Guyana Times - Saturday, June 18, 2022

GBTI’s “Drive Home” campaign brings easy financing for home ownership

P16 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5043

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

Govt submits proposal on composition of Constitutional Reform Commission – as AG blasts Coalition Opposition for cont’d poor attendance at committee meetings Page 3

– says PPP Govt will not be crippled, prevented from moving country forward

Turning around sugar industry requires collective effort – Pres Ali

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P14 Berbice pensioner is latest COVID-19 fatality – death toll now 1245, 85 new cases detected

Pomeroon pensioner killed by speeding P2 minibus

Page 7

P ECD man, 23, 14 gets 9 years for raping teen boy

Toy gun, knives unearthed P17 during search at ECD schools Speeding P16 minibus driver dies after crashing vehicle into utility pole President Dr Irfaan Ali was greeted by school children upon his arrival at Kaikan, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Friday. He was accompanied by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira; Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal; Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai; and Police Commissioner (ag), Clifton Hicken

Persons with permanent disabilities to receive lifetime assistance from Govt Page 9

– HIV, cancer patients to also benefit

Guyana lifts COVID testing requirement for int’l travel Page 11

Security P16 officer shoots colleague during row over parking

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Use of drugs in schools in Reg 7 a concern for authorities – Police Commander

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he use of illicit drugs in schools in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) has become a cause for concern for the law enforcement authorities, since the substances are becoming more accessible to children.

Only recently, Divisional Commander Superintendent Dion Moore related that several complaints were received of school children engaging in the use of illegal substances.

“We recognise that the children, for some reason or the other, we’ve been getting complaints that some of them are engaged in the use, maybe, of drugs, and are involved in other types of behaviour that (are) unwarranted. We are not sure whether it’s a fact, but it is something that we will be working on,” he has said.

“I had a discussion with the Regional Education Officer, and she give the undertaking that she welcomed the initiative, that she’ll work with us,” he has said.

Commander Moore has said that action will be taken against those found using illicit drugs.

“Sometime next (week), we’ll be visiting one of those schools. The school has al-

Superintendent Dion Moore

ready been identified…

We’ll check it out first to see if that’s a fact, and then we’ll do our sensitisation programme with them (students), to allow them to understand the danger,” the Commander has promised.

Commander Moore has also urged parents to pay closer attention to their children, and monitor their behaviour. “(Regarding) the use of narcotics, the first thing (is) it is illegal; and as parents, (you should) monitor your child’s behaviour. If, for any reason, you recognize that your child is behaving differently, start checking on that child: monitor the manner in which they go to school, and go as far as even looking at how their grades are going.

“As long as you seen that they have been absenting and the grades are going differently, then something is amiss. It may not necessarily mean that the child is involved in the use of drugs; it might be other things. In everything you (do), there’s something called a domino effect; one thing (leading) to another, and the other to a next,” the Commander has said.

“Equally, as Police, it is always better for us to guide the children and teach them ways and means of how they can better themselves, rather than for us (to) investigate a matter where they would have committed themselves,” the Commander added.

Moore pointed out that, due to the many ports of entry into the region, despite the various preventative measures being put in place by the Police, these illegal substances somehow find a way into the communities.

“Given the fact that the region is connected to so many other regions, its several ports of entry into the region, persons try to traffic narcotics across the region, some for consumption and some for continuation into other areas,” he explained.

“We are working (on) the

various checkpoints. We do find narcotics very regularly, and we will continue, we won’t stop,” he promised.

Further, the Commander has issued a stern warning to persons who are luring minors into the use of drugs.

“I’ll be happy to first catch those persons who are luring children into the use of drugs, but I want to say to them that they are endangering the lives and putting the children at risk by luring them into using drugs and

committing other acts that are not allowed by law. And they are equally guilty of the same offence, so they can be punished and will be punished once they are caught; they should desist (from this practice),” he advised.

Meanwhile, speaking on criminal activities in the division, the Commander related that his ranks have discovered seven firearms for the year thus far. He said that five of the seven belonged to a private owner,

who had reported them stolen.

“As recent as last Friday, we had convictions. Two persons were placed before the court after we would have found a total of five (guns) within a short period. Those matters went before the court, and one has been remanded. The other one was sentenced.

“Prior to those, three matters are still pending before the court,” the Commander further explained.

Pomeroon pensioner killed by speeding minibus

A

pensioner was on Friday reportedly struck down and killed by a minibus along the Charity Public Road in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The dead man has been identified as 79-year-old Choomanlall, also called “Cyril”, of David James Street, Adams Creek, Pomeroon River.

Based on reports received, Choomanlall was hit while walking along the Charity Public Road at about 10:00h on Friday, after the minibus,

Dead: “Cyril”

Choomanlall,

called

reportedly speeding at the time, allegedly swerved from a pothole on the roadway.

Resulting from that hit, Choomanlall sustained injuries to his body, and was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Oscar Joseph Hospital at Charity, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was subsequently taken to this Charity hospital mortuary to await a post-mortem.

The driver of the minibus has been arrested, and is assisting Police with the investigations.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, June 18 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Sunday, June 19 – 22:00h – 23:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, June 18 – 07:15h – 08:45h and Sunday, June 19 – 08:10h – 09:40h.

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Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

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Govt submits proposal on composition of Constitutional Reform Commission - as AG blasts coalition Opposition for cont’d poor attendance at committee meetings - says PPP Govt will not be crippled, prevented from moving country forward

D

espite yet another poor attendance by the APNU/ AFC Opposition at a parliamentary constitutional reform committee meeting on Friday, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government went ahead and submitted its proposals for the composition of the Constitutional Reform Commission.

This was revealed by Chairman of the Constitutional Reform Committee, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, who along with his Government colleagues, turned up to essentially “empty benches” at the Parliament Building on Friday.

The only Opposition Member who attended was Raphael Trotman, who joined via Zoom but left in midst of the meeting without making any contributions. Hours prior to the commencement of the meeting, three other Opposition Members – Khemraj Ramjattan, Amanza Walton-Desir, and Geeta Chandan-Edmond – indicated that they were unavailable to attend.

This is the second time majority of the Opposition Members have displayed poor attendance at the committee meeting. A similar situation played out in April and at the time, Ramjattan was quoted by Stabroek News saying that if the Government is serious about moving the process along then it should have gone ahead with it especially since the Opposition, himself, in particular, had already indicated support for moving forward.

Nevertheless, at Friday’s meeting, Nandlall proposed that the Constitutional Reform Commission be established by law and that the members be appointed by the President.

As previously indicated, Government submitted that 50 per cent of the Commission’s membership comes from both sides in the National Assembly and the other 50 per cent from civil society organisations such as the labour movement, Private Sector Commission, Guyana Bar Association, religious organisations, farmers’ organisations and organisations representing women and youth.

The proposal also included that the Chairperson of the Commission be appointed by the President in his deliberate judgement.

“Those basic provisions will begin to be crafted into a Bill and then the other consequential provisions

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

will be added to the Bill to ensure that the commission is able to discharge its mandate. The terms of reference will be established; the financing arrangements will be established in the Bill, as well as how the procedure of the Commission will unfold.

Those issues will have to be decided upon in the committee and of course, taken to our respective principals for approval because the Bill will be in draft form.”

“Hopefully, we find consensus and we can push the process forward because this is very important and not much work has been done having regard to the time that has already elapsed since Parliament began to sit,” the Attorney General stated after Friday’s meeting.

In addition to its poor attendance, the coalition Opposition has also failed to present its proposal to the committee despite being allotted time to do so after requesting same.

According to Nandlall, the Opposition has demon-

strated that they are not prepared to discharge the mandate of their responsibilities. He explained that the constitutional reform process requires a parliamentary majority in order to have the constitutional amendments.

“It is our expectation that the Opposition and the Government will, as far as, possible work consensually because in the absence of bipartisan cooperation, not much can be achieved in a constitutional reform process. But the Opposition has shown, demonstrably in other areas, that they are not prepared to discharge the mandate of their responsibilities,” the AG contended.

He outlined that the APNU/AFC Opposition has been displaying this behaviour since the PPP/C Administration took office, first by then Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and now his successor Aubrey Norton.

Nandlall reminded that Norton has already refused to turn up to a meeting with

President Dr Irfaan Ali for consultations on the appointment of members of various constitutional bodies.

“Is it that on every location where the Government requires or is required to engage with the Opposition, the Government must await the Opposition? Endure the incompetence and ineptitude that seemed to permeate the Opposition? I don't think that a Government should be burdened like that. We are committed to discharging the mandate given to us by the people of our country. We have a manifesto, a pact with the people of Guyana and we intend to deliver on that programme. Part of that programme is constitutional reform.”

“If it is that the Opposition wishes to dilate, if it is that they wish to default, if it is that they wish to procrastinate or simply refuse to carry out their mandate and their promises, well that's a matter for them. But the Government can't allow that to cripple us and prevent us from moving the country forward. So, we have decided, unfortunately, to move in the direction that we have [on Friday] and if the Opposition is not prepared to come on board, well that’s quite unfortunate. All we can do at this stage is to demonstrate to the public, demonstrate to the people our willingness, our preparedness to deliver on what we have promised,” Nandlall asserted.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

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

Fathers

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he issue of fathers and their roles and responsibilities in the family and society as a whole will take centre stage on Sunday, when Guyana joins other countries — mainly those in the West — in celebrating Father’s Day. Normally, once Father’s Day approaches, religious organisations and other social groups utilise the opportunity to re-emphasise the need for fathers to take up their responsibilities more seriously, so as to help create and build stronger family units. Some also use the occasion to highlight the sacrifices some fathers make in raising their children, especially in those homes where the father is the only parent present. There are many fathers out there who each make sacrifices daily to ensure that their respective families enjoy the best of what life has to offer, whether in material things, education, security, a stable home etc; and they should be recognised for this.

In Guyana, while there are no readily available statistics, it is believed that there is a huge percentage of children growing up in single parent-headed homes, in most cases without the much-needed guidance and support of a father figure. No one can deny the importance of fathers in helping to nurture and care for children, especially in the children’s early stages of development.

According to a UNICEF analysis, more than half – or 55 per cent of children aged between 3 and 4 years old in 74 countries, approximately 40 million – have fathers who do not play or engage in early learning activities with them. The UNICEF analysis, which uses Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data on parenting behaviours, looked at whether children aged 3 and 4 engaged in any play and early learning activities with their fathers. The activities include having their father read to them; tell them stories, or sing with them; take them outside, play with them; and naming, counting or drawing with them.

The MICS is the largest collection of comparable data on parental behaviours in the world.

According to UNICEF, advances in neuroscience have proven that when children spend their earliest years in a nurturing, stimulating environment, new neural connections can form at a once-in-a-lifetime speed of 1,000 per second. These connections help determine the children’s health, and ability to learn and deal with stress, and even influence their earning capacity as adults. Research also suggests that exposure to violence and a lack of stimulation and care can prevent neural connections from occurring; and when children positively interact with their fathers, they have better psychological health, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in the long term.

The Lancet’s Series, Advancing Early Childhood Development: from Science to Scale, revealed that nearly 250 million children under 5 years old were at risk of poor development due to stunting and extreme poverty.

International organisations such as UNICEF have embarked on a campaign to encourage Governments and the Private Sector to increase spending and influence policies to support early childhood development programmes that focus on providing parents with the resources and information they need to provide nurturing care to their children.

As stated by UNICEF: “We must break down the barriers that prevent fathers from providing their babies and young children (with) a conducive environment for them to thrive, including love, play, protection, and nutritious food. We must ensure that all parents have the time, resources, and knowledge they need to fully support their children’s early development.”

That said, it is generally accepted that when both parents are present in a home, and carry out their roles fully in nurturing and providing the necessary guidance and support for children, the children turn out to lead more responsible and progressive lives as adults. Certainly, much more could be done to encourage more fathers to play active roles in their children’s development. The relevant Government agencies, religious and community organisations must continue to highlight the importance of love, play, protection, and good nutrition for the healthy development of young children’s brains.

On Father’s Day this year, it would be good if communities: meaning the religious organisations, community leaders, and NGOs, spend some time reflecting on, and reviewing, what our fathers are doing at present, and what more could be done to help them better fulfill their roles in their homes.

Several members of the People’s Progressive Party, together with Trade Unionists, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony on Thursday at the La Repentir Cemetery to mark the 74th anniversary of the death of the Enmore Martyrs. Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Surajballi and Harry, referred to as the Enmore Martyrs, lost their lives at Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara on June 16, 1948, while fighting for better wages, working and living conditions.

As urban temperatures climb, here’s what the modern city should look like - Buildings, materials, habits: everything will have to change because of the climate emergency BY: Bob Ward

T

he UK is facing its first heatwave of the summer, and while many will be basking in the hot weather it is also a warning of challenges to come, particularly for those who live and work in our biggest cities.

Extended periods of high temperatures are becoming more frequent and intense all over the world because of climate change, and we are learning just how much our metropolitan areas struggle to cope with heat.

Our cities were designed for cooler climates, but as temperatures climb with rising greenhouse gas levels, they need to be transformed to prevent hot weather from threatening lives and livelihoods.

Cities are particularly at-risk during heatwaves because of the urban heat island effect. The dark-coloured, human-made surfaces of buildings and roads tend to absorb sunlight and trap heat. As a result, the temperature of urban areas is often several degrees higher than the surrounding countryside. The very fabric of our urban areas makes them prone to overheating.

And the high temperatures can be deadly, particularly for people with underlying health conditions, such as respiratory illness. Cities can also become suffocating because bright sunlight often leads to higher levels of air pollution. And sweltering offices make workers less productive, creating a hit to the economy.

