Guyana Times - Saturday March 20, 2021

Guyana, China launch “Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award” P18

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

Issue No. 4593

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

9 Int’l companies pre-qualified for construction of new Demerara Bridge See story on page 11

– works slated to commence in last quarter of 2021

Guyana’s current campaign financing laws outdated, not acceptable – Head of EU Observation Mission

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Death of premature baby

“No failure P17 on part of our staff” – hospital

Guyana records 44 new COVID-19 cases, active cases now stand P14 at 812

– 400 active cases in Region 4

16-Y-O charged for the murder of boy, 10 P19

See story on page 3

– says time now for electoral reforms

Housing Ministry pumps $455.6M to develop infrastructure at Experiment See story on page 16

Govt purchases 200,000 Russian Sputnik vaccines – first 50,000 to arrive in Guyana within 2 weeks See story on page 13

…15,524 persons immunised

AG files motion to strike out APNU/AFC’s appeal against dismissal of election petition See story on page 15

…unconstitutional, irregular for Appeal Court to hear case – Solicitor General

197 domestic violence, child abuse cases reported on P19 hotline …reports concentrated in Regions 3, 4

Cevons’ boss questioned at CID about acquisition P10 of Mandela Avenue land

KN security officers charged for murder P8

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police destroy ganja field with ECD man nabbed with over 7000 plants at Yarrowkabra ganja, cocaine Yarrowkabra village. The operation, which was led by three officers and eight other ranks, unearthed plants that measured between three and five feet in height.

Upon the discovery, the plants were cut and destroyed by fire. At the time of the discovery, no one was on the farm. The Police are, however, continuing their investigation to ascertain the owner of the property.

A section of the ganja field under cultivation

Station where the ganja was weighed and amounted to 69 grams. In addition, the cocaine, when weighed, amounted to 13 grams.

At the time of his arrest,

he had $32,000 in his possession. He was cautioned and told of the offence. He is expected to make his court appearance in the new week.

Teen’s home burglarised, TV missing

A

s Police continue their drug eradication exercise, a team of eight ranks swooped down on a location at Yarrowkabra, SoesdykeLinden Highway, on Friday where they found a ganja field containing about 7689 cannabis plants.

The operation was conducted in the swamplands, some six miles off

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27-year-old Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was on Thursday nabbed with a quantity of cannabis after Police acted on information received.

Based on reports received, on the day in question, the man, of Mon Repos South, ECD, was reportedly sitting on a bench with a black plastic bag in his hands.

However, as he noticed the Police, he got up and ran into an abandoned yard. The Police went in pursuit of him and eventually, he was apprehended.

The bag was searched and contained a quantity of ganja and cocaine packed in small zip-lock bags. He was arrested and taken to the Beterverwagting Police

T

A quantity of the cannabis plants being destroyed by fire

he home of 19-yearold Trelecia Johnson was discovered burglarised on Thursday after she returned home from work.

The teen, who is now counting her losses, told investigators that the bandits allegedly broke into her Lot 128 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) home and carted off with her television set among other items.

Guyana Times understands that on the day in question, the teen secured her home and left for work at about 07:00h. However, when she returned home at about 22:00h, she immedi-

ately noticed something was amiss since the lights to her home were missing.

Upon further investigation, the teen found the main door to her house open.

As Johnson entered the apartment, she found that the house was ransacked.

While looking around, Johnson discovered that her television that was mounted on the wall was missing.

Following the discovery, the matter was reported to the Police and an investigation was launched.

Just recently an 18-yearold was relieved of his mobile phone by two armed men at Fox Hill Foot, Half Mile Wismar, Linden.

It was reported that a

friend of the victim was also injured during the robbery. According to information received, the teenager of Valley Wismar, Linden, was sitting at the corner of Fox Hill Foot with his friend when the two gunmen approached them and instructed them to remain silent.

The young man was reportedly relieved of his cellular phone. Upon seeing this, the young man’s friend threw his phone into a neighbouring yard. Consequently, one of the armed men dealt him several lashes with the gun to his back, resulting in him sustaining injuries. The bandits made good their escape on foot.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 20 – 09:30h – 11:00h and Sunday, March 21 – 10:00h – 11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Guyana’s current campaign financing laws outdated, not acceptable – Head of EU Observation Mission – says time now for electoral reforms

Saturday, March 20 – 07:35h – 09:05h and Sunday, March 21 – 08:35h – 10:05h.

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

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Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 08:27h and 21:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 14:32h reaching a minimum height of 0.89 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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EU Chief Observer Urmas Paet and his Deputy Alexander Matus in conversation with US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa following Friday’s press conference

By Vahnu Manikchand

H

aving presented a string of recommendations aimed at improving the electoral process in Guyana, Head of the European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Urmas Paet has joined mounting calls for the country to update its campaign financing laws.

The Observation Mission has returned to Guyana one year after being forced to leave the country at the height of what turned out to be a five-month-long political crisis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic last March.

During a press conference on Friday, Paet stated that the EOM’s return is not just to present their final report which includes some 26 recommendations but also to “kickstart” the process for electoral reforms, which they believe are essential to improving future elections.

Chief among those recommendations is for Guyana to “develop effective legislation to regulate political finance.”

According to the EU Mission Head, political financing is a controversial but important issue that will benefit the country in the future, if implemented.

“I don’t think it is acceptable that if you look at your present law [that] concerns political financing then it’s really outdated, it’s really old.

The figures which are there are completely not adequate anymore, anyway. So, that refresh for this sphere is needed. And, of course, the more open, the clearer the rules for political financing will be, I guess it is clearly in longer run very beneficial for your society and clarity in your political system,” he noted.

Laws about campaign finance in Guyana are outlined in the Representation of the People Act. The provision sets a limit on expenses at US$250 per candidate.

Paet, who is a Member of the European Parliament, raised questions about the financing of political campaigns in Guyana.

“Do you know from where came the money for elections campaign from your main political parties? How big were the budgets for political campaign; how much money they spent for political campaign?

Do you know it? At the same time, look at your legislation which are their limits for political campaign and

then compare it to the reality… Is it clear for you, where the limit goes between the Government resources spent for elections campaigns and then pure political party money? As long as these questions are not adequately answered, there is space to develop [the campaign financing laws],” he asserted.

He further highlighted the importance of such legislation, noting that it outlines who are the supporters of political parties and thus prevents “non-political and hidden forces” from influencing Governments.

Paet believes that both legislative change and implementation are integral since “good laws without implementation is pointless.”

Moreover, the EU Mission Head pointed out that it is now the time for Guyana to embark on critically needed electoral reforms especially before the country holds another election.

“Now is the time for decisions and actions. For election reform to be effective, its implementation needs to begin well before the next elections are called. Inclusive and transparent reform processes

help build confidence in elections and their results," Paet said at Friday’s press conference.

He further noted that these changes are especially critical in order to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened after last year’s March 2 polls. He added that while he is optimistic of at least some of their recommendations being implemented, the final say will be up to Guyana and its people.

Since its return, the team has already met with President Dr Irfaan Ali, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir; Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Retired Justice Claudette Singh; Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, and Chief Justice Roxane George.

On Monday, the EU EOM will be holding a roundtable discussion with local stakeholders on their recommendations.

According to Deputy Chief Observer Alexander Matus, they believe there is a way forward to improve the elections process especially given the “positive” feedback from those officials they have met with over the past few days.

“We are optimistic after the first round of meeting with the key stakeholders and we do believe that there is a genuine interest in doing something ahead the next elections. So, in our positive way of thinking, we don’t expect any major roadblocks in that way and we do believe Monday’s discussion can actually bring more answers… where we can see what are the positions of the different stakeholders and how they are prepared to participate in the debate and what kind

Head of EU EOM, Urmas Paet

of reforms solutions they are able to support,” he noted.

Among the stakeholders invited to next week’s roundtable discussions are Office of the President, Government, National Assembly, Constitutional Commissions, political parties as well members of civil society. Several key stakeholders have already indicated their attendance.

Of the EU EOM's 26 recommendations, eight are priority suggestions. Apart from political financing, recommendations are made to review and consolidate the fragmented election legislation; launch a consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of GECOM; foster transparency and accountability in online and offline campaigning; transform the State-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster; adopt clear written procedures for transmission and tabulation of election results; accompany any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all Statements of Poll, and establish a comprehensive election dispute resolution system.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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

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Guyana’s energy mix

t is pleasing that the Government has commenced efforts to resume the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project as part of its energy mix, to ensure that the nation is provided with clean, reliable and affordable electricity.

From the onset, it should be stated that Guyana would have been in a better position regarding an affordable, reliable supply of electricity if there was bipartisan support for the Amaila Falls Hydro Power (AFHP) project which was proposed by the PPP/C some years ago. In fact, had the Amaila project gone through, it would have been in the system since 2017.

By now the problem of constant blackouts would have been a thing of the past.

It could be recalled that the project was not given parliamentary support by the APNU and AFC parties, which had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat majority at the time. Further, in spite of pleadings from the PPP/C to continue the conversation and ensure the project was restarted, when the APNU/AFC took office in 2015, they moved ahead and killed the project.

However, now that the PPP/C has returned to Government and has a Parliamentary majority, it is now certain that such a transformative project would get off the ground.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last year revealed: “We have started reviewing the documents etc, to chart a pathway to hydropower development back again, because hydro power is crucial, given our capability and capacity of the country; our abundant water resources.”

Amaila was expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy, and was envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels. The Electric Plant was proposed to be a 165MW (installed capacity) hydropower generation facility located in west-central Guyana approximately 250 kilometres south-west of Georgetown.

In addition, it would have improved Guyana’s balance of payments by significantly reducing the importation of fuel, significantly reducing end-user costs for electricity, and improving reliability of energy supply and generation of clean energy, which would have helped to encourage economic growth and development by improving regional competitiveness, Private Sector investment, and Foreign Direct Investment.

An “objective and facts-based” assessment done by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm from Norway, had concluded and recommended that “the only realistic path” for Guyana moving towards was an emissionfree electricity sector, and achieving its 2025 Green Agenda commitment was to develop its hydropower potential in general, and maintain the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in particular.

In spite of assurances from the power company that blackouts would be a thing of the past, over the past couple of years, prolonged periods of blackout have actually increased across the country. Consumers have written several letters to this newspaper expressing their disgust over the situation.

The Government has now taken steps to ensure that citizens are provided with affordable and reliable electricity utilising an energy mix of wind, solar and hydro. It is also working seriously on an ambitious gas-to-shore energy project which would see an additional 200 to 250 megawatts of power being provided.

Guyana is currently generating electricity at between 17 and 20 US cents per kilowatt/hour; this is among the highest in the Region. On this basis, the Government had promised to reduce the cost of energy in the country by 50 per cent over the next five years.

As we had stated before, Energy is one area in which there could be a bipartisan approach by politicians; meaning, the Opposition and the Government could work together towards finding a lasting solution to Guyana’s electricity problems.

Re-engaging Norway to restart the project is indeed a step in the right direction, considering the fact that the country is still plagued with blackouts and high cost for electricity. Of importance, too, is that hydro power is an important part of Guyana’s energy mix in the future, since it is considered to be renewable and environmentally friendly.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai, and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand pose with the MoU after the signing to launch the Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award

Almost $10B in expired drugs dumped between 2015 and 2020 Dear Editor, APNU+AFC’s MP Ganesh Mahipaul has no moral authority to talk about medicine shortages. His APNU+AFC Government, between 2015 and 2020, caused the expiration of more than $10B worth of medicines. He ought to reserve his outrage to demand criminal charges against those of his colleagues who were in charge.

