Guyana Times - Saturday May 1, 2021

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

Issue No. 4634

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

Workers can look forward to economic security, improved living standards – President Ali Page 3

− says time to unify Trade Union Movement Missing Linden woman

Sister leads detectives to shallow grave almost 1 month after witnessing murder

− Police issue wanted bulletin for boyfriend − as sister, suspect’s father taken into custody

Wanted boyfriend: Shaquawn Alleyne

Youths are future of Trade Unionism in Guyana – GAWU’s Poorandat Narine

22% of Guyana’s COVID cases were recorded in April …death toll stands at 296, Page 177 new cases recorded in 24h 7

Man who fell to death on Regent Street

Family pleads for assistance to bury dead construction worker

− says no one reached out to them to offer assistance

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Not holding P18 LGE “a recipe for riots” – AFC ...even though Govt has given commitment

Pyramid scheme mastermind slapped with 15 additional fraud P20 charges

Page 14

Dead: Shonette Dover

Page 21

PRICE

Page 17

Tuschen man faces retrial for Anna Catherina triple P16 murder 3rd person arraigned for murder of P8 Anglican priest

Ruimveldt carwash murder

6 months later, 3rd suspect P21 still at large

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, May 1 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Sunday, May 2 – 10:00h – 11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Workers can look forward to economic security, improved living standards – President Ali – says time to unify trade union movement

Saturday, May 1 – 07:15h – 08:45h and Sunday, May 2 – 09:10h – 09:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be light rain showers during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 07:18h and 19:57h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.36 metres.

Low Tide: 13:26h reaching a minimum height of 0.62.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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President Irfaan Ali

W

ith Guyana on the cusp of massive transformation, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured the working population that they will benefit from economic security and prosperity as well as improved standards of living.

He made this remark in this address to the nation to commemorate Labour Day, which is celebrated today.

“My Government is committed to ensuring a better life for all workers. Our workers deserve this! Over the next five years and beyond, workers can look forward to greater economic security, enhanced economic prosperity and progressive improvements in citizens’ living standards,” Ali said.

According to the Head of State, Labour Day is a time for recognition and commendation of the superlative contributions of Guyana’s working men and women.

“Our workers are most indispensable to national development. They provide the brain and muscle of our economy.

Workers are the prime force in transforming our resources into wealth. They help drive and sustain economic growth and are the protagonists of human development. Without workers, our economy would grind to a halt,” he asserted.

In fact, the President went on to say that while the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has inflicted grievous harm to the global economy, workers around the world have borne the brunt of the global downturn resulting from the pandemic. Employment shrunk as hundreds of millions of workers were hurled onto the breadline.

Guyana, he said, has not been immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as the country’s economy was also adversely affected. However, the Head of State said that his Administration, since coming into office nine months ago, has taken and will continue to take steps to protect workers and their families.

“We have provided relief to households. We have offered incentives to frontline workers.

We are safeguarding our people’s health through an aggressive vaccination campaign. We have removed the heavy burdens of taxation which were previously imposed on our citizens. We are defending workers’ rights. We are innovatively supporting the education of workers’ children, and we are adopting measures to protect jobs,” he stated.

But according to President Ali, Government cannot do this all alone. He said the Administration needs the support of employers and workers in order to overcome this deadly pandemic.

“We must all band together to ride out this storm – to ensure a quick exit from the pandemic, to restore economic normalcy, and then to move dynamically onward to catapulting our econ-

omy to higher heights of performance. This is the time when all are called to make sacrifices and contributions to protect all of our citizens and to ensure a rapid recovery from the effects of the pandemic. This is not the time for squabbling or confrontation,” he contended.

Against this backdrop, the President outlined that when it comes to workers’ interests, the objectives of unions and the Government are the same.

“We have a common interest because we seek a freer, safer, more united and prosperous country, where every worker benefit and where his or her children can be assured of greater opportunities. Every worker, whether in the formal or informal sectors, whether employed in the traditional or newly emerging sectors or engaged in the private or public sector, has a critical role to play in helping to navigate our economic recovery and advancing economic growth and development,” the Head of State stressed.

As he joined with workers and their unions across Guyana to celebrate Labour Day today, President Ali reminded that “The Government of Guyana salutes all workers and their representative organisations. We urge that the celebration of this year’s May Day, subdued as it is because of the pandemic, be an occasion for sober reflection, assessment and forward planning, and a time to recommit to the ideals of the unity of the trade union movement. Long live the workers of Guyana! Solidarity forever!”

For the second year in a row, the observation of Labour Day will be a sober one owning the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has been ravaging countries around the world. In Guyana, there has been a sharp spike in the number of positive cases and deaths recorded from the pandemic with the month of April accounting for the highest figures seen since the outbreak of the deadly virus here last year.

To date, Guyana has recorded over 13,200 confirmed

COVID-19 cases and some 296 deaths.

Normally, every year on Labour Day, hundreds of work-

ers are decked out in red, carrying banners as they march along the streets of Guyana to show solidarity for workers’ rights.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 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

Labour Day under COVID-19 shadow

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abour Day”, today, is a special public holiday set aside for the workers of Guyana to reflect on their condition and to bring their concerns to the rest of the populace.

This year, like last year, Labour Day comes at a time when millions around the world are facing the same fate as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The disruption to Guyana’s economy, and more so the world’s economies, caused by this pandemic has wiped out jobs or reduced working hours to the equivalent of 255 million jobs, the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) said earlier this year. This “massive impact”, the ILO said, was nearly four times the number lost during the 2009 global financial crisis.

Lockdown measures across the globe are, no doubt, having devastating consequences on labour markets. As a matter of fact, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) Director-General Guy Ryder had previously warned that “this is the greatest test for international cooperation in more than 75 years.”

With the end of the pandemic being nowhere in sight, a report by the ILO has reminded us of the massive economic and social impacts the virus is having, and will continue to have, on almost every aspect of human existence, especially as it relates to the world’s workforce.

The COVID-19 impact on the world is the “worst global crisis since the Second World War,” the ILO head had said, adding that workers and businesses are facing catastrophe in both developed and developing economies.

In a report, the ILO had stressed the need to uphold labour rights and strengthen health protection, but also the need for fiscal and monetary responses to support the most affected sectors and vulnerable people, including financial assistance for enterprises. To quote the ILO Head, “We have to move fast, decisively, and together. The right urgent measures could make the difference between survival and collapse.” Generally, unemployment and poverty are two of the main challenges that countries, both developed and developing, face.

Locally, COVID-19 has affected thousands of workers – some of whom are either on a pay cut, fully unemployed, or are working from home. Workers in the informal sector and small and medium-size enterprises will no doubt be facing the blunt of the impact, and will certainly need income support to survive and put basic food on their tables. Thus, the COVID-19 cash grant implemented by the Dr Irfaan Ali administration was most welcome to Guyanese.

We agree with President Ali who, in his Labour Day message, said Guyana’s workers are most indispensable to national development, and added that “they provide the brain and muscle of our economy. Workers are the prime force in transforming our resources into wealth. They help drive and sustain economic growth, and are the protagonists of human development. Without workers, our economy would grind to a halt.”

Today, the trade unions that represent the interests of labour will not be marching in the streets to show their solidarity; but, nonetheless, they, too, need to step forward and address measures that would help the thousands of workers whom they represent, and who diligently pay their union dues. Not much has been said by the Unions as to what tangible aid/support they have been giving to the thousands that pay their dues to them. While there is indeed representation for increases in salaries for workers by the Unions, we agree with the Head of State when he said: “This is not the time for squabbling or confrontation.”

As we observe Labour Day today, let us ponder on the words of ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in his 2021 message: “Solidarity is key to our common survival and prosperity, within borders and across borders. As we deal with today’s crisis and look to the future, one thing is clear: we need a human-centred recovery, with justice and equity, a recovery that is sustainable and inclusive of all.”

Happy Labour Day!

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, was on Thursday paid a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana and Plenipotentiary Representative to Caricom, HE Jose Omar Hurtado Contreras. The visiting delegation included Luis Alejandro Gonzales Alcerreca, Luis Carlos Gomez Arechiga, Alejandro Saucedo Avila, Luis Alejandro Munoz Burgos and Juan Jose Martinez Jimenezvv

Get Mr Norton and his colleagues to change, or change them out Dear Editor, Please allow me a response to that letter from Aubrey Norton, entitled “All must oppose the creeping economic apartheid in Guyana”, which appears in the Kaieteur News of Monday, April 24, 2021.

In that letter, Mr Norton continues his thoughtless and uncontrolled statements which can kindle fears, suspicions, and insecurities among all Guyanese, particularly at this time Afro-Guyanese and others who support the PNC/R/APNU+AFC. The PPP, from its inception, has been aware that such fears, suspicions and insecurities would arise naturally in a country with a population composed like ours; and from its beginning, the PPP/ PPP/C has been striving to bring together people from all groups in Guyana, to work together at building our country. In that process, we would grow and develop ourselves, and create the experiences and bonds which would, in time, be the substance of the overarching sense of being Guyanese of Guyana.

It is easy for Mr Norton to make those charges of discrimination, marginalisation, economic genocide and economic apartheid, but he does so at significant cost to our people and country as a whole; and, more so, those reckless accusations sap the enthusiasm, initiative, and application of PNC/R/APNU+AFC supporters – Afro-Guyanese and others.

Those declarations made

by Mr Norton on Social Media had come to notice on April 12th, and on April 14th, on the sidelines of the installation of the Local Government Commission, H.E. President Irfaan Ali addressed those reckless charges.

In the abovementioned letter, Mr Norton claims the President has gone quiet since he provided evidence of PPP racism. I checked with the Office of the President, but did not find any such submission.

