Guyana Times - Saturday May 22, 2021

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4655

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

PRICE

Electoral Reform

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Draft ROPA Amendment Bill expected by June – Jagdeo …says IRI playing mere supporting role

2 more COVID-19 deaths, 160 new cases reported P17

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GRA clerks charged over $19M cheque P8 forgery

Crash-landing at Orealla

Cocaine found in Surinamebound plane worth $2.9B …Brazilian nationals co-operating – CANU

Essequibo Coast woman nabbed with ganja in bedroom P10

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Driver receives electric burns after crashing into utility pole

$29.8M fraudulent 12-year-old chopped by 10wire transfers unearthed by GWI year-old playmate Page 13

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Guyanese companies to get exclusivity in certain local content sectors Page 9

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Govt mulls cash grants to vulnerable P18 groups Vaccination P12 rate lowest among younger population − Health Minister

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, May 22 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 12:00h – 13:30h and Sunday, May 23 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 13:00h – 14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, May 22 – 12:40h – 14:10h and Sunday, May 23 – 13:45h – 15:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloud will prevail during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:25h reaching a maximum height of 2.46 metres.

Low Tide: 06:56h and 19:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.8 metre and 0.71 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

07 10 11

20 23 26

FREE TICKET FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

21 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 05 09 13 25 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

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THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$65.11/barrel

-2.38

Rough Rice

$237.29/ton

-0.73

London Sugar

$453.40/ton

-0.02

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1880.70

$1881.70

Low/High Change

$1869.30 0.00

$1890.10 0.00%

Electoral Reform

Draft ROPA Amendment Bill expected by June – Jagdeo …says IRI playing mere supporting role

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s part of electoral reform efforts, the Government of Guyana is reviewing the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) to iron out ambiguous provisions and include penalties for persons attempting to carry out electoral fraud.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who disclosed during a press conference on Friday that the amendment of this Act is crucial to prevent the events that occurred following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections from recurring. ROPA contains laws specific to the conduct of elections and election related issues in Guyana.

“We’ve solicited from the public all of the issues that they would like to see amended in the law. The idea is to make more transparent and to define responsibilities in the Act that are unambiguous and thirdly, to put in place a set of penalties for people [who] tried to steal the elections,” he stated.

The Vice President noted that any right-thinking person will support this effort, adding that all Guyanese stakeholders will have a chance to have an input in the crafting of the amended bill.

According to Jagdeo, a draft amendment bill is likely to be in place by the “end of June” following which it will be sent to the various political parties in the country, civil society bodies, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the international community as well be available for the public.

“Then people would have three months in Guyana to give their input. And we will look at issues right from registration to declaration of the results so everything that is not unambiguous, not transparent etc. We made it clear that we want SoPs (Statements of Poll) in the public domain before the tabulation starts, that sort of thing,” the VP pointed out.

He went on to assure that everyone will get a chance to give their feedback on the amendments including the current parliamentary Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

“And then when that’s done, a draft bill taking into account the input [received] will be presented to the Parliament, where the parliamentary Opposition will once again have an input,” Jagdeo stressed.

Over the past few days, the Opposition coalition criticised the involvement of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in the electoral reform process.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Supporting role

Earlier this month, Government announced that it was partnering with the IRI through a United States-funded project to lay the foundation for the much-needed electoral reforms.

However, the APNU/ AFC has objected to the IRI’s role in the process, claiming that foreigners should not be conducting Guyana’s reforms. It complained too about not being consulted before the project was rolled out.

But the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has since explained that the project is being led by Guyana with the IRI merely playing a supporting role.

This was reiterated by the Vice President on Friday.

“IRI will support [the re-

form process]. So, a lot of this stuff is them not leading, they will support electoral reforms. So, they may provide consultants who may do the drafting for us etc. But when the debate takes place, it’s between the Guyanese who will decide what will finally be the amendments. It will be the Opposition and Government in the Parliament that will pass the final law and you will have a full-fledged debate,” VP Jagdeo stated.

Nevertheless, he reminded that back in 2011 and 2015 the PNC-led coalition had partnered with the IRI and had no qualms then, especially when the body funded the populator “Vote Like a Boss” campaign. The Vice President further contended that the Opposition’s apprehension now is only because of the involvement of the US, which was very vocal against the blatant attempts to the rig the elections.

According to Jagdeo, the Irfaan Ali-led Administration will continue to accept the support of the international community on issues of transparency and democracy.

The need for electoral reform, and more broadly, constitutional reforms, was underscored following last year’s March polls, which led to a five-month tumultuous impasse.

There were concerted ef-

forts by the former governing coalition regime and some GECOM officials to undermine democracy after elections were held.

A number of ploys were involved, from GECOM officials inflating numbers to favour the former ruling party to supporters of the APNU/ AFC using the courts to drag out the electoral process.

The PPP/C Administration had stated since taking office that the issues that caused the prolonged delays during the 2020 General and Regional Elections need to be addressed before the country holds another election.

Over the years, international organisations that have observed several electoral cycles in Guyana have been making a series of recommendations to improve the country’s electoral process. Among those recommendations is changing the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission.

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 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

Breakdown in family structures

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ver the last four decades, developing Caribbean countries have been struggling to maintain law and order within their respective territories, while simultaneously causing a reduction in the increasing levels of crime and criminality in their societies, which pose the most serious threat to their forward movement and the notion of national security.

While these countries have all approached the subject matter differently, most of them have failed in addressing the root causes of crime and criminality, so much so that their judicial systems have become ineffective and slothful in the dispensation of justice.

This is not as a result of poor management on the part of the judiciary, or the lack of adequate resources in the form of magistrates or lawyers, but can be directly attributed to a breakdown in the traditional family structures within our societies; the changing socioeconomic, domestic and regional environment; the shifting of gender roles; the emergence of new, complex gender identities; and the changing dynamics of a world now driven by newer forms of information and communication technologies.

While all of the abovementioned factors are important to any discussion on solving the proliferation of crime within our regional economies, many researchers and policy makers underestimate the role of males and boys in growth and sustenance of the Region’s crime problem.

The truth is, many Caribbean men and boys are being poorly socialised, and are many times not given enough attention during their early years of development at home, in school, and within the wider society.

At an early age, boys within developing countries are told that they must be tough, and the burden to provide for their families still falls on their shoulders, despite the shifting gender roles and the advances made in gender equality. They are socialised to hide their weaknesses and sensitivities, and to shun anything that even slightly appears feminine.

We must re-educate our boys, therefore, and change how they perceive the importance of an education, despite the economic hardships and feminisation of this tool by the societies in which they dwell.

A renowned Jamaican educator, Wayne Campbell, offers a number of solutions for saving our boys and reducing their involvement in crime, which could see them moving from not populating jails, but universities and think-tanks that arrive at solutions for male empowerment and the economic advancement of the entire family as a unit.

Campbell asserts that “there is also the need to urgently recast our current gender policy. One way of doing so is to incorporate more men in the discourse to shape our national gender policy. It’s ludicrous to think that women only, or a gender board dominated by women, can advocate the needs of our boys and men. We also need to examine the possibility of creating so-called ‘boy-friendly’ curricula, assessment and pedagogical practices. We now know that boys learn differently than girls, and therefore we should use this knowledge to refashion teaching methodologies that speak to both sexes in the classroom.”

In Guyana, there is a need to view the issue of underperformance and underachievement with a sense of urgency and dispatch. If not, we are going to continue to witness the spread of a deviant strand of hyper- masculinity sweeping across the education system. This reconstruction of masculinity is already manifesting itself in all our schools. Our boys are wearing their school pants well below their waists, and at times exposing their undergarments. Those boys who wear the uniform correctly are teased and referred to as “old”.

Our boys have become more violent in recent years, even to the point of physically abusing female teachers. Male teachers, over the years, have endured physical attacks; however, the attacks on the female teachers by boys should have been viewed as a wake-up call in regard to the urgent need to rescue our boys.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and former President Donald Ramotar on Friday joined family and friends at the funeral service of the late Eshwar Vevakanand Persaud, CCH, also known as ‘Uncle Vic’, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam. After the church service, Persaud’s body was taken to his hometown in Rose Hall, Berbice, for burial (Office of the President photo)

Celebrating Guyana’s 55th Independence anniversary Dear Editor, The Co-operative Republic of Guyana celebrates its 55th anniversary of Independence on Wednesday, May 26. It will also be five and a half decades since my voice was first heard on national radio, because I had made by maiden report on the flag-raising activities.

A lot has transpired during this period. We saw 10 Presidents being sworn in: Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Sam Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, David Granger; and the current President, Irfaan Ali, the youngest of them.

The PNC was in Government a little longer than the PPP - 1966 to 1992 (also two years, 1964-66, before the Independence period) - and then the coalition APNU/AFC under PNC’s Granger for four years before a No Confidence Motion was passed which booted Granger out of office.

The PPP also had a long stretch of 23 years under Jagdeo and Ramotar. Now the PPP is back under a young President at a time when all Guyanese at home and abroad are hoping for a complete turnaround of the economy, more jobs, and a comfortable living for the poor and unfortunate ones.

This can be possible only if the powers that be are vigilant and prevent exploitation of the country’s resources by the filthy rich oil barons.

We have to forget the past; there are too many horrors therein: Jim Jones and the People’s Temple trage-

dy, wherein 918 American followers of the so-called Evangelist Jim Jones committed suicide in November 1978; and the terror which another American, David Hill - who renamed himself Rabbi Washington and set up the House of Israel – and the members of that organisation visited upon anti-Burnham supporters in harassing them. It was only after the death of Burnham that the Rabbi lost his stripes under Hoyte.

President Cheddi Jagan released Hill from prison and deported him. He eventually died in New Jersey.

I must also mention that the Burnham Administration removed all the vestiges of colonialism and moved into left wing socialism… went so far as to make the Government an arm of the PNC, and the party’s flag was flown over the Court of Appeal Building in Kingston, Georgetown. British honours like “Sir”, “Dame”, OBE, MBE, and Queen’s Counsel were replaced with local honours: Order of Excellence (OE), Order of Roraima (OR), Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) etc; and Senior Counsel replaced Queen’s Counsel.

I cannot omit the assassination of Walter Rodney in March 1980, because he was a threat to the Burnham dictatorial regime. Space does not permit me to say much more, but I have to mention the difficulties the authorities endured to remove the coalition from office following the No Confidence Motion.

