Guyana Times - Saturday March 27, 2021

Chenapau village receives $10M investment fund, P13 to fund ICT hub Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4600

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

PRICE

Guyana purchases 200,000 doses of Sputnik-V vaccine for US$4M

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P17 Student stabbed with scissors during robbery at Annandale

See story on page 7

– to also get 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca from COVAX

$590M asphalt plant at Garden of Eden to be operational by April 6

Salesman robbed of $1.4M on Mandela P17 Avenue Guyana records P9 109 new COVID-19 cases – Region 4 records whopping 64 cases

See story on page 9

Guyana’s booming economy will generate high demand for surveyors – President Ali – as 17 land surveyors take oath of office

See story on page 3

President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials, along with the 17 surveyors, at State House on Friday after taking their oaths of office

Retired Assistant Commissioner, 3 others charged with multi-million-dollar theft at GPF Page 11

story Guyanese See on page fishermen 17 attacked, robbed

by Venezuelans in Waini River

1-year-old crushed by P2 falling tree Seepaul Narine takes over P17 helm of GAWU

Corentyne shallow grave murder

“Long Hair” gets life sentence, eligible for P8 parole after serving 25 years

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1-year-old crushed by falling tree A one-year-old child is now dead after he was on Thursday crushed by a falling tree at “Cashew” Landing,

Tasserene Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The incident was confirmed by the Public

Relations Unit of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday.

The now dead child, Onan Alfred, reported-

ly hailed from Tasserene Village, Middle Mazaruni River.

Based on reports received, the child was with

his parents, Corsia Alfred, 18, and Ming Daniels, 30, a miner, walking from the Issano Landing when a strong gust of wind caused a tree to fall.

As a result, the toddler and his mother were pinned, thus causing them to sustain injuries. The child was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Issano Health Outpost where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is currently at the said institution awaiting a post-mortem.

It was reported that the child received Injuries to his head and upper back, while his mother sustained injuries to her foot. She was later referred to the Bartica Regional Hospital for further medical attention.

Investigations are ongoing.

Only a few days ago, 27-year-old Silas Allan Fredericks, a logger of Wakapao, Lower Pomeroon River, was crushed by a falling tree.

It was reported that the incident occurred at about 13:00h on Monday at Kaburi Backdam in Mazaruni.

According to information obtained, Fredericks was cutting a tree but did not realise that it was entangled in a large vine, which unexpectedly burst and caused the tree to fall. The falling tree pinned him to the ground, killing him instantly.

He was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Moruca woman found dead in house

A

35-year-old woman was on Thursday discovered by her mother at their home at Skyland Village Moruca, North West District (NWD).

Dead is Angeline Shelly Henry, who lived with her 68-year-old mother.

Based on reports received, on the day in question, the dead woman’s mother told Police that the last time she saw her daughter alive was about 08:00h when she was cleaning the house.

Shortly after, the mother told detectives that she was not hearing any sounds coming from her daughter and as such, she called out to her but did not get any response.

The aggrieved mother stated that she went to check in her daughter’s room and it was then she made the discovery. The woman at that time realised

that her daughter was not breathing and she raised an alarm. The Police were contacted and the woman was subsequently rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

A few days ago, Deodat Persaud, a 50-year-old ranger attached to the Queenstown Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and of Anna Regina Housing Scheme, died mysteriously.

It was reported that the man did not turn up for work on several occasions and calls to his phone went unanswered. As relatives went to check on the man, his lifeless body was discovered.

Enquiries also disclosed that Persaud, who had lived alone, suffered from epilepsy.

GTT Camp & Regent Streets’ location robbed

T

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s (GTT) retail store at Camp and Regent Streets, Georgetown, was robbed, thus causing a temporary closure.

The Public Relations Manager of the company, Jasmin Harris, in a release to the media stated that no one was hurt during the robbery but several items were stolen. The Police have been called and an investigation was launched.

Meanwhile, Harris noted that “We are working with

law enforcement to further investigate what transpired at the store. Meantime, customers are asked to conduct their transactions at our next nearest location on Brickdam.”

She noted that all other GTT retail stores would continue to operate during the usual business hours.

In February 2020, GTT’s kiosk at Giftland Mall was robbed of an undisclosed sum of cash. Two men were arrested for that robbery.

The Camp and Regent store opened its doors to the public in December 2020.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 27 – 03:30h – 05:00h and Sunday, March 28 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 27 – 15:25h – 16:55h and Sunday, March 28 – 16:10h – 17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect light cloud during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 16:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.76 metres.

Low Tide: 09:35h and 21:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.43 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

04 07 12

15 22 24

FREE TICKET

23 Bonus Ball

FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

01 03 08 13 16 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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06

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PAY DAY

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$64.57/barrel

+4.06

Rough Rice

$235.62/ton

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London Sugar

$439.20/ton

-2.46

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1733.30

$1734.30

Low/High Change

$1720.50 0.00

$1738.60 0.00%

Guyana’s booming economy will generate high demand for surveyors – President Ali – as 17 land surveyors take oath of office

W

ith Guyana on the cusp of major economic development, President Irfaan Ali on Friday charged a new batch of land surveyors to prepare themselves to fill the demand that will arise as the country embarks on this journey.

The batch of 17 land surveyors, which included four females, took their Oath of Office on Friday at State House before the Head of State.

In his charge, the President outlined the importance of land surveying not just to ensure orderly use of land but also the country’s natural resources – both of which he noted are integral to the planning and execution of development works.

“Guyana needs land surveyors. There is a mismatch between the demand for land surveyors and the availability of qualified land surveyors; and there is an even greater gap for qualified, experienced land surveyors,” he said.

According to President Ali, with Guyana’s economy rapidly expanding, the demand for surveyors will significantly increase over the next 10 years.

“Economic development will skyrocket over the next 10 years and beyond.

Megaprojects are planned for the energy and transport sectors. The tourist sector will experience economic takeoff.

More than 50,000 house lots will be developed over the next five years. Private Sector development will also intensify.

A booming economy will generate a high demand for more surveying services,” he posited.

However, while recognising that these surveyors are the pacesetters for the future of the profession, President Ali encouraged the young men and women to further elevate themselves to keep up with the changes that are occurring in the developing world.

“Don’t for a moment believe that you have arrived. Don’t believe that you have arrived today. You are just beginning the journey. Things are changing, dynamics are changing, technology is changing, skills set is changing and it requires continuous change in your outlook.

We have to learn to unlearn to relearn. That is the new paradigm we live in. Technologies that were relevant 10 years ago are obsolete today,” the President asserted.

He went on to point out that surveying without GIS (Geographic Information System) training would not meet the requirements of the future. One such example the President mentioned is the emergence of marine surveyors in the blue economy sector.

He also highlighted the need for surveyors in the planning of a new city who will be required to have a basic understanding of urban planning as well as in the decentralisation of the economy, which requires an understanding of regional planning.

To this end, President Ali urged the new surveyors to build on the foundation they have now so that they can position their careers to satisfy those future demands.

“Do not sit down and relax, and believe that you have arrived. You have to get the experience and you have to look

President Irfaan Ali presenting one of the surveyors with her instrument

at the future requirements and needs of the economy will be. Here is where all the potential will reside, right within our boundaries… Over the next 10 years, opportunities will, therefore, abound particularly for educated, smart, highly-skilled, trained and talented young people. This cohort of land surveyors is, therefore, a pacesetter for producing the quality skills needed for national development,” he stated.

As such, the Head of State posited that Government will ensure that these surveyors get the opportunity to enhance their skill sets and disclosed that there will be specific programmes in his Administration’s 20,000 scholarship initiative for surveyors.

However, President Ali cautioned the 17 news surveyors that while they will be working in a new economy, they must be wary of the temptations out there.

“Let me be very frank with you, temptations will be high out there, especially the way the economy is taking off. But then it when you have to rely on the Oath that you took,” he stressed.

The President further charged them to emulate behaviour that would garner them a “spotless” reputation.

“I urge you to let the law direct your actions as professionals… You belong to an important profession – one in which your character and reputation matters. As land surveyors, you’ll also be expected to embody ethical responsibility. You will be expected to epitomise spotless integrity. Land surveyors are expected to act with the utmost competence at all times, and to exhibit the high-

est standards of personal and professional probity,” he pointed out.

With this addition of 17 new land surveyors, the 50-plus capacity at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission is now significantly boosted.

Acting Commissioner Enrique Monize told Guyana Times that they would need at least over 100 surveyors for the GL&SC to be operating comfortably in Guyana’s economic development.

During his remarks, Monize also charged the new surveyors to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism as they join the field at a time when the country is on an upward development trajectory.

These surveyors were the successful candidates from two batches that were trained in 2018 and 2019. They had to undergo one year’s training and attain a 60 per cent and above pass rate in five surveying areas before qualifying to be certified.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 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

Intimate partner violence

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n Thursday, another young mother was severely injured at the hands of her husband. As a matter of fact, the six-month pregnant woman had to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, having received chop wounds so severe that some of her fingers were severed.

It is no secret that women worldwide, including those in Guyana, continue to face unacceptable levels of violence in various forms. WHO has estimated that nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to increasing the risk of violence, particularly domestic violence, against women. The UN recently pointed to reports from countries around the world which suggest that restrictions in movement, social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures, are leading to an increase in violence in the home.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed had detailed the many problems women are faced with during lockdown, and made recommendations in relation to various forms of support governments and other partners could provide to ensure women are able to confront these challenges.

According to SG Mohammed, women bear the brunt of increased care-work during this pandemic. School closures further worsen this burden, and place more stress on women. The disruption of livelihoods and their ability to earn a living – especially for those women who are informal wage workers – will decrease access to basic needs and services. This situation increases stress on families, with the potential to intensify conflict and violence.

Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities, and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Over the years, the UN has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence.

These measures include criminalising gender-based violence, massive public awareness campaigns, and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and support victims of the scourge at the community level.

Every year, between 25 November and 10 December -16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - Guyana joins the WHO and other partners to raise awareness about the global need to prevent and respond to violence against women, and provide support to survivors.

However, not many women admit to being victims of violence.

The Human Services Minister had some time ago said, “Domestic violence remains a taboo, shuttered behind closed doors and only emerging as bloody faces, bruised limbs, broken spirits and dead bodies. Fear of societal judgement, insecurities about children and finances, family pressure and manipulation keep this a hushed conversation, or results in an overwhelming silence”.

As pointed out by the Human Services and Social Security Minister, “Violence against women is a heinous crime and a pervasive breach of human rights. Yet, it continues to be one of the longest, hardest challenges to the world, and involves psyches, attitudes, poverty, cultures, emotional manipulation, substance abuse, and lack of education”.

We had previously called for urgent action to be taken by the Government and other partners to end violence against women.

We are pleased that some steps are being taken in this regard, including the ‘914 emergency hotline’ which was launched in December 2020. Since its launch, the 24-hour hotline operators have been seeking to offer support, referral to victims and survivors, family, friends and professionals via an integration of the services available at both the Domestic Violence Unit and the Childcare and Protection Agency.

We echo the call by the Minister that better can and must be done. Everyone must work in every home, school, office, community in every part of our country to expose violence against women where it exists; support the women; work with the perpetrators; create safe spaces; educate persons, and share solutions.

That said, we again urge the Government to reconvene a stakeholders’ engagement to tackle the issue of domestic violence.

The aim should be to reassess and modify current strategies, taking into account the lessons learnt from past experiences.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Dr KJ Srinivasa, celebrated Holi with President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali, at State House, Main Street, Georgetown on Friday. Also in photo are First Lady Arya Ali; General Manager of GMC, Teshawna Lall, Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill and Pandit Aditya Persaud

The festival of Holi and its significance

Dear Editor, Festivals are inherent in every culture in the adherence to their religions; be it Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and a host of other religions in society. They help us to keep connections to our ancestries and cultures that were passed down from our great fore-parents. These festivals also teach us to understand our history; to embrace one another; and to forgo our differences, regardless of our different religions, races and colours.

To corroborate my insinuation, in Christianity we have the observance of Easter; in Islam we have Eid-al-Fitr or Ramadan; in Judaism we have Yom Kippur; and in Hinduism we have many, one of which is the festival of Holi - which would be the basis of my article.

Holi is celebrated during the month of Phalgun, which is the month of March as per the Hindu calendar, which began on February 28 and ends on March 28, 2021. The festival normally falls a day after the Phalgun Purnima, or full moon day. In this year of 2021, the Hindu festival of Holi will be celebrated on the 28th day of March.

Although Holi has many significances, it is generally recognised as the festival of colours and the ushering in of spring for a good harvest, but it is universally considered the triumph of good over evil.

Prior to the onset of Holi, on the 28th day of March, the night before the Holi festival, which is called Holika Dahan, Hindu

priests and villagers would gather to perform their religious rituals at suitable locations, where bonfires are built, in the midst of which dummies of Holika are placed. Ultimately, as the bonfires subside, Holika will be burnt to ashes, thus symbolising the demise of Holika, as per Hindu mythology.

