Guyana Times - Saturday July 24, 2021

9 Guyanese chosen for 2021 Youth Ambassadors Programme

P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4718

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

Govt considering menu of measures to bring further relief over rising cost of living – President Ali – says scale of floods enormous, assistance to be announced soon Page 3

“I don’t discount 150 unionised there might be GTT employees opposition against to receive me” – Granger on NCMs salary increases Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Suriname-bound cocaine-laden plane

Brazilians granted $3M bail each on narco-trafficking P10 charge

Couple found with illegal firearm released P10 on bail

Page 9

– calls motions against him “phantom”

Edghill continues to make history with 1st Olympic win

WCB house P13 burglarised, $1.3M missing Venezuelan P2 national injured after fire erupts at BK Quarry

Unicomer P13 Guyana launches AKT bike in Guyana

Page 24 Guyana’s Olympic Team: (L-R) – Andrew Fowler (swimming: 100m freestyle); Chelsea Edghill (Table Tennis); Aliyah Abrams (Track: 400M); Keevin Allicock (Boxing: Featherweight); Jasmine Abrams (Track: 100m); Aleka Persaud (Swimming: 50m freestyle) and Emanuel Archibald (Track: 100M)

Violent protests mar funeral of slain Haitian President Page 14

Fmr Best Cop to stand trial for P8 “Saga” murder, co-accused freed

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelan national injured after fire erupts at BK Quarry

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34-year-old Venezuelan national was on Thursday injured following a fire at BK Quarries Inc, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Police said the Venezuelan, who is employed with the company, was asleep in his apartment when he was awakened by the fire which had engulfed the building. During the commotion, the man managed to run out of the building and raise an alarm.

Man arrested for transporting cow parts without required documents

The apartment that was destroyed by the fire

Workers responded with an on-site water tender and they were able to extinguish the fire. However, in the aftermath, ten apartments were left severely damaged.

The injured worker was taken to the Bartica Hospital where he was admitted with first and second-degree burns about his body. He was the only person in the building at the time.

An investigation has been launched.

The car that was transporting the cow parts

The cow parts that were found at the back of the car

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31-year-old taxi driver of South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), was arrested and vehicle impounded after he was caught transporting cow parts without having the requisite documents.

Based on Police’s report, the discovery was made on Friday by ranks during a roadblock to search for drugs, arms, ammunition or anything illegal.

During the exercise at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the man’s car (HC 9448) was stopped and searched where ranks found a quantity of cow parts inside the trunk.

When asked to produce documents for the said cow

parts, the driver was unable to do so.

During questioning, he told detectives that he was sent to Berbice by someone to collect the meat and was transporting same to Linden. He was immediately arrested and taken into custody at the Cove and John Police Station for the offence of unlawful possession.

Police Public Relations Officer Stan Gouveia indicated that a special permit is needed to transport the meat. Section 95 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Ordinance, Chapter 14, creates the offence of unlawful possession of the carcass of any of the animals referred to in Title 7 of the Ordinance.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, July 24 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Sunday, July 25 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Govt considering menu of measures to bring further relief over rising cost of living – President Ali − says scale of floods enormous, assistance to be announced soon

Saturday, July 24 – 16:50h – 18:20h and Sunday, July 25 – 04:55h – 06:25h.

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President Irfaan Ali

ith increasing global prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cost of living around the world has skyrocketed but the Guyana Government is currently looking at a menu of measures to bring relief its citizens.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, who related that while Government has no control over the rising global prices, his Administration has already implemented a series of relief measures through the removal of burdensome taxes to benefit Guyanese.

However, he noted that the fallout from the global pandemic has now been compounded by unprecedented floods that have affected all 10 administrative regions across Guyana, destroying not only homes and infrastructures but also impacting a great quantum of the country’s productive capacity, especially in the agricultural sector and food production.

As such, the Head of State said consideration is being given to additional measures to further cushion the increasing cost of living.

However, he posited that this will be dependent on fiscal availability.

“We are considering a menu of measures to further assist Guyanese. This, of course, is contingent on

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revenue flows; this is contingent on the position of the economy and at this stage, the assessment is being completed. But I want to assure the Guyanese people that once the fiscal space is found then we will have no hesitation to bring more help to the Guyanese people,” the President noted.

President Ali further stated that in addition to the tax reliefs, his Government has also helped on the social side with initiatives such as the reintroduction of the “Because We Care” programme under which each child in the public education system will benefit from a $19,000 cash grant.

“There are a lot of parents now asking for this to be extended to those who’re going to private schools. So, an assessment is being done on that and the cost on that,” he noted.

Asked when these measures would be rolled out, the Head of State said, “I would not have to confine myself to a timeframe but what I can say to you is that an assessment is being done and once that space is found, we will definitely be bringing more benefits.”

Moreover, President Ali pointed out that there are demands being made from the various sectors in the country.

In fact, he disclosed that Government has already assisted the local poultry sector and despite global increases of grains, they worked together to maintain

stability of prices in the local market.

To this end, President Ali said Government is looking at the requests being made by all the sectors.

“When you’re managing national resources and managing for all the sectors, we have to take all the competing factors into consideration and come up with the best possible menu of measures for the country,” he explained.

Flood assessment

Nevertheless, in response to a question from Guyana Times, the Guyanese leader disclosed to reporters that the flood assessment is almost completed.

Between May and June, heavy rains have resulted in widespread flooding across

the country, affecting some 30,000 householders. The devastation includes submerged buildings and vehicles with adverse effects on crops, livestock and health.

It has been noted that the rainfall experienced in May alone was recorded as the second highest level of rainfall across the country in the last 40 years. The situation had led President Ali to formally declare the flooding a national disaster.

While the water has significantly receded, flood victims are now grappling with the impacts. Preliminary assessments were carried out by several State agencies to ascertain the extent of the destruction caused by the floods.

TURN TO PAGE 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 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

Sustained campaign against noise nuisance

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n accordance with Part V, Section. 19 (1) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, Laws of Guyana, “a person shall not undertake an activity that causes or is likely to cause pollution of the environment, unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise any resulting adverse effect”.

The preceding law covers noise nuisance and all its variables and implications. The law states: “No person shall, in any road, street, public place or land or in building or premises, by operating or causing or suffering to be operated any stereo set, juke box, radio, wireless loudspeaker, amplifier, automatic piano or similar instrument of music, or by any other means whatsoever, make or cause or suffer to be made any noise which shall be so loud and so continuous or repetitive as to cause a nuisance to occupants of any premises in the neighbourhood.”

Another aspect of noise nuisance the Ministry should look at is loud music emanating from privately-owned vehicles.

Despite several changes in Government, the scourge of noise nuisance seems to continue unabated, even though the adverse health effects of noise are trumpeted at various forums, and complaints by those affected are plentiful.

Authorities, even Ministers of Health of various administrations, seem to be oblivious to the injurious effects to general health and wellbeing of victims when perpetrators uncaringly engage in activities which create noise nuisance.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise causes a wide range of negative health effects, including: sleep disturbance; cardiovascular effects; damage to work and school performance; hearing impairment, including tinnitus.

Additionally, WHO avers that noise has negative impacts on cognitive performance: For recall and reading, a reduction of the day and night noise level by five dB(A) within the range of 65–80 dB(A) was shown to improve performance by almost 10 per cent: For attention and memory, a five dB (A) reduction in average noise level results in approximately two to three per cent improvement of performance. The organisation surmises that adverse impacts of noise on cognitive performance can lead to a reduction in the productivity at work and the learning performance at school.

The lack of a sustained campaign against noise nuisance has created a dynamic where the noise emanating from various sources has grown to unbearable proportions countrywide.

Indisputably, playing music loudly has become part of our national culture. The situation has become worse because of advances in electronic technology, which has helped musical sets to become much more powerful than they were a couple of decades ago. Laws are no deterrent, because there is no sustained enforcement. Announcements by several Ministers of Home Affairs over the years, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will adopt a ‘no nonsense’ approach and the full force of the law will deal condignly with offenders, have all come to naught.

The authorities have, over the years, admitted that various relevant bodies continue to receive numerous complaints from senior citizens; the sick, for whom noise exacerbates their health issues; working parents; students and several other law-abiding people, to the effect that they are being seriously affected by loud, repetitive and continuous noise emanating from a range of places in the different Police divisions, there is no evidence pointing to any long-term relief for victims. Little or no relief is provided by law enforcement agencies, even though sporadically relevant divisional commanders of the GPF have been provided with the details pertaining to the complaints, and have been directed to take appropriate action to ensure that Subsection (1) of Section 174 A of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, as amended by Act No. 1 of 1989, is not breached.

Police have, on specified days and times, re-enforced the validity and justification of the complaints; yet, somehow or the other, it would appear that the operators believe they have the right to play music as loudly as they feel. The campaign against noise nuisance must be relentless and sustained, or else this scourge would not be stopped, because it seems that some people get a sense of pleasure when they play loud music and disturb others, and some of the worst perpetrators are lawenforcement officers.

People crowd around the Olympic Rings monument near the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, July 23, 2021 (PHOTO: REUTERS)

The PPP/C Administration demonstrates sincerity towards academic growth for Guyana’s children Dear Editor, The PPP/C government began disbursing its “Because We Care” Cash Grant and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant for children in the public school system on Thursday July 22,2021 in region #10 which demonstrated the PPP/C Administration’s sincerity towards academic growth of Guyana’s children.

“Because We Care” grant is valued at $15,000 this year and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant is valued at $4,000, amounting to a total of $19,000 for each child in the public education system with consideration is being given to extending the initiative to students in the private school system.

PPP/C has always honored its commitment, Because We Care was a commitment made PPP/C political party to the people of Guyana on the campaign trail. Today it is a reality to the people of region # 10 and every Guyanese, that the PPP/C Government will always honor its commitment to the people of Guyana, will continue to do so over the next four years, fulfilling every promise made on the campaign trail.

After taking office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) Government, discontinued the grant the original ‘Because We Care’ project, which the PPP/C in 2014 and displaced thousands of students and parents in the process.

What is applauding here there is no discrimination with the PPP/C Government’s ‘‘Because We Care’ cash grant programme” Whether you’re African, Chinese, Indo-Guyanese, Amerindian, Portuguese, mixed, or whether you are Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Rastafarian, nothing, or Bahá?í, once your children are in school, they would receive the “ because we care cash grant”.

Every single nursery, primary, secondary age child who’s in a public school, or applied to go to a public school this grant “is for you “.

What is amazing the PPP/C is not limiting we the parent, telling us what we must do and what we mustn’t do with our money and anybody who believes that they know better than we the parents what our children need is someone who’s fooling themselves… this money is for anything that will serve our children.

The vision of “because we care cash grant” will take a domino effect, transforming region #10 economy a total of $220 million will be distributed for 11,600 students in Region Ten, representing a significant cash influx in the region’s economy. It will create more finanical wealth for our communities, rebounding the region to create job opportunities, generating growth by putting money in every community.

Our PPP/C Government might not be able to do everything we may want, but

they continue to lend support where ever it is needed, this shows all of us as parents that we are having a real partnership, Government and family for the education of our children.

Our President and his Ministers believe in our children, they all believe an educated nation is a nation on its way to development and prosperity, and they believe that the most precious resource in Guyana is neither oil,gold ,bauxite or the forest the most important resource is human resources.

Residents of regions #10 we have all seen so many manifesto promises fulfilled by the PPP/C administion over the past eleven months.

While the country is changing rapidly, His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his 2021 budget, outlined massive infrastructure plans and……. over the next four years, when infrastructure is expanded, new opportunities that will be created in all sectors some of which region #10 has already experienced I am proud to say that President Ali and his PPP/C Government have shown every Guyanese including region #10, how much they all care for the people of Guyana, in every aspect of development, let take a look at what they have done for the people of Guyana and (region #10 at large.)

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C Government has distributed some 3,600 house lots in 2020 to applicants across Guyana; this is more than

half of the amount that was distributed by A Partnership for National Unity Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition during their fiveyear in office. In a recent two days initiative as a part of the PPP/C Dream Realised’ Housing Drive allowing approximately 400 Lindeners closer to owning their own homes when the CH&PA visited the mining town. In addition to the allocations, 144 persons were expected to receive their Certificate of Titles.

The two-day initiative held at the Amelia’s Ward Primary School saw hundreds of Lindeners attending in hopes of being allocated a house lot,there is currently a backlog of 4,000 applications in the system for Linden alone, although Region #10 is not a People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s stronghold, it must be cleared that the PPP/C is working for every residents in region #10 and resident should not resist these opportunities for development. We must all take advantage of these oportunities for sustainable development When you receive these opportunities and you take these opportunities that your PPP/C offer to you, “note” you are not doing us a favour, you are helping yourself to improve and develop your own lives, elevating your standard of living and providing a better future for your children, developing our communities, our Region and our country.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

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

Those who filed NCM against Granger are The PPP/C Administration part of the failed leadership of the party demonstrates...

FROM PAGE 4

The Editor, The motions of no confidence against the leader of the PNCR and the Coalition, Mr. David Granger, are likely to backfire in a big and ugly way, because those who have tabled the motions and are seeking to run for office are part of the failings and failed leadership of the party.

It is not only the leader who has failed, but the entire leadership. They must bear collective responsibility for the mess they have all created, and for what they put this country through for months. Therefore, none among them has any moral

standing to table those motions.

The entire Central Executive Committee must go; they have failed the people. They attempted to rig, and then put the country through five months of uncertainty. It cannot be right for them to now gang up against one man, when in fact they are the problem. Now they appear like knights in shining armour, pretending to want to save the party from the path of destruction they set it upon.