It took five long months after the ruling of the highest court of the land, the

Caribbean Court of Justice, before the new President was sworn in. Now David Granger does not want the CCJ to determine election issues, he is advocating that the Guyana Court of Appeal should be the final court in this regard. He, however, welcomed the CCJ’s ruling that Jagdeo cannot have a third term as President. This is ridiculous. Remember, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled that 33 is not the majority of 65, but the CCJ ruled otherwise.

I should remind readers that the Guyana Court of Appeal was the final Court in Guyana for 35 long years - when the country gained republican status in 1970 to April 2005, when the CCJ was inaugurated. Burnham abolished appeals to the Privy Council in February 1970, making Guyana the only country in the Commonwealth to have only one court of appeal.

Reports state that 10 million barrels of oil will be pumped from the Stabroek block every month - this is five times more than oil rich

Trinidad and Tobago - but it is extremely crucial that the oil be properly monitored and Guyana gets its rightful share. Too many African countries have been fleeced by the filthy rich oil companies. Guyana encountered numerous setbacks in the past. Now that oil is on the horizon, Guyanese have to work in harmony with each other to rebuild the country.

We have rice, sugar, gold, bauxite, agriculture products, and now oil. We have a sound educational system, the ten top students in the region are Guyanese. This is extremely good; the youngsters are following in the footsteps of those of yesteryear, since hundreds of brilliant Guyanese are scattered all over the planet, holding top posts in technology, business, medicine, education, law and other fields.

All in all, the future looks extremely good. What is needed - and it is of paramount importance - is unity.

Unity is strength.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

I commend our nation’s rice farmers Dear Editor, I’ve been following very closely reports in sections of the media about the successes of our farmers for the first rice crop of 2021. This crop, formally known as the spring crop, usually sets the tone for rice production figures for the year. A successful first crop puts you in a

better position to have commendable production figures at the end of the year.

I am a cash crop farmer from Region 6, but I have many friends who plant rice. They all tell me that with the interest I have in rice, I should venture into rice production, but I enjoy what I do.

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

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

Seetaa Jayanti – the birthday of Maataa Seetaa

Dear Editor, Arya-Hindus in Guyana and elsewhere all over the world paused, some on May 20 and others on May 21, to celebrate the birthday of Mother Seetaa. This festival brings into focus an illustrious female character, Mother Seetaa, whom we must study and seek to emulate.

What is there in Seetaa’s persona that pulls us to her? Why is it that

we feel motivated to turn the pages of her history to understand who she was?

The first character trait of Maataa Seetaa that comes to mind almost immediately is the impeccably ideal life that she lived.

Her marriage to Shri Raam brought together two souls, two families, and two cities.

She ‘came over’ from her father’s kingdom in Mithilaa to live permanently in her husband’s family in

Ayodhyaa, and there is no evidence in the Ramayana that shows her as having ever returned.

When Raam and Seetaa had just arrived in the forest to live in exile, Janak and Sunainaa, her parents, came to see her. Seetaa went to the hut where her parents were staying to pay them respect. The Ramayana records her as saying nothing – no crying, no complaining, no show-

I commend our nation’s rice...

For this crop, all of my friends have completed reaping and enjoyed favourable yields.

They average between 50 and 54 bags per acre. At the end of every crop, I would usually engage them about their overall experience, and what they think could’ve been done to improve their activities.

Generally, their experiences were similar. What stood out this time around was the fact that they all said more engagement was had between themselves and the extension officers attached to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Guyana Rice Development Board. They all expressed that the extension officers were more available this time around.

The reason for this, in my opinion, is the no-nonsense approach taken

by Agriculture Minister Mustapha and his insisting that extension officers needed to up their game, so to

speak. However, whatever the reason may be, I’d like to commend those extension officers for their hard work and increased efforts during the crop.

My friends also said they could see more effort was being put into preparing and maintaining dams by the NDIA and the Regional offices. This reminded me of when the Government took office and millions of dollars were spent almost immediately to take care of dams, so that rice farmers could transport their paddy. Although some of those dams are once again in a terrible state due to the rains, I want to commend those who worked to have those dams repaired in time for harvesting.

The leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture must also be commended. During the first Farmer’s Field Day for the year, which was hosted by the GRDB, a charge was made for extension offi-

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cers to work with low-yielding farmers to improve their cultivation. Many low-yielding farmers would’ve benefited from that exercise.

A great deal of advice was given, and I hope that farmers had been able to apply what was taught, in order to improve their current cultivation. It seems as though those in charge are working to address low yields from the source.

In conclusion, I want to encourage our nation’s farmers to continue with their valiant efforts. I also want to encourage the Government to continue supporting our farmers. I see a great deal of support is being given, and I urge those responsible for guiding the sector to continue to invest the necessary resources, so that our yields can continue to increase with every crop. Kudos!

Yours truly, Bisnauth Rampersaud

ing of regret and hurt feelings. And very soon after she arrived in their hut, Sunainaa indicated to Janak that she shouldn’t be kept long – she had to return to Raam, for parents’ residence was no longer the residence of their married daughter.

Also, when Kaikeyi had given the order for him to go into exile, Shri Raam asked Seetaa to stay on in Ayodhyaa for the 14 years to help look after his parents, reminding her that a dutiful daughter-in-law had great blessings coming her way. Seetaa acknowledged those potential blessings, but said to Shri Raam that a wife without her husband was like a body without soul, a river without water; and so, without Shri Raam’s presence, heaven for her would be no different from hell.

Seetaa, instead of returning to her parents’ home, chose to follow her hus-

band to live through immense hardship coming from bushes, thorns, hunger, fatigue, rain, heat, etc.

Many people heap abuse on Shri Raam for giving credence to rumours spread by illiterate people about Seetaa’s character, and consequently sending her, in a pregnant state, into the forest for a second time.

Even this part of the epic saga contains long-lasting inspirations for us in these modern times. It shows the deep sense of discipline, restraint, and responsiveness of a virtuous King. In banishing Seetaa, King Raam showed that the concerns of his subjects far superseded those of his immediate family, no matter how ruinous the consequences were. A lesson in sacrifice, indeed, for modern political rulers practising nepotism! Shri Raam’s virtue remained intact, because he never married anyone else, but still saw her as his wife.

We may remember that when he had performed a huge sacrifice in Seetaa’s absence, he had a golden statue of her meaningfully placed next to his side. Also, she also never succumbed to any vindictiveness, anger, and temptation to get married to someone else. She remained loyal to him to the last breath. In fact, she bore him handsome, virtuous, and skillful twin sons [Lav and Kush] who were a lesson to the world.

This world, especially Hindus, need living examples of Raam and Seetaa again; for that’s the only way each home, Hindu or otherwise, would become Ayodhyaa again.

Happy Seetaa Jayanti. Namaste!!

And, do pardon this unusually long post!

Yours truly, Dr Satish Prakash Gurukula - Guyana and New York

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

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Foundation

the watermelon you scooped out.

Now invite friends and family to enjoy a cool helping of froggy fruit. Ribbit, ribbit!

Cinnamon-snail snacks

Do you like to bake? Then give this cinnamon-snail recipe a whirl!

C

What you need

hill on a hot day with a watermelon frog prince or enjoy a cinnamon snail!

Watermelon frog prince What you need

a small, round watermelon a mixture of fresh, washed, cut-up fruit two limes green, white, black, and yellow construction paper and scissors pink plastic wrap paper white glue toothpicks big spoon and a long, sharp knife

What you do

For the mouth, ask an adult to cut a large slice out of the watermelon, as shown. With the big spoon, scoop out the rest of the melon and save it in a separate dish.

Poke a toothpick halfway into each lime. Then stick the other end of each toothpick into the top of the melon for the frog’s eyes. Cut out white and black paper circles for the eyeballs and glue them on.

Make green legs from construction paper and a floppy tongue, as shown, from a strip of folded pink plastic wrap. Use toothpicks to hold the legs and tongue in place.

Make a crown, as shown, from yellow paper.

Fill the frog’s mouth with the cut-up fresh fruit, including

can of refrigerated biscuit or bread dough flour cinnamon sugar melted butter slivered almonds

What you do

NB: Adult supervision required. Ask an adult for help Preheat oven to 400°.

Knead entire can of dough and form into a large ball. Spread it out with a rolling pin on a floured surface until the dough is a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. (If it’s too sticky, you can add a small amount of flour.)

Mix together equal amounts of cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.

Brush melted butter over the dough. Then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture on the dough until it’s evenly covered.

Starting with one of the short sides of the rectangle, roll up the dough to form a tight, spiralled log.

Cut the log into slices about 1/2 inch thick. Carefully place the slices on a greased cookie sheet or one lined with parchment paper.

Unwrap the outside end of each slice and form into the shape of a snail’s head.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the snails start to turn golden brown. While the snails are cooling, push two almond slivers into each head to create tentacles. (Adapted from rangerrick. org), (recipe by Donna Miller, photo by Paul Hartmann. rangerrick.com)

WORD SEARCH

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA clerks charged over $19M cheque forgery

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wo clerks attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) were among four individuals charged on Friday over the discovery of two forged cheques from the tax agency – one of which was encashed at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI),

Regent Street, Georgetown.

Facing charges are GRA clerks 25-year-old Tooqwan Clarke of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and 26-yearold Ivor Dowridge of Second Street, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown; 38-year-old Randi Gladstone; and 26-year-old

Leroy Green, an accountant of William Street Kitty, Georgetown.

The first charge stated that Gladstone, between October 28, 2020 and May 11, 2021, at Georgetown, conspired with Green, Dowridge, Clarke, Rameschand Singh, Komalram Persaud,

Leroy Green

Ivor Dowridge

Randi Gladstone

Devindra Moteeram, Anush Khan, and others to forge one Bank of Guyana cheque #08-251478, dated 2021-0409 amounting to $9,550,000, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Revenue Authority, Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

It is alleged that Gladstone, between October 28, 2020, and May 11, 2021, at Georgetown, conspired with Green, Dowridge, Clarke, Rameschand Singh, Komalram Persaud, Devindra Moteeram, Anush Khan, Shereesa Tappin, and other persons to forge one Bank of Guyana cheque #08-252760, dated 2021-0409 amounting to $9,875,000, in favour of Shareesa Tappin, purporting to show that same was issued by GRA’s, Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

The quartet was not required to plead to the indictable charges. Each of them was granted bail to the tune of $600,000, except for Gladstone who was remanded to prison. They will make their next court appearance on July 2, 2021, before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Others charged

On Tuesday, five persons including a woman were charged over forging and encashing GRA cheques at GBTI. Except for the woman, who was remanded to prison, the men were each granted $300,000 bail.

