Guyana Times - Saturday May 8, 2021

Pharmaceuticals' P16 supply to be stabilised soon – Health Minister Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4641

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

60,000 more COVID-19 COVID -19 vaccines to arrive in Guyana next week

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

GuySuCo P7 preparing Sugar Terminal to capitalise on oil and gas opportunities

See story on page 3

…another 38,000 from COVAX to arrive later this month

DEMTOCO records $1.780B profit after tax in 2020 Elections petition ruling 4 women APNU/AFC MPs, others die, 116 charged for hosting new illegal procession COVID-19 cases recorded in 24 hours

NIS temporarily closes head office P17

Page 2

…looking to reduce health impact on customers with new “A Better Tomorrow” branding

See story on page 19

See story on page 5

Anna Catherina triple murder

Wife gives jury details of ex-husband’s confession to killing of neighour, young sons See story on page 18

Cop, P17 accomplice charged for raping minor

NWD man P15 charged for attempting to kill cop Anonymous call leads Police to unconscious P15 robbery suspect Wife killer’s punishment reduced P18 from death sentence to 25 years' jail

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DEMTOCO records $1.780B profit after tax in 2020 …looking to reduce health impact on customers with new “A Better Tomorrow” branding

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ocal cigarette distribution company Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO) has recorded a whopping $1.780 billion in profits after taxation for the year ending December 31, 2020.

The company held its Annual General Meeting on Friday, wherein it was also revealed that DEMTOCO is now moving to reduce the health impact of its products on customers. The principal activities of DEMTOCO are the importation, marketing, and sale of tobacco products in Guyana, which are manufactured under contract to predetermined specifications.

According to DEMTOCO’s Annual Financial Report,

profit before taxation for last year was $3 billion.

Cash and Bank Balances as at 31 December, 2020 totalled $1.491 billion, compared to $580 million at the previous year’s end, representing an increase of $911 million.

Operating activities generated revenues amounting to $3.1 billion for the year under review, while corporation tax accruing during the year amounted to $1.3 billion.

The tobacco company also reported that total dividends paid last year was some $1.7

billion. In addition, Capital Expenditure for the year amounted to $60 million, compared to $61 million for the previous year.

The company did not have any intercompany loan transactions for 2020.

In August, October and December 2020 and in March 2021 there were four interim dividend payments totalling G$66.20 per share. A final dividend of $9.85 per share is proposed by the Directors, making a total payment for the financial year 2020 of $76.05 per share.

There are currently five

Directors on the Board of Directors, four of which are non-executive Directors and two are independent. The Board is diversified by nationality and gender, and represents a strong team with a broad range of professional backgrounds and styles.

The Chairman is responsible for leading the Board to ensure effectiveness and robust shareholder engagement. Strategies and policies are set by the Board, and the Managing Director is responsible for overseeing the implementation of these strategies, which create the framework for day-to-day operations. Directors oversee the Company’s strategy, review management proposals, monitor performance, and bring an external and specialist perspective and effective challenge to Board

members.

This $1.780 billion profit was recorded even as DEMTOCO will now be moving to meet the evolving needs of customers under this new tagline – “A Better Tomorrow.”

In a statement made at from its AGM on Friday, the company said that, since 1934, its vision has been to achieve and maintain leadership of the Guyanese Tobacco Industry in order to create long term shareholder value.

“We hold steadfast to the strategy of creating shareholder value, delivering profit growth and long-term business sustainability.

Even in these unprecedented times, Demerara Tobacco has shown great resilience in overcoming difficulties and setbacks,” it noted.

The company has now

unveiled its new corporate logo and tagline – “A Better Tomorrow” – which it says reflects both the changes in the world and, by extension, the business. It noted that the previous logo has served the company well for decades as a strong symbol of Guyana’s market leader in tobacco, but now it wants to build on that strong foundation to create a better tomorrow for consumers, employees, shareholders and society.

“Our purpose is to build a better tomorrow by reducing the health impact of our business. Our ambition is to progressively transition our revenues from cigarettes to non-combustible products over time. To this end, our growth model will be developed with our portfolio expanding to meet our consumers’ evolving needs from tobacco to beyond.

Supporting this is our new ethos, which encompasses being bold, fast, empowered, responsible and diverse,” DEMTOCO has stated.

On this note, the tobacco company said, it is focusing on utilising its capabilities to meet the changing needs of consumers, and has invited stakeholders to join in on this journey as DEMTOCO seeks to offer a new range of responsibly marketed products in tobacco. (G8)

3 60,000 more Sputnik V vaccines to arrive in Guyana next week NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS OPENINGS BRIDGE

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

Saturday, May 8 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Sunday, May 9 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, May 8 – 14:40h – 16:10h and Sunday, May 9 – 15:25h – 16:55h.

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be thundery showers during the day. There will be partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Easterly to East SouthEasterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.32 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 14:48h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 08:24h and 20:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.08 metre and 0.77 metre.

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

04 14 18

20 24 26

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22 Bonus Ball

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 DAILY MILLIONS

04 09 10 11 17 LUCKY 3

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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USD Per Ounce

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…another 38,000 from COVAX to arrive later this month

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n incoming consignment of 60,000 Sputnik V vaccines is expected to arrive next week – the fourth batch of doses that were sent to satisfy Guyana’s purchase of US$4 million.

Previously, the country had already received separate tranches of the Russian-manufactured vaccines, amounting to 130,000 shots. Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed on Friday that another 38,000 vaccines from the COVAX facility will also arrive later this month.

COVAX had promised to deliver vaccines to cover 20 per cent of the population at zero cost, and had already sent 24,000 doses earlier this year.

“Next week, we’re expecting a shipment of vaccines, the ones that we bought.

So, we’re expecting more Sputnik V to come in next week. We’re also expecting if all goes well, another shipment of vaccines from COVAX but we’re awaiting the final date for that…For Sputnik V, we’re looking at about 60,000 doses and for the COVAX, we’re looking at 38,000 doses,” the Minister indicated.

Guyana has also used 80,000 AstraZeneca and 20,000 Sinopharm doses from the Indian and Chinese Governments respectively, as well as 3000 from Barbados.

In a briefing on Thursday, the Minister said there is a challenge in rolling out the Sputnik V jabs, owing to the specific temperature range in which it must be stored.

Nevertheless, healthcare workers have been pushing to ensure that all are vaccinated, even in remote communities.

“Right now, the backbone of our programme has been using the Sputnik V. One of the challenges you do have when you’re using a vaccine like Sputnik V is that it’s -18 to -20 [degrees celsuis] and therefore it creates a lot of logistical problems for us; keeping these vaccines cold, getting it out to some of the most remote areas. Nevertheless, we have been working and have so far been doing that.”

It was specified that vaccine shortage is not a concern for Guyana, as there are adequate supplies to continue the vaccination campaign. In fact, the main issue is persons coming forward to take the shots.

“We have ordered Sputnik V for 400,000 people. With that 400,000 persons, we are actually going to get 400,000 first doses and 400,000 of the second doses.

That’s coming in batches so as we get them, we’re vaccinating…We have enough vaccines on order and those that are in country. We feel assured that we’ll be

able to give to every single Guyanese adult, a vaccine.

What we want to do now is make sure people come forward and get their vaccines.

Vaccines for us is not the issue. It is making sure people come and get their vaccine,” Dr Anthony shared.

The Ministry has been working to combat vaccine hesitancy in some communities. These myths, he said, have affected the uptake and there is need to dispel such insinuations.

“Unfortunately, we have seen in some communities

there has been vaccine hesitancy because of all kinds of myths. That’s one of the areas that we really need some help to dispel those myths so people can come forward and get their vaccines.”

The data shows that Regions Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have the lowest vaccination cover-

age in the country – an occurrence which President Irfaan Ali raised his concerns about this week.

In total, the country’s campaign has exceeded 154,000 first doses and 7000 second doses. This represents approximately 31 per cent of the adult population.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 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

Strengthening CSR

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very business seeks to maximise its profit, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would seem to contradict this logic by taking away some of the company’s resources.

At its heart, Corporate Social Responsibility is about an organisation taking responsibility for the impacts of its decisions and activities on all aspects of society, the community, and the environment. Corporate Social Responsibility is more than just donating money; it’s about contributing to the health and welfare of society, and operating transparently and ethically. More importantly, this way of operating should be embedded in the business, rather than as an afterthought.

What many may not know is that Corporate Social Responsibility also helps to build a good corporate reputation.

In other words, companies agree to do more for society than simply create jobs and paying wages and taxes with the expectation of some reward— such as a good reputation or a competitive advantage in the local market.

Corporate philanthropy can serve to promote solidarity in a society in which different groups agree on what is ethical and beneficial, according to the researchers. In societies built on this consensus model, CSR can smooth out the effects of economic inequality, and corporations voluntarily support public benefit projects to achieve this goal.

It can be understood that CSR helps to build a reputation as a responsible business and as a good citizen.

Keeping social responsibility front of mind encourages businesses to act ethically, and to consider the social and environmental impacts of their operations. In doing so, organisations can avoid or mitigate detrimental impacts of their business on the community. In some cases, organisations would find ways to make in their services or value chain changes that actually deliver benefits for the community, where they once didn’t.

In addition, CSR supports public value outcomes; put simply, public value is about the value that an organisation contributes to society. A sound, robust Corporate Social Responsibility framework and organisational mindset can genuinely help organisations deliver public value outcomes by focusing on how their services can make a difference in the community.

This might happen indirectly — where an organisation’s services enable others to contribute to the community — or directly, through the organisation’s own activities, such as volunteerism and philanthropy.

Another benefit of a strong Corporate Social Responsibility framework is it is essential to building and maintaining trust between the company and clients. It can strengthen ties, build alliances, and foster strong working relationships with both existing and new clients. One way this can be achieved is by offering pro-bono or similar services where a company can partner with not-for-profit organisations to support their public value outcomes, where funds or resources may be limited.

In turn, this helps deliver public value outcomes that may not have been delivered otherwise. Studies have shown that a robust Corporate Social Responsibility framework can also help a company become more attractive to potential future employees who are looking for workplaces with socially responsible practices, community mindedness, and sound ethics.

The era of the social enterprises is upon us. More so than ever before, the most successful, respected, and desirable businesses exist to do much more than make money; they exist to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Study after study has shown that socially responsible businesses (aka social enterprises) not only provide sustainable business models, but also have improved marketing, employee recruitment, employee satisfaction, legal treatment, customer loyalty, brand perception, and richer partnerships.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and First Lady Arya Ali on Friday commissioned the Sunrise Bakery at Capoey, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The project was done as a collaboration between The Guyana Foundation and the Canadian High Commission (Raywattie Deonarine photos)

President Irfaan Ali demonstrated grace, dignity, respect Dear Editor, President Irfaan Ali is my President; he is our President.