Mr Norton’s charges: that, quote: “The PPP’s action of depriving African Guyanese and Indigenous communities of the resources to develop small and medium-sized businesses, and focusing them on handouts and the development of playing fields and sport, in general, is a clear path to creating dependent and marginalised African and Indigenous communities while the PPP gets richer and dominates and controls our society”, would have been amusing grand-standing and posturing were they not so dangerous, playing to the still ever-present emotional fears and suspicions in the minds of all our people, within and without our country. If only five percent of his intended audience were to be galvanised by those reckless accusations, our Guyana would be plunged into another period of troubles.

Our PPP Government’s programmes for sports, games, playing fields, scholarships, and assistance to small and medium-sized

businesses are publicised in the media, and are available to all our citizens. And the Government has been going further: Ministers have been going out across the country to bring attention to them. Minister Juan Edghill was in Kwakwani and Linden last week, telling about the 20,000 online scholarships; and, this weekend, he and the Minister of Public Service would be leading teams to those locations to register interests and receive applications.

With respect to small and medium-scale businesses, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce last February held training sessions in Linden for people from more than 200 businesses, and are processing 50-plus applications for grants. The fact that Region 10 is largely Afro-Guyanese, overwhelmingly voting for the PNC unto now, has been in no way deterring our provision of what our Government has to give our citizens of that Region.

Concerning his allegations that this PPP/C Government has been taking away land “legally” acquired by Afro-Guyanese and supporters of the APNU+AFC, the PPP had stated repeatedly that subsequent to the NCM of December 21st, 2018, and more so after March 02, 2020, the Coalition Government had no authority to transact new business. We have put the transactions of that period under review, and most have been allowed to continue.

This PPP/C Government could not, and would not, want to take away any property fully legally acquired.

There were a number of sales that were attempted to be completed in a great hurry, with little or no cash transfers, and in some cases without the knowledge of the beneficiaries. A number of those beneficiaries have entered a return–reverse and start-over procedure.

We are firstly for growth and development of all; resolution and regularisation, not “take-away”, has been the direction of this PPP/C Government.

Mr. Norton raises again the question of the PPP treating bauxite and sugar differently, which I have responded to a number of times before; and he paints the proposed short, direct, quick Bartica-to-Timehri trail link as a bypass of Linden and de-emphasising of the Linden-Lethem road.

He completely ignores the publicised costly asphalt surfacing of the LindenMabura section, which is to commence.

Concerning the bauxite issues, we, the PPP/C Government, can say again with a clear conscience that we have treated bauxite and bauxite communities equitably. Coming into Office in 1992, we inherited covenants committed to by the outgoing PNC, which in 1994 required us to cease and terminate all Government subsidies to the bauxite sector, and to close it down.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

LABOUR DAY messages

Workers’ contributions have been bedrock of struggles for betterment – PPP

T

raditionally, Labour Day, or May Day as it’s referred to, allows for our nation’s workers to rally in solidarity to celebrate their invaluable contributions to national development, and to use the occasion to voice challenges that are confronting them, as well as rally collectively to address solutions to the same.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, those customary marches and rallies will be absent this year. This is yet another example of the impact the pandemic continues to have on lives all across the world.

However, through technology, mechanisms will allow leaders of trade unions to address workers on related issues and for their voices to be heard.

Our workers are our country’s most valuable asset, and as another Labour Day is upon us, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all of them throughout our dear land. Our Party is cognisant of how they have been impacted by the pandemic, and continues to implement measures, including the COVID cash grant, to mitigate these impacts.

Having returned to government nine months ago, the PPP/C Government continues to work assiduously to ensure that our workers are a priority, and that their lives and conditions continue to be improved.

This recognition is evident by the emphasis and value placed on their welfare by the immediate re-estab-

lishment of the Ministry of Labour upon taking office in August 2020. The PPP firmly believes that mechanisms to engage and represent our workers must not be diluted, and that they must be able to access related services in a structured and holistic manner, as is necessary through a Ministry.

While our Party is aware that there is more to be done, it continues to advance a multifaceted approach to ensure the advancement of our workers.

Very early within this current tenure of Government, burdensome taxes and fees were removed and the education cash grant was restored. To date, thousands of jobs have been created and restored to allow our workers a dignified opportunity to provide for their fam-

Get Mr Norton and his colleagues...

FROM PAGE 4

The PPP/C did not comply, but violated those covenants, and had to find ways that would pass muster to continue subsidies to the bauxite operations and communities until core-partners for their privatization were found – BOSAI and RUSAL - about the mid-2000s. We regretted the disturbances in Aroaima in 2009 and all that followed, which have brought us today to the effective closure of those operations up the Berbice River.

The Union leaders have not been blameless, and must shoulder much of the responsibility for what occurred. Many seemed to think that they were living in the days of the late 1960s and early 1970s, leading up to the nationalisations of the foreign-owned bauxite companies then; when, no doubt with some instigation, they were doing and getting away with a lot that would not normally have been acceptable. It set the stage for the recurring troubles in the bauxite sector after nationalisation.

These are different times. APNU+AFC had let the Aroaima situation stand over the period 2015 to 2020. I know of no new consideration that should lead the PPP/C Government to do differently now.

It is in his clutching at straws in the way he portrays the proposed Barticato-Timehri link that one can discern Mr Norton’s emotional fear of losing out in the growth and development of our people and country.

Both Linden and Bartica are gateways to our hinterland, Linden more to the south and east, Bartica more to the south-west,

west, and north-west; and, indeed, Bartica has the longer, stronger, historical claim to be the gateway.

There is an existing road link between Bartica and Georgetown – a journey that takes about six hours, and covers about 55 miles of trail, one barge crossing, and 65 miles of surfaced road. The proposed BarticaTimehri link, constituted of two barge crossings, about 28 miles of trail and 25 miles of surfaced road, should provide a shorter journey of about three hours.

The Bartica-Timehri link has been the obvious next step as we develop, in stages, a network of trails and roads across our country.

When the PPP/C left office in 2015, we were leaning towards the installation of new lane- and-a-half-wide, steel and concrete bridges throughout the length of the Linden-Lethem road, including one across the Kurupukari as our next major development. On returning to office in August 2020, we found that the APNU+AFC had chosen the surfacing of the LindenMabura section as their first stage of development, and arrangements were far advanced. The PPP/C chose not to make a change, but have quickly concluded the arrangements for financing this hefty US$190 million project (UK 66 grant + CDB 112 loan+ G-o-G 12), ensuring its early commencement.

Further, even as I was writing this letter, HE President Ali has announced the Government’s commitment to replacing all the existing wooden bridges along the Linden-Lethem

trail with concrete bridges, so that the benefits of the surfaced Linden-to-Mabura section would not be diminished by problems along the Mabura-to-Lethem section.

The PPP is investing a lot in keeping Linden as a gateway, striving to develop the Millie’s Hideout-toWiruni Landing trail and the Kwakwani-to-Oreallato-Moleson Creek trail which has recently been announced.

If Linden and Region 10, Afro-Guyanese Afrocommunities, and supporters of the APNU+AFC do not take part and benefit equitably in the prosperity which the PPP/C is working for, it would be because Mr Norton and other leaders of the PNC – including, most distressingly, young Amanza Walton-Desir and James Bond - have been continuing to play to the natural fears, suspicions and insecurities of their supporters. Their supporters must cause them to change, or change them out.

I understand that a glorious opportunity is at hand.

Miraculous things can and do happen. I think of the two years from 1990 to 1992, when I was asked every day, “Do you think that the PNC will ever allow you and Cheddi to win any election? And if by some miracle Cheddi and the PPP were to win, do you think dem people would ever make you their Prime Minister?”

Those seemingly impossible things did happen.

Sincerely, Samuel A.A. Hinds former President and former Prime Minister

ilies.

Further, access to thousands of scholarships to aid in capacity building, and the implementation of various programmes and policies to improve the social and physical infrastructure are just part of the PPP/C Government’s thrust to better the lives of all of our workers.

Our workers’ contributions have been the bedrock of the struggles for betterment for all, and the development of our nation could not have been realised without them.

The PPP salutes our workers, their resoluteness and innovativeness in advancing our country, and encourages them to remain safe during the pandemic.

Best wishes to them on their day.

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PNCR urges workers to recommit to development of Guyana

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he People’s National Congress extends warmest greetings to workers throughout the country, who continue to contribute to national development as we commemorate Labour Day 2021.

The Trade Union Movement this year will commemorate the centenary of the enactment of the Trades Union Ordinance on 18th June 1921 in British Guiana. A century is a long time in our history.

Guyana applauds the historic achievements of the Trades Union Movement to improve the working and living conditions of workers over the years.

The Labour Movement, despite the progress it has made, however, will be celebrating Labour Day at a time of increasing economic uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic… In addition to the

growing unemployment and under-employment, severe cuts to social services and the rising cost of living have worsened conditions for many ordinary citizens.

The PNC is disappointed with the inhumane treatment meted out to workers, as manifested in the dismissal of hundreds of Public Servants and the administration’s refusal to meet with Public Sector workers’ unions to negotiate wages and salaries for workers…

The PNC takes this opportunity of Labour Day to recognise the efforts of the working people who have toiled in the offices, fields, factories and the services sectors to advance national development.

The PNC urges everyone, especially our workers, to recommit to the development of our great nation on the basis of equality, rights and justice.

It is time for all Guyanese to stand up against racism Dear Editor, Ever since the conclusion of elections last year, we have seen the Coalition taking a stance and labelling the Government as being racist.

However, I am of the view that the biggest racists are the ones who like to point their fingers and call others racists.