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Everybody wants…

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…electoral reform? f you believe the rhetoric in the dailies, from the letters’ pages to their page 3 coverage, you’d think it’s the dawning of “the age of electoral reform”. Everybody and their uncle want it. Trouble is, the “it” isn’t singular, but multitudinous...and that’s where the “trouble” becomes real, not just a figure of speech!! Now, maybe you can’t blame folks for thinking like this after the stunt the PNC under Granger tried to pull over by Ashmin’s last year.

But, frankly, while your Eyewitness thinks electoral change may be necessary, he firmly believes it’s not sufficient to fix what ails our body politic. Take, for instance, GECOM itself, which consists of a Commission and a Secretariat. Some argue that the Carter Formula of having 3 Commissioners selected by the Govt and 3 by the Opposition guarantees deadlock. But what’s the alternative? Public Servants, like in India, thought not!! We pick folks from “Civil Society”.

Do the Guyanese people have any confidence in these self-selected and self-appointed folks who believe they know better than the rest of the masses? Who vets them? Who says they won’t be as biased as the political Commissioners? At least with THEM, we’re dealing with known quantities - plus the buy-in of the political parties who’re vying for power!

The Carter Formula, after all, does have a tiebreaker to the built-in deadlock in the form of the Chair. At least it should theoretically be easier for the parties to decide on the bona fides of one person, rather than seven!!

Theoretically! Cause we saw the struggle over the selection of the last Chair, didn’t we? And we’re getting to the heart of the matter. The Heart of Darkness, so to speak!

Granger absolutely refused to acknowledge the spirit of the Carter Formula - which is to try to select someone who’s least objectionable to one’s partisan interest. And as such, hopefully, would best serve the national interest.

But Granger showed that he is irremediably inflexible when it comes to compromises - it’s either the PNC way or the Highway! So, your Eyewitness doesn’t see any real resolution on the composition of the GECOM Commission.

So on to the Secretariat. Here we saw the same challenge posed above playing out at another level with the hired help. To wit, how to prevent bias in the said help performing their duties on Election Day and afterwards.

In a country as polarised as Guyana, there’s no screening process that’s gonna separate the (PPP) wheat from the (PNC) chaff.

And we know that by the question in your mind, dear reader. Why did your Eyewitness write (PPP) wheat and not (PNC) wheat!!

The divisions go THAT deep! …Justice?

Yeah, even more than electoral change, everyone wants Justice. But, also, like electoral change, everyone has their own idea of the Justice they want - the one that benefits THEM!! Take Granger’s statement that he doesn’t believe the CCJ should have final judicial review over our election-related disputes. Notice that he doesn’t mind all other matters - criminal and civil - over which the CCJ has appellate jurisdiction. They can decide, for instance, on the most arcane matter concerning our almost unique Roman Dutch law in land (only South Africa shares it with us!) but not elections?

So what’s unique about our electoral law that the CCJ can’t pass muster? That esoteric mathematical principle that insists 33 isn’t the majority of 65 as the PNC proposes?

Ah…we’re getting to the nub of the matter, aren’t we? The PNC and their “Highway” rule!! But there’s another even more insidious implication to Granger’s declaration: that the Appellate Court of Guyana will see things electoral the PNC away!

And that’s not exactly an endorsement for our judiciary, is it? …Fintech?

There’s gonna be a webinar on Fintech. So, what’s “Fintech”? Well, as a combination of “finance” and “technology”, you get the idea?

Maybe they’ll suggest Banks quit asking for envelopes as proof of address?

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

9 Guyanese companies to get exclusivity in certain local content sectors A NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

s Guyana moves closer towards to establishing local content laws, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that there will be strong carveouts that will see Guyanese companies exclusively benefiting from opportunities in specific sectors.

“Well, there are some sectors that we are putting in the law that you’d have Guyanese businesses only competing against each other. There’ll be no foreigners to compete against because that carve-out will be made entirely for Guyanese in things like landscaping, logistics, transportation, food supplies, cleaning services… rentals – huge market for rentals,” Jagdeo said during a press conference on Friday.

He outlined that this will see tens of billions of dollars going directly towards locals in a vast list of sectors that will benefit fully-owned Guyanese businesses.

Apart from these exclusive areas, the Vice President noted too that the laws will also contain provisions for Guyanese companies to get a percentage of opportunities from the other sectors.

However, Jagdeo noted that there will have to be specific provisions in the legislation to define what constitutes a “Guyanese company” especially since more local entities are entering into joint ventures with foreign companies to tap into opportunities coming out of not just the oil and gas sector but from the development activities that are on-

going in other industries.

“We have several proposals including the issue of naturalisation and how we deal with that because once you naturalised, you get conferred all the rights of a citizen. So, that is a tricky issue but that means we’d have to control who we naturalised if we do decide to allow people who are naturalised because you can’t discriminate by law. So that issue has to be settled before (passing local content laws),” the Vice President stated.

Jagdeo further highlighted that they will also have to ascertain the composition of Guyanese companies, that is, determine whether they will have to be a fully-owned Guyanese company in order to benefit from these exclusive opportunities or at least 75 per cent Guyaneseowned.

“Are you gonna say only companies 100 per cent or you say companies that are at least 75 per cent owned

by Guyanese because you also want them to get some capital and input too from abroad, you know, technology capital and stuff… Do you do that or do you say 100 per cent? These are the issues that are worked out before,” he stated.

However, the Vice President explained that there will be some time before these provisions are effected. As such, Guyanese companies will be allowed to get themselves ready to tap into these highly specialised areas.

Meanwhile, during Friday’s press conference, VP Jagdeo also criticised

Draft ROPA Amendment...

FROM PAGE 3

Currently, GECOM is composed of three Commissioners from the Government and three from the parliamentary Opposition along with a Chairperson, who is selected following consultations between the President and the Opposition Leader.

But during Friday’s press conference, VP Jagdeo pointed out this position of the international community to de-politicise GECOM would have to be reconsidered given last year’s events.

“For a very long time, the international community, after we had enshrined The Carter Center formula into the Constitution, had been advocating for a technical body – one that is devoid of political representation at GECOM. Given the experience recently of what had taken place at GECOM, I think there is a big reconsideration of this view because what happened at GECOM. It was the technical body – the machinery – that tried to rig the elections on behalf of APNU/ AFC. The Chief Elections Officer (Keith Lowenfield), the Deputy Chief (Elections Officer Roxanne Myers) and (Region Four Returning

Officer, Clairmont) Mingo.”

“And so, had it not been for the Commission being constituted as the type (presently) enshrined in the Constitution, we would’ve probably had a result very different from what we have today. And so, given that experience, there will be a huge rethinking of this position,” Jagdeo stated.

Electoral fraud

Several GECOM officials and staff including CEO Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Myers and embattled RO Mingo have since been charged for electoral fraud.

Additionally, PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence has also been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud after she was the lone political party representative who signed the fraudulent declaration made by Mingo in which he inflated the figures in favour of the coalition.

Meanwhile, the Opposition coalition has lost both election petitions filed to challenge the outcome of the 2020 elections which saw the PPP/C securing a victory with 233,336 votes – some 15,416 more votes than the APNU/AFC. (G8)

the former APNU/AFC Administration for failing to put the necessary local content infrastructure in place.

“So, you had foreign companies taking over every sector… [But now] the companies know what’s coming – local content with strong crave-outs for Guyanese,” he posited.

After assuming office in August last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali established a High-Level Local Content Panel to review policy initiatives on local content in the petroleum sector and provide guidance for the development of Guyana’s Local Content Policy and Legislation.

The panel, chaired by Shyam Nokta, compiled and submitted the Local Content Report. Also on the panel

were Carl Greenidge, Carvil Duncan, Anthony Paul, Kevin Ramnarine, Floyd Haynes, and the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Legal Officer Sasha RajkumarBudhan. The end product was a list of recommendations and subsequently, a draft Local Content Policy that the Government had released in February of this year.

The stakeholders’ consultation on Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy for its petroleum sector started in February and President Dr Ali himself opened the discussion from which authorities were expected to receive feedback and comments for the finalisation of the critical document.

Approximately 140 stakeholders were engaged

by the panel on the compilation of the report. The report outlines several recommendations to improve the country’s policies and legislation.

It was previously reported that Government is likely to hire experts to examine and incorporate comments and suggestions emanating from these stakeholder consultations into the final policy document that will be presented in the National Assembly.

However, even as the Guyana Government pushes to have a Local Content Policy that will see Guyanese to play a greater role in the advancement of the petroleum sector, United States oil major ExxonMobil – which is Guyana’s biggest foreign investor – had cau-

tioned last month unrealistic local content targets can have negative consequences.

This was acknowledged

by Haynes, who is a financial analyst. He told Guyana Times in a previous interview that a balance has to be struck to achieve deliverable local content.

“There has to be a balance that has to be struck.

We cannot come out and force the companies to implement or embrace these policies 100 per cent immediately. There has to be a gradual process. And the reason is because we have to make sure that our businesses and our people are sufficiently trained and have the necessary qualifications and those types of things,” the local content panellist explained. (G8)

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Crash-landing at Orealla

Cocaine found in Suriname-bound plane worth $2.9B …Brazilian nationals co-operating – CANU

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s investigations continue into the crash-landing of a Brazilian-registered four-seater Bonanza Beechcraft at Orealla, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has confirmed that a total of 453 kilograms of cocaine were found onboard the aircraft.

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

nationals, Salem Nobrega de Alencar and Isaias Luiz Pereira were transported to CANU Headquarters as the drug enforcement body continue its investigations.

Speaking with Guyana Times Head of CANU, James Singh related that the two men onboard the vessel are cooperating. At this point, however, he noted that he cannot divulge much information about the investigations.

Nevertheless, he reiterated that from all indications and information re-

ceived thus far, the aircraft was heading to Suriname when it crash-landed at Orealla, some 50 miles up the Berbice River. He added that the unit is in discussions with their counterparts in both Brazil from where the plane originated and Suriname where it was heading.

On the other hand, the Police stated that in addition to the 453 bricks of cocaine which weighed one kilogram each, two Global Positioning Systems, one radio set, three smartphones,

The two occupants of the aircraft along with some of the 453 bricks of cocaine

The aircraft that crash-laned at Orealla on Thursday

two identification cards and the registration documents for the aircraft were found.