I am proud of our President.

In his short stint so far, as our President, he has shown he is a class act. President Irfaan Ali has shown he is a people’s person, interacting with his people in every corner of our country. Every day, we see our President fighting for our country, fighting for every Guyanese. One word that could never be used to describe Guyana’s present President is aloof.

In his message to the Guyanese people to mark Arrivals Day, on May 5, the President made reference to the ancestors of Guyanese people whose arrival we observe and celebrate on May 5 as persons who came here to find better lives. He clearly was not referring to those of our ancestors who came in chains, brutalized and kidnapped, to be slaves. But some persons misrepresented his statement as diminishing the struggles of our African ancestors. Some made an issue of the President’s words with malicious intent. But there were others who genuinely misinterpreted the statement.

The President wasted no time in ensuring people are aware of his intention and unreservedly apologized to all those who might have felt offended by his statement.

President Irfaan Ali did not quarrel with anyone for interpreting his statement in a manner he never intended.

Rather, President Ali accepted responsibility for not being more clear and for leaving room for persons to misrepresent what he said. This is

what genuine human beings do. The President accepted head-on that he could have stated his intentions more clearly and he apologized for those who felt hurt. He showed grace and dignity, he showed class, he showed respect to the people he might have hurt.

Apologizing is not what weak leaders do. Strong leaders are able and willing to apologize. In apologizing, President Ali did not focus on those who might have deliberately misrepresented what was said. He focused on those persons who he might have inadvertently hurt. He owned that their hurt was his fault and he said sorry. The President showed he was not above anyone.

Contrast President Ali’s behavior with another President, his predecessor. President David Granger subjected this country to a horrendous five-month long siege. Between March 2 and August 2, 2020, Guyana and the world witnessed the most brazen attempt to thief an election. For the purpose of this missive, it is not important to consider who was the leader of the thieving gang.

But the whole world knew there was a thieving gang determined to thief the March 2 elections. During those five months, COVID-19 was allowed to seed itself. Today, we are suffering the consequence of that early seeding of the population, allowing COVID-19 to spread across the country. During those five months, Guyana’s economy came to a screeching halt.

Whether David Granger was in charge of the gang or not,

he was the President as the world watched in dismay at the brazen thieving of a whole election. It was unconscionable for David Granger to allow this merciless siege to last for five months. His own sonin-law stood up and said he would not be part of a thieving gang. Whether Granger was in charge or not, he certainly aided and abetted the brazrn thieving attempt by his silence and refusal to stop the nonsense.

David Granger owes this country an apology. He owes the Guyanese people an apology. There is a small section of the Guyanese people who supported the attempts to thief the election. But there is a larger group of Guyanese who felt betrayed, who were massively hurt by what happened during those five months. Granger has heard the call for an apology. he responded by digging in. His response more than a year after the attempted thieving is to sue three newspapers and Kit Nacimento for a billion dollars for accusing him of helping to thief the elections.

If you are the President and you see the obvious attempt to rig the election and did nothing about it, who is responsible? The time has come for Granger to do the right thing, the decent thing. He must take a cue from the present President, follow the example of President Irfaan Ali and graciously apologize to the Guyanese people, the people who granted him the honor to be Guyana’s President for five years.

President Ali’s graciousness is a lesson lost on another senior member of the

APNU/AFC leadership - Ms. Amandza Walton-Desir, a lawyer, an MP and the shadow foreign affairs minister.

She described the PPP base as a “bunch of mentally lazy people”. More than 233,000 people voted for the PPP. More than 400,000 Guyanese are supporters of the PPP, including more than 100,000 persons too young to vote. She disrespected the majority of the Guyanese people. But she did not really say all the people who voted for the PPP. She was talking about the PPP base. So who is the PPP base? I will leave this a rhetorical question. Answer as you will. Clearly Ms WaltonDesir not only disrespected a large group of people, she also hurt them emotionally. And she was guilty of a racist remark.

The simple thing to do, if she misspoke, was to apologize. Instead, she and her party have decided to double down on the assault on the majority of the Guyanese people. The controversy could have simply gone away with a simple statement that she was sorry for inadvertently insulting so many people. But she was not sorry, she was in no mood to apologize. Like Mr. Granger, Ms. WaltonDesir showed no class, no dignity, no respect for people.

President Irfaan Ali has shown what a genuine leader is. We must be inspired by his willingness to accept fault, to look at the Guyanese people eye-to-eye and say “I am sorry”. I am proud of my President.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

guyanatimesgy.com

5

News

Elections petition ruling

East Ruimveldt murder

APNU/AFC MPs, others charged Suspect surrenders, slapped with murder charge for hosting illegal procession

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wo APNU/AFC Members of Parliament along with a group of supporters were on Friday hurled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after they were charged for participating in an illegal procession.

The parliamentarians, Christopher Jones and Annette Ferguson, were arraigned along with Mark Griffith, Travis Ellis,

It is alleged that on April 26, following the dismissal of the party’s election petition in the High Court, they had participated in the illegal procession.

They also denied the charge and were each granted bail in the sum of $20,000.

However, Ferguson was also charged for allegedly obstructing a peace officer on April 26.

She also denied the lat-

APNU/AFC supporters during protest on Regent Street

Gordon Lucas, and George Halley for the offence.

ter charge and was granted $10,000 bail; taking her to-

J

Dead: Jomal Adams

Christopher Jones

tal bail sum to $30,000.

The defendants were represented by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, Darren Wade, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, and Ronald Daniels.

The cases have been adjourned to May 14.

On April 26, scores of APNU/AFC supporters gathered outside the court and marched through city streets following the dismissal of the party’s election petition by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.

The Chief Justice had ruled that nothing in the petition had supported the claims of the petitioners as it related to irregularities during the elections.

Annette Ferguson

Further, she ruled that there were no breaches or violations by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that would make the election a sham or travesty.

Following her ruling, the party’s supporters and MPs took to the streets, where they protested in front of the High Court. As a result, several businesses along the commercial districts had closed their doors.

After their processions, the MPs along with several of the participants were served summonses to appear in court on Friday, as it is alleged that permission was not granted for the march. (G15)

ust 72 hours after Police had issued a wanted bulletin for 29-yearold Rondell Richardson for questioning in relation to the murder of 29-year-old Jomal Adams of Cooper Street East La Penitence, Georgetown, he surrendered to Police.

Richardson turned up at the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown with his lawyer Dexter Todd on Thursday and was subsequently arrested and charged for murder.

The man was remanded for the capital offence when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus. The matter has been adjourned to May 25.

Richardson is accused of killing Adams on Saturday last, during an argument over a cellphone.

Police had said that the two men were involved in a heated argument during which the suspect armed himself with a pair of scissors and dealt the now dead man sever-

Charged: Rondell Richardson

al blows to his chest.

In an attempt to escape his attacker, the now deceased began to run, but the suspect went in pursuit. After catching up with Adams, the suspect continued to stab him to his back.

After committing the act, Richardson allegedly sprinted from the scene and went into hiding.

When Guyana Times had visited the home of the dead man on Sunday last, his mother Dionne Adams was pleading for justice for her son. The woman told this publication that Richardson was her son’s very close friend and she was shocked over the incident.

She said her son was reportedly watching pornography on the suspect’s phone when the phone slipped out of his hand and broke. She said her son had said that he would have replaced the phone when he received his salary, which would have been two days after the incident.

Contribution made by indentured immigrant servants

Dear Editor, Recently, we celebrated Indian Arrival Day, a day in time when the first arrivals of East Indians came to our shores. It is a celebration of their legacy; that is: their culture, music, cuisine, language, religion, and a host of other characteristic factors that came with the Indians; or with any racial group, for that matter.

Whenever there is a migration, whether forced or otherwise, the migrants come with their culture.

The Indians came under a system called indentureship, wherein the incoming workers were bonded to serve for a period of time, at the end of which they had the option of returning to their country of origin, or staying in their newfound homeland. Most of our Indian brethren chose to remain on these shores, thereby making that valuable contribution to nation building that today we are so proud of. So, we raise our glasses in wholesome celebration with our brothers and sisters from the Indian Sub-continent.

Like I mentioned earlier, this was a migration with a bonded agreement at the end of their stay;

that is, the contact workers would be remunerated for their work, and have the option of either returning or staying in their new surroundings. Hence one of the fundamental facts of migration is the ability to have or make a better life.

They came here to make a better life for themselves in the case of those who returned, or for a better life for their children in the case of those who stayed behind.

There is no doubting the phenomenal contribution made by those who remained here, and for that we are eternally grateful.

The remaining migrant workers, by dint of hard work and frugal management of their resources, carved out for themselves and for their descendants a life of progress and development. On their shoulders we stand, and look into the future to build that better life here in Guyana.

Now, some in our community take umbrage at a statement made by His Excellency, and for which he correctly issued an apology in order to clear up any misconceptions. I, on the other hand, would not be so modest, for the simple reason that his comments

were not, in any way, a hate speech or a comparison of races. He was not, in any way, belittling anyone or showing any sign of triumphalism of one race’s superiority over another. It was none of that, he was just issuing a statement of fact.

What is very worrisome in Guyana today is the fact that other races have no right to highlight the achievements of their ancestors. As we say in creole, “It is only one race can talk.”

It is the newest form of il-

literacy sweeping through this country, wherein one particular race can openly trash talk another with seeming impunity, while another race, by simply highlighting their achievements, create cause for concern among them. Well, I’d be damned if, in a multiracial society as ours, only one race has the legitimacy to talk, and not another? It is wholly unacceptable, utterly preposterous, and downright foolish that a race, any race, cannot cele-

brate their achievements in peace. That backwardness must be rejected forthwith, and I daresay would not be tolerated now or ever. All races: Red, Yellow, Black, White, Indian, Amerindian

and all the mixtures, all have an equal place in the Guyana we live in. I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

Page

Foundation The Arrow and the Song

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Mother's Day scrapbook is a wonderful way to highlight photos of the family in a personal and creative way. You can give it to your mom as a Mother's Day gift and she'll treasure it as a keepsake for years to come. Do it by yourself, or collaborate with other family members. There are many choices to make about themes, materials, and photographs!

Step 1: Choose a colour scheme for the scrapbook.