We cannot simply bulldoze our cities and build them again in a way that is better suited to our warming climate, so we have to retrofit and adapt them.

Although it might seem tempting to rely on air conditioning, this would lead to huge increases in electricity use. Large, hot cities, even in

rich countries such as the US, can suffer blackouts in the summer owing to the power load as homes and offices try to maintain comfortable room temperature. And air conditioning can be prohibitively expensive for people on lower incomes to install and operate, exacerbating the climate injustice between the haves and have-nots.

And of course, air conditioning units simply transfer heat from inside buildings into the surrounding area, making the outdoors even hotter. We have to take a different approach.

Instead of desperately removing excess heat from our city buildings, we will need to prevent the sun’s rays from creating the problem in the first place. Offices and homes will need tinted glass, blinds or shutters fitted to keep out sunlight. And white roofs should become standard to reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorb them.

New and retrofitted old buildings will need to be designed to increase ventilation with natural flows of air to keep internal temperatures down. These are features of well-designed cities in hot countries, which we must adopt. We need building regulations that force developers to design buildings so that they do not overheat.

Public transport systems, particularly underground trains, will need to be fitted with ventilation and air conditioning. The London Underground already encourages passengers to carry water during journeys on hot days to avoid dehydration, but the heat can also lead to mechanical and electrical failures on the network.

Road surfaces will need to be treated to prevent them melting, and train tracks and overhead cables will need to be made of materials that do not expand and change shape too much in sweltering temperatures. In recent summers we have already seen the

chaos that high temperatures cause to our rail system.

But people who live or work in cities also need to change their behaviour to protect themselves from hot and humid weather. Once temperatures exceed 40C (104F) even fit and healthy people can be at risk if they exert themselves too much. So, we have to get used to simply avoiding direct heat at certain times. More cities will need to follow the example of those closer to the equator by banning construction and other strenuous work during the middle of summer days. It is high time that Englishmen left the mad dogs alone to brave the midday sun.

London is already following many other cities by setting up “cool spaces” where the capital’s residents can find respite during hot weather. And it is also planting more trees help to filter out sunlight and stop pavements from becoming unbearably hot.

Our cities should also develop stronger social support systems so that help and advice is offered to those most at risk from heat, particularly older people. Care homes must be a priority for measures to counteract overheating.

But most of all, our cities need integrated heat risk-management strategies, which bring together all the many public- and private-sector players, at both national and local levels.

They may need to follow the example set by Miami, Phoenix and Athens to appoint chief heat officers to coordinate action.

We will all need to change our attitude to summers. Yes, they are opportunities to enjoy the hot weather. But unless we adapt to our warming climate, our cities will become ever more unbearable and perhaps even inhospitable. (Excerpt from The Guardian) (Bob Ward is deputy chair of the London Climate Change Partnership)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

5

News

More permanent road infrastructure for hinterland – President Ali announces

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he Government will be investing in more permanent road infrastructure for the hinterland, particularly mining areas, in order to protect the safe movement of goods and services in the country’s most remote communities.

President Dr Irfaan Ali said the Government has recognised the need for proper road infrastructure in the hinterland and therefore, is developing a medium and long-term solution to the issue.

The President was at the time responding to concerns raised by miners and other private sector representatives during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Region Seven, on Wednesday.

He said, “the long-term plan is definitely to improve the infrastructure in the hinterland, and access to in-

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the meeting at the Bartica Community Centre Ground

frastructure in a more strategic and longer-lasting type of construction than an annual maintenance type”.

The need for the Del

Conte Road, as well as the Timehri-Bartica Road link was highlighted by residents during the meeting.

They also stressed the need for urgent repairs to be done

to the Bartica-Mahdia, and Bartica-Issano roads.

President Ali explained that the TimehriBartica road is one of the Government’s transforma-

tional projects. He added that the road alignment is currently being cleared to some extent.

As it relates to the Bartica to Mahdia and Issano roads, the Head of State noted that some contracts were already awarded for works in those areas, however, due to the inclement weather works were stalled.

“You will see actions very soon…so what we want to do is one round of consultation with the miners also to see some other critical areas that we might need to invest in,” he stated.

The President added, “There are some large-scale developers coming with some proposals to do some of the roads also.”

Mining is a major contributor to the country’s GDP and therefore, President Ali

emphasised that is important that the necessary infrastructure, particularly roads, are in place to support the industry.

“One of the things that we do as a Government is that we make the investments in these roads from the same revenue, so it’s another stream of benefit from mining. So, if there is a bad area, then the stream of mining is low also. So, the Government has been filling up some of the gaps,” he asserted.

Region Seven is one of the largest regions in Guyana with over 21 communities which are mostly accessible by air and river transport.

President Ali said that the Government is developing a plan that will see the region becoming a service hub for the mining sector.

Educators to benefit from scriptwriting workshops

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everal educators across the country are expected to benefit from a series of scriptwriting workshops to help them prepare educational radio content to be aired by EdYou FM. EdYou FM radio station forms part of the Education Ministry’s mission to provide the nation’s youths with equitable access to education, despite their geographical location.

The workshops target educators at different levels in the core subjects: Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies.

National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Acting Coordinator, Distance Learning and Information Unit, Ayanna Waddell said the training will equip participants with the necessary skills to craft radio content to capture the

NCERD Acting Coordinator, Distance Learning and Information Unit, Ayanna Waddell

attention of young learners.

This, she said, will then ensure that there are sufficient materials to be broadcast on the 24-hour radio station, once it is officially launched by June monthend.

Waddell said that while the agency has set no fixed number as it relates to training, it is an ongoing process with the intent to train as many teachers as possible.

Last year, several educators benefitted from this workshop, and from that batch, 11 teachers were selected to complete a two-week advanced scriptwriting workshop for 2022.

Each training session was facilitated by Communications Specialist Dr Rovin Deodat.

“From this batch, we have one nursery, and the remainder were primary and

secondary teachers to get some scripts out for the coming term. So, in the future, we do hope to pull in more (teachers) because we want to start one for teachers who would have not written before, and give them the kind of training and techniques that these teachers know,” Waddell stated.

So far, materials for primary level core subjects are covered with an aim to do the same for nursery and secondary level core subjects.

“For us now, it’s building both the nursery and secondary because we had nothing in the past for them, but with the new radio station and the scope and reach that we have, we know we need to capture all the levels, so for the secondary schools, it’s now getting everything on stream basically for us because we are starting from scratch,” she noted.

All pornographic and violent gaming websites in Guyana should be blocked Dear Editor, We seriously need to pay attention to what our kids are exposed to on the Internet. It is almost clear now that all these pornographic and violent gaming websites have gotten a hold on a majority of our children.

All these websites can easily be accessed by our children, who are so knowledgeable with these smart-

phones. Every turn you make today, you see a child with a smartphone, and some parents are very proud of it. The use of these smartphones is even affecting the workplace.

Some teachers are also abusing the use of cell phones during school hours, since most of our schools have Internet access, leaving classes unattended.

Some of our children are

capitalising on this situation and doing their own thing.

Today families are being destroyed just because they misuse their cell phones on the wrong websites, unfaithfulness steps in from either side, and leads to murders and suicides.

While some parents are trying their best to manage the situation, some are joining in with their kids, not un-

derstanding what will be the outcome.

So, I want to encourage the Government of Guyana to analyse this situation and urgently address it. These dirty and filthy websites need to be blocked and removed from our domain, so that our society can return to some form of normality.

Thank you, Anthony Welaidum

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

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Turning around sugar industry requires collective effort – Pres Ali

President Irfaan Ali

I

n renewing his Government’s position on resuscitating the sugar industry into a booming, viable sector for the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali has voiced the need for collective responsibility on what is there to be done.

Delivering his feature address at the Enmore Martyrs Day observance on Thursday, the Head of State stressed that the survival of sugar in Guyana is leaning on support and cohesion among Government, Unions, and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

“We cannot talk about the survival of the industry without addressing the issue of modernisation. We are on the same page. We are not on two different pages. The workers, the Union, Government and the management, we want the in-

Rose Hall Sugar factory

dustry to survive. We can’t fight each other for this. We have to support each other,” said Ali. In doing so, the Head of State added that embracing measures to build and modernise the industry would lead to a thriving sector.

“We have to embrace a series of measures and plans that will support this.

We have to get the fields ready so that we can have the cultivation that will push production…This is a collective effort and it calls for collective responsibility.

We cannot achieve any of this if we do not take collective responsibility on what we do.”

He informed the Unions that there is no need to send separate messages to workers.

“Our narrative is clear and consistent. We don’t

change our narrative and as we campaigned, we said we will bring back the sugar industry and keep the industry. Not only are we going to keep that promise, but we are also going to work hard in turning around the industry to fulfil the potential that this industry has.”

This week, the Guyanese President expressed the need for sweeping changes at GuySuCo, as he charged officials at the corporation to improve efficiency and accelerate their timelines for mechanisation on the estates.

At the meeting, an issue that was raised was the high turnover rate for field workers. But when told by estate managers from Albion and Blairmont that their plans envision a 60 per cent increase in mechanisation and the use of special-

Skeldon Sugar factory

ised tractors by 2026, the President noted that their time span must be slashed to 2024.

The President also tasked the senior officials to have a weekly management meeting in order to improve communication and management. He noted that the corporation will not advance if people have different visions. Additionally, he urged the senior officials to visit all of the estates and

speak to all of the employees.

When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration assumed office in August 2020, efforts were made to reopen these estates. From October 2020 to date, over 1380 persons were hired/rehired to work in the sugar industry.

Back in February of this year, GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Sasenarine Singh had assured that the often cashstrapped entity will not be a burden on the Guyana Government forever. In fact, he had said that GuySuCo will be fixed within five years.

According to Singh, the organisation has a five-year strategic plan which will see the reduction of production costs and increased profits – which will eventually make the entity “cash neutral”.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Inquiry…

Y

…into Mingogate

our Eyewitness wouldn’t be surprised if, dear reader, you’re feeling a tad giddy right now about that sore in our body politik – Mingogate, or the “how to try rigging an election using a soiled bedsheet”!! You’d heard the GECOM Chair explain why the Commission couldn’t REVIEW the 2020 debacle and suggested a court of law!!

But she didn’t realise there is ANOTHER vehicle, in ADDITION to the Courts, that is empowered to take evidence etc – A Commission of Enquiry!! This is a wellused institution that’s been passed down by the British whenever anything controversial happened in our country that the state had an interest in. And this is exactly what President Ali announced on Mingogate at the Enmore Martyrs ceremony: “In honour of these martyrs and all Guyanese who fought relentlessly to ensure that our country did not go down as an undemocratic state…we will have an international CoI into the last elections. Not a review…we promise, particularly your President promise, a CoI, and I say to all of you: before dawn on Tuesday, your President will name the members of that CoI. And those who sought to subvert democracy…the CoI will set the truth from the untruth…”. And that truth will set some of us free, and others condemned to the opprobrium of the Guyanese people!!

Your Eyewitness gonna refer to a South African source to clear up the difference between CoIs and Court trials.

“Unrealistic expectations about what commissions can achieve comes from the fact that they’re often confused with courts of law. This isn’t surprising, given that they seem to function like courts. For example, they’re often chaired by judges, affected parties are often represented by lawyers, and witnesses take oaths to tell the truth.

But they aren’t courts. And it’s important to understand the difference between the two when it comes to their functions, powers, and procedures.

What are the differences? “A court judgment is binding and has direct legal effect on the parties involved. The court will determine that the accused goes to prison, for example, or that the defendant pays damages. The only way affected parties can escape the court order is by getting it overturned on appeal or review by a higher court.

“Commissions of inquiry, on the other hand, make nonbinding recommendations to the person who set them up.

(In this case, President Ali.) Technically, all commissions do is offer the person who set them up advice. And they’re required to stick to the issues on which advice was requested. These are set out in the terms of reference which establish what questions the commission must answer, who will head it up, and what its powers are.”

Pres Ali will establish these! …and their work “CoIs are completely different from courts when it comes to procedures, too. Courts are adversarial, and the judge sits as an outside observer while the two teams before her attempt to establish their version of events.

Commissions of inquiry, on the other hand, are inquisitorial. This makes the commission the driver of the investigation itself. It seeks out the facts, rather than waiting for two opposing parties to choose and present their evidence. In an inquisitorial process, the witnesses and their lawyers are merely assisting the commission’s investigation.

“An important consequence of the inquisitorial process is that a commission is not bound by the same rules of evidence as in a court. Thus evidence will never be ‘inadmissible’, as the commission enjoys discretion to consider all evidence that it finds relevant to its inquiry.”

So, what’s the end game? The rub will come when the President acts on the findings of the CoI. He can duck it, like Granger did with the Rodney CoI, but not do something completely different from the recommendations, like Granger and the Sugar Industry CoI. The President and the CoI cannot be subject to review for “rationality”. …and the public But commissions have another, critical function – to educate the public on matters!! Like who’s behind Mingogate!!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Persons with permanent disabilities to receive lifetime assistance from Govt - HIV, cancer patients to also benefit

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ersons living with permanent disabilities, HIV, cancer, or any other lifelong incurable or untreatable disease will now automatically qualify for public assistance for the rest of their lives.

This is according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, on Friday at the commissioning of a new wing at the Night Shelter in La Penitence, Georgetown.

The Minister announced that anyone with a disability would automatically qualify for public assistance, terminating the providence of any medical or tests going forward.

“All persons, all living with a permanent disability, will be able to access public assistance without any need to qualify, any needs test; it’s all automatic access to public assistance,” she said.