The Police stated that at about 15:00h on Thursday, Police ranks from the Region Six Police Division received reports that a foreign registered aircraft had landed on a sand trail at Orealla Village, Corentyne, Berbice River.

At the time, two Brazilians were onboard and were subsequently arrested following the discovery of the huge amount of cocaine.

As such, ranks of the Police Force’s SWAT Team, the Guyana Defence Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were mobilised and dispatched to the scene from Camp Ayanganna via

the GDF’s Bell 412 helicopter.

It was further reported that after the aircraft with registration number PT-SRR landed, the foreign nationals allegedly told residents that they were travelling and visiting several areas to do sport fishing and other leisure activities, but had encountered difficulty with the weather. In addition, they claimed that the aircraft ran out of fuel, and got lost after circling the area for some time.

Shortly after the discovery, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field explained that since the aircraft is illegally in Guyana,

and given the nature of the cargo found onboard, the law enforcement agencies have taken control of the probe.

He added that GCAA’s role in the ongoing investigation will be to verify the documentation of both the Beechcraft and the two occupants.

Only last September, another Brazilian-registered Beechcraft crash-landed at Issano, Middle Mazaruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with some 390 kilograms of cocaine. Also onboard that aircraft was the motionless body of a foreign national who was later identified as 49-year-old Brazilian national Alessandro Eduardo Petravicies.

The completely wrecked plane was discovered on September 14, 2020, in the vicinity of the Nine Miles Airstrip, where authorities had discovered another aircraft that landed in the country the night before.

The Police had said that the first plane, which had three occupants, had no illegal items onboard, nor were any illegal articles found nearby. It was reported that that plane, a 206 Cessna, was travelling along with the Beechcraft, heading to Suriname.

Essequibo Coast woman nabbed with ganja in bedroom

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32-year-old woman of Charity Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), has been taken into custody after a quantity of ganja was found in her bedroom.

Reports are that on Thursday, Police ranks received information and went to the suspect’s house in Charity Extension Scheme, where a search was conducted. During the search, a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found in a transparent bag in her bedroom.

As a result, the housewife was arrested and taken to the Charity Police Station when the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 464 grams.

The cannabis that was found by Police

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vaccination rate lowest among younger population – Health Minister …over 47,000 persons fully immunised

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ounger age groups will now be the target of the Health Ministry’s vaccination campaign, as new cases soar while the vaccination rate remains lowest among this subset.

Some 177,649 persons have received their first dose of the vaccine, amounting to 36.5 per cent of the adult population. For second doses, uptake has increased to 47,504 persons or 9.8 per cent.

A breakdown shows that 66.2 per cent of persons 60 years and older have received their first jab; 33.7 per cent for the 40 to 50 age group and 27 per cent in the 18 to 39 category.

According to Health Minister, Dr Frank

The coronavirus is now affecting younger age groups

Anthony, this is an indication that more sensitisation and awareness efforts are needed for this group.

“With the younger age group, that is the 18 to 39 age group, that is the group we will have to work more on because when we look at the number of infections that is occurring, we’re seeing those new cases are predominantly between 18 and 40.

This group is more vulnerable to the infection because I guess they’re more active.

They’re moving around and coming into contact with persons who are positive,” Dr Anthony shared.

For this, he urged youngsters to take their vaccines, in helping to contain the spread of the virus.

“It is important that we immunise this age group and I would like to make an appeal for the younger persons, people between 18 and 40, to come forward and get their vaccines. This would help us to contain the spread.”

Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), which has seen the lowest vaccination rate has made slight improvements, moving from nine to 11 per cent. However, the other regions have made great progress, with Region Six leading the charts.

Regional statistics show a 39.2 per cent immunisation in Region One (BarimaWaini), 36.4 per cent in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 37.5 per cent in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 36.6 per cent in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 38.5 per cent in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 43.6 per cent in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 37.1 per cent in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 23.9 per cent in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 34.9 per cent in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This is an average of 36.4 per cent.

“They (Region 10) were

the lowest. They continue to be the lowest there although there have been marginal improvements so we continue to urge the leadership in Region 10, persons who have influence in the community to advocate so that people could go out and get their vaccines. We got to make that appeal to people because we’re seeing an increase in cases in Region 10 as well. We have right now more than 140 active cases in Region and there are communities where we have seen more than 50 cases,” the Minister shared.

Myths

Sensitisation from authorities becomes critical with the circulation of myths in communities, causing people not to get inoculated.

It was highlighted that the Ministry is constantly seeking to dispel any untruths so as to influence behavioural change.

“There’s lots of myths circulating pertaining to safety and efficacy of vaccines and then some very weird myths that has nothing to do with the vaccine. So, trying to dispel that, trying to get people to understand that these vaccines are safe, it’s an ongoing process. We have to keep educating and hopefully we’ll get people changing their attitudes,” Dr Anthony detailed.

The source of information, he identified, is the biggest challenge for officials.

In most instances, people fail to validate the information that is provided before believing or spreading it to others.

“A lot of time, I don’t think people are analysing proper medical and scientific information. They’re going by hearsay, what somebody would have told them and a lot of time, the sources of authority that they’ve been using is people who really don’t have proper medical or scientific information.”

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12-year-old chopped by 10-year-old playmate

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12-year-old boy was admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after he was chopped to his heel by his 10-year-old friend while he was attempting to chop a face mask.

Reports are that at about 15:40h on Thursday at Station Street, Matthews Ridge, North West

District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), the 12-year-old was in the company of his 10-year-old playmate and other children, picking Sijan (whitee) from a tree.

Police stated that the 10-year-old had a cutlass in his possession that he used to cut down the tree, and while attempting to chop a face mask that had fall-

en on the ground from another child, the 12-year-old pushed his right foot in the way and was chopped to his heel.

He was picked up by a relative and taken to the Pakera District Hospital where he was seen by a doctor. However, because of the severity of the wound, he was transferred to the GPHC.

GRA clerks charged...

Those charged are: Romeschand Singh, 40, of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Komalram Persaud, 25, of Golden Grove, EBD; Devindra Moteeram, 24, of East La Penitence, Georgetown; Anush Khan, 29, of Diamond, EBD; and Shareesa Tappin, 26, of Clifford Avenue, Georgetown.

It is alleged that Singh, between October 28, 2020, and May 11, 2021, at Georgetown, conspired with Persaud, Moteeran, Khan, and other persons to forge one Bank of Guyana cheque #08-251478, dated 2021-04-09 amounting to $9,875,000, purporting to show that same was issued

by GRA’s Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

The second charge stated that Singh, between October 28, 2020, and May 11, 2021, at Georgetown, conspired with Shareesa Tappin, Persaud, Moteeran, Khan, and other persons to forge one Bank of Guyana cheque #08-252760, dated 2021-0420 amounting to $9,875,000 in favour of Tappin, purporting to show that same was issued by GRA’s Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

It was further alleged that Tappin, on May 11, 2021, at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited, Regent Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, uttered to Afsaanah Azimullah, a Bank Teller, one forged

Bank of Guyana cheque #08-252760 dated 2021-0420 amounting to $9,875,000, in favour of her, purporting to show that it was issued

by GRA’s Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

It was further alleged that Tappin, on May 11, 2021, at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited Regent Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud endeavoured the sum of $9,875,000 from the said bank under, upon or by virtue of a forged instrument, that is to say, one Bank of Guyana cheque #08-252760, dated 2020-0420 amounting to $9,875,000 in her favour, purporting to show that same was issued

by GRA’s Internal Revenue Department, knowing same to be forged.

Unearthed

The fraud was unearthed after an employee of the GBTI called GRA to confirm the issuance and the amount on the cheque to be encashed. That was the fourth cheque the perpetrators had forged as three others had already been cashed.

The cheques were cashed at different branches of GBTI – one at the Diamond, EBD location and the others at its Regent Street, Georgetown location.

In a letter to the Bank of Guyana (BoG) on the issue, GRA Head Godfrey Statia confirmed that the cheques were forged since GRA cheques are stamped “not negotiable” which means

FROM PAGE 8

that the banks are not allowed to cash them but deposit it into the payee’s account.

Further, it was pointed out by the GRA Head that the signatures of the payee on the cheques in question do not clearly match that on their ID cards. It was against this backdrop that Statia said the fraud was perpetrated as a result of negligence at best or collusion at worst on the part of the commercial bank.

He added that the fact that the bank employee would call to verify the authenticity of the cheques shows that there are rules and operating procedures in place to minimise or prevent such occurrences.

Further, Statia requested the BoG to ensure such requests are accepted from its account, and that the commercial bank is liable for the fraud. Guyana Times understands that the money that was debited from GRA’s account in the fraudulent transactions will have to reinstated.

Since the fraud was made public, BoG Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga has warned local commercial banks to exercise due diligence to avoid any acts of fraud. Dr Ganga had reportedly met with the executives of the bank and cautioned them to be diligent against such acts in the future.

Investigations are still ongoing in this matter. More persons are likely to be charged.

His condition is regarded as stable.

Following the incident,

a Welfare Officer was summoned along with the mothers of both minors and the

10-year-old was sent away in the custody of his mother.

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

15 Relatives of dead suspected bandit call for justice, picket Home Affairs Ministry NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…Minister, Top Cop assure of thorough probe

Dead: Peter Headley

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ne week after 45-year-old Peter Headley, a taxi driver of Dowding Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was shot and killed while in Police custody, his relatives picketed the Home Affairs Ministry on Friday calling for justice.

Although the Police had reported that Headley was implicated in a robbery at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on May 1,

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn meeting with relatives of the dead man on Friday

2021, his family is holding out that he was not a ban-

dit and called for justice to be served.

After the fatal shooting on May 15, 2021, at Nandy Park, EBD, the Police had reported that a television set that is suspected to have been stolen during the armed robbery at Herstelling was found in Headley’s vehicle.

At the time, Headley and another man were in the vehicle and as such, they were arrested. Headley was reportedly placed in the front passenger seat of his car which was being driven by an armed Police rank. Another Police rank was in the back seat of the vehicle while the other suspect was taken into the Police vehicle with the other ranks.

On their way to the Providence Police Station,

it was alleged that Headley reached under the seat and pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, causing the armed rank to discharge a round, hitting him to his body.

The injured man was instead rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment. This has led to the close arrest of the two Police ranks.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn met with the relatives who picketed his Ministry and assured them that the matter is being thoroughly investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and

the Police Complaints Authority.