A colour scheme will help your scrapbook look polished and cohesive. You can pick any colours that you want! Don't pick more than three, though, or the colour scheme won't be obvious. For example, create a sentimental vibe with pastels like pink, light blue, and purple; or pick your mom's favourite colour; or pick one colour and use three different shades of it: light green, regular green, and forest green, etc.

Step 2: Pick out a scrapbook at the craft or stationery store. All the good stuff that you need is there! Look through the scrapbooks and choose one that appeals to you. Make sure the scrapbook you choose comes with rings and pages that you can easily add and remove. Or use any book of your choice that appeals, just remember it’s easier to create your masterpiece when the book comes with rings or spirals and pages that you can easily add and remove.

Step 3: Choose cardboard paper that matches your theme. You can choose a different kind of paper for every page or use one kind of paper for the whole thing. You can buy the exact size you need or cut a whole sheet as needed.

Don't forget about your colour scheme and the size of your scrapbook when picking out paper! If the scrapbook you picked already comes with paper, skip this part.

Step 4: Grab some stickers, stamps, and other decorations for the pages. You can pick stickers of images, words, rhinestones, ribbons, page titles, borders, and a lot more. You may also find premade packs with all the stickers you need for one scrapbook already put together. Look for Mother's Day-themed items and decorations that fit your mom's personality or interests. Consider decorations based on the theme of family, as well.

Step 5: Gather photos for the scrapbook. Look through old photo albums and more recent digital images. Choose family photos, baby pictures, vacation pictures, school pictures, etc. Grab a few candid photos, too! Make sure all of your family members are equally represented in the images. You don't want anyone to feel left out! It's also a good idea to balance the number of casual and event photos.

Scan the older photos into your computer, and then put them back where you got them. This will protect the original photographs. Print the scanned images.

Step 6: Gather memorabilia to go in the scrapbook.

Memorabilia can be stuff like concert tickets, programmes from school plays, finger paintings you made in preschool, recipe cards of delicious meals your mom makes, and mementos from family vacations.

Memorabilia can take up about 1/4 of your available scrapbook space. More emphasis should be placed on photos, and you want to leave room for poems and other special things, as well.

You could also put pressed flowers in the book. Be sure you choose flowers that will lay pretty flat on the page, like daisies, clover flowers, buttercups, and so on. Avoid roses and other bulky flowers.

Step 7: Hunt down Mother's Day poems and quotes.

These can be typed into the computer and printed out or handwritten on the pages. Google "Mother's Day Poems" and you will have a lot of options to choose from. Pick one or several that really make you think of your mom and feel meaningful to you.

Ask your family members to help you pick. Place your favourite one on the first page, so it will stand out. If you have additional ones, place them throughout the pages wherever you like.

Print it out on cardboard once you find the one you want.

Step 8: Ask family members to write a special paragraph about your mom. This will help make the scrapbook a sentimental keepsake. They can write about their favourite memories, impressions of your mother, amazing things she's done to make them happy, or things they love about her.[4] Give them a piece of cardboard and a marker to write their paragraph. Don't forget to write your own paragraph, too.

Step 9: Distribute all of your materials into separate page piles.

Get organised before you start your project so you can tackle one page at a time. Have your family members help you decide which order the photos, memorabilia, paragraphs, etc., will appear in the book. Then make separate piles of materials for each of page.

Each page can be based on a decade, child, hobby, vacation or other important topic in their life. It's up to you!

Step 10: Assemble the pages of the scrapbook. Decide how the elements will appear on each page. Layer your elements and glue them onto the page or use double sided tape to attach them securely. If you bought stickers with page titles like "Vacation" and "Holidays," add those to the pages. You can also write the titles yourself at the top of each page with a nice marker.

If you used glue, give each page plenty of time to dry before placing them in the scrapbook. If the pages start to curl, place them between large heavy books for about an hour to flatten them back out. Add decorations to each page with stickers and stamps.

Now comes the fun part! Start decorating each page using the stickers and other stuff you got. Get as creative as you want with the decorations, but don't add so much that the photos, poems, and memorabilia are obscured. (Excerpted from wikihow.com)

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo preparing Sugar Terminal to capitalise on oil and gas opportunities

GuySuCo Demerara Sugar Terminal at Ruimveldt

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he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) is now eyeing the oil and gas sector and has entered into a multi-million-dollar venture to maximise on the opportunities that will be created from the budding petroleum industry.

This new venture will see GuySuCo desilting the river channel alongside its largest berthing facility located at the Demerara Sugar Terminal (DST) in Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The multi-million-dollar project commenced on May 1, 2021, and is a collaborative initiative between the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD),

Ministry of Public Works and GuySuCo. It is expected to be completed by May 14, 2021.

The last time the channel was desilted was in 2014.

The berthing facility is located on the east bank of the Demerara River. It was built with concrete and steel several decades ago and is used by ships transporting sugar for bulk storage at the Demerara Sugar Terminal to be sold on both the local and export markets But according to the Manager of GuySuCo’s DST, Roger Bradshaw, the facility has the potential to dock large vessels once the desilting process is completed.

Further, Bradshaw laud-

ed the initiative to desilt the river channel, noting that this is very much needed since the huge deposit of silt was affecting the operational efficiency at the Demerara Sugar Terminal. He explained that this sometimes results in an increased operational cost to offload or load a vessel.

“During low tides, we cease operations and wait until the water rises during high tide for us to complete our tasks whether its offloading or loading a vessel,” the DST Manager stated in a missive from GuySuCo on Friday.

Nevertheless, Bradshaw said there will be a significant increase in operational efficiency due to the reduced number of stoppages as a result of the built-up silt.

On completion of the desilting process, ships with a maximum length of 400 metres and a draft of 7 metres can berth at the DST facility.

This venture is integral to GuySuCo’s Strategic Plan to maximise the usage of all its facilities to become economically viable once again.

As such, GuySuCo intends

DST Manager Roger Bradshaw

to extend the services offered at the Demerara Sugar Terminal in wake of the increasing demand for such services by Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector.

In keeping with its promise to revive the cashstrapped sugar industry, the PPP/C Government, since taking office, has injected some $7 billion into the sugar industry – $5 billion in the 2020 Emergency Budget and a further $2 billion in the 2021 budget – to help in the turnaround of the sector.

Additionally, another $200

million was recently given to GuySuCo for a one-off retroactive payment to sugar workers.

However, even as Government continues to come to the rescue of the sugar industry, which was downsized by the APNU/AFC Administration, the current management of GuySuCo is hoping to move away from its reliance on the State.

During an interview with Guyana Times back in February, Chief Executive Officer, Sasenarine Singh said they want to make enough money so that GuySuCo is able to self-generate its revenue and pay for itself.

“The way we can navigate out of this pain is to bring more cash onto the table. And the only way we can do that – we cannot continue this model of running to the treasury and saying we want more, we want more – we have to self-generate more revenue,” the CEO said.

“And that’s why we have to be very careful how we expand operations. Operations have to be done carefully.

And once it’s done carefully,

we create the market at the value-added level to push off that production, rather than produce and stop… 2021 is a key year. And we’re turning this whole business to being more resilient.”

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has said that GuySuCo needs to explore several possibilities for sugar, including producing white sugar, and exporting to the Caribbean market and distilleries, among its plans to revive the industry.

As such, ethanol production and agro-energy are being considered.

Diversification of the sugar industry has been one of the methods pushed by the PPP even while in opposition.

This was when the former Government had closed the Wales Estate in 2016, and subsequently shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, leaving only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion estates operating.

However, the monies allocated to GuySuCo last year in the PPP/C’s emergency budget was for the phased reopening of the latter three estates that were closed.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drunken brawl lands Murder accused stabbed several times businessman, tractor operator, ranger in court by fellow prisoner

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man who was remanded to the Lusignan Prison, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), for murder, is now hospitalised after he was reportedly stabbed about his body at the Lusignan Prison by a fellow inmate.

Allan Basdeo was stabbed by a prisoner called “Russian” at about 23:15h on Thursday.

According to the prison authorities, Basdeo had fallen asleep in Holding Bay Two and was awakened by a loud noise.

Upon opening his eyes, he saw the masked suspect armed with improvised weapons. “Russian” subsequently stabbed Basdeo twice to the left side of his head, causing him to receive injuries.

An alarm was raised and the victim was picked up and taken to the infirmary section to seek medical attention.

He was later escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to seek further medical attention. His

condition is considered stable.

Investigations are in progress.

More than a month ago, a brawl at the Lusignan Prison had left two inmates receiving medical attention at the GPHC. The incident had reportedly occurred in Bays Three and Four of the penitentiary. Those injured were Kenty Bacchus and Linden Lewis.

Based on reports received, Bacchus, who was in Bay Three, was attacked by several other prisoners from Bay Two after they gained access by scaling the fence. During the attack, Bacchus was chopped several times about his body.

The other injured prisoner, Lewis, sustained chop wounds to his left hand.

The fight was quickly brought under control by prison officers who were on duty.

The two injured men were escorted to the GPHC, where they were admitted, treated, and later discharged. (G9)

A

forty-six-year-old tractor operator, Clyde Herman, along with businessman, 52-yearold Victor Edwards, were jointly charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Alpin.

Herman and Edwards made their appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Alex Moore.

The charge was laid under Section 50 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01.

It alleges that on May 3, at Orealla, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), they inflicted grievous bodily harm on Alpin, who is a forest ranger.

They were not required to plead to charges, and were both released on $75,000 bail each.

Meanwhile, Alpin, 28, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.

Alpin was charged contrary

to Section 30 of the Summary offences Act Chapter 8:01.

The charge stated that on May 3, at Orealla, he assaulted Clyde Herman, so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

Alpin denied the charge and was placed on self-recognisance.

Both matters have been adjourned to July 19.

Reports are that on May 3, Alpin was injured by two men during a drunken brawl.

The men were reportedly drinking when an argument ensued among them.

However, when tensions rose, they got into a scuffle.

One of the men had at that point armed himself with a piece of wood with which he began beating Alpin. The other man then joined in the fight.

Police had indicated that all three of the men received injuries, however only Alpin was hospitalised.

Squandering...

T

…our tax dollars here’s an old aphorism attributed to Tip O’Neil, the old plain-spoken Speaker of the US House of Congress: “A billion here, a billion there…pretty soon it begins to add up to real money!” He, of course, was being ironic about the profligacy of the then government in spending taxpayers’ money. But there’s nothing ironic with what’s being uncovered with the pharmaceutical purchases during the PNC’s latest 5-year stint at the tiller.