They should resign en bloc. The entire pack should go.

In any case, what gives

those who are challenging Mr Granger for leadership the idea that they are better than he is, or can actually do a better job than he did over the last decade? They must tell the people of this country! And if Granger is removed, which one of those challenging him can take the place of leadership.

We have seen how some of them performed in ministerial positions, miserably poor. Others are undisciplined. The current party chairman has shown a pattern of mistakes. Yet, they want Guyanese to show confidence in their unknown abilities to lead a formidable

Opposition, and work with the Government in a way that would benefit all.

I believe they are basically illusionary.

Finally, any move by individual aspirants to leadership to oust Granger that is not in keeping with the party’s constitution will be discredited, fail and blow back in the faces of those who are involved. More importantly, they should tell us what the party’s constitution says about such matters of no confidence motions and public vilification of the leader.

Sincerely, Anthony Subner

Govt considering menu of measures...

Additionally, a team from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) was here last month to conduct a Detailed Damage Sector Assessment and is expected to submit its report soon.

President Ali said preliminary findings from these two reports show the scale of the floods, which not only affected Guyana but neighbouring Suriname and Brazil as well.

“I think the scale of the floods has been enormous in terms of damage to crops to livelihood to households.

I think just the magnitude and scale of just the economic loss and the financial loss has been enormous and that you will see glaring in the report,” he posited.

Meanwhile, Government is also now trying to get a socio-economic impact assessment done.

“We’re trying to get ECLAC (the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) to give us some final help… Before we get to the close of this week, I will have the full position with me,” the President said adding that announcements will subsequently be made regarding financial assistance.

Last month, Government received approval from the National Assembly for $10 billion in supplementary funding for the provision of flood relief interventions, including repairs to infrastructure and

supporting recovery in the productive and household sectors.

According to the Head of State, a lot of roadways were damaged by the floods, especially in the hinterland regions. He revealed that even the mining sector, which was also heavily impacted by the floods, is complaining about the damages to infrastructure not just from the floods but also by overweight trucks.

He noted that Government will have to look at implementing weight guidelines and regulations. In addition, drainage is another critical area that Government will also have to look at in order to enhance the output capacity.

FROM PAGE 3

The Head of State pointed out that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) was severely spared from the floods due to the Hope Canal.

“What that has shown us is that there is now critical need for many more of these canals on the coastland and that is what communities themselves are calling for – the Farmers’ Associations and so on…

So, a big part of moving forward, and you will see this in the next budget, is for us to come up with the right vehicle, to come up with the right plan in creating those opportunities for better drainage, for protection in the future also,” President Ali stated.

In addition to the allocation drives, CH&PA will commence the construction of 40 houses in a few weeks the realization of the first set of houses that will be constructed as part of the 1,000 homes that President Ali had promised to afford Lindeners before the end of 2021. Clearing of lands for this project has commenced creating widespread job opportunities for Lindeners that skilled workers, such as block makers,can tap into this project.

Relative to house lots, there are systems in place to give allottees the full package when they purchase a house lot. This includes all necessary infrastructure and amenities to live comfortably.

Millions of dollars will be expended to upgrade the water system in Linden to meet the growing population.

The housing drive also gave Lindeners the opportunity interacts with officials and engage representatives from banks and other agencies that are involved in the construction industry.

This has been the PPP/C Government third ‘Dream Realised’ initiative that was rolled out and over 5,000 house lots have been allocated thus far. The goal, the PPP/C government is to allocate 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

How can one ever forget when the COVID- 19 pandemic began to spread in region 10 and across Guyana and people were forced to stay at home, workers were losing their jobs, healthcare system were being stressed,

local businesses were at risk of closing permanently and the country was bracing for recession crisis has laid bare the inequities and injustices that threaten people’s well-being, safety, and lives.

Amidst these uncertain and challenging times, we were asking and answering: How can the nation respond in the short term to keep all people safe and the economy afloat?

The PPP/C Administration then stepped to the plate and answered the questions for residents of Region #10 with the launching of the Government’s COVID-19 relief and support programme, the $25,000 Household Grant. A programme that all Lindeners had embraced which had provided more for many residents, with financial assistance for rent, food and utilities during the ongoing pandemic.

Our economy and democracy would be impossible without an educated, skilled populace, offering 25,000 free On lines scholarship’s all Guyanese must be considered this as a blessing. Our government patient care has become a priority for all stakeholders and health care providers with the overall objective of achieving a high degree of patient satisfaction in region #10 and across this nation, many of us owe our lives- literally — to the government. The greatest advances in longevity are due to public-sanitation measures taken during this Covid -19 pandemic.

Sincerely David Adams

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“I don’t discount there might be opposition against me” – Granger on NCMs − calls motions against him “phantom”

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eader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) David Granger on Friday acknowledged that there might be some opposition towards him, but in the same breath, claimed that he is unaware of any NoConfidence Motion (NCM) brought against him.

During a PNC-organised programme called “The Public Interest”, the former President expressed “right now, I don’t discount the fact that there might be some opposition to me”.

However, he said contrary to media reports, he is unaware that several groups from within the party have

by the Central Executive Committee of the party. We don’t know who was invited, we don’t know what the motions were, who moved and seconded the motion, how many votes were taken…how many votes were against,” Granger pointed out.

He noted too that “even in common law, if an accusation is made about some misconduct, at least the person is told what the accusation is about, but I’m not aware there is any wrongdoing and I have never seen any motion.”

“Certainly, if directed against me, at least I’m entitled to know what miscon-

nounced their intention to run, we’re a democratic party and if they feel they can run, let them run.”

He noted too that “there is a legal framework, Congress will be held and persons who are interested in competing for the leadership of the party are free to compete…”

“So let us keep it clean, let us keep it constitutional,” Granger affirmed.

Division within the party, simmering over the past few months, spiked last week when unidentified members of the PNCR CEC penned a missive denouncing Granger’s leadership style and his recent unilater-

duct I’m being accused of,” the PNC leader posited.

“I can’t figure out what the game is … and people need to suppress this type of activity that is taking place.

I don’t know if anyone would claim responsibility for convening these so-called meetings and bringing these motions but as I said, it has never been brought to the attention of the Central Executive Committee,” he contended.

Moreover, Granger pointed out that the party leader is elected by Congress and not the Central Executive Committee and therefore, he urged persons to wait until Congress is held to select the new leadership of the PNC. Noting that he is yet to decide on whether he will run again, Granger said “other persons have an-

al approval of two new parties into the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The partnership last month announced that its Executive Council accepted applications from the Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM), which was founded by former Public Service Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and the Equal Rights and Justice Party (ERJP), which was founded by former junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, to join APNU. But the PNCR CEC members called the two parties “shell parties”, stating that Granger will not be allowed to run a “one-man” show.

Days after this statement was released, several PNCR CEC members released a joint statement in which they lambasted these

Congress Place

filed NCMs against him.

“The motions are difficult to define because, as far as I’m concerned as party leader and as far as the Central Executive Committee is concerned, we’ve never seen the texts of the motions, we’ve never heard of any official meeting of any part of the party…,” he explained.

“These are phantom motions. No texts, no votes, no notice, no defence…it’s difficult to understand who’s behind these press releases,” the PNC leader added.

Media reports indicate that the members of the PNC Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Thursday met and deliberated on two NCMs against Granger. But Granger is insisting that this is not true.

“These…meetings which seemed to have been held certainly were not sanction

anonymous CEC members as “cowards.” But despite the CEC being a 15-member Committee, only four members – Ganesh Mahipaul, Annette Ferguson, Jennifer Ferreira-Dougal and Shurwayne Holder – affixed their names to this statement in support of their leader.

This follows protests outside Congress Place earlier this year, by members of Granger’s own party. The protesters demanded that he hold the Congress so that the party can choose a leader.

The PNC’s last biennial Congress was in 2018, where Granger was returned unopposed as leader of the party.

Congress was due in 2020 but Granger continues to cite the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse for the delay in holding Congress. He said during Friday’s programme that plans were actively being made for a ‘virtual’ Congress to be held.

Granger, who left office in August 2020, after a fivemonth battle in Guyana for democracy to prevail, has been facing pressure from within the party and has suffered a sharp drop in popularity, over the loss of the 2020 General and Regional Elections after just one term in office.

These divisions were exacerbated by the list of parliamentarians he picked to send to the 12th Parliament, after party stalwarts like Chairperson Volda Lawrence were excluded and the Working People’s Alliance was not consulted to name their candidate.

WPA subsequently withdrew from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, on the heels of the Justice For All Party’s (JFAP) resignation.

Granger has also been denounced by individual members of the party, like one-time PNC parliamentarian James Bond.

Bond has, in fact, labelled Granger’s leadership as “ineffective” and “mediocre”.

PNCR Leader David Granger

Granger has also been criticised by the PNCR diaspora group, who added their voices to calls for the former President to step down from leading the party. In a letter signed by Connie McGuire, Michael Bramford, George E Lewis and the PNCR New York Diaspora group, they appealed to all PNC Executives, members and supporters to demand the resignations of Granger and

other party leaders.

Unlike in 2018 when he was returned as leader uncontested, Granger now faces at least two challengers for the post of leader. CEC member Richard Van-West Charles recently threw his hat in the ring, joining party stalwart Aubrey Norton as two executive members of the party who have indicated their interest in the top job.

8 NEWS Fmr Best Cop to stand trial for “Saga” murder, co-accused freed SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

In the dark...

From (L): Murder accused: Former Best Cop Derwin Eastman, Aubrey Bobb, and Jamison Williams who has been freed

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fter four years on remand, former Best Cop Derwin Eastman was on Friday committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder of businessman Godfrey Scipio also called “Saga”, who was gunned down while leaving a city hotel.

Eastman, a former Corporal of Police, and former Police Constable Jamison Williams were jointly charged with the October 17, 2017 murder of the 64-year-old man.

At the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Fabayo Azore ruled that a prima facie case was established against Eastman for the crime.

Accordingly, she committed him to stand trial

Dead: Godfrey Scipio, called “Saga”

before a Judge and jury for the capital offence at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. On the other hand, the charge against Williams was discharged due to insufficient evidence. As such, he was informed by the Magistrate that he was free to go.

In November 2020, Magistrate Azore had ruled that a prima facie case was made out against Eastman and Williams at the close of the prosecution’s case. In reply, Eastman and Williams opted to lead their defences.

Throughout the PI, Eastman was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, while Attorney-atLaw Dexter Todd appeared on behalf of Williams. Also charged for Scipio’s murder is Aubrey Bobb, an ex-con-

vict of Kitty, Georgetown.

Bobb was the first to be charged and later implicated the two former policemen in a caution statement he had given to detectives.

In 2019, Bobb was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the businessman’s murder after a Magistrate found there was sufficient evidence against him.

According to reports, Scipio also known as “Saga” was gunned down just as he exited a popular Kitty hotel with a female companion during the furtherance of a robbery. He later succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.

Bobb, in a caution statement, reportedly told Police that Eastman was the mastermind behind the brazen daylight killing.

He accused Eastman of hiring him as the hitman

and providing him with the gun. Eastman reportedly had everything planned out, even assuring the hitman that a lady would deliver the target to the spot while directing that the killing be executed in such a way as to appear like a robbery gone wrong.

Notwithstanding the assurance of protection given by Eastman, reality struck when Bobb returned home the next day to find Eastman, in the company of other Police ranks, ready to arrest him.

Bobb had claimed that he was forced to confess to the crime as he was intimidated

by Eastman, who was present at every step of the interrogation. Eastman was adjudged the Guyana Police Force’s Best Cop on several occasions

ship”. On November 1, 2017, she said she went to Mc Curdy’s mother's residence and stayed for a short while.

On November 18, 2017, after she was sexually molested by Mc Curdy, the prosecutors stated that the woman left the home and went in search of a new place to live.

But she eventually returned to Mc Curdy’s home. The following day, while sleeping, she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

When she inquired who it was, the person said “Jaganie”. The prosecutors added that she opened the door for the man to come into her bedroom. After a

while, he left and went into the living room. Mc Curdy came back into the bedroom while the woman was sitting on the bed and sat alongside her.

He allegedly told her, “Is four nights now you did not give me sex and I have to have sex tonight.” According to the prosecutors, Mc Curdy chucked the woman onto a bed and had sex with her against her will. The woman related that she tried pushing him off of her, but he refused to stop.

Further, she related that when Mc Curdy was finished, she got up from the bed. She recalled that the

man chucked her thrice into a wall, after which she told him that she was moving out. She said that while she was preparing to leave, Mc Curdy threw her belongings out of his mother’s house.

A Police report was lodged against Mc Curdy by the virtual complainant.

Meanwhile, Mc Curdy, in his defence, denied raping the woman. During an unsworn statement, he said that he was not at home at the time she alleged the incident took place.

This was the man’s second trial for the offence as his initial trial ended in a hung jury a while back.

Rape accused acquitted after retrial

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man accused of raping a woman with whom he shared a “relationship” was on Wednesday acquitted of the charge after a 12-member mixed jury unanimously found him not guilty. Stephen Mc Curdy also called “Shermon Jackson” and “Jaganie” was alleged to have committed the offence on November 19, 2017.

