Guyana Times - Saturday, July 10, 2021

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− 184 remain in shelters in Regs 2, 5 & 10 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4704

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

Greater Private Sector support needed – Ali tells new CDB head − outlines regional challenges Bank can address Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Lowenfield P9 moves to block Gunraj, Shadick from debating motion calling for his dismissal

Miner beaten while protesting non-payment by P2 employer Relative arrested for allegedly raping 16-yearold girl P2

President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, met with newly appointed President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr Hyginus 'Gene' Leon, and his visiting team at Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive on Friday

Linden trio arraigned for setting GECOM Linden Office on fire in 2020 − alleged "intellectual author" arrested

Police Constable to face Judge, jury for raping minor P10

Page 7

WCB, 10 water processors Corentyne ordered to villages cease to get operations − after quality of water land titles fails to meet WHO standard Page 15

Page 5

3 more die from COVID, death toll now 489 …79 new cases recorded in 24 hours Page 11

GAWU alarmed over reports of overworked, underpaid oil workers P13 Truck driver P8 charged over death of goldsmith in Enmore accident

2 NEWS Taxi driver injured after car collides with truck SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

taxi driver is presently nursing a fractured rib after the motor car he was driving reportedly collided with a truck along the Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Thursday. The injured man is 33-year-old Ijaz Gafoor of Hope West, Enmore, ECD. Based in information received, the truck bearing registration number GWW 6076 was proceedings along the roadway while the taxi with plates HC 7123 was driving at a fast rate of speed, thus causing him to lose control.

As a result, the car collided with the right-side front of truck. Gafoor, how-

The two vehicles that were involved in the accident

ever, sustained injuries to his body. He was pulled from the motor car by the driver of the truck and other public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted a

patient.

On the other hand, a breathalyser test was administered on the driver of the truck but there were no sign of alcohol in his system.

He was detained and is assisting with investigations.

Relative arrested for allegedly raping 16-year-old girl

A

21-year-old man from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) was on Thursday arrested after he was accused of raping a 16-yearold girl.

Based on reports received, the victim and suspect are related and were sexually involved and based on suspicions, the victim was questioned and confessed to being in a relationship.

A report was then made at the Lethem Police Station and the suspect was arrested and placed in custody.

Investigations are ongoing.

Over the past months there has been a number of reports of sexual abuse committed on children.

In fact, in the 2020

October assizes, 100 men were scheduled to face a judge and jury on a total of 178 counts of varying sexual offences committed against underage children.

It was reported that sexual offences including those committed against children and adults account for close to half of the 370 cases listed to be heard.

The sexual offences include carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years, carnal knowledge of a girl under 12 years, buggery, rape, indecent assault of a male, sexual activity with a child family member, sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, sexual assault and incest by a male.

In some cases, more than one person has been indicted for an offence. In other instances, an accused has been indicted for up to eight counts of rape of a child under 16 years.

As recent as June 2021, Police in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) had arrested a male suspect and were on the hunt for another in relation to the alleged rape committed on a 17-year-old girl.

The act was reportedly committed between April 1 and 30, 2021.

The teenage girl reportedly told detectives that sometime around the time mentioned, she was approached by the two suspects who were in a car. She was subsequently forcefully taken against her will to the home of one of the perpetrators.

There, they took turns having sex with her as they recorded the ordeal. The victim further alleged that the ordeal caused her to have a miscarriage. She nevertheless reported the incident to her relatives more than one month after the incident and as such, the Police were called in.

One of the suspects has been arrested and placed into custody while a manhunt is underway for the second. This comes on the heels of Police hunting for two brothers – one who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl and the other for allegedly giving her pills to abort the child after she became pregnant.

On April 10, 2021, the girl, who is an orphan, left her home to attend bible classes at a church in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The church is reportedly a 15-minute walk from her home.

However, reports stated that as she was on her way to the church, she was approached by one of the brothers who reportedly took her to a nearby busy track, where he had sex with her. Sometime after, the girl was given a pregnancy test by the suspect’s brother which confirmed that she was pregnant. He later gave the child abortion pills which caused her to have a miscarriage.

The matter was reported to the child’s guardian who later informed the Police.

The two men remain on the run.

Miner beaten while protesting nonpayment by employer

A

miner was on Thursday beaten by a gang of men while protesting non-payment by his employers in the vicinity of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Avenue of the Republic.

The injured man has been identified as Randolph Mc Adams, 43, of no fixed place of abode.

Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 13:30h, the victim was picketing the alleged non-payment by his employer, who is a gold miner.

Whilst in the process, the now injured man was approached by a group of men during which he was abused and subsequently beaten.

However, Mc Adams was rescued by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where a report was made.

He was later escorted to the Police Medical Centre where he was examined and issued a medical certificate in his favour.

The Police are on the hunt for the main instigator, “Oscar”, and a group of men.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, July 10 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Sunday, July 11 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 10 – 17:10h – 18:40h and Sunday, July 11 – 04:50h – 06:20h.

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

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

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 16:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.

Low Tide: 10:33h and 22:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metre and 0.78 metre.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021

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Greater Private Sector support needed – Ali tells new CDB Head – outlines regional challenges Bank can address

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday lobbied for greater support for Private Sector development, while sharing ideas with President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Hyginus “Gene” Leon, on how to address challenges in Guyana and the region.

The newly elected CDB President is on a twoday visit with his team in Guyana as part of a familiarisation tour of the financial institution’s members in the region.

During the Friday afternoon meeting at the Office of the President in Georgetown, President Ali outlined with “great clarity” the vision for Guyana and the Government’s macro plans, as well as “what it is we believe the Bank can do to meet the challenges that face not only Guyana, but the region”.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, the Head of State also shared with the visiting dignitaries disaggregated information relating to the Government’s vision on various sectors and for future projects that are necessary to move the country forward.

“An important part of that is the inclusion of the Private Sector and greater support for Private Sector development,” the President posited.

It was noted that calls were also made for more information to be made available to the Private Sector to help them understand the opportunities currently available in the Bank, and “a reform within the Bank itself” to cater to the developmental needs of the region.

President Ali was accompanied by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh during the meeting.

The Guyanese team of Government officials emphasised to the CDB President and his team that the Bank has an important role to play in supporting Private Sector development not just in Guyana, but throughout the region.

The President has been adamant that the Government would support Private Sector initiatives, especially when it comes to developmental projects.

This viewpoint was expounded upon by Dr Singh, who noted that the Private Sector is earmarked to play key roles in Guyana’s future. “…We have been speaking about things like public-private partnerships for some time. We are hoping to be able to see private financing play a bigger role including in infrastructure projects. And then of course the role of the Private Sector in investing in the productive economy,” Dr Singh stated.

President Irfaan Ali and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh meeting with CDB President Dr Gene Leon on Friday

According to the senior Minister, Friday’s discussion can be viewed against the backdrop of Guyana’s role not only as a borrower and a beneficiary of the Bank, but as a shareholder in the Bank.

He explained that a brief history of the Bank’s engagement in Guyana, including support for a number of developmental projects, especially through the Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund facilities were also discussed.

Meanwhile, the conversation also focused on issues surrounding climate change, the environment, the energy sector and the national development priorities of Guyana and other Caribbean nations.

Dr Singh said that overall, the exchanges were “very forward-looking,” not only the articulation of Guyana’s development agenda, but through shared ideas on the Bank's future in the region.

“…It was a very forward-looking conversation about the future direction with the Bank and potential opportunities for the Bank.

We shared some thoughts on the Bank’s continued important role in the region’s landscape,” the Finance Minister said.

Giving an insight into the meeting from the CDB’s perspective, Dr Leon said that the discussions were “very fruitful and constructive,” and underscored how the Bank and Guyana would sustain their great relationship.

“We touched on a number of topics that are of common concern now in the region in terms of its development and how the Bank can hopefully assist in that particular direction,” Dr Leon said.

However, the CDB President noted that it was not a working meeting but more of a familiarisation visit on the heels of him tak-

ing reins of the regional financial institution in May. Dr Leon, who is on a two-day visit, plans to next meet with the CDB’s key interlocker in Guyana—the Ministry of Finance—as well as other Government agencies. He also intends to visit some projects that the CDB would have facilitated over the years and possibly engage, informally, with the Private Sector.

“It is really a free-flowing two-day visit. We’ll probably take a look at some projects that CDB have facilitated over time. Maybe potentially even meet with some Private Sector individuals in a more casual manner, not in any formal sense of deep discussions. It’s really a getting to know where we are in Guyana type of visit at this point,” Dr Leon stressed.

The visit to Guyana by the CDB President is the first stop on his trip around the Caribbean to build relationships between the Bank and members.

The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of member countries in the Caribbean, and promoting economic cooperation and integration among them, having special and urgent regard to the needs of the less developed members of the Region.

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

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

Vulnerability of women in societies

R

ecords of mankind’s sojourn on Planet Earth have always shown a predisposition of global societies to favour men over women. In some androcentric countries, women have no rights at all and are generally treated as less than animals; they subsist in lifelong servitude to the domineering males within their families and communities, and are even cruelly killed for the most minor infraction – real, imagined, or concocted – of the harsh and punitive rules imposed on them. Additionally, they are allowed no defence of themselves.

Brutality against women is recorded daily in patriarchal societies worldwide, and a news report coming out of Ghana relates that a woman who stole plantains to feed her hungry babies was stoned to death and dumped in a plantain farm at Aboaso in the Kwabre East Municipal District of the Ashanti Region. It was reported that Ghanaian Police couldn’t locate the children.

Anitha Qualis, a 35-year-old mother of four, who was found with 503 grams of marijuana in her possession in Guyana, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined $754,000 by Magistrate Crystal Lambert.

Her lawyer’s impassioned submissions that the accused should be given no custodial sentence on compassionate grounds went unheeded. He revealed that Qualis was deprived of having opportunities in life to advance herself and explained that she did not attend secondary school and was a victim of sexual abuse, as a result of which she had her first child, who is now 16, when she (Qualis) was 15 years old.

She also bore three other children, ages 10, 14 and 15, during the course of an abusive six-year relationship during which she was belittled and abused and kept down by her long-time partner, who eventually abandoned her and their children.

The Attorney added that after his client lost her job at a snackette, she felt an “irresistible compulsion” to do all things necessary to feed her starving children, and he also explained that Qualis has had no criminal involvement save for this incident.

For all of these reasons, when the Magistrate handed down the sentence, the lawyer applied for the suspension of the sentence under the Criminal Law Reform Act, Cap 11:05 which would have meant that Qualis would be released and if she reoffends, then she would be re-incarcerated. The Magistrate, a woman, refused the application.

During her court appearance on September 22, Qualis told the court that: “I accepted the weed, I am a mother of four… I decided to try a thing to provide for my children.”

How does a jobless mother, abandoned by the children’s father, feed her children? Only a mother with starving children would understand the compulsions that drive these women to break the laws of society. And do the guardians of the law, like this magistrate, and the people who stoned the Ghanaian mother to death take into consideration the fate of the children, who are consequently abandoned to the mercies of an uncaring, ruthless society, and may themselves be forced to break the law to survive?

Guyanese have stopped being our brother’s (and sister’s) keepers, because, in many communities, neighbours witnessing a continuum of, and escalating instances of, abuse refuse to become involved. They prefer to enjoy, as entertainment, the unfolding tragedy, even adding to it with malicious rumourmongering and strife-making, because the titillation of feuds and wars within families find a corresponding resonance in the dark nuances resident in every soul, and the average person refuses to rise above their more decadent equivalencies to achieve a higher plane of thoughts and actions, enough to maybe intercede – and probably save, a family from ultimate destruction.

There needs to be more stringent international vigilance and interventions to protect women in androcentric societies, because children become victims, which ultimately negatively impacts entire societies. Conventions do not suffice to protect victims.

The abuse, oftentimes escalating to murder of women, leaving children motherless and effectively fatherless, also often has the tragic consequence of the orphans becoming victims of paedophiles and other degenerates of societies.

While fathers often have no qualms in abandoning their children to the fates of destiny, mothers would go to any lengths to protect and provide for their offspring, as in the case of Anitha Qualis and the Ghanaian woman.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has promised to revamp the sentencing guidelines in Guyana’s legal system; mayhap women like Qualis would be dealt with mercifully, with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry providing empowerment and job opportunities for such women.

President Dr Irfaan Ali greeting President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon, at Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive on Friday. The CDB President, who officially took over as head of the regional multilateral institution in May, arrived in Guyana on Friday for a two-day visit (Office of the President photo)

Why did India open a backchannel to the Taliban?

…recent developments in the region forced India to rethink its approach to the armed group

By Abdul Basit

I

n a crucial policy shift, India recently acknowledged that it entered into backchannel communications with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In early June, the Indian media reported that New Delhi has started talking to certain factions and leaders of the armed group against the backdrop of the withdrawal of the United States forces from Afghanistan. A few days later, India’s Ministry of External Affairs all but confirmed these reports, stating that “we are in touch with various stakeholders … in pursuance of our longterm commitment towards development and reconstruction of Afghanistan”.