This is CRIMINAL, that’s what.

Imagine, another ONE BILLION DOLLARS of expired pharma has been unearthed to add to the TEN BILLION DOLLARS’ worth than were already dumped!! ELEVEN BILLION DOLLARS - more than $2B WORTH OF PHARMA every year! - DUMPED INTO THE GARBAGE! And the worst thing was that, during those five years, most of the basic drugs, such as diabetes and hypertension medicines, weren’t available for the Guyanese poor who’re dependent on our public health system!! They were routinely told they had to purchase their own drugs.

What exactly was going on? We’re living in the age of computerised record-keeping. Purchasing drugs, storing them, retrieving and recording them isn’t rocket science.

Every modern supermarket has a system for entering the purchases of the thousands of different items they stock. When some are sold, and scanned for billing at the checkout counter, the computer automatically deducts those from the inventory, and a new balance is created.

Those balances are scrutinised by supervisors, and specific goods are reordered. Those same supervisors get reports on how much of all items is sold per month or week, to get an idea of what’s the recurrent usage.

Now, your Eyewitness expects that in each of the locations where drugs are stored or used - warehouses, hospitals, clinics, etc - these computerised inventory systems are present. And if they aren’t, then things are more screwed up than anyone might suppose! So, exactly where did the breakdown occur in the last five years? We know there will always be a certain amount of drugs that’ll expire, since no computer, supervisor or epidemiologist can predict to the “T” who’ll get sick to need what particular medicine. But Jeez! Eleven billion dollars? Nah! Your Eyewitness believes that, like with fishes, the rot and the stench began right at the top. Don’t we all remember that lady who “only had PNC friends” and believed that “only PNC people should get wuk in her Health Ministry”? Well, in her first couple of months on the job, she rushed through that sole-sourced $600M pharma contract to a Trini firm! From what we are now discovering, this must’ve then become the custom and practice! A lucrative practice!

The Auditor General has his work cut out for him! …lives to COVID-19 Your Eyewitness had spoken about the ray of hope in this Stygian COVID-19 darkness enveloping us all after Biden proposed that the patents on the vaccines be temporarily waived. Vaccine manufacturers across the world could then churn out the life-saving products.

Basically, it’s the poorer countries who’re at the short end of the stick. Of the 700 million doses administered to date, just 2% were in the poor countries.

Well, the WHO and 100 nations supporting its call pretty much fell over themselves in praising Biden - as did the EU, which also went along. But, in these matters, there’s always a party pooper, isn’t there? And this time it’s Germany. The Germans are insisting that it’s the monetary rewards that push innovation - in this case with vaccines - and we can’t remove that incentive.

Well, two things we should note: firstly, we’re only talking about a TEMPORARY waiver - maybe three years max. And secondly, much of the basic research behind new techniques were government funded.

But money still makes the world go ‘round, not people.

…newspaper space What’s with Granger and his $2.5billion libel lawsuit?

Success in libel suits depends on whether the Court holds the statements made as false.

The Court didn’t throw out his petitions and rule the PPP won the elections?

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

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother’s Day 2021 When is Mother’s Day?

M

other’s Day celebrates motherhood and is a day to make an extra-special effort to recognise and appreciate mothers’ roles in our lives. Often, this day is extended to generations of mothers— grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers—as well as to mother figures.

The history of Mother’s Day

Festivals honouring mothers in ancient times were often tied to gods and goddesses. The Phrygians held a festival

for Cybele, the Great Mother of the Gods.

The Greeks and Romans also honoured the mother figure of their gods. Even today, an important festival in India, Durga-puja, honours the goddess Durga.

During the Middle Ages, people would return to their home or “mother” church once a year during the middle of Lent. (Back then, children would often leave to work at the tender age of 10!)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

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Mother’s Day 2021 FROM PAGE 12

Historians theorise that it was the return to the “mother” church that led to the tradition of children getting the day off to visit their mother and family.

In 16th-century England, this celebration became “Mothering Sunday.” Children— mainly daughters who had gone to work as domestic servants—would be given the day off on the fourth Sunday of Lent to return to their mothers and home parish.

The eldest son or daughter would bring a “mothering cake,” which would be cut and shared by the entire family. Family reunions were the order of the day, with sons and daughters assuming all household duties and preparing a special dinner in honour of their mother. Sometime during the day, the mother would attend special church services with her family.

Mothering Sunday was also known as Refreshment Sunday; the fasting rules were relaxed for that day. (Often, the gospel for the day was about Jesus feeding the crowd with loaves of bread.) The traditional cake, called a Simnel cake, is a fruit cake with two layers of almond paste. The cake was made with 11 balls of marzipan icing on top, representing the 11 disciples. (Judas is not included.) Traditionally, sugar violets would also be added. TURN TO PAGE 14

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Delinquent taxpayers urged to submit returns soon to avoid penalties

How can we celebrate D differently?

FROM PAGE 13

The past year’s been a challenge. Many of us are rethinking how to give extra recognition to moms. Some of us are apart from our moms when we’d normally be together.

Most moms simply wish to connect with their children and spend time with family in any way possible—if not in person, then with a phone call or video chat!

If your mom is at home, give her a day off from any family chores, especially during this difficult time.

Someone else can take full responsibility for making or serving the food, clearing and cleaning the dishes, and doing the laundry. Volunteer!

This probably covers the big stuff, but here are five creative ways to reach out to mom to show her a little extra comfort, love, and recognition. After all, moms are always there for us!

1. Do a fun activity together As mothers always look after the beautification of home, you should help her with that. Plant a garden together. This year, turn this classic Mother’s Day gift into a mother-daughter/son activity that she’ll cherish for years to come. Surprise her with new plant seeds and go gardening together!

2. Serve her breakfast in bed Start her day on the right

note by showing up at her door with a tray full of pancakes, eggs, or any other brunch favourites. If you are able to make her favourite meal on Mother’s Day 2021, you are sorted. Mothers always cook food for us, but we hardly make anything for them. So, pull up your socks and get ready with all the ingredients.

3. Watch a movie together If you’re going to stay at home, you might as well cosy up on the couch and watch a movie marathon with your favourite lady. To celebrate the occasion, pick from a list of Mother’s Day favourites.

4. Pamper her to the most Chances are that she’s in

desperate need of quality TLC. While you might not be able to give her the full spa experience at home, you can check a few things off. Be it a pedicuremanicure set or a pack of skincare products or just a few products for body massage, make her relax after a hectic day of cooking and cleaning.

5. Picnic at your place Make your yard or garden a place for a family picnic which can surely make your mother feel delighted. Make dining at home more exciting by bringing the party outdoors.

Set up a blanket and cover it with plates full of picnic-ready snacks, or even take-out from her favourite local restaurants. (extracted from swirlster.ndtv. com)

espite the April 30 deadline for the submission of tax returns having passed, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is encouraging taxpayers who did not file their returns to do so at the earliest time possible to avoid paying any penalties.

“The GRA is also encouraging taxpayers who have failed to meet the April 30, 2021 deadline to make every effort to do so within the shortest possible time since while the law allows for the Commissioner-General to waive associated penalties for due cause (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic and legitimate concerns like the non-receipt of Employers’ 7B/emolument slips), such consideration may not be extended towards any interest that may have accrued for the late payment of taxes,” GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia said.

Nevertheless, he went on to laud those taxpayers who filed their tax returns before the April 30, 2021 due date for their overwhelming compliance.

“This level of compliance is extraordinary especially so in light of and the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In comparison to 2020, and previous years, the Guyana Revenue Authority has received an astounding number of tax returns filed both manually and electronically,” the GRA boss noted.

When compared to 2020, there was an increase in compliance of over 100 per cent. According to Statia, such compliance levels allowed the Agency to surpass

its budget collections by over $1 billion for the month of April 2021.

As of April 30, 2021, GRA has received 94,189 tax returns at its Headquarters and Regional Integrated Tax Offices, of which some 4414 were submitted via the new Optimal RMS e-services and over 1000 payments being effected electronically thereon.

In March 2021, the GRA launched its new tax software Optimal Revenue Management System (RMS). This system will not only improve taxpayer convenience, allow for e-filing and e-payments, and improved operational efficiencies, but will allow the Agency to fast-track the processing of Mortgage Interest Relief and PAYE refunds, thereby bringing benefits to all stakeholders.

The GRA is working assiduously in utilising the information submitted in the 2021 returns to refund taxpayers for previous years by utilising direct bank transfers, and give notice of such transfers through electronic media like MMS and WhatsApp. The Agency

would like to assure taxpayers that systems are being put in place to reduce the long waiting time for tax refunds and MIR payments.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the interest of maintaining public safety, the issuance of lodgment receipts was discontinued. For future submissions, taxpayers who submitted their returns via the dropbox system are encouraged to sign up for e-services to receive confirmation that their returns were lodged. They can also utilise this system to track their tax status (taxes due or refunds outstanding).

For additional information about the features and benefits of the Optimal Revenue Management System, taxpayers can visit www.gra.gov.gy/optimal.

Taxpayers are also encouraged to view video presentations, which cover promotional, guidance and other useful content via social media channels: https://www. facebook.com/grapr2020 (Facebook) and https:// www.youtube.com/c/Guyan aRevenueAuthority/ (YouT ube).

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NWD man charged for attempting to kill cop S

amuel Allen was on Thursday arraigned before Matthews Ridge Magistrate Dylon Bess on two counts of attempted murder and one count of assault committed on a peace officer.

It is alleged that Allen

attempted to kill taxi driver Troy Roberts and Police Lance Corporal Bertland Scotland. He has also been charged for assaulting peace officer Constable Edwards.

It has been reported that on September 11, 2020,

Allen boarded a taxi at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) being driven by Roberts. At the time, the car was also occupied by another passenger, identified as a 26-year-old miner. During their journey, Allen allegedly whipped out

Anonymous call leads Police to unconscious robbery suspect

A

call from an unknown person led ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to a man who allegedly committed a daring robbery at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Ranks at Beterverwagting Police Station, ECD, said the anonymous caller reported that a robbery was executed at Lee’s Supermarket, Mon Repos, ECD, by three suspects dressed in all-over black, including black hoodies. The caller added that the men subsequently made good their escape on three black bicycles.

Further information led Police to a street in Mon Repos, North, where a male who was wearing a black hoodie and dressed in black was seen on the street in an unconscious state.

He was lying next to a damaged black bicycle.

The male, who had no external injuries, was picked up and escorted to the Beterverwagting Police Station, where the victim identified him to be one of the individuals that robbed her and others in the supermarket.