The prosecution’s case stated that the virtual complainant related that she had known Mc Curdy some three weeks before she was raped by him. She also shared that they shared “a friendship type of relation-

Taxi drivers busted with ganja near Lusignan Prison remanded

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wo taxi drivers were on Friday remanded to prison following the discovery of 73 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle along Lusignan Prison Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Kurt Gittens of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and Glen Gray of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 21, they had 73 pounds of cannabis sati-

Remanded: Glen Gray

Remanded: Kurt Gittens

va in their possession for the purpose of trafficking. They were remanded to prison until August 13 by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

It was reported that on the day in question, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks were carrying out an operation on the ECD when they intercepted a motor car with the illegal substance.

At the time, the vehicle was being driven by Gray, while Gittens was a passenger. They were both arrested.

Y

…on the rigging? our Eyewitness has stocked up on his popcorn, but he wonders whether it’ll be enough to take him through the drama in the PNC camp!! If it’s another day…it’s another outrageous “jaw dropper” or “floor roller”!! But as he said yesterday, he’ll take it in this pandemic lockdown… any (diversionary) port in a (COVID) storm and all that!

Anyhow, the jaw dropper du jour is a letter to the press, claiming that Granger didn’t know anything about the rigging, and that he was surrounded by vipers who set him up for the fall!! Granger, after all, is a man imbued with Honesty, Integrity and Decency (HID).

More pointedly, the fella insisted that Basil and Volda (by now, after what they’ve put us through, we should all be on a first name basis, no?) were specifically responsible for the whole mess. They were in charge of mobilising Reg 4, failed to do their job in a region that was overwhelmingly PNC, and then tried to pull out a plum when they found out that they just didn’t get out the votes and the PPP had crept up on them! And yes, Virginia, they did the dirty all on their own without once informing Granger, the leader of the party!!

That more than two years before he’d violated the constitution to unilaterally appoint the octogenarian James Patterson as GECOM Chair was purely coincidental.

He wasn’t setting the ground for a rigging! That he’d gotten rid of several younger heads of the Police Complaints Authority and the Public Utilities Commission on account of their age was just coincidental. He wasn’t following Burnham’s tradition of having a “toothless poodle” as the GECOM Chair, so that he could have his way with the votes to make sure he stayed in power forever!! No siree, Bob!!

That he earned the sobriquet “Sanctimonious Gangster” from his Caricom Heads of Government colleagues has nothing to do with him breaking his word to them that he’d go along with the recount of the ballots.

It was all those vipers around him who insisted that the ballots had to be “valid”, and took recourse to the courts!

After all the twists, turns and betrayals by the serpents in the PNC top ranks, Granger “developed trust issues” with those around him. The only person he could trust was Lil Joe, who’d been his spear carrier in the army for decades, and that’s why he had to start with a new slate - headed by Lil Joe - when he selected who’d be sent to Parliament!! Purely coincidental that being all a bunch of neophytes - including Lil Joe - he had total control over them!!

Just a series of unfortunate coincidences!

…on South Africa Your Eyewitness is getting a mite worried about what’s playing out in South Africa - long the paradigmatic plural society. Their challenges were exacerbated because the inequalities were codified by apartheid laws. Identical proposals to what were tried there have been touted here for decades by the experts - evidently to no avail - if we’re to go by the recent conflagration. Statesmen as leaders?

Mandela and De Klerk. New, advanced constitution guaranteeing “one-man-one-vote” to entrench rights and exhort equity? Done that! Affirmative Action programmes to lift the masses of poor out of poverty? Ditto!

So, does this mean that we have to throw up our hands? No…what we see is that so much depends on leadership. In South Africa, we can’t pretend that the ANC hasn’t morphed from being the solution to being the major problem - and it all has to do with the leaders.

Zuma’s corruption isn’t an exception, but the rule. All of the leaders are now filthy rich.

While the masses remain poor. …on Haiti The contradictions in South Africa are mirrored to a greater extent in Haiti. Both signal our possible fate if leaderships aren’t responsible enough to realise that if they bore holes in the hold of our ship, we’ll all sink.

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

43 new COVID-19 cases detected from 1294 tests F

rom 1294 swabs that were taken for analysis within a 24-hour period, 43 have returned positive for COVID-19. With that, the total number of confirmed cases now stand at 21,850 – 10,660 males and 11,190 females.

New statistics provided by the Health Ministry showed that deaths have remained at 518 – the latest of which were recorded on Thursday after three persons died.

Nevertheless, 14 persons are still seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 101 in institu-

tional isolation, 851 in home isolation and one in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has tested 215,158 persons thus far.

Out of those that tested positive, 20,366 have since recovered, leaving 866 active cases.

New cases were detected across six administrative regions, with seven in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 23 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); four in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); seven in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); one in Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni) and one in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

There were no new positives in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

While acknowledging that persons have democratic rights, President Irfaan Ali reminded that they also have a social responsibility. The President said responsible persons who took the vaccine to protect themselves and their families cannot be put at risk by an

150 unionised GTT employees to receive salary increases

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JULY 23 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

43

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

101 851 14

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

1

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

11,190

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

10,660

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

21,850

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

20,366

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED

245,092

FULLY IMMUNISED

129,749

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

518

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020 REGION 1

1293

REGION 2

617

REGION 3

2486

REGION 4

9862

REGION 5

735

REGION 6

1827

REGION 7

1277

REGION 8

380

REGION 9

1850

REGION 10

1523

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

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

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

GTT and GPTWU representatives after the signing

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he Labour Ministry on Friday facilitated the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU) which will see some 150 unionised workers benefitting from a salary increase.

During the simple signing ceremony that was held at the Ministry’s Boardroom on Brickdam, Georgetown, it was announced that 150 unionised employees will benefit from a four and six per cent raise in salary and wages.

This will be facilitated through agreement between GTT and the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union. The agreement will cover a period of two years from October 2020 to September 2021, and October 2021 to September 2022 with a review within the next six months.

Chief Labour Officer, Michelle Baburam said she is pleased that both GTT and the Union were able to come to an agreement on this matter.

“When I first took over the matter, they were at zero, one and two per cent being offered

by GTT and then they went back to bilateral. They came back… and when I took over, they were in the conciliarity process. I had two meetings with them that brought to closure this matter of wages and salaries, where GTT would

have moved from the two per cent to four and six per cent.”

Baburam said even with this agreement she is hopeful that in another six months, both parties can see some improvements and come to another consensus on another percentage.

In response, Union Leader of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union Harold Shepherd said the process had commenced earlier this year during the bilateral discussions, and they were able to have a resolution.

“The issue was referred to Labour for conciliation, and we are happy with the input of the Chief Labour Officer (acting), and more so the new Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. The very first meeting here with him were able to reach the po-

sition in which we were able to agree to a four per cent increase on the basis salary for the GTT unionised members.”

“We are all aware that cost of living has skyrocketed over the last few months and obviously our membership at GTT, they have to face the market like anybody else and it is a welcome move by the company,” he explained.

Shepard further related that he understands the challenges faced by workers and as such, the Union is prepared to work with the company for the betterment of the organisation and its members.

He added too, that even though they did not get what they had initially wanted, which is a 14 per cent increase, he is happy that they got something that they can work with.

irresponsible few, who chose not to get immunised.

Only recently, the President pointed out that these are just some of the different models that are being adopted worldwide to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to outline that the pandemic is not a joke and so Government has to toughen its approach to ensure that the population is protected.

The Head of State went on to say that there has been a lot of clamours for the cinema industry to be reopened.

Similar considerations are being given to expand the capacity at social places such as restaurants. Presently, restaurants, bars and other similar places are allowed to operate at a 40 per cent ca-

pacity for indoor dining.

But according to President Ali, a proposal is on the table to increase this capacity to 60 per cent.

However, he added that in order to protect citizens, only vaccinated persons will be allowed in these places.

Since the launch of the national vaccination exercise in February, Guyana has utilised three vaccines, namely: AstraZeneca/ Oxford, Russian-made Sputnik V and the Chinesemanufactured Sinopharm jabs.

As of this week, over 244,000 persons or 50.2 per cent of the country’s adult population have taken the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Second doses have surpassed 129,000 or 26.6 per

cent. For Guyana to reach herd immunity, about 80 to 85 per cent of adults would have to take the shots.

Authorities are urging the public to continue observing all COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly masking in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitising. The measures also include a 22:30h (10:30 pm) to 04:00h (4 am) national curfew that is in effect until July 31, 2021.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit us at www.health.gov. gy.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Suriname-bound cocaine-laden plane

Brazilians granted $3M bail each on narco-trafficking charge

From left: Salim Nobrega De Alimser and Andre Pereira during their first appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court

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lmost two months after they were remanded to prison

following the discovery of over 900 pounds of cocaine onboard an aircraft that

crash-landed at Orealla in Region Six, two Brazilian nationals were on Thursday each granted $3 million bail on a narco-trafficking charge.

Salim Nobrega De Alimser, 60, and Andre Pereira, 30, were jointly charged with the offence back in May following their appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that they had the illegal substance in their possession on May 20, 2021.

It was reported that the green and white Beechcraft Bonanza plane, carrying registration number PTSRR, crash-landed in the Amerindian community of Orealla on the Corentyne River in Region Six (East

Pay clerk beaten, robbed of $2M by gunmen

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ix armed bandits on Friday afternoon beat and robbed a 39-yearold female pay clerk of $2 million at Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The incident occurred sometime around 16:30h.

Two of the suspects were armed with handguns.

According to Police reports, the clerk uplifted the cash from the head office of her place of employment at about 14:38h on the day in question and left to pay workers at Caneview Avenue.

Upon arriving at the location, the woman parked her motor car and was waiting to pay the workers, as she usually does.

However, while waiting in the car, she noticed the

The cocaine bricks found onboard the crashed aircraft

Berbice-Corentyne) after encountering difficulties.

The two occupants in the aircraft when it crash-landed were Brazilian nationals - one of them was the pilot. The men reportedly told residents of Orealla that they were travelling and visiting several areas to do sport fishing and other leisure activities, but encountered difficulties with the weather.

They further claimed that the aircraft was almost out of fuel, and they had gotten lost after circling the area for some

time. However, the men were subsequently accosted

by Police ranks, who questioned them about their presence in the area. They then took the ranks to the aircraft, where a search conducted unearthed a quantity of cocaine.

With a street value of about US$30,000 per kilogram, the estimated cost of the drug is $2.9 billion.

Shortly after the discovery, ranks of the Disciplined Forces and agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were mobilised and dispatched

to the scene from Camp Ayanganna via the GDF’s Bell 412 helicopter.

CANU had reported that from all indications, the aircraft was heading to Suriname. However, in addition to the 450 bricks of cocaine which each weighed one kilogram, two Global Positioning Systems, one radio set, three smartphones, two identification cards, and the registration documents of the aircraft were found at the crash site.

The Police have also said that Nobrega and Pereira illegally entered Guyana.

Couple found with illegal firearm released on bail suspects on three XR motorcycles approaching the car and suddenly coming to a stop.

Two of the pillion riders dismounted the motorbikes and approached her with firearms in their hands.

They demanded that she hand over the money but she refused to do so.

As such, the suspects forced open the driver’s side

door of the car, pulled her out and began to cuff her about her stomach and face.

One of suspects then picked up the cash, which was secured in an envelope.

Another perpetrator then discharged three rounds, one in the air and two in the direction of the car after which they all made good their escape.

Police are investigating.

The gun that was found under the mattress

S

unil Singh and Monica Ramraj were jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm when they appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam on Friday at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 21, 2021, they had a firearm in their possession when they were not holders of a firearm licence enforced at the time.

Bail was granted to them in the sum of $50,000 each. Their next court date is August 13.

On the day in question, Police ranks were conducting searches on sev-

Sunil Singh

Monica Ramraj

eral dredge camps in the Middle Mazaruni area, and upon searching the cou-

ple’s camp, the firearm was found hidden under a mattress on a bed.

11 Shore Base employees working beyond national annual working hours – GAWU NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

− GYSBI says accusations unwarranted and unfounded

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ocals who are employed at Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) are made to work beyond the national annual working hours. This is according to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which pointed out that the workers are forced to work 43 per cent more than the national hours for work.

The Union, in a press

benefitted from any overtime pay bearing in mind the national 40-hour work week.

GAWU added that from its computations, assuming a worker is not called out during their week off, workers’ working time would amount to 2975 hours annually.

The Union pointed out, “To understand the gravamen of the situation, ordinarily workers would work

statement, said that it became aware of this situation after its oil and gas division engaged several GYSBI workers who were reportedly sacked for going public about being paid less than expat workers for doing the same job.

“Our discussions were quite revealing and assisted us in better understanding their situation. The workers explained they were contracted to work twelve and a half hours daily over 14 consecutive days. Following that stint, they are afforded a week off though they shared they were on call at any time,” a statement from GAWU said on Friday.

However, GAWU noted that the workers’ contract did not indicate whether they

2,080 hours per annum.

Whereas the workers at the shore base work some 43 per cent more than the standard working hours. To the best of our knowledge, we are unaware of workers working such long periods consistently”.

Moreover, GAWU said that when overtime pay is factored, disregarding holidays, workers should be paid for 3995 hours of work.

“On weekends, the workers, when overtime is considered, work more than 40 hours in just two days. If indeed their salaries account for the substantial hours, it gives them a vivid idea of what they are earning on an hourly basis.”

According to GAWU, in many organised workplaces, workers enjoy other benefits

such as meal allowances or transportation. But GAWU noted that GYSBI workers disclosed that they did not receive such benefits. The Union added that workers also lamented the attitude of certain senior personnel who they said, it appeared, held no respect for them.

“Clearly, the workers are heavily overworked and not receipt of benefits which their contemporaries in other sectors benefit from. It speaks to the plight of the unorganised workforce in Guyana and the need to address their situation,” the press statement ended.