The Taliban’s Quetta-based leadership and Qatari officials have also confirmed these backchannel meetings.

Until recently, India has been reluctant to openly communicate with the Taliban, because it feared that such a move could damage its relations with the Afghan Government and its powerful regional and global backers. While Indian intelligence officials have occasionally connected with Taliban fighters to protect India’s interests over the years, most notably in 2011 to secure the release of kidnapped Indian engineers and personnel working in Afghanistan, New Delhi always refrained from establishing a permanent communication channel with the group.

It viewed the Taliban as nothing but a proxy for its main regional rival, Pakistan, and believed that it had little to gain from directly engaging the group. Moreover, New Delhi did not want to compromise its official policy of not talking to any “militant

groups” by entering into a dialogue with the Taliban, as it believed that doing so would put it under increased pressure to start talking to Kashmiri rebel groups as well.

But much has changed in the past few years.

In 2015, Iran and Russia started to support the Taliban to stop another armed group, the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISK), from expanding its influence over Afghanistan.

Knowing the limitations of Afghan security forces and the Taliban’s operational strength, they opted to form a working relationship with the Taliban to contain the ISK. Since then, the Taliban further established itself as a legitimate stakeholder in Afghanistan by gradually strengthening its diplomatic relations with the international community, scoring significant territorial gains against the Afghan Government, and clinching a historic peace deal with the US in February 2020.

It is now widely accepted that the Taliban will continue to have a significant influence over Afghanistan after the US completes its withdrawal from the country in September 2021.

All this put India in a difficult position and forced it to rethink its approach to the armed group. In the end, it decided to form backchannel communications with relatively friendly factions of the Taliban to avoid losing strategic space to its regional rivals, especially Pakistan, after the US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In September 2020, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar signalled his country’s interest in entering into a dialogue with the Taliban for the first time by participating in the intra-Afghan peace talks

taking place in Doha via video link. A senior Indian delegation also attended the talks.

This was the first time that high-ranking Indian officials attended an event in their official capacity alongside the representatives of the Taliban.

Since then, Indian security officials started opening channels of communication with several Taliban factions that are perceived as being “nationalist” or outside the sphere of influence of Pakistan and Iran.

India has a lot to gain from these backchannel communications. New Delhi wants to protect its security interests and investments in Afghanistan after the US exit from the country. Particularly, it wants to make sure that Kashmirfocused armed groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaishe-Muhammad (JeM) do not use Afghanistan as a staging ground to launch attacks in the Indian-administered Kashmir.

Having a backchannel with the Taliban can help the Indian authorities ensure that Afghanistan does not transform into a big security threat for New Delhi in the years to come.

The Taliban can also gain a lot from a backchannel with India. The group will need significant outside help after the US’s exit from Afghanistan to reach its development and reconstruction goals. India can provide this help in exchange for security guarantees.

India’s outreach to the Taliban can also positively affect the ongoing Afghan peace process by minimising the possibility of an IndiaPakistan proxy war in post-US Afghanistan. If India succeeds in establishing an informal bilateral relationship with the Taliban, Afghanistan can stay

out of any skirmishes between India and Pakistan in the future and instead focus on its own domestic problems and struggles.

But the success of India’s backchannel communications with the Taliban will depend, at least partially, on Pakistan’s response. At best, Islamabad will choose to stay neutral, neither encouraging nor discouraging such contacts. At worst, it will move to sideline elements within the Taliban known to be talking to India and discourage the armed group from communicating with New Delhi.

While Pakistan’s Opposition will undoubtedly hinder the dialogue between the Taliban and India, it will not necessarily end it.

The Taliban remained neutral in the face of IndiaPakistan tensions over the revocation of Kashmir’s semiautonomous status in August 2019, demonstrating that it wants to forge a foreign policy independent of Pakistan.

While it is undoubtedly still highly dependent on Pakistan, its recent territorial gains against the Afghan Government, growing financial independence and newly-formed diplomatic ties with other influential members of the international community, gave the Taliban a certain level of independence. It is now positioned to become a political power accepted by the international community and it is slowly escaping Pakistan’s grip.

All this signals that the Taliban will continue to talk to India despite Pakistan’s protestations. But only time will tell whether this dialogue will succeed in bringing much-needed security and stability to the region. (Al Jazeera)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 water processors ordered to cease operations – after quality of water fails to meet WHO standard

T

he Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has ordered 10 water processors to cease operations after the quality of drinking water has not satisfied the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards This was following a survey conducted in Georgetown and its immediate environs during the period October 2020 and January 2021.

In a release issued by the GA-FDD, it stated that a total of 160 water samples were taken by Inspectors of the department and submitted to its Food Microbiology laboratory where the test parameters for Total Coliform and

E. coli were performed- a test that gives a general indication of the sanitary and safety condition of the water supplied.

This survey was conducted to determine whether the sanitary and or microbiological requirements as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for drinking water quality were being met.

However, of the 160 samples submitted, 109 or 68 percent were found to be satisfactory, while 51 or 32 percent were found to be unsatisfactory for the parameters tested.

As such, the department then had cause to with immediate effect ask ten water pro-

cessors to cease operations and there were only allowed to resume operations after satisfying sanitary and microbiological safety requirements in the best interest of the consuming public.

Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) or Sanitary Inspectors who work collaboratively with Inspectors of the GA-FDD have been alerted to the survey findings and would be conducting a similar survey among water processors in through the country.

“Only 25 of the 46 water processors who participated in the survey were in possession of the Water Treatment & Basic Sanitation certificate issued by Empretec Guyana

Wave energy is on the horizon

Dear Editor, The USA recently announced that their Department of Energy will be investing US$27M to develop wave energy technology and make it more commercially viable. The UK is investing approximately US$10M to also develop the technology for this segment of the energy sector.

This is a great time for Guyana to look for opportunities to participate in the development of this energy segment, and become a partner in the advancement of green sustainable energy. As part of the Guiana Shield, using our location offshore, and with Exxon as a corporate partner for testing and development, this is a good option to consider.

An US million-dollar investment in the University of Guyana’s Engineering School, to partner with universities in the US and the UK which are recipients of their nation’s investment in

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

this energy segment, would also bode well towards our further immersion into the green energy space.

Local development of our wave energy capabilities would allow us to capitalise on local talent, local content, and add economic value to our continued growth and national expansion initiatives. The release of energy from industrial growth and increased fossil fuel consumption has resulted in an increased level of energy within the ocean network.

The development and transition to this segment of the energy sector is both timely and opportune. The resulting predictable energy source for a diversified electricity grid would help reduce any potential risk from our solar and wind energy investments.

It has been my experience that Japan is also one of the best technology developers in the world. It is an untapped opportunity for Guyana. We must restart

our relationship with that great nation, and using the wave energy segment to do so may be an option worth pursuing. The Japanese have already gone past the development stage with the aid of Scotland, and have implemented wave energy-capturing technology in combination with wind energy systems.

This hybrid approach is also well suited for the current natural environment on our Atlantic coast.

Japan’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions’ target and its proven ability to successfully partner with technology developers for real world solutions is worth benchmarking and further exploration. It is my hope that the current administration would take a closer look at this evolving opportunity for sustainable green energy development.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Inc. and this is another basic requirement that water processors must fulfill, in order

to be licenced or be approved to process,” the Below is a list of licenced

or approved water processors in Guyana.

N0

NAME OF WATER BUSINESS ADDRESS

1

Ultra Valley Water

Lot 1665 Tuschen New Scheme, EBE

2

Edmond Durban Grumbal

Lot 13 Public Road, Three Friends, Essequibo

3

Clear Spring Purified Water

Lot 35 Goed Intent, WBD

4

D & L Purified Refill Water

7 & 8 Public Road, La Grange, WBD

5

D & L Purified Water

153 Public Road, Nismes, WCD

6

Blue Natural Spring

151 Public Road, Zeeburg, WCD

7

Blue Ribbon Manf Guyana Inc

97 West Meer-Zorg, WCD

8

Banks DIH

Thirst Park, Georgetown

9

Demerara Distillers Limited

Plantation Diamond, EBD

10

Rafeena Mohamed

Lot 13 Number 78 Village, C/tyne, Berbice

11

Amazon Water Depot

Lot 2232 Section C, Block X, Housing Scheme,

Coast

Diamond, EBD 12

Aquafina Water & Ice

Lot 160 Section D, Nonpareil, ECD

13

Rajendra Jai Jai Ram

Lot 2 A Balgobin Street, Rose Hall, Berbice

14

Pure Aqua

Lot 420 4th Street, Herstelling, EDB

15

First Choice Purified Water

335 Tuschen New Scheme, EBE

16

Shield Waters

Lot 1356 Section A, Block X, Diamond, EBD

17

Optimum Pure Water

Lot 22 Public Road, Nabaclis, EBD

18

Balram Water Store

Lot 7 Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast

19

Pure Plus Water

Lot 34 Meadow Brook Gardens, G/town

20

Joy Water

Lot 200 1st Street, Mocha, EBD

21

Pristine Waters

Lot 120 Vryheid’s Lust North, ECD

22

Atlantic

Manufacturing

& Lot 25 Courbane Park, Annandale, ECD

Packaging Company 23

Alkaplus Wellness & Water Lot 529 Section A, Block X, Diamond, EBD Refilling

24

White Rain Purified Water

Lot 69 Durban Street, Lodge, G/town

25

Sunny Ultra Pure

Lot 1 Sparta, Essequibo Coast

26

Natasha English

Lot 17 Obama Drive, Amelia’s Ward, Linden

27

Roxanna Summer

Lot 226 Mora Street, Mackenzie, Linden

28

Leed’s H20 Purified Water

Lot 30 5th Avenue, Bartica

29

Aqua-Tic Purified Water

Lot 48 First Avenue , Bartica

30

Juice Up Guyana

Lot 1237 Westminster, WBD

6

SATURDAY JULY 10, 2021

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden trio arraigned for setting GECOM Linden Office on fire in 2020 − alleged “intellectual author” arrested

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hree men were on Friday remanded to prison after being charged for setting fire to the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) Office in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), last July reportedly over the non-swearing in of the then presidential candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), David Granger, as President of Guyana.

Teon February called “Nut”, a 23-year-old porter of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden; 21-year-old Marlon Hunter called “Bushy”, a welder and car wash worker of Silver Town, Wismar; and Bryon Kendell called “Murgie”, 48, a contractor and carwash owner of Kara Kara, Linden, were arraigned virtually before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

The trio was not required to plead to the joint charge which alleged that on July 14, 2020, they unlawfully and maliciously set fire to the GECOM Registration Office at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden.

Prior to the joint arraignment, February was slapped with several other serious offences including possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, break and enter and larceny, simple larceny and burglary.

Hunter was the lone accused represented by a lawyer during Friday’s arraignment.

His attorney, Yondessa Welcome-

Alleged Kendell

mastermind

Bryon

Mercurius, made a bail application, arguing that this is a bailable offence and that her client poses no flight risk.

H o w e v e r , Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss pointed out to the court that while the offence is a bailable one, its seriousness and the fact that a public building with records was destroyed should be taken into account. The court was also informed that Police in Linden are expected to institute break and enter and larceny charges against Hunter and February in the new week.

Despite counter arguments by Attorney WelcomeMercurius, Magistrate Fortune went ahead to refuse bail for all three accused and remanded them to prison until July 30.

February and Hunter are cousins and were arrested on Monday after Police received information. The 23-year-old subsequently confessed during interrogation on Wednesday that he

and his younger cousin were paid $150,000 by Kendell, the alleged mastermind, to torch the building.

In a statement to the Police, February claimed that he was contacted on the night of July 13, 2020, by Kendell, who told him that he wanted him to burn down the GECOM building. As such, he contacted his cousin, “Bushy” and informed him of the job.

In his confession, the 23-year-old told detectives that he and Hunter were picked up at about 22:00h in a silver Note motor car by Kendell, who took them to Burnham Drive and showed them the building. At that time, the mastermind informed them that he wanted the building burnt the same night and offered them $150,000 as reward.

The mastermind reportedly gave them a yellow five-gallon bottle of gas which he had in the trunk of his car. He then left the scene.

The young man further related that they hid the gas in a clump of bushes a short distance from the GECOM building and went home.

However, at about midnight on July 14, 2020, the two cousins returned to the location, collected the bottle of gas, entered the compound from a side gate and gained access to the building from the back door.

February further confessed that they went into a store room in the upper flat of the building where he poured the gas and set the room on

Teon February, called “Nut” and Marlon Hunter, called “Bushy”

fire which led to an explosion resulting in them getting burns to their feet. The burn marks were still visible when they were arrested on Monday, a Police source confirmed.

Nevertheless, the two men escaped and went home where they met three female cousins and related what had transpired. One of the young women reportedly attended to their burns. February told Police that on the same evening, the mastermind went to their home and handed over 75,000, which he gave to his cousin, and the following day, he was given the other $75,000.

He claimed that after the incident they saw “Murgie” several times but they had no discussion on the incident. Later, the mastermind

reportedly told him that he wanted the building burnt because GECOM was taking too long to swear in Granger as President.

