guyana, those events have conspired to provide unprecedented challenges for the new ruling party, PPP/C. Importantly, in the midst of all of that, the Government had to win the trust of the people.

Generally, large swaths of the population had grown weary of promises, because they had derived no tangible benefits from the previous administration over the preceding five years. In fact, one of the high negatives of that period was the termination of services of thousands of workers in the sugar industry and the loss of thousands of jobs across various sectors due to their incompetent management.

The termination of sugar workers had a crippling effect, economically and socially, on entire villages and communities in which

All is being revealed Dear Editor, Pilferage of the treasury and other state funds by the coalition APNU/AFC Government is being revealed moment by moment, sector by sector, Ministry by Ministry; and it is apparent that “The good life” the coalition parties promised the electorate pre-2011 and pre2015 elections did fructify – for their Cabinet members, family members, cronies, financiers, et al.

APNU/AFC coalition Government obviously (mal) administered Guyana, with no defined economic plan or social development programme based on coherent studies of the dynamics that would eventuate into their promised “good life for all”.

According to Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking at one of his weekly press conferences, “…the (coalition) Government has been sponging off the billions” left in the National Treasury by the former Administration, as well as the achievements of the PPP/C in almost every area of social and economic life.

From the inception of their governance, the APNU+AFC Government embarked on a nationwide witch-hunt of those whom they perceived were PPP/C leaders and supporters - even technocrats who served under the PPP/C administration.

One of their first acts after assuming office was to fire 2000 young people from Amerindian communities, while simultaneously awarding to themselves hefty salary increases. Their racial and political discrimination, their blatant cor-

rupt actions, their victimisation and witch-hunting of former Government officials and PPP/C supporters amounted to economic genocide, and assumed proportions of a gargantuan persecution pogrom.

Post-election gerrymandering and posturing with the clear intention of rigging the elections, even as the nation was assailed by a deadly pandemic that left the Guyanese people from every community vulnerable to the point of starvation, created a vacuum in the existential dynamics of most working-class Guyanese, which should have been filled by any caring Government. Instead, they were appropriating hundreds of millions of state funds to encourage their supporters to engage in mass protests in the midst of a lockdown and curfew.

But, in or out of Government, the PPP was/ is historically a people-caring party, and Presidentelect Dr. Irfaan Ali stepped up to the plate. He dispersed teams countrywide to share masks to protect people from infection from the COVID-19 virus, and shared food packages to save the poor people from starvation.

His Excellency President Irfaan Ali has already demonstrated that he would not merely promise, but he would deliver to all Guyanese “the good life,” wherein every man, woman and child would reap the harvest of Guyana’s bounties.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

those workers reside, and those businesses in those areas that depended on the support of those workers.

Indeed, it was a devastating blow to ordinary people. Therefore, on its coming into office, the PPP/C had to immediately grapple with economic problems, public healthcare, education, national safety and security, and the issue of public trust in Government and governmental systems.

The Government did not shirk its responsibility, but rose squarely to those challenges. In its budget, ($330 billion) in 2020, the Government put in place a menu of measures to help its citizens. There were wide-ranging incentives and a review of tax measures.

This allowed Guyanese to benefit from $ 20 billion in relief to their pockets. These include the reversal of VAT on water and electricity and the removal of VAT and duties on machinery and equipment. In addition, there were numerous concessions and support for farmers and those in the extractive and manufacturing industries.

Again, the Government moved swiftly to offer assistance to the people. Cash grants were distributed to households across Guyana.

The National Assembly, in December 2020, approved a $17.4 billion supplementa-

ry Budget, with $2.5 billion in additional monies for the COVID-19 Cash Grant programme. Billions of dollars in cash were given to Guyanese to help cushion the effects of economic hardship due to COVID-19. During the first distribution phase, $25,000 was given per household.

The second phase, which has already started, will continue to bring relief to ordinary people, during this difficult time.

Public Sector workers also benefited from a $25,000 COVID-19 Relief cash grant.

Of course, a number of other relief programmes were activated by the Government.

Food hampers and cleaning supplies were distributed to citizens. In addition, the Ministry of Education provided Care packages for children of school-going age.

Also, the “Because We Care” cash grant programme has been rolled out. Each child in the school system will receive $19,000 per year, to assist with school supplies and associated things. The testimonies of parents on the need and timeliness of this assistance are touching, and attest to the Government’s effort to reach out to its citizens.

The Government has also enhanced public healthcare, and made numerous interventions to contain the spread of the virus and save

AFHP is the way...

One of the things that the study concluded was the fact that the electricity sector in Guyana could be significantly changed for the better if its hydropower potential is developed. The fastest way for that potential to be developed was noted as the AFHP, which would see Guyanese benefiting in the long run.

With this in mind, I believe that with Guyana being projected to grow significantly in the coming years due to its oil reserves, the AFHP would see even greater economic growth for the country. This would obviously propel Guyana further on the world stage, which would in turn allow for drawbacks, including more foreign direct investments and economic development.

Our leaders appear to be focusing in the right direction, by putting the much-needed emphasis on the hydropower project.

Coming back to the study

by Norconsult, the findings also showed that the project would not have much negative environmental and social impacts. In fact, no resettlement would be required, and there would be limited human activity in the area directly affected by the project. In addition to this, the live storage volume would be small compared to the annual water flow, and the plant would be operated mainly as a run-of-river plant, with little impact on the down-

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stream river hydrology for the most part. This means that the AFHP would not interfere with communities and citizens residing in and around the area.

Once the project is completed, there would not be any negatives, as every Guyanese would benefit in some way from cheaper electricity.

It is time for Guyanese to embrace projects such as the AFHP, and lend support in whatever way possible. I say this because we all want development, and we all want to live in a society where we are able to continually better our lives. The AFHP would give us that reality. In addition, the project would make way for other generating sources to be added in parallel; like sun, wind and thermal production for renewable energy.

From the way I see it, the AFHP has more advantages than disadvantages, and I am sure the few disadvantages which exist can and will be dealt with by the Government before work commences. As such, I reiterate my call for Guyanese to lend support towards this project, as the 2016 Norconsult study paints a very promising future for Guyana should we capitalize on the opportunity to transform our electricity sector.

Respectfully, Anson A Paul

lives. Old age pension has been increased, and frontline workers have benefited from additional help from the Government.

While all of these things are happening, the Government is keeping the economy on the path to growth and prosperity. The Government continues to sustain the delivery of public services to citizens and businesses. The private sector is increasing its stride, and global and international corporations are showing keen interest in doing business with Guyana. These include Walmart, Amazon, Apple, Amerisource Bergen and United Health Group.

There are now huge market opportunities available to countries and corporations.

Again, in the face of this pandemic, the Government has been upgrading infrastructure. I think one of the first good moves of the Government in this regard was the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector in Guyana. That immediately created a positive impact throughout this country and a competitive environment in that sector, which resulted in benefits to consumers.

It allowed for improvement in that technological infrastructure and quality of service.

In the housing sector, the Government has already given in excess of 5,000 house lots to citizens. Again, the Government, by this action, is encouraging home ownership. This, in turn, could facilitate personal and family growth, which would ultimately benefit the country. Within the macro plan are special arrangements for housing schemes in the hinterland and for professionals.

I believe no one can successfully doubt the Government’s great success in this area of its national governmental responsibility.

More people now own their own homes, and can better plan for the future for their

families.

Another driver is the willingness of the Government to partner with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, and groups to make systems work and to put Guyana on a trajectory of national growth and development.

Again, they can collaborate with key stakeholders.

Each will bring a unique and important perspective when considering options and various solutions to challenges. As a result, collectively, they are better able to manage those solutions, and appropriately respond to the dynamics of our country in these very uncertain times.

The Government has been able to balance immediate and long-term needs.

Whilst there are projects that cater to the immediate needs of citizens, such as the COVID-19 Cash Grant, “Because We Care” cash grant, food hampers, support to drainage and irrigation, pumps, machinery and equipment, the Government is involved in a holistic approach to nation-building.

For example, in housing the goal is long term, better families, better communities, and ultimately a better country. A vast expansion of road works is planned to facilitate the movement of goods and services, optimise time, and enhance production and the overall development of the national economy.

Beyond those aforementioned things, there has been a series of initiatives in public finance, information and medical technologies, security, oil and gas, tourism, healthcare, education, judicature, social welfare, and the environment. These are all aimed at encouraging investments and lifting the nation of Guyana to a new plateau of sustainable economic prosperity for all Guyanese.

Sincerely, Thomas Cole

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MoH working to fix weaknesses in supply chain system in record time – PS tells PAC …as lack of communication between AG office, Ministry cited

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he Health Ministry has undertaken certain steps aimed that improving the supply chain management of drugs and medical supplies in order to better track contract deliveries.

This was revealed by Permanent Secretary Malcolm Watkins, who informed the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on Friday that the system he inherited last year was broken.

“We have inherited a system from my assumption of office that was extremely broken and more [specifically], the availability of the data you required to forecast and quantify was almost non-existent or extremely exhorted,” the PS stated during the PAC meeting in the Parliament Chambers as the Ministry of Health came under scrutiny in the 2016 Auditor General Report.

Earlier in the meeting, former PS at the then Public Health Ministry in 2016, Trevor Thomas had admitted, during queries from Government Member of Parliament Vishwa Mahadeo who raised concerns of drug shortages and expired drugs in the system, that there were “some weaknesses in the tracking and managing” of contracts for the supply and delivery of pharmaceuticals for which payments were made.

“I think one of the challenges we had… we keep reconciling the items so that whenever it heads into stock, we get the information from the stores that the items have actually come in… It’s something that we’ve been working with because there have been times when the suppliers don’t deliver as per

currently doing that in record time,” the PS contended.

Outstanding supplies

PAC sitting on Friday

schedules,” Thomas stated.

Broken monitoring system

But his successor, PS Watkins explained that having met an extremely broken monitoring system, he has since been working for almost one year to rebuild this. He was at the time responding to questions raised by Opposition MP Juretha Fernandes, who had enquired about what the Ministry is doing to monitor the receipt of drugs and medical supplies to prevent delays in deliveries.

“In the last 10 months, we have set up a system of ensuring that the warehouse tracks the distribution data to the region so we can develop historical trends which we have to recreate; we ensured that the inventory in the warehouse is more accurate with more frequent cycle counts and inventory management currently; we’ve established a more robust reconciliation tracking system and assigned more staffing to track the deliveries of medical supplies and drugs coming in at real time; we have a daily meeting that tracks the operation flow of the Ministry

headed by me directly, and in this meeting, we track the Delivery Notes within a 48-hour cycle to ensure that we know exactly how much Delivery Notes are pending, that the SRNs (Service Receipt Notes) are prepared and are moved to the right department for reconciliation and it moves from the supplier product to the accounting department to be married with payment vouchers.

We are hoping with these systems that we’re putting in place that it will begin to improve the systemic nature of the supply chain management,” Watkins stated.

Moreover, another Opposition parliamentarian, David Patterson further queried into the tracking system that was in place previously, pointing out that it was a foreign-funded system that was implemented.

However, the PS indicated that the software system – “Software Management System” – was not being properly updated and because of this deficiency, it would have taken years to rebuild hence the new systems put in place to better track the supply and delivery

of pharmaceuticals.