Regarding the above, as per Hindu Mythology, there was once a powerful but evil king by the name of Hiranyakshyap. He considered himself to be God, and had wanted everyone within the kingdom and in the country to worship him as the true God. But contrary to his demand, he had a son by the name of Prahlad, who did not consider his father as a God, but instead worshipped Lord Vishnu as the true God. King Hiranyakshyap was very enraged, and decided to kill his son.

He tried innumerable ways to kill Prahlad, but was unsuccessful due to the unforeseen intervention of Lord Vishnu. Having seen no alternative to his fiendish desire, he solicited his sister Holika to get rid of Prahlad, as Holika was granted a wish that made her immune to fire. Holika therefore decided to take Prahlad in her lap and enter a bonfire. Legend has it that Holika was burnt to ashes, and Prahlad was unscathed due to his extreme devotion to Lord Vishnu.

Holi is one of the many festivals that were handed down to us by our fore-parents. This festival is celebrated internationally. It is celebrated in India and

throughout the Caribbean, but with specific reference to Guyana. On the day of March 28, the onset of the Holi celebration, Hindus would clean their houses, prepare vegetarian dishes, and make delicious sweets. They attire themselves in their white shirts and pants, armed with their cups of white power and their bottles of abeer, as it is commonly called, and saunter their ways to the temples.

I can vividly remember my experience as a young boy being brought up in a very religious home, living in Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara while attending the temple and participating in the Holi festival and other festivals. My thoughts and experiences associating with the temple and participation in this and other festivals will always remain indelible in my memory.

During the puja ceremony in the temples, homage is paid to the relevant deities. Traditional songs are sung while stories are told relative to this festival. To further compound the legacy of this festival, there is the singing of “Chowtaal”, done normally by two rows of singers facing each other and having copper cymbals in their hands. Each side takes turn in presenting their rendition while simultaneously hitting the cymbals together as if competing in a contest.

When the puja ceremonies end in the various temples, everyone would scamper outside on the lawns of the temples, greeting each other and applying the co-

loured water, commonly called abeer, and powders on friends and family, which gives the event its common name “Festival of Colours.”

As the festival continues, men and young boys would gather in groups, armed with their cymbals, powder and abeer, to saunter through the neighbourhoods while singing their “Chowtaal”. Very often, on their way they would encounter strangers, to whom they would apply powder and abeer, while onlookers would greet them in the spirit of Holi. As the day draws to a close, the groups would visit families and friends, and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings, thus helping to revitalise relationships and strengthen emotional bonds between families and friends.

The festival of Holi has numerous significances.

It bridges social gaps and brings people together, irrespective of the rich and poor, the young and old. It fosters a message of unity and brotherhood. Holi also helps to bring the society together, and strengthen the secular fabric of our country.

But the veracity of it all, the legendary significance of Prahlad and Hiranyakashyap, is the ultimate victory of good over evil through God’s intervention. He is infinite, and anything is possible through Him. With extreme devotion to God along with His true devotees, one can always find a safe haven under His wings.

Thank you, Mani Jadunauth

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

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Shubh Holi to all of Guyana

Dear Editor, Holi, or Phagwa, is known as the Festival of Colours, and is one of India’s and Guyana’s grandest and most popular celebrations.

This large festival is celebrated in many cities and rural areas throughout India, so there are plenty of opportunities for fun and excitement.

Over the years, Holi has become an important festival in many regions wherever the Indian Diaspora were either taken as indentured labourers during the colonial era, or emigrated on their own and are now present in large numbers; such as in South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia such as Fiji and Mauritius.

Holi, also called Vasant Utsav, falls on the Pratipada during the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the Chaitra Month, as per Hindu calendar. Holi 2021 will be celebrated on March 28th, and Holika Dahan on March 27th.

The Holi festival traditionally celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is associated with many legends, including the story of Holika. It celebrates the destruction of Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashipu, both with gifted boons. The bonfire signifies the fire in which Holika (Hiranyakashipu’s sister) was burnt while trying to eliminate Prahlad.

This celebration also warns about the misuse of power, belief in the Lord, and having faith and trust.

The Festival of Love

Rangwali Holi is also celebrated in memory of the immortal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. Krishna had asked Yashoda why he was not as fair as Radha.

Yashoda jokingly suggested that Krishna should apply colour on Radha’s face, as it would make her complexion dark too. Lord Krishna then played with Radha and the Gopis with different colours.

Since then, the day is celebrated as the festival of colours, depicting the oneness

regardless of colour.

Among other Hindu traditions, the legendary significance of Holi is linked to Lord Shiva in yoga and deep meditation. Goddess Parvati, wanting to bring back Shiva into the world, seeks help from the Hindu god of love, called Kamadeva, on Vasant Panchami. The love god shoots arrows at Shiva, the yogi opens his third eye and burns Kama to ashes.

This upsets both Kama’s wife Ratri and his own wife Parvati. Ratri performs her own meditative asceticism for forty days, upon which Shiva understands, forgives out of compassion, and restores the god of love. This return of the god of love is celebrated on the 40th day after Vasant Panchami festival as Holi.

The legend of the ogress (female monster) Dhundi says that she was chased away by the people of Prthu owing to a curse from Lord Shiva.

The Festival of Spring

In addition to its reli-

gious aspects, Holi also celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Arrival of the spring season is taking inspiration from the colours, and for many, the start of the new year - an occasion for people to enjoy the changing seasons, make new friends, and celebrate the beginning of a good spring harvest season. This festival is also known as Dhulandi, a name popular in the state of Haryana, India.

Celebratory Activities

The festivities of Holi begin close to midnight on the night before Holi, with bonfires being lit (Holika). Prior to the bonfires, it is traditionally the job of men and boys to collect fallen wood and leaves to burn in the bonfires. Some of this tradition is changing today, with forest trees unfortunately being cut down for burning.

One of the most iconic activities of Holi is the throwing of coloured water and powder in the streets. This is an exciting activity, which is used to show devotion and

respect to deities, friends, and family members. The colours of Holi are very special, and add to the vibrancy of the day. In the past, the colours that were used on people’s skins were natural, but many of them now are man-made, and some are even made of dangerous chemicals, leaving some people with skin inflammations. This spring festival of colours signifies unity and love, irrespective of caste, class or gender.

The Holi festival has a cultural significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, to end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. To many Hindus, Holi festivities mark the beginning of the New Year, as well as an occasion to reset and renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts, and rid themselves of accumulated emotional impurities from the past. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their

lives. After a day of play with colours, people clean up, wash and bathe, dress up in the evening, and greet friends and relatives by visiting them and exchanging sweets.

Holi is also a festival of forgiveness and new starts, which ritually aims to generate harmony in society.

There are a number of inherited customs and traditions still in practice, compliments of our fore-parents from different parts of India, who came to the West Indies as indentured labourers. Indians are scattered throughout Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, and have adopted different ways of life, many remaining Hindus, practising and maintaining most of the traditions.

Sympathy is extended to all who have lost their dear ones due to the pandemic, and all are forewarned to abide by all the required protocols to observe this holiday with the constraints.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

The PPP/C is a Government that cares

Dear Editor, I vividly remember, as if it were yesterday, when this dark-skinned lady came up to the corner of Robb and Camp Streets to vent her frustration at the seemingly tardiness of the Ramotar Government in the disbursement of the cash grant. She was at the time speaking to her friend in loud belligerent tones, “You know dis man Ramotar ain’t give me dem children money yet, you know?”

Now, I thought I was just about to hear another juicy piece of gossip about the President at the time having an extra-marital affair and having reneged on his financial arrangement with the woman. However, my suspicions of the President were cleared when I learnt that she was talking about the “Because We Care” cash grant, and not of a deadbeat father.

No sooner had she left the scene than the lady selling confectionery at the corner turned to me and remarked, “Mister, you see these people? Look how she going on, like Ramotar owe she something. That money she talking about is Government money, you know, and she

making so much noise for it.”

The lady further explained that the woman in question was the common bar fly, and the cash grant would definitely be going towards the purchase of party garb and the usual accessories, like getting her hair and nails done. She was absolutely sure that money would not be channelled into the welfare of that woman’s 6 kids.

And here’s my point: the incoming PNC-led Coalition at the time found this a convenient mantra to lean on, and like the sanctimonious gangsters they are, promptly took it away from the children. They branded it an election gimmick by the PPP/C Government to get votes. But as much as they might have looked at all the misdeeds of that partying mother, we must not forget that this was income for the single family.

We should not nitpick, but look beyond hair and nails and take into consideration the greater good, wherein the children would have benefited from the cash grant because that money was income for a struggling household.

But lest they be a judge over the mother, try turn-

ing the searchlights inwards: at the PNC at the helm of Government, and you will soon see a total change in their outlook of life. I am talking about a drastic change in their tastebuds.

Their affinity for expensive foreign liquor was the order of the day. Like Bishop Edghill remarked, that same money used in the purchase of expensive wines and spirits could have been slashed,

and the proceeds channelled into the welfare of our children.

But the PNC thought otherwise. They saw giving back to our children as being a burden on the state.

The good book says if you deny the little ones, it is better for you to tie a millstone around your neck and throw yourself overboard.

The PNC did just that when they stopped the cash grant to the

kids. From the very time they denied the kids their rightful due, their days in office were numbered.

In my view, they lost the elections based on these factors.

The “Because We Care” did two important things: (a) It ensured that the home got much needed income, and (b) It ensured that the kids stay in school. These things, put together, saw an investment

into the future of our country.

The PPP/C have long since seen the importance of our children, and have reinvested in their welfare.

They have reinstituted the “Because We Care” cash grant, as well as increase its giving from the initial $10,000 to $15,000. Let this country move on.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

Page

Foundation Æsop’s Fables

FOR CHILDREN

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frog once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh and proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, skilled in the use of drugs and able to heal all diseases.

A fox asked him, "How can you pretend to prescribe for others, when you are unable to heal your own lame gait and wrinkled skin?'

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana purchases 200,000 doses of Sputnik-V vaccine for US$4M – to also get 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca from COVAX

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s the Government of Guyana continues to explore avenues to access COVID-19 vaccines, President Irfaan Ali on Friday disclosed that the country is buying some 200,000 doses of the Russian manufactured Sputnik V vaccines to the tune of a whopping US$4 million.

“We have been able to secure the purchase of 200,000 of the Component One of the Sputnik V vaccine… and 200,000 of the Component Two… Through the UAE (United Arab Emirates), we’ve been able to secure these 200,000 vaccines. Right now, they’re finalising the logics to bring that 200,000 in…,” the Head of State told reporters on the sidelines of an event at State House on Friday.

President Ali explained that Guyana is paying US$20 per dose for the Russian vaccine, amounting to some US$4 million for this batch of the Component 1 dose alone.

According to the President, Government cannot put a price tag on the health of the citizenry.

“It’s very expensive but it is an expense that we can’t spare. The health of the population is very critical. This will call for some adjustments in the budget and so on, but, as I said we are not sparing

any expenses on this. We are working on making the resources available to ensure every single Guyanese are vaccinated,” the Guyanese leader asserted.

In addition to the 200,000 Sputnik doses, Guyana is also expecting its first tranche from the COVAX facility next week.

“We are now told by COVAX that we should get 24,000 AstraZeneca on Monday from the COVAX mechanism,” he revealed.

Initially, Guyana was slated to receive 100,800 vaccines in its first collection from COVAX – a body of organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) that was established to ensure there is equal access to and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. However, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony disclosed on Monday that COVAX has significantly reduced that figure to now 24,000 doses for several countries in the region including Guyana.

However, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has said that the remainder of the initial 100,000-plus vaccines will arrive here in May. Unlike the massive bill for the Sputnik jabs, the COVAX batch will be given to Guyana free of cost.

With these 224,000 COVID-19 vaccines expecting to arrive in days, they will be used to roll out the expanded vaccination campaign to persons 40 years and over.

President Ali further told reporters on Friday that the Government has already established a supply chain and storage facility in anticipation of the arrival of these vaccines next week. In fact, Government has also engaged the Private Sector to add to its current storage capacity.

“Once the scheduling which we have, that is, the 24,000 and the first set of the 200,000 coming by Monday/ Tuesday, we’ll be able to roll out early next week – by Wednesday definitely – the 40 and above in a massive way,” he posited.

To date, Guyana has received a total of 103,000 doses of vaccines as donations from

allies. Of these, 3000 doses of AstraZeneca were from Barbados and another 80,000 doses of the same jab were from India. China also donated 20,000 of its locally manufactured Sinopharm vaccines.

The vaccination campaign started with frontline health workers and then extended to persons 60 years and over. Over 25,000 persons in Guyana have been vaccinated to date. However, with Government aiming to vaccinate 10,000 persons daily, additional vaccines will be needed.