Police had indicated that following the confession by “Nut”, they interrogated “Bushy” during which he supported the narrative told by his cousin.

Upon receipt of this information, investigators on Thursday arrested Kendell, who is said to be an APNU/ AFC activist.

Previous reports indicated that moments after the building was set on fire almost one year ago, one of the security guards, who was on duty at the time, said that she heard a loud bang at about 01:55h.

This, she noted, prompted her to check around the building. She said that it was

then that she again heard another loud explosion. The woman recalled that she then observed fire emanating from within the building along with the smell of gasoline.

The guard had told investigators that two males were observed running from the western side of the building. She added that the men ran through the nearby First Alley Street, Wismar, where they made good their escape.

Meanwhile, Police arrested the alleged intellectual author in the wee hours of Friday at his Linden home after he was implicated in the matter.

William Roy Marshall is reportedly the driver of Region 10 Chairman, Deron Adams and more so, a member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

A Police source stated that during interrogation of the trio, Marshall was identified as the person who would have passed the money to Kendall to execute the job.

The Police also stated that investigations are ongoing which will see other persons being charged in the coming days. Following his arrest, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon in a release claimed that Marshall was abducted in the presence of his and child by persons in plain clothes.

8 NEWS Truck driver charged over death of goldsmith in Enmore accident SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

34-year-old truck driver was on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Tillackram Dindial of Lot 21 Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), pleaded not guilty to

the charge and was granted $500,000 bail.

It is alleged that on July 5, 2021, at Hope West, Enmore Access Road, ECD, he drove motor lorry GWW 8721 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of 38-year-old Rajin Persad, a goldsmith of

Dead: Rajin Persad

Foulis, ECD. The defendant will return to the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on August 8.

It was reported that on the day in question, Dindial was operating the truck on the northern parapet of Hope West, Enmore Access

Road, in the vicinity of his premises. At the time, he was in the process of offloading sand.

While lowering the tray of the vehicle, Police said that Dindial reversed, and soon after his wife shouted out to him that he had run over one of their dogs.

However, upon making checks, he observed Persad under the truck with what appeared to be blood about his body. An injured Persad was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the Police, a breathalyser test was conducted on Dindial but found no trace of alcohol in his system. But this was opposed after persons in the area had stated that the man was heavily intoxicated.

Withdrawal symptoms...

F

…in Afghanistan inally, it looks like the Americans will be withdrawing from Afghanistan. But a lot of folks are still skeptical cause they’ve heard it so many times before. Wasn’t Barrack Obama going to pull the troops out? And Trump?

But the moment your Eyewitness saw that the Americans had slipped out of Bagram Air Base overnight, without telling even the local Afghan commander, he knew the jig was up!

For 20 years, Bagram was the biggest base in Afghanistan - practically a self-contained city and centre of American activities. Just to “just slip out the back” in the middle of the night, leaving “millions” of items, meant there was no turning back. It’s too reminiscent of the US departure from Saigon, which ended the Vietnam War. In another century, when “the sun never sat on the British Empire” - and they were calling the shots - they’d engaged in what they called “the Great Game” against Russia for influence in Central Asia. And to protect their “Jewel of the Crown” - India. But after a hundred years and three Afghan Wars, they had to withdraw in 1919.

The US picked up the Imperial slack, but after WWII, in its Cold War against the same Russians, it never appreciated Britain’s lesson to stay clear of Afghanistan. So, when the Russians marched in by 1979 after a communist government was installed, the US hackles were raised, and they helped train Muslim forces opposed to the communists. Some of those forces were drawn from a wide array of Muslim states - and included Osama Bin Laden!! The Russians lasted a decade, and learnt the British lesson, as they were forced to withdraw all their troops by 1989. The Taliban - as the Muslim fighters then called themselves - formed the Government, and were violently opposed to the Americans - out of solidarity with co-religionists in the Mid-East, if nothing else!

After 9/11, the Americans declared that Afghanistan was a haven for terrorists, and launched a campaign to remove them. So, starting from George Bush, four presidents were sucked into an Afghan War that would drain its Treasury of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS - and thousands of lives - with no “victory” in sight.

While the US tried to support Governments in Afghanistan that were more “moderate” than the fundamentalist Taliban - while they aren’t saying, as soon as their withdrawal is complete by the end of August the Taliban will be running the country. Forget about the 300,000 American-trained troops the Afghan Government is supposed to have at its disposal.

But, unfortunately, the Great Game will continue, since there are new aspirants to claim the mantle of the “Great Arbitrator”. Pakistan, India, China - and Russia! come to mind!!

Do cry for Afghanistan!! …of anti-gas activists Well, the Climate Change warriors had their opportunity to take on big, bad Exxon at the Umana Yana, where they were supposed to address concerns about their plans to bring gas ashore - as requested by the Government. At the time of writing this piece, the meeting was just completed, so these are some preliminary thoughts by your Eyewitness.

One piece of information that elicited much excitement was that Exxon would be selling some of the gas brought ashore to third parties! But if your Eyewitness’s memory serves him correctly, all gas produced outside of that used to run the FPSO was supposed to belong to Guyana.

So, isn’t Exxon going to sell the gas to “third parties” on behalf of Guyana? And aren’t these “third parties” the private parties who’d be setting up plants to manufacture products like urea, methanol and even “proteins” we heard about from President Ali some time ago?

Sadly, the “inquisitioners” didn’t ask these questions, but worried about the fate of “kakabelly”! …in Haiti There’s much anguish over the situation in Haiti, as the fallout from the assassination of President Moïse plays out in that troubled country.

One under-commented feature is about the historic racial divisions between its black and mulatto people!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lowenfield moves to block Gunraj, Shadick from debating motion calling for his dismissal

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

O

ne month after he was asked by the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Judge Claudette Singh, to show cause why he should not be removed from his post as Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield has now moved to the High Court to block Governmentnominated Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shadick from voting on his dismissal.

Last month, Gunraj and Shadick tabled a motion containing 20 grounds on which they called for the immediate firing of Lowenfield. They submitted that Lowenfield has breached his functions, duties, responsibilities, and obligations regarding the March 2020 National and Regional Elections.

In a bid to bar Gunraj and Shadick from voting on the motion, Lowenfield is asking the High Court to grant an order restraining them from participating as adjudicators in the hearing of the said motion. The CEO, through

his lawyer Nigel Hughes, is further asking for a declaration that Gunraj and Shadick cannot properly participate, hear and determine their own complaint against him.

Lowenfield, in a Fixed Date Application, deposed that he is entitled under the terms of his employment contract and the rules of natural justice to a fair hearing, including the right to not have Gunraj and Shadick participate as arbitrators in the motion for his removal from GECOM. According to the CEO, after he submitted his show cause response to Justice Singh, Gunraj and Shadick met to deliberate on the process upon which the Commission should proceed in relation to the hearing of their complaint. “The participation of Gunraj and Shadick in the deliberations of their own complaint was in breach of the rules of natural justice,” Lowenfield argued.

He argued also that their participation in the deliberations on their own complaint against him infected the deliberation of the Commission with bias.

The Chief Elections Officer said that after the tabling of the motion, he wrote to GECOM’s Chairperson informing her that he was entitled to the protection of the rules of natural justice and the hearing of the complaint by a fair impartial Commission not infected with bias.

By a letter dated July 1, 2021, he said that Justice Singh acknowledged receipt of his response and promised that careful consideration will be given.

Notwithstanding, he add-

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj

Government-nominated GECOM Commissioner Attorney-at-Law Bibi Shadick

ed that the Commission including Gunraj and Shadick met to deliberate on the motion.

As such, the CEO contended that the participation of the Commissioners in the hearing of the motion they filed against him is a breach of the implied terms of his employment because he is entitled to a fair hearing of his response to any complaint of gross misconduct made against him.

In this regard, Lowenfield is seeking a declaration that GECOM, having determined that there shall be a hearing of the motion for his dismissal, is bound to provide him with a fair hearing including the protections of the rules of natural justice. He also wants the Court to award him costs and any further or other order it deems just in the circumstances.

tions, and guidance to the officers and employees of GECOM’s Secretariat in the performance of their statutory duties during the process of the adding up of the votes recorded on the Statements of Polls (SoPs) for Electoral District Four.

According to them, this led to chaos, protests, and confusion at the GECOM Command Centre and the Office of the Returning Officer for District Four which was housed at Ashmins Building at the corner of High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown.

The Governmentnominated Commissioners alleged that the CEO, despite protests from contesting parties other than the APNU/AFC, deliberately

Grounds for dismissal The Commissioners have also accused Lowenfield of breaching his functions when he neglected to provide proper and lawful directions, instruc-

chose to neglect the complaints of discrepancies in relation to figures declared

by Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

They said that he failed to adhere to a court order, issued by Chief Justice Roxane George, to prevent him from declaring the results of the election until Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) was complied with.

Rather, they pointed out that Lowenfield prepared a final report pursuant to Section 99 of RoPA containing all of the unverified votes as declared by Mingo, ultimately declaring the APNU/AFC as the winners of the elections.

In their motion for the CEO’s dismissal, the Commissioners detailed that he sought to have the GECOM Chair convene a meeting to approve his fraudulent numbers. Again, in breach of the orders of CJ George, they said that he failed to have Mingo comply with the statutory process and this resulted in contempt proceedings against both of them.

Throughout the process of adding up the votes for each list from the SoPs, they said that the CEO either condoned or encouraged the numerous breaches and violations of Section 84 of the (RoPA) committed

GECOM Chairperson Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh

by Mingo, and other election officers and staff of the Secretariat or he abdicated and abandoned his functions and duties to take the necessary steps to remedy such breaches and violations.

The motion said that on June 13, in breach of Paragraph 12 of the Recount Order, the CEO submitted a report in which he disregarded the votes cast for each of the list of candidates as established by the recount process and instead produced revised totals of votes cast after he had deducted scores of thousands of votes in favour of the PPP/C list of candidates on grounds of alleged “irregularities and anomalies”.

TURN TO PAGE 10

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police Constable DJ charged for playing loud music to face Judge, D jury for raping minor isc Jockey (DJ) Tony Bowen popularly known as “Mix Master Tony” was charged for disturbing the peace by playing loud music.

The DJ appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday and denied the charge which stated that on July 3, 2021, at Taco Laco, he disturbed the peace by playing loud music.

Bowen, 26, of Third

M

ichael Kendall, the Police Constable who was charged earlier in the year for raping a child, has been committed to stand trial for the offence at the Demerara High Court.

On Friday, Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus, following a Paper Committal, ruled that sufficient evidence was led by the prosecution to put the cop on trial for the offence.

According to reports received, the Magistrate informed Kendall that he will go on trial before a Judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.

It is alleged that on December 3, 2020, in Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16.

The rape accused remains out on $300,000 bail pend-

Charged: Tony Bowen

Street Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was released on $10,000 bail and was instructed to return to court on July 13 when the owner of Taco Laco is expected to be charged.

Bowen’s lawyer told the court that his client was never told to lower the volume of the music. The lawyer said that the Police just showed up at the venue and arrested his client.

Meanwhile, in anoth-

er case before Magistrate Daly, Shanice Farinha was charged with assaulting a Police rank. The incident is alleged to have occurred on June 1, 2021, in Georgetown.

The woman was also charged with behaving disorderly in a public place.

She denied both charges.

The Magistrate released her on a total of $40,000 bail and she will make her next court appearance on September 13, 2021.

Lowenfield moves to block...

Rape accused: Michael Kendall

ing his trial.

Meanwhile, the matter against Kendall’s alleged accomplice, Eion Franklin, is continuing in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Like Kendall, Franklin has also been released on bail.

“In short, he failed and/ or refused to produce the report as he was lawfully required to do as the CEO and instead, he was purporting to act as a Judge of the High Court hearing an elections petition,” the motion said, adding that Lowenfield not only concocted numbers but also defied several directives of the GECOM Chair. Similar motions have been tabled for the dismissal of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers

and Mingo.

Charges

A team of special prosecutors has been hired to prosecute the electoral fraud charges against Lowenfield, DCEO Myers, Mingo, GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller, GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan, APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph, and People’s National Congress Reform

(PNCR) Chairperson and former Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence.

The more than 25 matters are currently before three Magistrates – Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Magistrates Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and Leron Daly. Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How he arrived at those figures is still unknown.

FROM PAGE 9

The certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise also proved that Mingo heavily inflated the figures in Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting District – in favour of the then caretaker APNU/AFC regime.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 more die from COVID, death toll now 489 …79 new cases recorded in 24 hours

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 9 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

79

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

87

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

1336

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

11

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

10

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

10,659

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,175

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

20,834

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

18,911

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

237,111

FULLY IMMUNISED

116,903

REGION 1

1253

REGION 2

573

REGION 3

2383

REGION 4

9528

REGION 5

684

REGION 6

1639

REGION 7

1270

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

1662

REGION 10

1462

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

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

T

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2022

COVID-19 Hotline.