“The system is only functionable based upon the level of expertise and the level of discipline the Human Resources apply to it so kind of ‘garbage in, garbage out’.

For the past five years or so, you would’ve seen that the system went through a decline to a point where it became so broken that the data in it was not usable… Once that data is unavailable, I am unable to forecast and do better contracts,” he posited.

According to Watkins, the software uses an advanced system shipment system, whereby the contract is preloaded and when the delivery is made, it is automatically reconciled and deducted from the outstanding balance. He went on to outline that “If that system is not functioning very well, it is very difficult for me to [fix the system]… In normal circumstances, to rebuild that would take years but we are

Meanwhile, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira, who is also a PAC member, has also questioned the functioning of the software system as she bashed the Health Ministry team for not being able to provide the Committee with information requested by members regarding contracts for drugs and medical supplies in 2016.

At the time, the Committee was scrutinising outstanding supplies by agencies/companies that were already paid for. This was after different figures for outstanding contracts were given to the PAC meeting.

The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, and former PS Collette Adams had indicated two varying figures for outstanding from 2016 contracts with several suppliers. But the acting Procurement Manager of the Health Ministry, Jasmattie Ramrattan, provided an entirely separate figure which is outstanding from just one supplier, according to current records.

This brought another issue to the floor of lack of communication between the AG office and the Health Ministry – something which is a reoccurring issue with other Ministries as well.

Former PS Adams informed the PAC that documents were submitted to the AG office to show that these

Permanent Secretary Malcolm Watkins

supplies would have been delivered.

“This definitely is a communication issue with the Auditor General and the Ministry because these vouchers were presented to the Auditor General for clarity [on the status of outstanding supplies],” Adams posited.

Manager at the AG office, Dhanraj Persaud asserted that they never received the documents from the Ministry. He further threw the blame back at the Ministry, contending that if there were indeed representations in the records then the Ministry should have detected it and brought it to their attention for correction.

Nevertheless, there was a consensus amongst the PAC membership on both sides that better systems needs to be put in place for correspondences being shared with the AG office to be properly documented. (G8)

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2014 dredge owner's killing

Getaway rider’s appeal against 25year sentence to be heard Monday

C

onvicted killer Travis McDougal has made another bid for freedom, this time petitioning the Guyana Court of Appeal to overturn his manslaughter conviction and 25 years’ jail sentence.

The case comes up for hearing at 09:30h on Monday before Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

In June 2017, McDougal was imprisoned by Justice Navindra Singh after a jury found him unanimously guilty of manslaughter for the shooting to death of 43-year-old dredge owner Ashok Raghu. He was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder. The businessman was killed during a robbery outside the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, on August 18, 2014.

McDougal, formerly of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, along with pork-knocker Jermaine Otto called “Fungus” who was one of the prisoners that perished in the deadly Camp Street Prison fire, following riots in March 2016, were both charged with Raghu’s murder.

Raghu was pronounced

Convicted killer Travis McDougal

dead on arrival shortly after the shooting incident.

His wife, who was 49 at the time, was shot to her left thigh. According to reports, the Raghus of 77 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, were going to transact business with some $4 million in cash when bandits pounced on them at the traffic light. The man tried to resist the bandits and he was fatally shot.

During a sentencing hearing, defence counsel Nigel Hughes had told Justice Singh that his client had no brushes with the law prior to the businessman’s murder. Hughes, in appealing for a lesser sentence, had said that McDougal stayed on the “straight and narrow” path for most of his

life, except for his association with Otto.

Notwithstanding the jury’s verdict, McDougal had maintained his innocence. But State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy pressed for the maximum penalty, and in doing so, noted that the convict’s action put the public in danger as a gun was used to commit the “broad daylight” robbery.

Meanwhile, the jury was told that on the day in question, Otto asked McDougal to drop him in Kitty, Georgetown.

McDougal had recounted that they were on the mo-

torcycle and had reached the traffic light at Regent and Vlissengen Road when Otto jumped off and proceeded to a car.

“All I hear is shots,” he was quoted as saying in an alleged confession statement to the Police.

However, although he maintained his innocence, Justice Singh told him that the evidence presented by the State pointed to him knowing about the robbery.

“You would have had some knowledge of that a crime would have been committed that day,” the Judge had said to him. (G1)

3-year-old struck down by motorcycle

A

3-year-old child is now a patient at the Pakera District Hospital after he was struck down by a motorcycle at Hole Public Road, Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD), on Thursday. The injured child is Gulanio Cunningham also of Hole, Matthews Ridge, NWD. Police stated that on the day in question at about 16:00h, a motorcycle with registration CK 947 driven by a 20-year-old man of Flatts, Matthews Ridge,

NWD, was proceeding along the centre of the public road when it is alleged that the child attempted to cross the road.

Upon seeing the child, the driver applied brakes to avoid a collision but despite his efforts, the motorcycle collided with the lad.

The child fell onto the roadway and received injuries about his head and body. He was picked up in a conscious state and taken to the Pakera District Hospital where he was treated and admitted a patient.

The driver was arrested as investigations continue.

Husband arrested after severely beating wife

A

35-year-old man was on Thursday evening arrested after he reportedly assaulted his wife during a misunderstanding at their Rose Hall Town home.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 22:30h, the 30-yearold woman was at the corner of the street imbibing when she was confronted by her husband who started to hit her about the body.

The woman, however, went home but she was further beaten by the suspect.

During the assault, she reportedly sustained injuries to her body and was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where she was treated and admitted a patient.

The matter was reported and the suspect was later arrested. He remains in custody as investigations continue.

Not removing…

S

…the (PNC) plank o, the PNC and their cohorts are girding up their loins to “expose, oppose and depose” the PPP Government - even as they try to do the same to their erstwhile leader, David Granger. Maybe it’s a more intense form of Burnham’s socialist dogmatic “criticism and selfcriticism”?? But your Eyewitness is completely flummoxed by the complete lack of shame in these people, because what they are “exposing” is nothing but a projection of their own betrayals when they were in office, starting in 2015!!

Take their accusations that the PPP’s spending billions to reopen the shuttered sugar estates. Hey!! Didn’t the PPP make this explicit commitment before they were elected, and gave reasons why?? Unlike the PNC coalition that promised to save sugar, established a CoI to guide them… but ignored the latter’s recommendations and unilaterally closed 4 estates! And yet floated that $30BILLION bond to restructure the industry, but just fixed up the LBI as a senior staff club and pool for their weekend romps!! While repaying billions in interest!!

They also kvetch about “PPP’s firings in the Public Service” and using contract workers. But didn’t they also fire all the PPP’s contract workers and rehired their own to the tune of FOUR TIMES the dismissals?? What happened to their then explanations that they wanted folks who were simpatico with their thinking??

They’re also accusing the PPP of not “consulting with them”. Well, when the PPP filed an elections petition against the declared 2015 results, did they go around refusing to “recognise” the PNC coalition Government and saying they’re illegal?? No siree, Bob!! Did they cuss out the Courts for not even hearing their petition before the coalition’s five years were up and the point became moot??

Then there are the accusations of “corruption” against the PPP in their first year in office, and their “scapegoating” of PNC’s officials for land giveaways and accepting bling, etc!

How different are these as opposed to the accusations when they slid into power about the PPP’s previous 23 years in office? Didn’t they file charges against PPP officials? Were they able to secure even a SINGLE conviction?? You bet your bottom dollar they didn’t!! Because the charges were all trumped up - unlike the ones the PPP have just filed!

They also scream about “nepotism” and “cronyism”. Have they forgotten all the scholarships to insiders (including 2 sitting Ministers!!) and their children?? And let’s not forget about land giveaways, like at Millie’s Hideout etc!! Can make a man play around with SOPs!!

Or the composition of their Boards?? Your Eyewitness quotes from just ONE headline that screamed, “massive shake up of state entities including the GUYSUCO, GPL, GUYOIL, NIS, GRDB and NICIL by the new (APNU/AFC) administration”!!!

The PNC’s hypocrisy knows no bounds!!

…PNC’s racism Let’s face it…charges of racism are the powder keg that can blow Guyana out of the water more explosively than charges of dynamite. And knowing this fully well after their sordid history of dividing Guyana along racial lines, the PNC should be condemned even more harshly for playing the race card once again. Now, before your Eyewitness proceeds any further, since this term “racism” is bandied about so casually nowadays, he’d better define it, so that we’re all on the same page. Okay?

He uses the definition of Stokely Carmichael, the coiner of “Black Power”, who posited that racism isn’t just prejudice, and is not confined to individual interactions.

Rather, it is found in societal patterns and structures that oppress certain groups on the basis of race or ethnicity.

And when you look at it this way, wasn’t it racism when the PNC rigged elections for 28 years to exclude IndianGuyanese from power?

And tried it again in 2020?

…racist actions Those wanting more concrete examples of PNC’s racism just consider Nagamootoo and Ramjattan’s castration versus the testosteroning of Trotman and Patterson.

And their 16 out of 17 Permanent Secretaries who were African-Guyanese.

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 more succumbs, 54 new COVID-19 cases ...50,000 AstraZeneca vaccines expected from COVAX next week

A

95-year-old woman from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 related death, making it 554 persons to succumb to the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

For August, eight people have so far died after testing positive for the virus.

From 1792 swabs that were taken for analysis on Friday, 54 persons tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, the total confirmed cases are at 22,843 – 11,122 males and 11,721 females.

Meanwhile, 14 patients are seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 95 in institutional isolation, 95 in home isolation and five in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has tested 232,913 persons thus far.

Out of those that tested positive, 21,152 have since recovered.

New cases were detected across seven administrative regions, six in Region One (Barima-Waini), one in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), eight in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), 30 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), six in Region Nine (Upper

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD AUGUST 6 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

54

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

95

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

668 14

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

5

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,122

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

11,721

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

22,843

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

21,512

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

260,403

FULLY IMMUNISED

143,302

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

554

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1312

REGION 2

642

REGION 3

2609

REGION 4

10,262

REGION 5

766

REGION 6

1914

REGION 7

1282

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

2121

REGION 10

1555

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

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

There were no new cases in Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Monitoring and clampdown

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony clarified on Friday that the National COVID-19 Task Force would be aiding in the monitoring and clampdown of any business, entity or person that violates the existing national measures.

“The Task Force itself would be going out from time to time to places at random and check to see whether people are complying with the measures.

We have restaurants to visit because people going to dine and the proprietors would have to ensure that is happening. People who are going to bars must show that they have their vaccination cards. Unvaccinated persons are not allowed in bars. Casinos is another example,” he shared.

Ministries will also be checked to ensure unvaccinated persons access the respective services via appointments. The operators of public transport mediums are also under the microscope.

“Another one we would be checking with is minibus drivers and conductors because they ply the route every day and if they’re unvaccinated or not able to show their vaccination card,

well then they will have to face the penalties. You also have that for speedboat operators. But I think since the measures came out, a lot of people are trying to put themselves in order.”

More vaccines

Meanwhile, in the new week, some 50,000 AstraZeneca vaccines are expected from the COVAX mechanism. Thus far, over 62,000 jabs were delivered to Guyana via this arrangement – and it will continue until 20 per cent of the population is covered. Guyana is one of the AMC countries which received these jabs at zero expenses.