The sum of $21,500 was found in his possession.

He was then escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is presently seeking medical attention while under Police guard.

Investigations are ongoing.

About a month ago, two ex-Police officers were arrested after they executed a daring robbery at the GST supermarket that is located at Success Railway Embankment, ECD.

It was reported that a 20-year-old security guard was approached by the two suspects and one of them identified himself as a Police Officer and requested to check his firearm.

The security officer reportedly complied and upon handing over the 9mm pistol which contained five live rounds of ammunition, he was held at gunpoint.

One of the suspects took the security officer at the back of the supermarket and placed a knife to his neck while his accomplice relieved a 46-year-old businesswoman of an undisclosed sum of cash.

After committing the robbery, they escaped in a red Toyota Spacio motor car bearing registration number PXX 8809.

They were later captured and charged. (G9)

a sharp object and stabbed the driver Roberts in the neck.

As such, the driver reportedly stopped the car and ran for help. It was at that time that Allen allegedly entered the driver’s seat and drove away with the vehicle while the other passenger was in the car.

In his bid to escape, Allen crashed the vehicle.

He then exited the car and fled the scene, leaving the 26-year-old miner behind.

Both the miner and the driver were hospitalised following that incident.

Further, on September

12, when ranks acting upon information received visited a home at S1A Junction, One Mile, Port Kaituma, NWD in an attempt to arrest Allen, he reportedly stabbed Lance Corporal Scotland who was attempting to arrest him.

Allen reportedly whipped out a knife and dealt the officer stabs to his left hand, left hip, left lower abdomen, left eyebrow and left buttock.

However, he was apprehended by the other officers and taken into custody.

Allen has been remanded to prison, and his cases

will continue on August 3.

Meanwhile, Ayodele Gray, 43, was on Friday, May 7, charged with attempted murder committed on Kurt Stepheny.

The defendant appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

He was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 and was ordered to report weekly to the Suddie Police Station.

His matter has been adjourned to June 1.

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pharmaceuticals' supply to be stabilised soon – Health Minister

H

ealth Minister, Dr Frank Anthony gave assurances that

Guyana’s supply of pharmaceuticals in the public system will soon be stabilised,

providing facilities with the necessary drugs to treat patients.

During a recent press briefing, he acknowledged that there is a shortage of some medications at hospitals and health centres.

Supplies from a four-month emergency purchase are now arriving at the Materials Management Unit and will be dispatched immediately across the regions.

“We have been replenishing the drugs that the regions would like to have. We have not stabilised the situation. Not everything that the region wants, they can get right now. There are still a few drugs that would be short. As we get those crates coming into the MMU, we’re trying to manage that.

Earlier in the year, we did a four months emergency procurement and the orders for that is now coming in. As fast as we get it, we’re not keeping it centrally. We’re sending it out to the regions,” Dr Anthony informed.

He further stated that tenders were opened for a larger purchase of 10 months, that will stabilise the system.

Presently, the health sector is functioning with approximately 80 per cent of the required drugs. Going forward, the Ministry has sought to create a list of only required medicines so as to prevent wastage or expired drugs sit-

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

ting in storage.

“Once it’s evaluated and awarded, we will then have medicines for the next 10 months. We’re working very quickly to try to stabilise the situation but I do recognise that there are items that would be short. But generally, across the board we have 80-85 per cent of what they require…As you update that list, that is going to be your reference or your baseline to buy these medicines. So we have been working on that list.”

On Thursday, an audit into the health sector found an additional $1.1 billion in expired medical drugs, purchased since the last

Administration. Government would have ordered the audit after over $10 billion in expired pharmaceuticals had to be dumped in recent months. The expired drugs were purchased under the last coalition Government and uncovered when the new Administration took office last August.

It was reported that they were able to further validate current stocks in the medical system, amounting to $11.5 billion. The Minister said through these efforts, authorities were able to ascertain the status of facilities and replenish medicines before there is a complete shortage.

In March, Dr Anthony revealed that since taking over the Ministry in August of 2020, over 300 truckloads of expired medication had to be dumped from the MMU – the central storage bond of the Health Ministry.

He had said that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government inherited a “crisis” in relation to the quantity of expired medication being stored at MMU, and within five years, the Health Ministry had to dump over $10 billion worth of expired drugs and materials because of mismanagement.

17 NIS temporarily closes head office …after several staff test positive for COVID-19 T NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has temporarily closed its head office located at Brickdam and Winterplace, Georgetown, due to numerous incidents of staff testing positive for coronavirus.

NIS said the closure will take effect from May 7.

During this time, the building and its environs will be sanitised while COVID-19 tests will be conducted on

NIS Head Office, Brickdam and Winter Place, Georgetown

Cop, accomplice charged for raping minor

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Police Officer, Micheal Kendall, along with Eion Franklin, were on Friday arraigned before Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus after they were charged for raping a child.

It is alleged that on December 3, 2020, they engaged in sexual activities with a child under the age of 16. The duo was released on $300,000 each and the case will continue on May 25. (G15)

Robbery accused on $500,000 bail

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ameshwar Deochan, a labourer of Number 69 Village in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), has been slapped with two counts of armed robbery.

Deochan appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

The charges were laid under Section 222 (c) of

Robbery accused: Tameshwar Deochan

the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01. It is alleged that the 30-year-old, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed Samantha Singh and Armanauth Ragonauth.

The accused was not required to plead and was released on $500,000 bail. The case will continue on June 19. (G15)

staff.

Operations are expected to resume on May 11.

Meanwhile, NIS said all of its other local offices as well as the office situated at Camp and Bent Streets, Georgetown, will remain open. Pensioners are encouraged to utilise the services of these other locations.

On April 28, NIS had announced that the operations of its New Amsterdam

branch had been paused temporarily, as five of the branch’s employees had tested positive for COVID. Despite the closure, management had said that the distribution of Pension Books would have continued throughout the week.

Following that closure, on April 30, NIS had to close its Bartica branch for a similar reason.

18 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wife killer’s punishment reduced from death sentence to 25 years’ jail

R

upert Browne, who was given the death penalty for the May 29, 2011 murder of his wife had his sentence commuted to 25 years’ imprisonment by the Guyana Court of Appeal on Friday. Following a trial before the High Court in Demerara in 2014, Browne, also known as “Bird Man”, was found guilty of murdering 30-year-old Seema Singh at Helena Number One Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Justice Brassington Reynolds then sentenced the convicted killer to death by hanging. Singh, a mother of two, who hailed from Richmond, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was stabbed multiple times about her body by Browne.

It was reported that Browne became enraged after the woman left their Mahaica residence for his niece’s home. The man eventually caught up with his wife at the relative’s home and begged her to return home.

When she refused his request, he stabbed her several times about the body.

The injured woman was rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she succumbed.

During his trial, Browne had given, from the prisoner’s dock, an unsworn statement in which he gave conflicting stories.

In one instance, he claimed that he had gone to visit his niece’s home asking for Singh and later discovered her lying on her bed in

Wife killer Rupert Browne

a pool of blood. He had also claimed that when he visited the home, he saw his wife coming out from a bedroom with his nephew and asked her “how you could do that to me”. At this stage, Browne told the court that he lost his temper, picked up a knife, and stabbed the woman.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the lower court, Browne subsequently appealed his conviction and sentence, asking for both to be set aside. In a Notice of Appeal, Browne, through his lawyer, Mark Conway, proferred several grounds.

Unsound mind

On the first ground, the lawyer argued that the trial Judge and/or his client’s former counsel erred in law in not considering his mental state at the time of the commissioning of the offence.

Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards said that on appeal, Conway raised the issue of his client’s mental state, an issue that was not raised or considered at the

trial court.

Justice CummingsEdwards said that Conway pointed out that during his client’s unsworn testimony, he stated that he would normally take psychiatric treatment and that two months before his wife’s death, she had accompanied him to the hospital to collect three months’ supply of medication.

The Chancellor said also that Conway was granted leave to lay over Browne’s medical records which showed that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been undergoing regular psychiatric treatment since 1994. The treatment continued while he was incarcerated.

According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, these issues were raised by the defence counsel to support that Browne should not be held criminally liable because at the time he committed the crime his mental functions were diminished or impaired. Against this backdrop, Conway contended that the provisions of Section 14 (4) of the Court of Appeal Act applies in this case.

Section 14 (4) reads: “ If on any appeal it appears to the Court of Appeal that, although the appellant was guilty of the act or omission charged against him, he was of unsound mind at the time the act was done or the omission made so as not to be responsible for his actions according to law, the Court of Appeal may quash the sentence passed at the trial and order that the appellant be kept in custody as a crim-

From this statement, the Chancellor noted that the court was asked to infer that Singh was unfaithful to her husband, or at least that was the view of her husband when he saw her coming out from the bedroom with his nephew. The appellate court, however, rejected this argument having found that the issue of provocation was well put to the jury for consideration by the trial Judge.

Comutted

Dead: Seema Singh

inal lunatic under Section 179 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act in the same manner as if a special verdict had been found by the jury under that Act.” The Court of Appeal rejected Conway’s argument.

The Court found that Section 14 (4) did not apply to Browne’s case since his mental condition was substance-induced and that the substances which contributed to his condition were not available to him while he was incarcerated. Moreover, Justice Cummings-Edwards pointed to the fact that there was no medical indicating that Browne did not understand the nature of his trial.

Provocation

Browne’s lawyer further contended that the trial Judge failed to adequately address the issue of provocation to the jury. Conway relied on the unsworn statement his client gave in defence in which he said that he saw Singh emerging from a bedroom with his nephew and lost his temper.

Defence counsel also argued that the imposition of the death sentence on his client was severe and sought the commutation of the sentence to a term of imprisonment.

He argued, too, that the imposition of the mandatory death penalty was unconstitutional and in doing so relied on Article 138 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana.

The lawyer also cited factors that could have mitigated the sentence such as the fact that the offence was not premeditated and that Browne may have been suffering from a mental illness at the time he committed the crime.

While the court found that there was no evidence to establish the latter argument, the Chancellor said that the court considered the reasoning of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) “that the protection of the law is, therefore, one of underlying core elements of the rule of law which was inherent to the Constitution and it afforded every person, including convicted killers ade-

quate safeguards against…. arbitrary exercise of power and the mandatory nature of the death penalty…”

For her part, State Prosecutor Teshana JamesLake submitted that the offence for which Browne is charged does fall within the provisions of Section 100 (1) (a) to (e), of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, and that in the circumstances the death penalty should not have been imposed. In this regard, the prosecutor conceded that a term of years or life imprisonment should be substituted in place of the death penalty.