489

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

he Health Ministry on Friday reported that three more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died, taking the country’s death toll to 489.

The latest fatalities are a 36-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman from

Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), who died on July 9, as well as a 75-yearold man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died on July 7.

On Thursday, a 47-yearold from Region Four and a 68-year-old from Region Six succumbed to the disease.

The Health Ministry said that the patients were admitted with COVID-19 symptoms but died while receiving care at a medical institution. Samples were reportedly taken at the time of admission and those subsequently returned positive results.

For the month of June,

there have been 13 reported deaths from the virus.

Cases of the virus on Friday increased by 79, raising the number of confirmed positives in Guyana to 20, 834.

There are 11 patients undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 87 in institutional isolation, 1336 in home isolation and 10 in institutional quarantine. In total, 18 ,911 persons recovered completely. Since the local COVID-19 outbreak started, 198,761 individuals have been tested – of which 10,175 males and 10,659 females were positive.

An analysis showed seven new cases in Region One (Barima-Waini); one in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 24 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 28 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); three in Region

Five (Mahaica-Berbice); six in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); three in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and six in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 380 after no new positives were detected.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday reminded that: “Most people would get COVID by breathing in the virus so if there’s somebody who is exposed to someone who is infected and they don’t have on a mask, they would breathe in the virus. The virus would then get into your lung and then circulate to the rest of the body.”

He also dispelled a common myth that is circulating that consuming alco-

hol had some standing as a protective measure against the virus.

“Alcohol doesn’t prevent the virus. It doesn’t reduce viral burden. None of those things. So, definitely whoever is peddling this is peddling a myth,” he asserted.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 6246674 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 six feet of physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jury to deliberate Monday on 2013 Mash Day murder trial L

awyers on Friday summed up their arguments for the final time in the trial of two young men accused of the February 23, 2013 murder of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Kumar Mohabir.

Mohabir was reportedly with his family partaking in Mashramani celebrations at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, and was attacked and killed by a group of men who were armed with broken bottles. The altercation reportedly stemmed from Mohabir stepping on one of his attackers’ feet.

Charged with Mohabir’s murder are Devon Thomas and 25-year-old Randy Isaacs. The duo is on trial for the capital offence before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at

Deceased: Kumar Mohabir

the Demerara High Court.

They are being represented

by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Narissa Leander.

Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali are representing the State.

Dozens of witnesses

have testified in the trial on behalf of the prosecution and defence including Police ranks who investigated the killing, relatives of the nowdead man, and a pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on the remains of Mohabir.

Justice Kissoon will address the jurors on Monday before they are sent to deliberate. Following the close of the case for the prosecution on Thursday, Thomas and Isaacs were called on to lead a defence. They both elected to give unsworn statements.

Thomas told the jury that Police went to his home at Better Hope South, ECD, and informed him that he was wanted for questioning in relation to Mohabir’s murder.

“Police took me and my brother-in-law for question-

Murder accused: Randy Isaacs

ing at the Ruimveldt Police Station. They asked me and show me a paper with a lot of names, I tell them that I did not know the names of any persons. Five minutes after they put on shackle and handcuffs on me. Police kept me at the station overnight,” Thomas said in his statement to the court.

According to the murder accused, he was placed on an identification parade and “10 minutes after Police ranks came back and told him that he get point out for a murder that happened on Vlissengen Road.” He added, “I told them [Police ranks] I don’t know what you are talking about.”’

Thomas said that he met

Murder accused: Devon Thomas

his co-accused for the first time when they were arraigned at the Magistrate’s Court.

“I ask he [Isaacs] what is the reason why he here…

That was the first time in my life I ever see Randy Isaacs or ever speak to him.

I come in prison as a teenage boy. With all due respect members of the jury, I know to my heart, God knows my heart, that I am innocent, I am really innocent,” said Thomas in conclusion.

Meanwhile, Isaacs, formerly of Montrose, ECD, told the court that Police ranks came to his home and arrested him. “They told me that I was going to be placed

on an ID parade,” he said, adding that Police never informed him of how an ID parade works.

He said, “When I go into the room, no one looked like me, no one had height like me. I was the only person with a funny eye and tattoo.

They tell me I was picked out as a positive suspect. I told them that I don’t know anything about any murder.”

“Since I was in prison, I was age 17. My father died while I was in prison. I am innocent of this charge. I did not bore anybody; I did not kill anybody. I would like to get my freedom to go and take care of my mother,” Isaacs said in closing.

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GAWU alarmed over reports of overworked, underpaid oil workers T

he establishment of an oil and gas branch of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has already been met with several complaints from workers in the sector, lamenting the working conditions under which they are subjected.

In a statement from the Union on Friday, it was pointed out that many workers shared that their ratesof-pay when compared to foreign nationals are essentially “chalk to cheese”, even though they undertake similar duties.

“Moreover, they are required to work extended periods consistently. Apart from that, after their long shifts they are required to attend meetings and undertake other briefings without any pay, thus restricting their time to rest and recuperate for another day’s work. This, they shared, is taking a significant toll on their physical and men-

GAWU President Seepaul Narine

tal well-being,” the missive highlighted, From being treated as “robots without any feelings and anguish”, the workers indicated to the Union that even when there is a brief respite in their substantive duties, they are made to undertake tasks which are not within their job descriptions.

“They indicated that they are not unwilling to cooperate but the manner of communication by some foreign

Mocha residents highlight road, drainage woes to Local Govt Minister

E

A section of the roadway in Mocha

nhancement works in the areas of drainage and road infrastructure at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is one of the areas which the Local Government Ministry is paying attention to after several issues were raised by concerned residents.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall met with residents, farmers and the Mocha/Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on Thursday, where residents complained of inadequate drainage in the community. This has been coupled with poor roads and other utility issues.

During the meeting, one resident stated “Coming into the road, there are a number of lights but there’s a lot that’s missing and that are not working. Then if you look at the streets, the entire community, every street is in a deplorable state.”

In response, Minister Dharamlall indicated that additional community enhancement workers will be sent to the village, as well as other officers to conduct an assessment of current infrastructure.

“We will do some trench cleaning. The engineer will come tomorrow and do an assessment of all the chokepoints in the community.

He will also do a conditional survey of all the roads the community. We have also said that we will employ seven additional enhancement workers who will begin work to enhance the NDC area as well. We have said that we’ll get the names of those persons that are getting bills from GPL but are not actually receiving electricity.

Somebody got to make sure that we get those names so that we could deal with it,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, in response to the road woes, the Public Works Ministry will also have a hand in assisting with finding a solution.

However, the Minister could not give a timeline for such project.

“We have also said that we will do some road upgrade. I can’t commit the exact time we will be able to do it but in my discussion with one of the Ministers of Public Works, they indicated that they will come in to see how they can help to do some things.”

supervisors and managers leaves a lot to be desired. This, they shared, is a big issue in the sector as it seemed to them that the foreigners treated them as lesser beings. For the Union, this is a serious concern, and we hold that no Guyanese should be made to feel as a second-class citizen in their own country. Our history is replete with examples of the struggles of the Guyanese to overcome such tendencies and we cannot countenance any return of such periods in now independent Guyana.”

Additionally, workers complained that they feel “cheated” since the recruitment promises does not reflect in the current conditions they are subjected to.

“Some of them who have now worked for several years in the sector, indicated they were still awaiting the fulfilment of those commitments…In fact, we learnt several important benefits which organised workers benefit from are not extended to the oil sector workers though they undertake risky jobs. They noted too that

sometimes, without warning, their stints offshore are extended and their attempts sometimes to secure their lawful entitlements are akin to going through an obstacle course,” the statement disclosed.

GAWU pointed out that if these revelations are indeed true, it is condemned. The GAWU Oil and Gas branch has omitted to standing beside these workers and offer representation on their behalf.

“The Union reiterates its call for all workers to engage

us as we work collectively to addressing the plights the workers of the sector must confront. We believe that our nation’s workers must be treated fairly and without any prejudices.”

At this time, workers can reach out to the Union through WhatsApp – 623GAWU (4298), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, website (www.gawugy.com), email (info@gawugy.com), telephone 227-2091/2, 225,2321 or by visiting their offices in Georgetown or New Amsterdam.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UN SG calls for global vaccination plan …in light of gap in developing countries

R

ecognising that developing countries are still struggling to survive amid the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to vaccina-

tion against the deadly virus, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for the implementation of a Global Vaccine Plan.

He made this plea on

Friday in his remarks to the third G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Venice, Italy.

“You have come together to determine the course of some of the most pressing issues we face: access to vaccines; extending an economic lifeline to the developing world; and more and better public finance for ambitious climate action.”

According to Guterres, many developed countries appear to be overcoming the pandemic, but developing countries are still struggling to survive, let alone recover. He said that while 70 per cent of people in some developed countries are vaccinated, this figure

stands at less than one per cent in low-income countries.

“A global vaccine gap threatens us all because as the virus mutates, it could become even more transmissible, or even more deadly,” he noted.

He reminded that the world is now in the second year of a global pandemic that has killed over four million people “and I do not need to tell you: it is far from over,” he added.

The UN Secretary General pointed out that the pandemic has gathered pace. “It took nine months for the virus to claim one million lives; and about three months for it to take the second and third million. The fourth million died in just two and a half months,” Guterres said.

While the pledges of doses and funds are welcomed, Guterres stressed that they are not enough as “we need not one billion, but at least eleven billion doses to vaccinate 70 percent of the world and end this pandemic.” In this regard, he emphasised that this calls for the greatest global public health campaign in history, to vaccinate everyone,

UN Secretary General António Guterres

everywhere.

“The world needs a Global Vaccine Plan, to at least double production of vaccines and ensure equitable distribution, using COVAX as the platform; to coordinate implementation and financing; and to support countries’ readiness and capacity to roll out immunisation programmes, while tackling vaccine hesitancy,” he added.

“To realise this plan, I am calling for an Emergency Task Force that brings together the countries that produce and can produce vaccines, the World Health Organisation, the global vaccine alliance GAVI, and international financial institutions, able to deal with the relevant pharmaceu-

tical companies and manufacturers, and other key stakeholders.”

According to him, the G20 Meeting is the best placed to lead the world in preparing and implementing such a plan. He assured Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from around the world that their country has the production and financial capacities to defeat COVID-19.

Just recently, the Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa Etienne said that there is a huge access gap to COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean.

She noted that the emergence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Americas increases the need for access to vaccines in the Region. “…Very few places are benefiting from the full potential of vaccines as there is a huge access gap in our Region…This is unacceptable, and the emergence of variants makes it even more urgent that we accelerate supply to the places with the highest transmission,” she had expressed.

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCB, Corentyne villages to get land titles

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esidents from villages along the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) and along the Corentyne will soon benefit from Certificates of Title as Government moves to issue formal titles to persons occupying lands without the ownership documents.

On Thursday, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, conducted an outreach with residents of Numbers Three, Four and Five Villages, West Coast Berbice, to commence the regularisation programme for those areas.

He explained that this exercise is intended to issue Certificates of Title to residents who have been occupying lands for decades without any formal documents.

Similar exercises will be conducted at Cotton Tree Village, WCB, and Number 46 Village on the Corentyne Coast.

Addressing residents gathered at the public engagement, Nandlall explained that land titling is a

AG Anil Nandlall speaking with WCB residents on Thursday historical issue in Guyana.

“Dating back decades, Guyanese have been living in communities right across this land without formal title being issued to them in relation to the land that they are occupying… What this exercise is intended to do, at the end of the process, is to put in every hand a Certificate of Title for the

land upon which your house is standing,” he stated.

The Attorney General further stated that only two documents recognise ownership of lands – Transport or Certificate of Title. He added that most, if not all, the residents in those three villages have none of these documents.

On this note, Nandlall

underscored the importance of these documents to show ownership of lands.

“This process is simply to give you that document.

That document allows you immeasurable opportunities in relation to that property,” he said.

A part for proving formal ownership of the land, the Attorney General posit-

$29M subvention disbursed to NDCs in Region 2

Members of the beneficiary NDCs at the event on Friday

more meaningful to persons on the ground,” Dharamlall explained.

In addition, he called on the NDC leaders and the Mayor of the Township of Anna Regina, Rajendra Prabulall to honour their obligations and partner with the residents to address is-

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall handing over one of the cheques to an NDC representative

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inister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall on Friday handed over $20 million subventions to eight Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and another $9 million to the Anna Regina Town Council to advance services within various districts in the region.

The ceremonial handing over was done at the Regional Democratic Boardroom, Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Speaking at the ceremony, Dharamlall said that residents must be informed and be involved in vari-

ous Government interventions within their respective NDCs. He stated that the subvention was disbursed in the region to ensure that resources are made available for development.

“It is part of our Government’s commitment to ensure that we provide better physical development in every village in Region Two… you will be the one helping us to see many transformational changes in the region. We expect that a balance is used to complete work that has not yet been fully completed… you all as NDC overseers and chairs should ensure that work done are

sues in their villages.