In addition, the Minister also took two of Headley’s close relatives to his office where he made an open telephone call to Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, who also gave his assurances into a thorough investigation.

“Both the Minister and the Commissioner noted the grave concerns of the relatives and friends with respect to the effect and fears relating to Police misconduct,” the Ministry stated in a release to the media.

A post-mortem performed on the body of the taxi driver gave the cause of death as a single gunshot wound that perforated the lungs.

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Education Ministry examining September reopening of schools – Manickchand T

he Education Ministry has taken a decision to keep all schools closed for the remainder of this academic year, as officials work towards a September reopening for all levels.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand informed in a briefing on Friday the move to keep classrooms closed was in keeping with advice from the Health Ministry.

Only grades which were already operating in a physical classroom space will continue for this month and the remainder of the academic year.

“We have taken a decision based on the advice of the Ministry of Health to remain closed for the rest of this school year, which ends usually around the end of June [or] first week in July. We will therefore remain closed for the month of June, except for those classes that have already returned to the classroom,” she shared.

Manickchand pointed out that Government is looking to reopen schools by September, given that the vaccination rate increases to a significant percentage and there is some degree of normalcy in the population.

“If persons are responsible in getting vaccinated and utilising the only scientific

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

and medical way of bending the curve of the COVID-19 disease, we are going to be able to resume a state of relative normalcy. We expect, therefore, to be able to reopen schools in September of 2021 to every grade level and we will work very hard to make sure that happens,” it was pointed out.

CXC dates impact

The Caribbean Examinations Council is contemplating whether to pursue the sitting of CAPE and CSEC examinations in the June-July timeline. This, the Minister cautioned, could significantly

impact the National Grade Six Assessment sitting in August.

“We are also aware that the Caribbean Examinations Council is currently re-examining a decision that was made in January of this year that both CSEC and CAPE would be sat from June to July. We have many options on the table that could possibly change that timeline…

When we fixed the date for the NGSA exams, we fixed that date consciously knowing what dates CXC would set their exams for and we made sure the NGSA was falling outside of that timeline.”

Manickchand added, “If CXC changes their date, it would impact significantly on our NGSA. We heard parents and teachers and students when they said that they would ready for those exams in August and we are going to fight very hard to try to deliver those exams efficiently and smoothly and in a way that is in our children’s best interest.”

In the meantime, the Education Ministry has been working to deliver the curriculum on other platforms, especially through online teaching, the Guyana Learning Channel, interactive radio instructions, and through the distribution of

worksheets and other printed learning materials.

Just last week, the Booster programme for students writing the (NGSA) was launched to provide practice and lessons to students. This project features airings and rebroadcasts

on the Guyana Learning Channel and is supported by other mediums, such as YouTube, other forms of social media and cable networks.

Classroom activity has been restricted since midMarch 2020 when Guyana

started witnessing an increase in positive cases.

Presently, Grades 10, 11 and 12 students and those from Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are facilitated in a classroom setting. (G12)

Pomona man gets 15-year jail term for manslaughter

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21-year-old man, who was charged with murder back in 2019 over fatally stabbing a man, has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after admitting to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

On Thursday, Alex Mathias of Pomona on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was arraigned before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Essequibo.

The indictment for murder against him was presented by State Counsel Tiffini Lyken. Mathias elected to plead to the lesser count and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

On December 31, 2018, at Pomona ball field, he unlawfully killed 23-year-

Dead: Kevin Bettencourt

old Kevin Bettencourt. The prison authority will deduct the time that the convicted killer has spent on

remand.

According to reports, Bettencourt of Vilvoorden, Essequibo Coast, was fatally stabbed by Mathias after he went to a residence where Mathias was allegedly visiting a relative, asking for someone. It was reported that Mathias, who was intoxicated at the time, asked Bettencourt to leave.

As a result, the men ended up in a confrontation during which Mathias armed himself with a knife and stabbed Bettencourt.

Following the incident, Mathias fled the scene but was arrested shortly after.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Bettencourt died from perforation of the heart due to a stab wound.

(G1)

“Spleen” acquitted of taxi driver’s murder

Dead: Orin David

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eadow Bank, G r e a t e r Georgetown resident Howard Rambarose has been acquitted of the August 1, 2016 murder of Orin “Malik” David, who was gunned down in front of his Laing Avenue, Georgetown home. Rambarose called “Spleen” and his co-accused, Jermaine Jefford called “Smokey”, were on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury for the capital offence.

On Friday, Justice Sandil Kissoon upheld a no-case submission made by Attorney-at-Law George Thomas on behalf of Rambarose. As such, the Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty, after which he informed Rambarose that he was discharged and free to go.

Jefford, on the other hand, was called on to lead a defence. In an unsworn

Murder accused Jermain Jefford; Freed: Howard Rambarose

statement, the murder accused told the court, “On the first of August 2016, I was at home at my Diamond residence with my threeyear-old son and my girlfriend…The evidence being led against me is false and fabricated, your worship. I am innocent of this crime.

I do not know about this crime…This is unfair to me sir…”

State Counsel Lisa Cave is appearing for the prosecution, while Senior Counsel Stanley Moore is representing Jefford. On Friday, Cave and Moore made closing addresses to the jury. Justice Kissoon will sum up the evidence in this matter on Monday before putting it to the jury for deliberation on a verdict.

According to reports, David was shot dead in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home, in the presence of his reputed wife and relatives. It was report-

ed that David, a father of one, was shot following an argument stemming from the payment of debts. It was reported that David had bailed Jefford out of prison.

However, when he confronted Jefford for the money, a heated argument ensued between them. It is alleged that Jefford left David’s home and returned sometime after with four other men in a motor car.

One of the men exited the vehicle and discharged several rounds at David.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead. Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in 2017, Rambarose and Jefford were committed to stand trial for the offence before a Judge and jury. The Magistrate presiding over the PI had ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented to put them on trial.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 more COVID-19 deaths, 160 new cases reported …active cases surpass 2000

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wo more deaths from the coronavirus disease on Friday hiked the country’s fatalities to 351, and May’s death toll to 52.

The latest deaths were announced by the Health Ministry as a 52-year-old female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and a 58-yearold male Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). They both died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Previously, the last reported deaths were on Tuesday, namely a 37-year-old of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), a 50-year-old and 73-year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and a 54-yearold man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Meanwhile, the country has recorded 160 new cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the total positives recorded to date to 15,903.

There are 2007 active cases: 18 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, 113

in institutional isolation and 1876 in home isolation.

Another eight persons are under institutional quar-

antine. A total of 13,545 persons have recovered.

Since the pandemic started, 141,2712 individuals were

tested – of which 7843 males and 7900 females were positive.

A breakdown showed the detection of one new case in Region One (Barima-Waini), eight in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 27 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 63 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 10 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); five in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); 53 in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); 16 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); two in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and nine in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony reiterated on Friday that normalcy can only return if Guyanese take their vaccines – which will ultimately allow for the reopening of the country.

This was his position amid complaints about the current measures.

He said, “A lot of peo-

ple have been complaining about wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing and the constraints that they have in terms of normal activity. If we want to return to some sense of normalcy, then we all would have to take the vaccine. if we’re all fully vaccinated, then we can reopen the country but until then, it’s going to be challenging.”

While sympathising that businesses have seen losses due to reduced operation, he directed that workplaces must be safe for people to conduct their activities.

One way of doing so is having employees immunised against the virus.

“Many businesses over the last several months have not been able to return to full operation. In some cases, some Private Sector businesses would have had to lay off staff because they haven’t been doing that volume of business. Therefore, they have sent people home. If [we] want businesses to recover, if we want to go back to full employment, then one of the things we’ll have to do

is make sure that workplaces are safe.”

In this light, workplaces were encouraged to ensure that their employees take the vaccines.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www. health.gov.gy.

18 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$29.8M fraudulent wire transfers unearthed by GWI

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n the heels of the multimillion-dollar fraud at a local bank involving the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) account, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is now reporting that it has unearthed almost $30 million in fraudulent wire transfers.

GWI’s Board of Directors in a statement confirmed that the incident occurred at a local commercial bank and the funds amount to $29,816,932.

The fraud was discovered by the water authority’s Finance Department upon reconciling accounts

for March 2021. The sum of $17,489,417 was debited from GWI’s account on March 16, 2021, while on March 24, 12,327,515 was transferred.

GWI, was informed by the bank that the amounts represent payments made

via wire transfer instructions, payable to persons residing in the USA, particularly the state of New York.

“The names of the recipients are Troy Robertson of 1405 Brooklyn Avenue AF2F Brooklyn Avenue, New York 11210 and Deyannera Mohamed of 1998 Pacific Street, Brooklyn NY 11216.

It has been established that both signatures on the wire transfer instruction letters were forged,” the statement read.

Based on accounts from the GWI, the water entity indicated that it has never conducted business with the

named individuals nor had it initiated or instructed the bank to carry out “these fictitious transactions.”

The Guyana Police Force was promptly called in and is currently conducting investigations. The Police fingerprint experts have since confirmed that the signatures were forgeries.

The Bank of Guyana has also been notified.

On Friday, several GRA clerks were charged in relation to $19.4 million fraud involving forged cheques which were cashed at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

The fraud was unearthed after an employee of the Bank called GRA to confirm the issuance and the amount on the cheque that was attempting to be cashed. That was the fourth cheque as three others were already cashed.

The cheques were cashed at different branches of the bank in question – one at Diamond, EBD, and the other at its Regent Street, Georgetown location.

Those charged on Friday were GRA staffers Ivor Dowridge, 26, of Cummings Lodge, Georgetown; Tooqwan Clarke, 25, of West

Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Randi Gladstone, 38; and accountant Leroy Green, 26, of Kitty, Georgetown.

On Tuesday, Romeschand Singh, 40, of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Komalram Persaud, 25, of Golden Grove, EBD; Devindra Moteeram, 24, of East La Penitence, Georgetown; Anush Khan, 29, of Diamond, EBD; and Shareesa Tappin, 26, of Clifford Avenue, Georgetown, were also charged.

They are all accused of conspiring with each other to defraud the GRA. (G2)

Govt mulls cash grants to vulnerable groups

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fter facing a “rough time” during the first countrywide $25,000

COVID-19 cash grant distribution exercise that was rolled out last year, the

Guyana Government is now considering a second round of financial relief but

only to vulnerable groups such as elderly persons and single parents.