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

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene. (G12)

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

60-year-old critical 1 injured in 2-vehicle collision following hit-and-run A

n unidentified man was in the wee hours of Friday taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was reportedly struck down by a motor car along the Railway Embankment, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The pedestrian is about 60 years old.

Based on reports received, the now injured man was walking along the southern side of Railway Embankment when he was allegedly struck by a motor vehicle bearing registration number PZZ 1276, which drove away.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian fell onto the roadway and received injuries about his body.

He was later picked up

by EMT personnel in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Hospital where he was treated and admitted a pa-

The vehicle in which Kareem Abdul-Jabar was an occupant at the time of the accident

O

The broken registration plate that was left at the scene following the accident

tient in the Accident & Emergency Unit.

He reportedly sustained broken legs and lacerations to his head and body.

His condition is regarded as critical.

Police stated that ranks

responded to a report at about 02:30h and upon arriving at the scene, they found a registration plate suspected to be that of the car which was involved in the accident. An investigation has been launched.

ne driver is now hospitalised while the other was placed in custody following a two-vehicle collision along Regent Street, Georgetown, on Thursday evening. The injured man has been identified as Kareem Abdul-Jabar, 53, of CC Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The accident involved a motor jeep bearing registration number PZZ 7076 driven by Abdul-Jabar and a motor pick-up with plates GKK 8684 attached to A Division Community Policing Group

The Police vehicle after the accident

and driven by Quacy Jacobs, 35, a Rural Constable.

According to information received, the motor pickup was proceeding along Regent Street with two other Rural Constables when it is alleged that the vehicle suffered a blow out, thus causing the driver to lose control. As a result, the vehicle reportedly spun and collided with the front of the parked jeep.

Abdul-Jabar, who was in the vehicle, sustained injuries to his chest and ribs.

He was picked up in a con-

scious state and taken to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where he was treated after which he took self-discharge.

However, he was subsequently taken to the Woodlands Hospital by his relatives where he was further examined and admitted a patient suffering from internal bleeding. His condition is regarded as stable.

Meanwhile, a breathalyser test was conducted on the Rural Constable but there was no trace of alcohol in his system. Investigations are ongoing.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police arrest 1 suspect in multimillion-dollar gold heist − security officer remains in custody

T

he Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the multimillion-dollar robbery committed on Wallison Enterprise located at Lot 23 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, on Thursday.

This is in addition to the security officer who was taken into custody hours after the daring daylight robbery.

This was confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell

Blanhum on Friday. He also stated that the suspect was arrested after Police received information. He did not divulge additional information at the time.

On Thursday, three armed men who posed as customers robbed the establishment of $20 million in gold and $38 million in cash.

It was reported that at about 10:00h on the day in question, the three sus-

pects arrived at the Gordon Street business in a white car, and entered the compound through the main gate, after indicating to the security guard that they had gold to sell.

The suspects then entered the waiting area, where they spoke to the female cashier and showed her a small package which they claimed contained the gold they wanted to sell.

Immediately after, they

Youth who stopped car, robbed occupant remanded A man was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with robbery with aggravation.

Jomaul Brown, 24, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Brown denied the charge which stated that on August 3, at Regent Street, Georgetown, while in the company of another, he robbed a woman of an iPhone, cash, and other items to the total of $800,000, while assaulting her.

Brown was granted $300,000 bail with instructions to report to the Criminal Investigations Department until the hearing and determination of his trial.

The Police prosecutor related that on August 3, the woman was travel-

ling in a motor car along Regent Street when Brown and another man intercepted the vehicle, and forcefully opened the driver’s side door. While assaulting the woman, they relieved her of the items mentioned in the charge and fled the scene.

According to the prosecutor, the matter was reported and Brown was subsequently arrested and positively identified by the Virtual Complainant. He was found in possession of some of the stolen items, the prosecutor disclosed. However, the robbery accused’s lawyer rejected the prosecutor’s assertions. He returns to court on September 3.

In a separate case before the Chief Magistrate, Sherlyn Bourne was released on $30,000 bail after pleading not guilty to two charges - one count of

Robbery accused Jomaul Brown

assault and one for threatening language. She is alleged to have committed the offences against Donette James on July 23 at Laing Avenue, Georgetown. (G1)

The gunmen binding the employees

whipped out their guns, and ordered her into an office where the money and gold were secured.

At the time, another employee and a man were in the office, and they were also held at gunpoint even as the cashier was ordered to open the two metal safes.

After collecting the valuables, the bandits locked the victims in the office and made good their escape.

The victims managed to set themselves free, and the cashier raised an alarm and the security officer went to their rescue.

However, based on CCTV footage seen by Guyana Times, at about 10:04h one man entered the establishment and started to speak with an employee, Wazim Kassim, about selling gold. Soon after, he was

hind his back.

Having donned masks and dark shades, the three armed men then entered another section of the establishment and held three other employees at gunpoint. They then tied up a female and another male employee, and started to demand money and gold.

After committing the heist, the men relieved the victims of their cell phones, before using duct tape to gag the employees prior to locking them in one of the offices and making good

Wallison Enterprise at Gordon Street, Kitty

joined by a second person, and later by a third.

Upon entry of the third man, the visitors all went into their bags and pulled out firearms. Thereupon, they held Kassim at gunpoint and tied his hands be-

their escape.

The Police were immediately contacted and soon after the security officer who was on duty at the time of the robbery was arrested.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Burning of 2-year-old’s back, genitals

Mother’s boyfriend gets 30 months jailtime

N

ineteen-year-old Anil Angnoo who used a cigarette lighter to burn a two-year-old girl on her back and vagina was on Friday sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.

Angnoo made his appearance at the Albion Magistrate’s Court where he was charged for inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Initially, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge but the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied by Magistrate Ravindranauth Singh and the suspected pleaded guilty.

As such, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Sentenced: Anil Angnoo

The incident reportedly took place on August 1, 2021, at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), but the matter

was reported to the Police two days later by the infant’s aunt.

It was reported that the suspect, who is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, had visited her on August 1, and while there, he became annoyed at the child since she was urinating and defecating “more often than he deemed necessary,” the Police have said.

He then took a cigarette lighter and burnt her on her back and vagina, causing her to receive injuries.

The child was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where she was treated. The suspect was later arrested and charged.

“Hot Skull” remanded on 4 robbery charges

Accused: Oniel Benn, also called “Hot Skull”

E

ight e en-yea r - old Oniel Benn also called “Hot Skull” of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was on Thursday remanded to prison on several counts of robbery.

He appeared at the

A stolen motorcycle that was found in the suspect’s possession

Reliance Magistrate’s Court where he was slapped with two counts of simple larceny and two counts of break and enter and larceny.

The charges were read to the accused by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh and

he was not required to plead to them. Police stated that the accused was reportedly arrested on August 2 - days after he would have committed the crime.

The matter was adjourned to August 24, 2021.

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Slain mechanic Father previously jailed for wounding was shot 3 daughters remanded for shooting woman times – autopsy P − suspects still at large

Murdered: Jaleel Leow

A

n autopsy performed on the body of 21-year-old Jaleel Leow proved that he was shot three times, with two of the bullets exiting and one lodged in the body.

The post-mortem was performed by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

Leow, a mechanic, was gunned down on Tuesday last while liming with friends at B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. His friend, 23-year-old Brandon Smith of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was also shot and injured.

It was reported that Leow along with several others including Smith and another mechanic, Nigel Williams, 20, also of B Field Sophia, were liming on the access road when two men rode up to them on bicycles.

The two men who were identified as “Big John” or “Double Clip” and “Brainer” dismounted their respective bicycles. One of the men was armed with two cutlasses. He reportedly walked up to a female who was also in the gathering and asked “is problem you want?”

The woman, according to the Police, responded in the negative and soon after she along with the others began to walk into her yard. In the process of doing so, “Big John” reportedly whipped out a handgun from his pants waist, walked up to Leow and discharged two rounds which struck him to the upper right of his back.

The young mechanic fell to the ground and it was at that time, the suspect discharged two more rounds at Leow, hitting him to the upper chest. In a bid to escape his attacker, the injured man got up and ran to the back of the yard where he subsequently collapsed.

Not satisfied, “Big John” then turned his attention to Brandon Smith, who was standing by the roadside, and discharged a round in his direction. The bullet, according to information received, grazed him to his right upper hand but he

managed to run for cover.

After committing the act, the two suspects made good their escape on their bicycles. The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Leow was pronounced dead and Smith was treated and sent away.

Further it was reported that both Leow and Smith witnessed the murder of Smith’s older brother, Kevin Campbell, who was attacked and stabbed to death in March 2020. One of the persons who were arraigned for the murder is a nephew of “Big John”. Both Smith and Leow were expected to testify in the preliminary inquiry.

It was reported that on March 21, 2020, two men had attacked Brandon Smith while he was standing in their yard. He was stabbed twice with a pair of scissors - once to his abdomen and once to his chest.

After hearing the commotion, his brother, Kevin Campbell, rushed to his assistance and managed to get the attackers out of the yard.

The two attackers, however, returned later in the day in the company of 11 others. The gang members were armed with knives, cutlasses, and a pitchfork.

Police stated that six men went into Campbell’s house and dragged him outside.

The men then allegedly chopped and stabbed Campbell until he collapsed to the ground, before making good their escape. Campbell subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Eighteen-year-old Kaprese Norbrega, also known as “Kaprese Richmond”, a mechanic, of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and 26-yearold Shay Carter, also known as “Shawn”, of B Field Sophia, were jointly charged for the murder.

Meanwhile, the Police are yet to arrest the suspects in the shooting to death of Leow and attempted murder committed on Smith. Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

eter Thompson, a 54-year-old taxi driver who was sentenced to 12 months in jail in 2019 for wounding his daughters, was on Friday remanded to prison for attempting to murder a woman whom he shot.

The Lot 78 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown resident was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Thompson was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on July 29, at D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, with intent to murder, he discharged a firearm at Cherri-Ann Wills.

The Police prosecutor related that Thompson and Wills are known to each other as she is a friend of his daughter. Thompson and his daughter, Andrea Howard, are presently before the High Court in relation to a matter over the division of a

Remanded: Peter Thompson

property where she currently resides.

Thompson has been legally prohibited from entering the property. On July 29, Wills and Howard were in the company of two other females sitting in front of the property, when Thompson

fired several shots at them.

One of the bullets hit the virtual complainant in the abdomen.

As a result, Wills collapsed to the ground and had to be rushed to the hospital by public-spirited citizens. She remains hospitalised as the bullet is still lodged in her. Following the shooting, Thompson made good his escape but was later apprehended by the Police and charged.

He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on August 16, when he will make another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Wounding

Back in September 2019, Thompson was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after Magistrate Dylon Bess found him guilty on two counts of wounding. The

court found that on April 30, 2018, he wounded his two daughters, Rita Howard and Priscilla Thompson, so as to cause them grievous bodily harm.

According to the prosecution’s case, both incidents occurred on April 30, 2018, at about 01:30h. Rita Howard was awakened by a noise coming from her living room and as she ventured outside to investigate, she saw her father and mother in a scuffle.

When she tried to intervene, her father lashed her on the head with a bucket. Priscilla Thompson also tried to intervene but was overpowered by her father, who ran behind her and dealt her several stabs to the abdomen with a kitchen knife. The matter was reported and Thompson was arrested and prosecuted.