The present medicine and medical supply shortages are a consequence of a broken supply chain system that the present PPP Government inherited from the previous APNU+AFC Government.

In August 2020, there was a greater-than-80% shortage in the health sector. In the six months since, this shortage has been considerably lessened, and the Irfaan Ali-led PPP Government is hoping to eliminate shortages by June 2021. By December 2020, the overall shortages were reduced to less than 55%, and they are presently down to about 30%. We expect to reduce this down to between zero and 5% by end of June 2021. Because of lengthy tendering, international procurement, and COVID-19-related shipping delays, the stabilisation period is lengthier than we had hoped.

Let us be clear: even though the country expended more money between 2015 and 2020 ($35B) than it did the previous 23 years ($30B), the country suffered from chronic medicine shortages since 2015, single-sourcing of medicines and medical supplies were rampant, Guyana significantly overpaid for medicines, sometimes as much as 3 to 5 times the international reference price, and Guyana had a legendary

scandalous and criminal expiry problem. In August 2020, Guyana had to dump more than $1B worth of medicines and medical supplies. In spite of monthly disposal of expired medicines since, the MMU continued to have mounting expired medicines and medical supplies. Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Health completed a total physical audit of the MMU, and verified that more than 75% of the physical space within the MMU was taken up by expired medicines and medical supplies.

The MOH is actively disposing of these expired supplies, having disposed of more than $1B so far. It is estimated that, over the last five years, between $5B and $10B of expired medicines have been disposed of.

Even for those supplies that are still active, a significant amount is of very short shelf-life. In addition, the modern warehouse management information system (MACS) was never kept up-todate. This is the legacy of the previous APNU+AFC administration.

Make no mistake, this scandalous situation is one that is criminal. Shortages have been caused by the APNU/AFC’s previously mismanaged and corrupt procurement transactions and mismanagement of the MMU. In August 2020, when the PPP assumed office, the MMU was totally dysfunctional, with expired medicines and medical supplies filling up the MMU in Diamond. At the time, less than two weeks of the PPP assuming office, the MOH had to dispose of supplies almost totalling one billion dollars ($1B) in order to create space for newly delivered medicines. The MOH

has continued to dispose of newly expired medicines on a monthly basis. At this very moment, the MOH is in the process of disposing of medicines and supplies worth billions of dollars, having already disposed of more than $1B worth of medicines in the last week. Once these expired medicines are disposed of, the MMU at Diamond will be virtually empty.

The PPP Government has already made significant progress in meeting the needs of the health sector, and we expect that by June 2021, the medicine and medical supplies’ situation would be stabilised, moving from 80% shortage in August 2021 to about 30% presently, and to between zero and 5% by June 2021.

At present, there is an emergency selective tender (10 selected suppliers) that has been evaluated, and the MOH is awaiting an award to begin the procurement of a two-month supply of medicines and supplies. There are also two open tenders; one for a four-month supply, and one for a further 10-month supply.

We are hoping that with the rapid delivery from the twomonth supply, we would attain some stability in the supply chain.

In determining these orders, initially we had to work blinded, because the warehouse management system was corrupted with inaccurate information. We were forced to complete a physical count in the MMU at Diamond, and in all the warehouses in the ten regions. We have finalised this tedious exercise, and have now restored the accuracy of the warehouse information system. The new tenders would allow the MMU to restore the system by which all

supplies in the regional health sector are provided directly by the MMU. One of the APNU+AFC’s MPs, Ganesh Mahipaul, shamelessly highlighted medicine shortage at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and charged that the Irfaan Ali-led PPP Government is deliberately creating medicine and medical supplies’ shortages in the public health sector in order to force the Government to single-source medicines and medical supplies. This is reckless, irresponsible, and a total fabrication. The truth is that a major cause of shortages in the sector is the criminal mismanagement of the MMU, which left the MMU almost totally filled with expired medicines.

Indeed, the Government has disposed of almost $3B in expired medicines since August 2020. This is criminal, and warrants an investigation.

While APNU+AFC almost exclusively single-sourced medicines, the PPP has not single-sourced essential medicines since it assumed office.

The present emergency procurement is a selective tender, with ten suppliers asked to bid. The other tenders are all public tenders.

Soon after the PPP assumed office, it was discovered that there was a critical shortage of PPE for the COVID-19 response. The Government then embarked on a twopronged procurement process; first, it requested local suppliers to supply what they had in country, and then proceeded with a selective tender for the remaining needs. Thus, the PPP Government has not single-sourced any medicine, and has no plan to single source any supply.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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

Guyana’s energy future will require a more resilient, efficient, electric grid

Dear Editor, Renewable energy is increasingly affordable, good for the environment, and is here to stay. The problem is that Guyana’s electrical grid isn’t ready for it. The grid was not built for the kind of fluctuating supply that comes from distributed energy generation.

In addition to the increased supply volatility associated with distributed energy resources, our power

companies will be confronted with increased demands on the grid from electrification and digitisation of the economy.

Our customer expectations for consumer-grade digital experiences and increased emphasis on safety and reliability would only increase.

Our nation must understand that this is a work in progress. Guyana’s aging grids are not prepared

to accommodate the complexity of bidirectional intermittent power flows from distributed energy resources.

Integrating more and more distributed energy resources connected to the grid would create congestion and an unpredictable strain on the network, since it was built for one extreme. Too much electricity demand, or too much electricity generation, can cause disruptions at the circuit, substation and system

Solidarity of a nation

Dear Editor, There was a time when we did put country and solidarity above all else to achieve a common goal and fulfil a common purpose. We lived a bit more comfortably then and had a share of the good life that came from the prosperity of the sugar industry and the large amount of investment being made by the British. In speaking with many who had experiences before independence, one thing that stands out is their insistence that things were better then.

Low levels of crime; a strong currency, where a little would buy a lot in stores with shelves filled with all kinds of goodies from overseas; and access to an excellent education. It is interesting that since independence and the decline of the sugar industry that our country has been continuously striving to achieve a return to the standard of living that was in place before independence.

Infighting and division has made it quite difficult over the years to make such an achievement possible.

Then came the nationalization of foreign investments; embargoes due to political philosophy; the resulting brain drain; and then the influx of drugs and other illegal activities. All of which took place in an environment where division increased between key segments of our population.

Today, over 50 years later our country is still struggling to achieve the higher standard of living which was once in place. Crumbling infrastructure and an environment / global climate that has changed for the worse, where infrastructure has not kept pace, becomes more evident with the passing of the years. Our oil wealth may come and go without achieving what once was and is still sought. The increasing conflict between races hasn’t changed, but gets worse as more resources are unlocked.

The fear of exclusion grows and with it the fear of increased racism. Who and what should we thank for this spiral that leads to an unwanted outcome? Is it the lack of selfless leadership

and the lack of solidarity?

Where are the leaders that say I will not increase my wage more than I will increase those who help build this nation? If we can afford 5% at the top then we can afford 5% at each other level. Seems easy enough, but yet in practice it remains a myth for the most part. We should seek solidarity, irrespective of party and political affiliation or belief; solidarity irrespective of race; solidarity irrespective of thirst for wealth and riches.

The last one may be what has achieved a shift in traditional alliances, but it is a very shallow foundation upon which to build. Health and family do and should take precedence over everything else and in some instances, we do witness this.

The virus has been a wakeup call to many.

However, beyond that realm, what we achieve together is impacted by how we view and interact with each other.

Pre-independence the feeling of solidarity, the joint resolve to achieve a goal, was greater than the will of an individual, greater than the desire of a single village or a single town. Our country’s men and women achieved a level of solidarity that brought with it an accomplishment that touched the hearts and desires of us all.

There is a missing purpose that unites us in Guyana today and it is hindering our country from attaining that higher level of achievement that resources and riches alone will and cannot accomplish. We must seek it out and attain it. Is it our nation’s motto that will bring with it the goal of solidarity between all Guyanese? Will it unlock the greatness of our sleeping nation?

The alternative is quite dire. Look to the examples of other nations created by those who care not for each other’s presence. Even though they fought united against a common enemy, their deep seeded hate, the hate between an old master and a freed slave, continues to drive the wedge of animosity between them. Usually displayed in sabotage, arguments and conflicts during

simple daily interactions.

Is this the future of Guyana which we seek? We must do better than the examples before us if we are to be competitive and achieve peaceful coexistence as a nation of one people. Yes, that may lead to the oneness that is spoken of.

Otherwise, your people will not be my people and vice versa. Making us a nation of one’s people instead of what our motto desires us to achieve. Historical betrayal, animosity and blood shed can remain in our history if we so choose, or it can destroy our tomorrows if historical resentment is embraced. Some may differ and prefer a path without resistance, where peace is easily attained and to each his / her own makes for a more pleasant life.

Is there a different path that is possible or is Guyana’s destiny fixed and unchangeable due to its history? Our leaders and our youth must decide which path is the one best for them and those they lead. Then and only then can a true and sincere conversation backed by actions lead us to what is decided. Maybe one people is better or maybe one’s people is better. Whichever is decided as a nation must be backed by the way we govern, the way we cooperate and the way we interact.

The recent display in Parliament does beg the question, is our motto one in which our leaders of today believe in. Neither path, united or divided, requires unnecessary conflict and hostility if an understanding is reached and clear expectations are set. South Africa and The USA took very different paths to where they are today.

Guyana must be honest with itself and choose.

Never before in my life have, I seen such division as there is today within Guyana. We all know what our motto instructs us to achieve. Is it still believable and reachable? Only we the Guyanese people can make our motto a reality. We must all truly need it, want it and desire it to become our way of being.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

levels. Guyana’s traditional grid reinforcement techniques would not be able keep pace with those strains.

They can damage circuit segment cables, fuses and transformers, and cause voltage variability and outages across the distribution network.

Modernising the grid in Guyana to accommodate renewable energy will improve system reliability and outage restoration, while supporting increased levels of distributed energy resources.

It’s important to get in front of potential congestion issues now, in order to avoid safety and reliability issues down the line. Much of Guyana’s grid is horribly outdated, some of it is more than 50 years old. That itself is already causing problems, and more are on the way. Reverse power flows from distributed energy resources and increasing consumer demand from electric data centres would change the electricity load profile in the future.

As it is right now, our national utility grid lacks the capability to accommodate highly variable two-way power flows from renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

This makes it difficult to use distributed energy resources, such as home solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles, to their full potential.

Our distribution systems were built for power flowing in one direction — from the power plant to the customer.

In the future, power will be flowing both ways, as homeowners and private solar and wind farm can sell their extra power back to the grid.

Updating the planning

Process, it’s not just the utility infrastructure that’s aging, the planning capabilities and communication technology are outdated as well.

Going forward, our utilities companies would have to transform the planning process to consider how distributed energy resources can expand, while keeping the

system reliable. Currently, system modeling tools are not integrated, and rely on assumptions and time-consuming manual assessments of circuit capacity.

Comprehensive grid planning would increase reliability for customers and also allow for continued seamless integration of renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and storage.