The APNU+AFC camp is filled with such people. Time after time again, we see their leaders on social media ridiculing PPP/C supporters as being “trench crapauds”, and yet these same ‘leaders’ have the audacity to claim that they represent all Guyanese. Their behaviour reeks of hypocrisy.

Just recently, Amanza Walton-Desir appeared on a live programme with Dr. David Hinds, and she described PPP/C supporters, the majority of whom are of IndoGuyanese ethnicity, as being “mentally lazy people”. She expressed the view that these supporters find it “burdensome to think for themselves”.

Though she did not explicitly say it, it is anyone’s guess which group of persons she was referring to.

It is becoming evident day after day that many of these so-called leaders within the APNU+AFC hold similar views. Their mindset is one that says that Indians are below them, and are incapable of being independent and critical thinkers. How can these people even claim that they are a party that represents all Guyanese when that is how they view half of the population?

I express my utmost displeasure with WaltonDesir’s comment, and urge

all right-minded Guyanese to do the same. Leaders should be able to guide their people in the right direction. They should have the interest of the people at heart.

Segregating people and having mindsets that place certain groups above others are not good traits. Racism and politics do not go hand in hand.

In my view, the APNU+AFC continues to show its inability to represent itself to Guyana as a progressive party. That is one of its many downfalls.

It is time for all Guyanese to stand up against racism from the very people who promised to unite us.

Respectfully, Erin Northe

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

Page

Foundation

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abour Day is an excellent time to talk to your child about jobs and work – right in your own neighbourhood. You can give your child a jump start by taking a walk through your neighbourhood and talking about the different jobs that people do, then show him how to make his very own “career book”.

First, explain the meaning of Labour Day to your child.

Then take a walk or drive through your neighbourhood and point out different businesses you see. Ask your child questions about the kind of business, what kind of work they do there, and what kind of equipment or tools the employees use to do their job. Tell your child about your job and the jobs of people in your family – you are a part of the neighbourhood too! Explain to your child how different businesses provide services or products to people in your community, country or even the whole world! Tell him that there is some company or business that makes everything he has – clothes, crayons, stickers, toys, bookbags, etc. When you get home from your walk, help your child make a “career book” depicting the different jobs he observed on his walk, and the ones that he might want to do some day:

What you need: Medium pad of drawing paper Markers or crayons Hole punch Yarn or string

What you do: 1. Have your child brainstorm a list of jobs and careers that he knows about. Examples might include: doctor, firefighter, actor, veterinarian, chef, artist, construction worker, and pilot.

2. How many jobs made your child's list? Have him rip out a corresponding number of pieces of paper from the drawing pad.

3. Fold the piece of paper in half to make a crease in the middle. Make sure that the dimensions of the paper are such that each side of the crease is big enough to make a page.

4. Now it's time to draw! Your child should draw a picture of the job on one side of the paper, and write out the

name of the job on the opposing side. For instance, he might draw a woman in a lab coat with a dog or cat, then write “Veterinarian” on the opposing side. (You may want to assist with spelling questions).

5. Once your child has finished illustrating all the careers on his list (this may be an ongoing project for a few days), place the pages one inside the other to create a book.

On the “spine” of the book, punch a semi-circular hole onethird of the way from the bottom of the book, and another one-third of the way from the top. String a piece of yarn or twine through one hole and back through the other. Tie the ends of the string together. Voila! Your child has built a portfolio of the many jobs that exist in the world, and practise some art and writing skills, too! (Adapted from education.com)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22% of Guyana’s COVID cases were recorded in April …death toll stands at 296; 177 new cases recorded in 24h

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uyana has been battling the coronavirus pandemic for more than a year and during that time, 22 per cent of its confirmed cases were recorded in April 2021.

At the beginning of April, the positives were at 10,375. Within the month, 2908 new cases were discovered thus representing a whopping 22.3 per cent.

As of Friday, another person succumbed to the virus and further raised the death toll to 296.

The latest fatality is a 57-year-old female from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) who died while receiving care at a medical facility on Thursday.

On Wednesday, two females: a 63-year-old and a 59-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) also succumbed.

Apart from the increased cases, April

was also the deadliest month – claiming 63 lives.

However, new statistics provided by the Health Minister revealed that 177 new cases were recorded during a 24-hour period. According to the Ministry’s dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases now stands at 13,283.

In the facilities, 13 persons are in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 1679 in home isolation and 85 in institutional isolation. Some 13 persons are also in institutional quarantine. The data showed that 11,208 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus.

From the new cases, one was detected in Region One (BarimaWaini); 10 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 27 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara);

93 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) one in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 24 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); two in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and 17 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cases in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remain at 540.

Meanwhile, all Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Symptoms of the coronavirus in-

clude fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of speech or movement.

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

Since April 6, the vaccination rollout has been ramped up with almost 100 fixed sites around the country. There are mobile teams in all ten regions. In addition to these sites, there are special sites organised through a collaboration between religious and non-governmental organisations.

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3rd person arraigned for murder of Anglican priest

Dead: Retired priest George Chuck-A-Sang

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third person has been charged and remanded to prison for the murder of retired Anglican priest 82-year-old George ChuckA-Sang, who was found dead last December in his Georgetown home.

Known as “Youthman”, 22-year-old Orlando Richards was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus for the capital offence. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that between December 21 and December 23, 2020, at Georgetown, he murdered Chuck-A-Sang.

Richards, a pork-knocker of Lot 192 Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, was remanded to prison until May 28, 2021, when the matter will be called for reports at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Richards has now been jointly charged along with Rawle McPherson, 45, of Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Mohanie Mohabir, 43, of Corentyne, Berbice for Chuck-A-Sang’s killing. The latter two were charged in early February.

It was reported that the lifeless body of the elderly man was discovered in his home. Investigations revealed that the now dead man’s daughter, Renata Chuck-ASang, had last spoken to her father via a WhatsApp call on Friday, December 18, 2020, at about 08:00h.

Their conversation was reportedly along normal lines,

Murder accused Orlando Richards

but on Monday, December 21, 2020, at about 15:00h, when the younger Chuck-A-Sang attempted to contact her father, his mobile phone went unanswered.

This prompted her to visit his residence, but, again, she was unable to contact him.

As a result, she went to the residence of the current priest, Father Monsell Alves, at North East La Penitence, Georgetown, and explained the situation. Consequently, the priest gave her access to

her father’s living quarters via his office door. It was then that she went into the upper flat of the house and discovered the body of her father, clad in a pair of white briefs, lying motionlessly on the floor.

The Police said what appeared to be several stab wounds were visible on the priest’s body, and his forehead appeared to be swollen.

In 2017, George Chuck-ASang served as Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry set up to examine and make recommendations to resolve all issues and uncertainties surrounding the claims of Amerindian land titling; the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans, and any matter relating to land titling in Guyana.

He had also served as a priest at the Holy Trinity Church on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and the St Sidwell’s Anglican Church in Georgetown.

Foot-and-mouth disease…

A

...in newer PNC leaders lot of folks, including your ever-optimistic Eyewitness, had hoped that “the younger generation” would’ve moved past the racial stereotypes that kept us blinkered over the last sixty years. But we’re now with our third “young generation” cohort and it’s clear we still haven’t moved off the starting blocks to view each other just as fellow citizens of our dear mudland.

In wake of the Dec 21, 2018 no-confidence motion, the racial invectives flew fast and furious, especially over social media. And this - dominated overwhelmingly by youths - was the tip-off to yours truly that it was deja vu all over again on the “race question”! The March 2 elections simply widened that divide, which is now alive and thriving, since it’s infected some folks whom your Eyewitness had hoped would’ve started to change the narrative.

Like the (comparatively) young lawyer Amanza Walton-Desir, who’d been attached for a decade in the Office of PM Hinds, and then the GCCA, before she decided to throw her hat into the (political) ring under the PNC banner. Your Eyewitness assumed that her advanced training and practice in the arcane field of Maritime Law would’ve matured her outlook on the race question. During the five-month defence of the Mingo rigging, she didn’t come off as strident, and because she was articulate and (let’s face it) easy on the eyes, she became a fixture on the social media platforms defending the PNC’s position. She was rewarded by Granger with an MP posting.

But here it is, your Eyewitness just viewed an interview in which she articulated a perspective on the “race question” that’s so backward in its premise and adumbration that it made your Eyewitness recoil in horror.

Literally. Essentially, she insisted that “supporters of the PPP” (read Indians) are “a bunch of mentally lazy people who don’t think for themselves” and remain “trapped” without the power of “self-determination”. They just go along like automatons with whatever the PPP tells them especially about PNC supporters (read African Guyanese) who will “rape their daughters”.

She contended to her enthusiastically nodding affirmative host, David Hinds: “Contrast this with the supporters of the PNC, who have a greater appreciation of the democratic process”, and therefore make their political decisions much more rationally. Never mind that, after 28 years of ruinous, dictatorial rule, 95% of AfricanGuyanese voted for the PNC in 1992, even though they also had a choice in the WPA. Or that it was the swing Indian-Guyanese vote for the AFC in Berbice that made the APNU/AFC WIN THE 2015 elections.

The (racial) mote has unfortunately grown into a plank in the young PNC leadership’s eyes! Cry, the beloved country! …of older PNC leaders While one may ruefully shake one’s head at WaltonDesir’s utterances, and concede her frank admission to naïveté, what’s Granger and Harmon’s excuse? Surely, they knew what would happen after they massed their faithful in front of the High Courts as Chief Justice George handed down her decision on their frivolous election petition. And so (expectedly) we had the march through Regent St - the trope for Indian-Guyanese economic “advantage”.