She added that the initiative would take immediate effect across the country, including for those diagnosed with cancer and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

“And secondly, that public assistance will be provided to them for the rest of their lives, they do not need to be subjected to any other medical or any other tests going forward…

This takes immediate effect right across the country,

fect on the rising cost of living.

“With the increases of gas prices that are bringing tremendous hardship globally, we have been supporting every single group…and today we want to give every single child with a disability a cash grant of $100,000 this year,” he had declared earlier in the month.

The Head of State posited that there is a register of about 1000 to 1200 children

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud

and it will include persons who are living with HIV and those who have cancer,” the Minister added.

The Minister has explained that this initiative would benefit the disabled community, as it would eliminate the process of persons with disabilities (PWDs) having to go before the Board of Guardians. It would be an automatic system as long as persons register with the National Commission on Disability (NCD). From there, persons would be added to the Register for Public Assistance.

“It really puts much into the hands of persons who are living with a disability. Of course, we would like to put much more, but this is a step, because no longer will people have to go before the lo-

cal Board of Guardians, who have persons with disabilities; it is automatic. All they have to do is register with the National Commission on Disability, and the Ministry will provide their applications and they’re on to the Public Assistance Register,” Dr Persaud explained.

This information follows President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a one-off cash grant of $100,000 for every child living with a disability.

President Ali had explained that his Administration is cognisant of the hardships that parents and guardians of persons with disabilities, especially children, face. These, he noted, would have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global shocks that have been having a ripple ef-

with disabilities across the country, and each of those children would benefit from this one-off grant.

Dr. Persaud noted that the Government and her Ministry are committed to assisting the disabled community. To this end, she said, PWDs across the country would also receive free support aids.

“We want to ensure that those persons who are living with a disability understand

the Government of Guyana’s commitment to them; and from the Ministry of Human Services’ level, our personal commitment to all persons living with disabilities. this is in addition to us providing, across the country, free support aids to people who need them. Be it wheelchairs, white canes, canes, hearing aids, these will be made available to persons living with disabilities at no cost,” she said.

Excel secures exclusive distribution rights with HAMAC Global

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xcel Logistics & Management Services (Guyana) Inc has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with HAMAC Global to produce high-quality and reasonably priced machinery.

Excel’s Chief Executive Officer, Kris Sammy, has described the partnership as an important step forward for the country’s accelerated development and infrastructure plans.

“With HAMAC’s global production facilities, our

clients will have reliable access to the equipment to build Guyana’s infrastructure,” he said.

Through this distribution agreement, Excel’s Procurement Division would be able to provide Guyanese contractors with access to essential industrial machinery such as earth-moving machines, precast concrete equipment, and asphalt-mixing plants.

HAMAC is known for providing machinery that is made of superior mate-

rials and has a long service life, low maintenance rate, and low failure rate.

Rooted in its operation is its dedication to research and development, to continuously improve its products and ensure that they are proactively responsive to the needs of the clients.

Excel’s Procurement and Supply Chain Business Manager, Eugene Gonsalves, has over 40 years of experience in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors.

TURN TO PAGE 15

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GHPC Pharmacy Dept mulls expansion of services

One of the booths at the event on Thursday

GPHC Pharmacy Manager Claudia Hinds

T

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is examining the possibility of expanding its Pharmacy Department to serve the public in a more effective manner.

GPHC Pharmacy Manager Claudia Hinds, during an event held on Wednesday in observance of Commonwealth Pharmacist Week, declared the following: “Expansion is always a plan, and we are working to have expansions in the different areas, more so in Obs and Gyny.

We have a plan to have expansion as it relates to not

basically to out-patients but in-patients, patients on the ward to have ward pharmacists.”

Hinds always noted that the department is working on having specialised pharmacies throughout the hospital.

“What we can do (is) we can have different areas where we see specialised patients, and those are some things we have planned for the future: have patients to be seen in their specialty area. So, instead of having them all come to pool up in front of the main pharmacy, they will be seen there. In addition to that, we have four satellites that are operational, which (are): Pediatrics, so those patients don’t come to the main pharmacy; we have a Psychiatric satellite, so

all the psychiatric patients will be seen there; in addition to the Outpatient satellite, so that patients from outpatient will be seen there,” she explained.

However, the manager related that space is a challenge to the expansion of the department. “Space is a big issue, so we’re brainstorming as to where we going to have expansion as it relates to outpatients, as it relates to the hospital,” she said.

On Thursday, the hospital held a candid Pharmacy Expo, which saw several pharmaceutical companies showcasing their products.

Commonwealth Pharmacist Week is being observed from June 12–19 under the theme "Pharmacists Networking for a Nation's Wellbeing".

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana lifts COVID testing requirement for int’l travel T

he Guyana Government has lifted the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel from today, June 18.

Persons travelling to Guyana were required to present a negative COVID-19 test, either an antigen or PCR, that was taken within 72 hours of their arrival in the country. But an advisory issued by the Health Ministry on Friday has informed that this requirement has been removed.

However, travellers 12 years and older are still required to be fully vaccinated for entry into Guyana.

This is currently the only requirement needed by someone wishing to pass through the ports of entry.

“We would be removing the requirement for people to present a negative antigen or PCR test, or before they board the plane to travel to Guyana. As of [today], that requirement would be removed, and people would be able to come to Guyana, but they would still have to present their vaccination card to show that they are fully vaccinated,” Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said during Friday’s COVID-19 update.

This move comes as countries around the world are opening up to visitors and removing COVID-19 restrictions, or testing requirements that were imple-

shall (a) comply with all applicable directions given and requirements imposed by the Health Emergency Operations Centre, including home isolation or quarantine, or placement in an isolation or quarantine facility; (b) provide information to the Health Emergency Operations Centre about

It is no longer required to be tested for COVID-19 before entering Guyana

mented after the pandemic had struck.

A few days ago, the Biden Administration also lifted the requirement for international travellers to produce a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry into the USA. Countries in which no COVID-19 testing is mandated include the United Kingdom, Mexico, Norway, Bahrain, Aruba, Curacao, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Sweden, Poland, Grenada, Denmark, Argentina, Jamaica, Greece, Dominican Republic and Italy, among others.

In March of this year, the Government officially announced that numerous changes have been made to the COVID-19 regulations, paving the way for several of these restrictions to be lifted.

A newly-gazetted order – Public Health (Coronavirus) (No 3) Regulations 2022 – has stated that wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory, but is encouraged when in public; proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter public buildings, and the COVID-19 restrictions on social activities and gatherings have been removed.

Guyana first implemented a host of COVID-19 measures shortly after the first case of the virus was detected in the country on March 11, 2020; and over the past two years, those restrictions have been amended – strengthened as well as partially removed – in order to fit the situation of the pandemic in Guyana.

With respect to persons testing positive for the virus,

the order states they are required to isolate and follow the quarantine requirements.

The order states: “Any person who has tested positive for coronavirus, or identified for quarantine,

any individual with whom the person may have had contact with at least fourteen days before testing positive for coronavirus; and (c) not knowingly expose themselves without proper and necessary precautions against spreading the coronavirus in any public place or to any person.”

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18,, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice pensioner is latest COVID-19 fatality – death toll now 1245; 85 new cases detected

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nother person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Guyana has died, according to the Health Ministry on Friday.

This latest fatality is a 79-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), who died on June 15. He was partially vaccinated, that is, he only took his first dose up to the time of his death.

The total number of deaths from the pandemic in the country has now gone up to 1245.

However, new statistics provided by the Ministry showed that 85 more persons have contracted the virus within a 24-hour period, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 66,385.

But only 964 of these are currently active cases including two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the remaining persons in isolation – 20 in institutional isolation and 942 in home isolation.

There are two other persons in institutional quarantine. Presently, there are 20 patients hospitalised across the country with 10 of them at the Ocean View Hospital.

Additionally, some 64,176 persons have recovered from the life-threatening virus to date – 78 more recoveries than the figure reported the previous day.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Guyana over two years ago, a total 650,719 tests have been conducted countrywide and of this, some 30,469 males and 35,916 females were found to be positive.

Of the new cases, two are from Region One (BarimaWaini); 12 cases from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 10 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 41 cases from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 16 more from the East BerbiceCorentyne region and the remaining four cases from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

There were no new cases in the other four regions across the country within the reporting 24-hour period.

But authorities have identified Regions Three, Four and Six as hotspots since they presently have the highest number of active cases with 114, 434 and 242, respectively.

In March, the Guyana Government had removed most restrictions as the country moves to recover from the pandemic and return to normalcy. But there has been a spike in cases in recent weeks, which local health authorities attributed to strains of the Omicron variant here.

As such, persons are still being encouraged to get vaccinated, and for those who are qualified to get their booster shots, in order to add a layer of protection against the virus.

Latest figures show that so far, more than 443,177 or 86.4 per cent of adults have taken a first dose, while some 342,918 or 66.8 per cent of persons 18 years and over are fully vaccinated.

For adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, just over 34,833 or 47.8 per cent of them have received their first dose, and of that amount, some 25,532 or 35 per cent are fully immunised.

In the 5 to 11 age group, for which the Health Ministry started administering vaccines only last weekend, some 688 children were inoculated.

Moreover, approximately 67,514 persons have returned for their third-dose booster shots thus far.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday said the adult vaccination numbers are “pretty good”, noting that they are hoping to get second doses up to at least 70 per cent, which is the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation. He said the country is not “far off” from achieving that.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the chal-

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD JUNE 17, 2022 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

85

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

20

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

942

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

2

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

2

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

35,916

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

30,469

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020

66,285

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES

64,176

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED FULLY IMMUNISED

REGION 1

2538

REGION 2

2786

REGION 3

8339

REGION 4

32,965

REGION 5

2461

REGION 6

6321

REGION 7

24464

REGION 8

886

REGION 9

4072

REGION 10

3553

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

442,087 341,687

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

1245

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. lenge with the adolescent group is that parental permission is required and so he urged parents and guardians to support efforts in immunising those teens.

While he further stated that the vaccination of the 5-11 cohort seems to be going well, Dr Anthony continued to implore with persons who are qualified, to get their booster shots.

“If you’re not boosted then you wouldn’t have the antibodies to fight off

Omicron. So, it is better for people to get their primary doses and also to be boosted, and there is [no] excuse not to boosted because we have those vaccines available here for persons. In fact, we’ve been advocating a second booster dose for persons 18 years and older.”

In fact, to facilitate the working population including parents, the Health Ministry has organised a late-night vaccine drive at Cuffy Square in

Georgetown.

Dr Anthony noted that if the response at this exercise is positive then the Ministry would consider adopting it permanently.

“We want to make sure that the hours we have are flexible enough to allow parents and other persons who are busy to be able to have access to vaccination.

So, we don’t want people to have excuses, we want people to get vaccinated,” he stressed.

ECD man, 23, gets 9 years for raping teen boy

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n East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who raped a 17-year-old boy back in 2018 has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, less time already served on remand.

State Counsel Cicelia Corbin said that 23-year-old Adrian Vieira abused his victim sometime in August 2018. Upon his indictment before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown, Vieira pleaded guilty to a rape charge.

At the time of the incident, Vieira and the victim lived in the same village and attended the same school where the victim’s relative worked as a teach-

er. On the day in question, the victim was at school and went in search of his relative but could not find her.

While he was standing at the washroom area, Vieira grabbed him from behind, dragged him into the room, and raped him (anal sex). Someone passed and saw what Vieira was doing to the teen boy and raised an alarm.

As such, Vieira locked himself and the boy inside of the washroom. Teachers later arrived at the scene and summoned the Police.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened,” Vieira had told the court during a pre-sentence hearing. His lawyer, Teriq Mohammed, asked the Judge to consider

his client’s early guilty plea and his youthful age when handing down a sentence.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor urged the Judge to impose a sentence that reflects the serious nature of the offence. She said that apart from having to endure psychological distress, the victim is taunted by villagers who call him names that are not befitting of his gender.

The Judge sentenced the convict to nine years’ imprisonment, however, approximately four years will be deducted from the sentence which reflects the time he spent on remand.

Vieira was previously sentenced to time in prison for a similar offence.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Members move to High Court in battle for control of Public Service Credit Union

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hree members of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) have filed legal proceedings at the Demerara High Court as the battle for control of this financial entity intensifies.

In their action, the applicants Mehalai Mc Almont, Keith Marks and Natasha Clements are asking a Judge to invalidate certain decisions made by the GPSCCU’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adeola Griffith and its Committee of Management, comprising Patrick Mentore, Trevor Benn, Gillian Pollard, Rajdai Jagarnauth, Leslyn Noble, Ruth Howard, O. Eastman-Onwuzirike, Charles Ogle, Arthur Gibbs, Karen VansluytmanCorbin, Kirwyn Mars, and Jermain Hermanstyne, who have been named respondents in the matter.

The trio argue that Noble, Howard, EastmanOnwuzirike, Ogle, Gibbs, Vansluytman-Corbin, Mars and Hermanstyne illegally convened a statutory meeting of the GPSCCU on May 14, 2022, which continued on May 19, 2022, and purportedly passed a motion to remove Mentore as ViceChairman of the Committee of Management, performing duties of Chairman, on the basis that he “adjourned the statutory meeting twice, thereby preventing the conducting of the business of the credit union”.

The applicants further argue that the Committee of Management illegally re-

convened a statutory meeting purportedly to elect Mars and Hermanstyne as respective Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Committee of Management.

No-confidence motion

The applicants, Mc Almont, Marks and Clements, submit that after a no-confidence motion was passed against Benn at a Special Committee Meeting on April 21, he was removed as the GPSCCU’s Chairman, but not as a member of its Committee of Management. As a result, they said, Mentore was empowered by the credit union’s Chief Co-operative Development Officer (ag), via a letter dated May 4 and by the GPSCCU’s Rules, to perform the duties of Chairman until a new chairman has been elected.