During a press conference on Friday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo explained that while Government is committed to and continues to explore ways of bringing relief to Guyanese amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic, the administration of the cash grant exercise was a major issue.

“You know it took us a long time to go to each home to give the grant to people.

And we had a lot of difficulties too… because there was every family in Guyana we had to go to. In some cases, people may not have gotten the money, and they did not get a chance to fill up or some didn’t get to full out the ‘pink form’ because some of them may not have been home. And in some areas, people lied… So, we’ve had a rough time and the people who are distributing this had to contend with all sorts of things,” he stated.

Currently, the first distribution exercise is still ongoing with “pink slip” applicants being processed.

Only recently, the Ministry of Finance revealed that an estimated 40,565 families will benefit from this second phase of the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant.

However, even as Government is working to wrap up the first cash grant exercise, VP Jagdeo noted that had there been an easier way to administer the distribution then this process would have been carried out “swiftly”.

Nevertheless, he went on to say that Government is thinking about a second countrywide stimulus relief but only for certain vulnerable groups.

“We’re definitely considering [a second relief exercise] for vulnerable groups like older folks and others, maybe single parents because that’s easier to administer… So that is on the card but not necessarily for everybody but more vulnerable groups in the second stage… But we’re keeping constant, the thought of helping these communities and the people who

File photo: Scene from the 1st phase of the cash grant distribution

need the help,” the Vice President asserted.

In an update on the second phase of the distribution exercise earlier this week, the Finance

relief initiative was budgeted in 2021 under the Ministry of Social Services and is being executed by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional

Ministry said distribution has already been completed in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), where some 2576 families have benefitted from the combined $64.4 million for the project.

Regions One (BarimaWaini), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) have seen over 80 per cent completion, with 2056 of an estimated 2235 families receiving their cash grant from the $55.8 million for those regions.

Meanwhile, distribution has not yet started in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The Regional Executive Officers are putting systems in place to start the process in the new week.

The Ministry said the over $1.1 billion COVID-19

Development. It is managed by a committee from the Finance Ministry.

In 2020, $4.5 billion was allocated for the first phase of the grant, which started in September. During that distribution exercise, primary households received the grant, while tenants or other families residing at the same address were issued a “pink slip” for follow-up during the second phase.

In December, the National Assembly approved an additional $2.5 billion to continue the cash grant relief efforts.

In addition to this measure, the Government also distributed $1.73 billion to Amerindian communities as part of its one-off COVID-19 relief investment fund aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and revitalising hinterland economies.

Persons with queries about their COVID pink slip grant can contact the Ministry on telephone numbers 223-7040/223-7039.

19

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Driver receives electrical Sexual assault, fraud allegations Slowe intends to vindicate his reputation – lawyer burns after crashing into utility pole C

A

The car that crashed into the utility pole

young driver received burns about his body when he crashed into a utility pole along the Hosororo Stretch Public Road, Region One (BarimaWaini), while speeding.

Twenty-four-year-old Royston Gill of Hosororo Hill, Mabaruma, is said to be in a serious condition at the Mabaruma Hospital and has suffering third degree burns to both legs and fourth degree burns to his neck.

Police said at about

12:30h on Thursday, the man was driving at a fast rate of speed when he lost control and collided with the utility pole.

As a result of the collision, the pole broke and the exposed wires were hanging.

Police said that as the driver stepped out of the car, he walked onto a live wire which rendered him unconscious.

He was taken to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.

hairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), former Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe on Friday denied accusations of fraud and sexual assault levelled against him by the Guyana Police Force and said that he intends to defend himself.

Claiming that the allegations are false, Slowe through his lawyer, Selwyn Pieters on Friday said that he has had a distinguished 37 years of service as a Police Officer.

On Thursday, Slowe and eight other persons, including serving and retired officers of the Police Force were charged with conspiracy to defraud the GPF of $10 million. Slowe, on the other hand, is being investigated for sexually assaulting a female Assistant Superintendent, who worked with him.

Investigations conducted

by SOCU revealed that former Commissioner of Police Leslie James hired several retired Police Officers, including Slowe to conduct a complete revision of the Guyana Police Force’s Standing Order in March 2019.

The former Top Cop never sent for nor received approval from the Permanent Secretary of the then Ministry of Public Security or the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board to execute the revision of the Standing Order.

It was revealed that over $10 million was paid to the retired officer but they did not provide the Police Force

PSC Chairman Paul Slowe

with a completed revised Standing Order. However, Slowe’s lawyer is contending that the allegation of conspiracy to defraud is fraud.

“Work was done on the Standing Order. There was no timeline on which the work was to be completed.

The National and Regional Elections held in Guyana on the 2nd March 2020 caused the process to be suspended. In the lead-up to the elections, the location in which meetings were held became unavailable due to use by the Guyana Police Force for elections purposes,” Slowe’s lawyer said.

According to counsel, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and the election situation in Guyana was resolved until August 2020.

Considering this, the lawyer added that due to the COVID-19 situation, meetings to deal with the finali-

sation of the Standing Order were not feasible.

Pieters added, “In addition, Mr Slowe has other duties in relation to his constitutional position as Chairman of the Police Service Commission and his paid employment which takes him overseas.”

Meanwhile, concerning the sexual assault allegation, Pieters made it clear that “The allegations of sexual assault levelled against Mr Slowe… is false.” He added that the claim that the officer who was allegedly sexually assaulted reported the incident to her superiors is also false.

It is alleged that between March and April 2019, a female Assistant Superintendent, who worked along with Slowe, was sexually assaulted by him three times.

The Police Force in a statement said that the sexual assaults were reported to an Assistant Commissioner of Police who failed to take proper action.

It is alleged that the Assistant Commissioner told the female officer, “… Is I have to promote you.”

Slowe’s lawyer noted that his client is presumed innocent and will be pleading not guilty to these charges. The PSC Chairman vowed that his lawyers will be “vigorously defending this matter and look forward to the truth coming out in a court of law.”

“Because of the inflammatory manner in which the Guyana Police Force Corporate Communications Unit is peddling these false

Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters

allegations, the public’s record must be set straight and also, to protect the character and careers of Mr Slowe, members of the Police Service Commission and Senior Police Officers,” the statement added.

Pieters accused SOCU and the Police Force’s Corporate Communications Unit of seeking to besmirch the character of his client and the other officers for “collateral purposes having to do with disciplinary matters at the Police Service Commission….and the promotion of Senior Police Officers that has occupied the court since January 2021.

“Mr Slowe also intends to vindicate his reputation from the defamation that is being peddled.” In the meantime, Slowe is yet to return to Guyana to answer the charges laid against him. The other serving and retired officers who were charged were released on monetary bail.

Corentyne man in 94 kilos ganja bust on $150,000 bail

O

mesh Lakeram, the 47-year-old man who surrendered to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday in relation to a 94 kilogrammes marijuana bust in Berbice, was on Friday released on $150,000 bail after being charged with trafficking in narcotics.

Lakeram, who was represented by Attorney-atLaw Bernard Da Silva, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 11, 2021, at Number 68 Village Beach Front Corentyne, Berbice, he had 94 kilogrammes of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The defendant appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court. The case was transferred to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for August 6, 2021.

As a condition of bail, the accused drug trafficker was ordered to report to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court once per month.

On May 11, 2021, CANU said it interdicted 94 kilogrammes of cannabis at Number 68 Village, Corriverton, Berbice. After conducting surveillance for

Omesh Lakeram (left) with his Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva

several days, CANU officers around 04:00h on the day in question observed three to four individuals with flashlights coming through a track.

As the individuals approached, CANU ranks identified themselves and ordered the persons to stop.

However, the individuals dropped what they were carrying and scattered in different directions.

The CANU ranks attempted to pursue, but given the poor visibility at the time which raised concerns for their safety, they decid-

ed not to continue. CANU officers then returned to the spot where the items were dropped and discovered four bags with several parcels inside.

The bags were transported to CANU’s headquarters where they were processed. Some 80 parcels of marijuana weighing 94kg (207 pounds) collectively were found. Shortly after the discovery, CANU issued a wanted bulletin for Lakeram. The marijuana find is reportedly worth $18 million. (G1)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

21

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil jumps on weather concerns in Gulf of Mexico

O

il prices jumped 2 per cent on Friday after three days of losses, driven higher as a storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico, but were on track for a weekly fall as investors braced for the return of Iranian crude supplies after officials said Iran and world powers made progress a nuclear deal.

Brent crude futures rose US$1.33, or 2 per cent, to US$66.36 a barrel by 1:06 pm ET (1606 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate was at US$63.54 a barrel, up US$1.61, or 2.6 per cent.

A weather system forming over the western Gulf of Mexico has a 40 per cent chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Friday.

"This early storm prompted traders to buy crude ahead of the weekend in anticipation of potential production shutins," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

The gains were limited by the expectation that Iran could add a million or more barrels per day of oil production later this summer.

The two contracts are on track to fall about 3 per cent on the week - their biggest loss since March - after Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, said the United States was ready to lift sanctions on his country's oil, banking and shipping sectors.

US energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a fourth week in a row as higher oil prices prompt some drillers to return to the wellpad.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose two to 455 in the week to May 21, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.

Iran and world powers have been in talks since April on reviving the 2015 deal and the European Union official leading the discussions said on Wednesday he was confident a deal would be reached.

Still, investors remain upbeat about fuel demand recovery this summer as vaccination programmes in Europe and the United States would allow more people to travel, although rising cases across parts of Asia are raising concerns.

Option bets on oil prices rising above US$100 for the December 2021 Brent contract have jumped after last week's surprisingly strong US inflation data, with open interest on calls nearly tripling in May, JPMorgan analysts said. The bank's forecast is for Brent to end 2021 at US$74.

To reach US$100, demand would need to average above 102.6 million bpd in the third quarter and grow to 103.6 million bpd in the fourth quarter, JPMorgan said, in the absence of any additional OPEC+ supply response. It expects Iranian crude and condensate production to rise to 3.2 million barrels per day in December, from around 2.8 million bpd in the first quarter.

Barclays expects Brent and WTI oil prices to average US$66 a barrel and US$62 a barrel, respectively, this year. It cut demand estimates for the Emerging Markets Asia (ex-China) region, flagging the risk of further downside if the recent surge in infections persisted.