As such, President Ali posited that Government is working aggressively to secure more COVID-19 jabs so that the country can achieve herd immunity.

However, he disclosed that apart from the batches coming in next week, Guyana has been told by major manufacturers such as Pfizer and

Moderna that it cannot access the jabs until next year.

“We have explored the Pfizer vaccines. We had great discussions with the company directly and then we were told that this could only be available in 2022. Same with the Moderna… The production lines are being stressed globally,” he related.

Earlier this week, the President said they also reached out to the manufacturers of AstraZeneca in India but hit a stumbling block there as well. However, he had indicated that Guyana is looking at another Indiamanufactured COVID-19 jab – COVAXIN, which was the vaccine taken by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was reported that Guyana is looking to obtain some 400,000 doses of the COVAXIN, which has an 81 per cent efficacy.

However, during a recent interview with <<<Guyana Times>>>, Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa explained that discussions are ongoing for a tranche of 100,000 doses of this jab.

“We have put the Health Ministry in touch with the producers of COVAXIN, Bharat Biotech… As I understand now, Guyana is actually going through its internal

processes of approving the proposal by Bharrat Biotech and once they give the goahead, Bharrat Biotech will go through the formalities on the Indian side because they also have to take permission from the various regulators before they export the vaccine,” the Indian diplomat told this newspaper.

In the meanwhile, President Ali on Friday reassured that his Government will spare no expense in ensuring that its citizens are protected against the novel coronavirus. But in the same breath, he implored citizens to continues to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines especially after getting vaccinated.

“A lot of people think that after they’re vaccinated, you can take off the mask and walk around the place.

But you can still be infected and you can pass that on… Together we have to get through this. You have my personal commitment and the commitment of the Government in doing what we can do scientifically and medically. But you have individual responsibility too and I’m asking you in the interest of family, your neighbours, your community to exercise your individual responsibility in a disciplined manner,” the Head of State urged.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corentyne shallow grave murder

“Long Hair” gets life sentence, eligible for parole after serving 25 years

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unilall Sarjoo, 51, also called “Long Hair”, a livestock farmer of Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Thursday slapped with a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Levan Chandrapaul.

The convicted murderer was earlier in the month found guilty by a jury for the murder of Chandrapaul, whose body was found in a shallow grave in No 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, in August 2016.

However, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall imposed the sentence at the Berbice Assizes.

Following the sentencing, Sarjoo maintained his innocence.

At the commencement of the trial, State prosecutor Tuanna Hardy had told the jury that Chandrapaul was last seen with Sarjoo.

During the trial, the court heard that Chandrapaul was murdered between August 22 and 26, 2016, and his body was found in a driedup pond covered with sand.

Government Pathologist Dr Vivakand Bridgemohan had given the cause of death as a fractured skull and internal bleeding of the skull.

During the trial, the pathologist told the court that the post-mortem revealed

Convicted murderer Munilall Sarjoo, 51, also called “Long Hair”

that there were two fractures to the skull with one being fragmented. Those injuries, he noted, were consistent with someone being hit with a blunt instrument, thus suggesting that a piece of wood could have been used.

Several witnesses testified via the Zoom trial and were cross-examined by defence counsel Rodwell Jugmohan. Among those who testified were the parents of the deceased, ranks of Police’s Major Crime Unit and an eyewitness who saw the deceased entering Sarjoo’s motor car on August

22, 2016.

The prosecutor’s key witness, a fisherman of Number 67 Village, told the jury that on August 22, 2016, he had a conversation with Chandrapaul in front of his yard where Chandrapaul told him to keep his bicycle and use it before leaving.

A few days later, Chandrapaul’s body was found in a shallow grave in the backlands of Number 68 Village. At the time of the discovery, he was clad in the same clothes he was last seen wearing when he entered the convicted murderer’s car.

T Murdered: Levan Chandrapaul, also called “Mala”

Duo awaits sentencing for manslaughter at Essequibo Assizes

T

wo men are currently on remand awaiting sentencing for manslaughter at the Essequibo Criminal Assizes which is being held at the High Court in Suddie. Paul Charles, 34, of Foulmouth Village, Essequibo River, though indicted for murder, opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of man-

PNC playingthe-a55...

slaughter.

He admitted that on February 7, 2019, at the aforementioned location, he unlawfully killed his drinking partner, Cedric James.

Media reports are that the Essequibo River man was stabbed by Charles during a heated argument over an old grievance.

TURN TO PAGE 15

…with the PAC he Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is one of the bulwarks of parliamentary governance. It’s a “Standing Committee” - meaning it’s automatically constituted with each new Parliament by Standing Order 82(2). It gives the Opposition a guaranteed opportunity to scrutinise the Government’s spending by having them appoint the Chair.

He/she can then summon any Government official the PAC desires to have explain their (mis)use of Government funds, if some hanky-panky is suspected.

So, after they were forced by the international community to abide by the results of the March 2 elections and demit office, the PNC duly appointed a Chair to the PAC. And this is where the proverbial “ka-ka” hit the fan, when they selected no one else but David Patterson. The very same Patterson who’d first denied receiving an $800,000 piece of bling as a “gift” bought with funds from the Asphalt Plant. The very same Asphalt Plant that fell under his ministerial portfolio!!

Upon being presented with receipts and other “smoking gun” proof, he then recanted, shifted gears and insisted he saw nothing untoward with receiving such “gifts”!! Later, it was shown he’d also received bedroom furniture and bed sheets worth millions via the same route, and funded with taxpayers’ funds.

And this is the man the PNC wants to become the guardian of the public purse? What’s their thinking? That “it takes a thief to ketch a thief”? But your Eyewitness thinks it’s even more devious (and sinister) than that. Just as when they selected Moses Nagamootoo to represent them on “shared governance” talks with the PPP, knowing that the fella was damaged goods as far as credibility was concerned. The PNC is just trying to throw a spanner in the (governmental) works. They know the PPP would object to their eyes being poked! And an essential mechanism of good governance by the PPP would be missing.

All they had to do was select someone else from their ranks to become Chair, but the PNC have refused point blank. They’re saying that none of their other members on the Committee is qualified in tracking spending as Patterson - who’s trained in land surveying?

The PNC can’t be allowed to hold governance at ransom!

The PPP has attempted to resolve the impasse by using another Standing Order, (90(4), which allows a Chair to be appointed from their ranks to act for the day, to refer the impasse back to the full house.

To which the PNC objected, saying it subverts the “guardrails” of democracy! Imagine a party that just spent five months trying to rig an election in full view of the world, talking about “guardrails of democracy”!

Is this rass-pass or what?

…on oil contract It was only after they were dragged out of office, kicking and screaming while hanging onto the Sanctimonious Gangster’s coattails, did Khemraj Ramjattan admit there were “imperfections” in the oil contract signed by his AFC co-leader Raphael Trotman. “Imperfections” …right!! That’s like saying that Mingo’s soiled rigging bedsheet had some “small mistakes”!! The AFC and PNC then criticised the PPP for not renegotiating the contract when the Payara licence was on the table.

But they know fully well that one does not just “renegotiate” a contract without “cause”. Such as the party negotiating on our behalf - Trotman in this case - lacked “capacity”. Or if he was bribed, or there was misrepresentation etc. The international watchdog Global Witness had recommended that Trotman’s role be investigated. If the PNC’s serious about Guyana getting a greater stake in the oil revenues, shouldn’t they spill the dirt on Trotman?

After all, these were matters that had to have come up at Cabinet meetings.

Turn the man in for the good of Guyana! …race More than any other player, the PNC know that playing the race card is absolutely the worst thing for our beloved country’s progress.

Didn’t Hoyte, who had to clean up Burnham’s racist mess, concede as much?

Stop it, Harmon!

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

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 109 new COVID-19 cases – Region 4 records whopping 64 cases

Some 8801 of the 5123 males and 4884 females have since recovered from the virus. To date, Guyana has tested 86,516 individuals.

An analysis of new cases showed that 30 were detected in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); a whopping 64 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); three in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); four in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 1028, 249, 246 and 440 respectively.

T

he Health Ministry on Friday reported that 109 new COVID-19 cases were detected, thus taking the overall positive cases to over 10,000.

The new statistics provided showed that there are still

225 deaths, four of which occurred on Thursday. Of the active cases, 11 patients remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 57 in institutional isolation, 17 in institutional quarantine and 913 in home isolation.

$590M asphalt plant at Garden of Eden to be operational by April 6

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ublic Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill on Friday visited the new Garden of Eden Asphalt Plant to assess its readiness for operation, which is scheduled to commence on April 6.

During a meeting with the Chairman of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Ravie Ramcharitar and other senior officers, Minister Edghill learnt that some $590 million has been expended so far on the project.

The Chairman pointed out that in the near future, the relevant personnel will be trained to ensure that they can operate and properly manage the plant. The training will be facilitated by the German contractor.

Additionally, monies have been allocated for a new scale at the asphalt plant. This is especially important since the recent findings of an audit revealed that weighing of asphalt was being done at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, miles away from the asphalt plant, and thereby opening doors for possible skullduggery.

“We will not be tolerant of anyone who wants to beat the system. There will be swift and decisive action.

The public purse must be protected at all cost and we want to be able to get things done,” Minister Edghill said.

He explained that the new plant will allow for more efficiency in road construction. He, however, called on

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

the Private Sector to stay in the competition and ensure competitive prices and good quality products are delivered to customers.

“We are not going to be putting the Private Sector out of business, but we want to ensure that we are a part of the competition, if not the gold standard of setting the price on the market. Once we are able to economically reduce cost of production of asphalt it means the cost of the road would go down… rather than doing 10 road, we might be able to do 13,” the Minister explained.

Minister Edghill also posited that applications have been received and shortlisted for a Plant Manager. This process has been advanced, according to the Minister, and a new manager is expected to soon be named.

However, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Friday stated that the first round of vaccine administration is progressing smoothly. The remaining healthcare workers or persons over 60 who do not receive the vaccine will be able to do so in the second phase.

“We’re getting closer because our estimated population for the first round, we have about 59,000 persons or so who are 60 years and above and we have about 12,000 healthcare workers from the private and public sector. The vaccines we’re working with is a little bit less than that.

We had doses for 50,000 people or so. So, we still have a number of persons who are 60 years and above that we’ll have to administer this vaccine to and there are still a number of healthcare workers,” the Minister related.

He said while the first round has not been exhausted, the second will cater for a younger age range and persons with comorbidities. With the arrival of 200,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines in the coming weeks, the programme will be expanded.

Talks are continuing with other stakeholders who had initially committed to making vaccines available.

“We’re looking at bringing in the Sputnik V vaccine. We want to finalise the logistics of that and with those 200,000 doses, we would be able to immunise 100,000 persons.

We are also exploring with COVAX to finalise the dates when the vaccines they promised would come into Guyana.

They have now written to say that we would be getting about 24,000 doses of the vaccine…We’re still awaiting word from the Caricom-

African Union arrangements to be able to finalise that route of accessing vaccines.

There are other initiatives that Caricom has been working on and we’ll see as those mature whether we’ll be able to access vaccines from those arrangements,” Dr Anthony identified.

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 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health. gov.gy.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PI into Saga’s murder continues

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

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he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of businessman Godfrey Scipio continued on Friday before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts. Two former policemen – Derwin Eastman and Jamison Williams – are jointly charged for the murder of the 64-year-old man.

Eastman, who has been adjudged the Guyana Police

Force’s Best Cop on several occasions, and Williams are accused of killing Scipio on October 17, 2017, at Kitty, Georgetown.

In November 2020, Magistrate Fabayo Azore

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

Also charged for the murder is Aubrey Bobb, a 26-year-old ex-convict of Kitty. Bobb was the first to be charged and later implicated the two former policemen in a caution statement he had given to the law enforcement officers.

In 2019, Bobb was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the businessman’s murder following the conclusion of a separate PI after it was established that there was sufficient evidence against him. According to reports, Scipio also known as “Saga” was gunned down just as he exited a popular

Dead: Godfrey “Saga” Scipio

Kitty hotel with a female companion during the furtherance of a robbery.

He later succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.

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

daylight killing. He accused Eastman of hiring him as the hitman and providing him with the gun.

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

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

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

by Eastman, who was present at every step of the interrogation.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Retired Assistant Commissioner, 3 others charged with multi-million-dollar theft at GPF

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Kevin Adonis

Haynes conspired with each other and persons unknown while being public officers employed by GPF to steal $19,030,767.

It is alleged that Corbin on March 26, 2019, at GPF’s Finance Office, input electronic data, that is to say, a payment voucher entry for $19,030,767, resulting in inauthentic data, with the intent that it be considered or acted upon by the Finance Ministry Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) staff as if it was authentic, regardless

Sergeant Jermaine Fraser

at the Votes Section of the Police Finance Office.

Haynes is stationed at the Tactical Service Unit, while Adonis is a retired Assistant Commissioner and was the Commander for Regional Division No 7.