“We commend counsel for the state in her submissions in relation to the appropriate sentence that should have been meted out to [Browne],” the Chancellor noted, adding that the convicted killer was charged in 2011 after the amendments to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 which stipulates the offences which attract the death penalty.

Taking this into consideration, the Appeal Court held that the trial Judge could have imposed, in the circumstances, a term of years. Given the concession of the prosecution, the circumstances of the case, and the arguments raised by Browne’s lawyer, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal on the issue of sentence. Browne’s conviction for murder was affirmed, but his death sentence was substituted with a term of imprisonment of 25 years from which time spent in pre-trial custody is to be deducted.

(G1)

Anna Catherina triple murder

Wife gives jury details of ex-husband’s confession to killing of neighour, young sons

Murder accused Abishai Caesar

J

ust age 17 at the time her reputed husband allegedly confided in her about fatally stabbing Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD) businesswoman Jennifer Persaud and her two sons, Zoey Phillips took to the stand on Friday to testify against her murder accused ex-partner.

The man, 36-yearold Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo resident Abishai Caesar is on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Demerara for the capital offence. He has plead-

ed not guilty to the charges which state that between September 21 and 22, 2012, at Sea View Anna Catherina WCD, he murdered Persaud and her sons: Afridi Bacchus, six, and 16-month-old Jadon Persaud.

According to State Prosecutor Lisa Cave, during September 2012, Caesar resided with his reputed wife at Anna Catherina. The couple was Jennifer Persaud’s neighbours. The prosecutor said that between September 21 and 22, 2012, Caesar told Phillips that he was going over to Jennifer Persaud’s house because he wanted money and that he would return thereafter.

When he returned home, the prosecutor said, Caesar told his reputed wife what he had done to Persaud and her two children. The next day, the lifeless bodies of Persaud and her two sons were discovered by her father in their home. The prosecutor added that Caesar was not arrested until April 2016 when Phillips went to the Police and reported that Caesar had confided in her

Dead: Afridi Bacchus

Dead: Jadon Ernest

that he had killed the trio.

He was subsequently charged with the murders.

The media reported that Phillips told detectives that a short while after Caesar had gone over to the woman’s house, she had heard screams.

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

Because she would be able to identify him, he was forced to attack her, killing her and her sons in the process. Phillips had also told the Police that she was forced to keep quiet about the incident because Caesar

was abusive.

“Had to kill”

Caesar glared at his former reputed wife as she stood in the witness box preparing to tell the jury details of how Jennifer Persaud and her children met their demise. Phillips, who is now 25, told the court that during September 2021, both she and her spouse were unemployed.

She said that Jennifer Persaud and her children lived next door to them.

According to the main witness, on the night of September 21, 2012, she

and Caesar were in their bedroom when he left and told her that he was going over to Jennifer Persaud’s home to get some money because he was “broke”. This was around midnight. She recalled that when Caesar left their home he was clad in three-quarter pants.

She said that he was carrying a small wooden-handled knife and a pair of gloves which he had taken from their kitchen. Phillips recounted that her ex-lover gained entry into the woman’s yard through an opening in a zinc fence. She recalled that she went back into their bedroom and about a minute after she looked through the bedroom window and saw Caesar climbing up the stairs and into Persaud’s home.

Phillips told the court that she fell asleep and was awakened by a knocking on the back door. It was Caesar, she added, carrying a cardboard box containing several $20 and $100 notes which amounted to $3000. When Caesar entered their home, Phillips said that he told her he “had to kill Jennifer” be-

Dead: Jennifer Persaud

cause she knows him very well and that she woke up and saw him in her home.

She said that her then reputed husband also told her that he had to kill the children because “they wudda wake up and cry”. The woman told the jury that when the murder accused returned home the knife and his pants were covered in blood.

Phillips recalled that Caesar took her to the seawall where he threw the knife into the ocean. According to her, he threw the gloves and pants into some nearby bushes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

NEWS

19

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 women die, 116 new COVID-19 cases recorded in 24 hours F our persons lost their lives to the novel coronavirus disease in one day, contributing to 14 deaths within the first week of May. The Health Ministry announced the latest fatalities on Friday as four women: a 69-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), a 29-yearold from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); and a 52-year-old and a 65-yearold from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

These persons died while receiving care at a medical facility on Thursday. As such, the country’s death toll has moved up to 314.

From 1118 swabs that were taken for testing on

Friday, 116 persons tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, the total confirmed cases is up to 14,073 – comprising of 7051 males and 7022 females.

There are 1831 active cases: 14 patients seeking treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, with 101 in institutional isolation and 1716 persons in home isolation. Another 10 persons are in institutional quarantine. Guyana has tested 128,826 persons thus far and some 11,928 infected persons have since recovered.

New cases

New cases were detected across nine administrative regions with three

Wife gives jury of...

Phillips said that she finally informed the Police that it was her spouse who had committed the crime.

The woman said that on April 22, 2016, she went to the Tuschen Police Outpost where she made a report and requested a restraining order against Caesar.

The murder accused was arrested, she said, adding that during a confrontation between them she reminded him that he killed the family.

She told the jury that Caesar told the Police that she was lying. When asked why she kept quiet for so long, Phillips explained that she was afraid of Caesar because he was very abusive.

Also testifying on Friday was Rudolph Ernest, the father of Jadon Ernest.

The man said that during

September 2012, he lived with Jennifer Persaud, his son, and his stepchild, Afridi Bacchus at Anna Catherina.

He added that he last saw his reputed wife and the children alive on Monday, September 17, 2012.

“Me and she had a lil argument the Monday and I went by my uncle and stayed for a couple of days. Because on Sunday I went out and party and I came home late. And she tell me if that is the kind of life I want to live I can go long my way. And I just pick up my two pieces of clothes and went by my uncle house and stayed for a couple of days,” the witness said.

According to him, on September 22, 2012, he was at a softball game at Tuschen when he received a phone call that his reputed wife and her children

FROM PAGE 18

were murdered. As a result, he said he left for his reputed wife’s home. Upon arrival, he recalled that there was a large crowd gathered in front of the grocery and liquor shop his wife operated at her home.

He added that he did not get to see their bodies because the Police immediately took him in for questioning.

The older Ernest testified to knowing Caesar, whom he said would frequently visit the home.

Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan said that he performed post-mortem examinations on the remains of Jennifer Persaud and her sons. He gave their cause of death as shock and haemorrhage. Caesar’s lawyer is Rachael Bakker. The trial continues on Monday.

in Region One (BarimaWaini), five in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), seven in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 38 in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 11 in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), 20 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 10 in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), four in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and nine in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) saw no increases as cases remained at 610.

Presently, there are several hotspots within the 10 regions. In Region Two, the hotspot is Good Hope, where 16 cases were detected. In Region Three, cases are continuously recorded in Tuschen which has about 29 active cases presently.

For Region Four, the Sophia and Kitty areas are of concern, in addition to Diamond on the East Bank and Mon Repos on the East Coast.

For Region Six, New Amsterdam is a hotspot with about 27 cases while Bartica in Region Seven has a whopping 58 active cases. Meanwhile, Aishalton in Region Eight recorded approximately 21 cases.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared during Friday’s coronavirus update that the management of patients varies from asymptomatic to severe cases. For

this, treatment varies from antiviral medications in the form of Remdesivir; steroids like dexamethasone or oxygen.

“The milder form don’t require anything specific.

Moderate forms depend on the symptomology and we can add some medication.

Once you start having respiratory difficulties, then you would need some form of assistance. That’s one of the main reasons why you would be hospitalised.”

President Irfaan Ali announced last month that

Government was looking to ramp up enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in light of spiking cases and deaths. He had said efforts are underway to review the laws with the aim of toughening the penalties for those who are caught breaching the measures.

The fines for COVID-19 breaches range between $5000 and $16,000. In recent weeks, the Guyana Police Force has charged scores of persons for these breaches.

20

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Crude oil futures rangebound as market monitors pandemic, weak US dollar provides support

C

rude oil futures were rangebound during mid-morning trade in Asia on May 7 as the threat of mutant coronavirus strains from India dampened market sentiment, but a weaker US dollar provided a tailwind to prices.

At 11:12 am in Singapore (0312 GMT), the ICE Brent July contract was up 27 cents/b (0.4 per cent) from the May 6 settle at US$68.36/b, while the June NYMEX light sweet crude contract was up 29 cents/b (0.45 per cent) at US$65/b.

The debilitating second wave of the pandemic in India continued to limit the market's upside. The country reported a record 412,431 new COVID-19 infections on May 5, with the death toll at another record high 3980, the latest data from John Hopkins University showed.

Investors are concerned that the protracted pandemic situation in India could yield more mutant strains of the virus, which could reverse the progress other countries have made in controlling the pandemic.

Already, the B.1.617, a double mutant variant from India, has spread to at least 17 countries, according to the World Health Organisation, with authorities in India saying that the strain may have contributed to the country's particularly severe second wave. Experts have yet to conclusively determine if this new strain is more lethal or transmissible than the existing strains.

"The situation in India is still providing a major drag for oil prices...oil just needs to consolidate for a month for India and Japan to get a better handle on COVID-19," Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, said in a May 7 note.

Japan, the world's fourth-largest crude importer, has also continued to reel from the pandemic, with media reports saying that a state of emergency, currently in effect in the Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto prefectures, is set to be extended until the end of May. However, despite this gloom, oil prices received a boost from a weakening US dollar, with the June contract for ICE US dollar index trading at 90.865 at 11 am, down 0.469 per cent from the previous settle. A weaker US dollar makes dollardenominated assets such as oil more attractive for buyers holding foreign currency, and hence boost their demand.

On the supply-side, S&P Global Platts earlier reported that the OPEC+ coalition has exceeded its production quotas by 3.316 million b/d through to March, with Russia and Iraq being the most egregious offenders.

Under the terms of the OPEC+ agreement, each country must compensate for any excess production with cuts of equivalent volume below its quota by the end of September.

With the producer group set to ease its cumulative production quota by close to 1.2 million b/d by July, market watchers are optimistic that such compensation could help keep the market in balance, especially given that the resurgence of the pandemic in parts of Asia has added considerable demand-side uncertainty. (Excerpt from S&P Global Platts)

Big Chinese rocket segment set to fall to Earth

D

ebris from a Chinese rocket is expected to fall back to Earth in an uncontrolled re-entry this weekend.