GYSBI has since dismissed reports of the company underpaying local workers for doing the same job as foreigners. The Guyanese workforce work on a tiered pay structure, and those employees first come in at a standard salary, which is benchmarked against the industry average.

“GYSBIs internal training and development programs, as well as the company’s performance management system, allows employees to continue improving their skills, and those who engage these programs are given the opportunity for promotion and development when available.”

The statement continued, “Throughout this tiered structure, GYSBI helps its employees achieve worldclass standards that deliver top service quality to its customers and help keep all our employees safe so they can return home to their fami-

lies.”

According to GYSBI, expat employees who work there are individuals who would have spent many years working in the oil and gas industry in many countries across the world and are only hired when specialty skills or experience are con-

tractually or legally required.

“Expats bring their international experiences which are used to train locals, transfer skills and technology, and more importantly, transfer international standards to Guyana’s fledgling oil and gas industry.

GYSBI is currently expand-

ing its operations and its facilities and plans to increase its Guyanese employees to over 600 within the next two years,” the release added.

GYSBI highlighted that it is a Guyanese company working hard to improve the lives of its 432 employees and the country of Guyana. Out of its total employees, GYSBI revealed that 25 or six per cent are expats. The company was keen to note that 94 per cent of its workforce are Guyanese who hold key senior management positions.

GYSBI, therefore, pointed out “indeed the remuneration our employees enjoy is above all legal requirements.”

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Petroleum Commission Bill still being amended – Min Bharrat …to be retabled “soon”

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mendments are still being made to the Petroleum Commission Bill, and the greenlight will soon be given for this document to be re-tabled in the National Assembly.

This was according to Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat who explained that several faulty sections of the bill are being amended which will also remove the overarching power which the Minister with responsibility for petroleum was given to cause disruption at any time.

“At that time, our objection to the Petroleum Commission Bill was that it gives the Minister with responsibility for petroleum too much power. The Minister could possibly usurp the authority of the

Commission at any point in time. That is when we were in Opposition. Now we’re in Government, we don’t want to be hypocritical. Our position remains the same. The Minister with responsibility for petroleum should not have that kind of power…

The AG chamber has been working on this to ensure that we have those amendments made and hopefully, we’ll re-table it sometime soon.”

Responding to calls from Chairman of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Commission Manniram Prashad for the entity to hold a seat on the Commission, the Minister stated, “That is more of a policy decision and…I cannot decide that on my own whether GOGEC or any other organisation will be a part of it. I’m sure at some

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

point in time, we’ll get to that.”

The Petroleum Commission Bill was initially tabled back in 2017 by then Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman during the 11th Parliament.

It was to be taken to a Special Select Committee at a later sitting after its second reading. However, it was yet to be passed when the current Government took office last year.

After taking office in August, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had indicat-

ed that several moves were being made immediately to ensure that the oil and gas sector is effectively managed; and this includes putting skilled persons at the helm of the Commission.

“What you need is technical oversight with some of the best brains. We hope that Guyanese will heavily be involved there.”

Jagdeo also disclosed that the President and Vice President will have oversight for the Natural Resources sector. Additionally, the Department of Energy, which was set up under the previous Government to handle the oil and gas sector, was taken under the wings of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, Bharrat said “realistic” timelines are being set for the Local Content Policy and draft legislation.

“We have a second draft.

We’re working on set tar-

gets and timelines, realistic targets and timeframe.

We’re also working on the draft legislation so hopefully soon, we will be able to release that for further consultation.”

Back in April, the Ministry had concluded a series of strategic engagements with various stakeholders on the revised draft Local Content Policy since this policy initiative would provide for Guyanese to play a greater role in the advancement of the petroleum sector.

The revised policy document seeks to put into context the current and evolving state of Guyana’s oil and gas sector, and to enable an improved level of local business participation therein through addition of value, access to opportunities, and capacity building for Guyanese within the energy sector.

9 Guyanese chosen for 2021 Youth Ambassadors Programme

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, with the youth ambassadors

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ine young Guyanese, aged 15 to 18, will be representing Guyana in the virtual fiveweek Youth Ambassadors Programme from Monday, July 26 to Friday, August 27, 2021.

Representing Guyana this year are Anjalita Palaniandi, Rachel Chesney, Krystal McLean, Victor Nandlall, Juel Johnson, Ayushi Nandalall, Divya Nandalall, Kanye Blades, Jahnavi Tuluram. André Romaldho, an alumnus of the Youth Ambassadors Programme 2018, will serve as mentor for the 2021 cohort.

The virtual programme brings together outstand-

ing young people between the ages of 15 and 18 from across the Americas for an enrichment programme to explore themes such as civic education, leadership, cross-cultural connections, community service, and youth and social transformation through experiential learning activities, leadership training, civic participation at the community level, and mentoring by community, business, and NGO leaders; engaging with host families, and volunteering.

The youths were shortlisted from a large pool of applicants after going through an interview process. They join a cadre of fifty-six youth leaders and ten adult men-

tors who have been part of the Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP) since September 2012.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch met with the 2021 cohort on Thursday, July 22, 2021. During the meeting, the participants shared their aspirations to address issues affecting youth within their respective communities. Ambassador Lynch congratulated the group and highlighted the importance of engaging and networking with other youth across the Caribbean during the programme, as this will develop their leadership skills as active and engaged citizens through service.

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Ali says hemp industry viable −national input needed

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President Irfaan Ali

resident Dr Irfaan Ali believes that the hemp industry could bring tremendous financial benefit to the economy but noted that national consultation is needed before the cultivation of industrial hemp can commence.

Only last week, it was disclosed that Cabinet has given its no objection to the Guyana Hemp Policy, thus paving the way for largescale cultivation of industrial hemp here.

During an interview with reporters on the side-lines of an event at State House on Thursday, President Ali said that Cabinet had benefited from a report produced by the Defence Board. He said technical staff from the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force and other stakeholders conducted a review of industrial hemp and after examining the global best practices, they submitted the report to Cabinet for consideration.

“That report was discussed at Cabinet. It’s an industry that I think is viable once the management is there. But of course, this is an important national issue that would require also some national input but I think it is something we have to look at,” the Head of State told reporters.

According to Dr Ali, industrial hemp has many economic possibilities. For example, he pointed to the lucrative hemp oil sector.

“So, hemp as an economic driver and value-added has tremendous financial benefits that are sustainable when you look at it. That is why I’m saying that from my opinion and based on the report from the Defence Board, there are possibilities there that I think would be helpful from an economic and a financial perspective that does not in any way, shape or form affect the wellbeing of the people,” the President noted.

During a meeting last

Monday, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo informed the Guyana Hemp Industries Company that both Cabinet and the Defence Board reviewed legal recommendations made

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who was tasked with looking into the viability of moving towards the legalisation of industrial hemp.

The GHI in a subsequent statement last week said that its battle to legalise industrial hemp in Guyana has finally ended with Cabinet greenlighting the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp, which it said will provide thousands of new jobs and create new industries. For years, the organisation has been advocating for this and has even spent millions of dollars in awareness activities.

Vice President of GHI, Michael Kirton said they were “…confident that the new PPP/C Government would have removed the tide of negativity that had gripped our country over the past five years and place our economy on a firm footing using industrial hemp. Apart from bolstering the economy of the country and creating thousands of new jobs and new industries, Guyana has a very unique climate, good soils and hundreds of acres of land, plenty water to be a major industrial producer.”

However, before culti-

vation of industrial hemp can commence, the regulatory framework will first have to be put in place.

It is likely that an agency would be established to monitor the industry.

Advocates had previously highlighted that hemp cannot be planted with marijuana because the plants would cross pollinate and this would destroy the entire crop.

Hemp is a multibillion-dollar industry which can lend to the production of hundreds of items. While hemp does contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), advocates have argued that this is in very low amounts, below 0.3 per cent, which is too low to be psychoactive.

However, while President Ali said he prefers to look at the legalisation of industrial hemp over marijuana, the Rastafarian community has been complaining bitterly, as recent as Friday, over the lack of solidarity with their efforts to have the Government recognise and respect their religious and cultural rights.

This comes on the heels of former President of the Guyana Rastafari Council, Ras Leon Saul, being arrested for possession of marijuana.

That incident had sparked a peaceful protest by members of the Rastafarian community outside the Attorney General’s office last month

during which calls were renewed for the removal of custodial sentences for the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

AG Nandlall had told the protesters while Government has already tabled the bill in the National Assembly to reform the law, there has to be national consultations, hence the proposed legislation is now before a Special Select Committee.

Only last week, the Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana (IROG) expressed support of the Rastafari community's call for their religious rights to be respected constitutionally.

Additionally, the Caribbean Rastafari Union (CRU) had also issued a statement calling for the reform of Guyana’s Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 1988, which it said did not make any provision to recognise and respect Rastafari as a legitimate Caribbean religion and culture worthy of exemption from prosecution under the said Act.

Unicomer Guyana launches AKT bike in Guyana

WCB house burglarised, $1.3M missing

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olice have launched an investigation into an alleged burglary which occurred on Thursday at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Based on reports received, a 76-year-old man of Bath Settlement was reportedly robbed of $1.3 million and US$400.

Police revealed that on

Thursday around 20:00h, the victim secured his home and left with his wife to attend a wake in the village.

However, at around 21:30h the victim and his wife returned home and upon entering his home he discovered a window open.

As he looked closer, he realised that the window was wrenched open.

He immediately made

checks in the upper flat of the house and discovered his wardrobe door pried open. He further told detectives that the wooden box which he kept his cash and other items was also broken into.

Further checks revealed that the money was missing. A report was subsequently made and an investigation was launched.

Child sets Mahaicony home on fire while playing with matches

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six-year-old child on Thursday set his mother’s Lot 12 Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara home on fire, thus leaving the family of three homeless.

The child’s 33-year-old mother, Odessa Limerick, told Police that she lived in a two-storey wooden and concrete building with her reputed husband and her son.

The woman recalled leaving home for work on

Thursday at about 06:00h, leaving her son in the care of her reputed husband.

However, at about 09:30h, she received a telephone call from an aunt who informed her that the house was on fire.

As a result, Limerick left her place of employment and went to her house where she found it completely engulfed in flames. Sometime later, the Mahaica Fire Station was summoned to the scene and

they were able to extinguish the fire.

Reports are that the child was questioned in the presence of his mother during which he related that he went over to his aunt’s house and picked up a box of matches which he took home and lit the mattress which was in the back bedroom in the upper flat of the building.

Investigations are continuing.

U

The AKT bikes

nicomer Guyana on Friday launched a “top quality motorcycle of the brand called AKT” at the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Country Manager of Unicomer Guyana, Clyde De Haas stated that the bikes are of high quality and come in different models.

He stated that there is the GT model that is suitable for daily use and was described as a “messenger bike”, the TT model for customers that are more adventure-oriented and suitable for long distance out of town journeys, and the CS3 for around the town riding.

The motorcycles are said

to have competitive prices and its quality represents excellent value with a oneyear manufacture warranty and a free first service.

Customers also have the option to buy a two-year warranty.

The bikes are set to be in Georgetown, then after a month, they will be made available at the other out of town locations such as Linden, New Amsterdam, and Essequibo.

They will be available at the Giftland Mall, Courts Main Street, Georgetown store and Lucky Dollar on Regent Street.

The General Manager invited customers to visit the stores and have a feel of the bikes, noting that

their sale staff are available and ready to answer any questions in regards to the bike’s technical specifications. He also noted that they have flexible financing offers.

The company’s Marketing Manager, spoke of the AKT brand, stating that it is a Columbian brand formed in 2004.

Unicomer Inc, however, began selling AKT motorcycles in 2012 in Nicaragua and upon successful sales, they expanded their distribution to other Latin American markets, followed by the Caribbean, where they distributed in Belize, and St Lucia in 2020, and now in Guyana.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Violent protests mar funeral of slain Haitian President

Former First Lady Martine Moïse was seen crying over her husband’s coffin as he was laid to rest after being assassinated on July 7

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he funeral for Haitian President Jovenel Moïse devolved into chaos on Friday as the US delegation and other dignitaries were rushed to safety as gunfire erupted and crowd control gas was used on nearby protesters.

Pallbearers in military at-

His casket was placed on a dais garlanded with flowers while a Roman Catholic priest offered a blessing and a Haitian flag was unfurled to the sounds of a brass band and a church choir.

Video posted by the Haitian Times showed Martine Moïse – who arrived

The bearers placed the polished casket on a dais garlanded with flowers in an auditorium

stood in silence.

Her eyes filled with tears as her three children joined her.

But the solemn occasion was soon interrupted by angry shouts of protest by supporters who accused author-

Chief León Charles arrived.

Other people began shouting, “Where is Jovenel?”

Haitian officials arriving were also met with protesters’ wrath, with one man calling Charles “a criminal.”

“Why do you have all this security, where were the Police on the day of the President’s assassination?” one protester said.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield, and the rest of the American delegation cut their visit short amid the gunfire, which erupted about 10 am, the Miami Herald reported.

Moments later, the UN’s special representative to Haiti, Helen La Lime, also

Pallbearers in military attire carrying the coffin holding the body of the late Haitian President (REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo)

met with cries of “Justice for Jovenel!”

Before the funeral began, a man wrapped himself in a large Haitian flag and ap-

the late statesman and his meetings with world leaders including Pope Francis, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime

Martine Moise was injured in the attack (AP Photo)

tire carried the late leader’s body in a closed wooden coffin two weeks after he was gunned down — and his wife, Martine, was wounded — in an assassination still shrouded in mystery.

to cries of “Justice! Justice!”