It was reported that in March 2019, while performing duties at the Votes Section of the Police Finance Office, Headquarters, Eve Leary, Corbin and Fraser were responsible for inputting approved information from payment vouchers in the IFMIS which result-

R

etired Assistant Commissioner Kevin Adonis and three other serving members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were on Friday slapped with a $19 million larceny charge.

They were accused of stealing the aforementioned sum from the Force’s Finance Department, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The men, who were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, were not required to plead to the indictment.

Apart from Adonis of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD); the others charged were Sergeant Jermaine Fraser of 4116 Phase One Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD); Sergeant Michael Corbin of First Avenue, La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD, and Corporal Rawl Haynes of Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Particulars of the first charge stated that between March 26, 2019, and March 29, 2019, at Georgetown, Adonis, Fraser, Corbin, and

of whether or not the said data was directly readable or intelligible.

According to the final charge, Haynes on March 29, 2019, at Georgetown, while being a public officer employed by the Guyana Police Force, stole 19,030,767. On the first charge, the ranks were instructed to post $150,000 bail each. Corbin was released on $100,000 bail on the computer-related fraud charge, while Haynes was granted $50,000 bail on the last charge.

Adonis was represent-

ed by Attorney-at-Law Mark Waldron, while Attorney-at-Law Patrice Henry appeared for Corbin.

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd is appearing on behalf of Haynes while Attorneyat-Law Latchmie Rahamat is representing Fraser.

Attorney-at-Law Leslyn Noble appeared on behalf of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which filed the charges.

They will make their next court appearance on April 12, 2021.

Corbin and Fraser are presently interdicted from duty. They were stationed

ed in the Finance Ministry cutting cheques.

On March 26, 2019, Corbin reused a payment voucher with supporting documents for fuel purchased from GuyOil to input

Sergeant Michael Corbin

Corporal Rawl Haynes

information in the IFMIS. Fraser, on the other hand, approved the said information, resulting in cheque # 07-220086 for $19,030,767 being made payable to the Officer in Charge of Police F Division. The cheque was uplifted from the Finance Ministry and lodged at the Police Finance Office.

Adonis endorsed the said cheque and Haynes, who was not authorised or the finance representative for Police F Division, encashed the cheque at the Bank of Guyana using Adonis’ national identification card. No records were made of the cheque or whom the money was disbursed to at F Division. An audit was conducted by the Auditor General, who recommended a Police probe.

Following investigations, charges were laid against

Adonis, Fraser, Corbin, and Haynes.

Last year, Fraser and Corbin were charged with a similar offence. At that time, they were each released on $250,000 bail.

The charge against them stated that on April 4, 2019, at Eve Leary, Georgetown, while being a clerk or servant of the GPF, they falsely entered $12,565,000 into the IFMIS without the existence of payment vouchers.

Both of them had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Late last year, several senior officers were sent on administrative leave as investigators probed the alleged misappropriation of $150 million from the Police Force’s Finance Department. It is unclear, at this time, what is the status of those investigations.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GFS needs to prepare for new challenges amid booming oil industry – Benn …fleet boosted with 4 tenders

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

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uyana’s oil and gas industry has taken off for unprecedented growth within the years ahead, a task which the Guyana Fire Service must be prepared for in the event of emer-

gencies.

This was the sentiment of Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who stated that several developmental changes are bound to occur. With the new equipment and facilities established, the said officers within the GFS must prepare and pay keen attention to such matters.

“We have to deal with the new challenges in relation to the development in oil and gas. We have issues in relation to high-pressure vessels and boats and pipelines related to that. There will be a new gas powering facility at Wales and there will be pipelines with high-pressure gas going through. We have to have the training and the knowledge to deal with issues with respect to oil and gas. The preparedness, reaction times throughout in respect of all of these issues have to be paid attention to,” the Minister

asserted.

Speaking on challenges facing the fire department, it was highlighted that arson and setting small fires are constant threats, especially in the city where high winds and old structures can easily trigger larger infernos.

“We have the problem about arson. There’s the problem all over the country and I see the fire service, particularly in the dry season have to roll out rapidly in respect of responding to little fires…Everybody dump trash, stuff from the stores and then somebody lights it up. This is a clear and present danger to the fire risk in a wooden city where we have high wind speed on the coast of Guyana.”

Benn also pointed to the addition of divers and swimmers to the team, in order to envelope a comprehensive rescue network that can operate in any situation.

New tenders will boost the GFS’s response and capacity

He explained, “I know there have been issues where we need swimmers overboard, where we needed divers and we didn’t have them anywhere…We need to have these people in the fire and rescue service.”

On Thursday, four fire tenders were handed over to the GFS, valued at over $200 million. The

trucks were procured with allocations from the 2019 and 2020 budgets, and are to be used at the Central Fire Station, West Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, and East Bank Demerara.

With the $1.9 billion set aside in the 2021 budget, two ambulances and six water tenders are to be procured.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

breaching Chenapau village receives $10M Businesses COVID-19 guidelines to investment fund, to fund ICT hub face “full brunt of the

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai addressing the residents of Chenapau

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he Village of Chenapau in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) has received a total of $10 million under the Community Development Plans (CDP) project as part of the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).

This is expected to pave the way for a new ICT hub and other projects that will benefit residents of the community.

The CDP fund was previously $5 million but has been doubled since the assumption of the PPP/C to power in August 2020.

During a recent visit to the community, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said the funds will be used in part to set up an internet hub. The remainder of the money will then be used for another productive project approved by the

village “After I leave, a village meeting will be held to discuss how the remaining funds from the $10 million investment fund will be spent and invested in a project that can have impact on village improvement, employment, or an increase in income in the village,” the Minister noted.

Regarding the ICT hub, she noted that the computers and other equipment will be provided by the Ministry.

“We have a special ceiling for that. For a building that may be extended or refurbished, you spend $1.5 million to repair, repaint, and to furnish to get it ready for the installation of the ICT project which is also being rolled out “If it is a new building that you will be establishing, then you have a ceiling of $3 million to be used on a new construction. The remaining will be $7 million that will be used for the development or income-generating project… you have to demonstrate in your proposal for whichever project you

select, that it will maintain its self…” she explained.

The Minister further noted that her Ministry will train some 300 young Amerindian tutors to assist villagers in becoming tech-savvy.

She noted too, that by 2023, it is expected that all hinterland communities will be connected to the internet.

The Amerindian Development Fund was established to provide support for the socio-economic development and environmental enhancement of Indigenous communities via the implementation of Community Development Plans.

It provides access to funding for community ventures and is aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial capacity of Indigenous villages, diversifying their economy, creating job opportunities and reducing poverty. The community business ventures cover agricultural production, agro-processing village infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, village business enterprise and transportation.

law” – Health Minister

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

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usinesses are continuously violating the national measures intended to protect against COVID-19 and now, the National COVID-19 Task Force is on a mission to ensure compliance by enforcing full penalties.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday explained that non-compliant businesses have been on the radar of the Task Force for frequently breaching the established measures.

“I think we have seen flagrant breaches of the guidelines. We have a number of business entities that have not been complying with these guidelines and the task force have those entities under their radar and I’m sure that they would go out and enforce those measures because it is important.”

Now, if business owners are found guilty of such practices, authorities are prepared to enforce the full brunt of the law. The Minister said repeated warnings have been issued, all of which have fallen on deaf ears.

“The task force is going to go out there and trying to reiterate with business owners, the need to make sure that they’re in compliance. If they’re not, then they’ll enforce the guidelines and some people will be charged. We don’t want to use that route but everybody needs to understand the seriousness. After repeated warnings and you’re not going to abide by those warnings, then you’ll leave us no other alternative but to feel the full brunt of the law.”

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14 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FFTP hands over 10 homes to Bethany families

The beneficiaries on Friday at the handing over ceremony

A

t least 10 families of the Amerindian settlement of Bethany, Supenaam Creek, Region

Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were in smiles after they were given the keys to their brand-new home, compli-

ments of Food for The Poor (FFTP).

The houses comprise two bedrooms, a bathroom,

a kitchen, a restroom, and also a rain harvest where families can safely store water.

At a simple handing over ceremony on Friday, Senior Project Manager of the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), Andrea Benjamin related that the organisation continues to assist families who are in need.

She noted that the beneficiaries were living in dilapidated and in other persons homes.

She said that the main aim of the organisation is to make families happier and more comfortable in a better home that is well furnished. The houses that were handed over on Friday were equipped with house-

Region 2 RDC hosts Phagwah mela

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he Region Two Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) Hindu Society on Friday hosted a Phagwah mela in observance of the festival of colours, which will be celebrated on Sunday.

The mela featured several cultural presentations including songs, dances, Chowtaal singing and several Holi renditions.

Pandit Ravin Nateram, who addressed the gathering, called on staff to use the occasion to remove all negativities from their lives as he shared the significance of

Staff members applying powder on each other

the festival.

He also urged them to ensure that they renew their friendship and remove all barriers in life so that they can experience their full potential.

During the programme, various heads of department within the RDC extended Phagwah greetings to their staff and families.

Greetings were also extended by Regional Health Officer, Dr Ranjeev Singh, who reminded the audience to observed all COVID-19 guidelines when participating in Holi festivities.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Toshao Sonia Latchmam handing over the homeowner’s certificate to one of the families

hold items and a solar panel to generate electricity.

However, Benjamin explained that FFTP has built several homes for Amerindian families throughout the region to make families happier.

One of the beneficiaries, Zeeta Thompson, was elated to have her own home while expressing gratitude to FFTP Guyana Inc. “I once lived in a shabby house that leaks every time it rains resulting in my bed being soaked most of the times. My house was always filthy no matter how I clean and wood ants feed on most of the wood. I am

very thankful and excited for what FFTP had done for me,” Zeeta Thompson explained.

Also expressing gratitude to the NGO was Toshao of the community, Sonia Latchmam. She related that she was happy for the ten families that received their homes.

Other beneficiaries echoed similar sentiments, praising FFTP Guyana Inc for their timely intervention.

Also at the handing over ceremony were Senior Field Officers Colin Reynolds and Quincy Benjamin.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UG flags unofficial social media accounts

An unofficial University of Guyana Twitter account

University of Guyana's official Twitter account

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he University of Guyana (UG) on Friday flagged sever-

al Twitter and Facebook accounts, claiming that these social media pages are not

official accounts of the tertiary institution.

These accounts, the University stated, are not operated by the institution’s administration and do not, therefore, broadcast the views of the University. The

Duo awaits sentencing...

James allegedly confronted Charles, who was charged with murdering his sister, Patricia Williams, a boat operator whose body was found floating in the Essequibo River in 2009.

The men were at the time imbibing. According to reports, Charles became annoyed, armed himself with a knife, and stabbed James, a labourer, before fleeing.

The injured man was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital by public-spirited persons but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Charles was just 23 years old when he was charged with Williams’ murder. He was, however, found guilty for the lesser offence of man-

Confessed Killer Paul Charles

slaughter and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Meanwhile, 50-yearold Alvin Calder, who was found guilty by a jury on a manslaughter charge, is also awaiting sentencing. The charge against him

University’s official institutional Twitter account is called University of GuyanaOfficial and has not been active since 2019 due to the ongoing revamping of the University’s communica-

tions apparatus.

The University continues to work on making the differentiation of its institutional official channels even more distinct moving forward. It is to be noted that UG has not been using social media for official communication, but has used its official SRMS system and

website to post all important information: www.uog. edu.gy.

The Act establishing the University of Guyana flowing from the Constitution of Guyana mandates an apolitical non-discriminatory stance which the institution strives to honour in all its activities.

Region 2 RDC...

FROM PAGE 14

FROM PAGE 8

states that on April 12, 2007, at White Water Landing, Potaro, Essequibo, Calder, formerly of Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, unlawfully killed Joseph Willy.

Media reports are that Calder was only apprehended in 2016, nine years after he allegedly killed Willy also called “Jeff-man”. It was reported that the men were involved in a drug deal that went bad. Moreover, Willy had allegedly owed the accused $150,000 for goods he had taken from his shop and had refused to pay him despite several requests.

On the day in question, Calder saw a relative of the now dead man and confronted her over the mon-

Guilty: Alvin Calder

ies he had owed. After Willy learned of the confrontation, he reportedly approached Calder armed with a cutlass.

At that point, it was reported that Calder shot him twice, and then made good his escape.

Charles and Calder will be sentenced on April 1, 2021,

by Justice Gino Persaud.

A member of the Swarswattie Dance Academy performing a routine at the event

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Devanand Ramdatt thanked the region’s Hindu Society for planning and executing the event while noting that the RDC will continue to work in

the best interest of everyone.

Ramdatt urged persons to use the festival to practice kindness and extended Phagwah greetings to all who were present.