The main segment from the Long March-5b vehicle was used to launch the first module of China's new space station last month.

At 18 tonnes it is one of the largest items in decades to have an undirected dive into the atmosphere.

The US on Thursday said it was watching the path of the object but currently had

no plans to shoot it down.

"We're hopeful that it will land in a place where it won't harm anyone," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

"Hopefully in the ocean, or someplace like that."

Various space debris modelling experts are pointing to late Saturday or early Sunday (GMT) as the likely moment of re-entry.

However, such projections are always highly uncertain.

Originally injected into an elliptical orbit approximately 160km by 375km

above Earth's surface on April 29, the Long March5b core stage has been losing height ever since.

Just how quickly the core's orbit will continue to decay will depend on the density of air it encounters at altitude and the amount of drag this produces. These details are poorly known.

Most of the vehicle should burn up when it makes its final plunge through the atmosphere, although there is

of “arbitrary execution” in Rio Police raid

he United States has expressed its readiness to lift many of its sanctions on Iran at the Vienna nuclear talks but Tehran is demanding more, top Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi told state media on Friday.

"The information transferred to us from the US side is that they are also serious on returning to the nuclear deal and they have so far declared their readiness to lift a great part of their sanctions," Araqchi told state TV. "But this is not adequate from our point of view and therefore the discussions will continue until we get to all our demands," Araqchi said as indirect talks were scheduled to resume on Friday in the Austrian capital.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden said he believed Iran was seriously engaging in the talks but

US ready to lift many sanctions Brazil Judge sees signs but Iran says it wants more

A

Supreme Court justice called on Friday for Brazil’s top prosecutor to investigate Rio de Janeiro’s deadliest Police raid in over a decade, which has drawn condemnation from the United Nations, human rights groups and local activists.

The shootout killed a Police officer and 24 others in Rio’s Jacarezinho neighbourhood on Thursday.

Police said it was the deadliest operation in Rio state since a 2005 raid on the city’s northern outskirts.

“The facts reported seem grave and, in one of the videos, there are indications of acts that, in theory, could amount to arbitrary execution,” said Judge Edson Fachin.

Last year, Fachin issued an order for Rio Police to suspend operations during the coronavirus pandemic in the informal shantytowns known as favelas - “except in absolutely exceptional

cases” that had been pre-approved by prosecutors.

The United Nations human rights office called on Friday for an independent probe of the latest deadly operation in a history of “disproportionate and unnecessary” police force.

Rio’s Police are among the most deadly in the world, but right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has argued that if anything they need fewer restrictions on lethal force.

Asked about those killed in Jazarezinho on Friday, Vice President Hamilton Mourao said they were “all bandits.”

Jacarezinho residents and activists marched outside a Police station on Friday with a banner demanding, “Stop killing us.”

Police said everyone killed but the officer were suspected drug traffickers reacting violently to police presence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Carolina moves closer to allowing death by firing squad

S

outh Carolina lawmakers have passed a bill to allow inmates on death row to be executed by firing squad in the absence of lethal injection drugs.

When signed into law, it will make South Carolina the fourth state in the country to offer the option as a method of capital punishment.

Opponents criticised the new measure as "medieval" but its supporters say it is about bringing closure to victims.

The southern state has

not held an execution since 2011.

The legislation passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives aims to restart executions by bypassing the difficulties states face in procuring the drugs for a lethal injection cocktail.

It will go to the state's Senate for a final vote before heading to Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who has vowed to sign the bill "as soon as it gets to my desk".

The state currently has 37 death row prisoners. The

always the possibility that metals with high melting points, and other resistant materials, could survive to the surface.

The chances of anyone actually being hit by a piece of space junk are very small, not least because so much of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, and because that part which is land includes huge areas that are uninhabited. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Eight US states offer death row inmates the choice to die either by lethal injection or by electrocution

bill may yet face a court challenge.

South Carolina current-

ly offers death row inmates the choice to die either by lethal injection or in the electric chair. Inmates cannot be forced to die by a method they did not choose.

All but three executed convicts have opted for the former - a three-drug combo that puts prisoners to sleep, induces paralysis and then stops the heart - since it was first introduced in 1995.

But these drugs have become harder to get as manufacturers and distributors do not want their products used to impose the death penalty.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T

it was unclear what Tehran was actually prepared to do for both sides to resume compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Asked at the White House if he thought Tehran was serious about talks, Biden replied: "Yes, but how serious, and what they are prepared to do is a different story. But we're still talking."

US officials have returned to Vienna for a fourth round of indirect talks with Iran on how to resume compliance with the deal, which former President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, prompting Iran to begin violating its terms about a year later.

The crux of the agreement was that Iran committed to rein in its nuclear programme to make it harder to obtain the fissile material for a nuclear weapon in return for relief from US, EU and UN sanctions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina’s cashless king targets Latin America’s unbanked millions

D

igital banking startup Uala will double the size of its operations in Argentina and Mexico with a US$64 million investment as it seeks to convince more people across Latin America to skip traditional banking in favour of digital, the head of the company said on Friday.

Pierpaolo Barbieri, the Argentine company’s founder, told Reuters in a Zoom interview from his downtown Buenos Aires office that the investment would double Uala’s 800-strong headcount and operating space.

Ultimately, he said there was potential for Uala to reach out to the unbanked in countries such as Peru, Paraguay, Colombia and Chile as well as eventually the United States and Europe.

“Latin America has a lot of potential to grow,” said the Harvard-educated 33-yearold, who has become something of a household name

in the fast-growing fintech industry as COVID-19 lockdowns prompt more people to switch to transactions online.

Barbieri’s personal finance app was launched in October 2017 and won early backing from investors George Soros and Point72 Ventures LLC to offer prepaid debit cards, transfers, payments, and savings and lending services.

Uala first outlined an expansion plan last year after receiving millions in fresh funding from China’s Tencent Holdings and SoftBank Group Corp, the Japanese technology investment giant.

As part of its plan, Uala last month started the process of acquiring rival Argentine digital bank Wilobank.

Barbieri said his firm’s biggest selling point in encouraging future customers was the fact that its costs are almost 80 per cent lower. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

21

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

You'll face a challenge with a friend, relative or neighbor. Don't let your temper take the reins. Sit tight, listen carefully and avoid sharing your opinion if it will lead to conflict.

Your changeable attitude will confuse others. You are bet(April 20ter off keeping your thoughts May 20) to yourself until you are sure about how you feel or what you want to do next. Avoid excessive behavior.

TAURUS

DILBERT

Share your thoughts to make a difference. Expand your vi(May 21- sion, but not your budget. Boost June 20) efficiency by concentrating on what's important and discarding what isn't.

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Channel your energy into something constructive. If you let trivial matters get to you, arguments will develop. Patience is required, but common ground will eventually be found.

Stop worrying about everyLEO one else. Start putting your tal(July 23Aug. 22) ents to work for you. You'll find a way to use your talents and skills to improve your situation.

Moderation is encouraged.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

Take physical action, and turn your dream into a reality. A change of plans will play out in your favor. Embrace new beginnings, explore possibilities and expand your circle of friends.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You'll gravitate to intellectual events. Expand your mind, but keep your wallet in your pocket. Gather information.

Consider how your decisions will affect your finances, health and future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You'll be attracted to someone unique. Listen and observe, and you'll discover something intriguing that helps you formulate your next move. Eliminate what's no longer essential.

Chitchat will get you thinkSAGITTARIUS ing about your life -- past, (Nov. 23present and future. Assess Dec. 21) what's doable before you head down a path that will cause friction with someone close to you. Be open about your plans.

Control your emotions, and

CAPRICORN move forward with your plans.

Domestic or lifestyle changes (Dec. 22won't please everyone. Focus Jan. 19) on health, emotional well-being and moderation. Make peace and love priorities.

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

Pay attention to financial matters. Consider better ways to earn and save money.

An intellectual approach will help eliminate debt and ease stress. Enjoy the company of loved ones.

Don't get angry; get moving.

It's up to you to make deci(Feb. 20sions and to head in a direction March 20) that makes you happy. Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. Step up and do your part.

PISCES

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

Hosein elated to be retained by TKR – Borde says, 'We will be ready'

O

N the heels of being awarded his first-ever international retainer contract by Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Wednesday, spinner Akeal Hosein has also been retained by reigning Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) on Thursday.

A statement issued by the T&T franchise has named Hosein, Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine and Colin Munro among a talented pool of 13 players who were retained by the 2020 winners.

Hosein, 28, was selected

by TKR in round ten of the 2019 CPL Draft, and gradually worked his way into the squad’s starting 11 for the 2020 edition. Hosein has taken 10 wickets in seven matches, and conceded only 5.55

runs per over; all of which contributed to TKR capturing a historic fourth CPL T20 title.

On Thursday, TKR announced Hosein’s continuity with the team for this year’s leg, which bowls off in St Kitts and Nevis from August 28.

“It’s a great feeling to be retained, more so be at home to represent the TT franchise. We’re in some tough times in the country and all over the world, so it’s always good to get the opportunity to go out there and be playing the game.

“My plan is to work twice as hard to compete, stay, and also to be successful at that level. Not much is going to change, I’m just going to be working extra hard,” said the left-arm spinner.

TKR have four more spots to fill in their squad, and these will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

According to team Manager Collin Borde, their final selections must help the squad strike the right competitive balance.

“As always, we look for the blend of youth and experience and, above all, a balanced squad that would give the selectors/captain, ample appropriate options to choose from as the situation arises.

This year will be no different.

We have our targets in sight,” said Borde.

Although Narine has had a topsy-turvy year on the international T20 circuit, he was appointed vice-captain of TKR. Borde believes Narine has the leadership skills to assist Pollard on their jour-

RHTY&SC hosts 7th annual Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers programme – 6 honoured for outstanding performance

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Region Six Senior Police Officers posing with the awardees after the presentation

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) last Thursday collaborated with management of the Guyana Police Force of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to host a simple but impressive programme that was the Club’s 7th annual Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers.

Hosted in the Conference Hall of the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam, this annual awards ceremony was attended by senior executives of the club along with the top brass of the Guyana Police Force in Region Six. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said the RHTY&SC has, over the years, enjoyed a very close working relationship with the Guyana Police Force as part of its Say No/Say Yes programme and Say No to Crime project.

This Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers programme was launched in 2014 by the Club as part of its Say No to Crime project, and its intent is to honour outstanding Police Officers who have worked beyond the call of duty to protect society.

Foster noted that, despite the views of critics, there are many honest and dedicated officers who would serve as mentors and role models in society, and the Club is accordingly delighted to honour them.