They said that Mentore, in performance of his duties as Chairman of the Committee of Management, presided over a statutory meeting on May 14, which continued on May 19, during which he informed the members that he had received a petition signed by the statutorily required number of members of the GPSCCU on May 11 and 12, containing specific demands, including for the holding of a Special General Meeting and the removal of the Committee of Management.

According to the applicants, Mentore informed the Committee that the CEO was also in receipt of the petition. They said he asked the Committee to dis-

cuss the petition as a matter of priority, given the demands contained therein, but the Committee informed him that they were not in receipt of the petition, notwithstanding the CEO having signed the said document acknowledging receipt of same.

“The Committee has outright refused to discuss the petition, and to act in accordance with its demands; that is to say, the holding of a Special General Meeting as mandated by Regulation 16 of the Co-operative Societies Regulations,” the applicants contend.

Legitimacy

They deposed that the Committee of Management is now questioning the legality and legitimacy of the petition, despite its conformity with the relevant credit union regulations, and the Committee is carrying on business as usual.

The applicants have said that, via a correspondence dated May 16, Mentore summoned the Committee

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to an urgent meeting on May 18, to discuss the petition; however, only Mentore and Benn were in attendance.

They added that eight members of the Committee instead informed Pollard, the Secretary of the Committee of Management, after the scheduled start of the meeting, that they could not attend the meeting because of other commitments. As such, the applicants have said, Mentore, on May 18, gave the Committee members notice of a Special General Meeting to be held on June 25 at the credit union’s Hadfield Street, Georgetown headquarters.

The applicants said that Mentore also reminded the Committee that a meeting of the membership of a registered society is the highest decision-making forum of any registered society, and that the petition containing the objects of the proposed meeting is lawful and valid.

The applicants noted that Mentore also instructed the credit union’s marketing and public relations unit to put all the neces-

sary arrangements in place to give effect to the petition, including the immediate publication of an official notice on the credit union’s Facebook page and in all newspapers in national circulation.

Counter instructions

The applicants have said that the CEO telephoned Mentore and informed him that she would not be carrying out his instructions, as she is neither aware of any Board decision on the matter, nor is she in possession of any minutes notifying her of same.

The applicants further submitted that CEO Griffith also indicated that she would be issuing counter instructions to the Management Secretary not to carry out Mentore’s instructions.

The applicants added that, in a letter dated May 19, Griffith informed the Society’s Management Secretary that “unless it is a board decision, no such instruction will be carried out, and as such, I have asked you to stand down on this matter as I await to be fur-

ther advised on the matter.”

In response to Mentore’s instructions, the applicants have said, the Committee of Management posted a disclaimer on the GPSCCU’s Facebook Page, informing that the notice for the Special General Meeting of members was not approved by the credit union, and that no such meeting is scheduled. As such, they contend that the foregoing demonstrates the Committee of Management's total disregard for the petition of the members and the demand for the holding of a Special General Meeting of the members.

Declarations

Against this backdrop, the applicants are asking the High Court to declare that, in his capacity as duly elected ViceChairman of the Committee of Management, performing duties of Chairman, Mentore can convene a Special General Meeting of the Society.

The applicants are seeking another declaration: that the notice for a Special General Meeting, published in the newspapers under the hand of Mentore, is legal and valid.

They want the court to grant an order compelling the respondents to give effect to the petition signed by over 200 members of the GPSCCU; an order that the respondents pay the cost of their application; any other orders the court deems just; and costs.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde is appearing for the applicants.

East Canje family fearful after being threatened by abusive son-in-law

Wazim Amin holding the crowbar and cutlass that his son-in-law used to attack his wife and daughter

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n East Canje, Berbice construction worker is calling for the intervention of authorities after his family has been coming under frequent attacks from his son-in-law.

Wazim Amin said his 18-year-old daughter has been seeking ref-

uge at his Bun Bush Dam, Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice home following instances of abuse by her husband, a 25-year-old taxi driver.

The husband is now accusing the family of interfering in the couple’s relationship. On Monday, the

husband armed himself with a crowbar and went to the family’s house.

The husband was reportedly charging toward his 16-year-old sister-inlaw when Amin intervened and took away the weapon. However, the taxi driver reportedly left the yard and later returned with a cutlass. This too was taken away from him.

The following day, the matter was reported to the Central Police Station. “The Police took statements and none of them never come,” the fearful man told Guyana Times.

Amin said his family was subsequently threatened and as such, the Police were again contacted.

The man noted that officers from the Reliance Police Station had visited the family but left without conducting a proper investigation.

TURN TO PAGE 16

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GBTI’s “Drive Home” Security officer shoots colleague campaign brings easy during row over parking financing for homeownership A …pre-approval for loans on the spot at Building Expo 2022

Persons will have a chance to win this SUV after participating in the Drive Home campaign

T

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Friday introduced its “Drive Home” campaign, creating an avenue for easier homeownership and financing. This promotion will culminate with Building Expo 2022, on July 24.

Targeted groups in this campaign are persons who wish to purchase or build a home; those who maintain mortgages and want to switch to GBTI; or those that have existing mortgages and want to benefit from added value. At the expo, pre-approval for loans will be done on the spot.

Business Development Manager Rawattie Mohandeo shared, “As an individual, homeownership is the single largest investment that you can make and by doing that, it allows you the opportunity to make wise financial decisions”.

In continuing to promote affordable retail banking opportunities, GBTI is also ac-

tive in enabling easy financing for the acquisition of land as well as lowered interest rates. Additionally, the bank will be partnering with selected furniture, appliance and hardware stores for new homeowners to complete their homes.

“We invite persons to learn about what we’re offering…You can apply online or visit any of our 12 branches countrywide. We’re the best in the market. We promise that once you come to us, we will have a quick turnaround time on the spot.”

Those who have successfully acquired a loan or related services with the Ministry will have a chance to win a new Toyota SUV. Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Water Ministry, Andre Ally related that such efforts foster homeownership but also contribute to affordable housing solutions for all Guyanese.

“It is a good time to be a Guyanese living in Guyana.

The world is coming out of a

pandemic and while a majority of countries around the world are in a steep economic decline. We, in Guyana, are fortunate to have one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. We are seeing banks across the world increasing interest rates and now in Guyana, we have banks in Guyana like GBTI that are decreasing the rates,” the PS outlined.

The focus was drawn to the multiplier factor that will be drawn from this initiative, as Ally pointed out increased employment in the construction sector, higher disposable income in the economy, and improved standard of living.

“The initiative supports the mandate of the Ministry of Housing and Water in providing affordable housing solutions to all Guyanese.

It also helps to support the manifesto promise of the Government of Guyana, delivering 10,000 house lots annually.”

East Canje family fearful...

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The window that was broken as a result of the missiles

min’s wife, Jaswattie, claimed she told the policemen that the suspect was inside the house but they still left without intervening. Shortly after the cops left, the suspect began stoning their house thus destroying a window and a television set.

“The Police went right down here when the boy start pelt up the bottle and when we call back the Police they ignore we… I stand up down here and holla and call the Police and they ignore we.”

That matter was also reported to the Police and they

FROM PAGE 15

returned. Amin said the situation is affecting his children’s education.

“The Police come and take out pictures. I show them the crowbar and the cutlass that he come into my yard with and they tell me to carry it upstairs and put it up. Last night I call the Police and tell them what going on, that the guys on the road threatened us and they tell me to let me fix back my windows. From Monday to now my children can’t go to school because they fear for their life. My daughter is upstairs locked up in a bedroom… she is frightened to come down and talk to you… he threaten to kill she.”

Regional Commander Boodnarine Persaud has since been informed of the situation and has promised to intervene in the matter.

27-year-old security guard attached to the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arrested after he allegedly shot his colleague during a row over the cars that were parked in the driveway.

The shooting occurred on Thursday afternoon, leaving Junior Mohan, a 30-year-old security guard, injured.

Police in a statement related that both men are employed with a security service located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, and on the day in question at about 15:30h, the two men were on duty at the hotel.

They were reportedly standing to the north of the main entrance when they had a disagreement over the cars that were parked in the driveway.

It was reported that the suspect got annoyed and pulled out his firearm, a Glock 19 pistol which had 10 live matching 9mm rounds of

The Ramada Princess Hotel

ammunition, and discharged a round, hitting the victim on his leg just over the knee.

A Police Corporal who was performing duty at the hotel at the time arrested the suspect and took possession of the firearm. The victim was escorted to the city hospital where he underwent immediate surgery. An investigation has been launched into the shooting incident.

Only last month Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, issued a stern warning to private security firms whose guards are seen posing on social media, es-

pecially on “Tik Tok”, with high-powered rifles.

Hicken said there are instances where security firms would have their officers exposing large weapons while on duty, and this has the potential to create a hostile situation with civil society.

He said it can also have negative implications for Guyana’s tourism sector, as well as for the general safety of citizens.

To this end, the Top Cop has said there must be professionalism, especially when it concerns the handling of firearms.

Speeding minibus driver dies after crashing vehicle into utility pole

The bus that was involved in the accident

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minibus driver, who was allegedly speeding along the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is now dead after he lost control of the vehicle and

crashed into a nearby utility pole.

Dead is 42-year-old Romeo Machado of Nooten Zuil, ECD. Reports are that Machado was driving a minibus bearing registra-

tion number BYY 4603 and was proceeding east along the said road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed, when he drove into a pothole and lost control of the minibus.

As a result, the bus crashed into a wooden post that was erected on the southern side of the road and it ended up in a nearby trench.

The driver was pulled from the minibus by public-spirited persons in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Construction worker to serve 17 years for raping teen girl

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construction worker who was found guilty of attempting to rape and raping a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment.

Following a trial before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry, Clincy David, 45, was found guilty of the offences which were committed on April 8, 2020, and July 13, 2020. He had initially denied the charges.

State Prosecutor Cicelia Corbin contended that David, who was 44 at the time, raped the girl on the latter date after attempting to commit the offence against her on April 8, 2020. At a pre-sentence hearing last week, David apologised for his unlawful actions.

The convict said, “I am apologising to this court for

Child rapist Clincy David

being here for these kinds of offences”. He begged the Judge to give him a lenient sentence so that he can return to society to be with his children. For her part, Prosecutor Corbin urged the court to consider the se-

rious nature of the offences as well as the psychological impacts they have had on the complainant.

According to her, he abused his position of trust to sexually molest the girl.

Although David said he was sorry, the prosecutor pointed out that “he has shown no generous remorse for what he did and is still maintaining his innocence”.

In the end, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced the convict to 15 years in prison on the attempted rape charge and 17 years on the rape charge; the two sentences will run concurrently.

Throughout his trial, David was represented by lawyer Teriq Mohammed.

He was previously charged with the capital offence of murder but was acquitted.

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World International Men’s Health Week

Heath Minister urges men to get regular check-ups M en are less likely to see a physician for regular screening compared to women, said Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony as he made remarks at a mini-exhibition to mark World International Men’s Health Week.

The theme for this year’s International Men’s Health Week which concludes on Sunday is: “Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys”.

“When we look at men’s health, one of the big problems that we have with men is that they don’t come to the health centres because they feel that they are strong even if they have some signs and symptoms of anything. They [believe they] will get better. So, you don’t need to go and see a doctor, and even if something is bothering you, you would ignore it and hope that it goes away. And when it doesn’t go away, eventually when you go to the doctor you might be too late,” he said.

Dr Anthony pointed out

that this type of behaviour has to change because men have problems and are no different from the rest of the population.

Amid the rise in non-communicable diseases, such as high blood pressure, cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes, the Health Minister advised men to get screened frequently.

He said, “A lot of men come to us when they already have prostate cancer.

Among the cancers in men, the prostate is one of the most prevalent. But again, because people don’t want to come and get a checkup; when they come it’s too late. They have already got cancer and it has started to spread.” He explained that many of these chronic non-communicable diseases are preventable and one of the first things people need to look at is what they eat.

“We have to make sure that the food that we are eating is nutritious. We have to make sure that it is balanced. That is a very important thing we have to

municable disease.”

The statistics relating to alcohol consumption show that Guyanese are “right up on the ladder at the top of the world” because Guyanese people “love to drink”, Dr Anthony emphasised. He, therefore, warned that “alcohol is not healthy for you and it can lead to all kinds of complications”, adding that many men are overconsuming alcohol.

The Health Minister

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

look at if we want to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases.” The need for exercise regularly was also highlighted by him.

“All the institutions that talk about health would tell you that you have to be vigorously active. At least 30 minutes of exercise every day, yet the average Guyanese male might not have been doing vigorous exercise. This would also become a risk factor for you to get a chronic non-com-

Toy gun, knives unearthed during search at ECD schools

The potential weapons that were found at the schools

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he Guyana Police Force conducted an operation on Thursday at several secondary schools on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) which led to the discovery of a number of weapons including a toy gun.

Police said during their search, scissors, screwdrivers, knives, and a toy gun were found in the bags of students. The search was conducted in the presence of teachers and welfare officers.

The operations were conducted at the Lancaster

Secondary, Bladen Hall Multilateral Secondary, Buxton Practical Instructional Centre, Annandale Secondary, Buxton Secondary, Plaisance Secondary, Beterverwagting Secondary, La Bonne Intention Secondary, Ann’s Grove Secondary, St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary, Hope Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary, and President’s College.

Meanwhile, in addition to the searches, lectures were also conducted.