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

LGC probing allegations against Linden Town Clerk

T

he Local Government Commission (LGC) is currently investigating several allegations made against Linden’s Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller by members of the Council.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell on Thursday noted that the Council is dissatisfied with certain inactions on the part of the Town Clerk and has asked for an intervention into several issues.

“There are some issues in the Council as it relates to the administration and its effectiveness. The Council has decided that they are not comfortable with the Town Clerk. The Council has found some discrepancies. They believe the Town Clerk is not working in the interest of the Council, she’s not working with the Council and decisions made since 2017 and

2016 have not yet been carried out. The Council also believes that the Town Clerk has become, not a Clerk to the Council but is acting upon her own and using outside influences to make decisions,” the Mayor alleged.

Arrindell further alleged that the Town Clerk was negligent in effectively carrying out the Council’s decisions.

“For example, the consistent building of illegal structures across Linden. The Council has passed a system that these persons in the initial phase should be warned and the structures should be teared down. We have seen that since 2017, nothing has (been) done and the town has become more glaring in terms of these dilapidated structures.”

She also alleged that lately, the Town Clerk has re-

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

fused to be present at meetings which are called by her.

Additionally, she alleged that tender documents are being sent out without the knowledge of the Council.

Asked whether there were any other steps taken to remedy the situation prior to writing to the Ministry and

Commission, the Mayor said the Commission is responsible for disciplinary actions.

As such, she noted that the Council wrote several times to the Town Clerk.

Those letters were copied to the Commission.

“So the Ministry has responded and the Local Government Commission and the investigation has begun into the situation,” Arrindell said.

The Mayor further noted that the Council had also decided that it will not engage the Town Clerk until the matters are ironed out.

“So, the Council has returned to normal function, as we await the decision of Ministry and Local Government Commission,” Arrindell posited.

Meanwhile, the Town Clerk in an invited comment said she is aware of the allegations brought against her that would have led to an investigation. Obermuller said she would have received several correspondences from the Commission based on the allegations and she has since

Linden Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller

responded.

She explained, however, that she would not comment on other aspects until the findings are revealed and recommendations are made on the way forward based on the alleged issues that were raised.

As it relates to her meeting attendance, she said the law in Chapter 28:01 is clear on how meetings are called.

In the absence of following the stipulated procedure, she noted that the meeting is only a caucus or deemed illegal.

“As it relates to meetings, the Council is governed

by Chapter 28:01...There’s a section that speaks to meeting proceedings of the Council under Section 55 Sub Section 1. It speaks to how meetings are called. As a result of that, as Town Clerk, it is my role and responsibility to work in accordance to the Sixth Schedule. And once meetings are called in accordance to the Section 55 Sub Section 1 it is my role to attend same,” the Town Clerk added.

The Town Clerk added that she was present at the Council’s statutory meeting on Wednesday and also refuted allegations of acting against the Council’s orders.

“All my actions are based on the law...the Council yes has the responsibility to make policies, but then the Town Clerk is still guided by the law. So if that is outside of the law, the Town Clerk don’t have the right to carry through with any illegal decision of the Council. Once it’s a legal decision, yes the Town Clerk has the responsibility to execute same.”

Two new resource centres opened at Port Mourant

T

he Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Friday opened two resource centres in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) as part of the Spotlight programme to tackle pressing issues that scourge society.

The two centres - one for the elderly and sick and the other for Early Childhood Development - were established with the intention of supporting job creation, youth and women empowerment, pre-school activities, remedial education, counselling, psycho-social support services and care for the elderly.

The Ministry said the Spotlight programme is geared at providing an opportunity for the Ministry and its international partners - the European Union and United Nations - to address family violence as a major public health and development issue with significant ramifications on the individual, community and national levels.

Five priority areas of intervention for the Spotlight programme are sexual and gender-based violence; school-based gender-based violence; intimate partner violence; incest and teen pregnancies; and sexual abuse.

Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud outlined that several cross-sections of persons will benefit positively from this investment, especially children and the elderly. She said persons within the various communities should work towards a zero-tolerance mindset to violence and abuse.

“The Spotlight Initiative puts light on the dark acts of people out there who feel

Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud inspecting the facility

like they can get away with these atrocities…We have zero tolerance for that kind of behaviour and I will encourage, appeal, that you have zero tolerance for this.

It is unacceptable. Violence and abuse against any age and any is unacceptable.”

She added, “If we want violence and abuse to stop, it has to be a collective effort. It cannot be the Ministry alone. It cannot be a single NGO. It has to be all of us, from the messages we deliver at home to our children encouraging them to respect each other so that they will grow with those values and it will filter out into the adult world.”

Persaud indicated that early childhood training forms an important part in the development of children since exposure will affect their cognitive development. As such, resource centres are integral in the formation of contributing citizens and every facet needed is catered for in these facilities.

“When you think a child

is too small to imbibe, to inculcate and to experience, that child is not. The environment must be such that, that child can be moulded into a good teenager and finally, a positive, contributing adult to the country.

This is the emphasis that is placed in resources centres,” the Minister determined.

In collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry will be working towards increasing the material used in these centres to ensure that children are abreast with the requirements of the formal education system.

As it relates to the resource centre for the elderly, she said this is geared at improving the quality of life for the older population.

“Many elders live home alone. Many elders also live with their families and they’re neglected. They don’t have food. Sometimes the shelters that they get is barely adequate to meet their needs and many times, they have no financial resources,” the Minister identified.

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Seepaul Narine takes over helm of GAWU

F

ormer General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine has been elected President of the Union following a special meeting on Friday.

Aslim Singh will take up the post of General Secretary and Porandatt Narine as Assistant General Secretary/Treasurer.

The Union stated that Friday’s meeting was the first to have been held following the passing of the Union’s long-standing President, Komal Chand.

Having considered the vacancy of President of the Union, a special election was held.

“The Council felt that

the new officers have been diligent in their duties and have led the Union properly over the last months.

They, therefore, were unanimous in their support of the new officers. Members of the Council in expressing congratulations, pledged to work alongside the new officers in further strengthening the GAWU and seeing it grow from strength to strength,” GAWU stated in a release to the media.

Meanwhile, the meeting also discussed several matters of concern and offered guidance on the way forward.

The new General Secretary presented the report of the General Council which reviewed the work

Newly elected President of GAWU, Seepaul Narine

of the Union since the last meeting held in December 2020.

Student stabbed with scissors during robbery at Annandale

A

16-year-old student of Annandale Secondary School was on Wednesday attacked, stabbed and robbed by five armed men at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The perpetrators were armed with scissors, Police said.

Based on reports received, the teen reportedly put up a resistance when he was stabbed about his body. The bandits, however, escaped with one laptop, a cellular phone, a music box, and a backpack belonging to the teen.

The young man was reportedly rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted and underwent emergency surgery. His condition is regarded as stable.

Less than two weeks ago, a 16-year-old school girl attached to the Institute of Business Education (IBE) and of Non Pareil, East

I

n light of reports that a Guyanese fishing vessel and its crew members were attacked and robbery by Venezuelans in the Waini River, Region One (Barima-Waini), Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd said that the matter is presently engaging his attention and that of the Police.

Based on a report on Newsroom, the crew was attacked about a week ago by at least 12 Venezuelan nationals armed with guns.

The report stated that the crew of three was fishing when they were attacked by the gun-toting men who ordered them into a small section of their vessel. After freeing themselves, they discovered that the catch, food supplies, cooking utensils, fuel, clothes and documents were missing.

However, after drifting for two days, they were rescued by another fishing boat. The men finally reached shore on Friday

Some of the teen’s books were disposed of by the bandits

Coast Demerara (ECD), was robbed on her way to school. The robbery reportedly took place at Coldingen, ECD. The victim, who was in the company of friends, was standing at the Coldingen Railway Embankment Road when she was confronted by two men on a bicycle. One of the men was

reportedly armed with a handgun.

However, the men reportedly stopped in front of the teenager and demanded that she hand over her money and valuables. She was eventually robbed of a Samsung A10 cellular phone valued at $45,000.

Investigations are continuing.

warning, the Secretariat said, was also issued to 20 other businesses that were operating outside the requisite guidelines.

The national COVID-19 emergency measures warrant full compliance. The national curfew remains in place from 22:30h to 04:00h (04:00 am to 10:30 pm) for the month of March.

Restrictions remain in place on visiting, hosting, or attending private parties, wakes, clubs, receptions, and any other social activity, including going to the cinema.

From 04:00h to 21:30h, stakeholders can access services at banks, markets, supermarkets, grocery shops, gas stations, postal

FROM PAGE 13

or shipping services, beauty salons, barbershops, hardware stores, clothing or stores; or other maintenance services.

The guidelines facilitate the opening of bars and restaurants from 04:00h to 21:30h and the order restricts indoor dining to 40 per cent of the capacity of the building, with tables placed six feet apart and no more than four persons allowed at one table.

Further, staff at the restaurants and bars are required to wear their masks properly and sanitise tables, chairs and bar countertops after each use.

Buffet dining remains prohibited.

morning. The captain of the boat, Paresram Maniram, told the news entity that over $3.5 million in items were stolen.

After reaching shore, the men made a Police report. In addition, they have called for better protection of fishermen while they ply their trade. In light of the incident, the men are now fearful to return to the sea.

Earlier in the month, a group of Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) fishermen were attacked in the Waini River, Region One (Barima-

Waini), by pirates.

The incident occurred at Kamwatta, Waini River, in the North West District and according to Police, the men were robbed of food, fuel, cellular phones and about $100,000 in fish.

Among the fishermen were two juveniles. The fishermen reportedly related that they were attacked by six armed men who spoke both English and Spanish.

After the ordeal, the victims said that they made their way to Morawhanna Police Station where they made a report.

Salesman robbed of $1.4M on Mandela Avenue

A

Business breaching COVID-19...

It was recognised that within recent weeks, cases and deaths from the virus have been on the rise.

Consequently, active cases have surpassed 800. For Thursday, four persons succumbed to the virus.

“People not wearing masks in close proximity is a recipe for more infections…Over the last couple of weeks, we would have had an increasing trend of more cases. We need people to stop being complacent because if you’re complacent, you’ll get infected and we don’t want that to happen.”

Last November, some 42 businesses were issued warnings for breaching the national measures. A final

Guyanese fishermen attacked, robbed

by Venezuelans in Waini River

n employee of GuyBisco Importation Limited was on Thursday relieved of $1.4 million in cash while conducting business on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

According to reports, the man had just completed transacting business for his employer and had secured the funds in the canter he was driving.

Police said the salesman along with his porter and a warehouse attendant were heading back to the worksite and in the vicinity of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), two armed men pulled up on a red and black motorcycle.

The pillion rider reportedly jumped off and dealt the driver two blows to his head with a gun.

He then pointed the gun

in his direction and ordered him to hand over the keys.

The bandit then took out a grey canister containing the $1.4 million and the victim’s cellular phone.

After collecting the cash and phone, he reportedly rejoined his accomplice and they made good their escape. Investigations are underway. The Police were contacted and an investigation was launched.

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into minibus

A

motorcyclist is now dead after he reportedly crashed into the rear of a minibus along the Prospect Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Friday.

The dead man man has been identified as Calvin Pitt of Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. Based on reports received, on the day in question, the minibus bearing registration number BMM 5344 was driving

along the Prospect Public Road when the driver alleged that he felt a hard impact at the back of his vehicle.

As a result of the collision, Pitt was flung into the air and flew into the rear windscreen of the minibus. He landed on the rear passenger seat of the minibus.

He was subsequently transported to the Georgetown Public

Hospital where he lost consciousness. He was admitted and was treated for head injuries, broken ribs and fractured legs along with a series of other injuries. He nevertheless succumebed a few hours later.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the minibus but there were no traces of alcohol in his system. He was taken into custody and is expected to be charged shortly.

Decomposed body of pensioner found in bed

T

he lifeless body of an 81-year-old man was on Thursday discovered at his North Sophia, Greater Georgetown premises in a state of decomposition.

The dead man has been identified as Budhan Singh, a pensioner of Block R North Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the now dead man

lived alone at the said address for a number of years.

His daughter, who lives on the East Coast of Demerara, told detectives that she visited him on January 14, 2021.

However, she returned on Thursday and called out to her father but her calls went unanswered.

Suspecting that something was amiss, she requested assistance to break the door in order to enter the house.

In doing so, she found her father’s decomposing body lying on the bed without clothes.

The Police were contacted and upon arriving at the scene, they inspected the body for marks of violence but none was seen. There were also no signs of forced entry.

His body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

Regional

Mexico’s President invites big US blocks Venezuela’s bid to business to debate energy laws seek WTO review of sanctions

M

exico’s President on Friday invited the heads of some of the most prominent companies in the country to defend the merits of his predecessors’ energy policies, which he says give the private sector preferential treatment over public sector interests.

“Big business corporations and retail chains pay lower rates than consumers for household consumption... and we believe those subsidies paid with the people’s money should disappear,” President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a regular news conference.