Further, he noted that the Government will continue to advance work in all the NDC areas to better the lives of residents.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Anna Regina expressed gratitude to the Government for its timely subvention which will be used in various transformational projects along the Essequibo Coast and Hinterland areas within Region Two. NDC chairs and overseers also expressed gratitude to the Ministry and vowed to continue working with the various villages to bring major development.

The NDCs that received cheques are Good Hope/Pomona, Annandale/ Riverstown, Aberdeen/ Zorg-en-Vlygt, Evergreen/ Paradise, Charity/Urasara, Nile/Cozier, Kitty/Providence and Moruka/Pheonix.

ed that having formal titles also allow residents to be able to pass the property to their children or other family members as well as use the land as a collateral to obtain loans from commercial banks.

“So, this is a very important exercise for the betterment of you and your family. And the Government is undertaking this task free of cost… This is another elections promise being delivered,” the AG asserted.

However, Nandlall explained that the process will include land surveys of the area in order to ascertain the parameters of the lands occupied by the residents.

That information will be put into a plan, following which a Judge in the Berbice High Court will grant an Order authorising the issuance of the titles.

But according to AG Nandlall, the success of the process depends on the participation and cooperation of residents. As such, he encouraged them to get on board.

“This process can only benefit you. There is no disadvantage, there is nothing detrimental to your interest… We are here to do this for you so that you can have title for your lands and once you have title for your lands, you can do so much to help yourself and your family,”

he stressed.

During the public engagement, one resident raised questions about the survey process and concerns about properties overlapping.

However, AG Nandlall in acknowledging these, reassured residents that these circumstances will be taken into consideration in the regularising process.

“This task is not going to be an easy one neither is it impossible… We are prepared as a Government to help you bring regularity and formality to your ownership,” the Attorney General contended.

Currently, a similar exercise is already underway in Cotton Tree, WCB, where he said residents will soon receive their land titles.

Additionally, Government will also soon be moving to regularise the Number 46 Village on the Corentyne Coast.

Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally, Region Six Chairman David Armogan, Region Five Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman and officials from the Legal Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) attended the engagement on Thursday.

16 NEWS Govt working to make Sputnik V 2nd dose available – Health Minister assures SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

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ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has again assured that Government is working to ensure that the Sputnik V second doses are available in a timely manner.

The Health Minister ex-

plained that as soon as the second doses of Sputnik V arrive in Guyana, the population will be informed immediately. The Russianmanufactured vaccines have an interval of four to twelve weeks between doses.

In the same breath, he noted that persons who have received their first Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines were urged to return for the last shot.

“In terms of Sputnik V, we have first dose that is available and we are working to make sure that we get second doses in as early as possible. As soon as we get that, we are going to make those announcements so that people can come and get their doses Sputnik V, but those who received the AstraZeneca

and Sinopharm and are now due for their second dose, I want to appeal to them to come to one of our clinics and get their second dose.”

On May 27, the Health Ministry had announced that no second doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines are available following a delay in supplies. To date, the country remains without second doses.

But Minister Anthony speculated that the long delay in shipment could be due to global events, particularly spikes in COVID-19 cases in Russia.

Government had first ordered 400,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine – 200,000 first doses and 200,000 second doses. From that, Guyana has already received the 200,000 first doses as well as 61,000 of the second doses.

The country then placed a second order for 86,000 doses, comprising of 43,000 first doses and 43,000 second doses. However, while all of the first doses from this second order were received, none of the second doses were delivered. As

such, in total, the country is still awaiting the arrival of second doses from both purchase orders, amounting to a total of 182,000 doses.

His call for persons to get completely immunised comes at a time when the deadly Delta variant is circulating in a host of countries. According to the Minister, the only way to protect one’s self is by taking both doses.

As of present, 237, 882 persons or 48.9 per cent of the adult population have taken their first doses.

Some 118,126 or 24.3 per cent have already returned for their second shot.

“With 24.3 per cent of our adult population now being fully immunised, I think we’re making steps in the right direction.

However, we still have a far way to go because one of the things that everybody has been talking about recently is the circulation of the delta variant of the coronavirus. Globally, this is now becoming a dominant strain of the virus and the only way that you can protect yourself effectively is if you have both doses of the vaccine,” the Minister outlined.

Family tree art competition for children to be launched soon

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hildren between the ages of seven and 12 years old will have the opportunity to participate in a fun initiative called the “Expressive Visual Arts” competition that will be rolled out just after school closes in July.

The competition is in keeping with the theme of International Day of Families 2021 “Families and New Technologies,” and is being undertaken by the National Family Commission (NFC) in collaboration with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry.

A call is, therefore, being made to children across the length and breadth of Guyana to design an artistic representation of their family tree with up to three generations inclusive of the participant.

It is anticipated that with this competition, awareness will be brought to the different types of family units and the roles and changes affecting families.

It is expected that in gathering information on their family, bonds among children and their family members will be strengthened.

Children are urged to make use of different technologies available such as Zoom and other social media platforms to gather information and create their family tree. The artwork they produce will have to be in the form of a drawing or painting that expresses their interpretation of their family tree.

While the use of technology is encouraged to formu-

late designs, the submission should be of an original concept. The entry should be conceptualised, developed, and completed by the child.

However, family details to complete the artwork can be obtained from family members.

Contestants are required to submit a summary of not more than 750 words of the story behind the image and how they made use of technology to create the masterpiece. The image should be at least 1080x1350 pixels, and each participant is allowed only one entry.

All submissions must be labelled legibly with the name, age, and contact information of the participant, and submissions should be sent to National FamilyCommission2022@ gmail.com before August 30, 2021.

Submissions will be posted on the Ministry’s Facebook page and it is envisaged that family members and others will promote the image on social media by sharing the image.

The 10 submissions that receive the highest number of Facebook ‘likes’ will be shortlisted for a final review by the judges.

Prizes of electronic devices will be awarded to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth place winners, and the announcement of winners will be made before September 15, 2021. All entries will be judged on creativity and originality, best use of technology, clarity, and neatness, and overall impression of the piece and the story behind the image.

17 Residents begin to return home as floodwaters recede NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– 184 remain in shelters in Regs 2, 5 & 10

Floods in Mahaicony Creek, Region 5, Guyana in May

from El Paso to the left side of the Potaro River.

Region Nine

As a result of rising levels in the river, water levels

Sections of Lethem under water

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loodwaters have significantly receded in several communities, allowing for several residents who were being housed at shelters across the country to begin returning to their homes, according to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

All of the persons who were being housed at the Tabatinga shelter in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) have returned home, while 69 persons in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have returned to their homes.

As of Friday, there are 184 persons staying in shelters in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region 10.

This is a marked reduction of the 257 persons who were being housed in 12 shelters as of July 2.

Of those remaining in the shelters, there are 30 persons at the Barama Building in Karawab, Region Two, seven persons at the Mortice Primary HM Building in Region Five, and 147 persons across shelters in Region 10.

There are a total of 91 females and 93 males in those shelters.

However, The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) stated that the water has receded from most of the coastal Regions including Regions One, Two, Three, and Four, with no new reports of flooding.

Nevertheless, Regional officials continue to monitor the situation.

“Water has also significantly decreased in Regions Seven and Eight, where most communities are in a safe state. However there still remains significant flooding in Regions Five, Six, and 10. Though some areas in Region Nine have improved, there are some new reports of rising levels in the river,” the CDC stated.

Please see below an outline of the situation in the

in the South Pakaraimas and Deep South Rupununi are rising once again, covering roads and bridges.

However, water levels in North Rupununi, Central

respective regions:

Region One

There have been no new reports of flooding and the regional officials continue to monitor the situation.

At last report, water levels had receded in riverine communities and have dropped to normal levels in the Barama River.

Region Two

There have been no new reports of flooding and the regional officials continue to monitor the situation.

At last report, floodwaters have receded in all previously affected communities including those on the coast and in the Pomeroon River.

Region Three

Floodwaters have receded from communities previously affected. There have been no new reports of flooding and the regional officials continue to monitor the region.

Region Four

There have been no new reports of flooding and the regional officials continue to monitor the situation.

Region Five

At the Mahaica Creek area, floodwaters have further receded by about two inches, with water having receded from the residential area of Little Biaboo, however, there still remains approximately 16 inches of floodwater in Big Biaboo.

In the Mahaicony Creek area, the communities of Hyde Park, Easu & Jacob, Mora Point, Water Dog Creek, Karamat, Pine Ground and Governors Light remain inundated with about seven inches of water. In the community of Wash Clothes, water has further receded by one inch, however, there is still approximately 31 inches of floodwater remaining. At Gordon Table, floodwater level increased by two inches as a result of heavy rainfall and is now at approxi-

Houses almost submerged during massive flooding in Kwakwani, Region 10

mately 14 inches.

The entire communities of Burma Housing Scheme and Lower Moraikobai Village remain flooded.

At Abary Creek, water has dropped by a further two inches, however, the entire community nonetheless remains affected with approximately 9 inches of water still on land.

Region Six

As a result of heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours, some homes in low lying areas, yards and roads are flooded with about 10 inches of floodwater across communities from Village #35 to Epson. However, sluices and kokers are operable and the water is slowly receding, with noticeable decreases in the communities of Yakusari, Joanna, Mibicuri and Lesbolden in the Black Bush Polder District.

Region Seven

Water levels have receded by approximately 15 feet in the Kamarang and Mazaruni Rivers, and these areas remain safe.

Region Eight

Floodwater has receded

Rupununi and South Central Rupununi continue to rapidly recede.

Region 10

Officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and Regional Democratic Council (RDC) carried out a number of assessments where it has been noted that water has receded in Landersville, Three Friends Mines, Coomacka, SandHills, Riversview, Muritaro, Dalawala, Speightland and Develdt.

At Malali the floodwater has decreased by approximately 10 feet. In Hururu, floodwaters have decreased further by a few inches, while at Rockstone the floodwaters have receded, however, water remains high in the creek.

Floodwater levels continue to slowly recede at Maria Elizabeth, Great Falls and Old Kara Kara, however, water level at Kwakwani remains between two to seven feet high.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

Regional

US and Colombia sending agents to Honduran Police arrest 5 after Haiti to help probe President’s killing mob of 600 lynches Italian man

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he United States and Colombia said on Friday they will send law enforcement and intelligence officials to assist Haiti after a number of their nationals were arrested for the brutal assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The assassination of Moise by a squad of gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his home in Port-au-Prince pitched Haiti deeper into a political crisis which may worsen growing hunger, gang violence and a COVID-19 outbreak.

Police in Haiti said the assassination was carried out by a commando unit of 26 Colombian and 2 HaitianAmerican mercenaries. The two Haitian Americans were identified as James Solages, 35, and Joseph Vincent, 55, both from Florida.

A judge investigating the case told Reuters that Moise was found lying on his back on the floor of his bedroom, with 12 bullet wounds and his left eye pushed in. The front door of the residence was covered in bullet holes and had been forced open,

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Weaponry, mobile phones, passports and other items are being shown to the media along with suspects in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, who was shot dead early Wednesday at his home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti July 8, 2021

while other rooms were ransacked.

The United States on Thursday pledged to send senior officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Haiti as soon as possible to assess the situation and see how best they can assist, the White House said.

Two US law enforcement sources, speaking on condi-

tion of anonymity to discuss an active investigation, said that agencies were looking into US connections to the killing.

The head of Colombia’s national intelligence directorate and the intelligence director for the national police will also travel to Haiti with Interpol to help with investigations, Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Friday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentine agricultural sector holds protest against export caps

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rgentine grain farmers and cattle ranchers protested on Friday in the town of San Nicolas in Buenos Aires province to voice complaints about export taxes and limits placed on beef shipments that critics say are bad for investment in the farm sector.

Thousands of farmers showed up in tractors and trucks and bearing Argentina’s pale blue and white flags, for the roadside demonstration, which was organised by the rural associations of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, or CARBAP, to coincide with Argentina’s Independence Day holiday.

“The rally is being held to raise the voice of citizens and farmers in favour of policies that support production and to call for an end to state intervention in the market,” CARBAP said.

Nicolas Pino, President of the Argentine Rural Society, said a lack of engagement with the powerful sector would harm all Argentines.

Argentina is the world’s No 3 corn exporter and No 1 supplier of soymeal livestock feed used to fatten hogs and poultry from Europe to Southeast Asia.

It has in recent years been ranked the world’s No 5 meat exporter, primarily

to China.

Farm leaders are protesting the policies of centre-left Peronist President Alberto Fernandez’ Government of curtailing beef exports as a way of controlling inflation expected to hit 50 per cent this year.

In June, the Government placed a 30-day ban on meat exports and is flirting with increasing taxes or limiting exports of wheat and corn.

Omar Barchetta, a 56-year-old agricultural and livestock producer, said an export cap was better than June’s ban but was still doing significant damage. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Amended Customs Act could facilitate searches of transgenders

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hanges to Customs law are being contemplated which could see provisions being made for individuals who identify as a gender other than their biological sex (transgender), in situations where body searches are being conducted by customs officers.