The topics discussed

were violence and crime committed at schools, gang fighting, taking offensive weapons to school, the consequences of using offensive weapons at school, being on the streets after school, and respect for teachers.

This search comes on the heels of the recent gun discovery and other instances of violence in several educational facilities.

Just recently at the Lodge Secondary School, teachers downed tools in protest against intimidation and threats by students suspected to belong to gangs.

Deputy Head Master of the school, Khemraj Sawh had told the media that over the last month students have constantly been making threats to teachers and students. They were even some reported cases of abuse.

Following the reported cases of violence in the schools, the Education Ministry said that they will be taking a holistic approach to address the situation on a long-term basis.

The approach is expected to have the involvement of the Guyana Police Force, including the Community Policing Groups, as well as religious leaders in the respective communities.

Minister of the Education Ministry Priya Manickchand in responding to the situation, related that while students need to be educated, any unruly behaviour which affects teachers and other students will not be accepted.

pointed out that alcohol, like any other substance, would lead to problems because it causes psychological and physical dependence on it. “We have a lot of people smoking in this day and age when we know that tobacco is bad for you.

And you’re buying the thing that is going to cause cancer for you; you are paying for your cancer,” said Dr Anthony as he questioned the logic behind that. He also urged men to get vac-

cinated against sexually transmitted diseases.

“We can change the outcome of these diseases. It is not destined that you must have a chronic non-communicable disease. Right now, our life expectancy in this country is about 70 years; it doesn’t have to be 70, it can go up to 100. But we have to start embracing a healthy lifestyle and take all the precautions to ensure that we can live longer,” the Health Minister said.

$5M wing at Night Shelter commissioned

…training to be offered to Night Shelter occupants

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$5 million wing at the Night Shelter that has the capacity of 120 was commissioned on Friday by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud.

The Minister excitedly shared that “This process took a little longer than I wanted it to take, but nevertheless, I am happy to be here to officially open the additional wing of the Night Shelter”.

Dr Persaud expressed that the Night Shelter, like other institutions, has been a passion of hers since her ascension to office.

“Since becoming the Minister here, I came here very early and this is one of the institutions that I am very passionate about ensuring that the conditions are improved, that environment is conducive, you’re (the occupants of the shelter) living comfortably,” she said.

The purpose of the new Night Shelter wing is to increase the capacity at the shelter.

“Today, we are opening

Minister Persaud at the opening of the new wing

a wing that would increase capacity, but will also be used to an extent to those coming in for the first time so that we can have them screened to make sure that they’re in good health and that they’re able to receive any treatment that they require before being integrated with everyone else,” the Minister explained.

Upgrades were previously made to other wings in the compound, but the Minister promised that more upgrades are to be made in the facility.

She said, “You would have seen the interior being upgraded within the Night

Shelter, you would have seen your beds being improved, there’s more to happen in that direction, and of course new mattresses, new pillows, sheets, and overall, the exterior of the Night Shelter being ungraded.”

Meanwhile, the Minister also announced that the Ministry is working on providing training to the occupants of the shelter to better prepare those who are willing to enter the workforce.

The Minister said that training from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is an option being considered by the Minister.

Miner busted with ganja in ATV tyres

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miner arrested on Friday after he was found to be in possession of 3 kilograms 94.7 grams of cannabis hidden in All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) tryes at Apaiqua Landing Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Police stated that the ranks, at about 12:00h on Friday went to Apaiqua Landing, Middle Mazaruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) where, on arrival, they contacted the miner of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) who had two boxes, one bag and two black A.T.V tyres in his possession.

As a result, he was told of

The cannabis that was found in the tyres

their suspicion and requested to carry out a search on his belongings, to which he agreed.

He was taken to the Enachu Police Station where a search was initiated. Whilst searching, the two A.T.V tyres, several par-

cels were found wrapped with black scotch tape.

Upon inspection, the ganja was unearthed. The cannabis was weighed in the suspect's presence and amounted to 3 KG 94.7 grams. Investigations are ongoing.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

Regional

Doors are closing fast for Venezuelan oil exports to Europe Cubans seeking to travel set to resume after 2 years

People wait their turn for visa procedures nearby the embassy of Panama in Havana, Cuba, June 13, 2022. Picture taken on June 13, 2022

C

uban Miguel Palenzuela, 52, and his wife Ania have been waiting for a month outside Colombia’s embassy in Havana in hopes of securing a visa to travel through the South American nation.

Palenzuela, who commutes almost daily from Guanabacoa, outside the capital, said he would prefer an appointment but the website crashes. Other embassies are as bad or worse, he said.

“There are too many barriers,” Palenzuela said, shaded from the summer Caribbean sun beneath a mango tree. “It’s as if they

don’t want us Cubans to travel.”

The Colombian embassy told Reuters its systems had been swamped by the “large number” of applicants, and said the country’s upcoming presidential elections had also slowed service.

Reuters this week spoke with nearly two dozen people waiting in lines outside the embassies of Colombia, Mexico, and Panama, countries often used as jumping-off points for irregular migration north to the United States.

The Cubans Reuters spoke with either declined to elaborate on the reason

for their travels or said they were shopping or travelling for tourism.

But all expressed frustration as diplomatic and bureaucratic bottlenecks at home and abroad grow for Cubans seeking to leave the island amid a growing economic crisis.

Over 140,000 Cubans have been encountered by authorities at the US border with Mexico since October, US figures show, among the largest migrations off the island in decades.

Cuba blames the United States for priming the pump of illegal migration by maintaining a Cold War-era economic embargo while cutting off consular services in Havana for Cubans.

The United States last week agreed to facilitate “legal pathways” for migrants at the Summit of the Americas, which excluded Cuban Government representatives. Washington resumed visa processing in Havana in May and aims to issue 20,000 immigrant visas to Cubans a year.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Registered voters will have a say in Jamaica becoming a Republic – Malahoo Forte

M

inister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, said all Jamaicans who are registered to vote will have a say in whether or not Jamaica transitions away from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

In April, during a Royal Visit of Prince William and his wife Kate, Prime Minister Andrew Holness informed them of the country’s intention to cut ties with the royal family and become a republic.

“Now, Jamaica is about to make some important changes. Changes at the level of the Constitution

and the Constitution is our highest law. Every other law must be consistent with the Constitution. Prime Minister (Andrew) Holness indicated the intention of the Government to put in a local Head of State and move on from her majesty the Queen of England and that work will involve you because it’s not just the Members of Parliament who will vote on that important change when the time comes,” Malahoo, the Member of Parliament for St James West Central, stated during the launch of the Universal Service Fund community Wi-Fi initiative in Bogue Hill, St James on Thursday evening.

She added, “The Constitution says that matter has to go to the people, those of you who are registered to vote in a general election.”

Malahoo Forte told her constituents that she intends to utilise this well-needed internet connection to further communicate on this major change.

In April, during a post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister Malahoo Forte advised that this constitutional change could not be made in time for the country’s 60th anniversary of Independence in August.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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650,000-barrel-cargo of Venezuela’s oil chartered by Italy’s Eni is about to set sail carrying the first export of crude from the US-sanctioned country to Europe in two years, Refinitiv Eikon data showed on Friday.

The US State Department sent letters to Eni and Spain’s Repsol in May authorising them to resume taking Venezuelan crude as a way to settle billions of dollars of unpaid debt and dividends owed by the OPEC-member nation.

A second tanker chartered by Eni, the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Pantanassa, is currently navigating towards Venezuela and expected to load 2 million barrels of the

same grade, diluted crude oil (DCO), and take it to Europe, according to the Eikon data and a shipping document seen by Reuters.

That cargo is expected to be delivered by Venezuela’s state-owned PDVSA later this month with an option for Eni to sell a portion of the crude to Spain’s Repsol for its Cartagena and Bilbao refineries, according to the document and sources.

The Malta-flagged Pantanassa is scheduled to load via ship-to-ship transfer near Venezuela’s Amuay port, the document added.

Eni, Repsol and PDVSA did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Venezuela’s May oil ex-

Ecuador seeks partner to stop gas flaring as anger rises in the Amazon

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cuador oil company Petroecuador said it is working to shut down gas flares in the Amazon to comply with a court-imposed deadline, but progress is too slow for nearby communities who allege the flares cause cancer and other illnesses.

A provincial tribunal in Sucumbios province last year ordered Petroecuador and a handful of private operators to stop hundreds of flares - which burn off natural gas emitted during oil production when there is no infrastructure to capture it in inhabited areas by March 2023.

Flaring last year released

400 million tonnes of greenhouse gases globally, according to the World Bank, and researchers have warned of health problems from cancer to respiratory disease associated with the practice.

The state-owned company is hoping to find a private partner to invest in technology needed to capture the 65 million cubic feet of gas emitted daily by flares, which flame constantly above verdant treetops.

Petroecuador said 15 companies have expressed interest, including Promigas SA and Gran Tierra Energy.

“Part of the capturing process is trying to gradually and progressively

T

The storm is slowly drifting north-northeast, and was blowing maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 mph (65 kph) on Friday morning, the NHC said.

Authorities in El Salvador have issued a “red alert” warning along the country’s coast.

Mexico’s National Water Commission said the storm would likely dump rain on the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatan.

Celia’s emergence comes

as Blas, a Category 1 hurricane off the coast moving deeper into the Pacific, threatens to douse the western states of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Guerrero, Michoacan and Baja California with rain, the water commission said.

Swells generated by Blas are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip currents in parts of the Baja California peninsula, the NHC said.

Hurricane Agatha hit Mexico in late May, causing floods that killed at least nine people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

eliminate the flares within the court’s timeframe,” Petroecuador’s head of projects Jaime Garzon told Reuters.

The company aims to begin halting flares in inhabited areas from September in order to meet the deadline, Garzon said, and switch off rural flares within in two or three years, well ahead of an eight-year timeline imposed by the court.

It should be possible to mount such capture infrastructure quickly if the right company wins the tender, former Energy Minister Fernando Santos told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Exam confirms remains found in Amazon were of British journalist

Storm Celia expected to dump heavy rain on El Salvador, Guatemala, southern Mexico ropical Storm Celia is expected to drop heavy rain on El Salvador, Guatemala and southern Mexico through Sunday, and could spark flash floods and mudslides, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Friday.

Celia, which formed on Friday, is a small storm and will likely move westward away from the coast into the Pacific, the NHC predicted. Still, movement farther north or an increase in size could lead to a tropical storm warning in the region.

ports plummeted to the lowest level in 19 months over contract changes enforced by PDVSA to switch most spot sales to prepayment, reducing the risk of unpaid cargoes. The change did not affect customers under swap deals of debt payment agreements.

European, Asian and US companies operating joint ventures with PDVSA in Venezuela, including Eni, Repsol, Chevron, ONGC Ltd, and Maurel & Prom, have accumulated billions of dollars in pending debt since the Government of then US President Donald Trump suspended oil swaps used for exchanging Venezuelan oil for fuel and debt payments. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Federal Police officers carrying a coffin containing human remains after a suspect confessed to killing British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and led Police to the location of remains, at the headquarters of the Federal Police, in Brasilia, Brazil, June 16, 2022

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forensic exam carried out on human remains found in the Amazon rainforest confirmed on Friday that they belonged to British journalist Dom Phillips, Brazil’s Federal Police said.

Work was underway to determine the cause of death, the Police said in a statement.

The remains of a second person, believed to be that of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, was still under analysis, a report by CNN Brasil said earlier on Friday.

Pereira and Phillips vanished on June 5 in the remote Javari Valley bordering Peru and Colombia. Earlier this week, Police recovered human remains from a grave in

the jungle where they were led by a fisherman who confessed to killing the two men.

Phillips, a freelance reporter who had written for the Guardian and the Washington Post, was doing research for a book on the trip with Pereira, a former head of isolated and recently contacted tribes at federal Indigenous affairs agency Funai.

Earlier in the day, police said their investigation suggested there were more individuals involved beyond the suspect who had confessed, but that so far the killers were believed to have acted without the involvement of a criminal organisation.

Local Indigenous group Univaja, however, which played a leading role in the search, said it had informed the Federal Police numerous times since late 2021 that there was an organized crime group operating in the Javari Valley. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil slumps 6% to 4-week low on recession worries, strong dollar

O

il prices tumbled about 6 per cent to a four-week low on Friday on worries that interest rate hikes by major central banks could slow the global economy and cut demand for energy.

Also pressuring prices, the US dollar this week rose to its highest level since December 2002 against a basket of currencies, making oil more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

Brent futures fell US$6.69, or 5.6 per cent, to settle at US$113.12 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell US$8.03, or 6.8 per cent, to settle at US$109.56.

That was the lowest close for Brent since May 20 and the lowest for WTI since May 12. It was also the biggest daily percentage decline for Brent since early May and the biggest for WTI since late March.

For the week, Brent futures declined for the first time in five weeks, while WTI dropped for the first time in eight weeks.

There will be no US trading on Monday, the Juneteenth holiday.

"Crude prices tumbled as the dollar rallied, Russia signalled oil exports should increase, and as global recession fears grow," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA. Global central bankers who quickly loosened monetary policy during the pandemic to avoid a recession, are now tightening to fight inflation.

The Federal Reserve this week hiked US rates by the most in more than a quarter of a century.

"With the central banks making pretty substantial moves to limit growth via interest rate hikes and monetary tightening is showing up here in the petroleum complex," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York, noting that slower economic growth should cut energy demand.

With the Fed expected to keep raising interest rates, open interest in WTI futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday to its lowest level since May 2016 as investors cut back on risky assets.

US gasoline and diesel futures also slid over 4 per cent on worries high pump prices will reduce demand.