"Extended mobility restrictions in the region might slow the demand recovery somewhat, but seem unlikely to stall it for a sustained period, given largely positive results of vaccination programs worldwide," it said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Blast kills several at pro-Palestine rally in southwest Pakistan

A

bomb blast has killed at least seven people at a pro-Palestinian rally in the southwestern Pakistani border town of Chaman, Police and hospital officials said.

The explosion took place as participants of the rally, organised by a regional religious political party, were dispersing, Police official Muhammad Iqbal told Al Jazeera.

“There was a rally there, and as soon as it was ending and people were dispersing that is when the blast occurred,” he said via telephone.

Iqbal said the explosives had been planted in a motorcycle parked near the location of the rally.

The death toll stood at seven killed and 17 wounded, local hospital official Akhtar Muhammad told Al Jazeera.

The condition of three of the wounded is critical and they

Men gather to identify the body of a relative who was killed in a bomb blast in Chaman [Saeed Ali Achakzai/Reuters]

have been moved to the provincial capital, Quetta, about 100km (62 miles) southeast of Chaman.

A small town of about 150,000 residents in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, Chaman is one of the main border crossings between Pakistan and its northwestern neighbour Afghanistan.

Rallies in support of Palestinians were held across Pakistan on Friday, as the

COVID-19 deaths in Latin America surpass 1M as outbreak worsens

T

he death toll from COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean passed 1 million people on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, with the pandemic worsening in the part of the world with the highest per capita death rate.

From the dusty highlands of Bolivia to the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo, the pandemic has swamped underfunded healthcare systems after spreading fast across nations where many people survive hand-to-mouth and have been unable to enter lockdown.

In Peru, among the hardest hit nations in the region, COVID-19 patients have died in crowded hospital corridors of the capital Lima. Deep in the Amazon jungles of Brazil, many residents of the city of Manaus have died at home with no oxygen to fill damaged lungs, after supplies ran out there this year.

With cases falling in

Europe, Asia and North America, and flat in Africa, South America is the only region where new infections are rising rapidly on a per capita basis, according to Our World in Data. Although India is currently struggling through one of the world's worst outbreaks of the pandemic.

On average in May, 31 per cent of the COVID-19 deaths in the world have been in Latin America and the Caribbean home to just 8.4 per cent of the global population.

Doctors and epidemiologists say the coronavirus pandemic took unprepared governments by surprise last year and its impact has been worsened by leaders who downplayed its gravity and failed to secure timely vaccine supplies.

The top eight countries registering the most COVID-19 deaths per capita over the past week were all in Latin America. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran leader urges Muslim states to back Palestinians militarily, financially

I

ranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called on Muslim states to support Palestinians militarily and financially and help rebuild Gaza after an 11-day conflict with Israel, Iranian media reported.

Iran, which does not recognise Israel, supports the Islamist militants of Hamas, who rule the Gaza Strip while President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority controls Palestinian-populated areas of the occupied West Bank.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group fired hundreds of rockets into Israel before Friday's truce, although Israel said its "Iron Dome" defence system had shot down the majority of them.

"Muslim states must sincerely support the Palestinian people, through military...or financial support ...or in rebuilding Gaza's infrastructure," Khamenei said in a statement.

He urged Muslims to demand that their Governments back Palestinians.

Iran's Foreign Ministry earlier said Palestinians had won a "historic victory" over Israel.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement: "The intifada (Palestinian uprising) has gone from using stones to powerful, precise missiles ... and in the future the Zionists (Israel) can expect to endure deadly blows from within the occupied territories."

Leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have praised Iran’s financial and military support, but Tehran

has rarely confirmed its weapons supply.

But Khamenei last year hailed Tehran's supply of arms, saying Iran had transformed the military balance of power between Israel and the Palestinians.

Iran on Friday displayed an Iranian-made combat drone that it said had a range of 2000 km (1250 miles), naming it "Gaza" in honour of the Palestinians' struggle against Israel, state media reported. (Excerpt from Reuters)

country marked Palestine Day in solidarity with the people of Gaza following

the 11-day conflict with Israel in which at least 243 Palestinians in Gaza and 12 Israelis were killed.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, and has seen several attacks in recent months.

Pakistan’s military has been battling an armed ethnic separatist movement in the province for more than a decade, and elements of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its allies have also claimed attacks in the province in the past. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

El Salvador: Remains of 24 people found in ex-Policeman's garden

T

he remains of at least 24 people have been uncovered at the home of a former police officer in El Salvador.

The graves may hold up to 40 bodies - most of them thought to be women or girls, officials say.

Exhuming all the bodies could take another month.

Police believe that the discovery reveals a secret murder ring operating over a decade.

El Salvador has one of Latin America's highest rates for femicide, the murder of a woman or girl because of her sex.

Hugo Ernesto Osorio Chávez, 51, was detained in Chalchuapa this month for killing a 57-year-old woman and her 26-yearold daughter. The former officer, who had previously been investigated for sex crimes, confessed to killing the pair.

But when forensic

teams searched his house about 48 miles (78km) north of the capital, San Salvador, they found at least seven pits containing bodies, some of which may have been buried as long as two years ago.

The authorities said the discovery suggested the existence of a murder ring that may have lasted for a decade.

At least 10 people are facing charges.

The suspects include former policemen, former soldiers and people smugglers, said Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, director of El Salvador's national civil police, La Prensa newspaper reports.

He alleged Osorio Chavez might have been killing people for a decade.

Prosecutors say the victims may include girls aged nine, seven and two, AP reports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

No Internet: Lockdown worsens Argentina’s educational inequality

E

ducation has become a highly politicised issue in Argentina during the pandemic, with battle lines drawn over whether classrooms should remain open during another wave of COVID-19 infections or continue virtually, as they did for almost all of 2020.

The dispute has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, which sided with the city of Buenos Aires when it refused to abide by a national government edict to shutter schools as infections rose.

Now, as Argentina registers a record number of COVID-19 cases — 35,000 for the third straight day — a new lockdown announced on Thursday is once again sending all students home, making the question of how to ensure everyone can learn more urgent than ever.

Lack of Internet connectivity is one of the major factors that drove one in four primary school students who live in the poor settlements of Argentina known as “barrios popu-

lares” to abandon their schooling at some point in 2020, according to the Observatory of Argentines for Education (Observatorio de Argentinos por la Educacion), a think-tank based in Buenos Aires.

Of the 78 families surveyed, about 10 percent said they did not intend to send their child back to school in 2021.

Some four million people in Argentina live in the barrios populares. About half of the households surveyed by Observatorio de Argentinos por la Educacion this year reported difficulties connecting to the Internet, while 11 per cent said they couldn’t connect at all.

On May 4, centre-left President Alberto Fernandez announced the Government would be handing out 633,000 laptops this year to high school students across the country, prioritising those who had seen their connection to the classroom drop dramatically, or disappear entirely. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

22

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Focus on something that matters, and you will make a difference. A path that leads to a unique way to use your skills and knowledge will stimulate your mind.

Romance is in the stars.

Don't limit what you can do.

An energetic approach to deal(April 20ing with personal responsibilMay 20) ities will help you get things done and leave you time to do something that makes you happy.

TAURUS

DILBERT

Take nothing for granted.

If you want something done to (May 21- your specifications, do it yourJune 20) self. Get involved in activities that get you moving in a healthy direction. A challenge will bring out the best in you.

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

A change of scenery will inspire you to do things differently. Listen to your heart, not to what others do or say, and you will find peace of mind and a way to start some positive projects.

Turn to the people you LEO know you can count on.

(July 23People who have let you down Aug. 22) in the past will do so again if given a chance. Concentrate on self-improvement, getting fit and romance.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Spend extra time on work-related projects. Getting a head start on something that's worrying you will put your mind at ease. Don't let anyone interfere or tempt you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Take control, learn all you can and pursue something that excites you. Time spent with someone special will encourage you to rethink your lifestyle and immediate plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Spend more time at home and less time doing things that drain your bank account.

A risky offer will be misleading. A change is necessary, but it has to be made for the right reason.

Keep life simple and SAGITTARIUS avoid temptation. Consider (Nov. 23what you have to offer, and Dec. 21) update your resume or look for opportunities to use your skills to make a difference.

Be part of the solution.

Offering valid suggestions

CAPRICORN and a helping hand will encour(Dec. 22age positive changes at home Jan. 19) and to the way others treat you.

Consider what matters most, and you'll make the right decisions.

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

It's full speed ahead. Plan out what you want to do, then get the ball rolling. A healthy mindset and enthusiasm will help you bring about positive changes at home and to a meaningful relationship.

Develop a plan and follow through. Refuse to let outside (Feb. 20March 20) influences put a damper on your day. Take the initiative to engage in something you can do safely. Avoid those hyping a risky venture.

PISCES

SATURDAY, MAY, 22, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Chelsea Edghill gains qualification spot to represent Guyana at XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 N ational player and Guyana's highest-ranked female player globally former has gained a qualification spot to participate in the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020. Caribbean under 21 women’s champion and many times Caribbean champion, junior and senior sportswoman Guyana, Lourdosa Portugal division one player will be the first table tennis player, male or female, to represent Guyana at a senior summer Olympic games Olympics.

Edghill is one of the top female players in the Caribbean and Latin America, she reached the quarter finals at

the recent Olympic qualifiers held in Rosario Argentina.

Great Achievement for us as a Table Tennis nation and fraternity we are truly elated of

the ITTF and IOC recognition of our player’s talent and country programs in selecting Chelsea.

While universality posi-

tion is generally geared towards allowing the opportunity to National Olympic Comittees, which have traditionally sent small delegations to the Olympic Games, and is used as a basis contribute to enhancing and reflecting universality of the Olympic Games by selecting athletes from countries’ which have not been able to qualify, so that they may have an opportunity to be invited to compete in sports and disciplines for which Invitation Places have been reserved.

For table tennis only One (1) men’s single and one (1) women’s singles Tripartite Commission Invitation Places are made available for which

Hetmyer should be playing all formats – but he needs to work harder, says white-ball captain Kieron Pollard

West Indies white-ball captain, Kieron Pollard, says he wants to see Shimron Hetmyer competing in all three formats of the game for the men in maroon, but he also says he believes the Guyanese batsman has to work harder if he wants to regain a Cricket West Indies (CWI) central contract.

Speaking openly on Hetmyer’s career and a number of other topics, Pollard reasoned that the 24-yearold player from East Berbice would excel only if he is hungry enough for success.