The President and executives of state-owned power company, the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), have criticised energy laws enacted by previous administrations, as well as the companies benefiting from those policies. Lopez Obrador characterised the

lower prices paid by companies as a state-sponsored subsidy and called them an “injustice.”

But, Lopez Obrador added, it was only fair that the beneficiaries of former President Enrique Pena Nieto’s policies have the right to reply.

He invited the bosses of Walmart’s Mexico unit (Walmex), conglomerate Femsa, breadmaker Grupo Bimbo, and Spain’s Iberdrola to debate the existing laws at the presidential palace in Mexico City, without specifying a time.

He also invited representatives of local newspapers Reforma and El Universal, as well as Spain’s El Pais to come as well, arguing the media has taken the side of the private sector against his reform of the energy sector.

Last week, a Mexican court ordered a defini-

T

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

tive suspension of Lopez Obrador’s contentious new electricity law, which seeks to strengthen CFE. The President called for the Supreme Court to settle the matter. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he United States on Friday blocked Venezuela from proceeding with its dispute over Washington’s sanctions at the World Trade Organisation, seizing on the issue to underscore its rejection of Nicolas Maduro as the country’s legitimate President.

Venezuela had planned to request the formation of a WTO panel to rule on whether sanctions the United States imposed in 2018 and 2019 breached global trading rules.

The United States asked for the request to be removed, which Venezuela refused to do, prompting the trade body to suspend a meeting about this and other trade matters at the

start, a Geneva-based trade official said.

US Trade Representative spokesman Adam Hodge said the panel request was illegitimate because the Maduro administration did not speak on behalf of the Venezuelan people.

“The United States will reject any effort by Maduro to misuse the WTO to attack U.S. sanctions aimed at restoring human rights and democracy to Venezuela,” he said in a statement.

The US action was intended to make clear that President Joe Biden and his administration would continue its hard-line stance against Maduro and seek to pressure him to hold free and fair elections, a senior

U.S. official said.

Biden’s administration is continuing to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. Dozens of countries have backed Guaido’s claim following Maduro’s re-election in 2018 in a vote Western governments called a sham.

Venezuela blames Washington’s sanctions which it refers to as “unilateral coercive measures” - for the South American country’s economic woes.

“Sooner rather than later Venezuela will defeat with the law what the United States seeks to impose with force,” Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter on Friday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica to establish diplomatic relations Road to economic recovery will be arduous, with countries in Africa, Pacific Island states but not impossible to navigate – CDB

P

resident of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr Warren Smith has identified three priorities for charting economic recovery and securing resilience to counter the COVID-19 fallout — giving a bigger role to the private sector, building buffers and diversifying economies as the way forward.

However, he cautioned that the road to full recovery would be arduous and daunting.

Speaking at the recent 10th UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum, Smith stressed that “our bias should be towards a larger role for the private sector in stimulating economic growth, provid-

ing jobs, and earning foreign exchange through exports”.

In that regard, he said, regional governments need to scale up efforts to create an ecosystem that responds especially to the needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as these businesses account for over 70 per cent of all enterprises; 60-70 per cent of gross domestic product; and 50 per cent of employment, including poor and marginalised groups.

With the start of the hurricane season less than three months away, Smith also cautioned that natural disasters are not challenges that can be put on hold.

Smith also noted that the bank is determined to play a

bigger role in unleashing the potential of MSMEs. Smith also stressed the need to build buffers to achieve environmental, economic and social resilience.

Some governments have already been taking measures to improve fiscal responsibility and debt sustainability through the adoption of fiscal rules and the setting of targets for the primary balance, overall balance, and debt. In addition, regional governments can use risk transfer arrangements, such as that offered by the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, and catastrophe bonds (CAT bonds) to deal with disasters. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

J

amaica is to establish diplomatic relations with two countries in Africa as well as a number of Pacific Island states.

These are the Republic of Liberia and the Togolese Republic in Africa, and the Republic of Kiribat, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Independent State of Samoa, and the Kingdoms of Tonga and Tuvalu.

Speaking at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams said it was important for Jamaica to diversify its bilateral partnerships “as a means of

broadening the scope of engagement and the pursuit of opportunities for increased trade, investment and political collaboration as well as technical and economic cooperation”.

She noted that the African states represent a ready pool of countries with which Jamaica can explore such cooperation.

As it relates to the Pacific Island states, she noted that the pursuit of diplomatic relations with these countries will “cement Jamaica’s strategic plans to establish a greater presence in and intensify relations with small island developing states (SIDS) of the Pacific”.

“It will also provide op-

portunities for the diversification of Jamaica’s bilateral economic, technical and cultural cooperation portfolio given the shared similarities and challenges in population, climate and socio-political structures,” she said.

Williams said that there is scope for cooperation in multiple areas, including environment, health, hazard mitigation, disaster resilience, education, agriculture and fisheries.

“The formalisation of relations with these countries will serve to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation in the political and technical fields,” she added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Brazil’s COVID deaths “biggest 32 countries and territories in genocide in our history” – Lula Americas report infection by 1 of 3 COVID “variants of concern” – PAHO

B

razil’s more than 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 amount to the “biggest genocide” in the Latin American country’s history, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday in a scathing attack on current leader Jair Bolsonaro.

“On Tuesday, 3158 people died of COVID in Brazil. It’s the biggest genocide in our history,” Lula told Germany’s Der Spiegel weekly, adding that Bolsonaro had lied to the Brazilian people about the pandemic.

“We must save Brazil from COVID-19,” the former President added, saying that “Brazil will not withstand it if this man continues to govern in this way.”

As Brazil surpassed 300,000 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, Lula called on Bolsonaro to apologise to the families of

Lula, 75, who led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, had a corruption conviction against him annulled earlier this month [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

victims.

More than 12 million people in total have been infected in Brazil, including the virus-sceptical far-right President Bolsonaro, who called coronavirus a “little

flu”.

The country has seen record daily infections in the last week and thousands of deaths per day, blamed on a local variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious.

Lula, 75, led Brazil through an economic boom from 2003 to 2010 as head of the left-wing Workers’ Party before being sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison on charges of taking bribes in 2017.

After the corruption conviction against him was annulled earlier this month, recent opinion polls suggest that he is the best-placed politician to challenge Bolsonaro in next year’s elections.

Brazil’s supreme court ruled on Tuesday that the former president had been convicted by a “biased” judge.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) said 32 countries and territories in the Americas have reported the presence of at least one of the three “variants of concern” of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARSCoV-2, according to a new Epidemiological Update.

These variants may increase transmissibility of the virus, increase its virulence, or decrease the effectiveness of public health and social measures or diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics, although much remains to be learned about them.

Current measures to reduce transmission—including frequent hand washing, wearing a mask, physical distancing, good ventilation and avoiding crowded plac-

es or closed settings—continue to work against new variants by reducing the amount of viral transmission and therefore also reducing opportunities for the virus to mutate.

The countries and territories that reported one or more of these variants include Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Bonaire, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Since the initial identifi-

cation of SARS-CoV-2, more than 845,000 complete genomic sequences have been shared globally through publicly accessible databases.

To date, three variants of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil and known as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.1.28.1, have been classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as variants of concern (VOC), in consultation with the WHO Working Group on the Evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Variants in another category, variants of interest, covering three additional types, have been reported in Brazil, the United States, and six other countries and territories. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil jumps 4% on fears Suez Canal blockage may last weeks

O

il prices rose more than 4 per cent on Friday, rebounding on concerns it could take weeks to dislodge a giant container ship blocking the Suez Canal, which would squeeze supplies of crude and refined products.

Prices rose after falling sharply in the previous session because of concerns around demand from fresh coronavirus lockdowns in Europe.

Brent crude rose US$2.62, or 4.2 per cent, to US$64.57 a barrel at 1:01 pm EDT (1701 GMT), after dropping 3.8 per cent on Thursday.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.49, or 4.3 per cent, to US$61.05 a barrel, having tumbled 4.3 per cent a day earlier.

Brent was on track to end the week up 0.1 per cent. WTI was due to lose 0.6 per cent, its third weekly loss.

Oil trade was volatile this week, as traders assessed how long the Suez Canal blockage which happened on Tuesday will last, while also determining the effect new coronavirus lockdowns in Europe will have on demand.

“Today the market is up again as traders in a change of heart decided that the Suez Canal blockade is actually becoming more significant for oil flows and supply deliveries than they previously concluded,” said Paola Rodriguez Masiu, Rystad Energy’s vice president of oil markets.

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority said on Friday operations to free the stranded container ship would resume after completing dredging operations, which are 87 per cent complete.

The salvage company said on Thursday that dislodging the ship could take weeks.

Of the 39.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of total seaborne crude in 2020, 1.74 million bpd went through the Suez Canal, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. Additionally, 1.54 million bpd of refined oil products flow through the canal, about 9 per cent of global seaborne oil product trade, Kpler said.

On Friday, there were ten vessels waiting at the entry points of the Canal carrying around 10 million barrels of oil, Kpler said.

Reeling from the blockage in the Suez Canal, shipping rates for oil product tankers have nearly doubled this week, and several vessels were diverted.

The oil markets were also lifted by worries over escalating geopolitical risk in the Middle East. Yemen’s Houthi forces on Friday said they launched attacks on facilities owned by Saudi Aramco.

Expectations that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies will likely maintain their lower production also supported prices.

Big oil importer India said Saudi Arabia telling it to tap its oil stockpiles to tackle high prices was “undiplomatic.”

Acting a week ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has deepened crude oil supply cuts to Asian customers in June to 10 per cent-15 per cent from 5 per cent-15 per cent in May, several sources said.

In the United States, the number of rigs drilling for oil rose by six this week to 324, data from oil services firm Baker Hughes showed.

Still, the potential negative effect on demand from the coronavirus pandemic loomed. Germany’s third wave of the coronavirus could turn into the worst one so far and 100,000 new daily infections is not out of the question, the head of the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

19

Around the World

Egypt: Train collision kills 32 after emergency brakes triggered

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wo trains collided on Friday in southern Egypt apparently after someone activated the emergency brakes, killing at least 32 people and leaving 108 injured.

The collision caused three passenger cars to flip over and videos on local media from the scene showed wagons with passengers trapped inside and surrounded by debris.

Some victims seemed unconscious while others could be seen bleeding. Bystanders carried bodies and laid them out on the ground near the site.

Egypt has in recent years been plagued by deadly train accidents that have been widely blamed on inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance

Egypt’s railway authority said the trains collided after emergency brakes were triggered by “unknown individ-

4 killed in Myanmar protests; military warns of “danger” of demonstrations

M

yanmar’s ruling military junta warned on Friday that pro-democracy protesters risked being shot in the head or back as activists called for a huge show of defiance against the generals on the country’s Armed Forces Day today.

Troops killed four more people in demonstrations on Friday, adding to a reported death toll of more than 320 people in the crackdown that has followed the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb 1.

A broadcast on the state MRTV news channel said: “You should learn from the tragedy of earlier ugly deaths that you can be in danger of getting shot to the head and back”.

The warning did not specifically say that security forces had been given shoot-to-kill orders, and the junta has previously tried to suggest that some fatal shootings have come from within the crowds of protesters.

But it indicated that the military was determined

to prevent any disruptions around Armed Forces Day. And in a week that saw international pressure on the junta ramped up with new US and European sanctions, Russia offered support for the military and said it wanted to strengthen ties.

Protesters have taken to the streets almost daily since the coup which derailed Myanmar’s slow transition to democracy.

Demonstrations took place across the country again overnight and on Friday, including in Mandalay and Sagaing regions, as well as Karen and Chin states, media reports said At least 320 protesters have been killed in the weeks of unrest as of Thursday night, according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group.

Its data shows that at least 25% of those died from shots to the head, raising suspicions they were deliberately targeted for killing. (Excerpt from Reuters)

5 killed as tornadoes sweep Alabama

A

t least five people have been killed in Alabama, as tornadoes continue to batter the southern US state.

The deaths were in the small town of Oatchee in Calhoun County, the local emergency agency said, as the storm damaged houses and uprooted trees.

The tornadoes later hit Chilton County and were nearing Shelby Country.

"I urge all folks in the path of these tornadoes and storm systems to remain on high alert," Governor Kay Ivey said. "The day is not over yet."

"Do not wait to see the tornado! If you are in its path, take shelter now!" the

National Weather Service tweeted.

Social media users posted dramatic footage of the fast-moving tornadoes wreaking havoc in Alabama.

In 2019, more than 20 people - including three children - died after two tornadoes caused extensive damage to buildings and roads in eastern Alabama.

First Lady Jill Biden has cancelled a planned trip to the state with actress Jennifer Garner due to the storms. Mrs Biden had been due to be in Birmingham to discuss the benefits of the newly-passed COVID relief package. (Excerpt from BBC News)

uals” near the city of Sohag, about 500km (260 miles) south of the capital Cairo.