US energy firms this week added just four oil rigs as President Joe Biden slammed producers for profiting from sky-high prices instead of doing more to boost output.

Even as his Administration wants Saudi Arabia to produce more oil, Biden said he was not going to have a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman during his trip to the region next month, and that he was only seeing the Saudi crown prince as part of a broader "international meeting."

Russia, meanwhile, expects its oil exports to increase in 2022 despite Western sanctions and a European embargo, the Russian deputy Energy Minister said on Friday, according to Tass news agency.

The market's turbulence has certainly increased since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin blasts “stupid” Western sanctions as economic “blitzkrieg”

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ussian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of colonial arrogance and of trying to crush his country with “stupid” sanctions that amounted to an economic “blitzkrieg”.

Addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, a showcase event this year being held with almost no Western participation, Putin told Russia’s political and economic elite that he would continue his war on Ukraine.

“We are strong people and can cope with any challenge.

Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem, the entire thousand-year history of our country speaks of this,” he said.

Putin drew applause from the hall when he reaffirmed

“Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem, the entire thousand-year history of our country speaks of this,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 17, 2022 [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]

his determination to continue the “special military operation” in Ukraine that has unleashed what he said was an “unprecedented” barrage of Western economic sanctions.

He said the main aim of the invasion was to defend “our” people in the largely Russianspeaking Donbas region of eastern Ukraine – a justification that Kyiv and the West

dismiss as a baseless pretext for a war that has already led to the occupation of parts of southern Ukraine far beyond the Donbas.

Putin said that Russian soldiers in the Donbas were also fighting to defend Russia’s own “rights to secure development”.

“In the current situation, against a backdrop of increasing risks for us and threats, Russia’s decision to conduct a special military operation was forced – difficult, of course, but forced and necessary,” he said.

Putin said the United States considered itself “God’s emissary on Earth”, and that Western sanctions were founded on a false premise that Russia had no economic sovereignty. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Europe heatwave: Outdoor events banned in parts of France

O

There have been forest fires in Catalonia

utdoor public events have been banned in an area of France as a record-breaking heatwave sweeps across Europe.

Concerts and large public gatherings have been called off in the Gironde department around Bordeaux.

On Thursday, parts of France hit 40C earlier in the

year than ever before, with temperatures expected to peak on Saturday.

Scientists say periods of intense heat are becoming more frequent and longer lasting as a result of global warming.

Spain, Italy and the UK are also experiencing high temperatures.

In Gironde, officials said

public events, including some of the official 18 June Resistance celebrations, will be prohibited from Friday at 14:00 (12:00 GMT) "until the end of the heat wave".

Indoor events at venues without air-conditioning are also banned.

Private celebrations, such as weddings, will still be allowed.

"Everyone now faces a health risk", local official Fabienne Buccio told France Bleu radio.

The French Interior Ministry warned people to be extremely careful and not expose themselves to the weather.

State forecaster Meteo

France said it was the earliest hot spell ever to hit the country, which has been caused by a mass of hot air moving from north Africa.

Temperatures could hit 39C in Paris and droughts have also raised the risk of wildfires, the forecaster said.

Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, released into Earth's atmosphere in large volumes are trapping the sun's heat, causing the planet to warm.

This has brought more extreme weather, including record-breaking high temperatures across the world.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada Police arrest Thailand rushes to rein Congolese soldier killed former priest for residential school assault in cannabis use a week in Rwanda, fighting P after decriminalisation with rebels picks up

T

hailand hastily issued a raft of new regulations for cannabis use this week after a longplanned decriminalisation raised alarm at the potential for unchecked use of the substance anywhere and by anyone - including children.

Soon after the country became the first in Asia to legalise growing and consumption of cannabis in food and drink on June 9, businesses began openly selling marijuana, with strains called "Amnesia" and "Night Nurse" on offer from a truck in Bangkok.

The rapid rise in cannabis sales sparked concern from a Bangkok city official: Deputy Permanent Secretary Wantanee Wattana said at least one person had died and several were hospitalised this week after consuming or smoking marijuana.

A draft cannabis bill is making its way through Parliament, but could be months away from becoming

law.

This week, the Central Government has been issuing piecemeal rules to try to bring some order to cannabis use.

On Friday, new regulations went into effect forbidding all public smoking of cannabis as well as the sale of marijuana to people under the age of 20, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. The rules were published overnight in the Royal Gazette.

Several other rules included banning cannabis from schools, requirement for retailers to provide clear information on usage of cannabis in food and drinks and the application of a health law that defined smoke from marijuana a public nuisance punishable by jail and a fine.

Critics have said the government rushed to remove criminal penalties on marijuana before passing a law to ensure the substance is regulated. (Excerpt from Reuters)

R

wandan Police on Friday shot and killed a Congolese soldier who crossed the border and fired at security forces, Rwanda's army said, as fighting intensified 50 km (30 miles) away between Congo's military and rebels it said are backed by Rwanda.

The Central African neighbours have been locked in a diplomatic crisis since the M23 rebels launched a major offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last month.

Rwanda denies Congo's allegations that it supports the guerrillas, whose leadership hails from the same Tutsi ethnic group as Rwandan President Paul Kagame, or that it has sent troops into eastern Congo.

As fighting picked up again between the rebels and Congo's army on Friday, M23 fighters shot down a Congolese military helicopter, according to M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma and a Congolese

army source.

The incident at the border took place earlier on Friday when a Congolese soldier crossed into Rwanda from the Congolese city of Goma and fired an AK-47 rifle at Rwandan security personnel and civilians, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) said.

Two Rwandan Police officers were injured before an officer on duty fired back at the soldier, who was killed 25 metres inside Rwanda, an RDF statement said.

Congo's Government said it was monitoring the situation but did not provide details about the incident. It ordered the border with Rwanda closed each day at 3 pm from Friday on, several hours earlier than usual.

Anti-Rwandan sentiment in Congo is widespread, a legacy of Rwanda's two invasions of eastern Congo in the 1990s and continuing influence in the region. (Excerpt from Reuters)

olice in central Canada have arrested a 92-yearold former priest for the sexual assault of a child more than five decades ago at a socalled residential school that Indigenous children were forced to attend in the province of Manitoba.

In a statement on Friday, Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they arrested retired Father Arthur Masse on a charge of indecent assault.

The alleged assault took place between 1968 and 1970 at Fort Alexander Residential School, northeast of Winnipeg, and involved a 10-year-old female student, Police said.

“The size and scope of this investigation has meant many years of investigative work,” Sergeant Paul Manaigre, a Manitoba RCMP spokesperson, said in the statement.

“The emotional trauma experienced by victims of abuse is very real, and despite the years that intervened between the alleged occurrences and when Police were investigating, that trauma is still present.”

The announcement comes as Canada continues to grapple with the recent discoveries of unmarked graves at several former residential school sites across the country.

Canada forced more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children to attend residential schools between the late 1800s and 1990s. The children were stripped of their languages and culture, separated from siblings, and subjected to psychological, physical and sexual abuse.

Thousands are believed to have died while attending the institutions, which were established and funded by the state but run by various religious denominations, most notably the Roman Catholic Church.

Bottom of Form A federal commission of inquiry into Canada’s residential schools, known as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), concluded in 2015 that the system amounted to “cultural genocide”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Get moving, and don't stop until you get the desired results. Work with people you trust to get things done to your specifications. Don't labor over last-minute changes someone makes.

(March 21-April 19) Emotional matters will leave you questioning what to do next. Don't take what others do or say personally.

Consider what's best for you and head in that direction free of worry.

DILBERT (April 20-May 20)

Choose how you wish to proceed.

Spontaneity can turn sour if you haven't thought your plans through. Don't make a physical adjustment without research.

Ask an expert before you proceed.

(May 21-June 20) Observe how others do things, then prepare to step in to save the day. Refuse to get involved in joint ventures in which you have little input. Protect your investments.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Participate in something that challenges you to think and learn from the experience. You don't have to spend money to have a good time. Invest in yourself and something you find interesting.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Concentrate on making a positive lifestyle change. Don't let someone confuse you with false or skewed information. Do your fact-checking, and don't be afraid to go it alone.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Sign up for something that gets you out of the house and into a playful space that promises entertainment. Steer clear of offers that are unstable or promise the impossible.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23) It's time to try something new and exciting. A partnership will offer a refreshing change that makes you feel good about your life and prospects. A commitment will pay off.

SUDOKU (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Don't believe everything you hear.

Focus on home, family and what you can do to get closer to those you love.

Consider the best way to use your money to ease stress.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Stick to a minimalist lifestyle and feel good about yourself and what you accomplish. Decluttering spaces that you can put to better use will encourage you to do more to improve your life.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take nothing for granted, and don't be a follower. It's your job to think for yourself and do what's best for you.

Make changes that lower stress and encourage you to start projects.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Stop dreaming and start doing.

Leave nothing to chance. Focus on personal changes that make you feel good about how you look and what you have to offer. Romance is encouraged.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

21

CSA vs India: T20I series, game 4 of 5…

-as Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya and Avesh Khan sparkle

D

inesh Karthik made his T20I debut in India’s first T20I match in 2006, before this format was played in bilateral series, before it had a World Cup, and even before the Indian Premier League was created.

It has taken him 16 years and 36 matches, but he has finally made his first half-century in the format. And he scored it in India’s biggest win over South Africa, and in the fifth-biggest win in T20Is, to leave the series locked at 2-2 ahead of Sunday’s finale.

Karthik’s milestone came in the final over, after a 65-run partnership off just 33 balls between him and Hardik Pandya for the fifth wicket, which rejuvenated India after the pair had come together at 81 for 4 in the 13th over.

India scored 73 runs in their last five overs, and finished on 169 for 6, which proved more than enough for their attack to defend.

On a surface with uneven bounce, most of India’s lineup struggled, until Pandya and Karthik came together. Hardik Pandya took on the spinners and the slower balls, while Dinesh Karthik was severe on anything that offered width; and they took India to a competitive total, albeit one they may have assessed as perhaps slightly under-par at the halfway stage.

In response, South Africa’s line-up was not able to adapt to

the pace of the pitch, or to India’s bowling, and were dismissed for their lowest total in T20Is. They had one partnership of 20, but imploded from the moment their captain, Temba Bavuma, retired hurt with an elbow injury; and they lost their last five wickets for the addition of just 13 runs.

Only three of their batters got into double figures.

All of India’s bowlers, bar Hardik, conceded 5.25 runs to the over or less, but their standout was seamer Avesh Khan.

He dismissed Dwaine Pretorius, who appears to have become a permanent pinch-hitter at #3, in the final over of the powerplay, and then took three wickets in this third over, to finish with careerbest figures of 4 for 18.

His next over was laced with change-ups in length and pace, and was a demonstration in full commitment when he fielded a drive from Ishan Kishan with his foot.

Ngidi finished the over, but left the field, and returned later in the innings to deliver one over at the death, which ended up being the least expensive of the final three. He bowled the 19th, and was pulled to square leg by Hardik for six, before Hardik topedged him to deep backward point, where Tabraiz Shamsi took a stunner.

Ngidi conceded one boundary from the bat of Karthik, but pulled it back to finish with a return of 2 for 20 in three overs.

Here’s looking at you, Lungi

It hasn’t been a good series for Rishabh Pant with the bat so far, and other than the lack of runs, what may concern him are the ways he has been getting out. In three of his four innings, Pant has been dismissed off wide deliveries outside the off stump, deliveries that could have been called wide had he left them alone.

On this occasion, Pant got down on one knee to swipe a slower Keshav Maharaj ball over third man. He was early on the stroke, and the ball ballooned to Dwaine Pretorius at short third man, strategically placed for exactly that.

We haven’t seen him play competitively since March, and not in a T20I since last July, and it was worth the wait. Lungi Ngidi looks fitter than before, and has been working on his variations.

In his first four deliveries (not counting the wide he started with), he sent down a short ball, an inswinger, and two slower balls, before erring with a halftracker that Ruturaj Gaikwad hit behind point for four.

Ngidi adjusted immediately, and sent down a back-of-a-length ball that seamed away from Gaikwad, who nicked off.

Pant’s (not) on fire

NBA Finals

Warriors win 4th Championship in eight years -Curry wins first Finals MVP T he Golden State Warriors have secured their fourth NBA Championship in the past eight years with a 10390 away win against the Boston Celtics in Game 6.

With the win, the Warriors secured a 4-2 series win, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to rattle off three of the next four, including two road wins in Boston.

While the night ended in Golden State celebrations, the start was all Celtics, who jumped out of the gates to a 14-2 lead.

The Warriors kept in touch, and then went on an explosive game-winning run late in the first quarter, turning a 22-16 deficit into a 37-22 lead with a 21-0 run.

Golden State’s defence rose to the occasion, outplaying the Celtics’ league-best defence and holding the home side to 17 points in the second quarter, to lead 5439 at half-time.

The Celtics did not lie down, they launched their own run late in the third quarter and closed the term on a 16-4 run to cut the lead down to 10, as Al Horford willed his side back into the game. Horford had 12 points, six rebounds and a block in just the third quarter.

Down the stretch, with the Warriors needing to steady, their superstar stood up.

Stephen Curry had 13 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 34 points (12-of-21 shooting, six-of-11 from three), seven rebounds and seven assists. His performance capped off a series wherein he averaged 31.2 points, six rebounds and five assists, and i t earned him the first Finals MVP of his Hall-of-Fame career.

Andrew Wiggins was the Warriors’ second-best player all series, and he produced one of the best defensive games of his

career in Game 6, holding Jayson Tatum to just 13 points on sixof-18 shooting, while taking four steals and blocking three shots.