— taking a moment to reflect alongside the flag-draped coffin. Her right arm still in a sling, she lay her other arm on the casket and then brought it to her heart as she

ities of responsibility for Moïse’s death, according to Reuters.

Moments before the service began, the unruly crowd began shouting “Assassin!” as Haiti National Police

People attending the funeral for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moïse at his family home, where smoke in the background rises from where Moise's supporters burn tyres to protest his murder and not being allowed into the funeral, in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, Friday, July 23, 2021 (AP Photo)

Police take cover near a barricade set on fire by protesters demanding justice for assassinated President Jovenel Moïse, in Cap-Haitien, Haiti (AP Photo)

rushed off with her entourage as tear gas and black smoke wafted into the ceremony, according to the paper.

Protesters’ shouts carried over religious leaders speaking at the funeral.

“You didn’t take any measures to save Jovenel! You contributed to his killing!” one woman yelled.

On the grounds below, one Moïse supporter threatened the Police Chief, shouting, “You need to leave now or we’re going to get you after the funeral!”

Newly appointed Prime Minister Ariel Henry was

proached the casket, crying out, “We need to fight and get justice for Jovenel!”

A man carrying a T-shirt commemorating Moïse joined in as he yelled, “Jovenel died big! He died for me and for the rest of the country…We’re not going to back down.”

Moïse’s mausoleum, set on a dusty plot of several acres enclosed by high walls, sits just a few steps from one for his father, who died last year. Police controlled access to the compound through a single gate.

Screens inside an auditorium broadcast images of

Minister Justin Trudeau.

“This is something that will be engraved in our memory,” Pedro Guilloume, a CapHaitien resident said before the mayhem erupted. “Let all Haitians channel solidarity.”

Officials have said at least 26 suspects have been detained as part of the sweeping probe into the assassination, including 18 former Colombian soldiers and three Haitian Police Officers.

At least seven high-ranking Police officials have been placed in isolation, but not formally arrested, Charles has said. (NY post)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vaccinated countries witnessing sharp decline in cases – PAHO

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ountries with a high vaccination rate across the Caribbean and Latin America are now witnessing a steady decline in the positive cases recorded, painting a positive outlook as they navigate through the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne underscored that COVID-19 cases are steadily declining in Costa Rica, where nearly one in three people are vaccinated.

South American countries with higher rates of vaccinations, including Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina, are

reporting sharp decreases in cases. Cases are also decreasing across Canada and most of the United States.

But in Latin America and the Caribbean overall, only 15 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and some countries, including Honduras and Haiti, have yet to reach one per cent.

With its low vaccination rate, Honduras is seeing an increase in cases along its border. COVID-19 infections are increasing in most Central American countries, with Guatemala reporting high cases and hospitalisations. Other smaller islands are also reporting

PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F Etienne

an increase in infections, among them Martinique,

Improved water supply for Riversview in Reg 10

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GWI CEO Shaik Baksh and team engaging the Toshao and several Riversview residents

uyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be working to improve the water supply for residents of Riversview, a village located on the border of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Village Toshao, Melena Pollard reportedly wrote the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh earlier in the month, seeking his intervention.

As such, he led a team which visited the village on Tuesday last to meet with the villagers and their leader to discuss the situation at hand.

The Toshao explained that the village, which has about 220 households, currently only has one well in operation. This well, which is equipped with a submersible pump, is solar powered and serves a section of the community.

In another section of the village exists a second well which is currently out of operation. This drilled well is only equipped with a hand pump and does not have a submersible pump.

The area also has pipe-

lines which were laid by the community through a grant from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

According to Baksh, this year, GWI will be working to activate the well which has the potential to serve approximately 40 households. This would include transitioning the well from being hand-pump driven to solar powered. To this end, the community will work to do the necessary fabrication to accommodate solar panels.

Erecting a trestle equipped with water tanks as a part of the water supply system will also be explored.

Further, GWI will conduct an assessment of the existing distribution network to determine what additional works are needed.

The possibility of setting up stand pipes at strategic locations will be explored in order for residents to access water until individual service connections can be installed.

Riversview is approximately 13 miles long and the population resides

mainly along the river.

One of the far-flung areas, called Falmouth, is located about 3 miles away from the central location in the village.

Because of the distance, this area requires its own well and distribution network which would serve approximately 80 households. GWI will be conducting a feasibility study for the drilling of the well in order to have it included in its 2022 programme.

The Riversview Toshao took the opportunity to express her gratitude to GWI for their timely response to her letter.

“I’m very pleased with the visit. I’m pleased with the timely response to my letter which is good because my Village Councillors they were asking when we’re going to get a response from you guys and this is really timely and I really appreciate it,” she stated.

She added that it is her view that the community and GWI can work together to achieve improved water access.

which is experiencing a tripling of cases. Hotspots also persist in Amazonian states in Colombia and Peru.

“These trends illustrate how COVID-19 remains entrenched within our region, particularly in countries with low vaccination coverage,” Dr Etienne said.

In Guyana, where over 50 per cent of the eligible population have taken their first dose and second doses crossing 25 per cent, local authorities and Government are pushing further for the country to meet herd immunity. This can only be done, however, if people come out and get their jabs.

She reiterated that public health measures, such as physical distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding crowds – as well as infection control through testing, contact tracing, quarantining, and isolation – remain vital. In total in the past week, the Americas reported more than 967,000 new

cases and 22,000 deaths, which reflects a slight decline from the week before.

The Director was at the time reporting that the Americas’ yearold COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network “keeps a close eye” on the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout the region.

“The network has been instrumental in monitoring the virus’s spread within border regions and among travellers, who are often the first to introduce variants into a country,” Dr Etienne said during her weekly media briefing.

So far, 47 countries and territories in the Americas have detected at least one “variant of concern” and 11 have detected all four of them – alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

The Network initially started as a handful of public health labs in 2020, including the regional sequencing labs Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ - Brazil and Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile (ISPCH), which carry out sequencing for countries without local capacity. It

has now grown to include 24 labs in total, among them four additional reference laboratories – Mexico’s Institute of Epidemiological Diagnostics and Reference (INDRE), the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Gorgas Institute in Panama.

“Together, and using science as a common language, countries committed to bolster their laboratory capacity, hire staff, and make surveillance a priority, building on the legacy of our region’s longstanding dengue and influenza surveillance and laboratory networks… The COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Regional Network is an example of the power of Pan-Americanism and the importance of working together to control this virus.

We must bring the same spirit of collaboration and solidarity to other dimensions of our COVID-19 response, especially vaccines.”

PAHO supports the network by standardising laboratory protocols, conducting trainings, and donating supplies.

10 teachers benefit from computer training, compliments of Global Technology

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lobal Technology Inc. on Friday handed certificate of sponsorship and Microsoft 365 software to ten teachers of the David Rose Special School.

This was done in recognition and appreciation of their dedication to the special needs students.

The teachers will undergo enhanced training through a Global Technology sponsorship initiative. This includes the initiative of ten Microsoft licenses and a foundation package training.

Additionally, they will benefit from training on how to use Google assistant to aid in the delivery of education. They will also learn how to navigate YouTube via voice, translate speech to text, and text to speech, open applications like Microsoft outlook, and send email, all by the use of voice.

This is expected to help the students to be creators, artists and innovators using voice, touch, or gestures only.

CEO of Global Technology, George Melville, spoke of upgrading the internet connectivity of the school to Business fiber 300 Mbps.

“When we started, it was a DSL connection that we had in the building… we’re now going to upgrade that to a fiber connection, and it will be the fiber business connection so now you will have connectivity of 300 megs to the building and all of your buildings”, he told the teachers while giving his remarks.

This, he stated, will allow the school to use connectivity to improve the learning experience of the teachers, who will then pass on this knowledge to students.

“We’re hopeful that with the Microsoft license, your training, and your new fiber connectivity, that you continue to blaze the trail of innovation and use the tools that have since emerged since we first started.”

The CEO highlighted that Global Technology has had a relationship with the

David Rose Special School for about ten years, noting that they were one of the few institutions that approached the company in regards of using the products to help their students.

They also expressed that these technologies will make learning more exciting and engaging for the students. Further, he added that this is just the first step of their collaboration with the special needs school.

The next step, he said, is to extend the learning platform with the implementation of an online library for the students. “…we’re currently completing an online library that their students could use both and the facility and their remote students and I believe once that is completed, we can extend that library to other schools who’ve also made a request for us to for an online library facility.

The online library is expected to be extended to other schools across the country upon its completion.

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NEWS

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UG to host inaugural world alumni gathering – several high-profile speakers set to address attendees

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s the University of Guyana (UG) steps up its preparation to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the tertiary institution in collaboration with the University of Guyana’s Alumni Association (UGAA) is all set to host its two-day inaugural alumni gathering which began on Friday.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, herself an alumnus, delivered welcoming remarks during the opening ceremony.

The event continues today, Saturday from 10:00h.

The event, which is being hosted virtually, comes at a time when the University is breaking new ground and is stepping up the level of discourse on how the institution could be further strengthened and developed to ideally position itself to achieve its mandate.

Several other high-profile speakers will be featured during the two-day event (2 hours each day) including students from UG’s first batch in 1963, past

Chancellors, administrators, past and present students, and other stakeholders who will share their experiences and engage in discussions on the future of UG. The event also promises to be an exciting, interactive one, with participants getting the opportunity to participate in games and win prizes in a virtual bingo and the all-new Real#1 Guyanese Board Game.

On the first day, UG’s Senior Management Team, including; Vice-Chancellor XI, Prof Paloma Mohamed Martin, Deputy ViceChancellor (Institutional Advancement), Dr Mellissa Ifill, and Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic Engagement) Prof Emanuel Cummings kick-started the conversation on the topic; “Presenting the Future”.

The second panel engaged in discussions on “Reflect to Affect” and included UG’s current Chancellor Prof Edward Greene and past Chancellors; Sir Shridath Ramphal, Prof Nigel Harris, and Prof Compton

Bourne, and Lecturer, Faculty of Natural Science Calvin Bernard.

There was also a question-and-answer segment after each panel. The programme was chaired by Dr Nigel Gravesande, Registrar, University of Guyana.

However, on the second day, Panel Three will engage in discussions on “UG Reflective to be Effective”, and will include; Founding President of the Toronto

Chapter of the UG Guild of Graduates Harry Hergash, Lorna McPherson, Former Registrar George Cave, and Former Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, Patrick Dial.

Former Public Relations Officer (1992-2019) Paulette Paul will be the Moderator.

The programme will be chaired by Department of Events Conferences and Communication (DECC) Director Jainarine Deonauth.

UGAA Panel will comprise of Interim President of UGAA Georgetown Chapter, Sara Bharrat; Interim President of UGAA Berbice Chapter, Somattie Sayrange; Interim President of UGAA Toronto Chapter, Alexander Ramessar; and, Interim President of UGAA New York Chapter and Past UGSS President, Jason Benjamin The attendees will participate in fun games that

will test their knowledge about UG and Guyana to win prizes which include; all expenses paid trips to Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama, and Sophia Point, as well as UG Alumni Merchandise.

Prof Mohamed Martin will deliver closing remarks, while Final Year Social Work Student and University of Guyana Student Society Representative (UGSS, UGBC) Marissa Foster will give the vote of thanks.

The Conference is being organised and managed by Senior Alumni Relations Officer Christine Chowargir and team from the Philanthropy and Civic Engagement (PACE) Office, Office of the ViceChancellor XI, in collaboration with the UGAA. The University of Guyana is very elated to be hosting the 2021 World Alumni Gathering as UG has been effectively engaging with its alumni throughout Guyana, regionally and internationally over the years.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

Regional

Death toll from 2 prison riots Unvaccinated teachers “disappoint” PM A in Ecuador climbs to 22

Soldiers guard the entrance to the Sierra Centro Norte prison in Special Police units deployed to the jails in southern Guayas province and Cotopaxi province, south of Quito, the capitol, to quell the violence, the Government said

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t least 22 inmates have been killed and several Police injured during riots at two of Ecuador’s largest jails, the Andean nation said, marking the second big deadly wave of prison violence this year.

Special Police units were sent to the jails in southern Guayas province and Cotopaxi province, south of Quito, the capital, to quell the violence,

the Government said on Thursday.

“I want to say to the mafias that seek to threaten this country that they’re mistaken if they think this Government will act with the same weakness as the previous ones,” President Guillermo Lasso said in a speech in the city of Latacunga.

Lasso, who was Sworn In As President in May, declared a state of emergency

in the country’s jail system.

At least 50 people were injured, including some Police officers.

The elite forces managed to regain control of the two prisons on Wednesday, the SNAI prisons management body said in a statement.

At least 13 inmates died at the Cotopaxi prison and 35 prisoners and six Police officers were injured, according to an updated toll on Thursday.

Police and soldiers prevented a planned escape from the facility by 31 inmates.

At the Guayas prison, at least eight inmates lost their lives in the violence and three police were injured, SNAI said.

Interior Minister Alexandra Vela said 78 prisoners had been recaptured.

Ecuador’s prison system has about 60 facilities designed for 29,000 inmates but is burdened by overcrowding and staffing shortages. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

s the Government pushes to acquire more COVID-19 vaccines and aims to vaccinate 600,000 people by the end of September, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said they are now concerned the country may well have more vaccines than people willing to take them.

And he is particularly concerned about teachers.

He said thus far, there has been mass vaccinations of people in the supermarket industry, manufacturing, construction and food sectors.