Wasn’t this a move on par with Granger’s shuttering of the four sugar estates and throwing 7000 workers onto the breadline? Surely, the PNC knows this only intensifies the movement of disenchanted Indian-Guyanese back under the PPP’s tent! And if this wasn’t enough, up came Harmon, who removed any doubt that the PNC doesn’t give a damn about reconciliation when he warned - after implying that Justice George was biased: “(The PNC) will not be held “responsible for the reaction of the victimised, disenfranchised, and marginalised masses.”

If this isn’t fire-stoking what is? …on new DHB So, we’re going to have new bids for Design, Build and Finance (DBF) option or a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) option for the new fixed Demerara Harbour Bridge.

But no US firm prequalified?

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

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Linden man granted bail for allegedly setting house on fire

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Linden man who is accused of setting a house on fire was on Wednesday released on $200,000 bail after he denied the charge that was read against him.

Ardeem Ally, 23, of Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Friday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge alleging that on April 24, 2021 at Lot 30 Queen Street Kitty, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to the dwelling house of Floyd Beckles.

Ally pleaded not guilty to the charge, and told the Magistrate that he was being set up.

The Police Prosecutor, in stating the facts of the matter, said Ally and Beckles had an issue two days prior to the house being set on fire.

The prosecutor objected to

Ally being placed on bail, contending that releasing Ally was a risk, since he may not return to court, and more so, lives were endangered as a result of the act.

The prosecutor related that at the time of the fire a child was inside the building, and, also, CCTV footage recovered showed that Ally was the perpetrator.

Despite the prosecution’s objection, Ally was granted bail.

However, a condition for his obtaining bail is that he has to report to the Kitty Police Station once per month until the conclusion of his matter.

Moreover, Ally was placed on a bond and ordered to stay 300 feet away from Beckles and his family. Both parties were also instructed to commence counselling with the Court’s Probation Officer.

The matter has been adjourned to June 2, 2021.

Man gets bail on possession of firearm, ammo charges

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resident of North East La Penitence, Georgetown was on Friday arraigned in Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus’s Court on charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Jamal Washington, 29, denied both of the charges, and was granted bail by the Magistrate.

The Police contended that on April 23, 2021, at Evans Street Charlestown, he had

in his possession a .32 taurus pistol and five live rounds of ammunition.

Washington was represented by Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson, who, in his bail application, told the court that on the day in question, his client was at a masjid.

He added that a group of men were also hanging out in the vicinity. However, officers in a patrol vehicle pulled up, and the men scattered.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

NEWS

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GTT’s Brickdam store burglarised

The GTT Brickdam retail store

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he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company’s Brickdam retail store was burglarised on Friday, and this has forced a temporarily closure as investigations continue.

GTT’s Communications Manager Nicola Balram confirmed that the store was robbed in the wee hours of Friday. She said the company is currently conducting an assessment of its losses, and would soon be able to evaluate same. Further, she noted that the company is also reviewing CCCTV footage.

“We have a team at the site doing some investigations. Once that’s completed, we will be able to give more details,” she explained.

However, she has posit-

ed that the location would be reopened for regular business on Monday.

“We’re going to complete assessments by Saturday, so on Monday we will be opened for normal hours,” she said.

This comes on the heels of another robbery that occurred on March 26 at the company’s Camp and Regent Streets store.

The then Public Relations Manager of the company, Jasmin Harris, in a release to the media, had stated that no one was hurt during the robbery, but several items were stolen.

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

Man gets bail on...

The attorney said his client made a dash as well, since officers would usually arrest persons in the area. While his client was running, he fell, and Police were able to arrest him.

Thompson added that Washington was beaten by the Police while in custody, and was able to seek medical attention only on Tuesday last, despite being held since Friday.

The attorney further stated that at no time did his client have the alleged items in his possession.

The Police Prosecutor,

FROM PAGE 12

however, told the court that on the day in question, officers were on patrol in the area when they observed Washington acting in a suspicious manner, and a search was conducted on his person.

He said the illegal firearm and ammunition were found in Washington’s pants’ crotch.

Washington has been placed on $100,000 bail for each charge, and has been ordered to report to the Brickdam Police Station every fortnight until the conclusion of his matters.

The cases have been adjourned to June 2.

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Missing Linden woman

Sister leads detectives to shallow grave almost 1 month after witnessing murder – Police issue wanted bulletin for boyfriend – as sister, suspect’s father taken into custody

By Utamu Belle

T

he decomposed body of 20-year-old Shonette Dover, a bartender of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, who went missing almost a month ago, was discovered in a shallow grave in her boyfriend’s backyard on Friday.

The body was reportedly found after the victim’s 15-yearold sister who witnessed the murder broke her silence during interrogation between Tuesday and Friday.

In giving a detailed account of what took place, the teenager told the Police in the presence of a Child Care and Probation Officer that on April 5, 2021, her sister’s boyfriend, 21-yearold Shaquawn Alleyne as “oiling

The backyard where the body was found

his brownish gun in their living room”.

She recalled him pointing the gun at her sister who told him “he like play and he should

put away that thing.” Soon after, the teen said she heard a loud explosion as if a squib went off followed by Alleyne saying “oh shoots, I shoot the girl.”

The teenager explained that she saw her sister lying on the floor with her mouth open and blood was on her face. “I tell he let’s take her hospital and he said no she dead already.”

In a panicked but yet composed state, the teenager said that she and the suspect went to his father’s home and told him what had transpired. “His father told him, don’t tell me stupidness, why you playing with the gun?”

Soon after, she admitted that they collected a spade from someone and dug a hole aback the house where the victim was buried after which the boyfriend hid the gun in a tree.

After being provided with this information and directed to the shallow grave, a team of de-

Dead: Shonette Dover

tectives travelled to the area.

After digging about four feet into the earth, the ranks found the woman’s decomposed body wrapped in a multicoloured blanket. The body was clad in short denim pants and a green APNU t-shirt and a butterfly tattoo was seen on the stomach.

In addition, a Samsung cellular phone suspected to have belonged to the now dead woman was found between the sand that was dug out of the hole.

Due to the state of decomposition of the body, it was difficult to see any mark of violence on the most exposed parts.

The remains were taken to the Pensioners Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Nevertheless, following the revelation and discovery of the body, the Police have issued a wanted bulletin for the now dead woman’s boyfriend. The teenage sister who has held onto this information for close to a month was also arrested and so was the father of the suspect who assisted in getting rid of

Wanted boyfriend: Shaquawn Alleyne

the body.

Family in shock At the home of the dead woman, her grandmother, Constance Dover, was still in a state of shock upon receiving the devastating news.

She told Guyana Times that ever since her granddaughter went missing, they have been searching every corner with the hope of finding her while noting that the news of her death is overwhelming.

According to Dover, the family is yet to positively identify the remains to be that of her granddaughter.

“The Police come and he said, Mistress, we have found a body...the family would have to come and identify it,” the grieve-stricken elderly woman noted.

“I didn’t expect something like this would’ve happened to Shonette. I asking God, ‘why?’”, the grieving grandmother said.

TURN TO PAGE 16

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Tuschen man faces retrial for Anna Catherina triple murder

Murder accused Abishai Caesar

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uschen, East Bank Essequibo resident, 36-year-old Abishai Caesar is presently on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury for the September 2012 murders of businesswoman Jennifer Persaud and her two sons. The trial is being conducted at the High Court in Demerara.

State Prosecutor Lisa Cave has indicted Caesar on three counts of murder. It is alleged that on September 24, 2012, at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD), he murdered 41-year-old Persaud and her sons Afridi Bacchus, 6; and 18-month-old Jadon Persaud.

The murder accused has pleaded not guilty.

It was reported that Persaud, who owned a liquor store and bar, along with her two sons were discovered in their home with their throats slit. The woman’s body was found on a bed with Afridi on top of her. Jadon, on the other hand, was found on the floor next to the bed.

Their bodies were said to be already in a state of decomposition, indicating that they were murdered about a day before the gruesome discovery was made. Except for the wardrobe that was out of order in the woman’s home, the remainder of the house was untouched.

Caesar was only apprehended by the Police in 2016 for the murders after his reputed wife, Zoey Phillips, told detectives that he had confided in her about killing the family. Based on media reports, the woman told Police ranks that on the night in question, Caesar left their Anna Catherina home.

Dead: Jennifer Persaud

Dead: Afridi Bacchus

Dead: Jadon Persaud

Soon after, Phillips said that she heard screams coming

from Persaud’s home which was located next to their res-

idence. She claimed that moments after, Caesar returned

Sister leads detectives to shallow...

“This is a shock… this is a stab in we back... We never expect something like that,” she added. More alarming, she noted, is the fact that her granddaughter’s boyfriend was also assisting in the search for the now dead woman.

“Shaquawn come here about two weeks ago when he didn’t find she. He going and help search with us although he know he done kill she...”, the woman indicated.

The elderly woman recalled seeing Alleyne appearing to be very jolly at a march which was organised to raise awareness of the missing woman.

She explained that the family was working on every possible lead they would have received with the intention of finding her granddaughter, whom she described as an intelligent young woman.

“Shonette was a nice person, a kind, jovial person. Like to do things for persons, like to help persons out,” she cried.

Another relative, Ronda, related that it was indeed “unbelievable” since the now wanted man was actively involved in several searches for the woman after she was reported missing.

“This boy just deh behind them (the family). He help to look. He even talk on television, post on Facebook and all kind of thing and still.”

“They say the dog started going around the place and the neighbour said the day before she see he sprinkling gasoline around the place because like the body started to smell... and like them dogs started going and dig and thing,” she related.

“It is so sad. Shonette was one of the children that I so loved... and she was one of the

educated ones. She went to Multi and did well in her CXC...

She was so young. Not even a child she didn’t make or nothing,” the grieving cousin related.

She further noted that Alleyne and Dover went to the same secondary school. The cousin also noted that Dover’s grandmother had advised her against going and “live home” with Alleyne but noted that they were engaged.