The brakes caused one of the trains to stop and the other to crash into it from behind, and the authority is conducting further investigations, it said.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to punish those responsible for the deadly wreck.

“Anyone who caused this painful accident through negligence or corruption, or anything similar, must receive a deterrent punishment without exception or delay,” el-Sisi said on Twitter.

El-Sisi told Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to head to the site of the crash with the Ministers of Health and Social Solidarity, state television reported.

Middle East analyst Yehia Ghanem said the punishment for low-level employees, as has occurred in the past, fails to address the structural problems with Egypt’s massive and decaying rail system.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China, Iran expected to sign 25-year accord, Iranian state media says

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi

C

hinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Iran on Friday for a visit that Iranian state media said would see the signing of a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two countries, which are both under US sanctions.

The accord, final details of which are yet to be announced, is expected to include Chinese investments in Iran’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

In 2016, China, Iran’s largest trading partner and long-time ally, agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than 10 times to $600 billion in the next decade.

“The signing of the comprehensive cooperation programme of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People’s Republic of China by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries is another programme of this twoday trip,” state news agency IRNA said.

Iran is hardening its stance towards the United

States and the European parties to Tehran’s 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

“This document is a complete roadmap with strategic political and economic clauses covering trade, economic and transportation cooperation ... with a special focus on the private sectors of the two sides,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told state TV. On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry said Beijing will make efforts to safeguard the Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of SinoIranian relations.

China made the comments after Reuters reported that Iran has ”indirectly” moved record volumes of oil into China in recent months, marked as supplies from other countries, even as China customs data showed that no Iranian oil was imported in the first two months of this year.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

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A change takes you in a direction that promises a better lifestyle. Don't let someone else's decision lead you down the wrong path.

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Put your energy where it counts. Explore opportunities that excite you. Share your plans with a loved one, and you'll come up with a schedule that allows you to spend more time together.

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Head in a direction that (Feb. 20March 20) is less stressful and aligns you with people who share your goals. Financial and domestic changes will pay off.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

21

BCB invites applications for maiden Vitality Inc Upper Corentyne educational scholarship T he proactive Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) had, at the start of 2021, committed to providing educational scholarships for cricketers in the four major sub areas in the county. BCB President Hilbert Foster had stated then that his board would obtain sponsorship for scholarships for youths in West Berbice, New Amsterdam / Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne.

The BCB has already given a one-year educational scholarship worth $200,000 to Naeem Khan from the Lower Corentyne area. And 8 students from the New Amsterdam/Canje sub-zone have benefited from educational grants.

These programmes have been sponsored by Agriculture Minister Zulficar Mustapha and West Indies player Shimron

Hetmyer respectively.

The board has now obtained the support of Mr Sureain Sawh of Vitality Inc, an overseas-based Guyanese company which recently opened a branch in the Ramnaresh Sarwan Mall located at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The company would be donating $200,000 dollars towards a one-year grant to a cricketer attending the University of Guyana. The funds would be used towards the payment of the cricketer’s student fees at the University.

The BCB is therefore inviting players in the area to apply for the first ever BCB/ Vitality educational scholarship. An interested person must be living in the #43 Village to Moleson Creek catchment area, and must be an active member of one of the 26 clubs in

Mr Sureain Sawh and Directors of Vitality Inc

the Upper Corentyne area.

Applications must be submitted by April 15 to the BCB office in Charlotte

Narsingh Deonarine elated with performance at Legends tourney

F

ormer Guyana and West Indies middle-order batsman Narsingh Deonarine is elated with his performance at the recently concluded Road Safety World T20 series in India.

According to the 37-year-old elegant lefthander, he was indeed delighted to be selected, and churned out two half-centuries.

Deonarine represented West Indies Legends, captained by the legendary Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman Brian Lara. West Indies were knocked out by India Legends, who became the eventual six-nation champions at the semi-final stage.

Deonarine, who featured in 18 Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals, had scores of 2, 53 not out, and 59. His first innings came up against Sri Lanka Legends, while his second was against England Legends, and then the Sachin Tendulkar-led Indian side.

He has said he was more than happy to play the game competitively against some retired distinguished international players.

“I was happy to be called for this tournament. I must thank my

family for supporting me and giving me that confidence and motivation to go out and perform. Because of my son’s passion for the game, and I had wanted him to see me play again, I was highly motivated,” Deonarine informed.

Deonarine mentioned that he was extremely proud to know his son Dariel got the opportunity to watch him play on television live and in a tournament of this magnitude. “ I f e e l v e r y proud of my accomp l i s h - ment and the fact that my son Dariel was able to see me play cricket with the legends. The tournament was highly competitive, and of course we competed to win the championship,” the USbased Deonarine related.

M a h e n d r a Nagamootoo, a veteran leg-spinner, was the other Guyanese

in the squad. The tournament is expected to be an annual affair.

Narsingh Deonarine

Street at New Amsterdam.

The application must include proof that the applicant is a student at the uni-

versity, their CSEC results, two recommendations along with a letter from a cricket club in the area confirming

membership. In the event that a suitable candidate is not found, the funds would be distributed to 8 cricketers attending secondary schools.

Foster, who was elected President of the BCB in 2018, has made it quite clear he strongly believes that all cricketers in the county must make education a top priority in life, as not every one of them would succeed on the cricket field.

He has also constantly stated that an educated mind thinks faster in moments of crisis.

Over the last three years, hundreds of cricketers have received educational materials, school bags, bicycles, and financial assistance towards their educational careers. The BCB is shortly expected to announce plans to assist cricketers in the West Berbice area with educational grants.

Young Matthew Nandu lands Adidas endorsement through Cricket Zone USA

E

merging Guyanese batsman Matthew Rohan Nandu has become the latest Brand Ambassador of Cricket Zone USA, landing a two-year endorsement deal with global sport brand Adidas.

Cricket Zone USA, North America’s largest cricket retail store, has been on a mission to sign Guyanese talents over the years, with 17-year-old Nandu joining a list that already includes opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, all-rounders Romario Shepherd and Kevin Sinclair, and middle-order batsman Kevlon Anderson.

On Thursday (March 25), Nandu, a national Under-17 batsman, received a full Adidas kit from Cricket Zone USA, which is owned by Guyanese entrepreneur and sports enthusiast Ravi Etwaroo.

Alfred Madray, who made the presentation on behalf of the company, said Etwaroo is passionate about the sport and developing young talents, especially those in his homeland.

Etwaroo is of the belief that Nandu has a bright future in the sport, and he thinks signing the young man was a no-brainer.

He advised the youth to remain steadfast to his goals, tread the path of discipline, and remain grounded regardless of the success that

Young batsman Matthew Nandu (right) receiving the gear from Alfred Madray, a representative of Cricket Zone USA (Photo: Richard Jagdeo)

may come his way.

Young Matthew Nandu is one of the brightest young batting talents in Guyana; and the left-hander, who speaks with a level of confidence and maturity that belies his age, has his eyes set on one day playing international cricket.

His parents, who now reside in Canada, lived two houses away from the legendary Guyana and West Indies batsman Rohan Kanhai at Port Mourant, Berbice, and naming their son after the cricketing great seemed the natural thing to do.

It is their hope that he would achieve the level of greatness Kanhai had managed to achieve. Matthew himself takes inspiration from legendary pair

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara.

On receiving the endorsement, Matthew said: “I’m speechless. I’m thankful for the support. I especially want to thank Ravi for seeing my talent and wanting to support me.”

Matthew’s father Arjune played youth and senior cricket for Guyana, and also represented West Indies Youth side in a brief career between 1988 and 1992.

The elder Nandu expressed gratitude to Etwaroo and Cricket Zone USA for their benevolence towards his son, and noted that he has been instilling in the youngster the traits of discipline, commitment and hard work, which are so crucial to success in the sport.

22 Raffik Construction, Asphalt and T/R Construction on board BCB 2021 cricket season T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to attract sponsorship for its cricket tournaments.

The vibrant cricket board has plans to hosts about 40 tournaments at the different levels, and has already successfully completed 18 finals over the last two months. All of the tournaments are been played under the Government of Guyana COVID-19 guidelines.

On Thursday last, the BCB officially launched another two tournaments for teams in the Lower/Central Corentyne area. The first was the 4th edition of the Raffik Construction 100 balls second division tournament. The second is the Premium Asphalt

and TR Construction 20/20 second division tournament.

Both tournaments would be played among teams in the Lower Corentyne area, and they form part of the BCB internal zone programme. BCB President Hilbert Foster has committed the board to organising a minimum of three tournaments every year for each of the five zones - West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower/Central Corentyne, Upper Corentyne and Berbice River.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell are defending champions of the Raffik Cup, while Rose Hall Town Tigers are defending champions of the Premium Asphalt/TR Construction 20/20 title. The

Y

The Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament is in its third edition.

Parsuram Arjune, sponsor of the tournament, has said, “The Survival Group of (Companies) is here to stay. This is the third year

LGC Secretary Guy Bowling; LGC Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Pandit Ravindranauth Persaud; Co-owner of Survival Business Group, Parsuram Arjune; and LGC Vice President Paton George

mat of play will be Stroke Play among individuals across 18 holes. Prizes will be up for grabs for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers, and the sponsorship value is a total of $150,000.

of the tournament, but we will continue. We are very happy to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club, and we look forward to doing so in the years to come. Golf is a community sport that unites communi-

Mr Therbuwan Jadgeo of TR Construction handing over sponsorship to BCB PRO Simon Naidu

BCB President expressed gratitude to both sponsors for coming on board, and reassured them that both tournaments would be well organ-

ties and individuals, so please come out and support. It is a Phagwah tournament, but it is not only for Hindus, so let’s come out and have fun.”

Pandit Ravi also thanked Parsuram Arjune for the continued support of his business for golf in Guyana. He reminded the public that the LGC is compliant with regulations of the National COVID-19 Task Force.

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling has said the Survival Group of Companies is a household name that is fulfilling its corporate social responsibility of giving back to school children and the young ones in golf, and to the sport of golf as a whole, since golf is a family sport.

The Survival Group of Companies is about families, so this tournament represents them well. The major sponsor of this tournament is the Survival Business Group.

CWI to hold 22nd Annual General Meeting on Sunday, March 28

S

Anand Sanasie and Calvin Hope

T JOHN’S, Antigua – This Sunday, March 28, is the day set for Cricket West Indies (CWI) to hold its 22nd Annual General Meeting in respect to the financial year ended September 30, 2020.

Due to the continuing travel-related effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will again take place virtually via video conference, as was done in a COVID-19 delayed meeting last year.

It is also the day when incumbent CWI President Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr. Kishore Shallow will

Ricky Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow

face challenges from Anand Sanasie of the Guyana Cricket Board and Calvin Hope of the Barbados Cricket Association respectively, for the leadership of the organisation over the next two-year term.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt has said: “All arrangements are in place for a productive Annual General Meeting. This is not the first time that CWI is hosting a virtual AGM, but it will be the first time that our leadership elections will take place virtually. We have everything in place to ensure a proper and

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LGC Survival Phagwah Golf tourney to tee off at 11:00 hrs today

et again, the Lusignan Golf Club will come alive as the annual Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament is hosted today.

The tournament will tee off at 11:00 hrs, and the for-

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constructive meeting.”

Shareholder members are slated to receive reports from the Cricket, Commercial and Finance Committees and, for the first time, audited financial statements which will be consolidated to reflect CWI’s acquisition of, and interest in, the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

A copy of the 2019/20 audited financial statements and the Annual Report will be made available to all stakeholders via CWI’s website http://www.windiescricket. com – from Monday, March 29.

BCB PRO Simon Naidu receiving sponsorship from a representative of Raffik Construction Berbice cricket powised and would be completed within three months, once erhouses Albion and the the weather does not inter- RHTY&SC would be debarred from the 20/20 tournavene.

He spoke of the impor- ment, but would play in the tance of second division crick- Raffik Construction 100 balls et in the county, as it allows tournament. Foster disclosed the younger players to play that this is part of the effort with more seasoned ones, to allow smaller clubs opporwhile providing opportunities tunity to win a BCB title.

Teams would be allowed to the older players to still be to play two first division playinvolved in the game.

Close to 100 clubs in the ers per match, while any playcounty play at the second di- er below the age of 23 would vision level in Berbice, with not be considered a first divi24 in the Lower/Central sion player.

All teams are also warned Corentyne area.

Among the clubs slated to that all of their players have play in the two tournaments to be attired in whites, and are Kennard Memorial, only Berbicians would be alKildonan, Ramnarine lowed to play in the tournaMemorial, Whim, Tain ments.

Additionally, teams and Block Four, Port Mourant, Hampshire, Sand Reef, players are expected to folFyrish, Courtland, Chesney, low the COVID-19 guidelines No I Road, Belvedere United, laid down by the BCB, or they Nigg Intruders, Jai Hind, and would face disciplinary actions.