However, it is also time to start looking at use of transmission line poles of centrifuged or prestressed concrete, a majority of our sub transmission network (40KV to 150kv) in service must be constructed with this type of support, which must also be done for the high-level transmission network 220/440KV or lower levels (medium voltage electricity distribution), as Guyana’s energy future would require a more resilient, efficient electric grid that adapts to distributed sources of power generation.

Sincerely, David Adams

Almost $10B in expired...

FROM PAGE 4

Before 2015, almost 100% of the medicines and medical supplies for the public health sector in the ten regions of Guyana were supplied by the Ministry of Health’s Materials Management Unit (MMU).

Since 2015, the ten regions have been forced to procure most of what they needed through single-sourcing, because the MMU consistently failed, from 2015 to 2020, to meet the needs of the health sector.

In August 2020, when the PPP assumed office, the MMU was suppling less than 20% of the health sector’s needs, with the regions scrambling to procure medicines and medical supplies in order to provide adequate services to the people. This situation had led to chronic medicine and medical supply shortages.

The situation by August 2020 was nothing short of scandalous.

Not only were medicines in short supply, but virtually all the priority medicines were at zero stock levels. These medicines included anti-retroviral medicines for HIV, TB medicines, insulin and metformin for diabetes, critical hypertension medicines, critical medicines and supplies for the operating theatres, anesthetics for dental services, HIV test kits, chemistry reagents for the laboratory, and many others.

Single-sourcing was rampant throughout the five years of the APNU/ AFC administration. In the five years, virtually all the medicines were procured

through single-sourcing of medicines and medical supplies. One order in 2017 was placed multiple times, so that the Government was forced to defer deliveries into 2018, 2019 and 2020. Budget allocations in 2018 and 2019 were used to pay for the mistaken multiple orders placed in 2017.

The last persons that ought to be talking about medicine shortages are APNU+AFC leaders and MPs. Ganesh Mahipaul’s brazen charges, that the

PPP is deliberately causing shortages in order to revert to single-sourcing, are clearly intended to distract from the criminal mismanagement of the MMU, which has led to accumulation of billions of dollars’ worth of medicines.

While patients are suffering without access to medicines, the MOH is forced to dump expired medicines as a result of APNU+AFC allowing medicines to expire.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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Foundation

Mars: TheRedPlanet

Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

A

wizard, sitting in the marketplace, was telling the fortunes of the passers-by when a person ran up in great haste, and announced to him that the doors of his house had been broken open and that all his goods were being stolen.

He sighed heavily and hastened away as fast as he could run.

A neighbour saw him running and said, "Oh! you fellow there! You say you can foretell the fortunes of others; how is it you did not foresee your own?'

WORD SEARCH

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

KN security officers charged for murder T

wo security officers attached to Kaieteur News were charged for the murder of 58-year-old Mohabir Singh, whose body was found under a shed in Saffon Street, Charlestown Georgetown.

Singh, of no place of abode, was found dead on Tuesday last on the premises of the news outfit.

Police had stated that following the discovery, an investigation was launched and based on information re-

ceived, the two security officers were arrested as detectives pursued the murder angle.

However, a post-mortem performed on the man’s body on Friday proved that the man died from haemorrhag-

ing due to blunt trauma to the head.

His body has been handed over to relatives for cremation.

The two suspects are expected to make their appearance on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Building bridges...

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…after PNC’s abridgment fter almost a decade, a new Demerara Harbour Bridge is finally about to be constructed. The PPP Government had, back in early 2013, proposed to construct a fixed-span, 4-lane, concrete structure at Peter’s Hall/ Schoonard to replace the long “expired” floating structure. The preliminary design was done by local DHB engineers, and the final one was to be done by the backers of what was to be a “Build, Operate, Own and Transfer” (BOOT) model.

But, as we know, the PNC started to flex its muscles in the new dispensation produced after the 2011 elections.

This saw the PPP ending up with a minority Government against the combined parliamentary majority of the PNC and AFC. It then became a fight for regime survival, as the AFC flexed its muscles and threatened an NCM to oust the PPP! In burning its promised “bridge” between the PNC and PPP in Parliament, the AFC effectively torpedoed the new DHB. When the PNC/AFC coalition slid into office in 2015, the newly designated Ministry, and Minister of “Public Infrastructure”, Patterson, immediately trumpeted that he was going to have the new Bridge built and operational by 2018! Trouble was, he immediately jettisoned the local proposal and sole-sourced another one from some Dutch company for a whopping $143 MILLION! The THREE-LANE STRUCTURE with a retractable section was derided by the Chinese Ambassador as “19th century”! The PPP reported him to the SOCU…but, not surprisingly, they let him off without even a slap on his wrist.

In January of this year, the new PPP Government saw him charged for fraud and hauled before the courts; and, in the meantime, immediately moved to get the DHB project back on track. President Ali announced that the new Bridge would be situated between Nandy Park and La Grange, from where it would feed into a new 4-lane Highway all the way to Parika, on the Essequibo River. This would open up thousands of acres of land for agriculture, manufacturing and housing purposes. And this is what development is all about!

We just learnt that nine companies are shortlisted to design and construct the original fixed-span bridge, and construction will begin this year. There are in the mix five Chinese and four European companies, including the ones that built the bridges over in Suriname.

Your Eyewitness wonders what happened to the US companies we heard would be plunging in to demonstrate their world-class construction skills!

Biden has clearly placed China in the US’ sights, and is moving on many fronts to checkmate the inexorable rise of the former. Shouldn’t he look in his own backyard at economic development as an arena of competition for “hearts and minds”? …and saving babies There was a very poignant story about a young mother giving birth to her premature baby. In her estimation, the baby was treated callously by the medical staff, and was left to die. But in your Eyewitness’s estimation, the reporting on the unfortunate incident was not as nuanced as it could’ve been. The thing is, every country’s medical system has term, cut-off points below which it is beyond their capabilities to save preemies.

That cut-off point in the developed countries - with their arsenal of (high priced) interventional tools, trained personnel and techniques - is 24 weeks. For Guyana, your Eyewitness understands, it’s 28 weeks. In this case, the young mother said she was “6-month” pregnant - which would be around 24-25 weeks. So, while it might not have been the most diplomatic way of conveying the message to the mother, the midwife/nurse, who said there was nothing she could do to save the baby, was perfectly in order.

But it should’ve been conveyed more sensitively. …to elections sanity?

Opposition Leader Harmon was just presented by the EU Observer Mission with its final report on the March 2 elections.

While Harmon complained about a “bloated list”, he didn’t contradict the report’s conclusion.

The PPP won!

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

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10 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cevons’ boss questioned at CID about acquisition of Mandela Avenue land

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evons’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Morse Archer, was on Thursday asked to report for questioning at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Eve Leary in connection with the plot of land at Mandela Avenue which the Government contends was illegally sold to him

back in 2018.

Trevor Benn, who was the Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission at the time of the transaction, was also called in on Wednesday for questioning at CID in relation to alleged illegal sales of land. Notably, Benn is currently before the court for

leasing several acres of land at Ogle.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Archer confirmed that at about 13:00h on Thursday, he visited the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary, where he was asked to give a statement on the ongoing land issue.

He explained that he remains optimistic about the option of having the ongoing matter settled outside of court.

“I’ve been informed by the press and some reliable people that there might be a chance of the Attorney General and the President resolving my matter out of court,” Archer related.

In February 2021, Archer was informed via letter from the Attorney General, Senior

Cevons CEO Morse Archer

Counsel Anil Nandlall, that the plot of land on which the Cevons headquarters is constructed is the property of the National Sports Commission, and it had been illegally leased to the company by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) in December of 2018 for a period of 50 years.

The AG’s letter also informed that, at the time of the transaction, GL&SC Commissioner Trevor Benn had no lawful authority to sell the land.

Further, the letter informed that NSC has plans to use the very land for the development of sports and the construction of sports facilities.

Moreover, the AG’s letter claimed that the fact that the transaction was completed without the knowledge and authority of the NSC, a body corporate, further compounds the illegality of the transaction.

As such, the AG had demanded that Archer vacate the land by March 31, 2021.

However, the Attorney General has subsequently informed Archer that the sale was being reviewed on a direct appeal by Archer to President Irfaan Ali, but noted that the transaction remains highly illegal; and even if the Government de-

cides to act in Archer’s favour and allow the transaction to be regularised, it does not make the wrongdoing right.

Archer, as Company CEO, had previously said that Cevons had followed all laws and regulations applicable to purchasing the plot of land which the Government is now seeking to repossess.

Further, Archer is claiming that when the land was evaluated, it was valued at $40 million, but the company was eventually required to pay $100 million. Of that total, his company had already deposited $80 million with the understanding that the transport would be received in three years’ time, when the remaining $20 million had been paid.

Meanwhile, the company has already subleased the additional portions of the lands to Sol Guyana and Corum Restaurant Holdings.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

9 Int’l companies pre-qualified for construction of new Demerara Bridge

– works slated to commence in last quarter of 2021

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ine international companies have been pre-qualified for designing, building and financing the new Demerara River bridge.

In a statement on Friday, the Public Works Ministry stated that the nine companies – some of which have partnered to form joint ventures to carry out the project – will be expected to submit bids in three months’ time following receipt of bid documents, after which a “Preferred Bidder” will be selected and the construction of the project will commence in the last quarter of this year.

Bidders have been advised that they will be required to bid on two options, a DesignBuild and Finance option and a DesignBuild-Operate & Finance option.

Among the pre-qualified bidders are several major Dutch and Chinese companies.

They are China State Construction Eng Corp (China); Ballast Needam Infra Suriname BV (headquartered in The Netherlands); China Geizhouba Group Co Ltd (China); JV - China Railway International Group Co Ltd, China Railway Major Bridge Eng Group Co Ltd, Reconnaisance & Design Inst Co Ltd (China); JV - China Road & Bridge Corp Peutes y Calzadas Infrastructuras SLU (China and Spain); JV - OECI SA and Odebrecht Engenharia E Coonstrucao SA OEC (Brazil); JV China Railway Construction Corporation (International)

Ltd, China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co Ltd, and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co Ltd (China & Trinidad and Tobago); JV - Rizzani de Eccher S p A & Preconco Ltd (Italy and Barbados), and Boskalis Guyana Inc Eiffage Genie Civil (Guyana & Netherlands).

“The Government is pleased with the level of interest by globally competitive companies and wish to thank all companies that sought to be pre-qualified

noting that the pre-qualification was a highly competitive process, resulting in detailed EoI/Pre-Qualification submissions of a high quality,” the Public Works Ministry has stated.

However, noting the limited number of pre-qualified bidders, the Government encouraged other world-class companies that did not make the cut to continue to pursue the many infrastructural opportunities available in Guyana.

The pre-qualification process commenced last September after the Government invit-

ed Expressions of Interest (EoI) and Pre-Qualifications applications. The PPP/C Administration, which was barely two months old at the time, launched the advertisement on Sept 27, 2021, in all papers and subsequently, 54 firms expressed interest.

However, only 44 firms completed the registration process and were provided with the EoI/PreQualification documents.

Twenty-one of those companies further submitted to the EoI/Pre-Qualification on the closing deadline of

December 4, 2020. Prior to the December submission deadline, various questions were raised by interested parties. These were answered both via a virtual workshop and addendums issued to registered parties.

Additionally, a decision was taken on the alignment alongside the existing bridge before the launch of the EoI/ Pre-Qualification.