However, he lamented that many teachers remain

M

The aid will include syringes, oxygen tanks and face masks to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, as well as powdered milk, beans, flour, canned tuna, cooking oil and diesel fuel, it said.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was quick to offer support to his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel after the protests, which resulted in one

death, dozens of injured and more than 100 arrests.

The leftist Mexican leader also warned against an “interventionist” approach to the demonstrations.

With cries of “we are hungry,” “down with the dictatorship,” and “freedom,” the July 11 protests spread to dozens of locations, including the capital Havana, lasting little over a day. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

ment made for teachers was not taken up. That has me very concerned, because I am hoping that the teachers would get vaccinated so that by the time we get around to school in September, we would not have the issue of vaccination of teachers and children...I hope that is just a temporary setback there.

We would like to have as many as our teachers vaccinated as we go forward.”

Since March 2020, in-person learning had been halted after the Prime Minister ordered the closure of schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

El Salvador orders arrest of exPresident Sanchez Ceren in graft probe

Mexico to send aid to Cuba after rare protests exico will send two ships with medical supplies, food and fuel to Cuba, the Foreign Ministry said, following unprecedented street protests against the communist Government in Havana.

The navy vessels will depart on Sunday from the south-eastern port of Veracruz on a “solidarity” mission, the Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

unvaccinated despite the Government’s mass vaccination programme that targeted them early on.

Only this week, the Ministry of Education launched its mass vaccination drive seeking to facilitate all teaching and non-teaching staff being vaccinated.

Rowley said the slow rate of vaccination among teachers was a source of concern, as the Government was working to return the nation’s children to in-person classes when the new school year begins in September.

“I am very disappointed to hear that the arrange-

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador waiting to address the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, US, September 22, 2016

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l Salvador has ordered the arrest of former President Salvador Sanchez Ceren and nine top officials from a past administration as part of a money laundering and corruption probe, the Attorney General’s

office said on Thursday.

The office said Sanchez Ceren was out of the country, but five former high-ranking members of former President Mauricio Funes’s Government from 2009 to 2014 have been detained.

Sanchez Ceren was Vice President at the time, before becoming President in the following term. His successor, President Nayib Bukele, has drawn rebukes for a string of controversial moves, including removing the Attorney General and closing an anti-corruption office.

The Attorney General’s office said Sanchez Ceren and the other officials - including former heads of the health, finance, labour, agriculture and environment ministries - are wanted on charges of money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment after they

were transferred unauthorized funds.

Bukele on Twitter described Sanchez Ceren as a “fugitive from justice” who left the country in December 2020.

Sanchez Ceren and the other members of Funes’ Government belong to the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), the leftist party that Bukele represented early in his career, including as Mayor of San Salvador.

Two years after becoming Mayor in the capital, the FMLN expelled him, saying he had sowed division and violated party statutes, accusations that Bukele denies.

In recent months, some of Bukele’s own Government officials, as well as opposition figures, have been deemed suspected of corruption by the United States. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia boosts budding cannabis industry “No banana republic”: Brazil’s politicos by removing ban on dry flower exports guarantee 2022 vote after bombshell story

Cannabis plants are seen inside a greenhouse of the Clever Leaves company in Pesca, Colombia October 2, 2019

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olombia on Friday gave the green light for exports of dried cannabis for medical and other industries, as the Andean country took another step to develop its marijuana industry, where progress has been slow despite high potential.

President Ivan Duque signed a decree lifting a prohibition on exporting dried cannabis flower, a move seen as crucial by investors.

The directive also allows

for the expansion of sales of cannabis-based medicines and streamlines regulatory procedures.

While Colombia has been hailed as a pioneer in regulating the possession, production, distribution, commercialisation and export of seeds, plants and substances derived from cannabis - like oils, creams and extracts for medicinal purposes - investors have long complained about what they say is a tor-

tuous export-approval process.

“This means Colombia can enter to play a big role in the international market,” Duque said after signing the decree, adding the new rules would allow Colombia’s cannabis industry to expand into food and drinks, cosmetics and other sectors.

Latin American cannabis exports could be worth US$6 billion, Duque said.

“Lifting the prohibition on exporting the dry flower will start a regulatory process which we hope will be performed in great detail, to the highest international standards,” Juan Diego Alvarez, vice president of regulatory issues for cannabis producer Khiron, told Reuters.

In countries where the medicinal cannabis industry has more mature regulation, like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Israel, dried cannabis is the most developed sector of the market, accounting for more than 50 per cent of all sales. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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razil’s political leaders lined up on Thursday to stress next year’s presidential election is certain to take place, after a bombshell newspaper report that Brazil’s Defence Minister had issued a threat about holding the highly polarized vote.

The Estado de S Paulo story landed at a fraught time in Brazil, amid repeated - and unfounded - allegations

by President Jair Bolsonaro that the country’s electronic voting system is vulnerable to fraud.

With his popularity falling after overseeing the world’s second deadliest coronavirus outbreak, the far-right former army captain is pushing to replace the system with printed ballots, but the bill has not gained much traction in Congress.

Critics allege that Bolsonaro, like his idol, former US President Donald Trump, is sowing election doubts to pave the way for him not to accept any loss.

Opinion polls show he trails

Brazil’s Defense Minister Walter Souza Braga Netto looks on after a ceremony at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil, July 22, 2021

former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, although neither of them has officially announced their candidacy yet.

In its story, Estado de S Paulo reported that Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto, a former army general, had told powerful House Speaker Arthur Lira via an interlocutor that the 2022 election would not take place unless printed ballots were used.

Both Lira and Braga

Netto denied the report.

Lira, who serves as a crucial bulwark against the multiple impeachment proceedings Bolsonaro faces, tweeted that Brazilians will vote next year in a “secret and sovereign” election.

His Senate counterpart Rodrigo Pacheco also assured Brazilians that the 2022 election will take place, either with printed or electronic ballots. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil edges up in weekly rebound on forecasts for tight supplies

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il prices edged higher on Friday and for the week after a strong recovery from Monday's steep slide, underpinned by expectations that supply will remain tight through the year.

The price of oil and other riskier assets tumbled at the start of the week on concern over the impact on the economy and crude demand from surging cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the United States, Britain, Japan and elsewhere.

Brent crude ended the session up 31 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at US$74.10 a barrel after jumping 2.2 per cent on Thursday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up 16 cents, or 0.2 per cent, at US$72.07, after gaining 2.3 per cent on Thursday.

For the week, Brent gained 0.7 per cent after declining for three consecutive weeks, while WTI rose 0.4 per cent after falling for two weeks.

Both benchmarks slumped about 7 per cent on Monday but pared those losses, with investors expecting demand to stay strong and the market to receive support from falling oil stockpiles and rising vaccination rates.

"The demand concerns proved to be exaggerated, which is why oil prices have since recovered. Despite the expansion in oil supply, the oil market will remain slightly undersupplied until the end of the year," Commerzbank said in a note.

Demand growth is expected to outpace supply after Sunday's deal between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, collectively known as OPEC+, to add back 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month from August.

ANZ Research analysts said in a report that the market was starting to sense the OPEC+ increase will not be enough to keep the market balanced and inventories in the United States and across OECD countries would continue to fall.

US crude inventories rose by 2.1 million barrels last week, but stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery point for WTI hit their lowest since January 2020.

US oil rigs rose seven to 387 this week, their highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said. But the recovery in drilling has been modest as producers favour spending austerity.

"We still think the OPEC+ driven dip in crude and distillate prices is a buying opportunity and project Brent will hit US$100 a barrel next year, with distillates tagging along for the ride," Bank of America said in a note. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ethiopian parents appeal for help to evacuate students stranded by Tigray war

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he parents of thousands of Ethiopian students stranded in the war-ravaged northern region of Tigray on Friday appealed for help to evacuate them after the main university warned it could not feed them for much longer amid food and cash shortages.

Mekelle University, which gets its budget from the Federal Government, posted a notice on its Facebook page on Thursday saying its bank accounts have been blocked and the Federal Government has not sent its funds for this year.

It said it was running out of money to feed students and that from July 27 it would stop taking responsibility for them.

"We are asking the UN to bring our children from Tigray," Berhanu Tegeneh, a representative of a parents' committee, told Reuters as hundreds of parents flocked to the UN office in Ethiopia's

capital Addis Ababa to deliver their request.

Berhanu, from Addis Ababa, said he has been unable to speak to his daughter, a fourth-year student at Mekelle University, since phone lines went down on June 29, the day after Tigrayan forces retook the regional capital Mekelle.

The parents' committee said students were stranded at four universities in Tigray, including Mekelle, after the conflict severed communications and transport links. Banks are no longer functioning and more than 90 per cent of Tigrayans need food aid, according to OCHA. Food convoys have been suspended since Sunday, when trucks came under gunfire.

War erupted in Tigray in November between the Ethiopian military and the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). (Excerpt from Reuters)

India monsoon: 110 dead after heavy rainfall in Maharashtra

A

t least 110 people have been killed in landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rains in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

The rains overwhelmed hundreds of villages, sweeping away houses and leaving residents stranded.

Rescue crews have been racing to evacuate survivors but many people are feared missing.

The Indian military has been helping the efforts, which have been hampered by difficult conditions.

The western state has recorded its heaviest spell of July rain for decades.

Many factors contribute to flooding, but experts say climate change caused by global warming makes ex-

Rescue operations have been hampered by heavy downpours

treme rainfall more likely.

On Friday Indian officials said most of the deaths had been caused by landslides and flooding in two districts.

The officials said at least 38 people died when a landslide flattened a small vil-

lage to the south-east of Mumbai, India's financial capital.

The state's Chief Minister, Udhav Thackeray, called an emergency meeting, where he asked officials to provide aid to those affected.

He said authorities were evacuating people from vulnerable areas as they released water from dams that were threatening to overflow.

The Indian navy and disaster authorities have been sent to help rescue operations in coastal areas.

One coastal district has been completely cut off after bridges and mobile towers in the area collapsed.

Authorities have asked stranded residents to go to rooftops from where the rescuers in helicopters can spot them.

In Mumbai, two people died and 10 others were injured after a residential building collapsed in a region of the city on Friday.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Firm fined £2.6M for claiming clothes prevent COVID-19 An Australian activewear firm has been fined £2.6 million (5 million Australian dollars) for claiming its clothing "eliminated" and stopped the spread of COVID. Lorna Jane had advertised that its clothing used "a ground-breaking technology" called LJ Shield to prevent the "transferal of all pathogens".

However, in a ruling, a Judge said the company's claim was "exploitative, predatory and potentially

dangerous".

Lorna Jane said it accepted the court's ruling.

The company maintained that it had been misled by its own supplier. "A trusted supplier sold us a product that did not perform as promised," said Lorna Jane chief executive Bill Clarkson.

"They led us to believe the technology behind LJ Shield was being sold elsewhere in Australia, the USA, China, and Taiwan and that it was both anti-bacterial and an-

ti-viral. We believed we were passing on a benefit to our customers."

The legal action was brought by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) after Lorna Jane began marketing the clothing last July during the COVID pandemic.

In a judgement published on Friday, a federal court

Judge found that Lorna Jane "represented to consumers that it had a reasonable scientific or technological basis" to make its claims when it had none.

The court fined the company "for making false and misleading representations to consumers and engaging in conduct liable to mislead the public". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Over 71% of Lebanon's population risks losing access French citizen among 6 held to safe water – UNICEF

over plan to kill Madagascar President – Minister

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina

A

French citizen is among six people arrested on suspicion of involvement in a plot to kill Madagascar's President, the Indian Ocean island's Public Security Minister said, and a second official said the President's security had been tightened.

"One of the arrested people is French, two of them are bi-national - Malagasy and French. The three others are Malagasy," Rodellys Fanomezantsoa Randrianarison told a news conference late on Thursday.

Madagascar's Attorney General said on Thursday Police had arrested the six following what officials said was a months-long investigation.

Patrick Rajoelina, an adviser to President Andry Rajoelina, told Reuters on Friday that two of those arrested had previously worked in the French military.

The French Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had been informed of French nationals' arrests and that they could obtain consular help if they asked for it.

Patrick Rajoelina added that unspecified measures had been taken to tighten the President's security. "The evidence is tangible and we certainly do not take this lightly," he said.

Madagascar has a history of political violence and instability. Andry Rajoelina, 44, was sworn in as President in 2019 after a hard-fought election and a constitutional court challenge from his rival.

Rajoelina first took power in the deeply impoverished former French colony of 26 million people in a March 2009 coup, removing Marc Ravalomanana. He remained in control at the head of a transitional Government until 2014.

In the 2019 elections, Ravalomanana challenged Rajoelina, lost, and said the vote was fraudulent. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Children playing outside a UNICEF tent put in place to provide psychosocial support to people affected by a massive explosion in Beirut's port area, Lebanon August 20, 2020 (Picture taken August 20, 2020)

T

he United Nations warned on Friday that more than four million people in Lebanon, including one million refugees risked losing access to safe water as shortages of funding, fuel and supplies affect water pumping.

"UNICEF estimates that most water pumping will gradually cease across the country in the next four to six weeks," a statement by the UN body said.

Lebanon is battling an economic meltdown that has propelled more than half of its population into poverty and seen its currency lose over 90 per cent of its value in less than two years.

The financial crisis has translated into severe shortages of basic goods such as

fuel and medicine as dollars run dry.

UNICEF said that should the public water supply system collapse, water costs could jump by 200 per cent a month as water would be secured from private water suppliers.

The UN agency said it needed US$40 million a year to secure the minimum levels of fuel, chlorine, spare parts and maintenance required to keep critical systems operational.