“He de tek she out on her birthday two years ago and surprised her with an engagement ring.”

Dover’s mother, Simone Benjamin, was clearly distraught and only managed to say that she had heard that Police were following up on a lead and searching for her daughter on Thursday evening.

“She was a nice, kind and loving person. She like to smile,

home and confessed to her what he had done.

Phillips informed the Police that Caesar went to rob the woman but whilst doing go, she woke up and saw him.

Because she would be able to identify him, he was forced to attack her, killing her and her sons in the process.

After the killings, the couple continued living next to the now dead woman. They eventually moved out. Phillips had also told the Police that she was forced to keep quiet about the incident because Caesar was abusive. This is Caesar’s second trial for the murders.

His first trial ended in a hung jury.

FROM PAGE 14

she was jovial. She like to sing,” Benjamin said between tears.

Additionally, Dover’s brother said he remembered speaking with her two days prior to her disappearance when she enquired about some money which he owed her. Later that day, he reportedly saw the victim’s boyfriend in a seemingly angry mood.

“I see he come deh and he vex, because he used to talk to me and then suddenly now he ain’t talk to me. Then I hear he went to some party. Then Sunday, Monday time I hear Shonette missing. I didn’t know nothing then. I see he the Saturday after without shirt.

He went at the gas station riding a motorbike,” the man said.

He noted that after he learnt that his sister was missing, he went and checked her boyfriend’s house and its surround-

ings but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“I check in the house... I go and search and me ain’t see Shonette. I didn’t see any hole or anything. And then he (boyfriend) calling and crying (saying) how Shonette missing... He come and tell me how Shonette move she toothbrush, carry she documents and carry she side bag but Shonette would never go away so long without calling. She would never do them things,” the brother reiterated.

The bartender was last seen by her family on the morning of the day she went missing as she was reportedly getting ready for work. At the family’s home on Friday, several relatives and residents were trying to console the grieving relatives.

On the other hand, at the home of the couple, Police were continuing their investigations.

NEWS

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Man who fell to death on Regent Street

Family pleads for assistance to bury dead construction worker – says no one reached out to them to offer assistance

F

amily members of 25-year-old Lloyd Feroze also known as “Tony”, who fell to his death while working at a construction site at Regent Street, Georgetown, related that no one reached out to them after the accident.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Friday, family members contended that they cannot afford to offset the expenses for the man’s funeral and are pleading for some form of compensation from the contractors.

Feroze’s tearful sister, Lorettea Chisholm, could not come to grips with her brother’s death as she recalled that at about 13:00h on Wednesday last, she received news that her brother was involved in an accident.

“I get a call for Georgetown Public Hospital, I don’t know how they got my number,

The building from which Feroze fell on Wednesday

but the Police at the outpost called me and told me that a Lloyd Feroze was in an accident… they ask me what is my mother’s name and

I told them Nalini Feroze.

They then tell me one of your brothers just got into accident at Georgetown Public Hospital, come down now,” she explained.

Chisholm said the following day she learnt that her brother had succumbed to his injuries. She said her brother has been working at the Regent Street location for about four months, and has been doing so to maintain his sick mother.

“He is the sole breadwinner for my mother, he help her out, he pays her bills.”

Feroze’s sister said now that her brother is dead, she does not know how her ill mother will make out while adding that at this point, the family cannot even afford to bury her brother.

Chisholm further expressed frustration over the fact that the family has not

been able to talk compensation with the contractor and the owner of the building from which her brother fell and met his demise.

“I went to her [the owner of the building] to get some assistance because my mother is not working and she is not doing anything right now. She can’t afford to bury him. It was he and she alone live together cause my little brother lived most of his time in the bush,” the grieving woman said.

Dead: Lloyd Feroze

The building under construction is owned by businessman Glenn Lall and his wife Bhena Lall. Feroze was employed by foreman Peter Ramdoo. The labourer reportedly fell to his death from the fourth storey of the building.

Vendors in the area said the workmen were in the habit of not wearing any safety gears or practicing any safety protocols. The Labour Ministry has since launched an investigation into the fatal accident.

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Not holding LGE “a recipe for riots” – AFC

...even though Govt has given commitment

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) – the minority party in the coalition Opposition – has warned that if there is no hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) this year, there could be mass demonstration and riots.

This remark was made

by AFC Leader and former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, during a virtual press conference

on Friday. He was asked about the holding of Local Government polls this year.

“If they do not have Local Government Elections, it will be, again, a violation of our constitutional, a violation of our democratic rights and it might be a serious recipe for all manner of things happening. We might have to go back to court or even worse, you might have demonstrations

in the streets. It could very well be a recipe for – I don’t want to let it happen at all but a recipe for riots if you’re gonna deny us Local Government Elections,” Ramjattan stated.

LGE is constitutionally mandated to be held every two years and with the last one held in 2018, it is due this year.

Already, the PPP/C Government has reassured that the election will be held this year. But the Irfaan Aliled Administration is holding out the need for public confidence to be restored to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) following last year’s March 2 General and Regional Elections.

It has also called for the removal of key electoral officials who are responsible for those events.

Nevertheless, some $1.1 billion has been set aside in GECOM’s 2021 budget for the hosting of Local Government polls.

However, while no monies have been budgeted for the conduct of a House-to-House Registration exercise, the AFC Is adamant that a new registration must be held before the LGE – a position that was reiterated during Friday’s virtual press brief-

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

ing.

Ramjattan noted that the exercise should be completed to ensure there is a clean voters’ list for the elections.

“We feel that a Houseto-House Registration exercise that is brand new, that will get the voters’ lists for these NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) is so important for free and fair election that, that must be done. And the call that the Government would want to be making is but distractions and deflections again because GECOM would have to conduct the elections based on a fair and proper list, that is what we want…

The Elections Commissions will have to deal with their officers in there,” the AFC Leader asserted.

Adding to this, the party’s General Secretary, David Patterson, also posited that the AFC will not participate in the LGE if there is not a new registration exercise.

“As a party, we’re waiting

[on GECOM] and we’ll not be going to Local Government Elections without a new House-to-House Registration.

We said this before. I think GECOM is quite aware of our position and I do hope that they get on with a new Houseto-House Registration,” he stated.

Meanwhile, AFC’s Executive Member, Cathy Hughes, pointed out during the press conference that the voters’ list should have been cleaned since before the March 2020 elections.

“We weren’t supposed to go into 2020 [elections] with that list, with so many questions. And the fact that most people have no confidence – nearly 50 per cent of the population have no confidence in that existing list – that is enough to make sure that you start fixing the list… Anybody that means well for Guyana will put the House-to-House Registration process high on the [agenda] because with a proper new list, with a clean list we then can talk and go into elections. And then ensure that GECOM delivers a free and fair election that we can commit to,” Hughes posited.

However, while the AFC is pushing for a “new voters’ list”, Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled in August 2019 that it is unconstitutional for qualified persons to be removed from the voters’ list, noting that other options can update the list.

Justice George was at the time handing down her decision in a case filed by

Christopher Ram, who had challenged the constitutionality of a House-to-House Registration exercise that was being conducted with the aim of creating a new voters’ list ahead of the 2020 polls.

The Chief Justice had concluded that while the Houseto-House exercise is not unlawful or unconstitutional, GECOM cannot remove persons’ names from the existing list if they are not in the jurisdiction or not at their residence during the registration exercise.

She further stated that only deceased persons and those otherwise disqualified under Article 159 (2), (3), or (4) are to be removed.

Pointing out that the “right to vote and the right to be registered to vote are sacrosanct”, the High Court Judge had said, “residence requirements from citizens is no longer a qualification for registration”.

The APNU/AFC coalition had made allegations of irregularities following the March 2020 elections, claiming that the names of dead persons and persons out of the jurisdiction who are on the voters’ list were used to cast votes.

However, in her ruling on the coalition’s elections petition challenging the legitimacy of the elections results that saw the PPP/C taking office after five tumultuous months, Chief Justice George on Monday found that nothing in the petition supports the claims of irregularities during the elections.

NEWS

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Removal of COVID-19 measures dependent Convict accused of killing fellow on vaccinated population – Health Minister prisoner to know fate on Monday

I

n order for Government to consider removing some of the COVID-19 measures currently enforced, a significant percentage of the adult population would have to be vaccinated.

This was according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Friday who stated that many countries have removed certain measures because they were close to herd immunity. For Guyana to consider such a move, the population needs to be vaccinated.

As of Thursday, over 136,000 persons received their first dose of the vaccine. The adult population is estimated to be around 500,000.

“If we work hard enough and people take the vaccine, we would get to a point where we can remove those measures. But as of now, we have to maintain them and continue using them. Israel, for example, is one of the first countries that would have gotten close to herd immunity and they have removed masking because most of their population would have already gotten the vaccine. They’re showing what is possible and if we work hard enough and make sure that every adult here received their vaccine, then some of the measures

we can remove,” Dr Anthony posited.

Presently Region Six is progressing well while Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is lagging behind.

Dr Anthony assured that the country has enough vaccines at the moment to continue its vaccination campaign.

“We have been able to purchase enough vaccine to be able to give to our adult population and so there isn’t a shortage. What we want is for people to come forward and get the vaccine. So, we’re encouraging everyone who is 18 years and above to make sure that they come out and get their vaccines.”

Upon turning up to the vaccination site, he noted that health officials would be able to ascertain whether a person is symptomatic or displaying mild symptoms. If that is the case, they would be advised accordingly.

In light of the scarcity of vaccines, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had asked for infected persons to wait for three months before getting inoculated because they would have already gained some antibodies. Guyana did not impose that restriction due to the availability of shots and as a result, persons can get a vaccine immediately after their recovery.