Shortly after the launch of the EoI, President Dr Irfaan Ali led a team to visit the eastern alignment. At the direction of the Head of State, an interagency group was formed un-

der the Chairmanship of Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill to include all key agencies that would have inputs in the new bridge.

Friday’s announcement of the pre-qualified bidders came on the heels of an information session held on March 15 with the pre-qualified bidders that revealed the general requirements expected in the upcoming tender.

Meanwhile, an application for the project has since been filed at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), followed by an advertisement for a firm to complete the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

With the construction of the new Demerara River bridge slated to start in the fourth quarter of 2021, the project is expected to be finished within two years.

Minister Edghill had previously explained that the new bridge will be high-fixed with a 50-metre flyover at minimum or “as high as or higher than the Marriott Hotel” to allow for marine vessels to pass without any interruptions of vehicular traffic.

As such, the bridge would land aback Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara, from where

an alternative highway will be constructed all the way to Parika.

The construction of the new bridge will be a timely one, as the East Bank is notorious for its heavy traffic congestions due to the current retractable bridge.

Floating at 1.25 mile, the current Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Banks of Demerara, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of vehicles, people, and cargo. The structure was built in the 1970s but was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years. However, some 42 years later, it is still floating.

The former APNU/AFC Administration was originally going to go with another retractable, three-lane design but after immense criticism had switched to a fixed, four-lane proposal.

However, the awarding of the $146 million contract to have a feasibility study done for the project was marred in controversy, with the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, pointing to major breaches of Guyana’s financial laws.

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had subsequently flagged former Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson for requesting from the then Cabinet that the feasibility contract be solesourced instead of being pro-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

cessed through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The PPC had found that after the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders, NPTAB had approved for the project to be re-tendered. But instead, Dutch company LievenseCSO was handpicked by the Public Infrastructure Minister to conduct the study.

Additionally, it was revealed that funds from the Asphalt Plant, which is managed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), were used to pay for the feasibility study.

As such, former Minister Patterson and former Head of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams, were charged in January for defrauding the Asphalt Plant of $162.6 million. They are currently out on bail.

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NEWS

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Govt purchases 200,000 Russian Sputnik vaccines – first 50,000 to arrive in Guyana within 2 weeks …15,524 persons immunised

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mmunisation of the population is high on Government’s agenda, with continuous efforts in the pipeline to secure enough doses to make it a reality. In light of this, within the next two weeks, another 50,000 Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccines will arrive in Guyana.

This was announced by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday during his daily pandemic update. He noted that the Government has indicated its plans to purchase 200,000 doses of the vaccine.

As such, he added that local authorities will engage Russian officials in the near future for more shots to be made available.

“We have put in a purchase order for 200,000 doses of the Sputnik vaccine and within a two-week period, we should have the first 50,000 doses arriving in Guyana.”

After 3000 doses were sent from the Barbadian Government, the Chinese and Indian Governments also sent 20,000 Sinopharm and 80,000 AstraZeneca vaccines respectively. Another 100,000 is expected through the COVAX mechanism.

“We want to immunise a substantial part of our population this year. If we’re going to do so, we have to source vaccines.

We have been using the AstraZeneca and we’re expecting to get additional doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX. They have promised to send us 100,800 doses,” the Minister expressed.

From the vaccines sent, Guyana’s immunisation network has already begun. As of Friday, a total of 15,524 persons have been immunised using COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine administration campaign has been progressing well, according to the Health Minister.

Nevertheless, he signalled areas which could be improved – one of which is Linden.

“We need persons of influence in Linden to advocate for the vaccine because as we know, once you’re immunised, it protects you from getting the more severe form of COVID. We’ve had persons from Region 10 who would’ve gotten infected and prior to this rollout of vaccines and in some cases, they had the most severe form of COVID and we had a few deaths.”

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Guyana records 44 new COVID-19 cases, active cases now stand at 812 – 400 active cases in Region 4

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nother 44 COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Friday, raising the total confirmed positives to 9486. This contributed to active cases moving up to an alarming 812.

The new cases were from 593 samples that were collected and sent for testing.

The new statistics provided by the Health Ministry revealed that there are still 212 deaths – the latest of which was recorded on Thursday.

In the facilities, nine patients are now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 45 in institutional isolation,

nine in institutional quarantine and 767 in home isolation. Some 8453 of the 4874 males and 4612 females have recovered completely.

To date, Guyana has tested 80,183 individuals.

A breakdown of new cases showed that 10 were detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 26 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); one in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); one in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); three in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and three in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 1025, 243, 246 and 436 respectively.

However, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday acknowledged the increased cases over the last two weeks, noting that it can be attributed to an increase in testing. A majority of these positives were detected in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which has over 400 active cases presently.

“The more you test, the more you will find and I think that’s one of the phenomena that we’re seeing…

To date, while overall we have about 9600 cases, we have done 81,000 tests. We have increased the amount of testing and because we have increased the testing, we are able to detect more,” he opined.

Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and Kitty, Georgetown, have seen clusters of these positives – both of which are being monitored closely. Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is also on the radar but the cases are diffused across different areas.

“We continue to monitor and to be able, once we identify positive people, to isolate them and reduce contact with other persons and reduce the chances of spreading the infection.”

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement. If persons are experiencing

symptoms or have been in contact with a positive person, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 6246674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No

15), which are in effect until March 31, 2021. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AG files motion to strike out APNU/AFC’s appeal against dismissal of election petition …unconstitutional, irregular for Appeal Court to hear case – Solicitor General

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

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here is no statutory or constitutional jurisdiction to the Court of Appeal to hear an election petition dismissed for procedural impropriety or any other reason not stated in Article 163 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana.”

This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, in a motion to strike out a Notice of Appeal challenging the dismissal of APNU/AFC’s second election petition.

The motion was filed on Friday with the Guyana Court of Appeal.

On January 18, 2021, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, dismissed election petition #99 that was filed by Brennan Nurse and Monica Thomas owing to non-compliance with effecting service as prescribed under Section 8 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act and Rule

Solicitor General Nigel Hawke

9 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules.

Justice George found that the petition was not properly served on former President David Granger, the second-named respondent. Justice George, in arriving at her decision, among other things, relied on the decision in Eusi Kwayana et al v The Chief Elections Officer et al No 205 of 1986 and noted that given the guidance outlined in this case, the procedures for the filing of an election petition must be strictly complied with, otherwise it can result in its dismissal.

The manner of service is prescribed in Rule 9 (1) of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules, which imposes on the petitioners the statutory obligation to effect service within five days after the presentation of the petition. Petition #99 having been filed on September 15, 2020, should have been served on the former President five days

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

thereafter which would have been September 21, 2020, since the fifth day – September 20, 2020 – was a Sunday.

However, in the affidavit of service of Nurse, it was stated that the petition, along with the relevant documents, was only served on Granger on September 25, 2020 – five days outside of the statutorily-prescribed period. Following Justice George’s ruling, the petitioners filed a Notice of Appeal asking that the decision be set aside and/or reversed with costs awarded to them.

No jurisdiction

In an affidavit in support of the motion for dismissal of the Notice of Appeal, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke contended that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a decision of the High Court in an election petition.

In doing so, Hawke rea-

sons that appeals regarding an election petition are governed exclusively by Article 163 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana which sets out the circumstances under which such appeals can be filed.

Among them, he deposed, includes a decision granting or refusing leave to institute proceedings for the determination of any question referred to in Article 163 (1).

According to the Solicitor General, the decision of the Chief Justice was not, and did not involve a determination of a question referred to in the aforesaid Article. He submitted that the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear an appeal from a decision of the High Court must be founded in the Constitution of Guyana and statute.

Like Nandlall, Hawke, too contended “that there is no statutory or constitutional jurisdiction to the Court of Appeal to hear an election petition dismissed for procedural impropriety or any other reason not stated in Article 163 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana.”

Having regards to the forgoing, Hawke contended,

From left: Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and former President David Granger as they pose with one of their election petitions just after filing it at the High Court

“That in the circumstances, permitting the [appeal] to proceed would be unlawful, irregular and unconstitutional.”

Overriding objective

Nurse and Thomas have expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Chief Justice and are seeking to have it overturned at the Court of Appeal. Lawyers for APNU/AFC are contending that Justice George, in dismissing the party’s second election petition, failed to consider its overriding ob-

jectives.

In a Notice of Appeal, lawyers for the petitioners contend that the acting Chief Justice erred in law and misdirected herself by failing to recognise that the purpose of Rule 9 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules, requiring service of an affidavit, is to verify that service was achieved within the time prescribed by the statute, and that an error in the affidavit does not affect the fact of service.

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16 NEWS

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Housing Ministry pumps $455.6M to develop infrastructure at Experiment

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ousing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Thursday announced that his Ministry will commence infrastructural works to the tune of $455.6 million at Experiment, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The Minister made this announcement during a community outreach at the Bath Primary School.

Four contracts for the project were signed on Tuesday when the Government handed out a total of 199 contracts totalling $13.9 billion for infrastructural works in new and existing housing areas, and for the construction of houses.

The works also include land clearing, construction of roads and bridges, drainage and access to water and electricity.

However, the Minister said once the project is completed, over 673 persons

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

who were allocated lands in Experiment under the previous Administration will be able to start building their homes. Experiment has been unoccupied due to the lack of infrastructure.

“By the last quarter of this year, we are expecting that you should be com-

mencing your construction of your own homes,” the Minister said.

Minister Croal said unlike what occurred in the past, the PPP/C Government’s national housing drive would ensure that all necessary infrastructure is in place before land allocation.

“So, what happened is that allocations have been made but the infrastructure works are required to complete that process and that is something we are working on…because the desirable level at which we want to operate is to have the area ready and then do the allocation,” Minister Croal said.

The Minister also spoke of the economic spinoffs from these initiatives, which include the creation of jobs in the region and opportunities for small business.

He added that the Ministry would return to the region in early May to host

its “Dream Realised” initiative, which would see several people receiving their long-awaited land titles and transport.

The Ministry would also be examining the functions of its regional office to ensure it is effectively conducting its mandate to provide quality services to the people of Region Five.

This year, the housing sector received a total allocation of $8.9 billion. Of this sum, $6 billion will go towards infrastructure and utility works in new and existing areas. This will pave the way for the allocation of over 10,000 house lots and 7000 land titles to citizens.

Minister Croal was accompanied by technical personnel from the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Land Administration, Surveys and Community Development Departments and a team from the Guyana Water Incorporated.

Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally, Region Five Regional Chairman (Ag) Rion Peters and Regional Executive Officer Genevieve Blackman also attended the engagement.

Duo freed of murder following defence’s no-case submission

Freed: Roberto Miggins

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oberto Miggins, called “Hot Skull,” and Quasi Benjamin, called “Rambo”, were on Thursday acquitted on a murder charge after Justice Brassington Reynolds upheld no-case submissions made by their attorney and directed the jury to return formal verdicts of not guilty.

The men had been on trial at the High Court in Demerara for the murder of gold miner Hilton Smith, which occurred on October 14, 2016, at Mazawini

Backdam, Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD).

They had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on reports, Smith, called “Hilary”, of Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was shot and killed after a group of men with high-powered rifles pounced on a mining camp and opened fire.

Workers ran for cover in the nearby bush. The gunmen reportedly carted off with a quantity of raw gold. After the gunmen left, Smith’s body was discovered with several gunshot wounds.