(G1)

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Sputnik V-vaccinated Guyanese will be allowed entry into Caribbean countries will last, it was pointed out that studies are being conducted to test efficacy and durability. Emerging variants have played a part in this data.

“The studies that are currently being done is to look at vaccinate efficacy and vaccine durability with the antibody response, thinking in the context of the new variants that are emerging.

While there are some data available, for all the different

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has assured that Guyanese who have been vaccinated with the Sputnik V coronavirus jabs will be allowed entry into countries across the Caribbean amid travel concerns from the public.

In the COVID-19 briefing on Friday, he noted that with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, all other countries within the Caribbean Community have agreed with this move.

“The countries in the Caribbean have agreed that if you are vaccinated with Sputnik V, they’ll recognise it as a person receiving the vaccine and being fully vaccinated if you have both

doses. So that’s not a problem. In the Caribbean, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, all countries in the Caribbean would have agreed to recognise Sputnik V,” Dr Anthony highlighted.

He acknowledged that talks are still ongoing at various levels on how vaccination would be accepted. In most cases, countries have crafted their individual protocols and requirements for travel and foreigners.

“There are still ongoing discussions about vaccinations, the cards, how vaccines would be recognised and so forth. Those discussions have not been concluded but individual countries have been making decisions that relates to entry there…

While there is not global mechanism in place, individual countries have been relying on their own rules.”

As it relates to approval, the World Health Organisation has been in-

specting all six plants which manufacture the Sputnik V jabs and upon satisfactorily passing the guidelines, an emergency use listing will be put in place. The vaccine is currently used in 80 countries around the world.

“WHO approved a number of vaccines…but there are also a number of vaccines in the pipeline that are awaiting WHO’s approval. Sputnik is one of those that in the pipeline awaiting WHO approval… WHO would have conducted inspections of the plant where the Sputnik V is being manufactured… That process is ongoing and I guess once they are satisfied they would issue at least the emergency use listing. When that is going happen, we can only depend on WHO to tell us.

We don’t know but I guess we will know very soon,” he shared.

When questioned as to how long these antibodies

Closing date for applications is Tuesday, August 31, 2021

variants and all the vaccines you don’t have all the data as yet so I think when we get that we will have more definitive answer.”

Meanwhile, countries are also looking at third doses, specifically for the immunocompromised population.

However, this would be conditional and not the entire vaccinated subset.

The Health Minister shared, “Most of the countries that have been thinking

about this are considering it for some special circumstances as of now and the special circumstances would be the immunocompromised people. There are patients that would have special conditions and they’re looking at those patients to perhaps give them the booster. As of now, it is not going to be a generalised population kind of thing but maybe for special needs and special population.” (G12)

Petrobras to drill in Amazonas Basin, eyeing Guyana and Suriname successes

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razilian state-led oil company Petrobras plans to drill two wells in the sensitive Foz do Amazonas Basin in an attempt to replicate the massive offshore discoveries made in neighboring Guyana and Suriname, but still needs to win permits from environmental regulators.

"We're waiting for licenses to explore the last exploration frontier in Brazil in which we could find volumes similar to what we have in our subsalt," said Fernando Borges, Petrobras' director of exploration and production, during a conference call August 5.

The equatorial margin wells are part of a 20-well drilling campaign focused on tapping fresh reservoirs to further stimulate Petrobras' growth curve, Borges said.

The company drilled 19 offshore wells, including exploration, injection and production wells, in the first half of 2021, according to the National Petroleum Agency, or ANP. Oil companies operating in Brazil tapped 22 offshore wells in the first half of 2021, according to the ANP. That topped expectations for 19 offshore wells that the regulator estimated in April would be drilled during the year. Oil companies drilled a total of five offshore wells in 2020.

The increased work offshore by Petrobras represents a return for the company after it reined in exploration drilling in the mid-2010s because of a corruption scandal and rising international oil-price volatility. Petrobras instead focused on developing several of the multibillion-barrel discoveries the company made in the subsalt frontier, such as Atapu, Buzios, Mero, Sapinhoa and Tupi.

Tupi is Brazil's biggest oil and gas producer, pumping 913,753 b/d and 42.6 million cu m/d in June, according to the ANP. Subsalt fields produced 2.142 million b/d and 90.9 million cu m/d from 129 wells in June, representing 72.2% of the country's production.

Same trend as Guyana, Suriname While most of Petrobras' planned wells will focus on subsalt targets off Brazil's southeast coast, the company is eager to open the equatorial margin after the offshore success seen in Guyana and

Suriname, Borges said.

ExxonMobil has made 22 separate discoveries in the Stabroek block, which is estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas. The Liza field, which pumped first oil in December 2019, is currently producing about 120,000 b/d, with additional projects expected to start in 2022. TotalEnergies and Apache have also had exploration success offshore Suriname in 2020.

"We have blocks 30 kilometers from the divide with Guyana," Borges said. "And in the same trend as the discoveries in Guyana and Suriname."

Petrobras owns 100% stakes in six blocks in the Foz do Amazonas Basin. The blocks were obtained during Brazil's 11th bid round held in 2013 in partnership with BP and TotalEnergies, but the two oil companies bailed out of the licenses after failing to obtain drilling permits.

Environmental concerns played a key role in interrupting development of the region after the discovery of a previously-unknown coral reef in the turbid waters at the mouth of the Amazon River.

Environmental groups started a public-awareness campaign aimed at halting work in the area, including pressure on Brazil's government to prohibit drilling.

While no moratorium on drilling in the area was implemented, Brazilian federal environmental regulator IBAMA has so far declined to issue drilling permits in the region. That was the driving force behind the exit of BP and Total. The French company initially wanted to lead development of the area, operating five of the six blocks with a 40% operating stake.

However, it became incensed at delays in the permitting process and IBAMA's repeated requests for additional documentation, reports

and cooperation with adjacent governments that could be affected by drilling accidents. IBAMA eventually archived Total's request to drill after it failed to submit the requested items, with the company agreeing in September 2020 to relinquish its 40% operating stakes to Petrobras.

BP followed in April 2021.

Petrobras has decades of experience dealing with Brazilian regulators and enormous influence at the government level, which led many industry officials to expect a quick resolution to the dispute over drilling.

Petrobras, however, is still waiting, Borges said.

The company included $1 billion in investments earmarked for the Foz do Amazonas Basin and Brazil's equatorial margin in last year's $55 billion spending plan for 2021-2025. The equatorial margin stretches from Foz do Amazonas in the west across the Para-Maranhao, Barreirinhas and Potiguar basins along Brazil's northern coast.

Brazil's national petroleum agency ANP is supporting the oil companies' efforts to open the equatorial margin, releasing studies Aug. 4 by the Federal University of Norte Fluminense, or UENF. The UENF studies showed indications of active petroleum systems and other geologic attributes that were similar to discoveries in Guyana, Suriname and off the coast of West Africa.

"Brazil's equatorial margin is strategic because it holds high potential for light oil as well as a strategic geographic location close to major markets," ANP Director Raphael Moura said during a webinar to present the studies. The finds in Guyana and Suriname created a sense of "urgency" to find out whether Brazil holds the same potential, Moura said. (spglobal.com)

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Guyana Police Force builds house for Linden single mother …as recipient breaks down in tears of gratitude

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ntervention by Police Headquarters in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and Linden stakeholders has led to the construction of a brand-new home for a single mother in need at Prosville, Linden. The home for Malika Thomas and her two children was commissioned at a handover ceremony on Friday. Speaking in the presence of Thomas and officials, Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter said the initiative to construct the home was put into motion after ranks, during an outreach to the community in January, met with the mother and saw her unsatisfactory living conditions.

In January, the entire administrative team visited the location where it was reported that the single mother was considering taking her

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter, and one of Malika Thomas’s daughters cut the ribbon to commission the home

Malika Thomas

own life.

“On arrival, we were taken aback at the living conditions of Malika and her two daughters. Initially, we had planned to build a toilet and a bath but with the inspiration of God we have reached out to our stakeholders who assisted in the realisation of Malika’s dream of obtaining her own home,” Winter noted.

The Commander said after he and his administrative team decided to assist, the project commenced on February 15.

Winter, in his remarks, also thanked all those who contributed to the success of the project, noting that it marks a new phase in community development. He said his management team and junior ranks would have worked tirelessly in bringing

the venture to fruition.

“It is amazing to see the hidden skills and talent that we policemen and women possess. Today I am proudly celebrating us as Police Officers, to showcase our humane side which exhibits us as good Police Officers at what we’re doing collectively,” the Regional Commander said.

He further extended gratitude to business stakeholders who contributed, noting

that they all came on board without hesitation.

“I take this opportunity to advocate to my fellow colleagues, that community engagements make our jobs less challenging and enjoyable, once there is respect and camaraderie on both sides. Moreover, this is highlighting one of our five priorities in our strategic plan which emulates the developing partnership together. With such behaviour,

we will assure the residents of Region 10 (that) we will strive to make Region 10 a better community,” Winter said.

Additionally, the Regional Commander appealed to stakeholders to assist Thomas and her children in their employment and educational ventures, respectively. This move, he noted, will aid in her being able to adequately assist her children with the needed resources for a sound education.

In his remarks, Deputy Regional Commander Wayne Dehearte said it was the togetherness of the community that brought life into the building.

“There was a time when the Police and the community of Linden, we were fractured. This is one significant expression of our togetherness, to ensure that children or families do not want and live anyhow within this community,” he said.

Act of kindness

Regional Chairman Deron Adams, who spoke at the event, said the act of kindness is an inspiration to all. “...owning your own home is indeed special. It speaks to stability in the family. Mr Hugh Winter and his team’s act of kindness is an inspiration to us all here today. It al-

lows us as leaders and residents and communities to recommit to building stronger, kinder and safer communities all across Region 10,” Adams said.

He went on to describe the Regional Commander as being genuine and concerned about the social and economic well-being of the people in the region and encouraged other Regional Commanders to emulate this character trait.

“This is yet another opportunity that has presented itself for us to build on, for us to connect with our people from the grassroots level, for us to create the enabling environment for our people to come out of poverty,” Adams said as he encouraged Thomas to “pass the blessing on”.

Thomas, who broke down in tears, expressed gratitude at not only receiving a home but one that is furnished.

She made the promise to take good care of the home.

Thomas revealed that she lost her mother at a tender age and reminisced on sad times she spent in her former home as she looks forward to a brighter future for her and her children.

The children were also awarded tablets and other tokens were presented to the family by community stakeholders. (G13)

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AmCham Guyana signs MoU with T&T counterpart for mutual co-operation ...GCCI enters tripartite agreement with Barbados, Suriname al development. Moreover, it will provide a channel for our members to connect and receive support in each country. The work of the two organisations in both countries as well as our membership in the Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean is focussed on the creation of a healthy, safe and robust economic climate that will promote trade and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), improve the ease of doing business, enhance

sional skills and behaviours of the finance, audit and accounting departments in AmCham’s membership bodies, thereby providing benefit to AmCham’s members and by extension, the population of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) also recently entered into a tripartite agreement with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Suriname Trade and Industry

tiatives aimed at promoting sustainable trade and investment in the region.