Under Section 222 of the legislation, an officer who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is carrying goods that are subject to customs control, in contravention of the Customs Act, may search the person, and any baggage belonging to them. However, the current provision says a female

should only be searched by a female officer.

Senior director of legal affairs for Jamaica Customs Agency Hazel Edwards drew attention to the provision: “The question had been raised in the context of persons who may identify with a gender that is other than their biological sex, and how that may raise concern in the context of a search…we had put forward the possibility of amending the provision to indicate that a person who is to be searched may be told of the option to indicate the gender of the person who they wish to conduct the search, and

if an officer of that gender is available then the person could be searched by that person, but if no particular preference is exercised then we would maintain the provision that a female is only searched by a female officer,” she explained, noting that the matter of objection to being searched by a particular gender, based on religious persuasions, had also been raised.

She said some countries have adopted this approach, while many have opted to specify who should search females, but allow male or female officers to search males. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

onduran Police on Friday arrested five suspects for their role in killing an Italian man, who was lynched by a mob of more than 600 villagers in revenge for allegedly murdering a homeless man, the Government said.

The villagers on Thursday attacked 65-yearold Giorgio Scanu with stones, sticks and machetes at his residence in the town of Santa Ana de Yusguare, in the southern Honduran department of Choluteca, the security ministry said.

The mob came after

Scanu after he allegedly beat a 78-year-old homeless man to death on Wednesday for damaging ornamental plants in his garden, according to Police reports based on complaints from local residents.

“More than 600 angry residents entered the residence and used sticks, stones and machetes to kill the Italian accused of having killed Mr Juan de Dios Flores,” said Rebeca Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Security Ministry.

Parts of Scanu’s residence and a vehicle were set

on fire, Martinez added.

Police arrested five people aged between 19 to 55 for the murder of Scanu, a retired engineer who had been living in the rural town and has two children and a wife who reside in Tegucigalpa, according to officials.

The authorities said they believe his family are Honduran.

Martinez said authorities are searching for others involved in Scanu’s lynching and that Police were present at the time, but could not stop it due to the size of the mob. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico President says video of brother taking cash is part of smear campaign

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exican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday a video showing one of his younger brothers receiving cash from a political operator was part of an ongoing campaign by his adversaries to discredit him.

In the video, released

by Mexican news outlet Latinus, a man hands Martin Jesus Lopez Obrador an envelope stuffed with a large stack of bills, which a narrator says totalled 150,000 pesos (US$7500) and were part of a recurring set of payments.

“I think the intention is to do damage to me, or to try to damage me,” the President told a news conference.

“It’s the perennial black campaign of my adversaries. We’re used to this. But we have always emerged unscathed from slander.”

He said he would not cover up for anyone, and that authorities should investigate whether any

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador delivering a speech on the third anniversary of his presidential election victory at National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico July 1, 2021

crime had been committed, and punish any wrongdoing.

“But my conscience is clear,” added Lopez Obrador, who has built his reputation as an indefatigable scourge of corruption.

The man filmed giving his brother the cash was David Leon, who Lopez Obrador named head of Mexico’s civil protection agency on assuming the presidency in December 2018.

Leon stepped down from the Government last August after a separate video was leaked of him handing over money in 2015 to another brother of Lopez Obrador. On that occasion, the President described the cash as contributions from supporters.

Leon said on Twitter that the money in the new video was a loan he had provided from his personal savings. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T joins carbon reduction scheme for international aviation

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&T is among 16 countries that have signalled their intention to voluntarily participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO), Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), ICAO Secretary General Dr Fang Liu has stated.

This brings the total number of participating states to 104 “adding significant momentum in support of ICAO’s climate work.”

The 16 States are: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cook Islands, Gambia, Grenada, Kiribati, Nauru, Oman, Saint Kitts and Nevis, South Sudan, Suriname, Tonga, T&T, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

“CORSIA is an important element to complement the basket of measures that ICAO is promoting to reduce the climate impact of flying. The other measures being undertaken include technological innovation, operational improvement, and the implementation of sustainable aviation fuels,” ICAO stated.

“While the CORSIA implementation of CO2 monitoring, reporting and verification has been fully on-track, more participating States will bring ICAO States closer to meeting the global aspirational goal of carbon neutral growth for international aviation. This goal was agreed through ICAO,” it stated.

Liu emphasised that “the ICAO assistance, ca-

pacity-building and training for CORSIA (ACTCORSIA) programme has also been well in place, bringing States and aviation industry to partner together for the full implementation of CORSIA. In the spirit of 2021 as the “make it or break it” year for global climate action to build the strong momentum, ICAO Deputy Director, Environment, Jane Hupe added that “Joining CORSIA is a sign from Member States of commitment to climate action in aviation through ICAO. We stand fully behind those States in responding to the climate change challenge, facilitating concrete actions.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices rise over 2% as US inventories decline

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il prices rose for a second day on Friday as the market reacted to falling US inventories.

Signs of strong Asian demand from both China and India also strengthened the market.

Brent crude oil futures were up US$1.49, or 2 per cent, at US$75.60 a barrel by 1:12 pm ET (1712 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate futures were up US$1.67, or 2.3 per cent, at US$74.61.

"The market is coming to grips with the historic drop in US oil inventories, and dimmed prospects of Iranian oil returning to the market," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Still, prices on both sides of the Atlantic were on track to remain little changed during the week, despite significant daily fluctuations. Prices were weighed down early in the week by the collapse of output talks between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+.

US crude and gasoline stocks fell and gasoline demand reached its highest since 2019, the US Energy Information Administration said on Thursday, signalling increasing strength in the economy.

"A bullish EIA stock report helped the oil market rebound into the black," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. "Clearly, U.S. oil markets are tight. However ... the only way to prevent further losses is for the threat of an OPEC+ price war to be contained," he added.

Gains in oil prices were capped by worries that members of the OPEC+ group could be tempted to abandon output limits that they have followed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with talks breaking down because of an impasse between major producers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The two Gulf OPEC allies are at odds over a proposed deal that would have brought more oil to the market.

Russia was trying to mediate in an effort to strike a deal to raise output, OPEC+ sources said on Wednesday. The United States had high-level conversations with officials in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the White House said on Tuesday.

"Price wars are almost always quite short-lived – no one wins in the long term," consultancy Rystad Energy said in a note.

"It is in the interest of the (OPEC+) group to provide some leniency to the UAE and other supply hawks to produce a bit more within the framework of the deal."

The global spread of the Delta coronavirus variant and worries it could stall a worldwide economic recovery also weighed on oil prices. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bangladesh factory fire: At least 52 people killed in overnight blaze

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factory fire in Bangladesh has killed 52 people and injured 30 others, emergency services have said.

The blaze broke out on Thursday night at Hashem Food and Beverage factory in Rupganj, an industrial town near the capital Dhaka.

Authorities told AP news agency the fire took hold because of chemicals and plastics stored inside the building.

A fire service official told the BBC that casualty numbers could rise as many workers were unaccounted

Authorities believe the fire spread because of chemicals and plastics stored in the building

for.

Before the incident, the six-storey factory manufactured fruit juices, noodles and sweet confectionary.

While many workers had left for the day when the fire started, it is believed that hundreds of people were still inside overnight.

Eyewitnesses said many workers were injured after they jumped from the factory's upper floors.

Authorities told AP that people had been unable to flee because a door leading to stairs to the roof had been padlocked.

It's the latest in a series of fires to erupt around Bangladesh in recent years, killing hundreds of people.

The Government has pledged reforms since an apartment fire in 2013 killed more than 1100 people. But critics say that safety standards are still lax. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Taliban claims to control 85% of Afghanistan after rapid gains

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he Taliban said on Friday it has seized control of 85 per cent of territory in Afghanistan, a declaration Government officials dismissed as part of a propaganda campaign.

But local Afghan officials said Taliban fighters, emboldened by NATO’s withdrawal, captured an important district in Herat province, home to tens of thousands of minority Shia Hazaras.

Torghundi, a northern town on the border with Turkmenistan, was also captured by the Taliban overnight, Afghan and Taliban officials said.

The recent rapid gains come as foreign forces – including the United States – withdraw after nearly 20 years of fighting.

Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said efforts were un-

Opponents of the Taliban offensive prepare for battle at Ghorband district in Parwan province [Omar Sobhani/Reuters]

der way to dislodge the Taliban from their newly acquired positions.

The Afghan Government has repeatedly dismissed the Taliban’s gains as having little strategic value, but the seizure of multiple border crossings along with mineral-rich areas will likely fill the armed group’s

coffers with new sources of revenue.

With the Taliban having routed much of northern Afghanistan in recent weeks, the Government holds little more than a

constellation of provincial capitals that must largely be reinforced and resupplied by air.

In Afghanistan, a prominent anti-Taliban commander said he would support efforts by Afghan forces to claw back control of parts of western Afghanistan, including a border crossing with Iran.

Mohammad Ismail Khan, widely known as the Lion of Herat, urged civilians to join the fight. He said hundreds of armed civilians from Ghor, Badghis, Nimroz, Farah, Helmand and Kandahar provinces had come to his house and were ready to fill the security void created by foreign force withdrawal. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Israeli settlements amount to war crime Giant pandas no longer endangered – UN rights expert

but still vulnerable, says China

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iant pandas are no longer classified as endangered but are still vulnerable, Chinese officials say.

The classification was downgraded as their number in the wild has reached 1800.

Experts say that the country managed to save its iconic animal through its longterm conservation efforts, including the expansion of habitats.

China considers pandas a national treasure, but have also loaned them to other countries as diplomatic tools.

The latest classification upgrade "reflects their improved living conditions and China's efforts in keeping their habitats integrated", said Cui Shuhong, Head of the Ministry of Ecology and

Giant pandas are no longer classified as "endangered" - but are still "vulnerable"

Environment's Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation at a news conference.

The new classification comes years after the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had already removed the animal from its endangered species list and re-la-

belled it as "vulnerable" in 2016.

At the time, however, Chinese officials had disputed the decision, saying that it could mislead people into believing that conservation efforts could be relaxed.

This week's announcement

by China's Environmental Ministry is the first time the

animal's status was changed on its own endangered species list, which uses similar standards as the Swissbased IUCN. Chinese social media users were delighted at the news, saying that it is "proof" that conservation efforts are worth it.

"This is the result of years of hard work. Well done to all the conservationists," one person wrote on microblogging platform Weibo.

Experts have said that the success is largely due to Chinese efforts to recreate and repopulate bamboo forests. Bamboo makes up some 99 per cent of their diet, without which they are likely to starve.

Zoos have also attempted to increase numbers via captive breeding methods.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

I

sraeli settlements in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank amount to a war crime, a UN human rights investigator said on Friday, calling on countries to inflict a cost on Israel for its "illegal occupation".

Michael Lynk, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, was addressing a session of the UN Human Rights Council, boycotted

by Israel which does not recognise his mandate or cooperate with him.

"In my report, I conclude that the Israeli settlements do amount to a war crime," Lynk said.

He said the settlements violate an absolute ban on an occupying power transferring part of its civilian population into an occupied territory, thereby meeting the definition of a war crime under the Rome Statute

founding the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"I submit to you that this finding compels the international community ... to make it clear to Israel that its illegal occupation, and its defiance of international law and international opinion, can and will no longer be cost-free," Lynk told the Geneva rights forum.

Many countries consider the settlements a breach of international law. Israel disputes this and cites Biblical and historical connections to the land, as well as security needs.

Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva, in a statement to Reuters, rejected Lynk's report as "the latest one-sided and biased report against Israel" and accused him of turning a blind eye to violations committed by the Palestinian Authority and Gaza rulers Hamas.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS

DILBERT

(April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Pay attention to the way you look, what you do and say, and how you treat others. Taking an interest in what others do will lead to interesting conversations and helpful knowledge.

Stop worrying about things you cannot change; start working toward making your life better. Discussions with a friend, relative or loved one will offer insight into new possibilities.

Stick to what you know.

Use charm to convince others to give you a chance. A grand plan will be challenging to turn down. A joint venture can change your life. Get what you want in writing.

A creative pastime will spark your imagination.

Don’t let anyone discourage you from following a path that excites you or makes you feel happy. Take a free-spirited approach to life.

Trust in what you know and how you want to proceed.

Now is not the time to follow someone’s lead. Listen to your heart and don’t stop until you reach your goal. Change only what’s necessary.

Test an offer before you take the plunge. A couple of changes will make a difference. Refuse to let anyone make decisions for you.

Avoid a health risk.

Put some backbone into whatever you decide to do today, and you will feel good about what you accomplish.

Refuse to let your emotions override what’s essential.

Choose passion over confrontation.

Be open to new ideas and concepts, and you’ll discover the best way to get things done. Home improvements may be overwhelming, but in the end, they will help ease stress and point you in a positive direction.

Take charge of your life SAGITTARIUS and health. Refuse to jeop(Nov. 23ardize your physical or emoDec. 21) tional well-being for the sake of a good time. Listen to reason and stick to the rules.

Discipline will pay off.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

A change will be enlightening. Refuse to miss out because someone puts unrealistic demands on you. Handle a financial discrepancy openly.