In June 2019, Miggins and Benjamin were acquitted of the October 2016 murder of Mario Pozzer, a Brazilian gold miner. The men were discharged after the Trial Judge upheld nocase submissions made by their lawyers and directed the jury to return formal verdicts of not guilty.

According to reports, the bullet-riddled body of Pozzer was discovered at 10 Miles, Port Kaituma, next to the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) he used to get to and from his mining camp.

AG files motion to...

They moreover contend that Justice George erred in law and misdirected herself by following the decision in Eusi Kwayana et al v The Chief Elections Officer et al No 205 of 1986, which decision in itself was erroneous. According to the lawyers, Justice George again erred in law and misdirected herself when she applied the doctrine of strict compliance by holding that such compliance related to the contents of the affidavit of service instead of the filing of the affidavit of service on time.

Further, the lawyers argue that the Chief Justice also erred in law and misdirected herself when she concluded that leave was required to file a supplementary affidavit of service to give a more complete un-

derstanding of how service was effected on the former President.

The petitioners’ legal team argued that the foregoing is inconsistent with a ruling at a case management conference in which their clients were invited to provide an explanation in relation to what the court considered an apparent error in the original affidavit of service.

Additionally, it is also being argued that the acting Chief Justice erred in dismissing the entire election petition for non-service even though Granger notified the court that he would not oppose the election petition and that the other proper and necessary respondents were served with the statutory timeline.

FROM PAGE 15

Petition #88

APNU/AFC has another election petition before the High Court.

In Petition #88, the petitioners are Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick. This petition seeks to challenge the legitimacy of the elections, which a recount showed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic won.

Justice George has fixed April 7, 2021, to commence hearing submissions in this case.

In keeping with an order handed down by the Chief Justice, the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has handed over all Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) to the Registrar of the High Court for safekeeping.

NEWS

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Death of premature baby

“No failure on part of our staff” – hospital

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he Management of the private hospital in Georgetown that was accused of being responsible for the death of a newborn on Monday last said it found “no failure” by its staff.

In a statement, the hospital said as part of its internal investigation, management met with the mother of the dead premature baby, Tamera Leslie, on Wednesday.

At the meeting, the hospital said Leslie was given the opportunity to raise concerns about the care she received at the hospital.

“It should be noted that prior to this meeting, no attempt was made by the patient to raise her concerns with the Hospital.

However, having reviewed the patient’s main concerns, as well as statements from the nurses and doctor that provided care to her, we have found no failure on the part of our staff.

All standard medical operating protocols were followed,” the statement read.

The hospital also encouraged patients who are dissatisfied with the care they have received at the facility to report same to the hospital’s management.

On Wednesday last, 20-year-old Leslie and her family came to the forefront demanding answers after the young woman lost her newborn at the private hospital.

Leslie and her family had accused the private institution of being more concerned about making money rather than saving lives.

delivery, she was told that the baby had died.

The young woman, in an interview with Guyana Times, contended that employees at the hospital repeatedly questioned wheth-

Mother of dead baby: Tamera Leslie

The teacher of Bent Street Wortmanville, Georgetown, contacted officials at the Health Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of her newborn daughter.

Leslie reportedly started experiencing labour pains and went to the Georgetown Hospital, but went to seek private medical care after she was asked to wait. The woman recalled that when she arrived at the private hospital, she was taken into a room, where she was seen by a midwife.

Leslie recalled that she was put to lie down, and the nurse began examining her. At that time, she was told that she was in active labour and that her child, the membrane and her water bag were intact.

She said she was later told that she had to deliver her six-month-old child. Leslie recalled that her newborn daughter was breathing after birth. She claimed that soon after the

Govt purchases...

Dr Anthony posited that this can be prevented once persons are inoculated. Authorities will seek to have greater engagements in such communities to witness a higher uptake of the shots. Going forward, the Ministry will be ramping up its rollout to access a greater fraction of the population.

The age range to guarantee eligibility will be lowered when the first phase, comprising of healthcare workers and persons 60 years or older, is completed. It will eventually move down further until everyone is immunised.

The Government’s vaccination programme targets frontline workers, health workers and the elderly mainly because they are considered to be the most at risk. The Minister said that the above 60 age requirement is linked to the fact that those persons are more at risk and an assessment of the fatality trend shows that older persons are falling victim to the virus.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips reiterated earlier this month that this vac-

FROM PAGE 13

cination campaign is part of Phase Two of the PPP/C Government’s plan to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase dealt with the emergency measures put in place to fortify the health system to deal with not only the spread but the tracing and treatment of infected persons.

To prepare the health infrastructure for this massive rollout, upgrades were made to a network of facilities.

With expansion for storage, freezers were also added to ensure that the vaccine temperature isn’t compromised.

Training was also facilitated for each health team currently rolling out the exercise.

While the vaccine offers tremendous protection from the virus, the World Health Organisation has cautioned, “Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk, particularly because it is still not clear the degree to which the vaccines can protect not only against disease but also against infection and transmission.”

er the family could afford the services at the private medical facility.

In fact, the devasted young woman related that the nurse asked if the family could afford to pay for

an incubator, which would have helped to save the infant’s life.

The woman told the media that her daughter was not confirmed dead by a doctor, and the hospital re-

fused to give her any document to confirm the child’s death. As such, she continues to call on the relevant authorities to launch an investigation.

18 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Attempts to rig 2020 elections

Tourism Ministry to offer fund Chief Magistrate to rule on way forward to develop local businesses for charges against Mingo, others T

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

APNU/AFC activist Carol Joseph

Former Health Minister Volda Lawrence

hief Magistrate Ann McLennan has fixed April 7, 2021, to deliver a ruling on how she will proceed with the electoral fraud charges against embattled Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence, and APNU/AFC’s activist Carol Joseph.

Their lawyers, Nigel Hughes, and associates have laid over submissions in which they have asked that the charges against their client remain indictable. Should the court rule in favour of these submissions, it means that the Chief Magistrate would have to hold a Preliminary Inquiry to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the trio to stand trial at the High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has hired a team of lawyers to prosecute these cases. The prosecution has since objected to the charges remaining indictable and as such has requested summary disposal - this means the matter would be tried before a Magistrate.

Lawrence was slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. She was placed on bail. Joseph is charged jointly with Mingo for forgery. They have all been placed on bail.

Last month, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) will be conducted into the two counts of misconduct in public office against Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers. This was af-

ter she upheld submissions by Hughes for the charges to remain indictable. The DPP has since filed an appeal against the Magistrate’s decision.

Myers was not required to plead to the indictable charges which stated that, during the period March 4 and 14, 2020, she wilfully misconducted herself in declaring fraudulent results for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

whether fraud has been perpetrated against the country.”

Lowenfield is facing three counts of forgery and three counts of misconduct in public office. He has been placed on $300,000 bail. There are also electoral fraud charges against GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller and GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan. They, too, have

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers

She has been placed on $300,000 bail in relation to both charges.

Given the magnitude of the allegations levelled against Mingo, Myers, Lawrence, Joseph, and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, their lawyers are contending that the best forum for the matters is in the High Court.

During a previous interview, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels said, “The allegation is that he [Lowenfield] has committed fraud against everybody in the country, so the best forum for that is before the High Court, where the jury, as representatives of the people of the country, (would determine)

been released on bail.

Lowenfield’s report claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown.

The certified results from the recount exercise supervised

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

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

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Rape accused to face retrial following split jury

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he trial of Clevon Forde, who is accused of raping a 16-yearold girl, ended on Friday in a hung jury. Forde, 34, was on trial for the offence before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Demerara. Following deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

As such, Forde, who is out on bail, will face a new trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. It was reported that between May 24 and 25, 2014, Forde and the young woman met at the Amelia’s Ward car park, Linden, Region 10

(Upper Demerara-Berbice).

They then decided to go to the club. As they arrived at the sporting facility, it is alleged that Forde jumped into the back seat of the car and began touching her breast, buttocks, and vagina.

The young lady allegedly told the perpetrator to stop but instead, he drove the car to Kara Kara, Linden, where he engaged in sexual penetration with the teen against her consent. A report was subsequently lodged with the Police.

During the trial, Forde was represented by Attorneyat-Law Rachael Bakker,

Clevon Forde

while the case for the prosecution was presented by State Counsels Sarah Martin and Nafeeza Baig.

he Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development at the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, John Edghill believes that local entrepreneurs can explore more service-oriented businesses in light of the growing oil and gas sector.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Edghill noted that with the influx of international investors and oil and gas offices in Guyana, the demand for services - specifically business process outsourcing will increase.

“Businesses that provide service such as accounting, filing taxes, printing and catering can benefit from the oil and gas companies. These companies host meetings, they would need meals, and so catering would fill a big gap here,” he explained.

He further noted that the Government along with the Tourism Ministry is working to make the Entrepreneurship and Innovation fund available.

“This is in the making, but we want to see businesses benefiting from this. However, we want businesses that can generate economic benefits. Those business where a workforce would be needed, so people will gain employment and the employees would be paid well,” Edghill added.

Furthermore, Edghill related that the Small Business Bureau can assist locals that lack collateral but are desirous

Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development John Edghill

of starting businesses that require a hefty initial capital.

He explained that the Small Business Bureau, through its credit guarantee programme, acts as a guarantor for these entrepreneurs.

“With this programme, the Small Business Bureau would guarantee small business development loans for entrepreneurs. The Bureau doesn’t give the loan, but we would say we are liable if the person doesn’t pay. So, in that way entrepreneurs can access loans from either of the two participating financial institutions working along with Bureau with this initiative,” Edghill related.

In addition, Edghill noted that businesses that participate in the credit guarantee programme are also able to benefit from a six per cent interest rate as opposed to the

usual nine per cent stipulated by the local banks.

Furthermore, the Director posited that the Legal Affairs and Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministries are currently working to make movable capital accepted by financial institutions.

He explained that most people lack immovable collateral and as such may feel ineligible to access loans. Nevertheless, with this new initiative, the Government will be paving the way.

“Many countries like China, Argentina and Albina they would do this. So, persons are no longer limited to only using land and houses as collateral. In this sense, more persons would be able to access loans, specifically entrepreneurs, so that they can expand and branch out,” he detailed.

Meanwhile, Edghill stated that apart from service-oriented businesses, the Government is also supporting businesses within the agriculture and agro-processing fields.

“These businesses are especially feasible in the outskirts of Georgetown, and they require little capital injection.

Especially for poultry, that is a business that people can startup in their backyards once they have the space,” he explained.

He further noted that the Guyana Small Business Bureau would be able to assist these small businesses that do not require such large funding, through grants.

Guyana, China launch “Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award”

Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Chen Xilai signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

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he Education Ministry and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award, where eligible students get an opportunity to win a whopping US$1000.

The leadership programme will take the form of a competition that will focus on three areas; a community-based project, critique of a work of art and participation in sport activities such as athletics, gymnastics, dance and swimming. This is according to the Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Lorraine Barker-King.

Barker-King added that the competition is open to Grades Eight to 10 students who are currently at a secondary school in any of the 11 education districts.

“The objectives of this programme are to develop cognitive, emotional and civic skills among learners, display and exemplify leadership skills, and

showcase the talents of learners. The staff of the Unit of Allied Arts has been assigned this task of executing the competition and we sincerely promise that this will be done with a standard that is normally exemplified by the Ministry of Education,” she said.