“If someone is symptomatic, then by using the questionnaire that we have, we’ll be able to find that out and we’ll advise them accordingly. If you’re mildly symptomatic, then we would be able to use that questionnaire and ask you to wait until you recover. Generally, that would take 10 days. Having completed your recovery period, then you can come and get the vaccine…In terms of asymptomatic cases, most of those asymptomatic persons would not know themselves that they have COVID… In such circumstances, we’ll give the vaccine,” Dr Anthony outlined.

President Irfaan Ali has hinted at stronger enforcement of the current curfew and national measures in wake of the increased deaths and cases for April. Minister Anthony outlined that this is expected to heighten compliance.

“We’re hoping that by introducing these additional measures so to speak, that we’ll get more compliance. Again, all of us are in this thing together so if you get one place that is violating the rules and creating the conditions for spread of the virus, then it endangers everyone else. That is why we have to make sure that people are compliant.”

R

obbery convict Akeem Edwards, who is accused of killing his fellow prison inmate, will know his fate on Monday when a jury deliberates on the evidence in the case.

Edwards is on trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Essequibo for the murder of Teon Smith.

Upon his arraignment, Edwards pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 14, 2014, he murdered Smith. The murder accused is being represented by Attorney-atLaw George Thomas, while State Counsel Tiffini Lyken is presenting the case for the prosecution.

During the trial, the prosecution called 12 witnesses, the majority of whom were prison officers.

It was reported that Smith, 21, was stabbed to death by Edwards during an argument at the Mazaruni Penitentiary. It was reported that the incident escalated when Smith went to retrieve a cell phone from a known hiding spot but could not find it.

The now dead man then ac-

Murder accused Akeem Edwards

cused Edwards of removing the phone.

It was reported that during the lunch break at the penitentiary, Edwards armed himself with a knife and dealt Smith several stabs about his body. The injured inmate was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

At the time of his demise, Smith was serving a five-year prison sentence for armed robbery. His alleged killer is also serving a similar sentence for the same offence.

20 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pyramid scheme mastermind slapped with 15 additional fraud charges K

eziah Jeuel Roberts, a nursing assistant and the alleged mastermind behind a pyramid scheme, was on Friday slapped with an additional 15 fraud charges.

The Bel Air Park, Georgetown resident made her appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to 13 of the charges.

Following her plea, she was ordered to post bail in the sum of $500,000.

However, this sum was

reduced to $350,000 after her attorney told the court that she was previously released on $180,000 bail for similar charges, which are currently before the court.

The matter has been adjourned to May 21.

Roberts also appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan, where she was required to answer the other two charges.

Here, again, the defendant denied the charges and was placed on $110,000 bail. The Chief Magistrate has since transferred the two mat-

GPF seeks public’s assistance to identify man killed in accident

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the body of a male that was involved in a vehicular accident on Sunday last, on the Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.

In a statement on Friday, Police said the man subsequently died on Monday, at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The body of the deceased, who is of African descent and appears to be in his mid-30s is presently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary.

Anyone with information that may lead to his identification is asked to contact the Guyana Police Force on telephone numbers 225-2661, 227-1152, 225-9271, 2271611, 227-1149, 225-6940,

ters to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for hearing on May 7.

Roberts was charged with four counts of obtaining money by false pretence when she made her first court appearance on April 16. She was charged for collecting a total of $280,000 from four different individuals under the pretence of investing same.

She was not required to plead to the indictable charges, and was released on bail in the sum of $180,000.

Roberts was also or-

Unidentified man

of their investment.

Several persons had reportedly invested various sums of money in her company, and never received their capital or returns as promised. As a result, the matter was reported to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force and a ‘wanted’ bulletin was issued for her arrest.

Following the release of the ‘wanted’ bulletin on April 13, Roberts, accompanied by her attorney, visited SOCU, where she was arrested and later brought before the court.

Republic Avenue fatal accident

Beggar was allegedly pushed into path of moving truck – family

E 911 or the nearest Police Station.

Just three days ago, a 26-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank died after the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a pedestrian then into a motor car along the Liliendaal Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Keziah Jeuel Roberts

dered to lodge her passport and to report to the Special Organised Crime Unit until the conclusion of the matter.

Based on reports received, Roberts had registered a business under the name ‘Kapital Kare Investment’ with the Registrar of Companies, and had posted a business flyer on her Facebook page, enticing persons to invest in her company.

These persons were asked to invest the sum of $40,000 with the intention of receiving a return of $180,000 within 21 days

ighty-eight-year-old Sandy Adonis, a beggar of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who met his demise on Thursday afternoon after he was struck down and killed by a container truck on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, was allegedly pushed to his death by an unknown person.

Reports are that the man died at about 17:00h on Thursday.

Vendors who were within the vicinity of the accident at the time had related that the now dead man

frequents the area where he would solicit financial assistance from drivers along the roadway.

One vendor related that the container truck hit Adonis and he subsequently collapsed and died on the spot.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said investigations into the fatal accident have so far revealed that the now dead pensioner was pushed into the pathway of the truck which crushed him to death.

Police said the truck was proceeding south along

Sandy “Lil Man” Adonis

Avenue of the Republic when it came to a stop at the traffic light by the Regent Street intersection.

Eyewitnesses told investigators that a red motor car stopped alongside the truck and Adonis went to solicit financial aid from the passenger in the front seat.

However, Police said as the traffic light changed to green, the passenger reportedly pushed the now dead man, who fell backwards and landed under the trailer of the moving truck.

As a result, the elderly man received injuries to his head and other parts of his body.

Nevertheless, the dead man’s nephew, Denzil Gordon, stated that his family was told that Adonis was pushed into the path of the moving truck by a passenger of a car that had stopped at the traffic light.

“A family member this afternoon [Thursday] was at the accident scene and called us and told us what transpired, but by the time we arrived Lyken funeral home already moved the body.

Gordon said from what they understand, the driver of the truck was unable to identify the person who pushed Adonis.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s nephew said Adonis did not live on the streets and had a home of his own.

He said on countless occasions his family would try to stop him from begging on the streets but he continued.

The man reportedly did not have any children but was taken care of by his family members.

“We haven’t seen him in a while. It was his choice to beg on the streets. Family members begged him not to go but he don’t listen to anyone. We are all saddened by the situation, but we are hoping for the best from the investigation by the Police,” Gordon said.

The man’s nephew said even though his uncle was a beggar, he never spent his money selfishly.

“As much as he was own way, he was a cheerful giver to children,” he said.

Adonis’s body is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

NEWS

21

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ruimveldt carwash murder

6 months later, 3rd suspect still at large

S

ix months after 16-year-old Jumal Parks had been murdered, the slain youth’s sister, Aneisa Parks, is calling on the Guyana Police Force to find the third suspect who is responsible for her brother’s death.

Jumal Parks of Non Pareil Street, Albouystown Georgetown was brutally murdered on October 13, 2020 by three young men.

However, thus far, Police have managed only to apprehend two of the suspects, while the third remains on the run.

Parks’s sister told Guyana Times Police are claiming that searches for the suspect have proven fu-

tile, but yet he was seen numerous times roaming the streets of Georgetown, and has been quite active on social media.

“We’re in April and the third suspect ain’t get caught as yet. He’s on Facebook putting up ‘tek life’ like if it is a joke…. The Police say they going and they ain’t seeing he. I don’t know what you got to do to get justice in this country,” she declared.

Further, she urged the suspect to take responsibility for his actions by surrendering himself.

“God don’t sleep…that is a lifetime burden you have to carry. It’s best you turn yourself in and beg God to have a better life, so the stain

Dead: Jumal Parks

wouldn’t be upon you,” she pleaded.

The aggrieved sister added that despite it be-

ing months since her brother passed, it has been difficult for her and the family to grasp the idea of their loss.

“I’m really saddened by this. Up to now I can’t find that place in my heart to forget about Jumal,” she told Guyana Times.

She also said her brother had been a very close friend of the now dead cyclist Jude Bentley. Bentley had taught her brother to fix bicycles, and he had been intrigued ever since. At the time of his death, Jumal had been working to save money to purchase a motorcycle to transport himself to school, as he was slated to commence classes at the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI).

Meanwhile, the aggrieved sister added that her family will not rest until justice is served; and that, she noted, would be having all three of the perpetrators dealt with before the court.

“He didn’t fulfill his potential; he had a lot of potential in him. He’s already gone, but I need to see at least justice, and we need to be at peace within our minds and within our hearts.”

According to the Police, on the day of his demise, Jumal Parks was at his place of employment – Wanita’s Wash Bay located at Front Road, West Ruimveldt when he was approached by the three suspects. Parks and the three teens had had

a disagreement a few days prior to his murder. One of the suspects, who was armed with a piece of wood, visited the car wash and reportedly called out to the now dead teen. The teen, however, did not pay heed, since he was working, but the suspect advanced towards him, thus resulting in him running into a nearby yard, where he was stabbed to the left side chest and his right upper arm.

According to reports, the act was committed by a 19-year-old labourer of Hunter Street, La Penitence, an 18-year-old unemployed male of West Ruimveldt, and a 17-year-old unemployed male of East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Youths are future of Trade Unionism in Guyana – GAWU’s Poorandat Narine

Trade Unionist and Assistant General Secretary of GAWU, Poorandat Narine

By Rupa Seenaraine

C

entring his objective on working for the people, Poorandat Narine is one of the young trade unionists in Guyana who believes that youngsters are essential in continuing the collective voice for the working class Guyanese.

Narine is the newly-elected Assistant General Secretary at the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), who in an interview with Guyana Times underscored the importance of trade unionism in protecting workers’ rights.