The GCCI, BCCI and STIA will facilitate agreed activities for member companies which include capacity building initiatives, promotion of trade and investment activities in each territory, training and cooperation programmes, and fostering strategic collaboration to increase competitiveness of industries.

It was further noted that the parties have also agreed to facilitate information shar-

AmCham Guyana President Zulfikar Ally signing the MoU with AmCham T&T President Toni SirjuRamnarine on Friday

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n efforts to broaden cooperation and collaboration outside of Guyana, several local Private Sector organisations have entered into agreements with regional counterparts.

The American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AmCham Guyana) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AmCham T&T) to establish mutual co-operation between the two organisations.

According to a missive from AmCham Guyana, this agreement recognises the value of promoting mutual co-operation to advance the interests of the respective members of each organisation and the promotion of trade and investment in both countries.

The agreement was signed in Georgetown by AmCham Guyana President,

Zulfikar Ally and AmCham T&T President, Toni SirjuRamnarine. It will explore opportunities for collaboration and set out the respective roles and responsibilities of both organisations in working cooperatively to further the individual and mutual interests of each organisation.

Speaking at the signing, Ally said, "It is a pleasure to sign this MoU on behalf of AmCham Guyana to enhance business and trade collaboration among the two AmCham’s of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. We recognise the importance of looking beyond borders and embracing opportunities for regional collaboration, and this MoU will serve to further fast-track this process.

This MoU is an important step towards realising the shared goals and objectives of both Chambers, and we look forward to partnering with AmCham T&T to advance

regional initiatives that strengthen the business and economic relations among the chamber and its members.”

Meanwhile, SirjuRamnarine noted that by focusing on building on greater collaboration and cooperation with stakeholders, AmCham T&T is ensuring success in a post-pandemic era for business.

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with our colleagues at AmCham Guyana because moving forward from this pandemic will require more collaboration and cooperation between all stakeholders that are invested in ensuring the ease of doing business in our respective nations,” Sirju-Ramnarine said.

He added that, “Entering into this MoU will allow both organisations to leverage our resources and expertise to provide more far-reaching advocacy and leadership on important issues of region-

GCCI President Timothy Tucker (R) and his counterparts from Barbados and Suriname with their signed agreements during the virtual event last week

competition, and produce more value-added jobs.”

The MoU will see the two organisations collaborating and working together to: jointly host seminars focusing on key business issues, including but not limited to Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE), Trade Missions etc.; collaborate to encourage members, within both AmCham membership bodies, to support Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives jointly; tap into one another’s networks of professional and industry contacts to support the above objectives; collaborate to build the technical and financial ability and capacity, profes-

Association (STIA).

The Tripartite MoU was inked during a virtual ceremony last week by GCCI President Timothy Tucker, BCCI President Anthony Branker and STIA Chairman Bryan Renten.

Through this agreement, the parties will similarly seek to enhance trade linkages and facilitate economic cooperation and collaboration between Guyana, Barbados, and Suriname. Under the MoU, a Tripartite Working Group comprising representatives of the GCCI, BCCI and STIA was formed and will meet on a tri-monthly basis for the purpose of developing programmes and ini-

ing in the key areas of trade and investment, oil and gas, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, renewable energy, education, healthcare and occupational safety and health.

The GCCI welcomed the formalisation of its partnership with the BCCI and the STIA, and views it as an important milestone in the regional integration process.

“The Private Sector is a key driver of regional trade and the GCCI looks forward to working closely with its counterparts in Barbados and Suriname to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth within the region,” a missive from the Chamber detailed. (G8)

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Caricom considers courtroom Govt’s most important investment is in education – AG fight for reparations

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC, on Friday said that the Government’s most significant investment is in education.

Nandlall made this statement when he spearheaded the distribution of the Government’s “Because We Care” cash grant at the Helena Primary and Lancaster Secondary Schools in Region Four on Friday.

He reaffirmed the Government’s promise to ensure that the future of Guyana’s children is among the Administration’s priorities.

At the Helena Primary School, the Attorney General said the grant programme signifies the Government’s commitment to the education of Guyana’s children, and its continuous intervention to support citizens.

“The Government wishes to assure you that we are going to be with you every step of the way, all year round.

“In terms of our children’s education, you don’t have to worry. The Government is expending the highest number of resources possible in the constraining circumstances to accord to our children’s education,” the AG is quoted by DPI as saying.

He assured the parents

Recipients of the “Because We Care” cash grant at the Lancaster Secondary School

that the grant programme is not a “one-off engagement,” but a continuous one.

“We will continue to work with you not only in the education field, but more particularly in the education field to ensure that all our children get the quality education that they deserve. Remember, education is power,” he said.

Several of the beneficiaries told DPI that the money would be used for its intended purpose.

“My family is going to buy all of the necessary things to go to school; the uniform and everything. My eldest granddaughter said that she needs a laptop. I will try to purchase that for her,” Puran Mohabir, grandfather of two, said.

Another parent, Denise Singh, spoke of the hard-

ships she faced in supporting her children during the pandemic.

“I haven’t gotten a lot of school work for the kids and because I am also working, I can’t give the support with the schooling with teaching them at home,” the mother of five said.

Now that she has received her cash grant, Singh shared that she will use the funds to obtain internet service so her children can connect to online schooling.

Another grandparent, Savitri Sugrim said she and her grandson will use the grant to purchase a laptop.

“My grandson is fatherless, but I am so happy that the Government is supporting us with this cash grant,” she said. All the recipients expressed their gratitude for the Government’s support.

aricom is now eyeing an evidence-based courtroom approach to the fight for reparations, joining with countries in Africa in this new bid. Caricom officials said in an online update this week that they are working with African nations in the search for evidence against Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.

They are also reviewing a case for adding Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and Russia, indicating that they also “played a significant part and benefitted economically and in other forms from the slave trade to the Americas.”

Caricom is one bloc among a group of more than 60 nations that have already joined the advocacy group for reparations. Formal talks are being planned.

Caricom is on the hunt for evidence for placement before arbitrators. Officials said that while they are still demanding formal talks with Europe, they are aligning with African nations in seeking evidence that could be presented to a court.

The group is being aided by Leigh Day, the British law firm which has participated in cases of groups

seeking compensation for severe mistreatment, including a Mau Mau group of Kenyans who were tortured by the British in the colonial era back (1940s and 50s) and for whom the company secured compensation.

In the past, representatives of Leigh Day have commented that it is crucial to remember that Britain built its Industrial Revolution on the back of the slave trade in the Caribbean countries that are now seeking compensation. They added that there’s an obligation for the British Government to try to resolve the suffering that came as a result of slavery.

Caricom officials said in their statement this week, “ the CRC (Caricom Reparations Commission) reiterates its demands to the European states that

colonised the region, to immediately begin reparations negotiations with Caricom.

“The UN Human Rights Council’s recent landmark report calls on member states of the United Nations to pay reparations to the countries and communities that have been victimised by centuries of systemic racism and by the ongoing legacies and harms of African enslavement.”

It added, “Reparations for African enslavement, Indigenous People’s genocide, deceptive indentureship and other colonial atrocities, continue to resonate across the region.

The CRC’s Ten-Point Plan remains a crucial blueprint for sustainable social and economic development throughout the Caribbean.”

(Jamaica Observer)

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Regional

Woman in custody over 42 J’cans among staff being PM Gonsalves’ injury cut by Caribbean Airlines C A

senior government minister Friday said that police had detained a woman in connection with the injuries sustained by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves when he was struck on the head with an object as he walked through an opposition and trade union-organised protest on Thursday.

Local Government Minister, Julian Francis, speaking in Parliament during the early hours of Friday morning, said that the incident cannot be described as “an accident”.

The police have not issued any statement regarding the detention of anyone in connection with the injuries to Gonsalves, but Francis told legislators that the woman, whom he did not identified, was already in police custody “and begging to go and apologise to Dr. Gonsalves.

“I say no apologies.

Apology for what? Because you get lock up you want to apologise? No go and apologise to Dr. (Godwin) Friday (Opposition Leader). You

can’t go in front my political leader,” said Francis, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and a cousin to Gonsalves.

Francis warned that while Gonsalves “is a man who does get soft sometimes …I don’t want to see this thing repeated “I am appealing to [Godwin Friday] the leader of the political party called the New Democratic Party] to control your people on the road. Control them. The four kings can’t run this country.

There are kings and there are queens, sometimes you don’t even know which is which, especially in that group there,” Francis said.

Prime Minister Gonsalves is due to undergo further medical treatment in Barbados, and according to his son, Camillo, who is also the Finance Minister, it was “necessary to fly the prime minister to Barbados to receive an MRI consequent on the injuries.

“I want to say that clearly.

This is not some scratch. This

Prime Minister St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, after he was hit with a projectile on his head during a protest outside the Kingstown Parliament building on Thursday

aribbean Airlines (CAL) has begun discussions with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) on making the transition easier for 42 Jamaicans who are among employees whose jobs are to be made redundant.

The move follows the airline’s confirmation that its unaudited financial results for the six months ending June 2021 reflected depressed market conditions, with an operating loss of TT$326.6 million (US$48 million), which was consistent with the same period for 2020 when it reported an operating loss of TT$331 million (US$48.7million).

BITU Vice President

was an attempt on the prime minister,” said the Finance Minister, adding “I want to thank, on behalf of the government, Prime Minister (Mia) Mottley, and her team in Barbados for making the necessary arrangements torgentina will relax night to fly the Honourable coronavirus restricPrime Minister to Barbados tions as infection to receive that MRI. That is the seriousness we are and mortality rates fall, the talking about today,” he said. Government announced on Friday, even as the South (CMC) American nation approached five million cases with more than 107,000 deaths.

The Government said its plan includes an increase in the number of people who can meet in person, reopening of al point in Panama and move schools and an increase in the on transport that is organised number of people allowed to and controlled by Colombian enter the country to 1700 per day from the current 1000. authorities,” she said.

Organising the migrants Argentina has a total populaand improved planning for tion of about 45 million.

“The more we vaccinate transport and travel routes and take care of ourselves, will help protect them from the more we can sustain criminals, drowning risks and the dangers of the jungle these achievements and ad-

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many will cross on foot.

Many migrants were held back by COVID-19 border closures and have recently overwhelmed re-opened crossing points.

“Today we have agreed to a work session on Monday, Aug 9 at an operational level,” said Colombia’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez, after meeting with her Panamanian counterpart in Meteti, Panama.

The meeting will “define how we are going to regularise a contingent, a daily quantity of people who preferably would move through one single site, have one single arriv-

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in the Darien Gap, she said, adding human trafficking often goes hand-in-hand with drug smuggling.

Destination countries the United States and Canada, as well as transit countries like Peru, Chile, Costa Rica and Ecuador will be invited to future meetings, Ramirez said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil’s Bolsonaro fans Judiciary flames, calls top Judge “son of a whore”

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razil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro ignored calls to drop his feud with the Supreme Court on Friday and called one of its justices a “son of a whore,” amid rising tensions over his unfounded claims the nation’s voting system is vulnerable to fraud.

Speaking to supporters in southern Brazil, he insulted Luis Roberto Barroso, the top court justice who also heads the Supreme Electoral Court. The insult was part of a live broadcast shared on Bolsonaro’s Facebook account but later deleted.

Copies continue to be shared on social media.