Wiggins also added 18 points on seven-of-18 shooting, with six rebounds and five assists.

With the performance, he scored at least 17 points in five of the six Finals games, and averaged a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game in the series.

Jaylen Brown was the Celtics’ brightest star, scoring 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting, but he also had five turnovers, which was a theme for the hosts.

The Celtics committed 22 turnovers as a team – seven more than the Warriors – after committing 18 to Golden State’s seven in their Game 5 loss. During the regular season, Boston averaged 13.6 turnovers per game. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD INDIA INNINGS (20 overs maximum) Ruturaj Gaikwad c †de Kock b Ngidi 5 Ishan Kishan c †de Kock b Nortje 27 Shreyas Iyer lbw b Jansen 4 Rishabh Pant (c)†c Pretorius b Maharaj 17 Hardik Pandya c Shamsi b Ngidi 46 Dinesh Karthik c van der Dussen b Pretorius 55 Axar Patel not out 8 Harshal Patel not out 1 Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 6 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.45) 169/6 Did not bat: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 1.6 ov), 2-24 (Shreyas Iyer, 2.6 ov), 3-40 (Ishan Kishan, 6.1 ov), 4-81 (Rishabh Pant, 12.5 ov), 5-146 (Hardik Pandya, 18.2 ov), 6-159 (Dinesh Karthik, 19.2 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Marco Jansen 4-0-38-1 Lungi Ngidi 3-0-20-2 Dwaine Pretorius 4-0-41-1 Anrich Nortje 3-0-21-1 Tabraiz Shamsi 2-0-18-0 Keshav Maharaj 4-0-29-1 SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS (Target: 170 runs from 20 overs) Quinton de Kock †run out (HV Patel) 14 Temba Bavuma (c)retired hurt 8

Maharaj celebrated like a plan had worked, because it had.

Bavuma’s body blows

Much like his opposite number, Bavuma also hasn’t seen the runs flow, but his night ended worse than Pant’s when he had to retire hurt for his joint-lowest score of the series so far, 8.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar began as he usually does, by moving the ball both ways, but he also got the ball to burst up from back of a length and surprise Bavuma, and then to keep low.

In his second over, after Bavuma had again been deceived by one that kept low, Bhuvneshwar’s third delivery reared up and struck Bavuma on the left upper arm.

He received treatment on field, and decided to continue, which seemed a sensible idea when, two balls later, he creamed a drive through the off side.

Dwaine Pretorius c †Pant b Avesh Khan 0 Rassie van der Dussen c Gaikwad b Avesh Khan 20 Heinrich Klaasen lbw b Chahal 8 David Miller b HV Patel 9 Marco Jansen c Gaikwad b Avesh Khan 12 Keshav Maharaj c Iyer b Avesh Khan 0 Anrich Nortje c Ishan Kishan b Chahal 1 Lungi Ngidi c Gaikwad b AR Patel 4 Tabraiz Shamsi not out 4 Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 1) 7 TOTAL 16.5 Ov (RR: 5.16) 87 Fall of wickets: 0-20* (Temba Bavuma, retired hurt), 1-24 (Quinton de Kock, 4.5 ov), 2-26 (Dwaine Pretorius, 5.2 ov), 3-45 (Heinrich Klaasen, 8.2 ov), 4-59 (David Miller, 10.2 ov), 5-74 (Rassie van der Dussen, 13.2 ov), 6-74 (Marco Jansen, 13.4 ov), 7-78 (Keshav Maharaj, 13.6 ov), 8-80 (Anrich Nortje, 14.6 ov), 9-87 (Lungi Ngidi, 16.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-0-8-0 Hardik Pandya 1-0-12-0 Avesh Khan 4-0-18-4 Harshal Patel 2-0-3-1 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-21-2 Axar Patel 3.5-0-19-1

But, at the end of that over, Bavuma scampered through for a risky single, and dived to make his ground. His arm hit the turf, but he continued. He faced one more ball before needing attention onfield.

It seemed as though Bavuma and the medical staff were discussing how comfortably he could hold the bat, and whether he could generate power to hit the ball. Bavuma decided against carrying on, and left the field. He was seen with an ice-pack in the dressing room shortly after.

Later in the innings, Marco Jansen was hit behind the ear by an Avesh bouncer, and though he passed his concussion test, he was dismissed off the next ball.

Chahal vs Klaasen

In the first two T20I meetings between Heinrich Klaasen and Yuzvendra Chahal, in Centurion in 2018 and in Cuttack last week,

Dinesh Karthik scored 55 off 27 balls

Klaasen scored 71 runs off 25 balls. But in their next two clashes, Klaasen has scored only nine runs off nine balls from Chahal, and has been dismissed twice.

So, what’s happened? Well, the surfaces in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot have assisted spinners, and Klaasen has been trying to attack Chahal outside off, without success. In the previous match, he reached for a full delivery to try to clear the off side, and sent it to extra-cover; and in this one, Klaasen was expecting the ball to turn away from him, as it did off the previous delivery, and set up for the sweep, but the ball went straight on and struck him on the front pad. He reviewed, but replays showed it was going on to hit leg stump.

Klaasen’s dismissal left South Africa at 45 for 3, and prompted the collapse that cost them the game. (Cricinfo)

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022…

Roberto Carlos backs Brazil for World Cup glory

“It’s time to win,” he says

A

“very optimistic” Roberto Carlos has declared “it is time to win”, as he backed Brazil to lift the World Cup in Qatar.

The Selecao breezed through South American World Cup qualifying, topping their group after going unbeaten before the rearranged clash with Argentina on September 22.

Argentina are another force to be reckoned with in the battle for the famous Jules Rimet Trophy, having gone undefeated in 33 games – the longest intact unbeaten run in international football.

Holders France are also among the contenders, while England, Spain and Germany would

be expected to provide stern competition at world football’s showpiece event.

Roberto Carlos was in the team that won Brazil’s fifth and most recent World Cup in 2002, and he believes Tite’s side would end a 20-year wait to be crowned champions in December 2022.

“The most important thing is that Brazil have a great team,” he told reporters. “It’s time to win, because the last photo we have is ours (in 2002). I am very optimistic; it is not easy to win a World Cup. In recent times, the Brazilian team are as usual. Since our time, they have played great games, but have never been so good.

“The Copa America is

important, but, for the Brazilians, this World Cup is going to be very important, and has a special flavour, the moment of the national team is very good. At least the European press put Brazil as one of the favourites; this is already an important factor.

“Luis Enrique commented on it the other day. If you ask any other national team coach, the Brazilian team is one of the four favourites for this World Cup. If they prepare well, Brazil will win again,” Roberto Carlos has said.

Brazil start their World Cup campaign against Serbia on November 24, with clashes against Switzerland and Cameroon to follow in Group G. (Sportsmax)

22

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WI vs Bangladesh: Test 1 of 2…

WEST INDIES HOLD ADVANTAGE

K

raigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood have each produced useful batting contributions to stretch the lead enjoyed by the West Indies; and Alzarri Joseph has delivered early strikes as the hosts ended Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh in a position of strength in Antigua.

Brathwaite missed out on a century by five runs, while Blackwood struck an important 63 as West Indies finished on 265, with Mehidy Hasan bagging a four-wicket haul.

Bangladesh lost two wickets in their second innings, and at stumps were on at 50-2, trailing by 112 runs. Tamim Iqbal got off the mark with a backfoot punch through extra cover off Kemar Roach in the opening over, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy poked one past gully for a couple, to open his account.

Mahmudul was a lot more confident when he executed a drive past backward point off Roach for his first four, while Tamim struck two successive fours off Jayden Seales as these Bangladesh openers got off to a positive start; but Tamim’s outing ended when he fiddled with an Alzarri Joseph delivery outside off and edged the ball to Joshua Da Silva, who took an excellent onehanded catch diving to his left.

Nightwatchman Mehidy had a short stay, dismissed after edging a Joseph delivery to first

slip. Mahmudul and Najmul Hossain Shanto were unbeaten at the end of the day, with the Bangladesh batters having a big task ahead of them.

Earlier, it had been a slowmoving first session, with West Indies scoring only 64 runs in 31 overs. Nkrumah Bonner also had a couple of lucky breaks.

Bangladesh did not appeal when Ebadot Hossain got one to hold the line, and replays later revealed that there was a small spike; while Najmul Hossain Shanto did not move at first slip as he watched the ball go past him for a four off Khaled.

Both Brathwaite and Bonner also scored a few boundaries to extend their stand past 50, with the former registering a 174-ball fifty as West Indies assumed the lead. Shakib struck in the first over after the drinks interval when he had Bonner bowled with a straight one, to end a 62-run thirdwicket stand. Brathwaite, who was nearly caught at short leg off Mehidy Hasan, played a couple of uncharacteristic slogs off Shakib in an otherwise watchful fourth-wicket partnership with Blackwood.

The hosts were slightly quicker with their scoring in the second session, getting 72 runs in 25 overs; but they also lost three wickets in the process - including that of skipper Brathwaite, who

fell six runs short of a century.

Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled only two overs in the morning, was back with the second new ball soon after lunch, but he was struck for four runs by both Blackwood and Brathwaite, who also kept a steady flow of singles and twos to bring up a half-century stand.

The partnership had grown to 63 by the time Brathwaite was trapped leg-before by a Khaled Ahmed delivery, to be dismissed in the 90s for the fifth time

in his Test career. Blackwood, meanwhile, drove through covers for two fours off Shakib to stretch the lead past 100. He also got a reprieve when he was struck on the pad by a Mehidy delivery that spun in sharply, but Bangladesh did not review. However, replays later revealed three reds.

Blackwood crossed fifty, but Bangladesh made quick incisions before the tea interval, with Mehidy dismissing Kyle Mayers (lbw) and Da Silva (caught behind).

Mehidy picked up another wicket early in the final session

when he got Joseph to nick one to the ‘keeper. And Kemar Roach edged to Litton Das at third slip to give Ebadot his second wicket and leave the West Indies eight down.

Gudakesh Motie, the next man in, dealt in boundaries as West Indies stretched the lead past 150. But Mehidy ensured a quick end to the West Indies’ innings by first taking an excellent catch at short cover off Khaled’s bowling to send Blackwood back, before getting Seales leg before.

The third day bowls off at 10:00h local time. (cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

Jermaine Blackwood made 63

WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS Kraigg Brathwaite (c) lbw b Khaled Ahmed 94 John Campbell b Mustafizur Rahman 24 Raymon Reifer c †Nurul Hasan b Ebadot Hossain 11 Nkrumah Bonner b Shakib Al Hasan 33 Jermaine Blackwood c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Khaled Ahmed 63 Kyle Mayers lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 7 Joshua Da Silva † c †Nurul Hasan b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1 Alzarri Joseph c †Nurul Hasan b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 0 Kemar Roach c Liton Das b Ebadot Hossain 0 Gudakesh Motie not out 23 Jayden Seales lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 1 Extras (lb 4, nb 2, w 2) 8 TOTAL 112.5 Ov (RR: 2.34) 265 Fall of wickets: 1-44 (John Campbell, 25.1 ov), 2-72 (Raymon Reifer, 33.5 ov), 3-134 (Nkrumah Bonner, 62.6 ov), 4-197 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 89.6 ov), 5-224 (Kyle Mayers, 100.1 ov),

6-230 (Joshua Da Silva, 102.2 ov), 7-238 (Alzarri Joseph, 106.5 ov), 8-239 (Kemar Roach, 107.3 ov), 9-258 (Jermaine Blackwood, 111.1 ov), 10-265 (Jayden Seales, 112.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Mustafizur Rahman 18-7-30-1 Khaled Ahmed 22-4-59-2 Ebadot Hossain 28-8-65-2 Shakib Al Hasan 21-5-48-1 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 22.5-6-59-4 Najmul Hossain Shanto 1-1-0-0 BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS Tamim Iqbal c †Da Silva b Joseph 22 Mahmudul Hasan Joy not out 18 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Mayers b Joseph 2 Najmul Hossain Shanto not out 8 Extras 0 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 2.50) 50/2 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Tamim Iqbal, 9.4 ov), 2-35 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 11.4 ov) BOWLING Kemar Roach 8-4-19-0 Jayden Seales 4-0-16-0 Alzarri Joseph 6-2-14-2 Kyle Mayers 2-1-1-0

Coolidge Cricket Ground to house CWI High Performance & Heritage Centre

T

he Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), home of West Indies Cricket, is entering the final phase of major development planning which will transform the ICC-accredited facility into a truly state-of-the-art cricket and cultural heritage centre.

Infrastructural work and rehabilitation are expected to commence later this year, and the CCG will become a world class centre of cricket, with linkages to several other smaller

cricket academies across the region.

The CCG would be able to adequately host training camps and player remedial work, as well as stage international matches at all levels. The CCG would house an Emerging Players Academy and an ultra-modern indoor/ outdoor facility with several inputs for players’ preparation, including medical, training, fitness, and gym facilities.

“A strategic approach to

Slingerz FC scores support from West Vybz Sports Bar

W

est Vybz Sports Bar has become the latest sponsor for Slingerz Football Club, after the Tuschenbased entity officially announced its alliance with the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) club on Friday.

The West Vybz Sports Bar’s emblem is also featured on the club’s uniform, with Javed Ali, Slingerz FC president, stating that Slingerz are hoping to make this a feature for some of their sponsors.

Proprietor of the West Vybz Sports Bar, Jai Balgobin, has said West Vybz Sports Bar would continue its support of Slingerz FC. He has said, “We endeavour to embrace the club’s vision, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”

Slingerz FC president Javed Ali has said Slingerz welcome the support from Balgobin, and, “This is not a sponsorship, but more so

Kacey Pearson, a member of the Slingerz FC, received the sponsor’s cheque from Jai Balgobin, proprietor of West Vybz Sports Bar a collaboration. We want to work together with Corporate Guyana, because what we’re doing is bigger than football.”