The 32-year-old spent his early days in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and attended the Mon Repos Primary School. He secured a place at the St Roses High School and after graduating, he studied at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) where he pursued a diploma.

Narine gained employment with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) – a job which he held for over a decade until the closure of the sugar estates. Now, he is also the Treasurer of GAWU, a Director on the National Agriculture and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) Board and an Executive Member of the International Union of Food (Caribbean).

For him, his interest in trade unionism stemmed from his tenure at the Corporation, where he became a representative for

field foremen and worked up the ladder thereafter.

“It dates back to my tenure in GuySuCo. Upon graduating GSA, I went into GuySuCo as a field foreman and the GAWU has representation [at] all levels. At that level, I was nominated to be the representative of the field foremen there and through that local region, I became the Branch Secretary and then the Chairman of the branch.”

Narine would continue advocating for workers’ rights to be upheld and sharpened his skills through various training and resources that were provided by the Union. Then when the sugar estates closed in late 2016, he was then approached by then President of GAWU, the late Komal Chand to join the Union as an organising officer.

For him, Trade Unions are able to strike better working conditions by using the collective voice of workers. In some cases, the collective labour agreement with employers is superior than what is prescribed in the law – a pos-

itive indication of its importance.

“In advocating policies, rights of workers and better conditions, those are where Trade Union work stand. It is very important, not only in Guyana but across the world because if you go collectively, you have that advantage of speaking with one voice. It gives strong meaning to united we stand, divided we fall.

Some of the things in the collective agreement with employers are stronger than what is recommended in the

Narine stands with GAWU President Seepaul Narine

law. There’s a benefit for our members also to be with the Union,” the trade unionist explained.

Diving into his responsibilities, Narine shared that while some disputes are easily settled, some require different input from the Union in getting negotiations afloat and to the benefit of workers.

Presently, he said the input of younger people is essential in keeping the Unions alive. Moreover, the younger generation resonates easier with their fellow colleagues

and identify issues at hand.

Of course, a person would be required to join the Union as a member if they desire a role in Guyana’s Trade Union community.

“Young people should be involved because the current leadership won’t be there forever. You need that input of young people currently…

For young people to come on board, you have to join the Union, take part in the activities, access our local resources and educational packages. Being a young worker, I’m

able to relate to young people better. I’m not saying that the older folks cannot relate but we see at a better level, the problems and the solutions.”

GAWU has been placing its attention on secur-

ing young persons to build its membership base and for continued representation of workers across the country.

Presently, the Union has almost 8000 members – the largest in the country.

“To know their rights, what is afforded to them, trade unionism is the way to go. No employer in this day and age would give you everything that you want. You have to go with a collective voice.

In the operation of GAWU, there are more young people on board currently that have joined the Executive and the General Council. We’re trying to attract them and soon we’re trying to roll out a programme where we try to attract young workers to come on board. We need them and they need us,” Narine high-

lighted.

Going forward, he acknowledged that there is room for improvement given employees work diligently alongside their respective Union. Better collaboration between other Unions is also on the agenda.

“There are a lot of things that we can put in place because, in 2019, we celebrated 100 years of trade unionism in Guyana. We can do better.

The employees need to work properly with us. We need to increase our membership to make that collective voice and the sister trade unions need to work together to better the working conditions of people.

Put the pettiness aside and work for the people. Trade Unions are set up for the people by the people.”

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

Harpreet Brar the hero after KL Rahul’s 91* as Punjab Kings advance

Harpreet Brar played an all-round performance of 25 and 3-19

I

n three previous IPL matches, stretched across as many seasons, Harpreet Brar had failed to take a wicket with his left-arm spin, while being dispatched at close to ten an over.

All that was forgotten in the space of seven incredible deliveries, as Brar extracted

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three of the most prized scalps in the tournament without conceding a single run, to set the Punjab Kings up for a precious and timely victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad.

Brar’s dismissals of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers ensured that the closing overs of the Kings’ defence of 180 were a formality, as the Royal Challengers could manage only 145 for 8, and lost by 34 runs - their second defeat in three matches, meaning they squandered the chance to leapfrog the Chennai Super Kings at the top of the standings.

Instead, it was the Kings who drew level with defending champions Mumbai Indians on six points, to keep themselves in touch with a playoff place.

As if Brar’s contribution with the ball were not enough, he pocketed a catch in the deep to give his fellow spinner Ravi Bishnoi the first of his two richly deserved scalps; and, more importantly, he provided his captain, KL Rahul, with some priceless death-overs support with the bat.

A familiar middle-order malfunction had threatened to once again derail the Kings’ hopes of a competitive total.

Instead, Brar stood firm with 25 off 17 in an unbeaten 61-run stand for the sixth wicket, as Rahul romped to 91 not out from 57 balls - a performance that his opponents scarcely matched

between them.

Gayle serves a reminder of past glories Mayank Agarwal’s absence, after taking a blow to the forearm against the Kolkata Knight Riders, presented an opportunity for the Kings to roll back the years; and thrust Chris Gayle came back up the order with a licence to tonk. It was a bet that they

No 3, but had only faced two balls by the start of the sixth and final over of the powerplay - by which stage the Kings had dribbled along to an underwhelming 29 for 1. His response was typical and emphatic: five fours in six balls as Jamieson was handed an impromptu schooling, each of them slammed through the arc between mid-off to mid-on, with only a fifth-ball full-toss avoiding the boundary treatment.

Punjab Kings celebrating the win

chose to hedge, with 20-yearold Prahsimran Singh coming in instead for his first appearance of the campaign (and fourth in total) but without much impact - one urgent flog through the line off Daniel Sams quickly gave way to a top-edged pull off Kyle Jamieson, as he trooped off for a run-a-ball 7.

So Gayle entered the fray at

And just like that, Gayle’s eye was in. The very next delivery he faced, from Yuzvendra Chahal, was panned for a flat six into the sightscreen, and he repeated the dose with the final ball of the same over to march to 36 from 13.

Sams eventually ended the fun when Gayle clothed a pull to the wicketkeeper when on 46, but it made you wonder what on earth had the Kings been waiting for?

Pooran completes an unwanted set Part of the answer perhaps lies in the abject form of Gayle’s fellow left-handed West Indian, Nicholas Pooran. One of the most dashing talents in the game, he cannot buy a run at present. His form, in fact, rather evokes memories of a similarly flamboyant talent from yesteryear, Keith Arthurton, who mustered scores of 1, 0, 0, 1 and 0 for West Indies at the 1996 World Cup. Pooran did at least reach a run-a-ball 19 in his last outing against the Knight Riders (which more than doubled his only previous non-zero score in four innings, 9 from eight balls against the Delhi Capitals). But today he was back to quack, as Jamieson used all of his height to rattle his splice with an offstump lifter, for Shahbaz Ahmed to pocket a lobbed edge at gully.

Pooran was gone for a three-ball duck, to follow his first-ball duck against the Rajasthan Royals, his second-ball duck against the Super Kings, and his no-ball duck against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rahul’s innings of many tempos At least Pooran’s skipper can empathise. It wasn’t so long ago that Rahul himself was going through a similar trough, with scores of 0, 1, 0 and 0 in consecutive T20Is against Australia and England. He confirmed his emphatic return to form with another superb innings of 91 not out from 57 balls, his fourth half-century in seven innings in this IPL, and one that matched his previous

best of the campaign, in their opening fixture against the Royals.

Rahul’s final strike rate of almost 160 was all the more impressive, given how sedate his tempo had been in two distinct passages of play - first while he was slipstreaming Gayle to reach 18 from 21 in the powerplay, and later when he was forced to stick rather than twist as the Kings’ sketchy middle order shipped four wickets in as many overs to slide from 99 for 1 to 118 for 5, until Brar’s arrival at No. 7 provided the stability their captain needed.

In between whiles, however, Rahul put the hammer down to glorious effect. He rushed to a 35-ball fifty with a fusillade of sixes off Chahal, Sams and Jamieson, but it was his backend acceleration that turned a middling total into a defendable one - in particular a trio of scoops for four, six, four in Harshal Patel’s final over of the innings. With two balls to go, a century was on the cards, until Rahul miscued a pull for a very reluctant single, but Brar was on hand to flog the final ball over square leg. It was an early indication that this might just be his night.

Pace in the powerplay The Kings threw everything at their opening gambit. Riley Meredith (who would limp off in his final over, after wearing a fierce straight drive on the knee) and Mohammed Shami launched their assault with five overs of high-quality pace bowling.

Meredith sent Devdutt Padikkul’s off stump cartwheeling, one ball after being muscled over point for six, while Shami’s duel with Kohli was compelling. An alpha-ing of a first-ball slap back down the ground for four was as many runs as Shami would concede in his next ten balls, as he focused on hitting a perfectly vertical seam.

Chris Jordan got the memo

KL Rahul scored 91*

with a similarly excellent first over that went for four, and suddenly the Royal Challengers’ asking rate was rushing towards two a ball as the spinners seized the stage with a licence to toss it up and invite the big swipes.

Harpreet harpoons the big fishes Kohli had connected sweetly to launch Brar’s first delivery of the match into the sightscreen, and opened his stance in his second over to fillet a drive through the covers; plus ca change, he must have felt.

But, with Bishnoi’s wristspinning trickery conceding just six runs in two overs, the contest was cracked in Brar’s third over - the 11th of the innings - a double-wicket maiden that ripped the chase off its hinges.

Kohli was the first to go, dancing down the track with frustration steaming out of his ears, and pirouetting through a flat pull to lose his leg stump through the gate.

One ball later, Maxwell had his off stump clipped as Brar ripped one round his outside edge. It was a moment so bamboozling that the third umpire had to check exactly what had happened. de Villiers survived the hat-trick ball - just - with a nervy jab into the covers, but Brar had his number one over later, as he cleared the front leg out of desperation and chipped a head-high chance to Rahul at short extra cover.