The Club’s 2021 honou-

rees were Woman Constable 32255 Madanna Persaud, Constable 23206 Courtney Sampson, Constable 25058 Wayid Martin, Constable 22579 Rajendra Ramcharran, and Rural Constables Patrick Simmons and Devana Grant. They were selected by the top brass of the Police Force based on commitment, personal discipline, and performance on the job.

Foster has been loud in praise of the work of the divisional leadership, making special mention of Commander Jairam Ramlakhan. He called on the awardees to not only uphold their high standards, but to strive for even more success.

He committed the Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour under-21 and first division teams to not only continuing the programme in the future, but to expanding it to include all Police Stations in Region 6, and to providing assistance to the Police wherever possible.

Foster recalled that the RHTY&SC has, over the years, made numerous donations to the Force, and together they have worked on several programmes to reduce crime and drug abuse in Region 6.

He also disclosed that the Club would shortly present its highest award to Inspector Griffith-Ward, in recognition of her outstanding performance as Secretary to the

Regional Commander for a number of years. Inspector Griffith Ward would be the first Police Officer to ever receive that award.

Acting Deputy Commander E Davidson was high in praise of the work of the RHTY&SC, and has urged the club to uphold the high standard it has set over the years. He spoke of the importance of the Force and members of civil society working together to reduce crime. Davidson called on the awardees to be honest at all times, and to maintain their integrity.

Awardee Madanna Persaud expressed thanks to the club and the Thunderbolt Flour teams for honouring her and her colleagues. She said the awardees felt very privileged to be honoured by a very respected organisation, and are committed to upholding their high standards. Each of the awardees received a Plaque of Excellence, Medal of Excellence, framed Certificate and three gifts.

The RHT Thunderbolt Flour teams are sponsored by the National Milling Company of Guyana Limited (NAMILCO), located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. Team members include such promising cricketing personalities as Kevin Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Jonathan Rampersaud, Keith Simpson and Delbert Hicks.

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KR Team Manager Collin Borde

ney to another CPL crown.

“Sunil Narine in any squad will be an asset. The franchise has put a lot of confidence in him. He has had a few injuries this season and, unfortunately, this happens in sport. He is made of very stern stuff, and we know that his contributions both on and off the field are very valuable to us. He will be ready,” Borde added.

Before the start of the CPL, South Africa and Australia are tentatively scheduled to tour the Caribbean in two separate series against the West Indies.

According to Borde, quite a few of TKR’s players will be plying their trade in the coming international series, and will use this tourney to put in the required training.

The rest of the players will be working locally with the TT Cricket Board.

Borde also said that leading up to the tournament, TKR would provide programmes to facilitate all the work needed to ensure the players remain motivated.

“As the COVID-19 issues arise, we will be always guided by safety first. We are in the process of tailoring programmes to assist in that regard. Time flies, so we are acutely aware of the season to come and for both the local as well as foreign players.

The monitoring and planning have already begun. There is a camp date in mind, and it is flexible, as we have to work around the pandemic.

“Preparation has already begun in earnest,” Borde concluded. (TT Newsday)

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GCB launches investigation into the non-awarding of international retainer contracts

– writes CWI for criteria, policies and reports

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has said it notes, with great concern, the information that Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd were not awarded international retainer contracts by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The GCB has said it is also concerned that an international retainer contract has not been awarded to Veerasammy Permaul.

The GCB is contending that it is not aware, nor was it informed, of the criteria used for the awarding of international retainer contracts; nor were any reasons given for the non-awarding of international retainer contracts to the 4 players mentioned above.

The non-awarding of international retainer contracts to these players by CWI is a matter of extreme concern to the GCB and to

the Guyanese public, and the GCB intends to fully investigate this matter.

The GCB has since written to CWI requesting a copy of the criteria which was used to award international retainer contracts and the report submitted by the selection panel on which the decision was made not to award international retainer contracts to Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul Romario Shepherd, and Veerasammy Permaul.

The GCB has promised to update the public as soon as the criteria and the report are submitted by CWI.

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NOW!

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kaysia Schultz has potential and right attitude, says Coach Courtney Walsh

23

– CWI interested in more youngsters

By Brandon Corlette

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced the list of 18 women players who have been contracted for the 20212022 season. Reacting to the contracts, Lead Selector of the West Indies Women's Team, Ann Browne-John, and Head Coach Courtney Walsh spoke to the media in a virtual press conference on Friday.

Coach Walsh has said that uncapped Guyanese Kaysia Schultz has been very good in camps, and she has the right attitude while doing everything that the coaches are looking for.

"There is potential there, and you want to get that going. It's important we engage and keep the girls focused. It's encouragement to work hard," Walsh said.

Walsh added that despite the pool not being as big as CWI would like, because of the pandemic, these are high-quality players present in camp.

He noted his satisfaction with the energy that each of the players currently encamped in Antigua is showing.

Meanwhile, BrowneJohn has said the Selection Panel looks at what each player brings to the table, rather than at their nationality. She said all the young players have brought great enthusiasm, and Women's Cricket is heading into the right direction.

T h e L e a d Selector has said she is happy to h a v e additional contracts, and because of the absence of re-

one else in the Caribbean, we would look at the entire pool of players that we have and then a determination will be made on where we are now, where are we going, and that is how we will award contracts."

Coach Walsh also produced an update on the camp and said the players are engaged in fitness assessments, followed by skills practice in the upcoming days.

West Indies Women are currently in Antigua for a training camp

gional C W I f i t c o n young would ognise that CWI i s

tournaments, has found it ting to award tracts to players who rec-

are interested in them, the work they have done and the work the players can produce.

Browne-John on Smartt, Giddings Additionally, BrowneJohn spoke about the non-involvement of consistent Regional performers Tremayne Smarrt and Erva Giddings.

Despite

strong performances from the Guyanese duo, the CWI Women's Lead Selector said, the factors examined are performances, longevity and development.

"Tremayne has not been part of the West Indies setup for quite a while now, and Erva Giddings has played in our last tournament (Regional). Whether it's Tremayne, Erva or any-

West Indies Women players contracted for the 20212022 Season: Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph*, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz*, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor. *denotes players offered contracts for the first time in 2021-2022

Genuine Auto Spares Golf Tourney to tee off tomorrow – lots of lucrative prizes on offer

Tremayne Smartt Erva Giddings

Kaysia Schultz

Munro beats Sodhi in Esports final

T

he inaugural final of the Hero CPL Esports Series saw Colin Munro of the Trinbago Knight Riders take on Ish Sodhi of the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots with the difficulty level of the game turned up to really challenge these players.

The Knight Riders won the toss and put the Patriots in to bat. The first over of the final was full of drama, with Khary Pierre picking up both Patriots’ openers Evin Lewis and Chris Lynn, dismissed as they were going for big shots.

That left the Patriots at 10/2 at the end of the first over, and that became 17/3 when Sodhi was caught in the ring off the bowling of Ali Khan.

Things didn’t improve when Nick Kelly was run out for a diamond duck to leave the Patriots innings in tatters at 18/4.

Sunil Narine kept up the carnage when he bowled Ben Dunk for 6 and then did the same to Denesh Ramdin two balls later, to leave the Patriots at 22/6.

Fawad Ahmad’s introduction into the attack created further woes for the Patriots, as three more wickets fell - two of them soft run outs - as the batting team finished on 32 all out.

It was a small target, but Munro was still feeling the pressure. The Patriots could have had Lendl Simmons dismissed in the first over, but Chris Lynn put down a tough chance off Alzarri Joseph at midoff.

At the other end, Narine found the boundary twice before Simmons was gone, dismissed by Imran Khan.

By the end of the second over, the Knight Riders were 18/1, with 16 needed from 18 balls.

Sodhi brought himself on to bowl, and after a tricky start, thanks to two wides, he came back well to get Narine bowled for 10. That left the Knight Riders needing 11 from 12, and a powerful on drive for four from Pollard seemed to swing things in his team’s favour, before he was yet another run out

victim.

At the start of the last over, five runs were needed, and the Knight Riders seemed happy to get there in singles, but a wide and a no-ball from Sheldon Cottrell also helped.

It was Munro who hit the winning runs, cover driving for two to win the game by seven wickets with one ball to spare in a thrilling last over finish to seal the first ever CPL Esports title. (CPLT20.

COM)

T

Genuine Auto Spares Managing Director Amrit Prashad

he Lusignan Golf Club, continuing to pursue its promise to take the game of golf to a higher level and gain more corporate sponsors, has now signed on with Genuine Auto Spares to host a oneday tournament set for tomorrow at 09:00 hrs.

At a simple ceremony held at that business entity's location at Smyth Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, Managing Director Amrit Prashad presented a cheque to Lusignan Golf Club Captain Patrick Prashad, and told him the following words.

“There is nothing more that I can say; but the fact that I like sports, and I am involved in sports, and I like to see sports moving and growing and getting better…I am very pleased to be a part of this tournament, which is on Sunday. I

wish the golf club much success, and I hope they continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Club Captain Patrick Prashad also reflected on the importance of corporate sponsorship of the game of golf. He related that the LGC welcomes the sponsorship of the auto spares company, as it is beneficial to both the game of golf and the community of Lusignan.

"The Club needs this kind of support from members of the business community, because sponsorship is a lifeline to this organisation. This organisation works towards the benefit of the village it is located in. It assists a little over 20-odd persons in putting a little in their pockets.

So I would like Mr Amir Prashad to understand that his sponsorship of this tournament is not only promot-

LGC Captain Patrick Prashad

ing sport or golf, but it also enhances the community; the persons from Lusignan can enjoy some sort of benefit from this sponsorship,” the LGC Captain explained.

In closing his remarks, the LGC Captain again thanked the sponsor for his kind gesture, and noted that it would be going a far way in developing the game of golf and the Lusignan Golf Club.

The tournament will be a Shotgun start, and the format will be an 18-hole Medal Play tournament.

Prizes for players will be based on the Best Net scores, with prizes for first, second and third places being awarded. There will also be prizes for the Best Net on the front nine and the back nine.

All COVID-19 protocols will be in effect.

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021

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

Pg 23

Kaysia Schultz has potential and right attitude, says Coach Courtney Walsh – CWI interested in more youngsters

Pg 22

RHTY&SC hosts 7th annual Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers programme

– 6 honoured for outstanding performance

Genuine Auto Spares Golf Tourney to tee off tomorrow

Pg 23

Munro beats Sodhi in Esports final

Pg 23

– lots of lucrative prizes on offer

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