Bolsonaro has railed for weeks against the electron-

ic urns used in Brazil and pushed for the adoption of printed receipts that can be counted if any election result is disputed.

Critics say Bolsonaro, like former US President Donald Trump, is sowing doubts in case he loses next year’s presidential election. He has threatened not to accept the result if the system is not changed.

With his popularity falling after overseeing the world’s second-highest COVID-19 death toll, opinion polls show Bolsonaro trails former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, though neither of them has officially announced they will run.

On Thursday, in

that they will be retrenched on August 30. However, the redundancy will take effect on September 10 for most persons who are entitled to six weeks’ notice, and about August 28 for a few workers who had joined in 2014 and would only be entitled to four weeks’ notice pay.

“There is also a smaller group of 16 cabin crew members who will be retained under a special temporary layoff proposed by the BITU to address any growth opportunities which may arise, and to treat with an operational uptick which is projected for the first quarter of 2022,” he added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina partially reopens after weeks of declining COVID cases

Colombia, Panama to work together on migrant overflow, Ministers say olombia and Panama’s Foreign Ministers said on Friday they will work together to process and organise thousands of migrants stranded for long periods in northern Colombia as they make their way northward and request support for the efforts from destination countries like the United States and Canada.

Some 10,000 migrants - most of them Haitian but also from Cuba and various African countries - are stuck in Necocli, in Colombia’s Antioquia province, waiting for scarce boat transport toward Panama’s dangerous Darien Gap region, which

Rudolph Thomas confirmed that the airline has been in consultations with the Union, which represents maintenance workers – technicians, engineers, and senior engineers — as well as the cabin crew, comprising flight attendants and pursers.

The airline, he said, pointed out that flights out of Kingston have been reduced from an average of 17 per month pre-COVID-19 to 11 per month, while total monthly flights were reduced from 136 to 58.

“As a result, about eight of 23 maintenance workers and about 34 of 84 cabin crew members, including cabin crew, were served notices

Bolsonaro’s worst set-back in Congress since taking office in 2019, a committee voted to shelve a constitutional amendment he has been pushing that would have adopted printed ballots.

Earlier on Friday, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco criticised Bolsonaro for his attacks on the Supreme Court and offered to mediate, saying the President’s insults were unacceptable.

Pacheco said Bolsonaro must respect the results of next year’s election even if he fails to change the all-electronic voting system - which the President groundlessly claims is vulnerable to tampering. (Excerpt from Reuters)

vance in sustained and progressive openings,” President Alberto Fernandez said in a recorded TV message.

Vaccinations have increased in recent days after a surge in virus transmission last month, in the dead of the southern hemisphere winter when more people were tempted to socialise indoors, away from the icy winds coming up from the Antarctic.

Argentina adopted the plan after 10 consecutive weeks of lower-case numbers and eight weeks of decreasing deaths.

The second stage of the new programme, depending on infection rates, would include greater capacity for closed-door gatherings, un-

limited attendance at openair events, group trips for those who are fully vaccinated and the reopening of borders to receive vaccinated foreigners.

The programme would eventually include reopening outdoor sporting events.

But that will only happen if caseloads continue to fall, Fernandez said.

In news that may convey optimism ahead of November congressional elections, Fernandez said he expects the economy to grow 7 per cent this year after a three-year recession severely exacerbated by the pandemic in 2020. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Angry protest erupt over alleged trimming of Rasta woman’s locks

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number of Rastafarians congregated in historic Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay on Thursday to express disgust over allegations of the trimming of a young woman of the faith by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) at Four Paths Police Station in Clarendon.

“We are calling on the Prime Minister, we are calling on the Minister of Justice, we calling on the National Security Minister. We want to hear their voice because silence is consent; and throughout all the activities pertaining to the incident we have not seen or heard anything from any of them,” said Ras Iyah V, a Nyabinghi elder, businessman, and ganja advocate.

In a video posted on social media, the young woman, Nzinga King, said she is a lifelong Rastafarian and also claimed she was unfairly detained by the Police following an incident in a public passenger vehicle.

The Police noted that the matter of which King speaks

Rastafarians protest in historic Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, over allegations of the trimming of a young woman of the faith by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force at Four Paths Police Station in Clarendon

was duly tried by a Judge in a court of law where she was convicted and sentenced.

The protesting Rastafarians demanded that the Government move swiftly to address what they said was the latest infringement of the rights of members of the faith.

“In this time when we see our young sister being held in Four Paths, Clarendon, her locks been trimmed, why? It is an outright violation of her

constitutional rights, and as such we are here to continue our protest,” Ras Iyah V said above drumming and chanting by his colleagues.

Another member of the gathering, Empress Esther, a representative of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress Ten Miles, Bull Bay, also called on Government officials to address the alleged human rights violation. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil falls in biggest weekly decline in months on demand worries

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il prices fell about 1 per cent lower on Friday, posting to their steepest weekly losses in months, on worries that travel restrictions to curb the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 will derail the global recovery in energy demand.

Crude futures also came under pressure as the dollar strengthened after monthly US job growth came in higher than expected. A stronger dollar makes greenback-denominated oil more expensive for buyers in other currencies.

Brent crude oil futures settled down 59 cents, or 0.8 per cent, at US$70.70, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 81, or 1.2 per cent, to settle at US$68.28 a barrel.

For the week, global benchmark Brent shed more than 6 per cent, its largest week of losses in four months, and WTI tumbled nearly 7 per cent in its biggest weekly decline in nine months.

"The price action we see now is really a function of the macro picture," said Howie Lee, an economist at Singapore bank OCBC. "The Delta variant is now really starting to hit home and you see risk aversion in many markets, not just oil."

US President Joe Biden said that COVID-19 cases in the United States, which have climbed to a six-month high, will go up before they come down and that the new Delta variant is taking a needless toll on the country.

Japan is poised to expand emergency restrictions to more regions of the country, while China, the world's secondlargest oil consumer, has imposed curbs in some cities and cancelled flights.

"Increased travel restrictions in China have come under the microscope of traders and could become a key oil price mover as this month proceeds," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates LLC in Galena, Illinois.

US oil rigs rose two to 387 this week, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said. Growth in the rig count has slowed in recent months as drillers continue to focus on capital discipline. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Resurgent Taliban take provincial capital, kill Afghan Govt spokesman

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aliban insurgents captured an Afghan provincial capital and killed the Government's senior media officer in Kabul on Friday amid a deteriorating security situation as US and other foreign troops withdraw.

A Police spokesman in southern Nimroz province said the capital Zaranj had fallen to the hardline Islamists because of a lack of reinforcements from the Western-backed Government.

Fighting to reimpose a strict Islamic regime 20 years after they were ousted from power by US-led forces, the Taliban have intensified their campaign to defeat the Government.

The insurgents have tak-

Youths take pictures next to an Afghan flag on a hilltop overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan, April 15, 2021

en dozens of districts and border crossings in recent months and put pressure on several provincial capitals, including Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south, as foreign forces pull

out.

Zaranj was the first provincial capital to fall to the Taliban since the United States reached a deal with it in February 2020 for a US troop pullout. A local

source said the Taliban had seized the Governor's office, the Police headquarters and an encampment near the Iranian border.

Taliban sources said the group was celebrating and Zaranj's fall would lift the morale of their fighters. A Taliban commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Zaranj has strategic importance as it is on the border with Iran.

In Kabul, Taliban attackers killed Dawa Khan Menapal, head of the Government Media and Information Centre, in the latest in a series of killings aimed at weakening President Ashraf Ghani's democratically elected government. (Excerpt from Reuters)

CNN fires unvaccinated employees for going to office

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S news network CNN has sacked three employees for going into an office without having been vaccinated against COVID, US media say.

It is one of the first examples of a US firm firing staff for breaching a company vaccination mandate.

It is legal in the US for firms to require employees to be vaccinated.

Many large firms - including Facebook and Google say they will require employees to be vaccinated when offices fully re-open in the months ahead.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker mentioned the dismissal in

a company memo sent on Thursday and seen by several US media outlets.

Vaccination is mandatory for anyone reporting in the field, working with any other employees or going into an office, he is quoted as saying in the memo.

"Let me be clear - we have a zero-tolerance policy on this," Zucker, chairman of news and sports for WarnerMedia, is quoted as saying.

In May the US Government said it was legal for employers to require staff attending the workplace in person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Major airlines Delta and

United Airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination, while investment bank Goldman Sachs is requiring its employees to disclose their vaccination status, although does not require staff to be vaccinated,

AP reports.

President Biden has ordered two million federal employees to show proof of vaccination or be subject to mandatory testing and mask-wearing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ten passengers injured in Tokyo commuter train stabbing

No end to Greek inferno as wildfires Families of 9/11 victims rage into the night tell Biden not to attend

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ildfires in Greece raged into the night burning more forest and homes in the northern outskirts of Athens and other parts of the country and forcing more evacuations as more international aid was on the way.

Authorities struggled with 154 wildfires across the country on Friday with the biggest fronts still burning in the north of Athens, the island of Evia and areas in the Peloponnese including Mani, Messinia and ancient Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games.

In the northern part of the island of Evia near Athens, the coast guard evacuated 650 people by boat as wildfires burned through forestland all the way to the shore for the fourth day.

Greece, like much of the rest of Europe, has been grappling with extreme weather this summer. A week-long heatwave - its worst in 30 years - has

sparked simultaneous wildfires in many parts of the country, burning homes and killing animals as flames tear through thousands of acres of land.

The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, burned around the main highway linking Athens to northern Greece and hundreds of firefighters with water-bombing aircraft battled to contain it.

In neighbouring Turkey, authorities are battling the country's worst-ever wildfires. Flames sweeping through its southwestern coastal regions forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. In Italy, hot winds fanned flames on the island of Sicily this week.

Police went door to door on Friday urging people to leave their homes north of Athens. Authorities ordered the evacuation of more suburbs in the north of Athens as the blaze advanced, burning more homes, cars and businesses. (Excerpt from Reuters)

memorial events

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amily members of the victims of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks have called on President Joe Biden to stay away from memorial events unless he declassifies files about the attacks.

Nearly 1800 people signed a letter calling on him to release documents that they believe implicate officials from Saudi Arabia in the plot.

They say that if he refuses, he should not attend ceremonies next month to commemorate the 20th anniversary.

Nearly 3000 people died on 9/11.

The attacks were committed by the Al Qaeda terror group, investigators say, and triggered the US invasion of Afghanistan. Fifteen of the 19 plane hijackers were Saudi nationals.

They call on President Biden to stay away from the three sites where the attacks took place - in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The families have long argued that Saudi officials had advance knowledge of the

attack, and did nothing to stop it. They have sued the Government of Saudi Arabia, which has denied being involved.

Last month, the lawsuit saw several top former Saudi officials questioned under oath. The depositions remain sealed, further upsetting families.

"Since the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission in 2004 much investigative evidence has been uncovered implicating Saudi government officials in supporting the attacks," the families' statement continues.

"Through multiple administrations, the Department of Justice and the FBI have actively sought to keep this information secret and prevent the American people from learning the full truth about the 9/11 attacks."

The administrations of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also declined to declassify the documents, citing national security concerns. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Police escort rescue workers carrying a person through a train station after a knife attack on a train in Tokyo [Reuters]

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man stabbed at least 10 passengers on a commuter train in Japan’s capital city Tokyo and fled, but was later captured by Police, fire department officials and news reports said.