At 69 for 4 in the 13th, with Rajat Patidar a bewildered and becalmed onlooker, there was no coming back from that. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD PUNJAB KINGS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM) KL Rahul (c) not out 91 Prabhsimran Singh † c Kohli b Jamieson 7 Chris Gayle c †de Villiers b Sams 46 Nicholas Pooran c Shahbaz Ahmed b Jamieson 0 Deepak Hooda c Patidar b Shahbaz Ahmed 5 Shahrukh Khan b Chahal 0 Harpreet Brar not out 25 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 8.95) 179/5 Did not bat: Riley Meredith, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Chris Jordan Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Prabhsimran Singh, 3.3 ov), 2-99 (Chris Gayle, 10.4 ov), 3-107 (Nicholas Pooran, 11.3 ov), 4-117 (Deepak Hooda, 13.6 ov), 5-118 (Shahrukh Khan, 14.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Daniel Sams 4-0-24-1 Mohammed Siraj 3-0-24-0 Kyle Jamieson 3 0 32 2 Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-34-1 Harshal Patel 4-0-53-0 Shahbaz Ahmed 2-0-11-1

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS (TARGET: 180 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS) Virat Kohli (c) b Harpreet Brar 35 Devdutt Padikkal b Meredith 7 Rajat Patidar c Pooran b Jordan 31 Glenn Maxwell b Harpreet Brar 0 AB de Villiers † c Rahul b Harpreet Brar 3 Shahbaz Ahmed c Harpreet Brar b Ravi Bishnoi 8 Daniel Sams b Ravi Bishnoi 3 Kyle Jamieson not out 16 Harshal Patel c Ravi Bishnoi b Mohammed Shami 31 Mohammed Siraj not out 0 Extras (lb 8, w 3) 11 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 7.25) 145/8 Did not bat: Yuzvendra Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Devdutt Padikkal, 2.3 ov), 2-62 (Virat Kohli, 10.1 ov), 3-62 (Glenn Maxwell, 10.2 ov), 4-69 (AB de Villiers, 12.1 ov), 5-91 (Rajat Patidar, 14.4 ov), 6-96 (Shahbaz Ahmed, 15.4 ov), 7-96 (Daniel Sams, 15.5 ov), 8-144 (Harshal Patel, 19.4 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Riley Meredith 3.2-0-29-1 Mohammed Shami 3.4-0-28-1 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-17-2 Harpreet Brar 4-1-19-3 Chris Jordan 4-0-31-1 Deepak Hooda 1-0-13-0

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Horse racing is not a priority sport, says Minister Ramson Jr

By Brandon Corlette

W

hile the horse racing fraternity has been anticipating the return of horse racing in Guyana, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, has disclosed that his Ministry does not regard horse racing as a priority sport.

He noted that sports are categorised into core and noncore categories, and horse racing is more in the entertainment line.

"It's not that I am excluding them, (but) I am focusing on talent development and building people. For me, it's about developing the talent of young people," Ramson said during a recent visit to East Berbice (Region 6).

Justice (retired) Cecil Kennard, a horse racing organiser of long standing, told this publication in a recent interview that the horse-racing fraternity would meet with the Sport Minister and discuss the safe return of horse racing, in a meeting that is tentatively set for some time in May. "The meeting will be to get guidance from the Minister as to when we can start planning for race meetings. We cannot fix a date until we get an opinion from the Sport Minister. He will indicate if we (need to) wait a little longer. I don’t want to run a race meeting until it’s safe,” Justice Kennard explained.

While the horse racing fraternity remains hopeful, the long-awaited return of horse

racing will take longer than expected.

"You have to keep in mind that when you do horse racing, you will have a large gathering of people that will be coming for many reasons, leaving aside the gamble reasons. I don't want to be involved in a situation where the Ministry is partnering with an endeavour that becomes a super-spreader activity. That is not something that sends the right message," Ramson said.

"As we get out of COVID, horse racing becomes more interesting in terms of an objective for the Ministry to see how we can be able to assist. My priority is talent development.

I want young people (to) have a sensible vehicle, and the Ministry… the right policy and

23

Horse racing is not a priority to the Sport Ministry at this time

the allocation of resources so that we can focus on talent development,” the Minister explained.

“Horse racing has its own crowd and its own interest; and a lot is associated with gambling, and I understand that. But, for

the Ministry, right now it's how we get people back into sport, back into activity. How do we reform a lot of the associations as well as our youth programme and our cultural activity? That is where my attention is right now," Ramson explained.

According to the horse racing organisers, the horse owners have been asked to remain patient as the organisers continue to battle for the safe return of races. The last organised race in Guyana was run off in February 2020 at Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

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

Shemaine Campbelle

Walsh excited to welcome naturally talented Mangru in Windies Women’s setup – says Campbelle has grown from strength to strength

Her mindset is in a better place, and it was so good to ead Coach of see her approach the camp the West Indies and taking on responsibilWomen’s team, ity. She has grown from Courtney Walsh, is excitstrength to strength. We ed to welcome Guyana’s gave her some leadership Mandy Mangru into the roles in the camp, and she West Indies Women’s settook them with both hands. up.

She is really a valuable Mangru, an opening member of the team, and batter who also bowls offvery professional in what spin, is one of six Guyanese she does,” Walsh said about who would be involved in Campbelle. the West Indies Women’s Walsh explained that high-performance camp in the two main aims of this Antigua, which commences camp are to get the West Indies Women to be more consistent, and to have game awareness.

“The purpose of this camp is to work on consistency and game awareness.

The last camp was more observational, and we got a pretty good idea where the ladies are at. There are 30 players coming in, and a few of them are coming in nursing injuries, so the coaching staff and medical team Coach Walsh, Coach Corey Colleymore, and fast bowler Shamilia Connell are ready to work with all of them,” he said. on May 2. place.

“We are going to use Responding to a ques“Given the last camp, this camp to see as much tion from this publica- (when) she did everything of the players as possible. I tion in a virtual press con- that we required, you am most excited to see the ference on Friday, Walsh can see the improvement. younger ones coming into

By Brandon Corlette

H

said: “I have seen some video clips of her. I was telling someone that, based on what I have seen, I am really excited to be bringing her into the camp. I see some natural talent there, so the camp exposure should be very good. If she is good enough to get into the setup, I am not going to stop her.”

Walsh has also said that Guyana’s Shemaine Campbelle has grown from strength to strength, and her mindset is in a better

the camp, because we’re trying to build the pool of players available. So, I think it’ll be a great opportunity for these youngsters and the other new players to grasp the chance before them,” Walsh added.

Batting has been an issue for the West Indies Women. In the quest to resolve this, Walsh said, it would receive intense focus in the camp. He noted that four to five batters must be consistent, rather than the trio of Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor.

FULL SQUAD SELECTED: Aaliyah Alleyne, Reniece Boyce, Shanika Bruce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, CherryAnn Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Caneisha Isaac, Zaida James, Japhina Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Steffi Soogrim, Stafanie Taylor, Rachel Vincent and Rashada Williams.

Dj Bravo traded to SKNP upon request – Ramdin returns to TKR

T

he Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have announced that, based on his request, DJ Bravo has been traded to the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (SKNP). In return, the SKNP have traded Denesh Ramdin to the TKR. DJ Bravo said, “At this stage in my career, I needed a new challenge, which is to work with the young talent for the benefit of Cricket West Indies. Also, becoming part of a new franchise, SKNP, will provide me with a new challenge in CPL. “I want to thank TKR for respecting my wishes and for all their support over the years. I also appreciate everything they have done for Trinidad & Tobago in general.”

While making the announcement, Venky Mysore, Director of TKR, said: “DJ Bravo has been instrumental in not only building TKR into a champion team, but also captained the team which earned three championships in 2015, 2017 & 2018. We are sad to see him leave, but we respect his wishes & his desire to help Caribbean cricket”.

“We are delighted that someone of the calibre of Kieron Pollard is leading TKR, and also happy to announce Sunil Narine as the vice-captain of TKR. “We welcome back Denesh Ramdin to the TKR family, and look forward to the 2021 season and (to) defending our title.”

Mandy Mangru

Nicholas Pooran to donate part of his IPL salary to India’s COVID-19 battle

Nicholas Pooran

P

unjab Kings’ West Indian batsman Nicholas Pooran has decided to donate a part of his IPL salary to help India fight the deadly resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scores of people across the country are dying in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic. India has reported over 3.86 lakh fresh COVID cases since Thursday.

Pooran has urged Indians to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.

“If you can get vaccinated, please do. I will also do my part, which is (to) continue to pray for India; but not only that, I would also like to donate a portion of my IPL salary towards this crisis,” Pooran said in the video posted on Twitter.

The 25-year-old cricketer from the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago is aware of the toll the unprecedented health crisis is taking on India’s overburdened medical infrastructure.

“To all my fans and supporters around the world and back home, I realise I am in a safe and

privileged position here in India at the IPL, but it’s also heartbreaking to be so close to such tragedy that’s unfolding around us. For a country that has shown us so much love and support over the years, all I can do is join hands with my fellow players to help bring some awareness to this situation in India.

“The healthcare system is overwhelmed right now. The people can’t get the attention they need because of the lack of oxygen supplies, I can’t comprehend, to start,” Pooran said.

Pooran, who has played all the six matches for PBKS so far in IPL 2021, expressed his desire to play a part after his franchise also pledged support by providing oxygen concentrators.

“Although many other countries are still being affected by the pandemic, the situation in India right now is particularly severe.

I will do my part to bring awareness and financial assistance to this dire situation,” Pooran tweeted.

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