Students will be shortlisted based on participation in sports, academic performance, leadership qualities, mental qualities, self-control, sociability and social action and participation in clubs and societies.

Each winner from the 11 education districts will win US$1000.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that her Ministry is happy to partner with the People’s Republic of China on this initiative.

“Anything that could help us advance that process is always welcomed,” Minister Manickchand remarked.

She said further that across Guyana there are many examples of students who try hard to

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand delivering remarks during Friday’s launch

do their best academically and being excellent citizens.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai related that his country is happy to assist the education sector in Guyana.

“We hope that this award will inspire the Guyanese students to have a dream and exemplify in their studies; grow up to be future leaders in various fields in Guyana and contribute to national development.”

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson said the award programme is significant at this time as it allows Guyanese students to remain engaged even during a pandemic.

He believes that a programme of this nature will give students the impetus to perform and allow them to see themselves differently and realise that their life should not be confined to academia.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4-month-old baby girl died 197 domestic violence, child abuse cases reported on hotline from “traumatic asphyxia” …reports concentrated in Regions 3, 4

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ince the establishment of the 914 hotline last December, a whopping 197 reports of domestic violence and child abuse were reported to the relevant authorities.

The hotline is a toll-free number, operated on a 24hour basis for persons to raise issues on various forms of abuse and violence throughout the country.

This mechanism has been supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud at a press briefing on Friday related that of the 197 reports, 158 were related to domestic violence and 38 to child abuse.

“We have been receiving a number of reports.

We have actual reports totalling 197…In terms of reporting, we had one child making a report directly.

In terms of the cases where child reports came in, they were done by adults, usually persons outside of the situation and that’s a good thing because it means people are being vigilant and they’re taking the issue of child abuse very seriously,” she highlighted.

From a breakdown, the highest number of calls came from Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), with 36 and 113 respectively.

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) followed with 18; Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) with 14; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), five cases; nine cases in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); three in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

There were no reports from Regions One (BarimaWaini) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The Minister further stated that in response to calls, immediate intervention is sought to assist victims in their respective situations.

The children-related reports were forwarded to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) while

those related to domestic violence were referred to the District Probation Offices for further intervention.

According to Minister Persaud, the hotline is also open to report issues of abuse of the elderly - a common occurrence in society that is often disregarded.

“We’re bringing a lot of attention to elderly abuse because it is something that happens and many a time, it is not spoken about and so we want to say to the elderly persons out there, 914 is also for you. Don’t think it’s only for children or specific cases of violence.

Elderly violence is out there and it can be anything from neglect to actual physical violence to even sexual violence that is perpetrated against elders,” she appealed to the population.

Presently, 17 officers are controlling the hotline network but the Ministry is working to increase their human resources capacity. Later this month, a gender-based violence referral app will be available for both android and iOS systems, linking people with all services offered by the Ministry.

“It is taking information and using it in such a way that it is helpful to people across the country. It is also tapping into a population of young people who always are using their phones. This is our way of complimenting the movement to dealing with violence and abuse.”

16-Y-O charged for the murder of boy, 10

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ne week after his arrest, a 16-year-old male was on Friday charged for the murder of 10-year-old Anthony Cort of C Field Sophia, who was gunned down during a robbery.

The minor appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged under Section 100 (1) (C) (i) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01.

It is alleged that on March 11, 2021, in Sophia, Georgetown, he murdered Cort in the course or furtherance of a felony, that is robbery.

The 16-year-old murder accused was not required to plead to the charge.

He has since been remanded to the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre and the matter has been adjourned to May 12, 2021.

It was reported that 10-year-old Anthony Cort was killed by ban-

dits during a home invasion in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The now dead lad and his mother were two houses away from their residence when two armed men invaded the property belonging to his aunt - a 44-yearold businesswoman.

Police said that Cort was in the upper flat of the home in C Field, Sophia, in the company of others when the bandits rushed inside the lower flat and held the occupants at gunpoint.

They were relieved of two cellphones valued $80,000 each, two gold bands valued $100,000, two gold rings valued $100,000, one gold chain valued $100,000, and $80,000 cash.

According to Police, the bandits then ordered the victims into the upper flat of the house via a northern door.

As they went into the upper flat, Anthony was about to exit a bedroom when one

Dead: 10-year-old Anthony Cort

of the bandits discharged a round, hitting the child in his left upper shoulder. The suspects then made good their escape.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) subsequently responded to reports of the tragedy and pronounced the child dead at the scene.

A

post-mortem examination that was done on the body of fourmonth-old Kaylee Atkinson of Annandale, Essequibo Coast, gave her cause death as “traumatic asphyxia”.

Traumatic asphyxia, also known as crush asphyxia, occurs when there is pressure placed on the chest so that normal respiration cannot occur.

On Sunday last, Atkinson was discovered dead with her drunken father’s foot on her chest.

It was reported that the now dead baby lived with her teenage parents along with an older sibling.

However, it was reported that the father returned

Dead baby: Kaylee Atkinson

home on Saturday evening last at about 20:10h under the influence of alcohol and went into the kitchen where he fell asleep on the floor.

The teenage mother then retired to bed with her two

children but they were later joined by the father, who slept with them.

Nevertheless, at about 01:55h on Sunday, the mother woke up to breastfeed the baby and observed her husband’s foot resting on the child’s chest and abdomen.

As she looked closer, the teenager noticed a “whitish” substance oozing from the baby’s mouth and that she was not breathing.

She immediately woke up the 18-year-old father and rushed the child to the Suddie Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

With the post-mortem results, it is not clear if charges will be laid against the father.

Guyana talks structural transformation, economy reopening at UK-Caribbean Forum

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inister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd underscored key resilience-building steps which countries should aim to achieve in order to address global issues.

At the 10th UKCaribbean Forum earlier this week, Minister Todd highlighted that resilience-building should be at the core of international support, underscoring the need for exceptional measures to restore debt sustainability and address urgent financing gaps.

Minister Todd also referenced the need for vaccines, which he said are an immediate and fundamental step to enable early achievement of herd immunity, which will curb the pandemic, protect citizens and allow for the full reopening of economies. Moreover, he highlighted the key role of structural transformation and access to financing in building resilience over the medium to long term.

The UK-Caribbean Forum is a biennial event, which provides a platform for exchange between Foreign Ministers on bilateral, regional, and global issues. This year’s event focused specifically on climate change, economic re-

silience, disaster management concerning small island developing states (SIDS), COVID-19 recovery, and immigration, among other areas.

At the conclusion of the forum, the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and Caribbean countries agreed on an Action Plan for a two-year period, up to 2023, when the next full forum meeting is currently envisaged.

This Action Plan is intended to allow for a strategic and sustained approach to the UK-Caribbean relationship, based on ambitious, yet focussed and realistic commitments. It serves as a road map for the practical implementation of the communique and sets out the enhanced commitments of both the UK and Caribbean Forum countries for a renewed and strengthened partnership.

According to a Caricom statement, it was concluded that it is important to act together for mutual benefit and the global common good, based on their many shared values, particularly around the COVID-19 global pandemic and climate change.

Additionally, this Action Plan will remain a standing agenda for review at quarterly meetings be-

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd during his presentation

tween Caribbean High Commissioners based in London and the Minister for the Caribbean at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Together, they will agree joint action in cases where specific objectives are at risk of not being met.

“The parties recognise that the value of the UKCaribbean Forum lies in concrete and practical follow-up to commitments made at its meetings. Therefore, the parties will conduct a full audit of achievements against the Action Plan goals after the first year and immediately prior to the next forum,” the statement added.

2 arrested with stolen mining equipment at Arakaka Backdam

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wo men are now in Police custody and are being questioned in relation to a robbery committed on a miner of Citrus Grove Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), in January.

Based on the information received, the miner, Gavin Albert, had left his employee to look over the site in January last but on Thursday of this week, he received information that

several pieces of equipment from the site were missing.

As a result, the minter went to his worksite at Arakaka, NWD, to investigate and discovered that his mining hose, which was stolen, was in the possession of another miner at World Bank Backdam, Arakaka Backdam.

Albert was able to identify the item due to a mark he had placed on it. Following

the discovery, the matter was reported to the Police station and based on a probe that was launched, two men were arrested The stolen mining hose was valued at $55,000. Apart from that, the men allegedly took a magic mat worth $50,000, four mats valued at $30,000 and $135,000 in cash.

Charges are expected to be laid shortly.

20

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Around the World

China military bans Tesla cars citing camera, sensor spy concerns T

esla Inc cars have been banned from Chinese military complexes and housing compounds because of concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles.

The order, issued by the military, advises Tesla owners to park their cars outside of military property, according to people familiar with the directive who asked not to be identified because the information is

private. The ban, relayed to residents of military housing this week, was triggered by concerns that the world’s biggest maker of electric vehicles is collecting sensitive data via the cars’ inbuilt cameras in a way the Chinese Government can’t see or control, one of the people said.

Images of what was purported to be a notice about the ban were also circulating on Chinese social media. Multi-direction cam-

eras and ultrasonic sensors in Tesla cars may “expose locations” and the vehicles are being barred from military residences to ensure the safety of confidential military information, the notice said.

A representative for Tesla in China declined to comment on the military’s move.

China’s Defense Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a fax sent after business hours.

Tesla, like many other

automakers including General Motors Co, uses several small cameras, mainly located on the outside of the vehicle, to help guide parking, autopilot and self-driving functions. Most Tesla models also have an interior camera mounted above the rearview mirror that can be used to detect whether a driver is looking at the road, looking down at their lap, wearing sunglasses, or looking at something else entirely. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

COVID: Germany warns of “exponential” rise in coronavirus cases

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oronavirus cases are rising exponentially in Germany, officials warn, as continental Europe braces for a third wave of infections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was likely that the country would now need to apply an "emergency brake" and re-impose lockdown measures.

France, Poland and other nations are also reintroducing restrictions.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said that Europe lacks the vaccines needed to significantly reduce cases.

"We have to be honest about the situation - in Europe we don't have enough vaccines to stop a third wave through vaccinations alone," he told reporters.

The vaccine rollout across the EU has been hindered by delayed deliveries as well as the suspension in several countries of the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, over fears of possible side effects.

On Friday, Merkel defended Germany's decision to temporarily suspend the rollout of the vaccine and said she did not believe its reputation had been damaged.

The increase in reported cases in Germany is said to be fuelled by outbreaks among younger people.

Merkel said she had hoped lockdown measures would not need to be reintroduced so soon after easing restrictions, but that "sadly" developments meant that it was looking unavoidable.

Some 21 million people in 16 areas of France, including the capital Paris, will be placed under COVID lockdown measures from midnight on Friday as the country fears a third wave.

In Poland, coronavirus cases are continuing to surge

The rise in cases in Germany is said to be fuelled by outbreaks among younger people

with new daily infections reaching levels not seen since the second wave peaked in November. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Antigua PM asks US COVID-19 strikes Brazil's for AstraZeneca Congress as 3rd senator dies President vaccines for Caricom

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third senator has died of COVID-19 in Brazil, raising questions around precautions taken in the country’s Congress where as many as one-in-three lawmakers has been infected with the virus devastating Latin America’s largest nation.

Senator Major Olimpio, a former policeman who backed and later fell out with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, was declared brain dead on Thursday by doctors at a Sao Paulo hospital where he had been in intensive care for three weeks.