West Vybz Sports Bar has now joined Forrester’s Lumber and Building Complex as the businesses that are backing the club.

After a six-year hiatus, Slingerz, former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Champions, have made a winning return to play, defeating Uitvlugt FC 3 – nil on Wednesday.

The club will be in action on Sunday, when the WDFA STAG League continues at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora.

They will take on #1 All-Stars from 20 hours in the final match of a triple-header.

master planning of the facility is well underway, and we are stepping into a new frontier as we seek to make CCG the ‘flagship’, where players from the grassroots to the international level can develop and hone their technical and mental skills.

“We envision the CCG of the future as a truly world-class facility with all the amenities,” Nelecia Yeates, General Manager of CCG, has said, adding, “fans attending matches at the ‘new CCG’ will also have an exceptional spectator experience. We will leave no stone unturned as we hold firm to the commitment and belief that all islands of the

Caribbean can be the birthplace of greatness in our sport, both on and off the field.”

CCG DEVELOPMENT Coolidge Cricket Ground

As part of the redevelopment project for the 20-acre facility, CCG has announced the appointment of a design collective, consisting of CJC + Associates Inc., KSS Design Group Ltd, and Melon Design Architecture, to design and develop a transformational, high-performance, world-class concept master plan.

“We were hugely impressed by the quality of all the

responses for our Request for Proposals; the level of information showcased in the design collective proposal was both impressive and inspiring.

The winners have shown exceptional talent and promise, and aligned well with CWI’s vision to create a uniquely West Indian and world class cricket and heritage centre.” said Ricky Skerritt, President of CWI, and Chairman of CCG. “It is a huge achievement and opportunity, yet a humbling experience to be selected the winners, even more so with the high standard of entries as was expressed by the client,” said Colin John Jenkins on behalf of the design collective (CJC+ Associates Inc., KSS Design Group Ltd and Melon Design Architecture).

Within the next few months, Jenkins and the design collective team are expected to submit draft master plans to CCG and CWI for final design and costing approval. (Windies Cricket)

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATIONS Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop) – AirConditioned Comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Gym. Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $65 US. Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Phone: 264-2946-9. www. aracariresort.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Restaurant for Rent – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop). Turn Key Business. Covid-19 Reduced Capacity 60; furnished and equipped.

Phone 264-2946; 626-5290

ENTERTAINMENT Swimming Pool Family Fun & Picnic – Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. Aracari Resort : West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop)- Every Weekend.

DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome. Phone: 264-2946-9.

FOR SALE Wholesale Chicken $420 per lb. Wholesale Liver $220 per lb. Wholesale Gizzard $220 per lb. Wholesale Foot $220 per lb.

Contact: 603-2777 or 638-3666.

TO RENT Office Space for rent, 3200 Sq Feet – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbour Bridge and Vreed-enHoop). Phone 264-2946; 626-5290.

WANTED Male & Female to work in Factory.

Apply to RP’s Enterprise, Area ‘K’, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

Tel: 220-2818.

Looking for an honest and reliable Babysitter/Tutor for a toddler and infant. Must be well spoken and should have at least 3 subjects CXC including English and Maths. Must be able to work without supervision and work flexible hours when needed. Call 622-6297 for more info.

Pink Diamond Promotions forced to postpone “Daddy and Me” competition

O

rganisers of the inaugural “Daddy and Me” competition, which was scheduled for Saturday, June 18th, 2022 at the Transport Sports Club Ground in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, have been forced to postpone the event, mainly because of the small number of participants.

This competition, which was set to showcase fathers and sons competing against their counterparts in different sporting challenges, will now be held on July 24th 2022 at the same venue.

Tickets bought for the original date would still be valid for the new date, and remain at a cost of $1000.

Warren Wilson, Founder of Pink Diamond Promotions, has said, “We are deeply saddened that we are unable to execute this project on schedule this weekend.

We do apologise to the participants who have registered already, and to those who have indicated their support in terms of attendance.

“We promise to make sure that, for the new date, we can get things up and running, to have a great day of sports and challenging

events.”

This inaugural competition is still set to highlight fathers teaming with their sons in three categories: 7 to 9, 10 to 12, & 13 to 16, competing in several disciplines to be crowned champion. These events include tug-o-war, softball cricket, and obstacle courses.

The organisers are also encouraging other fathers to register, and have now opened access to fathers and their daughters. For more info, those interested are invited to make contact on 672-2719, or 657-8793.

223-7230-1

(Ext 55)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

he Saint Lucia Kings are excited to announce that Daren Sammy has been appointed the team’s head coach for the upcoming season of the Caribbean Premier League.

“Daren has played a major role in bringing the Saint Lucia Kings to the finals for the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the CPL. Saint Lucia Kings are delighted to continue their partnership with Daren,

who has been with the team since its inception, and has

held various positions with the franchise, from player

to captain, ambassador, assistant coach, and mentor”, Satish Menon, CEO, KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd, has said.

“We’re very happy to have Daren on board as the new Head Coach for Saint Lucia Kings. He has been an integral part of the team once as a player, captain and mentor. Now he will be seen in a new role, as its head coach, and as always, will

… YBG aiming to introduce “Girls Play” this summer

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he National School Basketball Festival preseason games have been off with a bang since the action commenced last weekend. This weekend’s games are scheduled to be held on June 18th, 19th, and 26th in Georgetown, and on June 24th in Berbice, and June 25th in Linden. This is prior to the start of the NSBF festival on July 1st, 2022.

Youth Basketball Guyana Co-Founder Chris Bowman has stated that there is great enthusiasm among the players, as basketball has finally returned after a two-year hiatus that was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YBG Co-founder Chris Bowman

Bowman divulged that while the males’ games are important, females play an integral part as well, hence YBG will be introducing “Girls Play”

this summer.

In an interview with this publication, he was asked how it feels to have the preseason games up and running, and he responded as follows: “Well, it is a quite limited preseason, given the short time we have before the National School Basketball Festival.

We'll have to wait for the NSBF Championship to make any real assessment about the talent, since we would not see the outof-town players until then.

“What I can say is there is a great deal of enthusiasm among the players and schools because of the two-year-plus hiatus due to COVID.” In the current preseason games, last weekend saw one

female game being played as compared to the other games, which were mostly males.

Bowman explained that Youth Basketball Guyana have plans on their agenda to push more female games, as women’s participation and opportunities continue to be key priorities for YBG. He noted that ever since year three, YBG had introduced a women’s division in the festival, and they have had a women’s championship every year since.

“This year we'll have about ten women’s teams competing, which is a decent number given how hard it is to get girls involved in sports. The problem that we have had is: after school

Women's Super50...

Trinidad & Tobago register eightwicket win over Leeward Islands Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

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collective team effort led Trinidad and Tobago to a eight-wicket win against Leeward Islands in the second match of the Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 tournament played at Providence. Trinidad ended on 134-2 in 35 overs, with Reniece Boyce, Shenelle Lord and Anisa Mohammed all contributed with the bat while Kirbyina Alexander claimed 3-20.

Earlier, Leeward Islands won the toss and elected to bat first. The Trinidadians made early inroads blowing

away the top order with the score on 13-4 after 11.4 overs.

The slight shower across Providence could not have saved the Leeward Islands as right-arm seamer Kirbyina Alexander did the damage.

Openers Melicia Clarke made one, while Roasalie Dolabaille made two. Shawisha Hector came and looked good in her 46 from 60 balls. She struck seven fours in her knock, but she ran herself out. Hector and Arsheena Freeman added 52 runs for the fifth wicket, taking the score to 65-5 in 28.5 overs.

Trinidad picked up wickets

SCOREBOARD LEEWARD ISLANDS WOMEN BATTING Melicia Clarke c Mohammed b Alexander 1 Rosalie Dolabaille c Cooper b Kirby 2 Tiffany Thorpe b Alexander 2 Shawnisha Hector run out 46 Saneldo Willett c Boyce b Alexander 1 Arsheena Freeman b Isaac 3 Terez Parker lbw b Mohammed 4 Amanda Edwards run out 29 Rozel Liburd not out 31 TOTAL (8 wickets, 50.0) (13 extras) 132 FOW: 7/1 (5.5) Melicia Clarke 10/2 (9.4) Thorpe 12/3 (10.3) Rosalie Dolabaille 13/4 (11.4)Shawnisha Hector 65/5 (28.5) Arsheena Freeman 67/6 (32.6) Arsheena Freeman 87/7 (38.4) Terez Parker 132/8 (49.6) Amanda Edwards BOWLING Caniesha Isaac (7-3-21-1) Kirbyina Alexander (10-2-20-3)

Lee-Ann Kirby (6-0-17-1) Anisa Mohammed (10-1-26-1) Kamara Ragoobar (5-0-16-0) Leandra Ramdeen (2-0-7-0) Karishma Ramharack (10-5-21-0) TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WOMEN Reniece Boyce lbw b Edwards 35 Djenaba Joseph b Hector 15 Shenelle Lord not out 30 Anisa Mohammed not out 20 TOTAL (2 wickets, 35.0) (34 extras) 134 71/1 (16.1) Reniece Boyce 77/2 (17.4)Djenaba Joseph BOWLING Tiffany Thorpe (8-0-25-0) Shawnisha Hector (7-0-21-1) Melicia Clarke (3-0-13-0) Rozel Liburd (6-0-23-0) Saneldo Willett (1-0-13-0) Amanda Edwards (10-1-37-1)

continue to inspire the team and propel them to greater heights. He was a natural choice, given his natural skills both as a player and a leader, and I am sure that, under his stewardship, Saint Lucia Kings will continue to be a force to reckon with.”

Daren Sammy expressed, "St Lucia is, and will always be, my home. It was always part of the plan to lead the franchise after my playing

days. The time is now. I can’t wait to start this next chapter with this amazing franchise as we continue on our quest to win our first CPL title.

“Many thanks to the Kings franchise owners for the faith shown in me for this role. The journey continues."

The Kings are scheduled to play four home matches in Saint Lucia from 7th September 2022 to 11th September 2022. (CPLt20)

basketball, there is no structure for girls. This summer, we are looking to introduce a new program, called "Girls Play", and then next year hopefully we could have both men and women playing in the Tertiary Basketball League,” Bowman has posited.

The first National School Basketball Festival was played from June 26-30, 2006, and involved 18 schools in a single elimination tournament. From its inception, the NSBF has been a partnership between Youth Basketball Guyana and stakeholders, to develop a structured National School Basketball Championship.

Over the last 12 years, the programme has grown significantly, and now includes regional (ZONE) tournaments in order to qualify for the National Championship.

National titles are contested in the categories of under-14, -16, -18 (change from 19) and Girls Developmental.

YBG will be aiming to introduce “Girls Play” tournament this summer

GFF flags participation in unsanctioned tournaments

Boyce top-scored for the Trinidadians

at regular intervals but Amanda Edwards offered resistance.

She struck four boundaries off a Caniesha Isaac-over. She favored the off-side, hitting boundaries through long-off, through extra-cover and over backward point.

While the Leeward Islands looked as though they will get bowled out at one stage, Edwards and Rozel Liburd added 45 runs for the eighth wicket. Liburd was unbeaten on 31 from 39 balls with three fours while Edwards was run out for 29 to take Leeward Islands to 132-8 in 50 overs.

Alexander ended with 3-20 from her ten overs while Isaac, Lee-Ann Kirby, and Anisa Mohammed had one wicket each. In response, opener Reniece Boyce and Djenaba

Joseph added 71 runs for the opening wicket to set the tone in the chase of 133.

Boyce played some elegant shots in her 35 from 56 balls which included four boundaries. Her partner, Joseph made 15 from 46 balls.

Boyce was trapped leg-before to Edwards while Joseph was bowled all ends uo by skipper Hector at 77-2 in 17.4 overs.

Mohammed and Shenelle Lord ensured no further hiccups as Trinidad chased down the total with 15 overs to spare, and eight wickets in hand. Lord made 30 not out while Mohammed made 20 not out. Jamaica will play Barbados today, Saturday June 18 from 9:30am. Guyana will play Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at Providence.

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he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) wishes to inform that it has not sanctioned or given approval for the conduct of the advertised “Unfinished Business” Futsal championship.

Consequently, the GFF is unaware of the tournament’s Rules and Regulations, security arrangements, and other critical aspects that are necessary before any approval can be given; protocols that are necessary to safeguard the integrity of the game and safety of all.

The GFF reminds all stakeholders that under FIFA’s global structure of football governance and its Constitution, the GFF controls football in all its forms in Guyana. Therefore, the GFF regulations, under its Constitution, are in place to protect the interests and welfare of players,

match officials and coaches, and to safeguard the future development, good governance and orderly organization of football.

The GFF seizes this opportunity to remind Regional Associations and all Affiliates of Article 13:1(h) of the GFF Constitution, which obligates Members’ registered players and officials “not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities (e.g. clubs, Leagues) that are not members or affiliates, nor with Members that have been suspended or expelled.”

Additionally, Article 13:2 clearly states, “Violation of the above-mentioned obligations by any Member may lead to sanctions provided for in this constitution.” Please therefore be advised that non-adherence to Article 13:1(h) may lead to sanctions to the guilty party.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022

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

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Brathwaite fell for 94

Women's Super50:

Trinidad & Tobago register eightwicket win over Leeward Islands

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… YBG aiming to introduce “Girls Play” this summer

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Trinidad recorded a win, and will face Guyana on Sunday

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