“We love Hetty. He is a young, talented cricketer, a guy whom we know deep in our hearts can take West Indies cricket forward from a generational point of view with his skill and what he can achieve on a cricket field,” Pollard said on the Line & Length TV Show on Sportsmax.

“He knows the truth, and he knows what it is. We would love Hetty to be play-

ing all three formats of our cricket, but as the saying goes, ‘you can only take the horse to the water, but you can’t force him to drink.’ So, with that being said, I will leave it right there; and for the individual himself to get things together.

“We love him, and we want to have him. He has a fantastic re- c o r d in ODI cricket.

We saw what he can do in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and it’s just for him to take what’s in front of him.

The world is at his feet; it’s (for him to decide) if he wants it bad enough, and what he

wants to achieve as an individual,” Pollard has said.

Hetmyer has not been a consistent member of the West Indies Team over the past year, owing to fitness and COVID-19 concerns. Along with other senior players, he chose not to tour Bangladesh earlier this year out of personal fears and concerns for his safety, because of the COVID-19 infection rates in that country.

In 16 Tests, he averages 27.93 and is yet to regi s ter a century, but in ODIs, he has five hundred and averages 36.66 from 42 innings; while, in T20s, he has scored 379 runs with a strike rate of 116.97.

O v e r the last

year, he has scored 100 runs from five innings in T20 Internationals, and 14 runs in two ODIs. His form for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League and the Delhi Capitals in the IPL has been more encouraging, but he failed to maintain a CWI contract, prompting cries in some circles that he wasn’t given a fair break.

In terms of the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa, in which the Windies would play five T20s in Grenada, Pollard warned that the side, rated at Number 10 in T20s, must be on top of their game.

“We have to plan properly in order to conquer.

Not looking too much into the names (of the opposition) because, as I said before, these guys are talented in their own right, as they would have not been selected for their national teams (otherwise),” said Pollard. (Sportsmax)

National Cycling Championships billed for this weekend

T

he country's top riders would take to the circuit today (Saturday May 22) and tomorrow (Sunday May 23) for the National Cycling Championships, after enduring a gruelling ride in the Independence Three-Stage Cycle Race last weekend from the border town of Corriverton in East Berbice to the capital city of Georgetown, and then from the mining town of Linden in Upper Demerara to Georgetown for the grand finale.

Today, Saturday, the National Time Trials would pedal off on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway from 7:30h, with the riders tackling a lumpy course over 10 miles.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the road race commences at 7:30h in front of the Banks DIH Headquarters at Thirst Park,

before proceeding to Dora on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and returning to Banks DIH Thirst Park for the finish. The event will cover a distance of 100 miles.

Fresh from a display of supremacy in the Independence Three-Stage Race, Briton John has set his sights on winning the National Championships.

"I really want to win the Championships, and I am really looking forward to it," Briton John said after his triumph in the Three-Stage.

Team Foundation's Raynauth 'Obeahman' Jeffrey is also a favourite to win today's National Time Trial Championships. This East Coast Demerara resident has raced a number of time trials in the USA with outstanding results. However, he would face stiff opposition from last year's

champion, Briton John, and from Jamual John.

The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has indicated that Sunday's National Road Cycling Championships is an event that is open to all cyclists over 19 years old (seniors).

Meanwhile, the Masters, Juniors, Juveniles and Ladies National Road Championships will be held on Sunday May 30th around the Old Road

Circuit in Mahaica. The Masters and Juniors will race for 50 miles, or 8 laps; the Ladies will cover 25 miles, or 4 laps; and the Juveniles will race for 25 miles or 4 laps.

GCF President, Linden Dowridge, has said the recently concluded Independence Three-Stage Race was a good warm-up for the cyclists who will compete in the National Championships.

Chelsea secured. In the realm of table tennis, the University of Lindenwood graduate in Chemistry performance attempts at qualification tournament wins; ability and potential of the athlete played a critical role in the selection of the Universality spots.

Chelsea is a former ITTF With the Future in Mind Scholarship awardee and a former Junior Olympian ( Nanjing China 2014).

This comes on the heels of Guyana’s women’s team of Chelsea Edghill Trenace Lowe and Natalie Cummings and Jody Ann Blake qualifi-

cation to the World Table Tennis Championships Buscan South Korea which was cancelled due to Covid 19 pandemic. Chelsea’s team mates Players and parent’s members of the fraternity have expressed their joy for this achievement and have indicated that Chelsea have their fullest support.

This is a win for Guyana’s Table Tennis It’s a testimony to the talent hard work determination the GTTA would like to express our gratitude to all who have contributed and to our members who continue to work hard and play despite the challenges.

CWI to host Professional Cricketers Draft for 2021/22 season — Reifer, Lewis out, Anderson in, Bramble not listed among Jaguars

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) will host the West Indies Professional Cricketers Draft for the 2021/2022 season on Tuesday, May 25, via video call.

The territorial board franchises will be convening to draft their final two players for their squads, to play in the forthcoming season which hopefully would include the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and the West Indies Championship.

The Draft would be conducted over two rounds, and each franchise must pick a player in each round. Each franchise would pick two players to add to their pre-selected squad of thirteen protected players, to make a full squad of fifteen players. The franchises will be selecting their two picks from a pool of nearly 100 players.

For the 2021-22 season, each franchise would be allocated a pick number, according to their final league position and performance of the franchise in the last West Indies Championship, held in 2019-20 and won by the Barbados Pride (see table below for sequence of draft picks). Each franchise would have 90 seconds in each round to make a pick. Where a selection is not made within this time period, the franchise would miss its turn and would have to wait until all the other franchises have made their selection in that round before making its selection.

Once the franchises have made their full picks to confirm their 15 retained players, a total of 90 cricketers across the six franchises would be retained on full-time regional contracts for the next twelve months.

CWI Cricket Operations Manager Roland Holder has said the Draft, now in its eighth year, demonstrates that CWI remains committed to its professional cricket structure and system, even in these times of uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 90 regional players who would be awarded regional franchise contracts would be able to train and practise professionally, as CWI hopes for a return to normalcy in regional cricket later this year.

Each choice by each franchise selection committee would be monitored and recorded by the draft overseer(s), as notified to the franchises by CWI.

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

appointed new NSC Chairman W

hen

the

Honourable Charles Ramson Jr, took office as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Kashif Muhammed, recognised as no stranger to the sporting fraternity, accompanied him to many of his outreaches.

When this publication contacted Minister Ramson in regard to this observation, it was confirmed that Muhammad has been appointed new National Sports Commission Chairman.

This publication also understands that a total of 11 members are to be appointed to the NSC in the coming days. Some of the members selected thus far are Phillip Fernandes, Dellon

Davidson, Christy Campbell, Bissoondyal Singh and Chetram Ramdial.

Muhammad is wellknown throughout the length and breadth of Guyana for being a part of the famous Kashif and Shanghai organisation, as he is the co-director. He has also been a part of the biggest football tournament Guyana has ever seen, which is the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.

He is also the recipient of the Medal of Service award, and with his new office, it is likely that this will open doors for various positions to be filled, with one such being the Director of Sports.

Muhammad has continued to show his undying support for sports in general across all platforms.

T

Kashif Muhammad seen with Minister Charles Ramson Jr in one of his latest outreach

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots announce 2021 retentions

T

– Sherfane Rutherford picked up by franchise

he St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have announced their retentions for the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League, which gets underway on 28 August in St Kitts & Nevis.

The Patriots have brought in two players from other franchises. They have signed Dwayne Bravo from Trinbago Knight Riders in a trade deal that saw Denesh Ramdin go the other way; and have also signed Sherfane Rutherford from the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

In addition to these two signings, they have retained Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Jon Russ Jaggesar and Rayad Emrit.

Exciting young prospects Joshua da Silva and Dominic Drakes round out the retentions.

The Patriots have eight spots to fill to complete their squad, and these will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mahesh Ramani, owner of the Patriots, has said: “The St Kitts and Nevis Franchise extends a warm welcome to the new players joining us this year as well as to our retained core team for yet another exciting season of the Hero CPL. This year makes it extra special with us playing at our home – Warner Park. I would like to thank all our team players, support staff and management, as well as our global fan

Domestic-based Lady Jags kickstart training this weekend

Guyana’s Sherfane Rutherford will be suiting up for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

base for their continued love and support. I look forward to an amazing season in 2021.”

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots retentions

Dwayne Bravo (From TKR) Evin Lewis Sherfane Rutherford (From GAW) Sheldon Cottrell Rayad Emrit Jon Russ Jaggesar Dominic Drakes

he long road to Australia and New Zealand begins this weekend, as the domestic-based senior women’s national squad starts its preparations for 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification.

On Saturday, following testing for COVID-19 this week, the Lady Jags will begin sessions at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence. Training is set to run until the final squad is announced ahead of the first round of CONCACAF qualifying fixtures in November.

“We are delighted to have the Lady Jags commence their important preparations for these crucial games,” said Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde. “We all know the record of success that the Lady Jags has achieved in recent years. The GFF is investing in this extended training regime and all other necessary measures to ensure this success continues this year.

“We are confident that this generation of players can take us to the next level, especially as more young players come through the ranks via GFF’s youth development programmes,” Forde has said.

As in the previous cycle, the CONCACAF Women’s Championship – slated for July 2022 – will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand. The top four teams from the CONCACAF Women’s Championship will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a further two teams competing in an inter-confederation play-off tournament.

Qualification matches for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship are scheduled for November 2021 and April 2022, with details to be announced in the coming months.

“We have a very talented and passionate domestic squad that is raring to get back on the pitch,” said Assistant Coach Akilah Castello, who will lead the training sessions in Guyana under the guidance of Canadabased Head Coach Dr Ivan Joseph.

“Because of the absence of competition during COVID, we are going to focus first on building fitness and conditioning,” Castello said.

“Our aim over the coming months will be to develop a larger domestic cohort of players that is ready and able to contribute to the final squad to represent Guyana on the international stage and to make our nation proud.”

In addition to the senior women’s national team’s activities this year, the U20 women’s team will participate in Concacaf U20 Women’s Championship qualifiers in September, while the U17s compete in the Concacaf U17 Women’s Championship in August.

The GFF will also be sending the U14 squad to the Caribbean Football Union Challenge Series, and will host the U15 squad in a camp to prepare for regional competition next year.

“The GFF is committed to investing heavily in women’s football as we look to make up for lost time during the COVID-19 pandemic and deliver on our strategic plan to develop football for all in Guyana,” Forde has said.

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