The two oldest Senators in Congress, aged 87 and 83, also succumbed to COVID-19. But the death of Olimpio, just 58 and the senator who won the most votes in the 2018 election, shocked Brazilians and the legislature.

The Lower Chamber, where 21 staffers have died of COVID-19, according to the employee union, tightened access on Thursday by allowing lawmakers just one staffer in their offices and declaring a return to fully remote voting.

Brazil had its second deadliest day on Thursday, with 2724 lives lost to COVID-19, just two days after a record 2841 corona-

A

Senator Major Olimpio attended an interview with Reuters in Brasilia, Brazil October 9, 2019

virus deaths.

Brazil has become the epicentre of the pandemic, with by far the highest current daily death toll anywhere in the world.

Many aides work in basement offices along tunnels with no windows or air circulation, Ribas said.

At least 145 of the 513 members of the Lower House have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 12 months, along with 31 of 81 Senators, according to a survey by news portal Poder360.

While voting in both chambers has been remote since last year, measures were relaxed as the pandemic appeared to be retreating. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ntigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has written to United States President Joseph Biden requesting that Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries be given some of the AstraZeneca vaccines his Government is providing to Canada and Mexico.

The White House announced Thursday that four million doses of the vaccine would be released to the US' two neighbours, marking the first time it has directly supplied vaccines to another country.

In a letter to President Biden, Browne pointed out that the Caribbean is the third border of the US, and the same way in which that country's safety would be imperilled if the population of Canada and Mexico were not inoculated to achieve herd immunity, the US would remain at risk if Caricom countries were neglected.

He pointed out that the Caribbean region is among the worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Describing the economic impact of the pandemic as “overwhelming”, Browne contended that “many Caribbean countries are in danger of collapsing from a massive economic sclerosis”.

Browne implored President Biden “to take ac-

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices rise 2%, but set for weekly loss on demand fears

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il rose more than 2 per cent in volatile trading on Friday after a sell-off earlier in the week erased about 7 per cent from prices as a new wave of coronavirus infections across Europe dampened expectations of any imminent recovery in fuel demand.

Brent crude was up US$1.38 a barrel, or 2.1 per cent, at US$64.63 a barrel by 1:12 ET (16:12 GMT). West Texas Intermediate (WTI) U.S. crude rose US$1.42, or 2 per cent, to US$61.45. Both traded within a wide range of more than US$2 a barrel on Friday.

Oil fell about 7 per cent down on Thursday as several large European economies reimposed lockdowns and vaccination programmes were slowed by distribution issues and concerns over potential side effects.

The market turned bullish on Friday, buoyed by a sentiment that the sell-off was overdone.

“The sell-off is going to put into motion some things that could have slowed the rally,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. “OPEC is going to be more concerned about COVID, so this increases the odds that they will extend production cuts yet again, and with the sharp drop in the price of oil, it might reduce the incentive of the US shale producers to get ahead of their skis.”

US shale production has contributed to oversupply as demand has cratered due to the coronavirus.

US drillers added nine oil rigs in this week, the biggest weekly increase since January. At 318 rigs, the count is the highest since May, oil services firm Baker Hughes said.

Meanwhile, concerns about the vaccine rollout also limited the markets gains.

Germany, France and other countries have announced the resumption of inoculations with the AstraZeneca shot after regulators declared that vaccine safe, the programme halt has made it harder to overcome resistance to vaccines among some of the population.

Britain also announced it would have to slow its COVID-19 vaccine rollout next month because of a supply delay.

Goldman Sachs said headwinds related to European Union demand and Iran supply would slow the oil market rebalancing by 750,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter, though it expects the OPEC+ grouping of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies to take action to offset that.

Iran has moved record amounts of crude oil to top client China in recent months while India’s state refiners have added Iranian oil to their annual import plans on the assumption that US sanctions on the OPEC supplier will soon ease.

Goldman expects a significant increase in global oil demand in the coming months, with its Brent forecast rising to us$80 a barrel this summer. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bermuda records surge in COVID-19 cases

Antigua's Prime Minister, Gaston Browne

count of the Caribbean — the third border of the US — in his plan to make the US safer by contributing to the safety of its neighbours”.

The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister stressed to the US President that some Caricom countries have been able to inoculate a small percentage of our population only because of the kindness of the Government of India that provided 500,000 doses of vaccines.

He added that negotiations with vaccine producers are difficult because supply is limited, and prices are high.

Prime Minister Browne has advised his colleague Heads of Government of Caricom of his letter to the US President, urging them to write in a similar vein.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

B

ermuda's Health Minister Kim Wilson has expressed concern after officials reported 18 new COVID-19 cases — the highest single-day total for three months — among the latest batch of 519 test results.

Of the new cases, 15 were logged as on-island transmissions with a known contact.

One case was a returning resident on the Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta on March 8, and the other two were listed as under investigation because they had no known links to existing cases or recent overseas travel.

Wilson said the latest surge — just days after the Atlanta-based US Centres for Disease Control lowered the island's COVID-19 risk assessment to “moderate” — meant there are now 48 active infections.

The island has recorded 767 infections since the pandemic hit last March, with 12 deaths.

Minister of National Security Renee Ming told the House of Assembly on Friday that prosecutors have received more than 20 files about COVID-19 breaches for review.

She said recent breaches of the COVID-19 regulations, which limit gatherings to 25 people, were similarly worrisome.

One party that Police broke up had more than 100 people in attendance.

“Through traditional news media and social media, many of us have seen the evidence of parties and gatherings that exceed the approved group gathering limits,” Ming said.

“The fact that the attendees of these events also violated the health and safety protocols by not wearing masks or practising physical distancing further compounds the recklessness of hosting these events.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

21

ARCHIE

Do something constructive. If you find a way to use (March 21your skills in different ways, April 19) someone will make a suggestion that will help you jump from one field of employment to another.

ARIES

An impulsive move will set you back. Take your (April 20time, consider your options May 20) and have a plan in place before you forge ahead. Pay attention to someone who has helped you in the past.

TAURUS

DILBERT

Don’t waste time on peoGEMINI (May 21- ple who talk big and offer June 20) little. If you do something concrete, the spotlight will shine on you. Your actions, not your words, will have an impact.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Associate with people who can help you in some way.

Partnerships look promising. as long as you divide responsibilities equally.

Be careful not to set unrealistic expectations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Try not to be too accommodating. Don’t be afraid to make a change if it’s in your best interest. Giving up something will not mend a relationship with a manipulative person.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Set off on a pilgrimage that will lead to information, skills and experience.

Broaden your interests and friendships, and you will discover you have more options than you thought.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Use your imagination, but don’t dive into something until you have the particulars sorted out. Knowledge and research be necessary if you wish to find success. Selfimprovement is favored.

A change of mind or heart will help you close doors. It’s time to pursue the people and things that make you happy and give you something to feel passionate about.

Take the high road when SAGITTARIUS faced with controversy.

(Nov. 23Listen carefully to decipher Dec. 21) what’s being said or offered before you commit to anything. Empty promises will leave you at a loss.

Take

a

different

ap-

CAPRICORN proach to an old problem. A (Dec. 22change at home will make Jan. 19) your life easier. Don’t let anger set in if someone doesn’t bend to your wishes. Selfimprovement and romance are favored.

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

Putter around the house and stay out of trouble. If you decide to engage in a family feud, you will risk being blamed for the afterfmath. Set a good example.

PISCES Take a moment to reflect.

(Feb. 20- If you let others meddle in March 20) your affairs, you’ll regret it. A change may be difficult, but the benefits will be worth it.

22 Packed cricket schedule set for Berbice this weekend

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he hectic cricket season in Berbice will continue on Saturday March 20 and Sunday March 21 with a host of matches across the county.

These matches are: Jafferally T20 semi-final; Troy Halley Grassroots Cup; the Kevin Sinclair U-17 countywide tournament; T&R Construction/ Premium Asphalt T20 final; and the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/ France Electrical 40-over for teams in Berbice River Cricket Association.

The fixtures are as follows Jafferally 20/20 semi-fi-

nal: Blairmont vs D’Edward on Saturday. Troy Halley Grassroots Cup on Sunday at Bush Lot Ground, WCB. Teams involved are: D’ Edward, Achievers, Bush Lot United and Bush Lot Rising Stars Kevin Sinclair Under 17 countywide: on Saturday March 20 and Sunday March 21 as per fixture. The T&R Construction /Premium Asphalt 20/20 Finals between Rose Hall Town Tigers and Chesney at the Area H Ground from 13:00h.

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Cricket Association set for Sunday March 21. Round 1 will feature Sand Hills CC vs Wiruni at Sandhills CG; Ebini CC Bye. Round 2 will bowl off on Sunday March 28. Round 2 involves Sandhills vs Ebini CC at Sandhills CG, Wiruni CC- Bye Then, round 3 will bowl off on Sunday April 4, 2021.

It will see Wiruni CC vs Ebini CC at Wirni CG, Sandhills CC- Bye. On Sunday April 21, Round 4 will see the first place team vs second place team, with the Finals at Rose Hall Town Area H Ground or Albion Cricket Ground.

Meanwhile, the BCB/ Raffik Construction 20/20 Second Division Tournament is set to bowl off on March 28.

The teams are: Ramnarine Memorial, Kennard Memorial, Kildonan, Whim, Tain/Johns/ Clifton S.C, Tain Block 4, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Tamarind Root CC, Belvedere United, UG Elites, RH Tigers, Nigg Intruders, Albion Open, Albion CCCC, Chesney, Sand Reef, Kilcoy, Jai Hind, Courtland, Fyrish, No 1 Road, RHT Bakewell A, RHT Bakewell B, Guava Bush Maximum CC The fixtures for Sunday

March 28 are as follows: Whim vs UG Elites at Whim, Ramnarine Memorial vs Kildonan CC at Kildonan, RHT Bakewell A vs Courtland at Area H, Albion CCCC vs Kennard Memorial at Albion, Tain/Johns vs Jai Hind CC at Jai Hind, Sand Reef vs Fyrish at Fyrish, Albion Open vs No1 Road at Albion Open, Kilcoy CC vs RH Tigers at Kilcoy, Tamarind Root CC vs Tain Block 4 at Hampshire, Nigg Intruders vs Port Mourant at Port Mourant, Chesney vs Belvedere United at Chesney, RHT Bakewell B vs Guava Bush Maximum CC.

Club cricketer Dharam Rajah laid to rest Double-birthday golf classic to tee-off at noon today at LGC

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Dharam Rajah being given a hero’s send off

T

he late Dharam Rajah, popularly known as “Tube”, was laid to rest on Wednesday in Essequibo.

Rajah was the father of an only son, Suraj Rajah, who is an active player of Reliance Hustlers Sports Club.

Dharam was an honorary member of the Hustlers club and played club cricket during his youth and adult days.

He represented Essequibo Under-19 at the Inter-county level.

During the funeral ceremony, at his home in Anna Regina News Housing Scheme, tributes poured in and his life was comprehensively reflected to be a man with a generous heart. Additionally, many remembered him for his joviality whenever he was around other working colleagues, friends and families.

Rajah was born on August 13, 1962 to the late Roland and Iris Boodhan. He met his demise on March 11, 2021 after suffering from a fractured skull and punctured lungs. He fell

down at his home while performing construction works four days The late Dharam Rajah (L) before he died at contributions were unmatched Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital in Guyana’s capital, and he will be remembered for a very long time.