Don’t waste time stewing over something that needs immediate attention.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

An open mind will lead to new beginnings. Be prepared to put everything you’ve got into something you want to do. What you achieve today will help guide you to a better future.

PISCES

Check the ins and outs of whatever situation you face.

Someone will have a hidden agenda that contradicts your beliefs. Follow your heart and do your own thing. Make adjustments that suit you.

(Feb. 20March 20)

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

21

New West Indies “Rookie Camp” offers young players tools for development A s part of Cricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) ongoing commitment to the development of players, the inaugural “West Indies Personal Development Rookie Camp” was successfully held to serve both as an induction process and an information-sharing exercise for all players who were awarded regional franchise contracts for the first time.

Addressing the players at the event were experts in the fields of sports nutrition, personal finance, player agency and representation, social media and personal branding, along with representatives of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).

There was also a question-and-answer session with former West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin, which gave the players the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics.

CWI Player Development Manager Ayana Cooper, who was responsible for the construct and delivery of the event, was pleased with the response from the players.

She said: “Our intent in hosting the Personal Development Rookie Camp was to provide first-time-contracted players with critical information that would support their transition into the world of professional cricket.”

Cooper added: “At the camp, vital insights about various aspects of the professional game were discussed, and I would like to thank everyone who presented at the event for sharing their time and expertise with the guys. I have been receiving some really positive and fantastic feedback from the cricketers who attended the event. This is definitely an initiative that the organisation intends to continue on

an annual basis, as we are always trying to find new avenues in which to support our region’s professional cricketers both on and off the field.”

The CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, also noted that the event would be an annua l one, and

that it aligned with the organisation’s strategic objective of producing worldclass players.

He added: “We are pleased to have delivered our first ever Rookie Camp to our ‘rookie’ players heading

Sri Lanka batting coach, data analyst test positive for COVID-19

S

Sri Lanka’s batting coach Grant Flower

ri Lanka men's team analyst GT Niroshan has tested positive for COVID-19 one day after batting coach Grant Flower tested positive, forcing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to consider the option of fielding a second-string side against India.

Both Flower and Niroshan have been moved to intermediate care facilities.

What is especially worrying for the team's doctors is that both men have contracted the Delta variant of the virus, which is particularly contagious, as well as dangerous.

The Sri Lanka squad were expected to come out of isolation and enter the team's bio-bubble on Friday, but will now be forced to spend at least two more

days in isolation, and face another RT-PCR test, the results of which would determine whether the main squad can viably play the series against India.

However, SLC do have a contingency plan in place.

They have two other groups of players in bio-bubbles, one in Colombo and one in Dambulla, and those could potentially step up to play the series against the second-string India squad that has been preparing for the limited-overs series, the ODI leg of which is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

A member of Sri Lanka's medical staff has said it was "too early to say" if the main squad is out of commission for the series. Sri Lanka's medical staff members believe the two support staff members who have so far

tested positive were infected while they were in England.

The India squad in Sri Lanka have so far had a relatively uneventful lead-up to the series, but the disarray in Sri Lanka's camp has been worrying for the hosts.

Already, Sri Lanka were expected to play the India series under a new captain Dasun Shanaka - who was appointed in controversial circumstances. This latest news, and the possibility that the top-flight team may not take the field at all, raises questions not just about whether Sri Lanka can be competitive in the series, but also about the broadcast value of such a series.

India are due to play three ODIs and three T20s, all in Colombo's Khettarama stadium, with no crowd in attendance. (ESPNcricinfo)

into the 2021-22 season. The event will become an annual fixture, where w e share i n formation with each

Kirstan Kallicharan

yearly cohort to assist them in adjusting to life as professional athletes. The topics that were covered were all relevant to their careers now, and for life after cricket, as we continue to focus on a holistic approach to player development.”

The players were very receptive, and spoke highly of the benefits from the daylong event, which was executed via Zoom meeting.

Kirstan Kallicharan of

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force said: “It was a really great presentation, and I know (that) most of the stuff I heard and saw I can apply it in my daily lifestyle. Everything was well organised, and it’s always a great pleasure being able to gain knowledge from persons with such an experienced background in all different aspects of life.”

Kofi James of Leeward Islands Hurricanes said: “The key thing for me was the impact. I listened carefully, and everything said was very impactful for me, and I know I will use the information wisely throughout the rest of my career. Hopefully, we can have other sessions similar to this, where we can learn more and ask more question as we grow in our careers.” (Windies Cricket)

Double Trouble!!

Why Bahamian star Miller-Uibo should stick to just 400m for Tokyo

B

ahamian sprint queen Shaunae Miller-Uibo has arguably been, overall, the best female athlete in the world for the last five years; but, for the upcoming Olympics, attempting the 200m and 400m (double) is likely to be biting off more than even she can chew.

At her best, the athlete would still be a favourite to claim the women’s 400m title in a strong and very open field. So far, the event’s best time has been set by Namibia’s Christine Mboma, who ran 48.54 last month. Next is Miller-Uibo, who has a best of 49.08, another Namibian, Beatrice Masiling (49.53), the USA’s Athing Mu (49.57), Jamaica’s Stephenie McPherson (49.61), and Quanera Haynes (49.67).

Mboma and Masiling have, however, been banned from competing in the women's 400m race at the Tokyo Games, for having testosterone levels that are too high,

while Mu will focus on the 800m. That leaves MillerUibo with the best time heading into the event, with McPherson and Hayes also looking like genuine medal prospects at this point.

With her personal best of 48.37 set in the 400m in Doha in 2019, the Bahamian is the only woman in the field to have broken the 49-second barrier.

The 200m is, however, a different case entirely. The Bahamian is nowhere close to the world leaders this year.

Amazingly, her season’s best of 22.03 puts her at 12th on the list this year, in a season wherein the women seem intent on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sprint events.

In fact, four women: Gabrielle Thomas (21.61), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (21.79), Shericka Jackson (21.82), and Jenna Prandini (21.89), set personal best times last month. Thomas’s

time is the second-fastest ever run over the distance. Even if she were to reproduce her personal best time of 21.74, she would be in contention, but certainly not guaranteed a spot on the podium.

Add the stresses of rigorous, unfriendly scheduling for a 200m-400m double, and it’s not inconceivable that she could miss out on a spot on the podium entirely if things go badly.

The last time she attempted the feat at the major games was in 2017, when she ended up with a bronze medal in the 200m, and missed out on the spots entirely in the 400m after finishing 4th. This after heading into the 400m with three of the top five times that year.

If she isn’t careful, a similar type of situation could unfold in Tokyo. Word is that the athlete is recovering from an injury, and is not yet at her best, but she would need to get there in a hurry. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

Windies-Pakistan Women ODI series…

Matthews, Mohammed star as Windies take 2-0 lead

A

n all-round display

by Hayley Matthews helped West Indies Women go 2-0 up in the fiveODI series against Pakistan Women, with an eight-wicket victory being recorded at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here on Friday.

After claiming two for 17, Matthews fell one run short of what would have been her fifth career half-century, as the West Indies chased down an easy 121-run target in 31.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Before being run-out, the right-handed Matthews struck nine fours in her 58ball 49, and also stitched a solid 66-run opening partnership with Kyshona Knight,

Matthews missed her fifth ODI halfcentury by one run

Celebration between Kycia Knight and Anisa Mohammed who picked up four wickets

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SCOREBOARD she accounted for Aliya Riaz (26), Sidra Nawaz (two), Diana Baig (two) and Nashra Sandhu (zero).

(20).

Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack claimed two wickets for 27 runs from nine overs.

The third ODI will be staged at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Monday, 12 July.

Matthews picked up two wickets (CWI photos)

who remained unbeaten on 39 (90b, 4x4).

Earlier, off-spinner Anisa Mohammed’s four for 27 from 9.4 overs spun the tourists out for a paltry 120 in 42.4 overs, after Pakistan captain Javeria Khan had elected to bat. Anisa provided crucial breakthroughs as

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Opener Muneeba Ali top-scored for Pakistan with a career-best 37 off 63 balls. The left-handed batter struck six boundaries before falling to Matthews, who also picked up the scalp of Nida Dar

Pakistan Women Innings Muneeba Ali c Mohammed b Matthews 37 Ayesha Zafar c Kyshona A Knight b Selman 4 Javeria Khan (c) c Selman b Connell 5 Omaima Sohail lbw b Ramharack 19 Nida Dar c Ramharack b Matthews 20 Aliya Riaz b Mohammed 26 Sidra Nawaz † c †Kycia A Knight b Mohammed 2 Fatima Sana c sub (CS Fraser) b Ramharack 2 Diana Baig b Mohammed 2 Nashra Sandhu lbw b Mohammed 0 Sadia Iqbal not out 2 Extras (w 1) 1 TOTAL (42.4 Ov, RR: 2.81) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Ayesha Zafar, 3.2 ov), 2-13 (Javeria Khan, 4.5 ov), 3-60 (Omaima Sohail, 16.1 ov), 4-79 (Muneeba Ali, 22.2 ov), 5-96 (Nida Dar, 28.4 ov), 6-104 (Sidra Nawaz, 34.6 ov), 7-115 (Aliya Riaz, 38.6 ov), 8-117 (Fatima Sana, 39.6 ov), 9-117 (Nashra Sandhu, 40.5 ov), 10-120 (Diana Baig, 42.4 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Shamilia Connell 5-1-15-1 Shakera Selman 5-1-16-1 Stafanie Taylor 6-1-18-0 Anisa Mohammed 9.4-1-27-4 Karishma Ramharack 9-2-27-2 Hayley Matthews 8-3-17-2 WEST INDIES WOMEN INNINGS (TARGET: 121 RUNS FROM 50 OVERS) Hayley Matthews run out (Diana Baig) 49 Kyshona Knight not out 39 Kycia Knight † run out (Fatima Sana/†Sidra Nawaz) 12 Deandra Dottin not out 13 Extras (nb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (31.1 Ov, RR: 3.88) 121/2 Did not bat: Stafanie Taylor (c), Chedean Nation, Britney Cooper, Shamilia Connell, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Hayley Matthews, 17.5 ov), 2-97 (Kycia Knight, 27.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Diana Baig 5-1-14-0 Fatima Sana 3-0-20-0 Nida Dar 10-4-13-0 Sadia Iqbal 4.1-0-18-0 Nashra Sandhu 5-0-41-0 Omaima Sohail 4-0-15-0

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Brazil vs Argentina…

Messi bids to end international hoodoo in Copa America final

– Selecao hope Neymar remembers his shooting boots

L

ionel Messi will lead out Argentina in Saturday's Copa America final, aware it could be the last opportunity he has to win silverware with La Albiceleste; and ending that hoodoo against Brazil would be the sweetest prize of all.

Messi holds the records for most caps and goals for Argentina, and his career at club level with Barcelona has ensured his legacy will be intrinsically linked to the sport for the rest of time.

There, however, remains a niggling frustration with respect to his time with Argentina, given he is yet to win a major international tournament with them. It is arguably the final piece of the puzzle, and the one thing that separates him from the others in the “greatest of all-time” debate.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Diego Maradona all enjoyed success on the international stage, and while it would be unfair to suggest Messi's legacy will not match up to theirs without honours with Argentina, it is a fact that would be continuously used to downplay his claim, regard-

less of winning everything at Barca.

It is not that Messi has not come close; this will be his fifth major senior final with Argentina, and he's lost the previous four, but will Argentina be considered among the favourites at the World Cup next year?

Probably not.

It may be now or never, and standing in the way is his former Barca team-mate Neymar, who will be playing his first major final for Brazil.

The Paris Saint-Germain star has been typically enthralling to watch in the tournament, though Brazil will be hoping his form in front of goal improves. It has not done them much damage thus far, given they are in the final, but his one non-penalty goal comes from an xG (expected goals) value of 5.1 – it's two from 5.9 with penalties included.

No one else in the tournament has been as wasteful as Neymar, whose eight Optadefined 'big chances' missed is also the most of anyone at Copa America 2021. But Messi will know more than most that Neymar rises to the biggest occasions, and few are

bigger than a Superclasico in a Copa America final.

by poor finishing, but at least the chances are flowing.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Brazil: Lucas Paqueta

Argentina: Lautaro Martinez

While Paqueta's club career may not have taken off in Europe as he would have liked following his initial move to Milan, it is fair to say this tournament has represented something of a 'coming of age' tale for him on the international stage. With two goals, he heads into the final tied with Neymar as the Selecao's leading goalscorer, while he's also been a creative threat.

Granted he may not have any assists yet, his 1.56 xA (expected assists) is bettered only

by Messi (2.93) and Neymar (2.34). He has been let down

Along with Messi (four, including one penalty), Martinez (three) is the only player to have scored more than twice at this year's tournament.

Although he is slightly underperforming his 3.3 xG and has missed five 'big chances', the Inter striker has been consistently dangerous, with his 0.88 xG per 90 minutes second only to Neymar (1.03) among players to have played at least 180 minutes.