NHK public television said one passenger was seriously injured in the attack on Friday. It said the suspect left his knife behind as he fled and later gave himself up at a convenience store.

The Tokyo Fire Department said nine of the 10 injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, while the 10th was able to walk away.

All of those injured were conscious, fire department officials said.

Violent crime is rare in Japan, and the attack comes with the capital on heightened security alert as it hosts the Olympic Games.

The stabbings took place on an evening train in Setagaya

ward, in the west of the city.

One woman in her 20s sustained serious back injuries, public broadcaster NHK said, citing emergency response officials.

The site is several kilometres from the venue of Olympic equestrian events.

Dozens of paramedics and Police arrived at the station, one of the witnesses said.

The train was brought to an emergency stop after the rail operator was alerted, and a knife and mobile phone believed to belong to the suspect were found on board.

The male suspect, in his 20s, was reportedly taken in by Police after he turned himself in at a nearby convenience store, telling the manager he was the perpetrator of the attack.

Japan has strict gun laws, but there are occasional violent crimes involving other weapons. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Do and say the right thing, and you will be rewarded. Don’t be surprised if someone you least expect disappoints you. A job offer will take an unusual twist.

Don’t take on more than TAURUS you can handle. Surround (April 20- yourself with reliable backup May 20) to pick up the slack and ensure that success will follow. Keep your personal feelings a secret.

Focus on self-improvement.

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Getting together with friends and relatives will help you put your life in perspective. Learn from experts, mentors and elders, and you’ll be offered the wisdom to make wise decisions.

Put more thought into your long-term plans and how you earn and handle your money. Make your own opportunities instead of helping someone else get ahead.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Clear your head and consider your choices. Don’t let changes that others make ruin your plans. Stick to what works best for you, and offer your blessings to those who choose a different path.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Being an observer at events involving friends, relatives or colleagues will help you understand and prepare to take advantage of the options available. Let intuition and common sense guide you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

The suggestions you make and the diplomatic way you treat others will help you get your way. Get involved in activities that will make a difference to situations that concern you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t wait for someone else to go first. Do what makes you happy, and you’ll have no regrets. A change of plans will end up being beneficial. Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll achieve excellence.

Make the most of your time SAGITTARIUS and use your skills diversely.

(Nov. 23You’ll undermine anyone who Dec. 21) gets in your way. Recognize an insincere gesture. If you are gullible, you’ll end up in a vulnerable position.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Spend time fine-tuning what you have to offer.

Presentation is everything, and the way you display who you are will make a difference to how much help you receive.

Pay attention to detail.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

The final touches you add to the way you do things will become a topic of conversation. Expressing yourself will help promote suggestions and new opportunities.

PISCES

Distance yourself from unpredictable people. A loving relationship will help you see the possibilities and encourage you to proceed with a positive attitude.

Romance is encouraged.

(Feb. 20March 20)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

21

The Nottingham Test: India v England…

Robinson bags five

Robinson claimed five wickets

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– but Rahul, Jadeja drive India’s dominance before rain arrives

avindra Jadeja pulled out his sword celebration, Jasprit Bumrah hit a six and also his top score in Tests, Mohammed Shami displayed text-book defensive pushes, and Mohammed Siraj had some fun too as India’s much-maligned lower order took them into a position of strength, a first-innings lead of 95 runs, in the Trent Bridge Test; but not before KL Rahul added 27 to his already fine overnight 57.

Rain, though, frustrated them, as only 49.2 overs of cricket was possible on the third day, England playing out the 11.1 bowled to them without the loss of a wicket.

India now have a maximum of 196 overs in which to force a result.

Not long ago, in the World Test Championship final in the same country, but against a different opponent, India lost their seventh wicket on 205, the same score as here, but lost the remaining three for 12 runs. Then the last four added 28 in the second innings. The difference in two lower orders - home ones generally tend to outscore their opponents - was believed to be the difference between the two sides leading into the series.

Then Ben Stokes pulled out, and England suddenly didn’t have the depth, either in their batting or bowling. India ran through their lower order, and batted against an attack whose fourth and final bowler was Sam Curran. And Stuart Broad was having a second consecutive off day. A combination of better resolve from the batters, less incisive change-up bowlers, and some luck - three dropped catches and five missed run-outs in all meant India enjoyed being at the other end of three frustrating lower-order stands worth 73 in all.

That in mind, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson did well - splitting nine wickets between them, including a maiden five-for for Robinson - to keep the lead down to two figures.

The day began precariously amid rain breaks. India were 58 behind, with Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the middle. Pant was going to play his shots, and so he did. A few came off before he chipped one to short cover to be dismissed for 25 off 20. Along the way, he became India’s highest run-getter in Tests this year.

Rahul nearly ran Jadeja out when he was four, but Dan Lawrence felt he had less time than he actually did. Instead of lobbing the ball to the wicketkeeper, he went for the direct hit, and missed. Jadeja then went on to show why he has been among the best Test allrounders in the world since 2018, and why he provides India with the flexibility to play five bowlers.

Rahul and Jadeja came together with India still 38 behind, and given the tail behind them, they needed a big stand to retain the advantage in the Test. They added 60 runs, and also saw off the most testing spell of the

Recap of Tokyo 2020 Olympics:

day when Anderson and Robinson bowled together. Joe Root dropped Rahul off Anderson during this period, but two boundaries later, Anderson produced a thinner edge to have him caught by the keeper. By then India were in the lead, and Rahul had once again adapted to a new role – remember, he was now being looked at as a middle-order batter - to make himself a place in the side.

Shardul Thakur fell for a duck, and India were just 22 ahead with three proverbial Nos 11 to follow. Things were different here, though. The bowling didn’t have that sting, for starters. Shami chose to play sensibly, and it came off too. In a 25-ball partnership, Jadeja manipulated the strike to face 22, and scored KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja 24 off them.

Jadeja fell trying to hit Robinson over the field that had come up for the last ball of the over, but England still couldn’t get the swift end they were after. Anderson himself proIndia 1st Innings ceeded to drop Shami. Bumrah batted with Rohit Sharma c Curran steely resolve. Shanks cleared the infield, and b Robinson 36 the better ones came right off the middle. He KL Rahul c †Buttler b Anderson 84 even hit Curran for a stunningly flat pulled Cheteshwar Pujara c †Buttler b Anderson 4 six.

Virat Kohli (c) c †Buttler b By the time Robinson took his fifth, and Anderson 0 India’s last, wicket, England had been kept in Ajinkya Rahane run out (Bairstow) 5 the field for 84.5 overs. Curran bowled only Rishabh Pant †c Bairstow b Robinson 25 15 of those, and Broad went at 3.5 an over.

Ravindra Jadeja c Broad b India were going to operate with a more evenRobinson 56 ly spread-out attack.

Shardul Thakur c Root b However, in the few overs that were posAnderson 0 sible before rain ended the day’s play premaMohammed Shami b Robinson 13 Jasprit Bumrah c Broad b turely, the pitch looked a little settled. It was Robinson 28 also evident from how India operated with Mohammed Siraj not out 7 just two slips and a gully. India still drew 11 Extras (b 6, lb 6, nb 8) 20 mistakes in that period, which means it was TOTAL (84.5 Ov, RR: 3.27) 278 not a flatbed.

Fall of wickets: Eyes were also on the overheads: clouds 1-97 (Rohit Sharma, 37.3 ov), were expected to bring assistance for India, 2-104 (Cheteshwar Pujara, 40.2 ov), but rain could deny them the time needed to 3-104 (Virat Kohli, 40.3 ov), inflict damage. (ESPNCricinfo) 4-112 (Ajinkya Rahane, 43.2 ov),

SCOREBOARD 5-145 (Rishabh Pant, 49.6 ov), 6-205 (KL Rahul, 68.5 ov), 7-205 (Shardul Thakur, 70.5 ov), 8-232 (Ravindra Jadeja, 74.6 ov), 9-245 (Mohammed Shami, 80.3 ov), 10-278 (Jasprit Bumrah, 84.5 ov) BOWLING .............. O M R W James Anderson.....23 8 54 4 Stuart Broad...........20 3 70 0 Ollie Robinson.... 26.5 6 85 5 Sam Curran.............15 2 57 0

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS Rory Burns not out Dom Sibley not out Extras (nb 4, w 1) Yet to bat: Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow, Dan Lawrence, Jos Buttler †, Sam Curran, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

11 9 5

BOWLING O... M.....R W Jasprit Bumrah 3.....0.....6 0 Mohammed Siraj 5.1.....2.. 10 0 Mohammed Shami 3.....1.....9 0

Miller-Uibo successfully defends 400m Olympic crown – Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago both advance to the Men’s 4X400m Relay final.

– Jamaica cops relay gold in Men’s 4x400

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Shaunae Miller-Uibo

he Trinidadian team, consisting of Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Dwight St. Hillaire, ran a season’s best of 2:58.60 to finish 3rd in heat 1 and progress.

Jamaica fielded a team consisting of Demish Gaye, Jaheel Hyde, Karayme Bartley and Nathon Allen to finish 2nd in heat 2 with a season’s best time of 2:59.29 to advance.

Women’s 400 Metres The Caribbean secured two medals in the women’s 400 metres.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas successfully defended her title from the 2016 Games by winning gold in a personal best 48.36, the 6th fastest time ever in the event.

She was followed by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who took silver in a national record of 49.20.

Allyson Felix of the USA became the most decorated female track athlete in Olympic history by finishing 3rd and securing her 10th Olympic medal, one more than Jamaican legend Merlene Ottey.

Jamaicans Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Candice McLeod finished 4th and 5th in 49.61 and 49.87 respectively.

Cuba’s Roxana Gomez started the final, but unfortunately failed to finish, pulling up injured about 100 metres into the race.

Women’s 4x100 Metres Dominant Jamaica won the women’s 4x100 relay The Jamaican quartet of Briana Williams, Elaine Thompsonrelay. Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Oblique Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson celebrated Seville combined to run 37.84 to finish behind Italy, Great Britain, Jamaica’s Independence Day by running a national record of 41.02 Canada and China. to secure the gold medal.

The Italian team of Lorenzo Patta, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, This marks Jamaica’s first time winning Olympic gold in women’s Fostine Desalu and Filippo Tortu ran a national record of 37.50 to 4x100 metres relay since Athens 2004. secure gold and continue the country’s impressive track & field Javianne Oliver, Teahna Daniels, Jenna Prandini and Gabby showing in Tokyo.

Thomas combined to run 41.45 to secure the silver medal for the The British team, comprising of CJ Ujah, Zharnel Hughes, USA, while Great Britain with Asha Phillip, Imani Lansiquot, Dina Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, ran 37.51 to finish just Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita ran 41.88 for bronze. behind the Italians in 2nd.

Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Men’s 4x100 Metres Grasse combined to run 37.70 and secure the bronze for Canada.

Jamaica finished 5th in the final of the men’s 4x100 metres (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

Two more youth cricketers benefit from BCB/Michael Ramdeen Memorial Trust Fund

- Chesney receives grass cutter from BCB

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wo under-13 youth cricketers have each benefited from the donation of a cycle as the proactive Berbice Cricket Board on Wednesday last continued to make a positive difference in the lives of youths in the Ancient County.