Georgetown.

He considered Dharam Trevis Simon, the leader of Hustlers, acknowledged the an excellent off-spinner who support received from Dharam made an impression with the during his time, executing bat as well. Dharam gave back to the community and that various roles for the club.

According to Simon at the underlined his humanitarian funeral service, Dharam will be contributions as well, according badly missed for not only his to Stephney.

Basil Persaud, a close friendly presence, but also for the contributions he had made. friend of Dharam and a former “He always providing Essequibo under-19 teammate, helping hands. We had adored echoed the sentiments of his generosity, and I know he Simon and Stephney, and had a great passion for cricket,” revealed that the game has lost a great individual.

Simon commented.

Persaud mentioned Dharam Former Essequibo cricket captain Elroy Stephney also came from a cricketing family spoke glowingly about Rajah’s and was enormously talented. contributions to cricket on Dharam was the uncle of exthe Coast. Stephney said that Essequibo and Guyana youth cricketers and their families are players Rovendra and the late obviously heartbroken at the Shivnandan Mandolall.

Dharam has left to mourn sudden death of Rajah. He took the opportunity to reminisce his son, wife, three brothers on Rajah’s life, saying Rajah’s and four sisters.

Lusignan Golf Club members at the launch of the Birthday Classic - From left; Paton George, Hardeo Ganpat, Pandit Ravindranauth Persaud, Robert Hanoman and Maurice Solomon

T

wo longstanding members of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) will have a birthday celebration to remember when the inaugural Robert Hanoman and Pandit Ravindranauth Persaud birthday classic tees off today at noon.

Hanoman, a Lifemember, and Pandit ‘Ravi’ have opted for the unique celebration among their golf buddies. A large turnout is anticipated for a full round of golf among members and newcomers, and a number of prizes will be at stake.

The tournament will utilise the Stableford points system and will award the winner, second place finisher, third place winner, fourth place winner, best

gross, closest to the pin, longest drive, and best newcomer.

In a unique twist, the birthday classic will have a strategic refreshment break at the ninth hole. This is expected to give members the drive needed for a brisk finish.

A lavish trophy presentation is expected to bring the curtains down on the celebrations at Guyana’s only golf course.

The LGC is reminding members of the public who are desirous of watching golf that the course is open with all COVID-19 regulations in place.

The tournament is expected to be an annual fixture on the LGC’s official calendar of events.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Speaker’s T20 Cup launched I

Millions up for grabs, Nadir envisions regional club competition

n a simple ceremony held at the GCB Board Room in the top flat of the Guyana Cricket Board’s administration office, the Speaker’s T20 tournament was launched.

It will involve over 20 teams competing between themselves for the coveted championship honours, and would last from April 3 to May 5.

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony was Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, who said, “Whether it will be regarded as an assembly session, so that is the distinction. So, we want to promote most people don't do the distinction. Most people take very lightly the democratic culture which we have inherited and have grown over the decades, and sport is one of the most effective media to bring messages to people.

“So, isn't the connection. And we want to see that work more amongst sporting personalities. Why I use this is because our sports persons do more to promote the good name locally and internationally than many other persons.

We have Shahrukh Khan came here and he asked for Chanderpaul. Yes, you know, this competition we have a lot of local heroes that people look up to. And this is going to be an opportunity for the National Assembly to use the good work of cricketers to promote this democratic culture.

“I see a regional club competition evolving in the Caribbean.”

Also sharing his sentiments at the launching

Banks DIH Pro Troy Peters

was GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, who noted that it has been some time since a national competition has been planned.

Sanasie said sponsorship has been one of the greatest issues, but he reiterated that the Guyana Cricket Board is always ready to partner with anyone to take the game across the country.

The GCB Secretary also stated that with the launching of a tournament of this kind, many can expect it to be a yearly event. “As the tournament grow, I guess clubs will understand that, as you develop players, you can also get benefits back in the future. I enjoy seeing the juggling between clubs as to who would lay claim on players, especially those that have already made their names nationally. It goes to show that there is great interest, there will be great competition. And I would hope that we play in a safe environment.

“As we know, we will not be having large crowds at

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

any of these venues. Once we get started, we have to adhere to the provisions of our core mission: to play by the COVID rules.” Sanasie said.

Banks DIH PRO Troy Peters related that the beverage giant, through its Banks beer brand, is proud to be on board. He also said the beverage giant has always had a special place in its heart for cricket, and hopes that everyone remains safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the best team comes out successful.

Fully registered 1st Division teams from Berbice include Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (Albion), Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS (RHTY&SCMS), Tucber Park Cricket Club, and West Berbice CC. Among the teams from the East Coast Demerara are the Lusignan Sports Club. In Georgetown, the teams expected to participate include the University of Guyana Trojans Cricket

GCB election date set at March 29

H

aving just concluded the required consultation with Cricket West Indies (CWI) (formerly West Indies Cricket Board), the public is hereby advised that the date for the Guyana Cricket Board election is hereby appointed to be the 29th March, 2021 pursuant to the Guyana Cricket Administration Act. The public will note that the GCB election, previously appointed to be the 26th February 2021, did not occur because of concerns raised with the duly appoint-

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr

ed Cricket Ombudsman by one of the three stakeholders for the election. A meeting was convened and held with the Cricket Ombudsman, the attorneys-at-law for

the stakeholders and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

The Ministry maintains its confidence in the Cricket Ombudsman, Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law, as a professional and as someone with the highest integrity, who is capable of executing his function thereunder.

The Guyana Cricket Board election must be held as required by the Guyana Cricket Administration Act and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport holds firm to this position.

(MCY&S Release)

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

Team, Everest Cricket Club, Police Sports Club, Malteenoes Sports Club, Gandhi Youth Organization Sports Club

(Regal), Demerara Cricket Club and Georgetown Cricket Clubs.

West Demerara will have participating teams such as

Rising Stars Cricket Club, Canal No. 2, New Wales Superstars, Mc Gill Super Stars Sports Club, Belle Vue Sports Club, Cornelia Ida. Bacchus Sports will be the main representative team from Essequibo.

The championship offers teams the opportunity to vie for Gy$1M worth of prizes. That is, in attaining the championship title and securing the team with player that will be awarded as the most valuable player of the tournament. Apart from the main prize attractions, teams have the opportunity to win other consolation prizes, inclusive of a valuable $500,000 2nd place prize, $200,000 3rd place prize, and $ 100,000 4th place prize, among other prizes.

Seaton betters time in final event of South American Swimming Championships

F

ollowing a dismal start on Tuesday in the CONSANAT South American Swimming Championships, Leon Seaton attained some sort of redemption on Friday in his final outing in the pool.

Competing in Buenos Aires Argentina, the teenager and Olympic hopeful improved his timing in the 50m freestyle to signal a great close to the competition for himself.

Conversely, his Guyanese teammate Andrew Fowler was not quite as fortunate.

Their final event came on Friday when the pair ventured into the pool for the Men’s 50m Freestyle which was won in a time of 22.38s by Venezuelan Vivas Mestre. He finished ahead of Brazilians Martins Peixoto (22.68s) and Guimarae Alcara (22.70s).

Guyana's Leon Seaton clocked 24.84s to finish 21st but improved by -0.49s on his speed of 25.33s.

Leon Seaton

His country mate Andrew Fowler wrapped up his performance with a time of 25.70s in that event, to place 24th overall.

The Olympic selection time for the Men’s 50m Freestyle is 22.67s while the Olympic Qualification time is set at 22.01s.

On the penultimate day of the competition, Seaton and Fowler competed in Men’s 50m Butterfly which was won by Argentine Roberto Strelkov in a time of 24.39s, while Brazilians Melo Baganha (25.54s) and Dias Perseguin (24.55s) were second and third.

Fowler and Seaton clocked 27.48s and 28.62s in that event to end in 20th and 21st positions.

It is important to note that the 50m butterfly is not an Olympic event. However, the event’s world record is overseen and ratified by FINA, the world governing body for the sport of competitive swimming. The 50 fly WR is one of the youngest

on the books, as it is among the stroke 50s which have only been tracked since the 1990s.

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the event, the Guyanese pair tested their mettle against the South American contingent in the Men’s 100m Freestyle.

Seaton turned in a time of 56.05s while Fowler stopped the clock at 56.33s.

Prior to the race, Seaton entered with a time of 55.27s while Fowler’s speed was 54.10s. However, neither time was sufficient to compare with the Olympic Standard of 48.57s.

With the deadline for the Tokyo Olympic - July 23 to August 8 - set at May 30, it is presumed that the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) will look to other avenues to provide their hopefuls: Leon Seaton, Andrew Fowler and Jamila Sanmoogan, with opportunities to qualify for this year’s games.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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

Govts should not meddle in sport administration spats – Pres Ali P

– Sanasie complains to CWI Ethics Committee

resident of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Friday said his Government supports the proper functioning of sport bodies in Guyana, and would not be induced into controversies within administrations.

President Ali, in a comment to News Room Sport, said: “the Government has no intentions of being dragged into issues of controversies within sporting bodies and administrations. I have communicated this to the relevant Ministers, Agencies and Ministries. We are not in the business of satisfying or responding to egos.”

President Ali added: “We support the proper functioning of sporting bodies, but will not get involved in any high-handed manner in determining

President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali

outcomes. Cricket administration is no different.

In relation to the CWI election, no official or government must exercise seeming bias for any contestants, as this will be unethical.”

Recently, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie lodged a formal written complaint with CWI Corporate Secretary

Alanna Medford-Singh regarding CWI President Ricky Skerritt’s meeting with Guyana’s Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. Sanasie is contending that the full CWI board was not informed of the meeting, and the decisions flowing from the meeting are designed to create an unfair advantage for Skerritt’s bid to be re-elected.

Meanwhile, Skerritt has acknowledged meeting Guyanese Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr, although the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was not invited. In an interview with Newsday on Tuesday, Skerritt, who is seeking re-election on March 28, said this meeting took place with Guyana cricket’s best interest at heart.

Skerritt’s meeting

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

CWI President Ricky Skerritt

with the Guyana minister has been criticised by some members of the GCB, including Anand Sanasie, who is challenging Skerritt for the CWI presidency. Sanasie has reported Skerritt to the CWI Ethics Committee.

Skerritt told Newsday, “There are a lot of issues at stake in Guyana (in) which we are hopeful for a peaceful and legitimate conclusion so Guyana can

be well served by a GCB that is properly put together.”

Of the current board, he said, “I have nothing against the GCB. I’ve been to the GCB to meet with them. But I’ve also met with the other cricket officials elsewhere, who are unhappy with what is happening.

“We want the best for Guyana cricket. They’re

giving the impression that I’m hostile to GCB, but I’m only hostile to illegitimacy. I’m friendly with cricket. Some of my favourite people are Guyanese.

How can you stand up and say you represent cricket when the court says differently, or you are challenging the court?”

The Cricket West Indies election is set for March 28, with the incumbent Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr. Kishore Shallow facing a challenge from Guyana Cricket Board Secretary Anand Sanasie and his running-mate, Vice President of the Barbados Cricket Association, Calvin Hope. The Guyana Cricket Board election, as announced by Minister Ramson Jr., is now fixed for March 29. (Newsroom and Newsday)

Pg 23

GCB election date set at March 29

Story on Page 22

Double-birthday golf classic to tee-off at noon today at LGC

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