KEY OPTA FACTS

Brazil will be playing their seventh final in the last 11 editions of the Copa America,

winning on their most recent five appearances in the showpiece game (1997, 1999, 2004, 2007 and 2019).

Their last defeat in a Copa America final was in 1995, losing the title to Uruguay in a penalty shoot-out.

Brazil have not lost a knockout match at the Copa America (W7 D6) since 2001, when they suffered a 2-0 loss against Honduras.

Their eliminations since then came via penalty shootouts (2011 and 2015) or in the group stage (2016).

Brazil have reached the final in all editions of the Copa America played on Brazilian soil (six, including 2021). They won each of the previous five.

Argentina will be playing their sixth final in the Copa America since 1993. It will be the third time in this period that they have played for the title against Brazil, failing to win against them in the past two deciders between the teams.

Messi has scored five times against Brazil, making them his joint second-favourite opponent after Ecuador (six goals). (Sportsmax)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

2237230-1

(Ext 55)

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

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23

Rutherford ‘fever’ to hit CPL 2021 ..."Playing CPL is one of my biggest achievements," says Sherfane Rutherford

By Timothy Jaikarran

Rutherford has shown his worth with the ball as well

T

he 2021 edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is proverbially “just around the corner”, and it is anticipated that “the action” would be fantastic from the first ball bowled. With the reintroduction of 50 percent of fans in the stadium, every single player would be aiming to showcase their form, allowing for a higher level of competition from more determined players.

The same can be said for Sherfane Rutherford, who has continued his impressive form at some of the highest levels of cricket in the world.

This year, Rutherford will be representing the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and, leading up to this competition, he has shown the kind of form he is in, having registered stellar performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the LA Open T20 tournament in the USA. Representing the Peshawar

Rutherford training and putting in the overtime

Zalmi in the PSL, Rutherford emerged as the 10th highest runscorer in the PSL, and the third highest run-scorer for his team, scoring 276 runs at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 153.33 in his 12 games.

In the LA Open T20 tourney, which concluded just over a week ago, Rutherford played five matches and scored 98 runs at an average of 32.67 and a strike rate of 171.93. He also chipped in with three handy wickets as well.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, the charismatic Sherfane Rutherford detailed his intentions heading into CPL, and what he intends to do in representing the Patriots.

Farmsup, Doosan, Team Alanis-organised cycling set for July 20 on West Side

S

ome of the country's top racing cyclists will battle for supremacy on the roadways of the West Side on Tuesday July 20 when they participate in a 45-mile contest that commences at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara and races to Bushy Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, before returning for the finish at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The action starts at 8:00hrs.

This event is organised

by Team Alanis Cycle Club (TACC). Farmsup Supplies Ltd has pledged to put up a total of $485,000 in prizes for the top six in the open category, as well as the top three cyclists in the female, junior, masters- under 50 and masters over-50 categories.

The masters, females and juniors would cover a distance of 30 miles, while those contesting in the open category would cover the full 45-mile distance.

The race has 10 sprint prizes each worth $5,000.

The full prize payout is as follows: Open 1st: 75,000 2nd: 55,000 3rd: 45,000 4th: 35,000 5th: 30,000 6th: 25,000 Masters U50 1st: 20,000 2nd: 15,000 3rd: 10,000

Masters O50 1st: 20,000 2nd: 15,000 3rd: 10,000 Juniors

1st: 25,000 2nd: 20,000 3rd: 15,000 Females 1st: 20,000 2nd: 15,000

Asked how he felt about his performance in the PSL, Rutherford said, "Well, first I want to thank God for the opportunity, because without Him nothing is possible.

Also, it’s a special feeling for me, given the fact that I finished in the top 10 for runs in the tournament, and 3rd for my team - one that I will cherish and one I can learn from,

moving forward.

“Well, for me, after my bad season of CPL 2020 came to an end, I went to IPL, and that’s where I worked very hard on my batting and my skill; not forgetting Robin Singh, who worked with me every day, throwing a lot of balls just for me to get better. It’s working for me, and I would look to carry it as long as possible."

The talented Rutherford also noted that playing CPL is one of the biggest achievements for him. He divulged that he does set goals, and works very hard for their achievement, because he

wants to perform as consistently well as possible.

He expressed deep gratitude to his supporters and fans, noting that because he is in a new team, he definitely would endeavour to give his best at every opportunity, and go all out for his team.

Sherfane Rutherford thanks his Guyanese fans who would be supporting him and his new team, and says, "To my Guyanese fans, I just want to say: over the years, your support has been amazing. I appreciate and I read all of it, and (want you to) just continue to show your love."

Derbyshire re-sign Ravi Rampaul

– for remainder of Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup

D

erbyshire have resigned fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 Vitality Blast, for their final three group games in this year's competition and for the duration of the Royal London Cup. The 36-year-old Rampaul spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Derbyshire as a Kolpak registration, but did not return last summer, due to restrictions on international travel and finances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the interim, he was Trinidad and Tobago's leading wicket-taker in their run to the Regional Super50 domestic competition title, and played for Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10. He has since been recruited by Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL for this season, his first contract in the competition since 2017.

Derbyshire are bottom of the Blast's North Group with three games to spare, and will need to win all three to have a chance of qualifying.

They have struggled badly with injuries this season,

particularly to their fast bowlers, and have had to recruit Jade Dernbach on a short-term loan from Surrey as cover.

Rampaul will be their second overseas player for the run-in, alongside Logan van Beek, with Ben McDermott (international duty) and Billy Stanlake (stress fracture) both ruled out before the start of the group stage.

They will also be without three key players during the Royal London Cup, due to contracts in The Hundred Matt Critchley, Luis Reece and Leus du Plooy - while Wayne Madsen has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

While Rampaul is unlikely to add cover for their batting ability, he brings experience to a young bowling line-up.

Dave Houghton, the club's director of cricket, said: "It's a blow for us that we will lose some quality players for the Royal London Cup, but we're proud of the players who have been selected for The Hundred.

"We will get by, and we've brought in a top-level bowler

to help us out with that. We will put out a competitive side. It's a great opportunity for some of our players who specialise in white-ball cricket. We have to hope the best will come out of them.

"I've always felt that we had some unfinished business. Ravi had such a good season in 2019; he was club player of the year, but we lost him for a year due to the pandemic. Our bowlers have come on leaps and bounds this year, but to have someone of Ravi's ability and class opening and closing the innings for us - which is something we've missed this season - is going to be fantastic."

Rampaul said: "I loved my first spell with Derbyshire, and I'm looking forward to getting started again in familiar surroundings. I know most of the players still, and there's a few new faces who are really exciting young players. If I can help them along in training and in games, I will do that, and hopefully we can get on a roll and challenge for the knockouts." (ESPNcricinfo)

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

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

Australia lose 7 for 38 as McCoy, Walsh give West Indies 1-0 lead A

ustralia lose their last six wickets for just 19 runs to be bowled out 18 short in the first T20 in St Lucia An inexplicable Australian batting collapse has seen the West Indies draw first blood in their five-match T20 series as the hosts recorded a remarkable comeback victory following a jaw-dropping Andre Russell cameo.

Left-arm quick Obed McCoy’s somersaulting catch off his own bowling was the highlight in a stunning implosion of 7-38 from the visitors that handed the Windies an 18-run victory.

Russell (51 off 28 balls) hit fives sixes including two out of the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in an incredible display of power-hitting that singlehandedly turned an otherwise lacklustre Windies batting effort into a competitive score of 6-145.

A career-best 51 off 31 from Mitch Marsh on the back of Matthew Wade’s quickfire 33 off 14 (including three sixes) had the visitors flying at more than 10 runs an over early in the chase.

But the loss of regular wickets left their tail with too much to do, with the new-look middle-order quartet of Josh Philippe (1), Moises Henriques (16 off 8), Ben McDermott (2 off 6) and Dan Christian (10 off 12) all failing to stay the course.

McCoy’s astonishing caught-and-bowled off Ashton Agar (1) all but sealed the Windies win, with leg-spinner Hayden Walsh (3-23) also instrumental in the comeback that was cheered vociferously under lights by a modest crowd.

Having been 3-70 at the end of the sixover Powerplay, the Australians lost their last six wickets for just 19 runs, including their last five in just 21 balls, to be bowled out for 127.

After his first over had cost 17, McCoy took the game-sealing wicket of Hazlewood to spark rapturous celebrations.

The Australians have less than 24 hours to re-group before the second match of the series starts at 9.30am AEST on Sunday.

Walsh to leave the score 6-117 was the first sign of the carnage to follow.

It was far cry from Australia’s earlier dominance after Finch had elected to bowl first.

Josh Hazlewood exploited variable bounce in a terrific new-ball burst to claim the wickets of Evin Lewis (second-ball duck) and Obed Mc Coy celebrating Chris Gayle as he after taking another wicket conceded just three runs from his openArmed with the knowling three overs. edge that seven of the past Even after concedeight T20Is at this ground had been won by the team ing a last-ball six from batting second, Australia Dwayne Bravo, Hazlewood smashed five sixes and lost returned the equal sixth three wickets inside the first most economical four-over six overs in an action-packed spell in men’s T20Is by an Australian. Dropped on five start to their innings.

had also signalled for a review.

Gayle’s lean run since returning to international cricket continued as

Team Australia

concern, the Windies’ woes were summed up by the stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran’s run out. A strong lbw shout from Starc against Shimron Hetmyer caused confusion, with non-striker Pooran backing up too far and Philippe swooping in with a direct hit.

The third umpire confirmed Pooran’s fate, but he had to wait while the lbw was considered given Finch

Hazlewood worked him over, with the Australian securing the wicket via a top-edged pull shot after the left-hander had scored from just one of his 10 deliveries.

The regular opener, who is now batting at No.3, has 89 runs at 12.71 from eight T20I innings this year, and his strike-rate of 94.68 in that time is giving the Windies’ middle order a significant handicap.

SCOREBOARD

Andre Russell playing a stroke during his brilliant performance

Hayden Walsh Jr celebrating

four) and recalled veteran Christian (0-10 off two overs).

Missing skipper Kieron Pollard due to a hamstring

After Aaron Finch was caught at cover for just four, Wade popped Russell over backward square twice in a 14-run first over for the allrounder before the Jamaican had the last laugh by having Wade caught on the deeppoint boundary.

Henriques carted his first two balls for six off McCoy as Marsh continued the fireworks, but the Western Australian’s exit to

by Henriques, Russell made the Aussies pay by blasting five sixes in a breathtaking knock that was, surprisingly, just his first T20 International half-century.

His teammates offered little support as Lendl Simmons (27 off 28), Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 25) and Gayle (four off 10) all struggled against a tight bowling effort led by Hazlewood, Marsh (2-26 off

West Indies Lendl Simmons c †Wade b Marsh 27 Evin Lewis c Marsh b Hazlewood 0 Chris Gayle c Agar b Hazlewood 4 Shimron Hetmyer c Starc b Marsh 20 Nicholas Pooran (c)† run out (Philippe) 17 Andre Russell b Hazlewood 51 Fabian Allen not out 8 Dwayne Bravo not out 7 Extras (lb 6, w 5) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.25) 145/6 Did not bat: Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Evin Lewis, 1.2 ov), 2-24 (Chris Gayle, 5.5 ov), 3-35 (Lendl Simmons, 7.3 ov), 4-65 (Nicholas Pooran, 11.5 ov), 5-101 (Shimron Hetmyer, 15.6 ov), 6-137 (Andre Russell, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 4-0-40-0 Josh Hazlewood 4-1-12-3 Ashton Agar 3-0-28-0 Adam Zampa 3-0-23-0 Mitchell Marsh 4-0-26-2 Dan Christian 2-0-10-0 AUSTRALIA INNINGS (TARGET: 146 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Matthew Wade † c Hetmyer

b Russell 33 Aaron Finch (c) c Lewis b Allen 4 Mitchell Marsh c & b Walsh 51 Josh Philippe c Bravo b McCoy 1 Moises Henriques c Bravo b Allen 16 Ben McDermott b Walsh 2 Dan Christian c Bravo b Walsh 10 Ashton Agar c & b McCoy 1 Mitchell Starc c Allen b McCoy 3 Adam Zampa not out 1 Josh Hazlewood c †Pooran b McCoy 0 Extras (w 5) 5 TOTAL (16 Ov, RR: 7.93) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Aaron Finch, 1.1 ov), 2-46 (Matthew Wade, 3.6 ov), 3-53 (Josh Philippe, 5.1 ov), 4-89 (Moises Henriques, 7.5 ov), 5-108 (Ben McDermott, 10.3 ov), 6-117 (Mitchell Marsh, 12.3 ov), 7-122 (Ashton Agar, 13.5 ov), 8-125 (Dan Christian, 14.3 ov), 9-126 (Mitchell Starc, 15.4 ov), 10127 (Josh Hazlewood, 15.6 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Fidel Edwards 2-0-24-0 Fabian Allen 3-0-24-2 Andre Russell 1-0-14-1 Dwayne Bravo 2-0-16-0 Obed McCoy 4-0-26-4 Hayden Walsh 4-0-23-3

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