"Unless urgent action is taken, hospitals, schools and essential public facilities will be unable to function," UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, Yukie Mokuo, was quoted as saying in the statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 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)

Take a fresh look at an old plan. How you approach something will change your attitude about what you want to aim for in the future. Put more emphasis on blending home and family with fun and tranquility.

Analyze what you are up against and refrain from making a fuss. Aim to bypass a situation that can ruin your plans. Have patience with those close to you, and be willing to compromise.

Choose your battles wisely and don’t get involved in matters that you haven’t researched properly. Focus on what you can do on your own or how best to use your skills.

Take good care of personal and financial matters.

Lower your overhead and avoid getting involved in joint ventures. Spend time catching up with old friends and relatives. Romance is in the stars.

Hidden matters will surface. Don’t ignore what’s going on around you, or you will miss an opportunity to excel.

An innovative idea will put you in the spotlight and lead to a positive collaboration.

Expand your interests, and you will discover opportunities that will encourage you to follow a new and exciting path. Selfimprovement projects are encouraged. Romance will enrich your day.

It’s up to you to build a solid home base. Eliminate whatever is bogging you down. An intelligent approach to investments and making money will get you one step closer to the life you want.

Take a second or even a third look at something you are contemplating before you get involved. Baby steps will ensure that you do proper research. Don’t venture from your comfort zone.

Put together a financial SAGITTARIUS plan that will help you build (Nov. 23equity, and you’ll feel good Dec. 21) about your future. An exciting prospect will tempt you, but consider doing your own thing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Keep a poker face when dealing with unstable situations. Look for pitfalls, and you’ll find a way to convince others to see things your way. Aim to unite, not divide.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

What you want won’t jibe with someone’s plans. Take the high road and give others the same freedom you want in return. Try to find solutions that work for everyone, even if they aren’t perfect.

PISCES

Your open mind and heart will lead to lengthy discussions and unique options.

A change implemented with peace and love will help you build a solid and robust future filled with opportunity.

(Feb. 20March 20)

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

21

India win series despite losing final match – Spinners, Avishka Fernando & Bhanuka Rajapaksa give Sri Lanka vital Super League points

S

ri Lanka spinners ripped through India's middle order after a long rain break, taking five wickets in the space of 38 runs to knock the wind out of India's innings.

Then, chasing 227 in 47 overs, opener Avishka Fernando compiled a mature 76 off 98 balls to put Sri Lanka on the brink of victory. There were some middle-order jitters, but the 109-run second-wicket partnership Fernando had put on with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who hit 65 off 56, had made enough ground to eventually see the hosts clamber to their second ODI win of the year. The winning runs were hit with three wickets and 48 balls to spare, earning Sri Lanka 10 valuable ODI Super League points.

They move to 11th on the table. Only the first seven teams gain automatic qualification.

India, fielding as many as five debutants, and having made six changes to the side that sealed the series on Tuesday, were, for a change, the team that made more mistakes. In addition to losing wickets in a heap, there were poor reviews and at least three dropped catches.

They had had one good partnership, between Prithvi Shaw and Sanju Samson, which was worth 74, but none of their batsmen hit

his score, and reaching his second half-century of the series off the 53rd ball he faced. Rajapaksa brought up his maiden ODI fifty with a reverse-swept boundary off Chahar in the 20th over.

He was out not long after, caught at fine leg off Chetan Sakariya, but had made a

a half-century in relatively good batting conditions.

With what was essentially a third-string attack on show for India, the bowling lacked the menace the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Chahar provided earlier in the series.

Although Rahul Chahar's legspin caused problems late in his spell, precipitating the fall of four Sri Lanka wickets for 26 runs, they were always struggling to derail the chase.

It wasn't easy for hosts however. It fell to No. 7 Ramesh Mendis and No. 9 Akila Dananjaya to complete the victory. If Shikhar Dhawan had taken a tough chance off Rajapaksa on 32, or if Shaw at slip had held on to a chance off Mendis first ball, there was a chance panic could have overtaken the

SCOREBOARD INDIA INNINGS (47 OVERS MAXIMUM) Prithvi Shaw lbw b Shanaka 49 Shikhar Dhawan (c) c †Bhanuka b Chameera 13 Sanju Samson †c Fernando b Jayawickrama 46 Manish Pandey c †Bhanuka b Jayawickrama 11 Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Dananjaya 40 Hardik Pandya lbw b Jayawickrama 19 Nitish Rana c †Bhanuka b Dananjaya 7 Krishnappa Gowtham lbw b Dananjaya 2 Rahul Chahar c & b Karunaratne 13 Navdeep Saini c Fernando b Chameera 15 Chetan Sakariya not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10 TOTAL (43.1 Ov, RR: 5.21) 225 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Shikhar Dhawan, 2.3 ov), 2-102 (Prithvi Shaw, 15.5 ov), 3-118 (Sanju Samson, 18.4 ov), 4-157 (Manish Pandey, 24.5 ov), 5-179 (Hardik Pandya, 28.3 ov), 6-190 (Suryakumar Yadav, 30.6 ov), 7-194 (Krishnappa Gowtham, 32.3 ov), 8-195 (Nitish Rana, 32.5 ov), 9-224 (Rahul Chahar, 42.4 ov), 10225 (Navdeep Saini, 43.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Dushmantha Chameera 8.1-0-55-2 Akila Dananjaya 10-044-3 Chamika Karunaratne 6-0-25-1 Praveen Jayawickrama 10-0-59-3

Dasun Shanaka Ramesh Mendis

8-0-33-1 1-0-8-0

SRI LANKA INNINGS (TARGET: 227 RUNS FROM 47 OVERS) Avishka Fernando c Shaw b Chahar 76 Minod Bhanuka † c Sakariya b Gowtham 7 Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Gowtham b Sakariya 65 Dhananjaya de Silva c & b Sakariya 2 Charith Asalanka lbw b Pandya 24 Dasun Shanaka (c) c Pandey b Chahar 0 Ramesh Mendis not out 15 Chamika Karunaratne st †Samson b Chahar 3 Akila Dananjaya not out 5 Extras (b 4, lb 6, nb 5, w 15) 30 TOTAL (39 Ov, RR: 5.82) 227/7 Did not bat: Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Minod Bhanuka, 5.3 ov), 2-144 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 22.6 ov), 3-151 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 24.6 ov), 4-194 (Charith Asalanka, 31.6 ov), 5-195 (Dasun Shanaka, 32.4 ov), 6-214 (Avishka Fernando, 36.2 ov), 7-220 (Chamika Karunaratne, 38.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Navdeep Saini 5-0-27-0 Chetan Sakariya 8-0-34-2 Rahul Chahar 10-0-54-3 Krishnappa Gowtham 8-0-49-1 Hardik Pandya 5-0-43-1 Nitish Rana 3-0-10-0

Sri Lanka dressing room.

Earlier, India had been scorching a path to a total in the range of 300 when the rains arrived. They had been 147 for 3 after 23 overs, with Suryakumar Yadav quickly warming to his work, Manish Pandey batting alongside him. But Sri Lanka's spinners suddenly appeared much more threatening after the 100-minute interruption. Pandey edged debutant Praveen Jayawickrama behind in the 25th over, then Hardik Pandya was given out lbw (upon review) against the same bowler, in the 29th.

Dananjaya then took over, finding purchase with both his offbreak and the legbreak. He had Yadav lbw for 40 off 37, then K Gowtham lbw as well, the batter missing a full toss.

Later in that same over, when Rana sent an outside edge to the keeper, India had been reduced to 195 for 8. The spinners each took three wickets, Dananjaya giving away only 14 runs off his last five overs, after his first five had gone for 30. Chamika Karunaratne and Dushmantha Chameera then came back into the attack, to bounce out the tail and have India all out at the start of the 44th over.

Sri Lanka lost Minod Bhanuka in the sixth over of the chase, but Fernando played a restrained innings, hitting only the bad balls away, and taking few of his usual risks even inside the powerplay. Rajapaksa lived more dangerously, once inside-edging Hardik Pandya past the keeper while on 20, but also produced some beautifully timed boundaries, sometimes making room or coming down the track to blast the spinners.

With Rajapaksa on the attack, Fernando settled into a rhythm of taking singles and twos into the outfield, gradually advancing

Avishka Fernando won it for Sri Lanka with 76

valuable - if streaky - contribution.

The only other partnership of note in the match had been between Shaw and Samson. India had set off quickly during the powerplay, and despite the loss of Dhawan, had been 66 for 1 after 10 overs. Early in the middle overs, the batting pair were intent on putting the spinners under pressure.

Shaw, for example, struck three fours in four balls in Jayawickrama's third ODI over.

Their aggression also contributed to their downfall, however. Shaw was out for a run-a-ball 49 when he missed a leg-side shot against Dasun Shanaka, and Samson came down the track attempting to hit Jayawickrama inside out and was caught at cover for a run-a-ball 46.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Tottenham tie down Son as Kane rumours swirl

S

on Heung-min has pledged his future to Tottenham, with the South Korea star signing a new contract to keep him at the club until 2025.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s best forwards, scoring 107 goals and providing 64 assists across 280 appearances in all competitions.

A key player under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho, Son's previous contract was due to run out in 2023.

However, Tottenham have moved to secure the future of the 29-yearold, who should play a big part in new manager Nuno Espirito Santo's team.

Son said: "It was already a big honour to play here for six years, the club have showed me massive, massive r e spect and obviously I'm very happy to be here.

"It's like home, especially with the fans, the players, the staff. There was no decision. It was easy. I'm so happy to be here and will be so glad to see the fans again soon."

Fabio Paratici, Spurs' new managing director of football, said: "We are pleased to have agreed

a new long-term contract with Son as we move towards the start of a new season and a new chapter for the club with Nuno Espirito Santo.

"Everyone can see the real positive impact he has on the club, both on and off the field, and we are delighted that he will play a part in what we are trying to achieve in the coming years."

Son’s link-up play with Kane has been a driving force for Spurs in recent times, with their partnership thriving last season.

Indeed, by early March, the duo had directly combined for 14 league

goals, surpassing the record previously held by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, who managed 13 when one set up the other in Blackburn Rovers' 199495 title winning season.

While Kane finished as the league's leading scorer with 23 goals, Son contributed a further 17 to Spurs' cause, averaging a strike every 183 minutes.

Kane also topped the assist charts, with 14 from 49 chances created, though Son was more creative on the whole, crafting 75 goalscoring opportunities and registering 10 assists.

However, while Son will be at Tottenham heading into 2021-22, Kane's future is far from certain.

The England captain is said to be keen to leave Spurs, with widespread reports claiming he is aiming to secure a move to Manchester City.

Talks of a

£100 million offer from City surfaced during Euro 2020, while reports this week have suggested a £160million fee would be enough to persuade Spurs to sell their talisman.

It remains to be seen if City will lodge a formal offer, and in the meantime, Spurs are set to confirm the loan signing of Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini – their first arrival under Nuno. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

True grit is needed in playing against Australia – says former fast bowler Pedro Collins W est Indies’ dismal opening performance in the first of three OneDay International matches against Australia is a clear indication that the regional side will need to show more fight going forward, says former Barbados fast bowler Pedro Collins.

Captained by Kieron Pollard, West Indies slumped to a 133-run defeat against the visitors at Kensington Oval on Tuesday night.

Collins, along with National Sports Council cricket coach Donovan Lovell, believes the Caribbean men need to show more consistency in their batting.

“I think we have fallen short in our batting.

Obviously, Australia is a powerhouse team, whether they have all the stars or not, they are still Australia. This is a team you have to beat,” Collins told Barbados TODAY. “I think that the guys need to show more fight.

They need to spend more time in the middle with a lot more balls, concentrate

Pedro Collins

for longer periods and build more partnerships together.

We didn’t do that last night in our batting.

“The batsmen need to come together and discuss a plan, how they are going to get 250 plus runs on the board. There are a lot of balls in 50 over cricket and you don’t have to give away your wicket. Most of the time just build partnerships and trust each other,” the former West Indies pacer has said.

Collins advised the team to go back to the drawing board and come stronger, as

he believed they have what it takes to get the job done.

“Know your partner’s strengths, weaknesses, and if the bowler is giving one batter trouble, rotate the strike. And I think if our guys do that as a collective bunch, we could score runs. So, the guys need to go back to the drawing board and come back again. I believe we have what it takes to do it. We have some fellows with the ability and confidence,” he added.

One of the better lefthand seamers to play for

Ontario Round-arm Softball Cricket Association 2021…

Brampton Gladiators in thrilling 7-wicket win as Boodhu scores 91

B

oodhu scores 91 as Brampton Gladiators surged to a thrilling sevenwicket win over Challengers last Sunday when actions continued in the 2021 Ontario RoundArm Softball Cricket Association Twenty/20 round-robin competition.

Deochan Boodhu, a Canadabased Guyanese left-hander, struck 11 sixes in his flamboyant 91. Even as Challengers tallied a respectable 217-9 from their 20 overs, Gladiators achieved the target with five balls to spare.

Boodhu received good support from former Guyana first-class player Naresh Roopnarine, who made 45, and from Lachman Punsammy, who made 42. Mahendra Chautie grabbed 3-31 off his maximum four overs.

Deochan Boodhu

When Gladiators chased the target, Davendra Ramkissoon slammed a blistering 76 that was decorated with six sixes and two fours, while veteran softball player Bobby Parasnauth contributed a useful 68.

Looknauth Ramsuchit polished off things with an unbeaten 33,

and 31 from opener Avinash Sookdeo. Nick Poonai provided some skills with the ball by claiming 3-41, but it was all in a losing cause.