The donation of the cycles was done under the BCB/ Michael Ramdeen Memorial Trust Fund.

The two players receiving the cycles were Antonio Depaul and Sohail Mohammed.

BCB President Hilbert Foster has said the players were selected by the management of the Chesney Cricket Club and the Edinburgh Cricket Club based on their discipline, attitude, and promise for the future.

Foster, also Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board and a Director of Cricket West Indies, has said former Berbice player Kevin Ramdeen contacted him with the idea of assisting youth cricketers with cycles in memory of his late father, who had been an outstanding cricket administrator in Canje.

The late Michael Ramdeen had served as cricket coach for the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Cricket Club for a long

period, and had been highly respected. His two sons, Kevin and Richard, both played at the junior level.

Richard played for the West Indies at the under-19 level, including the Champions Cup in South Africa, and also represented Guyana at the senior level.

Under the fund, a total of eight cricketers would each receive a cycle from the BCB, one each month from May to December.

Kevin Ramdeen has also committed himself to assisting several youth players with educational materials during the Christmas season.

The BCB President has said that with the bord being unable to play tournaments due to the ongoing rainy season and the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts are being focused on off-field activities. He has said that the board is currently working on a historic youth coaching manual, which is expected to be published in two weeks’ time.

The 32-page manual was specially prepared by eight cricket coaches, including Winston Smith, Julian Moore, Travis Hardcourt, Leslie Soloman and Michael Hyles.

Among the topics covered are batting, fast bowling, off spin, leg spin, running between the wicket, wicket keeping, mental approach to the game, attributes of a good batsman, physical fitness, and fielding.

Foster has said that every youth cricketer in the county would receive a copy, while the BCB would also donate several copies to players in Demerara and Essequibo.

Kevin Ramdeen has declared that he has been very impressed by the Hilbert Foster-led administration, and is delighted to invest in the development of players and the game. He said the game of cricket had enabled him to follow his dreams and has shaped him into a very disciplined and focused individual.

Ramdeen also noted the role his late father had played in his life, and disclosed that he is humbled to be involve in a project to honour his dad.

Meanwhile, under the BCB Ground Enhancement, Foster has handed over a grass cutter to the Management of the Chesney Cricket Club. Under the special project, the board has distributed a total of 22 grass cutters to clubs

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across the county. The main objective of the project is to assist clubs in the county to prepare their venues for the cricket season.

Foster has urged Chesney Cricket Club President Narine Deonarine to take care of the equipment, and to use it for the purpose intended.

Pakistan captain “Politics played expects tough a big part” West Indies – Bravo on Test series shortened

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Captain Azhar Ali

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op-order batter and most senior campaigner in the present Pakistan Test side, Azhar Ali, has expressed his desire to see his side win the ICC Test Championship Mace as his most-sought-after goal in the remainder of his career.

He made this disclosure in a virtual media session in Georgetown, Guyana ahead of the two-Test series against the West Indies that will begin in Jamaica from Thursday, 12 August.

The Pakistan squad has been preparing at the Providence Cricket Stadium in Guyana for the last three days. As part of their preparation, the Test squad is playing a two-day intra-squad practice match which commenced today.

Azhar Ali has said: “ICC World Test Championship is a valuable addition, and has helped make this format more competitive. I want to see Pakistan winning the championship in my career.

Test cricket is the pinnacle format, and this format is still entertaining fans around the globe. Fans in Australia, England and New Zealand still wait for a Test match.

“Caribbean tour is never an easy one, and we are preparing for the challenges ahead here in Guyana. The West Indies have a good bowling line-up, but our batters are in good shape.

Babar and Mohammad Rizwan are in a good knick, and they have shown their pedigree in the white-ball matches leading up to the Tests.

“Among the Test batters, Abid Ali and Fawad Alam are also performing consistently from last couple of series.”

Meanwhile, Azhar has given his full support to javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, and wishes him good luck for his final competition, which will take place today in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. (Pakistan Cricket)

The Pakistan players are at Providence preparing for the Test series starting in Jamaica on August 12

Test, ODI careers

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223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Dwayne Bravo

espite having loads of talent, West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has failed to make it big in the redball format of the game. Looking back at the days, the veteran cricketer blamed the politics of the West Indies Cricket Board for his truncated career in Test and ODI cricket.

Speaking to former teammate Samuel Badree on Windies Cricket’s YouTube channel, Bravo expressed his disappointment at not being able to serve his country to his potential in the ODI and Test formats.

“When it comes to me, politics played a big part in my career. When I started playing Test cricket, that was my dream; it is the ultimate for any young cricketer. I had my moments in Test cricket. I would have loved to play longer, but I believe that my Test career was stopped short. At 26, I feel that at that time I still had a lot to offer. Because of circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to continue my Test career,” Bravo said. “I was just 1 wicket away from 200 ODI wickets.”

Dwayne Bravo has also shared his regret at not getting an opportunity to reach the 200-wicket milestone in ODI cricket. With 199 scalps under his belt, Bravo would have become the third West Indies bowler, after Sir Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, to have 200 ODI wickets to his name.

“The only regret I have is that I was just one wicket away to become the third West Indian ever to take 200 ODI wickets. Again, that was taken away from me,” Bravo added.

Dwayne Bravo has represented West Indies in 40 Tests and 167 ODIs, picking up 86 and 199 wickets respectively.

He has also scored 2200 and 2968 runs respectively in both the formats, and is among the West Indies greats.

He is currently part of the West Indies squad playing against Pakistan, and will be next seen during the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE and Oman.

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

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23

Pollard galvanised by

knowledge gained from recent T20 Internationals

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aptain Kieron Pollard believes the just concluded block of Twenty20 matches against South Africa, Australia and Pakistan has been fruitful in providing clarity for selectors on the final squad for the T20 World Cup. In back-to-back series which bowled off in June, the Caribbean side went down 3-2 in a five-match series against the Proteas, thrashed Australia 4-1, then lost 1-0 to Pakistan in a four-match series that was decimated by rain.

And with the West Indies arriving as defending champions in the tournament, which would be played from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, Pollard said valuable knowledge of players gained during the recent series would prove vital.

“I think we have found out exactly what we wanted to find out,” Pollard said.

“It was very, very disappointing for us los- Kieron Pollard has led the West Indies white-ball teams after Jason Holder ing some guys (to injury). Because of the ers came to the fore during the recent match“He got dropped, and he came back and nature of how compact the games were, guys es, with leg-spinner Hayden Walsh finishing worked tremendously hard, and that was weren’t able to get through it, even myself with 12 wickets at an average of 11 against a true testament of hard work, the way he missing the entire series against Australia.

Australia, and left-arm pacer Obed McCoy came out when he started to play in the T20 “But having said that, as a team, we grabbing nine scalps at just over 15-1/2 runs series against Australia. know exactly what we want to do and how each against the South Africans. we want to go forward, and what is needed.

Pollard was quick to praise both players, And having the opportunity to have these 18 pointing to their high levels of commitment guys here, I thought we saw what we need- to training and performance. “I thought ed (to see), and let’s see what happens in the these two guys were fantastic. Hayden CPL as it comes around the corner in a cou- Walsh has been a work in progress since ple weeks’ time again.”

2019, when he got the opportunity,” Pollard Importantly for West Indies, young play- explained.

Ricks and Sari's Regan Rodrigues Memorial cycle race set for Sunday, August 8

Flashback: Akeem Wilkinson won the last event

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he 16th edition of the Annual Ricks and Sari’s Regan Rodrigues Memorial cycle race will take place this Sunday, August 8, on the West Coast of Demerara The action is expected to begin at 8:00h.

This race will commence at Schoonord, and will go to Bushy Park at Parika, East Bank Essequibo before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Some of Guyana’s top cyclists are expected to compete in this 44-mile event that has been organised by National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed M.S. Last year’s overall winner, Akeem Wilkinson of Team Evolution, is expected to defend his title against the top local cyclists in Guyana.

Eight sprint prizes will be up for grabs, while the top six riders in the senior cate-

gory would be rewarded. The top three riders in the juniors, masters (two categories) and females’ categories would also be rewarded.

Riders from Team Evolution and We Stand United are expected to dominate this event. The likes of Christopher Griffith, Paul DeNobrega, Deeraj Gharbaran and Andre Green are expected to be among the top finishers.

The late Regan Rodrigues was born on February 21, 1948, and passed away on August 4, 2004. During his lifetime, he served as President of the Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club and was also a champion race car driver.

“Obed McCoy started in Sri Lanka (last year). He had a few injuries before that, but they worked on him and he came back and he showed what he can do. So those are the two guys that have been very, very interesting, and they’ve done very well for themselves,” he said.

He added: “I thought (all-rounder) Fabian Allen as well is a find for us, and we need to continue to work with him and find a way as well to keep them on the park going forward.”

West Indies have been drawn in a difficult Group 1 at the T20 World Cup, alongside the likes of England, Australia and South Africa. However, Pollard has said that the focus now would be on finding the best combination that would guarantee the Caribbean side’s best chance of success.

“When you go into any tournament, it is to win; but, again, it’s a process we have to go through,” he cautioned. “With that being said, it is very, very exciting times coming up. A lot of selection quandaries will come up, a lot of persons will have their [squads], but we’re never going to be perfect.

“What we’re going to try to do is pick the best team to put on the maroon and represent us at the World Cup, so let’s see what happens then.” (CMC)

Brooks slams century, Cornwall bags five Shamarh Brooks

M

iddle order batsman Shamarh Brooks scored a brilliant 134 while Rahkeem Cornwall picked up 5-67 in the first Best v Best 4-day match played as West Indies continued their preparation for the first Test against Pakistan starting on August 12.

At stumps on day three, Windies team two had posted 333-9 in 99.2 overs, while Windies Team one are on 11-0, trailing by 234 runs. Earlier in the match, Windies team two had posted 173 all out in 71 overs.

Kraigg Brathwaite scored 77* a n d Roston Chase made 41.

Guyanese left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul had 5-38, Nicholson Gordon 3-20, and Nial Smith claimed 2-32.

I n Windies team one’s first innings, they posted 261 all out in 87.5 overs.

Jermaine Blackwood struck 62, and Rahkeem Cornwall made 39.

Chase returned with 2-11, Kemar Roach had 2-20, Raymon Reifer 2-31,

and Chemar Holder 2-46.

Windies team two’s second innings saw the innings reach 333-9 in 99.2 overs. Shamarh Brooks scored 134, and Chase struck 63. Rahkeem Cornwall had 5-67, and Permaul claimed 2-69, following up his first innings’ five-wicket haul.

Windies team one’s second innings saw Shai Hope and Sheyne Moseley being not out with the score on 11-0. Hope is on nine and Moseley on one. Up to press time, scores were not available for Friday afternoon’s play, where the fourth and final day of the match concluded at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

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

Pollard galvanised by

knowledge gained from recent T20 Internationals

Pg 23

West Indies players celebrate

Two more youth cricketers benefit Ricks and Sari's from BCB/Michael Ramdeen Regan Rodrigues Memorial Memorial Trust Fund - Chesney receives grass cutter from BCB

cycle race set for Sunday, August 8

Page 22

The two young cricketers pose with their fathers after the presentation

Top riders across the country will battle for supremacy

Page 23

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