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Essequibo cricket update…

Reliance Hustlers beat Aurora in quarter-final action

R

eliance Hustlers got the better of Aurora Knight Riders in one of the quarter-final matches of the 2020 South and Central Essequibo Cricket Committees T20 tournament, played on Sunday at the Imam Bacchus venue in Region Two. Aurora Knight Riders won the toss and opted to take first knock. The decision backfired, as they could manage to post only 82-7 at the expiration of their 20 overs. It was insufficient, as Reliance Hustlers, in reply, safely reached the target in the 15th over, and lost only three wickets in the process.

Former national youth player Norwayne Fredericks and ex-Essequibo senior inter-county batsman Ravi Beharry were the only two Aurora Knight Riders players to make an impression with the bat, each posting 25 runs.

Off-spinner Narendra Madholall captured three wickets for 10 runs from four economical overs, to help kept things tight on a responsive track. Off-break bowler skipper Travis Simon was also among the wickets with 2-13 in his maximum four-over spell.

2237230-1

(Ext 55) Narendra Madholall

When Reliance Hustlers commenced their innings, Narendra Madholall, younger sibling of former national youth players Rovendra and the late Shivnandan Madholall, hit 23 not out to complete a fine all-round display.

Earlier in the innings, Anthony Ifill led the way with 26, while ex-Guyana under-19 batsman Rovindra Parasram contributed 22.

Meanwhile, the semi-final showdowns are billed for April 11. Hustlers will collide with Queenstown, while Rising Stars Sports Club and Bacchus Bulls will lock horns.

The championship game is slated for the following week, with the third-place encounter preceding that on the same day.

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Maximo urges fans to remain strong, vows Jaguars willtodo betterstrong, Maximo urges fans remain – Cox says team learning from their mistakes vows – Maximo &Jaguars Cox seeking to amendwill mistakes do better

T

he Golden Jaguars suffered a horrendous 3-0 loss to the Soca Warriors on Thursday March 25 in the Dominican Republic, but although Captain of the Jaguars side, Sam Cox, and Head Coach Marcio Maximo are gravely disappointed, they yet believe the Jags will bounce back when they tackle the Bahamas on March 30.

Maximo noted that while many may have questions on the structure of the team, he was not unhappy with the way they played. In spite of the team creating chances, the Head Coach admitted, they were not able to capitalise on those opportunities presented before them.

“Of course, we are disappointed! The score did not reflect what we saw in the game.

If you see the full 90 minutes, the team was composed and tactical. But sometimes we make primary mistakes in the crucial times of the games; you would have to pay the price. But generally, the team competed at a high level.

“I repeat: the score doesn’t reflect what the team put in the game, as we were composed and organised. We are part of a transition process; you can’t keep the same group for 2 to 4 years. It’s my responsibility, as I have the GFF and players’ support, sometimes we play bad, but it’s all part of the process. While it is sad that we lost, we encourage them to learn from their mistakes.”

23

Golden Jaguars Captain, Sam Cox

Maximo noted that the team would henceforth be analysed, as he would be looking into things such as the overview of the game, and not only the result. Hence, he will focus on the next game, and learn from their mistakes, as they have three more games to play.

Captain of the side, Sam Cox, humbly apologised to the Jaguars’ supporters, as he related that the team knew how important the game was to all Guyanese across the world. Cox reiterated that play in the first 45 minutes of the game was not good enough, and the entire team is hurt and disappointed.

Cox also said, “We’ve got Tuesday night to bounce back.

We are looking forward to amend that game as, at the end of the day, no words can atone for what happened on Thursday.

They exploited us, and we did have chances, but if you concede the goals we did, then we didn’t deserve to win that match. We could have scored a couple… goals, but we have to recognise our shortcomings, as we have to be better and adjust them, learning from our mistakes.”

Midfield queries?

At the end of the game, many fans had had questions about the centre midfield selection of the Jaguars, which consisted of Daniel Wilson and Sam Cox, and the selection of debutant Miguel Scarlett who plays right back position.

Here’s what Maximo said: “It

encounter with the Bahamas, as they are another team, and they would have to take another approach in terms of their strategies.

The Golden Jaguars will face Bahamas on Tuesday

is our job to analyze the players.

Cox’s team plays him midfield since sometime, and Wilson trains together, so that’s why at regular time I optioned for both in the midfield. Also, in the case of Scarlett, he is an offensive winger that would have opened the corridor, so our analysis was correct. I am satisfied. I did not like the results, but the team was organised.”

Adjustments to midfield in the future?

Further, Maximo went on to say that the two teams were compact, as there wasn’t any space in between the midfield.

He noted that it wasn’t only Guyana that played like this, but

Head Coach Marcio Maximo

Trinidad as well, hence heading into Tuesday’s encounter, the team needs to recognise their mistakes when moving forward.

He also noted that if one were to analyse the game, the

local side had 3-4 chances to score when the game was 0-0, but Trinidad capitalised.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars Head Coach noted that the team needs to prepare for its

Maximo’s message to Guyana Maximo reiterated that it is his belief that the team did not put on a bad game, and while they could have done better, they must learn to reflect on their mistakes. He noted that while the game wasn’t perfect, there are things they can do to be better, and he believes that everybody did their best.

“We are in a transition phase, as mention, and we have to work on the program.

Look at Venezuela, they came to Guyana and lost 7-0, but look at them now. They maintained their programme and they are the perfect example. For Guyana, we improve our local players and foreign players, and interchange between them as that is our main objective.

“We should have patience.

It’s just not to have a team of winners overnight, but rather, we need time to do it. We must focus on that programme, and I am sure that it will be a success.” Maximo opined.

Further, he stated that the people of Guyana should not lose hope, as it is all a part of football; and while the results were not positive, the Jaguars will focus on the next game as they recover from their loss and come even stronger that the last game.

Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes decimate India to level series – England win with 39 balls to spare; reduce Rahul, Pant knocks to footnotes

D

espite suffering a collapse of 10 for 116 to bungle a chase of 318 in the first ODI, England captain Eoin Morgan had insisted there was no reason for the world champions to veer away from the turbo-charged approach that has served them well.

Three days later - Morgan wasn't available for the second match, he has been ruled out of the third too, with a hand injury - Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow epitomised that approach to help England mow down a bigger target of 337 with almost 40 balls to spare.

Jason Roy also did his thing at the top, as England reduced KL Rahul's more sedate century in the first half to a footnote.

Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya had exploded in the end overs for India, but overall, they couldn't match up to England's sustained aggression. While India hit 34 boundaries in their entire innings, England ticked past that mark in the 34th over of the chase. By then the asking rate had plummeted to less than five an over.

India's left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya bore the brunt of the Stokes-Bairstow assault, con-

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow shared a thrilling 175-run partnership as England chased down 337 to beat India in the second ODI

ceding 0 for 156 runs between them in 16 overs.

Stokes, Bairstow and Jos Buttler all fell in the space of eight balls, but debutant Liam Livingstone and Dawid Malan, who was playing his second ODI, completed England's drubbing of India to set up a decider on Sunday.

It was Roy who made the early running for England, tucking into Prasidh Krishna's short balls and swatting him for a triptych of pulled fours in the sixth over.

Roy followed it with back-toback fours off Bhuvneshwar Kumar; by the end of the powerplay he claimed 39 of the 59 runs England had scored. He notched up his first half-century of the tour when he

hauled a Yadav wrong 'un over long-on for six.

Bairstow, becalmed in the early exchanges, sailed to his own fifty with a flurry of boundaries. He forged his 13th century partnership with Roy, which is now the most by any English pair.

It needed a moment of brilliance from Rohit Sharma in the field to separate the duo.

He swooped down to his right from midwicket to capitalise on a mix-up and run Roy out for 55 off 52 balls.

Then Stokes entered. He was a bit of a non-starter in the first ODI (1 off 11 balls). He had started in skittish fashion in the second, too, padding up to a wrong 'un from Yadav, although it wasn't threaten-

ing the stumps. Krunal then drew an outside edge from Stokes, but there wasn't anyone at slip to snaffle that. All of this was a red herring, with Stokes revving up to smash 84 off a combined 33 balls from Yadav and Krunal, including ten sixes. Only Morgan and stand-in captain Buttler have struck more sixes for England in an ODI innings.

After Stokes got to his fifty off 40 balls, he went 6,6,6,1,6,4,2,6,6,2,4, but fell just short of a hundred, with Kumar having him caught behind down the leg side.

Bairstow, however, had brought up his hundred in the same manner as he had raised his fifty: with a towering six off Yadav.

After India were inserted again, Rahul had made a contrasting hundred, collecting 68 of his 108 runs through singles and doubles. He cautiously navigated the spinners, and it was only after passing fifty that he hit over the top.

Likewise, Virat Kohli accumulated in risk-free fashion after the hosts had dawdled to 41 for the loss of openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in the powerplay. On Tuesday,

India had two fewer runs in that period for the loss of no wicket, but such a cagey start hadn't hurt them then.

It did come back to bite them on Friday, despite a 28-ball half-century from Pant and a 16-ball 35 from Hardik.

Reece Topley, who was playing only his second ODI since 2016, was particularly impressive with the new ball, often landing it on the seam and gleaning substantial movement and bounce off the pitch. After hitting an awkward in-between length against Dhawan, h e pushed o n e across him from a fulle r

length to have him nicking off for 4 off 17 balls.

Rohit, who had got out chasing what might have been an off-wide wide from Stokes in the first match, tickled a leg-stump half-volley from Sam Curran straight to short fine leg in the second.

Moeen Ali, who has had a rough winter, put in a decent shift, returning 0 for 47 in his 10 overs. He gave up only one boundary in his spell, but that was down to a fumble from Stokes at extra-cover.

As for Adil Rashid, he cut short Kohli's innings at 66, besting him for the ninth time in international cricket.

Rashid could have got him much earlier - when Kohli was on 35 - had Buttler not Jonny Bairstow closed his gloves too early. The keeper's error allowed Kohli to add 31 to his tally before the subsequent correction brought Pant to the crease.

The left-hander closed out Rashid's spell with a powerful slog-swept six over midwicket. Pant went on a six-hitting spree, but the lack of urgency from the top four and England's own six-hitting spree meant it was in vain. (ESPNcricinfo)

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021

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

Maximo

Pg 23

to remain strong, vows will do better

– Cox says team learning from their mistakes – Maximo & Cox seeking to amend mistakes

Hero CPL goes virtual with launch of new Esports gaming series on April 2 T he Hero Caribbean Premier League will be launching an exciting new content series, the Hero CPL Esports League, featuring professional cricketers from around the world playing Cricket 19, the leading cricket console game.

This is the first time a T20 franchise tournament has had an Esports competition with the cricketers representing their franchise, as the Hero CPL continues to push the boundaries of engagement with their fans.

When released next week, this fun and engaging series will bring the reality of T20 cricket, but with a big difference – the players will be controlling virtual versions of themselves, and instead of just having their own game to worry about, they would be in charge of all of their teammates.

“The Hero CPL is always looking to engage fans in different ways, and this is another example of us innovating. This series is another first for a tournament

Leading console game Cricket 19

that prides itself on being at the cutting edge of entertainment, and we are very excited about seeing the re-

action from our fans as they see these CPL stars show off their competitive skills in a virtual tournament,”

said Hero CPL COO Pete Russell.

The players taking part are Colin Munro playing as the Trinbago Knight Riders, Mitchell Santner representing Barbados Tridents, Andre Fletcher and Kesrick Williams playing as St Lucia Zouks, Sheldon Cottrell and Ish Sodhi representing St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Nicholas Pooran and Ashmead Nedd representing the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Glenn Phillips and Ryan Persaud representing Jamaica Tallawahs. At the end of the competition, an individual champion would be crowned as the first winner of the virtual Hero CPL. “It is really exciting to be involved in this new competition, and it didn’t take long for my competitive instincts to kick in. One of the great things about the CPL is that they are always trying something new, and it was great to be involved in the first franchise Esports League,” Munro said.

This series will give Hero CPL fans and gamers alike the opportunity to get behind their favourite players and teams once again as they take on their rivals in this groundbreaking gaming format. They will be able to see and hear the passion these players have when they are competing, with a controller in their hands rather than a bat and ball.

The shows are hosted by Gautam Bhimani and Alex Jordan, who bring you all the action during this hard-fought tournament.

This content series is being supported by Hero MotoCorp Limited (HMCL), the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, who have been the

title sponsors of the Hero Caribbean Premier League since 2015.

Hero has long been a key partner of marquee sporting events - including cricket, soccer, field hockey and golf - in India and across the globe, and this partnership sees them also venturing into the ever-growing Esports arena.

Episode one will go live on 2 April 2021 (1 pm GMT, 6:30 pm IST, 9 am ECT) on Hero CPL’s YouTube and Facebook channels, and the series will also be shown with selected broadcasters.

(Sportsmax)

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