And in another fixture, Spartans defeated Aces Cricket Club by seven wickets. Aces made 169-6 at the end of their 20-overs, while Spartans surpassed the target in the 16th over.

Amir Khan led the way with an enterprising 48, and 48 not out came from Asif Ali. Morrison Edwards supported with 36, and Linden Persaud scored 24 not out.

Earlier, Chintaram Ramroop hit a top-score of 54.

Inul Rudolph captured 3-47 from his maximum four overs to be the leading bowler. The actions continue on Sunday.

‘That is where I started’, says leg-spinner not opposed to playing Hayden Walsh Jr –longer formats of the game

W

est Indies legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr is keen on playing the longer formats of the game.

Speaking recently on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Walsh said that, as a youth cricketer, he was always more interested in the longer version of the game.

“Yeah, for sure, that is where I started out, and that always has been one of my goals in terms of getting that maroon cap. So, whenever it happens, I am really looking forward for it,” he said.

Walsh was adjudged Man of the Series after picking up a total of 12 wickets against

Australia in the recent T20 International Series in St. Lucia.

The Antiguan also had a five-wicket haul when he featured in the first ODI against Australia on Tuesday in Barbados.

The player has said he’s willing to do what is required in an effort to qualify for selection.

“I spoke to Phil and asked what I needed to do to get a look in for Test, and he said that I need to play some more four-day games; so, I guess that is something we will have to figure out,” Walsh said.

The recent series was Walsh’s first international outing since late November, when he featured against New Zealand in a match that was abandoned after two overs.

West Indies convincingly won the five-match series against Australia by a 4-1 margin. (Antigua Observer)

the West Indies, Collins gave his stamp of approval to the consistency being shown by the bowlers. He also shared how impressed he was to see young fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr perform so well with the ball.

“I’m very pleased with the bowling for these last couple of games. The bowlers have been stepping up, they just need the support of the batsmen. They have a lot of young talent in the bowling department and it is good to see that you can rotate players and players can come out and do the job for the team.

“I saw young Joseph come out and bowl well. I am happy for Hayden Walsh Jr. He puts in a lot of work and he is a very promising guy, a very coachable person. I am really happy that he is able to get results. It goes to show if you put in the hard work, you will get success. I thought that the bowling unit did a wonderful job. I hope they continue to do so and to get Australia under 300 runs in a 50 over game is a really good effort,” Collins explained.

Lovell noted that consistency was lacking right now in the West Indies’ batting department. At the same time, he encouraged the men in maroon to stay positive.

“If you look at some of

the dismissals, there were deliveries that were really not that threatening and I found some of our batsmen were tentative. We still have to remain confidence and the shot selection still has to be good.

Obviously, we need to put together some scores with some consistency.

“With the new ball and Australia bowling which is pretty good, Hazelwood and lads like that you have to watch them a little more.

But the pitch at the Oval is normally a good one, it is bouncy and has something for the bowlers and once you are patient enough and your shot selection is good enough you can still score,” Lovell said.

Like Collins, Lovell also gave his vote of confidence to the West Indies. “Once we are playing in our backyard, normally we do well and I am confident that we can bounce back and we can win the other two on the trot.

“But, as I said, we have to remain positive, stick to our game, shot selection and if the bowling is challenging as it will be you just have to be more patient. I know the guys can do it, I believe in them because we have a lot of world-class players and I am more than confident we can win the series and bounce back 2-1.” (Barbados Today)

CWI confirms negative PCR test results

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) is pleased to announce that all 152 persons tested for COVID-19 on Thursday evening returned negative results, following the suspension of Thursday’s second CG Insurance OneDay International (ODI) before a ball was bowled at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

All members of the West Indies and Australia teams and coaching staff, as well as match officials, event staff and TV production crew were tested back at the hotel with everyone being in room isolation since.

Following confirmation from the Ministry of Health officials in Barbados that all the results are negative, CWI will now hold meetings with Cricket Australia (CA), the Barbados

Cricket Association, and Government of Barbados officials to agree when the resumption of the CG Insurance ODI Series at Kensington Oval can begin.

On Thursday, the second CG Insurance ODI between West Indies and Australia was suspended after the toss due to a positive COVID-19 test result from a non-playing member of the West Indies squad following discussions between the local health officials and the CWI and CA Medical Teams before the start of play.

CWI has been working closely with Local Ministries of Health to operate strict bio-secure bubbles successfully during the past year, and will continue to prioritize the health, safety and wellbeing for all concerned. (Windies Cricket)

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23

“We are one Guyana, never forget that!” says Sport Minister Ramson

– Ministry not involved in selection of contingent’s outfit

O

n July 23, 2021 Team Guyana waved the Golden Arrowhead with grace, joy and pride at the opening Olympic Ceremony in Tokyo. However, the colours that the local contingent donned sparked much debate on social media, and the Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr, has urged the citizens of Guyana to instead celebrate the achievements of our young Guyanese who made it to the world stage to shine the spotlight on our beautiful country.

The whole debacle started when photos and videos surfaced on social media, and many aired their views, stating

that a particular colour from the Golden Arrowhead was missing as well as air their displeasure at its design.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr

Taking to social media, the Minister relayed that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had no influence on the design of the outfit, which included the choice of colours. He noted that the Guyana Olympic Association

was solely responsible for the style, and said he was advised that all national colours were represented.

In his reply to the critics, Ramson Jr also said, “I have seen comments critical of the colours of the uniform of the Guyana Olympic team, and spurious allegations directed towards the Ministry for attempting to politicise the uniform in party colours.

“First, allow me to remind everyone that this is a time to celebrate the achievements of our young Guyanese who made it to the world stage to shine the spotlight on our beautiful country. For those young Guyanese Olympians, this is the fulfilment of one of their lifelong dreams. Are we really going to allow our petty political allegiance to diminish their deserving moment of glorious achievement? Are we that selfish? We must not be, and we must never be.

“There are times to fight and there are times to unite.

Internally, we may have our differences, but on the world stage we must always remember ‘We Are One Guyana’. Never forget that!”

Ramson Jr added: “It is important to note, too, that the discontent now being expressed by some persons from the political arena were noticeably absent when "green and yellow" became the order of the day. It may very well be that this is the reason why this discussion may have taken place in the first place.

“Nonetheless, the public can be assured that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will never seek to direct that uniforms, state buildings or state paraphernalia be dominated by any political party colours. Guyana and Guyanese, it is our time to shine – shine bright! Shine as one!”

Today (Saturday) at 06:06 am Keevin Allicock is next up for an opportunity to shine with

his bout against the Dominican Republic’s Alexy de la Cruz. Next Tuesday, July 27, Andrew Fowler will take to the pool. Competing at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre, the swimmer will be part of the second heat in the Men’s 100M freestyle at 6.06am local time.

On Thursday, July 29th, the younger of the Abrams sisters, Jasmine, will come up against some of the fastest women in the world in the Women’s

100m sprint. The following day, Guyana’s youngest ever Olympian, 15-year-old Aleka Persaud, will hit the pool for the Women’s 50m freestyle swim. Later that day, Emanuel Archibald will gear up for the Men’s 100M sprint. The final athlete to compete for Guyana will be Aliyah Abrams. Her event – the Women’s 400m race – will be held on Monday August 2.

National Paralympic Champion Gibran Sarfaraz continues to make a difference in developing the sport of Table Tennis in Region 6

St Kitts pitch is one of the best in the Caribbean, says CPL COO Pete Russell – some of the wickets were disappointing last CPL

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Safaraz sharing his knowledge

By Brandon Corlette

During the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), 30 team totals were below 150, while 20 team totals surpassed 150.

According to CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell, some of the wickets in Trinidad and Tobago were disappointing.

Looking ahead to the 2021 CPL, which starts on August 26, all 33 matches will be played at one venue in St Kitts and Nevis.

Russell is confident that on this occasion the CPL will be played on good pitches.

He disclosed that CPL has a pitch expert on the ground in St Kitts to oversee preparation.

Last season, the highest team total was 185-3, scored

by Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR).Interestingly, TKR scored the top four highest team totals last season. The other three totals are 184-4,

175-5, and 174-4.

Reflecting on some of the pitches in Trinidad and Tobago last season, Russell said: "I think some of the wickets were disappointing, from our perspective."

He added: "We thought long and hard enough on how do you play at one venue and make sure for the 33 games you keep the wickets fresh and ready for the cricket, so we put in a plan for the last six months, which has meant we had our own pitch expert oversee everything: from the seeding of the wicket to all the way through how the outfield is prepared."

With the CPL matches to be played over 16 days and five days off scheduled, Russell indicated that the pitches will have rest, and

preparations will be in place.

"The schedule itself sees there are gaps with day offs here and there, and we are purely doing that to rest the wickets and make sure that preparations are spot on, because, at the end of the day, you do not want the wicket to decide the tournament," Russell told this daily publication.

Russell described the St Kitts pitch as one of the best in Caribbean. "We are very conscious of that. St Kitts pitch is one of the best in the Caribbean and we are confident that the games will be played on good decks."

The 2021 CPL, which has 33 matches to be played in St Kitts and Nevis, will bowl off with a clash between reigning and fourtime champions Trinbago Knight Riders and five-time runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 26 from 10:00 hours.

espite preparing for possible qualification for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Pan American games qualifier ITTF level two coach and national Paralympic champion Gibran Safaraz has over the last few months, despite a global pandemic silently utilizing his time in helping CXC students from the Corentyne area in their physical education moderation exercises in addition to training and orienting students to the game in the evenings.

“I believe in the region we have an abundance of talent that needs harnessing nurturing incentives motivation, support, and coordinator, it is great to see how easy it is that students learn and adapt to the sport when given supervision and the facilities” Safaraz added.

With the opening of the estate facilities sports club which inhibited from playing in the past and with the influx of tables provided by the GTTA to schools, this it has provide the students with an avenue to play and practice the sport and for

us to easily coordinate activities amongst students.

“It is great that we have Osafo Jarrell De Santos , Desiree Lancaster Coach Levi Nedd and a few other coaches working in the region which will help us to accelerate the development growth of the sport. This in addition to the program undertaken by the GTTA, the Allied Arts Unit Ministry of Education - Guyana and Regional Education department Reg 6, where Several teachers were trained to administer and coordinate the sport, I truly believe these are steps in the right direction and provides the inputs for us in the region to develop the skill level of the players build Inter school table tennis inter district as a means of developing the sport in the region getting players into national selection” Safaraz opined.

Offering insight on his Paralympic sojourn and plans he outlined that with the expansion of many of the Paralympic events in the Guyana cycle games this has now provided the opportunity for him to be more actively engaged and

train harder, however he outlined that this would require financial support With his eyes set on qualification for 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham UK 2022 and other events in 2022 he outlined that he would need to restart visiting Georgetown more frequently as done in the past to get better sparring with the top players in view of improving in addition to attending Paralympic events to ensure my rankings are in tune to allow me qualification positions for these events given that there will be limited qualification tournaments.

Safaraz looking at attending tournaments in Chile , Costa Rica and the USA to bolster his ranking points and qualification chances Gibran a very humble hardworking persons serves as an true inspiration with the volunteer spirit and care for humanity in giving back of his time to orient students to the game in region his efforts has kept the Sport alive in the Corentyne area.

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021

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

third set 11-3.

The fourth set, though a bit closer, went similarly for Edghill, as she won 11-6.

Noticing that it could all be over in the following game, Yee got up on the first point, but couldn’t hold on to the momentum she needed to trump the Guyanese. The Smalta

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Brand ambassador did as winners do, taking the fifth set, and the game 118.

With the advice of Coach Idi Lewis, Edghill’s match statistics were pristine, winning 48 points as compared to Yee’s 33. She won 25 points on serve (Yee, 17) and lost 16 (Yee, 23), her biggest lead in

Chelsea Edghill won her first game at her first Olympics (Getty Images)

uyana’s first ever contest in Table Tennis at the Olympic Games resulted in a win, following a stellar performance from table tennis star Chelsea Edghill.

Edghill, who made it to the Tokyo Games on a ‘Wild Card’ position, made the most of the opportunity on Friday night. The 24-year-

old came up against Yee of Fiji in the Preliminary Round of the women’s Singles’ event at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Table One. Yee, a second time Olympian, has three silver and one bronze medals at the 2019 Pacific Games, none of which fazed Edghill.

Edghill played her way to a win in the first set, of

the ‘best of seven’ game 11 points to 5.

However, Yee, who previously featured in the Rio, 2016 Olympic Games, spurred a bounce back win, taking the second set 11-4.

However, the Guyanese player was having none of it, as she took the

Chelsea Edghill in action against Fiji’s Sally Yee (Getty Images)

the game was by 8 points, while the most consecutive points she scored was 6.

Having won the preliminary encounter, Edghill now moves on to Round One of the Women’s Singles event. There, she will come up against South Korea’s Yubin Shin. Their match will get underway today from 7:15 am at the same venue.

This is also Shin’s first Olympic Games, being the youngest ever South Korean Table Tennis player at the Games at 17 years old.

Meanwhile, Boxer Keevin Allicock will also make his Olympic debut today in a featherweight bout against the Dominican Republic’s Alexy de la Cruz. Their fight will go down at the Kokugikan Arena, starting at 6:06am local time.

(Jemima Holmes)

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St Kitts pitch is one of the best in the Caribbean, says “We are one Guyana, never forget CPL COO Pete Russell that!” says Sport Minister Ramson – some of the wickets were disappointing last CPL

– Ministry not involved in selection of contingent’s outfit

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